Evening Star Newspaper, March 29, 1890, Page 7

THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON AROUND THE HOUSE. Glimpses in Odd Corners About the Capitol. WAITING TO SEE MEMBERS. a Scenes at the Doors of the Hallof Rep- Fresentatives—Tete-n-Tetes in the Win- dow Recesses—The Ladies’ Reception Boom—Dodging Annoying Calls. ooo ONGRESS has its pic- turesque side. Beneath the pompous pretenses of the Senate and the show of laborious ac- tivity in the House human nature makes herself manifest in many ways, The fiery statesman from the J south who would “fight a duel or dare the devil,” whose dignity is unappreachable on the floor, flies from door to door and finally, in undignified haste, hnstles down the back stair case and escapes from the Capitol by way of the bath room in the cellar rather than meet half a dozen Weeping women who are guarding the doors for the chance to beg him for a place. A bald-headed statesman of decorous de- Mmeanor casts sheep eyes at a bonnet in the gallery, and that industrious young member there is writing billet-doux. That man in the corner, with his brows drawn as he bends low over his desk figuring and writing, is not struggling with some perplexing problem on legislation. He is merely trying to figure his month's expenses down fo his month's salary. How eloquently Senator Blank defends proi- Dition! Yes; that's because he is sober today. ‘The man who spoke a little while ago is down on the pubhe regen grab. Didn't he give it to them for their raids of the treasury! What! he got a building in his town last Congress? Ob! The member from the west is moving about actively today. What an interest he takes in legislati His wife has some friends from home in the members’ gallery. So it goes, ‘When the man whose duty it is to clear the floor of the House before the session begins asks “All those who are not entitled to the same to please retire” there is a slow uprising in all parts of the House. The habitues who have been there each day for the past ten or twenty years rise slowly out of the chairs of the members, reluctantly surrender their places on the sofas and crawl out of the cloak rooms and with their eyes on the clock, in tha suspicion that they have been disturbed too soon, walk with great deliberation toward the doors in this direction or in that. The strangers in the galleries, who ten minutes before were study- ing the diagram of the House to learn the names of all the members, turn then and look down on mostly empty chairs, Twenty mem- bers, perhaps. are in the Honse, which wasd@ia, full before. Then they know they have been studying the diagrams in vain. From the hour the House meets until ad- journment picturesque groups are assembled in the corridors and lobbies in both wings of the Capitol. Soon after prayer the rush of people with cards for members begin. The five doors of the House are besieged. ‘The pas in front of the main door is blocked and &fty people are holding out cards to half a dozen door keepers, who are. g all the waile: “Gen- tlemen, please clear the passage way. You must keep to one side.” +! Newspaper men into the vestibule of the main door and sit in the niches on either side designed for statues, where each is soon joined by a member, who sits by his side with one hand on his knee or an arm thrown across his shoulder and tells him all the things he knows of mterest to the home paper, or takesa longer time to tell him in the pleasantest way possible that he knows nothing. Amember comes out in response to a card, and when he gets in to the little crowd at the doorway he is siezed and hauled in half dozen different direc- tions before he can find the man who sent for him. There are always half a dozen who wanted tosend for him gy J andas many more who “2 Yt . are seized with a desire to talk with nim 2s soon as he appears in their reach. While the member stands with his back against the sharp corner of the wall, where the cor- ridor turns at an angle, pinned there by a persistent constituent or a claimant grown gray in his own service, several men with eager eyes march back and forth in a semi-circle about him, keeping him in reach and having an eye on him against the time the first tor- mentor shall release him. Others are standing silently like statues between him and the door. ' In the deep recesses \\ of the window further down the corridor are a ] member and a chipper Young woman in a seal skin sacque and a smart red hat. Almost un- noticed by the many passers-by, toward whom their backs are turned, they are look- <j ing far away across the terrace and talking earnestly in low tones that mingle soft sound with the general hum. Inthe next window sink a member is dictating a document of long tables to a type writer. The click of the type- writer and the sound of many voices drown the words of chance conversation, In another window sink is crowded a fat member, with perspiration on his brow, while standing before him are two men of the lobby whispering, gesticulating and shoving papers under his nose. A fat woman, at least sixty, with pink checks and red roses in her hat, is making a frantic effort to stop a member, who has passed her quickly with eyes elsewhere and is hurrying through the crowd toward the door of the House. He has not seen her and she pouts and pauts. A member from Virginia is =z ‘writing a dispatch at the telegraph office in the corridor, and while he writes one man is lightly touching him on the shoulder by way of pre- emption and a dozen more are standing close at hand or turning about first on their heels and then on their toes to work off their im- Patience. It will take the member from Vir- ginia half an hour to get back into the House, unless he can get some one to walk along with him in earnest conversation uutilhe gets to je in. the door and can dodg A member who has watched his opportunit; to slip out and is in a hurry to ges 45 lunch 4 seized just as he is about to ste vator and is pulled back, ile the elevator — on without him. Within ten steps from im is ® new member seated on a wood box with one leg dangling, surrounded by his im- portunate constituents, smiling and happy over the amount of uttention thatiis being bestowed upon him. Another member, beaming with enjoyment, is capering about the statuary hall trying to catch t@e echoes to make them per- form for a group of ladies who have come to see him from his home town. A member from the west who is worldly wise steps up to the little cigar stand with his fingers in his vest pocket. Two constituents close in upon him, one on either hand, and catch him in the act. “Have a cigar?” he says, holding right hand to one and his left to the other. ‘all, I don’t mind,” comes from both at once.’ “Give us those threo for a quarter Habana,” and the member gives the least of little winks. Three cigars are taken from a six-for-a-quarter box and the member comes back after a while and gets the other three. In the east corridor a member who fancies he bears some resemblance to that simple statesman leans an elbow against the statue of Jefferson and talks with mingled dignity and affability to a group of stylishly dressed ladies, There isa rich affectation in his voice and with a grand air he signs his name to a card admit- ting them to the Speaker's gallery before they leave him. The intellectual member from New England leans gracefully against the wall with one foot crossed over the other taking little squares of candy mincingly out of a paper bag he holds in his left hand and putting them into his mouth slowly with a Maek of prolonged satisfaction, ‘Three ladies with short hair, high foreheads and gowns hanging in gevere lines over their natural forms stand around him in loquacious attitudes. He makes a bow of acquiescence with a bit of candy half way in his mouth, but their voices are drowned in the confused hum, When the ladies’ reception room was in the east lobby the women were not permitted to send in cards by any but the east door. Only members who did not shun the habitues in petticoats or those who went ont in responso toa card appeared in that vicinity when they could avoid it; and yet a good many members did visit the east lobby. Now one or two women may be seen at every door. They stop members in the corridors and on the stairs, A member stands with one foot on the steps, impatient to get away, but the half pleading smile of some fair petitioner holds him back and he yields to the fascination of femininity. od Amember with white hair and the flabby flesh of declining years stands a little back from the tide of passers-by in the statuary hall talking toa stylishly dressed young wo- man whose business takes her to the Capitol every day. They are talking very earnestly an lender dudish-looking fellow with a tie and a horn-handled cane is standing the statue of Fulton watching them. member leaves and the man behind the statne comes out of hiding and walks off with the young woman. The wily ways of women are exposed to the glaring light of day in their new quarters in statuary hall. The rngs and sofas and chairs are arranged back of the colonnade to the left and every one passing turns or, perhaps, stops to look at the collection. Between them and the staring crowd stands the giant statue of Ethan Allen in attitude of defense and defiance, with drawn sword and frowing front. And at the other end is Muhlenberg divesting himself of his mantel tothrow over them, and the statues of Garfield and Cass complete the line of defense. Standing without the barrier are here and there members looking intently over the job lot of assembled women in search of some particular ones who have sent for them. Leaning against tatue at a little distance isa member scan- ning the whole assemblage critically, with the eye of a connoisseur. Now and then he changes his and twists his mustache. ttle further on two members are stand- lq ing in front of a pie ‘df « & stand facing each other, * each with a big slice of ps in his hand, which e handles dexterousty, turning his mouth on one side quickly now and then just in time to catch the “tasty” inside of the pie as it oozes out at his fingers, . In another corridor sits the bent form of an old woman, her shriv- in her lap and a eled hands folded basket of apples on the floor in front of her. A dignified statesman is leaning over, making the selection of an apple, and another is standing in the midst of a group of his con- stituents, with an apple in one hand and a knife in the other, —- immense slices of the fruit and stuffing them into his mouth as he talks—a few up and down motions of the jaw, a gulp and then a word. ——____ STORM AT CHICAGO, A Good Deal of Damage Done in the Garden City. ‘The storm that set in Thursday raged all day Yesterday with almost unabated fury, a high wind and blinding snow making pedestrianism almost impossible. Lake Michigan was in a fury and the famous north shore drive, upon which the palatial mansions of Potter Palmer, Arcbishop Feehan and other prominent residents are located was rap- rapidly sweptaway. Itis reported that the water works tunnel in process of construction from a point onthe lake front opposite the auditorium and ex! nearly a mile under the lake has with water. Geen 2 balk ion Setters Bat 80 ee expended on this enterprise. Telegraj telephone in the and suburbs have fled withanow and sith thet, walking are 80 with snow is no easy matter, TO FEED THE SOLDIER BOYS. onto the ele-! Gen. Ordway’s Plans for the National Guard Camp. THERE WILL BE NO COMPANY MESSES—EACH COMPANY UNDER ITS PROPER SHED—A TRIP OF INSPECTION TO DAVID'S ISLAND AND WEST POINT. It has been settled berond question that the District National Guard will be fed as a whole when it goes into camp at Fort Washington next July. For a short time after last year's en- campment there was a good deal said about company messes as the only panacea for the ills which resulted from an endeavor to feed the entire brigade at one time. There will be no company messes, at least not this year, But there will be a better system and better food and better discipline and more general satis- faction. The new plan was outlined in Tue Srar some time ago, and since then the general and his commissary officers have been hard at work perfecting the plans and getting ready tomake every