Harper's Ferry times. [volume] (Harpers Ferry, W. Va.) 1903-1907, 1903-11-20
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial correspondence.l


Ghartran,s painting Of the scene when
the peace protocol at the close of the
Spanish war was signed in the cabinet
room. III. G. Prick has rendered the
picture as a gift to the United States.
and President Roosevelt has accepted
! It for the government.
Mr.. Frick, who is one of the: best
known lovers of art in the country, is
an especial admirer Of Chartran and
the modern French school Of painting.
When the protocol was signed he at
once asked NJ Chartran to paint the
scene, and 1t is understood that the
price agreed on between patron and
painter for the canvas was $4,000,
When the actual signing of the proto-
col took place there was no photogra-
pher present, and those who bore part
in the scene were requested to assemble
the next day and pose as nearly as
possible where they stood when the
signing took place. Several photographs
were then taken
President Mckinley vas not party
to tie signing Of the protocol. but he
was presept and has prominent place
10 tie painting.
New Orange Tree.
This years returns have convinced
the experts Of the plant breeding de
partaent that a deeiduous orange tree
has indeed been produced Il variety
which VIII crow farther north and
shedding ifs leaves ii the autumn. like
the appIe. viii nlatufs. its crop in tire
summer This new orange will restore
the slslnstt5 81 Eslorida - its l,oslti5lt
before the hard frosts Of ten years
ago, besides giving the tree a much
more northern range.
a peck of little oranges was saceivg
ed racently from the southern xpc-i-
sment stations where these young ls.
brid trees are growing. Last year two
specimens the first fruits were gath
cred, and their arrival at the depart
ment occasioned much enthusiasm.
They were the first Indication Of what
would be produced by cross between
the Florida sweet orange and the
hardy trifoliate Chinese hedge orange.
product obtained with the greatest
difficulty and after hundreds Of futile
efforts owing to the widely differing
characteristics of tile two. THIS year
the hybrid yielded its second crop OF
Fruit, the seeds of which have been
cherished with great care.
The nIuseun1.s IIiDp os,otamEs.
Among their recent purchases OF AZ.
rican animals. stuffed and lnoanteG.
the National museum has lately re-
ceived from Rowland, Ward & Co, the
great London firm of taxid rii,ists.. d
full grown hippopotalnus. It arriTed
In a box large enough fol. three pianos.
The hippo is a very fine secinen and
proves a valuable addition to the fau-
seum's collection OF rare African ami
mails. The National museum has done.
some excellent work in collecting sp2ci-
mems of rare animals and birds Count
ing the latest arrivals. the additions
made dEring the east three months are
as follows: One nineteen foot tall three
horned Somaliland giraffe, recently dis
covered; one Greenland musk OK. one.
Norwegian elk. one African lion. one
Marco ooio's or Pamir sheep. one Mex
lean bighorn sheep, one African black
rhinoeeEos, one black bear, enc noun
tain zebra extremely rarel. one hip
popotamus, a COX Of Sonnerat's jun
gle fowl, a cock Ct Gallus Farils, one
of the most peculiar Of tie four spe-
cies Of wild chickens; pair Of Javan
peafowls. pair of black winged pen
fowls. a Lady Amnerst's pheasant
cock. specimens of two recently dis
covered birds of paradise, new crane,
etc.
New stamp Proposed.
Congress viii be asked to consider
the experimental issue Of d special de-
livery stamp, which will direct the
postmaster at the receiving Office to