Evening Star Newspaper, March 19, 1892, Page 11

“AS THE TWIGIS BENT” The Good Work Done by the News- boys’ and Children’s Aid Society TO PREVENT WICKEDNESS. & Society Whose Object is to Reduce the Num- ber of Inmates in the Jail and Reform School—How the Society Was Organized and How It Grew—Its New Home—An En- couraging Outlook. UST AS THE TWIG IS bent the tree's in- More than one han- dred and fifty years have rolled by sisce Alexander Pope gave utterance to the fore- going truism, and in that period millions of human twigs have been unnaturally bent and as a consequence mill- ions of living trees have grown distortedly until death removed the ‘vital sap and left the trunks lifeless, but none the leas ugly. Up to the middie of the present Century mankicd generatly contented itself ‘with punishing the criminal and the unforta- nate—the products of vicious surroundings; today thousands of philanthropists, rich and poor, old and young—toil incessantly to pre- Yent vice and paaperism by searching out the youthful twigs and so directing their lives that Maturity shail display the nobility of true man- and pure womanbood, free to the fullest ble extent from ail suspicion of moral nese, CONCERTED EFFORT. Work of this nature has been going on in this gity for some years past, but it was left for Whose who organized the Newsboys’ and Chil- @ren’s Aid Society to make concerted effort in Behalf of those who by reason of their youth- fulness were unable to materially help them- selves. A temporary home for children was established in 1534 and it has been in steady and successful operation ever since. This has not been done without diticulty. Many a time did it seem to all, save a faithful few, as though the charitable enterprise would have tobe ebandoned because the necessary financial sup- Port was not forthcoming. From the day of Organization up to the day of his death Chief Morrison I Waite of the Supreme Court Of the United States, wis president of the trustees of the society: a tower of strength. His interest in the good work never flagged. He ‘was present at every meeting and his activity @id much to tide the young organization over several troublous periods. In all hedid and in all that has been done since his death much rendered by the incor- Henrietta C. Hood, Emily M. Webb, J s Jobn W. Thompson, Tuomas 8. Childs, Jane L. Sarah b. La Fetra, Kose A. Foster and Flora Payne Whitney. THE ORIGIS OF THE soctETY. The society originated with a few ladies who wore moved by storics in the daily newspapers to care for some of the waifs that so frequently and improperly appeared in the city Police Court. Those youngsters were necessarily sent to the work house ve: they could not be Provided for in the fully populated reform school; there was no reform school for ihe girls, anyhow. But a very small percentage Of the little ones had committed any crime, yet they were compelled to associate with the vile obatacters which the work house was intended to hold securely. The result was disastrous to the little ones and mos: dangerous to society. Coay. warm and brightly lighted reading rooms were first provided and to these the newsboys andall other boys were invited. Games and books were provided and proved most effectual counter attractions to the pool rooms There wasan abseuce of hampering rules, the boys Being permitte tocome and go as they pleased between the bours of Sand 10 p.m. Almost immediately it beeame apparent that dormi- tories were absolutely necessary to the success- ful prosecution of the ealvage work. There wasno money available for this extension of the scheme, and for awhile it was ditlicult to Keep even the reading rooms open. A GENEROUS FRIEND. Just when it seomed as though the society must dwband a friend to helpless childhood agreed to give $300 annually for the rent of a building, but made strict provision that her name should not be made public. With this sift, which has always mado its appearance Since the promise, the home at 517 12th street was established. Other friends con! cots and bedding, and very speedily couches used. ‘moral destruction by those who toiled beneath the roof of No. 517. From’ that building boys and girls—com/ortably ciad and wish new hoves bora in them th to lives of honesty, sobriety A NEW HOME. About a year ago the society was notified that it would bave to look out for # new home, the house it was then occupying having to be sac- Fiticed to make way for an impreved structure. At was then proposed that permanent location had at No. 310 E street, and this would prob- ably have been brought about had it not been discovered that a good title to the property could notbesecured. This house was occupied, however, untii February lof this year. On that day the home was removed to #27 E street, itnow is. The location is * good one, nient to the newspaper offices and within { the boys who appreciate shelter, warmth and kind treatment; boys who may Teasonably hope for houest an: at least fairly Prosperous Lives. house has been Purchased. The price was $13,000, and Of this amount—large for an unobtrusive and jowed ity—$2,500 have been paid. has to be wiped out in five Yearly installmente. It will be done, but sev- @rai hearts acd pocket books will have to be Opened before tuo last note is paid and the Mortgage is ready for desiruction. At this time there is im cireulation a subscription list, and every individual grap! to make an Sonual subscription of at least $50. ‘There is still room on tuat list for severe] vames. THE GOuD WORK DoxE. Agent Sweeney's report shows emphatically what a great work has been done. During 1391 the number of Yodgings given in the limited dormitory space was 1,763; in 1890 there wero 969; in 1589 only 244 How the mission has ! Last year there were provided and is. a8 against 2075 in 1890 and In all, situations have been found for 172 litties ones, while 254 pieces of clothing were distributed. Of the boys and girls that ame to the Lome during the past year 76 might ave become criminals but for the institution. ‘The Police C twenty-five white boys, forty-three Boys, one white girl and sevem colored gums ‘The work house would have made every one of these seventy-six vicious; the home started them out on the voyage of life with the chances, in most cases for the first time, in favor of the hutle ones. Congress does nothing for the society, has sever given it any assistance. Why this par- tucularly practical specimen of philanthroy should have been neglected by the District legisiature is one of those things not easily Buderstood by those interestec in this charity. In spite of this official neglect the organization latest report of the secretary AN ENCOURAGING OUTLOOK. “The society bas now a most encouraging eutlook. With a building of its own, an agent whose work among the destitute children of the District is steadily growing and commend- ing itself to the public favor, a matron whose services at the home are daily gaining the con- fidence of the ladies in abarge and whose in- terest and sympathy for the neglected chil- dren