Evening Star Newspaper, August 29, 1891, Page 12

12 THE EVENING STAR: A 2 WASHINGION, D.C, SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1891—SIXTEEN PAGES. CONE-BEARING TREES. ASimple Lesson in Practical Bot- any. HOW TO TELL THEM EASILY. Some of the Trees tn the Washington Parks— What = Cone-Bearing Tree Is—The Two Kinds of Evergreens—Structure of the Wood —Table of Cone Bearers—Pine and Fir. ‘Written for The Evening Star. ACITY OF TREES LIKE WASHING- ton itis desirable that the inhabitants should know by name most of the many forms of vegetation that adorn the parks and shade the streets. Yet there are persons, doubtless, who hare no means of identifying the various kinds and to whom some assistance would be quite welcome. It isan easy matter to dis- tinguish one from another when one knows how, and a few simple hints may be of service. Take for example the cone-bearing trees, termed “evergreens,” commonly so-called be cause the evergreen varieties are the ones most generally known, but erroneously inasmuch as some of them shed their leaves as regularly as any of the broad-leaved maples or poplars. Most of these trees are to be found in our parks and all of those spoken of in this article ‘will probably be found somewhere in the city. A CONE-BEARING TREE. Let us begin by defining a “‘cone-benrinj tree. It is one whose chief peculiarity cou: in the fruit forming a cone, a fruit with a central re or stem to which ar Rumerous scales. These may overlap or simply touch at the edges. They may be sharp nted or blunt, but at the base of each scale EX'S small seed. frequently provided with « wing, by means of which itis wafted from place to place by the wind. In some species ‘whose cone is very large these seeds form an important articie of the diet of uncivilized tribes and even civilized man does not disdain them. STRUCTURE OF THE Woop. But perhaps one of the best tests of m cone- bearing tree is in the structure of the wood. If a shaving of pine, hemlock or cedar be examined under a wi- croscope @ peculiar ap- pearance, somewhat as shown in the annexed figure, is noticed, and this dotted aspect of the cells is so constant in the wood of this class of trees that even the smallest fragment is sufficient to deter- mine whether it belongs to this or another ap. - . ‘TWo KINDS OF EVERGREENS. Among the great number of cone-bearing trees known there is naturally a great variet ud for our purposes it is convenient to divi them into two classes—one of “evergreens’ roper and the other of “evergreens” with Bicliuous leaves. if such an expression be per- fitted. Under these two heads naturally come ther but minor ones, and under these again smaller divisions. [i the table presented Geeeames generally considered only the Jeaves, making use of the cones when two roups can be separated only by these. We fre regard, too, for the larger groups known as “genera,” asthe various sorts under each “genus” are separated by characters too re- fined to be noticed here. ‘TABLE OF CONE-BEARING TREES. 1. Evergreens—or those that retain their Jeaves summer and winter. ‘Leaves long and slender, in clusters ......Pine Leaves short and pointed, single and scat- tered along the oranches. Fruit, a cone, erect ......... Fruit, a cone, pendulous. Leaves with a stem... Leaves without a stem. Fruit round, berry-like . Leaves small, scale-like. Fruit, a cone, globular Fruit, a cone. oblong, with scales. Leaves small, awl-shaped Spruce Hemlock -Yew White Cedar Arbor Vite --. Juniper 2. Deciduous—or shedding their leaves ou the approach of winter. Leaves collected in grow -Lareh Leaves slender. scattered "ypress Leaves broad, bright green, fan-shaped -Gingko While this table does not’ pretend to be ex- haustive, it includes the most common forms to be seen in ourcity,andin factall the genera of the eastern United’ States, and one, the last, from Japan. A few remarks on the’ different varieties will make their distinctive features clearer. TINE. In this group the leaves are long and slender and are gathered into clusters of sometimes ‘two, three or five, while in some species a single leaf forms a cluster, known tobe such by the sheath at | J the base. In some of the cies the leaves are twelve and even eighteen inches Jong. these belonging tosome of the far western species. In this group are found the celebrated pinon nuts, which forms+o palatable an addition to the fare of man in the its fat and scale-like leaves and its persistent folinge. It is closely allied to the following in its leaves, but differs markedly in the cones. These are globular and formed of closely meet- ing scales, each with a “boss” or knob in the center. ARROR VITA. The foliage of this is showa in the accom- panying illustration. It is almost too well known to require any notice, but its resem- blance to the forego- ing may cause the two to beconfounded. The cones here, howev are formed of 0; scales and are oblong, not globular. The awl-shaped leaves of the juniper with its biuish berries are quite familiar. The _ trees form a feature of our vicinity, standing like sentinels on the hill- sides. In the Ohio vai- ley and other places in the west the same trees are of bushy and ling growth, fe it from tt habit here. All the above belong to the evergreen group. Those below are deciduous. Laren, also called hackmatack, readily known by the leaves being in clusters, as shown in the figure. A beautiful tree when in fall vigor, with de cate, light- green foliage \d small but handsome cones scat- tered pro- fusely "over the branches. Bald cy press is be ter known in the south than in the north, as it isa native of southern swamps and morasses. As the larch corre- sponds in its clustered leaves to the pines among the “evergreens,” so the cypress corre- sponds to the fir or «pruce with their irregu- larly scattered leaves. The light green of the leaves, combined with their delicacy, together with the erect stem, make the tree a striking one. A peculiar fenture, generally ouly ob- served in its native swamps, is in the “knees, projections from the ground near the trunk rising five or even ten feet. The purpose of these is still a matter of discussion, one idea being that they serve as anchors: another, that they assist the tree in respiration, and a third, that they are simply abortive shoots. arxoxo. Although a native of Japan and China th tree has been extensively planted in our lati- tude and is quite hardy. It is so peculiar as to deserve notice. The leaves are _ broad and fan-shaped, and more leaf-like than any other cone-bearing tree. It grows very straight, with a long, slender’ leader and branches that generally leave the trank nearly at right angles, and form a cirele about the stem. It has been planted as a shade tree in some of the streets and parks, and is especi- ally conspicuous along the 13th street entrance to the Agricultural Department grounds. It has little resemblance to the ordinary cone bearers, but is placed with them because of its flowers, fruit and other features. pacoes xaos UNCLE SAM NEW MONEY. About to Issue the Most Beautiful Bill Ever Printed. HE MOST BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PAPER money ever produced by the United States treasury is the new $2 silver certificates first proofs of which on cardboard were shown a Sra reporter privately this morning at the bureau of engraving and printing. Although they were indorsed on the margin in Secretary Foster's handwriting as “approved,” they had not previously been exhibited to any one save a few high officials in the department. Super- intendent of Engraving Casilear regards this new promise to pay as his chef d’ceuvre and gleefully defies the counterfeiters to imitate it with success. Their difficulty in performing such atask would unquestionably be greatly increased by the circumstance that the distinctive paper directed by law to be used in future for the printing of all of Uncle Sam’s negotiable se- curities is to be employed as a material for the tificate in question for the first time. The first