Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-15
THE WEEK IN NEW YORK.
Men and Matters, Facts and Theories
From Gotham.
DIR. pEPEw MAY POSSIBLY BECOME SENATOR DE-
PEw-TaE DISPERSION OF STEWARDS MILLIONS
Mr.. AsToa's LEGACY TO THE METROPOLITAN
ArsEUM-DR. p1x's LEYTES LECTURES
of THE EVENING STAR.

Correspondents of The EVENING STAR
New YORK. March IA.
Yesterday was stopped in front of an inn
posing iron structure on Broadway by gentle
man who is a leader in the dry goods business,
and as he pointed across the street to the iron
palace he said: That's what We all come to
death and the division Of the spoils and the
auctioneer's hammer"
For We were standing opposite the retail
store Of A. T. Stewart, which at that very hour
was being sold to the highest bidder at the
real estate exchange in Liberty street. We
learned later in the day that the property
brought $3.50 600, and that it was knocked down
to Judge Henry Hilton, who still retains that
mysterious grip on the Stewart estate which
has for years constituted one of New York s
problems Thus passes away the glory of the
earth. Both the great mercantile palaces Of
stewart are now in strange hands. and it was
only the other day that his magnificent dwell
ing on 5th avenue became the property
and the haunt of club. Even the
stately decorations and collections of art which
the great merchant acquired are coming to
a rather ignoble end. as his splendid collec-
ton of statuary has just been carted down
town to grace spring dry goods opening. And
amid this dissipation of an imperial fortune
where is the little dust of the man himself?
HAS IL dt last fOuh0 Sebufchef through secret
cOnnivance with the wretches who stole it from
its grave or is it still held by the ghouls for
ransom? A dingy end this to a career which at
best was never noble.
THE BUZZING IN DIR. DEPEw's HEAD.
Some weeks ago noticed the reports, which
rested upon good foundation, that our versatile
first citizen, DIR. Chauncey NJ. Depew, was
firing of the role of railroad king and was bent
once more on gaining political honors.
ReahZlng, perhaps, that the presidency is
beyond his grasp 1T is now said that he has
reconclled his mighty soul to q senatorial
career. 1 am told that already he and his
friends have organized a senatorial campaign
and that they are actively at work in the
prellmlnaries. Senator Evarts' term expires
with the present Congress, and it is taken for
granted that he will not be a candidate
for reelection. Possibly Senator Evarts
does not share in this assumption, but i'll that
case he is laying very low. The politicians are
not quite sure who will challenge DIR. Depew's
claim to the Senate. Some think that Boss
Platt himself will try to get back to Washing
ton, and others think that he will be content to
remain as the Warwick of the party 1t is
understood that Warner Miller will keep out of
the scrimmage. as he is not at all satisfied with
his record as a gubernatoriai candidate. 1t
Will be interesting to learn just how enthusiast
tic the Vanderbilts are in furthering a scheme
that will cost them the active services of the
While not great railroad king like President
Roberts, DIR. Depew is very handy man to
have IN a railroad house.
WHAT THE MUSEUM WILL DO WITH AsToR's GIFT.
l asked gentleman today who is ON the in
side in Metropolitan museum counsels what
use that institution was likely to make of the
late Mr.. Astor's substantial if not munificent
legacy of 1000. He said that as no condi-
tions were attached it would probably go to
swell the general fund, and thus be doubly
useful, as it was just in this feature that the
museum was weakest. Almost all its resources
are tied up SO that the trustees have to meet a
large cash deficit for running expenses an
nually, the balance to the bad being generally
about eighteen or twenty thousand dollars.
Mr. Astor's liberality will relieve the friends
OF the Institution to some extent of this DRAIN or
if so desired it will enable them to strengthen
the institution in any special direction. may
add that, melted by the brilliant growth of our
Metropolitan art treasure house, Brooklyn is
bestirring herself to found a similar institu-
ton. One Of the active spirits in the move
ment is Mr.. Frank Hooper, formerly of Wash
ington and now engaged in responsible duties
on the Century Dictionary. A novel feature in
the Brooklyn institute, however, will be hor-
tlcultural garden. something, 1 take it, in the
line of Kew or the London garden and the
Paris Jardin discrimination. New York has
also been talking about such garden for years,
but Brooklyn may get ahead of it after all.
TRANSFORMATION OF THE WASHINGTON ARCH
New York had rather an unpleasant surprise
the other day in the publication of the revised
plans for the Washington memorial arch. 1t
will be remembered that when the proposition
was first made to perpetuate this structure in
marble many suggestions were made looking to
alterations in the design and change in loca-
ton. To all these proposals the committee in
charge turned deaf ear. saying that the
n hn Lat
If the arch was made in a different
form or erected on another site. But now it
appears that both these changes are to
be made. The arch as revised by Stanford
White is wholly different from the graceful
structure that spanned 9th avenue to the de-
light of millions on the days of the great
parades, and it is to be erected not ON 5th
avenue at all, but in Washington square so
feet back from the street line. The design as
perfected by the architect substitutes for the
original sketch in lath and plaster a rather
clumsy and very commonplace and conven-
tional example of the arch, modelled closely
upon the patterns to be seen abroad
The explanation undoubtedly is that
the original design could not be carried out in
stone, but it is none the less unfortunate that
such happens to be the case, especially after
the committee made such a point of insisting
on the first plan. However, the arch when COM
pleted will be notable addition to the art
monuments of the city, and it is gratifying,
therefore, 10 Wdlcn the STEADY ana rapid In
crease of the subscription which has now
reached point that insures the immediate
construction of the work.
DIR. DIX SCoLDs THE FINE LADIES.
Immediately after Phillips Brooks finished
his lectures to male New Workers Dr. Morgan
Dix took up his Lenten parable against the
ladies. The worthy doctor fought famous
campaign against the fair sex last year and
now, after the reiSning fashion, he has started
in to break his own record. On Wednesday he
gave his lady hearers a very severe talking to-
which the morning papers, which are nothing
II not connoisseurs in religious matters. felt
called upon to protest against. However, Dr.
Dix is quite favorite with the ladies
OF fashionable New York, if he does scold them
roundly once year. 1t must be
admitted that this is rather a gay Lent. The
opera and the theaters are in full blast, and the
social calendar is full of important events
Perhaps the Easter weather has something to
do with it, We certainly have had marvellous
winter of it. The coal men are on the brink
of ruin, and now the dry goods trade is worried
because the wooden stock is a drug on the mar
ket. One of the largest dry goods houses in the
city failed yesterday and a good many others
are having an anxious time of it. The dis
panickv condition Of the banks, owing to the
wardly, to say the least, the city never looked
brighter or the people more prosperous.
HENRY r. ELLIOT.
The Modern Pied Piper.