The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-11
SOME WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
EPEs A MARTYR TO
DUTY.

and His FamiIy-The Affections of
the Grant FamiIy-The Last of the
Cabinet Dinners-An Amateur Play
That Attracted SOciety-The New
est American Novel of Mrs. Hodges
Burnctt-sOme other Matters of
General Interest.
Washington, March 9.-Those who knew
best, say that the late Congressman Epes
died martyr to that stern sense of par
tisan duty which controls the House in
all emergencies. In his usual place on
Wednesday afternoon, he had breathed
his last before noon on Friday. 1t now
develops that the doctors had diagnosed
his ament on Tuesday told him that he
wes in a dangerous way with appendicitis
and advised him 10 go at once to the hos
pital to prepare for the inevitable opera
ton. Had Mr.. Epes obeyed this advice
he might be alive to-day. He fully real
lied his condition; but just at the time
it seemed there was a good chance of
defeating the Porto Rican bill, and every
Democra tic vote was needed. When his
colleagues learned how serious his illness
pair with Mr.. Epes; but this the other
side positively refused to grant 1t would
have been the same way had the ailing
member belonged to the Republican side
not a Democrat would have let him off
in such an emergency. But, of course
nobody expected such tragic termina-
ton. Hardly day passes that does not
see some congressman ailing, particularly
when the loss of their vote might change
the party scale--and the world knows
that these die all too seldom. Though
suffering excruciating torments, MIR. Epes
took his seat in the House and remained
there until the last vote was taken on
the Porto Rican bill. Then he was hur-
ried off to the Garfield Hospital, and I'M
derwent fresh torments in an operation.
But it was hours too late. AS usual
the operation was pronounced success
full" but he died of it. He was one of
the youngest members of Congress mot
quite $50, as well as one of the most earn
est and faithful, and with a promising
career before him. He leaves a wife and
two little children, and an aged mother
who depended upon him.
Senator Lodge was seen on the floor of
the Senate Tuesday for the first time since
he was called home by the death of his
ment has left a noticeable impression upon
him, and both his manner and the ex-
preston of his face denote that the men,
DRY of it is constantly with him. There
as an old-fashioned poem, written 1 be-
lieve by Mrs. Hemans called The Death
OF the Flowers" I have forgotten the
words, but the Idea expressed is that
the rose accounts for its changed appear
ance in the autumn because it has looked
on DEATH There are few people of mid
die age whose faces have not been chang
ed by. the common experience.
Mr.. Thomas B. Bard, the senator-elect
from California, who succeeds former
Senator White, arrived in Washington
tuesday, accompanied by his wife. two
daughters, a son CDR. Charles Bard) and
several San Francisco friends The new
ly-elected senator is a splendid physical
specimen of the Wild and Woolly West"
very tall. broad-shouldered and deep
chested, with gray mustache. long gray
hair and cordial, open hearted manners
HIS faVorite boast is that he is "a self
MADE man." and the general verdict seems
10 De that he made a pretty good lob OF
H. he is very wealthy man. his MANY
millions having been obtained throngb
careful speculations in Southern Califor-
MIA oil lands.
Former Senator and Mrs. Davis left
saturday in their private car to spend tbe
next four weeks in travel among the
Fiorida resorts+ They were accompani4d
by their daughter. Mrs. Elkins. and two
granddaughters, Katharine Elkins and
Katharine Brown.
The Washington world has beap s,,,,,r,o
thlzlng very deeply with the Grant fam
lily, IN IT'S several sudden Affections. Inn II
seems, however, that the skies are hr5obt-
ening for ar of them. Mrs Nelly Gu,
Sartoris, who is such a favorite in sor,ietv
mere, suddenly dropped out a couple of
months ago; and the next thai was heard
of her was that she was in a New VII
hospital, at deaths door with a can9er
ana about to undergo an operatlon-the
one chance in "a thousand of saving her
life Now, everybody is rejoicing 20 know
that the operation was successful the
thousandth chance was hers, and the for
elgn growth was not cancer after all
she Is convadescing, though not vet able
to be about Her mother, Mrs n 8
Grant mas been with her and also her
daughter, Miss Vivian Sartoris Miss
Rosemary Saroris is now abroad and #
her mothers health is restored. the fam
lily wild join Mrs. Potter Palmer in paris
during the exposition.
AS everybody knows, Mrs. Palmer,s sis-
ter is the wife of Mai Gen. Fred Grant
who is now in The Philippines. Their
daughter, Juaa Dent Grant, who lately
married the Prince Cantaouzere and went
with her husband to his ancestral home
In Russia has been very i'll with typhoid
IeVer' When the news came, her mother
Mrs. Fred Grant, was in the midst of a
round of gaiety at the national capital
having been feted and entertained here
as few women have ever been. She nos
sesses the commendabee trait of being
equal 70 emergencies and abe TO make IN
her mind an hurry. Within ten minutes
after receiving her cablegram, the teIe
graph wires were speeding messages 10
New York. trunks were b.ng packed and
arrangements made for an immediate de-
parture. She secured the services of the
best trained nurse in New York. and
passage on the first outgoing steamer
The way to Odessa is long and Mrs
Grant has not yet arrived at the bedside
OF her daughter 1t is doubtful if she
has even had any news of her en- route
but the happy word has come 10 Wash
ington that the Princess is already OUT Of
danger.