Evening Star Newspaper, May 12, 1894, Page 15

REAL ESTATE GOSSIP Some Accurate Figures on a Subject of Passing Interest. DECISIONS BY THE BUILDING INSPECTOR Improved Tone of the Market and the Hopeful Outlook. PUBLIC BUILDING SITES There is not as much interest in a certain class of facts when the real estate market shows an upward tendency as is the case when the opposite tendency is prominent. ‘This, perhaps, explains the present lack of public interest In the discussion over the number of vacant houses in the city as compared with some months ago. When the bears were in the ascendant then it was quite common to hear @ great deal about the city being overbuilt, and in support of this statement statistics were advanced of unknown origin and authority which show- ed that there were more houses vacant in the city than ever before. Some of the croakers went so far as to say that there were five thousand houses standing idle,and then some person With a taste for figures salculated the number of miles of street sTontage that five thousand houses would | occupy, and then it was concluded to mod- ify the figures. However, there has always been one diMeculty in meeting these state- ments, and that i¢ no accurate estimate has ever been made. While the time has passed when such as- sertions can have an effect on the market, elther one way or the other, still the res furnishel in the tabular statement of The Star circulation, published in last Satur day's issue, which states by streets the number of houses and the number of stores and the number of vacant houses in Wash- ington and Georgetown, is of value because it gives the results of an actual canvass. A summary of these figures shows that there are over forty thousand houses fn the ter- ritory named, and of this number about twenty-four hundred are reported vacant, which is about 6 per cent of the entire num- ber. If it were possible, {t would be inter- esting to compare these figures with those of former years, but, unfortunately, no such canvass of the city has ever been made be- fore, and therefore {t ts impossible to say whether this percentage of vacant houses ig more or less than that of preceding years. The percentage, however, is not a high one, and it is safe to say that as {t includes all sorts of houses, stores as well as dwellings, in all stages of repair, that the market is not so overstocked with houses as some have seem disposed to convince the public. Impreved Outlook for Busine: The truth about the matter is that the bears on real estate in this city have not had much of a show for a number of years past, but they display a vitality that is qnite remarkable under the circumstances, and occasionally one ts heard predicting all sorts of dire evils that are to contribute to the falling out of the bottom of the market. As a very small percentage of these pre- dictions come true, the prophets are not in such high favor as they otherwise would be. It is evident that the market here is recovering slowly but surely from the de Pression that was gencral throughout the country, and which was felt tn all depart- ments of business, and that favorable Progress is being mde. It is not asserted that there is any great activity, but tran- sactions are being closed at good prices, improvements are going on, and In ail lines the rarket is showing a decided improve- ment in strength. Conservative dealers, whose opinions are rally sound, express themselves as be- in business which is expected when the taziff bill becomes a law, the market here will share in the general prosperity. It 1s not believed that the summer here will be a dull one if the conditions as outlined above exist. There ts a good deal of money aiting Investment, and as soon as there an be a feeling of certainty funds will be unlocked, and will be poured into the or- linary channels of business. It is felt that the warm season will not retard the early Tesumption of the expected activity, and that in spite of the hot weather the volume of business will expand. Appeals From the Butlding Inspector. People who are dissatisfied with the de- cisions of the inspector of buildings and at » same time are unwilling to take advan- of the provisions of the new building ons which refer disputed points to representative of the have their litle Police Court. They ‘¢ prior to the recent of the Court of Appeals of the but the only function exercised Police Court in any case was to en- uthority of the building inspect- roing into the merits of the apose a s fixed by law. the of the Police lecision of the Court of was rendered during the must hear evidence in tht spon a consideration of the oth sides base a decision. It ts | haps. that the individual feels a decision of the inspector of to wish to carry the case to there are doubtful points which important to h ettled, and it is therefore an excellent plan to de a} The t h an agreement on disputed matte > reached. ites for Public Buildings. The during the week by the Hou sentatives in regard to the si printing ¢ 4 govern ther {lustration at pt- which will pro- fon of the public number of the pre & the on the rest the per- wh a favor this plan th when © 83 bought by con- . or the new city purchasing at uares, ‘ ted out at the t the ad- joining property will undoubtedly be en- i H iue by the improvement which the § is making on its own prop- : ect of it will be that, when as seems probable now, @ needed for the . it will be nece » pay to the o value which expenditure aking, It is t would be better Tests of the city if the govern- id continue to occ inadequate bulldings ot x ending yesterday twenty- granted by the inspector et new buildings. The t of these is placed at as follows: Northwest, L Fristoe is butlding a row of seven t ad cellar brick dwellings from on street and from 2712 to rthwest. When the per- m out, the builder was inform- a parking space of thirty feet was «ned by the street extension plans, and ove buildings should be set back ng line accordingly. nd has been broken for