in her care are unmistakable, and with fte many friends whose purses bave been so nerousiy opened for the support of the cha: yy, the society has now every incentive to r: double its efforts and every encouragement for final end complete suecesa mains mueb bard wo tunities are all the tim: children of the streets find here a refuge from exposure and crime, and are safely sheltered until suitable homes or situations can be found for them. | But for this temporary home many achild under age, arrested for Vvagrancy or petty crime, would have been sentenced to the work house or jail, and would there have come into direct contact with men and women sti in all manner of evil, whose depravity would soon be reflected in these young lives. The whole aim of this charity 13 to save the children, not to reform the already corrupt. Is not sucha work worthy the attention of all ns who consider the future welfare of the District? If ignored now, these boy8 and girl drifting surely into vice and erime. will by an by force themselves upon the public notice, and, as inmates of the jails and prisons, will demand their support at the public expense. Init not wiser and cheaper to help them now to become useful citizens and self-respecting men and women?” : If any one wants to see the operations of the home be or she will be weicoméd at any time. Every visitor departs converted and filled with ‘a determination to help matters along in some tangible manner; none go away of. whom it could not truthfully be said: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me. THE SOCIETY'S OFFICERS are as follows: Board of trustees—Mr. Henry Strong, presi- dent; Dr. T. S. Childs, first vice president; Dr. E. M. Gallaudet, Mr. Crosby 8. Noyes, Mrs. H. C. Metzerott, second vice president; Mra. J. S. Gulick, Mrs. Ogden Wyckoff, Mrs. A. Thomas, Treasurer; Mrs. Ernest F. King, retary. Otticers of anxiliary society: President, Mrs. T. S. Childs, 1908 Connecticut avenue; vice presidents, Mre. H.C. Metzerott, Mra W. 0. Conningham, Mrs J. 8. Gulick, Mra. Ogden Wyckoff, Mrs. 8. M. Yeatman, Mrs. T. B. Hood, Mra. T. M. Talbott. p Recotding secrotary—Miee M.S. ‘Lyman, 1746 street. Corresponding secretary—Mre. Ernest F. King, 1116 M street. Treasurer--Mrs. £. F. Macfarland, 1727 F street. Auditors—Mrs. §. D. La Fetra and Mr. J. B. T. Tupper. Matron—Mrs. Jessie Cowen. Agent—Mr. P. B. Sweeny. Executive committee—The officers of the so- ciety and chairmen of committees; Mrs. Hugh McCulloch, Mrs. Alphonso Hart, Mra A. H. Thomas, Mrs. J. B. ‘I. Tupper, Mrs. D. 8. Lamb, Mrs H. M. Teller, Mra, E. C. Lacey, Mra N. A. Kobbing, Miss MW. Carry: Committee on flnance—Mrs. Ogden Wyckoff, chairman; Mrs. Charles H. Armes, Miss E. T: Ward, Mre"S. M. Yeatman. Committee on industrial education—Mrs._P. R. Flint, chairman; Mrs. John W. Babson, Mra. T. M. Talbott, Mrs. H. M. Teller, Miss M. J. Shaw. sec- on entertainments—Mrs. T. M. Talbott, chairman; Mrs. J. B.T. Tapper, Mise Macfarland, Miss Fanny Childs, Mise Mary B. erry. House committee—Mre. H. ©. Metzerott and Mrs. A. M. Edgar. Press committee—Mrs. E. B. Wight, chair- THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D.C. SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1892-SIXTEEN PAGES. LITTLE BLACK PHIL. An Incident of the War Recalled by a Star Newsboy. WRITTEN FOR THE EVENING STAR BY REPRESENTATIVE BELKNAY, bf bata Is A LITTLE BLACK NEWSBOY on the avenue that I patronize every even- ing as I walk home from the Capitol. He is sure to sell mo a paper whether I want one or not; “‘I am his prey." He ocents me from afar and comes rushing after me, a smile spread all over his face. I always surrender to that fellow; it is easy enough to escape the others, but he captures me whether I want it or not, and when it comes to the change usually has his way about that too. ‘The reason for it all, however, he little « te. The fact is I rai see the boy without niaking <= ancther soo—hie eset counter. -—that I had in charge 2 Eimoet thirt cars ago. sed siggel ray It was in the summer of "63 and in middle Tennessee. At that time, though a mere boy myself, I was a lieutenant in command of a company of Michigan soldiers and we were on the march nearly every day. One night when almost all of my men were on picket duty I concluded to have a cup of coffee and pro- ceeded to cook it over a little camp fire built at some distance in the rear of the line. Dur- ing the operation there was a sudden crackling + | of twigs in the undergrowth near at hand, and | involved uni as the country was a dangerous one I was'soon on my feet and had a good grip on my revolver. The disturbance was quickly explained, for in Joss time than it takes to tell it there had ap- peared in the edge of the circle lighted by the camp fire one of the queerest little darkies I ever saw. His clothing consisted of the re- mains of a hat, afew strips of shirt, one sus- pender and the waistband—little more—ofa pair of trousers. It would be exaggeration to say that he was ragged, since there wasn't clothing enough about him to make the rags. As he stood there in the dim light speechless, grinning and almost naked he appeared like a veritable imp from the realms of darkness. Ihad been startled at first, but soon broke out into a laugh, in which my visitor joined heartily, rolling his biz white eyes, and showing his long rows of ivories in @ most ludicrous fashion. When I said, “Howdy, sonny?” he replied, with a flour- ish of his hat, “Right smart, massa,” and came uptothe fire. Then I returned to my coffee and, taking up some hardtack, began my sup- per: slyly watching, meanwhile, the face of the ‘oy, who was now sitting near me. I could see his mouth quiver every time anything was put into my own. Feeling certain he was hungry, had iqtended to tantalize him fora time, bub soon ted and my haversack to- understood in- — Mrs. Fred. Perry Powers, Mrs. Ernest F. ing. Committee on Sunday work—Mre. M. E. C. Wilbur, chairman, ed PROFIT IN RAISING FOREST TREES. Most of It for the Next Generation—Big Prices for Walnut and C! ey From the New York Tribune. A good many people who would like to live on farms of their owa in the summer months are deterred from purchasing forty or eighty ‘acres by the fact that there seems to be no way of getting any interest out of the capital in- vested. A good deal has been said recently about the “abandoned” farms of New England and the low pricesat which they have been and are offered for sale have attracted many long- ing eves from the city’s hot shops and close counting rooms. “If T could see any way of making even the interest out of oue,” said a New York commis- sion merchant the other day, “I'd buy a fifty- cre farm, repair the old house on it or build a plain one and turn my family loose there every summer. There would be no need then of keeping the children well dressed, as one Las to do even in a country hotel or boarding house, and no bills to pay, except for food and a xerv- antor two, But the very fact that these farms are cheap is due entirely to the poor quality of the soil. If farmers could make wheat and oats and stock pay well on these lands they would notabandon them. I have no time to farm, anyway, nud to employ others to do it for me would be throwing asae money if the soil was as rich as the Mississippi ‘bottoms.’ ” ow, what this man wants,” said an en- thusiastic student of forestry, “is knowledge of some crop which, once planted, will take care of itself fora ‘hundred years, pay him some interest on his money while it is coming to maturity, if he gets his land cheap to begin with, and at the end of forty years be worth more than filty of the original farms. Such a ¢rop is to be found in forest trees.” “Forest trees!” exclaims the New Yorker. “Do you take me fora Methusaleh? Before fifty years are over I vill be engaged in other pursuits than moncy-making, theologians tell me. “You don't need to wait fifty years,” is the answer of tae forestry enthusiast. ‘They don't wait that long out west, where forestry is being carried on to some extent already. There man plants his prairie wood lot with variot kinds of trees, some of chem quick-growing va- Tieties, Others of the slower sort. He plants them close together, for several reasons. One reason is that the trees may force their way skyward before spreading out. Forest trees mast-like in their proportions generally Each secks to spread ite foliage in the sualight above its fellow. Plaut the same kind of tree in an open tield and it spreads its branches out from the first. Sunlight is all around it and there is no reason ‘or exertion. This tree is more symmetrical, on the whole, butnot nearly so valuable for timber as the long, bare trunk of the forest tree. “Another reason for planting them close to- gether is that they may be thinned out with tas they grow. In a few years the owner at his sraali trees and sell them, up into barrel hoops. As they they are in demand for hop poles. Larger still, they make fence poste and are wanied for wood pulp in the paper mills, then the remainder are far enough apart to be let alone to grow into stout timber. ‘This crop of small stuff for hoops, poles, &c., does not cease at any time. It keeps coming up, year after year, among the bigger trees. @ sceret 18 to take the right choice of trees. Probably the most valuable sorts are black walnut, wild red cherry and white ash. ‘There will always be a demand for these woods in the manufactures and the supply grows eadily less. ‘Ihe other day aman bought « act of forest land in one of the southern states d sold one big ‘curled’ walnut tree on it for almost half what he paid for the place. One hundred dollars is not an unusual price at prevent for a big black walnut tree of the ordi- nary variety. In parte of Illinois the early set- tiers cat up black walnut for fence rails, Some years afterward, when the rails had rotted way, the farmers were grubbing up the stumps and selling the grarled roots at a handsome profit. A {érmer in this or a neighboring state who has many wild cherry trees on his land need not worry mueh over grain and root crops. ‘Speculators will come out from this cityand pay well for the privilege of cutting his trees for him and carrying Wem away. “So that it takes no argument to prove that fifty acres of such wood is a fortune in itself equal to a life insurance policy for the owner's chitdren and a source cf constant pleasure,some rotis and little expense to him while he lives. it can be realized on, too, at a: conclusion, eareiuily serutinizins }-.s logs, with reference, apparently, to their fii. ss for high nd | jumping.’ Atter a time the buiiic of Chicka- mauga was fought and more than Lil of our regiment were killed or wouaded. During the He must have been‘peariy starved, for be ateasif he were hoilot the way down to his tues. In answer to questions he told me, between his eae that he had lived near Sheibyvilie a) away from tho plantation to join t soldiers. liand sound asleep. ‘the boy wus up bi fore daylight the next moruing, and made him- self useful in so many ways that he was again allowed to share my hard-tack, although Thad none too much to supply my own needs until the quartermaster should again issue ra- tions. After seeing the little chap by daylight and learning something of his disposition, how- had no inclination to drive him away. He was certainly one of the most comical fi ures I have ever seen, either in the army or out of it, Whatever bis lot had been up to the time of his »ppearance in our camp two square meals, a nights rest and a sight of the boys in blue had enabled him to forget it all and to be- come as happy a youngster as the land of Dixio ever held. ihe sight of him made the boys Ieugh, and this fact pleased rather than an- d him, since it gave him encouragement give vent to his fun. When questioned as tohisage and name his answer was, “I rek’n Y's fo'teen yeah ole, sab, by dis time, and my nam’s Ph Phil wh: “Dats all’ de name 1 has, white folks couldn't ‘fode two names fer little black nig like me.” “Where's your mammy?” “Dunno, sah; never had no mammy so long as I lived, sah,” and this was about ail Phil knew of bis pedigree. Well, I took him along and he followed me like a faithful dog, carrying my blanket, filling my canteen with fresh water at every good brook we erossed and picking up wood or bringing the nearest fence rails when fires were needed. Night after night, too, the boys used the end boards of the wagons for Phil to dance on. and he was never tired of furnishing jigs for their amusement. Being a musician, moreover, in bis way, he soon became the acknowledged champion in song and dance over all others of his race who followed us. By way of appreciation the boys clothed their star in good style, furnishing him a whole shirt and & pair of trousers shortened to correspond with his stature. From this time on Phil was fired with a newambition and eagerly looked for- ward to the day when he would be largeenough to carry agun and become a real soldier in Uncle Sams army. Phil's religious ideas, too, are well worth recalling. Though not remark- ably profound, they were so firmly fixed in the boy's mind that he almost al- waya expressed them in the same words and never finished their recitation without shuddering from head to foot. The story ran something like this, but no one else could tell it as he did: “Las’ winter when de cotton was all dun ginned an de co’n dun shucked, ole Curly, de preacher, say dat we uns must hab a meetin, and den ail de brack REAL ESTATE GOSSIP. A More Active Market at the Opening of the Spring Season. A.G0OD DEMAND FOR PROPERTY—coNoRESS AND PROPOSED NEW LINES OF STREET RATLWATS— SOME HOUSES TO BE ERECTED IN DIFFERENT SECTIONS—OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST. ECIDEDLY MORE business is being done in real estate just now ‘than has been the case for sometime. Itisa revival, a picking up, a boom or whatever else it might be termed. Words, however, are of little consequence 80 long as the substance remaina,and there is no question about quite a substantial increase in business. ‘ihere is a marked revival in the in- terest