Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-25
RAAIBLINGS.
ale rambled in his walks,
Ana likewise in mis- talks."

RANKINGS.
ale rambled in his walks,
And likewise in mis- talks"
Old SONG.
II the District Commissioners could see their
way clear to give as much time to the matter of
keeping the concrete pavements Of our streets
and avenues in good condition as they seem
obliged to devote to granting OF liquor licenses,
the community at large would be greatly the
gamer, and Washington would still be able to
hold the reputation Of being the best paved
and cleanest city in the country reputation
which she is in sore danger Of losing as things
are going at present. Just look, for a moment,
at the condition Of most Of our principal
thoroughfares as they are today. and consider
what lot Of money would be saved. to say
nothing of the extent to which the comfort and
safety OF street users would be assured, if the
work of repairing a break in the concrete sur
face were undertaken the day it occurs, instead
OF waiting. Us seems to be the rule now, until
the hole becomes u serious matter. and often o
grave source Of danger and ground of legal
action Tor damages to person and property. And
why, does anybody know, is this obviously
proper course no: adopted as the uniform policy
nd rule OF procedure on the part Of the Com
missionary Have they no authority to hold u
force OF repairers constantly at work. keeping
the streets IN good order2 Or are they obliged,
by the terms OF some obsolete and absurd law,
to wait until roadway becomes well nigh i'm
passaoie before giving it attention? II 80, they
owe II 70 the public, whose interests they are
supposed to serve and protect, to see that
change In that respect is secured as soon as
congress meets. II the complained OF delay is
the result OF negligence on their part-well, it
Is hardly to be supp osed that the dic can lie
there. But, msniiestly, there is something
mr.
1t, gentlemen? and where is ii? The least the
public can think on the subject is that an agent
OF private or corporate owner who showed no
more foresight, judgment and energy in caring
for the property committed to his charge than
have lately been displayed in regard to the re-
pair Of our streets would soon find himself out
OF situation, and without the benefit, too, of
a recommend to other employers.
II
1t will surprise many persons to hear that the
most expensive of all the clubs in New York is
the Lawyers Club, which is nothing more than
q down town lunching place. and to which men,
oers may not have access except for a few hours
In the day time. Its annual dues are fixed at $780,
whereas tho aristocratic uptown clubs with all
the appliances or such establishments, and ac-
cessloie and available to members at pretty
much all hours day and night, only charge s75
per year. Nevertheless it appears that more
than thousand men are willing to nav the sum
hrst named simply for the privilege Of eating
hish priced midday luncheon in luxurious
quarters
Eternal obloquy and reproach for the person
or persons who introduced the vile English
sparrow into this country! In it's way it is
worse nuisance than the seventeen wear locust
or weevil in wheat. The latter We have only oc-
casionally, at certain seasons, and in widely
separated localities, as a rule, whereas
the pestilent sparrow il with US every
where and always,-summer and winter.
spring and fall, one year after another. each
year more numerous, and therefore more Of
fensive than the last. II the nasty little thing
had anything to commend 1t to favor, the case
wouldn't be so bad; but it hasn't. It's note is
Petulant. discordant and harsh. In disposition
1t Is quarrelsome; by nature it is obtrusiye and
noisy; and In habits it Is filthy to the last de-
gree 1t does not DESTROY vermin, but it drives
away Its betters Of the feathered family; it is
destructive to fruits and grains of every kind.
anu II denies and defaces whatever it touches
In short, beyond the mere fact that it happened
to be born into the world, 1t shows no reason
Tor Its existence, SO far AZ human eye has vet
been able to see or the human mind imagine:
and 1t ought to be swept off the face of this
continent-.to which it does not belong-by
question asked every day, and especially
by ladies,-wh generally PROFOUND it as well
in spirit Of complaint as Of inquiry.-is, whv
do our railway companies not publish in the
daily papers q schedule Of arriuinq as well as
departing trains? Upon the feminine side Of
the household usually devolves all response
bliity In connection with receiving expected
guests. and to them this information is of pecu
liar value; but it is of service to everybody and
1t Is somewhat difficult to understand WHY il il
NOT FURNISHED by all railway companies. What
goes up must come down." the children used
to sing; and those who go away must come back.
or others VIII come In their places, it is safe to
say, SO IT Is as well to know what time trains
get here as when they leave. OF course. il IA
TOO much to expect, and no one would ask that
all local trains should be announced. but GER
tainly the arriving time Of the through trains
from the north, west and south should be made
known to the public in the broadcast manner
possible. The Richmond and Danville system
now furnishes this information in its regular
adser,isements In the daily papers. Why do
not the other railways touching Washington
follow the excellent example set by that road
in this respecY
1t is announced that ground is to be broken
AoA sAS contemplated Srant monument In New
York ON Monday, but what precise form it is to
take does not appear, nor does it seem to be
settled yet where the money to construct it is
to come from. In this connection it is sug-
gested that one OF the New York papers should
stop to the front and undertake to raise the
necessary funds. 1t will be remembered that
1t was through the efforts Of the World that the
pedestal OF the statue of Liberty was COM
Pleted, and, since his death, the Recorder raised
In comparatively short time sufficient money
to erect an equestrian statue OF General Sher.
man. Why shouldn't one Of the enterpr;sipc
and influential contemporaries Of these two
Journals emulate their example in this respect.
and see that General Grant gets the monument
which New York promised.
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE OLD NAVY AND THE NEW. Bv Rear
Admiral DANIEL ANNHN, ISM, author OF
1.-The atlantic Coast During the Civil War"
With an Appendix Of Personal Letters from
General Grant Philadelphia: J. B. Ippincott
20 Washinxton: Brentauos