Evening Star Newspaper, January 17, 1885, Page 2

THE EVENING = CITY AND bisTRicT. | ASSOCIATED CHARITIES REMEM-| BERED BY SABBATH SCHOOLS, | | Affecting Incidents of Charity Work— ‘The Sick Man’s “Home —The Two | Joins—The Noble Pig. The Sabbath schoo! of the Metropoltan M. | E. church, the Zev. Dr. Huntley, pastor, de-| posited in the church parlor on Christmas eve Lig papers of greceries, 140 pairs and pieces ef wearing apparel, and €14 in money, | including #1 in bread ets for the Asso- clated Charities. A cow tribation liv om in an obscure part of the city. they w jaliy needy. ‘To @ friendiy visitor ot the jated Charities, J: “We were once in comfortable nd lost his property he has been sick a ame desponden long time; has been in the hospital; didn’t tm- and prove as fast ashe thought he ought, longed to con n They had their furniture piece by pi until nothing was visibie bi table upon which were some di which she had tried to util bedstead upon which w with tine shaving h to the si anold quilt and 2 hb For this home the sick man pined; iwife was there. He said: “She knows Just how to nurse me, and how to Aix up things tor me,” when she had anything to fix. had fili the stove box with as! PILLING Jn one of the nice, warm mittens contribu- ted a thonghttul mother had placed the often- needed mending yarn. : The pockets of one boy's coat were filled with nuts; those of another di: d, to the delight ot aboy who received it,s mouth-organ and two books. sister. He divided with bis brother and | | THE TWO JOHNS. He expressed @ desire “to write John—Iast name on the coat not read—to tell him that his | name is John, and thank him for the nice pres- eats, and wish him a happy New Year.” His modest little brother checked the good spirit within him with. “I woulda’t do tnat; it would look just as if you was after something more.” Both of these boys received coats, for the want of which they had been kept from school. Have they a mother? she has endured long | years of toil and privation— in dis. | appointed. she is almost oro husband and father—the so- family"—dead? No; ves apparently without a better than he lo drinks and driv is dead to his du’ band and father. Jt is not too much to say he is dead to everything which inspires seif-respect &nd the respect of the - Two bright little boys—children of excellent | but unfortunate parents—each received co: and pantaloons and a nice illustrated book. The mother had practiced great self-denial. | be said to a visitor: “Their Sabbath school | Yeacher has been like an angel to us,” her eyes glistening with tears; she told how the Temembered them Christmas day. It she | who had asked a frien visitor to call on them and remember them. CONTRIBUTIONS THAT DID SERVICE The S. S. of Assembly church, Dr. Little | pastor. sent their Christmas contribution to the | central office of the Associated Charities, which comprised a large bundle of clothing, fifty-five Papers of groceries—making up in quanti what it lacked in number—half a barre! of meal, bazs of flour—equa! to two barrels—six cans | tomatoes, two hams and a larce pig and $11. in Money. This schoo! adopted the exceilent plan | of contribating by classes: the result justified | the remark of Dr. Little that his “ehurch never | did anything by haives.” THE POPULAR PIG. Many are the thanks jor pieces of that pig. One family were in temporary distress, throuzh no fault oftheir own; the wife asked the ‘friendly | visitor” for work; she appeared to the visitor | “weak and faint;” the husband attempted t explain; she checked him; he continued, “‘she is | suffering for fuel; has sacrificed herselt for het children; they had never been hungry before She said she had -‘not tasted meat tor month | reporter the other day. “The President receives | | talities of the table with such a lavish hand as | and almost always has company at his tabie. THE PRESIDENT’S EXPENSES, What it Costs to Occupy the White Elouse. $ VERY LITTLE OF THE PRESIDENTS SALARY LEFT AFTER DEFRAYING EXPENSES—THE COST OF MAINTAINING THE HO HOLD ON A SUITABLE SCALE—THE WHITE HOUSE TABLE—EXPENBES OF ENTERTAINING GUESTS, ETC. ee that there has been considerabie talk lately about the President's expenses and how | much of his salary he ought to save during bis | term,” said a well-informed gentleman to a Staz | a good salary, I know,” he continued, “but his private expenses are heavier than one would imagine, and I yentare to say that a glance at | his check-book at the end of the year would | show the creater part of his 50,000 expended, and mostly In maintaining his private house- | hold. To be euve the President lias a great deal | done for him at publi expense, and it is well) that such is the case. or a President. would have | to be avery rich man necessarily. Everything | pertaining to the official branch of the White House is paid tor by tae government: but to meet the private expenses the President has to go pretty deep into lls pocket. The service of | the White Hou: costs him but comparatively d, wno fsa prominent Szure cer. Although he’ is | terer, and is appointed by him, | 00 bond, and Is respons.ble | # that is brought into the White se. If a new carpet or some furniture is bought for one of the parlors the bill is not pald by the commisstoner. of public buildings and grounds urtil the steward has approved it by | certifying that the gocds have been received as | described. | THE FRENCH CoOR, who is considered a master of his art, is paid out of the President’s pocket at a salary of $1,800. The table servants are paid from the same source, I think, although I am not sure on | that point. Until recently the President's priv- ate servant was paid by him 2100 per month. I think he is now on the rollsofthe White House, having been given a vacancy which occurred some time His coachman, Albert Haw- per month, and the French | tlie Arthur is of course patd by the | So you can scarcely say that the | President. private salary list isa very big one, but there are agreat many other expenses. 1i costs quitea. sum to keep Allan Arthur at college and provide for him as a President's son should be provided | for. There area dozen horses in the stable be- longing to the President's family and kept by him. That alone is an anvnal expense of at least $1,200. The that 1 have enumerated | are comparatively insignificant. it Is | THE WHITE HOUSE TABLE that makes the heavy drain upon his pocket- book. I gness there is no doubt that we never have had a President who dispensed the hospi- the present cecupant of the White House. The | series of state dinners last year far surpassed | anything of the kind ever given before. each | one costing him at least $5¢0. His frequent | private dinners almost equal them. The Presi- | dent is very fond of the delights of the table. | jas the very best the market uffords, A higher compliment cannot be paid a man than to ask him to dinuer. It 1s not generally known, but it ts none the less a fact. that President Ar- thar is continually Ing this compliment to his friends. He does not always confine his in- vitations to his own political party, but many a prominent democrat hasbeen invited