Evening Star Newspaper, June 12, 1886, Page 2

CITY AND DISTRICT. ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO. Subjects to be Studied in the Public Seheels— Provisions of the Law. A question with which the school board com- mittee on text books and course of study is now struggling is how tocarry out the provisions Of the luw recently enacted by Congress re- Quiring that special instruction be given in the sehools as to the effects of aleobolic drinks and Rarcotics upon the human system. The Which was approved May 20th, provides “that the nature of alcobolie drinks and narcotics, and special Instruction as to their effects upon the human system, in connection with the sev- al divisions of the subject of physiology and hygiene, shall be includea in the branches of stucy taught in the common or pubiie schools, and in the military and naval sehools, and Shall be studied aud taught as thoroughly and fe the sume manner us other like required Branches are In suid schools, by the use of text books im the hands of pupils where other Branches are thus studied in said schools, and ‘all pupils in all said sebools throughout the territories, in the military and naval aeadem Of the United States, and in the Distriet of Jumbia, and In all Iidian and colored schools im the territories of the United States." It also ovides for the removal from office of sehool of Revte who may neglect or tail to make proper Provision for the instruction required by the act, and directs that no certifleate shall be granted to any person to teach in the public schools of the District of Columbia or territo- Fes after the Ist day of January, 1388, who has Rot passed a satisfactory examination in physi- ology and hygiene, with special reference to the Rature and the effects of alcoholic drinks and Other narcotics upon the human systen ‘At the last meeting of the school board Dr. Purvis suggested that the cominittee should be Instructed a littie in regard to tnismatter. The act of Congress required them to teach some thing of the effects of the use of alcohol. They ould have, probably, to adopt a new physi- logy. He was not sure that they were bound fuse textbooks. One lady who had live in securing the law bad sent to him written by herself, showing that she combin philanthropy and business. Mir. Brooks expressed the hope that they would not make the school-rooms a i room for temperance. He hoped that the com mittee would find a book which taught onl: the sctentitle questions involved. He had seen some Looks which contained the most audacious statements, that would make children, if they Delieved what was said in the books, aria theni- Selves and shoot their fathers. Prof. Gregory said he was in favor of text- books. Some of the books be bad seen seemed tohim tw contain very important matter. He Teterred to the habit of cigarette smoking among sehool children, and thought that it was im- portant that the children should be enlighvened ‘early on the effects of tobacco. It was finally concluded that at an early day the text-book commitiee should make a report upon the subject. Es THE MARINE BAND. Am Organization Which the Court of | Claims Says Was N. by Law. An interesting case was recently decided by ‘the Court of Claims which resulted in showing that the famous Marine band has no legal ex- istence as such an organization. A man named John Bond brought suit against the United States for extra compensation as @ member of F Recognized isted arine (corte be Coe ete | Potomue river, were built under the direction Corps at the Marine barracks October 29, 1879, as a private and was assigned to duty with the Marine band at the time of his enlistment and performed duty with the band as a private until May 1, 1881, when he was rated as a mu- sician. Between the date of his enlistment and May 1, 1891, the Marine band performed under waned on tna Capitol grounds and the President's grounds, but the claimant received no additional compensation until he was rated musician. The court in deciding that he was eutitied to such compensation stated that sec- ton 1596 describes the organization of the Ma- Fine Corps as consisting of a certain number of officers, non-commissioned officers and privates, together with a drum major, a principal musi- ¢lan, thirty musicians, sixty drummers and sixty fifers, while section 1613 directs thet when’ the band 1s ordered to pla; on the capitol or White House groun extra comnpensation shall be — given. The accounting officers had ruled that addi- tonal pay only be given to those rated as ‘The Marine corps was established [S, and its band = = RS the known organizations o! e character the country, but curiously this band has had form: statutol nition. ims and fifes were vided for the Navy as ‘ago as 1794, while in 1798 “musicians,” understood to mean drummers and fifers, ‘iven to the marine corps. Other pro” Visions similar in character have been made from time to time, but no mention is made of a ‘organization until the enactment of ‘the laws now condensed n section 1613 of the Fevised statutes. That section reads as follows: “The marines who compose the corps of musi- cians known as the “Marine band.” shall be entitled to receive at the rate of our dollars a Month each in addition to their pay as non- Commissioned officers, musicians, or privates 9t the Marine ‘60 long as they shall. per- Serm by order of the Secretary of the Navy or uperior officer, on the Capitol grounds Or the President's grounds.” The statute does ‘say that the members of the Marine band receive extra compensation, for no such Js known to the law; but thé pay is given to those “marines who compose the corps of @asicians Known as the Marine band.” The @aly other provision looking even een, two ® musical Organization 1s that of section 1596, Slowing a dram major, aprincipal musician, thirty musicians, sixty’ drummers, and sixty Biers. The court decide that the Claimant, a wate in the Marine corps, was one of the ines who com the organization known as the Marine band and was entitled to additions: £ eS ‘Transfers of Real Estate. Deeds in fee have been filed as follows: otte J. Pile to Gardiner G. Hubbard, Bretiy Prospect, 16.05acres: $25,000. B Carn” qmack et al. to G. T. Cator, sub 21, sq. 68; $2.200. D. L. Morrison to Rosin Poulton, sub 16, sq. $24" $5,000; sub 17, das, $5, Matilda Hayes to E. D. Dudley, sub X, sq. 235; $600. John H, Bundy toS.and G. Oppenheimer, pt. 68. Hlaw’s sub, P, Mt Pleasant; $500. Joha'T- Bloxham to Ada T. Cotton, pt. 280, B. dd. to West Washington; $6: tO. M. Bryant, sq. north of 1,¢ ©. M. Bryant to J. D. Croissant +» SALLE rty: $4,490.66. John Sherman to M. M. er, jot 22, blk. 35, Columbia Heights; g90u. 'M. M. Parker to Louise Spaul, same roperty; $1,350. E. A. Newman toJennie W. itaman, pt. sub. 1, blk. 21, Efingham; $650. B. W. Perkins to ©. A. Johnson, sub lots 109 and 110, Lanier Heights: $1,300. J. R. McLean to Elizabeth Reel, sub 153, sq. 544; $1,900. K. Fendail to Mary Lee Fendail et al., sub 43, sq. 115; $20,000. 3. A. Geoff to W. ‘8. Detwiler, sub 43, 6g. 2200. J. W Pilling tot. E ‘Waggaman, part - 7 ~ Mary J.C. Ly D to Lena 3. Baldwin, lot 6.5. Bos sub Mt. Pleasant, &c.; $6,500. ‘A. W.'K A. T. Bissell, part 4,'su."N_of 853; $2,200. C. F. E. Richardson to W. H. Wood, sub lots 61 to 65, sq. 507; $1,202.25. K.C. Hoffman et al. to Carrie E.T. Knox, sub 1.99. 629; 8—. CH. oe tw B. Tulley, part 79, 6. & H.'s addition to West Washington; $2,310. W. B. Bei |. C. Frost, sub Q, sq. 211; $3,300. arren to A. Paine, sub 3, sq. 104; $350 Paine to W. Mayse. same Property; fot Wash- ington Brick Machine Uo. to J. L! Hodge, sub lols 68, 69, 80, 51, 85, and 89, 8g. 100: 1,160.50. J. L. Hodge to Joseph $. Boss, lots and 81, do; $594. Martha D. Gunn to Mary A. Brown, sub lot 12, sq. 802; $3,600. Martha D. Green to Mary A. brown, sub 12, sq. 802; $3,600. J. 8. Edwards to W.8. Lincoln, oa 4, res. 11; $—-. G. M. Hunt to Martha ‘unt, lot 263 and pts. 262 and 264, B. and H.'s addition to West Washington; $4,000. James D. Dunford to Martha A. Dillard, pt. 7, sq $i.se0, R. B. Clark to Mary E!Lyubam: pts. jl _to 63, sq. 502; $2,600. ¥. Helmick to C. L. Loomis, lots 34, 36, 44 to 61, 63 65, 67, 69, 71, blk. 6; + $4. 12, Mon” tello; $515.60. HH. LR Tattle, 3 3 Hi | chy Fy son etal., trustees, to A. A. Thomas, lot” &, bik. 31, Columbia Heights; "36,500. J.B. Wimer to Jeunett E. Butterfield, lots 23 ‘to 27, bik. 10, Reno; $200. James E. Oliver to Usear’ Nauck, Jot 9, bli. 2, Smith's Furm; $1,100, E.R. Haight to Laureiia C. Reed, pt. lot 163, Prathers sub it Pleasant; 6 ¥ Shanabrook to Mrs. 8. E. le, pt. 10, sq. 393; $2, ‘artello to W. J.’ Rewton, sub lots 1, 500. Same to A. P. Fardon, sub lots 7 and 28, do.; $4,825. John Dailey to Job Fegan, pus. 27 and 25, sq. 470; $2,660. E. Keyser toO, Smith, lots 13 and 16, sq. Jie. W: Paris to, John S: Blair, slabs 1, 92 and 93, sq. 152; $4,115.47. ‘D. Lioyd to Ida M. Hamilton, lot 3, bik.5, Le Droit Park; 1,700. E,W. Woodruit to J. V.P. Ritter, subs and 12,9q. 479; W.F. Baldwin to J. Rush, sub 21, sq. 401; gé, Bhedd to Koger Bellis, sub 17, sq LeRoy Tuttle 6, an 3 lo Mary’ V. Brown, sub 22 to 24 b Widow's Mite; $6,914.80. Bensinger to John Fitzgeraid, sub 51, sq. 000. E. Lander to Emilie M. Darnelle, 16 and 20 and pt. 17 sq. 1025; $4,596.20. Emilie M." Darnelle to Lander, — sub BS. sq. 623; $2,000. J. A. Williamson to Ellen B. Eustis, ‘pt.’ sub 9, <q. 7, Sherman to same, pt.’ sub 50, E. Edmonston to sume, pt. sub Berkins to 8. K Weed, subs 11 nier Heights; $1.17: sab i ST42.50, lot 33, sq. to Margaret B 41; $1,000, &. W. ‘aber, sub lots 26 and 27, to Emma C. Cooke, pt. 6, F, G. Notf to Carrie A.'Ham- 3.05. e Tux evolution of a man of fashion devel according to Charles Dudiey Waruer, in four Jacob B. Glow (oil merchant). J. Bartlett Glow (clubman). tt Glow (Bridegroom). The Bartlett-Glows (ot Newport). Johnny—“What is the difference between gense and sevsation, papa?” Pupa—“When I eome down stairs, Jobuny, w shingle you, you When I grabs you and apply” the ‘auiugio, taal Wheo " ¢ | Alexandria,'In the state of Virginia, v THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D. C. vl SATURDAY... JUNE 12, 1886-DOUBLE SHEET. THE AQUEDUCT BRIDGE. ‘The Result of the Examination Made by Engineer abert. HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE BRIDGE AS REPORTED TO CONGRESS—THE STRUCTURE REPORTED AS GOING TO DECAY—THE BRIDGE TWISTING ITSELF OUT OF LINE. Mr. S. T. Abert, civil engineer, recently made @ thorough examination of the Aqueduct bridge, and his report bas, as stated by THE Srar, been transmitted to the Senate by the Secretary of War, in response to @ resolution of that body directing the Secretary to have made | “‘a careful examination of the Aqueduct bridge at Georgetown and report the present cond!- tion, especially as to its safety for ordinary travel when the aqueduct is filled with water.” THE HISTORY OF THE BRIDGE. “The legislative history of the Aqueduct bridge,” says Mr. Abert in his report, “which begins with the authority of the present lessees, dates from the act of the general assembly of the state of Virginia, passed on the 16th day of y, 1866, By this act, for the annual rent of | $1,000. Henry” H. Wells, Philip Quigley and Ww W. Dungan became the lessees for the Under their au- Xpense the bridge was period of ninety-nine years. thority and at their completed March 19, 1565, and was declured a legal structure by ‘act of Congress approved July 27, 1NG8. ‘This act consists of a preamble and seven sections, The preamble states that, by act of Congress of Mas 1830, the Alexandria Canal com- pany was incorporated and authorized to con- Struct, operate and maintain a eanal from | orgetow .in the Distriet of Columbia, to | han aqueduct across the Potomac river at George- town: and iurther, that by an act of the general assembly of the state of Virginia (Feb. 16, 1866), the board of public works was authorized to unite with the corporate auth ty. Alexandria in inaking disposition of the Alexandria canal, and by joint vote of the | du | lowing tolls, rd of public works and by the vote of a ma- Jority of the stockholders of the said canal com- Pauy, the president and directors of the said canal company were empowered and directed to lease the said canal for the period of mi nine years; and that on the 16th day of M 1866, the’ said president and direetors d rant, lease and convey the said eanal, its uqtte- locks, banks gates and property of ail deseription tw lienty Wells, Philip Quigley and Wm. W. Dungan. Section 1 de- | clares ‘the aqueduct’ to be a legal structure, tion four provides “that as soon as the chief engineer of the army shall certity to the s tary of War that the said bridge’ ts so far e pleted as to be ready, fit and convenient for t Passage of persons, animals and ve Said lessees and their legal representatives may | |, have and receive, in advance, the fol- wit: For any foot passeng: crossing on said bridge, two cents; torans mule or jack, any ox or other horned hve cenis; for any Vehicle drawn by one at mal, fifteen cents; drawn by two animals, twenty-five cents;” drawn by four ani thirty-five cents, but noe arze shall b made for the driver of suct ; tor any he: sheep or other live creatu: ere- m= , one certificate shall be published for thre two daily papers in the city of Washi the expense of the company: Provided, howe ‘That it shall be lawful tor said lesse mute those rates to persons requir passes. * * * Provided, however, ridge 1s open and tree for the passie of troops | and munitions of war by the United States | without charge or compeusation of any kind.” DESCRIPTION OF THE BRIDGE. i The piers of the aqueduct, constructed to | carry the Chesapeake aud Ouio canal across the | hat said of Capt. William Turnbull, corps ot topograp! cal engineers, and are composed of heavy blocks | of gueiss, quarried about oue mile below the Little F. e,on the Potomac; each pier has an ice-breaker of cut granite, quarried in Sandy Bay, Massachusetts. Between the abut- ments are cight piers, about 110 feet between | the faces at the top; Overy third pier (two in all) {s 16 feet wide at top; the remaining 6 piers | are 7 feet wide. ‘The top of each pier is about | 30 feet above ordinary high-water mark. Ac cording to the first design the superstructure | ‘as tobe of stone arehes, but, for reasons of economy, @ trough of kyanized wood wa abstituted, of the pattern designed bh ‘ol. Long, of the topographical — engi- neers. The aqueduct was used by the government during the war, the wa being drawn from the trough, ind a roadway laid ‘upon the floor. This biidge becoming much decayed, its place was supplied by. tl lessees, who built the present structure, which is a Howe truss, strengtlied by arch-ribs. ‘The trough of the ayueduct and the tow-path rest on the lower cord, and a highway bridge and foot-path rest on the upper chord, WITH HATCHET AND AUGER. The report then gives the result of an exam- ination concluded Maren 16th last. In making | the examination a hatchet was used to sound the timber, and a pick and auger were en ployed to penetrate all such places as exhibited signs of decay. For convenience of descriptioi Mr. Abert has divided the bridge into thr eneral parts, beginning at te north en First, the Georgeiown approach; second, the aqueduct proper, and, third, the Virginia ap- proach, Of the first’ part,’ the Georgetow approach, Mr. Abert says the abutment is fair condition; the trusses are strong and in good conditiou; but the floor beams, 6 by 11 inches in cross section, resting on ‘the lower chords and supporting the carriageways and footpaths, are in very bud condition. THE AQUEDUCT PROPER. Concerning the Aqueduct proper, the report gives.a detailed statement of the decayed tim ber and other parts said tobe defective. Not” withstanding the support of the substruts, the bridge exhibits @ tendency to turn about its horizontal axis; which tendency, first noted in 1376, was examined in 1884, and now again in March, 1886. This twisting or overhanging ts due to the fact that the center of gravity of the bridge, when loaded with water, 1s 1.3 feet to the west of the center of gravity of the bridge without the Aqueduct and waier, This dangerous defect, noted in 1576, and first meas- ured in 1584, was much reduced in March last. ‘This improvement has been made by the super- intendent of repairs. THE VIRGINIA APPROACH. ‘The Virginia approach, the report says, 1s composed of bents, or trestles, extending to a crib abutment; each bent is formed of a ground- sill, three posts, and @ cap, supporting a roaa- way. The distance from the end of the aque- duct to the abutment on the road is 447 leet These trestles have been repaired since the | examination made in 1884, and may be con- sidered to be in a fair condition. Some rotten timbers, posts, and floor beams should be he piers, completed about the year 1839, are in good condition. A certain amount of deterioration was observed and noted, but it was not measured. It consists in the removal of the cement from. between the joints of the fce-breakers, and also | from the joints on each side of the’ piers. This | defect is progressive, and although it may | be some years before danger can be apprehended from this cause, the repairs should be thoroughly made and at an early date. THE STRENGTH OF THE Buti The report then gives elaborate calculations | of stresses on the truss and arch of the aque- duct, remarking that itis evident that the re- pairs which have been made annually for the | past ten or twelve years have not been coex- tensive with the decay, and that progressi deterioration is noticeable throughout the struc- ture. The weakest part of the bridge appears to be the top chord, the factor of safety, in which is GENERAL CONCLUSIONS, ‘The following conclusions are drawn from the report of inspection and from the calculation: ‘The two approaches can be put ina satisfuc- tory condition by replacing with sound timber the decayed parts mentioned, , When the water is withdraw: fe for the passage of he comple ayed and de d by sound timber The floor, floor-bean old trank ean be removed. as and sub-struts will not be needed, and should be replaced by the lateral bi ‘he braces now wanting in the central panels of each span should be supplied. The lowing repairs: ber shoula be rey the proper dimensions. and much of the The straining be old kyanized struts against the — sides | of the aqueduct are in | good condition, | but should be properly fitted into new floor beams placed beneath ‘Phe old flooring of the re he aqueduct. dway should) be re: ‘The trusses agonal thes, sary. neces- Many of the curriage blocks in each Span are defective or useless. The elliciency of | the arch depends on the condition of thesa | blocks, and forty-five have been counted whieh should be at renewed, The chords and able todecay should be kyanized | a weith zine, After the completion of | the repairs the bridge should. be properly ad- Justed by screwing the nuts of the tie-rods, and uuremitling attention should be given to the maintance of the proper udjusument of the load upon the trusses and arches. When the bridge is repaired further setuement of the ure may be prevented py replacing the old timbers with new of exactly the same di- mensious and by employing heart pine