Evening Star Newspaper, April 2, 1887, Page 2

is) Dep «5% THE EVENING STAR: if CITY AND_DISTRICT. SOMETHING ABOUT FLOWERS. How to Plant and Care For Summer Bulbs and Tupers. PRACTICAL DIBECTIONS BY A MEMBER OF THE HORTI- CULTURAL SOCIETY—RICH-HUED BORDER PLANTS ASD BEAUTIFUL AND FRAGRANT LILIES—THR TIME AND MANNER OF SETTING THRM OUT. At the last meeting of the District of Columbia Horticultural Society Mr. J. T.C. Clarke read a paper on the cultivation of tuber-rooted and bulb- Bowering plants, “Tuouch not summer-flowering bulbs,” sald Mr. Clarke,“first in the list are the beautiful hyacinth, tulip, crocus, snow-drop and others that merit | our attention, and should recetve better treatment | than is generally bestowed upon them. Those | named should be planted tn October. The hya- | cinth 4 inches deep and 6 Inches apart, The tulip about ame depth and distance, The others | about 1 inch deep and 3 inches apart. The soll should be well worked and friabie, mixed with well-rotted cow manure. In planting hyacinths, @ handful of sand should be placed below and around each bulb. On the approach of coid | Weather, all the Bulbs named should be covered S inches deep with leaves or coarse manure. it the Ist of April, or as soon as they are found pushing through, tle covering should be re- moved. These bulbs ‘cam remain in the ground two or three years without disturbing them. After that they should be dug up, offsets removed, care- | fully dried, and again planted at the Ume men. tioned. ‘The detaand for this butb has so much in. ereased that the foreign cultivators, in order t Bupply the demand for ther These should be planted from the be- ¥, at intervals, till July, at least 12 ‘apart and 4 inches deep, in well-trenehed and good garden soll, Atication should be given by stuking as the stem rises, to protect them from being broken. A top-dressing of well-rotted or Uiguid manare will promote strong growth. In autumn, when other flowers are scarce, they will ampiy compensate, by their bloom, for ‘the labor Destowed. bout ihe 1st of October they should Be dug up ana thoroughly dried, placed away in some dry situation, and protected trom freezing. ‘The next season femove the young bulbs, and Plant them cut like the old ones, and in 2 years ‘they will bloom. “Dahilas.—When first Introduced this tuber pro- duced ouly one ray of petals. Our English cousins ‘Were the first to produce the sem!-oubie vartetles, and ultimavely the beautirul double varieties, ‘They require arich soll and a sunny situation. They should de planted out about the middie of ‘May about 3 inches deep. ‘The roots should be taken up in the fall, dried, and piaced in some dry and cool piace until again’ wanted. “Cannas (ind These tubers are among the most effective and Useful in beautif; Jawns and gardens, producing purp’ Scarlet, orange and’ yeliow-coiored show!d’ be plauted abot f soll, about 5 eut the bulb in four | “Gladiolus, aning of Ma hes incues deep. If protected cot cof itttery they will stand is 01 It tsdestrable, however, id preserve them as otuer’ summer: | ts. | uuS—Among the dwarf-growing plants | aIb 1S unriva. lovely torm and ant colors, ‘eliow, crim: fect ‘should be planted inearly spring, about 2 inches deep and utitui plants have not Asacut flower they , tor bedding rs, the effect 18 mag- x4” by dampness, and up when fully ripened, and kept ated tn Spring. anty border flower tsshowy ts superb. tm moist and fe Aches apart quite dry ull a; “German Ir and has a pies pearance. Many of taem resemble the beautiful orchids. They shuuid be ches deep and 6 inches apart, all ‘The arylis.—It is difficult tonamea more magni- Aeent class of bulbous plants than this, Under the simplest ons of culture they throw up spikes from one to three feet, surmounted by immense ‘trampet-shaped bloom, varying from four to eight inches in lengt combining in color pure white, lined aud flushed with yellow, ight rose, yermiliion, dark red, purple; yellow, flaked and siqited, Even purple and white Untsare now tobe bid. Their weaith of colors are truly aston. sing as weil as thelr immense blooms. Many of these bulpsean, be successfully cultivated out doors. anted ous about the mid of May, in cood garden soil, about eight inches apart and three Inches deep. While for pot-cul- Ture the usual mode 1s to insert only one-third of the bulb fn the soil, {t Will be found advantageous in piagting outdoors to place the bulb three inches deep, as thereby the bulb 1s protected against the burning sun during summer. About the 1st of October, or as soon as the follage decays, the buibs should bey listed, and, after being thor iy dried, stowed away Ln some dry, cool plac Sithin @ tev years numerous beautiful addons have been made to this family from aybridizing. Whe seed readily germ and produce young buibsin about three months’ time, which, when three years will bloom. be Koses—This bulb should be planted in Tich, and light soll, about? Inches deep, and ‘where it can receive the full benefit of the sun. In 4 Co perfect their bloom before ‘une early frosts of autumn, should be planted | as eaFiy as the season will Admit. ‘The better pian to start them in pots in March or April, and [lant them out a3 soon as the weather wil permit | experience has satistied me that this bulb wiil $ Dioom bat once as i general rule. Possibly, it | planted reguiariy, after two years, they might re- cover their vitality and again, as" some maintain, but cannot believe it. ‘The better plan Js to discard the old buibs after blooming, and lant young 2-year old balbs Tube roses should Be'staked to preserve the blow, “[iles.—These gorgeous, beautiful and easily. cultivated plants Rave not Reelved the attention They merit. They poss Tich and vark habit, profuse in ¥ ‘und Stand out A Judteto \e to October. m@ all other i bloom, good, rich L-rotted” cow ellesshould arieules b= planted in curly spring proves favorable they wil own Imperial. only eurlons but r, Lin pairs Its vaiw iuiddie of M at the “Lily of t Lats beautitut | and id have a piace in ever white, bell- g Shaped flowers a: spring or lall, + inches nd muleied th the gar- den over wi be brought into the Louse in spriss arted inty bloon. “Caladium &: js shoWY and orna- mentableaved sulted for the lawn and garden. the middie of May good soll, and proach of frost and place during wint ‘against winds, “phere are many other destral Yubers deserving att the Oxails, Anewonies, bulbs and tubers for'w d be planted about deep, In ordinary | taken up on the ap- | towed away In some dry | They suould be protected degrees will sufice fort te aperature Will whieh shoul Why Knee Breeches Will Not Displace ‘Trowsers. PRACTICAL OBJECTIONS TO THE CIANGE. To the Editor of Tax Evxixe Szax: Your paper yesterday contained an article which almost proved that trowsers are doomed, and that short clothes will come tu again. Much has been said on this subject, but the utilitarian view Is the one which Will prevail. I have thoroughly tested ‘the small clothes during severai year's wear, and think I can safely predict that they will stay just ‘where they are—oa the legs of athletes and a few pedestrians, and simply because they belong there ‘and uo where else. On the bicycle trowsers flap and blow info the spokes when there is much Wind. ‘They draw ever the knees a little, also. ‘They are in the Way, and draw a little, in’ base Dall, tennis, ac. Stiort brechcs necessitate the use of long and rather heavy stockiugs, Every wearer of them knows that it will never do in thelr stead to Wear thin, Uzht-colored cotton or lsie-thread, or silk stockings of such material as is most agreeable in all moderate weather, When trowsers’ are Worl. ‘hese long stockings Are expensive ia first cost, and, With perfect cleanliness, must be frequently changed, as they are much exposed to dust and | dirt. These same stockings inust be supported, | and here comes a deeidediy dimicult problem to | solve. One uses garters above the knee; another garters them below the knee; another pins thers to the breeches ieg; another'suspends them frou the shoulder; another from the waist, and each Way has a few advocates, and many opoucnts, to whom it is utterly intolerable. With the best pos. sible mode of suspension there ts a stiffness about ‘the knee and ap amount of complication whicn a tWowser man hever knows, and would never sub- mit to. ‘The time and trouble required to put on Stockings, WIth their supporters, then breeches and shovs, is a matver of some ltaportance to our Lurried modern man, and compares very unfavor- ably with the brief process which obtains with or- inary street or business dress, ‘Trowsers are more simple as garments, looser and ireer about the legsand body, and cover the shrunken calf or spindie-shank. AS a rule, men ‘will never pad thin legs. It would be too’ much troubie, and would cause an amount of ridicule Which ‘the average man would not provoke. men are now constructed there are so many skinny and crooked ones that Dreeclics and stockings ever be permitted to drive out the Lrowser. 