Evening Star Newspaper, May 23, 1883, Page 2

; . & LC CITY AND DISTRICT. A BUILDING WITH A HISTORY. iA Chapter of Recollections Concerning @ Notable Corner. WHE “EVENING STAR'S” FORMER HABITATION—ITS ‘EARLY DAYS AND THR PART IT PLAYED—THE OLD “NATIONAL JOURNAL”—REVOLUTIONS IN THR ART OF PRINTING—THE BUILDING 43 & CHOLERA HOSPITAL—BUSINESS FIRMS THAT HAVE FLOURISHRD THERE—THA RECOLLEC- TIONS OF ONE OF ME. PETER FORCE’S AP- “PRENTICES. * * Anold-fasbioned bullding in # modern street 9s full of suggestion to the mind of the man ‘who has time to indulge in dreams. For him ‘who loves to loiter in the shadowy by-ways of time and suminon again to life with fancy’s magic touch the throngs that peopled them ‘when spectral past was living present, such a Bouse has more attractions than the most im- Posing and showy pile that modern architecture andenterprise can produce. It gives a definite es to the vista of time—a setting of real- ic scenery for the stage on which is enacted the drama of his fa Such a building is THE GABLE ROOFED STRUCTURE ft the southwest corner of Pentsylvania ave- fhue and 1th street, where Mr. Thomas Dow- ling, the auctioneer, now has his warerooms. It As not a Duilding of very great antiquity except 4m a relative sense. Over huif a century has gone since ft first stood forth shining In new aint to challenge the admiration of the visitor fo mediaeval Washington. It was built within the memory of many old inhabitants who do Not yet consider themselves antiquated, and yet in this nineteenth century fitty years would be maoted in the market of time a4 worth about four times fifty years taken out of any other entury. There are buildings in the city that Were old, or at least middle-aged, when this particular building was in its swaddling clothes and sticky with iresh mortar, but then they have led a tame sort of existence and can un- fold no story of the times throuch which they have passed, except the crooning tale of their Own small affuirs, like the gossip of some old world ts cireumscribed by the Biiadows about her own hearthstone.® In those dayswhen men built houses, walls were made thick and beams were selected for their strength, and the whole was topped off with good sturdy Fafters that would withstand the blasts of a century. Sothis building comes to us in the vear of our Lord 1883—like a robust, well-preserved Gentleman of the old school—offering substan- tial testimony of the dom and SOLPD VIRTUES OF THE OLDEN TIME and existing as a standing rebuke to the follies find vanities of the present,—in the building line. It rears its chimneys to the skies, in a dogeed, independent way, as it to put to shame the upstarts that seem to want to make the World believe that people who live In them do Not need to cook or to warm themselves. Its dormer windows look down upon the avenue in @ quizzing way. as if half distrusttui of the gay and endless t. How many inaugural Processions have those dormer windows looked down upon! How wany fllustrious men, whose ‘Very names now seem eloquent ot the doughty deeds, and the loity statesmanship of the dis- tant past, have once been a living part of that ver-moving throng passing under the scrutiny » dormer windows! Like some staid and Plain oid matron, it seems to frown upon its Younger neighbors with their corniced and pil- stered fronts. Likethesame old matron,peghaps, Memories of its own youth may not be unmixed with vanity. For then it was one of the most Yrcteations of the gabled and chimneyed houses hat were haif hidden behind the thick foliaze Of the tall trees that gave the avenue the ap- rance ot abroad aisle in a green grove. ‘hen, without a doubt, it plumed itself on being comelier than its neighbors. WHEN THE HOUSE Was BUILT. It was about 1830, or a little before that, that ts walls began to rise and assume such propor- tions as to excite the envy of its neighbors, if brick and mortar are capable of envy. At Teast, so far as reliable testimony can be ob- tained from old inhabitants, it was before the cholera of 1852, for Mr. Force had his printing Office there before that time. Mr. Wm. J. Stone Duiit the structure, and his widow, who still in this city, now owns It. Mr. Btone was an e er and lithographer who for some previous to erecting this building had an office in a build: till standing on the do the Job work ure them. They were com- monly known as Franklin presses. We didn't ‘use rollers to Ink them, as are used on presses now, but balls made of buckskin, stuffed with raw cotton. The pressman held one of these balls in each hand, and with it inked the face of the type before the Impression wag made. It was slow work, but we were better paid for work then than now. For instance, we got €2 for 9 100 cards, which would cost but about 75cents now. The press on which the National Journal ‘was printed was called a Smith press. It would print about 250 copies an hour. It was a morn- ing paper, and it took about all day to print 2,000 copies.” “Do you remember any great personages of the time visiting the office?” asked the reporter. “Yes,” said Mr. Waters, “this building in {ts day was the tristing-place of the best intellect of the nation. Henry Clay was frequently there. He was a great friend of Col. Force. He used to come to the office oftentoread proof. Richard Rush, who was § of State, used to come there, and also George Bancroft, the historian, who was a friend of Col, Force. I remember that I used to go to Ger. Scott's house, the house on H street, known as the Chain build- ing. Iused to go there with proof-sheets of Scott's ‘Tactics,’ which was being printed at the office. Col. Force was very intimate ‘with and was visited at his office in this building almost daily by many distinguished men, including those I have named, Peleg Sprague, Mr. Living- ston, David Crocket and other prominent men of that perio “Col. Force’s instructions to his apprentices was to follow copy, and if they went contrary to those instructions he was.apt to use the follow- ing words: ‘Isay, I say, what IsayI mean, follow the copy if it goes out the window.’ “In speaking of this building there are many meidents that have occurred connected with it which have no historical bearing, but which, in themselves, may be of interest. “During the existence of the National Journal it at one time feli into the hands of a gentleman by the name of Prentice, who was, I think. a stepson of Jesse Brown, of the Indian Queen | hotel. now Metropolitan hotel, situated on Penn- | sylvania avenue, near 6th street. After publish- | ing the paper some time Mr. Prentice became in- debted to the compositors, and they, thinking | | their money was doubtful, concluded to strike, i or quit work until paid. Prentice immediately | sent to Philadelphia for hands to supply their | places, and they went to work under protest by the Typographical Society, but their stay was of short duration, for they were so intimidated by the hands who had struck for their money that they feared to be seen in the streets, and conse- quently nt the most of their timein the office, having their meals furnished them; but | their intimidation was increased one morning | when the hands who had struck marched Into | the office ina body, and one of the strikers named Wilson picked up the shears used by printers to cut rule, &c., and deliberately cut off the skirt of one of their coats hanging up. They said nogpg. but’ that nicht they left, and in a short time the striking hands received their | pay and the trouble ceased. | “The Journal was published there some time after Col. Force left. He sold it to Prentice, and, I think, Philip R. Fendall, who was district attorney here at one time, was the last one who held the paper. Mr. Fendall afterwards asso- ciated himself with the National Intell Afterwards I went with Col. Force to the co: ner of 10th street, where the Post building He got the public archives to print, and built an office there fur the purpose. There used to be considerable money made then in printing. If person got the congressional printing for one Congress, and did not realize $100,000, he wasn’t doing much. I might also say that in the old building Tae Eventne Srar paper sprang into existence. If was originally started by Mr. Joseph Tate, on a small folio sheet. Mr. Tate was afterwards, and, indeed, until his death, bookkeeper and general superintendent for Messrs. Wallach & Hope. The first issue of THE Evenine Star, under the firm of Wallach & Hope, was from this building.” THE PRESENT. Since Tue EVENING Stak moved to its new quarters, nearly two years ago, the old building has been devoted entirely to the auction pusi- ness of Mr. Dowling. During its half century of existence the building has been enlarged by additions in the rear, but its exterior appear- ance has not been materially changed. To ac- commodate Mr. Dowling’s business many altera- tions have been made in the interior. There seems to be a pathetic fitness in making an auc- tion house of a building about which are clus- tered so many recollections of the past. An auction room is a constant reminder of the mu- tations of time. The old building opens it por- tals hospitably and offers a resting place to the waifs and wanderers in the line of furniture and other personal property—the floating debris from. wrecked fortunes, the drift that tells of homes broken up and families dispersed and scattered over the face of the earth. f Vennsylvania avenue, between 12th and 13th streets. ‘The front office was pro- Vided with a semi-circular window projecting Upon the street, which formed an outlook irom Which one standing inside could look up and down the thorouchfare. Much of the engraving &nd lithographing used in illustrating reports and public documents of that day was done in this office. After the building was erected the two Stores occupying the ground floor were devoted to the sale of dry-goods, and they were con- Gidered very desirable business stands. The Corner store was kept by Mr. Walker,a brother- in-law of Mrs. Gales, and in the adjoining store Messrs. Pittman & Lawrie displayed their tempting tabrics to the belles of that day. Up Stairs on the second floor the whole area of the building was thrown into one room and there Mr. Peter Force had his printing office. The building was lef in an unfinished state, the Fooms not having been partitioned off. 4 CHOLERA HOSPITAL. When the cholera visited the clty in 1832 Mr. Stone gave the use of the building as a hospital, tt being commodions, and the size of the rooms giving it especial advantages for hos- Pital purposes. Rows of cots took the place of Printers’ cases. Afterwards the building was @aished and Mr, Stone moved into it with his family, his increasing business demanding more eommodious quarters than those afforded by his house on the north side of the Avenue. Tiere bis family resided until 1842. Subsequently it ‘Was taken by Edward Green, a cabinet-maker. ‘Whose establishment was famous in tts time. After that the building was again invaded by the Journalist apd the printer and Tum Even- Ee A Few Thincs Czar Peter Did. H. 8. Edwards in Harper's for June. Peter the Great is a many-sided figure, and such a huge one that to view him from allpointa would involve the making of avery considerable circuit. It would be easy to show that he was @ coarse sensualist, and he had undoubtedly many of the tastes of a mere barbarian. He drank to excess, and delighted in such practical Jokes as serving up live rats and mice in a ple-dish covered over with the usual paste. When he was in England his favorite exercise consisted In charging with a wheelbarrow a trimly-cut quickset hedge, which had at one time tormed the Jy of its garden-loving pro- prietor. He not only sentenced to death, but apparently himself Killed the disaffected son whom he had thrown into prison, and who per- ished there. If you inquire in the museum of the Hermit- age at St. Petersburg who carved those wooden figures, who turned those Ivory ornaments, who made that pair of boots, who built that boat, the answer is always, ‘the Czar Peter.” Inquire further who reformed the old Slavonic alphabet by introducing into it the symbols of sounds pe- culiar to the Russian lan; ; who altered the constitution of the Russian church so astomake the czar of Russia, in lieu of the triarch of Constantinople, its head; who - ished fac- tories in Russia; who forced the Russian nobles, willing or unwilling, to accept the duties of state service, under pain of losing their privileges; who formed the Russian army; who created the ENG Srar. which had begun its existence in Other quarters, was Issued from there. The store en the corner has been occupied by a number of firms. Prior to 1567 it was a music store kept by Metzerott & Hitz. In that year it became ‘Mrst associated with the business to which it has since remained steadfast. Cooper & Latimer, Suctioneers, the successors of Mr. James ‘MeGutre, who for many years was located at the forner of 10th and D ‘streets, moved Into the ding, and there conducted an establishment ‘which has developed into the large concern that Bow occupies the whole building. Six years afterwards the firm name changed to Latimer & Cleary. and subsequently Mr. Thomas Dowling Succeeded this firm, Mr. Marcus Latimer re- Woaining with him as business manager and ‘euctioneer. Since the building was erect tions have been silently ‘and Wrought. In its early days It saw the old stage foach gradually make way for the steam cars. Within the period of its history the telegraph has been developed. But more intimately is its Aistory associated with that of THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRINTING. When Mr. Peter Force had his office there, Science and Inventive genius had done little to wid the printer since the days of Benjamin \Franhlin. The paper published by Mr. Force “was printed