Evening Star Newspaper, November 15, 1890, Page 8

THE EVENING * STAR: WASHIN GTON, D: C., SATURDAY, ——— VEMBFR 15,°1890—sIX TEEN PAGES, CHRYSANTHEMUMS. How the National Embiem of Japan Flourishes Here. ITIS THE PRIDE OF AMERICA. —_—_-—_—_ More Varieties Cultivated in This C try Than Anywhere Else—Methods of Obtaining New Flowers—Names of the Different Classes. ——— Written for Tax Evexrxe Stan. N BUSY AMERICA, where every man vies with the other to amass wealth, apparently very little attention is paid to the beauties of nature, but when the subject is thoroughly analyzed we find more interest manifested than gencral sppear- . ances would warrant. Recently New York state has chosen the golden fod to be its representative in the floral king- dom, and the choice is certainly a good one. Long years ago a want was felt for a national flower in Japan. and the chrysanthemum, that floral gem and a native of China and Japan, was chosen as itsemblem. The cultivation of the national flower has been carried on in Japan for centuries, About a hundred years ago the chrysanthemum was introduced into Europe, and the centennial of its introduction was celebrated last year. About 1838 the first chrysanthemums were brought to this country and their cultivation began. Very little attention was paid to the flower up to twonty years ago. Prior to 1870 we were obliged to depend on England and France for the new varieties of chrysanthemums, but this is no longer the case; on the contrary America now the country to which all others look for arieties. There are more fine chrysan- mums produced in America than can be found in any other country, and they make up about two-thirds of the varieties now under cultivation. Incidentally it may be remarked that the chrysanthemum is not only the easiest of all flowers to obtain new varieties from, but its wonderful variations of shape and color, and the ready response it gives to the culti- vator’s touch, set it almost apart from every ether produce of horticultural art. e ‘The process of raising chrysanthemums is truly an interesting one. New varieties are pro- duced from the seed. To do this only the best plants are selacted forthe purpose. The sys- tem is of the same nature as that by which finely bred horses are produced. When the pedigree of a plant is known to be right, the pollen of one variety is put upon the flower of another, and a new variety is the result in the resultant seed. When the seed is ripe it should be sown, after which it germinates rapidly. The plant is allowed to grow until it attains to sheight of three or four inches, when it is treated in the same manner as plants raised from cuttings. Plants thus raised will flower about nine months after the sowing of the seed. The percentage of good varities thus obtained varies considerably; from 5 to 25 per cent are generally preserved for two or three years, and during this time thorough analysis is made of the variety, so that only a small per cent is retained for general culture. Chrys- anthemums are ordinarily raised from cuttings taken in January or February. Only the strong plants are selected for this purpose and the cut- tings are planted in sand. As soon as the tiny roots have been put forth the plant is potted in two or three inch pots and gradually shifted into larger pots as the roots become pot-bound. The main point in the successful culture of chrysanthemums is the continuous growth of the plant from rooting to blooming. ‘The plant should never receive a check, but must have a continuous growth from the time roots are first put forth in the sod till the buds open and dis- play the beautiful flowers. Checks not only invariably spoil the plant, but in most cases entirely ruin it The chrysanthemum natu- rally thrives in a moderate temperature and delights in plenty of light and sunshine. THE SEVERAL CLASSES, To distinguish the various kinds of chrysan- themums they have been divided into several classes. The principal ones or general divi- sions are the pompons, Chinese incurve, Chi- nese deflex, anemone flowered and the Japan- ese, the last class being the most esteemed be- cause of their exceedingly large and showy flowers. The coursing of the strains has been carried on to such an extent that several sub- divisions have been made. Great interest is xhibited by the grower in his attempts to possess flowers of thoroughbred types. The pompon class are distinguished by their small, well-rounded flowers. The Chinese incurved have the petals all arching upward so as to form @ perfect bail. The anemone class has long outer petals, while the inner ones are con- siderably shortened. The Japanese class is the most varied of all. Toit norules can be assigned, some of the flowers being perfectly incurved; others are deflex or twisted in various ways. The most varieties now under cultivation are the Mrs. Alpheus Hardy, Mrs. Hicks Arnold, Rohallion, Ahosta, Cortez, La Mona, H. A. Widener, Advance. Avalanche, Kiato, La For- tune, Violet Rose, William H. Lincoln and the Lilian B. Bird. Chrysanthemums are nami in compliment to distinguished persons, growers and their friends, while now and then aname is given because the plant from its natural qualities seems to call for it. Every color save biue is produced in the chrysanthe- mums, with their shades and sub-shades. The col- oring in some of the plants is really wonderfal, attaining at times the most delicate of shades and at others flaming into gorgeous hues. In the cultivation of the plant the pervading idea of the grower is to attain varieties as near per- fection as possible. To this end only such varieties as are of merit are sought after. An ideal plant must be a free grower, of s@Y stem, have a perfect double flower of good substance and possess a good, clear, distinct color. The chrysanthemum is cultivated nowa great extent, not only by private parties who raise more or less, but by all commercial florists, who grow from 100 to 20,000 plants each an- pually to supply the demand for cut flowers in our large cities, where the chrysanthemum has almost supplanted the rose in popularity, Raising flowers of any kind is a larger business than is generally supposed, but the extent of the culture of the chrysanthemum alone is wonderful. There are over 8,000 commercial