Evening star. [volume], July 02, 1898, Page 15, Image 16

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

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LIVE TO REGRET IT
Soldiers and Sailore Find That Buck
ing Does Not Pay.
THE ODDS ABE ALL AGAINST THEM
Stories of Men Who Have Tried it
and Have Failed.
ri'XIrfHMKNT IN WAR TIME
recent in
cident down in the
Tampa camp in
which a young pri
vate of the District
Guard, ordered,
along with one of his
companions, to do a
bit of log carrying
for misconduct, de
clined the issue and
resorted to "buck
ing"?a foolish re
course for any man
wearing a uniform?
an<l thereby plunged himself into a court
martial mess, ought to possess instructive
features for new men in both of the ser
vices, land and sea. This young man's
companion, fully aware that he had vio
lated regulations and deserved punish
ment. level-headedly accepted his dose of
log packing, and after he had walked post
with his log weighing down his shoulders
for the period specified, he was turned
loos*, and probably walked then to his
tent and "pounded his ear," as old sol
diers term the act of sleeping after unusual
exertion. The young man who couldn't see
Into the log-packing business, and chucked
It to the ground with-the declaration that
he hadn't taken on for that sort of thing,
will learn. It may require some considera
ble ?efTort and hardship on his part, but he
will learn. The soldier or sailor who
doesn't apprehend the entire meaning of
the word obedience when he first jumps
into his uniform Is by no means a hopeless
case. He generally turns out trig and
right-minded after he has done a trick or
two in guardhouse or brig. Some recruits,
however, remain "buckers" until they
achieve their finish. The finish of a uni
formed bucker?"bucker" is a phrase em
ployed in l>oth services?is always the
same. His days are made so dreary and
unj< yous for him that he Is usually com
pelled to desert. If he fears capture after
desertion, and therefore continues in his
service, only to keep on bucking, he is due.
sooner or later, but inevitably, to wear a
number, stamped in big red figures, oft the
left shoulder of the striped jumpers dished
out to military and naval convicts. The
chronic bucker knows this Just as well as
his peaceful and obedient comrade or ship
mate. It seems, therefore, extraordinary
enough that any uniformed man possessing
the sense that he was born with should
adopt persistent bucking tactics while in
the military employ of Uncle Samuel.
Alunyt a Few on Hand.
Yet the army Is never without its buck
ers. and neither is the navy. Scratch a
bucker, and you will always discover that
he is a man who donned a uniform for the
cakes and ale and the beer and skittles.of
it. He is not a man who is ready to take
the game of soldiering or sailoring as it
comes along. He would be a perpetual
ki? ker in civilian life. The difference is
that, while he might make his incessant
kicking as a civilian go through all right,
and be a nuisance to his neighbors, he can't
make it stick in the army or navy. There
is the book of regulations. It was devised
for the bucker as well as for the man of
obedient disposition. All hands have to
. regulate themselves in accordance with
that book of regulations. The bucker takes
it that the book is all wrong?thereby oe
c??mlng known to his companions in arms
as a "barrack lawyer'' or a "man-o'-war
chaw." according to his service?and begins
to buck. Then it is pretty nearly over with
him. His wind-up is in plain view, bigger
on the horizon than a Liverpool oil barge.
So far. the military courts-martial have
g?.ne very lightly upon military offenders.
The courts-martial have tak^n the com
parative rawness of the regulation viola
tors into consideration. Now, military reg
ulations ir time cf war and in time of
I . i ire very different Indeed. War mag
nifies minor military ofTenses a good twenty
fold. And yet. the volunteer soldiers who
have thus far been brought before courts
? martial have received much smaller sen
tences than regular army soldiers get for
similar ofTenses in time of peace. For ex
anipl-. down in Chickamauga a private
soldier slugged his first sergeant?"top"
sergeant. : rmy name. He got a summary
court-martial and thirty days in the guard
teat. This, in time of war. If, a month
before war w;*s declared, a regular army
soldier had thrashed the first sergeant of
his outfit, he would have got a general
court-martial, and a sentence of three
years in a military prison at the very least.
But then, regular army soldiers are sup
pose .i t>? thoroughly understand the Inevi
table aftermath of fractiousness. So are
volunteer soldiers, for the matter of that,
but they are being given time to permit the
rule of obedience to thoroughly soak Into
their minds, which Is quite right and prop
er. Hut. if this war is protracted, the
courts-martial of the future will not be
quit- !??> I-nient as they now are. It will
then be a bad time for buckers to engage In
t>ucklng
There are ways in both the army and
hig:
Graduates of the Washington High
School are to be found In every walk of
life and In practically every part of the
country. Tuere Is a certain spirit of pride
h> the Institution that preserves a bond of
unity aniang them, and wherever they may
f eet they never fall to resume or form ac
quaintance on the basis of thtlr local aimu
mater. In these war times High School
txys are beiig heard ftom in many hon
orable connections. The District regiment,
now on Its way to Cuba contains
a any of these younjr men who re
ceived their educational start in the
Washington High School. The Star has
just receiv *d a copy of a photograph of the
High School graduates who were at the
tim? members of the regiment. This
picture was taken at Tampa before
the departure of Adjutant Horton, who
Is now la tke adjutant general's depart
navy to bring buckers to their senses, and
the majority of buckers eventually achieve
s# nse enough to appreciate what a hard
proposition they are up against in endeavor
ing to bring the framers of regulations to
an understanding of their incapacity, and
they subside Into good soldiers. A few
buckers. however, stick it out to the end.
