Narragansett herald., May 23, 1896, Image 8

About Narragansett herald. (Narragansett Pier, R.I.) 1877-1???

Image provided by: Rhode Island Digital Newspaper Project

                
WOMAN'S WEAR.
STYLISH COMBINATIONS IN JAC-
KETS AND WAISTS.
Handsome Outing Jacket of Light
Gray Cloth—A Becoming Waist
of Linen Batiste—New Ways
of Wearing the Hair.
HE stylish combination por
-17 trayed in the first double-col
umn engraving illustrates one
) of the newest fancies of the
geason. The open jacket is made of
light gray cloth, the lapels and collar
being faced with fine suiting in ‘‘shep
herd’s plaid” (black and white check)
that matches the skirt with which it is
worn. Smoked pearl buttons are used
for decoration. The fronts are deeply
faced and reversed to form long lapels
that meet the rolling collar in notches.
They are usually worn open, but can
be closed at the bust if so desired.
The back fits smoothly, side, back and
underarm gores, with a curved centre
seam securing & trim adjustment.
Plaits are laid underneath, below the
waist line in back, to form the fullness
now fashionable. The stylish gigot
sleeves are shaped by single seams, the
fullness at the top being laid in back
and forward turning side plaits, that
form single box plaits at the shounlder
gseams. The blazer can be made from
one material in self-colored cloth or
of suiting to mateh skirt. Pockets
can be insertedin the fronts if desired,
these being omitted from all the latest
designe, inside breast pockets being
inserted in the front facings that
reach to the under arm and shoulder
Seam.
The quantity of material, 44 inches
wide, required to make this jacket for
a lady having a 36-inch bust measure
is 3} yards.
A BECOMING WAIST.
The stylish waist depicted in the
second large illustration is one of the
season's novelties, its soft fullness and
bhandsome decoration making it an
usually attractive and becoming. Ecru
linen batisie is the material repre
sented, made up over green taffeta
linings and decorated with bands of
batiste embroidery and green satin
ribbon. The full fronts and back are
joined in shoulder seams, and gath
ered in several rows of shirring around
the neck and at the lower edges in cen
tre. A fuil plaited basque of the
trimming is sewed to the lower edges
in centre. The standing collar has a
plaited frill standing out from its up
per edge that separates in points at
front and back. Three bands of batiste
embroidery decorate the fronts, the
centre ome blousing slightly at the
waist. The bishop sleeves are fash
ionably full, and are shirred top and
bottom over fitted linings of taffeta.
Straight cuffs of the batiste embroid
ery complete the wrists. Waists in
this style are stylishly developed from
any of the numerous weaves of fancy
silk now in vogue, with ribbon, lace,
insertion, jet or spangled passemen
terie for decoration. Rich combina
ptions are possible by the mode.
The qaantity of material 34 inches
wide required to make this basque for
a lady having a 36-inch bust measure
is 3} yards,
NEW RIBBONS.
The new ribbouns are really wonder
ful in coloring and diversity of pat
terns. On white and bright colored
groands there are chine designs, and
ov-r these are narrow black and white
stripes or dote. They come wide for
sashes, and cost between 84 and 85 a
yard. One design of purple lilacs
strewn all over a white ground, with
one aarrow white satin stripe down
either side nearly two inches from the
edge, is particalarly pretty, but the
variety 1s beyond description.
EVENING BONNET OF sPANGLED NET.
The heme milliner has an excellent
opportunity to show her originality in
making up a variety of bonuets for
evening wear. Spangled net is one of
the newest and most popular materiais
to be employed 1m the make-up of
these necessary little bits of feminine
finery. Rhinestone buckles and
bunches of aalf-blown pink roses com
plete this simple but effective little
,evening headdress.
WHITE STREWN WITH LILACS,
The new ribbons are wonderful ic ,
coloring and diversity of patterns. On
white and bright-colored grounds
there are chine designs, and over these
are narrow black and white stripes or
dots. One design of purple lilacs
strewn all over a white ground, with
one narrow white satin stripe down
either side nearly two inches from the
edge, is particularly pretty, but the
variety is beyond description.
NEW WAYS OF DRESSING THE HAIR.
With a return to the fashions of our
grandmammas there is also a retarn to
the elaborate mode of dressing the
hair. The plain ‘“knot” that anyone
could do has given place to an elabor
ate structure of curls and waves and
frizzes and flowers and jewels that
only an artist can accomplish, and the
reign of the hair dresser will soon be
gin in the land.
Speaking of the new coiffures, a
noted French hair dresser saysthat for
an evening toilet waving the hair is
only accessory ; for morning it is in
dispensable. For day wear the kno#
is raised higher on the head than last
OUTING JACKET.
year, while for evening Wwear it is
raised quite up on the top of the head.