1 any oue doubts this iet him observe for a di two, ou the avenues, at the theaters, and in Society, the young men, swells and dudes, and te fact will be painfully apparent that the rich and Retanewed) men uuiuber large percentage of scrawny and atienuated legs in telt ranks. TI are the very men wo must introduce such a radl- | skill and ingenuity of those engaged in the work, | matter, or that which dies from inadvertence on | ity of a special ageat of the Department to make As | WHERE DEAD LETTERS Go, An Interesting Branch of the Post- Office Department, SCRNES IN THE DEAD-LETTER OPFICE—MEN WHO OPEN AND WOMEN WHO RXAMINE LETTERS—TOE CARELESSNESS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE—IN THE CATACOMBS, ETC. “Death from inadvertence or death from old age” is the way that Mr. Perry, the chief clerk of the Dead-Letter Office, designates the two classes into which all mai! matter that comes to the office is divided. That classification was made, however, in the course of conversation with a Stax reporter. Im official utterances more stately language 1s used, and when Mr. Baird, the superiniendent, pens his annual report he divides ali mail matter ‘that ts bandied by the office into unmailable mat- ter and unclaimed, or dead matter proper. Matter velonging to both classes may be regarded as dead. a8 soon as it 8 sent to the Dead-Letter Office, but, owing to the improved methods adopted and the death, in a large proportion of cases, proves to be only & comatose condition—a case of syncope, which a skillful application of restoratives over- comes. The letter then goes forward with re- newed vigor to Its destination, ‘The unmailable the part of the sender, is that which ts held for postage, which has illegible, incorrect, or insufll- clent addresses, or where the matter is placed in ‘the mails contrary to the postal laws and la- ons, 98, for instance, destructive matter and ob- scene matter. Now, the other class, or dead mat- 1s such matter as, having reached the ce of distribution, is either unclaimed or re- fused by the party ‘addressed, or which, from its nature or because of indefinite or fictitious ad- dress, cannot be delivered. The classification above referred to is made after the matter reaches the Dead-Letter Office, where it comes every day in great sacks from all parts of the country. In the matn, these bulky sacks of lifeless mail matter taay be said to represent the carelessness of the Amertean people, although some portion of it 1s a witness of the "popular ignorance of the postal laws and regulstions, Whatever may be the cause of the premature demise of the letters, they find upon their arrival at the Dead-Letter Office ‘Unat they have come wo a lively receiving vault, A SCENE IX THE OFFICE. ‘The sacks are shot upstairs by an elevator into a great hall with a lofty ceiling running through two stories, The floor of this hall 1s covered with desks, long tables and sacks, full and empty. ‘There is a busy corps of clerks, some armed with sharp, glittering knives, and others bending over ledgers: A wide gallery runs around the hall, supported by spiral columns, and a dark green curtain above the iron railing shuts off from view the clerks occupying the gailery, who are mostly ladies. The sacks come piling in, and each day's mail brings over 16,000 letters and packages the year around. One hundred and four pairs of brisk hands seize upon this mass of material, and ina short tme it 1g arranged, classified,’ and the records made up, go that aif that enters the office caa be accounted for. The office, looking at it from the standpoint of exactness and met may be called a mill, through which every thing that enters must passin areguiar channel In fact, Superintendent Baird has devised an ingenious representation of the method of work in the oflice, which uses the idea of a till-hopper. ‘There were over 5,000,000 picces of mall mat- ice last year, an Increase of over that received during the about 5 per cent previous Year. Of this number over 4,000,000 pieces are dead matter, pure and simple; 0,~ 000 being ordinary’ unclaimed letters.” The amount of mail maiter that is sent to persous who, for some reason or other, never receive 1t from the post-office, as represented by the above figures, might be'used by some philosophic writer fond of figures as the basis for an argu- ment that the people of the United States are largely migratory in their habits, For instance, it is sald that there are over 2,000 letters received in this city each year which’ are directed to per- sons Whom the carriers do not know and can find no trace of. ‘These letters are, of course, advertised, but it would seem that a good proportion of the people who ought to read the advertised lists never do, and so the letters come to the Dead- Letéer Oilice. ‘THE OPENER'S DESK. ‘Then they find their way to the opener’s desk, which is a long table divided into compartments by low wooden partitions, and before each of the compartments sits a clerk. There are 11 openers at present. ‘Their business 15 to open letters, and the majority of people will probabiy be inclined to the opinion that the position 1s a good deal like Unat occupied by the late Tantalus, for the reason thai while they are required to open letters they are forbidden to read letters, To read a letter is not only against the regulations of the office, but is against the law. Ali day long they are obliged to sit there, thrusting their long-pointed knife blades into one corner of the enveiope and then ripping it open, remove the contents, fold it with the envelope, and place it in a pile on their desks, and then go on to the next. Perhaps, like the clerks behind the couater in candy stores, who are the objects of the consuming envy of every healthy normal child, they become satiated with’ the nov- elty of handling so many letters, and the oj ping of a letter is no longer accompanied with that thrill of curiosity, that burning desire to know its contents, Whieh {3 the common lot of ordina:y hu- manity. But there are no women at that desk, They are all men—and old men at that. Stald, sober, steady-going men, fathers of families and patriarehs in the church. For it 1s not alone the temptations of curtosity that have to be encoun- tered at the opener’s desk. If that were all, | women would, no doubt, have been admitted to the fraternity long before this, THE LADY CLERKS. The women already number three-fourthsot the clerical force of the office, and in their lofty perch in the gallery they examine the opened letters for the address of the writer, or some evidence upon which to base a reasonable conclusion as to the origin or destination of the letters. ‘They are not barred, Lherviore, from the opener’s table on ac unt of an alleged’ preponderance of femaie curi- ity. ‘The custom of having men at this desk has a rather curious history, as a Star reporter ascer- tained in talking With ah old employe of the office. It used to be the practice to employ the matis in sending forward a mass of indecent books, pictures, &c., and all that class of publications which min ister to the prurient and depraved taste. Of course there was a good deal of this stuff in the letters that came to the Dead Letter Office, and it was rather a disagreeable duty for a woman sur- rounded by men to open a letter containing an in decent picture or an obscene book, and so the practice was adopted of employing "men at the opening tables. For some years past there hes been but a small amount Of obscene matter re- celved at the office, and it may be concluded that Very little goes through the mails. The laws are quite severe tn this partiular, and then it Is ac- Knowledged that the efforts of Anthony Comstock have had a great influence in ‘the suppression of thls infamous business, Comstock is hot only the agent of the society organized to suppress publica- jons Of this character, but he also has the author- arrests and to inspect post-office matter. He, how- ever, does not receive any compensation from the Goverment. AS soon as he hears of a circular veing sent out advertising pubitcations of an 1m. proper character he at once visits the place men- Moned, captures all the stock on hand, and arrests the proprietor. | In this, way the evil Is iipped in the bud. and this explains, in a great ineasure, Ube comparative freedoun of the inalls from aang? of this Kind. MONEY IN LETTERS, As has been already indicated, the openers must be persons of character, for the reason that a great imany letters contain money. When money 1s found fn the letters, or, indeed, any inclosure, the openers are required tb make’in a book provided for the purpose an entry of the amount of money of the Dead Letter Office are more surprising to learn that) 90 letters of this character which are lay and corrected are addressed, money or merchandise, and every method has been exhausted for returning them either to the writer or the addressed, they are bundled together ‘tnd sold for waste paper, ‘There. are. Over oo 000 letters and parcels which are of year in this way, and the revenue derived trom the sale 1s turned into the Treasury, the money received in letters for which no owner can be found. Last year there was nearly $9,000 deposited in the on this account.’ A visit to the museum of this office shows the mant- fold uses to Which the mails are put in the trans— portation of matter other than letters. In this collection, which preserves only the mast notable may be found boots, shoes, coats, shaw! Frey se hee pe eee loves, late col = a fiatr, de. The articles recefved tw’ the malls "are retalned for two ‘and then if not called tor are sold at publlé auction. The sale last year realized over $3.000. ‘The ‘system of ki suel Avast amount of matter togeter, with te neces. sity of being able to produce any article called for in the mass Of stuff accumulated, involves a very nice method of bookkeeping. ‘The storehouse, is in the depths of the Post Office Department bulld- ing, in What mignt be called the catacombs, for the’ place is nearly all under ground, and the ar- rangement of the labeled in little alcoves extending from the walls to the celling justifies liking the place to THE CaTacomes. Howeverit is a mighty store-house, and while ap- parently it is @ labyrinth without a clue, there can be no more orderly place. For every day an inquiry comes for some portion of the contents, and the keeper of the crypt is able to lay bis hands instantly on any package, however small, the moment there is a call for it, ‘The yearly increase in the amount of matter handied by the Dead Letter Office, which, while comparatively small, is nevertheless constant, might lead-to the conclusion that the American people were yearly becoming more careless. FOr A(ter all carelessnes is the cause of a large propor- tion of the early deaths of postal matter. ‘The in- crease in the Dead Letter Office matter last year ‘was a little over five per cent, but, this increase 1s, not nearly proportioned to that of the volume of matter committed to the malls, Last year the in- crease in the amount of matter of all kinds sent Uhrough the mails was about 19 per cent. So it may be concluded that while the dead letter mat- ter increases each year, this increase is due mainly to the growth of the country and the ex- pansion of the postal service. A PERPETUAL MOTION CRANK. A Patent Attorney Tells the Story of a Curious Case. AM OLD MAN IN A FEVER OF INVENTION—POLLOW- INQ THE WILL-O'-THE-WISP OF PERPETUAL MO- TION—A NEW MECHANICAL PRINCIPLE—WINNING A CASE BY MAKING BUTTER. ‘Do you have many ‘perpetual motion’ cranks nowadays?” asked a Stak reporter of a prominent Patent attorney, at Willard’s Hotel last night. “Not many,” was the reply. “I have-nad only one or two in my experience. One of them was a very singular case. It happened quite a while ago. ‘One day, while T was sitting at one of my spare desks examining a patent case the door opened and in walked three men in Indian file. They were queer-looking fellows. The first was atall, gaunt, gray-bearded and gray-hatred man, dressed in old- fashioned black clothes, covered by a long linen duster. ‘The second was a short, fat, chunky fel- low, @ countryman, apparently, and neighbor of the old fellow. The third man evidently belonged in this city. Probably he picked the other two up, or happened to know What they Were after, and so brought them to me. Well, when they got inside the door, the old fellow stalked over in military fashion ‘in my direction. When he got directly opposite we he turned right- about, and, walking upto my desk, drew a long and large roll of paper from under ‘bis arm. He handed it to bis bps oe “Well, sir, what do you think of that?’ ¥ took ‘the rou, opened it, and after looking over its contents for a few minutes, during which the old fellow stood as silent as the grave, I said, ‘It appears to me to be ae motion device.’ ‘That's just what itis, ‘That's Just what itis. I knew you would see it in a mnin- ute,’ said the old man with a grin, A PRIVATE CONFERENCE. “The old man then looked around to where my draftsman was sitting, an interested spectator of the scene. He motioned silently with one hand to my private office, acting as if he wanted to speak of things he did not Wish overheard. Well, into my Oflice the three walked. When they got inside the short man closed the door and then’ stood ainst it, so that the draftsinan could not get in. ‘The old gentleman then asked me what I could do for him. Linquired of him in reply if be had a model of his invention. He drew out of one of his pockets three combs with convoiutes ontaem. I took them In my hand for a moment, and thén I Hold the old fellow that, frankly 1 egild not get im a patent for per inoiion. The taing, a3 you know, is a chestnut, and unless we could make somé practical demoustration of the inven- tion in the Patent Office the examiners there would throw it out and laugh at me for my pains. But the old gentleman persisted that he wanted it patented, even though I told him time and again that It Was utterly useless; that there never had bepn and never couid be suc, a device invented. However, I saw that the me- chanical principie involved {n a part of the thin: Was radical and totally new, and I thought that might get him a patent for that. I told him so. He wouldn't hear of it at first, but Maally, after his companions had persuaded hum that it would be best to let me protect him in that respect,and that, he could hereatter obtain a patent on the rest, the old fellow consented. READY WITH HIS CASH. “He then asked me what was mny fee. Itold him that $5 was all I asked to make a prelim- inary examination to see whether the thing had not already been patented. But he wasn't satis- fled with this. He wanted me to apply for the patent anyhow, andsoI told him that I would Tequire $0415 for the Patent OMlce fee and $35 for myself—to start the thing. He never said a word, but, putting his hand into an inside pocket, he pulled out an old leather pouch stuffed full’ of money. He took a $50 bill out and handed it tome. It was then Saturday, and the old man told me that he was going back to Arkansas, and that, as he lad About eighty miles of staging to do after he lett the rail. road he couldn't, possibly get to his home before the following Wednesday or Thursday. Now, although I bad taken the feo of $50 trom the old man, Thad no intention of hurrying the matter up, Because I thought he was crazy, and there- fore thought that the bare fact of his knowin that the favention was then on its way throu nd the Patent Office would satisfy him and keep him quiet for a time, So, just as they left the ice, I intshad Slag te pase ges epee Inteades a e pat up office for some tme. Well, that = LET THE CaT OUT ofthe bag. He told me that it was a put-up job on the old man; that he had been a prosperous dentist in a country town down in Arkansas when he got the idea into his head of inventing perpet- ual motion. From that time he gave up Denese overything—and devoted all his time and money to bis invention. He said also that during the three irs the old fellow had worked on it that he had not had on any night more than three hours sleep, and that his friends, realizing his condition, sent him on in the hope that once he got the thing before the office he would forget all about it. Isaw found and the character of the Inclosure, of what. ever kind. This record passes into the’ hands of other clerks, constituting a system ‘of check: wh'ch experience has shown to be necessary. and it is believed that there is no loss through dishon- esiy of the employes. ‘The system has been the growth of years, and im the few cases that have occurred ia the ‘past of dishonesty on the part of employes, the weak points in the system have been brought to light and remedied. It Is sur- prising to learn how much money is yearly in trusted to the mails, and although the aumber of such letters that tind their way to the Dead-Letter Ofice is probably only a small proportion of the entire nuinber mailed, yet last year tbere was re- cetved at the office dver $31,000 in letters. The invention of such devices as the money order, with the cheap fees, and the still more modern de- ice of the postal nove, were designed for the pur- pose of avolding the risk which containing money are subjected to; yet, im spite of these de- Vices’ & great many people still slip their money into the envelope and trust to luck ‘hat thetr letter, with 1ts contents, will escape all the periis of the'way. ‘The red letter fs still another method of I the risk, and wie it is true tuot the number of letters containing money ha- veen reduced by these devices, still peo- le, strangely enough, do not avail themselves of ihe advantages offered. Of the $31,000 received last year im letters over $21,000 was restored to owners, nearly £3,000 remained in the hands of postiasters awalling restoration, and Over $1,000 ould not be restored and was placed in the U. 8. ‘Treasury, where 1t remains for a period of four ‘Years, subject to be reclaimed by the owners, WORKING OUT PUZZLES. Perhaps the mos: interesting feature of the work people. A business man in this city, writing a let ter to an acquaintance in Philadelphia, tor exam- ple, dashes Of his signature at the close of tie etter, and, whiie directing the envelope, is thini- tng of te ext subject that ‘his atten- on, tead of writing Philadelphia, he scril dies off the word “city,” as he does a hundred Umes a day, supposing, of course, that the ity of his letters are local. He ddes this the more readily if his. "at's