Evening star. [volume], January 24, 1891, Page 11, Image 11

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
FISHES FOR THE FAIR.
Exhibit to Be Given by the Fish Com
mission at Chicago.
LIVE SPECIME\s IN TANKS.
Nothing Like It Hm Kver Been Seen In This
\\ ori?l Before?A Building to Be Devoted to
A?4nartn? Marvelous Future of the FUbing
Industry.
/~VF AI.I. THE EXHIBITS TO BE MAI>E BY
^ "the Cnited State* government at the ap
proaching Columbian fair, the most interesting
Will be that of th? fish commission.
I p to the present time no comprehensive
di?plav ha* ever been made of the fauna
belonging to lie water* of this country. It 14
intended that snch an exhibition shall be made
in Chicago. Thin ought to lie interesting in
consideration merely of the fact that fishirg
Was the earliest industry of the New World,
dating from the period of the discovery of
America by Columbus.
A wTiter for The Star was Informed that
if ("ongn-m doe* not refuw the money asked the
COO!"ii*-:?n proposes to exhibit alive in aqnaria
th?- princi| al forms of tithes and invertebrates
?f both o ans, the Oulf of Mexico, the great
lake* and the inland river*, with rarticular
reference to tiiow which have commercial
Talue. Not only will marine creature* of all
sorts be shi?wn. but the linn v denizen* of the
streams also, and likewise the white fish the
cat tixh, the big pickerel and the huge stur
geons of the interior water*. Such a task will
Bec?M*arilv be one of great magnitude, inas
much as the labor and skill required to fetch
the tithes ln g0(,,| condition from point* so re
mote. over thousand* of nule* of railwav. must
be mormon* and of the very highest order.
HOW THE *C*LT OAPTITE* Witt, BE ?Slprm
It has been contended hitherto that such an
exhibition as thi< wr.* impmcticablc; but thanks
to mo<! mixed device* and the discoveries of
tlie Ti-h om mission no seriou* difficulties are
anticipated. I'ho marine fishes wili be cap
ture) off the const and forwarded alive bv rail
in tank* ritied with sea water to Chicago. Xot
?aly on the Atlantic seaboard. but on the P?
ci?c !.kewi*e. the vessel* of the ilUrn
will devote attention to this work. Thev will
?acuro the scaly captive* in seine*, select"inch
desirabi" one* a* are caught in the pound nets
of the fish, rnien and take them in tank* ashore
where they will l? shipped to the exposition
The tnn.s utilised for rai! transportation will
be of wood, of sufficient size not ?o crowd ?he
occupants and provided with a device for cir
culating and aerating the water. Ordinarilv
fl-bes transported for exhibition purpose, *ri
???ill accommodated as Co space and air that
til-y arrive at their destination half dead and
Bi.ieh wounded. The aquaria shown at the
emt?rnnial in rhila?i< Iphia wen-a failure chiefly
i??r t..is r* -s?>n. J>ut these things are under
? 'ftrr ?"'*? ,'ons?qiientlT the ti-h com
mis ion s dis) la;-?t the Columbian fair will
?? olwldy attract more attention thai, any other
eat are of the enterprise.
THE AljCAKIA AXNFT.
/ An annex to the government exhibit at the
fair will be devoted to the show of the aqr.aria.
Windows in the roof will admit the fuinligh:
w! ic ii is essential to the w VI being of fishes'
while tin Water is kept c litinnallv aerated bv
apt.an.tn* at high pre 1.1,r... Thus tha occu
pants of tile tanks mil remain in a heulthv con
dition All the salt water requisite will be
brought from the sea -bore by rail, and it is
pr.l ali.e that one car load of water per week
h >" " *lJ serve to keep U.I the sni.plv
of both for tlie exposition while it lasts, ii
the a.jnana will swim around all the valuable
food hakes of the country, both inland and of
the ocean, together with whatever other forms
of ni-.r ne and other aqueous fauna worth
exhioinig us enno* or otherwise interesting
Al-o the mollurks ,nd other fascinating in
?ertebnten will be
IJnt the greatest interest attaching to this
exhibit of the fish commission, apart from the
aqnaria altogether, has to do with the very ob
? ni v'r.7U " was, or'^'nallv organized?
i >? tl" l,r?c.:riMg fr >m the waters of food
, li:f no* distant futnre the human
race will depend largely for provender upon
the watt r. At ill events science does *0 assert
Already it has be en proved that one acre of
pond or landlocked inlet can be made to pro
w per"BB?m than ,en "crei of
.i2 11 t"? now the fisheries form one of
the leading food-producing industries of the
Ir.i.ed *t ite?. but th;ynmuunt to nothing
compared with what is destined to be their d?
Je 'Within the coming centurv. The
bus i.e- of j rona gating food fishes RrtlfiolaUv
ttini*. infancy** yet. but it has progressed
farenov h to show that it is alone Capable of
fee.ii.ig a,e entire human race if its pusaibili
lie* are tiiken obvious advantage of.
DETELoPlfECT OF FIMH CCLTCE.U. IDEAS.
The exhibit of the fish commission will in
clude an historical collection of apparatus
show ing the development of fish cultural ideas
*2'!V; Methods will be Shown bv
li.i.-ttst.on for transporting fi-.h. eggs and
lry. f"r P'1,n?lnK waters all over the
I ni.e.1 J-^ites. Hatcheries and pi>nds will be
presented in miniature; likewise the cars
boats ami cm* utilized. Also will be displaved
s .Ve^iy I .'*'" "PCdts of tishe* at various
f.agei of .l ielopn. nt. Eggs and fry arti
ti ...llT propagated will be represented bv pre
served specimen, and by niiMiels in wai an.j
f" -> ';<'?} series of adult fish that have
been art 1 tii uiliy j.rojxigated and raised bv ti e
eo "in,sion will gr.ii.hicaily illustrate the
value of the work. And. in addition to all
t 1i ii rteV'* I1" ^ '''I'onstrati d as
t . the 1,;. briili/atii n of fishes and the actinia
ligation of specie**.
An-r:., r important division of the fi?h com
?i-sio:i * show-will consist in a displav of the
. eature. pnrsn?d by the fisheries and of others
* ' ^r?fd incidentally. For example, a,mat"
? ninis.s. such as s.a otter*, manatees, dol
Jl iii -. p??rpoisen, grumpuseft ai>.d \\h?Jch will l>e
*pre-e:ited by stuffed specimens and casts
likewise the pinniped*, such a- the walrus.
Ue sea elephant ana the seal. Sea and inland
jibes wiil le_ represented by cast* and epeei
1* .S in alcohol, and mounted examples will be
ehibited of reptiles and batrachians. alligw
* s. turtles, terrain, water snakes, frogs and
S-Simande rs. Moilu-k* and other invertebrates
*** ,W T .bt displayed, tlrieit or in
Ho included among the invcrte
Ute* will be crabs and lobsurs, sea worms,
urchins, sponges and corals.
models or fxmhuco ceaf-t.
.noi ji ntly the fish commission will show, bv
?an* of models and otherwise, all the tvpe's
oi.-i.iiig craft used in the United Sutes". to- I
f#!.- r nun their applUnce* for their eqnip
Wiit. The development of the fishing ve*?,i
it 1. lll*toric'a;l.v- ?i'd the ex
will include all kind* of apparatus cm
|pye. in the capture of fl.h and otW ,qUatlc
1' -"?"nerciel fishermen, their ap
ske>ter. habits and out
?" will also be shown. Likewise with anglers
f!wi ?jiuipniente, showing ail kinds of
?'kle used by them, such a? rods from the
? .union aider pole to the split bamboo- reels
ine* books. Ac. In the seme division will be
lisplayed all manner of fishery producto and
,r preration. This will ernbn ce materials
sndaoparatus utilized in the preparat.on of
t h. Ac., for market, models of packing bouses
raenenes a^i tna&g houses, prixluct. pre
J?red for food, used as clothing and employed
in the arts and manufacturer Also representa
tion Will U, made by models of the bottom of
the oe^n. showing the fiidiing banks. Special
collection! will illustrate the development of
marine life from its lowest form, and. inas
much as many of theee are exceedingly small
mie-roM-opes of high power will be used to
lu"r characterisUcs. Relations,
?00. between extinct and existing form* of
?quauc life will be represented by comparative
exhibits and illustrations.
