Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-26
Capital Sidelights
By Will p. Kennedy.

They say that lightning never strikes
twice in the same place" but Represent
alive James E. Rankin of Mississippi,
one of the most prominent members of
the House. can testify that hurricane
has struck close to his heart successfully.
He is one of the best friends of the serv-
ice men in the House, and is chairman
Of special subcommittee Investigating
the wiping out of some $50 veterans and
many more civilians by the recent hur-
ricane on the Florida Keys. Last week
he had to indefinitely postpone further
hearings to make hurried trip to his
home town. Tupelo, Miss. where an
other hurricane had killed 225 persons.
many of whom were his close friends
and all of whom he knew personally.
"Boondoggling" was explained in the
House by Representative Maury MAYER
lex of Texas. who said: In early Amer
lea the word was 'toggle.' and it meant
a useful gadget which pioneer could
make with his hands out of whatever
material he had where he happened to
be. Daniel Boone made 'toggle' out
of thongs-a device to tie his rifle on
his head when he wanted to swim a
stream, so his powder would stay dry. 1t
was a mighty useful gadget, and became
widely known as the Boone-toggle.' Boy
Scouts have used 'boondoggle,' cor
ruption of the old term, to mean handi-
crafts. and a handicrafts teacher was
the innocent author of the current po-
litical use of the word"
Under the New Deal" 1853 symphony
and concert orchestras. 81 bands, IS
chamber music ensembles, SO dance
orcheStras, % choruses and six opera
or operetta units are training or per-
forming in various sections of the coun-
try, Representative Maverick told the
House AS an illustration of the sort
of human interest experiences that keep
cropping out, he narrated that high
w. P. A. official, who is music lover,
heard a symphony orchestra in Port
land, Greg. play an impressive number.
He never had heard the selection before,
and asked the director what it was. 1T
is an original work by member OF the
orchestra" the director replied. I'VE
found him digging a ditch"
Some more arreSting statistics were
given by Representative Maverick-some
$4,000 professional and technical workers
are engaged in health research, assist
ants in hospitals, library work, nursing,
scientific research and other technical
efforts. Nearly $4,000 men are working
on special fact-finding studies for local
governments, natural resource surveys
and kindred activities. Some $4,000
recreational workers are directing ath-
letics, playground activities, game
rooms, camps and recreation programs
for the underprivileged. Ten thousand
clerks in w. P. A. and $4,000 more IN
other governmental units are modern
izing old public record systems, restoring
valuable archives and repairing books.
- y X
The tide of visitors to the United
States Capitol brings many interesting
characteristic majority of whom are
not recognized, because they do not ex-
plot their distinctions. Occasionally one
is discovered The other day w. N.
Reynolds of Tunkhannock, Pa. sat in
the gallery reserved for special guests
of members. He was a strikingly robust
figure for a man of 88, with notable
Civil War record. He served with Com
pany H, 18th Pennsylvania Volunteers.
The local Grand Army post is named
after his father, who fell mortally
wounded by his side in the battle OF the
Wilderness. He had two brothers also
in the war, one of whom lost leg.
Four years ago at meeting OF old
veterans in San Diego the name
Reynolds" was called out-and two men
stood up-they were the Oldest and
youngest present. The Oldest was l02,
The youngest was then 84-who stopped
off to glory in the new improvements
in the Capital City on his way back from
visit in Florida.
He was one of those selected Tor the
honor of being bodyguard when the
aSsassinated President Lincoln lay In
state in Philadelphia-the only survivor
in wyoming County, Pa.
+ y X
The several dozen members OF the
House who are alumni of Harvard UNI
versity are supporting resolution pro-
posed by a fellow alumnus, Richard A.
Staderman. economic adviser and secre-
tary to Representative Charles G. Bin
derup of Nebraska, proposing appoint-
ment of a United States Harvard Ter.
centenary Commission. This empha-
sizes that Harvard marked the begin
ming of higher education in the United
States"-the first college to be estao-
lished in this country. President Roose-
welt is asked to serve as honorary chair
man of this commission and to ask other
nations to participate. This Federal
commission would cooperate with the
commissions appointed by the State OF
Massachusetts and the cities OF Boston
and CAMBRIDGE.