Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-04
RAMBLINGS.
ale rambled In his walks,
And likewise In his talks"


old SONG.
Sitting in the rotunda Of that incompatible
hotel, the "Ponce de Leon" at St. Augustine.
few days ago, Mr.. Henry NJ. Flagler. whose
imperial munifcence called il into being. told
the writer Of this paragraph how nearly the
national capital came to having a similar estab-
lishment. II was impressed with the idea, ~
said Mr.. Flagler. 'that the person who would
build such q hotel in Washington would be q
public benefactor, in no small degree, and /
believed also that the necessary investment
could be made a reasonably profitable one. by
reason OF the longer season there. Accordingly,
set on foot negotiations looking to the pro-
curing OF suitable site, which intended
should be somewhat remote from both the bust
ness and political atmosphere of the capital and
upon which an establishment should be built
that would be SO large and attractive as to draw
people to Washington from all parts of the
country during the fall, winter and spring. and
constitute q complete social center in itself.
estimated that 1t would require three million
dollars to buy the land and build and equip q
hotel something on the scale Of the Ponce de
Leon. and laid my scheme before two of nv
one million dollars myself If they would each
furnish similar sum. To this proposition
they readily agreed, and negotiations for the
necessary real estate were pushed forward with
prospect of early success. little later on
discovered that what my associates expected to
40 In the matter was merely to sign checks for
their proportions of the money. as it was
needed, leaving to me the responsibility and
care OF examining and accepting plans max
ing contracts, supervising the work, etc.
thereupon told them that If such was their in
tention the matter must stop then and there.
Ea acfi W -,
the enterprise; and thus the scheme came to
naught"
**
What sad loss this miscarriage was for
Washington no one who has not seen the
Ponce de Leon" and its hardly less attractive
ad1uncts "The Alcazar" and 1.-THE Cordova'
can form the slightest conception. Such a
hotel here would have been worth thousands and
thousands Of dollars to the city. and source of
pride to the whole country as well. The hope
was expressed to Mr.. Flagier that he might vet
be inspired to carry out his original intention,
ana thus become a public benefactor while
to himself. He kindly answered that such a
thing was possible, but hardly probable" At
all events, he could make no promises. More g
the pityl
Word comes from New York that Of some
sixteen hundred canvases offered fog the spring
exhibition of the New York Academy Of Design,
which opens to the public on Monday, only
about four hundred have been accepted. Max
Weyl sent over single picture, and it was
promptly passed by the jury. He had two other
paintings ready, but they both found pur-
chaser before shipment, SO he had to be con-
tent with representation by solitary example
One Of the things that this town needs is a
superintendent or regulator of weather vanes
No matter from which course the wind blows,
1t is rare that any two indicators are found
pointing in the same direction From defect
In construction or some other equally potent
cause, many of them do not move at all. while
many more seem to be governed in their move
ments solely by their own sweet will. and with
out any regard for prevailing air currents. The
effects are anything but creditable to the con-
structive genius of Washington mechanics, and
dreadfully confusing to those who trust to
weather cocks for pointers to the direction
OF the wind and weather probabilities.
4 n
Another thing very much needed is an order
or regulation by the District Commissioners
requiring loaded CARTS heavy wagons etc-and
all other vehicles, for that matter-to keep well
Is
spicuously necessary on a narrow, crowded
thoroughfare, like 18th street between Pennsyl-
vanla and New lorkavenues. for example. The
practice of most drivers is to keep as nearly as
may be In the center of the narrow space be-
tween the railway tracks and the curbstonc
thus compelling all vehicles desiring to meet or
pass them to take the chances of having a wheel
wrenched of by the car rail on one side or
forced against the curbstone on the other
whether this condition of things Just happens
so or is the result of pure cussedness'' on the
part of the drivers of heavily laden wagons it is
not always easy to determine; but there is rea-
son to believe that as a general thing it is not
accidental, but rather the evidence of the dis
position usually entertained by the strong to
bully the weak Anyway, it is an abuse that
ought to be stopped, and the Commissioners
can hardly do better thing than take effective
measures to that end
The present art attraction in New York is the
collection of paintings and art objects BY Vas
lily Verestchagin. the celebrated Russian artist.
now on exhibition in the galleries of the Amer
lean Art Association. No Washingtonian Wis
itlnS New York while it is open should fail to
see this remarkable collection, as. after being
exhibited for suitable period, it will be dis.
persed by public sale, and thus become lost to
public view.
x *
Mr.. Postmaster General wanamaker. now
that the subject is in measure before the pub
lie, why not issue order that the uniform of
the letter carriers everywhere shall be of the
national blue? There is certainly more pro-
priety in the adoption of that color than the
confederate gray now worn by that branch of the
service. And, by the way, who was responsi-
BILE for that choice? and what reasons led to the
selection Of The color now used?
Another question: Why not have the street
letter and parcel boxes Of the Post Office De-
partment Of uniform color in all the cities of
the country, and paint in a conspicuous place
on each, in proper colors, the coat of arms or
shield of the United States? This device would
give them distinct individuality which would
point them out to the eye Of the passer-bv
everywhere, and at the same time it would in
sure respect and tend to promote patriotism.
by constantly keeping before the public-youne
and old alike-the colors and emblem of our
nationality. This may seem to be little thing
in itself, but such little things are tremendous
forces in creating a sentiment of loyalty and
love Of country. A bit of tricolored ribbon is
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