Evening Star Newspaper, May 10, 1895, Page 11

= THE EVENING STAR, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1895-SIXTEEN PAGES. [ ——— HAULED DOWN HIS FLAG Admiral Meade Gives Up His Flagship, | the New York. Jmteresting Ceremonies Attending His Withdrawal—His Diflerences With the Administration. Rear Admiral Meade hauled down his flag pn the New York, flagship of the North At- antic station, yesterday afternoon at New York. The call to quarters sounded at 12:45 o'clock, and the men were marched aft to the quarter deck. The officers “lined up” on the opposite side. When the admiral came on deck the regulation salute of two flourishes of the bugle and two ruffles of the drums was followed by a march. The executive officer was then directed to pub- lish the general order, in which the admiral expressed his regrets at leaving the ship and thanked his personal and general staff and the officers and men of the flagship for the way in which they had one and all sup- ported him. The saluting battery of the navy yard fired thirteen guns, at the last of which the admiral’s flag came down. The officers assembled in the ward room, where Capt. Evans made a short address, and every officer drank to the admiral’s health. The admiral was much affected, and his reply was full of feeling. He spoke of his love for the service in which he had spent forty-six years as an officer, and said that It wag, indeed, a severe wrench to give it up. He highly complimented the officers end ew of the New York, and wished them a pleasant voyage to Kiel. He then returned to his cabin, and a few minutes later left the ship. The Admiral and the Administration. Admiral Meade was seen last night, and asked by a New York Tribune reporter kis retirement from the navy. He was pacing up and down the corridor of the Park Avenue Hotel as if on the quar- ter-deck, and from his face one would have judged that he was in an excellent humor. When reference was made to the hauling down of his flag on the New York, and the Incidental salute, Rear Admiral Meade sald ir reply to the question: “The hauling down of my flag means simply that I have been detached from the North Atlantic squadron. The salute is maval etiquette. I am detached from my Squadron through my own request.” When he was asked why he had asked to be retired he said, bitterly: “My ideas are not in accor re with those of this ad- ministration. I am just as much disgusted with it as the people at large in this coun- try are, and [ preferred to quit rather than continue my connection with it.” “What were the c: ‘3 in detail?” asked. In reply he said: “I am an American and a Union man. ‘Those are two things that this administra- tion cannot stand.” “The causes must have been severe that led you to ask to be retired,” was sug- gested. Admiral Meade said: “Iam a young man yet. I have five years before me that I might serve hefore retire- ment. In two years I would be the rank- ing officer of the That is a pretty desirable position, isn’t it? Well, I pre- ferred to resign and sever all connection with the navy; renounce all right of suc- © ion, and be= anew, rather than to continue in charge with all that I had to contend against. That ought to give you some inkling of the gravity of the causes.” The Kershner Case. “Had the afta! of Medical Inspector Kershner, the fleet surgeon, anything to do with y retirement?” was asked, and In reply the admiral said: “That was only a petty case. The re- ports that have been given of that are Wrong, mainly. I will tell you how it all happened. The fleet was lying there in the West Indies when a ilttle Nova Scotia bark slipped In. She was lying a long way from shore, and flying a signal calling for medical assistance. It would have been a great deal of trouble for her to send ashore for a surgeon, and as it was a case of hu- manity I ordered’a s eon to go to her. That was strictly within the province of even the captajn. When the order was given Kershner ‘did not refuse to go out- right, but demurred. He said that it might be fever, and he must protect the men on his own vessel. If he had refused to go ght it would have been an act against and he would have been placed st. When . Evans told me ction I at once ordered him to ge, or send a subordinate. A subordinate went and attended to the case. I took note of the occurrence, and forwarded the pa- pers to Washirgton, indorsing them with the facts the case, wherein the fleet sur- geon had manifested timidity and a lack of obedience The present court-martial all grew out of an artiele published in the Tribune. That article was a clear violation of the naval regulations. Sorne one had given out the information, and it was my duty to find where the leak was. I put every offi- from myself down, on oath. Each an solem that he had nothing to do with ¢ tng the information. A_marked ve of the Secretary of the ugh information concerning 5 2 publi an investigation, ent court-martial is the result, an scme perplexing questions will be asked The Acmiral's Future. When he was asked what his plans for the future were, he said: “I haven't any. As I said, I am a young aan, and I had good prospects, but I be- Ieved that I could do better for myself urattached than I could in working for people who did not appreciate it. I will soon be a private citizen. I had one of the most touching tributes paid to me by my men today that I ever received. I hated to leave them. I expect to go to Washington tomorrow and clear up a little business, and after that I don’t know what I shall do.” Admiral Meade gave one last parting shot at the administration as he sald: “I am a republican, and a man who lives on the ocean is apt to imbibe patriotism and loyalty. I find these articles at a -tis- count with the present regime. I want to be untrammeled when I can think and speak as I like, and to that end I will doft the gold lace, and don the habiliments of a citizen, who at least has the preroza- tive of ‘atending up for his country’s on was e Tribune is in the Navy with r. Kersn- jon of the dl es MARSHALL PRICE’S CONFESSION. The Cool Way in Which Hes Com- mitted the Murder. Marshall Price has made a full