The Washington critic., 1890-03-12
THE CRITICS. CAMERA
PICTURES OF MEN AND THINGS AT
THE NATIONS CAPITAL.

The Man who Binds the Commission
ers' Books--Summer's Precursor
General spinoln and His Views of
Cleveland's Chances for 1909.
A familiar figure about the District
building is that of an old man bent al
most double by the weight of the years
that have passed over his head. He is
George w. Francis, the District book
binder. That there is such an official
will probably be news to most of THE
CRIT1C's readers, but the large number
Of assessment and other blank books
that require TO be made up in hurry,
and in the constant delays that occurred
by having them sent out to be bound,
caused the Commissioners some years
ago TO decide that better plan would
be to have the work done in the District
building. The services of Mr.. Francis
were engaged, and he has remained in
the employ of the District ever since.
He has a very complete little book
bindery on the top floor Of the District
building. lie receives no salary, but is
paid by the piece for his work. He is,
however, kept very busy and makes
good living from the job. Mr.. Francis
is most entertaining talker, and is full
of interesting "reminiscences of the past
three score years.
:; y
In view of the mild, springlike
weather il may not have been forcing
the season, but it certainly looked like
taking time by the. forelock when
white clad colOrcd man wheeled his
barrow through the uptown streets
bright and early this morning crying
his ice cream and cold lemonade.
Those who passed the cab stand at
Seventh street and the Avenue in the
small hours of this morning witnessed
comical sight. Attached to one of
the might liner cabs were two an
cient steeds, much the worse for wear.
One of them had evidently made up
his mind that II was high time for every
decent horse to be in bed, and had come
to the conclusion that he would work
no more that evening, for he calmly
lay down on the pavement and was
soon slumbering peacefully. His com
panion looked as if he would like to
follow suit, but evidently thought it
would be too great sacrifice of dignity
for an old stager like him to lie down
on the public street. No description
can do justice to the ludicrous appear
ance the pair presented.
y -
The high shirt collar of General
Spinola waved high like the white
plume of Navarro over the heads of
group of New York politicians who
surrounded fine, ,soldierly looking man,
with close-cropped gray whiskers, who
stood in the Arlington rotunda last
evening. The conversation was an
animated one, and was about the DEMO
cratic prospects Of 1892. The man in
| the centre of the group was General
| John G. Farnsworth of Albany, N. Y
He is a close personal friend of ex-
| President Cleveland, and was one of
| his most trusted lieutenants in 1888. He
thinks Cleveland's s chances for renomi-
nation are excellent, and that if nomi-
mated he will surely sweep the country.
II don't see what there is about our
work that wants to make everybody
question us about it" remarked
the driver of a Seventh street car to a
CRITIC man. lone would never think
about talking a cabman or railway
engineer to death every time we met
him, but every jay that gets onto the
| front platform Of this car begins to fire
off all sorts of questions at me about
how many hours | work and how /
like my job, and all that sort of thing.
think I'll get big card printed and
hang it on my breast, saying that work
satisfied with my job I'll leave it; that
driving car is the greatest fun in the
world, and that I've lost my voice from
answering so many questions. :"