Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-25

! W
Written for The Evening Star.
II never expected to see the day when
people would decline to take gold, OBJ
served an official of the treasury bank to
a Star reporter. but that day came some
time ago. and there is scarcely a day when
people do not decline it and express pref
erence for greenbacks or national bank
money. For some time there has been Il
scarcity of paper money. and gold Is nov
and has been for some months constantly
paid out. Several of the departments 5ave
paid off their employees for two or tnres
months with gold, though they give out
few treasury notes as an accommodation
In every case the disbursing officers have TO
apologize for paying out gold. saying That
they expect soon to have plenty OF notes
As a result there is a great deal OF Soi1 IN
circulation in this city-indeed, more than
in any other city except San Francisco
where gold has never bean Withdrawn rom
circulation. The clerks tell us that they
have no special objection to gold, but tnat
their wives are fearful of handling it, Tor
the reason that they constantly mako mis-
takes in using it. and at night time are in
danger of making mistake IN using the
wrong piece.
What was once very general custom IN
this city, topping off, as it was called, re-
marked an old bricklayer to a Star report
err has nearly died out, and some OF the
new generation of bricklayers have never
participated in it. Topping Off occurred
the day the last course of bricks was laid
In a house and was to celebrate the event.
On the morning the topping was to take
place. a flag was raised on the building.
1t was also signal for the owner of the
building to prepare lunch and the Gus
tomary drinkables, especially the drink
ables, for all hands engaged on the build
ing. OF course, it generally wound up in
mild kind of spree, but it was the Gus
tom, and no enc who amounted to any
thing ever refused to give topping out
The best kind of punches were often pro-
vided for topping out, though IN later
years it ran down to beer. In the days
when ale was the drink L have known of
a barrel of ale being used at a topping
out besides barrel of sandwiches. The
day DR.. Hall topped out his house on c
street near Az street, which, by the way,
was the first brownstone front ever put UP
in this city, he not only furnished all the
ale and Porter necessary, but used up three
baskets Of fried chicken, cakes and other
things 1t was the talk of the town for
years especially among mechanics. There
were also number of other famous top
ping outs Mayor Berret topped OUT his
house on II street between 18th and 18th
With fine champagne. as did also Mr.. Gait,
the jeweler, who built d house next to him.
Many of the ho1 carriers were given buck
cts full of cakes. cookies and sandwiches
at the close of the topping out But those
days have passed, and when anything is
said to the owner of houses being built
these days, they express ignorance of the
tcustom. and decline to observe it when it is
Explained to them"
! 'In the preparations for the present war,
observed a veteran to a Star reporter, Il
Ehave failed to see that any provision has
I5een made for sharpshooters, though
sharpshooters played a very important
part in the last war. OF all kinds of army
men. sharpshooters were the most indie
pendent They seldom mustered and never
had to drill, but wandered about to suit
their own tastes, connecting themselves
with such regiments as they desired or as
asked for them. 1 was with Sherman on
bis march to the sea, and at lots of places
during and before that march our command
had to use sharpshooeers- The Johnny
Rebs had way of making themselves very
annoying to our men, while out on picket
duty or when engaged in going to the
springs and wells for water, by popping
away at them. There did not seem to be
any way to stop 1t until our regiment got
TWO or three of Berdan's sharpshooters de-
tailed with us. The sharpshooters would
generally climb up tree get a high
place somewhere, and with the aid of their
neid glasses would pick out the places
where the annoyance came from. They
TOOK special delight in picking ont and
killing the fellows who would shoot a man
Wnhe going down to a spring or well to get
drink OF water. My own experience was
that the sharpshooters, though there was
not much dress parade in their make-un or
eFoiutlons. performed in their wav more
than double the amount of seryic. that
the ordinary soldier did or could do They
were mandy In many ways, though mavhe
'neir warfare was not strictly Legitimate ),
+ X
several copies Of the MESSENGER a news
paper published in Georgetown in tie wear
1915 nave been sent TO The Star Office nv
MT John II. Steep. The copies are the
early numbers of the first volume and
while the space devoted to local news Is
not very great, is usual in papers of
that period. good deal of curious in
formation in regard to the customs and the
harits OF the people may be CLEANED from
TIE advertisements. One reads as follows:
Nicholas Warner
Respectfully informs his friends and the
pubic that lac still continues to carry on
Inc Boot and Shoe Backing business at
MS old stand. in the cellar of Mr. Reintzell
corner of Bridge and Green Sts: where
gentlemen can have their boots and shoes
cleaned IN the handsomest style, by the
month or by the pair.
Gentlemen who may please TO favor hin,
with their custom may rely that nothing
snail be wanting on his part to render gen.
eral satisfaction.
His terms are, by the month to regular
customers who have their shoes cleaned
every day, 81; those who have their shoes