The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-04-25
LETTER FROM
f. II. HARPER
Is Now on Payroll Of U. S. Senate In
Capacity of Assistant Police.

The following letter was written by
Mr., F. H. Harper to his friend V. r.
James, and is published by Mr.. Har-
per's request communicated to the Sen
tinel by Mr.. James:
"Your highly welcomed letters have
been received. love my friends and
appreciate the interest they feel in me.
am in the capital city ami every
thing is moving along nicely with me.
l arrived in Washington the 18th of
March at 1915, and Senator Vardaman
secured a position for me on the capt.
tol police force of the senate. l went
to work the next day. The office pays
$1050 per year, or $87. SO per month. l
pay $23 per mouth board, which leaves
1884, so per month clear. l have a fine
place to board, in the best part of the
city, with a large front room, real
nicely furnished. A policeman ate din
ner with me yesterday and he said my
boarding place was nice enough for a
senator.
Our forces are divided into three d.
visions and in that way we are only
on duty a third of our time-that is,
we are on duty one day and off two,
and on one night and off two. That
gives me two days out of three in which
to take in the city. The time l get the
most rest is when | am on duty; then
we are stationed around in the build
ing and have nice cushioned chairs to
sit in, and all we have to do is to see
that all are orderly in that part of the
building where we are stationed.
There are about 500 employees of the
Senate and nearly twice that number in
the House. 1t is estimated that there
are about so, 900 Government employees
in the city of Washington. Most OF
them are needed, but some are not
The city is made up almost entirely
of parks, monuments. Government
buildings and employees. If a person
should spend twelve months with a
guide to show him around, he would
not then be able to see all that's Ia be
seen.
was stationed Tuesday in the dome
of the capitol. 1t is 1865 feet high. Thu
steps are straight and narrow leading
to it and | had a lot of fun seeing peo
pie climb them; they would blow wors'
than a steam engine and trem5le like
leaf. Some OF them would give
out before they got to the top an,
would have to 60 back. From the bal
cony at the top you a see all over ere
ation--at least a distance of rs miles
Some of the pr~ettiest girls ever say
came up and | decided if they shout
start to fall | would catch them even a
the risk CT my life.
I've seen many things OF interes
since l came. | went to the tlrs
Presbyterian church to Sunday schOC
where Talmage preached for thre
years. went up in the Washingto
monument, which is 555 feet high to tn
top and 500 feet to where people ca
go. From there you a see over tn
Blue Ridge mountains. / went throug
\ the White House, shook hands wit
President Wilson. and was in the ROOF
in which Cleveland was married. tn
| White House is certainly most beaut
full. If l only had a pretty Grenad
l girl and a home like that | would thin
that l was right well fixed.
Politics is running high here nov
The tariff question is the principal /!
sue. The democrats are holding thing
down all right. Wilson is an excellel
man, and is, so the people of Washing
ton say, making the best president v
have had for years. w. j. Bryan
looked upon as the greatest livir
statesman and christian. | heard hi
speak Sunday at the Columbia Theate
his subject The Larger Life.
Our friend, Senator Vardaman,
coming to the front. People here S:
he is the most picturesque man in Il
senate. The photographers are CONT
ually taking a snap shot at him b
closed you will find the picture of hi
and some other senators, that came o.
in the Washington Post.
With kindest regards, l remain
Your very true friend,
Frank H. Harper.
Mash;nnton n e Mo 126 sixth ST