New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-05
WASHINGTON NEWS NOTES.


Washington. July
THE PRESIDENTS LITTLE JoKE.-In 1889
President Harrison appointed Captain William NJ
Meredith who had served In his regiment during the
war chief OF the Bureau OF Engraving ana frht-
ing Captain Meredith. who possessed much tech
meal knowledge. well as high executive aplhty'
proved to be most capable ana erhcieh' o"oeI'
but when the change OF Administration came IN
1898 he was promptly displaced and a Kentucky
friend of Secretary Carlisle was appointed lie
made a good many changes In the Bureau Tor po-
litical reasons. and distinguished himsen by max
Ing expensive postage stamps that would not SUCK
and which otherwise unsatisfactory anu VI
fensive They were good enough. however. to ex-
cite the cupidity of dishonest persons In the Bu-
reau and a considerable quantity was stolen CHIEF
johnson proved to be an acceptable officer. however
and about a year before the end OF the last Ceve-
land Administration he and his subordinates were
placed In the classified service as a reward OF merit
and all of them naturally became devout and al
most violent Civil Service Reformers When the
new administration came In last spring however
Captain Meredith thought that he would like to be
reinstated In his old PLACE and he lost no time IN
visits to Washington. TO see how II was getting on
He came here last week and called to See Pres
"Hows your health Captain?' asked the Presi-
Fine. the response. Never felt better in
What are you doing here this time Captain?"
"Oh. still after the same job -
w as s a Mr. Ms e
was bright as he was one OF the best rdmr
present Administration
"Good." said the President. 'I congratulate you"
The conversation ended here and Meredith does
not know whether or not he is to get the office.
LILIUOKALANI AT THE OPERA-"T sat not
far away from ex-Queen Liliuokaani at the opera
the other night" said a man to Tribune corre-
spondent to-day "and II occurred TO me to note
the effect OF the production on her. She was In
a box. and accompanying her were Captain julius
Palmer American lady Mrs. Palmer. perhaps
II such lady exists-and n Hawaiian lady and
gentleman. The Hawaans sat in the rear of Mrs.
Dominis. while the American lady sat at her side
and and then made suggestions or answered
questions. The ex-Queen was becomingly dressed
in black wore not profusion but a number OF
diamonds. and carried white fan. which she en-
ployed leisurely and gracefully. Her manner was
easy and pleasant and from the moment the cur
tain went up her whole interest centred on the
stage. The piece was 'Plnafore and was curious
TO see how that pretty English trife would strike
the Asatc temperament and intelligence. 1t was
fairly we'll presented. but came 10 the conclusion
that only the music really reached the ex-Cueen.
She Is musical herself and speaks English you
know. sings to some Hawaiian instrument. and.
believe, has composed few songs. Sullivans airs
seemed TO touch her Her eyes showed the effect.
and the fan and then just family beat the
time. The opening CHORUS and He Is an English
man evidently pleased her. and Rackstraw's de-
spairng Farewell My own which very well
sung and acted. caused her to turn and smile APP
prevail at her American friend. But the pun was
plainly quite beyond her. The love lines. which. OF
course universal she could seize without effort
Rackstraws love for Josephine. who was fair and
debonar; Captain Corcoran's pride in his charming
toward the ceremonious Sir Joseph-al OF that went
easily without inteIpreta;i3n But Sir Joseph him Nm
Deadeye plainly eluded the ex-Queen. could SYM
pathize with her as TO the bumboat woman for the
eye. which was very well done, puzzled her greatly.
him down for some OF atrocious impishness. and
was disappointed at his failure TO do more than
elopenent. She turned several times TO her Amer
can friend and this lady would whisper explana-
to the ex-Queen. When Little Buttercup took the
middle. of the stage and began her song. When |
a resoundins whack, and Deadeye falling in a
faint into the of two sailors. dragged
Dominis completely she turned 10 her friend, who
explained the, cause of Deadeye's paralysis, but
couldn't see it. And SO on to the end. The love
Lines and ar the mqsS went srsght to the eS
unintelligble cuneiform inscription In sharp
contrast with this picture there sat in the adtoin,
that not line OF the text or bar Of the light
music h WAS Escaping him lie had The quickest
at humbug lie had evidently seen editions of
r on S all Of Was The man ana s
Speaker Reed"
ROASTING "CHESTNUTS' IN MIDSUMMER
The great amount of leisure which members of the
House have had at their disposal during this extra
session CT Congress has enabled them TO get well
acquainted with one another. Many Of them are
lawyers, and at the family hotels. which popu-
lar In Congressional circles, the in the
I'M a hat at no ia at he
same hour during a term OF court. A dozen or more
chairs are tilted back against the treeboxes and
their occupants engaged In telling stories.
These stories, a rule, relate to the practice of
the law or to political campaigning The old law
scenes will begin story with There is an old
or was on wsG s old ID
who was very reluctant to testify or "A Judge in
s1 usually begin with 4 had aPPontment
to speak at a little place. when or Il was re-
said'@ or I'm a race / made once for a small
county office came within an ace Of losing, by
strikes the average auditor with surprise and dis
is that so few Of them s are Tome It is
either from the stump or the bm o,,s Will live
turn turn It tot to their own individual use More amazing
even than this too. Is the recklessness OF story
tellers in appropriaing old veteran and dressing
| it up new as something of recent occurrence in
| their own experience.
A CURIOUS RULE.-A queer rule is in force In
the library OF the Patent ONCE. Visitors to tina,
| library will be informed when producing
| pa per and pencil TO make notes from volumes they
| call for that they are not allowed TO copy over
onc-third of any book which they are allowed 10
consult Any one who visits the library and sees
the great volumes containing technical and scien-
| ,ihc discussions would be rather amused AT thi.
rule but 1t is said to be fact thai frequently in
vestigators consulting the library and unable to
| get copies of standard works found there, desire
to secure a complete copy. They car do this. how.
| ever large the volume may be. by filing request
| with the Commissioner of Patents. who will order
a copy and charge them a fixed price per folio
| This rule put In force by Commissioner Sey.
mour who thought that people who desired copies
from the library might as well pay little revenue
to the Government In securing them. But 10 the
average visitor TO the library the ironclad rule
that they shall copy more than onc-thrd OF
any volume loaned them seems only subject foi
| amusement
| USELESS PUBLIC RECORDS.-The great &C