The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-05-25
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial correspondence.l


Especial CoFrespondence.1
A census made by the civil service
commission shows that 1857 of the
government clerks here are sixty-fve
years Of age or over. OF this number
1s9 hold their positions on account OF
their war records.
The work done by these clerks is
graded as follows: Excellent, 314i
good, $50; average, 229; fair, 251; poor,
90.
The Oldest man in the service is
ninety-one, another is ninety and three
are eighty-Six, four are eighty-fve, five
are eighty-four, six are eighty-three,
twelve are eighty-two, fourteen are
eighty-one, eighteen are eighty, fifteen
are seventy mine, twenty-five are sew
enty-eight, twenty three are seventy
seven, forty-four are seventy-six, etc.
Martha WashingtOn's Bible.
The long lost Bible of Martha Wash
ington, taken from the home of the
Lee family at Arlington during the
civil war, has been restored to Miss
Mary GUSTS Lee, daughter Of General
Lee, the great Confederate commander,
by G. w. Kendrick, Jr., of Philadel-
phia.
Mr.. Kendrick, who is a book col
lector, bought the book many years
ago from a man named Stein. The
vicissitudes through which this won
derful old volume has passed will new
er be known. 1t was probably stolen,
as were many other priceless treas
ures, from the Lee mansion by the
servants or soldiers and pawned per-
haps for trihing sum by persons ig-
norant Of it's value.
Book In Good Condition.
In spite Of its strange experience,
the book is still in fine condition. Mr..
Kendrick has kept it with great care,
and it's black leather cover shows few
scratches. A few pages are torn, but
the ink is still unfaded, and many
leaves and flowers, pressed by mem
bers Of the Lee family, are still with
in 1t.
The book was printed in London in
1902 by Charles Bill and the execu-
trix Of Thomas Newcomb, deceased,
printers to the kings most excellent
majesty" 1t contains the "order for
morning prayer throughout the year, "
including the communion service, the
articles of religion, the Old and New
Testaments, with the apOcrypha, the
metrical version Of the Psalms and the
table of kindred affinity.
Old Records.
The earliest birth recorded in it is
that Of Fanny Parke GUSTS in ITO,
that Of her brother, Daniel Parke Gus
It's, being given as I'LL. The marriage
of Daniel Parke Custls to Martha Dan
bridge, afterward Martha Washington,
is recorded as having occurred In 1750,
His young widow, who had been mar
ried when only seventeen, was left
with four children, only two Of whom
lived to grown
The son, John Gusts, who married
Eleanor Calvert, was the father Of four
children, one of whom, George Wash
ington Parke Gusts, was the father Of
General Lees wife, through whom Ar
lington came into possession Of the Lee
family.
The book contains no record Of the
marriage Of Martha Gusts to George
Washington.
President Sits For Artist.
President Roosevelt has been sitting
for portrait in oil, which is to have a
place in one ofdthe buildings Of the
University Of Berlin. The artist COM
missioned to paint the picture is Irving
r. Wiles Of New York.
In a measure the work Of Mr.. Wiles
is the outcome Of a suggestion Of the
emperor Of Germany and others which
resulted in an arrangement last year to
have an exchange Of professorships in
leading universities Of Germany and
the United States.
New District Government.
Representative Keifer Of Ohio is one
of those members Of the house who
think that the people Of the District Of
Columbia should have a representative
government and has introduced a bill
providing for the change. The measure
provides that the present government
be abolished within a year and another
formed composed Of a mayor, board Of
aldermen and common council. AS the
United States owns more than one-half
Of the District Of Columbia real estate,
according to the measure, the taxes are
placed on a half and half basis.
Confusion of Names.
In order that a more accurate record
may be kept Of all horses and mules
belonging to the District government
the property clerk has suggested to the
commissioners that every animal be
given number instead Of a name and
shall be known by number while prop
erty Of the District.
Property Clerk Hargroves declares
by this system he will be able to know
better how many horses and mules are
distributed among the several depart
ments. He claims that it is hard to
keep track Of them by their names.
Last year he says there were ten
horses named Jim, four named Maud
and two named Kitty.