In the pretty designs for & daytime
coiffure given above the hair is simply
waved all over the head and drawn
back so that it forms bands at the
sides. At the back it is drawn loosely
into a knot well up on the head, where
it is secured by a handsome tortoise
shell comb.
For evening wear all sorts of hand
some accessories, jewels, flowers,
feathers, rosettes are worn, mixed with
tufs of hair. To these are added
aigrettes worn slightly at one side.
The hasir is very much puffed around
FOR DAY AND DINNER WEAR.,
the head and the waving gives it a
pretty and airy effect. A stylish and
new arrangement of the hair for an
elaborate dinner or theatre party is
pictured here. It is composed 1n front
of bands, which form waved festoons
over the ears. Behind are rosettes of
pink veivet, one upon another, form
ing an aigrette. Five curls fall over
the shoulder at the back.
Linen collars and cuffs are shown in
great variety of pleasing and uncom
mon cut. Three flaring points on a
plain band. which stand out from the
neck, are in a late cut. Each point is
formed of tucks and a row of hem
stitching.
The very popular sleeve model ol
the moment fits the arm very closely,
some inches above the elbow, and has
a short, full puff at the top, the sleeve
at the wrist sharply pointed and frilled
with rich lace.
THE CONVENIENT COLLAR.
It is a comfortable fashion which
provides a waist with a linen collar
LADIES' WAIST.
which can be detatched and substitu
ted by a stock-ribbon collar with a
big bow, which is very much softer
and prettier.
Percales are assured fully asgreat
a sale as last year, and are shown in
immense variety of styles, including
stripes, dots, Persian figures, bars,
checks and staple designs,
FEATURES OF HATS AND BONNETS.
Many jewels and much gold em
broidery are features of both hats and
bonnets. The turquoise appears to
lead all other gems.
Sailor hats having the edge of the
brim rolled up all around are among
the new styles.
COLLARS AND CUFFSs.
A VERY ODD SLEEVE.
IN FAVOR.
SATLOR HATS,
Recent Advance in This System of
Warming Residences.
With its many early imperfections
steam-heating was slow in coming into
favor, and there are to-day many
worthy persons who hold a rooted
aversion to it, based upon unhappy
experience. It is not difficult to under
stand the reason for this when one
visits a building equipped with a steam
heating apparatus of a score or more
yearsago. The temperature is scarce
ly even bearable, for with the steam
turned on the rooms become torrid;
if it is turned oft they become frigid,
and there seemsto be no happy me
dium. Added to this very vital objec
tion, when the steam is first admit{ed
to the radiators, one might as well live
in a boilershop. The thumping and
clanging is enoughto craze a person of
nervous susceptibilities.
In view of the splendid results that
are now obtained in steam-heating, it
is needless to say that these faults are
not due to the system, but to the
ignorant application of it. Where
the heat cannot be properly and per
fectly regulated there has been no
ecientific adjustment of heating sur
face to the cubic dimensions of the
room. In many buildings that have
been equipped with the apparatus,
subsequent to their erection, there are
hundreds of feet of steam pipe ex
posed, because it was impossible to
carry them from floor to floor and
from room to room within the walls.
The radiators themselves have suf
ficient heating surface, while the steam
pipes are responsible for the over heat
ing. The architect of to-day settles
this difficulty in his plans. If the
matter is left to him, steam-heating
becomes a delight to the householder,
as it gives sure and equable tempera
ture in the utmost extreme weather,
and at & minimum of cost for fuel.
The thumping in the radiators,
which forms a prime objection to the
system in the mind of those who re
member the experimental stage of
steam-heating, is entirely obviated by
the use of improved apparatus. It is
caused, of course, by the condensing
of steam in the radiators, and when
this water is properly conducted back
into the boiler the system is as noiseless
as hot air or hot water heating.
The accompanying design 1s for a
country villa in which the plans call
for a simple and inexpensive steam
heating plant.
General Dimensions : Width, throngh
dining-room and back parlor, 33 ft.
6 ins. ; depth, including bay window,
43 ft.
Heights of Stories: Cellar, 7 ft.;
first story, 9 ft. ; second story, 9 ft.
Exterior Materials: Foundation,
stone; first and second stories, clap
boards; band between first and second
First TToor
stories, band under eaves, gables, dor
mors and roofs, shingles.
Interior Finish: Two Jcoat plaster,
hard white finish. Flooring and trim
in hall, oak; elsewhere, N. C. pine.
Oak staircase. Kitchen walls wain
scoted. All interior woodwork grain
filledand finished with hard oil varnish.
Colors; All clapboards, fawn
brown. Trim, including water-table,
corner boards, cornices, ete., white.
Outside doors and ceiling, oiled,
Shingles on side walls left natural for
weather stain. Shingled roofs stained
a deep red.
