Evening Star Newspaper, March 30, 1895, Page 21

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1895-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. 21 TOOTHSOME SHAD The Finest Grade is Found in the i Potomac. THE YIELD OF THE PRESENT SEASON The Means Adopted for Capturing the River Beauties. ALL SORTS OF NETS USED RESH POTOMAC shad” has been the ery of the street hucksters for several weeks, but until a very few days ego, a Star reporter was told, none of them had fish of this va- riety, for the reason that it was not until this week that the catch was large enough to supply the y market dealers. But the hucksters had shad, and although they were brought here from North Caro- lina or some other southern waters, they had xo trouble in convincing the pur- chasers that they were caught in the wa- ters of the Potcmac, where the finest fish of this variety are found. Potomac shad are regarded by epicures as the finest shad sold in any market in the United States, and for this rezson there is ready sale for them in other places. A week ago as many as 500 were caught in a day, and each day’s catch shows an increase, until now the catca reaches several thousand. The shad season is a little later this year than usual,*the result of the severe ccld spell — Yast month, which lasted so many days. Just before the cold wave reached here less than a dozen shad had been taken from the river, and the fishermen began to be hepe- ful for an early and good season. Being under this impression the fisher- men got together their men, horses, nets and other appliances and shipped them to the fishing shores, but before they had an opportunity to put. their nets in the water there came a freeze, and they could not only do no work, but they could not return home, and the cost of maintaining the camps proved a serious loss to the own- ers. This may have had something to do with keeping up the price of the fish. How the Fish Are Caught. As soon as the ice had left the river, however, the nets were thrown overboard. ‘The gill nets were planted in the water and the haul seines were operated from shore, principally by horse power, although some of the smaller nets were handled by men. It is probable that the average person who is fond of shad has only the faintest idea of how they are caught. It is true that the seine haulers catch many thousands during the Season, but the largest number are caught in gill nets. . What is known as the haul seine is noth- ing more nor less than a general dragging of the river, and everything before the net is almost sure to be landed on the shore. This is hard and troublesome work, and frequently hauls are made when the catch will by no means pay for the wear and tear on the nets. The different modes of catching shad are interesting. In addi- tion to the use of nets it is said on good authority that the fish will rise to a fly, although anglers in this section make little or no effort to hook the toothsome delicacy. Passerger on steamboats frequently see a dozen or more poles in the water, and from one pole to another pieces of netting are visible. This is the gill net, and it is this net that is death to the shad. The nets, long and straight, are made of fine linen twine, with what the fishermen usual- ly call a five-inch mesh. Gill nets are gen- erally set in the evening, the heavy stakes being driven so that the net may be stretched at right angles to the current. ‘These stakes are driven in the mud at in- tervals of about one hundred feet, and from one to another the web is stretched, the top line being fastened to large corks, ‘while heavy lead weights hold the bottom of the net in the river. When the bottom of the river is too hard to permit the driving of the stakes, the fishermen make float nets in the same way, using heavy anchors to keep the net in the preper position. Then the large schools of shad making their way with the, current try to pass through the nets, which, of course, they cannot do. The twine slips be- Find their gills, escape is an impossibility, and the fish are soon strangled to death. The Pound Net. Then there is the pound net, which ts also a good one, not only for shad, but for ether fish. This is a trap into which the fish are almost sure to drop when it is properly constructed. It consists of an ob- struction in the river. extending from the shore to deep water, and at the end of this long network, which is called the “leader,” is a funnel-shaped mouth, leading into the pound or trap. The fish naturally go through this small opening in an effort to get around the obstruction, and those that go in seldom manage to get back through the opening. Then there is the byke net, which ts censtructed on the order of a weir. It is used more extensively.in bad weather than at any other time, for the reason the fish are taken from it alive, and are there: fore that much fresher and in better con- dition for shipment. These are the principal nets used in the Pctomac. In some of the small tributaries weirs are used for catching fish for family use, At the river front in the vicinity of 12th street there is always a crowd of men ard boys during the fish season, and when there are no boats to be unloaded nor any fish on the wharf there is an anxious look on their faces, for they are expecting the arrival of another load of the fish from the lower river, when they will have an opportunity to get in a supply or pick up an odd. Along the line of Water street for two or three squares, as well as on what is known as the. “Fishtown” wharf, fish hucksters have their wagons, and sometimes there are more than a hundred wagons there, awaiting the arrival of a boat or the sale of a cheap lot of fish. In the Packing Houses. The owners of the packing houses have most of the fish cleaned on the wharf, where the work is done by men and women of both colors, who render songs and the choruses of plantation melodies. When these people get through with the fish they are put in tubs and washed, and later they find their way to the packing houses, where they are put in salt and packed in barrels or small tubs. Many of them are sold in this way, while others are put up for smoking purposes. Of late years many families put up their own fish for winter use. ‘The question is frequently asked, “‘What becomes of the shad in the winter? It is certain that they leave the fresh water and make their way south in the salt water for the winter season, re- turning again .in the spring of the year to the waters of their birth to spawn. It is singular, but the fish invariably nfake their way to the beginning of tidewater. During the cold winter months many are caught by the deep salt water netters. It is related