Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-02

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came into the department In due official
form after being some months getting mere,
and after going through all the necessary
routine finally got to the Secretary ana was
approved by him. The facts behind II are
what make the case interesting. The Bos-
ton navy yard has a branch exchange in
which they are allowed to hook up as many
individual phones as they choose without
additional expense. The man in question
was q bureau chief who had a perfect right
to Il desk phone if he wanted It, But there
wes nobody on duty in the yard or in Bos-
ton the state of Massachusetts, for that
matter, who had any right to order the
phone installed. After trying all around
the official finally applied to Washington
for his desk telephone Neither the bureau
of equipment nor construction and repair
nor steam engineering nor ordnance felt
competent to pass on the momentouS ques-
ton. and the paper finally worked its way
up to the Secretary of the Navy, who had
to pass on the installation of one desk
telephone at no expense in Boston, 800 or
moro mills away. Looks as though 5000
was a plenty to pay cabinet officers If that
is the sort of work they have to do"
j x 4 &
There are some persons in the world
who are contented under any conditions
observed a member of the police depart
ment who stood in front of the workhouse
one day last week and gazed at the men
who were behind the bars. "One of the
men wearing stripes in there has been ar
rested no less than 100 times and there he
is at the window singing a comic song
The officer pointed out several prisoners
a the windows and told their records and
Of the number Of times they had been be-
hind the bars, On the outside of the prison
several trusted prisoners We're busy clean
ing the pavement and doing odd Jobs, at
tracing the attention of pedestrians.
Il should think these men would run
away from here when allowed to be about
the streets in this way" remarked a wo-
man who stopped and watched the men in
stripes rI2f,s,. -.,.,,z .,,,,- .. ,o.. ,...o,
the bluecoat asked.
Because responded the woman, 81
shouldn't think anybody would remain
about q prison II he had a chance to leave"
In order to prove to the woman that she
had an erroneous idea of prisoners. the po-
liceman called "trusty" and put him
through q brief examination. The curious
woman soon learned that she had a mis-
taken idea of prisoners.
II wouldn't go away unless they made
me-" said the colored prisoner, In response
to the officers question.
why not?' he was asked.
" Cause they might send me to some place
worse"
y X ): 4
schools in the northwest had just conclud-
ed a recitation the other day, when the
teacher took advantage OF a few spare
minutes to test the knowledge of her pupils
concerning the form of the District gov
eminent, Her very first question was:
In whom is the governing power OF this
city yes ted?"
Silence reigned for moment. Then lit
tie Tonmys hand went up, and to teachers
We'll, Tommy the following answer was
vouchsafed:
The governors of the District are three
missionaries, two taken from civilized life
and one from the Injun corpse"
* *
81 was interested in a news item pub
llshed a few days ago, to the effect that
the authorities in Chicago were considering
the stability of erecting fences to inclose
the public parks Of the Windy city," pa
triotic Washingtonian remarked. Such a
policy Is Numerically opposite that being
followed here at the national capital, for
the fences have been removed from most
OF our parks. The White House grounds
and the botanic Gardens, I believe are
the only local public spaces now provided
with iron barriers. The reasons for retain
ing them are no doubt sound
only a few years ago Franklin and La
fayette squares were inclosed by high iron
fences and the same is true of other of
our parks. The high fence, as a rule, gave
way to low iron posts connected by chains.
Then the latter were removed, and most
of -the public spaces now have merely
stone coping to mark the border lines.
THE removal OF fences from the parks
Of Washington and the suggestion that
such be erected about the public grounds of
| Chicago l regard q distinct and decided
compliment to the people OF the nations
capital. It demonstrates we appreciate and
respect the beauty of lawns and flower beds
and shrubbery, and refrain from marring
that beauty In Chicago it must be diff
ferent If the necessity exists there for erect
ing unsighty fences"
X X i x
Fred B. Smith, the Y. NJ C. A worker
who has just returned from a trip around
| the world and who remained In Washington
several days last week. tells a good story
| of Australia. Before he started, he told
friend of his proposed trip and said that
he planned 10 visit Australia last.
That's good" remarked the friend. BE
cause American always feels at home
| there"
The traveller met another friend In Eng
| land and told of his prospective visit to
| Australia.
yes, that's fine" was the comment
| IAN American always feels at home In
| Australia"
Meeting another friend from this coun-
| try in India, he stated that he intended to
! visit Australia and then go home.
when you get to Australia, you will feel
as If you were home" remarked the
| friend.
| America as every one tells me2" asked Mr..
! Smith The friend thought moment, rub
bed his hands together briskly, and re-
| Piled:
I same as we do in America
| --e-
English Bloodstock for the World.