1 her?- was such a bucker soldiering with an
artillery battery stationed at Alcatraz Is
land. Cal., a few years ago. This man,
however, thought he was right, and there
fore differed from the ordinary run of
buckers. who buck not on princlole, but
because they were born that way. He was
accused of neglect of duty on post, and the
general court-martial sentenced him to
three months in the Alcatraz guardhouse.
Guardhouse prisoners are turned out at
fatigue call every morning to work around
the post. This pnronefcv was turned out on
the morning foliowing rthe receipt of his
sentence, along with half a dozen other
minor prisoners. When he was counted oft
to walk in the van of a sentry, he turned
to the provost sergeant, and said he:
"I don't work."
"Hey?" inquired the provost sergeint.
"I don't work." repeated the prisoner,
s "On. I guess yes," said the provost ser
geant. "Sentry take this man out behind
the officers' line to dump the swill cans."
The prisoner gently slipped down an.l
stretched himself at full length on the peb
f ly walk in front of th? guard house.
"Not this morning/' said he. "Nor any
other morning. Nor any other evening. No
work. This man'c army is just about enter
ing upon a huge and determined effort to
rc: along without my prisoner's fatigue
service. I hope it'll succeed. Bui -n > work.
You hear thai, aon't you? I hope I make it
clear to you. No work for me, now or here
after, for the pushing along of this post cr
of the United States army."
Then the prisoner yawned, placed his
arms under his head and took it easy.
The provost sergeant looked at 1'ie man
with his eyes st.eking out.
Heavy Talk.
"Look a-here, my man," said he to the
prisoner, who was chewing blades of grass
that he ld'y r ucked from the lawn along
side the walk; "that's heavy talk. You don't
expect to make it stick, do you?"
"Watch me," said the bucker, complais
ar.tly.
The officer of the day was called.
"Get up out of that," said the officer of
the day to the non-working prisoner.
"I'm tired," said the bucker. "And this
provost man wants me to work. Not much!
No work."
Alcatraz was not Fort Sheridan, and so
the buckt r was not prodded with bayonets
or dragged to the cammanding officer's of
fice by a rope, but he was put in the dun
geon. The Alcatraz dungeon is below the
level of the sea, and the restless and often
stormy waters may be heard, from within
the dungeon, beating against its outer
wails. The Alcatraz dungeon is infested
with rats of quite remarkable lerocity. For
resting place the occupant of the Alcatraz
dungeon has a six-foot plank, ajid for ra
tion brtad and water. This bucker was
given three days of it. Then he was brought
out at fatigue call on the fourth morning,
lie was a bit pale, and he didn't look the
ISO pounds that he weighed before he went
into the dungeon.
"Ready to work now, eh?" said the pro
vost sergeant to the prisoner.
The bucker plucked a wisp of grass from
the sward.
wi!i*0|?.e' Ka,i'1 l,he Prisoner. "And never
?? * ready, iou can put that down.
Uungeon or no dungeon. 1 don't work out
of It "0t a day of "? "or a minute
or it. Iou hear me, don't you?"
Would Xot Give In.
The officer of the day got the same re
ply. Three more days of the dungeon was
dished out to the bucker by order of tha
commanding officer. The prisoner was
pa.er and thinner-looking yet when he was
through with this dose.
"iou've learnt sense now, I'll bet." said
the provost sergeant.
"If sense means work. I'm still a-learn
lrg. replied the bucker.
Tan be Kept, by regulation,
three days locked up in the guardhouse
proper before being again relegated to the
dungeon. \\ hen the thiee days were up
Into the dungeon he went again, this time
for a six-day trick
He looked ghostly when he was drawn
day prisoners' line on the seventh
Willing to do a little coal-hauling chore
or two naw?*' inquired the provost ser
geant.
"No. and I never will be. Might as well
get that fact drilled Into your thick skull
I never will be."
Then the man was taken before the
commanding officer. He was talked to
raiher nicely by the commanding officer
and recommended to take a quiet little
tumble to himself.
Go to work, like the other prisoners
my man, and save yourself misery and get
yourself restored to duty when your sen
tence is worked out."
"Never," said the prisoner. And he was
a pretty pallid and thin-looking lot, too
by this time.
lhe ten"day trick in the dungeon
that followed this, the man was found in
the dungeon in a state of collapse. He
was surveyed by the post surgeon. Tlie
commanding officer thought it better after
the man got out of the hospital, to "bob
tail" him outright-that is, dismiss him
the service without further ado. The man
wculo have died before he would have
worked under a sentry. He w&s one of
the few buckers who ever came out ahead
in a contention with military authority in
the regular army.
Too Young to Kaon- Better.
