The Washington times., 1904-05-07
The Whited SepulCheT. :"
Why the Term Is Applied by Us to the
Evening Star

Evening Star
To the Editor Of The Washington Times:
Why do you insist upon referring to your
evening contemporary Us ''the whited sepul-
cher?" The star" in my humble opinion, IS
a highly respectable paper. 1t has the interests
OF the District at heart. In the views it ex-
presses it takes high moral grounds always, and
it never descends to low personalities As Mr..
B. ". Holman remarked at recent meeting Of
our citizens association, ''its editorials have
more sense and dignity in them than all the
other tissue papers in the whole District"
Why, ! repeat, do you insist upon referring TO
your evening contemporary 1.-THE whited sep
ulcher" If you have no reason for applying
that term 10 one Of the city's most cherished
Institutions other than that Of wishing TO annoy
business rival, you are acting the part Of a
biackglIard- In the language Of the prize ring,
ycu ought to ''put up shut up
Now, viii you be good?
MOUNT PLEASANT
Washington, May 6, 'Ol.
We print the letter Of our courteous
correspondent without abridgement
or emendation. It amuses us. Not
to put too fine point upon it, 'ft is
to laugh"
Why is 1t ito laugh?' ct is to
laugh" because Mount Pleasant
knows better than he wrote. TT is
to laugh" because Mount Pleasant
hasn't the courage of his convic-
tons, or else he is singularly absent
minded, evidenced by the fact that
in the hurry of mailing US his valu-
able communication he forgot to sign
his real name to it, ct is to laugh
because Mount Pleasant" if he has
any intelligence whatever, must
know, as everyone knows who ever
took the trouble Of studying our even
ing contemporaries methods, that
such words as dignity "respecta-
bility,' or common sense" cut
precious little ice in the Star" estab-
ishment when it comes TO a question
of coppering the coin of the realm
or feeling for a brothers fifth rib.
In fact, we suspect that of such words
it might be said as it was of the i'm
mortal Mrs. Harris, that there amt
no SIGH" in the Stars bright lexi-
con of thrift.
This much by way of preface. We
shall now attempt to crafty the
curiosity Of Mount Pleasant" and B.
w. Holman, who have entered the
arena of debate like a couple Of trick
mules in a circus, only to add to the
gayety Of the community and to make
the judicious grieve, by demonstrate
ing why We have right to refer to
our evening contemporary as a
''whited sepulcher of those,
indeed, described by Holy Writ, which
appear beautiful outward. but are
within full of dead mems bones, and
of all uncleanness.'
Before US, as we write, Is an edi-
torial of the Stars" issue of May %.
1901-one Of those editorials, no
doubt, so greatly admired and be-
loved by the sagacious B. w. Hol-
man and the acidulous Mount
Pleasant" in which, discussing
TON Johnson as a Reformer," the
following beautiful sentiments occur:
All taxable property should be listed at a
fair valuation Tax lodging IL one Of the ey.ls
Of the day. 1t has caused a great deal OF Just
complaint, and It should be abated 10 the full
est extent possible. Death and taxes are brack-
eted together in the enumeration Of the Ger
tainties, but Of late yean experience has shown
that they ought 10 be separated. For whereas
death cannot be eyaded, taxes can be, and too
frequently axe.
Pearls of wisdom, indeed! A
whole treasure house of noble senti-
ment and civic virtue! The lamenta-
lions of a prophet joined to the baf-
fed frenzy Of a would-be reformer!
Bemoaning the evils Of the day and
calling loudly upon some one to effect
their abatement Isn't il fine?
Isn't it grand? No wonder it fired
the innocent souls of Holman and
Mount Pleasant! No wonder they
squeal when they see the clay feet
of their idol threatened by some one
who, like Mr.. z. B. Stocking, can
tell humbug from an honest man.
who abhors cant and loves truth, and
who, above all, has self-respect
enough to call spade a spade, when
necessary.
We said 1T was to laugh" We