florists in the country, each of whom raises on an average of 1,000 chrysanthemum plants an- ually. This is a low estimate, and when all the amateurs are included the aggregate shows the vastness of the enterprise, the amateurs outnumbering the commercial florists ten to one. The culture of the chrysanthemum is confined almost exclusively to the eastern states, where they are grown to perfection. The enthusiasm with which people have en- tered into the cultivation of the chrysanthe- mum is nowhere better shown than in the or- ganizations which have been formed for mutual conference relative to their culture. Societies have been formed in various sections of the country. which hold large exhibitions of these beautiful flowers, ‘There 1s a National Chrysanthemum Society in England which is composed of represent- atives of smaller societies that are situated in every shire of the country. In the United States there is a Chrysanthemum Society which bas among its members some of our most prominent men, and is composed of a large majority of the commercial as well as the pri- Yate growers. _ The general public shows a decided prefer- ence for the flowersof the yellow, white and light pink shades. The season of flowering extends from October 1 until Christmas, and by special cultivation the flowers can be had even later. All the pompons and a great many varieties of the choicest classes can be grown as hardy plants in warm, sheltered places, where they will repay for the little troubie taken to preserve them by a fine show of flow- ers in the tage am Semsa agormg oe in the garden. Taney can jeft standing during the winter and are ready to bloom again the following season. The flowers v: in size from one-balf inch to fourteen inc! in di- ameter. In Japan they grow to a diameter of eighteen inches, but become coarse and un- shapely from their immense size. The height of the plant varies from one and one-half to twelve feet. EXTENT OF THE CULTIVATION. Some of the growers most extensively en- gaged in chrysanthemum culture in this coun- try raise from tem to twenty thousand plants per year. ‘The cutting plants in the , which is the time for i ny peer Bet plant, according to the rarity and quality {60,000 to 100,000 annually. The plants por ny af rtbanptennnemet Prices from 00° ecuts Secuiy of Oe tpectnon, “Where toasters an ex done in from | To tall white-tasseied thistle thi grown to be a large one, and it is estimated that from $1,000,000 to @1,500,000 are involved in the traffic. Sometimes very fancy prices are paid for Tare specimens, as was the case two years ago at the time of the introduction of ‘the Mra. Alpheus Hardy chrysanthemum. This fiower raised more enthusiasm than any other plant ever introduced into this country and one of the large firms paid $1,500 for it. The beauty of the Mrs. Hardy variety consisis in the fine, silk-like glandular hairs which cover the outer surface of the = and give it a finc, unique appearance. Descriptive catalogues are pub- lished annually, describing the new additions and every year omitting those that have been surpassed in beauty by the new comers. Over 50,000 men are engaged in the cultiva- tion of the chrysanthemum, directly or indi- rectly, in this country alone. Year by year the interest in this wonderful plant increases, and the climax of its popularity will not be reached for years. parte eae ah. Written for Tae Evexrxe Stan. A November Mood, A smoky afternoon, with gold onwoven, Gold, tawny-soft and ruddy-hued as wine; By balmy winds the pensive air is cleven And blended with the breath of spruce and pine. The seattered knots seen through the biue-gray spaces, Of clustered wahoo and of sugar-haws Are burning in the web of autumn laces Like jewel-pins that hoid a veil of gauze. A day to wander ‘mid the aistes and archos Of dusk autumnal woods with leafy scent, Ditu-lighted through the net of elms and larches, And restful as the spirit of content; To sit upon a mossy log and listen To sounds made meliow by the Indian atr; To watch the river-ripples glide and glisten Aud dream that peace is brooding everywhere. To dream as idly as the breezes wander From seedy shrubs, that rattle as they pass, kets yonder, And clumps ot yellow, tangled autumn grass; To watch the swarthy western crimson spreading Till purple through the smoky blue it weaves, While tranquil cows, the homeward pathway treading, Disturb the drifts of crisp and pungent leaves. A season of content—blue shadows dimming To hazy tenderness, the ruddiest beams; A short November day, but overbrimming With most delicious sounds and scents and dreams. A day like this, with all {ts inspiration— One gracious mood where summer-sweetness lies, Grown deep and rich, brings ample compensation For late, long rains and cold, unsmiling skies, St. Louis, Mo. ¢ WalTsgyY. NO PLACE FOR COINS. The Mouth Should Not Be Used as a Purse However Convenient It May Be. From the Baltimore Ame: a. “That is the worst habit I know of,” said a conductor on one of the Green cars yesterday as ho called attention to a half dozen or so of small children who had boarded the car and sat holding between their lips the pennies or nickels for the fare. “Yes, sir, in my opinion that is the worst, because for the past ten years I have done all sorts of jobs—from being a superintendent of @ large canning factory, where men, women and children were employed by the hundreds, down to being acar conductor, and here you have the opportunity to study life, habits and characters. Now, I want to relate to you an incident which eame under my observation and which was simply a case of habit. and, when I finish, you, of course, will say I have told a faisehood or exaggerated a simple inci- dent. but it is the truth. “One day last week I managed to get a standing lond at the Lexington Market going north. Naturally, everybody wanted a seat and e was at a premium, In the corner sat a handsomely dressed Indy, who seemed some- what excited and nervous, because of the jostle and her inability to obtain suilicient room to work her elbows and put on her gloves, which she held in her hand. However, as I forced to the front of the ear I noticed she had a dime between her lips and began to pull on her gloves. Beside the lady sut a small consump- tive-looking Chinaman, clinging