Part 8

We are apt to think the "embalmed" meat agitation during the Spanish war will injure the trade of the country more than the war itself, but that agitation was right if it saved the health of even one soldier, and, above all, if it secures society in the future against deleterious canned meats.

It is well known, tho not approved by the government, that there are several canneries in the West where horse-flesh only is used. The government watches them closely and forces them to label the goods for just what they are. These goods are sent to such foreign countries as do not object to the use of horse-flesh.

Most States have stringent food laws, but so much food is sent from the State in which it is produced to another that State laws become inoperative.

The government finds glucose (not in itself harmful) to be the basis of many frauds. Colored and flavored it is sold as honey, and it is the foundation of very many jams. Cocoas and chocolates are made from wheat, corn, rice, potatoes; pepper, cinnamon, allspice, nutmegs, and mustards are made from almost every cereal. Pure vinegar is rare. Almost any kind of wine can be drawn from the same spigot, colored and flavored to suit the requirements of the wine desired.

Sometimes in foreign lands I have thought that London particularly needs a commission on pure coffee. I think I shall know the taste of chicory as long as I live from experiences in that city.

Most foreign countries make stringent food laws chiefly on liquors and butter. Germany draws close lines on meat, including all forms of sausage, with some restrictions on butter, wine, coloring on toys, and coloring matter generally.

Every European country has stringent laws on the composition of beer. I wonder how long American beer which rots the shoes of the bartender, and brings paralysis to his right hand, would be tolerated in Germany or Britain? At the Buffalo Exposition, in the government display, was one sample of "peach brandy," the formula of which was forty gallons of proof spirits, one-half pound of an essence, one quart of sugar syrup, and a sufficient amount of coloring matter. The "bead oil" on the same shelf, it was claimed, was a solution of soap intended to produce a "bead" on liquors, and thereby give the appearance of age.

Could anything better prove the need of a government standard than the above, or the further facts that one man is now in the penitentiary for fraudulent use of the United States mail in advertising ground soapstone as a flour adulterant, and that fifteen cheaper oils are now used to adulterate pure olive oil?

If I were a young college woman I would go in for chemistry, and make myself a food specialist for grocers, exporters, and importers. I would make my home in some large institution where the food question as to what nutriments the body needs, and what will produce best results at the least cost, could be tested scientifically. I would take the cook and her helpers into a loving partnership to improve the dietetics of the establishment, and yet reduce expenses. There is a new business now ready for earnest college women.

XX DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

THE Department of the Interior was created by act of Congress in 1849. When the names of its subdivisions are enumerated, it will readily be seen that no adequate description of it can be given in one or two chapters.

It comprises the Patent Office, the Pension Office, General Land Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Education, Commissioner of Railroads, and the Office of the Geological Survey. Each office is managed by a commissioner or director, who has under him a large force of officials and clerks.

In the chief building of the Department of the Interior, fronting on F Street, and extending from Seventh to Ninth, and from F to G Streets, may be found the Patent Office of the United States. No other department so well reveals the inventive genius of the most inventive people on earth.

Once at a table in Paris a Frenchman said to me: "The Americans are inventors because they are lazy."

"Well," I said, "I have heard many surprising charges against my countrymen, but that excels all. How do you make that out?"

"Well, I am a manufacturer. I set an American boy to keep a door open; before half an hour he has invented a machine which will open and shut it, and I find my boy playing marbles."

"Sensible boy! Yes, with that view of it, maybe we are; we certainly do not care to do by hand that which a machine can better perform."

The Patent Office is one of the few departments which is more than self-supporting. In the year 1836 but one patent was taken out; during the year ending December 31, 1901, the total number of applications was 46,449. The total receipts for the year were $6,626,856.71; total expenditures, $1,297,385.64—leaving a balance far over five million dollars in favor of the government.

There are divisions for different classes of inventions. When a patent is applied for, examiners make all necessary investigations, and carefully look into the invention claimed to be new, comparing it, part by part, with patents already existing before determining whether a patent can be granted. They have a library with plates and descriptions of about everything under the sun. From this library inventors can have books and plates sent them in order to compare their work with inventions now existing.

The Secretary of the Interior is a member of the President's Cabinet, and receives $12,000 per year. He has charge of the Capitol (through the architect), the Insane Asylum, and the College for Mutes—indeed, it would seem that his work is sufficient for ten Secretaries.

There is an Assistant Secretary of the Interior, who receives $4,000 per annum, and commissioners of different divisions and bureaus who receive from $3,000 to $6,000 annually.