informally | todine at the White House. The President rareiy sits down to dinner without trom two to eight guests. His dinners invariably consist of hala dozea courses, accompanied by as many | different k. wine. Everything is of the very best quality obtainable, and I suppose the White House dinners cost FIVE DOLLARS A PLATE. A twenty-five dollar dinner kept up ail the | year round will make a pretty vig hole in 000. Besides the President is every now | and then giving what are called little lunches, but they are in reulity quite extensive affairs. | After the reception the other evening to the di- plomatic corps, for instance, the receiving party were invited to a handsome little supper. The | in exte Who that has a heart wii! not be thankful for | he'the Whive Honse tubier sod ee tae eT | Seeede ronch Faraishes iriendly visitors and | thing ts first-class the President never erambles | affords prompt rellef to the deserving poor. | Et the expenves Avirent meee oie crumbles A FRIENDLY Vis Leap igitieeh | are made here, but the steward nas no hesi- AssoclaTED CHARITIES. | taney in sending to New York, or elsewhere, for | oa some delicacy of the season. ‘The wines are all The Roadway Must be Kept Clear. | of the nest brands, and the cigars, which are To the Editor of Tax Evesrxa Stan The question of keeping the roadway of Penn- | sylvania avenue clear of pedestrians, as well as! of vehicles, on inauguration day, after the pro- cession shall have started towards and from the Capitol, as well as how best to accomplish this, | should claim the attention of the committee on public order beyond slmost any other that may come before it, for the reason, principally, that the entire effect of the parade will be spoiled if | the street is allowed possession of the multi-| tude as on the day of the inauguration of the} lamented Garfleld. Moreover, it is asserted that the police force augmented as at present | asked of Congress will not suffice to keep the | street clear; that 5,000 men ot determination | would be required for the purpose, and that | even then a wire fence on both sides’ the street | Would be necessary. Besides, the reguiar police must, in part at least, protect the outer and inner portions of the city. Gravted that these Tegutrements are correctly estimated, tue ex- peuse for the necessary force would be nothing | when compared with the result. The parate is! the great feature of the day after all, and the | many thousands coming to Washington will di so simply to witness the display,—not to hear | the inaugural address, since but’a small part of | the population of that date can get within half amile of the sound of Mr. Cleveland's voice. Better tar would be a clear street, giving ail chance to see the Inaugural pageant. than balls, banquets, &c., in whicu but comparatively few | ean participate; or even fireworks, to witness | which oaly the more hardy can stand the ciilll aight Whea the convenience ofall Is the convenience of each, and rice rersa, there should be no ob-| jection to the employment of the most practica- le method to secure a “‘consuinmation devuutl; to be wished.” In this instance the keeping the roadway clear on inaucuration day (and the | same on February 2ist.) Asa suggestion, this might possibly be etfected by stationing a bat- talion of regulars or millitia,—(infantry)— down either side the avenue at cross-musket distance between each two men. These guards can fallin at tie rear of the column as each picket or guard section is passed; and while by this method the sidewalk loo! on would each and all have full view of tle procession, the feature in itself would be one of the most interesting of the dispiay. It Is also suggested that the procession em- | ploy the south side ofthe avenue going to the | ‘apitol and the north side coming back, the peo- | ple being allowed the space between the houses ud car tracks on tle opposite side of the parade. The picket line or guards, a8 also the people, could sii t from one side the avenue to the other after the procession has passed down. | Tae Stak, which reaches so many thousand | Feaders outside, as well as in Washington, las | for several years lifted its powerful voice against | the prostitution of the roadway of the avenue | to the uses of the procession-tramp, but, un- bappliy, tous far, hus heard oniy the echo thereof, since the occasion of {ts last reimarks on | the subject was made, unpleasantly memorable | by even a greater street, rush than previously. Too much praise cannot be awarded your jour. pal, however, fur the interest it has mani-| fested in this matter, since it has Inspired a con- certed demand amoug the law-abiding citizens {| of Washington for clear streets on occasion of | display by troops or other marching bodies. | Yr's, OLD SUBSCRIBER. Bi ‘The Mechanics’ Lien Law. ‘Tothe Editor of Tax Evenre Stan: All those who rea'ly desire the prosperity of the District of Colump'a owe a debt of grati- tude to Senator Sherman for introducing the bill which has for its object the amendment pf the present obnoxious mechanics’ lien law. As Mr. Ashtord bas well written, the law, as | it stands at present, is calculated to do serious barm. It was passed in the interest of material men. I am frank to admit that the lumber men, ‘the brick men, and ali those who supply mate- rial are gainers by the law, but owners of prop- erty, reai estate agents, and capitalists seeking investments are left without any protection whatever. Certainly, these gentlemen have some rights that should be secured. The bill of Mr. Sherman is eminently Just,’and should be ays without delay. Mr. Ingalls, chairman of Senate District committee, has, it is said, promised that ail legisiation materially affecting the District should be disposed of at this session of Congress. He can render the citizens of the District no greater service than by speedily passing the Sherman bill. Mr. Barbour, chair- man ot the House committee, has always been friend of the District, and it 1s fair to assume that he will promptly have the bill passed when it reaches the House. Let there be hearty and earnest co-operation upon the of all those | of the evening is the meal of the day. As I said,i¢ | cases, and are Hable to be more, where the oc- | door, that he bores them for autographs. There | after adjournment, Is a ready victim ofthe page. | secured, the name corresponding {s marked off | as who has hires them toheip. Ob. ves, we has purchased in large quantities, are all imported. No. The President cannot be calied a great | smoker. He doesn’t smoke now as much a3 he | did earlier in his administration. In fact, I| think he confines hig smoking to evening. He Js | NOT AN EARLY RISER, but accomplishes a great deal after most people have sougit their beds at night. I am not sure, but I think he follows the French plan of par- taking of a cup of coffee immediately after rising, and then goes to work. About noon his breakfast is brought to bit in his private office. It is @ very simple meal and is brought on a salver and the President partakes of it from a little table or stand, which is in his private of- fice. His