The morning times. [volume], July 07, 1895, Part Two, Page 10, Image 10

About The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
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the wAsnrN"OTo:i5r times, sujntdat, julx 7, 1895.
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CJl nfCL ts-CASH or
sJil- during; the sale
Lansbui
rail's
New York Ave.. Bet. 13th and 14th Sts.
Agency for the Celebrated
COLUMBIA AUTOMATIC FILTER.
ii eC$r && re-gE-
Down on the River's
Where Men Rre-ai Work,
Repairing the Defective Piers of the Aqueduct
Bridge Difference in Engineering Between
Now and Fifty Years Ago.
As tourists on the way to Arlington
reach the middle of the Aqueduct Bridge,
whore the view of Georgetown with the
college and the old Naval Obsenatory
aud of the Virginia hlHs up the blue
Potomac is mot picturesque, there ib heard
these days a sudden escaping of steam that
sounds like a passing steamer, hut isn't.
Jl is the engine of the machinery nt the work
on the middle pier of lite bridge. The
contractors .ore repairing the pier so as
to lie readj to stand the ice gorges when
the come and tlie steady Weal of the
How of the stream as the years roU on.
ReWent b along the canal that fringes
the nver front at Georgetown iith odd
looklug, tuiiiWe-dowii dwellings, with
nulla and hut;e storage houses for lev,
c itiR.-5 of Kobln and the Virginia truck
fannera who cross and recToSs three or
four 1 mie, a daj are familiar wnh "what
lias been going ou at the pier for the last
six months, bat tin- public at large liave
only a vague notion that something is
being done to lepair the damage that iut
the bridge m danger of being swept awav by
the big ice gorge of last February's
bhzr.awl and wfli leave it safe against
nil such dangers iu the future. But even
the naeec-r mod familiar wan the opera
tions IrttW comprehends tlie magnitude
of the work. It's just "repairing tlie
bridge" like a MackMnub nitght mend a
wagon rhod or a plumber "fix" tins Avater
pipes.
THEY DON'T KNOW.
"They've lcii fooling around there
a long time," said a Georgetown man, "but
that make, no difference. Just look at
the uc po.toffiee. Tiiey ulwajs fiddle
away over government w ork four times as
long H an body else would need. It
isn't ivhH much of a job " Lven tlie
depmnttwirtHerkwitolooksovertheaeeoums
and on iier exact It what is lemg
done, doesn't understand, not even when
he takes a fish line, a pipe, a lunch
basket, and a Imckct of bait and goes to
bit and ii and muse through a Miinmer
afternoon on tlie Wg rocks under the
northern abutment wliere the shad and
hernug come up in lite cool, deep water
for tbe mtnbs and stalks that drop lrom
paetfng market wagons
It is onU Mti-n you walk out on tlie bridge
soma warm afternoon and present your iier
mit to inHK)ot the work that jou begin to
think it wil' probably ba a bigger job Uian
you thought to gt down to where the work
men are It looks verj easy from the shore
Only a few rounds or tbe ladder and the
men step lightly off upon tlie crib, and are
in tbw irtaces. But wlen tlie guard on
the bridge ojhmis tlie trap door and you look
down aip long laddei after another, as if
you were looking 1 rom tlie top of some "sky
herapT" apartment honsthat is jut getting
th frame work up, tlie undertaking does not
app"ar so insignificant. It's a long climb
down and a little bit dangerous, if jou are
nervous and are not used to climbing, it's a
much longer climb up, when you come back
and you haven't a bit of breath to Avaste
in conversation for some tune after you
have reached the surface.
RESTING ONLY ON MUD.
Insp&ctor Burnham, of Col. Davis' of
fice, who is m charge for tlie government,
will toll jou that work began last December.
The flaw in tlie pier was found by the diver;
Julius C Wanner, who was sent down to fill
with ooncr-ne some crack3 that were noticed
in th Joinings or the stones in all the piers
An iron hand with a casing of hugo plank
set in mortar was put on to strengtlien the
structure, but it was found that to ensure
Bafety it would be necessary to go to the
bottom of th" difficulty and build uji anew.
Mr Wantir had found the nose of the smooth
stone casing at the upjKrside of the pier
much sunken ."and when he went below
there was a great cavern wliere the masonry
had worn and "washed out and ut the bot
torn on th western end t he structure seemed
to be renting on a bank of mud.
The engineers decided that the whole
bottom of tti4 g rcat stone mast, must be t a ken
away, the mud removed till bed-rock was
reached, and the surface at the bottom
nniuolbed down, and tlie pier built up
anew To do this with thousands ol tons
of stone already builtabove tlie foundation
Tv-lnch it is proposed to put m, is no
easy engineering problem. The first tiling
required was to put in a coffer-dam and re
move tlie water so the stone work below
the surface could be reached.
Tlie contract was let to Shatter & Fchulg
lau, of Chicago, last rail They first
drove piles in tlie bottom of the river all
around tin- pier, and bound them together
-with frame Work till gradually a solid
structure was built up, into which there
would be very little How from the river
wbeu the water inside was pumped out.