Msrisx or the risa ixdcst**.
The exhibit of the fish commission at the
Columbian fair u expected to have one great
MilI in acquainting the people of this country
"J, wh",?u bwn?,'??"?? f"r thf sdvancement
Kf.i, "nJ ?ho,"n? them something
?f what this new and wonderful industry is de*
tined to aacomplfak in the future. lncdentaUv
v 1*1 toes from all part* of the United Mutes will
be given hints as to how water mar be farmed
very much more profitably than "land. The
usefulness of thw m not to be overestimated
when it a considered that the time will soon
wrive when the rapidly multiplying popula^n
?k Lnited Slate* wdl look to the .jeeaiis. the
j* B ""i the rivers for the greater purt of
their Beat supply and a hen the pnrsait of \r
nculture will urrhwps be of seeullaarT lmi,0^!J.
ma*S U\X^t ti??? swims. It is not at all
realised how rapidly the fish commission is mak
ing progress toward the achievement of theeml
here suggested. Marvelous as are the results
which it ha* so far attained, thev are only the
beginning of what is to be. What has alreu.lv
been done for the shad is to be lone also fo"r
striped bas*. the halibut. Uie common
mackerel and tlie Spanish mackerel, which will
soon be made to populate the waters more
thickly than be. ore tuaa beams his efforts to
?xUmuuate their (pecies. MiUions upon ail
lion* of the*.- anl other valuable food fl?hc*.
hatched by artificial processes, arc to be tamed
lowe in their proper element, while even now
the industry of fish farming is being encour
**?*"' in its beginmug throughout the inland
waters by shipment! for stocking purposes of
young fry sunt on special cars and free of
charge to every state in the Union. Also exper
iments aru about to be made in transferring
tithes from salt water to fre-h and vie? versa,
so that, aa it is hoped, the mullet of the gulf
* ill be domesticated in the great lakes and the
whit< dsn made to share the ocean with the cod.
For such purpose* sun-lit ponds under (floss
framee, in which the water can be made
fresher or more salt as gradually as in
desired, are expected to be nio.t um fuL Once
accnstoin a few individual fishes of a given
species to the new nater. so that they are well
ami contented, and their progeny, born to the
novel element, will be as well adapted to it aa
any. All this is not a mere *p< culation. but
proven fact established by scientific investiga
tion. So far the tiling is in its infancy only, I
but viewed in the light of adequate experience
| already obtained its future affords confident
expectation of a mean* of supporting upon the
earth at least double the population which it
has hitherto been supposed capalilc of main
taining. When it is considered that three
fourths of the earth's surface is water and that
modern discovery is aoon to make water more
Erotitable for food-producing purposes than
ind. gome notion of the hopcl uiiicss of the
prospect may be grasped.
A MVSTrlEY OK CADIZ.
A Leaf Extracted fnr"The Star" From a Rsvt
nue Cutter Officer's I-n* Itook.
0PFKXB8 OK THE REVENUE CUTTER
service sone time* meet with strange ad
venture* and they often come in contact with
people and aee phase* of ,j'e by no mean* com
monplace. One of the strangest and most
heartrending scene# I ever witnessed happened
about eleven years ago, while I was serving as
cadet on board the revenue school ship Salmon
P. Chaae.
We had sailed from New Bedford the early
part of June and after beiug becalmed for two
day* just outside of Block Island we took a
fair breeze, and with everything drawing, even
to the topmast and top gallant studding sails,
we laid onr course for Cadiz. Spain.
Few incident* worthy of note occurred dur
ing the passage aero**. We were fortunate
enough to pass the Azores during daylight and
secured a good view of the justly famed peak
of Pico, which can be seen for sixty miles.
The "roaring 40V saluted us with a sharp
squall, and we were blown near enough to the
African coast to receive the usual sprinkling of
desert sand that during certain seasons is con
tinually blown far off to sea.
It was abont sunset on a beautiful July even
ing when those sweetest of all words to a sailor's
ear, "Land O!" rang out on the summer air
from the lookout on the topsail yard.
"Where away?'' shouted the officer of the
deck.
"Right ahead, sir."
Our navigating officer quickly slmgs hi* glass
over his shoulder and climbs nimblv aloft. He
mi'kes a deliberate, cartful examination of the
distant horizon, comes down on deck, speaks a
few word* to the captain and tile course of the
vessel is slightly changed.
IS CADIZ.
By 9 o'clock the lights of the oldest city in
Europe are plainly visible. Wo stand "off and
Oil" until daylight, when, taking our pilot
aboard, we sail ir.to tfce beautiful bay of Cadiz
and drop anchor. It is here that the singular
incident I am about to relate occurred. Ten
days elapsed, during which time all the cadets
had ample opportunity to visit every place of
interest, not onlv in the quaint old citv of
t'ailiz. but also Seville and its far-famed aleaza.
a bull fight at Xenix and the frowning cliffy
and wonderful winding galleries of Gibraltar.
Our water tanks were filled, ship chandlery
taken on board, ice chests and store room's
filled, covers taken off sail*, spare boats got in
on the gallows frame and lashed and everything
made ready for sea. All hands were on b<?rd
except the pilot, who was expected on board by
daylight in the morning. Expecting an early
call the next day. tlie cadets, crew, except the
regular anchor watch, and most of the officers
had "turned in" by 9:30. The captain, officer
of the deck and surgeon were grouped on the
port side of the quarter deck, that being the
side toward the town, laughing and chatting.
MAKIXQ TOWARD THE SHIP.
I being the cadet of the watch was pacing up
and down in the port gangway. While looking
over toward town I saw a boat put off from the
quay and head in the direction of the Chaae.
The full moon shining out of a cloudless sky
enabled me to see distinctly the boatman in
the stern vigorously sculling, while standing
amidships wa* the figure of a man. As the
boat rapidly drew near I could plainly discern
that this m:ui'* gaze was directed toward
the Chase. He. however, cast frequent
furtive glances in the direction of the
town aud several times seemed to be
urging the boatman to increased
speed. The bor.t soon came within hailing dis
tance and was challenged by the quartermaster
of the watch. The boatman ceased sculling
and the man standing amidships n 'ki d ill Sjmn
i'h. in a voice trembling with < xcitcment, if he
could come on board and see the captain. Per
mission wa* granted. The boat came alongside
the port gangway and the man who had juat
spoken came hurriedly over the side and * topped
on deck.
He wa* a large, finely-proportioned, hand
some man. a little over middle age and fash
ionably dressed. With a nervous, militarv
salute he requested to In; shown to the captain.
This being done our strange visitor, without
any prelude and trembling with excitement,
in rapid tone launched forth into a supplica
tion. the nature of which we could not du
cover, owing to his rapid and broken tones.
After several futile attempts the captain at last
succeeded iu stopping him and making him
comprehend that he must proceed more de
liberately in order to be understood.
BElKil.NO FOB HIS LITE.
Then, talking more slow ly, but suffering from
increased excitement, his face showing in
every lineament anxiety and terror, he begged
and besought the captain to take him to America.
He pulled out of his pocket a small leather
case containing jewels and offered tliem to the
captain for a passage across. He begged with
tears iu his eyes that he might not be ?ent off
the ship. He said he would do anything
would ship as a foremast hand or even as a
servant if he could only be permitted
to go with us. On learning from
the captain that it was absolutely impossible
for his request to be granted, that' passenger*
were not allowed on government vessels and
the Crew list was full, he fell on hi-, knees
looked up into the captain * face in the most
! beweching manner and told hnn 111 rapid and
liuskv tones that to send him on rhore would
be to doom him to a disgraceful death; that he
had committed a great crime, who ? enormity
was increased by the fact that he was a high of
ficer in the Spanish array, and to prove kia ident
ity he exhibited documents that demonstrated
beyond doubt that he was exactly what he
represented himse lf. He said all other avenues
of escape were by this time cl.xted, that if we
took him to America no one in Spain should
ever know hi* fate and that his life would be
saved. All our sympathies were with this un
fortunate mau, but of course his entreaties
could not be granted.
REiuaxixa to hi* doom.
