Evening Star Newspaper, November 11, 1893, Page 15

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THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D. C, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1893—TWENTY PAGES. 15 TO REFORM GIRLS. in Good An Institution is Now Working Order, BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS DESCRIBED. A Delightful Location and Every Convenience Provided. THE FIRST INMATE RECEIVED. ee There is no longer ground for complaint that there is no institution to which in- corrigible girls may be sent where they will receive a liberal education and learn how to take care of and provide for themselves. ‘There is now a girls’ reform school and the institution is in good working order. The building has been erected after many years of hard work on part of the citizens to secure such an institution. For many years there were constant complaints about the ab- sence of a place where girls could be sent. They had been sent to jail or to the work house or set free, in the absence of the Proper sort of place for them, and finally Congress enacted a law providing for such an institution, and now the building is finished and the school is in good working orde>, with but one inmate. The institution is governed the same as the boys’ reform school, and, like the latter place, it affords its inmates a comfqgstable home, with good training. The building is situated on the Lough- Dorougs road overlooking the Conduit, and there are nineteen ac-es of ground at the disposal of the board of directors. Across the road from the building is what is known @s the upper reservoir, one of the most « Mrs. Matthews. Picturesque places along the line of the Potomac. “Vermont Battery” is the name of the ground upon which the building is built, a relic of the war in the shape of a fort being between the building and the Conduit road. The building is erected oa ground that is at least 15) feet above tide water, and from it is a splendid view of the Fiver and the hills along the Virginia shore. The new structure, although three miles im the country, has ali modern improve- ments, and there is everything about it that will assist the officers of the institution in giving proper instruction. It is the inten- tion of the managers to receive the girls and give them a home. They are not to imagine that they are in a prison, for there is nothing about the place to remind one of @ prison. with the possible exception of what is called the “dark room,” which is the place intended for the punishment of those who need a little discipiining. And even in this apartment there is plenty of light under ordinarycircumstances, but being known as the “dark room” it will peshaps be associated with the idea of a dungeon. ‘There is a large water tank on the top of the building, which furnishes a good supply of Potomac water direct from the reservoir, @ pump in the little house on the Conduit Foad being used to send the wate> to the elevated position of the t This supplies the bath rooms and kitchen, and affords ample supply for the service infended to protect the building against a possible con- flagration. In several convenient places large rolis of hose are deposited near the pipes, which can be used at a moment's notice, but they are to be used only in case of fice. Then, too, the water supply extends to the stable, which is between the main building and the pump house,where a large- sized tank in the ioft hclds water enough to protect the animals against thirst. The Interier of the Building. In the cellar of the main building ts the @ry-closet system, besides four large fur- maces, a bath room, store rooms and pure air chambers or ventilating stacks. These stacks are perfectly clean and are white- washed, the lime serving as a disinfectant. On the first floor, which is several feet above the ground, are rooms which show almost the entire workings of the school. Just inside the main entrance ts the office, while adjoining it is the reception room. Just across the hall is the sleeping room of the superintendent, Mrs. Matthews, who is always on hand to receive gye: whether they come by order of the court or of their own free will. Just around the corridor is the main school room, where the inmates ve it the appearance ol room. In the center n this floor is the dining m or more girls may dine at one time without least bit of crowding. In the rear of this is the kitchen and wash An extra large range occupies one enl of t cious room, where food is Prepared for the ocupants of the officers’ quarters, as well as for the inmates. ‘The Dormitories. Going to the second floor there is a suc- cession of i rooms eleven feet long by six fect wide, and in these the girls Will sleep. Each room a window and spring bed, with white 1 apartments tempt- seer who happens to The quarters of the and his wife, who is the apartments of the Neal, and the teacher rich, are on this floor, and bath rooms. small sleeping rooms on titution. » second floor. On the third ¢ or there are nine sleeping rooms and the lark room.” The sleeping rooms on this floor are somewhat larger than those on the floor below, and it ts the intention of the matron to reward the good ones by giving them these rooms, where they will be are cl as bad or v such girls reach the this floor ts the tank. floc institution. As on the or, the rooms are all weil lighted and ventilated. Bat One Inmate Now. Above lower While everything is in readiness for the reception and training of the young girls who are sent there, as already stated, there is only one inmate just at present, and her name is Lulu or Louise Harrison, the color- ed girl recently arrested for thefts at the Wallach schcol building in East Washing- ton. She went through the regular routine adopted for inmates, although she did rot fancy the bath, as {t was perhaps so much @f @ surprise to her. She had first to under- in which are two long tables, wher | There | go a medical examination in order that the do ght tell of her physical condition and prescribe for her if necessary. Then when she was turned over to the matron a visit to the bath room was necessary. Louise made no objection to going and she j readily removed her garments in order that they might be fumigated and repaired and put away for her, and also that she might put on her suit of blue provided for her by the institution. Objected to the Bath. The water was turned into the bath room, where towels and soap were handy. Into the little room the girl walked and then the matron closed the door. A terrible splash- ing was heard, and looking through the hole in the door the matron discovered Louise standing beside the tub making the noise with one of the towels. She was evi- dently afraid of the water, but she had to go in, and when she came out a changed girl she felt lighter and appeared changed in spirits. Altogether she was much hap- pier and the matron assigned her to a room on