Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-03
THlNGS NJ
HEARD ~
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side II there is any chance at all of them
getting seat where they want it. The re-
suit is that the cushions on the right hand
side are generally much more worn out
than on the other. The wheels on the
right-hand side also find it out in time,
and If passengers would but notice 1t they
Will lind that it is the wheels on that side
that get dumpy first, for taking all the
traTnc and weight into consideration they
wear out much more rapidly than the other.
OF course all the entrances are made from
the right-hand side. and besides, ninety
nine per cent of people are right handed
The only thing that counterbalances it at
all is the other fact that children will al
ways. if allowed, take a seat on the left
hand side. As the parent or grown-up
folks take the right hand side. children
Ind much more freedom on the other side"
< x
Il don't remember but one time that the
treasury watchmen were ever assembled
on dress parade" said an old treasury off,
cial, land that was one of the most gro
tesque events in my recollection. 1t was
during the administration of Secretary Fos-
ter. when certain high official concluded
that it would be a good idea to have all of
the old watchmen assemble for inspection.
He gave the order for the assembling of
the one-legged and one-armed veterans
without anybody knowing anything about
1t except those interested. and directed that
they should gather with side arms and in
full war paint. The inspection was to take
place one Saturday afternoon, just at the
close of the department. When the clerks
left their desks and started out of the
building they found practically the whole
treasury watch force standing around
armed to the teeth with big pistols and
other weapons. giving every indication that
an attack of some kind was expected on
the treasury.
1T is needless to say that there was a
good deal of excitement and much mystery
about the whole affair until the official who
mad given the order appeared lined the old
men up, had them count tours and go
through a few military movements such
as they had not been acquainted with since
the civil war. The whole affair was out of
place. and caused a great deal of mirth
The excuse given by the official was that
he wanted to ascertain how well prepared
the watchmen were for their work. but
this excuse did not go with the Secretary
who promptly asked for the resignation of
the man, and succeeded in getting it."
x x X
The slow progress made in repaving sd
street, Georgetown, was the cause of a
rather singular letter received by the Dis
trict Commissioners a few days ago from
resident of the street named
In his letter the writer requested, in a
sarcastic manner permission to plant DO
tatoes in the street in front of his premises.
Commissioners. replied to this f1ippant and
absurd communication in a respectful and
concise manner. saying the Commissioners
could not see their way clear to grant the
request
president Roosevelt will have to give
big state dinner in honor of the French
men who come over to this country to at
tend the Rochambeau statue exercises"
said an official who knows what he is talk
ing about. These Frenchmen are coming
to the United States at the invitation OF
this country, and they are to be honored
accordingly. An appropriation has been
made by Congress to defray their expenses,
but this appropriation will not cover the
dinner that the President will be compelled
to give to the visitors.
1T is estimated that the dinner which
President Roosevelt gave to Prince Henry
on the occasion of the latter's recent visit
to Washington cost about s1,00. There
were about 100 people present and a low
estimate is $40 per plate. This money all
came out of the Presidents private purse
and not any of it was betrayed out of the
expense account set aside on account of
Prince Henry So the President will be
put to expense of about that amount TO
entertain the distinguished Frenchmen who
are coming to this country.
L do not regard this as at all fair or
proper. Congress provides the smallest
kind of sums for such things as the RO-
chambeau exercises. and everybody else is
saved from expense except the President
himself. There ought to be some provision
of law or some ruling of the controller of
the treasury which would permit the pay
ment Of the expenses of the dinner occa-
stoned by the coming visit, well as by
the visit of Prince Henry
K X X
The uses of grass in cities would be a
good topic for the good government clubs
or the civic associations that have to do
with promoting the welfare of the commu-
nifty was the observation made by a lady
as she sat looking out of the front window
of her house in the residence section of the
city.
Il have no doubt that is a good sugges-
tion.' rather dryly remarked caller, who
sharing with her hostess the satisfac-
ton of looking upon the beauty Of the
sprngtme in the city as exhibited in the
fresh foliage of the trees and the rich
green of the lawns; but l hardly appre-
ciate its full force. 1 don't imagine you
are an advocate of the use of grass as an
article of food
Hardly that" was the good-natured re-
sponse- Still If the advocacy of such an
idea would serve to impress upon the public
mind the value and importance of grass
think / would be willing to do it in theory,
at least, but not in practice. l see so much
carelessness on the part of people who
ought to know better that 1t is not surpris-
ing to see children trampling over the
parking in front of houses and walking
down the little shoots as they struggle to
come up in the spaces reserved for such a
purpose on each side of the trees that Dor
der the sidewalks. To save a few steps in
turning corner many persons will. thought
iessly, l hope, walk over a section of the
lawn instead of keeping their feet where
they belong, and that is on the sidewalk
Any one who has had experience in keep
ing lawn appreciates the difficulty as well
as the expense of keeping grass alive. Yet
when We walk abroad We trample upon
our neighbours lawn just as if the covering
was some ordinary material instead of be-
ing the equivalent of bank notes. If we
think of what the average lawn costs our
! feet will probably be influenced to stay
where they belong
A Simple Matter.