Evening Star Newspaper, May 9, 1883, Page 2

9 “ THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. CITY AND DISTRICT. HIGHER THAN THE PYRAMIDS. Facts About the Washi Mena- meut—The Completed Shaft to be the jest Structure in the World—The Mistory of the Meonument—Some In- teresting Particuinrs About its Con- structi —The Settlement of the Shaft—How Slight Movements of the Mass Are Detected omen by Enterpri It was only a few years ago that the Wash- {ington monument was the lanzhinz stock nos only of irreverent visitors but of our own citi- zens. It was an ucly, stumpy mass of marble, ‘which had stood In the marsh since 1856, with- out growing an inch. Nobody thought that it would ever be completed. It has been growing rapidly, however, in the past few years, and Its completion is now a matter of but a very short time. Itis already one of the most imposing objects in Washington, being almost as consple- uous a3 the Capitol itself. When finished It will have the vat height by twenty-five feet of any structure in the world, the spires of the Cathedral at Colozne, towering 525 teet above the ground, ranking next to it. IN OF THE MONUMENT. The pian of erecting a monument to our first Pre: riginated in Congress, and its views were embodied in a resolution of that body, De- cember 24th, 1799, t death, as follows: days after Washington's hat a marble monument e United States, at the city of . and that of General it his body to | | it, and that the monument te commemorate the great ary and political life.” Here ; ade to: J. “Not a move was he resolution until 183 in Washingte wards exe several promine: and officials, formed an 1 federal governme ting contriba- ) tions from they the society had collected by 1847 a sufficient fund to warrant a commencement of the work. THE CORNER-STONE LAID. A site was selected by a resolution of Con- gress January 3ist, 1548, and on the 4th of July of that year the corner-stone was laid. Numberless unfavorable criticisms have been made upon the site selected. It has been claimed time and again that it was one of the most unfortunate choices that could have been made, and that Capitol Hill would have been much preferable for a location than the low, marshy bank of the river. Probably the most likely reason for the selection was that the Monument would be visible from both land and Water, and would im reality overlook Alexan- dria and Mount Vernon, as well as Wash- fmeton and Georgetown. The present Site, too, was by” Waph- ington himself for = monument to ocom- also selected for the equestrian statue of Wash- ington which was ordered by Congress in 1783. As stated, the work was commenced in 1848. and was continued for eight years, reaching. in time. a height of 156 feet, at a cost of $300,000. This money was contributed, in small amounts, by hundreds and thousands of people, and was gathered from almost every town and village in the land. The funds ran ‘out, anda halt was made when the height of 156 feet was reached. THE WORK TRANSFERRED TO THE GOVERNMENT. In 1876 Congress determined upon the com- pletion of this monument, and by the act of August 2d of that year, created a joint coumls- sion to direct and supervise its construction. This commission consisted of the President of the United States, the supervising architect of the Treasury department, the architect of the Capitol, the chief of engineers U. S. A., and the first vice president of the Washington Na- tional Monument Society. The act appropriated i the property and rights of y to be transterred to the ‘tates, and directed the commission to be assured that the foundation was sufficient to Sustaiy the weich before commencing work. In 1 examination of the foundation board of engineers, and it was decided insuffi- cient to sustain the weight. It was found that the weight of the shaft as it stood was 32.176 tons, giving a pressure of 5.027 tons upon each Square foot of soil under the toundation, and | t with the old foun- | t of the completed structure nd 1877 s made by a ‘when completed the wei a: would be 54, ns, giving a pressure of 8.452 tons per square foot ot area of bed of the foundation. With the proposed new foundation the weight would be about 80,000 tons. STRENGTHENING THE FOUNDATION. It was determined to strengthen the founda- tion, and the work was placed in charge of Lieut. Col. Thos. L. Casey, corps of engineers, ‘who has superintended the building of the mon- Ument ever since. The glan adopted for strengthening the foundation was to underpin the old foundation and spread out the corner courses, 50 that the weight of the finished structure should be distributed over an area two and one half times greater than that then occupied, so that no greater pressure, per square foot should broucht upon the new foundation than the Bew bed conid sustain. This work of strength- ening the foundation was commenced in Octo- ber, 1873, and was carried to successful com- pletion in 1880 by Col. Casey, and afforded a splendid demonstration of the rescurces of mod- ern engineering skill. Ever since then the work of construction has been pushed rapidly, and at the close of the working season last year the monument had reuched a height of 340 feet, 90 feet having been added to its height during the year. THE Woak RESUMED. The work on the monument for this year was eommenced on Monday. The work could have deen becun some time azo, but as the courses can be laid so much faster than the marble can be received and prepared, it was thought advis- sble to walt until there was a good supply on hand. so that the work could be carried on with | &s little interruption as possible. A cargo of marble from the Lee quarries in Massachusetts has arrived, nnd it will at once be put in condi- Yon to be laid. Enough marbleatready on hand bas been cut und finished to make fifteen courses of two feet each, so that a good start can be made, with no fear of getting out of material for ®ome time to come. THE GRANITE RACKING. As the walls increase in height the proportion of cramite backing to the marble facing dimin- Ishes. At the level of 450 feet the granite back- ing will disappear and the walls from that | height to the top will be entirely of marble. If the marble can be obtained as rapidly as is anti- cipated, it 1s estimated that the walls and pyra- midian. or roof of the shaft (which is