the erection lsome two-story brick dwelling at reet northwest. Mrs. C. Miller is ner. mer is building four new 2th street and from 1202 to nwest. The houses are to ies, with large cellars and pro- all modern conventences. e Island avenue tn the story and ceilar brick dweil- use will ntage of seven than to take up any of the which has been ded 0 public | solute need ng the different sec-| ment i shortly to be | feet, The front will be of marble relieved a circular bay window. Wm. F. Luckett is the owner W. H. H. Knight the architect and ler. Plans have heen prepared for a residence to be built on P street between 17th and 18th for A. F. Knowles. It is to have three stories and basement, 24x60 feet, with e1 eon 3 front of dressed o_o a x square bay and Span! le roo! Plans are being made by Joseph C, John- son, architect, for a three-story and cellar residence that Mr. Shaw will erect on 8d between A and B streets southeast. It is to be 18x68 feet, with circular bay front of press brick and stone. J. J. Gavin will build a two-story and basement dwelling on 12th street between N and O streets. It will have @ front of press brick and stone, — SOMETHING NEW IN MUSHROOMS. A Valuable Species Hitherto Unknown Has Been Discovered. ‘The discovery of an entirely new species of mushroom is announced by Dr, Taylor of the Department of Agriculture. It is an important discovery, because this mushroom has certain advantages over any other known species. It is very prolific, and, developing unusually early in the year, is less likely to be attacked by flies. That is a serious trouble im the business of mushroom farming. Flies lay their eggs upon the agarics, and from these are hatch- ed out maggots. Another point about the new mushroom is that its spawn is plentiful and easily ob- tained. Up to the present time the price of spawn has been about $1 a pound, which is almost prohibitory. The spawn of the new species will be sold this spring cheap enough to bring it within reach of everybody—that is to say, at $1.50 a bushel, or $5 a barrel. This mushroom will grow in a dark cellar as well as in daylight. One disadvantage it has is that it looks like a toadstool. It was discovered by Mr. William Falconer of Glen Cove, N. Y. In the summer of 1892 he observed quan- tities of a rather uncouth-looking mush- | room, which was new to him, growing wild jon and about piles of leaf mold. They were | Mot scattered about I'ke the agarics of the fields, but grew in bunches of two, three or sometimes a dozen together. But the crop was not steady. There might be a great Quantity one week, hardly any the next, plenty the following week, and so on. After @ rain they would spring up like magic. Mr. Falconer’s attention was called to the fact that a neighboring flerist was picking i Quantities of mushrooms in his green- ouses, and selling them at high prices in New York. He went and saw them, but instead of the common mushroom ' they \Pproved to be the same stranger he was studying at home. They had appeared with the florist the year before. Old violet beds in the grape and tomato houses were full of mushrooms; old hot beds in the | Bursery were run over with them, and they |were growing im the open grounds among |the asparagus. Wherever planted they Were coming up like a crop of weeds. Dr, Taylor means to raise these new mushrooms, with a view to their introduc- tion tn the Washirgton markets. Their greatest advantage is that they can be srown much more eesily than ordinary mustreoms, and the yield is astonishingly plertiful. In speaking of hts dircovery a few weeks ag before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, in Boston, Mr. Falconer called a tention to the fact that mushroom growing is already becoming quite an important in- dustry in this country. Until a few years ago a veil of mystery hung over this ch of gardening. Successful cultivators were silent, and the general public was kept in darkness. Within the last four years mushroom growing in this country has quadrupled. Some of the largest grow- ers are amateurs—manufacturers and oth- ers, who, having unoccupied caves or cel- lars, have gone into the business with a view to utilizing room that would other- wise be {dle and unproductive. Florists have planted thousands of square yards under their green house benches that would otherwise be worthle To them mush- rooms are an inexpersive by-product, the loam and rotted manure being better for flowers after having been utilized for grow- ing mushrooms. Chicken raisers have also taken to the mushroom business for profit; they want-to produce something that will bring money in the winter time. This increased production, says Mr. Fal- coner, will reduce the price of mushrooms to a popular basis, and will place on the tables of the middle classes a wholesome |delicacy which hitherto has been avatlable jonly for the rich. Many persons who now use the “tasteless and indigestible putty balls from imported cans” will repudiate the foreign article and accept no other than the wholesome and jutcy domestic product. Cooks need educating in the art of cook- ing mushrooms, for few of them under- stand it. Mr. Falconer says that it is just as easy to grow these agarics on a small scale for home use as it is to raise flowers or strawberries, and no more expenstve. The only drawback to raising mushrooms in summer is that they are then attacked by maggot-producing flies. Caves and abandoned quarries are ordinarily free from such files, so that they can be used to advantage for the production of mush- rooms. In the village of Akron, N. Y., are tunnels from which stone has been taken to make hydraulic cement. These have been utilized with success for mushroom culture, the temperature of the tunnels varying only from 56 degrees in winter to 65 degrees in summer. American growers have not hitherto succeeded in making as good spawn for propagating mushrooms as may be got from France and England; con- sequently, the importations of spawn from those countries have greatly