This crib used up 400,000 feet of timber,
and cost 524,000. The construction of
It occupied about four months.
PUMPIKG TIIK WATER OUT.
When the dam was complete the water
was pumjfd out with a big Worthingion
pump, "which has a capacity of 22,000
gallons a minute, and a smaller centrifugal
pump, which was mainly useful at tho
beginning of t he pumping. This clearance
of water required several days steady
steaming Then the leaks were care
fully noted, the water let in dgain, and the
defective places tightened and strength
ened. This operation w.ib twice repeated,
aud the dam found tight enough for all
practical purposes The WorUiington
pump was set to woik night and day to
keep tlie -water out, and the excavation
began
This was about ten days ago. It is
very laborious and dangerous business.
Only four or five men can work at a time,
and -then only by daylight. Any effort
to piwoned by artificial light would cost
several broken legs, if not a life or two,
beforethejob wasdone. Thereasonofthis
is that tbe electric light Uirows such strong
shadows as to make it impossible to see the
exact bearings of the great boulders Uiat
make up tho construction, and in trying
to stir one from its place tho chances
are vory greatly increased that it will
slip and grind one of tho w.orkmen undent
In spite of all precauUons. This peril is
creat enough by daylight when nothing
is hidden by tho shadows, though no ce
jjouh accident ha6 yet been reported.
The mass of tlone w ork constituting the
broken part of the pier looks like part of
a huge cavern such as Mammoth Cave, when
there bus been an overflow of a subter
- - 0P - - a - '
Bsby
Carriages
AT COST-
Our great REBUILDING
SALE has made a cut in 15aliv
Carriages that'll malic economi
cal people look to their needs.
The whole Stock is marked cx-
activ at cost ami it s tnc riticsu
stock tliat you can choose from
includes everything that's
CREDIT evan
o -- -SB--IIS
ranean nver. The edges of the stones
are hid in the mud that has washed in
through the eraekb in the masonery and
in the angles of the stones this mud is two
to six inches deep.
MOVING GREAT STONE BLOCKS.
The men slowly and cautiously move
these huge blocks of sandstone from their
beds of mud with their crow bars and hitch
tho grappling hooks to thim. The thirty
horse power Ledgerwood engine that
stands ou the northeast corner of the crib
is set to work, the steel ropes ftretch and
strain as the ton or more of rock is swung
into the air, the boom of the great derrick
creaks ou its iron hinge as it swinge about
when the top of tlie cub is reached. The
stone is poifed a moment over the open
work of the coffer just inside tlie wall and
then let loose It drops with a thud into the
big pocket beh.w and the derrick returns
for another lead.
The ucM trip brings n huge bucket of
mud and vater linked w.th iraginenls of
stone lrom tl.e size of a gcose egg to fifty
pounds. It is thovtlcd in c.uicklj Lj the
workmen and makes the earae journey to
be dumped belwicn the timbers of the
cribbing. All the -wLile this work gees
on a stream of water about the size of a
woodland brook or "branch" is flow Ing in
from the leaks at tl'e bottom of the coffer
and the pump Is throwing it out at the
rate of 3,CtO gallons a minute.
There is a well at the bottom where
thi6 secuoii of a biook empties and into
this the uoF7el of tl.e pimp dips with its
6ieve to strain out Moih s and chips, and so
the ulterior of the place is kept dry and
the workmen aie able to go alwut freely,
stepping back and forth oxer the little
stream that represents the great Po
tomac UH-ide the dam and loll alone would
m a Ur lours fill the great structure to
its bran thirty feet above Some idea
of the strength required of the cribbing and
the difliculties encountered in putting and
keeping it in place can be drawn from the
prefeure ou tlie bottom, 1,700 pounds to
the equarc foot.
HOW THE DEFECTS AROSE.
How did the stone work at this pier
hapjien to need repair? is asked sometimes.
Tlie construction was done by Col. Trumbull
about fifty jears ago and was considered
very sulistantial fit to last for a century.
The-ollici jirTo do not sein to be allected,
except that a little cement is washed out
hero and tliere. Whj this -should have
suffered so much more is not known unless
there was a defective stone m its make up.
It is located, however, where the force of
the current is strongest and the first wear
might b9 eMected.
Some points brought to light by the work
show what advances hae been made in
engineering in the past fifn jeare. The
bottom of the river upon which the founda
tion of the pier was laid, is ui.even, indi
cating the difficulty in those dajs of re
ducing solid stone under such conditions to a
smooth surface. This will be done readily
now by th use of steam drills and blasting.
Again the great wooden timbers holding in
place the walls and about which the pier
was built riiiamemb d Jed In themasoury.
"Thej seem not to have known m that
day," said Inspector Burnham, "how to get
them out after the work was finished. We
shall build some trusses at the side and drive
them out without much difficulty."
Steamwasasnewinthatdayasclcctricity
Is now and many materials were in a crude
state comparatively lljdraulic cement,
for instance, wai practically unknown.
NO DANGER TO THE BRIDGE.
