Evening Star Newspaper, November 14, 1891, Page 9

we ¥ f ‘THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D.C. SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 14, 1891—SIXTEEN PAGES. AN OLD ITALIAN TOWN The Quaint Town of Assisi and Its People. FESTIVAL OF THE PEDRONO. How the Pilgrims Flock te the Shrine of St. Francis—The Peasants and Their Costumes —In and Around the Old Church—The Cel- ebration After the Festival. Written for The Evening Star. fi yommiee THE MONTH OF AUGUST THE little town of Assisi, Italy, would scarcely be recognized by the traveler who has only Visited it during the winter or spring. It is completely transformed by the thousands of Pilgrims who flock here for the festival of the Pedrono. They come from all parts of Italy, France, Germany, Spain and even Russia and Poland to visit the shrine of the greatSt. Fran- ie, who was born here in the latter part of the twelfth century. Many of them walk hundreds of miles, sleeping along the road, im stables or hay stacks, anywhere, everywhere, carrying their bundles of clothes and provisions on their beads. All b: staffs, most of them only rough sticks with a cross at the top. Ar- Fiving travel stained and we: people. | Some asleep, some mending their clothes, some eating their dry bread with green salad leaves and cucumbers. The cucumbers they eat whole, skin and all. Or in the beautiful oid church, so dark one can scarcely distinguish the kneeling figures on the cold stone floors, so wrapt up in their de- votions, so lost to everything but the fact that they are near the saint whom they love. Walk- ing in groups around the big altar saying their beads, stopping every few steps to kneel and kiss the stones, going down into the crypt to visit his tomb, kneeling to say a little prayer on every step. All this is very beautiful and touching. ‘They are so innocent, sv childlike in their faith, and somehow they scem to belong to this wonderful old church of the middle ages, rich in its carvings and its frescoes of white-robed angels by Giotto and Cimabue, and the foot of the moanta that surrounds the Chu Cegli Angeli, built over the room in which St. Francis died. ‘THIS PRIMITIVE OLD Towx contains but two small hotels, so even those who can afford to pay for shelter find great difficulty in obtaining it, All the good people | open their houses and take in as many as pos- sible, but as the pilgrims far outnumber the imhabitants, hundreds must spend their nights beneath the protecting wings of heaven. Lov- ingly they cluster around the church of their dear St. Francis, feeling that he will protect them. And truly there is nothing to fear, for his mantle of love and charity seems to have fallen over the inhabitants of this little village. The people are so good, so honest,our landlord | said, that any amount of money could be left in the streets,andno one would dream of steal- ing it. ‘THE ROMAN PRASANTRY ‘are dressed in the costames of Fraseati, Anti- coli, &c. The men with knee breeches, gay- colored vests, sandals and the legs bandaged with leather and white rags. The women witl their white chemires, low corsets of red, green and blue worn always on the outside, bright | colored aprons, flowing sleeves and white towels on their heads. in Italy each district has ite own peculiar dress, the seldom On great f Malian peasant | “il corso.” The its lovely stained glass windows, through which even the Italian sunshine ean scarcely make its way. We would sit in some dark corner and watch them as they prayed. clustering around the altar rail, with the soft light of the candles shining upon their upturned faces. ‘THE GREAT PROCESSION. After these days of religious ceremonies the Pedrono is ended by a great procession called people gather for hours be- forehand in the great piazza, and, being tired and weary, many fall asleep in the shade of the cloisters against the great doors of the church, and even inside, where they one for prayer and regt., ‘But at 6 in the evening all is excitement: the procession, led by the clergy and choir boys, enters the church. The peop follow with a shout of “Viva Jeu Christi; viva Maria!” During the benediction they all_join with the choir in singing the hymns. Never has congregational singing seemed so sweet, 80 touching, as in this exquisite old medieval church, ‘where the kneeling peasants seem ko devout, so much in earnest. After this festival, ‘before the peasants leave for their homes, the great fair takes place. Out on the Prato stand thousands of beauti- fui white oxen, brought here from all the sur- rounding country, horses, sheep, pigs, booths filled with cloth of every description, household goods, fruits, vegetables, &c. Then the races on the Corso and finally the tombola, or state lottery, when the great prizes are awarded. All this is intensely interesting to the artists and those who desire to study these children of ON THE ROAD. sunny Haly. One ean see types of the differ- ent degrees of civilization ern, central and northern like that the Nea egy by south- italy, so totally un- itans seem to be a distinct of the north. ‘THE PEOPLE AND THEIR WATS. The Assisians are honest, kind, almost clean and unconsciously you learn to love them ; to love their simple, primitive life. The ahgelus rings at $ in the morning, when the whole vil- - an attends mass off to at 3. OTHER CELEBRATIONS. - On the days consecrated to the dead the streets leading to the Campo Santo are dec- it rgreens and lighted torches. The whole graveyard is hung with lanterns and every grave covered with fresh flowers. At the te an altar is erected, where mass is cele- onfiree areliggted) trough Tuly sre pice mfires are taly at the rit ing of the Ave Maria. Here ou can see them by the thousands all up and down the moun- sides. re are many other festivals and ilgrimages during the summer and early fall. attracts some of the most artista, who are wae orgs race when brought in contact with tbe people | ">" ATTRACTIVE HOMES. Windows Now Taking on Their Dra- peries for the Winter. SASH CURTAIN FASHIONS. White Lace or Muslin Now Supplants Indin Silk for Material—New Decorative Fabrice— Pretty Rtbbon Effects—Worked TableCovers —The Effective Use of Dyes. ‘Written for The