on a hand press like that of Frank- Nin’s time. The same building contained before ‘he haif century was ended appliances of modern aeharacter nid have astounded any Bes of Mr. Peter Force's day, if they bad been ‘ed, many revolu- tei with mystical power to look into the , Jt would have taken many days with which THe Star's Improved presses will Btrike off in less than an hour. Mr. Kobert M. ‘Waters, the printer, served a part of his appren- iceship in Mr. Force's office when it was located an this buil Yo hima Sax reporter ap- Piet for some recollections of the days when he building was in its hey day of youth. YUE RECOLLECTIONS OF ONE OF MR. FORCE’S APPRENTICES. “My recollection of the building,” Mr. Waters aid, “extends back to 1830. Col. Peter Force, assisted by John Agg, then published the National Journal there, a whig paper, you know, Jobn Quiney Adama. The Ne oan - meer, edited by Joseph Gales, sre the only two papers of ang note then pub- ished in Washington. I was an then, and learned my trade in that. - It ‘Was & handsome ba! then, about the hand- we presses, and we uscd to fashioned presses with which the Na- | ‘aurnal was equipped, to have printed the | Russian navy; who bullt St. Petersburg—‘“the window,” as some one has said, “from which Russia looks out upon Europe;” who first led Russian levies with success against trained Eu- Fopean troops; who among the czars was the first to get himself formally recognized by Eu- Tope as “emperor ;” who among the czars and emperors commenced that unceasing war against Turkey, which, beginning with a defeat, capitulation, and the nearest ape to the rsonal surrender of the czar, has at length ught Russia up to and beyond the Balkans, and placed her, but for the political attitude of other powers, and the strategical position of Austria, within easy reach of Constantinople; who, with Russian ships, first navi, the Caspian; who, with Russian troops, first made war =o Persia ; who sent out the first Russian expedition against Khiva, with instractions to its chief to dispatch from Khiva military, naval and commercial agents “ sed as tradi to India? In every case, the Czar Peter. Whether Peter was what is called “‘good” need yy be considered, and certainly cannot be decid Exhorted on his death-bed to repent of some very bad actions which he had undoubt- edly committed, he said that God would Judge him not by isolated deeds, but by the general tenor of his life. He was far more remarkable for energy, in every possible direction, than for piety or any ‘sort of moral quality. He did not, however, like killing the wrong man, and when he was decapitating, with his own hand, the rebellious strelitzes, or “archers,” who, detesting his Innovations from the West, had, during“his absence from Russia, risen in insurrection against him, he hesitated to strike one bold young soldier, who advanced gayly toward the block, exclaiming: “Make room here!” and kicking, on either side, the fallen heads which stopped the way. “This man will | be of use to me,” thought Peter. He spoke a few words to him, pardoned him, and gave him | a commission in one of the regiments that he was forming. The forgiven one proved worthy of his ion. His name was Orloff, and his descendants have often shown the same reck- leas daring which, as exhibited by the founder of the family, made so striking an Impression on the mind of Peter. - lera” Non-Believers Incompetent as Wit- meswes, The suit of Edwin M. Lucas against Michael x ‘hich supported the administration of | @- Piper to recover €4,000, alleged to be due as ai a ‘ational Journal and | salary, came on trial in Philadelphia last Satur day for a second time, before Judge Elcock and ajury. A witness named Boeckle was called, but his testimony was objected to on the ground that he did not believe in a personal God and in a of divine rewards and ——————$$<_ Under the new civil code of California the earnings of the wife are not lable for the debts of the husband. THE REAL ESTATE MARKET. The Condition of Affairs as Reported by Different Dealers. THE GROWTH OF THE CITY—A DEALER WHO THINKS HIGH-WATER MARK HAS BEEN REACHED IN THE NORTHWEST—NEW BUILDINGS TO BE ERECTED, The steady growth and rapid improvement bf the city finds an index in thereal estate market. Real estate dealers and brokers, while disagree- ing upon the question asto whether the pres- ent movement isa “boom” or not, unite in de- scribing affairsas healthy and promisjng. A “boom” is understood to be a sudden, phenom- enal activity by dealers who discard the word. They claim that the present condition of affairs is the result of steady growth and progress, and is not liable toany sudden reaction, such as threaten “booms.” THE HIGH WATER MARK IN PRICES REACHED. As an incident showing how property has ad- vanced in late years in some portions of the city, Mr. Danenhower, the real estate dealer, told @ Star reporter an experience of his. He said that a well-known business man came to him and inquired about good building sites, as he wished to erect a house for his own use. A piece of ground was shown him facing on Dupont circte, which the owner was anxious to dispose of at $1 per foot. This was a year ago last fall. The purchase was not made at the time, and the matter ran along until last fall, when another inquiry was made as to the seliing price of this same plece of land. The owner then wanted €2.50, and this spring he sold it for $3. The gentleman who had a chance to purchase at a dollar a foot wasfinally obliged to take aless desirable lot, paying $1.75 per foot. On the other hand, Mr. Danenhower says that property has begun to decline in the rforthwest, and he cites one piece of property, eligibly located, which is now held at $1.75 per foot, although a short time ago $2 was asked. He thinksthat the prices now prevailing Inthe north- est will not last for more than four or five years, and that property can never reach the fancy figures it has in New York. He remem- bers whem the locality between 13th and 16th 1 I streets was the most fashionable In y and real estate ran high. Zach. Chand- ler at that time bought the house on H near 14th for 232,000, which was regarded as a very reasonable figure. Of late years It has been standing idle, and recently was sold for $20,000. Mr. Danenhower says that this is a fair sample of how property has depreciated in that local- ity, and predicts that the same may be expected in the northwest. He thinks that there is too much land here for prices to reach a very high point and remain there. THE DEMAND FOR SMALL HOUSES. Mr. J. J. Sutphen, the real estate broker, said: “In my opinion Washington has become of age. The city is now a fixed fact. The tendency in real estate is naturally upward. People of ample means find that after traveling all over the world that this city is the most comfortable place of residence.” “Now I claim,” he continued, “that this fact underlies the future growth