Evening Star Newspaper, September 10, 1892, Page 8

THE CITY OF LEWES. Interesting Facts in Regard to Its ITS STURDY POPULATION. How the Piace Went From One Nation to Lawes, Dat., Sept. 6, 1892. HE READERS OF Tae Stan who have noted the telegrams ing quarantined vensela at this place little think of where or what manner of place it is, Within two or three miles and within sight is the government qnarantine station for | = the entrance to the mM portsof Wilmingtonand é Philadelphia, the Cape | Henlopen light house, s marine hospital, the | Delaware breakwater, where ships of all descrip- | tion seek shelter from the furies of storms, and | & life-saving station, to the credit of which stands a long list of Hives saved from innumera- | Die and disastrous wrecks, representing sen- | faring folk from almost every clime under the | oun. Those who visit Rehoboth Beach, Ocean City or any part of the peninsula, or, in fact, Cape May, just aft on the Jersey coast, should by all | Means see Lewes quaint, odd. interesting old | Lewes. It vies in historic interest and renown with St. Mary's in Maryland, founded in 1632 | by the Caiverts, or Jamestown in Virginia, | founded more than a century before. Lewes is | the oldest town in the state of Delaware, bs fing been founded by Swedes and Finns under the patronage of Queen Christina ‘in 1638, | though letters patent hs settlement as early as 1626 by Gustave Adol- phus, King of Sweden. Henry Hudson, how- ‘ever, had sailed into the Delaware bay in 1609 De la Warr, for whom Delaware was named. fm 1610, and Mas, for whom Cape May| fs called, in 1623. Though located un- der Swedish sovereignty, the culony was . been issued for its | ! THE OLD JAIL. inder charge of a Dutchman named eter Menewe, who founded Lewes under the ame of Paradise Point. In 1654 this colony ‘was obliterated by invasion under Gov. Stuy- yeaant of New York and in 1664 it fell into the hands of the English, who demanded and ob- tained its cesnon under the discovery of Henry Hudson, though he never set foot on the soil, and changed the name to Lewes, after the bor- ough of that name in Sussexshire, England. In 1682 it came by purchase into ‘possession of | ‘Ww. Penn, after whose death, in 1718, and a suit in chancery for jt in the English courts by Baltimore (which was decided against im), it became an independent government Under the state of Deiaware. 178 LOCATION Lewes is within three miles of Cape Hen- open. on Lewes creex, a sluggish stream run- ning east and west almost at right angles with the line of the beach along the ocean some two and half miles away. An Indian village oc- eupied the same ground at the dawn of the teen century, and their Lark canoes glided swiftly along the placid waters of the creek, overarched by the lapping orenches of the trees ordering ite banks. Delaware bay lies along ite front as far as the eye can see, shore of which is less than a mile away, the Cape Henlopen light house looms up like massive white monument to the northeast, while nightly the flash light from Cape May Point. across the bay, twinkles like a phantom over the smooth surface of the breakwater. Be- tween the town and the waters of the bay, ex- tending up and down the shore, lies » vast area of arable in the — -—_ rests a yaaint littl , with neat white cottages, ited by cor ate people and their fami- ies. Up to 1885 Lewes and its surrounding country enjored a large and lucrative trade ‘with New York and the east ter, through edirect line of steamers, having railroad up the peninsula as an additional feeder. This oad, however, was purchased by the Pennsyl- vania system, aud in time the water trade, feoding pier’ and all were allowed to go default, for reasons that are obvious. ‘The pier was left finally to take care of itseli against the encroachments of time and tide, and in 1888 the inevitable came with its | official condemnation, and the work of destruc- | tion by the waves was completed by the hands ‘of man. There are two other piers, however, a«plendid iron one owned by the ment and a less pretentious one used by pric. But the former prestige of trade by sea is gone, save a light trafic picked up by passing steamers and an occasional boat ioad of pasate Cape May or other nearby points. lucts go now by rail up the long, dusty li to iphia, thence to wherever an opening ean be discovered—more quickly, it is true, but | ‘ues enpentvely and, trom the contient and shaking up in thecars, often more SOME OLD LaNDMARKS. ‘Many old landmarks of ite carly history remain. ‘The troublesome times of {ts earliest existence, murderousexcursions of thesaragesand ‘with which ttl the Swedes, the Dutcl combined to out and obliterate original but are left buildings erected for back as the time of Queen began im 1707 and ended suddenly in In those days there were few, if any, i ‘two-story houses, for such were «|i not could afford, being heavily taxed the —— of the — crown. therefore, w! cq to e a ‘an “upstairs” to it contented themselves with s apartment, the house a and elephantic appearance, ‘and roomily arranged, thus The the desired end “free of cost.” Rodney man- eldest build:ng in the town is the sion on Market street, said to have been erected | ona o ieee Like all the older it is frame and shingle-bohrded, the being of cedar and ins good state of house, Cb walle Beith scldlere bea "the honor’ "to ‘pise) hoolhouse (the first in Delaware) ‘were named for George III, the | ttore apd | culprits of those ga} ‘not have been very quick witted or enter. to be held long in durance vile contined vulnerable walls as compose this | ‘The old school house—a frame build- | ‘com some twelve feet square—ts | ‘and in » battered and tottering con- | ite the jail is an old build- h is one-story, the latt-r been built early in the last centary. The Dears marks today made by British fleet ae number of old cannon to be found about the Qown. Several of these were brought down the | The | oldest and most int. HOUSE STRUCK BY CANNON BALL. all attempts to locate and recover age, ‘b Ld Roy a them have failed. Ante-dating these fn however, are a number of others, two of whic flank the two above alluded to on the terract and join in pointing to the bay, while the othe! are to be found here and ‘there scattered | through the town, serving as corner posta to | | streets, being inverted and sunk half way into | the ground. These old fellows, stamped with a crown, are badly rust eaten, and veem relics of | @ time when acannon was a wonder and a twelve- | pounder a monster of dread and