Evening Star. HE FINE DAYS OF AUTUMN HAVE Miagered long with us in Washington this year; longer than usual have the leaves re- mained on our many beautiful trees and screened the curtainless windows of the houses, for only lately are homes taking on their win- ter aspect and window draperies beginning to appear. Sash curtains are the rule and not ‘the exception in our city, and may be made quite a study in themselves. Some places ig- nore these latter-day claimants to favor and all the pretty houses have only the long lace inner curtains banging undraped, shutting the interior off from thestreet most effectually. To be sure, it is in cities where streets are rather narrow that this style of window hangings pre- vails, and the desiro of seclusion from the pos- sible curiosity of one’s opposite neighbors has probably much todo with the fashion; here, however, with our wide streets, no such noces- sity exists, and this possibly explains our par- tiality for the coquettish effect of sash curtains tied back with ribbons, cords or bands. Cer- tainly it makes our streets much more attract- ive and our houses more individual to have these accessories, and it somehow makes the promise of the interior of a house more inviting when the windows show this evidence of care. FASHIONS IN SASH CURTAINS. India silk, which was so populara few years ago for this purpose, has almost entirely been superseded by white lace or muslin; lace seems rather to have the preference this season over the muslin which, with its tambour work de- signs, hasbeen such a favorite for two years | a Lace with tambour work is used, and with pretty striped effects appears at many windows. Cream white is the predominating tint, though occasionally a deeper tone of ecrn is seen. Lace-edged mull is one of the pretty combinations, while white tassel fringe makes a finish that is alway#pretty and popu- lar. Ruffles, plain or lace edged. appear here and there, and are attractive, though the extra, work in making and laundering deters people somewhat from having them. I have seen lately a bed room whose warm coloring made it particularly suitable for a winter room, and where two west windows and one south one give light enough to brighten up what would be too dark tones for a duller room. The walls e of plain terra cotta cartridge paper ze of conventionalized design in color- both lighter and darker than the side is, the ceiling being very light cream, with cotta outlines of the pattern. The floor ined very dark and has ‘Turkey rugs in dark coloring gin front of the larger pieces of the cherry furniture. A SIMPLE CURTAIN FIXTURE. * The three windows have long white lace- edged curtains hanging unlooped to the floor, this being in one of those other cities I spoke of not favored with our wide streets. The curtains are put up so simply and prettily that Iwill tell agnin of the fiztare, though a year ago 1 spoke of it; still, 1t will probably be new to most readers. ‘A long screw, bent into a hook at one end, is put into each end of the window frame at ihe top; row rod or flat strip of wood hi screw in each end, and when the curtain, which is finished with a rufiled heading and shirr at the top, has been slipped on to the rod the screw eyes are caught over the hooks on the window frame and the curtain is secure. It is an easy arrangement for light bed room eurtains, where a standing raftle at the top always looks well. These long white curtains in the room I speak of are in pretty contrast to the deep pink walls and still darker red of the paint. ‘he bureau and chiffonier, aswell as the bed, have white spreads and covers. At the foot of the bed stands a wide couch, covered with goods in pompadour stripes of old pink and white, with small flowers scattered over the white. A large spread of the same is on the small squaré table, and an old-fashioned ottoman with mahogany frame has a top of it likewise. A HARMONY OF COLOR. Between the chimney and front window the recess is curtained for a closet, the hanging of terra cotta turcoman with deep border and side fringe in darker shades adding to the pretty color effect of the room. The white marble mantel has the shelf covered with felt a little lighter than the side walls, with straight fall of the same fifteen inches deep; the lower edge is slashed for fringe, while at intervals are tassels made by fringing the felt, rolling it up until the right size is reached, then winding it into @ tassel with filoselle; the effect is very good. Above the mantel a curtain of the feit 1s hung by rings from a small brass rod. The pictures are all black and white, most of them im cherry frames, a group of small etchings being well arranged over the mantel. ‘Ihe Washstand hasan unusually pretty toilet set with deep cream ground and much decoration of flowers in pink with their leaves. A door- way into the next room is hung with » Roman silk blanket in which the broad stripes of pink are fhe same peculiar coloring of the wall paper, and which the narrow black and whi stripes separating them set off well. ‘The cane- seat chairs are “old Dutch” in shape, while a low wide rocker is upholstered in pink and white lke the couch. NEW DECORATIVE FABRICS. ‘There are several new things in fabrics for decorative use this season; one is a Japanese crepe crinkled in regular designs, for instance, adiamond or lattice pattern, and this touched up with dark blue. Another’ piece has a more elaborate design, and conseqtently more color, for all the raised lines of the crinkled surface have the color upon them; th tended for pillow covers especially and a: 75 cents a yard. Another novelty. is blue denim with gold stamped pattern all over it in the style of Japanese crepes and chintzes. All these are suitable for table covers and sofa pillows, and make showy ones with only the trouble of putting them on. The gold stamped chintzes are in a greater varicty of coloring than ever,and can be used for numerous things; a soft fawn color well covered with a gold prett which challenge the season approaches are little shades for gas or candle which simulate flowers. They are what are called French lowers and look almost per- fect of their kind, though several sizes larger than nature