Evening Star Newspaper, November 24, 1894, Page 19

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1894-TWENTY PAGES, CHARITY IN PARIS A Paternal Government Stands at the Cradle With Open Purse. ALL THE EXPENSES OF ACCOUCHEMENT Relief is Furnished at the Home and in Hospitals. SOME OF THE ABUSES Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. PARIS, November 6, 1894. URING ONE WEEK last month eight re- spectable citizens of Paris committed sui- cide, through min- gled want and pride. The daily journals, with one voice, cried shame on the mu- nicipality. And yet the suicides had made no application for assistance. “Where, then, could lie the fault of the assistance publique? ‘The assistance publique ought to have looked these poor, proud people up, fetched coal and bread to them and paid their rent. That is “secours a Momiclle.” At our Thanksgiving time, when holy minded pri- vate parties carry turkeys to the cran- berry-less, the Paris common council, as a city corporation,tries to do the same thing, while discouraging (like the true atheist itis) the thanks to God, whose place as an all-helping Providence it seeks to take. It Asking. fs a very socialistic feature, the secours a domicile. How far it works, how far it possibly can work, is something doubtful. In looking at the late coincidence of sul- eldes. the Figarc—the orzan of gcod sense —felt called vron to praise old-fashioned, private charity—‘“the surest remedy against these dramas which are not the fault of anyone, but of a thing—that blind, mute, deaf ensemble o: laws, usages, faults, errors and even good works, which constitute our social state.” According to the common talk of Paris, (1) the assistance publique ts. as a. whole, accused of being, not inefficient, but in- sufficient. (2) The department of secours a domicile is furthermore sccused of bet (a) expensive with its many salaried farc- tionaries, and (b) degrading in its influence, with a tender.cy to tempt the able-bodied, semi-prosperous worker to palm off him- self as a poor, needy person, in order that he too may get his little whack out of the publie money. What has transpired of late at Lyons, in that particular, is nour- ishing in the extreme to economic curios- ity. A Paternal Government. “On all sides it is admitted that to tax a poor man’s bread with city customs duties and then to help him charitably, even at his domicile, is, in the end, not to advance the poor man much. And so, before Americans have too much admiration for the Paris charities, they shoul consider one other continental-city feature, in its fullest blcom at Paris, the octroi of the municipality—the city tariff, taxing every pound of eatables, combusti- bles and drinkables before they may be Waiting. trought inside the city gates. That coun- terbalances free soup for children in the schools, dear friends, for instance. And the secours a domicile ts doubtless showy. But the causes which produce it make it only decent that it should exist. More than half of all the babies born in Paris annually come traveling, so to say, on a free pass by means of the assistance publique. Wives of decent workingmen, with money in their pockets, do not he: tate to ask the city to stand treat, on an event so interesting. “Flesh for cannons, flesh for pleasure,” say the poor foll “Let the government do something too. It is not only in the hospitals to which Parisians run, as to their childhood homes, whenever they have any little ailment. There an accovchement (lasting ninc days) only costs the city some six dollars, But there are husbands who prefer to have the thing come off at home. And that comes dearer to the city. The husband notifies the mayor of the word. The mayor asks: “With or without?” Do you want money help at the same time, or do you only want the services of one of our municipal mid- wives? The latter style of birth, where the municipality gives help at home, not in a Respital, costs the assistance’ publique some fovrteen dollars. It excludes the “layette” (which has almost the same meaning as “lay out”), which the city also gives, a linen wrap, a cotton wrap, four little sheets, two baby caps, two baby gowns, two fichus and two leuding strings in colors and one cap, also in colors. Ald for the Babies. Whether the young mother be a wife or kes not the slightest difference, ex- cept she may even ask more help. The question of the “fille-mere,” or “un- married mother,” {s a very trying one in France. With her begins the true work of all these bureaux of bienfalsance, or the charity commission, which has not the ug- ly word of “and correction” tagged to It. l-mothers in particular are treated at central office of the Avenue Victoria, whose work is to attend to mothers of lasses in distr For otherwise por girls, cast aside and isolated, at of thelr resources would have no but to give their babies up to the Not only do they give the i baby linen at her own home, if it, but they fix her up financialiy. ty is called “preventive.” A mere, or even a married woman in ne- ecessity, may be assisted even further, and in three weys, at her choice. (1) The child may be confided to a government-appoint- ed, salaried wet nurse in the country, watched and tested (as to health and faith- fulness) by the administration. (2) The mother may have given her a fixed lump sum, amounting to about twelve dollars. It is enough to pay the first month's board and pocket money for the infant if its mother chooses to put it out to board more privately. Large Indigent Population. The second and succeeding months she must pay out herself, in that case. (In France to be a ‘vet nurse is a real career in life. Strong country girls stand over willing to give board and lodging to the little squaller.) @) The last plan, very moral, very hygienique, and favored far beyond the others, has the name of “se- cours d'allaitement.” More than six thou- sand mothers yearly claim its aid in the accomplishment of their maternal duty. They come monthly to the bureau, with their babies in their arms and