for the skew-buck and the part of ‘the arch adjacent thereto. Iron plates should be employed at the ‘abuting ends of the arci-ribs, THE WEAKEST POINT. In concluding the report Mr. Abert says: “The strength of a bridge is determined by its | Weakest part. The factor of safety of the weak- est part of the Aqueduct bridge is found in the top eb in whieh the coefficient is 2.35 when the bridge is loaded with water and with the moving load. It is therefore evident that when thus loaded the bridge cannot be pro- nounced to be safe for a moving load of 90 pounds per square foot, and that for the security ry travel, Worough repairs and ine iligence Will be necessary to prevent OTOGRAPHY, It 1s claimed, fs to be st!ll fare ther advanced by the use of the air brush. In this device a little hoider ig charged with India ink, and, by & bellows operated with a foot pedal after the manner ot a sewing machine, the fluid is blown upon a faintly outlined pore trail, phe result giving a pleture superior in many Fespects to the best crayon drawing —the Sole operation involviig also only afew hours’ me. A counter irritant: Lui doesn’t buy. see ‘The woman who shops | Hat stave, or “beater, | gathered “about her or the CHILDREN’S DAY. To-morrow to Re Given Up te the Little Ones in Many of.the Churehes. To-morrow is the day set apart by many of the Evangelical churches as one to be devoted especially to the children in the Sunday schools, and it will be observed as “Children’s day” especially in the Methodist Episcopal churches throughout the land. Formerly it was the cus tom of the Sunday schools of the District, under the auspices of the Sunday sehool Union, to have a procession in the month of May, closing with a mass meeting. The boys used to appear in white pants and black jackets, and the girls in white dresses carrying banners and flowers. This cusiom died out about fifteen years ago. In place of this the “Children’s day” has grown to | be quite a feature, and it is probable that the little ones enjoy it much more than they would @ mareh through the streets in procession. Some of the churches here will have original pro- ains . prepared — for occasion, Viding exercises in which the Sunday’ school pupils ° will participate, while others will follow the programs prepared by some of the publishing houses, Ju many instances the observance will be in the morning, but in some churches the services will take up the en- tire day, platform meetings closing the exer- cises. ‘The programs prepared for this observance usually embrace solos, duets, choruses, Tespon- sive readings, dialogies and recitations, in which mottoes will be displayed. In some of the dialogues the pupils personate flowers, ‘The origin of the general observance of the day in the M. E. chureh was in 1866, when un- der the general conference of the’ eburch a | (Chilaren's Educational Fund” was created, | he noney to be ‘used in “alding meritorious 'y School scholars in obtaining a more ad- education,” and $60,000 was. raised. plan was further developed in 187: the second Sunday in June was appointed hildven’ nd it was recommended that whenever practicable & collection should be raised in aid of tue Sunday school fund of the board of education. ‘This custom has been generally adopted by the M. E. churches throughont the land, and other denominations have followed. ‘The collections for educational purposes have increased, until they aggrezate ow hundreds of thousatds of dollars. Ln the Jongregational ehurehes the collections are for missionary purposes MAKING AN INDIAN BLANKET. Wa-Wah, the Zuni Priestess, at Work in the National Museam. An Indian woman, crouching before a rude loom, iormed the center figure of the picture that met tie climbed, the other day, up the winding stairs to one of the galleries of the National museum, It was the Zuni maiden, Wa-Wab, a priestess, 4nd a person of importance among her own People. The loom was of real Zuni manufac- ture—a frame of rods, suspended by cords from a irame above, Wa-Wah sat, or crouched, cross- legged, or tailor fashion, one of her bare feet showing out from under her robe, or blanket. The loom, the spindle on which she twisted her yarn, and the long reeds, or sticks, upon which her yarn, or worstea, was wound, and the long, which she thrust now and then through the'strands in the loom, were ail specimens of Zuni handiwork taken from the ‘collections of the museum. Wa-Wah came there to weave a blanket on the loom and explain the use of the implements. She worked on silently, patiently in the stolid Indian way, apparently’ not noticing the spectators that photographer's camera which was leveled at her. The loom With the blanket upon it will be placed in a ease in the museum, together with puotographs of Wa-Wait at work upon it, which will illus trate the mode ot weaving ‘employed by the Zunis. Folks who have formed poctic ideals of Indian maidens, after the pattern of Pocahon- tas or Minnehaha, might be disappointed in Wa-Wah on first sit. Her features, and es. pecially her mouth, wre rather large; and carriage rather naseuline; her coarse black hair is gathered together behind, and clubbed. or bound in one thick braid, tied’ with a bit of red flannel. She wears a calico dress or wrap- per and over this a dark-colored blanket, fust- ened about her ample waist with a red girdle, | Wa-Wah, who speaks a little English, and anner is very gentle, said that it took | whose her six days to weave the blanket she wears. ‘Then she indicated by spreading open the fingers of her hand thatshe made hand’s breadth from the top of the outstretched little finger to the top of the thumb each day. This duily task was no light one, or Wa-Wah’s hand 1s by no means small, Then atter the Stag reporter had ed her awhile, Wa-Wah concluded that she had worked enough for that day, anu, ris- ing from the mat on which she had been sitting, she proceeded to array herself for the street rhis was done by throwing over her head a necklace or string of huge silver beads, orna- mented with various devices in the shape of rosses and balfmoons. Wa-Wah seemed oud of this ornament, and said it was nade by Zuni man.” Then Wa- Wah at @ litte box and put on her shoes and stockings or what corresponded tothem. First, she slipped upon her bare feet a pair of soit slippers or moccasins, Then she produced @ soft elk-skin, which looked like chamois-skin, and began Winding itaround the ankle and ‘calt of one leg, and kept wiuding it around and around unill the covering extended from sin nearly “to the knee, and there were several thicknesses of it, giving to the limb a dropsical appearance not justified by the real facts of the case. ‘Then she took a narrow strip or strap of the same material and bound the legging on with it. The other limb was swathed in the same way, and then Wa-Wah was ready togo. She strode out with a masculine stride, passed down the steps and out through the museum. Wa-Wah is a guest at Mrs. Col, Ste- Venson’s house. She was brought to this elty by Mrs. Stevenson last tail, when that lady returned to Washington from Zuniland. Wa-Wiah ts well versed in all the mysteries of the Zuni religion and the customs ot her people, and Mrs. Stevenson has obtained from her much valuable iuiormation, Wa-Wah is now anxious to return home and tell her people all that she has seen In the wonderful cast. She thinks the people of this city are very rich be- cause they have nothing to do but make and receive calls. Some time ago she called upon some friends who live in the Portland flats, Afterwards she expressed her sorrow ior them because they were so poor that they had only a part of a house. She took much interest in the model of the town of Zuni at the National Mu- seum and gave testimony to its accuracy by pointing out her own house. Wa-Wah will go back to her home when some one, who can act as her escort, s going her — soe The Aqueduet Bridge Tolls. WHY THEY SHOULD BE REDUCED. To the Editor of THe EVENING Stan: The title to the Alexandria aqueduct is com- plicated. The northern pier and abutment is claimed by the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, but can be had by condemnation, The Alexandria Canal company leased to the Bridge company for ninety-nine years their canal and aqueduct for the nominal sum of $1,000 per year, conditioned that the Bridge company should keep the aqueduct and Al andria canal in navigable order. To make a fee simple deed requires the assent of th company and the Alexandria Canal compan Alexandria is opposed to any sale that would deprive her of their canal, although bouts can | be towed cheaper by river to their elty than they can go by canal. Alexandria has a natural Virginia pride, anc does not wish to surrender the possible benefits of a canal, With the failure of a former free bridge bill, it Is not surprising that the public should have doubts about the effectiveness of the present bill, As the tolls on this bridge are double what they ought to be, it is natural that a reduction to a fuir price should be made until tolis are no longer levied, We have had to wait eighteen years for afair rate,and now claim a simple act of jus- tice should be done to an outraged people. “Mr. W. W. Dungan has persistently retused to re- duce the tolls, though repeatedly requested to do so, Had the tolls been moderate, the reve- nue from them might have been as’ great or gre as cheap postage and our cheap street car fares have proved trom the increased use, and the Virginia hills opposite West Washing. ton, would have been dotted with cot- tages, which are now forced to the railroad lines’ to Laurel and Rockville, Md. Mr. Dun- gan