An apprentice boy aboard one of the gun
boats o' our navy performed a star bit of
bucking about three years ago, but after
getting very much the worst of It his nerve
left him, and he succumbed. This boy took
a dislike to one of the chief petty officers
The lad- was a striker for the chief petty
officer's mess, and one day in a lit of temper
he threw the chief petty officer's mess stool
violently atvay from the mess table. Grown
men In the navy are not permitted to spank
the apprentice lads, much as the boys occa
H SCHOOL BOYS IN THE
ment, .with the rank of captain. With this
exception, all the men who appear In this
r< production are now members of the reg
iment. The list herewith given shows the
nam*s of th* men arranged according to
their seniority of graduation from the
school. The preceding numbers, by which
they may be Identified, follow the thre<>
Ilres of arr.mgc ment, beginning at the
upper left-.iand corner as the picture Is
fac?d, and following the lines consecu
tively from left to right. It Is to be noted
that every grade Is Included, from the ma
jor. representing the class of '85. to the
Piivates of '98, whose diplomas were deliv
ered to them on the sands of the tropics
rather than on the platform of a com
mencement hall. This group Is an effective
object lesson Jo Washington boys that love
of country is ilgher than personal ambl
tion.
15. MaJ. Charles Hlne, '85.
14. Capt. Wm. E. Horton, '86.
16. Capt. Wm. a Hodges, '87.
slonally need spanking, so this chief petty
officer went to the officer of the deck and
told quietly of the occurrence, saying that
while he didn't care to have the boy pun
ished, he'd hare to insist upon the ap
prentice's picking up the mess stool and
replacing ft at the mess table. The ap
prentice boy was summoned by the officer
of the deck, lectured and told to pick up
the chief petty officer's mess stool and re
place where it belonged. The boy would
not do It, and said he wouldn't. This was
simply mutiny, but the boy's age was con
sidered. He was double-ironed and put in
the brig. Ten days later he was given a
cha-.ce to put the mess stool back at the
mess table, but he wouldn't do It. The
stool was permitted to remain Just where
the boy had thrown it, even during Sunday
inspections and one muster. The lad was
general court-martialed for rank disobedi
ence of orders, and was sentenced to thirty
days' confinement in the solitary brig on
bread and water. After doing twenty-sev
en days of this hard stunt the lad wilted,
babied at the mast and was released. Ha
picked up the mess stool.
Kate of Mutineer!*.
Even when uniformed men of this gen
et atiun mutiny, or buck, in a body, they
very rarely make their point stick. The
icason why seven bells is never struck in
the British navy is because, at seven bells
one evening over a hundred years ago,
there were mutinies?long prearranged?
aboard a lot of British ships of war
throughout the world. Seven bells has
never been struck on the evening watch
on a British man-of-war since that occa
sion, in order that the absiMice of the half
hour tolling at that particular period of
the day may be a perpetual reminder of
obedience to British naval tars?for* the
necks of a slew of the mutineers were
stretched when this thing was all over and
the mutinies suppressed. But this was a
long time ago. Mutiny ddesn't go now.
The old Hartford, Farragut's flagship, had
as wild and reckless a gang of sailors
aboard of her after the war as ever jumped
to the piping of mess-gear. This ship's
company then included scores of buckers.
A few years before the HartfoVd went out
of commission the buckers got together
and decided that they didn't like the qual
ity of the neckerchiefs and tobacco being
served out to them by the ship's paymaster.
So they declined to accept the tobacco and
neckerch'efs. It was a big ship's company,
and tha buckers numbered 21". They
thought they'd purely overawe all hands
with such goodly number. The 217 of them
did ail the way from two weeks to two
months in double irons for their little job
of attempted skipper-bulldozing, ar.d that
was the last mutiny in our navy. But the
Individual liucker remains, and he probably
always shall remain, as long as there is a
navy.
A 1'teturenqne Hacker.
The most picturesque bucker the regular
army of the United States ever had was
a wild Irish drum major who arrived at
his finish at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., a
good long while ago. The man was a good
dram major, but the commanding officer
of the post had to break him time and
again to the ranks for all-around tumultu
ousness. It wore on the Irish drum major
mifelitlly. this thing of being fiequently
relegated to the privates' barracks for bad
conduct, and his nerves, no doubt, got o.n
edge. Anyhow, the last time he was broke
to the rank of private, lie went into line
at dress parade one afternoon with the
determination that he'd gel square with the
commanding officer for breaking him. If tie
l ad to hang for it. So. as the command
was passing in review before the command
ing officer, the ex-drum major dropped
quietly out of ranks, made for a loose
brick walk, picked up a half brick, i nd
let the commanding officer have It right In
the chest. The commanding officer went
dowr. as If he had been hit by a bullet.
The soldiers broke ranks and made for the
ex iitum major. He -stool them ofT, pelt
ing them with bricks, for ten minutes, r nd
he ime?l them up a good deal. Then they
overpowned him, and h<? got twelvo years
at the Fort Leavenworth military prison.
The army and navy, Sn brief, are bad
places for the man of an analytical turn
of mind. He Is liable to moot up with
some things that were not devised for
analysis, but for performance. There Is
Justice, the very best quality of It, in the
two United States services no better in
fir.y service In the world. But the bucker
who sets about to undo the man with the
gilt ornaments on his cai> and olouse has
got an Inconceivable amount of bitter ex
perience In store for him. It is the easiest
matter Jn the world for a man to behave
himself in our land and sea services. The
trouble Is. that it is still easier to misbe
have But the cost of misbchavlo- is so
he?tvy that the young man of judgment
standi by willing to do anything to keep
his gaze averted from the cool stare of
the judge advocate of a court-martial.