confession of the killing of Sallie Dean. Price made this statement without a tremor. “When I went into the woods to cut biazes on the morning of the murder I knew that Sallie Dean usually passed along the road nearby on her way to school. When I saw her ap- proaehing I went to her and talked for a minute or two. “After we talked for a while I struck Sallie with the three-cornered stone that was exhibited at the trial and then cut her throat. I dragged her body in the woods and covered 4t with a cedar Sush. I bur- ied her lunch pail, her books, the stone and the knife. When the I was active in trying to locate the mur- derer, for I did not wish the authorities to suspect me. After I told the detectives of my dream, they, of course, thought I mur- dered the girl, and they CoStECE fastened the guilt on me.” “Why did you implicate “Grant Corkran in the murder’ “Becavse I had a grudge against him in the first place, and, secondly, because I was under the influence of liquor when I made the statement to Marshal Frey. Af- ter @ implicated Corkran I stuck to it, be- canse I knew I would be compelled to go to Caroline county for trial. The people there were anxious to lynch the murderer, and I knew that if I held to my statement about Corkran I would be safe from harm.” Price intimated that he was induced to confess when he received a letter from a body was found lady in Baltimore, who signed herself “: M. J., 1423 West Fayette street.” The lady sent Price a prayer book, which has in his pocket, and urged him confess and free Grant Corkran’s name. Pric id the jail at Trenton was a weak could have escaped had he to desired to ¢ see In the United States court Wednesday at Norfolk, Capt. Daniel Wyatt was indi for unlawful selzure on the high se cinda J. Smith, Anna Bragg and A, 3 Lu- k lam, for pension frauds; W. T. Selby for 3 ug the, driver of a United States wagon in Accomac; P. J. Muggler and Uzzell of Newport whose Gases missed at the last term, but were indicted at Richmond for smuggling, were convicted and fined $100 each. TUWER OF BABEL. Smithsonian Institution Making & Minfature Model to Send to Atlanta. The Smithsonian Institution is preparing a-miniature model of the Tower of Babel for the exposition at Atlanta. It will be in all respects, so far as possible, a falthful reproduction of the famous original. The latter was the greatest of the many mag- rificent temples of Babylon, being 140 feet Figh. That does not seem much compared with the Washington monument, but peo- ple in those days were not accustomed to tall structures, and the ancient capital of Assyria was situated in the midst of a vest plain where there were no natural elevations to serve for comparison. The mecdel in question will be five feet eight inches square on the first story. When it is stated that the first story of the actual ‘Tower of Babel was 272 feet square, a no- tien will be given of the proportion. The original building was constructed in dimin- isting stories, each one being a smaller square than that beneath. This was a com- mon style of architecture in Assyria, and frcm it was evolved the Egyptian pyramid. ‘The stories for the model are square wood- en frames of different sizes, so made that they may be superposed one upon another. These frames, after being put together, will be faced on the outside with a veneer of plaster of Paris which will imitate the sun-dried bricks of which the tower was composed. ; ‘The buiiding of the model is under the charge of Dr. Palmer. The work, however, ‘is superintended by Dr. Cyrus Adler, who has made an exhaustive study of the his- toric Tower of Babel. Mechanically speak- ing, the most difficult part of the job is the casting of the plaster of Paris that is to imitate the bricks. Every brick on the ex- terior of the structure is represented, and this is accomplished by making a single mold, in which the little bricks are labori- cusly indicated. From this mold many casts are mae, and so the whole surface is covered. The Babylonians had no stone, and so were obliged to employ for all their buildings such sun-dried bricks, which were made and squared by hand. They did not understand the use of molds for the pur- pose. Naturally, structures of such ma- bay soon crumbled and did not last very long. ‘The Tower of Babel stood upon an ele- vated platform of earth 00 feet square. This was surrounded and retained by a wall of bricks ten feet high. Both platform and wall will be represented in the model, which will be quite an imposing affair when finished. The stories will be painted in different colors to imitate the original building, according to descriptions given of it in Assyrian literature. The first story wes black, in honor of Saturn; the second story orange, for Jupiter; the third story red, for Mars; the fourth story covered with plates of gold, for the sun; the fifth stery white, for Venus; the sixth story derk blue, for Mercury, and the seventh story covered with plates of silver, in honor of the moon. The old Babylonians were worshipers of the sun and knew a lot about astronomy. The Tower of Babel was an observatory, from which the priests gazed upon the stars in the heavens, drawing portents from them—presumably for sale at so much a portent. The model will have no windows, for it is not known whether or not the original edifice possessed any. Nobody as yet has been able to discover how the houses of the Assyrians were lighted. It may be that all the Msht required for this mighty temple was admitted from the top, which was presumably open to the sky. The stairs were on the outside and not on the inside of the building. They also will be showh. In fact, no detail will be omitted that may help to give a notion of the exact appearance of this wonderful edifice of an- tiquity. —_—-—— AMERICAN ANCIENT ARMOR. Aboriginal Body Coverings of Various Kinds Worn Before Coitumbus Landed. Dr, Walter Hough of the National Mu- seum has devoted a good deal of time to the study of a very interesting feature of aboriginal warfare In America, namely, the armor that was worn in battle by various peoples of the new world before Columbus landed. The ancient Mexicans had