batch of it has reached the, treasury. within a few weeks people wil carrying around in their pockets $2 bills of fresh device. It is not true. as has been reported, that new designs have been adopted for the certificate inly because there is a plausible counterfeit present one in circulation. This fact has had influence in the matter, but the change is made chietly for the reason’ that the face of the old bill is not satisfactory, and it is thought just as well to substitute a new picture at the Same time with the introduction of the dis- tinetive paper. The portrait on the face of the present certificate of Gen. Hancock is not weil adapted to its purpose in the arrangemen’ light and shade: 6o that after passing through a few hands it gets dim and is practically effaced. It may fairly be said that paper money of small denominations requires more careful execution than is necessary for larger bills, inasmuch as it must go through so much more wear and ar. Two-dollar bills, itis thought, have quite much handling to suffer as those for #1 each, ecause they are so convenient in making change, and manufacturers use them to a great Ry \. western states and terri- tories. The ordinary pine wood used in building comes from species of this ‘ genus. Turpentine is also one of its products, mm In this group the Jeaves are much shorter than in the pines, and in- stead of being in clusters are single and scattered irregularly along the y branches. The one 4) species of our rezion is balsam or baim-of- gilead fir. This group fa distin suished from the other two having scai- tered leaves by the cones being erect on the branches. sPRCCE. From this genus is made the celebrated spruce gum, such a favorite with the chewing fraternity. The leaves, like those of the pre- ceding and the following, are scattered irregu- larly along the stemand all have much the same aspect. In this and the next the cones are pen- duicus instead of erect. 2 HEMLOCK. Here again we have scattered leaves and th pemiulous cones as shown in the figure. The leaves are bright green above and silvery be- neath. The foliage is light and spreading, and although dificult to define the differences be- tween it and the two previous ones are in real- ity quite perceptible. Ew. In this, with the same general form and ar- ‘Fangement of the leaves as the three preced- ing, comes a manifest difference in the fruit, for instead of this be- ing & cone it i¢ round aud almost like a the Ameri- can species it is a low, ing bush oF ‘The yew land has “be- come celebrated for the age some ex- amples have attained. ‘One is estimated to be three thousand and others from two thou- sand to two thousund circumference be- low the branches, and was supposed to be one thousand four hundi-ed years.old. WMITE CEDAR. ‘This is sometimes called cypress, but it dif- fore from the true oypr ess, as noted*below, by extent in paying off. The new €2 silver certificate is really a work of art in the highest sense. In the middle of its face is an oval portrait of the late Secretary Windom, with his name beneath, which in point of Lfe-like quaty and effectiveness of execu- tion is unequaled by any other production of the tort printed on treasury securities since the manufacture of paper money in this country was first begun. The rest of th design consists merely of the conventional le- gend gracefully drawn in lettering, with a fig- ure 2 in each corner, surrounded by some cur- licue of the geometric lathe. Of geometric lathe work the back isa wonder. Nothing so elaborate in this sort of mechanical engraving, which is the despair of the counter- feiter, has been produced hitherto in the manu- facture of paper money in any country of the world. The counterteiter wili find this new certificate a more difficult subject for imitation than he has ever yet encountered. People ha asked, “Why shonld not the counterfeiter bi So he could, ily, but to reproduce with its aid the atterns lie would imitate is an impossibility as absolute as would be that of undoing the lock of a permutation safe without the formula. If you will for a moment gaze upon the compli- ated concentric and eccentric devices ont reverse side of any United States note or certi- ficate, considering that they can only be repro- duced by arduous copying with engraving by hand. you will perceive under what. d.ficulti the luckless forger of Uncle Sam's promises to pay is compelied to labor. Certain newspaper reports have circulated the notion that this un- happy victim of a mania for imitation can ease his toil with photographic and other processes, but the fact is that he finds all such assistance of little use. ‘The back of the new certificate is engraved with a view to showing as conspicuously as pos- sible the two stripes of silk fiber, each about as wide as one’s thumb, that run across the paper on which the designs described are to be printed, dividing the length of each bill into three parts. For this purpose portions of the surface are left white. In the middle is an j oval containing a legend, on either side of | which is an elaborate piece of lathe work with self procure a geometric lathe very & big digure2 in the center and little “twos” | scattered about at points where the lines con- verge. There are other features of the design, includin, some very difficult small lettering, ‘e intended ‘to embarrass the counter A Stan reporter saw a ream of the distinctive perat the Treasury Department today. It ooked somewhat like a tine = of note Paper, foolscap size, with two bands of closely seattered red and blue fibers running from top to bottom. Each sheet was intended for the printing of four certificates or notes. The fibers are merely silk threads, bought from a WINE GROWING. The Great Industry Along the Sunlit Borders of the Marne, A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE. Its History From the Cultivation of the Grape Until It Sparkles in the Glass—Care in Pick- ing the Frult—Greater Care in Treating Tuice. Written for The Evening Star. Aroxe THE SUNLIT BORDERS OF THE Marne where it winds through the heart of France lie several groups of low hills whose soil, far too light and shallow to yield the golden grain, yet seem specially adapted to the uses of the husbandmen. For 'tis upon this region nature has set her royal seal, the magic seal of the vintage, and from the harvest yearly gathered of these same hills the world is sup- plied with that sparkling champagne, which years hence being uncorked bubbles over with the stored up sunshine sunk long ago into the rape, bringing it to beauty and perfection. Not until the last quarter of a century has this industry grown to be one of such vast im- Portance. It is now one of the most fruitful sources of industry, not only to proprietors of the land, but to all the neighboring peasantry. Atthe present writing in the department of the Marne no less than 40,700 acres are devoted to cultivation of the vine. It is further esti- mated that throughout the vine region, which comprises ail the heart of France, there are no Jess than 5,000,000 acres of vineyard, with the Proportion of one vinedresser for ‘every five and three-quarter acres of cultivated land. osition of these vintage grounds, their accessibility to air and water, the various com- ponent elements of the soil end such like con- siderations have naturally great influence upon the nature of the wines produced. Along one chain of hills are grown the white, red and Purple grape, also a different species, whose luscious well-filled lobes present a black appear- ance. Curiously enough they are known as the miller grape from the appearance of the young leaves, us though sprinkled with flour. This variety, producing oniy a second rank of wine, is not used in the manufacture of champagne. DIFFERENT METUODS OF CULTIVATION. The various natures of the soil necessitate different methods of cultivation. Along the course of the Marne, the mold being light and shallow, receives and reflects mést of the sun's rays, and on this account the vines are clipped