Evening Star Newspaper, October 24, 1891, Page 8

8 : ADAY AT THE “FARM.” Where the Poor of the District Are Cared For. A VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL. With the Doctors on Their Rounds—Some Peculiar Cases—Old Folks and Their Mem- ortes of Better Days— Treatment of Drunk- arde—Old Reuben’s Story. 667 OOK HYAR, DOCTOR, KINI GIT YOU to squirt some ob dat glory ob gold into my pusson?” ‘The speaker wasn old colored man in one ef the hospital wards at the Washington Asy- Jum, and be addressed his remarks to Dr. Walsh, the resident physician, as the latter was making his morning rounds several days ago. “Dis hyar glory ob gold I've heered tell "bout, am good, so dey to keep a man from his licker,” continued the aged uncle, “and dat ‘am de stuff I'se huntin' fer, kase de mighty pow- “ful fluence of spirits is de main cause fer bringin’ me byar.” “All right, uncle, bare your arm and I will give you « hypodermic injection of the solu- tion.” ‘ou disunderstand me, doctor, ‘taint de after, it's de glory ob gold.” if all the same thing, uncie. erm and I'll fx you.” ‘Whar am de glory ob gold?” inquired the man. ‘This is it in this little bottle.” ‘The doctor held up a small phial filled with a translucent liquid and the old colored man took itia his band end turoing it over end over examined it carefully. “And dis am de glory?” be asked. “Yor, that’s it.” Bare your is you, doctor?” what you want. Come, bare your arm. I can’t stay here all the morning fooling with you.” ht so. You is foolin’. I kinder "Sides, dis byar stuff ain't the ss the old man, triumph- ‘ou don't know what you want,” replied the doctor, impatiently. “Yes I does—‘deed [ d dat I has conf ence in you Ti some ob dat stuff into me.’ ith this the old man bared his shoulder and the doctor with a dexterous movement inserted the fine needle point and pressed » dose of @hloride of gold into the old man. FAITH IX THE CURE. “Do you have any faith, doctor, in the use of @hioride of gold for the cure of the liquor habit?” asked a Stam reporter, who was stand- ing near by. “Indeed I have. But come over to the white ward and you can judge for yourself. The entrance of the doctor into this ward was the signal for a pretty general uprising and dozen or more men, without any words, com- Menced to shed their coats. “They are my chlorid doctor in an undertone. deete and to show you se gwine to let you tients,” said the ten to what they ‘Well, Mike, would you like to have a drink?” “No, indeed, sir. That fal craving for Bquor seems to have left me.” “It better bad leave you,” put in andther of the patients, “for if ever you get any of stuff in you, and take a drink afterward, you'll be the sickest man alive. I've tried ii “How's that?” asked the reporter. “Why, Dr. Walsh gave me injections regu- larly for two weeks and when my time was up I started for the city. I didn't have a Lit of a eraving for liquor, but meeting an old friend took a ginss of beer. It no sooner landed dowa here (indicating his stomach) than a general disturbance took place ard it came up, bring- ing with it things I will swear I never ate in wy life. And oh! how sick Iwas. I'm taking alittle more, however, with the hope that I may be cured. God knows I wish it. Liquor has been my rain.” THE HOSPITAL OF THE WASHINGTON ASTLUM fs @ proific field for the student of human nature. ‘The wards are filled with a curious class, rep- Tesenting all ages, sizes, colors and all degrees of mental bility. Here the philanthropist could do wonders. Tux Stan's resentative decided to find this interesting branch of the asylum and accompanied by Dr. Walsh made a tour of the wards. tor’s sanctum, for it is here resident physician, Dr. J. E. Walsh, and three assistants, Dr. J. A. Stoutenburgh, Dr. J. R. Nevitt and Dr. W. M. Barton, may be found at all hours of the day or night, ready to administer tothe wants of the unfortunate. Byeaking tubes and electric bells connect the doctors’ rooms with the outside, and there is actanight but that one or more calls are arug & glance appears to be too but when you scan the scores of pre- that are daily put up for all manner of aches and pains it seems inadequate. ‘DB. BOVEr. The medical head of the asylum is Dr. J. Wesley Bovee, whose official title ig “the vis- iting physician.” Dr. Bovee was born near Watertown, N. ¥., the home of the democratic x nominee for governor of began. H came to Washington in 1383 and three years later graduated in from the medi- cal department of Co- lumbian University. In the winter of 1885 he resigne the position of assistant to Dr. P. J. Murphy the Columbia Hospital. Three years later he and a tered private practice, since Serving on attending staff of Central Dispensary and is now in charge of Washington the National University. His close application and devotion to his profession has, already made P~ inent in the medical profession in Dx Bovee performs the major part of the Operations at the asylum and since the new and operating ward has been erected many of the most difficult and dangerous sur- @ical operations have taken = there He Visite the institution every day and makes « tour of inspection. DR. JORN E watsn, the resident physician, is x young man in years, Dutold in the knowledge and the practice of Medicine. Atan early age he evinced a liking for medicine, but his father wanted him to ‘ians and prom- eae ractice nderable hospital expe- rience and is Of all the requibites that \ go to make up a successful practitioner. DR. W. N. BARTON is a Waskingtonian by birth, first seeing the light of day July 16, 1871. He was educated at the public schools, g from the ‘FHigh School in 1889. In ‘the fall of that year he commenced the study of «medicine at the medical \department of the \\Georgetown University ‘and was appointed as- Nsistant physician to the jms heuse last August. ~\Ho is the president of ‘his class at the medical “college aud a grat fa- vorite. He has made rapid strides in his pro- fession, and there is ication that he will be credit to it. THE CORPS OF NURSES. Next in importance to the physicians are the nurses. An efficient corps is constantly in at- tendance and administer to the wants of the sick and helpless with as much solicitude as though they were wealthy patients. The head nurse is Dr. Elizabeth B. Reed, a full-fl physician. Her dutiesare to look after the diet of the patients and generally supervise the other nurses. Returning to the drug store, one of the as- sistant physicians was busy putting up per- scriptions. A large bottl occupied & conspicuous position on It was labeled “Mysterio bummeride, cording to the doctor's statement it is used on bums who feign sickness to get into the hospi- One dose of the mixture rally cures ‘Mr. Bum, and he never returns for a second in- stallment. ‘The big gong announced the noon hour, and the doctors busied themselves mak- ing ready for A TOUR OF THE WARDS. The staff and Taz Stax reporter bringing up the rear were ready and the march com- menced. First of all eame the white women’s ward of the hospital department. Everything was a neat asa pin in there, and what little conversa- tion there was going on was in e whisper. The doctors moved quietly from one bed to the other, feeling a pulse here and inquiring how another patient felt. It was asad might to see those poor old women, some anxiously waiting for the angel of death ‘and others fighting des- tely for life. Away off in one corner there [ty a young girl whose wasted appearance told only too plainly the cause of her sickness. She had consumption and her lamp of li nearly extinguished. “Oh, doctor, pain in my chest. Give mesomething to relieve it,” is what she eaid when asked how she felt, and it was said in such a despairing way that the doctor went closer and tried to cheer her. Near by sata woman with distorted features and wild glaring eyes. She is an idiot and spends her time gazing into vacancy. cavouT IN THE ACT. Outside a group of four daughters of the Emerald Isle had congregated listening to one of their number read the Bible. One old lady Nas pufling away at an abbreviated pipe when the doctors came al Quick asa dropped the pipe and put her dress over it, but not soon enough to deceive the doctor. you smoking, Nora?” “Sure, sir, Lcan't tell yezalie. I was doin’ that. But me gone now.” said the doctor, picking the pipe from the ground. “Lord save yez, doctor, you've found it. Don't take it It's the only pleasure I hav won't take it, but don’t let me hear you complain about heart trouble. I con't cure you if you smoke.” Is that so, doctor? Sure, then, I'll sthop, al- though I tink I'd take a deal of pain for s drap of the cratur and a shmoke.” THE COLORED WOMEN'S WARD was even more interesting. A characteristic group was sitting about the stove as the visitors entered. The same neatness prevailed here. Sa poeeie caetee. al ‘il peoee ears old, he is apparently in Dut he saffers from was | do STAR: WASHINGTON, D.¢. SATURDAY! OCTORES ‘The white ward of the hospitel, while it con- ied for the most. part by tramps recuperat- cupied for ing from, rocent drunks and the treatment for alcohol habit, ‘AMOXG THE BABIES. While not as well patronized as either of the sick wards, the maternity ward generally has vas one or more occupants. It is here the little reared. When Taz Sram man on black object with doll baby arms ing lusty. “She was born at hoe & year ago and returned rece: With her mother, who fe under treatosont for typhoid fever. ‘& DISGRACE. Situated between the white male ward and the colored men’s ward is the dangerous dis- ease ward. It isa disgrace to the institution. ‘The ward consists simply of watchman's box fitted up with @ bed, the whole not over eight feet square. It is hero that all contagious dis- eases are treated” But by far the most interesting of the several institutions is the old colored men’s home. It occupies the extreme southern portion of the grounds and consists of two inclosed by 8 wire netting fence. IN THE OLD COLORED MEN'S HOME. The gatekeoper is a balf-witted mulatto, about twenty-three years of age and he guards those relics with the eye of an eagle. fp - 7 Look inside and a add btran; pre- sents itself. Old, decrepit men sadly as you enter, but they are not all sad by any means, and the religious disetssions which take place every day are spirited and warm. Uncle uben. an old man, with his head done up in @ faded red bandanns, showing a fringe of hair, is “frum Virginny, sah,” as he is wont tosay when his birthplace is in- quired for. His story is a sad ge, and several times he always bracing up with a “Well, knows what am best” OLD REUBEN's STORY. This was the story he told: “Yas, sah, I was born an’ raised down in ole Virginny, and while I can’t ’zactly tell how many yarsI'se been on dis earf I members de British war. Spec I was “bout six yars ole den. Yas, Iwas ® slave an am one of dem dat am sorry I got my freedom. Kase it took away frum me the bes’ home air: nigger ebber had. I belonged to Mars’ Marsha and a better man neber breaved de bref ob life. mars’ say, ‘Reuben, does you want to git married?” I was payin’ tention ‘bout dat time to Lindy Peters, and wid mar's con- sent wo war made one. ‘Dem war happy days, and de mem'ry ob de corn shuckin's and de possum