Evening Star Newspaper, February 18, 1893, Page 12

+o CHARACTERS IN TH E WATTEAU DANOB. IT ISNT PANTOMIME. But It’s What the English People AN OLD ENGLISH CUSTOM. The Strange Mixture of Concert Hall Gags aud Nursery Traditions That Has Been At- tracting London Families Since the Holi- @ays—II1 Suited for Children—English Fan. Beecial Correspondence of The Evening Star. Loxvox, January 31, 1898. 7NHE HOLIDAY PANTO- mime, which isso firmly connected in our minds with all that is English, with prim, long-locked, long-legged little girls from out the pages of Du Maurier, with gov- ernesses and with foot- men, who take their young masters to the pit, as Thackeray's George Osborne was taken, has by no means died out. It has simply grown into harmony with the surrounding life of England of the present day. Let us go nor o' my Tava. to the Theater Royal, Prary Lane, in the fourteenth year of Sir Aug stus Harris, ‘The piece has been running « full month. Night after night there continue to arrive bevys of dainty children, golden-haired misses in hig! waisted gowns and black silk stockings, and manly little boys with reiined faces, clear-cut as the profile on an antique cameo. They come with ir parents, the father, tall, square- shouldered, in his faultless evening clothes, the mother, with her ample neck and shoulders, showing the rosy flesh of English beef. Nightly there stand outside around ,the portico crowds ef the miserable poor, who are philosophical enough to take a pleasure from ‘this glimpse of fresh toilets. Night after right the gods in the top gallery sing out the choruses of music hall DADDY THUMB. songs from which the overture is cleverly patched together, aud night after night the cur- tain rises on the maltreated nursery legend cf “Little Bo-peep,” “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Hop O° My Thumb.” The first scene ts im the but of Daddy Thumb and witnesses a eonspiracy. It will be remembered that Hop 0’ My Thumb was a_child of great acuteness. When his wicked parents tried to lose him along with his six brothers in the woods the boys were en- abled to track their way home again by means of white pebbles which he bad dropped along the route. ‘Later in the evening bis mother sings, in explanation: Oar boys are deai, ‘anderstand— ‘Tarare-boom-deay? ‘The finest boys in all the land. ‘They havnt us nigh When to edt we took ‘em out. ag Peatched the tle creatures piss? They sang ieenrs Wot Seay This putting together of classical incident and English fn- cle verse strikes the key note of the modern children’s pantomime at Drury Lane. Throughout rou have the efent nursery characters, and throughout they are packed and salted down in modern London slang. In the hut, as the curtain rises, Daddy Thumb, who isa drinking man, arranges with his wife to lose the children over agein. This time Hep O° My Thumb has only bread crumbs v Bo PEEP (2188 MARIE LOFTUS). but he listens cheerfully with js naughty father woos them with the joys of Epping Forest, where they are to go on @ pretended pict ‘The verses are s bur- lesque on Kipling’s Qu the road to Mandalay, Where the fying fishes play; but the music isthe “Bean Feast,” and the humor smacks of London Punch. dies cea oe r Tere Siete way Epping, which lies acl It's there fad Jobnnt 7 po 27 pT armoire bag rae ae ~~ ~4 —_ ‘fweethearts, and they So ere not included. they*reas happy Ab, the life i brigh Down Bepine foreat way 7 ‘And the railway tchev's only just @ whiting for the ‘ AD, the life is brigbt and gay Down Ep: ing forest way" ‘And you'll very quicky wouder thai you ida" come At is black night. Outside the rickety but of Daddy Thumb the lightning flashes and the rain comes down in torrents; but the devoted who are all grown persons gotten up as Riding Hood make thetr a . fine young ‘women, ticked out ao Weteasn shopbordeeses; and we see that their history is to_be entangled with the adventures of the abandoned Thumb children. Here in the Arcadian dance we also make ac- uaintance with Miss Muflit, Juck Horner, Tom 1¢ Piper's Son and Dame Mary Quite Contrary leading a toy lamb by astring. “Yes,” she ex- claims, “I started in life as a Wattean shep- herdess. I thought I might , but alas! Where is my little crook? It's only ' good for handing down shoulders of mutton on Satur- day mghta!” It is a scone of creat magnificence, this Arca- dinn village. Whatever may be the faults and virtues of the libretto, and whatever may be the wrong headedness of this idea of fun for children, the Drury Lane management has gone to enormous cost of money in costumes and scenery. and has assembled together hundreds of the prettiest faces and figures on the Lon- don boards to make it attractive. In all that lavish expense can do it is nearly perfect, and there is no let up throughout fourteen elaborate scenes to the transformation at the end But DAME MARY QUITE CONTRARY. the dinlogue is, to say the least, unequal. Modern British audiences like to see kissing in burlesques and pantomimes, and it is thought to amuse the children. So Dame Mary Quite Contrary sings her famous song: “I Haven't Been Kissed for Weeks,” and they all kiss again and dance until the postman comes, WHERE OTHER NURSERY HEROES AND HEROINES HAVE A SHOW. The postman isa connecting link to hold this loosest of all plots together. He has a letter for Dame Mary, who as it now appears, is the mother of Little Red Riding Hood. Her mother, and consequently Ked Riding Hood's grandmother, is seriously ill. “From my mother?” the dame exclaims, open- ing the letter. “My aged, improvident and biackguard old mother! Hum! ‘Could you oblige me with a postal order for five shillings?” No, I coulda’t! (Reads again.) ‘Been very bilious lately, kindly send remedy.’ Right, I'll fix it! (Uses hand glass and a pom Come along, little lamb, I know I'm a little bit old for ashepherdess, but I wouldn't like it to be generally known.” Red Riding Hood has a familiar way of ad- dressing her mother. “What cher, good old ma? What are you going to back for the derby?” She is sent off with a basket of delicacies for her grandmother, and gete per- mission to wear her new dress because she has an appointment with her lover in the woods. Little Bo-peep makes herself known and sings a song concerning kisses so frank in its expressions that the flock of live sheep which accompany her make a break for the back of he stage, and the happy villagers escapee well. Prince Poppetty is left slone with the artless shepherdess, and asks politely: “Would you mind very much if I embraced you?” iw ‘ PRINCE POPPETTY. ‘The afternoon is growing Inte, and it is just time for the entrance of ‘Squire Oofless, who is gotten up like a sport. He sings “The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo,” and de- clares that he has come to award prizes at the Village games. The village games give room for # spectacle in the nature of a ballet; hundreds of young Indies pass by the footlights, in groups that rep- resent skating, tennis, shooting, boating, polo, swimming and a score of other pastimes. ‘There is no dancing to speak of throughout the evening, except when Miss Mabel Love, some- time of the Gayety Company, goes through one of her justly celebrated variations on the skirt dance. In the third scene the nursery tale begins again, to carry us on to the catastrophe of Red Riding Hood and the wolf. It is outside “The Spotted Sun,” a tavern, and the wolf, who is drank, refuses to gohome until he is’ given a “small lemon or a soda hot.” Kissing and get- ting drunk are the mainstaysof this pantomime. When his wife comes for him he makes one of those purely English puns with which the dialogue is peppered: “My darling, I've been to the Goose Club. I've drawn a proper goose. Proper goose? (Reads paper) No, this is our propaganda! I'm a socialist!” The wolves make off for the cottage of ed Riding Hood's grand- the: in the thick of the forest the birds are eatii up the bread crumbs which Hop O° My Thump The complain of being tired, fas every one | fold them for a wow po and Ag el AE RET Seas A THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D. ©, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1 a 8, 1893—SIXTEEN PAGES. By « clever stage illusion we follow him to the pk police station and they hasten to give themselves up for lost cbilaren In reality it is the home of a cannibal it. As they march the scenery shifts with them, ‘& vista of « palace beyond the THE NATIONAL GUARD Some Instructive Advice Published by Adjutant General Mosher. PREPARING FOR THE PARADE taking us, as it seems, th ‘many a bit of | Why There ts Delay in Publishing the Rifle English count », for scenic Practice Report for 1892—A List of High Pantomime is quite lon. As| Grade Sharpshooters—The Schedule for part of wegoon there is| many aw ell and fy nook, "In-one lis, the beeatiful Miss ‘Mofitt spooning with Squire Ooftess. Again it is Prince Poppetty and Bo-peep in their eternal embraces, with Iater on a picnic party com- — of Little Sally Waters, Goldilocks, Polly ‘kins and their gentlemen friends, and with champagne, cold chicken and other delicacies nd with the conversation still on Kisses, These are dispersed by the wolf to give place to Little Boy Blue and Red Riding Hood ina song that had the prettiest possible ‘music and very tn- nursery-like words. an we are treated to the farther pmenre *p and the prince, while Squige Offless makes lors to Dame’ Mary by mistake. He de- sires to elope with Bo-peep. ‘Come with m don't hesitate. Once on board my yacht! he exclaims. The dame replies (with a broad ref- erence to the adventures of the celebrated Mr. Wells): “No, thanks. No yachts for me. I’ heard of you Monte Carlo swells." When he discovers he is talking to the mother instead of the daughter he cri “Why, you boss-eyed, duck-footed kangaroo!” It is like this through- out the piece. The characters are ostensibly the traditional childish heroines and the panto- mime is professedly for children, but the lan- guage is the language of the Gayety bar, the Tace track and the life of chorus girls. Every now and then there attempt to get back to some real children's scene. ‘THE AUDIENCE. By tuis time ft is after 11 o'clock at night. Scene after scene has passed with never an in- termission. The children, who compose more than half the audience, sit enraptured. Among them, on the evening [ was present, were some youngsters of the royal family ina box. The grown people begin to yawn a little, but they are kept awake-by the horse play of the actors and by local political and other allusions quite ‘Above the children’s heads. The orchestra isa fine one, and the music is of a character to ap- peal to’ ordinary doners, rich and poor alike—that is to say, it is the music of the variety stage and the Lottie Collins genre. There are Yet five scenes more, in which the plot scarcely ‘advances a single step. In the Hall ofa Million Mirrors there is “Procession of Well-known Nurser} and Fairy Tales,” very splendid. Of these fairy tale processions there are no less than thirty, all done with the greatest magnificence. At the end, whether for the edification of the children or their parents, there is. the following conver- sation: Prince—‘Well, what do you think of it?” Boy Blue—‘Oh, not bad.” Squire—There is only one thing missing.’ Bo-peep—‘ What is it?’ Squire—“Retreshments, There is » lack of liquor.” ONE OF HOP oO’ My THUMS's BROTHERS. Dame Mary—“Yes, I feel a little dry my- self.” Prince—“‘What, ho! Bring on the fizz.” In the eleventh scene, which is really the eleventh act and is ouly reached a long time after mid: prince's palace, and the plot must also stand still until he finishes a music hall act that has to do with socialism anda recent midnight demonstration of the unemployed. At the cottage of Red Riding Hood's grand- mother the old lady is complaining because her supper beer has not arrived. The wolves enter and do away with her. Riding Hood makes her appearance with a bottle of cholera mix- ture ina flower basket. She is rescued by Boy Blue and they start off with the captured wolves for the Zoological Garden. Events now move rapidly. Scene changes after scene until we come to the one entitled “Home, Sweet Home,” and the winding up of all things. ‘The’ squire agrees to marry Dame Mary and make an honest woman of her. Hop 0’ My Thumb comes along with a rope around the giant's neck. Granny, who has been tampered with by the wolves, makes her appearance with one arm ina sling, one leg in a rest, and cov- ered with strips of ‘courtplaster. ‘The Thumb parents embrace their children and Little Bo- peep declares she is glad the sheep are lost, be- cause she is tired of them. Boy Blue—Your saying that spoils all the Poetry, Bo-peep!” Bo-peep—Uh, poetry! why, half the time that's spoof (humbng),”* What I go in for, my boys, not poetry, but “oof.” The word “oof” is modern Lond slang for money. This is perhaps the main lesson of the pantomime. Its slang and timely allusions are certainly more directed to who know the world than to innocent children. It is not very wicked, but it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. The pantomime of other days may have been as stupid as it was childish, and the ular display was certainly not so the world went better then. Sreeixe Hero. a New Interpretations, From the Albany Journal. In one of the Utica schools the other day, says the Observer, the teacher gave out some abbreviations for the children of « class to write. Among them were M. D., B. C., and B. A. When she looked over the papers of one of ly the indicated the pupils sho found that M. D. was scheduled “Physician,” B. C. referred to Period “Before Christ,” and B.A. was equaled by t, Daddy Thumb stands outside | enchor, but we cannot help believing that March—About Untforms—Notes. ——___ HERE IS A GREAT deal of of very sound advice in the memo- randa relative to the inaugural parade which has been prepared by Adjt. Gen. Mosher. The necessity for ex- traordinary attention to drill, and especially such drill as will be of value for parade work, ought to be evident to every officer and en- brigade. Here is the docu- Beapgvartsrs District or Covcwera Matra, Wasnrxotor, D. C., February 15, 1898. Memoranda relative to parade of March 4, By reason of the large number of recruits in the National Guard, constant drill and careful instruction will be necessary to enable the com- mand to maintain its reputation, or even to make a creditable display in the inaugural pro- cession on March 4. The commanding general desires that officers will, during the short time now intervening, devote themselves with un- tiring industry to the duties of their positions. Special attention should be given to the in- struction of recruits in such parts of the drill are essential for parade. This instruction must necessarily be superficial and irregular, and, therefore, after the parade the instruction of recruits must begin anew and proceed in the regular way as prescribed Ly the published drill cards. Recruits that do not acquire suf- ficient knowledge to make a creditable show- ing should not be allowed to parade—one igno- rant man will destroy the appearance and repu- tation of the best drilled company. Special attention should be given to Instrac- tion in marohing in double rank and changing direction. Nothing can look worse, nor cause more unfavorable comment from spectators, than a “turn” badly executed. ‘The changes of direction on the line of march of the inang- ural procession are specially difficult of execu- tion, most of them being quarter, half or three- quarter “turns,” and at one point a double re- verse curve has to be traversed. To execute these changes of direction creditably would be difficult for the most experienced troops, A ragged and straggling execution of them will be fatal to your reputation for drill. Officers should study tho ground carefully and drill their commands persistently. All commanding officers will at once hold special schools for the instruction of their offi- cers and non-commissioned staff officers in the manual of the sword, and in passing in review. Commanding officers of organizations that expect to appear in regulation full-drees uni- form should at once order waist belts and cart- ridge boxes to be blackened, waist belt plates to be polished and bayonet scabbards to be cleaned. Recruits, in addition to being taught the most essential parts of the drill, must be tanght how to wear their uniforms and equip- ments. On the manner in which the belt aud cap are worn depends the soldierly