guardsman happy so far as camp fare is concerned. Common-sense cooks and competent waiters will carry out regulations that seem to be all that could be desired. The work has been carefully subdi- vided and each man will be held to strict ac- countability, EACH COMPANY IN ITS PROPER SHED. One of the great troubles iu the last camp was the attendance, Details of men from cack company prepared the tables and com- pany servants wrestled with the details in wild rushes for the bread which perisheth and the other varieties of victuals that were on tap. Some companies got enough to eat and some went over to Rivet View, where there was a stock of edibles and liquids, The camp was largely experimental and its failures in a few minor particulars have been regarded in the plan which will be put in operation this year. Each company, complete except for those who may be doing guard duty, will be seated beneath its proper shed and all the officers will be there to see that order reigns supreme. Last year the officers had a table all to themselves, but the newer idea is to use that table to accommodate the men whose duty will prevent them from eating at the regular meal hours. There were times during last camp when a man--wet and tired out from doing his sentry-go in some un- protected spot—would appeal in vain to Stew- ard Vassiere for a mug of hot coffee or a little something to prevent a total collapse of his stomach, The modern way is an improvement. All day and all night there will be some one on duty at that table and thither may the mealless guards repair for solid refreshment, WHY NOT COMPANY MESSES? “But‘why can’t we have company messes?” asked an infantry officer who was at headquar- ters the other evening The question was afterward repeated to Gen. Ordway by a Star reporter, and the general “Because the entire camp would resolve into nothing more or jo than a huge ing school. if the brigade was going into active service, was out on the field, then every man would have to know something about cooking and every officer would have to be pos- sessed of a good deal of practical information upon that important subject, but as we are going into camp only for a few days company messes would result in an enormous waste of time. Before the true principles of coffee brewing could be instilled in the minds of the command we should have to break camp, leaving, as to the baking of edible bread, at least a thousand men untaught. Suppose it was possible, ina week or ten days, to give every man in the brigade a reasonable idea of camp cookery, of what advantage would it bo in a military sense? A very large percentage of the men who were at Fort Washington last year will not be with us this time, and when we pitch our tents in 1891 there will be com- paratively few of the original command on the reservation. It is infinitely better to give mil- itary instruction—it may be only asmattering— for then you have put the men in possession of something which can be recalled with profit to the country if the necessity should ever pre- sent itself.” Ifa man desires to acquaint him- self with the principles of cooking he can do it at home; it cannot be done in camp because of the limited amount of time at our dieposal,” GEN, ORDWAY'S EXPEDITION, ‘There are yet a number of finishing touches to be put to the ground plan and elevations of the camp cuisine. At David's Island, N. Y., about 1,000 recruits of the regular army are fed daily, and in order that the District Guard may reap the benefit of that which long experience may have suggested at that depot Gen. Ord- way is going up there to look at it. He will leave here on Saturday next on ‘other business, ac- companied by Gen. Kelton, Col. Long and Chairman D, B, Henderson of the House com- mittee on militia. They are going to see the 23d New York show itself off in review. Col. Partridge, who commands this crack Brooklyn branch of the National Guard, was one of Gen. Ordway’s captains in old war times, when the colors of the 24th Massachusetts were always in the right place just when they were needed. On the following Monday Gen. Ordway and Col, Long will be joined by Maj. and Com. Gen. McIntyre and Com. Sergt. E. H. Newmeyer. ‘Logether they will proceed to David's Island, and it is not improbable that they may run up to West Point to see how the cadets’ kitchen and dining room is run. If there are any new or original ideas lying around loose at either place they will bring them away and utilize them for the comfort and convenience of the local soldier boys. “I want to arrange our commissary,” said Gen. Ordway, “so that no man in the brigade shall i more about his food than he would ata hotel. He will simply be called upon to eat and depart. Then he can give his undivided attention to matters that are more purely military.” A WARNING FOR SOMEBOBY, Unless there is a speedy change so far as sey- eral companies of the guard are concerned there will be a large number of disgusted sol- diers and a few much-abused and decidedly angry officers around some of the armories. Betore there was any shooting done at the rifle gallery instructions were issued to the officers generally in which their attention was directed to the urgent necessity which existed for a rea- sonable quantity of position and sighting drill in the armories, This provision was made for the purpose of aiding the inspectors of riifle practice as much as possible and in order that there be but little time wasted when the men were facing the targets. It has been evident to the inspectors (and to any one else whose eyes were open) that many companjes were doing alleged rifle practice without hav- ing received the benefits of previous instruction as to position and aiming. This has been more or less of an annoyance and at last it has been decided that the limit is reached. In future, when a man displays ignorance as to position and shows clearly his inability to adjust his rifle site prop- ly, he will be ordered out of his squad by the inspector on duty and will be denied permis- sion to shoot. Of course he will grumble a lit- tle at this, but he will have no cause for grum- bling at any one other