Evening Star Newspaper, September 14, 1895, Page 9

THE EVENING STAR PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SONDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th Street, by The E; Star N e ivening Star Giles Company New York Office, 40 Potter Building. : aliehesasis ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers tn the eity by carriers, on their owm account, at 10 cents Bef week, or 44c. per month. Copies at the counter cents ‘each. By mail—anywhere in the United Btates or Canads—postaye prevald--50 cents per quintupl> Sheet Star, $1.00 per year: aided, $3. Entered at the ‘Omice at Washington, D. C., as second-class mail matter.) EAT pall Sacriations must be paid in advarce. ‘ten of advertising made known on applicatice. Part. | Che Fy ening Slat Pages 9-20. WASHINGTON, D. C, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1895-TWENTY PAGES. THE SUPREME MOMENT. HUNTING GOBBLERS a How to Bag the Wariest of Game Birds. ows == THREE WAYS 0 CATCH TURKEYS ee Plenty of Chances for This Sport Around Washington. OPENS OCTOBER 1 SEASON Written Exclusively for The Evening Star. CTOBER 1ST THE Oz: season for wild turkey shodting com- mences, and the man who tires of ducking, of quail shooting and of rabbit hunting, and who does not en- joy squirrel shooting, \\ can try his hand at i) | something better,and can hunt turkeys to his heart's content until Christmas. Of all the game birds $f North America the wild turkey holds first rank for true, genuine gameness. He is the living emblem of all that is cunning, cactious and wild, and he who hunts him musi »7tch against him cunning for cun- ning end wick for trick. If one turkey re- ward you for a 2#rd day's tramp you have the proud gatisfacti." ef knowing that for once your judgment, ylution, craft and quickness of action have em Off victori- ous in a game with Dame Nate, whose resources and subterfuges seem oncen- trated tn that one gobbler slung over yu.'T shouler. Will turkey hunting 1s the one sport of all otjiers to which American gunners look ferwerd from year to year, and in which can be enjoyed all the glories of an autumn day. Not only fs there the zest of the hunt itself, but it takes one into the wilder and more generally inaccessible regions of country, and for the time being, at least, drives from the mind the turmoil of a city life. The writer {s one who holds with an oid author that game was made first, to hunt; second, to kill, and, last of all, to eat. In ther words, all the glories of a day's out- ing should be the prime factors in a day's hunt, and if at the end of it a good bag is the ‘result, a double purpose has been gained. Advice for the Beginner. To the tyro in this kind of sport about to start out with the opening of the season a few words of advice may be valuable: First. Don’t go alone; get an old woodsman in the locality in which you hunt to accom- pany you, and “put you on,” as the saying is. He can teach you more in a day’s hunt than you can learn in a month by yourself, ard you may get a turkey, too. Second. Remember that you are hunting the shyest of game, and make no more noise than you can possibly help. Third. When you are turkey hunt turkeys and nothing else. Last win- ter the writer went for turkey, and whea he found them he had nothing in his gun but squirrel shot. The result was the less of a fine gobbler that ran up within easy range. The best turkey grounds accessible to Washington sportsmen are of course some distance from the capital. In the mount- ains of West Virginia are some of the best grounds in this country, while nearer home, Loudoun county and the vicinity of Great Falls furnish a far quota of birds. South of us we find birds fairiy abundant at Manassas, Occoquan, Mattawoman and Aquia creek. These, of course, are all places to which one goes expecting to spend several days, and require but little mention. The sport as found near the city is what more immediately concerns us, and turkey shooting is turkey shoot- ing. no matter where found, and the gen- eral account to follow of how to hunt them applies anywhere. Turkeys Near Home. Within a mile of Mount Vernon, on ‘the ridge back of the mansion, one can find turkeys almost any time in the fall. Two years ago they were really quite as numer- ous there 2s one could desire, and only last winter a large flock of fifteen or twenty birds could be heard from the steps of the mansion, calling in the heavy tim- ber just back of it. hunting, ming nearer still, a flock of twelve wintered in the vicinity of the “dyke,” .just below New Alexandria, last winter and furnished good sport ror’a favored few who chanced to know of their preserve. Five miles back of Falls Church is a place called “Slab-town,” and just back of it one strikes as wild a piece of country as can be desired. This is a well-known tur- key cover, and quite a number of those exposed for sale in the markets every win- ter come from “Slab-town.” Methods of Hunting. Granted that the hunter has settled upon the district to which he fs going, and has located his turkeys within u poorly defined area, glance for a moment at the various methods we may employ. First, there Is the turkey call, made from the wing bone of one of the birds. This requires =n ex- pert to use it properly and one well versed in turkey hunting. By means of this one can approach reasonably near to a gobbler and call him within range by imitating a hen turkey. Second, one can try baiting the birds to a