Evening Star Newspaper, March 4, 1882, Page 2

THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1882-DOUBLE SHEET. The Phenomenon to Occur Next De- N VS. NATIVE POTATORS—BEANS FROM eumbens GERMANY —A SCARCITY OF POULTRY—FLOUR —— be ” HOW IT WILL BE OBSERVED—THE METHODS OF USws Frosanur To Tre vowser. finer “ates | eS ee eee ee G PRICED STRAWBERRIES FROM FLORIDA—OTHER means ee i =< ETWEEN US AN 7 ree TH SUN—llOW THE SOLAR PARALLAX IS FEATURES OF THE WEEK. " # FOUND BY NOTING THE TRANSIT OF VENUS— vs Cr 35 Some changes have taken place in the prices | TH® AFPARATUS TO BE USED BY THE AMERI- ofthe various articles of food kind within the past week. and asa general remark {t may be Said that trade has been rather quiet. Potatoes | rather favor the buyers, with freer offering yA per- ed for good native seed . they being preferred rather than the e been thrust npon the mar- ket so freely of late, but compare very unfavora- Any school boy ifasked how farthe earth is from the sun will answer promptly, though if the same question were propounded to a learned as- tronomer he would probably decline to make oath toany statement. Not that the question has not been determined with suficient accuracy for all ordinary purposes, but there are discrep- ancies of a few thousand miles or so in the fig- ures of different mathematicians which become ly with the native potate y there arrived in New York alone foreign potatoes, each bag con- The New York mar- wut 10.000 bushels per day to nds upon it, aad this has had the effect of producing a decline in the price of about five cents per busiiel. The wholesale and Jobbing rates here 1.20 per bushel for imp mudas hav some few I: Prolific, Nova Scotia. Snowilake. Burbank and Peerless ave in demand for seed. Some Scotch and Iris: Champions will be plaated as a matter of experi These latter are a dark colored potato, m but not as fair looking as the na- tives. rench potatoes are not, as a gene- Tal thing. liked. They have a yellowish color, and are fot so or as the natives. Many of these imported kinds have been sent west. and will no doubt be generally tested as seed potatoe Apples are a little off, at an advance of 50 cents per barrel. Choice lots go readily at #6 per barrel, and good to fair for $2.50a34.50. A NEW FEATURE of the market is the appearance of a large quantity of German dry beans. They are not of | #0 fine a quality as the natives, and do not com- mand so wice. They range in price from 92.900 ad some small clean ones at $3.50 per bushel. Sweet potatoes are a little stiff in price, thouch not advanced in the past week, except for some fancy lot per barrel has been the price tor the best. Turnips have had a moderate ran the past week at 2225 per barrel. Beets, #3a3.50 Onions about thi me as last week, the market well supplied and sales steady for $2.50a $3.50 p rel. Cabbazes are almost out of the market. None have arrived from Florida, and no old ones from the east or west. Kale is plentiful, and sells freely at $2 per | Darrel. It has become more in demand in the | northern marke! rise. Foreign fruits, green, are a little higher, | owing, doubtless, to the western demand. ‘They range from $3a%4 per box. Lemons $2.50 | 833.50. aud area little weaker, the supply being plentiful, and the demand not being véry lively. POrLTRY | fs scarce. especially for dressed, and not much | indemand. It rates pretty high; turkeys 15a18 | cents per pound at wholesale, and chickens 12a, WScents. The weather being so unpromising for dressed poultry, mueh live poultry is arriving, and is worth I cents per pound. Domestic ducks are selling from 1Sa20 cents. Eggs have declined 10 cents per dozen, and are now worth Fal etic fine lots of southern asparagus have been brouzht in aad sold at 75c.a81 per bunch, but no quotations are made in jobbinz lots; also, some Florida strawberries $1.25a31.50 per quart. Since the quotations of last week flour has weakened somewhat and lost tone. The gen- eral market has followed in sympathy with the decline in wheat, which deciine looks as if it will | -bea The average decline is | fully ats per barrel, and the prices are prob- ably about as low as they will go, as the four Will all be needed before a new crop of wheat is Hay and straw are unchanzed. Market full and not much inquiry for cither just now. Fresh pork is now selling for @8a$8.50 per hundred for whole hogs. THE BUTTER TRADE. There is very litti ange in the price of butter. The trade iss ly, and the prices firm for the best grades. There isa tremendous stock of cheap grades and oleom@rzarine, which | latter the more respectable dealers discard al- together. The public opinion seems to be too much acainst its use, and none but sharpers and adventurers will handle it for butter. Good cider vinegar is worth 15420 cents per Non at jobbing frures, and vinegar made rom corn mash 1al2 cents. There is much of this that is offered as cider vinegar, but it is | easily discovered by experts. In the line of smoked meats there has been no chanze in the jobbing trade. The prices are the same, although they are a little weak in the West, a condition of affairs which in time may affect our city trade. Potomac river and lake ducks are plentiful, | and a lively trade is now being done. The job- Ding rates for canvass backs are $2.50a83; red beads, 75 cents and 1; Mallards, 50a60 cents; and blackheads, 40a50 cents per pai se Am Improved Congressional Record. ‘Max Adler in Our Continent. If Congress resolve to act apon the suggestion made by Senator Miller that the Congressional Record be issued as a weekly and sent to every family in the country, some modification ought to be mare of the contents of the Record. The paper is much too heavy and dismal in {ts pre- sent condition to be welcomed in the ordinary Americana household. Perhaps it might have a puzzle department, and if so one of the first zzles could take the shape of an inquiry how Sunes that so many Congressmen get rich | om five thousand dollars a year. The depart- | ment of Answers to Correspondents could be enriched with references to letters from office- seekers, and the department of Household Eco- Romy could contain explanations of how the members frank their shirts home through the | post office so as to get them in the family wash. | As for the general contents, describing the busi- | Ress proceedings in the Senate and the House, we recommend that these should be put into the form of verse. We should treat them, say, Something in this fashion: Mr. Hill Introduced a bill To give John Smith s pension. ote. Bay = ir. Bayerd Talked himeetf tired, But sait nothing worthy of mention. ‘This would be succinct, musical’and in a de- gree impressi The youngest readers could grasp the meaning of it, and it could easily be omitted to memory. Ora scene in the House might be depicted in’such terms as these: very able speech was made by Cox of Minnesota yrotecting the black voter. Sauith of Alabamn: ‘was silenced by the Speake: if Kansas rose to make an explanation down by a coileacue in a state of indi jexender, In a speech about insurance, ratience Of his nearers pretty nearly past en- After witch Judge Whitaker denounced the reciprocity ‘Treaty with Hawaii as a seaudaions inv uastrosity. It would be advisabie of course to vary the | much as possible in order to prevent | notony which would