buntin’ libs fresh in m; Christmas dances down yonder at de nigger quarters. Oh! Lord, fer one mo of dem break wns. Me and Lindy libed in de peaceful judgment ob de Lord till de war broke out, and den— {here the old man hesitated while the tears welled up into his eyes) she an’ de two boys ronned away from mar’s an’ lef’ me wid my onliest daughter. MarsJohn went to de warand nebber come back. I griebed right smartly for Mars’ John, kase I lobed him. Den de farm war sold and me en’ Sallie went out into de world to make a libbin’. “Fust we come to Washington, but I didn’t porn face long. Sallie got ter runnin’ ’round at nights, and one day she war ‘rested and sent to de work house. Ole Mr. Rheumatiz had a hole on me and I couldn't work, so dey brung me down hs ar I ts to remain de nee ob my opes de good wi me soon. I'se ready and willin’ to go.” BROTHER GARNETT, at one time s preacher, had commenced to dis- course upon biblical matters during the re- Porter's interview with Uncle Reuben, and he was laying down the his text the story of Jo: the whale, and the wa; brother as to how Ji lived inside the whale was ludicrous in the extreme. The discussion being ended Brother Garnett Jed them in prayer. It was a simple eff yet it came from the heart, and the surroundings made it unusually impressive. call fer. ‘The Florida Senatorship. Gov. Fleming of Florida, on bebalf of the state as relator, with Fred. T. Myers as attor- ney, has presented « petition to the Supreme Court praying that © writ of mandamus be is- A Factory Employe’s Inheritance. Charles Wombell, employed ina factory at Ballardville, Mase., has fallen heir to an estate King, cccasionally wont shopping, and the lady gives the following account of oriental bartering: “De Nicola (the courier) asked the price of an article and then HOW THEY LOST IT. The Failure of New York to Secure the World's Fair. BEMOANING THEIR LOSS. ‘Stevenson Mr. Blaine held the foremere & REMINISCENCE OF COMMODORE INGRAHAM. ‘Death frequently draws the curtain which has shut out from views namo that hed won Commedere Ingraham’s. Herole Actiqn—| for About Former Speakers of the House—The Coming Election—How a Leading Candidate | recalls most ‘Was Defeated in 1849. _——— ‘Written for The Evening Star. 8 THE WORLD'S FAIR OR THE CO- lumbian exposition has been made » politi- cal issue in the exciting state election now be- ing canvassed 00 earnestly in the state of New York,I am enabled to give another interesting history of the failure of New York to secure that great prize. I was detailed by an evening journal of that city to write up the affair, and was consequently brought into relations with the leading members of the committees in charge. Your readers will remember with what Promises of success the affair was inaugurated. The first meeting called by the mayor was at- tended by almost every man of prominence in the city and Brooklyn. All the wealth was rep- resented, all the various business interests, and the display of earnestness was an assurance of success. Flated at the prospect, I wrote glowing accounts of the meeting, picturing s fature for the enterprise dazzling in its prom- ised result. Money was subscribed and a cer- tain percentage was paid in to enable the com- mittee in charge of the details to rent commo- ious apartments, organize a small regiment of clerks, and, embellishing the walls with pros- pectiv to be built, the worl n. ‘The first check ‘my confident enthusiasm Foceived was when I called on the Hon. An- drew H. Green one morning to bespeak his in- fluence and to obtain information of the prog- ress of the organization, when I was informed by Mr. Green there would be no world’s fair at New York; it might be at Chicago, but not at New York.’ The plans began by invading the Central Park, of which the people of New York are jealous and repel any inroad on that one spot, which has retained its “personality,” if I may use the word, through all the changes of municipal power. The committee appointed to select the site agroed upon and recommended & location beyond the faif buildings on the northern end of the park and extending up the city almost into Harlem. It was soon discov- ered that one of the committee on the site—a wealthy contractor—had become the owner of nearly every foot of vacant ground to be util. ized for the fair under the recommendation of the committee on the site. That planted dis- trust in the minds of the public in goneral. Mr. Andrew H.Green bad given years of his life to the Central Park management, and under bie administration it hat grown into beauty and extent, und it was guarded by him and the sitizens generally with jealous care, and to the absorption of any part of it an opposition was at oncejarraved. As nothing in New York 2an by any possibility be divorced from politics that was ancther of the shadows that closed upon the enterprise. ‘The meyor of New York was a member of Tammeny, ond would be in office during the yeare of preperation for the great event, and in some measure would control the membership appointments required to conduct such an enterprise to success. and the expendi- ture of the millions would, the opposition to Tawmany argued, form the _ basis of a large electioneering fund for the presidential election of 1892. The comait- in charge of the needed legislative action, both naticnal and state, proclaimed itself to be immaculate in the transaction of its busi- ness, When, therefore, they came to Washing- ton it was to demand favorable action, not to seek it. They met here an earnest body of men from other cities and were beaten ay the supe- rior energy and tact they