Evening Star Newspaper, June 14, 1884, Page 2

WASHIN GTON ae aes ee pete - ae oe . dD, € # , SATURDAY.*JUNE 14, 1884-DOUBLE SHEET D DISTRICT. AN OUT-DOOR PASTIMES. The Washington Base Ball Clabs—! sowe or tie exart 7T Boating on the Potemac—Miscell: neous Notes, &c. Base Ball, past week has not been as interesting as was expected. The theWashingtonsand n arrived and, with their game: y the bad we: . the home boys pr in loo The other was an exceptiot i ait ight field, He is con- and his poor walls in ander ss him. player, howeve sday Was pre wast par, but y ml base man as has eisand bas beentor rt I * weather, n her from ( aving at Phila- re_consid- nthe boys he improv have play ment wiil b tecord th Bed wit hold last place in There was to game of ball at ol park yeste the Geologi hing and the iub nine. amie Will be played sor ext week. Capital club have wf then nna while Cram is ausht for the y won the in- ral years by the audi- iediy the most | n here this year. Tof the standing of i At Bul- At St. Louis— ir new four- stood that on the and general i Potomacs rove a great Under Notes. rik Trac terrific from the iy used up. TTTER OF A DAY'S SESSION. presentatives as Seen Hao Clean, Up—How They Keep fbheir Desks—Neat Mem- nee aud Members Wie are Very Une tidy. “Ta du of the Hy him: of the attendants ‘k in one of the chairs and contem- he rows of empty seats. Some of the re awfully disorderiv. Underneath sis piled up in di ful to con- Lift up the of promiscuous p: 3 to make nests It is covered with never see a litter anywhere about . too, and so is Mor- pers in his ‘ything, in his commit- ’ men who are desks are Harme: Rockwell and Jones, riisle, when he occupied r. Lyman, who is rance, leaves his pa- prebably worse, and dand L * are about even with e, tozether with Belford, Milter, of Pennsylvania, Funston and Van Eaton, are the most distinguished advocates of disorder, their desks ali being in such a condition that they can't find anything in them. “Rankin, Belmont and Muldrow never sit in their own seats, while, on the contrary, E. B. Taylor, Barr and Muteliler are to be found at theirs almost ali the time. Kellogg and Bel- mont are not ¢ lly to be tound anywhere about the Capitol. Kelley Is generally at his desk or in the ways and means committee room, and is very orderly, always fussing with the pages for not being prompt and neat enough. Morrison divides his time equally between his desk and the ways and means committee room. BR i is at his desk only when there is some- thing before the House that requires his atten- tion, whieh happens very frequently, but at other times is hard at work in his committee About orderly a k, always kept it In maninhis apps ed up. Reed mi: Folman an 1 the time. ious to watch the peen- at all_ here, to- cisars, they make MeMillan are ity only a bad | | The walls are | | | prised some thirty-eight acr | nioad of | who have ise the other evening, ashe threw | }\, | overlooking the c ‘The New ere i '¥: THER ITEMS OF INTEREST. There arealarge number of buildings now, being erected in this city, which in size and in the substantial character of their construction have never been surpassed. There Is some at- ention being paid to fire proof constraction and tendency for heavier, more massive walls man- fest. There are numerous examplesof this ten- dency, which may be termed a departure in the in this clty. For example: structure known as the Hooe Fstreet. The owner, Mr, C. C. . lias entirely reconstructed the interior, thick partition walls of brick, placed in rders with arched brick flooring through- and made the structure not tantial. The geological e-proof but & vey will occupy this building. Another structure of this acter is the im- nse_store which W. B. Moses & Son is erecting at the corner Jith and F streets. of great thickness tion is of the most solid cl . between 14th and rs. Henry A. Willard and . The new opera house and armory built by the Washington Light In- fantry will be a stracture of this character. TUE PRESIDENTIAL MANSION SITE. Some y © when the project for the In this city for the President was being discussed, a number of tlemen purchased a tract of land on the bill y with the intention of sell- ing it to the government. Their purchase com- hing from the brow of the hill to Colum- bia road, Just east of 19th street. It be- long the late Mr. John Little, and paid was about £120,000.’ Thi scheme of a count science for the President fell through, and the property has lain in about the same’ state as When it eame into the hands of the purchasers. purehasers were George H. Wi F. E. Richardson, ersoll, Thomas L. Tul ui Dr. Fardon. divide it into city lots and place it on the | market. MR. ELYERSON W HOUSE. Mr. James Elverson, the Philadelphia pub- bout to commence the erection of a | ent dwelling house at Clifton, in the | county, north of the Linthicum estate, on the site of the mansion which was burned about three ucture isto be three stories > feet front and 67 feet in | and the front of red brick and stone. The roof will be a double pitch mansard covered with slate, nd the cornice of brick. They are to be bay | indows, and tower projections running up | bove the buildings. The plans were made by | A. Hutte elphia, and the builders are Stacy Re The cost will be $41,000. TES. story-and-basement house Is being erected on Jefferson place by Mr. J. S. Lar- combe, at a cost of 35,000. Two two-story houses are belng built on D ‘outh Capitol street acost of = r house is being erected | C. 5. Montague, at a | use on | , ata in Mount P cost of 21.800. 8. W ent honse f between 1f j J. Bell, at a cost of | > erection | being on Sunderland by Mr. Ch concrete foundation, mansard roo! a iron co stories high. 1 slate and 1 iron cornice and heated by fur- the cost will be $8,000 > are and are nearly | are three-stori . With cellars | dings, 9rooms, press. brick fronts, | ws and cornices of moulded trimmed 1 modern | The arelitect and builder is Tne cost of these houses Is | of the Newly- Congressmen — The mercial Traveler and Bridal Cou- ples—New Engiand People Considered Model Guests—Hotel Thieves, &c. “Th ie most trou! aid a well-kn the hotel clerk to aSrar reporter, 1 from the rural dis- e on here and order a suite 1 office for himself and vr uents. He will then ask the price, and when he finds out that it costs him something, he will finally conde- scend to take a back room on the fourth floor or go tea boarding house. The trouble with him is thal don’t know that heis not so big aman. here as he the Pour Forks cross roads. is the same ir of courses inh live like a ci of rooms for his fa: reception room ind don’t know how to He comes here and gorges himself on rich food, guzzles whisky and wine. and then, when he becomes sick, he curses the climate of Washi ‘There Is another stas bad, who are not used to jinx and who do not know