New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-16
WHAT MULLETT .AGAIN1

the new ADMINISTRATORS tlust youiS p"o
yigorous-it is whispered to us from Washing
ton that Mullett turks in the bush. TO coun-
try that, after long tossing on tempestuOus
seas has but just reached haven OF repOse reap
pears now Mullett with his costly scaling ladder
and fatal derrick. 1t is Mulctt's desire to DE
reappointed to the Office of Supervising Archi-
tect. which he once so industriOusly and fear
fully and wonderfully filled. Nor desires
alone: he expects, is confident of it, talks OF
it already as his own. Mullett, 1t will be re-
membered by all students of Govern
ment art and profane literature, at one
time labored under the impression that
the Office of Supervising Architect, when
he held, included in its functions the super
vision of the whole Government. Having iiad
limitations put upon him, he damned the whole
scheme of popular government from pr0toplasm
I'D TO the Fifteenth Amendment, resigned his
place left the country to look out for itself,
and skipped into foreign lands with very
broad streak of azure behind him. lie lett the
country pitted all over with the pnstuies OF
his extraordinary architecture, undeyeiopeo'
raw and CHASTITY while a vast system OF der
ricks waved cracking adieus with their rusty
booms from the unfinished monuments OF his
genius. How long foreign lands reJolced III
his smile we know not, but one morning few
months later Washington woke up with start,
and men SAID, EITHER. the late COnfederacy
4" has come into town in body and begun taking
iron clad Oaths in multitudinOus concert, or
"Mulett Is got back" 1t was Mullett, with
several new orders of architecture and an en-
larged vocabulary He had returned with
great and Astounding willingness in his heart
to offer his new requirements to the Govern
ment. He now waits the opportunity to give
the world some extraordinary novelties in art
in the shape of Post Office Renaissance and
CustOm-hOusc Gothic.
Upon the resignation of Supervising Archl-
tect Potter, Mullett proffcred his services to
the Government. Many Senators and MEM
bers of Congress signed at his request pc
tition to Secretary Morrill, for his appointment.
The adhesive powers of Mr. Mullett are such
that it is now believed in Washington that he
could get signatures Of Congressman to any
thlng-sOme say even to a temperance pledge.
He Ovcrhangs his victim like one Of his own
stupendous dcrricks until he fairly HOSTS out
his signature like block of contract granite
from one of Gen. Buffers quarries. His boast
now is that the present Secretary OF the Treas
ury, Mr.. Sherman, when Senator, signed the
petition to Secretary Morrill, for his appoint
ment. Upon this he bases his assurance OF
success And so it happens that, in the midst
of the general joy at the opening of
new era of reform in the civil service,
Mulett bustles confidently in with his
derrick 1t is to be hoped that Secretary
Sherman will have in this matter some little
| or "A
consistent regard for the policy of the Admin
stration. There is distinction between sign
ing petitions and making appointments which
it would be well to point out to Mr.. Mullett;
and he might at the same time be informed
| that several appointments We're made under
the last Administration upon the recommends
ton of Senators and Congressman which
the latter would not under present circum-
stances, either make or advise. Mr. Mulett's
| is one such. To begin policy of economy
| and reform, with the rcintroduction of Mulett
| and his system of derricks and appropriations
| for the " decstricts," would be the very climax
| of absurdity; too dismal joke to laugh at.
| We should as soon think of making a short
hand report of his daily conversation for the
use of Sunday schools.
| The face Of the whole continent aches to-
d y with the things this man has blistered it
with. 1t wrinkles with neuralgia earthquake
at the bare thought of his recall He has not
| only scarifed the face of nature with his gran
| tie denominations and lifted up throughout the
country series of brick and mortar night
mares that Out-hOwl the wilderness with
hideOusness but he has sapped and
tapped and mined and undermined the
Treasury to do it. Wherever he has begun
building he has established raw. Once he
gets a derrick up, the Treasury is tapped and
sucker put on. Appropriation follows ap-
preparation and abOminatiOn abOmnation with
out cessation and without end Congresses
may come and Congresses may co. but the APP
preparations for Muett's buildings flow On
forever. The country can't stand it, nor can
Congress nor the Treasury. Mr.. Mullett has
set enough of Gen. Buffers quaIries
on end in architectural chaos already
Let us have rest from it. 1t
promotes in the minds of men an unnatural
longing for the more rapid fight of time and
swifter progress of decay, in order that they
may see these extraordinary erections clothed
upon with at least one charm, the picturesque
ness of old ruins. We are too young for ruins
but Mullett makes us long for them with in
suitable desire There is a universal feeling
| that this is time when even if
we wanted Mullett we ought to fore
20 him. That lie has his uses we
are well aware. In the pursuit of his art lie
has done much to embelhsh the structure of
the mother tongue. When Schlegel described
architecture as " frozen music" he had never
seen Mulet in a January thaw. When in
| that condition he never lets drop the most
common "cu5s word" without the adorn-