claims that a new schedule of tolls has been in operation since 1882. Upon inquiry it will be found that thirty round trip tickets for a one-horse vehicle are sold tor $6) or 20 per cent less than a single round-trip, whi¢h costs 25 pts; single and round trips remain the same tolls ‘as formerly. ‘The railroads from Wash- ington to Baltimore give a quarter yearly ticket of 91 days for $34.75, costing 38 cents perday. The round trip ticket being 2, this is a reduction of $1 per cent for riding in first- juss cars, or 38 cents for a ride of 80 miles, against 20 cents for a drive with a one-horss Vehicle going aad returning of lews than a mile, A discriminating public will see the great difference and require an immediate reduction of tolls, ‘H, TENNEY, ‘The President His Pie. From Tid-Bits. ‘The people, good Grover, give you thelr best wishes in this season of honeymoon, and hope you may swim | they w! ners; ‘They hope that your bride all your battons will see to, be an equal companion aud not a mere “me too; but not Ko too fur with her feminiae veto, but let you have pie at all your state dinners, And thou, happy one, fate's fortunate daughter, train Up clr good Grover the way that you ought to: Make him stay at home nighis and drink nothing but water, and loyally love him ‘and tenderly cherish: Make him keep his shoes shined and bis hat dusted, bis Lair parted stralght and his peck! udjusted, but treat him ax one. to be houored and. trusted, dnd O! give him pie, give him pie or he'll eetnent and ses: in an ocean ‘of Uilsses, ‘you all Joy, both the saints and the sin- Since he was a buy with his mommer and {rita stomach as empty as versesof ‘Tupper) he has eaten his pre st both dinner and supper, as ® ‘comfort and cheer and a sweet a Give him pie,and the land will, ice in thankagivit with the conser of hope ‘ver, your: heplnes popper swinging, und epee hills = = will @ may Grow pie at SER 8. W. Foss. ——_—+«--___= A new English dictionary is coming out with 240,000 words. The Hou. William A. Evarte will’charter a tug togo down the harber to wele come it.—Dullue News. : es of a STAR reporter when he | her figure | the mocca- | | | | | bidder determined by the totais. It was found, | and very low fu Vey UNCLE SAM'S SUPPLIES. How Contracts are Made for Furnish- img Material to the Government. THE OLD PLAN OF BUYING I¥ OPEN MARKET AND THE EVILS ATTENDING IT—CONTRACTS ARRANGED BEFORE THE MONEY IS APPRO- PRIATED. At this time in all the departments bids are being received for furnishing the supplies. needed in various branches of the government. While the amount of the appropriations for the coming year is not Known and cannot be- known until the bills have passed Con- gress, still there is always a reasonable certain- ty that the legislative body will not cut off the plies for current expenses and so the prep- arations are made for expending the same amount of money as last year and perhaps a little more, Proposals are invited and ex- amined and the lowest bidder determined, but no contract is awarded until after the appro- priation is made by Congress. It may be con- fiuded thats departinent will need ‘go much ink or ice, and the dealers are asked to bid upon the basis of supplying a given amount, but Congress mayretuse to give the money and so the entire amount estimated is not purchased, ‘This sliding scale in the quantities required, as compared with the estimates, is one of thé pleasing features of the government contracts. According to the system now in vogue every- thing used by a department from a Brussel carpet to a pin is obtained by contract, THE OLD Way. ‘There was a time, and that not long ago, when the purchase of supplies was made in the open market, and under this arrangement there were opportunities for collusion between the government official and tue dealer which did hot tend to improve the morals of the public ser- vico. Now the purchasing in open market is very Ture, and has been for sme years, the only ex- ceptions being when there ‘are some articles that are needed occasionally, or when it 1s necessary to meet a sudden emergency. The sum total of these contracts in all the depart- ments is very great, and when the aggregate 1s looted up, it would seem that merely the run- ning expenses Is a very large item in the total cost to the government. In New York the bids for furnishing supplies for the Indian service have just been opened, and contractors from all arts of the country were present with thelr bids to supply the ineats, clothing and provi- sions consumed by the noble red men, In the sume way the stationery and other supplies for the departmonts in. this city are obtained, and in order to give some idea of the amount of money involved it may be stated thatin one department alone the stationery supplies for one year cost over $70,000. ‘The contractors say that a government contract 1s not as good a Uning as it used to be, and that owing to the sharp competition aniong the bidders and the system that has been in vogue for some years past, the government actually gets its supplies | AT A LESS PRICE than the private citizen, Take for instance the one item of coal. Ina recent contract stove coal was contracted to be furnished tor $5.50 per ton, although the price to private consum- ers is $5.75 per ton, One cause of this is the great improvement tn the method of obtaining bids and awardinz contracts, For instance, in the hare furnished bid- der e with the estimated amount required is placed opposite blank places, where Une contractor Is required to give his bid, There mnay be five or six Lundred separate items ina contract, and at one time it was the custom to add up the amount of the bid in each individ- ual case and award the contract to the lowest however, that in order to keep the total amount down, that some bidders would fix their prices | high ou art tiat were used # great deul | rticles for which there was but littledemand. As for instance, there is kind of ink, which is used in very small quan- lities in the service. Under the old plan the bidder would make his bid below the cost pric on this ink, aud of course save himself from los: tur Under tiw present syste Ee ered separately and the contract is awarded to the lowest bidder without regard to whether he has another item awarded to him or not. CONDITIONS WITH WHICH BIDDERS MUST. coMPL Inorder togive some idea of howa government contract can be obtained, the following is taken from the official instructions: Proposals must be made in duplicate on the forms turnisied by the department, and be accompanied by a cer tiled checi#or drart on some d Stites de- pository or National bank, payable to the order of the Secretary of the Interior, which cheek or draft shall be ior not less than’ ten per centum of the value of the estimated guanuty. o Supplies proposed to be furnished at the prices | given in the proposal, if such total value’ does hot exceed $10,000; It over that amount the check must ve’ for $1,000. The check to be forteited to the United States in case the bidder receiving an award stall tail to execute promptly a contract, with good and. suflicient Suretics, according to the terms of his bid; otherwise to be returned tothe bidder, Bids not accompanied by a certified ch will not be considered. Eacu pr give the names of all parties inte parties to it, together with their places of busi- hess and post vilice addresses. Ii to be repre~ sented by an agent, lils name and addressshould bexiven. Allurticles to be of the best quality | unless otherwise speciiied. Suiupies must be furnished as required in the schedule, and each sample should be marked to show the name ot the bidder, number of the item, and price. AIL articles will be subject to rigid inspection upon delivery, and suchas do not coniorm strictly to the requirements of the contract wili be re- Jected. WHY A CERTIFIED CHECK IS REQUIRED. ‘The reason why a certified check is required from each bidder is to prevent irresponsible persons from putting in bids, and then it the awards suit them proceed to’ execute the con- tract, otherwise throw it up. Te muitiplica- | tion Of work became so great by the presence of bidders of this character that this requirement is made, and it has had the effect of keeping out the Curbstone dealers whose bunk account | | could not stand the retention of a certified check for a month or so. 4 is not claimed that the present system ab- solutely prevents fraud and collusion between the agents of the governmentand the contract- ors, as that would’ be an impossibility for sny system, however rigid. Some one has tobe Uusted, whether the busiiess ts public or pri. vate, and go breaches ot trustare always among: the possibilities. But itis claimed that under the present system the opportunities for fraud are not so frequent or inviting, and that all necessury precautions have been adopted, eee cot Protection Against Fire. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SENATE DISTRICT COMMITTEE, In connection with the bill to require that buildings in the District be provided with fire escapes, etc. reported from the Senate District committee, Mr. Vance submitted a report stat- ing that there appears to be quite a num- ber of tall public buildings here used for schools, places of amusement, ete., that are Without adequate protection agdinst "fire; that tho ire department explain that the ‘water thrown from the hose to the tops of these build- ings becomes dissolved into thin small spray and bus very little effect upon the fire; that the object of the stand pipes required by the bill is to throw a volume of ater direct from these pipes in the shape of a solid stream upon the hire, These standpipes, they recommend, should be sed in connection with and a part of the escape ladders, to be reached by an opening from every floor, thus serving a double pure pose. It is thought that by adopting this means ofextinguishing fire and providing for escape, together with the compulsory lighting of all Public halls. when occupied. throughout. the night, and the establishment of fire-alarms on every’ tloor, &c., as contained in the bill, all of the security that can reasonably be obtained will have been given to those who occupy such buildings. The necessity for such additional urrangements as modern science has placed within our reach seems to be urgent. At not uufrequent. intervals casualties from fire in buildings of this kind shock the community. The Commissioners of the District, and the au- thorities ol the fire department, as well as the school trustees, have again and’again called at- tention to the subject, THE PRESIDENT’S MARRIAGE. Its Great Influence U Politi From the New Haven Evening Register. ‘The marriage of the President is not only & source of great satisfaction to his fellow coun- trymen everywhere, but it 1s alsoasource of political strength to him. Cleveland is stronger to-day, the day after his wedding, with the peo- le than he has everbeen, They are thoroughly interested in him. Their eyes are riveted on both the domestic and political sides of his character. He presents a striking picture, and by doing ‘the most natural as well as the most beneficial thing he could do, he has attracted to himself a sentiment which will work silently but foretbly in his poiltical tavor. ‘There is hothing the American people are not capable of, nor is there a limit to their conside- ration when a sentimental idea gets the upper hand of them, ‘The marriage of the President and Mise Folsom, hus aroused most interest, ing sentiment, which will grow stronger as time runs on, because of the “bride's loveliness of character, and because both she and her hus- band lend a charming novelty to Washington Society by reason of thelr recent entrance into public lite, “By their marriage they have called rth the best wishes of every man, woman and child in the country, and have thereby become popular with them, There is io reason to believe, moreover, owing to the circumstances which surround ‘them, that they will lose any of that popularity. ‘They will remain interesting nov- gitles during the rest of the President’s term. Mrs. Cleveland will add to her laurels, and wili me @ source of great benefit to her hus- band. He will goon in the straight course ho has #0 consistently followed since hig inaugura tion, developing into. better President each day’ undor the devoted cure and eottening in Huences of bis generous-hearted wite. Mr. Cleveland is a fortunate man. Histuture gareer is filed with the brightest of promises, the foundation stone of the realization of which the moment Mr. Cleveland made over- tures of marriage to his now happy wile, His ing was the crowning act of @ long series of unpremeditated politionl finesses, pon His Chances in jen. isa statesman wi! it, and will hax before. the ‘clove ‘of fatiscationn sae pressed the, le with the tact, and made their choles without such » political £8 REAL ESTATE GOSSIP. Capitol Hill Property Advancing tu Price Under the Present Demand. THE BOOM RESULTING FROM THR PASSAGE OF THE NEW LIBRARY BILL—RocK CREEK PROPERTY IN DEMAND—THE PROPOSED MAS- SACHUSETTS AVENUE EXTENSION—HOW POOR MEN BUY HOMES, A few days ago two real estate brokers were discussing the advance in the prices of property in the various sections of the city during the past year, and one remarked that property on Capitol Hill had advanced in value more than property in the northwestern section. Excep- ton was taken to this statement by the other, who said that it was ridiculous to make such an assertion, His friend, however, remained firm in his opinion, and in the course of the rgument that ran on, they decided to submit their opinions to the arbitration of a bet, to be decided by one of the best posted real estate men in the city. When the bet was referred to him he very promptly decided in favor of the Capitol Hill man, and said that if the increase in values had not reached one hundred per cent, still 1t was very large and far in excoss of the advance in the northwestern section. ‘This decision opened the eyes of agreatmany to the boom which apparently has finally reached'Capitol Hill property. Why this sec- tion should not have advanced us rapidly as others is weause of surprise to those who ride through the beautifully shaded streets and enjoy the cool air which the elevated position makes possible, But property owners have had agreat many things to contend with, not the least of which has heen the long of the library bill. For years it bas n sup- posed that Congress would authorize its erec- Uon, and now that it is actually going to be erected property in the vicinity that was slow of sale even at low prices has advanced, and the long-suffering property owner is tully deserving of any advance that now takes place. While prices have gone oP in the immediate vicinity ofthe library site, the advance is more noticeable in land out on the commons near the jail. Lots in that location that sold last year for six and eight cents per foot now sell for twenty and thirty. Of course this ratio of in- crease is not maintained up to 1st street, but still the increase is very large. While in the northwest section “ property advanced from one dollar and a quarter to one dollar and a half, on Capitol Hill the advance has been much greater. At present there is a great deal of activil in property in that section, especially in the Vicinity of the proposed new library building, Real estate 1 vestors, like speculators in every other branch of trade re very much like a Sock of shee; and go with the crowd. If it becomes known that some experienced operator is investing heavily in one section, @ throng of smaller speculators is sure to be drawn in the same di- rection, and so with any other cireumstance that is regarded as favorable. The erection of the library buiiding is regarded as a good thing for property in that vicinity, and the cons quence is stich property is in great demand and Is getting good pric THE “ROCK CREEK" REGION, Another illustrution of the tendency of in- Vestors to follow one another is seen in the ac- tivity of suburban property which followed the purebase by the President of a country place on the Woodley Lane road, By this time nearly all the property that is for sale at anything like reasonable figures has been eagerly grabbed up, and property owners go to bed and have such golden dreains that they wake up imagin- ing themselves Vanderbiits, and the next day add another five thousand dollars to the price of their property as a compensation for the disappointment in not reulizing their dreams. However, the valley of Rock creek, where ail this buying and selling is now in progress, is one of ‘the most picturesque and beautiful ions in. thi: ction of country, and for this ndency reason it is destined to turnish, as in the past, | residence sites tor wealthy people. In fact it is 4it for nothing else, because the ground is so poor that it cannot yleld an adequate return for cutivation. ‘The present boom has affected property in that region all the way trom the bounds of the city to the Tenleyto ington Heights, feeling the reviving influences, Lots are being sold, aud, there is talk now of building severai houses. ‘There has not been so much activity in the Rock ¢ eck valley since the site for the new naval o..-rvatory was located there a couple of yeur ‘THY MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE EXTENSION. ‘Then the talk was that Massachusetts avenue would be extended, and a syndicate of wealthy xentlemen purchased the land on each side ot the proposed extension as tar back as the Ten- own roud. All this land is held in readi- hess to be subdivided and placed on the market. ‘The extension of the avenue, however, is de- layed by the owners of the Kalorama property, who are undecided Low to subdivide the property, It is expected that the ground ne- coss.t, y for the extension of the avenue will be donated to the city. The opening of Massa chusetis avenue to the Tenleytown road will aflord one of the finest drives in the world, es- pecially when the handsome sites on each ‘side are iniproved with residences, If Congress nis 10 estublishing a park-in Rock creek y und also to extending the same arrange- niofthe streets and avenues beyond the limits, the growth of the city in that tion during the next ten or fifteen years will be very. ray HOW POOR MEN BUY HOMES, ‘When people read in a newspaper that there is activity in the real estate market they im- mediately think of large transactions and the investments of capitaligts which are generally written with five figures. It is sales of this char acter that appear with the large headlines in the columns of a paper, although in fact they form but # smnull proportion of the daily trans fers, While investments of this character do much toward iinproving and building up the city, yet after all is said and done it is the man of small means,with limited income, who hus the pluck and enterprise to endeavor to be- come the owner of & house of his own, who is the important factor in the substantial’ growth and progress of acity. Such men build up the business of a place ‘and form the basis upon which prosperity in ull braaches of industry and trade is founded. The inerease in tbe number of people of thls class constitutes