Evening Star Newspaper, August 9, 1890, Page 13

. — * THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D.C., SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1890-SIXTEEN PAGES: STRENGTH AND SKILL. Trainer Courtney and the Columbia Crews on the Potomac, eens HOW THE MEN ARE HANDLED oe In Training for the Eight-oar Race— Courtney's Methods— How HeWatches Mis Men on the Water—Progress of the Good Rowing. H E Columbia Athletic Club's boat crews were never in better hands than they are at present. Under the charge of Trainer Courtney they are apt to give their old-time rivals of this city, Baltimore and = Philadelphia pretty race for supremacy, such as has never been wit- nessed before by Columbia men. Next week is the first event in which they are to take part since the advent of Courtney, a date which has of late become a fixed standard among boating mon on the river. That is tosay, the famous eight-oared crew has been entered in the races that are to come off on the 13th and 14th of this month on Lake Quinsigamond, near Wor- cester, Mass. Inthisrace they are to meet some very formidabie arrivals, such as tho At- jantas and Bradfords, the former from NewYork and the latter from Boston, old-time enemies, who are sure to pull for all they are worth, so that none but first-class crews need hope for places in this contest’ But entering for a race does not mean that a crew will row it, by any means, for there is many a slip be- tween the cup and the lip in rowing as well as in other things. For example. if Mr. Courtney should decide a few days before the race that his erew was not in the shape that it should be for such a stiff pull he would probably not send them to rowat all, for there is nothing a trainer hates more than to see his crew go y from home, after a good deal has been expected from it, and then get left out of sight. It reflects upon his ability as a trainer, as well as upon his crew, and it shows bad judgment on his part in allowing poor men to 0 into a race for which they were not fitted. THE CREW AS IT STANDS. Changes are likely to occur between now and the race, but the crew as it stands is as follow: Kenyon, bow; Kerr, No. 2; Baker, No. 3; Ryan, No. 4; Johnson, No. 5; Nute, No. 6: Kondrup, No. 7, and Jannus, stroke, with “Andy” Smith as coxswain. There is but one really new man in the boat, Kenyon, who has developed into a first-class oarsman, with the re of be- coming better. Kondrup and Nute are old- timers, having rowed in some of the famous races of long ago, when the Columbia colors were to be seen at every regatta and usually flaunting over the heads of victors, while Ryan and Baker years ago made their mark with the Potomacs. Smith is a tried coxswain, a man with all his nerves under perfect control, who can steer straight, see points of advantage and seize opportunities when they are offered. Such | & man is invaluable, and in the gailant little coxswain of the senior eight Mr. Courtney has an able assistant, COURTNEY'S METHODS of training are peculiarly his own, inspired by & perfect knowledge of the art on bis own part, a record of some of the fastest time ever made in the water and a keen sense of the feelings of 4m oarsman, especially those of an amateur. He has been both an amateur and a profes- ®onal,and he has also been a trainer long | bending the back too much or too little, sitting | too far forward on the seat, sliding with a jerk, | ending too abruptly, teathering badly, so that the water is thrown up inasplash, dipping oo deeply and expending force uselessly, tak- g too little water on the blade at a stroke, | turning the blade too soon after the stroke has been taken, or not turning it soon enongh, | dropping the oar into the water at other than a | right angle and splashing water with it—such are a few of the very many errors of action of which every young crew is guilty and which are caught as quick as they are made by the trainer. To note all this, fine as it is, and far away aa the crew is oftén, requires a very shar tandan intimate knowledge of the possi- bilities and the rules of water craft. Those faults are sometimes corrected while the men are on the river, but more often they are admonished of their errors after they have left the boats and where Courtney can take them to one side and talk to them quietly, for he is a firm believer in the doctrine tiat it docs @ man no good to tell him of his faults within the hearing of his fellows or in sounding dis- tance of a crowd of balcony rowers, unless it is such a mistake as the entire crew is liable to fall into, in which case it is often well to speak of it to the boat full of men out in the river away from the house, more quickly man, and it | is one of Courtney's theories thet a word spoken | on thesly is more effective than a dozen hurled | st @ man while he is nervous and conscious of | — critical attention of the other men in a oat. | _ Most people believe that to train a boat crew means to take the men from their ordinary | habits and diets of every-day life and feed them on specially prepared and selected food that is supposed to bring @ man down to a de- sired weight or condition. That is not true with the present course of treatment through which Courtney is putting the Columbia crew. He ia trying, of coursc, to keep the men from excessive smoking or drinking, such as would soon wipe out their chances of ever winning & race, and ho has control of their appetites at at | least one meal a day. Every evening, after | the men have come out of their boat, they bathe and redress, and then the whole party, crew, coxswain and trainer, go up the street to | the Morgan House and have supper, which is composed of wholesome meats vegetables, such as any man who wishes to get strong would | eat, and devoid of such trimmings as pie or | cake or any other varicties of pastry, which is not supposed to be good for men who are anx- ious to sleep weil. At this meal the work of the afternoon is discussed, and often it is there | that the trainer takes occasion to tell them one ; or two unpleasant truths about their form in the boat, It is a scientific experience meeting of oarsmen that assembles around the board, and from this evening meal some of the best results of the course of training have come, In meeting Mr. Courtney thus atthe supper table the men have always found him to be gentlemanly, refined in his speech and man- ners, with a quiet but firm conviction that he knows just a little more about rowing than they do. Courtney is essentially a gentleman, despite the odor of another element that has attached | itself to the profession of rowing. He has a good education, which has been increased by his association with men of collegiate training since his advent into the rowing circle. He has a good trade, which is more than almost any of the other so-called “professionals” have, being a cabinet maker and a wood worker. In company with his brother, John Courtney, he is the proprietor of a large shop in the town of Union Springs, a short distance from Ithica, N.Y., and he makes a very good living from this source. He confided toa Star reporter the other day that he thought it doubtful if he ever went