than himself or his cap- tain—himself if he has been inattentive; his a if there has been no instruction. That will probably stir most of the captains up to a realizing sense of their own shortcomings and the order issued in December last relative to jee begs | drills will almost certainly be eeded. If itis not then it does not need the keen vision of a prophet to see several changes in company commanders. NO RAW RECRUITS IN CAMP. Let no'young man not now a member of the National Guard fool himself into believing that he can wait until July and then enlist, so as to get the benefits and pleasures which will be- Jong to those who are to sojourn in tents at Fort Washington this summer. It costs more than $15 a mun to take the brigade into camp and the general does not propose to waste the time of non-commissioned officers in training the civilian legs how to march or in straighten- ing the civiliau’s chest and uplifting his chin. ‘The brigade will probably go into camp about July 21 and it is safe to say thatit will not num- ber in the ranks any one who enlists later than June 15. ‘Those who want to learn something of real military camp life and who are not yet wearers of the blue will please govern them- selves accordingly. IT 18 MAJ. BRACKETT Now. The second battalion need lose no more sleep over the name of the major it has been waiting for ever since Maj. Gary The vacancy exists no longer, for Chief Clerk Fred Brackett of the Treasury Department has ac- cepted the proffered honor and will in future lead the “second” on to many a bat rill and not a few social evolutions. The “second” may rejoice in a commanding officer who has a most soldierly ap and who will doubt- less be very popular, TROOP AND BATTERY. Written for Tae Evexrxe Stak, ATTRACTIVE HOMES, Easter Greetings and Implements of Housewifely Industry. SOME NOVELTIES FOR THE COMING FESTIVAL— SYMBOLICAL DESIGNS WHICH ARE USEFUL AS WELL AS BEAUTIFUL—BROOM COVERS AND THEIR ADVANTAGES—FANCY DUSTING CLOTHS. ASTER perhaps is only second to Christmas in the matter of present giving. The custom has been grow- ing of late years until now it has reached large proportions, This geucra: exchange of gifts among friends began some time ago with Easter cards, but now any kind of a gift,of no apparent con- nection with the day, may be sent “and no questions asked,” as the advertisements say. Still, people who have ideas of she fitness of things try to have an Easter suggestion or sentiment embodied in an offering at this particular season, and anything novel and suit- able at the same time is hailed with delight. The Easter card has survived the Christmas card, and this year they are very pretty and often appropriate, though with many the label ‘Easter greetings” or something similar is tacked on to the most 1 precus designs. The cards appear in many ‘iful forms as a fleet- ing attraction, crosses and doves predominat- ing. The little booklets are the prettiest of special souvenirs, and both covers and verses are tasteful and apposite. Many hand-painted covers are found with other decorative adapta- tions in the way of ribbon and printing or let- tering for cards and book marks, All kinds of receptacles for confectionery at this time take on an Easter significance. Oroid baskets and boxes of every imaginable size and material are displayed inthe shops. The roc’s egg, satin- covered, leads in point of size, and gradually they come down to almost tiny proportions. Other shapes are numerous, in bon bon baskets, also some having doves snugly ensconsed in one end; others with fluffy chickens, and others are in the form of little nests with half a dozen candy e¢ in view. Real eggs play an important in this fes- tival array, Colored and decorated in every possible way that ingenuity can suggest, they are everywhere bor yah ag an attraction to buyers. Many of them are used as heads to dolls, with faces of varying expression drawn or painted on them, while cotton batting or other material is used for bodies, and caps with flapping borders or littlé hoods surmount the egg-shell craniums. The most unique ar- rangement seen is anegg on which is drawn a Chinaman’s face. A typical hat of black is _on top of the head, while a long pig- tail depends from the hat at the back. No body is attached and the comical head is sus- pended in mid air by a thread fastened ta what. ever one chooses, ‘These will probably be popular andamuse many a child on Easter morning. NOVELTIES FOR LUNCHEONS AND GERMANS, For an Easter luncheon a good idea is to have the name cards of china eggs with egg-shell fin- ish and a Kate Greenaway figure painted on one side with the name of the guest on the other. Another idea which has been successfully car- ried out is an Easter german with appropriate favors, For one favor figure a large screen may be brought in covered with bannerets for the girls, of all shades of ribbon hung on rods ane wih a ioxely oe Easter card infthié® center ofeach, For the men a tray may> filled with all kinds of funny Easter deviées, the grotesque instead of the beautiful prevail- ing. People who paint may easily make many pretty little trifles for Easter remembrances for friends. Any shaped card of water - color paper with rough or plain edges can be quickly decorated with a spray er scattered flowers and some lettering, either a pretty verse or simply @ greeting. Such evidence of a friend's thought and trouble is always appreciated. If one has little skill in drawing, but can color with taste, an effective Easter card may be made by using bolting cloth and tracing any design oa its transparent surface. After color- ing the bolting may be put on ribbons of any desired length, fringed deeply at each end and to be used.asa book mark, Pretty littl bon bon boxes can be made by painting tiny flowers on four small pieces of water-color paper. Have holes punched on each side an inch apart and lace them together with narrow- est of ribbon. A plain piece of paper for the bottom of the box is similarly laced to the sides and a little silk bag glued to the paper all around and shirred at the top with a draw- string. Where fresh flowers are sent, as is 80 