in their hands a stamped certificate to prove the baby is alive—that is to say, to prove it is no substituted baby. The allowance, which is always given till the weaning, and may be continued at discretion, averages six dollars monthly. The lady delegates of the assisted in- fants (a very different establishment for Private Charity Also. unnamed or abandoned babies) ought to assure themselves by personal investiga- tion at the domicile of the fact that this secours-a-domicile-assisted child is doing well. As all good actiens bring thelr own reward, the sanitary state of ihese Lorme- brought-up babies is said to be more sat- isfactory even than that of the little board- ers in the country sice. According to the last report the indigent ation of Paris runs up to 46,32) per- or nearly two to.every hundred. To these must be added some 60,000 dans la panade, as they say in French (which means exactly “in the scup”), but only temporarily. That makes 11,000 people, not in poor houses or institutions, and ex- cluding also 40,000 children in the Enfants- Assistes. All these receive some help from this secours-a-domicila. These agencies are given the name of maisons de secours, and they include a service of free medi- cine and doctors. Some of these maisons are officered (even at this late day, though the municipality has tried to drive. them out) by the Sisters of Charity administer- ing the city funds. But there are few cf these left nowaday: SvppHed With Medical Attendance. It is in these centers that the merely in- digent come regularly every month to get provisions to assist in running thelr poor homes. Bread tickets, tickets for milk, coal, meat, cheap: stoves, bed clothing, clothes, chemises, covers and even mat- tresses are given out, according to the or- der written on the “dossier” of each poor person. Apart from such help and the ordinary free dispensary medical service each agency for the Secours a Domicile has two more qualities. (1)—Poor folks who might otherwise ba sent to hospitals may, at their choice, have doctors visit them in their own homes. The city furnishes the doctor and the medicine, not only for a temporary ailment, but for a long course of sickness. To treat a person in the hos- pitals will cest the city. 60 cents a day. To treat them thus at home (such peoplo seldom ask to be fed also) only averages the city 26 cents daily for each person. (2)—The last class comirg under this Se-ours a Domicile are those who take the benefit of what is termed dgs gecours Tepresentatifs d’hospicc. Old folks, instead of being isolated in a poor house, where the cost of keeping them is high, may take a pension and live as they can, most often with their children or some relative almost as poor as they. The monthly pen- sion rets $6. . Thus this “home help” may really movnt up, for a fumily wise enough to ask it, to a very decent figure. Take a family where the old grandfather draws his $6 monthly, having chosen to live home and not go to a hospital. His $6 helps to keep the table going. His daughter may be drawing her allowance for her youngest baby, which she nurses. That helps also. Her other children go to the maternal schools, where they are given free lunch and free clothes. They are drawing out as in- digenis a very serious supply each month of tickets for all household necessaries. If they could also get themselves upon the Rothschild or the Montyon charities (ad- ministered by this same Bureau de Bien- faisance) their rent would be sent round to them, ear trumpets bought for them (should they be deaf) and on, follow- ing the various special dispositions of these semi-public, semi-private charities. And always, it must be remembered, private charity, religious charity and _ practical politics assistance from ward bosses will go far to fill up any gaps. It is not strange, therefore, that there should be at times some comments, some eusp!- cions. An Abuse of Charity. In 1591 the city of Lyons was quite dis- satisfied with its Secours a Domicile. It appeared that the demands for assistance kept on rising yearly, out of all propor- tion to sound reason. The funds available remained the same each year. So that, by being so divided up in consequence of the increased demands, the sum which could be give to each applicant became absurd. It seemed as if the workingmen and wom- en of Lyons had made their minds wu each to get his share, though not wort! gcing after. The list of indigents inscribed grew up to 27,325. The sum of money which might be «itstributed was only 448,490 francs, or 16 francs 41 centimes yearly for each assisted person. The actual price of bread and meat and rent made the “as- sistance” of 1 franc 85 centimes a month (some 27 cents) appear too comical. Now this ts said to be the case in Paris also. You may be inscribed upon the lists. That is all right. Bac if there are too many on the lists your share will not be quite as much as if there were too few upon the lists. They say that Paris has 10,000,000 francs to thus distribute in Se- cours a Domicile. 100,000 people on the Usts’ (though it is more) would give an average 100 francs to each or $20. Count out the expenses of administration. Count out girl mothers, who must be paid up and taken care of always first. And you will find that many a poor old grandpa, with his nome inscribed a’ regular and straight, will die, be burled and forgotten before the help he asks can reach him. He 1s entitled to it—but there Is no money They are @ practical people, the Lyon- nese. They thought rightly that help for the poor should be real help and not an imperceptible falling of dew. They also thought that persons who are helped with- out having a right to it or without suf- ficient reason are really corrupted and de- roralized by it. Now, this class of per- sons who are improperly helped is very numerous in great cities. Such cities have rot only to give aid to the poverty-stricken who belong to them, but to many others who come to the cities in order to share in their charities. In the country