National Republican., 1884-04-02
ON THE AVENUE.
Small Talk About Men and Measures.

Small Talk About Men and Measures.
He was short, cloan-built gentleman,
with short, stubby mustache, and hair
plontifully sprinkled with gray. In response
to an inquiry, he said his name was Bouci-
cault, and by birth he was Galway Italian.
lie huggod himself up in an ulster OF gray
Irish frieze cloth that was big enough for
Shanklin, the hugo correspondent of the
Cincinnati Ne,cs Journal, and said eyes l
made my first appearance before Washing
ton audience in 1854. in the old National
theater, which at that time was managed by
T.. A. Marshall. After playing there for
while concluded that would go in on my
own account and leased Carusis garden,
sort of dancing hall, located on what
Is now tho site of the Theatre Comique I
had the place thoroughly reftsed, and opened
it to the public in January, 1858. While l
did not make n startling success OF my ven
ture, gained experience enough to convince
me that Washington was a good town for an
attractive place Of amusement. Since then |
have played in many cities, but ! first felt
tho proud thrill of managerial Importance
right here under tho shadow of the capitol
years, and achieved some success, but can
yet look back with pleasure to my Washing
ton experience. Yes, the city has changed
somewhat since those days when there was
long row of Lombardy poplars growing down
the center of Pennsylvania avenue and we
travelled from Georgetown to the navy yard
in stage coach. 1t has now become a mag
nifcent capital and its broad streets and pal
atial residences render it perhaps the most
attractive city in the world, certainly tho
grandest in America. No, you'll have to
excuse, 1t is Lent, and besides I've got to
drill n green super who came near shooting
me in dead earnest last night. Smother
time. Who'll be tho republican presidential
nominee? Sure now yc don't want TO be
pokin such riddles at mo. I'm only simple
Irish lad wild ragged coat. Barrin' the
chance on the first leap, Pm thinkin' Arth-
Log-Bl-n will got tho brush, but don't say
l tould ye."
e@s
DR.. Morrison Muuford, the proprietor OF
the Kansas City Times, who has been soourn
ing for some weeks in Now York city, arrived
in Washington yesterday morning. He said
last night that he was authorized by Oliver
Payne, the son of Hon. II. B. Payne,
senator.eloct from Ohio, to state
that his father would not be a can
didate for the presidency; that he would not
accept the democratic nomination even if il
were unanimously rendered him by the con-
vention of the party at Chicago; that this
conclusion had been reached by his father
after mature delibcration, and that it was
positive, conclusive and irrevocable.
@@w
"Pittsburg and Allegheny county are
probably all right" said Col. Felix Cracraft
of Pennsylvania, last evening. 81 have just
received dispatch from Chris. Msgee, which
reads as follows:
"'Yes. We had 4sl votes and elected fou,
unistructed delegates to the state conven.
| ion.'
"This,' continued Col. Cracraft, "mean'
business, and makes it dead certain that
Magee and Finn will go as delegates to Chi
cago. 1t turns down the Blaine boom, and
makes matters more conjectural when We
come to figure up the actual status Of the
Pennsylvania delegation at the Chicago con
vention."
asg
Col. Smithmyer, who has given much at
tention to tho plans for a new building fol
the library of congress, says that the propo
sition to locate the same on tho site of the
present botanical garden is most unfortu
nate suggestion, and calculated to pu
back the erection Of library building 70
years, if not to entirely defeat the project
He says: at is we'll known to all that tines
grounds arc traversed by the Tiber creel
sewer, and that originally the land wa
swampy and full of quicksands. A
the time the sewer was put dowr
the contractors were confronted will
many difficulties, and were compelled t
resort to many expedients to secure founda
ton for their work. In the construction o
the conservatories il was found necessary Il
60 down thirty feet to find hardpan firm
enough to support tho foundation of evel
those slight structures. What then would b
necessary to secure proper foundation for
building the superstructure Of which woul
mount up into thousands of tons pressure
Then, again, there is too much moisture a
that point for the storage of books. Even
it wero found practicable to erect a librar
building there it would be necessary to bull,
directly over the sewer, and this would rem
der the basement and subbasement liable t
overflow with every heavy rain, and insur
tho destruction of the books by mould an
mildew. A building to accommodate tn
congressional library is an absolute necessity
but it should not be located where its vo
umes will rot upon the shelves and its wall
be coated with the green mould of swamp
exhalations, and settle and crack open for til