The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
7rom our Regnlar CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON. d. c., May l, 1888.
1t has often been said that spring is the
time to see Washington, and this is GER
taiuly true The city is blooming forth
like Il flower garden now and never
looked more beautiful. Nor is any other
city equal to it. The capitol grounds are
now among the most charming sights in
Washington. The broad slopes of the
hill on which it is placed are covered with
long grass, with violets lavishly planted
amidst it. All the squares and gardens
in Washington have the effect of natural
as well as artificial beauty. The flowers
about the capitol are not protected by
wire fences, and grim warnings of So fine
for treading on the grass or picking the
flowers are rare. Then plants and flow
ers are so plentiful that people have come
to think them necessaries instead of luxu-
RES Ground has been broken IN Dupont
circle opposite Mr.. Blaine's for the statue
of Admiral 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 con
sidered the palace of Washington. The
circle was laid off lighted with numerous
lamps, and the walks concerted. 1t was
meant to be the Belgrave square of Wash |
ington. Then the Stewart castle took
fire and burned all the top off. For some !
years the splendid house was literally |
abandoned and Dupont circle became |
utterly desolate and forlorn. Then by /
degrees the houses on Connecticut ave
nue. began creeping up towards it, and |
Mr.. Blaine put his magnificent palace
down in front of il. Thereupon big
houses spran9 up all around, and now
the Stewart palace is being repaired and
restored.
One of the most interesting places to
visit in Washington now is the propagat-
ing works of the 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 of the
employers rap loudly on the sides of the
tanks they could be convinced The
fish jump and huddle together quick
enough. The jars containing the shad
and salmon eggs are the first objects
shown. The salmon eggs are about as
big as French 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 Matched
themselves from the egg. They are then
extraordinary looking obects-a round
ball with a wiggle-waggIing tail. Then
in another tank are 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 salmon appears to be gregarious
bird, like the walrus; they stick to the +
sides of the jar or tapk-in whichever
they happen to find themselves-in Law
ers four or five deep They employ their
adolescence in wagging their tails; they
fondly immagine that they are to live all
their lives in a tank and be fed at the
public expense in perfect security from
President Arthur and other well known
fishermen. This pleasing delusion is
rudy dispelled when they find themselves
transported to palace car. in which they
are carried to their final destination.
Ihere they ind the difference betwee
soft place at Washington and having to
make living for themselves. The com
missOners are sending off their progeny
by the millions now to various localities |
The attempt to grow salmon in certain
southern waters is soon to be made
Ii the future of our civil service COM s
mission may be judged by that body's
recent selection of chief examiner the out ,
look is not promising Never was a !
more unfit and ridiculous appointment ,
made. The announcement of the name !
OIL Klein caused broad smile all over
washington where this cheeky snob is
known lie not only lacks the ability
and qualifications for the place but has
been for years machine man and the
tool of machine men-a hanger on to the
skirts of public men whom he cultivates
and hatters and forces himself upon. His
appointment was procured by an array of
political influence procured in this way.
and is not very suspicious opening for a
body created to do away with Influence"
in the civil service. This man selected to
manage the examination of applicants
could not himself pass an examination |
for an ordinary clerkship.
Dom PEDRO.
John Bowen died at WanwatOsa on the |