The Washington herald., 1909-04-24
WASHINGTON CHAT.
Rr THE SPECTATOR


about the BLACK Republic" inspired an
semirer Of former President Roosevelt to
I remark. at a dinner in the West End,
that he thought there we're many past
times that would be more agreeable 10
the former Presidents genius and tastes
than the one he has elected. For in
stance" he said. things in the Dark
Continent are IN terrible mess;
there is Liberia. colonized BY negroes
from this country reverting back 10 the
original type OF its citizens who are
QuaTreiing with themselves and with
their neighbors. I know a mission
airy from there. who insists that there is
plenty good material in the state in
! habted by former slaves and their de-
scendants, II there was only some one 10
bring II ont, so. instead OF running after
big game in the wilderness. the ex-
President ought 20 hike up the coast, and
establish an autocracy in Liberia; not
permanent autOcracy. but one that would
last long enough 20 allow matters 70 be
Strengthened out, when he could hand its
affairs over to Sambo again: and what
more interesting service for the hero OF
san Juan Hill 10 go TO Morocco, give the
Sultan a mauvasie quart d'heur in telling
him where he has failed, what his duty is
and threaten him with one OF our war
ships II he does not promise better be-
havi0F. he might. too. act as the deliTeTer
OF the Beers from their bondage. Icr, 10
matter how much the English papers in
sist that the Dutchmen OF the Transvaal
are happy and content under the rule OF
John Bull. this generation will not see
them tranquil again, and il may see a
revolution.
Another mission for Brother Theodore,
q mission that would be more 20 his
liking. perhaps. than any OF the others
since he enjoys nothing as much as
leCturing the eternal feminine on her
duty. would be 10 visit Turkey where IL
IS said. the women Of the harem. awak-
ened by Western influence, and espe-
eiaIly by Pierre Lofts charming romance,
-Desenchatees. are responsible for the
re-olution. and the success Of the young
and progressive party in overthrowing the
former government and the publication OF
things generally IN the State over which
the Padisha reigns- According 20 Col
RoOseveits idea OF the fitness Of things.
these misguided women should HE them
hack 10 the harem. and. instead OF In
proving the men already born. bear more
% debsse and degrade the women OF the
next generation. This finished. our former
President might take a hand IN directing
the AFFAIRS Of Persia, which IS boiling and
seething Ike a great VesuviGs just at
the present. with a prospect that the
Shah and MS ministers viii be sacrificed
+ a-- - - -
for Col Roosevelt TO undertake. plenty
of roles for him 70 play which would be
more becoming and more 10 his taste
than 70 act as q mighty nimrod IN Az
Tican Wilds
John s. Billings. the librarian OF the
New York Public Library. for many
years connected with the Medical Library
at the Capital in town in attendance on
the meeting Of the Academy OF Sciences
Is receiving a warm welcome from his
old friends. who are always rejOiced 20
see him. for he is not only one OF the
most eminent lltersteurs and men OF
science Of his day. but a delightful per
son socially. apprecistive. responsive AMI
loyal 10 his friends Dr. Billings has
I been eminent in many fields. He was
connected with the Ohio Medical Col
Iege as demonstrator Of anatomy. served
I as surgeon and medical inspector through
out the whole civil war, and held the
chair Of hygiene IN the University OF
Pennsylvania. but one Of the greatest. Il
not his greatest. work for mankind IS that
he has performed IS librarian pre-
emiDenIly in the library connected with
the Surgeon Generals Office, Of which the
medical profession and the service 10
which il belongs is so justly proud n
deed. no American Who has the scientific
( prestige Of his country al heart can
not bat feel great satisfaction al the
worldwide reputation this institution has
attained. which has been Of such service
20 the mobiles OF professions and so poten-
tlaI an agent IN the progress the medical
men OF this country have made IN the
last half century. A noted physician
one time librarian OF the Boston Public
Library. and a devoted friend and asso-
ciate of DT. Billings. once expressed the
value Of the latter's service in this con-
neCtion 50 cOmprehensiyely and apDre-
cistively that what he wrote has never
been improved upon.
The library Of the Surgeon Generals
ONCE in Washington. he said. begun in
1875. grew so slowly that in 1855 IL con-
tained less than 2O0 volumes It's in
crease from that date has been so phs-
nOmenai that We are warranted II paus-
ing 10 seek an explanation. which is not
however. hard 70 find. Il was in that
year that a young army surgeon. Dr.
John s. Billings. who had shown literary
ing the war OF the rebellion was detailed
70 take charge Of this insignificant cOlIec-
tton OF books. He al once conceived the
idea OF developing this nucleus into 4
grand national library BY importuninz
Congress year after year he secured large
annual appropriations OF money tthe
annual appropriation for the purchase Of
books has averaged nearly 800 from
1851 10 1876. inclusivel. and BY perSIStently
canvassing, personally and by letters. the
profession OF every State in the Jnion
he secured large donations OF books Ex-
changes were effected with other medical
libraries. not only in this country. but IN
all parts OF the world From these two
sources about one-sixth OF the total num-
her was derived. The result Of his Ia
bors IS the most complete medical library
IN the world. consisting of 1854 volumes
and I91 .5oS pamphlets
The publication Of the index catalogue
Of this library. the first series OF which.
in sixteen volumes. was begun IN 1879 and
completed in 1886. win. when the new
series OF i've or six volumes Is issued be
practically an index to all the medical
literature Of the world up 70 the end OF
this century Its value 10 medical
scholars is inestinsble. superseding as
it does al the time-wasting labor that
used to he expended in photographed
research BY lis aid we obtain a refer
ence 10 every rare case that has bsen
recorded since printing vsas discovered. in
A. p. Is50." BY DR.. Eillings' transfer 20
the New York Public Library IN 1886 the
Medical Library lost much. but his in