The National tribune., 1911-03-16

New York amounts to $50,000,000 a
year, this frightened the moneyed men
of the Metropolis, and they got busy at
the War Department, which resulted in
permission to extend the docks.
When one looks out on the streets to-
day and sees the long strings of auto
mobiles rushing up and down the ave-
nues, it seems incredible that the use of
gaSolene as a motive power is only 4
little over so years old. This is called
to mind by the fact that Edward J
Pennington has just died in Boston. He
was the pioneer inventor of the auto
mobile driven by kerosene power, and
got his patent in 1896. He was forbid
den to use gasolene as a motive power
and so had to change his patent tic
adapt it 10 the use of kerosene. In the
first vehicle of this class he took the
late King Edward, then the Prince OF
Wales in his first motor car in 1860.
'>Mr. Pennington was born in INLAND
Ind, but was thoroly possessed of the
wander lust, for he crossed the ocean
more than 40 times.
The annual pilgrimage of the Taft
party took place the other evening, with
Miss Mabel Boardman as hostess. She
entertained party of so at brilliant
reception, followed by supper at her
magnificent home in this city. Presi-
dent Taft and Mrs. Taft were the chief
guests. The company who made the
several months trip more than half
around the world meet once year and
dine together The receptions are mag
nificent affairs.
Representative Macon, of Arkansas,
In addition to other disqualifications,
looks so much like DR.. Mary Walker
that his early arrival in Washington
and his every attempt to enter the
House at a new dour call for remon-
STRANGE from Doorkeepers.
An interesting little talk was given
by Maj. j. o. Hutchinson, who is reg
ular globe trotter, one day last week,
when he was sojourning in Washington.
He says thar he has spent the last 80
years travelling about the world, as he
is in the touring business. He says he
has never had but once chance to vote
for President, and then he voted for
Horatio Seymour. Speaking of the death
of the great President, he said:
81 believe 1 am one of the few men
living who We're actually in Ford's
Theater on the night Lincoln was assas-
sinated. / was only five seats from the
front, and near the Presidential box.
I was with a naval officer named Flood.
the street after the shooting. I did not
see the shooting, but only heard the
shot and saw Booth leap from the box
to the stage and shout Sic semper ty-
rannis.'
"a curious thing about il Is that tho
/ have been about a great deal, have
encountered only two other men who
were in the audience that night, and
both of them were newspaper men. One
met III Nagoya, Japan, at the time
they had the worst earthquake over
there the country had experienced in
modeIp times"
Col. r. S. Crosby, of Philadelphia, in
conversation at the Willard the other
day. said that the plan for reforming
the Gregorian calendar has at least the
merit of simplicity. He then went OF
to say:
1T is proposed to make every year
exactly So weeks by regarding New
Years as a day apart from the num-
bered days of any month, and also
Ieap-year day when it occurs. The year
would always begin with Monday. July
would always be Wednesday: Christ
mas, Tuesday; Washington's Birthday,
Thursday; Lincoln's Birthday, Sunday.
1t is even proposed to abandon the elab-
crate calculation by which the date of
Easter Sunday is now determined, and
make 1t always April Z, the the church
would hardly sanction so extreme an
innovation.
There would be practical advantages
in such a change, but it is not likely to
be made. There is nothing of which
people are more Jealous than their ac-
custonled methods of reckoning time.
The adoption of the Gregorian calendar
was followed by dangerous riots of peo-
pie shouting: Give us back our II
days The Russian Nation still clings
10 its calendar, which is now 10 days