Evening Star Newspaper, August 20, 1892, Page 9

A MOTHER Si] Hubbard and hammock I was taking what com- ‘\fort I could on " », sixbaleony, when “WZ a chirp of girlish (5) voices, ripples of series of staccato exclamations in the big bal- cony of my rich next-door neighbor announced to me that the daughter of the house and her guests had returned from their summer trip and were also preparing to take such comfort as the sultriness of the evening would allow. “Dickie, dear, this gown must have been made for Barnum’s fat woman. I'm continu- ally trying to find myself in it; it reminds me of the “cowboy's plea® ~ "Ob, diz my grave both wide and deep, When you lay me in my winding sheet. Or words to that effect.” “No reflections on my avordupois, if you please. Winnie. They never will take me for a skeleton, though in my present condition I might be mistaken for @ tattoed woman from ‘Tahici; or do they tattoo themselves there? I'm afraid I'm n little hazy in history. How com- fortable you must find it to be able to ¥ ‘Now. Dickie, that's unkind, especially ince T've gained ten pounds in the last month a parties conthdenser wend broken int upon Se anew arrival. When the babel alittle a perfectly poised voi came right over as soon as I got your note, Dickie, because we leave for the Thousand Isles tomorrow. Now tell me all about your . Where have you been? Why did you go? did you enjoy it? and most important of dn't want any horrid men poking about besieging papa for invitations to go along.” my little two-by- | | on that ranch, in that | ‘The housekeepe Lacile’s tongue invariably ripped over the word, “are uncommon in the social world. It has never been my misfortune to encounter any | of the genus. And—your father, a ap | prove of these rather outre | “Lucile Granger, you make me tired. You ould be an uncommonly companionable eres: conventional ture if one coald rack | shell you are eternally done up in. But then, spite of the fact that you won't let your soul grow, Llove you.” Dickie was almost angry laughter and | when she began, but she couldn't keep it up. | “A summer such as we have just ‘spent w | give you a lot of new ideas of life. If | can’t go with her own father to her own bouse j and, spend a few weeke mncheperoned this old world is coming to a pretty pass. I was born fn thal sod house, and I'm proud of it. IfTd lived more sears there and fewer in the city I would be a better girl today, if not |*0 accomplished. Mamma: and I have our | rooms at the ranch ready for us at any hour. r isa dear old lady, an aunt by foreman is a gentleman by bi Jong to a new species of the mammal man, dancing season. It was.a long speech for Dickie and she was very much in earnest. Lucile whelmed. conventional manners,” she s loge' ally, ‘‘and such odd names. Do you say ‘Mr. Foreman?’ and that other—‘Kissimee’ some- cles in Boston, where he bas played one of the biggest pipe organs for years, as Mr. James Ber- position of ‘second boss’ on a comfortable ranch offered quicker returns in wealth and | health than months of idleness. Dan Dare isa kind of cousin, who found himself a graduate ‘There were four of the girls and they had | of Harvard at twenty-five with a bankrupt given characteristic answers. “Dickie Dove, mo yulated the new comer in well-bred horror, “Do you mean to usser: that you have wasted a whole month of your first ‘summer season out rusticating in Kansas? How did you manage to exist. and what prompted Yon girls to such a quixotic eaper?” “Wasted!” returned Dickie in fine scorn. “Hear her, ye gods and goddesses, as she flings into the serap bag of the past the happiest month of my hfe since I donned ‘tailed frocks.” and tells me it is “wasted” ball submit tamely to these foul aspersions? “Never!” chorused the four. «But traly, girls, what have you been doing to yourselves. You look like wild from Borneo with all that tan. Even your hair looks sunburned. you been playing Indian and oh ander the trees?” -"Deed we have not. We lived in a—don't faint—in a veritable sod-house,” said Winnie Warner, a cousin of the Doves. “And ate from French china with ‘cow punchers.’” added merry Mamie Winter. “We helped in the harvest field.” nd hunted antelope.” “And rode night herd in the moonlight.” “And Dickie flirted outrageously with her father’s foreman—" “Who is handsome and educated and well heeled—” “And a gentleman,” supplemented Dickie em- phatically. could imagine Lucile Granger's condition by the time those four mischievous girls had fired a round or two each of their sauey aramu- nition at her. She was one of the ‘Divinely tail and most divinely fair” creatures, whose temper never got ruffled: whose bangs never got out of curl; whose white gowns were always diaphanous and finely smooth: whose slim. perfectly shod feet and daintily gloved hands displayed “lineage” in every line. One of those negatively perfect People who. never moved by depraved prompt- ings, couldn't possibly understand the wild im- pulses that often possessed other girls and made ‘them so different from her prim, precise, proper self. Her exact opposite was Dickie Dove, the only daughter of a rich ranchman, who nat- urally hated the cribbed, eabined and confined conventionalities of social life. A sweeter, truer girl never lived, but you might as well talk of harnessing Sunol to a street car as count on tying Dickie Dove toa strict observance of society forms. that among them they bad paralyzed Lucile Dickie came to the rescue, and I, bei ® friend of the family, in whom the Doves an their whole flock had confided for years, did not mind listening, as I knew it would save the girls a repetition on the morrow. “You see, Lucile.” began Dickie, “I had been so energetically gay all winter that I was worn to a shadow by the time my last party dress was Passe: so we four began to discuss plans for the summer quite early. jie suggested the mountains, but Winnie can't climb with any degree of comfort because of her heart, Ger- trude wax so tired that she could only think of rest in rome quiet Virginia farm house. The idea was wo tame. Mamma suggested some seaside resort and surf bathing —" “And we vetoed that mighty quick,” broke in Gertrude Hart. “My pocket book sanaacmnpty | asthe democrats declare the treasury to and the seaside to four girls in their drst season out meant, at the very least caleai seven pew dresses a week, seven hats, seven pairs of gloves nes seven other things be- interpolated Mamie, “and then the hor- For of shopping with the mercury st 90 degrees and climbing: stling with dressmakers, ore chicf aim in life seems to be to cast re~ proach on God's handiwork: matching trim- mings that won t go matched, do your prettiest, and packing —oh, it gives me the nightmare yet when I convempiate the thought——" “So