The National tribune., 1903-05-21

" "
BY direction of the PRECEDENT. Col. Chas.
"a Woodruff, the Senior Colonel of the
Commissary Department, is to be ap-
pointed Brigadier-General and retired in
July, when vacancy will occur as the
result of the retirement of Maj.-Gen. Geo.
B. Davis in the Philippines. Col. Wood
ruff has had very fine career. A Yer
mont boy. he enlisted as a private in the
10th VT. in June, 1862. Most of his sery-
= ice was in the Department of Washington,
in the Army of the Potomac. He was
wounded four times at Cold Harbor,
necesstating his discharge in August,
1865. He drew a full pension on his dis
charge, but surrendered it in September,
1866, notwithstanding he was compelled
to use crutches from June, 1864, to Janu-
ary, 1866 He qualified for an appoint
ment as a cadet at the Military Academy
July, 1867, and took the full four years
course. On graduation he was assigned
to the 7th Inf, and became noted as an
Indian campaigner on the frontier. lie
received numerous promotions, and was
twice brevetted for gallant service in the
Indian campaigns. He also rendered cred
itable services in Cuba in the Spanish
war, and afterward in the Philippines.
SOl. lHOUlaS w. ~. -.
Engineer for the Buffalo District, and
who has just been assigned to duty in
Washington as Superintendent of Public
Buildings and Grounds, has received from
the citizens at Buffalo n magnificent token
of the appreciation of his friends in that
city 1t is a splendid solid silver tea set
of five pieces, which cost more than
$1,000, and a gold watch that cost nearly
. $500. A great reception was given him
D,,To 10 NIar.b,ptSs Eycbonpa and
) was witnessed by over 900 residents of
: the city.
Overcrowding at the Naval Training
Stations along the Atlantic Coast is caus-
ling much concern to the Navy Depart
.ment. There has been great deal of
sickness among the men recently, and 1t
Is feared in some cases it has been the
result of this overcrowding. The Navy
department has determined to relieve the
Congestion at Norfolk, Newport, Long
Island and New York by quartering the
overflow in tents. Several ships are
fhortly to go into commission, and that
syill furnish further relief. The Yankee,
Dixie and Cleveland will take their crews
from the stations that are most crowded.
The Fourth Annual Congress of Ameri-
ran Physicians and Surgeons convened in
Nv aSlilUEIon Oh NiOuuds VI idst NcShs NAA
Crobes, bacilli, bacteria and all the other
old things that are distracting the atten-
tinn of the well and tormenting those
MIo are i'll were discussed from to lizard
dpring the four days these eminent gem
tl&men were in session. Therapeutics,
orShopedics, and all the rest Of them had
NSuderfully scientific papers. They all
di4cussed Dr. Lorenz and his methods for
fba cure of congenital hip dislocation, and
of than, 90 1lad him
MiIile good many more would have liked
to call him names if they had dared. But,
6ust the same, after questioning his
methods they had to admit that he had
been wonderfully successful. The AssO-
citation of Physicians and Surgeons was
banqueted and shown about the city, and
had right jolly time despite the pessi-
mistic papers that many of them saw fit
TO discuss in their various meetings.
: The Commissioners of the District of
Columbia have decided that the sale of
wood alcohol should be limited to the
s'poison drugs They say that although
wood alcohol is not now recognized as a
poison, it appears to be very malignant
toxic. 1t has been used as a substitute
for intoxicating liquors, producing blind
ness of a longer or shorter duration, some
times permanently, and is rarely an active
poison. AS it is so easily obtained, and,
being cheap, is sold by irresponsible deal
ers, the District Commissioners have very
wisely concluded to place about il such
restrictions as will prevent its use for a
common drink by the ignorant
No moe short tons of coal in the Dis
trict. The Sealer of Weights and Meas
ures, together with the Corporation Coun-
sci of the District, have decided that a
nf pnal . On 1hc avnirdunniS
Heretofore in the District ton has con-
sisted of 2,oCO lbs. straight, If the scales
were right. This seems a very little, but
1t means whole lot to the poor.
One would think that the Capital of the
Nation would be patriotic if no other
place in the United States was. On the
contrary. it is patriotic only by fits and
starts. and then only in spots. For in
stance, the Fourth of July, which, as old
John Adams wrote to his wife, fought to
be observed with fireworks, salutes, firing
of cannons, music of bands, and a great
gathering of the people," is very seldom
observed in Washington. The Oldest In
habitants hold brief session, and few
of the patriotic citizens hang out the flag,
and the celebration of Independence Day
usually stops with this. AS matter of
fact, Washington is about the last place
vi 10 eApttl
any kind. Commissioner Macfarland, how
ever, is making an energetic attempt to
have the day observed here this year as
never before, and it is believed now that
with little concerted &ction fitting cele-
bration will be planned.
The American people are too little given
to holidays of this character. That Ma
tion is starting toward its decline which
forgets all the heroic deeds of its sres.
The American people have very few
patriotic anniversaries as compared with
the people of other countries, but there
clusters around each of these rich men,
pries that should be kept green in the
minds of the young The example of
Commissioner Macfarland should be fol-
lowed by the officials of every town and
hamlet in the United States. 1t is not
necessary that the Fourth of July should
be expensiyely and extravagantly OBJ
served. but let Mayors issue proclama-
fions, let the business houses be closed,
interest the children, the young particu-
1arly. and meeting in some grove, school
house, town hall, or even a church, spend
at least an hour or two in reyiYing the
memories of Revolutionary days and the
heroic deeds that have been performed
since then. 1t should be remembered that