otherwise dull the | interest of the reader. eedings in the House as hing of a more spirited nature pe: haps could ve inserted into the Senate reports. ose, for example. the pages devoted to the Senate should tead of with something of this kind: Py up rose Smith of Florida. the best of the debaters, ike about hia for p Barb erence for reason, And asked to have it made scrime to kil them out of ‘Then Bron le moved amendment by inserting a brief Com allyeators uot to thei: a But Sous he uprand sald of hima who tought tbe sub- ‘That Hecate, es she gave him sense, had been too And Browu, responding briefly, wished to say in this ‘That Sisich in guarding reptilen bad an eye to self-pr0- ‘Then Smith he flung a volume of the Message aud Re- And Brown was laid upon the floor s good deal out of Of course vereification of the Congressional Record would require the services of a lau- reate of rather unusual powers. If tears shall accept seriously the suggestions which we make with an earnest desire to promote the pub- lic interest, we shall venture to recom the selection of the Sweet Sinzer of Michigan as the ‘Grst occupant of the laureate’s office. Tue BLUE oF THE Sky and the binish tinge of has been shown to be owing to Bise bubbies of water in the air, The more del- leate the walls of these hollow spherestheciearer oe ig the blue; as they condense, their hue off more to the grey and white, as seen finally in the clouds. Hence in warm and ~ a the biue oe aby meee intense; moist ones so, on consider- able sievations the heavens look almost black, ‘and the stars age visible at midday. quite important in the nice calculations of Science. Since the remotest historic times, the great astronomers have given attention to the problem. Probably the earltest attempt recorded to determine the relative distance of the sun and the prices may take a | th | have and Ii ‘hat of Aristarchus.who flourished the third before Christ. His method was to meas- ce ure the angle between the sun and the moon, when the latter appeared half illuminated. He announced as the result of his observations that the sun was twenty times as far as the moon, ratio which modern observations has proven to be twenty times too small. Ptolemy subsequent- ly calculated from the apparent diameter of the earth’s shadow, cast upon the moon, that the sun's distance from the earth was 1210 radii of the earth, and his figures were accepted ag accurate during 14 centuries, and until the imis- takes of Ptolemy were exposed by Coper- nicus and his disciples. Still no estimate that could be proved to be approximately correct was substituted for Plotemy’s figures until the latter part of the i8th century, though Huy- ghens, a century before, by ingenious guess- work, arrived at very nearly the same result which has been approved by modern science. He assumed, from the symmetrical proportions of the solar system, that the magnitude of the earth would be somewhere near the average of the magnitudes of Venus and Mars. From this assumption he proceeded to determine the mag- nitude of the earth, as it would appear to an ob- server on the sun, and then calculated the angle which the semi-diameter of the supposed earth would subtend from the sun, which would be the solar parallax. THE MODERN METHOD of solving the problem has been to obtain the solar parallax, or, in other words, the angle at the sun, subtended bya semi-diameter of the earth. Parallax, in general, is defined as the difference in the direction of a body as seen from two different points. A familiar illustration of the effect of parallax. is seen in the case of a Passenger on a railway train, who observes that objects near the train pass by swiftly, while lose at a great distance seem to move very slowly. By careful observations taken at two different points, whose distance from each other is known, the angle at the object of observation that subtends this distance may be determined, and the observer has but to solve a simple prob- lem in trigonometry to discover the distance of the object. The distance of the sun, however, is so great that it has been found to be impossible to meas- ure its minute parallax by any such simple means as that described, so resort is had to what is known as relative parallax, the difference be- tween the parallax of some body lying nearly in the same direction as the sun and that of the sun being determined. THE PLANET VENUS, by a habit of periodically crossing the face ofthe sun, furnishes the astronomers with just the Conditions they require for determining the solar Parallax. Halley, prior to the transit of 1761, announced that observations of the phenomenon made from distant points of the earth could be used In determining the distance of the sun. In consequence of the parallax of Venus, two ob- servers at distant points of the earth's surface will see her describe slightly different paths. It is by the distance between these paths that the parallax has hitherto been determined, the pro- portional distances between the sun and Venus and the sun and the earth being well known, through Kepler's third law. Since that time, various values have been ascribed to the solar parallax, ranging from 8 to 10 seconds of angular measure. The results of the observa- tions of 1769 were not worked out completely for haifa century, and then Encke ficured out the value of the parallax to be 8.571 sec- onds. The corresponding distance of the son is 70,000 miles, a number which is gen- erally adopted in text books on astronomy. The reduction of the observations of the transit of 1874 would appear to slightly enlarge the paral- lax. and hence reduce the distance. The value obtained by the French and American astrono- Mets is 8.83 seconds. Since 1761, therefore, THE REGULARLY RECURRING TRANSITS of Venus have been observed with much inter- est by astronomers. In the present century thousands of dollars, and the labor of many eminent scientists, have been deyoted to the determination of the solar parallax by the ob- servations of the transit of Venus. In 1874 costly oxpemioes were sent to different parts of the globe, not only by our government, but ay the different governments of Europe. The phenomengn will occur again on the 6th of December next, and then Venus, swinging around her predestined and endless course, will not cross the face of the sun again for Wig years. The astronomers of the world, Tecog- nizing the fact that THE COMING TRANSIT will be the last that anyone now living will opportunity to observe, are already astir, ying plans to ensure the most satisfactory results for their labors. Congress has been asked to appropriate 385,000 to defray the expenses of expeditions to be sent out from Washington to observe the transit. It is proposed by the commission, who have general charge of the work. to send at ast four expeditions tothe southern hem- phere—one to New Zealand, one to the south- ern extremity of Africa, and two to South Amer- ica—though the details will not be arranged un- til Congress has made the needed ap) ropria- tions. It is hoped by the members of the com- mission that Congress will make the sppropria- tion early enough to permit the expeditions to be thoroughly equipped and organized ang started on their journeys in good season. As the whole transit will be visible in the eastern half of the United States, the