se shed society and trouble at the same time by deciding to accompany dad to the questioned Lucile. id and glad to get rid of went up in the Berk- ie, 100, #0 a “Who chaperoned you?” asked Lucile, replied Dickie, saxcily “And—you—was there no woman to keep you in coun ely you were not #0 fost to all sense of propriety m: to d' spense the semblance of a chaperon,” pleaded 1: eile, aghast. woman. We knew we would need somebody to Aunt Hannah, the housekeeper at the rancl “And you girls actually hazarded a me that wild & think Dickie call single lady to chaperom you properly! Why it was simply barbaro: I could almost see Lucile gather her snowy robes around her in her disgust, but she was not to blame. Her life was as narrow as the code of her social World, and never having seen beyond its cir- eumscribed horizon, she couldn't be expected to know that her tiny sphere hardly made a fly speck on the world’s great plan. “Ob, bother!” was Dickie's energetic re- foinder. “We had the dear old daddie and mamma knew we were safe with him. You see ‘he credits us with having what Dutch Pete calls sense.’ I really believe you would have those four royal weeks rourself, “In a sod house, associating on terms of gquality. with ‘cow panchers!” “I can’t imagine “Ob, but you never would know the house is sod. Lucile,” explained Gertrude. “It is quite fomantic looking. It is only one story built around three sides of a hollow square, with wide verandas running clear around both sides and balf covered with wild vines, The windows are ‘Wide and deep, all cushioned, and simply Jovely for flirtatious. The walls are covered with rand the straw matting and furniture is frae that in your cottage at Cape May, and are all kinds of rags, and we hang our hammocks on the veranda. Ob, yes, there is an clegant ‘square grand,” and Don Jose her super- “Commovplace men,” corrected Dickie with See “The men we met at theranch were out the common order.” “ees. 1 imagine that—cow punchers,” Pogin life and regain his health, almost wrecked by hard study, and he was sensible enough to take? advantage of it. One of the real cow- boys—I mean one who actually herded cattle— was a young divinity student and s splendid fellow. Dou Jose was a bad lot, but his family is among the best in New Mexico, “And he was so handsome,” murmured Mamie, contetically. “Bat what did yon dow! these—poople were not about? They had to work, f sup- P®fneile haa lost her tone of hauteur and was really secking light. “There must be a hollow where your bump of imagination should be located, Lucile,” said Mamie teasing! t isn't absolutely essential to even your happiness that a man should be at your beck and call day and night, is it? Ob, by the wi Do you remember the perfectly di- vine manner in which that foreign attache res cued your card case from a mud puddle at the foot of the Capitol steps one day last winter? Well, he can’t hold a tallow dip to our divinity student for grace. One day when he wae to help brand a bunch of steers he said I might goalong. He told me they were just up from the Pan Handle and pretty wild and that if any thing happened I was to stick to my horve and dash for the ranch. Well, the something hap- pened. The branding pen gave way vomewhere and let all the cattle out. I made the ‘dash,’ pulled my horse too short and the lunge threw me off. The divinity student came sweeping down on me, and just as though he meant to ride over me; he stooped and caught me by the deltas gracefully as the foreign attache caught your card case, tucked m his arm and without drawing rein held me till we reached the ranch veranda. Isuppose matters would have been complicated if my old tennis belt had given away, but you see when they worked we were quite often along with them.” “We had plenty of amusement,” said Ger- trnde; “there were our we hunted, fished, rode horseback in the moon- light, had picnics, drove—oh, I assure you there was no luck of entertaining employment.” “Just you four girls?” “aoed geuiotn no,” groaned Dickie. “do You suppose the ranch is in the middle of adjoining farms.” “What did you do the Fourth, Lucile?” asked Mamie, irreievantly. “We entertained a few friends at lunch, and hills to visit her parents and be comfort- | it lawn at ha Eh “We had wn ressible Mamie. no, but w been a paralyzer to your’ select crowd? Kisel- mee Jim arranged it. It was a fancy dress rid- ing parts. "Dickie was the Goddess of Liberty bit of red, white and blue, and the fore- man was Uncle Sam. There were just enough ina other girls for the thirteen original states. I represented a dashing Spanish cavalier to per- prince barring the fact that his hair was a too short. We had splendid horses and pre- loped over the prairies in our giddy trappings. Aunt Hannah aad Dutch Pete fad preceded as sisted in styling our Innch and ingredients for punch. The groye was bung with flags and a nice floor was laid for dancing. while convenient tree stumps and boxes were covered with fur rugs for seats. A violinist froma neighboring ranch had been rounded up for the and in the superlative of country society editors, when evening fell ali derarted to their homes feeling that a pleasanter time was never had.’ ” ‘You forgot about the singing in the gloam- ing to the music of Don Jose's guitar,” said de- mute Winnie, reproachfully. “And the ride home under the calm-eyed tars,” Gertrude, with romantic enthu- sm. ‘We had the hounds with us and every little while they would scare up a rabbit or ante- lope and go yelping off over the hills, and the barbed wire fence or hedge row stopped us then we had a regular time finding the trail again. It is «o easy to get lost on the pi skurrying down a deep ravine after the dogg, and ber horse threw her and ran off home. | passed us at some distance, but in the dark we Ja. Dickie took her little old maid sewing | could not tell that she wasn't on him, and never knew until we got home fifteen minutes later ee us up occasionally, and there was jolly | and found the Terry in bis stall that Gerty was ‘lost on the prairie,* candidly. “I was nearly frightened to death. They couldn't hear me call, I knew, for the were making more noise than the dogs. them. I finally climbed up horse's hoofs and soon saw the ontline of course all the men were out looking for me. “And how did you get home?” Tode. “Gertrade Hart!” remained on the Aunt Hannah out, rigged up the riage’ and come "to chaperone state. “No; because | self im such « fearful predic: nated the balconies. and bred little scream. 