Evening Star Newspaper, February 15, 1890, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON SKILLFUL ATHLETES. es The Popularity of the Game of; Raoquet. THE COURT CHAMPIONS. ee ‘The Best Players of the World—Many Fine Amateurs in America—A Sport Bequiring Finewe, A Sure Eye, a Firm Hand and Quickness of Movement. i Special Correspondence of THe Evenine Stan New Yous, February 15. OOF!" It was @ big man’s voice that I heard while up on the second floor of the New York racquet club yes- terday. I stepped up to a bai @overed door and peered through the glass ov: tip!” It was close at hand now and, clatching the dour, I started back involuntarily, The door sprung open and revealed a herculean person iu loose white flannels and weighing probably | about 2) pounds. He was reaching for a little | white bail which « slender athle fel- Jow some twenty fect off kept against the wall at the far end of the cou: SRA And the bal! came spinning ducked t racquet that 1 me. He stood pai | perspiration tickling down his face rivulets. ‘fhe slender sinewy man was 2x cool as though he had been a mere spectator of the port. It was a practice game bet Moore and a member of th n Prof. Robert lub that f bad in- wrrupted. But the Hercules, who overtupped the you Enghsh athlete by a head and shoulders, had had exercise enough and, being “pumped out.” retired to bis flannels, The instructor then played a little solitaire, Catching the ball lightly on his racquet he sent it spinning from end to end of the 63-foot court half a dozen times at lights «peed. never allowing touch the Moor, a teat few experts wont care to attempt. “Yon see E have to keep m own aceonnt,” he ap | the contest for the c! hope to win it, too. And, catching the littie white bail on the edge of his racquet, he sent it spimuing sky ward in a true perpemien It dropped hghtly on his outstretched palm. “Your fat pupil seems to have plenty of run- ning,” I remarked. y hand in on my MOORE AND BOARER, “Yes, probably six yards to my one. It is the same as hand ball in that respect, yon see: the server can make the other mun do all the running. Buta clever player wou't let himself be used np too quickly. When the match takes place we will have some of the finest rac ers in the world here. ton club, who is to play Al Wright and 1 f. isa world beater at tennis and hus held the championship several years. Hie has been try- ing to get Saunders, the English champion make a match.but has not yet succeeded. Pettit K ra in fact of the Boston club. Wright and I have been it over seven . The match will be played in this court about Wash- ington’s birthday. under the usual conditions— the best of seven games, for a good stake and the championship. Whoever wins will have to meet Latham, the English champion. Should Pettit be the victor he will have to play against Boaker of Quebec, the present American cham- pion. before he can meet Latham, Wright would have to do the same. And you too?” 0; I played with Boaker twice last season and beat him. He beat Wright in 1S8$ and 1389. Boakers friends say he has retired. He has held the championship eleven years, but I understand he hasn't really surrendered his claim, although bis friends in the Quebec club have advised him to do 30.” “Why do they want to retire him? “He is getting old. He must be about thirty- eight or forty. and it's the same in racquet as in other athletic sports—a player is at his best before reaching his thirtieth year. After that nge he losses in elasticity, and, while he may be stronger. he is slower. But Bouker is still a fine player, although Latham of London is aecounted the best in the world. He has held the world’s championship for several years, having won it from Joe Gray, who became champion after the death of ‘Punch’ Fairs, who had held it for seven years. Walter Gray, the brother of Joe, iz aiso one of the famous English players. although he has never been a ehampion. He competed with Latham after the latter had defeated bis brother and was beaten in turn. The Grays were bere about seven years ago, and Joe at that time played an exhibition match in the racquet elub court here with Boaker, in which the Quebec man won the first three games and Gray took the Jast four straight. Boaker is a hard hitter and lays with great judgment, never losing his He is rather good on the drop. Gray is # slashing player, very brilliant and a hard hitter all the time.” “Who are the best amateur American players?” “There are many very fine amateurs. Within the last haif dozen yea ing the last two or ‘thr: taken a jump into popular favor. ago it was almost unknown to Americans. but now it presses tenuis very closely. The New York club, which is the pioneer, has been fol- Jowed by the organization of clubs ina number of large cities. Loston has a strong club with & big membership and very fine quarters. The Philadelphia clab expects to move into its own home sometime in Fe . There are two clubs in the Quaker city. Three weeks ago T went to Chicago the first set of racquets ever used there, and a court has been organized to enable the Chicagoans to min # little healthy athletics with their eultuce. St. Paul has good court and Foxbail Keene teils me that courts are projected at several of the lead- ing colleges where athletics ix « prime feature. T have nodoubt we shall soon hear of then in full operation at Harvard, l’rincetou and Yale. since the opens 2 | et? TRE BROTHERS GRAY. “During the last two seasons several very fine players have come to the front among the amateurs. B.S. De Garmendia is one who bas | secured championship honors. He is « cool | player and rmely makes a | peormpaas One = the | most surprising players and yet @ very clever te is C0. Perkins of the New York club. He an awkward guard. but is a wonderful hitter. He never gets into position for a ball and seems sometimes to reverse all the rales Of the game, but be hits it allthe same. His skill and agility are the means of his success. | Ed Lamontaine, jr., is rn very hard hitter and is regarded asone of the coming great Tecqueters of this couutry. Foxhall Keene, al novice atthe game, shows up won- ly and will be ableto make things look rather fanny for Garmendia next year. He plays brilliantly and is one of the coolest men about itl ever saw, Whatever his luck he is never surprised at it. One of thabest of our oldish players is Mr. Lydig. who may be said to represent the early school of racquetera, These are beyond question the finest amateurs in the country today. “Iam constantly asked about the cost of equipping clubs im other cities,” added Prof. Moore. “Ifa club has a court the rest is but a