part of France they have a saying that a beggar’s sack is worth more than a yoke of oxen and much easier to handle. Experience shows that this is still truer of the emigra- tion from vil:ages and country places into the great cities. The problem at Lyons was to find out the number of persons whose only right was to be stricken off the list receiving the Secours a Domicile. The Lazy and Pretenders. It was in vain to hope for a radical re- form at the handy of those who had al- ready been employed in distributing the city’s charity. Most of them did their work out of mere good will and good citt- zenship and could not be expected to show any great severity. It was decided that the investigation should be made by paid employes, and that these employes should have the charge of distributing the eity’s charity, but only after the lists had been revised. This regulation began in 1801, when twenty agents were named, with a salary of frum 300 to 3% dollars a year. It 1g good pay for a government clerk iy Jssee. er six morths the number of persons assisted had fallen by over 16,000 individ. uals, This gave to the 10,000 worthy poor remaining a possible addition to their re- sources of over $5 a year. The agents had not been too severe and the following year 4,000 more heads fell and 4,000 new, more worthy poor were elevated to the ‘public teat. A part of each agent's duty was to see if the poor persons had not friends or relatives who might help them. The general opinion has been that only the lazy and pretenders have been dropped, while the additions represent real misery. How such things often go in Paris, where it is so hard to learn the truth on any subject, may be gleaned from the following eee ae from this morning’s » Where a “scandal” to ee been no scandal: suidl exe “A socialist journal published yesterda; the story of a new scandal *yhich. ri thought it had discovered in the bureau de bienfaisance of the fourteenth arrondisse- ment. M. Ponet, @8 rue de Gergovie, a married man, and the father, so it was said, of two children, having but a single room for his lodging, and for all his fur- niture only a mattress on the floor, had applied to the bureau, and received this answer: ‘Your situation is not worthy of interest. We cannot grant you any help.’ When the olticers of the bureau were asked, they gave a different version of the matter. On the 29th of October, M. Chas. Ponet, a bookkeeper, twenty-four years old, married to a young wife of twenty- seven, and father of a child of two, made an application for the gratuitous assist- ance of a midwife, as his wife was about to make him a father for the second time. This request was granted on the 3ist of October. Some days later M. Ponet made @ new application for help. According to custom, a visitor was sent to his lodging and gave in his report. From this it ap- peared that M. Ponet had work, although he worked but irregularly, and that the help asked would be much more useful after bd —" Carta The application was, therefore, not dismissed, choses but simply Soclalistic Criticism. This little extract ought to give a fair impression of the workings of this one side of the public charities of Paris, Fig- ures tell very little. The total resources yearly of the assistance publique —for hospitals, poor houses and the bureau de bientaisance—runs up to 40,000,000 francs, of which 10,000,000 only go to this Secours a Domicile. The strange thing is that there is not more trickery and pecu- lation. As a fact, I know that hospitals are free as air, and even for the foreigner in France, as well as Frenchmen. And, nothwithstanding this, the socialistic journals never cease to speak against them. ‘They would have you think the pampered bourgeois get their daughters into them as nurses, that they may drink up the sick folks’ wine and brandy. Poor folks are refused admission, while the well-to-do are never tugned away. If they can say such things of Paris hospitals, perhaps there is as little truth in what is said against Sec @rs a Domicile. STERLING HEILIG. —__ ORIENTAL MAID SERVANTS. They Are Described as Being Very Picturesque, Pleasing and Clever. From the Hartford Post. Now the Chinese or Japanese maid serv- ant 1s becoming fashionable on account of her picturesque possibilities. If she wears her native cress she is about as at- tractive as a $1,500 vase or a rare piece of bric-a-brac. Visitors like to look at her, and consequently the prettier and more Braceful the girl the higher wages she can command. Long, narrow eyes, thin black brows, and a clear complexion are the things desired. An oriental girl's hair is always shiny and well arranged, and everything about her is invariably neat. A part of her duties is attendance at the door. ‘his is where the spectacular fea- ture counts. After the ring of the electric bell has died away there is a pattering of slippered feet or the clack of little Japan- ese wooden stilts, and the door swings back, revealing a small, brilliant figure, with a card tray concealed in the depths of her sleeve or kimono. It ts all very fetching. Another function that the maiden from over the seas is expected to perform is serving 5 o'clock tea. This is pecullarly ap- propriate, and lends an aroma to the beverage. ‘he fad started in New York and has naturally reached its height in San francisco, where the missions are not able to supply the people who call upon them. ‘he missions, in fact, require refer- ences before they will allow their girls to go out. There is too much trouble in rescuing them to have them slip back again, as they are quite likely to do if they e not carefully watched. It will not do to give them the liberties that other serv- ing maids have, for they are like wax in the hands of designing people. —_—_+e-+—____ Why He Became Insane. “This patient,” said the superintendent of the insane asylum, as he conducted a party of visitors along the corridors and paused at a particularly heavy barred door, “this patient is the most violent in the building. Observe how he mutters low but