increased dur- ing the last three years. a coe Some Good Advice. A correspondent sends this to The Star: “The following from a correspondent of | the Prairie Farmer would seem to be | peculiarly good advice to the Coxeyites and |all others who complain of their inability to get a living. What this man did others may do {f they will.” The inclosure is as follows: “Much of the suffering in the country could be cured {f men would be content | with little to commence with. An acre, or | five acres of land can be easily gotten, it | seems to me; and I can make a good share | of a living for a family on even an acre of }land. I commenced life on an acre and a |quarter of land, and not a cent paid on |{t, either; there was a cabin with 4-foot | clapboard roof, no loft, and dauber only on | the Inside. It was a happy nest, however, and Providence made it a prosperous on We had chickens and presently got couple of pigs, then a cow; set out the acre |in fruit; worked when we could get a day's | work to do; paid for the patch when It }came due; labored in hope, and finally | bought the whole forty acres and paid for I can’t be taught anything about hard | work. I know all about it I have made |rails many a day; have grubbed and | chopped also, and I’feel the better for it. If I hadn't a home, I would commence just as I did then, Land can be bought on time, as then, and eggs, &c., are now a much better price than what we sold them for in good, old pod-auger days. I see no reason why men should tramp the country over for work. I did anything honest that |came in my way, and these travelers are | no better than I am, or any other man who commenced with nothing but a ‘good con- science’ and hands and a will to work.” poscieasiskani tests Time to Consider. | Brom Puck. | “Will you be my wife?” “I cannot answer such a question as that thout taking time to consider.” Pardon my impetuosity. How long must I wait?’ | “I think there will be time for you to close the doors and turn down the light a little.” . see | | Acute Misery. | | | Judge Keens—“Yes, convicted on each’ cou drunkenness, breach of the , but your masterly o! ngthy jail sentence falls flat, and I impose upon ju the severest | tence tn my power! You are discharge A catastrophe has occurred as the result | of the caving in of the roof of one of the old houses of the City of Mexico. Four members of the family of Pedro Vasquez | ere caught, and two were killed, THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1894-TWENTY PAGES. JIN HOTEL CORRIDORS : - ontr IN LOCAL STUDIOS During the past few months no one week has been more full of interesting artistic events than the one just closing. Although many of the artists are preparing to leave for the summer, or have already done so, they are still mcst energetic in everything pertaining to the promotion of local art. The exhibition of sculpture by Mr. Wm. Ordway Partridge in the Cosmos Gallery roused the connoisseurs and lovers of art im general to an unusual degree of interest, which culminated last Wednesday in a throng of people who listened in a sort of eptranced silence to the finely delivered discourse by the tor on “The Patriotic Idea in Art,” in the lecture hall of the Columbian University. The attractive Personality of the artist added greatly to the interest of the lecture, although the latter was beyond criticism tn its direct- ness, interest and charm of phraseology. Mr. Max Weyl has been busy transfer- ring nature's various moods to his can- Nearly all of bis finest subjects are taken in the suburbs of Washington, the artist emphatically expressing hia convic- tion that no finer material for artistic work can be found in the country than that which ‘ies in the immediate vicinity of the Lie has made a large number of fine studies which he expects to elaborate dur- ing the summer, and place on view early in the autumn, when he will open @ large ex- hibition. Mr. F, H. Moser is still in the city, and ig enthusiastic over his success in finding purchasers for much of the work con- tained in his portfolio, which in the pres- ent instance has proven itself quite a mascot to the owner. Mr. Moser will re- turn to his home in Connecticut early next week, “just in time to catch the apple Wossom season,” which means the execu- tion of a number of charming water color studies, which will doubtless be included in the exhibition —, this rags art- ist will hold in the city next Mr. . Heaton, besides being engaged on a number of fine portraits, is rapidly bringing his large canvas, “Commence- ment Day,” to a successful completion. He commenced the painting several years ago, but, until lately, has only worked on it “as the mood seized him.” The composi- a tion is attractive and unique, representing | Jigco, @ graduating class of young girls, who sit together in one portion of the picture, mak- ing a luminous spot of misty white, which is thrown into strong relief by the gayly ttired groups of admiring friends, who have gathered to witness the debutantes’ first bow to the world, In speaking about it the artist say: strongly appealed to me. I have in thi: picture tried to materialize tl feeling, which is one of those elusive things, better described as a dim remembrance, or a half-forgotten dream than anything else. Mr. Dunbar took advantage of Mr. Part- ridge’s short visit to Washington to make an excellent bust in terra cotta of that eminent sculptor. The likeness is ad- mirable. The head is well modeled, and the work is, in other ways, artisticaliy meritor- fous. In compliance with Mr, Partridge’s Tequest, the bust will be cut in marble, in order that he may present it to his wife. Mr. Dunbar fs also at work cutting the bust of Martin Van Buren in marble. Miss KE, J, Stevens has removed her studio from the Corcoran building to the Elsmere. Mr. Walter Paris is at work on another view of Washington, taken this time from the portico of the mansion at Arlington. The site embraces a fine view of the city, including all the principal points