The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-02-15
GOTHAM GOSSIP.
Correspondence of the Democrat
New York. Feb. 6. 1883.

49, ~
-Walking for Style in Congress.
-GoUernor Cleveland and the
NeW Cdpitol.-The End Of the
CarniraL Sedson.-The Lieder-
kranz Fancy Dress BaU,-Lenten
Music.-Making the Road to
Heavem Easy.-The Theat, es IN
Lent.-.Practical Sympathy among
the School Observation-Disclosures
IN the Arts.-Common Sense
among Parents.
We are apt to call England a cur
iously office ridden country, but
when we lock at the condition of
some of our own departments there
is precious little to thank Heaven
for that we are not as others are
Take the Navy for instance. Ac-
cording to an official report recently
made to Congress, the United States
has more than double the proportion
of officers to seamen of any other ma
tion.. 1t also appears that since the
war three hundred and sixty nine
millions have been appropriated for
the Navy, and yet during that time
the number of vessels has dwindled
down to 1879. If this does not clear
ly show the necessity of a change of
administration in favor of the Dem
ocracy, nothing will. The country
is gradually getting to be robbed,
not only by corrupt bodies of men
whom the long continuance in office
oftheir party has made INSCRIPTIONS
and arrogant beyond measure, but
the petticoat influence has likewise
assumed proportions almost incredi-
BILE. All the departments suffer more
or less fri in it, but nowhere else is
back stairs support as shamefully
abused as in the Departments Of the
Army and Navy.
A Western Senator who was in
town for a few days characterized
the Tariff debate in Congress rather
neatly. Said he, sit reminds me of
those female walking matches they
had in every city a couple of years
ago. There was general prizes for
the winner, the second and the third,
and also q handsome prize for the
"lady walker" exhibiting the most
style and grace. The result was,
that every woman wanted that, and
thus they generally covered but lit
tie ground. They all walked for
style. Now all the leading partici-
pants in the debates are not talking
to make progress, they are simply
walking for style. Each one wants
to show the country what q hand.
some, level headed and elegantly
gated candidate for the Presidency
he is. The pace is beginning to tel
on the Republicans, and some oil
them will soon be obliged to DROP
out. Then the debates will end"
Governor Clevelandis exceedingly
anxious to complete the new Capito.
at Albany, during his administra.
ton, and for that reason is DESTROYS
of having but q single commissioner
for it, who is to be directly respon
sible to him. The appointments o
such an officer would furnish US {
possibility of seeing it finished with
in a couple of years at u cost o
three or four millions. But the con
tractors ring which sees in the re
noval of the existing board of com
missioners the destruction of thu
chance Of prolonging the job for an
other quarter of a century is fight
ing the Governors proposition bit
terly.
To morrow the Lenten season be
gins, and for that matter everybody
l suppose is pleased that a period o
rest for the weary pleasure seeker
and ball goer has set in. A suitabl,
finale to the Carnieal season was thu
grand fancy dress ball of the Lieder
kranz Society, ct the Academy O
Music on Monday evening. 1t wa:
the thirtieth annual bali of this ia
nous society, and I am free to say
that it WAS the only marked ball o
the season worth seeing. The cos
tunes were novel in design, rich il
material, and magnificent in MAKE
up. There were diamonds by tn,
basketful 1 might say, and the open
ing pageant was a masterpiece. The
churches this year propose to attrac
people tc p~enance and meditation by
very elaborate musical programmes
In other words they intend to dis
guise the %proverbial sack cloth ant
ashes as much as possible TO make
people take them up. In one lead
ing Episcopal church which pride!
itself on its chancel choir q number
of old manuscript works of Bach ant
other composers CT sacred music
are to be brought out. st. Stephen:
Roman Catholic Church will produce
a different NiSerere every Sunday
evening, and in fact every churct
will have some special attraction. 1
under these circumstances people dc
not taket TO the road TO Heaven, which
is no longer narrow and thorny, bu'
broad and well kept, they will never
get there.
Up to three or four years ago tho
theatres used to be very subduec
during Lent. True, they all KEEP
open, but the plays we're familiar
"old timers" and the attendance usec
to be very poor. Now, perhaps more
care is taken to provide dramatic
padulum during the Lenton season
than for any other term, and as a re.
suit, the theatres do q better bust
ness these forty days than perhaps
during the preceding four months
There is not q manager at present
who docs not look forward to a bet.
ter bank account.
The Public School question which
has been agitating the city fol
months, has at last assumed q shape
which is anything but pleasing TO a
large number of the teachers EN-.
ployed. The Commissioners of Ed,
ucation have decided to cut off the