good fare or good service when they get it, andarecontinually flud- i ult with the servants, the location ir rooms, with this, that and the other, and in nearly every case these people are those nothing athome. The commercial is exacting, knows what he wants and he gets it, and he will take every privi- he can; but as a rule he is easy to manage, ase he knows how to take care of himself. je is usually a bright man, jolly and good-na- tured, and makes the best of everything. Asa vew nd people are the nicest guests ‘They are self-reliant, quick, under- yes, are accustomed to traveling, nd are neither too familiar nor too backward towards the other guests, The bridal couples are the easiest to attend to, for usually they are too happy th realize the difference between good food and indifferent. ney all want the best ¥ willing to pay he old plan of a bridal chamber has played out, as it wasa little too conspicuous, but an old hotel clerk can spot a bride and room as far as he can see them. There in their manner that an expe- ye can catch at once; it suggests alack of experience, a want of knowledge of how they should carry themselves, and many youthtul couples give’ themselves away by en- deavorin: appear Independent and by over- doing the matter. A common trick of a bride- groom Is for him to telegraph ahead for a room, orasuite of rooms for himself and wife, and when he comes he will neglect to register prop- travel clerk tells him of his error, and some times he THE ROAMING RIFLES, Our Gallant Sok Boys in the West. TRIUMPHS WON IN CHICAGO AND BURLINGTON— PRAISE BESTOWED UPON THEM FOR THEIR MATCHLESS DRILLING—MR. HATTON AND MR. CONGER MAKE BRIEF SPEECHES—INCIDENTS OF THE EXPEDITION. Correspondence of Tae EVENING STAR. Bunuinatgy, Iowa, June 10, 1834.—Yester- day the Rifles ranged about Chicago seeing pretty much all that was to be seen. In the afternoon the company formed and marched to the office of the Chicago, Buriington & Quincy railroad and serenaded the officials of that road, to whom they are indebted for many courtesles. Mr. Stone, the general superintendent of the road, made ashort and very complimentary address tothe boys, and Ned Hay happily responded on the part of the Rifles, The com- mand then procedeed to the Grand Pacific hotel and serenaded Frank Hatton, assistant postmaster general. Ned Hay officiated and Mr. Batton responded, incidentally remarking that he had just come out of a five days’ fight, and that he wasa little battered up, but was t recuperating, and hoped soon to be off the list. Mr. Frank Conger, our city post- master, was present, and spoke brieily. He said: “Gentiemen, Perry beat me.” AN EXHIBITION DRILL. At night, at the request of the 1st regiment, an exhibition drill was given. A large crowd was present, and were vociferous in their de- monstrations of delight at the almost absolute perfection ot the drill. Col. Knox, the colonel of the regiment, and formerly a member of the Ellsworth Zouaves, said to. me that he had seen many famous companies drill, but hever one that equaled the Rifles in. perfection of detail. He asked to have the order “fire by file” re- peated, and then the crowd insisted on still another repetition of the command. The Chi- cago papers all speak in high praise of the com- pany and of the demeanor of its members while in their city. THE RECEPTION AT BURLINGTON. At 9-30, escorted by companies A and F, the command marched to the depot and took their special tor Burlington. We reached here early this morning, and were met by the Burlington * Boating assoclation, who at once took charze | of the red coats, Their hospitality has been boundless. The party first marched to the boat house, stacked thelr arms and proceeded to breakiast. They were entertained at the Gor- ham house and the Barret house. The boat house was thrown open to the party, and the whole city seemed to unite In doing honor to the Rifles. Each member was taken charge of by eltizens and everything made pleasant for him. Parties visited the various points of inter- est in the city In the morning, and in the after- noon a dress parade and drill’ was given in the presence of an Immense crowd, who were en- thuslastic in the highest degree, although one elderly maiden asserted that she had geen a compar Yurrup” who were as good. This rs on with y in statement was received by the look seorn, and the doubter of the Rifles’ superiority subsided. Atter the drill the company marched to the very handsome opera house, and were formally réceived by Mayor Adams. Lient. Oys- ter responded handsomely for the commat Messrs. Hedges, Hay, Hatton, and Corkhill also spoke. Immediately after the proceedings the Kp e, during which time the Boat Club Association band, consisting of twenty-five oung gentlemen, members ot the club, played Several selections very well. The races were interesting, the boys getting very ‘enthusiastic over the different contestants. Following the races Mr. Frank Hatton and Mayor Adams were serenaded, and responded in suitable speeches. night a reception and hop is i ery sui siul. It isnot ascertained how, many of the boys have lost thelr hearts to the fair Burlington girls, but the number is supposed to be quite larze. The been in every way deligh| 5 @ Sp men of those to come the trip is going to be than the most sanguine haye TION. At Chi of the travelers visited the Exposition buildiag, and while discuss- ing the fizure the District delegates cut ntion lately held there, one of the In the con i 1 up a printed ballot slip, and on the written a resolution to the effect as the sense of the convention that Mr. - Carson should be recognized as the mem= ber of the nnittee from the District ot Cotum! ser, however, was spared NOTES. The boys are very much pleased with Lieut, nee in him ‘Jim, the Mas is along again and pre- modest demeanor, notwith- a | standing he is aknost worshiped by those who, | see him dri Frank Hatton has been indefatigable In work- | along the route. ing for the entertainment of the Rifles, and the boys are yreatly indebted to him. Hatton takes his defeat at Chivago philosophically. He thinks the kicking agalnst Blaine Is only temporal and says: “Certainly every man in the repubii- can party can have fils owt way, and I suppose there is no reason that should not be the disappointed ones.” He accompanied the com- pany to Burlington and devoted himseif to them to-day. He says he thinks he Is the only corpse who left Chicago with a military escort. Mr. Fred. Brackett ts now en ae the F. party, and is doing It well. Davenport Delighted. A ROYAL RECEPTION TEND IN THEIR HONOR—A VISIT TO THE AL: MASONIC AND MILITARY PARADE. Correspondence of Tre EveNtve Star. Davesrorr, Towa, June 11, 1884. Last night, shortly atter the hop given ia their honor by the Burlington Boating Association, the boys took the train for Davenport, very