destruction. eir origin is without official solution. Tradi- tion and semi-historic evidence bas it that they were captured from a wrecked French vessel by the English in the Indian river inlet in the early history of the place. Certainly they were on hand and ready for use when the tocsin of the revolution was sounded in 1776, CRURCHES AXD CHURCHYARDS, A devout and God-fearing people, Lewes is blest with # full couplement of churches. I have only seen three of them and curiously enough each of these {s located in its denomi national cemetery. ‘The first church erected Presbyterian and singularly to «ay was lo- cated upon the ground where the Episcopal Church now stands, and was built in 1713, but was destroyed and another located else where. The first building of importance in the town was also located on the same spot and was erected in 1620. The first English clergyman ame to Lewes in 1708. The Rev. William Beckett came from England in 1722 and erected an Episcopal church and gave it the name of St. Peter's. In 1773 John Penn, then gov- ernor of Delaware, presented an ele- gant communion service to the church. which is in use at the present time. The Grst Methodist church was erected in 1791, and, though the inst erected of the three denomina- tions here, has the largest following, The Epic Tam told. pal Church is ritualistic to an ex- ee, having the only surpliced chori e south of Wilmington, usin; burning . as in the churches. As stated, each church is surrounded by graves of its deceased members, the tomb- stones having filled the space in front church yard« close the walk and ex- tending to doors of the churches. The graveyard sur g St. Peter's is the including among rain the history its entombed notable chara of the state and the country. Besides those of American nationality here rests the remains of one whose name has appeared in print so often it will be familiar to every one. The inserip- tion, which is deeply engrated upon a plain marble shaft, about five feet bigh and some twenty-four inches square neatly protected by a correspondingly simple projecting cap stone, is as follows: the Remains of CAPT JAMES DREW who commanded HIS BRITANIC MAJESTY’S in which he lost his lite when she foundered at the ‘Capes of Delaware the 10th June 1798. He was beloved for his virtues d admired for bj ry. His affectiona® F has erected this mounment to tuate bis ierony. It tells the story of the lost treasure trove— the millions of Spanish dollars which went with the ill-fated ship to the bottom of the sea, to- gether with the bodies of many unfortunate souls, which sad catastrophe is ever bronght to memory by continnous fruitless attempts of Visionary minds to find and secure the long and doubtless forever lost eargo of gold. Almost under the northwest corner of S| Peter's two old time-honored and weather- eaten slate headstones mark the resting place of two bodies who, though they lived to « ripe old age, passed to another world when the free~ dom of’ the young republic bad scarcely been attained and when its perpetuity was still # matter of anxious concern. One is illegible. The other reads: “HERE LYETH YE BOD OF MARGARET, YE WIDOW OF JAMES HVING, WHO DESSE'D FEB. YE 16TH, IN YE 76 YEAR OF HER AGE. 1707. She was consequently born in 1631, more than 261 years ago. So occupied with graves was the old churchyard that when erecting the present building, in addition to locating the Gorners nearly to the two old gravee, it was necessary, in 01 to carry out the plans in the building, to extend that part of the church em- bodying ‘the chancel and altar over a burial lot in which one grave had already been made, su) porting the extension upon two pillars of Bric Arches were resorted to and the openings be- ‘tween the pillars inclosed by neat iron palings, leaving the grave and tombstones under altar im full view and ensily accessible from three sider. In 1730, Whi English clergyman, the Spurgeon of his time — preached at Lewes, a notable event of the day. SCRAPS oF HisToRT. During the revolutionary war a regiment was raised at and around Lewes by Col. David Hall of this town. He was afterward governor of the state. This troop was complimented especially by the Continental Congress for their prowess in the battles of Princeton, Brandy- wine, Germantown and Camden. They became known throughout the continental army ab the “Blue Hen’s Chickens,” from their love of cock fighting. Whether this has anything to do with the oficial name of the “‘Heus and Chickens Shoal” off the cape Ido not know. Cmsar Rod- ney, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and afterward governor of the state, was from Lewes. As a historic fact, th little echool house above alluded to was where four governors of Delaware began the first principles of their education. That this community is a newspaper reading one by intuition is attested by a petition offi- cfally drawn up and duly signed in 1735 to the @ffect that they “could not look upon their reading and studies aa complete for want of a certain paper printed by one Mr. Benjamin Franklin of jelphis.” In 1803, when on his way from his West In- dia service, Jerome Bonaparte, the youngest brother of the emperor, spent, several’ days in wt circumstances. He was our townsman, Mr. Walter tional Hotel, is = lineal de- ‘liam Rodney, who came with ‘8 legal heir to Lord Rod- back to 1100. fort near Lewes and used war of 1812. s Catholic | field—the great | & "a for tember, Tiras ty Howard Pile tn which he the sand hill as the stretching in from the ocean shore drinks up water and life and leaves all dead,” and “back of the cape,” where “here and there.the fiat is lush and green, where shallow lakes bloomi with white lilies and blue arrowheads” “sme tank and dank to the nostrils, re full of tad- pole and lizards and crawling things,” snakes, fnizzarde and grotenque specimens of ugly il nse jungles, tangled wilder- nesses and hidden gloomy swamps of stagnant water.” Itis aclever composition, a pretty magazine article and arranged with typographical oddness, but is enough to frighten the wits out of the summer | tourist and fairly take the breath from the tote who expect to live in and grow up with the country. The lakes with their vast beds of fra- grant lilies, are here, for I have rowed over them and gathered them by the hundred when every stroke of the oars pulled beantifal blooms be- | neath the surface, and have strolled to and fro through the fields and climbed the hills of sand | in the most propitious snakey weather and saw J | one lonel¢ little snake high up o~ dry land, but no “footprints of awkward water bird” or mis- shapen reptile, TRE SAND BILL in also here,and, save the “white death”—what- ever that is—is a wonderful contrib’ ture to the mysterious. It is « pile of sand collected at and about the light house of Cape Henlopen, so high that tall trees have been cov- ered up almost to their tops end literally | choked to death, leaving bare stubs standing | out to tell the story of their gradual disappear- | ance. The sand hill is steep and towering east- ward, toward the sea, but gradually receding in an inclined plane westward and inland, cov- ering a vast area of ground. Whether or not the hillis formed, as Mr. Pile alleges, by the wind blowing ‘the shifting surfaco up the crest fe and over the edge ina rkling dry (?) mist, Which carries with it | the fine sand that falls and extends the surface | inch by inch, foot by foot, covering up every- thing beforei.,Iamloth toconclude, Sand | hills are numerous and continually increasing on the French coasts of the Bay of Biscay and along the coasts of a number | of the British Isles. A singular stratification is | formed by these hilly. Itis scientifically held | that prevailing west winds or land breezes carry particles of sand up the gentle incline of the | western aspect of the hill to the crest, over which they fall, forming a ateep declivity to the east invariably. This is undoubtedly the topo- graphical condition of the great sand hill at Cape Henlopen. It is said here that when the light honse was built, in about 1725, the neces- sary dwelling house and outbuildings for the keeper were also erected, but the big sand hill gradually covered up all'the buildings and the United States government some ten years ago in erecting new'ones located them nearly over those the sand had hidden from sight. Cer- tainly the sand bank has grown higher and higher until the great light house itself, whose walls are eight feet thick, is eurrounded by a funnel-shaped embankment many feet above its foundation and entrance. A PARTING COMPLIMENT, Lewes isa place of literary culture, thrifty, prosperous, rich in historic renown of its pub- lic men and with a wealth of interesting and beautiful traditions. Its citizenship is stamped with unmistakable patriotiem, its people courteous to aprangers und its future promising and bright. F. HL | of each towering > A Dangerous Nuisance. To the Editor of The Evening Star: _ I should like to draw attention toa nuisance which has long prevailed in Washington and which seems to have the sanction and protec- tion of the authorities. I mean the surface | privies that are in use all over the city. These | receptacles of stagnant filth, alive with disease | germs, emit their heavy, sickening odor night nd day all summer long, and when they are cleaned” or emptied the stench is abominable, Take a case with which Iam only too familiar as an illustration: “The dining room of a house on I treet, nearly opposite the Italian logation, just west of 14th, is in an extension, the cast front of which faces an alley. The alley is ten feet wide, and there are close to ita east line and within twenty feet of this dining room two of these surface privies, or outside water closets. I looked into one of them this morn- ing and found it more than half full of liquid filth of the most offensive and disgusting kind. When the dining room windows are open and the inmates are taking their meals, expecially when the weather is hot or “muggy,” the air is fetid and the odor sickening. ‘These legalized pests (in which the responsible authorities should be shut up for an hour or two) are in full view from the upper stories, and suggest their hideous contents and deadly effecta to the unfortunate residents whenever they look out of their bed room windows. Some three or four yoara ago, when typhoid was doing its deadly work in this central and eligible part of the city, I visited the health office to complain of these nuisances, with the idea that they were linble to abatement, but found, to my astonishment, mitted. I was told that ti emptied—when they very offensive. “But,” [ said, “they are always offensive in not weather, and ‘the emptying of them is itself a horrible nuisanc they are immediately in use again, and their contents fester in the heut and taint the air that peopie breathe while asleep all through | the summer nights.” ‘Then I spoke of cases of | typhoid which had occurred in the section | bounded by 14th and 18th, Hand K—a more deadly disease than Asiatic cholera, and, like it, @ creature of uncieanliness. But my inter- locutor declared that there had been no such cases, and took me upstairs and produced a map, which, he said, showed what diseases had prevailed in different sections of the city, and, sure enough, there were no there. But two of th other cases in the same vicinity very serious if not fatal. On further inquiry Leases of typhoid had been reported bysician under some other name— “heart failure,” shortness of breath or some imperfectly 3 in a plague fifty to the thousand, but they are the insidious foes of good health— that rare blessing—and make themselves scen in the saffron or cafe au lait complexions and felt in the rheumatism, biliousness and bowel complaints that are #0 prevalent. The remedy for this particular nuiaance is in our own hands. No surface privy or outside water closet, containing a receptacle for the accummulation of filth, should be allowed within certain considerable distance of a sewer. No owner of alot should have the right to maintain a nuisance that poisons the air and. spoils the comfort and endangers the health of his neighbors, who have been taxed for the construction of sewers and have furnished themselves with “sanitary plumbinj little expense. It is monstrous that such a state of affairs should exist, and the cholera scare, or a touch of cholera itself, would not be too high a price to pay for permanent relic from such evils if nothing short of such avisita~ tion can insure their removal. kK. Yashington, Sept. 9, 1892. pe tise House Letter Boxes. the view of extending the, use of the WASHINGTON, D. ¢. SATURDAY, “SEPTEMBER 10, 1892—SIXTEEN PAGES. RECIPES FOR WOOING. Many Different Stylea. VARIETIES OF COURTSHIP. Suggestions for Winning Girls of| Sc" ‘were it of property. Even in = focother Tite the ofthe ame ald’ aes and 0} Chaticle: Like other useful and more or. less —— Possessions they were in ancient to & considerable extent monopolized by the rich, béing expensive