blind; or, third, find the tree in which they roost at night and lay in ambush for them. The above are the usual methods em- ployed. Turkeys, like every other kind of fame, are hunted In every conceivable man- | ed, preferring to run, and a turke ner, even to trapping; but legitimate sports- men take some one of the above methods. Uniess yo. are already an expert with the call, you had better make one and practice on it until you go shooting. Take the larger of the two small bones found in a turkey’s wing, clean it thoroughly inside and out and dry it. Then go with It to some barnyard and learn to imitate the hen birds, for it is only the gobbler that will be called up in hopes of adding a new wife to his harem. To Imitate a Hen. The peculiar “‘peet-peei-peet” of the hen turkey is made by sucking in t air through one end of the bone, meanwhile making a cup of the hands and covering the other end until the desired pitch is reached. After you have attained a degree of per- fection sufficient to fool a tame gobbler you may by chance fool a young wild one, but it takes a long time to become an adept in the use of the call. Having masiered it to a fair degree go to the woods where the birds are supposed to be, and tramping cautiously through them, call from time to time. If you get an answer, hide yourself as quickly as possible, and upon no ac- count stir from the spot where you first called. If possible get within range of an open spot in the woods and get it between you and your game. He is almost certain to step into it, and equally as certain not to, but It is best to try for it. Do not call too anxiously, too loudly or too often. Make Him Curious. What you want is to excite his curiosity, and the more you can convince him that you are a hen turkey that never saw a gobbler and never wants to, the better it will be for you. Cock your gun and have it ready for instant use, or the noise made by your doing so may send him scurrying through the woods just on the eve of su: cess. Do not get discouraged if at the end ef twenty minutes you have not yet sight- ed your bird; an old gobbler is not to be caught napping, and it sometimes takes an hour or even longer, ard the most enticing squawks on the wing bone to get him where you want him. On no azcoun* attempt to go to him. If you do you may hear g few pattering footsteps on the leav: and that ends your chances for that particular tur- key. If he once gets in range, take your time,—yet be rapid—aim your gun well be- hind your cover that the barrels may not attract his attention and blaze away. If you are clumsy in your movements and snap a twig. or even shake a branch or af ever so little he will be away like a flasn, None but those who have experi- enced {he results of their blunders are aware that @ turkey has eyes all over lim —and a scare! turkey is the fleetest thing on two feet. Taey seldom fly unless flush- that fs simply “winged” is a lost bird. The Right Sort of Gua. A word here about guns: If you are @ good hand with a rifle, you will enjoy-i'l- ing your bird with this in preference to any other weapon, but if not, a heavy ten-bore shotgun with an ounce of double B's or buckshot, backed up by four drachms of E. C. powder, is what you want, and even then your bird will die hard. The second method, that of baiting the birds, 12 one of the most successful, and is very largely practiced by all hunters. Having obtained the general range of a particular flock, construct a cireuiar blind near some opening in the woods or brush, making it as inconspicuous and as nearly the appearance of the general surround- ings as possible. Then with a bag of corn over your shoulder start off Into the woods, leaving a trail of corn behind you. Make the trail half a mile to a mile long, then come back to the blind and make a trail in the opposite direction; the more such trails you make the better, taking care to have them el! meet on one side of your blind, where you have good open range. Don’t Change the Blind. Arrange vour blind precisely as you mean to hove it on the day you occupy tr. You want the birds to congregate in plain sight of and close to it, and any alteration in it after they have once become used to it, evan in the smallest detail, the addi- tion or withdrawal of a single branch or bunch of leaves, will attract instant at- tention, and may ruin everything. A day or two afterward you will prob- ably find that your coz If so, your success is practieally assured. Repeat your “trails” again and again, for a couple of weeks. The easiest way is to hire a man to do tt for you. At tha end ef this time your birds are pretty well bait- ed. Bait them once more in the after- noon, and then get in your blind before daylight the next morning, prepared to spend the day in constant vigilance. If you do, and are careful, you are almost sure to get your reward. But’ to return—lastly, we can resort to the roost either at dusk to await their coming, or before the birds are astir in the morning. Each plan Las its advantages and disadvantages. If you adopt the for- mer you are first in ambush, but the chances are ten to one that your station is where you cennot single out any particu- lar bird without moving, and to move is practically fatal. If you adopt the method of visiting the roost before the birds are astir, you have got to “walk on egg sicils” for half a mile, and then prob- ably startle them long before you reach them. Still, many are killed in this man- ner