often the case, it is a good idea totic them with a ribbon, on which is painted in gold paint the date or a motto, or any lettering one chooses, £0 distinguish it from an every day bunch of flowers. Baskets can have floating ribbons thus decorated also. Silver, with all its popularity, must not be left out on any occasion of present giving, and especially appropriate are the prayer books and hymnals bound in silver with silver mono- ‘am on the side. Jewelry also takes on an ‘aster significance and many mementoes are exchanged at this time. Bracelets are among the favorites for such gifts. The narrow plain gold bands have pendants carved from various stones, The pendants are in the form of a cross, a heart and ananchor. On one the cross is of onyx, the heart an opal and the anchor a cats-eye. Sometimes the bracelet is a chain with these emblems set in brilliants. For the fancy of others are rosary chains strung with precious stones, while the crucifix is a cameo and the medallions set with small stones. Everything seems provided for everybody— everybody with money, that is, EASTER SALES IN CHURCHES, decorative art societies and woman's exchanges are usually to be looked for in connection with the season, and many pretty ideas are there displayed which have been concocted by nimble fingers at home. Aids to industry might be the motto adopted by some of these workers, for the pretty and attractive way in which praetical and prosaic articles are treated may we appreciated by house-keepers. Leavii dainty little trifles for these glorified 5; of housewifely carcs, one may nee sweeping capt of gay-colored cambric, with full ruche, 90 be- coming as to almost tempt some young idler to don one and try a new kind of exercise. BROOM COVERS are made of striped outing cloth, the little fuzz on which easily catches the dust and holds it, These useful articles are much used where the olished floors are left bare, and are simply Tags a little longer than the sweeping part of the broom and slipped over it are tied with a draw string snugly about the handle. A ruffle, both for looks and as a dust catcher, is setyi across the bottom, and this cover if once’ a is seldom given up. Made cither of onting cloth or canton flannel with the rough side out they are easily washed. With a number of these on hand the task of keeping bare floors in oe spotiess condition desired is much less- ene FANCY DUSTING CLOTAS. Another pretty little thing displayed is the fancy dusting cloth. This is made of batiste (the fine cheesecloth), which comes in such charming colors, both light and dark. A square is cut of 27 inches anda hem basted around, which is fastened with a feather stitching of linen or silk, no other hemming being neces- sary. These, in sets of from three to six, make aconvenient retource for the house keeper to draw from, A more attractive outfit still is the duster and bag to hold it, made in delicate coloring to correspond with the room in which it is to be used. The pattern of the bag is simple—a piece of any suitable material 27xQ inches with the four corners lipped off. This piece is lined with o ‘plain color and turned up at the bottom nine inches to make the bag. This turned up iece is turned back again three inches, show- ing the plain color as a flap and a little box plait is hia tn where thismtond turning The sides are sewed together six inches, mak- ing the bag part of that dept hile the is drawn through a brass ring for three and on this turned down piece is set a large ro- sette of the same color as the lining. To make these of silkoline in delicate coloring with Libs lining and rosette of le tint to match, the feather-stitched duster which peope out from the bag, is to inspire the beholder with an unconquerable desire to seize implement of toil and at once polish all the far- niture within reach. Pale pink or blue, ae and light yellow lining, with silkoline in jig flowered design for the outside, makes a dusting outfit that is really ornamental to any room, ——_+er_, — - The Passion Even Unto Death, From the Dry Goods Chronicle, $ Weeping Spouse—‘“I shall ®& monu- ment to you, dearest, when you are gone, I shall have ‘Loving Husband’ engraved at the gra myr stoma Og . heavens, Pauline, that will never do! of eighth bg next reading stat ot pele to yesterday. —— giicennead i ea Une Wecciie a Motinte 28 “supplies soluble, mor ment and a vigorous i 4 4 D. C.. SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1890—TWELVE PAGES. WITH A BURLESQUE COMPANY. Something of Interest About the Va- riety Stage and Actors. HOW VARIETY COMBINATIONS ARE RUN—INCI- DENTAL POINTS ABOUT CHORUS GIRLS AXD OTHER PERFORMERS—THE DANGER THAT AL- ‘WaYs THREATENS THE MANAER—EXPENSES. =HERE IS NO REASON why you should not have a burlesque com- pany of your own,” said the manager toa Star reporter, “if you have a few thousand dollars to begin with. The first thing to do is to go onto New York and pay a visit to one of the four or five dra- matie agencies in that city. There are such agencies in three or four other big towns, such 4s Chicago and San Francisco, but the me- tropolis is the place where nearly all traveling theatrical organizations are got together. You tell the people at the agency that you wish to form a variety troupe, and they respond by exhibiting their books, on which are registered the names of ever so many performers in this line of business, with information as to the specialty of each one. Among such of these performers as are open to engagement you take your pick. For the burlesque, which closes every well-regulated show of the kind nowadays, you want, in addition to about twenty chorus girls, from five to eight persons who are able to take principal speaking parts. Two of the eight, say, should be comedians, a third should be a ‘heavy’ man, a fourth a ‘society’ actor, and the others pleasing women with stage experience. These same persons can be utilized in the opening act of the performance, which, as you know, is usually but a modification of the minstrel style of thing, with singing, dancing and so on. In fact, the purposes of economy are to be served all through by ‘doubling up.’ or, in other words, making each member of the company do at least two things. Besides, you must engage at least ono ‘sketch team.’ meaning commonly a man and woman who do a funny little play to- gehen, with incidental songs and dances; and, ‘urthermore, it is desirable to have two or more athletes whose specialty is an aerial act cn the trapeze, or some such thing. ‘then you ought to hire some ‘living statues,” a serio-comic singer or two, a juggler, and perhaps a ven- triloquist, if a good one is handy. The dra- matic agency makes an appointment for you to meet the people you have selected, and, as soon as the necessary contracts have been signed, your *‘variety combination” is ready for re- earsals, preparatory to going on the road. ‘The rehearsals may be had at some theater in NewYork while your advance agent is making arrangements for your coming and advertising performances in the towns you are first to show in, or they may be held at the play honse in the very first town you are to visit. Salaries begin with the initial performance and then you are fairly started.” THE CHORUS GIRLS. “And does the dramatic agency supply even the chorus girls?” “Yes, if you like, but they are easily obtained otherwise. A few months ago I advertised in a New York paper for ‘young lady amateurs to go on,thestage’ and got 300 responses. I chose applicants forty of the most desirable, shapely figures and more or less voice pwith, and with these, untrained beyond few rehearsals, I started out. They did very satisfactorily on the whole, but at the first city Icame tol lost eight of them, at the next stopping place six more of them disappeared and within eight or nine weeks I had not one of them left. What did Ido? Oh, replaced them with others as they dropped off. There was nothing new about the experience. It is impossible to hold them to the most cast-iron contract. Plenty of fresh ones are always to be found and the advance agent can have as many asaro desired engaged ahead in uny town the company is to make a stand SHE MUST LOOK WELL. “The essential point ina chorus girl, I sup- Pose, is—"” “Shapeliness, That is the one indispensab!o requisite. She ought to be able to sing a little, but she fills the bill if she looks well on the stage. It is not even necessary that her face should be pretty, for a little paint and powder will do wonders in the way of beautifying be- hind the foot lights.” “Are these chorus women respectable?” “Sometimes. Asarule they are drawn from very doubtful sources. The manager does not consider it his business to inquire as to their moral character or to oversee their conduct during their leisure time so long as they do their work, which 18 not hard and is rensonably well paid for, Twenty dollars a week and the opportunity for travel free are attractions snffi- cient to draw upon the variety stage not a few reputable young women who could not earn more otherwise than perhaps $5 a week for slaving twelve hours a day in the shops. Of course the life is not especially conducive to morality. If the novice has morals to start with they are apt to be seriously impaired be- fore her first season is atan end. But that is her responsibility.” THE STARS. “And where do the more important per- formers come from?” “As for the women, it is very much the same as with the chorus girls, save that they have kept at the business and risen from the ranks through beauty or talent. Themen are mostly derived from a very low plane in the social scale ori, They have served their first apprenticeship at the double shufle or what not in the alleyways, have been graduated from that early school to the boards of some cellar theater or cheap museum and havo at length arrived at recognized position as variety actors, Curiously enough it is not infrequently that one sees comedy talent of a high order on the variety stage. It is here that many played-out ‘ns, brought low by drink or other wind up. And, by the way, thongh ple a few years ago used to be so , they are kept very strictly under nowadays, anda player is at once dis- charged who appears at rehearsal or perform- ance under the influence of rum.” “Running a variety company is a pretty ex- pensive business, I presum: “About 1,800 a week will carry a fair show, traveling expenses included, That strikes you as big? Well, you see, the tendency of the variety business in these days is to expensive- neas deverything. Costumes must be of silks aitiAuides, and they make a big item. They are ided, except tights and slippers, by the ment, Salaries, too, have been getting higher and higher. A’ really good sketch teagi of two is worth $80 a week; four women ¢o do living statuary in front of a black curtain cost 2150 a week; a fuir ventriloquist ets 875; a serio-comic singer is scaled at; trom $80 to $50, and’ so on. erformers who do special novelties fetch exceptionalrates, The biggest salary in the variety business today is paid toa man recently come to this country who makes rabbits and all sorts of birds and beasts in shadow with his hand on a white screen. He is said to get $500 a week for his services, though that is ey an exaggera- (The only really first-rate ventriloquist antry will take nothing leas than #150. ‘are plenty of second and third-rate ve nists to be had at all prices. All these people in the variety line demand rates of pay tee way above what they are willing to take; they expect to be bargained with by the wa manager and beaten down about one- third at least.” THE RISKS. “Is there not a good deal of risk of going to amaah; With such large expenses?” “A dig risk always. Two or three weeks of bad ku may wreck the manager at an: may be fers the show with adort bya backer or with his own cash. Pari ly if the lattor is the case his lus is aptto be small, misfortune comes and the company is stranded. There is no money to salaries or hotel bills and juently the fi : z =f fy f i f E i 4 & tr i te H iP ! i i i J z 3 f Written for Tar Evexrxo Stan. THE WANTS OF WOMEN. Some Advice for Securing Health and Beauty. LADIES’ SOCIETIES AXD THEIR REQUIREMENTS— UNDERWEAR FOR EARLY SPRING—THE NEED OF WARM FIRES AND NOURISHING FOOD— THINGS WORTH