observations to betaken in the northern hemisphere will not require so much enterprise or expense as those to be taken in the south. A suggestion, which meets with considerable favor, has been made that the work be entrusted to the different ob- servatories of our country. THE APPARATUS used in 1874 will be used in the cominz observa- tions. The most improved and delicate appll- ances that science could devise were then employed to note the different stages of the transit. Over a century had elapsed since the last transit of Venus, and during that century great advances were made in the art of observing and the application of scientific methods. B: the art of photography the light of the sun itseff was enlisted in the work, aud made an indelible record of every phase of the phenomenon. The United States then sent out three expeditions to stations in the northern hemisphere and five to stations in the southern hemisphere, meteorological conditions being taken into con- sideration in selecting the stations, so as to lessen the risk of failure by reason of unfayor- able weather. At each station the scientific corps consisted of a chief of party, an assistant astron- omer, and three photographers. The instru- ments at all the stations were ly similar, and the operations and observations the same all, so that the observations might be strict! comparable. Befure leaving for thelr posts, of the members of the observing Parties assem- bled in this city and iced together with their instruments, so that they became thor- oughly familiar with their duties. In Europe, also, recourse was had to photography, but the astronomers there seemed to have cared more for securing @ well-defined photograph, while the American astronomers devoted their atten- tion page ye —_ instruments so that the scale on wi e mages were photographed could be accurately fixe i THE AMERICAN METHOD. The Americans used a telescope nearly forty feet in length, through which therays of light passed to the photographic plate. This tele- Scope was fixed Iu a horizontal plane, the image of the sun being thrown into the object glass by means ofa reflector. The object glass and the support for the reflector or mirror were mount- ed on an iron pier extending four feet into the ground, and imbedded in conerete. The mirror is so adjusted on an axis, or heliostat, that it is slowly turned by an ingenious of clock work, and when set pro ly will al reflect the rays of the sun inthe same di ion, not- — the Fyaseed motion of the mirror, and 33 away bi the feet iron at this ier a” ingenious parts of the whole contrivance. plate-holder isa brass frame, seven inches square on the inside, revolving ona vertical rod, which passes through the iron piate on top of the pier. luto the frame is cemented a square of plate-glass, which is crossed and recrossed by a large number of very fine etched lines.dividing the glass into cui Squares. The sensitive plate goes into the other side of the frame, and the fine ruled lines are photographed upon every picture of the sun taken, and provide the means of detecting defects in the photograph that might otherwise go unobserved. Through a Perforation in the center of the frame is sus- pended a plumb line of fine silver wire. This line is also photographed, and makes a true ver- tical line on the plate, a spirit level on top ofthe frame being consulted in arranging the bat ratus. As the object lass and the photographic plate are on the same level, and in the meridian of the transit instrument, by which the time is determined, the image of the plumb line on @he photograph makes a permanent record of the meridian. ‘ THE OBSERVATIONS IN DECEMBER. These instruments produced such satisfactory results that the commission have decided to use them again at the coming transit. The, great confusion caused among European astronomers by the lack of uniformity in their methods and the imperfect apparatus used, has, it appears, created a prejudice among them against photo- graphic apparati, and they will discard them next December. On the other hand the mem- bers of the American commission are confident of success. One of these gentlemen, talking to a Star reporter said, he believed, that observa- tions taken by the American method would ultimately be depended upon for determining the solar parallax. WHERE THE TRANSIT WILL BE VISIBLE. The region of visibility of the transit of next December will include the whole American con- tinent, except some portions in or near the Aretic Circie. The beginning will be visible over a large part of Africa and the end over most of the Pacific ocean. ADMIRAL RODGERS’ VIEWS. With the papers sent to Congress by the Pre- sident last Tuesday concerning the proposed ob- servations of the transit of Venus was the fol- lowing letter from Admiral Rodgers, Superin- tendent of the Naval Observatory, to the Secre- tary of the Navy: “Ihave the honor to inclose herewith a bill which it is proposed to offer to Congress in order to obtain the means of observing the transit of Venus, which will occur on the 6th of Decem- ber, 1882. The transit of Venus is regarded by astronomers as an important means of obtain- ing the parallax of thesun—a quantity which enters directly, and _as a most important factor, in the deductions of astronomical science, for by its parallax our distance from the sun is com- puted, andour distance from the sun is the unit by which the universe is measured. The English government in 1769 sent out Captain Cook to observe the transit of Venus, whence resulted the discoveries of that illustrious navigator which have so much redounded to the honor and to the advantage of Great Britain. In these days, the importance of the transit of Venus has become relatively less, since other means of finding the sun’s par- allax have been devised; but the transit of Venus is still of so much moment that the coun- tries of Europe are already making extensive and costly preparations to observe the transit of December next. We cannot afford to neglect this one, which will be the last until the year 2004. The principal instrument employed by ourselyes is different from anything which it is proposed to use in Europe—in contem- oat to use the horizontal photo-heliograph. ‘his method is peculiarly American, and its use seems to promise so well that we think it should not be neglected. Foreign photographic meth- ods have apparently given no results of value. It is deemed important that the instraments ‘already on hand should be overhauled and put in order, since, when the resular appropriation is made, time will not serve to prepare them. To this end I ask that the accompanying papers be forwarded to the honorable chairman of the Senate committee on appropriations in order that the sum of 310,000 for the preparation and repair of instruments, and for preliminary ex- periments, may be made ayailable during the cur- rent fiscal year, and as soon as possible.” ee ee: —— How to Escape Nervousness. Dr. William A. Hammond in Our Continent. Nervousness is nervous weakness. The prin- cipal sign of a feeble nervous organization is an excessive degree of irritability of one or more of the organs of the body. If the nervous sys- tem be weak, the organs to which the nerves are distributed will also be weak, and a weak organ is always an Irritable one. It takes very little to throw such an organ out of its orderly course of action. Some slight cause or other acting on a “nervous” brain creates such a degree of irritability that its possessor fecls as if he would like to “jump out of his skin,” or he may be thrown into a paroxysm of intense emotional disturbance, or @ sick headache, an attack of hysteria, or even a more severe disorder may result.’ A | “nervous” eye or ear is anoyed by unusual or persistent lights or sounds; a ‘“‘nervous” heart palpitates and flutters after slight mental or ily exertion; a “nervous” stomach is irri- tated by food which a healthy baby could easily digest, and the condition known as “nervous dyspepsia” is induced; and a ‘‘neryous” spine, to specity no further, causes derangements of nearly ail the organs of the body. To cure these various disorders is often difficult and some- times impossible. To prevent them even in persons predisposed to nervousness is compara- tively an easy matter. The whole hygiene of the subject is embraced in the sentence—Strengthen the nervous system. How is this to be done? Ist. The first prescription is an ample supply of pure, fresh and cool ai The nerves will al- ways be weak if the greater part of the day and night be passed in close, ill-ventilated and over- heated apartments. ‘The nerves more than the rest of the body, to be properly nourished, re- quire a full supply of oxygen. They will not endure vitiated air whether the impurities come from sewers, gas-lights, subterranean furnaces or the individual's own person, without making an energetic protest. A gas-burner consuming four cubic feet of gas per hour produces more carbonic acid in a given time than is evolved from the respiration of eight adult human beings. Bear this in mind you who suffer from nervousness, that when you have shut yourselves up in your rooms and lighted an argand burner (which consumes about twelve cubic feet of gas per hour) you are to all intents and purposes immured with twenty-three other persons, all taking oxygen from the atmosphere. Is it a wonder that after several hours’ Caen to the depraved air your nerves should rebel as far as their weak state permits, and that your head should ache, your hands tremble, and that your dauchter’s playing on the piano almost drives you wild? An overheated apartment always enervates its occupants. It is no uncommon thing to find rooms heated in winter by an underground fur- nace up to 90°. Fights and murders are more numerous in hot than in cold weather, and the artificially heated air that rushesinto our rooms, deprived as it is of its natural moisture by the baking it has undergone, is even more produc- tive of vicious passions. It is no surprising cir- cumstaunve, therefore, to find the woman who swelters all day in such a temperature, and adds to it at night by superfluous bed-clothing, cross and disagreeable fram little every-day troubles that would scarcely ruffle her temper ff she kept her rooms at 65° and opened the windows every now and then. 2d. Eat plenty of well-cooked and nourishing food. The nerves cannot be kept healthy on slops. Gruels, panadas and teas are well- enough fn their way, but the nerves require for their proper nourishment undiluted animal and vegetable food; as a rule the former should pre- dominate. Meat-eaters are rarely troubled with nervousness. Americans eat more vegetables than any other well-to-do people, and they are probably the most ‘‘nervous” nation on the tace of the earth. 8d. Take sufficient phytoet exercise in the open air. When you teel irritable. tremulous, tretfal, fagety and unable to concentrate your thoughts on the veriest trifle, take a long walk, or split haif a cord of wood. Even the extreme nervousness of lunatics is best quieted by bodil: labor. The homicidal maniac who cannot if in his cell be trusted with a bodkin may fely be given 5 Serge per ane set to work in the garden. ‘His irritability is quietly led off into another and safer channel, and his nerves are strenzthened. ‘These are the principal rules. If they were faithfully followed, there would be less work for us doctors to do. Nornine will make a man feel to suddenly look up from his morning paper and tell ev peeeat a piece and then fin that bi pera not the least at- on bode they ret anon all about it.in ir evening paper of ti fore.—Philadel- phia News. : cheaper than —-————_—+9--—___ Gus Stvesap.y was asked ifhe made ‘ony calls ew Year, ied: ‘Yes, I called once on a king full with fours, Of course, I blew in and I shall not be able to call Sea eecemumn te old me his sand.”—Rochester | tions,” she said, “the ladies will please pass PICTURES OF POVERTY. . Scenes at the “ Charities” Office. GIVING OUT SEWING TO WOMEN—SOME OF THE APPLICANTS FOR WORK—SAD TALES OF AD- VERSITY—AN EX-DEPARTMENT CLERK APPLY- ING FOR WORK FOR HIS WIFE—WOMBN WHO WERE FORMERLY WEALTHY SEEKING FOR aD. “I want every woman here to know how to transact business for herself. I want her to} know how a man does it—a man who is making money hand over hand.” The voice was sharp and business-like, but withal had a cheery ring. The speaker was Mrs. Sara A. Spencer, and her hearers were a group of women, who gave eager attention to what she said. The place was the central office of the Associated Charl: ties, on F street, between 14th and 15th streets. The time was Thursday afternoon, and the occa- ston wasthe semi-weekly “giving out" of work to women. The central office of the Associated Charities is in a little dull red, three-story and garret brick building, with high and steep doorsteps, and a beer saloon in the base- ment. The door-bell was long ago pulled out of joint and never repaired; the window blinds are dingy, and the whole building has an atr of faded respectability, and seems to say that It, like most of those who ap- ply there for help, has. seen better days. The same story is told,by tbe odd pieces of furniture scattered about {he rooms. There is in the | front parior or office. a well-worn, oid hair-cloth sofa, now lumpy and uncomfortable-looking, which once undoubtedly belonged to an emi: nently aristocratic parlor set, but now furnishes | seats for the foot-weary applicants who throng | into the office. There are also stiff-backed old mahogany chairs, whose formal and constrained appearance say at once that thelr original proper sphere was the drawing-room, but that the | whirling wheel of time and fortune has left them in sad straits. Then there is a table with scrolled mahogany legs, and other shabby-gen- teel odds and ends from lumber-rooms or s ond-hand stores, all of which speak as plainly as hair-cloth and mahogany can speak, of the adversities and uncertainties of life. How long or by whom this house has been tenanted, is a matter of conjecture ; but it was never regarded with much interest tillabout a month ago, when one day a sign of most generous size appeared, covering the space between the upper and lower | windows, making one think of a small boy with | @ prodigious standing collar. The inscription on this huge sign was “Associated Charities, D.C. Central Office.” THE WOMAN'S ROOM. Tt was in the second floor front room that Mrs. Spencer sat at the side of a little table,on which were one or two account books, and a pile of little bundles of cloth. There were some sew- ing machines in the room, and a stoye and an- other table in the center