The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-09-29

but Notwithstanding the small amount
of work to be done and the fact that
they cannot get paid for even that,
they are still true TO the traditions Of
the craft and propose to strike for big.
ger wages You can always tell
an American tclcgraphcr by his asking
for more.
The operator from whose letter these
points are taken further mentions that
the water in Bangkok is not fit to drink,
but he does not complain on that ar.
count This is another characteristic
OF the true American tclegraphcr
The letter concludes with the remark
that 1--WE go to bed hoping to find our
selves in America on waking up" and
that "as soon as we can. get money
enough to get there we shall certainly
get"
\ SCANDAL in any branch Of the puo-
lie service usually finds ready space for
its fullest details in the columns of the
newspapers. Reforms that are made,
and abuses which are corrected, do not
seem TO make such popular and accept
able reading. For this reason, per.
hnps the people are not generally aware
of the decided improvements which are
being made in the conduct Of the affairs
of the Indian bureau. General Atkins,
who is at the head of that bureau, is
an energetic worker and man Of prac-
tical business methods. His long cN-
pericncc on the House Committee OF
Appropriations and his close attention
to its work, made him peculiarly fitted
for his present position, and that he is
doing his work well is attcstcd by the
reforms which he has already made.
The contracts for Indian supplies which
he has made are giving better quail
ity of goods at n great saving. The
system of cXorbitant charges to Indians
by post-traders has been broken up
and other improvements have been
made or are now being made. 1t is
true that in doing this Mr.. Atkins has
removed good many Indian agents,
and recognized the force Of special
agents and Indian inspectors; but what
of that if the service has thereby been
materially bettered?
WHAT will become of all the default
ing bank cashiers who have colonized
in Canada should the smallpox CON
tinuc its ravages and civil war ensue
on the vaccination question? The
wild West is filled with fleeing China
men and whistling bullets there is an
epidemic of yellow fever along the
coasts of Mexico; there is cholera in
Europe. 1t isn't safe for the dcfaulting
bank cashier even in the far-oif Caro-
line Islands, and the hospitable seclu-
sion of n State 's-prison is all that his
own, his native land, has to offer
in the way of inducement, but even
this is preferable TO Montreal. The
dcfaulting cashier should cross the line
again and throw himself upon the
mercy Oh his DOUuSllcll.
SHOULD Professor Agassiz conclude
to decline the position of Supcrintcnd-
ent of the Coast Survey, just rendered
him by the President, the Administra-
tion can certainly do no better than
fall back upon Professor Simon New
comb, The CRITICS original sugges-
tion. lie is an able man, of inter
national reputation, profound attain
mcnts and great executive capacity
ABOUT II o'clock last night the
moon passed between the earth and the
first magnitude star, Alpha, in the con
stellation Tauras. The phenomenon
was observed by astronomers generally,
and the observations taken will, ii is eX-
pected, afford additional data in the
experiments being made TO determine
if the moon, like the earth, is sur
rounded by an atmosphere.
IT is charged by the Republicans
out in Iowa that Whiting, the Demo
cratic candidate for Governor, was be-
fore the war slave holder in Alabama.
1t is fragment of ancient history
which is hardly worth verifying or re-
futing. One thing is very certain
Mr.. Whiting is not stakeholder now
The war is over, and with it the issue;
that brought it on,
II, AS is stated, the New York mug.
wump will give up his mugwumpery
and again enter the bosom of the Re
| publican party he will at least succeed
in adding prefix to his highly poetic
and respectable name. What could bC
sweeter than to be known rs an ex
mugwump?
DIR. BURCHARD is out of polite
this year, which is to be regretted
There is fine chance for alliterativ,
craftsmanship in "Hill, Hoadly, anC
He'll" which might work politica
miracle for somebody.
| s--
lT Is said that theatre parties will b
more popular than ever before thi
season, which indicates boom in TIN
manufacture of ear-trumpets to be useC
by the rest Of the audience.
The Old Corner Pump.
The water famine of last week, says tn
Hdtchet, 'gave the corner pump quite
boom. And we are glad Of it-not of tn
famine, but of our old friends boom
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