that shad has become so highly prized as food fish only within the last half century. In colonial history wken shad are mentioned the writers sel- dom have a favorable word to say about them, and generally refer to them with contempt. The northern rivers in that period were filled with them, and while the Indians spreared them’ and tsed them for food, the white settlers did pot do so to any considerable extent. Even in those dzys the fish were smoked by the Indians and put away for winter use. The shad is not found in all parts of the United States, so that in some sections it is considered more of a delicacy than in others. There are many ways to cook the fish after they are caught, but most epi- cures agree that the planked shad beats them all. Planked Shad. A celebrated cook who has made a study of planked shad describes the cooking, as follcws: “Take a plank of hickory (oak will do if the other can’t be had) three inches thick, eighteen inches wide and two feet long. Then get a fresh-caught shad, scale it, split down the back, clean, wash and wipe dry. Sift it carefully with salt and pepper. Lay your plank before an open fire until it is very hot. Then spread your shad up- on it and nail it, skin side down, to the wood with about eight large tacks. Place before the fire and turn till well done. Cover all over with butter, and serve smoking hot on the plank.” Besides planking them they are boiled, broiled and fried, and some cooks give directions for planking them in the oven at home. Later in the season, when the supply is more than equal to the demand, the fish will probably sell as cheap as ten cents apiece, and then for packing purposes they are much cheaper than inferior fish are in the winter. Fortunately~ for the supply of shad in the Potomac, the spawning grounds be- tween Alexandria and the Chain bridge are protected from being dragged and netted. The fishermen are of the opinion that on this account mainly the supply keeps up as well as it does. ——.__ THE TROTTING LIMIT. Opinion of Budd Doble—What He Thinks of Pool Selling. From the Indianapolis News. “I do not believe that the trotter or the pacer is at his limit yet by a good deal,” said Budd Doble, the turfman. “The two- minute mark may not be reached this year or next, but I expect to see it reached. I cannot say what horse will reach it. I might guess, but conjecture is not valuable. As between the pacers John R. Gentry and Robert J, if I were to become.a parti- san, I should stand by the little gelding. Gentry is a well-gaited, game horse, but, although differently, noae the less well- gaited, Robert J seems to have the speed without the effort. As to trotters, Alix is the most probabie record breaker. Nancy Hanks was seven years old when she trot- ted in 2.04; Alix was six when she trotted in 2.03 3-4. Alix is seven this year, and she is in excellent shape,so far as I have heard. It does seem to me thet she ought not to be at the limit of her speed. Directum is ar uncertain quantity. Whether he has en- tirely recovered from his bad condition of last season dr rot, I do not know, and his chances all depend on recovery.” Mr.. Doble is one of the racing men who believe in the abolition of pool selling. “I do not mean the occasional abolition of the pool box and gambling of all kinds at race tracks. or the abolition by a few associa- tions. I believe that if there was no gam- bling of any kind attached to racing on trotting tracks it would be of great bene- fit. The racing would be better and the at- tendance would be greater. The average individual is interested more in trotters and pacers than in any other kind of horses. He drives them on. the streets and rides them in the roads. Their speed is of prac- tical utility. The runner is a gaming de- vice, largely. It was not long ago that the running tracks made a war on pool rooms. and said the war was declared to »vrotect the patronage at the tracks. In other words, the patrons of the runners did not go to the tracks to bet when they could more conveniently go to the pool rooms. Trotting interests are In no such situation. ‘The racing is clean and has nevet fed pool rooms. But it has suffered for the sins of the-running tracks. I believe the effort to form an American Sporting League to pro- tect legitimate sports is commendable. It will do much to put racing on its merits. The National and American Trotting Asso- ciations should have taken cognizance of the conditions before now. I do not say that in criticism of either, but I belHeve either or both should have discussed the subject. Probably it was felt that any dis- cussion by either would bear the stamp of self-interest as a motive, and it is, per- heps, best in view of that that an inde- pendent effort will be made. However, ac- tion by the associations would not have in- jured the standing of cither with the gen- eral public.” ————_+o+-____ A Unique Coat of Arms. From the Philadelphia Times. But there was one Philadelphian who not only invented arms for himself, but new and republican arms, after discarding the ancestral arms of his family. This was Peter Browne, at one time an eminent citi- zen of Philadelphia. In 1794 William Priest, an English musi- cian, became attached to the theater in Philadelphia in his professional capacity. In 1802 Mr. Priest printed in London a book entitled “Priest's Travels in the United States,” which is now exceedingly rare. The frontispiece to this book is a strange and curious design, entitled “Peter Brown’s Arms.’’ In explanation of this frontispiece Mr. Priest says: ‘Peter Brown, a blacksmith of this city, having made his fortune, set up his coach; but so far from being ashamed of the means by which he acquired hfs riches, he caused a large anvil to be painted on each side of his carriage, with two pairs of naked arms in the act of striking. The motto, ‘By this I got ye.’” ——__+e<____ Wanted a Change of Diet. From the New Ycrk Advertiser. An old, gray-haired woman stands about the entrance of a big downtown building and asks for alms iff about this strain: “Mister, please give me a few pennies to buy bread.” This she has been repeating over and over until the occupants of the building have all become familiar with every into- nation of her short song. The other after- noon a stout, middle-aged man, who had heard her plaintive appeal many times a day for several months, was rushing into the building. He evidently had some im- portant business on his mind that must be attended to quickly. As usual, the old wo- man stuck out her hand and greeted him with: “Mister, please give me a few pennies to buy bread.” Stopping sudden'y, and quickly thrusting a bill in her hand, the man full of business said gruffiy: “Here; you go buy some ple. You eat too much bread! < ———_+ee_____ His Ultimatum. From the Detroit Free Press. “And you reject my offer?” he said to her, intensely. ‘‘You refuse to be the one woman in all the world to me?” “I’m afraid so,” she confessed rather kindly, for she meant well. “Then I have but one thing to say to madam,” he said, reaching for his hat. “] am sure you have my permission to say that. What is it?” He drew himself up to his full height. “There are others,” he replied haughtily, and passed out of the game. ——s00. Take Your Choice. Frc the Sheffield Week. “Don’t you think, Jenkins, I’m imprev- ing with my violin playing?” “Well, I don’t exactly know, but either you're improving or else I’m getting used to it.” REAL ESTATE GOSSIP Subdivision of the Land Adjoining the City’s Bounds. HY LORS IN AN OLD CEMENERY Some Plans for-the Erection of Apartment Houses. ERECTION OF BUILDINGS The announcement made that the prop- erty -known as the St. Patrick's Church cemetery is to be subdivided into building lots serves to call attention to an interest- ihg fact in the growth of the city. While this property, which fronts on the north side of Florida avenue between Ist and 2d streets northwest, contains only about eight and one-half acres, yet it is practical- ly the last of the land adjoining the bounds of the city which remains to be cut up into city lots. The work of subdivision has been carried on so extensively that there re- mains now in effect no undivided portions of land which stand in the way of the ex- tension of the city strects. While all the streets have not as yet been carried out beyond the boundary of the city, provision will be made for such extension in the map which is now being prepared by th District Commissioners for the purpose of applying the plan of the city to the territory lying beyond it. The great bulk of the land,how- ever, especially that which borders the limits of the city, has, as was stated, been already subdivided, although the streets in mary instances da not coincide with the lines of the city streets. A few years ago the region east of Le Droit Park and north of Florida avenue was still in the original fields, and had not been touched by the civil ergineer. Now, however, tnere is practically a continuous subdivision extending to the Eastern branch. The small area of the old ceme- tery, which, by the way, has not been used for burial purposes in ‘recent years, was surrounded by the new streets, which had been graded in that locality. The final de- termination which has been feached by those interested in the property to bring this tract in line with the other improve- ments in that locality, ts regarded as a matter of considerable importance in that particular section. As is well known, the old cemetery property adjoins the Moore tract on the south, the latter extending from that peint north to the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home. The entire tract was sub- divided some time ago. Adjoining on the east is the Bloomingdale subdivision, and through this property Ist street west has been opened up and paved, and is now one of the favorite crives to the Soldiers’ Home. Pavements have beeu laid on other streets, and the line of these improvements extends in some instances east through Eckington. R street, for example, is open- ed all the way through to the Brentwood road, and forms a continuous street from Rock creek to the Brentwood road. Apartment House Enterprises. As has been stated in this column, there are several plans under consideration for the erection of apartment houses in this city. These proposed structures are, it is said, to be of the genuine type as common- ly prevails in other cities. That is to say, they are to be homes having all the facili- ties for carrying on housekeeping. With a few exceptions, apartment houses in this city have been built for the accommoda- tion of those who desire to be entirely free from household cares, and, therefore, no provision was made for kitchens. One of the schemes now being considered provides for a large structure having suites com- prising some five rooms, including a kitchen. It is the expectation of those who contemplate this investment that it will be profitable to lease the suites for about $85 each per month. This will include heat and the elevator service. It is probabie that during the present season one or more of these enterprizes will materialize, and the work of constructing the buildings will be begun. Favorable Local Conditions. ‘The conditions which exist at present are believed to be favorwmble to carrying out enterprises of this character, as well as other building schemes. Building ma- terial, it is said, is much cheaper, and :t is also stated that land can be purchased at favorable figures. Owing to these cir- cumstances, as well as the natural impetus which is given to building operations at this season of the year, it is predicted by those who are in a position to be -well in- fermed that there is going to be a good deal done in this line during the present year. If these favorable local conditions are coupled with continued improvement in business throughout the country, it is thought that the prospects are encourag- ing, and that there will be considerable for the building trades to do, as well as something for other branches of business. A Cemetery Project. A number of citizens are interested in a rew enterprise which proposes to provide a new and spacious cemetery for Washing- ten. The projectors will say nothing definite about the location. It will not, they say, lie west of the Rock Creek Park. One of them told a Star reporter that within the next three days deeds will be recorded which will disclose the whole project. It has just transpired that for ever five years purchase after purchase of contiguous tracts of real estate have quietly been made with this specific end in view. The result is the securing of a tract of between four and five hundred acres, described as possessing great nat- ural beauty. “It is of about the same alti- tude as the Soldiers’ Home Park,” said ‘The Star reporter’s informant, ‘quite as accessible, and almost as near the center of population, yet without danger of en- ercschment from -the city. Its facilities for shady drives are unsurpassed by any- { thirg even in the Rock creek region, while there is also water in abundance for lakes and fountains even on the highest knolls.”’4 Some New Houses. th Plans for a three-story apartment house, to be located on 20th street between R and S streets, have been prepared by A. B. Mor- gan, architect. The building will be 20x65. feet, with a brown stone front. The owner is Frank D. Foster. . - The same