Evening Star Newspaper, May 5, 1883, Page 2

2 ae ge er Ye CITY AND DISTRICT. A GREAT MEDICAL LIBRARY. ‘The Largest Collection in the World. 37s RAPID GROWTH FROM A SMALL BEGINNING— AN INTERESTING TALK WITH DR. BILLIN! COMPARISON WITH THE GREAT LIBRAR! LONDON AND PARIS—THE INTEREST TAKES IT BY THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. * The importance, magnitude and value of the medical library attached to the Surgeon Gen- erai’s office of the United States army is per- haps but little known or appreciated outside of medical circles. This is probably due to the fact that only during the past few years has it emerged from what may be termed the chrysalis state of a mere bureau-working brary to a col- léction that is national in its scope and inter- Dational in its character. The visitors to the Army and Medical Museum are attracted thither, Perhaps, In the majority of cases, to see a building around which cluster memories of a pecuilarly tender and patriotic character to every American citizen; for here President Lin- | coin received his death wound. The: not | Much to remind one of the old * Ford's The- ater” In the present transformed interior, and | after gazing at the aleoholized specimens of the havoc made by war upon the human anato- my upon exhibition, the visitor ts willing to leave for pleasanter scenes, and goes away, most likel: morance of the fact that thi buiiding contains the most valuable and exten- sive collection of medical works, not only in | this country, bat in the world. Even if he wan- | dered, by chance, behind the rows of glass cases and through dark passage-ways, to the rear of the building, and tiere found a cozy | little nook, hemmed in on all sides by shelf on shelf loaded with books, he would not be much | wiser as te the value and importance of this col- | lection. No does the average tourist, | wii. in =” the Capitol bufiding, and walks | through the Congressional Library, — and gazes around upon the giddy ‘heights of loaded bock shelves appr cance of the spectacle. the visitor leave cinte the signifi- | And so it happens that the eld Ford’s Theater, re- mewberin ps, some vivid photo: @ gun-shot wo or some hospital but knowing nothing of the now celebrated col- | lection of books. It Is, however, not | i visitor and tourist, but also the dent, that Is ignorant of the ity of : MEDICAL WORLD. It is now the largest collection of books in the world which is devoted exclusively to medicine and the closely allied sciences. It contains about 60,000 volumes of books, properly so- called, and 66,000 pamphlets. “This brary has about two-thirds of existing | medical literature,” remarked the librarian, Dr. J.S. Billings, to a Stan reporter. Thisstatement was received with surprise by the visitor. There Were no signs of this literary wealth In the little room where the Doctor was found In the Surgeon General's office, near the corner of 15th street and the Avenue. "A few books in shelves against the wall, some pamphlets piled up on the desk at which the Nbrarian sat, seemed hardly sufficient to warrant this statement. There were, however, numerous indications that this was = A LITERARY WORKSHOP. At desks on each side of the librarian Were two clerks, and In the opposite corner was | Dr. Robert Fletcher, a co-laborer with Dr. Bil- lings in brary work. Little heaps of pam- phiets, periodicals and manuscripts covered the | desks, while here and there were piles of books Which were at Intervals removed by messengers | only the cas well-informed existence in th ue FOREMOST LIBRARY IN THE and their piaces supplied by others. Noticing, haps, the visitor's survey of the room, the ‘or remarked: “The library Is in the Medieal Museum build- ing, on l0th street. and you would be interested in visiting it. It is interesting itself andalso for the fact that it is the largest in the world.” ORIGIN OF THE LIBRARY. “What was the origin of the library, doctor?” An:uired the listener, waiving for the preseat the ation of the invitation. | many years,” was the reply & sinall collection of medical boc in the office of the probably commenc “there was $ and journals Surgeon General, which was d by Surgeon General commencement of th ar this collection consisted of about 9 umes, mostly wedical text books and journals nts TEE white Dr. Ht military medicine published in the full ows that the library then contained -500 volumes. The catalogue ot 1872 | uuinber of vi 13,000, which | iene, medicine, ne and medical 5,000 volumes and | ie pamphlets catalogued, and since | that date the growth has been uninterrupted | and progressive, and at the present time the brary contains 60,00U volumes and 66,000 pamphlets.” ,SCCOUNTING FOR THE RAPID GROWTH OF THE P LIBRARY. “That is a very @o you account for it sume curiosity. “Well, in the prefaceto the catalogue of 1872,” Fepiied ihe Doctor, throwing himeelf back in his chair in a redective attitude, “the need of the United States for a large medical Il was | Stated to be shown by the fact that were alll the | ic medical libraries of the United States put | ether, It wou d not be possible to verify from | the original aut/orities the references given by | standard English or German authorities. No -Qumplete collection of American medical litera- ture was in ecistence, and the most complete was in private hands and not then accessible to the public.” | “Upon the issue of this catalogue.” he con- | tinued, “the medical profession of the country bevan to take an active interest in the subject, and the library began to grow by accessions from voluntary contributions.” ’ the medical profession give their books to tis library,” asked the listener in some amazement. TAK “EDIE ESSION AND THE LIBRARY. + “Because know it is to their advantage to hav a well stucked medical library, where all the books and special articles in periodicals and pamph.ets have their appropriate reference in the Inaex catalozue of which you may have heard.” : “Of course,” interrupted the visitor with a show of covtidence, “but I would like to hear what you ive to say ofthe plan of the cata- logue “Well then, in brief, the catalogue will be issued in ten volumes,of about 1,000 pages each. There are three volumes already iseued, and we | are at work uoon the fourth. which will brin, the catalogue cown nearly through the letter F. It is arranged by snbjects—the names of the and under euch Is given the and, in fact, everything that is | subject which is Jn our library. of physicians and medical a 2 as possible, for | in finding all the authorities on'any apid growth, Doctor. How asked the listener, with e. ~ It ts to such special libraries,” he continued, “that physicians give their books and pam- phiets, and the rapid growth of the library is jarzely due to thiscause. There is pouring into it « constant stream of Viteratare, not only from thix country, but trom abroad. ‘Those who are inclined to attribute all the actions of men to seliish motives wouid not find their views con- firmed by my experience. I could