The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1889-1889, 1889-04-06
THE TOWNS PHOTOGRAPH.


meDt who responded to the alarm for the
fire at the y. & p. oil-house las, Sunday
lost his uniform. There were hundreds Of
barrels and tanks OF lubrlcatlng oils stored
there, and the iremen had TO work in It up
TO their knees, and the ground had to be
ditchcd to prevent It running into the large
round-house. When they went home their
wives made them change their clothes In the
woodsheds or the cellars because they left
q stencil of oil wherever they went. The
loss Of uniform is heavy one to poorly
paid iremen, and their friends and admirers
think that the railroad company, whose
property they saved, would make good the
loss II they were acquainted with the facts.
a7c
Nearly any day as you go along + street
or the Avenue you may notice little knot
Of men standing around o small hole IN
the pavement. The hole is one of the man
holes to the electric wire conduits and the
chances are ten to one that the men are dis
cussing how the cables containing the wires
are got through the conduts. The con-
duits are constructed Of lenghths Of terra
Gotta about three feet long by two high and
wide. They are divided into six holes so
that when they are laid end to end under
the pavement there are really six parallel
conduits each about three inches high. The
guesses as to how the cables are got through
these conduits after they are laid are as
unique as they are different. One OF the
crowd usually suggests that strings nre left
I'm the conduit when II Is built by which
ropes and then the cables are pulled
through.
Another suggestion is that pieces Of
wood, to the first Of which a string is tied
on, placed one after the other in the CON
duff and pushed along until the block with
the string attached appears at the next
manhole, q square distant. But the real
method is even more interesting than any
of the guesses. The men have little
wagon, like children's toy wagons, only It
is stronger and heavier. 1t is supplied with
a sort Of clock-work, propelled by a spring.
The men wind up the spring, put the little
wagon in the conduit and after tying q
string on behind 1t it is started and runs
through to the next manhole. A rope is
attached to the string and the cable Is
pulled through by the rope.
eFs
What was but week ago brilliant rep
resentation of one of the most stubborn
battles Of the civil war is now inclosed in
q long, narrow, box-lile structure outside
the Cyclorama building on Ohio avenue,
and the amphitheatre is but an empty
structure, save for an immense Frame
work that rises to the lofty roof. The Bat
tie Of Shiloh has been removed aud 1t is cx-
pected that the Battle of Manassas will
arrive to-day. 1t will take about two weeks
to put II in position, and the public will
then'have an opportunity to see the master
piece Of one of frances greatest scenic
painters. 1t is worth a visit to the place to
see the contrast between what the place
looks like now and the grand scene II will
represent in a short time.
go
The vendors of the "Pigs in the Clover
are doing a rushing business, as everyone
who knows what's going on about town
must be aware, but an cnterprising local
merchant has made move which must
greatly cut down the sales He has Or
dered a large number Of the puzzles, and to
each Of his patrons he has sent one. Before
long there will be scarcely household in
the city free from the rattle OF the merry
marbles as they roll obstinately away from
the openings they should enter.
pav
man who looked like q collector was
waiting on corner at Dupont Circle for
car this morning. He pulled his hat over
his eyes to shelter his face from the driving
snow and sleet, and plunged his hands deep
into his oyercoat pockets. The approach
ing street-car was creeping along three or
four squares away, and after thinking about
1t moment he went up the steps of
handsome house, on the southwest side OF
the circle, and going under the large door
way prepared to stand In its shelter while
he waited for his car.
He had been there but few minutes,
when, apparently, the people In the house
noticed him, for footman came to the
door and said, as seriously as possible, for
he didn't himself know 1t was q joke:
"The marster says would you be SO kind
as to tell him what kind Of nerve food do
you useY ?" The collector descended the
steps slowly and thoughtfully, and waited
in the storm for his car
eas
The hotels are still crowded with men
from every part Of the country who want
TO serve the Government. They ramble
listlessly about the rotunda, but now and
then man will suddenly awaken from his
apparent lethargy, rush hastily to some
one who has made his appearance and en-
gage him In earnest conversation. The
game Of politics is an intricate and excit-
ing one, a there are many players to be
seen in the hotels. Every man who even
knows anybody that knows the President
finds II advisable to keep out of sight
aaa
Inspector Swindells Of the Police Depart
ment is q coel, firm, but pleasant spoken
man, who, without being In the least harsh,
inspires respect. But behind the portieres
which divide his private Office from the de-
tectives' rooms, the Lieutenant occasionally
throws off all official austerity and goes Wis
iting with family of kittens which make
their home at headquarters. The old cat Is
fierce animal, whose disposition has been
soured by contact with cold, unsympa-
thizing world. She will remorselessly barry
her claws into any hand which attempts to
bestow caresses, except the Inspectors.
She purrs about his legs and is always
ready to favor him with personal intro
duction to her interesting family Of fuzzy,
scrambling kittens Some of the offenders
who have been brought before the Lieuten-
ant would have been surprised If they
could have seen him the other day fondlinq
the kittens, while the old cat purred con