Evening Star Newspaper, March 23, 1895, Page 13

a _ THE EVENING ‘STAR, SATURDAY, MARCH: 284 A895A TWENTY GOVERNMENT PLACES Applications and Appointmeats Un- der the Civil Service Law. THE CONDUCT OF EXAMINATIONS Less Than One-Fourth Who Pass Receive Appointments. THE LIMIT OF AGE Written for The Evening Star. N WEDNESDAY next in different parts of the coun- try applicants for ap- pointment in the public service will be examined under the y civil service law. The civil service commis- sion has sent out warning of the com- ing of the examiners to different large cit- tes, and has coupled / ~~ its notices to appli- eants for the examination with a plain statement of the number of appointments to office in che last year, and of the per- centage of those who passed the examina- tions of the commission who failed to re- ceive appointments. There will be no‘ lack of those who wish to take the examination, though. Most of them will look on the pos- sibility of appointment as a lottery, and will leave that to take care of itself. Few who have had any experience will build any castles in Spain on the civil service ex- amination. This year fs perhaps the worst that has been known since the establishment of the civil service commission. The Dockery ecmmission of experts which went through the departments in this city recom- mending changes in methods, has cut @own the working force in the depart- ments by about 600. Many of the clerks who were dropped obtained reinstatement. A clerk who has been in the department service can obtain reinstatement without the aid of the civil service commission; and transfers from one department to another can be made without going through the civil service examination. In this way most of the places that might have been filled from the list of eligibles in the offices of the civil service commission have been given to old employes. So the percentage of ap- pointments to the number who pass the civil service examination will be smaller this year than ever before. Last year less than twenty-five per cent of those who passed examinations for places in the department, railway mail and Indian ser- vices received appointments. Percentage of Appointments. In the first eleven years of its existence the commission examined 150,000 applicants for places in all branches of the public ser- vice. Of these, 56,300 failed to pass the ex- amination—nearly thirty-eight per cent. Of the 93, who passed the examination, exactly received appointments—thir- ty-six per cent. But the number appointed was only twenty-two per cent of those ex- amined; so hardly more than one-fifth of those who sought places in the public ser- vice obtained them. Last year 6,735 men and 1,624 women applied for examination ir the three branches in which examina- tions are to be held this spring—the depart- ment service, the railway mail and the In- dian service. Of these, 4,711 men and 1,151 wemen passed the examination, and 983 men and 225 women received appointments. So if you have any hope of getting a gov- ernment place through the civil service ex- amination, remember that out of 8,409 per- sons who took the examination last year only 1,208 were successful. The percentege fs rather discouraging. But there are facts still more discourag- ing to the average applicant; for the aver- age applicant wants to start as a “clerk- copyist."” Mr. Theodore Roosevelt of the commission says that the clerk-copyist is the raw material out of which good govern- ment employes are made. When a man has been a clerk-copyist for a time, at a salary of $600 to $00 a year, his chief can see whether there is good stuff in him, and, if there is, can promote him to some more responsible position. Well, there were 1,247 men and 535 women in the clerk-copyist contest last year—1,782 In all. Of these 1,388 passed the examination and went on the list of eligibles, and forty-eight received appointments—forty-two men and six women; that is, about one applicant in every 37 was appointed to a clerkship. This does not augur well for the people who are to be examined in March and April and May. Duties of the Examiner. The civil service examiner is a bird of Passage. One of these examiners will be- gin work at Wilmington, Del., March 27, and at intervals of two or three days will jump to Philadelphia, Trenton, New York, New Haven, Springfield, Providence, Bos- ton, Concord, Portland, Burlington, Albany, Rechester, Harrisburg and Frederick, Md. At the time he fs holding an examination in Wilmington, Del., another examiner will be holding a similar examination at Rich- mond, Va.; another at Pittsburg; another at Evarsville, Ind., and another at Grand Island, Neb. The Philadelphia examination will be coincident with examinations at Wilmington, N.C.; Cleveland, Ohio; St. Louis, and Ckeyenne. The New York ex- tamination will take place on the same day as the examinations at Columbia, S. C.; Chicago, Kansas City and Salt Lake City. The examinations are held under the supervision of the examiner from this city for a variety of reasons; and one of them is the fear that there might be local col- lusion if local authorities had entire charge of questions and arswers. Even the travel- ing exeminer {s not trusted entirely. Dif- ferent sets of qvestions are prepared for different days. There will be exactly the same questions asked at each of the ex- aminations held March 27, and the same questions will be used in five different cities March 29; but the examtnation papers of March 27 end March 29 will be entirely different. These papers will not be carried by the ex: miper ‘in his travels. He will have an extra set of questions to use in case of emergency, but the regular set of questions which he is to use under regular conditions will be mailed to him from this city, ad- dressed to the office at which the examina- tion is to be held. The examiner, therefore, will not see the questions until the day of the examination; and it would be quite im- possible for him to give any information to @ person about to take the examination which would assist him in getting through. A dishonest examiner who had full control of the