New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-09
OLNEY EFFECTS IN FEATHER.


II appears that residents Of Washington may
as we'll abandon all hope Of anything like settled
weather so long as vulgar and obtrusive people
continue to annoy Mr. Olney. They have had
precocious spring and resurrected winter-green
grass. swelling buds mating sparrows. sleet.
snow and bliZzard-in that distracted capital ali
within week. and all because of disturbances in
the Interior Of Olney People will not let him
alone. They persist in contracting and expand
ing him. Just as he begins to feel comfortable
to tell himself that the populace at last
barred out. and at the very moment when he
IS ready to withdraw his rofrigerating influence
from the atmosphere, and let the seasons pursue
their usual course, some rude Philistine loath-
some Congressman invade1 his mpid Boston
halo and suspends the whole process Of relax
alton Hence these alternating rgors and
nushes. these giddy thermal coquetries. this
swift procession Of surprises. Thus 1t is that
Olney distilling polar tendencies for his self
protection. much as the Putorius foetidus Of
odorous renown exhausts his scent gland on the
incautoIs foe--thus it is we say that Olney
has at once repealed intruders and blighted every
truck patch within ten miles of Washington.
II was observed Of Olney that his temperature
fell as much as % degrees when Josiah Quincy
jumped the town Up to that time the arrange
the Department Of Justice. and with Quincy
running all the others. there was a sort OF Bos
ton snap on hand that almost reconciled the
chill ana silent one to the existence 90 the
rest Of mankind It Is tact that at time
Olncy was on the point of permitting himself
u become acquainted with the Hon. Edward
J. Dunphy. the chairman Of the House Commit
toe Expenditures in the Department Of
Justice He had absolutely mellowed 10 that ex
tent that he seemed resigned to meeting Mr..
Dunphy. speaking kindly to him. and in various
other ways recognizing the tie OF common hu-
mainly between them. There a general
feeling that Oney had been struck by thaw.
and that he likely at any moment 10
emerge into the sunlight But of course the
departure of Quincy changed all that. His dis
appearance from the scene oblterated that prev
alent air Of Boston which his activities had Gre
ated, and left Olney once more the child OF
gloom and solitude and storm.
We really do not what Is to become OF
Washington weather unless Oney be re-
Taxed In way. 1t seems absurd to think of
a comparatively Southern city being held in
mete biological suspense TO speak, with grass
that fears 10 grow with flowers that hesitate to
bloom with trees that keep their sap curdled
and stagnant at the roots here in the very ante
chamber Of the spring. And when we reflect
that it is all account of Olney 1t is more
than abSurd-it Is cruel and outrageous. why
cannot people let Oney be? All he asks is TO
flock by himself in some holy fastness into which
no mpious plebeian may intrude. and where he
may lose himself in ecstatc introspection. Give
him that. enshrne him in some fitting sanctuary
and guard him religiously against the madding
crowd-and summer with her sumptuous robes
may come to Washington and stay there for all
that Olney cares.