and prosperity of the city. It is the mother city of all the United States. Here people will continue to come.” “It 1s a singular fact,” remarked Mr. Sutphen after a pause, “and one too indicative of the solid character of the present movement in real estate, that the capitalists of Baltimore and Philadelphia, who have been inclined In the past to ridicule this city. are now sending their mo- ney over here for investment. In Baltimore a man who gets 6 per cent on a real estate invest- ment thinks that he is doing pretty well, but here it is not unusual for such an investment to yleld a return ot 8 and 10 per cent.” “Is the bullding boom about exhausted?” asked the reporter. * “I think not,” was the reply. ‘We want more houses in this city to accommodate the peo- He who want homes. We have not one surplus ‘ouse Dow, when we onght to have ten. Every day inquiries come to me for rented houses. There could bea large number of houses at a rental of from $10 to $25 easily rented Just now, and itis wonder to me that some moneyed man does not turg his attention to building houses of a moderate rental.” IMPROVING FOR SEVERAL YEARS PAST. Mr. E. A. McIntyre notices quite a demand for houses for rent and properties for sale in all sections of the city. He thinks, however, that we are not Justified in calling ita “boom,” for it is not a sudden start, but business has been improving for several years past. History in this regard, as In other matters, “repeats itself,” and the questions of demand and supply reg- ulate the subject. Mr. McIntyre says he has had, however, a steady number of applications for the larger and more fashionable style of houses, and notices an increasing demand from non-residents for this class of property. He at- tributes this, in a measure, to the fact that many heretofore living in the states have found upon visiting Washington that it is one of the most pleasant, beautiful, healthy and economical cities in which to make a residence. He has noticed lately an inclination of certain parties to try other sections than the northwest, and thinks the high eioee will drive many to other sections from which people were driven for like cause years ago on the original planning ot the city. Such ventures, however, have been made principally in the erection of small or medium- sized houses, those being the kind now in most demand and alwayve most profitable. Mr. McIn- tyre thinks the money market quite easy, and reports that clients frequently prefer to sell on terms of one-third or one-fourth cash rather than “‘all cash,” and ag a consequence little, if any, difference in prices haa been made in sales for cash. INDICATIONS OF A SOUND MARKET. “The condition of the real estate market 1s good," remarked Messrs. Duvall & Marr to a Star reporter. “There is a rising market and prices are on the increase all over the city. It is not confined to any one section as it used to be. People who want property don't consider whether it is best to buy or not, but they buy first and think about it afterwards,” “The great drawback to the sale of property in some sections of the city,” they continued, “is because the government reservations and public parks have not been improved.” _ ‘What is the character of this movement?” asked the reporter. “It is not speculative, but very healthy all around. People can get on Columbia Heights pro) 'y for 25 or 30 cents per foot in a better, higher pre than they can in any other part Yy- ofthe We know of a number of houses that are to be built there by business men of this city.’ / “another indication of the condition of the market is the fact that there 1s less money being loaned, and no forced sales to speak of. Any money that is borrowed now, as a rule, is to bi with and improve property.' SALE OF THE KINGMAN ESTATE. The Kingman mansion, as well as the adjoin- ing property belonging to the late Eliab King man, corner 14th and P streets, was sold at auction yesterday alternoon. The lots facing P street, containing 7,865 feet, sold for $1.85 per square foot. Those facing on 14th street, the same size, on which the mansion is situated, brought $1.24 per foot, and the lots north of the mension $1.26 per foot. There were in all about 20,000 square feet. The lots facing Kingman Place, @ private street, between 18th, 14th, P and Q streets, sold at [eed Tanging from 43 to 52 cents per square foot. Several lots on Q street, between 13th and 14th, belonging to the same estate, sold for 68 cents per square foot. The lots facing on P and 14th streets were pur- chased by Mr. C. C. Willard. It is stated that Mr. Willard proposes to erect an apartment house on the ground. TWO FINE HOUSES SOLD, John Sherman & Co. have gold the remaining two ofthe handsome row of houses Just erected by them on 18th street, between M and Massa- oa — sai od bees hoe by jongressman Jas. H. Hopkins’ for , ant the other by Mr Franiain Stool jr of Min- nesota, for €M4,000. BUILDING LESS PROFITABLE THAN FORMERLY, Mr. John Henderson, carpenter and builder, at 1214 E street northwest, sald there was, un- doubtedly, more building in progress this spring than at former seasons, ‘put it was less Profitable. He attributed the fact that building Goes not pay the builders and contractors so well as formerly to the high prices of material and of skilled labor. He sald that the expense oo work is out of proportion to other we 4 NEW HOUSE ON PENNSYLVANIA-AVENUE. Mra, Blanche Lacey has commenced the ereo- tion of @ good house, three stories and base- ment, on Pennsylvania avenue, between 224 and 28d streets. This will be 21 by 45 feet, and will contain about 14 rooms, so planned :as will give the greatest amount of counfort and con- a The front will be of mansard roof, moulded brick cornice, by furnace in cellar. Mesars. a Co. are the afchitects and builders. The cost will be €6,000. ‘SUBURBAN RESIDENCE. Mr. John judd is about to erect a comfor- table and elegant two-story dpelling et Mount Pleasant, county, size 20 by 58 feet on the ground, with size of back building 22 feet 6 inches by 16 feet and two stories high. The material will be of stone and pressed brick, and not an im Bxture of any kind will be omitted to make this a model dwelling for com- fort. Mr. F.G. Atkinson is the architect and nee J. Shang: builder. The cost will be — DEADLY! POLITENESS. A Very Young Preacher's Experience on the Mississippi River. From the Arkansaw Traveller. “« Nearly every man who ever traveled on the Mississippi river in the old days can relate an interesting experience,” said the Rev. Mr. Jack- son, a minister whose reputation as an impas- sloned public orator has gone beyond thebound- aries of Arkansas. ‘There was something about a Mississippi river experience that tended to ald In vivid reproduction. The grand floating drawing-rooms, the wealth displayed at every turn, and the studied politeness and conven- tional ceremony of @ supposed good breeding which you everywhere meet, all