davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22
The Mount Vernon Place Park.
To the Editor of TIE EVENING STAR.
Il nhset1n that roroIntio., hos boor ir,i =,


| observe that resolution has been intro
dueed into the Senate inquiring by what
authority the Commissioners have obsh,sctezf
New York and Massachusetts avenues by taking
up roadways through the Mount Vernon Place
Park. Why this much-needed Improvement
stand Does it obstruct Massachusetts, avenue
any more than Thomas Circle, or P-street Cir
Gle?
SO far as my observation extends no improve
nent made by the Commissioners has been more
sensible or necessary than this one public
park is greatly needed in that vicinity but under
the old arrangement Mount Vernon Place was
so cut up by roadways as to be practically worth
less as such 1t was very unsafe place for
children. who were constantly exposed to the
danger OF being run over. Moreover the
numerous roads passing through it made it very
hot and dsagreeable during the summer months
Just at the time when ii was most needed as
resort for the multitudes of young children in
that neighborhOOd Many mothers will certainly
bless the Commissioners for their timely and
benel1cent action, whereby they will he enabled
to improve the health and comfort of their little
ones
But. aside from considerations of public health
and comfort, the change made by the Com
niissnners certainly adds vastly to the beauty of
me city. The PARK will from the beginning be
the most attractive ard frequented of any in the
city. 1t will be grateful resting place for per-
sons passing it in shopping excursions up and
down 9Th street. 1t will become emphatically
the peoples park. When the Improvement is
completed. its beauty and utility will be so man
lest that the wisdom of the Commissioners will
be universally commended EP.S.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22

A Coal NINE on FIRE-Stanton colery. one
Of the largest cOefies i'm the Mahanoy Pa,
region. has been on fire i'm Breast No. since
last Thursday. The fire was started by an ex-
plosion of gas. while the men were at work
On Saturday il was noticed that loose coal and
refuse lying on the breast had ignited and was
burning fiercely. Work was suspended at once
and steps taken to quench the flames. On
Tuesday Nine Inspectors Gay of Pottsville and
Mauchlin. of Shenandoah. visited the colery.
Stanton colliery is owned and operated by Mil
Ter. Hoch Co, and has shipping capacity Of
over 100 cars per day. Between 800 and 400
men and bows will be thrown out OF employ
ment until the fire is subdued.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22
Affairs i'm West WASHINGTON.

SALE OF THE OLD FOUNDRY DuyalIs
foundry property, purchased sometime ago by
Mrs. Boise, has been recently purchased by Mr..
Moves, the well-knOwn Washington machnist.
LODGE Observation-Disclosures Lodge No s. r.
A. A. NJ. elected Monday night the following
officers Jesse Birch. W. NJ: NJ J. Adler. S. w.
J. b. Thomas. ]. W.; c. +. Shekell, secretary:
W. NOrdlnger. treasurer
THE GRAIN TRADE.-SiN thousand bushels of
wheat sold yesterday at prices ranging from
81 35 to S1.4415.
The Coal TR.DE.-But four boats left Cum.
berland Tuesday with 467. Is tons of COAL as fol-
lows For GeOr9etown-COnsoida Co. ,2i2 Is
tons: Maryland Co., 110.16 tons Blaen Avon
Co, 114.Ol tons.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22
one Hundred and Twenty Five ThoUs-
and Dollars Ss0ten.

