St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-03-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Especial Correspondence. ]

wallis troops surrendered to George
Washington in 1871 at the close of the
Revolutionary war. The ancient Moore
house. which was the headquarters of
Washington, Lafayette and Count de
Rochambeau Immediately before the
capitulation Of the British, stands on
1le ground, and it is proposed that the
government acquire the land and build.
ing and preserve them as historic spots.
There are about 500 acres in the TEN.
nile farm, which has been kept undi.
vided and in one ownership, and the
promoters Of the plan believe it would
make a public park in which every pa
triOtic American would have a keen in.
+crest. The government has erected a
monument at Yorktown to commemo-
rate the victory gained over the Brit.
fish, but it stands in an open, barren
field. without suitable surroundings or
approaches. The Temple property can
be purchased for about $4,000.
NOhtly
The magnificent decorations in the
new committee rooms just completed
In the portion Of the capitol formerly
used for housing the congressional Ii
brary caused a number of members of
the house noted for abstemious and
economical living to comment upon the
80. sea-. ,,o rro ucn mo rifoctaJ cold ,,,ir
ror on its marble carved base was I'M
der consideration. Upon inquiry it was
found there were four of these in the
different new committee rooms. They
cost 5000 each. The furniture, which
Is of solid mahogany, was made from
special designs and for the special
rooms. in which the color schemes were
all worked out before a single pur-
chase was made. Where the chairmen
of the respective committees were
known. they were consulted as to these
decorations. Otherwise the architect
of the capitol used his discretion and
individual taste But the eXtrava-
gances in the new committee rooms do
not exceed those Of former years and
former administrations. There is the
solid gold inkwell in the office of the
vice president, now the office Of the
president pro tempOre Of the senate.
1t cost the government $1,000. Then
there is that ordinary looking clock
in the marble room Of the senate. 1t
came originally from Switzerland, and
when the government paid the bill the
receipt was for $4,000.
A Lasting Sprain.
81 have struck some pretty farfetch-
ed pension claims in my day" said an
Indiana congressman, tossing a letter
be had Just read on his desk. but this
is certainly the limit. Here's man
who asks for a pension who enlisted
the last week of the civil war and
never got within sound of the noise Of
battle. This is not because he wasn't
brave enough, but simply because the
fighting was all over before he donned
4 uniform. And what do you suppose
he bases his plea for a pension on?
Why, when he was on his way home
he stepped on stone in getting off the
train in his town and twisted his an
Ne, After thirty-seven years he finds
that he never quite recovered from
that injury, and now he thinks the
government should pay him $12
month for the remainder of his life.
His right of petition as a citizen en-
titled him to a hearing, and | presume
I'll have to introduce the bill, but l
doubt very much that he gets the pen
sion"
A Motto For President Roosevelt.
Some of the German members Of the
house were in the cloakroom the other
day discussing heraldic notices. They
had talked about the phrase "Honi
Soit Qui NAL Y pense," which is placed
on the British coat of arms, and the
motto Itch Diem" which is King Ed
wards favorite, when some one asked
If President Roosevelt had a motto.
u don't know" was the reply, "but l
can suggest one, 'Aufeigne Faust 1t
means on your own fist or relying on
your own fist 1t seems to me-" said
the congressman, that the phrase fits
Roosevelt like a glove
Sulzer Routed That Time.
Boutell of Illinois is bald, and Sulzer
OF New York has a head of hair which
might fill the seven Sutherland sisters
with envy. In the house during a re-
cent debate Mr.. Sulzer tainted the
illinois member with being unable to
part his hair in the middle. ut is
true " retOrted Mr.. Boutell, that / am
not one Of those whose strength goes
10 hair instead of brains" After which
AIr. Sulzer had nothing to say.
A "Big Iniun" For Sure.
The tallcst and perhaps the largest
indian ever seen in Washington, a YER
liable big Iniun," is William Towns,
PaWnCC, who arrived in the city
lew days ago along with others form
Ing a delegation from his tribe, who
are here to protest against the passage
or the Vreeland bill, Towns stands
just 6 feet inches in his bare feet
ana weighs 800 pounds. There is not a
urop Of white blood in his veins, and
he Is a typical specimen of his race.
SibIey's Loud Suit.
When Representative Sibley of Penn
SyYania walks up the avenue from the
mouse, you can hear him a mile away.
Ihe noise is due entirely to his loud
Dl9id emit Nv Sihlou'c oIOthnc orn