Evening Star Newspaper, June 29, 1895, Page 17

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 2 1895—TWENTY PAGES. 17 THE MILKY WAY An Attractive Constellation in This Region of the Heavens, WONDERS FOR THE SUMMER OBSERVER ‘The Luminous St. Andrew’s Cross Flashing in the Sky. CONCERNING THE PLANETS (Copyright, 1895, by G. 8. Jones.) NE OF THE FINEST summer constella- tions is the Swan (Cygnus), now situ- ated at 9 p.m. in midheavens in the northeast directly be- neath the bright star Vega. It will readily ‘be identified from “ the arrangement of its six brighter stars in the form of a St. Andrew's cross. If the lowermost of these stars be omitted, the remaining five constitute a cross of the ordinary form; and, in fact, the constellation is known popularly as the Northern Cross. ‘The Swan appears to have been a favor- ite corstellation with the ancient poets, and a number of mythological personages were accorded the honor of having been the ‘original of this celestial bird. ’ For the modern estronomer also this con- Stellation, or rather the region of the heavens which it ocervpies, has special at- tractions. It is, to begin with, one of the den. portions of the Milky Way. Even an opera glass will reveal some of its wondrous star-riches, while thé view of it afforded by a large telescope is one of the most impressive of celestial sights. There are star-clusters, such as Praesepe and the cluster In Persens, which never fail to call forth an exclamation of admiration from one who sees them for the first time. They are, however, limited in extent. The number of the stars In them is but a few hunéreds. But here in the Miliy Way the supply of stars seems inexhaustible. One who ild form some @int idea of the cannot do better than -p sloxly with a telescope this con- stellation of the Swan and watch the sta’ thousands upon thousands, while they fall, as it were, in a golden shower through the field of this instrument. Let him bear in mind that every one of St. Andrew's or Northern Cross. these specks of light, even the most tiny, is a sun, comparable in size with our own stupendous luminary, and that many of them are so remote that their light must have been thousands of years in flashing the unthinkable extent of space that nes between them and us. To in- i the almost oppressive gense of immens upon one, let it be borne in mind that we gee only the luminous worlds, and that the extinct suns and planetary bodies, which ‘we cannot see, but of the existence of which there is abundant evidence, possibly, hay, probably.*far outnumber those reveal- ed by the telescope. On two occasions in recent times new, or temporary, ‘novae,” as they are now usually sty have appeared in this constellation. One of these, first seen by Prof. Schmidt of Athens, November 24, 4876, at a point marked on our diagram with a small cross, was particularly inter- sting for its great brilliancy and its rapid lecline in splendor. When first seen it was of the third magnitude—the average magni tude of the stars which form the “Cross, but by the taiddle of the following month it had become bz y visible to the naked eye. In the follo & ptember it had fallen below the tenth magnitude, and was of a decidedly blul tint. In this condi- has since remained. y told by the light of this star, -d with the spectroscope by sev- vers, Was an interesting one, even though not complete at every point. Cross- ing its faint rainbow spectrum, such as Is given by the light of ordinary stars, were geen a number of bright lines, two or three of which were of great intensity, indicating mmistakably that. a portion of Its light— robably the greater portion—was due to glowing gases. Among those were hydro- gen and, perhaps, nitrogen, the vapors of sodium and megnesium. There could be no doubt that the star's sudden outburst of splendor was due to a genuine conflagration. What had hap- poet? Of various suppositions which have en made in explanation of these“‘novae,” the most reasonable seems to be that they @re the results of collisions of some sort, but whether of massive bodies—suns or sy) The Horizon at 9E-MJuly 1. Mars Position of the Planets. or of one such body and one of hoals” of meteors which many a: ‘@ to be traveling invisible , of two such shoals of meteoric i stiors still in debate. To add to the mystery in this instance, the star is thought by some observers to be now more nearly in the condition of nebula than of an ordinary star. jually mysterious with the temporary Stars are the variable stars, the brilliancy of which changes, in some cases with con- siderable regularit; apriciousnes: in others with seem- The Swan contains sev- such stars. One of these, known as Y Cyent, a star ordinarily of the seventh Magnitude and, therefore, not visible to naked eye, belongs to a class of vari- s that are especially interesting, inas- m as they are among the phenomena which point to the existence of those in- ble worlds referred to above. The pe- arity of the variables of this class, of which Algol, in Perseus, ts the most illus- trious representative, is that after shining gteadily with a “maximum” brilliancy for a day or two, or for several days, in the course of a few hours they sink to a “min- imum,” and as rapidly recover their nor- mal s lor. ‘The explanaticn of this phenomenon now that the star's lo: the periodical pa of a dark or n or satellite. 1; of light is caused by se between it and us rly dark companion star, Only eight variables of this ; but when it is consid- r that this eclipsing of ‘one celestial body by another should occur, the orbit in which the two bodies circle round each other must be set edgewise to- {ward us, and that, so far as we can see, it Is set in this way rather than in some Other by pure chance, it may fairly be in- ferred that these elght star systems repre- nt hundreds, perhaps thousands of simi- r systems, although only in these few in- » in or ted as no longer open to question is | stances are the conditions favorable to our detecting them. Besides these stellar systems in which one of the revolving bodies is invisible, there are other systems which consist of two or more luminous bodies. Of these double and multiple stars some ten or twelve thousand are now catalogued. They are of all degrees of brilliancy and vary as to distance apart from pairs so close that only the most powerful telescope can “‘sep- arate” them to stars which may be seen to be double even with a field glass. That very many of these so-called “double stars" are only optically double—that is to say, they consist of two stars which happen to lie nearly in the same line of sight, al- theugh one cf them may be enormously more distant from us than the other—is more than likely; but that all or even the greater number of them are of this char- acter Is overwhelmingly improbable, and, in fact, in some