one ‘of the most encouraging features in the growth. of this elty. “There is no reason why every man should not be the owner of a house tor his iamily,” remarked a competent authority to a Srax reporter. “He must be willing to be eco- nomical and to deny himself, but the results attained are ample rewards, One difficulty in the way is the unwillingness of many to begin inastyle that sults their means, They have certain ideas about a house, which they want to carry out without sufficiently considering the cosi. It is self-evident that & man whose income will only permit the payment of a monthly rent of $16 ought not to want a house which rents for $45, und yet it is very common in the real estate business to meet with justsuch people. Of course they don’t say that that they wanta house at such a rental but when they tell you what kind of @ hou: they expect to get, you will find that it must have a parlor, a bail, a bath room with hot and cold water, and in a Word all the modera con- Yeniences. All these things are not to be had for fifteen dollars a month, But there are houses which make comtortable homes and at the same time ate not # burden upon the occn- pant, Ifa man can pay easily fiiteen dollars a monih rent, with a litule effort and seli-denial he can pay twenty, and perhaps twenty-five dollars and ina few’ years he will become the owner of his own home.” PLANS FOR BUYING HOUSES, It does not need “a competent authority” in real estate or in any other branch of business to tell people that they must live within their means. ‘The majority of } eople are convinced of this truth by their own experience; but at the same time it is always interesting to know the various plans adopted ior making large sums of money from small savings and the pro- cess by which a few pennies saved here and a tow saved there in the course of a few years are changed into the dollars and the hundreds of dollars. The building associations are in many instances the medium through which the ma- clan's wand of industry aud economy works ts wonders. They are used in the first instance to save money. Persons take a few shares which are paid in monthly installments of one or two dollars and a half, ‘Ten dollars a month saved is bound to accumulate into a very respectable amount, and when it reaches a tew hundred dollars the man Is ready with a cash payment as the first installment of the pur- chase money of 8 houfe. For instanes, the house costs $2,000; the purchaser pays down $500, and the building association loans the balance. The loan is paid off in monthly payments, which are made to suit the means of the pur: chaser, amounting to from eighteen to twenty- four dollars a month, a portion of which goes 10 pay the interest, and ihe remainder towards reducing the principal of the debt. ‘Phere ‘are other methods of arranging the loan, either with the man who sells the house orsomegne having money to loan, secured by deed of trust on the property. Oule method ia to divide the amount of the trust into monthly notes, the first note bearing one month's interest ‘and the second two month's, and so on through the serles; while still another plan is to divide the trust into two sums, the larger one to run for three or five years, and the smaller sum tobe paid in installments. The plan selected depends upon the circumstances of the purchuser, and when he gives evidence of an intention to live up te any agreement that ho may make, he will find @ good doal of encouragement in his efforts to secure a home. large number of homes obtained in this way is an evidence of that fact, and 1t may further be added that it 16 seldom necessary to foreclose on @ man who ‘has begun to buy a home tor his family. eo noes: A orga apres Lagiotegrra tac Leap,” a Projecti from moun- ‘long the Reading railroad, a mile bot Heading. “Pay is muck Frequentod by youn suicide whea the : y les. It was the scene of a tragi Thuarday, In the man's hand when was found was @ revolver with which he sent a bullet through his heart, On his breas lays letter addressed to ‘Miss Katie Bogen, Pawling, Chester county. The writer signed bimselt ‘as George A. Bairett and the is nis dying tarewell to the girl he but who, it appears from its contents, rejected him! ‘ocean sailing vessel; and was di where he trav Pawling to seo wandered around to see r to ask ber VEGETABLES FOR MARKET. ‘Where the Supplies for this City Come From. THE EARLY FRUIT AND GARDEN TRUCK—THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE SOUTH To THE NORTH EEN MARKETS—THE MODERN MARKET OOM- PARED WITH THE OLD. That the Washington markets of today are vastly superior to the markets of the olden time is apparent to all who knew them in ante- bellum days, Then it was quite late in the spring before any tresh vegetables arrived and were exposed for sale on the benches, and the prices asked amounted to prohibition in cases of persons of moderate means. Now almost in the dead of winter tomatoes, strawberriesearly cabbage, and other vegetables can be found on the stalls, and there is ready sale for all. This improved condition of affairs is due not only to the fact that these products are raised earlier but also the recent additions to our population Provides purchasers. A produce commission merchant speaking to & STAR reporter remarked upon the increase in the business, noting the fact that there are today five to ten engaged in the business to Where there was one fifteen Years ago, “Where do you get your first strawberries” asked the reporter “Why,” said he, “the first come from Florida reaching here in March, although I got some (Cubans) a few years ago for a fashionable dinner in January. They brought a price though! I paid $4 dollars aquart for them and they were served with the desert. The Floridas come first and we wholesale them at 40 to 60 cents per quart. Then about a week later we get the Charlestons, which run Afteen to. twenty, days and bring 20 to 40 por quart, ‘They have the Sharpless, Seedling, Wilson and Downing, Next the Norti: Carolina andNortolkk berries, come, and are followed by the supply from this neighborhood. Ax this supply grows smaller and the season in this neighborhood is about over, we get a berry trom the neigh- borhood of Barnesville, Obto. These made their first appearance in’ respectable quantit Jost season and a great many will be here this season, We'll have them in a few days at irom ten to twenty cents per quart. The varieties are the sameas those previously named, with one called the Cumberland Tramp, and they are about the finest berry we have ever handled.” SHIPPING STRAWBERRIES TO THE NORTH. “How has the shipping business been this Season?” asked the reporter. “There were,” answered the commission man, “ten thousand crates of our native berries shipped this season to New York, Philadelphia, | Pittsburg and Cleveland. ‘There ts Just now a glut and the natives wili wind up about this week. Considering everything our growers have’ done weil this seuson, the prices rulin trom6 to 15 cents per quart. Some have sol | lower, but few reached as low as 3 cents. It costs "90 cents for picking and 25 cents ex- pressaxe.” CUCUMBERS AND OTHER GARDEN PRODUCTS, “The first cucumbers,” continued the com- mission man, “we receive from New Orleans, where they are grown in hot beds. They come in boxes holding about 100 each in February, and we sell them at $2 per dozen. You would hardly believe it, but there is a growing de- mand for them at that price, Then the Florida, Savannah, Charleston and Norfolk cucumbers come inand the prices fall to a point where others than the wealthy people can enjoy them. Southern cabbage commences to come In from ‘jorida about Mareh 20th, They come in crates holding about 60 head, and wholesale at $3.50 to ‘The crop in Fiorida has been smail this season, probably on account of the frost, After thesé come those grown nearer, The Notiolks have arrived here in double the sale $1 to 31,50 per barrel. euch here early In February, the first from Bermuda, followed closely by’ the Florida tomatoes. They come in peck boxes, wholesaled at $1.50 per box. The Floridas have been about three weeks later this seuson than usual, and the price bas been kept up. About July'1st the native tomato wiil come in, and the prospects for a plentiful crop are good. Then there are string beans and peas, which come from Bermuda and Florida about April Ist, bringing $4 to $5 per bushel box. ‘The bens are now down to $1.50 per bushel, and peas have been down to $2 per barrel.’ The | hear-by peas are aboutover, but the marrowiats | are coming in. As to potatoes, this neighbor- hood sutfered much from rot, caused by the rainy weather. There are plenty of Bermudas and Floridas in the market, which sold 1u Jan- uary for $20 per barrel, and now bring $5, while our own are from $4 tw $5.” THE PEACH PROSPECTS, “Isuppose you want to know something of the peach prospects,” said the commission man. “Al [can say is that T. H. Massey, R. B, Mas sey and R. B. Grimes, probably the three peach growers on the Potomac, their ards being in the neighborhood of Nomini, in Westmoreland county, Va. write that the prospects are good for a large crop of most cellent fruit, and they will ship from 20,000 10 30,000 boxes.” ee he THE WAR UPON CIVIL SERVICE REFORM. The Effort of the Commercial Poli cians to Break It Down. To the Faltor of Tue EVENING STAR. In defending the rider to the appropria- tion for the civil service commission, Mr. Hol- man assumes that the essence of civil service reform lies in the use of examinations simply to test the fitness of candidates for the duties of the particular place in question. But, what- ever may be thought by Congressmen whose monopoly of spoils is attacked by the genuine reform, nothing can be clearer, from the history of the movement, than that the mere cscertain- ment of sufficient fitness is but a secondary fanetion of the competitive examinations which alone are relied on by disinterested re- formers as being the only ones adapted to achieve the essential object of the reform— namely. the destruction of the spolls system, by preventing corrupt or demoralized politicians from prostituting their official influence to secure their own elections through the use of a usurped pamouare asa “stolen bribery fund” with which to purchase or reward the services ot henchmen, In the words of President Cleve- land, “the allurements of an immense number of offices and places, exhibited to the voters of the land, and the promise of their bestowal in recognition of partisan activity, debauch the suffrage and rob political action of its thonght- ful and deliberative character. Doubts may well be entertained whether our government cvuld survive the strain of a continuance of this system, which upon every change of ad- ministration inspires an immense array of claimants tor office to lay siege to the patronage of government, engrossing the time of public officers with, thelr tmportunities, spreading abroad the contagion of their disappointment. and filling the air with the tumult of their dis- content.” This and not the “incompetency” of clerks is the real disease to be prevented, and against this mere “pass” examinations would be about as efficient a hygienic precaution as would be the external application of vaseline during the prevalence of cholera, For ex- aminations make eligible many more than can be appointed, inasmuch as a very large propor- tion of the population (including henchmen) ‘an manage to get through on the minimum basis of qualification, Such examinations, ac- vordingly, practically determine nothing, but leave the real choice among candidates to be decided, as before, by the illegitimate, usurped, corrupting and corrupt dictation of Congress: men, many of whom have little or no other capital with which to carry on their huekster- ing trade of so-called “politica.” ‘These politicians—“ot commerce,” as the text- books say—taik about “starving out the com- mission” by way of poding rid of the once- despised check on their nefarious and disre} table traffic in stolen salaries. In thelr palpeble ignorance of the law (of which, like certain others in the old rhyme, they naturally have a very “poor opinion”) these gentlemen seem unaware that, in view of section 7 of the act they will likewise have to impose “conditions” n the President and the firsteontroller in order So compel the allowance o/ salaries to any heneke men who may be inted” without tne assistance of the institution over whose threat- ened ruin they are gloating, but for which I Predict # longer life than 1s’ to be enjoyed by uny pseudo statesman who shall be silly enough to commit themselves against {t. ‘The law which they dare not attack except by indi- rection, in so many Words forbids appointment to any’place within the rules save in accord- ance With these rules, | Revorm DEMOCRAT, fase eee elena es Sham Mushrooms. ‘From the Philadelphia Pres. “You notice on the bill of fare that your turtle soup is but ten cents more per plate than mock turtlesoup,” said astranger in a great gilded eating house. “Calipash and Calipee,— reen fat,— an historic delicdcy, famed in the story of the world’s me! is as the acm of epicurean delight, tor ten cents more than @ fried meat ball, “Bat the age likes to tink ttle eating turtle soup. It sounds rich, therefore the veally counterfeit. I am going to eat a pa ag order tos. col waiter, who yawned and twisted his mustache, and the brought. Th in quantities heretofore known and a ready at a is tound ‘The tomatoe: Stok at this,” he sald, tizing vegetable with his knife, off the covering of sauce, and began the stem. It crumpled under the operation dough. It tor to stick to mich might Work injury.” the United ‘we wonder noeine Brocident it is pleased with his—Nor- Jamaica Ginger Drankards. HOTRL MEN KNOW THEM WELL, AND GEORGIA 18 LEARNING TO KNOW THEM. Georgia newspapers have drawn attention to the fact that Jamaica ginger has become quite Popular as a beverage since the prohibitionists captured the state, and the ginger drunkard is becoming an institution, ‘The Hotel Mail says that while to the average citizen the above item may appear incredible, to the hotel steward it Is an oid, old story; the ginger drunkard is an old acquaintance. Some- times it Is the yard man or a waiter who ap- plies for “just a leetle ginger!” but his best cus- tomers are among the female employes of the hotel, and the constant demand on the store room 'for a “few drops” of ginger amounts in the aggregate to no small item of expense. The effects of ginger on an habitual partaker is much the same as the continual use of mor- phine, and the same cunning exists in the manner of procuring it, and the | peculiar ghastly complexion produced by the use of morphine is invariably present in the ginger druokard. ‘The disease is more prevalent among scrub women and laundry girls than chambermaids, but when it does attack one of the latter class sho will antiaty her craving by drinking the cologne found in the rooms of absent patrons rather than make too frequent demands on the housekeeper or steward ior ginger. One un- fortunate girl drank @ mixture of Worcester- shire sauce and alcohol for months, after hav- ing been refused a daily morning nip ot Ja- maica ginger, and the strangest part of her Slory was she was one of the ‘workers in the hotel and had no other vices, Canal Digging Extraordinary. It is. rare thing that a steamer arrives from the isthmus of Panama without bringing some witness to extravagance and incapacity in digging the canal, One of the latest is A. P. Smith, formerly of Salem, who says that he has walked over the whole course of fifty-four miles, The portion of the canal completed is upon the eastern side, and is 11 miles in extent Whrongh a level country mainly of clay forma- tion. Here ts specimen of the work done in Mr. Smith's words: One of the many stupid expedients which the canal company adopted ior holding the mud Was to put up an ordinary wooden fence, fas- tened with bamboo withes and stakes. course In a little while the pressure of the hall liquid mud became too great for the weak bar- rier to withstand, and down came fence, mud and all into the’ canai again, to be once more dredged out ut an enormous expense. "A yet more curious state of things exists at places further in shore, where other cuts lave. been made by several different contractors. There wave been Lo specifications In these contracts. What shull be done with the earth after & | has been excavated, Fesult of this | omission? The contractors simply le handcarts and run it back a little way in the gut which they have made and leave it Ubere. The consequence is that all this earth, all these stumps and stones have to be excavated all over again, to the immense profit of the eon- tractors, oe | How Bridal Veils are Worn. ‘The manner of wearing the bridal veil now is | copied directly from royalty. Every one is familiar with the arrangement of Queen Vic- toria’s ever-present veil, and in this manner do the brides of to-day fancy wearing them. It is bunched slightly on the topof the colffure, forming @ coronet or cap, and thence falls back over the train, This arfangement requires « skillful hand and is generaily intrusted vo a mil- liner’s manipulation. Itis becoming to most faces, but does away with the traditional use of Ube veil, which has always been tw cover tbe modest face of the maiden, it being an old- Ume custom always to lift it as soon as the ceremony was periormed, ‘The bridal veil then Was full Of significance; now it is merely an | ornament, ———_+e+_____ The Nick im the Collar. From the Philadelphia News. A queer thing about coats is the little V- shaped nick in the lapel by the shoulder. That nick doesn’t make the coat “set” any better, It doesn’t help the appearance of the coat in any way, yet there that nick is in every frock cout worn the world over. That has puzzled me for @ long time, and I have just found out the rea- son. When the First Napoleon first gave way to his ambition he tried to implicate Gen. Mo- reau in Pichegru’s couspiracy. Moreau’ had been Napoleon's superior and was very popu- jug, but, Under the circumstances, as Napoleon, was on Lop, It was not saie to express publicly auy sympathy with Moreau; so his admirers quietly agreed to nick their coat lappels to show who they were. If you look at the out- lines of your coat now you will see that they form an’ M-like this ¢. Moreau, by the way, Was exiled by Napoleon and lived in Morris: | ville in this state. Is'nt it queer that weshouid ail be commemorating Moreau as we do without knowing it? The True Object of Free Public Schools. C.F, Crehore in the Citizen, The reasons for furnishing free education to the individuals composing ® community will vary in accordance with the idea upon which the organization of that community is based. If the state(c.g., the community acting as a whole for s common purpose) 1s a communistic body, controlling and taking the proceeds of the labor of each individual ‘to itself, itis evi denily bound to provide him in return, not only with free instruction, but with free tood, shelter, clothing, care in sickness and old age, and, in short, with everything requisite to his well-being. But our form of government wisely recognizes the