Evening Star Newspaper, December 26, 1891, Page 11

¥7 Vi aate avatitay ENTRANCE TO THE GROUNDS, GREENLEAFS POINT. The Arsenal Grounds and Their His- tory. WHERE A FORT ONCE STOOD. A Place That Witnessed Many Lively Scenes During Two Wars—the Old Penitentiary and the Burial Place of J. Wilkes Booth— ‘The Present Garrison of the Washington Barracks RSENAL PARK, OR WASHINGTON BAR- racks, as itis now officially exiled, although ‘one of the finest and most attractive of ourcity parks, is but little known to the average citizen. It is practically as little known io the majority of Washingtonians as though it was located in a distant state. These beautiful mounds are on Greenleaf’s point (the most southern point of the city). the entrance being at the foot of 43¢ street southwest. Teebnically, as stated, these Grounds are now “Washington Barracks,” but they are better known by the old name, arsenal grounds, which will probably always cling to them. In reality the park is a sort of suburb itself, shut out, in a measure, from the rest of the city, with its approach guarded by United States soldiers. It ocoupies the neex of iand formed by the Potomae and Anacostia rivers and James Creek anal. In the most sultry summer weather re- fresbing breezes are wafted over this peninsula from the waters. A cool breeze is always Col. LIVINGsTON's NOTSE. ring here, and the fine, ornamental shade trees that canopy the atiractive walks and driv afford protection from the direct rays of the sun. There are eighty acres in the park and it stands some twelve feet above high water. THE HISTORY OF THE GROUNDS. The history of this spot is as long as that of the city itself and is full of Interest. It was selected in 1308 as a site for an arsenal for the manufacture and storsze of m supplies. Shops wore ereeted in 1807. when it became an important depot of «xppiics. in 1812, immediatery upon the declaration of war against Great Hritain. strong batteries were # approackable by water. plaice was known by the Bame of Fort ington. . During the night of the 24th of Angust, 1814, the fort was abandoned, after setting fire to the work rhops, &c. Next morning it was occu- pied by adotachment of 500 British troops, many of whom were soun afterward killed a2 accidental explosion of powder. The wor shops were rebuilt the following year In 1816 aiarge store house and officers’ quarters were erecte:L for arsenal purposes. erected on ti round, making, with those built in 1816, e quadrangle. TS THE CIVIL wan. During the civil war the arsena! was a busy place, gx ntities of ammunition being manufactured there. The buildings on the est side of the grounds were ozected’ during that period, and it was the depot of orduauce supplies for the old army of ihe Potomac. A Ponder explosion in 1864 blew mp one of these gs, tweniy-one young girls being killed Fix. The ruins of the explosion are now visible sorth of the guard house. ‘The old Washington penitentiary stood a little north of the guard house uutil 1969, when it was removed. In 1331 the place was converted into barracks for detachments of the United States troops T MA #nd_ Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Gettye burg, Pennsylvania. Baitery L showed its valor on the bloody fields of Gamiss’ Mill. Malvern Hill, Antietam and Froderickeburg, Virginia. ‘A dozen or more of enlisted men and soveral of the officers aro veterans of the late war, most of them having served with this regiment. ts nk mg artillery can et = dis. im names on its proud roll. among them being those of the two Shermans (William ‘ecumseh and Thomas West), Georgo H. Thomas, John F. Reynolds, Henry J. Hunt, Ord, Burnside. Angus, Robert And }son, Macomb, Getty, De Iiussy, Armist Gates, Dent, &c. Hardie, Braxton, Bragg an Winder of confederate fame, are also there. THE AUARD WoUsE. inte Col. Robert N. Scott, who organized the rebellion records athe, oney held a com- mission in this regiment. A STROLL THROvuM THE GaoUNDs. Now, having learned thexe facts, lot ue move | th through and imspect tke grounds, Entering the great gate at the foot of 4!¢ street on the right is the post hospital with its big Greek cross. On the left, inside the gate, are the guard quarters. A little further on, also on the left, two sne-story brick baildings are observed ‘These are the magazines where | the ammunition iskept. On the left beyond here is the rife target-practice range, 1,400 ec long. The waters of the Potomac glisten mn the right. Over on the extreme eastern margin of the grounds, on the bank of the old canal, were once a couple of attractive fish ponds belong- ing to the United States fish commission, but they are now dried up and abandoned. Reaching the fountain which plays in the center of « pretty ellipss, we are on the thresh- old of historic ground. The two buildings to the right and left, respectively, are spared wings of the old Washington penitentiary. which stood here until 1869, when the main | Portion was torn down. The west wing is now | Used as the residence of the commandant of the | post. Col. Livingston, while the other is occu- ' pied by Maj. Ramsay and his family, Back of this Intter building, over by James Creek canal, was once the burying ground for penitentiary | convicts, but there is uo trace of it left today |. Part of the foundation wall of the old pent- tentiary building can be ween to the southward | of the guard house. WHEUE BOOTH WAS BURIED. At will be remembered that the remains of | Booth, the assassin of President Lincoln, as | well as those of the other executed conspira- tors were buried in one of the cells of the old building. ‘Tue body of Mirz, the Anderson- ville prison keeper, was also buried here. They . OFFICERS’ QUARTERS. were all removed, however, when the building was torn down The scaffold upon which the conspirators were executed stood on the ground now oceupied by the the fountain ellipse. ‘THE Post HEADQUARTERS. As you advance along the eastern welks the bright light yellow new coats in which the | buildings are now clothed have a pleasing