NEWARKS CITY AUDITOR CONFESSES TO HAv-
| ING LOST THAT AMOUNT OF THE CfTYs MONEY
IN STOCK SPECCLATION-HE VOLUNTARILY
GOES TO JAIL.
! From the n. Y. Sun of to-day.
Yesterday morning Frederick A. Palmer city
auditor of Newark. confessed that he had en-
bezzled S125.C0O of the citys funds. He went
to jail voluntarily. Two or three days after the
failure of the Mechanics National bank Mayor
Fielder proposed to the common council that in
view of certain disquieting rumors it would be
well to have al examination made of the books
! of the city. When called upon to mention the
rumOrs to which he referred, he said he had
no charges to make against any employe Of the
| city.
j. Walden. an expert accountant of this CITY.
has been examining the city's accounts for
month. and has just got through with the books
of 1870. For several days it had been reported
that defalcatiOn by Auditor Palmer would be
discovered. Palmer has been nervous and mo-
rose. and for some time he has been drinking
| liquor to excess. 1t was observed that he be-
came more and more melancholy, and during
the last few days his intOXication was noted by
many visitors to the city hall. STILL the painful
rumOrs about him were vehemently denied by
his brother officials.
Palmer went to his Office at $50 O'Clock YES
terday morning. His assistant. Leon Dickerson.
! observed nothing unusual i'm his manner. At 10
O'Clock he left the desk where he had been
writing and passed out into the hall. Meeting
| friend who had just lost child by death. ne
stopped and expressed sympathy Tor him. He
then went out Of the building. An hour later
Lawyer Frank Alien assembled the steps, He
met city Clerk Sutphen at the top. and handed
him communication addressed to the finance
committee. The envelope being unsealed Mr.
Sutphen read the following
CITY AUDITORS OFFICE, Dec. q, 1881.
have embeZZled large amounts OF city funds I
have surrendered myself into the hands of the OFF,
GERS OF the law, and am now lodged I'm the county
Jail. These frauds We're commit ted mainly i'm the
years 1873, 1880, and 1881, and amount to sum
probably OF S125.0O. That the ends OF justice may
be speedily reached, hope Tor the immediate
animation OF these years; that with the aid OF my
Office assistant enough items may be found to
cure my sentence. desire to say very emphatical-
ly that these frauds have been committed without
the aid. knowledge, connivance, or assistance OF
any person whatever 1t is useless for To speak
or my ruined life. OF the stain on all who know or
care Tor me. 1 expect only exact justice, but ask
that il may soon be reached +. Ii. PALMER
To Mayor Fielder Mr.. Alden delivered another
letter. 1t was Palmers resignation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22

ARREST OF DEPICABLE CONsPIRATORs-A
telegram from New York. December 81.
says: Detective Edward I. Williams and Fred
erick Lewis, merchant. who were arrested
last night for conspring to entrap Simon Uhl-
man. the Broad street hop merchant, into an
indiscretion. SO that the latters wife might pro-
cure divorce from him, were arranged in the
general sessions court to-day. and gave bail in
$500 each to await trial. This afternoon the
police arrested Thomas p. Jones. the third of
the alleged conspiratOrs. Inspector Byrnes
states that he is under indictment i'm Canada for
kidnapping man there some years ago. Jones
is a private detective.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22

IL THE suit of George Flagg and others against
the Manhattan Railway company, the Metro
Doltan Elevated Railway company and the
New York Elevated Railroad company, I'm the
United States circuit court i'm New York. Judge
Blatchford yesterday rendered q decision deny
ing the motion of the plaintiffs for an injunc-
ton restraining the companies from consoli-
dating
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22

SENTENCE FOR ELECTION FRAuDs-The trial
of David Mouat for election irregularities in
Philadelphia. which suddenly collapsed on Mon
day through the discovery of an interloper on
the jury who was personating regularly sub
p6fnaed juryman, was recommended yesterday.
The prisoner then pleaded guilty and was con-
yicted and sentenced to two years imprison-
ment and to pay the costs and fine of 81 600.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22

Mr.. POWELL, Mp, PROBABLY DROWNED AT
SEA.-A broken thermometer from the balloon
IN which Mr.. Powell assembled on the 10th inst has
been found at Weymouth. on the Dorsetshre
coast. England. This circumstance confirms the
belief that Mr.. Powell has been diOwned at
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22

WHAT IT COsT HER TO MARRY.-The London
Truth says: = +" Although Baroness Burdett-
Coutts has resigned the property in dispute in
sister two-ffths of the income from the bank
fund for life. Her income, however, is reduced
by 175,U00 year."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22
District Government Affairs.

