Evening Star Newspaper, July 27, 1895, Page 18

18 THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1895-TWENTY PAGES. CULTURE OF SALMO The Fish Still Plentiful in North- ern California, THE GOVERNMENT COMMISSIC STATION How the Indians Fish and How Seine is Hauled. AN INTERESTING VISIT Written fcr The Evening Star. WAY UP IN THE Amu or north- ern California, on the banks of the Mc- Cloud, is the pictur- esque little village of Baird, one of the most interesting spots on the conti- nent. A branch of . the United States ‘}, fish commission, for js the propagation of salmon culture, was established there many years ago, and the station named after the late Prof. Baird, so many years at the head of the Smithsonian Institution and allied scientific departments of the government. It is eighteen or twenty miles over a rough, mountainous road by stage from Redding, the traveler crossing first the Sacramento and then the Pitt river before reaching his destination. With a feeling of pleasure one looks over the last hill on the journey and sees in the distance, upon a high cliff overlooking the mountain stream, “Old Glory” flying at the top of a good-sized flagstaff erected in front of the pretty cottage where Prof. Livingston Stone, In charge of the station, makes his home. Down the hil near :he water are two or three buildings adapted to fish culture, one of them being well sup- An Indian “Shack” or Hat. Plled with a series of tanks and water pin2s and reservoirs to insure a constant current night and day over the salmon eggs, while they are being hatched. Besides these buildings of the fishery station proper there are a small store, in which a post office is located, and two or three houses in which the employes live. The population of the Place numbers, all told, about thirty souls. The white men are not the oniy inhabitants of the place, for during the fishing season ‘dozens of Indians of the Digger tribe en- camp in the vicinity and lay in a winte:’s stock of fish. Where Salmon Still Swarm. ‘The salmon used to swarm in the waters of northern California until hydraulic min- ing was established. The debris dumped into the rivers drove the salmon out. The McCloud, however, still has a bountiful supply. A dam acrcss the river at Buird prevents the fish from going further up the stream, and, because of the obstruction, the waters are fairly swarming with suimon and other members of the finny tribe. So plentiful are they that constantly, in every direction, they can be seen jumping out of the water, sometimes to a height of three or four feet, and thumping agairst the dam and the netting that surmounts it, in their attempts to overcome the obstruction, and go farther up the river. A fish dam, as the reader may perhaps already know, is like a small picket fence. It allows the water to pass through, but because of the close- fess of the pickets together the fish has hot room enough to pass. Hauling Seine. The fishery employes “hauled the seine,” as it is termed, during my visit. Baird is famous for its seine. A row boat quickly started from the shore, a young half-breed handling the oars, and his companion, a white man, playing out the seine. They Kept close along the shore until the boat had gone a short distance, when it darted across the swift current and down the other side of the stream, then crossing again to the point of starting. As the boat started on its return the windlass, run by a horse, rapidly drew the seine toward the shore. As the netting was pulled in, the water became violertly agitated and dozens of huge fish began to flop and splash in their efforts to escape, some jumping over the netting. About 300 were captured by this haul, weighing from five to forty pounds. Only the large “bucks” were taken, the females being thrown back into the water. The experienced eyes of the em- pleyes enabled them to distinguish the sex without troubie. Now came even a more interesting scene. As I said before, the Indians gather in the vicinity during the summer season to lay in their winter stock. They always know when the seine is to be drawn, for the word is passed from one camp fo an- other. Dozens of Indian squaws, with big bags, hover near the windlass, ready to seize the fish as they are thrown upon the sand. Two or three squaws scramble for it, and the successful scrambler at orece pounds the fish upon the back of its head with a stone until its life has been beaten out. Then it is stuffed into the . Some squaws carry away four or five weighing from twenty-five to forty . Camping parties were also repre- ybhody for miles around was given salmon for breakfast, dinner and fupper for two or three days to come. While three hundred fish were hauled in Fish Dam. a result of this effort, I was informed wut when a larger se!ne was used the haul ameunted to from fifteen to seventeen hun- red fish. Around the Indian camps on the day fol- lowing the trees and bushes were covered with fish that had been placed there to dry. The air was pure as yet, but later in the son the atmosphere of the neighborhood omes almcst ndurable because of” the stench from the drying salmon. Since fishing 1s the main resource of the Indians for food, there are no restrictions upon them in this particular, and, unlike white men, they can use their hooks and lines or their gpears at all seasons of the year, and wher- ever they please, whether within tHe limits of the government feservations or not. ‘They are quite expert with both hook and pear, How Indians Spear Fish. The Indian spear differs greatly from that used by the white man. A forked pole is first cut in the forest. then