and many hunters prefer this method to all others. Personally I can say noth- ing for or against it, never having tried it. Out the Gobbler: If you have your choice of birds, as in blind shooting,single out the gobblers;leave the hens alone to replenish with. Under no elrcumstances shoot a hin unless you can get nothing else. Ic is perfectly fair to get a hen in preference to nothing, but the gobbler is the king and is what you want. Never let your gun get out of reach; have it ready for instant use in a turkey coun- try for you don’t know at what moment, ycu moy need it. A friend once gave his gun to a companion to curry to the boat a mile distant, he being tired out. Ten min- utes afterward eleven turkeys jumped up on a log thirty yards off, one after the other, looked demurely sround and then jumped down again. Let all your mcvements be cautious; make no noise; and above all when tur- keys are around about you keep as still as death, but don't get the buck ague. H. THE NATIONAL GUARD|SOME Good, AFTER ALL/ BOUND AS BROTHERS Official Rifle Practice Will Prob- ably Take Place in October. REGULAR TROOPS MAY USETHE RANGE Prizes Won by District Riflemen. Who Shot at Sea Girt. INTERESTING NEWS NOTES Since the return of the riflemen from Sea Girt there have been no occurrences of much moment in connection with the District National Guard. The next move will also relate to rifle practice. No definite conclusion has as yet been reached, but it is believed by officers of the depart- ment of rifle practice that the official class practice of the brigade will take place during the first week of October. It is expected that orders to that effect will be published within three or four days. As yet there has been no definite decision as to how the battalions will be transported to Ordway—some want to march out the evening of the day preceding their prac- tice—but that matter will probably be at- tended to at a meeting of regimental and battalion commanders likely to be held early in the coming week. Arrangements will have to be made, too, for the detail of a sufficient number of suitable men as markers and scorers, these, if possible, to be of other commands than that en- gaged in practice. With the equipment now at Ordway there will be no difficulty at all in completing the required practice of a battalion in a day; in fact, there will be ample time for the men whose should are tender to rest between ranges quite a long while. The wary captain will not, however, wait for the day of official prac- J tice; he will urge his men to take a trifle of voluntary practice before the p ent month closes; the results will pay big interest on the investment. Monday and iday are the days set apart for volun- practice, and those guardsmen who expect to put up scores with which they are likely to be satisfied can hardly do otherwise than spend at least one prepara- tory afternoon on the range. Sighting shots will not be permitted on official p tice days. There may be a pool target open, but pool practice costs fifty ¢ents for ten tickets. One of the easy probabilities is the occu- pation of the Ordway range by troops of the army by the marine corps when the District National Guard has no shoot- ing to do. The proffer been made and will in all likelihood be accepted, for there is now no otrer range within casy reach that is even reasonably satisfactory. The courtesy extended by the District troops to their brethren of the regular establishment is in accordance with the approved practice of heaping “coals of fire’ on somebody's head. The treatment of the National Guard by the authorities at the Washing- ton barracks was not always entirely pleas- ant to the guard. Individual Winners at Sea Girt. Some will be interested in a resume of | the winnings of the District rigemen at Sea Girt. The showing might be much worse. Tie Hilton trophy, by the brigade team, with the record-breaking score of 1,097. The New Jersey State Rifle Association trophy, by the team of the enzineer corps. The Wimbledon cup and the 1,000-yards championship of the United States, by Pri- vate S. I. Scott. The Hayes medal, by Private George E. Cook. In the all-comers’ match—Second_prizes Privates S. B. Wetherald and F. L. Gra- third prizes by Sergt. C. W. Dickey, I. Scott, Lievt. Private W. W. Cookson. In the association trophy e by Lieut. G. B. Youn; Jn ud Meany match—Second prize by G. B. Young and match—Second Seret. C. W. Dickey; third prize by Capt. W. Hz Moyer. acts: In the schuetzen matci-—Fourth prizes by- Privates 3. I. Scott and_S. 5. Wetherald; fifth prizes by Privates F. L. Grazam and W. W. Cookson and Lieut. A. O. Hutter! In the President's match—Tenth prize by Private W. W. Cookson. There would have been many more in- dividual prizes carried away by the District contingent had the program been more at- tractive. Most of the prizés were so small that they were devoid of attractiveness. Next year, say those who are of the Sea Girt management, the program will be very tempting. Noten, Troop A {$s at the present time consider- ing the feasibility of joining with the Em- met Guards and battery A in a lawn fete about the middle of next month. Such a step is more than probable, and the affair will be for the joint benefit of the three commands. The troop will resume drills the first of next month, Capt. H. S. Bar- bour having returned to the city. The command isein splendid shape, and it has recently completed many improvements in its quarters