Evening Star Newspaper, February 2, 1895, Page 18

18 ——- FASHION'S FOIBLES Some of the Latest Fads That Ap- peal to Women. POPULARITY OF NECK BANDS Rhinestones and Violets the Rage of the Day. ——e DAINTY COSTUMES = - SOME Writtea Exclusively for The ing Star. ONG CHAINS L out, chatelaine Gs wg Watches are going, fob chains are in! A pretty girl said so, and she knows, for phe wouldn't be a ARE minute behind adopting a fasi for anything on th. She stood with her Rands on ner hips, as she im- parted this wonder- ful piece of informa- tion to a representative of The Star, and her wide collar of cream crepe silk came high enough to touch the Bath bun nob of her hair on her patrician head, making her look comically dignified, and on @ less charming girl would have been almost ugly. andor compels a disinterested person to confess that the late fad in collars is not pretty. It was the Princess of Wales who set the pace with it. For years and years she wore the “dog collar” of black velvet, which bade fair to strangle woman- kind before it died out a little, and now comes the crush collar, and the collar ef At the Jewels, worn first by the princess. same time, court etiquette requires that her shoulders show. The result as seen over here is appalling! It is now the thing to let your gown slip just as far off your shoulders as dare, but you must muttte up your throat. Popularity of Neck Bands. At some of the recent receptions in offi- cial life the bands of red velvet twisted about fair necks would have suggested in- numerable sore throats and kerosene and flannel, if it had not been that the velvet was sewn with precious stones. It is not a pretty fashion, and it will soon go out, for all but the dowagers with double chins and the wrinkle about the neck that comes one for every ten years of one’s age after twenty-five. If the neck is fit to be bared at all, it ne no banding of jewels or harness of velvet to enhance its beauty. These is something incongruous about a toilet where the shoulders are bared and the throat has a yard of dey goods tie about it. The debutante sensibly refuses to adopt the muffter, but wears instead a slender, thread-like gold chain, with a y pendant, such as a p with a mond heart, or a ruby heart with a golden arrow piercing it. Another pretty pendant is a cluster of forget-me-nots in blue enamel, or dead gold set with tur- quoi to represent the lover's flower. As a gage d'amour these forget-me-nots are quite the favorites, and come in lockets, pendants, rings and pins. Khinestones and Silver. Just there is a perfect craze for rhinestone ornaments. The tops of side ccmbs are set with them, and the knot at the top of beauty’s head has a dagger with a hilt inerusted with them. From down to the tce of the pointed slip- every buckle and pin, in sight and is set with the imitation diamond. now ven the hook on the bit of a satin girdle, celled by courtesy a corset, has a gem set on its top, and the silk stockings that ac- aborate tea gowns have rare set in the instep, and this with jewels! They are but they cost a lot. iver grows in favor in my lady’s esti- om, as well as in Congress. In fact, oks as though the women might be to solve the question of utilizing the silver output of the world, if they are only stimulated a little. The weman who ¥an- company not afford to carry around three or four pounds enters of silver is not doing her duty. It into her hairpins, buckles, card t beok, lorgnette, opera glasses, ins and bon bon boxes, 2 handles, bag and bundle mark- ers—in fact, there is scarcely an article of attire mto which a wo does not intro- 2 some silve It isn’t an extravagant either. Silver never wears out and goes entirely out of fashion, and gathers beauty and value with age if lis rorkmanship is of a high order. Mrs. Cleveland has given a new impetus to the sent bottle fever. She carr Il her receptions the silv ‘ystal ent bottle that was given her in Phila- hia when she went to christen the big warship; it is set with a beautiful diamond of purest w: and is a thing of beauty. Now it ts quite the thing to carry one of the tiny bottles shoved up the paim of the glove. Violet Craze. as the venders term them, are ing the air purple from refiect- ing the poleonic favorite. “Sweet vio- lets” are as omnipresent as rhinestones. Whole bonnets are made of the French confections by sewing the single flowers over a shape, and a bridle of sin- ses under the chin. e tiny opera bennet two bunches are afiixed over each temple to a slender band of velvet, much after the f: ion in which the wife of the Chinese minister wears her eurious collection of artificials, and the back of the frivol is fastened by a big bow of ribbon. The bow is not quite as big as a Gainesborough hat, but as it comes ex- actly in the range of ‘vision of the one just behind this bow might just as well be a ox, for it shuts off the stage effect- Another use of the violet is to “Voyl fairly 1 n bunches of them as close together as esible on a ribbon, and wear them about the neck, with both high and de- collete corsages. At the diplomatic recep- tion at the White House one of the guests wore a black velvet frock, with the low corsage outlined with a rope of violets, and another edged the foot of the short skirt. Another wore a white satin, and the ms were outlined from waist to hem with a double row of violets. If you would be quite swell you tust display somewhere about you buneh of violets—and they need not