to be fifty feet high) can be completed possibly by July Ist, 1384. and certainly by the close of the working of that year. As the monument has in- ed in hetght, very cereful watch has been ued to ebserve what effect the Increased | t has fad npon the foundation. Since the | completion of the foundatton, in 1880, the total load added to the then existing structure has been 25.355 tons, and THE SETTLEMENT OF THE SHAFT @ue to this load bas been about one and one- quarter inch. The total pressure now borne by the bed of the foundation is 74,871 tons, or about Binety-two one hundredths of the total pressure } to be finally placed upon it. With the view of earefully observing any motion, however alight, which might take place two plummets are sus- in the monument, one trom a height of ; Which has now whole sway of the top from the date of strength- ening the foundation has been about one quar- ter ofan inch. The longer plummet line is en- cased Ina wooden frame to prevent any effect upon its perpendicularity from atmospheric changes. CONSTERNATION CAUSED BY SPIDERS. One morning, at about the*time when those in charge of the work were most anxious about its success, the plummet was found swung far toone side. Consternation among the work- men followed, and the monument was thought to be doomed. When Col. Casey arrived on the ground he made Inquiries about the other line, and learning that it showed no unusual move- ment he knew that everything was ail right. An examination was at once made to find out the cause of the unaccountable move- ment of the plummet, and it was found that during the night spiders had built their web from the line to the box-casing, and thus drawn the line out of a perpendicular. At another thne the other phimmet showed a similar larity, and at the top an owl was found quietly perching upon the line. It was captured and kept alive tor some time. After its death it was stuffed and presented to Mrs. Hayes, and it now probably adorns the Hayes home at Fremont, Ohio. ——————_-e-______ BEG iG BY MAIL, A Glimpse in the Mail Bag of a Mil- lionaire. THE BEGGING LETTERS RECEIVED BY MR. W. W. N WHO WANTS A BARREL OF AND A WOMAN WHO ASKS FOR A SILK CURIOCS PHASE OF HUMAN NATURE— THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER MEN OF WEALTH. The name of Mr. W. W. Corcoran is so widely known by bis deeds of philanthropy, and ts so intimately identified with every movement that 4s calculated to alleviate suffering and improve the condition of the unfortunate, that the ap- peals which come to him tor all sorts of char- itable purposes are almost overwhelming. His daily mail for years has largely consisted of letters asking for money, and each year and each day adds to the volume of this sort of cor- Tespoudence. The surprising feature of it is that the majority ot these appeals are not for objects of a general character, such as hospitals, colleges and charitable organizations, intended for the benefit of a number, but are mainly in- dividual requests for aid in carrying out some cherished purpose or to realize some personal am- bition. A STAR reporter, in conversation with Mr. Anthony Hyde, who has been Mr. Corcoran’s confidential agent for thirty-five years, learned a number of interesting tacts relative to the character of this correspondence. 4 WOMAN'S AMBITION. For Instance, a lady entirely unknown to Mr. Corcoran writes a long letter, in which she states that her husband is worth $50,000, and !s doing large and prosperous business. The writer, however, desires to be independent of her hus- band, and asks Mr. Corcoran to send her enough money 80 that she may live on the Interest. The letter ts well written, and closes with an urgent invitation to Mr. Corcoran to come and make her a visit at her home in New her garden and enioy the fruits and flowers. The writer was evidently well to do in this world, and refined and educated, yet, amid her pros- perity, she had one ambition which was not sat- isfied, and that was to have a bank account of her own. Tn this particular she is not, ing hich Papeanerions rene WI er in en entire stranger would help her is entirely unique. THE SALT PORK MAN. “I want a barrel of mess pork, and I want you to send it to me.” was the laconic but perempt- ory letter received froma man in one of the south- ern states. Mr. Corcoran, amused by this strange demand, sent the pork as requested. What was the result? He was rewarded by re- cetving a request for ‘‘another barrel.” WANTS TO GO TO A BALL. A young lady asked Mr. Corcoran to send her @ pink silk dress, trimmed to order, to enable her to attend a ballin Virginia. This letter is much in the style of an order toa dress maker, and there is nothing to indicate that the writer had any doubt but that the request would be granted. WANTS TO TRAVEL A LITTLE. Another lady correspondent. living in Europe, sends 16 pages of commercial post, closely writ- ten, giving a history of her family, which seems to have had a very ancient origin, and Tequest- ing that #6,000 be seit to her address, to enable the writer to take a trip to the southern part of France for the benefit of her health. The motive which leads to the composition and mailing of such a igtter as this, as well as thousands of others, presents a curious phase of human nature. Tne writers are unknown to Mr. Corcoran; they base their demand upon no grown except personal desire. The objecta to be attzined wif benefit no one but themselves, and yet they confidently call upon Mr. Sorcoran to send on'acheck bythe next mail. What is the course of reasoning, the impulse, the in- stinct, or whatever It may be termed, which be- gets this confidence? Or is it simply the yen- ture of a person who buys a lottery ticket? This phenomena of human action opens an in- teresting fleld for psychological tuvestigation. Perhaps it may be explained slmply on the ground that a letter is easily written; that, for some unexplained reason, it may evoke a fayor- able answer. and, at any rate, the humiliation of @ refusal by this medium is very sligit. People are more confident of themselves on paper. Whatever the explanation is, there is no doubt that there are a large number ot letters written to wealthy men, in which requests are made that have not the shadow of a reasonable claim for their basis. “But he has so much money, and could