2 ing Dan make lemon- the Maim up with a ‘crick’ in her back from too ing down straw stacks. Winnie and I , Aunt Hannah's mare, a big bay, 'as gentle as a kitten and with asmuch of the phaeton some sacks for the plums. ‘The was nearly three miles distant, i bor’s pasture. We left the phseton on the outside and turned Sally loose with all the harness on except the bridle. would stay somewhere ‘near us, for she liked company, but the minute I dropped the halter she ‘flew like a young colt and in about three minutes I could Just see her in the of an eighty-acre pastire. We picked about two bushels of plums, ate our lunch and prepared to start for the ranch. to sit down and rest. Isaw a lot of cattle close to Sallie, but never thought of them being anything but common cows until I got close enough for them to smell jumped up and made a break le abee-line for the fence, tic- | which was not far off, I thought E marriage. I thought she and education and my father's partner. As for the ‘cow punchers.'whom you seem to think be- there are some of them ignorant and brutal, | but they are not found around the Sunflower |ranch; barring the education and society | veneer I doubt if they are much worse morally | than many of the men whose arms en your waist and mine every night during the first ¢ ribly hot and Wi was over- “You must admit that they have very un- ““We—the cattle and I-got there about the same time—to the fence, Imean, not heaven— and there didn’t any I wriggled under horse high and beg lar, so that you can i body? The girls fairly shrieked at Lucile’s uncon- under our feet fence like a blue scious sally. “That isn’t his real name, or at least it isn't the ‘handle,’” Dickie to ex finally. “He is known in art and mi cir- ht,’ in ranch vernacu- ino ‘that for once in my Kile Iwas anything but proud of my ‘Juno- esque’ stature. I made myself so thin though that ‘twofor a nickel pancakes’ aren't » circum- trand Rissimeey His health failed, and the “AS goon as'l got out of their reach the eattle turned tail and with heads up and horns clush- broke for Winnie, but she was a long way ‘and saw them coming, so got under the fence “There we were! ‘Sally in the pasture with what looked tome to bea thousand head of Texas cattle. The buggy on the oj mile around, and Winnie and I on in the blistering, blazing, boiling sun, with no shade except a few stalks of sickly broom corn. ged to come around to me, then she got faint and I got desperate. under a corn stalk, and thought of Hagar and Ishmael as I shrieked my lungs into congestion at Sally. Finally she heard me and came am- bling along down the fence whinnering as though she wasn’t the cause of the diabolical time we were enjoying. While Winnie, from her summer resort, entertained the mild fusilade of clods,1I enticed Sally to the other end of the pasture and sneaked under the fence, calculating to mount her, as she stood fifteen hands high, and had lost the harness in her mad flight for freedom. I had to let ‘x’ represent a good many, all known quantities. m I was a kid I used to catch the horses by the mane and climb up their shoulders, but I knew the old lady wouldn't submit to that, so I , looped it in her mouth and lifted myself uy ocket book. Papa offered him a chance to took the halter ro hanging to the on was u good deal like a boy lifting himself by his boot straps, but I got there, and setting “‘clothes- to the phaeton quite safe then, for Texas cattle seldom or never attack anyone when mounted, and I think I maat have been enough to strike terror to the heart ofevena Texas steer. For all that, I didn't among them to find whistled and «any French hansons and German oratories as had heard the cowboys do—I think, however, the cowboys sang ‘United States'—and used my vigor, and finally got the brutes far enough away so that it was safe for me $o get off for the harness. Then, still yelling like a Comanche squaw, I rode over to Win- side of the fence for her to get on behind me. As we had ridden Saliy ‘double’ dozens oftimes I never thought of her objecting. der of my foot, and was Sally gave a fearful kick, innie off sideways, and I took a flying over her head. It shook us up slightly, when we collected our dazed wits Sally standing over us as meek as Moses, with a sur- prised expression on her placid countenance, while down the half-mile of pasture a hundred head of Texas cattle were making a charge upon jor the whip. Psetled nnd books and music, and | His Winnie made a just fairly seated w Sahara? There are lots of nice girls on the in the evening attended a delightfally selected e Elms.”” us, “Winnie rolled over and out under the fence and went back to her summer retreat, while I skinned up Sally's shoulder somehow and made for the buggy. I hitched u drive round for Winnie. Suddenly everything fot dark, and Ifelt the lines slipping from my I knew I didn’t no nuthin’,’ Jd me once, and when I did thing pped up against the broad bosom of the man, and Winnie was wettin tears and mnddy creek water. from fright, heat and loss of ‘blood, for in my nervous excitement [ actually had not noticed that I had cut myself frightfully with the barbs as I rolled under the wire fence. being fashioned like a miniature match, escaped unhurtand only a few rents in her drows;mine was foreman had tome over to look xt aview of buying them, and to the phaeton standing at the not know we were there. “We got an awful lecture froma dad and he threatened to bundle us right off east; but he didnt’. They did me up in arnica and coiton and nothing serious resulted, but it’s a mercy that we weren’t killed.” Before Lucile had recovered from the spasm of well-bred horror into which Dickie’s recital seemed to have thrown her the audacious child nearly annihilated her by announcing three en- gayementsas the result of a month's sojourn on three perilous horseback I Tailed to myself as I heard the chatter over the beauties of the three engagement rings and knew that the reason why wee Winnie had not ‘one to show also was because the new had worn off of hers before she, with the three other dear girls, had gone west to get rid of the “horrid and started to “<The next thi ker Gretchen.’ Gert was|*** bootblack ‘Winnie was a little Penn Quaker. Don Jose pe fection, and the divinity student made a — fle sented quite a patriotic appearance as we gal- with the ‘grub’ and ‘nose paint,’ as Pete per- | ;, pasture gate di acattle ranch and whole party pell mell after them’ until a even in broad daylight, if there are no land | marks visible.” “Gert is authority on the ‘lost child’ bust- ——— nese,” said Dickie, tauntingly. “She went Foresta in Russta and America. From the Syracuse Standard. A European student of forestry has been con- sidering the effects of the removal of forests in southern Russia. Their immense growths once lined. the banks and guarded the sources of the Volga, the Don. the Dneiper and other rivers. insuring «full perennial flow. But a spirit akin to the “enterprise” which has destroyed wide forests and desolated broad areas in the United States has devastated the Russian wildernoss and left a wilderness of different character. The t rivers is deplorable. “The ‘Mother Volga’ grows yearly shallower: “Isat down and cried,” replied Gertrude result as seen in the had a lite uppleasantness with D—, Mr. Dare, and he bad ridden ahead, so I was quite alone, and as we were not very far from the ranch they thonght when the horse anal pot | them that T'was just trving to [aa the of the ravine and while I stood there wondering what on earth to de. for if I had been in the moon I the iq chief tributary, the onco couldn't have been more bewildered, I heard with a flow of some 220 rider. 