Evening star., 1899-06-03
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That the many mishaps which befel that
architectural mOnstrosity on Pennsylvania
avenue known as the new city post ottice
during the many years it was n process OF
construction was due TO a "hoodoo is
freely admitted by a large number of WASH
ington citizens. who watched the building
rise. with frequent Interruptions, from its
foundations No other public structure ever
erected in Washington has caused the gov
ernment 50 much trouble, and even now.
although partially occupied. a terations and
changes remain 10 be MADE
Columns have been written in the news
papers by Indignant citizens calling atten-
ton to defects in the big stone building
and ConGemnlng the structure genera -ly.
A congressional committee was appointed
at the last session 10 Investigate the many
alleged shortcomings of the building, and
altogether the new city post office has been
a cause for complaint ever since 1t rose
above the first story several years ago.
Believers IN such things nave all along
asserted with solemn conviction that the
building was "hoodooed' Their position
has at last been sustained, for the hoo
doc has been found, and it Will remain as
long as the building stands. 1t is not one
of those mysterious "hOOdOoes.'' invisib g
10 the human eye. but, on the contrary. it
may be seen at any hour of the day or
night by any one who cares to walk to the
south end Of the west corridor on the first
floor. There, distinctly outlined in the mar
bic of the wall, is the perfect figure of a
huge black cat. with tail curled around its
launches. ears stiff and erect. Faint lines
trace the Whlskers from each side of the
Jaws 1t Is not necessary to search the
surface OF the marble for the cat. because
the hSure is easily distinguishabIe several
yards away from the wall. A painter could
scarcely nave made it palmer or more life
ike with ms brushes and cOlors-
The figure is due to the peculiar yeinIDg in
the marble. and is the on.y one which mas
SO far been found i'll the building Figures
faces and objects in marble are not uncom-
moh' ana there are number of fine specl-
mems in the geological section of the Ma
uonal Museum None of them. However
compares with the slab in the post office in
leallSm and close approach to nature One
OF the post office watchmen expressed the
opinion the other day that until the slab
containing the cat is removed the ''hoodon"
Will continue to hang over the buiIdine
IN looking over the events that have
happened during the years of my life,
Sa4H an oId rt sident to a Star reporter, II
think the year of 1851 produced the great
est number and the happenings were of a
greater diversity of interest Jenny Lind
came To this country that year under her
$4,000 contract with Barnum. and sang
her songs with wonderful sweetness and
equally wonderful profits TO Mr. Barnum.
John {. Heenan. the Benicia boy, whipped
Tom Sayers and turned the eyes of eiviIiza-
lion toward him 1t was England against
America, and, as all the world knows.
ATnn n-fS.
the prize fighters of that era did not wear
gloves. The fight was under royal manage
ment. and there was more royalty at the
rlngside than anywhere else on that day
In all the rest of England. The sIoop Amer
lea won the cup for the fastest sailing, de-
feating the world, and the old ship still
exists and can hold her own even
against the modern boats with their ex-
tenslVe keels. Louis kossuth visited Amer
lea IN IS1l and gave a great impetus to ma
uonal and international politics. The first
worlds fair. the Crystal Palace at London
" as held in 1871, and though it was a long
time ago II IS not forgotten and has not
been surpassed by the worlds fairs which
have followed. 1t was at the Crystal Pal
ace that the American mechanic showed
that he stood second TO none in the world.
Hobbs challenged Chubb. and Hobbs, the
American mechanic, carried off the first
prize as lOCkmaker. Hobbs represented an
American manufacturer of iron bank safes
He placed his safe on exhibition and tied
the key 10 the combination lock on the out
side Inside the safe was placed ESQ, or
81 2JD. and the free offer was made to the
mechanics Of the world that if they opened
the safe the money contained therein could
be taken for their success. The safe was
never opened. At that time Chubbs was
famous all over England and in Europe as
q lockmakcr The Bank of England in
dOrsed Chubb and used his locks exclusive
~. Hobbs examined the workmanship of
the locks and offered to not only enter the
outer doors Of the Bank of England. but TO
open also the seven doors leading TO the
treasure safes inside of two hours If per
mission was given. This was too much fOr
the BTitishers to stand and they gave the
Necessary consent.
Hobbs was on hand two hours before the
time for opening the doors of the bank ar
rived. and announced himself ready to go
To work All the tools he had he carried
In his vest pocket, consisting of about
twenty picks. He opened the front door IN
seven minutes and entered the bank tri-
umphanjly- He next approached the outer
door Of the treasure safe. In six minutes
the door opened. and before one hour had
passed. half Of the time ne asked for. he
had his hands in the treasure of the bank,
much To the amaZement of the directors
IF the bank and TO the intense disgust of
Chubbs. VINO. besides being a loCkmaker,
was a knight or duke or something similar
as side line, and a man of influence and
wealth. He took his defeat gamely, how
locks This he did by taking Hobbs into
his employ as an adviser. For the time.
however. J think the Bank of Eng,and put
American locks on their safes for every
body recognized the fact that Chubbs was
Hp more a match for Hobbs than Savers
was FOR Heenan. We won great races on
the English turf that year and did other
things equally proud An American artist
painted the finest picture on exhibition in
the Crystal Palace. while Henry Ward
Beecher ourpreached Spurgeon in his Lon
don tabernacle"
Fhe Tear that some parents exhibit when
measles is prevailing remarked a we'll
known army surgeon TO Il Star reporter.
Is past my understanding and certainly
against my experience, both in and ont
Of the army service. In my Judgment, while
measles cannot be. called blessing ii is
certainly better that children should go
through with il while they are children
With anything like careful nursing and
watching measles IS harmless disease. espe
clally in summer time. The only thing
HAT is necessary is that there shall be nc
Sudden changes in the temperature Of the