Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-14
orrespondence of THK EVENING STAR

Correspondents Of THK EVENING STAR
NEW YORK, June H.
EG~ the good old days of the romantic
tSlatsGE dramas and novels the smuggler was
ySstSs.A an interesting and picturesque per-
CS1gIIII son, with q high-colored sash, con-
sO tanning a perfect arsenal of pistols
and knives, generally spectacular and I'M
practical costume, and high tenor voice. His
usual residence was in rocky and mysterious
cave where he lived in happy immunity from
rheumatism and bronchitis possible only in
that halcyon climate which no Stanley has yet
discovered for US off the stage. To the ac-
compartment Of tenor warblings he performed
such acts of valor and chivalry that the most
prejudced could not but feel that the trifiing
incidents of his having murdered the entire
family of the heroine in order to carry her of
TO the saubrious cave was greatly TO his credit
Now, alas. in the cold and practical light OF the
nineteenth century all that Is changed,
and the glamour that hung about the
romantic smuggler has been quite dissi-
pated Just at present, instead OF a cave,
he usually chooses for his residence a
cozy little suite in some correct bachelor
apartment house, and instead of tights, top
boots and a sash he wears spotted waistcoats,
iarge-checked English clothes and a Mackin-
tosh il it is stormy. Instead of trilling to a
light guitar he occupies himself in the various
pursuits of the lawyer, the editor, the physician,
the banker and the gentleman of refined leisure.
his cultured taste requires that his clothes
should be made in London, but an unsympa-
thetIc government has imposed upon these
'Plccadilly Projections duty that is both
annoying and expensive. To avoid the pay
ment OF this duty the modern smuggler, who
has more shrewdness than romance, avalls him
self of the assistance of the steamship employees
and various little subterfuges more ingenious
than ingenious. 1t is truly discouraging to
these diplomatic planners that a crude and I'M
appreciative government has put stop TO all
these choice devices, and not only that, but has
allowed the horrid newspapers 20 print their
names and those of the struggled articles in
full. 1t is enough to make a smuggler of re-
fined instincts invest III brand-new halter and
perish without remorse."
POLITICAL TRUTH.
The earnest and impartial seeker after truth
often finds that he is engaged in difficult
quest At any rate if it is political truth he is
after he must at least take two newspapers and
then take his choice. An amusing illustration
of this fact occurred this week. The Tribune
on Wednesday morning in an inconspicuous
and unobtrusive paragraph announced that on
the preceding evening the Harlem Republican
Club had held its regular meeting, at which the
usual routine business was transacted. On the
same morning the sun with flaming headlines
in prominent column proclaims that at the
meeting of the Harlem Republican Club of the
preceding evening the Hon. Thomas c. Platt
was blackballed when proposed for member
ship. This trifing incident appears to have
entirely escaped the notice of the 1tIbune's re-
porter, although one would hardly expect it to
be classed as routine business" The two ac-
counts of the meeting, il arranged in parallel
columns" would present striking and pictur-
esque contrast. By way of making things
little even Grover Cleveland has just missed
being blackballed at the Century Club, but sue
caeded in escaDinp that ipnOniuv though only
by perllously narrow margin.
DANGERS OF THE SEA-
The big ocean steamships have not had mo-
notonously peaceful careers to complain of this
season, and good many anxious people have
felt that to embark on what had seemed so I'M
eventful an incident as voyage across the At
lantic was now fraught with as many perils as
the early mariners attempts to discover the
northwest passage. Comparisons have often
been drawn between the steamships Of the diff
ferent nations, but i'll luck has come to them
all this year with great lmpartiality, French,
German, American and English having all suf
fered more or less. 1t is undoubtedly true and
certainly remarkable that in all these hair
breadth escapes nobody has been hurt or lost,
and intrepid voyagers are assuring us that it is
conclusive evidence that you are rather safer
sailing over unfathomable depths, grazing
rocks and humping into icebergs than you are
amid the manifold perils Of dry land; but the
once too often and the travellers take longer
voyage than they started for.
ACCIDENTS ON LAND.
In the crowded state Of the park drives and
bride paths there have been SO many accidents
lately from collisions and runaways that the
mounted policemen have had their hands full
and have developed really astonishing inge-
nuity and agility in stopping runaways and
often in preventing what might have been
A tlar
is suggested by the offer Of Mr.. James I. Hyde,
who has written to the park commissioners
volunteering to give cup to the park police
man at the next horse show who is most sklllful
in stopping a runaway horse. 1t is not yet
known whether the offer will be accepted, but
it is a little suggestive of the gladiatorial or
bull-fght forms OF amusement. 1t would
probably not be difficult to persuade the horses
to run away, and the interest Of the spectacle
might easily be enhanced by q few dead and
wounded policemen scattered picturesquely
about.
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
If New York's benevolent institutions we're
grouped together they would of themselves
form q good-sized town and one Of consider
able architectural pretensions New and finer
buildings are constantly being added to the
list, and there seems never to be wanting
money to meet any need of charitable institu-
tons. One of the latest additions is the new
home for half orphans and destitute children,
for which ground has just been broken on the
splendid square of ground given by Mrs. Rob-
ert L. Stuart on Manhattan avenue, extending
from 104th to 105th street. The square
fronts on a fine row Of private residences, is
within half square of Central Park and dag
onally opposite the magnificent Norman struct-
ure erected by the Astors for the Cancer Hos
pital. This charity has done a great work in
rescuing children from unworthy parents and
in aiding poor mothers left alone to provide
for their children. 1t has for some time out
grown its present quarters in 10th street. and
the capacious new buildings, with their sunny
outlook, their careful hygienic arrangements
and extensive play grounds, will give to the
little unfortunates q beautiful and delightful
home.
OUR VOLCANIC STREETS.
The temerity of those who live on the slopes
of volcano has often astonished the philo-
sophie observer. But perhaps when the future
traveller from the Congo Free State rests from
taking his snap shots of the ruins of New York
from broken tower of the Brooklyn Bridge he
win be no less amazed at the foolhardiness of
the citizens of that town in putting up their
buildings and plying their trades above the SUBJ
terranean perils that lie in hiding along our
streets. Yesterday We had another explosion.
and one Of such serious proportions that it may
lead to reform before the whole town goes up
in q puff and vanishes in a bad smell. As on
previous occasions the steam heating company
seems to be chiefly responsible. Then the mis-
cradle state of the gas mains furnishes another