Evening Star Newspaper, August 5, 1895, Page 11

(Copyright, 1895, by Irving Bacheller.) CHAPTER IL The Knot of Ribbon. I think I must have fainted away; for Presently I found myself upon the floor, and for a minute I could not remember what had happened. Then I remembered that I had seen my father’s murdered body on the bed; and an awful, unreasoning ter- ror seized me. “I must lock all the doors quick,” I thought, “quick, or the murderer will come back!” I tried to get up, but I could not stand. I sank down again. I had to crawl out of the room on my hands and knees. I went first to the frcnt door. It was locked with a key and a bolt. I went next to the north door, and that was locked with @ key and a bolt. I went to the north shed door, and that was bolted. Then I went to the little-used east door in the shed, beside which the cat has her little passageway, .and that was fastened with an iron hook. It has no latch. The whole house was fastened on the in- side. The thought struck me like an icy hand. “The murderer is in this house!” I rose to my feet then; I unhooked that door and ran out of the house and out of the yard, as for my life. I took the road to the village. The first house, where -Phoebe Dole and Maria ‘Woods live, is across a wide field from ours. I did not intend to stop there, for they were only women and could do nothing; but, see- | “Father in Murdered in Bed.” fmg Phoebe looking out of the window, I fan into the yard. She opened the window. “What is it?" said she. “What is the Matter, Sarah Fairbanks?" Maria Woods came and leaned over her shoulder. Her face looked almost as white as her white hair, and her blue eyes were dilated. My face must have frightened her. “Father—father is murdered in his bed!” T sald. ‘There was a scream, and Maria Woods’ face disappeared from over Phoebe Dole’s shoulder—she had fainted. I don’t know whether Phoebe looked paler—she is al- Ways very pale—but I saw in her black eyes a look F shall never forget. I think she began to suspect me at that moment. Phoebe glanced back at Maria, but she asked me another question. ‘Has he had words with anybody?” said she. “Only with Rufus,” I sald, “but Rufus is gone.” Phoebe rurned away from the window to attend to Maria, and I ran on to the village. A hundred reople can testify what I dil next—can tell how I called for the doctor and the deputy sheriff; how I went back to my own home with the horror-stricken crowd; how they flocked in and looked at poor father~but only the doctor touched him, very carefully, to see if he were quite Kori how the coroner came, and all the rest. The pistol was in the bed beside father, but it had not been fired; the charge was still in the barrel. It was blood-stained, and there was one bruise on father’s head which might have been inflicted by the pistol, used as & alub. But the wound which caused his death was in his breast, and made, evidently, by some cutting in- strument, though the cut was not a clean one; the weapon must have been dull, ‘hey searched the house, lest the mur- @erer should be hidden away. I heard Rufus Bennett's name whispered by one and another, Everybody seemed to know that he and father had had words the night before; I could not understand how, because I had told nobody except Phoebe Dole, who had had no time to spread the news, and I was sure that no one else had spoken of it. They looked in the closet where my green silk dress hung, and pushed it aside, to be sure nobody was concealed behind it, but they did not notice anything wrong about it. It was dark in the closet, and, be- glides, they did not look for anything like that until later. All these people—the deputy sheriff, and afterward the high sheriff and other out-of- ‘town officers for whom they had sent, and the nelghbors—all hunted their own sus- icion, and that was Rufus Bennett. Hi lieved that be had come back and killed my father. They fitted all the facts to that belief. They made him do the deed ye a long, slender screwdriver, which he d recently borrowed from one of the neighbors and hed not returned. They made his fingermarks, which were still on my father’s throat, fit the red prints on the sitting room door. They made sure that the had returned and stolen into the house ay, the east shed dcor, while father and I wt on the doorsteps the evening before; that he had hidden himself away, perhaps im that very closet where my dress hung, nd afterward stolen out and killed my father and then escaped. They were not shaken when I told them that every door was bolted and barred that morning. They themselves found all the windows fastened down, except a few which were open on account of the heat, and even these last were raised only the ‘width of'a sash and fastened with sticks, so that they could be raised no higher. Father ‘was very cautious about fastening the house, for he sometimes had considerable gums of money by him. The officers saw ell these difficulties in the way, but they fitted them somehow to their theory, and two deputy sheriffs were at once sent to apprehend Rufus. They had not begun to suspect me then, and not the slightest watch was kept on my movements, The neighbors were very kind, and did everything to help me, re- lieving me altogether of all those last offices—in this case much sadder than ‘usual. An inquest was held, and I told freely all I knew, except about the blood stains on my dress. I hardly knew why I kept that back. I had no feeling then that I might ‘have done the deed myself, and I could not bear to convict myself, if I was innocent. ‘Two of the neighbors, Mrs. Holmes and Birs. Adams, remained with me all that y. Toward evening, when there were very few in the house, they went into the parlor to put it in order for the funeral and I sat down alone in the kitchen. As q sat there by the window I thonght of my green silk dress, and wondered if the stains were out. I went to the closet and brought the dress out to the light. The gpots and streaks had almost disappeared. I took the dress out in the shed and scrap- ed off the flour paste, which was qulte cry; Iswept up the paste, burned it in the stove, took the dress upstairs to my own closet end hung it in its old place. Neighbors remained with me all night. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the next @ay, which was Thursday, I went over to Phoebe Dole’s to see about a black dress wear to the funeral. The neighbors \d urged me to have my blaok silk dress altered a little and trimmed with crepe, I found only Marta Wood at home, ‘When she saw me she gave a little scream id began to cry. She looked as {f she d already been weeping for hours. Her blue eyes were bloodshot. “Phoebe’s gone over to—Mrs. Whitney’s to—try on her dre: she sobbed. “I want to get my black silk dress fixed @ little,” said 1 eh be home—pretty sald ria, laid my dress on the sofa and sat dor Nobody ever consults Maria about a dress, goon,” She sews well, but Phoebe does all the planning. Maria Woods continued to sob like a child, holding her little soaked handker- chief over her face. Her shoulders heaved. As for me, I felt like a stone; I could not weep. “Oh,” she gasped out finally, “I knew, I knew! I told Phoebe—I knew just how it_would be; I—knew!” I roused spas at that. “What do you mean?” sai “When Phoebe came home Tuesday night and said she heard your father and Rufus Bennett having words, I knew how it would be,” she choked out. “I knew he had a dreadful temper.” “Did Phoebe Dole know Tuesday night aoe oe ard Rufus Bennett had words?” said I. “Yes,” said Maria Woods. “How did she know?” “She was going through your yard, the short cut to Mrs. Ormsby’s, to carry her brown alpaca dress home. She came right home and told me, and she overheard them.” “Have you spoken of it to anybody but me?” said I. Maria said she didn’t know; she might have done so, Then she remembered hear- ing Phoebe herself speak of it to Harriet Sargent when sha came in to try on her dress. It was easy to see how people knew about it. I did not say any more, but I thought it was.strange that Phoebe Dole had asked me if father had had words with any- bedy when she knew it all the time. Phoebe came in before long. I tried on my dress, and she made her plan about the alterations and the trimmings. I made no suggestions, I did not care how it was dere, but if I had cared it would have made no difference. Phoebe always does things her own way. All the women in this village are in a manner under Phoebe Dele’s thumb. Their garments are visible preofs of her force of will. While she was taking up my black silk on the shoulder seams Phoebe Dole said: “Let me see—you had a green silk dress made at Digby three summers ago, didn't you?” “Yes,” I said. “Well,” said she, “why don’t you have it dyed black? Those thin silks dye real nice. It would make you a good dress.” I scarcely replied, and then she offered to dye it for me herself. She had a recipe which she had used with great success. I thought it very kind of her, but did not say whether I would accept her offer or not. I could not flx my mind upon any- thing but the awful trouble I was in. “Tl come over and get it tomorrow morn- irg,”” said Phoebe. I thanked her. I thought of the stains, and then my mind seemed to wander away again to the one object. All the time Maria Woods sat weeping. Finally Phoebe turned to her with impa- tience. “If you can't keep calmer, you'd better go upstairs, Maria,” said she. “You'll make Sarah sick. Look at her! She doesn’t ee way—and think of the reason 3 ROL.” ve got reason too,” Marla broke out. Then, with a piteous shriek, “Oh, I've got —Teason!"" “Maria Woods, go out of the room!” said Phoebe. Her sharpness made me jump, haif dazed as I was. Maria got up without a word and went out of the room, bending almost double with convulsive sobs. “She's been dreadful worked up over ycur father’s death,” said Phoche calmly, going on with the fitting. “She's terribly fervous. Sometimes I have to be real sharp with her, for her own good. I nodded. Maria Woods has always been considered a sweet, weakly, dependent “oman, and Phoebe Dole is undoubtedly very fond of her. She has seemed to shield her and take care of her nearly all her life. The two have lived together since they were young girls. Phoebe is tall and very pale and _ thin, but she never has a day’s illness. She is plain, yet there is a kind of severe good- ness and faithfulness about her colorless face, with the smooth bands of white hair over her ears. I went home as soon as my dress was fitted. That evening Henry Ellis came over to see me. I do not need to go into details concerning that visit. It is enough “Marie Woods, Go Gut of the Room.” to say that he tendered the fullest sym~ pathy and protection, and I accepted them. I cried a little, for the first time, and he soothed and comforted me. Henry had driven over from Digby and tied his horse in the yard. At 10 o'clock he bade me good night on the doorstep and and was just turning his buggy around when Mrs. Adams came running to the door. “Ts this yours?” said she, and she held out a knot of yellow