1 called and Mr. Dare rode up. Of lifted me up behind him, and I PPR any in ~ wales cee ave done? I suppose would have ie all alone all night & or until the men gone to the ranch, routed ‘company var- you home in I never would have foynd my- ament,’ | Lucile. Just then the ter illnmi- | balconies, antl "Lucio ‘gave wall- “My dear Dickie, what is the matter with THE SPARROW PEST. Crops Destroyed and Native Birds Driven Away by the Intruders, AN INCREASING EVIL. ‘What the Maryland Farmers Suffer From the Ravages of Sparrows—Seng Birds Ex- pelled—-The American Folly and What It ‘Coste—Robbers and Fighters. ee Correspondence of The Evening Star. Near CenTERvitie, Quzzx Axnz Countr, Mp., August 18, 1892. T HEEN ro LIsH sparrow has become sucha nuisanee in Amer- ica, interfering seri- ously with our agricul- tural interests, depre- dating upon our gardens in many instances, de- stroying flowers, orns- mental shrubs and vines, that it is proper and advisable to fall upon some plan to exterminate the pest. In- telligent agriculturists and horticulturists have expressed the greatest astonishment that our people have allowed such destructive and worthless birds to be introduced into our coun- try. They not only destroy buds and blossoms on our fruit trees, but lessen our wheat crop to agreatextent. Even whenit is in « milky state they can be seen in large flocks alighting on the heads of wheat, picking out the finest grains and bending over the stem, in many in- stances breaking the stalk of the growing crops all through the fields. it is lamentable that these sparrow enthusiasts could not be induced to listen to the warnings of more intelligent and far-seeing citizens. Being grain eaters by na- ture, they naturally enough take to our wheat fields. They may be seen in our peach or- chards picking at the blossoms and entirely de- stroying the embryo fruit. A Washingtonian lost two crops of pears and could not account for it until be had watched these birds and no- ticed they were picking the pear buds when they were beginning to swell, faking out the entire flower portion of the bud. sy make their morning meal on gooseberries, currents, raspberries and our small fruits. They have en been seen attacking so large tree as the elm, picking at the buds in early spring and in- juring the trees. In California, where graj culture is an industry of great importance to her people, this increasing pest has caused great apprehension and will entail serious loss unless checked and destroyed. When the fruit trees are blooming they may be seen ting upon the plum, cherry and quince and if they are let alone it wili be useless to try to raise anything. RAVENOUS SEED EATERS. These miserable birds are also seed eaters and like a variety of food, and the gardener, as well as the farmer, must feel the losses they oc- casion. This spring my strawberry bed was full of healthy blossoms and their fastidious a tites were directed to the destruction of the ‘uit, so that they spare nothing, but are con- tinually on the wateh to satiate their desire for a change of food. ‘These cunning birds have been known to de- stroy an entire crop of apples, pecking holes in em when mellow, causing them to drop off or decay on the trees, invariably selecting the finest fruit, I do not know of any other bird that shows a fondness for tomatoes, but the palate of the English sparrow is peculiar and nothing seems to be safe where it abounds. Cabbage and lot- tuce, too, have suffered materially from the dopredations of this increasing pest. ‘THE BANE OF RICE PLANTERS. In onr rice growing states they may be found feeding with the ricebirds and blackbirds, and are more troublesome, because they are tame and cannot be scared off, in some cases causing the planter to abandon the growth of rice alto- ther. Some contend that the sparrow is of nefit in eating the seed of noxions weeds and destroying insects, but close observation shows that he is more destructive than advantageous. We would all be pleased to have him bug oar potato crop and make himself useful rather than destructive, but his appetite is too dainty for potato bugs, and he saves the far- mer nothing, but destroys everything in his reach. Last summer I raised, as { supposed, a large crop of sunflowers, intending to feed the seed tomy poultry in winter. To my great disappointment I° found these wretched birds had eaten them entirely up, and I had not even the opportunity of saving seed for planting this last spring. FILTHY IN HABIT. The filthy habits of this bird are most annoy- ing. Where they build their nests and in their roosting quarters they are most obnoxious. ‘My house is covered with English ivy and they stil! cling to their English tastes and’ flock to it winter and summer to nestle among jts shelter- ing leaves, and their nests may be seen all through this beautiful clinging vine which I fear will eventually be destroyed by their con- tinually alighting in its luxuriant branches. At St. Stephen's Church, Rhode Island, there | were over 900 sparrow eggs taken from the beautiful ivy ‘that covers its walls und the vexton of St. John’s Church took out two cart loads of nests from that building at one time. They are not only pests to the farmer and gar- dener, but frequents the thoroughfares of our cities, and bere they increase very rapidly where they multiply unmolested. ‘They are not confined to any latitude and flourish in any climate. Winter weather does not annoy them in the least, as they often survive the most severe winters, They may be seen following carriage roads when grain is not accessible and the fruit, birds and flowers have disay peared, determined to be industrious and self- pendent and make their living as best they can, not in the least discouraged by the absence of more inviting food. This American folly was first introduced here in 1850 at Brooklyn, where they were watched and cared for most tenderly, and sub- scriptions were taken up to defray the expense of importing them. In 1867 a colony was sent to Texas, and this unfortunate craze secmed to take possession of the people of the whole