Evening Star Newspaper, March 17, 1883, Page 2

oa a Whe Need arge Hall or Theater Discuwsed—What They Would do tor Was? Iuzton, Ete. fo the Editor of Tux EvEnma Srar, A long time has passed since the question of @ new opera house and music hal! has been dis- cussed. It seemed at one time, just after the w fever concert given here by the Philhar- 'y. that something was about to be accomplished. Meetings were held, committees appointed, some subscriptions promised, and Jans were devised, and the whole matter very { sore ughly agitated. Most everybody saw the fhecessity for such an improvement. — But, like Many bold designs,the whole affair fell through. Since then Washington has added many thous- ands to its population, many of them wealth} ik while the number of fine buildings iy increased, and the general interests of the city strongly angmented and cemented. Near!y every ot evidence of progress has ma... ‘ed liself in this beautiful capital. There k bly no other city in the country taste, culture and pleasure have such a strong hold upon {ts population; t there are a large number of them,I ven- » say. that have far better facititles for Tatificstion. We need, greatly, a fine house; we need a music hall of large pro- portions; build it and call it what you please— *, opera house, music hall or any other if matters not, so lone as ita seating and ing capacities are sufficient. There is no eart aly reason wiv it could not and should not be bait aud be made to pay a handsome divi- dead. The thesters here (with no inclination to be unjust to the proprietors.) are ili-pro- portioned to the wants of the community, and net ping with the progress of the times. to bear; and yet and drainatic performances ‘are weil ized, for no one denies the truth t is a Clty of critical taste. and is ger in responding — to ber arts of the usasical and With nearly two hundred nts, of advanced tastes, how, bad management, could it be | except throu otnerwise than a pay’ a honse. ‘The season here Is slong as tn Philadelphia, New York, & Cincinnati or Chicago; we have a more chanzeable populatiau, which as- sures full houses; we have our share of literary, mmusic.l and drauiatie societies—in fact a lat nuwber than ary other eity in proportion te the hese Interests could be con- ¢ enterprise, esthetically and every year, and often many this city has gatheri ring thonsands, and we have no building lar. »azh to accommodate them. An inaugural ball, or a theatrical or musical en- tertainment at such times is only an aggrava- tien. as 40 few are able to gain admission. Then n. such a thing as a May festival or a id musical festival is ap fmposst- bik in a depot or a market house. ity ¢ ‘The capital is just the place where such pro- t te be fostered, and where they evi- uld ¢ sr if the one drawback was strange that, with all these itizens of means id of such an enterprise with an | surance of popularity and finane | ar art, dramatic, hterary and musical societies could be provided with suit- able rooms at fair prices, and thus be enabled to Concentrate their interests. Such a place would have the effect of fostering, enconraging and ng such organizations as the city pro- have not taken almost certain es A convenient site should be selected, fie building shou'd be ornate. commodious, well apted to the wants of the drain institutions connected with tructed as to pay the intere: t by reutal of offices and rooms, without trench‘ng on the Income from the main auditorium. There is about one chance in a ‘d tor such a building to be a failure. nat stich a public spirited man as Wil- an might catch the idea (if he ), and see the utility and the terprise. Perhaps it is utes to adapt thelr Fojected armory partially to such an object. f they cannot, why could not the Washington Light Infantry take the matter under advise- ment when they erect theirs. Why not at once foster this movement se that at the opening of another season, or at least as early as another presidential inauguration, we may have such a structure at once,an ornament and a conven- fence. E. J. B. ——+e-—_____ THE NEW PENSION BUILDING, on the &@a Malian Palace for the Clhrks. TEE TRAL HALL, WITH ITS ROOF OF IRON AND GLASS—ROOMS OPENING INTO GALLERIES —AN EXTERIOR OF SOLID ELEGANCE—AMPLE ROOM FOR SIXTEEN HUNDRED CLERKS. An immense Roman palace, with its walls surrounding an tnterior court yard and all its apartments directly communicating with the outside air and light is the main idea of the plan of the new Penston building, work on which is now in progress in the northwest corner of Judiciary square. There are no halls In the building. It is simply a structure 42 feet wide, covering the outside of a rectancular space extending 400 feet from east to west and 200 feet from north to south. This building will be 75 feet high and will be divided into three stories. The rooms on each story will be lofty and spacious—the standard dimensions of each room being 37 by 26 feet. Folding doors ®eparate the reoms, so that if needed two a be thrown into one spacious apart- * interior space between the walla co COURT YARD, inside hall, the dimensions of which are 116x ret. This court yard will be roofed, the being of iron, which rises at beth ends | above the walls, the center rising still higher, | being crowued with a turret-like structure re- sembling the one on the National Museum buliding. The les of the roof will be of glass. to admit the light. No horizontal or in- clined glass lights are used, as they allow too much heat to enter the building. TWO TIERS OF GALLERIES will run arouud this hall, by which access is gained to the rooms. In each front of the buildiag there will be a brick staircase, which will lead into a landing on each story, and from thence to the galleries looking into the interior hall, all the rooms having entrances from the leries. As the rooms occupy the entire 4 of each side of the building they are open to the light and air on both sides instead of on one side. All the outer windows will be double glazed, the parallel panes being separated by bout an inch of space, which arrangement is believed to be equally effective In excluding both cold and ut. The idea of building a large hall, fully lighted and ventilated from the outside, surrounded by rooms, is an entirely Novel one in the architecture of public bn ings here. Gen. M. U. Meigs, the super are! , has followed, in a general way, THE PLAN OF TITH GREAT ITALIAN PALACE! and this batldi ts the first of the kind ev T | attempted in this country. It does away with | some halls that are found in | ic buildings, and avoids the | Ventilated rooms which have { eifect upon the health of gov- | euployes, ‘OF THE WorRK, plan ef construction General the literal execution of the »priated $250,000 to begin the of a brick and iron fire-proof bulld- Ing