The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-03
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Tie Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital

ROSCOE E0EkLlNGb GODIhs
The unconqueTable spirit aud indomitable
perseverance that made great man OF Roscoe
Conkling got him into many and varied scTapes
when he was boy, and got him out OF them
too, for that matter.
When his parents lived at beautiful Melrose,
farm they owned near Auburn, ia Cayuga
County, n. Y, their nearest neighbOrs were
family named Curtis, that lived on an adjoin-
ing farm.
In this family there was a boy named Char
lie, who was about Roscoe's age, and the two
were soon fast friends. Charley was little
chap, not comparing with young Conkling in
stature, but active and full of fun, and many
wild prank they played together. Charlie was
RspicDdid hOrseman, while Roscoe was only an
Indifferent rider, but he who never in his lie
accepted defeat would not acknowledge the
fact Charley had pony so very spirited that
none but his master could fully control him,
but Roscoe always insisted when they rode out
together on exchanging horses, even at the risk
Of his neck, because he wanted to prove that he
could ride anything that Charlie could, and
when the owner demurred, principally because
he was afraid his friend would get killed, Ros-
cOe took possession by force.
One day. as be was insisting on temporary
swap of this kind, Charlie said:
But Ros, I'm afraid that pony viii throw
You yet"
4 have ridden him before" said Conkling.
Yes, but you are getting more careless every
day and some Of these times you will be
killed"
"Wen, it will be my funeral if I am; and I
can ride IS well as you can, anyhow"
Then, seeing smile on his companions face,
he went on:
"See here, you impudent monkey, wen test
that matter. since you seem to doubt it. So
rioe-Iide just wherever you please, and viii
follcw.D
Enough safd!" and away went Charlie,
r,- 4 gaIa 4 Faln
fences and what not, Roscoe following close
after. Coming TO the orchard, over Wanted
Charlie, and, swinging his little body around
on the side Of his horse, tore through the low
hanging boughs Of the apple trees. After him
Roscoe, but, alas his tall form brought him 70
grief; the leg that he was obliged to keep on
top 20 hook himself on by was SO long that Ii
stuck up too far, and one apple tree that
dropped unusually low sco0ped him. his
clothes were torn, and many a curl
ing lock was left on the orchard trees,
but he was not conquered. The horse, re-
lieTed Of his burden, had galIoped of. SO the
race was ended, but not the dispute. The boys
went TO the barn to finish that, and climbing
on top Of a stack Of fodder they continued the
argument till words finally came TO blows.
Here Roscoe seemed 70 have the best of H. for
the powers that afterwards made him irwin
chile IN debate gave him, in their embryo state,
the advantage in q war Of words even then,
IN the more sanquinary contest But here
also Charles power Of endurance reaped an
advantage Roscoe was easily wlndcd, and
Charlie knew if he could stand the beating
TIL his companion gave out he could WIN the
victory so they struggled and pummeled each
other till they rolled TO the bottom OF the stack,
and then continued till, by the time Conkling
was completely out Of breath aud at the mercy
Of his opponent, Charlie Curtis had received
az immense thrashing Yet, undismayed, he
t0rned about and gave Conkling Roland for
his Oliver in the soundest Grabbing big boy
ever got fIOIa g little one before, it is safe to
say, for after that COnkling always had the
profoundest respect for him.
So you see" said my informant, "Conkling
was V2nquished once but it was the only time; ;
for his viii, that could not bow. made even de-
feat seem heroic when il was suffered BY min"
GRAND PARK.
Looking out over the Potomac fats improve
rlent from the higher ground OF the city IN the
neghborhoOd Of the White House and State
Department, one can scarcely realize either the
magnitude Of the proposed park when it shall
be completed or the amount Of work that has
already been done. a few days ago / stood on
the broad lawn az the old Arsenal here, where
the 81 e. ,. Art. has It's headquarters and
looked over the Washington channel Of the
Potomac towards the Arlington line OF hills
beyond. ! found that the earth excayated
beyond Long Bridge haas raised the surface so
that the banks really 05s.rgct the view across
the main channel. ] don't know just At this
writing how much earth has been placed there
since Col Hams began the work, bat il amounts
TO millions of cubic yards. The whole Of the
Potomac fats, when the work is finally com
pleted, viii make the largest park here at the
Capital, and one Of the largest, If not the very
largest IN the world. lis lakes will be far more
extensive than those that create such charm in
Central Park Aew YORK aud tic graded drives
viii be more than zoe miles long The Prater
IN Vienna, and Under the Lindens in Berlin,
VIII dwarf IA comparison with The broad road
way that wili extend ID q grand sweep along
the se2-Wal4 l0r almost dozen miles around
the park, aad which W.ll BE- lringed the Whole
length with rgsFa o. shade trees and be bOrdered
on the river side win q wide foUtWay on tht
top Of the stone wall. About one and q hal
million dollars has been spent OF the work &
this time, and n0w the condition is such tia
more money is imperatiTely needed to preserv,
End make secure the NOrk done. II the penny
wise and JIl1IHg ..l5ds Of the House ApprO
priati0ns Committee should prevail, and money
Is not speedily provided, Sumner and Autumr
1resbeis may damage tie banks and stoHeworB
70 the extent Of millions ilore Already III,
improved hcAith Ol haslIngt0 has shown ths
wisdom Of TIE o6iilerati0n OF the Potonzt
Hats a. a huge malaria breeding place and tia
alone BaoulQ stimulate the laT makers 10 thei
Guty, even 81 TAG growing park was not gstlBcs
10 be col thg most beautiful OF Washington
surrounding ornaments About 81 10000 laor
viii be ncsasd. and the value Of the reciailAc,
Eats would be worth fully 100000 as
merely business Investment.
PaEsIDESr JoHSsoE's STAFF.
often meet on the streets here tall man O
large bui-d who could tlll an interesting story
If he world Of the exciting days that loll0wc,
the assassination Of Abraham Lincoln and H.
accession o. Andrew johnson to the Presidency
When Mr. johnson went 10 the White Hous
be surrounded himselitwith a large staff Of OH
Gers who lad been somewhat associated w.t.
him st Nashville when be was a Brigadier
General II volunteers and the Military GOV
ernOr Of tennessee. Gen. Reuben 3D. Nuzzv
Of whom 1 write above was then the Colone
81 q Cg9r1d regiment Of infantry, was also
Captain iu The 18Th q. S. Inf, and lad bee
breretle4 q BiiEaiieE for the battle on the Re
at Nashville. when Thomas turned Hood rae
from the doors Of Iennessces Capital and d.
stIOyed bis army. Gen. Muzzy was mad
one u President JOhns3n's military staff an
WITH Aim WAS Col William g. Moore who
noW tie chief oil Police ia Washington) Co
Morrow, Col Browning, Col Wright Rives an
Aaj. Andrew Long. Gen. Auzzy and Col
Moore and kives are al that are now left {
that staff Col. Moore and Col Morrow wer
appointed Paymas.ers ia the REGULAR Arm,