close, growing as though upon. trellisses built close to a wall, the vine trunks here similating trellis and the warm face of the soil acting as the wall. In direct contrast to this mcthod is that adopted upon the deep rich earth of the hills, which further down the river's bond bear the name of St. Thie ‘The vines are planted on rising ground, attaining a taller growth and Tequiring special care. ‘hose lower slopes which, from their protected position, the spring frosts, produce the best wines whether high or low species of cultivation be adopted, the vines to be productive must re- ceive throughout the year unceasing care and attention. Generally the proprietorsof large champagne houses are owners of the vineyards as well, and the wine-making establishments are adjacent. Here are continually kept employed a large foree of people. From January to September workmen are busy hoeing, pruning, tilling, bedding, propagating the cuttings, nipping su perfiuous budsand building stone houses. Then the regular harvestseason begins. ‘The year for the vine dresser dates, not as with us from the first, but from the last or St. Vincent's day, at which time, the weather being favorable, operations are begun by pruning. Toward the last of February cuttings are gathered into bundles, which being sorted of those needed for propagation the refuse is burnt, THE FIRST DIGGING. In March is begun the first digging about the vine: in this month also the vine is usually re- budded. This is done with a hoe, a small hole being dug under the stem, the workmen lowers the plant by pressing downward with his foot, then filling up fresh soil to cover the first buds or “eyes” of the plant. In April the vines are propped by oaken staves, the earth ends of which have been charred and soaked in a solu- tion of sulphate of copper, 24,000 being re- quired to the acre. A workman who is diligent and expert will in the course of the day set up 5,000 of these staves, which are regurded by some proprietors as great protection against early frosts. Others again regard it as doubt- ful if such protection can be* considered re- liable. Between carly dawn and sunrise occur the destructive frosts, and various are the devices adopted to ward off their ill effects. The most successful consists in placing heaps of hay, dead leaves and branches nx or seven rode apart, care being taken that they be moderately damp to prevent combustion. When it aj pears that a frost is imminent the heaps on the side of the vineyard from whence the wind sets in are lighted, and the impenetrable smoke spreading over the vines produces the result of warming the atmosphere and changing the dreaded frost into a beneficial dew. In case no wind is astir, all the heaps are fired and the same result obtained. Often despite the utmost care many vines are lost both by the early frosts of spring and by the rattling hail of the summer storms, which like @ bold slayer devastates the land on every side, sweeping the broken vines prostrate upon the earth. In addition to these destructive elements the husbandman is ofttimes equally powerless against the armies of insect marau- ler, a different variety of which seem to suc- ceed their predecessors with the change of every month. Statistics show that phyllopera has, between the years 1880 and 1891, increased in France almost threefold. Thus, despite most patient work and care on the part of the vine dresser, the average yield per acre is from six to eight heads of prepared wine. To this may be added two-thirds ay much again of secondary ‘wines or first “taille” (pruning), second “taille” and “rebeche” (second tilling). These last, with the exception of the first “taille,” which is frequently used in making sparkling wine: are consumed by the proprietors and his v: age gatherers. All over the globe, in many lands and_by va- rious people the vine is cultivated, yielding pal- atable, sparkling wines, yet nowhere save in the famous champagne country, on the gray crowned hills of the Marne, can be raised that ‘uit from whose crushed, juicy lobes springs to life that bubbling effervesence known the world over by the name taken from its own bright hills and sunny vine-covered slopes. WHO DISCOVERED CHAMPAGNE. Dating as far back as 1688 can be traced the manufacture of champagne, and it isto the jolly old Benedictine monk, Dom Perignow, that we are indebted for its discovery. Doubt- less many atime, as he bathed his sacoth, sleek body in the waters of the river wind Me by the monastery, had his mind been occupie with fer more weighty problems than this, which alone outlasted all others, has hande his name down to posterity as a benefactor to the world. It may be that his ‘fat, round belly, with good capon lined,” felt the craving for a something differing either from the light or heavy wines then quaffed trom flowing beak- ers by his fellow monks. Mis observant mind, taking note of how one sort of soil gave tots pro- duct sweetness, another fragrance or strength, hit upon the idea of “marrying” the juices of one vineyard with the crushed sweetness of another. The preparation of champagne, though varying in many essential ways at the present date from that practiced by the sage old monk. the “marrying” process is yet held indispensable to the successful making of a fine wine. The middle of September in- augurates the great vintage season, then throughout all the surrounding districts of Aisne, Ardemees and Sommes the eunety peo- ple leave their household cares Rnd work, to live for awhile in the open air upon the sun crowned hills whereon vast vincyards Fipening fruit demand their attention. It i the leasant sort of life this peasantry live during the harvest season, a happy time when fam- ilies working side ‘by side, the gay songs from the light-hearted toilers fill all the sweet grape- scented air with sounds of happiness. Living in these districts being cheap, so in proportion New York importing firm by the contractor who works for the treasury, cut into lengths of a quarter of an inch and run through paper sheets. No little difficulty was found at first in making the process satisfactory and the government pays somewhat more for the | material than it used to for the plain article. pisses ome! Rubinstein’s New Works. ‘From the Galicnani Messenzer. Anton Kubinstein, whose colossal figuro— artistically speaking—1s always the cynosure of the musical world, has left St. Petersburg for a country place near Dresden, where he in- tends to finish his new oratorio, “Moses,” and likewise = new Russian opera which has not yet been christened. He is also writing a small volume of musical thoughts and criticisms ‘which cannot fail to be appreciated. the compensation is a laborer receivin, sate Samss ages meee GaTuEnixo THE Yavrr. . In gathering the fruit care is taken not to pull the bunches from the parent stem—each cluster must be adroitly supported by the left hand to prevent ripe grapes from falling, and thus gently placed in tl baskets put for their reception. The baekets, ‘when full, are emptied into larger ones, which, under the in- spection of the master or overseer, are thor- oughly sorted, all green, bruised or ed berries being ‘thrown into a separate basket, since if retained they would irreparably injure the nature of the wine. Straw is always in the bottom of the baskets to prevent jolting. Grapes picked with the ing san ‘upon them are believed to more juice and make a species of rT therefore begun at day dawn. The of ench day are taken to the press and spread over the floor, to be the morn- ing following. This is done by means of lirge pieces of wood, roller and grinder being Placed over the pressed grapes, only the first Squeeze of which in used’ for making the best quality of wines. ‘The grapes have previously been weighed by the owner, who allows 400 kilograms for forty gallons of wine, or, as it is technically called, one “piece.” This amount having been obtained no more is crushed out for the high-class wines. The at- tention is now directed to the edges, which have naturally received less pressure than fruit in the center. They are carefully trimmed, and from this the secondary product or first “taille” is obtained. The process being re- peated gives successively the second “taille” and “redeche.” Juice expressed from the un- avoidable jolting of the grapes in carrying them in baskets, whether by carts or strapped to the sides of mules,is of no use, for the reason that the purple tinge pervading unfits it for use as cham} . To find the sweetness of the wine and what Proportion of sugar is needed the owner tests the wine as it flows from the press by means of @ glycometer. The wine being poured into casks is left for a time to settle that all im- purities may rise to the top. This scum is given the name of “‘cotte.”