Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-12-26
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

NId4kS nave cedSeu 10 ITOuDle tuS
White House. Whether the cessation
OF their activity is permanent IT is i'm
possible to say. At any rate the secret
service men and police whose business
it is to guard the White House grounds
and watch over the safety of the presi-
dent have been having little or no diff
Guilty with them lately.
1t is said the secretservice men and
the police have had comparatively little
difficulty with individuals of the crank
species since the forcible ejectment OF
Mrs. Minor Morris from the White
House. Whether the summary treat
ment Of Mrs. Morris had the effect of
serving notice on them that their pres
ence was not desired about the execu-
tive grounds and mansion can only be
conJectured Indications are that the
effect was something of this kind.
Scarcity of Cranks.
When the president first took Office
and nearly all through his first term
cranks seemed to be attracted TO the
White House In large numbers. They
came In waves. Some months there
was a scarcity of crank visl, rs. and
then there would be a flood of them.
The news that some Objectionable Wis
itor had been cut off in an attempt to
see the president one day was pretty
apt to be surely followed by two or
three other similar announcements the
same week. Some were arrested and
examined as to their sanity. Others
were merely intercepted and sent out
OF Washington.
Secret service men and police alike
are eongratulating themselves now on
their scarcity.
Pedigreed Diplomats.
Again the American appetite for title
and pedigree is tickled by the appoint
ment of Esme Howard TO succeed Wal
ter Beaupre Townley as counselor of
the British embassy here. Like his
predecessor, EsIne Howard has a title(i
wife, Lady Isabella Howard, genu-
inc italian princess, her father having
rather more titles than one can re-
member at TIE first sitting Esme
Towards pedigree is quite long
enough, and he has quite a sufficient
number of ancestors TO satisfy the
American appetite.
Americans Like Titles.
Generally diplomat with title Is
selected for the post here, and if he
has not one and shows signs OF MAX
Ing good he soon receives one. When
Baron Speek Won Sternburg first came
to Washington as n simple secretary of
the German embassy he was Speck Won
Sternburg Those were days when he
reserved three regular places for din
ing, two Of the number being the
homes of Mrs. L. q. Letter anu Senator
Lodge. while he was on no less IA
milan terms than now with the presi-
dent WHO called him 'Speck" Now
he is his excellency Baron Speck Won
Sternburg. and. though he modestly re-
cords himself in the diplomatic list az
Fre'herr Speek Won Stern5urg. his
friends, all but the president, roll the
baron" under their tongues with keen
relish.
Cupid In the Departments.
A considerable stir was made IN the
departments here by a story to the eff
feet that where man and wife were
employed In the departments one Or
the other would have to sacrifice the
position. Investigation shows that for
the present, at least, no action Of this
character has been decided upon. There
appears to be no good reason why a
man and wife should both be employ
ed by the government. Before this
cabinet officers have taken cognlzance
of marriages between clerks, and such
clerks as have wives or husbands In
other departments find 1t hard to get
promotions. Often In public office here
clerks marry and continue in Office.
drawing two salaries in effect II not In
law. Many such marriages are conceal
ed for fear that one or the other Of the
contracting parties may be discharged.
Long Established Custom.
1t Is rather remarkable that, while a
woman In the department may marry
another clerk and continue to hold her
position, If she should marry a man
outside the department she would like
~ lose II. AS far back as Cleveland's
time cabinet officers established the
custom of dIscharging female clerks
when they married men outside the
department. Why they should be al
lowed TO hold position If they married
departmental clerks would be a mys-
terry were II not for the fact that mar
riage to a department clerk is con-
sidered to be punishment that fits the
crime
Blue Room No Longer Gives "Biues."
No aesthetic person need sorrow here
after at the aspect of the blue room In
the White House, for the changes In
Its hangngs and furnishings have al
tered II immensely. After the Mckim
renovation the blue room was trial
In Its garb of lrligo blue. Beautiful
women were hide hideous by that
background. and they knew It. Tht
new wall covering for the room Is of
blue satin, embroidered in gnld. with
panels Of deeper brocade and a dado
OF woven vines. The same design IL
in the coverings of the divans and
chairs.
Naval Repairs Costly.
An idea OF the great expense attend
ing the maintenance OF the navy Is
shown by the fact that naval board
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