The Washington herald., 1909-05-03
WASHINGTON CHAT.
Nv THE SPECTATOR

Bishop Harding announced few days
since. is the GROWING honor Of a useful
career Mr.. Ames has been connected
with the Department Of the Interior foT
thiEty-five years. and In that time has
rendered valuable services as superinten-
dent Of documents, and By his index to
the publications Of the United states gov
ernment has opened a rare treasury OF
material to the student.
Mr. Ames was born in Dorset, Vt,
seventy-fSe years ago. and has earned
the safe hsrbor for his old age which the
appointment to the Cathedral stan as
Isures him. A graduate Of Williams Col
lege in the class Of '5S. he chose for his
theological course the Theological Semi
nary of Ohio. where he graduated IN 1853
IN the following year ne WAS ordained
as priest and became rector Of the
Church Of the Redeemer. at MorristoWn
y, J, Later he MAS the head or the
House Of Evangelists in New York. hav-
ing previously married Elizabeth Delano.
daughter Of Columbus DeIano. Secretary
OF the Interior in Gen. Grants administra-
tiOn Because Of his desire 70 have his
daughter near him in Washington Sec
retary Delano prevailed upon his sOn-in-
law 10 accept position in the Interior
Department and ne has been uninter-
reptedly connected with that service
since
NJ. Ames is a man OF gentle and pleas
ing personality. as are those who pass
their lives among books. even II the books
are such Uninteresting tones as govern
ment documents are supposed 20 be-sup-
posed 10 be only, for actually some OF
them are as fun OF romance as the most
modern work Of fiction man u letters
once said that when he wanted real ex-
citen1ent and diversion ne read the &C
counts OF the travellers and adventurers
published in the Smithsonian reports.
L The friends OF Miss Josephine Durand
are delighted 10 welcome her back 20
Washington. ard she has been the most
feted woman az the Capital since her
arrival here a week ago. She Is a low
able person. this daughter OF the former
ambassador from Great Britain. and her
genuine affection for America and Ameri-
cans wins all hearts. for there are many
who have felt that Sir Mortimer and
Lady Durand were not particularly par
tisl to Uncle sam. and they were crit
icised for not being able 20 adapt them
selves 10 society here. To be sure they
did not enjoy the popularity that had
( been accorded 70 Lord Pauncefote. Lord
/ Paaneefote was az exceptional man in
HIS ability 10 adjust himself 10 psOpie
and conditions, whereas Sir Mortimer is
as much Of a litteraieur as be Is a
diplOmat.st- RE loved his library and his
books. and did not Il IS true exert him
self as Lord Pauncefote did % win pop
uIar favor; but there was disadectiou
in MS own staff. and Lady Susan Town
( ley, wife OF tie councillor OF the embassy.
/ Is charged with having brought about
the recall Of her husbands chief Z e
certain that there was no love lost b.
tween the DuTands and the ToWnleys
and Lady Susan recognized no obstacles
when she set her heart on a thing. as
everybody knows who knows her; but It
IS needless 70 recite the gossip which is
stilI fresh in the public mind
Both Sir Mortimer and Lady Durand have
earned literary hOnors. the former under
the name OF John Roy having published
a number o. works Of fiction in which
( Lady Durand who has written a number
! OF clever works. collaborated- Miss Du-
rand has Inherited the talents Of her
father and her mo;h-r. and is said 20
be n writer OF real merit r. On her
return 70 England. she Is persuaded 20
write something about her American
cousins. she VIII write with knowledge
and appreciation. FOR she is no super
/ hcial observer. and. as already said, she
/ Is devoted 10 America.
/ One OF the most interesting papers read
at the meeting Of the American PhiIo-
I sophicsI Society Of Philadelphia was that
+ Of Edwin Swift Balch. one OF the fore
/ most authorities Of Antarctic q the dar
T His paper was devoted 10 a plea for the re-
exploring by this government OF Wilkes
Land which was discovered by the naval
tflcer Of that name in 1880. when he
+ Travelled along the shores for q distance
/ OF $50 miles No one has visited this
( autsrJiC continent since then. and a
number OF the scientists OF the day. among
whom are Sir James Clark Rose, So
I Clements r Markham. and Capt. Robert
/ +. Scott. r X. declare that it is q land
Of myth. and should be expurgated from
the maps Mr Bsieh maintains that
/ America owes Il 70 herself 10 fully estsb-
l lish the Wilkes discovery. and he pre-
poses that ar expedi; lon should be sent
20 the antarctic for that purpose. The
/ project IS one that must appeal g ali
: patriotic Americans. and IL would seem a
: comparatively simple matter 10 raise by
subscription the $4,000 which Mr.. Balch
+ declares VII fully cover such an expedi-
/ ton
/ Perry Heath Is building a handsome
! house in : street on the corner OF Con
/ necticut avenue. where he has decided to