_ Immediately upon appearing on the surface of the caske, which are always new, a little sulphur is burned inside, this setting free sulphurous acid and serving alike to whiten the wine and prevent a woody taste which would otherwise be engendered by the new oak. CFLLARING THE CASES. The next thing to occupy attention is cellar- ing these casks. ‘They are placed on scantling some eight inches from the ground, care hav- ing been previously observed in filling to leave sufficient margin so that when fermentation be- gins the liquor may not overflow. Closing the opening with vine leaves and a tile, a month is permitted to elapse, at the expiration of which time, fermentation having subsided,the wine is racked off into different casks by means of copper vessels, which are corked with wooden nd ranged onsupports. Careful watch- still necessary, for should the work of fermentation be incomplete a slight oversight might result in the total loss of the whole quantity. ‘The first frosts ushered in by December serve to clear the wine and it is now that the blend- ing and mixing process is performed. The first isdone by bringing together forty or more casks of the same growth—the blending is die- tributing them in equal qualities so us to form wine for commercial requirements. Tannin is used to anticipate any disease of the wine, such ‘as a deposit or grease, alcohol also being added in proportion to the quality desired. Should the year prove a poor one and the wines de- ficient in alcohol, this difficulty is overcome iding spirits distilled from the best quality of Cognac brandies. ‘The day following this operation a prepara- tion of isinglass is made by dissolving it in @ weak solution of tartaric acid, then poured into the wine and stirred with a stick both be- fore and after mixing. The ingredients being fully mixed tie casks are hermetically sealed, a small hole drilled in the top sufficient to admit three straws of rye or wheat, which being in- serted with the heads on thus admits sufficient air to prevent all danger of fermentation. ‘This is known as fining. For three weeks the wine remains thus with- out disturbing. The end of February har now arrived, and the liquid is placed in a cool cel- lar that’ opportunity may thus be afforded the isinglass to properly complete its work, when with the spring another fermentation sets in. Previous to bottling the component quantities of sugar, alcohol and neutral properties are correctly ascertained through the agency of @ vinometer. On account of the efferve ‘therings: qualities necessary this is found to be pensable. In the ease of too great proportion of sugar the wine would burst the bottles, and in the absence of that component the requisite amount is supplied by inserting “liquer,” @ pure wine with a solution of candied sugar. BOTTLING THE WINE. The utmost precaution is to be observed in the choice of bottles, not alone as to their shape, but asto their color, which is of no in- considerable importance, and to the strength. since it would be willful waste to use a weak one, experience in this case being dearly bought by the loss of all wine so bottled. In this branch of the business none but compe- tent workmen are employed, The bottles, upon being rinsed, dried and thoroughly in- spected, are filled by the workmen from taps,each cask containing from six to eight or ten spouts. ‘They now pass into the charge of the corker, and here again we have to thank that same old “bon vivant,” Dom Perignon, who found it better to insert a stopper of cork rather than the method of sealing then in vogue, namel: iece of flax dipped m oil. The cork, driven in by means of & mallet, must ‘now be firmly wired. A machine for this purpose crosses several pieces of wire ix the middle and fixes them firmly about the necks of the bottles after being finished, in which manner they are stacked in vaults kept for this purpose. Fermentation setting in, the acids decompose the succharine matter, setting free carbonic acid, producing thereby aleohol and a deposit. Effervessence taking place results in the break- age of all weak bottles. ‘The others often being marked with chalk that the same position may be observed again, they are removed to another vault. The above mentioned deposit is of a tenacious character, presenting upon the sides of the bottle @ thin white substance, which in some instances can be removed by « vigorous shaking. INTO AN UPPER CELLAR. Many months have now passed and July being reached the hands are kept busy remov- ing defective hoops from the casks and replac- ing them with new. This occupation lasts until vintage season arrives, which being over and the nipping of early froste perceptible in the air, many houses now bring the bottled products of their vineyards into an upper cellar, which is regarded as wise move, the cold helping to dry the deposit. A thorough inspection is gone through with to every bottle and they are piled anew, the weak and broken one All those showing a deposit or “masque” upon the sides undergo a treatment such as a human being with a defective or injured organ would re- ceive at the hands of a skilled surgeon. Into a box-shaped machine are placed’ two bottles, being previously ‘removed. which receive rotary motion from a handle for that purpose, while two little hammers unceasingly beat upon them, producing a shock sufficient toloosen the deposit. Supplying himself with an iron im- lement, the workman hits with a regulated force, as an unwary blow would result in shat- tering the brittle receptacle and unwittingly pour out upon the ground a libation of the Precious liquid. bottles are after this placed neck downward upon racks, where, attic ceseining = shard idime, thayinre numUy) shaken to insure the “masque” having all set- tled on the cork. ‘The hand of a deft workman for this is required, since the bottles have each to be slightly lifted, dexterously shaken in that position and . restored to their original place, this requiring to be gone through with every day for a month or six weeks, as the urgency of the case may require, The “masque” havin now entirely settled, all good bottles are place necks downward ata sharp angle, awniting their uncorking; imperfect ones are again put upon the racks and worked over. INSERTING THE EXPORT SIRUP. Carefully watching the bubble of air within the bottlo the workman at the proper moment removes the cork in such manner that the rush of gas simply ejects the “masque.” | A portion of the froth which follows is allowed to escape in order to wash the neck of the bottle, into which is then quickly inserted a small cork to prevent a further escape of gus. The services of a different man are needed at this time to insert the proper amount of “export sirup” necessary to prevent an objectionable degree of dryness, also to impart strength, for with- out this operation the liquid would be undrin! able. ‘The dissolving sugar thickens the wine which needs to be filtered—therefore the bot- tles being emptied to a certain degree ere taken to the “mixer,” who puts into each an equal quantity of sirup, different countries varying in the proportions required. Should abottle not be full it receives more wine, and then being placed upon a revolving table each receptacle in turn receives the care of