Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-21
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Minor Scenes and s<etched
On tbs spot.

NbA0 us I'M tullTtlg 70 lUt uullOS OF the
high Office in Missionary which he holds. Mr..
Richardson is the highest Masonic official
in this country and ranks with King Ed
ward Of England among the Masons OF the
world. He holds the Office for so many
years held by the late General Albert
Pike. The members OF the order, and espe-
cially OF the council which directs its az
fairs, have for some time been anxious to
have Major Richardson devote his entire
time to the Masonic office. He now re-
ceives a salary from the order OF s., 900 per
year. II he goes out of public life and de-
votes himself entirely to Masonry, he will
be paid a salary Of &c., 900 a year and all
travelling expenses, and. in addition, will
be given a handsome residence in Wash
ington. This is located in front of the
famous statue Of General Pike, erected by
the Masonic fraternity.
TIL East room OF the White House is
again open for the inspection Of the local
public and visitors TO Washington, and the
grounds of the mansion are also free to the
passage Of pedestrians. The continuance
Of alterations to the White House has
caused these privileges to be withheld since
last June. Visitors to the White House now
enter by the east terrace, opposite the
treasury. They are permitted to inspect
the East room, which is reached by the
basement corridor and the new staircase.
Exit is by the sam route. No other part
Of the mansion is open to public view. No
one is admitted at the north door Of the
mansion except the personal friends Of the
president and Mrs. Roosevelt. The north
front is to be the private entrance Of the
presidents family, and a strict presidential
ukase has been promulgated that all sight
seers must enter through the east, or pub
lie, entrance.
President Roosevelt sees a great deal Of
humor in the feuds among the different
member of the state delegations. The
other day an applicant for an appointment
called at the White House to press his
claims for a Job. He detailed to the presi-
dent his various qualifications for the place
and ended by saying that he had the in
dorsement Of both Senator Hanna and SEN
ator Foraker of Ohio. 1t is well known In
Washington that not much love is wasted
between these two statesmen. The presl-
dent saw the fun in the situation.
II am delighted to hear that" he said to
the p%lace-hunter. NOW go and get Sem
ators Beveridge and Fairbanks to agree on
your appointment and you can have the
place"
The applicant left the White House sor-
rowfully, because 1t is accepted in Washing
ton that 1t is impossible to get Fairbanks
and Beverage to agree on the weather,
much less on the parceling out Of a job.
Among the visitors to Secretary Hay last
week was Brigadier General Andrew Burt,
U. s. A., retired, known throughout the
west as "Colonl Andy Burt" says the New
York News. Preferring an active career to
one Of clerical duties in the department, he
has always chosen and secured posts upon
the frontier.
Colonel Burt tells on himself a story that
is illustrative both Of his democratic ma
ture and Of his respect for army discipline.
An ardent rooter for base ball and a
fairly good player himself, he had always
taken the highest interest in the games
between the Twenty-fourth infantry (his
regiment) and others. 1t was a negro reg
iment. but that made no difference.
A critical game was called, and he, al
though colonel OF the regiment, volunteered
to fill a vacancy at shortstop. He was ac-
cepted, and he assured the boys that all
considerations Of rank were to be dropped
during the game.
His side was at the bat and the colonel
was at first playing of for second when
the negro coacher on the side yelled:
run, you b~ow-legged son Of a mule. Why
in blazes don't you rum"
The colonel ran and brought In a score
but when he reached the batter's bench he
was blazing with wrath.
'rYou impudent %scoundrel; I'll have you
In the guardhouse!"
Then he remembered the circumstances
under which he had entered the game. He
added:
IF you ever again address the colonel of
your regiment in such a manner"
A middle-aged man and woman tried to
get In the front gate at the White House
recently. The big policeman stopped them
'"You can't go in" he said.
"why not?" asked the man. IT'S the
White House, amt itT
YES" said the policeman, "but the gates
are shut Just now. You see, they haven't
finished the repairs yet. They're paint
ing now and you might get some paint on
your clothes"
"Huh!" shifted the woman. II suppose the
presidents afraid OF damage suits"
Mr.. William ]. Sapp, who owns a nne
wheat farm in Nebraska, and who has many
friends in Washington. where he spends
his winters. borrowed the ear of a Post
reporter.
EVERY farmer IN Nebraska" said Mr..
sapp, fought to have money and fully 50
per cent of them have. The prosperity our
people are now enjoying breaks all records.
But for some storms that came at an in
opportune time, the wheat growers would
have raised more grain than has ever been
known in the history OF our state"
CONGRESSMAN Cannon visited Pittsburg
recently and on his return to Washington
| said to Representative Dalzell Of that city:
John, l believe all anybody can say about
smoke in your town. It's so bad that I've
written a new version of Mary and her
little lamb. Only one verse is really COM
pleted. II runs this way:
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow;
1t followed her to Pittsburg
And now look at the dunn thing.
well said Dalzell. 81 had intended
running over home in a day or so, but II
| the smoke is as bad as your poetry, Joe,
1 guess I'll postpone my visit for a short
time"
Al one or two receptions recently Wash
ington's diplomatic set underwent severe
shock on witnessing the gorgeous display
of Jewels to which other guests were