appearance of the man. When time and place of assembly are de- termined necessary orders will be promulgated, accompanied by such further memoranda of instructions as may be deemed desirable. Tuxropore Mosuer, Adjutant General. THE REASONS way. Quite reasonably it was expected that long before this, the sharpshooters’ crosses and marksmen's buttons won in 1892 would have been ready for distribution, but an error in the War Department is responsible for the delay, which may continue for several days longer. But the delay as to these emblems of skill is a Very sufall affair when compared with that ob- struction which prevents the completion of the report of the inspector general of rifle practice. November 80 is the date on which company commanders are required to turn in their re- ports, and quite « large number of the officers were commendably prompt. All but two of the reporte—company D, first battalion, and com- my ©, second battalion—were at brigade eadquarters on or before December 15. A little more than a week ago Capt. Miller settled up the account of company D, but Capt Domer has not yet been heard from. Until his pers are in there can be no complete report Yor the battalion; regimental and. brisede figure of merit should not be compnted with company C’s figures absent. But for this negli- gence the statistics of last year's work in the gallery and on tho range would have been made public nearly three months ago, ‘THESE ARE AT THE TOP. Interesting, especially to the experts, will be the scores made by sharpshooters who while only required to make $20 succeeded in beating 850. Of these there were 37,1ed by Capt. James E. Bell, inspector of rifle practice, sec- ond regiment, who has $92, or 8 less than the highest possible, to his credit. Next come Lieut. James M. Stewart, inspector of rifle practice, third battalion, and Corp. G. B.Young, engineer corps, with 390 each. ‘The others are: Col. Cecil Clay, commanding second regiment, 386; Pvt. F. L. Graham, engineer corps, 336; Sergt. Chas. A. Russell, company D, third’ bat- talion, 385; Lieut. C. Ii. Laird, inspector rifle ractice, second battalion, 384;’Q. M. Sergt. 8. . Rotramel, fourth battalion, 383; Lieut. T. 8. Tomlinson, company B, sixth battalion, 382; Corp. Maurice Appleb ompany B, third bat- talion, 381; Pvt. J. A. Kirk, company B, sixth battalion, 381; Capt. W. L. Cash, inspector of rifle practice, first regiment, 380; Maj. Geo. H. Harries, inspector general of rifle practice, 379; Sergt. C. W. Dickey. engineer corps, 379; Pvt. A. 8. McClain, company B, sixth battalion, 37 Corp. 8. B. Rollins, company D, third battal ion, $78: Pvt. J. M. Pollard, engineer corps, 373; Pvt. 8. L Scott, engineer corps, 373; Corp. W. E. Lombard, light battery A, 373; Pvt. C. L. Hinebaugh, company C, first’ battalion, 871; Lieut. T.S. King, inspector of rifle practice, fifth battalion, 370; Pvt. 8. B. Wetherald, en- gineer corps, 368; Corp. W. 8. Davenport, com- pany B, sixth battalion, 368; Sergt. Maj. P. W. Smith, sixth battalion, '365; Sergt. A. O. Hut- terly, ‘engineer corps, 365; Corp. W. G. Stew- ard, engineer corps, 364; a T. Pag company A, sixth battalion, 363; Corp. R. B. Smythe, engineer corps. 363; Pvt, H. H. Lei- zear, engineer corps, 363; Pvt. P. H. Devine, engineer corps, 363; Corp. G. W. Albertie, en gineer corps, 361; Lieut. L. T. Farabee, in- spector of rifle practice, fourth battalion, 360; Pvt. W. E. Colladay, engineer corps, $59; Lieut. F. W. Holt, engineer corps, 358; Capt. H. B. Cilley, adjutant second regiment, 355; Maj. Gilbert Thompson, engineer corps, 353; Pvt. K. P. Carleton, engineer corps, 352. Now, 48 TO FULL DRESS, ‘The customary inaugural parade order will soon be issugd from brigade headquarters. It will call fora turnout in full-dress uniform, but where companies are not provided with that Tamury they will, of course, wear fatigue. Bat neither the general staff nor the staffs of regi- ments are to appear in full dress, nor the staff of any battalion which is not equipped entirel with fall dress, all of which means that the and staff of the sixth battalion will be the only officers of the brigade who will turn out in their Dest and most beautifui garments on the 4th of March. It would never do for the regimental staffs to turn out in the glitter of full dress while part of the regiment was in its fa- tigue clothes, and for the same reason such action would be improper as to battalions. Of course the weather may upset the plans of those who now await with a trifle of impatience the coming of that day, when thay ape to be bean If it rans or snows or is very then overvosts must be worn sud as the average army overcoat effectually conceals main features of a full-dress outfit the good clothes would under such circumstances be laid carefully away in the lockers. This matter of overcoats or no overcoats will vy be I. The following schedule for gallery practice will be observed for the month of March, 1898: in Dattallon a Sa: commander: Gecond battelion—Company A, Tussday, March 14; company B, Saturday, March 18; carer S, Tuseday, March 28; company D, Third y A, Friday, March 3; com] oC, 1; company D, Sixth battali cesses Se Pye o, D, Thursday, March 23. First te _battalion—Comy day, are 6, company B. Prag ‘Mareh 10; . Wednesday, March 29; com: Dy Friday, March 30 iy First separate company, Monday, March 18. ont0ond separate company, Thureday, March Third separate company, Saturday, March 25. Engineer corpe, Saturday, March 11. Ae a and = field and staff = 3 and non-commissioned staff