shields of flexible bamboo canes, bound firmly to- gether and covered with hide. The face of the defensive instrument was ornamented acording to the rank and taste of the Wearer—that of a noble was usually cov- ered with thin plates of gold. Along the coast the shells of tortoises, Inlaid with gold, silver or copper, were used as shields. Reeds, grass or hides, coated with india rubber, served to protect the Aztec com- mon soldier. The body armor of the war- riors of rank consisted of a breastplate made of quilted cotton, one or two fingers in thickness. Over this was worn a thick cotton coat. The cotton armor was com pletely arrowproof. Guards for the lexs and arms were made of wood, covered with leather or gold plates and trimmed with feathers. Among the Toitecs private sol- diers painted the upper parts of their bodies to represent armor. The ancient Peruvians protected their heads with helmets made either of wood or the skins of wild animals, sometimes richly decorated with metals or precious stcnes, and surmounted by brilliant feath- ers of tropical birds. They wore close tunics of quilted cotton, like the Mexicans. The Mosquito Indians of Honduras used mor that was made of plaited reeds covered with tiger skins and ornamented with feathers. To this day the Patagonilans are clad for war in a coat of mail made of several folds of hide, with a helmet and shield of like material. Helmets survive among the Pueblo Indians, where they ap- rear in religious ceremonials in the form of masks. There is a connection between the helmet and the mask from the ethnological point ot view. Primarily, the heimet is designed for protection, but its secondary function is to adorn the head. Commonly its gro- tesque design is meant to inspire fear. The huge wooden masks worn by the natives of the northwest coast, many of them madé out of driftwood, are among the most ex- traordinary objects in museums, Their designs usually represent characters in the myths of the people. in the National Museum is a very ex- traordinary armor coat from Sitka, Alaska, which has the form of a waistcoat fastened with brass buttons of English make. It is plated over the entire front and a part of the back with Chinese coins—like the “pen- ny armor’ of Europe. The coins are like these brought to America by the Chinese for use in gambling. Among the Eskimo in former days armor made of plates of walrus ivory was used. Sometimes a yoke of skin fitting the neck and shoulders fcrmed a support for the rows of plates. The shield is the first defensive weapon, both in point of time and in usefulness, a Star writer was informed by Dr. Hough, who will publish an elaborate essay on this subject in the next annual report of the National Museum. The circular shield is characteristic of the new world, being con- vex in shape and ftom twelye to twent: six inches in diameter. The Nahua Indians had shields so constructed that when not in use they could be folded up” and carried under the arm. Neaf¥y all American shields were made of thick (rawhide, that of the buffalo and elk being most available. Shields worked out from a single piece of wood, like those of the Dyaks of Borneo, are found on the Rio Maranon, in South America. Among certain Indians of New Mexico shields were made of small laths interwoven with cords in such a manner that they could be shut up like a fan. The Pueblo tribes carried circular shields of basketry. The Sioux shield was made of the skin of the buffalo’s neck, hardened with glue extracted from the hoofs of the same animal. Capt. Cook noticed that the Tlingits and Haidas of the northwest coast Incased al- most their entire bodies in armor of wood or leather They wore helmets with curi- ously carved visors, and made breast- plates of wood and arrow-proof coats of thin, flexible strips bound with strings, fike a woman's stay ———__ Humorous Reporting. From Macmillan’s Magozine. Mr. Swift MacNeill once quoted in the house the judicial declaration of the late Baron Dowse of the Irish bench that “the resident magistrates could no more state a case than they could write a Greek ode,” and it was deliciously rendered by a re- porter es “the restdent magistrates could no more state a case than they could ride a Greek goat.” Baron Dowes must have im- menseiy enjoyed this rendering. He stated, in the course of a judgment in an action for libel against a newspaper arising out of an incorrect report, that orce in a speech in the house of commons he had quoted Tennyson's line: “Better fifty years of Europe than a cycle of Cathay,” _ and read next day that he had edified his audience with the following declaration: “Better fifty years of true love than a cir- cus in Bombay.” STORY OF BLOCK ISLAND A French Navigater Who Passed the Island by Without Landing. Rediscovery by the Dutchman, Adrian Block—Connection of the Ball Fam- ily With the Island's History. Correspondence of The Evening Star. BLOCK ISLAND, R.I., May 5, 1895. Block Island has become so well known of late years as a popular summer resort that no doubt many will be interested in learning something of its history. The French navigator, Verrazzano, who claimed to have discovered the island in the year 1524, could not have possessed all the qual- itles of bravery attributed to the French people generally, if we are to judge by his report to his king, Francis I. The French navigator is quoted as reporting as follows: “It was full of hills, covered with trees, well-peopled, for we saw fires all along the coast.” It would appear that the most: natural thing for an explorer to do was to visit the island. Not so with the Frenchman. He passed by~on the other side. If any person has even conjectured a reason for such an act it has never made its appear- ance. But the most wonderful part of Verrazzane’s report to his government was the laughable presumption he displayed in naming the island “Claudia,” in honor of the king’s mother, when the conditions he so intelligently portrayed should have sug- gested to him that such a densely populated territory must already have a name. Rediscovered by Block. A Dutchman, Adrian Block, rediscovered the island about a century after