at a cost not to exceed $400,000. The act further urzed the impertance of haste in order to save rent. The iatter suggestion has not been neglected. Ground was broken last fall, and the work of laying the foundation was con- tinued during the winter when the weather per- mitted. Now ali the foundations have been completed except a portion of the south front. On Monday the brick laying will be begun, starting on the north front. There will be a force of about 800 men put to work, and this number will probably be increased. THE OUTER WALLS will be faced with press bricks, laid in red mor- tar and decorated with mouldings and sculptare A PROPOSED NEW OPERA HOUSE. | sculptured seats the various scenes and inci- dents in a soldier's life. FIRE-PROOF CONSTRUCTION. All the staircases and floors will be of brick, ‘and the galleries surrounding the central hall will be of brick masonry, resting on brick arches and supported by cast tron columns, A deep cellar in the northwest corner will accom- modate THE HEATING APPARATUS, which will be similar to that used in the Na- tional Museum, consisting of inimense tubular boilers. This building will have about twice the Interlor epace of the National Museum, and the latter, in the severest weather, is kept at a temperature of from 65 to 7% degrees by an ex- nditure of about $2 tons of coal per month. ‘tis thought that this building can be easily heated, and the consumption of coal is placed at about one and one-half tons per day. The building will not be ready for joconpanoy until the end of the year, if then. It will provide ample accommodation for 1,600 clerks. ot (Wairren vor Tus EVENING Stam. “At the Matinee.” FROM ENSIGN NEMO, WASHINGTON, D.¢., TO LIBUT. COLLINS, NEW YORE: My dear Fred: We're off ina hurry; the orders came to-day: Confusion dire reigns on deck, and soon we'll sall away. I want your counsel, dear fellow, on something very fuany; And for fear you'll feel peculiar, and imagine It is money, Til relieve your mind just here, by telilng you its agirl; A bonny winsome thing-—the prettiest one in all the world. Now don’t grin; this ts serlous,—and strictly entre nous; Aud worst of all, dear chum, itis lamentably true, Washtngton’s been lovely this Lent, with recep- ons, church and With beautiful weather, and lovely girls, but still one tires of these. We were standing in the Ebbitt, in a lstless sort of way, When one of the boys—confound him,—suggested the matinee, Now I don’t care for tragedy, and Barrett's that, you kuow; Sul Saturday is an off day, and well,—we said we'd go. ‘The play was “Francesca Da Rimini”—ever seen 12 ‘The wrong people make desperate love and mean it My neighbor was a glorious blonde, with Langtry eurls in And in the love scenes I politely offered her my glasses, Which she aceepted, smilingly, with a charming glance and blush Warming me like wine, sending the blood to my heart with a rush, The play went on tothe scene where the lovers are alone, And he kissed her with energy enough to melt a heart of stone, Just then I looked at my neighbor wiitle she looked at the stage, With wonder on her pretty face mingled with a conaic rage. She dropped the glasses with a gesture strangely rouch, And turning, pouting,sald “he didn’t kiss her half enough.” Now Ithought differently; but,by all the elements blue We sallors swear by, I whispered, “and just my sentiments, too.” Ob Fred! Ifthen you could have only seen he face, It was red and white by turns, in offended mald- enly grace. Not another word sald she, and all the rest of the stage kisses Were received unheeded by this most stony of sweet inisses. 1 know it was alla mistake, and I would gladly overlook Her share in it if she likewise pardons the lberty I took. After that she disdainfully nestled in the opposite ‘side of her chair, Woile with stolen glances I feasted on her lovely face and hair. When the curtain fell, I followed her, and saw her bow to Jack, And found my divinity tobe your cousin, Rdith Blackt Jack has likewise told me that she left for New ‘York to-day, And the very frst time you see her I want you to say Tm a tolerably decent sort of a fellow, if lam only @n ensign, And slily hint at other perfections, and If you see any sign 5 Ofregard, say the ship will shortly be at Brook- lyon And that self and dear friend will be delighted to look in On her some evening. How does the prospect im- Press you? Use ail your diplomacy, and dear fellow I'll ever bless you, Por I'm Just knocked all to pleces,—have not a bit of heart lett Since I first saw her, for she me of my peace has bereft. Say all this, and whatever else you can think of in addition; ‘Talk heavily of my prospective fortune, and light- ly Of present position. Being chained to this cursed ‘ship Irely on you in fact To give me a good “send-off” as you've the ability and tact. I wish we salled to-day! How I hate the slowness of red-tapet But Vil pay you with interest when you're in a scrape, Have a letter awaiting me, for the days will be tediously siow Til I have good or bad tidings. Truly yours, ‘Nemo. K P. T., Georgetown, D. @ Lo To the Fdltor of ‘Tax Evenixa § Extswortn, Me., March 12, 1888. I noticed in your paper recently an item headed “A large and long lived family,” stating that It would be hard to find a parallel case. There are now living of the family of Benjamin C. Sargent, late of Brooklin, Hancock county, Me., nine sons and two dauhters, of which am the third. Our ages are 75, 73, 70, 67, 65. 63_ 61, 59, 56, 54, 52, making our united ages 65. Four of us were born In Massachusetts, and the others in Sedgwick, Me. Very trul: J. O. Sarcent. A Kentucky Corpse Sits Up and Talks. From the Owingsyille Ontlock. Wash Thompson, the mail-carrier, rode into Olympia Tuesday morning and created a pro- found sensation by reporting that there was a dead man on the road a short distance away. Esquire James K. Jackson and about thirty others repaired to the spot, and there, sure enough, was the man, apparently lifeless, on the ground. The ‘Squire quickly,as in duty bound, impaneled a Jugywand proceeded to hold an tn- quest. Imagine te consternation of that crowd when the supposed corps sat bolt gy and ice addressed the court as follows: “May it eek, I teel that Thay coking a hes hese proceedings.” Then 801 around: “TI object to half of this jury.” Th Jury adjourned sine die and the boys about in terracotta. The windows, eornices and the General architectural design of the building, is Roman, and it repeats some of the features of the works of the renatssance architects of the Roman palaces and villas. The windows will be large, and will be decorated with pilasters, cornices and iments in the two unper sto- ries, In the lower story f — by terra cotta ol ns the we. A very pleasing feat e the course of terra coita which marks the srst