at the armory. © The fourth battalion will have -a dress parade on the evening of the 30th of this month in the rifle gallery at the armory. Maj. Campbell of the fourth battalion is still on leave, and will attend the annual encampment of the Sons of Veterans at Knoxville, Tenn. Miss Annie Pearl Evans, it is said, will next month tender company A, third bat- talion (Morton Cadets), a complimentary dance. Private John A. Gallagher, company A, fourth battalion, has been granted three months’ leave. Second Lieut. Chas. M. Robinson and Sergt. Arthur B. Claxton, company A, third battalion, are reported ill with ty- phoid fever. Company A, thirdwbattalion, has already commenced to drill in anticipation of the contest at the Corcoran Cadet Corps’ mili- tary fete next month. It is understood that the annual compe- titions of the brigade will be held during the last week of October. There are to be matches for regimental, battalion and cor- pany teams; for individuals and for those select individuals who are distinguished marksmen. Lieut. Joseph W. Anderson, adjutant of the second battalion, has just returned from a trip to Washington and British Co- lumbia. He made the run from Seattle to this city in less than 123 hours, and says that while people here were sweltering in the heat, they were wearing fur capes and evercoats in Washington and British Co- lumbia. ——.__ Shot His Young Wife. A special from Grand Lodge, Neb., says: Frank Forbes, business manager of the Forbes and Middleton Theatrical Com- pany, Thursday evening shot and fatally injured his young wife. Forbes had been drinking and quarreled with his wife. Forbes also fired two shots at Deputy Sher- iff Holliday when the officer started to ar- rest him, but succeeded cnly in piercing the deputy’s coat sleeve. Mrs. Forbes Is twen- ty-four years old. She formerly lived in Omaha. Forbes is twenty-eight years old. He came frem Cold Water, Mich. ——_—+0-+ Dora—“‘Mr. Spooner says he always feels like a fish out of water when he is. with ‘Then you've hooked him, Harper’s Bazar. cs have The Whisky Was Bad and It Put an End to the Consumer, But He Paid Splendidly for His Last Drunk—Some Use.for the Worth- less Bummers, A Star reporter had finished a few incon- gruvial remarks upon the frightful evils of whisky drinking, suggested by the sight of a drunken man in the hands of several Policemen. “You could hardly think there could be any good in whisky at all, could you?” asked his companion, an o]d man, retired from business, : “It may do in the arts and sciences, in- cluding medicine,” was the reply, “but as a beverage its dangers far exceed its de- lights.” “And yet,” said the old gentleman, half soliloquently, “I have known its use as a beverage to save men from death by vio- lence.”" “How? By their getting so drunk they couldn't get into dangerous places?” “Let me tell you,” and the old gentleman Proceeded. “Fifty years ago I was captain of a trading boat on the Mississippi, and had with me three clerks and a boatman. Business had not been very good from Memphis down to Natchez, but about fifty miles below Natchez we struck it rich, and tied up to the bank for a week. Money seemed to be plenty, and we took in a Jot of it, and hadn’t anything to complain of except a doless cuss thet persisted in hang- ing about the boat day and night, begging for whisky. We had plenty on board, and it was so bad that we had hopes of killing the fellow with it, but he drank all we gave him, and when he wasn’t in a drunken sleep on the bank near us he was smelling around for _more. I eld him up as a ‘frightful example’ to my men, and we had about come to the concluston that there couldn't be anything much worse than liquor drinking to excess. Business slack- ened up by Saturday, and we were going to leave next day, and when our soak came aboard about 2 o'clock in the afternoon we thought we might as well make him glo- riously happy for a farewell as not, and the boys called him up to load him. He sur- prised the entire combination, however, by declining to drink, and asked to see me in private. I took him into the little room I had, and he told me there was a scheme on foot by a lawless gang to raid the boat that night, kill us all and get out with the money we had in the locker. 1 thought be Was drunk and crazy, and wouldn't believe tim at first, but he insisted so on the truth ot his story, and said he was telling me because he was so grateful for the liquor that I had been giving him all week, that I finally called the others in, and we agreed with our intemperate friend that we would sleep on our arms and see that ‘we were not disturbed. Abdut midnight, though we i our guns ready, we were all sound eep, When I was awakened by a low and nuous rattle on my door. I got up to see what was wanted, and there I found our man. He was so drunk that all he could say was ‘they’re comin’,’ when he fell over. Two minutes later I had my force on deck, and five minstes Jater we had about as lively a little naval batile as you want to see, but we dreye the gang off, and as none of us was hurt we didu’t go ashore to see what damage we had done. hat we did do, though, was to cut dur boat loose aid get away as soon as we coul: “And what became of the soak?” n- quired The Star man. “He died with the jim jams next morning ns the sun rose, and we buried him under a big cypress tre Ss TURKISH RAILROADS. eo THE in Which They Differ ‘rom Ours. a. Some Ways From the Chicago Ree: < The