always be fri ones! In other words, artificial violets at 10 cents for six dozen are considerably cheaper than 60 cents for one dozen of frail earth-grown ones, and so the pretty fad will soon get go common as to kill itself. ul A Study In Black and White. ne In rags, and some in tags, and fome in velvet gow is the way the old ingle ran. It runs the same way n only t the velvet is more common. For & study In |} and white, a gown of black velvet striped with white satin ts extremely elegant. It has the glove-fitting Corsage, the very latest in bedices, and has an odd little pannier effect that is par- ticularly becoming to slender people. The last picture taken of the cabinet women represents Miss Herbert in a pannier gown, and it makes her look like a Dresden china shepherdess. Another gown in which Miss Herbert looks remarkably well has ermine straps over the low shoulders. With Ermine Straps. Something after the fashion of others is this one, which has a black velvet skirt, with a band of ermine at the foot,and one of the pretty pink silk bodices with big puffed sleeves, and the shoulders outlined with straps of ermine. The band about the neck and the belt are of strands of Roman pearl beads, adjusted on a white satin ribbon. This same gown can be fashioned out of seme of the dainty cheap silks, and rose- plaited ribbon substituted for the ermine with lovely effec: Pearl Festooned Robe. For a sumptuous velvet gown, in rich violet shades that run into gold in certain lights, this pearl-festooned robe is a fine example. It runs extravagantly to breadth of shoulders, caused by the wide, spread- ing embroidered bands, from under which wide lace stands out. In style of gown that Mrs. and in which she presents 2 regal appear- ance. Velvet is much worn for both gowns and wraps, and if properly made, and not too much ornamented, nothing handsomer can be imagined. It is so much cheaper now than it was a few years back that it is not such an e: zance, either. It is muttered that the hoop is about to appear. The dress skirts are made so heavy with crinoline that they are a burden to carry, flopping around the legs, and from running whalebones in the bot- toms of the gowns to fastening them on tapes by themselves is a short step. But, then, the boned skirts are graceful, and the hoop skirts are exactly the oppo- site, so it is to be hoped that the heavy skirt will be abandoned, and then we shall not need the hoop. A STRE Empty Seat Offers, Here is a Way to Secure One. The car was pretty full. So likewise was the gentleman in the corner at the driver's end. His hat was pulled down over his eyes and his coat collar turned up, so that his features were not visit@e at all. But now and then a smothered hiccough seem- ed to indicate that he was not asleep, but only thinking. Every other seat in the vehicle was oc- cupied. On the opposite side were eight women. Under the last administration there would have been room for nine, but the balloon sleeves which came in with Mr. Cleveland have reduced the capacity of the street cars. The person with the hiccoughs was the only male passenger, and he made no motion to get up when two ladies of color entered at a cross street. They looked around for a place to sit down. There was nobody to give a seat to the two ladies of,color already mentioned. So they availed themselves of a couple of hanging straps and discoursed on a variety of topics as the car went on its way down- town. only fifteen cents a y remarked Number One, w bonnet. “Fifteen cents,’ “Wasn't it a barging’ Welt; I should say. And how are you going to have it cut?” “Wid a yoke, an’ the biggest sleeves I can get a pattern fer.” Three pleats in de skirt, I s’pose?” Three pleats. Lined wid hair cloth, of co’se.”” dessay I'll see you In it at Mrs. Wash- in'ton’s pahty next Monday evenin’. I'm gwine to wear my white silk wid sky-blue ribbings.” “You don't say?” “Yes, indeed I'm a-goin’ to sing, you know. “At Mrs. Washin'ton’s “Yes, Indeedy. You know it’s goin’ to be a musical swarry.’ “I knowed that, but—oh, ‘scuse me! That was an awful jerk. I do wish we could git a chance to sit.” “So do I. I ain't got quite strong after my illness. “TJ didn't know you'd been sick.” “Yes, indeedy. I only left the hospital yesterday.” “The hospital ‘ indeedy. Smallpox.” “You've been havin’ smallpox?” “Eh, heh. Had it awful bad. I don’t feel quite well yet.” Several of the other passengers had been listening apparently to this conversation, and at the first mention of smallpox they pricked up their ears. An elderly lady whispered to a young girl, presumably her daughter, and the two rather hurriedly left the car at the next corner. Within two or three minutes they were followed Ly all of the others, e only the person in the corner with the turned-up coilar and hat pulled over his eyes. He hiccoughed once or twice to show that he was still merely thinking and not asleep. Meanwhile the two ladies of color had seated themselves, and it was observable that the one in the green bonnet were an expansive smile. “Z ain't been vaccinated,” remarked her anion nervously. ‘or me either,” replied the other. it I'se afr: Ses fraid of w 'T CAR. SMALLPOX I If No ’d, did you say?” 0 wore a green assented Number Two. I'se afraid fe contagious.” “Oh, chile, don't you be skeered,” said she < the green bonnet. “I ain’t had no smallpox.” ou ain't bad it! Then whuffo’ did you say so?” ‘Just Any car these days, ail yeu na ation smallpox, and