deep the most profane language; his eyes, too, are fierce and bloodshot, his sight belng almost entirely gone, and the muscles of his neck are much strained. He cries a great deal for drink, which we are obliged to give him, since it is the only method by which we can contro] him.” “Poor fellow!" Yes, once he was handsome, brilliant, accomplished, strong and athletic, and never knew what it was to drink to ex- cess.”” “What brought him to this?” asked one of the visitors. “He sat behind a theater hat ————_—+e--— In the Name of Economy, From Texas Siftings. Van Cortland Park—“I have just brought my wife a diamond ring for $250.” Murray Hill—“I had no idea you were so extravagant.” “Extravagant! saye lots of money. it.) don’t catch on. “Why, man alive! “ gloves.” My dear fellow, I will That's why I bought ll save $500 on kid ———_-+0+ Investigation Off. 78. What's that? A man run over and hurt? Notify the entire police force to watch for the bicyclist who did it.” Policeman—“But it wasn’t a bicyclist. It was a beer wagon.” Official—“Oh, if that’s all, never mind. People are used to being run over by beer wagons.” From Life. “Hey, Nellie, how big is de bird?” “Cut off its neck an’ legs, an’ allow for wot it'd lose in de cookin’ an’ it'd fit yer stummik like a glove.” THE TACTICAL BOARD a. The Prospect of the Selection of a Militia Representative. te d SOME OF THE NAMES SUGGESTED _ 4 Changes in the Mahudl of Arms and the OrderiiSyétem. ait aor te A PRECEDENT FOUND a0 8 Written for the Evening Stac, ILL THE NA- tional Guard be ‘al- lowed a representa- tive In the next tact- ical board?" This is a@ question which is beginning to arouse considerable sp2cula- tion in the War De- partment ss tne ume grows near for Sec- retary Lamont to name the delegation soon to begin the re- vision of the soldier's drill book. Although the importance of such an ap- pointment on the part of the Secretary has not begun to be appreciated in the states, It appears that some strong efforts are being made by several militia officers haying ‘influence in the department to bring about such an unusual mave. The matter is becoming the subject of debate between army cfficers and promirieht mem- bers, of the National Guard, and it is un- necessary to say that it will be discussed throughont the whole country as soon as anything definite issues from the Secre- tary’s office. It seems to be expected rather ‘than fear- cd by the militiamen that the regular army officers who have been or will be called upon to consult with Col. Lamont on this subject will advise adversely, Where they place their highest hopes, however, is on the fact that Lamont himself was close- ly allied with the militia when he was military secretary to Cleveland during the latter’s administration as governor of New York, and, in consequence, well under- stands ard appreciates the character and needs of the militia. The writer learns from good authority that certain National Guard officers were recently called for consultation with the Secretary upon this subject, and that sov- eral recommendations have been made for delegates from their ranks. This report, of course, points to the Secretary's hav- ing at least considered the matter, which the National Guard people look upon as a great gain of ground. Some of the Officers Mentioned. One of these sald to have becn recom- mended for this place is Col. Tom Edmonds of Boston, who is in con.mand of the Mas- sachusetts Corps of Cadets, the body- guard of the governor, Col. Edmonds {fs a veteran, and is regarded as an expert tac- tician. It is thought, however, that a se- rious objection to his appointment would be- founded upon his hcstility to Upton's “fours system,” which he fought bitterly during the whole of Upton’s service on the tactical board. Representative Bartlett, of the seventh New York district, who tq major of the thirty-second regimen ational Guard of New York, is also saff& to have been rec- ommended to the Secrétary and is thought to have a fair ehancgdf appointment, if any ig made, since a, delegate from the empire state’ would. cent @ gréater number of militiamen tan one from Any other section. a . Still*angther namé w' may bé mentioned is that shell of Philadelphi Even in the evi sion by Col. Lamont, boon suggest- ed that thepe4ts’ likely to be great diffi- culty in finding a militia officer who will serve, for the reason that no provision is made in regard to the salary for such a duty, sacticn~by Congress being necessary before it cin be fixed. The regu- lar army officers detailed for this ‘work continue on the rolls with their usual m- comes, but according to the present state of affairs, a militia officer would be re- quired to work for love alone, unless his state should provide remuneration. The last board was engaged two years and a half in completing the book of 1891, and the next will probably be at work even longer, since the manual of arms and the whole extended order system, comprising altogether cver one-half of the book, will have to be changed. Battleficld Evolutions. This alteration of the extended order or skirmish drill, which is really the fight- ing system, is necessary on account of the long range of the new army rifle, which will demand various changes in the posi- Uons of assault, and the other technicall- ties preparatory to forming a battle align- ment. The other Changes are expected to entirely reconstruct the regulations for bringing troops into actual battle line, and for the substitution: of reserves as cas- ualties occur. According to the present tactics the.company is divided into sec- tions and squads, on forming front, the former in the command of sergeants and the latter of corporals. This necessitates considerable confusion at such a critical moment, and it is desired to bring the cap- tain and his NMeutenants in more direct control of their men, As an army officer of considerable rank expressed it to the writer, one of the objections+to the National Guard's entering the board will be based upon the com- plaint so often