into another professional race again. Of late years he has nut been rowing much, but has been paying attention to business at his home, with an occasional dash back to the water as the trainer of the Cornell crew, of | twhich he is usually the successive father, year after year. He says that he feels as though he belongs to Cornell College himself after having trained so many victorious crews. This year the Cornell freshmen, after undergoing acourse of treatment from Courtney, beat the Yale freshmen with the greatest of ease, At Cor- nell he Ihas the crew under almost complete control for several weeks after graduation and THE COLUMBIA EIGHT AT WORK. enough to know how to han dle men in a boa end get the best work out of them that they ean put forth. He does not drive them, but appeals to their good sense. In the first p he has been on the water as an occupant of a paper shell often enough to know how to sit still, and this is the first thing that he teaches his pupils, He mekes them realize how im- portant it is that they should be perfectly safe frou tipping over in sucha frail thing as a shell, although when he takes hold of acrew he usually expects that they know some of the first rudiments of the craft. Yet he says that he prefers to take absolutely new men, who have never been in @ boat, than others who have pulled just enough to get the idea that they know it alland that further instruction is useless. Such men, he declares, are worse than beginuers, for they are apt to make but little progress. NOT OFTEN ENOUGH. It bas been matter of regret to Mr. Court- ney that he has not been able to have the crew out on the river more than once a day, for he regards itas almost necessary a crew under truining for a race should get into 3 the bout at least twice a day for a month before the race, especially a crew standing in need of +o much coaching as this one They have to be trained down to their proper weight, so as to give the boat its proper keel; they should be made perfectiy familiar with every other man’s stroke. so as to be in harmony with him in his every motion, and, las’ Ithough this is the most important part of all, this practice is no more than sufficient to put the men in con- tion for a hard pull of three miles against the crack tale of the country. They have to acquire strength as well as skill, muscles as i their wind has to be 2 depended upon at their hardest stroke giving out on account of a lack of improve: te row ag without breath. THE THREE REQUISITE. are the three save Mr. Harmony in the boat, strength and ree are essential; none ean be dis- pensed with, and it is for the purpose of im- proving ail at once, of developing each factor to its highest pitch’ of efficiency without de- tracting from any of the others. that a period of training is required. This may seem easy it may secm as though almost any one with an: These Court wind. 4 requisites, knowledge of a rowing shell could induce men to train thems p to this y at this is one of the deinsicns of athletics. To bea trainer oue must have all the good points desired to obtain in the pupils, and must also be expert ough im the art of handling men to see that take good care of themselves aud do their T great point of Courtney's 8 every movement the men . with the idea 5 are to crop even alter th ing im the of verbal instructions. It is a difficult watter to see these faults, for ina bout ever. % 14 done so quickly that it takes the ke: est of eves st of nerves t tect and locate them. is not enough to ne fi nost careful dr that some one in the boat is not handling himself or his oar properly, but it is far more important to tiud out who that some one is, so that he may be taken bat plainly and is one th anot nd told quietly, hos erre: it value of theerew, while, application of the nthe good sense and conversely, th remedy resta entirely willingness of the man at fault. Should he be in the least stubborn or determined to stick to Lis own way the ouly thing to be done is to put him out of the boat, uo matter how good an oarsinan he is or how much wind he has. Such case ueeds a tirm phy ny Mr. Courtuey is just the man for suc COURTNEY ON THE RIVER, It is bis practi either alone or the boat house keeper, and pull up the stream @half mile or so. Concealing himself in th weeds along the shore bh with @ pow ful field glass in bis bh 8, for the embarka- tiom of the crew i from the te they to go out upon the river, start until they take their boa his eye never leaves them. Ae their backs are turned to him and oniy the coxswain, who is in | league with him, knows his whereabonts every man is on the alert todo his best. There is not a motion of the eight oars that is lost upon the keen-eyed traimer who lies im wait for them, and as the men make faults he jots them down on a little reference sheet which he car- riee with him showing the position of each man in the boat, and which he brings out for use when he ge en together again. by Means of a cabalistic system of tarks b abled to cover almost all the possible fanits which an oarsman makes, although sometimes, he suys, there are blunders made in a boat which no one ever heard of befure and for | Which he has no sign. DIFFERENT KINDS OF TAKES, There ure ali sorts of mistakes made, such as company with Johu Bremer, | if he is provided with the proper kind of ma- terial he is liable to bring forth a boat full of men who are hard antagonists for any oppo- nents. Iie puts them into the boat twice a day, and thus does just twice as much with them as he is able todo with the Columbia oarsmen, who cannot spare the time to go to the river in the early morning and again in the evening. Courtney is by no means confining his atten- tion to the eight men who are now selected for the coming regatta work, for he has his eve on several promising young men who are just now rowing in the junior shells and whom he wants to getup to the right state of perfection to , justify him in putting them into the senior crew at a moment's notice. Foremost among them is Crist, the bicycle rider, who has devel- oped quite a taste for rowing of late and who is provided with the best of wind, muscles and bodily strength. He may row at Lake Quin- sigamond with the crew. WATCHING THE CREW. The weights of the men at present are as follows: Kenyon, 144 pounds; Kerr, 159; Baker, 14 yan, 150; Johnson, 142; Nute, 157; Kond- rup, 159; Jaunus, 161; Smith, 112. This gives an average of 161 pounds a man, which is con- sidered a fair weight for an eight-oared shell. In the Cornell-Yale freshman race Cornell's average was 143 and Yale's 168‘. Itts another of Courtney's theories that he prefers a good light man in « boat to a medium heavy , because the former is much more apt ¢ the wind to stay long in the race than the other, who, if he ever gives out, is an extra heavy weight for the rest of the crew to carry. THE TIME OF THE CREW, Courtney bas taken the time of the crew on several occasions, aud at first he found a very decided improvement, but within the last week this progress has not been so marked, and he | has begun to give the men some timely warn- ings that if they do not do better he will not ‘take them to Worcester. The truth