What In M<?Nt Needed.
From the Chicago Evening Post.
"What Is the one thing most njeded to
add to the effectiveness of warships?" he
inquired with the air of a man who had
given considerable attention to the subject.
"We had a dispute ubout It, you know, and
Jim said it was improve! armament, whil>
I claimed It was better armor. We decided
to leave it to you.''
"It is neither," replied the navil officer
promptly. "There is one thin? that is of
vastly more iit.poi tanc;, and if yo 1 can in
vent it your fortune will be madj. '
"What Is it?"
The naval officer drew nearer and whis
pered his reply so 'hat there might be no
danger of so important a communication be
ing overheard.
"It is a machlro for the manufacture of
coai," he said.
Alm?Nt the Same.
From the Chicago Post.
"There really isn't much inducement to
go to the seashore this summer."
"Why not?"
"Why. you can stay in the city and wear
a bicycle skirt that's almost as short as
the skirt of your bathing suit."
WAR.
17. First Lieut. F. G. Stutz. '!?.
12. Second Lieut. F. E. Skinner, "p3.
13.-Second Lieut. R. B. Hayes, '03.
18. Second Lieut. S. C. Redman, '93.
1. Rest. Q. M. Sergt. C. G. Mortimer, '02.
19. Act. Com'sary Sergt. Geo.C. Meigs, '91.
2. First Sergt. Sheridan Ferree, '93.
2<). Sergt. N. H. Ferree, '96.
?. Sergt. John Mahany, '98.
7. Sergt. Wm. A. Kent, '91.
11. Sergt. W. P. Keene, '88
2f>. Corp. A. F. Towner. '87.
8. Corp. Charles H. Lyman, 'Mw
Private*.
21. J. H. Ontri-h. '94.
24. E. H. Ockert, '93.
22. A. L. Kitchin, '96.
10. A. B. Proctor, "96.
4. T. C. S. Maddox, '96.
8. C. V. Church. '96.
23. C. E. Cross. '96.
9. J. Bethune, '96.
#. J. F. Hodgson. 'ML
FASHIONABLE PROMENADE COSTUME,
ebwiTeht nw. t>r a.
FASHION'S FANCIES
Just Now the Rage is All for Baby
Ribbons.
IN DSE OK GOTO ADD UNDERWEAR
Design for a Handsome Walking
Dress of Cloth.
NOVELTIES IN LINGERIE
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
BERLIN, June 23, 1898
Each year fickle Fashion shows despotic
favoritism to some particular style of gar
ment, or some ec?entrio toilet accessory,
I some particular fit of bodice or hang of
skirt, somi peculiarity <Jf trimming, which
she holds up to her admiring Imitators for
a brl ?f time and easts (Into most obscure
oblivion afterward. ;u
Just at present It Is the narrow baby rib
bon which must trim everything that Is
fashionable. Baby. ribbvn Is made use of
on all materials for all occasions. It is
found on lawns and linens, silks and wool
I ens, laces and velvets, and it certainly
deserves a long-lives prominence, for It is
as dainty as It is practical.
A pretty illustration fcf this garniture is
shown In our desigri* of a fashionable
promenade gown o'l gray Venetian cloth.
The skirt of silver gray Venetian cloth
shows the long pointed, tight-fitting yoke
with very full Btrpentfne tlounce lined with
white taffeta. A narrow piping of darker
gray velvet edges the skirt yoke.
The graceful bodice of silver gray Vene
I tlon cloth has loose folds in front, which
are overlapped by reveres of heavy yellow
I guipure lace, the design of which is out
lined by gathered white baby ribbon. These
| lace leveres, which expose in front a tucked
vest of white taffeta, finish at the back in
a wide sailor collar falling over another
lar^-ar sailor collar of darker gray miroir
velvet, elaborately edged and embroidered
with crimped baby ribbon and steel beads.
The velvet collar forms caps over the
| shoulder and ends in two slender points
| on either side oT the front of the bodice.
Edgetl With Ribbon.
A full serpentine basque of gray velvet,
embroidered and edged with baby ribbon,
like the tailor collar, is attached over the
hips, under an applique of yellow guipure,
and finishes with long points over the
skirt at front tind back.
The tight sleeve of Venetian cloth, with
I its small shoulder puff, finishes at the
I wrist with a cuff of the same dark gray
I velvet with baby ribbon and steel bead em
I broidery.
Nor does this trimming with baby rib
I bon confine itself to outdoor wear. Even
| the silk underskirt shows the same attrac
tive garniture, and Is illustrated by our
model of primrose colored taffeta. It is
IT UEXERATES HEAT.
The Incandescent Electric Lamp Not
ns Safe as Supposed.
From the Ixmdon Lancet.
The incandescent electric lamp is essen
tially a device which transforms electricity
partly into light, but mostly Into heat. As
Ik well known, the carbon filament of the
lamp is a substance offering grsat resist
ance to the passage of the current, and the
product of this resistance is light and neat.
