Evening Star Newspaper, August 28, 1895, Page 11

THE EVENING STAR, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1895—TWELVE PAGES. BY L. FRANK BAR. . sete Se (Copyright, 1895, by Irving Bacheller.) Continued from Tuesday's Star.) The hut was built of pieces of rock care- fully fitted together at the back, and at first I could discover no means of investi- gating the interior from where I stood. Just then I heard the door open, and I crept behind a rock. Peering from my retreat, I saw the woman go toward the grove with a pail. There was a spring of fresh water there. I again approactied the house, and finding a large crack at one place between the edges of the stones, I took out my knife and chipped briskly away at the clay until I beard a clatter inside which warned mé that I had penetrated the wall. The dusk had now fallen and it was nearly dark Mother Videaux returned and Iit a candle. after first closing the door carefully behind her. With my eye to the chink in the wall I could see the interior of the one room fairly well. It contained a rude table, one chair, a bed of cocoa leaves in a corner, a few old taskets and household utensils and @ barrel. Mother Videaux made her tea and then turned to the basket of food she had brought from the inclosure. She laid each article carelessly on the table, but when she came to the loaf Forsythe had given her, she turned it over and over in her hands, chuckling in a low, cracked tone, as though {ts appearance amused her. { : t Rough -Dinmonds. Then she laid it carefully by and ate her stpper with apparent appetite. I need not say that I was intensely in- terested, and watched every motion as she cleared away the table, lit a short clay pipe and then, as I guessed she would, took up the loaf again. She leaned over the table and ‘crumbled it carefully with her fingers, morsel by morsel. Soon she uttered an ejaculation. Something had fallen upon the table from the crumbs. She picked it up and held it to the light, which caught one point of it and sent out an oblique pris- matic ray; it was a rough diamond! My heart gave a great bound of delight— I had found my clue at last. She went through the whole loaf and laid nine diamonds in’ a little heap on the table. Then, satisfied there were no more, she gathered up the crumb3, put them away, and reaching in the barrel brought out a cocoanut. The husk was trimmed and it was ready for shipping. She took a knife and dug out one of the “eyes” and put the diamonds through the opening into the nut. Next she filled the “eye” with pitch, as is the custom to preserve the nuts, and holding it to her ear, shook it violently. It made no sound I could hear, the miik in the nut probably preventing the stones from striking together. Mother Videaux laughed gleefully and tosszd the nut back into the barrel. She sat down in her chair again, smoking contentedly, and I was about to beat a treat, satisfied that I had learned all I had hoped to, when my attention was er- rested by seeing her reach suddenly forward and take a sinall, round basket upon her knee. It was a native basket, made of woven cocoa leaves, and covered over the top by a coarse cloth. She untied one end of this end Lifted it up. Instantly there glided over her arm a slender, silver-gray snake, and a shudder went over me as I recognized the deadly . It rested upon her shoulder and thrust its flat head before her face. Mother Videaux laughed and patted the head and stroked its shining neck. “Glad to get ont, Poison?’ she crooncd, tenderly, as a mother would talk to a child; “glad to stir about a bit, is you? Hard life, Poison, to be cooped up all day in a basket, wi’ nothing to stick those pretty fangs into! Take care,deary!” as the snake made a sudden motion with its graceful head, “mustn't strike at mammy, you know. It'll be worse for you !f you acts ugly wi’ mammy. There! I'll let you stay out tonight. You can be my watch dog and keep the niggers away. Ha, ha, ha! No one likes to bother Mother Videaux when her p2ts is looze. Run away, now, Poison, and we'll get to bed.” Shivering with horror at the scene, I drew back, and as my eyes grew accus- tomed to the fading light without, I picked “You scoundrel!” He Oath Cried With an my way to the corner of the house, turned into the path, and came face to face with Howard Forsythe! If ever a desire to murder showed itself in a man’s face, I read it in his. “What are you doing here?" he demand- ed, harshly. “Attending to my business," I answered, firmly. “What have you seen?" “That is my affair. He stared at me a moment without speak- and then broke into a fury. You scoundrel!” he cried, with an oath, “if I thought you were prying into my affairs, I'd kill you as I would a dog!” Cs sythe,” I returned, “pray recol- ‘If. You are speaking to one by your brother and yourself this theft of your diamonds. How much I know I shall not at present tell, but I warn you to be careful what you say if you would not have the whole world, as well as your brother, know the truth!” He controlled himself with an effort; I gould see his face was purple with rage and his hands clinched tightly together; but he turned on his heel without another word and marched down the path to the inclosure. I followed as silently, already regretting chat I had shown him my hand so soon. Thank heaven, the ship was due im three days! He shut himself up in ‘his room without even a glance at me, and I went to my own, and wrote a full account of the scene I had witnessed at the cottage. Then I knocked at Herr Schliitz’s door. “Well?” he cried. “Come in!” I entered and asked him if he would keep a small j Parcel for mo till I went away. He rolled {his eyes toward me without a spark of in- | telligence in them. He was already drunk, and a glass at his elbow; so I thrust my packet, addressed to my employer, into his desk, and quit the room. The fellow had already forgotten even my presence, and sat staring stupidly before him. V.