the second floor. Notwithstanding the fact that she figured in police circles 80 frequently, Louise has a good idea of house- work and is an apt scholar at the sewing machine. She rises in the morning at the first ringing of the bell and goes about her routine work without instructions each morning. The Regular Routine. All the scholars will have to go through this routine. During the morning hours they will be required to attend to their rooms and then work in the kitchen and spend some time sewing, elther by hand or at the machine. At noonday they will be given a iensthy recess for play and rest and in the after- noon their time is to be spent in the school room. Thus the scholars will be given in- structions in all branches of housework and sewing and at the same time they will spend about three or four hours each day 4m the school room. Everybody in the building is expected to rise at 9:0 o'clock, so that all the chamber work may be finished before breakfast time, which is 7 Lunch is served at noon and dinner at At this season of the year the retiring bell is sounded at 7:30 o'clock, but in the summer time it will be an hour later. When a number of scholars reach the school it is the intention of the matron to offer some inducements for good behavior and advancement in housework, studies and sewing. In order to get the girls to the highest possible standerd these inducements are to be offered, one of them being a cos- tume entirely different from the blue suit that is to be the uniform of the scholars. This, it is thought, will work a great ad- Vantage, as even the young girls of this class are fond of dress, and will undoubt- edly do all in their power toward bettering their appearance. Work on the Grounds. While the superintendent, matron and teachers are looking after the inside work- irgs of the institution, the overseer is see- ing to the heavy work in the building and is making preparations outside for raising all the vegetables that will be needed for the dining room during the coming year. The jarge inclosure about the building has been constructed into an excellent play ground, and as soon as the weather will admit the fields will be put in readiness for raising early spring vegetables. This week the ground has been cleared and enough wood gathered to supply the fur- haces all the winter. In the field in rear of the main building a supply of large heads of cabbage have been planted from a neigh- boring farm, and when the cabbage are gone there will be cabbage sprouts for the spring. Overseer Barry expects to e a full-fledged farmer next summer, and will supply fresh vegetables all the year round, ia order that there may be no danger of sickness resulting from eating products of the soil that are not fresh. The stable is a brick structure, with all modern itnprovements, and on the second floor is the sleeping apartment of the la- borers. In this provision is made for fire and the quarters are very comfortable. There is room on the ground floor for what stock is needed, in addition to room for ve- hicles and farming implements. Two cows furnish milk for the institution now, and later on the overseer expects to make but- ter enough to supply the table. The pump house is facing the Conduit road, and is situated just this side of the houses con- nected with the reservoir. The School Organization. The school was organized under an act of Congress of July 9, 1888, and provides for the care of girls under eighteen years. Members of the board of trustees selected the site upon which the building stands. For more than forty years the property was virtually abandoned. It was originally owned by a navy agent,who became indebt- ed to the United States and turned over the property in part payment of the debt. The hoard of trustees. as at present or- ganized, is composed of W. C. Fi president; Mill: secretary Hood, Chapin Prown, H. Sidney Evart, Thos. P. Morgan, Mrs. Dr. Stowell, Mrs. James A. Bates and Mrs. Enoch Totten. uperintendent, Mrs. M. T. Matthews. Matron, Mrs. Alberta Barry. Teachers, Mrs. Jessie Aldrich and Miss Sarah H. Neal. The board of trustees have decided to admit visitors on Thursdays, and friends and relatives of the scholars will be per- mittet to visit them once a month when the deportment of the scholar is good. — MEANS TO BE A KING. Baron Harden-Hickey, Who Will Set Up a Monarchy for Himself. Several days ago was announced the de- termination of Baron James A. Harden- Hickey, son-in-law of J. H. Flagler, the Standard Oil millionaire, to found a colony on Trinidad Island, three days’ sailing east- ward from the coast of Brazil. The place selected is in south latitude 20 degrees 30 minutes and west longitude 29 degrees and 22 minutes. The baron discovered the is!and himself, and there he proposes to set up a monarchy for himself. He nad taken passage frum France in the sailing vessel Astoria, bound westward around the Horn. She met Lasty Weather and was driven nar ‘trtaidad. ABs she had been long deiayed und needed fresh Water they waited for a calm day and put in- to the diilicult harbor. Baron Harden-Hickey made some eXpiorations, enough to set the present project to work in his mind. He ;found on the highland, which forms the center of the island, traces of two attempts that had been made to colonize there. Both were over a century ago, the first being English and the second a Portuguese penal settlement. Since the failure of the second settlement no one has tried to live on the island and no nation has included it in the list of its pessessions. The baron found it almost in its natural state, with flocks of wild fowl and myriads of turtles, both having come there for breeding purposes. The Astoria went on her way and the baron took up other affairs. It has been five years since he visited the island, but ke | has never lost sight of the idea that came to him and was confirmed when he found no nation had any claim to the place. Now matiers are in such a shape that with the coming spring the baron hopes to set about | the founding of his kingdom, and this time | a year he expects to see it in full blast. | Aside from his present enterprise Baron Harden-Hickey is a very interesting man. He comes of one of those Irish families that fled with the Stuarts to France and became Frenchmen. He is a poet, novelist, jour- nalist, dueiist, soldier, sailor. He has known | Poverty, and he now knows what It means to enjoy great wealth. He has been every- where and has done almost everything, and yet his apnetite for adventure, for hardship, is unsatisfied. He was educated in the College of Jesuits at Namur, Bel- gium, and afterward at Leipsic, where he learned to fight duels. When he was nine- | teen he entered the French Military School t. Cyr, but left when his father died, He devoted himself to writing and to the study of sculpture. Beginning with 1876, he published many novels and poems. —see He Had Been a Martyr, Too. | From