St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-07-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Especial Correspondence.

When the Workmen assaulted the roof
of the conservatory and began remoV-
ing the glass, the bird became Wrathy
and abused the mechanics. She has
fluent vocabulary of vituperation, but
her choicest epithets were learned In
Cuba and are expressed in elegant
Castilian, so that the finer feelings OF
the workmen We're not too much
shocked. Still at every unpleasant
noise Polly vociferated, Shut up!'
Finally the bird took to careering
through the conservatory and fire.
quently in it's rage biting off the small
er branches of the plants. She was
captured and tethered by a short string
to remote perch. Polly seemed to be
Inundated, as heretofore she has had
the free range of the conservatory.
After she became a chained prisoner
her vivacity deserted her.
When strangers approached, no vio-
lent language was used. Polly hid her
head under her wing Or dropped it be-
tween her feet and simply nSllttered
her wrath. This parrot is a native Gu
ban and was sent to President Roose-
welt about six months ago.
A Tumble.
Everybody knows the story in '"The
Texas Steer" of the applicant for office
who began by living at the finest no.
tells and smoking twenty-five cent ci-
CARS and finally landed in the cheapest
Joint that he could find. The story is
very nearly duplicated by the case Of
witness before one Of the senate
committees who came here from Cali
fornia. He Travelled in style and upon
arriving in Washington secured the
most expensive quarters at fashion
able hotel. He drew $40 for mileage
and expenses and proceeded to have
good time while he waited for the COM
mittee to examine him. Presently,
however, his money was all gone. He
appealed to the senate officials in vain
for another advance and then discov-
cred that his daily expenses were
about three times as much as the gov
eminent would allow him. The rapid
lty with which that witness gave up
his expensive quarters and sought
small back room in a cheap lodging
house was a caution.
Solid Old Floors.
1.-THE tearing up of the floors Of the
east room Of the White House prepara-
tory to the Improvements in the build
ing has uncovered many indications
Of the age of the building" said an at
tache of the executive mansion. For
instance, the planks Of the floor Of the
east room must have been put down
many years ago, and l don't suppose
that new flooring has ever been put in.
The flooring was held to the big CIR
ders by means Of iron cleats, which
somewhat resemble formidable mod
ern nail. The head is like that Of
railroad spike, but the body is rather
slender. There is no doubt that they
were put in to stay and to hold the
flooring. In other parts Of the east
room have been found handmade nails.
The present generation does not know
how a handmade nail looks. There is
a great demand for souvenirs from the
work in the east room, but the fore
man will not allow anything to be TAX
en- away"
The President OFF Duty.
The president will not go away from
Oyster Bay for any considerable length
Of time until the last of August, when
he will visit Maine and New England
states. In September he will be on
railroad trains a good deal and also in
October. His vacation, with the ex-
ception Of few weeks early in Sep
TENDER, will practically come to an end
the last Of August.
Mayor William G. Maybury of De-
troit, accompanied by Senator McMil-
Ian, saw the president the other day
and completed arrangements for the
visit Of the latter to Detroit upon the
occasion of the convention Of the Span
ish war veterans in that city in Sep
TENDER. The president will arrive in
Detroit Sunday morning, Sept. 81, 60
ing there direct from Cincinnati, which
city he will visit Sept. 20. The presi-
dent will remain in Detroit until Mon
day afternoon, the god. He will re-
view the parade of the Spanish war
veterans and has promised to address
the convention.
The Missing Word.
Mr.. Loudensager of New Jersey
wanted to put some lettering on the
door Of his committee room on pen
sions. The house carpenter had just
hung two fine swinging mahogany
screen doors, such as all the other
chairmen Of committees are having,
and the house painter was then called
IN. The doors were not broad enough
to write out in large letters the entire
name. On the left door the painter in
scribed, Com. on" and then went
away to lunch.
Scores Of people stared at the Pc
cullar words They thought it might
be come on" and were wondering
whether a green goods man had been
established inside or whether it was
some sort of hospitable invitation to
walk in.
Later the painter returned from his
lunch, and on the other door he wrote