Evening Star Newspaper, March 1, 1890, Page 9

MIRACLES ON WHEELS. Bicycles to Work on Water and Soar Through the Air. RAPID TRANSIT SCHEMES. ‘Cressing the English Channel on a Ma- chine — Ingenious Contrivances fer Saving Time and Giving Pleasure— Some Strange Machines. ————s Written for Tre Evewrsa Stam. — EW sports are more popular s the present time than bicycl ® riding, and, with the numberless rid- ing schools and teachers of the art, it is an achievement by no means dutscult or costly to learn the simple trick of keeping one’s balance on the moving wheels. The old wooden bieyele, or “bone shakers,” as they were not inaptly called, are almost for- gotten in the graceful machines of the present day, which are modeled upon the principle of the old “spider” bicyele made in Coventry, Eng., in August, 186% This was the first machine with steel spokes and rubber tires, and was made by Edward Farndon of Kenil- worth. Although pressed by his friends to make a model aud obtain a patent for his in- vention he neglected to do so, and other companies seized upon the idea and com- menced the manufacture. The first bicycle of any description as distinct from the old seventeenth century hobby-borse was made by the Veloce company of Paris in_1866 and was introduced into Coventry by” Mr. John Newark, who might aptly be termed the father of the present great bicycle industry at Coventry. Since then many and great have been the changes nec- essary to bring the bicycle to its present state of perfection, and judging from the outlook the end is not yet in sight. The electric and other motor principles have been applied to the bicycle, but have failed to become popular for the simple reason that the pleasure oi riding one comes principally from the sense of imparting motion to it by muscular effort, and therefore, all improvements that come to stay must be directed to an increase of ease or speed or a widening of the fieldin which the machine may be Two years ago an extraordinar: was made in England, consisting of large wheels, each about eight feet in diameter, fashioned something like paddle wheels, with a seat fixed between them and guided by a wheel at the reer. THE WATER BICYCLE, These wheels were about twelve inches broad and were fitted with small triangular pieces something like the paddles in a water wheel. The handle was fitted to an upright that rose from the axle between the pedals, and formed also the support for the seat and the backbone extending to the hind wheels, ‘This hind wheel was about two feet in diameter, of solid wood, and more hke a large cheese than any thing else. This machine was quite apable of supporting the weight of the idee withawk sinking more than a few inches low the surface. It was called the water tricyele and was intenced to be used on the surface of the water. It was first tried on the great Inke at the Crystal palace at Sydenham, and later the in- ventor deciared his intention of riding on it across the English channel from Dover to Calais, a distance of about twenty miles. . The first attempt was a failure, but at the second. the water being phenomenally smooth, the coast of France was triumphantly reached by the darmg voyager. Since that period nothing has been heard of the machine and its inven- e r bi tor, and it is forgotten, except for the record | English sporting | of the successful trip in the journals, It appears somewhat strange that. notwithstanding the great popularity of the bicyele in the United States, until two years ago all the most marked improvements and innovations were evolved in Europe and then introduced here. The inventive faculties of our manufacturers were not idle, however, bat were mainly directed to improvements upon the bearings and pedal gear until the ladies bicycle was introduced. this being a machine with the arc of the backbone connecting the two wheeles inverted so as to enable the fair rider to sit between the front and back wheels and have the backbone between her feet THE AERIAL BICYCLE, American invention did not stop at this stage. Prof. Carl Myers of Frankfort, N.Y. & famous seronaut, conceived the idea of combining the balloon with the bicycle and producing s machine operated upon the same plan asa bicycle, which enables the rider to soar into the air and travel through space instead of along a road. The machine is now made and will be tested in various parts of the country during the coming summer sea- son. The mechanism is small and is almost hid from view when the rider is seated. It consists of a fork, like an ordinary bicycle, having the pedals attached to the base in the usual way; down the center of the fork, from the handles to the pedal crank is a hollow tube in which there is a chain and cog-wheel attach- ment. which, operated by the pedals and handles, supplies the motive power of the machine. ‘Ibe handles project in the usual way, but instead of being rigid they are movable, on the principle of a pump handle, and can either drive the machine alone or be used simultaneously with the pedals, thus increasing the power to its maximum, or for resting the arms and legs alternately without stopping the machine. THE CONSTRUCTION. At the back of the head, in the usual place, is a seat shaped like a bicycle seat, but a trifle larger, and in front of this projects a light hol- low shaft made of steel, one end of which is racheted or cogged into the mechanism acted upon by the pedals, while the remainder ex- tends horizontally from the rider, supporting four rigid arms, two of which are at the ex- treme end and two about six feet distant, nearer ‘to the rider, these arms being about three feet in and occupying the same tion to arake as a propeller does to a pop These arms support a loose but stout sail cloth, which, when at rest, hangs quivering and shaking with every breath of air. Behind the rider extends a long bamboo rod, and from this rises a stout wire stay, which supports a “hydrogen Ng this being the scientific name given to a queer- balloon shaped Like a boat bottom =P, p= ew 4 hollow underneath, and this up with hydrogen gas, generated by a patent process from