mention a tlemen who take as much interest as if it was their own. There is land who sends me each month ce of books and pamphlets. This is only jarge number.” | fm this library ibrary 2” queried the listener. this way.” was the rejoinder. “suppose & meiner of the profession desires to prepare & somewhat elaborate article upon some medi- cal subject. He consults thecatalogue as far as it has zone and notes down from this and other sources the books which he wishes to see. This list is sent to the library here and the books are forwarded to the care of the li in the place where the applicant lives. We do not lozn books to individuals ordinarily, our rcles in this respect being similar to those of the Congressional Library. So you see, would naturally preter tosend their books to this library in order to have them in the cata- Pree os Shor now when they use the cata- “Are the Individual donations to the brary. the only sources of its growth?” asked the re- hea porter. OTHER SOCECES OF THE LIBRany's GRowTH. No; we get a sood many books through the medium of exchanges and also by purchase. For instance, a library in Boston sends me a pack= szge of 300 books and pamphlets. Ieetain of these what our collection Jacks, and then I send ame to the library at Si. i’ctersburg, for in- | published in Boston, in 1782. do the doctors away from this city use si eadache won' stance. The librarian there sends in exchange | the medical | dreueaansans of his own country and others which he may have and can spare. I retain of these what we need and send the re- mainder to the Boston library. This system ex- tending as It does to all libraries in this country, as well as others, and comprising individuals in both countries, provides rich accessions to the library each year.” “Do you buy many books outright?” quea- tioned the listener, amused by the Yankee in- genulty displayed in the exchange system just described. “Very few,” was the reply. “We don’t have enough money for such a purpose. Congress gives us %5,000 a year, and nearly half of that is used in paying the subscriptions te the medi- cal journals and publications of the world, of which we keep a complete file. Even the Ja- panese have seven or eight medical journals. There is one also in Constantinople, one in India, and here is one published in Athens, Greece,” added the doctor, handing to the reporter a small magazine printed in the Greek language ‘Upon very thin paper. A PAINFUL REMINDER. Recognizing the characters associated with some melancholy expérience of his school days, the reporter hastily handed the magazine back, and turning to a more cheerful subject asked Dr. Billings how the Washington Ibrary com- pared with other similar collections in the world. COMPARISON WITH THE GREAT LIBRARIES OF LONDON AND PARIS. “Thave compared,” was the response, “the cat- alogue of the Washington library with those of the two largest collections of books in existence, namely, the British Museum, of London, and the Bibliotheque Nationale, of Paris. In the former I find the title of 657 books and 830 inau- gural theses relating to medicine. Comparing this with the corresponding portions of the | Washington catalogue it is found that the Brit- ish Museum has 262 medical books, 372 medical theses and 118 different editions which are not in the Surgeon General's Library. On the other hand the lutter has 285 books, 342 theses and 88 different editions which are notin the British Museum. There are common to both libraries 277 books and 508 theses. pear to be nearly This Is exclusive of ‘The two libraries ap- ual as regards medical books. medieal journals and trans- f | actions and reports, in which the Washington library is much the richer.” “What is the result of your comparison with the library in Paris?” asked the reporter. “It is impossible to make an exact compari- ”” was the reply, “for the reason that the pgue of the Nationale is arranged by sub- does not include inaugural theses or dis- sertations, und was published in 1857-73. But taking the general subjects, anatomy, fevers, diseases of the eye, and cholera, it appears that in the first three subjects named, 19) books are common to both libraries; 416 are in the Wash- ington Library and 483 in the Paris. On the | Subject of cholera, excluding treatment, 194 books are common to both; 745 are in this lib- rary and 272 are in the Paris library. The books which the French library has. and our ‘own lib- rary has not, are for the most part old books dating before 1800, or French books. But we have in our library 79 French books on cholera which are not in the Paris catalogue." “What, ina general way, doctor, are the con- clusions to be drawn from this comparison?”asked the reporter. “I think it is safe to conclude,” he continued, “that our library not only contains more medi- cal literature than the British museum or the national library of France, but that it covers 9 wider field, represents better the medical litera- ture of the world, and is decidedly a better prac- tical reference and working collection for medi- cal purposes than either of the great libraries referred to.” As the doctor reached this conclusion, grati- fying at least to the national pride of the hearer, even if it evoked no professional pride, the thought occurred that in such a collection there must be a good many . RARE AND VALUABLE WORKS. Although the custodian of the books was evi- dently casting regretful glances at his desk and the accumulated work, the reporter probed him up with another question, as follows: “In what is your collection rich? eli, in the first pla .”" responded the Doe- ith xood-natured resignation, “it is rich dical literature. It has a collection of journals and transactions comprising 900 volumes. These are in tll lan- A special effort has been made to get these, so that the original matter which they contained mizht be indexed. In this specialty the library is the best inthe world. We have a complete file of all the journals published in America Since 1798, with the exception of flye volumes.” “ The library,” he continued, ‘‘is rich in dis- sertations and’ in original theses. We have 50,000 theses, many of them yaluable in a his- torical and biographical way. It is especially rich in American medical literature prior to the Revolution. “For instance,” continued the Doctor, taking from the desk a small thin volume, ‘here is the only copy of the work entitled, ‘An Essay on Fevers, Rattles and Canker,” by John Halton, We have quite a Series of these Boston publications. and in fact about all of the early American medical works. ot collection of rare Americana is very com- e.” “What are-some of the other notable features of the collection?” continued the reporter, COSTLY ILLUSTRATED BOOKS. “We have all the large costly illustrated works, such as atlases of anatomy; those of Albinus, Auveit, Cruveilhier and others. There is also a valuable collection of the medical classics. The works of Hippocrates, Galen, Celsers and Avienna. In modern literature, both