Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-10

HloBb1lneS 10 the approach OF the CeHteu-
NAL Of the birth Of Abraham Lincoln has
invested with freshened interest those
places in Washington city with which lin
coin was associated. One Of these places,
relates the washington Star, Is a cottage
In the grounds of the Soldiers Home-
great institution around which the north
ern suburbs OF the capital have grown.
The Washington Soldiers Home was es-
tablished through the initiative Of General
Winfield Scott soon after the close OF the
Mexican war. 1t is not like those soldiers
homes created by the national government
as a retreat for union veterans Of the civil
war. It was established and II maintained
by the army and navy Of the United States,
A certain percentage OF the pay OF every
officer and enlisted man goes to the sup
port of the home. All fines collected as a
result Of the verdict of court-martial go
to the home. So also does all money due
deserters from the army and navy.
At the time of the civil war the main
building of the home-the residence and
offices of the commandments a large
frame cottage in the central part of the
grounds, commanding a broad view OF
Washington and the country roundabout.
President Lincoln and his family used this
building as a summer residence. He spent
the hot months here during his term of
office. Sometimes the official business o,
the government was conducted in this
cottage, but as a rule Lincoln walked or
drove to the White House in the morning
and returned to the Soldiers home in the
afternoon. II was here h he made nu-
merous friends-not the volunteers, but the
regulars. Lincoln was living at this place
when General Jubal Early made his dash
on the rear Of Washington, and II. was
from here that Lincoln Wake to Fort
Stevens, a mile and half or two miles north
west, where he watched the progress of
the fray.
The house Lincoln occupied lie now
known as 'the Lincoln Cottage" It is
preserved as it was in war times. A bat
terry of old Napoleon is posted in front
of it, and Scott Hall, the present main
building of the home, has been erected at
one side of the cottage.
Slow work by the painters decorating the
interior of the Philadelphia mint Is the
cause of numerous complaints to the Treas
ury department from what are known as
ladies banks in New York and other
cities. reports the Washington correspond
ent of the New York Times. While the
painters are at work in the operating rooms
of the mint the presses are idle and the
result is a scarcity of new silver and cop
per minor coins.
1t is this shortage OF clean coin that IL
causing the treasury officials the chief
annoyance by provoking the patrons OF the
'ladies' barSs,' which make a speciality
OF paying out only such coins that are
shiny and new. The banks insist that tho
money which they pay out to their fair
patrons shall be OF the current year, and
they are willing to pay the freight on 1t
from Philadelphia rather than take the
older furnished tokens furnished by the
New York subtreasury.
There is also an increasing, but unap-
peasable demand for small gold coins, and
the mint officials will have to work with
renewed vigor to supply the demand None
of the new gold pieces with the motto,
"In God We Trust" restored has yet been
coined at Philadelphia, but at Denver s175,-
900 worth OF the $50 gold pieces and $500, 900
worth of the SO gold pieces have been
struck off with the restored sentiment, and
at San Francisco $4,000 OF the $50 gold
pieces. The high relief $40 gold pieces with
out the "In God We Trust" motto are held
by the dealers at $40, with few in the mar
ket. Only 1900 Of these pieces were coined,
and practically all of them have disap-
peared from circulation.