Evening Star Newspaper, September 8, 1883, Page 2

2 CITY AND DISTRICT. aE Sa THE NEW POSTAL NOTES. Dr. MacDonala Throws Light Upen the Methods of New Systom. EE RELATION OF THE POSTAL NOTE TO THE MONEY ORDER—HOW THFY CaN BE USED IN TRADE—THEIR USE AS CURRENCY—THE UGLY COLOR ACCOUNTED FOR, AND SOME REASONS WHY THEY WILL NOT BB COUNTERFEITED. Slips of paper, of a dirty yellowish color, have begun to make their appearance in the dafly mail Of business men and other citizens, and their novelty attracts a great deal of att-ntion. Every- Dody knows that these are the new postal notes. During the three years which hus elapsed since their introduction was frat suggested there has been a good deal printed tn the daily press about the character and object of these new notes. Now ‘thot the third or September has arrived, when thelr issue was suthorizet by Congress, and they are Degining to come into the everyday affairs of the Peopie, a number of questions have ari-en of a ractical charact-r, which proves that after all at hasbeen satd and publ shed the nature of this hew tssue fs pot thoroughly understood. People witl be curious about a new thing, and ask great many questions, as the dally experience of the post office officials ‘demonstrate. 1€ public will get a money Order without exchanging a word, and yet possi- Diy many know but little more about the system. The one ts new, the other is old, which probabiy Accounts for Ube difference in the effect upon the Tuseles of the pubite tongue. STRAIN UPON THS PUBLIC TONGUE Wn order that the present rush of work, so to speak, upon the public tongue might be relieved Somewhat, a STaR reporter made a call upon Dr. ‘MacDouaid, the superintendent of the money order system, with the intention of asking every possi- ble question that mizht arise in connection with these notes The doctor evidently did Rot perceive the intention of his Msitor at frst, but when began “Now. Doctor, about those postal notes?” the ter- Yor of the situation seemed to Mash upon bun 1n an Instant, and he grew pale. TOO MUCH TALKEE. ‘The fact ts, Dr. MacDonald has been talking up Postal notes pretty steadily tor the past three Years, and now that the new system Is an accom- Pished fact, he feels entitled toarest. He first Suggested the system three years ago, an ex- Plained and expounded it in public and privateever Since, aud ashe 1s a modest man, like all inven- tors, he would like iif; ministration on this sub- Ject to come to a conclusion. Tae Star inan, how- €ver. convinced him that the present was an emer- gency whicb demanded his serious attention, and, Unless he talked, the bottom would fall out of things generaily. WHAT TIE POSTAL NOTE IS. “Now,” said the doctor tna decided tone, and With a last-lap-in-a-two-mile-race expression in Bis face, “I will tell you ail about the postal note im a very few words. Tne postal note Is simply a form of mouey orders—of cheap moaey orders for sun less than $5 payable to bearer. It is not fasued in lew Of the ordinary money order, but concurreatly with money orders for sums ‘less then $5. That fs to say,the public have the option of purchasing from the postmaster at the office of jue a money order or a postal note for sums Under $5, just x3 they preter.” “If a man,” coutinued the doctor, “purchases a Money order he fee of eight ‘cents, and the Post OMlice department assumes the respon=Ibillty of g that 1 fs pald to the proper person. i he buys a postal note he pays a fee of three cents | and then transmits ft through the mail at his own Tisk. The chief d.f-rence between a money or- and @ postal note Is that while one is made ‘able to a de-ignated person Ube other is made Payuble to bearer.” SAFETY OF THE POSTAL NOTES. “Then, if a letter containing a postal note 1s Fifled the thiet can readily get it cashed?” inter- Tupted the reporter. . “Yes.” safd the doctor, “the bearer of a postal Rote ts pald the mony, but the wrong person, es- | Pecially if he bad robbed the mails, would find | some difficulty about cashing the note, perhaps | more than they Would be ready to meet.” For tn- | ‘nds the pote can tal deserip- | ame of the oMice from watch | e where It Is seat, an | the rt amount. Then, the one who uses it has to sgn his name at the bottom, and if the postmaster does Rot Know him he cau also be requtred to sign the bi in aadition, It will nat be so Tas you suppose. Besides, as a rule, | will be so small as to discourage the sof any such risk. ry design of the postal note,” re- Sumed Wedoctor after this digression, “is to take ‘the piace of the fractional currency, which was a great public convenience. There hus been a very Sehecalslewanwfrom newspaper publisuers, deal efs in.articles of m-rchandise of small value, and Others, for something that could be used in mak- | Ang sufall remit inces dy mail Ordinary postage stamps could not be redeemed, and coln was not avatlable, because It was neit safe nor conve- Bient. The post.il note meets this demand.” THEIR USE IN TRADE. “Suppose a merchant recetves a large quantity | ©f these notes, must he take them to the post Mice himself?” asked the reporter. “Certainly not,” was the reply. “These notes | are plier to bearer just as a bank eheck is The merchant gives them to his mes- Senger or clerk, and he can get them cashed at the OMice. He does not have the trouble of asSicning bo In the case of a money order.” “Can't. tpem out again in trade?” con- tinued hiprepbedét = “If une customer wiil receive them he can,” said She doctor, with a smile. “These nores are not Tegal tender, and there ia no obligation oa the art of any one to take them. I see that they ave been refused at the United States ‘Treasury, Decause they bad no facilities for cashing them. There must be someone to take the tal notes to the post office, either at the office @rawn upon or at the office of tssu. The notes are payable only af the post office. No doubt they. wht off-red at the banks, and it will simply be | a question of conventence Whether they are taken or not. SOT A CIRCULATING MEDIUM. “If they pass from hand to hand why Is not this | ew issue really a new paper currency?” suggested the reporter. . sou why these notes will not become a | genersictreulating medium,” satd the doctor, “1s | becans:,in the first place, they have only three mouths to run, and a note becom*s invalid tf not | Pald before the expiration of that time. It fs | Bot then payable, But the amount of an Invalid | pestsl not* can be obtained by the holder py Sending it through the postmaster at the office of Payment, or at the office of issue to the depart- | nent in this city, where, upon the payment of adit onal fee of three vents, a check for the smount of Issued hote payable to the holder will be | titional fee will prevent their Treacy.” \ on,” continued the doctor, “why | postal notes Wil not circulate as currency 1s an be Issued for every possible sum and when the ameunt is an odd | be Very Inconyenicut to use. For Instance, a note of $1.57, or 79 cents, or any other odd sum. You see itwould be hard to make charge.” “Then again,” said the doctor, recording the Poin: on his Mligers, “as the notes are payable at @ certain office, the Circulation 13 conflued to the tow! aoe city Where that office 13, and can’t extend i i” ‘THE UGLY COLOR EXPLAINED. “Well, doctor,” said