The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-01-21
LOCAL TALKS.


wise, binG 10 Interest Them.
Captain II. G. Permissible Mardi
Grass fever is taking possession Of Il good
/ many people in Washington this year,
| and there are II large number of people
/ making inquiries IN regard to transporta-
| ton ON both railroads and steamboat
lines. The indications point strongly to a
large number going from here to New
Orleans. The same fever is prclavent i'm
all the larger cities of the country, and
consequently the managers of the Mardi
Gras are making more elaborate prepare
tiuns than they have done heretofore.
The railway companies will make their
rates known in q few days. Before lcav-
ing the South J learned that numbers of
PEOPLE were already engaging aCCommo-
datiUns nj the hotels and boarding houses
in anticipation Of there being big crowd
in the city.
Ridge Wallcr-1t is peculiar fact, but
nevertheless true, that the colorcd people
arc one Of the chief sustainers of the va
ricly stage. They take the greatest de-
light in a vaudeville performance, and
I'll wager that negro would rather % to
variety house ten times over than see n
sensational mclo-drama One of the most
commcndable things about this part of
the audience is the fact that they never
take ofense ut grOtesquc OF overdrawn
impcrsonation of their race. They arc
always nmiablc and easily pleased.
DR.. Stcycns--I do not think there is a
city in the country where more soda
water and other such drinks are consumed
and especially by the ladies. They drink
in season and out of season. OF course
there is large difference in the trade
during summer and winter but the trade
is good The year round.
Mr.. John w. Hurley--It is high time
our city had proper plumbing laws, and
II appears that ii is impossible to get leg
islation such as the people need to protect
them from INSCRIPTIONS workmen and
men connected with the trade. Strict
laws are needed, both for the benefit of
the people and the plumbers.
Il. Il. 1Iarris-1hcrc has been a notice
able increase in the number of people
who patroni2e the pool rooms and the
policy writers since the lottery law went
into effect. There are n certain class of
people who make up their minds to spend
certain portion of their money in gam
bling, and know of men who used TO set
aside s. for Louisiana lottery tickets who
now spend double and thrible that
amount in the pool rooms. You would
he surprised, j know, to see how the num-
Der of policy players has increased, as
well as have the number of those who
write the books. Regardless of the num-
Der of writers who have been prosecuted
within the PAST years there are new ones
continually coming in their places.
Forney Qucen-Am glad to be back
in Washington? Well, should say so,
and | don't think will ever leave the
old stamping ground again. had sold
cigars, stamps and papers so long at the
Metropolitan and National that got so /
could toste them in everything | ate, and
in my dreams they haunted me like lost
soul, and SO concluded to give it up two
years ago. did sO but am glad to be
back again where can see the plebian
iostle against the statesman with impu-
nifty when they amble up for cigars.
A District Watchman-It is not gen
orally known that reading room has
been provided for the benefit of poor
people. The young people of tho New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church have
established and are maintaining by con-
tributions room known as the Bethany
Mission near Ohio avenue and Fourteenth
street. The reading room is furnished
with all the popular newspapers and
magazines and is open on Wednesday
evenings from I O'Clock until 10. Here
many poor persons who cannot afford to
purchase reading matter and who do not
care to go to the more fashionable read
ing rooms pass few pleasant hours away
from harm and danger. During the even
ing our guests are provided with slight
refreshmcnt in the way of a sandwich and
cup of coffee. Thus the inner as well
as the upper man is kept in good con-
dition.
1t might be thought that the class of
people who come to the rooms is not de-
sirable one. This however, is not true,
for the persons whom we entertain, while
not from the most select circle, are very
orderly and respectable set. The rooms
were opened several months ago but we
have not been able to accomplish a great
deal as yet, for we have only been able to
keep them open on Wednesday evening
of each week, but when our funds have
increased poor people with literary tastes
can find n comfortable place to pass
Pleasant evening any night in the week,