trifle. Our courts, as you see, are rather costly affnirs—sheathed walls, markers’ boxes and the rest of it. But the mere outfit of balis, racquets, rubber shoes and flannels is within the reach of any ciub. The balls are all im- ported. although there is no reason why they shouldn't be made here just as well asin Eng- land. They cost 6cents apiece. The racquets are the very best and cost ¢4each, Shoes are about the same figure, and I suppose a club could get flannel suits ut #8 or $10 apiece. “There is no better exercise for developing the muscle than racquet. It is skill more than strength that is required to make a good player. One has to have all the finesse needed liards and at the same time to have muscles strong enough to bear the modicum of fatigne involved in « match. Tt makes the player quick im all bis movements, sure of eye and firm of hand. The exercise is neither too gentle nor too severe and can be modified as much as the player pleases, The rules of the game are simple enongh, yet no one could pos- gather what they are from the books pub- lished on the subject any more than you can jearn to box or play chess trom the printed rules. The game is fifteen points up and when the players have reached thirteen apiece the out player or receiver of the service has the option of ‘setting’ the game—that is, extending it to vighteen points if he chooses, The server stands in a little square on one side of the court, re are two such squares, From | that position he serves or hits the ball up Against the wall at the far end of the court. regulation court is 6 fert, he service line 1s the space farthest from ball is to be bi in this diagram: feet by about 3137 lrawn acroas it an the wall where the is divided lengthwise, as shown IN THE RACQUET count, “The out player stands iu one of the larger courts on the side opposite to the server and takes the ball as iteomes from tbe wall. He must hit it either before it touches the floor or | after it has bounded once from the oor. and turn it with bis racquet against the wal! in the same manner as the server does. server, on the first the wall above the feet from the floor him, Bad servic: low serv in the gi The lay, must make the ball hit igh service line, which is 10 f he fails it counts against failure to return and too re or too low return are what count i Missing the ball while pair or on the first rebound also count gainst either player. There is a wooden board 2 inches high at the service end of the court close to the floor, and if the ball strikes it the sound is heard at ones, This board is called .” and to strike it counts a failure. After the opening service, the playersare free to serve or return from any point where they can hit the ball to advantage, but the rule of one serving aud the other returning is kept up throughout the . The server always has an advantage over the man on the outside, aud as an offset the latter has the option of ‘setting’ the game an extra three points when the scores have reached thirteen or fourteen points ¢ two, three or four can play in the same game, An ave: game lasts about a quarter of an hour and seven gam 8 constitute a match, which can easily be finished in two hours. To play the game well you have to be in first-class con- dition, just as though you were to play bil- Hards, It is in this respect total! ke box- ing and some other athletic sports,which a man can go into when he is feeling dull for the purpose of waking up and enlivening himself by the exercise,” LIGHTNING RACQUET PLAY. There are many hundreds of racqneters among the young business men of New York, and the roll of the racquet club has on it the names of not a few mullionaires—men whose time is largely taken up in Wall street and with banks and railroads, They drop in at the club. put on the flannels for an hour or so and after # bout or two with an instructor or some mem- ber get rubbed down and go to business feeling strong enough to face any amount of ordinary fatigue, There are fully three hundred me: bers in the club, and its growth has been so rapid that a committee has been appointed to look out for a site where a great club house is to be built. The present quarters at 34th street and 6th avenue are too small. although the building is a good-sized one and contains two great racquet courts, a gymnasium und a run- ning track overhead. Five lots have been se- cured in the neighborhood of 43d street and 6th avenue. The new club house will be finished, it is said, before the lease of the present build- ing expires in May, 1891. It will be the finest structure of its kind in the country. Aun estimate of the amount that is spent an- pually by the wealthy business men of the development alone it metropolis on physical would seem like a gross exaggeration, reaches away up in the millions. Fencin boxing, riding, rowing, tennis, racquet—a!l have their devotees among the rich. Bi boating and horse racing they are sports that require personal participation aud cannot be doue by proxy. A single decade has started the movement that isto make us @ nation of athletes, ne DONT HAVE A SPARE ROOM. Itis More Prudent to be Crowded in Washington, Don’t You Know. “The house we have engaged is a very pretty one, but really itis so tiny that I haver’tu single spare room for a guest.” it was a young matron newly come to live at the capital who said it, but the lady she was calling upon, a resident of loug stunding, ouly laughed at the remark, “Why,” she replied, “you are very fortunate. No one who lives in Washington should have a spare room; nothing could ve more undesir- able, For, you know, this town is the Mecca ot holiday makers; people swarm hither by thousauds ali through the year to see the seat of the national government and all the won- ders of cotemporary human interest that it contains, You can never know—if your ex- [sega Proves to be jike that of other people uero—when relatives or friends, of whom you know little and for whom you care less, will swoop down upon you, as it were, with a de- mand for temporary accommodation, It is 80 much cheaper, you observe, to muke a visit at the house of uw convenient acquaintance with one’s family than to stay at Willard’s or the Ebbitt. You are in luck af such visitors do not alight bag aud baggage at your door without warning. They will certainly tuink nothing of sending you word in advance that they are coming to Washington and would be glad to have you extend an invitation. In such a case what are you going todo? You cau do nothing but acquiesce, unless you are so fortunate as to be able to respond: “Awfully sorry, but we haven't a spare room.’” “That settles