has’ as yet produced. Big, gor- geous lilies are in crimson or yellow, and wild roses in pinkish yellow, all bearing’ close in- spection and being mounted on small brass holders,which can be attached to candle or gas jure. = ing. wali PRETTY RIBBON EFFECTS. Ribbon effects are seen on the newest pieces of embroidery on linen, and though close and even work has to be put upon them the result is pretty enough to repay one. Center pieces for the table have bow knots in each corner, with the ribbon in waving lines between connecting them, or a bunch of flowers in each corner is tied with the ribbons; in the latter case the flowers are of god size—carnations, for i stance, while in the first example small flowers in different colors are powdered for a distance inside the ribbor, which formsa border, outside of which the linen is fringed. Pinks tied with pale gray blue ribbon, the leaves and stems of effect, or buttereups with er gray bon or blue or old pink ribbon with the flowers in pompadour style. ‘This kind of work is done with the glossy filo floss and the flowers are nearly or quite solid, the ribbon being solid also, one sbade showing lights and shadows in the turns. When a motto is embroidered on a piece of table linen a new fancy is to inclose ‘the lettering in a ribbon-like scroll, the corner, seroll, a rose or WORKED TABLE covERs. ‘The inexpensive table covers, ready stamped for working, have many ribbon patterns Often the pattern is tinted in colors, work fase upon it. The dyes are not only used to ad- vantage upon textile fabrics, but the fine slat work which is used for splashers, mats, and is often painted with Japanese designs and hung for scrolls, been utilized for catchalls, letter or newspaper racks by means of the es. EPFRCTIVE USE OF DYES. A strip of this fine wood material is stained in any coloring desired, and one end doubled up to form a pocket; fine manila is then stained to match in color, the rope knotted to make a chain and sewed around all the edges of the wall pocket, as a decoration. Old rose, old gold and china blue are some of the shades suc- cessfully applied, various sizes indicating the uses to which they are to be put to cor 1d with a room; they look quite pretty and have usefulness also to recommend them. This fin rope is used quite extensively just now for dec- orative purposes; for instance, little whisk brooms for bric-a-brac are mado by taking four lengths pf it eighteen inches long, braid- ing them loosely together, leaving four inches free at each end of the strands. The loose ends are brought togetner and tied, then combed out to form the brush part, whilo the braid makes a loop or curve for the handle; a bow of ribbon conceals the tying and gives the decorative touch, which is the makin of all these trifles. This will make a gi article for a fair or serve as a slight remem- brance at Christmas, maybe, when many friends are to be thought of. The rope edgings aro still used for furbishing up little tables; asmall round or aguare top may BW covered with cre- tonne, plush or whatmot, and lengths of the rope tacked on the edge in a curve, the two en hanging down being fringed into iassels. 01 length overlaps another, 6o as to form a pattern in the way it is tucked on, the lengths varying sometimes so that the tassels are long and short alternately. All such ideas may be utilized by home workers successfully if good taste dic- tates the style and amount and suitability of the decorations. ——_—__+0+_—___-++. INSECTS THAT MAKE PAPER. ‘Wasps and the Fanny Houses They Build Out of Wood Pulp. 66)(/ASPS WERE THE FIRST PAPER makers,” said an entomologist to a writer for Tux Stan. “It is very interesting to study the ways of these fierce little insects. For the sake of a grab at the honey store a single individual will sometimes face s whole hive of dees, being in fair combat a match for any three inhabitants of the apiary. Most of us have had experience of the fearlessness with which they will attack human beings. “The female wasp spends the winter ina torpid condition, and when spring arrives she hunts up some sort of sheltered spot ap- propriate for a nest. A mouse hole serves her purpose excellently. Having selected the re- treat, she proceeds to lay within it the founda- | P™ tion of a home that is destined before long to afford quarters for a large and busy family. For this object earth will not serve her turn. ‘The substance of which the walls and chambers of the house are to be composed must be none other than the finest paper.made of wood pulp, mixed with a sort of sizing, worked to a paste and finally spread into sheets. “On any fine day in springtime you may h sight of a wasp earnestly at work with ite upon an old fence paling or window frame. In this manner she gets together a bundle of wood raspings, which sho carries into the hole she has selected, thereupon Kneading it into paste and preparing it pro erly for her purpose. With this material. sho builds a sort of terrace, which she suspends hor- izontally, and not, like the combs of a beehive, in a vertical position. The terrace is a sort of hanging floor, secured to the roof by strong paper rods. It is circular, and is composed of an immense number of cells made of paper and almost of the same size and form as those of a honeycomb, each being a perfect hexagon. These cells, however, are never used as honey pots by wasps, as they are by bees, for wasps make no honey, and the ceils are only uti- lized for nursgry purposes—in other words, as rooms in which the young are reared. “When the old lady wasp has completed a certain number of cells and deposited eggs in them she stops building in order to procure honey from the flowers, wherewith to feed the young worm-like larve which have been hatched from the eggs. In a few wecks there little grubs become perfect wasps and lend their as- sistance in the extension of the edifice, forming another platform of cells, suspended from the first by columns. So it continues, and by the end of summer the house—perhaps it might be better called a town—of hanging terraces is completed, and ibe descendants of the original foundress may number as many as $0,000. “Searcely has the nest arrived a: completion, through