Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15
RANKINGS.
"He rambled in his walkA
And likewise In his talks."

"ae rambled in his walkA
And likewise In his talks"
Old S0no.
The ponds and fountains in the public
grounds Of the city are well worth a visit Just
now for the wealth Of beautiful foliage and
flowers they display. In the little basin by the
roadway between the White House and the
Treasury, for example, the interested observer
will likely enjoy, in few minutes looking, more
q; Of the peculiar flor. Ct Egypt and Japan than
to those countries. But one thing is needed to
make the visitors pleasure in such cases COM
plete. That is to have the name of each
plant placed where it can be easily seen.
1t is true that the Latin or botanical name is
written in small characters on some of the plant
supports; but that doesn't fill the bill. There
should be placed in plain sight and in legible
and durable form, in each case, not only the
botanical appellation but also the ''every day
grounds. Then education would be Joined to
enjoyment. And at very slight outlay Of
money and trouble, too.
X
An epistolary eruption altogether dispro-
portioned in size and virulence to any interest
tho public has in the subject has lately broken
out within the ranks Of that oddly named Or
ganization styling itself ''The Daughters Of the
American Revolution" What have the ambi-
tious spinsters and danes at stake that they
thus seek to draw the attention Of the whole
world to their internal discussions? Important
interests, possibly; but to an outsider the case
looks like one of washing soiled linen in pub
lic.-and very little bit Of linen at that. OF
course, everybody wishes the fair offspring of
the revolution well, but if they will take the
advice OF an old observer they will keep their
escape ridicule. There is nothing so fatal as
ridicule to enterprises of their sort Dynamite
ID nothing alongside Of it.
X X X
A little brochure which illustrates both the
good taste and enterprise of its projectors is the
morocco-bound handbook of "Glen Echo, on
the Potomac" lately issued by the Baltzley
Brothers. to show the charms and possibilities
OF the place they have done SO much to develop,
and which promises to be an enduring monu-
ment to their foresight and energy. The typo
graphic execution Of the book is excellent. and
the well chosen and admirably reproduced
views on the river at and near Glen Echo show
beauties OF scenery near our own doors that
few Washingtonians have dreamed of. In this
respect the little book is likely to do good work,
not only Tor the Glen Echo and Chautauqua
enterprises, but in calling the attention of
strangers to the attractive surroundings Of the
city.
Time was, by the way, when Washington
people who wanted book or pamphlet printed
in the highest style of the topographic art
were obliged to 60 out Of town to get the work
done. But that time has happily gone by.
More than one Of our printing houses are now
capable OF turning out books that show as good
typesetting and press work as can be done
anywhere. In support Of this statement no
better evidence is needed than the Year Book
for 1891 Of the Sons Of the American Revolution
in tho District of Columbia Just turned out by
Gedney d Roberts, the artistic printers on 10th
street. 1t is alike credtable to the organiza-
ton and to the firm who produced it. Another
product OF theirs no less tasteful and attractive
is the August or initial number of the Nor
wood Review, a newly launched periodical
issued In the interest Of Mr.. and Mrs. w. d.
Cabelrs well-known Norwood Institute. 1t
touches high-water mark in dainty Typography
and illustration.
X X
Blessed are the people who are out of town
just nowl Not on account of the weather, let
it be understood in the beginning. That has
been all right the whole summer, now nearly
gone, barring couple Of hot waves and even
then We suffered less here than most other
large places In truth and in Short let 1t be said
that, 30 far as temperature is to be taken into
the account, IL is not easy to find a more de-
lightful summerins place than Washington,
with her wide, smooth streets and wealth Of
parks, shade trees, flowers and grass, all as
lush and beautiful the whole season through
as in the spring time. The trouble ia with the
streets. They have been, to put il mildly. in
most horrible condition for months past; and
never worse than just now. Between the
the cable road, for gas pipes for
water connections, for sewers for
telephone sub ways, for electric light tubes,
for relaying horse-car tracks, and sometimes,
it would seem, through pure cussedness. there
is hardly street in town that can be used for
more than square or two with safety, nor
sidewalk that Is in decent condition for pedes-
trian uses. And then the terrors Of the situa-
ton thus produced are unnecessarily aggra-
waited by that building regulation or want Of
regulation which allowsv those engaged in
erecting new or repairing an old structure to
occupy the whole sidewalk and half the street
or more in front with all sorts Of rubbish, and
for an indefinite period, too, without the
slightest regard for the comfort or rights Of
the general public. These are the thlngs-the
aggressions and negligence of man, it will be
observed, and not natural conditions-that
make life burden in Washington in the lovely
summer season of this blessed year Of our Lord.
X
And the pity of 1t is that there is no final and
complete escape from these Affections. So far
as building material and debris go, Of course
there is a chance that they will ultimately be
removed and that the scars they caused will be
eradicated. by time, If not by human effort.
But with reference to the breaks in the con-
crete pavement, whether on street or foot
walk, the experience Of the past teaches that
there there is no hope. 1t is true, that after
the gaps in these have remained open until
half the necks in town have run the risk of
being broken a feeble effort is made to close
them up and to smooth over the hills and hol-
lows by thin poultice Of tar and sand, or some
such compound; but 1t is within the mournful
knowledge Of everybody in Washington
that pavement once cut into here
is never, nerer. NEVER restored to its original
condition. Why this is thus nobody seems
to be able to explain. The fault is charged in
some quarters to the greed of the corporations
or their contractors; in others to want of CO.
pacity on the part Of their workmen; in others,
again, to the negligence and incficiency OF
those in authority. Probably all these causes
combine to the end complained Of But in the
greatest degree the officials having charge of