Accommodations: Cellar under rear
half of house with inside and outside
entrance. Portiere openings connect
hall, parlor, sitting-room and d:ning
room. Open fireplaces in hall and
dining-room. Hat and coat closet in
hall, Butler's pantry, containing
Second Toor
dresser, connects kitchen and dining
room. Portable range and sink in
kitchen. Bath-room in second story,
with full plumbing. Attic unfinished,
except for storage purposes.
This house would cost about $2985
—not including the heating apparatus,
range and mantels—built within 100
miles of New York City, although in
many sections of the country the cost
should be much less, where labor or
materials are cheaper.
Radiators should be placed as mear
the windows as possible, and in all
rooms but the kitchen, including the
bath-room and lower hall. A fair es
timate for the apparatus compiete,
set, would be about $290,
(Copyrighted 189%.)
FEATHERED
It is a Rooster With a Sixteen Feet
Long Tall.
The Japanese are a fun-loving peo
ple and they are as full of tricks of
varions kinds as an American school
boy. A writer who recently returned
from Japan tells of a queer rooster he
saw on the Mikado’s Island. “The
only thing in the shape of a live, phy
sical freak that ever came under my
observation was a common, everyday
sort of a barndoor rooster,” he says.
“That rooster had a fail sixteen feed
long and thought he was ‘some pump
kins.” Nevertheless, he was a fraud, a
snare and delusion. He strutted about
with the self complacent air of a pea
ocock, notwithstanding -that he must
have been aware of the fact that his
tail was composed of plumes begged,
borrowed or stolen from the caudal ap
pendages of other roosters. That tail
certainly was a marvel of ingenuity.
The feathers were so cleverly joined
one to another as to defy detection,
except on the minutest of scrutiny.
Yet the owner of the birgl-could take
off and put on that éwinderful tail
whenever it pleased him to do so.”—
Philadelphia Press.
Bismarck’s Food Supply.
A little while ago you printed an
excellent pen and ink sketch of Prince
Bismarckin my London Budget, writes
““‘Ascot.” April 1, the eighty-first
birthday of the ‘“Man of Blood and
Iron” was celebrated by hundreds of
Germans in London and innumerable
presents, principally things to eat and
drink, have been forwarded to Fried
richsrube., It isa problem rather what
the Prince and his family do with all
the hams and sausages, and huge pies
and cheeses and jams and barrels of
wine and beer, thousands of cigars
and bales of tobacco, which are con
stantly being sent to the wvenerable
statesman. He and his can never eat,
drink or smoke it all. No doubt a lot
of it is again sent away as gifts to
friends of the Bismarck family. The
enniversary of almost every battle of
the French and German War, the an
niversaries not only of the Prince’s
children, are seized as excuses for a
shower of beer, sausages and cigars on
Freidrichsruhe, and even the anni
versary of the death"of Princess Bis
marck is marked by the arrival of
consoling “‘delicatessen.”
A short time since one of the Frank
fort papers had a tiny paragraph to
the effect that Prince Bismarck had
eaten a pickled pig’s foot with “‘evi
dent reiish.” For weeks afterward
jars, and even barrels, full of pickled
pigs’ feet arrived at Freidrichsruhe
from all parts of Germany. The ap
proaches of the mansion were con
stantly being blocked by carriers’
wagons arriving with more pigs’ feet,
until, at last, the nuisance had to be
abated by a series of paragraphs in
many papers, begging ‘‘admirers” not
to send any" more, as the Prince now
positively loathed the very sight of
them. In a deep pit on the estate are
now buried the trotters of hundreds of
porkers, whose upper legs are perhaps
destined yet to reach the ex-German
Chancellor as hams, on one of his an
niversaries.—New York Mail and Ex
press. e
His Imperative Duty,
A lady, en route to the last Queen’s
drawing-room, in London, found her
self blocked in a line of carriages con
taining people who had not the entree
to which she herself was entitled.
Much annoyed, she leaned out of the
carriage window and said to a police
man on duty there,in imperioustones:
‘““Perhaps you don’t know thatl am
the wife of a cabinet minister?” <1
couldn’t let you pass, ma’am,” he
calmly replied, ‘‘even if vyou were the
wife of a Presbyterian minister.” —Ar
gonaut.
Poor of Loadon,
The Bishop of Bedford avers that
the East London district contains a
population of 1,500,000, nearly all
poor. From this statement some idea
will be had of the vastness of the
work the clergy are cailed upon to
perform. The difficulty of raising
funds for so vast a work is very great.
The Largest Dam, "
The largest dammed body of water
in the world will be secured by the
building of a dam at Cloquet, Minn.,
on the St. Louis River, 900 feet long
and eighty feet high, by which back
water will be extended sixty miles,---
Current Literature.
Great Botanic Garden,
The botanic gardens of the Jarain
des Plantes, Paris, includes about
seventy acres. The plants are all
labeled with red labels, medicinal;
green for alimentary; yellow, for or
namental purposes; blue, for art, and
black, for poisonous plagts,—Current
Literature.