ribbon. “Why, that’s the ribbon you have around your whip, Henry,” said I. He looked at ft. “So it fs,” he said. “T must have dropped it. He put it into his pocket and drove away. “He didn’t drop that ribbon_ tonight!” said Mrs. Adams. “I found it Wednesday morning out in the yard. I thought I re- membered seeing him have a yellow ribbon on his whip.” . (To continued.) ee Catching a Boa Co: From Popular Sclence News. “To catch @ boa constrictor is @ very dangerous and difficult task,” says a man who makes it his business to capture wild animals and reptiles for menagerie pur- poses. “Briefly, it is accomplished by means of a labyrinthian tangle, embracing sixty square feet of ground. Tha labyrinth is made by joining together, end on end, pieces of matting. This web fs eight feet high usually, and placed so that the op- posing walls will be two feet apart. All sorts of criss-cross and divergir.g combina- tions are made with the matting—Iit 1s sup- ported here and there by stakes—making when it is set a geometrical @uzzle that might well challenge the ingenuity of man. “The trap is baited with a live pig, which is placed in a pen in the center of the labyrinth. By and by along comes the boa constrictor. It is easy enough to get in. He scents the prey; he ts hungry; the pig is devoured, ard there is where the boa constrictor ccmes to grief. For hours he tries to release himself from the tortuous passages which rise about him, but finally he grows tired end stretches out for a nap, Then is our time. We enter the labyrinth and capture him.” —— see. The Star Out of Town, THE EVENING STAR will be sent by mail to any address in the United States or Canada for such period as may be desired at the rate of fifty cents per month. {But all such orders must be ao- companied by the money, or the paper cannot be sent, as no ac- counts are kept with mall subscrip- tions, itrictor. THE EVENING STAR, MONDAY, AUGUST 65, 1895—TWELVE PAGES. LATE SPORTING NEWS 4 RIDICULOUS CLAM. That Pennant Winners Must Play New York for the Temple Cup. The clair that the National Base Ball League winner should play the New Yorks for the Temple cup is ridiculous. The con- ditions attached by Mr. W. C. Temple of Pittsburg to the gift of the cup at the an- nual meetir g of the league in 1898 were the following: “First, it should belorg each year to the club which won the pennant, but that club, immediately uren the esptiration of the pennant season, might be challenged by the club which had come in second in the race, and thereupon the winning club in the pennant series would have to defend the cup or surrender it to the second club, in which latter case the third club could challenge the second club to defend the cup. “The two teams contending for the cup should play a series of games not less than five, ~egularly scheduled under league rules and league discipline, with league umpires, and on such league grounds as their cap- tains should agree upon, and the use of such grounds should be donated by the club owners free of rental. When one team wen a majcrity of the series the contest should end, no matter how many of the criginal ntmber scheduled should remain unplayed. The team winning the series should receive 65 per cent of the receipts of the games for distribution among the players, the lesers receiving the remaining 35 per cent. “The winner should also be entitled to hold the cup till it would be claimed the following year by the next pennant win- ner.” The last paragraph should settle the question, Whoever wins the pennant takes the cups and the second club challenges for it. Today’s Schedule. Baltimore at Washington. Brooklyn at New York. Philadelphia at Boston. St. Louis at Pittsburg. Louisville at Cleveland. Cincinnati at Chicago. Saturday's Scores, Baltimore, 1; Washington, 0, Pittsburg, Cleveland, 4. Brooklyn, 13; New York, 3. Boston, 9; Philadelphia, 6 Chicago, 6; St. Louis, 0. Louisville, 7; Cincinnati, 0. Yesterday's League Games. At Chicago— _ Pitchers. . B. Chicago Griffith-Terry, 7 St. Louis. Kissinger. 0 At Cincinnati— Louisville. 1 8 Cincinnati. The League Record. Clubs. W. L. P.C.| Clubs. W. L. P.O. Cleveland... 53°36 .596 Cincinnat!... 45 38.542 Pittsburg... 50 :598 Philadelphia. 43 37 -538 Baltimore... 46 32 .590 New York... 41 39 513 Chicago. 51 39 567 Washington. 27 48 .360 Boston. 44 35 557 St. Louls.... 28 59 322 Brooklyn... 44 37 .543 Louisville... 21 59 .203 Base Ball Notes. The Baltimores will come over to Wash- ington today to meet the Senators. Hoffer will probably pitch for the champions and either Mercer or Stocksdale for the home club. Cleveland and Pittsburg, the two leaders, play against Louisville and St. Louis, the two tail-enders, this week. New York has only won one game out of six from Brooklyn. Young Kinlcck, the Denver amateur, who was tried at third by St. Louls in last Wed- nesday’s game against Chicago, has been turned loose and Samuels, a Chicago ama- teur, will be given a trial at third. New York is happy because the “Giants” have another chance at the “Temple cup. The Browns are tn a state of demoraliza- tion. Manager Quinn tendered his resigna- tion at Chicago Friday, but Von der Ahe declined to accept it. Chris. deposed from the captaincy on Saturday Peitz, who played first hase, and reappointed Miller. Pitcher Killen of Pittsburg, was able to get out of bed on Saturday. He has had a hard time of it. Manager Connie Mack of the Pittsburg club announces that in case Pittsburg wins the pernant he will refuse to play for the Temple cup with New York unless the “Giants” land in second place. The Lovisvilles are surely out for the pennant. They have won seven straight games.