dinner, which occupies a good portion there were any means of getting the figures the | President's table expenses would be found much heavier than People Imagine, President of the United States oval NOT TO BE BOTHERED with such expenses, I think it would bea good plan to make a liberal estimate of the expenses ofthe White Honse,both official and domestic,ex- cepting,of course, all personal expenses, and ap- propriate @ certain amount annually for de- | fraying them. I don’t mean that the President isn’t allowed alarge enougn salary to meet | them, but there ought to be some system and regularity about such matters. If need be, the | President's salary could be reduced to $30,000 | to make things even. My idea isto take such | matters out of the President's hands and then there would be a certainty of White House hos- pitalities ou a suitable scale. There have been The tact ia the | cupant of the White House thinks more or his saiary than of the honor of his position, with a | onsequent tendency to economize to such an extent as to cause general ‘comment and even mortification. There could be many linprove- ments made in the White House itself as well as the mode of running it.” ———— SEX CENTS A NAME. | The Antograph ‘Trai Among the Senate Pages—Senatory who Object to Being Bothered by Autograph Hunt ers. That lively and saucy little biped known as the “page” in Congress, is an indefatizable au- tograph seeker. But it is not for the gratificu- tion of retaining the signatures of the memoers, who keep him continually skipping about the is afar more material satisfaction for him in it | than that. He turns autograph fiend for money. | Therein consists his principal perquisite. The grave and dignified Senator, who enters the cham- ber before that body is called to order, or remains The lattersis provided with an album which he first carefully covers with paper to protect it from injury. On the outside of the cover is pasted a roll-call of the Senate, and as each signature is the list. Yo a page, who was diligently filtting from Senator to Senator, as a bee sipping honey from flower to flower, a StaR reporter put the question: “Who employs you to get these auto- graph?” “Oh lots 0’ em,” he replted. “Mostly ladies, but sum men’s jes’as anxious as women.” “How much do you get for it?” Six cents a name.” “Is there sharp competition in the business; “All the boys take a hand in it, and we trades | allround. If any boys hasn't got albums to fill | to pay them six centsaname. What? Do it cheaper? Well, it wouldn't be healtny for any boy to do it cheaper than the regulation price.” “Do any of the senators ever refuse to give their autographs ?” asked the reporter. “Yes, There's Senator ——; he curses the ys tor asking him.” “And what do you do then 2” got him onc't. When he cussed me I said, ‘But, ‘Senator, this here album's for your wife.’ He wrote down his name. No, 'twant for hia wife sure ‘nough, but I made a bet with some of the boys that I'd get his name, so you see 1 had to have it. We don’t make very much by gittingau- tographs. Most boys don't fill more’n one in session. But Idu, and there’s one boy made nearly fifty dollars last session. There's two or three other senators besides the one I told you about that doa’t aes be bueeres, but “we wenerally manage to ‘em. ‘e watches our chances and catches ‘em in 8 good humor.” The remarkably mild weather that has, with some brief exceptions, prevailed throughout Nova Scotia since the” beginning ofthe winter season, has allowed almost all of the chief; affected by the lien law, and the Sherman bill will become a law in a very short time. Fam Pir. to remain free of ice, an occurrence which has hardly a precedent in the history of the province. | generally OFFICIAL WEATHER PROPHETS, ‘How the Observations and Predictions are Made. THE COURSE OF STORMS UNIVERSALLY wastT- WARD—WHY No STORM EVER REACHES UB FROM THE PACIFIC. SLOPF—s coLD Wave— THE NORTHWEST THAT BLOWS BOTH HUT AND COLD—HOW TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT WEATHER PROPHET. The science of meteorology is still in ite in- faney. Abont fourteen vears-ago the first predictions, being then called “proba. bilities,” were made dy the signal service. In order to secure accurate observations taken by over two hundred observers located in different parts of the United States, and all taken at ex- actly the eamo Instant of time, it was decided by Congress to make these observers amenable | to military discipline by enlistin signal corps of the army. The hem tn the lom of this | measure, it is claimed by the officers of the service, is amply proven by the clock work pre- cision with which each man performs his duty, ‘Three times dally, at intervals of eight hours, ishe noting the readings of his instruments: First, the weight or elastic foree of the atmos- phere as shown by the barometer: second, the relative humidity or per cent of moisture con- tained in the air. as determined by the ygrom- eter; third, the velocity, torce and dire the wind, as per ometer; and lastly, kind, amount ond direction of clouds, amount of rainfall. and For the purpose of brevity this is reduced to cypher form, aud within thirty minutes from thé time the first instrament 13 Tead the full observation is received by tele- graph at the office of the chief siguat officer in | this city. 2 MOW THE PREDICTIONS ARE MADE. ‘These observation offices are distributed over every section of the country from Florida to Oregon. They record their observations at ex- actly the same moment (Washington time). Therefore when received at headquarters and their facts and figures charted upon a map-of the United States, the chart becomes a simple photograph of the conditions existing in the atmosphere at that moment. It is from this chart that the predictions for the following day are made. By drawing a line connecting all Stations of the same barometric pressure the area of lowest barometer is easily located. Moist air being lighter than dry, the center of low barometer becomes the storm center. This center has no wind direction geographically, the atmosphere moying with a rotary motion ‘upward and the surrounding air being drawn towards the center. The winds always blow from a high to a low barometer, that is, from a heavy atmospheric pressure toward the point of least resistance, moving spirally Inward toward the storm-center. The low area is usually several hundred miles t. When the storm is stationary {ts form is nearly circular, but when moving east- ward its sides are depressed until it becomes an oval, the depression being proportionate with its velocity. Twenty-four hours is the average time required tor a storm to trave! from the Mississippi river to New York, and nearly the same time from New York to Newfoundland. ‘The preparation of these daily weather charts enuble the student to go back fourteen years and find a complete record of every storm that has occurred during that time: where formed. the direction and velocity with which it traveled across the country, and all the natural phe- nomena attendant upon it from its inception to Its dissipation. Tt is the accuracy of these