displayed. ‘The re- turn of the committee from Washington to New York was far from being a triumphal one. The interviewers were on hand and all reasons were given for their failure. One gen- tleman stated he bad been approached by mem bers of the third house, who offered, for a con- sideration, to secure the required number of votes to give New York the fair. Noone famil- Washington doubted it. There are and always have been gentlemen here ready to bargain for any number of votes fo. any re- quired object, but their ability to secur) votes never materializes. SCHENCK AND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. There iss good story told of the late Gen. Schenck. Mr. Randall, when Speaker, met the general one day and asked him why he never came to see his old friends at the Capitol, for the general had been conspicuous by his ab- sence from the scene of his former attendance for years. He said in reply: “If you were to invite me to dine with you you would not exact from me an obligation that I would respect your spoons and other silver, would you? Well! the louse of Nepresentatives obliges every ox- member to take an obligation which is an ad- mission that he is capable of using his privilege to the floor to put money in his purse, and so I don’t care to be subjected to such an implied possibility.” You can no more take from New York its commercial and trading interests than you can divest it of its vast financial character. There is speculation in its eyes in every public demon- stration, a» witness the Grant monument. THE COMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION is being fought in New York now and the cause of the defeat of the location of the world’s fair at Now York enters into the canvass with considerable power. When it was too late the city of New York awoke to the loss of pres- tige it sustaines Both parties are striv- ing for the stake that the thirty-seven votes fn the electoral college may be secured for the party winning in this fight. Under the new apportionmient bill the electoral college will consist of 450 votes. Necessary to a choice, 226 votes are required. The organs of the demo- cratic party claim tho solid south and Dela- ware, 171 votes, and the 19 votes of New Jer- sey, Connecticut and Montana, 190 votes. The vote of New York, added’ to the sure ‘the democrats, would nd. the three new states, but to need three votes more. New York wrould give them 8 large majority in the eleo- toral college, a1 without must carry New Jersey or Connecticut or Montana. ‘Ihe Importance, thetore, of the voto of New York becomes apparent, and hence eve: fort made by botk Ts dscns in teade ie a tae poked r citizens in ar factor in the fight. eazy ‘TBE ORYSTAL PALACE. Now York has not # very cheerfal precedent to dwell upon in this world’s fair business, for the fearful failure of the crystal palace in 1853 stands forth asa warningand may have bad sume influence in retarding tho subscriptions, which were not spontaneous. The crystal was built in what is now Reservoir Park or Bryant Park, as it has been recently ni Some years after the fair ard the palace had passed into the realms legendary lorace Paris and ived in America some two or three years and had ‘declared his intention” ‘of becoming @ citizen of the ‘ited States. He had visited Smyrna on business when he was seized, b; and takeu to to release him, ‘The reprosentative of the United States, Mr. a. pene jong squtdons of —— rece cone in the views of Capt. In; and few poor that Kosta be taken: om the Austri- ans and returned to Sm: clearing the decks of "Sia made the demand on the the Hussar for the release of Kosta and threatened if his demand was not complied with in three hours he would open fire on the Austrian man- Ofrwar. After some delay Kosta was released to the French consul to be returned to Smyrna, and soon after he was brought back to Amer- ica. Capt. Ingraham was the hero of the day. In ition of this service South Carolina, his native state, presented him with a magnifi- cent sword, Congress voted him resolutions of thanks and « medal and the citizens of York presented him with a gold medal in tes mony of their appreciation of tho great service he rendered to American citizenship. Throughout the whole country mass meeti were held to commend Capt Ingraham uct CELEBRATED CORRESPONDENCE. This incident led to the celebrated corre- ‘spondence between Chev. Hulsemana, Austrian minister, and the Secretary of State, Gov. Marcy. The réply of the Secretary of State to the Austrian minister was so admirable and withal #0 crushing that the chevalier asked to be led and returned to Austria The let- ter of Br. Marcy was received in Europe as the manifesto of the United States government to protect American citizens everywhere Chev. Hulsemann is well remembered here as a very amiable gentleman, retiring, indeed, almost a recluse, a batchelor, or at least had ‘no family here, where he was resident minister for some years. REMARKABLE ELECTION OF GPEAKER. My old friend, Mr. D. F. Murphy, who for the last forty-three years has Leen the official stenographer of the United States Senate, re- called from his store house of memory @ re- markable election of Speaker which caused the most intense excitement. At the session of 1849 the Hon. Robert 0. Winthrop had been nominated for re-election as Speaker of thi House of Representatives by the whigs, then a Powerful political party, and William J. Brow: of Indiana by the democrats. The free soil party, @ mere handful, held the balance of ower. The contest had been waged several ‘ys, indeed two weeks or more, and Brown had gained until