Puck. \ Fen \ SS Elder Waters—“Oh, Deakin! ay heart aches wren I thinks of the sorrers of them thair Foxes Martyrs. Nobod: has ever sich suffering.” sisaiiahaads Deacon Snively—“I dunno; my secon’ wife ust ter sleep in her curl papers: THE CASE OF HAWAII. Secretary Gresham Submits His Views to the President LOOKING 10 THE QUEEN'S RESTORATION The Position Strongly Condemned by Ex-Minister Stevens. SENATOR MORGAN’S COMMENT —$_+—__ As was stated in yesterday's Star, the Ha- walian question engaged the principal share of the cabinet at its meeting yesterday. A report on that subject prepared by Secre- tary Gresham was read and carefully con- sidered, with the result that the Secre- tary w&s advised to make it public before the action of the government in the matter became known through advices from Hono- lulu. It is expected that the next mail from the island will show what has been done by Minister Willis and Admiral Irwin in execution of the new policy of the ad- ministration and its effect upon the people directly affected by the change. Secretary Gresham's report is addressed to the President, and although it does not say so, it is assumed to embody the sub- stance of the instructions by which our diplomatic and naval representatives at Ha- wall will be governed. The report opens with a historical review of events preced- ing, surrounding and following the estab- lishment of the present provisional govern- ment of Hawaii. Facts Said to Be Established. The Secretary states that the full and im- partial reports submitted by Hon. James H. Blount, special commissioner to the Ha- walian Islands, established these facts: Queen Liliuokalani announced her inten- tion on Saturday, January 14, 1898, to pro- claim a new constitution, but the opposi- tion of her ministers and others induced her to speedily change her purpose and make public announcement of the fact. At @ meeting in Honolulu late on the afternoon of that day a so-called cummittee of pub- lic safety, consisting of thirteen men, being all or nearly all present, and a majority of whom, including five Americans, were aliens, was appoinied to consider the situa- tion and devise ways and means for the maintenance of the public peace and the protection of life and property. This committee met on the 15th or the forenoon of the 16th and resolved, among other things, that a provisional government be created “to exist until terms of union with the United States of America nave been negotiatei and agreed upon.”" At a mass meeting, composed largely of aliens, which assembled at 2 p. m. on the last-named day, the queen and her support- ers were condemned and denounced, and the committee was continued and all its acts approved. Later the same afternoon the committee addressed a letter to John L. Stevens, the American minister at Hono- lulu, stating that the lives and property of the people were in peril and appealing to him and the United States forces, at his command, for sistance. This commvni- cation concluded: ‘We are unable to pro- tect ourselves without aid, and therefore hope for the protection of the United States forces.” United States Marines Landed. On receipt of this letter Mr. Stevens re- quested Capt. Wiltse, commander of the United States steamer Boston, to iand a force “for the protection of the United States legation, United States consulat2 and to secure the safety of American iife and property.” The well-armed troops were properly landed and marched through the quiet streets of Honolulu with two ‘iatling guns to a public hall, previously secured ty Mr. Stevens for their accommodation. ‘his hall was just across the street from the government building and in plain view of the queen's palace. The governor of the island immediately addressed to Mr. Stevens a communication protesting against the act as an unwar- ranted invasion of Hawaiicn soil and re- minding him that the proper authorities had never denied permission to the naval forces of the United States to land for drill or any other proper purpose. About the same time the queen's minister of foreign affairs sent a note to Mr. Stevens asking why troops had been landed and in- forming him that the proper authorities were able and willing to afford full protec- tion to the American legation and all Ameri- can interests in Honolulu. Only cvyasive replies were sent to these communications. Provisional Government Established. While there were no manifestations of excitement or alarm in the city, and the people were ignorant of the contemplated movement, the committee entered the gov- ernment building after first ascertaining that it was unguarded, and one of their number, a citizen of the United States, read a proclamation declaring that the existing government was overthrown and a provi- sional government established in its place, “to exist until terms of union with the United States of America have been nego- tiated and agreed upon.” No audience was present when the proc- Jamation read, but during the reading forty or fimy men, some of them indiffer- ently armed, entered the room. The execu- tive and advisory councils, mentioned in the proclamation, at once addressed a commu- nication to Mr. Stevens, informing him that the monarchy had been abrogated and a provisional government established. On receipt of this letter Mr. Stevens im- mediately recognized the new government, and, in a note addressed to Sanford B. Dole, its president, informed him that he had done so, The Queen Deposed. The same afternoon the queen, her min- isters, representatives of the provisional government and others held a conference at the palace. Refusing to recognize the new authority or surrender to it, she was in- formed that the provisional government had the support of the American minister, and, if necessary, would be maintained by the military force of the United States, then present; that a demonstration on her part would precipitate a conflict with that force; that she could not, with the hope of | guccess, engage in a war with the United States, and that resistance would result in useless sacrifice of life. Mr. Damon, one of the chief leaders of the movement, and afterward vice president of the provisional government, informed the queen that she could surrender under protest, and her case would be considered later at Wash- ington. Believing that, under the circum- stances, submission was a duty, and that her case would be fairly considered by the President of the United States, the queen finally yielded and’ sent to the provisional government a paper in which she stated: “That I yield to the superior force of the Jnited States of, America, whose minister plenipotentiary, his excellency John L. Stevens, has caused United States troops to be landed at Honolulu and declared that he would support the provisional govern- ment. “Now, the government of the United States shall, upon the facts being presented to it, undo the action of its representative and rein- state