is that the Columbias have more chance of winning in the ta which takes place at Staten Isiand on mber 1, in which they are also entered, aud itis to this race that Courtney is looking for his best results. The time was in reality wo short for any effective work from the date of his coming here until now, which practically is the end of the traiuing for the Worcester race, and he bas discouraged the idea of going there at all from the start. He has also been somewhat handicapped in his selection of men for the crew, ause some of the best ones were booked for events in the coming athletic meet in October, and could not be spared, 60 said the board of governors, for rowing pur- poses, In this way the trainer lost some very | valuable young material, which he prefers to the old stock. ‘The crew will leave the city tomorrow after- noon for Worcester, taking their shell on top of the car in which they are to travel. Besides the eight regular oarsmen, the coxswain and the trainer two substitutes, J. R. Eider and W. E. Crist, will make the trip. The eight-oared race will take place Thursday, being the last event of the regatta, and in the meantime Mr. Courtney will put the men in the boat for work twice a day. He will probably take this oppor- tanity to work the substitutes in order to get them accustomed to rowing with the others so that they will be well equipped in case of an emergency. There will be four contestants in the cight-oared race, the Columbias, | Atalantas and Brad{ords as already mentioned, aud the Wachusetts of Worcester. A trix! heat of the Colambia crew Tharsday afternoon in rough water against a strong bead wind and some tide showed such good time as to lead the trainer and others who saw the boat as it | spun through the water to hope that the race Would not be a procession atter ail. The Wa- chusetts are not supposed to be in the same class asthe other three crews. The victor wius the championsip of the National Associ- ation of Amateur Oarsmen, this being its eigh- teenth annual regatia, ——————— An Original Composition. From Harper's Bazar. Here us Tommy's version of “The Ox and the Frog? “Au ox tramped on a frog and squashed him. His brothers and sisters ran home and told | their mother, and she said:* How big was he?’ | and they said, ‘awful big; and she said, ‘as big | as this?" and swelled herself out; and they said | af you do that again you'll bust,” and the old | fale done it again aud busted, | “Morrell Never make a fule of yourself. A Gray BEARD on 8 man under fifty makes him look older than he ix. The best dye to color brown: or black is Buckiugham's Dye for the Whiskers. THE GOOD OLD TIMES. Reminiscences of Politics and States- men in Washington. DEATH OF THE WHIG PARTY. Tyler’s Barren Victory—The Fiscal Agency Veto—Aéministration Organe— Mr. Clay’s Defeat—Scott and Tay- 1 pe arene Written for Tre EveNtxo Stan. EN. TAYLOR'S DEATH was @ very severe blow to the whig party. The sad experience of Tyler's defection and its consequent defeat of the party which had placed him in power was not for- gotten. They were spared, however, a like misfortune in 1840, for Mr. Fillmore’s term was a placid one, sailing under the whig flag and with a cabinet composed of the most eminent men of that grand old party. The contrast between the two administrations secured by the whig party merits notice. The democrats under the administration of Mr. Van Buren had so deranged the financial condition of the country—the destruction of United States Bank and other actions of a like nature—had so prostrated all its industries that the promii relief was one of the most potent agencies in securing the success of the whigs under Gen. Harrison. Charges of extray- agance and waste of the public money in various ways were the themes of all the cam- paign documents and speakers. The stagnation of ail business and the distress of the masses made up the literary part of the campaign. Jack | Ogle’s speech. where he detailed the regal magnificence of the Executive Mansion, the sums paid for flowers (urtificial, the most of them), with certified biils, approved by our old and highly esteemed fellow citizen, the late Thomas L. Smith, bills for wines, &c., were spread before the country, and the culmination of this regal houschold was reached when Ogie told of *‘the gold spoons” with which the President's table were supplied, “while you, my suffering fellow citizens, are content to eat the plainest food with pewter The effect of this speech can hardly ited at this day. Thousands and thousands of copies were scattered over the country; it served as the text for innumerable litical harangues, and even the staid Intel- igencer gave up its broad columns for several days to ite publication in full. The distress which pervaded the country was ready to ac- cept any explanation for its suffering condi- tion, and so Ogle’s speech was a solution and the promise of relief the cause which more than anything else causod the overwhelming victory of the whig party. It was, however, A VERY BARREN VICTORY, The death of Gen. Harrison “within a little month” of his inauguration ended the hopes of the whigs. Mr. Tyler's early defection opened the war between the administration and the whigs in Congress, which was waged with in- creasing bitterness until its close. Gen, Har- rison's cabihet remained in office at the request of Mr. Tyler, Mr. Webster in the Department of State, Mr. Thomas Ewing in the Treasury, John Bell in the War Department, Mr. Badger, Secretary of the Navy; Francis Granger, Postmaster General, and Mr. Crittenden, At- torney General, The first duty devolving on the whig party was to give the relief promised by some financial measures, and a bill was introduced in Congress for the establishment of a United States bank, shorn of the objectionable features which it was claimed rendered the old institution dangerous, It was passed with some amendments in both houses of Congress and to the surprise of the whig party and the cabinet it was vetoed by Mr. tyler.» Another bill, prepared to meet the President’s objec- tjons, one of which was the name ‘bank” and “a fiscal agency” was formulated with the President's approval, as it was understood, and that was passed by Congress and shared the same fate as the previous measure, being vetoed, in objectionable terms, as the whig leaders charged. In a day or two Mr. Ewing resigned from the cabinet and addressed a let- ter to Gales and Seaton saying the bill just vetoed had been drawn in accordance with the President's views and modified to suit him, and was approved by him before it was sub- mitted to Congress, and since then he had heard no objection to it from the President, though it was pendmg in Congress several days, His resignation was followed by the resignation of every cabinet officer, except Mr. Webster, who, it was understood, remained to conclude the negotiations pending with Lord Ashburton, The whigsin both houses, with the exception of ‘‘acorporal’s guard,” as it was called, led by Honry A. Wise, took open grounds against Tyler, and though he had thrown himself into the armsof the democratic party, the Glole, under Mr. Blair, refused to become his organ and