eiect on the vision. The frst building passed is the guara house, with its vigilant sentinel pacing up and down in front. Next comes the large, solid-looking headquarters building, where Col. Livingston and Adjutant Birkham have their offices, and where the business of the post is transacted. This is truly a busy spot. A view of the clerical labor required at a post like this would surpriee one not fauiliar with IN ROAD. named Washington barracks. Several jared cannon with interesting bistorics, mounted in the grounds, were removed at the same time. THE GaRRITOy. ‘The garrison of the barracks usually com- Prises half a dozen: batteries of light artillery. ‘The present garrison consists of batterius A, Cc. E,W, K and L of the third artillery, Col. Le Rhett L. Livingston commanding. One of the batteries (C) is mounted. the others doing duty on foot. There are 350 officers and men all told. They have occupied the place since the surmmmer of 1565, coming bere from St. Au- gustine, Fla. ‘The other steff officers with the garrison are: J. G. Ramsay, major; W. E. Birkham, adjutant; © W. liobbs, quartermaster; J. C. Carson, sure | Foo dW Be, Pamntater, wasintant ou third artillery was organized by an act of Mareb il, 1821, from the corps of ar- tillery formed by ‘act of March 30. 1802, from | the two regimens of art:tlcrixts and engineers, euthorized by act of Marci 3, 1799; the second and third regiments of artillery, orgenized b: y set of January 11, 1812; the regiment of tight! or organized by act of April 13, 1308, and the ordnance department, organized by ‘ect of February 8, 1815, and merged in the ar- tillery by act of March 2, 1921. |. Urdnance sep- arated from artiliery by acts of April 5, 142, 1838. and July 5, ‘The regiment has bad a brilliant record since ite organization, as the list of battles recorded will Its blood was spilled fm many wars and in many hard-fought baities. the garrison the on its dagataf will show. ‘Carolina, justec, Florida. ME toaghs guisatly ot Meivern on the fields of Run and Port sat Pocatalica, wy coats campaign and garrison duties. The busiest man, without question, in the post is Sergt. Maj. Frederick Semple. The sergeant is « model officer andjhis office is a model of method. He has charge of the correspondence, reports, returns and records of the twelve batteries that constitute the regiment, and the manner in which the work is doue reflects great credit on Lility. The duties are eougental to him, and he will enlist for a fourth time in days. He has been in the service nearly fifteen years, but is yet a young man, being in his thirty-fiith year. He is the proud possessor of very Sottering testimenials from several of his Lor rficera, ¢ sergeant says that the personnel of the | rank and file of the army in the Inst few years, and: has greatly im) on wwoald cortaluly iethecie thx” Sas Zomark that “It is now ti uch into the service than to get out of expresses the changed ‘The men are well treated and seem tented. A new ineentive has ‘as from netnal practice, and dercliction on his art will cost Wim his’ non-commissioned ware rant. The result of thie training 1s that tho service is supplied with competent non-com- fasioned ‘officers, capable of filing higher ‘THR OFFICERS’ QUARTERS. The next building as you advance is occupied as officers’ quarters. The light-green tinted cottages in the rear are cooupied by the non-commissioned staff and their families. The bakery is also located ‘The next building south is ocenpied as library and reading room, school room, subsistence and qnartermaster's offices and store rooms. ‘The library is not what it ought to be, there being but a smail collection of books, but many of the leading newspapers are found on the tables. In this room are some interesting relics. On one of the window sills is nailed s of the scaffold used for executing th: incoln conspirators—Mrs. Surratt, Herold, Adzerott and Payne—and on the veil near the door are four photographs illustrating the dif- ferent the exocution ceremonies, as fol- lows: No. 1, arrival on scaffold; No. 2, reading the death warrant; No. 8, adjusting the ropes; No, 4, sic semper sicarris. (The executed are hanging by the neck), ‘Die execution took Pitre, the hndeeeaviilo prison keepe ra, the “Anderson x, was also executed here. ‘THE BARRACES. ‘The two next large buildings to the south- ward are used as barracks for the men, the small buildings standing between them being the quartermaster’s and officors’ carriage house and stables. The large L in tho rear of the north building of this group is called, Recrea- tion Hall, and here it is that the people living in the barracks have their :musements. Here y have their dances, parties, &e, ‘The Wotan's Christian TemperanceUnion occupy it every Wednesday evening. The floor is well waxed and walls. &¢., are beau- tifully draped with old flags, guidons, and pictures. ‘The flags and guidons are mustly regimental and battery ones, used during the Inte war, and they show signs of hard usage, ‘The Maltese cross of the old fifth corps of the Army of the Potomac is numero tented in the decorations. - ‘There is talk of turning tho lower hall of this wing into billiard room for the use of the men. iy repre- ‘THE CANTEEN. The band and a partof the non-commiasioned staf occupy the next building, in the rear of which is the red canteon, where nearly every- thing the soldier needs in the way of eatablos and drinkables (except wine and distilled spirits) is sold. Becr is the only intox- icating beverage allowed to be sold, and it is of the best quality made. Nearlyevery officer and soldier that you question on the subject will tell you that the army canteen is a good thing; that it is good for the soldier's pocket and mor- als, aa well as being 1 tho interest of better discipline among tho men, It is said that there fg less drinking and drunkenness than under id method. Instead of wandering around treets, exposed to the many temptations that beset young men, the boys romain ineamp and drink their beer if they feel so