of inter- est, and is painted In that well-known style for which Mr. Paris’ pictures are celebrated. The exhibition of paintings by Mr. Lang- ston Truesdell, which opened in the Veer- hoff Gallery last Wednesday afternoon is one of the most interesting which has taken place this season. The work of this artist shows breadth and power as well as rare perception and feeling for the tender phases of nature. It is somewhat impressionistic in its general tendencies, but his subjects are well chosen, and represented in an in- telligent, comprehensive mauner. The placing of the corn stone of the new Corcoran Gallery was attended last Thursday evening by a large concourse of people, which included nearly every profes- sional student of art in the city. Accepted designs for the new gallery and adjoining school show splendid structures, completely equipped with every modern appliance for the convenience and benefit of students and managers. The exhibition of work by members and students of the Art Students’ League has been one of the most successful drawing cards of the week. The work shown has all been executed during the past winter and reflects the greatest credit upon the abie and conscientious instruction, as well as the enthusiastic and intelligent applica- tion which the work of the pupils clearly shows, Perhaps the exhibition by Miss Perrie’s water color class and Mr. Macdon- ald's portrait class attracted the most at- tention, although the good work was by no means confined to these classes. In the water color section Miss Newcomb’s bril- Mant study of chrysanthemums was con- spicuous for {ts excellent handling and del- feate color, as well as other artistic quali- ties. A well-modeled head from life by the same artist is also worthy of particular mention, Mr. Willis had an unusually clever study in_still life. Miss Porter had a carefully studied sketch of jonquils, the mass of yellow against its white background showing a difficult sub- ject interestingly handled. Mrs. Chase exhibited a small but artistic landscape and a “Study of Books.” Miss Bertha Schott was represented by a daintily colored study of peach blossoms. Mrs. T. W. Noyes had an attractive and well-painted study of roses. Mr. Gallaudet had a finely painted head from the antique. Miss Bennett, a charming study of roses and several other artistically managed sketches. The “head,” or portrait class, represented by Miss Perry, Miss Solomons, Miss Sands, Miss Mueden, Miss Riggs and Miss Newcomb. In these studies from life, many of the subjects are taken from old people, in which cases the work displayed is unusually clever, the characteristics of age being most admirably represented. Miss Perrie’s “Head of an Old Man” was one of the best canvases shown. Miss Solo- mons had an artistically handled portrait in profile of a young girl: and several other smaller but equally clever heads. Miss Sands had two brilliantly colored portrait studies. Miss Mueden was represented by several finely rendered and intelligently handled life subjects. Miss Nellie Hill, Miss Anna Lee and Miss Grace Le Duce exhibited excellent work in charcoal. The composition and preparatory antique also had an unusually high aver- age of work; particularly the latter, which numbers about 100 pupils, under the direc- tion of Miss Florence A. Pond. The stu- dents tn this class, who were practically ignorant of all artistic principles and theor- jes upon their entrance into the school, show, perhaps, the greatest imprevement of all the work exhibited. The advanced antique shows the growth of the league more than any other, and promises most satisfactory results in the life classes of next year. During the re- ceptions the rooms of the league were artis- tically decorated for the occasion, and both teachers and pupils are to be congratulated upon the result of their winter's work. Two pictures by Miss Mary Glennan—“A Maryland Well” and “Lead, Kindly Light” —are now being exhibited at 1111 F street, and are attracting attention. Miss Glennan is a Washington girl, who has studied at the Woman's Art School, Cooper Institute, and also under Messrs. Wm. V. Birney, Wm. Sartain, E. C. Messer, R. N. Brooke and R. Le Grand Johnstone, en Fast Emog, From Youth's Companton. An employe of a large granite company was driving from the station with several kegs of blasting powder and dynamite car- tridges in his load and overtook a young man walking. Without waiting for an tn- vitation the pedestrian sprang up into the wagon and sat down upon one oF the pow- der ke; He was a talkative young man and began at once to make derogatory remarks about the speed of the wagon or the lack of it. “We're passing everything on the road,’ . cheerily, “that is, everything that tionary.” Not receiving a reply, he continued: “1 was half a mind to hire a landslide or a glacier just for speed, you know, but I guess we are doing about as well.” vas silent for some time; forth again: I say—stop the horse! The earth is re- volving fast enough to get us thers Just then he prepared to scratch a match on the keg. The driver spoke rather lazily: “If you are goin’ my way this is jest as fast as it will be, but {f you want to go straight up at right angles to the road jest light that match on that powder—an’ you're there now.” ‘The young man decided to walk. was finely then he soe — Welcome News. From Puck. : First Workman.