give the little we want without missing it,” is the reflection, and so thése curious productions are intrasted to the mails with hearts beating high with expectation. WHAT MR. HYDE Says. “Are the writers of these letters insane?” asked the reporter of Mr. Hyde. “Not at all,” was the reply; “they are not tn- | sane. They are sensible enongh. They want what they ask for, and it is a very-Important matter with them.” “What proportion of the writers are men and women?” continned the listener. “At least two-thirds of the letters are written by women,” was the reply. The few letters cited above, pickedat ran- dom almost out of the immense volume of let- ters that daily pour in through the mails, may be termed the frivolous appeals, but there are others which depict woe and suffering, hard struggles with fortune, and pitiful acenes of poverty. “The annals of the poor” are rewrit- ten every day, and the epening of such a mail is not an task. Begging letters of this description, especiully from distant points, can- not secure @ response from the very nature of things. THE CHARITY OF MR. CORCORAN, as is well known, has afforded relief to thon- sands, and the amount he daily gives away will probably never be known. Yet if he made a re- sponse to all the demands upon him, even bis ample means would soon be exhausted. “What disposition is made of these begging letters?” asked the reporter of Mr. Hyde. “The appeals that come from entire stran- gers,” was the reply, “who have no claim upon Mr. Corcoran, are of no avail to the writers, and are a source of disturbing solicitude to Mr. Cor- coran, from which hisadvanced age and the state ot his health demands and must such appeals should not be made, as it is simply impossible for htm to meet them.” extended over pended man 130 feet and the other from a height of 260 feet, | are the ——— pot an p Bem and an exact comparison of their movements is | i their volume. made daily. The movement of one should be | 8 dally occurrence, about one and one-half time that of the other it | Bumber is greatly there were no irregular internal movement of | bas been noticed immediately after the publica- | the Dime museum. of the structure. Actual experience shows, ever, that the movements are not unitorm either in direction er maguitade. Sometimes — in opposite directions. This shows there are movements different ey hebaany) seers sh act of Mr. —_— is the she has the beauties of nature all around her, aad the birds warbling their praises to the Great Creator of all good which she highly ap- Preciates, and, after sundry flights of senti- rene i says If she might not be considered too bold she would like to have a likeness of 80 benevolent @ face, ‘‘as well as a small iting @ sewing machine. 1s climacteric in form and intended to be go in effect upon Mr. Corcoran when he read it. There are hundreds of letters of this character, and some of the things pro- posed are to bulid and repair churches, pur- chase organs, pay off mortgages, educate chil- dren, set some one PP in business, become a silent partner in butchery or in sheep and cattle raising, and other specutations; furnish money to*develop inventions, obtain employment, put ladies into the Louise Home, farnish ptanos, give talented young ladies a musical or theatri- cal education, supply the needy with the neces- saries of life and juests to supply every want that can be imagined py When it 1s considered that these requests come from entire strangers and the opportunity of ascertaining whether they are genuine de- inands ts wanting, the character of the greater part of Mr. Corcoran's daily mail can be appre- ciated. A compilation of the communications received would form a volume of the TOUCHING PHABES OF LIFB, 88 well a»mucti that would amuse and disgust the reader. The sufferings and woes of human- ity, the petty weaknesses and foibles, the per- sonal ambition and discontent, the financial schemes of dreamers and the visionary projects of lunatics, as wells the broad philanthropy of earnest men and women absorbed in doing good. are all attempted tobe brought to the attention of Mr. Corcoran through the mails. The greater number never reach him, and he Sees only those which are worthy of attention. Asarnieevery letter is answered, and the fol- lowing printed form is used: THE PRINTED FORM OF REPLY. Your favor of the —— to Mr. Corcoran, asking —, has been received and opened by me in due course, and I have to state, in reply, that appeals for loans and other pecuniary ald, and for his personal services in promoting enter- prises of public.and private utility, are so numerous, that this mode of reply has become indispensable. : Mr. Corcoran’s inability to meet these multi- plied demands serves to increase the solicitude from which relief is demanded, allke by his advanced age and the present state of his health; and they are therefore necessarily with- held from his notice. Very Temprottally, yours, A. Hype, Agent. THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER WEALTHY MEN. Writers of begging letters, however improvi- dent they may be in other respects, are careful to 4 have more than one string to their bows, and wherever a man of wealth can be found, there they are in season and out of season by the me- dium of the United States mails. The field of mti- Uonaires, so to speak, ia thoroughly gieaned by these , and but a few escape their im- JAY GOULD'S MAIL BAG. It Is sald that Jay Gould receives scores of begging letters every day. A newspaper writer states that a few days ago one came from Switzerland, in which an impecanious dress- maker wanted him to aid in establishing her in Paris, where she might cut into Worth and ‘break his ‘corner' in the dressmaking art. An ambitious Stuttgart student recently asked for 8 small sum to enable him to open a stadio and cere with his more fortunate rivals, and a London soldier in the Queen’s Own wanted money to enable him to reach this country and ‘farm. Many of thecases are investigated, and ifthe writers are learned to be worthy of charity they are not left empty-hand. It is said that Mr. Gould gives away many thousands of dollars a year for charity's sake, not ostenta- tiously, but in a quiet way, where it will do the most good. Frequently he receives letters from men who have gone down in the many Wall street upheavals. Iftheir