The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-01-21
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

IuleIeSl nave Il new attraction TO Ole
to their patrons now. When they spy
q party of sightseers and have failed
to secure engagements by offering the
usual inducements, they ask:
Would not you ike to see the Roose-
welt children?'
Most of the tG,.rists admit that they
would, and the guide starts off as
though /" ":erc leading the way to a
cage in Ii the children were kept
for exhiLi,!"n purposes. The tourists
are taken to the White House and into
the east room, the southern windows
of which look out on the private lawn
of the White House. Pulling aside the
curtains, the guide peers out, and as
generally there are several of the pres
ident's numerous family out in the
yard he will say, ''There, ladies and
gentlemen, is little Kermit, the presi-
dents son." or 'little Ethel, the presi-
dents daughter" as the case may be.
The presidential children have become
used to this scrutiny. They pay ne
attention to the visitors, and if they are
digging in an old flower bed they keep
right on turning up the earth as though
the east o windows were not filled
with interested spectators.
Graves of Confederate Soldiers.
1t is a fact not generally known per-
haps that the United States govern
ment regards with a peculiar interest
which happen to be located within
Federal cemeteries. Senator Pritchard
Of North Carolina has made the dis
covery.
Over in Philadelphia the bodies Of
about 100 unknown Confederate sol
diers are inferred. Two southern la
dies now residing in Philadelphia,
Mrs. James T. Haley Of Virginia and
Mrs. Turner Ashby Blythe Of Georgia,
arranged to have the bodies trans
| ferred to Hollywood cemetery, Rich
| mond, where a large number of SOUTH
ern soldiers now rest. They supposed
the matter could very easily be ar
ranged, but, to their dismay, the sec
rotary Of war refused to give consent.
| He explained that under the law the
remains of Confederate soldiers in Fed
| eral cemeteries are regarded as being
held in perpetual trust and that trans
fer to a privete cemetery could not be
permitted. The ruling Of the secretary
is so comprehensive that it will be nee
essary to secure special legislation to
allow the remains to be reinforced in
Virginia soil. and Senator Pitchard
will Introduce a bill to make the trans
fer legal.
Mecca of Brains and Beauty.
Washington brings together not only
the brightest intellects Of u own
country, but is fast becoming n Of
the most cosmopolitan cities in the
world. In the diplomatic corps thirty
five nations have representation. Each
Of these thirty-fve nations has estab-
lished an embassy or legation, includ-
ing from one to three homes. These
embassies and legations are bits Of
foreign property right III her own soil,
where the customs n usages of the
lands they come from are maintained
and respected. 1t Is a large represel-
tation of the best brain and talent Of
the. rest of the nations of the globe,
and it adds an educational feature to
our capital not to be lightly considered.
Socially our national capital is in
comparable. Merit and culture and re-
finement are the true ~aristocracy. Ev-
cry person of note from the continent,
If he visits the United States at all, Is
sure to come here, just as an irresisti-
l1o law ~ rro xi%of{or 1y,0 VIC thu A mpr,
leans themselves to it. But, aside from
it's distinguished visitors, the city is
rapidly becoming the abiding place for
the winter season of people Of wealth
and refinement. .....
|. The Speakers Chair.
Details in the cost Of refurnishing
the house of representatives and COM
mittee rooms are set forth in a report
presented by Mr.. Cannon of Illinois.
chairman Of the special committee in
charge Of those matters. The total ex-
penditures amount to $4,000, while
$12,4OO more has been expended in
metal cases for the fileroom. The ma
hogany desks in the hall Of the house
cost $1,000 and the furniture for the
new committee OOms Sll,464.69. IhlS
interesting item appears in the bill of
particulars:
"Chairs (eytra). speakers rostrum,
ETC., $3321," which is understood to ap-
ply solely to the finely upholstered seat
on which General Henderson reposes
as he Yields the gavel. Clocks for the
new rooms cost $3.50; chairs in the hall
of the house, $500; mirrors for the
new rooms and cloakrooms, $4,000
The furniture for the speakers room
cost $129.S5; furniture for the house
lobby, $2,363.50.
Fireplaces In White House.
Although there are huge furnaces in
the White House, nearly every room in
it has facilities for an open fire, and
since the advent Of President and Mrs
Roosevelt a bright fire CLOVIS on every
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