—‘Business {s pickin’ up. I heard the boss say he'd got two orders to fill."” Second Workman. time to strike again.” “That so? Then it's “It would be a wise oracle indeed who could tell when the wonders of wood pulp would cease,” said F. A. Perry of Bangor, Me,, at the Arlington yesterday. “Of course it is well known that the paper upon which almost all the newspapers of America are printed is manufactured from wood pulp, and it is also said that car wheels made from it will shortly take the place of the steel and papier mache articles now in use. Up in Gardiner, Me. a manufactory has been started to make stoppers out of wood pulp, with the intention of displacing the use of corks for a similar purpose. As the new style of stopper can be made at four- fifths less cost than cork, the new industry will doubtless be very profitable, as no less than $12,000,000 a year are now expended in this country for cork stoppers alone.” “The expiring struggles of the Louisiana Lottery Company,” said Andrew Lawrence of Fort Worth at the Riggs House last night, “remind me of an incident that oc. curred here several years ago, when the monater was !n the full fury of its appetite and demanding such heavy tribute from the department clerks in this city. You know, it was oustomary for the clerks in the vari- ous departments who came in daily contact with each other to form clubs every month for the purpose of buying lottery tickets. A certain amount of money would be sub- scribed and a bunch of tickets be purchased, and in case any of them secured prizes the receipts were pooled and divided pro rata among the members of the club. The! were many clerks, however, who preferred to go it aione, and one of these, whom we may call Jinks, was employed in the Navy rae fehl Every month, with the regu- ity of clock work, he would invest ten dollars in lottery tickets and store them away in a drawer of his desk, which he usually k locked with jealous care. It used to be the custom that on the day when the lottery was drawn in New Orleans the capital prizes, or rather the numbers draw- ing the large amounts, were telegraphed here and the list taken around for the en- Mghtenment of ticket holders, “It happened that in the same room with Jinks was an inveterate wag, and one day, just before the lottery was to be drawn, vered that the drawer containing Jinks’ tickets was open. He immediately looked at the tickets and copied their numbers. The following week the drawing took place and, as usual, the list of the capital prizes was tel hed to this city, The joker got @ copy of it as soon as it reached tow: nd, Placing the number of one of Jinks’ kets opposite the capital prize he saun:ered back to the department and casually remarked that he had gotten the big prizes drawn at the lottery while he was at the telegraph of- fice. He read them out, and when he an- nounced that ticket numbered so-and-so had drawn the capital prize of three hundred thousand dollars, there was a wild shriek from Jinks, who had the ticket bearing that number laid away securely in his drawer. ‘The old fellow opened the drawer, took out the ticket, and waved it around In the air, hicked over his chair and proceeded to curse the government. He harangued his fellow clerks on the subject of the terrible life he had led by being compelled to labor as a government servant. He sail he would re- sign forthwith, ul that the only depart- ment he would ever put his foot in again would be the Treasury Department, which he would visit at regular intervals to get the interest on the bonds he was going to buy. Then he jammed his hat on his head and safled out of the department to the cx- Press office in order to send his supposed valuable ticket off for collection. When he discovered that he had been noaxed and that his ticket, like all the rest he had ever bought, was worthless, he had a fit of hysterics and was sick in bed for a month. As his explosion tn the department never reached the ears of his superior officer, he is a clerk there yet, and I saw him on the street this morning.” “While many radical changes to the con- stitution of New York state have been pro- posed for adoption to the constitutional conventicn now in sesion at Albany,” said E. P. Hays of Troy at the Ebbitt this morn- ing, “I belleve that the body will be con- servative, and that very few of the sug- gested amendments will be favorably acted upon. The most radical of the propositions ia one which seeks to have the word ‘male’ eliminated from the constitution. That tn- defatigable old lady, Miss Susan B. An- thony and her lieutenants, who are scarcely less courageous than herself, have been waging a warm campaign for the past two or three months in favor of sécuring from the convention this emphatic recogni- tion of the rights 6f women. There have been meetings held in every town and vil- lage in the state, and I believe I do not exaggerate when I say that every adult in the state of New York has been asked to sign a petition requesting the convention to adopt the amendment. It is possible that it may pass the amendment, but, as its findings must be submitted to the people for approval at the November election, I hardly think that the constitution will be changed in accordance with the women’s wishes, because the people at large have been very slow to adopt amendments to the ate constitution in the past, and public sentiment on the subject has scarcely changed at all in the past twenty years.” A party of gentlemen were discussing in the smoking room of the Shorehe@: last night a peculiarity which seems to mark financiers. Philip Upton of Cleveland said that the most successful financier was, first and foremost, a correct reader of men, and that some of their prophecies regarding in- dividuals whom they might meet were noth- ing !ess than remarkable. He pointed to the late Jesse Seligman of New York as an example. “Seligman,” said he, “met Gen. Grant early in his career, when the latter was stationed at Sackett’s Harbor, N. Y., im- mediately after his graduation from ‘West Point. Seligman kept a little store at Watertown, and Grant became a regular customer and a warm friendship sprang up between them. ‘They afterward met in San Francisco, where their friendship was re- newed. At this time Seligman was struck with the broad character of the views held by Grant and wrote to his brother that if Grant could only cast aside his modesty he would accomplish great things one of these days. Seligman was an operator in Wall street when Grant licked the confederates at Fort Donelson and Fort Henry. When he heard the news he turned to some of his friends and said, ‘I know Grant; I knew him when he was a young officer. If he ts not killed or disabled tn battle, he will suppresa the rebellion in the west within a year, or I am very much mistaken in the man,’ “The result of Mr. Scligman's prophecy,” concluded Mr. Upton, “you all know. 