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A CORRESPONDENT of the Lon don Times, who recently visited the United States, has many in teresting things to say about our great military training school. West Point, he writes among other things, as its name in part suggests, is a point on the left bank of the Hudson river, about 45 to 50 miles from the sea. The point stands out well into the 6tream, commanding both reaches which form the angle of the river. In front of the now obsolete defenses that defend the waterway on the far bank, rise the succession of verdure-clothed hills which finally mass themselves into the Highlands. Owing to the erratic formation of the hills the Hudson here is narrow, deep and turgid, so that the race of its congested waters, if it were not for the forest setting to the back ground, might remind the traveler of the pent-up Nile in the Shablukah cat aract The view to the north is per fect, since the river way Is clear as far as Newburg town, nestling against the mountain side and gleaming white in contrast with the forests in summer green. The landscape is like some stage land. Historic Newburg, where Wash ington is fabled to have refused a crown. terminates the view, but on either side of the middleway of the river great but tresses and promontories of wood dressed rock jut out Into midstream, while, almost flush with the water level on either Hudson bank, the wondrous handicraft of man interlaces with the supreme work of nature. Here tunnel ing some gigantic promontory, there glistening upon a trestle causeway, the railroad tracks follow the line of the river in its sinuous course. Then shut the river from your view, and turn and look inland, where the cadets learn the theory of war. West Point itself is closo upon 200 feet above the level of the Hud son. But beyond it the hills rise to dou ble and treble this height. As with the Highlands, they are densely wooded, and for the moment, as one marks the one-storied bungalows and veranda-in closed villas of the post, one's thoughts turn to far-off India and the Himalayas. In scenery, atmosphere and sur roundings, but for the Hudson, West Point is not unlike an Indian hill sta tion. The summit of the point is flat and clear of trees. This is the parade ground, and round it are grouped the SICKLES FOR ALDERMAN. faaou New York War Veteran Seeks Comparatively Humble Office in New Tork. Gen. Daniel E. Sickles, who has been nominated for alderman in New York British View of West Point SURROUNDINGS BEAUTIFUL AND INSPIRING AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE BEST on the fusion ticket, has an illustmous war record. He was bom October 20, 1825, and after receiving a common school education learned the printer's trade. GEN. DANIEL P. SICKLES. (Noted War Veteran Who Wants to Be a New York Alderman.) Then he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1846. Next he became secre tary of legation in London, later being elected state senator in New York, and serving in congress from 1857 to 1861. Entering the union army, he won promo tion to a major generalship and, though he lost a leg at Gettysburg, continued in active service until 1869, when he was ap pointed minister to Spain. Later he wrred another term In congress. Dlminwtlve Mexican Do*. A little Mexican dog, of the Chihuahua breed, 16 months old, and weighing only 23 ounces, is a pet of ilton Raynor, Deputy Sheriff Ham of El Paso, Tex. It is so small that it easily stands with all four feet resting on the palm of its owner's hand. various institutions of the academy, the quarters of the married instructors, and the barracks in which the detachment* of the regular army are housed. On thi rlver side there are several tiers of bat teries. These, of course, are obsolete, but they serve their purpose In furnish* ing instruction schools for the cadets. There is nothing mean about the ar chitecture with which the United States government has surrounded its military cadets. The headquarters buildings, the riding school, cadets' bar racks, library and gymnasium are all fine buildings, and to these have now been added the garrison officers' mess house and the Cullum Memorial hall, the former a beautiful clubhouse, erected at government expense, for the 60-odd officers who hold appointments as academy Instructors the latter a magnificent public entertainment hall, with spacious ballroom, theater, li brary and underground bedrooms, raised in the Interest of the cadets and past graduates from funds bequeathed by Gen. Cullum. The little post is beautified with other memorials. Near the flagstaff, to the north of the parade ground, stands a handsome monument to the memory of sal NEW ACADEMIC