of regimen’ Friday, March 31. a ‘The field and staff officers and non-commis- sioned staff of battalions, the evenings assigned to company A of their respective battalions. TI. Practice for the month of March willbe at 500 yards; each man will fire two scores at this distance, and his scores will be recorded. Volley firing will follow the individual prac- tice, three volleys being fired by each organiza- tion, kneeling. A proper record of the results, to be entered in the company target record book, will be certified by the inspector of rifle practice, reported at the rifle TIL Companies will be gall mptly at 8 o'clock p.m. on the dates specified, in undress uniform, armed and equipped. In case of rain or snow they may be marched to the gallery without arms. Rifles will be cleaned at the close of practice, before leaving the gallery. IV. The rifle gallery will be open every day, except Sunday, from § to 6 o'clock, p. m., for voluntary practice. Ammunition will be’ fur- nished on the payment of one cent for each round. An inspector of rifle practice will be in Attendance, and, on request, Will certify scores to the captains of companies to be eredited as part of the required practice. V. The company of infantry mustered irito the National Guard February 11, 1893, is desig- nated third separate company. VI. On parades in undress uniform all dis- mounted officers will hereafter wear leggings of the pattern now worn by the enlisted men. By command of Bara. Ge. Onpwar. Turopore Mosner, Adjutant General. FROM THE “OLD THIRD.” The third battalion, in anticipation of the parade on the 4th of March, is having a series of battalion drills, and that the members respond promptly to the call was evidenced ‘Thursday evening; the armory, ample as it is, was taxed to its utmost capacity. Notwithstanding all remarks to the contrary the old third will parade on the 4th of March. “It will get there,” says Lieut, Columbus, “with both feet” (one after the other). The mang friends of Capt. Mahany will be pained to hear of his serious illness, which has now lasted ten days,and which at one time threatened to end fatally; his physicians at resent think him out of immediate danger. is ultimate recovery is strongly hoped for. ‘There bas been a revival of enlistments in the third during the past ten days, each com- pany in the battalion being alike favored, which shows a commendable zeal on the part of the members to keep up the prestige of the old corps. ‘A COUPLE OF NOVELTIES. Gen. Ordway is seriously considering the ad- Viability of substivuting black leather leggings for boots in the equipment of mounte! men. The idea is a good one and ought to be heartily welcomed by every one who has dragged a pair of cavalry boots around while doing dismounted juty, Another matter, interesting especially to members of the scientific company of the engi- neer battalion, is also being discussed at bri- gade headquarters just now. The company is at present armed with the cutlass, but it is an awkward weapon with which to parade, #0 the neral is endeavoring to find in a collection of uth American machetes a sword-like weapon which will do for display on public occasions. It looked last night as though he had it—a long straight blade, with an attractive-eppearing hilt and leather scabbard. NEXT WEEK'S RIFLE PRACTIOE. Rifle practice during the coming week will be in accordance with the following schedule: Monday—The general staff and the field and staff officers and non-commisrioned staff of iments. jesday —Company ©, fourth battalion. Wednesday—Company C, sixth battalion. ‘Thursday—Company D, sixth battalion. Friday—Company G, first separate battalion. Saturday—Company D, first separate bat- talion. XorEs. Those nal Guardsmen who will have spare time on their hands on the 22d may amuse themselves and secure valuable practice by doing a lot of voluntary shooting. The gallery will be open all day long. Company A, second battalion (Corcoran Cadet Corps), celebrates its ténth anniversary Wednesday night by giving @ reception at ational Rifles’ Hall. It is a card affair and promises to be highly enjoyable. At the meeting of company A, engineer bat- talion the company nominated Private F. L. Graham for appointment as acting captain, eg Mind Conversation. From the London Spectator. ‘Mr. W. H. Preece, chief engineer and elec- trician to the post office, has put up a wire a mile long on the coast near Lavernock and a rhorter wire on Flatholm, a little island three miles off in the British channel, Ho fitted the latter wire with a “sounder” to receive messages and sent a message through the former from a pow- erful telephonic generator. ‘That message on the mainland was distinctly heardon the island, though nothing connected the two, or, in other words, the possibility of a telephone between places unconnected by wire was conclusively established. There is a possibility here of inter-planetary communication a good deal more worthy atteti- tion than any schome for making gigantic elec- tric flashes. We do not know if we can com- municate by telephone through the ether to New York or Melbourne, with or without bles, but we do know that if we cannot the fault is in our generators and sounders and not in any prohibitory natural law. Will our habitual readers bear with us for a moment as we wander into another, and, as many of them will think, a supersensual region? ‘The thought in a man’s brain which causes him to advance his foot must move something in doing it, or how could it be transmitted down that