Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-14
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial corrcspondence.l

|
Spanish war was signed in the cabinet
room. II. 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 ne at
once asked NJ. Chartran to paint the
scene. and it 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 Il part
in the scene We're 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 was not party
to the signing of the protocol, but he
was present and has prominent place
in the painting.
New Orange Tree.
This years returns have convinced
the experts of the plant breeding de-
partment that a deciduous orange tree
has indeed been produced-a variety
which Will grow farther north-and
shedding its leaves in the autumn, like
the apple will mature its crop in the
summer. This new orange will restore
the industry of Florida to its position
before the hard frosts of ten years
ago, besides giving the tree a much
more northern range.
y peck of little oranges was receiv-
| ed recently from the southern expert
ment stations where these young by
brid trees are growing. Last year two
| specimens-the first fruits-were gath
cred, and their arrival at the depart
mCnt occasioned much enthusiasm.
They We're the first Indication of what
would be produced by a cross between
the Florida sweet orange and the
hardy trifoliate Chinese hedge orange.
II product obtained with the greatest
difficulty and after hundreds of futile
efforts owing TO the widely differing
characteristics of the two. This year
the hybrid yielded its second crop OF
fruit. the seeds of which have been
cherished with great care.
The Museums HippOPOtamus.
Among their recent purchases of At
rican animals, stuffed and mounted,
the National museum has lately re-
ceived from Rowland, Ward * Co. the
great London firm of taXidermists,
fun grown hippOpotamus. 1t arrived
in q box large enough for three pianos
The hippo is very fine secimen and
proves q valuable addition to the mu-
seums collection of rare African ami
mails. The National museum has done
some excellent work in collecting speci-
mems of rare animals and birds. Count
ing the latest arrivals, the additions
made during the past three months are
as follows: One nineteen foot tai three
horned Somaliiand giraffe, recently CTS
covered: one Greenland musk OK, ore
Norwegian elk, Ole African lion, one
Marco Polos or Pamir sheep, one Mex
lean bighorn sheep, one African black
r.linoceros. one black bear, one noun
tain zebra extremely rare), one hip
popctamus, a cock of Sonnerat's jun
gle fowl, cock OF Gallus Narius, one
CO the most peculiar OF the four spe-
cies OF wild chickens; pair of Javan
peafowls q pair of black winged pea
fowls, 81 Lady Amherst's pheasant
cock, specimens of two recently dis
covered birds of paradise, a new crane,
etc.
New Stamp Proposed.
Congress will be asked to consider
the experimental issue of a special de-
livery stamp, which will direct the
postmaster at the receiving office to
break the envelope and read over the
telephone to the person addressed the
contents OF the letter. Wherever such
connections do not exist the letter
would go in the regular way. In prac-
tice this scheme would be serviceable
for quick communication with a per-
son known to have telephone in his
house or office. Were the system estHb-
lished. every post office would be equip
ped with telephone. The postmaster
general, who was requested by con-
gress to consider the feasibility of the
project, will soon submit his report.
A Tip For Inventors.
1t has been said that small inven-
tons bring the most money-that is, a
cheap, useful article sells most readily. |
However true this may be, the big in
vention, though it takes more thought |
to work 1t out, brings the largest re- |
turns when successful. The lump |
money" is in larger figures. For in |
stance, a street car electric power in |
vention, not an oversuccessful one, was |
with in Washington (the |
ground contact SYSTEM out of which
promoter made $4,000 without one |
penny's investment. II is in this line /
of inventive idea that there is a big
field for future progress.
Proposed Naval Display.
With the object of making a memora-
bic and impressive ceremony of the
transfer from Cuba to the United
States os the naval station at Guanta
namO the navy department is arrang-
ing to have Admiral Coghlan's gulf
fleet assemble at that port Dec. 10 to
take part in the transfer Admiral