examination papers could make a very pretty income selling copies in ad- vance to people who wished to take the ex- amination and who were not sure of their ability to do so creditably. = To Prevent Fraud. A geced showing in the examination ts sometimes assurance of an appointment, for the men and women with the highest percentage go to the head of the eligible list, ard are the first certified for appoint- ment. There are many people who would not hesitate to play a trick on the govern- ment to obtain office. In fact, the system of using different papers on succeeding days was established because it was charg- ed that a man who took the examination in one city, and who knew the schedule of the examiner, sent copies of the questions he had answered to a friend in another y who wanted to take the examination not proved; but the sug- gestion made the commission more cautious. Frem 25) to #00 different examinations are held each year. This means that from 250 to 300 different sets of examination questions are prepared each year. This work and the marking of examination papers keeps a force of thirty men busy. The examination papers are often com- plicated and require scientific knowledge and a knowledge of languages. So far as Possible, these questions are prepared in the commission’s office, but it is necessary scmetimes to go outside the commission for a@ set of questions. This necessity is not hard to understand, when one considers that the scientific work in the departments, for which clerks are appointed through examination, includes mechanical engineer- ing, chart work, photography, anatomy, ornithology, pomology; climatology, horti- culture? astronomy, architecture, civil en- gineering and many other branches. The applicants for the scientific places are not many, and it happens sometimes, even, that the commission has to skirmis) to find some one to take the scientific ex- amination. The reason for this is that the government does not pay very much. to its scientific specialists. In the fish com- mission last year three persons passed the examination for superintendent of sta- tions and two of these received appoint- ments, while both the applicants who pass- ed the examination for fish culturist wére appointed. There used to be a great de- mand for typewriters and stenographers in the service a few years ago, and the com- mission had a hard time finding enough material to fill the vacancies. Last year, however, only twenty-eight men and five women were appointed typewriters and stenographers, -while there were eighty- seven applicants on the eligible list. The Age Limit. t The law establishes certain age limita- tions in civil service appointments. In the departments pages must. be fourteen to eighteen years old at the time of their appointment; printers’ assistants, eighteen to thirty-five years; messengers at least eighteen years and clerks at least twenty years, In the railway mail service the ap- pointee must be eighten to thirty-five years old. In the Indian service the ages range frcm twenty to twenty-five years mini- mum, and from forty-five to fifty-five maxi- mum. Then an applicant for appointment must be physically qualified for service, must not be a habitual user of intoxicants and must be a citizen of the United States. But these are not the only conditions on which an appointment may hinge. The law requires that appointments be appor- tioned among the states and territories and the District of Columbia according to population. Sometimes special conditions increase the number of appointments cred- ited to one state. For example, recently Carroll D. Wright, the commissioner of labor, applied for the best mathematicians to be found on the clerk-copyist list, and the three names sent him happened to be the names of three Missourians. Another cause of the inequality of distribution of appointments lies in the conditions exist- ing when some branches of the service were brought within the jurisdiction of the civil service commission. Most of the old clerks, who were in the service long before the civil service law was enacted, have. residences in the District of Columbia or Maryland or Virginia. Owing to the quota being reached no applicants for examina- tion are to be received this spring from Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming. There is also an excess credited to Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, In- diana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pernsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Vir- ginia, Washington and West Virginia. Ex- amirations will be given to residents of these states, but there is little, if any, chance that they will receive appoint- ments. There are several establishments making quite a large income sending to people who desire to take the civil service ex- amination copies of examination papers which are supposed to have been obtained from the commission in a surreptitious way. There is no secrecy about these pa- pers. In its- annual report the commis- sion prints sample questions for all exam-' inations, and it prints each year a special pamphlet of instructions to those who de- sire to take the examinations, giving minute instructions and samples of the questions asked in the different branches. GEORGE GRANTHAM BAIN. —— UNANIMOUS AT LAST. Teeth Small, Chin Coarse, but He Was - Lovely. From the San Francisco Times. A number of young women were discuss- ing, in front of the seaside hotel, one of the gentleman guests of the same. “His manners are perfect,’ ventured one. “He’s rather too independent, I think,” came a dissenting opinion; “but he has fas- cinating eyes.” “They would be much more so if they were brown instead of blue,” asserted an- other; “but his figure is splendid.” “Don’t you think he is a shade too stumpy?” asked another critic. “I don’t like stumpy men; I do think, though, that his teeth are very fine.” ‘Almost too small for a man’s teeth,” opposed a girl with a big mouth; “but he has a nose that a Greek god might envy.” “Greek enough,” remarked another, “but it lacks character. He would have a strong- er face if his nose were more Roman. His hair is his most attractive feature, I think, and he can let it wave about his white forehead beautifully.” “Huh,” sniffed another objector, “and he’s so conceited about it. I do like his forehead, though.” “Altogether too low,” objected an intel- lectual spinster. “Don’t you think he has a fine chin?” “On the contrary, it’s coarse,” antago- nized a sweet-voiced maiden, “and that kind of a chin means tyranny, if the man has a-wife who is at all yielding. His hands have always pleased me by their shapeliness.”” “Too much like a woman’s,” objected a masculine-looking maid. ‘I think——” “What I like about him most,” inter- rupted a stately beauty, “is his million of money.” “Isn't !t perfectly lovely?’ assented ev- ery girl in the group, with enthusiastic unanimity. +o+—___ NOVEL DINNER DECORATION. Live Fish and Frogs Gave Reality to an Artificial Scene. A few days ago a hunt dinner was given here, the decorations for which were en- tirely new. It was the wife of the host who conceived the idea, and with the aid of one of the fashionable florists it was perfectly carried cut. The whole long table was made to look like a cranberry bog. Little hillocks rose here and there, old tree stumps in miniature were liber- ally scattered about, and over all old dead leaves were strewn, amid which real cran- berry plants were growing. One or two small stuffed quail scemed ready to peck at the red berries. In the center of the table rose a hill, on whose top a small pond glistened. Live frogs and minnows were quite at home in this, so much at home, indeed, that the frogs had to be chained to prevent them from jumping into the plates of the gentlemen who sat around this most curious of festive boards. So each frog wore about one leg a tiny man- acle and dragged about the slenderest of chains. On one bank of the pond a duck stood, looking into the water in a contem- plative kind of way, while another was suspended in the air above the water. At intervals during the dinner a frog would stand on the hill as far from the water as his chain would allow, and gaze inquisi- tively about at his strange surroundings. Once during the evening one of the guests glanced up to see one of these comical creatures sitting quite near him and gaz- ing ar.xiously into his face, and this cre- ated a good deal of mirth. Making It Right. From the Chicago Dally Tribune. Customer—“A table d’hote dinner, in- cluding a bottle of good wine, for 75 cents? Yes, that’s cheap enough, but I don’t care for any wine and I can’t afford it. How much will it be without the wine?” Waiter—“I'll do what's right with you, boss. You can have the dinner without the wine for 70 cents, sah.” — ——+e+—___ Dennis (a gre2n hand, and to whom the speaking pipe is an unexplored mystery)— “I'd give me month’s wages to foind out how the divil the boss iver managed to shqueeze himself into that bit 1v a poipe!”— e. : A DUEL WITH RIFLES Talk Prevented the Meeting Which Would Have Been Historical. CANEBRAKE POLITICS Gaptain Boatner's Efforts to Meet His Man. HE TRIED TWO SECONDS At the Shoreham cafe the other night a gentleman recounted to a Star writer how Capt. Boatner, an able representative of Louisiana, and one whose eye and hand are as steady as hia courage, came finally to the conclusion to have @ duel, and how he failed. “It was with a gentleman then editing a New Orleans paper,” said the raconteur, “and, ag it was a good many years ago, and each gentleman has a high regard for the other now, no harm can come of the story’s relation, “It would appear that in the ardor of canebrake politics the editor, who had all that fetterless flaunt to his pen which be- longs with southern journalism, had said harsh, unpleasant things of Capt. Boatner. Not once, not twice, but many times did the caustic scribe turn loose the vitriol of his quill. Now, Capt. Boatner, while a just man and of a generous humor, is not, perhaps, the most timid or patient person in his region, celebrated as it is for the impulsive, headlong character of its peo- ple. He soon wearied of the editor and his flings, Bnd this weariness became the seed of a great wrath. At last Capt. Boatner made fast his mind to call out his de- tractor and have a shot at him a la code. Riflea for Two. “Capt, B, was a mighty hunter in the lower Mississippi valley, The crack of bis rifle had been often heard, and he still has repute as a great, good shot, Aware of hig skill with the rifle, Capt. B. deter- mined, were it possible, to pull off his bat- tle with that weapon. Still, as he was to do the challanging, it would be in the choice of the other fellow whether it were rifles or something else. On the chance, however, that it might be rifles, Capt. B. packed up a couple of those weapons of the Winchester sort and started for New Orleans in search of his prey. He was crafty, withal, for, not caring to have the appearance of going to New Orleans ex- pressly for the gore of his enemy, he caused the state central committee to as- sign him to make a speech in that city. The campaign waging at the time made the thing easy, and the next one hears Capt. B. is duly advertised to address the ‘free and enlightened’ in New Orleans on a certain night. Our hero arrived in the mcrning of the day and went to the St. Charles Hotel. a A Gifted Second. “He bore a letter of introduction to a gen- tleman who had fame as one who knew all of those ins and outs and rules of practice which obtain in the matter of killing your fellow man in an honorable and yatisfac- tery fashion. This gifted personage was sent for by Capt. B., who accompanied his Tequest that the gentleman call at the St. Charles, with the letter of introduction. The dueling king attended at once. ~ En- sconced in the former's rooms Capt. B. and his ally discussed the affair. The gentle- man saw no reason why a duel should not be fought. The offense was flagrant; Capt. B. was a much outraged man; as a gentle- man he did well to seek the blood of his traducer. This willing second also held out hopes of rifles; he thought Capt. B.'s pret- erence in that deadly regard a praiseworthy one; and would maneuver to have it grati- fied. Then