failures were due to natural cauges, and the applicants are worthy, they frequently receive aid from an unexpected quarter, little realizing that Mr. Gould is their benefactor. CENTRAL PACIFIC HUNTINGTON. Mr. C. P. Huntington, president of the Central Pacific road, is probably worth $15,000,000. He is also in reeeipt of very many begging-letters. His letters, are from all por- tions of Europe and the United States, and con- tain requests based on every Imaginablescheme. The bulk of his appeals come from the Pacific coast, from men who are sure, if they only had afew of Mr. Huntinzton’s dollars, they could soon develop minea of untold wealth, make western prairie lands blossom like the rose or fill their ranches with the cattle upon a thou- sand hills. Mr. Huntington, his friends sa) isnot much given to charity, and tosses be; ging-letters away without reading them very closely. HENRY CLEWS' CHARITY. Henry Clews, whose wealth is estimated at ten million, receives a large number of letters asking for help. Many of the applicants are un- fortunate operators in Wall street, and they often find in Mr. Clews a sympathetic friend. Many of the letters are written in behalf of charitable institutions, and if upon investigation they are found to be deserving the desired as- sistance is given. The Wall street brokers are said to be always ready to listen to charitable appeals, especially in behalf of those who have been unfortunate on the “street.” OTHER WALI. STREET NABORS. Russell Sage is not credited with “throwing money away,” as he terms it, and brokers gen- erally observe: ‘‘A man with 210,000,000, who will wait in his office over half an hour to catch the five-cent trains on the Elevated road, must be too poor to give money away for sweet char- ity.” James R. Keene, his friends say, receives scores of begging letters every day, and Cyrus W. Field is the recipient of more than any other man in Wall street circles. He gives away $50 & day for charitable purposes, his intimates assert, and generally answers’ correspondents who solicit alms, if he thinks it is charity worth- ily bestowed. = 2 Fast Driving and Careices Walking. ‘To the Editor of Tux Evewrxa Sran. Wasnineton Crry, May 7th, 1883. I wish you would insert the following, which I think will serve as a warning to fast drivers aswell as careless ‘pedestrians in this city. Yesterday as I was going in a southwest direc- tlon from Waugh Chapel I met with two young ladies coming from St. Peter's Church—and standing on the avenue evidently waiting for a Georgetown car. One of them, apparentl: about 18 or 20 years of ase, and a lovely girl, but street as her companion entered the car, when @ ho.se and carriage, driven by two gentlemen, rushed almost over her, and had it not been for the shrieks of myself and the gentleman on the epenite side she certainly would ‘have been killed, I am myself a mother, and what the feelings of that young lady's mother would be under the circumstances 1 liave just related will be better imagined than described. Also, of the two gentlemen who would be the innocent cause of her death. From Texas Siftngs, A fashlonable Austin lady, immediately after the death of her husband, married his brother. A visitor at the house, noticing the picture of her late husband, asked who It was. “It Is—is,” she replied, hesitatingly, “my de- ceased brother-in-law.” “Mine, too,” laconically remarked the new ve relief; and | husband. Fe abPe § fd ht HE @ careless one, turned towards 2d | "WEDNESDAY. ~*~ Me 1883—DOUBLE SHEET. SONGS ‘OF THE SOLDIERS, Reminiscent Rhymes of the War of the ) Hebel! THE MUSIC WITH WHICH THE BOYS IX BLUE rom the Boston Traveller. ‘The war proyed » very fruitful theme for the poetaster, and Inany,e fledgling bard delivered himself of more or legs of patriotic Jingle which it would be quite unbecoming to rate under the name of poetry. Many war songs—and some of them are very good too—were written for special purposes; to chronicle some particular event, or in praise of some individual regiment, and on this account they never became popular. But such songs as the “Battle Cry of Freedom,” “Kingdom Coming,” ‘Marching Through Georgia,” “John Brown's Body,” &0., achleved 8 universality that mage them known trom one end of the land tothe other. The song of the soldier never sounds #0 well as when sung on the field of battle. There it reaches to a height of sublimity obtainable nowhere else, and per: haps no finer volume of sound could be heard ti Cromwell’s round-heads chanting the *‘Old Hun- dred” after the battle of Marston Moor, 8 legion of Frenchmen singing “The Marsellaise,” or one ot our own army corps pouring forth in unison “sohn Brown's Body.” It 9 safe to say that, notwithstanding the great number of songs which the war of the rebeltion was the means of bringing out, notone first-class lyric, not one sin; poem fit to be ranked with Thomas Campbell’s immortal “Ye Mariners of England,” was the result. Perhaps Mrs. Howe's *‘Battle Hymn of the Republic” is the most sublime of all the songs that were written during the rebellion, but this falls far short ot Campbell's song. By the way, whois responsible for the air, “Glory, Hallelujah?” Has it a tather, or did it grow, like Topsey? The alr Js original with the words *John Brown’s body lies moldering in the dust,” but where it sprang from, who can tel It followed hard upon an- other John Brown ditty, which we heard a crowd of boys and half grown men singing while parading through the streets one night, after the close of a meeting which was held in Faneuil Hall to lament over the execution of John Brown. That ditty, like the famous song of “The Black Snake,” consisted of a hundred ‘verses, and this was its burden: “Tell John Andrew, ‘Tell John Andrew, Tell Joan Andrew, dobn Brown’s dead.” From this sprang the now famous song which is perhaps the most popular of all the army songs, and of the many versions that have been made, the best is from the pen of Dr. W. J. Wet- more: “See them come, see them come, from the moun- tain and the plat, A noble band of patriots the Union to maintain, And they never will return till the country stands co firm, and free. lory, Haltalujah,” &<. Henry Clay Work, a western bard, wrote and composed the music of several of the best songs, among which may be named *‘Marching Through Georgia” and that