the, reporter, going off on tack, “why did you have such an ugly “The object of that color,” was the reply, “isto Make the note anti-photographic. Brown and canary color,with green on the back, forms a com- bination of coiors that defles the camera. They will look better, however, aiter a while, when the first Tush ts over and the printers have a cuance to im- prove the press work.” THE DANGER OF COUNTERFEITING. “But the color does not guard against the skill of the counterfetter?” asked the listener. ‘0 it does not,” replied the doctor, “but every Precaution has been adopted to prevent counter- felting. The note 1s printed on thin bank note Paper, ant has very intricate designs of geometri- eal lathe work. It is po-sible, of course, for human ingenvi'y to countertett it, as {t has countertelted everyting else, but the chances are go greatly Against it that they may be safely left out of the calculation” “A counterfeit would besides,” continued the Goctor. “be very soon dtscovered, ax the notes and The stubs are ‘kept and compared wnen the ac- counts of the postmasters are made out, The notes, sfter they have been paid, are kept in the audiior’s office, Just as the money orders are, a3 Vouchers for thé money puld out.” AS COMPARED WITH THE ENGLISH. ‘The tntrotuction of the posta? note system is Teally & novelty in the postal world, although Dr. ‘MacDonald modestly terms it a modification of the English system by the adoption of the American system of punching. The dates and amounts in the note are punched out, fust as the tickets on Pullman car or a silp on‘a street car are punch -d- But there is a more material difference, which 1 4s believed will demonstrate the superiority of our system. ‘The postal note In use in England ts only for de- nated amounts, such as two shilling-, &c., and ‘when an odd sum ts sent, postage stamps are used to supplement the amount in the ican system, which was perfected Ly nald, Was sugzesced only three years ago. The Dill was fntroduced In the House by Mr. Bingham, and in the Senate by Mr. Hill, of Coloradostn the Hirst session of the last Congress, and became a Jaw in We last session, under daie of March 3d, a Loss oF Tae Srzausuir Canrua.—Tho steamer Canima, Capt. Furquhsr, from New York, Oct. 30, for Haiitax, became a’ total wreck Thursda Morning. She struck or Gull Island, at the mout! Of St. Mary’s Bay, N. F., and sank almost immedi- ately. The sers and crew, sixty in all, got | Was shot. “Civil Rights.” To the Editor of Tax Evastne Star: A devotee of liberty nearly a century ago— Madame Roland—as she was being led to ex- ecution had reason to exclaim, ‘O, Liberty! what crimes are committed in thy name!” And the true friends ot civil rights, in this age, may, with equal reason, exclaim: 0, civil rights, what wrongs are done in thy name! It isa maxim in England that the poorest man’s house is his castle, which the sovereign may not in- vade unbidden. But in America, in this era of the largest liberty, a whole class of citizens are subjected to the necessity of receiving guests into their houses, their parlors, their dining- rooms and their chambers whom, whether from prejudice or for better reasons, they hold to be not their social equals. If there be any sacred right it is the right to choose one’s associates, and if there be one form of tyranny more odious than another, it is that which invades the social circle. The government of Russia ia a despotism, but the ukases and rescripts of the czar res] the family. People taik of the right of every citizen to take lodgings at a hotel, and tosit at the table with the family and with favored guests, as if hotels were bullt at tne public expense by appropriations out of the common treasury. Or, as if the hotel proprie- tor enjoyed some monopoly which is denied to other householders. But unless it be deemed a peculiar privilege to pay a license tax which is not Imposed on other householders, it will be difficuit to point out one which the hotel or housekeeper is blessed with. The ancient com- mon law of England made it obligatory on inn- keepers to receive every traveler asa guest, or to find him victuals and lodging, on being ten- dered a reasonable price for such accom- modations. And there was, then and there, good reason for this requirement, since inn— keeping was then a monopoly, guarded and protected by the law.—See Harkins’ Pleas 0 the Crown, Vol. 1, page 714, where it is lai down, that ifa man “sets up anew inn where tere is no manner of need for one, to the hind- rance of ancient and weil-governed inns, he is in- | dictable and fineable; and by statutes such inn may be suppressed.” No license was necessary, as the books show, to setting up an inn—Aotelis the modern French- ifled name—and this fact shows that the sole purpose of the law, in making it an indictable offense, was the protection of the old inn- keeper in the enjoyment of his monopoly. But since inn-keeping was thus guarded and pro- tected azainst competition, it was but fair to require of the keepers that’ they should enter- tain all decent travelers who were able to pay their way. But in America this monopoly of inn-keeping | has never been given or practised by law —cer- tainly no such monopoly now exists; and. on the contrary, the inn-keeper is required to pay a tax for a license. It is a well-settled prin- ciple of English and American law that where the reason of the law has ceased to exist or op- erate, the law itself ceases or becomes a dead letter. The maxim in law Latin is as follows: Cessante ratione cessat et ipsa lex. The act of Congress, therefore, is without Treason for its basis, is tyrannical and unconsti- tutional. As it regards railroads and conveyances which carry the mails, the case is different. For horse Tailroads occupy, as a monopoly, the use ot the streets. which belong to the whole public; and the great railroad companies of the country have the chartered privilege of forcing their way through the private property of the people. They are therefore very properly required. to furnish equa] accommodations to all travelers who can pay their way. For similar reasons conveyances which carry the United States mails are required to accommodate all travelers. wat RIGHTS, The s jaughtering of Birdy. To the Ed tor of Tae Evenrne Stan: The game laws ought to be entorced and the birds protected. The accounts of the pot- hunters’ and boys’ proceedings in the marshes may be amusing to some of the sporting com- munity. but to the majority of people the slaughtering of harmless birds for amusement merely is not an agreeable idea. The reporter of these proceedings says: “Every kind of bird The pot-hunters and amateurs fired at everything that tlew past them. There were thousands of blackbirds. which the regular sportsmen did not shoot, but left tor the boys and shore rangers, who played Waterloo with them.” There should be police placed in the neigh- borhood of all this useless slaughtering, to re- strain boys and_pot-nunters from shooting at everything that flies. People must soon wake up to the fact that boys and would-be sports- men are doing more than their share in the ex- termination of singing birds. The much-ma- igned sparrow will some day be proved inno- cent. Meanwhile the stupid slaughtering goes on, which amuses the boys and_ kills the birds, and this most useful and beautitul portion of the animal creation are gradually diminishing in numbers, and will be eventually exterm!