The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1902-06-20
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence.I


ing in the omnibus public building re
port of the committee on public build
iDgs of the house is highly satisfactor,
to Washingtonians generally. The Dis
trict of Columbia under the presen
form of government has never had {
building it could call its own, a build
Ing in any way suitable TO its needs
convenient of location or beautiful t.
look upon In the old days, under tbs
territorial form of government. the
city hall was the District building, and
it filed the requirements of that pc
Rod At the time it was constructed
the present city tall was one of the
beautiful structures of the city. Ii
was hardly built for wear. however,
and a outlived it's usefulness BIZ
r1any years.
When the establishment of the pres
ent form of government was accom-
piished, the three commissioners were
placed in rented buildings and moved
from place to place as the work of the
various departments increased and de
yanded room. For years the
commissioners, the board of trade and
the various citizens organizations have
appealed to congress for a municipal
building that would provide adequate
accommodations for the departments
of the city government
Scotch Costume For the Museum.
The National museum has received
from Peter Henderson, a military
tailor of Edinburgh, Scotland. a com
plete Scotch highlaader's costume for
the exhibit for which the museum is
now preparing and collecting of cos
tunes of the different tribes. nations
and peoples of the world. This costume
arrived in a bernieticaIly sealed tin
box. and no one i'll the museum had
the slightest notion OF what it contain
ed uni. it was opened. The costume
is magnificent aud of the bright red
and green striped plaid of the house OF
Gordon.
The "~skene-dhu,'' OF black knife
that forms part of every highlander's
equipment, is incased in a silver and
leather sheath. The handle is of black
bog oak carved in the form of a thistle
head. while the end of the handle is
bound round with a silver rim engraved
with a design of thistles and in which
is set an Immense -cairn-gorm," or
handsomely cut and polished topaz, one
of the few precious stones found In
fhe maintains of Coe.tian nd
Astonished Her Visitors.
There is a young lady in the navy
department who has a fine sense Of
humor. Part of her duty is to index
the official mail signed by Judge Oar
ling Of Vermont, assistant secretary Of
the navy. Two ladies of her acquaint-
ance dropped in upon her the other
day, and in the course of an interest
ing exchange of feminine views one Of
them exclaimed suddenly:
What I'd like to know is what do
you do with yourself here all day. any
how"
oh, not much was the reply of the
clerk, except to read a lot of letters
signed Darling"
Her visitors were astonished at the
statement and sighed Cor additional de
tails. but they were not Forthcoming.
Insignia OF Library Attaches.
In olden times the profession of a
man was proclaimed by the insignia he
wore. That custom has long been aban-
doned, and in our day a general cannot
be distinguished from an aporhecary
save by his bearing. An exception
must be noted, however, In the case of
the librarian of congress. Mr. Putnam.
who. like his predecessor. MIR. Spofford,
carries ii green baize bag to and from
his office. not for the purpose of an
%nouncing his occupation. but t O facili-
tate the transportation of his papers.
The custom is such a practical and SEN
sible one that nearly all of his employ
ees have followed their chiefs example,
and a yoluminous green bag has come
to be regarded as the insignia Of the
staff of the library of congress.
When the Doctors Agreed.
Not long ago a number Of doctors,
representing all the neutrality-suspicious.
OF the profession. were arguing before
~. 80. go 49,
the house commerce committee in be-
half of a bill relating to the public
health.
Upon this measure" said the
spokesman of the physicians, '.all the
doctors are agreed"
Representative Hepburn of Iowa
threw@up both of his hands. Gentle.
men. be exclaimed. you had better
leave the room at once. 1t is the first
time ! ever knew doctors to agree. and
! am afraid if you stay here any lon
ger your harmony will be disturbed
Their Relationship.
Arthur Simmons. a negro doorkeeper
In the White House for the last thirty
years. has been friendly toward Sena-
tor Simmons of North Carolina. When
asked Why, Arthur said:
Why. Senator Simmons is almost;
related to me-. My father was a slave
of Senator Simmons father. and we
have known each other since we were
boys together. He is a good man. and
| ike him."
Kermit Reached the Limit.
President Roosevelt does not believe
in interfering with the pleasures of his
slI-n I,,t n r -. o.o-