which the public is always supposed to have when real estate isconcerned. Some- times, however, people become indifferent to investments in houses and lots and then real estate brokers are allowed an interval of rest. Just now the popular move- nt is the other way and there is a demand for realty investments that romises well. One of the largest real estate irms in the city reports that their business is a great deal better this February than during the same month last year. A good proportion of the transactions conducted by this firm have roved land, and it is reasonable fo suppose that a good percentage of these buyers have purchased with the view of im- proving, rather than mere speculation. Agood illustration of one of the present phases of the real estate market was afforded recently when some property which had been withdrawn from sale for some time was offered at prices which were recognized as reasonable. Purchasers were readily found and in a few days the entire property was disposed of. This instance indicates that there is an abundance of money awaiting investment in real estate. Why it is not invested is one of those questions that is rather dificult to auswer. There are various explanations given, none of them any more satisfactory than the oft-repeated one that people aro waiting for the bottom to fall out, of the market, expecting that then they can get plenty of bargains. ‘This catastrophe hag been 80 often predicted during the past twenty years and the lopes based upon haveso often been disappointed that there seems to be awell-defined and well-grounded conviction that the bottom of the realty market of this city is so well soldered on that nothing less than a great financial crisis, national in its extent, can force it off. Inthe meantime the city is forging ahead at a rapid rate, adding some 2.500 buildings yearly to its’ accommoda- tions and some 5,000 sonls to its popula- tion, Property under such influences nat- urally increases in value and when people get tired of waiting for :the city to go back- ward instead of forward and. turn. their attention to paying investments for their money, if they happen to have any at that Riedts mill tnd that values have appre- i Ho wes too tired to talk much thet | lag, and that it would have been mouey in night, and in a short time was curled up like a | thetr pockets if they had invested and allowed bal me one else to make prophesies. STREET RAILROADS. A newspaper man who loves to be exact took occaston not long ago to mark down on a map of Gate routes of all the street railroads and extel of street railroads which Con- oh asked at the present session to he had finished this task, which slight one, he found that nearly every street in the city would be supplied with a reet railroad if all the bills became laws. A number of streets would have more than one railroad along some sections, so that altogether the city would be pretty well gridironed. However, it is not probable that Congress will grant all the charters asked for. n fact, o far the House committee have re- ported favorably bills for only two new street railways, and both of these are suburban. One is the Washington and Bladensburg road, to begin at Khode Island avenue and 4th strect east and to ran to Bladensburg. he other ia the Suburban railroad, which starts at North Carolina and Pennsylvania avenues, then runs east and skirts around the city until it touches the Potomae at Little Falls and thence into Georgetown. ‘The bills granting the extension of the Washington and Georgetown road to the Free bridge, the Anacostia road up 9th street G and thence along G to 11th and down 1ith to its present tracks south of Pennsylvania avenue, and the extension of the Rock Creek railroad to the main entrance of the Zoological Park and along Florida avenue to North Capitol street have also been favorably reported by the committee. ‘Ihe District committees of both Houses have reported favorably the bill for the extension of the Eckington road to the Capitol. With these exceptions no favorable action has been taken upon any of the many street railway projects that have come before ingress. ‘Ihe general public is, of course, interested in these measures only to the extent that they serve obviously to eupply existing needs for street car service. AN ARTISTIC LETTER HEAD. An ingenious plan has been devised for bringing to the attention of those desiring to reat rooms or entire floors in business build- ga the advantages offered by apme particular structure. A pretty sketch of the exterior of @ building, together with floor plans, is reduced to the proper size, and then by some cheap process a cut is made which is used as a head for letter paper. In answering inquiries about the building these sheets are used, and by means of tue illustrated letter head’ the folks comes an hear him say what we uns mus do or de debble kotch us. Ole Curly he say dat | hebben is a right smart big field, fuil of simon | trees and de groun ail kivered up wid yams an | melons, an all roun de field ix high palins. He | say dat white folks dats right kin go froo de | gate and brack folks dats right kin jump ober | the palins and brack folks dats bad and lazy | mus stay outside de paling, and de debbie he | chase em roua an roun an roun and roxs em wid fire! Phil usually acte the rest of rolling his eyes, groaning, shudderis fight Phil was seen helping a wounded man off of the field, but for two days afterward he was among the missing. By that time we had taken @ new position at Chattanooga and our men were hard at work on the breastworks, getting ready for another struggle. ‘The batieries of the Johnnies were located in our front on Mis- sion ridge and on our righton Lookout moun- | tain, aud every few minutes, as our work went | on, @ shell from one of their guns came whist- ling over our bi Afow of us were kept constantly on the watch for the puff of smoke which announced each discharge of @ canuon, inorder that we might warn the others and enable them to get under cover before the shell could reach us. While we were bard at work in this way and just atter I had given the boys warning of a coming shot I heard a voice be- hind me which I recognized instantly as Phil's. “Hore I is; here Lis,” he shouted, evidently so delighted to find our company that he for- got the terrible danger to which he was ex- posed and came running toward me at the top of bis speed. Just at that instant a shell from a Rodman gun struck the ground well out in front of us,bounded so as to graze the top of the breastworks near where I stood nad whizzed on its way again directly towards Phil. A second time it struck the earth in its merciless course and rebounded, striking the poor fellow so squarely as to carry him some distance. 