each prong is hellowed out at the end, and into each one Is fitted a sharp-pointed piece of wood or pin about an inch and a half long and th ighths of an inch in diameter. While points are easily removed from the these prongs ef the spear, they are insured against loss by being connected with a leather string to the main part of the Spear. The Indian jabs th fish. When he withdraws i pon into a 2 little pins or points are left within the fish, and by means of the leather string the captive is drawn from the water. A forty-pound ral- mon will give a strong man trouble to land him, and two persons are often required when the fish is unusuaily stubborn. “Long Haired Dick,” one of the Indian inhabitants of Baird, captured four huge fellows weigh- ing at least forty pounds while I watched him for about ten minutes. They were caught above the dam. He seemed to take great pleasure in the sport. The fish upon being removed from the spear is thrown back into the water above .the dam, where it ts left to die as a result of the wounds received. It proved in two or three cases that the salmon were dis- eased, as could be seen from the sores txat marked them. This was because the salmon above the dam had not a sufficient current of water such as the fish below obtain. They had managed when young and small in size to go through the lattice work of the dam, but could not get back as they grew larger. The Indians, however, do not mind a matter of this kind, for “Long Haired Dick” threw his four big salmon back into the water, where the current swept them up against the dam and kept them there until come squaws picked up the whole bunch. They were treated just like the healthy fish and hung up to dry for the winter. The Neighboring Indians. The Indizns in the vicinity of Baird be- Icng to different branches or clans of the Wintona tribe. I found one young man among them, a full-fledged Indian, who is a son of the chief of the band. He speaks and writes English much better than many white persons, and even carried with him a@ small typewriter. He gave me his card, which was a small piece of ordinary writ- ing piper with the name printed by the typewriter. The Indian gets his name from some characteristic he possesses, and he takes an English rame according to his own fancy. The Digger Indians have always been friendly with the whites, but last summer while I was at Baird they had a big pow- wow, and after deposing one chief elected another. The new head of the band is, un- like his followers, opposed to the white men and their customs. He refuses to do business by mall, although he can read and write English quite well. If a white man desires to transact any business or communicate with the chief, appearance in person is necessary, for this particular Indian would not condescend to open a let- ter; he woulé even refuse to accept it, and the writer would find his letter promptly returned by the postal authorities. Whenever a member of the band dies the whole tribe has a big time for many days and nights. Dogs and Squaws. The Indians are very fond of dogs, and the animals they possess are generally of a curious mongrel type. Each family has from cne to three canines. Should you see an Indian camp in motion you would per- haps first encounter two or three barking curs, then the head of the family stalking along, accompanied by the children and followed by his squaw, who would be fair- ly bending over with her burden, for if there is anything to carry the squaw must do the carrying. The one I saw had a huge basket on her back which resembled an inverted cone. It wes held in place by her hands and by means of a strap slung over her forehead. I saw one Indian moy- ing his camp across the river. The squaw had to do all the work. She made several trips across the dam before her task was completed. But it is Indian custor to make the women do all the work, and if anybedy should try to reverse this duty and lay it upon the man he would find the squaws themselves _against. him. The squaw I speak of was very old and “fairly tottered as she picked sher way, over, the.| narrow plank walk of the fish dam. Life at the fishery 4s frougir‘at itebes! In the summer time the weather is intense- ly hot. The mercury ran up one day dur- ing my visit to 113 degrees in the shade. The nights, however, are quite cool. There is no ice and the good housewife whose husband may happen to bring her here would find it extremely difficult to keep the butter in good condition. eee Prof. Store finds sufficient leisurd ‘from his duties as superintendent of the station to indulge in a game of chess, or in the evening to play lawn tennis. The visitor who can play these games {s always wel- come at the station. But the professor never allows sports. or pastimes, fond as he is of them, to interfere with his official duties. He is the author of a number of valuable papers on salmon culture, in which he is recognized as an es ——___ CONFUCIAN MISSIONARY. Chinese Minister Establishes 2 Moral Lectureship im Mott Street. From the New York Herald, Some months ago the Chinese minister at Washington made a Visit to this city for the purpose of looking into the coridition of his countrymen. He perceived that they were well supplied with joss houses, but sadly in need of moral instruction. Ac- cordingly he caused a hall to be hired in the Chinese quarter and appointed a man learned in the doctrines of Confucius to give lectures on moral practices td such as would care to come and heap. aid A hall was secured for this purpose at 14 Mott street, up two flights of stairs. On one side of the room is posted