The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-12

through the open doorWays the Joneses and
Jameses and Wilkinsons were to be seen be-
hind their counters quietly attending to their
businesses. The polygot hordes of New
York, the rushing and yelling, the poster
type JingOism, had all been left behind. But
for the slow-moving placid-faced negro men
and women, tho barefooted yellowish- black
childre1, the swiftly-gliding electric tram
cars, the wooden sun-shutters to the win
dows and the glorious grey dome of the
capitol floating above the trees at the end of
the vista of the boulevard, why it might
have been Worcester or Exeter, instead of
Washington.
There are newspapers here, and they had
their bulletin boards. But instead of lurid
pictures and nightmare announcements
there were posted on the boards sheets of
paper bearing in manuscript brief sum-
groups of people were regarding with sober
interest. 1t was only one nights journey
from New York but in the night I had
had gone to sleep in New York and
awakened up in America. The change was
like the passing from the betting ring of
suburban race meeting into the reading
room of a Conservative club on a Sunday
afternoon.
My business was at the government office,
l wanted to see in what form of frenZied
energy and seething war fever of the New
York crowd would express itself at the seat
and center of government 1 found the
offices great handsome blocks in the ia
miliar government style of architecture,
standing near to the White House, in the
midst of pleasant green parks and gardens
in the outskirts of the city. But where was
the frenzied excitement? Outside a few
gentlemen of official look were to be seen,
ing; their faces were not drawn by anxiety
or overwork. Their temperatures seemed
normal. They looked like men who, having
important business to attend to, were GO
ing about it in a businesslike way, with
level minds, calmly and good humoredly,
conscious of their ability to attend properly
to 1t. light brougham drawn by a pair
Of fine horses. with a smiling niger half
asleep on the box, was waiting at the en-
trance to the Army Office One or two
hardy little buggies were in waiting.
The War Department was so calm exter-
nally that I thought surely some scene of
excitement must have drawn everyone in
side the building. / entered. No excitement,
no noise, no rush nor hurry. Down the long,
cool corridor of the Navy Department men
clothes were chatting in groups outside the
light swinging bamboo screens that serve
as doors to the various offices; Messengers
were passing along briskly. but without
scurry. Now and then one of the swinging
screens would open and an elderly, grave
high official would pass out with nod and
"howdy colonel?" or "howdy senator?"
to one of the broad-brimmcd ones. This did
not look very frenzied. 1t did not look like
the crystillization of the vapors of the New
York crowd. 1t DID not look like the high
pressure of war times.
/ thought would like to look in one of
the offices, and / asked messenger who
was sitting at little table in the corridor
why. of course" he said. when I diff
IDENTIFY explained. step right in; which one
WOuiQ you IKE 10 see
Emboldened by his complaisance, / said /
should like to see the office of the secretary
Even then he did not drop dead nor show
any of the distressing symptoms which
would have been manifested by Admiral
ty official to whom a travelling American
had coolly expressed a desire to see the un-
der clerk of the second assistant private
secretary of Mr.. Goschen. On the contrary,
he pointed to another bamboo door and said,
Right there; step right in" l stepped in.
A big room, solidly and handsomely fur
nished, with pictures OF Presidents and
one of the chief departmental official stead
lily working away at pile of papers; by his
side typewriter rapidly clicking; on the
dozen or more Of middle-aged, responsible
looking men were sitting discussing to-
gether details OF the naval operations; at
door. II opened. and pleasant-faceds Ell
DERBY gentleman came out. accompanied ~