story, consisting of a band three feet wide run- wing around the building, and representing, by smelt tare Ge on fearless the ire. oe man was merely ink, @ very unusual sight to see in that moral section of the Bird's-eye mapte, which sells for 150 } 1,000 feet In England, ts used for firewood’ in North Carolina, ft Wiggins came in like a lon and went out lke a with a tia can a Philad iphia paper wind. Eleven drankards froze to death in Iowa last winter, under a prohibitory law, "is the way the prophet of ART NOTES. + The Washington Art Club is to hold a meeting next Monday evening, at which, it is to be hoped, all the members will be present. — Mr. Brooke has recently sold to Mr. T. E. Waggaman his fine oil painting representing & young colored lad engaged in the congental oceupation of cleaning out s preserving kettle. as one of Mr. Brooke's ble addition to Mr. Waggaman’s collection. —Sofar as we hear, Mr. Weyl isthe only Washington artist who has concluded to send anything tothe spring exhibition of the New York Academy of Design this year. By the way, Mr. Wey! has lately sold a number of his paintings in New York, where there appears to be a prospect for a steady demand for work. —The Brooklyn Art Association opened its spring water color exhibition on Wednesday, with nearly six hundred drawings on its walls. Most ot the New York artists working in water colors are re} ited, anda many examples exhibit at the late exhibition in Academy of Design are now shown in the Brook- lyn display. — We learn from New York that nearly fifteen hundred canvases have already been sent in tor the spring exhibition at the Academy ef Design in that city. As its walls have only spece for about half that number, of ordlt size, there is bound to be a good deal of weeding out be- fore-the opening, with a corresponding amount of disappointment and grumbling afterward at the action of the committees on selection and hanging. — As has already been stated in this column, the Italian government desires to invite artists of all nations to compete for a national monu- ment to be erected at Rome in honor of her late king, Victor Emmanuel. A royal commission will decide upon the designs, and the successful artist will be entitled to receive 50,000 francs as a prize. Fifty thousand francs additional will be diviged among the most meritorious comps. titors. *Ground plans may be seen and further information obtained at the Department of State, — The Madonna belonging to the Academy of Visitation here, which attracted so much atten- tion before it was removed, is now on exhibition in a private residence in New York, where ft is very highly regarded. Authorities there differ, we are told, as to whether it should be attributed to Murillo or Vandyke,—a doubt which will probablybe set at rest when the experts at Seville, to whom a photograph of it has been sent, reach aconclusion on the subject. Their deci- sion will of course have great welght with the public in a case like this. — We hear from Columbus that the model of the proposed statue of Garfleld intended for Ohio's contribution to the National Capitol, as sent in by Niehaus, the Cincinnati sculptor, to whom the commission was lately awarded, does not give satisfaction, either to the authorities with whom the selection rests or the general ublic who have seen it. It is considered doubt- ful whether it will finally be accepted. In the event of the rejection of this design Mr. Nie- haus will be required to send in another, or the work will be given to one of the competing artists, — Mr. Matthew Wilson, who has a studio in Corcoran Bullding, has been engaged for some time past on a portrait of Mr. Corcoran, which, so far as it has progressed, gives great satis- faction to that gentleman and his friends. Mr. Wilson has recently completed a portrait of Dr. MacLeod, Curator of the Corcoran Gallery, which is one of the most faithfal examples in portraiture shown here for a long time, and enables those who see it to understand the pop- ularity. Mr. Wilson has so long enjoyed in the northern cities as a portrait painter. He has also many other fine specimens ot his work on view in his studio. — To the late Mr. Sanford R. Gifford the Lon- don Academy awards the high praise of say- ing that he “was a much greater master of at- mospheric effect than J. M. W. Turner.” To an Englishman this will sound very much like high treason; but there can be no question that the expression is in the maintrue and just. In showy coloring and tn reproducing certain ex- traordinary phases Mr. Turner was undoubtedly the superior of Mr. Gifford, but in the particular quality referred to by the Academy the artist last named had few equals*in any . His beautiful painting of “The Parthenon” in the Corcoran Gallery illustrates it admirably, al- though that example probably does not repre- sent him at his best In that respect. — An oll painting of more than ordinary in- terest at the present time may be seen in the window of Mr. H. D. Barr, on Pennsylvania avenue. It represents an interior of the house on Long Island in which John Howard Paine was born, painted from studies made on the spot by the artist, Mr. George M. Clark, a year or two ago. Of course the establishment was not an imposing one, in itself, and its delinea- tion does not afford to an artist much oppor- tunity for the display of his powers; but the plo- ture is doubtless a faithful transcript of the scene it represents, and is therefore meritorious in that sense, and, on account of the fresh and general interest just now taken in Tegard to everything relating to the author of “Home, Sweet Home,” it attracts, as it deserves, a go deal of attemtion. — The most important sale of pictures in this country this season was that of the Runkle col- lection, which took place In New York last week. The catalogue,—which by the way did not tn- clude the name of a single American artist,— comprised sixty-six works, and the amount real- ized was $64,370, or an average of nearly $1,000 apiece for each picture sold. ‘The highest figure reached was $3,850, which was puld for “A Water Carrier,” by Millet, 10x14 inches in size; the lowest $105, which secured “A Shepherd and Flock,” by Pittara. There is a wide differ- ence between these two sums, but the prices nevertheless ran pretty even, thus Indicating, with the high average above noted, the excel- lent character of the collection, which was in- deed one of the best selected, if not one of the largest in New York. — Those who closely watch the movements of art cannot failto see that while the artists of Europe, and notably those of France, are nearly at a stand still, those of America are rapidly ad- vancing every year. Most of the leading French painters, if not actually going backward, are at the best only repeating themselves, and few new men