six hundred or seven hun- dred instances careful observation has shown that the two stars are bound to- gether by mutual attraction, and that they are revolving around each other. In very many cases the stars which com- pose the pairs differ in color. A white or a yellow star may have a blue or a red or a violet or a rose-colored companion. These colored doubles are among the prettiest telescopic objects,*to regard them from this single point of view. The Swan con- tains it$ fair share of these interesting ob- jects, of which two may be singled out as deserving of especial notice. The star Beta, which forms the beak of the Swan, or the foot of the Cross, is one of the most splendid colored doubles in the whole heav- ens. Its comporents are pale yellow and deep blve. It is sufficiently wide to be sep- arated with a low power, and is a particu- larly fine object for a small telescope. A small circle on our diagram marks the | Position of a seccnd double star, which, al- though it shows no striking contrasts of color, its components being both of an orange yellow and nearly equal in brillian- cy, is still a very pretty object even for a telescope which magnifies no more than thicty or forty times. It is of about the fifth magnitude, and is, therefore, easily seen with the naked eye. Note its relation to the bright stars of the Cross, and also note that it is the uppermost of a small triangle of faint stars. An opera glass will bring this triangle cut very prettily. This is the famous 61 Cygni, interesting as the first star to yicld up to us the secret of its distance—or, rather, as the first of which this discovery was announced, by Bessel, nearly sixty years ago. The Planets. . Mars, Venus, Saturn and Uranus are above the horizon at 9 p.m., in the posi- tions shown on the diagram of the zodiac. The remaining planets are below the hori- zon at that hour and are near the sun. Venus is now by far the mest attractive of the celestial objects in the early even- ing hours, although she will not attain her greatest splendor until the 14th of next month. Saturn, ten degrees eastward of Spica, still equals in splendor a star of the full first magnitude, and is still a fine object for the tel2scop Uranus can easily be found with the ald of the diagram given last month. It is a little nearer then there shown to the star Alpha Librae. —_—_—---+e+____ STEJNEGER’S MISSION. Sent to Study the Fur Seal Commander Island: Dr. Leonhard Stejneser has been sent by the United States fish commission on a special mission to those interesting islands known as the Commander group, which are situated to the northward of the Japanese archipelago. Ten years ago he was dis- Patched thither for the purpose of se- curing a skeleton of the extinct “sea cow,” or rhytina, and he brought back ‘several skulls and a large number of miscellaneous bones of the species. His present trip has for its object the study of the fur seals, which breed on the islands. They are be- Heved to be of the same species as those of the Pribylov Islands of Bering cea, though composing an entirely distinct herd and restricting their migrations to the wa- ters of the western Pacitic. Not much is known about them, however, because the Russian government has never permitted them to be investigated. Recently a request was forwarded through the State Department to St. Pet- ersburg, to the effect that a scientific agent of the United States might be allowed to visit the Commander Islands for the pur- pose of studying the seals. This was promptly granted, and orders have been conveyed to Col. Grebnitzky, the Russian governor, to afford all facilities to Dr. Stej- neger. The group, it may be said _ here, consists of two principal islands, Bering and Copper, with numerous outlying islets and rocks. The population of the two to- gether comprises twenty whites and 636 natives, all of the latter having come orig- imally from the Aleutian chain. On the occasion of a recent visit to the Commander Islands the naturalists attach- ed to the Albatross inspected the rookeries, took photographs of them, and procured two young male seals. It was ascertained that the numbers of the seals are fast de- creasing, owing to indiscriminate slaughter of all ages and sexes by the merciless pe- lagie sealers. This is so notwithstanding the utmost efforts of the Russian govern- ment to protect the animals. A fine of 100 golden rubles is imposed by the government upon any one who kills a female fur seal, and 10 rubles for killing a_pup. The islands are leased to a company, which pays tnto the comrgon fund of the natives 1 1-2 rubles for every fur seal skin, 14 rubles for each first-class blue fox skin, and 7 rubles for second-class fox skins. Blue foxes are regularly bred on the Com- mander Islands—that is to say, their nat- ural increase is encouraged by regulations. They are always taken by traps, the use of firearms being forbidden. pies aes ee GLOVES IN SUMMER. of the Some Styles That Seem to Please the Popular Taste. There Is really a determined effort to do away with gloves—for all but ceremonial wear, at least! At the recent court func- tion in Vienna, Austria, when the Empress Elizabeth appeared for the first time in two years, many of the ladies had bare hands, The kaiserin makes a point of not wearing gloves when she is ‘riding, and upon all unceremonious occasions she lets her beautiful ringed hands be seen without gloves. If gloves are worn at all they are large and loose, because Austrian ladies are devoted to the wearing of magnificent rings, and the torture of a tight glove over many rings is not to be endured very long at a time. It was in the Austrian court that the custom of wearing rings on the outside of the glove was introduced a few years ago, but it was a fashion so snobbishly osten- tatious that it never became popular. If the weather is extremely sultry, and the attire is of the lightest and most diaph- anous nature, the absence of gloves 1s sanctioned, but it is in the worst of taste to load the fingers with sparkling rings to appear in public, particularly in daylight. For summer wear with the short-sleeved dresses white suede gloves will be the most popular. These need not be so expensive, because they can be cleaned at home, and look like new all the time. and there is really nothing to be compared with them for every-day service, uniess it be the white chamois. The glace Sid, for some unexplained reason, is the reigning favorite just now and is most popular In whi pearl and light tan. Silk gloves have a strong hold on feminine hearts just now, after being retired for nearly a decade. They wear out at the ends of the fingers and stretch horridly, whica is the chief ob- jection to them. Alpaca ix the dress fabric of the hour, because it is wirey and stands out without stiffening and sheds dust so beautifully. It masquerades undgr the alias of “brillian- tine,” “mohair” and “sic'ttenne,” but is the same old alpaca that constituted the Stn- day-go-to-meeting gowns oar great grandmothers, only it is not half so durable now. A white alpaca church gown, lined with pink silk, worn with a pink ‘blouse aist and a pink bonnet, was the toilet of Countess yeth Potocka on a recent Suntay, In Vienna, and it is said that it was extremely 'ovety. It certainly sounds pretty in description. ea Narrow Escape. From the Youngstown (Ohlo) Vindicator. “Father,”’ said Johnny Ironside, “how big a fish did you ever catch?” “I caught a catfish once, Johnny," re- plied Deacon Ironside, “that weighed——” ‘The good man stopped short, looked fix- edly at his youngest scn, and resumed, with aa altered tone— a “John, this is Sunday.” ROBBED UNCLE SAM AClever Piece of Detective Work Done in This City. THE CASE OF WINSLOW RECALLED A Chat With the Veteran Detec- tive James J.