It has also been realized by the _employés_ of this Bureau that merit _is_ noted, and _de_merit will insure dismissal. It is the policy of General Baker to hold his subordinates strictly responsible for the proper performance of their individual duties, and to look to those having charge of others to secure the desired results, or to report the delinquent. The result of two years’ growth in this direction has been gratifying. The increased industry of the Office, the improvement resulting from a thoughtful and careful performance of its duties, and the elevation of the standard which all seeking appointments must come up to, and a careful weeding-out of the inefficient ones, are rapidly tending to secure commendation from those having business with the Bureau, rather than censure. An aged claimant for a pension, who served in the war of 1812, residing in Illinois in December, 1871, wrote to the Office as follows: “Oh! can it be true that I am going to get $100? That news is too good! I’m so hungry, and I love coffee so, but I can’t get any! All I have to eat is corn-bread and sour milk. I can’t believe that I am to get so much money, but I pray God it may be true.” It is needless to say that this claim was made “special,” and the octogenarian had “coffee” for his Christmas breakfast. A Captain B., of Havre-de-Grace, Maryland, a claimant for pension under Act of 1871, for services in the War of 1812, had his claim rejected, it appearing that he served less than sixty days, as required by that Act; whereupon the Captain grew wrathy, and wrote as follows: “N. B.—Any man that will say that I was not a Private soldier in Capt. Paca Smith’s company before the attack of the British on the City of Baltimore, and during the attack on said City in Sept., 1814, and after the British dropped down to Cape Henry, I say he is a dastard, a liar, and a coward, and no gentleman, or any man that will say that I got my Land-warrant from the Hon. Geo. C. Whiting, for 160 acres of Land, for 14 days’ services in Capt. Paca Smith’s company, is the same, as stated above, and I hold myself responsible for the contents of this letter; and if their dignity should be touched, a note of honor directed to Capt. Wm. B——, Havre-de-Grace, Harford Co., Md., shall be punctually attended to. “WM. B——.” CHAPTER XL. TREASURES AND CURIOSITIES OF THE PATENT OFFICE—THE MODEL ROOM—ITS RELICS AND INVENTIONS.