Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-27
RANKINGS.
"1e rambled In his walks,
And likewise in his talks"
Old SOnO.


And likewise in his talks"
Indirectly the greed Of the importers Of
champagne wines appears to be promoting the
cause of temperance. Taking advantage Of the
increased duty OF one dollar per case, imposed
by the Mckinley bill, they have advanced the
Wholesale price of that article three times that
amount or three dollars per case. Following
| this action, most of the prominent hotels and
restaurants in New York have banded together
| and marked up the price of the leading brands
on their wine lists TO four dollars per bottle.
This makes pretty expensive tipple, even for
well to do people, and in facing the situation
thus presented a number of the gilded youths
| of Gotham are showing considerable ''sand,"
| and more common sense than could have been
| expected of them. They, too, have banded to-
gether. and while they do not exactly boycott
the swell places to which they used to resort,
they are now patroniZing those cafes, ETC.,
which are content with smaller profits when
less champagne consumed. In that aspect of
the matter, the Mckinley bill doesn't appear TO
be wholly bad measure, after all. does it?
The bronze statue of William Penn, which is
to crown the absurdly toll tower of Philadel-
phia's protentious City Building, is now being
cast in sections, and will soon be ready to be
put in place. I. is to stand on base only Ave
feet square. SO that one foot Of the figure will
project little beyond the edge Of its support
an arrangement that can hardly be considered
pleasing In both height and weight the Penn
statue very greatly exceeds the bronze figure
of Liberty which surmounts the dome of the
national capitol, and. in the grandiloquent Ian
guage of Philadelphia paper. lit is intended
that the broad trimmed quaker hat which
shields the head of the founder Of the city
shall be the first artificial object in this coun-
try 70 catch the rays of the morning SUM-" In
other words, 1t IL to be little higher than the
apex of the Washington monument in this city.
Nevertheless 1t will be far less imposing.
An Engiishman now visiting this country re-
lieves the dressy young men Of New York and
other American cities Of the charge often made
against them that they merely ape English gen
tlemen in their style Of dress. Nothing, in his
opinion. cold well be wider of the mark. For
example, he says. no well bred Englishman would
ever be caught wearing at dinner or evening
party an embroidered or figured shirt front, or
anything but perfectly plain one; nor dec
GRATED vest, when in full dress or at any other
time or place. for the matter of that except
perhaps on race course or other outdoor Occa-
sion. Neither does British gentleman ever
think OF making parade OF his pocket hand
kerchief rs feature of evening dress, rs some
smart young men in this country do, by placing
1t conspicuously in view between their low cut
vest and shirt bosom. That article is useful
and often Il necessary convenience. he adds
and not an ornamental object and should there
fore be kept as much out Of view as possible. An
EnglishmaE's opinions on dress. as illustrated
in the apparel be usually wears, are not worth
much. but It must be said that this particular
Engliskn.an seems to have very level head on
the particular points he criticises.
u **
The next exhibition at the New York Academy
o. Design will be that of the American Water
Color Society which will open on the Sd and
close on the 28th of February. Most if not all
of the Washington artists who produce
aquarelles will be represented. Some of them.
III fact, have their examples ready now. and
Others are bu,ily engaged with that end in
view. Hitherto our local water cOlorists have
been greatly encouraged in sending their work
To the New York exhibitions. as nearly all of
them have found purchasers there, and at fair
prices. while some of them have never had a
picture returned. This is true of Delaney
Gill. and also OF Mr.. Holmes, both of whom are
great favorites with New York connoisseurs and
probably in large degree Of others residen.
here.
Blodgett. the modest claimant from Phila-
delphia, must turn fairly green with envy when
he learns that parties in Connecticut propose to
help themselves to s2O5. OOO, 900 worth Of prop
erty along the line of Broadway. That is some,
thing hike. Why does Blodgett want to bother
himself with little slice OF Washington when
so fat quarry as New York lies before him?
~ Ia I1,-,
for the scheme of decoration and color recently
applied to the walls of the lower lobby Of Al
baugh's Opera House? And is it to be extended
to the other parts of the establishment? The
nine muses. forbid. Washington audienc es have
stood a good deal iii the way OF tawdry scene
and wall painting, but this would be too much
very much too much. In fact. it is much too
much it is. and sadly out of keeping with the
other decorations of the house, which are quiet
and in excellent taste.
Some idea Of the extent to which Germany
has contributed to the population of New York
city may be realized by rejecting on the fact
that the Stats Zeitur.g, the leading paper
printed in the German language in that city.
Is to partially change ownership on the first OF
January, at a valuation of four million dollars.
Few papers in the country worth that
amount. no matter what language they are
printed in, or what interest they represent.
4
How many persons who use the word lu-id in
composition know its real meaning? or, rather,
how many Use it appOsitely? Not one in ten, it
is quite safe to say; no, not one in twenty.
X
There was general hope, based on very large
promises to that effect that when the electric
light was perfected and came into general use
the public would have better Illuminating
agent than Was ever enjoyed before, and at far
less cost. These blessings were assured beyond
a peradventure, both by direct and indirect
processes. In the first place, the electric light
was to be a great deal better than gas light
could be and Would be furnished cheaner In