-Brooks. HE FINALLY CONFESSED Se HE RECENT CON- viction of Capt. How- gate for getting away with funds be- longing to the United States government, naturally calls to mind other cases of the sort that have preceded it. The most interesting of these, by long odds, is the case of Wins- low, the employe of the cash room at the treasury who was ccnvicted on the charge of taking unto himself upward of $12,000 to which he had no moral or legal right. The Howgate case has also raised the question as to how many men have ever been convicted on the charge of embezzle- ment from the government. In the opin- jon of some of the best informed people in Washington there is only one case on record of a man going to the peniten- tlary for such an offense. The difficulties In the’ way of.securing a conviction have been well exemplified in the recent actions against the former disbursing officer of the signal service. The man who is perhaps most cognizant with the details of the “Winslow case” is Mr. James J. Brooks, the ex-chief of the secret service, who was at the head of the government's force of detectives at the time it occurred. For twenty-eight years as subordinate and chief, Mr. Brooks was employed in ferreting out crimes of one sort and another against the federal government. Gray-haired now, he is as active as ever. In One-Hundred-Dollar Bills. In conversation with a Star reporter yes- terday Mr. Brooks talked entertainingly of his experiences in connection with the famous whisky ring and during the-years succeeding the war, whem there was lots of work of all sorts for the government sleuth hounds. Speaking of the Howgate case, Mr. Brooks said: “My own opinion is that Winslow was the only man who ever went to, the pen. from the District of Columbia on the charge of embezzlement trom the United States. I may be mistaken about this and I do not want to be quoted as stating it as a fact, for it might start a controversy that would not be worth while. The Wins- low case was interesting enough as it was, whether it is the only case on record or not. Through all my life I have kept a full and complete diary and in the set are all the details of that famous case. I have not the book here with me now, and so shall have to rely on my memory for dates and names. “It was about February, 1877, that the Winslow case occurred. A valuable money sack was consigned to the First National Bank of Chicago. It was supposed to con- tain $12,000 in one-hundred-dollar notes, numbered consecutively. When opened in Chicago it was found to contain nothing but tissue paper cut in the exact size of bank notes. To all outward appearances the package was as it should have been, and the envelope, seal and sealing wax were such as to apparently indicate its genuine character as having passed through the treasury. “The case was at once brought to my attention by Treasurer Wyman, who re- ceived the crooked package from the Chicago bank and asked me to investigate. I naturally began my work here and in Chicago at the same time, for, on the face of it, there was nothing to indicate at which end of the line the robbery had been committed. All the men who had handled the package at either end were put under rigid surveillance. The custom was then, as I presume it still is, in the cash room, to have money packages pass through the hands of four men in differ- ent cages. Winslow Suspected. . “The money was counted, approved and tied up, and the fourth man would put it inte the safe and lock it. These four men were examined separately and closely pressed as to all they knew about the mys- terious package. As showing how differ- ent men act under similar circumstances I might tell you that one of the men, against whom there was not the slightest suspicion, shook and trembled like the pro- verbial aspen leaf when he was question- ed. Poor Billy, he is dead a long time, but a more honest man never lived. Well, we passed the counter, then the prover and sealer-and finally came to the addressor. ‘That was Winslow. He was a tall, hand- some man, with sharp black eyes and a most attractive manner, the sort of man that will make friends everywhere. “Winslow was asked as to the hand- writing on the address tag of the fake package. At first he said he was not cer- tain about {t, but later said he was sure it was not his. While we were talking I turned my back as if to speak to some one else, but, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Winslow, quick as a flash, turn back the flap to see the contents. That natu- rally made me suspect him, but I did not let him know it, trary, I asked him if he would aid me in watching the other three, and in solving the mystery. He jumped at the chance, and that afternoon he came to my room three times to tell me of his suspicions. When he left the treasury that afternoon he was under a close shadow. He went to Willard’s, Shoomaker & Hertzog’s, and then to the Ebbitt on his way home, having something to drink at each place. In all he had spent $1.25, rather a large amount for a man who was getting $100 a month with $40 rent to pay and a family to sup- ort. pare had run into debt in Maryland be- fore coming to Washington, and one cf the first things he did was to begin pay- ing people whom he owed. He wrote to some people in Baltimore saying that his wife had come into some property and that if they would send their accounts he wouid settle at once. In every case he paid with a hundred doliar note. Lost His Nerve. “The chase finally got so hot that Wins- low began to suspect something was wrong and he wes afraid to spend any more of the money. We then thought that he might skip town, and he did go so far as to pur- chase a ticket for New York, paying for it with a hundred-dollar bill again. All his movements were closely watched and: re- forted tome. One Sunday morning he was seen to enter an office on F street. When he left he went