BUILDING AT WEST POINT. all West Point graduates who fell dur ing the civil war. There is another mon ument to perpetuate the memory of the late Maj. Dale's command, which was annihilated by Indians in 1835. Dotted about the post are statues of eminent American generals, and into prominent rocks the names of famous battles have been Inserted, the lettering usually being of gun metal, atrophy from that particular engagement it commemo rates. Altogether, the surroundings o! West Point are beautiful and inspiring and, far removed from the evil in fluences of town life, the cadets find there Just the necessary relaxation to save them from mental breakdown. A certain amount of social Intercourse is open to them through their dancing hall. The countryside in the environs of West Point is studded with the coun try villas of wealthy New Yorkers. During the summer there is no difficulty in arranging partners for the dancing lessons, as all fashionable New York has fled the city to escape the heat. Thus the cadets obtain just sufflclnet social intercourse to make them pol* ished gentlemen, but not enough to turn their heads. BUFFALO BILL'S WIT. Doctor Thought Ho Was Mighty Smart, Bat He Was Ho Match for Mr. Cody. William F. Cody was relating a story which concerned an Indian who had met with an accident in a "Buffalo Bill'" show. It was necessary to amputate the In dian's leg, and in the description of this operation Cody was interrupted frequent ly by a young doctor who injected tech nical and medical terms into the stralgfit vernacular of the scout. He was irri tated, but ignored the doctor. "A few days after the operation," continued the narrator, "the Indian learned that his leg had been burned. With a whoop he HON. WILLIAM F. CODT. (Better Known to the People of America "Buffalo Bill.") leaped from his bed and jumped upoa the doctor with both feet." "Jumped with both feet after an opera tion," shouted the doctor, exulting in his exposure of the great scout's absurd story. "I said upon the 'doctor with both feet,' explained Cody, "in order to dis tinguish him from the other hospital physician who had only one foot, hav ing put the other into people's affairs so often that he lost it." U. & MARINE CORPS. Command of This Body Transferred to Gen. Elliott. Ktw Chief la One of the Most Popular Ofleore in the Service and Has Done Bxeelleat Work in Many Places. The formal transfer of the command of the United States marine corps from Maj. Gen. Charles Heywood to Brig. Gen. George F. Elliott took place re cently at the headquarters of the corps in Washington, and was attended by all the officers of the corps stationed in that city. There were no special formalities beyond the reading of the official orders for the retirement of Gen. Heywood and the assignment of Gen. Elliott to the command. Each of the officers made a short address suitable to the occasion, and at their conclusion the two held a reception to allow the members of the corps to take official leave of their retiring commander, and to pay their respects to the new com mandant. The clerical force of the of fice also called in a body and paid its respects. Gen. Elliott is one of the most popular and efficient officers in the service. His promotion was based entirely on merit, and mainly in recognition of his meri torious services during the Spanish war and the insurrection in the Philip pines. A native of Alabama, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the marine corps from New York October 12,1870. When Gen. Elliott was attached to the Monongahela, of the South Atlantic station, in 1875, yellow fever broke out on that vessel while she was lying in the harbor of Rio de Janeiro. Despite the fact that be could have had leave and gone to the mountains, he of his own volition remained with the ship and his pnen, and when the asisstant surgeon of the vessel was taken down with fever, volunteered to assist the surgeon in so far as his ability would permit, and he performed valuable service. He served with the marine battalion in the railroad strikes of 1877, and in 1875 served under Gen. Heywood with the marine battalion on the Isthmus of Panama. While in command of the marine guard of the flagship Baltimore, of the Asiatic GEN. GEORGE F. ELLIOTT. (New Commandant of the United States Marine Corps.) station, in 1894, he marched his guard from Chemulpo to Seoul to protect the American legation at the latter place, the Chinese-Japanese war being in progress and Corea, the scene of hostili ties. This was a night march of 31 miles, accomplished fn 11 hours. Gen. Elliott commanded the legation guard for three months subsequent to this time. The scene of hostilities having been