The special assessment division has COM
pleted assessments against alleys in square 7G0
Superintendent Caswell has made requsitiOn
for 49, tons of coal and 30 cords of wood for the
use of the Washington asylum.
ANSWER TO A SENATE RESOLUTION.
The commissioners have addressed a letter to
Hon. David Davis. President pro tempOre of the
Senate stating. that in obedience to the resO-
luton OF that body of December 20, 1881. in
StructIng them to report to the Senate the rea-
sons for Obstructing the New York and MasSa-
chuSetts avenues at their intersection between
9Th and 9th streets. and also the amount of eX-
pense incurred and to be incurred by reason of
the enclosure and regarding Of the grounds
and under what authority of law said work has
been done. they state that the work has not
been done by their authority. and that no ex-
pense has been incurred by the District by rea-
son of this Improvement. They add that they
are informed that this work has been done
under authority of officers of the United States.
THERE Is MUCH DISSATISFACTION
among the employees of the District Govern
ment at the refusal of the Treasury officials to
audit the pay-rolls for December in case pay
ment is made a few days in advance of the ex-
pration of the month. They say that the Dis
trict has collected more than a million dollars
of taxes from the people just before the holidays
and the merchants and all classes of the people
are entitled to the benefits of such dstribu-
ton OF money as comes through the salaries of
District and government employees. 1t has
always been customary for all clerks and EN-
piOyeS OF both the general and local govern
menfs TO receive their pay before the holidays
until the present season.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22

The FIRST TRIAL. on A CHARGE OF VIOLATING
THE PLUMBING REGCLATIONS.-The first case for
violating the new plumbing regulations made
by the District Commissioners. by virtue of an
act OF Congress last January. Was tried in the
Police Court to-day. Robert Burris, colored. was
charged by Inspector of Plumbing Samuel A.
Robinson. with violating the regulations by
putting a soil pipe in house No. 1916 18th street.
and falling to properly ventate the pipe and
falling to lay it in concrete. and also with en-
gazing in the business of plumber and failing to
be registered and bonded in the Office of the in
spector of plumbing. Mr.. Robinson testified
that the defendant was not registered OF bonded
in his office and that the work done at the above
named house was done in a very unworkman-
like manner. and in violation of the regulations
governing such work. The defendant stated
that he got permit and did the work according
to the old rules. and did not know anything
neutrality-suspicious.. The court remarked that as
this Is the first case prosecuted under the new
regulations he thought il wonld be advisable to
impose fine of SO. and suspend execution Of
sentence. The court also remarked that as this
law was not printed in any statutes it would be
advisable for the authorities to give plumbers
copies Of the regulations when they call for per-
mitS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22
Anl.sSenaents. &C.

FORD's OPERA HOUsE.-F. c. Burnand's latest
comedy. The Colonel whchis still enjoying a run
IN London. will be presented at Ford's Opera
House next week in good style. OF its produc-
ton in Boston. it is said that the audience. one
of the largest and most brilliant of the season.
was so well pleased that they called the princi-
pals out after each act. and gave them good
measures OF applause during the progress of the
piece.
NATIONAL. THEATER.-LOtta appeared last
night in her new play. Bob. 1t was success
Boo affords Lolita full opportunity for her
peculiar&nd popular style.
HE ROYAL HAND BELL. RINGERS and gleemen
OF London, will be in Washington soon. Their
entertainment is unique and very pleasing.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22

DISMISSED WITH A CAUTIoN.-Frank Curran
and Michael Walsh, two well-dressed young
white men. were charged in the Police Court
yesterday afternoon with being suspicious per-
sons. policeman testified to seeing them fol-
lowing crowds up and down 7th street yesterday
and acting very much like pickpockets; that
their characters are bad. and that Curran has
Just served six months in jail for pocket-p picking
The court told the prisoners that there was not
strong case against them this time and advised
them to keep Off 9TH street and the avenue
during Christmas times and avoid getting into
crowds. as their characters were bad and their
following crowd was as significant as to see a
hawk after chickens. and it would be advisable
for them to let other peoples pockets alone. for
II they came before the court again they would
get the extent of the law Some suspicious
looking keys. which the policeman called skele-
ton Keys. We're returned to them and they We're
dismissed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22

RUIZ 0N THE: DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS re
Macarthur yesterday. in the case of Esther \.
keySe-. ordered "A rule on the District Commits
soners 20 issue returnablc on the 3lst inst. for
them TO show cause why mandamus should
not issue against them 10 compel them to re-
hIAd to the petitioner the moneys paid on ac-
count Of sale and for taxes on lot s. square S1s.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22

THE WASHINGTON MARKET CAsE.-The case
Of Daley and others i'm behalf of themselves and
other stall holders in the Washington Market
against the Washington Market Company is still
pending. and it is understood that it has been
agreed that the preliminary injunction granted
solne time since against the sale of the stalls
shall stand until March next. The market COM
pany have filed their answer to the bill and the
plaintiffs exceptions thereto. and an argument
Oil the exceptions NAV take place shortly
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22
Hon. Georye Hiss. sf New York. Pre-.
pairing To Secure Their indie tsneut on
Srsnainst Shargcs-Civsi Sutts so Be
Thought 4 gaiast Them al>o.