Many officers of this department could command higher salaries in the commercial world, but these positions secure honor and respect not only for the man himself but also for his descendants, hence these commissionerships are very desirable. For that reason men give up a legal practise or a railroad position, bringing salaries eight or ten times as large.

The present Secretary, Ethan Allen Hitchcock,[4] of Missouri, great-grandson of Ethan Allen, of Vermont, has a wide experience in manufacturing, railroad, and mining interests, and has served as Ambassador to Russia. He was called to his present place in 1898.

Footnote 4:

Ethan Allen Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior under Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt, died April 9, 1909, age seventy-four.

The Secretary in his report for 1901 entreats that at least twenty more persons of fine mechanical ability be appointed as examiners, as his force is much behind in their work, altho many labor far over allotted time.

The Bureau of Education, established in 1867, is probably as little known to the general public as any branch of the government. It is a clearing-house.

The Commissioner of Education, Hon. William T. Harris,[5] is one of the great educators of the world. It is probable if the teachers of the United States could have a personal vote, their unanimous choice would fall upon Dr. Harris as their Commissioner. The offices of the Bureau of Education are in a brick building at the corner of G and Eighth Streets.

Footnote 5:

In July, 1906, Commissioner Harris retired on a Carnegie pension and Prof. Elmer Ellsworth Brown, of California, became Commissioner of Education.

The Commissioner has about forty assistants, who are confined to about twenty-eight rooms. This office collects, tabulates, and reports on all schools in the United States. Any one who desires to compare the curriculums of different institutions consults the Commissioner's report. Or should one desire to know what is being done in Europe, or any other part of the world, along the line of art in schools, or manual or industrial training, or the advanced education for women, all such inquiries can be answered by reference to the Commissioner's report.

This bureau is held in high estimation in Europe. Many of the South American republics and some Asiatic countries are trying, through the reports of Dr. Harris, to model their school systems after that of the United States.

Miss Frances G. French has charge of the foreign correspondence, and tabulates statistics and reports on thirty-two foreign countries.

The school work presented by the Department of Education at Paris in 1900 secured favorable commendation from the best educators of Europe. Only three commissioners have preceded Dr. Harris: Hon. Henry Barnard, 1867-1870; Hon. John Eaton, 1870-1886; Hon. N. H. R. Dawson, 1886-1889. The latter was a brother-in-law of Abraham Lincoln. Dr. Harris was appointed by President Harrison, September, 1889. The best work of the Bureau of Education lies in bringing about homogeneity in the work of education throughout the United States. Without the tabulated work of the Superintendents of States, how would the Superintendent of, say, one of the Dakotas, know whether the work of the public schools of his State corresponds with the work done in New York or Pennsylvania? Yet the boy educated in Dakota may have to do his life-work in Pennsylvania. Then the Commissioner's report keeps us informed what the State, Nation, or Church is doing for the education of the colored race, the Indian, or the people of our new possessions.

A short extract from the Commissioner's report of 1899 will give an idea of the tabulated work for women:

The barriers to woman's higher education seem effectually removed, and to-day eight-tenths of the colleges, universities, and professional schools of the United States are open to women students. As is stated by ex-President Alice Freeman Palmer, of Wellesley College, "30,000 girls have graduated from colleges, while 40,000 more are preparing to graduate." The obtaining of a collegiate education gives the women more ambition to enter a profession, or, if they decide to marry, it is stated that—

The advanced education they have received has added to their natural endowments wisdom, strength, patience, balance, and self-control ... and in addition to a wise discharge of their domestic duties, their homes have become centers of scientific or literary study or of philanthropy in the communities where they live.

It is stated that the advancement of women in professional life is less rapid than in literature. The training of women for medical practise was long opposed by medical schools and men physicians. Equally tedious was the effort to obtain legal instruction and admission to the legal profession, and even to-day the admission to theological schools and the ministry is seriously contested; yet all these professions are gradually being opened to women. In 1896-97 there were in the United States 1,583 women pursuing medical studies to 1,471 in 1895-96; in dentistry, 150 women in 1896-97 to 143 in 1895-96; in pharmacy, 131 in 1896-97 to 140 in 1895-96. In law courses of professional schools were 131 women in 1896-97 to 77 in 1895-96; in theological courses 193 women in 1896-97.

The only aggressive work done by this bureau is in Alaska, and of this Dr. Sheldon Jackson[6] is agent or superintendent. Besides doing a great work in education, this department has brought about 1,300 deer from Siberia to take the place of dogs, mules, and horses in transportation, and at the same time to give milk, butter, cheese, and meat to the population. The reindeer are self-supporting, living on the moss which grows abundantly.

