The critic., 1891-01-26
LOCAL TALKS.
what Persons, Prominent ana other
rIsr. Ilnh To InieresL Them.


james G.. Ioyncr-Somc of the ladies in
my neiglborhood have an eyeto business,
and think their example should be fol-
lowed by others. There are twelve of
them, and once n month they pool in 50
each and then diaw to see who shall have
the use Of IL. The one drawing the money
invests IT., and at the subsequent meetings
pays IL back at the rate of 50 per month.
As a matter of course one can do better
with the cash than on time, and some of
these ladies have made investments which
have almost doubled in value. They
have no salaried officers and no other cx-
pensc.
II. l.. Moss-The mountain counties of
Georgia and North Carolina produce some
of as superstitious persons rs can be found
i'm any country. Most of them are as
superstitious as the followers of Voodoo,
and yet no race of people are more honest.
They have signs for almost everything,
and the moon is something they almost
worship. When 1t is full they plant their
corn, and when the dark of the moon
comes they say it is thine ter git de
'tatcrs'' in the ground. The moon must
be right before they will start on a journey
or begin job of work requiring several
days. Storms and other disasters are fore
told By the moon, and child born in the
dark of the moon Is an omen of bad luck,
and Il is never regarded with the same
affection "a the children who are ushered
into this vale OF tears when the moon is
new or full.
A black cat is hated and despiscd unless
II voluntarily takes up its place of abode
in one of the cabins, and then IL is petted
and treated with tenderness. If an owl
boots at any hour of the day or night, it
is an omen of ill-luck and If answered by
the prolonged howl of a dog, one of the
family will die before the week is out,
unless a chair is turned over at once. If
the salt (Which is always kept in gourd)
is overturned, the corn crop will prove
failure, and to find dead owl or hawk
signifies that an enemy has died. They
have an hundred such beliefs, but the
cross-oyed negro and rabbit foot does not
go with them, nor does the white horse
and rcd.headed girl.
These signs" of death, Joy, sorrow,
etc, are firmly believed by them and
have been handed down from generation
TO generation. With the tenacity of igno-
rance they cling to their signs" super
stitutions and traditions, and those who
live in remote regions from the civilizing
influences of towns, schools and churches
would laugh at the man who would tell
them that the world is round.
George T. Dowell-It is my opinion that
sufficient sum of money is paid for
street sweeping in this city to have the
streets kept clean, but they are not. II is
so seldom the street sweepcrs get out by
the Government Printing Office that the
little children are afraid of them and run
into their homes when they come thun-
dcring down the street. The streets in
that vicinity are not looked after as care
fully ms they should be- but believe this
complaint isgeneral from all over the city.
William OBricn, Jr.-In recollections of
European travel my fondest memories
cluster around that quaint old German
city, Hamburg, which is celebrated for its
soCiability, amusements and last but
most important to my mind, an unex-
celled cuisine. noted all overt the continent.
often long for those golden hours of
| epicurcan enjoyment spent in Pforte's,
| whose chef is an artist that tickles the pal
ate and wins the admiration of every
| globe trotter fortunate enough to visit the
old restaurant where he still reigns king
in the tiled, smoke e-blackened kitchen.
Some day "mine herr" will forsake the
Fatherland for culinary conquests new in
America, with an accompanying re-
muneration, which, If under four figures,
would cause him disgust, although it
might treble the old salary several times
over. Hamburg's glory and pride is the
| Binncn-Alster, beautiful sheet of water
| of irregular form, whose banks are bor-
dered with concert gardens, palatal hotels
| and magnificent theatres, which are illu-
mined on q tete night with countless elec.
trio lights, whose reflections are mirrored
in the water that flashes back the CLEANS
from its clear depths until every wave and
ripple shines like jewel and the darkness
resolves itself into bower in fairyland.
George Diggs-Why do / follow these
street sweepers, you ask? Well, | have
been doing it for going on three years
and manage to make pretty good liy'
ing out of it. Some weeks | pick up as
high as Sl2 or si5, and then again will
not get over SO to 81. The men who are
working with brooms and shovels be-
hind the four-horse sweepers do not have
time to look into the sweepings for money
and other valuablcs, as they have to get
along quite lively to keep up. They oc
casionally pick up stray coin, though.
The biggest find ever made was rol
of si2 in bills, but had to give the none,
up the next day because it was ADVERTISED
and ! did not want to get myself il
trouble. | found that it belonged to {
Woodworking carpenter and he needed i
for the support of his family. My mex
best find was diamond watch charm ant
/ received reward of S25 for turning |
over to the owner.
Officer Jameson-The new gymnasium
at the Sixth precinct station is now il
running order. We have billiard an(
pool tables and all the other apparatus i
of the most improved make. Heretofor
the men at this station could only anus
themselves during the hours they were OF
duty by playing cards or dominoes, b,i
now we get together in the gymnasium
and have quite jolly time Of it. Th
feature that the men seem to appreciat
most is the reading-room.
The literary committee has supple,
many papers and periodicals. We hav
the New York, Philadelphia and Balti
more papers and we are thus given an op
portunity to keep posted on matters tina
are of interest and service to us as well a
tothe Police Department. After the boy
have practiced up little on pool and bi
lizards, we propose to issue challenge t
the players at the First precinct static
and get up series of games.
Thomas CoOgan-The late John Nc
Cullough was the best relator of Iris
stories / ever heard. One night at tn
Ebbitt House after the show stately Vii
ginius unbcnt his Roman dignity an
plunged into the most mirth-provokin
drolleries for the benefit of some intimat
friends that had gathered at the hotel
do him honor with an informal but eal
crate dinner. II was my good fortune
be one of the guests. | remember esp(
cially one story Mccullough told with u
inimitable brogue that provoked roars c
laughter. The great tragedian improvise
as he told the tale of an Irishman VIII
lost his new silk hat at wake.
Genial John was at his best that nigh
and some of his bon motS fairly sparkle
with original wit and fun. Poor fellow
not long after, the brilliant mind an
great, generous heart was dulled an
strickened by that dread destroyer par
sis.
L. Il. Harper-For the past few days
have noticed displayed on the streets, i
most conspicuous positions, Autographs
an objectionable nature which should n,
be permitted. Some of these picture
: advertisinga borlesque show, are deciC
Q edly out of place, and are disgrace to IL
public streets of the Capital. In otht
} cities these Autographs are not permitted
: be displayed in such a prominent wa,
and frequently are tabooed altogethe
These pictures are apt to have demora
zing influence, and should be stopped, o
at least, some precautionary measu
| adoIiph