the two proceeded to the chal- lenge; the expert phrasing it with great skill, so as to bring the foe to the field. They did nct propose that he get out at any loophole in the business; he must come to the fleld of honor and be «uly plugged. It was 4 o'clock when the challenge was pronounced a perfect draft in all its parts. It was too late to stir up the enemy that afternoon; but tomorrow would do as well. After a glass, a dinner and a cigar, Capt. B.’s second wended his way, while the cap- tain himself repaired to where the thirsty pone awaited his cutpouring of poli- tics. He Spoke Too Soon. “But an unfortunate incident arose to close the door on the duel so intelligently arranged for. Capt. B. was progressing with his remarks that night when some ill- conditioned auditor in a flinging taunt brought up the subject of the editor’s as- saults. At this Capt. B. paused long enough to explain that the writer was a liar, thief and villain, or words to that effect; besides other unpleasant things intolerable In Lou- isiana. He wound up his rhetorical land- slide of vigorous epithet by intimating that ih due time his slarnderer woul@receive the reward his mendacity had earned. —~ “After the speech, while Capt. Boatner was sitting in his apartment at the St. Charles ruminating his utterances of a few hours before with bland approval, his sec- ond was announced. He came in with an air of ice-cold dignity. “Capt. Boatner,’ he said, with distant severity, ‘we cannot proceed, sir, with your affair with Editor S.’ “‘And why not, sir?’ asked the captain, who heard with natural irritation that the purpose of his visit was to be denied. ‘I eneuld certainly like to hear, sir, why not?’ “The reason, sir, is plain, and will be apparent to you on a moment’s reflection,’ retorted his second, starchily. ‘Tonight, sir, you closed the gate against a possible meeting. In the midst of your speech— which I am bound to say was extremely powerful, sir—you took up the detractions leveled at you by Editor 8. and demonstrat- ed them as false, and branded him as a liar and a thief and a villain. This will close the matter, sir. You must now rest content with what you said tonight. Hav- ing answered your defamer as you deemed best, you are precluded from resorting to the further and additional satisfaction of a challenge.’ Hunting Another Second. “Capt. B. began to see that there was no possibility of getting his accurate and fully informed second to go further with the business. He said no more, and he and his quandam second bowed with frigid formal- ity and parted. But Capt. Boatner was not inclined to allow the matter to end in a water haul. He did not believe in techni- calities, and saw no reason why gentlemen seeking each other’s gizzards should be withheld in their search by so slight a bar- rier. As soon as the savant of honor had departed the captain wired a bear-hunting friend back in his district that he had a fight in view, and to come on and second him. The next day found the bear hunter with the captain in New Orleans, full of enthusiasm. The captain said nothing of what had transpired between himself and his first second, but sat down with the new second and prepared another cartel. His friend took it and hied him away in quest of the foe. The captain leaned back with a feeling of content. Now he would get what sporting natures call ‘action.’ “But alas! alack! within the hour his bear hunter second walked into the room as stiff as a ramrod. “ ‘Captain,’ he said, with great air, ‘this thing must end here. It can go no further, sir. Your challenge under the code is not possible, sir.’ “As a reason for this abrupt reversal cf sentiment the bear hunter retold the story of the captain’s speech and rehearsed the very reasons which had been offered by the learned second. Capt. B., having chos- en to assail his detractor and answer him from the platform, could not now call him to the field. “Who have you been talking with, Jim? at last asked Capt. B. ‘I know mighty well you don’t know anything about duel- ing, and somebody's told you this.’ “Jim, the bear hunter, blushed, and at last confessed that, after receiving the challenge, fearful that in his ignorance he might bungle the finer details of so deli- cate an affair, he had asked the hotel clerk to direct him to some fount of duel- ing knowledge where he might drink and be filled with instruction. The clerk sug- gested Maj. G., the first second, as one matchless in matters of leaden or sword- blade arbitration. Of course, as soon as Jim, the bear hunter, found this teacher of the duel he was given the history of Capt. B.'s. case,-and poisted firmly, to.the-rea- sons Wuy the "business pe at a dead halt. No Civil War. ‘But I'll tell Bota capeain concluded Jim, the bear hunter/(wistfully. ‘I'll tell you what we can do. Wepan have a street fight. We can send the scoundrel word that we will kill him-on sight, and then fix_ourselves and lay for,him. Of course, it’s a trifle promiscuous as a method of nant it's ane we an co, and I've known peo} ta heap o: satisfaction that way? 0.58 if “‘No doubt,’ replied_Capt. B., dryly. ‘I can readily see that to send this man word that I intend to jdlithim on sight and then go forth to do it might result in end- less peace and comf “all concerned. But I didn’t come heté t® shell. the city, nor do I feel justifieds over a strictly pri- vate affair, in declaring ¢ivil war. If we can’t parade this al fen, yards with Fifles; ‘or ‘with pistole'at' fen we'll let it drop. ‘I shall certainl¥“fofego a satisfac- tion which can only: be ‘obtained at the cost of a riot.’ And the: matter dropped.” ——eaee T00 LAZY ‘FO WORK. A Veteran Pensioner’s Criticism o: His BHoy’s Fault. Ls The second oldest pensioner on the rolls of the United States 1s Hosea Brown of Grant’s Pass, Ore. Thé oldest ts David McCoy of Redland, Cal.” McCoy is 104 years old and Brown is 103. ‘During the last ses- sion of Congress. Representative Hermann of Oregon made. a successful effort to se- cure an increase of thé pension of Brown. Brown was a soldier in the New York troops during the war of 1812. He went to Oregon many years ago. Although he has been receiving the regu- lar pension of the war of 1812, it has not been enough to support him. Mr. Hermann early introduced a bill for him and then set about getting together evidence which would successfully carry the bill over the hot fire of Jones of Virginia and other pension watchdogs. -_He.wrote to. the old man and asked him if he had a family that could support him, ry He received a reply that he had a son living, but who would not contribute any- thing to his support. Mr, Hermann’s heart sank. _He saw no way of getting a pension for a man who had a son to support him. He wrote back asking why the son would not support him. Brown replied that he was too lazy, there was no other reason he knew of. © Mr. Hermann’s hopes vanished, but he thought he would make one more effort, and inquired as to the circumstances of the son, and how old he was. Brown-re- plied that his son was not in good circum- stances and would not werk for his father’s support. As to his age, the son was sev- enty-five years old, and too lazy to work. With this reply Mr. Hermann was content. It did not take much of an effort to show that a man who had nothing more to de- pend upon for support than a son seventy- five years old was entitled to an increage of pension, and he got it. ~ ? —.+—_ Written for The Evening Star. The Answer of the Stars. @edicated to My Lost Daughter.) T held her dead, cold hand in mine, Then gazed upon her folded eyes; And asked her for a single ‘sign ‘To guide me to the heavenly skies, I smoothed her gentle, ‘lovely face, And fixed the tresses on her brow; I Kissed her lips, like fretted lace, Still trusting she might ayewer.now. Yet, she was. dumb, as marhle.stone, And left me lonely to repine, Icalled her “darling,” “‘gweet/* ‘mine own,” But still she gave me nat.a’bign. wv T laid her in the dull, cold eau, Where roses bloom abate-her head; . And where the faithful Have new birth In realms beyond wherd/twoudtare dead, I then appealed unto the étarsp ‘Those radiant eyes—of GoF# domain; When they replied, o'er Poldeii bars— “The good shall met’ thetr‘Gwn ugain!* “a VON A. JOXOR. Fass' Jast ‘Like Women, If you think thet meh Gon't'fret and stew about their clothes you: just ought to go around where.men's clothes are made and you will find out yourymistake. ./Ehey pout and storm apd fussjexactly jike a woman, if a suit of ‘dittces” isn't done tothe min- ute, or it the stitching. on the coat is a thought too far from the,edge, or if the trousers are pnly sjxteen and a, quarter at the bottom, wher they should be sixteen and @ half inches. A man came into a sweil shop the other day for a coat that ie been promised him to try on at that hour. It was not ready and he fussed and whined and dragged his’ cane around on the -floor, crook down, and declared he wouldn't have that coat, that’ he wouldn’t; if he couldn’t have things got ready for him when he''was ready for, them, he didn’t want them at all. A gpoiled boy wouldn't have pouted any more if he had been denied jam on his cake. And the fun- ny part was, the tailor said that such an incident was of frequent occurrence. He honeyed the man up a bit, just as a dr maker does a woman, and sent the great bix six-footer away quite mollified, with the coat promised for three days later. —.__. Gravestones of Néw Fashion. Gravestones and peanuts do not seem to go very well together: Yet one finds both of these articles forsale at a shop in South ‘Washington, and they are the only articles of merchandise offered: The proprietor ex- plains that the “goobers” are 4 job lot, left with him accidentally by another merchant. ‘The peanuts are in no way remarkabie— in fact, pretty much like any other peanuts —but the gravestones are certainly extra- ordinary. They are of iron, from two to four feet in height. It is explained that they are coming into considerable use. They will outlast three or four ordinary tomb- stones, selling for about a quarter of the price. It is needless to say that in these hard times economy in burials is particu- larly to he recommended. These iron tombstones are about the same shape as crdinary ones, save that they have short legs and fiat feet to help them stand up straight. The feet are set in beds of cement, sod being placed around and over them. The price for a gravestone of this kind runs from $4.50 to $15. This in- cludes a footstone, made on the same plan, of fron, but plain. The lettering is of gilt. Above the in- scription is a gilt dove or other appropriate design. The inscription is covered with a sheet of ordinary window glass, to preserve it. If desired, a photograph of the deceas- ‘ed may also be placed behind the giass, which is set with cement in a sort of frame. —— Not Sufficiently Soaked. From the Cincinnati Enquirer. A certain society young man was placed in a most embarrassing position the other day. It happened in this way: A house in which is located a pawnbroker’s office is owned by a prominent society woman, who is an intimate friend of the young man. On the day in question hgth chanced to meet in the pawnshop. ‘They were there in. the interest of their prope®y—the one real and the other personal ' The young man hadyraiged the required amount to take his watch gut of soak, and when he first entered-failed to recognize the lady. The pawnbreker; however, knew both, and before the mam could speak, called aloud: “Mr. + your watch is not done yet.” bon. Then came the recognition from the lady. ‘The man bowed low, biushing, and tipping his hat till it fairly mattled on his head. Then, for a bluff, he began looking at some umbrellas, which; heightened the ab- surdity of his positioy, When he left he was as red as a beet. Now the society buds are softly whispering the story to each other. 