architect has completed plans for three houses on Kenesaw avenue be- tween 15th and 16th streets. The houses will be 17x65, but with fronts of garnet Roman. cil, buff brick and red stone. Three 1ses will be built on R street be- tween Nort Capitol and ist streets from plans prepared by A. B. Mullett & Co., architects. The houses will be two stories Ligh, with fronts of stone and brick. J. W. and C. M. Campbell have taken out a permit for the erection of a six-story brick addition to the apartment house now standing at the corner of 14th street and Park street, Mount Pleasant. It is to be of brick with a tin roof, and the dimen- sions of the proposed addition are 55x85 feet. The cost of the improvement is to be $30,000. * Plans have been accepted and the ground broken for a handsome residence to be built at 1721 P street for Mr. Henry Calver. The house is to be four stories and base- ment, stone and brick and ornamental front, with a bay window the entire height. Hot water is to be used in heating. The hcuse is expected to cost about $10,000. Ccok Bros. have taken out a permit for the construction of a handsome three-story brick dwelling, 25x75, at 1906 lith street. The lower part is to be used as a store, and the upper part as a dwelling, with a rec- tangular show window on the first floor. W. L. Conley is the architect, and the esti- mated price is $14,000. Chas. Mades is erecting another store on 7th street, at an estimated cost of $10,000. It is No. 1249, and is to be of brick, three stories and basement. The upper part of the building is to be used as a dwelling. ‘A number of permits have been issued by the building inspector this week for smaller and less expensive improvements, but which foot up to such ar amount, all told, that they more than bear out the infer- ences already made in these columns that the building season, which is just getting under fair headway, is to be one of very considerable activity, and will go far ahead of last year, both in the number and char- acter of the buildings erected. Plans have been prepared for another handsome apartment house in addition to those which have already been noticed in The Star.” While the’ names of the owner and builder have not, yet been made public, enough Is known t trant the statement that it will be ond¥of°the most imposing buildings of the sort,!n, the city and second only in height to the Cairo. The architect called on the inspi of buildings re- cently to secure inférniation as to how far up in the air he may go with his building. He would not divulge the location, but stated that the pla ad already been pre- pared and adopted ‘ that the work will Probably be begun 'Before very long. The ew apartment houses to be on a corner of an avenue and a stpeet which is 110 feet wide, and as ther? are not very many streets of that widtfi |t narrows the possi- bilities of location to 2‘tomparatively small number. The limitedn theight is to be 110 feet, which means,a-fen or eleven-story building. The architect expressed a desire to make it even higher if the fact that it was to face on a wide avenue would make it possible, but the lawsforbids. A building of this sort and height must be of fireproof construction, and the architect said that his plans were draWn with that end in view and that the tonstruction is to be first-class in every: particular. Besides the Cairo the only building in town so high is the Washington Loan and Trust building, on F street. —>+__ : THE ORGAN’S. INTRICACIES, Some Interesting Comments on the Various Parts of the Instrument. From the Providence Journal. The keyboard of a modern church organ contains from fifty-eight to sixty-one keys, and is consequently four and one-half to five octaves in compass. The lowest or bottom left-hand key is C. Now, counting each octave from the left, it reads thus: The lowest octavé is called the “CC” oc- tave, written with two capital C’s; the next is the “tenor ‘octave, written with one capital “C;” the next the “middle” oc- tave, written with an italic “C” with a fig- ure 1 over it—‘Cl;” the next is the “treble” octave, written with an italic “C” and a figure 2 over it—"C2;” the next is’ the “alto” octave, written with an‘italic “C” and a figure 3 over it—"C3.”” The lowest octave is sometimes called the “bass octave” or ‘double C” octave, and the GG is called the “gamut G.” The G of the tenor octave is called also “fiddle G,” it giving the sound of “G” on the open string of the violin. The black keys are always called “sharps,” never “flats;” such as “F sharp,” not “G flat.” If, then, any key is wrong mention tt as follows: Tenor d on the oboe is out of tune, etc., or middle a sharp on the flute is out of tune or weak, ete. If a note will not respond to a key when touched on any particular “stop” try another stop, and if it responds on that the first stop tried is out of order by its pipe not sounding. Then describe this thus: Middle c on the melodia is “off its speech.” When couplers are out of order describe the position of the note and mention the coupler thus: Tenor c “swell to great” is “off.” A great organ separation is a contrivance used in organs of pneumatic key and stop action. By the use of two pistons or but- tons over the keys a player can “separate” or silence all the great organ from the other manuals, and instantly restore the sound again.’ Thus suppose both swell and choir were coupled to the great organ and the player's hands were using the great keys, and the piece-called for only the swell and choir coupled, then pressing the button disconnects the great organ “pro tem” so that {t is silent, and the fingers need not be taken off the great keys, but be kept on and ready for the sudden loud change by pressing the relieving button. A “Salicional” from datin “‘Salicet” weep- ing is the French equivalent for the “Dul- ciana” in English and American church organs. The ‘Vom tAngelica”.or “angel veice” is the softest stgp in the organ—it does not come up to anything angelic that human beings know of other than the quiet voice of conscience,’:the latter being far more serviceable and, cheaper. The “Vox Celeste”. is a stop tuned slightly “out of tune” so as to pulgate or beat with any other stop played With ‘it. It has nothing to do with “celesti#l voices” as far as I krow. We presumdchesven 1s perfect and all nature as well, but anything out of tune offends the siclan’s ear; then why ercourage if? The Vox Angelica effect can be got by playing ‘én the Salicional with the swell closéd. The best ‘Vox Celeste” not out of tune is.the “Tremulant.” Both the “Angelica” and. ;‘Caleste” are excellent stops for indifferent;players to moon about on for hours, but an aver dose produces cold sweats