directly to his\home and the man upon whom he had been calling started toward I street, to the house in which Treasurer Wyman lived, between 12th and 13th streets. There was no one about but the detective, who was careful to keep out of sight, and as he passed the house the man tossed a package into the vestibule. A few minutes later he came back and rang the door bell, stating that he happened to be passing and chanced to see the package on the step. “Mr. Wyman and this man at once came to my office with the package, which turned out to be the original, and which still con- tained upward of $11,000. I at once sent to Winslow’s house and had my man who was watching him there put him under arrest. Smart as Winslow was he was not clever enough, for in one pocket of the dressing gown he had,on we found the trimmings of the manilla paper he had used to manufacture the fake envelope, while in the other were some pieces of the sealing wax he nad used. In his vest pocket were two one-hundred-dollar notes. No record is kept of the notes sent out from the treasury, but these two happened to bear numbers cosecutive to those found in the package which had been thrown into Mr, Wyman’s doorway. "Winslow was locked up. He finally con- fesced and was sent to the penitentiary for eighteen months. After he came out he went altogether to the bad and died not of course. On the con-* long after. It develo; served a sentence in, I think, before corti but: political influei ing manner got hi room of the United d later that he had mark for forgery, ne to this country, ind his own pleas- a place in the cash es treasury.” _—_———_ VIEWS OF THE,.CONSTITUTION. =E tt As Modified by Advices From the Con- stituents ‘of Senators. They tell a great tany stories of that honest old ex-Senator,,Coke of Texas. He was @ great admirer of Vest. One day some bill was pending: which, bluntly stat- ed, offered to appropritite public money for what seemed to Senator Coke some pri- vate or special purmese. Coke was very much agairst it, as wus also Senator Vest. The Missouri Senator made a speech and showed that the propcsed law was uncon- stitutional. Coke listened to his oratory with rapt attention, and very much ap- plauded and approved it. Before the bill was put to a vote, however, the hoof and mouth disease broke out in Missouri among the cattle, and Gov. Crittenden wired Sen- ators Vest and Cockrell to gain the aid of the national government in hunting the malady to its lair and exterminating it. A measure was introduced making an appro- priation to investigate the causes and r port remedies for the hoof and mouth dis- ease. The measure made exactly the same questicn which Serator Coke was so much opposed to, and which Vest had so elo- quently denounced but a week or so before. Under the stress of danger threatening Missouri jive stock interests, Senator Vest felt compelled te change his pcsition in the matter, ani did it most gracefully. It all afforded the good-natured Senator from Ttxas much amusement. - “Veet,” he said, as a writer for The Star was told, “that is the first time I ever knew a man to change his opinion on con- stitutional law on a telegram.” = But Senator Coke’s turn was coming. In- spired by the hoof and mcuth appropria- tion example, the Texas seed bill was in- troduced. It asked an appropriation to buy farm seeds for drouth sufferers in Texas. In all its principles it paralleled the hoof and mouth measure as well as the one before, against which Coke had voted and Vest had orated. But this time Sena- tor Coke felt obliged to bow to fate and support the Texas seed bill. Senator Voor- hees offered him irritating consolation by saying: “Never mind, Coke, suppose you do have to switch. Remember, statesmanship is but the science of circumstances, and a Senator, like a sailor, may be going north on one voyage and south on the next.”” However, Coke felt very sore over his fate: and the Texas seed bill was under- stood by his fellow Senators to be a sub- ject which must not be lightly 1ientioned in his presence. One afternoon Senator Voorhees had just introduced an old white-haired, benevo- lent-looking gentleman to Senator Vest. They were in the Senate cloak room at the time. The white-haired philanthropist had just finished_a campaign in Indiana for a seat in the House, and he had been egre- giously beaten. Senator Vest was consoling him and expressing regret that his light was not to shine at the south end of the Capitol in the next Congress. “However, I do not regret it,” said the white-haired Samaritan. “I was glad to run, even if I was defeated. My slaughter may do the party godd. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” It was just then that Senator Coke wunt by. His quick ear caught the word “see and his face flushed. However, he pas:e: on to his seat in the Senate. But is wrath began to rise,‘an@ in ten minutesthe was back in the cloak ‘toom again looking for an explanatidn:+ Voorhees and_his white-haired friend were gane, but Vest was sitting there alkalone, contented as a Hoa under a cabbage Jeaf. Coke addressed im. eee “Senator Vest,” said be, “who was that white-haired old idigt saw talking with you and Senator Vborkées?” Senator Vest was, somewhat surprised, but furnished the information. : “f£ have merely returtied to say to him, sir,” went on Senatot Céke severely, “what I now say to you} sir; and that is, that some of you gentlemén:are making your- selves far too merry about that Texas seed bill, sir. I want to urge on you the nece: sity of getting through your laugh on that subject, sir. It was no doubt a good joke, but it has run lomg enough, sir. I don’t care to hear any more about it, sir.” “I did not try,” explained Senator Vest, when afterwards he told the story to Sena- tor Voorhees, “to make any explanation. I simply offered an abject apology and promised to offend no more.” — Rare and Costly Foxskins. From the Lewiston Journal. Most of you have read quotations of sifl- ver fox skins and black fox ‘skins, but did you ever see one? The chances are that if you are not in the fur business you never did. Only 139 were taken in the whole world last season, and every year all of these go to Russia, where they are the fur of the royalty and the nobility. The other day, trudging up the Journal stairs, came Hunnewell, the South Danville fur king. He 1s a real Yankee at a trade, a hustling buyer, who has agents in the Nova Scotias and in Cape Breton and all along the rich fur-bearing countries, and his transactions amount to $50,000 a year and upward. Un- der his arm Hunnewell bore a package, which he tossed lightly to the floor of the reporters’ room and disturbed the quiet of the several “‘desks’’ at work. “There,” said he, “is something you never saw be- fore—eight silver fox skins in one bunch.” There they were—four of them beau four of them