come up at once in reportrayal of a character which, thus surrounded, you have contemplated. But all of this politeness and exhibition of good breeding, I must say, was but the white foam on muddy water. It was the courtesy that could grasp the hand of @ new acquaintance or shoot an old friend. “Io the spring of 1850 I boarded a grand steamer at New Orleans bound for up the river. I was a very young preacher at that time, and was under orders to repair to a small eommu- nity and assist in conducting a revival. There was something of a war being waged between two churches, and it stood our church in hand to concentrate forces or lose ascendancy in the neighborhood — These were the days of political and religious vigor, and avowed opposition in religious contests was regarded as being no more out of place or in ill keeping with the faith than the fierce struggles engaged in by the Whigs and Democrats. I was told at headquar- ters that another young preacher would be sent to assist me, and that if | needed more help to make my demands known at once. When I boarded the boat I looked around for my com- anion-in-arms, whose name I even had not learned. The closest search talled to discover my assistant, and concluding that he had either preceded or would come after me, I dismissed the matter and settled down to the quiet enjoy- nent of the occasion. “There were quite a number of gamblers— polished gentlemen—on board, and although I was opposed to gambling, I could not refrain from looking on and contemplating with what serenity of countenance the players alternately parted with thousands of dollars. “¢ Won't you take a hand?’ asked one of the players one evening, addressing a young, pleas- ant-looking gentleman who stood near. ‘I never play,’ he remarked. *¢ Won't do you any harm.’ “ I know it won't, for I don’t intend to play,’ “The gentleman is arare joker,’ replied a tall man Who handled cards with an ease and lost with a good will that almost challenged respect. “Yes, replied the young gentleman, ‘a rare Joker, because it is rare that I joke.’ “Ah, and a punster,’ said the tall man, re- linquishing $1,000 with a smile. “It makes little difference to you what 1 am. I came here to quietly look on, not intending to engage inthe game or the conversation, and, especially, not to be the butt of any jokes that might arise from ill luck or success at the table. Regardless of the business you follow, 1 hope that you are wellevough acquainted with the manners of gentlemen to treat an unobtrusive looker on with civility, if not with courtesy.’ “-You speak well,’” exclaimed the tall man. ‘T hope that 1 am a gentleman of good birth and education, and I hope that I have not insulted you. IfIhave, I sincerely ber vou pardon. Grant it willingly, and all will well; reluct- antly, and, asa gentleman, which you undoubt- edly profess to be, you know your recourse.” ““Buttor your last remark,I would have heartily forgiven you of any intehtfon to insult me. As itis, 1 donot grant pardon, realizing that a gentleman Is not expected to have deal- ings withsuch @ man as you. And, further- aoe let me say that I regard youas a cowardly villain.’ “The tall man sprang to his feet and drew a Bow eau: The quiet man did not even look at him. “ “Take that back, or I'll rub your heart over your face!” “Byery one arose, but no one felt disposed to prevent bloodshed.’ , “*‘I said that I regarded you as a cowardly villain. Keep cool and I'll tellyou why. While we were engaged in insinuating conversation I saw you steal a roll of bills from that man,’ pointing to one of the players. ‘Until then,and ut for the remark you made trying to compel a cheerful granting ot pardon. I was disposed to pay ttle attention to anything you might Say. Now, sir, [have made my statement. have been led into this, and I may regret the consequences—don't hold him—but I shall make no concession “The tall man’s eyes actually glared. ‘I have killed five men, and ali for less than this,’ he exclaimed, ‘Get out of the way! I'll cut him in two!” “*Get out of the way!’ said the quiet man. “It would greatly please me if he were to sit down and conduct himself less dangerously, but it he ts determined upon a wicked action, Jet him be under no restraint.’ “*You are foolish!” exclaimed one of the gamblers, turning to the quiet man. ‘You are not armed, asdeven if you were Capt. Aicle would kill you. Iam the man from whom you say he purloined the bills. I saw the action, but did not dare to interpose.’ “*8o this is Capt. Alcle?’ sald the young gentleman. ‘Ihave heard of him. He has s very unsavory reputation in New Orleans. If well-constructed reports be true he is not only a thief, but a murderer.’ “*Get out of my way!’ howled the Captain, and, struggling, he threw his companions aside and sprang forward. Like a sudden revolution of a wheel—like an action whose quickness | cannot be contemplated—the young man drew @ derringer and sent a ball through the Cap- tain’s brain, eine jam instantly: oo “* ‘Gentlemen,’ the man, ing to talk ere the smoke ued ‘I had more than one reason for committing this deed; I was in- sulted, as you saw, and was in danger, as you know; but, worse of all, that man murdered my father. I did not contemplate Killi but, aa I sald, I would have granted lon his insulting taunts. From the first, though, I con- templated his arrest, which I should have ac- complished had he not ipted to take my life. Iam sorry that I have caused such confu- sion, and I hope that you will all, as I know God will, forgive me.’ “He walked away, gracefully bowing to some one who hurried to the scene of the tragedy. The boat was soon landed. The Captain's ac- quaintance took charge of the body. and went ashore. We were 8000 on our way again, and but for certain Uttle influences that hung around no one would have known that a trag- edy had been enacted. ir of music, a common steamboat feature in those days, struck up a lively air, and the only suggestive remembrance of the Captain's death was the he carpet where @ boy had mopped awa-the lood. “It was late at night when I reached my land- ing. Alone I made my way to the nearest house, where, after my business was known, I was kindly received. Next day I attended church and was at once escorted to the pulpit, behind which some half dozen preachers were seated. A well-known minister arose and said that two reachers from New Orleans had arrived. Brothers Jackson (myself) and Mable and. that Brother Mableson would first address the congregation. The gentleman arose, and imagine my surprise ‘when I recognized in the vacher the quiet young getitleman who had Kittea he Captain. He delivered an ea powerful sermon, and.after services ap) me and extending his hand, said: **You must excuse me for not making my-| di selfknown to you. J kept my identity under a aaa ed m; "s murderer, an: 01 that if] revealed my Identity my'plasia might be 1 said, I only intended to follow and