he wanted but two votes of an election. These would have gone to him on the next ballot, when Gen. Robert C. Schenck. then @ young and very able whig, obtained, mehow, the information that Brown had written Mr. Root of Ohio and David Wilmot of Pennsylvania, two leading free soilers, a let- ter, in which he promised, if they voted for him, he would give them the naming of the committees on territories and the District of Columbia—to the free soilers the only eom- mittees they could utilize, for the south claimed the right to take their property in slaves into the territories, and slavery had not been abol ished in the’ District of Columbia. Gen. Schenck charged thet such letter had been written and called on Mr. Brown to produce it. A very stormy debate ensued, and at last Brown handed the letter to the clerk to read, and Mr. Murphy, who was seated with Mr. Alex H. Evans of Maryland, took it in shorthand as # was real. He then copied it and gave it to Mr. Evans, who bad the floor, and called for a sec- ond reading of the letter, which Brown declined to have read again. He then sent Mr. Murph; copy to the clerk to read and called on Brown to verify or repudiate it. Brown made no reply. It ended his candidacy and Howell Cobb was elected about Christmas. Wm. J. Brown was subsequently appointed assistant tmaster genoral and his brother, Joseph F. Brown, wa for some years alderman from the third war. and an official of the Washington Gas Compan; The delays in organization of Congress rai the clerk of the House of Representatives to dignity of presiding officer until the Speaker is elected. Col. Forney presided from tho oper ing of the session to the election of Gen. Ban! on the Ist of February, and #0 acceptably did he disc! the duty the House voted him the pay of the er for the period he occupied the chair. Adams, years befors that, ob- jected to the clerk exercisin, calling the roll and moved th of Congress take the chair, himeelf, and it was carried, and the clerk, Hugh A. Garland, I think, vacated the chair. Joux F. Corts. ————— ‘Written for The Evening Star. October Days. October days, October days. ‘What days can be compared to you, ‘Whose cool, gray morns are wrapped in haze, ‘Whose sunny foons are soft and bite; ‘Whose early eves are as serene As those of Summer's sultry time, And in whose meads the grass is green, Where trilis the crickets’ trembling chime? October days, October days! ‘Though gone the lily Summer loves, Yet still for you the rose delays, And azure asters star the groves. For you the hooded gentian blooms, ‘And shines the spice-wood’s rubies red; Still flowers the horse-mint and perfumes ‘The air when on its eaves I tread. October days, October days! To bid you hafl and welcome, nod And bow in fields and woodland ways ‘The many tribes of golden rod. Aye, many s flower its tribute brings ‘To you who bring no frost that slays, And ‘stead of feathered warbler sings ‘The grateful poet in your praise. October days, October Of beauty and plenty most profuse, ‘Your fruit and grain the farmer lays Up, glad, in store for winter use. ‘With apples red as maidens’ cheeks Are myriad orchards now ablaze, And every farm your bounty speaks, And blesses you, October days! October days, October days! ‘The most poetic days of alt, When Autumn's tints the tree displays, Yet leaves cling close, still loath to tall. To pleasant musings ye ‘The mind, though tinged with sadness, too, For hints of change the landscape shows, ‘That comes to all—to us—to you. Such days are like enchanted istes, ‘Where carth still-as in Eden stays, And Heaven o'er flower and fruitage sm‘les, Delightful days, when ye depart, Snows fall and winds roar loud again, ‘Transformed by Memory's magic art, ‘Your beauty will with me remain! Oct. 11, "91. 24. 18091-SIXTEEN PAGES. Rats AND THEIR QUEER wars Littte Beasts Cvesidered Unpleasant, but (WEAT THEIR TAILS ARE GOOD FOR—CLOTEES oF ‘THEIR GRINO—TRACHING THEM TRICKS—aiTS a8 AN ARTICLE OF DIET—TAUMPET Rats 1n- ‘VERTED BY souavES. RAT'S TAIL 18 A WONDERFUL THING. ‘The great naturalist, Cuvier, eays that there are more muscles in this curious append- age than are to be found in that part of the human anatomy which is most admired for its ingenious structure—namely, the hand. To the rat, in fact, its tail serves as a sort of hand, by means of which the animal is enabled to ¢rawl along narrow ledges or other difficult Passages, using it to balance with or to gain a hold. It is prehensile, like the tails of some monkeys. By means of it the little beast can jump up heights otherwise inaccessible, em- Ploying.it as « projectile spring. It has often been said that the glovemakers of Paris make use in their trade of the skins of rats which are caught in the sewers, but this is denied. Certainly the materjal would not be strong enough to successfully counterfeit the kid, unless it were for the thumb parts only, which are generally of thinner and different kind of leather from the rest. Suggestion has been made that a trade might be opened with the Chinese for the ckins of the rats which they eat. A thrifty Welshman at one time ex- hibited himself publicly in England tired in e costume composed from to toe of ratekins, which he had spent threo yeats and s half in collect- ing. The dress was made entirely by himself. Is consisted of hat, neckerchief, coat, waist- coat, trousers, tipp*t, gaiters and’ shoes. The number of rats required te complete the suit [rar 810. Most curious of the garments was ippet, com; entirely of rats’ tails, At ons Sten banat of saree thousand ratekins was imported from France into England for manufacturing purposes, but they