The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-20

I -(~~--e+f- III NttNAs
Hon. Henry G. Davis. former United
States Senator from West Virginia, who
has just returned from the City OF Mexico.
where ne attended a congress OF which
he is member, has made a record for
himself Of which any American boy could
well be proud. His father died when he
was but a small boy and he at once went
TO work TO assist his widowed mother in
supporting the family. When he became
DIG enough be was given a position on
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad as
brakeman He was soon promoted 70 be
a conductor. and later was appointed sta
tion agent at Piedmont. " va His next
step was to become member Of the Leg
stature az his State and after serving
there for some years was elected 10 the
United States Senate and served twelve
years During the whole period he Was
regarded 2s one OF the most conscientious
members OF that august body. He is to-
day one Of the richest men in West Viz
GINA
Mr. Lewis C. White is one Of the Oldest
attaches Of the Pension Bureau. his term
Of service having begun more lnan
thirty years ago He was a soldier d1r-
irS the civil war and took part il many
OF the battles IN one Of them he lost
ucst OF the fingers OF one hand Mr
Alte has splendid memory and he can.
ID IS said, recall the personal history Of
almost every man UhO has ever been con
Eected with his division lie is promIn-
eEt IN CHURCH work and takes much inter
est IN EpUortL League matters.
Mr.. Richard S. Laurenson has been a
clerk in the P0stomce Department for
many years. He is attached 20 the coma
tract division. and has special charge OF
star routes in Maryland and Missouri.
Mr. Lawrenson Is a man who goes about
doing good Having received a good thee
logical education and being an able and
attractive speaker. he IS in much demand
and there is scarcely a Sunday tnat he
does not by request occupy one OF the
city puipit5. The father Of Mr. Lawreu-
son. who vas popularity known as Judge
LaWrensOn vas connected with the Post
Office Deps -tIlent from the beginning OF
Andrew JacksOn's first Administration
until his death. a short time ago The
elder Mr.. Lawrenson used 70 be very
proud Of the fact that he had seen the
department grow from there being bur
one clerk needed 20 attend to the work to
the gigantic proportions which 10 had at
taiDcd 4 short time before his death. The
late Mr. LaWrenson was also one OF the
pioneer correspondents in Washington.
and for a number OF years did all the
work here for the Baltimore Sun" He
used 10 tell OF the following when he
could be induced to do So On the even
ing Of the day ia which a gun exploded
on the ship President. and which caused
the death Of one or more members Of the
Cabinet Mr. Lawrens0n hired a special
engine from the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company on which TO send d mes
senger with an acOuut OF the disaster
Before starting him out Mr. Lawrens0u
said to the messenger. When yCu get
TO the sun Office (which then was at the
corner of Baltimore and Gay Streetsl YOU
viii find at the door q Waterman by the
name OF Shook. Now. Shook VIII refuse
to let you go i'm the building because il
viii be late when you get there, but this
news must get 70 the editor. so you
knock him down and walk right in. Now
Shook Will have you arrested. but mean
while you will have an opportunity 70
deliver your copy. As soon as you are
locked up send fer Mr. A. 5 Abel and he
will get you out" Everything turned out
as Mr.. LawrensOn had predicted except
that after getting the messenger released
Mr. Abel presented him with 50
Capt. William C. Smith was. before he
entered the Pension Bureau, a soldier in
the army He is a native OF Ireland and
can tell some good stories about the En-
eraId Isle. One which he declares is true
Is about a friend who. having decided TO
buy COW went TO a neigh boring town for
the bovine. Arriving at the market place
he met some friends. and the party got
TO drinking. Toward night he remember
ed his errand, but not being able to see
very WELL entrusted the purchase to a
friend The COnfdant was a practical
joker and purchased an animal which
turned out to be a bull instead of COW.
Perhaps the most unassuming and one
Of the best-known members Of the Police
Department is Mr.. J. W MattingIy. who
was assigned to detective duty ia 1888.
He was born in the District OF Columbia
in 1886. He was a scholar at AIcIpOd-s
Seminary and left school at the age OF
fourteen 10 learn the trade Of boOkbind-
ing His police experience dates back 10
the establishment OF the Metropolitan De-
partment in 1861 At the breaking out or
the war he was one of the citizen soldiers
in Company A, Of the National Guard.
commanded by Captain TAFT. His com
pany guarded Lincoln during the first il-
auguratiou. and afterward went into the
three months service. As a policeman
he was frequently detailed 10 clerical
duty. and one Of the first prisoners placed
in the old Central Guard House was ar
rested by him After serving for a time
as q sanitary officer he resigned. and went
into the Government bindery, where he
became assistant foreman He then went
to Texas. where he resided several years
He returned 20 Washington in 1876, and
again entered the police department Ac-
cording to Major Richard Sylvester. Su-
perintendent of the Police Mr. MattingIy
has performed creditable service as a
detective. and the District attorneys have
found him useful in important cases. com
ing before the criminal courts.
Mr.. Ainsworth r. Spoford is the accom-
plished assistant librarian OF the Library
OF Congress. More than forty years ago