grateful for the great hospitality ot the Burling- oni Inthe short day many warm friend- ships were formed and countless promises for further exchanyes of visits were made. The generous welcome extended by the people of | Burlington will always be remembered and ap- preciated by the Rifles. Davenport was reached early this morning, and the company were met atthe depot by company B, 2d regiment 1. N. pt. Cameron, commanding, and a com- mittee of citizens, and escorted to the Kimball house, where they will be entertained until to- morrow morning. THE VISITORS svRPRIsED. A great surprise awaited the Rifles at Daven- pert. The boys had expected to pass a quiet and rather uneventful day here, but on their arrival they found the eity in a ferment of excite- ment over their visit. The streets along the line of march had been handsomely decorated, every house being more or less coyered with flags and Inscriptions of welcome to the Rifles. At noon all business was suspended and the banks, schools and shops were closed. In the morning a visit was paid to the Rock Island arsenal, where we were received by Col. Flagler, commandant, and Lieut. Morrison. Col. Mor- rison made a speech explaining the progress In the works, and what it was intended to do. He said that the plant, when completed, was capa- bie of completely arming 2.500 mena day. An hour was then spent visiting the shop and unfinished buildings. After dinner the parade took place. All of Davenport was emptied on the line of march, and it was estimated that there were at least’5,000 strangers in the city. THE PROCESSION . fell Into Mne as follows: Dayenport police, under command of Chief Kessler; Knights Tem- plar, mounted, under command of Eminent Commander W. K. White; Union band; uniform rank Knights of Pythias, under command of Sir Knight Commander D. A. McGugin; carriages with guests and city couneil; military organiza- tions, under command of Col. P. W. McManus; Grand Army of the Republic, under command of | erly. Then he-gets red in the face when the | Post Commander August Reimers; paid fire de- partment, under command of Fire Chief Noe. squares the matter by saying ‘let’s have a drink | All along the route the Rifles met with an ova- on that." ” “‘Are hotel thieves active? Yes, indeed, and | chiefs greeted them at every step. tion. outs of welcome and waving handker- Lieut. we have to keep a constant watch for them, but | Oyster Was presented with several handsome the increased wisdom of travelers who learned to leave their valuables at the offi stead of In their rooms prevents many losses which would otherwise occur. You can’t pre- vent a smart thief trom seeing chances to enter | drill ground a room, but you can prevent his finding any- ing j- | immense crowd witn thing portable when he does get In. The epee universal expressions of delight were heard. ‘and the anes procession returned from the drill beats are numerous, but the Hotel Propriet Association Is on its guard all the time, skinner don’t have a chance to Jump more than | TO! two orthree board bills. The hotels of the coun- try are now much better than they were ten years ago, and are constantly improving. We have, I think, the most luxurious and elegant hotels in this country that there are in the world, and the table fare is far abead of that which is found in have pegnets which he modestly received. Lieut. H. ce in- } C. jowers unblushingly appropriated one floral offering given to him under the impression that he was the lientenant in command. At th e ones and exhibition drill were given, and e: fect re enthusiasm. An the evolutions, and an even larger crowd was on the A BANQUET AND BALL, To-night 8 grand banquet followed by a ball is in progress, at which a very large number are present. Citizens of Davenport say there has the usua! European hosteiry.” At this point a | Dever been such a demonstration in the guest sto) clerk. and interrupted the flow of confidence, which gave Tag Star rey world from the hotel clerk's point of $< Tillie Goodwin, a young woman of beauty, in Philadelphia, is at the point of he in that city, having been poisoned with arsenic. She accuses of the deed a former lover named Van Rodes, whose mistress she was for some rter a glimpse of the eee yped to ask some questions of the | Pavenport has given a royal reception to the igh compliment asi Is very unusual for com| as very unust for See rarer of ran iy permniosion ea} A SUNDAY. SCENE IN ALEXANDRIA, Where Somé'of ‘fe Visitors from Wash- t ington Go. A DARK CELLAR WHERE THE TIGER IS FOUGHT ON A SMALL» SCALE—KENO AT TEN CENTS A CARD—THE WAY THE GAME 13 PLAYED, AND THE MEN WHO PLAY IT, ETC. The little wotlé confined within the limits of an Alexandria ferry-bbat Sunday afternoon pos- sesses variety enough to prevent the half-hour run from being! tedious to one who finds inter- est In studying the néw types of human nature which every little eddy in the stream of lite brings to view, There fs always on the hurri- cane deck young hustands looking uncomfort- able in their Suaday clothes, young wives flying great many gaudy ripbons In the breeze, and young babies fur whose especial benefit the young husband¥ and foung wives designed the trip, but who persist in being unhappy and ex- pressing their misery in doleful shrieks. There are the families consisting of thin husbands and tat wives, with half a dozen half-growa children each; a sprinkling of giggling girls, who sit near the rail and neariy have hysterics When one of their number comes near losing her hat, and a number of Jolly looking Germans. Down below are the small boys, who keep their | mamas in a state of uneasiness tor fear they | will fall overboard; two or three heavy-eyed. halt ed inebriates, who have shipped for | the voyage in the hope that the fresh air | will help them “brace up,” and a number of loungers, who take to the lower deck to smoke. About the little bar-room will settle before the boat has left the wharf a group of young men, who seek a background of bottles, lemons, straws and beer-glasses, as being in consonance with their style. Noticeable among them is the special friend of the barkeeper—a young man in very tight lavender pantaloons with very pronouneed spring bottoms, who Swaggers through the cabin, carrying his arms at that peculiar curye, and throwing his shoul- ders up, one after the other, as he walks, with that well-understood motion which means in sign language, “I ama tough of the toughest kind, and don’t you forget it.” Then there are other young gentiemen who haven't risen tothe prominence of being on the list of personal | friends of the barkeeper, but who admire the | friend of the barkeeper, and, ina small way, imitate his swagger, and, like him, carry their rs In their mouths at an angle that threatens their eyes with extinction. MYSTERIOUS PASSENGERS. Here and there about the boat