five or six feet of distance? If it moves a physical something internal to the body why should it not move also something external, a wave, as we all agree to call it, which on an- other mind prepared to receive it—fitted with & sounder, in fact—will inake an impact having all the effect in the conveyance of suggestion, or even of facts of the audibility of words? Why, in fact, if one wire can talk to another connection, save through ether. should not mind talk to mind without any wire at all? None of us understand accurately, or even as yet approximately, what the conditions are; ut many of us know for certain that they have occasionally, and by what we call accident, been present to particular individuals,and that, when present, the communication is completed without cables, and mind speaks to mind in- dependently of any machinery not existing within itself. ‘Why, in the name of science, is that more of ® miracle—that is, an occurrence prohibited by immutable law, than the transmission of Mr. Freese "s message from Lavernock to Flat- see Millenniam Ode. ‘The volce that through Ta-ra-ra’s hall ‘Has boom-de-ayed so long, ‘Has gone to see where Annie calls, And ‘McGinty’s th ltt fi THE CABLE CROSSING AT FOURTEENTH STREET. WIRES UNDER GROUND Electric Cars to Be Run Without Overhead Trolleys. WORK NEARLY COMPLETED. Description of the System to Be Employed in Running the Rock Creek Railroad City Extension —An Ingenious Conduit — The Crossing of the 14th Street Cable Lii N THE COURSE OF } week or #0, if the | weather permits, peo- ple who want to go out to the Zoo or far- ther out along the line of Connecticut avenue extended can go by ‘street car the entire distance. At present | the traveler ts obliged to make such connec- tions as fortune favors with the car the city and the Rock Creek road, starts at Boundary and 18th street. This latter road has the right to build a line from its present terminus along U street to 7th street and thence along Florida avenue or Boundary street to North Capitol street. It could not pass tho limits of the city with the trolley, and #0 it has been hanging on the border with its line incomplete until now. Within the limits of the city workmen have been engaged in put- ting under the ground electric wires for the pro- | pulsion of street cars, and it isthe completion of this portion of the line that isnowsoon expected. The building of this section of street car line | is watched with peculiar interest. The entire | stance from 18th street and Florida avenue to | ‘7th street, where for the present the road willend, ig not more than a nd three-quarters. For this short road there is a separate power house, which is loeated on the hill at the head of 17th street, nearly a quarter of a mile away from the | tracks. The current is brought down from the wer house to the conductors under tha tracks yy insulated wires laid in terra cotta pipes. AN INDEPENDENT PLANT. The fact that there is a separate power house for this piece of line, when, as experts say, the power could just as well be taken from the wire that’ runs from the power house at the other end of the line. where the trolley portion of the road obtains the electric current, is only one of several facts that go to show that the road holds a prominent place in the interest of everybody that pays any aitention to the subject of modern street car motors. The general manager of the com- pany owning the patent which is being used on this road, Mr. Albert G. Wheeler, an active and energetic Chicago man, told a Star man who went over the’ tine in his company the other day that the only reason why a power house was erected for this section of the road was to show the opponents of the system exactly how much coal was consumed in 0} Baroad by the underground sys- tem. Otherwise Mr. Wheeler said that it would be claimed that it required practically | underground wires, | is tied down and the u by a very ingenious device. At certain inter- is adevice is inserted in the wire which atomatically yicldé when the wire is contracted and draws it up whon it is expanded. So it is claimed that through the heat or cold, | in wet weather or in drs, the wire still con- tinues to yield its force, which is used in making the wheels go round. The small bor who may wish to fish up some of the current to see how it looks in daylight will be obli to experiment cletwhere, for the reason that the slot is protected by the deep fianges of the slot rails, making it impossible from the out- side to reach the conducting wires. The con- duit has at intervals openings into the sewer, so that water which may gather in the conduit can readily flow off. ‘There isa feature of this road which will be highly appreciated by the residents along U street and citizens generally. The slot rails can be taken up withont disturbing the pave- ment. At the end of each block there is a man- hole which leads into a vault extending under both tracks and in the event that any section of the road is out of'order the current can be Tun on either wire. There will be no necegsity to change cars when passing from the portion of the road which is operated by the overhead wires to that which is run by the The cars will have an overhead trolley and an underground troller. | A car coming in from the country, on arriving at Florida avenue aad ‘18th street, stops oF pit which ir opened d closed antomati ‘The overhead trolley | ‘ound trolley is by means of levers lowered from the bottom of r into the pit and it is brought into contac the