Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-26
A BUDGET FROM GOTHAM.


A PnoRLKn OVER rnH sITE-sourHKaxKns WHO
MAKE NEW FORK THEIR HoME-LrrrLE INTER-
EST IN TIE PENDING POLITICAL cknPAioH-
WASHINGTON As A CONVENTION PLACE
corespondenee cf Tnr Evrsrss srAn.
New YoRK. October IS
Practically New York has done nothing on
the worlds fair for . fortnight except 70 make
fuss. Its spectacular but useless exertions
remind one Of nothing % much as the melo-
dramatic rumpus which freight engine makes
in starting heavy train up steep grade on .
wet day. There il . prodigious putting and the
wheels 60 around with dazzling rapidity, but
the train doesn't move. Will the million
aires sprinkle the necessary sand on the track
or hitch on the extra power requisite to extri-
cate the laborins machine from its present
ridiculous position? A few days now will tell
the story.
THE SITE PRoBLxM.
While the financial aspect of the fair il in
this questionable shape the committee are in
equal anxiety about the Site They are now
about ready to relinquish the choicest section
Of the chosen tract-the high land on the
Bloomingdale asylum heights. The trustees of
the Watts orphan asylum, which occupies the
site OF the future cathedral and which is the
finest part Of the grounds, are not disposed to
hurry or bother themselves and more than in
innate that they will not give up their land
unless ordered to do so by the courts.
The committee are laboring with them. but
thus far without effect. II the fair is restricted
for land to the vacant space Immediately north
OF Central park it will be very much crowded
and the temptation will be almost irresistible
to cross the Rubicon into the sacred reservs-
ton and by that act ALLEVIATE one of the most
influential elements in the community. So ii
| cannot be claimed for New York that the out
look Is altogether serene even IL we ignore out
| side rivals.
THE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.
The Episcopal convention, which adjourned
yesterday after three weeks session, attracted
MORE attention from the public and their glass
the newspapers-s<hsn any religious assembly
that has gathered here for many years. No
doubt its triennial character invested il with
peculiar weight, but more than this,
it challenged general attention by the
dignity and the interest Of its proceedings
The Episcopal church ranks next to the Roman
Catholic church of this city in activity and
strength of organization. OF the Protestant
denominations its ratio Of growth is highest
and its progress as depicted in new and splen-
did buildings is most observable. The recent
convention in its spirit was in accord with these
| surroundings, being alert, aggressive and yet
| in the main kindly. In social sense the meet
| ing together Of SO many distinguished bishops.
clergymen and laymen made the month quite
unique.
THE soUTHEN CLUB.
Not the least interesting of these social items
was . reception given during the week to the
| southern bishops at the Southern club. This
organization from small beginnings has
| nightly increased and multiplied, until now it
is ranking with the stronger clubs Of the town.
| 1t shows the carpet-bagging quality of New
York that club of this sort can so soon take
! root and flourish. The number of bright and
| agreeable southerners who are at present liv-
| ing here is remarkable. They are found at the
| front in all the professions and gentlemanly
lar for their manners as well as for their abili-
| ties.
LANGUID INTEREST IN POLITICS.
We have been trying very hard this week to
manufacture little political interest, but thus
far with only moderate success. A state ticket
| and local ticket are before the citizens for
their action, but in neither case are the Offices
OF the greatest Importance and il is in politics
| something as in the opera or in base ball, the
| Americans will pay anything for the best and
will not patronize mediocrity at any price.
Hence there is only languid interest in the
| pending elections, although the politicians are
| very anxious about the fate of the nation. That
poor old nationi How often its crises come!
But, fortunately, threatened men live long.
| GEORGE NANDERBlLTs CHATEAU.
The Vanderbilts have succeeded in astonish.
ing the public in a new light. One of the
younger generation, George W. Vanderbilt. has
bought tract of 5000 acres at Ashville, n. c..
| overlooking the valley of the French Broad
and panorama Of mountains and will build
| there a superb country seat on the mode
| Of French chateau. Expense is no,
| to be considered, and the idea ID
to make the building conspicuous
among the elegant mansions Of our nabobs for
| the splendor Of its architecture and the beauty
of the great park that will surround it, Five
| thousand acres will make a tidy building lot.
Central park covers $40 acres and Paramount
park, which seems so endless, only embraces
2,400 acres, so that young Mr.. Vanderbilt and
| the guests he asks to his chateau will have
plenty of elbow room.
THE ARCHITECTS AND WASHINGTON.
| Next month at Cincinnati the two great
| architectural societies of the countryside
American institute of architects and the west
ern association-meet in joint convention to
form one national organization. Mr.. Bloor,
| the secretary Of the American institute, voices
| the general sentiment of his associates when
he says that he hopes to see the central home
Of the new league located at Washing
| ton. The secretary of the western as
ISOLATION is Mr.. Normand s. Patson, SO
pleasantly remembered in Washington.
He, too, would naturally favor that city. Wash
ington is rapidly acquiring a great reputation
among social and learned societies all over the
country as the ideal place for gatherings Of a
national character. Apart from the obvious
propriety in political sense of holding such
meetings at the national capital the fame OF
the beauty Of the city and the gracious hospi-
tality Of its people has gone abroad through
| the land and forms an irresistible magnet The
| day of the gibe, more or less ill-natured, at
| Washington, has gone by. assure you that
you are quite the fashion.
MEuccI AND aARIBALpIs HOUSE.
Poor old Meucci, who was known in Wash
ington from his connection with the telephone,
died this week in the Casa Garibaldi, on Staten
Island, the house where Garibaldi lived while
| in this country. In 1882 . Mr.. Bachmsnn, who
owned the house, gave ii to the Italian colony
| of New York. Here Meuccilived by grace OF the
colony and paid no rent. The idea, of course,
was that the site as we'll as the dwelling was in
cluded in the gift But now the thrifty Mr..
Bachmann explains that he never gave away
the ground, and il they want the cottage TO
stand on 1t longer they must pay him his price.
| This somehow suggests the pound of flesh
which Shylock was a perfect liberty to cut
next TO Antonio's heart, provided he split no
blood
JAcK NEEDS A FRIEND.
l. Within few days two tramp steamers have
foundered ct sea with the loss of nearly all on
board and several other vessels of the same
| type heye lust escaped q similar fate Il looks