and other changes, due no doubt to the temperature ofthe gir above to where we are wafted. Both stops are ¢xpensive but _useJess additions to church organs, and probably never ised more than twice a year, perhaps never. z —s0< “INDUCEMENTS” TO RETAILERS, Geods and Valuable Articles Given for the Price of the Guods. From the Indianapolis News. “Something will have to be done to dis- courage ‘inducements’ to retailers,’ de- clared a wholesale grocer. “‘A good pure- food law could do some good. These in- ducements move the cupidity of the retailer and the consumer suffers by having im- posed upon him inferior or adulterated goods.”" “What do you mean by inducements?” The grocer handed to the iaquirer a hand- somely illustrated card, on which were the words: es “Free with 500 pieces of Jolloppy’s (that’s not the name) chewing -gum, the handsome full gilt clock here pictured at a cost to the retailer of $3. That is, you get $5 worth of gum at retail and a $8 clock all for $3.” “If the manufacturer stopped at chewing gum the demoralization to the trade would be slight, but this get-something-for-noth- ing idea is stimulated all along the line. It is bad enough in yarious lines of to- bacco, but in the line of ground spices and coffee it is absolutely pernicious. It's a lucky consumer that gets any genuine ground spices now, or any. goods that may be cheapened by mixing. Mustard is mixed with sawdust and made hot in the mouth by the addition of cayenne pepper. So it is with other things. “Here's a catalogue of a manufacturer who unblushingly labels his. book ‘abso- lutely pure spices.’ There are about 150 different articles named in it as prizes to grocers who ‘buy these spices in greater or Jess anantitv.” Among the inducements are musical boxes, firearms, furniture of all Kuuas, stoves, Sewing machines, store fix- tures, show cases, clocks, cyclopedias, bi- cycles, baby carriages, lawn mowers, mack- intoshes, crockery, rugs, silver ware, watches and clocks, gold-headed canes, umbrellas, rugs, and so on up to delivery wagons and two-seated carriages. Here's the inducement in the last named: “With 750 pcunds ground spices, abso- lutely pure, any assortment of allspice, mustard, ginger, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, ete., at 25 cents a pound, we give one of these carriages free In other words, 750 pcunds of spices and the carriage, all for 50. ‘The drug trade is afflicted with this same sort of thing, and, perhaps, to as great an extent as the grocery trade. There ought to be some way of heading it off.” ee Effect of Smokeless Powder. From the Philadelphia Recor. A phase of smokeless powder which sportsmen generally recognize, but of which the public is ignorant, is the intense irritation of the eyeballs, caused by the gases set free in the burning of the powder, This irritation is common to all nitro pow- ders, but because its effects can only be felt when the wind is blowing in the face of the marksman, some time elapsed before the effect was laid to the proper cause. An uptown sportsman of ‘considerable local fame declares he has, lost more than one match by his habit of standing behind the oth:r shooters until his turn came, for then his eves were go inflamed that he could scarcely see the: pigeons at all. — A Wediding Fee. From the Atlanta Constitution. A colored preacher‘of Marietta, who mar- ried a couple a few weeks ago, told the groom the fee was $5. He pleaded inability to pay just then. A week or so thereafter the preacher dunned him again, and told him that if he didn’t pay the $5 he would take his bride away from him. The negro groom replied: “All right, if that will settle the debt, take her.” He was in earnest about it. The sweets of married life had palled upon his taste. ees Pie With a Knife. From Truth. “Let us give Mrs. Manhattan a ple knife for a silver wedding present,” said the Chicago mother to her daughter. “Oh, mar, I wouldn’t,” exclaimed the daughter; Be don’t eat pie with a knife in New York!" ‘UNCLE NICK” CHATS Discussing .the Make-Up of the League Teams. PREPARING A LETTER FOR UMPIRES Work of the Washingtons in the South. NOTES OF THE PLAYERS President Young was in a gossipy mood yesterday, when a reporter of The Star called at league headquarters. “Uncle Nick” is a close reader of the reports from the southern battlefields where the va- rious league teams are getting into form for the apprcaching season, but he is too much of a diplomat to commit himself at this early period as to the relative merits or demerits of the twelve aspirants for championship honors. He realizes that in Rusie and Meekin New York has the ablest pair of pitchers in the league. He does not hesitate to say that if Philadelphia or Bos- ton had the same strength in the pitching department the pennant would probably dangle from the flagstaff in the “Quaker City” or “The Hub” next year. “There is the Philadelphia team,” said he, growing enthusiastic. “Just look at the batters in that club. Why, they have a iran sitting on the bench—I mean Turner —who is a better hitter than any man playing in the outfield of any other team, possibly excepting Duffy of Boston. Turn- er has a .350 batting record, and yet he is obliged to sit on the bench because there are so many star hitters in the Philadel- Fhia team.” “Uncle Nick” ulso has a very high opinion of the Cincinnati team since Buck Ewing took command. He says Buck can play first base as well as any man in the league; besides, he is a great sticker and a@ base ball general of the highest rank. Comisky has been a leacer in his palmy days, but for the past two seasons he ap- pears to have lost some of the old-time fire ard vim that made him such a tower of strength in the St. Louis Browns. Buck Ewing is a better man in the position than Comisky would be, and for that reason Mr. Young expects to see Cincinnati cut an important figure in the western circuit. As to Pittsburg, he is in doubt as to whether that team has been weakened to the extent that some of the eastern critics imagine. Pittsburg had a bad run of luck with its pitchers last season, and some valuable ground was lost in experimenting with youngsters. When Tom Kinslow left here last week he announced that if Pitts- burg does “not capture the rag it will at least beat out Cleveland in the race. Mr. Young anticipates a_lively struggle between those two clubs. He cannot deny that Cleveland is a hustling combination, and they never know when they are beat- en. He also appreciates the fact that in “Farmer” Cy Young the “Spiders” have one of the most formidable twirlers in the league. . Beef Needed in Pitchers. Speaking of pitchers, he says there are Pot mere than ten or twelve star pitchers in