gave him very faint support. Some days before the veto of the fiscal agency bill was sent to Congress the Washington cor- respondent of the New York Herald made the announcement that it would be vetoed and pub- lished the grounds upon which the veto would be based, and when the veto message was sent to Congress some days later the whigs in both houses denounced the President in the most bitter speeches, ADMINISTRATION ORGANS. An organin those days was deemed neces- sary by an administration, and if ever one was needed it was .by Tyler, who found but few de- fenders in the press of the county. The Mad- isonian was established and Mr. Thomas Allen of St. Louis, who recently died, became its editor. He had a difficult task in the duty im- posed upon him. The Intelligencer continued to debate the political questions which arose with its old antagonist, the (lobe, rarely no- ticing the new organ, and inagreat measure ignoring Tyler. “Phe canvass conducted by the friends of Tyler for the succession was ridiculous. The principal supporter in Balti- more was Tom Lloyd, an illiterate tavern keeper,who was given some position in the cus- tom house in the supposition he could control the Irish vote. The same class of supporters, obtained in the same way, made Tyler's re- nomination an absurdity and afforded a good deal of amurement to the politicians of the day. ‘The Intelligencer's most important notice of the administration and its organ was a travesty of Poole’s “Littie Peddlington” and its rival ed- itors, ‘Shere was really no serious editorial combat between the Intelligencer and the Madt- sonian, AN UNFORTUNATE ADMINISTRATION. The administration of Mr. Tyler was a stormy one; the cabinet was frequently changed—one of the changes being necessitated by the and calamity aboard the Princeton, caused by the bursting of the huge gun the “peacemaker,” invented by Commodore Stockton, who was in command of the Princeton, aud who extended an invitation to the President and cabinet, Senate and House of Representatives and man: others to witness the trial of the ‘peacemaker. Onthe way back to Washington from an ex- cursion down the Potomac the gun was fired and exploded, killing Mr. Upshur, who had porabes! prageta gprs aga Secretary of State, Mr. Gilmer, Secretary of the Navy, Commodore Kennan. one of the naval commissioners, Mr. Virgil — ex-Attorney General, and others, In December, 1344, the news reached here of the hanging on’ board the United States brig Somers of young Spencer, the son of the Sec- retary of the Treasury, by Slidell McKenzie, and created the most intense and painful ex- {citement throughout the whole country. Mr, Spencer resigned from the cabinet, McKenzie | was tried but acquitted by a naval board, Jas. Fenimore Cooper wrote a scathing letter to the public, denouncing McKenzie as a mur. derer. Public opinion was so generally hostile to him that, though he remained in the navy, he never had another command, Mr. Spencer had been Secretary of War, and was, on the re- organization of the cabinet, transferred to the Treasury. I think Judge Bibb, that ardent disciple of Isaac Walton, succeeded Mr. Spencer and found relief from the duties of official life in the pursuit of ‘the finny tribe”-—content to sit all day with his sable companion if only to obtain “a glorious nibble.” ‘he quaint old | judge, with knee breeches and buckled shoes of the anti-revolutionary period, and his earn- est conversation, plentifully besprinkled with expletives, remains a very vivid memory with our older citizens, The last act of Tyler’s administration was the bill for the annexation of Texas and the appomtment of a judge or two of the Supret Court, who were called “midnight judges,” being appointed during the last hours of his administration, Mr, ‘lyier’s marriage and THE FESTIVITIES AT THE WHITE HOUSE served torescue his administration from the social ban his apostacy had placed upon it. Prince de Joinville visited Washington at this riod and was entertained at the President's ouse, and the first ball was given in the east room during Mr, Tyler's administration. Lord Morpeth in the iporbee ¢ frond was entertained at dinuer and ball narles Dickens made his first visit to America, and on his return published his “American Notes” as an acknow!- edgment of the hospitalities which were showered uponhim. The Evening Post of Ne York in January, 1842, speaking of the toady. ism to which he was subjected, said: “Poor Boz; we did think there was common sense enough in the country to secure him a little — and comfort, but it seems there is not e man is doomed.” I will bunt up a letter in which N. P. Willis as New York corre- Intelligencer tells of his first in- with Dickens, when he was ‘“umble” as Uriah Heap. THE DEFEAT OF MR. CLAY in 1844 was most keenly felt at Washington, where he was almost idolized. The city was largely whig in sentiment and Mr. Clay had so long lived here—as Speaker, cabinet officer and Senator—that every man, woman and child knew him and loved him, and his defeat caused the most poignant grief.’ Mr. Joseph H. Brad- ley, who was president of the Clay Club, an- nounced the result in tears and many in the audience followed his exampls, and, conse- quently, Mr, Polk was not very warmly wel- comed. His cabinet was a very able one—Mr. Buchanan, Secretary of State; Robert J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury; William L. Marcy, Secretary of War; George Bancroft, Secretary of the Navy: Cave Johnson, Postmas- ter General; Nathan Clifford (afterward Justice Clifford of the Supreme Bench), Attorney Gen- eral. Mr, Bancroft resigned in 1846 and was sent as minister to England and was succeeded by John Y, Mason, and Judge Clifford's suo- cessor was Isaac Toucey of Connecticut. Mr. Polk, who as Speaker of the House obtained so many enemies by his partisan rulings that he was refused the usual vote of thanks, was charged with the same unfairness in the con- duct of tho war, The whig party received no recognition in the officers sent to Mexico and the conduct of the war was controlled in a great measure by the committee of Congress in charge of military affairs. The committee on the conduct of the war of 1861, which so hampered Mr. Lincoln, had a precedent in the artisan action of a like committee in 1846-7. it is hardly remembered that Col. Benton was appointed by Mr. Polk lieutenant general over Scott and Taylor, but the Senate refused to confirm the appointment. SOOTT AND TAYLOR. The belligerent character of Gen. Scott ren- dered him particularly sensitive to the stric- tures of the War Department, and he replied with a vigor which placed him ata great dis- advantage. Gen. Taylor in the meanwhile pocketed his dispatches without reading them and answered them by the victories he won. He did not bring with him to Washington the blunt manners which had obtained his name of “Rough and Ready.” He was kindly, courteous and affable to every one, and it could hardly be credited the stories told of his roughness, the change was so great. He might have been the hard-swearing colonel on the frontier, as Mr. Webster said, but it was only on the frontier, as Bob Acres was fighting Bob only in the country. Hissecretary