address pila happens to be one When the letter comes is handed over long practice with the address Is properiy ainended isent on its way. ea) Change in fashion if it 1s to be done. Yours, “Beaute Live.” One Face. ‘One face looks up from every page, row snowy cloud or taisytit nea; One race that e: joes amare, WDearer than all the world to me. eyes are mild, the brow is fair; Hgolt ty Soa apes theese ‘as rested, with no spoken word, ‘The “thet: snd sorrows: trace Sareea Sian E Bouzos, plainly that if the old man worked another six montis over it he would have to be put in ap in- sane asylum. Well, the old man went home, and do you know that before the following Tht I got an allowance? Yes, sir! ‘They gave him a ape it, Iexpected, you know, that afterI completed the preliminaries they would give me some references, and by this means I could delay the affair as long as I pleased. But no! It = eo gon ta at aoe rer and hardly had the old man e fore my letter i abo emus hare coach ne . Lids 7 y 4 "tb know. often wondered ‘tlce What the old ans dia ah whether he was finally locked ‘Up in an asylum.” A SINGULAR CasE. “I suppose you have had many other singular cases,” said the reporter. “Any quantity of them,” replied the attorney, “TJ had a case not k An inventor living way back in the count Wrote ine that he wanted to get out a patent ona churn. ‘The feature of the invention was that at the same time the cream was churned the butter made was collected in the churn by a pecullar motion in churning. But the man had not the hay faculty of expressing him- ‘self On paper with and so when he wrot: personally for a patent they threw the thing out of the because they could not understand ve ht Z bong a after I got home out the churn poured the cream intoit. I churne. away for about ten minutes and then hauling ‘saw about three st One side of the churn. case to the examiner he butt isfied 1! D of butter nicely packea ‘When I prevented cris Ee Bh f FH i i E tt f E k H i i BRAD WEATHER FOR REAL ESTATE. But Considerable Activity Manifested in the Way of ‘Transfers. GOSSIP AMONG RRAL ESTATE MEN, ARCHITECTS AXD BUILDERS—A PLAN PROPOSED FOR BUILDING HOMES FOR WORKINGMEN —MONEY FQR SUBURBAN IM- FROVEMENTS. ‘The kind ot weather which has prevailed re- cently is not the style which suits architects and builders, nor even real estate men. Itseems that people don’t care to think about building, much less'talk about it when cold winds are howling about and the airis full of snow. The average man, with money in his pocket which he wants to invest, 1s said to prefer to think about something more seasonable. As for the real estate men, they ask in dis- pairing tones, now they can have the face to take a perspective customer out to look st ground which is still locked in the icy embrace of winter. The majority with whom a Srar reporter talked were free to admit that they did not have the cheek equal to the performance of such a task, and in consequence business languished and office rents went on with no bright prospects of com- missions to alleviate the ry of the situation. It seems to be probable that the parties above mentioned w'ii rise in revolt against the weather if it does not change its present policy, and, as Gen. Greely and his office on G street, are generally held to be responsible for the conduct of tbe weather, it may be that an angry mob of architects, builders, and real-estate men will attack the ‘Weather-bureau with the intention of cleaning it out. In the meantimo, however, 1t may be observed that the Court Record gives each day a long list of sales, which may be taken as anindication that the market is not quite stagnant. In fact, a person unprejudiced would say that it was re- markably active, and that this activity has con- tnued all winter to an extent that is, perhay not equalled by apy former year. However, the architects and builders and the real estate men are anxious for the opening of the spring season, illeh they are confident will bea very “busy oné for each and all of them, and this trifling on the part of the weather, this Sore ing of winter in the lap of spring, meets with thelr unqualified condemnation, g WANTING MUCH FOR LITTLE MONEY, When an architect is not thinking about the ‘weather he can tell some interesting stories about the people who come to talk of building houses. It sometimes happen that they have ideas which, 1f carried out in brick and stone, would involve a cost of some thirty or forty thousand dollars, while at the same time they have only eight or ten thou- ‘sand dollars to spend. They are firm in the belief that such a house could be bullt for the latter sum, for they have been told that it could bedone, and, in fact, had been done in this city. To @ ‘great deal for a Uttle 1s not an uncommon desire in this world, and it finds an illustration in a great many houses that have been erected and are being erected in this city. Even those who build the cheaper grade of houses complain that people in- in addition to a low rent, upon having all the modern conveniences. A man who rents a house for $15 a month wants a front hall, a parlor, a bathroom, and hot and cold water, and, In conse- quence, these things are Introduced into a house at the éxpense of substantial construction and the use of good material. It operates in the same way in the case of yer and more pretentious houses, and a great deal of cheap, sham work seen in lhouses 1s the result of the reto make a great show with a little money. CO-OPERATION IN BUILDING HOMES, A man who controls considerable capital, talking recently with a representative of labor organiza- tons, suggested that the workingmen might bene- fit themselves by forming a co-operative organiza- tion for the purpose of securing homes. How this could be effected was merely outlined, as the capitalist said, and he would leave the detalis to be arranged if the matter should ever take practi- calshape. He ee thata number of men representing the different trades might form an association among themselves and agree to give thetr labor in erecting houses. The ground and the material to be supplied by the capitalist, who would algo have the work superinvended, "Some of the men want homes for themselves and their families, and others do not as they are not mar- ried. The houses for those who want them might be erected first, and when completed they would become the property of the associated mechanics at the cost of bullding minus Uhe cost of the labor, including, however, the cost of the ground. ‘The’ cost of labor, which is one- unird of the-amount invested in ‘a house, would represent a cash payment by the member of the association who occupied it. The balance could be paid in monthly instalments, not much larger than the average amount paid for rent each month; so that In a few years the entire amount would be paid and the man own his home, The other members who do not need, or want a house of their own, would have a claim upon those pro- vided with houses for a certain amount of thelr time and labor, which they could have worked out in the sane Way if they so desired, ‘The scheme would require united, harmonious action upon the art of the workingiuien, and with this condition tis thought that such’a plan would be practical and advantageous. This scheme is only crudely outlined above, and the detatis as to the rights of each of the persons interested when worked out, would probably result in a system very similar to that of the building associations, MONEY FOR SUBURBAN IMPROVEMENTS. ‘The suburbs of the city will, during the coming. season, receive a much largershare of the expen- ditures for public improvements than has been usual. In addition to the $25,000 appropriated for current work of repairs on county roads the District Commissioners have $50,000 to expend on the construction of county roads, It being made obligatory upon them by law that 2y should first complete the Tenleytown, Bladensburg, Bennii Bast. em Branch routes Ge sean osal’ $35,000, They have also at their disposal $35 for” beginning» the “work “of suburbat sewerage. Already plans are being made for a comprehensive suburban sewer system, and the money spent this year will be expended in accord- ance With this general plan. In addition to these appropriations, aggregating $110,000, there ts left tobe expended during the current fiscal year about $20,000, “This will be expended under the existing contracts for the extension of 18th street au Massachusetts avenue, and for other current work. ‘The work on Massachusetts avenue will be carried nearly to Rock Creek. To continue the work on 18th street will require the condemnation of some property lying’ near the Columbia road. ‘The proposed extension goes only to the Columbia Toad. Besides these sums to be expended on roads and sewers there is $110,000 for constructil a bridge across the Eastern Branch at the eastern end of Pennsylvania avenue, which property owners in the eastern part of the District ‘will be of great benefit. MR. J. E. SICKLES’ RESIDENCE. Connecticut avenue will soon be further adorned by an elegant new residence to be bullt tor Mr. J. E. Sickles, the designs for which have been prepared by T. F. Schneider, architect. The