the league. He regards Taylor of Phil- adelphia a3 one of the best. Chicago was in a bad way for pitchers last year, and this season Anson has a long string of new men, who have yet to make their reputation in the league. Anson is not do- ing much talking at this stage of the game, but he is apt to spring a few sur- prises before the race is advanced very far. The league’s president is a believer in heavy-weight pitchers under the present rules, and the work of the big fellows in the points last year seems to justify his judgment in that respect. Of course, there are some exceptions, like Mercer, Greiten- stein, and a few of the light-weight twirl- ers, but it requires beef to pitch good ball in game in and game out nowadays. One of Mr. Young’s favorite teams is the sprightly Baltimoreans. When the subject ef gingery ball playing is recalled the vet- eran president of the league fires up and reels off several sections of reminiscence of his early exploits on the diamond, when he was a colt and played “snappy” ball. He claims to have a coming star playing in his family at present—Hurlbert Young, who is named for the great Hurlbert, late of the Chicago club. The boy is said to be one of the cleverest amateur catchers in this vicinity. He is at present playing with a team in Rockville, Md. Mr. Young went all over the list of clubs in the league, and had kind words to say for the weak as well as the strong. In passing, he did not forget to commend the business tact of the Wagners and the good-natured hustling qualities of Chris Von der Ahe. Brooklyn and Louisville also received favorable mention, for the crafty “Uncle Nick” distribufes his paternal blessings upen his dozen children with due fairness end Mberality. Letter to Umpires. He is just now engaged in preparing a general letter of advice and counsel to the members of the staff of umpires. He does no: consider it necessary to call the um- pires to Washington to receive personal instructions as to their duties, but he is of the opinion that a few suggestions from him, in the shape of a personal letter, will meet all the requirements of the situation. He ts all ready for the beginning of the championship season, and, like the old war horse that he is, he is eager for the battle to begin. Looking over the local field, the work of the Senators against Boston is not dis- couraging. It is true the Washingtons have not made as great a showing with the new men on the infield. Nicholson ap- pears to be coming up to expectations, but Houseman is not fulfilling the predictions made of him before he stacked up against ris superiors. The returns from the south show that Sheibeck has been called into service aguin at short, and couriers have been sent out to bring into camp Bill Jcyce and “Rearing Bill” Hasamaear. It is a little early to jump at conclusions, tut Messrs. Wagner and Schmelz are on the ground, and they realize that Wash- ingtonians ‘are watching the preliminary work of the team with the keenest in- terest. Only Four Balls Pitched. In Tuesday's game in Savannah, between the Bostons and Washingtons, when the former team won by a score of 20 to 12, only four balls were pitched to the Wash- irgtonians in the fourth inning. Coogan, the first man up, struck the first ball pitched and flew out. Selbach also flew out on the first ball pitched to him. Then lig Ned Cartwright let drive at the first ball pitched to him, and he sailed it over tne fence for a home run. Houseman hit the first ball pitched to him and went out, retiring his side. Dolan, one of Boston's rew pitchers, did the remarkable act, which indicates that he knows how ta locate the plate. In the same game Mercer was touched up quite lively, while Malar- key was something of a puzzle to the Beaneaters. —— BARYE’S MONUMENT. Raised by the Admirers of the Artist in Americn and France. From the Brooklyn Eagle. The monument of Barye is one of the most imposing of Paris. It stands on the farther end of L’fle Saint Louis, on‘one of the oldest spots of the capital, seemingly isolated, embraced by the arms of the Seine. It is most probable that if Barye had been consulted he would have chosen no other spot, for he loved solitude within ‘the excitement and noise of a great city. In his meditative mcods and solitary walks he often trod the grovnd on which stands the block of granite. The square is fre- quented by a humble class of bourgeois and laborers, from which Barye hailed, and the monument may inspire future sons to follow the master’s fcotsteps and add to the glory of country and art. It was indeed a touching tribute to the sculptor that those delegated to execute his monument thought that nothing they could conceive would be as worthy of Barye’s memory es specimens of his own gigantic work. Good taste was shown in the choice of “Le Centaure et le Lapithe” to form the summit of the block of granite, It is 4 synthetic group that contains all of Barye’s science in portraying human as well as animal strength, development and characteristics: Lapithe astride Eurytion, punishing him tor his sacilegious desires, is @ wonderful representation of human muscular strength terrorizing the animal propensities of that mythological race that combined the passions of the human and the beast. It is the strongest conception, not excepting those of the ancients, of a conflict between humanity and monstros- ities as represented in ancient mythology. It is a mistake not to have had the side groups cast in bronze like “Le Centaure et Je Lapithe” in the summit and the lion in front; the monument would have had a more harmonious and grander aspect and marble is cold next to warmly tinted gran- ite. At the back of the monument are en- graved the following words: ‘A. Antoine Louis Barye. Des Admirateurs de France et d’Amerique.” It is only a just tribute paid to the Americans to have coupled the two countries, for, like Jean Francois Mil- let, Barye was appreciated in America, perhaps before his own compatriots fully recognized his great genius. When Barye attempted to“irtroduce his works in the salons, the sculptors, who servilely copied the ancients and did not bother with the study of anatomy or the knowledge of sentiment and passions as expressed in hu- man and animal kingdoms, ridiculed Barye’s sculptures and called them a prize fighter’s work. Prize fighter, indeed, many a word of truth is said in ridicule; he fought their small art like the Lapithe did the centaur and was proclaimed vic- torious. snd his glory today is great, not only in Frince and in America, where his genius was first divined, but also in all countries where the sense of art is just and true. ———— A QUEER SULKY. Which the Inventor Says May, Per- haps, Evolve