me and the authority which I claim as the constitutional sovereign of the Ha- walian Islands.” What Minister Stevens Reported. In his dispatch to Mr. Foster of January 18, describing the so-called revolution, Mr. Stevens says: “The committee of public safety forthwith took possession of the gov- ernment building, archives and treasury, and installed the provisional government at the head of the respective departments. This being an accomplished fact,I promptly recognized the provisional government as the de facto government of the Hawaiian Islands.” In Secretary Foster's communication of February 15 to the President, laying before him the treaty of annexation, with the view to obtaining the advice and consent of the Senate thereto, he says: “At the time the provisional government took possession of the government building no troops or officers of the United States were present or took any part whatever in the proceedings. No public recognition was accorded to the provisional government by the United States minister until after the queen's abdication and when they were in effective po: sion of the government building, the archives,the treasury, the bar- racks, the police station, and all the poten- tial machinery of the government.” to avoid any collision of armed | forces and, perhaps, the loss of life, I do, | under this protest and impelled by said | | proved form was, it appears, the work force, yield my authority until such time as | 2 8, DP ofa Similar language, continues the report, is found in an official letter addressed to Secretary Foster on February 3 by the | cial commissioner sent to Washington by the provisional government to negotiate a treaty of annexation. These statements are utterly at variance with the evidence, documentary and oral, contained in Mr, Blount’s reports. They are contradicted, says Secretary Gresham, by declarations and letters of President Dole, and other annexationists, and by Mr. Stevens own verbal admission to Mr. Blount. “It is fair to say that Secretary Foster's statements were based upon information which he had received from Mr. Stevens and the special commissioners, but I am unabl to see that they were deceived.” So says Secretary Gresham. “The troops were landed not to protect American life and Property, but to aid in overthrowing the existing government. Their very presence implied coercive measures against it.” The Secretary’s Conclusions. Secretary Gresham concludes his report as follows: “The earnest appeals to the American minister for military protection by the offi- cers of the provisional government, after it had been recognized, show the utter absurd- ity of the claim that it was established bya successful revolution of the people of the islands. These appeals were a confession by the men who made them of their weak- ness and timidity. Courageous men, cun- scious of their strength and the justice of their cause, do not thus act. “It is not now claimed that a majority of the people having the right to vote under the costitution of 1887 ever favored the existing authority, or annexation to this or any other country. They earnestly desire that the government of their choice shall be restored, ard its independence respected. “Mr. Blount states that while at Honolulu he did not meet a single annexationist who expressed willingness to submit the ques- tion to a vote of the people, nor did he talk with one on that subject who did not insist that, if the islands were annexed, suffrage should be so restricted as to give complete control to foreigners whites, and repre- sentative annexationists have repeatedly made similar statements to the undersigned. “The government of Hawaii surrendered its authority under a threat of war, until such time only as the government of the United States, upon the facts being presented to it, should reinstate the constitutional sovereign, and the provisional government was created ‘to exist until terms of union with the United States of America have been nego- tiated and agreed upon.’ “A careful consideration of the facts will, I think, convince you that the treaty which was withdrawn from the Senate for further consideration should not be resubmitted for its action thereon. “Should not the great wrong done to a feeble but independent state by an abuse of the authority of the United States be undone by restoring the legitimate government? Anything short of that will not, I respect- fully submit, satisfy the demands of justice. “Can the United States consistently insist that other nations shall respect the inde- pendence of Hawaii while not respecting it themselves? Our government was the first to recognize the independence of the islands, and it should be the last to acquire sov- ereignty over them by force and fraud.” The above report to the President was made October 18, but its publication was not authorized until yesterday. Senator Morgan's Comments. Senator Morgan, chairman of the com- mittee cn foreign relations, was at first averse to discussing the matter owing to the position he held, but finally, speaking, as he said,conservatively upon what seemed to be the logic of the situation, he said: “Before expressing any opinion as tv what is the attitude of the United States on this question, and how far it is to be justified, I would like to know to whom Minister Wil- lis was accredited when he was sent by this government to the Hawaiian Islands, After the provisional government was es- tablished there, the President of the United States recognized it as the government de jure by sending Mr. Blount to confer with President Dole. While Mr. Blour was there the troops were ordered back and the flag of the United States, flying over the barracks where the troops were stationed, was hauled down. This merely indicated to my mind, at least, that the bivouac of the troops had been broken up and they had returned to their quarters on shipboard. That act was not the withdrawal of an in- tervention on the part of the United States except for the preservation of the peace and the protection of American citizens on the islands. I never understood it was the assertion of sovereignty by the United States over the islands and I cannot under- stand why the withdrawal of troops under such circumstances could be construed as a withdrawal of the moral support of the United States to the government existin: there, unless the United States had mvade® Hawaii and assumed sovereign jurisdiction, which was not the case. The United States did not intervene to establish a provisional government in Hawaii. It only intervened to preserve the peace and protect American citizens. It withdrew the troops, leaving the provisional government in full, peace- able and uninterrupted possession as the sovereign power of those islands. To in- terfere now to reinstate the queen would, under the circumstances, be simply the re- establishment of a monarchy, without any other excuse than the mere assertion