ordinary. The four first nam- ed were beautiful skins, pure deep black along the bases of the necks, silver tipped along the backs, while the tails were just shimmered with the silver white. The fur was soft and fine, beautiful to the touch. “That skin,” said Mr. Hunnewell, tossing out one, “is worth $135. This one is worth $150. If that one were as black as this and was as heavy and soft as it is now, it would be worth $300 easily. Considering that only 139.were taken last year, and that I got twenty-four of them, I think I got my share. These came from Cape Breton, and I never had so many in one bunch before. Black Roses. From The Lady. We learn, on good authority, that a cer- tain enterprising gardener has at last suc- ceeded in producing a black rose—‘“‘as black as soot,” as he proudly declares. Perhaps it is needles to say that this persevering, but rather melancholy, person is a German. So far, his achievement is unique, though green roses were obtained some time ago by a member of his fraternity. Science, we suppose, makes every experiment worth while, otherwise one would be tempted to question whether the result were worth the trouble taken, as a black rose certainly cannot, from a purely Philistine point cf view, be considered as beautiful as a pink or yellow one. Moreover, the good man is a trifle behind the times, since the artificial flower makers succeeded in making us_all thoroughly tired of blagk roses quite a twelvemonth ago. ‘It is‘ to be hoped that the craze for unnaturally colored flowers wall not spread, erwise we shall see black lilies, like those in the mosaic pave- ment of Santa Marig de,Fiori, in Florence, and what a misfortune that would be! ——+i>e+«+___ The Amerfdan Hunguage. From the Forum, fy The prevalence of lower-jaw rigidity among our men of‘ali c@Hings and degrees of culture is amazifig. ‘The following report of a conversation in a street car between two prominent, well-educated business men dces them no injustice: |» “Wyeh.” (How are yo! “Whaheh.” (How are You?) “Ine deh.” (Fineday.) uh call ut s.” (Yes, I call it 50.) ‘Wah thing genl?” general?) “Weh, weh don alil, tmuch thuh; sar kee thiz tirn these tie.” (Well, we're doing a little—net much, though; it’s hard to keep things stirring these times.) “Suh. Bout rye. Fine suh.” (That's so. You're about right. I find it so.) ————_+ e+ _—__—_—__ Their Favorite Topic. From the Boston Transcript. Mistress (to her domestic)—“I suppose you girls talk about each other just the same as we ladies do about each person in_our set?” Domestic—“No, mum, about the mistresses.” ++ —___ Steamer Macalester to Marshall Hall and Indian Head Friday and Saturday evenings at 6:30 p.m.—Advt. ——.___ Splendid bathing, on a clean, safe beach at Coltons-on-the-Potomac.—Advt. (iow are things in we mostly talks THE, CAPTAIN'S FOURTH —_.—__— BY JOHN HABBERTON.” a (Copyright: 1895.) OWN IN SOUTH- ern Virginia, a few aA years ago, when the country was not ag peaceful as it is now, a lot of vigorous fel- lows were busy one sunny noon in a great game of get- ting at one another and getting out of one another’s way. All were on horse- back, and as some were in blue clothes and some in gray, and all carried weapons of some kind, anyone who knew what spirit was®abroad in the land would know at sight that they were confederate and Union troopers. There were not many of them—only a score or two in each party, but they were as active and determined as if each de- tachment was a great army. There was much more at issue than the general ani- mus of the war, for each party wanted to get back to its camp, which the other was determined to prevent, and as, besides the main road, which each preferred to take, there Were a lot of wood roads and bridle paths which each party knew well, there was much determined skirmishing for po- sition before a single shot was fired. As one of the party skirted the side of a field, across which could be seen the typical Virginia farm house—a great, square, white building, with a big red chimney at each end, they suddenly saw an old man, bare- headed, on horseback, at the inner side of the fence, and the commander of the de- tachment shouted. “Get out of the way, captain,for heaven's sake! There may be bullets flying here pretty soon, and your family and neighbors rr pardon, sir,” replied the old “but do you know what day this “What? ‘'Tisn’t Sunday, is it? Well, then, better the day the better the deed. We're either going to take those Yanks back with us, or we’re going to get away from them.” “No, sir; 'tain’t Sunday, sir, but it’s the Fo’th of July, sir. And I and some of my old neighbors, sir, are having a little cele- bration in honor of the day, and [ do pro- test, sir, against your making a disturbance on my premises, sir, and marring the pleas- ant and patriotic nature of the festivities. It isn’t a gentlemanly thing to do, sir, right on my own property here.” “Go and tell the Yankees so, captain, and persuade them to get out of our way, so that we can get back to camp; then there'll be no more“disturbance. You were a sol- dier yourself, a good many years ago, and you know that a soldier can’t take account “Where are the Yankees?” asked the old man, shading his eyes with his hands and turning his head to scan the surroundings. “That's just what we are trying to find out. But do get back to the house, cap- tain, and get your family and guests into the cellar for safety’s sake; firearms carry much further now than they did in your military days, and stray shots sometimes make a lot of misery for nen-combatants. Upon my word, captain, if you don’t fol- low my advice, I shall have to detail two of my men to enforce it. “I see yellow braid!” shouted the old man suddenly. “Get up, Selim!” Away he dashed, diagonally across his grounds, while the southern officer exclaimed: “Confound him! He'll have to be buried before the day ends, if he isn’t careful. Hurrah! I see the yellow braid, too! Now men, keep well together! The rascals are just coming into the main road from the woods. The trees along this fence-row will screen us pretty well until we reach the road. Don’t fire a shot until we get rignt upon them; then fill the road and fire al- together before they can get time to aim. Then every man for himiself; let’s see if we can’t gobble all we don’t kill.” Each man’s gun was in his free hand; most of the men carried double-barreled shot guns—weapons at which some north- ern troops sneered till they learned by bitter experience that a charge of buck- shot at short range from such guns conld do much more damage than scattering shots from carbines and revolvers. As the double gray line curved around the angle of the plantation and into the main road each gun was raised, but the officer suddenly exclaimed: “Stop! That infernal old fool is right in front of the Yanks.” “Charge!” roared