disposed. The stable for battery horses is located a lit- tle south of the car:teen: The buildings forming the quadrangle in the extreme south end of the grounds on the Ana- ME crRcLE costia are occupied by officers of the post. This is the oldest part of the post and it was in this point that the old fort originally stoo: THY QUADRANGLE, Weather permitting, band concerts aro given in the quadrangle every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning, between 10 and 11 o'clock, and again in the efternoon between 5 and 6 o’eloc At the same hours these concerts are piven on the greén plat in front of headquarters on Mon: days, Wednesdays and Fridays. This plat is also 'nsed for foot drills, dress parades and guard mounts. Guard mount occurs at when bugle music is a featu 15 each morning, ‘west corner of the grounds, but it was washed away by the big flood of i889. The ruins are il visible. During the bustle and excitemen: of the war period this was an animated place. ‘the large ccean steamers that could not find deep enongh water wharfuge up ut the city wharves tied up here. The nineteenth army corps, after being hurried from City Point in July,’ 1864, disembarked here, one division double quicking ont to Fort Stevens in aid of the sixth corps, while the other division pushed up through Georgetown to the vicinity of the Chain bridge. Gronoz Sraxoxs. ——— & LoapED MUuFr, An Oil Dealer‘s Narrow Esca,o From = Dose of Cotd Steel. From the Oil City Dorrick. A party of well-known oil men who have fol- lowed the producing business from its infancy and have worked in all its different branches, fromdripping oil to running sevoral sets of tools as contractors, were at the Union depot waiting for the train on their way to the Mc- Donald field Sunday, when the talk drifted to old times and narrow escapes they had scen and personal reminiscences. One of the party, who bad quietly listened to the talk, puffed nervously ut his toby and remarked: “Talk about scares, boys; did I ever tell you of the scare I had in the seventies, when I was running the tools in the Millerstown field? Youknow the time that young fellow who came up from Butler and started a pop factory in Millerstown, and after making collections in Butler of over $200 was waylaid on the road, shot through the head and his body found in the woods, where ithad been dragged by the murderer, with the pocketa of the clothing rifled and no clue to the thiof. It wasa short time after that-in the winter. There had been » heavy snow and the sleighing was splendid, and [bad @ four-year-old colt that cost me $250 when it was a fot Olt, and that did not take dust from anything that traveled in the middle oil field. “Tbe man Iwas drilling for was sick and sent me word to come to Butler and he would pay mo for work done on his four welle that month. Idrove over bright and early and got a check for 41,100. I met several friends and being in no hurry I drove around town unti! nearly time for the bank to close. AsI got the cash and turned I saw a man eyeing the money so greedily that an in- voluntary shiver of fear passed over me. I for- got the incident and monkeyed around in the town until nearly 10 o'clock that night, when I started for home. “‘Half way home was a piece of dark woods in which the body of the young maker had been found. As Ilooked-at the side of the road I shivered with apprehension in spite of the Dutch courago { hadabsorbed that evening, as I saw some one trudging along in the road ahead of we, but felt relioved when I saw it wasawoman. The womar stop, nd ina hoarse voice explained that her Mdngghter, who lived up the road, had been taken sudden! | sick, and she wason ber way to visit her an asiced for a lift. “Glad to have company, I helped her into the sicigh and offered to take hor muff, but she kept it in the othor hand. Jolting overa rough picee of road whe pulled one hand out of the muff, and my heart grew cold with fear. Tcaught the glitter of steel as the moon shone lace in the woods With ‘one but myself, I begged her pick up my whip. She care- fully deposited her muff in the bottom of the sleigh and sprang out As soon as she struck shouted to the colt, who, un- used to the whip and spirited, wont like « shot agun. “As he started I heard an unmistakable mas- Debind me, and, expecting » bullet ery nainute, I crouched over in tide was the 1 ever MUSINGS ON CHRISTMAS The Different Experiences of Differ- | $i",°s, ent People, THE DAY AFTER CELEBRATING A Dream ef Boyhood—Children’s Antictpa- tions and Reslizations—How the Day Should Have Been Spent—A Father Who Was Bored—The Rounder's Celebration. “qr ANY MONEY?" The inquiry was put to the father of s family by a writer for Tax Stan the day after Christmas. “Money !” said pater familias, ‘1 did not be- lieve any man could possibly be as poor as I am at this present moment. Money! By jove, I haven't got the sixteenth part of a battcred penny about me and my bank account, I begin to feel certain, has been overdrawn. Why didn’t ho have any monoy? Oh, he had been making a few Christmas presents, that | ®! wasall. They had not been very handsome presents, he went on to say, but they had been numerous, He didn't believe in discrimi- nating among his childron, 60 whatever he gave one child he had to give all the other children something equally good. This is as it should be, of course. You ought not to have given one son a bicycle and the other a toy watch. If by chance you havo six sons and you gave ‘one » bicycle, just go off and buy Ave more Pleyeles and give. them to your ollie boys for New Year presents. There is no objection to New Year gifts. In former times they were quite common, and if you feel that you have not done your duty on Christmas day you have ® good chance to retrieve your reputation by coming up to the mark on January 1. “Get any presents yesterday?” How many of Tux Bran's readers havo had the question put to them? And how delight- fal it is to smile serencly and say ‘a fe That means that you got a good many and t! they were satisfactory. If you didn't get any, or if the one or two that you did get were mere perfunctory presents you are apt to remark about this, time that Christmas isa bore and ought to bedoneaway with as a useless custom. 