The Washington herald., 1911-02-10
NAVAL COMMANDER
CELEBRATES TO-DAY
Harry Phelps, Stationed Here
Fifty Years Old.
PROF. MOONEY Is SANE AGE
Popular EthnoloEist Also Reaches
Half-century MaFk-YouAg Roose-
velt's Engagement Announced .
Year AEo-Spanish Treaty signed
Twelve Yesrs Ago To-day.

Lieut.. Commander Harry Phelps, U. s.
N. to-day receives congratulations. the
occasion being the anniversary of his
birth. He Is fifty years old. a native of
Jersey City, and Is stationed in this city.
In 1850 he was graduated from the
Naval Academy. first serving on the
European station. His promotion from
grade to grade came rapidly. He served
two years on the Coast Survey. four
years on the North Pacific survey. and
was afterward on various duties and STA
tions.
His caheer, however. has not always
been Of the piping times Of peace. as
he was on board the United States steam
ship Texas when Admiral Schley's squad
ron blockaded Santiago and knocked the
spots out OF Admiral Cervera's fleet. Com
mander Phelps is the author of number
OF works on marine surveying.
Ethnolo.ist's Natal Day.
A District birthday child, popular and
we'll known. is Prof. James Mooney. eth
nologist, Of the Bureau Of American Eth
nology. Mr.. Mooney is also deeply in
terested in the restoration Of the Gaelic
language. and mas filled the office Of
president Of the Gaelic Society here with
nlSn circuit. MI MOOucy III LiS S0AhSi
days learned the printing trade. and
worked at, the case as well as In news
paper editorial rooms.
Even at that time he took a deep inter-
est in Indian studies. which have be-
come his life work. He has been resi-
dent uf the District since 1855. being then
twenty-four years old. 1t will be seen
that the genial savant is passing to-day
the fftieth milestone Of his life.
For years ne has conducted extended
field Investigations among Southern and
Western Indian tribes. particularly those
of the great plains, and has prepared
government exhibits for Chicago, Nash
vile. Omaha. and st. Louis exposit:ons.
as well as those that followed. and will
in all probability be in charge of the
government exhibit at San Francisco in
1915. He is a member of the scientific
societies of this city and a versatile
author, among his works being Funeral
Customs Of Ireland" Holiday Customs
CT Ireland Sacred Formulas of the
Cherokees.'' "Siouan Tribes of the East"
and many others.
Anniversary Of Engagement.
Just a year ago to-day Mrs. Henry
Addison Alexander. of New York. an
nounced the engagement of her daugh-
ter. Miss Eleanor Butler Alexander, to
Theodore Roosevelt. jr.. eldest son of
former President Theodore Roosevelt.
Young Mr.. Roosevelt entered the employ
of a New England carpet manufacturing
concern and learned the trade through
all its various stages. To-day he is To-
Gated in California as the representative
Of the firm, and is doing well.
Seven years ago to-day the Car Of
Russia declared war against japan. and
everybody knows what he got for his
trouble
Dupuy de Lome's resignation as Min
lister from Spain to this country was ac-
cepted by his government to-day thir-
teen years ago. and a guard was placed
around the American Legation at Madrid.
The Spaniard wrote an insulting letter
to President Mckinley. which was inter-
Cepted by the agents Of the Cuban junta.
and he thought it advisable to skip
the town, which he did most effectively
by taking a fast express for Canada.
Signed Peace Treaty.
Exactly a year after this little episode
President Mckinley signed the peace
treaty with Spain, and now We have
them all on our hands. including Cuba,
Porto Rico. the Philippines. and other
outlying parcels.
Mckinley and Hobart were formally
elected by the electoral college fourteen
years ago this day, and, by way Of
reminder, this is the date Of the birth
of Christopher Columbus. He was born
in Genoa on February 10, 1885, and was
fifty-seven years old when ne mad us
first glimpse of the New World.