are coming forward to take their places. On the-other hand, many young Ameri- cans are pushing to the front, even at the Salon, and every year thelr work there 1s attracting more and more attention, and winning higher praise. It is easy and common to sneer at American art; and the remark will probably pro- voke a smile of incredulity, but the prospect now is that the time fs not far distant when the United States will be the modern art center of the world, not alone in what it will have col- lected by purchase, but in what it will be able to produce for itself and ‘other countries. ——_+e-______ She Had Just Come from Boston, From the Mills County Journal. A girl Just returned to Hannibal from a Bos- ton high school sald, upon seeing a fire engine work: “Who would evah have dweamed such a vewy diminutivelooklng apawatus wouid hold 80 much wattall!” ———_+e-_____ Over two tons of hairpins are made daily by the factories in this country. What becomes of them? New Zealand has introduced the American common school system, and has 836 schools and 64,406 scholars. Cecil D. Whitman, late clerk in the office of the state auditor of Alabama, has been arrested, charged with ethbezzling certain funds of the state in January last. A Sunday school scholar in Portsmonth, N.H., frankly gave as an lanation of his absence two Sundays ago that he had to stay at home to help his father sell beer. The Norwich (Conn.) Bulletin says that a cut- lass paper weight in doa window of @ store in hat city cencentrated the rays ot the sun so et- fectually Monday afternoon that a sheet of heavy card-board was ignited by it. “1 won't be whi by any man except im: husband,” said a woman, and she shot the fellow who was breaking that role. A Parisian lady called on her milliner the Ing the character of a “But ts ” wie the . “I am not so certain about that,” sulliiner. “I havesent her to and she has A Pawtucket man, and mechani- cally” has four children. between sees of 9 end 16, but none of et oa Sasa? to goto school. “They he and they work - noting. SSS | Reta pis li ~ 1883—DOUBLE SHEET. Bs La \WRE] B. ‘WORTH TROT tp LATEEGE 0 BDImeTE yon: ibner’s Sons, Washington: Rob- Now that it has appeared, the Interest with which the'publication of this work was looked forward té in d is easily understood. It igat once the bidgraphy of a most remarkable afi attractive personage, and a history of one of the most exciting episodes in the history of the British people, namely, the great Indian mutiny of 1857. ‘rhe author had unusual facill- ties for prosecuting his work in the enjoyment Of free access to { papers of Law- ae) ° ee grt fitness for Ze ae ight to the confidence reposed in him by contributing to modern literature one of the most and instructive additions made to it in many years. Lord Lawrence's life reads like the career of ahero in a romance of the days of chivairy, and the thrilling events with which he was so intimately connected are nar- rated in a style at once so graphic and fasoinat- ing that the attention of the reader, attracted at the ontset, is held until the closing chapter. DUST. A_Novel. By JOLUX Hawrmome. New ‘York: Forig Howard & Hulbers Washington Robert Beal Howard & * A book written by the son of Nathantel Haw- thorne will naturally demand attention, and the mind of the reader at once contrasts his work with that of his father. This is greatly to the young man’s disadvantage, as a matter of course; but his claims to authorship are not to be overlooked on that account. He writes with considerable power, though very unevenly, and the evidences of talent in his productions are Rot to be denied. His present effort is a ry of English life in the early part of the present century,—the heroine, Marion Lockhart, being the daughter of an officer, who died gallantly on the fleld ot Waterloo. Philip Lancaster, the hero and lover of the story, is a handsome fel- low, handsome, manly, and a poet. Of course, he falls in love with Marion; but an evil genius appears In the beautiful Marquise Desmoines, who makes infinite trouble. The characters are strongly drawn, but the author must have in- heritea some of his father’s gloomy tendencies, since scarcely any of them are left alive, and one rises from a perusal of the book with any- thing but a pleasant feeling. The illustrations are a bad lot, and might have been omitted with advantage. LANDMARKS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. BY Henry J. Nico, author of ‘Great Movements.” New York: D. Appletor shington: A. Hew York: D. Appleton & Co,” Wa: mt Mr. Nicoll does not pretend his book to be a full record of the literary activity of England, his purpose being to use only the writings of the greatest names in the literary history of that country, and to consider the works of each in connection with the times in which they were written, and the Influences which determined thelr spirit and form. The result is a volume which, though mainly intended for young Teaders whose taste needs to be directed in proper channels, will yet be of great service to all persons who are desirous of knowing something of the best authors but are too busy to read their productions in detail. TH EAR-1 2 Co, Ws 5 Sotully Jsthe character of this admirable publication described by its title that it will be understood at once. While its references to this country are not so full nor so accurate as might be desired by American readers, it yet contains 8p much and such valuable informa- tion concerning the rest ot the world that no one who desires to keep pace with current his- tory can afford to‘do without it. The duties of editor so long and so acceptably discharged by the late Frederick Martin seem to be well per- formed by his suceessor, Mr. J. Scott Keltie. Writ of each Successive Period. Yor tho Ure of Schooleand Acadentica, By Esruer Feat MBER, late Professor of Literature in the State Norm | School, West Chester, Pa. Philadel- phia: Eldredge & Brother. This book 1s one that can hardly fall to be of great advantage to both teacher and pupil, whether used as'a text book, in school, or at home, for the purpose of acquiring some knowl- edge of the best examples of popular literature. e 5 OGSEITES, SE REO, UTERATUN Sbrstiaatty.” by F. W. Farrar. New York: John That this sterling work should be given tothe world in @ legtbly-printed fairly bound octayo volume of 750 pages for the Insignificant sum of 65 cents seems almost as incredible as it must be gratifying to the reading public. THE STILL-HUNTER. By Taropore 8. Van Drxe. aio, 'Now York: Forks, Howea s Hthoet Wake c., New York: Fol a é ington: A. Soatcork Go. . Persons who are or expect to be interested in hunting for large game will greatly enjoy this practical treatise on deer-stalking, which con- tains also some useful suggestions on the gen- eral subject of