The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-06
FREE-HAND COMMENT
ON MEN AND MANNERS
Car Is Learning to Play Guitar, Which
Seems to Indicate He Is Not
Meditating War.

a dispatch from ST Petersburg an
nounces that the Gar is learning 70
play the balalaika. ~or Russian triauru-
lar guitar and Il IS argued from this
fact that the Emperor's mind is not
fixed upon such a gloomy and ferocious
subject as war. Evidently faith Is
founded here IN the words Of the poet.
Music hath charms to sooth the SAVAGE
breast" One thinks. in this connec-
ton. Of Nero. who fiddled while Rome
was burning. but then the Car is not
a Nero, but has shown himself to be =
kind-hearted gentleman, TO whom, per-
sonally, war would be distressing.
When the storm clouds lower sadly
Ger the country OF the Gar,
Oh. then things are going badly
And the cmens threaten war.
For the Bear is getting savage,
And his growl is spreading fear,
And he'll soon begin to ravage
All the nations. far and near.
II the balaIaikas tinkle.
Then the dangers passing by,
And you'll see a merry twinkle
Dawn within the monsters eye.
Bring forth then a baIalaika.
Hand il TO the Great White Gar,
And perhaps my lord will make
Few pink plunks" instead Of war!
The appointment Of a Democrat TO an
important public office and above all. to
the position of Civil Service Commits
sioner. is a refreshing incident in a
Government like ours. where so great
a political pressure is made for all
places within the gift Of the Executive.
II is such incidents that give heart TO
those optimists who are sincerely work
ing for improvement Of the public ser
vice. and a regime under which appoint
ments 10 Office and security Of tenure
viii depend upon fitness and fidelity
rather than a pull"
That the vivid description OF our
whitechapel by Jacob A. Riis. when he
was here some time ago, Is 70 bear fruit
is evidenced by the bill which has beer
prepared by Commissioner Mcfarland.
10 enable the Commissioners to deal ef-
fectiveIy With unsanitary buildings and
conditions. Legislation will be neces-
sary covering the subjects OF nuisances.
the condemning of unsanitary buildings
and the erection of proper tenements-
Heroic measures are required 70 get rid
Of such diseased portions OF a city as
exist here. and a cure can be effected
only by the application of the surgeons
knife. The difficulty in the situation lies
In the fact that the buildings which de-
serve condemnation usually pay a high
rate OF interest, with little risk, TO the
money invested. and often belong to
wealthy and influential citizens No
will cure such evils as these. but the
persistent efforts of those who have the
matter in hand Fortunately, IL has been
proven that cheap tenements. erected on
humanitarian principles, also pay well
The important announcement is made
that a ring-tailed monkey once belong
ing TO AguinaldO. is in the possession OF
an Altoona man. What a distinguished
animal that is, To be ring-tailed, and 20
have belonged to Aguinaldo. Is almost
too mich glory for one monkey.
Admiral Glass cables from Panama
that the situation remains unchanged
That is about all that the situation can
do under the circumstances, and all that
is asked Of it. Volumes Of talk, nego-
tiations, diplomatic amenities, and
otherwise. do not affect a situation any
more than rain alters the shape Of a
mountain; and. the situation continuing
TO remain unchanged, we will go ahead
quietly and dig the canal. which will
change the geography of the earth and
realize the dream of Columbus.
AS result of the arctic weather OF
the past few days, and the fervent pro-
tests of many OF our citizens. numerous
closed cars have been put on the Column
bia line. That the protests have been
vigorous. is proved by the simple fact
that they have resulted in something.
The citizens out Brightwood way. for
instance. who really have a kick COM
ing" have been lifting up their voices
all together for some time without
producing any more effect than a boy
trying TO blow down a building with his
breath. But how shall we arrive at a
compromise concerning this closed
car matter? Arctic weather does not
visit Washington often II is the eX-
ception. rather than the rule. and We
shall soon be having balmy days
again. during which the closed car viii
be an abominatiOn &c such of us as
have red blood in our veins. Indeed. 1t
seems that many OF the citizens of the
Northeast prefer the accommodation
conveyances to those which are all
closed. But your open air man is gen.
orally a good-natured. normal sort OF
chap. so we shall not expect 10 hear
much from him. even If he be compelled
To pack himself into foul-smelling and
unventilated cars when the mercury Is
at 60 or %.
The Presidents declaration as 10 the
part which this country did not take
in the Panama revolution. is conclusive.
No one connected with this Govern
ment," he says. had any part In pre-
pairing, melting. or encouraging the late
revolution of the Isthmus of Panama
No one had any previous knowledge OF
the revolution except such as was ac-
cessible to any person who read the
newspapers" This will settle that
phase of the matter. so far as the Presi-
dent is concerned on whatever grounds
his policies or his conduct of public