water. (of which the combination of a sphere is the most literal definition I can think of), a head wind has no perceptible effect on it, and the inventor claims that the pressure passes astern and becomess factor of propul- sion. Be this hohe may, a head oe fers no apparent obstacle to progression. ere ap- on to be no tangitye Teason for doubting that the problem of the air machine is solved at last and that before the world’s fair is held there will be a series of mechanical flying ma- chines before the public, as cheap or even cheaper than a road bicycle, and with even leas chance or danger of accidents. In locomotive circles the bicycle principles are being applied, and in one of the ing shops there is now being built an engine with an enormous driving wheel. nine feet in cireum- ference, which will be fixed in the center, in front of the boiler. Instead of a axles the truck wheels will have bicycle spindles, and experts claim that the large driving wheel’ will =r along the train at over ninety miles an ar. A SAFETY ICE BICYCLE. Owing to the searcity of cold weather and consequent ice there has been no opening for the exhibition of a curious bicycle that would have created considerable comment. It isa bicycle for riding upon ice and is called the ice bicycle. Many long journeys have been made with an ordinary bicycle on ice, but owing to the rub- ber tires being unable to get a satisfactory grip on the ice it was dangerous to make a turn, and next to impossible to obtain any great speed, owing to atmospheric pressure and lack of ground grip. The ice bicycle is in appearance much the same as an ordinary machine. except that through the rubber tire of the front wheel are anumber of steel points, which grip into the ice and supply the necessary resistance unob- tainable by rubber alone. The hind wheel is replaced by a plate of steel, four inches wide and sixteen inches in length, which lies hori- zontally across the end of the backbone, and slides along the ice like a large, broad skate. The machine has been tried and has proved eminently satisfactory. Such are the principle developments of the bicycle during the past two years, It may be stated in this connection that the largest bicycle in the world is now in Bangor, Me., the driving wheel of which is eighty-six inches in diameter, On this machine a man named Jack Simpson rode on a wire sus- pended eighty feet above the water at Rocky river, Ohio. The wheel was built at Birming- bam, England, and cost £300. Owing to its great height it has to be operated by a double system of cranks and a set of stilt pedals, but it works as easily as any smaller machine, Witr. P. Ponp, coe COCOA FREE OF CHARGE, The Curious Business of Giving Away Hot Drinks in Grocers’ Shops. TEMARKABLY pretty girl was standing behind a huge urn in the grocery shop, pouring some liquid from the receptacle into dainty little Japanese cups. In front of the counter were a number of well-dressed women in line, taking their turn in being served. Outside the store a large sign read: “COME IN AND GET A CUP OF cocoa.” A representative of Tum Srar noticed all this as he was going out with a large sugar-cured ham, went back and asked the proprictor what itmeant, Said the grocer man: “This is not our enterprise exactly, don't you | know. Mr. Snooks, for example, who wants to introduce anew brand of cocoa that he is mannfacturing, sends an agent to Washington with an urn, an assoctment of cups, with the name of the brand on each, and authority to employ one pleasing young female, ‘The agent comes to this city and. dropping in at my place of business, asks me if I am willing to give him aspace in my shop for dispensing cocoa, I agree because the cocoa brings customers and also for the reason that it is proposed, as part of the bargain, I shall have the cocoa for sale by the pound.’ So the agent sets up his urn on a section of the counter aé far front as practi- cable, establishes the pleasing young female behind it, having previously spent a day in teaching her how to brew the article, and busi- ness is begun.” ‘ CHEAP ENOUGH. “What is charged for « cuptul?” “Nothing at all. That is the point—it is free, You would be astonished to know how many cupfuls of the cocoa are drunk here in one day. People enjoy it, for one reason because they fel they are getting something for nothing, and that notion is always irresistibly attractive. Secondly, the cocoa itself is excellent in quality and perfectly made. And thirdly, on cold days it isa very comfurting beverage, and the wo- men particularly find it agreeable, “How long does the agent maintain his free cocoa dispensary?” “For two weeks in this shop. Then he goes to another one, having made the same sort of bargain beforehand there, and after spending a fortnight in the second place he transfers his urn to a third, and so on until he has visited all the important groceries in the city, and has in this way advertised bis brand of cocoa to a wonderful extent among the people whom he would most desire to secure as customers. The result is that thousands of persons begin to ask at their grocers’ for this special kind of cocoa, and its sale is established at once. When the agent has in this way done up the town, so to speak, he discharges the pleasing young female, PACKS UP HIS URN AND HIS cUPS and hies him away to auother center of popula- | tion—say Baltimore. From thenee he goes, maybe, to Philadelphia, and so all over the country, making his dates with the grocers in advance, upon reaching each city, very much in the same way as theatrical manrgers do. Two agents have been working Washington lately im rivalry.” “Can you tell me exactly what cocoa is?” ‘Certainly. The plant from which it comes is the cacao tree of the West Indies and South America, It was not known in the old world at all until it was introduced there from Mex- ico by the Spaniards in the early part of the sixteenth century and for a long time after the manner of its preparation was kept secret, The beans are first gathered from the tree and then dried, after which they are packed and sent to market, They are prepared for use by