the Two-Minute Trotter. A horse lover in Hartford, Conn., accord- ing to the Courant of that city, has devised a sulky that may accomplish wonders in the development of speed in trotting horses. It is a rather odd-looking arrangement, as may be seen from the picture printed heye- with, but its conception is based upon sev- eral very important considerations. In running against time the horse should have as nearly absolute freedom of wind and limb as possible, besides being relieved of draught. In other words, he should be as nature designed him, and the inventor of this sulky claims that it more nearly ac- ccempliskes that end than any device yet made known. Z As shown in the cut, the driver's seat is over the korse’s hips, with the wheels a trifle in advance of the middle of the ani- mal’s body. The central upright, extending from the wheel to the seat, is on a slight incline and must necessarily nelp propel the wheels, thus reducing the draught to the minimum. A surcingle supports and steadies the shafts, and straps running from it to the pockets that inclose the ends of the shaft keep the sulky from running faster than the horse. The only necessities in the way of har- ness are the breastplate, the surcingle and the bridle, leaving the utmost freedom to the shoulders and the chest, as well as to the lungs by reason of less tightening of the girth. If the horse rears.or otherwise misbe- haves, the sulky must go up with him, and if he makes a sidewise movement, he must land the sulky where he lands himself, with no danger of dishing the wheel. The inventor says that no “training down" of overweight will be necessary when his vehicle is used, as the heavier the weight, within a reasonable limit, the more eesily the vehicle will be propelled. He also says that a horse may be more easily controlled from the new location of the seat than when the driver sits back of and a trifle lower than the horse. 3 One of these sulkies is now building, and several horsemen, who have seen the plans, think very favorably of it. UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPTS, ‘The Sole Owner an Inmate of an In- sane Asylum. From the New York Tribune. The ninety-third anniversary of the birth of Victor Hugo, which was celebrated by the Comedie Francaise last week with a representation of his “Hernani,” and the death of one of his literary executors, Auguste Vacquerie, serve to recall the fact that the sole owner of the great poet’s yet unpublished manuscripts and copyrights is pow an inmate of an insane asylum at Courbevoie. It is Victor Hugo’s daughter Adele, who has been insane ever since she ‘was compelled to secure a judicial separa- tion from her English husband on return- ing from her trip to America. Although mentally unbalanced, she is in robust physical health, and likely to live for many years. Her guardian and trustee Is a relative, M. Trebuchet, and it was he who, a few years ago, purchased on behalf of his ward, for a sum of $100,000, the two sheres in the ownership of the Hugo copy- rights held until then by the two grand- ckildren of the great poet, Georges and Jeanne Hugo. Victor Hugo left at his death about f. 6,000,000, in three equal parts, to his crazy daughter and his two grandchildren. Georges Hugo is reported to have squandered the greater portion of his inheritance. Pretty but frivolous Jeanne has just se- cured a divorce from Leon Daudet, the son of the poet, who retains, it is under- stood, a portion of her fortune in his hands by way of compensation for the loss of her affections, while their aunt in the lunatic asylum at Courbevoie is adding to her wealth year by year through the royalties derived from the sale of the Hugo copy- rights and books. At her death, of course, her money will revert to these grandchil- dren of her father. The literary executors of Victor Hugo, of whom Paul Meurice is row the only one left, have been publish- ing new works of his almost every year since his death, and have still sufficient manuscript in their possession to enable them to bring out not one, but two and even three volumes each year until the close of the century, when the series is to be completed by the publication of his correspondence—a work that promises to be of remarkable interest, since Hugo was at one time or another of his life in inter- course with all the great men of his time. ————+e+___. He Tickled the Mule. “From the Philadelphia Press. A boy, apparently much agitated, rushed into a house recently and said: “I: don’t want to alarm yer, but I’ve got big news. The man sent me up from the livery stable to tell yer—"” “Good heavens! What is the matter?” “Why, yer know yer little boy, Aleck, what the men can’t keep outer the livery stable 'round the corner?” “Yes; well?” “I told Aleck just now not to go inter the stable among the horses, but he wouldrt mind me.” “Oh, dear! What has happened?” “He said he wanted to see what a mule would do if he tickled his heels with a straw.” 5 “Oh, heavens!” gasped the lady, as she clung to the mantel piece for support. “Well, marm, your boy Aleck got a straw, snuck up behind a sorrel mule, tickled his heels, an’——” The lady started for the door. ‘An’ the blamed critter never lifted a said the boy. ‘Never as much as switched his tail. It’s a mighty good thing for your boy that he didn’t, too, or he’d hev ben sent ter king- dom come.” And he dodged out the side entrance. His Natural Mistake. From the Indianapolis Jouraal. “Yes,” the Mterary boarder was saying as the Cheerful Idiot entered the dining room, “it had a remarkably dramatic flavor.” “What had?” asked the Cheerful Idiot. “A novel I was reading last night.” “Oh! I thought you were perhaps speaking of the omelet.” FUTURE OF ROWING Local Boat Clubs to Discuss Various ~ Plans CAPTAIN DOYLE. FAVORS A NAVY Thinks the Winners of Junior Eights Should Choose the Commodore. CAPTAIN FISHER OPPOSED —— A recent statement regarding a Potomac navy by Mr. Alexander Grant, president of the Columbia Athletic Club, has aroused not a little discussion among the members of the Analostan and the Potomac boat clubs, The consensus of opinion seems not exactly the same as Mr. Grant’s views. Capt. John Hadley Doyle of the Potomacs' said, when asked by a Star reporter for his views: “The necessity of such an or- ganization is apparent, in my opinion, to the ordinary observer, and to the club men themselves it is getting too monotonous to bear the heavy expenses of sending crews to the various outside regattas and then having them come home with hardly ever a first prize. Rivalry is the life of every- thing and particularly athletic sports. With such an organization having charge of events on the water front there would