With the most dcjected aud broken-hearted
manner I ever beheld he went over the side,
got into the boat and slowly proceeded toward
the quay. Several times the boat stopped aad
the unhappy man stretched out his hand* to
ward us in a supplicating manner as ir beseech
ing the captain to alter his determination. We
?ailed at <laylight the following morning, and I
have never learned the nature of the uiau'a
crime or what late befel him. P. W. T.
rowavEx.
Aa Awful Licking Promised, bat Not Given.
From the Detroit Km hm
He wiu a bit of a boy, not over eight rears
old. but he followed me eo persistently and kept
up hi* cry of "Paper, sir!" so continuously
that I turned ou hia in a way I afterward re
gretted. He felt hurt and insulted, and as he
?Usappeared in the dorkueea I heard him call
ing:
"Never mind, old man! I'll grow up and
give you the awfuliest licking a man ever got!"
We have met almost daily for the past year,
and on each occasion there has been no evi
dence of unbending. A dozen time* at least
I have heard him reiuaik in an aside:
"There goes a fellow I am going to lick If it I
takes me fifty years!'* |
The other day I was surprised to receive a
call from my young er.crnv. Although he
looked no older or stronger, t was wondering
if he had come to carry out his awful threat,
when he extended his little 'paw" and said:
"Hay, let's quit."
"Tm agreed." I
"1 *aid I'd lick you, and I meant it all along
but?but "
"What's happened to change your mind?"
"Mother's dead -died Holiday," he gasped,
as he sat 4m. "aud i don t want to tig lit no
bodv nor tiothin'. If you'U forgive me I'll
forgive you."
Aad so we sho. k hands and up. id I
know wa both feci better for it I
PLAYING POLICY.
How Thousands of People Oarable
Their Money Away.
THE WAY IT IS MANAGED.
Bow the Drawing* Are Obtained sad I>ls
trtbutMl?Hcaulquartm Across th* River?
Umi Mystery of the flam. A Pollcjr"'Writer"
and Ilia Outfit.
Despite the vigorous and inces
*ant effort* of the police to *uppre*s ami
prevent the nefarious prn<tico of writing policy
in the District of Columbia the extent of the
business anil the Hmountof money <tally thrown
away by the players of it in their almost hope
less efforts to beat it demonstrate* the fact that
tho practice is yet one which number* among
its participants thousand* of not only the low
est and most dissolute of the District's inhab
itant*. but in addition hundreds of men,
women and boy* who would blush and hang
their heads in shame to hare it known thai
they "played policy," a* it is technically desig
nated. And that the readers of The Stab may
fully comprehend the extent ami evil results of
the practice, as well as understand the system
of playing policy, the following explanation of
the game is given:
"Playing policy" is nothing more or les*
than the engagement bv those who play it in a
lottery drawing, in which the chance of the
player securing a prize is. according to the
most liberal estimate, 1 in 730. Like the draw
ings of the Louisiana state lottery, the draw
ings do not take place in the District, but, un
like the drawing* of that lottery, the policy
drawing* occur twice every day.excepting Sun
days and legal holidays. Several companies or
concern* are engaged in running the gumes, or
lotteries, in which the District player* take
part. One of these is located in Frankfort. Kv.
The other concerns are stationed at some myth
ical point over in Virginia across the Long
bridge.
The drawing* of the Kentucky company are
telegraphed to it* agents here in cipher, and
are then put in printed form over in Virginia,
and immediately afterward distributed in the
District by their "writer*." Tho drawings of the
other concerns take place in Virginia, Just across
from the city, and are also printed there. Some
of the companies Wing, it is stated. totally
unreliable, it is a very serious question whether
their drawings ever really take place, those
best informed in thee matters being of tho
opinion that their dratrings are in roalitv put
up Jobs. In addition to these "stiiue or
"lake" concerns there are also individuals in
the District w ho run such cut-throat games;
bat, of course, in a more limited way.
THE WRITER.
The first move of a person desiring to play
policy is to find a "policy writer." Now, the
"writer," as may be inferred, is that agent of
the company sriin receives and records the play
desired to be mhde by the policy player. The
"writer" is supplied* with long slips of white
paper, which he uses for tho purpose of giving
the plaver a record of the number* played, a
record Wok in which, by mean a of manifold
and carbon paper, duplicate records of all plays
written are made, and a dated stamp, with
which all tickets given the player are stamped.
Tho plan of procedure observed by both the
player and the writer may thus be described:
Seventy-eight numbers, running from 1 to 78.
inclusive, being used in the drawing, twelve of
which are drawn in the morning drawing and
thirteen in the evening drawing, the player in
forms the writer what numbers he desires to
play; or, in other words, those numbers
be (the player) bets will be drawn.
The player " at the same time of
course liands the writer the amount of the bet.
In no other gambling game under the sun is
there such regard and respect fur the limited
means of the player, for a bet of even as small
an amount as I cent will be accepted by the
"writer." However, as the "writer" receives
from the company 20 per cent of the total
amount of all bets taken by him, it is, of
bourse, to his interest to have the bets as large
and a* many of them as possible. So it is,
knowing well the common superstition of his
Cntrous regarding the significance of dreams,
e also provides himself with a "Dream lJook,"
in which the anxious inquirer may find, as re
gards the right numbers to be played, a correct
interpretation of any and all dreams he may
liave. From 1 cent a bet may run almost as
much higher as the player dosi'res to go. It is
known that a man who several years ago was
convicted here of defrauding the government
used to play as high a bet as $3U0. After the
player has ma la his play ho must, of course,
await the result of the drawing*. A* stated
above there arr two daily drawiugs, one about
noon and the other about 5 p.m.
THE DBAWlKOS.
As soon as they are printed the writers are
provided with copies of them for general dis
tribution among their patrons and such of the
general public as may be trusted. These
printed forms appear about as follows:
F
M
Jan. 17,1891.
K
E
8
11
14
17
74
48
4
11
44
21
44
9
16
80
14
46
59
15
17
19
83
Dickinson & Co.
The letter F means Frankfort and K means |
Kentucky. The twelve numbers under the let
tor >1 designate tbe numbers drawn ut the morn
ing drawing, while the thirteen under the letter
K designate those drawn at the evening draw
ing. So the form here illustrated shows the
drawings for both the morniug and evening of
that day. Ordinarily, however, the form is
single: "that is, there i* generally but one draw
ing shown at u time. The form, it will be seen,
is divided for the reception of the drawn num
ber* into five squates. or "capitals,' as they I
are technically called. In these "capitals," be
ginning with the top one, are inserted tbe num
bers. placed iu the order of their drawing, also
beginning with the first one drawn at the top.
VARIOUS 1'I.ATH.
From this it will now bo socn that the object
of the player is to foretell certain numbers
which will appear in the drawing. Hence tho
usual practice of the plarer is to play a "gig."
A "gig" is the naming by the player of uny
three numbers, from 1 to 78, which he believes
will be drawn. For instance, suppose that the
Slayer belie /e* that among the number* to be
rawn the following will appear in the morn
ing drawing: 7 -M 4. and he desire* to bock his
belief to tbe extravagant amount of 5 cents.
He so informs the "writer." hands him the
amount and receive* in return a little slip of
white paper on which ap|>car tho number*
7 2H-4 and the amount of the bet made. On
the back of this slip of paper the "writer"
stamp* the date of the play ai d also the draw
ing for which it is intended; that is, whether it
is for the morning or evening drawing or
whether, as is frequently the cum, it is for "all
day," the term "all day," as will be naturally
interred, meaning that tbe play is intended for
both the morning and evening drawing.
Supposing that the plaver has intended his
play or bet for the morning drawing he would,
should the numbers appear in that drawing,
receive '200 for 1, or *10 for his S cents invested
If they should have been iutended for the even
ing drawing, aud should have appeared, he
would receive 180 for 1, or *9 for his i cents in
vented. Now if he had played the number* for
"all day" and they had appeared in one of the two
drawings for that day hi* winnings would have
been proportionately lessened, because of the
increas. J ohances of success the two drawing*
would have given him. As many more numbers
may be named by the player as he pleases, bat
the addition of everv number above the usual
three of a "gig" reduces of coarse th* odtls
| given if successful. There are many other
methods of playing policy, such aa
h the play or umlc:
bv which th* player undertakes to designs*
not onlv the numbers, bat also the "capitals'
| In whicb they will appaar, and for which, if
successful, he receives 408 for 1; ',-eouibination |
I gig*," by whioh the play* i
?J> which "gigs" of three numbers mre made as
ortenas they appear, and such other mode* a*
^e^fancie. oi the player. may suggest or
4*1*1 Til DIAWITfO.