the French episode. In the year 1614 he launched from Manhattan Island, whence he had come from New Amsterdam. When he reached the shores of the island he immediately made for the Indian headquarters. He was graciously received by some Indian chiefs, who dined him on clams, fish and Indian bread. ‘The Indians on the Island, supposed to be the aborigines, were also supposed to have been a division of the Narragansetts, a tribe of the Algonquins, already occupy- ing some portions of the New Burland states, and they were known as the Manisses, by which name the islacd was for.a long time referred to. The Indians, always treacherous, con- spired against certain Pilgrim traders, to take their lives. When this and subsequent acts of disloyalty were conclusively proven against them, the chiefs, as nearly as can be ascertained, were executed. Being de- prived of their leaders the Indian inhabit- ants, through desertions and a general wearing out of the race, finally became ex- tinct. Along about the seventeenth century there was a goodly number of white peo- ple on the island, of different nationalities, principally English. And it was about this time matters quieted down and civilization opened up and broadened out. The Ball Family. There are some interesting points in ‘genealogy among some of the residents. We will take for instance the name of Ball. The first man by this name to seek his fortune in this sphere was one Edward Ball. It would appear that he reached the island about the close of the sixteenth century, as he was holding office in 1700. He was of English descent. Mr. John Ball was next admitted free- man on Block Island in 1 During the same year Peter Ball was admitted free- man. In 1734 he represented the islgnders in the colonial legislature, obtaining, in an appropriation for a pler: Mr. Isaiah Ball, one of the old landmarks, died about the beginning of the present century. ‘Then comes John S. Ball, Samuel all, sr., and Samuel Ball, jr., who had accumulated considerable earthly possessions, living heppy and helpful lives, doing good in all that the term means. Then comes Mr. Nicholas Ball, at present a large property owner on the island, who was born in 1828. During the year 1854 he was elected a member of the Rhode Island general assembly, serving four years ia the lower branch. In 1858S he was elected state senator, in which ca- pacity he served almost continuously until 1882. During this long service he obtained much beneficial legislation for the inhab- itants—a good refuge harbor, two light houses, two life-saving stations and a sub- marine cable to the mainland. Mr. Ball is the owner of Ocean View Ho- tel, admirably situated on the island, and it has become the most popular of summer resorts. Since the summer when Gen. Grant visited the island, with his presiden- tial party, guests of Mr. Ball, the resort has graduaily advanced in popularity. Each summer brings to the island an increased rumber of distinguished visitors. The editor of The Washington Evening Star, Mr. Crosby S. Noyes, will remember Mr. and Mrs. Ball as companions in a trip around the world—1591-2—a history of which now occupies a prominent place in Mr. Ball's library. The conclusion has been reached by the writer that there could be no more delight- ful place to spend the heated term of an American summer; where the conditions of nature are so constructed as to admit of its being coo! and pleasant, no matter which way the wind blows. H. H. FERGUSON. JOHN ALLENS UNCLE. The Mississippi Member Tells a Story at His Own Expense. “My uncle,” said Representative John Allen of Tupelo, Miss. to a group of list- eners, of which The Star writer was one, “is one of the best informed men in my district. I think a great deal of the cld gentleman. During a campaign I go every- where in my district. I’m entircly impar- tial that way, and dcn’t pet some favored portion of my bailiwick and make several speeches there, while utterly deserting oth- er points. No, sir. I divide myself equally among the different parts of my ‘lstrict and try to keep myself within the rea all. But about my old uncle. and mortified me very much during my second campaign. I had beea in Consress two years, and every man !n this cloak room knows what my record was. I was justly proud of it. After being nominated the second time I resolved on a searching, what one might call a painstaking, cam- paign. Being scheduled for a spee:h over in the far end of my district, and remem- bering that my uncle abode in thit vicin- ity, 1 determined to visit the old gentle- man. We were just sitting down to sup- per and the old ian was purveying me a fr.ed chicken on the tines of his fork, when he remarked .in his mellow, amiable wa’ “Whar have you been at lately, John? “I told him I’d been in Washington for two years. “In Washington?’ he repeated, in tones of astonishment. ‘Why, whatever in the name of Peter be you doin’ in Washing- ton?’ “I'm Representative from this district,” I replied. I was elected two years ago and have been at the capital almost constantly since looking after the .nterests of you and my other constituents. “Well, I shorely wonder!’ observed my urele, laying down his knife and fork and leokmg at me. ‘Don’t that beat snakes amazin’! Why, I never knowed that. I heered how you went down to Texas about thyee years ago to visit your Uncle Bill, nd not noticin’ you around none since and * of you I sort o' reckoned you'd not hea: stayed.’ ———— A View of Poe. From the Chicago Record. “Some years ago,” says Francis Wilson, the comedian, “I went over from Philadel- phia to call upon Walt Whitman at Cam- den. J. M. Stoddart, editor of Lippincott’s Magazine, was with me. I had been read- ing the works of Poe—had read them through from beginning to end, and natur- ally enough I wanted to talk about them. Stoddart must have tolg Whitman about it, for shortly after I was presented to the old gentleman he said in-a very kindly tone to me: ‘So you admire the-writings of Edgar A. Poe, do you?’ I answered that I had recently finished reading them, and had been deeply impressed. The old gen- tleman drew me to the window and pulled aside the funny little dimity curtain, The day was a glorious one,-with its sunshine and warmth. ““"My young friend,’ said Whitman,point- ing to the cheery scene without, ‘let me tell you that you will find more poetry and truth in‘that sunshine than in all the crazy books of a drunkard.’ ”* HOUSE OF THE SAGES. The Central Hall of the New Library Building is Nearly Finished. The wonderful circular room, which is the central feature of the new building for the Library of Congres, is nearly finished. For some time past workmen perched on scaffoldings at dizzy helghts have been en- gaged in lining the dome which serves for its ceiling with carvings in stucco relief. ‘The stucco is put on fn,sections, which are held in place by wiresrun through them. Eventually the whole ‘will be painted so as to have a tone agreeable to the eye instead of its present blank whiteness, and gilding will be liberally employed to bring out the high lights. Some of the work, executed by the artist modeler in charge, is extreme- ly fine—notably certain nude babies from original designs. ‘The composition used: for the stucco is a secret, but it is largely composed of plaster of paris. To make it strong Australian hemp is mixed with the plaster while the latter is yet moist. The hemp gives the mixture consistency, so that the casts made from it can bardly be broken. The stucco is similar to the material called “staff,” which was utilized so largely at the world’s fair in Chicago. It was employed there for the outer facings of the buildings. If these structures had been permitted to stand for any length of time the staff would not have stood the exposure to weather, but it served admirably for the brief period re- quired. The stucco for the library dome would not do for an architectural exterior, but it is excellently suited to the present purpese. Many thousands of square feet having to be covered with the stucco the work of making the mcdels and castings has been very great. Nevertheless, it has been ac- complished in a wonderfully short time by a few skilled men, with the help of devices unknown to old-time architects. Most of the designs—many of them derived from classical sources—were sent to this city from New York by Gen. Casey’s son, who has had charge of the whole business. The saving of labor by the mere use of gelatine molds has been enormous. Molds of this material, being quite elastic, are employed for casting the most elaborate and intricate patterns and figures, The latter, too, are reproduced over and over again so as to cover space, a single mold serving for thir- ty or more casts. ‘This circular hall is probably the most beautiful room in the world. Its walls are of exquisite marbles, while for a celing it has the magnificent dome of the building, lined with sculptures in relief. In the cen- ter and somewhat elevated above the floor will be the desk of Librarian Spofford, around which in concentric circles will be arranged desks for readers. From the cen- tral desk trolleys will run to the book stacks, fetching such volumes as are re- quired and returning others to the shelves. Mr. Spofford told a writer for The Star that in the new Ibrary a book will be ob- tainable in far less time than in any other brary in the world. Modern art makes fse of labor-saving methods which would have caused Michael Angelo to stare. Sculpture is made easy at the National Museum by taking casts from actual human beings, employes of the establishment being selected by preference. During the last few days Dr. Palmer has been putting together in this way a group which is designed to represent a cannibal ceremeny among certain Indians of Van- couver’s Island. Most commonly the arms and legs of a man are cast separately from the trunk, to be subsequently attached. For the abdominal parts some modeling is apt to be required, because the subject can- not help breathing and #0 cracks the mold as it hardens. Tow is mixed with the plas- ter to give it consistency, the result being a material of great..hardness and very light, which will notbreak, though it may be cracked. ——.—— TOPE’S TRAGEDY. He Describes the. Des VON traction of a Happy Home. “I witnessed a tragedy, up the street to- day,” said Von Tope at the club the other night. He was in his poetical mood by this time. At a certain stage in the evening Von Tope grows romantic and tenderly re- miniscent; he is generous, chivalrous and fairly seething with*the milk of human kindness. The spe -wyually wears off, however, before bedtinie, and by the time he gets home he is Vor Tope again. M's a pity that Mrs. Von Tope and the little Von ‘Topes cannot catch him when he feels like and insists up-t standing treat to all com- ers, Whe. Von Tope is in his mood he sees visions, and views them through ros: ored glasses. He can puff an Havana, and as he blows the biue smoke lazily into the air will draw you a picture of far-away Cuba, where the weed came from; of the broad, sunny tobacco fteld, where the at- mosphere is tremulous with the heat at | midday and all nature is taking a siesta; of the dark-eyed Cuban girl who swings indolently m her hammock and blows rings from her cigarette to the air. Honestly, he will almost make you believe you see it yourself. That’s Von Tope. “I was standing on the corner watching the mareuverirg of a couple of sparrows,” said Von Tope. “They had apparently just gone to housekzeping for the spring, and were seemingly congratulating each other on having captured a bargain in their house. They had constructed their shanty inside the glass globe of an electric light on the corner, one of these are lights, and I could see the nest they had made. Such a chattering they kept up while putting the finishing touches to the nest. i could im- agine Mr. Sparrow leoking out of the globe and saying: ‘Why, this is great; you can sit here and see all the fights going on among the other sparrows without climb- ing out of the nest.’ ‘Yes,’ replied Mrs. Sparrow, ‘ana that cab stand over there is awfully handy; when the horses eat their oats they always spill some from their nose-bags, and we won't have to go far for dinner.’ “Just then along came the electric light man to put some fresh carbon sticks énto the burner. He climbed up the pole, and at his approach the sparrows flew out of the globe, If that electric light man had possessed the heart of a father and a hus- band he would not have torn out the nest, but he wasn’t that kind of a man. He just grabbed that nest and threw it out in a jiffy, and, not content with that, he tore it j to pleces, scattering the straw and things to the winds. You'd ought to have heard the indignant chatter those sparrows set up then. 1 reckon if that language could have been translated it would be seen that they used some choice profanity, but the electric light man never minded it, and after he put in his carbons he went away. “The two sparrows flew down into the street and gazed ruefully upon the wreck of their home. They hopped around among the scattered straws, ard very likely Mrs. Sparrow shed copious tears after her kind. ‘Then, what did Mr. Sparrow do? Did he go off and get drunk just because he had met with hard luck? Not much; he was not a man. He excused himself to Mrs. Sparrow and flew up under the eaves of the Ebbitt House, dodging in and out of the cornice work. Directly he came down again and communicated something to Mrs. Sparrow, and she went up to look at the rew house. It was all right, and they forthwith set to work again carrying their straw and things up under the roof. They were now as cheerfullas‘ever and roped in another sparrow to cémé'to the barn rais- ing. He went to work,too, and when I left they were in a fair Way to getting into their new house by nighttime. I tell you, there are some people Who could get lots of straight tips from thd'sparrows.” ———— Driftwood Pete's Streak of Luck. From the St. Louls Globe-Detiocrat. While splitting wood né&r his boat house at the foot of Lougkborgugh avenue, yes- terday afternoon, “Driftwood Pete” made a Incky strike of the'ax,which put him in possession of nearly ¢$100+in gold. He was pounding away at thé hollow log, when the ax cut through and struck some metallic substance, which provedsto be an iron pot tight-sealed. With eager haste he broke the top, and to his delight gold coin came rolling out. Upon counting the coins they amounted to $100. The pot had been in- cased in the log apparently for a great number of years, and it is thought to have been hidden in the tree during the war. Where the tree came from will probably ever be known. It had been felled some- where up the river, and drifted along with the current to yield its treasure to “Drift- wocd Pete.” “Driftwood Pete” has earned a livelihood all his life by catching drift. wcecd and other floating articles on the | Mississipp! river during the summer months. It was several months ago that he caught the log which contained the pot of gold, and it has lain near his cabin ever since, until yesterday, when he started to split it up for firewood. At a meeting of the city council of Char- lottesville,Va., Wednesday, a resolution was adopted establishing quarantine as to all comers from the infected smallpox district in Staunton. JUSTICE TO BIRDS Many Popular Errors Regarding Them Are Removed: Ornithologist Merriam Secures Inter- estirg Results From a Long and Careful Investigation, Dr. C. Hart Merriam, chief of the divis- fon of ornithology of the Agricultural De- partment, has been for several years en- gaged in examining and analyzing the con- tents- of the stomachs of hawks, owls, black birds, meadow larks and other birds of North America, which are supposed to be strikingly beneficial to or injurious to the crops of farmers. The stomachs of over 7,00) birds, taken at different seasons of the year, have been already analyzed and the contents determined, while some 12,- 000 are still unexamined. The results in some cases have been remarkable, showing in several notable instances that popular ideas regarding the injurious effects of certain birds were wholly mistaken, and that they have been the victims of an unjust prose- cution. This has been found to be espe- clally the case with hawks and owls, for the slaughter of which many states give bounties. Pennsylvania in two years gave over $100,000 in hawk and owl bounties. Examinations of the stomachs of these birds proved conclusively that 95 per cent of their food was field mice, grasshoppers, crickets, etc., which were infinitely more injurious to farm crops than they. It was found that only five kinds of hawks and owls ever touched poultry, and then only to a very limited extent. Crows Have Been Misrepresented, Too A bulletin now aboyt going to press on the crow also shows that the bird is not so black as he is painted by the farmer. The charges against the crow were that he ate corn and destroyed the eggs, and poul- try, and wild birds. Examination of their stomachs showed that they ate noxious in- sects and other animals and that although 25 per cert of their food is corn, it is most- ly waste corn, picked up in the fall and winter. With regard to eggs, it was found that the shells were eaten to a very lim- ited extent for the lime. They eat ants, beetles, caterpillars, bugs, files, grubs, etc which do much damage. Bulletins are als being prepared on the cuckoo and other black birds, king birds, meadow larks, cedar birds, thrushes, cat birds, sparrows, ete. In many cases popular ideas are found to be untrye. In the case of the king bird, killed by the farmer under the impression that he eats bees, it was found that he ate only drones and robber flies, which themselves feed on bees, and which destroy more bees in a day than the king bird does in a year. The king bird there- fore is to be encouraged rather than slaughtered. Cuckoos Useful Save in Congress. The cuckoos are also found to be very useful birds in this country. Because the European cuckoo robbed nests and laid therein its own eggs, popular fancy attrib- uted the same vicious habit to our own cuckoo. He fs, however, not depraved like his European namesake, but a very decent fellow, who does much good in the destruc- tion of insects. The result of this work Dr. Merriam says will inure to the protec- tion of beneficial birds, and the destruction of injurious. It will