for the period in the early part of the century, when the French writers predominated, and for the subsequent period, when the Ger- man influence was in the ascendant, the library has a good representation.” “As Lremarkéd before,” the Doctor added, “this library has‘about two-thirds of the exist- ing medical literature.” NEED OF A FIRE-PROOF BUILDING FOR THIS VAL- VABLE COLLECTION. In further conversation the Doctor said that he believed that Congress would authorize the erection of a fire-proot building for the recep- tion of this collection, and in this way guard against loss from fire, which the library is now ex) to in its present quarters. in the management of this great collection of books Dr. Billings {s assisted by. Dr. Robert Fletcher and Dr. H.C. Yarrow with a small clerical force. The work of preparing for the press the index catalogue ts performed by these gentlemen In addition to the duties belonging to the library proper. ——____+9- S Justice to Veteran Policemen. To the Editor of Tux Evenrxo Stan. 1t appears to be generally conceded that the summary dismissal of policemen, who have given the best years of their lives to the public service, when they become physically disabled, or are incapacitated by age for active duty, is a hardship which should, if possible, be alleviated. Without stopping to inquire as to the good of the ‘Police Fund” (did any one ever hear of a policeman being benefitted by that fund?), per- mit me to suggest to our honorable Commis- sioners that tt would be but simple justice it they appointed disabled policemen as station- Keepers and messengers instead of the strong young men now employed. G. W. M. ———— see PI Fiom the Arkansas Traveller. We never feel so mad arter we shed tears. De cloud ain't nigh so dark arter the rain falls. Many a ‘oman what won’t wash her chillun at home delights in washin’ dishes at a church fair. De worst sort of boastfulness Is showed by de man what thinks dat he can entertain you wid a long story. Dar is many rules what won't work both ways. wags wit roduce a headache, but a luce whisky. No man should be looked on as a fool on ac- count ob what he doan’ belebe, but on account of what he does belebe. A too easiness ob con- viction ter strange Ideas Is caused a mighty heap ob trouble in dis world. ee Tue Cavse oF CREMATION ts making progress in Japan that may well startle as wel courage the advocates of cremation in western lands. It is said that the number of bodies dis- osed of in that way 1s about 9,000 a year. urnace is a stone and cement to bers, the at of hich is Weoorated fo ur cham! largest of wi with granite columns. After the cremation the i : bamboo-canes a and personal Lis death he is found to hay a aldo, “3 IL including the Japanese and the Sanscrit. | THE SPRING BACES. | What the Jockey Club Are Doing. i PREPARATIONS FOR AN ATTRACTIVE MEETIXG— A FINE SHOW OF HORSES... i Nature is lending all her wonderful powers to the National Jockey Club in ald of makipg the coming spring meeting a success. The weather of the last few days has not only advanced the work of putting the track in, complete order; but it has contributed very much to the im- provement of the horses which are on the grounds. Most of the stables now there ha’ come from the south, after taking part in the early spring races there, and the late cool, damp weather told fearfuliy against them. Many of them took cold, and for awhile it was teared that some of the fastest runners would have to be scratched. Under the influence, however, of the present warm and settled weather all the horses that have been down are mending rapidly, and yesterday when a Star reporter visited the track there were only two or three ont of sixty or seventy on the sick list. Eversthing belonging to the clab is being brightened up and improved. THE CLUB HOUSE is in the hands of painters and paperhangers, and its accommodations, as well as appearance, will be better this year than hitherto. The track has been put in the best possible order. From the balcovy ot the club house the one mile oval appears perfectly level. Standing there yestcrday one ot the horsemen, after con- epeeiag the track for several minutes said, half unconsciously, ‘*but she’s a daisy.” “Is that regarded as a good track among racing men?” asked the reporter. “One of the best in this country; yes, in the world,” replied the man earnestly. Under the guidance of Mr. Christman, or the club, the reporter was taken to the stables. The first visited was that of W. P. Bureh, of Charleston, 8.C., consisting of ten horses. Col, Sprague, the horse that surprised everybody here last year by beating Compensa- tion, was found in excellent condition. He has not suffered from the change of climate, and Promises to beat his record of lust spring. W. P. Burch, a three-year old, occupied the next stall. He has won two races this spring, and is entered here for the Army and Navy and Ana- lostan stakes. The trip to Washington let him down soine, but he is taking his feed now, and will probably be in good shape for the races. Homespun, 4 years old, whohas won three stakes this spring, at Charleston, Savannah and Augusta, is entered for the Diplomatic stake. In the next stall was Helen Wallace, the “lady of the tarf,” in fine condition, and able, it is be- lieved, to do better than she has ever done here. Next to her was Iota, the horse that won the first race here last year. He has not failed particle, and could not be in better form. his daily exercise he works very prettily. Tota will open the ball here again this spring, and, barring accidents, he is likely to once more win the three-quarter-mile dash. : Bob May, a two-year-old colt, and a beauty that has never started, came next. He ie a tuil brother of the California mare, Clara D., and, though it runs in that breed to be ugly and atub- born, this colt is quiet and works freely. He is entered for the Youthfal stake, and is in fine condition. Mittle B, a two-year old filley, by King Alfonso, the sire of Foxhall, is also entered for the youthful stake, and her motion around the track yester- day showed that she will put in a strong claim for it. Lady Dean, half sister to Helen Wallace, and very much resembling the latter, was in the next stall. She is three years old, and has won two races this spring; will be entered for some of the purses. Decoy Duck, the last of Mr. Bureh’s string, one of Longtellow’s foals, is still suffering with severe cold, and will scarcely be able to start. M’MAHON'S STABLES, The next stable taken in was that of Mr. Jos. McMahon, who has seven horses.. Frankie B, four years old, who will start here with the pres- tige of a vietory at New Orleans, won from some fast horses, is entered for the all-age stake of 1} miles and for the cup. She works well daily and promises to be in tiptop order. Joe Mitch- ell, three years old, will run for both stakes for horses of his axe. Venture, four years old; Longmore, five; Euberta, five; Baton Rouge, an aged horse, and Eros, a two-year-old colt, com- plete the stable. These horses got here during the very worst of the late spells of bad weather, and coming direct from the’ warin’ climate « New Orleans all of them have suffered... They are doing well now, however. JOHN GREER'S STABLES. Mr. John Greer has four horses. Moscow, by War Dance, an aged horse, will be in the hurdie races. John Cooper, by John Morgan, four years old, winner of the four-mile race at New Orleans this spring, is holding his own, despite change of clinate.’ Captain Carry, three years | old, and Wartrace, same age, complete the sta- ble. Wartrace hasnever run. WM. MULKEY'S STABLE of seven horses was next In order. Reindeer, four years old, is entered for the .selting race; has not run this year. Topsy, five years old, will make her first race here this spring. She {sin prime condition. Ouray, three years old, isalso unshaken by the trip. Joquito, a two- year-old stallion,entered for the Youthful stake; isa handsome colt, and the way he galloped around the track yesterday indicated that he will be among the horses in the race that reach the wire first. Jim Carlisle is another promising two-year-old. His practice shows speed. Jesse James, like his late notorious namesake, is a “little off,” but in no other respect does he re- semble the bandit. THE KENTUCKY STABLE of Charles S. Looney contains two goud horses. Clara, formerly Contessa, four year old, is, as her Jockey sald, “fine as a fiddle,” Her daily practice shows her to be in good condition. La Gloria, four years old, is pretty well known here. She fs entered for the diplomatio stake. The same Jockey who described Clara said of LaGlorla: “She's all right; Jess feel of her; nary a blemish, and she’s gwine ter run, too.” “How fast?” asked the reporter. “Past enough to get de race,” was the reply. “She kin run jess as fast as it’s needed, too.” KING & PHILLIPS have three horses. Turin, by War Dance, aged, is in fair condition ; Lertmenta, by Longfellow, five years old, is working well on the track dally, and bids fair to get away with some of the: purses; Jim Tarner, four years old, shows ‘well on the'track. He will run for some of the purses. H. ASKEY’S STABLE of four horses is led by the celebrated brown colt, Joe Murray, by Rebel and the dam of Mary Anderson. He is in prime condition, fall of fire, and will, as usual, be a fayorite. He is en. tered for all the four-year-old stakes. Garfield, @ four-year-old bay gelding, has been off his feed for some ore: but is picking up a little. Ben Thompson, a gelding three years old, and Lucinda, a ch. mare, aged five years, are the remaining horses of this stable. SANFORD'S HORSES. Bill Sanford—he says it is plain Bill, no fanci- ful William for him, and that he allows his sur- name tb be spélt Sanford, or Sandford, just as the writer pleases—has five horses. Major Bar- clay, by Endower, two-year-old, has run well this spring. Nettle Glore, a filly, is also two- year-old, and is in good form. ‘Et Capatan, a four-year-old gelding; Laura G., a three-year- old filley, and Marie, four-year-old, make up the stable. These horses have had good care, and are all doing welt. DAVIS & HALL have seven horses in their stable. Performer, b. c., two-year-old, by Fiddlestick, has not been worked any on the track yet. War Eagle, a bay colt, three-years-old, by Leader, will run his first race here. He is entered for the Army and Navy and Analostan stakes. Ella Warfeld, six- years-old, will compete in ‘M@ional handicap race and She is in falr conditton, and proves deily. Fearn Leaf, by Leader, ding, three year old, wili make his first start ere under fair prospects. Rosier, 8 two- ear old bay filly, by Dickens, has never started in a roe ee is entered forthe Youthtul stake. hopiircga colt, eat east cd Leisure Hours, Alfonso, dam’ Magenta, is entered for the national Constantina, bay mare, five years old, piers will ron for purses. ese horses are’ all working very well, ‘ahd unless: sometifing unfavorable yet occurs. will be in rime condition for the ig iu D. Dc WAVIS, & VETERAN HORSEMAN, ‘has four hérses, of which Hickory Jim,’n-horse | known all over this country, is his favorite. He] 1s seventeen Sears @id, and, as Mr. Davis added, “Sound as a dolar} that’s something that never could be sal of ahy other seventeen-year-old | race horse. What'll Ke run? Why he run all kinds of races.” Unknown,a grey filly, two years old, one of the winnerpat Memphis, camé next. She | is a handsome littl, thing, and won everything | ‘at Memphis that was offered for two-year-vlds. | Allen Oaks, a bay gelding, tree years old, Spri D., a chestnut gelding, same age, are the other two horses belonging to Mr. D: Both will run at the coming meeting. f Several additional stables have arrived during‘ to-day on the grounds, among them Littlefin- ger’s and Bowie's. THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER. Its Origin ana History. i ‘To the Editor of Tax Evawine STAB: I presume there are put few that inaerstand; the origin and history of our national flag, “the stars and stripes,” immortalized in Ke: beautitul lines—“The Star-Spangled Ranner.”! From a little publication put torth by the New! York Life Insurance company—that did me the: honor of sending me a copy of the game,. accompanied by a very handsome chart, iilustra-! ting the subject—it appears that the.idea of our: national flag had its origin in the coat-of-arms and crest of General Washington's ancestors in‘ England. Henry VIII., of England, in 1538, on his selzing and confiscating the property of the: Roman Catholic church, presented the manor of Solgrave, which belonged to the priory of St. Andrews, in Northamptonshire, to Lawrence Washington, trom whom descended our: George Washington, who was the sixth | in regular lineal succession from the said Law- rence. Lawrence Washington was a prominent lawyer of Gray’s Inn, London, who retired to’ Northampton early in the sixteenth century; and was elected mayor of that town in 1583, and again in 1546. Northampton was formerly a place of some note, King John having once held & parliament there. Robert Washington, his gon and heir, sold'‘the manor ot Solgrave, by arrangement with his son Lawrence, the prop- erty having been entailed. This Lawrence. the second in descent, retired to Brington, the par- ish church of Althorp House, the seat of the Spencers, the family name of the earldom of. Althorp. He and also a younger brother, Rob- ert, lie buried in the parish church at Brington, where are now to be seen memorial brass tab- lets, recording their deaths, that of Robert oc- curring in 1622. In the western aisle of the parish church at Solgrave, eighteen miles from Brington, is agravestone to the memory of the first Law- rence, with brazen tablets attached, recording the death of his wife Amee in 1564; and vacant ‘spaces left to be filled up with the record of his own death, when it should occur, but which] seems never to have been done. y John Washington, son of the second Law-} rence, and grest. grandfather of our