of its legitimacy as compared with that of the provisional government.” Ex-Minister Stevens’ Strong Langunge A dispatch from Augusta, Me., quotes Mr. John L. Stevens, late minister to Hawaii, as follows on the subject of Secretary Gres- ham's report: “The position to which Secretary Gresham has seen fit to commit himself is so extra- ordinary, so void of a real foundation of truth, so calumnious of the living and the dead, that I have no extended reply to make at this time. I prefer to let time and events and history decide as to the issue the Secretary has raised against the provisional government and the aspersions he sees fit to cast on the deceased captain of the Bo: ton, the officers under his command and myself. The way the United States minis- ter and the officer of the Boston discharged their responsibilities at Honolulu in Janu- ary last was more than covered by Secre- tary Bayard’s instructions, approved by President Cleveland, of July 12, 1887. retary Gresham has allowed his party pre- judices and animosities to raise an issue which Congress, a full sifting of facts and an intelligent public opinion will determine justly.” +04 Some Anctent Locks. From the London Daily News. In discoursing of locks and safes before the students of Nottingham University College, Mr. G. H. Chubb had much to say upon an interesting subject. It is curious that in the wooden Egyptian locks of re- mote antiquity many germs are found of tne essential features of good modern locks. In China, where few things change, a well- defined Roman style of padlock is to this aay in almost universal use, but whether the Chinese copied the Romans, or the no- tion by some means found its way from China to Rome, are questions it would puzzle a Beckmann to determine. The sim- ple device of having the hollow stem or pipe of a key open at each end, so that dirt or other obstruction could be pushed through, is as old as the Roman empire. Nevertheless, hardly a year passes without some enthusiastic inventor rediscovering it and offering to part with his idea for a large money consideration. Generally speak- ing, it is at the commencement of the medi- aeval period that we begin to find keys like our own. The old puzzle padlock in its im- Frenchman named Regnier at the end of the last century. The famous Chubb lock, invented and patented in 1818 by the lec- turer's grandfather and great uncle, owed its notoriety chiefly to its containing a mechanism called a “detector,” by means of which the owner could tell if any one had attempted to open it with a false key. Its details are so numerous and varied that it is said to be easier and cheaper to make two of them to differ than to make two alike. ——+2+____ Wellington and Thiers, From the Spectator. That spelling is not the necessary attri- bute of cleverness, or inability to spell the necessary mark of a fool, is plain enough. No one who thinks for a minute or two on the matter will fail to remember that he knows one or two men who cannot write the simplest note without misspellings, and that these are by no means the most stupid of his acquaintances, but often the clever- est. The Duke of Wellington, it is notorious, could not spell, and there have been plenty of other men of his mental caliber quite as illiterate. Some one has lately collected a list of distinguished Frenchmen who could not spell, and heads it with Thiers— who, though not a genius, was certainly one of the cleverest men that ever lived. ‘Thiers never could manage to spell his na- tive language, though as a writer he was correct encugh. FADS AND FANCIES. Some Suggestions for Making Life More Attractive. THE EFFECT OF SURROUNDINGS. | The Pretty Maid and the Picture Gown. A NOVEL ENTERTAINMENT. Written for The Evening Star. If people could be convinced that color has a decided influence on their lives they would not select such gloomy, monotonous wall papers as they often do. Life has so many troubles from which it is impossible to escape, it seems a pity to make our homes dismal with a collection of “low tones” in carpets and decorations. In decorating a house it is better to avoid blunders by consulting a professional dec- orator, if possible. Amateur decorating is like amateur doctoring and will making. It is possible in any one of these to make a fortunate hit, either in “doing a house,” administering some physic from the family medicine chest or even in dispensing with @ lawyer's services if one’s last will and testament is a simple one; but it is only reasonable to suppose that those who have given their lives to any profession must know a hundred things that escape the mere novice, and are consequently able to avoid the blunders into which the un- initiated so easily fall. In wall paper, for instance, a pattern that you like on the frame or in the sample books may be a disappointment when you see it on the walls, if you never have seen it in a room of similar size and appearance to your own. And when the mischief is done and cannot be repaired you will wonder why there is such an effect of depression. Decorative papers and bright colors will sometimes work such a transformation scene and put to flight so much gloom that it would be better to use them. Yellow can rarely go wrong in any room. It is con- centrated sunshine, and will give almost the Same pleasure, though in a less degree, as a wood fire blazing on the hearth on a dull November day. If you are living in a dingy, spiritless room try a ceiling paper in soft yellow, and a scroll frieze in either yellow or blue and yellow, and see how the tired, worrted, vexed old world will brighten for you at once. The girl that possesses the artistic faculty should exercise it in regard to her gowns. She should keep within sight of the prevailing modes, of course, but ker gowns should carry the stamp of indi- viduality. Fashion decrees are useful, and even absolutely necessary to those’ who have no time or ability to make their own designs; but to a large proportion of pretty girls nothing is more becoming than the “picture gown.” Not all pretty girls, it is true, can wear a picture gown success- fully. To some of them the tailor-built air is natural, essential, and most becom- ing. It is the peachy girl, the girl who is fond of quaint great-grandmotker robes, soft tambour muslins, simple skirts, mus- lin fichus and sleeve ruffies, and “knots of ribbon” that should wear the picturesque gown. Then, if she is ingenious and taste- ful, she has a distinct advantage over her less gifted friends, for she will be always independent of fashion’s mandates and al- ways charming and distingue. The costumes of the bridesmaids at a recent fashionable wedding may serve as an illustration. The young girls’ white satin gowns—the skirts, with small trains hanging in soft folds from the waist—with mousseline fichus, trimmed with fine old lace and fastened with diamond brooches, the gift of the bridegroom; large black picture