to a market basket almost the size of himself, and his al- mond eyes gave sheepish glances at the lady as she occasionally jabbed him in the ribs. Well, T had collected all my fares up to this pair and the lady was still pulling on her gloves, “When I said, ‘Fare, please,’ without looking she took the dime from her mouth and placed it in my right hand, while Irung up the fare on the indicator with the left. I then reacned to the Chinaman for his fare before returning the change to the Indy. To my surprise the Mongolian, with thumb and forefinger, picked a dirty-looking nickel from his right ear and placed itin my hand. Without think- ing I gave this to the lady and, woman like, she paid no attention to the nickel’s condition, but putit inher mouth. Now that was mere habit, Several passengers had a good laugh at her expense, but she never knew what they were laughing about. Had she done sol am sure she would have become deathly sick, for I myeelf imagined I smelled opium ail day long.” The conductor vouched for the truthfulness of the Chinaman’s carrying his fair in the small cuplike part of the ear below the cavity or en- trance to the drum. He also stated that he had known cases of persons poisoned from the dirt of coins, especially pennies, which are made of & composition the greater part of which is cop- per. The conductors themselves often get sore hands in handling change. To show that poi- Sonous matter accumulates on coins, the con- ductor exhibited the lining of oue of his pock- ets, which had almost been eaten through. “Now, if it will eat a fabric,” said he, “what must it do to the flesh, especially if yeu hold the coins in your mouth? I tell you, parents should break their children of this habit, “Just for curiosity when you ride in acar watch what women or children do with their fares. The habit is not so strong with me but I have even seen them ‘mouth a nickel,’ we callit. Iknow some conductors who will not take such money unless the passenger wipes the coin.” see AN UNLUCKY INVESTMENT. A Tatlor-Who Regrets Buying a Phono- graph. A Fifth avenue tailor recently invested in a phonograph, says the New York Zruth. In test- ing it, among other remarks, he poured into it a grievance against one of his patrons, a well- known clubman and an old customer, whose pro- crastination regarding payment has brought the tailor almost to the verge of bankruptcy. He had repeatedly sent in his little reminders without result and had begun to depair of ever collecting the debt. Much to his surprise a few days later the delinquent called and paid #250n hisaccount. There was an interchange of polite small talk, and then the visitor, who was of asomewhat inquisitive turn, spied the phonograph. “Ah,” said he, “something to amuse the boys, eh?” At this he approached the guileless-looking ee The tailor became visibly agi- te “‘It's—ah— little out of order; considerably 80, in fact; don't work.” “No? Now, Iam alittle up on the subject, What's wrong?” Then he began to turn the eylinder, his ear against the tube. He kept on turning, his in- terest momentarily increasing, while perspira- tion stood upon the brow of the merchant, ae peed —— — and all, was bear mitte © auditor, who promptly straig! ened himself up and’ recovering ay pot tonishment, remarked: “There's uothing the matter with that ma- chine; it’s all right. Why, I ized your voice perfectly. Good day!" The tailor has carried the offending instru- ment home to his children for a play thing, and there is at least one good customer lost to him through his indiscreet confidence im the tell- tale bit of mechanism. —-o-___. ‘Woman’s Way. ‘They sat together si Absorbed in Cupid's mi mn; “Dear Jobn, please tell,” she softly cried, “What was my pa’s decision” “Alas!” sald he, “I greatly fear” (His voice ‘She wo yeaveny “My suit is not regarded, dear,” (He heaved @ sigh) “with favor,” “Your pa says he can’t see at all” (He sadly smoothed her tresses) “How I with euch an income small, Can even buy your dresses.” “I think,” she answered (and “I might layin a sup} Botore” (abe bt “we're marricd.” Ee o-—______ Mother-in-law—“Well, my obild, and how do you and Cecil get on now? Has he given up drinking and dear! pat he’s taught ATTRACTIVE HOMES. Many Dainty Articles That Will Make Acceptable Gifts. PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS. lie Even Thus Early it is W to Begin if Your Pocket Book is Not Plethoric— How Photograph Cascs and Other Fancy Articles May be Cheaply Made. ———__ Written for Tue Evertye Star. VEN at this distance of time Christmas looms up as the aim of one’s energies and aspirations, and a premonition of the last rush of work, which seems in- evitable, no matter how forehanded one is, 8 enough to make one quake. Year by year as the circle of friends enlarges about one the Present giving increases and grows in prom- inence in counection with the holiday season, All the shopkeepers cater to this tendency, and each Christmas shows an increase of olab- Orate preparation on their part. Individual efforts, too, keep pace with the fashion of the day, until it fairly becomes a burden to keep up the list of presents which includes so many friends, This is not right, for it takes away the pleasure which should accompany a gift made on this anniversary above all others. It would be much wiser to curtail the number of remembrances to be bestowed Until it is within bounds that shall not be too great atax on either mind, time or pocket book. As to the last, if # woman has any in- genuity at all in her fingers she ought now to exercise it to the relief of her purse, which tho holidays aro boun’ to leave ail too attenuated at best. For outside friends, some pretty little trifle shows that they have becn in the thoughts, while it does not put thom undor an obligation as a valuable gift might or m&ke it encumbent for them toreturn the like, when possibly it is beyond their meaus to do so with- out straining a point pecuniarily, I know of one young woman who has a great many peo- ple to think of at Christmas who has resolved to limit her actual expeuditure of money on each person to 25 cents, WHAT TWENTY-FIVE CENTS WILL DO, As she has very little money to call her own, and at least thirty people on her list for pres- ents, it is a wise resolve. She