- nated. ———__-2-______ Concerning the “Ortolan.”” ‘To the Editor of Tax EvEnmne Sra: It seems odd that in acity containing a na- tional museum and many good libraries that a little water fowl by the name ot “water rail” or “sora,” should be so generally called -‘ortolan”— abird that it resembles about as much as a robin does a wren. All the market gunners and all the restaurant keepers fall into this mistake, as is shown by the bills of fare. THE Star of to-day, um¥er the caption of “Gunning in the Marshes,” after naming over a number of men who ought tobe sportsmen enough to know the names ot the game they kill, says: “The majority brought home less than a dozen ortolan, and a few reed birds.” Now, as the ortolanand the reed are oneand the same bird, theinformation is rather uncertain for sportsmen and those who haven't always lived in a city where “yudgeons” are called “smelt.” | The small yellow and brown bird known in dif- ferent sections of the country under the names of ortolan, reed-bird or rice-bird, is a bunting, the male of which changes its’ color in the spring to black and yellow. and then e: o-link (Bob Lincoln.) It feeds as of uplands as on the marshes. Many country peo- ple sow an acre in millet or buckwheat, and they draw toit by hundreds. A pick up of thir r forty at a shot is cften made over this atiraction Now the “water raif” or “sora” is a | solitary bird, and never found away from a river or stream. Tt resembles somewhat the snipe, x t it has a short bill and is web-footed. Its flight is slow and short. . Whence they come, where they go after the first heavy trost Is 8 mystery that future ornithologists will have to rise and explain. Audubon, Wilson and others having failed to do so satisfactorily. I wrote a card last year to one of our locals rela- tive to this popular error, and I hope you will again remind the gunning fraternity that water quails or sora are not ortolans, and reed-birds, Tice-birds, ortolans and bob-o-links, according to all authorities, are birds of a eee “G. T. A” ——___+-e-+______" Another felephone Pole Nuisance. ‘To the Editor of Tae Evesmu Sram: Wasuineroy, D. C., Sept. 6, 1883. Knowing you as a champion of justice and of the preservation of the beauty of our city, I come to you with acomplaint. The telephone company Tuesday afternoon dug a large hole in the alley by the side ofour house, and while we were wondering what it was for they broughtan immense pole, sixty feet long, and planted it right by our door (1 which we can touch it). As far as I can understand permission will not be granted for the erection of telegraph poles in the streets; but can it be that they are allowed in the alleys, which are public thoroughfares as well as streets, and that the distinction by name gives the right of further Imposition. At the other erd of the bod isanother pole of sane dimension, and passers-by universally de- Rounce them as nuit and more than one has remarked to me that they would not have such an object by their doors, and that the pre- sence of one would deter them from purchasing Property so encumbered. Furthermore, the pole leans over the house, and I don’t believe any one has a right to in- fringe on property in that manner. Let the Commissioners order these obnoxious poles to be removed before the wires are strung. C. E. HaL1, 736 8d street northwest. Sethe Lae A Growl About the V. M. Bi BR. To the Editor of Tux i VENING Sta: I desire to record a protest against the man- agement of the Virginia Midland railroad in this: They advertised an excursion to Manassas and retarn, reaching Washington at 7:25 p. m. About twenty CS went from here at 8:35 a. m.; returning, Manassas at 5:53 p. m.; ar- riving at Alexandria at 650, were by the conductor: ‘Passengers for W: take the rear car,” which we did. The car was ron on a side track and kept there until the 7 p. m. local went without us, and we were left on the Tails without any danger lights until the arrival of the “8:55” train at 9:25 p.m., whieh up our car and brought us to Washington. The Indifference shown to our comfort was of such @ nature asto warrant calling the tion of our citizens thereto that they may extra rations when compelled to go over Toad. | Very traly, A Wasuixatoxux. THE SPAHBOW CONTROVERSY. Seme Interesting Facts Bearing Upon the Question. ‘To the Editor of Tae Evenrxe Stam: Although I have thus far refrained from tak- ing part in the local sparrow controversy, I have followed it with great interest, for it is a matter which is of no small importance to ornitholo- gists, as well as to the public in general. Iwell remember the time when the European house sparrow was first brought to Washington, and the trip that I made to the White House grounds for the purpose of inspecting the small flock which had been liberated there. Having since then been a constant resident of the city, the habits and general characteristics of the bird in question have been a subject of daily observation and study; and, being fully per- suaded that in the controversy which has been carried on mistakes have been made on both sides, 1 may perhaps be pardoned for offering some pertinent deductions from my experience. ‘The enemies of the sparrow have, with few exceptions, committed what to me appear to be two important errors which, being at once seized upon by their opponents as a weak point in their statement of the case, have thus fur- nished grounds for a controversy which has little real basis when the actual facts are intelli- gently considered and weighed without preju- dice. These errors are (1) the assertion that the imported sparrow is an extremely pugnacious bird in its relations with native species, and (2) the assumption that it does not eat insects. Upon thesetwo propositions, mainly, the con- troversy, as hitherto conducted hinges; and until the tactics of the arti-sparrow side are changed, well grounded opposition may be ex- pected froyr the other side. Assuming that in direct proportion to its in- crease the sparrow has toa great extent dis- placed most native species trom the public and private grounds of this and other cities (and I do not see how this fact can be controverted), it must occur to every carefal observer that the latter have not been driven out, so much as crowded out. THE NATIVE SONG SPARROW (a bird In every respect, except in point of num- bers, the peer of, and, In most qualities, infiln- itely superior to, the imported bird) is, accord- ing to my experience, better able to maintain a foothold in its old haunts than any other, and, therefore, its blithe song may yet be occasion- ally heard in our larger parks. Though a smaller bird, this species permits no aggression or inter- ference from the interloper. I once saw asingle song sparrow drive two house sparrows from a piece of bread they were pecking (the remains of some one’s lunch thrown on the grass), and without the least trouble prevent half a dozen or more hungry Individuals of the foreign spe- cies irom partaking of the feast until its own appetite wassatisfied. Every now and then one of the latter would drop down near the coveted morsel, upon which the bird in possession would Instantly face about, and, with a game-cock-like