discipline on the Turkish roads is very se egligence is: punished with heavy penalties, and if a ‘coll all employe: who sbare in the respons are likely to be sent to prison, and, if any one is killed or injured, under sentences for long terms. Employes of the roads who are injured in service receive pensions, and if the injuries prove fatal thtir families are provided for. The law requires r: companies to provide for the fami persons who are killed on their lines by accident and those who are injured receive compensation to cover their board, medical attendance and loss of wages as long as they are unable to pursue their accustomed avocaticns. At the same time there is a penalty of $I for walking upon a railroad track in Turkey for every: offense. Cattle and other animals found on the right of way of railroads can be confiscated by the company, although the owner may redeem them by paying 25 cents each for sheep, dogs, goats, hogs and other small animals. It costs $2.50 to get a cow or a horse out of the railway pound. Animals thai are not ransomed within a given time are sold at auction for ihe benefit of the railway company, which, however, must return to the owner any sum in excess of the fine imposed by the law and the cost of keeping the animal while in charge of the com- pany. All articles left by travelers in the cars or in the station houses are also sub- ject to similar rules. They can be redeem- ed upon the payment of a fee, and at the end of a certain period all articles not re- deemed are sold for the benefit of the com- pany. Every passenger must.be in his seat when the last gong sounds, a few moments be- fore the departure of a train. Travelers buying tickets must present the exact amount of money to the ticket agent, other- wise he is authorized to charge a commis- sion of four per cent for making change, which goes into his own pocket. Local tickets are good only for the train for which they are sold and will not be re- deemed, but through tickets will be ac- cepted on all trains within the limit of time Indicated upon them, Children under three years of age travel free, and between three and seven are carried at jhalf rates. All gendarmes, prisoners of state, policemen and other officials are carried at half fare upon presentation of a certificate of iden- tity called a “ilmihaber.” | Army officers and soldiers are carried for one-third fare upon the presentation of an “ilmihaber.” Soldiers traveling on duty for the govern- ment are carried free upon the presenta- tion of a “pestie” certificate. Passengers found upon trains without’ tickets are re- quired to pay three times the full fare be- tween the place where they started and the first* station reached after they are dis- covered, when they are allowed to buy a ticket for the rest of the journey at the regular fare. | One hundred pounds of paggage are al- lowed for every ticket, but-the traveler has to pay three cents for having his trunk checked. The Oriental express and trains from Constantinople to Vienna (forty-four hours) and to Paris (seventy-two hours) run twice a week, and carry first-class parlor and sleeping cars. Similar trains run between Smyrna and:Aden. ————-+ e+. WOULDNWT ACEEPT IT. The President's Sister Says He’s Op- posed to a Third Term. “A special to the New York World from Rochester, N. Y., says: Mrs. L. T. You- mans of Oneida, sister off President Cleve- land, in an ‘interview ys the President would not accept a ‘third term; She adds that he ts opposed » th third term idea altcgether. we a The Belgie Floated Undamaged. The San Francisco Merchants’ Exchange has a cablegram from Yokohama, dated September 12, stating the steamer Belgic, previously reported ashore, has been floated, and, it is believed; is not damaged. The Italians of Washington Have a Strong Society. UNION AND FRATERNITY ITS OBJECTS Preparing to Celebrate a Great National Anniversary. AN EXCELLENT RECORD The Societa Unione e Fratallanza Italiana of this city, which inaugurated and has charge of the ceremonies to take place on the 20th instant, in celebration of the twenty-fifth -anniversary of the unity of the Italian states, was organized in this city September 29, 1873, and has since been the leading organization here composed wholl¥ of persons of Italian ancestry. When the society was organized there was no similar body in the District of Co- lumbia, although a number of years ago there had been an organization of some- what similar character. The objects of the scciety are stated in its charter as follows: “That the particular business and objects Angelo Ghiselll. of the society shall be the mutual aiding and assisting of its members and their families when in sickness, trouble or dis- tress, by pecuniary and such other means as are usually resorted to by benevolent associations in this country.” Cha) ter and Present Membership. The charter members of the society aré as follows: Domenico “%erega, president; Argelo Ghiselli, vice president; Gioachino Percelia, secretary; Marco Laurenzi, treas- urer; Antonio Beregazzi, Frank Sanfellipo, Jcseph Gatto and Giovanni Malatesta. This little body of men of Italian descent fermed the organization which now has 101 members, and which, it is said, might have a membership of several times its present proportion if the rules admitting members Jos, Gatto. were not so severe. The society has had a number of honorary presidents, the first of whom was Count L. Corti, who was Ital- ian minister to