The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-04-21
WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY APRIL a.

and came to this country for the express
purpose of completing the frieze in the
Rotunda of the Capitol. which was begun
by Brumidi, but left unfinished at his
death The only thing that Costaggini did
to the frieze was to have a new tackle put
up to take the place of the old one. which
| had nearly fallen of its own age and
weight. The artist was ready to go on
with his work. but there was no design
| for him. The great Brumidi followed his
| own ideas as to the decoration of the
| Rotunda. and in a quaint relief of black
and white painted the epochS of American
| history from the landing of the Pilgrims
d d%Wn T." the discovery of gold mining in
his labors by the hand of death.
Since that time the old tackle has hung
dangling on the walls. and the gap in tn.
frecocs remains unfinished. Nobody has
| ever been able to get commission of
| finish out the fresco. The Reyolutionary
| War and the Mexican War have filled
their inches in the frieze but nobod,
| wants to have the war of the rebellion
pictured as the dominant party and tho
victors III that war want il pictured Ap-
ponattoN would make The best finishing
touch to join hands with the landing OF
| the lIlgrlms, but no decision having been
arrived ut Costaggini went 10 paintin.
| portraits. and so died. i'm his 9th year. a
| anu the IflpIe III the aD
ltoi of tn" United States has never beer
| finished.
Senator Stewart (Nev.) Will retire from
the United States Senate. and from pub
lie life. March 4. 1909. He will at thai
time close his fifth term i'll the Senate :,
| service of 80 years. than which few men
| have served longer in Congress. Senator
! Stewart has announced To the political
| leaders of his State that he will not be a
candidate for reelection.
The Republican Congressional Commit.
| tee has organized for the coming Congress
| sional campaign. The old board of officers
was reelected rs follows: Representative
Babcock (Wis.l. Chairman: Represe; tive
| Sherman On. ". Vice-Chairman: j, go
sentative Ovcrstreet Gnd), Sccretar:: IL.
W. r. Thompson Washo. Treasurer
| Chairman Babcock was authorized to ap
point the Executive Committee.
Mrs McComas. wife of the Senator
| from Maryland. died last Thursday after
Il brief illness. Mrs. McComas was a
| highly-cducated and cultured woman OF
old Maryland stock. and was loved by
her gentle influence.
The Knights of Columbus owned Wash
| ington last week. and they most decidedly
| own the Chair of American History i'm the
new Catholic University. which they en-
| lowed last week. the check for the same
| being $4,000. 1t was a prncely gift and
given in princely manner.
Mrs. Roosevelt has two sick boys on her
hands. That is. they have been feeling
pretty mean. all along Of the humps
| which caught them while at school in
| Groton. The disease got such terrific
hold on the pupils that school had to be
| closed for time. Mrs. Roosevelt went ul
| and got Theodore and Kermit and brought
| them home till they should recover.
A movement is on foot to make The
birthday of Lincoln. Feb. IL. holiday in
| the District of Columbia. The District
| already has about % holidays. The laat-
ter of holidays in the District becomes
quite IL serious one for the Government
because holiday in the District all
the Departments are closed. To throw 30.
600 Government employees out for day
even makes a big hole in the years work
to say nothing Of the salaries, which 20
| right OH.