—IN DEADLY PERIL. I did not see Howard Forsythe until nooa the next day, and then the look he gave me was so malizrant that I did not ad- dress him. The day wore away without adventure, to my intense satisfaction, and I retired early to my room. The next morning I was walking about the inclosure to take the air, and telling myself that tomorrow the steamer would arrive and deliver me from my imprison- ment, when to my surprise Howard For- sytho walked toward me. “Good mornirg, Andrews,” he seid, as he came up, “have you finished your mis- 101 “Not entirely.” “Then you do not intend to leavé by to- a He looked at me steadfastly for a time, puffing at his cigar and evidently thinking what he should say. When he spoke it was In an altered tone. “We had better understand one another, Andrews.” I nodded my_ acquiescence. “As the head of affairs in Benita,” he continued, “and my brother's representa- tive, I request a full report of whatever you may have discovered—or rather, what you think you have discovered.” For a moment his audacity took my breath away, but I replied, shortly: “I am employed by your brother. My report will be made to him alone.” “You have fully decided to ignore me?’ “To the extent ef retuining what knowl- edge cf the theft I possess.” “Very good. It is not what I had a right to expect, but I think we understand each other,” and without more ado he turned his back and walked away. I reitected that although he might un- derstand me I could not say that I under- stood him, or his intentions, und in spite of myself I grew nervous as the day wore away and I saw that he studiously avoid- ed me. I made a farewell call on Mr. and Mrs. Delby that evening, and when they dis- covered I was te leave the nxt.day they managed with an effort to forget one an- other partially and entertain me to the best of their resources. When I left them it was already dark, and as the otice build- ing stemed deserted I decided to go to bed. Going to my room I wrote up my diary, partially packed my valise, and then, not feeling sleepy, I resd for an hour in an old novel I had found at the office. Even after putting out the lamp and. crawling into bed I felt nervous and wakeful, and it was a long time Lefora I fell into a doze. : I woke abruptly, with a sense of ithpend- ing danger, and opened my eyes. The moonlight shone full through the curtainless window and fell upon the door opposite me. I could discern «ll objects within the little room nearly as well as by day, for the bed was beside the win- dow and therefore in shade, while the soft light flooded the space beyond and ren- dered me invisible to any one standing in the doorway. Some one was standing there now, for I ‘aw his form darkly outlined against the frame, and the door stood half open. Whila I was debating whethcr or not to cry out. the form disappeered a moment, and then, returning, advanced a step and placed some object upon the floor. My eyes followed each motion, and as he stepped back I was horrified to recognize in the object a small round native basket similar to Moth- er Videaux’s. This one also was covered with a coarse cloth, and my hair arose with terror when I saw the intruder reach out his arm and fumble with the kncts at the side. (To be continued on Thursday.) —— Ice Cream Oysters. From the Chicago Chronicle. At a recent much-talked-of fashionable wedding on Calumet avenue a cleverly de- sigred dish of ice cream representing a bag of rice with the grains falling out was so perfect that the guest to whom it was of- fered refused It, saying that while he was willing to throw rive, he could not eat it raw. A ycung bachelor who had boasted of the skill of a certain caterer in turning out dif- ferent designs in cream emphasized his ns- sertion one evening last winter by promis- ing a little supper to a small group -of friends, at which the ice should completely deceive them. In due time he gave it. When the guests reached the table a plate of blue pcints on the half shell, properly restirg on a bed of crushed ice, with a bit of lemon at the side, was at each cover. No suspicion was aroused that they were other than they seemed till, beginning to eat, the company found that the oysters, indeed, were real, but the beautiful shells and apparently succulent lemon were only frozen cream. A point was scored for the host, who declared himself satisfied, and a chafing dish was set before him for the preparation of mushroom sautes. At the moment when they were ready to be serv- ed a trifling accident occurred in the ex- tinguishment of the lamp, and the servant was told to take the dish’ to the sideboard for service, where plates with small squares of toast were in readiness. These plates were handed around in a moment piled with mushrooms, plump and appetizing, that every guest would have,sworn were prepared before their eyes. But they were not, as was soon discovered. They were chocdlate cream molded in marvelous im- itation of the brown buttons, and resting on genuine toast, the chafing dish, of course, having been a mere blind. —+0+ A Curious Benediction. From the Argonaut The Sectch archbishop, Foreman (in the sixteenth century), was so poor a Latin scholar that, when he was obliged to visit Rome, he found great difficulty in conform- ing to seme of the customs of the pope's table, to which he was invited. Etiquette required that the Scotch bishop .