country, and the rapid- ity with which they have overspread our land is wonderful and much to be lamented. PROLIFIC AND HARDY. They raise six broods during the year, often laying their eggs in the months of December and January,and the young ones have been known to leave their nests as early as March. ‘The birds hatched early in the spring pair and Taise young ones the ensuing summer season, and this accounts for the rapidity with which they increase. They are not only prolific but a hardy bird and cunning in the extreme, and live to be five or six years old, and unless at- tacked by some disease or destroyed in some ef- fectual way our country will soon bp overrun by cr The tide of public has turned against the sparrows rions are as anxious now to have them Gostroyed as they were to protect them. ‘When our wheat fields are ravaged by them, our fruit attacked and our native birds de- to the fact of these feathered warriors having driven smother hen and her little brood from their meal by force of numbers and persever- ance. This aggressive bird has even driven the wood pecker ite as laces, which is not ‘adcomplished indi courage, but by it wing him no rest comfortable and their hostilities are continually going on, making themselves obnoxious to the whole festhered tribe. In South Carolina « nuisance, having driven away the native birds he had been in habit of feeding in winter. when never fail to attack our birds wren occasionally escapes when she can find a hole toosmall for the sparrow toenter. Thespar- Tows are very clannish and help each other and summon their companions to their rescue when engaged in battle with our innocent native birds, who are so peaceful that thoy generally surrender to these warlike intruders. The wi ‘will and night hawk, as well as other birds I have mentioned, have been driven away from their accustomed haunts. In Bermuda many beautiful birds have been expelled from the island by the grinned althongh the little negro children have employed to destroy them. They will not even catch grasshoppers or any other insect while they can get anything in the country roads and streets of our cities. Since the introduction of sparrows we find our fields and gardens have been overrun. by insecta, an in many localities it is impossible to raise cab- bage where the sparrows drive away our own birds, indicating that our American birds are much more industrious in destroying the hurt- ful insects than this foreign curse. SHOULD BE DRIVEN OUT. They threaten great evil and measures shonld be taken at once to get rid of them. It is said that the sparrows in France destroy every year 10,000,000 bushels of wheat. Eighty-two grains of wheat were found in the craw of one single bird, and on account of their great increase and destruction sparrow hunters are rly em- loyed and = peice set upon them, the peasants ing obliged to bring to the cities a certain mumber yearly. He is not only a fighter but a thief, and makesadash at tho mother bird when making her trips to her nest, where little ones are awaiting her return, with their hungry mouths wide open to rece! the food sho is carrying in her bill. Thus the poor little fledglings are robbed of many a dainty meal. ‘The noisy, dirty pests have been seen destroy- ing the little baby birds while in their downy beds and their bills have been covered with blood from murdering the old mother bird as well as her little ones. Something must be done to this blood-thiraty wretch or we will have no birds to sing to us at early morn and rouse us from dream land to go forth to our daily duties, and it will take possession of the whole of our agricultural country, multiplying so rapidly that our native’ birds will all be destroyed. They have been known to go from place to eng in grain cars and tl verdict against these invaders must be applica- ble to the whole country in order to coteoy them effectually. The general government should take the sparrow trouble in hand and pass stringent laws in regard to its destruction. A gentleman from out west writes that one- fourth of his wheat crop was eaten up by these birds and where his wheat was fine it was tangled and broken down in sucha manner that it wasn difficult task to harvest it. Even when the wheat was first forming their vandal- ism began. Every year the evil increases and all of us—on this Atlantic side of the world— should unite in inaugurating a policy to uproot it. SURPRISE IN ENGLAND. ‘The farmers in England were astonished that the people of our country should have been so foolish as to import this bird when for centu- Ties it has been looked upon in tbe old world as a great evil. Agricultural Canada has suffered materially from their depredations, the rigor of the climate not affecting them in the least, and they are increasing rapidly. In the last ten years sparrows have made their appearance in the large cities and towns of New England, also in our middle and southern states and many of the western states without assistance from man, and they are gradually coming to our suburban towns and small vi In New York they are trapped and served aa reed birds and are looked y) asadelicacy. The male birds are isi ished by the white feathers which en- circle the neck and are not considered near 80 table as the femaie bird. This energetic ird has even attacked grapes when inclosed in bags. Our native feathered friends visit us in the spring, and the little favorite, robin red breast, may be seen hopping around our yards for awhile, but they are soon driven away to more peaceful quarters. Every year we hear great complaints from the farmer of the light wheat crop—vory little wheat and a large amount of straw. No wonder there is a deficiency of grain when these marauders have been feasting on it, not only eating it, but fapping its wings ‘as it alights on the wheat stalk, scattering the more mature grains all over the ground, often grasp- ing two heads to balance itself. Some of our kind-hearted people are building houses for them, but this practice should be abandoned. ROBBING CHICKENS. This wary, cunniug and mischievous bird is also a great annoyance to the women of our country, many of whom are earnestly working | to raise poultry for profit as well as for em- lion and out-of-door amusement. These irds are fond of “chicken food” and rob the chicks of their meals, dashing upon their feed pens by the dozen. Being so domestic it is im- possible to shoo them from the robbery of | the chickens’ food. Acres and acres of grain fields in England have been so injured by the depredations of sparrows that they have not been cut at all, and enormous sums of money have been spent to lessen the number of these rapidly multiplying thieves, I have » letter from the Department of Agriculture stating that there is