NOTING, OMEN look less beautiful than usual this spring. Many of them have hada sore struggle with the winter epidemic, whose after effects on those of sensitive physique are as tedious as the sequele of scarlet fever or typhoid, from which a patient cannot call him- self recovered under a year, It will take many days basking in the warm sunshine, many days breathing the deep free winds which stir the blood and many nights of sound sleep to restore the tone to unstrung nerves. If the work is half done, as it usually is, the penalty will be visible in sallow faces, lackluster eyes and drooping forms, Women must perforce learn wisdom, Not a few will find themselves forced to sim- plify their social work and drop much of the routine, useless duty which has absorbed them. The woman who is a member of eleven clubs, political, literary and charitable, will be obliged to ignore them so long that itis possible she may find existence more endurable without than with them. For the mere routine of these time-stealing woman's clubs makes an enor- mous waste of time. So many letters of invi- tation and notification, so many explanatory notes and circulars are indispensable and so much polite figuring must be done to make the meetings interesting that noone with real aims an art or study but finds herself obliged to choose between her proper work and this formalizing and posturing mainly forthe sake of giving Mrs, Maneuverer credit for being president over a large society. That is the most any of these women’s clubs amounts to. It 1s the end and origin of their being, and keen-witted men awake to the fact. REQUIRED OF A FEW LADIES. One of the most effective officers in a prom- inent association in a large city said lately in my hearing, “The ladies’ auxiliaries want us to fly round and do the work for them while they eat cake and ice cream, send us on errands, and then take all the credit. When they come to our aid, it takes our available force to wait on them, and aday to clear up after them;” which confession could be echoed by many hard-working officers of benevolent societies. As to the glittering generality of Shakespeare and literary clubs, their usefulness is summed up by a bright young member who writes that “a set of old hens get together and pick other people to pieces,” and another speaks of them as “gossip served on trays with Shakespeare or Browning to float on the teacups.” So if you mourn that your privileges are cut off, dear madam, by want of strength, rest consoled that the loss is not irreparable, either to the club or to you. The only work worth men- tioning in the worid, the only kind that lasts and tells, is individual work, whether of brain or hand.’ One can’t object ‘to gossip on any reasonable ground. But gossip weakens litera- ture past toleration. Perhaps this is the rea- son why the most prominent woman's club in the country makes the melancholy confession in its yearly report that it has to depend for interest on the efforts of six of its members, the rest being content with taking no part at all in its discussions, Now,a man’s club which depended on half a dozen members would turn up its toes and die, out of sheer decency. If you want an excuse for naving a good time, christen your gathering “Gossip Club” or “The Scandalmongery” and try to live up to it, There won't be any more harm for the admis- sion, CALLING THINGS BY THEIR RIGHT NAMES lets a flood of light upon their designs some- times, and a club known as the Old Cats or the Backbiters’ Own would probably have as little of their name-vices as is consistent with femi- nine nature. A good lively club of this kind might be a resource for tired house mothers, whovneed chat and fun, which nobody thinks of supplying them. People who work hard and feet worn out don’t want serious topics or anything like study for a while. They may learn just as much in a light way and remem- ber it longer, But strike off the clubs and coteries from your list as non-essential until you recover the strength of three women. Buy spring dresses ready made, rather than bother with dress makers, proverbially the most perfidious of their sex and the worst in- | structed of any craftswomen in the cities and towns. Don't undertake to attend all the Lent services or get up birthday parties or golden weddings or anything which requires outlay of nerve. Friends will be sure tosay: “I shonld think she might be able to do just this and that,” or they doubtless will go 2 step farther ‘She might if she wanted to!” But not mindthem. Life istoo deara ion to be played with, and you only know you have your strength whea you don't spend it. SENSIBLE ADVICE. Every woman who values her health this chilly, stormy spring, true breeder of typhoid pneumonia, should go into silk underwear, vests, chemiserie, skirts and night gowns if she has to economize on her dresses to provide them. Nenralgia and rheumatism are flying around, fell brood of the winter scourge, and no cost can be reckoned dear which wards them off. Flannel has not the same warmth or elec- trie action on the skin. A feather weight of a silk garment has more warmth than a thick wool one, with the advantage of lightness. The knickerbockers of black silk in fashion are commendable when spring winds are abroad. Atasudden reel of wind atastreet corner a glimpse of trim black silk stocking and rose embroidered black silk ruffles has far less the effect of an expose than a fleeting show of white garments. And the pink and blue slum- ber robes of India silk do so kindly keep off the pains in the shoulder next the crevice of the bedelothes when the tail of a cyclone is — how full of drafts a #4,000-a-year house can be, SILK UNDERWEAR doesn’t mean combination suits in this instance, nor those nondescript attachments called “leg- lettes” by women with one lobe to their brain, As one brilliant woman whom you would all know if I gave her , “Ll wouldn't be found dead with ‘em on!” ‘Kate Field tells a witty and wicked story about an old woman up in Vermont whose only amusement was the vil. lage lecture course every season, which led off with Col. Ingersoll one week and Mrs, Jenness Miller the