be a decided increase in the number of entries and in the amount of training un- dertaken.” “How about Mr. series of fortnightly races “Well, that might be a good thing in some respects, and then it might not. It certainly would entail a good deal of ex- pense on us, and it would be tantamount to the organization ef a navy. A committee would have to be appointed to take charge of the arrangements and assume direc- tion, and why such a committee could not be made permanent is what I don’t see. Anyhow, we will be glad to le@rn some- thing further of Mr. Grant's plan, and to that end we have appointed a conference committee, consisting of Messrs. U. S. Roulette, J. J. Nolan and myself. Mr. Doyle’s Proposition. “The thing we want is a navy, and you may rest assured that a move will be made in that direction shortly. When the re- gatta committee meets to wind up last year's affairs I intend to propose the fol- lowing plan: As has been stated before, the principal trouble would be about the selection of a commodore, and that, I think, can be easily avoided. For this year, say, let the commodore be chosen by the joint committee, and after that the office could be filled by the club winning a designated race; for example, the junior eight-oared shell. That is always well contested and every club has such a crew. By this means rivalry, always desirable when not carried to excess, would be stim- ulated and the position of commodore filled by a means strictly impartial. Another ad- vantage-gained by this plan would be that a prize worthy of the greatest emulation would be provided for and a considerable item of expense eliminated. I don’t think the idea of having a prominent unattached business man to fill the office is a good one. It is manifestly unfair. The men that support the sport by their membership dues and cortributions should have what- ever honor there is to be gained. An ex- ecutive appointed in this way would be in a strictly impartial manner, and all we would then need is a constitution, short and sharp, but to the point.” Position of the Analestans. - Another gentleman greatly interested in the subject is Capt. Louis A. Fischer of the Analostan Boat Club. Here is what he said to a Star reporter yesterday after- noon: “Contrary to the general impression, the Analostan Boat Club is not in favor of @ navy or any permanent inter-club organiza- tion, believing as we do that it would only afford opportunity for contention. The regatta committees, as now i by the different clubs, have all the necessary powers to make arrangements for and give regattas, and the only improvement I have to suggest is that each club have a stand- ing committee for this pi to be ap- pointed at the beginning of each year. The chairman of the committee really takes the place that would be occupied by the com- modore if we had a ravy; but as the title is not so high-sounding there is very little trouble in getting the clubs to agree on a man,-whereas the rock on which the navy scheme usually splits is—which club is go- ing to have the commodore? “There is a good reason why there should be a navy in Philadelphia, and unless I am mistaken the same reason for it exists in Boston; the city council appropriates a large sum of money for a Fourth of July regatta, which-is held under the auspices of the Schuylkill Navy. In this case it would be impossible for each club to have representatives in the management, as there are about fifteen of them, and hence a com, men representing all the clubs must act. “The plan suggested by Mr. Grant of the Columbia Club is also open to serious ob- jection. One of the main difficulties en- countered by the clubs is getting men to train for one or two races during the sea- son, while his plan, as I understand it, con- templates races every two weeks. ence has shown that the greatest interest is manifested in events which occur once a year, and as the interest taken by the row- ing men depends almost entirely upon the interest excited by the races, it is not good policy to separate them. It would not be possible to get the enormous crowd to New Haven that attends the Harvard- Yale race more than once a year, and al- most any oarsman would prefer to row one such race, rather than row a great many with a comparatively small number of spectators at each one. Furthermore, row- ing requires more preparation than any sport that I am acquainted with, and it is the preparation and not the race that bene- fits the man. In short, the plan suggested by Mr. Grant increases the amount of work very much, which is already one of the objections to the exercise, and by hay- ing the races often, interest, instead of being excited, is killed. There may, how- ever, be something so overwhelmingly in favor of either of the schemes which has not occurred to me, and for this reason our club has appointed a committee to meet similar committees from the other clubs to consider Mr. Grant's proposition.” The Tricycle Ad. Writer, Froam the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. A novel scheme for advertising is accom- plished by means of the tricycle. A French inventor is using the machine for printing various trade statements on the pavements of Paris. This feat is accomplished by means of immerse types set into the tire of the hind wheels of the machine. Ink is used in the printing and the type is made of rubber. Each rubber type is indepen- dently inserted in the wheel so ait can be removd and other type inserted. Thus the machine can be made to print any sentence whose length ia not longer than the%ircumference of the wheel, A reservoir, or fountain, of ink is site uated back of the seat and flows to rollers, which bear on the top of the wheels. Then as the latter roll around the ink is con- veyed to the pavement and the im, of the letters is left there. While the streets of Paris-pre traditionally clean, yet is always enough dust which would caught up by the ink-faced type, @ condi. tion which would result very soon in nd clogging of the machine. To a little blower, or bellows, is placed in front of each wheel, and as the moves it ejects wind enough to blow a' all dust immediately in line with the w! The machine was shown at a recent exhi- bition of bicycles in Paris, ——___+e-+—___ In These Days. From Puck. Miss Fan de Syckie—“Who was ft sald ‘the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand les the world?” that rie te TT geet know, Bat anyway, no one pays any attention to anything said of the men nowadays.’ * Am Optimist, From the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “My husband,” said Mrs. Sharp, “is one of the most cheerful of optimists—” “Indeed?” “On yes; he never doubts his own judg ment.”