—Baltimore Sun. Outtlelder Tom Burns, who has played in Brooklyn for a number of years past,ehas received his ten days’ notice of release from the Brooklyn club. Young, Anderson and Treadway have been playing so well that Burns has been compelled to decorate the bench for some time past. Harry Staley was given his ten notice of release. This leaves St. Louis with three pitchers—Breitenstein, Ehret and Kissinger—none of whom are in form. Cincinnati conld make but five scattered hits off Weyhing on Saturday and was whitewashed by Louisville. The tail-enders batted Rhines hard. St. Loulsans have become reconciled to the inevitable and regard the Browns as sure tail-enders. Von der Ahe is trying to transfer the rest of the games scheduled for St. Louis, but ls meeting with no suc- cess. days’ THEIR FIRST MATCH. Washington’s New Cricket Plays at Catonsville. The recently organized Washington Cricket Club went to Catonsville, Md., Sat- urday, to play the eleven of the Catonsville Team Country Club. The Washington eleven was- two men short, and all the players were out of practice; many had not played for ten years. It was the first match for the ‘Washington club, and the most that was looked for was an opportunity to gain prac- tice. Catonsville won easily, as was ex- pected, by 213 to 63. Catonville, Sleeman c, Robinson b, Bullen....... 5 Carey c, W. B. Cherrington b, Bullen. Macgill c, A. W. Cherrington b, Bullen, Glenn, not out. Ridgely c, Wisner b, McLennan. Levering, not out. 5 Bray, Clabaugh, Andrews and Sperry did ‘not bat. 4 » 12 ovens 213 M. W. o 0 o 0 9 8 ° 3 o 8 Washington. Pigot b, Bray 2 6 Wisner b, Bray. 7 Morley c, Levering b, Clabaugh. 4 Robinson c, MacGill b, Ridgely. 9 A. W. Cherrington b, Clabaugh. 6 W. B. Cherrington b, Bray.... 1 McLennon c, Carey Butler c, Andrews b, b, Clabaugh. Bray. Young b, Clabaugh. ‘The members of the Washington Cricket Club practice Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings at the grounds, Columbia road and 18th street, but they are rough and not in a condition conducive to expert playing. Any interested in the game an desirous of seeing a strong club here shoul address for information Mr. A. W. Cher~ fington, 1480 Chapin street. VIEW OF AN iGLISH COACH. Greater Interest at Henley This Year nm Ever. J. F. Stillwell, one of England’s foremost oarsmen and a famous coacher and au- thority in aquatic matters, is in New York. Five years ago he was the captain of the London Rowing Club. He heartily ap- proves intérnational racing between col- lege crews, such as was seen at Henley. “I have attended all the Henley regattas,” he said, “but this year the attendance and ———— interest excited were greater than in any previous year. Oars! and lovers of row- ing came from all part,of the world where sports are popular. ‘Mr. Stillwell was what he thought of the defeat of ; Cornell University crew and the cri of Courtney. “I consider Courtney ipetent man,” he replied, “and the cr ims of his methods of training I ¢hink, and it happened to If the Cornell crew fore they did they & the prize, as I think a trifle, and the elintap did it.” Colored Wheelin to Organize. As a result of L.jcA. W. legislation ox- cluding colored wheelmen from member- ship a national orgéhization of colored wheelmen may soo organized. A col- ored cycler of Cleveland has put the ball in an motion. Cyclist Sims Hurt. At the cycle races at Toledo, Ohio, Sat- urday, Sims retired at the end of the first mile of the two-mile handicap with his knee badly hurt by striking against the handle bar. In this race Kiser of Dayton was disqualified for the meet for a de- liberate foul, and almost every race was protested for foul riding. The winniers were: Half mile, open, B—C. M. Murphy, Half mile, open, A—W. J. Klinger. Mile handi- cap, B—Tom Cooper. Two-mile handicap, B—Tom Cooper. Mile, open, A—Barney Oldfield. Quarter mile, open, B—E. C. Bald. Two-mile handicap, A—F.' Kruger. Mile, open, B,-paced—E. C. Bald. —_-oo____ EXCURSIONS, Judging from the large crowds of patrons who visited River View yesterday to es- cape the heat of the elty, this resort is surely an enticing place to spend the day. Large numbers visited River View yester- day for a day of recreation, and they were surely rewarded, for a cooler spot is hard to find, and those who were in search of a day of enjoyment found many attractions. ‘The fact that Speedy, the high-tower jumper, would positively make his last appearance yesterday” also at- tracted a large number. He made three dives during the day immediately after the arrival of each boat. Prof. Arth’s fine band rendered a choice selection of con- + cert music, and was frequently applauded. ts The steamer Harry Randall will leave his evening at 6:45 for a delightful moonlight sail to Indian Head, which will be given by Centennial Lodge, No. 4, Sons of Jonadab. A large number of tickets has already been sold, and it is expected that there will be a goodly crowd to ac- company the lodge. An interesting program has been arranged, including instrumental music, songs and recitations, Fully 1,500 members of the Washington Sangerbund journeyed to Buena Vista yes- terday, as guests of the Potomas German- American Pleasure Club. A day of pleas- ure and rest was enjoyed by all who made the trip, amusements of all description having been provided for py the committee in charge. Toluse’s orchestra was on hand @uring the day and evening and