Middletown transcript., 1904-05-28
WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, D. C. May 2lt

i
THE President is busy receiving th
calls of the politicians and arrangin
the details of the coming campaign.
is admitted on all sides that in selectin
Mr.. Cortelyou for Chairman of the Ma
tional Republican Committee he ha
dexterously solved preplexing problem
1t is now assured that the campaign will
be conducted on high and straighfor
ward basis. The President declares very
emphatically that he is not taking side
in the Illinois or Wisconsin factional con
test. He is keeping his hands off. He
also expresses himself as quite hopeful o.
the result in Maryland, notwithstanding
Mr.. Gornan's plans TO capture that state
On the 30th inst the President will visit
Gett sburg, Pa, making speech on
Memorial Day. lie will ride over the
field in the morning and in the evening
return to Washington. As the speech is
the only one of llis until after election,
the public is looking forward to it with
uncommon interest The British Ambas.
sador, Sir Henry Durand, left to-day fer
Gettysburg, the guest of acting Secretary
of War, Oliver. lie will inspect and
study the famous battle field. He is
deeply interested in the military features
of the great Civil War. A welcome
guest at the White House this week is
Captain W. s. Cowles, the Presidents
brother-in-law, of the unfortunate battle
ship MISSOURI. The vessel is now being
repaired at Newport News. Among re-
cent other visitors at the White House
have been Elihu Root, Senator Lodge,
Ex. Gov. Black OF New York who is get
ing points for his speech at Chicago nom-
mating the President, and Mr. D"ver,
Secretary OF the Republican Committee,
who is arranging the list OF speakers for
the campaign.
The capture by bandits in Tangier,
Morocco, of Mr.. Perdicaris a wealthy
citizen of the United States well known in
this, and other cities, has caused great
sensation and may lead to serious COM
plications with the Government of Nor
occo, if Mr. Perdicaris is not speedily re-
leased Already the President and the
Navy Department have taken action and
a fleet of American battleships is Eow OH
its way to the Mediterranean. The
Persistent is not the man to per NIT such
an outrage to gn unpunislIed. and vigor.
GUS action may be looked for. Some
thirty years ago your correspondent had
the pleasure of making the acquaintance
OF Mr.. PerdicaIis and his charming family,
for he married in Europe the widow of a
wealthy Englishman, who was also the
mother of two very beautiful blonde
daughters, OF e Of whom bore the Arab
name Of Nard Almanyne. Mr.. Perdcaris
came to New York, and was soon the
center Of an admiring host of friends, for
besides being tall, graceful, polite, af-
fable gentlemen, he was all artist, play
wright, and devoted to literature. He
brought from Europe a play lie had writ
ten, also the scenery which he had
painted, and he proposed to present both
to the public. Private performances were
given and the play was much admired,
but for some whim or another the press
and the regular managers gave it the cold
shoulder. 1t was withdrawn; and later
in tire season the fair and graceful daugh-
ter, Miss Nard, eloped with a young actor
named Decker, and the two speedily dis
appeared from society. Subsequently
Mr.. Perdicaris rented a beautiful villa in
a suburb OF Trenton, n. ]. on the banks
of tine historic Delaware, not very far
from the landing made by George WASH
ington, when in the dark and cold, sur
rounded by ice foes, he crossed over and
routed the Hessians Here, surrounded
by all that wealth and tastes could pro-
cure, Mr.. Perdicaris and his family re-
sided until their returned to Europe.
He was rerA hnspitahle, had honse
full Of friends, aud gave elegant dinner
parties. Must of his time was spent
between his studio and his library. He
was very popular with all who knew him
and has maintained the same good will of
the population of Tangier since his ad-
vent in that city. 1t is the irony OF fate
that a man kindly and philanthropic in
all his dealings with his fellow men
should, at the age of seventy years, be
snatched from the midst of the surviving
members Of his family, by a band OF
thieves aud cut-throats.
~
There is geological quarrel on hand;
a battle of tie stones, between sandstone
and granite, and it is to be referred to the
President. Sec'y Shaw wants the United
States public building at Cleveland, Ohio,
built of sandstone, and some Of the people |
Of that city wisl, to have it constructed
Of granite. The President has been urged |
by Senator Dick and others, to over-rule |
Sec'y. Shaw's decision. Undoubtedly |
granite is the better stone for the climate |
of the lake side. As all the new public |
buildings of Cleveland are to grouped |
around spacious park they should har-
nonize in material, quality and color of
,he stone, as well as in architecture.
*x*
The Interstate Commerce Commission
in this city. has issued a formal order for