The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-28
LIVE TOPICS ABOUT TOWN.

III Ill Tie PUBIC parks II ana atVuA%A
Washington there is not a square yard
of grass turf free from weeds or plants
other than the grasses which alone
should be found This is stated on the
authority of one Of the leading agrostolo-
gists of the country All the parks are
sadly neglected lie this respect and as
the weeds and other interlopers are an
nuaIs or bfenniaIs, their death leaves
ragged and ugly patches which mar the
aspect. What is true of Washington is
no less true Of public parks Throughout
the country Abroad the greatest care is
exercised to keep the parks free from
the intruding weeds, and turf can be
shown, especially on old English estates,
over 200 years of age Prof. Lamson
seribner, OF the Department OF Agri-
culture, the greatest living authority on
grasses, has been ordered to the Philip
pines. but one of his able assistants ought
to be assigned 10 the task of grassing
the parks and given enough money to do
it properly
I noticed a rip in my shoe last night.
said Treasury clerk. and I dropped into
the first cotbler shop on my way home 10
have it fixed Most cobbIers here are
Italians, but this one was Polish He
brew. A New York paper printed in Yid-
dish lay on the counter. q daily paper at
that The cobbier found that lie would
have to cement a patch, which he did
with great care and skill He had to sew
the patch to the sole. 1 noticed that he
used hogs bristles instead OF needles On
his waxed ends, the first time have seen
them so used since was a boy, but they
permit smaller awl holes and thus finer
work I took pair OF shoestFIRgs, as
the old ones were breaking.
How much I asked.
Fifteen cents. he replied.
He had spent half an hour on the Job,
and I had expected 70 pay a quarter. The
patch was 10 cents and the sHoestrings >
Before I left a big coIored Iabo7er stump
ed in and pulled CT pair OF No u COW
hide boots and remarked
Boss, AbH give ye 50 cents ter half
sole en- good
. Too much says my honest little cob
bier. IN do II for 80 cents.
Which he was proceeding to do when
I left stubby fat little two-year-oId
was hauling his Christmas present, a
small steam fire engine. around the floor.
He lisped in English. and viii gov up to
be a good American citizen like his
father"
There is room for very important *
tension Of the postal system III which
the public would De largely q beneficiary.
II Is in the establishment OF d low rate
for the delivery and return OF books from
public libraries Legitimate newspapers
are given rates Of one cent pound: mag
azines have the same rate II is receg-
nized that this rate is less than cost, as
the railway mail service Is AZ higher
rate per pound than the postage amounts
to- But for local delivery alone books
could be carried for a cent apiece with
out loss TO the Government It now costs
the patrons Of public libraries usually two
cz-iares for each book There would be
a much more general patronage Of libra
rics II the books could be delivered by
mail at q Iov cost With the eliminatio
OF the low grade seeeBd-elass matter
which is responsible for the postal def
cts the way will De cleared Tor q mod
crate merchandise rate and a parcels
post such as every European country has
and the low library rate would 60 with
it Il IS the opinion o. competent libra
rians that d book delivery concern would
make money in any large city at a rate
OF three cents on each book delivered ana
returned.
..If one wants fine scenery. says q Wis
iting globe trotter. 1T is not necessary
to leave Washington have spent twC
week. nere and have seen more fine views
than anywhere else in the world ii III,
same area The palisades of the Potomac
as as Rne as the palisades of the Hudson
and the Government ought to put then
into park on both sides Of the river
Looking down the valley from Cabin Johr
Bridge is one OF the NEST magnificent bit:
of scenery ever gazed upon I am com
( ing back here IL the summer just te ge
:. that view With the greenery Of the foIfag,
+ at its best The view 10 the nerth o
f, the Berwyn trolley line. out beyond tn,
Franciscan monastery. Is as fire as
/ Kentish landscape From the dome Of tht
I Capitol the angle of the Potomac viii
+ the Eastern Branch. when the sun silver:
) the water. is perfect There are fort
! views Of the Capitol and Library. ali good
but the best OF all IS from the AIexan
! drfa traction line just beyond the bricl
J kiIns There is not a view in Europe t.
i compare with it. and have spent twenfI
! years in looking Last Of all. and fore
most. I place the outlook across the cit!
from the heights back Of Georgetown
j have visited that spot four times since
came to the city. and never leave it with
cut regret. Surely. your Park Commission
should obtain that spot for the public
( 1t contains more education IN art thai
any public school and is as grandly up
lifting as cathedral
80
Mar. the reasoning animal has prob
ably been en- earth. says an eminen
phi1oIogist of Columbian University, no
less than 50e, 500 years, yet it is doubt
full if a single word Of the mother tongue
save some purely explanatory word
which are merely sounds of animal pain
desire, or surprise. remains uuehange.
in modern speech in its original sfgnif
canoe. There is probably not a singh
word which has lived for even 80. CO
years Were It so We would find sem
one word the same in all languages
most persistent and ancient, yet the