made, that the militia pays too mnuch attention to the handling of the gun, and to the foot movements prescribed in the school of the regiment, ignoring for the most part the practical evolutions for the battlefield. A staff officer on duty in the department lately referred to this in a publication Suggesting that in each state a specified time in the year be given for drills in thes® broader nse. . . Several of the hetter regulated. state militias are now drilled in the skirmish movements and jhe militia's friends ar- gue that officers from these states, at -] 3 tho: 10). Bpnky! yorable deci- least, .are. perfectly quplified.to improve , this part of the drill book. They further say that since this is all-strictly fighting science it will affect both branches of the military alike, at th® timé of actual bat+ tle, and therefore both should not only abide by it, but have & hand in its mal- ing; more so than any offier pert. Further, they say, a recognition (of their organiza- tion in the beard would stimulate the am- bition of militiamen in the higher ranks, with the unay, effect that all. por- tions of the drill Ypuld be taught alike to the men, A Precededt Found. The National Guard Advocates have late- ly found a precedent for euch an appoint- ment, after searching through our mili- tary history. It appears that in 1825 Sec- retary of War Barbour adilrcssed circular letters to the governors gf ull the states and to many prominght ¢jtizens, as a re- sult of which he afterward convened a board, composed amghg ‘others of Gen. Winfield Scott, chat and Zachary Taylor, then an artillery -Sfficer, the mill- tia being represented By. three of its gen- erals, Cadwallader of \Pennsylvania, Sum- ner of Massachusetts,,and Daniel of North Carolina. In 1620 thesé officers, acting with he others on the bi compiled a system f infantry tactics to b@used by the sry and militia alike, 60, coptes of whic! ery, published and distributed. -It may @ held, however, by the regular ay seatingent that in those days the milit! iffered materially from the present Na- tional Guard, being a compulsory rather than a voluntary service. But the other side would answer this by again appealing to history, whio shows that the old compulsory militia was @ failure, and that the volunteers were he only militiamen who have ever rén- lered valuable service to country in ie time of war, Therefore they ask wh; Sz, should not have recognition as well 48 their predecessors. Concerning the discrimination which would have to be made in regard to states, should the Secretary make a single ap- ant the Satin yt Aon —~ little jealousy may be looked for, but ao- cording to the constitution the federal government has the power to prescribe the “organization, arming and disciplining” of the militia and may exercise its judg- ment without consulting state officials. During the sessions of the federal con- stitution convention in 1789, the committee which reported this clause, on being ask- ed the scope of the word “disciplining,” replied that in this instance it meant that the national government should prescribe the military drill manual, evolutions, reg- ulations, etc. Therefore, it is claimed that the Secre- tary, representing the federal government in the capacity given him by Congress, has as much authority to appoint a militia officer from a particular state as he has to appoint an army officer from a particu- lar department, the whole or both branches of the service being looked upon collec- tively. 8 ————— NEW PUBLICATIONS. ARMAZINDY, By James Whitcomb Riley. In dianapolis: The Bowen-Merriil Co, Whenever James Whitcomb Riley—“‘Jim” Riley—writes a new poem he delights the great majority of reading Americans. When he publishes a volume he places poetry-loving humankind under obligations Not likely to be canceled in a hurry. To say that “Armazindy” is worthy of its au- thor’s reputation Is to commend it super- latively. THE PEARL OF INDIA. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co. Robert Beall. There is temptation in the mere name “India” for those who are inclined to wander in foreign lands, but only a few of the many migratory ones see of the de- > of their hearts. The stay-at-homes Yught to be able to secure a great deal of enjoyment from this volume, in which there is so much of detailed’ description that nothing secms to have escaped the author's attention. Rarely does a writer compress so much of valuable information into such a comparatively small space. THE BOY TRAVELERS IN THE LEVANT. Ad- ventures of Two Youths in a Journey ‘Through Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, Greece and Turk: with Visits to the Islands of Rhodes and Cy: rus and the Site of Ancient Troy. By ‘Thomas . Knox, author of ““The Boy ‘fravelers fo the ‘ar “In South America, in Russia,"” “On the Congo,” “The Young Nimrods,"” &e. New York: Harper & Brothers. Washington: Woodwaid & Lothrop. ‘Thomas W. Knox has done much to edu- cate hundreds of boys who were disin- clined to study. More effective lessons in geography, history and ethnology could hardly be framed than are continually presented in “The Boy Travelers” series. Liberally and correctly illustrated. THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT; Or, pntures of Claudius Bombarnac. : i * “Tour of the World in Elgh*y ichael Strogoff, the Courier of the New York: Lovell, Coryell & Co. : Woodward & Lothrop. Monsieur Verne should have studied his subject more closely before writing. His ‘special correspondent” ts an absurd sort of a being, who does not distinguish him- self at all, and who bears no‘resemblance to the wideawake newspaper worker of today. THE NEW ‘TIME: A, Plea for the Union of the By Maturin M. Ballou. Washingzon: ‘The Ad- Flower, “Lessons rned Other Lives," &. Boston: The Arena Publishing Company. Intent upon hastening social, moral and intellectual progress the author adds not- ably to the vast quantity of argument that has already reached the public through the medium of his pen. An idealist, sometimes touches an