rightof the individual to personal inde- pendence, with the right to labor for bis own proper benefit, and the duty to provide, for hitn- Self and those 'who are dependent upon. him, the essentials enumerated above. Itulso leaves to him the formation ot nizations ligious and social purposes. It may be stated, broadly, that the state only interferes with the affairs of the individual, or assumes any part of them, when It is necessary to do so In order to secure some beneiit to itself; or, in otuer words, \ promote the welfare of tiie whole, fow, While the right of suffrage 1s accorded to every citizen, practically giving to the ma- Jorit; lute control of state affairs, 1t is, evi- dently, of the greatest importance that be should’ be possessed of a general knowledge of the principles upon which a proper conduct of Such aftalrygs bused, and of thelr practical ap- plication. f$nd herein lies the reason for the extablishment of tree public schools. ‘The state gives free instruction to all, in order that they tay be properly qualified o perform their civie tuties. At follows, then, that the course and method of instruction should be adapted to secure the end in view, The state should receive its “quid Pro quo.” The object of the establishment is not, primarily, to quality the scholars tor the practice of profession, ior undertaking bust hess operations, for private ends, or personal emolument; it is only to enable them to excr- cise understandingly the duties of citizenship. The proper preparation for this special in- struction involves the necessity of giving to them @ good general education, which will be equally applicable to other aiid personal ob- Jects, but itshould ever be borne in mind that ‘these advantages are incidental to, and not the main object ol, the establishment. The pupil should be taugiit to realize that he owes a debt to the state tor his education, which he. i bound in honor to repay by, at ‘the first, dilit- ‘Tom Davis’ Slayer ot Heme. Interview with « Texas Biitor. The Holland-Hill-Davis wagedy in New York 4 was a great deal bigger sensation in Texes than any place else, and some of the inside is to be found there which bas never Published. Thero isno doubt men knew what they bad to were plucky, Holland being « keeper who had seen trouble, ana marshal who bad The event was the ence hamed Jonson Davis offering $10, threw Itover oa ter remarki out of it, put ft in bi and Hull and». Up a correspondence. bhis "genuine, Hime the second young lawyer ou Thi nal lawyer tot tor Wi political matters soon afer, but ‘went to New York apd dropped . ing, Holland and i peperen tot and left for New York to beat Da: M 10 or see how he played Inwardness of the whole alain Holland and Hill tt unfortunate affair for them, Tied intoa family, is out rather. broken ee “He did not po as bis friends knew itd if i i i i >, t g i fits ag, 5 ill ik fe Hii # Es i ‘J e to find out how the game balance in his trial. He is also gegement in a vie, ine creutn at 4 e cy museum at Week, but it. He ts Sort ot feilow, belonging toa family, says he will never cousent lo making # show: himself, He used to be in the dry-goods i The EF b L i leroedes and Teresa,were delighted to litue brother, and asked their Euglish nurse “who had sent bim.” They were quite sate fled when she said “thelr paps from heaves d.”" The little girls want baby and the new “ama” to share thelr pretty apartmen but this could not be, as the king of Spain tm have bis separate hy ‘with @ host of ayas, nurses, chamberiains, aid @ magnificent suite of rooms were ready for him close to his royal mother's. The new King is @ healthy babe, He is very dark, and showed strength by erying loudly during his presentation, much’ to Dos Mateo Prasceides Sagasta's discomtort, The ing is very simpie. He layette of the litte ki Lite things that bave belonged even uses man; to his sisters before him, Marta Cartesinn % fond of simplicity, and often of an a6 made small garments for ber So have her sisters-in-law, the and Eulalia, Cows and Consumption. A Parts letter says: “The council of healta has reported in favorof the expuision of all dairy cows from Paris, and only the toleration ota very few, the ownersof which can show ‘exceptional conditions of salubrity, There are upward of 5,000 of these animals in the eapi- tal, and they are found to be a prolific source of pulmonary consumption. . "The milk of a great humber of them was alive with the bacillus, Which wastes the tissues of cows aad human beings attacked with phthisls, A ayndicate of duirymen who have taken stables which they use ior byres on long leases ory out 1b the pane of vested rights against the ‘of their business being broken up and po granted. It has boen suggested that if*Pasteur Might find @ means of subduing phthisia, and thus rendering it sate to drink fae nail wi 1s drawn from cows kept in confiuerent. council of health has, however, turned a deaf eur to the suggestion, and will continue tode bi Why An Actor Reformed. 4 MEMORY WHICH WOULD NOT R&SPOND at THE CALL OF BRANDY. From a San Frazcisco Letter. Sheridan, the actor, paid usa brief visit. He came quietly, and as quietly slipped back to Australia, Sheridan's habits have undergone @ compiete change. It is a matter of public knowledge that few men who trod the boards were such abnormal tipplers as that talented tragedian, But he looks upon the wine no more. He ts a model of sobriety, and hie ap- pearance is infinitely improved by the fortunate change. Few know how the reformation came about. "I had it from his own lips, “One afternoon,” said the actor, “I was on the stage at rehearsal. The was ‘Ki Lear,’ the lines of which I am as familiar wii ‘as you are with the Lord's ioame but judge of my dism: ‘asvonishi whoit 1 found thet I gould hot remember ay hrase or in the 1 Eoyuitera bettie of branty: took drinks and tried it again. ‘The same. My memory was biank. back to my dressing-room, took of familiar recitations, and tried had known for years and declaims without exaggeration, not less und times. Nota line of it could 1 remember. tried more brandy but my memory continued blank. I was terribly shocked, It me that I was forever ruined, and that m; fession had slipped out of fe Age od was the beginning of imbecility, and should wind up in the lunatic asylum, 1 irom the theater, jumped into a hack, and directed Ube driver to take me to the office of doctor in whom I had the utmost and who had often braced me up when vated trom the effects of @ prolonged The fact that I could remember the number his room filled me with inexpressible J telt that there was yet some shred of left and Ubat all was not lost. He told me not tobe ularmed; that my brain was mot: Fight within a mouth, “Bus only os owe oom right within # mont ju ‘on USny dud that ‘was sbsoluve aad abst nence. I followed his advice, itwase hard pull at the beginning, and you see me now better than I have been for many a day.” ‘And he looked it, The crimson striking teature, was toned down 60 of the old flash remained. His eyes F : were clear The Law of Clab Rights. From tbe New York World. Mr. Joseph F, Loubat has gained bis sult against the Union Club. The general term of the supreme court has decided that the plain- tiff was not legally expelled and hence restrains the club from enforcing the resolution of ex- puision, The decision does not deny the right of a social club of genuemen to get rid of a per- son with whom they do not desire to associate, But the constitution and by aawe <t sack on association have the force of laws aud e member who joins, because he is protected by them, is entitled to demand that tuey shall be observed in all matters in which his interests are involved. The Union Club's constitution and by-laws provide that no member shall be genuy learning and, subsequenuy, well aud laithiully performing, his civic duties, Too much cannot be said against the cruelty of foreing children’s feet into short and narrow- toed shoes, A man ina large and fashionable shoe store said that he sometimes used all his strength, that of a well-developed man, to force large feet into small shoes, ior grown folks, but when he was requested by mothers to put shoes too small on children he objected. Many chil- dren, before they are 10 yearsold, have incipient corns, bunions and callouses, caused by the fool- ish pride or carelessness onthe part of the mothers, Many do not know that ifa child's foot is allowed to develop naturally, that when fully developed it can wear with ease a much smaller shoe than when crowded back and forced out of shape while growing so fast. The foot is one of the parts of the body that’ com- pletes its growth early. The size of the feet of a gro yy are sometimes noticeably large; when the rest of his body has finished its growuh the feet are proportionate. If, growing toot ta crowded into short shoes the toes are pushed back and become thick at the ends. They are Pressed up against the top of the shoe and corns are made. They are enlarged at the great toe ‘joints, causing bunions, which ful than corns, Narrow en than E : | | i & f + tH it ili il z ii Es i F ! expelled without a trial and an opportanity to be Leard and not then without @ two-thi Yote of the governing committee, 8. was expelled without @ trial anc thirds Vole of the wole committee. Hepes tbe decision in his Reaction. bird of with Opis micah ae reste eae And ‘twill be gay to-morrow. ‘That souls as well as matter bow ‘To ope law of reaction? ‘One needs must grieve, nor knows the while, ‘That every note of sadness, simply because he marries @ grass Boston Bulletin, In two weeks.” i E Fy i 5 y Ht Ha li ak ie fe THE il i