Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-19
AROUND THE GLOBE
WAR MAP AT WASHINGTON THAT
Is IRREsIsTIBLY ATTRACTIVE.
Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers,
Gather About the sphere to Ascer-
Soldier or Sailor.

How much consolation to the friends .
and relatives OF our boys there can be =
IN knowing the precise geographical
spot IN which the soldier or sailor hap .
pens to be at given time only those >
who have some one belonging to .
them" in camp or on warship can fully .
understand. To say that a sailor is at I"
Manila or a soldier at Tampa conveys
but dimly TO many minds the precise I"
sspot on this earth where the cause of .
the home anxiety is There is much
comfort, however, peculiar as it may
seem, to be derived from placing a fin .
ger on a map of the world in globular
form and saying HE is there" and
then turning to the geographical sec ="
ton In which the globe is located, and
adding: "We are here" 1t is easy TO I"
understand how eagerly the relatives .
of our soldiers and sailors compare the .
distance that separates them from the =
ship or regiment, and that is why the
scene enacted In Washington, where
'anxious pilgrims gather round the
great globe used in one of the depart .
ments. is becoming daily more inter
testing. AS our correspondent describes Z"
this scene, IL impresses one with the .
idea that there are few more pathetic
gatherings in connection with the war
than this one at Washington. Z"
sssssss sssssssssSs - - sssss
Correspondence of the Dispatch)
WASHINGTON. ID. c., June 1S.-In the
reception-room of the Secretary of the
Navy there is a large globe. which is
probably the most numerously and anx-
iously-consulted map in the country at
the present time. Into this spacious ante
room. which is reached by the west en-
trance. where the great anchors designate
the Naval Department. come all sorts and
conditions OF men-and women, too,
during the public reception hours-that is.
from 0 A. M. TO p. NJ. There are naval
officers. respondent in the uniform and
insignia of their rank; tourists and sight
seers, such as haunt Washington the year
round; but, in addition, there are anx-
ious fathers. fearful mothers. weeping
sweethearts. and valiant younger bro
theirs. who have come TO inquire about
or intercede for some brave boy in blue.
now destined for some far foreign land in
prosecution OF the present war against
Spain.
OF course. only a chosen few are add
mitted to the presence of the Secretary
important duties on hand than attending
20 minor details. His care is to look out
for the welfare of the majority, To plan
great expeditions, and put hundreds of
ships and thousands OF men into action
for the honor and glory Of these great
United States. He may not pause in his
manipulation of masses to inquire as 20
the personal needs OF some Insignificant
individual although 10 some anxious
Wal NJ N
blue seems the most important matter in
the whole world. What cares she for
wars and conquests, for glorious victo-
ries and freed races II her beloved son
falls In the fight? But while she is
anxious to get her son out of the war
there are hundreds Of others just as
anxious 70 get in. and the multiplicity OF
demands upon his attention would. II he
were 10 grant one-tenth or them, occupy
all OF Secretary Longs time.
But while they are waiting in the Sec
retary's recepfion-room to get an answer
from the sacred inner chamber which
VIII probably consign them TO the proper
bureau or clerk for satisfaction 10 their
inquiries, they wander about the cham
Der. looking at the portraits OF former
secretaries OF the navy pausing before
the colossal crayon drawing of Admiral !
Dewey, or looking out the windows TO-
ward the White House. But the centre
OF interest. 10 which all are sooner or
later attracted. is the great globe near
the centre Of the room.
There Is hardly an hour 10 the day
/ while the Navy Department Is open when
some one Is not anxiously consulting this
Globe Clerks from the Bureau OF Navi-
cation come busting In with busy air
ana knitted hrows 10 measure on degrees
or longitude and latitude on this globe,
winch gives better idea OF the contour
a. 49, sss>s~e-A4l hall siassA shsir AAaA ss,r.