hats, with white feathers, and they carried bouquets of exquisite pink carna- tions tied with long, broad black ribbons. The Old China Fa At a fashionable luncheon not long ago the conversation turned upon old china, and the insatiable propensity of fanatical connoisseurs for examining the mark on a bit of rare porcelain. A question arose as to the courtesy of turning over a plate, in the face of the owner, in order to get. the assurance of the date and the manufac- tory. The hostess,"whose collection of valuable china contained only genuine, authenticated specimens, expressed herself as gratified when she met with any one sufficiently interested and informed to care to examine the marks on her cups and bowls. It was unanimously admitted, however, that very few collectors could be quite free from uneasiness under such circum- stances. “I will tell you my peculiar experience with a china lover,” said one of the guests. “It was once my unlucky fate to be taken in to dinner by a gentleman who was perfectly crazy on the subject of old china. He was also a most absent-minded individual. The dinner was given by some very rich people and it happened that the soup was served in exquisite and almost unique specimens of old china. My right- hand neighbor, eager in pursuit of his pet hobby and utterly oblivicus of the smoking hot puree in his plate, calmly turned it over to examine the mark on the back. Tableau!” The state jewels of Austria are very magnificent, but the empress does not use them. As she has to give a receipt for them every time she wears them she pre- fers those from her own collection. Yet she need not go unadorned, as hers are valued at $1,500,000. When her majesty was crowned she wore the state jewels, of course. At that ex- pensive ceremony one of the items expended ‘was the sum of $60,000 for snuff boxes, pre- sented to officials delegated to attend the ceremony. The names of the winter colors are quite irresistible—the almond-greens, the drab- peaches, the pinkey-browns and the sedge- tinted greens. But the name of the very newest, most exclusive material—“‘splashed”’ velveteens—is not so pretty. The material is prettier than the name would lead one to suppose. A charming pattern has a ground of brown velveteen covered with tiny splashes of light mauve silk, irregularly disposed, like the stars in the firmament on a clear night. A New Feature for Entertainments. The cafe chantant bids fair to be a popu- lar feature of this season’s entertainments given for charitable purposes. For those who have not so far arranged a cafe chan- tant and do not know how it is managed a few hints may be of service. At one end of the room a large refresh- ment stall should be placed, where cups and saucers, plates, coffee urns, cakes, ices —in fact, everything that is required—are placed. Around the room numerous little tables should be arranged and girls, in caps and aprons, detailed to wait upon them. Yet prettier than caps and newer are silk hand- kerchiefs of different colors, to suit the wearer, twisted up into little turbans. At the other end of the room, opposite the refreshment stall, should be a small piat- form for vocal and instrumental musicians. If possible a comic singer or a man to play the banjo should be engaged. The concert should last about a quarter of an hour, and at the end of that time all the people pres- ent would be expected to leave to make room for a fresh relay. When the place is full again another concert begins, which also lasts for about the same time, and so on throughout the evening. The charge for entrance should include, of course, the con- cert and as much refreshment as each per- son wishes. This is a slight sketch only. The details must be left to individual taste. Who is so fortunate as to have laid by among grandmother's treasures the thin long chain that she used to wear attached to her watch? Such chains have reappear- ed now under the name of “dangles” and are worn passed twice around the neck, so that they display a heart-shaped locket at the throat and another at the waist. They are considered appropriate both in the day- time and with evening dress. A Dainty Tea Set. Pierced silver promises to be the fashion for many a long day to come. It is rather showy, but the effect is very brilliant. Among the bride’s gifts shown at a re- cent gorgeous wedding was a tempting tea set of Coalport china of a delicate yel- low tone on a silver tray,’ the cups made most effective with pierced silver mounts. Plain silver saucers with an embossed bor- der accompanied them ang the teapot was ideal. Round, but decreasing in size to- ward the foot, somewhat tall and light looking was this teapot. At the top and ut the foot the china with its pretty gilt pat- tern showed slightly through a pierced sil- ver casing, while the center part was left free. The lid was richly embossed. The indiepenzable small tea caddy was square, ] | | | tat will show off the silver well is and was of china mounted in silver to match. The fashion of a silver table for the dis- play of silver articles only was a pretty one if the silver was old, curious or quaint. It was a matter of taste, however, rather than of fashion, and it is not so much seen now as it was two or three years ago. It has been superseded by the “gem table,” | for the exhibiting of small silver and other valuable curios. This is a table with a rosewood or mahogany frame and a cabinet top of beveled glass, the inside lined with plush. Genuine antique ones may be found, but the modern reproduction is, of course, much less expensive. A very satisfactory table of little cost one = clover leaf shape, made of pine, painted vith white enamel an ered pale blue plush. Serate ad boos By way of tables, the dressing table with plate glass wings movable on hinges to any angle is charmingly convenient. It has quite eclipsed the hand glass. These wings are now found with fairly inexpensive bed room suites of furniture. When not in use the long glasses are folded back against the sides of the table, so that they take up no extra space in the room. The soft, square pincushion covered with silk and lace and bordered with a white frill of lace has been revived, with this difference: A round hole is left in the cen- ter, and into this should be slipped a card- board box without a lid. It should be about two Inches higher than the cushion, and a band of brocaded silk ribbon bound around the top. Over the top is a layer of gilded net made of metal. This forms the hairpin cushion, while the ordinary pins are stuck in the cushion surrounding it. A new conceit for the dinner table is the filbert menu. It is a magnified fac simile of a filbert in cardboard. If left whole and flat it bears the name of a guest; but when cut nearly in half to disclose the kernel, it serves as a folded menu. ——+e2+—___ Municipal vs. Private Lighting. To the Editor of The Evening Star: Since the publicatiott of my former arti- cles on this subject, I have obtained some further information that may be of inter- est to our citizens. Electric Lights.