The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1901-07-17
Especial Correspondence |


pIoyee of the library, and his readings
Mere originally designed for the pur-
pose Of amusing the blind people who
are faithful attendants of the "blnd
room" The leisure class of Washing
ton, always looking for some new
amusement discovered the negro poets
readings, and now the blind people
have to be in their room very early if
they do not wish TO find themselves
crowded out by the wives, daughters.
sons and relatives of prominent gov
eminent officials and rich men whose
families reside in Washington because
Of the social advantages the capital Of
fers. So popular have the readings be-
come with others than those for whom
they were intended that rule has
been made reserving the front seats of
the room for those who can hear, but
not see, while the rear seats are given
up to the fashiOnables.
Mr. Dunbar recites some of his writ
ings which are In pure English. These
are well received, but the enthusiasm
does not become ardent until he begins
on his dialect poems. In fact, there
seems to be an inclination OH the part
of the smart set of Washington to
make dialect poems as popular as have
been "coen" songs for the last few
years. 1t is said that Mr.. Dunbar is al
most overwhelmed with Invitations to
give dialect readings in the Washing
ton houses which are noted for their
unique entertainments. Several profess
sional entertainers have noticed the d.
rection that the fancy is taking and are
preparing themselves to give dialect
readings next winter when the social
season is on.
Campaign Against Mosquitoes.
The health department is taking
more than passing interest in the
mosquito question, and an active cam
paign against this pest is projected.
Health Officer Woodward proposes that
a regulation shall be adopted making
owners of property where water is al
lowed to stand until it becomes a
nuisance liable to fine of $40 to 500.
But the mosquito crusade proper is d.
rected against the AnacOstia flats, in
the southeastern suburbs. Here hun
dreds of acres of land are daily sub
merged and then left In q swampy
condition by the recedlng tide to form
the birthplace and feeding grounds for
great clouds of mosquitoes.
DR.. Woodward is making thorough
investigation into the prevalency of
malarial fever along the Anacostia riv-
er and especially In the insane asylum.
where accurate records are accessible.
The doctor is of the opinion that mos
quitoes form the most active if not the
only agency by which malarial foyer
is spread and hopes to gather Sufficient
statistics to open the eyes of congress
to the great danger to the public health
of leaving the Anacostia fats In their
present condition.
DR.. Woodward does not believe that
kerosene under the circumstances
would be effective in preventing the
breeding of mosquitoes, as the rise
and fall Of the tide would drain it
away. The only remedy he thinks lies
in filling the flats, which would cost
several million dollars.
New Census Office Project.
"The employees of the census will
work from 0 till 4 every day for the
present, and If, when the weather be-
comes very warm, the director finds
that he can close the office an hour
earlier on Saturdays 1t will be DONE
This was the statement recently made
by Chief Clerk McCauley of the CEN
sus office
The census bureau is finding time
slipping rapidly away and the necessity
for fastening its work growing greater
daily. A plan has therefore been de-
vised by which many members of the
force will be asked to serve extra time
for extra pay. The proposition is to
have as many as are willing so on duty
at a. m. and remain till 4 so p. IN. for
the additional pay of SIS month. The
hours of duty now Ne uniformly 0 a.
m. to p. m. The difference is hour
and 80 minutes, which in a month of
20 working days would be 80 hours. At
the rate Of SIS month that is a trifie
less than 40 cents an hour.
The Presidents Next Trip.
Lie pieSiueYt tolu eA-SeIldtOT SdFter
OF Montana that he would make trip
to the Pacific northwest in July of
next year, provided the session Of con-
gress does not extend beyond the 1st of
that month. If congress- session should
be unusually long, the trip will be
made in the summer of 1908. The OBJ
1ective point of the tour viii be the
Puget sound region Of Washington. but
the visits to the Yellowstone park and
other places which were to have been
made this summer will be Included In
the itinerary.
Shirt Waist o. X. at White House.
The wearing of shirt waists by visit
ors to the executive mansion has been
officially pronounced good form. The
test came up recently when man, &C.
eompanled by woman, appeared at
the portal of the White House and de-
sired to look through the east room.
He wore q regular shirt waist The
pattern was pink and white stripes an
inch and a half apart.
The guardians at the door looked him