has rehearsed to me some of her projects already matured as to the variety and kind of gifts she can manage by her skill toget up for that small sum of money, and as a hint to others similar!; itu- ated IL will tell of her scheme as far as lam able. Of course she must make most of her gifts to have that limit produce the best re- sults, and by buying enough material for sev- eral things at once she saves money, time and thought. For the better outlay of her money she is apt to look about her on “remnant” days, when sho can find a piece of India silk or some linen or duck or satin, which will perhaps give her enough matorial for two articles, for what she would ordinarily spend. on one. In the same way she looks about in the general shopping for any little “bargain” which she may avail herself of for her Christmas work. ttle silk and plush covers for pin books make a dainty trifle, and several of these are on her list, A small pieco of plush or figured silk is cut to fit over the pin book,about tive and a half by four anda half inches, and a pointed envelope flap ia brought over onto the front. This piece is lined with a contrasting color, the edge of the outside be- ing turned in and the lining hemmed down on it, At each end of the book the cover, instead of being sewed up, is tied together by narrow ribbon or gold braid drawn through two small eyelets and tied ina tiny bow. Two eyelets are at the bottom of the back and front,through which ribbon is drawn and tied in a bow in front,making a loop, and a ribbon some three- eighth of # yard long is run through it and held by it, the ends being brought around and tied in front to fasten the case and hold tho flap in place. AMONG OTHER PURCHASES BY WHOLESALE, as it were, isa bunch of Japanese gold thread, and the quantity will serve to add to heighten the effect of her whole number of thirty gifts if she should desire. It will appear on a num- ber, at any rate, and some photograph cases among other things. Three-cighths of @ yard of plain India silk or pongee of a lovely golden brown was ono of the remnants bought one day, and in looking at it @ photograph case suggested itself. The silk was folded in half lengthwise and on one half, which was to be for the outside of the case, gold thrend was ap- plied in a very slight design like water lines, with a spiral twist here and there. After this little decoration was completed a layer of cot- ton wadding was eplit and the glazed sides put together, leaving the softest sides out. ‘Lhis was then put between the two folds of eiik, with sachet powder sprinkled over it. The edges of silk were run together and on the edges of both outside and lining of the case two threads of gold thread were couched on with yellow sewing silk, completely hiding the stitches when the edges are joined. By sim- ply folding over once more, this time in the opposite way from the first, a case about six by ten inches—for this was rather narrow silk in the first place—was formed, pretty to look at, soft to handle and sweet to smell. ‘This could be used as well, too, for handkerchiefs as for photographs, SACHETS OF ALL KINDS area great resource when Christmas gifts are in contemplation, and another one my friend will make will be @ pretty variety. The little silk handkerchiefs which come in delicate colors and with tiny scallops on the edge are what she will use for this style, and she intends making a pink, a green and a white one. As she has cotton wool and sachet powder in some quantity she will not count the infinitesimal cost of the trifling amount of each she will use foreach of these sachets, For the handker- chiefs themselves she will have to pay the “quarter” assigned to each gift, and then mak- ing a ball of cotton wool she will sprinkle it well with the violet powder and orris root combined, and drawing the handkerchief up around it willk not itontop, As ribbon to tie around the knotted ends would bankrupt her in her 25-cent outlay, she will take three lengths of her invaluable gold thread and tie it around with loops and ends, and very likely it will look prettier and more a than ribbon could, especially on the white handkerchief, With such attractive materials at such a trifling cost, and barely fifteen minutes’ work in this case, surely Christmas may be duly celebrated by even the impecunious by taking a little thought as to ways and means, PRETTILY PAINTED BASKETS, Another goodjinvestment my friend has made isacan of enamel white paint at 25 cents, a brush at 10 anda tube of chrome yellow oil paint at 16 cents; I think she said very little of the latter mixed with the white will give the ivory tint and can be deepened to cream or yellow if desired, A more expensive paint of an ivory tintcan be bought in glass bottles, It is very good, but the other and cheaper is good too when sre ap is carefully mixed in the rightshade. With this painting outfit man: articles can be made to present the proper hol iday appearance, and some successful ventures are already completed. Various little baskets at from 5 to 20 cents in price have been picked up from time to time as opportunity offered, and by painting them white they have assumed a more festal air. Whenever the baskets permit of it gold thread has been laced and woven in and out, and the larger and more open ones have been lined with silk, some in plain eol- ors, some ce he just as the “remnants” best fitted in. For the smaller baskets s little shirred bag top has been made, boas? ribbon to match in color. If some of the r baskets did not cost quite the quarter 3 i Hue F ' 85 =F rile if R i i fi i F LF zF Hf use. The prettiest covering for such a cushion would be some of the wide ribbons—four or five inches wide—with gay flower brocaded or Woven on a white gro and a bunch of baby ribbon, including all the bright colors in the wide ribbon, could be used to hang it up by. Of course this would mount up the price be- yond the twenty-five cent gift, but with India silk andinch wide ribbon for hanging pur- | gene one could be made inside that limit, and am sure it would be an acceptable present to many people. 