How soon will the repairs be completed?
That is not so easy to answer. The
excavation will Ik done m ten dajs. Then
the reconstruction will begin and be
pushed forward rapidlj Such caution
will not then need to tie observed to prevent
accident. Every step will be with known
materials and to do something already
planned Three relajs or men will be
emplojed and the work will be kept going
steadily night and day Electric light
will lie used When the foundation of the
pier is renewed the dam must be removed
and this w ill require some time though not
as long as to put it in place.
Is there anj danger to the bridge while
the w ork is going on? Not a bit. The long
arches of steel that support the driveway
of the bridge do not now rest upon the pier
at all, but are held urr bj massive trusses
of timber which rest upon the coffer
dam. The huge pier, sm J feet high, with
its thousands of tons of stone might splash
down into the Potomac and the bridge
lie none the weaker if the accident did
not carry away the dam.
What will the final cost of the repairs
be? The appropriation is $51,070, but
it is likely there will be a deficiency.
"Xi'nrni'd" ilea Confounded.
Old Bill is a hunter aud trapper in the
White Mountains. He Is a great speculator
in the field of mechanical laws and as he has
no "book-rarnin " he is obliged to work
out his own theories. He is very fond of tell
ing how he got tho better of three "Earned
men" on what was to him a notable occasion.
Thesethree men were discussing the neces
sity of the suepension of moUon before
taking an opposite direction. Old Bill, who
was listening, made bold to deny the law
and offered to refute it to their satis
faction. Opportunity being given, he pro
pounded the following ingenious theory:
"S'posc," said Bill, "that jou take a
cannon ball in which there Is a hole just
big enough to hold a nlle ball. You take the
cannon ball and lire it from a cannon and
at the identical time another man fires a
rifle ball from a p'int'zactly opposite. These
two balls meet, s'pose, in the air, the rifle
ball jest fitliu' into the hole in the cannon
ball.
"Now, of course, the cannon ball beln' the
heaviest will jest take the riilc ball right
along with it in the Eame d'rection without
stoppin. Won't it? Well, then, the rifle
ball has taken back tracks without stoppin
to turn round. Hain't it?"
The 'Tnnied men," Bill says, had to
give in. Youth's Companion.
Out at Irfinofionieville.
Suburb Husband How many times are
you going to town this "week, Mary?
Mary Only twice, dear.
Subuib Husband Only twlcel Why, I
thought all you had to buy was a tooth
brush? Mary Yes, but you see I shall have to go
over the next day to exchange it Boston
Courier.
Get your Cabinet PUoto Tree.
m n
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F
MARKED VOGUE OF MOHAIES
FOR STREET WEAR,
Black Silk Gowns with Dinner
Coats Are Most Useful and
Economical.
New York, July 7. A plain skirt and
what is known as a "dinner coat " is the
model of a black silk gown late from Paris.
The quality of silk is pcati de sol, whose
satiny surface and Miffc pliablu tcxtureseeni
to combine the splendors of satin with tho
virtues of silk, and theskirt has the spread
ing umbrella look or all Trench skirts now
adays. Thecutorthecoatlurdersstrongly
on the Louis XIV order, being strongly
flared in I he tall and opening over a vest as
was the fashion of that period.
Immense jet buttons picked out with gilt
ornament the 1 routs, which hang slightly
looseatthewai-tfromlheundcrarmssenms;
the back fits snugly into the figure, and
under the small rovers of the coat buttons
are sewed, to which ornamental revcrs of
satm in some gay color may be attached
for festive occasions. The dinner coal illus
trated shows these revers attached. They
are in a deep butter jellow, the bag vest
being of crepe in the same shade, and made
exceedingly becoming at the bust line by a
yellow ribbon draw u across and knotted at
the left.
A clever woman who has just returned
from French shores, has a costume made in
-
For u Pair Atlileto.
this way, which she declares is the most
useful and economical model ever known
for modest folk
Through a change of vest and rovers
alone, it can be made to fit almost any oc
casion and looks equally suitable ou all
Besides two low cut evening vests, wilh
accompanying revers and ornamental cuff
pieces a smart one of mauve pique turned
the fine dinner coat into a dressy morning
atfair One of spangled batiste with a
great spreading collar of the same makes it
possible for either afternoon or evening,
Crisp, Cool
while a low double-breasted one of black
satin, with a high upper portion of black
mousseline de soic m crossed bertha lolds,
gave it that elegantly simple air that seems
to suit all moments
Another userul ilg of many possibili
ties brought over from Paris is a street
costume of mohair in a Icautiful huckle
berry blue. Mohair is in Paris tho texture
at present most seen in plain street gowns,
Dinner Coat.
and tho favorite model is a plain skirt
nnd a box coat with a back in one piece.
Sometimes this will hang plain from a
pointed yoke, but m almost every case two
little openings arc left at the bottom of
tho under arm scams, making the slits
seen in masculine blo&e or shirt bottoms.
