The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-31

,r,aubIe which has been going on IN
N. eity since November, andwhich will
eliminate with the new year. it has
S.come evident that there is one man
rho I, going TO stay on top OF the pile.
and that is the man the voters placsd
,b.rs-Mayor-elsct Strong. No man
whose Jaw shuts up under his mustache
m. that of Mr.. Strong Is going to let
,nvbody else conduct his business for
him and when his jaw pro.rudes little,
4, hi. docs, 1t tells Of man who is not
upaccus.omed to wearing chips on his
,bouldsrs. The prospective mayor has
b.eu living well up to his facia! ex'
rre,,ion. First, he rebufted a'member
or the committee oil seventy. who as.
,umed TO dictate TO him, in words which
ar. said to have been hardly suitable
n, publication. Later, lie came out
with pugnacious promptness in opposi.
lion to MikadO Plat, who had meek!y
EXPRESSED the opinion that the fruits Of
virtory should 20 to Republicans alone,
and not to any OF their allies. Now he
has com pleted his character as the dog
who stands in the middle and cheWs al!
around by serving peremptory notice
on the city politicians that in their cou-
tsst for control OF the Republican party
o,ganization there should be no prom
i.es OF patronage made.
"PeopIs outside Of New York." said
poIitician to me the other day, do not
know nor care as much about metro
polltan politics Us New Workers inag-
Inc. but would like 10 make a little
prophecy that before Mayor Strong's
farm expires he will leave reputation
that will reach a long way from home.
There is a Jacksonian air about him
that il going to strike the popular
fancy. Somebody has said that his
speeches and campaign behavior show
a lack OF dignity and general bigness
which he ought to have. but they needn't
worry about that. There wasn't much
dignity about Grover Cleveland when
stood in his shirt sleeves In his hotel
parlor at Syracuse, during the conyen-
ton Of 1882, shaking hands with the
bows, but he has had enough oil it
since, hasn't he? Prophecy ia cheap
enough, to be sure, but it is mighty
interesting thing to see a new man grow
into celebrated one, and l have an idea
that by keeping au eye on Mayor
Strong, you'll have chance to do IT."
The continuance OF the popular inter-
eat in anything and everything pertain.
ing to Napoleon Is q rather remarkable
affair. Two years ago, anybody who in
troduCed Napoleon as a topic OF con-
versation would have been treated with
the scorn deserved by the academic
and antiquated, but now you can prove
yourself Of the living present by no bet
ter means. The hero-worshippers who
dsyoured Abbott and Headley gener-
alton ago have the conversational
chance Of their lives, and unless you
are possessed OF something suggestive
81 the great emperor, from a personal
relic down 10 q plaster bust or a paper
weight, you have little claim to being
iashionably artistic. A friend OF mine
who finds mild pleasure in speculating
upon the tendency Of passing events,
has been telling me that he sees in
this, apparently inexpiicabie, revival,
the passage OF an American inclination
toward militarism. "rhe timesare ripe
for it," said he. at is II long time
since tho war; peace has worn itself
out. The energy Of the people is turn
ing again to arms; pupils OF public
schools wear uniforms, and drill; cities
call for military police; 1t has only
needed the initiative OF fashion like
this to diifu.ean enthusiasm for mill
tary study and admiration for soldierly
leadership" In the absence OF any evi.
denCe less vague than this, however, it
eau hardly be assumed that the study
OF Napoleon has any reference 10 prac-
teal life, although it is true that it is
apparently something moreth pass
inr diversion. But it is probably an
evidence OF that engerness for art which
Is beginning to be recognized as mark
ed Characteristic OF American life. The
unexcelled dramatic material which
the Napoleonic era offers to artistic
treatment accounts for its strong ap-
peal TO popular interest.
Unless Chauncey VI. Depew gets up
an increased speed. his record rs an
ever present after dinner orator 10 like
iy 10 be cclipsed by that OF Joseph II.
Choate. Whether or not the president
Of the late constitutional convention
has been stirred by his first taste OF
official position to keep himself in the
public view, it 10 certain that he is
achieving it, as far as banquet speeches
Rre concerned. The long series Of din.
ner' to the newly elected municipal
officers has found Mr.. Choate promptly
aud continuously on hand, and-what
Is rarer at dinnera-wiIh something
witty aud sensible to say. The two
star speakers diler materially IN their
style. Mr.. Depew's decorations OF
rhetoric consist very largely oil tatiy,
and lie administers his doses OF wisdom
acceptabIy, by profering them always
with tho thickest Of sugar coatings. Mr..
Choate. while equally genial, is more
daring, and nothing delights him more
than TO slyIy prod some fellow diner
with his wit, smiling sweetly upon him
tie while, az if ne bore him love too
Great to do aught except for his good.
iiitshoud ever come to question OF
good looks between the two, Mr.. ChOate
Is an easy leader. With his sturdy
bulk; his luminous blue eyes, with a
twinkle in each corner; and his classic
mouth and chin, no need fear little
competition in tho manly beauty line.
There is rakishness in his walk and
the way lie wears his hat, and alto.
gether he is picture Of selt.contented
Hgor.
Colonel S. Van Rensselaer, Cru2er,