1 trees beg in maturity, Hickory and butternut are both valuable woods and the nuts irom these trees are al ways salable. The demand for Christmas trees also forests are now being ap) “On George Vanderoilt’s newly purchased place in North Carolins forestry is going to be carried on in a large and intelligent way. He ossesses an advantage over pruirie farmers in rge part of his tract covered with tr eady, but he proposes to thow that, contrary to the accepted idea of treating wood- land, it is not necossary, in order to make mouey out of it, to destroy the forest.” ntoine The Common Sense of It, From the Indianapolis News. ‘The cases are rare where one man kills another for the sake of pure and noble wo man. Such women do not make it necessary for their husbands to stand gnard over their honor with a shotgun. They are able to do it by their own dignity and discretion. There 1s small excuse for a married woman who x astray, for she realizes the consequences of her ws "2 efforts of the mem- & ¢ and financial aid of lic, are essential. It isa public ‘work and shoul! commend itself to every citi- is labor- ects, ‘Should ebe be wo utterly without prinel- pleas to disregard the marriage obligation, husband does not Lr ayaa the situation trouble. He murdering the cause of fies bis own and and when on Soman ie se not he has increased the reached his side as quickly as possible, and carefully raised his head. “He was horribly crushed, but was conscious long enough to rec- ognize me with a smile and to say very faint] “Lieutenant, I'se gwine to Jump over ins.” He never spoke again. t night when the firing had stopped, Will Beckley, the bugler, and I, wrapped tho little body in a blanket and carried it to a garden on tie edge of the town. I in a grave which we made by the side of a honeysuckle we left ail that remained of Phil. Above him we placed a P of smooth beard upon which Beckley pen- ciled as well ag he could, “To the memory of Phil; he bas jumped over the palin’s. winichabhadl serie & Competent Juror. From the Indianapolis Jourvel. A great many stories are attributed to Gen. Tom Bennett, but this iss true one and illus- trates his ready wit’ He was on the bench as mayor of the city of Richmond in the trial of a correspondent has placed before him a pictorial representation, which is much more effective than any written descrip- tion possibly could be. Hoe can see just how each room is situated, and, as they are all numbered, the prices can be ven by number, which aves a great deal of device was suggested by Mr. J. ball, who had tie vesign of the rior of the new building for contagious dis. eases which is to be erected for the Childrey’s Hospital, together with a plan of the interior, made into # very attractive letter head. As this building is being erected by means of sub- scriptions those interested find sucets of note paper illustrated in this way a wonderful help in bringing the enterprise to the favorable at- tention of those whose assistance is desired. SOME NEW HOUSES. Mr. F. G. Berger, who is the manager of a theatrical company that recently visited this city, bas purchased two lots on 13th street just’ in the rear of Mrs. Logan's residence, where he intends to build a home for his own use. He owns a frontage of 100 feet and he proposes to erect there a house which will cost from $12,000 to $13,000. A lot has also been recently purchased by Mr. F. W. ‘True on Yale between 13th and 14t streets, which will be the iocation of a com- fortable house he intends to erect there for his home. Ground has been broken for the erec- tion of fifteen houses at the corner of 6th and L streets northeast and plans are being pre- ed for seven houses which will be built on th street in the same square. Quite a number of sales of lots in the eastern section of the eity have been made recently and it is thought that in a great many instances the vew owners will make improvementa. Mr. J. H. Meriwether has had plans prepared by N. 'f. Haller, architect, for nine four-story and cellar brick dwellings, to be lccated on the southwest corner of 13th ‘and W streets N. W. ‘The fronts will be built with Hummelstown brown stone and pressed bricks, and will be ornamented with bey windows, baloonies potte- cocheret, etc. ‘the buildings will have Enghsh " basements, — with ib cel- lars, below — which __ will used for heat apparatus and fuel. ‘They will all have French roots, which will be covered with slate. ‘Yhe eogner house, which has three bay win- dows, will top out with a very handsome tower of romanesque design. ‘The entire buildings ill be trimmed out with hard wood ard have handsomely tiled bath rooms’ and vestibules. ‘They will be finished in the most modern style ‘and will coat $54,000. A NEW BUSINESS BUILDING, A large business building is being erected at the corner of 8th and D streets soutuesst for Mrs. E. A, Haines. ‘The new structure will be 94 feot wide and 141 feet deep and will be three stories in height. When completed the first two floors will be occupied by the “Washington ores," now at 1229 and 1281 11th street south- east, of which Mrs. Huines is the proprietor. liquor case. The witnesses could not remem- ber anything, the piace, the man who sold the liquor, or the kind of Liquor. It was evidently @ case of collusion, aud slayor Bennett became little impatient.” He finally took a witness from the state attornoy and questioned him “Where was the liquor bought?” he asked. “What kind of liquor was it?” “De P na) know Aepeapus uae or not?” The question was put a ‘“Couldn's say, yer howor; my mafad ta 8 por- foot blank.” ‘The third floor will be fitted up for Use ose public hall. Mrs. Haines business six {oars age in Anacostia, but the growth of the usiness has been. such that she has been com- Pelled to move mto more commodious than at first occupied, and finally she: to build in order to secure & with all the facilities suited that she carries on. The front building will be of pressed brick laid in GossIP FROM NEW YORK. Happenings Daring the Week in the Busy and Bastling Metropolis AMAGEMENT AND AMUSEMENT OVER SEXATOR ‘MILL'S SOUTHERN TRIP—A SETBACK FOR THE WAGNERITES—THE UPEILL WORK OF REFORM— ‘PARPARING FOR THE SUMMER EXCURSION SEAGOR. Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. New Yonx, March 17, 1892. EOPLE HERE LOOK ON THE CaM- paigning tour of Candidate Hill with min- gled amazement and amusement. Nothing ever was known like it in the memory of the oldest inbabitant, It has whatever charm attaches to novelty. The accounts of the presidential pilgrim’s reception naturally vary accord- ing to the feeling of the newspaper medium, but from all accounts the wanderer seems to be attracting notice, if not admiration. It was supposed to be impossible fur Hill to make his combinations in such a way as to an- nihilate the strong Cleveland feeling in the state and solidify the state delegation behind himself as New York's favorite son; yet he has achieved the impossible in this matter, and who knows, therefore, but what be will be able to enlarge his combinations so as to include the “Universal Yankee Nation?” At much of the counter movement that was set on foot in this state, and one cannot help feeling incredulous us to ite real strength. It cor- tainly will be obliged to prove its genuineness and pewer when the time comes for action. ‘ A SETBACK FOR WAGNER, Wagnerism