George! Washington, .emigrated to Bridge's Creek, Westmoreland county, Virginia. in 1 during the protectorate of Cromwell. Thi was probably owing to his adherence to the Stuarts during the civil war. He had been knighted by James I—and his younger brother, William, marrjed a sister of the Duke of Buck- ingham, the favorite of James I. The third Lawrence Washington, the son of John, was the father ot Augustin Washington, who was the father of Geonge Washington. So much for the pedigree of the Washington family. The heraldic, arms of the Washington family, as now to be} verified In Herald's College, Loudon, was two} blood-red bars (gus) across a silver-colored |) ground (argent), above which werethree red star-' shaped, five-pointed-figures (mullets) represeut- ing not stars pf the Armament, but the rowels of spurs. The crest surmounting the arms is a raven, with wings endorsed (proper) issuant out of a ducal corondt. On the monument, in the chancel of'the parish church at Brington— and also in the old dilapidated manor-house at Solgrave are still to be seen representations of the Washington arms and crest, and al shield in stone on the pavement. of the reh, at the iatter place. The shield would seem to indicate that in earler times the Washington's were fighting mem, accustomed to battle ‘alia } blood; and from the rowels of the spurte, that } they served on horseback—a mark of distinction in the days of feudalisin and chivalry—and may have performed feats of arms lost to history. But the main point In this communication is, there is scarcely a doubt but that the idea of our present flag was devised from the Washington arn and crest. The change was slight. Alternate stripes of white were substituted for the parallel spaces on the argent or silver-colored ground of the Washington arms. And the blue ground be- spangled with stars, In the upper left hand cor- ner was added, because in heraldic lore, blue ‘is the correct companion or contrast to red.! The five-pointed star-shaped mullets or spur-rowels; were first increased to five, and by a resolution of Congress in 1818, to the number of states in the Union. And it 1s a curious incident that the tew pennies coined during Washington's ad- ministration in 1791, now in the possession of antiquari: bare ine stars, while those coined in Adams’ administration has siz stars. The general impression {s that the stars on our flag represent stars in the sky; and, in fact, they now do signify actual stars; but, as sald before, they originally represented spur-rowels on the Washington arms. The crest surmount- ing the same, viz: a raven, was converted into the spread-eagle, which isthe device on the Great Seal of the United States government, but isnot a part of the flag. A raven St cer- tainly was, for it is so described in Herald's Col- lege. By the way. the artist who originally drew the design must have been not well in- formed in ornithology. The raven of the crest has a hooked beak, like that of birds of prey, whereas the raven hasa long, strong, horny. the | NIGHT SCENES ON A “BOBTAIL.” The Peet of 483 Fi Mellifiuons Dis course With an Irish Patriot—Episede of the Woman and the Dog. It was a gloomy night and the bobtall threw & somber shadow on the ground whenever the scudding clonds gavé the pale moon a chance to look down. By the dim light of a kerosene lamp two citizens were seen to enter the car, and, throwing their fares into the greedy mouth of the Slawson box, went forward and stood un- der the stars with the poet of “483.” One of the Platform passengers was “‘a son of the sod,” and, like Swift's “Philemon,” “He smoked his pipe and read the news.” The meter ot 453 was in gvod condition and the mellow light @ poesy soon began to dis- play Itselt. “How ar ye to-noight Misther Poat?” asked the patriot. “Only tolerable, Mr. Riley. What's the latest in Tar STAR? Anything lively for the driver of a car?” chimed the minstrel. “Shure,” responded Mr. Riley, “the land lagers an’ the Dooblin boys are stirrin’ ‘em oop purty brisk. Phat does yer poethry think uv him:” The warbler with his horny hand upon the rein, after requesting the horse to “get np” and the inside passengers to “step up.” encouraged Mr. Riley with this in response: “Now don't get weary, for in a short while Good Uncle Sam will gobble up the Isie; He'll make ev'ry Paddv as happy and as tree AS a big gray squirrel up a tall hick’ry tree.” “Have tickets or change? Whoa.” “‘Arrah! Git erlong wid sich poethry. I'm not desavin mesilf wid ony disthractin belafe loike that. The papul uv this counthry are not reddy fur a pik-nik wid Quane Viktory, and to shwop off the paceful marane cour in ‘a bloody war for a pace of land which raises nuthin but pigs, praties, and occasionally the divil. Oi'd almost forgot the raising of rint, but that, be dad, is takun be the landloord.” The sweet singer of 483 ‘caught on,” and re- plied with a sinile: “Your ready wit Ant Irish grit To ime ts really charming, But current news Sustains the views Which some may think alarming.” “Get up! Ride? Whoa.” “Yer poethry is as nathurul as the hoss ye are dhrivin’, but 0° don’t take any sthock in the thruth uv it.” Just at this point a curve in the Toad reminded the genial gentleman who had last spoken in this debate that tenacity of opin- ion in the present argument was not so condu- cive to his welfare as a firm grip on the front rail, he having, by this unexpected t movement of the car, suddenly collided with the bard. When order was restored, and the clanking chains of the hill horse had faded In the darkness, the convention again proceeded to business with this statement from the Fenian passenger: “Its come to a purty pass whin they arrist a mon out blasting ruck and say the carthridges in his pocket isa dynamoit facthury. The nixt thing they'll be arristin a mon fer arson who sits fire tothe terbacky in his own pipe! Bad luk to the British ginerals. The papers sthate thot Gine- ral Decay is to be sane all over the disthracted counthry,an that Gineral Disasther is threatenin the stharvin tinnints ivery day! Did ye iver hear the loikes uy that now? < True to the promptings of his poetic soul, the silver-haired sage opened the fountains of his philosophy, and there gushed forth this crystal trath: “General Decay is a dreadful fos, And where he camps look out for woe. He ruins everything there 1s to eat, And Gen’ral Disaster follows retreat.” “This is ‘K’ street, madam. Whoa.” As he said this, a fat woman got up and tried to navi- gate a pet poodle and a half-opened umbrella toward the rear door. After she had raked the gloss from several silk hats and the sportfal canine had snapped at the legs of a rheumatic old man in the corner, she, with stepped out izto a hole of nuddy water! This col bath gave her a severe shock, and her precious treasvre was cruelly dropped upon the hard jearth. The dog yelled, and so did she, and this | 15 what she said: “It’s a burning shame to put a lady offin a puddie. You ought to be arrested. an | What Is your numb: ish