The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-02-21

Things seem to be pretsy well stirred
up in the search room and other sections
OF the Patent once. The local. and even
the out-of-town attorneys are complain
ing Of the recent actions of Commissioner
Allen. As far as can De learned Mr.
Alien has placed so many restrictions
upon the attorneys. possibly for the good
OF the department and the Government.
that the lives Cl these poor workers are
made quite miserable.
Among other things. the Commissioner
holds that the patent law library of the
department Is not for the use OF local at
torneys, chat local attorneys should have
their own Libraries The attorneys. how
ever. look at the matter differently and
consider this rule "a great injustice. An
other restriction which they claim. is an
tagCnistiC 10 them as the order which the
COMMISSIONS has issued that all inter
views OF attorneys with him shall De linn
tied 90 tiyC minutes. Heretofore attorneys
have been allowed an hour in which 10
present their cases. and this short time
is considered by them to De insufficient
for their work
One OF the colored employees O. the Pat
ont Office was in a particularly hilarious
mood today lie was seen wandering
around in the corridors. acc0stiuE every
passer-by and telling him OF his sood for
tune. The reason prompting these JOYFUL
actions was the finding 10y the negro .s- "a
diamond ring. the sudden possession o.
which made hiu consider himself quite
factor of wealth The wing was a rather
large Marquis set with fUUT diamonds.
Ct fairly good size. The negro struck MS
luck about noon tOCay. AMI picked u1 The
valuable cirCict near Klnn's dry goods esq
adjustment at Eighth and ID Streets soon
after his arrival 1t the department be-
was excused and started off to 81 jewelers.
TO learn the cash value OF his find
A'r- B. r BINGHAM, one ol The clerks Of
the third auditors oEce Of the Treasury
Department, Was elected last night TO the
co--mandery OF the Department or the
Potomac OF che Grand Army 5E TIE re-
public. MT. Bingham IS ono CO the ola
members o. the Treasury force havin-
% been appointed TO the position which he
now holds soor after the civil war and
MS good fortune ia being elected 90 this
Office Of honor h. the Grand l.u.g or inc
Republic viii De gratifying 70 -is friends
OF the department among WH9m he d.
greatly esteemed
An interesting and rather unique story
was unearthed at the State Department
a short time ago. in connection with the
consular service. When Mr. Eugene r.
Plumacher. United States Consul at Mara
caibo Venezuela. returned to the United
States recently on a leave OF absence
from his post he brought with him an
emerald ring TO which is attached
quaint and grUesome history The ring
proper Is fashioned Of soft, unusually yell
low gold. and is carved in odd symbolic
design. The stone is an immense en-
erald, cut. and that but roughly on the
upper surface only. IL is full OF wha-
are apparently flaws but r. is stated
aUthOritatively that these only establish
more thoroughly its claim TO the dis
tinctiOn Of being an absolutely pure en-
eTald.
In an ancient grave in Colombia there
lay the body Of an old priest. and on his
finger repOsed this seIf-same emerald
ring. After resting undisturbed for cen
turtles, the remains were again uucere-
mOniously brought 10 the surface and left
above ground by an active South Amer
lean earthquake. An American soldier
OF fortune, who passed the spot soon after
the upheaval saw and was tempted by
the unusual size and beauty OF the en-
erald- and stopped 90 think b. over. After
arguing with himself to tho effect that
IF the ground had refused 20 harb0r the
priest and had lifted him 20 the ewes OF
the world. be should not hesitate 10 lit