'T believe that the power to read the character of men and appreciate quickly their motives and their methods is the chief characteristic of every successful financier in the world.” “A remarkable romance has been develop- ed by a law suit which was tried a couple of weeks ago in Memphis,” said R. F. Me- Dermott of the Bluff City at the Ebbitt Hovse last night. ‘The issue was the valid- ity of a will made by Matthew Coxe, a member of a distinguished Mississippi fam- ily, who married a beautiful octoroon girl, who was his slave, and for whom he lost the friendship and association of all with whom he had associated in the days of his youth. The case was of that of A. C. Brewer, administrator against Lida C. Brewer, for the purpose of declaring the will of Matthew Coxe, her uncle, null and void. There were five brothers of the Coxes, sons of a highly educated and cultured gen- ueman, who came to Mississippi from Georgia many years ago, and settled in the vicinity of Holly Springs. One of them was named Tobias. He was a great beau and married a beautiful girl. A few days after the ceremony the country was startled by the discovery that Tobias Coxe had shot his wife through the heart and then shot himself through the head, but no one ever knew the cause of the awful tragedy. William Henry Coxe, another brother, was the finest liver in the entire state of Mississippi, and his wine cellars were famous all over the south. He was a rabid secessionist, but when Grant was at Holly Springs he made Coxe’s mansion his headquarters, and a warm friendship sprang up between the Union general and Coxe, which lasted till the latter died. Wil- Mam Henry Coxe left a daughter, Miss 1 who ts now Mrs. Clark Brewer, and th fendant in the suit, whose trial has just been closed. Matthew Coxe was young than Willlam Henry, and a man of stud: habits. During the war he fell in love with Rega, a beautiful octoroon girl, who was his slave, and a liason resulted. He then owned five or six hundred slaves and se 1 thousand acres of plantation. Event . when Rosa ran away to the federal lines, Matthew Coxe followed her and implored her to marry him, which she at last con- sented to do. There was no statute in M sissippi at that time making miscegena 1 slaves still left Mat- and in 1870 he re- his octoroon wife, and purchased a residence on Linden street, in the fashionable quarter of the city, where for years they lived in solitude, be- ry : irg, of course, absolutely ostracised by everyone in Shelby county.” “In 1885 Coxe became afflicted with loco- motor ataxia,” continued Mr, McDermott, “and a year later he went to Judge J. W. Clapp, father of the present mayor of Mem- ‘phis, and, despite that lawyer's protests and representations of the disgrace that would attach to his memory, insisted on making a will, in which he acknowledged Rosa as wife, leaving her the residence on Linden street and a plantation on Prest- dent Island in the Mississippi river below Memphis, in fee simple. The remainder of ris property was bequeathed to his niece, Mrs. Lida C. Brewer. Brewer received ker inheritance and made no complaint, and as soon as Rosa received her share of the Property it is charged that she was pre- vailed upon to deed its title to Mrs. Brew- er’s child, the deed to become operative at her death, and not a long while after this, it was alleged, she deeded the life interest in it to the same child, Rosa married Bur- rell Randolph, a negro policeman of Mem- phis, in 1887, and in 1888 they began suit to set the deeds I have mentioned aside, as having been procured by fraudulent means. The supreme court of Tennessee upheld them fm this suit, and at her death Rosa be- queathed her property to the Baptist Church, the Howe Institute and to her husband. In 1891 Mrs. Brewer attacked the validity of the original will of Matthew Coxe, notwith- standing that she had accepted an inherit- ance under it. Her uncle's marriage to Rosa was also questioned. Brilliant counsel were employed on both sides. Jules Taylor, the present district attorney of the Mem- phis district, and William H. Carroll, chair- man of the democratic executive committee of Tennessee, and both ex-confederate cfM- cers, were employed by Mrs. Brewer, and the beneficiaries under the will of the octo- roon slave-wife of Matthew Coxe were rep- resented by Judge James Greer, another ex- confederate soldier, and William Randolph, jr., of Virginia. After being out an hour, the jury declared Matthew Coxe’s will as being perfectly legal. Mrs. Brewer's coun- sel will take the case up to the Supreme Court for final adjudication.’ “The present strike of the coal miners and the threatened fuel famine now impending by reason of it is causing an extra amount of attention to bs given to the question of using ofl as a means of making heat for the creation of steam on @ seme ae said EB. A. Larcombe at Willard's this morn- ing. “For several years experiments have been in progress with a view of preparing petroleum in a solidified state, so that it may be used in the same manner and in the same furnaces that coal is now burned. While success has been approached tn many of the tests, an absolutely practicable result has not yet been reached. The nearest thing to it has been a block, which is secured by compressing @ mass composed)of petroleum and sawdust together at an immense press- ure. The blocks thus secured have been used on several railroads and in many fur- naces, but their rapid combustion has been found too great, and it has been impossible for a steady degree of heat to be main- tained by their use. Something of the sort will have to be used in the future, if labor organizations continue to dictate the sys- tema to be pursued by thelr employers. Coal