may be seen individuals alone, or in silent groups, who seem | to derive no particular pleasure from the fresh i breeze or the river view, but wear the alr of | Impatient men in a hurry to get to their desti- nation. They are not mere Sunday loiterers. When the boat nears the slip at Alexandria | these silent men pressed eagerly to the bow of the boat, so as not to lose a minute of time in lauding. “Come down to enjoy the Alexandria air, Tsuppose?"a Star reporter ventured to | remark to one of these persons, a black-muz- aled, surly-looking man, who had elbowed his | way to the front. The man looked at Tur Star reporter with an expression half of pity and half of contempt, and then jerked out the words “Taint after no air,” placing an emphasis on | | the last word, which’ plainly signified that he was after something of far more importance to him than mere air, When the boat was within jumping, distance the silent men began to disembark hurriedly, and Tur STAR reporter + fullowed them, leaying the babies, the men with their families, the Germans, and thera, who came down merely for air to disembark leisurely and stragzle slowly oi the wharf and up.the old streets. ‘The silent men hastened gingly,pr in along the streets until they reacked a certain square filled with tumble-down oldchouses, when they began to disappear from the strect. Several of them took a well-worn path,across a yacant lot. Some of them went down anuninyiting alle: and thers took varjous rgutes, leading Into the in- These routes, Tae me to an end ag: oard fence in the interior of the sq a g the boundary of the backyard of one of ick Houses. A board gatein the fence kept swinging constantly to let silent men | in or out, and Tue Sgr reporter passed THROUGH THIS PoRTS side was a’ long,’ narrow and somewhat crooked passaze, which led to a rear door of the house. This déor opgned into a sort of cellar or basement. All that was apparent to the at first after entering the basement were several dimly flaring Nghts, a low buzz of voices and an almost intolerable heat. The light of was carefully excluded from the place, hen the visitor's eyes had become accustomed 2 the light he saw that the apartment was about. wel unplastered ceiling. “There were three long at which groups of men were sitting. At ides of the room boards had been nailed up, forming shelyes, at which those who could not droom at the tables were standing. There persons congregated in this apartment. Many were smoking, and added the fumes of tobacco to the vile atmosphere. Near the center of the room, at one side, was a table which contained some singular looking ap- paratus, over which a keen-eyed man with a quick, decided utterance ‘presided. An elderly gentleman, of yery respectable ap- pearance, who wore a white moustache ot military cut, stood by the table and seemed to exercise a proprietary interest over a box, in which were stacked a quantity of round, red ‘chips.” and another box filled with but- tons of that unromantic kind known as sus- pender buttons. The only other person who seemed to be a part of the establishment was a young man who was shufiling about the crowd distributing large pasteboard cards and collecting dimes and “chips” from the men who took the cards. Every time a card was disposed of the y number, and the keen-eyed man at the table registered it on a larve dial which hung on the wail behind him. The guileless reporter was informed that THE GAME KNOWN As “Ki. was in progress. h he p acard, for This card contains ineach row, and the figures on the different cards being differently arranged. The man at the table turns a large globe, which swings on pivots between two posts. This globe is tilled with little balls, the size of marbles, each of which has a number, When the large globe has been turned one of these little balls comes out, and its number Is called out. The player, who finds the corresponding number on ths card puts abutton on the card over the number. The globe is turned and turned until some player has a complete row of five buttoned numbers. This fact he makes known by shouting “here” or “keno,” or bringing his fist down with a great crash on the table. He wins the “pot,” or all the money that has been paid in for the cards, Jess ten per cent, which is deducted for the ben- efit of the keen-eyed man, and the elderly gen- tleman with the white moustache. Thus the game goes on, monotonously, a new collection being made every ten or fifteen minutes. There were about ninety cards sold at each turn while the reporter was present, giving the winner, in each case, about €8 for an investment of ten cents. THE PLAYERS. The groups abbut the table made an interest- Ing picture. The players were absorbed In watch- ing theircards. Zach one had a little pile of but- tons on the table by hiscard, and transterred one quickly tothe catd whith a number was calked which he found Qn his,card. Their eager intent] faces got a ghastly hug, trom the dim flickering light. Along the table one could see as the game progressed three or four who had made rows of four buttons, ald who could hardly re- press their excitement. Then some one's fist would come do asa sign that he had com- leted his row... Something like a sigh would reak from the other .players. The buttons would be swept Off the cards back into: the little piles on the table, a new collection would be made, and soon the eager faces would be again bent over their tards.' There were men whose sunburned faces and horny hands testifled that they had to toll hard ‘for the dimes that were Swept at regular intervals into the bank; men whose ap) indicated that they ‘were store cler! or department employees; and youngsters, eae who were being in- Itlated into the fascinating mysteries of gamb- lng. 4 SIDE ATTRACTION, * In a little apartment off from the main room a game of “hazard” was in progress. The dealer smiled invitingly to those who looked in upon him, but the game of “hazard” friend ot the barkeeper, wh: also a special triend of the dealer, there with several of his companions, and loo} patronizingly when now and then a peared at the hazard table and placed his “chips” on the red or the black. =e HOME AGAIN. Finally the whistle of a ferry boat could heard faintly in the distance, and a portion of the keno players left their seats and made a break for the door. They hurried out into the | ever daylight and jostled each other in the passage. Each slammed the gate as he out, and hurried silently through the alleywa; or across lota to the ferry wharf. Just outsi of the doorway, but within of the banker, Tux Star reporter narrow passed young man called out a/| several rows of flzures, there being five figures | | feet wide and forty feet long, andhad af ™Maay letters come to the office with the ends | | i was not fascl-| 8.39 nating enough to woo the deyotees of keno | und away from their cards and buttons. The special | Ch Blac! ayer ape the Jane Moseley. < bela & Seedy-looking man who had in some wa‘ cured a card and a handful of buttons, and was following the game. He had no money, but was playing, as Bova would say, for “fun,” though his melancholy face did not indicate that he was in hilarious spirits. The ‘ion for play was so strong that he kept upthe dumb show after his money was gane. The babies, and their mothers and fathers, were all sarely stowed away for the home trip, and looked hap- pier and healthier for their little pleasuring when Tue Star reporter arrived at the boat. The friend of the barkeeper was on hand, and the inebriates were nodding sleepily in the men’s cabin. The black-muzzied man was sitting on a barrel amidship, and as Tae Stan reporter passed him he chuckled contemptuously, “Air! Tain’t after no air. Iam $7.45 winner.” ROBBING THE MAILS. The Ingenious Methods Devised by Postal Employes. CHIEF INSPECTOR SHARP GOSSIPS PLEASANTLY ABOUT POSTAL THIEVES AND THEIR DEVICES— HOW THE CLERKS LAY AWAKE NIGHTS—SOME OF THE SCHEMES ADOPTED AND HOW THEY ARE WORKED—THE GOVERNMENT STEPS IN AND THE INGENIOUS CLERK STEPS OUT. “A post office thief seldom has confederates,” remarked Chief Inspector Sharp, of the Post Omice department, as he sat conversing with a froup of friends. The conversation had turned to the general subject of mail robberies very neturally after the rather gossippy discussion of the case of young Cook, ot the city post office, Whose arrest for stealing registered letters was mentioned in Tue Star last week. “Cook was a smart young man,” Mr. Sharp observed. “He wasa graduate of Annapolis and had Just taken a leave ot ten days when the inspectors tracked him down. They believed that he was the thief, but they wanted to secure the proper evidence. He had announced that he was going to try to pass an examination for admission in another branch of the service, and that If he succeeded he would not return to the post office. When I found that out, I went to the official in charge of the examination, and sald: ‘We believe that man is a thief, but we can’t prove it. If he passes your examination, he won't come back to the post office, and we can't catch him.’ ” The official said that he would see that he was rejected and sure enough he was. When the ten days’ leave had expired he had nothing else todo, and so he returned to his desk in the post office. As soon as he had returned he went right to stealing and we soon had him tast enough with our decoy letters in his pocket.” A NEW IDEA IN STEALING. “Cook had adopted a new Idea,” continued the inspector; “as he thought, a novelty in stealing. He would remove the package con- taining the money from the registered envelope and then, after imitating the writing and di- rections, he would destroy the old envelope and send on the package, minus the money, in this new envelope which he had prepared. Or, per- haps, he would send on the envelope empty. At any rate the Inspectors in search of the missing money would not be aptto look for the thief intransitu, but rather at one of the termint. Cook knew this, andas he was along the line he thought that he was perfectly safe. We | finally reached him by comparing his hand- | writing with that on the fraudulent registered | envelopes.” One of the listeners spoke of the ingenuity displayed by postal employes and the new. methods of robbing the maiis which were con- stantly being attempted. He suggested that perhaps there was an interchange ot ideas among the employes, and what one failed to think of another would supply. This observation gaye rise to the remark of of Col. Sharp's, with which this article begins. continued the colonel. “They devise their own methods and work them out by them- sel They lay awake nights thinking how they can hold on to the money which daily passes through their hands, and at the same | time avoid detection. The constant thought of | an intelligent mind directed to one subject 1s bound to produce results, and so we have the numerous little schemes of the postal clerks. Now take a single example. How Is it possible to find out whether a letter contains money? The public, yon know, also reflects upon this subject and has a 1 various little expedi- ents to prevent the discovery of money in en- velopes by mere external appearance or by feel- ing. This question is susgested to a postal em- ploye. Perhaps he has no intention of stealing and he may be working upon the problem as 4 MERE MENTAL RECREATION or as an exercise in mental cymnastics. So when he goes to bed at night, when he walks about he street or sits at home he ponders upon this problem. Finally it occurs to him that a great broken. He kaows exactly why the envelopes are broken; that when the distribution is com- pleted letters for one point are gathered to- ether the clerk draws a string about the undle tightly, so tichtly in fact that two-thirds of the letters are cut at the ends by the string. The opening thus made, however, is suMficiently large to enable any one to examine the contents of the letters and ascertain if they contain money. If letters are thus cut by accident they can also be cut purposely, and who is to deter- mine?” “This is the first stage,” remarked the In- spector, with a thoughtful smile. “The discovery made the discoverer pauses. The problem solved the student rests. The way Iles open to the criminal act. The determination to press along that path is probably only a matter of time. The discoverer Is not content with a mere intel- lectual triumph; the practical results must follow. He breaks an envelope, looks inside, sees no money, and throws it in the mail pouch. He tries another, finds that it contains money, and quietly slips tt into his.pocket. The philos- opher has become a man of action.” “But another man reaches the same result by an entirely different method,” and the inspector | gazed with unconcern upon’ the Inguiring faces of the listening group. Then he crossed his | legs and leaned back in his chair, and the | inquiring expression of the listeners changed to one of pleased expectancy. “The problem occurs to this. other man of | how to ascertain whether a letter contains valu- able contents or not. He thinks about it a great | deal and then one day his attt ention Is at-| tracted by a break in the center of the letter. Not that the break is such an unusual thing, for that Is common enough the clerk knows, but he notices that when-he squeezes it held lengthwise in his hand that the break opens and he can see what is Inside of the envelope. That is what he wanted to find out. But how are the breaks mate? He picks up a pen and draws it over the back of an old envelope. In the in- tensity of thought he bears on the pen rather hard. It goes through the envelope and THE SURPRISED CLERK sees a fac simile