records that has enabled the United States to take the first place among all nations in the | progress made in the science of meteorology; and it is the study of them that enablgs the indi- | | cation officer of tye signal service to detect the formation of a storm in its tneipiency and to foretell the path it will travel and give warning accordingly. THE COURSE OF STORMS is universally eastward. No storm of the Pacific | Coast ever reaches us, as, in crossing succes- sively the several ranges of mountains inter- vening, the atmosphere is :orced up to such an elevation that all moisture is condensed by cold and it descends the eastern siope of the Rocky mountains a perfectly dry air; indeed, so void of all humidity that hunters cure fresh meat in the middle of summer by simply hang- ing it on the limbs of trees, and the region for a hundred miles east of the hills is a barren waste. Many of our severest storms form In the re- gion just west of the Mississippi river, pass east- ward off the Atlantic coast, and, augmenting in force as they cross the ocean, continue their course over Europe until dissipated by encoun. tering some range of mountains. Between July and October the United States is usually visited by trom one to three heayy storms, which come up from the West Indies, crossing the extreme | southern states in a northeasterly direction, and then following up the coast violent gales always attend. It {s claimed that millions of dollars annually are saved to shipping interests of the Atlantle ports by means of the warnings dis- played by the signal service several hours in ad- vance of these storms. A COLD WAVE is an Immense river of air flowing from the arc- tic regions southward through British America, and entering the United States Letween tne Rocky mountains and the great lakes, whence it spreads out east and south. It always comea from the same direction, and usually takes | about twenty-four hours to travel from Saint Paul, Minn., to New York and Washington. As the cold waves comes fromthe northwest it would be ural to suppose that the warm waves come from the equatorial regions. But such is not the case. They also come from the northwest. When observations become more general over the entire world, it is presumed that this seeming inconsistency will be ex- plained. INDEPENDENT WEATHER PROPHETS, Every few years some person suddenly gains notoriety as a weather prophet by predicting snow or rain several months In advance. They usually claim that their predictions are based upon some astronomical influence. The claim that there is any ground for such prediction ts disputed by the best authority. Relying upon the constancy of climate, which has been estab- Ushed by observation, we may predict the gene- ral character of any month in the year with a fair degree of accuracy. Observations continued foran entire centary at various places, both in the United States and Europe, show that the climate of a country remains precisely the samé from age to age; that one extreme will cer- tainly be equalized by another; that the mean annual rain-fall is the same, the mean tempera- ture the same, the mean direction of wind the same, and the mean of the last frost in spring and the first inautumnthe same. If sey- eral months have been unusually warm, or ex- tremely cold it isnot to be supposed that the climate has changed and that the succeeding months will be similar in character; but we should rather anticipate weather of an opposite description, as we know that all fluctuations of temperature are soon equaiized. In the sare manner, If the snow and rain-fall forthe year have been considerably less than the mean precipi- tation, it 1s equally certain that the next year, | or the succeeding two years, will be propor- tionately large. It is probably upon this gene- ral law of equalization that our independent weather propiet depends for any foreknowledge he may vain. But it is not specific enouch as | to boundaries and dates to be of any practical value. HOW THE CORPS 18 RECRUITED. The observors of the signal service are five hundred in number. Each candidate for enlist- ment is required to pass a rigid examination, both mental and physical, after which he is enlisted and ordered to the school of instruc- tion at Fort Myer, Virginia, to undergo a special course of study, calculated to still further ft him for his new duties. This course covers about eight months, at the termination of which he is again examined, and if found properly qualified is announced as an assistant observer and ordered to some observation tion for duty. If he fail at this final examination he is discharged from the service. As vacancies occur in the list of observer sergeants, those assistants who have shown themselves best qualified for Practical service are promoted to that grade and pe in charge of an observation station. Two sergeants each year are promoted to the grade of second lieutenant. Betweenthe grade of second lieutenant and brigadier general there are no Intermediate grades. The service, it is maintained by Gen. Hazen, is often severely embarrassed by not having a full complementof ‘ienced officers. The present plan, it is held, also works injustice to the men who by faithful work and diligent study have gained the rank of second lieutenant and who are debarred from further advancement. Many stations are maintained at isolated pointe, viz: Mount Washington, Pike's Peak, Sitka, Alaska, and Point Barrow, the most northern point of North America. it ts consid- ered desirable to obtain a series o? unbroken observations covering a long period ot years at these points. At some of these places the ob- servers are often imprisoned by the snow fora great portion of the winter. They are provided with comfortable Plenty of provisions, g mi ——_—_-e-____ It Is s matter of regret to the Freeman's Journal that “Roman an air of primness and horror” when { 1 | | i} “ A STOCK OPERATOR'S TALK, Why Men Go into Stock Speculation, and Why They Come Out. 4 VETERAN STOCK OPERATOR TALKS ABOUT SPEC- ULATION IN THIS CITY AND THE INCREASED FACILITIES FOR THE BUSINESS—-SOME GOLDEN RULES TO ENABLE ANY ONE TO ATTAIN 8UC- ‘CESS AND KEEP AHEAD OF THE MARKET. “ Yea, I suppose that there is a kind of fasci- nation about stock speculation at first,” ob- served a veteran stock operator, as he fished up on the end of his knife the crisp fragments of fried oysters from his plate in the manner of a man who has lunched well and is, therefore, rather disposed to be leisurely. ‘I suppose | that you have had some experience inthe mar- Ket,” he added, as he glanced up at THE Srar man, who sat on the opposite side of the table. The conversation, which had becun while the waiter was filing the orders, had yielded to the superior attractions of the lunch, and then was resumed with the toothpicks and contentment which follows a well-ordered meal. ‘+ Neurly every one has had a little episode of this in the course of his life,” continued the opera- tor; “perhaps several, depending a great deal on the disposition of the man and his occupa- tion, It is rather an interesting study for on situated as I am to look back over the past and notice the changes which have taken place in iy business. 