2 i Retributive, Afore I had “Go, Anastasia Belair! mer carridge yer didn’t reckernize me—in fack, yer ignored me. Now things is took @ change yer would play the sickerfunt. Go! Go, Anastasia! me!” Go! Yer ain't in it wid RPAGES! > Bs 35] FASHIONS FOR MEN. Some of the Latest Ideas for Clothes and Furnishings. ‘Men’s coats are to be made shorter. Ever and ever so much shorter. A man isn’t go- ing to have a train bearer any longer, nor |, run the risk of stepping on the skirts of his Prince Albert as he goes up steps. All coats are to be curtailed. The cutaway has quite respectable tails, as to length, and isn’t slashed away so much in the front part of the skirt. It isn’t to have any breast pocket either. The Prince Albert, while shorter, is ful- ler in the skirt, and ls what the women call “bell shape,” but St isn’t wired at the bottom yet, as bell- sha) dresses _ are. It is double breasted, with a neat notched collar, and all the dressier coats have corded edges, quite flecided changes. For business suits cheviots hold their place in popularity, They are soft and beautiful in texture, and come in mixed browns and mixed grays, but browns are most favored. The sack coat is rather preferred for the .busi- ness suit—one with four buttons and no seam in the back. The vest may have one of the odd notched collarless effects or have a, roll collar, notched or plain, and fancy waistcoats of cashmere and other light materials will be worn during the summer. The hat to wear with this business suit should be a brown derby, with a low crown. Whatever the color of the suit, the hat must copy a tone of it, so that a man will be a symphony in color. At present, pink or blue shirts are especially favored for business suits. Either Madras or percale, white ground with a neat little figure sprinkled over it in color stripes are quite passe. The whole shirt will be of a color, and not just colored bosoms, collars and cuffs. They are made like a woman’s dressing sack, too. Open clear to the bot- tom in front, so that a man can brush his hair, before he puts his shirt on, so the obliging shirt maker said, but he forgot to ssy whether a man puts his hat on before he fastens the shirt up or not. Lots of wo- men do. Collars and cuffs are attached. Men are going to wear plaids, too, just like women, only not quite so pronounced. The pretty gray and brown cheviots have a great big “over plaid’ in baby blue, and old rose, and mustard yellow, and while the plaid is almost imperceptible, it isn’t likely that the style will last long after Easter. Pin checks and pin stripes will be much affected by men of quieter tastes. A fur- ther tendency toward color for men is shown in dark green, blue and slate color- ed vicunas, to made into the Ascot suits, to be worn with top hats. They are both subdued and handsome, and the quality of the cloth is something to glad- den the heart. Covert cloth is, as usual, the most popular weave for spring overcoats. Overcoats will be shorter, also. There is a decided change in trousers. The “peg top” of the early part of the century has the call just now, with modi- | fications, of course. Easter trousers are being made sixteen and a half inches at the foot and eighteen at the knee. During the winter they were made twenty and twenty and a half. Stripes will prevail, the effect generally being dark, but with dark blue and black frock coats and waistcoats, lighter trousers will be worn. if a man doesn’t hold his head up this spring, it will be because he doesn’t wear the very newest collar. As they say in the wild and woolly west, “it is a holy terror!” .It is closed entirely in front, the ends lap- ping, and has no band. It stands two and seven-eighths inches in front and two and three-eighths inches in the back, with no perceptible flare. With it will be worn a long tie, with flowing ends, but it won't "Ride the misery of the man who wears it. Another collar is a turn-over, built on the one just described, which serves for a band, and is slightly lower—only an eighth of an inch, though, and the turn-over points come almost together in front. It ought to be called the “hoodoo,” for it will ruin the temper of any man who tas not grown 7 up on a diet of green Y ramrods. To wear// with it is a string’ tle, straight and nar-' row, which will be ie worn midway of it. The new ties are 4, largely dark, and \W 7 have polka’ dots forming various \\\i geometrical figures. Blue seems to be the favorite, with white dots. The white cheviot Ascot tie will be the popular tie for afternoon wear. In gloves there is something new for men. The gray suede with two clasps comes lined with silk. An odd fancy, which men seem to like very well. Next season men’s evening gloves in light colors are to be silk lined. The mustard yellow kid, with heavy stitching in black or self-color- ed, and one awful big white pearl button, is the chic glove for men, but Washington ™en are so conservative that a duller shade nearer a tan is all that is shown here. “Rich, but not gaudy,” is the desire of the male contingent of swell Washing- ton. =o Three Great Men. Inf the newly published life of Sir Richard Owen occurs the following: A footman came over from Pembroke Lodge with a large bone wrapped up in paper, and a note from Lord John Russell requesting Owen to let him know to what animal the bone belonged. The professor looked at it and at a glance perceived that it was a ham bone of an ordinary pig. The description was transferred to paper, and the footman returned to Pembroke Lodge, leaving Owen at a loss to understand why a ham bone should have been sent to him. Some days passed, and, hearing nothing further from Lord John, he walked over on a Sunday afternoon to ask for an explana- tion. “The fact is,” Lord John Russell said, “President Grant made me a present of what purported to be a bear’s ham (which is considered to be a great delicacy), but as I had my doubts about it, I sent you the bone.” ————_+e+___ Written for The Evealng Star. “Sufficient Unto the Day.” If every one could see his future life, Its hopes and fears, And if ‘twere given each to see its strife, Its smiles and tears, How many, think you, would the power embrace To see their coming fortunes face to face, Spread out before them, like an open book, Where each might see his future at a look, With all its Joyous mirth and cruel pain? Not I. No, rather than the secrets learn, Of things in store, And with anticipative shudders turn, And read them o'er, I would prefer for me a quiet grave; Rather than