Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-19

of chemistry; Otto H. Tnlman. superin-
tendent, and John F. Hayford of the coast
and geodetic survey, and many others.
Some of them are not back yet and will
not return for many months.
Some of the motorists Of Washington who
are stlcklers on form profess to be badly
shocked every time they look at the Of
fetal White House automobile. Not that
the machine is a bad looking one, for 1t is
a new 1900 steamer with no end Of little
frllls and devices to make 1t as comfortable
as a seat in a cozy library. The things
that get on the nerves of the correct
motorists is the 'get-up" of the colored
attendant who usually goes along with the
president.
President Taft cares nothing about style.
SO he takes his footman out with him
nearly every time there is a vacant seat
In front with the chauffeur. Recently,
when the president went out to deliver his
address to the Laymen's Missionary gather
ing, he was accompanied by Captain Butt,
his military aide. and the White House
coachman. The latter, as somebody said,
was dressed up hike a Christmas tree"
He wore a long-tailed blue coat, with brass
buNNoho uOHu lu6 front IN Two rows and
around the cuffs. His breeches were of
creamy b~uckskin, or some material re-
sembling buckshin. A gorgeous pair of
patent leather high boots were topped with
startling yellow leather. On his head he
wore a silk hat with the presidential red.
white and blue cockade on the left side.
The colored coachman, in this gay dress,
presented a striking contrast to the mod
estly uniformed chauffeur.
1t il always IN Interesting sight to wit
ness the start of the president on a ride
to the country. He comes out of the
White House and sinks into the luxurious
folds of the deep leather cushions Of the
auto The chauffeur gives the wheel a
turn and the machine is off, In the mean
time the two secret service men who al
ways trail the president, are having a hard
time getting their motorcycles started,
They push them along with mad haste un-
til the motors are set in motion, and then
scramble into their seats. They bend 10
catch the flying president, who is 100 yards
In the lead. AS the coats of the secret SER
vice men stretch tightly into position the
outlines Of two army pistols may be seen
plainly in their hip pockets.
Fancy the congressional Record being
sold and purchased with avidity on railroad
trains, just like a penny dreadful" or
a shilling shocker!" A United States sena-
tor was aninterested spectator when he
observed on a Boston train complete copies
OF the Payne Tariff bill being purchased
by passengers for ten cents and eagerly
peIused in transit as II It contained the
thrilling adventures Of Deadwood Dick.
If publicity OF this kind will serve to
disslpate the mystery which has often
shrouded tariff matters from the ken Of
the public, says the National Magazine,
the people Of today certainly have every
opportunity to get behind the scenes"
In a way that has never before occurred
In the history of the world. When travel
ers can secure copies OF such important
laws by expanding a few stray coppers.
there is no excuse for ignorance of govern
mental methods, and no crying need of
the useless and cumbersome referendum
Of Oregon. A picture OF the future will
probably reveal a hlgh-browned people,
seated In smoCth-running trains, in a
snokeless and dustless atmosphere, perus-
Ing no lighter form Of literature than those
congressional records, digestlng In detail
all the measures introduced in the halls OF
legislation the night before, and exactly
depicting how the wheels Of progress move
In Washington, and which way tariff reve-
nue. wheels are g~olng-upward or down
ward.
The name 'Pumice state might fairly
be given to Nebraska" said Harry L,
Williams Of Omaha, Neb., In an interview
In the Washington Post. Practically the
entire state is overlaid by natural de.
pOsits OF this substance, in all stages OF
consolidation, from fairly solid rock tC
fine dust.
Most all OF the pumiee produced II
the United States comes from Nebraska. Il
Is q volcanic product" continued Mr.. VIII
liams, who is Interested In the pumice In.
dustry, and its presence In such larg,
quantities In Nebraska and some adjoin,
Ing states Is excellence Of former volcanic
activity in that region. II Is produced b.
the rapid expansion OF gases in lava. du'
to sudden release OF pressure, which either
forces a light, porous rock. or may com
pletely shatter the lava into dust, IN
which state It may be transported grea.
distances by wind and deposited In drifts
In the western part OF Nebraska Their,
are impure masses OF II, probably depos
tied in this way, 100 feet or more In depth
The price Of pumiee Is about $40 a ton
Nearly all the pumice or the volcanic
ash used in the United States Is mad.
into polishing powder or Incorporated II
abrasive soaps
Lucien M~emminger, now vice consul 10