you'll have plenty of room. Yah, yah!” The humor of t idea dently struck the second lady of color very strongly, for she became so convulsed with laughter that her friend in the green bonnet offer- ed a bottle of smelling salts to pevive her. Rut the ever-stimulated person in the cor- ner paid no attention, merely uttering a smothered hiccough at Intervals, while the car turned Into 14th street and pur- sued its way into the shepping quarter of the city ‘eause I was tired. I wanted to time you can’t get a seat in a » to do soon ho is to me K NERVES Acid Phosphate. useful In making weak nerves elements of nu- obtained from tritien for the natural sources, nervous ‘GIRLS AND CLOTHES Why the Cheap and Tawdry Should Be Avoided, RESOURCES OF A SLENDER PURSE Useful Suggestions About Choice and Cate of Clothes. WELL DRESSED ans TO BE Written Exclusively for The ig Star. ELL ME HOW: TO dress on nothing a year, and I'li_ man- ge to get along,” s the half angry response alittle friend of mine made to my restrictions and remonstrances, when she gleefully jayed her elegant new hat, — which, though bought at a bargain, was utterly out of keeping with her other raiment, actually sharing her shabby shoes and mended gloves, to say nothing of her one street gown, now in its second season, and woefully out of daie, because, forsooth, when she got it, it was the very latest thing out, loud and costly. The demand for that kind of goods was short lived, and she was out of style be- fore the season ended. Of course, one can’t dress “on nothing a year,” but I know very well that more judicious buying would make a small stipend go much further than it usually does go in the hands of working girls. My little friend asked me almost tearfully if working gir must deny themselves all that is bright and beautiful, just because they are poor. Of course not! And it is that she might in time have all that she wanted that led me to give her a word of warning. Working girls are not the only ones that should economize, or that do, in buying clothes. There are thousands of well to do women who buy their clothes with extreme care and the dea alw: view that they must serve a second These women never buy the latest in materials, because the newest thing alway; about a third more in the be- ginning of the season than the end. ‘They never, under any circumstanc buy a loud pattern, or an ultra fashionable gar- ment, because they know that when the same is commonly sold and gets cheap that ssed women who have more money nd than they know what to do wi are going to discard it, or give it to th maids. A common fault with all girls is a love for light and bright colo And light and bright colored clothes are expensive investments, first and last. . The gir! 0 count the pennies will be sensible, if she confines he gowns z ck, or dark biue cr brown. I rather think I will except the brown, also, save for gowns, and to them she-might add dark green if she likes it. ? Oh, there are so many reasons. In s do not soil as ight one: are less apt to by change of fashion than light ones; better fabrics for less money a can be bought in dark colors. and a go or coat of some good dark color never t comes common or noticeable, as light ones do. The Useful Black. +t two girls and dress them, one in a 2ck wool gown and the other in a At the end of the winter the red gewr Will be faded in streaks, its fresh- ness Will be gone beyond repair from soil at the bottom, and it will be grimy h dust and probably spotted from rain. he black gown will be in the same con- dition, but it will not show half as much, and a vigorous cleaning and dusting, with a slight readjustment of trimming, will put it back as neat as it was before, and this can be done until it is actually worn full of holes. Even dark and dark brown will endure pretty hard treatment, but not as well as black. The girl who has the black dre: n wear with it any color cf velvet, silk or satin that she likes, in the shape of an extra pair of sleeve party, a belt, knots for her shoulders and fan, a bertha or bretelles, and a S She can wear white lace garniture and pink velvet one evening and black lace and crise satin another, with black velvet and white lace, or the black velvet and black lace at other times, or she can have two or three pretty bodices, which will freshen her dress wonderfully. The girl with the red dress has only black velvet and black and white lace, and possibly two shades of red that she can wear with her red dress, and people soon begin to say of her that Sel neat h red one. she has worn that dress for a cen- tury. Because, you know, red catche: and teases the eyes, ticularly if is not quite harmonious in all its de- tails, ‘Whereas black is restful, and there is no color or shade that will not combine with it nicely, though I would except the French fancy for brown and biack in com- bination. It is not artistic, and it is woe- fuily trying. Of course a dark blue wool is almost as accommodating, but brown and greet: ave less so, because those colors are hard to get, impervious to mud spots ain drops. athe girl who has but little money to spend on clothes is doing a very foolish thing when she buys a light-colored coa or wrap. Light wraps always cost more than dark ones, because better material must be used to make them presentable. ‘Then a light coat soils at a breath. Dust, rain, grease spots, every little thing shows up on the light coat, just as it does on a light