of the room. The women whom Mrs. Spencer was addressing, sat | in chairs ranged about the room, and some sat | inasmall room adjoining, of which the door | stood open. They formed a very interesting group. There were some tottering with old | age, and some just entering womanhood—a sad, | faded, over-worked womanhood, Some re so respectable in their appearance that the Star | reporter, when he stepped in among them, set them down as visitors, like himself, but soon | discovered his mistake. All, except one, of | the score of women, were white. In nearly every face there was a touching tale of tears | and hard struggles. They listened with respect- | ful and almost eager attention as MRS, SPENCER TALKED. “Yes; I want everv woman here to know how to transact business for herself,” said Mrs. Spen- cer, securing silence with a wave of her lead- pencil, and looking around with her keen but pleasant eye, as though she were searching for | some woman who dared to disagree with her. “The buttons for these shirts were bought by the gross, and the thread and everything was bought at wholesale. As the buttons will not be here to-morrow, the shirts cavnot be given | out till to-morro Mrs. Spencer then ex- plained what work she had for the women to do. | There were sixty dozen shirts to be made by | contract, and some sheets to be made up, on a special order from an avenue merchant. The shirts were pina calico shirts, with four buttons anda plain bosom. “There are only a few seams to be sewed, and d dozen can be made ve idly. zi sed, Then,however, | I thought Icouid hire one woman to do the | starching, and after consulting a woman who | had done such work I founda woman could make easily adozen a day. I hay nated that we can give 75c. a dozen, and not lose. Of | understand that we don't make | Then Mrs. Spencer turaed to her | ‘As I call the names and give instruc- | out. The shirts, you understand, will not be here till to-morrow. Mrs. Douzlass will please come here.” Mrs. Douglass, who is the fore- woman, appeared from the other room, and aided Mrs. Spencer in THB DISTRIBUTION OF THE work. Mrs. Spencer kept hertongue and pencil busy, and both to good purpose, now uttering a word of encouragement, and now giving some direc- tion, or enjoining particular care in some work. “I want this work very wel! done,” she said, referring to the sheets which were to be | hemmed and for which the seamstresses were to receive five cents a piece. “Ifthe seams are soiled by the fingers we have to laundry them, and that adds to the expense. The work wust be carefully finished so it will not have to be done over. We want it done well for the sake ofour reputation. Some dealers like to have it done poorly, I understand, because they wear out quick and make a new demand.” “Such work is no good mum,” observed a dogmatic looking old lady with round specta- cles, who sat near Mrs. Spencer. Each appli- cant, if her abilities were not already known, was questioned briefly as to her skill, and was given sheets, or put on the list to be served with shirts on the morrow, according to her replies. “That reminds me,” said Mrs. Spencer, stopping in the midgt of her work, and again surveying the group sharply. ‘There still remain vacant five places—a manager of a laundry and four assistants—if there is any woman here who feels competent to fill any one of the places she must let me know.” SOME OF THE APPLIPANTS, Most of the women received the work and in- structions given them without any comment, and passed out of the room, gathering thelr wraps about them. There one woman scarcely overthe periodof lite when a lady is hon- estly entitled to be called a young lady, but there were grim, hard lines about her face that belonged to the face of a woman of fifty or more. She was attired in garmentsthat had been most tidily brushed. She was made conspicu- ous by a huge Gainesborough hat, whose smart- ness made a sorry contrast with the sad face it shaded. “She has been a teacher,” said Mrs. Douglass, ina low voice, when Mrs. Spencer's attention was attracted to this woman. “Do you sew?” asked Mrs. Spencer, address- ing the quondam teacher. “I am not expert at it,” said the teacher. “I think I had better give her one of those sheets,” Mrs. Spencer remarked aside to Mrs. Douglass. The business of distribution then went on, and the teacher remained in her seat till she was called up to the table. “I thinkel can take one of the sheets,” she said with some hesitation, as if she had little confidence in her ability. A little bundle of “experimental work” was made up for her, and she hastily withdrew. “T will assure you it will be done nice,” said a matronly looking woman with a merry face,who showed much pride in her prowess with the needle. She was entrusted witn some of the best of the work. * “That woman who Just went out,” sald Com- missioner Dent, the president of the Associated Charities to a Sran reporter, “was evidently brought up as a lady ina good home.” Mr. Dent neletme ine ‘ e His way in which the work was given out, and was apparently much interested. He referred to a yo woman whose manner showed much refinement. Mrs. Spencer stopped to make another of her sentent little speeches. “We want to haye 4 dozen of these shirts,” she said, ‘“made here under your eyes. You can learn ve idly if you see an expert make them. You wouldn't think it,” she continued, coeno Eene “pnt they. ake Pies no one in 4 y make qui looking shirts when they are ‘done—they do in- deed. “They look ell, and sell well dows south and out west, ationg the miners, and on the plantations.” ty “She has hit theright thing.” seilepered Mr. irs. Spen- Dent to Tuz Srax‘man, referring to cer. “It is surprising the way she dispatches business. She is a woman of wonderful energy and ent ise. I think she -deserves credit. nndertook the we: ex] of this thin; know. I came here my- self, and’st the next meeting of the board of managers I intend to bring out the truth about its ~ Spencer, “E a Mrs, | Washington when 1 came here. want to throw up your contract, you are at lib-] “I have pnt a number of men at work,” Mr erty to do it. We don't want you to aay we are said, “but there are many who can't do arinding you down. You néed not take this | very hard labor. We want to establish that if you dont want it. I would not | woodyard, and we want aid. Why, 1 get appli- advise any of to throw it up though on one | cations from lots of men like that, who are experiment. There are hundreds outside who | to keep a set of booksbetter than Icould. These want to get it. Yon wiil please take the great- | men are not able to break stone and do such est pains with that.” The last sentence was ad- } work as that.” dressed to a woman in black who had just taken in her arms a bundle of sheets to be hemmed. | wood yard, and some dealers have promised to “Miss McCallum, please instruct this lady as to | contribute'a supply of wood. The project still what she is to do.” Miss McCallum, another of | needs encouragement and aid. It is proposed Mrs. Spencer's assistants, took the lady in black | to ran it—as Mrs. Spencer runs the woman s 4 into a cornerand gave her careful directions as | partment—so as just to defray expenses, giving to every part of the work. By this time there the men who work adequate pay for their ser- were but a few women left in