The National tribune., 1910-06-16

chased out, running down the elevator
shaft all by himself.
A tribute to the politeness and cour-
tesy of the District police force was paid
by Prince Tsai Tao, the young Chinese
Prince who spent some time in this city
a couple of months ago 1t was in the
shape of check for 5000 for the police
pension fund, sent to the Commission
ers. The Prince accompanied his gift
with a letter. Commissioner Rudolph
sent a letter of acceptance to the
Prince.
The National Republican League
which is to meet in New York City JuT.e
25 at tremendous banquet, will have
many distinguished guests and speak
ers. President Taft and Vice President
Sherman will be at the same table. and
will both deliver addresses. Efforts
are being made to have former PreSi-
dent Roosevelt there also. Representa-
tive Longworth, his son-in-law, will be
one of the speakers, and there will be
present about Is Republican Governors.
a number of Senators and Representa-
tives and other distinguished Republic
cans from all parts of the country. 1t
is stated that there will be covers for
5000, which will probably be about the
largest "Sit-down" banquet ever given
in the United States.
One of the maddest women in Wash
ington to-day is an old lady who has
got to admit to 81 years of age. since
her father died in 1874 She declares
that she remembers him very WELL in
deed and tells with giee many of his
witticisms as related in her hearing,
which would make her a tremendously
precocious infant or even an infant
prodigy if she were only five or six
years old then. As matter of fact.
everybody knows ths old lady is about
~. She sits in state in one of the great
Departments of the Government, wear
ing a wig. false teeth, corsets like
steel cage, powder and rouge until she
is almost enameled and dressing to the
limit of the last penny of her $1.4O0
salary. If you just stand off and look
at her as you would fine painting, you
would think the old lady might be
about 40, and she carries the dignity of
a Dowager Duchess, and she does not do
as much work as a s600-a-year clerk,
altho she sits at a s1,400 desk. Her
father was a Revolutionary soldier, as
she is very proud to tell you. and when
she first went into Government employ
some 40 years ago she gleefully told OF
being a 'lineal descendant of George
Washington" She got so much fun
poked at her for this ludicrous state
ment that she switched off. and said
that she was a descendant of the
Washingtons" The old lady just now
is in a perfect stew. She is afraid of
the clerks retirement bill, because she
knows very well that if some misehiev-
Gus busybody inquiries into her status
il will be discovered that she will be
the first of the clerks to go. be-
cause she is already beyond the sup
Of tot Eh 10
is going to do if retired she does not
know, as she has never saved a penny
all these years, but she declared the
other day in fit of fine frenzy that sha
would rather retire and go to some old
ladies' home than admit that she is 20
years of age. The poor old thing is also
frothing at the mouth, declaring not a
ary'' shall be taken to help furnish n
retirement fund for aged clerks. 1t is
this sort of consummate selfshness
which has kept plans from being ma
tured for a real retirement bill. Mean
time the old lady sits there, painted
and calcimined. dressed UP like a mill
liners doll, drawing her s1,400 salary
when she could not possibly earn $500
even under Government employ; that is,
If it depended upon her really earn
ing it.
After all, 1t is not so much to be a
King. There is a lot more honor in
being President of the United States.
At least this is the opinion of Robert
Allen. of Surrey, England, who is at
present in Washington. He says: Our
King has little to say so far as the Gov
ernment of England is concerned; he Is
merely a figurehead. The English peo-
pie at this day will not stand for any i'll
behavior on the part of the King. They
attend to the matter of administering
the affairs of the country themselves,
and the King must behave himself.
England has changed very much since
the times when the King used to assume
the role of ruler. The people are now
ruling. and the King is occupying po-
sition of courtesy. King George will
turn out all right. He cannot do any
thing without consulting his advisers,
and they are shrewd and patriotic men.
We hope for the best. so far as King
George is concerned"
Mr.. Allen also says of former Presi-
dent Roosevelt's speech concerning
England's administration of Egyptian
affairs that his remarks were probably
little indiscreet, and the Colonel prob
ably had had a good dinner the night
before" Mr.. Allen said MIR. Roosevelt
should not be taken too seriously, as he
did not speak In an official capacity;
that he had a right to say what he did
IL he felt like it, and was inclined to
disregard all rules OF hospitality and
COURTESY
Secretary of the Treasury MacVeagh
has selected A. Piatt Andrew. Director
of the Mint. to be Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury to fill the vacancy caused
by Charles d. Norton's acceptance of
the private secretaryship to President
Taft
1t will be remembered that President
Taft was invited to New York to open
the Actors Fund Fair with a speech,
and he went. One of the costliest things
that was raffled off and one for which
there was the greatest scramble was a
bust of President Taft. 1t was secured
by Roy Atwell, a young actor. This
kid actor got into a racket with another
actor in the elevator of an apartment
house last week, and flung him half
way out, so that he was crushed to
death before the elevator could be
stopped. It is said that the killing was
an accident. but Atwell is under bonds
for murder just the same.
Capt. John A. Norris. U. 8. N, re-
tired, died at Annapolis last week. He
entered the naval ser vice of the United
States as Midshipman In 1865, grad
uating from the Naval Academy June
4. 1863. He served as a Lieutenant
Commander in 1897, and during the
period of the Spanish-American War as
executive officer of the United States
ship Boston, participating in the battle
of Manila Bay on May 1. 1898. He was
raised five numbers IN grade for emil
nent and conspicuous conduct displayed