Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-19

ittE ana MIS- dupont tsuCic
had commenced to give her some instruc-
tions. when Mrs Cook Lady asked sudden
ly for her references"
MY references!" echoed Mrs. Dupont Cir
Gle Il do not understand"
oh your references from your last COOK,
madam explained Mrs. Cook Lady suave-
ly. Il make 1t a point never to enter serv-
ice until l have the references OF the lazy
who last filled the place. 1t saves mucn
trouble and annoyance on both sides, don't
you know
Mrs Dupont Circle could not furnish the
references, and Mrs. Cook Lady mildly but
firmly withdrew from the conference.
< x
Army officials generally openly express
their regret at the action Of Congress In
deciding upon the abolition Of the bar
feature of the army canteen. Secretary
Root expressed himself vigorously as to
the effect of the legislation. 1.-The soldier
who now gets good drink In a good place
will hereafter get a bad drink in a bad
place said he, land no one knows what
that means better than those who are
familiar with the evils of army life before
the adoption of the canteen system
Col. Victor Vifauain of Lincoln, Neb.,
who commanded the Sd Nebraska Volun-
teers during the Spanish war, recently
wrote the Secretary on the subject as fol-
lows:
AN attractive place of resort where the
soldier can while away his spare time,
reading or playing the ordinary social
game, makes him feel at home in camp,
and. SO feeling. he does not care about
roaming and running around. had such
place in my camp in Cuba, my regi-
mental canteen; roomy and airy, a scrupu-
lously clean place. where beer was the only
beverage allowed Near to it was the
guard house, SO that at all times the eS-
Establishment was under strict surveillance.
1t was a model place, enabling me to do
away altogether with my guard line: the
boys seldom wished to leave camp. No
doctors and no provost guards Were needed
about the Sd Nebraska. Seeing the good
effects of a well-regulated canteen. other
colonies of the eth Army Corps, even tenn
perance' colonies, followed suit This
same regiment under Col. Bryan, who al
lowed only lemonade in his canteens and
a very strong guard line. had many drunks
every day. 1t is a pity that people alto
gether strangers to military discipline, eff
cheney, comfort and health should be al
lowed to interfere In the interior manage
ment of our military establishment. 1 hope
that they will not succeed and that the
canteen will be let alone"
x X x
Sailors are VIGOROUSLY superstitious and
avoid as a pest house a "hoodooed" ship.
They have the feminine dread of starting
an undertaking or a journey on Friday.
Consequently no surprise is occasioned by
the fact that the Navy Department has
SIdittu tic VI Ndpttli WHO
Is to be the first commander of the big bat
tie ship Wisconsin, that that vessel be COM
mssioned on some other day than Friday,
the 2Sth instant. which had been originally
chosen for that important function in the
life of q ship of war. A prominent officer
of the navy said that this action was likely
to make old Admiral Fitzhugh turn in his
grave, whore he went to rest many years
ago. Although typical sailor of the old
school, Admiral Fitzhugh" he said,
wouldn't stand any of the Friday super
stition nonsense. I made cruise around
the world with him many years ago. and
he made 1t point to select Friday for
every important function. He started the
cruise on Friday, and he left every port
we visited on Friday. II the ship was
ready to sail on Wednesday or Thursday
he would invariably defer his departure I'M
til Friday, and If the itinerary called for
his departure on Saturday he would hurry
matters so as to get off on Friday. Not
outstanding this unusual course we made
the entire trip in safety and met with no
accidents or untoward circumstances Of
any sort
y X y X
President Mckinley has promised Mrs.
Logan that he will preside and make a
short address on the occasion of the I'M
yelling Of the equestrian statue Of her dis
tinguished husband, General John A. Lo-
gan There are precedents for this action.
President Arthur offciated in a similar ca
pacity at the unwilling of the statue OF
General Garfield. and President Cleveland
did the same at the more recent unwilling
of the statue of General w. S. Hancock.
The dedicatory ceremonies in the case OF
the Logan statue will take place some time
this spring. the exact date depending upon
the action of Congress. There is move
ment to have the unwilling the coming
Memorial day. May 80. but the indications
are that an earlier date will be selected.
<.o.,., ,,.
makes a man callous and even cynical"
was the newspaper mans comment on his
observations of public life here for many
years. There are many imposters who do
not care what kind Of tale OF woe they
tell they succeed in getting a position.
Then there are plenty Of others, whose
plans are too numerous to mention. who
make it their business to live off public
men. Their schemes, too, are always more
or less questionable. Besides these may be
added the hypocrisy and deceit that Is
found In everyday official life-all tending
to make man insensible to genuine cases
Of deserving merit. There many men,
however. who do not permit themselves to
allow the callous feeling to grow. and
whose hearts are as big and their thought
fulness as boundless as when they came
to Washington. Among these men are
tHdIItS bdWeS, The COntFOiler OF the
treasury. and Frank A. Vanderlip, the as
sistant secretary. Vanderbilt is big. strong
man. whose powers of discerning truth are
keen. He has done many noble and
kindly deed after ascertaining that the case
was really deserving Of help. He is not
controlled as much by political reasons as
many officials In similar position In Wash
ington. He will at times put case of need
ahead of the strongest influence. Mr.
Dawes is a man of the same stamp. Owing
to his great influence, his opportunities of
doing good are many. / heard him say one
day that he would not care to 1--we in Wash
ington If he could not sift out the genuine
from the fake and do something for some
body In distress. He considers 1t one Of the
happy things that lift mans mind above
the doubling turn 1t Is often disposed to
take. 1 personally know of half dozen
instances of men and women he has mate
rally helped who had no earthly claim on
him except that of humanity and poverty,
They were poor. and without the slightest
influence of political nature"
It's Money Lost.
From the Philadelphia Press.