‘should take part in uttering a Latin benediction ever the repast, and the illiterate guest had carefully committed to memory what he believed to be the orthodox form of words. He began with his ‘Benedicite,” expecting the cardinals to respond with “Dominus,” but they replying “Deus” (italian fashion), so confused the good bishop that he forgot his carefully conned and, “in good, broad Scotch,” the devil I give you all, false to which gevout aspiration pope anJ cardinals (who understood only their own language) piously replied “Amen.” er An Odd Indiana Dwarf. There lives at Marion, Ind., a dwarf, Janie Loder by name, who is fifty-four years old, forty-seven inches high, and weighs about sixty-four pounds. She is the daughter of wealthy parents, who at death left her a fertune. Her fayorite pastime is vlaying with children and dolls, having a family of about fifteen of the latter. She speaks of herseif as a little girl, and her favorite topic of conversation is what she will do when she “grows up.” One of her peculiarities is that among gentlemen friends the larger in stature are her choice. She is in good health, and may live for many years. Sa A VISIT TO THE ALAMO The Only Survivor of the Massacre Tells Her Story. A Building Full of Tragic Interest in @ Quaint Town—Inventor of the Bowie Knife. From the St. Louis Republic. Every American boy should visit San Antonio. He should go to the Alamo. Let him go at night, as did a staff correspond- ent of the Republic this evening. Let him go when the soft southern moon sheds {ts beams. upon the gray and time-stained walls. Let him stand before the old build- ing and picture to himself what occurred there March 6, 1836. “Thermoplyae had her messenger of de- feat; the Alamo had none.” In the Alamo 169 men died gallantly fighting—not one lived to tell the story. But they left behind a terrible reminder of their prowess. Full 1,600 Mexicans went dewn berieath their lead and steel--down never to rise again. Brave Crockett and Travis and Bowie and Bonham died there, but they died in a sea of blood. Let the American youth stand before the old Alamo and think of these things. It will arouse his patriotism; it will make of him a better citizen—a better man. Nothing so stirs the blood as the recital of this oft-repeated tale, unless it be the story of how Houston and his men wreaked vengeance for it on the field of San Jacinto. The telling itself is thrilling; but how much stronger does the heart swell when the ears listen while the eyes rest upon the very scene! About no town in al! this country does there cluster so much of tragic and ro- mantic history; nowhere so many pretty legends. A quaint old town is San Antonio, quaint in the midst of the bustle and prog- ress of a modern city. It breathes the spirit of the past long gone; it breathes the spirit of the headlong present. Extremes meet here—the whole is most interesting. The story of the evolution of Texas from @ province of Spain to a republic, and after- ward to a state of this Union, is but a story of Texas. From the beginning of the nine- teenth century the history of the Alamo— which means the cottonwood—is the his- tory of San Antonio. Its sculptured walls witnessed the scenes of the revolution of Hidalgo in 1811; it saw the separation of Mexico from Spain in 1821; in the same year it welcomed Austin and his follow- ers, the pioneers of a new American civili- zation; it resounded with the cries of re- volt against Mexicc in 1884; it became in 1836 the last rallying place at Travis, Crock- ett, Bowie and Bonham; it saw their mas- sacre avenged by the glorious victory of San Jacinto; it passed through the pros- ferous era following the annexation of Texas to the United States, and it stands today, surrounded by the imposing build- ings and business houses of a thriving, bustling city, a silent memory of the hard- ships, the hloody deeds, the triumphs, the sorrows and glories of the past. A Picturesque Ruin. The Alamo, built in 1716, by Franciscan monks, is now a picturesque ruin. It was purchased by the state from the Catholic Church in 1883, placed in the hands of a crstodian, and every effort is now being made to preserve it intact and in its original form. But prior to that time it urderwent much damage from decay. When Crockett and Travis fought there its roof was of arched stone. This crumbled and fell away, and now ordinary boards and shingles cover it. It is situated on the west side of the Alamo Plaza, but half a block from the Menger Hotel. William Mc- Masters, who served with Houston at San Jacinto, is the custodian. He explains its tragic history to all visitors. The Alamo proper is built of stone and adobe. It is 144 by 78 feet long and wide. Broad and massive doors, facing west, are the only means of entrance. There are iron-barred. windows in front and on each side. The floor fs of earth. At the time of the famous battle, and until a few years ago, a high stone wall surrounded three sides of the old building, and connected with the rear wall. In the northwest corner of the structure is a room about twelve feet square, where Col. Bowle, sick nigh unto death, was cruelly bayoneted. In the southwest cor- ner is a room of like size, where Mrs. Dick- inson, wife of Lieut. Dickinson, one of the victims, and her little baby daughter shrank, terror-stricken, through all the fight. Near the center of the north side of the building is a small, stone-walled room, which was used as’ a magazine. During the heat of the fight Col. Travis ordered one of his men to blow up this magazine, but the soldier was killed before he could apply tne lighted torch. Through the center of the old building runs a long, broad room. At the rear was fermerly the cloister. In this roonf, after being driven from the walls, the Texans made their final defense. There is abso- lutely no furniture in the building, save the old custodian’s desk and chair. On this desk are three or four six-pound balls which the Mexicans sent through rents in the walls, a register for visitors, and a pic- ture of Cel. Bowie. Four banners in frames lean against the walls. Oife bears the in- scription, “Thermopylae had her messen- ger of defeat; Alamo had none.” Some, Well-Known Words. The others bear these oft-quoted words of Travis, Crockett and Bowie: “Who'll be first to go across the line with me?"