the labors of the youngest generation of its inhabitants, when ‘the early frosts of autumn begin to thin their numbers. When November comes the wasp population is cut off as by a pestilence. Of those abroad some fall far from their habitation; others crawl back to die, while those at home, lately so busy in the work of building, repairing or keeping in order, are now sluggish and inactive. In a little while the city of terraces becomes a city of the dead. Its sole surviving dwellers are two or three females, on whom depends the perpetuation of the race. They pass the win- ter in a.torpid state, and when the early warmth of spring awakens them they wander off, each on her own way, to found another colon; —_—_ A Farewell to the Birds. Ait well-beloved, dost thou think, When seated in thy fireside’s glow, As through the doorway's gaping chink ‘The icy winds of winter blow, That, since the autumn. bright and still, ‘The birds—those durling, thoughtless things— Have stayed till, stung by winter's chill, ‘Toward southern shores they've turned thelr wings; And there, with pintons blanched with hail, Mave sunk before the north winds’ blow, While, all along, the driving gale Has followed them with stow, snow, snow; And now, bewildered in the haze, Voiceless they wait, benumbed with chille— The birds, whose bright triumphant lays Beguiled our rambies o'er the hitls? Alas! that death must be their turn, ‘These shivering wanderers from our clime. ‘Think’st thou of them? For i ‘Our singers of the lost sprin, Tonight thou say’st, with love aflame, “Soon back to us our birds will move!” But few of them will be the sanie— And wilt thou love with last year’s love? ~-Fancois Copper. Bi ens to the Weak. From the Atlanta Constitution. “Yes,” said the station agent to the preacher, who was waiting to take the train for Atlanta, “talking about kind-hearted men, there's none of em kin beat Lawyer.Jinkins.” “Good man, is he?” : You're right he is. I kin tell you a little story which'll show you what @ heart he's got in “I'd iike to hear it,” said the preacher, look- ing at his watch. said the station agent, whittling 9 ‘you see, hit wur this way: Bill Jones wnz ® mitey poor man, an’ the railroad took an’ cut off his leg.” “Well?” “Well, he got Lawyer Jinkins to sue the Toad an’ the road compromised with him fur “Well?” “Well, sir, what do you think Lawyer Jinkins ve no idea.” ‘Well, his charges in the case wuz Han off with ifs ofa 98 ne ane ‘jim wil A F for himself.” . $250, but, didn’t let the $200 From Judge. —— A SYRIAN WEDDING. Graphic Description of = Marriage Cere- mony in the Orient. TRE FESTIVITIES LAST AN ENTIRE WEEK—REVEL- ‘RIES BOTH DAY AND NIGHT—THE CEREMONY TX CHURCH—THE NEWLY WEDDED PAIR LOCKED ‘UP IN THEIR HOME—PRESENTS OF EVERY KIND. An Anfttican student, assisting Dr. McKin- non, the physician in charge of the Scottish mission dispensaries in Damascus and Biudan, @ small town four hours’ horseback ride from the former, thus describes in a private letter an interesting wedding ceremony, which oc- curred in Blndan in July: Eor aweek past this little town of Bludan has been in a state of tremendous festal ex- citement, growing out of the marriage of a brother of the sheik or governor of the village, toacharming widow of Damascus. As you may not be aware Bludan is a little Syrian town with s population of about 1,500 people, very poor, as wo in America reckon poverty, and they live mostly in one-story, tlat- Foofed mud and stone houses, with furni- ture and interior decorations to match. These bouses are usually of two rooms, oue for cooking and eating and the other for sleeping. There is not glazed window in the town proper. A few English missionaries’ houses on the hills near are much more comfortable and commodious, however. A CELEBRATION OF A WEEK. ‘The wedding took place on Thureday, and the festivities began on the Monday previous, and consisted in the sending of presents, in- eluding rugs. crockery, afatted culf, lambs, jewelry and all sorts of useful articles from the friend’ of the high contracting parties. Money was also given, Dr. McKinnon and I contribut- ing a dollar each. One peculinrity of this pres ent giving is that a list is kept of each present with the name of the donor, and when any of the donors marry the exact amount or article is given them on their wedding day. So I expect fome day to get my dollar again. On Tuesday the bride, a widow considered rich because she was the fortunate possessor of ‘@ sum equal to $240 of our money, a supply of clothing and a few articles of household furni- ture, came up from Damascus, accompanied by a party of her relatives and friends. As I said before, the groom waa & brother of the sheik, a native of Bludan, an important personage, and it was good form according to Syrian society for the bride to come to the groom. The bride's party was met ataspring about four miles from Bindan by a number of the groom's ‘relatives and friends. I was out gazelle hunt- ing with Dr. McKinnon that day and happened tobe at the spring when the two parties inct. There wasa great display of kiscing and handshaking, and after ashort rest the entire rty on donkeys and camels proceeded into the town. The bride went at once tothe house of some of her relatives, where she remained until the wedding day. That night the whole town went into the committee of the whole on the state of the union, as you say in legislative circles, and there was feast- ing, dancing, music, calling, bonfires and a eneral Fourth of July time until a late hour. ‘The next morning it was resumed with the ad- dition of presents from neighboring villages of all sorts of eatables, followed by the donors, who took part in the feasting and joined the fostive throng in all the other divertisements. GIVING THE GROOM A BATH. This thing was kept up all Wednesday, Wednesday evening and until 6 o'clock Thure- day, an hour before the wedding. At this hour (o'clock) a great crowd of men and women collected about the groom's house and about a hundred men took the groom out into an ad- joining yard, -where a committee of three pro- ceeded ‘to give the happy mana bath. ‘The men‘formed a circle and in the center of it the committee divested the groom of