it, of course.” ‘Necessarily, In that simple plea you have ® ready-made aad truthful excuse that can never fail you, Visitors in such a way are ——* the most painful afflictions conceiva- ble. There is vo telling what awaits you when you admit them to your home. 1 knew a wid- ower and his son once who came to stay two days with sume distant relatives and remained twenty years, the said widower marrying again and bringing his bride home to the house. And when the owner of the establishment died, leaving the visitors only $5,000 a year and the life tenantey of the family mansion, they con- tested the will on the ground of mental aberra- tion, aud, though they never got any more of the money, they have to this day prevented the other heirs from obtaining « penny.” tarp — t doesu't do, my dear, to lay yourself 0) to such casual’ parasites. When I lived im Piniadeiphin, a younger and more inexpe- rienced woman than Iam now, friends and rela- ves in suck numbers swooped down upon me during the summer of the centennial exposi- tion that I was finally give up my own hoase to be let for and to go somewhere and board. Take my word for it a Sting AS & Spare room city of Washingioa.” and never have such while you live im the IN TROPICAL CLIMES. a Among the Care-Free People of Panama. : ——_—_ AN AGE OF CONTRASTS. Need—Water Car- to Theater— Recreations and Amusements. ————. From Tus 8ran’s Traveling Commissioner. Paxama, Coromsta, 1889, ORE than anywhere else in the two continents this section shows how hard and fast the young America of the north is treading on the heels of the older America of the south, “New” Panama, as it is called, was founded in 1673, within two years after the destruction of the old town, and still shows abundant evidences of its Castilian origin. There are ancient casas of Moorish architecture, as sedate, drowsy and heavily picturesque as any in Grenada or old Castile. central courts inclosed within their enormously thick walls, iron-barred casements, with folding doors of soli1 wood in lieu of windows and awning-shaded corridors and verandas, while sandwichtd between them are young American hotels, stores, saloons, barber shops and boarding houses flaunting gaudy signs in red and gold inscribed “Free Lunch Every Day,” “Ten Cents a Shave,” “Boston Baked Beans and Clam Chowder,” &c. For two hundred years the sleepy old place had never an inn—not until the California gold fever of ‘47-49 brought thousands of travelers way,and then they sprang up by the score, Now the number of hotels is reduced to two or three of the better class and as many more of inferior grade, ranging in price from $2 to $3.50 per diem, i ‘Though surrounded on three sides by the sea Panama is WALLED LIKE A FEUDAL CITY, because the experience of ite founders with the buccaneers had been so disastrous that they ne- glected no means of defense for the new capi- tal, The wall. which is now partially destroyed and overgrown by bushes, was originally from twenty to forty feet high, with moat and bas- tions on its Jand face, battlements and towers at frequent intervals and mounted with many pieces of cannon, In the early days it was an effectual safeguard against ordinary attack, but wouid be of little nse against modern mu- nitions of warfare. The builders, who had ely lost allat the hands of pirates, spent so much money in the construction of ‘this wall that at last the Spanish king wrote to inquire whether the walls of his expensive colony were being made of silver or of gold, The Indian word Penamc signifies “plenty of fish” and had been bestowed upon the locality long before the arrival of the Spaniards, For more than two centuries, until the compara- tively recent period of the overthrow of the Spanish domination, this was one of the most opulent cities in the uew world, the key to the Pacific and the great distributing center be- tween Europe and the rich countries of South- ern America, When the treasure galleons came sailing into its harbor from Limaand Val- paraiso laden with the weulth of conquered nations (to be sent on miule-back across the isthmus to Porto Bello, where the fleet waited to convey it to Spain), the old town blossomed out at its best. Then its harbor was crowded with ships from many hinds and its streets with wealthy merchant Castilian grandces, gorge- ously uniformed officers of the army the government—the flower and chivalry of Spain.” while bails, bull fights, gaming and ex- esses of all kinds were the order of the hour. But there have been checks to Panama's prosperity, not least among them being several cou! ws and innumerable visitations of pestilenc: Before the year 1756 the town was twice almost totaily des! ‘ed by fire, and from that year to ISG7 its popalation seldom ex ceeded 5,000. The vast tloatmg population that swept through during the tevertsh days of “49 could hardiy be counted to Pan ma’'s credit. With the completion of the Isthmian railway a second era of | scent prosperity began, and now its population muy safely be reckoned at 25.000, Like all Spanish-American cities, its central feature is an extensive plaza, with fountain and flowers, surrounded by the most important edifices of church and state. ight through the middle of it rans La Cail jus Monjas, or TREERT OF THE NUNS,” which sacrilegious Yankees now call Main sireet. The “puiace” of the bishop faces Panama's plaza and the Cabildo, or govern- ment house, where all the business of the municipality is conducted. A big American hotel ocenpies one side of it and directl, posite, beyond the flowers and the fount the great cathedral whose twin towers a to be the tallest on the continent, so t they indicate to vesse trauce to the bay and port. © said A that s far out atsea the en- The famous sanctuary is almost a fae simile of the grand cathedral in the City of Mexico, being built of stone and stuccocd adobe, at least 200 feet long by 150 feet deep, with tloor of square red bricks and roof supported by four rows of massive columns, Inside there are the usuai altars and shrines, pictures,confessionals, burning candles, &c., but outvide there is a marked difference, its towers being set with innumerable round plaques of glass that glit- ter in the sunshine like so many kohinoors, while standing along ite facade, each in his che row of colossal suints,uil painted durk green. There ure half a dozen or more other churches, of course all Roman Cathohe and most of them ante-dating the present cen- tury. The theater, an enormous structure, oc- cupies AN OLD CONVENT, within whose quiet cloivters during two bun dred years black-robed nuns lived in privation and prayer. Verily this is an