conductors, The car then moves | A GREAT PHYSICIAN'S WORDS, “No One Ie Safe From the Evil Effects of These Constant Changes,” je Saye—-Why the Death Rate is So Heavy—People Should Exercise Great Care—Some Sound Aa vice, ‘This te a very trying season of the year. Noone @oubts it, every one admits it, every ope feels it People are continually telling us that they feel “out of sorts,” or “under the weather,” and «che Ress is more common pow than at any other time. No one ts safe from the evil e tof the ui dealthy changes of temperature that are constautly taking Place, No may On) w listen to what we find i: useful in many e of the greatest phy! out to say and you ans in America tefe Bs there is but one way to act in order to escape many dangerous diseases that at band Feady to leap upon us like tig: never a reas, ie made tn the aystem. This ts what he aaya: “To preserve the health and strength see that | the liver and Kian overwork, Worty or exp son this lmporta is given Well-known propie w are beyond question. They speak (rom im the following words Dr. clan, | or any | son, which has not been perieuc made me n mmende properiy at all thmes. indigestion, fad a pen F action is checked throngh n this condition groani bad siate of health . are kept in good Working vr FOU say, A.C. Clark, sage: “lb wer KNOWN & f the troubles which arive nyitly of Warner® Sat -known New York phrsie fae ently Thad a most severe attack of nza arising from a cold, and the and also man iy and with the best posstt 4 ite use to very m. along, and it is eaid that the pause to make the | quaintauces duriug th n years wd it Bas ine change will hardly be long enough to be per- | variably proved en wdactory. It cured ceptible to the passengers. my brother of Bright's Disease and bas always been a cure for kidney troubles iM ali Cases that I CLAIMS MADE FOR THE S¥sTEM. At first the new part of the road will be operated as far as 14th street and thne the con- | struction will be continued to 7ch street. It is claimed for this system that it solves the prob- lem of how to prevent the waste of the electric | current by a complete system of insulation, and thata high percentage of the current utilized as a motive power. It is "so claime: that the cost of construction is «uly slightly | have known and w Ge: pape lent. AY ore Lhave recommen onge Alfred 1 arnersSefe Cure. 1 regard this coun ry, where Brignt's Disease and all other kidney dis rders are so prevae ‘old the coming on of disease while you may. more than that of an overhead system when the | NOW is the time and the way is clear. latter is properly constructed. ‘The managers, however, recognize that the trolley, as the over- head system is known, is supported by powerful influences, and no merit will be recognized in any other system that threatens the overthrow | of the overhead wire. However, they assert that this new road will defy criticism, and they | Propose to convince the ekeptics that they have the coming street car motor. The method adopted in effecting the cross- ing of the cable road is shown by the cut which accompanies this article. cable runs beneath the electric wire conduit. | In order to prevent contact with the grip of the cable the electric wire is carried beneath the | cable conduit through a terra cotta pipe. The | car on the electric road passes by momentum | over the crossing and on the other side the wire is brought up and contact is again made with the trolley.* The wire, or conductor, as it is called, is drawn along the upper side of the | conduit, on each side of the slot. > ing Star. OLD HINTS, Written for The HOUSs: LWAYS BRUSH A CARPET OR RUG with the grain—in other words, never brush it against the pile. Brushing it the wrong way makes the rug look rough and, I think, wears it out sooner. Dipping « broom in water before using brightens the rugs and keeps down the dust. If you use a damp cloth (one wrung out in water) in dusting the wood- all the coal that is used at the main ower house to run this sec- tion. Mr. Whoeler recognizes the fact that the underground system is locked upon as ‘THE ELECTRIC CONDUIT. still being in an experimental stage, so far asits use in this country is concerned, although he says that in his opinion’ there is nothing experimental about it. A line | is in operation im Chicago and the various features of the aystem have been so carefully worked out and tested that it is now, | he says, established as a commercial success, In speaking generally about his | Wheeler describes it as the trolley the wires carried under ground instead of wires strung on poles overhead. The trouble, he says, with the use of electricity is that the mechanical construction is defective. In this road be claims that the constraction is fret-| class, that it is simple and can be managed | by those who are not trained in the use of electrical devices. In view of the fact that.this road will be in the nature of a show road and will be subject to the criticisms of those who are afraid that the days of the over- head trolley are numbered, special pains have been taken to have the road ran smoothly from the first. Any one who walks out U street while the roadbed is sill uncovered will be impressed with the solid and substantial character of the construction. The method of building an un- derground electric road is much the same as that employed in building a cable road. Be- tween each track trenches are dug for the con- duits. It is not necessary to go the same depth as inacable road. ‘The difference in | this