has received « painful black eye today in the shape of ® formal compact be- tween Abbey and Grau and the Metropolitan Opera House magnates, whereby French and {three years, This is agroat surprise to most people, as it was commonly understosd that e Season's experiment was not prosperous enough to warrant its repetition, but at the last moment the tide scemed to turn in favor of the present management, and they ave decided to keep on under the very liberal inducements offered by the million sire \proprictore. Abbey and Grau are to get the opera house rent free, and guarantee an addition of $2,000 eash for each Performance. This ought to enable them to give good opera in spite of the high prices of petted tenors and other kittle-kattle of both sexes. Some deference may be paid to the shade of Wagner by occasional performances such as those which have been given under the direction of Herr Seidl, but the prevaili operas will be the familiar repertory of t! Italian and French schools. The sensation of the year has been the performances of Faust, which have drawn immense audiences and held them spellbound. This great opera never seeme to lose ite fas- cination and has never had finer representation than has been given by the artists of the Abbey & Grau company. T! Wagnerian forces are thrown into some con- fusion by today’s deci i likely that they may organize a G in some other theater next year. ‘THE UPHILL WORK OF REFORM. The charges made by Dr. Parkhurst have taken exactly the course which all previous charges have taken, and for the moment, cer- tainly, they have accomplished no more in the way of bringing the offending parties to justice. Every one in New York is familiar with \e rou= time. The saloon keepers are promptly bailed out, generally by those who make it their busi- ness to attend to this step in the defense, and their cases are put on thi i is already 0 crowded take years to reach the bottom in reg- ular ‘order. The prosecuting officers decline to advance the cases, on the ground that other matters of more importance stand ahead of them. The claim is then made that the criminai courts of the city are unable to cope with the volume of important business on the dockets, and that is the last of the whole business. 1 believe that not a single one of these cases has been tried in New York for some years. Repeated attempts have been made, often backed up by « very decided public sentiment, to force a trial, but utterly without success. Meanwhile the moral sentiment is refreshed b; such sermons as Dr. Parkhurst hurled from his pulpit last Sunday, and it is in this direction brobably that the most good can be done. In ‘8 matter like this, affecting the moral attitude of the community, laws are of no consequence unless the sentiment of the inhabitants is em- phatically in favor of « rigid morality. It must e said that the wickedness which Dr. Park- hurst criticises so fiercely is by no means more outrageous than formerly; in fact, so far as outward observation goes ‘the mbrality of the city is exceptionally good. PREPARING FOR OZONE IN THE DOG Days. One would hardly expect to find the excur- sion season active at this time, when we are reading about blizzards, but as a matter of fact the dates for next summer are almost all taken up. ‘The Iron Steaimship Company has gone into the suburban excursion business very extensively. Four of their fleet are generally occupied carrying parties on all-day picnics, and #0 great is the demand for this sort of pleasuring that it is diiicult slready to get a good day. Some of their regular customers, as, for example, the large Sunday schools and the like, engage the boat for next year on the day of the excursion. This closes some of the best dates. The books, how: are formally opened for engagements on the ist of January, and there is immediately # rush for the best days. ‘hese excursions have been reduced to a system, an a are almost done away with. The charge is about $300 a day, for which sum the excursionists have the exelusive-use of the boat, with its officers and crew. In case of astorm the rule is that the parties engaging the boat only pay for the expense of coaling up and bringing the boat to the pier. This is always done, no mat- ter how fierce the weather, but once at the pier the excursionists can decline to embark im case the weather is obviously unpropitious. The popularity of these water picnics has increased very much of late, until now on every fair day in summer you will find’ the waters of e and vicinity dotted with pleasure craft, all loaded to the gunwales with passengers. And, thanks to the rigorous regulations, the mishaps are ex- ceedingly rare. A feature of these aquatic trips is the catering. and I need not say that the value of the bur privileges varies according as the passengers are « crowd of fishermen or a Presbyterian Sunday school. THE SACRED PaRK YIELDS TO INVASION. After years of patient waiting and scheming ® project for arace coursein Central Park finally passed the legislature today and, being promptly signed by the governor, is now law. Strong efforts were made for years to defeat this scheme, and untii now with success, but finally the bill has slipped through, anda serious innovation is made pon the park ae safe and picturesque resort for ordinary peo- ple. The ides is to make a straight track adja- cent to the west wali for the entire length of the park, where horsemon cau exercise and compare’ their fast horses. Paina will be taken to varrange this track so that it will not endanger the lives of visitors or mar the general plan of the park, but residents, unless they ure very fond of horses, are indignant over the scheme, more particu- larly as it has broken through that well-pre- served tradition that Central Park was the one place where these various intrusions and inn vations could not come. You remember the terrible battle that was waged to keep the fair outof the park. The same feeling has tected it inst all other attacks, has yiel ut now it WE TAKE OUR MEDICINE. Well, New York braced up today and voted $300,000 for the Chicago fair. This is not balf @ million, nor yet @ million, as some of the more sanguine hoped and wanted, but if it is econcmically used it should give the states very fair rej tation ut havi the whole, taken our ine witha preity fair grace, and trust that, victorious Chicago will not be too haughty and cilious, Hexar Italian opera is to reign supreme for the next | °% Pro- | ware was plaialy to “John.” PHILOSOPHY OF TROUSERS. Frou the New York Sum, The intention of Providence is nowhere made more clear than in the deeree that the outer bifurcated garment of the male human animal shall, after a suitable period of utility, bag at ‘the points of genufiex- ion. This feature of man’s attire isin many ways a mark of supe- Tiority; and, instead of combating the tend- ency of which it ise result, the man of true and honest pride in his manhood will be satis- fied, yea, gratified,to see nature take its course. His contentment will be second only to that with which he