the corker. Spanish corks are used in bottles sent to some countries, red corks for others, these bearing branded upon them the name of the firm and having for a few days previous to using lain in water to soften. They are then placed in a tube, the lower portion of which compresses the cork to the size required, when. the moisture being wiped off, they are driven into the bottles by a mallet machine. An oiled string is tightly tied about this and the wiring sdded, galvanized wire baing used. The bot tles are placed on end after shaking to mix the sirups and left for several months to insure ‘gainst any imperfection of corking or wiring. PACKING AND SHIPPING. raehe eee rec aee even! boxing champagne the bottles acsaeerepiaced Mleetinntion they Snould be seentenk shes as hamper, laid in © borisontal position ia s cool place and not used for a fortnight or more, as traveling being injurious to wines it would be unfair to judge of them when first arrived. ‘The consumer little thinks 0 he, jealously watches the precious sparkling liquid, of the skill and care which has been expended thereon to insure a successful termination of all the labor. He remembers well the sum upon the check given in exchange for the wine, but does not know that unceasing work for two years has necessarily been expended by skilled work- men upon the process of “marrying” the vint- ‘age vields in order that his table may be graced, his dainty palate gratified, with the ling cham) Let us then shout with the hus- Par eet eld the vine; a Vive to the ight-hearted peasantry of France! Vive la champagne! Kare E. Tuomas. eee HE ATE A HAIR SWITCH. Tangled Tresses Discovered by = Surgical ‘Los Angeles special to San Francisco Examiner. The Los Angeles Herald publishes an account ofan unparaileled discovery. It all comes to light through « remarkable operation per- formed by Dr. K. D. Wise of this city, assisted by Drs. Whaley, Downs and another young doo- tor whose name could not be ascertained. Several weeks ago s harnoss-maker named Reacroft, who lives at Compton, was taken sick. His case baffled the skill of attending physi- cians. Up till a few days age Reacroft suffered intensely from an apparent obstruction of the intestines. It was then decided that an opera- n would have to be performed in order to save the man’s life, and Dr. K. B. Wise was called in. The operation which was performed con- sisted in cutting open the abdominal cavity nd searching tor the cause of obstruction. the result of the operation was that the doc- tors made a discovery which is, as faras known, without a parallel in the’ history of operations in this or uny other country. After finding the obstruction it should be stated that its removal could only be brought about by slitting open the intestine. The doc- tors report that the substance inside felt very hard. ‘The intestine was opened and the medi cal attendants were astonished to find a largo mass of woman's hair. ‘The foreign body was removed and the wound in the intestine care- fully sewed together. The patient rallied thoroughly and seemed for the time to recover from the effects of the operation, but although alive it is hardly ex- pected that he will recover, as it was found that six feet of intestines were just verging on gangrene on account of the long stoppage caused bythe impacted hair. The hair plugged the intestine as tightly as a cork would a bottle and the man was on the verge of death when the operation was performed. The operation was most successfully per. formed in three-quarters of an hour. It had to be completed hastily on account of the great prostration of the patient. The switch of hai was two inches in diameter and about a foot in length. It was human hair to a certainty. The doctors were all unanitnous on this point, and that it was a woman's hair was proved by its lengtir. The ‘strangest part of all is that one-half of the hair is black and the other half blonde. This was another mysterious feature of the case. All sorts of theories are aftoat to account for the presence of the in the stomach ‘The general impression is that Reacroft sw: lowed the hair. The medical gentlemen say that he must have swallowed it, as it was found above the big intestine. After the operation the patient denied ever having swallowed any hair. This statement made the matter more intensely interesting for the doctors who were trying to solve the mystery. Reacroft has been married twice. His first wife was a brunette and is reported to have had jet black hair. Keaeroft took unto himself a second wife about four months ago. She hi blonde hair. ‘The supposition is that the switch of hair found inthe stomach was made up of hair taken from the locks of both wives of the patient. This theory is probably correct, as is Also" the one that Heacroft swallowed it as charm. If he did, the charm will in all proba- bility cost him his life. Another theory being discussed is that Reacroft was induced, in con- formity with some fad of the Christian scien- tists, to gulp down the hair, which must have weighed all of three ounces. sacibg oe cea a Domicile Erected by John.” ‘Translated from the Vulyate of M. Goose by A. Pope. Behold the mansion reared by deedal Jack. See the malt stored ir many a plethoric sack In the proud cirque of Ivan's bivouac. Mark how the rat's felonious fangs invade ‘The golden stores in John’s pavilion laid. Anon, with velvet foot and Tarquin strides, Subtle Grimaikin to bis quarry glides; Grimalkin gritn, that slew the flerce Fodent ‘Whose tooth insidious Johann’s sackcloth rent. Lo! now the deep-mouthed canine foe's assault, ‘That vexed the avenger of the stolen malt, Stored in the precincts of that lofty hall ‘That rose complete at Jack's creative call. Here stalks the impetuous cow with crumpled orn, Whereon the exacerbating hound was torn, Who bayed the feline slaughter beasts that slew The rat predaceous, whose keen fangs ran through ‘The textile fibers that involved the grain ‘That lay in Hans’ inviolate domain. ‘Here walks the sad-eyed damsel crowned with rue, Lactiferous spotis from vaccine dugs who drew, Of that corniculate beast whose tortuous horn ‘Tossed to the clouds, in flerce vindictive scorn, ‘The braying hound, whose braggart bark and stir Arched the lithe spine and reared the indignant fur Of puss, that with verminicidal claw Struck the weird rat, in whose insatiate maw Lay reeking malt that erst in Juan's courts we saw. Robed in senescent garb, that seems in sooth Too long a prey to Chronos’ iron tooth, Behold the man whose loving lips incline Full with young Eros’ osculative si ‘To the lorn maiden, whose lact-albic hands Drew albu-lactic wealth from lacteal glands Of that Immortal bovine, by whose hora Distort to realms ethereal was borne ‘The beast ululean, vexer of that sly Ulysse quadrupedal, who made die The old mordacions rat that dared devour Antecedaneous ale in John’s domestic bower. Lothere with hirsute honors, deified, succint Of sap naceous locks, the priest whe linked In Hymen’s golden bands the thorn unthrift, Whose means exiguous stared from many a rift, Even as he kissed the virgin all forlorn, Who milked the cow with implicated horn, Who in flerce wrath the canine torturer skied ‘That dared to vex the insidious muricide, Who let auroral effluence through the pelt Of that sly Fat that robbed the palace Jack had nu ‘The loud cantankerous Shanghae comes at last, Whose shouts aroused the shorn ecclesiast, Who sealed the vows of Hymen’s sacrament ‘To him who, robed in garments indigent, Exosculates the damsel lachrymose, ‘The emulgator of the horned brute morose, ‘That towed the dog, that worried the cat, that kilt fe Tat, that ate the malt, that lay In the house that Jack built. a see A Woman in an Elevator. From the New York Recorder. A woman doesn't enjoy riding in an elevator a little bit. Particularly in the rapid ones. It is with fear and trembling that she steps into the car. The rattle of the iron door as it Cae pal her astart. The car shoots hea enward and the woman holds her breath. Fi ing