Evening Star Newspaper, November 28, 1891, Page 11

BICYCLING ABROAD. Washington Wheelmen on a Conti- nental Tour. OUT OF THE BEATEN PATHS. ‘The Hospitality of Austrian Wheelmen—On the Koad to Turkey—The Enthusiastic Bicyclists of Groz-Among the People of (Croatia—Where American Travelers Sel- dom Visit. Special Correspon-lence of The Evening Star. Kosrassica, Cnorza, Sept. 19, 1891. ONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.” This must be the governing rale of life of the patrons of Austriau restiurants, where the amount «f your bill depends upon your truthfulness in telling what bas been served you. When you are ready to settle you cry out “Zablen!" and the Zwhl-Kellner (pay waiter) steps briskly to your side, and, drawing « of paper from his pocket, notes with his pencil the amount of euch item as you enumerate the dishes, drinks und pieces of bread that have constituted your meal. The total ascertained, youhand him the amount and o few oxtra kreutzers for his own benetit if you follow the dictates of custom. Your waiter you are not generally expected to fee. The Austrian hotel, particularly the Vienna hotel, is the father of the American “European plan” hotel. A table Whote or regular dinner is rarely served, but a restaurant is maintained, where you can obtain what you wish and pay for it generally, and in the larger hotels always, on thespot. ' There man who seeks to work the hotels for free board and lodging on trunk checks which rep- resent nothing would encounter an obstacle in the necessity of credit at the restaurant. COURTEOUS GREETINGS. “Ich habe die ehre” (I have the honor), ab- breviated to “habe d’ehre,” and “servus” (your servant) are the usual forms of salutation among the Viennese and have grown out from the city in all directions. We met them as we approached Vienna and they are still lingering with us. The formalities—the bowing an‘ lift- ing of hats—are so very profuse and so punc- tilously observed that persons accustome more off-hand manner of greeting acquaint- ances fiud it somewhat dificult to promptly and fully adapt themselves to the change in the outward manipulations of one’s feelings to- ward his fellow men. You dnd Viennese gen tlemen whose specialty is to kiss the hands of their lady friends and acquaintances, including ‘those whom they have met for the first time. ‘This is a fine old custom, fullen well-nigh into disuse in most of the world, and how sur- prised some of our American girls would be if ‘we should rush up to them in the public place and, seizing their hands in our own, press them (the hands, of course) to our whiskered lips with a resounding smack. “ CHAPEL OF THE CROWN PRINCE'S COUNTRY HOUSE. Some twenty-five miles from Vienna, at the Tillage of Meyerling, is the country House of the late érown prince, where he ended his life. ‘The wing in which the tragedy occurred has been transformed into s chapel that all trace of the strange affair may be eliminated so far as possible. The prince's widow, the Princess Stefanie, resides at the Luxenberg palace, near the city. amid such beautifal surround- ings, both natural and artificial, that the task of forgetting a man who. from all accounts, had little regard for her happiness should be ‘comparatively easy. GERMANS AS BICYCLISTS. Bicycling as sport has perhaps a stronger hold upon the Germans than upon any other vation. Thi thelr two great wi organizations, the “Deutscher Union,” they have adopted fee salutation “Al vu ve ase utat we. Heil” al “Hatt ‘with which each wheelman greetsevery other wheelman, whether riding orin uniformor not. When in uniform the and the ethics of de not require the removal of the cap even in ret re ‘of Indies, military salute and bow as among army a jent. AUSTRIAN MosPrTattry. Members of the only Vienna bicyfle club having a club house learned of our presence in the city on the day of our arrival and would have no other answer but that we should con- sent to accept their hospitality in the form of lodgings, which they provide free at their house for visiting wheelmen, and notwithstand- ing that we had already put upatshotel. We it have been blacklegs of the worst description for all they kuew, but it was suft- cient for them that we were sports collegen, as owpitlity at ‘Graz and TOWARD TURKEY. Out from Vienna bys kaiserstrasse, as the main roadg are called, to Wiener-Neustadt, ‘thirty miles distant, was the first stage of our Journey Turkeyward. The roads of the Austro- ‘Hungary empire do not average as well as those of Germany, but our road to that point and ten miles beyond, across a broad level plain, where Pip noticed the first buckwheat we had seen in jarope, was among the very Lest it has been our fortune to travel over. Laid in straight courses; and shaded by elms and poplars, it re- both in quality and appearance many of the Dest French roads. From the plain we entered the foot hills of the Semmering, a mountain chain which may weil be junior alps, so grand isitin rugged beauty, wooded on ite lower slopes, above which its bare peaks tower majestically. Par- ticularly is this true of the valley of the Mur on the sides, where each bend in the presents some new and yet more charm- ing picture. The mountain railway across the Semmering ts the oldest of its kind, having been constructed between 1643 and 1853. ‘TUE CAPITAL OF STYRIA. Graz, Styria’s capital city of 113,000 popula- tion, lies upon the banks of the Mur, about a lofty bill some 400 feet in height, which rises from the center of the city. remains of fortifications, built 400 years ago in the days when Europe had its hands full keeping the ‘Turk from overrunning it, still crown the sum- mit, and balls of stone are to be seen, thrown Ly Turkish catapults in vain endeavors to de- molie the works or their defenders, or both. So few of us have ever had any occasion to know about Styria or the neighboring province, Croatia, and they ure eo seldom visited by Americans that we have no hesitancy in ac- Anowledging that we were bardiy prepared— we kuow not exactly why—to find Tiveccme, substantial buildings aud well-kept streets, in all respects equal, if not superior, to other Ger- and’ cities we ha ted. We prevailing language was German. We were fiot sure it would be and disliked to show oar iguorance by inquiry of our Vienna de Us some district, waere the Slava revs oatinn is commonly spoken, but German is understood as well ” 38 AN OLD ARMOBY which is entered from the courtyard of the Landhans are preserved intact arma, armor ard other military equipments of the seven teenth century. ‘There are pikes and clumsy int and maichlock muskets of the patters rendered a