Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-27

doings of certain officials of the Post ONCE
Department was referred to the United
States attorney for the District of Column
ba for prosecution the latter's office has
resembled a press bureau. A score of
newspaper men have taken almost complete
possession of one of the rooms of the
United States attorneys suite. and without
asking leave so to do have succeeded in
making themselves thoroughly at home.
Mr.. Beach and all of his assistants, how
ever are more than courteous to the in
vaders, and are doing everything in their
power to aid the writer's. except in the
direction of disclosing information in ref
erence to the Post Office Department in
vestgation. The newspaper men have APP
propriated typewriters and DESKS and have
made free of the telephone, but the
news obtained by them is secured by dint
of hustlng about the city hall. outside the
office mentioned. for the United States at
torney and those associated with him have
surpassed the proverblal clam in the mat
ter of dumbness. so far post office af-
fairs are concerned.
x * X x
A well-known official of the Department
of Agriculture. in conversation with sew
eral friends recently, expressed the opinion
that the prevailing unseasonably cool
weather and almost continuous rains are
indirectly due to the Mont Peee and sub
sequent volcanic eruptions. The official in
question. who is conscientious student in
reference to such matters holds to theory
that the eruptions cause revolutionary ac
ton among the higher air currents. with
resulting preCipitationS. even at long dis
tances from the origin of the eruptions.
One of the individuals who was party to
the conversation referred to lives in the
suburbs. He took occasion to remark that
no matter what is the cause of the unde-
sirable atmospheric conditions, the present
summer will seem a decidedly short
and next winter will be upon the COM
munity almost before folk have an oppor-
tunity of realizing that summer has ar
rived
First Assistant Postmaster General
Wynne was an expert telegrapher in his
younger days. His chief clerk. Mr. John j.
Howley. was also a knight of the key Con-
Meeting several of the bureaus of the Post
Office Department is telegraph line. The
instrument in the first assistants office is
on Mr. Howley's desk.
This office during the investigation of
the Post Office Department scandals, has
been favorite rendezvous for the news
papermen who keep tab o nthings In the
department.
While the newspapermen were sitting
about the room a few afternoons ago. dis
cussing among themselves what would like
ly be the next thing on the tapis. the tele-
graph instrument began it's clickety-click.
For a few minutes there was enacted
part of a war drama The fourth assist
ant postmaster general came upon the
scene at an OppOrtune time. His fingers
worked the instrument convulsively. An
answer came:
Gen. Lees army is within mile
moment of intense excitement.
Who will take this message?"
II will" promptly answered two of the
newspapermen.
noise that sounded for all the world
like the patter of horses hoofs on the
pavement. but which was In reality one of
the boys knocking with his cane on the cor
ridor floor. died away in the distance.
The first assistant seemed to enjoy the
little pleasantly quite as much as the boys
who were trying to kill time. while waiting
for the latest development in the investga-
ton.
what shall be done with papa? That is
the question of the hour beside which the
servant girl problem looks like 30 cents
The speaker was a man of large build and
rotund stomach. and had the appearance of
a person about whom the sole concern in
the domestic circle might be how to pro-
vide him with what he considered three
square meals per day. 1t was evident at
just that time he was not thinking of his
material needs, but was trying to solve
puzzing question.
1.-THE women go of to the country some
where" he went on. when the hot weather
comes and take the children with them.
OF course the head Of the family is obliged
to stay home with his business. What is
to be done with papa during the absence of
the family?
Some OF the funny men represent in the
newspapers that the entire problem consists
In sort OF safegua riding the old man so that
he won't fall into bad habits. No doub:
that is essential in some cases There ls
no need of going into estimates of the pos
sble percentage. but after all, the great
thing is to devise ways and means of living
such prosaic details how the meals are
to be obtained and when the washing is to
be done and who is to make the beds
"A short act is sometimes attempted by