gown, and one season renders the coat unfit for wear. Successful Econe Of course, such things can be cleaned, but not always successfully, and a garment once cleaned svils just as fast again. If you get a good dark blue or black coat there is always a chance to match the ma- terial with cloth like itself or with velvet in case there is a decided change in style the second season, and you can make it look quite new. If the coat is light, your one-time friend will be very apt to say to you the first time she gets you in a crowd, You didn’t get a new coat this season, did you, dear?” but if the coat is dark nobody will remember that you got it at a‘‘marked- down” sale the season before. A fresh light coat will shame a worn dress and make a mended pair of gloves look shab- bier than ever, when a neat black coat will not call attention to either. With a light coat the hat must be fresh and the latest thing out, or you will look ancient. If the hat is bright velvet or much trimmed your neck arrangements and veil and gloves must be neat and stylish, and that will make the contrast to a shabby gown greater than ever. A good rule to follow in the purchase of street gowns and wrapg is to buy only dark onés and never any- thing ultra in style. Gloves and shoes are a big item to a woman who has small means. I believe that the best will always be found to be the cheapest. The misery of “breaking” them is less frequent, besides that a well- made shoe is never as hard to get to fit one. A good shoe fs alw: well worth mending. A paste patch that can never be seen makes the worn side as good as new again. The butten holes and eyelets on good shoes last much better, and when the sole gets thin a light half sole makes ex- cellent walking boots of them. Two pairs of good walking boots, well taken care of, with one pair of low shoes for summer wear, ought to last a woman a year, unless she does an enormous amount of walking. A woman who has to be careful of her money will never look the second time at a pair of tan shoes. ‘owned woman would think of wearing tan shoes for a dress shoe, aud the only use for them is for business or co rtry wear, and they must never, under any circumstances, be worn on ceremoni- ous oceasions. You might as well go to a luncheon in decollete corsage, and the woman who would wear a tan shoe at an evering reception would probably be guilty of eating ple with her knife. Of course, tan or light shoes that are of the same material as the dress may-he worn at any time, but it is not to be supposed that a woman of moderate means can afford to have her shocs made to match her gowns. The Cheapest and the Best. Very light gloves for a girl who has to deny herself luxuries are an unnecessary jes. extravagance. A soiled light glove is un- pardonable under any circumstances. The only. beauty of a light glove is its fresh- ness, for it makes the hands look undenia- bly large. There are a few makes of cheap gloves that it will pay to buy for everyday business wear, but for more ceremonious wear a 'good glove will give better service and more satisfaction, be- cause a gocd glove always fits well. If light gloves are your choice, get white ones, for they are mare easily cleaned and are not Hable to be rotted, as coloring rots the cheap kid. For evening wear, no matter what the color of your gown, whether white, black or bright in hue, the prettiest glove is a fine black suede. A pair that costs $2 wil] last you a year for evening wear alone, and will look well to the very last. girl who has a particle of ingenuity make most of her own hats and Lon- nd that item will be a very small fter a time. My advice in getting materials is to get the best at the start— not the costliest, but the most durable. In the case of ostrich tips, for instance, good ones cost more, but they last five mes as long. Wear a cheap tip on a p day and it is hopelessly ruined. A good one may lose a little of its curl, but holding it close to a hot stove immediately on coming in will restore its fluff it can be recurled for four or five se: at small cost. Jet trimmings never go out of style. So, never buy cheap jet, but wait till you can get the riveted ornaments, and if you are moderately careful they ,will last you for ye Good satin ribbons can be colored for a small sum, and are practically indc- structible. Good silk velvet re headgear for several seasons. hat, one of ih for a dozen s change in shape, w ow, with pi y 1 wear indefinitely if u get a good dark shade. Good lace never snag or mistreat it sely. Artificial flowers are so cheap with a dent in a diiterent place, a that, last new curl to the brim, a stylish ad- justment of the trimmings and a fresh new flower or a crisply. curled tip, your hats need cost you only a dollar or two each year. It is worth your while to study over this, Have a House Dress. A girl who wishes to be well dressed on the street and at her office or in the store gets out of her street gown the mo- ment she enters her home. Nothing so demoralizes a street gown as to wear it in the house. The seams of the waist get pulled out of shape, the skirt wrinkles with lolling in easy chairs and the wooien gown will take on all the odors that are floating up trom the kitchen, so that the minute you enter a car or shop the Cther imates can tell you that you had sausage and buckwheat ‘cakes for brea: or that the cook is gomg to have doughnuts for your lunch. Manage to have two cr three house gowns, it