extreme, but his sincerity is so evident that it cannot but disarm many who are inclined to honest criticism and who would argue with him as to the soundness of his theories and the difficulties that prevent their application. JOHN BROWN AND HIS MEN, With Some Ac- Roads ‘They Traveled to Reach 's Ferry. By Richard J. Hinton, member tion, 8, author Hundbook to Arizona," ‘English’ Radical * “Phillip: Henry’ Sheridan,” *U. Reports on Irrigation, 1885-90," &e. New York: Funk & Wagnalis Company. Written by one who was to a consider- able extent associated with “Brown of Osawatomie,” this twelfth volume of the American Reformers series is one of passing interest. A thorough believer in John Brown's.mission, the author has done his work with enthusiasm of the con- tagious sort. Much of the information given is new; most of it is authentic. UP AND DOWN THE NILE; or, Young Adven- turers in Africa, By, Oliver “ptic, author of {The Army, and Navy Series,” “Young America Abroad,” “The Boat Club’ Stoctes,"" &e. Bos- ton: Lee & Shepard. Washington: Woodward & Lothrop. The third volume of the second series of the “All-Over-the-World Library” and, if possible, a more valuable and interesting work than its predecessors. Egypt is still the most mysterious of lands, but many of its long-kept secrets have been laid bare for the edification of adventure-loving boys. An admirable gift for book-hungry youngsters. MARSENA AND OTHER STORIES OF THE WAR- ‘TIME. Harold Frederic. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. Washington: Bren- tano’s. “Marsena,” “The War Widow,” “The Eve of the Fourth” and “My Aunt Susan,” will interest and amuse even the least susceptible of readers. “Marsena” is es- peelaliy THE CASTLE OF THE CARPATHIANS. -By Jules Verne, author of “From the Earth to the Deals with the improbable, yet not im- possible. The “motif” of the story is ap- plied electricity, with the telephone, the phonograph and the kinetoscope, put t remarkable uses. Another of Jules Verne’ inimitable narratives. THE OLD POST-ROAD. | By M. G. McClelland, author of “Oblivion,” “Princess,” “Broad: ouks,"’ “White Heron,” “Burkett k, New’ York: The Merriam Company. Washing- ton: Woodward & Lothrop. A story of old Maryland, of love and crime and suffering and heroism. Fasci- nating; a literary success; the acceptable product of a clever writer. VOYAGE OF THE LIBERDADB.~ By Captain i ui. Boston: Roberts Brothers. Woodward & Lothrop. A story of latter-day adventure; of gen- eral and local interest, for this remarkable boat and Its no less remarkable crew were in the Potomac some years since. MR, PICKET-PIN AND HIS FRIENDS. By Price Collier, With illustrations by Walter bett. New York: Dutton & Co. Washington: William B: yne & Sons. Discusses the Indian of the northwest— principally the Brule Sioux—and does it in an interesting way. AMERICAN SLAVES. By One of Them. A Book for Workingmen. Chicago: The American En- graving Company. Pessimistic in its tone, cynical in its criticisms, yet rightly aimed and by no means unreasonable. THROUGH TROUBLED WATERS. A Story Found- ed on Fact. From the French, “By Mrs. Fi cts J. A. Darr; author of “The Cortina Meth- “The Strange Fri Norma,” from ish, &e. New York: Town Topics Publishing Co. THE INDISCRETION OF THE DUCHESS, Being a Story Conceraing ‘Two, Ladies, a Nobieman and a Necklace. By Anthony Hi “Tl ft Zenda,” &« FIRST LATIN READINGS. By Robert Arrow- smith, Ph. D., Professor of Gresk and Latin, Fouchiers’ Collégo, ‘Now York city, and George Packer Gollegiate institution: Brooklyn, Ne er e ution, . New York: American Book Co, SHADOWS BEFORE; or, A Century Onward. By New York: The Hum- Fayette Stratton Giles. boldt Publishing ‘Gite Co, SILVER STRUGGLE. 1s G. Newlands. Most city churches have, or intend to have, an official pay originated by Mr. T. Pliny Moran and adopted by twenty of the leading churches of the District, is one of the best things of the sort ever mn, Each paper has the first page devoted to the immediate inter- ests of the churoh the name of which it bea! and it circulates only among the members of that particular church. The other three pages Contain matter of a gen- eral religious ture and is the same for all twenty papers. The idea has already met with the approval of the tors and congregations of the different churches, and is said to be such a great success as @ means of sare aap oa news that arrangements are ni ang madg jo plant it in other - ~sen=nce of... oH 1890 to 1804. By wee Peewee ir, and the scheme, REAL ESTATE GOSSIP A Feature in Some Recent Handsome Residences. AUCTION PRICE OF G STREET PROPERTY The Pressing Need for Additional Public Buildings. SOME IMPROVEMENTS The progress of the erection of the resi- dence which the widow of the late Goorge W. Childs of Philadelphia is building on K street near 16th is noted with considera- ble interest, as it promises to be a rather attractive addition to the number of -hand- some private residences in this city. The walls of white stone have now reached such a height that some idea of the general style and character of the proposed structure can be obtained. The main entrance is to be on a level with the street, the steps leading to the parlor floor belng inside the vestibule. There is an entrance from the west side which will evidently be for the use of those who use the carriage approach. This latter feature is dne that is found in many of the larger private resi- dences in the city. The handsome res!