4 have arranged with my friend that as s! thinks of more things she shall let me know and I will give the ideas to a larger circle. EGGS HATCHED BY A VOLCANO. How the Sea Gulls Utilize the Warm Sides of Bogoslov Crater. From the San Fraucisco Chrouicle. From the region of ice and snow and of Pouchers and smugglers the cutter Rush has come. Her half-dozen guns were in prime con- dition, not having been fired on the trip, and her hold was not laden with the spoils of seiz- ure. But she brought interesting news. The most interesting result of the trip of the Rush was a visit paid by the officers to Bogos- lov island, where is the famous volcano of that name. In conversation with one of the officers an interesting resume was obtained of the dis- coveries and data gleaned by the visit. Bo- oslov is sixty miles west southwest of Oona- fn It originally consisted of one island with two craters, one of which first sprang into activity in 1792, Last winter the island was the scene of a strange convulsion of nature. The second cra- ter now known as New Bogoslov became active. In some powerful convulsion the sandspit which had connected the two parts of the island was submerged and one crater was sepa. rated from the other by several fathoms of water. Itis thought that during this convul- sion changes occurred in New Bogoslov below the water line; that fissures were opened, through which volumes of water made their way into the caldron within. This accounts for the immense quantities of steam which the officers of the Rush saw escaping from the cra- ter ata distance of fully sixty miles. Of tho two craters New Bogoslov offered the most interesting fleld of study to the officers of the Rush. They ascertained the crator to be only 200 fect above the sea level. The peak had disappeared in the gaping hole. Along the sides of the volcano largo deposits of lava, jumice, ashes and volcano rock were scen. ‘rom fissures on the level earth springs of boiling sulphur arose to heights of from seven to ten feet, The officers planned an ascent to the crater—a hazardous feat, which could only be attempted when a favorable wind carried the sifting volumes of sulphurous steam in a single direction, When near the mouth of the crater the footfalls of the officers were echoed within the voicano. On peeping over the edge ofthe mouth an impressive aight was wit- nessed. Steam in endiess quantities rushed up from unknown depths and rumbling, bubbling noises like thatof thunder were heard. The air was impregnated with sulphur and near the crater one could breathe only with difficulty. One of the most novel discoveries in connec- tion with the ascent was that the ocean birds used the volcano island as a ratural incubator for their young. Thousands of gulls flow away at the approach of the Rush. They left behind them, along the sides of the volcano, eggs in all stages of development, o+-—_____ FIGHT MICROBES. They Are Pitted Against Each Other By Doctors With Wonderful Results, From the Cincinnati Enquirer. “The newest thing in the medical world,” yesterday said a leading physician who keeps abreast with the science, “is the cure for diph- theria. It is nothing less than curing that dan- erous disease by inoculating the patient bin, erysipelas, Dr. Babtchinaky of St. Peters- burg recently accidentally discovered the an- tagonism which exists between the diphtheria microbe and that of erysipelas by observing how the sudden appearance of erysipelas in a patient Seeeteee | with diphtheria caused a speedy cure of the latter. “The doctor's own son was stricken with a se- vere attack of diphtheria, and as all the reme- dies which had been app ied proved fruitless death seemed inevitable, Suddenly the symp- toms of erysipelns set in, when the lad seemed nearly half dead, and not the slightest cause could be assigned for this new complication aud its attendant dangers seemed only to hasten the approach of the almost certain demise of the victim. During the next few hours his con- dition grew visibly worse and every moment the dying out of the scarcely flickering spark of life was apprehended. But on the following morning the exhaustion had diminished con- siderably, the patient improved rapidly and in a comparatively short time was completely re- stored to health. This accidental combination of the two microbes called to Babtchinsky’s mind the doctrine to which Cantani had held. “Soon after the recovery of hischild the doc- tor was called to the bedside of a diphtheria patient, who was dangerously affected. He was treating an erysipelas case at the same time, and, encouraged by the experience which he had made with his son, he decided to incon, late the poison of the erysipelas microbe inti the lower jaw of his diphtheria patient, The latter recovered without the application of any other remedy. From this time forth Dr. Babtchinsky hesitated no longer to extend his practice in this direction. As he did not always have erysipelas patients on hand when he needed the poison, he established an arti- ficial breeder of erysipelas bacillariz, uc- ceeded in twelve more cases in saving his diphtheria patients by applying the erysipelas microbe. Only two patients died, because the inoculatory microbe was effete, perhaps. But this need not cause us to doubt the effective- ness of the new treatment, for the following example will demonstrate that it is still con- firmed by another case “six children were stricken almost simul- tancously with diphtheria in one family. Five of them were inoculated with the erysipelas bacillariw, and they recovered in a wonder- fully short time. The sixth child had been at once removed to a remote part of the city and died of the dread epidemic. Strange as this method is in itself, itis no less singular that the progress of the erysipelas is a painless and quiet one, not accompanied by unfavorable re- sults upon the general condition of the patient while the cure of the dipththeria being effected. Whether the theory that the erysip- elas microbe destroys the diphtheria poison is founded upon fact or is simply a delusion, leaving the cause of those wonderful recov- eries to be sought for in other quarters, we care less at the present moment for the solu- tion of this purely scientific question as our interest centers primarily in the result, which alone is satisfactory to the layman. The close and controlling observations to which physi- sians will subject the new method will soon demonstrate whether