age of contrasts! Three years ago it was opened for its present use by Sarah Bernhardt in a series of her in- imitable performances, . Among other prominent buildings may be mentioned the magnificent headquarters of the defunct canal company and the governor's pal- which commands a charming view of the and its green islands, The cducational in- stitutions of the city comprise several school: conducted by the nuns; the Colejio Espera (Hope college), for girls, directed and taught by teachers from the United 5 the Colejio del Isthmo, for boys, and two or three private schools of lower grade, The most important newspapers published in Panama are tie Ga- cela Ufieval, the government organ; th Heraiit, issued daily m Spanish, Frenc h, with two weekiy editious, and the Eng Uhronista, a Spanish sheet. Unfortunately for Panama there is no system of public water works, thongh an aqueduct has long been talked of. The in auts are still supplied in the same manner ax were their ancestors generations ago, by car- riers going from house to house. THE BUSINESS OF WATER CARRIER descends from father to son and yields a com- fortuble living, the only capiial required being a donkey and two wooden kegs. When fully equipped the donkey has a keg of water slung ou exch side of him, with a nosegay or bunci: of fresh grass stuck in the top of each keg. while the owner sits aft, so near the tail th: one marvels how the poor little beast cun keep: its footing under pressure so unevenly dis- tributed, No wonder the city bas been burned so many times! Besides the great conflgra- tions in its earlier history it has been partially destroyed by lire no lesa than seven times within the last seventy years, In 1890 it also suffered a severe shock of earthquake, The pleasure-loving Panamuians are not without their RECREATIONS AND AMUSEMENTS, One of the finest military bands in the two Americas plays in the Plaza Major two eveu- ings of every week and on Sunday aiternoous, when all the people turn out to hear. Then there is the Boredas, a popular drive and romenzde where ocean breezes may be en- | ery and the Savannah. a few miles out of town, where during the dry season the nabobs affect the delights of country life. It ie the fashion among all classes to prome- nade upon the ramparts near the sunset hour, es ly on that part called the Esplanade, where the old wail has been widened into a boulevard. Besides the unrivaled ocean view on one side, it overlooks, on the other. a level space containing the arsenal barracks and city | naan And right here on the Esplanade is best place to study Panamaian life, both high and low, Imagine the beautiful bay, dotted with ts, bongors and canoes, backed by ships and steamers at anchor, float the pone oes nations, and beyond, th ds each & mountain green to iis summit, some covered with and bony nian Shere 5 vast cemetery; others used for ani freight stations by the Pacitic mail company and other corporations, ‘On the side ail is lite, color and gayety. There are officers in uniforms of scariet and wold and soldiers in biue and white D. C., SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 15, 1890—TWELVE PAGES. trousers, in flowing robes and shovel hate, and footed, gray-cowled friars of the stern order of San Francisco, There are ladies of high degree, their faces partially concealed by mantillas of rich lave, an grace senoritas of whom one notices nothing but their beauti- fal om ee large, black i and Indian women, each witha poet gear baby slung at her back asa tourist carries his ‘satchel, There are easy- going Englishmen and Frenchmen gesticulat- ig like lunatics; aggressive, k-footed American, siclid’ Gertie plscidiy smoking ir pipes an y of the always well- drevsed | and co descendants of the con- querors, THE HOSPITALS OF PANAMA deserve more than passing mention. In Colon thereare splendid hospitals for the employes of the canal and railway companies, but no refuge for the ailing stranger, except by an ar- rangement in effect between the government and canal company whereby the latter has set aside ten beds for public use. In Panama, however, one of the finest hospitals is that for foreigners, open to both sexes and ail national- ities, sapere mainly by voluntary contribu- tions, ere are several others sustained by the government and various companies, the most elevant of which was built by the canal people in their flush times ata cost of over ve million dollars, It stands on an eminence. in the midst of extensive grounds, surrounded by @ beautiful garden with shaded walks and arbora, And if ever hospitals were needed in any quarter of the globe it is in Panama, where the Jecthag saying goes that ‘there are no gray eads,” meaning that there are none su ciently robust to withstand the diseases epidemic and endemic, indigenous to the climate and bronght here ‘by the floating population, till the sere and yellow stage of life. Ihave listened to two or three stories today which may help illustrate the point. The gentleman who now fills the position of Italian consul is a native of Colombia, because the four who preceded him, all from Italy, followed one another to the grave in quick succession, A recent minister to Bolivia from the United States passed his four years safely in the small-pox haunted capital of that country, but on his homeward journey, being compelled to wait three days in Panama for a northbound steamer, his two bright little sons both sick- ened, died and were buried here, An Englishman told me that his especial chum died in Panama from sun stroke during the early days of November. The friends breakfasted together in good health and before evening oue was a corpse. he same gentleman called my attention toa white speck ona distant hiliside which, he said, was the tomb of another friend, whom he de- scribed as “the jolliest fellow in the worid,” who landed here one day full of life and vigor, and in an incredibly short time was in hiscofin, having been given a bed in which a man bad died of yellow fever only a few days before, It is needless to muitiply incidents, for everybody knows that Panama is no sauitarium, Following a street that leads out of the plaza and past the cathedral one may find an inter- esting relic of the past, known as El Postiga de los Monjas, “the Gate of the Monks,” an an- tique archway quaintly carved and crowned by @ watch tower which jeads through the moss- grown ramparts to the beach, Following the path of the monks of old we ourselves on a wide expanse of coral reef which, if the tide be out, is alive with shrimps, cuttle-fish, hermit crabs and other forms of deep sea lite,and strewn with