The broad ax., 1907-06-01

II Ii not such a prosaic world wnen
a hard headed congress will spend
100000 for a sea altar to sentiment
That is what the rebuilding OF the oid
frigate Constitution means. She has
been rebuilt to the exact model OF ner
first self. Again a full rugged snip,
she may spread the stately pyramid Oh
snowy canvas which carried her safely
from one pursuing feet and maneuver-
ed her so craftily into position for raK-
ing the Guerrero.
The Guerriere's Bell.
They have dug up the Guerriere's
bell. too, which will again strike the
hours on the frigate's deck as 1t did
from the date Of that famous fight TO
about 1913. This bell has history OF
its own, for it was cast by one Peter
ZIest of Amsterdam in the year 126O,
stolen from Holland by soldiers of the
French revolution and was installed on
the Guerrero in time for the capture OF
that ship by the English When the
Guerriere was In turn sunk by the
Americans a midshipman sent TO save
anything removable from her decks
brought back the bell.
Wooden Walls and Steel.
When the Constitution was turned
out new a second time from BOSTON,
where she was launched in September,
1877, the old ship found grim looking
line of sisters to welcome her return
For years the Constitution has been
carried on the navy list as "unservlce-
able" The fiscal year which sees her
return TO the active list will see that
list decorated with the names OF twen-
ty-fiye modern steel battleships OF the
first class. This summer sees the Amer
lean navy with more battleships In
commission than any nation except
Great Britain.
Six New BattIeshiPs.
OF the nineteen battleships on the
active list only the Wisconsin and Ore
gon are in yards under such repairs
that take them out Of commission tenn
porariIy. France, having more battle
ships built, has but thirteen In COM
mission at this time. Germany has
sixteen.
Six new American battleships VIII
90 into commission during the coming
fiscal year If the plans OF the bureau
of construction for rushing the work
succeed, and by the end Of the year
thirteen armored cruisers, which can
take their place in the front line of
battle, will also be In commission.
The New and the Old.
The frigate Constitution correspond
ed to the armored cruiser in her day.
A duplicate Of her old battery will be
reinstaIIed in her gun ports. She had
thirty long twenty-four Founders and
twenty-four thirty-two-pounders, or,
in other words, her batteries could
discharge 1,4SS pounds Of shot stimuli
'taneousIy, or about IA in broadside.
One twelve inch gun on one OF the
sister ships the rejuvenated Constitu-
ton will meet fires a shell heavier
than her whole broadside.
Sex of the National Bird.
Lillian Devereux Blake of New
York, who proclaims that the eagle
on the national coat Of arms Is lady
bird, and the curator OF the Harvard
museum, who says no one can tell
what the governments idea was as
to sex, are both in error. 1t is plainly
recorded in official documents that the
fathers selected an eagle Of the male
persuasion.
Gallard Hunt. chief OF the passport
division OF the state department, is the
greatest living authority on the ma
tional coat of arms. The question Of
the sex OF the eagle, It Is true. has been
called to his attention only in the last
few days. To settle 1t he looked up
the description of the coat OF arms as
given in the annals Of the Continental
congress, and under date Of June 20.
1774, discovered the following:
Settles the Question.
"Arms. Pale ways of thirteen pieces,
argent and guIes; a chief azure, the
escutcheon On the breast OF the Ameri-
can eagle displayed proper, holding in
his dexter talon an olive branch and
In his sinister a bundle Of thirteen ar
rows, all proper, and In his beak a
scroll, inscribed with this motto, E
pluribus unum'"
THAT settles the question" observed
Mr.. Hunt, 'for that is the law. See
that word his? 1t could not be
ladybird."
Mr.. Pinehot's Trip.
Clifford Pinchot, chief forester. drop
ped in at the White House a few days
ago to say goodby to the president and
Secretary Loeb prior to his departure
for the west, where he VIII remain IN
I'll the fall He is to accompany the
inland waterways commission on its
trip on the Mississippi river and Will
aftefward attend the public land meet
ing at DanHer from the 18th TO the