no doubt as to the desirability of the extermination of this bird, but the meaus for accomplishing it have not been definitely settled. The Taranaki Herald, a paper published in New Zealand, states that’ these destructive birds aro so numerous, beginning their work as soon as the day dawns, that the rs are obliged to go over their fields constantly cracking a whip to frighten them away from morning till hight, ot tho sparrows beupon them by the thonmnd; and oven with all this trouble in is ‘almost destroyed and the profit to the farmer is the sale of the cae dairymen. Then let us be wide awake to the importance of resorting to every means to 33 a E & i L H id A friend furnishes us interesting information as to the song of “Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too,” on which we commented in the Sunday Herald of two weeks since. He explodes the statement stroyed it is natural that we should be anxious | clear that to get them out of the way. NATIVE BIRDS DRIVEN FROM HOME. Having American tastes Iam fond of Ameri- fifiviit iF | Capit NOW THE WASHINGTON KNIGUTS WERE EXTER- TAINED AT DENVER—THE BRILLIANT atD UMQUE ILLUMINATIONS—MOSPITALITIEG EX- TEXDED AT OMABA—OLDBST LIVING EXIORT. The members of the four commanderies from the District of Columbia who arrived home Thursday night from their Denver pil- grimage were pretty well tired out asa resalt of the long and dusty ride, but nevertheless well pleased with the trip. No accidents of any kind served to mar the enjoyment of those who participated in the long journey of cver 4,000 miles;and while » good share of the time the several “specials” were separated because of the different routes taken they encountered each other every day or two, as their paths crossed, and on such occasions there were cheers and a general handshaking, adding, if possible, to the enjoyment and novelty of the trip. A large number of those who left Washington two weeks ago did not return with the com- manderies because of a desire to extend their travels farther toward the setting sun! Among those who thus remained behind from the Washington Comman were Mr. and Mrs. H. K. Simpson, Dr. Danial MeFarlan and wife, | Mr. and Mrs. 0. T. Thompson, 8. C. Thompson, | Dr. Gosling, Mrs, Harrison Dingman and Miss | Dingman. got, and her citizens felt something like the fellow who had a white elephant There wa: a ia E iu bl it a i F #7 ef f 5 : from weir ‘Star Ban Hanvor, Augast 17, 1892. The gay season at this resort reached high- water mark daring the past week and never be- fore have the entertainments been upon a more elaborate scale. Every hour of the August days Denver never expected any stich crowd as she | has been filled to overflowing with engagements | either on land or by water. and sines the com- " n no opportunity to entertain as did the Knights | ing of the feet, with all its attendant excite- of fashington three years ago. There were no | ment, it is difficult to steal a moment for neces- | magnificent buildings like those of the National | sary rest. Conspicuous among the many beau- honor of entertaining 80 great a number of le fromevery section of the Union. spared no expense. BRILLIANT ILLUMINATIONS. In the matter of illuminations, however, Den- ver outdid probably everything of the kind | ever witneseed in the country. There was a liberal display of bunting on every public build. ing or businese block, ad most of night that the cit; sands and thoneands of colored electric lights, forming various designs and appropriate legends, made a continuous canopy over every one of the principal streets. It was really difficult to tell which thoroughfare was | the more beautifully illuminated. It was sug- gested that Washington should secure these light for the Grand Army meeting next month. | They would add much to the many attractions | which the national capital always presente to visitors. Certain it was that the Denver plan of illumination was a revelation to all who saw them as to the possibilities of electric lighting. All the commanderies from the District were proud of the distinction shown them in their assignment to so prominent a place in the pa- rade, in the ovation which they were accor because of their fine appearance and the prefer- ence shown them on many occasions as a mark of appreciation for courtesies extended by the local Templars three = but of afl the organizations visiting Denver Washington Com- mandery, No. 1, was favored perhaps more than any other. At the grand reception given by the commandery at the Belvoir on Wednesday evening during conclave week Chairman Hill of the Denver triennial com- mittee attended, together with number of Grand Army people, headed by and Drum Corps and the band of the seventh United States cavalry. This, Mr. Hill said, was intended as a compliment to the eminent’ commander of Washington Com- mandery, Sir Harrison Dingman, because of his | work in connection with the arrangements for | the Grand Army encampment in this city next month. THEY ARE HUSTLERS. The pavements of Denver were nothing like those of Washington for the purposesof a parade. Much of them were of cobblestone. Now and then @ concreted thoroughfare was met, but such were “few and far between.” The city wuthorities are substituting concrete for much of the older kinds of pavement, and it is put down with a dispatch that would make a Wath- ington contractor's head swim. I was shown one long stretch of roadway where the day be- fore there waa nothing but mad. ‘The street reg ye rege Ngee asphalt pavement after 3 o'clock the day before, and at the time attention was called to it, teams were pass- though the pavement had beendowna year. The Denver people showed ing and repassing, themselves to be hustlers m everything. Another matter of interest to the Washing- tonians was the presence of cable liftes of cars extending in every direction, Flagmen are stationed at every junction and prominent crossing, and few accidents are ever known. Not only in Denver, but in Kansas City and Omaha the cable lines were numerous and sur- prised the Washingtonians, who have known very little of the benefits of rapid city transi! e railroads did not have the facilities for handling hundreds of trains like eastern rail- roads, nevertheless the blockade was not at any time very long continued. Every train was run in several sections, all being more or less de- layed because of the single tracks of the differ- ent roads. People along every railroad stood ‘as if in awe as one after another the hundreds of trains of Pullmans a y on their retarn e four commanderies from the District left by different routes on Saturday evening and arrived in Omaba before sunset Sunday evening. Here all remained until after the Mystic Sbrine parade Monday from the conclave. evening