roast- | ing. hike coffee. After cooking in this way the shells are separated by winnowing. ym these shells an inferior quality of cocoa is made, which costs only 5 cents a pound. The ood cocoa is made oa the seeds & which the shells have 2 separated, Chocolate is manufactured from the same beans same instead of being, merely are pounded in a mortar to a paste, which is, H 5 stirred into moulds, out of wi it the chocolate of commerce. The Aztecs of Mexico, I've heard, were ili i } 3 ii H A t i Hi fl | F THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1890-TWELVE PAGES. TAKING THE CENSUS. The Army of Inquirers Which Will Sweep the Country. COUNTING BY ELECTRICITY. a Hew the Facts will be Gathered—In- formation of Every Description Re- quired—Reading by Helew—An Inter- esting Description of the Work. — LECTRICITY will do the counting. By that wonderfal agent, for the first time in the history of the world, the Population of a country will be enumerated in the year of our Lord low. .uree months from the present date the census bureau will have thrown into the field anarmy of 45.000 men, which will sweep the United States clean of information on pretty nearly every imaginable subject that has a statistical bearing. Then a deluge of facts will begin to pour inte the two huge offices here, where 2,000 clerks willbe industriously en- gaged in sifting and resolving them into intelli- gible shape. As the superintendent of census said to a representative of Tux Srar, the story told by the reports of the agents of the bureau will follow the least important individual in this vast land from the cradle to the grave, From them you can estimate your chances in one hundred before you were born of being a twin or a triplet and can calculate the prob- abilities that were in favor of your turning out aboyoragirl, They will show that you had only two chances in three of surviving your first vear of life, and from that time on they will figure upon your lease of this sublunary existence, until at length the ghoulish compiler of the gathered fizures, without bowels or re- morse, joyfully tabulates you in his exhibit of “causes of death.” Not content with discovering the day and ps of your birth, the census will insist upon nowing from what race you are sprung, what your sex is, if any, and where your father and mother wore born. Also it will require infor- mation as to whether you are married, single or divorced; how high above the sea level you live, in what great drainage basin you dwell, what the lowest degree of cold may be from which you suffer in the winter, how hot you find it in the summer when the thermometer touches its top notch and how many other peo- ple live on in your house. As for the jouse, you will be compelled, under pen- alty ‘of a fine of €100,. to say whether you own it or not; if you do own it, whether or not thera is a mortgage on it, and, supposing that there is one, the rea- son why you borrowed the money on the prop- erty. The census is much interested in your private affairs, you see, and if you hav rm around the house you will have to tell similar facts about that, even to the value of the cows and the tools in the barn. All this is merely the beginning and does not touch upon the great subjects of agriculture, manufactures, mining, transportation by land and water both of people and of freight, fisheries, taxation and soon, all of which will be gone into in the most exhaustive manner, the very processes employed in at least twenty-two of the manu- facturing industries, for instance, being given with the fullest detail, And yet all this mass of information will eventually be condensed into about twenty-five volumes, which will be entitled the tenth census of the United States. HOW THE FACTS ARE GATHERED. Now, how are all these facta gathered? It is very simple when the thing is once explained. To begin with the whole of the United States is divided into 175 districts, These districts are necessarily of varying sizes, it being intended to arrange matters so that the work to be done in any one district shall be as nearly equal as | meer tothe labor required in any other. ‘or instance, Philadelphia is one district and Massachusetts is another district. But, then, the census of the bay state will not be more trouble than that of the Quaker city, for the reason that Massachusetts takes a census of its own every ten years and the ma- chinery for that purpose is already so well or- ganized there that the task will be much sim- plified. New York city is also a district and, likewise, Chicago, the four districts mentioned being the largest of all in respect to popula- tion. Each district hag a person in charge of it entitied a supervisor, appointed by Presi- dent Harrison, and under each superviser is a regiment of enumeratore. Each enumerator is given a littie district of his own, so arranged as to contain from 1,600 to 2,000 people. It is his b to go personally to every family in his fill out the blank schedules given him by the supervisor with the informa- tion he obtains from the households visited—information, that is, as to the members which | compose them in all the detail as to personal history, &c., before spoken of. He is allowed one month to do this work, if it is in rural parts, or two weeks in case it is in a city of 10,000 or more, the labor being more easily accomplished where peopie live close together. In payment for his ser- vices he receives 3 cents for each live person reported on and 3 cents for each dead person who has departed this life at any time during the census year, from the 1st of next June to the last day of the following May. The enumerator also gets 15 cents for each factory or institution and 20 cents for each farm visited, An entirely new depart- ure in census taking made this time is in providing enumerators with “famil: schedules,” keeping the information about eac! household by itself. Finally the completed schedules are mailed by the enumerators to the supervisor, to whom they look us their chief, ‘The supervisor is responsible for the accuracy of the schedules, and if they are lacking in any respect