St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-01-08
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Especial Correspondence


Interest have a new attraction to offer
Ito their patrons now. When they spy
a party of sightseers and have failed
to secure engagements by offering the
usual inducements, they ask: "
"Would not you like to see the Roose-
welt children"
Most Of the tourists admit that they
would, and the guide starts off as
though he were leading the way to a
cage in which the children were kept
for exhibition purposes. The tourists
are taken to the White House and into
the east room, the southern windows
of which look out on the private lawn
of the White House. Pulling aside the
curtains, the guide peers out, and as
generally there are several of the pres
ident's numerous family out in the
yard he will say, "There, ladies and
gentlemen, is little Kermit, the presl-
dents son." or little Ethel, the presi-
dents daughter" as the case may be.
The presidential children have become
used to this scrutiny. They pay no
attention to the visitors, and if they are
digging in an old flower bed they keep
right on turning up the earth as though
the east room windows were not filled
with interested spectators.
Graves of Confederate SoIdiers.
1t is a fact not generally known per-
haps that the United States govern
ment regards with a peculiar interest
the graves of the Confederate dead
which happen to be located within
Federal cemeteries. Senator Pritchard
of North Carolina has made the dis
covery.
over in Philadelphia the bodies Of
about 100 unknown Confederate sol
diers are inferred. Two southern la
dies now residing in Philadelphia,
Mrs. James 7. Haley of Virginia and
Mrs. Turner Ashby Blythe of Georgia,
arranged to have the bodies trans
ferred to Hollywood cemetery, Rich
mOnd, where a large number of south
ern soldiers now rest. They supposed
the matter could very easily be ar
ranged, but, to their dismay, the sec
rotary of war refused to give consent.
He explained that under the law the
remains of Confederate soldiers in Fed
eral cemeteries are regarded as being
held in perpetual trust and that trans
fer TO a privete cemetery could not be
permitted. The ruling of the secretary
is so comprehensive that it will be nee
essary to secure special legislation to
allow the gemans to be reinterred In
Virginia soil, and Senator Pitchard
will introduce bill to make the trans
fer legal.
Mecca of. Brains and Beauty.
Washington brings together not only
the brightest intellects Of our own
country, but is fast becoming one Of
the most cosmopolitan cities in the
world. In the diplomatic corps thirty
five nations have representation Each
of these thirty-fye nations has estab
iished an embassy or legation, includ-
ing from one to three homes. These
embassies and legations are bits Of
foreign property right on her own soil,
where the customs and usages of the
lands they come from are maintained
and respected. 1t is a large represen-
tation of the best brain and talent Of
the rest of the nations of the globe,
and it adds an educational feature to
our capital not to be lightly considered.
Socially our national capital is in
comparable. Merit and culture and re-
fnement are the true aristocracy. Ey
cry person Of note from the continent,
If he visits the United States at all, is
sure to come here, just as an irresisti-
bic law of gravitation draws the Amer
!cans themselves to it. But, aside from
its DISTINGUISHED visitors, the city is
rapidly becoming the abiding place for
the winter season of people of wealth
and refinement
FircpIaccs In White House.
Although there are huge furnaces in
the White House, nearly every room in
it has facilities for an open fire, and
since the advent of President and Mrs.
Roosevelt a bright fire CLOVIS on every
hearth. There being no elevators, either
for passengers or freight, men travel
about through the house at regular in
teryals carrying with them large scut-
ties of coal with which to replenish the
CRATES or a sort Of bod upon which
they carry wood for the freplaces,
This gives the White House an air of
real southern life The president often
sits in the library for a few hours
with his books and papers, and here a
bright fire burns at all times.
Naming of Battleship.
Representative Gaines of Tennessee
called on the president to ask that the
president name one Of the new battle
ships Tennessee" The president said
he regarded Tennessee as a splendid
state and, would be glad to see a bat
tleship named for her. But" added
the president to Mr. Gaines, you must
help me get the ship"
CARL ScHoTIELD.
The Speakers Chair.
Details in the cost of refurnishing
the house Of representatives and COM
mittee rooms are set forth in report
presented by Mr.. Cannon Of Illinois,
chairman of the special committee in
phnrun of 4hOco roottnre Tho total ny-