Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-28
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week .Why" he commented I'VE even
attracted Reginald Vanderbilt with his string
of fine trotters and harness beautles wiz
carried away all kinds OF blue ana req r'o "
hons But the worst thing the papers OF
the east did to us was to say that whsh
Mr.. Vanderbilt won on several occasions ne
was Missed. Anyone who knows hentucky
knows that we would never think Tor q mo
ment of kissing winner at the horse Sho"
who was our guest True enough MI van
derbiIt came to Kentucky and was not re-
ceived with as open arms as some had pre-
dicted, but then, you know, southern society
must have it's frills. ! have heard tnat Mr.
Vanderbilt can stand for the latter, but. Tor
the rudeness to a guest. Kentucky pegs
leave To enter an emphatic protest.
= x = i
In connection with any great municipal
Improvement much interest always attaches
TO the ceremony of lifting the first spade
full Of earth, laying the first stone. and SIM
% uar1v to the more satisfactory task of put
ting in place the final trowel of plaster and
the last brick. The new Virginia avenue
tunnel a part of the Pennsylvania rail-
roads share in the project for the elimlna-
ton of grade crossings within the city, was
completed a few days ago-and the formal
finishing touch TO the contract fell 10 the
lot of MIR. Green, veteran colored laporer.
Mr.. Green is a character known by every
foreman for the big contracting hrm-and
he assumed the task of putting in the last
brick of the tunnel as though it was his
by right.
Mr.. Green so the story runs. came into
the work on the virginia avenue tunnel in
truly characteristic way 1t seems that
Jonathan Wainwright. jr.. son of the presl-
dent of the company, was IN active super
vision of the work-and he did not know
Mr. Green. One day the latter appeared at
the office and to Mr.. Wainwright said:
say boss, where's my room? Use come
10 work"
WHAT" replied the superintendent, fair
" taken aback by me aged laborers state
ment
my tools?' the colored man continued I'M
abashed.
more than half angry at the seeming I'M
pudence. Il have no place for YOU we
don't need any more men,.
go on, now, young man, | knowed your
father and mother long befo you was born.
and If you don't find place TO me right
away I'll have you discharged. You JUST
run along and find me bed and I'm goin
to work.
And Mr.. Green went to work, and that he
stayed to the finish Is obvious from the
statement that he laid the last brick.
X X X
IAN Improvement mainly In the interest
of safety" remarked an official to The Star
man. lis being made In the big granite
building occupied Jointly by the State, War
ard Navy Departments. /, is in the form
of supermposed handrails for every one of
the mahogany stair rails in the building.
There are thirty-eight of these stairways.
They are made of granite and are con-
structed on the arch principal. with no out
side support. The handrails of ma
hogany on ornamental brass supports.
While artistic and attractive. these ratings
were not considered high enough, especially
at the curves, for safety, and the wonder
is that they have not been the cause of
many accidents.
LAS a fact, a messenger did fall over the
railing from the fourth floor many years
ago and was killed. To prevent further ac-
cidents. Secretary Taft secured an appro-
priatiou of 1909 for the installation of
superimposed brass handrails, and the work
is now in progress. Superintendent Baird
bought sufficient tubing and brackets and is
having the work done by his own force
The new rails will be nickel-plated, and be-
sides making the stairways safe, Will i'm
prove their general appearance.
\ !;
The abundant foliage that covers the trees
Of the city streets and is such ornament
as well as comfort during the heated sea-
son has also an important function when
the leaves drop one after the other to the
pavement. 1t is not to keep the white
wings busy, for they have enough to do
without the leaves to keep the streets clear.
However, the sweeper gathers the leaves
into great piles along the curb ready for the
wagons 70 cart them off. II is while In this
latter state that the leaves become a source
of JOY aud delight to at least certain por-
ton of the residents of the city. 1t is doubt
full whether the trees in all the radiance
OF their spring beauty give half as much
pleasure 20 the average small boy pile
of the dead and decaying skeletons of the
foliage affords
match when he comes across one of
these tempting piles as it is for the grown
up man to want the same article when he
has cigar in his mouth. The conjunction
leaves d.
although 1t is contrary to the statutes in
such cases provided. With one eye on the
the other on the pile the boy enjoys seeing
the flames leap up from the dead heap,
while all the people living in the neighbor-
hood choke and gasp as the thick heavy
smoke comes floating into the houses.
But the boy Is happy and the supply of
leaves does not last long
=
A perfect two-headed turtle Is a very I'M
usual animal. but there is one in captivity
in Washington now that has excited consld-
cradle curiosity among the snake sharps of
the National Museum, and which, IN all
probability viii eventually go on exhibit
tion in the big bone yard" as the anatom-
zeal section Of the museum is known among
the initiated.
The turtle is a very little fellow and is
now in possession of local bird fancier
1t was captured over in Virginia some time
ago and brought to this city by hunter.
1t is about as big as a silver dollar and
looks like ordinary young land turtle
except that there are two perfectly devel-
Oped heads sticking out of its shell. Other
wise 10 seems To be perfectly normal. Just
what It's arrangements are inside no one
knows, hut il eats with both mouths and
winks its four little bead-like eyes in
blocks NJ two" each head being indiffer-
ent 70 the others performance in this re-
gard. II has but one tail and the usual
turtle complement of four legs. The owner
is making a determined effort to raise II
and the little fellow Will not be cut open
10 investigate his interior department SO
long as he consents to feed on flies and
fresh meat which just now constitute the
chief part of his diet.
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