pronged staff upon which to rest the gun in firing an essential part of each soldier's equipment. There were pronged staffs on haud-—stacke of them. PLENTY OF WHEELWEY. Graz has fully 700 enthusiastic riders of the wheel, and bids fair to become an important Mmanulacturing conter in the bicycle trade, one factory already established producing an excel- lent niachiae in large numbers, and the local riders Largely patronize the home industry. We have noticed on our present tour more bi- . €¥eles of domestic manufactare—netably in Germany—-and less of than we did two Which indicates that the iwanafaccavers no longer have the butt end of the bieyele trade on the coutinent, and that the domestic wheel is crowding the English out the market. i EVERYTHING OREEN. Dark green is the favorite color in Styria. Tine male peasuntry wear it in the pres it they “wok wiv de: masoua’* in olser * iv masons,” words, carry the hod. [vy ‘TRE COUNTRY BETWEEN GRAZ AND AGRAM is very picturesque in character; first the valley of the Mur, shut in by low ranges of mountains; then over into the valley of the Drave, which we crossed at Marbars, alt into the uplands; now threading little dells; then between large fields of kukurnz, as the cora with which we are familiar at home ts called. out from Graz we crossed into Croatia. The men here wear a shirt blouse, broad white trousers, fringed at the bottom, a low- crowned narrow-brimmed stiff hat, similar in style to that worn by the Bosnian peasants, and alow shoe baving pointed toes and a tendency CROATIAN PEASANT CHILDREX. toturn up. On special occasions this costume ie varied by high topped boots, cleaner clothes than usual and gorgeous red vests and sashes. The garments of the women on ordinary oc- casions consist of only one, besides foot gear, similar to that of the men anda white cloth ar- ranged loosely about the head as a head dross, the ‘ends falling benind. The principal gar- ment is a long, loose-fitting wrapper of white, reaching to the ankles and gathered about the toe | Waist with a cloth ON HOLIDAY occastoxs the head dress becomes of a brilliant hne, red jor yellow, figured, number of etrings of gilded beads are worn about the neck, a fancy apron isadded and th irts of the dress have some coarse embroidery. Men's boots, too, are not uncommon among the women on «nch occasions. The children are of the sort called “pretty” and when, as is often the case, they are dressed in imitation of their elders, an artist could not wish for a better subject for his can- vas. For the villages not much can be said. The houses are generally frame buildings, with steep gables, the point of which is sliced off in modified Bohemian style. Neatness in sur- roundings prevails in the northern part of the province, but is not vo general toward the southern line, the influences and example of Bosnia on the south being responsible for this, ‘a8 isno doubt the ‘exasiile Styria for the neatness in the north. i Oar Inst day’s run into Agr@m was on a reli- gious feiertag—a holiday—and we met large numbers of peasants, mostly women, clad in Sunday best, churchward bound. The village eburch bells rang wildly. The intention was to have them ring joyously, but we thought so1 one had turned ina fire alarm, so reat we the clanging and. clator, and involuntarily hurried on in hopes that we might see th hook and ladder go by. In one village near the city @ large processior, again mostly women, was formed, marching slowly with flags and banners and prayer books in hand toward a church: priests were boaring incense and the entire body chanting in unison. Beside the road others knelt murmuring their prayers. Late delegations to the procession were met hastening to the tap of a drum to take their places in line, dusty shoes and dusty clothes showing their home village to Le at somo dis- tance. ‘THE METROPOLIS OF CROATIA. Agram, the metropolis of Croatix, is barely one-third as large as Graz. Like tho latter its appearance is modern, its business houses and dwellings being of a substantial character and quite handsome architecturally; for which, lowever, thanks are due in part toa severe earthquake which in 1890 ‘partially destroyed the town. Its situation at the rn edge of the valley of the Save, over » mile from the river, is scarcely as pleasant as that of Graz. ‘The city was in gala, dress when, with the siz Graz wi men — a we had rid- den from Graz, we were through the crowded streets by local wheelmen to the well- | appointed hotel where the local bicycle club, according to the custom of the European Knights of the wheel, bad ite headquarters. MARKET PLACE, AGRAM. Plenty of water and the liberal use of clothes brushes removed our disguises, and we were then taken in charge bya nobleman, a member of the local club and of every other wheel club within reach, and carted off in a carriage and i his imposing resi- be the first Amer- ican wheelmen that ever visited Agram. AT THE DINNER TABLE. Our host in the announcement of dinner in- sisted upon our going to the table without our coats, Just as we were when he came to our room to call us, he himself discarding his own .d displaying’ the red and white st silk ed | Shirt whica, io he had evidently donned for the occasion. At the tabie, besides ourselves, wore only our brilliant host and his two-year-old son. Mamma was absent, and continued absent, and no word of explanation was offered by the pe- cullar person whove hospitality we enjoyed. Short and slight of stature, he was gifted with a fiery, peppery pet. such . a it is ,cminently per for 6 of nol possess. | Botheen acclding iis young son in German and calling loudly “Come! What are you doing out there so long? We want toeat!” We can't sit here all day doing nothing! wher the waitress ‘was not as prompt in bringing1n the next course as he would have liked, he kept timo from assing siowly and conversation from dragging. casionally he varied the proceedings by ruptly leaving the table and in an adjoining room grinding out operatic airs by means of Patent attachment to a piano, an arrangement which enables the veriest musical dullard to render the most difficult works at sight, just us the organ grinder can. When a dish was upon the table he simply waved hie over it saying: “Es ist gefaellig, meine m (-Itis at your service,” or “it is served.") It was then in order for us to help ourselves, after which he helped his little son, if the child had survived to this point and not been banished tu “Anna,” the nurse. WHEELING THROUO THE STREETS. The meal, from soup toblack coffee,comploted our machines, which like ourselves had passed through a renovating process, were led out