rush cause the other to beat a precipitate re- treat. From a window near by I witnessed this little episode, and with much surprise observed that, although in the immediate neighborhood of a stronghold of the sparrows (the ivy which once adorned the east end of the Smithsonian building), the song sparrow remained in posses- sion until his needs were satisfied, when he flew to the top of a bush near by and poured forth his little song, as it in thankfulness for the meal he had just enjoyed. The numero&s sparrows which had been compelled to stand aloof then flew down in a body, and soon demolished the remaining portions of the repast. The song sparrow builds its nest in thick bushes, near the ground, or in the tall grass and weeds, and is, therefore, not subjected to the unequal con- test for nesting sites for which the tree-nesting species have to contend. THE SPARROW AS A CLATM-JUMPER. That the imported sparrow does, however, take undue advantage over the weaker native species Ihave had abundant opportunities to observe. One incident in particular wiil illus- trate this tendency in its character, and also the amount of cunning which Is equally its charac- teristic. A pair of house wrens had selected one of the numerous boxes put up specially for the benetit of the sparrows (!), and immediately began the construction of their nest therein. The wren builds a very bulky nest. theretore the pair worked hard for nearly two weeks before a sufficient amount of material was carried in. My route to and from meals passing by the cypress) which contained this box, I took interest in noting the progress the sprightly tle fellows were making fn their domestic affairs, and listened with delight to the merry, rollick- ing warble of the male, who sang in great glee while his mate was arranging the details of their domicile. But one morning I was both sur- prised and grieved to find that. as would be said in western parlance, their ‘‘elaim” had been “jnmped” by a pair of sparrows. The rightful owners were making a great fuss, and continued their efforts to regain possession for a week or more, but all to no purpose, for the female spar- row sat inside, with her strong bill protruding, while the male stood guard just outside. It certainly appeared as if the sparrows, whom I had previously noticed daily in a tulip tree just acrosathe walk,-- apparently oblivious to the presence of the ‘wrens—had purposely allowed the latter to toil without molestation until their nest was finished, in order that they might save themselves the labor! From statements which cannot be gainsayed, and also from my own observations, I am satis- fied that the paported Sparrows do destroy a certain number of insects, especially while feed- ing thelr young. At the same time, however, it is evident that insects constitute a very small proportion of their food—eertatnly not at any Season one-teuth part of all that they eat. And right here should be considered a fact which cannot be disputed: The wren and purple mar- tin, two species which suffer most from the presence of the sparrow, eat absolutely nothing but insects; and notwithstanding their vastly inferior numbers I believe that the quantity of insects they destroy is incomparably greater. To put the matter still stronger, I believe that one wren or martin will destroy more insects in asingle day than a sparrow will in weeks or months. The bluebird also, which feeds almost exclusively upon insects—poke-berries in the fall constituting about the only variation In his diet—is compelied,to retire before the aggres- sive sparrow. Tiere are undoubtedly a few cases wheré the three species I have mentioned still retain a foothold in the sparrow’s presence; but from observation Iam fully satisfied that these cases can be accounted for by exceptional and transient circumstances. * THE SPARROW NOT A CITY BIRD. Having explained what to me appear errors on the part of the anti-sparrow party I will now Proceed to discuss two equally palpable mis- statements frequently made by those who de- tend the bird in question, viz: (1) that the im- ported sparrow confines Itself to the cities; and atic our native birds are by nature not adapted to city life. Or, in other words, that the former establishes itself only where the native species will not make their abode, In way oad cone S18 igor of sere of the present year I spent weeks upon a farm in southern Illinois, the nearest hamlet being dis- tant five miles and the nearest town éen miles. With few exceptions the bird-boxes which had been put up about the farm houses for blue birds and martins were occupied by bonse spar- rows, and in all probability this would have been the case In every instance had not a few farmers recognized the true character of the intruder and kept them off the premises. It is but justice to those farmers who permitted the sparrow to establish iteelf to say that its pres- ence was allowed on account of the bird being More or less of a novelty, and also on account of its fame (?) as an insect destroyer. In that re Hae and patie gine Parcsimniey Indiana, I have repeatedly found the imported sparrow alundant throughout the rural dis- tricts. and may further say that already thev are very yrenerally considered a nuisance. In order to demonstrate the astonishing alacrity with which this species colonizes distant localities I will state that a town distant forty miles from Evansville, Indiana (the nearest place to which they had ‘been directly imported), hed. not known the presence of a bird of this species up October, 1876. In June of the following year I had occasion torevisit the same town. and found the sparrows there in force, noisily engaged In their domestic affairs in the shade trees along the main astreet,-and, in fact, in many portions of the town. No one knew from whence they came, but they were not molested. and remain in full possession to this day. They had unquestionably come either direct from Evausville or the nearest inter- Las peop cafe hogy miles citar, from which ave dispersed become (I fear) ineradicably established throughout ele ns villages. much doubt whether a aoe ed di or village existe in the states of Iilincis or Indiana, which has not been invaded by the = even in the case of peata, to the astonishing ease % over the country and in- ‘to new surroundi: Many era inaintain that our ive birds do not sée& the companionship of man. That this in Wel upon our Singovaben pepe} be readily proven. What become orioles, ‘birds, other itéelf itself cat and numerous species which, the introduction of the house spar- Tow, were and not uncommon denizens of the of Washington? They were once here in force, although they came aap. den and with no‘encouragement to remain. Had the same care taken to provide boxes for them that has been exercised in the case of the sparrows, fhere can be no question that the public grognds of, Washington would have been fall of wrens bluebirds, while the same tection toward other native species would have attracted and encouraged them also. This is a question which can admit of no doubt what- ever. Ihave now before me a carefully prepared list of eighty-four different species of birds which habitually nested inside the corporation limits of the town above alluded to. Every door-yard, garden and orchard was fall of