Washington some years ego. Baron A. Blanci, Italian minister to this country; Count B. Litta, secretary of Baron Blarci; Baron Fava, the present Italian minister, and Principe Cauporeale of the Italian legation, have all been hon- ored by the position of honorary president of this society. The society has always been regarded as a fraternal and bene- ficial association rather than political, al- though it tekes a deep interest in every- th'ng that concerns the welfare of the native land of the members. Who the Present Officers Are. The present directers of the Societa Unione e Fratallanza Italiana are E. Por- cella, L. Barbleri and E. Sanfellipo. The members of the sick committee are Fran- cesco Leverone, G. Bacigalupo, B. Dondero and A. Zasaleddi, Angelo Ghiselli, now president of the society, was born in Lucca, Tuscano, Italy, October 16, 1841, and came to this coun- try when nineteen years of age. He was a tailor by trade and souzht employment in that work, soon establishing himself in Frank Sanfilippo. business, in which he has proven very suc- cessful. He was the first vice president of the society, and has held every office con- nected with it. Mr. Frank Sanfellipo, chairman of the committee dn arrangements for the celebra- tion, was born in New York city July 18, 1849. He has I'ved in Richmond, Va., and Baltimore, Md. He has lived in this city for a number of years and has served as president of the society several times. Joseph Gatto, who will serve as marshal of the parade on the 20th instant, is a native of Paiermo, Sicily, and came to this country when quite young. He has been a citizen of the District of Columbia for thirty-five years. —_.__ Minsing Since Monday. William E. Cannon, a wholesale jeweler of Kansas City, Mo., well known through- out the country and a man of wealth, has been missing since Monday. He has been suffering from malaria, and feara are en- tertained for his safety. He had consid- erable money about him when last seen. Cannon Is six feet tall, of slender build, has blue eyes, light hair and light blonde mus- tache, and is thirty-five years old. TOLD BY AN AERONAUT|REAL ESTATE GOSSIP He Expected the Reporter to Believe His Wondrous Tale, A New Way to Dispose of Falling Bodies Without Littering the Earth, “Did you see anything in any of the pa- pers about = man falling out of a balivon five or six miles high and never hitting the ground?” inquired an old aeronaut of a Star reporter. “What did he hit?” was the inquiring reply. “Nothing, according to the theory of the man making the statement. You see, it was one of these question-asking cranks who wants to know everything. "He had said that by calculation he had discovered that if a man fell out of a balloon at that height he would be going so fast by the time that he got ngar the earth he would be vaporized by the heat from the fric- tion.’ ‘hat’s a fool notion, isn’t it?” “Um—um,” hesitated the aeronaut, “I wouldn’t like to say that it was, alto- gether.” ‘Why not? Did you ever try it?” ‘No; but I tried it on a dog once.” ‘Did he hit bottom?” “Let me tell you about it, and yra can answer the question to suit yourself. Twen- ty years ago I had a reputation in aero- nautics as a high flyer, so to speak, and I guess I have been farther away from the earth than anybody that is still alive. One day I made an ascension to a distance of over five miles, ard the next day I pro- posed to beat my own record, and I took a scientific chap along as a witness. We also took along a dog weighing about eight or ten pounds. Weill, we went up for all there was in it, and I suspect we might be in heaven by this time, the professor almost froze to death, and I had to turn back to save his life. At the point registered high- est by our barometer I let the dog jump cut. I spotted the field where he ought to light with my glass, and watched him go gown as long as I could see him. A couple of hours later we descended and the bal- loon grounded within half a mile of where the dog should have lit, the wind having changed and swept us back teward the starting place. We were interested in thc dog and had put a brass collar on him with our address on it, so if anybody pick- ed up the body it could be sent to us. That was because we had no idea of landing anywhere near where it would light. We looked the field over carefully, but found no sign of the dog. Then we made a more careful search, and all at once the pro- fessor stooped down and came up with what looked like a dog collar that had been through a fiery furnace. It had exactly the appearance of brass that has been in the fire, but our tag was not on it, and we were about to throw it away when the pro- fessor took another look and fornd my initials there, but almost obliterated. That settied it. The dog hadn't lit at all. He had been burned clear out of his collar, and nothing was left of him but vapor, just as the professor had said when we let the dog go, and a more pleased man you never saw than that scientist. It was a notion of his, this vaporizing theory, and he theught he would make a great name by it," concluded the aeronaut. “And did he?” “No, because he went up with me again next day with a sheep and he fell out him- seli when we were up about a mile.” “Was he vaporized?’ asked The Star man, with great scientific interest. “He was pulverized,” smiled the aeronaut grimly, and was silent. —— WHAT A LETTER DID. How a Sow hern Congressman Made a Lifelong Enemy. “Speaking of stenographers,” said a gen- tleman well known in Washington, who fer a number of years represented a Louis- iana district in Congress, to a Star report- er the other day, “I once had a secretary, an unusually careful and competent fel- low, too, whose slight slip in a typewritten letter to 1 constituent of mine cost me that gentleman’s friendship, a friendship valued much more highly than I can express. “This is the way it came about: At a time when I was well-nizh submerged with committee duties I received a letter from the head of one of the most influential and widely respected families of the state. His residence had just burned down, he wrote ine, the ioss coming at a moment when it affected his financial matters to no incon- siderable extent. Could he not presume upon cur many years of friendship to the extent of asking a loan of $250, until the insurance companies should settle his claim? I was deeply moved to learn of his misfortune, and immediately dictated, along bile n a number of other letters, the follow- ge lie y Dear Sir: I am greatly pained to hear of the calamity which has come upon you. I rogret I have not $250 in available funds at present; will send check in a day or two.” “Promptly enough the check went, but with equal promptness it was returned .o me, with no word of explanation. I own I was surprised, but concluded he must have received his insurance money, and the cir. cumstance was gradually forgotten. But it was very forcibly recalled to my mind when next I paid a visit to my home. for he did not call upon me, as he had always been wont todo. On the contrary, he shun. med @ meeting with me. ‘Imagine my dismay upon finding th the letter I had sent him, in the most kinds ly spirit possible, contained these words. I regret I have got $250 in available fund: will send check in a day or two.’ In vain I explained, apologized, implored. To. his dying day he rever forgave what he termed my studied and unwarranted ef- “That is what the touch of a finger upon a wrong key did for me, and for yeare T have rever mailed a letter, long or short, without first subjecting it to the most rigid scrutiny. TI tell you, sir, it pays to be watchful in this respect.” Soa Over Athleticism. Sir B. W. Richardson fn the Saturday Review. The body can be killed through one or- gan, and in youth and middle age mortal injury of body and mind comes usually through one organ as the primary seat of evil; it is an evil of frequent occurrence, ard greatly on the increase. A man 1s said to “throw himself, heart and soul, into his work.” Such a man is in danger. He has four great parts of his body to con- sider—his heart and blood system; his lungs and other organs associated with breathing; his musclvs; his brain and nervous system. Dut he does not heed them at all. He runs or cycles excessively, and in a much short- er time than he has the least idea of he makes his heart too strong for the rest of his organism, and endangers the finer rami- fications of the vessels which are under the domination of the heart. He rows without studying consequences, and long before he is convinced of injury he has produced an injury of the chest mechanism which may scon be permanently established. He takes to some muscular training, which puts the muscular organs to an ex- treme of tension; large and small muscles alike are exposed to strain, both the strong muscles that give propulsion and the deli- cate muscles that guide, and before he nas beconie conscious of the error he has com- mitted he is a strained man, from which predicament he is fortunate if he make anything like a complete recovery. Auoth- er man enters into competitions in which his mental organs are kept awake for long intervals, charged with expectations, anxie- ties, fears, nay, excess of satisfaction, and while he is yet young he grows old. Suburban Property and the Street Extensions. IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN THE COUNTY Complaints That They Are Done on a Patchwork System. HOUSES AND TENANTS — There is little change in the condition of this part of the real estate world over that of the past few weeks, although there seems to be a rather strong inquiry for well situated inside property from prospective investors, Holders, however, do not ap- pear inclined to part with realty whose lo- cation promises to add materially to its value in the future, und in what are now corsidered remote city lagalities figures are asked for unimproved lots that do not al« ways se2m justified by the immediate sur= roundings. The present intentions of the city railways to place rapid transit systems on their lines accounts for a Sreat deal of this feeling on the part of owners, and in addition to this is the firm conviction that Washington is bound beyond any question to steadily in= creese in its population, and in the better< ment of the character and financial condi« tien of those:composing it. Another, and not the least important cause which leads to a desire on the part of holders of city property to continue in pos- session of it, is the unsettled condition of affairs in the suburbs owing to the many vexed problems growing out of the pro- posed extension of streets beyond the boun- daries. There is no gainsaying the fact that the uncertainty now existing in regard to this stupendous system of projected im= prevements has caused considerable embar- Tarsmeht to owners of outside property not siready improved in a modern sense, and thus placed beyond