he sends them back to the enumerators. But if they are all right he forwards them to the superintendent of the census at Wash- ington, ‘This work, vast ag it necessarily is, covers not very much besides data as to population and vital statistics. The latter branch of informa- tion is chiefly interesting as showing the age to which people live, the diseases from which they die, and the relation of diseases and deaths to race and to climatic conditions. THE SUBJECT TO BE INVESTIGATED. But the subjects for investigation by the tenth census, apart from vital statistics and population, will be largely looked into by special agents, of whom the division on manu- factures alone will have 700 at work within three weeks,” Electricity, silk making, wool, glass, pottery and newspapers are among the manufactured produety particularly to be found outabout, The agricultural division will de- vote its most active attention to grape-growing and fruit-raising matters, Mining and quarry- ing will occupy the largest share of the mineral division’s interest, Even the churches and the church goers will be regarded with an inquir- ing eye, with a view to ascertaining the num- ber of church buildings in the United States, their capacity and value and the pay their pas- tors get. Whether yeu yourself go to church or not will be asked. You are expected to im- part everything you know about yourself to the relentless agent or enumerator. You must even tell how many fish you catch in a year, 1f you are a lover of the gentle sport of angling. This last requirement would seem like a serious test of the average man’s veracity, but whatever you choose to say is taken for gospel and set down as such in tabular shape. ‘Ihere is no Ananias and Sapphira business about the cen- sus bureau, If you are insane, deaf, dumb or blind, you are recorded as such, with notes on the cause of your afiliction, including mention of those relatives living who have been similarly troubled. If you were born an idiot it is so mentioned by simple word “con- genital,” or, supposing that you are a congeni- tal paaper, having been born in an alms house, that interesting detail will not escape. In case you are in prison your crime, sentence and @ summary @ your past record are quoted, COUNTING BY ELECTRICITY. ‘The facts in relation to population and vital statistics upon reaching the census bureau here are all counted by electricity, which does the work almost without assistance. It is esti- prorat erg yen 80 ed etenteraec cs ne enol low cil to A gr heh into them. Hoch of the holes hasa letter or figure close by it to distinguish it from the others. Now the operator inserts manilla-~ card @ holder just back of the movable arm and, taking in his left band one of the original enu- merator setiedules, holds the steel pencil in his right hand and proceeds te business, The name of the on theschedale is Peter Fish, but that fe not worth , for Mer. Fish is henceforth to be regarded @ sta- i Se ae He jabs the steel pencil down ety a litte hole marked ‘‘1” in one of the divisions of the celiu- loid plate. Also he was white—another hole punched; male—snother hoie; fifty-eight years of age—another hole; bora in Germany—an- little metal plungers corresponding in number and position with the holes in the tray beneath, When the metal plate is lowered the plungers go into the mercury-filled holes and the circuit is completed, the contrivance having an elec- trte battery connected with it, with a separate connection for cach hole. But suppose a card is placed in the tray, with a dozen holes in it here and there, fitting exactly over the holes to which they correspond in the tray, it is ap- parent that all the plungers will be stopped by the card save those which find the holes, thus compen only ghe corresponding circuits, Each of the circufts thus completed connects with a sort of electric clock—a small affair— which counts numbers on its dial instead of hours and minutes. The clockg communicated with give one tick forward apiece, thus noting the fact that one more man, say, was a laborer, born in Germany, died in January, &c., &c. It Mr, Fish’s history had been different other holes would have been originally punched in the card, other counting chaks) world have ticked and the sum finally re- corded from the clocks, which cannot make mistakes, would have been slightly altered. Inasmuch as each of the possibly three hundred holes has its counting clock at- tached when the metal plate comes down on the card nothing can be missed. One clock will count 9,999 before it has to be started over again, The sums recorded by the clocks are taken down on paper slips and from them transferred ¢o the tables for publication. Such is the electric method of counting a census, THE FISHERY DIVISION. A foature in the work worth mentioning is the fishery division, which is decidedly a novelty in census-making in this country. ~ Its work is roughly divided into coast fishing and interior fishing. To get information reg ing the former the owners of the 7,000 vewsels, which make fishing a business on the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts, including the oystermen, have all been communicated with, and schedules have been sent them which they are requested to fill out with in- formation as to the value of their ships, the value of their apparatus, the number of ‘men they employ, the wages paid, the sort of fish caught, the quantity and how the product is disposed of. As for the fishing of the interior that is quite another thing. All over it is“filled up with rivers and ponds and small streams and every- where there are men who do fishing. For schedule information nothing is wanted about any one who docs not fish at least seven days ina year and catch 150 pounds or over. To captiire these fellows the fishery division writes first to 30.000 post offices all over the interior of the United States and asks by circular, of the postmasters usually, the names and ad- dresses of some such successful and persistent anglers, These names obtained, the men are written to for the information specifically wanted, On this interesting