It is an Instance of the translation of one
form of energy Into another. It may not,
however, generally be known that the light
produced is but after all only, a small per
centage of the energy thus manifested?
some 5 or 6 per cent only at the most. This
fact Is very important, bearing In mind a
very common notion that tha electric In
candescent lamp is free from the heat rays.
| It Is true that the lamp when working is not
comparable with a flfme or naked light, but
at the same time the heat evolved is ^uch
as may lsad to ignition. We are disposed
to emphasize this point because the incan
descent electric lamp is used for the pur
poses of illumination and decoration in
shops without any regard to the possibility,
nay, probability, of fancy goods being fired
which happen to b?i contiguous. Indead, so
I firm is the idea that the incandescent elec
tric lamp Is free from/ heat that it is fre
quently to be foupd fyjried in a mass o..
easily Ignited and 'highly inflammable ma
terial. Thls-is a nflstake, and care should
be exercised witht'/the^electrlc lamp -In Its
application In this:<ion#ectlon, but the risk,
of course, is not so gijeat as where naked
lights are employed- ,.We have found by
experiment that on lnimerslng a ltj-candle
ptwer lamp (100 Volts pressure) In half a
pint of water, the wSter boil3 within an
hour and in proportionately less time when
a 32-candle-power lamp Is substituted. If
again the lamp be burled In cotton-wool,
the wool soon begina-ito scorch and ulti
mately to burst Into flame. In ono experi
ment which we tried) the bursting into
flame of the wool was accompanied by a
loud report, duo to the explosion of the
lamp. It clearly appears from this that
the Incandescent ?electric lamp cannot be
regarded as an unlikely means of starting
a serious fire, and shopkeepers, especially
those who exhibit highly inflammable fab
rics, should know that there is risk in plac
ing such goods too close to the lamp. The
lamp in contact with celluloid fires it In
less than five minutes, and therefore the
danger Is particularly obvious in the case
of toy shops, where electric Incandescent
lamps are often suspended in the midst of
toy celluloid balls.
Ia This Bra of Good Feeling.
| From Puck.
Tourist'(In London)?"I suppose we for
J eigners give you lots of trouble with our
I questions?" .
1 The bobby?"Bless you. ma'am: -we don t
I consider Hamericana as foreigners any
I morel"
bell-shaped and gore less, except for the
bias seam at the hack. A wide serpentine
llounce adds to the fullness below, and Is
attached to the skirt under a narrow ruche
of white and black pinked taffeta.
The flounce Is trimmed In zigzag design,
with heavy black silk lace, edged with
black crimped baby ribbon, and the hem is
stiffened by two narrow, full ruches of
white taffeta and one of black.
Each succeeding year adds variety and
extravagance to the department of fash
ionable Hngerie, and all the novelties In
the garments of this season are distin
guished for their dainty fineness and beau
tiful finish.
Hand-made underwear of fine nains-wk.
expensively but not elaborately trimmed
with embrjideiy or lace, is greatly desired
by women of refined taste and abundant
means, but the average woman cannot
please her taste for this kind of elegance,
and the machine-made garments have to
tatisfy her. Fortunately, they do not lack
either fineness or daintiness, since they are
made of the same soft cambrics, lawns or
mulls as the handsome pieces and are
trimmed with the f-ame laces. Point de
Paris Is a favorite and well wearlne laco,
and the fashlcn used this season Is ex
tremely fine.
Pongee Underwear.
Pongee has lately been revived for un
derwear. and with a purpose, as nothing Is
cooler for hot weather use and nothing
v. Ill resist the merciless efforts of the
laundress as well as this light, washable
bilk. It is trimmed with white or butter
l? colored laces and insertions through which
1 ribbon is drawn.
The prediction that longer coats are to
be worn has not yet been realized. On tha
contrary, the newest designs for Jackets
to be worn when chilly evening zephyrs
forewarn the summer girl that her reign
Is at an end. are all short nnd close fitting.
Eton coats are recommended by the tailors
as one of the most desirable styles for the
coming seat-on. There are double and
tingle breasted Etons, and Eton cods
turned back In fancy double reveres,
which do not meet or fasten in front at
all. The plain short fitting fly-front coat
With small reveres turning back Just
enough to show the necktie and fasten be
irw is shown tmong other models as one
of the styles which never die out.
Strapped seams are again in evidence
and our illustration shows a very natty
model of tan brradcloth lined with fancy
colored taffeta. It Is cut very short and
the straps form the only trimming. The
white sailor hat has a round fold of straw
at the rim. and the trimming consists of
a band of folded velvet ribbon and high
standing shaded tan nnd brown qulMp.
The tame model has been satisfactorily
copied in red broadcloth, and looks very
chic when worn over summer gowns of
light washable fabrics.
Herrmann Gersox (Berl'n.)
OI.D FLOURS TO MEND.
Hem to Do Awny Willi Summer Penis
and Fill the Cruck*.
From the Kansas City Star.
" When the winter flo<jr coverings are car
ried out, though great coolness and cleanli
ness is the result, too often an unsightly
stretch of board is presented to view.