every stitch of clothing and scrubbed him thoroughly from head to foot. During this bath the yelling and shouting and hurrahing of the ‘crowd was indescribable. Beyond the immediate crowd of men nearly tle whole town had gathered, with many curious women on the house tops trying to get a eep over the heads of the people in the yard. verybody was in the best of humor, and’ not- withstanding the groom had not had an entire bath before for ten yearshe also seemed to en- joy it with the others. When he hed been roperly washed down the committee dressed Einin a suit of flowing white Turkish trousers, agold-trimmed vest, a mantle, a turban and sandals of russet leather. His clothes were not the cleanest white imaginable, but they were as white as anybody's else, so he was saved from criticism. After he was dressed he was taken to his own house, where he sat down to a sumptuous re- past of Jamb and rice served with lebon (@ na- tive dish) and unleavened bread in large thin cakes, ‘The lamb and rice were ina large wooden bowl, whieh was placed in the center of a ham- mered brass circular tray large enough for a dozen people to sit around. On this tray, which was about afoot above the floor, the bread and lebon were placed and the gue: seated about on stools six inches high, broke the bread and with tho pieces dipped the lamb and rice out of the bowl and ate it. The lebon was eaten» with wooden spoons. The groom was not at our tray, but in an adjoining room ate with his family, sitting on rugs. I may ex- plain here that he did not consider himself nite the social equal of his guests, who con- sted of high native officials from other towns, English and American, and in deference to them made this discrimination. THE CEREMONY IN CHURCH. After the supper the groom was taken to the church by his friends and the bride was brought in later. The bride was attired ina light flowing silk gown cut in the Syrian fash- ion, with adark jacket trimmed in lace and gold coins, and wearing three veils. One yery filmy and thin was thrown all over her and the other two heavier covered her face. She wore bracelets, earringsand other jewelry. There were no bridesmaids, but the bride's married sister, evidently soon to become a mother, acted’as maid of honor. The groom stood before the altar and the bride came to him. They shook hands and the Greek priest invited them to step forward, which they did, and he began reading from a book the marriage ceremony. The groom was asked for the ring, but he had either lost it or forgotten it and a man standing near him handed him one, which the priest took, and atter making a number of peculiar crosses on the groom, placed the ring on his bridal ca ‘The maid of honor then gave the priest a bracelet, which, after crossing the bride ashe had done the groom, he placed on her head. THE COUPLE LOCKED UP. This ended the ceremony and everybody came forward and congratulated the couple. When this was over a few invited guests re- mained and the bride danced for them. The church was crowded with people, the natives sitting on rugs and the English and Americans on chairs and stools. The ceremonics at the chnreh were concluded in abont three-quarters of an hour and then the bride and groom were escorted bya party of friegds, all on foot, to his home, the bride, according to the custom of the country, appearing very reluctant to 0 and holding back at intervals in the shyest find of way. “On arriving at his house they ere ushered into his room by their friends, door was locked on them, the key carried away by their neighbors and they were left to themedlres until morning. The bride and groom being thus disposed of by 8 o'clock, the invited guests were taken to top of an adjoining house, where a grand entertainment was given in the’ most beautiful moonlight I think Iever saw. This entertain- ment was made up of fencing with Damascus oriental dancing, singing, playing on mi instruments, beating of drumsand wild yelling, a good deal like that of our western In- dians on festive occasions. The women took no part in the performance, except in the yell- ing or screaming, or whatever it may be called. It was a’ truly remarkable scene, with these men and women in their peculiar costumes on the housetop in the moonlight, and the whole town spread about us below filled with the shouts of the populace and yellow in the jlare of bonfires. Dr. McKinnon and I left the foatat scene about 11 o'clock, but that bad no Ie effect uj merry makers, for kept on until Saylght. The ext morn- ing © great crowd visited the groom's house and the holders of the keys entered and liberated the happy couple, who were then escorted to the adjoining gen! where another great feast was spread REAL ESTATE GOSSIP. Variety in the Color as Well as in the Design of Buildings. YELLOW AND WHITE ARE THE FASRIONABLE COLORS—CHANGES IX THR BUSINESS SECTIONS or Tie CIrr—oTmeR MATTERS oF IXTRREST— ‘THE NEW HOTEL PROJECT. HETHER IT IS DUE TO THE IN- fluence of the chrysanthemum shows or not it is certainly the case that white and yellow are becoming the pre- vailing colors for the exterior of buildings. Tt used to be eaid that this is o red brick city, and while brick undoubtedly remains the mest popular building material, yet the color has changed Where nature has not herself made the color of the clay something else than red, art comes in and either colors the clay before it is burnt or else applies by the painter's brush a new shade of color. At any rate, however, it is done; yellow and white in varying shades are displayed in the fronts of fine residences, as well as the exterior of busi- ness buildings. ‘The large structures occupied as hotels have in several cases recently wheeled into line and now look as sweet and clean as fresh paint can make them. ‘The change is a good one. It gives variety, and if there is one thing more than another that espe- cially distinguishes this city in the eyes of ap- Preciative vi iti country it is the great and entertaining variety which the buildings present. Heretofore this distinction applied only to the external forms, which are said to represent a diversity in archi- tectural designs at once attractive and inter- esting. The material used in giving