Close stitching give all edges a neat tailor
(f tfw
finish, nnd whero tho seams of some ot
tho skirts will bo left plain others will
bo strapped over wilh narrow bands of the
same material. Tho model of the skirt
Is a godoted back and a front cut of tho
width of tho material, which runs two
bins seams into tlie back, and produces
nt the Bides that outwaid flirt sobecoin.
ing and easy to thu feet, The buttons
used will be great things as big as but-
SfMdL
A Drowsing Sncquo.
tcr plates, of smoked pearl, horn, or fancy
metal, nnd even those of Dresden china,
gaily flowered, are Haid to be in good
taste.
.Again a mohair gown will show no hut
tons nt all, the fronts of the single-breasted
jacket fastening neatly under a stitched
Hap, such as finishes a man's box coat.
As for the Trench mohairs themselves,
they, nre most beautiful. The hiindsomcst
patterns are enormously wide and In a
loose sort of bunting weave, and not even
In hind; do they suggest llio shiny funereal
things one is accustomed to associate with
tho nnme. In color the huckleberry blue
is perhaps thu latest tint, but a more gra
cious and becoming one is a toft wavy
brown that seems especially effective when
worn with a blouse m any of the gentle
greens now fashionable.
One brown mohair gown, that has just
made its debut in Now York, has a bodice
in crinkled bilk, patterned gorgeously and
confusedly with palm leaves in many
colors. It was simply gathered at tho
neck and waist into a belt and stock ot
black satin ribbon, and tho sleeves, which
were entirely without stiffening, fell
in a great looe puff three-quarter length.
This palm bar silk, together with gauze
patterned in the tame way, is the very
latest Trench fad for waists. In some of
the gauzes the tones are wonderful, great
splotcheb ot llame shading into emerald
green, and again melting into effects that
are almost brown. No trimmings nre used
with them; thu many colors of the texture
being the point intended for notice. There
is always a plain ribbon stock and belt,
however, and sometimes these will repro
duce n predominating tint In the gauze,
emerald green , a flame red , or else an ora nge
hue that is positively startling.
Indeed, if one is todudge from the bodies,
nnd some of the flower-decked hats that
conic over to us from Paris, color is to be
more and more the thing as the season ad
vances. Hats big and little are simply
laden down will gay posies. In some cases,
with the exception of a narrow fold of
velvet that faces the under brim, there is
not a ray of other trimming, and the blos
soms will be niatsxd irrespective of tint or
degree.
Modest daisies, fpr instance, will hob
nob with gorgedus 'Hags, and haughty or
chids rub elbowi with Held violets.
Again, ona urgle low-crowned sailor hat
there will be i leaves with the violets,
and, be-ides, a wreath or ices wath lootc
trembling petals, that shade all the way
from pah st pink to, red so deep that it is
almost like the black of the famous German
tulip. Sometimes, indeed, there will be a
black rose under a brim, and with much
color above this never fails to be effective.
Dark women, the pale, romantic sort, are
wearing hats with while liowers, -white
silk roses and gardenias with thick waxy
,L.Cf
"it J
Frocks.
green leaves. Thec lat nre especially be
coming to brunettes, and it is remarked
that they combine w ell with sunburntstraw
and black ostrich feathers; though no more
than three gardenias seem to be used at one
time, two on the outside of the hat and one
under tlie brim, which, if waied, may hold
the blossom straight in front, or else loocely
at the side back' as iT it were thrust in tho
brim. With blue black j okes they are very
letching. And ince the Duchess or Marl
borough has already made them fashion
aalo in England it doubtless won't be long
before they are the rage In New York.
At present they are rare nnd corre
spondingly precious and desirable,
i Other points on dess, gathered en pas
sant, are that sporty girls are given to
cotton shirt-waists with white pique col
lars andcuffb, aud that many fair cyclists,
who w ish to be cool, are having blouses
made of ecru pejugee. A whim for bicjele
skirls is to hdVc the skirt button up one
side or the front, which enables the lider,
when on a lonely road, to whip off her pet
ticoat without lifting it over her head
which it seems fs "Nery naughty and so go
along unhampered in her little knickers.
Summer underwear and neglige's grow
more lovely day by day. and the dainty
figured batistes and dimities keep the lead
with materials.
The dressing sacque shown Is one or the
newest and most becoming models Tor this
garment, and is of jellow batiste em
broidered wilh red spots, aud red finishing
the scalloped edge.
A word more about the skirts oC the
moiiair street suits. They are made up en
tirely without lining. A bias facing half
a jard deep, and an interlining or bias
grasscloth the same width, finishes the bot
tom alone, and a trick of French dress
makers is to stretch both dress and facing
in putting them together. This makes the
flare at the bottom even more marked and
gives the skirt a delightfully easy "set." At
the top of the facing there are three rows
or close stitchingr NINA FITCH.
$1.25. To Bnltlmoreandlteturn. $1.25.
Tho Pennsylvania Railroad will sell,
Saturday, July 0 , aud Sunday, July 7, good
returning until 'Monday, the 8th, excur
sion tickets to Baltimore at rate of $1.2D.