Flooring In any except the best built mod
ern houses Is so often 111 laid that the
housekeeper Is puzzled how to conceal the
small chasms between the planks. Rugs
are costly and dusty, and to paint or var
nish a straggling floor is love's labor al
most lost.
Common sense advises her to fill up "the
cracks, but how?not with putty? There
is a better plan than that. Gather up all
the letters from the waste paper basket,
until there Is a big bag full; enough paper
to stuff a couple of big sofa cushions. Set
the Idle or the willing members of the fam
ily to shredding into bits the paper board.
This accomplished, pile the tatteis into a
pot with water and cook it. To every quart
of paper and water add a handful of gum
arabic, and let the whole simmer to a very
thick, thick cream.
The sequence is easily guessed. The mix
ture must be put hot in the cracks, well
packed and neatly smoothed. When cold
it is ready for the coat of floor paint, and
as hard as the rest of the boards, for It Is
really nothing more nor less than a papier
mache, and every one knows what a tough
article that is.
Cracks In floors are altogether too great
a temptation for Insects, so it is best to do
away with the possibility of their proving
a harbinger by adding a little parts green
to the paper filling. This poison will ban
ish entirely the hideous water beetles that
often Infest even the cleanest kitchens and
bath rooms. Care must be taken to keep
it away from children and pet animals, as
it Is very poisonous. A little, mixed with
sugar, and put on old plates or saucers
o'ver night, and used once or twioe in a
season, will be all that Is required. Those
familiar with country life know what a
boon this green paint has been to farmers
In ridding them of the ubiquitous potato
beetle, and there hi no reason why the
housekeeper should fear this ammunition
if used intelligently.
There Is yet another hint as to the plac
ing of this poison. Those who have studied
the habits of the croton or water beetles
know how they are routed Immediately by
light, and how like a flash they disappear.
Their fortress, or home, is generally at the
base of the kitchen water and aink pipes,
and it is behind these that they scud up
and down so mysteriously. Forewarned is
forearmed. There is little use in destroy
ing a few insects upstairs while allowing
them to multiply below.
"What was your chief Impression of New
York?"
"Well. I never before saw * city so full
ti unknown celebrities."?Chicago Record.
Royal Baking Powder
for Army and Navy
There is no Baking Powder equal to tlie Royal
in leavening strength. The slowness of the action
of the Royal Baking Powder, as compared with all
others, renders it particularly valuable for use in
camp or at military posts. It does not deteriorate
with age, and, more than any other brand, gives
uniform and satisfactory results under the varying
temperatures prevailing and conditions of service
required for Army and Navy use.
Maintains Full Strength in All Climates.
HOUSEHOLD HINTS
The wholesome currant Is now at Its j
best, and the housewife begins her Held
days In the making of Jellies and Jams.
The old wives' tradition that currant Jelly
won't "jell" after the Fourth of July Is
not Infallible; but the truth remains that
currants should not be over-ripe nor should
they be gathered just after a rain. If firm,
clear jelly is desired. Equal parts of red
and white currants or red raspberries and
currants make a delicately ttavored and
colored jelly. If possible, select a clear,
sunshiny day for the work of Jelly mak
ing, and see that the kitchen is scientific
ally clean, and the jars, glasses and cov
ers well sterilized with boiling water be
fore being used. The requisites for the
work are a good quality stone Jar or porce
lain or agate kettle, an earthen dish Into
which the fruit juice may drip, shallow
tins for heating the sugar, a long-handled
wooden sjloon. a coarse Jelly bag made or
loosely woven white flannel, a little par
afflne to cover over the Jelly before
setting away and an assortment or jelly
glasses. It is not necessary to stem the
currants, though they should be picked
over, all bits of leaves removed and then
washed and drained. Put the currants in
the stone jar or preserving kettle, and set
this in a large pan of hot water. As it
begins to heat mash with a large wooden
pestle until the currants are reduced to a
pulp. Take the jar off the range, and,
scooping up the pulp, put It in the Jelly bag
to drain. This may be done the night be
fore .the jelly-making proper begins, and
the bag left suspended over night with
out squeezing, or It may be done in the
morning, pressing the steaming Juice out a
little at a time. When the Juice is all ex
tracted measure It out by pints and return
it to the kettle. Take as many pounds of
sugar as there are pints of juice and place
on the shallow tins to heat in the oven,
taking care that they do not get hot enough
to discolor the sugar. Boil the Juice Just
twenty minutes from the time it begins to
botl and throw the heated sugar in, stir
ring rapidly all the while. As soon as it
is all dissolved remove the spoon, let the
Juice just come to a boll again, and re
move at once from the fire. The Jelly
glasses should then be rolled In hot water
and filled with the scalding liquid. They
may then be coated with melted parattine
or one-third parafllne to two-thirds wax, or
sealed with white of egg or sterilized cot
ton. Keep in a cool, dry place.
Bread and milk tables are among the new
nursery furnishings that commend them
selves by reason of their practicability
They come In oak or enameled wood, and i
consist of a child's low table with vls-a
vis seats, the three pieces held together at
the bottom by a wooden rail. The usual
casualties of bowl and pitchers falling into
the children's laps will probably be mate
rially lessened by the use of this pretty |
and convenient bit of furniture, though the
price. |0, seems an outlay requiring con
sideration.