very capital and favorite med with the soldiers, “Kingdom Coming.” whit has an additional charm from being in the negro dialect: “Say, darkles, hab you seen de massa, Wid de-muffstash on his face, Go “long de road.some time is mornin’ ‘Like he goin’ to leave the plac:? ‘He seen de smoke way up de ribber ‘Where the Lincum gunboats lay: He took his hat and left berry sudden, I ‘de’s runned away! ‘Be magsa hal run, ha, De darky stay, bo, ho! It must be now de Kingdom comin’, An’ de yar ob jubiio. The air which accompanies these words is a very inspiriting one, and it makes a capital quickstep. George F. Foot, who was some time a music | teacher in this city, is the author and composer of “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp.” “In the prison cell I sit, ‘Thinking mother, dear, of you And our bright and happy home go far away, And the tears they fill my eyes, Spite of all that Tcan do, Though I try to cheer ny comrades and be gay. ‘Tramp, tramp, tramp, The voys are marching,” &. Root is also the author of “The Battle Cry of Freedom.” “Yes, we'll rally We'll rally one: 7 Shouting tlie battle-cry of freedom, We will raily from tie hillside, We'll gather trom the platn, Shouting the battle-cry of freedom!” *ronnd the flag, boys, n which makes it available to many words. The soldiers were fond of setting the words ot Mary Had a Little Lamb” to it, with ludicrous effect. As for instance: “Mary had a Itttle lamp, ts fleece was white as snow, the battie-cry of Ireedom. An every place that Mary went, ‘The lamb was sure to go, Shouting the battle-ery of ‘treedom,” and soon. During the terrible fighting in the Wilderness on the 6th of May, 1864, a brizade of the Ninth Corps, having broken the enemy's line by an assault, became exposed to a flauk attack and was driven back In disorder with heavy loss. They retreated but a few hundred yards, how ever, reformed, and again confronted the enemy Just then some gallant fellows in the ranks of | the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania began to sing: “We'll rally ‘round the flag, boys, Rally once again, Shouting the bate-cry of freedom.” The refrain was canght up instantly by the entire regiment and by the Thirty-sixth Maska- chusetts, next inline. There the grim ranks stood at bay in the deadly thicket. The air was filled with the crackle and smoke of burning | underbrush, the pitiful cries of the wounded, the rattle of musketry, and the shouts of com- | mand; but above all, answering the exultant yells of the enemy, rose the inspiring chorus: “The Union forever, hurrah, boys, hurrah! Down with the traitor and up with the start And We'll raliy ‘round the flag, boys, Rally once again, Shouting tue battle cry of freedom!” One of the army songs, which has become as popular in England as it isin this country, is ublished as having been written and composed py Louis Lambert. This iga nom de plume for P. 8. Gilmore. To be sure, the words do not amount to much. and there is something dis- agreeable tu a well regulated temperance mind like our own in being obliged to melodiously in- form the public that “ We'll «ll drink stone blind, When Johnny comes marciing home,” but the tune isof that rollicking, devil-may-. care order that is very catching. The fact is, Gilmore built np hls words to suit his air, on the sure principle that iu Virginia they bulld the chimney first, and then erect the house ; against it. The air was an inspiration, but the words might be classified as rhymes without reason. : 3 Poor Miles O'Reilley (Charles G. Halpine) set to the Irish air of “The Low-Backed Car” the i There is an adaptability to the air of this song) the whole, we are inclined to think thatin this the south was in advance of us, for we tainly (Mrs. Howe's noble effort snide} do not possess le song of the rebellion at all com- Parable to “ My Maryland,” and the air to which it ts sung 1s well fitted to the words. ‘We remember once havingheard it sung under etr- cumstances that for the time made us fancy twas and going into the bivouac the staff to which we were attached took up their quarters on the piazza of a lonely mansion, and there, wrapping themselves in their blankets, with their eatidles for pillows, sought needed Tepose. Sleep refused to visit us. The night was @ delicious one; ‘twas warm, but a slight breeze was stirring; the sky was intensely clear, and the stars were many and brilliant. The stillness was profound. Every one around us was sunk in slumber. Suddenly there fell upon our ears the words— “The tyrant’s heel is on thy neck, ‘Maryland, my Maryland.” The voice was mezzo soprano, full, round, and clear, and the charming melody was sung with infinite tenderness and great delicacy of shading. We listened almost breathless, for "twas first time we had ever heard the song, and when it was conciuded we arose for the pur- pose of ascertaining who was the singer. We found her in the person of a plump little negro girl of about 16 years, with a face blacker than the smoke of Vulcan's smithy. As Desdemona ‘saw Othello’s visage in his mind,” so we also ‘saw the visage of this girl only in’ the sweetness of her voice, which was of a certainty one of the purest vocal organs we ever listened to. - “The Bonnie Blue Flag” was another of the secession songs that met with great favor It was, if we remember aright. written by an Irish actor by the name of William MoCarthy, and first sung by his sister, Marion McCarthy, at the Varieties Theater, New Orleans. The air {8 au old and popular Irish melody, “The Irish Jaunt- } ing Car.” Our people were not long in getting hold of the song, and very soon a capitai answer was written, the first verse ot which we give: “Ah, no, the ‘bonnie blue flag,’ With one white ghastly star, Never shall float before our radks, To lead the brave afar; But blend the hue of sunset— ‘The bonnie rea, white, and blue Shall tire our souis with patriot zeal, With hope and courage true, Hurrah, horrah, for a nation’s rights hurrah. ‘They shall not farm our beautiful fag Nor quench a single star.” “Dixie” can scarcely be called a war song, for it was written and composed betore the rebel- lion had birth. But tt was sung by both armies, and though of southern origin was quite as pop- ular at the north as m ‘the land of cotton.” English Hotels, A correspondent of the New York Tribune, writing