Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-24

THE EVENING STAR.
WASHIN TON
TUESDAY ...............E aeuary -. 1852.
CROSBY 5. MOVES ..........Ed Editor.
The Evening star has n reguinr. permanent.
bonn fide daiiv circulation more than treble
that OF any other daily paper published in
Washington. and earni that all the
other d. papers here added together.
THE STAR office is connected with the Telephone Ex-
change AdserseT1ents orders for the by mail
and otherwise. news. information or business
can he sent day or night. free OF charge
II the press correctly reflects the public senti-
ment Of the country, then ii is decidedly opposed
tn senator Logans bill for restoration OF the
ankins privilege, or indeed. tn any other bill OF
akindred nature II is urged In behalf OF the bill
that members OF Congress are Overwhelmed with
the correspondence of their constituents, and that
the one item OF postage upon replies, on the part
OF the member, to al thesa letters make big hole
In his yearly pay. There can be no doubt OF the
truth OF this proposition. Not only the correspond
ence, but the I1borS OF members OF Congress have
Increased enormously since the rebellion. The
man who has pension CT IiIn writes to the men,
Der from his district or one OF the Senators from
his state for information, and he often requests
the VI. &. to t1bH entire charge OF thH matter. In
thousands OF eases the letter 10 the Congressman
Is more IN the nature OF q demand than request
This custom has grown up through the teachings
OF men anxious to get to Congress that they
willing to sacriiie the dignity Of the position
TO win it. Where one member from "a District has
made 70 a rule to attend To all the business Of his
constituents at the National Capital, his success
sorS find that they are compelled to follow the
custom. And In this way it has grown and ex-
tended all over the country. There Is not men,
Der OF either house or Congress, to-day, who
alone and unaiIed, could keep up with his cores
pOndence, unless he neglected his duties. IL has
been suggested that congressman could reduce
their postage bills by adopting the rule, common
ia commercial circles: Answer NJ letters Involving
matters of personal interest to the writer, unless
astamp for the reply is enclosed. The Represent
alive or Senator who should make and enforce this
rule would be likely To put early end TO his pub
lie career. Every constituent, in writing to the
Representative or Senator. has in mind only his
own business and interests He does not take into
consideration the fact that thousands OF others
are calling upon the same Representative or Sana-
tor for similar attention, and that they too are de-
pending upon the NC. to pay the postage on the
answers 10 these letters. Every one would, with
a mini fixed only on his individual affairs, vote
the Nc. mean penuriOus chap If he failed to re-
ply in due time, and whenever the time for his re-
election rolled round, these votes would probably
defeat him
All this IS hard upon the Congressman; but at
the same time the abuses of the Thanking privilege
were so enormous when it was in use that the
public viii not readily consent to its restoration.
The lecture Of Mr. Oscar Wilde at Lincoln Hall
last evening brought out large audience. Those
who went from motives OF curiosity were doubtless
satisfied, but those who hoped to learn anything
must have been greatly disappointed. That there
something In what is called the eSthptic move
ment in England Is manifest to those who watch
the current OF events; but Mr.. Wide does not appear
to be capable of understanding its meaning or
expressing its purpose. He seems to- be in the
attitude OF an idle street boy who, seeing some
what attractive procession going by, falls In with
the crowd gathered about the band and imagineS
himself both the attraction and the directing
force. So far as his ideas can be understood, Mr.
Wiide's panacea for everything is ''iOye of the
beautiful and 'return to classic forms,''
and his vague and intangible method of car
lying out reform seems TO be In posing
before little cligueS OF people as shallow
as he, Who celebrate him and themselves by pre-
tending tt understand and admire his puerilitie5-
As a lecturer or teacher he Is not worth consider
Ing He has little or nothing worth saying, ahd
what he says is poorly said. In brief, it is evil
dent that Mr.. Wilde is young person who is
trying to turn into dollars this side OF the At
lantf; the rather undesirable but well-deserved
Eotoriety which he and his weak minded followers
have gained at home. and who is willing to adopt
an absurd and inc0ngruous style Of dress as an
advertisement TO attract attention and further the
money-yetting crusade which he carries on un der
The disguise OF inaugurating a reform. He has
no mission which juStiiies visit To this country,
and it is quite safe 10 say that he will never have
call 10 deliver his S0-called lecture second time
In the same city.