form to these designs was largely the eame—namely, red brick—but now stone is used quite gener- ally, and another phase of the change presents itself in the color fad. It may be due to the influence of the colonial revival in architect- ure, but whatever the cause it is certainly to be welcomed as adding a new feature to the va riety which makes this city one of the most pictur- esque and interesting from an architectural standpoint in the country. Fortunately the spread of this fashion is independent of the progress in building, as an old building can, by the use of paint, be made a study in yellows and whites almost equally as weil as if it bad been built up anew with brick of those shades. IN THE BUSINESS SECTION. The transformation effected by the applica- tion of paint in the appearance of an old build- ing is sometimes quite surprising. The effect of such a change is, however, surpassed by that produced by a few and apparently slight alter- ations, Practical instances are seen on any of the business streets, The lower portion of the front of some old dingy building is taken out and replaced with new work. Generally the alterations are confined to putting in a show window, which, however, contains such an ex- panse of plate glass ina ‘frame which glistens in its new coat of paint that the effect is alto- gether quite impressive. Perhaps the entire cost of the change was met by a cheek for a few hundred dollars, but the improvement in the appearance of the street amounts toa good deal more. Besides there is the increase in the business facilities. In the growth of the business section the pro- portion of new buildings erected to the old ones remodeled and refitted for business Purposes is quite small. In themselves these changes are quite insignificant, but in the course of a few years, even when no new buildings are put ‘up, the appearance of a street or of a section of the city assumes an en- tirely different character. Where residences stood only a year or two ago are now the sites of flourishing business establishments. Splen- did new buildings follow naturally as business expands, but the pioneer step in the march of improvements is generally the insignificant work of aiteration, which transforma residence into @ business buiiding. It is only a few years ago that F street wasastreet of resi- dences. G street to a considerable extent is still occupied by residences, but the movement is making rapid progress which is surely changing the character of that street. The same is irue of the side streets and in fact of the entire section from 5th street west to 15th street and beyond. - ‘THE NEW HOTEL PRosEct. The much talked of hotel at the head of 16thst. is still being discussed, but it is said now that solid basis for practical action has been reached. This is the opinion of Mr. T. E. Roessle, who has taken hold of the project with a great deal of earnestness. He not only intends to put his own money in the enterprise, but he will be the manager of the hotel. The’ prospects for so- curing the capital needed are, he says, favor- able, and if the plans now contemplated are carried out a handsome structure on the ele- vated site overlooking the city will be erected ata cost of over a million dollars. The pro- posed building will be large and spacious and the accommodations first-class in every respect. It will be builtaround two large covered courts, one of which can be used as a ballroom on ocen- sions when large receptions are held. This part of the hotel will be entirely distinet from that portion occupied by the guests. In anticipa- tion of the erection of a hotel of this character it is stated that an option has been secured on the property of the Wayland Seminary, which adjoins the hotel site on the north. REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS. The advance in values of real estate in this city is a subject that is rather familiar to every ‘one who has paid any attention go the real es- tate market. In fact, it is tosome extentforced upon the attention, for it is natural that a man who has made a good thing out of fn invest- ment shouldlet his friends know aboutit. As rule, the owner of a piece of propert; become more valuable is apt to consider that i isdue in some way to his sagacity. There is no doubt room for the exercise of judgment in the purchase of real estate, but it is also a fact that an infant in arms, for example, five years ago could have boughtproperty most anywhere inor about the city, and by selling it now at the current prices would make a hand- some profit. The growth of the city has made this possible. A*few weeks ago a loan at 5 per cent for about $12,000 was placed on a piece of property which four years ago was purchased for about $7,000. The owner hasin the meantime re- fused an offer of $20,000 for his holding. While such an experience is in kind if not in degree quite common, yet it sometimes happens that an investment does not turn out so well. An attempt was made recently to sell at auction a property for which the Owner a few years ago paid something like $20,000. The highest bid that could be obtained was about $13,000, apd the property was withdrawn at that figure. Written for the Evening Star. Sauntering. “A Sainte-Terrer, a Scunterer—a Holy-Lander.” L Unte the Holy Land I went today, ‘The first of the Indian Summer. ‘Tis a land Close bordering the Potomac, nigh at hand, ‘Though few there be that thither find thelr way: A dream-like land and time! Light vapors gray Veiled wood, hill, vale, and fleld by breeze un- fanned. ‘Upon one shore there stretched a rugged strand, And on the other alovely landscape lay. The trees were tinged with purple, pink and gold; ‘The dead leaves rustled under foot; wide beamed ‘The sunny river, silent, save where rolled O'er rocks its narrower stream, there loud and bold; Jewels of froat long on thelow herbs gleamed; Birds sang, and brooks talked to me as I strolled, a It was a land where holy saints might pray, Or sages hold discourse; where shadowy groves And nooks that quiet Contemplation loves ‘Were far enough from city streets away: A time, when loth within four walls to stay, ‘The meditative poet well approves; ‘When with light heart and