and our host set a terrific pace toward the bt portion of the city, shouting to ts to get out of the way and reproving ‘any who were tardy in obeying. It was a pity that the stone pavement ata street corner was wet and , bat it was, and our leader H F i if } i i l wn | fair hands bad draped us in the national colors, yasiness | brought her four childr shown by the refasal of a visiting clab of Slave to sit for a phot the same with the Gratz men. who were ‘The locals were also Slavs, but had declared for ‘no nationality in the fraternity of the wheel,” and to atone for the — of their Slav visitors made their demonstrations of fraternal feeling the ter for the Grazers, and Grazer and mer locked arm in arm embracing and kissing was ac We stole awa; festivities at a late hour in the night, Fie Negi protesting and reiterating | PE LATEST NOVELTIES, ener wens og their undying love for each other ais soorte Se. ee might be their differences . @shto and ow bb Be HURBAE FOR THE AMERICANS. mented—New Things in China for Decora- On an early visit to the exposition grounds| tive Purposes—Kibbon Orsamentation and Their Excellent Effect. ATTRACTIVE HOMES. —_—_— Skill and Taste Exercised and by the following afternoon when, with other wheeimen, some eighty or ninety altogether, we paraded throagh the city to rg race track, | Written for The Evening Star. where the first Agram bicycle rac: held, we were known to probably in the crowd that lined the streets, and were received with cries of “Livio Amerikani!” (hurrah for the Americans}. We have indeed Teason to remember our visit to Agram as one of the most pleasant incidents of the tour; for not only were the wheelmen extremely kind, but others, both ladies and gentlemen, perfect flrangers: frequently approached us to pase a fow friendly words and shake us warmly by the hand. Americans who go abroad so generally confine themselves to the beaten track of west- ern Europe, leaving neglected other as inter- esting localities ax are both Styria and Crosti that a known Americau seemed to bea rarity there. interior decorations, and the skill and taste brought to bear upon the subject in this country, it is amusing to read some of the mat- ter put forth under this heading in various English magazines. “‘Are we to use or discard antimacassars?” is the question of many of our readers” is the way a dissertation on that profound subject is headed, and sound advice in the matter is forth- with given. Among other recommendations the “twin cushion” merican antimacas- sar,” as ourhead rest, or double cushions, are called there, ivgiven a share of praise. The name of “‘antimacassar” used to sound very myster- ious when in roading it came before my eyes, but childlike I never thought of inquiring ite meaning when puzzled by it, and it was years afterward that I first learned that it was a chair “tidy” for protection against the “ma- cassar” hair oil, A SILVER TABLE. Some new thing is always claiming attention, aud yow it is a “silver table.” This may be any petty little table with the top covered with velvet or plush, either closely or in the form of a mat, the size of the table tep. Upon thisare to be displayed all the odd bits of silver one may Possess, spoons, dishes or any form of the Inetal, in fret. that is nottoo bulky for the pur- pose and suited to a drawing room exhibit. One of the pretty trifiesintendod for a Christ- mas present is the long, narrow photograph holder, made of silver wire twisted into circles one above another and finished by a ribbon backing, with bows at top and bottom. About a dollar and a half is the price of these ready trimmed, while alone they are fifty cents, and if one can make a pretty bow they may beoasily gotten np athome. These are intended especi~ ally for the small pictures which are such Javorites now, and will hold a dozen of them, I believe. CROATIAN BICYCLE RACES. The Croatian wheelmen not uncommon! adorn themselves with gay sashes, and in racing togs many of them combine all possible colors. One racer, and he was a pretty good rider, too, adorned himself for the track with apink and light blue jockey cap, a dark red silk shirt, light blue breeches, pink stockings and white gloves. He was a beauty. dress eap of the Agram a dark blue, round and visorless, a style com- mon with American wheelmen, is worn a tri- color rosetie and an eagle's fexther, which with the sash gives them a decidedly wild In- dian appearance in spite of the sober, dark blue uniforms. TOWARD THE RosSIAN FRONTIER. Below Agram we fell in with the first really hot weather. Petrinja isa small town below Agram, but it has seven bicyclists, among them several good riders, and, as after bein guests for a bait day, we waved the la: fo the escort of three of the seven, the top of a long hill, as at last we di re from their sight around a bend at the bottom, we felt that we should not again in our tour find such good friends or receive such cordial treatment as we have found among the wheelmen of Austro-Hunga Below Po- trinja bicyciists are rarely seen, and in the dusk of the evening, as we’ scudded through village after village toward the Bosnian frontier, and glanced back over our shoulders to note the cffect the road, was white with the specter-like figures of the natives, who bad rushed from their houses to look aiter us. Then jast as we wero saying to ourselves, “It is about time Kostajnica were turning up,” the town lay before us in the moonlight, a streak of silver representing the Una river, which separated us from our first insight mto things Turkish beyond. Down trom the heights into this last stepping stone to the east was but the work of » moment, and here we are. E. E. 8. RIBBONS ARE VERY CHEAP. The ribbous ars marvelously cheap now, and in all the deliente and artistic colorings that could be wished for decoration. Satin ribbon with its sheen cannot be rivaled by the duller gros grain when used in this way, and-the hiwre it is twisted and tied the prettier the ri sult is, For eome time past nets like fisher men's seines have been used for decorative purposes. The fancy was first taken up proba- bly at the seashore, where it scoms an appro- priate thing for interior adornment, but the idea has extended te town dwellings now, an for smoking rooms, “dens” or roms olttei the regulation ones of a house the fad is allo able. Different ways of arranging a netting are seen, sometimes a veritable fishing sei being used, one weather stained being consi fered desirable by some persons for studio effects. This may be draped entire over one corner or one part of a room, caught here and there for gracefulness, and pictures hung against