were found too small and too fine in texture to be useful. RATS AND ELEPHANTS’ TUSKS. Dr. Buckland says that many of the elephants tusks brought to Londan for the use of workers in ivory are observed to have their surfaces grooved into small furrows cf unequal depth as though cnt out by a very sharp-edged in strament. Thu is done by rate, which are fond of the gelatine or animal giue in the sub- stance. ‘The ivory cutter selects for his pur Poser by preference those tusks which have gnawed in this way, because they are the ores which contain the most gelatine and are therefore the best in material. Curiously gnongh, the trade, while giving this much Tecognition to the rats’ work, has not recog- nized them as the authors of it, the common belief in the business being that ‘the ivory has beer. thus gnawed by alligators. How it is im- agired that alligators get a chance to chew ele- phante’ tusks ie a probie How many people have ever eaten jelly made from elephants’ tuske? Yet it is very good in- deed. In the English factories where many tons of ivory are sawn up snnually to make handles for knives and forks, great quantities of ivory dust are obtained. ‘This dust is sold at the rate of 6 pence a pound, and, when prop- erly boiled and prepared, it makes the finest, purest and most nutritious animal jelly known. Years ago ivory jelly was a very fashionable remedy and much sought after. Rats aro remarkably intelligent animals, as may be perceived from the difiiculty that is ex- perienced in catching them. They can be taught many tricks. Among other things it is ible to make them learn how to beg, to [emp through a hoop, to drag a little cart in mess and to carry sticks or money. RATS AS AN ARTICLE OF DIET. Rats have never found favor asa delicacy for the table in Europe or in this country, but in many lands they are relished as an article of diet. The negro slaves of Jarnnica used to re- gard them as a dainty, their masters not_pro- ‘ing them with any other meat ir method of cooking the toothsome rodents was to impale each one ona long wooden skewer, after cleaning the animal and cutting off the tail, turning it briskly around over a fire until the bair was all burnt off. ‘Then it was scraped uniil free from fur, and finally the end of: the skewer was struck into the ground, inclined to- ward the fire, until it was toasted dry and crisp, thus being made ready for the meal. Rats’ may commonly be soen for sale in the matkets of any Chinese town, split and pressed under a heavy weight, so as to look somewhat likedried fish. In this shape tho pig-tailed qriental buy» them, soaks them in water and then boils, roasts or fries them. STORY OF THE TRUMPET RAT. ‘When the French zouaves were first in Africa new sort of rat made its appearance there. It was called the “trumpet rat,” having a long proboscis. The sale of a specimen by one of the soldiers to an enthusiastic naturalist gave toan action atiaw. Said the plaintiff in court: “This zouave has cheated me out of 100 francs. He knows that I am much interested in natural sciences. Ihave collections of fos- ils, of shells, of rare animals, of curious plants, One day he called upon me and said: ‘Sir, I haveaLind of enima which bas never been mentioned by any naturalist It is « trampe: rat, and hasatrunk like anelephant’s. I alive and well; if you wish to see it, you have only to come to my house. “I was very anxious to behold this strange animal. Wearrived at his house and he showed me in a cage an enormous rat, very lively and in good condition, which really had on its nose aslender excresceuce more than an inch in length. The excrescence was covered with hair like the body of the animal, with vertebrw in it, and (a most extraordinary thing) larger at the summit than at the base—the contrary to what it ought to be in the usual course of things. To convince myself that it was nota dupe and a mystification I stuck a pin into the trumpet. The animal cried out and a drop of blood came from the prick. The experiment was conclusive. It was really a trumpet form- ing part of the rat. was amazed. TI asked this man if he would sell his rat. He said yes, and I paid him 50 franes for it. My friends and servants all admired it, and I was enchanted. My rat was a Some one said to me that I ought to procures female. I asked the zouave if he rocure for me a female, and he said two. I saw them and bonght one of them for 50 francs. Somemonths afterward the female had young. I looked at them and they had no trumpets, Isaid to myself, ‘They will sprout” I waited one month, two mon six months; every day I looked ee rata, but the trumpets never ap} Rome sp o frequently I made the acquaintance of who had served a long time in Africa. I told him about my trumpet rats and he laughed as though his sides would split. When he was calm again he told me that the trumpet rat was not s freak of nature, but an invention due to the leisure joments’ of the zouaves. This is how they You taketwo rate and fasten their board, the nose of one close to . ‘Then with a knife or a lancet you make an incision into Tho nose of the rat which is How the Department of Agriculture Obtains ‘Them fer Distribution. HE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS about to begin ite purchases of seeds for supplying the farmers of the country. All such baying is done directly from growers. Congress 100,000 for this purpose annually. It costs $60,090 to put up the pro- duet and ship it from Washington, so that only $40,000 is actually devoted to paying for the material distributed. In June and July special agents travel about inepecting the crops which the seedsmen