they are only per- eale or cotton crepon, Make them neatly and fancitutly if you like, for at home is where you have a right to look your pret- tiest. You can color and combine wornout street gowns for the purpose of making pretty house gowns, but, as you love the admiration of your friends, don't attempt to turn wornout street or ball finery into house gowns, unle remodel them. The home foiks s ive more con- sideration at your Always remove your walking boots when you enter the house for the evening. Have either low shoes or rs to put on, and they will rest y {, and save your street shoes. The ture trom your feet will rot ea and house, wear is as hard on shoe: it is on gowns. You twist and shuffle your feet around on the carpets and the hassocks and, chair rounds, rub- bing the leather roygh, straining the but- ton holes ‘he dry heat of the hou ing to toast your feet are on shoe leather. After getting good clothes, the art of keeping them so should be the next care. hat trite old saying that “a stitch in time zves nine” has lost no.strength, and it is ‘olutely true. The timely stitch will go a long way toward 1] ig the expenses lrobe; the little rip in your arent if you neglect it; the a big hole if you forget to darn and pulling the buttons off. » and the habit of si extremely hard it. Care of Clothes. Gloves without buttons get out of shape; with ped fingers “look slovenly. A mo- ment's dttention at the proper time would have preserved them for much longer wearing. ‘Che tiny grease spot on the front of a gown would yield instantiy to the cleaning process, if applied before dust has a chance to settle in it. But it spreads and spreads with neglect, finally defacing the dress hope A clothes-brush_ briskly applied on removing a heavy street gown or coat would make them quite fresh again, but thrown over a chair, on a couch or negligently dropped just where removed, the dust grinds into the fabric, and the impalpable grease in the tiny particles settles tenaciously on the garments, which along with the wrinkles soon ruing them. ‘The careful girl and the one who desires to al look her best brushes and hangs her gowns and wraps carefully away on removing them, dusts her hat, straightens up the tips and flowers, and puts it away in a closed box, where no dust can settle on ft, and straightens her gloves out in their’ box as soon as she removes them, thus rendering it impossible for them to dry in an ugly shape. If her shoes are damp or muddy she rubs them at once with a cloth to get the mud off, then dampens the cloth with coal ofl and rubs them vigorously with that, which will leave them soft and pliable when dry. Now don't groan and say this all takes a lot of time. Eating and sleeping and working take a lot of time, too, but these things all have to be done. If you don't take Jime to keep yourself neat and clean, or to expend in thought about how you shall clothe yourself economically and prettily, you will have to take more time to work, less time to eat and to sleep, and at the same time deny yourself many pleasures, earning more money to pay for your neglect of the first ethics of economy. SENORA SARA. — Sorry She Wasn't a Man. Paris Letter to London Tele; ph. There has been for scme time languish- ing in the Paris police depot a young mar- ried woman from Bordeaux, who has a mania for appearing in public dressed as a man. She was not satisfied with the panta- loons, cutaway jackets, standup collars and knickerbockers patronized by lady bicy- clists, but assumed complete masculine at- tire and walked about'as a beau male. Some weeks since she clandestinely entered a shop on the Boulevard Bonne Nouville, hid herself under a counter, and, in the natural order of things, was arrested as a burglar. It appears that on the occasion she had discarded some of her clothing, keeping her pantaloons, but divesting her- self of her hat and gilet. When arrested she gave the name of Georges Wilhot, and refused to impart any information about herself. Her husband, a manufacturer,has since claimed his erring spouse, who has already given him a gccd deal of trouble, owing to her e: raordinary objections to retain the proper garments of her sex, —— coe ——___ Written for The Evening The Poet Heart. With tightened strings, ‘a violin Reside an organ idly As the grand imu Auswered in echo @Week and true. are rt stiks with the breath me, of lope and Death, his chargeful rhyme, ty peal of pessing Time. H. M. Woop. = Formal Protest, From the Chic ‘Tritne. Day after day thejlittle boy had gone to the post office and found box No. 67 empty, while the boxes on,either side of it were always full. One morning he went around to the side window and called out to the postmaster: “Say, Mr. Leeper.” “Well, Johnny,” said the postmaster. y paw voted fur Cleveland. Did you y that sume he did, Johnny.” Yell, I'm goin’ to write to Mr. Cleve- an’ tell him you've give my paw a that hain’t never got no letiers in ‘The povt bea Of Love and 5) An Unsolved Probiem. Cineinnatt Tribune. n't see why you fellows are etun- nelly making fun of ouah people drinking good whisky,” remarked Col, Blugore to the visiting northerner. “But you do get away with a good deal of it, you know,” said the northern gentle- man. ‘Suttinly we do, suh. And we go to chu’ch, suh. And we eat ouah meals three times a day, suh. But youah littie penny- a-linehs don’t seem to see anything funny in that.” THE LAST VOVAGE OF THE CONSTITUTION, ee &. G. W. BENJAMIN