of the breaks he has observed so often In letters coming through the mail. He knows that these are the results of rough treat- ment or accidents of some nature, but this pen break is sufficiently like the accidental breaks as not to attract notice. Another philosopher has approached the domain of the man of ac-/ tion. He makes a practical test of his patent some day, but invites no spectators, It wor all right, and he adopts itas a dally source § revenue until one day an inspector taps him the shoulder and asks him to step down into the postmaster's room. Then the government for the first time asserts its claim for a royalty of the receipts of this unpatented contrivance, and the inventor spends several years in paying it.” . The inspector léoked at the toe of his boots, which was elevated considerably higher than his head, in silence, for a tew moments, and then gazing around in an absent sort of way he said, slowly: “Hine illae lachrymae,” and the entire group arose and slowly left the room, for it is well un- derstood in the Post Office department that when Inspector Sharp drops into Latin he has important business on hand and it is time for mere idlers to ‘‘mosey along.” Excursions, &c. Tue ANNUAL Excursion of the P—X—S, of Dawson, will be given to Marshall Hall on Mon- day. The Corcoran will leave at 10 a. m. and 6 m. Tue SaTuRDAY EVENING CLUB gives its second excursion down the river this evening on the Mi Washington. Boat leaves at 6:30 p. m. returns at 11 p. m. Tue Excetston makes Sunday trips to Great Falls, which are very enjoyable. Tae New Excursion Steamer intended for trips to Great Falls will be ready for charter next week. To-morrow the second grand excursion of the season will be given to Blackiston’s Island. The Jane Mosely will leave the 6th-street wharf at a.m., rofurning at 10p.m, The catering is jer the supervision of Messrs. Ed. Abner and aries Meyer. Music, dancing and salt-water THE SEcoND of the delightful excursions to ‘kiston’s Island will be given to-morrow on 0 turned out to be | bathing are the attractions. oe ‘Where Women are in Demand, From the Alta California, A young lady from the lower country, who HOW SENATORS KEEP COOL. ‘The Machin the en of - ‘apitol APPARATUS THAT BLOWS HOT ATR IN WINTER AND COLD IN SUMMER—HOW THE ARTIFICIAL CIR. CULATION IS KEPT UP—EACH SENATOR EN- TITLED TO FIFTY CUSIC FEET OF FRESH AIR RVERY MINUTE—THE HWATING APPARATUS AND THE WATER SUPPLY. THE HUMAN MAGNET. Miss Hurst's Strange Gift—Prof. Atkine son Says Mer Exhibitions Hefate the Claims of Spiriatiste—What the Young Lady Says About Mer Powers. “We are fighting spiritualism,” sald Prof. at- kinson, who assists Miss Lula Hurst, the elec- trical girl, In her exhibittons. Mies Hurst had Just been giving an exhibition or a “private view” in the parlors of the Metropolitan hotel. Three or four gentlemen, including the stalwart Congressman Reese. of Georgia, were panting after their efforts to hold a chair, which seemed to receive from the Ightest touch of Miss Hurst’s hand, an energy against which tt Was useless fora man to oppose bis strength. Miss Hurst was fanning herself, but did not in ci Of the many thousands of visitors who explore the Capitol, from basement to dome, but few | are aware that one of the most interesting | features ot the building les hidden beneath | their feet in the sub-basement. A Star reporter | followed Mr. Jones,engineer of the Senate wing, | down several flights of stairs until the precinct | devoted to machinery was reached. With the appear much fatigued, “We can duplicate all exception of @ comparatively small portion, | tnat ie done by the spiritualists and claim which is given up to the restaurant kitchen, all | that we refute entirely their theory,” continued the sub-basement of the wing ts occupied by heat- | prof Atkinson, ° 4 ing and ventilating machinery. Mr.Jones first | «yon don't refute their theory, yon only ed the reporter to the air duct through which | prove it,” said a bystander, wlio was evidently air for the cooling and ventilation of the Senate | a spiritual! wing is brought. It is asmall tunnel extending | “How about spirit rapplags? Under the terraces and grounds, with the ogt- | Peron im the ctowd. side opening down near the Peace monument. rab One aus the rece ane TWO FORCING FAxg, ask what time it is, the time will be rapped out one 12 and the other 14 feet in diameter, were | on the table. providing T kaow myself hat the drawing a strong current of fresh air turough | tlme is. If Task my age, jf will be rapped out the duct and driving it through pipes and enor- | te the year and the month. If did not. know mous flues {nto the upper regions of the build- asked another my own age it would not be given. My own : will and knowledge enters Into this thing. I ing. Within the duct was a spraying fountain, | may say, “Will you communicate withe us, for motstening and cooling the air. The force | spirits? If so, give two raps; if not, give three of the current scattered the spray like mist and thoroughly mingled it with the air. The 12-foot fan was making 70 revolutions a minute and the larger one was going at the rate of 100 revolu- tions per minute. “Now,” said Mr. Jones, “this smaller fan is for the corridors and committee rooms, and the larger one there is for the Senate chamber, but the air passages are so arranged that we can turn the combined force of the two upon the chamber and that is what we are doing to-day.” The weather was very warm, and the engineer called attention to certain little doors which were closed. These shut off the current from the corridors and committee rooms and forced the increased volume of air directly to and within the Senate chamber. A LARGER DUCT NEEDED. “The first improvement needed,” explained Mr. Jones, “is an enlargement and extension of the air duct. It should be enlarged to seventy- five square feet In the cross-section; It Is now only thirty-five, and it ought to be extended, for the further it runs the better. I wouldn't care if they would ran it half way to George- town. It opens way down in the ground there, and whenever they are spreading manure through the grounds the air in the chamber and corridors is impregnated with the unpleasant odor. With an enlarged duct we could cool the air as it comes in with Ice, which can't be done now, for évery square foot of ice I put in now reduces my already too small supply of air just that much. The fans are large enough for a seventy-tive foot duct.” In warm weather even the heating apparatus is utilized in the effort to reduce the tempera- ture. There are three and one-half miles_of one inch pipe, doubled back and forth in long coils for heating purposes. In cold weather steam goes racing through the pipes, and heat ts driven through flues into the chamber. corridors and | committee rooms; but in hot weather Mr. Jones keeps a stream of Potomac water running through the coils, and even packs the top of them with ice. By this means lie forces through the heating flues a supply of moderately cooled air, which 1s additional to the supply that goes through the ventilating registe Adaily record of the temperature, the state being taken every two hours, is kept. On the day of the reporter's visit, at noon the ther- | mometer outside the building marked.83, while the temperature within the Senate chamber was . 