the room. One of | vices. When the reporter left arrangements these was a sallow-faced, feeble looking woman | were being made to relieve the immediate of about thirty. “Ah, Mrs. Jarvis,” said Mrs. | necessities of the two Virginia ladies; and M ‘Spencer, appearing to notice this woman for the | Spencer was still busy dealing out parcels of first time, “i haven't any work for you to do, | work to needy seamstresses. because the work I have is too hard for you.” tos “Very well,” said Mys. Jarvis, but fer face seemed to grow a shnde sadder, as she said it. “I haven't forgotten you,” said Mrs. Spencer, cheerily. “I have made a number of inquiries.” “And do you want work?” said Mrs. Spencer, = moment afterwards, turning to a timid litue ir] “T came for my mother,” said the girl. “(And can’t she come herself?” “No, ma’m. She is sick.” | THE JUNK BUSINESS. Some Surprising Figures Concerning the Trade. HOW THE RAG MEN MAKE A LIVING—WHAT BR- CLOTHES DEALER. AND CARPETS—A TALK WITH A There was a short conference, and it being, well established, by the records of the office, that the mother was deserving, a bundle of work was parceled dut for her. | By this time, nearly all of the women having | been provided for, Mrs. Spencer turned her undi vided attention to Mr. Dent and the reporter for some minutes. It was proposed, she said, to in- | terest, not only merchants, but individual cus- tomers in the work, and make the institution which was the means of relieving much suffel ing, self-sustaining. Work that was eent to other cities could. she said, be kept here. During the month of February 112 women had applied, and 72 had received work. “Some ofthe amounts they reccived,” said Mrs. Spencer, running her finger down acolumn in her account book, ‘were very small and some were very respectable. Thi (stopping her week $1.50, this That does not | mean for a week's work, but for such work as we had for them to do. Here is one who re- ceived $3.35. She was smarter than the rest and did better work. Here is another who made only 50 cents. She was a poor and had to do her work over again. to which Mrs. Spencer referred contained a record of the family circumstances of each ap- plicant. “It is remarkable,” observed Mrs. Since the war what is popularly known as the junk business has continued to grow until at this time there are at least fifteen houses here, each with a fall complement of clerks, weighers and sorters, doing a paying business. Through them numbers of gatherers of Vid junk obtain theirliving. Prior to the war the busi- perhaps three or four places where refuse in the Shape of old rags, paper and bones could be gatherers, sorters, packers and shippers. Ovca- sionally itinerant gatherers wouid, in passing ) around the streets, sing out at the mouths of the alleys “R-r-a a-a-gs,” and filling their bags to harvest. WHAT CONSTITCTES MERCHANTABLE JUNE. Under the name of junk, as understood by dealers and gatherers, is included rags, |Qwoolen and cotton) old books and paper, bones, old iron, (wrought and cast) old copper, brass, pewter, zinc and lead, which are used for various purposes. With the in- flux of the colored population here during the war, quite a number for the want of other em- ployment went into the business, commencing generally with an outfit consisting of an old coffee bag to hold the stock and a spring balance to weigh the goods. Some of these finding it more convenient for their growing business, provided themselves with push carts, and others branching out stiil further finally secured a horse and wagon. The latter. how: ever, donot confine themselves to canvassing the city, but have pushed out into the surround- counties of Maryland and Virginia, and during the summer season make regular cir- cuits calling at farm houses and buying up many things which would otherwise be thrown away. Spencer, “that a considerable number of these ladies were born and raised in this city, and mal y of them have been itr good circumstances. hat lady,” said Mrs. Spencer in a low voice, indicating a woman who stood near the door in the adjoining room, “is the daughter of —— ——-, who was one of the wealthy citizens of She used to Now she has come drive in her carriage then. here for work.” AN OLD BUT SAD sToRY. “Why come in, Mr. —,” said Mrs. Spencer, noticing a man who was peeking through the erack of the door. The man, thus summoned, presented himself. He was not over thirty years of age, of slender figure, and shabbily dressed, and had a haggard face. rende noticeable by a few weeks’ growth of a sickly beard that needed trimming. His face told a story of physical exhaustion, mental despair, and no very’ great decision of ci haracter. He entered the room rather sheep- hh THE BUSINESS IN THE DISTRICT. It is exceedingly dificult to estimate the amount of junk business done within the Dis- trict, owing to the fact that it is not all confined to the regular dealers, for it isapparent that the waste material of some of the departments finds its way out of the city without passing through the junk stores. A few days ago, a Star reporter, passing into | one of the junk rooms, found a number of men | and boys at work carefully sorting over a pile |of cotton rags, for before being baled and shipped they are divided into three grades. reply to questions, the gentleman in charge sai “Yes, there is a living in this business, not. on! ly for the dealer, but the gath The number of gatherers vary, probably more being engaged in the winter than during the summer, although yo the weather is bad not much can be e Mr. —— some work for his wife,” said Mrs. Spencer to Mrs. Douglass, and soon'a par- cel was placed in his hands. The circumstance of a man applying for work of this kind for his wife led the reporter to make some inquiries. It was an old story. He was a discharged department clerk. He had gone from one end of the town to the other in a fruitless search for employment. He and his wife were left dependent on tive little pittance she could earn by this work. She was too sick to come for it herself. “He did not like to come in when he saw you and Mr. Dent in the room,” said Mrs. Spencer “o the reporter. _*+He felt some shame to apply tor this work before you men.” Mrs. Donglass, the forewoman, told the re- porter that last’ week they had used seven pieces of cloth of 5234 yards each, besides 80 yards of flannel. The hirts aud underclothing, but they y that woman’s hands could do. Several sewing machines are Rept in the rooms, and a number of seaimstresses are employed there besides woe: cutting out for Z porter w . Mri great multitude of thin wonien to cut out the given out the next d There were many cases of attempted impos- ture, Mrs. Spencer said, but not so much in her department as in the men’s department. She related one case of a woman, well-recommended to the association, who pleaded for aid for her- self and four children. When asked the ages of her children, it was discovered that they ranged from fourteen to twenty. the three oldest being voys. and the whole family appearing to be a particularly able-bodied family. Mrs. Spencer said that the association aimed especially to aid | such women as, having small children to keep them at home, were unable to go out in search of work. “About what number do you think are gath- ering now?” ive hundred,” answered the