gay-plumagea, sweet-voiced native birds, while even the shade trees along the principal street were alive with them. It was estimated bya friend—a well- known ornithologist—and myself, that in that town there was at the time of our visit at least one pair of wrens to every two residences in the place; while catbirds, Orioles (two species), bluebirds, purple martins, chipping sparrows, reedbirds, bluejays and numerous other species abounded. This was before the sparrows came. During @ recent visit the sad change was at once apparent. Birds there were in plenty; but the fluttering crowds of sparrows congregated about some fresh droppings in the street, or chattering noisily among the shade trees or about the eaves, were alone conspicuous. As to the best means of suppressing the spar- Tow nuisance, 1 am ata loss for a practicable suggestion. do not favor putting the matter into the hands of the boys, as has been sug- gested by Dr. Coues. for many boys would not discriminate between sparrows and other birds, especially the song sparrow; besides, there are other reasons. If the people will themselves take the matter in hand, and each one prevent the sparrow from maintaining a foothold upon his or her premises, much good might be accom- plished, for I am sure that were united action to be taken according to each one’s convictions in the matter, those who would suffer the inter- loper to remain would be vastly in the minority. The trouble is, however, that in any community the majority of people are more or less indiffer- ent to such matters. The assertion that the shade trees have not suffered from the depredations of insects since the introduction of the sparrows Is negatived by the experience of other cities. It may be true that no such serious plague of this kind has re- cently occurred, but it does not necessarily fol- low ‘that the sparrows are the cause. On the contrary, I believe that, let the sparrows in- crease to ten times their present numbers, the visitation will come when, in due course of na- ture's laws, the proper time arrives. Very respectfully, Rosert Ripeway, Curator, Department Birds, U. 8. National’ Mu- seum. THE COMING COLORED CONVEN- ‘TION, The Men Who Proposed it Confident of Success—Mir. Niles, of Arkansas, Pro- Powes to Ventilate His Scheme ‘There— Mr. Douglass Tells Why He Favors the Cofvention. The coldrea cit\zens of the District who Issued the call for a gational convention of colored people are all-gonfident that the convention, which meéts in Louisville, Ky., on the 24th in- stant, wilt be well attended. . WHAT PERRY CARSON SAYS. Mr. Perry Carson, who offered the orlginal resolutiom at tke emancipation meeting here providing for the convention, said to a Star re- porter to-day: “It will be the largest conven- tion ever Held in,this country. Mr. Douglass is going; alt of oun delegates are going, and oth- ers are going, I'am going to be there. There is one thing I wuld like you to state in justice to Mr. Dohgtass.; Mr. Purvis made the remark in Philadglphia,-the other day, that Douglass got up this canvention in his own interest. Now, when we sot it up we never consulted Mr. Douglass at all, and he knew nothing of it until after the resolution was passed, when he was appointed on the committee.” NILES, THE ARKANSAS MISSIONARY, SAYS THE CONVENTION WILL BE A WHOPPER. John W. NHes, the Arkansas man now here agitating the question of ‘setting up a separate state government for the colored men, was asked by a Star reporter whether he would at- tend the convention. “Yes,” said Mr. Niles, “Tam going there. Iam agitating this ques- tion now with the view of stirring it up betore the convention.” . “Do you think you will have a,majority in favor of your plan?” asked the reporter. “Yes, I do,” said Mr. Niles. *‘I think we can carry the convention. We will frighten these fellows down south when they see that we are going to take their labor away trom them.” “You have been through the south?” sald the reporter. ‘‘Are there indications that the convention will be well attended ?” “Tt will be a whopper,” said Mr. Niles; “but it would have been larger if it had been held here. Those Keatucky builies down in Louis- ville will be apt to do some killing when the negroes come there.” WHY MR. DOUGLASS FAVORS THE CONVENTION. . Mr. Fred. Douglass, in speaking toa STAR re- porter in to ther@ason for holding a con- vention, and thus, apparently, recognizing a color line, said: “I say, first, because many are more than few; because the united word ofa wholepeople is more influential than the isola- ted word of an individual; because mutual coun- sels and deliberations of a representative body coming together from all sections of the country will naturally leadto action in the light of wider experience, broader knowledge, higher wisdom, than that of any individual or local orzaniza- tion. Because conventions, in this free country, are the usual instrumentalities through which great bodies of men make known their wants, their wishes, and their purposes. And why col- ored? The answer is just this. We are, whether we will or not, in some sense, a separate class from all other people of the country, and we have special interests to subserve and special methods by which to subserve them. It is not strange to me that colored men should differ very widely as to the policy of holding a conven- tion. In that respect they are not singular. With us, as with the Hebrews, all are not Israel who are of Israel. There were tories in the revolution; copperheads in the late war: in- formers in Ireland—and | am not that ‘there are persons concocting just such dis- pitones from Washington as appeared in the ew York E Post. “My connection with this convention,” continued Mr. Douglass, ‘‘was a very subordinate one. I was not aware until after the convention was determined upon of any Intention-to hold such a convention. When the matter. was submitted to me a conclu- pelted eltber to put myeeit is sppodtion too pelled pi in opposition to it or go along with it. Now, as at all other times pro- | casion was very much impaired or that he was MORE ABOUT THE SACKING OF WasSHINGTON. & Leaf From History. ‘To the Editor of Tam Evasra Stan: T read in your issue of the 24th instant a remi- niscence by Mr. John C. Harkness of the inva- sion of this District and the “sackipg” of Wash- ington by the British in 1814. In many particn- lars it was so very different from what I had heard from other sources and learned from his- tory that I was constrained to think that either Mr. Harkness’ memory of the events of that oc- at the time very young (I do not know his age), and what he knew he had mostly learned from hearsay by persons who were not very famillar with all the operations of the British and Ameri- can forces in the waters of the Chesapeake bay and the Patuxent river prior to the advance of the former upon Bladensburg and subsequently upon Washington. Therefc would ask that you will allow me to give you a “leaf” from the only authenticated history that I have been able to find in the city giving the details of the war of 1812 and of these ions, “compiled trom official documents” by “‘T. O'Connor, fourth edition, revised and ,” and “printed and published by John Low, New York, 1817,” from which it will be seen the British did not land from ‘‘the Potomac river,” but came up the Patuxent river, and also did not remain in the city ‘three days.” Nor is any mention made of their “blowing up ae ‘ignorance the mi ‘ine at the arsenal, by which twenty- three of their own men were killed.” 