79. This reduction of 9 degrees was accom- | too many here, and I was afraid to make the plished by concentrating ali the powers ot the | umbrelia fly around asit does sometimes, for it ventilating apparatus and by utilizing the heat- | might have hurt some one.” Miss Hurst evi- Ing apparatus also. Mr. Jones, in reply to a | dently enjoys the mystification she creates, as question, said that with an enlargement of t! during the seance she was fr ntly launching air duct and a few other improvements he would ruggies of the gentiemen striving to be able to bring the temperature of the entir ethe wonderful power she possesses. ate wing down several degrees low Miss Hurst's family are Baptists, and vet he said, after a moment's reflection, “I | conscientious in their religious observance reduce it five degrees more, easily.”. As|When a gentleman went to their home in the Senators were enjoying a tempera- | Georgia to see the girl and arrange for exlilbl- ture of nine degrees less than the people of | tions,” said Mr. John T. Ford to Tite Stan re- Washington generally, | porter, “he arrived there on Sunday, and the THE “MIXING ROOM” family would not permit her to give bim any was reached, and here the engineer pointed out | ¢xhibition of her powers. He had to wait until Cee, ae 4 the next day.” another defect in his arrangements. This room e+ - is just below a perpendicular tunnel, seyen feet THE ICE WATER FOUN In diameter, through which the alr, after being | an Eccentric Miliiondire’s Gift to the driven from the fans, passes up to and through City of Washington, the yarlous registers into the chamber. It is here that the air is “mixed,” the proper hum!d- ity, &¢., imparted; but the engineer complains that it is too small to admit of thorough work. The removal of a heavy brick partition would give the additional space desired. The distrib- uting apparatus is also defective. “We are now,” said Mr. Jones, “sending fifty cubic feet of alr per minute into the chamber for each per- son within it. but It is distributed at certain points in a rush like a whirlwind instead of be- ing disseminated equally throughout the cham- a raps.’ Then there will come two raps on the table.” “Don't that prove what the spirtiualists claim?” asked the believer in spiritualism. “No,” said Prof. Atkinson, “for it makes nce whether I address the spirits, the sun, the moon, or any body, animate or inaui- mate, imaginary or real, the answer will come allthe same. You might as well say the sun did it, when I address the sun and get a re- sponse.” “What is your theory, then?” “It is. a power which is In Miss Hurst, and the nature of which has not yet been determined. Her case has been considered by some of the best minds ta Georgia, but they have not ex- plained it. Down in Georgia” some people thought she got her power from her hair. She has a habit when embarrassed or perplexed of passing her hand through her hair, just as some ratch thelr heads when at a loss for asked Tus said Professor Atkinson, “it depends entirely upon her will, and she can stop the manifestations when she chooses. In her daily life she Is not troubled by any unexpected man- ifestations, except in the cases of umbrellas. She cannot carry an umbrella ora parasol. It would be torn from her hand. Now, I explain that on the ground that she bas got the no inher head that she cangot carry an umbrella, and the notion is so strong that it takes pos- session of her will.” WHAT MISS HURST SAYS. Miss Hurst, when asked by Tue Sran reporter if these exhibitions exhausted her in any de- gree, smiled and, giving a little laugh, said: “Oh, no, sir; not at all. I can keep it up for hours. I don't use any strength at all, and I only think to myself that I don't want the chair to go to the floor, and then the gentlemen can’t press it there.. Dora it give me a headache? Not a bit. 1 am consetous of no mental exertion, excepting that I rtrust feet assnred all the time that the objects will do as I wish them t it T lose confidence then I can do nothing, but when I feel well and am sure of myself I have no difficulty in doing some very strange things, I don’t understand it myseifat all, and there is no peculiar sensation We didn't have much fun to-night The Cogswell fountain, which was for so long a time @ matter of contention between the donor, Dr. Cogswell, and the District Commis- sioners, is now in course of erection, at the cor- ner of 7th street and Pennsylvania avenue, and will be completed, It is expected, by next Satur- day, and ready to supply ice water to the thirsty millions. The fountain, or, rather, the granite pavilion in which it will stand, will be a conspic- uous object onthe avenue, as the head of the bronze stork which will surmount It will be 20 feet from the ground. The fountain will stand inaspace 15 feet square, divided off from the sidewalk by granite curbing one foot wide. At each corner of this space a lamp post ot hand- some design will be placed. Next to the curb- ing, inside the square space, wiil be an asphalt walk, two feet wide, around the base of the fountain. The base course of the fountain will be nine feet square. A granite platform, seven feet square, rests upon this base, forming, with the base, two steps. Upon each of the tour corners of the platform will pedestal, «1 columns support the cap, which 1s dome-shaped The reporter next visited theexhausting fans, which draw the impure air from the chamber and expel it through pipes that extend through the roof. The ceiling of the chamber is per- torated, and the impure air is withdrawn from above, while the fresh air is driven in from be- low. The entire circulation of the chamber is a forced or artificial one. For the uses of this machinery and of the heating apparatus, there are fiye bollers, but during the summer only two are in constant use. Each boiler consumes a ton of coal per day when in operation. THE BOILE! AND COAL VAULTS are outside of the line of the building, so that, | shouid an explosion orafire occur, there iscom- | inside and richly moulded. The outside is pyra- paratively little danger of injury to the Capitol. see Sandaee een Petih ter tired st relle es % | which will stand the bronze figure of a Jay And WEEE, Che cone Oyo WOE at 38. | rock about tix fectta belgie Ea ths pear, goes on at 6, and It is a part of thelr duty to set | Uaderneath the dome, will be