and son-in-law, Col. Bliss—‘Perfect Bliss” was his West Point cog- nomen—was the opposite of the old general in the field and in frontier life. ‘MR, FILLMORE'S ADMINISTRATION was, as I have said, a very placid one, the cabinet able and thoroughly whig. His Secre- taries of State were John M. Clayton, Daniel Webster and Edward Everitt; Secretaries of the Treasury, Wm. Meredith and Thomas Corwin; of War, George W. Crawford and Charles M. Conrad; of the Navy, Wm. B, Preston, Wm. A. Graham and John P. Kennedy; of the Interior, Thomas Ewing and Alex. H. Stewart; Post- master Generals, Jacob Collamer, N. K. Hall and 8. D. Hubbard; Attorney Generals, Reverdy Johnson and John J, Grittenden. The cabinets in those days, and up to a very recent period, were almost made up by ey opinion—that is, the men who were fitted to fill those exalted stations were known and recognized by their past services and experience in public life. Now a days—but I forget I am writing of the past not of the present. THE WHIG PARTY'S DEATH. When the American party, as it was called— thatia, the “know nothing party” under another name—nominated Mr. Fillmore and he accepted the nomination it was the funeral knell of the old whig party. One of poor Burwell’s jokes comes up to me from memory's store jouse when the names of Mr. Fillmore and Mr. Stewart are mentioned. The American organ was published here by Vespasian Ellis and Sr, Burwell was one of its editors. The afternoon he returned from the convention which had nominated Fillmore I met him and said: “Well, nominated Fillmore. Ci ‘Not my nominee, sir.” ot your nominee? He was nominated bya Virginian and surely you will saga by him.” “No, sir! he was not nominated €y a Virginian.” “Yes id; “by Alex. H. H. Stewart.” “He ian, sir! He never paid a secu- rity debt. ie was never drunk in his life and he always quits winner at faro. Sir, he has not @ single attribute of a Virginian.” The nomination of Gen. Scott was a lament- able failure. Mr. John Sherman, ‘Cerro Gordo” Williams and Gen. Curtin were among the dele- gate which met at Baltimore June 16, 1852, and about the only survivorsI can recall, Mr. Lin- coin was a delegate. A speech by the Hon. Ogden Hoffman after the nomination roused the convention to the highest pitch of enthusiasm, but, alas, it was only temporary. A convention was called to meet at Lundy's Lane on the an- niversary of that battle, where Gen. Scott won his first laurels, and was expected to be a grand demonstration. I represented the Intelligencer there and tried very hard to convince our readers that it wasagreat success, but the crowds expected did not materialize. A gon- eral breakup was evident and the letters signed by Alexander H. Stephens, Robert Toombs, Meredith P. Gentry and other southern whiga refusing to support Scott destroyed all hope of success, The defeat was so disastrous it left but remnant of the great old party, which subsequently met at Baltimore in 1856 and nominated Mr, Fillmore. I attended that convention, which reminded me very much of Trambull’s peas in the rotunda of the Declaration of Independence, The same quiet, sedate, gentlemanly demeanor marked the two. They had outgrown the knee breeches, but dress coats, black satin vests and gold-headed canes prevailed. As — picture of the better days of the sepublic it would have made an admirable pendent to Trumbull’s “Shiupiece,” as John Randolph irreverently called it, but as voters they had outlived their usefulness unless the day of election was fair. Grand old fellows they were, though, and I am very proud to acknowledge I was nurtured in that school, and hence my repugnance to the “primaries” of the present day and their unwashed controllers, ‘Those members of the noble old party who re- main are about equally distributed between the two parties of the present day, and the Hon. Edward Bates’ detinition ofan old line whig will be accepted wherever they are known, as an aged gentleman who takes his brandy and water regularly and votes the democratic ticket occasionally. Joun F, Corre. a Slow Work for Lightning. From the Atlanta Constitution. A few days ago a negro named Aaron Lowe dropped dead. The coroner's jury rendered a verdict in substance that he came to his death from the effect of a lightning stroke sustained about a year previous. Lowe was struck slightly by lightning about a year ago, butupto the time of his death never exhibited any symptoms of injury. He worked all the time, and was apparently sound and healthy. ‘Thus, in the light of the verdict, the coro- ner’s jury makes outa very unusual case, to say the least. The cause assigned for the man’s death was based upon the opinion of County Physician Griffin, who appeared before the coroner's jury. An autopsy was suggested by the coroner for substantiation, but the jury took it as being probable cause and so reu- dered its decision, Among physicians the verdict created quite ® little comment, All who expressed them- selves were decidedly of the opinion that Lowe could not have come to his death from the shock he received a year ago, Several physicians were questioned u pon the subject by a reporter. it would be simply impossible for the man to have come to his death as the coroner's jury found,” said Dr. Hunter P. Cooper. “A man might receive a lightuing shock and linger for @ year, but he would certainly show marked signs of affection in the interim.” “It would be possible,” said Dr. E. C. Roy, “for a person to die from the effect of @ dis- order or disease of the nervous system pro- duced by lightning shock, but not from the direct effect of the shock itself. You see, the shock, if itdid not kill outright or leave him unharmed, might produce a disease of the nerves, which, ually becoming more severe, would ultumately cause the sufferer to die. Idon’t understand how Lowe could ha’ died from lightning shock, as was found by the coroner's jury, if it is true he never ex- hibited any evidence of disease resulting from that shock. Disease sufficient to cause death could be the effect of a shock of electricity, but the shock could not produce death ata subsequent time without the disease manifest- ing itself.” mo Harry H. Huzza explained the case by illustrating the known effects of electricity. “Electricity affects the human system,” said he, “in three different ways It ae kills instantly and painlessly, severe! or iret the With oo tantiy it waa it injures without ans poems @ nervous affection that would resalt im death,” The St Louis switchmen, says « western Psper, have petitioned the Missouri bg oui commissioners for protection to life from the frogs. If the switches are not oe not arm these mea with ‘Written for Tas Evawine S142 LIFE AMONG THE ZANZIBARIS. People Who Have Few Clothes, but a Vigorous Taste for Athletics. |~aag> ~EOPLE have been wont to think of the inhabit- ants of Zanzibar as bar- barians, but this scarcely does justice to them, as, in fact, they really have ® most curious sort of GS civilization peculiar to themselves, A few years ago the Bultan of Zanzibar dispatched M. Marfoniz with a detachment of sol- diers to commence the es- tablishment of forts in the country of Onie-Nim- bri, the first to