Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-15
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Minor Scenes and Incidents sketched
on the Spot.

Minor Scenes and Incident sketched
on the Spot.
Forty-one and a half years ago a repub-
lican enthusiast journeyed from Wisconsin
to Washington to witness the inauguration
OF President Lincoln. He was then close
to. the meridian of life, enjoying a flourish
ing law practice and didn't entertain a
thought of federal office. But Senator
Timothy o. Howe tempted him with a place
on the federal pay roll, which he accepted.
The enthusiast Of 1861 is nov Judge G. M.
Tompkins, nestor among clerks in the
pension bureau, 80 years af age, has never
resigned and is still on the active list.
From a little bureau he has seen the pen
sion once grow to be one of the largest
and most influential branches of the gov
eminent.
Every spring and fall large numbers Of
birds are killed by the Washington monu-
ment. The city Of Washington seems to be
directly In the route taken by many of the
migratory birds In the flight between the
north and the south and twice a year thou
sands OF feathered songsters meet their
death by flying against the tall marble shaft
in the night. Just now the fall slaughter is
at it's height and every morning many
birds are to be seen about the base of the
monument. The dogs and cats Of that
part of the city have learned that the base
Of the monument is a good place to get an
early meal in the morning without trouble
and many of them are regularly on hand.
Most Of the birds killed are yellow and
black throated warblers and small thrushes.
President Roosevelt is richer in souvenirs
than he was before the Grand Army of the
Republic came to Washington. Veterans
from all over the country have called at
the White House and left presents for him.
One OF the most interesting was a cane,
left by Rev. DR.. Thomas G. Hagerty or
st. Louis, who was a chaplain in Sherman's
army. The cane was made chiefly of wood
cut from a tree on the battle ground OF
Wilson creek. The ferrule was made OF the
iron of care dumped into a creek by General
Marmaduke. In the head is a star, the
ouadrants of the center being made from
pieces OF wood from the frame of the liberty
| bell. President Grants log cabin, Sherman's
home. the house in which General Lee sur
rendered and the Springfield home OF Lin
coin. The points Of the star are wood from
| the battlefield of Lookout mountain, the
MORO castle at Havana, the cruiser Chris
tiana Regina sunk at Manila bay, DeVil's
dan on the battlefield of Gettysburg and the
peach orchard at the same battlefield. DR..
Hagerty made the cane himself.
John O'Rourke, a Pennsylvania Grand
| Army Of the Republic veteran, before start
ing home last Friday, searched the cluster
ing vines in the Capitol park for his miss
ing wallet, containing $35. When ne le1t
home the sunday previous he had $50. He
- N,laaAa To lnnk nnI TOT
thieves and upon his arrival he visited the
capitol and concealed his wallet, after TAX
ing out SIS. under a cluster Of vines. He
visited the park to get his money. but failed
IN hnd the place where he had concealed IT,
Fortunately his return railroad ticket was
not in his wallet.
The grounds around the Department OF
Agriculture contain sections which, OWING
to exotic plants being cultivated thereon
MT only remind one of the shores OF the
Mediterranean and OF the deserts OF Ari-
zona. hut OF many other sections OF the
earth as we'll, so that come from b
quarter of the globe he may the stranger In
washington is almost certain to find some
thing In this quarter Of the city TO REMIND
him OF his far distant home. Entering the
grounds from the broad thoroughfare oil
Twelfth street, says the Washington Post
one does not proceed far before coming
face to face with an area, covering about
one acre, that is as near lik Japan as ever
a native of hat country could desire.
Here is situated a miniature lake
around the borders OF which are growing q
number of tall ginko trees, a growth strict!
indigenous to Japan, while the lake itsel
is overgrown on every hand with lotus AM
water nut plants, the former sacred In thu
eyes Of the Japanese Buddhists as the EN-
blem Of their divinity and the latter on
Of the principal food plants Of that island
This spot never fails TO attract Japanes'
students, residents OF visitors wheneve
they enter the grounds Of the department
as II is perhaps one OF the strongest re
minders in Washington Of their home Of
the other side Of the globe.
Two grizzled veterans sat in front Of tn
bar in one OF Washington's saloons, dis
cussing the mighty past. Both were file
with the spirit of the encampment.
Eyes. sir, / was a member OF the Irol
Brigade OF observation-disclosures Iron Bri
gade."
AND I. sab" replied No. 2. II was wit
stonewall Jackson"
well. SIR" said No. /. I'VE did lick tn
life out OF you. Say, now, didn't we?"
There was a solemn pause. Finally tn
did lick us. But, by jove. sab. you didn'
have any time for maps or free lunche
while you was a doing IT,"
And upon this platform they agreed 1
having another glass OF beer.