the possibility of being interfered with in the plans under con- sideration. Persons owning realty in the suburbs who wish to sell find purchasers chary of taking what they regard as scrious risks. It is still more difficult for such owners to raise funds by means of Sera t is not that there is any very gener fear that the plans of roel eet eee sions already agreed on by the Commis- sioners and the highway commission will not be carried out eventually, but it is on account of the fact that the money to pay for the improvements as well as for the land it will be necessary to take when those contemplated are commenced must be secured through the medium of con- giessional appropriaticns. There is always a doubt as to what Congress will do, and when it will do it. There exisis, therefore, almost complete stagnation so far ag suburban realty is concerned. Investora who would be glad to put their money ip healthful sites outside of Washingtoh along the lines of present or projected rail- reads, and who would be willing to run the risk of be'ng subjested to condemnation of @ part of their purchases at a fairly re- Mmunerative figure, are confronted with the uncertainty of congressional action, and hesiiate about tying up their funds. Suburban Street Improvements. Now that the Commisisoners are making up their schedule of street improvements for next year, the owners of suburban property are anxious to know how for they will be considered. Of course, the pub- lished list has brought down upon the Com- missioners much criticism from those who do not think their sections have received intelligent consideration. The complaint most commonly heard is that .mprove- ments are planned for localities where there are but few houses and but little travel, while in thickly settled subdivisions but few streets are named for improves ment, and in many cases the work seems to be projected without any definite plan. One resident of the county, in speaking to & Star reporter of the work done in his lo- ceality, said: “Last year the District Com- missioners included in their estimates the improven.ent of several streets in the sub- division in which I live, and the peoplé were grateful, for they had felt that they had been badly neglected. Those estimates were severely cut down by Congress, and finally only two streets were decided upon. One of those streets was graded and graveled for one square, but in the change of grade there was @ cut at the upper end of the square of about twelve or fifteen feet. The street that crossed at this point was started to be ims proved, and the work went on for about four squares, but at the first intersection the people living beyond were left high in, the air, and a flight of steps was built to enable them to get from the improved street below to their homes. It was sup- posed that in the estimates for next year those that had been cut out by the last Congress would be included, and that the work left unfinished would be completed. But, no. The only recommendation is for the improvement of a portion of an- other street. Of course, this street needs improvement, as does all the streets In the subdivision, but if any work is done upon it, it should be along its whole length, so that it would give the people an outlet. This could wait, however, until the streets already commenced are finished and made passable. The feeling of the suburban people is that the estimates for work out- side of the city are made without any per- sonal examination of the localities, and the real needs of the inhabitants, but are de+ termined by a mere inspection of the vari+ ous maps in the engineer's office.” A Demand for Houxex, No doubt there has been a very good de- mand to rent new houses. This has not been’ regarded as significant of anfthing, except a general and natural desire of peo- ple who live in old houses to move into new ones. But the past few days have evi- denced a growing and healthy demand fer houses. One real estate agent, who makes a specialty of rentirg, told a Star reporter that so far his books for September showed an increase of business over the September record. This, he said, was not due alto- gether to the return to the city of people who gave up their houses at the beginning of the summer and wert to the country. A’ large percentage of the inquirers were per- sons who had been living in rooms or apartments, or who had been “doubling up” with others. The demand for houses coming now this agent regarded as an evi- dence of better times and a better feeling. Building Notes, Architects C. A. Sherman and A. H. Son- neman, 2026 I street northwest, have pre- pared designs for two new houses to be erected on premises Nos. 205 and 207 F street northwest, to have square bays and pressed brick, fronts, and to contain all modern improvements. W. J. Kolb will do the building. ‘The same architects have also prepared designs for a row of four dwellings for H. M. Martin, to improve Virginia avenue just west of 26th street northwest. Not to Admit the Chinene. The Secretary of the Treasury has sent a telegram to the collector of customs at Ogdensburg, N. Y., directing him not to ad- mit any of the 200 Chinese recently landed at Vancouver en route to the Atlanta ex- position. There is reason for the belief that this is an attempt to defraud the govern- ment and secure the admission of a large number of Chinese who are not actors, and seek this method of gaining admission ‘nto the United States.