Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-05-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Gin Of the Colonial Dames-rAs
Marine Band Saws wood-rhs
Baltimore Poem.
Especial Correspondence,

L
| $500 TO Surgeon General Van Reypen
| has created considerable comment in
| Washington. especially among the wo-
men folk The letter which accom-
| panied the check said the money was ia
| be used in any way that might most
| aid the sick and wounded ON board the
hospital ship Soiace II was the first
contribution in response 20 the surgeon
generals notice that volunteer women
nurses could not be utilized on the shin.
and pointing out that patriotic women
Of the country could be of the creates,
service TO the sick and wounded aboard
! our warships.
While at Norfolk Quitting the Sol
ace for service Dr. Van Reypen was
able, through the generosity of the
Colonial Danes, 20 purchase $500 worth
of Injuries for the sick and disabled of
Captain Simpsons squadron before
Havana. The doctor says that the re-
frigerators of the Solace will hold sew
eral thousand dollars worth of fruit.
chickens and various articles, which
would be gratefully received, but which
cannot be purchased under the regula-
tions with government funds
For the first time since 1861 the mem
bers of the United States Marine band
are doing regular duty as enlisted men
at the Marine barracks. They are doing
guard duty, saving wood for the fires
and doing the chores that fall to the
lot usually of enlisted men in the ranks.
In 1861 the band was compelled TO dc
the same duty, and its members also
manned a field gun which was station
ed at the barracks gate.
Weber, the orchestra leader. can tell
an amusing story about the way the
musicians handled this gun. One of
them, q clarinetist from vine clad Ger
many, who knew all abont fugues and
demisemiquayers, but nothing about
artillery, was assigned to the duty of
loading the gum He did not like to
show his ignorance, so he asked a fell
low bandsman to tell him what to do.
lyon take the ball, - said the instruct
or, land ram it home good. Then yon
take the powder and ram that home
good too. Then fill her up choek to the
muzzle with wadding. -
WAS list der muzzle?'' inquired the
other.
the hole in it, - replied the instructor.
The embryo gunner faithfully carried
out the instructions, and it required a
squad of bluejackets from the navy
yard to unspike the piece.
A Poem to the Baltimore.
There is in the file clerks Office at
the capitol the copy of poem which
recalls the first visit of the cruiser
Baltimore to the Maryland city from
which she got her name and an elegant
silver service. The poem was written
by Hon. Walker Y. Page of Baltimore,
now SO years of age. 1t is all the more
Interesting because of its connection
with Commodore Schley, then command
ing the Baltimore. Commodore Schley
was born up in Frederick, Md, and is
related to the family of Francis Scott
Key. The poem was dedicated to the
Baltimore and was presented to Com
modore Schley, who wrote courteous
note Of Acknowledgements. The first
stanza Of it runs as follows:
Bea.atis1. Hkl.imore bride of the sea,
Our hearts with our homage we now bring to
Thou CONTEST to thy s.mother" her blessing to
crave
wave
He Prefers Young Men.
The old Confederate general, Thomas
l.. Rosser, believes that young men
should do the fighting with Spain. Il
don't think" he says. "Spain would
take alarm at the sight of the few re-
manning officers of the armies which
disbanded 80 years ago if they should
march or sail against her, and, not
looking for bombproof position con-
ferring big name, tinsel and salary, l
have not dropped into the line to be
counted. Young men for officers, SOL
diers and seamen are what We need,
and not rheumatic, deaf and blind ma
jor generals. who know nothing of mod
ern tactics or modern weapons. -
An Authority on Gunpowder.
II Sergeant at arms Russell had de-
tected Representative Hilborn with a
box of smokeless powder at the capitol
the other day, he might have had reason
to call his attention to the recent rule
forbidding one to take cameras. bundles
or other suspicious packages within the
building. Judge Hilborn is probably
better informed about the properties of
powder than any other member of con
gress, and the other day he received at
the capitol quite a large box of the
smokeless variety. He took it up into
the press gallery and distributed the
long strips to the correspondents there.
To illustrate the harmless properties OF
the powder under certain circum-
stances he burned several pieces before
| the CRATE. The thin slabs, of a color re
.,iyx ,a1r-
summed by fire, giving out bright flame
| like the burning of pitch. When set of
| by conclusion, however, the solid sub
stance is decomposed with lightning
like rapidity.
Southern Patriotism.
| c B. Orcutt, president of the New
port News Shipbuilding company, which
has furnished five vessels to the navy
J and is now fitting out several auxilia
ries, showed Secretary Long telegram
recently from the editor of The Manu-.
facturers' Record, congratulating the
country and the shipyard as we'll thai
the first capture of the war was by tbs
| Nashville. named for a southern city
and commanded by a southern officer
and assuring him that this typifies the
fact that, whenever and wherever tbs
stars and stripes shall 60, southern mel
and southern influences will lead ths
way in unfolding the nations honor.
Carl. SCHoFIELD.
The Monitors Mascot.
/ Who says that none save bipeds
| As heroes shall be knowns
/ Shall egotisiic man assume
| All glory for his oSxnf
l Shall s'pomes and short prose pieces
| Which future children quote
Neglect the stalwart glory
l t}f william Terror fYaars