The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-03-25
CHAT OF THE CoRRIpor

CHAT OF THE CORRIDOr
Quite an interesting event TOOK place last
week at the metropolitan M. E. Church. It
having been announced that President Nc
Kinleys family wonld worship there, it at once
became the center of religious interest. So
when the Church officials, quick to profit by
the situation, decided that the pews should DO
sold, and advertised the fact. there was q
great rush to the sacred edifice to attend tho
sale. The bidding was lively. The prices
ranged from 500 TO $40. The Presidents pew
was given to him free, in accordance with the
provisions of the gift of Mr. Thomas NJ. keiso.
of Baltimore. Mr.. kelso donated $1,000 to the
Church when it was bnilt, with the provision
that pew was to be set aside for the use OF the
President of the United States when the latter
chose to attend the services. Mr. John S. Berry,
also of Baltimore contributed 5000 to endow
a pew for the use of the Chief Justice Of the
Supreme Court. President Grant occupied the
Presidents pew during his two terms and Chief
Justice Chase the Chief Justices pew. Mr..
Kelso recently contributed the funds for ex-
tensive repairs to the steepIe.
| X
Presidents Secretary Porter is learning many
things. This is not surprising. for he is
bright, receptive young man, and he is in
place where the chance to learn is exceedingly
good. But one of the surprising things which
he has learned is the exaggerated fondness the
colored politician has for making speech. In
this he runs dead heat with the Popnlist
politician, with these differences: The Negroes
| Vol iS llvf u1l and nd
he has fondness for many-syllabled words
which will display its power without much
reference to their exact meaning or their ap-
plication to the question at ISSUE The Populist's
voice, on the other hand, is likely to be high
pitched aud grating, and he is likely to be
| fondest of catchy phrases. Secretary Porter
comes from Connecticut, where colored polite
ians do not abound lie had his first practical
acquaintance with them last week, when he
ushered a colored delegation into the Presi-
| dents presence. The leader Immediately
after shaking hands with the Chief Magistrate
squared himself of. inflated his ample lungs,
and favored the assembled throng with an
orotund dissertation on things in general, with
casual allusions to the matter which had brought
him there. He at length got through, aud
the second member of the delegation took up
the theme. aud then the next and the next and
SO on. while the jam of oficc-seekers fumed.
| jostled, and l fear swere a good deal. and the
| President listened patiently with inexhaustible
| good nature. Hereafter Mr.. Porter will, before
| bringing them in, take pains to deliver brief
lecture to such delegations that the President
is there for the purpose OF attending strictly to
| business, and is neither running a school Of
elocution nor presiding over debating society.
| 4
A representative Of the old time Secession
element of Washington died in this city last
week. He was Col. Alex. Macomb Mason,
better known as Mason Bey," from his posi-
ton in the Egyptian army. He was born in
Washington in lsil, aud was the grandson Of
Gen. Alex. Macomb Commanding General,
| U. S. A. He was appointed a cadet at Annap-
| oils, but resigned 10 join the Southern Con-
| federacy. He was engaged in the action at
| Drewrys Bluff. when tue fort there beat off the
| Galena and other vessels which attacked it.
He also participated in some of the rebel
naval operations of Charleston. He then went
to Europe as the Secretary to his Uncle, John
| Y. Mason, who was one of the Confederate
Commissioners, but returned in time to COM
mand company of sailors in Lees retreat
from Richmond. aud was captured at Sailors
Creek. After the war be went to Chile and
entered the navy, and finally. in 1870, was
selected one of the Americans given a com.
mission in the Khedives army and navy. He
became quite prominent in Egyptian affairs,
4 and was distinguished by several official ex-
plorations into equatorial Africa. He was
still in the Egyptian service al the time of his
DEATH and was buried in his uniform as
General of the Egyptian army.
r
Tho Presidents Secretary, >. Addison
Porter, wants dog-owners to distinctly under
stand that the Presidents desire for dogs is
fully sAtisfed-ihe Secretary is tempted to say
more than satis6ed-by the receipt of the ST.
Bernard, Moscow" who weights 15O pounds,
costs more than horse to keep, and is as much
in the way as baby Garage in dark hall
1t has also been asserted that Mr.. Porter has
been heard to call attention to the old SAYING
that g fool has one dog and a - fool two"
There are comparatively few churches in the
country which pay Superintendent of Sun.
! day-school salary for devoting his whole time
to the work. and but one of these in Washing.
ton. This is Calvary Baptist Church, which
has not only the largest Sunday. school in
Washington, but the largest south of Mason &
Dixons Line.
4
Willis Van Devanter, nominated for Assist
ant Attorney General, is a successful lawyer
Although ouIy IS years old. he has achieved
an enviable reputation in the West. and es-
pecially in his own State. IIe is an Indiana
man by birth. After practiciug law in his ma
tive town he removed to Cheyenne, where he
has since resided. lie was Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court through the appointment of
the President when 90 years of age, under the
|