Housekeeping Mads Easy
by Installment Houses,
A Convenience for Rich and Poor Alike Purchasers
Can Make Their Own Xerms No Notes
Wanted and Dealings Liberal.
There Is many a cosily furnished little
home iu Washington whose owner would
never have been able to realize his dreams
of domestic happiness and taete the sweets
of complete housekeeping wore there no
such institution as an "installment house."
There nre persons, and they comprise the
inajorityof those who love and long for
home life, that are not possessed of a suf
ficient quantity or this world's goods
to enable them to purchase at an outlay tho
chattels needed for the establishment and
maintenance or a houtchold.yct they can
spare from each week's incomo a small
amount.
To this class the Installment establish
ment is a Loon which affords an easy means
of obtaining the much coveted home with
its repose and quiet. During the past few
years there have been from time to time re
peated attacks-upou the business funis who
adopt this method ot dealing, but the
enemies and the faultfinders, alter an in
vestigation into and study of their processes
and results, have become their greatest
friends and supj orters.
FOUND PLENTY IMITATORS.
Not only are the installment houses them
selves flouritiing, but their methods and
plans have been copied and put into opera
tion by merchants and traders in every con
ceivable branch of business activity. The
people have found it so convenient and sat
isfactory that they ask and practically de
mand of those whom they patronize credit
or installment terms be accorded them, with
the result that there is no establishment ot
any kind where goods are on sale, "arid at
all events, no furniture, bicjele or machine
store that is conducted on a strictly
cash basis.
Tlie more modern, and perhaps more dig
nified appellation of these business con
cerns Is that ot "credit house." By using
this term the difference between the two
systems of selling can be immediately indi
cated. In the commercial world to-day there is
no such tiling as actual cash selling.
Eery bujer expects aud is allowed tlraein
which to meet his obligaUons, and it would
be deemed ridiculous and preposterous to
even Intimate pajment in actual money.
To the cash merchant a note is given for
the sum of the sale, upon receipt of which
he relinquishes to some extent his claim
and hold upon the goods.
NO NOTES WANTED.
The installment man would not have the
notes If jou would give them to him. He
is secure and safe aud hia title to the goods
remains with him so long as Uie hmalleot
part of the bill Is jet unpaid. Both of
the merchants allow time in pajment.
One requires that all must be paid bc-rore
a certain stated time, while the other
compels the purchaser to pay a stipulated
sum per week or month which in the end
is the same thing in both cases When a
prospective bujer comes into a store he
undergoes a rigid examination as to his
finaucial condition, occupation, place of
business, place of previous purchases,
and references.
In deciding upon whom to sell the propri
etors are influenced to a large extent by
their knowledge of huniannatureand exper
ience. Letters may be forged, names
fraudulent, friends posted and participators
in the swiudle, nnd jears of business inter
course with men and women havecouvinced
the credit-man that the face w-ill reveal
most quickly nnd surclj- the innermost
purposes of the mind If the report is
lavorable and verbal examination sat
isfactory, the customer selects the goods,
the amount or which is usually limited to
a figure which varies with the class and
means of the buj-er.
A sum of money is required In cash, the
amount of which mustmanifestly depend ou
conditions. A contract is next signed
which certifies that the purchaser has
hired and received the carerully itemized
bill of goods and that he agrees to pay a
certain specified weekly installments until
the entire debt Ib discharged. It further
stipulates that if the pajments be not met
then the firm isempowered toenter.atany
time, any place where the goods may be
and to take possession of and remove them.
When the specified sum is paid according
to the word and letter of the paper, tho
contract is closed and the merchandise
becomes the property of the bujer.
AN IMPORTANT CONDITION.
A clause in the contract made by most ot
the leading firms in this city states thatyill
claim to whatever money that has been
paid in is forfeited when the goods are
siezed lor non-pa jment of installment.
This is the feature on which the cash mer
chants lay so much stress and which is used
as an illustration or the wickedness aud
depravity of the installment dealers.
It is very harmless, howener, and is but
rarely enlorced, it being to the interest of
the merchant to do without enforcing as
often as possible. The goods that are
taken away cannot by any possible means
he so made like new furniture that even
the merest tyro will be deceived, and the
only disposition that can be made of them
is to put them up at auction. Here thej
bnng a small sum in any event and as a
rule must be almost given away. It is
much more to the installment man's in
terests to forbear and the party who misses
one or two payments maj' rest assured,
notwithstanding the repeated avowals or
the merchant to the contrary, the goods will
not he taken uutil all hope of further re
muneration is passed.
As an argument, if one were needed, to
prove that these establishments do not
prey upon the poor, many instances could
be cited where parties, alter having paid
in a considerable portion of the amount,
had undergone a change of circumstances
and were released of the payment of the
balance of the bill, which they were un
able to meet.
DELICATE CONSIDERATION.