CUSIOBITY,
S
NEW YORK LETTER.
[sPECIAL
Governor Morton has signed the
greater New York bill. The governor
filed a memorandum with the bill in
which, in part, he says: This bill is
intended to provide the basis for a
consolidation of the counties of New
York, Kings and Richmond, and a
part of Queens, into one great city.
The territory embraced in the area of
the proposed city aggregates nearly
318 square miles and contains over
8,000,000 inhabitants. The consolida
tion of great municipalities by an
act of Legislature presents many com
plex questions. To effect a proper
consolidation of this territory, with
its divergentinterests,lnto one muniec
ipality, there must be provided a
harmonious government, an equitable
system of taxation, a fair adjustment
of the several existing municipal
debts, and a homogeneous arrange
ment of executive,judicial and admin
istrative functions. Many of the ex
isting funotions cannot be constitu
tionally amalgamated or disturbed by
any attempted consolidation. The
autonomy of the counties must be
preserved until changed by constitu
tional amendment. Throughout the
consolidated city there must continue
to be a dual government, partly the
creature of the constitution, and be
yond the control of the city govern
ment, and partly the creature of stat
utes, providing for muunicipal govern
ment within the same territorial limits,
How far the Legislature may go in
ama'gamating city and couuntygovern
ments will be one of the important
problems for the consideration of the
commission provided by the bill.
The bill declares that consolidation
shall become compiete on Jannary 1,
1898, but this declaration evidently
cannot have the full force which its
terms would indicate, because no pro
vision is made for the government of
the consolidated territory. By the
terms of the bill, there can be no dis
turbance of existing conditions until
the Legislature has made further pro
visions for the government of the new
city. Practically, the only effeetive
provirion in the bill is found in the
third section, which provides for the
appointment of a commission to pre
pare and submit to the next Legisla
ture “‘bills for the government of the
muunicipal corporation ; the mayor, al
dermen, and community of the city
commonality of the city of New York,
as by this uet enlarged.” This com
mission will be charged with the per
formance of a difficult task; and it is
urged that it cannot within the brief
time giveh by the bill prepare a
chnrter for this great muaicipality
which will be satisfactory t) the next
Legisiature and the inhabitants of the
new city as well as to the other people
of the state. This possibility ils not,
however, a sufficient objection to war
raut myv disapproval of the biil. It may
be properly assumed that a charter
prepared by the commission will pro
vide fair terms to all the localities af
fected ; and as the mayors of the three
cities are to be members of the com
mission, their suggestions will have
great we'ght in framing a charter upon
conditions favorable to their respective
cities. All localities affected will be
heard, and all interests will be consid
ered by the commission. I have no
Lesitation iu expressing the conviction
that the commission will be able to de
vise & scheme of municipal government
nlike ereditable to its members, com
petent for the great purposes desired,
and promotive of the highest interests
of the state.
Thenew Delmonico’s promises to be
a striking feature of the Fifth avenue.
It is to stand on the northeast corner
of Forty-fourth street, and its equip
ment promises to include every ad
junct that the contémporary New
Yorker of fashion has been taught to
find indispensable to the consumption
of food and drink, and the experience
of saltatory exercises. The building,
planned by James Brown Lord will in
clude a good many things the present
building cannot boast, as a grand
staircase, a palm garden under a glass
dome, a roof garden (perhaps), and
bedrooms for bachelors on the fourth
floor. This last provision suggests
that one adjunct of the restaurant
in prospect is to be a hotel, amply
sufficien® to satisfy the claims
of the Riines law, even when admin
istered by such scepties as Mr. Roose
velt, who has expressed public doubts
whether a hard boiled egg and five
beers constitute a meal. Across Fifth
avenue from the new Delmonico’s will
be the new Sherry’s, an establishment
the glories of which, ordered tgQ be
devised “regar(fless of expensce,” are
still inchoate and seething in the im
aginations of Messrs. McKim, Mead,
and White. The region about Forty
fourth street and Fifth avenue prom
ises to be the next great social and
gastronomic centre of the city.
New York is to spend $BOO,OOO for
a bigger and more commodious prison.
The front of the tombs is to be torn
down, and the new building erected
on its site is to connect with the pres
ent wings. The tombs, as it is, is
highly interesting to persons who view
it from the outside, but exceeding
unfit” for the wuse of less for
tunate citizens who have to make
it their residence. About five hun
dred prisoners live in it just now, in a
space inadequate for half that number.
The prisoa employes, too, are huddled
together in quarters scandalously con
tracted. Auny one who feels disposed
to lament that the city is about to lose
its most striking example of Ezyptian
architecture is invited to brood on the
considerations which prompt the
change, and to rejoice that at last it is
imminent.
