The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-08-03
WASHINGTON LETTER


.
Especial Correspondence
The navy department has purchased
a considerable tract of land surround
ing the naval observatory in Washing
ton in order to protect from jar the del
icate Instruments which record the
time Of the country. 1t was deemed
advisable not to have any highways
within 1000 feet OF the clockroom.
where the instruments are stationed.
and a circle with radius of 1000 feet
was therefore drawn entirely around
the observatory. At the last session or
congress $4,000 was appropriated To
purchase the inCloSed land, and TINS
amount became available the other day.
The tracts purchased are those owned
bv i. w. Thompson. known as Dunn
barton. containing 1895 acres, for
which $4,000 was paid, and Robert
Wcaver's tract of S,645 acres. for which
$4,000 was paid There are some
smaller tracts still to be purchased
The line of the Tenallytownelectric cars
is lust outside of the 1000 feet circle.
The line of Massachusetts, avenue ex-
tended will cross the circle. but has
been DETECTED M this point so as to run
around It, Part Of the present acqui-
sition is high. wooded ground, and,
with that already owned by the gov
eminent. the naval observatory has
fine sweep OF ground. 1t IS expected
ultimately 10 run a boulevard around
the circle.
There are about ten acres OF land
within the circle yet TO be acquired.
including small tracts Of lands owned
respectively 10y MeSSrS. Barnes. Flem-
inc. Young and Barber. The grounds
of the Industrial school are also within
the circle. They belong TO the District
government and comprise n little less
than seven acres Outside the limits or
the circle the government owns about
Il acres Of land which it is designed to
sell and use the proceeds in the pur-
chase Of private property within the
circle.
PeddIera Who Sell to Federal CLERKS.
Each executive office of the govern
ment has its time honored peddler, who
generally takes a stand at his or her
post before the clerks arrive each
morning and remain with the greatest
tenacity until the last clerk leaves the
department in the evening. one OF the
oueerest of these peddlers is an Old
woman known as Mistress Hayes, who
sits in a contorted lump at the north
front OF the interior department with
one eye on her Bible and the other on
the lookout for customers.
Her wares are lot Of shoestrings,
pins. needles, buttons and other small
things such as peddlers generally SELL
making in all quite heavy stock for a
yender of this class Though a dis
lance Of many blocks, this old woman
whose back is as crooked as a rainbow.
pulls her small wagon, through good
weather and bad. never failing to take
I'D her stand as the clerks go In. once
in awhile some one buys a tritle, but
usually a little change is dropped into
the cup without a purchase.
For a time It was the custom Of the
messenger boys to leave their bicycles
at this end of the steps, while the old
woman occupied a camp stool farther
along in a much exposed position. No
ticlng this and that the bicycle corner
was a snug one, Secretary Hitchcock
had the boys move their wheels, and
now the old woman occupies the more
comfortable place.
The secretary sometimes drops
coin in her cup and, though she con-
fides that she hopes some time to save
him through the medium of her quaint
old Bible, she has not yet tried to per-
suade him. She has, however, got
many Of the clerks in the straight and
narrow path and announces that her
business is to serve them while they
buy shoestrings from her.
New Idea at Smithsonian Institution.
The Smithsonian institution at Wash
ington is to have q special exhibit for
children. 1t is being arranged with a
view 10 It's tuuNdAlOLdA he6~ -
fessor S. p. Langley conceived the idea
Of having a children's museum and has
devoted considerable time during the
past few months to its completion.
One large room, Immediately opposite
the main entrance of the Smithsonian
building, has been set aside for this
purpose and has been prepared ready
to receive the exhibits, some or when
have been placed in position.
A special feature of the museum will
be in the manner Of labelling the exhlD-
its. Common names only will be used,
all scientific designations to be dis
carded. In many instances the labels
will tell some important fact connected
with the life of the bird or animal. A
| new feature Of this museum for chill
dren is the presence Of live birds In
| cages swung among bowers OF branch
es. Birds and insects are shown In
| proximity TO objects they are common
| ~ seen near.
| The Presidents Vacation.
Unlike many Of his predecessors in
ne White House, Mr.. Mckinley is not
a sportsman. He does not care for
hunting and fishing, as both President
| Cleveland and President Harrison did.
He is very fond. however, of horse
flesh and delights in driving about the
country. During his vacation he will
spend considerable time on his farm
near Canton and expects to derive
much benefit from these outdoor ex-
cursions. He takes deep interest In
this farm and watches closely the crops
and the treatment of the soil In various
fields; also the cattle and horses which
are raised there under the care OF a
very c1Tppetent husbandman. He likes
to chat with this farmer about the
fields and crops and last March had
4 A.. la nc HE trnnCf Qf tho