from England, expresses surprise hat | no American has started a hotel in London. He says there are enongh disgusted Americans to fill three hotelsrun upon the system in vogue fn the United States. What the writer tnvelgha ‘most strongiy against is the gratuities exacted {rom the guests by the servants in the English hotels. Ail tourists have experienced this in- tolerable nutsance, which, in Engiand, as tn Ori- ental orsithng! is rere 2 as an essential part of the hotel system. Tipping enters into theeconomy of all hotels in England. Any person employed about a hotel there, from the proprietor down, can be feed. It is, however. a disgrace to those high classed hotels that they make these gratuities the basis of an atrange- ment with the servants. The menlais are pald 4 mere pittance, and it is enjoined upon them to make up the balance of their waxes by so- liciting alms trom the guests. Indeed, the bead waiter In many hoteis is required to pay a bonus for the position. And this is not confined to hotels alone; It Is well known that the Earl of Shrewsbury employs his servants with an under- standing of this Kind. Many of those noble lords would perhaps feel insulted or treat with contempt the i jents of gratuit Ifthey do not a portion of th The editor of the chester, during the y Engiand, sucvested should be prominently inscribed over Buckinz- ham Palace and sor Castle. He was promy ted to this by that when the Sul- tan visited \l and was entertained at the palace he incurred serious expense by solicited it ofthe Shah of Persia to 0 fees to servants” alms. One noble jord in waiting whined like @ studdy bi until he got his little keep- sake. But the degrading practice prevails to the greatest extent in the hoteis. In short, im these establishin: it amounts to wholesale begeary. Pay is asked for every and the test service: fur carrying baggaze to a room, for opening a door. bringing ag’ water, for lighting the gas, or for showi way toaroom. There is a servant at every door in the house, and each one expects to te paid for the privilege of stumbling over him while he opens the door. Ask an employe for information and there will not be a civil answer unless he vees a movement of the hand toward the pocket. Tie traveller ts fleeced from the time he enters until he leaves. Added to this nuisance Is the fact that In an English hotel every want isextra. The custom is to light the guest to his room with a dit of candle about two inches long. or sather the lighted fragment is taken along to light the gas. This bit of 3 | candle is charged for in the bill. An indignant traveller once after inspecting his bill marched back up fonr flizhts of stairs and appropriated the bit ot candle. The soap also comes in as an extra, and what enrages an American most is that he finds in his bill'a charge for attendance when his pockets have been depleted by teeing the servants. After the regular bill 1s paid it costs about ten dollars to get out of the house, for a waiter with glistening eyes will dog every step, and rise up like Banquo's ghost at every door. The chambermald expects ten shillings, the head waiter ten, the head porter ten, the boots five, and then on departure the second porter lingers at the cab door for two shillings. A hotel in London conducted on the double system, one charge for every thing, and have it MRS, LaNerRy. The “Jersey Lily” Wdeas About American Women-Whataa English Beaaty Finds in Them to Admire. ‘From the New York Heral 4. “Since you have been in this country, Mrs. Langtry, have you met many American wo- men?” “No, [have not met @ great many, for my theatrical duties have been so heavy that I have received but few visitors and have really re- fased nearly all invitations—although I have bad many trend ly offers of hospitality wherever Thave been. But the American women I have met I have been charmed with; and of course I have seen thousands and thousands of the American fair sex, for my matinee audiences are almost entirely composed of women.” “And what impression has the American wo- man made upon you, Mrs. Langtry? What do you think of her? “What a question to ask one! and Mrs. bang- try threw up ber hands im astonishment. “I realty don’t think Ican answer that. I don’t think it would be delicate for me to discuss the uiatter. I think it cannot be expected that I thould pass judgment on the American women. ‘But you must have some impressions of their manners, appearance, dress, &c. It would un- doubtedly interest American women to learn what the English beauty thinks of them.” , PRETTY AMERICAN WOMEN. “Really this question has so surprised me that I don’t know what to say, but if you think it will really be ot interest I will try and tell you what I think. In the first place, { think American women have very pretty faces, so bright and winning. One sees many more pretty faces here than in England. Then I think they have beautiful hair and very pretty hands and feet “And their Acnres? Well, L must take the liberty to say that I think their figures are generally bad. The American standard of figure is altogether too | plump to please me; but, again, | do not see why my opinion should be of any interest ta the matter. I have been called ‘scraggy’ In one town I visited” And where was that?” Well, I think it must haye bean in Pittsburg. I think the most disagreeable things were said of me there.” “Whoin do you consider the most beautiful American woman you have seen?” “Mary Anderson, decidedly.” “But Mary Anderson is not over plump.” “She is not. I should have said that the over plumpness I spoke of refers principally to the married beanties I have seen. It struck me as SEIZING ON NITHO-GLYCERING, Am Augusta, Maine, Sheriff Pus Headieng Flight. ‘They have a mortal dread at Angusta, Me, @ dynamite plots and other nihilistic methods of Procedure, which has led them to prohibit the sale or keeping of all such dangerous explosives as nitro-giycerine ana gun-cotton. And the is Just about as effective in this case as it te in the matter of liquor. There is s cer- tain quarry,which need not be definitely located, where they have always seen ft to use nitro- glycerine cartridges for blasting purposes, Since the probibitory laws have been in operation the explosives have been brought to the company securely packed to boxes marked “candies.” This nice