—Travis. “Be sure you are right, then go ahead.”"— Crockett. “Boys, Bowie. As to the main facts of the siege and fall of the Alamo most historians and sons and daughters of veterans agree. On matters of detail no two, apparently, are informed alike. There is but one living survivor of that terrible massacre. She is a Mexican woman known as Mme. Candelaria. I talk- ed with her today. Senora Candelaria lives at 111 South La- redo street, in the rear room of a little lobe building, a migerabie abode. On the wall of this building hangs a little board, on which is painted in rude letter: carry my cot over the line.”— Here lives Madame Candelaria, Only survivor of the Alamo. The front room of the building is occu- pied as a b. rber shop. One of the barbers, a Mexican, showed me into her room. Se- ‘a Candelaria claims to be 113 years old. She certainly looks it. Such a specimen of humanity I had never before gazed upon. She looks like a piece of withered parch- ment. She would probably not weigh more than seventy-five pounds. She is totally blind, and her face is not much larger than a little chi:d’s, and so weazened and wrin- kled as to be almost expressionless. She was sitting on the edge of her bed clad in a loose gown. Her feet were bare and cov- ered with a thousand deep wrinkles. She speaks no word of English, but a Mexican boy of. probably fourteen years acted as interpreter. Senora Candelaria is garrulous. She seems to love to talk of the terrible scenes in the Alamo. Her story is different from that told ty many historians. She says that Col. Bowie, who lay in bed ill with typhoid fever, died in her arms; that when the Mexicans brcke through the door lead- ing to his room she sat beside him, her left arm under his head. The Mexican soldiers commanded her to stand aside, and, when she refused, pushed her roughly away and pierced Col. Bowie's breast with a bayonet: repeatedly. She says that he was unable to make any resistance whatever and made no fight. A Witness of the Fight. Others say that Col. Bowle arose frora his bed when the Mexicans broke into his room and fought like a demon, killing two or three of them. It is probable that Se- nora Candelaria’s story is the correct one. She says, too, that David Crockett was Killed just outside the front door of the Alamo, and not within its walls, as others say. In a few other minor points the old Mexican woman's version is different. She was sent by Gen. Houston to nurse Col. Bowie, and is certainly the only person now living who saw the fight, but age may possibly have impaired her memory. Mrs. Dickinson and her little child es- caped death at the hands of the Mexicans, but both have long since passed away. The cnild was known as the daughter of the Alamo for years. Le The battle of the Alamo lasted thirteen days, beginning February 23, 1836. Santa Arna, with 4,000 men and with about half <r & dozen 6-pound howitzers, had teen storm- ing the old misstor almost continuously. On March 5 he was reinforced by 2,000 men, ans ee daylight on ,the 6th the final assault me. « ‘There is a variety of data as to the num- ber of men under Cpl. Travis in the Alamo. Some put it at 1f Some at 172, but the death roll, so far ag known, shows that 169 were killed. None,got away. Col. Travis had sent out numerous messengers plead- ing for help, but pone came. About two hours before sunset of March 3 the bom- berdment of the mission suddenly ceased, and the Mexicans withdrew to an unusual distance. Col. knew that it was but the calm before the storm. He drew his men up in single filg and made a short ad- dress. He told them that their fate was sealed; that he had. oped against hope that suecor would come, but it was now too late. ‘There was a cl he said, to surrender ard be deliberately t without taking the Iife of a single enemy; there was a chance to cut through the, Mexican ranks, kill a few of their adversaries, and a few of them might possibly escape, but it was his determination to remain in the fort and kill as many as he could before death came. — The Battle Charge.. “Let us kill them as they come,” he sald; “kill them as they’ scale our walls, kill them as they leap within, kill them as they raise their weapons and use them, kill them as they kill our companions, and con- tinue to kill them as long as one of us shall remain alive.” ‘Then he drew his sword, and tracing a line in the dust in front of the men stand- ing in company front, he said: “Who will be the first to cross over the line with me?” Capley Holland was the first to move. He bounded over the line, exclaiming, “I am ready to die for my country!” Immediately all of the others followed his example save ore, a man named Rose. He said he was not ready to die, and finally he scaled the wall and escaped. Col. Bowie, sick in bed, calied out: “Boys, I am not able to move, but won't some of you lift my bed over the line?” They did. His bed was carried from his room, placed over the line, and