National Republican., 1883-05-21
rHr Ms on rnr AvENuE.
Small Talk About Men and Measure,

Small Talk About Men and Measures.
A visit to tho morning markets will we'll
repay one for the extra exertion and trouble
of early rising. There is a raro attraction to
a stranger in a stroll through the Washington
markets at any time, but now is the best
season of tho whole year to see them in their
glory. In tho winter the scene is not with
out its weird features Scores of old mark at
women are to be seen crouching over their
charcoal Tres and attending to their skinny
stocks of vegetables In the evening they
look like so many uncanny spirits from an
other world, and in day time they have a
frozen and decidedly uncomfortable appear
ance In spring however, they blossom out
in all the splendor Of budding vegetation,
garden truck" and floral magnificence. Tho
forests and fields are white, and pink, and
crimson, and blue, and red, and yellow with
natural flowers, and the country air is bur-
dened with a perfume that almost intoxicates
tho senses When they come to town the col
ored people bring with them as much Of the
loveliness rs they can conveniently trans
port. They cover themselves and their
carts with green bouEhs and
wealth of floral decorations. Great
waving clusters of snowballs, and dogwood
blossoms and the thousand and one other
floral treaures of the woods and garden are
piled on and carried to town. Many of the
market women display astonishing taste and
an intutive knowledge Of artistic effect in
arrangement of their stalls, building perfect
bowers of beauty. Their vegetables arc set
in gorgeous framework of rich colcring, and
the picture presented is ono that cannot fllil
| to attract. They are happy as birds and fairly
revel in the atmosphere of joyousness that
seems to envelop the scene. Now is the
time to visit the markets If you never go
again during the remainder of your natural
lives.
Said Maryland republican to the Avenue
Man yesterday: "The republicans In our
state are feeling better than ever now. The
removal of Ditty in Baltimore did not hurt
us particle. We intend to nominate Hon.
Hart B. Holton for governor, and have hopes
of electing him. Ho is able, energetic, polite,
n thorough going republican, and is popular
in the state. really think that the act Of
the President is prelude to harmony within
the party in the state, which is the first step
toward success"
|
John Philip sousa has just completed tho
music Of a new opera entitled "Desiree,"
the libret.o of which has been written by
john Madison Morton, of London, the celc-
brated English farce writer, and Edward NJ.
Taber, Of this city. Mr.. Morton has been
multitudinous producer of farces but his
best known works on this side of the watsr
are BOX and Cox" Betsy Baker" "The
Two Bonnie Castles" "Sasher and Dasher,"
and "Poor Pillicoddy." Tho plot and
IT.. of the dialogue are by
Mr.. Morton, and the lyrics by
Mr.. Taber. OF the plot it may be said
that it is richer in dramatic power, and pos
sess more real interest than that of any
comic orsra Of the day. The dialogue 10
bright, sparkling, and witty, and the opera
abounds in funny situations. The lyrics are
models of versifcation. They are witty and
pointed, and admirably adapted for music,
The plot is very ingenious. The action
takes place during tho time Of Richelieu,
A and takes only two days in the unfolding.
\ The music is perhaps the strongest work
Mr.. sousa has given the public. 1t abounds
4 in bright melodies, and the treatment of the
various numbers are strikingly original. One
listens in vain for familiar echo Of other
productions. There is plenty of action in the
opera, and from beginning to end there is not
a heavy passage. The music is not of the
slap dash, happy-go-lucky sort, either, but it
is bound to become popular. 1t is viva cious,
and full of humor that cannot be misunder-
stood.
"Desiree" is Mr.. Sousa's pet. He regardsit it
as his very best work, and the few who have
heard it are of the opinion that the music
and lines are far ahead Of anything of Gilbert
& Sullivan's. Nothing but "bang up"
company can produce "Desiree," and until
things come just right Mr.. sousa
will not let it be rendered in
public. The argument is so compact and
the action SO quick and so incessant that none
but artists should touch it, and none other
will have the privilege. Many of Mr.. sousa's
productions have made hits, and his friends
predict for him great success in this, his
latest and proudest effort.
&"a ..f.,
"This is the time of all the year." said q
veteran turfman last evening, "to visit the
Kentucky bluegrass region. The country is
looking its prettiest, and SO are the ladies' and
the blooded stock. If there are two things
the average Kentuckian is proud of and never
quits talking about, it is the bluegrass bellies
and tho bluegrass thoroughbred racing stock
There are more famous racers to be found
within radius Of twenty-five miles of Lex
ington than anywhere else on the face of the
earth.
"The most famous farm in those parts is
! Alexander's place, near Frankfort. 1t is a
splendid possessio n of about 5000 acres, with
magnificent parks, stretches of woodland, and
fields, all we'll kept and clean. Blooded stock
of every kind is bred here from the racer tc
the pig. The famous trotter, Maud first saw
the lifS,t of day here. Old John Harper's farm
, lies directly south of Woodburn. 1t is an un.
kempt, slouchy farm, for all the world like
! its owner. The celebrated Ten Broeck an6
Longfelow are in Hsrper's stud. They oc
i cupy little double stable, not larger than {
smoke house, which is located in the center O.
\ lot in front of the Harper dwelling ant
, separated from it by narrow lane, Thc
two horses are held at fabulous figures, aut
it is said that $4,000 in casl
could not buy them. Old John Harper
lives in tumble down old two story fran,
house that has not seen a paint brush FOL
0 twenty years. 1t is rock aud ruin looking
n establishment, The owner is an ignorant ole
fellow, whose life is wrapped in his horses