Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-04-05

dies under the knout. From realistic point Of
view this department is the best of the show.
for there is little light, and a man who is going
to execution may be expected to look like wax
The figures and lights are arranged with all
Frenchman's dramatic art. But upstairs some
of the incidents are a little bit ridiculous. No
matter how cleverIy the scenery is painted. the
small size OF the scene-ceils appear and Napo-
leon Ill living in state in cubby-hce eight
feet square, or the Kaiser Of Germany crowded
with all his family into little room of about the
same size, cannot impress one seriously. And
the defect is the superabundance of light. The
public is allowed to come within about five feet
of the figures SO that in @ bright light all sorts
OF imperfections are visible. Less light and
sheet Of gauZe between spectator and waXwork
might heighten the Illusion. Back of the mu-
scum proper is a large concert hall, which will
be used as a garden It's connection with wax
works does not seem to be clear, but the proba-
bility is that some day the Eden Musee will be
simply gorgeous beer garden, with incidental
waX-works thrown in. 1t is doubtful whether
Its income as waX.works show simply would
pay for the electric light. let alone the interest
on the fortune which has been sunk in the build
ing.
THE HOT WATER MANIACS.
The rage for drinking hot water, which now
prevails with results about evenly balanced. one
half of the constant drinkers swearing that 1t
does them world of good, and the other half
that it has broken t,iem and not their ailment,
all up, reminds me that one of the late Charles
Delmonico's most delightful jokes was at the
expense of these hot water vOtares when the
mania was in its infancy. Most of my readers
probably know that hot water must be taken as
hot as one can bear it, a giassful or more be-
fore meals or Just before going to bed. Now
one of the sources OF revenue at Demonico's
restaurant is the appetizer in the shape of bit
ters etc, which the majority OF men take before
dining. and it was, therefore, with something of
dsmay that this substitution of plain boiling
water was noticed. No charge had ever been
made for cold water at DelmOnico's bar. and it
was hard to see upon what ground charge
could be made for hot water to the regular pa
irons of the house. But Charles DelmOnicO was
equal to the emergency. He caused placard
to be set up over the bar announcing that owing
to the demand for the hot 'r0ter bereidGe spe-
cial cook had been engaged to boil the water in
the proper fashion. and that it would be fur
nished to patrons at twenty-five cents glass.
To some of the dudes, who thought the price
was rather steep, Charles sad
You see it isn't every man who can boil
water properly First. you have to get water
and filter it half dozen times then it wants to
be put In copper vessel over hot charcoal
fire and brought to a boil with all its life in it.
The moment it bubbles serve it. 1t you take
ordinary water and let it simmer in an iron pot
over a slow fire it is perfectly dead when it
comes to a boil. not particle of life in it-only
fit for Stops. 1t isn't every one who knows how
to boil water properly" Then Charles would
wink at his head waiter, who gravely agreed
with every word his master said. and order
some of that steamed water for himself and in
the end the dudes who value a thing because it
costs money If for no other reason would rather
pay quarter at DelmOnicOs for their boiled
water than get it free elsewhere.
1t was Charles Delmonico's mission through
life to show people who had more money than
they knew what to do with how to waste some
OF it, and he was always ready for a sly
dig at the idlOcy OF his clients. l re-
member that one day party of young bloods
called upon Charles for advice They wanted to
give dinner in private room Of his establish
ment which should eclipse anything e the kind
ever given by the je,tnesse dOree before and
especially it must cost more money than any
previous feast Of the kind. Charles made out q
stupendOus menu, which brought the cost up to
sS5 head for each of the young noodles who
were to partake; but even that absurd sum was
not enough for them. Could he not think of
some more devices for making the dinner cost
money?
Well" said Charles, with the utmost gravity,
"of course you might do as at some of the Eng
lish clubs, and pitch all the glasses and bottles
into the middle of the table at the end of the
dinner. My glassware is expensive, and that
Will cost you some money"
The young men went away delighted. and
that evening about midnight the superintendent
OF the restaurant was startled by terrific crash
OF glass, and rushed up stairs, to find the young
men aiming at the floral centerpiece with Del
monico's beautiful glasses and the empty bottles.
In answer to his protest he was told that it was
all rlght-Charles had recommended it, and real
EnSlishmen did this sort of thing at their clubs.
So why should not sham Engshmen do the
same, as they had the money in their pockets to
pay tor what they called the fun? 1t is needless
to say that the bill was considerably larger.
STRAWS.
Roscoe Conkng is the object of no little envy
just now, as having won a practice worth
$4,000 year almost at bound. The Hoyt
will case, in which Mr.. Conkling acts for the
daughter of the late millionaire Jesse Hoyt.
will pay him at least that sum alone, about ten
millions being in dispute. His time is so con-
stantly occupied that he will not accept cases
where the fees are not large and certain.
Campanni is to give up the operate stage, it
is said, for the dramatic, and will go back to
study under Salvini