last. HOSPITALITY AT OMAHA, the great army of Templars, and those whc were not of the former order did not care to ertheless every stranger, lady or gentleman, whether a Shiriner or not, or of stop over. the family of '@ Shriner, was made to feel home. Carriages and lunches were at eve turn and numerous committeemen saw to it that no Sir Knight or his lady was neglected. In the Shrine parade Monday evening Almas Temple of Washington took a prominent pert. Over seventy wearers of the fez followed its banner, led by David G. Dixon, the chief at Denver was the unanimous adoption of a new ritual for the orders of the Red Cross and that of the ‘The representatives from the Distast or Deiunitee ee seinen with it, as they j fy i 8 iz that the i itil fli [ iii u d i } Ee if i aor gunnigy ol, nor was there any broad and beautiful | stream like the Potomac on which to take the Tisitors for enjoyable rides. but in. every way in their power the residents of the Rocky moun- ald reciation of the | Whose advent in Washington last winter Bree renee tea rcon | Gn stag al tas manen lesion eomneed eos | the milli, the private residences bore evidence of the hospitable | spirit that animated cach citizen, but it was at | city looked at ite best. Thou- | Since his coming a series of entertainments board have added fresh laurels to his reputation | tine will send up two vew es yey eye ‘the fair maids all | blue flag in the grand rev as a host and set the hearts of the fair mai all | Taot ethene 4 The citizens of Omaha, if posible, outdid their friends of Denver in the lavishness of their hospitality. One reason for this was that there were fewer visitors at Omaha than at Denver, for the Shriners formed only a part of it it : tiful pleasure craft in the harbor is the yacht “Fleetwing,” the property of Mr. De Lamar, ‘ire gold miner of Helena, Mont., under & social sensation. Mr. De Lamar has but recently returned from # tour abroad, during which he has made a choice collection of works of art where- with to adorn his future home at the capital, | having leased the «pacious residence of Mr. Augustus Cleveland Tyler's for the season. The trip to Bar Harbor was made from Newport, stopping at the principal points of interest | along the route,and on Sunday hi floated from the masthead prominent the bright pennants that for a fortnight past have enlivened the sight of Bar Harborites. of a flutter with excitement. discretion this phenomenally successful man of fortune has steered bis bark safely over the quicksands of the matrimonial sea and is too wary to be tricked through the machinations of fortune-hunting mamas, Mr. De Lamar’s nomenally romantic career from the date of bi first landing in America from the bark in which he set sail from Germany as a “stowaway” at the age of nine up to his first public appearance ‘as a social lion under his highly connected male chaperon, is already familiar to most of us and his extensive financial influence in the work of the recent republican campaign is of too mate- nial a benefit to his party to be lightly ignored. The vacht Flectwing was originally the prop- erty of Mr. anderbilt, and the same which a few years since in contest with Pierre Lorillard’s vessel, the Vestal, and James Gordon Bennett's ele- gant pleasure boat. the Henrietta, safely made | the trip across the Atlantic in midwinter, the three reaching portent Cowes the same night. Not for years past has Frenchman's bay been | so gay with bunting, and the huge white war | ships of the north Atlantic squadron within the harbor form an attractive center around which all others turn. Mr. Franklyn Steele, with his wife and two pretty daughters, are guests at the St. Swuveur, where they have been since Jane and will prob- ably remain through September. Mrs. Stecle is one of the most popular of handsome young matrons, and her toilets are marked by that taste and elegance which bespeaks the lady Mrs. Burton Harrison's water party at “Sea which was postponed from last week ‘on account of the dense fog, came off on Mon- day and the occasion proved by far the most picturesquely beautiful entertainment ever given at the harbor. Between two and three | hundred invitations were issued and as most of the guests arrived by water the effect was artis- tic in the extreme. ‘Shortly after 4 o'clock in- numerable tiny craft emerged from various directions, each decorated with gaily colored al cloth and flowers, filled with daintily robed maids whose toilets carried out the pre- vailing tint of their canoe. One of the most effective of these was a long white rowboat, decorated with a canopy of oak and cedar boughs, with great bunches of scarlet and yel- low blossoms fastened at the prow. Twelve of the steam barges of the war ships, geily draped with bunting and fiying the national colors, bore the officers of the squad- ron, headed bythe admiral's special transport, with the Secretiry of the y ‘y and Admiral Gherardi in the bow. As the barge touched the pier the crowd all formed in line and skirted | the lawn in a double file—a Venice-like pic- ture of animation and color. When Secretary Tracy stepped ashore the band stationed on the green struck up the “Star Spangled Banner |and after being welcomed by his hostess the distinguished visitor was won lost in the throng already assembled. “Sea Urchins’ was all thrown m to the guests and elaborately decked with fowers and | ferns. Mrs. Disnmick, sister of ex-Secretary Whitney, poured tea in the drawing room. She wore @ handsome toilet of yellow and black. Miss Carev of Baltimore, in a gown of pale green and black silk, dispensed delicate cups of chocolate from the ‘opposite end of the table. Lemonade and cake were served by colored | waiters. The hostess wore a tasteful gown of mauve crepe. with pretty French bonnet to match. She welcomed her guests in the air, standing ona rich Persian rug, se which were scattered beneath the rustic seats on the front lawn. The good old Virginia reel was later danced on the green. N: wanting to the | the horn to the east coast. mi | tWo countries, ‘Thus it i | she would risk sending one den, son-in-law of Commodore | | cal name of divisions and are composed of | cers to remem! jothing was | success of the entertain- | THE DIFFEREXT OOTERXMENTS TWAT WrLt. PROBABLY SEXD WAR VESSELS—RRATIL AND TRE SOUTH AMERICAN REPUBLICS WILL SEND ‘TRE LARGER XUMPER. Correspondence of The Fronine Star New York, Angost 18, 1892. Already the naval authorities are beginning | to prepare for the great naval review that is to Ai inaugurate the celebrations in honor of the Columbian year, next April. The small appropriation made by Congress, €50,000, will not cover the expenses of mobiliz- ing the Seet, lot alone the expenses retary Tracy will have to draw liberally