equipment for the woods, care and use of guns, etc. “Choice Literatare,” John B. Alden'’s month- ly republication of popular reading matter, has heen enlarged both inthe number and size of pages, and vastly improved in appearance. It now furnishes more good reading tor the price ee per year) than any periodical we know of. ‘his issue does not supplant or interfere with Mr. Alden’s semi-weekly publication entitled ~The Elzevir Library,” which is continued, and contains, as at the outset, ‘‘a complete literary gem, a characteristic specimen of The ‘best pro- duct of the brain ofthe author who is repre- sented.” Charles Scribner’s Sons announce s new his- torical series to be entitled “The Navy in the Civil War” uniform in dize and style with their popular “Campaigns of the Civil War,” of which the first volume ‘The Blockade and the Cruisers,” by Protessor J. Russell Soley, is now ready. It will speedily be followed by “The Atlantic Coast,” by Admiral Ammen, and “The Gulf and Inland Waters,” by Commander Mahan. Good light lterature In a neat and cheap form 1s to be furnished by Henry Holt & Co., under the title of ‘The Leisure Moment Series,” These publications will have the advantages of | clear type, firm paper, and covers of heavy paper tastefully decorated; and they will be sold at prices very little above those of the trashy issues which are obtruded on one’s attention on every hand. Lee & Shepard, of Boston, have published a neat little brochure entitled “The Battle of the Moy,” showing, after the anticipatory manner of the famous ‘ Battle of Dorking,” how Ireland gains (or is to gain) her independence in the years 1892-4, In the present exciting state of Irish affairs, 1t will doubtless attract a good deal of attention. The graphic and popular letters written to the Boston Journal last.year by Mary E. Blake, (“‘M. E. B.,”) descriptive of a trip to and through California, have been en and published by Lee & Shepard In a very’ attractive little vi ume entitled ‘On the Wing.” Epwarp ATKINSON, of Boston, ts a remedy for school-house dangers. His plan provides fora continuous balcony connecting all the windows at each floor of every school house, not even excepting the first floor above the level of the street, such balconies to be connected with one another’ at several points by easy flights of steps, fitted with wooden treads. ee Miss Netherblew—“Will you advise me as to printing and publishing, Mr., Sterreough? I have a little work ready for the press, but have had no experience—" Gallant -Publisher—“My dear madam, printing and publishing are very different things. For instance, if I print a kiss on your rosy cheek it is not at all neces: to ublish it.” Tab- Miss Netherblew—*sir!” eaux |—. Punch, A Connecticut ‘advocate of total abstinence concludes that so long as the state displays on its shield three vines, “emblems of drunken- ness,” the cause of temperance will not prosper. During the past three ° fears ivory has risen at least 100 per cent In value, and |, Which is also I ly used in hafting cutlery and other eel as advariced very muateriallyla the same Agentleman asked an American the other day what he thought of the Engitsh climate. He laughed, and sald: “Why, you haven't got a climate; you've only got samples.” — Gsh Paper. A witty nobleman once asked a clerical gen- tleman at the bottom of the tabie why the goose, when there was one, was always Placed next to the parson. “Indeed, my Jord,” said the clergyman, ‘the question is somewhat dif- ficult to answer. It is so remarkably odd that I vow Ishall never see a goose again without being reminded of your lordship.” Paris milliners sey big hats wil not be worn at theaters next season. Yon hear this, young lady? Ifyou weara, big hat at the theater next season it will be your own fault. Byery- know that it was net imported from. js only @ home-made affair recon- on the ruins of a bygone year. LETTER FROM MEXICO. San Luis Potosi—A Picturesque City— How the People Live—Music, Prome- mades and Clubs—The Ratlway Cen- ter-The Liquids of Mexico—The Cl- mate, Ete, ConnesPoxpzxcs or Tae EVEXIxG Stam. San Porost, Mexico, March 7. San Luis Potosi, the capital of the state of the same name, is a wealthy city of 70,000 inhabi- tants. It contains twelve large and interesting old Spanish churches, tamous for their ornamen- tation and architecture, and the ruins of con- vents and monasteries. The public school sys- tem is entirely under the control of the civil authorities. There are several schools of design, and a polytechniam in which the various sciences are taught. The city is mostly built of one- storied houses, the windows of which are heavily barred with iron, to keep ont, they say, revolu- tionists, thieves and impetuous lovers. The wealthy or central part of the city is built up of two and three storied houses, many of which are of large depth and breadth, and are costly and most elaborately furnished with uncovered courtyards, filled with @ conservatory of tropi- cal vegetation. These courtyarda are the play- grounds for the fair senoritas which custom tends to bring up In a hot-house fashion. The streets are mostly narrow and paved with cob- blestones. The houses are principally built of stone, but of adobe on the outskirts of the city. The governor's palace and the court-house are two handsome buildings of brown stone. They both face the Plaza de Armes or Plaza de Hi- dalgo. ‘The city is blessed with one of the finest bat! hing establishments in the world, luxuriously appointed and arranged for the most fastidious. The Alameda and the Paseo are the prome- nades, and the lovely afternoons find both crowded with the elite and beauty of the city. The two beautiful plazas are now in the depth of green follage, and the concentrated perfume of great beds of winter violets give an tndescri- bable charm to the city, rendered more so by the magnificent band, forty pieces, of the 33d - ment, which three times in the week attract the fair and dark senoritas. Each is accompanied by a proper chaperone, and like a spirited horse breathing fhe morning alr, they step out with elastic . conscious of the beauty of their diminutive hands and feet and the coquetry of the manner in which they throw their rebossos over thelr heads and left shoulders. It is a dis- puted point about the beauty of the Mexican women, but on the whole they enjoy a great reputation for it, deserving, at least, admira- tion for the splendor of their hair and teeth, for the deep Srproeion of thelr biack eyes, and for their small hands and feet. San Luis possesses @ fair number of refined ladies, with gracious and chatming forms, with manners 80 noble and simple and unrestrained that it is with admira- tion one meets them on the streets or in the ball-room. Buta little more fresh air and ex- ercise seem wanting in the