kelp, marine ferns and mosses, aud sheils of curious forms and colors, Another antiqui hat should by no means be neglected is the ruined CHURCH OF SAN DOMINGO, It was built soon after the founding of the city and in its day was one of the finest sauctu- aries in the new world, possessing an extra- ordinary store of jeweled vestments, altar sery- ice, lamps and images of gold more than a century ago it was nearly destroy in one of the numerous conflagrations, ‘There is an interesting tradition concerning its bells which ri as follows: The church itsell was built by the queen of Spain and the ladies of her court. each eontrib- uting to the pious work what money she could afford, When the time came for casting bells for it there was nothing left to pay for the metal they should contain, So the zealous queen invited not only her court but people of all classes to come and witness the casting and to contribute thereto. On the appoi day they came in crowds, high and low, and poor, When all was ready the queen thr handfuls of gold into the great erucibie and the ladies and gentiemen of her court did the sane, and then the pour _ followed with donations of silver and copper. greater in quantity but less in value. hus the amount of metal rapidly increased, but still there was nough. Then the queen threw in the golden ornaments she wor. did the the galiaut courtiers cut the silver but- vous from their jackets and the buckies from their shoes and the oiticers wrenched the jew- cled handles from The excite- ment grew inte 38, bracelets and val- uables of all sorts, some of them precious relics i tainily heirlooms. all weut into the cruci- ether witb buttons of brass and iron dd the meaner trinkets of the poor, And thus the bells of Sun Domingo were made. It is said that their toue was of the pu wat they were heldin great reverence, both by the priests and by the poople whenever they were rung all who h them crossed themselyes and — said prayer, After the — gre conflagration those not broken by their fall trom the lofty tower were removed to some other church, Tut certainly not to the cathedral, if the story of their sweet tones be true, for those that clang and clatter above that sanctuary are about the most harshly ear-splitting it has been my misfortune to hew Among the notably institutions of Panama, THE GREAT LOTTERY scHEME of Messrs, Duque Brothers must not be forgot- ten. It was established in 1383 under a ‘con- cession” from the government, and is patron- ized by all classes. At the beginning the sirawings were monthly, the grand prize being 500, ‘The success of the enterprise was 80 ex- traordinary that soon the prize was placed at 0,000 and drawings appointed for ev day. Tickets to the aniount of 250,000 (at $4 each), the sellers receiving 5 percent for their services and the remaining $20,000 being divided between the government and the Duque Brothers,~ Mr, J. Gabriel Duque, the elder of the firm, « very handsome, well-educated gentleman, yin the early forties, bas lately been consul general for Nicaragua and He was born in the United States ft Spanish parentage, I think) and has spent u of his iife in Philadelphia, where he w aged im business for many years, He says that when the lottery venture b to flourish, the canal scheme was iu is palmiest days, he invested his gains in Pan- ama real estate, while his brother, wiser then himself, converted bis own into Uuited States bonds. “And now,” he adds, with a smile, “my vrother is living like a lord, in Los Augeles. Cal., while I lead a dog’s life here.” Of course we must go over to old Panama “PANAMA LA VIEJA,” acarriage drive of only six miles, and see all that remains of the proud eity which received its royal charter in 1521, and after a brilliant existence of only a century and a half was de- stroyed im a single night by a haudfal of buc- cuneers. Here it was that Pizarro equipped his mur- derous expedition, and where he aud his fellow rascals, Almagro and Zuqae, desecrated the erament by the internai compact they entered into. “ Historians tell us that among its seven thousand houses were many stately pal- aces, furnished and adorned with great magniti- cence. and that beyond the city, far and wide, stretched the plantations which supplied the markets with fruit and vegetables, with groves d gardens wherein the fair Punammans with belleros were wont to resort in the cooi of the day. ‘There was a great hospital and « long line of buildings used by the opulent Genoese aga market house for their staves; there were churches and monasteries and con- vents, all wonderfully rich in jeweled orna- ments and altar pieces wrought by the fore- wore artists of the time; aud even the king’s stables, where the beasts were kept that carried the goid and silver of Peru and Mexico to Porto Bello, were richer than the casas of today. But how are the mighty fallen! The place where the conquest of an empire was planned, then the brightest jewel in the Castilian crown, is now a dismal heap of ruins in the midst of a pestilential swamp, inhabited only by snakes, ganas and alligators, Today oue cun find jew traces of former magnificence; here and there 4 turret or bit of wall overgrown to the top and twined over and over with a tangled mass of trees, bushes, vines and creepers, Une at the north can form little idea of the tropic luxuriaace in this hot and humid asmosphere, especially atter two hundred veare of undis- turbed growth. The watch tower of San Je- rome isanexample of this, It was builtonly six years before the city's destruction, in the form of a hollow square, 100 feet high. Now itis so wound around by woven vines that it can never fail, while trees and b gtow on its summit, whose sturdy roots, running down- ward, have compictely filled the entire inner space. Faynre B. Wag, ———+oe-_____ A household tells how ‘to cat of white marble.” Le grease If anybody wants grease easier way would be to TRICKS OF THIEVES. The Light-Fingered Portion of Washington's Population. BUT FEW PROFESSIONALS. How the Confidence of Old Pensioners is Abused—The Despoilers of Hen Rooste—Folks Who Get Others Drunk ‘To Bob Them. —_-__. HE Washington “crook” is an indi- vidual peculiar to himself. He is not as “fly” as his brethren in the crowded and cosmopolitan metropo- lis, nor is he as glib as those in Bos- top, but, in the language of the sisll boy, he generally manages to “get there just the same.” I learned these and other interesting facts by frequenting the haunts of the local confidence men and thieves for over a week, during which time I mingled with them freely. assumed their swagger and style and played the role of “good fellow.” Among “crooked” people you must be either a chump or a good fellow. If the former, you are regarded with suspicion and distrust, but if you are esteemed 1s being in the latter category your light- fingered companions take you promptly into their confidence and relate their past experi- ences and plans for the future, The experi- ence I had among these people forced the con- clusion upou me that the best way for the police authorities to down” to the crooks and their crookedness is by the employment of dummies, similar to the old London system. WATCHING THE DETECTIVES. A well-known local confidence man, speaking on this subject, said that when a professional “worker” reaches this or any other strange city he at once sets to work to “pipe off” the “tly cops” or detectives By photographing them on his memory and studying their ways and movements. ‘This is galled “getting them down fine” or “gilling the flys,” and it is usually ac- complished through the aid of some local friend, After the detectives have been well and truly “gilled” then the visitimg crook is ready to commence operations. The light-tiagered contingency of Washing- ton can be divided into several Classes, First there are the professionals, and it can be said that but few of this class abound here. Then the petty thieves, including hen-roost robbers sneak thieves, pocket-book snatchers, till tap- pers, &c. This class is legion, Next are the “drunk workers,” aud last, but not least, the contidence men, The petty thieves mingle to- gether by common consent apparently, and are mostly men who have “done time” either in the District jail or at Albany. I found them principaily in the sm-swept alleys of certain sections of the city, iu the slums aud in the low groggeries, THE FENCES. Many of the latter places are fences where much of the “swag” is disposed of for either money or liquor. The favorite fence of the Washington crooks is in Baltimore, the stolen roperty being taken thence by agents. who eep themselves without the atmosphere of police suspicion, These agents do uot frequent the stamping ground of their customers, but hold fortn in remote localities where the latter cun go with impunity to dispose of their swag. A thief who would carry his stuff to a city pawn shop would be considered very green and giddy indeed, One of the Bultimore agents is said’ to be located near the Long bridge and another on the commons east of Lincoln’ park. “If the Washington people (police) could only get down to the Baltimore fences,” said a well-known crook who has thrice been “over the road” to Albany, “they could uncover much of the property that has been ‘touched’ here of late. The Baltimore fences are jim dandies, They will buy anything from a ‘snide or forney ring to a horse and carriage, and you needn't go out of town to get them off, either.” ROBBING PENSIONERS, Catching a pensione: or “touching a drank” are favorite games of those crooks and conti- dence men who frequent the resorts contiguou: tothe great stre of parks extending from Ist street east to 15th street west A pensioner iscanugtton pay day or on the few days suc- evedin; and the hook that catches him is usually baited with rum and flattery. The fellow wh is going to work the game usually lias one or more confederates, He meets the old pensioner ina bar room or some other resurt where liquor can be obtained and enters into conversation with him, The old soldier is dito the skies. This “game of talk,” as termed in the language of the crook, is thickly punet with large drinks " of whisk Ti fellows who are working the game, however, are careful to indulge iu moderate doses and many of — these sre adroitiy thrown into the spittoon, The pensioner has in most cases been with- out money for some time—he is only paid ouce every three months—and he is therefore xious to have a good time, His frieuds, the crooks, are willing to assist him in this, The old fellow sings with fervor ‘Marching Through (ieorgia” and other army tunes and his new- tound friends join lustily in the chorus. If it isa fair day the latter propose a trip to one of tie parks, Where. anmolested, they can occupy bench and taik and sing galore. In most s the pensioner accepts the invitation and, with a pint bottle of whisky, they proceed to some secluded spot, and there are many of these in the city parks. Now the game is work- ing in good shape. The next move, in the lan- guage of the pensioner catcher, is to “make the old man dead to the world.” This is ac- complished with but littie diftieulty, for the old soldier is already pretty well saturated, and 1 few more swigs from the bottle fixes him, Chen he is promptly relieved of his pension money and whatever else of value he may have on his person, aud the game is ended so far as the crooks are concerned, They disappear silently jike phantoms, while their victim is stretched out on the bench to take an alco- hole slumber. The old pensioner is found by a park watchman or some passer-by and turned over to the police. In the morning he awakes in astation house cell, shaky and moneyless, «nd uine times out of ten is taken to the Police Court and sent down for vagrancy. ‘This game of catching a pensioner, and he is generally severely caught, is practiced every pension day, as the number of unfortunate oid ets” in the alms house and work house will attest, y crooks and coufidence 3 happy anticipation the average child does to the cowing of Cliristinas, RELIEVING DRUNKEN MEN. “Touching a drunk” is worked by the same men who bait their hooks for pensioners, the only difference bemg thut they are on tue alert ‘y night to do the “touching.” This game ix Worked in several ways. A drunken man found tying or sitting asleep in one of the parks is approached by the crook, who gives him a shake and in an imperative tone says: “Get up out of this or I will arrest you.” If the intoxicated individual does not re- spond at all or only answers with a grant or roan he is said to be “ripe” and the quasi Watchman gives a signal foris friends to be on the lookout while he goes through his vic- tim. Ifthe latter does not happen to have mach cash or many vainables about him he is often robbed ot his entire wardrobe, from sole w crown, if aman is not quite drunk enough to be “touched” the crook proceeds to supply him with more liquor uutil he is drunk enough tobe steered into @ park or alley and relieved of his money, &¢, ‘The confidence men are, as a rule, well dressed. They are good talkers and prey principally upon strangers, rural ones pre- ‘erred. They hang around hotels and bar rooms and are ever ready to escort visitors to the several points of