Cherry vinegar is highly esteemed by
many bon vivants. and now is the time
to make it. Pour over two qu&rts of sour
cherries, lightly mashed, one quart of good
cider or white-wine vinegar. Put in an
earthen bowl and set in a cool place for
two days. Then strain through a muslin
bag. and to each pint of liquid add three
quarters of a pound of sugar and let it boil
fifteen minutes. Then strain, set aside to
cool and bottle. A little of thit added to a
glass half filled with cracked ice makes a
cooling summer beverage.
Among the pretty curtains for doorways
in the summer are the Indian cotton prints
in wool effects. These have palm-leaf pat
terns. and at a little distance take on the
appearance of a fine ca5hmere shawl. A
cotton curtain of some sort should always
accompany the voyageur or the guest at the
summer hotel. With a light portiere hum?
over the doorway, the door may be left
ofien to get the benefit of all the air that !s
stirring.
Currant ice made of the fresh fruit is a
beautiful color, and Is frequently more ac
ceptable than the creams. To prepare it.
soak a tablespoonful of gelatin half an
hour in enough cold water to cover
It. Pour over it a half pint of boiling water,
add one pint of granulated sugar, one of
currant Juice, one of cold water and the
Juice of one lemon. Freeze and pack.
The popular Iced drirk among the West
Point cadets is made by allowing to each
glass of ice water a little less than a tea
spoonful of lime juice, two or three drops
of Angostura bitters and sugar to sweeten
to taste. The rapidity with which this
drink can be mixed doubtless adds to the
high esteem In which it is held.
In case of sunstroke, when the face ts
red and the head and body hot and dry.
remove the clothing at once, bathe the
body, face and head in ice water and lay
ice in towels on head and neck, or remove
to a private place, strip, lay on wire mat
tress and sprinkle with Ice water from a
watering pot.
Cheese sandwiches are excellent to serve
with the salad course at dinner or appetiz
ing for the picnic basket. Grate any cheese
that is not too dry, rub it to a paste with
butter, spread the bread, dust with salt
and paprika and cut into strips.
An old Catsklll preserve is made of plums
and maple sugar. Melt the maple sugar In
a little water and cook with the plums, al
lowing pound for pound. This gives a tart,
sweetness especially agreeable to many
palates.
An excellent and simple remedy for a
sprain Is said to be found by mixing the
well-beaten whites of six eggs with a half
cupful of table salt. Spread between thin
muslin cloths and bind over the sprain.
Popular additions to "the cup that cheers
but not inebriates" are a few pieces of
shredded pineapple, fresh or preserved,
three or four preserved or brandied cher
ries, or a slice of orange or lemon.
In making Jelly it must be borne in mind
that the less stirring there is the better.
If .stlred too much the Jelly is not clear,
whillt the tendency of sugar to granulate
Is increased by stirring.
Two tablespoonfuls of washing soda dis
solved in a gallon of boiling water makes
an excellent disinfectant for the kitchen
sink. Pour in while boiling hot.
A good test for the right consistency of
Jelly when boiling is to let it drop from a
spoon. If the last drop sticks to the spoon
it is sufficiently hard.
For canning, pickling and preserving,
keep a supply of special cloths and holders,
to use, as the stains cannot be removed.
A little kerosene mixed with the blacking
used to polish stoves before putting away
for the summer is said to prevent rust. *
. Well Provided With Fiction.
From the Chicago Pest.
It happened in a book store.
"What can I show you, madam T" he
asked. "Something in ths line of fiction r'
"No," she answered slowly. "I think I'll
try history (or a change. I get enough
fiction when m/ husband gets home late
from the olub."
A .MOW IMHSTRY.
?f |*nlm Oil on the
Coast of Africa.
From tta? Syren
ouh:h;rh:nK ?r ***** ?,n'1 nu,? ^ ***
tion off ' " y con,uJn at"1 ?he prepara
tion of fecdm* stufrB from ,h<. rc>Muc ?
fay as En*l*nd is concerned. n com
m?? ,V^ r ln<ium> And ? ?<
?at iTL"" "has"' "r ,h'? business ??
of Iht n around the product*
of the oil palm. and play, such a
crable part In the trade between the wet
(oast of Africa and Liverpool This
I aim a beautiful tree of the umbrella pat
t'-rn flowers about September or October
ond the fruit ripenE almut four or five
months afterward, the main crop he;n|t
gathered from February to May. The
ftuit is gathered by r.atives. who wend
the trees by means of ropes-sailor
fpshion and drtach the masses of nut
clusters, or "hands." as they are ca'l.-d
with a small ax or cutlass. The nuts are
then heaped on the ground, covered with
palm leavts. and left for a week in ttx- hot
find more or less moist atmosphere, to fer
ment. During this proccss the nuts be
come loose in their sockets ??<! are re
moved by hand and placed in baskets
The next processes aim at the r<-pnrR.