IN ST. NICHOLAS. eS HE FAMOUS FRI- I gate Constitution Ironsides, was launched September 20, 197, and she therefore lacks only two years of being a century old. She is the most mous ship in the history of the United States, and in her renown rivals the celebrated line-of-battle ship Victory, Lord Nelson's flagship at the bat- tle of Trafalgar. She has been, indeed, what is callel a lucky ship. She never lost a battle, she never fell into the hands of the enemy, and she never was disabled by a storm, Many narrow escapes she has had in her long and prosperous career, and she has come triumphant out of all her adventures. Like the Constitution of the United States, after which she was named, she has withstood every danger that threatened, and is a fitting type of the ship of state. Of course, during her seventy-five years of active service the Constitution often needed to be repaired But although the material in her has been often replaced, she always continued the same ship, just as the human body is the same body of the same person, though its substance is con- stantly changing. In 1830 it was decided that the good frigate Constitution would hardly warrant the cost of repairs, espe- cially when the nature of modern’ naval warfare was considered. She was, there- fore, condemned, and was about. to be Navy Yard at Ports- mouth, broken up, when Oliver Wendell Holmes’ famous ode appeared, beginning, “Ay, tear her tattered ensign’ down.” ‘The poet shamed Congr: nd it was decided to repair once She took several cruises after that, Constitution in more the old warship. and once carried a load of wheat to the starving peor of Ireland. On that voyage she went ashore, and, being old, there was every reason why she should have left her bones on the coast; but, with her usual good luck, the Constitution got off without seri- ous damage and returned to her native land. But a day came at last when no further repairs would avail, and a government which pays little for sentiment would spend nothing to keep up a ship which had contributed so much to the glory of our shipbuilders, of our brave seamen and of our starry flag. The Constitution, leaky and dismantled, wits lying at the Brooklyn avy yard awaiting her doom. It was decided to lay the old Constitu- tion by the side of a row of disabled hulks, among them the British frigate Macedo- nian, which was captured by the frigate United States eighty-three years ago. Thi lie in a line called “Rotten Row” at the vy yard of Portsmouth, New Hamp- like scarred and decrepit pensione in a hospital waiting, forgotten, for their last hour while the busy world rolls on. he old ship was in too crazy a condi- tion to go around under can even if J had the necessary spars and sails. leaking two feet a day while sim- ing at the wharf in the Brooklyn navy yard. She was, therefore, to be tow- ed io Portsmouth in the windy month of y hire, Rebui October. ng of Constitution in 1544. But whether she would ever get there at all was considered sufficiently doubtful for a naval friend of mine to urge me to decline the cordial invitation which I had received to go in the ship on her last voyage. To make the matter still more doubtful, the vessel appointed to tow the Constitution was the old Powhatan, a slow, ile-wheel war steamer, herself in such condition that she clso was condemn- ed not long after this voyage. It was a case of the blind leading the blind. Lieut. William H. Jacques, a well-known and skillful officer, who is distinguished for his enterprise in the gun foundries at Bethlehem, was in command. A number of bright naval cadets accompanied him. When manned for a cru in her palmy days the Constitution had carried tifty- four guns and a crew of nearly 400 men; but now she was deprived of her batteries, and only a handful of jolly tars were nec- Every man had his place ‘igned to him in the boats, and I was told, in case of an accident, not to wait, but to make at once for the boat in which I had a place assigned me. It was about eight bells, or the hour of noon, when the word went around that all . I climbed up the black sides of the famous frigate by the narrow lad- der of cleats built into her planking, cling- ing to the man-ropes, and for the first time stepped on the deck of the old Con- stitution. It was a proud moment in my life. The boatswain’s shrill whistle rang through the ship; the hoarse steam whistle of the Powhatan tooted over the Hast river; the officer of the deck looked over the side to see if all was clear; hawsers were cast off, and the vessels ‘began to draw away from the wharves. The sun, which had been somewhat overcast, came out and one brightly over the scene, and the Constitution was off on her last voy- age. ‘The progress of the ships was naturally slow, and especial care was required amid the rushing mazes of Hell Gate; for the recks which imparted such dangers to that hazardous passage had not yet been biast- ed, The night proved to be magnificent. Daylight found us passing out of the sound near Fisher's Island. But as we en- tered on the broad ocean we encountered a heavy swell, and a moaning wind from the southwest singing sadly in the shrouds foretold a change of weather and a coming storm. The glass also was falling. But as the gale would probably net blow before night, we kept on our course. In looking about the ship, there was shown a pair of bitts, or blocks of wocd, to which hawsers or other large -opes are made fast. These, I