interest in and ebout the city. They rarely “touch” a victim, but “work him fora borrow” after he is feeling Lnood good under the influence of his drinks. It fre- quently happens that thes succced in “borrow- ing” all the money the stranger has about him. ‘There are agreat many of these well-dressed contidence workers in this city and they carry on their busiuvess with reckless openness, CHICKEN THIEVES, The “hen roosters” or chicken thieves are mainiy colored men and boys. One of these told me that the best way to “swipe a roost” was to burna pan of sulphur on the floor of the chicken house. This, be said, would pre- vent the chickens from cackling or making a noise, “Den,” added the pullet snatcher, “you jess grab"em one at a time an’ gib dere necks a twist an’ den drap ‘em in your bag.” Tasked him bow he disposed of the dead chickens, but he would not tell me for some time, Finally he said they were taken to an old man across the Eastern who dressed them and brought the carcasses to market, where they were sold by himself and sons. He ane that ree of the fowls stolen from Washington and vicinity were of in alike manper, while some were tens ported scrupulous city merchan: STEALING FOR DRINK’s sake. ta, The class of pilferera who fare the worst in this city are those unfortunates who steal to get money for strong drink. They are not ex- perts sad steal in such a bungling manner that Many of the ¢ ook forward with detection and punishment almost in’ follow. The drinks little. Hi, ® clear head and has kee) his wita well whetted all the time. Deputy had in his long experience found but few suc- cessful and expert thieves who were addicted to the whisky habit. I found in my ramblings pees, ae ipmee A jisky thieves —_ rt disposing of ai weir Own property, wou) not hesitate to purloin anything else they could lay bands on in order to keep the ic fre within them burning. BOGUS PORTERS. The stealing of articles from the sidewalk in front of grocery and other stores is an art to which not a fewcolored men have devoted themselves, To accomplish this successfully himself in the garb of a store porter and w. a white apron in order to ert suspicion, Then at prover moment he picks up the box or package aud walks leisurely down the street until a corner is reached. Tirning this he quickens bis pace until he is a safe distance away. Many dealers who have lost goods irom their sidewalks of late can attribute the loss to these bogus porters. The goods they steal are usually disposed of to small dealers’ in remote sections of the city. These are some of the games 1 worked up during my brief expedition among Washing- ton’s crooks, To enumerate ail would be to fill a good-sized book. there are many crooked people here, and they Are as wary as a gray squirrel and as keeu- sighted as an eagle. & mail HOME MATTERS. Hints for the Household and Suggestions to Practical Housewives. Iris Wert to Keer Pieces or Cuancoat in darap corners and in dark places, ‘Tue Peaxvt, Sueiiep, has been introduced at dinner parties instead of almonds. Bouse Waren should not be poured over tea tray. japanued goods, &., a8 it will make the varnish crack and peel off. To Prevent Cake Apuenine To Tax Pax when baked, scatter a little flour over the greased surface before pouring in the dough, Iris Sat Tat iF tae Hayps ane Reasep ona stick of celery after peeling onions the disagreeable smel! will be entirely removed. Stroxc Mvmiatic Actp Arruicy Wirm a Croru and the spot washed thoroughly with water is recommended to remove ink stains from bo ane AGatxn Prax, spotless sheets are made with hem- sand ruitles of lace or embroidery. Makine Cake THe Burrer should be len spoon may be used for this purpose, says Miss Maynard, Ear C 2»0D SLOWLY, isa warning from the wise, and eat sparingly of it, too. If you at cold fuod dou't wash it down with ice water, Lemox Juce 1s a Goop Taine for removing tan. It is also excellent for taking stains from hands, and if applied to the hands at night keep them soft and white, Wary a Dixvser 18 Gives in honor of a Special guest the compliment may be empha- sized by using the calling card of the honored one in connection with the menu card, the two being secured with ribbons and flowers, Tue Nenseery Doctress Prescnrpes two baths aday for baby, the soap and water one in the morning and vigorous massage after the even- ing dip; this, with all the cold water he will drink, loose clothing, a cool but perfectly clean room and no handling, fondling or kiss- ing, means to Mr, Baby ells of beauty and health and inches of growth a week, AGuve Wnica Witt Resist rag Actiog oF Waren is made by boiling a pound of glue in a sufficiency of skimmed milk. To make a stroug glue for inlaying and vencering, take the best light brown glue, free from clouds or streaks, dissolve it in water and to every pint add one- half gill of the best vinegar and one-half ounce of isinglass. A CornespoxpeNt or Tag HovseHonp says that a good way to wash a woolen hood is to dip it in gasoline, squeeze it but do not wring it, and after dipping it two or three times rab it between the hands, squeeze as dry as possi- ble and hang iton the line, All this can be done in fifteen minutes, Never use gasoline near a stove or after lamplight, as it is very ex- plosive, Curprex Suoutp Be Tuatsep to Eat Stowxy and chew the food well before swallow- ing it. Many a life of suffering has resulted from neglect just here. Mr, Gladstone is said to chew thirty times whatever he puts into bis mouth before he swallows it, Food needs to be thoroughly mixed with saliva as weil as to be chewed and crushed bevween the teeth. Food that is bolted irritates the stomach and impairs the digestive organs, Pivearrie Jecry.—Take a jar of canned pineapple, pound the contents, add 8 ounces of sugar and half a pint of water; boil the whole for a quarter of an hour, then strain through a wet napkin, « juice of alemon and a Psd of clarified calt's foot or gelatine jeily. Pour into a mold, aud when set turn it out by dipping the mold in warm water. Picces of cut pineapple may be stirred among the jelly before it sets, ScatLovrep Mackere ror Baraxrast.—Boil a couple of salt mackerel over night, aud, while still hot, remove all the bones and skin and flake the flesh. Simmer these trimmings for twenty minutes in water enough to cover them. Strain this liquor, and the next morning add to itenough new milk to make a good sauce, thickened with corn starch to the con- sistency of cream, Flavor with walnut catsup, grated lemon peel, nutmeg or mace and cayenne. Heat up the mackerel flakes in this sauce and serve. Tuis Is THe Way a Boston journalist likes to ! have his cranberries cooked: Pierce each berry through with a large needle—not as ldrge as a darning needle, but about No. 5. Put the cran- berries into cold water with the amount of sugar intended to sweeten them and let them heat gradually to boiling. Stew until quite tender, Do not cover the kettle with a lid, but by all means let all the steam escape. Cooked carefully in this way they keep perfectly their form and beauty, Cream Purrs.