Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-10

cocked hat uplifted, as II acknowledging
the cheers Of his soldiers, The verdigris
comes from the bronze of the equestrian
figure. The statue Of Lafayette on the
southeast corner OF the square is similarly
discolored, although not to the same ex-
tent.
A New York paper printed an editorial
recently the burden of which was that sem
ators and representatives in congress neg
lected their legislative duties to attend So
cial functions. 1t bewailed what II termed
aping the customs OF the monarchical courts
of Europe, and prayed for a return to the
days of democratic simplicity" which, It
averred, marked the early days Of the re-
public. The solitary illustration Of what
II meant was the citing Of tradition that
Thomas Jefferson rode on horseback to the
capitol to be inaugurated. hitched his
horse to the paling fence. while he went
inside TO take the oath, and that at the
close of the inaugural ceremony he I'M
hitched his steed, remounted and rode to
the White House.
The editor forgot to cite the historic
fact that Washington, when president, gave
levees quite as formal and ceremonious as
those Of the court OF st. James, comments
the Brooklyn Eagle. The Father OF his
Country was an aristocrat to his finger tips.
Simplicity. whether democratic or repub-
lican, never characterized his oficial or
social intercourse with his fellow citizens.
His apparel was in the height Of fashion OF
his day, OF the finest and ~costliest material,
and made in London. At his levees he and
Mrs. washington stood on a dais to re-
ceive their guests. Washington was as
scrupulous in attending to the social as to
/ tba op of,I duttao 30 HE hIgh DoaitIop vat
no one then or since thought of yelling
functions at him.
II Jefferson rode to the capitol on horse
back, as tradition says he did, 1t was not
through any excess Of democratic or repub-
lican simplicity but simply because
Pennsylvania venue, which lies in a hol-
low all the way from Fifteenth street to the
foot Of Capitol hill. was then unpaved, and
in the early days Of March, when the in
auguration took place, was a sea Of mud
and impossible for vehicles unless drawn
by two or three yoke Of oxen. Jefferson.
like most Americans OF that day, was an
accomplished horseman, and generally pre-
ferred riding horseback over the muddy
roads of Virginia and the Doggy streets OF
Washington to going in any sort Of vehicle.
announcement that the Oak Lawn prop
eIIyf at tue ueau OI OOuueCIlCuI avenue
Washington. will probably be purchased by
one OF the foreign governments for an en-
bassy is taken as putting the quietus
for another decade at least upon the move
mept to build a magnificent new residence
for the president of the United States and
transform the White House into presiden-
tiaI ofnces.
The report that the Oak Lawn property
was to go to the British government has
been denied, but 1t seems to be we'll es-
tablished that the owners are negotiating
with some foreign government. 1t lie pre-
sumed that this is either the Russian gov
eminent or the government of France.
Heretofore 1t has not been the custom
Of members of the diplomatic corps to 20
to the railroad station when the president
has been leaving Washington, but the Ger
man ambassador, Baron Won Sternburg, was
so cordially greeted by Mr.. Roosevelt when
he came to bid the president goodbye a
few days ago that his example may be fol
lowed by others in the future. 1t is be-
lieved that several foreign ministers re-
greet that they did not embrace the oppor-
tuntty to demonstrate friendship for the
chief magistrate and the United States.
"T spoke from the same platform last
autumn with a funny fellow who told the
best story l heard In the campaign" said
} Congressman Foster of Vermont, quoted by
the Washington Post. at was used to Il.
~lustrate the prevalence Of good times fol
working men.
"A man had landed In San Francisco
after extensive travels, mighty close Il
} being busted He had decided to worl
rather than starve, and applied to a freighr
once Of one OF the transcontinental lines
for a place as brakeman. The road had
Job waiting for him. and he asked:
"How much do you pay a month";
awe don't pay by the month
"THow much a week.
Don't pay by the week. We pay brake
| men 3 cents a mile
lou busted friend went to work on tn
FIRST freight train east from Frisco. A
, the locomotive pulled up into the noun
/ tains It moved slower and slower. and tn
, new brakeman, counting the miles, begaI
TO be greatly dissatisfied with his job. Blu
! before reaching the summit the train brok
: in two. At the rate OF fifty miles an hou
the rear end went backing down the noun
tain side.
! "Don't jump shouted the conductor L
the new brakeman. Stick to It, and dom
Jump
"tJump!' shouted back the brakeman
Well, I guess I won't jump. What kind o
= q fool do you take me for, when / am max
ing $3.50 an hour?'"