gayety, “Number one, muin” shouted the son of Erin, as the car move: | poet, he asked: off, and then turning to. thi ow is that for an axplosion? awkia about the Irish ye are ras ’s Tennyson slyly remarked: “When you see a dog, a woman and a string, You'd better be eareiul to do the rigut thing. For if you fallin t ntest way You may be sure th be the deuce to pay.” . The silent passenger at this point felt some | drops of rain in his face, and went inside the | car to finish his Journey, while the poet driver aud his companton continued their seance. Seen ae ‘ Profitable Liberality. From the Carson (Nev.) Appeal. A lot ot Boston tourists were recently travel- ing in a sleeping car, also a Nevada traveler. In the morning when the porter went round to coffett his assessments on boot-blacking there was a great commotion among the Boston tour- ists. Some paid him a five cent nickel, and those short bits. Ail the while the Nevada man, dressed in ordinary clothes, sat reading his news- paper. When the porter reached him he looked up inguiringly. “Did you black my boots, sir?” “Yes, sah.” “You did a splendid job; never had my boots blacked so well before on this line. Here's three dollars.” When the porter pocketed the money the Bos- ton people looked up astonished, and presently it was rumored about that John Mackey was aboard or Enoch Strother was out on a cam- paign trip. Ina few minutes the Nevada man and the porter met (by chance) in the smoking- Toom. “When does my sleeping ticket run out?” “Your time was up, sah, at Ogden, but if you wants to ride to Reno, boss, it’s ail right, beak, with scarcely more curvature than that of | Yor acrow. The ducal coronet ot the Washington crest seems to have found no place either enour flag or our seal, which is natural enough, for our revolutionary ancestors had no fancy for crowns or coronets of any kind. At Cambridge, Mass., in 1776, was first hoisted the grand union flag, with the cross of St. George, of England, and the cross of St. An- drew, of Scotland, with thirteen alternate red and white stripes, symbolizing the thirteen col- ontes then in insurrection against the king of England. This was done, doubtless, under the auspices of Washington, then present and in command. This, let it be borne in mind, was before the declaration of independence, when the colonies were contending tn arms for their rights as British subjects. Hence the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew. In June, 1776, Washington went to the Congress sitting in Philadelphia to confer upon the condition of affairs; and, no doubt, the adoption of a con- federation flag was one of the objects of his vialt. For, very shortly fter, Washington, ac- companied by ®& Committee, called on a Mra. Ross, of Phila elphiay an upholstress, who was known to be very skillful with the needle. She made the first’fisg: from a rough draft by Wasli- ington himself. Thd probability is it was em- | broidered, but it isnot stated.” This fag was adopted by a’resolutfon of the old Congress of the Confederation, on the 4th Au- gust, 1777.°Tnere“'ls reason to beileye: it was done at the suggestion of Washington— the design betng talién from his own family coat of arms. Whether the raven-eagle ever had a place on the flag we-have no authority; but in 1818 it was declared by the United States Con- gress that the, national flag should contain, in addition to thé stipes, thirteen stars, ‘one to ha thereafter added for,tvery new state that came they have continued to in- crease until they now number thirty-eight. This is the history of our national flac, 80 dear to the Ai heart, which has for more than a# cen! ‘Bkaved the battle and the breeze” over io “mikhy fields of carnage; and which when '‘ led at Sumpter caused a mil- lon anda half of men to rush to arms in its defense with the impetnosity of the crusade under the one the Hermit. Washington c vated a. strong attachment and fondness for the sheraldic insignia of his ancestors—as he did, in fact, for all the forms and emblems of the conservatism of the pont. York Fire Insuraioe ‘Compaty vey 2ohe pany are Lae ee watch-reals : owed ve an ym trom fat motto, But has the star-rowels and the bar- stripes, surmounted by the Taven-eagle, other has this motto: “ Zritus acta probal,” free is: “Actions are tested by their issues.” ‘This motto was selected ‘ashington himself from a There is also on the chart a tation Washington's book-mark or piste, with the same heraldic devices and the same motto. The foregolng cotdensed uce punt of the: and history of ourti. and the name ot One er) has no A: ae ’ its association The traveler gave the darkey a drink out of a blaek bottle and the porter winked continuous- ly fornine seconds as he drank the traveler's health, Six dollars saved. Economy. is the road to wealth. From the Philadelphia Times, The able critics who have congregated at Cin- cinnati seem generally to agree that while Pom- pey’s statue is undoubtedly the finest ever seen upon any stage and the stools in Cwsar’s tent are accurately copled from models in the British Museum, Cesar himselt and Brutus and Cassius and the rest did not appear to great advantage. When it came to “The Hunchback” and “Much Ado About Nothing,” the festive idea of play- ing high comedy in aten-acre lot im; the critics even more. Those provided with telescopes agreed Mlle. Rhea dressed well, but in the absence of ‘ing trumpets they gave up the attempt to hear her. All, this leads to a suggestion which the Cincinnatians might try at their next dram- atic festival. Everybody has observed what fine effects conductors sometimes obtain by employ- ing a large orchestra ina piece chamber |} music. Thusin a string quartette, by having all the first, violins play the violin - all the ‘cellos the ‘cello part and eo forth, the sound is magnified without loss of detail. Why not who had no nickel were compelled to yield up | * —Bace Ball Again — The New Version Fallure— Werkingwomen and Sing- ing-women, Etc., Etc., Special Correspondence of Tae Evextxa Sran. New Yor, May 4, 1883. PREYING ON THE PEOPLE. The mayor of New York has warned the tax- Payers that there will be intrigues at Albany affecting the life of the aqueduct bill now before that body. In fact, he urges the people to pro- tect themselves against themselves, or at least against their chosen representatives. He inti- mates that he 1s officially powerless, but hints that there are huge jobs in the bill as presented. The exact language of one part of his warning is: “I deem it my duty to say that Ihave good reason for knowing that there are those who desire to grasp the power and the sum of money, which the bill will give, for thelr own selfish ends. I fear that the intrigues which are being carried on at Albany will be success- ful, and that the time when the city can receive the inestimable and indispensable benefit of an increased supply of water will be indefinitely Postponed,” and he urged the citizens of New York to at once make themselves heard by their