fre the regular naval appropriation tor the run- ning expenses of the navy. On the Ist of September Rear Admiral Gherardi will be de- from command of the north Atlantic Squadron and ordered to San Francisco, whore be will boist his flag on the Baltimore and take | Command of the Pacific squadron, composed of the Charleston, Raltimore, San Francisco, Boston and Yorktown, and bring them around ican countries will Gherardi on his voy is expected that all the maritiny southern continent will 9c oP ORAZI. WILL. LEAD, Of course Brazil will Brazilians look upon the U warm affection, as we wore powers of the the leader, for the 1 States with a he first country to when Dom P stripes are alw great southern very friendly toward ¢ during the recent to the Plata ri and all the officers of the United States nqua wer Vited to the Argentine torpedo and shown through the stator banquet was served, whe to show th © which « A the «peoches vod feeling between the ped the Piata Uruguay is the only one that dit is f her G00-ton gu boats up, even if the bankrapt government | could buy coal enough for the journey CHILE'S SQUADUON OF EVOLUTIC Chile, as we all know, has navy, and if whe acts the part of a reconciled sister will send her squadron of evolution up to Hampton Roads just to give usa chance to sce the ships our white cruivers would have destroved had Chile not seen the error of her ways. This fast about — irmd of our sister republics on American soil, for the Central American state never deen out of a revolution long enon have» ship built and Mexico's navy is “for revenue while Hayti’s one litile gunboat would get lost on the vorage if she did not employ « pilot. “Over on the other side” the na will watch each other. Of course Russia and Germany will send a fleet ont of good feeling totvard the United States, and if Italy probably honors the memory of her son Columbus she will send some of her ten-thousand-ton battle ships. The English navy, lange ns it is, is very well divided over the world. so it is not probable that she will send a very large fleet- ‘nd upon her action in the matter depemis largely the action of France. It is understood that Japan is to send a cruiser, of which she has some fine ones, across the Pacific and around the horn to take part in the first in- ternational review held in the country that first Visited Japan to secure a mercantile ireaty, and, that Turkey will unbend from her religious rigor enough to send over one of ber fine war- ships. This vessel will have « distinguishing feature that may be new tomany Americans. As an article of the Mohammedan religion makes the bell sacred it cannot be used on board Tark- ish ships. as it is upon others, for striking the hours and sounding fog mgnals, and by a pe- cial suspension of the navigating rules e drum is used instead. OUR OWN WARSHIPS. Of our own warships all the new steel ships ‘Will be in the review except the little Petrel, which is out in China, probably to spend the rest of her life there. Several of the ships now | under construction will be in commission by | that time, but it is doubtful if the big w York will be finished in time to participate, Incase the Cramps do get her « mapleted | March she will probably be Admiral Gi | flagship during the review. ‘The Movtgomery, | Detroit and Machias will be in commission by | that time. The other ships taking part will be the Baltimore, Philadel, bin, Charleston, Chi- cago, Boston, Atlanta, Miantonomoh, Concord, | Yorktown, Bennington, Vesuvius and If the regulation fleet formation is ith the sixteen ventels will form a fleet, with Admiral Gherardi as commanler-in-ch there will be a division of the fi two squadrons, with commodore or | rear admiral in command of each: the subdi- Visions of the squadrons go under the tech: four vessels, then the division is again divided | into two sections. ‘When all the ships anchor next April it will be a grai viaiting and wining and dinin, ties and receptions will be something for and tell of for years, whi the din when all the ships salute some new- comer will dwarf a large-sized bombardment, And an “officer of the deck” on any one of the ment. Clear, mild weather with frosts, a touch | ships will have to keep bis eyes open for com= of October-like freshness in theair. The trans- d lucent blue of the sky, flecked with floating | Toutine of a warsh clouds of misty white, beautifully laid out | Srounds, an elegantly appointed cottage, tempt- ing refreshments, charming society, enlivening music and, beyond and above all, the deep-blue watersof Frenchman's bay,with ite environment of towering mountains, cl to the summit in a soft mantle of living green! What more could mortals desire? AP.T. bbe A Tall Chimney. From the San Frencisco Chronicle. The largest chimney on the Pacific coast, the third in point of size in the United States and the fourth in the world, is being built in this city. The broad column of bricks is now to be seen high above the roofs of the houses in its vicinity, and it will soon tower above every structure is Power Company on Jessie street near 8d, in connection with a new building 75-feet front, 165 feet deep and 52 feet The chimney will be 175 feet manding officers’ pennants, rignals and all the if he does not wish to re- ceive the angry “benediction” of his captain. THE LARORST ARRAY It is probable that the United States eyuadrom will have the largest array of ships of any coun- try, as the great foreign powers will not send the grand squadrons that ther could easily mobliize in time of need. ‘This f adelnsion and a snare to th republic, with their usual habit of “jar conclusions,” for when they see the fleets and note that our own is the largest may forget that while we have every ship present, Engiand and France dozen larger sqnadronsat home, whi silent factors in the parade, and “jump at the conclusion” that our navy is the largest in the world. After the mobilization of the fleet« at MH: ton Roads they will proceed in company to New York harbor. In rt wine at craming distance, 400 yards. fifty ships. which numer seems quite . will make a parade twelve miles long, and by the time the last one has passed the leader will be “hull down,” only « patch of the | smoke ora light network of rigging. It is to of il etl ‘ ; ti ik t ill if aterm gen Clerk—“Why, madam, bustles are nu longer worn.” | Socurnadtiy Sayed dint Gn vo will be the grandest naval display of tocdern times, all Saloulated to increase the friendship of the ma- “Why do birds in their little nests agree?” asked the pretty school ma'am of Freddy “"Canse they'd fall out if they didn't,® Accommodating Herself. From Jt 5 She—I want to look at some bustles.” Nbe—“You don't know what you are talking of. Iam going to visit friends in St. Louis. From Judge.