dealer, “will | not cover those now canvassing. About three hundred may be called regulars; that is, they follow the business through the year, and most of them sell to us dealers about’ 15 worth per week, and out of thif they get a living. Some who have country cireuits sell us 75 per week.” WNAT BECOMES OF THE JUN “What do you do with thistruck? It don't all’ go to one place, and there must be a number of uses for it?” “Well, it is the old story,” said the dealer. “What is worn once is worn again. Much of it comes back to the departments and to Congress inthe shape of paper. It is not unlikely that some of the clothing worn on Pennsylvania ave- nue once passed through this house in thé shape of woolen rags. Do you know what shoddy is? Woolen rage ground up with a little new wool, and worked into cloth. There's plenty of it in town, if you only knew it. Then some of these rags (woolen) go into carpets, not in the best, but in a fair carpet, and likely some are now on parlors made partly of the clothing worn in the same parlors. The ordinary woolen rags were before the war not worth anything, but now are bought by the gatherers at from one to one and a-half cents per pound. Then there are the tailors’ clippings, tor which they pay ten cents per pound. This is used for filling in cloth soods. Most of the woolen stock is sent to Bes- ton and Philadelphia, the latter having within the past few years become a very important market. The amount brought in annually and baled and sent away would not be far from one hundred and fifty tons.” “The cotton rags.” quoth the scribe, “go the old road—to the paper mill?” “Yes,” said the dealer, “‘withthe waste paper. The cotton rag is the principal article in the junk business, except, perhaps, the old paper- books, newspapers, &c. The old paper is greatly in excess, considering the population of the District, of that coll in any city of the Union—more old Soubanes than any where else. For cotton rages the gatherers pay from 1 to 14 centa per pound, and about 1,000,000 pounds are sent away to the paper mills. The paper stock too, is sent to the paper mills and is again made over and probably through the gatherers @ million pounds are collected annually fur which they pay 13¢ to 2 cents per pound. A MILLION AND A HALF POUNDS OF BOXES. “Then there are the bones and metals,” said the reporter. Yes,” said the dealer, “bones may be thrown away, but they count. A million and a half pounds, at 50 to 7% cents per 100, foots up con- siderable—from $7,500 to over $10,000—and at the lowest calculation the dealers handle such quantity. Of course you know that they are used for fertilizing purposes, and nearly all are sold within a radius of twenty miles of the city. Of the metals, wrought and cast iron make up the bulk. Seven hundred tons of the former, for which the pay trom 4¢ to 2{ cent per pound, being a fair estimate, and most of this is sent to Pennsylvania, a large share of it going to Pittsburg. Probably 1,000 tons is not too high an estimate for cast iron, bought at to !g cent per pound. Then there are the other metals—cop} for which 8 to 10 cents is paid ; brass, 8 cents; pewter, 6 to 8 cents; and zinc and lead, 2 cent ; but an estimate can hardly iness,” remarked Tue Star, “is growing, is it not?” “Yes, sir.” said the dealer, “and it will con- tinue to grow. Sometimes there is in one de- pats perfect boom, and then it falls off, ut itis becoming more of a steady every day.” “Ihave heard,” said the pencil slinger, “‘of Tes oe n eee” See yon mat atahd at aml ling rags on this La Spencer, among the she did. engaged two its, which were to be AN INNOCENT IMPOSTER There was onecase of attempted imposition of an innocent nature she related, that would furnish the ground work for a very interesting story. A lady came to her and pleaded for aid for a poor woman, whose address she gave. She represented the condition of the poor woman to be most pitiable, and bexged that a blanket, fuel and food be sent to her, with a piece of meat, for the sufferer was so famished that there was danger of herattacking people on thestreet. The case Wasinvestigated, and all the circumstances were found to be even worse than had been pic- tured by the eloquent advocate. The most surprising part of the affair, however, was that the sufferer was no other than the advocate her- self. She was, it appeared, a high-born lady, whose means of living had been swept away by an adverse law suit. Being too proud or too timid to beg directly, she had resort to the in- genious artifice related to save herself from perishing by hunger. “My work will not end until late this even- ing,” said Mrs. Spencer, as the reporter de- scended the stairs. “These women will be coming for work for two hours yet.” THE OFFICE. Down stairs In the office on the first floor was Mr. L. 8. Emery, the secretary of the “Charities: his assistant. a sprightly lady, who was busy with her books, at a table in the center of the room; a colored “boy-of-all-work,” who sat ina corner rolling his eyes while he gorged himself with a hi sandwich he held in his hands, and two lady “applicants.” The only other ‘con- spicuous object in the room was a showcase, in which were ainplasea some gentlemea’s shirts and samples of fine needlework, and worsted work, as specimens of what had been done by the poor women under the patronage of the association. The assistant secretary had before her the record of applications. She had been so busy all day, she said, that she had not found time to eat her lunch until after 4 o'clock. The two “applicants” reflected in some degree the dingy splendor of the old hair-cloth sofa, on which they sat. The appearance of both was striking im different ways. One was un- mistakably an old maid, and she had a face that gave one a strong intimation of a consuming pride of its owner in her aristocratic connec- tions. Her garments, which were odd pieces, were rather a color and trimming, while an immense, old-fashioned breastpin—donbtless a family heir-loom that had escaped the pawn- kers—nearly as large as a saucer, and ha a miniature head and bust of some sta} and rutiied dame of the last painted upon it—served like an heraldic emblem to tell the wearer’s claim to lofty connections. woman presented a picture of an belle, turned slattern by poverty. * Virginia,” wi . to i F i f i 5B what to do to-night.” hough: her welds were’ getog Rather aay, thor wi were ty 5 o She was about ye and ey ee or oe streams of blood, and had to be removed im face as was not hidden by her bonny sido diately to her hotel. This is not the first veil, showed that her features were delicate and well-cut. She was from Virginia. Mr. said her husband some her $60,000. Shi into the hands of of ing. Now she was forced by In to apply to a public institution for ald. : i E Hi $F aside, “We are not ready yet, but I will took out for | Alot of ground has been promised for the | Mass. has announced | the Methodist mint RELIGIOUS NOTES, — Mrs. E. M. Bruce, of Boston, bas come te Washington for a month of work among the missions of the city, and in the department of moral education. —The Rey. E. D. Tawie, of New Bedford, intention of leaving on account of a change a doctrinal views. He hat been a promi sympathizer with Dr. Thomas. ot Chicago. —Thus fart ive presbyteries in the United Presbyterian church