The Dillon tribune., 1886-12-03
rrrER FROM WASHINGTON.
,,.,,~ McGill-A Brilliant Conunslrum-
The City's Phenomenal Growth-The
boarding House Fiend-Mon-
tana Buflaloes Captured
Grows.
From our special correspondent
WAsHlNGToN, Nov. lS, 1886.


WASHINGTON, Nov. lS, 1886.
- the Editor of the Dillon TRIBUNE:
I will commence this letter by PROFOUND.
mo 10 Your readers brilliant and startling
conundrun, to wit: Why does President
Cleveland wear red, white and blue sus.
oenders? At the Interrogation point re-
ouest the readers 10 halt and not read
another word until he has made his ablest
.aort TO solve the riddle. When he fails,
read on and hear the answer: To hold his
rants up. This was given me day or
two ago by we'll known character
.around town." rejoicing under the Gu.
phonious name Of Billy McGill-and a
queer boy is Billy. He knows everybody,
hears all the news, is acquainted with
every nook and corner Of the city, wanders
around at odd hours here, there and every
where, and is invariably brim-fu OF good
humor His head is abnormally large, his
legs small, and his eyes mild watery.b blue.
Billy never swears but has certain pet ex.
pressions with which he peppers and salts"
his conversation. At this moment re-.
cal two of his chunks Of wisdom, which
Dillonites may be induced to use with a
view of garnishing and beautifying their
vernacular. They are: "Dog on my rab.
bits" and Life is too short to waste time
on bluehead matches" Begin every sen.
tence with the first maxim and close with
the latter, and you will find life sweetened.
In fact there is more in the last than
YOU would at first suppose; for you will
remember that 'blue-head matches burn
very slowly, and have been long since dis
carded, except by sweet old maids and
elderly single gentlemen of retiring dispo-
sitions; people who live quietly removed
from the fierce battle OF life, read books
Of the soothing, kindly order and cultivate
few flowers in back rooms on the third
floor. What Billy means by 'Dog.on my
rabbits leave to the sporting editor Of
the TRIBUNE to determine.
To realize the the rapid growth OF this
CITY one has but to read the annual report
Of the Inspector of Buildings, just issued.
Two thousand, one hundred and ninety
four buildings, including all classes, have
been erected during the past year.
wonder what George Washington
would say, if he could rise in his majesty
from the tomb at Mount Vernon, run up
here, climb to the top of the grand monu.
ment which bears his name, and cast his
eagle eye north, south, east and west over
the city he planned and loved SO we'll.
History tells US he was calm and cool un.
der all circumstances, but think that this
sight would startle and fill him with won-
der.
am sure there is one sight which would
surprise him, and that is the number oi
crows Aying over Washington every day
About two million and a half, more or less
pass over every morning, in an easterly
direction, and wend their way west in the
evening. They roost in the pines of "Ole
Virginny," and in the gray of the morning
start out for their feeding grounds, evident
ly somewhere in Maryland. 1t is an in
teres,ing sight to watch them, laboring an@
Hopping along, high up in the air, and lis
Ten 10 their incessant "caw', which comes
family to the ear. Apparently they have
no leaders, nor do they fly with any order
Or system. Each black rascal seems to bt
out on his "own hook, though they dt
not get far apart. Ialways had grea
admiration for the crow, and sometimes
as look at their long, black, struggling
line, away up in the heavens, so far re
moved from the tumble and hot pressure
Of life, wish was a crow. / had rather
bea crow any day in the year than
boarding house keeper, the number o
which in Washington far exceeds thu
crows, aud would, am sure, astonish tn
Father of his country still more. Ther'
are SO many-well, their name is legion
They 60 around on wheels, meet you
the crossings and as you turn the corners
and throw out lassos and nets to drag yo'
in. can assure you that if any one
Dillon wishes to visit Washington Their
will be no trouble in finding boarding
house.
The sad news that ex-President Arthu
was dead was received here early thi
morning. The White House is draped il
mourning, and by TO- morrow morning al
OF the Executive Departments will b
similarly draped. Chester Alan Arthu
was a gentleman, thorough one, an
made most excellent President in ever
respect Peace to his ashes.