be located at Memboya, a jour- ney of fifteen days from Zanzibar, leaving there a garrison fully supplied with arms and munitions, This being accomplished, his or- ders were to advance tothe interior with at least five hundred men, making Memboya the basis of a line of fortresses reaching as far as Nemonzi, This was done to prevent the emir from advancing farther than the limits of Gha- rat, with a view to securing peace and tran- quility to the inhabitants of that section. The Zanzibaris are an exceedingly primitive people, having no religion and no apparent faith of any sort. Some of them, however, do plant a stick in the ground and, after decking it with flowers and verdure, seemingly wor- ship it piously, The sentiment of modesty is utterly unknown to them, as it wasin the Garden of Eden in the era before the fall, and the majority for their sole costume borrow the leaves of the largest bananas. Among their singular cus- toms, when a cog 2 girl reaches womanhood, the passing from childhood to maturity is the occasion of » greatceremonial. The girl and all her relations, decorated with their most beautiful banana leaves, triumphantly parade the town. The heroine of this display has the privilege of saluting any one she fanci smiling, or even pressing the hand of any one she chooses, but is positively forbidden to utter asingle word. To remain perfectly dumb for the entire day seems almost an impossibility for a woman, especially for a young girl. Yet this interdict appears so natural to the demoi- selles of Zanzibar, who are habituated to it from childhood, that they submit to the cus- tom with unquestioning resignation. Aun un- happy superstition awards heavy PUNISHMENT TO CHILDLESS WIVES. A husband, under such circumstances, piti- lessly abandons the unfortunate wife, never- more regarding her as a member of his family or in any way whatever taking the least care of er. The Zanzibaris’ national dance, which is called “dandaro,” is similar to the well-known Almee dance of the east, with only this difference: In the Almee only two performers are required, while all the women present join in the dandaro, One frequently sees servants, whose masters have forbidden their partictpating in these dances, willfully abandoning good homes to be at liberty to enjoy this forbidden but coveted dance. THE GAMES AND AMUSEMENTS of these primitive tribes are truly indicative of their fierce and savage natures. The ‘fimbi” or game of cudgels, played on each Friday, is a general struggle which is never finished with- out much bloodshed, What seems most re- markable is the fact that fierce and earnest as is the struggle for mastery there never seems the least bitterness nor animosity after it is over between the vanquished and the victor. Each player chooses an adversary, but never are two allowed to battle against one. May be, however, some hero requests the special favor of being attacked by two, three or even four opponents. ‘he contestants are eager for these san- guinary struggles, in which the most remark- able skill is ne ed; but they can use no other weapon than cudgels of flawless solidity, If a combatant loses his weapon his adversary waits for him to recover it, or, often picking it up himself, offers his own cudgel with the courtesy of a fencing master. At the end of the conflict the victors assist the vanquished to rise and bathe their wounds, and then all go together to take a fraternal drink of a liquor made from corn, which makes them very drunk. Whereupon another challenge is given for the following Friday. CIVILIZATION 18 SLOW. Despite the most strenuous efforts used by the government to suppress these games, they still continue. Latterly troops have been sent to prevent such meetings, but they have been 80 unpleasantly received that they have been glad to seek refuge in flight. Education and civilization make very slow progress among this people, who, even without it, are remarkably intelligent. Whenever @ war vessel arrives in port it is saluted with all the honors customary among civilized nations. The Zanzibaris hoist the flag of the sultan, who receives the commandant and officers of the strange vessel at his palace. The heat of Zanzibar is intense and over- powering. The clovo crop is very abundant ‘nd profitable, aud the duty upon this traffic, which is about 35 per cent, constitutes a large part of the sultan’s revenue The cloves which grow on the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and El-Gaziriel Khadra are very fine aud valuable. A plantation ten years old averages from 20 to 30 pounds a tree, while trees of twenty yeurs’ growth yield about 200 pounds each, Although every part of the tree is aromatic, the bud, which is the clove of ex- port, is the valuable portion. The chief part of the crop is sent to Bombay and the balance is dispatched to Egyptand Europe. The use of joney is entirely uuknown to these people, their business transactions being paid by trans. fers, of which lead and powder are cousidered the ‘most desirable. A few years ago a coal mune was discovered in the Interior, and since then a much more valuable one has been found at Maquinca, two days’ journey from Zanzibar. —— The Love of Daisies. From the Boston Transcript. The other day a friend of the Listener, hear- ing that a poor man whom she had known was very ill in the hospital, set about cheering him up by visiting him and taking him some flow- ers. She bought him two or three Jacqueminot roses—the most beautiful that she could find in the market—and took them to the sufferer’s bedside. His first look showed gratitude and wistfulness at the same time. “It is beautiful, and I thank you,” he said, “but I wish you had brought me some daisies instead!’ To aman on what may be his deathbed the cape daisy that brings back his childhood’s fields is vastly more than the great red rose of the conservatory. Another true story, this time of the streets: A lady who spends the summer at a country town and who, when she comes to the city, comes in at the Lowell station, went up Pitt street not long ago carrying a white field daisy in her hand, perhaps more by accident than otherwise. had not gone far up this thoroughfare of the slums when a ragamuffin boy came running up. ‘ “Lady!” he ‘called out, poets ®& copper, “Tain't got but one cent, but I'll give it to you oe 3 the daday tohim f thing. The 6 gave for no} . incident madeso much of an impression on her that she resolved to revisit the street with a larger supply of flowers. Bhe brought in quite uet of pretty field flowers, and started up a Rare. Not <i the stay he car trac! came upon a hokey ry cart, which an Italian was vending Bis tntatog ice pelinor ombnaget acy ge There was a li or rather a ring, of dirty children, boys an: girls, each of whom had got jon of a per and was awaiting his or her turn at the y- the group caught sight of the lady juet. As all broke away from the hokey-pokey cart came running and flocking about her. The shout from every one of them was the same: ~ “aady! Til give yera ‘cent for one o’ the flowers! = Can you finda tribute to the et hovers aon tek tas halen ire nee children eager to sacrifice a little feast of ice cream for a