The national Republican., 1860-12-25

for the polishing of their understandings On
the thoroughfares, and at the steps Of the hotels,
those busy fellows ply their business; and, as
many three.cent pieces and half dimes crown
their labors, it is not surprising there should be
active competition in this means of obtaining
living, which is considered among the news.
boys to be less respectable than their own.
The bootblack on the pare is a white boy
an industrious manikin-who is provided with |
stool, on which the boots are alternately
planted for the polishing process-an operation
which is soon performed, in true professional
style.
In the city of New York, the street bootblack
is an "institution'-a convenience TO strangers
in that great commercial metropolis, and he is
one of the sights" though humble, "there-
unto belonging"
Recently, the city Of Washington has been
visited by this branch of industrials andswe
have no doubt here, as in New York, they find
plenty of customers. If your boots are muddy,
it is nice thing to hail the bootblack, "pre.
sent" not arms" but your foot, to his manipu-
lations. AS after a clean shave, so you have some
satisfaction in clean boot and especially in
these times, when mud attaches to the leather
without extra persuasion However, if the
boots will not stay cleaned, so much the better
for the polsher, for he is always ready to re.
peat the operation Of his profession.
Now, we commend honest industry, and are
therefore glad that these itinerants are en-.
couraged. Humble as is the occupation, and
insignificant as it may appear to others, it is
not to be despised by those who wear boots,
and who cannot stoop to the brushing process.
The business is an institution" These
workers. from city where the business is over
done, or where there is too much competition,
we're right in their reckoning, before they came
hither, that gentlemen in Washington wear
boots, and that the mud is favorable to the
trade!
The "Pop.corn man" is not crcum.
stance" to these ,ohite bootblacks!
RuMoR OF ANOTHER EXTENSIVE RoBBERY.-
Yesterday morning, the city was considerably
exercised by rumor that All extensive deial-
cation had been made known in the Treasury
Depar ment, and that the amount missing was
somewhere in the neghborhood Of $4,000.
This rumor was caused, SO far as we can learn,
by another, that the amount of the Interior
Department robbery was 900 more than
at first reported. We have heard of many
other rumors in relation to other Departments,
but believe them all to be entirely unfounded
A HOTEL KEEPER Yesterday
morning, young man who gave his name as
Samuel h. Kelly was arrested by Officer Wat
son and taken before Justice bonn, the COM
plant, being that the prisoner, together with
another person, had taken board at the Ex
change Hotel, c street, near Sixth, at $l4 per
week. At the end Of the week the bill was
presented. 1t was not paid but Kelly and
his friend left the house. Their trunks were
searched but they were empty. The excuse
Kelly gave for taking his things was, that he
could not do without clean shirt The magis.
trate had to dismiss the party, no criminal Of.
L.. L. Il L.
thought boarding-houses and hotels ought to
be protected against such imposition, and so
did the magistrate.
Rock CREEK BRlDGE.-The aqueduct bridge
over Rock creek, at the extension of Pennsyl.
vania avenue west, is so nearly finished that it
has been opened for foot passengers between
Washington and Georgetown. Besides being
q pleasing object in itself, the bridge affords u
pleasant prospect, both norhwsrd and south
ward.
GEORGETOWN CoUNCILs.-In the George.
town Council on Friday last, a resolution was
offered by Mr.. Tenney, authorizing application
to be made to Congress for permission to make
a subscription of 5000, 900 to the Loudoun and
Hampshire Railroad. 1t was read once, aud laid
over under the rule.
PERsoNAL.-R. s. Purdon Messenger, from
Mississippi, is at Kirkwoods'.
Hon. z. Kidwell, exmember of Congress, is
at the National.
AcclDENr.-An axle of one of the freight
cars of the Virginia and Tennessee railroad
when near Max Meadows, on Friday, broke
and the conductor of the train, Mr.. Rotfman
was thrown from the platform of the car, and
had his arm broken. The train was thrown
from the track but no one else was injured
| a. tloa ...,,
IMPORTANT SUlT.-Mrs. Gainess great sui
is set down for trial in January, in the Supreme
Court, No. &C on the calendar. 1t involves
about twothirds of the city OF New Orleans
All parties have arrived, and are preparing fol
the case.
THAT LAMP.PosT AGAlN.-We are constant
ly in receipt of COMMUNICATIONS in relation tc
the state of the lamp post at the corner of Fourth
and d streets, and as to the proper course The
authorities will take in relation to the matter
t In response thereto, we would state that the
, lamp.post is still down, and that the ditferen
parts thereof have seeded further than eve
from each other; so much so, that it is feared
coercion will be Of no avail in the matter. w
would still call the attention of the proper au
r thorities, &C., as usual.
ANEW FLAG.-A large flag recently ordered
, from New York by the National Republican
Association of this city, was yesterday waving
from the top of the Wigwam.
NORTHERN LIBERTIES MARKET.-There was
: very large attendance at this market yester
day morning, and the greatest abundance o
good things there for sale. The prices were
pretty much the same as given in our schedule
of yesterday.
CENTRAL GUARDHoUsE-Justice Clark ha.
5 disposed of some twenty cases of drunkenness