- dence of Senator Hale, which adjoins the Property of Mrs. Childs, has an approach of this character, while the house of the late General N. L. Anderson, on the oppo- site corner, now the winter residence of Mr. Crosby 8S. Noyes, has a driveway which extends around the house, with gateways leading both to 16th street and street. This house is one of the three examples in this city of the architectural genius of the late Mr. Richardson, who was re- garded as easily at the head of his pro- fession in this country. A somewhat sim- ilar arrangement for a carriage entrance is found in the Corcoran house, which is eccupied by Senator Brice; in the resi- dence of Senator Lodge on Massachusetts avenue, and in the spacious residence of Mr. W. J. Boardman, at 18th and P streets, which is nearing completion. In the three latter instances, however, these driveways are openings through the structures, the upper portion of the houses being built over them. G Street Property at Auction, There was some interest manifested during the last week in a pieze of G street property, which was offered at public sale. The property is improved by a frame dwelling and is located between 11th and 12th streets. The lot is 25 by 100 feet. The bidding was on the basis of the square foot valuation, The property was finally withdrawn, thé highest bid being $7.25 per square foot. Why the Public is Interested. The progress, or rather lack of progress in the erection of the new city post office building, which is recorded daily in the news columns of The Star, is a matter of public importance, not only from the de- siré tlat an improvement of this character should be completed as rapidly sible, but from the daily inconvenience which the citizens experience in not having the city post office in a more central location than it is at present. As every one knows, the present building was leased, not because of its location, but because the accommoda- tions were better than that of any other available building, and it was necessary that the post office should be removed from the unsafe and inconvenient building it then occupied. In the selection of the site for the new building its central location was the main motive. It is natural, there- fore, that the people of Washington should strongly desire that the construction of the new building should be pushed as rapidly as possible in order that they should be freed from thé daily inconvenience of the present arrangement. More Public Buildings Needed. It is not probable that at the coming ses- sion of Congress anything will be done to provide the new buildings which ore so greatly needed for the accommodation of the executive departments of the govern- ment. The growing rent roll of the gov- ernment in this city is only one item in the array of evidence which is easily available showing how urgent the need is for addi- tional buildings. All the public buildings are now overcrowded, and the health and the comfort of the government employes are seriously affected. It is thought that action in this matter cannot be much long- er deferred, and that in the near future several large buildings will be erected. The local needs of the District in this par- ticular are well known, and it seems that the situation is such that Congress will Le forced to take early action. Some Improvements. E. J. Hannan has had plans prepared by N. T. Haller, architect, for a block of eight houses to be erected on F street between 2d and 3d streets northeast. They are to be two stories in height with bay fronts of buff brick and Indiana limestone. Plans have been prepared by A. B. Mor- gan, architect, for two residences to be erected at 14th and Binney streets. They are to be four stories in height, 23 and 23 feet by 50 feet, with fronts of buff brick and Indiana limestone. The same archi- tect is preparing plans for ten houses to be erected near 13th and Roanoke streets. ‘They are to be three stories in height, 20 by 65 feet, with fronts of buff brick and limestone. Plans have been prepared for two Eng- lish basement dwellings, which S. M. Plum- ley .proposes to erect near the corner of 18th and 8 streets. They are to be four stories in height, 17x46 feet, with base of Indiana limestone and the upper portion of the fronts of buff brick. A. Goene! rehitect, has prepared plans for a three-story residence 25x65 feet, to be built in Le Droit Park. The front is to be of buff brick with stone trimmings. W. J. Flather will erect a residence on R street near 2ist, from plans prepared by D. G. Bowen, architect. The dimensions will be 24x52 feet, and the front will be of select red brick with stone trimmings. Dr. W. P. C. Hazen has planned the erec- tion of four brick dwellings at numbers 109, 111, 118 and 115 Sth street northeast. They are to be “uilt of brick, each 17x95 feet. James L. karsons is the architect and builder. Nathaniel Hershler will shortly build a frame dwelling two stories high on Folsom street, Cleveland Park. It will be 75x150 feet, and will be built by C. W. McNulty. Pelz & Carlisle are the architects. A. W. Chappel is building a storehouse in the rear of 802 I street northeast. It will be built of red brick, two stories in height, 19x20 feet. Peter Clark will shortly build a brick dwelling at 1629 34th street northwest. It will be two stories high, 16.8x50 feet, and will be built of pressed brick. Messrs. Brigham and Lowe are the architects and builders. The inspector of buildings has granted a permit to Wm. B. Upton, chief engineer of the Columbia Railroad Company, for the crection of an office building and car house on Benning road between 15th and 10th streets northeast, Rosedale. It will be built of red brick and blue stone, two sto- ries in height, 140x200 feet, and will be heated throughout by steam. The con- tract for building has been awarded to Messrs. Richardson and Burgess. The plans have been completed by W. B. Wood, the architect. L. Chappel is erecting a store and dwell- ing at 818 H street northeast. It will be three stories high, with cellar, 20x45 feet, and will be built of pressed brick. S. M. Burgess has planned the erection of a handsome residence at 1620 18th street northwest. It will be built of Indiana lime- stcne and pressed brick, three stories high and 20x110 feet. Messrs. Pitney and Brad- ford are the architects and John McGregor the builder, J. A, Wynkcop will shertly build for him self three brick dwellings at numbers 124, 126 and 128 D street northeast. Thoy will be built of pressed brick and Indiana lime stone, three stories in heigh: and 40x85 feet. N. T. Haller is the architect. The erection of