Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-10-28
ODD REQUESTS BY CITIZENS
Some Extraordinary Uses For Which
They Desire Government Literature.


The ingenuity displayed by some
people in reaching bizarre and unique
interpretations of apparently simple
statements Is marvellous at times. An
instance occurred recently that as
founded even the hardened clerks in
one of the departments ut Washington,
that has many peculiar persons as cor
respondents. A request came to the
department for one OF its publications.
The request was granted and the book
seft- in-the familiar manila wrapper,
bearing In one corner the legend, off
cial Business. Penalty for Private
Use. $780," In due course of the mails
the following reply was received: Dear
sir wat does that mean penalty for
private use 800 does that mean that
you want pade for the book If 1t does
let me know an | will sente the book
back rite away for liant working an
l cant aforde to by it. Yours truly.
The writer's of the Government pub
locations cannot afford the vanity and
constituencies that il popularity ascribed
to authors. If they did not cultivate
callous Indifference to jests and criti-
clsm their beds would be thorny In
appreciation of the literary merits OF
the works within the solemn black
bindings that emerge from the Gov
eminent Printing Office. The head of
a department that prides itself on the
high value Of its various publica-
lions received request from one
of the sovereign people for his report.
Glowing with inward pride over hav-
ing found an appreciative reader, the
head of the department Informed his
correspondent that large number of
reports were issued from his office
every year, and that he would send
any of them that was desired, IL he
were informed which was wished. A
prompt reply came saying that the
writer was not particular, any one
would do. as he only wanted 1t for
scrap book.
Speaking of report the Smithsonian
Institution had an experience that was
shock to the stately calm Of that dig
niiied body. AS is known TO every one,
one of the purposes of the institution
is the diffusion of knowledge among
mankind" and In pursuance OF this
end, IL publishes valuable scientific
works. There are many books that are
of great utility to scientific workers
and students and that should be pub
lished, for which the demand would be
so limited that no commercial publisher
could afford to Issue them. IL work
of this sort be really meritorious, the
Smithsonian Institution undertakes its
publication, and to this are due several
of the most important and exhaustive
works of the past half century. These
works are given to certain public libra
ries and individuals, and their value is
known to all students of science.
Among the libraries that have been
beneficiaries of the institution Is one
in n town In Massachusetts. This IL
brary has complete set of Sn,ithson-
ian publications, and is the envy OF
many others on account of 1t. 1t he
came blessed with new librarian not
long ago. and he saw the long file or
these donated books and regretted the
shelf room. 4 remedy suggested itself
and the Smithsonian received n letter
saving that this library needed space,
and as ii could not give shelfage TO
such a mass of literary rubbish II was
hoped that the institution would take
back It's useless trash. by return mail
this offer was accepted, ana, TO the
disappointment of the officials, the
learned and courteous librarian replied
that since writing the letter he had
been told that some of the books were
of value and he would retain them-for
which compliment the institution is
duly grateful.
The populqr notion OF the functions
of the Government is source OF ne'
er-anding wonder. The Commission OF
Fish and. Fisheries received letter
some weeks since from lady who
wished to know il the distribution of
fish was kept up by the Commission.
"If so,' continued tbe letter, Il wish
a large salmon sent me. expect to
give a handsome entertainment on the
-th of this month. and wish to serve
salmon at the dinner" She was in
formed hat the fish distributed are only
about one inch long, and she. no doubt.
thinks the Government fiat failure.