227 to 231 of the above-named history say: “The enemy appeared in great force in the Chesapeake, about the middle of August, 1814. More than 50 of his veasels entered the Patux- ent, and landed about 5000 troops and marines, chiefly about Benedict, 40 miles southeast of the city of Washington, The force at the disposi- tion of Gen. Winder, who had been appointed to the command of this district, was unfortu- nately inadequate to defend the city, and It fell into the power of the enemy. The entire force of every description which could be collected to oppose the enemy, did not exceed 5000 men; these, however, would have been sufficient for the , had they all acted with equal firm- ness. Of these several hundreds arrived after the battle commenced, and many after the re- treat had been ordered. The force actually en- gaged was less than 2000. “* * * * On the 22d the British flankers approached the woodyard, 12 miles trom the city, where Gen. Winder ‘with his main body was posted. The line of battle was formed by the American troops, but the enemy filed off to the left. At 9 o'clock Commodore Barney caused his flotilla to be destroyed, and he pro- ceeded with his men to take post in the front of the enemy. “On the evening ot the 23d Gen. Winder’s headquarters were at Battalion Fields, within 8 miles of the city, and a short distance from Bladensburg. At one o’clock on the 24th the army was posted on the right of Bladensburg, about half a mile distant from the village. The artiilery from Baltimore, supported by Major Pinckney’s rifie battalion and a part of Captain Doughty's, from the navy yard, were in ad- vance, to command the pass of the bridge at Bladensburg. Soon after one o'clock the enemy appeared, advancing toward the bridge over the Eastern Branch. When they reached the bridge, which thev did in solid column, the artillery opened a warm fire on them, and the riflemen and a regiment of militia were soon engaged. Before two o'clock the enemyad- vanced so close on the Baltimore volunteers as to force them to retreat, bringing with them their artillery and arms, except one piece, which was lost by the un- ruliness of the horses. The retreat was not the effect of cowardice, for no men could behave with more honor to themselves. While they fought they made a galling impression on the enemy, and when fot to yield betore numbers vastly superior, they would, no doubt, have yet sought a place from which to triumph in a contest so handsomely began, but they were not properly supported. The right and center of Stansbury’s brigade, consisting of Lieut. Col. Ragan and Shuler’s regiments, gen- erally gave way, and fled in disorder, nor could they be rallied, with the exception of about 40 men, and a part of Capt. Shower's company, both of whom even thus deserted made a gal- lant but ineffectual stand. Col. Ragan, in his great efforts to rally his men, was wounded and taken prisoner. The 5th Baltimore regiment, under Lieut. Col. Sterrett, being the left of Gen. Stansbury’s brigade, still stood their ground, and, except for a moment, when part of them recoiled a few steps, remained firm until ordered to retreat. “The reserve, under Gen. Smith, of the Dis- trict of Columbia, with the militia of the city and Georgetown, with the regulars, and some detachments of Maryland militia, flanked on their right by Commodore Barney and his men and Col. Beal, maintained the contest with great effect until overpowered by numbers. Barney and his gallant men had just gained the ground from a station near the navy yard, and opened from 3 18-pounders a fire, which for the time It lasted, and considering the means, was perhaps the most destructive and active that has ever been experienced. The brave Barney fell severely wounded into the hands of the enemy. His men fought under nis orders until the enemy reached nearly to the muzzle ofthe guns; nor did they retire until ordered to do 80, after every hope of victory vanishec. The enemy treated the commodore with that cour- tesy and attention which his splendid merit could not fail to inspire. “The battle being now over, after continul more than an hour, Gen. Ross, who command the land force, and Admiral Cockburn, who com- manded the seamen and marines (British), entered the city with a part of their forces. And now began a scene, which, in the opinion of even a savage, would disgrace the characters while living. and, after death, consign to eternal infamy the names of these two commanders. Never will barbarism and the fate of Washington be coupled in history, without being accom- panied by the names of Ross and Cockburn. The destruction of private property would be in character with the conduct which disgraced the British arms in the Chesapeake and elsewhere. The triumphant entry of the marauders into the capital ot an infant republic, gave them an opportunity of proving the respect in which they held the arts, sciences, and literature. ‘They,’ to use the words of President Madison’s procla- mation, ‘wantonly destroyed the public edifices, having no relation in their structure to the operations of war, nor used at any time for mili- tary annoyance; some of these edifices being costly monuments of taste and of the arta, and others depositories of the public archives, not only pre- civus to the nation, as the memorials of its origin, and its early transactions, but interesting to all hations, as contributions to the general stock of historical instruction and political sclence.’” (So it would seem from this that the government archives were destroyed, which the author of your former communication says “were jay to @ place of safety.” and “not destroyed.’ “With the public buildings,” continues the rian, ‘the national library was destroyed. Cockburn in during the last forty or fifty years, I have been | vious to its the enemy. The for moremest ji could ayy a other than give | British army retired on the Of the 3th in it my support. T did it with no expectation of | prudent burry, and with studied silence. leav- being in the front, and receiving all the | ing some of their wounded behind and some of abuse has béen heaped upon me.” their unburied. The American loss was DEL ; fe fe on atty Come heart Ybor INQUENCIES HE forty killed, woun — : aise Ww. RB. e = v2 about one hundred and twenty taken prisoners. ‘ es *From the best intelligence,’ says the general. 3 == ) What the Matter Is. To the Editor of Tite Evenrne Sram: ,Fatrs,Cruncn, Va., Sept 1st, 1883. Referriig ‘to “L. 8. A.’s” communication in last evening's isdue of Tae Star, relating to the failure ofthe W., 0. & W. R. B. to run on time, I wish to »state that “L. S.A.” does the em- ployés of edémpany an injustice when he as- eribes tiie delinquencies aforementioned to them. ‘The fact is the track of the railroad is in such an unsafe condition that it is not possible to runat a greater rate of speed than is now employed, and the engines are worn out and untit for use. With the caged track new loco- motives of sufficient welght cannot be used. The railroad company has, [ am Informed, pur- chased 100 tons of new steel rails, but this will iting clrometanoea, We egulsr’ pamangers on Ing circu the eae view the approach of winter with appre- hension. Thereis no possibility of a permanent improvement of the road this year, and it some would run a good stage vantages as a place of residence, the railroad ts t x to the growth and Church. ‘there remains but little doubt that the enem: lost, at least, four hundred killed and wound and ot these a very unusual portion killed.