arrest him at the next town, but you see how it resulted.” mate acquaintance perme the —— ie een man and’ me, Some time after a ees A —— Grammar, From the Savannah: 3 “The boy clum the tree and made the coon git,” wrote a Burke county teacher on the blackboard. ‘Now, pupils, where's the bad grammar in that sentence?” None dared hazard @conjecture. The pedagogue called them a set of wooden heads, with brains aa soft as equash pe Then he triumphantly altered the “git” lato “get,” and bade them admire the pute, un- adultetated sentence as it stoud fresh from the hands of a master. * A-Parson’s Story. From Peck's Sun. One evening last week there was atea party at the residence of a deacon, and after supper the gentlemen went to the smoking- room, and smoked and told stories, while the ladiés visited and exchanged pleces of silk neckties and ribbons for making silk quilts. The men got to talking about the changes that occur in people’siives in a few years, and each had some Illustration in his own experience. The young minister had been a quiet listener, and smoked his cigar in adreamy sort ofa way, and when they had all had an inning telling stories the doctor said to the minister: “Elder, you must have noticed, as much as anybody, the changes that time brings. Can't you jo us something funny in your experi- ence?” “Iwas Just thinking,” said the Elder as he threw his cigar stub in the cuspidore and took a fresh one and lit it, “‘ofsomething that ha pened to me last winter {n Chicago, and I will tell it to you to illustrate how added years bring puelligeace to the most of us, though it cannot bring forgetfulness, and to illustrate also how & man may be reasonably smart in knowledge of the world and not know enough to keep his mouth shut at the proper time. About twenty- five years , when I was eight years of age. my people lived ina little town, and I was al- lowed to run loose about the neighborhood. You wouldn’t believe it to look at me now, but I was a terror. That is, I was full of fun; oh, so full. Iwas up to ail sorts of mischief, and my good father and mother feared that 1 would never amount to much, and I guess they fear it now, but that is neither here nor there. “Among my playmates was a little gn of my own age, @ bright little thing with blue eyes and brown hair, and a dimple in her cheek. If I was a terror she was a terroresas. She could climb a tence quicker than I could, and outrun me, and wasn’t afraid of anything, and we were the best friends you ever saw. Her name was Susan. One day we were playing in the back yard, bare-footed, and something induced us to go into her father’s barn. In looking around for something to amuse us I found a couple of pots of paint that her “ather had been using about the house. One pot was red and the other green. We took the brushes and painted the Stalls in the barn red and one wheel of her father’s wagon green, and finally she suggested that we paint our feet. So I painted one of her feet green and the other red, and she painted mine, and then I rolled up my pants and she painted clear up to my knees, and then she cot Jealous because 1 had more style than she did, and so I painted her legs also, but I strij them, the stripes of alternate green and red running around like a barber pole. Being a girl, we argued that it was right she should be more gaudy than me. “Well, I have seen beautiful paintings since, and have done a littie with the brush since ar- riving at man’s estate, but I have never seen anything that gave me the satisfaction, asa work of art, that the work of that afternoon in the studio in the barn did. I have seen marble sculpture of the human form divine in the gal. leries of the Old and New World since, but I have never seen anything that could hold a candle to the landscape that I painted on Susan. She was s0 tickled that she had to go right into the house and show the chromo to her mother, and it was not more than a minute before a sol- itary horseman, about eight years old, with one leg green and the other red, might have been seen going over a picket fence Just ahead of Susan's mother’s mop. I got home alive, and presented a picture to my mother that she had never seen in her wildest dreams, Paint every- where. And she warmed me, and Susan's mother across the street warmed her, and us two young artists mingled our cries across the dusty street. “I need not dwell on the weeke of sony we endured in having that paint removed. There was some sort of dryer in the paint that made it dry and shine, and it seemed to penetrate clear to the bone. At least it did on me, and I suppose Susan was made of the same kind of clay. Any way, all the time we lived in that¢town after that, Susan wore stockings, and I judged she was having the same trouble 1 was, being washed every night in benzine, until f almost wished there was no such thing as being an artist. I had almost forgotten the circumstances in a busy life, until last winter, I was down to Chicago to a missionary con- vention. There were delegates from all over the country. and many of us took our wives. One evening, after the business of the con- vention was over, there was a reception at the residence of one of the directors of the society, and I was introduced to the wife of a brother minister. There was something about her eyes that seemed sort of familiar, and finally she told who she was, and, as sure as I am amoking this five-cent cigar, it was Susan. Well, we talked about old times and old friends for a long time, and of the good work her hus- band was doing out west; but for the life of me Icould not keep my mind off that incident ot the paint. Here she was, a grown woman; the glorious eyes she had in youth were even more beautiful, and her smile was enough to break up & prayer moening: but I could only see her as she looked when I got cee painting her. Becoming familiar, I finally said, * By the way, Susan, I would like to ask you one question,’ and she sald ‘Certainly,’ and I allowed my eye to twinkle a little, and I asked “Susan, tell me, did you ever get that paint off your——" “* ‘Sir!’ said she, her whole frame showing the greatest indignation, and Just thena bald-headed. Preacher came up, and she turned to me and said, ‘Thisis my husband. Husband, this is an old triend of my youth; one who knew me when we went barefooted together.’ “‘ah, indeed, glad to meet you,’ sald the brother. ‘My wife has often told me about how you and she used to handle the paint-brush and transform nature into hi; art, and—eh, she is gone.’ I looked around for Susan, and she had taken the arm of another minister and gone to the refreshment room, and before I could see her again she had gone home, and I never saw her after. But for several nights my dreams were filled with visions of hand-painted articles, barns, indignant mothers with brooms, benzine and sweet oll, and a pair of the loveliest eyes that ever were seen. But here is my wife with her things on. What, time to go home? Well, good night; but for goodness’ sake, gentlemen, jon’t say that I told you about the paint busi- hess.” —————+e-_____. Tae Famovs Starvation CLus was ized in Richmond, Va., when the war was at its height. Tie club was so organized, says a Rich- mond correspondent ot the Philadelphia Times, as to meet almost entirely the demand for enter- taining the soldiers. It met weekly at private residences. The membership included almost ey young lady ana gone married lady ot goo tion (not in deep mourning) in the city. No cards were issued at all, but it was understood that every member of the club could extend an invitation to any or soldier of his acquaintance visiting the city. The club night was as well known to the soldiers in camp and within fifty or one hundred miles of Richmond as to the occupants of the city and it @ furlough of only a tew days was ob- tained it was apt to include the club night, and so to afford an op to meet a host of friends at and genial piles, = parties aes wholly innocent of af Yefreshment whatever, eaeae dancing an cold etre The dressing ar —— ments, as tho war progressed, would anywhere else Have been, grotesque, in the extreme— black alpaca, red skirt, id and white mus- Un enjoyed a short-lived glory never known to them before, while domestic and home- spun vied with the old-time brocaded and antique laces exhumed from the family chests volutionary days and reproduced with immense eclat. The shoes worn by the dell- cate feet of the Southern girls were marvels of deformity, discomfort and dilapidation, for there was @ time when they could scarcely be bought et any pree. Our sh were tn the field, our tanneries quite broken pp. and the blockade runners found it impossi- ble to bring into the lines even an approximate sup ly for the army and the people. “Look!” a witty friend to me, one in 1863, as she displayed to me with apair of were quite northern in their | to have heard of a new process of painting dia- — ALL NOT DIAMONDS THAT GLITTER How Imprecious Sten: Pat te Teseubio ‘Dollar Gems. ‘The Travels of the San. From the New York Sum. The mildness of the nights and the genera} clearness of the air in thelatter part of May, and during June up to the summer 6olstice, com- bine to make thisthe most fayorabie season for viewing the double stars. Fortanately, at this game season many of the most beautiful and celebrated double stars in the heavens are fa- vorably situated for observation. A double star is one which appears single to the naked eye, but which when viewed with a telescope Is secn to be composed of two stars, generally of differ- ent magnitudes, and often of different colors, There are also triple stars, quadruple stare, octuple stars, and etarsin cluster as thick as ®& swarm of golden bees. The interest im these wonderful objects 1s greatly heightened when we refiect that they are not mere shining specks or points, but huge suns, which appear minute simply on account of thelr immense distance from us. In many cases direct bas been obtained that these double and suns are actually held in leash by their ma- tual gravitation, and are swinging sround and around like os holding one another at arm's length. are any plancts traction of these x From the Scientific American. The latest fraud in precious stones furnishes carious confirmation of the law of chromatic Contrasts; and an unexpected illustration of Shakespeare's saying: “To gila refined gold, to paint the lily.” About six months ago the owner of a magni. ficent gem, which he had supposed to be a Bra- zilian diamond ofthe first water, suddenly found \t reduced to about one-fifth Its value by being accidentally washed with soapsuds. This simple process revealed its trae character as a yellow African diamond of Inferior grade. This trick, which was originally played In Paris, has since been reproduced in this country, and it is rumored that a single firm on Chatham street was thus swindled out of many thousands of dollars without being able to detect the perpe- ‘tator of the frand. A case of the sort is now tn the New Haven courts, being tried by Judge Deming, some of the particulars of which may be of interest, and serve to put persons on thelr guard against what isteaily an ingenlous deception. Jacob Nepel, a manufacturing jeweler in that city, had several diamot obeyii the value, which he di of by an it to Mr. suns, the ecene ted to them ‘must be Edward Engel, a diamond broker seventeen beyond Jeeigtion. This singular ity is heightened by the contrast in. the colors ot many of the double stars. Some of these colors, and the manner tn which they are contrasted, produce most charming effects. For instance, the star called Mirac in Bootes consists of two stara, one of which is 0! and the other | greg green. Albireo, in “4 constellation of the Swan, consists of a golden yellow and an indigo blue star. In the double star Eta Casslopele the colors are white and puyple; in Zeta Orionis they are yellow and @ Tost strange unnamed color, until of the hues of the rainbow, or any of the known to artists; in "Xt the colors are white and deep’ scarlet. of a w lighted by two suns, one pouring forth white rays and the other blood-red rays, and one per- haps rising when the other sets, producing in the sky an alternation of these colors! In view of the singular phenomena presented by the double stars it ts a startling thought that asthe sun pursues his long journey through space he may possibly fall in ‘with a traveling companion tn the shape of another sun as large as or larger than himself, and 80 become a mem- ber of a double-star system. While the motions of the double stars furnish evidence that the law of gravitation extends throughout the universe, yet we have no evidence that the clock-like regularity with which the planets in our system pursue their elliptical paths governs ali the motions of the heavenly bodies. The sua and the stars are journeying in various directions throt Space, but, except in the case of the double stars, we cannot say that they are moving io regular orbits. In fact. we know that some stars, like the celebrated 1830 Groombridge, which has been called a rune’ sun, are rushing ahead at such a velocity ali the gravitating power of all the bodies in the known universe cannot stop them. If,then, thestars, including our sun, are mi uke swarming bees in various directions, some of , Whose masses and velocities happen to be bagel experience. The gems were faultless, mt the low price set on them awoke suspicion that my, were either stolen or spurious. Sev- eral k dealers examined them, using a mi- croscope for the purpose, and pronounced them fine old mine diamonds and worth five or six times their price. Mr. Engel then took them to New York and exhibit them to Messrs. Heller & Bardell, importers and dealers in precious stones, who were also deceived by the appearance of the gems, until the owner men- tioned his