4 DREAM OF BOYHOOD, One man was encountered Christmas day who had a peculiar experience to relate, and yet it is not so peculiar but that there are doubtless others whose experience has been similar. He said he had made merry Christmas eve and had seen Christmas come ‘at 12 o'clock and had shaken hands all around and had then gone ta bed. Hp had slept woll, for his conscience was tolerably clear and the temperature of his room was ashe likes to have it—rather cold than warm. Toward morning he had begun to dream and ke dreamt he was a boy again. He was in the big nursery where he used. to sleep with his brother, and over in another part of the room was another bed where the wo other brothers slept. He dreamt ho lying there asleep and that one of his brothers came over and jumped on the bed and shook him and told him in a whisper that it must be nearly day. “Let's light tle gas and look in the stockings,” he said. “No, no; it isu't timo yet. There's nothing in ‘om now.” Then the brother crept down to the foot of the bed, where the stockings hung in a row, and he felt them. “Bully, bully,” he eried. “They're fall and hard as rocks. ‘Come, come; let's have a light.” And then they lit the gas and woke up tho others and all four brothers crowded on one bed in the dim light of one gas jet, and there Was a little uncertain streak of ‘daylight com- ing through the shutters as they began to empty those wonderful stockings of their con- tents. Subdued crioe of delight arose, and oven at the riskof waking up fatlerand mother in the room below there wage shout of laughter when one boy, finding, ae he thought, a fine chunk of chocdlate in the toe of hi iece of P lay. an's dream went on, he and his ad wut there examining an:! re- examining their gifta until they began to use the toys, and one irrepressivle youngster, throwing open the shutters und finding it was broad daylight, blew a tremendous blast with Lis Christmas horn andanother began to pound the headboard with a stick and Christmas morning was ushered in with the noisiest kind of reveiliv. The noise was not altogether a dream, for it arose from the pounding of a Servant on the door to wake the dreame: up and tell him it was time to dress for breakfast. It wasalludream. Ho was in his solitary room. There was no stocking full of presents at the foot of the bed. ‘There were no broth near him. Buthe didn’t get up right away. He lay thera thinking of his dream—carried back a score of years, wondering if he bad really been as happy then ashe now thought he certainly would be ifhe could live ij all over again. He waa glad he had shaken hands with everybody the night before. He went to break- fast and shook hands with everybody again and be went down the street later in the day in the same spirit. ON CHRISTMAS MoRNIxU. ‘What did you doon Christmus day, my dear sir? Did you com? down to breakfast as cross sa bear and grunt outan ill-naturea “good morning?” Did you grumbl. about the coffee and make ill-natured remarks because there was no maple sirup for your buckwheat cakes? Did you, as soon as possible, escape from do- mestic thraldom and hie you down town, there to partake of the insidious beverages, which are the Proper thing for this time of ‘year? Now, if you did all this you did wrong and you know it Here is what you should have done: First. You should have come down to break- fast on time. Thero are difliculties in the way here, it is true, for, pewdventure, Christmas eve may have been too much for you and you may wish to tleep off the effects,” Perhaps, it your wife or the other ladics that constitute your family are lenient, they will forgive you if yon are a trifle late in getting up. Second. After coming down stairs you should haye pronounced the words, “Merry Christmas,” in a loud and distinct tone of voice to each and every one. Third. You should have presented, with ap- propriate remarks, the gifts you bore in your arms. Fourth. You should have, as you opened the presents which you found on your plate, de- clared that they were exactly the things you had been wishing for most. No matter what they are, always look surprised and pleased and say: “Why, Ideclare,” that s what I have been wanting for ever so long!” Fifth. You should have over-caton yourself atdinner. That is a custom that is not always observed, but the day is more successful when it is followed by indigestion. AND THE DAY ATER, ware you feeling the day after Christ mas?” The question was asked of g citizen who looked rosy enough about tho gills, but a little tired withal. “I’m glad its over,” he said. “It was a great day, I know, but it wore me out. ‘The children enjoyed it, and I enjoyed sceing thom have a good time, but, I Fopeat, it was rather Wearing. in the first place it was still pitch dark when the whole troop of them came down from the nursery to wish us merry Christmas and show us tho beautiful things Santa Claus had brought them, |My wife kept up tho dolusion woll, for of course she had eon up half the night stuff- ing tho presents in the stockings. jogs could hardly hold the gifts, and my eldest boy, who is of a shrewd turn of mind that does him great credit had bung uj pir of long trousors with the lega ‘ted at the ottom, #o that Santa Claus might have plenty of room. It is needless to say he got no. more than if he had adhered to the ancient custom Of stockings, ‘Then the day wore on slowly. Ail our relations camo to see us and brought eir c} iren. There were, in conse: uence, several hostile engagements betweon the differ: ent encampments of cousins. We hada hard time to preserve the peace. ‘Toward th ing the children got cross, and I am ashamed say that while the day opened piessantl; euougk for them they went to bed crying.” ‘The stock- +] ing to render «sistance, in the hope of by | ¥ | exhibited iteelf in ‘of | Florida reefs, announce that islands which « | few years since were mere heaps of rock are ‘ibe ‘out to “paint the town.’ This resulted in bis making the air bine with pro- fanity, and a policeman meeting him esks to “run him in,” but he prot to Lad | Later he took ‘more “amilos" and presently he wed under.” Then « ‘night liner” was taken home and put to mae morning he woke up with “'s an bend on him, Proceeded to cure it by 9 Ho me) several brother “0. 8. “whoop things up” again, Having all day before him and nothing else to do, be got full” at his leisure, got “fuller,” Was soon as ‘full as a boiled omy" “mowed under" again, rosuscitated toward nightfall, dined with ‘friends,” repeated “Christmas comes but once a the odds so long as you're ha: difference in the morning,” &c., &c. There certainly is a very great difference inthe morn- ing. TI ‘rounder,” however, is fortunate in having friends who take care of him when ho is “batting.” ‘here is, strange to say, a sort of freomasonry among’ drunkards that prompts them to look out for one another. ‘They do unto others as they would others should do unto them. Being weak, they know they bes fall at any moment and consequently aro will- 1 whata subsoquently lable to need it. ‘The fact is tha da moro misorable Christmas for while there may have hilaration the reaction light of absolute despair. —_———_ FAVORS FOR LITTLE DINNERS. Rivalry in the Giving of Them—Some Points on Aristocracy in New York. Serpe FASHION OF GIVING COSTLY favors at dinners and on other such oces- sions is passing,” suid a New York caterer whohas newly established himself in Washington. “Of course all such fancies spread from the metropo- lis, To meet the demand there our trade has been obliged for the last two years to keep in stock all sorts of exponsive knick knacks. For ex- ample, we have supplied each of the guests at & swell ropast with mandolins and violine in miniature at €10 each. On other occasions each one of the ladies present would have a feather fan with an oval mirror in the middle, valued at $8. Embroidered sachote at €16 a piece, and imported hand mirrors framed in ivory and silver, for the men and women ro- spectively, were thought particularly appro- priate. “Ihave known opera hats in pink, blue and yellow silk to be used as favors for tho gentle- mon atadinner, the ladies receiving riding hate in light materials, They cost $8 each. On a particularly festive occasion at the house of some very rich people hand-painted bon- bonnieres of china and crystal were given to the women, while the men’ had .cigar cases of like materials. The china was real Sevrey and the articles were worth $50 each. Gentlemen sometimes got beautiful cigar cases as favors, while gilded hay rakes, adorned with ribbons and bells, are much cheaper, costing only $2 euch. temporar FROM THE JEWELERS. ‘Inexpensive trifles may do well enough for poor people, but such small gifts would be apt to condemn a New York hostess as stingy, ii she offered them at a dinner at her house. Mrs. Astor or any one o: the Vanderbilt ladies would never think of depending upon their ca- terer for their favors. ‘hey go to the big jew- elers for the purpose and buy rings, scarf pins, gold brooches and even dizmonds.’ Of course, people afford such an expenditure and they are com- pelled either to go beyond their means or to content themselves with being ‘out of it.’ This state of affairs engenders a pleasant sort of ri- valry which affords a suggestion of the causes which bring sbout large business failures. Certaia ignorant persons, doubtless inspired by jealousy, huye gone so far as to assert that display of ‘such « kind is vulga:; but it goes without saying that the Astors and the Van- derbilts could never be vulga: “Speaking of aristocrats, there are some very interesting ones among the Four Hundred in York. A lady, who was one of my most profit- ablo customers, came to my place of business near the Fifth Avenue Hotel a whiie ago ina great hurry, She said that she wanted an eiab- orate dinner for twelve persons served an hour later. Said I: “*Madam, it is impossible.’ “Her reply was: “Oh, blankety-blankety-blank it! If you don't have that blaukety-blank dinner on timo an hour from now, blank you, I will withdraw my custom from your ty-blank estab- lishment. So now!” “That is not the usual language of fashion m New York city, but we caterers are obliged to put up with it occasionally when a customer is displeased or impatient.” a ‘The Man Who Dropped, From the Dotroit Free Press, He was about to make his way around to the side gate of a house on Montcalm street when ® woman opened the front door and culled: “This way, please; come right in the front loor.” & He came back, looked at her and cautiously began ascending’ tho steps as he said: “Madam, it is through no fault of ‘mine that I bave been brought to this——” “Oh, certainly not—walk right in!” she in- terrupted; “you wish to sce the lady of the house?” “Velie am the Bang hat “Well, Tam the person. your on the halt'tree, please.” “Madam,” he said as he hung his old cap on a peg, “I was going to call as the bask door to sce if you" “I see. Walk into the parlor and sit down a moment, You aro in search of work—wood to al to bring in, &.7" “Poor man! How hard it must be to go about looking for work! You haven't eaten anything today?” “No'm, I got up at daylight this morning and began——"" *T'see. Sit over there by tho window where you oan look at the family album while I get yous dinner. | How do youlike your chicken stowed or fr stammered the astonished fried!" tramp. “Certainly; won't take me over half an hour. Do you like your mince pie hot or cold, and do you prefer strong coffees” He sat rubbing one old shoe over the other, ‘too astonished to reply, and she continued: ‘Tam so, glad you bap to call here. If you don’t object to dark clothes I can fit you out with a suit almost new. with your dinner or biscuit?” His feet were now too to and he sut with his mouth page ae “How dreadful ou must feel—wife and see an “gamed and yment you are