National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-21
y nm U aug usT.
4, Brevet MAJOR General,
Commanding expedition,
HEHLND TIE SCENES.

A REAR VIEW OF WHAT WE LIVE IN.
Take out the Washington Monument and It is
difficult to ind grandor sight among the works
Of the fallen seeds Of Adam than the back side Of
q house, no matter what house. 1t may be the
gorgeous mansion Of 9 bIear-eyed and bloated
bOndholder, or the humble cottage OF some poor
labOrer still the same appearance, Increasing and
diminishing according TO the nature OF the Gtruc-
ture, is there. Both seem to have that in their
general makeup which is patent to attrsssthe
our inteTsscting alleys and note as you hurry by
the dilapldation and confusion which Is attendant
upon the rear portion Of every dwelling upon the
line OF march. For length, breadth, depth and
general solidity Of shiftlessness and neglect the
back yards Of our city houses are perfect models.
Some Of the windows In the upper stories have
Iamesthing, being adorned with the Web-Woven
homes Of lndnlsnt spiders, and perhaps covered
Riekety blinds, half fastened on, may be seen
here and there dangling from their places, never
distuEbe9 IRON week to week save by the dashlnR
and beating force Of the elements.
The frEt Ihoor is border6d O. the exterior By a
meanly-eonstrueted porch and on this little plat
form form q G6WSsd nfdeh Of tine Jgbbisb ed q.
s sh 81 'RS op RE'6 5 SsSh9I 70
anee t9 EeighborS, who are doing the very same
tlLs on the opposite side Of the alley, but at the
same time complaining Of the neglect and shift
whose fronts are models Of neatness and beauty
oftentipes display rear which is neither re-
yards where cats refused to fight, owing to the
uncertainty Of the ground upon which they stood.
4 cats f92thold il hand to-hand struggle counts
greatly ID the result Of the night, and no cat Of
Respectable ancestry and training will allow her.
self to fight in back yard where she hasn't room
to get on her own back while her SatESonist is
sPEiogiGg q her with ca igp'hl6g holes Il her
dsm9iIShsq furniture and GnemBloyed Whselbar:
roWF. They had rather dispute on o shed roof
any time than run the risk, and what careful beast
Inc rhnwn "a AVnn nferhN v,,Ts
tial, residence standing on Now York avenue,
whose front exterior Is faultless.
The face Of the building is neat aAd clearly.
The broad and massive French roof presents q
picture Of strength and beauty, which nothing
but view Of the back poTtios 'ef the structure
can destroy. Fountains playing in the pleasant
park through which one passes In reaching the
marble steps which lead 70 the front entrance be-
speak for the place elegance, wealth and artistic
taste. A sight at the back yard Of these premises
Will reverse this opinion, however, so quick and
completely that for 8 few moments you won't be
willing to tIust your own mind. 1t appears at
the lTst glance like Q neglected junk shop out Of
employment. Everything is in the utmost con
fusion. That which might, by proper care and
attention, be made delightful spot, resembles o
everything in reach because the proprietor won't
come down from the top shelf and wait on him.
Old chairs, broken crOckery, pieces Of carpet,
vines, shabby porehes dIlhpIdaled fence, spider
webs In prO.usiOn, And several more hanging
from this cornces and stretching aerosS 10 the
next roof in search Of fly meat.
Ali this Is but an outline Of the rubbish which
lies scattered about that yard, thrusting It's dingy
and unhealthlul presence beneath the back Hi1-
dow Of a dozen homes which overlook the place
But at the same time the Inhabitants Of these
same homes have no moral right to complain,
for by inspection they were found in nearly the
same Condition making that a dismal dArksome,
disease bree ding hole, which otherwise might
have been a place Of pleasant resort and whole
some in all It's conditions. A reform in the sys-
ten now generally employed in carrying on back
yards is greatly needed both for It's sanitary re-
suits and the magnetic and moral influence It
will have on cat fghtL