Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-29
RAMBLINGS.
"He rsmbled in his walks,
And likewise In his talks"

With the demands of the times for such con
veniences as come with the extension of stree
railways, telephones, gas and electric lighting
ETC., it is likely that our city pavements viii
always be more or less torn up from time Il
time. But is it necessary that a street or side
walk once disturbed, for any of these purposes
| shall never again be put in good condition.
1t looks that way, certainly. At any rate, they
| rarely if ever are completely repaired, or made
anything like as good as they were before. And
not only that, but when the fiends with picl
| and shovel are once allowed to attack q thor
oughfare they 60 to work like chartered van
dals, and, instead of doing their work so "a t.
! inconvenience the public as little as may be
they seem to take delight in making things al
uncomfortable as possible for everybody. Take
the recent digging up of the foot walk on the
| north side of Massachusetts avenue from
Thomas. Circle westward as case In point. Did
the destroying horde go along either edge Of
the concrete pavement, SO that pedestrians
would be interrupted as little as need be
while the work was in progress, and that the
damage done could be easily repaired? No,
they! Nothing but the very center of the
walk would satisfy their august highnesses
And what mess they have made of it! For
weeks that muddy ditch-in some places q
ridge-has been allowed to remain, as both an
safe to say that the pavement will never again
| be restored to its original condition. Never
Nor anything like it. And this is only one ex-
ample in dozens or scores that might be cited
sidewalks, street-crossings and carriage-ways,
galore! Every reader of The STAR knows this,
to his or her shame. disgust and indignation.
Every reader, that is, except the District au-
thOrities. They don't ever seem to see such
things; or, if seeing, don't care for them. Why
Is this thus, Messrs. officials? Have you no
eyes! No bowels OF compassion for a much and
long suffering public? No inspectors of side
walks, or streets, or repairs. or anything of the
sOr2 III you have, why are these abuses not
stopped? They may be trifles viewed from the
lofty pinnacle occupied by officials who get
their places without the winnowing formality
but, like musketos, fleas, gnats, and that sort
OF small game, they are very irritating.
All things considered, perhaps the commits
sion charged with the troublesome duty of Sc
Letting site for the Lafayette monument did
the best they could in choosing the southeast
corner of Lafayette Square for the group.
None the less, however, is it to be regretted
that partisan feeling prevented its being placed
in the position of all others most suitable for it,
and for which it is exactly adapted, j. e., the
spot now occupied by the equestrian jackson
And hardly less to be deplored is the destruc-
tioH VI lue IODIe trees whose removal was DeCeS-
sary In order to make room for the monument
In the place last fixed upon. Every considera-
ton worth taking into account in broad and
liberal view of the real subject invOlyed--that
Is, the artistic adornment of the National Capt.
tol,-points out the center of the beautiful park
selected by Washington himself to bear the
name of his illustrious companion in arms az
the one fit place for what is at once the noblest
monumental group in the country and the COM
memoration of historical matters of the great
est national Importance. But political senti-
ment proved too strong. Whether it will al
ways prevail, or whether the Lafayette will not
be obliged for some reason or other, to find
another resting place later on, remains to be
seen. Meanwhile, let it be understood that if il
holds the place now chosen for it statues or
monuments of corresponding moment must
eventually be erected in the other three cor
ners of the park. To have one in the center
and one in one corner alone will produce lop-
sided effect that proper regard for the fitness OF
things will not tolerate.
x***x
The managers Of the Chicago worlds fair are
having no end of trouble in getting under way.
and Ill no direction is their tribulation greater
than in getting suitable director of the fine
arts department. The position has been ten
dered on a silver salver to q number of compe-
tent gentlemen, not one of whom can be in
duced to accept it, while on the other hand il
has been sought by still greater number, in
no wise fitted for it. And so the problem seems
no nearer solution now than it was in the be-
ginning. A heroic effort, which the friends of
the enterprise hope will be successful, is next
to be made to persuade Mr.. Antoine PrOust,
who SO ably managed that section of the late
French exposition. to come over and take charge
OF it, and it is proposed to hold out to him the
gittering bait of 525, 600 year for his services
One hundred and twenty-five thousand francs
Is prlncely sum to the average Frenchman,
but 1T Is doubtful il even so handsome a figure
will tempt a true Partisan to cross the stormy
seas and exile himself from his earthly paradise
for a whole year. Besides, having scored a
great success in the very home of art it NAV
well be questioned whether Mr. Proust will moi
hesitate about risking a failure among the I'M
tutored savages OF the western hemisphere.
*+xs*
Mr.. Thomas E. Waggaman has recently added
to his collection of paintings characteristic
and fine example by Milet, entitled or repre-
senting ''The End of the Days Work" Though
not familiar to Americans, it is well known and
highly esteemed in France, and makes a most
important addition to the gallery where it now
belongs. 1t recalls the .'Angelus." in some de-
gree, although it lacks its luminous quality
and also the religious sentiment which has done
SO much to make that picture famous and pop
uar. The hour chosen is late twilight; the
theme tired peasant, of what might be called
the lower class, not in the attitude of PRAYER.
but in the act of putting on his homespun coat
after a long and hard days work. This canvas
IL, 1t Is believed, the only one by Millet owned
In this city, and, considering the demand for
the works of that artist, Mr.. Waggaman NAV be
deemed very fortunate in being able to acquire
it. But that gentleman is constantly on the
lookout for rare and valuable additions to his
large and choice collection of paintings and
Chinese and Japanese objects, which already
represents q cost of nearly quarter of mil
lion dollars. TO the owners personal friends il
Is accessible from 2 to o'clock on Sunday
afternoons, and it will again be open to the
public, for the benefit of some District charity.
on Thursdays during January, February, March
and April.
Editor Watterson seems to have duo regard
for the dignity of the Press and manfully stands
up for the consideration to which its conduct
Ors are entitled on ceremonial and festive occa-
sions. He declined to attend the banquet re-
Gently given in hOnor'of Mr.. Thurman because
he discovered at a late moment that the COM
mittee Of arrangements had assigned him the
duty of making the last speech of the evening"
bringing up the tail end of the procession, so to
speak. The brilliant Kentucky editor is wise
Ill his day and generation. He has attended
enough banquets to know that, at their close, if
the orator is not himself '.too full for utter
ance," the guests generally are apt to be in that
condition when they would rather call for a cab
than for any more speeches. The great thing.
however, is to stand up for the dignity of the
fourth estate