Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-25
IN HOTEL CORRIDORS

There was one little incident in Gen.
Sherman's famous march to the sea that
has never been recorded by historians of
the war between the north and the south"
| said Judge Thomas ]. Mackey. formerly
OF South Carolina, entertaining a coterie
of friends in the southern colony at the
Metropolitan
South Carolina was the first state in the
Union to send a regiment to the front to
participate in the war with Mexico. The
people Of a grateful state caused to be
erected in front of the capitol in Columbia
a monument to the memory of the brave
boys of the LIST South Carolina Regiment
who lost their lives in that conflict
This monument is made of pounded
brass and represents a palmetto tree.
When Sherman's army entered Columbia,
and his soldiers were destroying everything
that came In their way, several companies
made dash for the shaft. With the butts
OF their muskets they began the work Of
demolition. They had not proceeded far
when man on horseback rushed up to
them and commanded them to desist.
Not another stroke" he cried.
Several of the soldiers paid no attention.
The next man who dares assault that
shaft 1 will kill! he Numbered.
The men saw tears In the eyes of the
one who thus addressed them: they also
SAW tual ne naQ WelSneQ MS WOrQS care
fully and Teant every one Of them.
Soldiers said he, the boys who sleep
beneath that palmetto loved their country
rs uluch as you or 1. They fought as
valiantly.'
And the palmetto still stands in the old
town of Columbia. The man who caused 1t
to be preserved was Col Paine of the 124th
OHIO Regiment; and the people of South
Carolina owe him a debt Of gratitude they
2an never pay"
For fifty years the destruction of the
Palisades progressed with never an effect
i've protest raised" said Waldo G. Morse.
who is secretary of the joint Palisades
commission from New York and New Jer-
sey, at the Normandie. I'm 1894, however,
public attention was awakened, and in 1895
commissioners were appointed by both
states to lay the questions affecting the
Palisades before Congress and ask that
they be made a national reservation.
1.-The commission prepared legislation
looking to the end, and the acts were, in
1896. unanimously adopted by the legisla-
lures of botn states. The bill approved
by the states was then presented in Con-
gress. Owing to the financial condition of
the government and the fact that no legis-
lation carrying an appropriation was al
lowed to pass the Fiftyfourth Congress,
tne Dill presented ny TIE commissioners has
rested until the present time.
From their first appearance in Washing
ton the commissioners have met the siren
uous opposition of various interests. They
found the twelve influential and intelligent
families, the roots of whose household af-
lection struck deep into the Palisades where
the cellars of their houses had been blasted
out. were generally opposed to the plan
presented by the commissioners. Adverse
hearings before the congressional commit
m n
adverse newspaper. communications and
articles have manifested their opposition.
This opposition Is not unnatural nor In
any degree open to criticism; it is merely
fact. Every man is entitled to fight for his
home. Some measure of annoyance may
he forgiven the commissioners, however
when indefatgable opponents, who have
stood unmoved their entire generation
while destruction has gone on, attack the
proposition of the commission, with its In
dorsement by two states, as an obstruction
which has hindered their own more benefi-
cent efforts, shedding tears disappointed
friends, presenting evidences of a hopeless
future for the national park and lamenting
that it may not be realized.
The states Of New York and New Jersey
contribute to the national revenues more
than one-half Of their entire amount. The
national government has set apart in reser-
Vatlons the equivalent Of $3O"0O,00O. The
proposed Palisades reservation lies between
two states the state most largely benefit ed
having no power to join in preserving
eleven miles of cliff lying in another state
New Jersey has coded her valuable water
rights and granted other privileges of great
import.
History and legend cluster about the
Palisades. They stand a heritage of the
whole country. Their magnificent water
front and towering heights may well be
laid aside by the United States govern
inent. choice in the great center Of its
densest population. in which must be car
ried forward. in some proportion to the
greatness of our land. the enormous under
takings of coming generations"
Quite true is the old adage that Music
| hath charms to soothe the savage breast
and few months ago l heard of a music
cure for disease, but the latest field for the
musical art has been developed in the
usually retrogressive city of Philadelphia
SAID ]. w. Hannaford, a commercial drum
mer, at the ST. James.
Il was walking up South street, Phila-
delphia, few days ago. and as I got near
store in front of which was a butchers
sign, my ear caught the strain of famil-
lar song of the day, sung by what seemed
to be young man, with piano accompant-
ment. 1t was good singing. AMI l stopped
and listened. l thought at first that the
| music came from some residence in the
| ne:ghborhood. but soon found that 1 was
mistaken. l moved on a few steps, and
when in front of the butcher shop saw
what solved the mystery
Up in one corner of the sawdusL.covered
room was an old-fashioned square box
piano, and at the keys was young man
or the type that was usually found in the
low drinking places and cheap concert halls
OF the New York tenderloin before the
Parkhurst war against vice. The proprie-
tor of the shop was rotund, jolly Tcuton
From the outside l watched him cut up a
roast 10 the strains of Just Tell Them That
You Saw Me- AS 1 moved on he was Sic
ing off boiling piece from the rump while
his young musical friend was playing and
singing My Mother Was Lady, and stag
ging away between intervals at a cigarette.
Il asked one Of my customers who lives
In the neighborhood what the butcher was
getting at Don't you know? he replied.
That butcher Is one OF the most prosperous
merchants in South street. He has an idea
that the music draws custom. When there
is a lull in trade 1t is not infre 1uent that
you hear him singing his folk songs to the
accompaniment of the plano. The musical
meat shop Is an established institution on
South street."
Gen. John w. Nerner, P. P. Williams.