complexion and gait of many. LA BOCIEDAD POTOSINER isthe charming club for the ladies, upon which they depend for much of their year’s round of dancing. This is the principal club in which is tound the wealth and intelligence of the city. The club house ts centrally located, of ample di- mensions and is luxuriously furnished. The lower part of the building ts devoted to cafes, billiards, reading rooms, bath rooms, card rooms and a ten-pin alley. These are located on the sides of a large open courtyard with a grand staircase leading to the ball and supper rooms above. The bail room resembles very much the East room of the White House, elaborately fur- nished witha smooth hard floor of mesquite, which is as hard as ebony. The main entrance to the room 1s nearly as long, surrounded by corridors, supported by stone Corinthian col- umns. On each side are the sitting and supper rooms for the ladies and gentlemen, with a great “Quaker chasm” between. To an Amerl- can this does not seem fair to compel the ladies to depend upon themselves and to keep them away from the principal charms of a bail, their company and conversation. The only opportu- nity for this occurs during the slow tine of the favorite danza and polenaise, This social exclu- sion may make the laqies more independent, but they lose much amusement. They come at- tended by some chaperone, usually the mothers, who sit around the hall watching with admira- of | tion the grace of their daughters. The main en- trance to the room is usually filled with chairs for the accommodation of gentlemen not danc- ing. It commands a full view of the bail room. A PLACE OF ORDER. San Luis Potosi is an exceedingly orderly city. Very little, if any drunkenness is seen upon the streets. With the upper classes such case is rarely seen. Drunk or sober, even the lower classes never forget their politeness. There are no “hoodlums,” and one may travel all over the city without meeting with an abu- sive or insulting word. With the exception of a night patrol there tsno regular police. Thie night patrol is stationed upon the corners of all the streets, each placing his lantern in the middle of the street whilst he takes a position in some door way. Throughout the night, at each stroke of the quarter-hour, each blows a shrill whistle, to let all know the night is well. This patrol is exceedingly aftable and polite tor the wages they receiye—12 cents per night. At Christmas they roe quite a harvest, like our newspaper carriers, by bringing around a plece of poetry abont their hardships while watching over those in the arms of their beloyed. There are two regiments of infantry, the 2d and the 83d, stationed in this city. “They are a well ordered and trained body of troops; clean and neat In their appearance and equipment. The military aspect of San Luls Is not unlike a Ger- man military town—the soldiers performing most of the public labor of the city, Like all large Mexican cities it has a well arranged bull pen and innumerable cock-pits. These are only patronized by the lower classes. San Luis is to be the future CENTRAL DISTRIBUTING POINT of the republic. Five railroads are rapidly building towards It. In two years they will be finished, placing the city in direct communica- tion with the civilized world. There is an ex- cellent opportunity for some enterprising Amer- ican to build a handsome hotel on the American and European plan. Throughout the republic among the upper and respectable middle classes a strong feeling of fricndship and welcome is manifested towards American progress; but among the lower a deep feeling of jealousy pre- yails. The best hotel now fa the city is the San Fernando, with an excellent table and tolerably good apartments. It is kept by a Frenchman, who came out as one of the caterers for Maxt- millan. He spares no pains to give the best the markets afford for the small sum of §20 per month. There 1s an excellent opening for nearly every kind of business, especi: in lum- ber, hardware, carriages, wagons, good hot furniture and carpet houses, machinery of kinds. Of paper manufactories there are only two in the republic. THE LIQUIDS OF THE COUNTRY. ‘Two beer breweries have been established in the city, furnishing excellent beer from native barley. It is becoming a favorite drink. The native Mexican drinks are agua diente, made from grapes and sugar cane, the latter very strong and high proof. Some very good wines, tequila, mescal and pulque are made in enor| among the dead are several statesinen, diplo- mous quantities from the species-of Maguey | tists, famous lawyers and millionaires. “I sup- cactus plant. Pulque is made from the fer- mented agua—miel, the oe ee or water of | stick to it! the Maguey, which on being distilled furnishes the mescal of the country. Its flavor ts of gin, is very strong and possesses wood medicinal properties. The mescal from some ot the haci- endas near this city is of excellent quality, with | scribed with the names of all the original mem- and burning effects of tequila none of the raw and agua diente. THE ELECTRICAL CLIMATE. San Lule Potosl is situated in the tropics, latitude 22° north, and at an elevation of 6,158 virgin lamp, which, at feet above thesea level. Thiselectrical condition | equipped with oll and a wick and , woolen underclothing and blankets of the heaviest kind will be found and plight ge Soap eg severe colds. are the result. are indis- pensable throughout the year, though the warm (ape a doning to Mesion ic ol me that one is going to Canada. The etimate is of tr tie door lending to the Dalcoug eae rent the body in the warm rays of the Sun, the other another. The ition ofa Mexican peon taki Sean bath Sec'pistics, otakes 0 prominent Taye, wraps entirely serape wrested os with part head ‘exposed, an leeps: morail bas utterly callous of a mules hoot 5 flue” daye are totaly unex in the dry season, w! continues nine monthe of the year, with little or no rain, followed in the flow of warm heat. Excel! ographs and telephone communications are favored by this ry state of the atmosphere and its electrical St Swan fhe ana Ratan th miles. aes’ ——_ & camera obscara—the keyholes an: in the doors will tara the Tays from passing i z ee The old Abbot first instituted the interesting and amusing custom of sprinkling holy water upon every living domestic animal under the sun, with the object of convincing the lowly and ignorant that all animals born upon that day would be blessed with long and virtuous lives. About 4 o'clock in theatternoon the animal part of the town began to move towards the Campus surrounding the fine old Spanish church, known asthe Sanctuary. Saint Anthony's representa- tive, clothed in proj ents, with two at- tendants holding a crucifix, lighted taper and vessel of water, stood above the vast assem- bh of