Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-30
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Minor scenes and incidents sketched
on the spot.

Minor Scene and incidents sketched
on the spot.
The most envied man in the national
capital, not excepting President Roosevelt,
is one Of the fly cops Of the district force,
known on the payroll as Patrolman wheed-
on. Some time ago one Of the hard coal
barons OF Pennsylvania drifted into Wash
tngton on business and pleasure bent.
There was more Of the latter than OF the
former. II is said he took on a load that
was an incipient paralyzer. Patrolman
Wheedon bumped against him when he did
not know where he was at, and conveyed
him to his hotel. When the baron sobered
up the patroluan called. gave him a few
chunks Of advice, together with his card.
The incident was one OF many common to
the police OF Washington, and was soon
forgotten. Last week the baron was heard
from. He sent the friendly officer a pres
ent Of a carload OF hard coal containing
thirty tons. This is more coal than any
other individual in Washington. outside Of
the dealers, possesses, and makes Wheedon
a genuine coal king"
A Washington man who could toot a tune
or two on odds and ends of instruments.
had a piano placed in his Conservatory
He was SO pleased with the instrument
that he began playing upon 1t as soon as
It had been set up. All day long he ham
mered away and the neighbors were begin
ming to boil. When night came he had
added a mandolin and was f~retting that
with one hand while he played the piano
with the other. The neighbors were get
ting desperate, and shouted protests, but
he would not desist. On the contrary, he
added a mouth organ TO his musical equip
ment, playing the piano with his toes and
the mandolin with his hands. That was
along in the gray Of the morning and the
tired neighbors called in the police. The
musician was arrested as a lunatic and
some Of the neighbors were Just about
qualified for naturalization at an asylum
when this relief came.
Miss Belle Hagner, private secretary to
Mrs. Roosevelt, has fallen heir to a fortune
estimated at 500, 900 through the death Of
her aunt. Miss Frances Randall Hagner' In
Washington, two weeks ago. The deceased
was a sister Of DR.. Charles Hagner, father
of Miss Belle Hagner. and a niece of Judge
Hagner of the district bench.
Miss Frances Hagner's admiration was
z AOA NhO SANA ~
niece, who, when poverty overlook her.
started out in the world not only to make
her own living, but also to support her
father and younger members Of the family.
While the report of Miss Hagner's good
luck was gaining ground the other day Miss
Hagner vas at the temporary white house,
wearing a large white apron, busting and
arranging the furniture for the arrival Of
the president and Mrs. Roosevelt. She
makes her home with her brother, Pay
master HasheF Of the army, IN an apart
ment house just back OF the French en-
bassy, and she had to give up entertaining
when she went to work as a clerk In the
war department and later as the private
secretary to cabinet women.
Il has been decided, in view Of the fact
that the new executive mansion Is not fire.
proof, not to remove any Of the historic
pieces OF furniture hitherto in use in the
presidents Offices, from the White House
President Roosevelt is having an ONCE
fitted UP for his private use in the White
House, and in It will be the massive oak
table made from the timbers OF H.. M. s.
Resolute and presented to the president OF
the United States in 1881.
Resolute belonged to the British govern
| menL, ana was Onb u IuO uScb vi NSSSSie
sent In search Of Sir John Franklin's arc
tic expedition. Resolute was abandoned ir
the ice in 1854. In September Of the fol-
lowing yea it was sighted by an American
whaler ami taken to an American port, and
was eventually presented by this govern
ment to Great Britain.
Another treasure to be carefully guarded
is the clock presented by Napoleon to Gen
eral Lafayette, and by the friendly genera
to the president Of the United States.
The great advance in the cost Of fuel is
stimulus to inventors who believe 1t will
produce a revelation in present heating
methods. There is a phenomenal rush foI
patents on all sorts of devices for convert
ing furnaces and stoves into consumers o
gas and liquids. 1t will be an easy matte
now for a man to have his furnaces con,
verified into a burner Of oil or Of gas, TO
all kinds of devices for accomplishing thi
are being patented. Some Of these are yer.
simple, and consist of a coil Of pipe ar
ranged to fit over the crate OF a stove o
furnace. with proper connections with tn
gas meter or oil tank. There are scheme
for furnishing a joint feed of oil and waite
to create a moist heat, which is declares
to be as good as steam and much cheape
at the present price OF coal. One Of tn
drawbacks to the consumption of oil 10
heating purposes is that II the crude vari
ETY. is used a very offensive odor will b
given of. For dwellings II will be neces
sary to employ refined oil, but then tn
refined product does not contain enoug'
heat units to make it's use practicable a
the present price Of oil. With a reduction
in the cost OF oil, or with coal as high a
J SIS a ton. II win be economy. however, t
/ burn refined oil for heating purposes.