Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-25
Elhiin@ec.
Heard


might appear that the guard is rapidly
reaching the point of dissolution, but such
is by no means the case.
THE burst of activity on the part of
company and other commanders Is due to
the fact that the annual inspection and mus
ter of the troops will begin the 4th of May.
sire to make the best possible showing be-
fore the inspecting officers and, therefore,
they are busy getting rid of what is termed
dead wood in other words, discharging
from the service men whose names appear
on the rolls. but who seldom, If ever, at
tend drills and other assemblies.
Most of the discharges now being or
dered are i'm the interest Of the service.
Some are because of removal from the
District and only few ON their own APP
plications.'
X ~ X
There are several good stories in the new
Oil portrait of Secretary Shaw. which is
to grace the wall of the office of the Sec
rotary of the Treasury In accord with the
me-honored custom of the Department.
In the first place, it's cost is placed at
something over 5000. 1t was painted by
Chartran in just eleven hours. This figures
up to about $ minute for his time. Sec
rotary Shaw went to New York to do the
sitting or rather the standing. for the pic
ture represents him standing with his
hands in his pockets, a characteristic atti-
tude. 1t is said by those who know. that
the regular price for such picture
by Chartran is $780, but that while
he worked the Secretary reasoned with him
regarding this matter and that at one time
he had the artist scaled down as low as
$500. The artist at this point happened
to ask question as to who was to pay for
the picture, whether it was the Secretary
himself or the government. On being in
formed that the investment was to be made
with government funds Chartran deftly
touched his brush to one of the eyes he
was painting to give 1t the faintest SEM
blance of wink, and Immediately raised
his price $500.
There was some question in the mind Of
the Secretary after Chartran had delivered
the quick production in Oil. whether or not
the pose, with each hand in a trousers
pocket was exactly dignified attitude for
cabinet minister. This the Secretary
quickly dispelled. however, and he exclaim-
ed aloud, well, my hands were not in the
pockets of anybody else
Measurements have been made of the
portrait since 1T was delivered and al
though 1t was executed without the aid
of a single measurement, it is found to
correspond exactly to life size. There Is
not variation in any of the lines in this
respect The picture was done in three
to go over it with the finishing oils. The
only fault that can be found with the like
ness is just the suggestion of severity
caused by the addition of single hori-
zontal wrinkle between the eyes. This
wrinkle the Secretary does not possess and
before suitable frame is selected for the
portrait, 1t is doubtless a correction in
this respect will be made
X x X
Two high ranking officers of the navy
have COniOfpt1v aicf; of
having been born on the Goth day of Feb
ruary. 1914. They are Capt Colby M.
Chester. superintendent of the naval OBJ
servatory, who stands No. 2 on the list of
captains. and Capt. F. E. Chadwick, pres
fdent of the Naval War College, who stands
No. ) on the same list. These officers will
apparently reach the retiring age of sixty
two years in February. 1906, by the ordi-
nary method of calculation, but it so hap
pens there will be no 29th of February in
that year. In law man Is regarded as Of
age the day before his twenty-first birth
day. In the case of these two officers,
however, the sixty-second birthday ami
versary will not occur until February %,
292. 1t would, therefore, appear, if the
strict letter of the law is observed that
these officers have 1s9 years longer to serve
on the active list. They viii be eligible,
however. for retirement on their own ap-
plication after forty years service, and
may find 1t convenient to take advantage
of that privilege rather than wait for their
sixty-second birthday anniversary. The
probability is, however that the Navy De-
partment will decide that the two leap
year officers will reach the statutory retir-
ing age February %. 1905. they will then
by the ordinary calculation of that period
of time.
X
There was an amusing incident at Amer1-
can League Park Wednesday afternoon
when the base ball season opened with a
game between the New York and Washing
ton clubs. The crowd in the grandstand,
the bleachers and the field itself consti-
tuted the largest gathering ever known in
local base ball history. Not a seat was to
be had anywhere.
In one Of the boxes of the crowded grand
stand well-known Washingtonian was
entertaining party of friends, among
them a New York financier who is a stout
base ball ''rooter" and patriotic supporter
OF the New York team Two boxes away
was another party with whom all the folk
In the first box were acquainted. Prior to
the beginning of the game there was much
visiting between the members of the two
parties and number of tidy wagers were
placed during the intercourse as to the
outcome of the contest. AS the first inning
started the gentlemen returned to their re-
Spective seats. Washington was first to
Dat anu although three men were on bases
at one time, none crossed the plate. The
New York man was hilarious. When it
came New York's turn to swat the
sphere" which. translated into purer Eng
lish means paste the leather" Willie
Keller went to first on four bad balls and
before the side was retired had made the
circuit of the bases and scored the first
run of the game and season. The metro
politans were one run to the good, and
their stanch supporter from Manhattan
was simply tickled to death. So delighted
did he become that he called to one of his
friends in the neighboring box:
Il say. old man. I'll double that wager
with you, don't you KNOW
"All right. old chap" responded the
Washington man. that makes it a dollar,
doesn't it."
There was a loud shout of laughter from
those who heard, and the New York man
became intensely interested in the UNI
pire's style of sweeping home plate.
ut was a shame" commented the Wash
ington man to his friends but 1 had to
do it,