The following correspondence has been fur
nished for publication:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22

Mr.. NllltS chairman; MeSSrS McCOld, NOrcrOSS,
Neal, Singleton Miss. }, BlOunt and Bragg.
On Expenditures on the Public Buildings
Mr.. Errett, chairman; Messrs Robinson (Ohio),
Houk, GrOtt, Wise (Pa. J. Garrison and Latham.
On the Rules-The Speaker. chairman; Messrs.
Orth. Robson, Randall and Blackburn.
On Accounts-Mr. Urner, chairman; Messrs.
Skinner, Brewer, Gambler, Martin, Hardy and
HOge.
On Mi,eage-Mr. Jorgensen. chairman; Messrs.
Rich Ward Cobb and Moulton.
JOINT COMMITTEES.
On Library-Mr. McCOok, chairman; Messrs.
Lindsey and Geddes.
On Prnting-Mr. Van Horn, chairman; Messrs.
Mcclure and Springer.
On Enrolled Bills-Mr Aldrich chairman;
Messrs. Pierce. West, Shalleaberger, kenna,
Warner and Belmont.
On Additional Accommodations for Congress
sional Library-Mr. Rice Mass chairman;
Messrs. Farweli QlL), Humphrey, Geddes and
Gibson.
SELECT COMMITTEES.
On Census-Mr. Prescott. chairman; Messrs.
Sherwin Tyler Bayne, Fulkerson. McCOid.
PIERCE. Cox (N.Y.). Colerick, Wise (va-) and
Tilman.
On Reform in the Civil Service-Mr Ortiz.
chairman: Messrs. kasson, Horr. Briggs. Neal,
Hubbell, Butterworth, House, Randall Tucker
and Phelps
On Law respecting Election of President and
Vice President-Mr. Updegraff Qowa) chair
man; Messrs Camp, Grape, White. Fisher.
Jacobs. Lindsey. Stephens, Morrison, Carlisle
and Hewitt {N.Y.)
On Alcoholic Liquor Traffic-Mr Wait. chair
man: Messrs. Joyce. Chace. Hepburn, Dingley,
Williams (Ala.), Atkins, Davis (alo.) and Vance
On Payment of Pensions. Bounty, and Back
PAWN. joyce, chairman: Messrs. Browne,
Lindsey, Hawk, Whitthome, Curtin ana Mos
grove.
On Public Hea!th-Mr. Van Acrnam, chair
man; Messrs. Updegra6 (Ohio), Bowman, Cub
len, Hubbs, Rosec1ans, Colerick, Aiken and
King.
The daily gazette., 1881-03-22
THE ENGLISH LAND QUESTION.

Mr.. Edward Atkinson, in the pre-
face to recent pamphlet, gives some
rather startling figures in proof of the
impossibilty for England to escape a
speedy settlement of the land question.
1t is, in his opinion, agraver and more
urgent matter than the slavery eues-
tion was TO the United States in 1860,
and radical change in the land tenure
can scarcely be brought about without
sweeping social revolution. Accord
ing to the "New Domesday Book" of
1s74-1S75, as analysed by Mr.. Arthur
Arnold, NJ. p, out of 72, 1T, ,766 acres,
comprising the total acreage of Great
Britain, exclusive of the metropolis,
15, 303, 1856 acres, or little more than
One-tifth, are divided into 1,593 sepa,
rate landed estates, held by 525 dukes,
marquises, earls, viscounts and barons,
who together constitute the House OF
Peers-the parliamentary body, in
other words, which is radically opposed
to any reform of the land tenure.
These estates yield an annual rental of
$50, ZOO, 900. Yet these figures do not
tell the whole of the startling tale, for
special trust estates and estates of
peeresses are not included in the
Domesday Book compilation. The
sources from which many of these ti-
ties are derived are more than ques-
tionable, and the tenures are of kind
which not even the court of Burmah
would to-day venture to grant. Mr..
Arnold reaches the conclusion that
more than four-fifths of the land in
Great Britain is held by about seven
thousand persons, while at least 3d.
900, 600 acres are held by those who are
life tenants under an entail or other
settlement which prevents the sale or
distribution of the land. 1t is this
which is the grievance and the main
source of the impovenshment of the
English and Irish tenant farmers. 1t
prevents the land from being fully de-
vslorsd and thoroughly titled, and re-
duces both the rental value and the
market price of agricultural property
II is Mr.. Atkinson's opinion that the
present time, when food can be got 80
cheaply from this country, is the best
time possible for England to deal with
the land question.
The daily gazette., 1881-03-22
GENERAL LEES SWORD.
1T WAS NOT TEEpRRED TO OR DEcLIN-
ED BY GEN, GRANT.