—A correspondent writes to know how cream puffs are made. In various ways, one of which appeared in Home Matters last fall, Here is another way: Put one pint of boiling water in asmail sauce pan, add half a pound of butter; when melted put in a pintand a halt of flour. Stir this in, beiug careful not to burn; when thoroughly mixed remove from the fire and cool; stir im five unbeaten eggs; bake ou butter tins for twenty minutes, cut the slices aud drop in the cream. For the cream beat one egg, add half a cup of sugar and half a cup of flour; boil one pint of milk, stir in egg, sugar and flour, with a small piece of butter, stir until thick and flavor—extract of vanilla is preterable. S$ Written for Tux EVENING Stan. “Sweet Violets.” “Violets, sweet violets!” Well you know that they are near Ere the well-known cry you hear: “Violets, sweet violets!” “Violets, sweet violets!” Dressed in garments richer far ‘Than the robes of princes are. “Violets, sweet violets!” “Violets, sweet violets!” Ragged and unkempt he stands With their beauty in bis hands. “Violets, sweet violets! “Violets, sweet violets!” You shall be tonight at rest On my lady's snowy breast. “Violets, sweet violets!” —dJessi€ I, PRARSON. Barat Ven: a ‘The following well-known First-class Grocers have dew appointed Sule Agents for the JUSTLY CELEBRATED AND ONLY - PERFECT PATENT SPRING WHEAT BREAD FLOUR, THE BRIDAL VEIL! HIGHEST GRADE manufactured in the world: CHARLES 1 Masonic Temple. W. E. ABBOTT, 172) Pennsylvania ave. andcor. 11th aud H sts. < GEORGE E KENNEDY & SONS, 1209 F st and ©. ©. BRYAN, 1413 New York ave. BEALL & BAKER, B, E. WH1TE, 635 Louisians sve. & R WATERS, 1342 7th «t, AO, WRIGHT, 1632 14th st. nw. BUECHARD & CO., W. T. GIVER, cor 3d aad H sta, u. Suffice it to say that | med with the hand, but in the summer a | shrewd, sharp ectndoion aati Dissexrarox Ox Axentoax | | | | Horstord’s Acta P WINES, It is now nniversally conceded by even the most fanatical teetotalers that @ giaes of thoroughly ta- tured and pure wine ts the most wholsesome, health snd strengthsving beverace for mankind. Almost every state—no matter how cold its clinate—pro duces grapes from which wine is pressed, but THE PASADENA WINES are made from those juscious SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA grapes which sttain the Lignest grade of maturity and ripevess and are, there- fore, the best Wines in the market, L H & SELIGSON, or 2200 and 1202 Penna. ave. aw. WASHINGTON, D. ©, am the sole arent for the Pasadena Wines and Rrandies Aud sell at marvelously low prices Ihave received orders from rich and poor altke and all chearfuily ac Anowiedge that the Pasadrua Wines and Uy far the best and parest am Standing the fact that my prices are t My <0) per cent removal discuunt will be iudebuitely continued, PLEASE COMPAKE MY PRICES WITH THOSE OF OTHERS Oprtnat Redue PASADENA WINES, extra quality. ut Bhersy « Sherry Port. Fort, xtra old, Hock ‘ seeltner K i Malnwa... .pazne te, dozen Chambague, pints, 2 dozen. VIRGINIA AND OTHER AMERICAN WINES, Vireinia Claret...... . 100 ‘s Virginia’ ‘Seedling, per 0 Icarry the largest stock of Imported Wines, Cor. nacs, Gius, Jamaica and St. Croix i wd ail the h Coniials, including the celeb: ter-dimpet cordial, CKAME DE MENTHE (Cream of Minw, sreeu oF orauxe. The oldest Rye, Bourbon snd Imported Whiskies cau always be found at my store. Lenumerstes fews Trimtte Pure Bj In Demijohns or Bottles, very low. “~~ Uid Kentucky Sour Beotel Whixky, old very old, rer} ,¥ery Irish Whusky, bd." Jrias Whisky, very old. Irish Whisky, very, very 0 crman loxwen Brantwein...... 1 make a specialty of Higt-flavored Cooking aud Jelly Wines aud Braudies, B. A. SELIGSON, THE WINE AND LIQUOR MERCHANT, 1200 sud 2 Penna. ave n. Telephowe Call 1 _A1S-whke Bur To Tee Besr Aobvastace, which can ve done ac F. 8, WILLIAMS & COS, DEUGGISTS, TADEK MASONIC TEMPLE, CALI, EXAMISE aud F ste nw, - CeQubs AND BE cON- PRESCLIPTIONS, Our prices for prescriptions, tave been resus Proportion to othe © ne wUly ti “rug aud chemicais trom the most relia lncturers, Wechcerfully tuvites cafelul iuepection Of this departinent by pliysiciaua, aes Allcock's Porous Plasters, German Porous Flasters, 10c. Vlasic « . umtic Plasters, ‘ape Williaa? Kbew Cuticurs Soap Cuueurs Oniuine! Cuticura Kesolve Castumere Bou attle Liver ¥ilin iiie.,"3 Lite Liver Pills, the be ck's Soluble Food, nied. “k:8 Suluble Food, lan. abtorua Fig sirup. Ely'e Cream Bain Effervesciug Bromo Fellow’s Sirup Hy vo Williams Cou, sirup it tere, per bot riiltters: Saraparilla. Horstord’s Acid I ‘ « Hoit's Malt Vurra Hot's Malt (Bisne Huuphrey’s Specttics. — ree's Parga tive Peiseum, yence’s Pills, per box. Soutt's | miulsiow Farrar tie seltzer Apr Jer Lottle, Sate Fille, per botth hodney and Liver Cure. ou and Wine, Trou mad Wiie Gnea Haudolibe plein; an, sndinyen oilet, it peuders the ski tn capping. Ja, an infallible external remedy for Nea- iwche and Toothache. It never tails to xive huwedia¢ reliet a the inva obstinate cams. te it atnal. 2c. id use it. apmtien. 1 dozen o-grait Capsules, 100 S-graiu Capmules 200 graits Quuuue, Pow Don't mistake the plsce—THE TEMPLE DRUG SLCKE under Masonic Tample, corver Yin aud F ste, jnt-co FS. WILLIAMS & CU. Proprietore M Mosws ELIXIR OF OPIUM Jen preperation of the drug by which its injurion eBects are removed, while the valuable medictual Properties are retained. It possesses all the sedative, suodyne and antispasmodic powers ot Opium, but pro- duces no Fickness of the stommch, no vomiting, vo custivenems, no headache. In seute nervous disorders ats Gu 1b ve\uabie Remedy, aud ts recommended by tue Dest phy mci, & FERRETT, Agent, mae (372 Pearl st., New York, Raoaws MICROBE KILLER CURES ALL DISEASES. 5 ‘The claim to cure sll discsses may st fret lance seem very absurd, but after reading our pamphlet, siving @ history of the Microbe Killer, explaining the Ferm theory of disease, and resding our testimonials, Which prove conclusively there is 20 disease it will wut cure, the trath of our assertion becomes clear. No ‘THE WM. BADAM MICROBE KILLER 00, ‘54 Sixth ave, New York City, J.N. BOVEK, 1329 G st. n.w., Washington, D. 0. BZS-01 ot GRATEFUL—OOMFORTING. -FPB'S COCOA