A bill is now pending in Congress
that is being earnestly discussed in
New York providing for the estab
lishing of a bureau of military educa
tion, having for its specific purpose
the ‘‘adoption of uniform military
drili in the pablic schools of the sev
eral states and territories.” The sec
retary of war, in his recent report,
decidedly favors this project. He
recommended that ‘‘the law be so
amended as to extend the opportuni
ties for military instructions, by offi
cers of the army, to high schools of
cities and normal schools of states
having the requisite number of pu
pils.”” There are some arguments,
more .or less engaging, in sup
port of this proposition, from the
gtandpoint of the necessity for
a systematic physical training in
our public schools. It is contended
that the military drill, in promoting
more thorough discipline in physical
instruction, would tend directly and
towerfnlly to the production of a
ealthier type of manhood. It is ar
gued that these days of intense civil
fzation create an alarming drainon the
average nervous system, which calls
for a reinforcement by means of a
thorough development of the phyzical
powers. These and other plausible ar
guments seem to have great weight l
with the secretary of state.
There is a fatal defect in this procass
of reasoning. In the first place, the
military drill is only intended for
boys. This is a decided discrimina
tion against the girls, who have an
equal, if not a greater, need of syste
matic physical education. Then, too,
such an innovatiton would inevitably
result in the development of a spirit
of militarism in our schools, which all
true Americans could not but depre
cate. The citizen soldier systems of
Europe are entirely foreign to the
genius of our government, and to the
spiritand purpose of our institations,
Moreover, the real mission of our pub
lic schools, of all grades, is to make
good citizens, and not to train the
youth of the land to the life and duties
of a soldier. To introduce and stim
hilate a military ambition among the
boys of the nation, wonld be entirely
incompatible with the manifest trend
of the spirit of the age toward a
speedy and permanent abolition of
war as the means of settlement of in
ternational differences and disputes.
The principal argument in support
of this proposition, based on the ad
vantage of the military drill as a
means of physical eculture, is sum
marily disposed of by the fact that
nearly all authorities on the qguestion
that even in military schools the gym
l nasium is depended on for the devel
opment of the grace and strength ‘of
I the cadet, rather than the drill
At the recent commencement of the
New York medical eollege and hospi
tal for women, several younz ladies
took their diplomasand were graduated
with very impressive eeremonies. The
last solemn formality of the graduates
before receiving the benediction of
the faculty was to take what is called
the “Hippocratic oath,” which is as
follows:
I swear that I will keep this oath
and this stipulation ; that I will follow
that system of regimen which,accord
ing to my ability and judgment,l con
sider for the benefit of my patieuts,
and abstain from whatever is deleteri
ous and mischievous.
I will give no deadly medicine or
suggest any such couunsel.
With purity and holiness I will pass
my life and practise my art,
Into whatever houses I enter I will
go for the benefit of the sick, and
will abstain from every voluntary act
of mischief and corruptions,
Whatever is connected with my pro
fessional practisz,or not in connection
with it, that I see or hear in the lives
of men which ought not to be s oken
of abroad, I will not divulge, as reck
oning all such shouid be kept secret.
While I continue to keep this oath
inviolate, may it be grauated me to en
joy life and the practise of the art
respected by all men or all times
But should I trespass and violate this
oath may the reverse be my lot.
As this oath involves a sort of moral
and religions consecration of one’s
profession, why should men not be
obliged to take it as well as women?
Are women hippoeratically weaker
than men?
New York has a Chinese bicyele
elub. Its name is the Lee Hung Sing
and the evolutions the nine members
who have equipped themselves with
wheels can perform ecannot be
equaled by a member of the league
of American wheelmen. Mott street
is not a haunt of fashion. Neither is
Pell, nor yet Doyer; but the most
fushionable of the Four Huandred is
not more thoroughly up in wheeling
ethics than the New York Celestial
at present. It is openly stated by
no less an anthority than “‘Chuck”
Connors that after a littie more prac
tice the new organization would feel
vo hesitancy in challenging even the
members of the Michoux eclub to a
test of proficiency. So enthusiastie
arc these up to date Celestials they
first decided to adopt as a uniform
genuine American trousers, and only
abandoned the idea after an experi
ment in which trousers, wheel and
Chinaman became hopelessly mixed.
