The Washington critic., 1890-03-14
THE CRITICS" CAMERA.
PICTURES OF MEN AND THINGS AT
THE NATIONS CAPITAL.

English Artist Hers-MiIlIonaire
Lester's DoRth-Senator Stanford's
Bill and what it Will DO.
During the past winter pathway has
been worn on the grass Of Judiciary
Square, from the City Hall to the north
east corner of the square and E street,
by the feet of passers-by, who took
short cut in that direction. A few days
ago the authorities strung wire about
foot from the ground at each end of
this pathway. 1t makes one of the
finest man traps you ever saw, and
curses not loud but deep are heard
every night as unwary pedestrians come
into contact with it and measure their
length on the ground.
Last evening THE Critic saw a we'll
dressed and dignifed old gentleman
slowly striding along with his umbrella
before his face to keep off the driving
rain. AS he reached L street his ankles
came in contact with the fatal wire A
dark object flew through the air, there
was a combination of queer sounds
caused by the efforts of yell and an
oath to escape at the same time
and moment later the we'll
dressed, dignified old gentleman
had disappeared, and In his place
was a dilapidated, bedraggled, mud
covered old man, with q battered hat
and broken umbrella, who limped pain
fully down e street, muttering objurga-
tions alternatively against himself for
not obeying the sign ito keep off the
grass" and against the hendish ma
Lightly of the man who placed the wire
across the path.
ii. c. Seppings Wright, the very
clever artist who isnow doing America
for the Illustrated London Netos, is now
in Washington. He caught on the fly
in the rotunda of Willard 8 last night
some groups of colonies, captains and
politicians that when they appear, will
De found to be true to life. Yesterday
afternoon Mr.. Wright sketched the Presi-
dents room at the White House, and this
morning President Harrison posed for
likeness of himself to complete the
picture. The New York etchings by
Mr.. Wright which have appeared in re-
cent editions of the Ne,cs have estab
lished for him reputation that will
admit him to art circles wherever he
happens to go. AT the same time Amer
ica will be well advertised in Europe by
the productions from his pencil.
The Associated Press dispatches yes
terday gave very sensational account in
connection with the death of John T.
Lester, the millionaire Chicago broker.
The dispatch says that Mr.. Lester was
very much hurt over the unceremoni-
Gus manner in which his daughter was
married to p. d. Armour, ir., and
that this aggravated the disease which
caused his death. "Are you aware, Z"
asked well-known and influential
Chicago man at Willard's last night,
that the business relations between P.
ID. Armour Il Co. and Lester were very
close and that the latter virtually trans
acted all the brokerage business for this
wealthy firm. The fact that he should
be sensitive over matrimonial alliance
between his daughter and p. ID. Ar
mour is simply ridiculous. On the
contrary, he was happy enough to have
the match made at any sacrifice.
ITO tell the truth, Lester was a man
who delighted in ostentation and dis
play. His desire was to have grand
wedding, and because his daughter
went to the house of the Armour's and
was quietly married he was disappoint-
ed. p. d. Armour, ir., whom his
daughter married, has q one-twelftl
interest in one of the most extensive es.
Establishments in this or any other coun
Thnr do 81 "a n,
exceeds that covered by the Pennsylva
MIA Railway Company, and which ag
gregates 60,000,000 to $65, 200, 900
year. The firm has invested in tn,
business $25, 100000. Why should
Lester attribute his death to a mattel
of this kind?'
IF Stanford bill passes said gen
tleman to THE CRITIC last night, "ht
will proved himself TO be the great
est philanthropist and humanitarian Of
the age. l know good deal about th'
struggles that some poor farmers have
IN raising money to pay off their mort
cages. They may want three, four o.
five thousand dollars, and when the,
come to the city they are charged
per cent. fora loan. In their efforts Il
y pay off their mortgages they only sc
deeper and deeper into debt, their mort
gage is foreclosed and their farm |
gone. i tell you," continued tn
speaker, that if the farmers could &c
loans from the Government at pc
cent, as proposed by Senator S anford'
bill, it would prove the bic sest boon
the country has ever had"