Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-08

THE PROTESTANT CATHEDRAL AND ITS PROS
PECTs-PRosPEcTIvE IMPROVEMENT OF STREETS
MODERN BLUE BEARD AND HIS BRIDE.
NEW YORK, March s.
Having lost the worlds fair, though there
are intermittent signs of kind of posthumous
agitation in this matter, New York has settled
down to projects of unusua! magniticence.
One of these contemplates the throwing OF a
suspension bridge over the North river at an
expense of sic, 900 for the structure itself
and S30,OOO.O00 more for It's approaches. The
scheme is in intelligent and responsible hands,
and it is said that the SIC 600 900 for the bridge
itself has already been guaranteed. novelty
of the construction will be span of 5000 feet
in length, or nearly twice that of the Brooklyn
bridge. The longest bridge span in the world
up to date is that of the great
bridge of the Tav, just opened,
which in its widest span is 1,72O feet between
piers. Mr.. Baker, who few days ago was
knighted for his work in the construction of
this great bridge, is said to be under engage
ment with the North river enterprise and to
have already assured its promoters that it is
entirely feasible. Perhaps the hardest part of
the problem will be in getting down to the
street grade after the water is crossed. To &C.
complish this object an immense amount of
valuable land must be condemned and some
very hard problems in engineering solved
Another of the great works of the city which
has taken a fresh start since the worlds fair
excitement blew over is the Protestant cathe-
dral. Notwithstanding the disappointment
caused by the lack of any bequest TO this object
by the late John Jacob Aston the trustees are
now pushing the enterprise with fresh energy
re- Y rs.rp mob ralin t1a+ -
plans are not to be interrupted by a temporary
occupation of the cathedral site by fair. They
gave their consent very reluctantly and only
after good deal of pressure was brought to
bear upon them. They can now proceed with
their vast project without interruption.
Already We begin to anticipate the benefits
OF the sanctuary in the neighborhood. as it is
proposed to widen 10th street, make il one of
the principal boulevards of the city and call it
Cathedral avenue.
THE DAWN OF CIVILIZED STREETS.
In that case the avenue would doubtless be
paved with asphalt, for after years of wearying
delays New York is actually to have some
stretches of civilized streets. In this connec-
ton Washington has of late been often on ones
lips as a model city and its influence will soon
be seen and felt In the metropolis. The au-
thorities adhere, however. to the stone block
for districts where the traffic is heavy. Broad
way is to be entirely repayed from
the Battery up to 32d street, so
that the demon of discomfort who
holds high carnival in. our streets and whose
culver is full of such woes as gas mains. sewers,
horse car tracks, electric conduits and other
hOrrld street nulsances Will once more gloat
over our devoted isle. Broadway has Just had
a terrible wrestle with this monster in connec-
ton with the subway. Not to speak of the inf
mite discomfort this interruption &c business
traffic must have cost the city's trade at least
million dollars, and now chaos
Is about to come again. Eighth avenue from
18th street to the park is to be paved with
asphalt, and as a long stretch of Madison ave-
nue. is already paved in this manner there will
be smooth approach so the park both on the
east and west side from the lower part of the
island. \ number of the pleasant streets III the
new west side are also to be asphalted. and as
some OF them are a(oo ornamented with park
ing the effect in some localities is quite Wash
lngtonesque. These are signs Of promise, but
matter of fact the streets of New York will
remain for many years yet bye-worG and
kissing among nations.
WHAT POOR PEOPLE READ.
Yesterday afternoon an interesting meeting
was held of the New York free circulating
library. This is one of the benevolent institu-
tions in which the city has just pride. 1t aims
to furnish the best reading to the very poorest
classes OF the community and its success is
phenomenal Although for the most part its
as the very lowest stratum two features of the
hDrarys work stand out in encouraging relief
One is that while 100000 volumes are
circulated yearly, and that with only
the commonest precautions, losses from
theft OF carelessness are almost I'LL
known. l believe last year that the books I'M
accounted for numbered something like nine
teen or twenty. The other encouraging fea-
ture is the high quality of the literature in
demand. La the record of popularity in each
of lao ~
Cabin" of course stands highest. After that
come the classics in fiction and history, with of
course ali occasional work of transient popular
ity like Looking Backward" or Ben Hur.'
THE LATEST CURIOUS MARRIAGE IN ''HIGH LIFE"
The gossips of the town are mad to know the
mystery of the sudden and curious marriage
of the much-divorced Mr.. Yznaga to the pretty
and interesting young Miss Mabel Wright. Mr..
Yznaga is credited with Blucbeard peculiari-
ties, except that he divorces his wives instead
OF hanging them up in dark closet. He also
improves on the primitive and lurid methods
employed by that famous bridegroom of Dick
ems nursery tale, the redoubtable Captain
Murderer, who, in spite of his warning naTne
had no difficulty in depopulating the vicinity
OF manageable young ladies. The Cap
tain, it will be remembered. insisted
only that the young woman should
know how to make pie crust and on the we'd
ding night when the bride had rolled out the
crust. sue lOuLu, 700 lale, tnat sne furnished
the meat Instead of such simple methods Mr.
Yznaga calls in his lawyer. His wooing, how
ever, is quite in the style of Capt. Murderer,
who sought his bride in a coach and six. We
have the authority of an old English classic
that this plan has its comforts even if love is
absent or loves illusions fade:
The Joys Of wedlock with it's woes we mix,
Ills best repentinc III coach ana six"
Perhaps it was merely this commonplace con.
sideratlon which induced the ambitious Miss
Wright to take her turn at this tickle bride
groom, or possibly, like Scheherezade, she in
tends to defend her sex by her superior fasci-
nations. But it was very strange perform
ance, especially as the newly welded couple
sailed at once away for Europe, where the
brides mother is supposed to be on her death
bed. As the affair touches the outskirts OF the
Vanderbilt circle OF course every detail attracts
much attention
THE LITTLE Blizzard AFLoAT AND ASHORE.
The season of summer exodus sets in little
earlier every year, and the pace needs to be
fast and furious for the few brief weeks
society" stays at home. The Teutonic, sailing
on Wednesday, took with her, besides Mr. and
Mrs. Yznaga, Mr.. Creighton Webb and num-
Der of other social magnates, and the wiser
travellers who have deferred their departure
IN LITTLE later coppra I'm at