Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-12
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Etchinss of People and Events 1t th'
National Capital.

EtchiEss of People and Events At the
National Capital.
The patent once reverses the customary
dull season. In business and enjoys a
busy season" during the first three months
of the year. Few suppose there is a time
when inventors take a squirt. yet such is
the fact. as the filings for patents show.
This popularity is explained on the ground
that the winter season affords a great many
people, particularly farmers, the leisure to
employ their Inventive was, and the result
is shown in increased applications for
patents during the early months OF the
year.
AS a general thing, reports the Wash
ington Post, the applications have a ten
dency to run to one thing. which Invariably
has some bearing on whatever happens to
be uppermost or occupying the attention
of the American people at the time. For
example. nearly all the applications that
have been received since the beginning of
December have been for improvements on
voting machines and automobiles. The
chief clerk Of the patent office states that
whenever a disastrous FIRE occurs in any
city they are most certain to be flooded
with applications for patents on fire ex-
tinguishers for q month or so afteTward,
aA - lhOm AOm pCioOho hNlh8 AAOuAN
and about the scene Of the fire. Such also
is the case with boat explosions and other
accidents.
A serious steamboat explosion that oc-
Cured. several years ago brought forth a
dozen or more applications for patents on
a 'non-explosive steamboat" II is also a
singular fact that more applications have
been fled for patents en- car couplers than
for anything else. For some reason nearly
every man has an idea in his head that he
can invent a car coupler. and an amusing
feature of this is the greater number of
such applications come from farmers. who,
one would think. would turn their atten-
ton to inventing agricultural devices in
stead of trying to solve problems Of railroad
economy.
An i~mpecunious representative from q
western state met 1--WE friends on the street.
Come in and have q drink" he said.
They vent into the newest and most elab-
crate cafe Of the city. Each OF the five
friends ooh a Scotch high ball of the kind
that cost rs cents each. The impecunious
representative took a glass of beer.
Whats that you're drinking. limp
asked one of the friends.
That" said the representative as he
nervously fingered the check calling for
$1.35 and held up the glass of beer so all
could see it. sis a lesson in department"
Major o. L. Pruden, assistant secretary to
the president has occupied his present po-
sition for many years. As q result his
friends are legion and most OF them feel
under obligation TO the courtly gentleman
who carries Mr.. ROosevelts messages to
congress. Among his other distinguished
traits the major possesses a very bald head.
A little fringe of hair comes down beneath
his hat, but II one looks under the brim
at the back OF the majors head one will see
the posterior portion Of his forehead. Be-
cause OF his many friead he had many
remembrance last Christmas. Most Of
these came to the White House. and Major
Pruden was overlooking with good nature
before he had opened one-half the bundles
which the mail carriers and the express
men left at bis desk. After he had opened
a certain carefully wrapped package. how
ever, the look Of pleasure died from his
face.
Now. why in the world did that fool send
those things to met" he asked OF Assistant
Secretary Loeb.
Major Pruden held up for inspection As he
spoke a pair of handsome g~old-mounted
military hair brushes.
Several ~Orations in the Sioux Language
were delivered q few mornings ago before
the senate committee en- Indian affairs, re-
lates the Washington Post. The orators
were Thunder Hawk. q full -blooded Sioux.
and four other chiefs. who are in Wash
ington to protest against the leasing Of a
portion OF their reservation.
Thunder Hawk and his brother chiefs
were participants in the Custer massacre.
After that tragic episode they ned to the
British dominions. where they remained
for six years. finally returning to the
United States and surrendering 70 the mill
tary authorities. Since then they have
lived upon their reservation In peace and
quiet. When. in the presence Of the sen
atOrs on the Indian Affairs COMMITTEES,
Thunder Hawk was asked TO state his pro-
test. the old warrior. not In the least
abAshed. and with his Ieonins features as
em0tiOaless - n mOldaa q clay GrOsa