after- wurd returned to the chamber. The last chorge of the Mexicans began about daylight and lasted until 9 o'clock. They movnted the walls with scaling lad- ders, and some by mounting on the shoul- ders of others. A terrible fire belched from the interior and men fell from the ladders by the score. Finally, the column of Gen. Crastilor succeeded in making a lodgment in the upper part of the Alamo to the north- east: then an entrance was forced in the front door and battering rams and cannon forced an entyance through the wall on the south side. Still the Texans fought like demons. It was at short range, muzzle to muzale, hand to hand; musket and rifle, bayonet ana knife, all were mingled in con- fusion. Tne crash of firearms, the shouts of defiance, the cries of the dying, made a din almost infernal. The Texans fought like demons. They desperately defended every inch of the ground. Fe ‘They only yielded when death came. an indication of the wonderful bravery and coolness of these men, it is said that about nine-tenths of the Mexicans who were Killed outside of the wall were shot through the head and upper part of the body. That these Texans shot with terrible precision 1,600 dead Mexicans showed. The exact numter of Mexicans killed in this battle is hard to determine. Some put the figure at 2,000, while others estimate it at 2,500. It is probable that 1,600 is nearer the figure. David Crockett, a giant in stature and a man of remarkable bravery, stood fighting near the front door, When his dead body was found a half dozen Mexicans lay about and over him. After the battlehad ceased, because there were no more Texaua to kill, the Mexicans carried their dead.;bodles to where St. Joseph’s Churchnaow stands, piled their bodies in a heape:tken piled wood under and over them, and;ret them on fire. It has often begnigaid that Col. James Bowie, who was killed at the Alamo, was the inventor of the “Bowie knife.” This is declared by pecpl#*here to be untrue. They say that the Inventog,of the “Bowie knife” was Reason P. Bawig. Many are the déed8 of heroism related of the mei who diéd fA the Alamo. David Crockett had reterned to Texas from Ten- nesssee but two weexs before the battle of the Alamo was foveht. He was offered a colonelcy, but degtingd it, saying he pre- ferred to fight for his,country as a private. How-avell he fought scores of dead Mexi- cans tell. James Butler Bonham, who had a schoolmate of Col. Travis, was one ‘of the men: sent \fonsdtelp: After the per- formance of that duty he returned to San Antonio, Margh 3. He refused to remain outside ‘the walls of the Alamo, but de- clared that he’ would report to Travis or die in: the attempt. Mounted on a cream colored horse and with a handkerchief fic iting from. his kat, a signal previously arranged with Travis, he dashed. through the Mexican lines amid a shower of bul- lets and entered the gates opened to re- ceive him unharmed. Of course, he met death three days later with the others. —— THE PROFITS OF A PARIS PARK. An Interesting Bit of Housekept From the London Daily Telegraph. It costs about $100,000 per annum to keep up the Bols de Boulogne, which for the last forty years. has been the great pleas- ure ground of the citizens of Paris, but the authcrities are so economical in their man- agement of it that the park is made to con- tribute about $50,000 a year toward these expenses. How is it done? In the first place the race courses at Longchamps and Auteuil bring in something, the former $2,400 a year and the latter $2,000. These sre recognized as nominal rents, the attrac- tions of the race meetings furnished by the two hippic societies being indispensable to Parisians. From the skating basin about $3,000 a year is derived, and the rents of various pavilions or restaurants give re- spectively $3,225 for the Chinese pagoda, $8,200 for the Grande Cascade, $2,000 for the Pavilion d’Armenonyille, and for vari- cus chalets the rents levied range from $1,200 to the minimum figure of. $1.25 or $1 a year, the last mentioned sum _ being charged for a cake and bun stall in the Pfe Catalan, where also a stand for the sale of gaufres brings in a rent of $20 per annum. But the chalet of the Croix Catalan, where the Pyramid replaces the Cross erected by Philippe Lebel to the memory of a trouba- dour who was assassinated by the king’s escort, pays $300 a year rent. Here, too, is tkat famous dairy which belongs to the Jardin d’Acclimatation. This garden es- capes with a nominal rent of $200 per an- num. Another source of income is that provided by the rents of houses situated within the park, realizing a total of about $5,500 a year, so one obtains an idea of the extent of the consumption of light refresh- ments: in the wood when it is found that the ice cream venders alone can afford to contribute in rent nearly $3,500 per annum. The Pre Catalan, too, which is more of a delightful flower garden than a model farm, brings in $3,200 a year in revenue, including the product of the grass mowings; and, without entering into further details, it may be interesting to note that the admin- istration contrives to make a profit even cut of its eggs and ducks. Municipal Pensivé Bencilings. ¥rom the Somerville Journal. When you are introduced to a girl whose engagement has fust‘been announced there is only one subject irl the world for you to talk about. se Never explain youn actions. People pr3- fer to form their own conclusions, and, be- sides, nobody is gojng to believe you, any- way. ‘the man who has tke ability to say smart things Is really to be’ pitied. His tongue is fcrever getting him imto trouble. Many a man who koasts because he lives within his