particular is illustrated at the crossing at 14th street, where the bottom of the conduit of the electric road is above the cable as it rans along in its conduit. The electric conduit is fourteen inches wide and twenty inches deep. ‘The rails are sup) on cast-iron yokes about four feet a The sides of the cast-iron conduit are formed | all with the kerosene. along order “for the movement Braye ti seats ashy fis ‘oolong wit oe attached by a jlnt the wrist, another like that of the lower arm and the third similar to the fly eet in lace, that they can’ support the Seite aon merce, In addition cee ace ‘effects of heat and cold is also guarded against work, window sills, &c., of your room you will find that it will look and keep much cleaner than if dusted with a dry dust cloth. Even the wooden chairs and tables and almost all wooden furniture look fresher and brighter after being wiped in this way with » wet cloth. Apropos of rugs, does every one know that common kerosene oil spriukled over a rug or carpet after it has been well beaten or cleaned ix not only asure preventive of moth but will actually destroy any moth eggs, worms or living insects that niay have been left in the article? I know this from actual experience. Two rugs made of Brussels carpeting had been put | Upon opening and ex- | away for some time. amining them it was found that the moth were there in every stage from egg to butterfly. We brushed and shook as well as we could, but it was impossible to be sure thatall the pests were ove. “ar following somebods"s advice I poured on the coal oil, thinking that in any caso the rag would be ruined either with the moth or the oil, Three months later the rugs were again ex- amined, having been put away in the imean- while. “To our delight and surprise there were | no livings! to be ween. A few dead ones | lay about and the rugs seemed brighter than before their coal oil shower bath. Now every yeur I put away not only Turkish rugs and curtains, but dresses, furs gand hate In the fall everything is whole and sound, only requiring a little pate the slight odor of kerosene ret ere is no stain or discoloration—au con‘raire—eversthing scems brighter and cleaner than before. To those who will try this specific against the moth that corrupta[ would suggest that with gowns, furs, coats, hats and other articles of wearing apparel the kerosene ofl may be poured on newspapers, which can then be laid between the clothing, the whole pinned or sewed up ina cotton sheet or bag. ERS a — ‘The > jew School of Journalis: From the Journalist. For some time the reporter on the Daily Prize Package had felt that $10 a week was but a miserable pittance for the amount of work he was doing. And when ata lxte hour he tapped on the “old man's” door, he had called to mind some good, strong, convincing arguments and these, backed up by rare persuasivences and energy— characteristics acquired by a long novitiate in journalism—led him to hope for a successfal | issue in his try for a raise. He found the editor seated at his desk in- tently reading list of expenses. As he sat dowi in a canvas-covered camp chair he caught sight of the heading, “Fat Woman's Bill.” When the editor had ceased to glance at the Dill and laid it down the reporter aaid: “I think, sir, that my salary is out of all proportion to my value ¢o your paper, and I want a raise.” the editor “Expenses are heavy ‘just now, said, “very heavy. You have probably no- and the ticed the fat woman in our window coupon in our paper that telix all who wish to lil Het Hi tilis t if i ry | As may be seen the | i ir a Rr ie K Roxb Roxbury Rorbary Rexbury joxbury “Koxbiury Roxbury Roxous Roxbury Roxbury Roxbury Roxbury Roxbury pury Roxbury RK Ke Roxbury Roxbury Monbury Bye ary ese a2 wees 2 wee CLEANEST. PUREST AND BEST RYE WHISKEY IN THE UNITED STATES. The only Whiskey that ts controlled exciMively by the Distiller, aud is over three years old before offered oa ‘the market. ROXBURY RYE ts made from the Chotcest Rye and Pure Mountain Spring Water, and, being absolutely pure, for ‘use it has no equal ROXBURY RYE js eold irect to Recall Trade. bat rennet te hed of Biclomin dsaiors, componnders, Feo: Tiere or biendre of wit The followine’ prominent Grocers sng Draceiciain Wastin elite Ashby & Co., Grocers, 3d and Esta ns ‘3 Barry Hangerford, 1394 oth st now KL. Lynch, Druewint, 1345 14th ne & Jones, 324 and Mets, HM. Conrad,irh pear D Albert BE. Scblotterbeck. Jersey ave. B,W. Office and Sales Warehonse 378. GAY ST., BALTIMORE, GPO. T. GAMBRILL. Prop. nM Law. Roxbary Roxbury ey Roxbury Koxbury ry Roxbury Roxbury OWE PR GASH. CREDIT. And that “one price” shall be (ower than similar qualities sell for in any cash Purut- tu House th Washineton. Can we say more? Our reputation goes out with every article we sell—and we will stand by it. if You buy for cash our prices are the lowest— if You prefer long timeand easy weekly or monthly payments you are as Welcome them as to the air you breathe, MATCH THESE PRICES IN ANY STORE IN WASHINGTON, Plosh Parlor Suite, 7 pieces, €22.50. Tisir-cloth Parlor Suite, 7 ploces, @22.50. olid Oak Bod Room Sutte, bevel gimss tm bureau, #13. ‘Six-foot Oak Pxteusion Table, 63.60. ‘Woven Wire Springs, 61.75. Brussels Carpet, per yard, 50>. 40-pound Hair Mattress, @7. ‘All the CREDIT you want—but not apenny @iscount for casi. No notes to sign—weekly or monthly payments. ‘We make and lay all carpet free of cost—a charge for waste in matching figures. GROGAN'S CRED HOUSE, 29, 1 AND G3 7TH ST. XW. = 80 a 7 4