The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-23
WASHINGTON CHAT.
By TIE spEcTAToR.

Inc recent death OF Mrs hirElaia
at her home in Brooklyn. New York.
brings TO mind her husband, that old
sea dog" Rear Admiral William A. Kirk
land, who was known as Red Bill,
pseudonym he acquired through actually
possessing a cardinal probosis. But de-
spite his rel nose there MAS no Drawer
or more fearless officer in the navy than
Red Bilr' who. while possessing many
genial qualities, was one Of the strictest
disciplinarians In the service. with the
greatest horror OF anything Ike affecta-
ton among his young officers One day
q. sprig of a lieutenant appeared before
him in epaulets and belt outside his TN
form. and stood at salute before the ad-
miraI
Take those things Of" roared the
admiral. Take those things on
How shall get them of, sdmiral?"
"Cut them OF. Cut them OFF, shouted
the admiral.
I don't see any scissors" said the
officer. white with fear.
Take this sword, then said the ad-
miral, grasping his sword Take this
sword" and with the sword he himself
cut of the offending bullion and threw
away the belt
On another occasion Admiral Kirk
land received a visit from a recently ap-
pointed young officer
How do YOU 90. sir. how do YOU dor
said the midsh!pman.
How de do?" said the admiral. grufiy-
Il suppose you got all my kilograms.
admiral did you2" asked the young on
Ger, trembling in gracious attitude before
his superior officer
What kilograms DO you refer to-
asked the admiral Il got no kilograms
7 am very sorry. very sorry.' said the
young man. now thoroughly frightened
at the AdmfraTs attitude Il telegraphed
that I was coming" Admiral Kirkland
turned in his chair and glowered at his
little subordinate
Why IN the devil do you suppose that
I care whether you came or didn't Gomez
Never presume 70 do. that again. sir"
And the poor little officer. thoroughly
abashed, stink out Of the room
The Admiral Of the Navy viii have his
share OF attention during the festivities
that viii mark the visit Of many q the
feet officers 10 Washington. for from the
time he entered the service until now he
has always been able 10 inspire loyalty,
though ike Red Bill" he was noted as
a strict disciplinsrian. There are still
many men here who served under him
during the civil war who can never shout
loud enough or drink deep enough 70 the
hero Of Manila 7 served with him in
the lac unpIeasantness, said a knight
Of the carving knife who presides over
a stall in the Center Market. He was
young then. not much more than a kid.
an so spick and span about himself that
we called him the dude lieutenant an
he wanted all OF his men 20 be dudes.
too. We had 10 keep brushed up. I can
tel you. But We liked him because he
was so earnest and serious where bust
ness was concerned. though he was gay
enough of duty. Jest 20 think OF the
dude Lieutenant being an admiral getting
a sword from Congress, an being the
biggest an most noted naval officer in
the world Say. it's great
II say biggest, an know what I'm
talking about. for though Sperry may
have done great things, he amt IN it
with Dewey"
death OF Marquis de Noaiues. who rep
resented the French government in this
country from 1877 on. The French En-
bassy was then IN K street. near Tenth.
which seems an oUt-of-the-way place as
viewed from the standpoint OF to-day.
but was AZ that time a smart part OF
town. The marquis vas a son % the
Tnr-l-a De- IL
writer OF the last century, whose history
OF Mine. De MaintenOn is a standard
work. Minister Noailles was also an
author OF some note, his chief works be
ing La PolOgne et ses Frontieres, pub
Nshed IN 1852 and Henri de Valois et
Ia Pologne en- 1573" which came out q
few years later. The Marquis NoaiIies
was one OF the most active diplomatists
that We have ever had al this Capital
He interested himself In all the cues
tons OF the day. and knew the history
OF America as well as he did his own.
He was charming 10 meet. a brilliant
raeOnteur, an accomplished man OF the
world. and his re-estsblishment OF the
postal convention. which had been IN
terrUpted for several years Will always
be remembered 10 HIS credit. for although
70 Germany belongs the honor OF ton-
ducting the first postal convention which
resulted IN forming a universal postal
union. the United States can Justly claim
10 have been the pioneer IN international
postal reforms, and by the first con-
ference held az her request al Paris IN
the spring Of 1853 20 have opened the
way for the splendid accomplishments
in the Improvement of all postal laws
which have marked the last forty-fve
years Her permanent retirement there
fore from the Union would have been
most rAr-sffahIa