New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-02
NATIONAL CAPITAL GOSSIP
HOW RAIN WAS GOT IN CENTRAL AMER
ICA-VISIT OF VERESTCHAGIN-
THE MCCLELLAN STATUE.

washington. March / (SpeciaD.-A traveller from
Central America brings back the following story:
In the Department OF Castanas, Salvador there
had been rain for nearly year; people were
actually dying from thirst, the crops were de-
stroyed and all agricultural industries crippled
The AIcalde. in desperation finally Issued a proc
IamatOn, which read; Considering that the ST.
preme Creator has behaved well in this
province 5 In the whole OF last year only one
shower OF rain fell: that in this summer, despite
all the professions. prayers and praises. 1t has
not rained. and consequently the crops or Gas
tanas on which depend the prosperity of the
whole department, entirely ruined, 1t Is de
creed:
Article I. II within a period Of eight DAYS from
the date OF this decree rain does not fall album
dainty. no one will go TO or OFFER up prayers
Article II. IL the drouth continues eight days
longer that time. the chapels and churches
shall be burned. and missals. rosaries and other
objects OF devotion be destroyed
Article III. II. finally. in third period OF
eight DAYS IL shall not rain. all the priests. friars
nuns saints male and female. will be beheaded
and for the present permission is given for the
commission of all sorts OF sin. In order that the
Supreme Creator may understand with whom lie
has DEAL
The most remarkable feature OF the whole affair.
according to the teller OF the story the fact
that four days after the proclamation was made
public the heaviest rain known in years fell upon
the burning community.
Among the noted men who have recently visited
the capital is Vassili Verestchagin. the Russian
painter, who proposes TO paint picture of the
battle of San Juan. and came to America for the
purpose of visiting the scene of that famous hght
and OF seeing and meeting President Roosevelt
Like all foreigners who come In contact with the
President. the distinguished Russian was capt-
waited by his personality, and spoke with warm
appreciation of the welcome he received Nerest-
chagln has been prolific with his brush, 40
/ many religious and historical paintings bear his
I -Aat haF alyF GiN
Gus His journey to America ADDS another
world He has visited every country in Europe
made pigrimages 60 the Orient to China. Japan
armv during the Russo-Turkish War. participat-
paE at ' Past for the realism Of his battle scenes
Speaker Henderson will at the end of his career
as Speaker be able 20 establish museum with
the gifts that have come to him from all parts
of the world The addition to his collection
a present from his loyal and admiriug constttu-
ency, is n OF curious workmanship. Its
handle Is formed from a deer's foot killed near
Buena Vista. IN the Speakers district long before
he was elected to Congress. The stick was cut
from dogwood tree at Mount Vernon. and Is
deliberately carved by hand with three scrolls
With hI ne swor a and JUSTICE With the save Tn
der this appear four Masonic emoiems and and a
ornamented with a likeness OF Daniel Cox Pro
and Pennsylvania in the middle OF the eighteenth
the last ssF1 ounde5 S tSs of
| Fort Doneison and Corinth: was elected TO the
| XLVIIIth Congress; made Speaker of the LNItA
and With Congresses"
The commission having In charge the erection
| OF a General George b. Mcclellan is
| composed of the Secretary OF War, Senator Wet
more and General Ruggles Its secretary is Mer
rift o. Chance. and Colonel T. A. Bingham has
been named executive and dsbursing officer. The
OF the statue. including pedestal and expense
of its erection. limited $4,000 and all artists
| not connected In a business way with any monu-
| ment firm bronze foundry invited to COM
pete, with the result that twenty-nine scuptors
| had registered before February l. when the time
| for entering the competition expired Among these
| are some OF the best known scuptors of the day.
| agan, Niehaus Ruckstun and Donnohue. All
models must be delivered at the War Department
submitted the most mertorious four win be Sc
lected. and between these final decision VIII be
| made The conditions laid down and the high
character OF the commission insure fair and
proper selection OF model The capital will be
to the long line OF poor statues that dishgure It's
| streets and the scandal of few years back.
statue all the conditions OF the public competition
were disregarded. will not be repeated
| Among the delegates to the recent womans
| en-, who took a conspicuous part in the proceed
/ ings-F1orence Fenwck Miller. delegate from
| Great Britain: DIR. Augusta Stowe Cullen pro-
fessor of chlldren's diseases in the Toronto wom-
| ans Medical College: Mrs. Emma e. Evald,
| Swedens representative. and Sofia Levovna Fried
| land. OF Russia. Mrs. Miller is a special CORE
spondent OF The London Illustrated News" and
| was one of the first women to enter the Edin-
burgh University. where she matricuated with
the idea of studying medicine. but after attaining
her 3. A degree the authorities decided against
| the further admission of women students. and