The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-31
IN THE GOSSIP'S R N

The fact that there has been some evil
dence of friction between the United States
and the Sublime Porte was made the ex-
cuse, by some American editors, for calcu-
lations as to what would happen to Turkey
if the point of rupture was reached. Some
of them were gravely figuring on the
strength of the Turkish navy, which may
be best described in the words, 1T has
none.''
There is a story current in Mediterranean
ports of a Turkish naval officer who was
suddenly ordered to take his ship to Brin-
dist, there to await further orders. The
commander called his officers aboard. steam
was made and the voyage begun. The COM
mander was not a navigator, and on in
quiry he learned that none of his officers
knew how to reach Brindisi An English
tramp steamer had left port at the same
time as the war vessel and was then a little
way to one side. The commander hailed
and asked her master where he was bound.
"Brindisi," was the answer.
The delighted commander ordered that
his ship be steered to follow the English
man closely until the port was reached. A
little later another English steamer hav-
ing about the same appearance as the first,
swung into position ahead of the Turk, and
in squaring away on the course the Off
Ger of the deck became confused.
The voyage was long, but the weather
was pleasant and the sea smooth. and as
the tramp and the warship were of about
the same speed, the Turk had no trouble in
following his leader. At last a great port
was reached, and the guns of a guardship
in the river roared a salute to the Turk. who
answered in kind. Then a boat came along
side and a young lieutenant stepped over
the side and asked the purpose of the visit.
What port is this?' asked the COM
mander.
Liverpool" replied the amazed lieu
tenant.
l respectfully submit that a navy which
isn't worth bothering about, even in an edi-
torial.
The story of the New Orleans woman
who had lived all her life within a short
distance of Canal street, but had never seen
il. reminds me of an even more surprising
parallel that came under my notice ten
years ago. When General Harrison and
Mr.. Cleveland rode from the White House
to the Capitol for the second time together,
in 1892, 1 was one of a party from An
napolis that went over to see the interest
ing exercises. We stayed at the house of
a cousin of one of the girls, and in the
family were two young women, the elder
about twenty-five or twenty-six years old.
We saw all that was to be seen on Satur-
day. stayed over Sunday. and on Monday.
nc ono Of tho oirlS in Oi,r marty had ax.a
been inside the Capitol. visited that build
ing. AS We came out the older of the
Washington girls remarked that it was her
first visit to the inside of the Capitol, nor
had she even been under the p~orticos or on
the steps. She was born in Washington,
had lived there all her life, her home was
in that part of the city known as North
East. she was employed in that part of
the city known as North West. and every
pleasant day for years she had walked
through the Capitol grounds from one to
four times daily in going to and from the
office, but she had never before entered
the legislative building.
They must be having hot weather down IN
the city by the Kaw. The Kansas City Star
has published "The Beautiful Snow" by
request, presumably as a counter %irritant.
Work on the battleship Connecticut al
the New York navy yard will be watched
with interest by all who have the welfare
of the navy at heart. regardless Of their
fears that a mistake has been made by
Congress in thus ordering the construction
Everybody hopes that predictions of de-
lay and extravaganza will prove ill-founded.
But these are not the only things. Some
of us have vivid recollectiOns of the years
that the Inflated Maine spent on the stocks
in that navy yard; of how mishap after
mishap befell during the course of construc-
ton, including both injuries and fatalities
to men working on her skeleton and the
burning of the brick sheds built over her
There are many old salts yet living who
were not at all backward then. even be-
fore she had come from the ways. in re-
marking that her i'll luck foredoomed her
TO some bad end. a prophecy that was
amply fulfilled in her destruction at Ha-
vana. In view OF the precedent set by the
Maine, it is much TO be hoped that the
building Of the Connecticut will proceed
with smoothness and dispatch. unattended
by any untoward circumstances.
The philatelic papers of the last few