transferred, he was ordered with the marine guard to Tientsin, which he \helped to protect during the winter. Later on, at the request of Mr. Denby, then American minister at Peking, he acted as aid to that official on the occa sion to the first audience ever granted by the Chinese emperor to foreigners. In order to perform this duty Gen. El liott was compelled to make the trip on horseback, passing through about 25,000 undisciplined Chinese troops, suffering constant Insult and running no little personal risk. During the Spanish-American war, in 1898, Gen. Elliott commanded company of the marine battalion during the four days' battle at Guantanamo, Cuba, and later, while in command of a battal ion of 250 men, defeated the Spanish in a spirited battle at Cuzco Valley, after killing and taking a number of prison ers in addition to destroying the wells which were the source of the enemy's water supply. This fight resulted in giving security to the marine camp on Guantanamo Hill, and for his conduct in this battle the president advanced Elliott three numbers for "eminent and conspicuous conduct in battle." Gen. Elliott having been ordered to the Philippines, in command of a bat talion of marines on October 8, 1899, de feated the enemy over very bad ground, and captured, by direct assault, a posi tion at Novaleta which had been deemed impregnable by the Spanish and before which they once lost an entire regiment. For this service he received a commend atory letter from the secretary of the navy. He has had almost 14 years at sea and foreign service, and has always rendered a good account of himself. |rl *d Treasnre of Jesnlts. About 100 yeans ago, when the Jesuits were banished from Mexico, it was known that they possesed vast wealth, but they took very little of it with them. What they did with it was a mystery. A very old man, Pierre Guire, says that about $20,000,000 of it was buried be neath the old cathedral in the little town of Typozottan, and it is believed to rest there fit GOSPEL LIGHT HOUSB. Coney Island Has Valqae Reliiiou Refuse for Unfortunates of Every Variety* A unique institution at Coney island Is the Gospel lighthouse, which is presided over by CqI. William D. Hughes and his wife. Col. Hughes started in his mission work at the Island four years ago with a small tent and a few camp stools. The "boosters" and "barkers" laughed at the "gospel shark" then, but they have since learned to respect him and he is now aided in his work by many of the most prominent business men and pleasure promoters on the island. In the midst of the hurly-burly of rol ler coasters, merry go rounds and other noisy engines of amusement, he has built a church little different in architecture from the structures which surround it. The "lighthouse" adjoins the church and jetui UVL* THE GOSPEL LIGHTHOUSE. (Located in the Midst of the Gayest Part of Coney Island.) is a skeleton tower rising to a height of 65 feet above the sandy beach. The lan tern at the summit of the tower, which can be seen from any point on the island, is an electric transparency on the four sides of which are emblazoned nightly the words "Jesus Saves." Many girls who have run away from their homes frequent the dance halls at Coney island every year. Some of them fall into the hands of the police. Magis trat Voorhees, who presides over the Coney island court, sends many of these to Col. Hughes. They are either returned by him to their parents or retained until it is thought safe to send them out to em ployment with good surroundings. While living at the "lighthouse" girls are taught to sew and cook. Col. Hughes and his famly live over the chapel. On the outside of the building is a large sign that reads: "Always open. Pull the latch." Spiritual food and the more substantial variety as well are free to any who ask. There is but one table, and tramps are often Invited to sit down with the family. The chapel is open aft ernoons and evenings week days and Sundays. MONSTER HAILSTONES. They Fell Not Long Ago In a Penn sylvania Town and Were Lnrger Than Hens' Bgcs. One sometimes hears a man speak of hailstones "as big as hens' eggs." The tale Is perhaps told by a traveler, whoso story Is received with a shrug of the shoulders. The stones general fell in some far away place, and the ordinary unbelieving easterner puts it in the same category as Mexican dodos or Alkaskan sea serpents. There was a hailstorm, however, no* long ago, about which some 20,000 per sons can hold up their hands and swear that they saw and picked up hailstones which were even larger than the aver age hens' eggs. The inhabitants of West Chester, Pa., which is 20 miles from Philadelphia, were suddenly overtaken by