a notification issued by the Chinese ccrsul of this city, informing his countrymen of the new course of lectures; on the opposite side is the Chinese text of the immigration treaty recently ccncluded between China and the United States. The lecturer appointed by the minister is Chu-Yang-Kow. He is a thin-faced man, w:tn a pale, sickly complexion, a slight stoop in his shoulders and a few straggling hatrs on his upper lip. Though he has been in this country over fifteen years, he can- not speak a word of English. His country- men hold him in high esteem. On the plat- form he wears the full dress of a Chinese gentleman—a long flowing robe reaching down to the ankles, with a shorter coat over it, satin boots and a cap with a red button on top. It was at first intended that a lecture should be given every Sunday and Monday, and the first and fifteenth days of every Chinese month, for most laundrymen do not work Sundays end Mondays, and the first and fifteenth days of the month stand with the Chinese pretty nearly as Sunday does with Christian people. But the hard- working laudrymen did not care to listen to more than on? dry sermen a week, and the only meeting that is now held is on Sun- day. The lecturer is confined to sixteen topics. These are the “Sacred Command- ments,” so called from the fact that they are the effusions of an imperial mind. Here are some of them: “Pay special attention to filial and frater- nal duties In order to give due importance to the relations of society. “Let peace abound among neighbors in order to put a stop to disputes and litiga- tions. “Encourage frugality and economy with a view to the saving of money and ex- penses. “Put down heretical doctrines with a view to exalt the orthodox faith. - “Tlustrate the principles of propriety and courtesy with the view of improving the manners and customs of the people. “Let everybody attend to his own calling, to the end that the people of the whole country may live in settled contentment.” These apothegms were first. given to the world by Kang-hi, the second emperor of the present dynasty. They are regarded as containing in a small compass the funda- mental principles of Chinese society and government. ——__+e+ Happy by Comparison. From the Tammany Times. “Hello, McGinnis, you look blue. is the matter?” “Matter enough. Boil on the back of my neck!” “By th y “But you are not looking remarkably cheerful yourself, Whackster. Anything wrong with you?” “My wife is cleaning house.” What George! old fellow, I sympathize ou!” (Fervently)—“Thank heaven for my boll.” —— ee Vhe Curriculum From the New York Herald. Tom—“Why didn’t you go back to col- lege Dick—“Deficient in mathematics.” Tom—‘How did that happen?” Dick—“I calculated that I could kick the ball clean over tht goal and I didn’t reach it by twenty feet.” ——_——_-e+—_____ Wouldn’t Say the Same. From the Boston Gazette. Deekon (in salcon)—“What would my mirister say ‘f he should see me in here drinking?” Somewhat Full Individual—“Dunno, m’ friend. Waz hiz favorite (hic) drink, er?” THEY KEEP COOL The King of Siam and the Prince of India’s Great Schemes. GLASS “PALACES” SUNK IN A LAKE In Fairy-Like Chambers the Kings Pass the Hot /fternoons. A LANGUID LUXURY Written for The Evening Star. There is no longer any need to swelter during these hot months if you will only be up to date and follow the example of the King of Siam and Prince Khan Ar- yanluh of India, These two gentlemen have struck upon a scheme which is certainly unique, and by the aid of which they ere daily beating Old Sol at his own game. The glory of solving the great problem really belongs to the King of Siam, and was afterward copied by Prince Khan of Aryanluh. In substance it is the constructing of a Mammoth glass room upon the surface of a lake, and sinking it during the intense heat. This room measures about twenty feet square by fifteen feet high. With the excep- tion of the floor it is entirely of heavy plate glass, closely fitted into steel frames. ‘The floor is of wood and steel, and directly under it is a second or false floor, into which are stored weights of stone. When floating all these weights are removed, but when his majesty desires a cooling tons of them are rolled in and the room slowly and silently sinks until it rests upon the ttom. It is then at a depth of about twenty feet, and so arranged that an abun- dant supply of air is obtained from numer- ous tubes leading to the surface. By means of other tubes he is enabled to hold con- versation with those in the royal palace on shore, and also to transact state business. Here, in a fairy-like chamber, the king passes the long, hot afternoons in the dolce far niente so dear to the orientalist. The white hot light of the blazing sun, cooled by its passage through the waters, penetrates the transparent walls of this Neptune-like structure with a softness the exquisiteness of which cannot be described, and in magic tints shed a chaste luster over surround- ings gorgeous beyond the dreams of the mermaids and naiads of the deep. Could one of these maidens of classic lore gaze through the translucent sides of this water palace she would see its royal master re- clining at ease, lulled to repose by the gentle murmur of rippling waters and the languorous music of his pretty attendants. A Marine Landsenpe. Unfolded to his gaze there is a marine- like panorama on which the eye never tires of feasting. Richly tinted fishes move slowly throvgh the green waters, so near that the hand stretched out could almost touch them. Little fleets of waiter warriors glide past majestically, and ever and anon there is witnessed