Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
Correspondence Of The EVENING STAR.

difficult to cast its horoscope even two DAYS
ahead But We seem to be on the brink Of .
great disturbance affecting two of the most
necessary elements of social order The first
involves the Vanderbilt system and the other
deals with the building trades Of the city, The
former is wider in its scope, but is scarcely
more important or dangerous. If we are to
have summary stoppage of all the building
operations in the city We shall be in a sorry
plight. The daily consumption of brick in
New York city amounts to five millions and il
this supply Is cut off under the threatened bow
colt and strike of course all other connected
trades will be paralyzed and the whole fabric
OF society be shaken. But the very
Importance OF the questions at issue
Will make the struggle short. As vet the pub
lie have not taken much interest IN the brick
strike, though very soon they will do so if the
threat becomes fact. But they have studied
into the merits of the railroad strife. The
struggle begins with public opinion ap-
parently against the strikers. At the same
time the episode is an embarrassing one for a
man who IS as fond of popularity as President
Depew. Thus far he has managed to keep out
of the rumpus. bu: if it assumes the larger
proportions which 1t now threatens 10 do he
Will have to return to the seat of war from his
European jaunt, and even if he does not his
silence will give consent TO policy that must
bring him into odIum among large classes Of
points the moral with which we are already
familiar, that man cannot serve two such
exactlng masters rs Demos and Plutus
HoNoRs TO THE GREAT DEAD.
The ceremonies attending the removal of the
remains Of Ericsson Saturday will furnish New
York with unique pageant. To the credit of
the city 1t can be said that Ericsson did not
have to die to be appreciated by his neighbors
ana associates IN this city. Pehaps this was
due as much to the originality of ms habits as
! TO the splendOr of his genius and services At
any rate the old inventor had a warm place in
New York's heart and the city will pay him the
last rites OF reverence with sincere homage 1t
would not be inappropriate if the great fleets
OF modern commerce that are conferred here
should observe the day with special cere-
monies. sharing the respect of the government
for the inventor of the propeller.
These impressive ceremonies throw out in
painful relief New y ork S neglect of one who
nils a still greater page in history. OF course [
REFER to Its notorious neglect of Gen. Grant
and there is an uneasy feeling now abroad that
we have sinned away our day of grace and that
retrlbution is impending The recent attitude
assumed by congress has alarmed those who
are not hopelesslv indifferent in the matter.
and stimulated the committee to a spasm of
energy The committee. though they '.disdain
ostenslbly to take part in what they term the
unscemlv discussion as to a change in the Local
ton of the grave" still seem to have been
stirred up by this unseemly discussion to a re-
allzatIon of their own tardy patriotism. AT
their meeting held on Tuesday they decided
that the slow growth of the fund arose from
the uncertainty as to the design of the monu-
ment They therefore plan to choose one OF
the five designs which are to be submitted on
the LIST of September and, like Mr.. Snodgrass
get ready to begin" in the hope that this
spirited action will stimulate sub
scriplons to add to the ''nearly
$50 600" which they have already.
The committee. composed of such men as ex-
Mayor Grace. who counts his millions. will then
strain every nerve to collect $3.50 900, and with
this amount they will erect building that will
contain the sarcophagus and present the
appearance OF a completed editice, leaving to
the future the work of carrying out a munu-
mental design III all its details What grounds
they have for expecting any such action on the
part of the future they neglect to state. but
with a sangune cheerfulness they predict thai
the result will be "a credit to the sentiment OF
grateful people and patriotic lesson to pos.
terIty: One cannot help fearing that pos
terlty s education in patriotism Will be sadly
deficient If II depends on this committee or on
the city Of New York for its lessons.
BIG BREWERY BLAZE.
Not since the big grain elevators on the North
river front burned down has New York seen Sc
sensational a blaze as that of last Tuesday
night. Far uptown as the great brewery is be-
ginning at 10th street. the light of the flames
was plainly at the Battery. eight mile.
away. Fortunately the fire occurred early IN
the night. making therefore less of Il panic
| among the tenement houses and fats near the
brewery. But the gale of wind which was blow.
ing at the time made things look rather omi-
nous for all the nclghborhood. and also made
Ii seem almost miracle that the fire could be
confined to the immense stables with their in.
fiammable contents and not spread to the ad-
joining brewery. As II was IL was pretty eX.
citing time. Thousands of people had assem-
! bled TO watch the splendid fireworks and there
was lively scatter ng when the hurr;edly loosed
| horseS-massiye and powerful Percherons-
charged into the crowd. among which
were many frightened women from the
! neighboring flats. in the rather sketchy and
casual attire OF a warm summer night large
number of the private houses. of which there
are many within a few blocks of the brewery.
/ were closed for the summer. But those resi-
| dents who were at home were either hurried,
| preparing 10 move out or on their roofs regard.
| less of flying showers of sparks as they anX.
lously calculated the force of the winl and
| flames. Every moment they expected TO see
! the brewery go up IN a blaze, and most of then
were divided between hopes and fears at thai
prospect. Connected with this brewery is the
Lion Park, one OF the worst resorts in the city.
! frequent petitions against the renewal OF It's
| license have been signed by the neighborng
! property holders, but as its proprietor was HIM
! self an alderman. III fact one OF the distin-
| guished doodle" aldermen. he had no diff.
Guilty III granting himself d license whenever
required and seems still 10 retain that influence
though he has rather lost prestige lately. Hii
! place almost adjoins the site of the grea
! Episcopal Cathedral and is a blot on the whole
/ locality. 1t seemed for time as the light
nlnS flashed and the flames roared if tho
| elements were going TO settle the question. but
when the rain poured down the petitioner
sadly came to the conclusion that the alderman
! still had the upper hand.
VERY MERRY MONARCH.
The town has been on a broad grin this week
with its old favorite. Mr.. Francis Wilson, who
has been disporting himself in a new role, thai
of the Merry Monarch" The little opera Is o
! course merely a frame work for Wilson's ex
uberant fun, and the house laughs tumult.
uously from the moment he makes his entret
till he cuts his final caper. Nothing in the per-
| Torrance. however, is quite so ridiculous al
| the grand entree. After a rather dreary hal
hour of the usual silly sentiment and explain
! atory twaddle the blare of trumpets announces
/ the approach of the king. A splendid anC
! glittering procession precedes HIM. knights IL
shining armor and waving plumes soldiers
with helmets and arms, picturesque pages o.
lnky blackness and gorgeous costume, anC
maids of honor-with which 1t seems kings are
| provided no less than queens in tina
convenient kingdom known only on The
stage-wlth rainbow-hued costumes sparkling
with jewels and tinsel. 1t is beautiful
! spectacle and its climax is the splendid paan.
! QGin borne by twelve staiwart men, In which II
/ seated Mr.. Wilson, carrying himself with kingl
haughtiness and smiling ~condescendlng
smile. A flight of carpeted steps is placed fol
him to descend. but as he begins the descent
| with royal dignity he trips on his robe Of stat,
and tumbles ignominiously down the whole
hight, landing among the embarrassed courtier