cats, doga, sheep, hogs, birds, parrots. turkeys, ducks, monkeys, jackasses, mules and horses, ‘all gaily and fantastically decorated with ribbons of different colors, each attended a pera: and mye) sik z with all his m wi per bounds of respect tor the august ee have the holy fluid sprinkled plenteously es the pet object. It was an In- teresting and amusing sight, as several times the old nett had togive vent to a few sacres when some devotee, in its enthusiasm, would shove a decot cat, all itience with ite holder, into the old gentleman's face, bury- ing its claws into the same, Another time a pig would break loose from its owner and cause a& pante in the dense crowd, followed by a stam- pede among the jackasses with gilded hoofs. It Wasa | See! day, and all turn out as a holiday. Last Monday the American flag, for the first time in the history of the city, was fown to the breeze in hondr of the ratification of the Mexican constitution of 1857. We huve @ con- sular representative in Mr. T. J. Barry, of Kentucky, a fluent Spanish scholar, who jooks after the comtort and interests of Americans. There is, however, a class of Americans of a spread-eagie and cow-boy tendency, who would fate much er under the auspices of some good jailor. we doa great di of harm to the ‘well-intentioned ‘and _bisiness-seeking American by spreading the bellef that all Amer- icans are of their caliber. Pa L. ———————-______ LOWELL'S LONDON RECEPTIONS. How the Minister to En; tained His Visitors on Birthday. From the London Sportsman. In common this week, with a number of my ltefary friends, I took the occasion on Wash- ington’s birthday to stroll up to Lowndes Square to pay Mr. Lowell, the American minister at the Court of St. James, a visit. Those who, like myself, have experienced the charmingly hearty and as charmingly simple hospitality which Mr. Lowell dispenses to the it American public always to be met with in England, can well imagine the contrast which such a gathering presents when compared with the stiff formalism and Enter- ‘ashington’s to be found in Rnglish circles. You call, hand in your'card, hear your name repeated bya foot- man or two, and the next minute are chatting with the accomplished author of the “Biglow Papers” as pleasantly as though he and you had known one another for a decade. It ts hardly good form, perhaps, to say any- thing about @ man’s house after you have broken bread at his table; but I should like to pay & passing compliment to the wealth ot flowers with which the reception chambers were dressed. One lofty glass vase, four feet high, and crowned with a cluster of larze white lilies, struck me as being the most beautiful drawing-room Gecoration that I had seen for some time. It was backed by a mirror, and the Teflection seemed to make the infinite purity and beauty of those flowers visible to every one in the room. Unfortunately, Mrs. Lowell was Indisposed, but the duties of the hostesa were most prettily discharged by the two ladies who acted as her Tepresentatives. It would not, of course, be falr to tax the American ambassador with the onerous task of receiving even part of London's vast social circle, but I could not help wishing that our leaders of society might take a lesson from the easy grace and pleasant chattiness of the meeting Iname. Every one was at home. Everybody—and over two hundred guests were entertained during the afternvon—seemed to know every one else. None of the frigidity of an English reception was felt for single in- stant, and for once ina way a meeting which might have been made formal witha deadly for- mality was transferred into a real, hearty, and most interesting “‘at home.” It is my fate dur- ing the season to pay my respects to many hos- tesses at those assemblies w! i ter name. IfI could only persuade these ladies to take a leason from receptions similar to those of which I speak, I believe I should deserve a statue. Nothing is more jolly—to use a rather common-place word—than a really chatty social meeting, but this kind of entertainment is in England about as rare as a fine day, and heaven only knows that that is rare enough. A Queer Club. ‘New York Correspondence Boston Herald. The Column Club met last night at Pinard’s, This is a unique organization, having been founded in 1826 by 20 young men—lawyers, students, clerks—who met in an informal “debating society.” They were bold youths, and they eagerly and loudly debated questions which, if considered tn Congress, would have plunged us into war with every nation under heaven. They first met in the back room of Dr. Lyell’s church on Worth street, just above the City Hall park. This’ was then “in the ‘suburbs,” and was so far out of town that the yells of the young orators did not seriously disturb the city. There was a wooden Corinthian column in the middle of the room, as a support. and so they called their gathering ‘Tne Column €lub.” When the proprietor preferred their room to thelr com- py, they found other quarters In an attic near y, and then they called themselves “The Attic Club.” Finally Judge Robertson, the owner, drove them out, and they fled to a loft over a sugar house, resumed the name of the Colamn Ciub, and bought a silver column to set in the middle of the table, resolving to hold annnal meetings till the last man sat alone by the white shaft. There are some surprising things about this club. It is surprising out of the 20 who gathered around it 56 years ago. 11 are still alive, and eight assembled at the table last night. It is surprising, too, that, of the 20 original members—imost of them poor ae every one has become immensel, rich, or has won fame in some line of hon ambition. This may be judged by the names of some of the survivors. “Augustus Schell is the | epee and around him sat last night William . Evarts, Parke Godwin, John H. Gourlie, ev ident of the board of trade,) John igelow, Dr. Alonzo Clarke, George man, William M. Pritchard and Hamilton Fish. pore the moral is, joins debating society and The silver symbol of the club's kept at Tif- fany's, and I got a glimpse of it. It is a shaft of Corinthian style, 28 inches high, wound with an ivy vine in silver relief, The pedestal Is in- bere, and ornamented with two silver lions and two sphinxes. On one side is the Latin motto, which some of the older members must have discovered to be inaccurate, “Columnea lignea.” The column is surmounted by a silver vestal the annual dinner, ~ an sit around and poms and and laugh ance it ts said that some tears are as the lamp eputters and goes out each ‘The Same as Busted. ‘From the Wall Stress News. Rosalind on New York her home. don,” she ays, “is the nicest city in the world.” ate Pihbenort wenndies hog a off without an attendant, av and does. without an al the county, avoiding people and and Wreatuer. Hots rutty ot middle