Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-04

in one day and all OF them going by the
carbolic acid route. Why carbolic acid
should be chosen is one OF those things
which nobody can find out, except, pos
sibly, that as the late Joe Hickey. who
committed suicide in New York last week,
used carbolic acid to terminate his career,
some OF the scientists OF the city have
reached the conclusion that Rickey's adop-
tion Of carbolic acid set the pace for those
who followed. As the late Joe Hickey In.
vented the gin rickey, immortalizing his
name as we'll as the drink. the u-nfortunates
who put ends to their lives during the last
week by the use Of carbolic acid, It is
thought. we're only paying proper respect
to the originator of 50 universal a beverage
as the gin rickey.
working for Parcel Posts.
Postmaster General Payne, who Is Civ
ing to the Postofice department one of the
very best administrations ever had in that
branch Of our government, is hopeful that
before many months the Postofice depart
ment will have treaties with all the Eu-
ropean countries that will reduce the post
age on parcels sent between those coun-
tries and the United States. In the last
annual report OF the postmaster general
Mr.. Payne 'dwelt at considerable length
upon the OeueHtb % Ot ueTlNeu lTum n nOu-
ihed parcels post arrangement, and so clear
were his reasons for a parcels post that a
very great many countries in the postal
union have looked with much favor upon
the suggestions of the postmaster general.
Notice has been sent the German govern.
ment of the termination OF the last tre6ty
and the desire to make a new one Which
will reduce the postage on parcels The
new treaty with France, Il is thou Ant. will
likely become operative about Juiy 1, while
negotiations are more or leSA advanced
with other countries OF E'irope. among
them being Great Britain, italy and Nor
way and Sweden. The Postmaster general
is hopeful that his administration will
have the honor Of making a uniform let
ter postage rate OF 2 cents between the
countries Of Europe and the United States.
To this end he has had a number of con-
f%erences recently with the representative
of foreign governments, members OF the
postal union, with a view Of securing such
uniformity. and so successful were these
conferences that It seems safe to predict
that the day for cheaper foreign postage
is not far distant.
FamOus Gnve1 Mt st. Louis.
The famous Washington gavel. the one
which the first president of the United
States used In laying the cornerstone OF the
national capitol in September, 1898, is In
st. Louis. 1t was used at the aging OF
the cornerstone of one Of the exposition
buildings by the grand master OF Masone
of the state Of Missouri. A committee oil
we'll known members OF Potomac lodge No
8 of this city, has charge Of the gavel
which historically divides interest with
Washington's apron and his jewels Al
grand master Of Virginia. The gavel wher
al home in Georgetown is kept in a vault
OF one Of the national banks of that place
Iand is taken away only when in the care o.
a special committee elected for the pur.
pose. The relic now known as the Wash.
ington gavel was handed by General Wash.
ington to the then master OF Potomac lodg,
after he had used IL at the laying of the
cornerstone of the national capitol. The
gavel has participated in many OF the bis
Masonic celebrations throughout the coun
try. 1t was in Philadelphia last December
at the sesqui-centennial of General Wash.
ington's initiation into Masonry, and wa.
used in calling together that most dis.
tinguished body of Free and Accepted
Masons. 1t was also used at the layins
OF the cornerstone of the Harrisburg cap.
ftol building and was last used to celebra.,
the hundredth anniversary of the Louisiana
Purchase from Napoleon.