little enbter- fuge worked #0 successfully that some of the employes at the quarry adopted the same method of smuggling liquor over the lines. This happy experiment worked very well for atime, and then somebody, in a state of boozy exhilaration, let the cat out of the bag and the story came to the ears of a certain sheriff. The story came, but unfortunately for him the details were not exactly correct. “He was Informed, upon relia- bie authority, that the quarrying company was engaged in smnzeling fiquor tnto the state tn candie boxes. He resolved forthwith to put « stop to It. In pursuance of this virtuous reso- lution he walked into the company’s office one morning and laid his hand heavily upon a arrived candle box before the gurpris: had thme to get it out of sight. “I seize this property,” sald the sheritf know what's in ft; and I propose to open it.” “For heaven's sake what are you golug to do with that hammer and chisel?” exclaimed the frightened clerk, getting down from his tin an unceremonious manner. “Why, open this box, to be sure,” said the sheriff. “Do you know what's in ft? There's nitro- glycerine in that box!” “It won't wash,” sald the sheriff, know all about it ith a sly I've got all the “Well, for God's sake I've got out of the & clerk, turning 7 0, come now,” said the sheriff, “t's no use: the little game won't work. You might as w quiet down and keep quiet. I'll take the box out on the ityousay so. Itdont make any odds to me. “But I'm not going to be frightened out of my duty, you know.” ‘The sheriff went out on the jedge and the clerk disappeared around the corner, The sheriff coll went to work with hammer and chisel knocked the cover off the box and otherwise disarranced the packing. Presently out rolled Several Tittle blue cartridges. The eherif "t hit the box ti ing!” exclatmed the very funny.” Mrs. Langtry continued, “that in every town I visited the local papers in noticing my first appearance led off with the remark that their own town was exclusively noted for its beanties, and with such an array of native beauty ft was not surprising that the famous English beenty’s face wade but little tmpreasion on the audience. Then they would begin to Rotice the periormance, ‘As far as Mrs. Lan: ability as an actress is concerned, &0., &¢."" “In whieh town did you see the women.?” “In Baltimore. It strack me that every women there wasa beauty. And I think that Baltimore was the only town that Gid not boast of its native beauties.” 4 FEW CRITICISMS OF DRESS. “Do you admire the dress of American women?” “I cannot say candidly that I do; on the | whole, I think they dress too smartly for the street and too simply for the theater. I think they mtx their colors badly and have too maay bows and ends on their dresses. To my taste a woman cannot be too simply dressed for the street. A dress of simple neutral tints pleases me best. 1] saw a woman In the street the other day wearing a gray ulster, a blue dreas and scar- let kid gloves. Just think of that!” and Mrs. Langtry almost shuddered with norror at the thought of scarlet gloves, and she also had a bouquet de corsage of daffodils. That was rather a gay mixture of colors. was it not?” ‘The reporter ssmpathized with Mrs. Langtry, for on his way to the Albermarie he had met a woman wearing a mauve velvet dress with blue satin skirt, and a bonnet of blue straw, trimmed with crimson velvet, out of which appeared to be crowing pink eats of barley. ‘The reporter by way of contrast somewhat re- servedly remarked on the richness of Mrs.Lang- t costume. - * You may call it handsome, and perhaps it fs, and it might look rather too fine on the street, but I am going out driving. But it is really a very simple dress. A peacock velvet overdress over a petticoat of turquoise blue, velled with moonlight jet.” * You want to know what I think of the man- ners of the American women? I think them charming, so free and open. The American women are so independent, and there is such a delightful lack of self-consciousness about them. They are, too, very bright in conversation, and the freedom and frankness sbicrmed ne presses one instantly ; it is so different from the reserve of the ‘general ran of English women.” FULL DRESS AT THE THEATER. “ You aald that they did not dregs well enough for the theater?” “Well, what I meant to say was that I like to see ladies im full dress et the theater; or they might, if they come in bonnets, wear the charm- ing little theater bonnets one sees in the French theaters. These big hats that women wear in American theaters I think are abominable.” Mrs. Langtry’s maid entered at this point in the interview and brought a spray of forget-me. nots and ferns. They were to be attached to her parasol. They were tied up with a blue bow. Mrs. Langtry it sight of it and said laughingly, ““Now see tl bow fly,” and she tore It away and threw it down. “I won't have any bow’s abont me,” she sald, “‘not even on my parasol. Yes, you can safely say that I am making war against bows and ends.” ‘Well, to sum up on the American woman,” Mrs. Langtry sald, returning: to the subject, ‘I think her very beantifal and charming, and I perfectly understood that such charge 1s all there is to pay, would be full every day in the year. —_——_e-—_______ Electrical Railways. According to the New York papers it appears that electricity may soon replace steam as-a motive power on the elevated railways of that city. The millions of people who have been annoyed by the noises and smells of the present rapid-transit system will undoubtedly gladly welcome the change. The development of electricity as a motive power is advancing with pid strides. London has recently developed ‘wondertul energy in adepting itself to every ‘mprevement in that direction. The C! Cross and Waterloo Electric raitway ba Ie i will be two-thirds of a mile in length. will be a double line of railways along which words of the is ae song of which we here give the first verse, aud we have heard him sing it with flue effect: “gome tell us ’tls 2/burning shame ‘To make-the naygurs fizht, An’ that the thrade.of belong kilt Belongs but to the white; But a6 for nie, upoo my soull So liberal are we here, Tl let Sambo be murdered in place of myself On every @ay in the year. On evi 1n,the year, bo} ‘and every bodrim te aay ‘The rignt wo de Rit Pl divide with