a battle royal between opposing forces, or the fierce struggle of a larger fish destroying its smaller prey. Overhead the blue tinted sky is strangely changed by the interven- ing waters, and clouds and shadows put on new shades. Truly, a more beautiful ceil- ing for a palace could not be painted by man, and the walls afford vistas of new de- light on every side. While the surface lil- ies droop, amd the furnace-like heat stills the surrounding forest, the king and his royal retinue, ensconced beneath the wa- ter, ive anew the old, old life of Poseidon, the Greek god of the seas, and his wife, Amphitrite, who dwelt in their fabled golden house under the seas, at Aegae, of the Homeric Isles. The furnishings of this submarine castle are similar to those of the imperial palace —a mixture of Chinese grandeur and In- dian lavishness. Every chair, table and divan is inlaid with gold and heavily stud- ded with precious stones. The ornaments, statues and minor furnishings are of ivory and the back of the rcyal chair is em- blazened with a coronet of emeralds. When his majesty desires to return to the surface, the weights are quickly roll- ed out upon a sunken raft by means cf levers from an ante-room, and the room is drawn up, as an elevator, by cables and hoisting apparatus from above. ‘The raft bearing the weights is afterward drawn up by the same method. Imitated in Ipdia. This Ingenious scheme has been copied by Prince Khan Aryanluh. His submarine room is somewhat larger, but equally as gorgeous. To him, however, the idea of living under water is not as marvelous as to the King of Siam, as the water has been his home from childhood. His home, and the home of his father, the -oyal palace at Agra, is built entirely on the water, and access to it ts only possible by boat. In magnificence and gaudy graudeur it proba- bly eclipses anything known to the civilized world. Its decorations in ivory and pre- cious stones clone are worth over $20,000,- 000, and it has 1,000 rooms. It is known as the pearl palace, and was built exclusively —for the ruling monarch, his family and his wives. Twenty thousand men were em- ployed on it for twenty-two yeurs. It is built in the- form of an irregular octagon, is of pure white marble, and so lavishly is the main hall decorated that the whole of the Koran is said to be written in precious stones on the walls. Siam’s Remarkable Ruler. The King of Siam, the inventor of this submarine device, it a wonderful persona. His name is perhaps the longest of any monarch in the world, containing fifty- seven letters, but he is called Chulalankorn for short. He has ten different names in addition to this and his titles would fill more than a column of newspaper space. He is a young man, but despite his tender age has 600 wives. Notwithstanding this large assortment, however, he is so sacred and mighty that he must marry nobody beneath him in rank, and his only equals being members of his own family, his official wife must therefore be his half sis- ter. She rules the harem, wears diamond and emerald rings on every finger and ruby bracelets around her ankles. She occupies her time in smcking cigarettes and chewing the betel nut, making her teeth as black as ebony. This pleases the king,who says that anybody can Lave white teeth, but only monarchs, who are rich enough to afford the betel nut, can have black ones. In looking at this semi-heathen king it is hard to believe that he is the sacred ruler of over 8,900,000 of peop®, and still harder to appreciate his absolute power. The whole people are his slaves, and his simple word inflicts instant death on any man, or robs him of his daughter. He has the ight to call his subjects into his service without pay at’any or all times, and every man in Siam is forced to give him part of his ser- vices during each year. All the women of the entire country are supposed to belong to him and the nobles offer him their daughters by the score. Although Siam hes no national debt, he taxes the people as he pleases and so heavy are these taxes.that men are often forced to sell their wives and children. By this means the king’s vaults are full of treasure, and his yearly income $10,000,000. This he squanders in enriching his personal sur- roundings. For the building of this submarine- room probably 1,000 men were forced into the work in addition to extra heavy taxes being levied upon the entire populace. ——————n Married in Forty Seconds. From the Boston Journal. A record time for quick marriage was made in the nuptials of Kennedy Tutwiler and Miss Mary A. Rubush, a nineteen-year- old groom and a sixteen-summer bride, at Staunton, Va., recently. The couple went to town to get a license and get married, but were unable to find a preacher, and as evening was coming on they starte: solately back for the home of the tive bride. They had boarded the curs, and in waiking througn saw the Rev. John Don- evan. They hurriedly explained their plight. and just as the conductor was giving the signal to start the train the clergyman started in to perform the marriage cere- mony. He got through in just forty sec- ends by the conductor's watch, and the happy pair jumped off the ears as the train started, and went to their new home re- foicing. TEACHING A cRow TO TALK. JESSE JAMES’ SON. Unknown to Gov. Crittenden, He Was " Given Employment. “There was a curious little page in the history of Jesse James, or rather that of his family,” said Representative Hall of Missouri to a Star writer when the former was recently in*the city, “which was never written. Governor Crittenden, now consul general to Mexico, was, as you