Footnote 6:

Dr. Sheldon Jackson died May 2, 1909.

These animals are loaned to individuals or missions, and at the end of five years the government requires an equivalent number to be returned. The Eskimo, the Lapp, and the Finn become expert in handling these herds, now numbering many thousands. By them mails are carried, and whalers, sealers, miners, and soldiers rescued from starvation, danger, or death.

The education as well as religious training of Alaska is up to this time conducted through the mission stations, all of which are visited, encouraged, and assisted by Dr. Jackson.

The _Youth's Companion_ tersely states the present condition of things:

When the churches first planned to send missionaries and teachers into Alaska, representatives of the several denominations met and divided the territory among them. Should the traveler ask the ordinary Alaskan miner what is the result of effort, he would probably be answered that there has been no result. The miner, in the words of Dr. Sheldon Jackson, is unconscious that the very fact of his presence there at all is the direct outcome of Christian missions. In 1877 Sitka and St. Michaels were armed trading-posts, out of which the soldiers shut the natives every night, that the inhabitants might rest in safety. For ten years not a single whaler dared to stay overnight at Cape Prince of Wales, so savage was the native population. Now, in all those ports, the miner and whaler and traveler can dwell in safety, because of the civilizing work of the missionaries. Probably ten thousand natives have been brought under Christian influences, and many public as well as mission schools have been opened.

Among the Moravian missions of the Yukon Valley few of the natives can read or write. At bedtime a bell rings, and the entire population goes to the churches. A chapter in the Bible is read, a prayer offered, a hymn sung; and the men, women, and children return to their homes and go to bed. Where in the United States can be found a better record?

In introducing religion with the arts, sciences, and conveniences of civilization, Dr. Jackson's work reminds one of the words of Whittier:

I hear the mattock in the mine, The ax stroke in the dell, The clamor of the Indian lodge, And now the chapel bell.

I hear the tread of pioneers, Of nations yet to be, The first low wash of waves where soon Shall roll a human sea.

XXI BRANCHES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

THE Gallaudet College for the Deaf is situated in Northeast Washington, at Kendall Green. It is surrounded by about one hundred acres of ground. Until within a year it has been known as the Columbian Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, but the Board of Directors, at the request of the alumni, wisely changed it to Gallaudet College, in honor and memory of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, founder of deaf-mute education in America. The honor is also deserved by the Hon. Edward M. Gallaudet, LL.D., its president at the time. He is probably the greatest teacher of mutes now living. He is certainly the most distinguished one. It is the only real college for this unfortunate class in the world. All the other schools for mutes in this country only prepare them to enter this institution. The college embraces, in a four years' course, languages, mathematics, natural science, history, philosophy, and political science—about the usual classical course in any college.

They are instructed by what is known as the combined method—that is, both the oral and sign methods are used.

Mutes among themselves greatly prefer signs. All mutes can not learn the oral method, and I know by experience among mutes that the talking which they learn is not very satisfactory. Their voices are too loud or too low; in some of them the sound of the voice is most distressing, not having the ear by which to regulate it.

I met one woman in Washington stone-deaf who could talk as well as any one, and I had met her three times before I knew she was deficient in any sense. Then she took me by the shoulders and turned me toward the window, saying: "I do believe you are talking. You know I can not hear thunder, so I must see your lips."

The director for the school of mutes in Japan made a lengthy visit to Washington to study the methods of the college instruction, and several countries of Europe have sent delegates to examine its workings. Dr. Gallaudet has visited every great school for mutes in Europe—not once, but several times—so that he brings to his great work not only his own skill, knowledge, and experience, but also the results of his observations in many lands.

Congress appropriates about $50,000 per year for the support of this college. Here the mutes from the District of Columbia and of the Army and Navy, besides sixty indigent students from different parts of the country, without charge for board, receive a college training. Beside these there are many who pay full tuition. The annual attendance is between one and two hundred. About six hundred young men and women have been graduated, showing that deafness does not interfere with the highest mental culture.

