Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-04-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
COurtesies by Customs o OmcerA-WaIk-
Ing ON WAter-Wauts Native
Lang mage Taught.
Especial CorreEpondence.l

customs officers that will oblige them
to forego some of the courtesies here
tofore extended to American travellers
and will annoy those persons who have
enjoyed the courtesies from year to
year on their departure fOI -. .eturn
from Europe.
A practice has existed for many
years under which the treasury has oc-
casionally issued Instructions to col
lectors to extend special courtesles to
persons named upon their arrival from
foreign ports upon reasons set forth In
applications made directly to the de-
partment. This privilege was original
ly granted only to principal members
of the diplomatic corps and other high
officials Of foreign nations and to inva-
lids and other persons entitled under
some peculiar conditions to considera-
ton.
The demand for such courtesies has
constantly grown In extent, and the
practice has afforded justinable
grounds for protest against Its discrim-
ination between private citizens. The
department has also received informa-
ton which shows that the safety of the
revenue requires q return to the origi-
nal purposes of the usage.
The chief officers Of customs are in
structed that the extension of special
courtesies to arriving passengers will
hereafter be limited to foreign embas-
sadors, ministers, charges daffaires,
secretaries of legation and high COM
missioners and to similar representa-
tives Of this government abroad re-
turning from their missions, all the
above officers being entitled by interna-
tional usage to the free entry of the
baggage and effects Of themselves, their
families and suits without examina-
ton.
Walking ON Water.
In the debate upon the revenue cut
ter bill the house near the close of the
session got pretty badly tangled up be-
tween internal revenue and customs
revenue and army officers, naval off,
GERS and officers Of the revenue marine.
Colonel Hepburn tried to straighten
things out by suggesting in humor-
GUS, blunt way that these officers were
not likely to come into conjunction
with each other. 1.-THE troops operate
upon the land" he said, with the air
Of one imparting solemn information,
while naval officers maneuver their
ships upon the sea. There can be no
possible conflict between them unless
some way is devised for soldiers to
walk upon the water or for ships to
sail upon the land"
Speaking Of walking upon the wa
ter" interrupted Talbert Of South Car
olina, "do you remember a namesake
Of yours, one Peter, who in olden times
walked upon the waterW
"My recollection is," answered Hep
burn, that he did not make much
headway."
1.-The difficulty in that case" added
Talbert, was want of faith. IL
these gentlemen of the revenue marine
had sufficient faith, they might walk
upon the water"
Wants Native Language Taught.
Delegate Wilcox Of Hawaii is an
earnest advocate of the teaching Of
the Kanakan language In the schools
Of that territory, not as an exclusive
language necessarily, but the same as
French, German, Latin and Greek are
taught in the schools Of the United
States. "They are slowly crushing out
the native language in the schools and
colleges Of the island" he declared.
1.-THE case Of the College Of LahainR-
luna, on the island Of Maui, is a re-
cent notable instance. That college
has graduated many Of our most not
ed Hawaiians.
"But there is another phase Of the
subject. The history and literature Of
the Hawaiian people are written almost
entirely ON manuscript and are Of course
In the Hawaiian tongue. Students Of
history, for example, who wish to learn
the native language to explore this ex-
tensive field of research are shut out
from such an opportunity. Other Ian
guages are taught in the schools OF this
country. 1t seems to me entirely rea-
sonable that schools and colleges in
Hawaii should be allowed to teach the
Hawaiian language"
Senator Honr's Joke.
Senator Hoar has discovered that 1t
does not pay to be funny unless you
label the joke.
While the senate was discussing q
railroad bill having for its purpose the
protection Of railroad employees from
accident Senator Hoar suggested that
the best plan would be to make the
directors Of each road ride upon the
cowcatcher. "Then," remarked Mr..
Hoar, nobody would get hurt"
Senator Elkins, who is several times
railroad director, took the suggestion
quite seriously and expressed his sur
prise that such a proposition should be
submitted to the senate. "Oh, dear"
replied Mr.. Hoar; quite taken back at
the lack of appreciation of his humor,
81 meant that for a Jest. And 1t
wasn't original with me either. Rich
ard Fl. Dana many years ago suggest
ed that directors ride upon the cow
catchers, although" added Mr.. Hoar
as he surveyed Senator Elkins' ex-
pansive form, Il must say that the
senator from West Virginia would
make an admirable cushion to place
between colliding trains"
The unofficial reports current some
time ago that Lord Pauncefote. the
British ambassador, would have his
period Of service in Washington con-
tinued have now been fully confirmed,
and it appears that the extension will
last throughout the present year and
is likely to be followed by another ex-
tension, owing to the ambassadors
vigorous health and thorough ac-
quaintance with all of the important
international questions in which the
two governments are interested.
CARL ScHoFIELD.
WHERE TREES GROW.
Go into the woods where grows the
big timber and get lesson how to
grow a tree. There you will find va
rtefy for one thing the earth ALWAYS