notes the ning of his hair, which, going on while vigor of mind and body remains as it should be in his prime, be- comes the most honorable decoration that it is proclaims that man animate; the chintz coverings on the fluted legs of village pianos she “no” intermediate ing. It is a mat eetee casa (ane guished from the lower orders of animals; the stork, one of the most conspicuonsof creatures in the matter of legs, shows no bagging at the knees. Tho only brute ys this tend~ ency in @ noticeable is the elephant, and it is significant that he, of the brute creation, is the creature that comes next to man in intelligence, kindli- ness and the other qualities that go to make man superior among greated things, Man's appearance about’ the nees is also a badge of usefulness; the dude and other creatures that are placed on earth to fill chinks in the economy of creation do not bag atthe knees. But the dude is an incomplete entity by himeelf. With- out hie “man” be is practically non - exist — ent; and in his man we a the — and Raiegar tae semen, of superiority—his trousers bag at the kn tunless “the dude makes this impossible by putting him in a hvery that does not include trousers. That the bagging of one's trousers atthe knees is an evi- dence of piety is so plain that there is no occasion for sayi more on this point, ‘There is no plane of ex- istence inferior to that of useful manhood in which generous bag- ging at the knees is an untuiting characteristic of its occupants. There is but one creature that is man’s equal whose trousers do not bag at the knees, and—well, we would rather honor, honor bright, that the lessons intended to be set forth in these observations should all go to the deuce than that sbe should cease to be the exception. But the exception in this matter, as most others, only goes to give force to the rule. It is natural and necessary ‘that the trousers of man should bag at the knees. It is unnatural and un- necessary to 0} this tendency, and the ninety and see kneepans outlined and magnified midway of their trousers legs should feel pride and not humiliation in the presence of the one whose trousera legs con- form to the equation of a straight line. IT WENT WITH THE POSE. The Model's Smile Was Misunderstood by the Sober Girl Student. From the Indianapolis Journal, An Indianapolis artist who bas won prestige in eastern art circles tella the follor incident which occurred in a New York studio of much celebrity: A large class of women and girls were sketching from = semi-nude model, » young Italian, who was posed with his head thrown back, his arms fantastically wreathed over his head and his legs extended in some sort of wild Baccha- nal caper. The Indianapolis woman was sketching the model's shoulder when she ob- served that he was smiling at her ina very familiar manner. Somewhat disconeerted to discover that she had apparently made a con- quest of this guileless child of Italia, she be- gan to sketch his knee, as more remote from the artillery of his seutimental glances. Ins remote corner of the room gi and she perceived that the smiles of the flirtatious model were taking effect npon some live! among the students. They subsided shortly, but the young Italian still continued firing of smiling glances in every direction. At about the center of the class was a Ger- man girl, serious to the core, absorbed in her wagk. and fierce in manner asa female Bis- marck. Every stroke she planted on her easel was decisive and almost combative. Suddenly sho came under the battary of the Italian's smiles, and, without an instant’s hesitation, her voice rang out like a clarion: “You sch' that schmiling; ve don’t vant you to schmi The figure of the model relaxed instan- taneously and he before = eo = mips of — aud wrathful dignity. an appalling lence he remarked in the severest os “Ladies, Iam here before you zit model of ze ‘Daacing Fawn; se wiz ze pose.” ly a8 x0 goes A Case for Compromise, ‘From the Detrott Tribune, As she lay trembling in the darkness she was just assure there were burglars in the dining room down staireas that she was scared pretty 10 gasped. ‘He paused in the third quarter of a snore snd awoke with a start, “What—w! manded. A tremo! might bave been observed to rup through his frame. He did not rise, however. “John!” “My—my dear.” “Ain't you going down?” moe? Atthe moment s “Haven't you always said it would bard with » Dargie ibaa the nerve to break into your house?” i i i E and nine who look dow? | indic! Why Begging at the Knees to an Evidence | Castoms That Have Gone Toward the Evole- of Superiority. toa of Our Present System. From Frank Leelie's Weekly. ‘The first attempt of the barbarian to estab- lish some form of legal relation in lieu of the free love of earlier time was the marriage by capture, In this the young man, having seon some girl of his tribe who pleased his fancy, called together a band of his brother braves, and, catching his victim at some defenseless moment, bound and gagged her and dragged her away to bis home, henceforth to be his wife. Two effective scenes are those Tepresenting. first, the maiden, happily sleeping in her rude hut, while the love-maddened brave stealthily enters and quietly but firmly tangles bis jagged spear head in her heavy hair without rousing ber; and, second, the girl awake and be- ing dragged away by the hair of her head, ber bands and feet tied, by ber rathioss captor. ‘This was a very common method, and is even now practiced in the wilds of Australix. A modification of this ctstom was found among the Egyptiana There, the female pop- ulation met at the public baths and the charms of this and that young girl were described to the youth who wished to wed by his female rel- atives. When he decided upon one that suited his fancy, an ment was made with the girls father. The prospective bridegroom. at e head of a gorgeous procession of hie friends, ied by musicians and dancing girls, to the girl's home in the evening, and made a show of tearing his resisting bride from her father's protecting arms. Thereupon he d her, entirely covered by anembroidered and jewoled-studded veil, under a magnificent canopy borne by four slaves, and, in company with torchbearers, singers, with all the displxy possible, bore Ler away to bis home. Once there the singers sing and the dancers dance, while the bride, still carefully veiled, walke up and down before the groom to display her grace and charm. The entertainment finally over and the guests departed the husband unveils her, and for the first time feasts his eyes upon ber beauties ‘These are two especially effective scenes. Next im ithportance we have the marriage by purchase. Strictly speaking, this custom varics among the different nationalities as to the ac- tual wedding ceremonies, almost all of which were, however, wild and picturesque; but a view of a slave market always gives a tine oppor- tunity for pictorial effect. Here we have the Birle yet to be sold postured in the foreground, while their unfortunate comrade is standing on exhibition before the group of buyers, a