The player having made his play, which we
will (oppoee waa for the morning drawing,
now awaita ita remit. The drawing having
taken place about noon and the renalt having
dulv printed on the little slips before
mentione'l. Ac ??writer." who had returned to
the Virginia headquarter* of the compar.v with
ma sheet* and the receipts from the plays' taken
uy. im;"?T PrePB"'? to return V. the citv.
But before leaving for the city the "hits" mode
with him, that is. the winning plays made on
Us record sheets, are carefully "noted, tho
funds necessary to pay them are calculated nnd
he is then provided by U>e company", agent
Ij! "Htaa??\v",t>?fi?0neT larK? e"ouKb Pay
all hits. \\ ith this money and hundreds of
printed copies of the drawing he then seta out
on hu return to the city. The "writer," if he
lias a nied place for the transaction of his
business, directs his steps toward that place, or
if. as the case commonly is. he hns no fixed
place of business, but transacts it on tho "flv "
hia patrons, knowing this, meet him an'he
wanders from point to point. In these ways
the results of all drawings are distributed and
winners paiii. Such are the methods observed
! ',v writers and the players, excepting the
f~ ? us before stated, that tho "snide" or cut
concerns refuse the payment of big
hits, or lnleed *11 others wben tiiey so *ee tit.
KNOWN BY NUMBER?.
The writers are known to the companies
they represent by numbers only, as "Writer
No. 7. Ac. To the police thov are known by
course, and'so familiar are the police
with tho employment of the "writer*-' that
they know Just which concern thev represent.
Ho it is that wheu a "writer" is caught the po
lice know to a certainty just what lawyer will
defend him, for the different concerns and
their emploves are all represented by legal
talent regularly engaged from year to year.
? ,.wmur8 r*n(te from ignorant depravitv
to otherwise seeming respectability and are
scattered throughout the very length and
breadth of the District.
THOUSANDS OP PLAYEIW.
The players of policy number thousands of
men, women and children of the District, and
according to Detective Block, a recognized au
thority here upon all matters relating to policy
playing, it is responsible for the commission of
more crime that any other evil to be found.
The Players not only risk their money in a game
? * ,'h the chances are heavily against them,
| but also, it is stated, are frequently cheated out
or their rightful earnings by irresponsible con
cerns. For the means to engage in it murders
have been committed, robberies have been per
petrated, and steps taken which lead to ruin and
disgrace. In fact, its extent and the terrible
results which follow it are but fceblv reuli/.od
by our citizen*, und to crush and stamp it out
will reouire the combined and increasing ef
forts of the entire police department of the
District and its courts, but also Unit of ita in
dividual citizens. The 8mallne?s of the plava
taken encourage* and invites not only the low
est and the most poverty stricken beings to en
gage in it, but as well mero children, thus
making it possible to instill in youthful minds
that desire for gambling, which, once fully
aroused, stops at nothing to gratify it.
Written for The Eveuinjr Star.
BAKE IKCS AND COLDS.
A Funny Fashionable Wn.y of Dressing Chil
dren?^Thin-Soled Shoes.
"How cunning those children look,with their
bare little legs," exclaimed a pretty girl on
Connecticut avenue a day or two ago, calling
attention to three youngsters who, though the
air was bitter cold, were playing in tho street.
One of them was a small gill of ubout seven
years, with skirts ?o short that her fairy limbs
were visible in their nudity from mid-thigh to
three inches above the Blioe, where the short
sock began.
k'gh ! growled the physic ian who was the
young lady * companion in her promenade. |
"Yes, ' she said; "it looks rather cold, but it's
the swell thing now, you know, and awfully
English!"
!;J&h ! C,offins ?re ?tvlish, too, I suppose."
i "by, what can you mean?"
.i''Sim.P1>. ,h1{?." responded the man of medi
cine Of all the idiotic notion* I am ac
quainted with the one you call mv attention to
. 1 ?. *Lb?*rinR ?"'! driveling. The
ffi- wbicb " "defended is that it makes
children hardy to go bare-legge<t in winter. As
a matter of fact it is an outrage upon tlie lews
of nature. Go up to the regioi.J within the
arctic circle and you will find the children play
ing about ill the snow with their bodies often
nearly unclad. But their arms and legs are al
ways warmly wrapped. Now, why is that'/"
I can t imagine."
?hi1;." 'iet tel1 Ton " i8 bpc*?^ the trunk
of the bo.lv, being the seat of the vital organs
is naturally warmer and has a more vigorous
circulation tiian tlie limbs. Whv is it that vour
fe et and hands on a rrosty day get cold first?
Obviously for the reason that they ore most re
mote from the heart. Therefore they need
protection. Likewise the arms and legs re
quire covering most. Keep the limbs warm
and the body will be warm: that is the Esqui
maux principle, and it is a true one, so far as it
ft.1 hero we 1,av?. ^rgely for fashion s
sake, children running about in an atmosphere
that is below freezing with their bodies warmly
clad and their poor little legs exposed!"
"But they look verv healthy."
Hr? n''""bu<ily Were they not healthy chil
dren they would have succumbed to this
abominable practice in dress long ago. But no
health is so robust as to be nble to afford to in
vite pneumonia and other kindred ills which
are always ready to attack the most sturdy
person who risk* imprudence. For parents to
send their children abroad .onpStto
extend a cordial invitation to disease and death
Of course, that does not matter, however, if it
is real!) English. What sort of shoes are those
you are wearing?"
thtx soles.
"Shoe*." said the pretty girl, .omewhat taken
by surprise. "Why, they are quite new and a
very nice pair, I think."
- 'w?. y?u?" Rrunted the physician. "What
right have you, pray, to wear shoes at this
season with soles an eighth of an inch thick"
More colds are caught in that way than in any
other. Not so much on a .lay like this as on a
warm day. You said a few moments ago that
you had a bad cold; probably von caught it
during the last warm spell we ha.h You
? Tha ? W'th ,KUeh 14 P* of sh^s
on. Tho temperature of the air around
you was about 65 degrees; the bricks vou
walked upon were evaporating moisture
Evaporation makes cold. That is the reason
why cologne, which evaporates quickly, makes
you cool when you rub it upon your face So
while your body was warmed bv the sun," vour
feet were being refrigerated at a temperature
below freezing, liesnlt. a cold. You hear
people say everyday, leant imagine where I
canght this cold; I have not been imprudent in
any way that I know of.' The secret of it is
simply that they have been wearing thin-soled
shoes. Suppose that the sole becomes damp
even though the foot is not made wet, the water
furnishes the best possible medium for con
ducting the heat out of the bod v. The moral
of all this my dear young lady, is to wear shoes
with good thick soles throughout the winter
season.
Electroplating the Dead.
From the Boston Transcript.
It is well known that the most delicate tissue*,
grasses, leaves and skins can be plated with
copper or other metals by electrolysis. At the
Pari* electrical exhibition of 1881 a beautiful
variety of objects thus metalizod were shown
and at that date an English writer suggested'
half humorously, that the process might in the
future be employed for preserving the linea
ments of the dead while inclosing Uioir remains
by way of a modern improvement on the
ancient Egyptian mummy. French doctor*
seem to have taken this idea seriously and as
an experiment have actually plated u .lead child.
Tho result U a perfectly faithful statue of the
subject, truer to the life than anv *tatuarv
could kope to achieve. The metallic shell is
strong enough to withstand shocks. To re
ceive the electroplating of copper, aluminum
or gold, as the case may be, the skin is first
prepared by a bath of nitrate of silver and the
silver reduced upon it by the vapor of phos
phorus, but there are other ways of providing
the necessary "electrole'' on wLich to deposit
the coating. It has been objected that the
r?s of decomposition might burst the rnelnl
lOiell, but it is proposed to cremate the body
inside tac shell. while leaving a vent for the
$ases. The ashes might be allowed to remain
inside the metallic shell, which would thus be
come a cinerary urn and mummy ease a reli
quary and a statue of tho deceased all in one
capable of being preserved in the home or the
mausoleum to a remote posterity. The ances
tral portrait gallery might in fact become a
collection of statues as faithful to the life as
the photograph and more durable <1
wood or porphyry of the Pharaohs.