luxuries to the poor. In ancient all the marriageable girls were At a fair, accordin; $6 Eterodotan, where, a ‘being exhibited ro | inspected by the men who wanted wives, they How to Catch an Helress, » Bashfal Girl, »| were put up for sale at public suction, First Literary Lady or a Widow—Likewlse a Sentimental Girl,a Proud Young Lady or an Actress—Some Matrimonial Curiosities. HILOSOPHERS AND other wise men have owned themselves in- debted for many frag- ments of strange and valuable knowledge to accidental finds on book stalls. It was while rummaging over the dust-laden stock-in-trade of a queer little basement shop devoted to the a buying and selling of literary antiquities and curiosities that a STaR reporter came across a little work entitled, “Love Making, or the Art of Being Popular In fact, it was » compendium of information as to how to woo, describing the ing the affections of women in every condition of life. With the notion that some of the rules given on this im- portant subject are likely to be useful and in- structive to bachelors contemplating matri- mony a few of them are quoted he: HOW TO Woo AN HEIRESS, “The principal difficulty in making love to an heiress,” says the book, “‘is to remove the im- pression that you are prompted by mercenary motives. Heiresses are very auspicious, unl their admirers are wealthy. "This is natural, in- asmuch as there are so many adventurers who make it their business to seek for women with money. These, however, are usually foiled. You must at all hazards remove tho idea that the after money. Refer to it frequently as ing a bar to happiness and conjugal enjoy- ment. Enlarge upon your own prospects and ability to maintain a wife. Tell her you would advise her on marrying to place her wealth in the hands of some trust company, subject to her own order. . TO COURT A SENTIMENTAL GIRL. “Study Shakespeare and get familiar with his imagery and pointed sayings. You will find in him an inexhaustible fund of material suita- ble for all occasions. Do not be in a hurry to Propose. | Benfimental young Indies usnally ike long courtships. With presents you must be sparing. A single flower will often be more highly appreciated than a costly set of jewelry, aswell a8 considerably cheaper. Choose for the time when the all-important question is to be puta calm summer evening. Walk with her to some retired spot. You may come to the point by addressing her in an impassioned man- ner as follows: ‘Oh, my sweetest Angelina! By the blue sky and all its crowding star, Llove you better, oh, far better than Woman was ever loved,’ &c. “The following would be very effecti wm © * A single star Is rising in the east, and from afar Sheds a most tremulous luster; silent night Doth wear it like o jewel on her bro’ And yet more like art thona jewel rare,’ &c. MAKING LOVE TO A LITERARY LADY. “To the true literary lady the duties of a wife, as relating to the management of house, rearing of a family, &e., are decidedly repug- nant. Better not talk to her of such matters. You must make every meeting with her a feast of reason and a flow of soul. you to be acquainted with all the new books. Gather up ali the Istest gossip relating to au- thors and the literary world. Always be well posted ou the main points of the principal re- views of books. Find out her favorite authors. Above all, admire the productions of her own | pen, and tise your influence to get them into print. She will probably not show much dem- onstrative affection. Marriage, if she consents to it, will be looked upon by her simply asa union of mind. HOW TO SPARK A BASHFUL GIRL. “The greatest troubl8 is to get on familiar terms with a girl who {s excessively bashful. In # majority of. instances, however, it will be found that her diffidence is only on the outside. Having obtained her confidence you can use your own discretion in asking her'to name the day, which she will usually leave toyou. ‘These bashful girls are dear, precious creatures, and when married make the best of wives. TO COURT A PROUD YOUNG LADY. “Make yourself familiar with her family af- fairs, and take care to know who among her an- cestors or relatives have figured conspicuously in the world. Let her see that you value position and ability above all things. In giving presents let them be of aagreat value as possible; they will generally be favorably received. Ap- proach your formal proposal indirectly and with delicacy. Ask hor what she thinks is a sufficient income to justify aconple in marry- ing. Refer to your own means of supporting a wife and paint your prospects in the brightest colors, Girls that are proud, even if they do not bring wealth, are generully very satisfactory wives. COURTING A DOMESTICALLY INCLINED GIRL. “Girls of this class are rare in these days of Progress and gocial reform. ‘ake care that she understands you to be a young man of vir- ‘tous habits. It would be well for you to have some notions about marketing and the prices of domesti ies. Let her see that you are earnest and industrious and that your tastes and inclinations all tend toward a home. You may bring this to her attention by refer- Ting to the lives of commercial travelers and others who are compelled by their occupations to be away from their homes; you can dwell ‘upon the mis- ery it would cause yon, to be 80 situated. _ For a present nothing can be better than some neat device of your own handiwork. In proposing assure her that itis no sudden sult of patient waiting and reflection. Finally tell her that she is the one and the only oue capable of making your hoffe happy. To WOO & RELIGIOUS YOUXG LapY. “Girls of a religious turn of mind are usually susceptible. You will not have much difficulty in getting an introduction to her. Chureb and Sunday school will offer opportunities for ac- intance without a formal introduction. It whe ¢ ce nary enter- prises. The popping of the question will come spontaneously at the proper time. MAKING LOVE TO AN OLD MarD. “In making love taan old maid you will do well to devote your conversation largely to domestic matters. Let her see that you appre- ciate the comforts of a home, and be sure to show disapprobation of those ‘who rush head- long into marriage without the guidance of ex- perience and the prudence which comes with years. Admire her neatness and precisoness. Speak to her concerning the merits of clergy- menyouare acquainted with. Do not be too enthusiastic in the praise of children. When onee you have gained her confidence you can indulge in a little sentiment; she will not