Dr. Babtchinsky has found the real enemy of the diphtheria mi- crobe and that wo are rid of a foe which de- aon annually the lives of thousands of our jittle on i Charms of European Weather. Eugene Field in the Chicago News, Ihave been keeping close tab on European weather. I have heard s great deal sbout the charms of the European climate; that is a little subject I am prepared to discuss with some in- telligence and more feeling. Iam prepared to demonstrate that, so far as weather is con- cerned, the measly little country of —- “isn’t in it” with American country, So far a8 poor little cay ee is concerned her climate is nothing more a wretched cross between the gloom of our Mammoth Cave and the hu- awed of our rainy lakes. The Englishman smacks his lips and rolls his eyes with exceed- ing gusto when he undertakes to tell you that an English ‘‘Joon” is unapproachable in point of loveliness. Well, don’t you believe any such nonsense, Lest June was, veo ® model “Joon;” it rained hard seven’ ys of the thirty! So what wonder it is that your eee Britsher is amphibious—that, as the old, ~ net he will lie equally well of wat PEOPLE WHO USE STIMULANTS. CHARACTERS BACKS, The Danger That Lurks in the Various | As Interesting to Students of Human Preparations of Opium. From the Chicago Evening News, “I don’t think I can recall a case where a grown person used paregoric for a stimulant,” said @ prominent physician yesterday after- noon. “It is. stimulant, nevertheless, as nearly every mother knows, Where is the mother | who, at some period of her child's babyhood, did not administer a dose of paregoric or sooth- ing syrup, so-called, which is in reelity nothing but paregoric? Paregoric is simply a mild form ofopium. The only stimulating effect it has is from the opium it contams, It is, of course, mixed with other drugs, and the whole com- pound is called paregoric. It is looked upon as a harmless baby's medicine that comes into play very readily when baby is squalling and the head of the house demands pence at any price. Then it is that the paregorie bottle is seized and the irate youngster given a small ps ‘The child sinks into slumber and ceases cry. “This well-known family decoction is not dangerous unless an overdose is taken, and then, as with opium, death ix likely to ensue. Occasionaly a physician makes a mistake in writing a prescription for paregoric that is likely to cause the death of his patient. Two prescriptions may read much alike and yet have a far different meaning. Like this: ‘Tinet. Opi’ and "Tinct. Opii Camph.’ The former means tincture of opium and the latter Paregoric. You can readily see that if the for- mer was obtained and used where paregoric was intended that the result would be fatal, and such mistakes have been made. While in itself not dangerous, unless an extra large dose is taken, paregoric, as I before said, has the Properties of opium, and its effects are the same, only in a milder form. “People who are determined to use some form of stimulant can very readily find poisons enough that will do the work quickly and give better satisfaction t'van paregoric. The two stimulants most popular in Chicago are mor- phine and opium. They are, porhaps, used more extensively than is generally thought. Neither is very costly and is easily obtained. There are other s' and absinthe. ulants, such as cocaine Cocaine is used considerably, arming extent as yet, and I case where death resulted from the is a distinctly foreign stimu- lant, and unless some of our newly arrived for- eigners drink it I do not think it is used in Chicago, This vile, greenish-looking liquor leads the drinker to a more horrible death than any of the other drugs. It leads its vic- tim along in perfect security, for once the habit is formed it isa hard thing to quit. Many foreigners drink » small quantity regularly before dinner each day. They argue that it is 8 good appetizer and aids digestion. They were never more badly fooled. The drug has & most pernicious effect on the system and strikes at the very core of life. The evils of the use of alcohol are mild and few compared with those of absinthe. Fortunately its use is an old-country habit.” ————e+-_______ The Art of Dressing Shop Windows. From the Chicago Herald, “Window dressing” is gotting to be one of the most important departments of the big down-town stores. It is a trade in iteelf, and, Properly studied by men of taste, can be made almost an art, Nearly every big retail dry goods store in the city employs one man, and sometimes two men, to voy ed in the front windows arREe of the beauties that may be found inside. The smaller stores, of course, cannot afford the luxury of a window dresser all to themselves, so three or four of them pull together, and manage to scrape up between them the salary of such an artist. The men who make window decoration their business and aro employed by the great retail most always command quite large sala- ries. They are usually men of taste, who first did the work for smaller stores, studied the re- quirements carefully, and then branched out as professionals, There are many things to be considered in making a window look attractive. The drst thing, of course, is to catch the eye of the women who happen to be out shopping with their pocket books full of money. To do this the colors must be arranged both strik- ingly and harmoniously and the goods draped around in attractive shapes. Ability to do this requires taste and long practice, Another thing necessary is to keep the goods out of the sun and to use as few goods as possi- ble, for the dirt and dust frequently ruin an en- tire display. Nearly all of the stores in the re- i ‘ict have their windows fixed in a most icmanner. The furniture houses gener- ally have attractive windows, and they have the material to make them so. In Boston and New York window dressing has long been recognized as one of the departments, and some very beautiful displays are made. Most of the men who engage in the work are Americans, and itis one branch of puttering in which America has excelled the cities of A tasteful window dresser is truly a valuable per- son about a@ retail store, for if he knows his business he can make things look so attractive and pretty that people buy whether they want to or