The Washington critic., 1886-01-18

Studdiford telling him that he had been
insulted beyond endurance, and de-
satisfaction "and not with |
fists either" Mr. Studdford says he |
will meet Mr.. Stone on the field OF |
honor and the first circles of st. Louis
are nuttering with anticipations of
gore. Muuals friends Of the young
men are trying to have them fight with
stuffed clubs
SECRETARY BAYARp denies IN i0i9
the widely circulated and generally
credited report that it was through his
influence that Ex-Governor Curtin was
superseded as chairman of the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs by Mr.
Perry Belmont of New York. He says
that he did not interfere in any manner
with Speaker Carlislo's committee ap-
pointmonts. lie further says that he
docs not believe that he ever expressed
a preference ds to the chairmanship of
the Foreign Affairs Committee and did
not attempt to defeat Mr.. Curtins re.
appointment. Secretary Bayard is
right in making this denial and in
making II so emphatic. The apparently
well founded report that he had taken
part in the matter has made him the
subject of much adverse criticism.
THE first week of American opera in
New York is over and thus far, in the
Judgment of Frcund's Music and
Drama, II has been neither an utter
failure nor a splendid triumph, but
moderate success" The mistake of
the managers, according to this author
ity, was in starting out with the severe
compositions Of Goetzc, Gluck and
Wagner, with which it was impossible
that the artists could familiarizc them.
selves in brief season Of preliminary
study, instead Of presenting lighter,
brighter, more agreeable, and, above
ALL easier operas This is probably
fair criticism. Carl Rosa's successful
attempts at popularizing English opera
furnish precedent which the Amcri-
can company may do well to follow,
instead of attempting TO scale inaccessi-
bic heights at the outset.
THE unfortunate people who were
made homeless by the burning Of
Howard Row on Saturday will owe
little to the cold charities of the world
for help in their sore time of need.
Many of them were all Saturday night
absolutely without shelter. Others
have been sent to the poor-house.
Nearly all of them are penniless and
without furniture. The Police Depart.
ment is doing what it can to aid them;
so are the colored churches. But where
is the organized, full-handed system of
relief that should have been on hand in
such pitiable emergency as this? 1t
matters not who or what these people
are. They are human beings, and de-
serve at least as much consideration as
the cattle within our gates.
IT Is estimated that lands, the value
of which is 800, 100000, are now i'm
properly held by railroads. Commis-
sioner Sparks has an idea that the
roads should be compelled to give up
to the Government that which is the
Governments property, and he is doing
q good deal of hard work to accomplish
that end. Railroad companies are not
generally believed to be very eager To
give up anything that they once get
their hands upon, and they are putting
every possible obstacle in the way OF
the Commissioner, but that gentleman
is going right ahead. There is nothing
to be wondered at in the frequent as
saults that are made upon him. He i
a disagreeable man to have around.
THE annual report of the Civil
Service Commissioners will, it is said
show that very large percentage o
the male candidates fail through lacl
of knowledge of English grammar
while the chief failing of the femal
candidates is an unfamiiarity will
arithmetic, Seventy per cent. of thos
who pass are from the public schools
while the North is higher in its gradin!
than any other section. These facts
however, will not have much intcrcs
for the Democrat who for the pas
twenty-five years has been working 70
his party and sees no signs of recogni
ton for his services. Nor are the sta
tistics of any practical consequence
anyway, considered as factors of re
form.
THE Baltimore 1morican says tina
the aristocratic, costly and deliciou
diamond back terrapin is fast disar
pearing from the Maryland marshes
But the Americdn also gives us in
formation that is of consoling char
acter. 1t tells us that Representativ
Randolph Tucker has promised to tax
the Hon. Timothy Campbell of Ney
York down to the Potomac when tn
ice disappears and initiate him into til
mysteries of that eXhilarating spoi
known as the catching of mock turtles
THE Public Papers of David I
Hill, Governor" appear before us in
publication of about three hundre
pages from the Office of the Alban
.IrguS. The volume bears stron
similtutc to the advance sheets of
Presidential boom, and will be referre
to our Select Committee on Booms.
CHICAGO is having a big Socialist