read the secrets that book gave, And live a double life of dread and fear, Suft'ring each trial in mind until ’tis near, And then in body suff'ring all again. SELIM. > Certain Succe: From Tid-Bits. Modern Song Writer—"I've got a new song that’s bound to make a hit.” Music Hall Manager—“Any sense in it?” Writer—“‘None at all.” Manager—“Any fun in it?” Writer—“Not a bit.” Manager—“Any music in it?" Writer—‘Not a note.” Manager—“Just the thing! We'll take the town.” ———_+e+___ Milk Purifled by Electricity. Electrical sterilization of milk is the latest method of freeing that fluid from impurities. The Soxhlet and other methods having ‘been pronounced not only useless, but even noxious, by Bacteriologist Prof. Flugge of Breslau, it is interesting to note that of all the various systems only one could be depended on to kill all microl and germs, Two Dutchmen have invented a process of sterilizing milk by subjecting it to the passage of an alternating electric current. All micro-organisms taken up by the milk from the air, etc., are permanently de- stroyed by the electric current. This germ- killing quality of the electric current does not hurt the milk, but a longer experience only will teach us whether this system can be applied to large quantities with the proper result. A SKEPTICAL GENTLEMAN Is Convinced That Dr. Shade Can ~* "Cure Consumption. Let All Skeptics Read His Letter as It t “Appears Below. ni ‘Was @, Maren 16, 1895. Dr. N. B. SHADE, ett st. ced my wife under your little dreamed” that "you onderful cure as has been done in her case. My wife's father, brother and sister having died of the dread disease, ‘rocsumptioo, ou can readily we had little hope, es} ly after was given up by two specialists. For months prior to taking your treatment life had been a to her, and well do I re- member the last walk we took ‘together, just half 8 square, leaning on my arm and thor- ‘oughly exhausted. e returned home, went to bed, where she re- mained about a pa IE ed Encouraged rerviews with people whom hadcured, 4 sent her to you—you Know the rest; ve her lungs examined reliable physician to test the cure. She has twenty-four and she believes herself in the best of health as pertains to her lungs. If you feel so dis; use this letter. T trust suffering humanity may be the better off it Lhave made. If any are inclined as I was—send them to my wife. 1 any doubts that may be linge: . ‘Trusting you may be as successful Bi in their mi Wyth all your patients ae you have been with my fe, I remain very truly yours, R. BOWIE HOLLAND, 630 L street northeast. it == THB WICKED COW BIRD. Some of the Curious Habits of This Feathered Species. Most disreputable of all feathered crea- tures is the cowbird. Not only does it re- Suse to bring up its own young, laying its eggs in the nests of-other birds and leav- ing them to take their chance of hatching, but even in its marital relations it is not respectable. So far as is known, it is the only bird that practices polyandry, each female having several husbands. The cowbirds are found only in America, being related to the blackbirds, orioles and bobolinks. The fact that they practice polyandry seems to be due to the circum- stance that the males outnumber the fe- males three to one—though why this dis- Proportion of sexes should exist nobody can say. Ordinarily these birds arrive in good-sized flocks in the fniddle states dur- ing the latter haif of March, the males gen- erally preceding the more somber colored females by several days. Pretty soon the flocks begin to break up and scy:ter in smalt companies over the country. They prefer the river valleys and cultivated dis- tricts, where other birds are abundant. The food of the cowbird consists princi- pally of seeds of noxious weeds, such as ragweed, smartweed, foxtail or pigeon grass, wild rice and the smaller species of grains, with. berries of different kinds. Also it eats grasshoppers, beetles, ticks, flies and other insects. In this respect it is rather beneficial to the farmer than otherwise. ve When the nesting season approaches the males become very demonstrative in their actions toward the females, but do not ap- pear -to-minathe attentions paid by other males to the same female, as other birds usually do. Free lovers as they are, they do not object to such trifles. It is a weil- known ‘fact ‘that’ the cowbird is a parasite, building no nests, but laying its egzs usually in thé nests of smaller feathered creatures, and leaving to them the labor and care of rearing its young. She does not forcibly drive the owner from its nest, but watches her opportunity to drop her egg in it when it-is unguarded. It is not unusual to find some of the eggs of the species imposed-on thrown out of the nest to make room for those of the parasite. Among the species which suffer most from depredations of the sort described are,the phoebe, song sparrow, towhee, in- digo bunting, ovenbird and yellow-breasted chat. The egg of the cow bird usually hatches in from ten to eleven days, gen- erally in advance of those of the foster parent, and the growth of the young inter- loper is rapid. To begin with, the cow- bird’s egg is bigger than those which be- long in the nest, as a rule. Accordingly, it gets more heat from the body of the foster mother, while the other eggs are crowded but and their incubation is delayed. Often they do not hatch at all, while the young cowbird emerges from the shell big and hungry. Its greedy mouth takes in every- thing edible that is brought to the nest by its foster parent, while its adopted brothers and sisters, if any of them are actually hatched, starve to death. It seems strange that the breeding birds thus imposed upon do not discover the deception and expel the invader, but they never seem to do so. On the contrary, they bestow upon it every attention properly due to offspring of their own, and the young cowbird, waxing strong and growing at an astonishing rate, is prepared within half a dozen weeks to take care of itself. Major Charles Bendire is the author of a monograph on the cowbird, to which the writer is indebted for his information. It will be published in