floors make her head swim. Vertigo is im- minent. Suddenly the flendish elevator man stops the car, |The woman seems to be going upward all by herself. Her heels rise in the air und only her toes ‘touch the floor. She is uncertain whether she is going through the roof or the floor is dropping from beneath her feet. And the internal sensation! Unless she has been at tea in a gale she never felt that way before. Then the car starts again, taking her breath away and causing her kness to bend with the force of a sudden jump. Before she has regained her equilibrium the car stops, dances up and down a few times and the rattle of the door announces that another passenger has escaped. ‘The woman fecls faint but, cannot summon courage to rush out. Again the upward fligh and with final dance, as the top flooe is reached, the agony is over. ‘The woman ‘out of the car. She is un- certain of herself. Things whirl around and she cannot walk straight. Gradually she ro- covers and attends to the business that led her into a modern office building. ‘Then comes the descent. The woman hesi- tates before again risking her life in the car. Sometimes sho asks the fiend in charge if he cannot go down slowly. He promises to let her down easy. She enters. He lets the The woman emits a ‘and clutches a strange man by the arm. she looks fool- ish and feels faint. ‘The car stops to take on & small boy and the woman resists a tendency to sitdown. Another drop of » few stories, an~ other stop and all is over. ——— oo Gosstp or Scandal. Justin McCarthy in Black and White. Theard a clever defense of gossip lately made out by a lady in a very few words: “If you cut us off from gossip,” she affirmed, ‘‘we must fall thing drop. back on scandal.” There was much phil and knowledge of human nature in Jack "Malle “(wataly)= "ho. do ff never attempts BS beyond their ability.”— ATTRACTIVE HOMES! Some Suggestions for Brightening Up the House for the Fall. TO UTILIZE SCREENS. How One Can Be Made Cheaply and Be At- tractive—Further Good Results From the Use of Tapestry Dyes—Novelties in Chins Now Displayed. a Written for The Evening Star. [SE Finst OF SEPTEMBER IS A MORE. marked period of time in this city than in many others. A large number of ‘people make that the date for returning to their homes, which have been deserted maybe for the past two or three months. If a short vacation only is possible August is the most popular time for taking it, co that town then 1s at its emptiest. September 1 sees a great reaction, however, and all in a day the city seems to take ona good share of its autumn activity. With the return of the family the duties of the house- keeper are multifarious. If there aro children school time approaches, when their wardrobes must be replenished after the atrain of the sum- sence; the season brings its abundance of fruit, of which a store must be provided for winter uso, and added to these there are the house alterations and attentions, which to many woman is the most congenial part of her home life. All sorts of suggestions for honse decoration and arrangement are in order at this time, for many tastes are to be satisfied, and the majority perhaps must make the most of what resources they have, which though it restricts also adds a degree of pleasure to achievements after all. UTILITY OF SCREENS. Screens of all kinds rather growin favor than otherwise, and many a picturcsque nook ins house owes its peculiar coziness to some ar- rangement of these useful articles. In houses as well heated as our American ones screens are seldom needed as a shield from draughte— one of the principal uses to which they are put abroad—but nevertheless there are many ways of placing them to the advantage of a room. While one may be as extravagant as possible in these articles, yet one may also get up a screen which is inexpensive and satisfactory also more easily than to manage almost any other dit of furnishing. Clothes-horse frames have been utilized for some years, and have proved their ability to pleasé where cheap and readily constructed screens are needed. Such a screen as this has beon in use in our house long enough to prove its general satisfactoriness, and as it was of home manufacture a description of it may help some homemaker who has this problem of how to bring much out of little coutronting her in her autumn plans for altering and beautifying her house. HOW ONE WAS MADE. A three-fold clothes horse of good size was bought and one fold taken off, after which the other two were lowered about five inches by sawing off the upright bars at the bottom. The frame was then painted black, as that was the color everything was being painted at that time, instead of the white so popular now. As a band for @ frieze on each fold white linen crash of fine quality cut wide enough to allow for decoration, and also a deep knotted fringe below. Disks were as much used then as black paint, so they were chosen as the principal feature of the design. Lurge-sized ones were drawn by a cup to make a good out- line singly and overlapping on the two linen bands for each fold of the screen. From a de- sign in an art paper a single dogwood blossom of natural size was cut out, and by this pattern the same shape was cut from light gray blue plush and the flowers pasted, one in each disk on the linen. The rest of each disk was then painted with lustra paints, some in pale gold and some in deep coffco red, while each blos- som was outlined on the edges, veined, and a center painted with silver paint. On the linen connecting the disks were branches and leaves, making a design which included the blossoms in the disks ulso, the branches in brown, the leaves in lustra greens and all out- lined in black, as were the disks. THE FRINGE AND HANGINGS, ‘This pattern filled irregularly a space eight inches wide, and below this the fringe fell for five inches more. After the bands were fin- ished they were couched on to the hangings of olive, donble-faced canton flannel, cut so as to reach nearly to the floor and long enough to turn over at the top and hang down one-third of their depth again. To fasten these to the screen a very simple plan was followed; the upper end of the hanging was slipped from what was to be the right side through the two upper bars on to the wrong side, then brought over the upper bar, which the flap now concealed, the weight of it keeping it in place. As no fullness was wanted in the hangings, this was an easy arrangement, much more 60 ‘than any other, and when a shaking was necessary they could be lifted off and quickly replaced. Of course, the two lower bars showed on the wrong side, but they were painted and not objection- able at all, The bottom edge of each canton flannel Langing was cut into fringe three inches deep. the lower edges of the flaps were like- wise fringed in the same way and the linen fringe of the band coming just above the other ringe was used, sewed down with olive filozelle. The room where this useful screen was put was furnished in light blue principally, and it looked very Pretty there, with its olive and blue tones. GooD RESULTS FROM TAPESTRY DYES. Still good results from the use of tapestry dyes come under my observation, the latest be- ing the renovating of a chair in a most simple way. A light fancy canc-seat chair with cherry and gilt frame had been cushioned very prettily ith white bolton sheeting, worked in Japan- ese gold thread and diagonal lines of yellow filoselle; a small cushion lined with yellow silk was laced to the chair at the back, while the seat cushion was fastened with agimp and fancy brass tacks to the wood, leaving a margin of gilded cherry showing allaround. For a long time the white cushions kept their good looks, but in time they waxed dingy. theuels the gold thread shone as brightly as ever in the whorls and water waves which made up the de- sign. in looking at the chair the other day, with reference to making new cushions, the idea of experimenting with the dyes was thought of, and as the cushions qere past use in their