professional exhibitor, herself a Nubian slay calling attention to the points of the PEAT the extreme ‘left a slave is Just covering his master's recent purchase, while the auc- tioneer in his box cries his “Going, going, gone,” over the freedom and happiness of » detense- less woman. The prospective buyers, with re- dient faces, each clothed in brilliantly be- decked garmenteand bearing a casket of jewels in bis hand to win loving glances from ‘mdif- ferent eyes, form an appropriate background to the white robes and sad or stony faces of the girls in front. ‘Tennyson's Indignation. From the Bookwan. Lord Tennyson is said to be greatly angered at the book in which Mr. Churton Collins scems, at any rate, to bring against him al charge of plagiarism. This isa charge which has always had the most irritating effect upon the poet, and most people will probably agree ‘that a book like Mr. Collins’ is probably best postponed until the author with whose work it deals is beyond the feeling of resentment. We are coufiden: that the greater number of the critics who today deal so cavalierly with Virgil, Homer, Horace and the other great immortals | would abstain if their victims were still in the land of the living. Aad in this case the matter is made worse by the fact that Lord Tennyson had been at spe- cial pains to ahow his feelings in regard to any sharges of this kind. ‘These writers,” he eaid to a friend, on the occasion made the subject of this charge—* are the lice on the locks of literature”—show- ing that even in his wrath a poet does not for- et to use “alliteration’s artful aid.” Nor is this anger remarkable when it is re- membered.on what es the would-be nc- tment. Poor Tennyson was not allowed to say “Ring the belis” without being accused of having borrowed from Sir Philip Sidney, or to apply to the ocean the verb “roar” without being told that ne had plagiarized {rom Homer! And when he described a waterfall in the well- known line, “Slow dropping veils of thinnest lawn,” be was immediately by a critic with having borrowed the metaphor from the lawn used in theaters to imitate a waterfall! Imagine the feelings of faithful artist who had studied the effect before a waterfall in the Pyrenees! An Echo of the Gunnimg Season, Drawn for The Evening Star. 11 ELECTRIC LIGHT FOR STUDIO®. Great English Artists Give Optmiens About Ite Capabilities im Art, From the Pall Mal! Gazette, ‘The restoration of King Fog, who was to have abdicated, gives point ‘pas uae efforts of the electrician. He, secking new worlds to conquer, bas approached the subject of artificial light for studios on dark days. He ean grow cucumbers by night Can he enable artists to paint in London fog? Tbe problem, of course, is to get the light white enough, soft enough and diffused enongh, Nobody pretends to have solved it yet, bat our electrical contemporary, lightning, hae | been trying to get the artists to lay down their Tequirements more particularly as « pre nary step. Gas, of course, is altogether bad, merely because ni of further vittating th room, but hecanse the color of torting pwdlow. But even ele en t atmosphere in a foggy. or ight te a die service, but politely intimates that be dees believe they ever will. Mr. Prith fears however, while ther make the light rock om which they will split, He invites tbe electricians to aim at asilvery gray the stadio, euch as Light in be natural on a day when the sky is veiled thin cloud. The amateur mind thinks at once of white globes and shades of soft-tinted filter- aR & t we fanc: kreat ditteulty bere te extraordinary ‘loss ‘of lightng power which is caused by such contrivances. It ie that as much as 80 per cent of the illumi- nation is quite commonly sacrificed by the beautiful escent glass so much in electric light fittings, —— eee. THE BIG LAGvON, An Interesting Place by the Sea on the Cal- Mornia Coast. From the Detroit Free Press. On the northern coast of California, some thirty miles below the mouth of the Klamath river, is one of the most interesting natural formations to be found in this country, known as the Big Lagoon. Here the coast, which Tans north and south up to this point, takes a sharp turn inland, bordered by very high bills, running to a distance of abovt three miles, some ten or twelve fect, having « width ef about 100 feet and a length of four miles, Teaching across the entire bay. This bar is in the shape of « roof. Eg ef bay inside, and it is @ novel sight there and watch the waters, mountai one mide and perfectiy calm ou the o' line between the two at intervals i ft fre & E aeese8 Be land, the next minute a large and, running under the horse depth of a foot or n instant, four miles or #0 al | back, with no land nearer than of the mainland in sight. Moss agates may be found in pebbly beach, and when tuey glitter with dazzling bright ‘The wild duck that frequen: coast literally fill this inland ing hunter, should he take a raise such a cloud and such will think all the ducks of the ered there. Occasionally some a bear or # panther, will be fo bar, and the Indians have m such a thing happens, the animal ty or death. fere the Digger Indians abound, the shell fish, which they catch beach, seldom going over the ridge capture a deer, which are plenti‘ul. astonish aYale or Harvard foot ball foe, apon thin scene some bright low tide and see the squaws and cbildrea They get so excited until the z 5s &s iH i sere Eee} Hie ile : Ft if BE F HA i je H ing lecrorse on the beach. with their that they ki tude pemety ny from the rong there until they bave to ball dows chase the into the His paws were covered with mud and be seemed to be on “Madam,” said the coaducter, “you will have to leave that dog on the platform; it i against the rules of the company to allow dogs in the I don't care if itis. He shall not rideon the platform. He is not feeling just right this evening, and it would be inh to put bim out in the cold,” returned the lad namber of gentlemen are out there.” “Gentlemen! Why, { smelled whisky and tobacco smoke when I them. Youdon’t suppose I would put my Fido on «level with them, do you?” “Get away! get away, you brute! she ex claimed, as iog began to poke ber face. y “Come, Fido, don't —_ the Indy,” ‘is mistress, and the dog jumped down came back to her. But be een new black 2 moment later agaia up in its wearer. ihtm tothe ‘oor. dozen, marke upon the front breadth of = dress left 0 dog's paws. srore, gave Fido let soot nnd called the ettew: tion of bis mistress to the fact that ber dress was ruined. “Well, collect your daunage from the com- and liked On January 22 last, in the conductor's of the Boston and Albany railroad station, Boston, a band of whist was dealt in the nary way, andesch player on taking up his. hand found that it contained the up. There was no use in playing, because the player with the thirteen trampe would have won every trick. no matter what was originally tea. This remarkable deal was described the next day in the Gazette, but it did not attract muck sate : E i A i f f i g fi | Pratl ite i | if i i HH 1 Teed Exes i