Income couldn't do it if he didn’t have a larger ificorhe than some of the neighbors whém:he’fooks on as improvi- dent. 161) When you want,a waiter at a fashionable hotel to serve you promptly, don’t forget how you get molassés out of a jug. You have to tip the jug. The young man who calls his father “papa” after he is seventeen years old sel- dom possesses the undivided respect of his associates. The new woman may not take her hat off in the theater, but she won't go out be- tween the acts. —— 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 ac- companied by the money, or the paper cannot be sent, as no ac- counts are kept with mail subscrip- tions. TO SUPPLANT HORSES We Are Rapidly Nearing an Age of Me- chanical Steeds, France is Leading the Way—Horse- less Vehicles im American Cities— Petroleum Wagons. From the Boston Evening Transcript. Carriages without horses have long been popular in France. Since 1892 they have been coming rapidly into favor through the invention of a petroleum motor. The re- cent race from Paris to Bordeaux, in which machines adapted by MM. Pauhare and Levassor of Paris to carriages of two or four-seats competed, has attracted the at- tention not only of France, but of Amerfca. Theso carriages, made after traditional patterns, are driven by means of a motor, which is situated indifferently either at the back or in front. The driver sits with a lever ready to his hand, by means of which the machinery can be set in motion in a few minutes. Some experimenters have proved that two minutes will suffice for a start, and others agree upon five minutes as the time required. Anyhow, it is a small affair, even if the horses have a sort of advantage here. But horses, at least, cannot go backward, except at great per- sonal inconvenience, and after a vast amount of manipulation by the coachman. The petroleum carriage runs either way without protest. And in the matter of speed no mere horse can approach it. ‘The average speed on good roads recommended by the manufacturers is something more than eleven miles an hour, and even great- er claims are made for it. The petroleum in these engines is used as a fuel for the production of steam. They are as easily worked as a tricycle, probably easier. A novice, as many witness, is able, uport the first trial, to drive his carriage over two hundred miles in two days of ten hours apiece. Tourists have wandered over half a dozen dspartments in them, and the taste is spreading every day. ; ‘These vehicles, perfect as they appear to te, will have to give place to the later de- vices of electricians. So far those that have been constructed have proved too heavy and expensive to find general sale. The bstteries alone cost about $500. They have undoubted advantages. They are clean, noiseless and require no engineer or skilled operator, resembling in this respect the trolley and the cable car. But the ex- cessive load of the batteries and the lack of facilities for recharging them will pro- hibit their use outside of large cities for some time to come. Supplies of petroleum and gasoline are to be obtained in any town. The petroleum vehicles are light, more convenient in running, and also re- quire no engineer. For these reasons they muust take the precedence for ordinary use until the Ingenuity of the Yankee has over- come the obstacles that electricity pre- sents. Take, for instance, the electric wagon of the Boston inventor. It is heroic in its proportions. resembling an English brake in general design, and ts built to out- last the “wonderful one-hoss shay.” It weighs 5,100 pounds, and Is undoubtedly the heaviest motor wagon on the continent, rivaling in we'ght the steam omnibuses of Paris. Tae general design of the vehicie is well adapted to the purpose. The batteries contained in the body and under the front seat are extremely powerful, consisting of forty-four chloride cells, with a total ca- pacity of two hundred ampere hours, and an average discharge rate of twenty-five amperes. The motor yields four horse power and three different speeds are ob- tained, the minimum being four and the maximum fourteen miles an hour. The owner has put this carriage through the paces in hill climbing and over heavy roads with most satisfactory results. By Means of Electricity. An electrical wagon in use in Philadel- phia has run several hundred miles with- out an accident. As compared with petro- leum vehicles it is rather ponderous, weigh- ing 4,20) pounds. The batteries weigh 1,600 pounds and consist of sixty chloride accumulators, having a maximum capacity of thirteen horse power. From fifty to one hundred miles an hour can be accomplished on one charge, according to grade and speed, and the maximum speed attainable is fifteen miles an hour. The motor, weighing 300 pounds, is of nominal three- horse power, electric launch type, capable of developing for a short time nine full horse power. Steering is accomplished by means of a wheel in front of the driver. The first electric wagon ever seen rear New York has just appeared in Brooklyn. It came from the west, and Is the inven- tion of two residents of Kansas City. It weighs about 3,000 pounds, and as at pres- ent constructed has but one seat. Eighteen hundred pounds of storage batteries of the chloride accumulator type furnish the power, which {s communicated to the wheels by a rawhide friction pulley run- ning on a steel flange attached to the in- side of the rear wheels. When desired, an automatic lever detaches the power from the driving wheel without stopping the mo- tion of the motor. On ordinarily good roads a speed of fifteen or eighteen miles an hour can be obtained, and for