was told, were atmost the only remaining pieces of the original Constitution, as she was when she went into her first battle. While all her lines and general inner plan remained unaltered, yet during the fre- quent repairs which she had undergone every part of her frame and planking had gradually been replaced, in some cases two or three times; but these bitts, being of scund oak, had been retained through every change, as a memorial of the origi- nal frame. d safely through Vineyard sound, Martha’s Vineyard, on our right, and the Elizabeth Islands—Naushawena and its companions—on our left, and head- ed toward Nantucket, famed for its whal- ers and hardy mariners. If you will look on the map you will see that at the east end of Nantucket the land turns a sharp angle to the north, terminating in Great point. ‘This angle forms a breakwater against easterly storms, and behind it ves- sels can lie in safety in any wind from northeast to southwest. It was decided to make for this sheltered bay, and there ride out the storm, which was coming on fast. It blew hard that night and all the next day. About 11 a.m. a boat went up into Nantucket port with some of the cadets; but I preferred to remain on board, grudg- ing to lose a moment from the enjoymeat of being on the old Constitution in her last cruise. The End of Her Last Voyage. On the following day the wind appeared often known as Old, about to veer to the northwest. By look- ing on the map you will see that this would have changed Great point from a breakwater inte a lee shore. To explain our position more clearly I will say that so long as the wind blew from the northeast around to the south the island protected the ships from the brunt of the big seas. But as soon as it should shift from south to northwest we should get the full force of the sea, as well as of the wind, and might be driven on shore-if it blew hard. In order to prevent this peril, which had been foreseen, the boatswain’s lively whis- tle rang through the frigate, piping the crew to the windlass to get up the a chors; and the cheery squeak of the fife was soon heard encouraging the men as they worked at the windlass. Then the old Powhatan towed the Con- stitution over to Chatham Roads, at wnat is called the heel of Cape Ccd, and there Gangway on Board the Constitution. we anchored. The wind blew very hard all night out of the northwest; but, as may be seen at a glance on the chart, we were un- der the lee of the land, and lay as snug as possible, Surrounded by a fleet of schoon- ers, which had also sought shelter under Cape Cod. By the next afternoon the weather had moderated, und it was thought best to make another attempt to reach Ports- mouth. At that season the fine weather would not last long, and the stretch acres Massachusetts bay, although not very long, was hazardous for a ship in the con- dition of the Constitution. The fleet of schoorers made sail and put to sea when we did. The sun was setting with unusual splendor, attended by a troop of clouds hued in purple and gold. Like a triumphant escort the fleet danced lightl: cver the sparkling waves around the f: gate, their sails rosy in the sun’s depart- ing rays; they looked like a flock of sea fowl at play. The central object in this cent scene—the grand old frigate-- slowly and majestically toward her last home. It was a spectacle never stir- passed in our naval annals, and never to be forgotterf. It really seemed as if the old ship, instead of being a fabric of wood and iron, was 2 hero whose gray hair was .eneireled by wreaths of victory. There was a fresh westerly breeze and a heavy swell from the late stcrm as we headed out toward the cpen sea; but, on the whole, everything promised’ a quiet Stern of the Constitution. night across the bay, and every heart on board bounded with exultation under the influence of this inspiring scene. At that mecment the Constitution rose on a higher swell than usual, then sank with quick but easy motion into the hollow of the sea, and witi a fearfully sudden shock struck at the center of her keel cn a shoal. She rose on the next wave, and, again desceud- ing, struck with even greater violence. She Strikes on a Shoal. For a moment everyone seemed para- lyzed; the cook, whe was as black as pt, sprang up the hatchway with eyes starting out of his head and a complexion several shades lighter than usual. But I well remember that the first and chief thought that came to my mind at that moment was: “Has the old Constitu- ticn found her grave here at last?” The loud cry to try the pumps rang through the ship. This bejng done, it was found that the leak had doubled; but as it did not increase beyond that degree, it was concluded that the old frigate was in no immediate danger, and would probably float until we could get her to Portsmouth, un- less the weather should again become stormy. I am firmly of the opinion, which you may call a superstition, if you please, that if it had been any cther ship than the ever lucky Constitution, this accident would have been the end of her. All night we glided slowly past the sand dunes of Cape Cod, the dull boom of the surf coming to us, borne en the land breeze. At sunrise we were off Cape Ann. The sky looked threatening and uncarny, and we counted the hours before we could see the old ship safe from the perils of the deep. She was row in a region where she had achieved cne of her most femous exploits. In April, 1814, being under command cf