Evening star., 1907-09-04
LA! LA! ISN'T IT FOOLISH?
THIS RUNNING OF THE GAUNT-
LET AT THE G. P. o.
Guards In Blue; Guards in Brass;
Each Visitor Must Secure
Pass.

A story concerning the visit Of q repre-
sentative-elect's brother to the government
printing ofiice the other day is being CIR
culated by an official Of one Of the uptown
departments The young man had never
been in Washington before and as he ex-
poets to be here with his brother during
the winter he concluded to come to tho
capital and look the place over
At first he called at the other govern
ment departments and was much pleased
with the thoroughly democratic manner OF
his reception and the absence Of official
folderols. Just before his departure for his
nome his attention was called to the big
Official print shop. and it was suggested
that he visit that. too. He went, and II
was description Of how he worked his
way In" that caused those who heard the
story to smile today
AT the front door, he began, u was
greeted by man at first mistoojx for a
nIsh omcer Of the army or navy because
6r MS elaborate decorations in gold. or
bronze, or brass or maybe a combination
OF all three He addressed me and in
qulred II l desired to see any Of the Off
eiais. Then 1 thought maybe the man in
tho oe ana prass was the chief printer Of
the establishment. but 1 soon learned he
was only In charge Of the main portal.
Round and Round and Round.
INFORMED him that I desired to go
through the office and see what was to be
seen. At this was surrounded by several
other omcers In blue and brass and wear
ing caps like colonies or generals. Then a
Dig oook was Opened and my name in
scr1oed therein In the meantime there wa q
considerable movement among the members
OF the uniformed squad and was placed
under guard-so 1t seemed to me-and es
cofted upstairs. where. after going through
a formula of some sort I was given a siin
OF paper-a pass. believe they cali it. The
guard stalwart young fellow, kept mighty
close to me, and all around were signs OF
NO Admittance Here, while other. men in
orass and blue guarded every possible in
LEI ana exit to rooms and corners and
crevices. 1 had a sensation such as I ex-
perfenced while. passing through a peni-
tentlary once In my native state in charge
OF q husky guard.
But I knew 1 was in the povernment
printing office. and wondered why all this
secrecy and guard business. In my mind
compared the fuss and feathers at the
pruning once with the plain old fashioned
reception and treatment I had received by
the ofhcials at the treasury where the gold
siiVer and paper money is stored and the
absence OF uniformed guards. also in the
0Iher really important government branches
Ihen wondered about all this careful
ness and which, in my mind, I compared
Win the watchfulness exercised by guards
and soldiers in the palace of the great
white czar OF all the Russias. whose life
has been sworn away many thousands of
times by red-handed nihilists, anarchists
and others Of that ilk
while revolving in my mind the problem
why this watchfulness'-an idea occurred
to me and 1 sprang 1t on the big guard
who was keeping close by my side The
idea nearly stunned him, and his reply
was a shock to me-
"Oh, I know now why you are so watch
ful here" l remarked innocently. 1T Is be-
cause you print all the money here"
He cast withering glance of scorn at
me and replied
Money nawthing! We only print agrf-
cultural reports and such"