feet abroad he roves, And his tree fa ncies wander light as they. ‘Of man’s companionship he feels no need; Alone he fares—nis books left on their shelves— ‘With but the smoke of the great Indian weed: ‘The Indian Summer's lore he learns to read, ‘Hears the faint whisper of the woodland elves, And to the fluttering, falling leaves gives heed. LIFE IN NEW YORK CITY. Some of the Happenings in the Great Metropolis. ‘MILLIONS OF PASSENGERS CARRIED BY THE ELE- VATED RAILWAYS—CARPET BY THE THOUSAND ‘MILES—WHY MAYOR GRANT BAS GONE TO IRE- LAND—LOST IN CENTRAL PARK. ‘Special Correspondence of The Frening Star. New York, November 12, 1891. HE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MAN- hattan Elevated Railroad Company is al- ways an interesting event. This year one of the features of significance was the in- dication of retirement from active con- trol on the part of Jay Gould, thus furnishing another proof that this great capitalist has been feeling the strain of his Sigantic operations, and is yielding to the warnings of his physicians and friends, For “age,” as Lord Bacon says, “will notbe de- fied,” even by such an iron willas that of | Gould's. The business done during the year by the roads has been greater than ever, | though they seemed long ago to have reached their capacity. During the year 200,745,718 passengers were carried, an | increase of 12,000,500 over last year, the 6th avenne line bearing the brunt of th | Since the road was «: 1,591,586! gers have been carried, and 1 been killed by the ordinary Toad. Two or three years agoa number of per- sons were swept off the frames by the misun- derstanding of an order, and in this way were killed, but with this exception, if my memory serves me right, there bas not been any fatal casualty from the running of the road, further | than that an occasional beedless person or sui- cide has lost his life through no fault of the company. This is a marvelous record, and all we can ask is that it be kept up. On the same day on which this meeting was held the 3d avenue surface line also held their annual meeting, and it appeared that this lin which runs directly undgr the elevated tr: and which it was supposéd would be ruined by the aerial competition, never carried more passengers than now, and is able to pay 12 per cent on the capital stock; all of which shows that railroads make their own patronage and rarely hurt one another. VIOLA GREYLOCK, 80 CALLED. A mysterious female has a wonderful charm for that soft and sentimental being, the New York newspaper reporter. He melted with t the romantic episode of the jola Greylock, who tried to by taking laudanum in the | Grand Central station. As you doubtless know he did his vest to connect this mystery with a romance of the departments at Washington. He was not quite sure what department Miss Greylock was in, but gave a guess that sho wae a clerk in the patent office. Unfortunately, the facts do not bear out these romantic theories. it seems very improbable that Miss Greylock, #0 called, ever saw the beautiful foliage or en- joyed @ promenade on the unparalicled asphalt pavements of Washington. Just wh nobody knows yet. But she certainly that romantic ‘creature—the beau government clerk. The idea now scems to be that she came from some neighboring town, where she has earned an honest living as miliiner or dressmaker, and that she hi mania for suicide, having attempted her ow life three or four times before this. CARPETS BY THE THOUSAND MILES. The big auction sale of which I wrote last week has been inactive eruption all this week, anda prodigious output bas been the res As I snid, about 750 miles of carpets have been sold, not to speak of duplicate lots, which will probably bring the total milage up to 1,000, or more than from New York to Butflalo and back | again. And to keep up the railroad simile the carpets have been unrolled, so-to speak, at the | Speed of at least a mile a minute. It is inter- esting to stand and watch one of these big auctions, where the leading merchants of the country bid against each other in large transactions. The goods were put up in lots of ten rolls each and as each piece contains sixty yards the distance repre- sented by each Jot was 1,800 feet, and | the auctioneer traveled from one lot to another certainly with the speed of the “empire state express.” “This was fast traveling, but | everybody was pleased, including the repre- sentatives of the big mill that were felling off iter The prices bave been wonderfully firm considering the amount of the offering, but they have brought little comfort to those who believed that the McKinley tariff would raise the price of carpets. The friends and [the enemics of this bill have been alike dis- appointed in its failure to put up prices on certain lines of goods like — carpets, where it was su that there would be a substantial increase. ° As a matter of fact, carpets are cheaper now than they ever were before in the history of the world, and while there is the customary talk about higher prices in the future, it is doubtful if anything of the sort occurs. The terrible competition which marks this industry, as so many others nowadays, may be depended upon to keep the price down to the bare cost of production, plus a very narrow margin of profit. Charles Lamb said of bells that they made the music nearest heaven. But, perhaps, he might have granted an exception in favor of boy choirs. Whether he would or not, these choirs are just now the ecclesiastical “fad.” A splen- did gathering has interested Brooklyn today, in the shape of the fourth annual festival of the Choir Guild. The singing was participated in by 350 voices, representing twenty choirs, including the one at the Cathedral of Garden City. It isasure sign of the near approach to winter that these choir festivals are beginning again. AFFECTIONATE MAYOR GRAXT. One of the sensations of the week is the sud- den and mysterious flight of Mayor Grant to Ireland. The ostensible object of his trip was to smooth the dying pillow of an aunt who lives in the Emerald Isle. But as be had never seen this afflicted relative, and had uever evinced marked tokens of affection and respect for ber, the announcement is greeted