abject r boxes Postmaster General Wana- | 7° position of such in- Yentors as desired to put up boxe at thelr own txpense to gives practical demonstration "ol their value. Acco: tests were made of four different boxes by the postmasters of St. Louis and this city. ‘The boxes approved will be exhibited at post offices by the and all post office employes have besa directed to factthate thele Imoduction, Housekeope’ to scheme | ay wil brag about an i HOW TO WIN AN ACTRESS. “The principal requisite for the courtship of anactressis money. You will have use for this all the time. These women have the faculty of getting through more money without ro fhihg to Show fori than any of Wele atrara: gant You can first attract her notice b causing to be inserted in a Sunday or ‘dramatic \per @ favorable criticism on her performance. File theatrical editor will be laudatory and en- ability to pay. tnfreduction, Wher abo Enave the notion ase trent ardent admirer, which all is easy. If, after ‘Sect owme upto te the wil whoa ete tion depart the first comer. ‘THE WAY TO Woo a wipow. Unless’ you mean business you had better She will expect | were put up the most beautifal, and the com- tition for them made them come high. ut the ugly ones were also to be provided for, and with them it became a question not how much the purchaser would give, but what he shonld receive ae a dowry. The extravagant pee Paid for pretty giris went to make up doweries of those less favored by nature. In Thrace the fairest ins were sold for tho benefit of the state,and the magistrates of Crete exercised the sole power of selecting | wives for the young men. In China it is considered so much of « public duty to marry and have children that a bache- lor of twenty is an object of contempt. Wives are purchasable commodities, and a beautiful woman of the upper class costs from $2,000 to $3,000. The marriage of the Soonga Tartars is determined by arace on horseback. The lady hava fair start. Ifshe permits her suitor to ‘take her she becomes his wife. In western Tartary women vary in price from two or three roubles up to 200 or 300, Every man has as manyas he can afford, and rich merchants have wires at different points they visit. In certain Siberian tribes the vride is carried at night on a mat to the bridegroom, with the ords “Here, wolf, take ghy lamb.” the Ostincs the husband can live with his wife at her father's when he has paid half the price set on her, but he cannot beat her without the father's consent nor carry her away until the whole price is paid. MATRIMONIAL CURTOAITIES. In Samatra the Battas have ax many wives as they please, generally five or six, who all live in one common apartment with the husband, each having a separate fireplace. Husbands purchase their wives of their fathers-in-law, gambling them away or selling them whenever they choose. In New Holland, before a girl ix given w her husband, two of her front teeth are knocked out. The happy lover then throws ® kangaroo skin over her shoulders, marks her with painted stripes of different colors, and orders her to carry hia provi- sion bag to his hut. Among some tribes of the Congo Basin the men take their wives for @yeur on trial, at the end of which time either party mayannul the contract. When the Catholic missionaries fried to abolish this cus- tom the mothers resisted, declaring it to be wrong that a girl's happiness should be risked by binding her for life to a man who might prove a totally unsuitable companion. In Dahomey all unmarried females are the roperty of the sovereign. Wives are a state monopoly, like tobacco in France. Once ® year all the marriageable girls are brought before the king, who selects those he wishes for himself and then sells the others to his subjects. Each man paysacertain price and takes whatever one the king sees fit to give him. This mon- arch has 3,000 wives. The King of Aehantee has 3,333, and the prosperity of the kingdom is believed to depend on his keeping up this exact number. ANTIQUITY OF PoLYGaxT. Polygamy was practiced by the patriarchs and was continued among the Jews as long as they remained an independent nation. the custom for every man to have as many wives as he pleased and could maintain. This Practice was common over « large part of urope until a comparatively recent though discouraged by the Greeks, prohibited by the Romans and finally interdicted by the Church of Rome. In Christian Europe, as late as the sixth century, it was enacted that any man married to several wives should do pen- It was ordained at the council of Nar- bonne that such clergymen as were the hns- bands of two wives might be pres byters and deacons, but should not be al- lowed to perform marriage or consecration. A lurality of wives was allowed in some of the European states in the sixteenth century. When Luther was applied to by Philip, Land- grave of Hexse-Cassel, for permission to marry @second wife, while’ living with bis own, the Princess of Savoy, he assembled # synod of six of the principal reformers. They decided that, as the Gospels nowhere in express terms com- | manded monogamy, and that as polygamy had been practiced by the highest dignitaries of the church, the required permission should be granted. eee *It Did Not Rust in the Potomac. To the Faitor of The Evening Star: While dredging the channel of the Eastern branch, opposite the navy yard, we dug up a most interesting relic in the shape of an old English gun. On the face of the gun is the coat-of-arms of Great Britain, immediately under this was R. G., 3, meaning George III, king. The gun had attached to it an old- fashioned flint lock, which it was thought by the executive officer of the yard to have been put on by our people after its capture. This gun was no doubt a pert of the armament of ‘one of the vessels burned on the approach of the Britich in August, 1814. A most important fact was also brought to light in the recovery of this gun, and that was the almost entire ab- sence of rust. Although the gun waa under water seventy-eight years it was in perfectly 00d and serviceable condition, ‘This dem- onstrates fully the non-corrosive action of the Potomac water, a most important fact in view of the efforts being made by the government to find a suitable station where the iron-clad fleet | could be laid up without deterioration. Experi- ments have been made at all of our navy yards with iron plates placed in the water for a_ given Jongth of time. The Washington yard showed the best results. The experience of the English gun should settle