house will stand on the east side of Connecticut avenue next to the corner of, and south of § street, and will have a frontage of 27 feet. The front will be of brown sfone to the second story window sills and thence up of pressed brick and stone. Acircular bay window extends to the third floor, entirely of stone, Where it finishes, not as the conventional bay, but with a. copper, Moorish dome rvof. At the second floor a beautifully carved frieze extends around the bay, and much of the stone moulded courses terminate with carved clusters of foliage. Ascending "the broad stone steps with their stone balus- trade the visitor passes beneath an arch eight foot wide, which rests on © heavy short, richly columns, and enters a vestibule, the walls of which are of stone and the floor tiles, Over the entrance in the second story tsa arched window, and at the third floor carved sone basket cotbel supports an orl, Slate root ‘above “the ve ‘The entrance door 1 of oak, with black tron hinges extending across the door’ "The entrance hall is 9 by 15 feet, and across the further corner is a fireplace. A shim window will be de- signed in the mantel top, and, rangement, Mr. Schni pween it and the room. Or tnese apartments, with the connected by very wide doors, which 16th street is to be improved by the owner, Dr. D. R. Ht er, by the erection of a: ovis Doreen Wotmley hada Mee noe The architect, Mr. A. B. Mt in ‘the THE GERAMPUS NEXT CRUISE. A Possibility that the Veasel May Come to Washington, SOMFTHING ABOUT THE FISH COMMISSION'S MODEL SCHOONER—AN EFFORT TO PREVENT THR GREAT SACRIFICE OF LIFE AMONG FISHERMEN—HOW THE @RAMPUS WAS CONSTRUCTED, ‘The Grampus, on its projected cruise thisspring, may come to Washington. The Grampus hasbeen engaged during the winter catching codfish and gathering cod-eggs to be used by the necroman- cers of the Fish Commission in replenishing the treasures of the deep, and ultimately in producing a bountiful supply of the dried article, at reduced prices,in every cross-roadsstore inthe lan: But the vessel has been recently overhauled at Gloucester, but Wednesday night put out to sea again in quest of mackerel, ‘The purpose Is to study the migra. tions of the mackerel from its first appearance un- til {t enters the Gulf of Maine, The season and conditions favorable to spawning will be closely observed. It 1s a mooted question whether mack- erel carry campasses, take their bearings from the sun or moon, lying By on dark nights, or speed. through the waters on thelr northward journey guided only by blind instinct, transmitted from generation to generation, It 3 not, however, to Solve this question that the Grampus will set gall 80 much as to question the mackerel at every’ of its journey and obtain all knowledge possible of tg that can be of practical beneilt to the fisheries, The ns of men! blue-fiah, and other fishes will also be observed.’ The data collected will be turned over to the scientists of the commission, in whose capacious craniums are already stored the long names of marine creatures with full records of their ancestry, habits, and habitats, enough to restock the abysses of the At- lantic. "These gentlemen, in their snug labora- tortes tn. Wi mm, far’ from the wind-tossed waves, the Wild storm’ and the sounding surt, will calmly tho mackerel trom every polat of w, witl ultimately, of producing some practical benefit that can be appreciated by rolled senta or to ragard © oat frost wa ee or 1 W ofa bill of fare. ‘Tam GRamva. But the Grampus itself is a study. It isa Schooner, built in 1886 at Noank, Conn., under the direction of Capt. J. W. Collins, ite skipper and de- signer, ‘The Fish Commission ts engaged not only in investigating and putting into practice the best modes of artifelal propagation, Dut also seeking to improve the methods employed by fishermen, and in the construction of the Grampus it has sought to teach a practical, easily comprehended object lesson which may result in saving hundreds of lives—for Capt. Collins, in his office in the Smith- sonian building, were he is engaged at presentin Producing pelugic Uterature to ‘be entbraced in Fisii-Commission reports, will tell you that the an- nual sacrifice of human ‘life among the New land fishermen on the Banks 1s appalling. has been due, he is convinced, to the faulty shape and rig of tishing schooners, which have hitherto been too shallow'and too wide, ‘The competition among fishermen to get_to market first led fish firms to adopt a model which they believed woul secure speed and deck-room, though the vessels were less seaworthy, ‘These vessels Capt. Collins described to & Srak reporter as having great in- {tial stability, or ability to keep an even’ keel, but they were go Constructed that when once thrown upon their beam ends in a squall it was doubtful whether they Would right themselves again. Five or six years ago Capt. Collins ‘@ vigorous, protest against any further sacrifice of life for the sake of speed, and insisted that vessels should be substituted for slabs, He called for a vessel with a bull, which, he said in his salty way, would have some GRIP ON THR WATER, He referred then to the weatherly vessels of the English fishing fleet engaged in beam-trawling on the storm-swept North Sea, and su: com- Dining the graceful lines of our clipper schooners, with the greater depth of the English cutter. Capt. Collins insisted, too, that it was a mistaken, notion that the clipper-schooner model could not be abandoned without a sacrific of speed and sall- Ing quaiities, His counsels, however, donot ap- pear to have had much effevé until he put them ractical shape last year in building the Grampus. ‘he Fish Commission wanted a schooner to visit the fahing bank at ail seasons, and vo hover along th? edge of the Gulf Stream, 4 service in which would be exposed to the flercest gales and ro seas. None but the staunchest, best modelled and stoutest rigged vessel could do'for such a mission. ‘The Grampus was the outcome, It was built as a. model fishing smack, and used for practical vests of fishing apparatus, as well as for explorations, Before the Grampus was completed practical sea- golng men appreciated the advantages of the model, and other vessels were Dullt. on the same lines. " Now there are a number of vessels in the fishing flect built like the Grampus, and a revolu- tion in the construction of fishing schooners seems, to have been fairly started. THE GRAMPUS IN A SQUALL. Capt. Collins, explaining the advantages of the Grampus’ model, sketched on a sheet of paper crogs sections of the Grampus and of the ordinary fishing schooner, sailing in an imaginary sea, A squall arose and’the vessels tilted over. ‘The bal- last and center of gravity of the fishing schooner Was 80 near the water line that It was very doubt- ful whether the vessel would come back to a posi- tion, which, to a landsman at least, unused to auiding about on sitppery decks Placed it an angle of 45 would seem most natural and com- fortable. The Grampus, however, though she might ult over in ar uncoinfortable manner, lay 50 much deeper and had her center of gravity so much lower, giving it a better leverage, always bobbed back, on this paper sea, lke the little To. tund Chinese mandarin figures, ballasted so as Preserve their equilibrium. ‘A PAST SATLER, ‘The Grampus and {ts kindred have made good Capt. Collins’ declaration that it was a mistake to believe that the clipper model was necessary to speed. | The Grampus, though not rigged for rac. ing and handicapped by a well in its center, has shown its heels to many a graceful clipper Schooner, The Grampus’ grip on the water ena- bles 1t to sall much closer to the wind, and it has developed a speed of 131 knots an hour. Capt. Callins, however, speaks modestly of the sailing qualities of his vessel. ‘This Grampus 18 not of the blowing kind, ‘The iength of the vessel over all is 88 feet S inches; extreme 22 feet Linch; extreme draft, 8 feet 9 inches; displace. ment, 149 tons. It is ‘about two feet deeper and has 4 foot less beam than the ordinary ‘fishi schooner. Instead of the raking curved stem an projecting cut-water of the typical fishing yhooner, the stem 1s nearly straight and verti bove water, but below the load line curves aft in an easy slope. ‘The vessel has along, sharp bow, with slightly concave lines at and below the water Une, a long, easy re overhanging counter, and a moderately broad elliptical stern, which 1s lghter at the sides, and has rather more rake than. thatof fishing schooners, as they are usually built ‘The well in the vessel was constructed tor the pu. pose of keeping flah and marine animals alive, ————0. ‘Transfers of Real Estate. Deeds in fee have been filed as follows: Rar. bara O'Brien to J. (01 sul h Sq. 2; 00, Eins & Ernst toy. M. Buckley, sub. 703 24and 24%, block 3, Reno; $60. J.T, ‘Offuit ws same, lots 4 to 27, do.; $123, "L. O. Howard etal. toG, M. Rider, lot 28, Lanier Heigh*s; 875. B. L. Walker to W. R. Lockwood, part 84 ‘and Sub, 25, do.;$—. 