next, when the old lady came home thunderstruck. “No hell and no chemise! What was the world coming to! For her part if both were done away with she didn’t want to live in it any longer.” And that’s the way most nice women feel about their inner drap- eries, They are just as pretty in pale blue, rose or white India silk ruffled with feathery, firm thread lace arto ee in which every woman ought to look like an 1 that has laid off its wings. — DON'T STINT FIRES. If you love life and your families don’t stint fires this spring if you have to keep them mornings till the middle of June. This season will decide many families to go into homes of their own, where they.can have a fire at pleas- ure, when the hotels have shat off steam ont less — have =~ furnace out ey suffer, these poor ric! le, in their high-priced hotels for the simple com- forts of life. It gives a pang to think how an ailing friend used to come languid and blue into the office down tuwn for warmth, after shivering for hours in his rooms at the nsive hotel, because the steant was turned of income could not bring him the comfort of an Irish n’s tenement It is stern truth that no judge of the pao for s system differ- 80 that no more heat than she saw fit to give them, and two authors, bent on serous work, shivered. days over their last December and came down with a takes ten years out of or es h hundreds of others pleasant readers, whose One galvanizes one’s self to work and then drops inte laoetnees of haat oo People must take to eating which to has the fullest nourishment, ~ cascades! oa teak Gu caret ms wens aes = bread, “ eet lite, is than Se ice teas mele which is a surprise to one iH He af ‘lt ut dozen forms of these whole wheat meal mixed salt and Sa se ‘quick heat ad ie Ee i eat far too much 3 ie rule, should be taken hot and well a — fish, broth, salad ata er, but certainly omitted meal. Less work for the digestion vigor for the brain. Where even baked cakes are a tax on the ay is the stale muffins dried in id pounded into acoarse meal. very nourishing, crisp and nice to take, Tweer three tablespoonfuls of this with a o broth or grape juico furnishes a which one can do more brain work than on aa ordinary dinner. There is ‘ious Little self- denial in going without h ‘he, dullness, tans guor and exchanging these for a light and spirits, clear eyes and clearer bead, 86 the epidemic has left you feeling only half yourself, the first thing is to build up the ruins by supplying good nutrition, suited to weah- ened powers, Then the Diack line under the eyes will disappear, and the pallid blueness, or the flush which ‘alternates, smooth frewa cheeks will replace gaunt, sallow outlines, while mental improvement keeps pace with the outward. Lastly, keep in tne sun and pure air, and if you cannot go out for it let sun and air come to you. Choore the sunny window for your work and keep the room ventilated, opening the windows every hour for a few minutes. % with lounge or bed drawn into the sunshine, an hour of which is better than many grains of juinine for giving strength. Not an hour of the priceless sun should be wasted between this and July by those who would undo the rav- ages of di Dane. ait i é EE A Disserramox Ox Axerntcax WINES, Tt is now universally conceded by even the most fanatical teetotalers that a clase of thoroughly ma- tured and pure wine is the most wholsesome, heaitla and strength-mving beverage for mankind. Almost every state—no matter how cold its climate—pro- duces grapes from which wine is pressed, bat THE PASADENA WINES are made from those SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA grapes which sttain tbe Lignest grade of maturity and ripeness and are, there fore, the best Wines in the market, 1 E. A. SELIGSON, or 2200 and 1202 Penns. ave. n.w. WASHINGTON, D. C,, am the sole agent for the Pasadena Wines and Brandiee and sell at marvelously low prices, Ihave received orders from rich and poor alike and all cheerfully ac- knowledge that the Pasadena Wines and Brandice are by far the best and purest in the District, notwith~ standing the fact that my prices are the very lo y My 20 per cent removal discount will be i continued, PLEASE COMPARE MY PRICES WITH THOSE OP OTHERS, i it PASADENA WINES, H +4 SELESHEE ETE 2 ee e 3 ek dy, Very, Very ol Malaga... Champawne, quarts, dozen. Champagne, pints, 7 dozen. VIRGINIA AND OTHER AMERICAN WINES. itginla Claret. 100 so Norton's Virgin! dozen. $00 320 ‘Sweet Catawba (Gest quality) > 0 su Icarry the largest stock of Imported Wines, Cog- nace, Gins, Jamaica and St. Croix Rums end all the French Cordials, including the celebrated after-dimer cordial, CREME DE MENTHE «Cream of Mint), srecu or rane. ‘The_oldest Rye, Bourbon and Tinported Whiskies can always be foundat my store. lenumerates fews Ip Demijohns of Bottles very low, #3 38s 2000 38 Irish Whisky, ola. soos Irish Wiis, very, sexy wid” «2908 SU rish Whisky, very, very old: Gcnunan Rosen Brautwein ou flu I make a specialty of High-favored Cooking and Jelly Wines aud Brandies, B. A. SELIGSON, THI WINE AND LIQUOR MERCHANT, 2200and 1202 Penna. ave. n.w. ‘Telephone Call 112-2 FEI R Pe FE RRE x, Ez ERR R A TITTRES aa TE lita 42 T PARIS EXPOSITION, 1889. 3 GRAND PRIZES, 6 GOLD MEDALS, LARGEST CHOCOLATE MANUFACTURERS 18 THE WORLD. YEARLY SALE EXCEEDS 30,000,000 POUNDS, PUREST, HEALTHIEST AND BEST, ASK FOR YELLOW WRAPPER MENIER CHOOQe LATES AND TAKE NO OTHERS, 40 CENTS A POUND, FOR SALE EVERYWHEBRB, BRANCH HOUSE, UNION SQUARE, NEW YORE, JAS. L. BARBOUR & SONS, Wholesale Agents for the District of Columbia, Buna Vu: u 4 The following well-known First-class Grocers bhav@ been appointed Sole Agents for the JUSTLY CELEBRATED AND ONLY PERFECT PATENT SPRING WHEAT THE BRIDAL VEIL! HIGHEST GRADE manufactured in the worlds CHARLES L. KELLOGG, Masonic Temple. W. E. ABBOTT, 1721 Pennsylvania ave. andcor. 110 and H sts. GEORGE E. KENNEDY. & SONS 1200 F st an@. Bg ave, ¥. BACOX, ere, G. G. CORNWELL & BON, 1412 Pennaylvanis sve, C. C. BBYAX, 1413 New York ave. BEALL & BAKER, 486 Pennsylvania sve, E. E. WHITE, 635 Louisiana ave. 8. R. WATERS, 1342 7th st. A. O. WRIGHT, 1632 14ub st. nw. (CO., 354 Peunsylvanis sve.