*” Ata it can beseen, Messrs. Edit “A ‘of the exertions Perry, their some ginta to prevent the the ‘The ‘Special Correspondence of Tar Evenrra Sram. LETTER FROM LONG BRANCH. —_ Zz tagers—The Club Hease— Fashion Netce— Personal iention — Crazy Patchwerk—A Queer Dog, Etc. Lone Braxcu, Sept. 7, 1883. More charming weather could not be tound Sunshine has been almost uninterrupted, and both sky and ocean the most perfect shade of former and foam on the latter, just enough to make a pretty contrast with the blue. There has been a dronght which has destroyed the freshness of the lawns, but for human beings the weather has been positively exhilerating. As soon as the turbulent seas that marked the last days of August, when although the skies were clear and the wind not very high, the surf Wasvery rough, began to subside, the bathing flags went up again and at the proper hours the bathers were again seen on the beach, though not in great numbers. The bathing master, “Sam,” who has charge of the many bathing houses in front ofthe West End hotel and hires bathing suits to all who wish them, has had the Place twenty years, and says he has rarely ever done such a poor basiness with bathers as this summer, while last year he did the best he had ever done. Even when the hotels have been fall this summer, comparatively tew people have bathed in the ocean, but many have taken the hot or cold sea water baths in the establishment attached to the West End hotel. THE COTTAGERS. ‘There ate so many cottage realdents here and ‘80 many propose to remain until October Ist or 5th that the driving has been almost as lively this week as in July every afternoon, between five and seven. There have been enough peo- ple, too, at the evening hops and morning con- certs at the West End hotel to make it very Cheerful there. The Elberon will not close un- til October Ist. The West End will keep open until os cog 15th, and Howland’s will close onthe 10th. One or two of the down town hotels near the pier have already closed. Ectertaining is still going on at Elberon. Wednesday afternoon a children’s party was ven on Mr. and Mrs. George Pullman's lawn m four to eight. It was noticeable that the little girls wore pretty shades of colored lawns, or white instead. of silk, satin and laces, as at Saratoga garden parties. Mr. and Mrs. Pull- man’s twins gave this party. Games of croquet, tennis, &c., were played on the lawn fronting on avenue, and the scene was a very pretty one. Mr. A. P. Burbank gave humorous and dra- matic recitals at the Elberon Casino Monday evening, and there will be an entertainment of ne Kind this evening and “hare and hounds” 0-day. For each evening entertainment 50 cents admission for each person is charged, whether they are stockholders or not. Stages run from the hotels to the Casino when there are evening performances, and take passengers back at the close of the evening’s amusements. The Casino is a very cheerful place, by day or night. Its style of architecture is pretty and quaint, but unpretending. The furniture is very simple and in perfect taste. In the reading Toom are all the Saget! and pictorial weekly newspapers, and also writing tables su eat stationery with the heading “Elberon 0.” THE CLUB HOUSE. During this summer many ladies have been taken, at hours when no games of any kind were being played, to see the club house, near the West End hotel, which is so magnificently fittedup. Learning from a Washington gentle- man that he had taken several Washington ladies of my acquaintance to see it.I lately accompanied and his wife and an- other lady within the tuxurious mansion. The rooms are certainly very splendid in all their appointments. The main suite has an octagon shaped room at either end of a ranze of three very spacious apartments running the length ofthe extension on the side of the house, the center one being nearly square. The ceil- ings of all are most exquisitely painted in colors. Those of the octagon rooms have paneled ceilings, sloping downwards from the flat center. The center room has a skylight above it: The crystal chandeliers are of a differ- erent pattern from any I have heretofore seen and tar more elaborate even than those in the east room at the White House. The curtains and porticres are of the new style of Madras thin goods, figured in colorslike those in some of the rooms in the Department of Justice specially used bythe Attorney General. The furniture covering and table covers are of the finest silk plush. In one of the rooms this plush is of “old gold” color. This isnot at all handsomer than in the rooms referred to in the Department of Justice. The most beautiful piece of farniture Isawin the “club house” was a very spacious, tall buffet of carved mahogany, with a > = in the center. Tho tables for ing were own A a a I think I was more interested in a “‘baby house’ which I sawin the grounds outside the club house, fitted up tor the use of Mr. Daly's children, than in anything within. This has a thie roof, and is enough for a child of ve or six years old to enter. It has a carpeted floor, curtains and lambrequins at the windows, wear ep lengaea pr with glass doors containing china suited for little hands. Above it flies a streamer with white center and colored edges like that on the club house, and on this flag is “Baby House.” Couid agreater antithesis be presented than that of these two houses so close together, the less being the representative of the epitome of innocence and childish pleasure and the other of the taste for luxury and extray- agance and the passion for games of chance ? YELLOW AND RED. A great deal was said in fashion notes early in the season about yellow being the fashion- able shade for this summer, but wherever I have been I have found that red in all its shades has held its own, as it has for several past seasons. I always think it a pity for red to be used in summer, when the cheering influences of warm colors are not needed, instead of being re- versed for the months as to weather, when bright colors seem to supply that which is lacking in the season. ees wearies of seeing the same colors used the earround. I saw at another watering a ly, who at a distance strikingly, resembled a cockatoo,as shesat on a lawn under green trees, for she wore a bright red cotton dress trimmed, with white lace, and on her head was a turban of red of the same fabric as the dress with a red and white pompon, and redand white feathers sticking up ly, Just where a cockatoo’s plumes rear ives on his head. isto | Rose and thin teatures ofthe wearer heighten: suggested by s ees cousplcagus Gress. a “fhose who =e —— Mount — this summer speak great change there in re- spect to dress and style of living, Many ladies dreased = imac _ —— ss toga, or Ne 5 er in latter than the fofmer,as they did Pes os thin clothes or light silks and but heavy and very richly trimmed toilets, as would stand Guent as ai Newport and scarcely los’ fo quent as iy and costly. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Merrick and his partner, Mr. Morris, and his two sisters, after week at the West End hotel, went to New York this week, whence all wilt return to Wash- i is f Rie H f i g Ud at l ir a t I muy remembered’ tn" Washlagton ‘sa "ise Eeaaety stepdaughter of the late General and and there = cottage ‘ay | tine, stopping when and where they ple at Mrs. Li Laughton Maine visiting Mra. Sweet, vice regent for Mount Vernon, from that bat te ‘soon to her heer hiladeiphia, to until she returns to her Washington residence. pretty styles, but nothing quite so elaborateand ‘80 perfect In every detallas the “‘erazy patch- ‘Dlue with oocasional fleecy white clouds on the | work” quilt beun at Lake George last summer and completed ia Washington in the spring by Mrs. Mulford, wife of the clerk at the Arlington and Fort Wm. Henry hotel. Isnw that at the latter resort, and felt when the names of those whose dresses had furnished tie materials for it were given me, as if some one were reading to me the society column of TH® Star at the height of the Washington season, with a com- jlete list ot the names and toilets of the best Eoown ladies at daylight and evening entertain- ments. It is Washington social gossip perpetu- ated in patchwork in brighter colors, and more elegantly embroidered and put together, than the most facile pen could succeed in doing It. A fall description of this quilt, which was printed in a Washington paper in the spring, has been 80 much copied that Mrs. Mulford has received numerous letters from strangers, one from the far west,asking further information about #@ and instructions for the benefit of others work- ingon similar quilts. Mra. Page, wife of the ex-Representative from California, is making @ handsome quilt of this kind. A QUEER Doo. The greatest curiosity In the way of a dog] have ever seen is owned by alady now at the West End hotel here. It is a Yorkshire terrier, with a very long body and short legs, and long, silky, white hair, much likethat of a long-haired goat of the finest breed, whose hair is used for dress fabrics, or shawls andcloaks. This di hair is eight inches long at its shoulders, and parts naturally and evenly down the middie ot the back from head to tail. It cost €350 in England. It is a very gentle little creature and has received many presents. One was given it at a leading hotel in Chicago and ix the dainti- est of tittle beds, with ruffed pillow cases and ribbon run in the afghan and counterpane. Miss Grunpr. IN SAN t ANS SOO. How They Were Treated and What They Saw—A Grand Ovation—Brib Mant Ceremonies—A Pilensant Time Correspondence of THe Evexine Stan. San Francisco, Cat., August 27, 1883. The Atlantic Club, of Washington, D.C., com- posed of one hundred and three men and forty- seven ladies, arrived in this city on Saturday, the 19th inst., on a special train of the Balti- more and Ohio railroad company, composed of six sleepers, dining-room car, kitchen-baggage car,etc, The headquarters of the party are es- tablished at the Russ house and will continue “there until the 28th inst..when they [Save for home tn high glee over their receptions and en- tertainments while in and around this great international city. During their whole trip across the continent they had a most enjoyable axed and seeing all the interesting sightsby the way. While here many have visited the gey others Santa Craz, San Jose, the Cliff nouse with itsmarvelous sizhtsof seals and sea 1 reservations, by land a and military posts water, Woodward's garden and ‘many other ints of interest. Their table at headquarters = groaned under the load of | seg oe of the cli the Knigl if San Francisco have withelsed a imei ot Sstern, hospital. ity almost, if not quite, equal to their own. The ladies’ of the party gave a grand reception last Saturday evening, which was attended by hundreds of the handsome and accomplished ladies of California. During the evenin en | were complimented by a. visit of the Oak lee club. Mrs. N. D. Larner, wife of Past mmander Larner, led in the sisted by Mrs. Ward and Mra, Gibson. The visit to this city by the Sir Knights of the various commanderies in triennial conclave has constituted @ new era in the hist: of the Pacific coast. ‘The whole city of San Francisco, since their entrance, has been in a blaze of excitement. The prominent stroats are adorned with the most bril it devices and insignia of the order, and many of the mansions of the prominent citizens have been magnificently deo- orated. One of the features of the occasion was the magnificent display of landscape gardening, by Mr. Crocker and others, upon whose lawns were to be seen many beautiful Templar designs, compored of the most exquisite flowers, trimmed 80 neatly that not a spray or leaf dared protrude itself to mar their svmmetry. The parade on Monday was pronounced @ SS and drew together about a hun- red thousand people to witness the grand and imposing. pageant. Some of the appeared, mevateden black horses, and the pro- cession was, followed by the officers and mem- bers of the Grend pment, among whom were to be seen Sir Knights Larner, serge Somerville, Corson and others of the District Columbia. By common consent this was the most brilliant and enthusiastic display ever wit- nessed on the Pacific coast. The eastern knights will carry home with them the deepest sense of ‘the magnificent and lavish hospitality of the people of the Pacific coast, while the latter will ever cherish the fondest recollections of an event which gave to them such a grand oppor- tunity to meet the representative men and women of the eastern states and renew the friendships and acquaintances which have been 80 long neglected on account of the distance by which they have been separated, D. Ww. —_—__-e— Chinese Consus. To the Editor of Tae Evenrne Stan: I find the following authentic story in a recent Paper on “China in some of its Physical and Sociat Aspects.” In very early times the city of Wa-ming-hsien, in the department of Mei-yu- fa, in Central China, was administered by a pre- fect ot more than usual energy and discrimina- tion. Being directed by the governor or the province to institute a census of the popula- tion, he appointed two deputies to make the Recessary returns, taking, at the same time, every precaution to prevent communication and consequent collusion between them. When the two independent reports were sent in they exhibited such an enormous discrepancy that they were canceled, and the deputies were re- ported to the governor for The prefe then appoimted two other officers to Bumber the people, but this pair, more forta- nate than their predecessors, managed to com- and returned 4 ex- actly the total, viz: 20.401. But the prefe clever man, suspicious of so pre- cise a coli Sol ton a ee ee Sa : "20,401; was odd one a male ora female?” To this the officers punishment. g I C. P. Huxtixetox, the great railroad mag- nate, was a poor boy and « hard-working young man. Indeed, he did not begin to accumulate ‘his immense fortane until he was past 40, when he staked all his savings on the scheme of railroad. se oF And this is what he i E i EEE Fe LE i i : Li i f qj i Cf [ i i : | é | f Hl i if i i ii