the question. ‘Tos. P. Moray. _— Questions for Somebody. From the Ladies’ Home Journal. Do you think you could love the young man who sneers at his mother and sister? : Do you think you could love the young man who does not take the trouble to look his neat- est when he comes to see you? Do you think you conld love the young man who forgets to remove his hat when he is talk- ing to you in the hallway or on the veranda? $,5'you think you could love the young nasa who is never thoughtful of your comfort, but only of his own? Do you think you could love the young man who, while professing love to you, speaks about you in a careless way? oo ¢ Under a Roof. From Judge. e ie Among | It was | eriod, } i | | } | | } | tl REAL ESTATE GOSSIP. Improved Methods of Transit om City Street Railroads. STEAM AXD ELRCTRICITT—MODERN APPLIANCES ARE QRADUALLY BEING ADOPTED BY THE STREFT RAILROADS OF THIS CITT—sOME OF ‘TRE IMPRVOEMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE CITY. 8 A WORK OF ART, If THE TERM can be used in such a connection, the new cable road is very much admired. There is no question of the utility in facilitating communi- cation between distant localities in the city. It is much more agreeable to ride in the cable is no feeling of wasted time, but also for the Fearon that the humane instincts of the pas- fengers are not constantly appealed to by sym- pathy with the vretched overworked and oror- burdened horse: The space occupied by the car tracks is clea and level with the pavement, thus offering no obstructions to the usual traiie of the streets. Altogether the new road, as an enthusiastic railroad man said the other day, is as pretty as No doubt it will prove es usefull as it nd will thus present the happy combiuation which is not often at- tained. The only other road in the city that 1s operated without horses is the branch of the New York avenue and the portion of the Ten- On the G street line the storage battery cars are used and this mode of transportation is quite as sightly as the cable road ai advantage of the ayatem of independent cars. When an accident occurs to tho cable the entire system must stop and no cnrs can be run, while if all the electricity should leak out ofa motor or for any reason it could not be ran the next car that comes along could pull the disabled ear in off the track and the traffic of the road would go on without interruption.- However, the motor end of the Eckington road doer not present a very neat appearance, as the cars are evidently too heavy for the tracks, with the result that the iron rails on each ride in places have sunk below the level of the pavement. If the road was kept iu better condition thie line would look equally as well as the cable line. Along New York avenue and on the High street road the wires are strung on poles and this fact will prevent a large number from seeing any beauty 1m those roads, THE UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC SYSTES. Tn the course of a few months a new street car motor will be in use along U street from | 18th east to 7th street, where the Rock Creek railroad intends to put down underground elec- tric wires. This aystem is similar to the cablg system, as there is a conduit in which the wire mveys the electric current from An apparatus extending down care through a. slot, like the grip on a cable car, conducts the electricity to the motor in the car, when it is transmuted into power. The only difference in the two systems ix that in the case of cable cars they are propelled by being attached to an endiesx cable put in mo- tion from acentral power house, while the under- grountelectricwire transmits the electric current which furnishes the power. The underground wire street railroad is in successful operation in Chicago and also in Buda Pesth, Hangar; It is fur superior to the overhead wire, but i more costly. However, owing to the pronounced sentiment against the trolley wires inthe streets of cities, the underground wire seems to be the coming street railroad motor in spite of the cost. The experiment that will be made here by the Rock Cyeek railroad will be watched with a good deal of interest by those interested in the other railroads, for all of them are look- ing forward toa change in their systems. ANOTHER MOTOR CAR LINE. The Metropolitan Railroad Company is now experimenting with a motor car, and every night or so after the cars stop running one of the new cars, glowing with electric lights, is started out and makes the round trip before turning in. Congress, at the last session, granted tlus company an extension of one year to perfect a system and equip the road with some form of rapid transit. SOME IMPROVEMENTS, The residence of Maj. John M. Carson, 1932 Vermont avenue, is to be remodeled and im- proved from plans prepared by A. B. Mullett & Co., architects, The dining room will be e larged and a back building erected. The same architects have drawn plat for a stone-front house to be erected on M street between North Capitol and 1st streets northwest. THREE NEW HOUSES. Another fine improvement for the northeast section is to be made on 12th street between G and H streets. C. A. Didden, architect, bas made plans from which N. Whitman will have built three two-sjory and cellr brick and stone houses, euch confhining eight rooms and bath, The fronts are to be Obio stone to the height of first story and press brick with Ohio stone trimmings for the other two stories, with stone and iron stoop to main entrance. The houses are 16 feet 8 inches front by 50 feet deep, in- cluding back building. They will be heated by latrobes and open grates and will contain ail the modern improvements, including electric bellsand lighting and handsome cabinet mantels. 