not, ————c-. Domestic Confidences. From the Chicago Tribune. Loud blew the night winds. Monotonously rasped the early autumn katydid. And yearn- ingly yowled the abandoned and shameless cat on the roof of the coal shed, “Maria,” observed Mr. Billus,as he leaned back in his easy chair and looked contempla- tively at his wife, ‘your nose reminds me of an interesting novel. my dear.” “Why so, John?” she inquired, “Because it is red to the very end.” Honrsely murmured the night winds, perso- veringly scraped the katydid and wilder grew the wail of the melancholy cat on the coal shed. Mrs. Billus sat in silence, listening to the weird voices of the night, her hands folded in sublime contentment, and her eyes wandering from her husband’s countenance to the shadow of his profile moving up and down on the wall as the flames in the cozy grate opposite fitfully rose and fell. “John,” she said at last, “the color of your nose reminds me somehow of the government of Louisiana.” “In what respect, Maria?” “Because,” she answered softly, “it takes a lot 0° rye to keep it up.” Mr. Billus thoughtfully rubbed his nose and listened awhile in pensive silence to the mourn- ful night winds, the voice of the insistent katy- did, and the Gespairing yow!l of the ostracised ari cat'in the back yi me, Maria,” he said, “And that reminds reaching out for another chair to rest his feet on, “that if I hadn’t married you. my dear, you ish piry atasnnd have been for the rest of he life like a lottery ticket after the draw- Seep) you would have been all torn up, ear. my dear.’ “It wouldn't have made any difference, John,” said Mrs, Billus, sweetly, “I drewa blank oe iopantle “You did, my love,” said Mr. Billus, his voice trembling with tenderness, ‘‘a blank fool.” “And it would have been better for me, per- haps,” she went on, plaintively, “if I had been like a newspaper wit lottery advertisements in “Why so, madam?” “Because,” replied Mrs. Billus, looking lacidly into the fire, “then I should have = Boe — = males.” . ir. Billus got up and went and as Mrs, Billus sat looking dreamily ste flames and listening to the sobbing night and the gutteral refrain of the katydid, she could distinctly hear Mr. Billus swearing and throwing stones at the cat, ————oo—___ The arithmetic of it.—Mr. Grumps—“I don't see how it is those Mormon women could be contented with only half a husband.” Mra Grumps—“A woman with half a husband has only half as much trouble as ® woman with a ee husband, That's why.”—New York THE BROKEN STEED, a~ - -. Or,'“Those who get people int» mischief” — ~-——_ Nature as the Fronts of Individuals. From the Toronte Trath. The back of an individual is an easy study— the whole of him, his figure and walk, bis shoulders molded by the habits of his life, the carriage of the head, the wearing of the cloth- ing. Face to face we see the man as he desires to be seen, but behind his back we take him by surprise and catch sight of his character. Follow the thoughtful man as he wanders through the streets seeing notbing. While he THE THOUGHTFUL BACK, walks his head and shoulders bend; one knows that his eyes seek the ground just as one sees his feet linger on it. In this manner it must have been that Macaulay walked in his famous night wanderings, when he traversed the Lon- don streets and sew nothing. a contrast to the night walks of Charles Dickens, who trod the same streets and saw everything, with head characteristically held back and slightly to one side—an energetic observer rather than a deep thinker. Very different from what we may call the re- fined and intellectual back is the back of the broad and vulgar figure who struts past us as if he owned the street. His glory is not in his mind or heart, but in his pockets, He hi habit of sticking up for his rights, Even his collar sticks up, and his hair, to correspond with his inner self, is bristling. He thinks he can buy anything, from a picture, of which he knows nothing, to an elector, who knows noth- ing of him, The purse-prond man will never hand money out of that pocket for charity, unless he is THE PURSE-PROUD BACK. Pretty sure that his name is in a printed list of subscribers. Not so the wealthy man who has a heart above gold. Look at him, a back view, ashe stands ata public meeting called at some time of calamity or need. He is sure to be there, If the hall is overcrowded you can see him standing, never complaining ‘of the luck of seats; he is there for the comfort of others; he forgets hisown. He is a large-hearted man suid averyihing about him is large. The big hands are only waiting behind him to give freely, the broad back can bear a goodly share of others’ burdens, As for the back of the rogue it is of infinite variety. If there were only one sort we might THE BENEVOLENT BACK. all make what soldiers would call a reconnois- sance to the rear and detect and outwit him. There is the sh dealer of the business world, isremarkably spruce at the back, and the adventurer of society, who can bow like the first gentieman in Europe, and ten thousand more varieties, from the welcher on the turf up to the gentleman who ought to be a baronet, and who has lived for the last thirty ears on that statement andon charitably col- lecting for the sty ed of Borrioboola. He could straighten his body if he liked, but his mind is fixed in curves of cunning. He and his principles are as crooked as wriggling eels. He can press others to his will, too, as he presses ppp ep en] His spare form is not the thin, bent back of the student, The back of a bookworm is an- other kind of bend—a curve to be respected. Nor is it the stoop of old age. The back is an index of age as well as of c! ter, The small child stands a square, upright atom of human- ity. The man grows straight to his full height, then his shoulders broaden, then his ST 7 wn. is an old saying to describe a man of Eergclebete that he has “no backbone.” how his bat points backward, and the angles to which he has set whiskers that, seen front face, his wise. & & 5 ot ogre. His bald head shines. One knows that in the front the veins are bursting. His mus- tache has been twisted to by angry ingers, His hands are clenc or push jightily against his hard-set knee. fap | strike, but be has too much ide, and his orders are harder than blows. He has a