him, An’ divil a word 7'l1 say.” He was the ilfe.of many a camp fire was Private Mileg, 0"! and mach of the best and raciest literatune of the war came from his gifted pen. “The Star Spangled Banner” will ever rank se first of Ee BABE i l BRE, ts i 8 : i E i i i i f i fy HH i ? i i F3 i i | [ ' i fF 5 F 5 ! th is i any the constant stream of electrically driven cars will pass at the rate of eleven miles an hour, completing the journey from the Grand Hotel to the loop-line station at Waterloo in 33¢ min- utes. Each carriage will run separately, like an omnibus, and be driven by an electrical cur- Tent generated by steam-driven dynamos at Waterloo Station, and conveyed by means of a central rail to a Syestes a the center bes — earriage. The tunnel wil composed. caissons lined with white bricks, and ligh' ail F z = ij Hl Bs 4 i i [ s| | f i t ll i Hy i think she has-very strong national characteris- tics. I would know an American woman any- where. In what way? Well, principally from her frank and open manner and her independ- ence.” “What do you think of the fashions in Amer- fea? Are they behind the European fashions?” “Weil, I should say that the American style in dross, in cuts, and all that, is about a year be- hind that of Paris. Atleast I find the American dresamakers I have visited offer me the styles I saw a year agoin Paris. Talking of American dress,” Mrs, Langtry added, “T think American women think we very badly in England, and I have heard it said that I dress fairly well for an Englishwoman. But I must say that English women dress ly and the Prin- cess of Wales has set us 3 charming example in simplic'ty of dress.” Soe Leng Finger Naik From Notes and Queries. = Actording to the writer of an article on “Ex- traordinary Finger Nails,” in the World of Won- ders, it is the custom of the Chinese, Siamese and Annamese toallow the nailson all their fingers, except the fore! to grow to a great Jength, and among the they sometimes attain the tneredible length of from sixteen to elghteea Amon, mese BO a mark of no! are long nails esteemed that the belles wear silver cases, either to observed to permit the excessi nail of the little , and this mon occurrence wi ged of India and other parts of x ‘Why He Was Plensed. An Indians farmer walked inte the house the other day, with @ tickled look on his face and is hat on his esr, and called out: res. Sea Deper wenn nate Ree OUR" “Tree as preaching. 4nd whet else do you ike peal f f it te £ Pi i dropped bis tools. He was seen to rise and make a wild dash for his hore, and the next minute he was galloping down’ the road as fast asthe aninial could carry him. He forgot about the seizure he intended to make, and quarrying company are maid to be obtal their explosives still in the same simple man- ner. see we ay Whatnots. “Oh, dear,” exctntmed Edith to her doll, “E do wish you would ait still. I never'saw suck ‘an uneasy thing in my life. Why don't youest ltke grown people, and be still and stupid for @ while?” —. Wille has a four-year old sister, Mary, whe complained. to, mene that her button «hi were . “Why, Mattie, you've them on the wrong fect." Puzzled and ready to cry, she made answer: “What'll I do, mamma? They're all the feet I've got.”—Ideas of the In- nocents. Ona highland car a half dozen fathers were matching babies. To the anecdotes of prize children a listener whose offspring had growa to the age of talkativeness contributed an a0- count of his boy's in peeling an orange with his thumb. With great diMculty the rind was taken off, but to remove the inner lining or film without breaking into the pul was harder. Finaily, in vexation, the little f Jow cried out: “Papa. what makes oranges weat fannels?"—Boston Globe. How to man—~ But, f getting at her age.” Second woman—“Oh, yes, there is. Multiply it by two."—Zzchange. Joseph Cook has written an article on toe bacoo, but fails to teach the secret of the art of carrying cigars in the vest pocket in such @ _ that one’s friends cannot detect them.— Puck. “It does beat all this world,” exclaim “The last ton of soay that I bought is so much adulterated that it is not fit to adulterate my butter with.” —Philadelphia News. There 1 an ant in Texas that “makes bon equal to that of the bee.” If this busy little is as industrious.as the Nar who invented him, the regularly ordainea bees will soon have to apply to Congress for protection. —Burlington Harkeye. granted Biggster at the dinneg this pudding isn't fit for a hoz to eat. i . who ov the remark, smiled sweetly as she sald, “Then I wouldn't eat it, Mr. Biggster.”—Boston Trane script. While a New York woman was passing @ quarry @ blast was fired. When she revived alter being struck with a stone weighing fifty pounds, the first words she uttered were: “Good laws! how glad I am that I didn’t have on my new bonnet!” —Philadelphia Chronicle The winds were whispering iow, and the sen- tinel stars had set watches, if they have any to set, up in the skies, as Mrs. Tomly leaned from her chamber window and ved in a low and trembling voice: ‘Is that you, Henry?” Now, it is a peculiarity of Mr. Tomly that when under the Influence he has great difficulty in finding his home. He has once been arrested ag a burglar, and several times kicked out, so when he heard’ the female voice say, ‘Is that you, Henry?” he said: Fore I ansher that question I'd like ter know if that’s you, Sharah,” holding on to the front gate and leering up at Sarah's chamber window. “Why, certainly, Henry, it is me.” ‘Is this the corner of Austin avenue and B street?” “Why, of coursh it is, Henry.” “Then,” eald Henry indignantly, ashe swayed up against the fence, ‘of coursh it's me. What- yer ask fool qnestions for? Don't you know your own husband?"—Tezas Siftings. 4 “Marriage is no child's play.” Very true, doctor; but Without child's play, married life is a mighty lonesome one at the best.—Boston Transcript. Rough on rising talent: Brown—“Don't — you are doing as well as you were last year, man.” Robinson—"But I was not painting ef all last year.” Brown—‘Exactly!"—Judy. A country merchant visited the city afew ago, and purchased from a doliar store a what rascality there i Im 1 Farmer John, angrily, 3 a gBEs 3 =. = and shivered around for six long wife drew him up and asked: Goodness’ name were you doing down “ Looking for Truth.” could i i iF aes i t 3