The Washington herald., 1909-02-13
WASHINGTON CHAT.
D. THE srEcTAToR.

Harriet Blame Beaie has been very
much in the public eye recently. because
OF the appearance OF her mothers letters
which she edited and which have been
published under the tile Mrs. Blaines
Letters" Mrs. Beals does not seek the
limelight. and the position she now oecu-
pies is not particularly agreeable 70 her.
She Is tae youngest daughter Of the late
James G. Blaine. the petted favorite
Of the family. and. perhaps. the eleverest
Of all his children
Since her mothers death. Mrs. Besie
has made her home in Washington She
lives in the house her mother bought
shortly before her death, in X street,
near Fifteenth street, and Is person 70
be reckoned with socially.
Her afternoons and evenings at home
approach as near as possible the French
salons Of the eighteenth century. Harriet
Beale Is = handsome woman. tan. vel
formed. ard graceful, and IN intellect
abreast Of the most advanced women Of
the day She is OF society. rot IL it. and
makes no pretense OF keeping Up with
the social parade. but IN all humanitarian
duA Eldf4LdDtE HLEICEi- Biz = III TIC Gl-
vanced guard, and al her house one meets
the very flower Of society at the Capital
Mrs Blaine's Letters are only the
chronicles OF happy wife and mother OF
an important family. but no state secrets
are set down in them. and there is none
Of the back stair gossip. no jottings Of
the kitchen cabinet one would expect
from the wife OF a man who vas pre-
mier al a crucial time IN thu history Of
the republic No ore Ehs has read her
mothers letters feel that she has-shovn
much discrimination IN editing them.
which is regTettahle, for she had the op-
portgnity OF giving 70 the public some
thing that was really worth while
The midshipmen al Annapolis are nat
uTally much annoyed al the action Of
Congress IN falling to provide means for
their entertainment when they come 10
Washington for the inaugural exercises
The story Is amusing. really. when II is
taken into consideration II IL not Of their
oEn voiition that they wiH stand for
hours in the parade. and It IS certainly
natural that since they are working for
Uncle Sam that Uncle sam should pay
their bills. This dispute brings 70 mind
previous inaugurations when both cadets
from West Point and the midshIpmen
from Annapolis suffered from the effects
OF the exposure OF the exercises incident
20 the induction Of new President into
Office In Grants second administration
the weather was Sc bitterly cold that sew
eral OF the West Point cadets we're frost
bitten. ard one Of them was compelled to
spend several weeks in the hospital as A
result OF his inaugural experience We
have become more sensible since then and
both the nidshipmen and cadets viii
doubtless be warmly clothed when they
come n assist AT Mr. Taft's Inaugural
But II hardly speaks well for our govern
ment that Il should be left TO a private
person 70 feed the cOuntry's defenders. -
Just now because OF the Presidents
manifesto" the Marine Corps is IN the
limelight. and everything in connection
with that service is OF importance. so the
story OF the origin OF the Marine Band
which has played such a role in Wash
ingtOn viii not be without interest. This
band owes its existence 10 the eccen-
tricities Of one Capt Mcneil. who was q
gallant. II peculiar. officer in the United
States navy al the beginning OF last cen
fury The story goes that Capt Mcneil
when IN command Of the Boston. OF the
coast Of Sicily. engaged a band belong
ing 20 o regiment CHARTERED at Messina
10 play on his ship. and that when it was
safe aboard he sailed away with Il 70
America, and SO the Marine Band was &C
quired.
What became Of the band is not writ
ten. but later. Just before the war OF 1872
another naval officer OF reckless and ven
E turesone spirit when cruising along the
coast Of Italy. sent a boats crew ashore
with instruction 70 impress q band oil
I strolling musicians as American seamen
I This wss done. and the poor stolen Ital
/ ians were brought to this country. Presi
dent Madison failed - appreciate tht
humer OF this escapadz. and oa5ered ths
musicians returned to their own country
I They were accordingly placed on a man
ef-war bound FOR the Mediterranean. bu-
on the way out this vessel met and cap
tgred British war ship, and having Il
/ return with the prize. brought the mel
T back 10 New York with her This vic
I tory. perhaps. inspired the Italians witt
an admiration for the service for It seem.
( they abandoned the idea OF returning
/ home. enlisted shortly sfterwar5. anC
subsequently were formed into the Marin.
T Band. There IS no doubt some truth il
/ this story. although Il Is not much mOr'
/ than a tradition. for the early records o.
the band show on its rolls the names o.
thirteen italian musicians. Its personne
to-day is almost evenly divided between
! Germans and Italians. but its leader.
have been. with one exception. Italians o.
/ OF Italian descent.