are raising. They select what they want by sample, and in November they journey around again and make their contracts, ‘The seodsmen do not usually produce their stock in trade on their own land. They hire the use of extensive tracte from farmers. sometimes such « plantation will includea thousand acres —paying #0 much an acre a: supplying the seeds te be planted. On their part, the farmers contract to deliver the crops obtained, husked or threshed, cleaned and in good condition. It is agreed that they shall do all the labor and that the partis of the other | part shail bo permitied to examine the fields at any time and weed out all “rogues,” which are plisnt# of inferior varieties such e# will creep UNCLE JERRY'S SPECIAL AGENTS. In summer time, when the cropsare growing, Unele Jerry's special agente come along. To them each seedeman shows not his green fields, but his “trial garden,” wherein he cultivates a few specimens of each choice vegetable that he is engaged in propagating. ‘The government buyers look the stock over, decide in a ¢ way ae to what they want fo purchase, and go away, to return in the late autumn and give — orders after inspecting the eeeds in the ine. ‘These seed farms are scattered all over the United Staten. Cabbage seeds a all grown on Long Island, elsewhere state and in Connecticut. Farmers that they need salt air. Of cauliflower seeds the same remarks may be repeated. Peas for seed all come from the neighborhood of Trav- erse, Mich, and Manitowoc, Wis Those got from elsewhere are eiways ‘apt to have little worms in them, but the flies of which the worms are the larve do not li the -region mentioned. Beet seeds are nea imported. Trot seeds come from the far west, especially from California, in which state daced most of the lettuce seed Corn and onions for seed are raised all over the country, and the same is true of the seeds of melons. Cucumber seeds come from Nebraska, Wisconsin and Missouri. Onion seeds are gathered by going through the fieids and cutting off the pods at the tops of the stalk, tying them in bundles and threshing them out on canvas. Beans are allowed to stand in the field until they are yellow, after which they are stacked up until they are per- fectly dry and ed out. Peas are per- mitted to get dry and herd in the rows, and then are taken to the barn for threshing. ‘io get cabbage seeds, the stalks which have grown one year must be planted the next, when they run toseed. The same is true of carrots; the roots which have developed in one season put in the ground the next and go to seed. No seed potatoes will be distributed this year by the department. The eyes which have been shipped in past years were found too perisha- ble, either rotting or freezing before they were planted, and whole potatoes are too bulky to FLOWER srEDs McroRTED. The flower seeds which the Department dis- tributes are nearly ali imported from abroad, where vast farms are devoted to raising them. TheWhave to be purchased from the big seed houses. As is the case with the vegetable seeds, they are all tested before being sent out. For this purpose curious little window garden is maintained at the seed barn, which consists of two good-sized pans about 4 inches deep. Across the pans wires are laid in pairs With folds of cheesecloth hanging between each pair into the water, of which the pans are halt fall, ‘The seeds are sprinkled aloug in the folds of cheesecloth and quickly germinate, their roots making their way through the fabric in a dense network. metimes vege- tables thus grown in the pans have actually produced peas, beans and other things big enough to cat. ' Any one who cares to get up such a window garden as this at home will be well repaid for the elight labor involved. . HOME MATTERS. Seasonable Suggestions and Every-Day Hints to the Practical Housewife. Onpreany Russes Ive Enasens, it is said, will remove rust from polished cultery with- out injury. Is Cooxrxo Burrs leave at least two inches of the top and do not break off the little fibers or the juices will be lost. A Ticur Suor may sometimes be made easy by laying a cloth wet in hot water across where it pinches, changing several times. The leather will shape iteelf to the foot. Oxz or THe Most Acnerasie of dentifrices is to be found in a few drops of tincture of myrrh in half» glass of water. It not only cleanses the mouth, making it fresh and sweet, but it isan excellent tonic for the gums and arrests decay. It also has the merit of very inexpensive, as 10 cents will buy to last a year. Ax Easr Merucp or Removixe Mitpew is to place the article ina warm oven fora few moments and then brush it. ‘Tux Proren Wax To Pot Sart Frem to soak is with the flesh side upward. In this way the salt settles at the bottom of the pan. To Crzax Warre For, rub with flannel dipped in heated but not browned bran. Oatmeal withous husks is preferable and dry flour will do. ‘Tars 1s Vinrvarr the beginning of the sea- eon for colds, and a good cough sirup is made of one pound of figs, one pom 1 of raisins, three lomons, one-balf pound of rock candy, one-half pound of loaf and one quart of cider brandy. Split the fruit and slice the lemons, and put them in a Mason jar, in layers; divide the sugar and rock candy evenly between the layers and pour over the whole the cider brandy. Allow it to stand three days before using. Take « wine-glaes full three the berrolas "This isd to q is done, perl tive confusion and the grocer focle contdent that he has always the same grade of flour un- der the same name. Buy « spring wheat flour, or a mixed flour, for bread, and an all-winter i : i 1 ’ & E ss SOME NEWS