Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-05-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular corresrondent,)


WASHINGTON, D. c., April 80, 1883,
It has often been said that spring is
the time to see Washington and this Is
certainly true. The city is blooming
forth like a flower garden now and
never looked more beautiful. Nor is
any other city equal to It. The capi-
tol grounds are now among the most
charming sights in Washington. The
broad slopes Of the hill on which is
placed are covered with long grass,
with violets lavishly planted amidst it.
All the squares and gardens in WASH
ington have the effec, Of natural as
well as artificial beauty. The flowers
about the capitol are not protected by
wire fences. and grim warnings Of S.
fine for treading on the grass or pluck
ing the flowers are rare. Then plants
and flowers are so plentiful that peo-
pie have come to think them necessa-
ries instead of luxuries. Ground has
been broken in Dupont circle oppo-
site Mr.. Blaine's for the statue of Ad.
miral Dupont. This corner of the
town has had some queer vicissitudes.
About ten years ago the Stewart castle
was built on Dupont circle, and was
considered the palace of Washington.
The circle was laid off, lighted with
numerous lamps and the walks con-
creted. 1t was meant to be the Bel
grave square of Washinton. Then the
Stewart castle took fire and burned all
the top off. For some years the splen-
did house was literally abandoned,
and Dupont circle became utterly des =.
olate and forlon. Then by degrees
the houses on Connecticut avenue be.
gan creeping up towards 1t, and Mr..
Blaine put his magnificent palace
down in front of it. Thereupon big
houses sprang up all around, and now
the Stewart palace is beng repaired
and restored.
One of the most interesting places
to visit in Washington now is the pro.
pagating works of the United States
fish commission at the old arsenal.
The question whether fish can hear has
often been discussed, but if those who
doubt that they can would come to the
fish commission building and see one
ofthe employees rap loudly on the
sides of the tanks they would be con-
vinced. The fish jump and huddle
together quick enough. The jars con-
tanning the shad and salmon eggs are
the first objects shown. The Salmon
eggs are about as big as Frerch peas
and the shad eggs about half as big.
The shad eggs are transparent and one
may readily see the fish itself in the
egg. Next, the young fish are shown
after they have hatched themselves
from the egg. They are then extra
ordinary looking objects-a round ball
with a wiggle-waggling tail. Then ir
another tank are shown the salmon
ready to be transferred to streams and
rivers. They are then about an inch
long and considered able to take care
of themselves. The samon appears
to be greganous bird, like the wal
rus they stick to the sides of the lar
or tank-in whichever they happen to
find themselves-in layer of four or five
deep. They employ their adolescence
in wagging their tails they fondly i'm
agine that they are to live all their
lives in tank and be fed at the public
expense in perfect security from Presi.
dent Arthur and other we'll known
fishermen. This pleasing delusion is
rudely dispelled when they find them.
selves transported to palace car, In
which they are carried to thei. fina,
destination. There they find the diff.
ference between a soft place at Wash
ington and having to make living for
themselves. The commissioners are
sending off their progeny by the nil
lions now TO various localities. The
attempt to grow salmon IN certain
southern waters is soon to be made.
if the future of our civil service com.
mission may be judged by that body's
recent selection of chief examiner the
outlook is not promising. Never was
a more unfit ridiculous appointment
made. The announcement of the
name of Klein caused a broad smile all
over Washington where this cheeky
snob is known. He not only lacks the |
ability and qualifications for the place
but has been for years machine man
and the tool of machine men-a hang.
er on to the skirts of public men whom |
he culhyates and fatters and forces
himself upon. His appointment was
procured by an array of political "in-
luence" and procured in this way. is
lot very auspicious opening for a
,ody created to do away with .'inAu-
nee" in the civil service. This man
selected to manage the examination Of
applicants could not himself pass an
xamlnation for an ordinary cierkship.
DON PEDRO.
Missouri FatentS.
Mr.. H. N. jenkins, solicitor of pat.
nts, Washington, d. c., officially re.