Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-08
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Minor scenes and incidents sketched
on the Spot.

Minor Scenes and Incidents sketched
on the Spot.
A life size portrait Of President Mckinley
painted by Mr.. Murphy, an American artist,
has been received at the White House and
now hangs to the right OF the north vesti-
bule door, the space on the left Of the door
being occupied by ssrgent's portrait Of
President Roosevelt. The hanging is a
favorable one for an oil painting and the
portrait, which was painted from a photo
graph, the artist never having seen Mr..
Mckinley, is much admired. The Wash
ington Post quotes the friends Of the late
president as saying that Il is the best like
ness Of Mr.. Mckinley in existence.
A writer in Good Housekeeping relates a
conversation had with President Roosevelt
on family affairs. 1t was during one OF
the White House musicales. The writer
said II was wonderful how much Mrs.
Roosevelt could do socially and to how
large a number she was able to extend
White House hospitality. His reply l shall
never forget. He locke as pleased as II
1t we're a new thought to him; probably
it had been said for the hundredth time
that night. He replied:
Yes, whatever people may think Of the
pIeblQeult 4 suppose II Is pretty ktueIdllg
known that Mrs. Roosevelt makes a good
mistress OF the White House. l like her
entertainments myself. Now, this musi-
Gale is Just the sort OF thing we all enjoy
II gives pleasure to her friends and is
dignihed in Its entertaining.
But" he added. Mrs. Roosevelt is as
good a mother as can be found; a good
mother to six children, giving them her
time and thought. Yet, busy as she is in
always attending to them herself, she
manages to give me some time, too. Now,
today she rode with me an hour and a half.
She is a conscientious mother, let me tell
you, with a heart full Of love, and always
thinking Of what is best for the children"
1 ventured to ask about the children and
II he really played bear" with them or IL
that was a reporters story.
"Well," said he. ~ have threatened not
to play bear, but now Just last Thursday
night, after l was dressed for the diplomatic
dinner, 1 did indulge the boys in a game
Of bear, and after the play was over I as
sure you my being ready for that dinner
was a thing Of the past. But 1 made one
more change on the double quick before l
appeared downstairs"
Painters are at work putting a coat OF
white paint on the dome of the capitol
II is nine years since the huge structure
was painted, and the work is being done
as much to protect the Iron from corrosion
as to preserve its Wilderness. 1t takes 1 zoo
gallons of paint to cover the dome. The
rigging by which the painters move about
was erected by Head Rigger Ports of the
navy. He is the man who some years ago,
while placing electric lights on the dome
did the thrilling feat Of climbing to the TOP
of the statue of Liberty and standing erect,
arms folded, on the shoulders Of the horse.
81 am often required to deal with queer
individuals in the carrying out of my Off
cial duties" explained a local prosecuting
officer, quoted by the Washington Star
9TH latest incident Of the sort occurred
a day or two ago. A well dressed man
carrying a large satchel, was admitted to
ny private office. He complained that q
conspiracy to defraud him out OF valuable
lands in Louisiana existed, and his desire
was that ! should prosecute the conspira'
tors. l suggested that he file his complaint
at the Department of Justice, explaining
that | had no authority outside OF the
District of Columbia. But my visitor coult
not see that way. He promptly informed
me that he had first called at the Depart
ment Of Justice, and that the officials there
had referred him to me. He added thai
he did not propose to be bamboozled am
further.
my visitor went on to say that he haC
entered his complaint before one Of thu
leading Judges in Baltimore, but his homo
had him elected from the court room.
was further told by my caller that he pro
cecded to the sidewalk outside the cour
house and assembling a crowd Of citizens
about him, notified them Of what had oc
Cured within and threatened that II the!
did not assist him in securing his right
from the Judge he would drop his satchel
which, he declared contained a large amour
OF nitro glycerine, in the midst of tn,
crowd.
Nov what do you think they did?' m!
caller inquired Of me.
81 told him that l could not guess.
mot a blessed thing he said.
During the entire recital the man hell
his satchel very carefully and kept ~glancinl
at It in a nervous way. I did not relisl
the situation, so I pushed an electric buttol
and summoned my messenger. A momen
later my visitor and his satchel had beef
unceremoniously ushered out. / could hea
him as he stood in the corridor delivering
} a harangue on the subject Of the impossi
bllity Of securing justice in this land o
, the free"
Superintendent Richard Sylvester OF tn
metropolitan police Of Washington, D. G
has made public a police regulation for tina
city which reads: ITO spit on any pave
I sidewalk or footpath, or to spit on an
> street railway car or other public vehicle
or to spit on any part Of any public build
, ing under the control OF the commissioner
!, OF the District OF Columbia, is
MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS.