Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-06-18

of gun which he had invented and which
private corporation was manufacturing TO
sell to the government Lieutenant Clas-
on was of on leave, settling up an estate
Lieutenant Seabury was working for q
company which was making ordnance for
the army. Chief Engineer Towne was
working at the Cramps shipyard at g. 900
year supervising the making Of maohtn-
cry whose designs he, In bis official capao-
ity, had approved. Lieutenant Wood had
been drawing 81 800 year from the navy
department. for az years, and in all that
time he had been managing tho affairs Of
projectile company which did business
with the government. Naval Constructor
Armistead was representing the interests
Of some Boston contractors against the gov.
eminent while drawing government pay.
Civil Engineer Menocal had been on leave
for four years looking after the interests
of the Nicaragua Canal company, of
which he was the chief engineer.
And we'll up on the list Of fayorites was
Robert E. Peary, to whom the secretary Of
the navy had granted leave from March !,
1891, to Nov. 2, 1896, for arctic explora-
tons.
Naval Instruction.
Some years ago all the naval construct
ors were appointed from civil life. There
was no course at the Naval academy which
would equip the cadets for this delicate
and important work. The English gov
eminent permitted two students from each
foreign nation to attend the naval school
at Greenwich. The secretary of the navy
determined to send two of our brightest
cadets there for three years course. In
tho following year two were sent to Glas-
gov, and year later two to Paris. These
students had opportunities they could not
have had under any other conditions.
They came home better equipped than any
of the civilian naval constructors, whom
they soon displaced. After few years the
builders of ships who were working on
government contracts learned how valu-
able the services Of these men were, and
offered them large salaries Several OF
them resigned their commissions to accept
private employment, and one is running
: a shipyard of his own today. 80, ..,-'
It Is very pleasant for these bright young
men to better their condition, though it Is
difficult for you and me to see where the
government gets It's return for the costly
education given to them. However, hold
them in higher respect than the officers
who accepted service against the govern
ment while they were drawing govern
ment pay.
A great many Of the men who are here
after office now say they want "si-ne-
'cu-recs." They want pleasant places In
which there will be little to do. Some
thing like the place held by Buchanan
Echley of Maryland under Secretary Car
Isle would suit them very well-a place
they would not have to visit more than
once week, or, better still, would be the
place of the auditor just removed by Secre-
tary Gage, who staid at his home in the
south and kept up communication with
the treasury only to the extent of drawing
his pay. Many men want oonsulates be-
cause they think consuls have little to do.
Perry Carson, the colored representative
Of the District at many Republican con-
ventions, says frankly that he wants a con-
sulate because he has asthma and the ell
mate Of Washington does not agree with
him.
A great many men want consular
places because they think they will have
plenty of leisure for literary work abroad.
The government has been very kind to
writer's. There are many conspicuous
cases Of literary men who have held places
In the consular service. William Dean
writing while holding an Italian CONSUL
ship. He won his place by political work
the writing of life Of Abraham LIN
colin for campaign use. In the year Of
Howells' appointment, John Bigelow was
sent to Paris, and later he was made min
lister to France. Hinton Rowan Helper
was sent to Buenos Ayres by Lincoln.
George Perkins Marsh was another liter
AIRY man honored by Lincoln. He had
been In the diplomatic service, though, for
many years before Lincoln made him
minister to Italy. .,...7..
4sf Literature and Once.
Bret Harte was consul at Crefeld, Ger
many, for two years and at Glasgow for
i've. He was appointed by Hayes, and
Hayes also sent Andrew d. White az min
lister to Germany, the plaoe Mr.. White 10
going to I'LL again. Garfield sent Lew
Wallace az minister to Turkey. Sunset
Cox was another literary man who went
10 Turkey, though Mr.. Coz was morea pol
itioian than litterateur. James Russell
Lowell, John Lothrop Motley, George
bancroft and Edward Everett were the
literary predecessors Of John Hay at Lon
don. Nathaniel Hawthorne and Donald
Grant Mitchell held consulships, the first
at Liverpool and the second at Venice.
The list Of literary men In the archives
Of the state department ia long. This ad-
miniatration furnishes its full quota. After
Mr.. Hay comes General Horace Porter,
our ambassador to France. General Por-
ter told me recently that he was urged 10
enter literature when he left the army,
but he saw no promise Of reward In It, 90
be entered business life. Now that he 10
wealthy, literature Is recreation for him.
Andrew D. White Ia another littaEateuf
whom this administration has honored,
and tho Swedes Of the northwest are urg-
ing President Mckinley to name for the
Swedish mission that splendid story teller
and eloquent lecturer Paul B. Du Chaillu.
GRonG1 GRANTHAN RAn