Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-03

business season exists for but an average
Of four and half months per year, are
always well kept as any reasonable per-
son could possibly desire. In the course
OF our extensive tour of this season. we
found no hotel in all respects equal to
that of our fellow citizens, the brothers
Willard. which is capable of accommodate
ing comfortably and elegantly as many
guests as any other in the United States.
with the exception Of perhaps two in New
York city,
News of the battle of the Pei Ho, to
which reference was frequently made at
the time of the Boxer trou-
chinese BILE in China in 1900. had just
Aha;re reached Washington at this
time fifty years ago. In The
Star of September 49, 1885, is the follow
ing comment upon the tidings:
1.-The accounts of the recent inglorious
and overwhelming disaster to the British
arms in China SO far received here have
created lively interest in diplomatic and
governmental circles. The impression that
Russians really made the so-victorious de-
Tense of the attacked Chinese fortifica-
tons is as rife in Washington as in Lon
don; that the defense having been con-
Quoted as scientifically. apparently, as
any other of modern times-an unheard-of
occurrence in the history of England's
heretofore almost entirely unresisted ag-
gressions on China. The main point Of
interest in the accounts is their develop
ment (by implication of the fact that
hereafter Russia is to take almost an
open part with China in checking the
contamination of Britains schemes Of
self-aggrandizement in that quai ter of the
east. Russia is steadily pushing ahead
her interests In north China. while en-
gagged in the rapid development of the re-
sources of her magnificent territory bor-
dering that region, which are intimately
connected, by the bye. with the interests
of her territory in close juxtaposition with
her own, which she now nurses with
equally solicitous care 1t may be truth
fully mentioned that in all her dealings
with us she has evinced spirit of liber-
atty and enterprise far more in conso-
nance with the spirit Of our own govern
ment and institutions than hers. There
is, therefore, little or no reason to antici-
pate any injurious effects upon American
interests in China as the result of the new
character in which she now appears on
the stage of Chinese affairs. Indeed. we
would far prefer trusting the future of
our commercial relations with China to
Russian supremacy in the Chinese gov
ernmental policy than to that Of either
France or Britain"
The following paragraph in The Star Of
September %, 1885, refers to an institu-
ton with which the pres
Gutter ent citizens Of Washing
pr;d,.. ton, save those Of the
elder generation, are not
acquainted. gutter bridges having long
since passed:
among the repairs necessary to be
Oh, CT
noticed by the authorities having in
charge the city improvements, are the
gutter bridges. Numbers Of them are out
of repair and many are gone altogether.
leaving the cutters as traps in which the
aged and infirm are frequently caught
and injured. They have been frequently
| mentioned in the papers of the city. but
few if any of them have been attended
to. In the most travelled streets these
traps are to be found. This morning
lady passing over a fagway at D and
18th street was precipitated into the gut
ter and but for the fortunate circum
stance of her carrying a bundle upon
which she fell. might have been injured.
as she is very tleshy person and nearly
severity years of age. AS the city is now
in funds. why not expend a small amount
to repair these bridges and thus secure
the corporation against the possibility of
a lawsuit that might cost the city
heavy sum-
The condition of the Jail half a century
ago was, to judge from a paragraph
printed in The Star of
Conditions September 49, 1859, not
o+ Toll much more satisfactory
than that which was dis
closed by the commission which recently
examined the place of local detention and
reported to Congress-:
Under the faithful management of
Jailor P. H. King the county Jail pre-
sents an appearance of remarkable clean
illness and or der, that is as far as prac-
ticable in such rickety old concern.
The prisoners, of whom the Jail now
holds ninety-two, two-thirds of which are
cases awaiting judicial investigation, are
afforded the benefits of the most rigid
supervision from the jailer in respect of
aught tending to promote and encourage
q proper regard for their healthy condi-
ton; while the rules of wholesome re-
Straint are In no wise relaxed. The at
tendants about the building are required
to visit the cells daily with brooms,
scrubbing apparatus, etc, and at proper
intervals the application of the white
wash brush to the walls keeps them neat
and has its due effect upon the health of
the inmates In order to better facilitate
the business of the Jail in matters requir-
ing the action of justice of the peace,
the President has duly commissioned Mr.
King. who is now prepared to act in that
capacity in such cases as may require
I,;..