beige rather long Sod form are spares kisteyen right and wandering; his figure erect; health strong. He ts ie { # Hy 2 FF fH if NEXT WEEK'S BILLS—OPERA IX KEW TORE— THE NEW PLAY OF “SEVEN-TWENTY-RIGHT"— NILSSON—A NEW CONTRALTO, ETO. —e — The splendid melodrama of the gee ¢ London” Ins @ retara oo Moe day nicht offtee vom is aon — Miss Carrie Swain, a bright little actress of the “protean” order, who Goes some excelles® work, opens the week at Ford's on M g — Plane are being prepared for the erection of a theater about the size of the Union Square, N. ¥., on Connecticut avenue. If suitable, the building will possibly be erected. —Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett went ta, Pittsburg to be present at the nine-bundredta performance of ‘Esmeralda,” —Louise Pauilin has been engaged, says Freund's Drama, by Sousa and Vance, of Wash- jon, to a) in thelr new comic opera, “The Smugglers” he is 8 charming artist. — George Denham has left Ford's Opera com- pany and joined the Acme. Bianche Chapmas leaves the company next week. — Hope Glenn, the contralto, with Christine Nilsson, has added to her list s charming little ballad entitled “Maybe.” The author isa tal- ented lady of Indianapolis. She will sing K a8 Lincoln Hall, March BU. = —A bloodhound of an“ Uncle Tom” show got badly whipped by a local cur at Clyde,N.¥., and the citizens have presented the latter with asiiver collar and two pounds of beef daily for ‘one year. — A bad Chicago shoemaker has been giving away some of his customers. He says that Mary epee wears large threes and L three and a half, Agues Booth gets her foot into a No. 18. — Lotta and Rhea have had the cream of the dramatic business this week in Chicago. Next week's bills present a dearth of attractions of @ high order there. — Augustin Daly bas hit the popular taste with his lanchable play, “Seven-Twenty-Hight.” The New York theater nas been well filled at every performance, and the comedy seems des- tined to be performed during the remainder of the season. — Mr. Abbey thinks of engaging Miss Jose- phine Jones Yorke, the contralto of the Car, Rosa Opera troupe, for his coming season of opera in thiscountry. She ls said to be the best contralto in England. —“Young Mrs. Winthrop” ts in ite Inst month at the Madison Square theater, New York. Next month Mrs, Burton Harrison's comedy, ‘A Russian Honeymoon,” will be pro- duced. This play will be seen for four w after which another comedy will be for the spring aud summer season. —A Washington man has figured out that Patti receives just 423 cents fer every note she sings In “‘Semiramide,” or just 71-5 cents more per note than Rossini got for writing It. — Madame Christine Nilsson thinks that Amer- ‘ean women are beautiful. The men in this country she thinks are not as polished, formal, and sy not exhibit as_ much ped eee politeness as the European entlemen, but they are more chivalrous, and exhibit their devotion to the women from the bottom of their hearts. — Wagner has left no complete opera scores. His Buddhist opera was sketched, but only par- tially advanced. Even the lbretto of his pro- i Greek opera is incomplete. His auto- jography will hortly be published, —Grau’s French Opera Company, with Thee and Capoul, after a very successful season im Mexico and Cuba, will arrive in New York next week and gives short season, afterwards play- "8 engayenem south. “Paul and and “Romeo and Juliet” are both promised. — Saint-Saens’ “Henry VIII." has been pro- duced In Paris, but the cable dispatches are too meager to convey any clear idea of whether Its evident artistic snccess was also a popular suo- cess or not. The music is described as very long, wi ; ald in advance. — Salvin! and Clara Morris are to play at the Philadelphia Opera House the week of April 24. ‘This will be Salvint’s farewell to America. “The Outlaw” is to be played on A 3d and 6th, with Salvini as and lorris as Ro- i 01 ednesday evening, é€h, ealie. m We iy April erOthello” ts to be played, with Salvini in the title role ana Miss Morris as Emilia. — Miss Lingard has appeared in London ia “Camille,” and has been very warmly received. The Atheneum praises her graceful appearance, musical voice, her delicacy and tact and her “distinct and effective method,” and predicts for her a brilliant future. It says that “her method is American, and is not unlike that of Madame Modjeska, with whom the newcomer bas much in common. — Mr. Mapleson's spring season was inangur- ated Monday night in New York under most auspicious circumstances. The house was crowded to the roof by one of the most brilliant audiences ever assem within the walls of the Academy, and the ce was one unusual excelience. Patti sang in “Lucia” “Semiramide.” — A young lady who blushingly declared that she “never played without notes,” and had such ® “horribly awful” sore throat that she couldn't sing if she “died the next minute,” was finally Induced to seat herself at the piano. She began on “Hold the Fort,” and continued to hold the forte until after midnight. The moral attachea to this little story ts, “Take no for an answer.” —Nllsson’s hair is of a peculiar, indescribable color, almost an, “old gold,” and her com- plexion is as fair and soft as the bloom of the peach. She ts tulrty-nine years old, and yet has all the spirit, freshness and piquancy of a young girl. She is queenty In appearance, majestic In carriage. and is a splendid spectinen of the per- fectly healthy wonian, both In mind and body, She tays she Js at peace with the world, and has high hopes of reaching heaven. —Des Moines, Ia., will have the finest and largest opera house between Chicago and Denver, The building will be 66 by 132 feet, three stories hich, and entirely devoted to the purposes for which it will be built. The entire: cost will be $130,000. ‘The opening date is Sep- tember 1. — Mrs. Langtry paid Chicago flying visit this week, incompany with her escort, Mr. Geb- hardt, and appeared ina single performance of - Yednesday afternoon to @ very” audience. The reporters endeavored to make Mr. Gebhardt talk, but he refused, upon the that never printed what he said. Mrs. Langtry was more gracious, and confirmed the rej that to “New ¥i next to Lon- Charlies Fenno Hoffman. A reference in Harper's Magazine to Charles Fenno Hoffman, a charming literary figure of forty years ago in New York. and the founder bas old Nickerbocker Magazine, bas drawn - | from @ correspond “9 sylvanla, @ touching glimpse of the author whose career was so early aud sadly clouded, bat who Js living still: lent at Harrisburg, in i “He has been for many years, and is Was very recently—in’ the state lunatic near this city, there. His insanity ts of a harmless 4: Ueve, and consists in the Masion that used to see him qi uae HH Fr i Eee rae ag it : ts i k F ; ef ik z | : i i i uty