ascending hilis a reserve of twelve horse power can be drawn upon. A run of fifty miles can be made with one charge of the batteries. Lock Haven, Pa., is also a claimant for honors in this direction. This wagon is in- tended for hotel service. The seats run lengthwise, and under them are stored the batteries, eight cells in all, four on each side. Though so few in number, these cells are said by the inventor to have sufficient capacity to run the wagon fifteen days of nineteen hours each, recharging themselves from a generator of ten sixteen-candle- power lights. The motor develops three horse power, geared to equal six. The ve- hicle weighs 1,600 pounds, and is sald to carry 3,000 pounds. The rubber tires with which it is fitted increase the comfurts of riding. When the wagon stops or is running down hill the generator returns the used up current to the batteries, thus economizing power. It is claimed that on a good road a speed of twenty-five miles an hour can be reached, and the project is on foot to apply the invention to fire and police patrol wagons, hotel omnibuses and pleas- ure wagons. A light and graceful buggy propelled by a gasoline motor has for three months past been traversing the streets of Springfield and adjacent country. -soo— ire Humble Bee’s Duty. From Notes and Queries. Some years ago I paid a visit to my nephew’s vicarage in Buckinghamshire. He a me ,that a new industry had spru up in his parish—there was a de- mand for humble bees, which could be sold for fourpence a head. He could not inform me what led to this demand, nor could the villagers who had sold the bees do so. On inquiring who took the bees and paid the money I was referred to the beemaster of a neighboring village. I found him out on the next day, when he informed me that the crowing of red clover in New Zealand had failed for want of a native !nsect capabie of fertilizing the plant. As the humble bee ‘fertilized the red clover in England, it was vropesed to send a colon; of humble bees over to New Zealand, whic! he did; but the first lot perished, as was supposed, from exc of heat in crossing the equator. A second colony was more fortunate; it took kindly to the islands and performed the function required of it suc- cessfully. 2S ‘The case is well put by an entomolozist: “Many of our English flowers are vapelle of being fertilized by dnly one kind of in- sect. The common red clover is visited by the humble bee, the petals are fused to- gether, forming a narrow tube, surrounding the honey glands and the organs that form the pollen; the leng proboscis of the humble bee can reach the honey, but the hive bee's tongue is shorter and cannot do so. When clover was first grown in Australia it never seeded, because the tongues of the native bees were too chort to reach the pollen.” CONDENSED [iLK the leading brand. It is the For 35 years tl Best and the most economical. PRIMITIVE TELEPHOSES. Devices Adopted by Farmers. From the Industrial World. Some South Dakota farmers have adopt- ed a system of telephtnes which for cheap- ress is a long way ahead of any other system in operation in this country. - The wire fences for @ distance of about eight miles constitute the lines. The staples by which the wires were fastened to the posts were removed and insulated fasteners sub- stituted. All that was then needed was transniitters and receivers, and the sys- tem was complete. Just what substitutes were adopted for batteries and call bells the history of the plant as published does not state. Possibly the operator at the trarsmitting station pounded on the fence with a sled stake or an ax helve, and on such a short circuit the signal could be heard ard answered at the other station. At any rate, the enterprise has proved so successful that-it is reported a number of stockmen propose to build a telephone line from Pierre, in South Dakota, to Midland, a central location in the cattle country, on the plan adopted by the farmers, so that warnings of storms mty be received from the Pierre weather bureau. This is all very ingenious in its simplic- ity, but some of the Hindoo worshipers in India far surpassed this Dakota business in the telephone line hundreds of years before the Dakota farmers, or stockmen, or Alexander Graham Bell, or Gray, or Edison, or Drawhaugh, were born. At Agra and Mutira, in India, are two tem- ples nbout forty-two miles distant from each other. Connecting these two struc- tures for religious worship is a line of copper wire about three-sixteenths of- an inch in size, inclosed in cedar tubing re- sembling wooden pump tubing sometimes uged.in wells, and this subterranean line was sunk about twenty feet from the sur- face. At either end of this line of wire was a vault about twenty feet square, on a level with the line of wire, where com- munications were sent and received. At elther terminus the wire was connected with a diaphragm of rawhide about seven or eight inches in diameter, resembling a small drumhead, and this diaphragm was used both for purposes of transmitting and receiving messages. In transmitting the operator throws his voice against the diaphi and in re- ceiving the operator at the other end of the line placed his ear in contact with the same kind of instrument. And that was the telephone system in use in India cen- turies ago. Those heathens probably never dreamed of patenting their inven- tion, but they possessed the inscrutable spark of mechanical inspiration all the same. Seuth Dakota tolene. Stir these the flour, roll and into Have ket- tle X full of Cottolene —at just the right heat —and fry the doughnuts in it for’ minutes. cat For frying, Cottolene must be hot, but don’t let it get hot enough to smoke or it will be burned and spoiled. To find if it is hot enough, test it by throwing into it a single drop of water. When at just the heat, the water will pop. Get the genuine. The Cottolene trade-marks are “Cot- * tolene” and a steer’s head in cotton- plant wreath. 