8. W. Curriden to & J. Hannan et al., trustees, aq. 937; $23,302. Christ church to M. I Weller et al., lots 1. and 2, ‘sq. W. of 1092 $— Ida B, McNelly to Eugene Le Chene, sub. lot 15, 8q. 965, $3,000. C. Herret al. to M.’R. and J. P. part 93, B. and H.’s addition to West Washington; $4,200. G. W. Nicholas to F. G. Neff, sub. 42, 8q. 616; $—. J. HI. Walter to J. C. Stow: sub, lots 14 and 15, sub. 3, Taylor's sub, “Pleasani ener, 16s . 602; ani - 604; snehae 7a” D. Wedd to 8. W. Careone part 5, 8q. 881; $560. Carrie ET. Knox to Fannie A. Moore, lot 26,39, Gus; $1,611.16. C. Christiana to J. iis aoe a oar L.M, Hubby to W. 600. R. G. Campbeil to It J. $2,375. Jno. Leyhon to T. 8. 53 sub Mt picsmant; §— W. ‘Meadows; $9,168. A.C. Clark to & D, Webb, w. 36 7, 90, S88; $0452. TH. G. Todd to S. D. Webb, lois 9 to 19’ and 22, 3 $—. T. We ‘Smith et al to District of Columbia, lots 14 and 15, 2; $6,456. Isaac Cross, en 2 8g, SOL; So8.O8. Ino. Cammack, Warner to Maria ‘Augusta Woock, sit age my rs ry re SSE i gt rt Hf wm a i iemrecee not Wasass on Re RILEVYS MEMORIAL OF WASH- INGTON, Lecal History ef the Capital Frem 1790 to ISSe. SOME RANDOM EXTRACTS—OLD HOUSES AXD THEIR HISTORIES RECALLED—A PALACE AND A MAUSOLEUM ‘BY THE RIVER—THE MEMORIES OF OTHER MANSIONS. ‘The following are random extracts from the forthcoming “Memorial ot Washington, a Local History of the Capttal from 1790 to 1880,” by J. F. Riley. DAVID BURNES AND BIS HOUSE BY THE RIVER. ‘Thus the weary but wealthy stranger comes to ‘Washington, and having a taste for scandal de. sires a visit to the old houses of the town, the wall-chinks of which are full of hidden skeletons. Oh, weary stranger! Old houses, like old faces, are Decoming scarcer here. A decade of so of years since, where now stand the palaces of temporarily- resident millionaires, there were solitude and barren splendor, with green slimy ditches and im- Passable hills as backgrounds for the picture. Along fashion’s thoroughfare, Connecticut avenue, upon which the foreign minister nods a diplo- matic good-day to the Cabinet officer, and beauti- fal women promenade, ogled by the Ditssful, be- cause ignorant, but wealthy dude, the pensive cow chewed her cud and the sportive goat gamboled, scarcely over twenty years ago. Then you could have bought the ground for a nickel a square foot; now price it, and measure by the figures given the Progress of America’s capital. Old Washington has disappeared; the cobble-stone street and the notsome ditch have been succeeded by the asphalt avenue and the spacious park, and the name of the Shepherd who wrought the change clings to the avenue and park in his bankrupted exile in Mexico, even as the roses’ scent to the broken Down here at the foot of 17th street, where the Xguinse the shore broeds talatia, there stands & One-story-and-attic. trame Co 80 It stood nearly a hundred ago, and in it lived David Bi ‘a Scowh, r, One Of the owners of the future capital. He proved so very troublesome in his barter of lands with the General Government that Washington could not refrain trom character- izing him as “the obstinate Mr. Burnes,” and here on these very grounds the “Father of his Country” ‘was reminded by Mr. Burnes that the world would never have known him but for his with the Widow Custis. Burnes was very very weer ‘and sour-tempered’ when rie Congress came ‘Washington on the establish- ment of the capital here in the year 1800, but he hada beautiful daughter, and she was lis only child. ‘The magnet seek3 the pole; Tom Moore says the sun-flower constantly faces the sun, Was it strange that the Cor en during the first sessions held in the city should seek the suelter of Mls cottage by the soa, albelt they had to travel over wastes in muddy boots? Reflect! There were no big hotels in those days. Congress Itved in K ings, two and three ina room, and Schenck and poker were unknown. What relaxation was there for the Congressional mind? What recrea- ion 90 pleasant as visiting the Burnes than the wel Whet greater attraction ‘icome of & ‘Wealthy heiress in expectancy? ‘Merce! motives, say you, weary sti 4 attacked 7 Well, men are the same World over, now as then, no better, no worse. Sure itis, they did spend théir evenings in the Burnes cottage and love to the hetress, on the river Danks, by moonlight. Many came, but one was chosen, the handsome John P. Van Ness, the mem- ber from New York, and the two were married. John was of the old’ Duteh Van Ness family from Kinderhook, and believed in the old Engiish law, saying that the husband and wife are both one, He must have believed, too, that the husband 18 oat one; for, a few (Years After his marriage, his wife conveyéd to biin, turough a trustee, every foot of ground she inherited on her father's death, With a portion of this wealth John built thisman- sion beside the cottage. In its decay it ts still magnificent, Just gike the picture of a feudal castle, without thé drawbridge. Princely enter- tainments were held here 50 years ago, attended by the grandees of this and other lai ‘These grounds, gone to seed now, were flower-beds then, girted with zig-zag walks, over which thecoaches, with four in hand, of the Calverts and the Fatr- faxes, the Loundes and the Platers rolled. Prince John was the host; the world were his guests, His own course was upward. From an alderman he graduated into the mayoralty of the city; he accepted the generalship of the District militia, tendered by Jefferson, and was expelled from Con- gress therefor, and in a caustic speech on the “What's banished, but set free” order, converted the action of that body into glory for himselt.. From a bank director he became a bank president ‘The world was kind to him and he enj the World tots Umit. Death knocked at his patace door, bearing away his wife and only child, and he wore crape around his hat, and buiit a $30,000 mausoleum over their remains as expreasive of his griet. A RUNAWAY NUN FROM GEORGETOWN, ‘Then there caine a romance to solace his widow- hood. It was Ann Wightt, a run-away nun from the Convent of the Visitation, in Georgetown. she was a cousin of the deceased Mrs, Van Ness, and was known in the convent as Sister Gertrude, No one ever rightly knew the cause of her flight; some sald it was disappointed ambition at not being fade Supertoress others thatit was a cage of love but she never told, and the convent ladies were Just as reticent, but she did stroll out through the open convent door and come down here to the Van Ness mansian, seeking protection and a home. She laid aside her homely serge nts and became ‘@ woman of society. Very old inhabitants remem- ber her, tall and willowy, as she leaned upon the of John P. Van Ness, at church, theater and ‘She was “the observed of all dbservers” in her She survived her protector, and was bountifully remembered by his heirs in’ the distri- bution of his estate. She also recetved @ gift of ten thousand dollars from one of the daughters of de Yeurbic fated Augustin L, of Me: Dut for all that she died poor, at the residence ‘ot John ¥. Mason, in Richmond, and is buried in Oak Hill, on Georgetown Heights. A small marble stone inscribed simply “Ann Wightt,” tells noth- of the mystery of her life. t the age of seventy-six Jno, Van Ness died, santestate and without issue,” as the lawyers sas, (He died just as other men’ die, for death is very monotonous. The pauper dies like the ; the philosopher like the fool. A rattle in the throat; a sudien fixed stare in the eye, asif it had caught ‘a glimpse of something never seen before; a slight dropping of the under jaw, and the story of one's Ute ends forevermore.) ‘MRS. CONNOK, THE REPUTED WIDOW OF VAN NEAS. After the funeral the collateral heirs met for a division of the spoils, ‘They were sensible heirs, and did not wish to goto law, but the law was ac- commodating, It would go to them, as Mahomet to the mountain, and another romince of history the'shore. a matroniy lady in mourning and tears the shore, A matro in Mou! named Mrs, Connor, who had always been known, asa widow @nd the ‘of a boarding house in fhe city, proposed to share the vast estate, with ‘the heirs, and when asked her claims, respect! Alleged that she was the widow of the deceased Van Ness, by virtue of a performed many years before. suspicious, and the claim of the ma- tronly lady in mourning and tears for blackmail, there ensued one of the celebrated cases of the Dis- trict. It occupied a month in its trial and was contested by ablest lawyers of the land. On the witness stand, under oath, the lady sald that bat. the ex-bank it during his life-time had courted her in the usual way; that owing to the distance between ve social he ‘a private! ‘and that, Phusdelphia ty an alderman, ‘The the date, ‘an alderman, ear, the day, the tour of the occ 735 well a8 thé address’ of the official, were given with minute- ; the alderman of all pea e a a Sarees erecee os oe ks sheatey ‘upon ner so much, one others, No uptown, has a history. Its existence 4g coeval with Sas she en ee ee ‘ss uayor of Coeciey waa poptested by Ban Yh general of militia = tose wes deve and iter and tt tho house as the soenc of a and 8 ot night to morning, and just asdawn came the counters. of the beads wearied and worn, startet back in horror, sceing the bed-ridden, paralyzed woman, dead {o all intents and purposes during right in bed without. assistance, and exclaim with her last voice regained