furnished music which was greatly enjoyed. Myrtle Lodge, Knigats of .ythias, will give an excursion to River View on next Tuesday, and which Is likely to prove one of the most enjoyable that has been given this year. Beside numerous additional amusements, a fine program has been pre- pared, which includes a cake walk, races, dancing, vocal and instrumental’ muste. ‘The steamer Samuel J. Pentz will leave at 10 a.m., 2:30 and 6: mn. ‘The annual moonligat excursion of the Capital Bicycle Clu will be given to Mar- shall Hall this evening and the affair is sure to prove a ess in every way. Music and dancing be the features of the evening, and Bizamer, Blacalester will leave,at 6:30 p.m, tickets may be obtained from menjbé¥s or at the club house, 409 15th strest, Wit ‘50° cetits each. Division No. 1, on t Order of Hibern- tans, gave ‘their an: excursion to River View today.. The fmoring and afternoon beats had a large namijer of excursionists aboard, and It is expect] that the steamer Pentz, the last boat, which leaves foot of High street at 5-45 pin, and 7th street wharf at 6:45 p.m., ‘Will’aiso carry down a good crowd. Besidé“mijsic to enliven the day there has been am excellent athletic program prepared, whfva comprises quoit throwing, foot racing, stelge throwing and waltzing contésts. A gama of base ball is also announced nétween two local teams, "An excursion will be given to Bay Ridge by Columbia Lodge, No. 10, I. 0. 9. F., to- morrow. Nothing has been omitted hy those in charge to make the day an enjoy- able one, and trains will leave the Balti- more and Ohio depot at 9:15 a.m. and 4:28 p.m. When the steamer Macalester leaves her wharf tomorrow evening at 6:30 o'clock there will bs aboar'l her the members of the Crescent Benevolent Association and their many friends, the occasion being the fifth annual. moonlight excursion of this association, Prof. Schroeder’s band will render a program of fine music, and a pleasant evening is promised to all who go. Those desiring to spend the whole day at Marshall Hall can take the early boats, the tickets on this excursion being &o0d the whole day. ———— SOUTHERN TEA CULTURE. Interesting Experiment of Dr. Shep- ard in South Carolina. Frem the St. Louis Globe Democrat. The only plantation on this continent where tea is grown successfully for the market is not very large. It is near Sum- merville, 8. O. Dr. Charles U. Shepard, who is making tea culture his life work, thinks twenty acres enough to lay out in gardens at present, though eventually he expects to double this area. And it ts a queer-looking patch, this twenty acres. The doctor has simply made a clearing in the woods, and as the visitor emerges from the trees into the open space he sees what is apparently a stunted peach orchard, only the leaves are too small and of a very dark green. On a closer examination the leaves resemble those on currant bushes, though they grow on stalks thick enough for tree branches. Some plants are as high as the waist, and some nearly as high as the head. Planted at regular intervals and in rows with branches carefully pruned, they do resemble an orchard of small fruit trees with the branches forking like peach trees. But it is not an orchard—it is a garden similar to thousands in China and other Ee countries. It is a genuine tea gar- jen. To those who have seen the cheap prints and China representation of tea bushes growing on mountain sides, these straight rows along the flat ground have an unfa- millar look, but it is the climate and not so much the “lay of the land” that fosters them. Right in this Carolina forest the temperature happens to be the best in the country for tea growing—it is just about warm enough, and just about moist enough, and heat and moisture are two special requirements to make good tea leaves. The twenty acres of “gardens” contain several thousand “shrubs,” we will call them. From these the owner hopes to secure this year about 1;000 pounds of black tea, which will retail"at $1 to $1.40 per pound. Last year liis srop was about 50 pounds from an area of fifteen acres. This is considerably better than ratsing cotton at_the present prices, so he thinks. The garden contains shrubs raised from tea seed imported frem“Japan, China, Cey- lon, Formosa and Agsam, Asia; also what are called Assam hybrids, which are con- sidered the most profitable, and Ceylon hybrids, which are obtained by mixing the seed of the pure Assam or Ceylon with some other grade. The shrubs grow six feet apart, as they require a large amount of nourishment, and “exhaust” a large area of ground. Shirigles’or straw is placed over the plants when the first shoots ap- pear, and every care is taken to protect them from frost until they have reached a height of two or three feet, when they be- come fairly hardy, and can withstand usually the changes of temperature which occur during the year. The shrubs can be grown by grafting, but are less hardy than if raised by the seeding process. When the shrub is about three feet high the “har- vesting” of the tea begins, and this is per- haps the most interesting stage of ail. Armed with a sharp knife, the fleld hand cuts off in May about half of the leaves and smaller branches. If the growth has been healthy the shrub throws out a new foliage of leaves at once. These are the tea leaves of commerce. They will run from one to two inches in length, according to the variety. ‘They are picked off as fast as they reach a suitable size, and the operation is repeated from May until Octo- ber, as often as the leaves