1 don’t know as I should use rd tense, for the changes are going on daily. New men come in; the old ones drop out. I say drop out; to use the parlance of the street, “squeezed out’ would be the proper term, No one ever goes out voluntarily—that is, very sel- dom. 1 don't mean that they wait until they have lost all their money. Very few go into stocks to that extent. Ordinarily a man does not linger in afight until he has been knocked down three or four times before he realizes that he is whipped. Some men, however, never know when they are whipped. It is a good deal the same way in the stuck market. Stocks are very perverse. They usually act in an exactl: opposite way from thet which the astute judy. ment of the operator has defined. A man may not be convinced that he is wrong by appeals to his reason, but when HIS BANK ACCOUNT is dwindling away, he is Ilable to have his eyes opened. One ot the most beautiful spectacles in my business is to see a man who Is new to the market. venture on a point given him by a friend. proves to be a success. He Is then at once firmly of the opinion that he is © great finan- cier. What he does not know about Jay Goud, the freight business of the railroads, and the various causes which uffect the stock market is not worth knowing. He takes a newspaper for the quotations, he haunts the stock room, and he talks of nothing else. He is not satistled with giving orders to his brokers, but he must run down two or three times a day to see how the market is going. Then. atter a while, he seems to lose his interest in the stock market, aud he probably announces confidentially to his friends that he has given up stock operations. He has been ‘squeezed,’ that is all.” “Some one else steps in to fill his place, how- ever,” said the operator, after a pause, “and 80 the world moves on. Speculation in stocks has never been more general than it is at present. Iremember the time, and it is not more than three or four years ago, when there were only two places in the city where direct daily quota- tions from the New York stock market were received. Now there are at least five establish- ments where the quotations are received by special wire, and a regular business done, be- sides about ten places which we call bucket shops. Ail these places seein to be well patron- ized, but the class of customers is constantly changing. A man will deal at one place for a time, and then, when he meets with @ loss, will conclude that the brokers are not dealing square. or something of the kind, and will go to some other place.” THE PEOPLE WHO SPECULATE. “What class of men are interested in stocks,” askedthe listener. “All classes and all kinds,” was the reply, “and women, too. It seems that everybody | goes on the market at one time oranother. But, | generally speaking, the department clerks are | most largely represented. Just now, however, business is dull, as people, especially those offic in to be ielined to save their mons 1 have never been in a faro place, but I imagine that the fascination of that game must be some- thing like that which is associated with the stock market. Of course, stocks are not a dead open aud shut thing. but, like all speculation, there is more or less chance connected with it. Aman who is in the market all the time loses more than hemakes. I guess that there is no doubt about that. Seven-tenths of those who speculate lose.” “The secret of successful stock speculation,” remarked the operator, as it he was stating an every day fact known to all men, inst of being what all men want to know, ‘is to go on the market only occasionally. That is my rule, although,” he added, with # shade of regret in his voice, “I don’t always live up to it. Butit isagood rule. Go fn occasionally. Put your money in when there is a favorable opening, and when you have made a reasonable profit get ont, and stay out until you get another chance. I get ‘wee of course, sometimes, but I expect that. 1 never get excited. {t 18 foolish in the first place, and, in the second place, you are apt to lose money. With these few simple rules, I think that you would be able to get along in the stock market,” added the operator, with a smile, UNDER THE CRYPT. ‘The Dark Labyrinths Beneath the Dome of the Capitol. PASSAGES WHERE ONS MIGHT LOSE HIMSELF AND NEVER FIND HIS WAY OUT—THE PLACE WHERE OLD STATUES ARE BURIED—THE VAULT INTENDED FOR WASHINGTON’S REMAINS—A WALK AND TALK WITH ARCHITECT CLARK. “You don’t think you could yet lost in the Capitol,” said Architect Clark, as he turned over the leaves of a book of plans indicating the various crooks and crannies in the Capitol by black lines and white spaces. “No, you don’t think it likely,” he added, marking the incredu- lous smile on THE Stax man’s countenance. “You don’t think it likely, but I could lose you 80 that you would never find your way out. I could hide away haif of Congress and they couldn't tell where they were aftertaking a turn ortwo. Come, and I'll show a little way into the labyrinths.” And he led the way, followed by the scribe, under the great stone stair-case into the dark vaults below the basement of the building directly under the crypt. The heavy yauited walls frowned down upon dark flag- stones, and there seemed to be no openingin the solid brick and stone masonry to admit light or air. Light is furnished by gas jets, which burn dimly from theirlong confinement under ground. The walls are massive, and close together, and the arches are built as If to gather up all their strength to support the tremendous weignt of the dome piled above them. The vaults within consist of harrow passages between heavy ma- sonry. “Knowledge of the apper floors,” said the architect, ‘would be of no pasletance in daoding the way through these vaults. Under the dome the passages are narrow and circular, and under the other portions of the building they are full of abrupt angles. The walls do not at all follow the lines of those above, as is usual in buildings. for the reason that when the founda- tion of the two halls was laid the plan in con- templation was very different from that which was Shelly storeet. After the foundations were laid President Pierce pe the construc- tion in charge of the War department, and Jeff Davis, who was then Secretary of War, changed the plan entirely, not liking the one adopted. This involved the building of a new set of foun- dation walls, bet the ofd ones were not re- moved. This leaves a number of narrow pe sages without any particular aim or direction, and makes a pertect maze full of crooks and crannies that would bewilder one not familiar with the place, and it would be difficult for him to find his way out should he venture too far.” All the under the Capitol ts ht combed Si thes. dark narrow passages, wnleh are used generally for store rooms, and are 80 dark and death-like as to make ona shudder at the Idea of being lost there, for a cry woula be deadened against the heavy walls. WASHINGTON’S UNOCCUPIED VAULT. The space just beneath thecenterof the dome, which is directly in front of the entrance to the vault, is