the Union commander. “Get out of the way, my friend, or your blood be upon your own hands.” “Halt!” shouted the old man, placing his horse crosswise of the narrow road and raising his hand, as he himself arose in his stirrups. “Halt! all of you! I com- mand you—I, Capt. Freewood, commission- ed by the United States before either of you were born, command you to halt!” It was utterly ridiculous, of course, as each officer admitted afterward, but the ridiculous serves as well as anything un- expected to make men uneertain for a momert. Both parties halted so suddenly that many horses’ hezls* went up in protest at having been trodden upon. The vet- eran cuntinued: “I insist upon a truce for a moment or two. Won't each of you gentlemen kindly meet me here, midway between your own forces, for consultation?” There seemed no way out of it, tor neither wished to draw the fire of the other side upon a non-combatant, who was also an old man and an ex-soldier. “I beg your pardon, sir,” said the old gentleman, saluting the young lieutenant who commanded the Union party, “but I have just explained to my friend here, whom I have known for a long time, that I and my friends and neighbors, most of them women and children, although there are two or three elderly men like myself, are celebrating this glorious day, the Fo'th of July, at my house, sir, and I do most respectfully but emphatically protest against any disturbance being made upon the premises, sir. You may not be aware, sir, as my southern friend is, that all the property upon which you gentlemen are euvering is my property, sir. Now, gentlemen, both, I have a propo- sition to make which I hope may mect with your approval. Our festivities have scarce- ly begun, so I beg that you will join us— you and’ your entire commands. ‘The oc- easion is one to which both sides can heartily do equal honor. The refreshments are ample; there are plenty of chickens still left, and p'enty of servants to prepare them, while n.y apple jack and peach brandy are the finest in the entire county. I regret that my dining room will not hold the entire party, but the piazza is large and every one shall be abundantly served in picnic style.” The commanding officers looked askance at each other and tried to frown; then the southerner said: “Captain, you are the soul of hospitality, but—but—" “But this fs the first time in my life, sir, that my hospitality has ever seemed to be despised. I am astonished, sir!” The southern commander !ooked uncom- fortable; the Union officer smiled quizzical- ly at him. “Gel men, I insist!’ continued the old man. “You must agree ct once to accom- pany me; you and your entire commands. Afterward you may betake yourselves to your respective homes—camps, I should have said, and :f you fail out by the way, after you are well away from my premises, it will be your own affair. Give me your word—shake hands upon it!” Two or three men of each party had worked their horses slowly forward, curi- ous to know the meaning of a scene so unlike anything in their previous military experiences, and little by little they had passed the purport of their conversation back to their comrades. ‘The opposing offi- cers looked at each other inquiringly a moment, then they slowly rode toward euch other and shook hands, “Gentlemen both!” said the old man ap- provingly. “‘Now bave the kindness to follow me.” It was a strangely assorted party that rode up the long ptantation road to the house, and the men in the ranks eyed each other askance for a moment or two; but enemies who can’t fight must talk, and as by this time all knew the terms of the agreement made by their respective com- manders, they soon began to chat; and when, five minutes later, they had tled their horses to trees and posts about the house, they dropped their weapons as care- lessly as if a few minutes before they had not been intent upon Killing one another. They even examined one another's guns and carbines curiously, and no one seemed to have the slightest suspicion of any one else. The women and children, who at first had been dreadfully frightened, finally crowded upon the piazza to gaze at the strange spectacle,.and a Union sergeant re- marked to a southern private that he be eternally blanked if the whole thing didn’t remind him of a house picnic at harvest time up in New York state. “Gentlemen,” said the host, reappearing from the house, followed by two colored women bearing trays, “the glass ware of my house {s not equal to so large a party, but if each of you will take a glass or tea- cup from a tray, I will see that they are filled to your liking, and we will drink the first toast of the day before we eat. Come along, there—Sam—Jonas! What are you niggers afraid of? One of the pitchers those boys.are carrying, gentlemen, contains peach brandy and the other apple brandy; take your choice.” When all the glasses and cups were filled the old gentleman raised his own and ex- claimed: “Gentlemen, the day we celebrate!” The Union and southern commanders touched their glasses and bowed, after which there was a mighty clinking of glass and china, and a northern soldier who had been a church member at home, but who had acquired a military thirst since he had entered the army, quoted softly— “My willing soul would stay In such a scene as this, And sit and drink herself away To everlasting blis: Meanwhile there was a great squawking of chickens somewhere in the rear of the house, and soon the odors of cooking,which had been perceptible from the first, became more pervasive, and within an hour there were great trays full of fried chicken and light, puffy biscuits, already buttered, pass- ing through the hall and about the piazzas and over the grass, on which some of the soldiers were seated. Then the host said, very loudly: = “Doctor, will you ask a blessing?” and a venerable, saintly faced gentleman advanced to the front of the piazza and offered a short prayer, and the women and children softly said “Amen,” upon which there arose a rattling fire of “Amens” from the uniformed fellows, each of whom seemed anxious to get in his belated response as soon as possible. Ther2 was infinite eating and chat after that. Most of the southern soldiers knew the native guests, and paid special atten- tion to the pretty girls, of whom there were at least a dozen, but they weren't a bit selfish; eagh learned the names of the Union men with whom he had heen talk- ing, and introduced them, ard the Union men brushed up their manners rapidly, in friendly rivalry with their late foes, and the girls soon talked as freely with their new acquaintances as if the northerner was not a mud sill, or a hireling, or a foul invader, or anything of the kind. Soon the colored men with pitchers made thefr way again through the throng, and again the host arose and requested atten- tion. “Our second toast, gentlemen, ‘George Washington,’ the man to whom every sol- er, no mitter under what flag, should be proud to drink.” The toast was duly honored, there was a whispered consultation between the old gentleman and one of the young ladies, and then the young lady disappeared, and in a mcment the notes of “Yankee Doodle” came from the ancient piano in the house and the host arose with fine dignity. As the last note sounded he raised his hand and exclaimed: “The air to which Washington's soldiers whipped the British! Hip, hip—" “Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!” came from two or three score manly throats, and ail the women and children joined in it, and the host shook hands with every one near him, and then everybody shook hands with every one else in reach. 