The Richmond (Va.) Dispatch yes
terday published the following cores
pondencs in reference to controversy
as to the authenticity of the statement
in "Holmes's School History" that
'General Grant declined to receive
Gen. Lees sword" at the surrender at
Appomattox:
Buffalo Lithia Springs, Va, March
II, 19S1.-Gen. U. 8. Grant, New
York.-Sh: In o friendly discussion
between several gentlemen Of North
ern and Southern procliyities as to the
truth of history a question arose
whether General Lee at the surrender
actually rendered and you received his
sword. 1t was mutually agreed that
you should be written to for decision
There is no idle curiosity or desire for
notoriety in regard to this request, and
a reply from you would be highly ap-
preciated. Very respectfully,
j. ID. JEFFREss.
General Grant replied as follows, on
the bottom of the same sheet of pa
per:
"GeneraLBa Badeau's book, now in the
hands of the printer, will give the ex-
act truth of the matter referred TO in
this letter. There was no demand
made for Gen. Lees sword, and no
tender of it offered.
U. s. GRANT.
In reference to the above, the fol-
lowing conversation between Generals
Lee, Early and others, reported in Rev.
j. William Jones' book, entitled
"Reminiscences of Lee," may be of
special interest, and agrees with Gen.
Badeau's forthcoming account and
thus STILES the disputed point: 'Gen.
Lee laid that when he met Gen. Grant
they exchanged polite salutations and
he stated to hlm at once that he desir-
ed conference in reference to the
subject matter of their correspondence.
Gen. Grant returned your sword, did
he not, General? one of the company
asked. The old hero, Strengthening
himself up, replied in most emphatic
tones: No sir, he did not. He had no
opportunity Of doing so. l was de-
termlned that the side arms of officers
should be exempt by the terms of sur.
render, and of course l did not offer
mine. All that was said about swords
was that Gen. Grant apologized to me
for not wearing his own sword, saying
that it had gone off IN his baggage and
he had been unable to get il in time
Gen. Lee stated in this conversation
that he was accompanied when he met
Gen. Grant only by Col. Charles Mar
shall, of his personal staff, who went
with one Of Gen. Grants staff to find
a suitable room in which to hold the
conference; that they were first shown
to vacant house and declining to use
that, were conducted by Maj. Nc
Clean TO his house and shown into his
parlor. Gen. Lee then briefly stated
the terms upon which he would be
willing to surrender. Gen. Grant ex-
pressed himself as satisfied with them
and Gen. Lee requested that he would
formally reduce the propositions to
writing, which was done"
The daily gazette., 1881-03-22
A RABBI ON THE BOOK OF
ESTH Err.

Rev. S. Sale lectured at Har Sinai
Temple yesterday on The Festival
Of Purim," which was celebrated
throughout the country ON Monday
night last. He said that but little is
known of the origin of the festival
and that little seems to offer no
great occasion for rejoicing. He did
not think that the Book of Esther
contained word Of truth, and the
event which it recorded was not de-
serving of commemoration. Not
that Purim ought not to be cele-
brated, because, for all the speaker
knew, it may have had a worthy
origin; but if its celebration is to rest
upon the alleged facts as are
recounted in Esther, which account
is still read with much pomp and
display in many of the synagogues
of to-day, it was the last celebration
in the world he would like to take
part in. AS its name indicates, it is
probably of Persian, not Jewish ori-
gin. After giving a brief synopsis
of the Book of Esther, the lecturer
said it was inferior to any other book
of the Bible, especially in sentiment
and character; that there was no
true religion in it, nothing character,
lstie Of the age in which il is said to
have been written, and, in sh ort, it
appears to be a fabrication, written
for the purpose of recommending
the celebration TO the Jews. The
lecture was augurnentatiYe and very
interesting.-Bat. Sun.