—In order to enable the public to understand something of the mean- ing of the technical terms used in this article let me say, first, that the number of the candle power of are lights used on the streets is not an accurate statement of the amount of light given by them. The terms, 1,000 candle power, 2,000 c. p. ete., are what is termed the “nominal” candle power of lights using a current of a cer- tain number of “volts” and a certain num- ber of “amperes,” the term voits indicating the volume of the current and amperes in- dicating the efficiency of the current, which may be either a large volume of low in- tensity or a small volume of high intensity, just as in water powers you may have a large volume with a low head or a small vclume with a high head, each exerting the same pressure, and consequently hav- ing the same efficiency. The term “watts” is used to indicate the horse power of the current, and this is obtained by multiplying the volts by the amperes of any given current, 746 watts being equal to one horse power. A 2,000 nominal c. p. are light requires a current of 9 to 10 amperes und 45 to 50 volts, or about 450 watts. A 1,200 nominal c. p. ure light requires a current of 6 to 7 amperes and 40 to 45 volts, or from 270 to 230 watts. These are the two sizes of arc lamps now generally used for street lighting. The reason why the actual light does not equal the nominal! c. p. is simply because in the infancy of the art there were no instru- ments by which the actual candie power of these lamps could a, and accurately measured, and to have some standard they agreed that a light produced by a certain number of watts should be termed a nominal 2,000 c. p., and that pro- duced by a certain other number a nominal 1,000 c. p., ete. Since then instruments have been produced by which the candle power can be accurately measured, but as the present system has been generally adopted it will probably be retained, notwithstand- ing its deceptive character. The actual light given by the nominal 2,000 c. p. is about 950 to 1,000 c.p., and that of the nominal 1,200 c. p. is about 70. As our arc lights are by law only required to be a nominal 1,000 c..p. it will readily be seen that in reality they furnisn but about € c. p. of light, even if they are really 1,000 nominal c. p., which may or may not be the case. An engineer engaged in the business writes me as follows: “The cost of a nominal 2,00 over the cost of a nominal 1.00 ¢. p. little; the friction of the dynamo the same; the cost of lubor, carbons, etc., the same. The additional cost is really only the cost of fuel for about 40 per cent more power and the interest on a smail addition to the plant.” In Massachusetts the legislature has es- tablished a permanent board who make an annual report to the legislature of all de- tails in reference to both electric light and gas companies, and who have the power to regulate the prices which these companies are permitted to charge the public—rais- ing or reducing the price according te cir- cumstances. In looking over their last annual report I find that the average price charged by nineteen clectric light companies for 2,000 c. p. are lights is $122.28 per annum, and that includes Boston, where a portion cf the wires are underground. The average price charged by 52 other companies for lights ranging from 1,00 to 1,600 c. p. is $8.64. These latter are mostly in the villages and smaller cities. But few of them paid any dividend, mainly because of the small number of lights used and the extent of territory over which the lines are extend- ed, one plant in several instances supplying two or three neighboring villages, and of course requiring miles of wire, with but few lamps. In this, even more than in gas lighting, the more compact the settlement and the greater the number of lights, the cheaper it can be furnished. Now, comparing with these our price, $182.50 for a nominal 1,000 c. p. are light per annum, it will be seen that the price paid here is exorbitant, and fully confirms Capt. Derby's statements as given in his official report. As to the policy of the District furnish- ing its own light, there would seem to be no room for question. The following state- ment from the Electrical World of May 20, 1893, is directly in point: “A committee of city officials of Youngs- town, Ohio, recently investigated the sub- ject of municipal ownership of street light- ing plants, and found that there are at least 120 cities in the United States that own their own plants, or about 6 per cent of the entire number using the arc light. In five cases named the profit derived from the sale of light for commercial purposes (pri- vate use) was sufficient to pay all expenses connected with the street lights, and in ali cases the committee concluded that munici- pal ownership was profitable.” November 9, 1893, W. C. DODGE. ——_——__ Jackson’s Statue on the Constitution. From the Boston Transcrifit. In 1833 Commodore Elliott ordered a figure of Gea. Jackson to be carved to take the Place of a billet head which the United States frigate Constitution had carried through the war of 1812. It was placed on the bow of the frigate in June, 1834, when she left the dry dock in Charlestown navy yard. The excitement among the political enemies of Jackson in Boston was intense. A meeting was called in Faneuil Hail (which, however, did not take place,) and anonymous letter writers threatened the life of the commodore unless the statue was removed. On the night of the 24 of July, 1834, In the midst of a terrific thun- derstorm, Samuel P. Dewey, a young man of twenty-eight, rowed out to the vessel and managed to saw off the head of the Statue and carry it away. The head was replaced a month later in New York, and the figure remained there until 1874. It now occupies a place in the grounds of the Paval school at Annapolis. Love for the Zigzag. From the Contemporary Review, The straight line is an abomination to the Chinese. They endeavor to avoid it in their streets and buildings, and have banished it completely where country field paths are concerned. They will always substitute a curve whenever possible, or they will torture it into a zigzag. In districts not devastated by the Tal Pings nor subject to the influence of the foreigner the houses and temples are char- acterized by curved, often peaked, roofs, ornamented with fantastic modifications of the “myriad stroke pattern.” The inhabi- tants of such regions are soon found to have a mental world to correspond. The straight line is scouted. They think in curves and zigzags. To the Chinese mind the straight line is suggestive of death and demons. It belongs not to the heaven above nor to the earth beneath. In a true horizon line are seen the “undulations of the dragon.” Therefore, argue the Chinese, the straight line pertains