The roll of membership of the Lee
Hung Sing eclub contains thirty-one
names, and, while at present, as stated,
only nine have wheels,all have opened
negotiations which will result in their
becoming owners of them. Owing to
the disastrous experience of one of
the (;iub members with the regulation
trous®rs, what was intended as the
principal feature of the uniforn has
been discarded. When in full regalia
hereafter, the Mott street rider will
be attired in a loose blouse, knee
breeches and regnlation bieyele stock
ing=. KNICKERBOCKER,
Chicago Times-Herald: The lows
Legislature, after a long and careful
sonsideration of the protests of the
old soldiers against the portraiture of
persons living or dead on the medal
lions of the soldiers’ monument, has
practically settled that no portraits
will be permitted. This is an eminent
ly wise and just decision, for the lowa
troops were of such uniform bravery |
and high character throughout the
war that it seemed invidious to pick
out a few and leave the rest unmen
tioned. Undoubtediy there were a
number of officers who rose to cgn
siderable distinction, men like Corse, |
Curtis, Dodge, Herron and Hateh, all
brave and gallant soldiers, but they no ‘
more deserve perpetuation on this mon- |
ument than many thousands of others.
For be it remembered that lowa.sent 1
something like 80,000 troops to the war
—lO per cent. of its population—and
these men, like Cromwell's ironsides,
were zealous for a cause, not for glory.
They fought principally in the West,
and they made an illustrious record
in every battle in which they were en
gaged. They fought at Wilsan’s Creek,
Donelson, Shiloh, luka and Vicksburg.
They gave battle in Louisiana, Mis
souri and Arkansas. They carried the
flag of the Union through every South
western State and marched with Sher
man to the sea. One brigade was withs
Sherman in the valley, and wherever
they were placed they fought with such
an admirable steadiness as to win the
encomiums of their generals. For this
reason the lowa monument should rep
resent the ideal lowa soldier and by
appropriate inscriptions preserve the
memory of his heroism and his gal
tatry. s 3
Women Run Trolley Cars.
ROCKFORD, 11i.,, May 16—The society
women of the ci? took charge of the trolley
gstem toda{}an ran cars for the benefit of
e Ladies’ Union aid society. Everybody
{n the city rode, and more passengers paid
50 cents or €1 for the trip than a nickel
There were no accidents.
A New Agitation.
MADRID, Spain, May 19—The 'gnfith‘m
recently made by the Impareial the
treaties between Spanish and United States
governments made in 1795 and 1877 be re
nounced, is much discussed in political aad
mult:{ circles. The suggestion meets with
general approval op tbe past of the Spanish
BOSTON LETTER.
[sPECIAL CO
The Great Organ.
How many people there are today
who know the sad fate of the once
bonored great organ which made
Music hall one of the most famous
music centres in the whole world.
Those who think they know are quite
sure that it is stored on the grounds
of the New England conservatory of
musie, Franklin square, and that it is
the property of the conservatory. It
is stored in a primitive sort of a shed,
especially built for the purpose on the
ground back of the conservatory, but
it is not the property of the conserva
tory., The owner of the organ is
the widow of W. O. Grover,
who died about a year ago. In 1883
there was much talk about removing
the organ in order that there might be
more room. Dr. J. P. Upham, the
one who first suggested haviag the
organ, and who for seven long years
kept at the subject before it was taken
up and seriously ccnsidered by
the public, and who from be
beginning to end was the all powerful
champion,strongly opposed the remov
al of the organ. In June, 1883, he
filed a bill in equity praying for an
injunction to r.strain Music hall cor
poration from removing the organ.
Just at this point W. O. Grover was
greatly interested in having the organ
placed to the best possible advantage
for the future. He was a great friend
of the late Dr. Tourjee, the well
known director of the conservatory, and
' it was his plan to purchase the organ
and place it in a music hall constracted
by the New England conservatory. Dr.
Tourjee warmly favored the plan, for
'such a hall had long been needed by
'the inmstitution. It was the plan
iof Dr. Tourjee to secure by
| grant of legislation enongh ground in
the rear of the conservatory for the
‘ hall, and then by subseription to raise
enough money to build the hall with
' seating capacity of not less than 3,000.
The Legislature granted just one half
of what was necessary to build the
hall on. Again the persistent doctor
appealed to the Legislature for land,
but this time he failed, and it is well
known that it was a disappointment
which broke him up completely, and
really hastened his death, as he was
not at all well at the time. In tixe
meantime the organ was taken out of
Music hall and stored in a primitive
structure which was erected on
the ground back of the conser
vatory granted by the Legislature.
The organ cost $BO,OOO. The case
alone, which is of black walnut, cost
$20,000. Case is hardly the word; it
would be more appropriate to call the
wood work an edifice or temple,
wherein music dwelt, forit is a superb
display of carvings. The spaec2 ocen
pied by the organ has been used as a
stowaway and one can get but faint
glimpses of the beanty of the carvings
because of the old mattresses and
chairs which are piled upon it. When
the doors are opened the view is that
of a junk shop. An old cart wheel
has found its way bere, and a paint
can surmounts one of the byzantine
domes, while all the setting of the
amateur stage is to b 2 seen scattered
| around 1a the utmost confusion.
Lowell Memorial.
