The Washington critic., 1886-02-09
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Just before Colonel Bob Ingersoll
started West last week, says Halston
in the New York Times, he entertained
two or three friends at his home on
Fifth avenue, and not unnaturally,
perhaps, somebody finally drifted the
conversation over toward religion, and
one man was rather aggressive in his
condemnation of all heresy. This
prompted Col. Ingersoll to tell story.
MY views regarding religion are not
generally understood" he said. Il am
credited with good many ideas that
i have never entertained. ] am very
much like an old Indian of whom |
have heard. An enterprislng mis-.
sionary with the tribe was bent upon
the conversion of this particular saw
age. One day out on the plains the
good man piled his subject vigorously,
till finally the red man, picking up a
stick, bent down and drew in the sand
small circle. That's what Indian
know he said. Then he drew larger
circle round the first, and, pointing to
it, said That's what white man know;
but outside of that Indian know much
rs white man-know nothing The
Indians doctrine is my doctrine"
ended the orator. .
~.
There's one house in Washington,
says Sydney" in the Chicago Ne,os,
which won't be gay, and never has
been gay. the morc's the pity. This is
Perry Belmont's, the young represen-
tative from Long Island, who is now
serving his third term in Congress.
Perry is the son of the American
Rothschild, August Belmont--in fact,
the Belmonts are, and have been for
years, the financial agents of the Roths.
childs in this country. When Perry
came here it was confidently predicted
| that he would be the curled darling of
society. But Perry didn't show any
inclination that way, and kept very
| quiet, except down at the Capitol.
where he has always been very chip
per. Two years ago, though, he took
a splendid, great big house here on
Rhode Island avenue, and people be-
gan to say that Perry would at last
come out of his hole and give balls
and dinners like those in the Arabian
Nights" But they were too previous.
Perry got sullly because there was so
much talk about what he was going to
do, so he planted himself squarely on
the platform that he wasn't going to do
anything at all. So there he is in this
splendid house, with long drawing
rooms and huge reception.rooms, and
he lives in corner of it like an oyster
in his she'll He deserves credit, how
ever, for one thing: He Is trying very
hard TO be something else than merely
the rich Mr.. Belmont, and as chair
man of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee is working like Trojan,
despite he wears pointed shoes and
curls his mustachc.
| ~
president Cleveland is one of the
most bashful men ever saw in the
presence of ladies. The other day
called upon him with lady friend
Our visit was partially on business and
partially to be social, When the Presi
dent received us he was very graceful
and composed, but the moment he dis
covered that we intended to delay and
talk how confused he becamel / was
sorry for him and we soon got away
A very handsome widow, vivacious
and young, from one of the best South
ern families, told this to the Washing
ton correspondent of the indianapolis
Necs: "At first the President didn't
ask us TO sit down." continued the lady
"and we began to get red behind the
ears; but finally he recovered, and ht
was as courteous as Frenchman. Any
one could have seen, though, that thu
President was all the time wishing W,
would leave, lie doesn't seem to know
what to say TO the ladies. Oh, bu
what lover he would makel" "Evi
IDENTIFY you were posing before tht
President-or at least you mus
have created that impression upol
him." / suggested. No" pro
tested the lady; "Mr. Cleveland ha
less consciousness than any man
ever saw. lie seems to completely for
get himself--and what to say, nigh
add. lie Is not in the least conceited
and venture he is generous. As W,
Lwere about leaving he plucked coupl