a dwelling and store will shortly be commenced by James J, Sheeh- ley at the northwest corner of 2d and K streets northeast. It will be two stories high, 18x90 feet, und heated throughout by furnace. Edward Wolz is the architect and F. J. Ettinger & Brothers the builders. Charles Baum has commenced the erev- tion of a flat at 1111 and 1113 1ith street nerthwest, the first story to be used for 19 Only Those Who Have Suffered Know the Value of Health, Mr. Hi sler, the well-known bakex who McLean avenue, and whose place of 622 E street northwest. “‘ ly; pation and gene 2 See Seba 10 inany relief, He was cured by Dr. Walker, Such | testimonials ” are a proof of Dr. Walker's success Curing ‘all disorders. of the ‘braiu: aud tem, diseases of the skin and asthma, consumption, 4 fit, heinorrboide, rhecmact loss of vitality and all throat, heart,” liver, bowels and other organs, Young and middle-aged men whose is threatened by infirmities due to past Skceeees, may be restored to. the ‘ult st of thy manhood by placing themselves inder Dr. Walker's a m, di affections kidneys, bladder, les or and care. Dr. Walker be consulted free, either sonaily or by letter. His well-known sanitarkam at 1411 Pennsylvania avenue, Willard's Hotel, is open to all applicants for adi or p.m: Wetmadiy Sok sttirgst tretags ies $ 1m. tu + Sundays, from 10 to1.) f Gharges for ‘treatmen 3 All interviews and comreponte fidential. No ee nets om. Of pitients§® Ca¥ made public without et . store _purpos: tories high, stxits fect, Gultice Teemea vitae and ponte ee by . C. A. Didden builder, ee = Building Record. The building inspector's record for the past week ending yesterday shows that twenty-three permits were taken out for the erection of new buildings, aggregating in cost $79,450. This was divided among the several secti of the city as follows: Northwest, eight permits, $24,750; north- east, eight permits, $11,500; southeast, three Permits, $8,000; southwest, on $200, and county, three speaner ol 5,00 ———_—= OUR HUMAN MACHINES, Sho Not the Working People Be as ‘Well Cared for as the Apparatus? From the Iron Age. The comfort of workmen is a matter to which a great deal more attention could be given than it at present recetves. It is true that the question is not wholly neglected when new factories are built or old ones are remodeled. Here and there employers can be found with hearts big enough to con- sider that the health and comfort of their working people are worthy subjects for their careful contemplation, and purse strings are loosened a little more to enable improvements to be made directly for the benefit of the man at the bench, lathe or rolls. But these instances are altogether too rare. When a new mill or factory is being de- signed the highest talent will be employed and the utmost taken to secure the best type of building for the purpose. Foundations will be most carefully looked after, the character of the building will be very elaborately studied so as to provide safeguards against possible disaster from overloading or damage by fire, and the ar- rangement of the machinery will take the most anxious thought. In these days of all margins labor- saving devices will be studied in every di- rection, and the highest development of human ingenuity will be called into play to reduce loss of time In every direction, as well as to secure expansion of output. All these details, and more, receive anxious at- tention, but the best machine after all—the human machine—is too frequently left to shift for itself, with no special care. The human machine, while it 1s capable of withstanding very rough treatment with no immediately perceptibie ill effects, needs better care than any other part of the machinery in the shop. It ventila- tion, protection as far as possible from drafts and over-heating, proper warmth in winter, facilities for promoting cleanliness, and sanitary comforts. The greater part by far of a workman's waking hours is given to his employer, and there is no doubt that this part of his life could be made much more pleasant than it now is. —-o-—___ Lying in Wait for Him. From the Chicago Times. A man going home from his work at a late hour at night, noticing that the occu- pants of a house standing flush with the street hau left a window up, decided to warn them and prevent a burglary. Putting his head into the window, he called out: “Hulloa! Good peop—" That was all he said. A whole.pail of water struck him in the face, and as he gered back, a woman shriaked out: “Didn't I tell you what you'd get if you wasn't home by 9 o'clock?” ———+0+____ What He Claims, From Life. “Prof. Von Gookenheimer, they say, is @ most marvelous mind reader and hypno- tist. “Yes; he claims he can attract the at- tention of a restaurant waiter by met looking at him steadily for half an hour.” + +0 Ia the Future. From Life. f “So you want to marry my son,” said the stern mamma to the emancipated Wo- man. “I do.” “Can you support him in the manner in which he has been accustomed?” “T can.” e “Then take him and be happy.” Giving Color to It. From Trath, Kind Old Man—“See here, didn’t I give you ten cents this morning because you told me you were blind? And now I find you reading a newspaper.” ‘ar—“That’s all right—I'm color Beggi blind.” Charles V., Austria, Goothe Louise of England, Count von Caprivi, and a host of other celebrities have visited the famous Spru- del Spring of Carlsbad, and we are pot all Goetles and Bismarcks, but we may enjoy the greater advantage of having the Spriug with all its benefits brought directly home to us, The more rapid menps of transit amd the mareh of ta- vention is bringing every one witlin easy reach of every creative blessing. The Carlsbad W bot- tled at the Spring, or the Carisbad Sprudel Salt, the solid evaporations of the water, may be bad of any druggist, and are without an oqual tp all Aisorders of the stomach, tntestinos, spleen, liver, prostrate, kidneys and bladder, and to gout and diabetes. Beware of imitations. EISNER & MEN- DELSON 00, Sole Agents, New York.