Washington sentinel., 1854-01-07

contribution.) 90 90
Adams Gray and family, Washington. 10 90
From yisiters at Monument Place ...... 161 SO
Special agents ...................... 965 "a
Amount of receipts ...................1 ,761 95
Amount of expenditure e............... 2, 152 So
H0tels.--Within the last ten years marked i'm
provements have been made in the business Of
bookkeeping Not only comforts but luxuries of
every conceivable nature have been introduced |;
so that the traveller, no matter how well he may
be provided for at home, may be equally as well
accommodated abroad. Those establishments are
SO arranged, that entire privacy may be enjoyed
apart from the hustle and activity characteristic Of
first class public houses. Every day we hear of
new features being added, not only In other cities,
but in our own and there has been some talk,
during the last year, of erecting another large
hotel, the present number being considered no bar
TO the further prosecution of such enterprises.
Recently, memorial of L. P. Holaday & Co.
was presented to the Senate, praying permission
TO erect first class hotel of great architectural
beauty on the public grounds lying on the south
side of Pennsylvania avenue, between the Capitol
and Third street. II was referred to the proper
committee for examination. Without expressing
an opinion as to the propriety Of the government
letting the public grounds for such purposes, we
will only remark that hotel of the character de-
signed could not fail TO be handsomely patronzed,
owing TO the beauty of location as well as 10 its
proximity 10 the Capitol-the great point Of at
traction during the session Of Congress.
4 agst g. .s.#
A Fast Horse.r-A friend Of ours, who procured
horse and buggy yesterday to facilitate his bus-
ness operations, was highly pleased with the
mettle Of his charger until the animal, towards
evening, evinced spirit Characterization which
at once.destroyed his good reputation. Our friend
honestly believes that cigar is necessary of life,
and therefore he is seldom without one of McEl
freshs best mportations. While he was striking
his match to light Havana, having halted for the
purpose, the horse, with sudden bound, jerked
the vehicle round corner, near the old railroad
station, and came near prancng into the creek.
Fortunately, our friend having completed the light
ing of his cigar, pulled desperately at the reins
and soon conquered the horse into governable
humor. He (our friend, not the horse) had the
modification to have his hat jolted off his head,
into a mud-puddle; but as bad as this was, il was
far less unpleasant than if his body had been pre-
cipitated into the stream which bears the classic
name Of Tiber.
New Public Buildings.-We are glad that
the Senate, on Thursday, adopted resolution
submitted by Mr.. Hunter, instructing the Com
mittee on Public Buildings to inquire into the ex-
pediency of providing, by law, for the erection of
suitable buildings for the State, War, Navy, and
U,la, ,;,b ~
of the last named, now occupy buildings not fire.
proof, and, besides, there is not room enough for
the transaction Of the current business. This sub
iect is officially mentioned in the documents trans
mitted TO Congress at the opening Of the session,
and is certainly entitled to early and prompt
sideration, in view Of the reasons already mem
toned With an abundance Of money in the
Treasury there could be better time for liberal
appropriations in furtherance Of the recommends
tons to which we have referred,
Police Returns.-The following are the month
ly returns by the police officers fthe corporation
TO H. N. Steele, the chief Of police, for the year
ending December 80, 1852 and certified by him
as correct:
Judgments and costs obtained for the year
ls53.-January, s6O4 90; February. 500 O4 !;
March, $500 OF; April, 1926 OF; May $731 So;
June, $3.50 50 July sl,49i rs; August, sl.737 SO;
September, $1,370 so; October S1,296 35; No
vember, 5000 9s; December S945 06. Total,
S12,264 &c.
Judgments and costs paid into the treasury for
year 1s53.--January, 1882 OIL; February. S30S SO;
March, $500 II; April, 1919 10; May, 1857 55 !;
June, s57s 30, July, s6ls "a; August, S6O7 50;
September, S67l Ia; October, s737 90; Novem-
ber, s662 96; December, $646 76 Total s6,420 o..
The Prize Poem Abortion.-The Cincinnati
Commercial in speaking of the $500 reward, offered
by Mr.. r.. w. Latham for the best "national
poem, ode, or epc,n and Of the failure to win the
prize, says:
aWe are hardly able to admire Mr. Latham
enormously for his very liberal offer; he probably
was thinking as much of his reputation as OF his
countrys glory. national poem, ode, or epic"
would not, of course, be produced by the stimulus
of $500 prize. great song to thrill nations
heart must be the spontaneous outgushing Of a
great soul, and fitted TO great purpose. Some
Of our cotemporaries are complaining that the de-
cision Of the committee is not complimentary TO
the poets Of the country We think il Is. None
of the poets of established reputation whose
writings command cash any day, would compete
for such a prize, and the love of money cannot
make a poet, nor is an uncertain vision of gold
conducive TO fine phrenzy."
An Oddity.-While at the railroad station, yes
terday afternoon, we noticed, darting through the
crowd, man Of medium stature, wearing some
thing like tarpaulin hat, with little tickets stuck
all around il; light colored overcoat and across
his right shoulder was slung trumpet. He was
in TOO great hurry to permit close inspection
Of bis trappings. He has been "lioninng' and