eating I'll telephone my husband to a place in the bank. You want something that's sasy and paya wal, of coursde, Tim sorry Tm out of currant ya Jam would do, fos Pen ene ‘4 WI id, are inthis pontlon-ver gece mt Seah oe to hay (A How tho who aro ordinarily wealthy cannot | Can you eat bread | is_ brought THE CORAL REEFS, ‘Mow They Are Built Up Of the Coast of Florida, CURIOUS SPECIES OF TREES AND PLANTA Ox THE ISLANDS TNEBR—THE BAWAMIANS AXD THE LIFE THEY LEAD—HOW THE CORAL 18 OBTAINED—AN ISLAND FRER VROM INSECTS. ‘Special Correspondence of The Evening @tar. Kar Wast, Fia., Dec. 20, 1991. The captains of somo fishing and turtling vessels, who have been cruising among the now covered with vegetation and that new species of trees are taking root on keys where they were unknown five years ago. Those islands are, it seems, following the old Process of continent building and aro gradu- ally increasing in size and drawing closer to- gether, except in spots where currents are ‘wiftand tideways powerfal. Their soil con- siste of lime and sedimentary rocks cov- ered with slight vegotable mold produced by flecaying vegetation and their subsoil being hard and permeated with brackish water. Thero is not much opportanity for the de- velopment of a varied and vigorous flora, The total number of botanical species found on all the keys extending from Dry Tortugas to Biscayne bay does not exceed 230, or about ‘8 fourth of the number found in other regions ‘of equal extent, but the proportion of shrubs and trees is unusually large, being about « third of the whole, while the ratio of woody to herbaceous plants in other portions of the state is only one to seven. ‘This makes the botany of the islands interesting, particularly as the prevailing species belong. to the tropical and subtropical families found in the Bahamas and other islands of the West Indies. ‘THE KIND OF TREES. \ The towering trees that thrive on the main- land are strangers to the reef, their places being taken by the satinwood, mastic, erab- wood, buttonwood, cedar, bay, wild fig, myrtle, chinchona and their kindred, ana these often form dense thickets along the coasts which are impassable to even a bird. Vines and creepers are very abundant and frequontly bind the shrubs so closely together that even a snake cannot crawl through them in some parts, ‘The parasites are tough, flexible and woody, and so strong and long ‘that one requires an x or machete to ent through them. Some trees have the habit of sending out many lateral branches, evidently to secure as much elbow room, air and light ns possible, and as these soon become one mass of tangled vines and weeds a faint idea of the difficulty of traversing the woods may be obtained. Ihave essayed to force my way through places where the wild sapodilla, buttonwood, mastic and other trees wand have always failed, owing to the lensity of the thickets and the abundance of creepers. A very striking peculiarity of several of the species indigenous to tho reefs is that they a rubs in tho open ground where they room to grow, but towering vines where th are crowded and enyironed by tall trees. One group of islands among tho reofs differs radi- cally from all the others both in physical and botanical features. ‘This group is about 150 miles in length and lies at almost right angles to the Its general trend is from east and ijs outlines aro vn- ‘The most abundant trees on the group are the Cuban pine and the silvery thrinax, and wax myrtle and dwarf palmetto are not uncommon. These and three herbaceous plants are the only specimens that are indigenous alike to the reefs and northern Florida; so that the person who is femiliar with the trees of the mainland will meet few arboreal acquaintances on the coral islands of the south, although he may hear species having no relationship called by old familiar names, botanical lore not being & specialty of the Bahamians, who form the larger portion of the inhabitants of the reefs. Two species of plants on the reefs have secured a reputation that is sure to commend them to the notice of travelers. Ono is t! manchincel or Florida upas, whore juices a poisonous and raise a severe blister on any part of the body they may touch, and the other is a chaparral, which has such a fetid odor that an extract of the berrics will disperse an audienes from a bal! room or theater ine few moments. Some wags chew these berries and then spit on the floor of a room which they wish to sce clonred of its occupants, and generally euecoed in their purpose, the smell being overpowering. Key West has a municipal law against the use of these berries, and os it is strictly enforced ‘elers rarely hear of the peculiar virtues of the chuparrel The rhus metopium, or poison wood, is also credited with many bad qualities, but, like the manchincel, it is not so fatal as ite reputation would lead one to expect. THE CONCE@AND THEM MODE OF LIFE. ‘The Babamians who live on the reefs are gen- erally knownas Conchs to the native Floridians and Cubazs. They are mainly engaged in rais- ing pineapples, bananas, mangoes, sapodilloes and other tropical fruit, which they sell at Key West and ports on the mainland. When they are not cultivating the trecs they engage in ishing, sponging, turtling, “eoraling’” or in gathering eea shells for northern markets. ‘The lives they lead are both arduous and wearisome, and are unrelieved by even the small social gatherings that make farm life on the mainland bearable. The only compensa- tion they have is the delightful climate, which enables them to work throughout the year, but san offset to that they are for eight months in the twelve by swarms of mosquitoes, sand flies, deer fies and other winged plagues that make outdoor labor an earthly purgatory. The people are compelled to use braziers filled with palmetto chips or rags on their tables while eating to keep the mosquitoes away, and are often forced to close their doors at night and sit in darkness to prevent the winged vocalists from finding them. This re- nark refers chiefly to the