The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-03-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington Rs n Business City-ost
raEeouR VandaIism-The sena-
tors working Day.


raEeous VRndaIism-The sena-
tors Working Day.
Especial Correspondence
Congressman Meyer of Louisiana Is
proud of Washington. Unlike some OF
the rural members. who would appar
emily delight to see the national CAPT
tai relegated to the backwOOds stage,
Mr.. Meyer believes that everything
ought to lie done to make the city the
handsOmest capital in the world. and
! do not agree with the assertion that
Washington is purely a residence city
and will remain So" says Mr.. Meyer.
people who talk that way do not com
prehend present conditions or divine
the future This city is growing rapid
ly and steadily. Its commerce or bust
ness is increasing. Its manufactures,
already considerable, are also increas-
ing, and. like other capitals, Washing
ton seems to me to be destined TO grow
at very rapid rate. 1t is true that
London has easy access to the sea. but
hydraulic science may do as much for
| Washington In the future. Paris Is an
interior city. without any navigable
stream. but IL has vast business indus
tries. manufactures and wealth. Der
lin and Vienna are cities OF wonderful
growth and enormous trade. 1t is safe
10 say that Washington will have
great and increasing growth, which
will be proportionate to this country
1t will have something more than
grand public buildings, tasteful resi-
dences, broad avenues, flower gardens,
etc. 1t will have. as it already has, its
utilitarian side. 1t will have work
shops and industries. like other great
capitals"
Mr.. Meyer believes that the greater
Washington will expand north. east
and west. the southern boundary being
fixed by the Potomac He thinks that
1.-THE magnificent and beautiful country
west of the Potomac" will become pop
ulated and that not merely one bridge,
meet that section with this side of the
Potomac.
Outrageous Vandalism.
The bronze doors OF the capitol are
works Of art. They are very tall and
heavy, and each is composed OF several
panels which present in bas-relief pie
lures from American history.
The execution is so llfelike that the
figures stand out some distance from
the background Of the doors. The guns
Of the Revolutionary soldiers protrude
from the shoulders of the men, the
feet Of the Cavalrymen are perfect
This fidelity to nature has been the
opportunity of the vandal. The doors
have been robbed OF every bit Of bronze
that could be Clipped off. The bayO-
nets of the guns have disappeared. the
spurs have been taken from the feet or
the men on horseback. and even the
feathers In the headdresses Of the In
dlans have been broken away. OF
course there is no way either to catch
the offenders or remedy their vandal-
ism. The defects in the beautiful
bronze work remain as evidence Of the
insatiate desire of the average Ameri-
can tourist to carry of souvenir.
In the same way the statue OF Pere
Marquette. in Statuary hall, has been
disfigured. The Indians in the bronze
bas-relief had feathers In their heads
when the statue was unveiled. but now
every feather has disappeared.
The Senator'S Working Day.
All that is said on the floors Of con-
gress does not get into The Record.
| One day the senate sat very late-well
into the evening. after the electric
lamps were turned on. Mr.. Pettus OF
| Alabama had been showing signs OF
| uneasiness for some time, especially as
the speechmaking had been growing
pretty prosy. By and by. lull In the
| debate occurring, he slowly rose and
| caught the eye Of the presiding officer.
| Peering over his spectacles, shifting
bis Quid and speaking with his quaint
est drawI he said:
"Mr. President, the hours or labor In
| the government service in Washington
| are everywhere limited to seven per
| day. | have been In this chamber since
| IL o'clock this morning. 1t Is now. by
| the senate clock. 90 minutes after IL
1t is past the limit of my lawful work
| ing day, Mr. President, and I'm going
to quit. Good night"
And, with q bow. the old gentleman
| gathered his papers under his arm aud
| started up the aisle. The official re-
| porters decided among themselves not
| to treat bis farewell speech as a part
Of the proceedings of the day
Mixed Metaphor.
| Senator Caffery of Louisiana was
| discussing the food of spectators who
| oyerrun Cuba and the Philippines.
seeking all that they may devour.
wherever the carcass is" remarked
| Mr.. Caffery, there will also be the
eagles, with their pockets full Of mon
ey."
This expressive but rather mixed
| metaphor made the senators laugh.
| Senator Hansbrough, who Is quite an
artist, Immediately drew a sketch Of
| an eagle clad In trousers of generous
| size, with pockets bullying out with
| money. The sketch was passed around
| the senate and finally reached Mr..
| Caffery, who approved 1t as exactly
| meeting the idea which he intended to
| convey.
Had Seen Many "Peebles."
Congressman Graf tells this story
about his friend. Congressman Roden-
| berg of East st. Louis: "Rodenberg
| took a St. Louis friend In TO see See
rotary Gage the other day. The man
| never had seen much Of the world out
| side OF st. Louis and East st. Louis,
| and he was somewhat excited by life