tlon of the nut proper from the seed ves
sel or pericarp. First, hug.- earthenware
pots are taken, v ith a capacity of about
twelve or fourteen gallons, and in those
are placed about half a hundredweight of
nuts. Hater is atided and the pot plac-d
1 "w * f'ow w',od '""e After two hours'
bo.ling the seed vessel is sufficiently ?oft
to be squeezable by the fingers. The nuts
are then placed in the bottom of a
urawn up on the river bank and the na
' f tread out nuts from the encir
cling pericarp with their bare feet. Three
n.en will thus tread out "SHi pounds In an
to the deoVh ,SethKn I>our,'<i ln,? the canoe
rlL ? derth of three or four inches and
the nuu treated to the final separating
trocess by being rocked, stirred and
J?,nls mean? the kernels with
Jach^S r shell containing them become de
filePericarp and after drv
in J SU" are rrarke'1 between stones
^ to separate the "palm kernels" of
commerce from the hard shell Inclosinr
them. But the water In the canoe has be
Th?/ .?V"red, :;"h a yellowlsil ollv s< urn.
and .h *rrfuUy collected In calabashes
tashld and ?BrPn " '''"eered an.J
81 "V ^ a mu'tar to
bfiXt^ <? r^mo|ning particles of oil and
being of no further commercial value is
aNl,'e to be used as fuel.
?U8,?the ">,t1A,rk'an negroes supply us
Ueles ,f ?" Palm W,,h two valuable' ar
nels The ^m0r'e^l'a|m o11 ?nd palm ker
nels. The processes employed are wasteful
no doubt, and the absence of of
communication. Fave by the river-- and
tcrn': of T".'" ,hat ^nv thoussnd. of
Iowed to rot TM? e are annually al
sr.
bu,k
h" En*'?n<?-ftnd their
California's Heather Prophet.
I mm the Sun Kraticiw.. Chronicle.
This Is bound to be a dry year. Scarcely
ny rain is to fall during the next twelve
month. At least, that Is ? hat the ? oul .r.an
of the mountain" says, and the Indians say
that never falls ss a weather r,rc,ph?t
The old man of the mountain Is a species
of sagebrush, so called on account of the
soft gray top that forms on it In the fall of
the year. In some parts of the state it is
"mP|if :a,,"d "?Id man" an<1 ln others
maidenhair sage." Its sclentifl.. name to
Artemisia California.
For countless moons many of the Indian
S? 2K. old"mant S ? -
lltTle'V/ lo do> but you n,ust kn?w a
wh >? hls tan*ua*e before you can tell
??>ts WhVn ,.The ?,'d man 'P,ak* ??"" hto
rootB. \\ hen there Is to be plenty of rala
mtie^A? s ,rt' and whea lllere to '??
little rain his roots ar; long
?ll man k?ows 'here will be na water
from above, so he goes below for it How
nolLm^m ,r 1>lant know th, r- '? to 1*
no rain. B> the same unknown force that
^ POds ,0 ^ Ullok before a long
cold winter, while they are thin when ?S
winter Is to be mild.
All over the hillsides of Marin county can
be found specimens of old man. and iu,
loots ere longer now than they have ever
of ? r."?Wn to be before. At til- beginning
fl t !n>' Beatton the roots of a plant
hiKh arf abo"t six inche*
T 1 year 1 e Bam'' Plant will be
inches long.aVe ^ " mUC" ^
Japanese Maple Hedge.
From Meeban'a Monthly.
Considering the many wonderful beauti
ful effects to be had from the arrange
ments of plants unknown to the general
public, It is puzzling that some of our
wealthy citizens of leisure do not interest
themselves more in beautifying the sur
roundings of their large and expensive
residences. The resources are unlimited
Take the subject of this paragraph, for in
stance. A hedge of this lovely Japanese
maple would surpass any effect ever at
tempted ln landscape arrangement, and so
simple, too. It would cost no more than a
good-sized bed of rhododendrons and be
exactly eight times as effective, for the
charm of such a bed ceases with the fad
ing of the flowers.
During the last week in April the writer
drew inspiration for this commendation
a v ab?ut a dozen nursery rows
of these maples, the leaves just expanded.
each extending a distance of loo yards.
Their beauty was unsurpassed: Can the
reader who has seen single specimens im
agine such a mass of coloring?
IMeklas Pockets With Toes.
From the Boston Transcript.
The Gauchos, or dwellers ln the extensive
plains of Buenos Ayres, are marvelously
dexterous with both hands and feet. Many
of them have acquired through long prac
tice such aklll in using their toes aa If they
were fingers that they can fling the lasso
and even pick pockets with them. Some
time ago a Frenchman who was fishing tn
on* of the rivers of Buenoe Ayres was
warned to be on his guard against the
light-fingered natives. He forthwith kept a
vigilant watch on his companions, but nev
ertheless one day when his attention was
closely riveted on his float a wily Qaucho
drew near and. dtllcataly Inserting his foot,
extracted the Frenchman's hooks and other
valuables from hte pocket.
"Why Is It," the daring young man asked,
"that your daughter still wears such abort
dressesT"
"Ota. I keep her dnsssd that way." Mra.
Olddlbus answered, with a beautiful blush,
"because if she had long skirts on Deo pis
would think she was my sister whenther
?aw us together. I have so wish to oonoeal
the fact that I have a daughter who to aa
tall aa I am."?Cleveland Leader.