Owe Thtng Always Hsady.
From Harper'* Bastr. j
Hicks?"I am nevsc able to And anything in
this house." ^
THE POPULAR GERMAN
When All is Bright and Gay Within)
and Gold and Cheerless Without.
I HEIGHT OF THE GAY SEASON.
i About ths Qcmui, the Moat Popular later
talnrirnt ?What CoRMItitM a Good Lcadar
To Makp All the Girls Be Ilea?The Chape
roaM aad Their Dutiee.
Written for Thp F.veoinir Star.
A LADY CAME OCT FROM A PARTY IN
1*- Washington recently nt 3:80 a.m. and her
carriage was not there. It had been ordered .
for midnight, so she did not wait, bnt threw I
herself upon the mercy of a friend and the
latter took her home. The next morning the
"blew up"' the coachman and threatened to dis
charge him. He ia an Englishman of great
dignity and he replied to her in this wise:
"Madam, I 'ope as 'ow I hain't given no i
offense, but I was to a germtin night afore last |
and waa kep hup all night, and last night I went
to take a Map anil I never woke hup till day
light. I don't get sleep enough, madam, and
that's the fact."
THE OoACHXAX BEFORE LEXT.
To modify Lord Byron's famous lines in
favor of intoxication it may be remarked that |
the coachman was right and that man being |
human uiust get sleep, and there u not much
sleep for the coachman who is attached to a
fashionable household. He is ordered for mid
night, he comes to the door, it may be snow
ing. it may be raining, it may be cold as
Siberia, but he must wait anil wait. Some
times his employer's daughter keeps him wait
ing an hour, sometimes two hours and some
times he drives her home in the gray of the
early morning. When nature asserts" herself
and ho oversleeps himself ho gets a blowing up.
Most tiresome things of all to the coachman are
germans, for they frequently last as long as a
session of the United States Senate.
INSIDE AMD OUTSIDE.
The bright lights are glistening, the music is
playing, the chamjiagne is sparkling, every
thing is merry and everybody is in full onjoy
ment, and the temperature is pleassut and
warm. I)o the people ever stop and think for
a moment of the ruin and sleet and bitter cold
outside? Do they remember that John, the
coachman, is there in misery and discomfort,
and that he would like to be at home in bed?
No, they seldom think of John. He is paid to
be uncomfortable But they sometimes think
of the horses, and for fear that they may catch
cold a lady sometimes leaves her party before
she really wishes to. If John is an old family
servant, of conrse, they think of him, and they
do not dare to keep him waiting, for if they do
he will scold them. But John, as a general
thing, has a pretty hard time of it during the
season and he longs for Lent.
THK BRILLIANT QERlfAX.
The season in Washington may be considered
as being at its height Lent comes early this
year and then the gaiety is checked. Now,
therefore, is the time to make hay while the
sun is shining, for, alas, soon come the forty
days when the brilliancy of society retires be
hind a cloud. There is nothing in society so
brilliant as a german. The crowding of a'big
birtl is impossible; there is room for everybody
to dance ami then the figures and the favors are
bountiful. But in a german everything de- i
pends upon one man?the leader.
A certain lord chief justice of England when
ever he was complimented because of his great
learning as a jmige used to make this response:
"Ah ! but I cannot make a tin cup!" Similarl v
some of our most brilliant statesmen when they
receive flattering adulation from their friends
would do well if they would replv in all mod
esty and humility, "Yes. but I cannot lead a
german."' Many men can make tin cups and
many men can lead germans, but a good tin
smith is not to be found everywhere and a good
german leader is a still rarer individual.
THE FIRST REQUISITE
is quickness. The couples ranged against the
wall arc not all lions and belles. They want to
dance and they cannot do so unless they have
frequent turns to "lead out." Quick leads,
recurring frequently, prevent the intolerable
boredom that falls upon a couple that is not
being all the time token out bv other couples.
The fact that he isn't a lion and that she isn't a
bello is empbaoized painfully, unless they lmve
opportunity of leading often. Of all a leader's
qualities tne one of quickuess is the most
requisite and the least frequently met with.
To hustle about is not quickness,nor is a "fussv
man" often quick. There must lie decision
and a preconceived plan in all a leader's mo
tions. and this brings us to his second requi
site.
HE MUST BE FIT.II. .
A leader must be firm?that Is he must act |
flruilv. The mistake that thoo who have this
qualify, and no other, make is in supposing
that tho people at a german can be ordered |
about and governed as though they were the
soldiers of a regiment. If a man steals a lead,
spot him and jiass him over when his turn
comes. If a couple takes a little dance out of j
its tnrn, provided the practice does not become
general, wink at it. If a scoundrel steals the
favors, go to the door and call the police.
There is no other remedy for this form of
rascality. The wretch who perpetrates it
should not be admitted again into a ball room
But such offenses are not likely to be com
mitted when the leader is a good one. He
should intrust the favors in the hands of some I
chaperone, and then none but the artfullest |
of dodgers can get one, unless he is entitled to
it But oven if the favors ars stolen the leader
must not lose his temper.
Of all requisites of german leadership good
nature is one of the greatest. If the leader
gets mad he gets others mad and then all the
run is over. He must resist all irregular re
quests without getting ruffied. If vou udd to
all these qualities the eye of an artist for arrang
ing the people in artistic groups and a benev
olence of heart that may prompt him to make
awkward men and wall-flowers the objects of
his especial care you will have an ideal leader.
He is, like a pho:.t, a thing often talked about,
but very rarely seen.
DIFFICULT AXD EXPENSIVE.
A german is not only a difficult thing to
give, but it is an expensive form of entertain
ment. All the things necessary at an ordi- [
nary dancing party are necessary here, and
mors beside, for the favors have to be pro
vided. The latter may be fine and expensive
or they may be cheap, and, indeed, cheap
favors are often Just as effective aj expensive
ones. But still they cost something, and that
something is just so much more than the other
party would have required. Nevertheless, ax
peusivc or not, there is no dancing half so
pleasant as the dancing at a well-managed
german. The figures are beautiful to look at
and still pleasunter to take part in. There is a
delight in being obliged to do certain things.
You cannot hold up a door and have a stupid
evening, oven if yon wish to. You must enjov
Sourself whether you want to or not. Ani
len the favors?bless him that gives and her
that takes, or, vice versa, her that gives and
him that takes?you have something to re
member the occasion by, something to carry
home and show to the family the next morning
at breakfast. If you don't get any favors
well, that is sad, but even then it'mav not
have been voy fault. If yon get a bad seat, or
if the leader is a poor one, you can't get
favors, no matter how great a favorite yon may
be.
THE MUSICIANS.
That a german is not a pleasure to the coach
men outaide has already been pointed oat. It is
equally a business and not a pleasure to the
musiciaui inside. What a curious trade theirs
is! What do they think about all night long
as thoy scrape and blow away on their fiddles
and horns, while the giddy people dance and
flirt with one another'/ What cynics they mint
be! Do they evar, did they ever, go to parties
themselves? One of the greatest wags that
Washington ever had as a citizen once cracked
a Joke in the hearing of a musician at a ball and
the musician laughed. The wag was so much
pleased that he declared it to be his belief that
no other humorist had ever had so high a com
pliment paid to him. The gTavity of the party
musician ia remarkable. Sometimes a couple
will sit right under his very nose
love furiously, but he never seems to hear a
word, or, if he doe* hear, to ear* anything about
it. To move him to a smile is indeed an
achievement Bat a nttMkian at a dancing
party after playing one dance take* a rest be
fore the next, whereas, the musicians at a ger
man only have one or two reets during the
whole evening. There they sit playing the
old familiar airs over aad over again until one
would suppose that they woold sink from ex
haustion or go to sleep and play mechanically
which,the way, it k not unlikely that they
sa? raw CSJJSMI.
Another individual may U supposed not te
enjoy a german aad that bi tin poor chaperon.
Let the thing be whispered softly, for it is
hatmj, hot It to nevertheless a fas
e
chaperon to a nntoance arvhow. aa<l that she
oDgM to be abolished. Pat she to Wre now and
we must make the beat of her. She mart get
sleepy litting tip all I'ight long. but she eata a
good supper geaerallv and tli.-.t' supports her.