also, he says, do mis- jonary work in the matter of state boun- es, Most of which are fll-directed, and nore of which, he thinks, have good re- sults. The crusade, for instance, against the English sparrow, he said, resulted in the destruction of many of our native spar- rows. Bounties on panthers, wolv ete., had in the past resulted in the manufac- ture of begus scalps. Dr. Merriam is also preparing a map showing the life zones of the United States for birds, mammals, reptiles and plants, a work on which he has been engaged for sixteen years. ——__ THE STORY OF A SWORD. A Long Lest Blade Restored to Its Gallant Owner's Widow. Mr. Frank A. Butts of this city has just succeeded in restoring to the heirs of its owner a sword that has undoubtedly had one of the most remarkable journeys that ever an inanimate piece of material could | take. Scme time ago he received a letter from a dealer in war-time relics of Rich- mond, Va., telling him that he had fn his collection a handsome sword that he | thought could be restored to the owner or the owmer’s family. It bore on the blade the inscription, “E. Bradford, U. S. A.” 4s Mr. Butts had previously aided the proprietor of this old curiosity shop in storing a sword lost during the vivil ar to its owner, the latter thought that perhaps the Washingtonian, who has ait extensive acquaintance with the veterans | of the late war, could succeed in taking the weapon from its hiding place and ending its long wanderings. Mr. Butts found on reference to a directory of ofticers of the army that a certain Edmund Bradford was appointed as a cadet in the United States Military Academy in 1833, and on graduation four years later was appointed a lHeutenant of artillery and was promoted in 1841, He resigned in 1519 and so ended his connection with the United States serv- ice. He joimed the confederate army in 1861, and after serving through the civil war surrendered at Appomattox. He died at Norfolk six yeers ago. This being the only Bradford in the list Mr. Butts assumed that the sword must bave belonged to him. The period during which he was in active service in the army covered_the time of the Mexican war. He learned on investigation that the sword was bought by the curio dealer from a man who said that he had in turn bought it during the late war from a boy in the streets of MMexandria, Va. As the sword was owned by Lieut. Bradford during his Union service, bearing as it did the Spring- field, Ill., armory mark, there was evident- ly a hiatus of some years to be filled. In this emergency Mr. Butts bethought him of Mr. Wm. Lamb of Norfolk, Va. formerly mayor of that city, as one who might possibly tell him of Lieut. Bradford's family, and he accordingly wrote to him and soon afterward received the desired information. Mr. Lamb said that Lieut. Bradford’s widow, now an invalid, was a resident of that city, and that-he had com- municated with her about the sword. It seems that she had preserved all her hus- band’s swords except one, which had been missing for many years and which was highly prized by its owner. He had lost it in the City of Mexico during his service in that war and had often spoken of it and desired its recovery, but had given it up as wholly lost. Mrs. Bradford .was ex- tremely anxious that she should recover the sword, and so the restoration of the weapon has now been made. Mr. Lamb, in writing to Mr. Butts, said: “How time has set things right! Here you and I, who tried to kill each other thirty years ago, are now friends under the old flagy united in bringing a pleasant sunshine into the sick chamber of the widow of a gallant soldier, in restoring to her a relic of the Mexican war.” It is a curious coincidence that Mr. Butts and Mr. Lamb were on the oppos- ing sides of the great battle of Fort Fisher, which was the last great engagement in which each participated. The real history of the sword itself will probably never be known, as there is now no method of tracing its travels from the City of Mexico to Alexandria, but it is probable that the sword was found in the former city by some soldier and brought home with him as part of the plunders of war, and passed from hand to hand in a way not now to be ascertained to the old city down the Po- tomac. —_—_—. —_ A Problem. From Harper's Magazine. Among the many slaves upon the planta- tion of a distinguished southerner during the late war was a blind and decrepit old woman known as Aunt Idy. Aunt Idy, for some reason best known to herself, thought to better her condition by taking the oath of allegiance. One of the younger members, hearing what had taken place, went to “ole miss to get the solution, and after being told her friend had sworn to support the Co: stitution of the United States, exclaime “Fo’ de Lohd! I don’t know how Aunt Idy is gwine to s'pote the United States, when she can’t s'pote herself.” 1 §. Kann, Sons & Co. STi & MARKET SPAGE |' PERPETUAL | Bargains, that’s the system upon which we pre the daily grist of our immense business. Our people and our goods have a continued moving power, produced by low prices on everything we sell. (Patent applied for.) MMULCINTERY. Uneasy rests the head that wears a crown may be ery true among the mon- archy, but ladies that wear our crowns, no matter be it a Dutch bonnet, a fancy shape ora yacht, will never feel otherwise but pleased. LADIES’ TRILBY SAILORS, SPLIT SENATE BRAID, FINE GROS GRAIN SILK BAND, LEA- THER SWEATERS, IN BLACK, WHITE, NAVY— MATTERS’ STYLES. WORTH $1.25. : 75C. ADIES’ PINEAPPLE SPLIT BRAID as . LEATHER SWEATER, INCH CROWD ND TWO AND A HALF BE CH BRIM, WHITE AND BLACK, WORTH $1.50. 8c. “ROWN IMPERIAL SAIL- ORS, MADE OF INEST ENGLISH MILAN BRAID, THE SWELL YACHT OF THE SEASON, IN BROWN, BLACK, NAVY AND WHITE. HAT- ‘TERS’ FINISH. WORTH $2.50. $1.75, PORTED reanoat: ae THE VERY FINEST BRAID WORK, WITH FANCY STRAW LACE EDGE. HATS THAT ARE WORTH §2. Sc. JUALITY FRENCH CHIP IN ALL STYLES. wonme LADIES’ EXTENS! LADIES’ FINEST. MATS, LACE EDGE, $1.50. CHILDREN'S AND CARDINAL MIXED, QUITE A LARGE SELECTIO: WORTH 39. 