come ont. It is termed “flushing.” The most profitable species are naturally those that can bear the most flushing. At Pinehurst seven is the largest number of “flushes” during the season, A NEW ELECTION LAW A Fair Ballot and an Honest Oonnt for the Old Dominion. Gen, Mahone Spenks of the Work of the Recent Non-Partisam Con- vention at Petersburg. Gen. Wm. Mahone, chairman of the state republican committee of Virginia, has spent the past week at his home in Peters- burg, where, Thursday evening, there was held a convention for the purpose of tak- ing some action in regard to proposing a new clection law for the old-deminion. The conventicn adopted a new election law, which it is proposed by Virginia fepubli- cans to make the one issue of their next political campaign. The convention was rot partisan, es there were republicans, populists and some democrats present. Speaking of the work of the coavention and the proposed elec- tion law to a Star reporter today Gen. Ma- hone said: The Existing Law. “Before I undertake to give a synopsis of this proposed law, it is proper that I briefly state what the existing election law is, and it fs this: “A democratic caucus of a democratic legislature appoints three men, all demo- crats, of cach county and city of the state, as an electoral board fer the same, and these boards are amenable to no power or supervisicn. There is no appeal from any of their acts and no remedy for any wrong they may do. ‘These boards appoint and change at their own sweet will a registrar for each of the two thousand voting pre- cincts of the state, and the apponitees are all democrats; and these electoral boards likewise appoint and replace at will three judges of election for-each precinct, all democrats, save and except here and there where they choose to select some fellow who can be used. “The ballot now required is a mere abor- tion of the Australian ballot. The blind and illiterate voter must call on a demo- cratic constable to prepare his ticket. “I shall not discuss what may be done un- der such a machinery, much less what has been done in the way of crooked work— results and returns. Certain it is that widespread discontent prevails in the state of the existing law. In a word, it is claimed that the people really have no say as to who shall hold any elective office from constable to governor inclusive; and now as to the law which a non-partisan conference presents. The conference sub- mitting the proposed law, I am advised, was composed of representative men from all parts of the old commonwealth, and that their action was purely governed by a Gesire to secure such a law as would guar- entee a non-partisan execution of it, and to every constitutional elector of the state the unhindered right to register and the unhindered right to vote, and have his vote canvassed, counted and returned as cast. We have carefully examined this law, and it impresses us as non-partisan all the way through; that it guarantees fair play and honest elections. The New Election Law. “The law creates an electoral board for each city and county of the state, to be composed of those persons to be appointed by the judge of the corporation and county courts—one to be taken from the demo- cratic party, one from the republican party and one from the populist party—and these Persons so appointed to be one or the other of two or more persons who shall be recom- mended to the judge by the respective chairmen of the three political parties named. “These boards so appointed are to ap- point a board of registrars for each pre- cinct in their respective corporations and counties, to be composed of one democrat, cne republican and one populist, and the persons selected sre to be taken from lists submitted by the chairmen of each po- Utical party fcr the corporations and coun- ties, and so, likewise, a board of Judges of election is in the same manner to be ap- pointed for such election precincts. The members of both of these boards are to be electors of the precincts for which they are appointed. The clerks of these two Loards are to be electors of the precincts for which appointed, and they are to be of the political party which is in a minority on these boards, or where there is no minority by a majority selection. In addition to such provisions for fair play and honest results, each political Party running candidates for office ‘s en- titled to appoint a member of its own party for each election precinct, who shall have admittance to the polling place, when the board of judges enter the same, and who shall enjoy the absolute freedom of the polling place and the right to overlook everything done therein. They are de- nominated: “supervisors.” The tickets to be used at every election are to be official tickets, elther supplied by the secretary of the commonwealth or the electoral boards, depending upon the electorate concerned in the election, if only a corporation or county, or jointly by a corporation and county, or jointly by two counties, then by the electoral boards thereof, in’ other cases by the secretaries of the commonwealt», but in all cases care is taken to have the electors entitled to vote, to know what the ticket Is. The Form of Ticket. “The ticket in form is an honest illustra- tion of the Australian ballot. It provides as many separate columns for each party's candidates as there are parties partictpat- ing in the election, and one like column for independents. Each column is headed with the name of the party—democratic ticket, republican ticket, populist ticket