a brazen colored cloud, which threat ened for a time, as many thought, to an nihilate them. For two minutes the hailstones rattled on the roofs with the A HEAVY HAILSTONE. (It Measured More Than Two and a Half Inches in Diameter.) roar of thunder, and smashed windows, stripped trees of their leaves, killed chickens, birds, dogs and cats, and de vastated fields of ripened crops. The storm went as suddenly as it came, and it was found to have covered not more than ten square miles of country. Charles L. Robinson, a New York busi ness man, chanced to be in West Chester at the time of the storm, and he watched the huge ice bullets from a porch. "The roar of the falling Ice," said Mr. Robinson, "inspired a sort of fear which I cannotdescribe. It was like the roar of cannon. I could see horses in the street which ran away from fright. The storm caused a fall in temperature of about 15 degrees. After it had passed I went out, and picked up several stones and meas ured them. Several were more than 2% inches in diameter. In order that I might remember just how large they were, I traced the outlines of one of them on a paper by running a pencil around the edges." WHO WILL WIN OUT? Question That Is Now on the Lips of Svsry Washingtonian. Triansnlar light tor Senatorial Toga Is Cansinar Iatense Rivalry Be tween the People of Taeonsa and Seattle. The "stevedore candidate," Edward 8. Hamilton, of Tacoma, Wash., is the most Interesting figure in the approach ing campaign for the honor of represent ing the state of Washington in the Unit ed States senate. Hamilton, a natural political leader, a man of long experi ence in the art of whipping his follow ers into line, has long been considered a probable successor of Senator Addison G. Foster. The expiration of Foster's term is drawing near, and in the face of considerable opposition, the genial sen ator Is asking his constituents for re election. And now Hamilton, the steve dore "boss," although long a stanch supporter of the Incumbent, has come forward with a public announcement of his candidacy. The Chicago Record-Herald says that the campaign is more than a personal contest between Foster and Hamilton. It is a strife between cities, for Seattle and Tacoma are and always have been keen rivals for this honor. Foster is Tacoma's man, and "Stevedore" Hamil ton mapped out the campaign which won him the office. Seattle already has a candidate in the field—Sam'uel Piles, a clever corporation lawyer. The nat ural result of Hamilton's intrusion of his personality into the fight will be to split the strength of the Tacoma clans and to transform what had been an "old guard" of political power into two bick ering groups of partisans. The rivalry, industrial and political, between two young, virile, growing cities of the west far surpasses the trivi al exchanges of pleasantries in which eastern municipalities indulge. Ta coma's dilemma, with two strong can didates in the field, to oppose to the weld ed attack of the Seattle cohorts, is there fore causing dismay in the hearts of the politicians of the former city. The opposition to Senator Foster, which has arisen this summer, is due to a feeling that he lacks "backbone." Foster's smiling face and cheery laugh have won him a host of friends, even his EDWARD S. HAMILTON. (Prominent Candidate for Senator from Washington State.) political enemies, but there is a senti ment, which is daily gathering strength that Washington needs a fighter in the chamber. The state wants money for harbor improvements, federal buildings, lighthouses, land surveys and a hundred other things, and it also wants a man in the senate who will work until he gets the appropriations. For this rea son the aggressive "stevedore" is more popular in the Tacoma ranks than the sociable Foster. Hamilton has been a member of the state senate for three sessions. He knows men, has a genius for planning campaigns, is a man who does things, and does them thoroughly. Never be fore has Tacoma and Pierce county had a political leader like him. He con tributed more than any other one man to the election of Foster in the last sen atorial campaign. He outlined the fight which won friends for Foster, while the John L. Wilson and Levi Ankeny fac tions were in deadlock, and carried his man through to victory. Hamilton's fighting qualities made him the leader of the railroads in their struggle during the last two sessions to prevent the passage of a bill creating a state railroad commission. As chair man of the appropriations committee he introduced New York methods into the legislature, with the result that no appropriation bill can be attached to an other measure, however meritorious, thereby placing each