4 NEW TOWN ENTERPRISE. Mr. C. W. Thayer of this city has just purchased a triangular-shaped piece of ground containing between ten and eleven acres ad- Joining Paeonian Springs, Va., which be in- tends to subdivide. Mr. ‘Thayer bas also pur- chased property at Paconian Springs, a eettle- ment on the Catoctin mountains in Loudoun county, Va., forty-five miles west of Washing- ton, three miles from Leesburg and in full view of the Blue Ridge mountains. Paeonian Springs has had quite a boom in the building line this summer, ten or a dozen houses having been built there and more are in process of erection. TEN NEW HOUSES. Architect C. B. Keferstein has started the erection of five two-story and butement brick dwellings at the northwest corner of Ist and C streets northeast for Mr. J. Karr. The houses will have j reesed brick fronts,‘with stone tri mings; will be heated by furnace and have electric bells, speaking tuber, &c., complete, The dimensions. ure 20 by 50 feet. L. Hanvey has the contract, Mr. Keterstein has also begun the erection of five three-story pressed brick dwellings at the corner of 4th and H streets northeast for Mr. R. H. Taylor. The houses are to have bay windows terminating top of eecond story, aud the corner house to have octagonal tower, with slate roof and brown-stone trimmings. ''The first floor will be four rooms deep, haying parlor, sitting and dining rooms, with kitchen and pantry ‘The houses are to Lave ali the modern improve- ments, RECORD FOR THE WEEK. The building record for the week shows a slight rally, although the permite taken out Were in « large majority for «mall houses. For the first few days the county took the lead, and it was thought by the end of the week it would show the greatest activity. About’ Wednesday there was a slump and the northeastern section went a booming. The southeast followed and almost caught up, while the northwest came in at the end of the week and them all, leaving the soythwest almost out of sight. figures for the week are as follows: Total per- mits issued, 59; aggregate cost, $174,950. ‘is was divided among the several seations as fol- lows: Northwest, 6, permits. | $58,400; south- west, 7 permits, $7,500; northeast. 12 permite, $50,000" ‘sontheast, 12 ‘petmits, ;€29,000, and county, 22 permits, $50,050. a Written for The Evening Star. Decision. Here was a battle fought! I may not trace ‘The master-skill and strategies revealed Betwixt the hosts that gathered on this field; I may not tell the final rallying place ‘Whereon their marshals hurried face to face, ‘The one to claim, the one to humbly yield. T only know that here self's cohorts kneeled To beg of love divine, a prisoner's grace. It was the old, decisive, sharp affray Of righteousness and wrong, whereto were drawn Causes with more than civil issues fraught; ‘But other men of other times will say, AS we, of Malvern Hill or Marathon; “Behold this place; here was a battle fought!” ‘ cars than behind horses, not only because there | ington onG street and the main line on! loytown road ulong High street, Georgetown. | d has the | PRESENT APPEARANCE GRAND ARMY PLA | Fall Plan of the Way in Which It Will Be Decorated, | Maj. W. PF. Michael, chai | mittee an of the com- decorations of Grand Army Pace, on which are to be held the corps, 1c | brigade and naval reunions and in which wil center the deepest interest of the thousands of | veterans who will visit the capital, hae com- | pleted his plan of decoration as follows: The | fagstatl tower, which | Of the ellipse,will be draped in stars | disclosing on ench side bust portrai | distinguished Union veterans, d stripes, f three The flagstaff tower has a base 48x8 fect, The | tower rises froma base of sixteen feet xquare | toan apex four feet equare, having a height above the ground of eighty-vight feet. From the top of the tower rises a eful flagstaff sixty-two feet, making 150 feet from the gronnd to the point from which will float the glorious flag of thie country. Ten feet above the base | on the north side in the center of the tower will be the portrait of Gen. Grant, ten feet above this picture will be the portrait of Admiral Farragut and ten feet above this will be the portrait of Gen. Sheridan. On the south side, cortesponding to the north side, will be the | portraits of Gen. Sherman, Admiral Porter and Gen. Logan. On the east side portraits of | Gen. Hancock, Admiral Worden and | McPhétson. On the west side portraits of | Thomas, Admiral Footeand Gen. Meade. be draped in red, white and blue. on. ‘ The ee j Airy tah THE FLAGSTAFF. The corps headquarters tents will have the badge of the cerps occupying the tent, made of Je-inch wood, handsomely painted, conspicu- ously displayed at each end of the tents, and over each tent will float the stars and stripes. | These tents will alto be designated by signs in €-inch letters. For example, the tent used by the firet corpsas headquarters will have its corps badge fastened to each end of the tent WHERE COLUMBUS WAS BOR: The King and Queen of Italy Attend the Fetes at Genoa. King Humbert and Queen Margherita, accom- panied by the royal party that went with them to Genoa, among whom are the ministers of state, visited the Columbus exhibition yester- day. An immense crowd was present in and ubout the exposition building and the king and queen received an ovation. Their majesties spected the American section of the exbibi- tion and afterward visited the sections occu- pied by special workmen who are plying their various trades. Subsequently they visited the section occupied by Catholic missionaries, where they and their party were cordially received by the archbishop of Reggio di Calabria, The ministers of state, all the municipal au- thorities and numerous’ members of the cham- tof deputies received the king and queen with much pomp and ceremony at the landi stage Thursday night and warmly welcomed them to Genoa. ‘The appearance of their majesties was the signal for renewed and more enthusiastic cheer- ing on the part of the great mass of people wino thronged the spot and struggled to catch a glimpse of the royal visitors, The carriage which conveyed the king and jueen to their desti owers of bow ion was pelted with iguets all along the route which was traversed from the landing place to the ce. The king and Sarl that evening attended a formance of Verdi's “Otello” in the Carlo Dense crowds thronged the ‘elice Theater. streets through which they were driven on their Yo the theater, and matifested their pleas- ure at the presence of their rulers by loud and hearty cheers, On the entrance of the royal couple into the theater the brilliant audience which crowded the house to its utmost limits Tose to its feet and received the king and queen with the most vociferous cheering, which was caught up by the immense crowds gathered outeide of the building, who yelled und shouted themselves hoarse. It was a splendid ovation, and the mass of people in the street were so tumultuous and #0 Persistent in their manifestations that the ing and queen bad to aptear on the balcony an graciously acknow! the salutations of their enthusiastic subjects beforeanything like quiet- ness could be restored. The cabinet ministers, the members of the foreign diplomatic corps and the admirals and other officers of the for- eign squadrons anchored in the