and so on to the last column, which is headed Inde- pendents—and at the head of each column there is a designation—a star at the head of the democratic ticket, an eagle at the head of the republican, and so on—and be-~ neath the heading of each column there is a circle, one and a half inches in diameter, and all the elector has to do to vote either of the tickets is to make a cross mark X in the circle at the head ‘of the ticket he wishes to vote. Due provision is made for scratching any name in the ticket which the elector desires to vote and the sub- stitution of another name. At every poll the result is to be openly announced after the poll is closed and before the officers of the poll leave the polling place. “Every provision which seems necessary to socure the proper return of the vote cast is provided. Where any elector requires help to make out his ticket, he has the right to call on either of the supervisors of the poll to aid him. Such is a synopsis of the salient features of the proposed law, wherein every possible detafl for the ac- curate and faithful compliance with the same seems to have been well considered, and it seems to us that none other than a fair non-partisan registration and an honest election can be had. It impresses vs that it is precisely such a law as ought to challenge the open, earnest and active support of all men of all parties who would conceds to the masses of the people the inalienable right of a voice in all elections, who would concede that the people have the right to say who shall be their con- stable or governor—who, in fact, believe in a republican form of government—who be- Neve in honest election: —_——.—_—_ Marriage Liceuses. Marriage licenses have been issued to the following: David B. Bynum end Annie Hite, Samuel H. Goeins and Georgiana R. Comp- ton, Richard Wilson Henderson and Rosa Lee Ferguson, William Lewis and Hattte Wilson, Philip Brown, jr., and Sarah Brent, William T. Shook and Emma Jane Buckey, both of Frederick City, Md.; Wm. Taylor of Washington and Agnes Williams of Warrenton, Va.; Joseph Schmitt of Wash- ington and Frances Carbaugh of Hanover, Pa.; Wilbur A. Beall and Mamie L. Sipe, Chas. E. Saunders and Louisa Baker of Baltimore, James M. Riley and Annie Mc- Bouse Thomas H. Littleford and Ada liver. ——— Rules of Practice. ‘The Court in General Term, in compliance with the act of February 19 last, has pre- scribed a number of additional rules of practice and forms of process and proceed- ing to be observed in civil suits or actions before justices of the peace in the District. Probably the most important provision is one raising the pay of jurymen in justices’ courts from twelve cents a day to $1 a day. The rules and forms will be printed at the government printing office and sold at actual cost. PRO RATA REDUCTION. A Suggestion in Behalf of the More Distant Commuters. ‘To the Editor of The ‘Star: I noticed in your paper recently an arti- cle relative to a move afoot by daily pas- Sengers over the Baltimore and Ohio rail- road to secure a reduction in the rates for cemmutation tickets and also in round-trip fare. I am a daily passenger over the Bal- timore and Ohio from Baltimore. The rail- Tcad. company issues a quarterly ticket giving 180 rides between Baltimore and Washington for $34.75. The point made that 160 rides is sufficient, «nd that the amount charged should be in proportion, Say $30 even, 1s a good one. Take three consecutive months containing the great- est- number of days—say June, July and August—after deducting the thirteen Sun- days, you have 79 week days, which Teans 158 rides, making a round trip each day. Beside, there is likely to be a holiday or other excuse, which would leave several more rides. The additional rides are of no use, because the ticket expires at the end of three months from the date, and no Person but the one who bought the ticket cas . = iy should passengers for the ad- ditional rides just because the raltroad com- pany chooses to stamp them on the ticket? For that matter they could stamp on 500 and they would not be any more use to the passenger than 160. It has been ob- jected on the part of the railroad company that the majority of patrons would demand 180 rides rather than 160, and imaginary cases were cited of persons on the route quite near Baltimore or Washington who would run in town several times a day, such as a storekeeper in Hyattsville or Relay, or people in these places who want- ed to attend theater or church. A store- keeper is not a daily passenger. If he goes in town two or three iimes one day he is likely not to go again for a week, and in a month he does not ride so often as a clerk. Very few are likely to attend church regularly in Washington whose permanent homes are in Hyattsville. Theatergoers should pay their own extra expenses. Is It not fairer they shovld do that than to sad- dle the great burden on the mass of p: sengers from Baltimore (and the number is several hundred),. whose rates of fare are five time as great as theirs, just because these few have a small private interest to serve? As it is only near-by passengers who would want the additional rides their rates are comparatively small. Let their voice in the matter be in proportion to the relative rates of fare. A reduction might well be asked for also on the plea that reductions have been made in nearly all other lines in the past several years. H. BAILEY. ——__ BITTEN BY A DOG. Mad Animal Scare This Morning at the Market. There was a mad dog scare at the O street market this morning "bout 5 o'clock and one boy was badly bitten. His name is Charles Sauberlich, and he is twelve years old. He lives near Bladensburg, and this morning he was in market with his father, who is a gardener. The supposed mad dog came along between the wagons and was not noticed by any one until he snapped at the boy and closed his teeth on the latter’s leg. Then the animal made an attempt to bite the boy’s father, but the latter managed to get out of the dog’s way and was not injured. From the mar- ket the animal went along O street, going west, and it was reported later in the morning that it had bitten another person. Driver Richmond of the police ambulance drove to the market and conveyed the boy to the Emergency Hcspital. While the wound in itself was only a smaii one, the boy seemed to be in intense pain. The physicians at the hospital dressed the wound and the boy was sent to Freed- man’s Hospital, where he will remain un- til the extent of the injury can be defi- nitely ascertained. Various descriptions of the animal are given and the police have been notified to be on the death watch, and it is possible that some innocent stray dog will be kill- ed before night. One of the marketmen who saw the dog says it is part hound, and has a number of white spots on its body. The animal's appearance indicated that it had not seea food for many days, and its conduct, some of the marketmen think, is conclusive evidence that it was mad. Some uneasiness was caused about the market by the incident, and an ineffectual effort was made to overtake the dog for the purpose of ending its life. But it went too fast for its pursuers and soon got out of sight. 3 —_—-—__ MR. EVERARD TODD’S FUNERAL. Impressive Services Held at the Resi- dence and at St. Alban’s Charch. Funeral services were held at St. Alban’s P. E. Church, on the Tenleytown road, yes- terday afternoon, over the remains of Mr. Everard R. Todd of the Smithsonian In- stitution, who was killed by an accident on the Chevy Chase railroad last Wednesday., Prior to the ceremonies at the church brief religious services were conducted at the late residence of the deceased on the Pierce Mill road, in the presence of the afflicted relatives and a few intimate frlends, and at the special request of the family Mrs. Bettie Havenner McEwen sang the beautiful hymn, “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” There were many beautiful floral tributes, on one of which was a card bear- ing the inscription, “‘Honored in life and followed in death by the affectionate re- membrances of his friends in the Smith- sonian Institution and the National Mu- seum. Being dead, he yet speaketh.” The services at the house, at the church and at the cemetery were conducted by Rev. Dr. Falls, rector of St. Alban's, as. sisted by Rev. J. McBride Sterrett, assist- ant rector of the Church of the Epiphany. During the services at the church the reg- ular choir, assisted by Mrs. McEwen, sang the hymns, “Asleep in Jesus” and “For All the Saints, Who From ‘Their Labors Rest.” The jatter hymn is usually sung only at the funeral of ciergymen, but was interpo- lated on this occasion because of Mr. Todd’s many Christian virtues and his Prominence in church work. He was a vestryman of St. Alban’s, and the other members of the vestry acted as honorary pallbearers. The active pallheurers. were Mr. C. C. Lancaster, Mr. Wi Gresham, Mr. Norton, Mr. B. 8. Minor, Wm. M. Lewin, Mr. W. B. Rochester, jr., Dr. W. S. Bowen and Mr. W. J. Winlock and Mr. Brown of the Smithsonian Institution. The remains were temporarily placed in a vault at Oak Hill cemetery. In addition to the usual burial services at the cemetery, Mre. McEwen sang, with feeling and good effect, Cardinal Newman's favorite hymn, “Lead, Kindly Light.” ————— MADE A RAID. Two Couples Were Found and a Woman Fined. “ Sergeant John C. Daley of the fourth po- lice precinct, with Policemen Smith and Baur, made a raid on house No. 221 Canal street last night, where is was known per- sons had been in the habit of going for immoral purposes. It was expected that there would be considerable trouble in get- ting in the house, for there were bolts and chains on the doors, but a small boy who had been sent for a bucket of water was watched, and when he was admitted the officers sprang to the door and surprised the temporary occupants of the rooms, two couples, and placed the proprietress under arrest. The proprietress of the house, whose name was given as Mary Kelly, alias Mag- gie Smith, alias Akers, was locked up. Her case was heard before Judge Mills this morning, and a fine of $0 was imposed. Execution of sentence was suspended, with the understanding that she is to leave the elty in ten days. —E——EE WOMAN’S RELIEF CORPS. Promh ent Women to Attend the @. A. R. Encampment. Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Sartoris and Mrs. Logan will attend the Woman's Relief Corps con- vention at the Grand Army encampment at Louisville. The Department of the Potomac, W. R. C., wil} be represented by every member of the council and by sev~- eral past officers and other members of the organization. The.W. R. C. will give a reception to the G. A. R. Tuesday night, August 13, at which Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Sartoris and Mrs. Logan will be of the receiving party. Mrs, Russell A. Alger will also. be among the prominent women present, il THE EVENING STAR . has a Larger Circulation* in the Homes <4 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 4 or Measure of Publicity be Considered