Goat, What have, Lone to deserve this!” men. 10 smayed attendants for her clot she dressed herself unassisted, iis if preparing tor a long journey, and from that day to the date ot her death, thifty years afterward, she never com iained Of a pata nor an ache, and died a natural jeath from old age. The event was national in its day. ‘Thousands Mocked to the old brick-houst and examined minutely 10's every hole and corner, searching for evidences of deception. Marvelous! Miraculous! Cail it what you will, the Incident 1s a living fact. AMdavits from all concerned wore collected, and published in an ex- i ise by Bishop Engiand, and the press Of the country was full of the ule A CASTLE IN SPAIN. Stil pursuing our way up 17th street, “you will Observe,” as the peripatetic guide says, the Presi- dent's stables, where Grant Kept his famous trot- ters, and for the speeding of which at a faster rate than the law allows through the streets he was fined by Justice Walter, The fiue was paid, as John Randolph once paid his, for assautt and bat- tery on the man who kicked his dog, 1u happy sat- tsfaction at fun enjoyed. Around and about these stables, forming a square. wasdoedest tothe Queen a1 Portugal at the close of ihe last century in expec- tation that her majesty would add to the beauties Of the city by the erection of a palace for her American legation. The scheme proved a Veriia- bie castle in Spain, for the 4s unburdened with palace still, MARGARET I. EATON—TRAGEDY AND FARCE. From Pennsylvania avenue you may see the triangular reservation to the west, and back of it a long time ago stood the tavern of William O'Neal, He had adaughter, Margaret, sprightly, witty and pretty. She was easy mannered and piquant; her conduct, if she lived in our day, would cause her to be’ pronounced fast; she was lightly spoken of in those days, but she was famous, #0 famous that reports of her conduct reaching her husband's ears down in the Mediter- Tanean, at Port Mahon, he cut bis throat to save himself disgrace. The widow, still beatiful, witty and devilish, murrted Gen. Eaton, and Jack- son, President, made Eaton his War Sec tary. clal_life’ engenders social relations. When the wives of the cabinet officers learned that the naughty Mag. Eaton was to mingie among them, tuey gathered their skirts about ‘them and eriéa: “Forbid it, Heaven! Forbid i, apeniy rebelled and positively refused te invite tne rel tively refused to invite the War minister's wife to thelr receptions, Thedipio- matic corps, like Jerusalem's daughters, “wept of the ops.” Jackson was prayed to, entreated and besought to revoke the appointment. Make Eaton a foreign minister if he would, give him the ‘treasury in fee-simpie, kill him, do anything, but recall his appointment to the cabinet. How iu portant the War minister's wife became may be gathered trom Parton's declaration, that “the juent history of tuirty years was written from the day upon which Martin Van Buren’s soft hand, was first led upon Mrs. Eaton's knoe Jackson was obdurate to appeals and threats. In choice Engiish, he said he would be damned if he wouldn't killoh sight the man whospoke lightly of Mag Eaton's virtue, and if bis cabinet refused as- sociation with Ler he would get another cabinet, more yielding to bis wishes. ‘iits threat inant ex. ecution. He shipped his own househoid back to Ten esse and did dismiss tits cabinet, ail but bachelor “Marty” Van Buren, whose conciliation with Mrs. Eaton made lim future president, Of the wife of One of the retired cabinet oiticers, men used to inflate” their cheeks with their tongues, wink their eyes, and shrug their shoulders when they and it is a notorious fact that it the Saviour had inet her on her flight and uttered ‘the Old reproach about the guiltless casting the first stone, the thousands of geological chunks along the road would have lain tule, untouched by her. “Meanwhile Mrs. Eaton, by her beauty, grace and wit made hosts of male friends and an army of female enemies, but all efforts to float her on we octal sea proved irultiess; nelther herown clever. ness, her husband’s position, nor the;bully-raggt of Jackson could accompilsh it. Finally he Pres ident, as the easiest way out of the difficulty, made Eaton tninister to Spain, and the demoraliza: ton to society subsided with the departure of tie newly-made minister and his wife, At the Spanish court Mrs. Eaton's powers had full pl her social conquests there Were marclies of triumph. Tt ts sald that wi the news of the surreuder of Calals Was brought {to Queen Mary she burst into tears and wrung her hands, exclaiming, “When I die, the name ot Calais’ will be round ven ‘on my broken heart.” Amid the clouds that shadowed her sub- sequent ‘iife, and the reproacuiul glances that leered at her from every side, Mrs. Eaton's only leasure Was a memory, the Fecollection of her Tnumph at the court of Spain, and that she car. ried with her to her grave. ‘she survived ler husband and returned to Washington with lange wealth and a family. For wany years she was Wed oUt as a noied character ‘of the town, ut bye-and-by, with a new generation, she was forgotien, to spring again into prominence by marrying an Italian dancing master, young enough to have been hergrandson. This foolish step made her an object Of ridicule, the town-talk, which deepened into pathetic humor when a few years later her dancing-masver husband robbed her and eloped with her married grand-daughter. Thus the principal cnaracter in the drama became the buffoon for a farce. She never recovered froin the shock, but died in reduced circumstances at an humble boarding-house on 9th street, 1n Unis city, exclaiming with her last words: “How beautiful this is!” One marvels much at the powers of Pompadour, inducing the dissolute Louis to drive the Jesuits trom France; but the butcher's | daughter was a courtezan after ali, while Mag. Eaton, here in Washi Shook the social fabric’ to the center, and drove a cabinet from the councils of the uation, all to prove to the world that the tavern-keeper's daughter was a virtuous woman, ———_—~+e0_ THE OLD FOUNDRY A Church Whose History Begins With the Sacking of the City. INCIDENTS OF THE WAR OF 1812 WHICH LED TO THE ‘ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH—REMINISCENCES OF A DAY AND NIGHT OF TERROR—WHY THE CHUKCH 18 CALLED THE FOUNDRY One of the results of the war of 1812 was the erection of the Foundry Methodist Episcopal church, at the corner of 14th and G streets. One of the members of the church a few years ago undertook the task of writing a history of the in- teresting events connected with the origin of the church. Much of the material he obtained from the late John C. Harkness, who, after a member- ship of over a quarter of a century at the Foundry, for over a third of a century was a lead- ing member and officer of the McKendree. The sketch refersto Hamburg, near the Observatory, and Carrolisburg, on the Eastern Branch, “Dud- ington,” southeast of the Capitol, the mansion of Notley Young, in South Washington, David ‘Burns’ house, on the river, near 17th street, Gen. John Davidson's country residence, between K, L, 32th and 13th streets, Yet standing, and knows, for over huif a century as Guista’s, as’ with a few other buildings comprising the ‘human habita- tions prior to the beginning of the present cen- tury. ‘The writer says: “Among the adventurers Who came her were those Who appreciated Christian communion and longed for the means of grace; such formed twe nuclell of church organi- Zations, which the Methodist: itinerants and re Tesentatives of other Cristian communtons util. ‘Thus, through abounding vers were ch and valuable tropics won TOF to Great She] and Bishop of Souls” BUBDUING THE WILDERNESS. | ‘The writer says a herculean task was assigned the President and Commissioners in subduing the ‘the wilderness, preparing It for the siteof the city, and toconstruct the publi@ buildings. Yet such Was their indomitable perseverance that before the time allotted by Congress the buildings were Teady for occupancy. The opposition to the selec- EE pig ted, ted for bri ‘thé Potomac, tor con- strung the Wushingtow city canal ae ‘THE EARLY CHURCHES. ‘To meet the needs of the people religiously, the following churches had been erected or framed: ‘hrist Episcopal and Ebenezer (now 4th street, Siidear the navy-vard; Yirst Baptist, 19th and’ northwest; Friends’ Meeting iiouse, I, be- ‘tween 18th and 19th streets; Seceder Presbyte- rian, F near 14th; First Presbyterian, cor- ner of South Capitol and South A streets; St. rick’s Catholic, F street, between 9th and 10th, Second i i i H a 20th and Zist streets ‘by Samuel ‘He told the sad Bo keaes ‘with the and camp-followers, Foc ore taan two CES ‘tide of bu- ‘ ! ; i other only natural Z'close observer of ‘chorus giria-Boston Tram ccript. mind abit do te at your. mittee—““ Second instalment of the retreating Seepe, upethe “event making for the west, Lis proved to be a remnant of Barnes's com- nd, wuich bad refused to leave the feld wntil heroic commodore fell wounded at his post. shadows bespoke the closing up of an eventful day und the coming of a sadder there followed ju thelr Wake a stalwart man in plain attire, bend- under a heavy ioad, who paused to look ‘at the ich Was on the south olden time tower hay scale wi the White House forsaken, helped myself to selec- Uons of gold and silver service as you see, and lam makiug tor the Virginia shore.’ On strated with he repited ‘T Unink I have ter right to them than the Red Coats” He was al- lowed to proceed. Soon after the oe of the victorious enemy was manifested by the applica- {fon of his consuming torch. With Incredible celer= ity the navy-yard, the north and south wings of the Capitol (the’ central portion was not then built the State and Treasury. buik the tour naidences of Department inessengers which stood. directly opposite the present location of the De- partment of Justice, the War and Navy buildin: 4. Uke Arsenal were fn Tull blaze. ‘The imprisone Citizens Watched and Waited with anxious solicl tude for the coming morn. About midnight one Of these sad houses was Starued by a loud rap ab the door, and when the lady of Ure house, with much trepidataion, responded she found there a British officer of rank on a splendid steed, who po- Mely asked for a dri water, whitch was Promptly furnished im. ‘The inquired whether citizens would be molested “keep Your lights burning and your shutters open’ he re. not a hair of your head will be disturbed, sof May to.you madam,’ and, wheeling In a moment out « ness quieted The fearsot The inmates of one home at ieast, and he remnants Of those other homes who had taken refuge thet THE WORK OF THR FLAMES. ‘The tardy morn at length dawned serenely over the city, revealing to its perturbed citizens ‘ne dis. mantled and smouldering remains of the one ma nt public buildings. The General Post-Office, city post-office and Patent OMice at that time found ample accommodations tn a brick Dutlding, at the corner of G and Sth streets north. West, Wiitch Was started fora hotel by one of the original proprietors, named Blodgett, It was about 100 feet on E street and 50 on 8th street Uuree stories ugh, but the design was abandoned. when the buflding Was barely roofed in. The Gov. erament Mnisied 1 and devoted it to the above purpose. The Commissioner of Patents, Dr. Thorne ton, supported by Rev. Obadiah Browh and other citizens, succeeded tn’ getting the ofticer in come mand (0 spare that public bull.ting. THE POUNDRY SPARED. The enemy appropriated the 25th of August to the completion of the destruction of the publle Dutldings, and, as was well known, had planned to finish the wack by blowing up Foxal!'s Foundry afternoon of the 26th, buton that afternoon s Vicinity Was visited by a cyclone of unproce- dented violence, which caused the British to leave abruptly without consuunmating thelr design, Mr. Foxhall, hviding fast to Lis religious convictions, could Dut regard the preservation of his foundry, ler the circumstances, as due to a mantfest ine rvention of Divine Providence. ‘Therefore, as an expression of his gratitude LoGod and Lo meet the religious needs of an increasing population Ip the western portion of the clty, he furiished the el site at the corner of G and 14th streets north- 1, and erected thereon at his own cost & sub- stantial brick church, which was at the time re- garded ag agem of becuty. ‘This editice was dedi- ved on September 10, 1815, Rev. Nicholas Suethen aching the sermon, dir, Foxall made ‘he deed to the trustees of lots8. and "9 and part of ioc 10, square 252, with the inceting-house thereon, in Which he says the prop- erty shall be known as'the Foundry chapel, and it shail be tor the Use of the M. K. Chureh of North mnerica, vesting the tiUe in Fsaac Owen, Leonard ill’ duo, Eliason, Wim, Doughty, Joel isrow', aun’ McKeuny as trustees, and providing for thelr succession, Daring the year 1816 the Foundry Was assoclated With the Georgetown station, Keva, Win. Ryland and ‘Thos, Burch being the pastons; but the following year it was set off as am inde- and poudent station, With the following official board: ind. N. Love} 1, Lioyd Lowe, aud Euakita a sts. Lovejoy, Gran- dell, and Paiuer, Phillp Willams, Juo, Connell, and’ Jacod Hines, lea 1Ue FIRST CHURCH BUILDING was, In comparison with the churches of to-day, amexceedingly plain structure, It was located im center of the property, fronting on 14th 1, and had galiertes on Cire sides, with high pulpit, as was then the custom, On either ad the rear, Were Uees Which grew to @ > size betore they Were cut down. Kev his pastorate Lue first parsonage was erected, Rev, Thos. Burch was ° first pastor. “During donn 'y, alierwards Bishop Emery, served in 1819, and during his term he established what is Dellcved to have been the first Sunday school in Ube District. Tt was, however, on the Robt. Rulke's Theory, for Lue instruction of Une children of tbe poor, aud to supply needed comforts for their bodies. It lapsed after Mr. Emery’s term expired, The next pachor Was Kev.” Win. Myla: halo ood wh Ayti Lie Was succeeded in 1822 by Kev. Samuel Who died September 16 of that Year, He > succeeded In establishing the first s ok proper, sing for it tive seuook house originally known as Jefferson's stable, om the site now occupled by thesinall Building. atver the death of Mr. Davis the school Was transferred to the galleries of the church. Tue Pulpit was afterwards filed, at different times, by Revs. John Baer, Win. Hamilton, Win. Ry- land (a second Ume), John Davis, Siephen'G. Kozell (with Rev, French S! Evans and Rev, T. 3. 1 and Satnel Kepler, as assistants, “at ‘different Umes), Jas. M. Hansen, Geo, Meldt, John Baer (a second term), Samuel’ Bryson, Twos. B. Sargent, Wm. Hatuilton (a second term), Chas. B. Mppett Henry Slicer, Thos. C. Thornton, John Robb, Davis (a second Ume), Henry Tarring, and X. J. B atorgan. REMODELED AND ENLARGED. In 1848 Rev, Dr. John Lanaban became the pas tor, and during his term the old Found: Was remodeled aud enlarged. The gaile had beeu the home of the Sunday-schooi art Were removed and the floor raised, a basciuent Was, constructed for Uhe school, With ‘class-roums, &. ‘The pulpit was lowered, in’ accordance with thod- ern ideas, and an addition of 14 by 50 feet, finished in modern style, Was bullt on the 14th-street front, Kev, Dr. Lanahan was L. F. Monga: Rev. 1 Peek, followed, in 1 Phelps, tn 1854 and 1 B. H. Nadal, and Wm. B. terms of tivo Years ill 18, wi as Hurst was assigned, and, dying in August follow. ing, left a vacancy, Wuich Was filled tor the bal- ance of the year by Revs. J. K. EMinger and Jos, B, Suit, Rev. W. M. D. Ryan succeeded tn 1x63, apd. Was the pastor Witil the spring of 1N66, THE PRESENT STRUCTURE. Under his ministry additional ground was pur chased and the present structure was erected to satisfy Uke increasing demands of Uhe congregauion for room. Revs. B. Peyton Brown and Alex, k ‘Gibson each served three years, till March, 1872, when ev, 8. A. Wilson Was appointed, served ou6 ‘ten asked asupernumary relation, Kev. A. Cleaveland Was tranferred from the Philadelphia conference in 1873, and served at Foundry Ull March, 1876, during which time ex- teusive inodifications and repairs were made, Ret B, Peyton Brown again served tn 1876 and 1877, when he became presiding elder. ev. Dr. Job Lanahan again resumed the pastorate in’ 1877, after an absence of 31 years, and continued til March, 1881, during Which Ume President Hayes and family were attendants, . ‘The old Foundry which had its origin in a wa, isthe parent of Wesley and McKendree church and Was influential also tu Ube establlsument Ryland and Mt. Zion (5th street), besides bel the ‘guard jan of Asbury (colored) church, now: Uhe Washington conference. Frou a small hand. full of mem! and a few score of attendants, the chureb has grown Uo be One Of Uhe most prosper. ous in the conference. pon ELS BOOKS OF THE WEEK. THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT: An Analysia ‘Of its Frovisious. By JON it Dos Passos, of te New snk Mar euthrof tte Law ot tock Broke wand stock Exc c. gurations Day Series No XAXVIL. ‘New York. G. Be Put- ait's Bonk, Wastington THELATEST STUDIES OF INDIAN RESERVA: TIONS. By 3. B. Om, author Of “Certain Dangerous Tendencies tn American. Lite,” “Notas on industrial Conditoun, etc. er sian eights Associston. THE FACTORS OF ORGANIC EVOLUTION. by Henskxr Srexcen. Reprinted, with Additions from "The Ninewenith Ccuturs” New Yorks D. Appleton Oo. Waskingwon: “Mobert Beall THE LOVELY WANG. A Bit of Chia. By the Hk Tawi Winoristb, “(sure Moment Borie) ork: Mery L. ‘Molt & Go, Washingvou: tae ey i Ata Lom ged euchre party at p ng Lig the it after Novel. von: I the booby prize was a Uhing the recipient could beat.—Toronte Globe. It may seem queer to some, but tis at the clos¢ of day we A wink in time strengthens the soda water.— Cane anion ‘Chicago, says that he is about of says ‘congrabula- to reure from politics forever. Our. ‘ons Lo politics —Hoston Pust. An art critic says: “The Fates are stern-browed women, stricken in ‘Would go to show that the artist calied Stor set ere eags puwat a 7 Cnktng now?” iss rethink 1 ask you in to Grin, and atvit gat Pour cotariatunncatr™ Memberet the come We have just realized that we are §25 Free Press, prind, will ean ‘ings up at least ence 0 “And ‘Will stay in one night a week 60 I can go RESALES oe