harbor were nt at the opera and the house had a truly gala appearance. A beavy rain which fell during the even- ing spoilt the splendid illuminations which bad Deen for the occasion. In spite of | the stormy weather « large crowd waited outside of the theater until the perform- ance had been concluded, snd when the royal ry emerged the king and qneen were again recipient of a popular ovation. The bourse ‘and the custom house have been closed in honor of the visit and the in every way express their deep pleasure at and queen in the city. ‘The United States steamer Newark arrived at Genoa, Italy, several days ago to take part in Columbus fetes here. Among her crew was a sailor named Frank Reilly. He wasa liberty man Thursday and in the course of his journey- ings about the city he visited # lodging house Ws night kilied. it Youths’ Companion, has the following inter- esting conclusion: ‘‘M. Lelache having fired hie shot, it was now the turn of M. Boboche to die- apies the exact center | OF THE KEARSARGE. {and below will be the sign, “ black letters. THE NAMES OF TRE TENTS. | The reunion tents will be designated by signs jin ten-inch letters placed over the main entrance to the tent, and the stars and stripes mill oat from each center pole. Over the plat- form in each tent will oro ng portrait of the officer for whom the tent was named. These tents and their capacit, tent, capaci Sherman tent, capaci Meade tent, capacity Sheridan tent, capac pac it, capac 150 people. apacits 150 people. ngineer corps tent, capacity 150 Besides the tents named the following tente Will be indicated by signe in ten-inch letters and will be decorated with fings: Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac, Cavalry of the West, of the Army’ of the Potomac, Pro- orpa, Colored |, Prison- War, Sons of Veterans, Medal of Honor, Division, Naval Veterans’ Association, the Navy and Press tents, The K ensign and on from stem to stern with bunting, when she will be the most attractive of all the attractions on | Grand Army Place. DEPARTMENT OF THE POTOMAC. ‘The following adaitional paragraphs in Com- | mander Dinsmore’s order will be read with sn- | terest: VL Commanders of poste having bands or | drum corps will report to the department eom- mander for instructions with reference to time of playing, cadence of step, &c. They are also requested to meet with him at these hesd- quarters for conference in regard to the parede on Monday, September 19, at 7.38 p.m. Vil. The following posts have been organized in this department in addition to those en- nounced in paragraph 5, special orders No. 2: ET. Jenner, com Geo, U. Morris, No. 18, J 1892. tte, No. 20, Wm. 'W. Chambers, com- mander; organized August 31, 189 | VILL ‘The following appointments are en- nounced as aids-de-camp to the commander Perry H. Carson, Post 4; Joseph A. Burrows, 10; Joh Howlett, 11; Richard Weller, 17; Alexander Campbell, 17 M. Sullivan, 18; T. G. Haviland, 19; Dr. J. F. R. . E J. Sweet, 20; @ W. Hodgman, 20; Morris Curry, 2. R Tt. y will be obeyed end reepected eccord- ingly 1X. Department headquarters will be et the Ransall, corner 15th street and Pennsylvania avenne, room A 1, second floor, during @p- campment week, and comrades of this end + departinents are cordially invited to eal. Aids will be detailed to extend the courtesies of the department to visitors. X. On September 19 that portion of the White Lot south of the Executive Mansion, upon which corps reunions arg tobe held during the Grand Army encampment, will be dedicated, and will be known thereafter as “Grand Arm) é ‘The chairman of committee on reunions, Comrade Senior Vice Department Commander John McElroy, has charge of the de@icatory services,and it is hoped that all comrades of this department who possibly oan will pertici- pate. Further details will be announced in the local papers | ES NION MEN NEED NOT APPLY.” ) Reading's Rules for the Employment of New Hands, The comm&tee of employes of the Reading railroad, representing the engineers, firemen, | conductors, brakemen and telegraph operators, | called on President McLeod at the 4th street | ofiice of the company in Philadelphia. ‘The | Committee numbered twenty-four men, beaded | by Engineer Clapp, who is an employe of the | Jersey Central road. They were shown intothe | directors’ room, where Mr. McLeod, General Manager Sweigard and Director Geo. deB. Keim met them. The conference lasted for } Over an hour anda half. An executive session of the committee followed, after which Mi Clapp announced practically that the conter- ence with Mr. McLeod was not satisfactory and that there would be another and probably final ‘one on Monday. A member of the committee said it wasa | mistake to believe that the present trouble with | the Reading road was over the discharge of any Je rs, Itis over clauses in the blanks is- sued to applicants for employment in the com- pany, which read thi “Are you a member of « labor organization, and if #0, what one?” “If a member will you withdraw and refuse to support or belong to any labor if you take service with the company?” re vou Willig to become a member of the Philndelphia and leading Rehef Association’ Tho fight with the Brothertood of Locomotive Firemen. The men do not deride or underrate the power of the Reading | strike. They eay there around in the employ of the company, | wiping engines in round houses and | do: pumps, who are capable of running « locomoti' ther freight or passenger, ondit ompany counts on in the | case of astflke by the Brot of Engi- | is these that the neers Tepresentative of the newspapers who To saw him after the interview President McLeod | suid, in substance, that it wes stated the | committee that they had no grievance whatever | against the company, or any part of the system. “They want us to change our rules in refer- ence to the emplorment of new men. The par- | ticular omes they objected to are these: We do | not employ new except they join the re- | ef association, which has become one of the | very best tn the country with e very large surplus in ite treasury, to which the company con- tributes $75,000 a year, and, itm young, ; it is coming to « point, I think, when it will more of a benefit to its members than probe- insurance the bly any similar ‘association country. “They ask us to modify our rule, or discon- timue it al . With reference to the labor organizations. We do not employ any unless they show that they are not members of presence of the king | system tions with labor does yers keep cool dis hot