sammer and autumn, insects being quite scarce during the winter Oneisland called Bamboo Key is said to be so free from insects at all seasons of the year that » and fishing vessels run to it to avoid the attacks of mosquitoes and to enable the crews to get somo sleep. ‘The winged plagucs are said to have been banished from this region bya half brother of St. Patrick, who was known as St. Bamboo through baving preached for many yearsin China, at this island, it seems, while circumna: the globe and was so much annoyed by mos- quitoes and their congeners he ished them from the region forever and » day. ‘The sailors who work along the reefs often bless him for his good deeds and wish he would roturn and try the same experiment on all the other keys, ‘the work of the therers, turtle huntors and fishermen is fairly well known to many readers, but Idoubt if any outside the Keys know much about the ‘lubora of the “coralera,” whose business is to supply traders with those beautiful specimens of white coral seen in drug stores and the offices of merchants. BARD WORK OF THE CORALERS. scarcely bresthe. ‘They are then hauled up by their comrades with a stout rope and, after Festing awhile, ogain descend to bring up the ‘They are often forced to fight sharks, sting- raysond sunfishes while below, eo” that thelr business is no sinecure. There’ is ‘ding to the coarsest being known as tree coral the ¥ the coral PLANTING RAINROW TROUT. Beautifal and Gamesome Fishes From Call- fornia for North Carolina Waters. E RAINBOW TROUT OF THE PACIFIC coast, 80 celebrated for its beauty of color ing, size and game qualities, has been success fully introduced in the western part of North Carolina. Four years ago 100 fingerlings of this epecies were procured from the United States fish commission by Mr. Henry Stewart and placed ins breeding pond adjoining the Cullasagee river. This romantic stream rans for several miles through Highlands Park, the Property of Mr. Stewart, in Lincoln county. Its troubled floods have always abounded, like every other good-sized stream in that section, with the common speckled trout, and on that Secount it was anticipated that these new- comers would do well. The rainbow trout, otherwise called the Cali- fornia or Pacitic brook trout, is foundin nearly all the waters of the Pacific slope, though more particularly in California, Itis a beautiful fish, its silvery sides adorned with irrideseont tints. In California it attains a weight of Seven pounds, However, it is said that apect- mens weighing thirty pounds have been taken from Lake Tahoe. They are caught with sly oF spoon bait aud will fight every inch of the Way, from the time they are hooked to the mo- mont of their deposit in the basket. The waters of the Cullasngee—Cherokes for “Sweet Water”—aro of an icy temperature aud 8s transparent as crystal. ‘The sirenm winds among towering mountains and through lovely valleys in the picturesque “Land of the Skx,” every now and then madly rushing with foam- flecked torrents through narrow, rock-contined banks, to burst fort prosontly and leap some frightful gorge. The sides of the stream are fringed with beautiful rhododendrons and azaleas in the greatest profusion, while the nodding boughs of white pize and hemlock are mirrored below, Boulders from the mze of a Water bucket to that of = house strew its couree. To follow such o ad cud im- petuous river with reel and line is no childs play, but the lover of the gentle art aud the ad- mirer of nature in her graudest aspo alike rewarded for the toil it costs then. Such are the waters in which the lovely and gamesome rainbow trout bas found an eastern home. Speaking of the fate of his fingerlings Mr. Stewart writes: , “The next summer these fish had increased in size to ten inches and two of them were taken in the pond. A few had gone over the dam into the river and one was taken four milos down tho stream. Two years ugo I was as- tounded to find these fish had grown toa size of twenty-two inches and a weight of throe Pounds. “They had also gone down the stream for ten miles, and one of this size and weight was taken in my lower pond five miles down the stream und one in the pond where they were first planted. ‘The past season a larg number were taken from one to three poun: in weight, but the river was full of small tieh. dently there are some big ones the size of Which no one has as yet asceriained, becanse no tackle used has been able to hold them. However, I should judge tere are some of ts are these fish in the stream quite seven pounds in weight or even more und will measure over two feet in length. ‘On account of the swiftness of quently every one hooked bas got awa’ ise to the fly more freely trout and beat them out as fig hey as lively as a salmon and give the angler all bi can do to secare them. For the tabie they are ae goodas the speckled trout, ard their red flosh is fat and firm and finely davored. Three years ago I saw them mating on the spawning ds with the speckled trout, aud last year some evidently cross-bred fish were caught and 1am watching closely for a speciuen to fully determine this.” re —— A FORTUNE ON ONE THROW. Probably the Stiffest Game of Dice Kver Piayed in the Oil Regions. From the Cincinnati Enquirer. A difference of but two in the upturned dice dots, but cach dot reprosented 32,000 and the winner was made that much richer by his sitf gle throw. The details of this occurrence, re- called in sojourning contemplation of the fast departing traces of other daysin the town where it occurred, may be of interest. From the time of ite first importance as an oil town Petroleum Center in Pennsylvania was known as a famous place for gambiing. There was, however, no particular place in which this gambling was carried on. An engine house, saloon, office or private room—any place served the purpose—and a rickety table, a greasy writing desk or a board laid across the head of an oil barrel answered as well as the equip- ments of a gambling palace. In 1888-69 thef vicinity of Petroleum Center was the