mine operators will be chary of mak- ing long-time contracts, when they cannot tell what the future may bring forth, or when a few discontented walking delegates and agitators may make up thelr minds to order a general strike, such as that now In progress. I believe that the power of Niag- ara Falls will almost entirely supersede the use of coal for motive purposes in a large section of New York, Pennsylvania and New England, but in communities which de- pend entirely upon coal. I have no doubt that some form of fuel which will not be subject in tts supply to the arrogance and whims of labor agitators will come into general use.” “No one would sooner see the power of Tammany In New York city broken,” said Philip Taylor of New York at the Riggs House last night, “and no one would work harder to accomplish such @ devoutly to be desired reform than myself, But I do not place much stock in the roseate opinions expressed by so many New Yorkers that the result will be accomplished either this year or for many years to come, Tammany’s immense strength les in its recognition of the humble workingman and the poor class- es generally of New York city, which is iilustrated, perhaps, to the best degree in the system of social clubs which it supports in every one of the thirty assembly districts in New York city. One of the Tammany leaders struck the nail fairly on the head the other day when he remarked, ‘We found &%,000 homeless laboring men in New York city and gave them places to pleasantly spend their time. The political organtzation that wins them away from us will have to build better club houses and provide better entertainments for them.’ There are no frills whatever about Tammany clubs,” con- tinued Mr. Taylor; “the humblest day labor- er has as many rights within them as Jus- tice Paddy Divver or Timothy Dry Dollar Sullivan. The dues are small, and members are not posted if they are unable to pay them. The clubs are excmilently well equipped, and they really do a great deal of good in keeping men away from the saloons. Every year each club has an annual outing, and then tt is that its enormous influence in its particular district may be appreci- ated. Take the Comanche Club, for !n- stance, when It starts out to have a good time. Business in the district is virtually suspended for that day. The members of the club meet at the club house early in the morning, and, with banners streaming and two or three brass bands tooting away for dear Ife, march to the dock, where steam- ers and barges are loaded down and puff merrily away to the pleasure grounds or seaside resort selected for the day's pienic. The home coming, however, ts the most glorious part of the occasion. The boats get back just after dark. The leaders tumble into carriages, the less important members fall again into a procession, stay- at-homes come down in a little squad, be- cause there are very few stay-at-homes on such occasions, with more brass bands, and the march ts taken up to the club house, When the district is entered, fireworks begin to play all over it, and until midnight or afterward the whole neighborhood ts given up to a happy revel, that becomes the talk of that portion of the town for days and weeks together. The reform movement now going forward in New York is gaining impetus all the time, but it is not winning any of the humble class of voters, and until it does it cannot hope to wrest from Tam- many {ts unbounded power for municipal corruption.” > The Old- hioned Ball Club. From the Chicago Journal, ‘The base ball season's here agin, ‘Ter me it's lote o” fun ‘Yer see the players at the bat an’ watch 'em strike io” run lide an’ yell an’ allo’ that, an’ yet it seems er me The game ain't half so full o° uster be. life es what it 1 wish you could o’ seen the club in which I uster play! 0" course tt wasn't like the teams you run across ay, Becauso~ let's see—w'y that was nearly thirty yours ol ago An’ base ball then wan't nowberes like the base ball now you know. Our nine comprised the flower @” that little country t own; We knocked out every club there was fer twenty mile aroun’; We had no fancy'unlforms, but, mind you, we could play, An’ made ten times as many runs as what they make today. St Jones, the blacksmith, pitched for us, an’ in them days, you know, You hud to please the batter, he could have it high low; An’ Deacon Perry uster catch, except campmeetin's, when We played a sort o° “picked-up” nine an’ used his big son Ben, Old ‘Squire Smith played at first, an’ when his glasses stayed in place So he conld see the ball be allers fortified that base. Judge Siimkins played at second, while I proudly guarded third, An’ young Doc Squills was shortstop, an’ as lively ‘ag a bird, He was our safest player, for he never tried to pounce Upon a te Hy an’ show hisself; he'd take it om the n mn, if 1 will catch @ bail ‘at ain't made out yarn!” got @ new-style ball he quit, ys, at home, the umpire bad ter do the business square, “ie br else we'd throw him out an’ git another then and there; An’ sometiines when the other side 'd kick too awful loud, We'd sort o” compromise the thing an’ leave it to the crowd. Our wives an’ sweethearts uster come an’ watch play the game, sh wi se er win they'd always cheer “tb “Ewould Go my heart lots o’ good ter be back there more Au’ play & game "Ith Jes’ the same old club we had afore. NIXON WATERMAN, NAEP YY finish FZ M4, lf DR. R. A GUNN, Eprros Meprcat Trisvne and Dean of the U. 8. Mepican CoLizax, New Yore Dr. Gunn’s name is a household word throughout) ‘She hed been suffering from Bright's Gisease His book, entitled “The Fuiaily Physi-| dy ot ret,| {fF Some time. She became encsinte, aud about a ty | te fourth month ebs suddenly became blind, had —- bs tows | Couvulsions, and finally weat into an asemic will cure them, Several physicians who saw ber said she ‘and constant advocate | not itve, and in this view I fully concurred, of ately (So lates, Csetans somaly of OS) ne call tt omitew 5 Gil Gat @ 0 beet ane camer cans