it, d shore scenes being appro- riate. There are methods, in fact, as numé ousas the tastes of the individuals seeking this decoration, and a netting must be adapted to the shape and character of the room: con- taining it. AN EFFECTIVE NETTING FRIEZE. One way which might be very effective in some rooms is to cut the netting into strips as wide asa frieze would be deep, and over a lain color of paper arrange the netting frieze, ving a plain space for a distance, then some laits, then plain again, thus making x grace- ful festooning around ‘the room. When any one thing becomes popular in a way its usesand adaptations are apt to be extended, so that one is likely to see nettitf appearing in various corative schemes. Large laundry bags come in anew round shape to hang flat agai with a deep pocket, this Inst covered wi ting the same color as the bag. Both to be in esthetic shades, like old rose, id and so on. Smaller articles come netting also applied in vurious ways. of silk for work have & puff of netting asa finish around the bottom coming below the | silk, pale yellow being a good example of color. DRAPING A PHOTOGRAPE FRAM:. A photograph frame for a cabinet picture of sen, who also looked with loving eyes upon | Pale green has a bit of green netting arranged but she would have nothing to do with | so that it is drawn away from the fuce of the him, for her heart was true to Chris. As year | picturo while partly concealing some of the after year went by with no word from her | background. Ieuppose the effect is intended absent lover the maid came to, the conclusion | to be coquettish, and though one may not care that he was recreant, and this idea was fostered | for it, it showa the fancy for netting which 8 much as possible by Jensen, who was at last | seems to be rather marked among such goods. essful in getting Mina’s consent to marry | ‘fhe nettings all seem to be of cotton and the coloring is often very pretty ind might be drunken father also insisted that the Bo 1 tastefully adapted. wedding should come off,and, more to get away boarding school used netting with results from such an unhappy home than through love | in making their small domain attractive. Be- for Jensen, Mina consented and they were | ginning in one corner it was draped either way, married. This was five yours ago. Atter two | running half way along each sido wall, exught years of hard times in the old country Jensen | here and there by an unframed picture of determined to try his fortune in América, and | water or boats, fastened to the wall back of the with his wife and one child he started for the | netting by bows of sea bluo ribbon. This net new world. softened the outlines of the room and made the Attor wandering about for some time they | whole place look gracefully pretty by its taste. landed in Nebraska with no money. Jensen fal arrangemen:. obtained work on farms in different parts of stings kon caana Sireuraa: the stats, hut wes unable to get ahead. fins0-) cain. vatators are beginning thelr work fo cially. - if The man and wife drifted over the state, | tended for Christmas gifts, and some novelties doing work at such places as they could get | are seen in shapes for their use. Quite a col- employment, until at last they reached this | lection is already set aside of recently painted and about a month ago they heard that | china by one amateur decorator who hee taken and woman were wanted to work on | the matter in time, and feels self-congratulatory farm inthe western part of the country. | accordingly. For one friend who. always Jenven applied for the piace, and as chance | dresses the salad herself at the table is a small Would have it the man aud woman were em-| dish with two comparturente and a handle bet ployed on the farm of Christensen, but the | tween; this is intended to hold the pepper and people were #0 changed that no recognition | «alt to be used in the salad dressiug. ‘This tittle was had. a eae A dish is painted on the ontside with festoons of Something familiar ia the woman's appear- | tiny flowers and on the edge and just inside ance led Christensen to make inquiries, und he | gligree border of gold, and. there is aleo mue! discovered that it was his long-lost love. He | gold on the handie.’ To be used with this said nothing to cither Jensn or his wife, but | are two le gold bowled spoons, one 2 few surewd questions showed him thatJensen | for each side. ‘The dish and the cut-glass bot- knew more about the reason for his letters never | tles for ofl and vinegar all set ona. little china reachitiy Mina than the husband was willing to | tray just large enough to hold them, and fes® acknowledge. tooned with tlowePs like the pepper and sait One evening he began telling a story to his For another friend who bus a weakness hired man and wife and recounted the story of r sifter. his life from beginning tothe present. He told | whith ia, twisted like, Venotian elfw on the how Jensen had taken the letters from the post | sider and with small flowers alternating with office and destroyed them, aud when he got | gold lines on the spiral ———- +020 A TEXAS KOMANC An Illustration of an Incident Where “Truth is Stranger Than Fiction.” From the Fort Worth Guzette. ‘The details of one of the most singular trades ever consummated in this pert of the country have just come to light through the filing for record of a deed of a tract of land in the west- ern part of the country. The deed is from Chris Christensen to Nils Jensen, and conveys eighty acres of farm land to the latter, but the remarkable part of the deed is the considera- tion given for the land. Itreadsas follows: “For and in consideration of one woman, to wit, the wife of Nils Joneen.” The queer dccu- ment caused an investigation to be made, and the following romantic story was learned by the curious newspaper man who went to the farm of Christensen: ‘ine years ago Christensen left Sweden for this country to make his fortune, and when he started he’ left in the old country a young woman who was to become his wife as soon as he became able to sen¢ after her. This girl, Mina Petersen, was the daugh- ter of a poor drunken shoemaker, who led his family a dog’s life and wus continually on the verge of starvation. After Christensen left Mina expected to hear from him constantly, but no letter ever reache her, and. as she had no idea to what part of the United States he went, e could not write to him. Among the young men of the town was through the latter was 4o overcome with what | "4 little desk candlestick painted with a close he thought was Christensen's knowledge that | wreath of forget-me-nots, with + border of