subject the tenth census will tell not only the amount of capital invested in the industry, the quantity and kinds of fish caught and the wages and profits paid, but also it will give a list of all the good fishing grounds in the country and the kinds and quan- tity of fish to be caught in them, The census bureau sprang uP in the night like a gigantic mushroom. hen Mr. Porter was appointed superintendent a few months ago it was represented by « single individual, Within a few weeks from now it will have 2,000 employes in its offices here and 45,000 men in the field, not counting the thousands of special agents, ‘It will spend on paper and printing $700,000 and for other expenses nearly $6,000,000 more, for it costs about 10 cents a head for every man, woman and child to tuke the census ofa people. Finally it will publish twenty-five volumes, and then, like a mushroom, it will go out ofexistence, leaving not a trace behind save one solitary census clerk sitting at a desk in the Department of the Interior, until the ear 1900 shall arrive and another census shall inorder, Then the mushroom will sprout again, ———»__- BOOKS THAT GO ROUND ABOUT Something About a Circulating Library and its Business Methods. “A considerable percentage of our customers don’t really read at all, they simply consume books,” said the keeper of acirculating library. “They are peopie usually who have no occupa- tion in life and who try to kill time by what they cali reading. Among them are a good ny Women in fashionable society, who are particularly addicted to reading in bed in the morning, not getting up until noon or nearly. Every day it happens that a person of that sort comes in and takes out the very same book she has perused during the previous week; then she carries it home and peruses it over again without being in the least aware of the fact that she has everseen it before. You may imagine that I am not ggrious, but my assistant will tell you precisely the same thing. Some folks don’t seem to have any real minds, but only a certain arrangement of mechanical pro- cesses that takes the place of brains, Not leas than 10 per cent of those who come here for books are persons who simply read in this way, agit were, for want of thought, As for the women of fashion, those of them who patron- ize this establishment have always read every- thing ever printed hitherto, they say, and their incessant cry is for something new.” MAGAZINES MOST WANTED. “What sort of literature do you find most in demand?” asked Tue Stax man, “Magazine literature. It seems to mark the present popular tendency. Each month I buy ifty copies each of the three leading monthlies for my trade. Men call for little else besides the magazines. The women read light fiction in addition, What they want is always the very latest novels. Standard authors of fiction ave rarely demanded. Bulwer and Thackeray are called for more than Dickens or Scott, but the works of all four moider on the shelves most of the time. Authony Trollope and Wilkie Collins are considered rather out of date. Stockton is very popular and the bad things he writes go as well as the good ones, Something as newly out as possible is what is desired,” “How about boys’ books?” “Mayne Reid still maintains his rank as the most popular boys’ author. Oliver Optic and Horatio Alger, such favorites a generation ago, have gone out of fashion to a great extent, Kingston, Cooper and Marryatt are a great deal read, Marryatt less than Cooper, Of later writers for boys C. C, Carlton aud T. RK. Knox are in greatest favor.” RENEWING STOCK, “Do you suffer any losses?” “Not apart from the ordinary wear and tear on the books. We only give out volumes on the year’s subscription plan, ‘The scheme of renting books for two cents a day or ten cents & week is by no means 80 likely to be a pay- ing one for several reasons. One of them is that persons who get books by the week always want very new ones and it costs too much money to supply that demand. Of course we are always slowly accumulating new volumes, for which room is made as rapidly on the shelves by the destruction of old ones, The life of « book may be said to vary inversely with its popularity; the more it is read the shorter time it lasts. When it has reached a point of disintegration that renders it unavailable for further service a fresh volume takes its place. We suffer very little from wanton damage to our stock. You will be surprised to learn that it is very rarely that any writing in the books or dogs-earing is done. When a volume, as once ina while does occur, is seriously injured we -make the cus- tomer pay for a new one. It is surprising how often library books ure chewed up b: oung puppies, which seem to yard suc! iterature as a favorite food. Our subscribers, by the way, are nearly all department clerks.” SOME OF THE CRANKS, “Do not your customers sometimes do or say queer things?” “Yes, in But it is hard to remember such occurrences offhand. A lady came in here today and asked for ‘a weird book—some- fen 9 entertaining for a wild moment,’ And another one only an hour ago rushed in and e felt as if she had been sit and that she want A BEATS CONFESSION. How He Tried* to Force His Way Into Society. . THE REWARD OF IMPUDENCE A Young Man of Three Years’ Expe- rience Tells of His Struggle—A Self- Invited Guest is Repeatedly Snubbed— Successes and Failures, ee OW THESE EFFORTS to get into the circles of fashion fatigue me ex- tremely. For three years past [ have devoted an amount of endeavor to ‘that end which should have ao- complished it by this time—and yet where am I now? My father, who was in a small shop- keeping way, used to say to me: ‘Adolphus, you must be aswell, It's easy enough here in Washington if you go at it right. Allyou need is push.’ Sol went at it, making it my first prudent step to cut the old man.” The youth smiled wearily as he said it and took a puff or two at his cigar before continu- ing. “To begin going out in society was not at all difficult, Inno other city would I have had so desirabie un opportunity for making @ start as was afforded here by the receptions of people in official life at which any one may pre- sent himself without impropriety. But one may attend such receptions for the age of phoenix and not get into society, unlews he has the gumption to make use of them as a means to the end iz view. My cue was to scrape a0- quaintances in this way which might be subse- quently pushed. For instance, I would be in- troduced to AN ALTOGETHER UNEXCEPTIONABE GIRL, and, in the course of conversation which she could not well avoid, I would say carelessly: ‘And what is your day for receiving?’ It was @ thousand to one that she would tell me and then I would add that I promised myself the pleasure of calling. She could not do other- wise than acquiesce, and thus the first step was accomplished,” “You took care to follow it up, 1 suppose?’ said Tue Sran reporter. “Well, rather, As quickly as the day men- tioned came around I presented myself at the earliest possible hour, with the intention of re- maining tothe end. Very likely my reception was frigid, but I did not mind that, having pur- poses in view beyond, From the beginning I fastened myself to the young woman aforesaid, staying by her as closely as was practicabls while she received, so that she was compelled tointroduce me to pretty nearly every one. This gave me many new acquaintances, and, extending my operations subsequently where- ever I could find an opening on the same lines, Imight well think myself in hard luck if I did not procure an actual invitation now and then. Once invited, it was easy enough for me to claim intimacy—my ruie being always to speak thereafter of the young lad‘es of the household by their first names, Snubs, of course, were common,” “Is it possible!” PUTTING UP WITH @NUBS. “Yes, but I didn’t mind them, because I knew that I would have to endure a good many asan inevitable part of my experience in get- ting into Washington society. To put up un- flinchipgly with snubs requires certain degree of moral heroism, to begin with, as well asa highly developed ‘philosophy. The other day I went to cali upon ly whom I didn’t know —that’s all right, of course, in Washington—and just as I was asking if Mrs. So-and-so was at jome it chanced that Mrs. So-and-so herself came out onthe step, being on the point of leaving the house, and she herself replied to my que! saying: 1. No, air? Mrs. So-and-2o is not at home and never will be at home to you.’ “Now, I call that real rude. She knewabout Me in some way, you see, but that was no ex- cuse for trying to hurt my feelings. However, I bowed politely and went off to attend a re- ception a few doors away. I was not expected and it was scarcely a part of my anticipation that the ladies would make ‘crabs’ for me, so to speak, Indeed they did not, and, when I hinted that I would like to go back to the din- ing room, where the young people were having a jolly time, no attention was paid to the sug- gestion. However, it is against my rule to take notice of such impolitenesses, and so, having said good-bye finally, I told the man at the door that T shouldn't want my hat and coat just yet and quietly walked back to the salle-a-manger, BY WAY OF THE HALLWAY. “I fancied that the young woman of the house looked rather surprised at seeing me, though I don't quite know why it should have been so, and all she said was: “Will you have a cup of tea, Mr. Jinks?” “J said yes, though her tone was rather frigid, and she handed it to me, turning her back upon me thereupon and paying no more attention to me than if I had been stuffed. While the other people laughed and talked at a great rate I sat apart, unmtroduced and speechiess, At length I ventured a remark, which merely elicited « question as to whether I desired another cup of tea, and when I said no the young lady ex- hibited to my view once more the back of her neck, which was cut V-shaped and filled in with tulle. So then I made up my mind that my welcome was not sufficiently cordial, and, inas- much as] am never willing to intrude too far, I thought it best to silently withdraw. Of course, it was annoying, but if people who ought to know better will be ill-bred where is the use of repining, as the old song says? 'y philosophy is above being discomposed by such trifles, though I must confess that I wasa little annoyed by something that occurred yesterday. A man to whom I had been recently introduced made an excuse for leaving me by saying that he was GOING TO SEE COL. SNODKINS, who lived close by. ‘Why,’ said I, ‘Snodkins and [are old chums; we sleep together. I'll go with you.’ Now, the fact is that I had only met the colonel once; but he is one of the board of governors of the Platypus club, which Iamabout to make another attempt to get into—I only got eight biack balls last time, against fifteen the time before—and a person of social influence generally. Therefore it was desirable that I should enjoy his acquaintance, and it is necessary for one who is trying to make his way into society to adopt expedients, So I went arm-in-arm with Col. Snodkins’ friend to Col. Snodkins’ house. Maybe I was a trifle too effusive with the colonel, for he looked upon me with a stony sort of glare and bowed very slightly. During the visit he did not address any remarks to me, replying to my own in monosyllables merely, aud when he brought out some rare old whisky, which I would have tasted with pleasure, it was toshare it with my fellow guest only, Joaving me out entirely. I thought it downright inhospitable, and I said so after we had taken our departure. However, my experiences in trying to secure an entree have not always been s0 unsucceas- ful.” congratulate you.” ‘Yes; only a week or two ago I accomplished what I regard as, in its way, a master stroke, Repeatedly I had called upon a lady of social influence, whom I was most anxious to know, and she had always refused to see me. So, as a last resort, I chose an evening when I knew that she was going to give a dinner party and resented myselt at her house at a time when I Enew the hostess and her guests would still be atthe table, The servant at the door told me that HIS MISTRESS WAS AT DINNER, but I remarked simply that I