The delivery wagons of credit houses are
invariably w ithout the name of the firm
on them, because it is understood that tho
patrons do not desire them to be. It
must be confessed that it is rather awk
ward to have a fine set of plush parlor fur
niture deposited at the front door, with
which we expect to make our neighbors
and friends turn green with envj And
then we are at a loss to know why the
people who live opposite arc laughing so
vigorouslj, until we discover, to our
chagrin, that in great big letters the
public at large is liilormed that we bought
it on the installment plan.
It is better for all parties to leave some
things unsaid, and tins is one of them. A
man may not be able to furnish his house
on any other plan than the installment,
still it is cminentlj better for his own
peace and contentment of nurd, and for
the conversation and gossip of his friends,
that the latter know nothing about it.
As the wheel is to the Avagon, so is the
collector to the wholo machinery of an
installment house. Without him all things
stop, for he gathers in the shcckels and
through no other channel can this essential
item be attended to. When the majority
of the customers buy they promise that they
will bring down to the store their weekly
or monthly pajments, but almost without
exception they neglect to do so after the
second or third time, and It Is necessary to
send a man to collect the money, just as in
the case ot those who requested thathecall
for it.
DON'T OBJECT TO THE COLLECTOR.
After his first trip to tho house they
find that it is not so disagreeable a matter
as they had imagined it would be and their
repugnance to the idea having vanished,
the genial payment clerk thereafter
calls for the money as regularly as clock
work. Sometimes the collector has to fol
low working gangs all over tho city, and as
soon as they get paid off he must show up
in tho neighborhood or the money will not
be forthcoming until next pay-daj While
walking down Pennsylvania avenue the othar
day with a collector, ho, without a word of
warning, suddenly dashed off down tbo
street and was soon lost to view. About an
hour afterwards he was found sitting dis
consolately on the sidewalk, for, while in
conversation, he had permitted the grip
man, for whom he had been waiting and
"watching for several days, go by.
A great many persons try to escape from
paying by moving, without notif ying the in
stallment company or their change of rsl
deuce. Here is where the collector m( St
do his best work. The post-oWice auUiorl
tlos refuse to help hiiA when the parties have
given notice that they do not want their new
addres3 disclosed. Then ingenuity must
b" exercised in scraping up an acquaintance
with a letter-carnerandgettingtheinrornia-tion
by fair or foul means from him, who
generally knows the fugitive's new location.
Sometimes the whole neighborhood is
canvassed from house to house withoutuny
clew being obtained until finally a utile
child who has heard it frrni one of the
children of the Tamily that is licing looked
for will furnish the desired information.
In some cases emplojers will, when roti
fied, compel their clerks to pay, while in
others the superiors themselves ure tho
debtors.
WASHINGTON A GOOD FIELD.
Washington, because of the vast army of
clerks in the government departments and
bureaus, is admirably Euited as a field
for the expansion of tr-e credit system.
A 8eveuth street merchant and he not
a furniture dealer either stated that so
far as his knowledge went there was not
an absolutely cash house in the city, all
of the firms, both great and small, by rea
son of the peculiar conditions m which
a large number of their customers are
placed, being compelled to allow time and
to take small sums at a time.
"Since Secretary Carlisle has been in
the Treasury Department neither the
clerks nor the higher officials are com
pelled to Le honest with tradesmen," said
the proprietor of one of the largest credit
firms in the city. "We are not allowed to
set foot iu the Post-office Department if
they know the business of cur collectors,
and but seldom can they obtain admission
to the Pension Office."
There was a case recently in which a
company lost over $100 because the man
was not compelled by his suiieriora in the
Pension Office to pay his bill. He re
lused to make further payments in the
course ot a few months after he had
bought the bill, but he finally consented to
pay S3 per month, at which rate it would
have been over two yeara before the full
amount was paid, A month or two more
passed, he discontinued pajmg, and a
short while ago departed thw life.
INSTANCES OF HONESTY.
There are some persons more honest.
A newlj- married couple who had been
started out in housekeeping, finding that
they were unable to keep up the payments,
took an amount of goods honestly equal
to the sum paid m bj- them and de
camped in the night for parts unknown.
A veteran officer resident in one of the
Northern States, finding that he had not
sufficient money to keep his family in their
accustomed style until his next quarter's
peasion was due. conceived the idea of
coming to Washington, renting a house
for three months and furnishing it from
an in-t ailment house. The payments for
the firattwonionths were prompUyreceived,
but when the third was called for they
round the house deserted, but the key in
the door, aud not a piece ot tb furniture
nnsing The old general's three months'
were up, he had drawn his quarter s pen
sion, and gone back to his home in the
North.
Instances in which the credit firms have
lost money through dishonest methods
could be multiplied indefinitely. It
must not be supposed, however, Uiat they
are easily inveigled Quite the contrary,
for experience has'sharpened their wits
and it must be a mighty cute trick by
which an installment house salesman or
collector can be deceived
It is commonly thought that these firms
have two prices, one for cash buyers
and the other for credit, the argument being
made that otherwise they could not compete
with cash houses The supposition is
entirely erroneous, and Uie fact is that in
the long run the credit business Is prac
tically cash Verv few of the accounts
will run for a j-ear before maturing, and
at the end of the first year's business
the money coming in each week amounts
to the same as if they had waited for six
or twelve mouths before receiving their
money
The installment plan is used more In
Washington at the pre-seut time than It
has ever been The poor and humble
use it because they could not furnish their
houses by anj- other means; the middle
classes make use of it because it is in
accordance with Uieir method of receiving
Uieir salaries and wages; tho rich and
wealthy resort to it because ot its con
venience, and all speak of it In no other
terms than those of praise.