he confessed his intamy. ‘The three talked | goid in a lace-| tern, is for w young lady Jong into the night about the matter und before the morning came it was decided that Jensen would give tp the woman, who openly sata that she did not love him, and he agreed to get a di- vorceand give up his wifeand child if Christensen would give him u start in the world. Mina was willing and anxious and the result was that the deed to the eighty acres of land was passed and the woman is now living as the wise of Chris- tensen. A divorce was procured and the mar- riage followed on the mme evening. Jensen lives at the farm until he can build a house,and the whole lot seem happy over the new turn of affairs, whose room is decked in bine. THINGS FOR THE DRESSING TABLE. For a dressing table, where many silver im- plements muy be found, isa hair pin tray and jewel box painted wholly in silver. ‘The box has aribbon designed in the china, and this comes out effectively in the silver. ‘Thore is new, decorated china in the market this year of Austrian make, which has the cream ground of roral Worcester, but which is vory cheap, The only design I have chea} mona vot i tionalized wild ‘rove, Tose, which eacing, in fread — the ry. rose bowls, the inexpensive articles much more elaborate, ——_—-e2—_—~ A Union Minister's Ordeal. ‘From the Courier-Journal. Dr. David Morton tells a good war story on Dr. Savage of the American Bible Society, who ‘was a strong Union man. Just atter the battle of Perryville, in October, 1862, Dr. Savage was at one of his appaint ments to baptize some children. ‘There was a large crowd, and « sturdy southern matron to the altar. “Name ‘hild,” said the Union preacher, jaying bis on the boy's head. **Simon Bolivar Buek- was the reply, which causéd a smile to come over the congregation ; but the brave preacher went on with his duty, ‘Name this ebild.” taking the next in order. “Pierre Gus- are much more expensive as well. best cntnes hth Making an Impression. From the Philadelphia Press. sho has something rice the matter with her. £ knew one who learned that she had lovely hair. She-took todoing it up with une hairpin and she ‘this cl band g eek; £ ileter i i i g | il EOREE HI! 2 £ z F. E i i i if at i i id et ms Hf i i z ay ii & HH jorms and different coloring are seen and they | f rule oF la ‘The girl is lucky who finds out suddenly that HAZING CADETS. How It Was Done at tae Naval Academy—A Graduate’s Former Experience. AN ABAXDONED PRACTICE—BUT IT WAS VERT GENARAL POR MANS YRARS—SOME OF THE PRANKS THAT WERE PLAYED UPON THE PLEBES. PROPOS OF THE COURT MARTIAL OF three cadets of the Naval Academy for “hazing” I think it would perhaps be a good idew to tell the readers of Tux Stan something of “hazing” as it has been and is at the acad- emy. “Before the war,” our superiors tell us, there was no such impositions practiced—then all cadets were equal and none sought an un- fair advantage by prestige of rank or priority of service—but this we doubt, for it is hardly Possible that any crowd of 900 boys could be ‘sesemblod who would not on account of the “inert meanness” of the average youngster at- tempt to play practical jokes upon one another. However that may be, it is certain that shortly after the close of the war “hazing” and ‘*f ging” developed in almost all of its objectio: able forms. The fourth-cinss man or “‘plebe an soon ashe entered was met by. crowd of upper classmen who began at once to guy him syd amuse themselves at his expense. It is of some of these pranks and notions that I intend to write, DURING TUE EXAMINATIONS. The candidates for admission were generally choven from the bext families of the countrys— ys in other echools they had at- tended—und came to the ncudemy with vxalted nation” week to tho examination roomie crow: of cadets stood by and remarked upou their reonal appearance. These remarks were thoughtless and fully as heartless as they were thoughtless. The candidate was greeted with such remarks as “Oh! whata figure for a sol- dier!” “Catch on to the sailor swagge “What will you take for the clothes?” was when be entered that he was fair pla sooner was he installed in his room than crowd of “youngsters,” a are called, entered to stand up, hat off and “fling ou meaning to spread the fingers ‘bf both bande out and place them, paltu: with the little fingers on the seams of his trousers. ‘Then he | was asked if “he came into the navy for glory | or money”—aninvariable answer’, ‘ior glory,” brought a shout of “Look at the future ad- miral!” and he was taught to repeat seaman bold and tried, ‘8 Joy, the navy + 4 Farragut Jumidr. 4 Neinow A sailor Loy of the viden thu aa told to alwaysaddrossan “upper | classman” ax “sir” and never to forget to “put a ‘sir’ on after every nentence. cadet or * full meaning of the “reciprocal ofa pieve—that | being « plebe on his head. He Wax inade to) stand on his head and suy the Lord's prayer backward, to recite oli sorte of quper riymes, fuel euil” ona wardrobe with w sueet for sail. ‘Then the new | THE FATE OF AN OBIECTOR. If the plebe objected he was given a chance to “fight it ont.” Some man of hisown weight was chosen from the upper clasemen: seconds, timekeepers and judges were appointed—for it was boasted that a “plebe” was always given a fair chance. Back of the gymnasium and gas | houses is a little melosed space, with one iace on the sea wall, known as Hyde Park, and it | was here that these affairs of honor were set- | the has been the scene of inany a bloody | fight, and it may be said, to the honor of the | lebes, that they were quite often successful. | hen the famous class of '#8 were “plebes? one | of their number “fought to a finish” with an "87 man and itcame near finishing both of them, for they were both carried tc the sick quarters on shutters, but both lived to be naval Oficers and laugh at their boyish past over friendly glass ut sea. PAGING NOT GENERAY. Fagging" consisted in an upper classman using a plebe as a valet, making him run er- rands with themes, and was the most degrading rm of. hazing, as it was repulsive tu an; entiemen to be so demeaned. Fortunately there was never much of this. This was hazing in its milder forms. More vobjectionabl features came when on a cruise the ‘plebes were forced to drink ink and eatcandles, varied by an occasional sup of vinegar. I knew one | member of the class above mine who nightly | made the rounds of every “‘plebe's” room, and his appearance was a signal tor erery “plebe” | to stund on his head. ‘1ius unprincipled young | man often required “plebes” to stuff’ their | mouthes full of paper, and from this prank | arose a very indicrous scene. My