3 Than came more fried chicken and bis- cuits, and more apple jack and peach brandy, and some one suggested games, upon Which there was a long succession of running ard jumping matches, section asainst section, and each section against itself. One of the aged native guests sug- gested as the sun began to decline that he hadn't seen a horse race since the war be- gan, which reminded the host that he hadn’t either, so he requested the two cav- alry officers to kindly arrange a dash or two, and the host’s eldest daughter, who was quite pretty, took a ribbon from her throat and cut it into prizes, and every trooper determined to win one of those prizes, even if he ruined his horse. The “grand stand” was the fence and the “fin- ish” the plantation gate, and there were so many gaces that the ribbon had to be di- vided and subdivided so many times that the prizes were finally only long enough to tie in a button hele. But the greatest fun was just before sunset, when some girl suggested a dance cn the green in front of the house. Twenty men struggled for the right to help move the piano to the piazza, and so many long- ed to dance that the only way to aecom- modate them was to have a grand “Sir Roger de Coverly,” which every one knew. There were not enough ladies io go round, but the ladies did their best to make up the deficiency by sharing the dance with two or three partners in succession, so when the dance ended the stars were shin- ing and the night birds singing. Such a jolly party no one could recall from the two or three last years, and as the host seemed the happiest member of it, no one thought of breaking it up, but, on the contrary, did everything to prolong it. Singing followed the dancing, and there were good voices in both detachments of troopers, and as the officers passed the word that there were to be no war songs there was nothing in the music to inter- rupt the harmony of the occasion. Once more the beverage-laden pitchers were carried around. The two cavairy oM- cers began to whisper to each other, and then the hostess, and then one of them shouted: “Ladies and gentlemen, I and my friend- ly enemy have obtained permision from the hostess to offer a toast, which our host himself might have forbidden. Soldiers, attention! H-re’s—our host!” The other officer in a tuneful voice began: “For he’s a jolly good fellow.” The officer had the first line all to him- self, but the noise with which the second one shattered the evening air frightened the tree toads and katydids into abject si- lence. Thea some fellow, who seemed to think a good thing could not be said too often, started the old chorus again, and af- ter It ended some one said: “Once more,” so once mcre it was given. Then the cavalry officers whispered to- gether again, and said, in the politest pos- sible manner to their host and hostess, just as if they wer€ leaving an evening entertainment at home, that they really must be going, it had been very rude of them to have remained so long, but such hospitality was so unexpected, so unusual, ete. “I hope, gentlemen,” said the host, “that you will not resume your difficulty on my premise: “Not wi exclaimed one of the officers earnestly, while the other said: “Heaven forbid that our men ever meet again anywhere, with arms in their hands!” “Amel responied the other, When all the horses were saddled and the men mounted and in some semblance of column there was as cheery a chorus of good-byes as was ever heard at an.evering party. The two columns started slowly, gide by side, down the plantatioa road to. ward the gate, but suddenly they counter- marched, halted, and at a signal ther sang “Should auld acquaintance be forgot? the company on the piazza adding their voices. Then the soldiers took up the march again, but as they neared the gate they began once more to sing “For he’s a jolly good fellow,” ani one singer on the Union side was so anxious that jus voice should reach the house that he twisted his head so far back and for so long a time that he was excused from duty for a full week afterward with a stiff neck. A moment afterward a sound that came from the directiea of the house caused each commander to quickly ord a halt and to raise his hat—an act which “was imitated by all the troopers, for what they heard, from a body of tuneful feminine voices, “a quavering tenor and un uncertain bass, was ncbraise God, from whom all blessings tow." “Goo@-night, old fellow,” said one com- mender to the othe, when the song end- el. “Here's hoping that both of us may outlive the war and meet to talk over the old captain's Fourth.” “Heaven grant it,” was the reply. The old captain ‘stood upon the plazza and listened anxiously. The officers had given bim their word; still soldiers would be soldiers. He stramed his eyes, but could see nothing, although he could near the tramp of horses and the rattle of spurs aud sabers. Suddenly he heard another song, end it seemed to come from two directions; it was “Home, Sweet Home.” “That settles it,” said the captain. ee eae That Was Different. From the Indianapolis Jourt al. “Young man,” said the fond father, “in giving you my daughter I have intrusted you with the dearest treasure of my life.” The young man was duly impresse Then he looked at his watch. “Reall he remarked, “I had no idea it was so late. The cars have stopped. Could I borrow your wheel to get down town?” “Young man, I would not trust anybody on earth with that wheel.” THE AFTER EFFECTS = Of Diphtheria, Defective Sight, Pae ralysis, Dyspepsia. From the Journal, Detroit, Mich. In a neat, home-like cottage at 112 Sth street lives Mrs. A. T. Lyon, @ remarkably pleasant and motherly lady, who tells a very interesting story of her life, and, incidentally, speaks of her grati- tude for a remedy which bas wrought such a won- derful change in her. Said Mrs. Lyons: “About thirty years ago, be- fore we knew how to pronounce the word diph- therla, I wus stricken with that awful disease, Which left me blind, nearly, and paralyzed in my lower Limbs, “There seemed but little hope for