Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-19
IN THE HOTEL CORRIDORS,

In the beautiful new lobby Of the Airing
ton, In the evening especially. ladies wan
der through and gaze admiringly at the
costly mural adornments and paintings
in Oil, and curiously and perhaps enviously
at the gentlemen lounging in the great
leather arm chairs, for many of these gen.
tlemen are national celebrities in the po-
litical or financial worlds.
Some evenings since, an elderly, richly
attired matron. accompanied by another
and even more elegantly gowned lady,
frou-foued their silken skirts over the
mosaic floor and stopped idly at the news
stand. They purchased several magazines
and periodicals with that exasperating IN
dependence characteristic of American wo-
men. which is the problem and the envy
or their European cousins. AS they were
about to return to the ladies' parlor the
elder said to the clerk:
BY the way, 1 am informed that Senator
Hanna Is out here this evening. We have
never met him face to face, and would like
to see him. Is he present now?"
Yes, madam" responded the clerk, po-
Etely, indicating with wave of his hand
In the direction Of the colonial fireplace;
there he is-the stout gentleman sitting
facing US with his back to the fireplace"
instantly there was the rustic of silks and
the jingle of golden chains and ornate lorg-
nettes which in due time were elevated and
allowed to rest lightly upon the bridges of
TWO Well-bred noses. Two pairs Of sharp
feminine eyes pierced the white elliptical
crystals and slowly scrutiniZed the junior
senator from Ohio from the top of his pol
ished silk hat to the soles of his French
e1tamel shoes. He, unconscious of their
crit1cising glances. talked on with those
dropped.
Why" exclaimed the matron, in tones
or quiet surprise you certainly must be
mistaken. That gentleman is too good look
fx,,
ma. l have seen his sketch in the papers
a hundred times fail to see where the re-
stmblance comes in
He does not pose personally for those
portraits, madam, answered the clerk
suppressing smile. They are drawings
from and upon the Imagination of the art
lists, usually"
oh" exclaimed both ladies'. wonderingly.
me answer evidently was enigmatical TO
them for an instant. Then a light APP
peared to dawn, and with another glance
In the direction of the fireplace they both
passed smilingly into the adjoining room
toward the hall leading into the ladies' par-
lor. h
1t is nearly ten years since I visited
Washington" said Alexander Protovich of
St Petersburg. at the Arlington, land am
struck by the many changes which have
within that short time.
NV oa'uii6 you Call the congressional
Library is strikingly conspicuous. Taken
all and all, it is one of the finest buildings
in the world, and I am informed that my
views are those of most travellers who have
seen 1t. 1t is a palace, exteriorly and in
teriorly. The marble staircase reminds me-
of the one in the Palais de Justice. in Rr,,s-
sells, which is considered one of the finest
In Europe. To Russian, the gilded dome
surmounting the roof is one of its most
attractive features. American travellers 7
understand, are struck with the profuse
olspiay OF gold-gildfng upon our church
spires and minarets, and the cupolas and
ZONES or our buildings. We are very fond
OF this display. and have often maryeleS
"a the lack of it in America, where The
people IN many things are unusually extrav-
agant. II your Capitol We're situated in St.
fetersburg Its white dome would be a dome
OF shining gold. 1 should think that your
Congress would order it gilded,'
A Washingtonian explained to the Rms
sian that the American people possessed a
deep reverence for the stately white dome
OF the Capitol" and would protest against
any change in the color for historic and
patrlotic reasons. The Washington gentle
man said that he noticed in The Star 70
Gently suggestion that statue be erected
in this city to Senator Morrill,, whose mem
DRY was reVered and honored by all .esi-
dents ne SAID That If this suggestion was
not carried out it would be a fitting mani
festation Of respect to the memory of the
aged and much-beloved senator to nut one
OF his most cherished projects into action,
ana pass the resolution he so often present.
ed for the gliding of the dark-colored
bronze statue Of Liberty on the apex of the
dome, which stands out in such strong con-
trast with the white cleaning convex sur
faces beneath her shrouded figure
A Brooklyn gentIeman's suggestion that
II this were done the statue be turned
around to face Pennsylvania avenue and
the White House brought general laugh
ha God fh..t
next most conspicuous example of statues
looking the wrong way, since that of Henry
Ward Beecher still faced the city hall and
not the street where the people might see
ms features, despite general protest and a
universal sentiment for reversed position
"A great step toward the continuance of
the harmonious relations which exist be-
tween this country and mine" added Mr.
Protovich. lis the floating of a loan in New
York, after European financiers had pre-
dicted the impossibilities of such monetary
transactions on this side of the Atlantic
The credit OF Russia Is now on firm and
unquestioned basis and she is not Obliged
to knock at the door Of European bankers
Il she wishes to negotiate loan. If New
York financiers will lend her s25. OO0, 600, all
Of which, by the way Is to be expended in
this country. they will lend her as much as
she may desire to borrow here. The tradi-
tional friendship existing between the two
countries did not influence this transaction
In dollars and cents.
II can picture the distressing times they
are having in Honolulu said James E.
Gibbs. at the Shoreham. for 1 spent sew
eral weeks in that garden-like city last
summer. The appearance of the plague
must have demoralized the people there ter
ribly. but If it will be the means of 'wiping
out Chinatown of Honolulu something good
will come of it. for more appropriate
place for the nurture of plague germs would
-