the niche provided for holding the re- mains of Washington, but which, in compliance with bis request before di HL i ie i He has probably made his first | It STAR: WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY/ JANUARY 17, 1885—DO ter that the immense amount of the interior de- voration of the building can be ap) ited. Here may be found scroils, nymphs, and satvrs, birds and flower pieces, that one might look in vain for in the building, hid away, as they are, In the angles and arches of the great halls and lost in the immensity of the structure. Standing in a dark corner or the vault, like a ghost peer- jing out of the darkness trom behind a veil of cobwebs, is the original of the statue of Hamtl- ton, which occupies a place in echo hall. A statue of Lincoin stands out from another cor- ner. AN aRT CEMETERY, “This is the burial place of dead statues,” said ithe architect, “the Goddess of Liberty—the | plaster cast of the one on the dome—is buried \ here; there are lote of relics In that pile of pias- ter—there lies the ashes of art. That statue of Lincoln once occupied a place in the rotunda. It | was made by a Mr. Elliot, who disappeared atter leaving it here, and we couldn’: find him. That's ‘8 bust ot Chase—that one all covered with cob- webs and dust; can you see it? "Long side of | that plaster man, witha straw hat cocked on one side of his nhend—some one’s been dressing him off, That's some of Stone's work. But come; if we stop here we won't have time to <o through the other vaults. Oh, there's the God- | des ve had to take her all to pieces to get her in here. There, that’s her shield—its much taller than you are. That big thing there's her i oa You can get some kind ot notion how big She is.” “But now where are you?” he said, stopping after taking a few turns, | ing, ain't it. Well we hayn't gone anywhere yet. If I had time I would show you all | through, but I've got to get back to my’ office, and iff left you to xo on alone you might be | late for your dinner!” he added banteringly. “We'll | go throuzh some other time. The space tur- | ther on there is full of newspaper files and books from the library; they hayn’t room above 80 they have to sture some here. All the space under the Supreme Court and the old Hall of Representatives is used for storage. Then there’s & part occupied by the machinery of the heating and ventilating apparatus.” HOW THE VAULTS ARE HEATED. “But Isn't It very damp for books?” asked the scribe. “Tt used to be very damp, but I have man- aged to get it above dew point, and it’s as dry now as any other part of the building. If it | were damp and mouldy It would be like a burial yault—you look for the bones. But. as I say, it used to bedamp. Not only here; it waa damp on the floor above, and even above that in the rotunda. Originally the main part of the building was not heated atall,and I’ve seen the water trick- | ling down the walls in the rotunda and running out onthe floor. The floor was constantly wet all around for two feet from the wall. I never | could get Congress to appropriate money to ; heat it, but in one way and another I have man- | aged to extend the heating apparatus of the | two houses out this way until now I have the temperature above dew point and all {s dry. | When Latrobe was architect of the Capitol John | Randolph took a dislike to him, and he is quoted as saying inaspeech: ‘The very stones of the Capitol weep for the blunders of the architect.” H ome some time when you have an hour to | Spare. and I'll show you how to get lost In the | Capitol —-—_—__-+-_—______ A WONDERFUL PLANT. A South American Shrub Which, it is Claimed, Will Cure Cancer—A Cave Brought to the Attention of the Med- ical Association—Is it anuther Cunda- rango Cure? Now and then reports of wonderful cures dis- | covered In South America get into circulation, but as a rule the result of caretul tests has been such as to render the medical raternity and the public incredulous of any new reports trom the same part of the world. A case was brought to the attention of the District medical society last evening which,on its face, presented remark- | able features, and which is attracting much al tention from physicians. This was a case of what it is believed, by the patient at least, to be a complete cure of @ cancer in the course of two or three weeks’ treatment with the product of a wonderful Brazilian plant. The person who had the cancer was Capt. Jno. A. Dubie, of 387 Missouri avenue, who 18 well known through- out the southwest. He was afflicted with a skin cancer on his face and nose for many years. After having It operated upon twice, without permanent relief, he saw a description in the consular reports of the Frazilian cancer |cure. He procured a quantity of the | resin or cream sent to this country from Sur- | geon General Hamilton, of the marine hospital service. Dr. Smith Townshend, after using the remedy for three weeks, effected what ai pears to be @ permanent cure. ‘he cancer, which was on one side of Capt. Dibdle’s nose, was puite deep, and the size of a half dollar plece. Last Wednesday night Capt. Duble was ‘nvited before the medical society of the District by Dr. Hamilton, and an examination was made Into the case, the eyes present belong greatly interested in the case. Dr. Townshend, when asked about the case by a STaR reporter, said that Capt. Duvle, who had been a patient of his for some time, called his sttention to the sore on the side ot his nose, saying that it was ® cancer, and would probably kill him, as his father and his grandfather had both been af- flicted with cancers in the same spot, and had died from them. Dr. Townshendat first doubted whether it was a cancer, but subsequent obser- yations convinced him that it was a cancer, He treated it, and several times produced what ap- peared to beacure. The sore healed up, but in course of time brokeout again. Capt. Dublethen brought him this beer and he began toapply it. Within three weeks the sore had disappeared. there being nothing left but a cicatrix. “He had treated the patient so that his blood was in ex- cellent condition. Whether a permanent cure had been effected or not the rapidity with which the cancer had disappeared was remarkable. Dr. Townshend said he was not yet satisfied as to the remedy, and would not make any report of it until he was fully convinced that it had effected a permanent cure. He will then make areport of the case for the medical journals. This was the first trial that the remedy had had in this city. Dr. Hamilton is now, Dr. Townshend guid, experimenting upon another case. ‘+I will wait for three weeks or a month,” sald Dr. Townshend, “and if the sore has not then broken out again I will feel satisfied ‘hat a cure has been effected, and will make a report to the medical journals. Neither Dr. Ford Thompsonnor Dr. Hamilton consider that the disease of Captain Duble was one of true cancer, but one of lupus, an affec- tion almost as sntractable as cancer, but the fact remained that the nicer had healed after the application of the remedy. If it does not again recur it is belleved that a new and valua- ble remedy