The leader., 1899-11-01

is at 1141 Rhode Island avenue, in the
heart of the residence section Of aris-
tocratic northwestern Washington and
two blocks from Farragut square where
is the statue of his great prototype. The
house is fully furnished and cost S53.-
600.
The house given to Admiral Dewey
is by no means the first presented in
this city to officers Of the army and
navy. The first house presented to a
national hero was given to General
Grant by his enthusiastic and admiring
friends upon his coming to Washington
at the close of the civil war. When
General Grant was elected to the presi-
dency and General Sherman took com
mand of the army. some of the friends
of the latter bought the house and fur
nishings from General Grant and pre-
sented it to General Sherman, who oc-
cupied it until 1874.
Residences have also been presented
TO Generals Sheridan, Logan, Hancock
and Miles One of the most attractive
of these was that given to Little Phil
and is still occupied by Mrs. Sheridan.
1t is in the very heart Of fashionable
Washington. When General Sheridan
assumed command of the army in 1888
and moved from Chicago to the national
capital, number of his Chicago friends
quietly planned a gift which should
testify in substantial way their love
for him. About $50, 600 was quickly
raised in the whole hearted western
81.
Rhode Island avenue was purchased and
furnished 1t was all done so quickly
and quietly that the gallant general
was taken completely by surprise The
first intimation that he had of the gift
was when the generous Chicagoans
presented him the deed to the property.
Major George A. Armes, retired,
whose eccentricities have given him
wide if not always pleasing fame again
comes into public notice, this time as
the alleged promoter of a decidedly Gu
riOus tilibustcring expedition to South
Africa. Major Armes is one of the
unique characters of Washington life
Until within few years ago he man
aged to keep himself very much in evi-
dence. He has the distinction of having
been court martialed six times. Once
he was acquitted, once reprimanded,
three times dismissed from the army
and once sentenced to stay within 80
miles of Washington and forbidden to
wear his uniform for that period In
each case, however, his sentence was
cOmmuted after being partially execut-
ed, owing to the efforts of influential
friends. One court martial was the re-
suit Of his pulling General Beaver S
nose at the Riggs House at the time of
President Harrison 5 inauguration, and
another was for sending an insulting
letter to Lieutenant General Schofeld
in 1895.
Major Armes distinguished himself
in 1894, when his daughter, Miss Cicely
Armes, married Mr.. Herbert Claude.
Just as the young people stepped out Of
the side door of st. Patrick's church,
Major Armes entered the front door
with warrant for the arrest of the
bridegroom Mr.. Claude declared that
the major had threatened his life for
courting his daughter, and that he had
therefore armed himself to be prepared
for any emergency. Armes' warrant
was for carrying concealed weapons,
but he was unable to serve it.
Major Armes is native of Fairfax.
Va, and served with credit on the Fed
eral side in the civil war. No one could
ever question his personal courage. In
deed he was thought by some to have
quite too much courage with too little
discretion.
According to reports, the ostensiole
purpose of the organization Of which
Major Armes is said to be the head is
to reach the South African goldfields
with a company of frontiersmen, Indian
fighters, cowboys miners and hardy
adventures not unlike the rough riders
in our war with Spain and arrive in
Just the nick Of time when the mines
are being fought over by both sides.
The promoters Of the scheme declare
with charming frankness that they will
decide after they get there whether to
cast their fortunes with the British or