The Washington herald., 1909-05-10
WASHINGTON CHAT.
D. THE sPECTAToR.

By THE SPECTATOR.
The town was full Of engineers last
week, who were here IN attendance on
the American Society Of Mechanical En-
gineers. The most conspicuous OF All the
members was Admiral Melville, who made
a str, which was expected; 9or Admiral
Melville has always made 3 stir when
ever an opportunity offered since he was
appointed assistant engineer IN the navy.
the first year Of the civil war. II can
be said, however. OF this notable engi-
neer that he has never made q stlr IN
lees there was reason for &, for be thinks
deeply and wisely on ell subjects, and
there Is no one who knows his profession
better than be. Admiral NeIvllle's name
was very much before the public when
he sailed OF the Jeanette with De
Long, and later returned 70 the arctic
20 recover the records Of that ship and
the remains of De Long and his COM
paaions, for which Re received a gold
medal and was advanced fifteen numbers
by special act OF Congress. From 1898
Until his retirement he was engineer-in-
chief OF the navy, and during his regime
designs for 20 ships, with horsepower
q I.70e,0o0, were prepared. He counts as
his greatest successes the triple-screw
flyers Columbia and Minneapolis. which
he designed. Since his retirement. in
1899 Admiral Melville has made MS homo
in Y street. and has been IL constant evil
dence IN naval circles. Two years ago the
venerable admiral married for his second
wife EsteIla Smith Polls. OF philadelphia
Another notable engineer who was here
last week was Walter Martin Mcfarland.
Of the Westinghouse company Blr. Nc
Barland IS native OF Washington, and
began his career 70 the navy. graduating
IN 1873 at the head OF his class. and
serving II the navy es an engineer on
various vessels until he resigned. in 1893.
in order 70 accept the position offered
him By Sir. Westinghouse n his com
pany. he was q principal assistant 70
Admiral Melville when the latter was
rgineer-in-chief. and therefore better
equipped than almost any one available 10
speak on the sdmiTaTs service TO the
engineering profession and 70 the navy.
which was the subject OF the paper he
read before the society on Friday.
All England IS weeping because ne
American naval attache. John H. Glib
bons, has been displaced. There Is no
more amiable man IN the navy than Com
nander Gibbons. and tie English people
are lOath to reconcile themselves 10 the
turn OF the wheel that transfers him 10
another post, but they VIII feel quite the
same when a few years hence. Command
er Simpson Is detached, for he has the
same qualities that have made 1Ir. Glib
bons so popular n the English capital.
Capt Simpson Cit IS well 20 note here tha,
a naval ofacer with the rank of com
mander has the privilege OF using the
title OF captain), entered the Naval Acade-
my IN the centennial year. reached the
rank of Lieutenant OF the Junior grade
IN TIE early SOS, and since then has
served al over the world wiki the Asiat-
iC feet, on the Pacific and on The Atlantic
Coast, and has made his mark IN the
hydrogrt9hic Office. IN fact. he Is no
stage naval captain. but an earnest
steadfsst officer. with al the genial quail
ities that Implies.
The most agreeable billet IN the Navy
Department is that Of q naval artache
% the Court OF 81. James. provided, Of
course. one has the means 20 live I'd
% what IS expected. for there IS no capt.
tai in the world where official rank enc
p1sittCn costs as deatiy as IL does IN
London, and no one should think OF &C
ing there. unless he IS able 70 keep Up
his enc" which. Of course, presupposes q
rich wife. for naval officers as a rule are
as poor as church mice. Unless they
marry money. they are not APT 10 &C
quire Il
The Navy Department IS q close cor
p0raton. Il has become so circumspect
In giving out news that when an inter
ested person asked for the date % Nr.
Gibbons detail IN London he received q
reply that the information was not 70 be
given out az this moment. Il IS 10 laugh
truly that when a man has been years
at a place the department still refuses
TO announce the date on which he was
designated for that service. which can
be had by simply consulting the records.
Every one Is commenting on the tact NJ
Taft displayed at his wife's reception on
Saturday and applaUding the efforts OF
the President and Mrs Taft 70 re-estsb-
lish the weekly receptions which were
held at the White House Until Mr. Nc
ANi4---1 . H-iliiAi4'-A altcli. hsL-A Lic1 Nt.o
discontinued because of Mrs Mckinley s
invalidisra- 4 man always seems out OF
place al an afternoon function. but not
Mr. Taft, who had 2 ready smile and
appropriate word for every one who en-
tered and on every side were heard com
meuts OF pleasure az 8 return 10 the
good Old times" Mrs. Taft takes the
keenest interest in all social affairs and
she has made 1t evident that she does
not intend 10 pose as a mere igu7ehead.
but 70 be the leader OF society in fact. as
she IS in name. an ambition that IS sec
Onded by SeT husband. who acquired his
bOnhonie. Together with his statecraft AZ