She aays aha enjoys it, bnt one may be pardoned
for doubting her. Night watchmen mar enjoy
their occupation too, bat it to a spece- of en
joyment that most people would prefer to shun.
At a german chaperon* are considered by the
young folk* particularly useless. unless they
are dancing chaperons, and in that case they
aren't really chaperon* at all.
Bar
From Pack.
Jack's room, vifA Jack nil. Bt it tramping
up and doini, hands in pockrls, jachi haIf off hit
shoulders, furiously stroking a perfectly empty
pipe.
Jac* (savagely toNlnquiring between jrnff').?
Glad I wrote it. Glad I sent it. Glad I re
broken with her. Only aorry didn't do it
aooner. Flirt. Thorough flirt- Went to *ee
her. Found hor going out. With man. Young
man. Good-looking. Also stylish. She nays
?hc s extremely sorry. But unexpected arrlTal,
aud? I ttarr up. Interrupt. Wish her very
food evening. Which mum* Tery bad omv
ling off. Ije awake all night. Morning. write
letter ending engagement 1'oot it Meant to 1
*? Europe instr.nUv. Tlito noon. Bnt thought i
I d wait for answer. Wonder if letter's reached
her vet? Hope it has. No: I don't. Hope it
hasn't. Ethel! (Ikishes down look* at
tro/Wi.) 3:45. and she'll g.-t it by the 4ve
o clook delivery. Eveu now I've time to go up
there ami see her before itcomcs - time enough
Hut whst do X want to do that for? Hareu t I
auv strength of mind? ( Tear* off jackri.) Or
firmness? (J'uts cm coat.) Or resolution?
(Diithes face ate I hawls, brushes hair.) Or de
termination? (Hurries inlo Ulster aud arctic*.)
Or a decent amount of self-respecting pride.'
(Snatches hat.) No; by Jove, I haven't I (Jit*:,
running.)
Emu. a parlor. Jack, tligtdiy heated and
trcioeml-iusly agitated: to whom enter Ethel.
Ethel (fondly smiling and not at all con
scious).?Why, dear!
Jack (mnhranliy).?Ah!?hem!?good after
noon. Miss?Ethel!
Ethel (instantly comprehending.?O Jack!
what a foolish, good, blind, quick-tempered
stupid you are! You're the most ridiculous
being that ever was; and sometimes you try
me almost to death, and sometimes you're too
fanny for anything. This time vou're funny!
Ha. ha. ha. ha!
Jack (attempting dignity).?May I ask ?
Ethel (laughing}.?Oh, yes: you may ask
but whether I can get bre&th enough to
answer to another matter?ha, lia. ha. hu !
Jack (with a tort of shame-faced haughtiness}.
?If you can do nothing but jeer at me, I'd
better?(mottcs to go.)
Ethkl (/mliing him dmen into chair).?Don't
be silly. Jack. You know you don't mean to
go- vou're only pretending?and you wouldn't
l>e able to. if > ou meant it?goose!
Jack (helplessly).?Yea; I know. Ethel, it'a
because I love?
Ethkl {delighted at (his victory).?Of course
it is. That's whnt you intended to tell me at
the very flrst, wa*n't it? (Jack cvnfu*eiL)
Well, now, you've told me; 111 toll you some
thing. It was my uncle!
Jack.?Eh?
Ethkl.?Y"e?; Uncle Joe, Just from California.
He's Papa's younger brother, whom you've
never seen?as was quite evident from your
behavior?hn. ha, ha. ha ! If you'd waited one
second, yju'd have learned all about it and?
Jack.?-O Ethel! what a donkey I am!
(Set'sps lur.)
Ethel (unresisting).? Not quite that, bnt
possibly some other kind of ni?. strong, un
reasoning animal?from your actions, I should
say a bear. Good old jealous Jack! 'I'tU'r
biiaks out tcilh great violence.)
Servant (entering later). ?Th' letters. Miss.
(Er.it Sekvast.)
Jack (swldenhj recollecting).?Great heavens!
Ethel (examining letter*).?Only one for me.
Why, Jack, what ails von? You're absolutelv
white! Are you ill? You're not? But why do
you look so? (Glances at adtlrtts on envelope.)
Ah!
Jack (apart).?Fd forgotten all about it!
Ethkl (with tery piguant air of lieing mistress
ofthf situation).?Now, whom can this be from?
The hand is a man's?very much like yours.
Jack. The resemblance to quite strong.
Jack (apart).?What a horrible scrape!
F.t jr.L (leisurely opening letter).?And the en
velope's like yours, too?and the paper.
(Reads.) "Miss fay:" Must be from some
shopkeeper on business. ( R-wls. > ?? When <kjh
riU'l tlu .v?line* I shall beoutsvli of Stanly H<?\k?"
Well, well! What do you think of that. Jack?
Jack (perspiring with agony).?1 don't?I
can't?
Ethel (thoughtfully).?Do you suppose this
person is realiy where he said he snould l>e
when I read these lines?
Jack (urincing).?Merciful powers!
Ethel iremming).?--?(.uJside of Sandy
Book, lu-wr to tee you again.'' At anv rate,
this isn't from a xhopkee:?er. (Hinds. I * '? You
hare tireti me out?" I don't know but that it
may be, though?(.Ami* ) nw< I leave you
forevtr?' (Jack groans.) You don't appear
interested, and it is stuff, I acknowledge.
Jack jroona again.) Let's go on. though, just
or fuu. (Heads.) >l?fon cer. not to mi?rse
dear me, I should hope' not. (Rea'ls.) "?which
you are incapable of feeling?"
Jack (apart),?I wish I were dead!
Ethel (looking hard at him>?Mv corre
spondent seems rather severe, doesn't he, J auk?
(Reads.) "?but / do lean you to one who is far
my superior, no d<m',t?" No doubt, truly. Any
sane person would be. (Itoniwl groans from
Jack. Ethel Continues). "?in merit as lie is
in qo.nl fortune?" how very Johnsonian and
pri/e-:-s*uytoh my correspondent to. Jack!
(Reads.) "?and who is, 1 trust, worthy of your
lone." Why, he means you. Jack! Now, are
you really worthy of mv love?
Jack (desptriiie).-O Ethel: Stop! I?
Ethel ( puttinghtT hand on his mouth).?Quiet.
Jack! I ve not flclshed reading my letter!
(Reads.) 44?He cannot lov- you more than I?"
can't you. Jack??(rca<ls) "?tove<l uou on<*?"?
ah, post tense?(reads) "nor It ss than J lot* you
now?"
Jack (wildly).?Ethel! Please don't!
Ethel (quietly).?My correspondent is just a
little wee grain brutal, isn't he, Jack? (Reads.)
"?but you frill not care.?" Whst to vour
opinion about that. Jack? (Reads.) "Pare
tcell, cruel girl?" do hear mv correspondent
?pout. Jack ! "?and never think more of-"
Jack (trying to snatch letter).?I must have it!
Ethkl (holding him off and reailina)
"lour*?" *'
Jack.?Don't read?oh, don't read the sig
Ethel.?4'?most?"
Jack.?Don't, oh, don't!
Ethkl.?'4?sincerity?" (tears up letter and
throics in grate.) I can't imagine who my cor
respondent may be?can you?Jack?
Jack ( in graUfuX a'ioration). You darling
girl! (Second and this tinie lasting reconcili
ation. Only, some minntes after?)
Ethkl i dreamily).?I'm afraid I'm sorry I
destroyed that letter!
Manley H. Pike.
Things Swallowed.
