Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-30
UNDERTONES.

j
has thus had opportunity To see and study
about all there is on this continent worth
visiting, says that there are four and only
four genuine surprises in America, viz: YO-
semitic, Niagara, Washington, and Chicago.
Not that there are not other attractive and
really interesting places and things; but
these are the four great points of interest,
which, in their several ways. not less than
| by comparison and contrast with other ex-
| ceptiOnal features of the country, not only
| meet expectation but positively surpass all
| conception, while at the same time they will
| bear the closest analysis and the test Of pro-
| lcnged and intimate cOmpaniOnship, SO to
| speak: And not the least among the four, in
| extent and charm of surprise, he ranks
"aShingtOn,-whiCh, he does not hesitate TO
say, he regards as the most delightful place
Of residence, all things considered, that he
| has ever seen. The same thoughts have
| doubtless occurred in some form or other to
| most cultivated and appreciative travellers,
| who have had opportunity to judge, but il
may be questioned whether they have ever
| been so tersely and felicitOusly expressed.
x*x
The election of fex-President Johnson to the
| Senate has called out wide comment from
the press, and nearly as diverse as it is gene
raj. But this Is quite natural. Mr.. John
son is bundle of contradictions, or as Mr..
Emerson would probably phrase it, a many
sided man; and each one thinks or speaks of
him according to the view he may get, or,
possibly, according to his own preiudiceS.
Mr.. Johnson has his shortcomings and weak
points, as who has not? but there are three
sterling qualities that even his enemies CON
cede TO him without stint. These are: 1St,
absolute Independence; ID, uIimpeachable
honesty and personal integrity; Sd, undoubted
patriotism. These elements OF ofcharacter will
OVeT-balance great many minor defects,
and man who possesses them in as prOmi-
nent degree as does Mr.. Johnson cannot on
the whole be otherwise than a valuable public
servant, no matter how hopeless a minority
he may be in.
wv
81 told the rose thy naIne-it blushed and stirred;
cried thy name aloud-and 10 the bird
Burst into song within the thick -leayed tree.
II spake il when the morn gray and cold
spakc II III the night-the clouds hat rolled
Above dispersed; the stars came one BY one.
SHOULD any whisper it when on my face
ne blacK tarth lles, calm sleeping underground,
Ana that my lips would tremble at the sound
And if before the gates of heaven came,
And could for mine own worth no entrance win,
think that then, if should name thy name,
The eternal doors would swing and let me in.
Rev. DR.. Chaplin says of Lincoln's statue
that "nOne needed it less; none deserved il
more" This explains things. II shows the
theory upon which the statue-builders have
been working all the while. Only, unfortu-
nately, they proceeded cOntrariwiSe from the
way they ought. They have supplied ac-
cording TO the great mans needs Instead of
his deserts. But, as often happens in such
cases. they " builded wiser than they knew
MI Lincoln Recied nothing, and he has 90,
nothing.
ny
Theatrically considered, the week has been
rather dull. This has been due TO several
causes, among which may be named a large
number of very attractive private entertain
ments, the change in the management OF the
National, and an unusually inclement spell
OF weather. At Ford's Mr.. Pope treated his
audiences TO some remarkably fine acting,
and really deserved much larger audiences
than he drew, though he would doubtless
have done better in this respect but for tn
social and elemental hindrances above re
ferred to. In the character of "Sa mSon'
particularly,-which, by the way. is Salvini'
great role,-he appeared to excellent advan
tage, and throughout admirably realized
ones conception of the great delivefer of Is
Tael, both IN physique and Interpretation.
The dTamatizatiOn is Salvini'S, translated
for Mr.: Pope by Mr.. HOwells, the editor O
the Atldrfic, whose familiarity with the ItaI-
ian enabled him to preserve both the fiae die
ton and majestic spirit of the original
Ehlch were In turn most admirably rendered
things are yet in a somewhat unsettled state
owing not less to the disruption of the stock
company than to the change of manage
menL 1t is not doubted, however, that Mr.
Barton S experience and good standing in the
profession will soon enable him to bring order
out OF chaos, and present TO the public y Sc
rieS OF entel tainments in every way worthy
the most liberal patronage What |
has heretofore been known as MetropoIitan
Han has at last got out of the hands of the
dlsreputable gang that have held possession |
oi III Tor a long time past, and will be opened |
In q lew days greatly improved, both In an
pearance and character, as place of light |
amusement, under the name of the Avenue
Theater. 1t is intended by the new proprie- |
tor that il shall be place where lovers of |
variety entertainments of the better class |
and free from Objectionable features, can
spend pleasant hour or two at a reasonable |
price,
or the eighty-eight counties in Ohio, only
eight are without a railroad. This is what
helps vastly toward making great state
as Ohio is.
1t would be a pity if Congress should |
adjourn without passing the bill introduced |
the other day to change the names of, or |
rather TO give proper names to, certain streets |
In WashingtOn,-for a person or thing DOS
SesSed OF only an initial letter can hardly be |
said to have name. The measure is one to |
which not single valid objection can be |
made, while it has many and substantial
reasons in its favor. Among these it may be |
said that, 1st, it retains all the advantages of |
the present alphabetical system, which are |
valuable and obvious; ID, it interweaves and |
associates with every day life at the national |
capital the history and historical personages
of the country; 3D. it gives to each street |
affected by it distinctive, easiIy-remem- |
bered and appropriate name, thus doing away |
with all possibility of that confusion and |
WHICH now arise so ire /
quently from the similarity of sound in the |
pronunciation of certain letters of the alpha
bet. These are by no means all the consid-
eiatlons TO be urged in support of the project,
but they should be sufficient to commend il |
10 the favor of Congressman, as they do to |
that of all citizens who have given the matter |
any thought.
#&#
1t is pleasant TO know that measures have
been set on foot looking to the organization |
of an association for the promotion of art in |
Washington. In times gone by such an Or |
ganiZation hourished here, with good results |
and IL is not to be doubted that great good |
would be accomplished through the influence |
and efforts of similar association at the |
present time. There are enough artists now |
living here to make up, together with the |
more active and enthusiastic lovers and |
patrons of art, quite society; and there are |
talent and social qualities enough among |
them TO make its meetings not only bene-
1cial in their effects but pleasant and at |
tractive in themselves. There is no place in |
the country so well adapted. for a variety of |
reasons, for its art center as Washington
and 1t would be largely the mission as well |
as the natural effect of such an association |
to make that fact manifest to the public. |
both here and elsewhere.
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