would wait and waiked into the drawing room. After about three-quarters of an hour the ladies of the party made their appearance, Naturally the hostess was very much to see me; but there was no course 0; at to be polite to me. Thus [I found my it j z } i f E I af , [ t 8 F ‘te “ein Sag one feel anno’ ot ould too strong a wor: consider.” “It is in such a case as this that my philos- ophy comes to my aid,” said the youth. “So as I am not pomtively insulted it does not ly trouble me. Never has it occurred within ‘ anyone, through sense of —— superiority or for other causes, has actually applied his foot to what I bt per- baps call the seat of human dignity. wl an accident happened I ‘ht perchance have retired Precipitately from the pursuit of social ambition. I have known such @ catastrophe so nearly to befall that it may be that 1 am only narrowly still a’ candidate for recognition in the fashionable swim of Washington, Weil do I remember how near I came to it when 1 made eee aes men I slightly knew, who were going to a card reception at the house of # certain very distinguished diplomat, We left our hats and coats in the cloak room to- gether and were starting for the drawing room in company. ‘Indian file, gentlemen,’ I said, to exhibit how much I felt at my ease, notwith- standing the fact that I had not been invited. ‘Indian file, if you please.’ ‘TO GO OR NOT TO Go, “So we filed toward the drawing room, when suddenly one of the fellows I was with made an exclamation and said that he had 1::t bis pocket book in his overcoat, Strange to say, the other man declared that he had done the same (1 have almost imagined since that they may have wanted to quit my company), and the two went back, while I continued on. Now, it might have been all right had it not been that Lady Q— was a very remarkable woman, pos- sessed of the unusual faculty of recognition. She knew at once that I had not been invited and evidently she made no bones about telling her husband that I should be bounced. Ac- cordingly the eminent diplomat aforesaid ap- proached me, and having ascertained that I really was present without solicivation be re- quested me to withdraw. For a moment I hesitated, It doesn’t Jo to be too thin skinned, and yet [ was on the point of going away angry. But I thought better of it and made up my mind that I would stay a while longer, notwithstanding my host's ad- monition. There ia such a thing as 8 savoir vivre which enables a man of the world to ignore some annoyances which would afflict a person unacquainted with what is termed by Lewspaper medical advertisements the “science of life.” My host bowed aud parted from me, but I remained for a while—having moved dis- creetly to another part of the room—gazing upon the throng of people that, most of them, had gained within two generations the social distinction I so eagerly coveted. I was just considering whata pity it was that my own period of ambitious activity would necessarily not extend beyond one generation—namely, my own—when a person introduced himself to me rather informally as ‘MY HOST's MAJOR-DOMO, “He had but few remarks to make, but they were to the point, and their effect was that if I did not leave immediately I would be kicked out, Now, there is but one thing that a gen- tleman can do under such circumstances as those. I saw that it was time to go and I went, And, my dear sir, trom that day to this I have not once condescended to enter that minister's house. At the same time you can very well understand that such experiences as most of those 1 have related would be calculated to dis- courage aspirants for social honore, Indeed, I had almost begun to give up trying to go out when the new administration came in and I founda fresh lot of people in the proper set to getacquainted with, So now speieend me going around and trying the same old game.” “But you have other resources?’ “Oh, yes, and they are not yet altogether ex- hausted, For instance, I hang about the hotels and scrape acquaintance with people newly come to town who seem likely to umount to something here. I think that I have grasped a prize whenI chance upon a widow and her daughter, fashionably connected im another city, who have arrived in Washington without letters of introduction. In making myself agreeable to them I lose notime and, when they are in due course ‘taken up’ and regarded a8 persons of position I PROFIT IN VARIOUS WAYS. To begin with, I volunteer to convoy them hither and thither—to this reception or that— with the air of one who has invitations, With those who receive us I have the subsequent benefit of the supposition that I have been chosen as their escort, The connection thus established is desirable and I am likely to achieve an actual intimacy with the people whom I have seemed to befriend. It is worth while, for other reasons, to be seen around the hotels, No end of acquaintances are to be made in this way, sometimes with persons of consequence to whom one can talk of one’s own importance without limit. One thing I am very fond of saying is that I was myselt an or- ganizer of the Platypus club, but withdrew be- cause I hardly cared to be a member, It's not a bad scheme, by the way, to catch up some ladies on the street who, as you are are likely to be going to Mrs, Somebody's tea, and accompany them. Above all things, how- ever, I should recommend the plan of getting some woman of fashion interested in you. However modest you may be you may always be reasonably hopeful of such an event—tor it is astonishing what sort of man the most capriciously exclusive of her sex will occasion- ally select. Once I nearly got into the German club myself by such means, It is encouraging to remember that a new aristocracy may al- most be said to be created here every four ears, Rich people who came to Washington less than that time ago already assume con- servative airs, call themselves of the older set and pass judgment upon the newer converts as if from the standpoint of long-assured position. As for myself, I must confess that I have not got on as well as I bad hoped. Sometimes I almost think that the society people