ABOUT NUTS A Balletin om the Subject to Be Tneued br the Deparument of Agrica) PPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURI ‘Will soon issue a report on the wonderte: Progros of nut culture in the United States It is an entirely new industry. Ten years age nobody ever thought of such @ thing as cults vating nuts in this country. It seemed naturel that they should grow wild and not otherwise At present nut trees of many hinds are being grown and grafted in nurseries. Orchards of them bave been set out in several states, and there is every prospect that by the time decade has passed nuts will be plentiful im the market of varicties as superior to those now eaten as cultivated fruits are ordinarily better than wild ones. At the ehow of the National Pomological Ag sociation in Washington the other day pothing excited so much attention asa plate containing foar buge open chestnut burra, Ineach burt were reveaiod three or four gigantic muta, ae big the French “marr: fact obtai by a Pennsy! graft o porte native ti apan nm - ia grower bya marron Chestnut one grow the largest ey are twice as b have been br propagated from su iy, neither the Japaness aality to the 3 beltered te can be obtained by 1 have the size of et 6 c e and 3 Jersey who have m nae CULTIVATING THE cmesTNCr. __ How much can be accomplished by introdne: ing foreign strains of chestnuts no one ean tell Auve varieties which in and fi , found in Tennessee, afford pr Fy afts from the trees results. It t improve m, #0 that the ally better bin stock by b bring forth the best ; rrive wire chestnuts will contrity uport rt bearing them pr must be unde: varieties, mei antly to the ws th ways of using them in cookery and a number of recipes will be a cluded in ‘the government report above referred to. ‘They are made into soup, pre pudding, employed as a stufing for bi boiled and dipped in sirup for a conserve and utilized in several other inshions. Now and then a chestnut twig is found which bas a cession of burrs all along it instead of ts usual two or three that dangle together. The Department of Agriculture would be very much obliged to any one who will send to s sucha freak. It means simply that all of the female blossoms along the “spike” that bears the burrs have been fertilized by the pollen Ordinarily only two or three of them are #6 fertilized If some grafts of the unusual Growth described can be secured, possibly the producing power of chestnut ‘trees may be multiplied. z Much is also being done in the cultivation of hickory nuts. Nurserrmen are planting and grafting the young trees, which they sell te growers. No orchards are as yet in bearing, but there are wild groves of fine varietics ln Obio which are regularly harvested. There are shagbarks in Iowa of large size which have such thin shells thut they can readily be cracked by grasping two together in the hand. From such stock grafts a: 5 ere and the process of progressive selection will doubtless develop some very remarkabie results in the course of a few yours. Stories have reached the division of pomology of hickory nuts in the Wabash valley as, big an one's two fists. Much anxiet aero of them, but it tts 6 included the huska, the kernels being small and ultmost worthiess. Ohio isa remarkable state for nute’ Anew kind of black wainut has been disc overed out shaped nus filled with a'single meat somewhat the ebape of 4 peanut, thougn bigger. The important obe jection to ordinary biack walnuts is that they are divided in the middie by « wail of shell so constructed that it is almost impossibie to the kernel out whole. “This freak variety only to be cracked to yield the meat entire. If is to be cultivated and may be ex to ap: Peat on the market by the time det the pres ent generation of babies is grown up. AN EXTRAORDINARY SPECIES OF HAZEL wUT. A now and very extraordinary species of hazel nut bas been discovered in the state of Washington. Instead of being the fruit of « dwart tree not six feet high, it grows upon giant tree sixty feet in height. However, be cause the tree stem is only six inches in diam eter, it cannot stand upright. Instead, it bende over not far from round, touches the earth, rises again, comes down to the ground Once more, and #0 on for several snaky curves its branches bear hazel nute by twins. ly ery pod two nuts are found instead of the usual one. ‘This is a variety well worth cuiti- Vating, and experiments are already being with grafts from it. ncidentaliy to this beginning of nut eultive- tion, varieties are being dis and designated by name. A iew cr one will not Jook in the market merely for cheat- nuts or hickory nute, but for certain choice kinds. Already no less than fifty varieties of pecans have been named. Of these last many Jantations are in bearing and hundreds more ve been set out in the ‘stock has been obtained by grafts from wild treesim Ycxas and Mississippi, the fruit of which is so as to readily ve OF six oulti pecans. Great success is being made with the oultiva- tion of English walnuts in California. It is be- lieved thet they can be produced profitably im the eastern states as soon as more experience is fertilizing ef the flowers. This is always a great difficulty, and it has been found cn the Pacific coast thata very effective remedy for it is hapa oy the trees viack — it is seen in the east, because it is so much in de- mand on the Pacific coast. Indiaos aud note collect cones of a specics of pine tree. bey cones upon the hot embers of a fire, thus caus ing them to open, when the nuts ure shaken out. Tho biggest of them are about the size small aimonds, but their favor Fs RESEE HELE