Vrom the Lewistou Jonnul
The Lewiston man who swallowed a physi
cian's atomizer the other day has hud many
sympathizers. An impecanious wretch who
accosted him soon afteraaid: ''That's nothing. I
swallowed a brick block in 10-cent drinks." The
remark was old, but the accompanying request
for a 10-cent loan was new. A jeweler on Lis
bon street, who is trustworthy and will back
this over his signature, says that he knows a
man in Lewiston who swallowed a large piece
of iron, very large, dimensions not given, but
so large that it slmost destroyed his equilib
rium, and when he lay down this bit of hard
ware rolled around internally in accom
paniment to his own turnings. It was
with him for years, gradually absorbing, until,
presto, change! it was gone, a masterly piece
of digestion, without doubt No affidavit ac
companies this storv of the evaporation of eold
iron, bnt it would be no injury to its good
effects if there were. The meanest trick that
the epiglottis has done of late, however, to to an
Auburn storekeeper, who was about to open
store the other day and bald the key, a very
small one, in his month for a moment, when he
unfortunately slipped on the door and swal
lowed H (the key, not the doer). He waited for
his partner to open op. A pretty girl who was
about to pay the conductor in the street ear
(Pine street route) last Thursday suddenly
blushed and then turned pale. She had swal
lowed a 10-cent piece.
Flees Mha
THK WKKK ID MKW TOM.
6otm Astonishing M*?r? Afcoa
ocas iht Matte..
THE TRA*SFER OF OCT. BILL FROM iUin to
THK nilTD STATS* OSiTI?A MOVEMKXT To
btul:m ax amrkicin f?i/o?hwwbitw
axd ixn-vtaxtmw at the ?f?" hocu.
CormpaiMlaor* of Tb? E*en.u. **t*r
Xew You, J??- *??
Hfre arc a few colossal facta al>out this great
country of oum. which I learned tht? week from
110 leas authority than a man high In Br?'
?tmt'f. He told me that the business transac
tions of th? United Htett* amouuUd to seventy
thousand million dollar* a year, of which ten
thousand million represented the banking trans
actions. leaving sixty thousand million* as the
legitimate commercial business of the country.
In the course of % year the bad debt* of busi
ness mount np to an aggregate of one hundred!
and twenty million dollars. of which about
sixty millions, or practically SO per cent,
aro recovered sooner or later by the cred
itors. In other words. about iiU.OOH.MWa year
are loat by the merchants ot the country
through liaid debts. Thin, however, is a micro
scopical percentage?about one-tenth of one
|H*r cent of the whole volume of bnaines*. so
that the trade of the country seems to bt o?a
pretty secure buii in spite of panics and
bankruptcy. There is an old maxim that only
about one man ill ten succeeds in business. but
this adage does not se* iu to be l>orne out l>y the
facts 1 have given. Of roar** only a few men
succeed to a very brilliant extent,
but it is evident that most peo|J- who go into
trade manage to make a living?at any
rate, somehow pay their debta. But what an
imposing aggregate this seventy thousand
million dollars n vear is. The imagination can
no wore cope with it than with the distances
of astrouomy. We can sec. however, why
Uncle Snu can stand so much crnde legisla
tion, so uirnv fire losses and so much humbug
and knavery. Today we are the richest coun
try in the world, and we are increaaing in
wet.lth very rapidly. It is the uniform testi
mony of the merchants of New York that last
year was the best year on record for the trade,
ihe same story goes up from all the mercantile
centers. At this rate the United States ?ill
presently smash the human record all to
splinters, by doing an annual business of one
hundred thousand million dollars.
FREE WILL OR TATE?
The translation or at least the transfer of Gov.
Hill to the United States Senate is regarded
with very mixed feelings by jxiliticlana of both
]>arties. True to its history, the Sua kicked in
tlie traces at the last moment. Its editorial of
Tuesday, in which it declared tli.it Hill s sction
was a virtual abdication and suicide, led to
nr.iversal comment, br.t the editorial r? fleets
the feeling of the inside managers, including.
I suspect. Hill himself. At any rate, the go*ip >?
that Hill went to the Senate very much
against his will. l>eing driven there by the
shrewd manipnlation of the Cleveland leaders,
acting in conjunction with the republican ma
chine. A good many men would consent to be
kicked into the United States Senate, but Hill
apparently goes there very unwillingly and
flics a caveat that he does not consider himself
dead or done for yet bv any means. His best
in ill. Shechun. at the democratic caucus sr'.d
with the greatest distini'tnc&a that the move
did not shut out Hill from promotion if the
party wished.
I'KLI'AHISO TOR A* AMERICA* SALO*.
The great event of the week in the art world
has been the rather premature but no leas in
teresting announcement that the more progres
sive and audacious element among the artists
aud art lovers here have executed a grand
flank movement on the Nstioiial Academy and
also oil the Associated Artists aud other art
cliques by preparing the ip-oundwork for an
American salon, the intention being to dupli
cate prettv cloaelv in Xew 1 ork the great an
nual exhibition in I'aris. For this purpose ne
gotiations are in progress that wiil make the
Madison Souare Garden resemble in arrange
ment the l'alaoe of Industry in the Chawj* i.ly
sees at Paris; that is. the sc ulpture will occupy
the ground floor in the interior, uhile the |s.int
ings will be exhibited in a succession of galler
ies up stairs. The new undertaking
i> backed by some of the strongest un-u in tae
citv, prominent among whom are Mr. Gilder ot
the Ceniurv and his splendid art force, to
gether with' Mr. Chase. Mr. St. Gaudens aud
other progressive and unconventional artists.
'1 he idea is to form an organization which shall
have its juries and be of such distinction that
its awards will put a final hall mark on native
canvases. The proposition was too interesting
to keep It hr-s now been spread abroad in the
papers, and. of course, the art machines ate
verv much incensed.
But unfortunately for them they long ago
alienated popular sympathy by their indiffer
ence to the real art interests of the country, so
that now in their hour of m od they do not find
many friends. It is certair that this new move
ment if carried out would mark an epoch in
American ar:. Whether it shall prove to be a
success will depend largely upon the common
sense and public spirit of the artists them
selves. If they immediately begiu to fight and
snarl among themselves the whole project will
evaporate in talk, but there is a great oppor
tunity for the art world to free itself trora
academic "dry rot" and start afresh on a na
tional footing.
THE K!)Et ACCTIO*.
The season thus far has not been very enter
prising for art auctions, but the cards have just
been issued for the Seney collection, which is
to be sold early in the spring. The press view
and the opening reception are to be held on the
afternoon of Tuesday, January 27. The Ameri
can Art Association will conduct the exhibition
and the sale. They announce that the collec
tion is the finest and most valuable in the hue
of examples of modem masters ever exhibited in
America. Allowing somewhat for the exuberant
enthusiasm of the auctioneer, this claim is not
far out of the way. Certainly this second col
lection bv Mr. Se:nev ranks among the finest
ever made bv an American amateur and the
sale will be the art sensation of the season.
WAR AT THE OPERA.
As every one knew would be the case, a gen
uine opera war has already broken out be
tween the Wagnerites and the devotee* of the
tune. We have already been promised an oppo
sition opera company, with Lilli Lohmann as
the bright particular star, which shall be sa
cred to the traditions of the strict Wagner
school. Unquestionably the German ot*ra
meets the desires of the musical audience at
the performances, but, as I said last week,
fickle fashion, which holds the purse and the
votes at the Metropolitan, is very tired of the
six-vears' run of one style and hankers for nov
elty be it for better or for worse. One can't help
laughing at the woebegone and utterly heart
broken outburst of the New York Waguerite*.
but, like little wanton boys that swim on blad
ders, they now find themselves given a ducking
just when thev supposed their happiness was se
cure. Thev take it out Just now in the most
vociferous applause for Herr Heidi, whenever
that popular leader makes hie appearance in
the conductor s box. A singular and signifi
cant notice has been posted up during the
week in the boxes at the Metropolitan warning
the occupants that they talk and giggle too
much and had better keep quiet; if they don't
we mar expect some lively hissing for the
Waenerite* are aching to give vent to their
wrath in a way that the bos holder* will find
specially disagreeable.
RAPID TRANSIT OOM1HO AT LAST.
After lo, these many years, real rapid transit
looms up as almost a certainty. The legisla
ture is showing a tractable and harmonious die
position and the local interests give evidence
of working together. The project; which has
the call for the moment contemplates as un
derground system with two tunnels connecting
Island with Brooklyn and Jersey
City. The eost to only ?H4.600.000, a man
bagatelle nowadays, when he to a humdrum
??promoter" who to daunted by a mere hundred
millions.
THR CHAHPtOH OP "TWR HIOHER CRITICISM."
The bold note struck by Dr. Briggs at his
installation *S professor ot biblical theology at
Union Seminary to reverberating " **~
press and among the.
circles. It would have i
A CHANGE OP FRONT.
