The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1903-07-08
WASHINGTON LETTER
rsnecial corresnondence. j


The White House flowers are no
longer grown within the groundsRf the
executive mansion. Instead they are
cultivated in the propagating gardens
under the supervision Of Mr.. George
81. Brown, the landscape gardener OF
the public grounds. When the old con-
Gervatories on the west side Of the |
White House were removed to clear
the terrace so that 1t might be used |
as an approach from the new executive
Office building they were carried in sec
lions to the propagating gardens south
of the monument and used in the con-
struction of five new houses. -Four Of
these are Is by 20 feet, and one to be
used as rosehouse is 30 by $50 feet.
The total area of.the new buildings is
only half that of the old conservatory,
and consequently there is much crowd
ing of the flowers. But the new SUI
perintendent of public buildings and
grounds hopes to have provision made
in the near future for new houses OF
sufficient size and with modern equip
ment.
Ehigy of a Famous Eagle.
The navy annex building, just west
of the war department building on
Pennsylvania avenue, is surmounted
by one of the most elaborate eagles to
be seen on any government Flagstaff.
1t is an effigy in copper and aluminium
of the famous baldheaded eagle, "Old
Abe" which the Eighth Wisconsin vol
unteers carried with. them through the
civil war and for years maintained IN
princely quarters at the capitol at Mad
ison.
The copper and aluminium eagle on
the navy annex building measures
ninety-six inches from tip to tip of the
outstretched wings. Its head and tail
feathers are white and shine in the
sunlight like FURNISHED silver. The big
bird is placed on the top Of tall iron
flagstaff 142 feet 6 inches above the
street and is plainly visible from
considerable distance. Owing to its
pivotal arrangement it always faces
the wind and in that way is a perfect
weather vane.
One Effect of the Filibuster.
A farewell dinner to Uncle Joe"
Cannon was given on the Thursday
before the closing Of congress by the
members of the appropriations COM
| mittee The festive occasion was en-
livened by the appearance OF every
Republican member in his working
clothes. On the contrary, every Dem
ocratic member of the committee BIOS
somed forth in full evening dress.
The explanation was found in the
house filibuster Of that evening, In
augurated by direction of the Demo-
cratic caucus. The late hour to which
the session was prolonged necessitated
the presence of every Republican right
up to the moment when the Cannon
dinner was scheduled to begin. There
fore no time remained for the Repub-
lican members of appropriations to
change their rainent.
But the Democrats generally had
absented themselves purposely. Ac-
cordingly, appropriations Democrats
had ample time to appear in their love-
Hest.
The Old Navy and the New.
Admiral Taylor, chief Of the bureau
Of navigation, says that the American
navy has grown to very respectable
proportions, even if it is not the largest
in the world.
81 remember" said the admiral in
making good his assertion, "that one
day friend introduced me to Chi
cago man. After commenting on the
fact that I was an officer Of the gov
ernment's sea fighting establishment
he said, BY the way, where is the
American navy now? told him, and
it did not take very long to do it, Ell
Their. Now if I were to attempt to an
swer that question offhand I believe
that I should make an awful botch Of
it. The American navy Is scattered
to the four quarters of the globe, and
it would take me two hours to read a
printed report detailing the location Of
all the ships"
A Historic Blockhouse.
The delegates from the Pittsburg
| chapter of the D. A. r. called on the
president the other day to present him
with handsomely framed photograph
of the historic blockhouse that was
built at Pittsburg in 1854 as defense
in Indian warfare. This old block
house is owned in trust by the Pitts
burg D. A. r., and they take the best
care of it. In addition to presenting
the photograph the ladies desired to
invite the president to visit the block
house when he goes to Pittsburg
again. They also presented him with
history compiled by them of Fort
Pitt and Fort Duquesne. The presf-
dent was delighted with the call of the
ladies and assured them that they
were certainly carrying out the object
of their organization in preserving his
torical sites and objects, and he ex.
tended his congratulations.
| Where's That ClOthesIine3
When John Wesley Gaines Of Ten,
nessee made pathetic plea in the
house for the rescue Of the SO called
Mrs. Hayes sideboard that was sold
at the recent White House auction to
saloon keeper, the Republicans did
not take him seriously, which isn't
strange, for they never do. Uncle
Joe" Cannon rose to remark:
Tradition says that many years
ago, when Madison was president, the
east room of the White House being
in an unfinished condition, the mis-
tress Of the White House used to
cause the weekly washing to be hung
in the east room. My God! What has
become of the clothesline?''
Temperance People Disappointed.
Temperance people are disappointed
that the senate refused to permit the
/ provision in the sundry civil appro-
i nriatinn bill nrnhihiting the sale of in.