representatives in the capital. Such is the state of political corruption in the Empire State People need more water; they have plenty ot money to pay for it, but they are assured that their representatives will steal the money as fast as it is appropriated for the work. They know this; the politicians know it, and the mayor of the city feels it his duty to come forward and warn the public that they will certainly be robbed. THE DOG CRAZE. There are already eleven hundred entries for tions are rapidly going forward for the exhibi- tion. It will undoubtedly be the best show that we have ever had. Nothing has grown more rapidly than these yearly exhibitions ot the Westminster Kennel Club. Pointers, set- ters, watch dogs, pugs, mastiffs and dogs of all sorts, thoroughbred and pleblan, have come | from all parts of the United States and Canada. Every class will be represented, and many of the foremost dogs in the world are on hand to compete for the prizes. For instance, among the seventy st. Bernard dogs will be Nevison, of Belfast, who has already won thirty-two prizes in England. The great hound “Friday Night” has also arrived from England. He is a famous dog; also, the deer hound “Narrow,” bred by Queen Victoria, and valued at twenty thousand dollars, will compete. Fancy doge, ladies’ dogs, and pet dogs of all sorts, including cocker span- iels, fox terriers and greyhounds, will be largely represented. It is very amusing to go to thedog show. It lasts several days. The amusing part of it is entirely feminine. There are hundreds of women who actually live in the kennel show all day long. They go in the morning, go back to lunch, return in the afternoon, and if they can induce any ofthe male members ofthe family to go as escorts they return ‘in in the evening. They coddle a pet the dogs as long asthe animals will stand it, and will often nang for hours at atime over one cage of poodles. It is a subject of conversation for months atterward. Whenever a woman has a dog of her own in the show she lives over hiscage. He must be fed three times a day and well wrapped up at night. His ribbons must be changed three or four times in the course of the day, and his kennel redecorated with flowers. The enthuslasm of the women in this respect is simply marvelous. The men, with the exception of ‘the few who are thoroughty informed on dog. matters, visit the show in the evening for the pleasure of hearing the dogs yelp and the chance of getting jaglance at the pretty girls. They are usually | Struck with the St. Bernards or setters, and view the pugs somewhat indifferently or with unconcealed disgust, PUTTING UP THE SUUTTERS. Booth’s Theater was closed Monday night by the performance of “Romeo and Juliet. dame Modjeska was the Julie, and she played with unaccustomed fervor. The house was ed from pit to dome by an enthusiastic au- dience. It was the last performance that will | ever be given in Booth’s Theater, The receipts doorkeeper at Booth’s ever since it was thrown | open on the drst night—man; first performance then was **! The theater | was called the *‘American Temple of Art,” and | was opened with a great flourish of trumpets. Itis uow to be turned into dry goods shops,and nobody seems to care. Booth is winning new laurels in Germany; Miss McVicker, who plaved Juliet to his Romeo, is dead; Charlotte C » who made her last appearance on earth at the house, has joined the vast majority, and Ade- laide Neilson, one of the most beautiful women who ever lived, made her first appearance in America at this famoustheater. After the termi- {nation of the play Monday night Madame |Modjeska was called before the curtain. he spoke with great enthusiasm of Booth’s efforts in behalfofthe Shakespearean drama,and of Booth himgelf and the honors he was receiy- ing in Germany. She said that every Shake- spearean actor In America would repeat with her the parting words of Juliet: — “ Parting is such sweet sorrow, ‘That I shall say good night Ul it be morrow.” THE DIAMOND FIELD. The base ball mania has struck New York ; agalo. Our city now hase regular league nine for. the first time,and it is a rattling nine at that. Ewing, the catcher, gets 3,500 for the season, and Drake, the pitcher, receives the same amount. These are the two stars. The others range from three thousand down to twenty-five hundred for the season. There are three bat- teries. A battery consists of a catcher and pitcher. It is necessary now, as the play is so | frightfully hot, that no catcher can stand the work for two successive days. | takes. the Innings on Monday, the second on Tuesday, the third on Wednesday. Then the first battery comes up again. The catcher on Monday needs ali his time to rest, and take care of his hands. If he should attempt to catch two days in succession his hands would be knocked all to pieces. There are three sets of pitchers, and catchers which, with the one extra man for the field, makes ateamofil4men. A efforthas been ut forth to make the New York team the best In the country, and no-money has been spared to that end. As yet, the men do not work very well together, but they have not had enough of practice. The first game of the season was played on Tuesday at the polo grounds The managers evidently expected a rush, for they have watched the strides that baseball has been making In public favor the last two years. Special trains ran on the elevated roads; the seating capacity of the grand stand was increased by two thousand, and the Seventh Regiment Band was retained to give a concert for two hours be- fore the match When the game was led at 4o’clock the grounds were titerally ed. There were 15,000 to 20,000. people present, and numberless d: carts, and car- rlages. The match was with the Boston team, and resulted In a victory for New York. ns the dog show. The list 1s closed, and prepara- | went to Andrew Boyd, who has been janitor and | in the paper mills and soaked into pulp. A fair ras when the book was first iseued anxious for curionity sake as their ay" ha gratified the stopped short. an an never started up again. Half a dozen schemes have been tried by the book publishers to get Tid of their useless stock, and a great many have waited patiently in the hope that sbme genuine interest would t manifested by Bible readers in the new version; but they have all been grievously left. The book is commercially good lor pulp and nothing more. REALIZING UTOPTA. A capital enterprise has been started here, and Iam glad to say it has every prospect of suc- cess. It is the Society for the Relief of Work- ingwomen. Strangely enough, the scheme was taken from an English novel. It is an original idea, and that is where the oddity comes in, for it was the general impression. pretty well borne out by facts, that there has not been any origin- ality in English novels for many centuries, However, some charitably disposed philanthro- j Ist up town read an re work of fiction in » hich was outlined the author's idea of a Home for the relief of needy workingwomen. There- upon