The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-09-22
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
The remodeling of the executive of.
fees in the western wing Of the White
House began the other day with the
removal Of the Office furniture to the
cloakrOOms adjoining the porte-cO-
chere at the other end Of the building.
In the cloakrooms Assistant Secretary
Mischler, who is in charge Of the Of
fee force left behind by Mr.. Taft on
his departure for Beverly. will conduct
such part Of the presidents routine
correspondence as can be handled in
his absence.
White House Changes.
The plans for the changes in the
presidents offices call for the expend-
iture of $4,000. The front elevation of
the Office wing will be left unchanged,
as the extensions will be made at the
rear. The contractors in charge Of the
work expect to tear out the real walls
within a few days and to rush the
work as rapidly as possible so as to in
sure completion before the presidents
return on Nov. 10.
When the White House was remod-
eled in President Roosevelt's time the
work lasted for six months, during a
part Of which period MI. Roosevelt
and his family were in the executive
mansion.
Ghosts Of the Capitol.
The big capitol building on the hill
has it's ghosts, identified and other
wise, with which to conjure up tales
Of other days. Some Of the tales told
by the old employees Of the building
In reference to these ghosts are pictur-
esQue; others are laughable; others
carry with them that tinge Of tragedy
that makes them the more interesting.
Naturally there r quite a number
Of thoroughly identified ghosts regis
tered in different parts of the edifice.
The existence Of the restless pilgrims
from another land is vouched for by
several Of the employees Of the build
ing, and, while most Of them are sup
posed to con1ne their operations to
the basement, there are several that
are reputed to roam all over the place.
Spectral Footsteps.
When the body Of President Garfield
lay in state at the capitol an old engi-
neer who was employed in the base
ment and who ridiculed the idea of
ghosts decided to be revenged upon
the watchmen and policemen who re-
NAMED in the building through the
night. He procured two large English
walnuts and securely tied the half
shells on the four feet of the pet cat
and carefully turned her loose in stat
uary hall.
The noise of these shells on the mar
BILE floors at midnight in the semidark-
ness as the distracted cat scampered
about trying to get rid Of her new
shoes gave the watchers the worst
fright of their lives. The incident,
though a harmless joke, gave rise to
the story of the spectral footsteps
which follow all those who have to
cross the rotunda in statuary hall aft
err the building is closed for the night.
Wrath Of J. @. Adams.
The wrath Of John Quincy Adams,
from all narratives on the subject,
seems to be the one most often encoun-
tered. At times it is alleged that he
may be seen in statuary hall, formerly
the old house of representatives and
the scene Of his death, accompanied
by the whole congress of 1S4S gath
cred in ghostly conclave. He is also
accredited with roaming about all
parts Of the capitol and may be seen
at almost any time.
There is also a story Of General To-
gan, who returns, it is said, to observe
the doings Of the committee on mill
tary affairs, Of which he was SO long
the chairman. Those who claim to
have encountered the general say that
he always wears a black SLOUGH hat
and remains either in the committee
room or in the corridor adjoining.
u'Enfant's Apparition.
According to one Of the many leg
ends which have been gradually accu-
mulating ever since the building was
completed, a corridor in the senate
wing basement has a frequent ghostly
walker Of a foreign aspect. This tall,
distinguished looking individual is
| reported to confine his activities to
pacing up and down that particular
passageway and giving a dfgnifed mil
itary salute ut frequent intervals. His
identity is still a mystery to the init
ated in spiritual lore, but it is be.
lieved that it is the ghost of Major
L'Enfant, the talented Frenchman who
designed the city Of Washington.
The demon cat legend has been re-
peated for the last fifty years as the
animal apparition which returns at r.
regular periods. The story does not
vary much, being merely that Of ar
ordinary tabby at first sight, but
she grows to a gigantic horror be
fore the eyes Of a frightened observer
Suddenly this demon cat emits a fierce
yowl and with eyes ablaze and mouth
ODen leans toward the sDectator. buI