measure upon its merits. He was born in Brooklyn in July, 1865, and was graduated from the West chester County institute, of Peekskill, in 1882. Six years later he moved to this state and opened a real estate of fice at Port Townsend. In October, 1888, he entered the employ of the Puget Sound Stevedore company as bookkeeper, afterward becoming manager. Soon afterward he becamc a member of the firm of McCabe Hamilton, which now does 90 per cent, of the stevedoring work on Puget sound. The firm uses electric conveyors of its own invention, which have contributed largely toward mak ing Tacoma the port where heavy cargo, inward and outward, Is handled, at less cost per ton than In any other port in the world. Hamilton's political experi ence began in New York, where for four years he was assistant to Gen. J. W. Husted, known as the "Bald Eagle of Westchester." Color of Iron Ores. The only metal that is found in more than one color is iron, which appears in almost every shade. irH K* W iV MARINE BAND MENACXDl. none naval Mnsioal OrgnslasilHI Mar Be Forced to the Watt hy Union Labor. The famous Marine band, after an ex* lstence of 100 years, may be forced to tell to pieces. The Federation of Musicians, having affiliated with the American Fed eration of Labor, attempted last year to get a resolution through congress the eft feet of which would hare been to forbid any member of the Marine band to play at any performance in civil life for pay. The resolution failed, but the musicians, with the backing of the Federation of Labor, are going to try it again next year. The unions object to the Marine band because its members are employed of the government, but Lieut. Santelman says that of 27 members of the local musicians' union, which Instigated the war on ths band, 17 are government clerks drawing LIEUT. SANTELMAN. (Director of the United States Marine Band at Washington.) more than $1,000 a year each and the pay of some of them runs up to $2,000 a year. 'There Is not a foreign government which does not permit its crack bands to take concert engagements and go on tours," said Lieut. Santelman. "Many of the famous bands of the world have visited America and have been received with ovations by our people, but when ever I have desired to play an engagement in or outside of Washington I have been met with a storm of protest from local musicians' unions. Why do not the unions object to foreign bands that come over here and play long engagements? They do not. But they object to our or ganization, though we are the repre sentatives of the United States govern ment, carrying the flag of our country with us in the best sense." Some time ago the musicians of the Marine band applied for membership in the local musicians' union. Their ap plications, fees, etc., were returned to them without any explanation. It ap pears that the Federation of Musicians has a clause in its by-laws which forbids members to play with any enlisted: of the United States army or navy. TAKES GLOOMY VIEW. Ex-Senntor Reasran of Texas Thinks tho Days of the RernUla Are numbered. Hon. John H. Reagan, who stated In a speech recently delivered in his home state that the United States is destined to become a monarchy, has been a confed erate congressman, United Statea con gressman and a United States senator from Texas. He was born in Tennessee, October 8, 1818, served in the Texan war against the Indians, became a Judge, and later was postmaster general and secre tary of the treasury of the confederacy. After the close of the war between the states he was held prisoner of war for a time, but upon his return to Texas was elected to congress and served as United States senator from 1875 to 1887. He Is the author of the interstate commerce JUDGE JOHN H. REAGAN. (The Only Surviving Member of Jefferson Davis' Cabinet.) bill, which, modified by amedmenta by Senator Cullom, of Illinois, is still In force. Judge Reagan made his now fa mous remark about the retrogression of popular government In this country in connection with an argument against the division of Texas into four states, a privi lege which was accorded to It when it was admitted to the nnion. He wants Texaa to remain one great state so that when the collapse he fears shall come It will he strong enough to perpetuate its ex istence as an independent republic. Raser Weald n't Lot Go. Chicago has a school for barbera. Tramps and other unfortunates who can not pay for a shave or a hair cut are operated on by the novices, while patrons who pay are attended by experts. The other day, while a tramp was being shaved, he was asked: "Does the razor take hold well?" "Yes," responded the victim, "but it doesn't let go worth a cent." & m.