have voted on the overtare repealing the prohibition of instrumental music. The voters are counted by members, not presbyteries, and 184 have voted for’ and 1 against the measure. ~The Rev. M. J. Savage, of Boston, has tried COMES OF THE SCRAPS THEY GATHER—suoDDY | hess was carried on ina smali way, there being | sold.and those engaged in it were then their own | would ship them offand seek some oth® field | In| : 4 to define the indefinable theological position of | Mr. Frothingham. But the Watch Tower says: itogether too much fuss is made about this clerical puzzle. Nobody ever knew what he be- lieved by what he said in the pulpit.” —The conference year just closing has been a | Very successful one with the 4th street M. E. | church, tnder the pastorate of Rev. Geonge V. ; quite a number have been converted and ‘hurch. The board of stewards, as usual, have settled all their expenses for the year in full. — The Rey. Dr. W. P. Harrison, who for the past four years and three months has been in ange ofthe Mt. Vernon Place M.E. Church South, of this city, will preach his farewell ser- mn Sunday hext, as he expects at the ses- he conference at Fredericksburg, on the ch, to be assigned elsewhere. h papers report that Mr. Pickering . M. I’. for South Northamptonshire, » rising from family prayer on the evening of February 1, slipped and broke his leg. Con- sien and members of state legislatures y be comforted that thisis the first case on rd of such an accident. They need not be zhteved into a neglect of either private or family deyotion. | i —Rev. xe C. Barnes, the ountain evangelist” who for seven weeks ht een bold— | ingrevival meetings at St. Louis, has finished | his work there and leaves behind him 2 | Verts, nearly 2,000 more than Boy Pri |r eckons at Cincinnati. He has gone to | Bowling Green, Ky. During Mr. Barnes’ five | years of revival work 25,489 confessions of faith | have been made to him. —The Right Rev. James V. Cleary, Roman Catholic bishop of the diocese of Kingston, Province of Toronto, who is now in Philadel- phia, asserts that there is not the slightest ele- | ment. of probablity in the report putlished ine | New York paper that negotiations are pending | between the Vatican and the authorities of the Rvinan Catholic church in Quebec with the view of removing the residence of the Pope from Rome toCanada. | —The Anerican says: “There is very little sympathy between Irish and English Roman Catholics. People more intensely English th the ‘swell’old English Roman Catholic families— Throckmortons, Biounts, Blundells, Gerarda, | Petres, Leghs, Erringtons, Donmers, ete.,—are not to be found. Itis the same with Cardinal | Manning, and with Cardinal Wiseman before | him. Those prelates had, outsi } nothing common with Cardinal Cullen Archi MeHlale, of Tuam. —The Glasgow Jimes says: “When a man has run with the devil until his joints stiffen and his liver knots, and he runs out of wild-oat seed and patrimony, and then brings his old, shriv- | elled carcass over to the Lord's side and pre | poses to battie for Him on crutches aad with rheumatic liniment, then it is that bumanity reaches its tether comprehension andthe whole case is given over to Him who is al! love. Man's idea would be to kick him down the steps and put the dogs after him; but the love Unat is above is infinite and knows no tiring.” —The Chicazo Tritune says: “The trouble with the Rey. Dr. Miln is not so much his doo- | trines, or his want of doctrines, which agnosti- | cism implies, as it is his idea that he should re- main in a church. An institution without hymns, without prayer, without a God, without heaven, without uei!, and without immortality is no more a churet than a building without am | auditorium, scenery, stage, footlights, galleries, actors, and box-office isa theater. His place is outside of achurch.” —Few people in this country can understand the detestation and dread in which Freemasonry jis held by a vast majority of devout Ro- man Catholics on the continent of Europe. As an instance of this may be cited the feeling | which is displayed by the clerical journals of | France when denouncing the present cabinet as / containing at least fouf Freemasons. M. Ferry, | Whose crusade against the religious orders is regarded in France as “a work essentially Ma- | Sonic,” is a member of the lodge of Alsace-Lor- raine. The other Freemasons in the new mia- istry are M.M. Tirard, De Mahy and Humbert. —It is notorious that church fairs are the regular resorts of all the young libertines of the neighborhood in which they are held. Nobody can suppose that the cornertoungers who con- gvegate on the sidewalk in front of church doors ‘on Sunday visit fairs with the intention of help- ing the cause of religion. They go *to see the girls” who are known to be on exhibition at | these shows. They find opportunities of talk- ing to them and putting themselves on terms of familiarity with them. Thus it is exsy for vie- ious young men to break down the Just re- straints which ents place upon their daughters.—The New York Freeman's Journal. —At the annual meeting of the officers and teachers of the 4th street M.E. Sun- day school the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Joseph Webb, superintendent; T. B. Stahl, assistant superintendent; G. 8. Stimson, ’ secretary; | W._R. Palmer, assistant secretary; James B. Davis, treasurer; J. 5. Moffatt, librarian; RB. Eddie Cook, Geo. W. Dunn and Cyrus M assistant livrarians; George Fordham chorister, and Miss Ella V. Walters, organist. This sch is ina very prosperous condition. During the year anumber of the scholars were converted and juined the church. £160 was raised for foreign missions, and the school room hag been re-car- peted at a cost of about $400. — The Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church will hold its annual session at the Broadway church in Baltimore, on Wednes- day, March 8th. It is generally conceded that Rev. John S. Deale, of Ryland chapel, will be made a presiding elder, and that Key. Richard | Norris, now of Baltimore, one of the best revi- valists in the conference will succeed him. Rev. Dr. McKendree Reilly of Dunbarton street church, Georgetown, is likely to go to a Baiti- more By or eeven and efforts are being made by the Dunbarton street church to secure Rev. J. J.G. Webster, now of Harford avenue cli Baltimore, as his successor. The appointm of Dr.Reilly out of the Washington district will be i ay not only by the rthggenmd$ 4g ue 4 vat by the temperance —_ for has been, during his: among us, 8 zeal- ous advocate of the cause. The retiring presid- ing elder of this district, Rev. B. Peyton I a, will, it is thought, go to Baltimore, most likely to Harford avenue. The East Washington church will lose Rev. G. V Leech as its pastor, and it is uncertain who will succeed him. The congregation are anxious to secure the appoiut- ment of Rev. Mr. Reed, now at Hanover street, - Baltimore. —A correspondent weites to Tux Star as follows in regard to the situation at Memorial M.E. church: “The state ment that the present pastor has served the congregation onl; the is not correct; he will close year next —— y, and has societ; ish i ; £76 Fees B & i if 3 i | 58 tg 7 SEEe A 3 : Bad 7 bi : i i fi i fist Hi res i il i F i i i iy : ; ia i : ? I i ils li ith E ¢ i d | | i f iy i i t u | ite 3 i &) . i