Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-04-24
vi Work | X OLA VA n ] |
Abuse Of Statesmen ChaIked on
the Capitol.
LEVI P. MORTON COMING BACK
Report That He Will Improve" HE
sg Beautiful Rhode Island Avenue
House Alarms the Lovers
.55isi Of Beauty. ..,s is

- I II II
House Alarms the Lovers
Sr u Of Beauty. is%
By GEORGE CLINTON.
fH Some one with Q
grievance or with an unbalanced mind
has been scribbling on the walls OF
the capitol in "a large, free hand"
with blue chalk various uncomplimen-
tary comments about great and al
most great statesmen doing their
country's service in Washington. No
matter what the motive which in
spires the scribbling. the act is one
OF vandal because 1t disf1gures the
walls OF the building, and the police
and the watchmen are trying to catch
the culprit. 1.
It will be remembered that not long
ago large piece was cut out OF the
oil painting of Perry at Lake Erie. !"
Since then q special watch has been
kept to prevent repetitions Of the van
dalism. 4: i4s 5sz> sS 4 \
False Alarm About Webster. Z
Washington was much disturbed q
day or two ago when 1t heard that
somebody with a chisel had Clipped
pieces out Of the marble trousers and.
the. marble scoattail OF the statue Of
Daniel Webster which i stands IN:
5Statuary hall. A close inspection has
led to the discovery that the Webster.
memorial has not been injured by the
hand of man. Elliott Woods, the SUI
aperintendent Of the capitol, says that
the holes which were discovered IN
the Webster, statue were put there Dy
the sculptor and have: been plainly Wis
ible ever since the statue was erected.
Some one suggested that the yandal
who was at work was a new kind Of
moth which had developed an appe-,
Itite for marble garments. RS 4,
Former Vice-P President Levi r. Nor
ton has made up his mind to come
back and live In the capital for eight
or nine months a year for the rest Of
v his life. He owns q beautiful resi-
dence on Rhode Island avenue, where
be lived when he was vice-president
Of the United States under Harrison.
When Mr.. Morton went out Of office
& the Russian ambass..ssny moved into
the residence and, following him, came
Secretary Of State Elihu Root. and
then John Hays Hammond. Mr.. Nor
ton himself lived there for a few
months two years ago. Xxi i.
Morton Mansion In Peril.
There is a fine arts commission
which is supposed to take cognizance
OF every attempt to increase the beau
i " OF the capital, q cognizance which
embraces the overlooking Of improve
ments in public buildings. The wish
: has been expressed that the commits
sion might extend its espionage to
private dwellings, for some Of the
beautiful old places in Washington
have been remodeled by their socially
ambitious purchasers into mere resi-
dence monstrosities, In many cases
4 glaring and In most cases unbeautiful.
1t is understood that Vice-Presi-
dent Morton intends to spend $4,000
10 improve his Rhode Island avenue
home, Today 1t liz beautiful as it is,
\ warm red brick pleasing to look
upon and suggestive in every way of
i comfort. & It is now said that it is in
tended to give the house a more state
%ly appearance by the Introduction of
white marble in places. The old
house has been a comfort to the eye
OF many a Washingtonian man and
visitors, and the changes are awaited
with trepidation. s.ss
u children's Playground Lost.
II Washington, with all her monuments
e<o $,,n ho1 nd ~ ovt
y and all her vacant land, still has not
space left in which to erect public me-
5 MORALS, and it ought to be said also
that projects more necessary to the
public health than marble statues, like
4 Fairgrounds for the children, cannot
4 be thought Of apparently because Of
lack of room. 4 III 3.i
For two years by means of private
subscriptions. for example, little
grove j at the corner Of Fourteenth
street and Columbia road has been
used as playground and fitted up
-se--Ah = children It was covered with
es Of priceless value, as far as
shade qualities are concerned,
and was one of the most picturesque
spots in the city. 1t Is in%the heart
OF a thickly settled district. where it
+ IL a cruelty to. keep children within
doors and a continual danger to let
them out on the streets.
Nevertheless congress, which would
spend $4,000 for a Federal building
in town Of 281 inhabitants, neg
snected to secure this breathing space.
The magnificent oak trees are being
cut down, and where last summer the
place was alive with children, fam
fly hotel will stand. ,.s4.
Many Montnents, Projected.
Should congress be in a giving
mood toward the shades Of the de-
parted, 1t; Is a question where suit
able sites for memorials could be OBJ
tanned. The demand for space is in
ssistent, and the senate committee on
library has record Of no less than
eight requests. while the house COM
mittee doubtless has as many more.
Al bill appropriating 100000 for a
statue of Alexander Hamilton already
has passed the senate.
The sum Of $4,000 is wanted for a
statue to Matthew Fontaine Maury,
the American naval officer whose
scientific work descriptive Of the sea
is among the classics. "A memorial to
the signers of the Declaration of In
dependence is asked for, with an ap-
E~~~~~-~ ~.~~~~.~~~~
Il Algernon's Philosophy.
lAlgernon gave the elevator rope the
necessary jerk which sent the car