present state a bold step was decided upon. Astrong yellow dye was mixed with enough brown to tone its brilliancy. This was laid on to the cushions with a broad bristle brush diagonally, following the weave of the goodsand the line of the silk embroidery;when it was dry it was much improved, but a second Wash was given in the same way, which deepened the color and made it look so per- fectly well that again it may take its place in the little parlor where its soft yellow color will correspond with the prevailing tones of the room. The gold thread was made much brighter for the two washings it had with the dye, or else its darker background better brought out its glitter than the white had. If one gets in the way of using these paints considerable labor in different directions may be saved by applying them. NEW CHINA DISPLAYED. Among the new china displayed is a much larger varicty of brush and comb trays than has been seen here heretofore. The colorings are pretty, small flowers in one form or another generally making the dcsign. With some other small picccs are includsd, miki the set for toilet use, and there zre many od little pieces specially suited also for the dress- ing table. Candlesticks and match safes are pret- tier than we have been able to find before, the box match safes, which were revived last year, coming in various styles, the Wedgewood be- ing especially attractiveboth in the dark and light blue, some little differences in shape be- ing noticeable also. ——_——_—_ ‘Material for » Tramp’s Lexicon, From the Contemporary Review. Hobo, a tramp. Punk, bread. The baiway, » Catholic pr> Screws, policeman. Brakier, brakeman. Pogies, poor houses, Pens, jails. ‘Timber being beaten with sticks, £0. Battering for chewing begging for food. +e. A Mistake. From Munsey's Weekly. Frenchman—Your society is 80 different from zat of France. You haf no political salons in zis country.” American—“No, political saloons! ‘That's where you' ent mistaken. Why, every one of the piece Ban, one.” 4 ae First Hod Carrier—“What did ’ rege the walkin’ Polite conductor—“Excuse “Par comin’ down th’ ladder | but this car is the amoker.” tyo rounds at « time.”. BOTH HAD Fours. The Last Jack Pot Wiped Out the Winner's “Velvet.” From the Chicago Thurs. “They may shut down the public gambling houses, but they cant stop gambling just the same,” saida well-known man about town who ‘t think life worth living if the great American game of draw poker were utterly suppressed, “The gambling instinct is born in man,” he continued, “and unless some zealous and in- Yentive official can devise a means for plucking fortune’s forelock out by the r@ots, why, men Will continue to gamble just in the old, sweet way as long as the world goes round. Now, was in alittle game the other evening which Possessed more elements of interest than any one I've sat in in years. It began about 10 in the evening in the private apartments of the junior member of a big commission firm on the oard of trade. Besides the broker there were in the game a prominent physician, crim. inal las . & railroad man and myself. “It was the old story—a $25 limit with $50 limit on jack pots to start with, and later on, about 3 in'the morning, the limit off, a wide= open game for table stakes or collateral. Well, it was an eventful contest all through. The cards were ranning lively and the physician was about $1,000 ahead, ‘The broker had been losing: so had the railroad man. The lawyer was a little to the good and I was about whole when it became daylight, ‘Let's just play four more jack pots and q some one proposed, ard we all aceeded. first three left the physician nearly $2,000 ahead, the broke the railway man broke and the Iawyer sclf'a little in the hole. Then the cards were dealt for the last. “Cost a hundred to play,’ sententionsly re- marked the broker. Hundred better,” said the physician, “Out.” Out.” Two cards,” said the broker. ve me a card,” chimed in the doctor. ‘Bet you $10," said th broker. ‘Two hundred harder,’ from the medico. Five hundred bette “One thousand more than you.’ “ ‘One thousand harder. TH put my check in if you've no objec- It's good for any amount with me.” ‘wo thousand better, then.” ‘Let's see,’ said the broker. ‘Ihaven’t that amount of cash in bank or here. Won't yoa split it? We can fix that. My rules are never to take IO U's even from a friend; but T'll tell you what. Seal the two hands up in two envelopes and the stakes in a third. We'll g0 down and leave ‘em with the clerk to be p» in the safe and only opened in the pre-ence of three of this party. Then you raise the stuff and we'll all mect at breakfast at 12 sharp in the cafe, and the ownership of the pot can be then desided. * ‘Agreed; that's fair enough.’ “Well,” continued the gentleman, “it was done. At noon we all met at breakfast except the railroad man, who had gone out of town. The lawyer procured the stakes and the envel- opes, the broker forked over four crisp $500 bills to make up his betand I opened the sealed envelopes. The doctor's was first. It con- tained four kings und aqueen. The broker nearly jumped out of it when he saw it and the doctor grew palé at his hilarity. The broker's envelope was opened and contained four aces andaten. He paid for the break- fast and the bill wasn’t a light one, either. coo THE UNDER SIDE OF FLORIDA. Undercround Rivers That Flow Close to the Surface. From the Jacksonville (Fia.) Times-Union. Until about twenty years ago the v plain lying between Gainesville and ) and known as Paine’s prairie, was one of the most noted localities in Florida. Stretching fifteen miles from exst to west and six from north to south, it presented agrandand beauti- ful spectacle when waving with green grass and herbage. The old Indian chief, King Payne, had his headquarters in the neighborhood of it, and it came to be known by his name. But in 1871, during a violent storm of several days’ duration, the subterranean outlet to the waters of the prairie, known as the great sink, be- came clogged with moss and other debris that Arifted into it. Then the water rose over the prairie to a depth of from three to twenty feet, and for twenty years the prairie remained a Such phenomena are not rare in Florida, and they prove that the subterranean features of the state are even more remarkable than those of the surface. Let a tourist travel from Mari- anna to Gainesville, and thence southward to Brooksville, and he could not fail to be con- vinced that that portion of the state at least has an extensive system of underground waterways. Through those bottomless, well-like holes at Silver Springs one looks down into a subter- anean river. The “devil's hopper.” the “devil's punch bowl,” and thousands of other abrupt depressions or “‘sinks” are caused by the caving in of the earth or soft rock that spanned some hidden river or creek. The out- lets of some of these underground streams have been found off the coast, the fresh water boiling up out of the sca. But Florida is not unique inthis respect. In the region known as the Great Basin there but twostreams that do not find underground channels for at least a portion of their course. Innumerable streams are believed to flow en- tirely below the surface. A similar state of things exists in other portions of the west, and in many places east of the Mississippi subter- ranean streams have been detected. It is a well-established fact that there is a river flow- ing under the bed of Lake Erie connecting the waters of Lake Ontario with those of the upper lakes. The peculiarity of Florida's system of natural underground drainage is its proximity to the surface. Understanding this subject many of Florida's peculiar topographical feat- tres are easily explained. Picking Out @ Shady Car Seat, From the Detroit Free Press. “It beats the dickens,” he said to his seat- mate as the train stood in the station, “how thoughtless and short-sighted some folks are. Now this isa scorching hot day and when the train gets out from under this shed the sun is going to shine right plumb into those windows opposite fit to broila steak. But four out of every five people that come in plump them- selves down on that side. Senta are full over there now and plenty of ‘em left on this side yet. Well, there's an awful lot of stupidity in this world, but I don’t know that we can help it. Now, see ‘em !” He sat back in the seat and laughed.’ They bia moving out and the hot sun shone full on the opposite passengers. But in two mamtes ‘the train began to curve round ata rate which promised soon to put the sun on the other side. Then the thought- ful passenger looked sidewise at his seatmate. “Great Scott!” he exclaimed in a tone of dis- gust, “we've got to swing clear round and head the other way. I'm dinged if I didnt clean forget that. Ain't a seat left on the other side, either!” he added, twisting round ud looking up and down the car. Well, this is going to beadeuce of @ nice ride, ain't it? I don't see——" But there wasn't any possible way to saddle the msibility on some one else, so he stopped there and no one knows to this day what he din’t see. mS Clessicus—“In the days of mythology there were naiadsinevery stream and nymphs in every - Modernus—“Just think of it, and not an am- atcur photographer in all the world.”—New York heratt | AN AUTOGRAPH IN Woop. President Arthar’s Name Cat During College Daya From the New York Times. Searrur, Wasm., August 22—fancosk Nea- gle, justice of the peace in this city, hase relic ich he prizes highly the autograph of the late President Chester A. Arthur cut into a board when Arthur was a etudent at Union Col lege, Schenectady, N. ¥., im 1833. In those days it was the enstom of the bors tocuttheir names into the spruce window casings of the old dormitory, #0 that by 1855 | every casing was seamed and hacked. In that Fear the trustees of the college were seized ith a fit of reform, and voted to repair the | buildings. In this process the casings were taken out, but were used in patching up an old fence back of the grounds. The fence was printed over and the ‘carving thus partly ob- iterated. When Mr. Neagle entered Union in 1877 the weather had destroved the pa and again laid with th ton the fence oarer-grained woo:! Then at was not an ind the autograph of « who had since become famous. n ISM), when Chester A. Arthur was mom inated for Vice President, Mr. Neagle began ing over the fence. and finally found Arthurs name in two pilaces name is entire and perfectly cut, other wealtl mon th A. Arthur” is carved with lange tielkand smallcapital body letters. “shows plainly every mo the penknife, and at intervals there in tie board where the knife ; and went off with the grain. Below are the two Greek letters psi upsilon —the name of the societ: to wh * Secretary of . was also a gra { Union. Just out- the window of hix college room wasa broad sill, in which be had chikeled his name in ven letters, and there it may etill be The room which Arthur had same years afterward was directly above that occupied by Seward. The future President evidently looked down from h and followed the illus trious for be cut “artbar In Which the Chips Represented Steers In- stead of Money. “The game began at Texarkana,” said a Pitte- + Who occasionally drops into poker, to & Dispatch reporter, “the oddest and one of the biggest poker games ever played. It was early j inthe fall last year when four big ranchinen, | Woo own between them thousands of acres and | tens of thousands of cattle in Texas, met at the | terminus of the Iron Mountain road. They were bound for Chicago, where they intended to sell their cattle, and. as the wealthiest enttlemen of the great southwest often do, they preferred to make the journey in the caboose of a «tock train the atmosphere was more congenial and the chance to indulge in the national game was tempting. The game was not peculiar in ite! nin the free-and-enry but busi- ¥ that obtains in the west, value of the chips was state a white standing foro: five steers and @ blue chip for ten steera A tolerably large herd of cattle was upon the dry goods box which served for a table at every deal and one jackpot contained no than 300 head of cattle. From Texarl to St. Louis the ; wbout even, although were played in that time. struck t nd entered the homestretch for Chi » contest grew fiercer, and nt about every third hand the betting ran high. Luck turned in one of the players’ the man who hac ’ and when the multiplying lights on the showed that the tram was nearing the game ended. The other three men bn lost every chip they ha and again with the . winner counted up he found he had won 40.000 head of cattle belonging to the other three men in the game, or m dollars close upon $250,000." steer, a red chip for But when ti Baldness—How to Delay It. From the London Telegraph. Sir: A far more common cause of the “plen- tiful lack” of hair now so prevalent is bowel and nervous disorders. Dyspepsia and weak and falling hair go hand in hand; and who will say that we aro not a dyspeptic nation? Now, dyspepsia is due to our modern mode of living; ergo, one of the great primal causes of prema ture baldness is civilization. Indeed, we can lewk and barren brows” we seo around us are also due to ds ‘The moral, therefore, is, Look after your gen- eral health. At the sume time, loss of bair is not always caused by loss of health. It f quently proceeds from purely bocal canses, as these causes ean be guarded against you will allow me to tell what todo and what not todo in order, under ordinary cireum- stances, to “keep their hair on. 1. Avoid tight-fitting hats and collars, also clore-fitting caps, unless these be of some material. ‘The two former preventa due: of blood to the parts, hence the hair pay are put, as it were, on short commons time the hats and collars are worn. The caps engender eaiorie, which sets up irritation, and ultimately that most stubborn form of dandruff, namely, pityriasis a branny powder te that all head: which is not porous should be ventilated at top and wider, to allow a free current of air. 2. Never sit or stand with the top of the head near a gas ght orlamplight. The heat throwa out isapt to paralyze the scalp tissues, and dries up the hair itselt. . Don't wash the head oftener than once n fortnight, when first rub in the yelk of an egg and thoroughly rinse out with warm water, into which has beeu thrown a pinch of borax Dry carefully and apply a little pure oil. 4. Beware of that common practice dipping the comb in water when arranging the hair. It promotes decomposition and rancidity of the natural oil and #0 leads to “rotting.” If the hair be naturally dry apply a little olive oil occasionally. If naturally sionally wash away the excess of sebaceous se- cretion by means of a lather of tepid water and soap bark (quitlaya saponarin). 6. Salt water is most injurious to the hair, for which reason when sea bathing wear an oi “P’ always treat tho scalp as if you loved it. Take to heart Dr. Godfrey's dictum that “Every touch affecting so delicate a texture as the scalp should be soft and soothing; every appli- cation bland and mild.” Don't use stiff bristled or wire brushes, and in all cases brush gently. Also, always brash out the hair before attempting to comb it, and use the comb as lit- tle as possible. 8. Have the ends of the hair clipped once « month, if only to prevent them from splitting. But don't close-crop. Tam sure, sir, that thousandsof your readers would be benefited by following the above in- structions; and, in conclusion, allow me to correct a slight’ error in your’ very excellent leader. You say tl in all countries and in all ages the loss of hair has exposed the loser This is not quite correct. for example, tells ue that among the ites, a bald pate was considered a mark of Deauty. ‘1am, sir, your obedient servant, Hex iitams, M. D., Boston. oo —_——— The only men in the United States who can adequately and understandingly sympathize with the President are the base ball umpires.— Teas Siftings. The Father. “You play a pretty good game j of billiards, Harry.” The Son.