5 : THE N. K. FAIRBANK COMPANY, Chicago, and 114 Commerce Street, Baltimore. ’ This? If you want any one of the three bar gains named below don’t wait until the last minute—somebody’s going to be disappointed ~ —for the stock is almost certain to run short before Saturday night. HALL RACKS— In solld oak— 6 feet G inches high, 29% Inches wide, German bevel plate mitror, umbrella holder and box receptacle $5.50 (TM 6 o'clock next Saturday night.) All Refrigerators and Ice Chests weekly or monthly—no notes—no interest. RATTAN ROCKERS— Snowy white—very beautiful and artistic in design—special until 6 $1 15 o'clock next Saturday night...... below cost this week. See the $ large Ice Chest we offer for...... 2.25 All cf these prices are less than actual COST—and hold good for six days only. GROGAN’S Mammoth Credit House, 819-S21-823 7th st. n.w., bet. H and I sts. au26-84d ICE CHESTS. Pay for what you buy—a Uttle at a time— Finest home made Cakes —made jnst as you would like to 4 have them made—AT HOME—and of the purest materials. Send () 5 the goods promptly anywhere. Ples each, a pound. your order by postal--we'll deliver 206. Holmes’ Landover Mkt.,1st & E Sts. 6d HERE'S A “WINNER” Think of Fine Irish Linen Paper at 50c. } ream box! 125 Sheets Paper, 100 Env. Decker, The Stationer, 1111 F St. autt-ld 4 and find it most beneficial as well as agreeable. I would like to know your price per dozen bottles.” Beware of imitations. The genuine Johann Hoff's Malt Ex- tract has this signature §- on neck label. BasNeR & MEXDELSON Co., Agents, New York. ASK FOR THE GENUINE JOHANN HOFF’S MALT EXTRACT. Storage Warehouse: 22d st. near M. We warrant the condition of everything We sell, whether sold at a loss or at a profit. —We're selling for $15. It’s as Well made as a $50 Suite would be. Is of heavy construction, and has long bevel plate mirror in dresser. a McCord & | Bradford BED ROOM SUITE ‘Thongh it ia of nsh, a Mc.C. & B. ash suite is as good as any oak sulte of even value ever produced. ‘The largest and best made line of sultes In the world is produced by this firm. We have first choice of all they make and control the ssle of all pat- terns we select. —50 more of the Solid Oak BED ROOM SUITES have come. You know them! While they'd be good value at $16, we shall sell them at $11.75 each. it You’re Too Fat There Are Others. What They Say—They"re Boing Cured Read Dr is mt Bands js, Salt Medicines—They Meee ad Nomfortavle, Merry, author of “Two Girls at from ‘the Great Northern Hot: Chicago,” states that #°> had been gaining fies rapidly for sive yecra until September, 1804, when she began using Dr. Edisoa’s Trea’ Tduows Onealiy. Treatment thet Weather Here—Use Dr. Edison's Pil “From Sept. 2 and Fruit Salt, and was reduced 54 peunds, and entirely cured “of dyspepsia. —M; clear, am! Veautiful.,* ade ercy Sturtevant ‘Treasury Departineat, . Edison's Obesity Pills Salt bronght me down 44 pounds and cured me of chroalc ailments.” Caton, connect pounds in Mrs. Col. Stanton, Georgetown, writes: “T took Dr. Edison's Obesity Salt and Pills six weeks, re- Auced 35 pounds and cleared my complexion.” ncesca Townshende, secretary of the Woman's Ethical Culture Club, writer: “T had been getting From 124 pounds T had growa nd dvs} made me neai . Under Dr. Edison's treatment 63 pounds in eleven weeks and ‘cured my n Wandall Sturgess, from her residence . “Dr. Edison's Obesii eight 21 pounds and sired a1 . Edison's Pills Col. Wandall of the Department of State, of liver disease and reduced his weight 38 pourgs tn forty-three dayx.”” ‘Obesity Pills, $1.50 a bottle: for one treatment; Obexity Fi $1. Obesity Band, any sixe up to 36 inches, ts $2.50; 10 cents extra for each additional inch in length, Send all mail, express or C.0.D. orflers to us. Retail drag trade supplied by E. P. MERTZ, 11th ©.£. G. SIMMS, 1346 N. Send for ‘How to Cure Obesity.’ Mention address exactly as given below. LORING & CO., General Agents,. United States, Caicago,. Dept. No. 19, No. 118 State street. New York city, Dept. 4, No. 42 W. 22d street. aulé-3m 2 OP WO Ss 3S $3 0S o> FOR IMPROVED AND ECONOMIC COOKERY Liebig Company’s Extract of Beef FOR DELICIOUS, REFRESHING BEEF TEA. GET THE GENUINE WITH BLUE SIGNA- TURE OF ‘| BARON LIEBIG, PO CO 00 00 0% 00-00 00s F nw. ve. Saturday ends it! If you need a trunk —you better buy it here this week at 10 per cent off marked prices. Traveling Bags, &c., too. Kneessi, 425 7th S au27- . of Roaches, Flies, Fleas, Mosquitoes, Water Bugs, ete. Not polsonous to pets. ° 0710, 15, 25 and 40c. can. 793 DOESN'T MATTER WHAT KIND OF INSECTS are in your home, THOMPSON'S IN- i ¢¥- Thompson, : isth é PHARMACIST, ,.> esa SEYEGLASSES gOR SPECTACLES. SECT POWDER will rid you of them. Nothing like it for clearing the house 2$1 Fitted with our FINEST ° _we make a FREE examina- 3 the exact glasses that your It’s the surest, safest, best and cheap- est “bug killer” that can be used. @ LENSES —only $1. It's a $1 Pe dollar well spent here—for $ spl I tion—yet a careful, thorough TE Meet every case—select Ie + eyes require—and adjust 3 I them, without extra charge. Ig NicAllister & Co., EXAMINING OPTICIANS, ae F Street, “3770 SUN BUILDING. @ au27-2sa 90050599606 5965000000000608 WATCHES FREE £50" sete. lly _warrant- ed, gold-filled case, beautifully engraved, with Wal- tham hardened and tempered movement, | bey oy oor ee ees 789,00