The Critic and record., 1891-05-02
TIL z CRITIC
EBROED.


TIL Z CRITIC
EBRORD,
That descendant of the Kings of Ire
land, England, France and Belgium,
John Pope Hodnett, does not haunt the
District Building as he did at one time.
Away back in tho carly days of the
first board of Commissioners, said
District official the other day, "he was
terror to at least one member of the board,
The last of the Plantagenets used to visit
the Office of this Commissioner almost
daily and discuss, in his usual assertive
manner, the thousand or more schemes
which filled his head. The Commits
sioner, poor man, who was not acquau-
ted with all of Mr.. Hodnett' speculiarites,
submitted quietly to his overpowering
eloquenCo, until one day gentleman told
him that he and Mr.. Hodnett were becom-
ing the laughing stock of the District enl.
ployes. This aroused the anger of the
city father and he determined to squelch
the aspiring John. AT the next visit of
the distinguished advocate, the Commits
soner listened quietly to his declaration
and when he had finished opened upon
him with such expressions of wrath as
were seldom heard in any public Office
His effort surpassed anything in the way
of vituperation that | ever heard, and it
had the effect desired. Mr.. Hodnett was
amazed that any Commissioner should
dare to alIront him in such manner
II made his escape and never bothered
that city dad again.
He comes about the District Building
now and then, however, with brief in
one hand and well-thumbed copy of
the Constitution of the United States IN
the other. With the Constitution TO back
him Mr.. Hodnett is invincible in argu
ment. The last time he visited the Com
missioners he desired to obtain the Dis
trict advertising for new labor paper
with circulation of 100000 copies.
Notwithstanding the unprecedented ad
vantages offered, the Commissioners were
forced to decline and another of Mr..
Hodnetts schemes was shelved.
number of congenial Bohemians were
lingering over midnight lunch in a we'll
known Pennsylvania avenue restaurant a
few evenings ago. The conversation hap
pened to turn upon the early pecularities
of some well-known newspaper men who
have earned national regulations.
do You know that can tell you very
funny story about Joe Howard's early
piety,' said one of the party. Away
back early in the eighties, when Joe was
12-year old boy he and his parents, for
portion Of the time, made their home on
Deacon Steees farm, near Rantan Land
ing, n. j. He was bright frisl1y lad, and
was well liked by all the colored people
as well as the employees about the place.
zone of Deacon Steeles imperative
rules was that everybody should go to
church at least once on Sunday. There
were plenty of horses and comfortable
Conveyances at command, and it made no
fYaN \, IA, toll fNf tn
the New Brunswick Baptist, the Catholic
or the Mount Zion colored church. Joe
did not seem to take kindly to going to
church in those days. He would resort
to almost every conceivable scheme to
avoid it, On a bright Sunday morning in
April, when all hands were about to take
their seats in the rockaway and spring
wagon to start for church, it was sud
denly discovered that Joe had no hat to
wear and no one could explain as to
what had become of it. The consequence
was Joe had to be left at home.
THE following Sunday he was daring
enough to play the same racket; but the
deacon had caught on, and the result
was that Joe Howard bat was resurrected
from an old ash-barrel, brushed off, and
he had to go TO church.
"ln those davs'' continued the racon-
teur young Howard had another pecu-
liarity. He had shepherd dog, and the
| two were very much attached 10 each
other. Ii was seldom that you would see
| them separated, In the early days in the
| spring when the men were manipulating
| the plows, it was almost an everyday oc-
currence to see Joe and his dog following
| the plow in the furrow. The dog would
| get tired and heated up and lie down in
the new-turned furrow to cool off. Many
a time Joe and the dog were found Sleep
| ing side by side in the same plow-track.
| Joe was great lad in those days, and !
cannot see that he changes much"
IN the eyes of most people there seems
TO be something sinister and Mephistophe-
lian about the attaches of circus. This
is probably due to the associations OF
| childhood when the tented show was
shrouded in mystery through which the
| youthful imaginations caught titful
| CLEANS of gilt-edged and fascinating
| wickedness During the STAY OF Fore
paugh's aggregation in this city an Incl
dent occurred which is calculated to dis
pei the fond illusion of youth.
On the evening of the last Forepaugh
performance gentleman, accompanied by
q lady walkedup to the ticket box anc
called for two one-dollar seats, rendering
in payment five and a one dollar bill
under the impression that they were both
|
was lost in the crowd before Ticket
Seller Jordan could give him his change
After selling few more tickets, Mr.
Jordan vacated his post and went to tn,
big tent with what would seem to be th
hopeless intention of singing out two in
dividuals from crowd of twelve thou
sand. But he finally found them ant
asked the gentlemon If he had not los
some money.
Sizing up the contents of his purse tha
astonshed individual discovered the dis
crepancy. Mr.. Jordan handed over tn
four dollars and then hurried back to hi
post of duty, having convinced at leas
one individual that the circus man is no
quite so black as he is sometimes painted
Senator Morrill, of Vermont was
years old on the l4th ultimo, yet he pre-
serves the fine enthusiasm of youth abou
many things. For instance, saw him a
the Forepaugh show last Thursday II
moved about with alertness, looked at tn
animals with interest and when it cam
to the ring performances and races he dis
played all the vivacity of youth.
One of the most inviting of all the um
brageous spots in Washington to m
mind is Franklin Park. 1t is well kept
There is not an unsightly shrub or tree ol
perfection of greenness that indicates tha
the vital sap is buoyant and vigorous. Th
varied hues of blossoms here and ther
form charming contrast to the dee
verdancy of the thick foliage.
! have no doubt that when everythiu
in the nature of rubbish and lacerate
turf in the neighborhood of the Lafayett
? Monument in Lafayette Park is removes
appearances will be kindlier; but eve
then there will remain much room for in
provement. ! notice trees in the par
that cumber the ground and ough
to be cut down. Some of the big oak
hava sprao6 tham sal VOC Gu &c IN oUai