suspicions. Mr. Heller, remembering monds. took one of the studs, estimated to be worth from $1,000 to $1.500, washed it in soap suds, and found It to be acheap African diamond worth perhaps €140. ‘The rest of the set proved to have been tampered with in a similar man- ner. On returning to New Haven, Mr. BE sought redress through the courts,and pro! will get it. Chipeta’s Address to the Utes. ‘Translated by Bill Nye. People of my tribe! The sorrowing widow of the dead Ouray speaks to you. She comes to you, not as the squaw of the dead chieftain, to rouse you to war and victory, but to weep with you over the loss of her people and the greed of the pale face. The fair Colorado, over whose rocky moun- tains we have roamed and hunted in the olden time, Is now overrun by the silver-plated Sena- tor and the soft-eyed dude. We are driven to a small corner of the earth to die, while the oppressor digs gopher holes in the green grass and sells them to the speculator of the great cities toward the riaing sun. Throngh the long, cold winter my people have passed, in want and cold, while. the conqueror of the peaceful Ute has worn $250 night shirts and filled his pale skin with ple. Chipeta resses you as the weeping squaw of a great man whose bones will one day nour- ish the cucumber vine. Ouray now sleeps be- peath the brown grass of the canyon, where the soft spring winds may stir the dead leaves and the young coyote may come and monkey o'er his grave. cis Aa ees in the ways of the pale face. He could not go to Congress, for he was not a citizen of the United States. He had not ny even without any collision; loterval of time which must elapse before such @ thing can this consideration of taken out his second papers. He was a simple “ (grid of alarm. child of the forest, but he stuck to Chipeta. He » independently of its effect the loved Chipeta like a hired‘man. That is why | Planets, the future career of our son the widowed squaw weeps over him. A few more years and I shall join Ouray—my Chtef Ouray, the big iInjun from away up the gulch. His heart is still open to me. Chipeta could trust him, even among the smiling mald- ens of her tribe. Ouray wastrue. There was no tunny business in his nature. He loved not the garb of the pale face, but won my heart while he worea saddle blanket anda look of woe. | Chipeta looke to the north and to the south, and all about are the graves of her people. The refinement of the oppressor has come, with its divorces and schools and gin cocktalla,and flour bread and fall elections, and we linger here like @ boll on the neck of a fat man. Ever while I talk to you the damp winds of April are sighing through my vertebre, and I've got more pains in my back than a consery- atory. Weep with the widowed Chipeta. Bow your head and howl. for our lamps are hung on the willows and our wild goose is cooked. Who will be left to mourn at Chipeta’s grave? None but the starving of my nation. scope reveals, heavens, he would carry the earth, bearing relics of the human race with him, into the per- petual daylight which must overspread such @ glorious congregation of suns. There is another consideration, however, which less agreeable § ot @ mass equal to or greater than bis own! The law of the conservation of energy teaches us that a terrific conflagration would result, in which worlds would be consumed like crack- ling shingles in @ bonfire. But instead of running against a dark body the sun might merely fall within Its attraction, and, tne cen- papooses We stand in the gray tmist of spring like dead burdocks in the field of the honest farmer; and the chilly winds of departing winter make us jump and gather like a burnt boot. tripetal and centrifugal forces beli bal- anced, the two—a living sun and a dead one— would henceforth go swinging about their com- mon center in an endless waltz. There is evi- RY CE edd Po Colorado is no more the home of the Ute. It | of the other suns owe singed nd is the dwelling place of the bonanza Senator, who doesn’t know the difference between the plan of salvation and the previous question. Chipeta cannot vote. Chipeta cannot pay taxes toa nation, but you will be apt t9 hear her genfle voice, and mellow racket will fill the air till her tongue is cold and they tuce the buffalo robe about her and plant her by the side of her dead chi ,wherethesouth wind and the sage hen are German Novels. From Biaorwood's Magazine, That the Germans are not much of a novel- Teading nation ts shown by the prices at which thelr novels are published. The circulating Ubrary system does not flourish to the prejndice of the publishers, and yet the trade can proft stra eyes in vain to catch a glimpse of it; and it is believed that the variations in the light of the remarkable wink- ing star in Perseus, which the Arabs named the chained to a rayless skeleton; but that a to be one of the strange chances which geolar traveler in the wonder-filled deeps of — —_——_—_-oo —__—_—_ Tumult im Parliament. From the Pall Mall Gazette. The oldest members ot the house can remember figures to the tront opposition bench. There was 8 lull for a few minutes, and then Mr. Callan and two or three tory members rushed trom behind the speaker's chair and announced in pes i whispers the numbers in the lobby. = Chi | i #3 PHS ie | i i FY Sag bead report remained unmoved. The Speak: peless of restoring order, stood up, and, aml hed yearn narad eo. Sonat. the cler! read the remaining orders, which were disposed unusual alacrity, and the House ay Fz 8 i et me a3 Sas a ——~+--—____ Mr. Smith's Baby. From the Denver Tribune. balls, with flirting-bowers am: the hothouse pe fo shad: my more-| There was a great commotion at the Inter Ocean hotel yesterday morning. The clerks, porters, chambermaida, bell-boys, and walters flew around, up stairs and down, in the moat reckless and aimless manner, One unacquainted with the cause of the confusion might have sus- pected that a case of smallpox had been discov- ered in the house. There was « nolsy rushing hither and go geo! femaler, wearing Hepes) ant carrying, pelencoar ail drified to and from the doot of ‘Mr. and airs Charles H. Smith's apartment. i a i ie ir 8 ry é Stricken by Death While Laughing. wine Sg Mrs. Ella Kane, of 816 south 6th street, So, de roped Me. Sith, tn ol, ft Camden, Pa., was laughing heartily at @ story | tones: “It is not a boy. What on. cry which her husband was telling ber last Saturday we want of @ boy. It is @ girl, when to the latter's surprise she sud- se ts ho mee eee Genly fell from her chair to the floor. She was | ever eyes upon, and I am found to have dled and without ‘out now to @ hoop skirt, a) signs of sickness: It is that she had | 804 & piece of re heart disease. She had eaten tea | great comfort to. moth Soest sieg oF ode epg pe a Prof. Felix Adler favors cremation because he } attention for—well, say for next believes in cleanliness in death as well as in life. ! sixteen years.’