The plan to preserve as a memorial
to James Russell Lowell that part of
the Liowell estate which has been of
fered for houselots at Elmwood is now
in such shape that the committee at
Cambridge have the desired opportu
nity to buy it for a very reasonable
sum. Suflicient money must be raised
by June 15 to secure the land. Hearty
interest in this plan to honor a famous
man of letters was practically assared
by the readiness with \v‘hich the public
responded to the oppoOrtunity given
them to share in the preservation of the
open space opposite Craigie House as
a memorial to Longfellow some years
ago. There is a genuine sentiment
for our poets with all of our people,
and it is only fitting that some such a
testimonial as this should be made
here and now to the memory of James
Russell Lowell. The memorial win
dow in a chapel of Westminster Abbey
already is evidence of the honor in
which his name is held. To preserve
in Lowell’s name and for the publie
gome of the land at Elmwood, that
was to him alwave a part of his home,
will be a worthy thing to do, and one
that could not have failed to be grate
ful to the knowledge of him who wrote
beneath his Elmwood willows:
I have many a lifelong, leafly friend,
Never estranged nor careful of my soul,
That knows 1 hate the axe, and welcomes me
Within his tent as if I were a bird
Or other free companion of the earth,
Yet undegenerate to the shifts of men.
A Rebuke to Calumniators.
The Massachusetts House of Repre
gentatives did a very significant thing.
It refused to acecept an adverse com
mittee report regarding the Bautler
statue plan, and assigned to a plae: in
the calendar the proposition to erect a
suitable memorial to the distinguished
soldier and citizen. This rebuke to
the Butler haters who united in the
recent concerted attack-by-calumuny
on the honor of the dead general is
well deserved. The members of the
committee who think it inexpedient at
this time to make an appropriation
for a statue of general Buatler are sed
ulously carefulgin their report not to
employ or endorse a policy of shnder.
But this display of good sense on the
committee’s part conld not make the
House forget the course pursuned by
certain remonstrants at the well re
membered Butlerstatue hearings, The
assailants of Batler's integrity and
good name carried on & campaign that
was not cunly unbecoming, but a gi
gantic blunder. Perhaps they will
realize this fact even more than they
do now, before the sessiou is over.
A Victory for Civil Service Reform.
The Legislature passed, in 1895,
over governor Greenhalge's veto, an
act which has been commonly known
as the *‘Veteran’s Preference Law.”
This act practically compelled all ap
pointing officers to select veterans, in
preference to all other men for all va
sancies in the civil service; and at the
same time it freed all veterans from
the necessity of passing any examina
tion. The sworn statement of an ap
plicant that he was qualified to per
form the duties of the position which
he seeks, accompanied by a certificate
from three citizens of good repute in
the community that they knew said ap
plicant to be fully compeient to per
form such daties, was to be taken by
the commissioners for the purpose of
certification to the appointing power,
and by the appointing power as coun
elusive upon the mental and moral
qualifications of the applicant. The
supreme judicial court of Massachu
setts has lately passed apon this statute
and has declared it unconstitutional,
bolding it to be inconsistent with cer
tain articles in the Massachusetts dec
laration of rights‘‘that the appointing
power should be compelied by legisla-
tion to appoint to public offices persons
of a certain class in preference to all
others, and without the exercise on its
part of any discretion, and without
the favorable jndgment of some legally
constituted officers or board desig
nated by law to inquire and determine
whether the persons to be appointed
are actually qualified to perform the
duties which pertain to the offices
The act providing that nothing there
in contained shall be construed to
prevent the certitication and employ
ment of womep. This decision has
saved the Massachusetts civil yservice
act from breaking down. Sined it
has been in operation the differeat ap
pointing officers have practically been
confined to lists of unexamined veterans
in making a selection, though, to be
sure, men have appointed women to
places formerly held by men. The
men who passed the act over the veto
of the late governor Greenhalge were
probably not so anxious to help the
old soldier as they were zealous to in
jure the cause of the merit system of
making appointments
ENCE, |
Members of the Boston acronauti
cal society, believing that the kite o
an instrument of value and worthy the
attention of those who have an wnter
est in scientific experiments, have
made an offer of three prizes to awaken
interest in this matter. The society
aims to explore the upper air with
flying machines and also kites. The
machines, however, have received less
attention than the kites. These have
been successfully used to obtain rec
ords of humidity, temperature and
velocity of the wind at altitudes of
more than four thousand feet. ith
time, the construction of kites will
improve, and then much may be ox
pected of them as an aid to scientiitie
study. In the designing of fi¥ing ma
chines the d:fficulties of counstruction
may be stulied with much benetit
fr& the making aund flying of kites
To secure a frame which 1s stroug
ard vet light is a problem to be
studied by the use of kites. These
always fly against the wind, whilc a
fivinug machine will cross the wind and
will continue to do so in an unaraly
way until perfected to a point where
it will submit to proper engineering.
i The prizes offered are to be awarded
to the kites showing the maximum of
lift to the minimum of drift in a
breeze having a veloeity of more than
‘ fifteen miles an hour. The prize for
' this class is to be seventy-five dollars,
’ The second prize is fifty dollars, for
' the kite keeping its equilibrinm
through the greatest extremes of wind
. velocity. The third prize is to be
l given to the kite flyingunder the con
i ditions of the first class, with a wiuad
- veloeity of less than fifteen miles an
hour. The competition 1s to be iu the
vicinity of Boston, and will be beld
between Sept. 15 and Oect, 15.