richest in the oil region and one of the richest in the world. ‘The iands all about the town were making their owners rich. Among these pieces of property was the Woods farm, lying upon the Lill to the west of the place. Its big production at that time was selliug at from 25 to €5 a barrel. Samuel A. Woods was the owner of thisrich deposit of oil, and his royalty from it yielded him aprincely income. He was then about 35 years of age, und was as full of fun as he was of business, He dressed well, wearing daily dinsmonds worth from £5,000 to $8,000, lived “high, and was foremost in all the enterprises in oil developments. In 1868 he built the largest and first complete iron tank— 40,000 barrels—then along Oil creek, and into it his farm poured its liquid wealth. Woods hac @noted fondness for throwing dice, and was usually lucky. He was ready at any time to throw for stakes ranging from $50 to £100 or $1,000. It was seldom he would throw for less than the first named sum. One night in the winte: of 1803-69 he. was nding the evening with a party of frien in the Bechoster House at Petroleum. Genter Among the party was Col. Brady, another rich producer and a man who had earued his title on the battlefields of the rebellion. In the course of the evening Woods said: “Colonel, I'll toss the dice with you for €50.” ail Fight," waa the colonel’s prompt reply. The first throw Brady won, coutinuing to do so until he had won of Wood's money. ‘This trifle just wetted their appetites, and the chance contest then began in earnest. ‘The amount of the stakes was increased from ban- | time to time and Woods’ losses rapidly crept into the thousands. Luck was against him, but ashe was perfectly sober and the friends resent knew that he would regard as little less n insult any suggestion that it was time to quit, fecling abundantly able to pay an; amount he lost, ail they had to do was to wate! the two men with increasing interest. To pase on from the process to the remit, whon one of the morning hours was ushered in, Woods had lost $32,000and Brady held bis check for that sum. ‘At this juncture Woods said colonel: “Now, I am willing to double the amount and let each of us take but one throw and tho highest take the stakes. You already have my check for the $32,000. if I Jose I will write you another for thefull amount it will be cashed at the bank here tonight, ani tomorrow.” “All right,” The ‘uterest m with as much promptness as though it had apart of © itimate business transaction. foods then proposed that they start in anow 10 as the amount of the stakes. The and goon all the cash he had transferred to the 920, rT * com * can't see @ man go away } New Designs for Making the Home Com- fortable and Attractive, From the Upholsteror If there is any home that is thoreughly an- is the place that has been put into the hands of some unsympathetic decorator and furnished upon the hard, stern lines laid down by some correct epoch of design. It is all well enough to have a home furntshed correctly, but a house needs the stamp of personality to make it all and wholly » home, for the ocew- pant is bereft ofa large share of pleasure if Ler establishment is robbed of ai! reminiscence and sentiment. The get-rich-quick people, who ouddenly realize that their surroundings are inartistic, are never satisfied with what @ a = call “correct turn! fit their ' patrons, they you ask them, always find places to ate the things that are eurcharged and aate- rated with the homeiy snggesiions of a urable past—Jobnny's first valentine, Mary diploma and the card mottoos “mother made. You cat reconcile mactame lambrpquins to the Jacobern room, but such things have @ into inappr. living root is « hall scat which is severe, but “feteh= ing.” It is made of durk oak and vory prim if not furnished by « cushion. Get, howe bright orange-colored corner cushion, and presents au laviting «pot in the hall; itis the ‘atest fad in ball furnishings. It is becoming more end more the fashion to hang lace curtains straight so as to show their full design. OVER DOORS aXD WINDOWS. For some timo past the public have been adjustable grille with shelf a tachment upon which to place brie-s-brac, the whole to be arranged over windows er door- ways to relieve this portion of # room, which is tisual nt Upou « curtain they had great trouble his always been thal to be made to order, as windows and doors vary an width. Now, however, « device is ow enough to go into the uarrowest It isin two sections, running upon sliding top bar. By drawing these pieces # they can be extended to the width of the md the open place left in the center of them is furnished with a short drapery. THE FRONT DOOM PANEL. A now form of ping the glass panel im the front door is a deviation from the simple mus- lin sash curtains. Woe will presume thet the ginss panel is fifteen inches wide. Down the center for @ space of about six inches wide is ® silk network ina mesh as big as a quarter of adollar. On each «ide of this ts sVengus of silk “drapery four or five inches wide. This scheme is varied by arranging the network in other forms—in cross stripes or dingonala. ARTISTIC FCRNISNINGS PROM FRANCE. It's a singular fact that the foot stools made. in this country ere allof « common kind. Everything in this line that is beautiful and rich comes from Europe. They sve called tabouret, and the ness of the thing mu ” Some of the tabourets thet come from Paris are elaborate affairs and cost as as €25 apiece. They‘are extensively uj aud serve also as ladies’ work boxes. IMITATIONS OF GooP THINGS, We heara great deal nowadays about che imitations and folke sneer a thing that’s a copy, but a good copy of a good thing is preferable to the best and most efforts of medioe- rity. old castios in E nro. pa U yenrs they bave been guarded with jealous eye, but now their doorways have been thrown open, and hence we find some of the most marvelous pieces of eabinet work repre= need in American shops. Fountainbleau contain, it is $10,000,000 worth tantee of The of swine eure of furnishings,