room mate, as a plebe, was a practical Joker of the first water, and we urranged to set up a scheme on this professional hazer. A HAZER FUIGHTENED. One evening became inas usuai and required my room mate to chew paper. He made him stuff sheet after sheet in bis mouth till his cheeks were distended and his moutl: full,then, as per the prearranged plan, the plebe began | to choke. His part was splendidly acted. He | gasped, turned red in the face and finally fell | writhing to the floor. By this time the “uppe- | classman” was thoroughly alarmed und rushed | for some water frantically, while I, stitling back | the laughter, pounded my room mute in the | back. Others rushed in and some one started for a doctor. Finally the “plebe” ceased to writhe about and lay | perfectly motionless on the floor. The uppei classman wus frantic, the tears streamed down his face, and he said, “Ok, B—, I was only in fun, I didn’t mean to hurt you, Oh, God, for- give me.” Finally with the aid of a button hook the imagiuary paper in his windpipe was dislodged, and he slowly rev ‘The upper classman wus relieved, and did not see through the hoax at all. It was splendidly acted, anu after many earne: logies the upper class man left our room and never returned. A year afterward I told him of it, and he was ready to fight when he saw how he bad been fooled. SOME OTHER FORMS OF maZIxo. Another favorite scheme was for an upper classman to come into s room and turn out the ight, with the command, ~Disappear!” A moment later the light was relighted and woe to any unfortunate “plebe” that was not well concealed beueath a bed or some place 1u the room. Another standard joke was the “menag- erie.” @room wasarranged with tables all around the walls and bencath the tables were packed the “plebes.”” ‘The wittiest of the lebes” wan taken for the exhibitor and ae- scribed the animals one by one to the howling upper classmen™ as the plebev went through the actions of lions, panthers and snakes. Less harmfui hazing consisted in making the musi cal plebes render concerts t» crowds of the upper cl it mattered little, howover. in what the offense consisted if an unfortunate “bezer" caught; be was immediatel; and woe to his chances for a comm: navy if this hap) pronounced “gu: missed. ‘Ten jon in the | ned, for he was invariably yy” and sentenc be dis- Years ago the officers “winked” at the crazy pranks of the cadets and said that afew fights “did them good” und what they were put in the navy for.’ TIE PRACTICE DISAPPEARING. But within the last few years theuper- intendents and commandants bave determined } liebe” was mady te understand the | © HOW ALICE KEPT THANKS- GIVING. From the New York World. “Say, girls, what shal we do on Thankegiv- ing thie year?” asked Alice Southwood, as she and a half dozen of her classmates eat and chatted in her pretty little room. She wae a wealthy girl and an odd one. She was extrava- gant and vain, but there wasa fine bright vein of unselfishness and generosity ranning throngh her nature like the tiny but beautiful thread of gold in a piece of quartz. She bad done but little real good in the world because she had been so placed that her attention was not called to need and suffering. “Let's go on a jolly coaching lark to the country,” said Kate Tenant. “Good !” and “Hurrah !” were the unanimous answers, accompanied by « clapping of hands ‘aud a tossing up of sailor hats and Tam O'Shan- ter capa. ‘ate is splendid!” said Carrie Jones. “She always has such good ideas. That will be better than going to two sermons and eating turkey and pumpkin with the grown folks.” “Know the reason?” asked Kate. T read in the paper last week that it was the fad now to make country excursions on Thanksgiving any instead of celebrating it with ly di ners and all your poor All right, we il go,” said Alice. club togetuer an bh. “My Aunt Julia,” eai dearest woman in the wo: anything we please. ‘Thea she'll be glad to go: she doesn’t like mamma's dinnors, with the min- ister, and the doctor, and old Aunt Ann and Uncle Josh from Jer: 0 | only comes once a year! “Fell yoR what weil «lo, * Kate said. ¥ let Miss Julia make an estimate of the cost, then each girl will put in her share.” “What abont the boys?” Aa, yes. the boy: boys. “i teil you, let been spared almost ers for ner life hai been he church, and ali the wot the wonderful cure. She weak now, but the disease was gone. ‘The ductor said sue would be wel: and strong than she had ever beer: in a few weeks. and sat down cn the door by her L. twas twilight. ‘The blinds were drawn anda grate full of deep, red, giow- ing cvals threw a soft, rosy glow over the walls and carpetand ber mothers pale sweet iace. Alice was pxssiouately fond of her mother. She Lad uover known the time when her mother Biris mothers—strong, busy, cor- recting and punishing their children.’ Her mother Lal always been an invaiid—a pale, sal-eyed, thoughtful woman, brightening up | to cheer und interest her husband when Le was in the rota, then covering her eyes aud wee} ing wher: he was gone. Sle had confided her whole heart to Alice, Atiastshe had consented to this wonderful operation, aud now she was going to be a well wouman—a wife aud a mother hike other women were—useful, helpful, stroug aud merr. ““Daugiier, she said, putting her hand on Alice's head nd smoothing aud loving her, at does Thanksgiving mea: “Why, mamma, darling, what a question,” answered, leaning bet elbows on the couch and looking into her mother's eyes. Mrs. Southwood smiled. “Yo whom is the thanksgiving rendered?” she persisted. “Lo God, mamma.” ‘or what?” “Why, tor his mercies and goodness to us.” ell’ said, my ‘Thanksgiving—than your mother, Alice.” “Ihave, mamma,” the child cried, throwing her arms around her motier's neck. “I have, because He bas spared me the sweetest and — eee girl ever had. ‘And would you tike to make a Thani with me and your tather, darling? aT ask you for fear you had your little heart set on some innocent merry making with your friends.” “I will go with you, mamm: ever pleases you,” Alice suid: “nothing would please my #o Well as to please you and God, who has given you back to us.” “That is spoken like my own dear chiid,” the mother suid, and tears glistened on her cheeks m the firelight. -Your father and I had decided to go and give hulf of our year's iucome to the poor. He has made a great deal of money this year. We can make comfortable many a poor family, and happy and merry for oue day at least a great number of poor littie chuidre: © do not want any one, not ever the servants nor our minister, to know that we are doing this. God will know and the poor people, aud