single daisy of the tields? ONE WAY OF SOLVING IT, Mr. Suggests a Way of Settling the Railroad Question. To the Editor of Tae Evexixo Stam It is not true that the citizens desire to crip- ple or antagonize the railroads, As I said be- fore the Senate subcommittee, we understand perfectly that no city can exist in this day and age without railroads and that the railroads must have the necessary terminal facilities; that we desired they should have better ter- minal facilities than they now have, the enly question being how they can secure them and at the same time render trade and travel, life and property more secure. That this can be done to me seems clear enough. First, the railroad wants more room for its trains and for housing freight, and both the railroad and business men want side tracks and switches by which cars can be run into yards and ware houses. On the other hand the pub- lie wants the grade crossings abolished, so the streets can be opened, and travel and traffic to and from the river be uninterrupted and safe, As to the removal of the depot from its pres- ent location, I consider that a subordinate mat- ter. which need not necessarily enter into the discussion of the two main points above, although I think the company could be bene- fited by its removal tothe junction of M land and Virginia avenues, as originally in- tended. In order to fully comprehend the importance Or necessity of doing away with the grade crossings it should be borne in mind, first, thi the business by boats is concentrated between. 6th and 12th streets on the river front, and sevond, that from 43¢ to 12th street there is but one street that we can go through from Penn- sylvania avenue to the river—that is, 7th street—and on that are two street railroud tracks, which are much worse since the cable cars have commenced running, and that for half the day it is almost impossible to drive through that street in front of the market. Many persons seem not to be aware of the fact that there is no 5th street below the ave- nue and that 6th street is completely closed by the railroad company. Now, when it is considered that the entire river traflic and travel, including all the res- idents of South Washington and every person going to Mount Vernon or wlsewhere on the river, and every load of freight hauled to or from the river front, has to cross the numer- ous railroad tracks at great danger aud delay, every one must see tow important it is th: some means be adopted by which this diffi- culty can be avoided, and at least two, if not three, streets be opened to travel between 45g and 12th streets, SINKING THE TRACKS. This can be done by simply sinking the tracks sufficiently to enable them to be bridged over at the street crossings. That this can be done does not admit of question. The surface of the streets, jhown by the established grades and abundantly high to admit of it. To a ret street west is nearly 11 feet above mean high tide. From there westward the ground rises, being 173¢ feet at 4's street, 23 feet at 6th street, 27 fect at 7th street, 30 feet at 9th street, 3415 feet at 10th street, 35 feet at 1ith street, 36 feet at 12th street and from there descends to i7'¢ feet above at 4th street. Twenty fect clear space is required for the pas- sage of trains and it is clear that the tracks can be sunk so that most, if not all, of these streets can be carried over the tracks on bridges, Suppose some of the bridges should have to be raised a few feet above the surface, what of it? At 6th, 7th and 9th, where the bulk of the cross ing is. they would’ not need to be raised, ¢ cept, perhaps, a little at 6th, depending on the grade adopted for the tracks, Heretofore there has been no controversy on this point. When we were before the House committee on the Ludlow bill three years ago and I made this suggestion to the committee the now Senator Barbour, then chairman, re- plied that Col. Scott, the former president of the company, had offered of his own accord to sink the tracks. ‘Two years ago, in a couversa- tion with Mr. Wilkins, their general manager at Baltimore, who was formerly superintend- ent of the Baltimore and Potomac road in this city and who is familiar with the locality and the grades, admitted that it could be done and said the company would be willing to do so on condition that it was permitted to retain its depot on the mail. THE ONLY OBJECTION. This would afford the relief sought by the general public. The only reason now given for not doing this is the cost. At most this could not exceed $400,000 all told, and when it is known, as stated in H.R. Report No. 928 of the present Congress, that the company spent “up- wards of $7,000,000 to get through Baltimore, the cost here surely ought not to be an ol stacle, President Roberts himself says grade cross- ings ought to be abolished, that it is the policy of the company to do so, and that it has spent large sums torid Philadelphia and Baltimore of them. It is understood thes the company now has in contemplation plans for abolishing its grade crossings in Jersey City that will cost near $2,000,000. Other roads are doing the same. The New York Central has built a viaduct to carry its four tracks over the streets through the city of Rochester at a cost of 1,500,000, and it pro- oses to do the same in Buffalo at acost of $2,000,000. In view of these facts I do not see how the company can object on the score of cost here if it has any disposition to act fairly with the citizens while seeking these additional privileges for itself, On the other hand, for the relief of the com- pany, it might be authorized to condemn all the land it wants east of 434 street, clear down to the river front if necessary, and to make all the switches and turnouts necessary to con- nect with ware houres, yards, &c., east of 4% street, thus giving it all the room and facilities it will need for ail time, Even west of 4}, street, if the tracksare sunk, there could be no objection to its making turn. outs to connect with ware houses, factories, &c., if made below grade, as they could be most of the way. There is plenty of room to sink two or even four tracks on Maryland and Virginia avenues and leave a good roadway each side. A wall should be built up along each side to render traveling safe and prevent horses from being frightened by the passing trains, which could then go at any desired speed, MIGHT BE PASSED aT ONCE. Now, if the company will introduce a bill embodying these two provisions I imagine it would be passed at once. I am sure the great mass of the citizens would do all in their power to help pass it. Why not do it? For one, I would be willing to compromise on this basis and let their depot remain where it is, only they should get entirely out of 6th street, so it could be opened to travel. At the same time I believe it would be better for the company to remove its depot to the site originally designated, at the junction of Mary- land and Virginia avenues. ‘There is plenty of ground for a depot as large as will ever be needed, The trains would run below, the same as in Baltimore, the passengers com- ing out above, and the trains or cars could then be run into the company’s unde