Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-15
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rotary OF state is the legal custodian OF
the seal, he must OF necessity delegate
it's care to one Of his subordinates, and
in the forty-six years Mr.. Bartle had
charge of 1t many secretaries have
come and gone. Formerly this seal was
affixed to all commissions given by the
government. but as the business of the
various offices increased it was found
impracticable to place it upon all docu-
ments OF this character, and it is now
only used on the commissions of the
presidents cabinet, diplomatic and
consular officers nominated by the
president and confirmed by the senate,
all ceremonious communications from
the president to foreign governments,
pardons, communications of sentence by
the executive, exequaturs, eNtradition
warrants upon other countries and
commissions of civil officers appointed
by the president whose commissions
are not signed under different seal. 1t
will be readily seen that placing. the
seal upon these state papers furnished
its Venerable custodian abundant oc-
cupation, and besides this Office he
made, in a hand that could hardly be
distinguished from copperplate, many
of the commissions to which 1t was af-
fixed, the beauty and accuracy of
which never failed to elicit words of
admiration from the presidents who
signed them. from Polk to Mckinley.
Whenever he had occasion to handle
the seal Mr.. Bartle did SO in much the
same spirit that inspires devout Roman
Catholics when they touch sacred rel
les, and he set about using it with an
lmpressiveness that was invariably
communicated to all present, whose
voices We're instinctively lowered and
whose faces assumed a grave and re-
spectful expression. Since the founda
ton of the government there have been
three different seals used. The one now
employed was made by Tiffany some
ten years ago, and is kept. with its die
and press, in strong wooden box, the
keys of which are deposited in another
strong box, of which Mr.. Bartle himself
Invariably carried the key. With so
much unlocking to do it was, of course,
no little trouble to produce the SEAL but
it's keeper was always pleased to lex
hibit his treasure, and never objected,
no matter how many times a day he
Now and then he would make an i'm
preston of it with much parade and
circumstance, which. after being
passed around among the visitors, was
returned to Bartle, who carefully and
tremendously tore it into the finest
possible pieces before depositlng it in
the waste paper basket.
Ii is to be hoped that Mr.. Bartle has
left a bulky volume of "reminiscences,
for his mind was stored with interest
ing facts not generally known, and he
had Il collection of stories of the IA
nous men of the last seventy-five years
which would make an Invaluable addi-
ition to the history of his times, for his
sense of humor was keen. and, while
possessed of spirit of reverence rare
lly to be met with in this end of the
century, he had noted the amusing &C.
lcentricities of his contemporaries, and
when in the mood would spin yarn
after yarn.
Mr.. Bartle knew Webster WELL and
had the honor. as did SO many of that
great mans friends, of being his credi-
tor but, more fortunate than many, re-
ceived back the loan in full.
Have You any money with you,
Bartle?. asked Mr.. Webster at that
time secretary OF state, one day alb
ruptly
No, sir promptly replied his clerk
knowing the idiosyncrasies of his chief
Have you got any at home, then p
demanded his chief.
Yes. a little responded Bartle, eau
tiously
Have you got as much as sloO?H
fqueried the great man further.
Yes, sir" the answer was given re-
lluctantly.
Then bring it to me at once" or
ldered the secretary
The money was soon in Mr.. Webster's
hands. and several weeks after
4 promptly on demand was repaid, mucf
to the surprise of the lender. VIII,
locked upon il as gone forever.
Mr.. Bartlc had a warm admiration
for President Jackson's many sterlin;
Qualities. and told a number of storie.
one occasion a certain landlady, unabl
TO collect a long bill from one of he
boarders. q young sprig of fashion EN-
ployed in one OF the departments. com
planned to President Jackson an,
begged him to compel payment.
Go home said the president to hi
visitor, and ask the young man to Civ
You a note for the full amount; the
i, bring that note TO me-
: The debtor gladly gave the note
which was promptly carried to tn
president, who wrote across the back i
, that characteristic hand, Endorsed b
Andrew Jackson