years ago in a Sort they might try Warmer’s Safe Cure, and the patient got @id #0, ani to the surprise of eversene, she with equally good | covered. She has since given birth to @ living to the ee ae chtld, and 1s perfectly well.”" Bd Me cane cts aaa thon) Ds Ou G00 tat bo tntwe mip ghgtees have been all I could desire. I Whe prescribe Warner's Safe Core regulary, and te recover from Bright's diseneo, | for the reason that they find thelr patients, both amation of the biadder after tak-| male anf femsle, are benefited by it. Tt is, of ing Warner's Safe Cure, even when all other rem-| course, well kuown, that this creat remedy ts the afartl If he would refer to some | cured by it. He refusod to | be had any number of cases Tt was that of a lady, Speak- ever known to the world has bad och indore ments as it has, ond ft stands, as St deserves te stand, wholly upon its merit. Tar FACIAL Woman Likes to have her house well furnished, but & scarcity of cash many tues steps in avd defeats such an ambition, We want to say to the housekeepers of Washington that eash font necesaury fa the furnisting uf a howe | wor ie it necessary tn obtaining low prices | Our BLEMISHES. ‘The only institution in the south @e Voted exclusively to the treatment of the fkin, Scalp and Blood apd the removal of Facial Blemishes, Peerless sae Credit System PrstrLEs, jm Vitth PCZEMA, Sense one a ee or ence a mask wees! 2 BED DOR, them out so ensily that it is @ pleasure to ererertrr ree ay. No votes to sign, no wich) thiug as jerest e. Credit | with uo ‘to ‘wetKing "more ce” bass "S nm ac-|@ BLACK HEADS, AND ALL BLEM COMMODATION. |$ vaxpruve, OF THE SKIN, Matting | Leads in the list of wants, vow, ana! $Dr. Hepburn, verwaroroarer. Our enormous stock is a paradine for buyers hundreds of the newest patterns in cotton Warp “inserted” and otber reliable grades. Refrigerators Graduate of Jefferson Med. Col. Phila, and the Royal University of Vienna. MERTZ BLDG., COR. 11TH AND F STS. Come vest and we are “right at home" there, ‘aes =“ a too—we sell the Gurmey—because it's the ee os. mane best Refrigerator ever svuld for the price— veeooee thirty sizes to choose from. | a 2 Baby Carriages | T )) 7 Are here tn endless varlety—almost a bun- ) KD ‘ dred tterns—they aged famous Hey d b\ ) N Vakefeld makes. Prices begin at | And stop at $80—plenty of stopping places | 2 DO | ) between. ‘Compare these credit prices with the cash prices of other stores: 1 Sulte, plush or haircloth, S07 12TH ST. NW, SURGEON SPECIALIST, Over twenty-five yeurs’ expertence. THIRD YEAR AT PRESENT ADDRESS, Dr. Carleton treats with the skill born of expes Nervous Debility lece Purlor Solid Oak Bed Room Suite, $13. Bplendid Brussels Cerpet, per yard. Reliable Ingrain Carpet, ‘Se. per yard. Carpet wage and my — cost. No cha: F waste Im matching figures. Sats Oak ons te Ts Sold Solid “Gak xtension “Table, $8 AND “igo-pound. fair Mattress, $7. Sold else- Special Diseases. Where for $12. Practice Kmited to_the treatment of Gentlemen Exclusively Woven Wire Springs, $1.75. Sold else- where for $3.00. ALL ON, XX WEEKLY OR MONTHLY PAYMENTS. Inflammation Dervyus Deblutty. § Dladéu, 9 7 Kidneve Bw inary meat Rive Spot peayondeney Dia ‘yor, cow the wind? Mave fos sensed whirlwind * MAMMOTH GREDIT HOUSE, 619, 821, 823 TTR ST. NW. BET. B AND I STS. to dose ‘Tour grigh cioning to took Oe its charms for you? b fo on. Sf my STlentine guaranteed Valunbie pamphlet tres ppERARLERAELLEEEL Hours, 9 Rm. to 3 pm. and from # to 8 pam 2) ‘“Sclentific Dentistry at Moderate Prices. Soateys, 10 to 2 p.m. enly. Consutation Gus, Imperial Hair Regenerator, FOR GRAY OR BLEACHED HAIk Is a beautifal coloring to seven shades, The RE GENFRATOR restores balr to original, ant iGift Giving, i Like charity, should begin at home. Don't give a big price for dental work. All that you pay over $8 for & set of teeth ts a clear gift to t Gentist. Perhaps he can mi good teeth at that price, but tha his lookout. We make the very best rubber plate teeth for $5 a set. We tobe: Susmhy ans uo hee ene Sives color and lost vitulity to beached, @yed an siisis Gab ‘ais “eep uot tase sciled har. The beard can be colored successfully et tm our phtlosophy.” en account of its unique qualities ef CLEANLE NESS, DURABILITY and NAYUKALNESS. COL -26e. ons = 1, BLACK 6. LIGHT CRESTNUB ae wo 2. DARK BROWN. @ GOLD BLOND. ae we & MEDIUM BROWN. 7. BLOND. Bhp 4. CHESTNUT. PRICE, $1.50. NUS TINT, a most delicate and natural rouge Ic. and BRIAL HAIR aclous: Crown and Bridge work a specialty. U S Dental : oWYoAss’n, : IME and REMOVER, e, $1.00, 202 Sth avenue, New York. most harmies In Washington, Applied by G. WAGNER, 1826 11h st aw, apl4,s8t Cor. 7th and D n.w. In Baltimore—1 N. Charles st. GRATEFUL—COMPORTING Epps’s Cocoa. SUPPER. © of the natoral laws f digestion aud nutri if ibe fine prop: = SPP R POEM PORE ee ees assessors er oos | R-I-P-A-N-S TABULES REGULATZ THE Stomach,Liver and Bowelis | and Purify the Bloo RIPANS TABUL known for Indi; ache, Constipation, Dyspepsia, Aver Troubles, Dizziness, Bad Complexion, Dysen- tery, Offensive Breath, and all disorders of the Stomach, Liver and Bowels. Ripans Tabules coutain nothing injurio the most delicate constitution. Are pleas to take, safe, effectual, and give inime. rellef. Price—50 cents per bor. May be through nearest drugzist, or by mail. ple free by mail, Address The Ripans Chemical Co., 10 SP NCE 8T., NEW YORK CITY. FOR SALE IN WASHINGTON AT Mertz’s Modern Pharmacy, | H CORNER 11TH AND F STS. | pre oy Keeping ourselves a properly nour- r or milk. So © cers, Inbeled. thus: 2 mapa nic 5 2s. JAMES Ei The America ie Catarrh fel5.3m ty mi?i-sktu3m 11th and F sts, W |Gowns Are Handsome Pedestrians, In order to appreciat+ nature's most healthful exercise, have us put your feet tn good sv dition. We give instant and permanent re- | Nef in all foot troubles. pions and corns, enue Prof. J. J. Georges & Son, aes 6G5 “HD LISTS. Anmton 1sc 3er. mis peNyStt A AVENUE N.W. iton riscuer, 9 t. apo 8 to 6 p.m. Sundays, 9 tw L jo wu