the drinking foun: the exhaust fans in motion, and te turn their | tai8 This will consist of @ pedestal of polished power upon the lower as well as the upper | gtanite,which wilt support two sentient the floors, so that all the impurities of atmosphere | THe water spouts will be in the mouths of the arising from the closed condition of the build- | 4o/phins, and cups will be attached. ing through the night are driven out. Next THE SUBTERRANEAN REFRIGERATOR. the forcing fans are set to work, and a supply of| In the foundation, which is two feet below cool fresh air distributed. the ground, there will be a refrigerator, built of THE WATER SUPPLY. bricks and cements. Tie water pipes, colled in The Senate wing is supplied with water from | a worm, pass through this refrigerator. It will two tanks, of a capacity of 22,000 gallons, which | hold ice enough to last a week without replen- are located Just over the east portico of that | ishing. Atone side of the pedestal is a trough wing. These tanks are kept filled bya steam er done wines pig - on ag poodle d rt vaste from the spigots Pump, in connection with which there is a | 9Pipe cartying off the w = gauge that registers the quantity of water in | 00¥¢ The fountain will cost between five and six thousand dollars. The condition apon the tanks. Then there is the elevator pump, | which the fountain was donated to the city ts, which must be kept going. This pump is a , that the municipal authorities shall supply the size too small for the labor exacted of it. and the water and ice, and keep the lamps lighted. Dr. engineer has asked for alarger one. The entire | Cogswell’s original proposition was te have a sub-lasement is a system of intricate machinery, | statue, supposed to represent himself, upon the which it requires no little skill and eare to prop: ie top ot the intain. To this, however, the Dis- erly handle and regulate. One little closet con- | trict Commissioners strongly objected, and the tains a group of pipes of different sizes, with Y stork was substituted. “The objectionable fig- humerous cocks protruding from them. By | ure,” said Mr. Alexander Mclonald, who is teese cocks the flow of water and of gas to ail i es portion thereof can bestopped. sacred the coe Dr. Cogewell, ‘was he wi or any on thei stopped. | su; to represent the guardi: M the foun- Throughout the whole range of corridors and 7 " nig “it looke tain, but the trouble was, that it looked rooms everything is. as neat as anew pin, The | sin} swell” Ste wg Hines I of the finest order, And every wri = cast The name of Dr. machinery is al er, el rpet |. however, by piece shineslikea mirror. Neatnessand method serie = Set take eee inscription on th stal the fountats mark the whole system. One neat-looking room ‘wil neat: *fvagemied ke it eee which will read: “Presented by Dr. Henry D attracted the reporter's attention, aud he | Cogswell, of San Francines, Culorma on tye was inyited to enter. It was shut off iece will h ras “ v2 from the outer space by a_ partition, Slope” Charty" aod weumeene aa ou ete renal soe passing the oo a io THE DoxoR. refreshing change of temperature was observed. | _,, - The heat of the machinery ts almost oppressive, | “Dr. Cogswell.” sald Mr. McDonald, who was and this room Is a relief resort for the assistant | Superintending the construction of the fountain engineers and workmen. It is newly carpe when a Star reporter addressed him, “is a eted and comfortably fitted up,-but, best of all, a reg- wealthy citizen of San Francisco. He made all his money honestly, and is said to be worth ular flood of cooled air is thrown into it through @ large register connected with the cold air pipes. $8,000,000. He got hold of land there years ago ST TIO E LOR which is now in the center of the city, and be An Ingenuious Device to Defrand. | grew rich without knowing it. He don't know Maine Letter in New York Sun, how to liye with so much money. He does not nd more than a dollar or two a day to live, je is a great temperance man, and got the idea that It would be a-good thing to givethe le fountains. Ifa man can get a drink of ice when he wants it he won't buy a glass of beer. There is not a bit of advertising in this, as Dr. Cogswell is not In business of any kind.’ Dr. Cogewell has ilar fountains in San Francisco, Pawtucket and Brooklyn. Mr. Row to be set up McDonald has five more ree bag & granite laced in Dr. Cogswell tot in in thirsty cities. He is monument to be ~ will cost $75,000. The lot their ornaments, wili cost On the same day these officers surprised An- thony Murphy in the same village. Anthony welcomed them with a smile and said: “Search all you want to, gentlemen; you'll find no ram about my place. There's nothing stronger than cider here, and that’s in that barrel over there.” He pointed carelessly to a cider cask in a cor- her of the room. Theofficers looked the barrel over carefully and smelt of it. “Get a Andy,” said one of them. Andy got the glass and the officers turned the spigot. Out ran @ stream of sour old cider. Next the officer got a hammer and knocked out the x He lowered his official nose into the vent “Cider, true's yer born!” was his comment. Then he noticed a small on the rear end of the barrel. “Might as try this too. Andy,” he said. Mr. Murphy’s countenance fell The peg was pulled out and the constable drew a glass- fal ot Old Crow whisky. San Francisco, whi and monument, with altogether about 100,000. What We're Coming ‘fo. From the Somerville Journal. “Mary, I want messenger to send down+ town,” said alady to her maid; “the saleslads has sent me the wrong bundle and 1 want ti “Quite @ barrel,” he sald, ting off his} inform the torelady of her carelessness. Istherc . reee “Did you invent it, ‘sidy? Going to | any one disengaged?” 7 geta “T think not ma’am; the cham! is > with her rooms and the iitehen indy bas ek. There were two apartments in the cask. Michael Cuff, of Pa., has run away =a pT oon bento But a8 been visiting in said just before . € 5 she left there recently that the people ot Mo-| With, the wife of Peter McLane, his boarding: the foot gentleman or the coach gen doc county were the most generous she had tPbeing satthnomt esa in that aection, | UomaH is disengaged. see. - teen oftered a half interest in ¢ anil ete. | - Henry L. Blape, city solletor of Atlantic Oity, | The Kalomine-Hesso affair has boon settled, ber shop, a printing office, a horse | N. J., has sued Mr. John F. Hull, editor of the | the marriage ennulied and Mme. Kalo- and-a livery stable, ively, to say ne Atlantic City for libel because he hinted | mine being made a countess with a fortane. Of the offer of two or tives saloon, Fascles and | thst Slape Sa tho wood pla. A band of horse thieves exists in Indian Ter- bands there men. The militia Pe | prance numbering fully 100 on the of 5 any wal resist any attempt part pice.