By a vote oof 126 to 65 the State
House of Represeutatives ordered to a
third reading the Whitney gas bull,
bat the bill was so amended and so
materially changed from its original
form when the vote was taken that the
result ean hardly be termed a victory
for Mr. Whitney. The friends of the
measure admifted after the session
their fears that unless some of the
obnoxious amendments were stricken
ont on th: next reading of the biil 1t
would be worth nothing to the cap
italists intereste.lin the great gas pipe
line system. Daring the time of de
bate more than 40 amendments to the
bill were drawn and handed to the
clerk. As the bill was passed it pro
vides that Mr. Wuituey must farnish
heating and illumizating gas to the
consumer at not more than 50 cents
per 1,000 feet in any city or town of
the commonweaith., This provision
is sitisfactory to Boston people, bee
caise it assures them cheap gas, and
coutaine no threat to the small
gas compauies throughout the
state, because Itis =a:d that 1t will
be impossible for Mr. Whitney to fur
nish gas at any such price outside of
Boston. This clause fixing the price
of gas at 50 cents per 1,000 feet was
the most Important amendment
adopted. It was offerel by Mr.
Haves, of Lowel!, and ecarried on
a rising vote, 117 to 63. But this was
only one f the many radical changes
which werz incorporated in the bill
The right of taking land by eminent
domain wus taken away, and a provi
sion was inserted that the pipes of the
company can be laid only in publie
ways, subjeet to the approval and rev
ocation of the bosard of aldermen.
or selectmen. Pipes are not to be
laid in parks or cemeteries without
the consent of park commissioners.
i Bex Marcaro.
Five Cottages Destroyed, intailing
a Loss of $lOO,OOO.
LYNN, Mass., May 18— When Longfellow
wrote his beautiful *“‘Beilis of Lyvnn™ he per
haps had littie thought that long years after
ward those same bells would ring out an
alarm to call flremen to a contlagration
starting in the house in which he wrole the
poeem.
Such was the case this afternoon, when a
great blaze, without doabt caused by a
spark from a workman’s pipe, spread from
the old Longfellow mansion on the south
east side of the peninsula, where it juts to
the eastward, and, carried by a strong wind
from the west, swept over to the other side,
devouring in its path flve ba .d:ome sum
mer residences owned by prople of wealll
and endangering several otLvrs.
The Longfellow house, in which the poet
spent many seasons of his life and received
some of his finest inspirations, was the first
to go. Next the elegant mansion known as
the Dnncaz cottage, owned by Mrs. George
Duncan, now in Austria, succumbed.
The newly renovated cottage adjoin
ing the Longfellow house on the east.owned
by Mrs. Fred H. Cunningha:s of Longwood,
and which was to be occupied this season
by Mrs. Kidder of Boston, went up in smoke,
and the fire, carried on burping embers by
the hot wind. communicated to the Russsll
cottagze, nearly 300 yards to the northeast
on the Nahant road, destroyiug that resi
dence, and ended its work by reducing the
gsummer home of the late Charles B. Greene
to a mass of ruins.
The money loss falls upon those who will
pot be seriously embarrassed, and in figures
is estimated at about £lOO,OOO. The amount
of insurance placed to cover this i un
known here, as it is all in the hands of Bos
ton agents, but it is probable that a Jarge
percentage of the loss will be met by the in
surance companies.
WAEEFIELD. Mass., Mady 18—There is
quite an egi(wmic of measles among the
school children of this town, and nearly 500
of the 1,500 pupils of the schools were kept
at home w&d There are probably not
more than cases of measles, and the
other 300 were kept at home because their
brothers or sisters are sick with it. Nowe of
the children are seriously sick.
WASHINGTON, D. C., May2l—The house
committee on coinage, weights and measures
has ordered a favorable report on the joint
resolation of Mr. Stone of Pennsylvania,
authorizing preliminary proceedings look
to the adoption of international coins.
Search for Bullet With the X Ray.
PROVIDENCE, May 20—Herbert , of
Niantie village, who was shot some 4ime
by a Swed», wants the bullet remo
bis leg and has gone to New York ad an ex
perimental subject to the X-ray. b
Competition in Kite Fiying.
Whitney Gas Bill Passed.
BURNED AT NAHANT.
Epidemic of Measles.
For International Coius.