that isenough. Would you care to share thissecret, darling? If you would rather ar- range for some pleasure praty with your school- mates you can do so. Mamma will not be burt. She only wanted you to have your choice. ’ “With you, mamma, with You and the poor children,” Alice answered, weeping and kiging Whea the girls met to turn in thei and perfect arrangements about the coaching Alice said: *‘Here is my share of the + girls, and I have invited Jennie Hol- comb to take my place. She did not get her mouey from home and was too proud to tell you that was the reason she could not join us. As for myself, girls, I cannot go with you. I am going to keep Thanksgiving with wy mother.” > Then, somehow or other, it came over all those jolly, thoughtless girls that there was sometining sacred and right about Alice's change of mnd. They all know her mother ‘had been very ill and was spared to her. ‘They did not question her. One by one they kissed her and wished her a happy day, telling ber how mueb they would miss her. And on Thanksfiving morning, as Alice sat beside her mother, who was propped up with cushions in the e1 » and looked at her father’s happy, solicitous face in front of them, she thought that no merry party on earth could give her the swect and peaceful joy of heart and svul she fe& on that quiet errand of mercy Frem one house to another they drove, to People whose addresses and deservingness Mr. Southwood had assured himself of betorehand. Purses and packages of wine and cordials, wovlen hove aud mittens, shoes and woolen petticoats were handed in to the astonished women and little, ragged, ti “An, faith, who be it thet’s givin’ the loike of this to me an’ mine?” asked tho smiling, iu- credulous mothers, Then the face $2 apie jook out from the carriage door & sweet voice an- ewe to stop hazing since Congress has passed a law to that effect, anda crusade has been waged wt the hazers. ‘three years ago sixteen ” were court-martialed at once and it resulted badly for several of them. Since thon several cadets havo been dismissed for the of- of “hazing”—ond ae. as almost traditions, it will ving cadet wed es ite of of it is har and it ve Rot near as bad.es it is painted in case, for these boys we and tf i = F | il F ij ul F i it | i s » Lf i is : i Bi & i it A CARNIVOROUS PLANT, ‘The Strange Production of Neture Found in Nicaraugua. In tho Inst numbor of the English Review of Reviews there isu paper describing « strange plant lately found in Nicaragua which is said to have a fondness for flesh and blood. The dis- coverer of this plant is an English naturalist named Dunstan, who has just retured from « “GIT UP, ‘The Little Cash Girl Wakes Up the O14 Mare and She From the New Yort Commercial Advertiser. “Git up, Cynthia! Yew irritatin’ crittar, git up! But Cynthia refused to get up. She dropped her head between ber knobby forelegs and showed with perfect plainhess that she did not intend to brave the dangers of the Broad- way pavement any farther. The elder of the two old women in the wagon attached to C; thia began to feebly brush the accordion ribs of the obstinate steed with a frayed and spine- Jess whip. but Cynthia remained immovable There was a block in the current of humanity that daily sweeps down Broadway at® p.m. and a crowd gathered to consider the situation. It was an interesting one. A dilapidated market wagon of me:jimval de- sign wae planted in «cuch a position that both the = and Lown-town car tracks were blocked. Attached te the wagon was & battered equine that looked as if it had seen service in the erurades and been through every war of any Prominence from that period up to date. the wagon seat were two old women, dwellers upor some Jersey farm, who had driven into town with their produce in the morning, and afterward decided to take a spin for pleasures sake up Broadway. Bat Cynthia, atter ambiing of trenches and bumping several | the wagon in the wnfinish cided that her drivers bearings and came to « the street was choked w ‘a While the care were lined up tor twe bloc either direction. Draymen swore at © prodded her with his izens grabbed the bit a: head off. But Cynthia tai CYNTHIA” 1 nearly pulled her uted ber scare-crow defiance and moved not One of the old women began to weep and the other remarked “Drat the beast” at five second intervals and with much teviing. A little cash girl, with freckles on ber nose and a last year's pushed to the front, ‘Hey,” she cried to the people in front “you're look out!” Then she drew outher hat pin and drove about an inch of it through Cynthia's tough hid here wasa crast and a double shrick from the two old women as they keeled over aguinst the potato sacks. Two seconds later Cynthia was moving mp a Side stroet at a Nancy Hanks gait. ‘Cricke} remarked shu ‘the plug li jump the river.” “Come,-now, do a sneak,” said the policeman to the ercwd. And they did one. A Few Things Youag Women Should Know Refore They Begin. From the New York Sun, Almost all earnest giris nowadays come into maturity with a real longing for work. There are reposeful, middle-aged people, to be sure, who firmly believe that this is a mischievous and misplaced activity, and that it is gon work cutali kinds of destruction if the race of Women take to other things than domestic and Polite accomplishments. Be that as it will, it joesn't pay to argue about what we shall never ve to prove. Here you are, hundreds of you, girls who honestly want to work, and who are honestly averse to housework. It also happens to be true that women, like men, work for wages, and that the wages a girl gets for house- work, even in her father's house, are not such as encourage you to adopt housework as a pro- fession. And so it happens that you are think- ing today about a wege-earning ‘business out- side your home,moré than you are thinking about « busband. The first thing you've got to know is what ou can do best. To find that out consult your taste. If you think it would be beautiful to trim hats or make gowns say 0 and stick to it. ‘Then go to the best milliner or dressmaker in your town and ask her to let you come into her shop and learn. She won't pay yOu at first, but your father bas fed you for several years and can probably discharge that paternal duty tor a few months longer. Tt Fou are bookish ‘and the law or medicine attracts you go to the office of your father's lawyer or phy d | borrow his simplest book and study it. case, don't disdain the modest beginning | lies nearest your band: you ai whier fields yet. And "whe: upon a work don’t play with it; learn to treat it just as seriously as your big brother or your father treats his. And so, as