The National tribune., 1902-12-11

gone. hope fled she was ready to die.
Through habit, formed through long years
of search, Mrs. Mcbride, while Oh a visit
To Alexandria. recently, visited the Ma
tional Cemetery, and there on one of the
moss-grown headstones she read her hus-
bands name. his regiment and State. the
illness of which he died, and the date of
his death. which WAS exactly 40 years
before, to Il day. He died of typhoid
fever i'll the hospital at Alexandria. Then
her quest was ended.
There was a fire in Hillsdale one even
ing last week. and the house of John l..
Smith was burned. With it went many
priceless old relics. Mr.. Smith was Mar
silal OF the District OF Columbia from 1861
TO 1860. In his official capacity he served
the warrant upon and arrested Mrs. Sur
ratt for conspiracy i'll the assassination of
President Lincoln. This warrant he kept,
and it was among the mementoes that
were burned. Mr.. Smith grieyed More
over the loss of that paper than he did
over the burning of his house.
With n Department Commander like
Col Ii. c. Looms. of Kansas, to want Il
thing done is to do it. Col Loomis want
ed Kansas to make a good showing at the
National Encampment in Washington, and
never stopped to count the expense. Be-
ing man of means, the lack of funds did
not worry him in the least. He brought
with him three of the best bands in Kan
sas, the great singing club, the Modocs.
and an agricultural and horticultural dis
play that reused more interest in Kansas
than could possibly have been estimated.
He made his show and footed the bills,
amounting to 81 ,S2S.40. Col. LOomis has
Just issued Department Circular Letter
III which he gives a detailed account of
what it all cost. and the llames of those
who helped to liquidate the expense of
the trip. The venture cost Col. Loomis
%l.O2i.40, the remainder of the sum hav-
ing been made up by few loyal Kan
sans. Col. Loomis is brick He has
his lightning-rod UP for Cn:l,ui. nder-in-
Chief. Kansas ought to have had this
honor long ago. *s
1t is generally believed that a bill will
be passed by this session of Congress es-
tablishing Department of Comm rec. 1t
is also stated OH good authority that if the
Department is established. Mr.. CorteIyou.
Secretary TO the President. will be the
first Secretary of the new Department.
In the White House grounds, Just in the
path of the so-calIed improvements"
which seem planned for the particular pur-
pose of destroying all the old landmarks.
are two fine magnolia trees, which are
i"iis oo ieet Hisu anu more InaA that
many years old. There is n legend that
they are the offspring of the great mag
nolia tree at Mt. Vernon, which was
planted by Washington. These two beau
flful trees had to be moved because the-
interfered with the plans of that wonder
full architect. The dirt was cut from
around the. trees at a distance. of u feet
or more, in a circle, and the lawn cut
down to. the level of the street. Then
holes were dug for the trees. large enough
to take in the immense ''wad" of dirt and
roots, and the trees. placed upon specially
prepared rollers, are to be carted to the
places where it is to be hoped they will
stand at least another half-century.
North Carolina was once the proud pos
SCISSOR of the Speakership of the House,
but it was a long time ago. before Uncle
doe Cannon's time even. Nathaniel Ma. |
con was the. man. and he was a good deal
Of a flttdr. too In his day 4 sreaf man. 1
ffe was born in 1857 in Warren County,
n. c., and died in 1887. year after Mr..
Cannon was born. in the house where his
own eyes first opened. lie studied law,
served in the Revolutionary War as a
volunteer. under the command of his broth,
er, Col. Macon. lie entered Congress in
1871, and was Speaker of the House for
three terms. from 1901 to 1906. and de-
clned reelection. In 1916 he was elected
to the Senate while yet a member of the
House. and was President pro tcmpore of
the Senate from 1925 to 1897. He de-
clined several Cabinet positions. and was
rather queer old customer to hold the
good will of his people. as he seems TO
have held it. for when he resigned his
seat in the United States Senate in 1897.
he had been 81 years a member of the
two Houses. the longest term of Congress
sional service in American history.
In all his years of public service. Mr..
Macon seems TO have been in favor Of
very few things. In Congress he voted
for the Embargo and for the declaration
of war against Great Britain. but held
that the war should be defensive only,
ard so refused TO enlarge the navy. He
voted against all schemes of internal i'm
pr0vement that were to be undertaken by
Congress; voted against land grants TO the
Count de Grasse. and also against one to
Lafayette. both for services in the Revo-
lntionary War. In the Convention of
North Carolina, he was against giving
free negroes the right TO vote; he was
against land qualification for voters:
against the State engaging in any internal
improvements. and against all religious
tests as qualifications for holding office,
and in favor of viva-yOce vote at all cleo
tons. He died. after only few hours
illness. in 1887. He previously ordered
that lie should he buried in a plain pine
coffin. on the top of barren ridge. which
he selected, so that no furrow could ever
disturb the dust above his head. and there
he sleeps today. Now the boy born just
before this sturdy old spirit winged its
flight. like Macon himself. a native North
Carolinian in the fulness of his powers.
comes TO be Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatiyes: for that lie will be seems
forecasted by the fates.
One of the Cabinet homes that of Sec
retary of War Elihu Root. will be closed
are concerned. Mr.. Salem H. Wales. Of
New York City, father OF Mrs Root. died
Of stroke of apoplexy. Tuesday, Dee. q
Mr.. Wales was one of the prominent men,
bers of the Christian Commission during
the war OF the rebellion. He had filled
many responsible positions. being a man
of great wealth. and was strong Repub
lican all his life. rendering his party eff
cient service whenever occasion offered.
He was for % years managing editor of
the Scientific American, and was promi-
ncnt club man.
Mrs. Roosevelt is fond of white and
most of her handsomest gowns are white
material of some kind. nearly always OF
the very richest texture. A dress which
she has worn 4 great deal during the
past year is a white broadcloth. which is
tucked in pin-head tucks from neck to
hem, and has lots of lace on it, Some
times she wears q touch of color with her
white gowns. but oftenest n string of
pearls or her diamonds will be the only
relief from the dead white. Mrs. Rsose-