The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-03
AT THE CAPITAL.
DIR. John w. Bischoff, Blind Or
ganist, Is Dead.
Was Husband Of Elsie Bond OF
EmpOria.
WHITE HOUSE CHINA
Mrs. Baker of Kansas Adding to
Presidential Tableware.
Revision of U. s. Army Field
Service in Progress.
WHITE HOUSE CHINA

Washington, D. c., June 3.-Dr.
John w. Bischoff, the famous blind
organist and composer of Washing
ton, is dead. He was the husband of
Elsie Bond of Emporia, Kan, who
married the musician twelve years
ago.
DR.. Bischoff helped to make the
world beautiful with his music. He
presided at the organ in the First
Congregational church of this city
for thirty-five years. His illness was
that of the heart. He was one of
the noted men of the capital city,
and his annual concerts have always
been musical events of great prom
inence. His pupils number into the
thousands, and may be found at the
organ in hundreds of cities
DR.. Bischoff was totally blind. His
sight was lost when he was two
years Of age, and his early educa-
stitute for the Blind. Later he
studied singing under London and
Bassini at Chicago, and the organ I'M
der CreswaId of London. He came
charge of the music in the First Con-
gregational church, and was in
charge there until his last illness.
1t was custom of DR.. Bischof to
give a concert at the church every
six weeks, and great crowds always
was probably the part of greatest in
terest in these programmes. When
he entered and took his place he al
ways ran his fingers over the key
board and sounded a few favor1te
chords. When playing there was all
of the precision and technique of one
assisted by sight.
Mrs. Elsie Bond Bischoff. the
widow, is a musician of note. 1t was
when she was one of his pupils that
she fell in love with the great player
and composer.
The White House collection of
presidential tableware, which has be-
come one of the great show features
of the historic home of presidents,
has taken an impetus under the new
administration Some time ago the
collection received an important adj
dition in some Fillmore ceramic
relics. sent from Buffalo. There has
now been contributed one of the
largest and most interesting additions
yet made.
Many years ago it was a custom
of incoming presidents to have the
old FURNISHINGS sold at public and
private sales Such a sale took place
when President Buchanan came into
office. A Washington family bought
many pieces of plate, chfnaware ana
Jackson. Polk and Pierce admins
trations. This family has been the
proud possessor of q large quantity
of White House china for more than
fifty years.
G.. Baker. of Fort Scott. Kan. the
granddaughter of the family to
whom it has descended became in
terested in the patriotic collection at
the White House. They were in
duced to send some pieces to Mrs
Taft for exhibition in the cabinets.
where they will undoubtedly prove
one of the most interesting features
of the collection.
The contribution includes an exquis-
lite cut-glass decanter with stopple,
glasses and a dainty cordial glass-all
cut in the gravevine. leaf and fruit
design-and a green-edged OPAQUE mig
err bowl. There are also two most IN
teresting plates-a service ana soup
nlate-of the Polk administration. They
are of French pottery. The service
Mate is decorated with a medallioned
border in gilt, in which is the seal OIL
the United States. In the center is a
bunch of American flowers. The soup
nate has a rnedallioned border and also
bears the seal of the United States.
This seal not only adds to the beauty
| and interest of the plates, but adds IN
fnitelv to their value historically, as
% stars, and therefore must have been
made in 1845, the first year of Presi-
dent Folks administration. That year
Texas and Florida were admitted into
the Union, and was the only year that
the flag or the seal, could have borne
the % stars, as Wisconsin was admit
ted in 1916.
The contribution obtained through
Mrs. Baker in this instance also In
cIudes a tea plate of the we'll known
quaint coffee cup and saucer and a
breakfast plate decorated in blue and
gold While it is absolutely certain
that the coffee cup and saucer and
| breakfast plate belonged to a set which
| was purchased and used in the White
House by one of the first of our ex-
ecutives just which one 1T was is as
vet little uncertain, but will soon
| he settled definitely from some old
records which are now being searched.
| The Washington Herald says: Kan
sas according to Col. I. T. Saunders,
OF Leavenworth, who is at the Raleigh,
has the most modern and well-kept
state Soldiers home of any state in
the Union.
THE inspector general of the regular
larrny says so,'' continued the veteran
land he doesn't go out Of his way tc
nav a compliment unless it is deserved
The home consists of officers quarters
commissary building, church, schoo
house, barracks for old soldiers who
have no families. and about 100 cot
Itages for soldiers and families. The
federal government only looks after the
| soldiers Wives and children of sol
diers must shuttle for themselves.
/ kansas deals more humanely ano
lleniently with her heroes" added Col
Saunders. ''She not only furnishes them
a home for themselves. but also fol-
their wives and children. She gives
them hou5e where they can dwell
the same as other people. She issues
them food and clothing, and gives them
medical attention. Their children are
lgiven school privileges. and a place Of
worship is provided for ALL Besides
this, the state permits the soldiers tc
keep all their own pension money. Nc
longer does it exact any portion of it
For several years the state did retain q
lsman per cent. but it has given thai