The following extract from the report of 1893 will give an idea of the beneficent work of this government institution. The report says:

Fifty-seven who have gone out from the college have been engaged in teaching; four have entered the Christian ministry; three have become editors and publishers of newspapers; three others have taken positions connected with journalism; fifteen have entered the civil service of the government—one of these, who had risen rapidly to a high and responsible position, resigned to enter upon the practise of law in patent cases in Cincinnati and Chicago, and has been admitted to practise in the Supreme Court of the United States; one is the official botanist of a State, who has correspondents in several countries of Europe who have repeatedly purchased his collections, and he has written papers upon seed tests and related subjects which have been published and circulated by the Agricultural Department; one, while filling a position as instructor in a Western institution, has rendered important service to the Coast Survey as a microscopist, and one is engaged as an engraver in the chief office of the Survey. Of three who became draftsmen in architects' offices, one is in successful practise as an architect on his own account, which is also true of another, who completed his preparation by a course of study in Europe; one has been repeatedly elected recorder of deeds in a Southern city, and two others are recorders' clerks in the West; one was elected and still sits as a city councilman; another has been elected city treasurer and is at present cashier of a national bank; one has become eminent as a practical chemist and assayer; two are members of the faculty of the college, and two others are rendering valuable service as instructors therein; some have gone into mercantile and other offices; some have undertaken business on their own account, while not a few have chosen agricultural and mechanical pursuits, in which the advantages of thorough mental training will give them a superiority over those not so well educated. Of those alluded to as having engaged in teaching, one has been the principal of a flourishing institution in Pennsylvania; one is now in his second year as principal of the Ohio institution; one has been at the head of a day-school in Cincinnati, and later of the Colorado institution; a third has had charge of the Oregon institution; a fourth is at the head of a day-school in St. Louis; three others have respectively founded and are now at the head of schools in New Mexico, North Dakota, and Evansville, Ind., and others have done pioneer work in establishing schools in Florida and in Utah.

In Dr. Gallaudet's travels he was met in every country by the educated mutes, and by his sign language could converse with them, showing that the world has at least one universal language. Every honor that grateful hearts could shower upon a devoted friend and philanthropist was shown the doctor in his travels in Europe. He deserves them all.

The Smithsonian Institution is situated on a fifty-two acre reservation between the Capitol and the Potomac River. The main building is near the center of the grounds opposite Tenth Street, West. It is built of a fine light purplish gray freestone which is soft when it comes from the quarry, but becomes almost like granite on long exposure to the air. It constitutes the great National Museum, in animal, vegetable, geological, and even social life. Relics of almost every administration, particularly from Washington's to Jackson's time, are preserved here.

James Smithson was the natural son of Sir Hugh Smithson, first Duke of Northumberland. James Smithson took a degree in Oxford in 1786. He died in Genoa, June, 1829. He desired to found in the United States, a land he never saw, an institution which should live in the memory of men when the titles of his ancestors, the Northumberlands and the Percys, were extinct and forgotten.

The institution is for the increase of knowledge among men. It assists scientific men in original research, and it publishes the results, which are sent to leading libraries, and are also accessible to scientists throughout the land.

The bequest was for several years before Congress, but in 1846, when the funds had reached three-fourths of a million dollars, the Smithsonian Institution was founded.

Its translators turn all scientific works into English, so that Americans can have the benefit of them in their own language.

Miss Thora Steineger, a Norwegian lady, has charge of the classification of all animals received by the Smithsonian. Women's work in the scientific departments is gradually increasing, as colleges, like Vassar, Wellesley, Smith, and Bryn Mawr give more and more attention to science.

Here one can see the birds of all lands, animals of every clime, vegetation from every latitude. The idols of heathendom glare at passers-by; the quaint costumes of the Asiatics, the Eskimos of the extreme North, and the inhabitants of the islands of the sea are worn by wax figures so lifelike that one almost fears to make any comment in their presence.

The fruits of much of the learning of the world are under this roof, and every youth in our land should see its classic stores.

XXII BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

THIS bureau is located in a beautiful white marble building between Seventh and Eighth streets, facing the Patent Office. These two buildings are among the very best specimens of architecture in the capital.

Hon. Francis E. Leupp, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, receives a salary of $5,000; the Assistant Commissioner receives $3,000. They have about one hundred assistants in Washington, consisting of clerks, bookkeepers, stenographers, superintendents, architects, draftsmen, etc. Of persons connected with Indian affairs, on the field, including Indian agents, storekeepers, teachers, farmers, and artisans, fully 10,000 are paid government money. There are in the United States, exclusive of Alaska, 269,388 Indians under the government care. Of these, 184,881 are not included in the five great tribes. Over 98,000 of these Indians wear the dress of civilization, and over 46,000 can read and write. Of communicant church-members there are 30,935—not a very large proportion after two hundred years of instruction.

There are 59 agencies, and about 20,000 Indians outside of the agencies. The reservations are, generally speaking, the lands which white men considered they would never want, being the most barren, forlorn, hopeless spots in the state or territory in which they are located. Bad as they are, many of them are now coveted by the white man, who, under the plea of breaking up Indian tribal relations, will within a few years buy or appropriate the last acre.