Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-01

.Gen. Smith, the new governor general OF
the Philippines" remarked an official OF
the War Department, has had some tough
experiences during the past few months
He was in the Palace Hotel In San Fran
cisco during the earthquake and hre ana
lost considerable Of his baggage In addi-
ton to being badly shaken up. ne mac
Just arrived IN that city on MS way nome
for short vacation. AS though ina. was is
not enough he hardly got started on MS
way back to the Philippines when ne was
shipwrecked on one of the Hawaiian Is
lands He was a passenger on the man
churia when she ran on a reef and nao 70
abandon the ship and take his chances OF
getting to Manila on the next army trans
port passing that way. He bears MS mis-
fortunes cheerfully, however. and says no
will come through all right
y
Among the strangers who attended sery-
Ices at Old Christ Church In Alexandra
some Sundays ago were gentleman and
his wife from the capital city. 1t SO hap
pened that the ushers were all engaged
when the visitors entered and they passed
up the aisle on the left side and TOOK
seats in a spacious and old-fashloned pew
near the chancel rail. In the next pew
was a gentleman who was evidently res.
ident of the city. Possibly with view Of
imparting interesting information he lean
ed over soon after the arrival OF the cou-
pie and touched the other gentleman on
the arm. saying in a stilted manner
''This. sir, is Gen. George Washingtons
pew"
"Ah. indeed" responded the visitor. with
@ show of polite interest. is there any
likelihood that the general Will be here to-
day."
Den Washington here today?" ejacu-
lated the other, aghast. Can it be, sir,
that you do not know? It's Is it, it possible mat Ma
sir; Gen. Washington will not be here TO-
day. He has been dead for over 100 years.
So painful and profound was the shock
experienced by the Virginian that in order
to indulge their mirth the visitors were
obliged to leave the church before the con-
gregation was dismissed.
X X X
One of the Washington veterans of the
civil war who attended the recent national
encampment of the G. A. r. at Minneapolis
relates an interesting incident of the re-
union of the old boys IN blue. He said two
comrades who began a game of checkers
forty-two years ago at Atlanta. Ga. fin
ished the game at Minneapolis several Gays
ago. During the civil war they were play
ing a home made board with black and
white trousers buttons for checkers when
sudden orders were received from Gen.
Sherman to get in readiness for his famous
march to the sea. AS the bugers were
sounding boots and saddles" and all was
confusion the game came to sudden end
X.
march and the game was not concluded I'M
til their recent meeting at Minneapolis.
The comrades were both members of Com
pany A. 3lst Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
The loser of the game that was begun In
1854 treated the winner to first-claSs din
ner and on the following day the winner
''set up fine supper for his "bunkie'
who became lost from him while march
ing through Georgia"
"The present situation Of the government
at Washington" remarked high official
'.is somewhat unique and almost unprece-
dented. In past years It has been the Gus
tom when the President went away for his
usual summer vacation for one Of the MEM
bers Of his cabinet to remain at the capital
for prompt action In any emergency that
might arise. When Secretary Root was at
the head of the War Department he usual
ly held down the Id" as 1t was called in
the absence of the President. Secretary Hay
was In bad health at the time, otherwise
the duties Of acting president naturally
would have devolved on him the premier
of the cabinet Since that time Secretary
Taft has been frequently in charge Of exec
utive affairs in Washington while the Presi-
dent was away.
AT the present time II happens that there
Is no official in Washington representing the
President. Secretaries Root Taft, Shaw.
Bonaparte and most OF the other members
OF the cabinet are away, and the others re-
main at their desks only a few days at a
time AS matter of fact, the business Of
nearly all of the executive departments has
been in the hands of assistant secretaries
for several weeks past. 1t Is so easy, how
ever for them to consult the President at
Oyster Bay by telegraph 'on any matter re-
curing his personal attention that no en-
barassment has been caused by his abb
sence from the actual seat of government"
4 Z X \
That 1.-THE milk of human kindness some
times literally flows was demonstrated in
III usual manner the other day. For many
hours an understood, half-starved kitten.
too weak to toddle away, had crouched
against the mammoth flight of stone steps
leading to the patent office. on the F street
side. Star reporter first observed the
little animal in the morning, but paid no