Evening star., 1897-02-27

THE scrub brush as a method of cleaning
floors. though in extensive use in this sec
tion of the country and even more so in
parts further south. remarked a New Eng
land lady who took prominent part In
the recent mothers congress. long since
went out of use in the New England states
and never did have much of place in the
progressive new cities of the west. In its
place a mop at the end of stick is used.
The mop does much better work. as we
look at IT, and besides can be used without
getting down all fours, which is hard
work in itself A woman can do double as
much work with a mop and in half the
time can be done with the scrub brush.
Personally. i had supposed that the scrub
brush had gone out of use everywhere un-
til / saw scrubwomen using it at the hotel
where | am stopping and afterward In the
corridors in of the department build
irgs. 1t is twenty-five years behind the
times. is untdy and does not secure the re-
suits that a mop or long-handled scrub
brush secures.
There are quite number of one armed
clerks in the departments. said an official,
land my experience is that. taking all in
all. they are almost equal in every respect
to those who are more fortunate. 1t is true
that the one-armed clerk cannot do as
much work as the clerk with two arms in
the same amount of time but 1t has been
demonstrated time and time again that the
one-armed clerks are more methodcal in
their work and more careful in doing 1t.
They seem to give more thought to the
work assignee! them. which in the long
counts up wonderfully in their favor.
Another peculiar thing Is that those who
have left arm are. as a rule. better PEN
men than those who have the right arm.
The one-armed clerk can stick more closely
IN his desk in tI1rD ont
work than the average two-armeG clerk. 1t
Is rare that one-armed clerk ever gives
out. l am in a room with one of them. and
i can assure you that though the rest OF
US occasionally tire out. our one-arm as
sociate has never been known to tucker.
There are many strict constructions that
have to be placed upon the law in the mat
ter of passing upon claims upon the treas
ury.' explained a law clerk of one of the
auditors of the Treasury Department. land
without them there would be no end of
claims As 1t is they arise by the score
every day. The rule of the auditors office
is to be as strict as possible. with the idea
that claims should be discouraged. OF
course. there are equities always involved.
but the practice is, at least for the twenty
years that 1 have been connected with the
auditors office, to try to keep our eyes
shut to them as much as possible, and If
" learn any way to lean on the side Of the
department. This kind Of thing seems to
grow us. and often we are unconscious.
There is such thing. though. as going in
to the ridiculous. 1t Is a legend of the
auditors office, and l think 1t is a fact.
that on one occasion it was held by an
auditor that an army officer was required
TO advertise for bids. before he could pay
for extinguishing a fire Ii appears that a
wharf took fire and some men were called
upon to extinguish it. They put in their
bill. and the officer approved ii and sent
Ii on for payment. The auditor held that
the officer had no authority to give out
government work without requesting bids.
There is no legal doubt but that the auditor
was right, but under the circumstances 1t
appeared ridiculous
The W hite House may be enlarged some
time said a member of the Senate COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds,
''but there will be some difficulty about it.
for the reason that In the past at least
the occupant of the Executive Mansion
has never been enthusiastic about 1t, as far
as he was concerned. General Grant was
thoroughly convinced that there should be
an extension to its capacity, though he
favored the idea of building residence for
the chief executive in some other section
OF the city and devoting the White House
TO an official residence only. for business
and the social functions which occur there.
But he would not listen to the Idea of hav-
ing either done while he was President.
/ talked to him several times the SUBJ
ject but all he would say was that 1t
should be done The present White House.
he said was good enough for him. though
he thought the sentiment of the country
was in favor of 4 more commodious man
sion. The necessary appropriation could
have been made any time he wanted II,
a rn6
During President Cleveland's first term
there was no agitation on the subject what
ever. and during the term which is now
about expiring he has never uttered an of1i-
cial sentence on the subject, though in
private conversations he has said that the
building should be enlarged He has. how
ever gone no further. Mrs Harrison was
enthusiastic on the subject. and even went
so far as TO approve plans for an exten-
sion, which were prepared for her These
plans now hang in our committee room, but
that Is as far as has been done. for the
reason that General Harrison. like Cen
eral Grant. always said that the present
White House good enough Tor him.
Had he been one-half as enthusiastic on
the subject as Mrs Harrison was the en-
Iargement would have been accomplished
before now / don't think that Maj.
Mckinley has given the subject any
thought since he has been elected Presi-
dent. and don't know what he will do. II
anything about the matter But i have
been told by a brother senator that he
has said. Yes. there ought to be new
Executive Mansion extension OF the
present one which is to me the most de-
sirable idea. but III worry along as 1t is
"Chilblains are confined to the feet" re-
marked a physician. but there Is a similar
thing that happens to the hands every now
and then, and especially with the ladies
who are not called upon to expose them
selves as much 10 the cold as men are. The
first symptoms an abnormal swelling
OF the hands. followed by the hands becom-
ing very much bloodshot in appearance.
After that there is an intense burning pain.
There are all kinds and sorts of remedies
for II. bat think the simplest and best Is
to dip the hands into basin of cold water
and keep them there for couple of min
utes. Then dry well and rub some cologne.
bay rum or witch hazel on them"
"GTeatness Is thrust upon some men. and
It sticks TO them for a long time after
ward" volunteered a member of the ma
ttonal republican committee but / never
knew OF a more marked case than one
which happened In Indianapolis about six
years ago The man on whom greatness
fell is a shirt maker. now known as Major
Schurz.' and he has been doing a remark
ably fine business In his line since II hap