Cap! Charies Stewart, and on the return from a lonx cruise, the Constitution fell in with two large English frigates. They gave chase, and, as she was overmatched, she was headed for Marblehead. With her usual gcod hfortune, she reached that port first; while the enemy retired, baffied, from the pursuit when they saw the hardy fisher- men of mlaxblenice throwing up batteries f bor mouth, - Se SR EnoDH we passed White Island light, Isles of Shoals, and soon after the Whale- back light house, guarding the mouth of the Piscataqua. Then proceeding up the narrow, winding channel, we anchored off the navy yard, Portsmouth. The Constitu- tion was assigned a place with the old ships ranged in a line called Rotten Row. And there she still lies, the only one left of that venerable group of naval pension- ers. In a few years more nothing will be left of the Constitution but a memory and aname. There is scmething very pathetic about the old hulk, moored by the wharf of the navy yard, entirely alone. A root has been built over her to fit her for a re- ceiving ship, but it sadly disfigures her ap- pearance. She cannot last long without repairs, repeated from time to time. And yet, as a matter of patriotism, she ought to be repaired and preserved, as nearly as possible, as she formerly looked. It would ecst only a few thousand dollars. Do not the people of the United States, who owe so much of the national glory to her, owe it to themselves now to keep up the old ship? ——_+-e+__~. Proof Positive. From Life. ‘hat’s the girl.”” ‘But why do you think they are en- gaged?” “Because he has stopped taking her to the theater and goes to church instead.” CUT THIS PICTURE OUT. It contains the faces of a father and three daughters; you see the father, where are the daughters? If your eyes’ are bright enough to - find al three you are enti- led to a re- ward. The proprietorsof the Excelsior Seed Store will givs FREESeven teen beauti- ful pictures, Gems for lecorating @ home) as a rewardtoany one who cat make out the three daugh- ters’ faces. These pic- tures weresu- rbly execu Ted in colors by a firmof Art publishers who were obliged to liquidate their business, their productions being too expensive for these hard times. The entire stock was purchased by us, and what originally cost thousands of doll. will now be given away to attract attention’ to our EXCELSIOR COLLECTION OF FLOWER! SEEDS for the season of 18°5. The published price of these pictures was $1.90. but we will send them (a selected series of seventeen,)! as a reward to every person finding and marking the three daughters” faces with a 1, * and enclosing same with sixteen tw cent stamps for Excelsior Collection containing an immense variety of the choic:, est and most beautiful flower seeds. If you’ purchase your seeds from us che season we ‘will always have your orders. We guaran- tee perfect satisfaction or money refunded, $100.00 in CASH PREMIUMS.—The per- son sending as above whose envelope bears earliest postmark will be given $25 in cash; to the second, 20: to third, $15: to fourth, $10: and tonert six willbe given $5 1 Holds If able to find the three faces you should an- swer promptly, and enclose at once with 16-2c. stamps and you will receive the val- uable lot of pictures and seeds by return Mail. Addres: xcelsior Seed 325 “rand Stree! ww York. That Friend of Yours== —the one whose house is furnished $6 nicely—you imagine that he is more fore tunate than you--that he earns more money, —DON’T YOU BELIEVE FI—ten chauced to one we can point out bis name to yoy on our books— J HE BUYS ON CREDIT! And he’s sensible—he furnishes his hous® beautifully—elegantly—and be pays us for the furniture and the carpets while he is enjoying their use—YOU can do the same— DO IT—begin NOW—bave all the credit you want—our prices are marked in plain figures—they are cash or CREDIT—as you please—and as low as any CASH prices you can find elsewhere—no notes—no interest— just a promise to pay a little money week- ly—or monthly. ARPETS MADE AND LAID FREB CHARGE FOR WASTE IN ID OAK BED Re E, $13. EXDID BRUSSELS CARPET, " G0e, i RELIABLE INGRAIN CARPET, 35. PER aI a EXTENSI TABLE, §3. 40-POUND HAIR MATTRESS, a staid WOVEN-WIRE_ SPRINGS, $1.75. HEATING AND COOKING STOVES—ALU SIZES-STANDARD MAKES. YOURS FOR A PROMISE TO PAY. x GROGAN’S MAMMOTH GREDIT HOUSE, $19-S21-823 7TH STREET NORTHWEST, Between H and I streets. jazd-sia Gray Hair A thing of the past when Nattans Crystal Dise covery “is used. Guarauteed to restore gray oF faded hair to its natural color in 3 to 10 days— positively rot a dye. Stops the hair from falli out, arrests dandruff and makes the nicest accesing for’ the hair one can use. No poison. No sedfe ment. No stains. Price, $1. “Trial size, 25e, OLB PHARMACY, SOLE AGENTS, 438 7TH ST. 5 4a26-tf Get the Best. THE CONCORD HARNESS, LUTZ & BRO., 497 Penn. ave., adjoining National Hotel. Horse Blankets and Lap Robes at low prices. oclG “A Single Lace Used.” Automatic Shoe Tie. One hand ties the lace. Saves stooping. Fit any shoe. Applied instantly. Pair of Ties, with pair of laces, black or tan, 15c.; 2 for 25c. In sil< ver, silk lace, 50c.; gold, do., $1.50. C. H. VAN BUREN, Mfg., 606 F st. n.w., Washington, D. O. AT RETAIL. GEO. W. RICH, 919 F st. nw. REPETTI'S SHOE STORE, 317 Pa. are. BROWN’S SHOE STORE, 305 Pa. ave. HAVENNER & DAVIS, 930 F st. n.w. e. $a29-1m. Latest and Best, SONNETTE CORSETS. The C. P. 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