The Critic and record., 1891-04-29
THE CRITIC
EBROKD.

- u - 49,
"The Pension Office Building is an ar
chitcotural blunder,n remarked a we'll
known architect to-day to the Critic. 'ln
Justice, however, to General Meigs, who
designed IT, it must be stated that the
building was not constructed on the plan
which he originally laid down His de-
sign called for a different character of
roof and q dome, which Congress in its
wisdom thought would be too expensive,
and so the appropriation was cut down
and tho present roof had to be substituted.
The building can be easily improved
rs il stands if the necessary Appropriation
was made, and in so doing the work of
the bureau itself would not be materially
interlered with.
"rhe main walls of the building are
graceful and strong and are capable of
sustaining the weight of any style of roof
that might be designed for them. II
would vastly enhance the appearance of
the odiiice if its present roof were stripped
OF and Hat roof substituted, something
like the iron ceilings of the two Congress
sional Chambers. An additional story
might be added If il was deemed neces-
sary, but that should not be constructed
flush with the existing outer walls. It's
base might be the inner walls and upon
this Rat roof of the character named
could bc laid. This would do away with
the cumbersome pillars that now mar the
appearance of the inner court, and would
thus add materially to the effect of that
really grand chamber.
When this new roof was on | would
strip off the abominable-looking frieze
cnCirCling the building on the outside,
paint the rcd bricks in some light cheer
ful color and ornament the walls of the
inner court with historical scenes COM
memorativc and descriptive of the Incl
dents and battles of the civil war. In no
other bureau or public building under
the Government would ! care to preserve
these The Pension Building is peculiarly
house built for the benefit of Union
soldiers. and in it their valor and achieve
ments could best be portrayed by the
brush and pencil"
over on the corner of Thirteenth street
and the Avenue two English sparrows
have made their home in the cone
shaped cap of the electric light. There
the pair are raising an interesting family
of four little ones. and the light that
burns all night and fades away with the
first CLEANS of morning, does not seem to
disturb them in the least. The sparrows
Of Washington arc having a difficult
time finding a home these days, for an
order has been verbally promulgated
that their nests are to receive no mercy.
The men who have for the past month
been engaged in pruning the trees of the
city, under the direction of the Parking
Commission, destroyed every sparrow $
nest that came in their way, while the
nests of every other bird making its home
i'll the parks of the city received the most
distinguished consideration. But the
sparrow is not easily discouraged when he
wants IN rofea a fapntlxy of1h ha u a cOt10hi
shelter over the electric lights and in the
caves of houses. One interesting paii
built nest under the saddle of Old Hiok
ory's statue in Lafayette Square Bu
they were evicted and went TO live over il
the White House grounds.
John Harsh, sturdy old Wisconsin
tiller of the soil, who has two valuable
farms not far from Oshkosh, was taking
in the sights in Washington yesterday fol
the first time. Last night he was chattin.
with a couple of newly made friends il
the rotunda of the American House, ex
Taiating on what he had seen.
\. BEING here in Washington kind of re
Nminds me" said Mr.. Harsh, 'of the days
when was member of the Badger Stat,
Legislature some years ago. | had been
working bard to clear up farm in what
was then pine forest, and had hare
pull of it to make both ends meet. One
afternoon Matt Carpenter drove up to my
cabin in the opening, and after convers
ing on various topics for while said:
"John, why don't you run for the legis
lature, you are just the man they wan
there
81 answered, Wei, Mr.. Carpenter,
have never held any official position ex
cept that of justice of the peace and don
know much aboutpolitics anyhow
He insisted that | should canvas
around among my neighbors and Sc
what they thought about the proposition
did so and they all advised me to run
The only reason had for hesitating wa
that the campaign would cost me some
thing and had no money. Mr.. Carper
ter very kindly volunteered to let m
have any money needed.
81 made the run and was elected, and
few days afterward Matt Carpenter visite
the farm again, and for the first time il
tmatcd to me that he was candidate fo
the United States Senate.
81 told him | would do all could 70
him and spent whole week talking II
Matt Carpenter among the boys on th
farms in my neighborhood.
When ! went to Madison Carpente
came to me and asked what thought G
his prospects.
Every, very good I replied. All th
people down our way are with YOU II
Slipped $500 bill in my hand and said
might need it for cigars and drinks Will
around with the members. That iiy
hundred raised the mortgage from IN
farm and the 81 day that | was pal
during the session put me right on N
feet financially. am on the top of Il
heap now and my wife and are ON OF
way to Europe"
A lieutenant OF police in the District
Columbia receives some queer commun
cations. ! was talking with Lieutenal
Amiss of the First precinct this mornir
about the presence of lack the Ri
per- in New York, and he told me abo
some of the letters he had received.
This letter l received about a wet
ago, said the Lieutenant, "and Il
woman who brought it to me was terrib
frightened. 1t was to the effect tn
Jack the Ripper had decided to transi
his field of operations to Washingto
and he had selected the woman to who
be had sent the letter as one of his Vi
Tins. lie also said that he thought it t
only way to get rid Of this class of wom
and he had made up his mind to do
part toward attaining this object
London SOciety's Craze,