The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-05-03
RANDOM WRITINGS.

Perhaps one OF the most significant signs Of the
times was the recent meeting of the most influen-
tial landholders of England in convention in Lon
don. The clamor against the holding of immense
landed estates may not he organized and led by as
systematic and combined action as could be desired,
but it is to the credit Of the land magnaes that they
can perceive the handwriting on the wall, and fore
the inevitable progress of events. The Duke of
Argyle, owner of about third of Scotland the Earl
of CarnHrvan, and the Marquis of Ripon all attended
this convention, and 1t was agreed not only to dis
courage the aggregation Of lands, but to buy up and
throw into the market, at wholesale prices tracts
OF land divided up into forty and less parcels
to he sold on long deferred payments, covering ten
years. This action will doubt influence the hold
ers of large estates all over the world to besr them
selves and ascertain whether or not they stand in
the way of material progress in the sections of the
country in which they live. II will also bring for
ward the early settlement of the wage question, the
most gigantic problem to be solved In modern times
| There have been some severe things said about
the modern Idea of the Importance OF money This
has been called money getting age, and Americans
have been often accused OF wofshiping the almighty
dollar. 1t is hardly probable that our nation out
strips all others in its haste to get rich, and very
1 likely this generation is no more greedy Of gain
1 than others have been, but and then one en-
counters instance OF desire for wealth so morbid
fruit from the hot-bed of too material civilization.
| The Long Island village where recently young
man took his mother and sister out walking and de-
iberaely shot them both, and then himself has not
yet recovered from its horror and SURPRISE The me.
tropolltan papers published long OF this
rble threefold tragedy, and all through the country
people wondered what ms ysterous motive there might
be for such deed. Insanity has TO answer for SC
much crime nowadays that every one supposed II
must shoulder another apparently inexpllcable mur
der and suicide; but few days after the occur
renee long article appeared in the papers, whict
| was apparently composed by some enterprising re
porter from the talk about the neighborhool reativ,
to this young man who had taken the responsbilit,
OF ushering three souls so unceremoniously int
eternity. Through this medium we are in
formed that this highly educated, highly-re
spected, irreproachabe young gentleman, thi
flower of culture from leading university, wa
probably not insane, but poor, and his poverty ha
become CALLING to his proud spirit to render f
quite uubearabe burden, from which he deter
mined to rid himself, having first with great thought
fulness saved his mother and sister the trouble o
living any longer in so dlsagreeable state of ez
istence. 1t was remembered about the village o.
how many occasions the proud spirit of this yout
had shown its irritation at the little necessities
genteel poverty. He had said with much bitterness
only few days before his death that "when ma
had not money enough to get shaved with 1t Wa
time to CO." Perhaps the humiating straw whic
finally broke the back of this sensitive pride III
necessity for shaving his own chin, but there ma
have been further depths of degradation before tn
last wild impulse 1t was darkly possible that tn
proud colegian had tasted the bitterness OF blacl
ing his own boots, and it may have been that irl
some and disgusting task which drove him to d
spalr and suicide. Now. that any healthy, well edl
Gated young American should be such vapid us
less, empty creature as to 60 whining about the Ii
q an Enf
: that he would rather die than live without a vale
u is surely lamentable but remarkable thing, and
be explained by some mental weakness with Whit
II the unfortunate fellow was afflicted. But that al
n sympathizng neghborhood or any reputable new
d paper should bring forward complacently, as
y explanation of this hideous crime, such tissue
aosurdy az this shows perverted view of life tn
y is both laughable and irritating II young m.
who had been sent into the world equipped wi
n every educational aid to success and helped alol
by friends found its difficulties too much for hil
and had SO little manhood as TO succumb to the lea
N of fes troubles, it certainly shows that he W
hopeessly " no account" and his cowardy dea
should only increase the wholesome contempt whi
. any right-minded community should feel for hi
. The sympathy that would make the aspirations a
3 dsappointments of a snob excuse for crime Is
q insult to the mass Of young men who are so hoI
essly pebean to take sensible view of their &C
don in life, and nanfully try to better 1t If it dc
i not satisfy them.
Some person of statistical turn of mind might a
occupation in estimating how many tons of peI
l. from the capstonc Of the Washington MonumG
e have been decorated Cl and preserved as rel!
Quite new industry has been developed since I
;, monument was completed in painting and SELL
d these bits Of marble. Judging from the vast nu
bers OF them in the stores and In private hous
the supply Is inexhaustble, and, OF course, each p
to asseverate most positively in future years tna
e was chip from the capsrone itself In connect
with the sale Of these relics of the Monument an
> terprising man has inaugurated system OF furn
j. ing an aidasit testlfylng TO the gcnulneness of
a and that particular chip. 1t is understood thai
, rival vendor intends providing his dispositions wit
:, frame. The most elaborate piece we have s.
n consists OF the usual dinCult!y executed shaft ani
ia by Georges tomb on one side and his home at
A., Vernon on the other. o