will have been added to the list of curative agents. The remedy was brought to the attention of the State department by Consul Henry L. Atherton, at Pernambuco, who wrote a commu- nication to the department last September, In- closing a report by Dr. R. Bandeira, surgeon at | the Pedro II. hospital at Pernambuco, regard- ing a cancer cure to which wonderful properties were ascribed. Dr. R. Bandeira, in his report, says he would not like to risk a theory in order to explain its physiological and tlierapeutic action as an escharotie, but Is able to assure that it gives a splendid reault inthe treatment of ulcers of different kinds, A magistrate, Dr. Guemres, was the first that made it known, four yearsago. He hada cancroid of the tace. He was perfectly cured there by the natives of the country using this remedy, and he wrote to Recife, sending the plant and its juice, which was , Dr. Bandeira says, with success in several cases. Last year the juice of alveloz was used in the Hospital Pedro IL., with such success that Dr. Wellozo published a notice in the papers advising the employment of It. Many other experiences have been made in cases of epithelioma of the lips, nose, face and eyelids. The application of alveloz as the plant is commonly called ino usly 10 he whole moat ot razil, where it is known by different names, Tog, or aveloc, ‘fhe natives ot ‘Drea? ‘Fea or aveloz, natives ‘Brej'o,' 4 Madre Deos,’ Fresnel to buro Se ee pend julce running a of a or athe. atte tata it with decoction of leaves of tobacco. ie the UBLE SHEET. WHO REALLY AND TRULY IN-/ VENTER THE STEAMBOAT? | A Lively Controversy. | ‘To the Baitor of Tux Evesixo Stan: / Permit a dweller by the banks of the Cones- toga creek, whereon, more than a century sinoe, | ‘@ fifteen-year-old boy named iiobert Fulton first evidenced the genius that aiterward made him famous by launching aa ingeniously constructed and erank-propelied boat, shouting as he did so, | “Nothing is impossible,” to express some doubt | of the “significance” which “J.C. GK." in Monday evening's STAR, attaches to this extract, quoted from the manuscript journal, dated Philadelphia, January 8, 1786, of Major Andrew Ellicott: “I expected I should at least be clear of per- secution froma schemers uri in this city, bat _my expectatic i WoW pestered by a of Fitch, who has a model of a mac working boats on rivers by steam engi sone years before jority in tne ¢ tion of navigation by steam; for it is cay demonstration that Fuitoun had reflected uy such a possibility more than two decades beiure the Clermont was constructed. Besides, Fulton's experimenton the Hudso: a pronounced prac- ticaisuecess, while Fitch’ yon the Delaware eventuated | ures so that this really able New Jersey nm wed his Gespair and himself by 5: into the Alle- gheny river at Pittsba: ut that stean: navigation would prevail soouer o1 left behind him a wish that his body be along the Obie, where the sc of be will enliven the stillness ot my resting-place. and the music of the steam engine soothe my resting-place.” Indeed, legion is the name of those for whom priority in the application of steam as a m power isciaimed. It may be worth whi note just here that as recently as iwo or years ago the late Charles J. Fa president of the Historical Society ginia, who figured prominently before the war, apd who was Ii ter to France, assured me, in referri Rumsey, that the stea:boat was tie child of Virginia, and not of Pennsylvania, nor yet ot New Jersey. It was in th that the “gentleman of the name of Fitch” thrust his unwelcome attentions upon } your own Potoinac was the experiment, made. His boat. as de: was propelled by tical pump, by which water was drawn bow and expelled at the stem thro: zontal trunk in tie boat’s bottom. of the reflaent water gave a rate o! exceeding four miles per hour. His j not practical, and he died in England in 15 while working to perfect it. The truth seems to be, that numerous im ive geniuses, both inthis country and in Kurc had sought to solve the problem of steam x gation long before Fuiton’s successtul boa! constructed, and quite i!kety before his ea attention had been diverted from the m: ine worki ny in- ventions of a suvmarine and kindred character that distinguished {is earl steam navigation had no real ex until he launched the Clermont. It might as well be claimed that Watt did not invent the steam- engine, or George Stephenson the locomotive, or Richard Arkwrigut the spinning-machine, or that to Columbus does not belong the honor for the discovery of America, as to contend that the world is indebted for steam navigation to any one else than Robert Fulton. Others may have had a priority in the conception of such a possibility; but through his great genius and tenacity of purpose the result was achieved. All the more honor to tlm tat he succeeded where others failed. W. W. Gri | Lancaster, Pa., January 13. manhood. Lut Fulton Not the Man Any Way. | January 12, 1 Noticing a communication of Saturday, axd history: In Henning’s statu: page 502, there is recorded an act of the Virginia assembly of October, 1784, “guaranteeing to James Rum- sey, of Shepherdstown, in that state, the ex- clusive use of his invention in navigating te waters of that state, for the space of ten years trom date.” In January, 1785, he cbtsined a | patent from the general assembly, of Maryland, for navigating their waters. In ‘the -ear 1756, he succeeded in propelling fis boat by steam alone at Shepherdstown azaiust the current of the Potomac ut the rate of four or five miles an hour, . Washington was at taxt time a| member of the **Potomae company, engaged in the improvement of tion ‘the Potomac river, and to Hugh Wiliiamson,member of Cougress, dated | Mount Vernon, March 15, 3785, he says, | alluding to Rumsey's boat: “It a ‘model of a thing in min‘ature is a Just repre-entation of a greater object in practice there is no doubt of the utility of the invention. A view o! model, with the explanation, removed the pi pal doubt Lever had of the practicabilit his propelling axainst y the ald mechanical powe ted to avail himself of my introduction of it to. public attention I chose previousiy to see the ac- in a descend- | cate, aud are satisfied. With regard to Fitch, a sharp coutroversy ex- isted between Rumsey and himselt asto the originality of their respective inventions. The | Hon. Robert Wickliffe, Sr., ef Kentucky, in a communicatk to the American Pionesr (vol. 1, p. 34, That about the year 1750 Fitch accidentally met Rumsey in the streets of Winchester, Va.,and imparted to him the | idea of propelling boats by steam. Adunitting | the fact, it proves nothing more than that from | Fitch, Rumsey derived the bare ide prin- ciples of their machinery were different. With- | out deciding upon tie respective merits of either, both certainly claim admiration for their | severance, a3 weil as syrupathy for their mis- | fortunes. I Lave received a piece of old Vir- | ginia history, which seems to have been always | overlooked in ‘steamboat controversies, which, to any candid mind, must certainiy pat Fulton outside of the qaestion. it it still leaves the honor of priority unsettled between Rumsey Fitch. 