me, but I did Improve gradually, until I was able to sit in a chair and drag myself around the room by pulling the chair along with me. “I doctored for years, but was not cured. I spent € great deal of money gnd tried many of the most noted physicians. They only gave me temporary rellef. I never was well, Finally I began to have dyspepsia. My stomach refused all food. I had the most dreadful feelings, I cannot describe them, It was a peculiar burning sensation, as if I bad been poisoned. I would fall down in the strects, and became s0 weak that I could not sit up only Part of the time. I suffered intensely. Nothing seemed to do me any good. I became thoroughly discouraged. To add to my misery, I had trouble with my heart. “One day a told es abote ‘the De Williaa Pins Vale People. I did not want to take them, and it seemed foolish to bother with them when physi- cians had failed to help me. She said so much about it, however, that I was at last induced to try them. After taking the first half of the box I began to fcel differently. They made me feel s0 much better. I continued taking them, and they have made a different woman of me. I feel like @ new creature. I feel better than I have since I was a girl. “I am over sixty now, and I am stronger and I do my own work and feel well, which I h been able to say before for over ‘thirty years. Dr. Wiiiams’ Pink Pills contain all ‘the elements Recessary, to give new life and richness to the blood and restore shattered rerves. They are for sale by all druggists, or may be had by mail from Dr. Williams’ “Medicine Company, Schenectady, » for 50c. per box, or six boxes for $2.50. A MORMON REVENGE. me. She Pilis for = A Missouri Tragedy Connected With the Early Settlement of the Saints. “I have often heard,” semarked Col. John T. Crisp of Independence, Mo., to a Star writer, “my father tell how, over sixty years ago, and before the measure had birth, the Edmunds law was enforced in M uri and the Mormons put to flight. n 1833 Lilburn Boggs was governor of Missourl, and the standard of the Mormons floated wide and free over the town of In- dependence. They had come, three years before, Zootsore and weary, from Kirtland, Ohio, penniless and with empty hands, and had settled in and about Independence. They were received by the original pioneer with that calm phlegm which distinguished his welcoming of other emigrants. The Mormons were little understood as to their religious peculiarities by the people of Jack- son county, and so spread their tents and lighted the fires of a new home without protest or objection. “In three short years they waxed rich, and with riches they became insolent. Others came, and were still coming in flocks, lke pigeons in the spring. They would soon outnumber the original pioi- eers, and confidently spoke of the day when they, .the Lord’s chosen, would occupy Jackson county, to the exclusion and cast- ing out of every Gentile. “But the Mormons spoke too soon. The first inhabitants of Independence were a positive people, prompt to take action. Gov. Boges was a resident of the town, and opened a gateway to local effort by a proc- lamation ordering the departure of the Mormons within thirty days. They did not go, and the impulsive Gentiles fell upon them hip and thigh and drove them out. “Again the Mormons were exiles, and, broken in spirit and pride, turned eastward through the tangled bottoms of Missouri for Illinois. Nauvoo was settled, and later, when they left Nauvoo, the polygamous faction, with Brigham Young as their head and prophet, began thelr long pilgrimage to Salt Lake. Graves of men and skeletons of mules and cattle marked the way, and the Mormons ate of the bread of bitterness and almost of despair. “At last they reached the valley—the Zion of their search, and planted the seeds of new empire. “In their journey to Nauvoo, and tn their subsequent flight westward to Salt Lake, there was one name which burned in every Morman_memory—the name.of Lilburn Boggs. The prayer for vengeance on Gov. Lilburn Boggs for the stroke he dealt them was constant in their hearts. Many, if not all of them, knew him personally, and this very acquaintance permitted an in- tensity and point to their deep hatred, of which they otherwise might have been de- prived. On the sunburned plains they thought of Boggs and thirsted for a reck- ening. Once safe and settled in Salt Lake these wishes gave birth to plans and plaus to execution. » © “John Partridge and John Oliver Cow- drey were two of the Mormon leaders. Strong of person, men of action rather than of counsel, mentally narrow and purblind, they had an abiding faith in their religion and were abject followers of Brigham Young. These men were personally named in Goy. Boggs’ proclamation, and had hugged and nursed their hatred of him through four weary years. “Four years after the proclamation John Partridge was chief of the Danites—the “destroying angels” of the Mormon Church. Gov. Boggs, no longer governor, was a resi- dent of Independence. His house was in the center of a five-acre grove on South Pleasant street next to the residence now occupied by Capt. Williams. The old Boggs’ house was torn down about five years ago. “Partridge resolved to execute the ven- gZeance so Preye and longed for and so jong deferred. king a detachment of his Danites, including Cowdrey, they tolled backward across mountain and plain until they stood again within reach and swoop of Independence. They did not disclose their presence and made a camp as near as might be to their victim’s house. Part- ridge and Cowdrey kept constant watch, waiting for a chance to strike in safety. At last it came and Partridge shot Gov. 3oggs with his rifle as the governor sat by his open window in the earlier hours of reat was the jubilation in Mormondom when the Danites returned and boasted of vengeance, bloody and ‘complete, and Dick- ens, in the foot notes of his ‘American Notes,’ refers to the tragedy as illustrate ing a page of American social life.” ——— The Worth of His Words. From Tit-Bits. There was one occasion when Mr. Forrest received from one of the supernumeraries of a theater an answer which seemed to satisfy him. It was the man’s duty to say simply, “The enemy is upon us,” which he uttered at rehearsal in a poor, whining way. “Can't you say it better than that?’ shouted Forrest. “Repeat it as I do,” and he gave the words with all the force and richness of his magnificent voice. “If I could say it like that,” replied the. man, “I wouldn’t be working for fifteen shillings a week.” hat all you get?” “Yes, “Well, then, say it as you please.” Done by a Blind Painter. From the Rochester Union and Advertiser. “A most wonderful bit of work. Those things were painted by a blind painter.” ‘What were?” . “Those blinds.” : ae Tom, what sort o’ Fourth did yeu ave?” Tim—“Are yer blind?”’—Life,