the philanthropist engaged others in the task, and the result is this new Home in 28th street. It is a good prac- tical idea. and well carried out. The women do not feel that they are objects of curity. They experience the assistance of the Home by becoim- ing members of the society. They pay a small initiation fee and trifling dues, ‘and the only qualification for memberatiip is’ a good moral character. There is free medical attendance, and whenever one of the women ts sick she is taken care of until she bas fully recovered. It would be a fine thing for the working girls if they could only be induced to enter the Home; but so far very few girls have been brought into it. Most of the inmates are women of advanced years. The shop girls of New York are over- worked and weary looking, but every one of them ts imbued with such an exalted idea of ber own Importance, and the straggle among them to see which shall dress the best is that their minds are war r er anything like th y ingwomen. spend nearly all their money on clothes, are only half fed, and live in sm tenement house: reas, If they would enter a home like the one 1 allude to they would have admirable quarters, refined surroundings and healthy food. But they wouldn't be “perfeck ladies.” MILLIONAIRES AND PRIMA DONNAS. The complete and inside history of the Pattl- Nilsson affair has not yet appeared in print. The fact of the matter is it Is a personal war be tween two millionaires. William H. Vanderbilt and August Belmont are bitter enemies, and the whole contest between the managers and the rival singers 1s incited by these two nabobs. I know for a fact that August Belmont has offered to back Mr. Mapleson in all his ay for the next season at the Academy of Mi Mapleson said as much to me just before Pattt left. He had just come trom an adjourned mect- ing of the board of directors, at which Augast Belmont had been chairman. He told me that Mr. Belmont had taken him aside and requested him to say to Madame Patti that his (Belimont's) personal check would be given as security for any amount Mr. Mapleson had promised her. Every effort will be made by the American rep- resentative of the Rothschilds to make the Ma- — season a success, and to render the per- formances at the new Grand Opera House posi- tively attractive, Abbey, on the other hand, has ‘engaged Nilsson, Cabaiazzi, Campanint, Sembrich and Scaicht, and "is maki other engagements with a recklessness ti proves he has a long purse behind him, He often confers with Vanderbilt, and, though he says little, he acts constantly at the sugges- tion of the two hundred millionaire. The war between the impressarios next year will be bitt It will create a division in soctety elr- | cles, and will lead to no end of rptures and | estrangements in the artistic world. So far the | Chances of success are unqnestionubly with Mr. Mapleson. Abbey has had no experi | operatic mat and has diftic jin securing people at ex’ ry day r Maple | son hus already snared the bulk of the operatie talent of the world. Abbey professes to believe that his success is certain, and has alluded gev- eral times to his backing with dence. There Is. gc | manager ts ba | has reason to fe ain H. Vanderbilt he Of his success, v fident se. | CONCE NING SPRING Rut MEs. The Worse Reporter Tells a Patr ive How to Knit Poems With a Darning Needle, From the Chtoago Tribune. “Is the real editor in?” A fairly zood-looking young lady stood in the doorway and glanced around the apartment a an inquiring fashion. “We don’t keep any supposititious editors om | this paper,” said the horse reporter. “Who has charge of the poetry the young lady. “The janitor, mostly, although he doesn't clean continued «| the windows often enough to keep the stock re- duced and give all the poets a falr chance.” “I have written a poem which I should like to see printed in the 7ribune, because It is my favorite paper; papa has taken it for twenty years. “Yes, we know all about that,” sald the horse . “What we want just now is something that will jibe with the season—no ‘oh, the merry, merry May-time, with its wealth of floral bloom,’ but a verse or two that has a contemporancous ‘human interest, such as Beat the carpet gently, papa; Do pot slug iequits bo bards For you never can replace tt Shiort of eighty cents a yard. “Do he think that is nice poetry?” asked the young lady. “Well, there isn't much ‘I am wandering by the brookside,’ but it’s good, serviceable rhyme. Something like— Don't forget the garden hose, Wipe the darling baby’s nose, glass and tooth-brush sate away. Hore is Lulu’s other bustle, Come now, girls, get up und hustle, We are moving—it’s the merry month of May. “My poem is about the Put the ingtime, too, I was ly amused at the crowd gave to one of the new rules this year. Formerly, if a-foul was caught on a bounce it was Calied out. This year this rule has been apply this plan to a festival drama? By employ- ing say slx Othellos, six Iagos, six Desdemonas, and so on, and having them speak in unison, a traly festive effect might be produced. This plan would also have the advantage of avoiding all occasions of Jealousy, it all the stars upon an equak footing and enable them all to be seen and heard. The ides is worth trying and Cincinnatt is clearly the place to try it, sou Se eset s Ae comet Pictures That Don’t Depict. one, “A storm at "ered . A late of tomatoes,” tested a third. “A litical m gh pirate ae ._,Veravins in * er. “A lobster salad strack by Son’ sugested swan wit Speen . “My dear " calmly said artist, * are utterly entirely wrong; i i F 3 H} i changed, and no foul is now out unless caught ‘on the fly. Bostons were at the bat and the game was very close. When one of the heayy-hitters of the Boston team knocked a foul, which whirled up in the air very far to the right of the pitcher, Ewmg, who the sprang forward like a deer, jum into the alr to catch the ball as ‘The poet produced a roll of manuscript and “You must have written that in a Wiggins year,” said the horse reporter. ““¥ u've, wo strung through that little ep “But I don’t see—" “There are none #o blind as those who won't quit writing poetry. But I'll show ay it about your sitting by the creek where you and whatever his name is sat ‘one little year ago’— size of years I have never been able to discover. ‘Then it says that the soft rain pattered on the “Yea, sir,” the poet. “r oe Jou had you zuin shoes along, «ls, be- with a cold in her head.” “Well, really, sir, [thought that was a good int my ver-es?” said the young lady. “On yen they will be Printed" . “Yes.” “Well, I didn't know. You seem read her verses, soine kinds of weather “Of course you don't,” said the friend of Rerus. Now, in the first ‘stanza of your although where there is any difference in the leaves and the April grass was wet, doesn’tit”” cause there 1s nothing sadderthan lovely woman Mamma thought s0,too. Then you “Thaake. Will it be sure to go in If you say roung to have such sible position.” x ve a position.’ what Socrates ‘suid,” A