8. M. Fitch, Rumsey and Fulton. i To the Editor of Tux Evexrxe Stan: Fulton was not the first man who thought of steam for the propulsion ot vessels, neither was | Fitch, but there is no doubt of the fact that Fal- | tol frst brought it into practical use. Probably the very first attempts in this direction were | made on the Potomac, near Shepherdstown, Va., about 1782 to 1784, by James Rumsey. His | idea was to force the boat through the water by | steam discharged trom the stern. The propul- | sive power Was insufficient. {t fatied, and Fitch | was experimenting atte same time or very | soonafter. His boat was operated by paddies. | He obtained a propelling power of four miles an | hour, and there is no telling what he might have accomplished if the boiler of his boat had not bursted inthe midst of his experiments. He died soon afterwards, before renewing them. | A fall account of Fitch’s trials and experiments | may be found, if to be had, ina small volume | entitled “Eminent Mechanics,” published about | fifty years ago, though the work is probably | now out of print. T. J. ALEXANDRIA Covnry, Va., January 14, 1885. aiahaS Aaa Dog=gorn thove Bogs. | ‘To the Péitor of Tae EVENtnc Star. Have non dog-holding citizens anyrights, and is night ever to be made hideous by the voices of hundreds of licensed and unticensed nuisances? ‘One might as well be on the prairies and listen to the howl of coyotes. Ifthe pound men could be persuaded to make a night trip through that peeden of the city bounded by Ist and 5th and to M streets northwest, he would doubtless make @ good scoop. A } a up all night. Ifany one can atoms tne ase ative tai ta @ city I will Be-content to est de thereby becomes so familiar that when J story. the does arise, it is unheeded; like the old cry of ‘‘wolf” has been raised too often. en in the country, the watch dogs are more feared by le neignbors than by tramps, the lat- ter a making may with the animal if he finds With the ex- ception dogs and a few of the finest about the “First Inventor ot the | “15 THE CONGRESSIONAL mrt. The Reasons Why ic Should be Passed, ‘To the Katitor of Tar Evexiwo Stan: t1BRARY The Diil contempiating the erection of a new. Congressional Ubrary, and which passed the Senate by a vote of 39 to 4. is soon tocome up in the House, and there is reason to expect that the same oid ob}: ctions, however absurd thev have been proved to be, are to be employ’ in the endeavor to defeat ils passage. This bill has engaged the attention and eon- sideration of so many adie and competent gen- tlemen acting on the various Library commit- tees tor a period of 13 ird Congress tn we matter cannot be reasonably Very one of these committees nas made tavor- able and ananimons y public is here calied te of these committees, mmittees: w of co Heister Clymer. GRESS—1875 TO IST. Morse. Relster Ciymer. RTH CON! T. 0. k Matt. W Po James Monroe Y-PIETH CONGERSS—IST7 TO 1878. SATE. Nove, T. 0.0 Gea. F TH CONGRESS—ISNO0 TO SSI, Horse Geo. W. Geddes B. Kichmond Farwell, Justin S. Morrell Humphrey an Members. tic Members, brary cominitices pdations one con. fact that brary is . While over 600,000 are piled inte it (vide the annnat reporta rariaa of Conztess). It must be re- vt upand of the membered ai there 18 aN annual acces- sion to thi ary of 45,000 or 50,000 books. and re- is the foremost itectural fraternity of this ion, Enziand, participated. than whom no one is more cour in proper time, w prospectus, s th the mniultifarious re- quirements of this building, which served ass guide to the competing arciiltectsfor the framing of their designs This said brariaus in both hewispheres and ree vrate encomiums, 8o that the ques. tion of its merits may be safely regarded as fettled. Of all the objections brought forward by the opposition to this bill, none are so unworthy as those which are ainied at the site aciected for this structure. These objec is are two- fold ing these be said ta reterenoe euts of a site for # li- n acknowledged fact that dampness is as damaging and destroetive to books as fire—the process is only a slower This is not the dampness that arises from rainy or turbulent weather to the par brary structare. ¢ dampness in la which constantly is- d sir) in low places and which are dele- fatal even to animal life. This damp atmospher# permeates stone, brick, aterials it comes tn con- tuct with and prematurely deatroysthem. There is noeffective remedy to prevent this. At cert books and . Manuscripts, naps, engray- is but one sure way of avoiding thir on by dampness, viz: by selecting « high dry, and which will as the structure as possible to tant circulation of fresh and @ry air. cels the site selectes It les high ad in other respects is snitable and ts . ete. cheap. An examination of the official statement of the cost of sites for public butidings of the cen- e ernment ineight of our largest clties will readily convince eversbody of the cheap- ness of this site. It will prove that the average cost of these elght sites per square foot is while the square foot of the site sel or one-eighth; and that at the rate of toot’ the selected site would instead of $550,000, whic . X.Y. RELIGIOUS NOTES. CEURCHES HERE AND ELSEWHERE, ~— Rey. Dr. Murray, president of the Maryland annual conference of the Methodist Protestant . will visit the street and First on the 25th, und nae churcheson Febrnary 24. Dr. . pastor of the Alexandria urch, bas beeu elected president of the urs’ conference, and Rev. Edmond pastor of the Second Baptist Rev ist ¢ ety of the Protest land have madearraigements, at the suggestion of Bishop Paret, for a missionary conference in the interest of work among the colored people. ‘The conference will take place in Baltimore on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Ad- dresses will be delivered by Bishop Paret, of Episcopal church of Mary Maryland: Bishop Elliot, of Texas: Bishop Ly- man, ot North Cerolina; Bishop Dudley, of Ken- tuck W. Newton and Rey. Bdaward Osborne. Seven students of theology are now prepar- Ing for the synod of the Danish Lutheran church in Amer 4 will be available in from one to three years. — The Lutheran Publication Soctety of Phile- deiphia, will soon publish a volume of the cay lected writings of Rev. Charles Stork, D. the late professor in the Gettysburg sem — Rey. Dr. G. B. Taylor, has been made chet lain of the University of Virginia, for two years, beginning next fall. — Rey. John Y. Carrol, has resigned the care lof the Baptist church, at Gordoneviile, Va., and entered on his work as pastor at Ashville, N.C. -— Rev. Dr.-G. A. Nunnally, the secretary of the Church Building Department of the Bap- Ust Home Board, Atlanta, has resigned. —The Baltimore Baptists have organized ‘he Baptist Social Union of Maryland,” witha membership of more than one hundred. -— Kev. Vincent Palen, who died last month at Camden. N.J., in iis 75th year, and was buried at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., the place of his birth, was well known in this section before the Wer. He was at one time a Winnebrenarian, than a Methodist, and in 1845 wax ordained a og