the next annual report of thé National Museum. He says that he has never seen a nest containing young birds of both species more than a few days old. By that time the rightful offspring are either smothered or crowded out of the nest by their stronger foster brother, or starved, and he then absorbs the entire attention of the parents. It can readily be seen what an immense amount of harm’a cowbird causes in the economy of nature, granting that only a single one of its eggs is hatched in a season. To accomplish thi a brood of insectivorous and useful birds is almost invariably sacrificed for every cowbird raised, and they are certainly not diminishing in numbers. ———— Must Take the War Cry. The will of Elbridge G. Cross, late of Bernardston, Mass., is a peculiar one from the fact that the bequests are to be condi- tional that the heirs subscribe for some re- ligious paper. All the real estate and the horse and cow are left to Emma L. Cald- well, who was his housekeeper, provided that she skall take the War Cry, and in case that the publication of that paper is discontinued that she will take some other religious paper equally as good. He be- queathes all the household goods to the same person provided that she takes the paper known as the Gulde to Holiness. The remainder of the personal estate ig to be equally divided between his sister und his niece, cCnditionally that they take the New York Weekly Witness. ——__+e+____ A Missionary of Six Years. From the New York Herald. A boy of fifteen walked in an uptown street the other day, smoking a cigarette. He seemed not a little proud of his ac- complishment and strutted along evidently conscious of budding manhood. He was stopped by a little girl, who could not have been over six years old. She looked up at him and exclaimed earnestly: “Oh, don’t smoke cigarettes. If you do, y6u won’t go to heaven when you die. If you stop I'll give you a penny.” The boy wouldn’t take the cent, but he threw the cigarette away and promised never to smoke one again. A Load Off His Mind. From Texas Siftings. “There is one thing that has preyed heav- ily on my mind ever since we were en- gaged, and I am almost afraid to tell you about it,” he said nervously. ‘Oh, is that all?” she exclaimed with a sigh of relief. “I have always been a Uni- versalist myself, but, of course, when we are made one I shall expect to attend your church.” GOING TQ CARLSBAD isn’t necessary now. Carlsbad is coming to you. At least the health-giving part of itis You get every curative quality that has made the place fa- mous for hundreds of years in the Carlsbad Sprudel Water and Salt. ‘That is, if you get the genuine, Beware of the so- called “improved” or “‘urtificial” salts of- fered in the market. The genuine has the signature of*‘EISNER & MENDELSON Co. Sole Agents, New ork,” on every pack- we, Write for pam- (SHOE : 3.50 sae $3.50 Several lots of our Men’s Patent Calf Shoes for $3.50. Ladies’ Shoes for $1.00, $1.50, $1.95, $2.45, $2.65, $3-50—worth from $2.50 to $5.00. Ladies’ Oxfords, $1 and up. Youths’ Shoes, $1.25— Worth $1.75. Boys’ Shoes, $1.45— = Worth $2.00. THE WARREN SHOE HOUSE, Geo. W. Rich, 919 F St. Catarrh Sufferers. No matter how much you may have become discouraged in trying to get cured, the AMERICAN CATARRH CURE will remove all doubt in a few days. It is always ready for use; nothing like has ever been known in the history of It is the most wonderful remedy of the the only medicine known that can sumption. THE AMERICAN CATARRH CURE Is the of 26 years’ study and treatment of the One bottle convinces the most skeptical. always ready for use, needing neither douche or atomizer. I¢ restores ‘the hearing, cures the hawk- and expectorating, removes headache and i age, He It fal power in rest public speakers. FOR SALE BY E. P. MERTZ, COR. 11TH AND F STS., WASHIN IN, D.\ fe21-D6eo21t&2taw18t pcaabecz ILLSBURY’S BES ~~ FLOUR == “The universal verdict?" Known throughout the civilized world as HighestGrade of FlourMade Gray Hair A thing of the when Nattans Crystal covery is" used: "Goaraut ae ded hair to its natural coler in 8 to 1 positively rot a. ES hair out, arrests dandruff and he ni for’ the halr one can use. Ni No stains. Price, $1. PHARMACY, SOLB AGENTS, ST. N.W. Sent, express prepaid, to the country on receipt of price. WALNUT an 40C. CARAMEL “Tike re — CAKE, Very delicious and_toothsome, thi mother made.” GENUINE HOME BAKERY. nt ppstry tempting, snowy bread and order. to I.L.Granville& Co.52012th - SUCCESSORS TO CORBY BROS. mb22-104 NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE FOR Electric Fans. SUMMER WILL SOON BE HERE. Electricity furnishes the coolest, cleanest and cheapest light and a sure, safe and stable power. See practical application of Electric Motors on large le at New Corcoran Art Gallery. If you want it or Are lighting or power telephone us. UNITED STATES ELECTRIC LIGHTING ©O., 818 14th st. nw. LM TT) Better Light at About Half Cost. from gas when under 5-10 of an iuch pressure at the meter. ordit street is e GOVERNOR regulates the uire— makes the light better and brighter —saves from 15 to 40 per cent on gas bills. Put in on trial. If pot satis- factory—costs nothing. R. B. Caverly & Co., 1418 New York Ave. mh22-28d a a CTE ASTER, 1895, NOVELTIES, A complete new line of wares in silver for this season, comprising Jewel Cases, Bon-bon Trays and Baskets, Candelabra, Small Candlesticks, ard ‘Trays, Pocket Books and Card Cases, Easter Book Marks and Paper Cutters. Before they are all gone—get one of those Prayer Book Marks in sterling silver at $1.00. I1.Goldsmith & Son mb5-3m,25 911 PENNA. AVE. DA nanaea aaa aae ee ‘Solid Silver. ; You'll save 15 cents on every dollar by purchasing any article 16c. OFF of Silver or Silver Ware you may EVERY need now. But the reduction DOLLAR. lasts only for a short time, so you'll do well to tuke immediate advantage of the opportunity. CARL PETERSEN, 427-29 SEVENTH ST. posi unsbu Br x ee ee Bargains In Long Hair Switches. * $2.50. Formerly $0.00. $4.50. Formerly $6.50. $6.50. Formerly $10.50. G7 Hair Dressing, Cutting, Sbampooing, S. HELLER’S, 7 th Street N.W. 10¢, , 085 F st.n.w.