9c. MERCURY WINGS, A REGULAR FLYER, THE VERY LATEST NOBBY TRIMMING FOR SMALL SHAPES, THEY COME EN BLACK, WHITE AND CREAM, THE PAIR COST YOU 25¢c. @STRICH PLUMES, FULL THREE-QUARTER LENGTH. COME IN| WHITE, BLACK AND CREAM,” THEY ARE THE REGULAR $1 KIND. 29¢c. BERRY BUNCHES-CHERRY BUNCHES P. K. BUNCHES—LILIES OF ‘THE V. TROP! ILK AND VELV Ie WN ALL, COLORS, “THE CHOICE OF ‘TIRE LINE OF MA ‘ACTURED BOT- ANY, WHICH ARE WORTH FROM 50c. TO $1.25, 25¢. ‘MENT IS LOCATED OUR MILLINERY DEPA\ ND FLOOR. TAKE THE ELEVATOR. OPEN SATURDAYS UNTIL 9 P. M. A DRIVE IN RIBBONS. NO ONE WOULD UNDERTAKE TO DRIVE WITHOUT RIBBONS, AND IT TAKES LEATHER KIND TO DO IT-WHAT WE HAVE 2 O TS BLACK ALL-NILK MOIRE JUST ARRIVED IN TIME FOR ‘Nas Moire Ribbon. Ribbon. Ribbon Hibt -12%e. Hi LADIES GLOVES EIGHT-BUTTON LENGTH SUEDE MOsQUE- TAIRES, TANS A PRICE WAS $1 WE ARE CLOSING THEM AT OC. FIVE AXD SEVEN-HOOK REAL KID LAD! Gio TWELY VENGTH WHITE MOSQUETATRES, ALITY. REGULAK, PRICK HAS SEES $2.25. WE ARE CLOSING THEM AT NGTH WHITE WE PS, TUCKED, “THEY ARE OCR KILL. AR a Tomorrow, toc. 3 F RED, IN PINK DAT 25c, BE TAK AND BLU CHILDREN'S WHTIE P. K. OUR REGULAR 3c, STOCK, ° Tomorrow, 23¢. ONE LOT OF VERY FIN! MULL AND E” BROIDERED CAPS, LAC TRIMMED, VE! WIDE STRINGS, ALL SIZES. WERE $1.00, $1.25 AND $1.50. Tomorrow, 49c. DE?PARTMENT—2D FLOOR, LEVATOR. ee EE INFANTS’ TAKE BUYER CREAM N CREAM CREAM i POINT, VENICE COLLARS ‘CREAM OR ECRU. REDUCED FRC INCH POINT VENICE COLLARS, '. REDUCI 9% -INCH POINT VEN! OR ECRU. REDUC REDUCED FROM $225 70: s1s0. “Cloak Dept.” Gigantic, Silk Waist Deal. WE TAK CAUSE THE ATE Tox z ALL SHADES OR ANY Jon you DESIRE WE BOUGHT THIS STUPENDOUS LOT AT 50c. ON THE DOLL. \D WE ARE GOING TO SELL THEM TH ‘AME WAY. Watsts that re Worth $3.75 at. Waists that are worth 85. Waists that are Waists that are worth $8.00 at Watsts that are Waists that are worth §1: Waists that are eh $15.00 at Men’s Gosds. MEN Outing Shirts, neat patterns, in stripes and checks, 25c. MEN'S Unlaundered White Shirts, re-enforced back and front, New York @fills Muslins, hand-worked but- ton-l holes, Be. C de Perf Bue si rm custom-made Perfect-fitt ereale Shirts, back and front, 49c. ed has a = = MEN'S: Summer Suspenders, elastic cord ends, i buckles, 18¢. a MEN'S Woven Cheviot Outing Shirts, rl butt fons, - tension collar ban®, all. sizes, Be. | UtOR & MEN'S Light-weight Underwear, Balbriggan and Light-bh Mixed Shirts and Drawers t march, 39e. sa a MEN’S Balbriggan Underwear, regular made cuffs, shirts and drawers to mate! FSS Bleached Jean Drawer el made, all sizes, 25¢. Light-weight White M Underwear, shirts silk- trimmed and pearl buttons, 3 pieces for $1. S. KANN, SONS & 60. STH ARO MARKET SPACE. UNTIL 9 P.M. SATURDAY. ( 4 Tomorrow’s ‘Shoe ( Offerings —have been selected with a view to sup- plying the demands of both the Ladies and the Children. Our standard Shoes—to- morrow’s specials—and every pair is the embodiment of style, comfort and .on- gevity to an extent that'll surpass your most extravagant expectations. —We make a specialty of ‘Soft Shoes For Tender Feet," and when you buy such Shors with our recommendation— and our name stamped on them—you're assured comfortable feet during the warmest weather. Ladies’ “Oxford Ties.” Cool, easy and stylish in appear- ance. A sterling good Shoe, warrant- ed to wear splendid- ly. All styles of ms $2.50 E “High Shoes,” Button or Lace, all sizes and styles of toe, patent vamp. ‘The finest Shoe that has ever been offer- ed at the price. $3-50 Boys’ & Girls’ Shoes. $1.65 . a capital Calf Shoe, extra strongly made, lace or button, wear- ing qualities unex- celled. For Girls we have an exceedingly dain- ty Shoe — that’s strong and reliable as well—in Tan or Kid, lace or button. tiie $1.85 HAVENNER DAVIS, Incorporated, ‘928 PSE. °9 BUILDING. it pac TSSIISESHSS ESOC SS: = Peerless” ‘Gas Ranges —are better than all others because they are more dur- able and better looking, and be- cause they bake better, are more easily lighted, use less gas and give more heat, heat water quicker and have an oven shelf which draws the pans in and out of the oven automat- icaily. Special cash in-= Gucements. SIVED HORTA AWARD AT Sizes “AND SoittS—aND PRICED RIGHT. THE E. F. Brooks Co 531 15th Street. CORCORAN BUILDING. @ my10-3m-Geeo SREIPIOP STE OOOSS Exkexteereee) Stands for cord. Harness —the finest wearing — the best looking— the best) made and the easiest Wearing harness on the market to- asx. Prices are & BRO, 497 PA. AV! SASLOSSESCSSS HO6650O959686H0500 00H OC OOO 3 "99 LEE OAOCY SF OLOS IPOS SS OO IS POOL IS SES OSS OG IVS OOPOOIOH oOo ‘Con- straight 5-year-old liquor that tue reputation of being one of dest Whisities onthe market. to- ‘Smooth as, silk” in flavor and UEpOseS O1 convalescents, Invi ing a tonic—this of great value. Witmer & Co., 1918 Pa. Av. ‘ine Grocers and Purveyors. my10-284 easter PSE resem rt Don’t Go Without Clothes —of seasonable weight because your last sum- mer’s suit and ye "t afferd a pew one, Give us a hint and we'll call fe clean, press and return your old suit lookt every Dit a8 fresh as new. Charges for cleal i en's sults, 81. L. 1. POSEY, 1119 Tih_st. my10-104 Imitation Alligator Club Bags, 85c. We believe this ix the lowest price ever quoted for a 14-inch durable and sightly Club Bag. Even the dejarte ment stores, who apparently sell s® low, ask: $1.10 for the same Dag ‘The 18-Inch ones, $1; $1.75 clsewhera. Although leather bi advanced 49 per cent, we will not advance otr prices as long as our present stock will last—and we've a big one. Your name marked on the trunk and a trunk strap free. Kneess!, 425 7th St. my10-28d anna catanaanaanaaaaaaanan Fine Quality —o CLARET $2.25 . This is a better quality than that you've been paying $3.50 for, ‘These Clarets ust not be confounded with Virginia Wines sold about fown—but are genuine California Wines, fully matured—excellent, flavor » and will easily stand diluting 1-3. CF We fill mail and telephone orders 5 promptly. Delivery anywhere. ALIFORNIA WINE 4 > my10-284 > AND FRUIT CO., 1205 G ST. rs Sedo dade dh thatindectahadtectnctiatnindtndntntatndind | eee eeeee see eeesee Whiskey will prove eeee eee ee ee oe oe oe eee Doz.Quarts the unripe ao neteane ae aneeane ao nanaase AN A A A ll @ Ferd, Schnelder—Manager.