The times., 1898-10-02
THINGS SEEN AND HEARD.

AA@tdO 02xl1f Il MI uGAhU.
While the Americans are fighters and
progressive in many senses of the word
there are many things in which we are
very slow. When a thing becomes a fad
In Paris or London then it Is taken nm
Immediately in America II remember
some years ago." said gentleman yes-
terday, who is Of an observing turn OF
mind on most important questions. that
society in America had passed a series
of resolutions as it were against ever no
ticing posters of any kind. especially
those heraIding the coming of theatrical
attractions. Society turned up its nose
very emphaticaIly upon this point. About
three years ago Paris went Wild on the
subject of posters. The great artists OF
that city became conspicuous in the
movement More art in posters was de-
sired. II was no sooner telegraphed TO
this country than society here became
deeply interested in the poster question.
Every little female artist in the United
States began 10 draw posters. II became
lad, and ali because Paris had started
1t. The same thing is true OF bicycle
riding There was, when bicycles came
into general use here. d disposition on the
part of well-bred ladies especially. 70 IA
boo bicycle riding. IL was not the thing
to do On one Sunday afternoon all Paris
seemed TO have gone bicycle riding-men
and women, boys and girls everybody
1t furnished a fine news story and was
telegraphed to the American newspapers.
Next day thousands of society women in
ha
10 be taught the art of riding
1--WE lack originality in many things.
1t is a notorious fact that many OF our
best actors have to go 10 London before
they could play in this country 10 any
thing like full houses. Mary Anderson
was. in fact. so popular in the United
States after she had won her triumph
in London, that there was no theater in
the United States large enough 10 hold
the people who desired to see her. / am
an American, but / see these things. and
l must say that I am not at all pleased
II does not indicate any great amount OF
intelligence among certain classes. We
are constantly going upon the principle
of what some one else says and does
There is much alarm among parents
about the prevalency of diphtheria now
days it has reached a critical stage, and
in almost every section Of the city It is
prevailing. a physician, speaking of the
matter yesterday to a Times reporter,
said: 'I am unable to comprehend why
there is so much diphtheria at the pres
ent time. am afraid, however, il comes
from our bad sewerage system Think the
District authorities should take the mat
ter in hand at once and do whatever is
necessary 20 lessen the possibility Of ths
disease. There is no good reason why a
city like Washington should have 50
much diphtheria at this season OF tbs
year. The death rate has increased very
rapidly among children, and there is no
wonder that parents are very much
alarmed"
''The nearest thing to Utopia In this
country is the town OF Palo Alto, in the
| mountains Of West Virginia. where /
spent my Summer vacation" said Inspec-
tor Mattingly yesterday afternoon. You
talk about your union Of capital and la
Dor, they have 1t to dispose Of there.
Your so-called socialistic colonies are left
in the shade by the simplicity Of the pop
uIation of that town, and for Dmocratic
ideas and principles the residents of PaIo
Alto could give Jefferson a few points he
never thought OF, were he alive. The
hotel where we stopped was right oppo-
site the bank OF the county. II was a
good bank, too. I am told. They always
| paid good dividends and never went
| broke. The waiter who had charge OF the
| table at which I was placed when I went
there was a nice looking, intelligent fell
| low, a white man (there are few colOred
| people in the town, and he was a leading
member Of the brass band. Every small
| town in this country has a brass band.
/ you know. The president OF the bank is
| also a member OF the band. though I do
/ not know what instrument he plays
One day we had dinner early in order
that the waiter could get of and go out
with the band. After the meal was con-
cluded I was sitting on the front porch
smoking when I saw the waiter come out
| of the house wearing his uniform and his
| instrument under his arm. He walked
across the street to the bankers and
stopped al the gate.
Il say, Charlie" he called, ARE you
| ready?"
Almost" came from within the bank
building, and in a few moments the bank
er walked out of his place OF business at
tired in the same kind of a uniform the
waiter wore, and the two walked dowI
the street to the place OF rendezvous
the waiter from the hotel and the banker
of the town, one of the wealthiest men il
the county
IF the forthcoming Episcopal conven
tion is to be anything like previous TeIi
gious gatherings. it will be very interest
ing to the people of Washington" sal,
| Major Spear. of Cincinnati. Yesterday