Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-04-15
CAPITAL CURRENTS.
The House Elephant. self Consti-
tuted Martyrs. "A Centennial Jul
blee.---The Season and The Wea-
From Or 0lrn Correspondent
WAsHINGToS, April 10, 1916.
KILBDURNE

KILBOURNE.
This recusant and contumacious witness who
was JAILED by order Of the House has, up to
few days since, been enjoying himself Immense
liz while in durance vile Being a prisoner of
the august national lawmakers, be was treated
rs became distinguished captive aud was as
signed especial quarters by the courteous war
den. Not content with this. Recusancy has
been giving full bent to his wonderful appe-
lite. ordering each day the meals be was wont
10 order at Welckers and WOrmley before his
aud charging the same. with an
effrontery as delicious as were the menus, TO
his honorable captors. Thus, before kilbourn
had been in ili two weeks he had eaten near
" FIVE hundred dollars worth Of sumptuous
viands. washed down, Of course, with Held
sick 5 best. This thing might have gone en-
the obstinate captive was ell
! wing comfortable rooms, Inc board, and an
enviabe notoriety lin other words, advertising
free. gratis, for nothing. lie had no cares on
his mind, his partner running their real estate
office ad interim, aud his daily life was alto
gether an exceedingly pleasant enc. But you
see, these peepinS, peerlng newspapers had TO
get wind os The whole matter, and after the
facts were published, Of course it was all up
with poor kilbourne. Al order issued by the
House limits the daily cost Of the foot ;arnish-
ed him TO one bundled - cents, and The Great
American Eater, as the Star facetiously terms
him will have to either sacrifice his epicurean
tastes OF his stubbornncsS; one or the other has
70 60. Before this strategic move Of the
House, it was thought to have had a big ele-
II "a hf,f al
will pretty soon fetch the aforesaid ponderous
biped. To quote our twiuklinS lesser orb OF
evening, they THE House, "haye concluded
that the only way 10 get rid Of their elephant
is TO starve him to death for dollars worth
of ratious per diem for an elephant of the Xii
bournian capacity is simply starvation
Freund, would probably supply for that sum
a smell at spring chicken, half smell at
strawberry, distant view Of plate of toma-
toes, six OF eight peas, and cold potato
This will certainly do the business for poor
Kilbourne. lie viii have 10 60"
SELF CONSTITUTED MARTYRS.
By this brilliant title your correspondent
means TO designate those furoughed employees
Of the Engraving and Printing Bureau Of tie
Treasury. There was no appropriation to
carry on the work in this division OF the de-
partment, and therefore the employees, or a
portion Of them, were furl0ughed-that Is,
they were given leisure and their pay stopped,
but they were not discharged. Nevertheless,
a perfect howl has arisen from these uniortu-
mates. The majority of them-so they reason
have families dependent on them, and who
must starve during the Through Well, and
what if they have? They should have antici-
pated such possible emergencies as this by
saving money while in employ. The govern
meut, doubtless, is very sorry for the distress
it has uuwittinsly occasioued, but Uncle Sam
did not contract with each Of these employees
to keep them in profitable position all the
days Of their lives. Ia this light will be seen
how preposterous are the howlings Of these
aggrieved ones And yet their martyr-tones
have excited a false sympathy FOR them n the
city. Private contributions, department levieS
theatrical beneits-all are rolling in immense
sums f,r the support Of these much injured in-
nocents
4 CENTENNIAL JUBILEE.
This is the latest suggested title for hia
musical festival TO be held here during the
Centennial. The Washington Chronicle first
set the ball in motion, and only week ago
too. but other newspapers, and some private
parties have taken hold Of it so the project
babes fair 10 come 10 ripe iruitiOn. ALI
though on tue plan Of Jubilee Gilmore music
smashes DO not think that that fraud is 10
participate. They want 10 get a chorus Of one
thousand voices. and arc thinking Of increas-
ing the Marine Band Tor the occasion, 10 one
hundred members. These, and other bright
ideas are floating around aneut the subject, Of
which more will BE said next week.
TUE SEASON
Yesterday, Palm Sunday, iuaucurated the
las; week Of Lent. In all the Episcopal and
Catholic churches, impressive services were
held. he Right Reverend Vim. Pinc6ucy,
assistant Bishop Of the p L. Church for the
Diocese Of Maryland, administered the rite Of
confirmation 10 a large number Of candidates
both at Grace Church South Washington and
the Epiphany Ia the former congregation
am glad to notice a spirit Of pety and rever-
eucc seldom found in larger churches. Rev
Or. Holmead, rector Of Grace church, is yeu
cradle divine, seemingly too delicate for his
miuistra;ivus; butlhe gray-haired servant Of
God continues tie guardianship Of his small
flock. His sermons are marveS of noble
thought, chaste language and, at times, clo-
qlcnce approaching the sublime.
AND THE WEATHER,
What can he said OF it? After treating us to
a long period Of wind and drenchng rain t.
wards the end Of March iu order, suppose,
TO give tina, bothersome clustering fellow
last chance to air his powers Old Perhaps is
now spreading over the nations capital some
weather which, for blue skies, balmy Gtnos-
pbcre, ETHEREAL miIducss and all that sort Of
thing is certainly hard TO oeat.
POST SC-lPT.
intended speaking Of an O'Briens Circus
which, much'y advertised, pulled and other
wise heralIed, set up its tents on the space at
9th and S streets, n. w., this morning -
and Of It's Wanted street procession two miles in
length, one hour passing given point, the
gold chariot etc, etc, but which turned out,
as usual, to be the same old thing "a Stupend-
GUS fraud and Of the lines on lines Of gaping
men aud women, not to speak of children,
tbrougng the path Of the hUmbug and gaping
at il aud of the Singularly suggestive feature
ia the circus ad +" which contains, among
other cuts that Of tigers wiae-open jaws,
and right bove it =" only % cents admission!
o aud lclow the pretty picture To
the Entire Show" say, meant to ell your
readers Of all these things but, come TO think
Of it, won't. JEAN SANDS.