east of 439 street, where they would have plenty of room to store them, make up trains and switch about as they please. ‘Their present entrance is too narrow, and they have to be switching back and forth constantly to get the trains in and out, and it will con- stantly become worse as the number of trains increase with the increase of travel. It would make no practical difference to the public, be- cause the street railroads would at once be changed so far as necessary to reach the new location. The people would simply ride the two squares on strect cars or cabs instead of on the steam cars, that's all. But whether the de- pot be moved or not there is no earthly reason why the other two things shouid not be done at once. ‘There is no trouble at all in the company ugh te mest or. woul provaen ie Oman the same time abolish its crossiugs. W. C. Dopex. —_—____. The Cabinet Noir. From It will be welcome news that the French government has decided to abolish the “‘cabi- net noir,” or the secret service branch of the post office. Not that this time-honored insti- restiess feeling of insecurity in the knowledge that one’s letters might be tampered with by persons for whose eyes they were never in- tended. The most harmless of epistles, ad- dressed, for instance, to one’s laut might wtacws appetrance, aoa thang the Tdomaps ensue would be a delay in delivering il the episode would be tion, but the fact that the office exist proves that 2 longer 1 5 master general claims to open any letters at his own risk. But THIS EVENING ee: 9 T. CLAIR FECHNER, AUCTIONFER, 611 PE! ayivpnia eve. under Metropolitan Bote H AY a: lot (Pawnbroker's 0) odees, Gold and Silver Watchen Geuwine orks of Art. ye Sm a : ——3 _ POTURE Das. HOMAS DOWLING, Auctioneer. TRUSTEES SALE wh. HORSES, WAGONS AND HARNESS, By virtue of achattel deel of trust of Jume, AD. NWO, and duiy the Goer {of trust ‘Lermus cast: MINA Drax HENRY & MIN THOMAS DOWLING. fo ECUTORS’ ALE PROVED POPE R OF VPRY YALvARLE Iw. RTS. BEING HOUSE No 1340 THWEST eon frout of the NTH DAY oO} PM t V SIRLET N 2 prep nee on Tree avatse Fxecutors of the estate « b aUnd&ds JRATSHEFE DARE & 00. Aucte CUANCFRY SALE OF A TRACT OF LAND INTHE SUBDIVISION OF THE “BAKKY FARM” REAR ANACOSTIA, D.C. AL AUCTION neq B Logan nee D. will offer for sale at yu wn in trout of the Premisen, on MONDAL, TEENTH DAY OP ALGUsT, A.D. 18% O'CLOCK PML, alk that certain piece District of Colum! and being lot (©) of tue trustees’ the sane property co: mu not Bary to said detend: ‘ bam in fe ¥ deed dated July ZO, 18SD, records folio 37%, of tue land Feec rds of the District of Coiinibie erms (oVer and a! en incu trance of @1,200); Cash. Terms to be jd with on ten days from the day of sale, otherwise the right i reserved to. the provers Ehaner © ea fore newspaper published “a couveysancihg and re di - » deposit of $100 regu: 3¥31-04 Sv4 12th wt. \. Auctioneers, Poumaylvania £ve. Dw. VERY VALUABLE BUILDING LOTS ON Fax- ETTE (THIKTY-FIFTH) BETWEEN SECOND {PLAND THIRD Cy STKEBTS, GEOKGRTOWN, Qn TUESDAY AFTERNOON. AUGUST TW! ‘TH, AT SIX O'CLOCK, w the premises, Z Ll offer for sale, in front of by 8 depth of in one of the best sectious of aud the attention of reetown, an parties in gear are now inj rc ¥ a Nos. 141 and 1419 Fa Terms: One-third cash, bal t 6 per ceut, secured by decd of trust on prop ail cash, at option of the purchaser. A 00 at tie of wale. If the terme of died with iu teu days from day of resell the three o) ting pure Vertisement in some Bewspape Ali conveyancing, &e., at cost RRATCUIFE, Dake & CO, auctiovsers, G20 Penuayivania ave, EXTENSIVE BALE OF GKOCERIES, OLD WINES, L OKB, & To BE Sou. ON MONDAY MoKNIS 4 PARI ‘Toilet Soaps, Blue «Soap sported aud, ‘anued & Prckics, Popver, Molasses, Mustard, Viuew ud Jugs, Shoe and Scrub Brushes, pe, Measures, Ke, Ke ALso t of Wuirs, Curry Combs, &a, th ® full assortinent of Grocers quors, &c., usually found in « first-class @roc store, removed to our sales rooms for conveniena Of sale, to which the stteution of the trade aud avate buyers is called. 6-d KATCLIFFE, DARK & CO, Auctioneers, Retcaere, DAKK & CO, Auctionsers, ULO Pa. ave. CHANCERY SALE OF IMPROVED REAL FSTATR LOCATED IN THE Ci1Y OF WASHINGTON, BEING PR! ES Nos 114¢ TWENTY Flite STKEET NOKLTHWEST AND 600 TWENTY- THIRD STRERT NOKTHWEST, Jecree of the Supreme Court 8 passed on J 1890, in eg uit docket No. 31, will sell ar pubuig suction. Au front of the, premises, on THUBSDAL AUGUST FOURTEENTH, isu, at HALF-PAST FOUR O'CLOCK P- numbered nine (4) it Clap: lear = ded subdiviion of lowe Fecor tered ud “*B" in De Vauchau's recorded sub- division of original jot numbered Ove (1), ib square umber forty-three (4 This «round is improved by a rubstantial two-story brick house in good repair, is g corner lot aud is ¥ desirable in every ways cither Tore Lowey an vestuvest or speculation. i Ls ON THE SAME DAY AND DATE, AT HALE-PaST FIVE O'CLOCK P.M, in front of the premises, 1 will rll st public auction Bart of Lot nuubored fourteen (14) in square Dume red seventy-two (72), beginning for the same ou ‘Twenty -firet stroet west thirty-four (4) fect frou the northeast corner of Jot Bumbered fourteen «14) and running thence south on said 1 wenty-fret street nineteen (19) teet and six (6) inches, thence west at Tight angles with said Twenty-first street owe hun dred (100) fect and five (5) inches, more or lees, t depth of said lot, theuce orth on the west live of wai lotpumbered fourtest, (14) uineteen (1¥) get and aug (6) inches, thence east 1u w straiglit line to the place ALIDE ‘his ground i¢ improved by an old Frame House, s tenautabse repair. ‘The Lot is particularly bre a a demrabii tly opeped uveWEnts, je location. with a re louses are under rent aud are yielding an ex- cellent return. ‘erms of sule: One-third of cash, the balance in ove the promissury wotes of ths fret morteuce or deed of ri oid, Deferred payments to bear interest at the rate of 6 p cent perannum until paid. Terms of sale tobe come ied with within teu days from day of sale, otherwise fhe Trustee will resell e risk aud cost of the de- a, blic Betice im his disore- ton. A deposit of $250 on each lot will be required hen the property is gold. All couveyanciaw aud ile examining to be at the cost of the purchaser, premises may be inspected upon to ue ‘rustee or the Auc v8 © reo THOMAS M. FIELDS, Trustee, No. S44 Dat. tow. ‘Washington, D.C. 2-dkas PIANOS AND ORGANS. a SS ss THT pee id “= ¢ Ht K er SS F Ht 5S 2 200 first Mt indorsed by over 100 tlusic ncioole asd Colewes Red durability. Old Francs akon tnexchaaga The omiy pSdm FELFFER & SORE Telia st b Lanixe [sstrowexts. DECKER BEOB, WEBER FISCHER ESTEY IVEKS & POND ESTEY ORGANS. ESTEY ORGANS. MODERATE PRICES, EASY TERMS, Old instruments taken im part payment Tuning and Kepaining. ‘We close at'8 delock @urive July and or ° SANDERS & STATMAN, 34 F street north: lichmoud. Va. é .s 8 8 XN N A ‘7 i NN a Bi x a ° aN s. TONE, TOUCH, WORKMANSHIP CRAMILIEY Special attentio: pure ANS” Artintic Styles.” Suished tm desigue of 4 Plakoce com), every well. ri Secs Seine ere desired. ‘CEM: $a prices oud in terme, ill be NTHL| wi FRACTICAL ND JOB PRINTERS, iwits Estimates furnished. Presework for the Trade. suS