THE YOU.VG CZAHIXA.
An American "Woman Visits
tho
Em press, of ltusisin.
Imagine a girl who will be 23 years old
in July, beautiful, desperately in love with
her husband and that is Uie empress of all
tho Russlas.
An American lady thus describes an au
dience with her lately
First, one must be notified by the grand
mistress of the court at what hour her
majesty will receive. She Is in the country
station, a magnificent footman was In
waiting, who asked if this was Mme.
A . Being told "Yes," he escorted
her to a court carriage, where a driver and
footman were in brilliant liveries and wore
cocked hats.
After a drive of twenty minutes through,
a picturesque park the chateau was
reached. At the door stood a number of
servants In gay liveries.
The lady was taken to a room done all
In red satin, where the lady-in-waiting.
Countess Z , gave her tea off a gold
Ico from the cups of Hie finest Sevres.
A few moments elapsed before It was
announced that the empress was ready,
so the lady was now shown Into a very
large room clone In blue satin. Coming
to meet her was a girl, looking very
young, quito fair and rather tall. This
was the empress. She was dressed in
black chiffon, the whole court being still
in deep mourning for the late emperor.
At her neck Bhe wore a small miniature
of her husband, the young emperor. It
was surrounded by immense diamonds.
On her fingers were many splendid rings
and on her arms bangles of chains, each
clasp a large stone, in her ears were
splendid stones.
She wasvery shy at first, but afterward
most charming and talked entirely about
her family, whom she loves and whom the
lady knew.
Tho audience lasted about half an hour,
when the young empress withdrew, leaving
n charming impression of youth, beauty
and simplicity. The lady was then shown
over the chateau. In one of the great halls
were the wedding presents o'r the ameer or
Bokhara, which had just arnvedta collec
tion of costly rugs, masses of shimmering,
splendid stuffs, and a great tea service of
gold Inlaid with uncut stones.
Practical.
Sunday-school Teacher (In a sheep dis
trict) Why did tho shepherd leave the
ninety and nine sheep In the wilderness and
go after the one that was lost?
Cocky's Son (with eager confidence)
Please, miss, 'cause it was the prize ram.
Australian Paper.
Clmnoe For n Precedent.
Fuddy What's the trouble with Caudle
and his wife?
Buddy She has sued him for breach of
promise.
Tuddj- Breach of promise! How can
tliat be when they are married?
Buddy Why, she married him for his
money, nnd he declines to give up the
money Boston Transcript.
BLUM BROS.
743-745-747 8th St. SE.
Our Remnant Sale last week was a great
success, will continue one more week
Remnants of Bleached Cotton .such as Wam
sutta. Fruit or theLoom, Pride ot the West,
Dwjght Anchor, etc , 4 l-2c a yard.
Remnant3 ot fine Unbleached Cotton,
2 7-8c a yard.
Remnants fine Dimities, Jaconets and
Sea Island Percales, 8 l-2o a yard.
Remnants best Kid Finish Lining Cara-brics,31-2c
a yard
Special bargains from our
Housefurnishing Department
MASON'S FRUIT JARS.
Best quality porcelain tops:
1 pint size, 1 quart size, gal slzv
59c. doz, TOa doz. 89a. dez.
PRESF.RVLNG KETTLES.
Best quality porcelain liiiacl:
3 quart size, 8 quart size, 10 quart size.
21c. 25c
12 qt. aizo,
33c. a 43a
ICE CREAM TREEZER'S.
Warranted to make good ice cream in 10
minutes.
3 qt aizo, 4 qt. size, 6 qt 8lzo,
51 53 $1.19 51 70
SPEC1 VI, SALE GRANITE IRON WARE.
1 -quart granite Tea and Coffee pots, 29a.
3 pint granite Coffee Pots, 33o.
2-quart Granite Sauce Pans, -29c
4 quart granite Sauce Pans, 31o
6-quart granite Sauce Pans, 38c.
8-quart granite Sauce Pans, 44o
10-quart granite Sauce Pans , 49c.
10 quart granite Dish Pans, 53c.
1 2-quart granite Dish Pans, 69c.
14-quart granite Dish Pans, 79c.
2 quart Granite Tea Kettles, 44c
Good quality, large sized Brooms, lo
Buttermilk Soap, per cake. 3c
Petroleum Jelly, same as Vaseline, 3a.
per bottle.
Will buy your bargains from you In casa
you become dissaUsfled
BLUM BROS.
743-745-747 8th St. SE.
MOORE TALKS OF CYCLONES.
Ho Tells How They Differ From Out
Other Hreezes.