recollect, the chief executive of Missouri at the time the redoubiable Jesse James was killed. Bob Ford, who shot Jesse and afterward plead guilty to a charge of murder in the first degree, and was sentenced to be hung by the St. Joe court, was immediately pardoned by Governor Crittenden. “This, of course, was by agreement made long before tc cover just such a contin- geney, and excited neither surprise nor comment at the tlie. Why did Ford plead guilty? Because he wanted a record of ‘once in Jeopardy as a bar to any future in- dictment which might have been pre- ferred after Crittenden had ceased to be governor, and when a chief executive might not have been so prompt with his pardon. “But about the curious page in the James history to which I referred. Jess? James had a son clout thirteea years old. After Crittenden had ceased to be governor he opened lav cffices in haasas City. After organizire for business be needed an oflice hoy, and put-an advertisement in one cf the local papers.’ In response a weli-dress- ed, handsome, very intelligent boy put in an appearance. There had been a score of responses, but Governor Crittenden was very much attracted to this purticular boy, he seemed so quick and bright and frank. After talking with him a bit Gev- ernor Crittenden decided to employ him. The boy said he lived on 17th street in Kansas City with his mother, who was a widow. : “What is your name?’ said Governor Crittenden. ““‘James,’ replied the boy. " “At this point somebody came in to dis- tract Crittenden’s attention, and he simply adopted the boy into his business without further inquiry. The boy turned out to be a very energetic and valuable youth, and the governor was delighted with his choice. He supposed all the time that the name ‘James’ given him by the boy was his first name. At the end of a week Gov- ernor Crittenden had occasion to draw a check for his office boy's salary. “What did you say your last name was?’ asked Governor Crittenden, as he dipped his pen in the ink bottle. “ James,’ replied the boy. that your last name?’ inquired Crit- Veg,” “Well, what is your first name then? esked the executive, somewhat surprised. “ ‘Jesse,’ answered the boy. ‘My name is Jesse James.’ “To say that Crittenden was astonished would be a mild way to tell it. He began an inquiry into his office boy's antecedents which developed the fact that he was the oldest son of the dead outlaw, and bore his father’s name. No, there was no plot in it. The whole thing was one of those accidents which now and then astonish men. It did seem strange that the office boy whom Crittenden selected, as it were, in the dark, should be the son of that celebrated robber, whose bloody taking off the energy of Crittenden had _ brought about. No, Crittenden didn’t keep the boy, but he did what was better still. He hunted him up a situation where he got a better chance to expand and received twice as much salary.” > A WARMING PAN. ——— It is a Mistake ‘to Cut the Bird’s ie. From the Louisville Oourter-Journal. . “Yacob,” the pet crow belonging to Jo- seph Dreshnock, a German cobbler, at 310 ist street, died last Sunday afternoon from accidental poisonmg. Since the cobbler’s wife died, a yearisgo, the crow was his only company, and@he is consequently very loresome. Dreschnock took the crow from its nest before it céntd fly. The ugly little black bird had threé companions, and all of them occupied @ rest in a tall tree near Henryville, Ind. Dréschnock secured the crow while on a visit-to the farm on which the tree was. His -recollections of the crows his grandfather had on his place in the fatherland prompted him to get the birds. He gave away three of the four crows. “But they died,” he said, slowly pulling at his stubby side whiskers. “People here don't know about crows. They cut their tongues and then expect them to talk. That’s all bosh. A crow that can’t talk without his tongue cut can’t talk with it cut. The three I gave away had their tongues cut a1.d bled to death. To teach a ercw to talk you must handle it like a child. You must teach it a word at a time. When you want it to do something you must show it. When you tell a child for the first time to shake hands it don’t under- stand. You must take its hands in yours at the same time you tell it to shake hands. i fed my crow for six weeks before it was able to eat by itself. Then I let it hop around the shop here. Its favorite place was on that peg cutter there. The little fellow would sit up there and watch me povid away at shoes all day long. The first word I taught it was ‘hello.’ This is the simplest word, and if a crow can say hello it can say most any other werd. I didn’t Say anything else to it for three days. The bird sat there and watched my mouth with a curious interest. It would cock its head on one side and blink its eyes as wisely as an owl. Every once in a while it would go into queer contortions. Suddenly it let out the word ‘hello.’ This seemed to please it. The bird flapped its wings and hopped about the place in the greatest glee, calling ‘Hello’ in a perfect torrent. After that I taught it to say. ‘Good-bye.’ Then it learned its name, and when any one asked it who it was the bird would answer with an amus- ing gravity ‘I am a good crow’ quite plain- iy. “That crow was a wonder. He was the smartest crow I ever knew. He was a finer one than my grandfather’s crow, which was handed down through three genera- tions in the old country. Whenever the fire bells rang Yacob would yell ‘Fire, fire, fire,’ as if his life depended on it. Yacob prided himself on being able to bark like a dog. ‘This made him a good watch crow. If he found a stranger in the yard he at once set up a loud barking, which always warn- ed me. When he sat on the counter there he never allowed any one to handle my teols. He showed his disapproval by hop- pirg on their hands and pecking them viciously. Yacob was not like other crows. Other crows talked only when they felt like it, Yacob taiked when occasion required it. When a customer left the shop and I asked Yacob what he said, he very politely flap- ped his wings as if to make a courtesy, and celled out, ‘Good-bye.’ I kept him in a Cage over night, and set the cage so he cculd see the door open when I entered the shop in the morning. He always greeted me with ‘Hello,’ and at once demanded to be let out of his cage. “He and Tom, the big yellow cat lying there, were very good friends. While Tom vealked about the-shop purring and rubbing egainst customers’ legs, Yacob would stand by his side talking to himself at a great rate. Yacob ofter perched himself on Tom's back while Tont“wds walking about, to Which Tom made'ho Sort’ of objection: But Yacob would not” téferate Tom near his meals. You know Yacob believed in laying something by fof a‘tatny day. When he got more meat than he could eat he very wisely carried it out into the back yard and pluced it in a convenient hole. He covered the hole with a piece of paper and then flew up to the ridge of the fence to stand guard over his tveastre..As sure as Tom began “to stcll 'rround’ the yard, ‘Yacob would fly down aiid attack Tom’s tail until the cat was only, tod glad to beat a re- treat. J “Crows live a hundred years if some ac- cident doesn’t happen to them. It was un- fortunate when I placed the poison last Sunday for the roaches. Yacob got some. of it about 4 o'clock. When he began to fall sick he came to me at once, and, hop- ping in my hand, refused to leave. I gave him milk and oil, but it did him no good. Toward 6 o'clock Yacob seemed worse, so I carried him to the cage. He clutched my finger and sat there until he died.” ——_ +e ROBERT TONG'S DUCKS. IN A Peculiar Old Maid Miser Left 2 Mil- lion to the City of Paris. From the New York World. lion francs In cash and convertible securi- ties, lying for two months in a warming pen in an untenanted and unwatched house in the suburbs of Paris, must have made thieves of all degrees curse their luck when they heard of it the other day. A fortnisht ago tne prefect of the Seine, who is the head of the municipal govern- ment of Paris, was informed that, as the representative of the city, he was the in- heritor of a fortune of about five million franes, being the bequest to the poor of Paris left by Mile. Marie Genevieve Tanies, who died last November, aged eighty-three, at Orsay, a pretty little town not far from the metropolis. Mile. Tanies was not known to have had any banker, and the fortune was supposed to be In the house she was oc- cupying at the time of her death. The prefect at once set out for Orsay, and made a careful search of the house. The stuffed furniture was probed, the mat- tresses cut open, but nothing was found. Her apartment in the Rue de la Boetie, at Paris, was also ransacked with like result. The prefect was beginning to think that the old spinster had bequeathed property she had never owned, or that thieves had made successful quest before his arrival, but decided to revisit Orsay and make an- other thorough search, aided by the prefect of police. Again they went through the house from garret to cellar. Finally, they noticed a cupboard in the wall, the door of which stood half open, re- vealing a heap of rubbish within. In a per- functory way they turned this over, and an old warming pan slid out and fell to the floor. Its cover flew open and the officials were astounded to see a flood of gold and bank notes roll out upon the carpet. The treasure was found. Another curious thing, which was discov- ered later, and which seems to explain Mlle. Tanies’ queer method of concealing her fortune, is that the aged spinster was an ardent lover of the prose tales of Edgar Allan Poe, her favorite being the story of the “Purloined Letter.” It will be remem- bered that this story tells of an important letter which was filched from a princess or some other royal personage by one of her enemies, who, while he held it, had her in his power. She had his house secretly searched several times, but in vain. Fi- nally a Sherlock Holmes of that period found the precious billet in a soiled en- velope in a prominent position on a rack upon the wall. Mile. Tanies inherited her large fortune from a M. Dubruil, an architect, who left it to her, with the charge that when she had finished with it she should turn it over to the Paris poor. She was, however, em- powered to use as much of it as she chose in charitable works. She founded at Orsay an orphanage for young girls, a school of archi-ectural design in Paris, and several other important institutions, Her will espe- clally directed that 400 francs each year be given to the fireman in Paris who had most distinguished himself. ——— A Mistnke of One Letter. From the Indianapolis News. An excited individual climbed'three flights of stairs in great leaps and yelled: “Where's the editor?” Nobody owned to the distinction. “Show me the editor,” he demanded, shaking a paper in his hand at arm’s length. “He's in there!” piped an indiscreet of- fice boy, who had been hired to answer the telephone. The man with a_ grievance bolted into the room designated without knocking. He shoved the paper under the editor’s nose, and, pointing to a marked portion, ex- claimed: “Read that!” The editcr read: “Mrs. R——” “That's my wife,” interrupted the angry visitor. “Mrs. R—,” continued the editor, “gave a violet luncheon to her friends ‘yester- Refused the Dainty Food He Gave Them, but Grew Fat. From the Wilmington (Del.) News. Tke mind of Robert Tong of the ninth ward has be2n relieved. For weeks he has been bothered about a flock of ducks which he-owns and is very proud of. Everybody knows “Bob” Tong. He keeps a meat shamble, and as a means of diversion is a poultry fancier on a small scale. His brown Leghorn chickens are known for miles around, and, while his ducks are not so famous, they are of a remarkable kind, and are large in size and prolific lay- ers. Mr. Tong can talk poultry by the hour, and he knows the best kinds of food and when to feed it. It was on the food question that Mr. Tong was disturbed in his mind. The ducks, which have always been as good feeders as they were layers, several weeks ago “got off their feed,” as fanciers say. ‘This is only another way of saying they apparently lost their appetites. Up to this time they vindicated the saying that ducks will eat anything. The loss of appetite at- tacked the whole flock at the same time, and every duck refused his food, as if there had been a caucus and an iron-clad agree- ment had been reached. bi ‘Tempting messes were prepared for them, but everything was treated with a con- temptuous “quack,’’ and left untouched. Sirloin beefsteaks were minced with other ducks’ dainties, but without any effect. ‘The ducks refused to eat. Mr. Tong felt confident that the ducks would die. He watched them carefully, however, and, while they appeared to be lazy, their health was unimpaired, and they grew fatter and fatter. Mr. Tong told his friends about the mys- tery, and, like him, they all gave it up. He was speedily coming to the conclusion that he had produced a breed of ducks that, chameleon-like, would live on wind, when Police Sergeant Massey last Monday night solved the mystery. The sergeant was hurrying to the reporting place, when, ccming down the middle of Market street, he saw ‘Bob’ Tong’s ducks. They came in Indian file, a mammoth drake in the lead. The ducks waddled as they came, and a cesultcry conversation appeared to be going on, judging from the quack-quacks that were heard aloug the line. The sergeant was interested, and as he was ahead of time he followed the avcks, walking qu‘etly and keeping in the shade. ; The ducks Stopped’ under the first arc light and ate the large pile of insects whick had been kiiled or maimed by the lights. When all the bugs had been de- voureG, the ducks’ werit on to the next elec- tric light, and kept en until they were so gorged with tugs that they could only barely waddle back to Tong’s stable. They -day.” The secret was out, The ducks had been | 92%, ‘ ” lving on bugs. So well did they love the | 4, wants the matter with that?” asked diet that they gorged themselves until they could eat no other kind of food. Sergt. Massey was interested. The next night he watched for the ducks, and they came a3 usual. The next night he was at the “What's the matter! Look at that!” and he indicated the word. The editor, with sinking heart, read “‘vio- lent luncheon.” | camfer, and now I feel a bit skittish about N: The story of the Tanies legacy—five mil- DYSPEPSIA, INSOMNIA’ From the Herald, Baltimore, Md. Mr. Isaac Hamburger ‘s a well-known cigar man- ufacturer and tobacco dealer at 1425 E. Baltimore street, Baltimore, Md. He is @ hale, robust man now, but a few months ago he thought he was about to become © living skeleton if not a dead man. He now weighs about 200 pounds and steps about his factory as actively as do his “strip- per” boys. Fis present condition is due to the use of Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills which he cou- siders the best medicine in the world for dys- pepsia, loss of appetite, indigestion and insomnia. When a Herald reporter recently called on Mr. Hamburger he chme jauntily in the store from his factory and in speaklug of the pills sald: “Yes, I have used Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills and can cheerfully recommend them.” “Some months since,” he continued. “Owing to confinement to business I had an attack of dyspepsia accompa- nied by terrible and almost incessant heartburn and torpid liver. I tried doctors and many reme- dies that friends advis:d me to take, bat found no reltef until I heard of and used Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills, I secured five bores and began to im- Prove perceptibiy after taking a few doses, and when the five boxes were gone I was completély cured. If you had sceu me when Lowes sick and compared my condition then with what it Is now you would join me in a song cf praise of the mar- velous merits of Pink Pills. I um a living monu- ment to their efficacy in curing the maladies from which I suffered. 1 weigh now nearly 200 pounds, sleep well, eat beartpy and iigeat my food with- out any inconvenience and sleep as well as I did when a boy after a romp before bed time. I un- hesitatingly and with confidence im their curative and invigorating qualities recommend the Tuk Pills to all sufferers and shoull I be so unfortu- nate as to be sick again I shail get another sup- ply.” Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills contaia, In a condensed form, all the elements necessary to give new life and richness to the blood and restore shattered nerves, They are also a specific for troubles pecu- liar to females, such 1s suppressions, irregu- larities and all forms of weakness. They build up the blood, and restore the glow of health to pale and sallow cheeks. In men they effect a radical cure in all cases arising from mental worry, overwork or excesses of what- ever nature, Pink Pills are sold in boxes (never in loose bulk), at 50 cents a box or six boxes for $2.50, and may be had of all druggists, or direct by mail from Dr. Williams’ Medicine Company, Schenectady, N. ¥. HER SMUGGLED MUFFS. When Told They Were Made of Cat- skins She Became Indignant. From the New York Advertiser. “I see by an-advertisement of yours,’ she said, putting down a big bundle on the counter of a 6th avenue fur store and fum- bling for her handkerchief, “that you store valuable furs through the summer and guarantee to keep out the moths. Is that so?” “It is madam,” said the clerk, politely. “Well, I own two mighty fine muffs and I kinder .fke to store ’em. Wouldn't think | of bringin’ "em to you, only last year I put up my best plush coat in camfer—a dollar’s worth of it—and along came them buffaler moths and chawed up the whole back breadth. They just seemed to hanker after the muffs.” yell take good care of them, madam.” tin’t too early to put "em away?” Oh, no.” i “I see they’re having sleighing out west.” Po “Feawon't lest! . ‘/Reckon I won’t.nged them muffs, hey?” “Could I get "emcif it came off cold?” “You could.” “Well, I guess [jl leave "em,” concluded the camphor ekeptic, untying the string on the bundle. “There are valuable furs,young man,” she added. .*¥You don’t get no such lynx skins down here. I bought them muffs in Canada last fail-and I didn’t pay uo duty gettin’ ‘em in either.” “How's that?" asked the clerk. “I wore ‘em in.”" “I don’t understand,” said the clerk. “Don't, hey? Well, I put a foot through each muff. See?” “Weren't they—weren’t they rather warm?” ventured the clerk. “Warm? Well, you can bet I perspired and blushed all the way over the border, though, of course,” she added, modestly, “them muffs was only just above my shoes.” “Of course,” echoed the clerk, hastily. ‘ay I see the muffs, ma’am?” She opened the bundle and an expression of surprise crossed his face as he examined the contents, You said you didn’t pay duty, I believe?” e asked. “You better believe I didn’t.” I think cats are on the free list,madam.” ‘Hey 2?" “Suppose they are? “Merely that your muffs are catskin, treated and dyed, that's all. Shall I give you a receipt?” “What?” asked the woman again, un- able to believe her ears. “Catskins, madam.” The owner of the muffs quietly gathered up her property and arose. “They're no more catskins than you are,” she sald, with an expression of utter con- tempt. “It’s just envy. You couldn't bring in a muff the way I did to save your neck, because there ain't enough shape on your whole body all the way from your head to your feet to hold a muff.”” By this time she had reached the oor, but she screamed back: “Cats, hey? You pore, skinny little man with a fishpole shape, mebbe they are cats, but I reckon we're even!” And by the looks of the pale faced and popping eyed clerk they were. eee) The Bloomer Maid. From Truth. When first he dons trouset There comes to. boy A thrill and a feeling Of wonderful joy; With hands in his pockets, ‘Complacent his smile, He's aware of one fact — His clothes are “the style.” When a woman dons bloomers How altered the case, What complex emotions Are shown in her face! She's no faith in button Her feet seem immense, And she longs for the lee Of a sheitering fence. Possession but seldom Contentment insure: A woman who only The trousers secures Gets Nttle but worry For fear she may tear "em, Unless with them A husband to wear 'em, feminine Amentties. From the San Francisco Argonaut. On a crowded elevator in Grand Rapids a young woman arose upon the entrance of an elderly one, and, with a wave of the hand toward the seat, which the newcomer seemed reluctant to accept, sald: “Age be- fore beauty.” ‘Thank you,” was the reply, as the newcomer dropped into the seat; “but one would need glasses to see the beauty.” “Perhaps,” was rejoined, quietly, “but pone wovld be required to see the age. ————__-+e-—_____ Fashionable Anyhow. From the Boston Transcript. First Clerk—“That’s all the thanks a fel- low gets. Here I've had my pay reduced after making a horse of myself.” Second Clerk—‘Well, there’s one satisfac- tion to you. Docked horses are considered extremely stylish.” stable when the court house clock struck 2. When the last note echoed over the city the ducks emerged from the stable. A watch has been kept ever since. It is when the clock strikesi2 that they come, and al- Ways on the second. —see- Frem Life. Her Query. From the Chicago Record. At the seashore. “Strange thing about mosquitoes; they say only the females bit There is a long pause. “Susi “Yes Clara!” “I wonder if all these female mosquitoes are as lonesome as We are’ —————s Sadder and Wiser. From the Chicago Tridune. The ill-natured mastiff that had made a leap at the tail of a passing cow and got kicked into the gutter for his pains picked himself up and limped slowly away. “It never pays,” he said, “to jump at a conclusion.” * The Comivg Woman, THE: ~ EVENING STAR has a Larger ‘Circulation in the Homes of Washington ' than all the Other Papers of the City Added» Together, because it Stands Up Always for the . Interests of the People of Washington; Contains the Latest and Fullest Local and General News; = and Surpasses all the Other Papers in the City in the Variety and Excellence of its Literary Features. - It Literally Goes Everywhere, and is Read by Everybody. © It is, therefore, asa Local Advertising Medium, without a Peer, Whether Cost or Measure of Publicity be Considered