? few generations ago. bnt now tK. rmerwl
comment is hitadlt. ? ven from thr strictly
orthodox. I*er*onalh l?r. Brigga ?? immensely
jxij.uUr Two days lief ore the iu?tallaU..a rx
erciaea he celebrat. t bkp iif'.ielh birthday by a
recejtifni to U>. minor cUjw >1 tto mciMrr
""lv in immlM-r IV students reci^irocated
l>v bringing up wtth tin m <<?>? of the finrat
mantel clocks la Tiffany a rtu k. TV vmvbkhmi
brought out one of the most brilliant Mid mr>
dnu gatherings of the n?i
Pmi R. Eujnt.
HOllBJMAITKK&
SrMouhlf Ud Kwrj IW11 Hftatt
to rrarflral Houwkw perm.
A Prp* r mf or I.tvoy Jrirt aiM mgar will
alwmv* r*l%rr+ a rough.
Lmmm lis Kbt Ilrna l> in an
open work baaket or a bag ro.,1, from a net
Kkip Silvkb *ki> Inn. ?b?a*k*tb and
mount* bright bv ruM;n#? titli woolen cioUtt
?tur?tfd with of ?innii?nia.
Tar Qrn.irr or Covra* is uu -b improved tf
it is (fronnii r?-rr luf, and ranrh Im u re
quired for houwbold nw if it in puhvrirfd.
8o*r SHet i.t> Rr Crr into convenient irtzed
pieces and piled neatly on one end of the shelf,
so that the air may circulate mi.I dry It.
The Uwt Wll when hot grease hw bsea
spilled on the floor ia to cold water orn
it. ao aa to harden it quicklv and prevent M
striking into the board*.
Ttbptxtise 4*n Ruce Vtivm ia the Mark
ing Haul by hardware dealers for jo. >%?n*tlng
stoves from runt. If put on amart; it will
last through the season.
Ribbons axii Otmi Silas should be I'Dl away
for preservation in brown pa|>er. as the chloride
of limp used in manufacturing vbiM> i?Mr fre
quently product* discoloration.
Tbt a Ravdaoeoe Hot Salt ontaide the face
for neuralgia fill the mouth with hot salt in
case of toothache: put a little hot nit in a piece
of muslin and then put it in tlie car for a aec
ond or two when eaiache ia troublesome.
Ir a TAMJEKFooKrti. or K?b??e*e be pot
into four quarts of tepid water, and this Im
tiaed in washing windowa and mirrors, instesd
of pure w?ter. there will remain npon the elean
surface a polish no amount of mere 1 notion can
pre.
Tt" CBEtSES Ot T or AX KkaIITIIiI lay
It face downward upon a sheet of smooth, nn
I *bl,<> r"!*>r- eov. r it with another sh.-et
of the aanie. slightly dani|<eued, and iron with
a moderately warm flat-iron.
Rt Kriuuxo Wit? a DA?Pn<irFijinnt
dipi>ed in whitinR, the brown diaootnrattnaas
may be removed from eu|>a and {Mtrt^ Uiiii pud
ding diahea in which cu?tarda, tapioca, rice
*<?.. hare been bake<t.
To SrsrxaTHr.x the H Ma.?Dilute oneonnce
each of boras and camphor in two quart* of
water and wuah the hair well with the mixture
twict u w.x-k, Clin the enda occasionally and
it a ill prow lon^. thick and even.
E<?? Chowiii*.?('ut a good-aired piece of
pork in amall aquarea and fry brown over a
quart of sliced potato. * and "a aiaall onion.
Cook until potatoes are done, then add three
well-beaten efcga and one-ha^ cap milk and
cracket*. Season to taate.
Ir the Facb Hai Ri:> ohe RoroHE\n? by
the wind spotige it often with equal parta of
roae water and brand*. Do not nae toilet
wa?hea containing nuieh al-ohol. aa thev are
quite apt to produce harmful result*. The al
cohol parrhea the akin, reudera it brittle and
impairs its nutrition.
To Bi.eacb Mrni.ra.-One - half ponnd of
chloride of lime to twenty yarda of mualin.
Roil the lime UU thoroughly diaaolved in on*
gallon of watt r. Strain and pour into cold
water sufficient to cover vour goods, let aoak
ten nnnut<?. airing it well with a a tick aa in
coloring; then nnae thoroughly.
To rcEPARE A New I Box Retti.e for nae All
it with clean potato peelinga and Iwil them at;
hour or ao; then wash the kettle well, nnae
with hot water and rnb it with a little lard; re
!*"At th<! fubbing several tine* after using it.
will jTPTfiit runt and othtr Aniio)mu'ci
apt to occur in first using a new kettle.
It is hmxii thatLawi* Chiimfys ahonld never
he waahid in soapsudi or clear water. If a
cloth wet in alcohol was nied for this purpoae.
or. ?hat is much chehi?er and always at hand.
kerosene oil, there * ill be a jm rceptible falling
off in the manufat'ture and sale of lamp cluui
n*'.vs- It is really surpn-ing how aeld^im chim
neys will break n(1 w hat a tine polish nil be
given by cleaidug in kerosene or alcohol.
If a Piece or lire Cvtyrm is dampened aad
rubbed on clean white paper the absence of any
stain shows that the dye is a fust" color.
Another teat is to lay the cloth between two
sheets of Jiaper and iron it. There should be
no marks tn this case either. Again, if the cloth
is covered with a perforated sheet of thick pa
Cr and exposed tcr some houra to direct sun
lit. the color of the expoaed parts should not
fade.
At Ant Tiwb or the Teab keep your kid
gloves iu glass bottles, closely corked. Wide
mouth olive bottles are the best, or any wide
topped fruit or preserve Jar. This will keep
the dampness oat of them. Pnt tissue |<apcr
or parafhne paper around each pair of cloves
in the class. This will prevent spottneaa.
which unexpectedly comes upon glace kid
gloxesattho seashore. Cork the bottles well
or screw down.
Stfameii Cklibt.?Wash two or three her.da
of crisp white celery. Reserve the beat parts,
cut in pieces. Rpriukle with salt, add a lump
prime butter, and place in the steamer in a
dish suitable to serve it in. A few minutes
before removing from the fire add some rich
cream. Celery c<?oked in this manner is re
garded as one of the darn teat and most apja tu
ing of celery dishes.
Fob Cl iiMia Cbeah. take four ounce* af
eastile soap, four ounces aqua amm >nia. fine
ounce sulphuric ether, one ounce alcohol, t ut
the soap tine, dissolve in one quart of water,
add tlie ingredients: lastly, Ave quarts of soft
water. If you wish to remove spots rub a little
on citb a sponge, but to clean a large surface
add a little warm water and s|>onge off with It.
This can be used on any fabric.
WOMEN'tf VUICU NOt THE It KMT.
At hnut tlie Plioaocraph l'eople Prefer ?
Good BtiiMw.
From tb* New York Mar.
A gentleman connected with tb* phonograph
company related to me some peculiar th.nga
about people who sing or wish to Slug into the
little machines which are placed in public re
aorta about the city and operate for a nickel
dropped in the slot "All aorta at people come
to our office," he aaid, "and want to be allowed
to sine into a phone. A good many of them
can't aing a little bit and aoa? who are good
singers cannot do effective work in the ma
chine. We are really overrun with applicants
and one man is employed to do nothing but
play the piano for the vocalists. The manager
listens to then King a few bars, and if ha
thinks the voice suitable be spends some time
instructing the visitor lust how he must speak
into the phonograph. It is very difficult to 4*
that well.
"Maiiv of the applicants waat to throw a
cartload of pathos into their voices or they sing
with a stagy tone and throw themselves about
melodramatically aa if they were before aa
audience. That will not go. The tome most
be natural and the words &stiartly spoken.
The anger must stand still at s certain distance
from the receiver. Of persons who eaa stag
fairly well ia public not over one in ten pos
sesses a voice suitable for the phonograph.
One rarely finds a suitable female voice. There
is something wrong ia the quality. A baritone
is the beet voiea. Although most of the appli
cants are willing to sing for nothfa*. *?
have their namee repeated by the machine.
when a good voice is seemed its a nsasasw is wad
paid. Popnlar song* take bast. High-dam op
eratic airs are aot waated."