habit of getting his arm crookedly bent to his knee in self-restrained wrath. There are, indeed, many backs that are more ladly seen than the corresponding faces. The ‘k of the bore is a goodly sight, while on the other hand, when good-bye is grievous, how much precious regard is wasted on the dear, characteristic, well-known back, that never knows what loving looks went after it. — a ~ MR, BOWSER’S PORKER, Mrs. Bowser Relates Her Husband's Experience as a Pig Raiser, ‘From the Detroit Free Press. A wagon from a lumber yard delivered some doards and scantling at the barn the other day, and, suspecting that Mr. Bowser had some plot on foot, Iwent out and asked the man if he hadn't made a mistake. “This is Mr. Bowser's place, isn't it?” be asked. “Yea” “Fat man, with a bald head? “Yeu” “Walks around as if he knew it all and no- body else knew anything?” “Iam Mra Bowser, sir!” “Ob! Excuse me, ma'am, Yes, I am sure this is the right place.” ‘What did he buy the lumber for?” “Said be was going to make an addition to the barn.” “Very well.” When Mr. Bowser came home he avoided me for half an hour, and when I finally cornered him ‘and demanded to know what sort of an Sddition he was going to make and for what es he replied: “Be sensible now. Do yon know that has one up 2cente ‘eponad?” = “What of Ye don’t eat s pound of pork ® month.” “And it is bound to go higher.” ee Bowser, have you gone and got another pig? “Don't go off the handle now. If I can savo e on our Stock of winter pork it is my duty to it” “Mr. Bowser, I'm astonished. You gota pig year, and I thought you had trouble enough to last you a lifetime.” “The wrong breed, my dear. The man licd tome. He wasa Galloway instead of a Dur- ham. I've struck the right kind of @ one this timo, and I got him cheap.” “How much?” “Only €4.” “Mr. Bowser, I protest. If anything happens don't blame me.” “Blame you? How could I? Of course not But nothing will happen—nothing but getting & barrel of pork at about half price.” Next morning @ carpenter came and worked all day to make a pen. I saw a bill of all the lumber and nails, and it was over $6, while the man charged $2.50 for his day's work, “That's almost €17 for your pig to begin von I said to Mr. Bowser when he camo ome. “That's all right, Mre. Bowser. That ends the expense, and the profits will soon begin to come in. What is nicer than to go outinto your own back yard and see your own hog in « pen? When we eat our own pork we ry worry about trichina or anything cise.” Next day the pig came. ‘That is, they called ite pig. It was in wagon, and two men were sitting on it to hold it do I heard of the pig three blocks away. He bit one of the men while they wi ting him into the pen, and, as they started to go, the bitten party said to me: “Any man as will buy and keep a hyena in his back yard is no gentleman!” The beast was no sooner in the pen than he began dashing from side to side like a will beast d at the same time uttering such “huffs” and “hoots” that a servant girl han,:- ing out clothes ina yard across the alley ran into the house and tried to call the patrol wagon. The beast finally bumped his head with such force as to stun him, and for the next two hours he looked careworn and sleepy. “This is something hike living!” exciaimed Mr. Bowser as he stood beside the pen at noon and rubbed his hands, “If we ouly had a cow and a few hens we'd be almost like farmers.” “What breed do you call this pig?” I asked. “Let's see! It has slipped my mind. No matter, however. He's of the right sort and that’s enough, He's as content asa kitten in an old shoe.” At that moment the pis rushed across the penand made a spring which almost lifted him out, and it was accompanied by « sort of roar that made Mr. Bowser dodge. “Are you sure it’s a pig?” I asked, “Sure it's @ pig? Are you going crazy again? Give hima show. You'd probably act just as bad if taken nine miles from home and shut up in a strange house.” The pig behaved fairly well for the next hour, but no sooner had Mr. Bowser gone than he grunted, growled, screamed, shricked and raved until the racket brought half a dozen peddlers into the alley. I didn’t hear what they said—only what one of them said. fo came to the side door in # very respectful way and said: “We havea dispute, madam, as to what that thing is out in the pen. The potato man says iv’ cundurango, while the apple man says 's a pig,” I replied. “Thanks, ma'am. 1 won't ask you to write it down. I think I can remember it.” He went back and told the crowd that it was pig andthe convention broke up ina row justas Mr. Bowser got home. For the next two hoursthe beast was very quiet, becanse thoroughly tired out, I suppose, and Mr. Bow- ser took advantage of the fact to rub his hands and say: “You wait and in about a week I'll show you how to farm.” At8 o'clock that evening, justas some friends had come in, that pig uttered a long, Joud wail that made the cook drop a platter. The wail was followed by a series of barks and squeals and something crashed against the back gate and carried it into the all. “Good heavens, Bowser, but your lion has escaped!” called one of the gentlemen, and all of us rushed to the back door. ‘The pig was gone. He had cleared the crashed through the gate, and we heard shrieks afar off to prove that he had come in contact with something as he fled. “You'd better hire a piace down town and put your animals in cages,” observed one of the men. “I shouldn't want no balf-tamed beasts around my house,” Mr. Bowser tried to laugh and joke it offand we got through the evening very pleasantly. The door had only closed on our company, however, when he turned on me with: a then, we'll settle our little matter!” “What?” “What! What! About that bog!” “But the hog has escaped.” “Of course Le has! You intended he should! You were down on him and determined he shouldn't stay, and you laid your plans ac- cor 1 Mrs. Bowser, you and I can't——” nothing to do with the hog.” “Don't interrupt me! You can ? tobed. I have a little business on hand. I want to ar- be acted on in the .” said the fortunate copper, “and alae kev vans a fea . It's are ahs tase inal don’t know it’ the nasium or beetsteaks, but where a bij and arm on & girl was « rarity ten ii Hirtie Hl i Hl f te if ii ty H tr ; i ar il i i ) f / ' i EE i