"This Is going to strike the crops right,"
said Prof. Moore to a Chicago News man,
as he pointed to a map that had red crosses
grouped in every halt inch of the Central
States.
The professor's map looked as though,
a large swarm ot red marks bad started
to go East and settled down in and around
the Ohio valley. They meant thunder
storms.
V'Thi3 storm brought rain right where
it was needed. There teas been rate right
along out West, but I never coukl get any
east of tlie Mississippi. Every rainstorm
woukl stop at the bis river. TMs tune we
got it all. It it also going to be fair and
more comfortable for a couple of days.
It is terribly dull in the weather business
in summer."
"Dull?" remarked a visitor, as he dropped
a worn copy ot Davis' "Meteorotosy" and
shoved a newspaper in front of the pro
fessor, w here it read, "Cyclone at Qinncy,
111." A pained expression took a ainety-nme-year
lease of the weather man's face
Then he cheered up and said.
"The correspondents always get cyclones
and tornadoes mixed, ami the public has
got it wrong. The wholestorm thatcovered
several States yesterday was a sort ot
cyclone A moderate cyekme to asaally
500 miles wide What struck Quiacy,
111 , was a mdd tornado "
Takintr a copy ot the Daily News the
professor drew a large circle aad divided
it ia four parts.
"A cyclone," he continued, "te caused by
winds from the four quarters of the compa-s
starting a circular motion in a large area,
probably covering several States. A tor
nado is a traveling storm, maybe only 2CO
feet wide, and it always occurs ia the couth
east quarter of a cycloce. One wind of a
cyclone may come from tbe State of WaO,
Ington and the other from Florida As
tbe winds from the South are bot and humid
the tornadoes always occur ia the southeast
part of the cyclone. People always speak
of a cyclone when they mean a tornado, and
imagine a cyclone is something unusual.
Of course, it might not make any difference
what it is called. but if this mixing of terms
keeps up the dictionary will have to lie
changed. There may be half a dozen tor
nadoes in the southeast quarter of a eyclone
traveling at the same time They always
travel northwest and if a man sees a tor
nado coming and runs northeast or south
west he stands a chance of getg out
of it."
The storm of yesterday was interesting
from the Auditorium tower. A peculiarity
of the storm was that the downward ruh ot
wind from above which accompanies sud
den changes was stronger than usual. The
cold air from above not only made tho
sudden chance, but all the smoke was
pressed downward, and. being caught by
the wind from the northwest, was rushed
through the city and out over the lake
Viewed from the Auditorium, all the smoke
formed a cloud near the ground and made a
novel sight as it sped over the surface o
the lake.
"Yes. it is dultin the summer," re
marked the professor. "Beautiful yellow
sky. rainbow, sunset, and all that are but
nothing from a scientific standpoint. Bu?
it was great for the crops."
FIGHTING FX.IE5-
TUo Summer "Warfare nnd How tv
Conquer a Pet.
Housekeepers are alwaj-s glad of any in
formation which will help them to con
quer those enemies of their summer's peace
flies. Here are two items which experi
ence has proved of use in the battle.
We all know how flies settle upon a
screen door in rainy weather, or those of
the kitchen m any weather, waiting for aa
opportunity to slip in as soon as it is opened
If a cloth dipped in kerosene to rubbed
over the outer side of the wir and fratno
of the screene, the flies wiH not settle upon
it. Thev do not like kerosene One ap
plication will usually prove effectual tor
several days.
The other agent oil of lavender Is for
the purpose of disposing of such of the
enemy as have already gained an entrance
to the house.
Darken all the windows but one. The
flies will soon congregate on that, foi
flies enjoy sunshine as well as moths
detest it. Now with an atomizer, spray
tbe window casing with the oli of lavender
and either leave the open bottle upon the
sill or saturate a small cloth with some ot
of it. Some of the flies will soon become
stupified and then can be brushed down
and disposed of. It an atomiser la not at
hand rub the easing with the saturated
cloth. It is also a good plan to rub the
oil over any place that the flies particu
larly like to light upon. A bangms lamp
has often a great attraction for them, but it
shade and chains are rubbed over with the
oil they will not light upon it. J.D C.
An Applicable Term.
Mrs. Snaggs, newspaper in bawl -I've
often seen the term "high contracting par
ties" used in the account ot a wedding, but
never with such appropriateness as In
the account I have just read.
Mr Snaggs What ia there particularly
appropriate about it in tbw case?
Mrs. Snaggs Tbe bride was five feet
eleven inches in height and the groom six,
feet two. Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph
Tliat Knocked tbe Poetry.
He was kneeling at her feet and saying
"My precious sweet, life lingers to nse as a
petunia streaked with the glorious gokien
fretting of a 6oul which knoweUi no love,
so "
"Oh, Jim," she said, "how strons you
smell ot onions" Tit-Bits.
A Terrlblo Thirst.
Radbouru I read an account of a German
soldier who drank thirty-three glasses ol
beer aud then died.
Chesney It was too much for him.
Radbouru No, there was no more beez
New York World.
m .
Get your Cabinet Pboto Free.
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