New-York tribune., 1902-12-15

ton. It is situated on Mount Independence in the
Highlands of the Hudson. 4s5 feet above the river.
ard clustered around it many of the most mem
rable points Revolutionary history and interest.
fort It's restoration and, preservation is deemed
Patrerc duty & and can n no no i0nger be 6elayed
by rubble masonry walls. originally laid in lime
Tnitted the face stones OF the walls to fall away
from the backing over nearly the whole work
parts must also crunble away. The rebuilding of
IS the only practicable way TO restore and preserve
the work The masonry of the old casemates is in
WHERE WAS ERNEST THoMPsoN-sEToN?-
Among the favorite stories Of Senator Hoar is a
tale of remarkable toad, possessed Of an intuitTe
knowledge of antidotes-
L was out in my garden one day." said the
senior Senator from Massachusetts, land noticed a
toad hopping along toward the veranda- At the
edge of the low flooring was spiders web straight
across his path. Mr. Toad didn't observe it, and
plump he landed squarey in it.
This unceremonious and burglarious entrance
naturally provoked the resident spider. who was
strongly Of the opinion that his home was his cas-,
most vicious bite Instantly the toad hoPped back
cheEed it Then back he hoped and hit the same
9bstrustio with the result that IT. ne goI aotnep ac
time going back TO the plantain for an antidote Tor
the spiders web and hoped on his way rejoicing"
FAT MEN IN PUBLIC LIFE.-The Virginia
LEGISLATURE has in the person Of James Banks, Of
Carroll. one Of the largest men in public life. He
weighs three hundred and seventy-hve pounds A
huge chair is to be provided for his accommodation
in the Virginia Capitol The avoirdupois of this
member of the Virginia Legislature recalls some in
1erestng notes In regard to several unusually
heavy legislators Of the past Dixon H Lewis,
who came Congress from Alabama in 1879, IN his
1wenty-seventh year, weighed four hundred and
thirty pounds. During his term Of service in
either end Of the Capitol chair of very large
dimensions, and Of the strongest manufacture. was
provided for him. He travelled TO washington IN
the public mail coaches and as a passenger he
paid for two seats. space which he entirely
filed. Mr.. Lewis chairman Of the Ways ana
Means Committee in the House, and became chair
of the Finance Committee when he was ao-
The great chair which was provided for for Mr.. N
Bassett Of the Senate Chamber. and when Judge
the senate from illinois the Lewis chair was
placed at his disposal But he looked at IL IN & as
for seat He had it removed ana a yer very 81 iaFge +g
Senate appropriations committee room Inc 5i
chair asked for by the Worlds Fair oficials
When informed that Mr. Davis never occupied it
Tere elfas rsnaned until two Years ago when it
was purchased by the family OF the Alabama
since the Ci. waF Ggst.ve sshlesheT e, of Texas
Wag perhaps m l phyaicay "a the biggest member OF
Congress. He weighed about four hCndreq ana
to the centre corridor was altered for. his com
Portable entrance He died in this city IN MS
SALMON P. CHAsE's DESK.-In the Sixth
Auditors Office bureau of the Treasury Depart
rnent there is a mahogany desk historically inter
esting a plain fat topped piece of office furniture,
little marked and worn from the constant use
Of forty years In 1861 Salmon P. Chase found
il when he took charge of the Treasury portfolo-
II was al this desk that Mr. Chase first worked
out that part OF his financial system which en-
braced the issue of demand bank notes redeemable
in coin. the requirement that United States bonds
should be only non-rnetallic basis of circulation
and the preparation and issue OF all notes under
the direction of the government
Here ne planned his first great loan to carry on
the war for which bids were opened some ten days
before Beauregard fred on Fort Sumter and ,.Sd Of
he had coerced millions from the banks, he would
not fare well at the London Exchange.
Mr.. Chase, then in New-York, said: i shall go
hack to Washington and issue notes for circulation
until il will take hundreds TO buy breakfast or
It was on this desk that Secretary Chase wrote
his first report, in which recommended some
Of the most historical and important features OF
the financial system Of our government he recon- recon-
banking associations.
ury Building just after the Civil war to the buli9
& ing Egs Eight and an 6e & asRs SFe the hee o @
housed for some years previous TO removal 10 @ the
with that branch OF the Treasury. and is now IN
the custody Of that bureau in the PoStofice beiI-
ing Tradition has sc that many clerks from time
time have asked the honor of sitting at the great
relic.
A CHESS PLAYING MINIsTER.-The appoint
rnent of Richmond Pearson to be Minister to Per-
sia. in which country the game OF chess Is salo TO
have been invented is particularly htting Tor MI
Pearson is an enthusiastic player OF the ancient
game II WAS he who arranged for the chess con-
some years ago between hVe me1npers OF tIle
House of Representatives and five members of the
C,c,uol Maecov G. Co.'S