your diligence and knowledge | grow together, you will perhaps come to « int where you must leave your father's roof in order to iinish your preparation for your work or to widen your competence and #0 in- crease your wages. You must leave your small town for a city or the small city for a one. Before thiscan be considered for a mo- ment, one of two things is imperative: Either you must have the certainty—not the mere pos- Sibility—ot something to work at that will give you & modest living or you must have money sponge in reserve to pay your way fora year ahead. ‘here is no compromising with this. Never leave your father's hous» on any other conditions. “The number of young women who leave their homes each year and come to New York without a definite provision for work simply appalling, and out of this spring the awful tragedies of want and discouragement death or worse. With this provision made go into your work with the whole of you. Take care of your health and for the rest give your mind and body to your duties. You will get discouraged in every fiber of your tired body, but it wal only do you good. The man or woman who doesn't get discouraged often and often, seeing his ultimate reach beyond his daily’ grasp doesn't see far enough ahead ever to succeed. So be sure that you will get discouraged and getting discouraged encourage yourself Uccause of that very thing. You will probably be thrown much among men. Learn not to expect parlor etiquette in business places. You are not there to inter- pret the ameuities of lifo to a lot of busy men, ut todo your work competently and go your way sensibly. They may be as kindly mten- tioned xs your own brothers, but they are too busy to assure you of their distinguished con- sideration. If they treat you brusquely, di- rectly and frankly theyr'e paying you the com. Piiment of treating you like a seusitle woman. Above all, don’t always be looking for thing: to hurt your feelings. They'l! comesometimes and bruise you in every fiber, tli youll want | to put your bead down iu your mother's lap j and ery like a little girl, But you must learn to distinguish between wounded feelings and wounded vanity. A woman cries nine times out of wounded vanity and once out of the wounded soul that calis for divinest soothing to heal. Let your vanity smart all it will; it's good for most of us. Another thing you will have to learn is to keep your word; to go whore you say son'll goand come when you say you'll come, and Jet the heavens drop if they witl But they | won't—except in blessings ‘vn your head. Last of all, you may be the danghter of rich ts you may not. If you are the former behave yo ax if you were the lat- ter. Don't preface your first requost for work with the information that you are guing to lor hat shading her bang, INTERIOR DECORATIONS. Some of the Latest Designs for Filectie® Mousefarnishings. From the Upholaterer, r TOOK TWENTY YEARS TO HOW TO the American people the econotay of using % lining under carpets and they have mob learned the common senge of it over in Rarope yet. There are a lot of folks that wield @ broom and fill the house full of dust whe won't try © mechanical sweeper A carpet wis went @ third longer with » cotton padding bemeatha itand a sweeper to brush it. Again, many ® family waste hours and days of « year iu twist ing up or pinning up shades, baving no knowl ecige of spring rollers, and thi don't grasp the idea that table linen will wear twice os long with a canton flannei undercloth, or that Inc curtains are treated in a way to defy the erratie gas jot They think too much of how % tee bow on a china dog and not half enough of Low tw sweep the dirt trom ander bim. OLD NEW THINGS IN Fe Among the extreme novelties in the trede are, Dinck wa’ aire of Louis XIV or Lows X¥ form, unvarnished, unpolished, but left in the plain wood fiuish, with corners amented in little gilt actails Kand seat of a peculiar wic wise gilt The ol the oid « heavy ar the morr that gran been down cellar “nigh art’ stores are giving it a prominent place in their stock. a mm a terrible state resentiy tu her utter inability to finish her parlor wim- ‘time arm 4 yaght her lace curtaing but they lacked « bit of color te re Leve them of their cold and | Resi t 9 She took a length of India aillk twenty-eight inches wide, four yards long ~60 cents a yard. Nhe tied this in « loose, simple the center, rur. thecurtain pole throngs he knot, thus bringing it to the center of | pole; she then carried the ends up and over | the vole on the underside draping downward | In this way the ends of the foce beng ~~. angle or bins. She edged ‘with ‘o smeil | tassel fringe nnd the reeulte were stmply charms | ing and cheap. PRAPING BACK A CURTAIN. One of the cleverest idens that have been sented for some tume is a scheme for avoiding the conventional and at times wearisome way of draping back a curtain—an avoidance of the | old cord tassel iden: it is simply a Sinap provided with a decorative ornament The Justration shows something a little: scheme in the scheme, a winged bead, but | Mtoe! — orne otber ¥ be done with a simple | mented by a fleur de lis or BLACK PAMBOO ROREEN. Three very graceful features of a recently imported line sow a black bamboo screen ar ranged for the drapery effecte here shown = | green olive-wood jewel #tand and » bright yel- | low orange-weod chair finished in “bent-weed effects’ and voluptacusly upholstered in bieek, blue and garnet. BROWN LACE CURTAINE. A beautiful shade of a brown lace curtain te being made for an oriental room we know ot, for lace curtains are frequently nowadays made to order, the designs being put on by hand — applic ‘ouknow. This one isa and when bung will preseut few drapes or | but draped full. The center is brought “a rich medaljion applique in brilliant | Indeed, the whole design of the fabric | centrated in this center piege. ASM CUMTAINS. More sash enrtains are being sold ever. Folks haven't understood were for, but when these little ranged on each side of the window, like side wings of theater scene, the effect is greatly haghtened. THE UTILizaTH ‘OF LITTLE ALCOVES AND Koos in s room which are left by the building out of the mantelpiece or fireplace should be one of the first objects of the decorator, room is filled up so that you | around im it you always realize that have dose avy with ‘thie om or only though: whic fitted into your several alcoves. You wouldn't believe how many Hi fy i t : t that you can buy cents to $30—an indication of are going in matters decorative. are situated about four miles from Ids bay, anda fairly good rond lends to them. Hy Hi i : is if E | — +00 - Its Worse