with a smile by politicians and by the average citizen. The common interpretation is that some ticklish appointments and other decisions have to be made during the next three weeks, and that mayor, who is rather sensitive to criti- cism, decided that this was a capital time tor disappearing and taken a header, and that next month, when the skies are clearer, he will bob up serenely and resume his usual functions. This is not a very heroic line of action on his rt, but it may be very prudent. At any rate it will relieve him from a most anxious and maddening month in the midst of office seekers and their backers, before whose onslaught « midwinter of the Atlantic becomes» oliday frolic. LOST IN CENTRAL PARK. We often hear exciting stories of people who wander off into the trackless wilderness and are hopelessly lost in its depths, but we need not go further than the very center of New York ” as the Set . “on I know it, | dering every pr CRUEL CHILEANS, THEY ARE THE VAXDALS OF MoD: ™ RECARD POR THE LAWS oF > want FARE — DYNAMITE AND PRTROLEUK THEM WEATONS—THEIB DREAM OF CoNgUEST. A DISPOSITION HAS RECENTLY £ © exhibited by the United at Chile, but the time may come wi Sam will be obliged to republic for the sup Uncle mntend with th of the new w «sive and pow country, and it is for political aggra few years it has extended its territory alm the length of tho nether contine Should there be a cv betwe States and Chile, it lasted. The Chilesns «: the most ferocious soldiers in the world. Those who make up the rank and file of their armies are half-breeds— @mixed race, half Spanish and half native. The Araucanians are the only aboriginal tribes which the conquerors from Spain have never deen able to subjugate. In western Patagonia they remain to U y unsubdacd—a rac fierce giants hnown by hearsay to every schol bos, preserving its independence against Caa- caman Invasion. Pty is only »: . that they have mingling of Blood been tamed. From this mingling as bean savage pe 2 prodaced the most intelligent! probably that ever lived on th they are bloodthir They out-vandal the Van thing they can in mere wanto , war NO REGARD POR ORDINART LAWS OF WARFARE. Chileans in general have n for the ordinary laws of warfare. 1 States soldiers or sailots, should th: counter these fierce focs, would find the obliged to adopt methods of fichting nized in civilized codes battles w simply cut-thront engagements on a On the battlefields during the recout strag,la ween Peru and Chile at least nin the corpses were found throats cut. This is the of combat. Each man even in times of peace, ab witha keen edge, called a* Italian is provided with a stil lows never fight with their fi or with a stick, but always a rivate quarrels or in mobs the yeurvo. As soldiers they are brav leseneas. They car e- id be ‘oy the in with their kniv quarter was given wu : army capitulated, ali prisoners being F slain. Report has been made that the sailors of the ship Baltimore were #0 severely wottnied a suggest the use of bayonets Ly the police, it would seem likely that their have been inflicted with these ell that the people of the shonid know what m: be found in these are restrained by n ly fovern warfare MORRIPLE PALVARITY TOWARD PRT. During their conflict with Pera they be- | haved with a horrible barbarity which few of the most ruthless savages on the face of the globe could have through the con everything in th burn the crops, chinery used on the #u, farms, so that Peru is at present for l with to till the « demolished cities for ( tion, having no respect whiw property of foreigners. Having a. quest the armies devoted rapine, la orth of property dail Newport, were actually’ an with all their parks and palac of dynamite. “Whatever could ¥ was broken up or burned, The beautiful capital of Lima was given up to sack by» riotous soldiery. Super which that metropolis w and torn to fragments. museum, one of the finest in the packed up and shipped to Santiago, and like~ Wise the great library. All the costly irrigation works were reined, and the trees in the parks and even in tho botanic garden were girdled. Exquie: fountains and statues were shattered sale. Women and children were subj to outrage and murder and no regard was had for the right of non-combatants. Th Peru, once the weaithiest of nations, r to poverty, so that now those who were the richest among its citizens are compelled to de- pend upon the pawn shops for bread. THEIR AREOGAXCE AND VANITY. Such isthe character of these people whora equaled by their t for a moment do they imagine that tocope with this o : imagine that this republic is their o: rival in the new world, and they dently undertake the task of hambling the magnitude of Uncle Sam's realm and ite pulation they entertain no a: idea. Ne Rong: ago a gentleman of distinc York was dining at the house of prominence and the latter asserted the try was quite as big and ax populous as the United States. The Siew Yorker respom by saying that he could stand in t Trinity Church and overlook the habit P more people than were to be found in all ¢ It wasa proposition that the host o it was i not brook for a momeht, with difiic that a serious quarre a. The Chilean dream is of conquest. Before long Peru and Bolivia seem likely to be sorbed by that republic. Toward the ea: beyond the snow-capped Andes, 1 inviting acquisition. tains and possession would be obtai sources of the Amazon. It may taken for granted that these enterprising warlike people will be dominant in South America beture the woxt ccutary has soon twany decades T ic struggle eb: eventually ensue between themselves United States seems not improbable. miral Gherardi has suggested, Pera would gladly join Uncle Sam as an ally for the sake of getting back her nitrate fields and to help punish her former conquerer. Whatever the result of the present embroglio there ean on exist a lasting and invincible antagonism be- tween ourselves and these semi-civilized vandals of the south. PATRIOTISM AXD FARTHQUAKRS. Patriotism in Chile is very highly developed. On Beptember 18, the national independence day, every house is obliged to fly the national fing and at night « lantern. Each dwelling must have a flagstaff for such purposes. The