them- selves have got on to me, #o to speak, and that I shall never beconfé in reality a swell. But it is only in moments of depression that I view things in eo discouraging a light Ouly at such times do I say to myself that the only sort of swim Iam in at the national capital might be aptly termed the soup.” —ne CHIPS OF ,_ FASHIONS FAVORS, Jottings and Hints From the Tastes of Modiste and Milliner. Licat axp Gracrrvt Petticoats, now far- nished by London dress makers, are of of thin silk, accordion-plaited and finished at the hem with deep lace treated in the same manner, Tarece Cares Witn Continue Favorrres = late in the season—usually,matching the ees, Pears Ane Oxce Acars Exrremetr Porv- ‘Lar and a profusion of them is;allowable, while with diamonds such is not the case. Some or Tus Newest Tea Gowns are simple, pretty and inexpensive, made of challie or in- expensive broche, which come ig lovely fiue- finished and finely patterned pieces, A Ganment Now tae Racs,Asnoap is the “polonaise Parisienne,” It iss long tight-fit- London for orange and gold and copper garni- A New axp Yer ax Eoonomrcat Fa is to unty cutaway coat in the with mraisriven cnt A New Panason oF Tux Szasox is called the ” It is made of ; } hi FEF ah ge ut aH it 28 i! EE i E f H | i il ry & i i ____ EDUCATIONAL ______IN WASHINGTON. ASHINGTON CONSERVATORY OF Good Templar + year. ‘TaIG, fates eee pare tape oc go Sx gherwurl (eg Baar bag aye Pact at a citar ec, FI Sohieoseon ee 4 well ywere awanted for Busi? beld in Paris, 158i, FO ORGAN AND attention to bewin- ‘advanced; German oF 734 128 a. JRRIENDS' SELECT SCHOOT—AN FLEMENTARY id ign Scho for Both Sexes. Islile Pupils May SeT08. W. SIDWELL, Principal RTHAND—A NEW ERAIN THEART. acni SHORTHA satan ie wrth free. even pe e reget WEXD sc 21 Fst FS MULVEY, Prince GRR Be lessona KS" MOST ENTERTAIN: and ‘uerenteed Eyer lectures daily 4930 sm, 420 and 8 ‘hm, Lincoln Wane ter on Wt fis FIFTEENTH ST. 1223 —- 1008 THE MISSES KERE’S SCHOOL LADIES AND LITTLE CHILDREN. _SEOOND TERM BEGINS FEB 3. 1-Im AILLARD < fueton Brac! scientific, education Freach Sinister of Public Inetructon f1-Lamr ENSUS AND CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATION. C successfull preparation. "Complete perience of Years i 5 4 FLYNN, Rats v5 institute, awe cor, Buns oases atx ae . Pp» ATE TUITION AND PREPARATION FOR all Colleges in French, Lat Ey ortiuruee, cermin, by HE WHT by Sorbuuue, Paria Frauoe aus Bet ae ede A — Co (deep) Breathing Voice Culture, pe Dramatic Neuen, et isi aan Lo =e JOLUMBIA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIG, O13 PA. ‘Pin: "boltt L DW! Principals iste of New Eelat! ojuecrve tory, Boston, Mass, ISS SUSAN ANDREWS RICE, V ouL- MMiza,sisen SRE, Seva SE La erler, on, - . Coneerye= tory. L127 lothet 213-2m to nw. ARD GKADUATE DESIRES PUPILS A sitaly orn Salt Ghassan” AvP WMH. PUTNAM, AM, 49-3m___At Sanders & Stayman's, 034 F st, hw, iss JULIA 8. BALCH, EXPERIENCED IN teaching the Fnglin Language to Foreignersoffers services as leacher to Members of the Pan-Amer. Congress and to Foreign Legatious. 1207 10tha.w th M ets 18S BALGWS CIVIL, SERVICE INSTITUTE, 1207 10th st. now —Pupils prepared for sll ex- Lesous for Cousus Buresa y T= BEKLITZ SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES 7 ON L Le ‘5 FREE: Pranches tn Ne w Mork sou, hrookiye, Cleary rane! oI oi solv Philadel; hia, Louisville, Pare Oh ae 7 rauce), Berli inany. \okWOod InsTITUTE, N 1407 Mass ave. «Hs a Léth Street Circle 421.6m. Mr. and Mra. WM. D. CABELL, Principals W 908s COMMERCIAL SCHOOL, 407 B.OAP.8T Th uoerssful and prosperous, oy Shaftestury metho Lessons in clase or private, = cUlar containing terms and full information Miss MAUD D. BEC KWITH, ‘Bt. 715 12th wt. 614 12th st. ow, near F. Ph aoe = Saute Good eraduates, jorter courses: vately or Forty-eugut-page cataloxue free, J Cl NESB CO! FENCERI A nce Tin end Dee Ree Jounting House Training, coat " tine. fag Penmanehip ee bani al aud Architectural Dewtag, catalogue free, Poa es SARA FINANCIAL —— ———n $1,000 Britons we ee of 8100 one month net to lender; absolute security. for three days, NU. 1 4 Star office. is HE PAN-AMERICAN AND INTERNATIONAL MMIS51UN BUREAU CONSOLIDATED, GEO. “HILL HOWA! ROBRT D Ohad and. Exposition (Cable ad : Vol meh toR, Offers its services to the Producer, nventor, Manu- facturer, Linport aud Kxporiug Merobant, and par ties generally holding and seeking investment sitions in this and other countries. to settlement of meroautile sccounts, tbe will sure, ae can Properties now in band. Ulars ¢iveL upon application, (TRE ATTENTION OF PARTIES DESIRING Good Investment 1s invited to the superior faces ot Duluth and the Head of the Muney cau be loaned op First Mortgages 98 frou. © 46 10 per cent. Houses will pay rentals of 12 to 14 cent uet, while lots, blocks and eeres double in & years. For full particalars address: MiILLIAMSON & McoCORMICK, Real betate and Firet M. Lent oom 2, Buin be West Duluth, Minn. Washi References B. H. WARNER & OL, OCOKSUN & MAQQRTNEY, F. L. Moukk, DE*BLE, DAVIE & Co. MYERS & WHIPELE ” MANUEACTURERS' BANK, v PPLE. ADUPAC BANK UF WEST DULUTH. de — peor FIFTY PER CENT, SECURED BY REAL ESTATE SIX PER CENT ON PRINCIPAL IN ADDITION GUARANTEED. TEN DOLLARS And Upward Received. Beat Paying, Most Secure aud Helisble Investment of the day. This investment is backed by prominent men of the wate, For particulars address WM. W. SMITH, 42 Vance Bloc £6-tu,th,s4w Indianapolia, Nationa. sTOC FE PXCHANGE, aw. We buy or sell stocks in 5 to 2,000 share lots gages uns 16. Tua, INVESTMENT BANKERS, ‘Ban Diewo, Cal SEVEN AND EIGHT PER CENT INTEREST, WITH THE VERY BEST OF REAL ESTATE SEOUR ITY, PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST TO BE PAID IN: WASHINGTON OR NEW YORK, AS DESIRED. Diego of the most promising cities: Bas ‘& 00., BANKERS AND BROKERS, 1411 F Street, Washington, DO, Members of New York Stock, Produce and Cotte Exchange. Connected by private wire with BATEMAN & OO., New York. BALDWIN & FARNUM, Chicago, 3320-253 ee J%% ¥ Conson, § sH0w. a CORSON & MACARTNEY, GLOVER BUILDING, 1419 F 8T. ¥.w. Bankers and Dealers in Government Bonds,