to Hades. ABOUT PETRIFACTIONS. Facts on a Subject at the Mercy of Popular Ignorance, No Such Thing as « Petrified Haman Body Ever Existed—What Petri- facation Really is. One reads almost every week in the news- Papers of the finding of a “petrified” human body. Such a thing never did and never will exist. Nevertheless, So dense is the Popular ignorance of such matters, and #0 ready the human mind to be deluded, that reports of this kind are commonly accepted &s facts. It would be well if they could be deprived of credibility for all future time by the publication of a few truths on this subject. In the first place a “petrifaction” is not Strictly speaking a transformation of the original animal or plant into stone. It is merely a replacement of the organic tissue by mineral substance. As each particle of the plant or animal decays and disappears, its place is taken, usually in water or mud, by @ particle of mineral matter deposited from the water which has held it in suspen- sion. Thus the perishable original is chang- ed into imperishable stone, preserving its | form and even its structural appearance when cut into. By such means have the skeletons of ani- mals millions of years old been preserved earth. But it is only the bones that are in this way kept; neve? the flesh, because water cannot percolate through it. In the same way whole forests of trees in the Yellowstone region and elsewhere are changed into agate and other forms of Stone, the hollow logs of the forest primeval being often found filled with beautiful crys- tals of quartz and amethyst. Cliffs on the Yellowstone River. The cliffs that border the eastern branch of the Yellowstone river afford a view of a series of such forests buried on top of one another. The lowermost level was original- ly a wooded plain, hundreds of thousands years ago. Volcanoes burst forth in neighborhood, and it was their debris. On top the took root and grew, to buried by subsequent of thing continued th century, until 4,000 feet were heaped above the forest at Beneath the hills thus formed ed, as it does constantly through crust. The buried trees gradually and their decomposing placed by mineral matter, them into stone. Afterward the ¥ stone iver cut down the strate formed of volcanic debris " ears, ~~ stream plowed out its of y the t si is a cut 4,000 by towering abdse bea ita i bed, until today the latter feet deep—a canyon walled in chffs, And, as one looks i é reckoning carrying the very night of time. when real chimeras dire walked on the gy} a i can climb up and knock them break into secti which were hollow before are filled with beautiful crystals and amethyst. Water, percolating hollow trunks, t particles tt i aged vill brough: which formed themselves naily filling up the cavities. parts of buried trees that ni ing crystals of amethyst originally formed. which were hidden away nature in old beat if i H ! § i fl i f : fossil forest of such material los, N. M., and another at mental purposes. submerged, becoming of iron in solution, which were secreted by the fungus and afterward by it, thus enriching the coloration of the fos« silized structure. Iron Forms Many Fossils. Iron, being plentiful in many rocks and readily soluble, often replaces organic sub- stances and forms fossils. In the depart- ment of prehistoric anthropology at the Smithsonian Institute is preserved a man skull of iron, which was dug out hill-side not long ago. Not only has replaced the substance of the bone, brain-cavity is filled with the metal, the skull weighs many pounds. which its owner was buried iron ore, of course. Shells, inclosed in the strata sometimes transformed into opal cess of fossilization, opal being form of quartz. Petrifications, termed fossil remains, of plants are distinguishable in beds of coal, 80 easily determined from what sorts ferns and other trees the coal was ly formed. Among the most ancient of fos- sils are numerous insects, which, despite the delicacy of their structure, have preserved through millions of years for the instruction of a modern generation, the very fluff on the wings of the primeval moth being plainly distinguishable. Most of the bodies reported in the news~ papers as found “petrified” are of a phenomenon long familiar. They have been transformed ee stone, but into a substance called “ re,” or — wax.” This is a true soap, into the corpse of a human being will ordinarily be metamorphosed if buried in a graveyard or other place where water has access to it. This “adipocere” is one of the most en- during of substances. It is not subject to decay, and the body which has assumed this constitution may preserve its form for many years, and even for centuries. Nay, for ages, since evidence on the point has been obtained from the orthoceras—a mol- lusk that became extinct millions of years ago, of large size, and built after the pat- tern of the chambered nautilus, but with e ell. Z gan? ? E S af Fe Ses . } al * * i found adipocere—the flesh of the animal transformed into - nee mong oy hms scribed, which wou! us appear tact from the silurian EARNINGS OF MARRIED WOMEN. Nowadays They Sometimes Cat Quite a Figure in the Domestic Menage. A married woman fs not usually supposed to contribute directly to the family purse, says the New York Commercial Advertiser, her time and strength being sufficiently taxed when she keeps house, manages chil- dren and servants and administers care- fully the domestic affairs which le within her province. That the husband shall pro- vide the means and the wife attend to their outlay, saving and economizing as thriftity jas she can, is the ordinary arrangement sanctioned by custom and agreeable to our idea of justness and a fair division of labor. It is now quite usual, however, for mar- ried women to supplement the income of the family by the Sperclee of some gift or accomplishment. ey write, lecture, or paint pictures; they embroider, or make pickles and preserves. With a de- lightful feeling of independence and the most generous and tender unselfishn wives sho oun many ae eee ms this kind spen for family uses. goes to pay echoot bills and purchase shoes. Wherever there is a deficiency the supple- mentary earnings of the wife fit in so easily and in so timely a manner that both hus- band and wife count on this income as if it were in the anticipated order of things. Often a style of living rather more expensive than would be practicable on the husband's salary or on the profits from his business is adopted because of the wife's gs; a larger rent is undertaken or t! living of the family is on a broader scale. It is not usual for a wife to hoard or in- vest her earnings separately; they go into the common purse, and are it elt for luxuries or for the benefit the “When Will gets into a tight was the remark made by a woman who wielés a reaay pen, “I sit down and write two oF three stories to help him out’

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