Evening Star Newspaper, September 28, 1895, Page 9

THE EVENING STAR PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, "gest Seng ee ean pose The eae ig, Star mowspaiee Company New York Office, 49 Potter Building. poten ‘The Evening Star {s served to subscribers in the eity by carriers, on their own account. at 10 cents week, or 44c. per month. Copies at the counter cents ‘each. By mail—anywhere in the United States or Canada—postage prevald—60 cents per menth. Suturday quintupla Sheet Star, $1.00 per year; with foreign postage added, $2.00. Entered at the Post Otice at Washington, D. C., s second-class mail mattec. ‘All mail iabscriptloas must be paid in advarce. ites of advertising made known on apnlicaties. Part2. Che Fy) ening Star. Pages 9=20. WASHINGTON, D. ©. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1895—-TWENTY PAGES. (Printers? “Inf, ctBe fietfe 6zToots master of advertising), saps CHURCH DEDICATION Brookland Methodists to Occupy Their New Building. . INTERESTING PROGRAM OF SERVICES The Second Regular House of Worship in That Suburb. THE SOCIETY’S PROGRESS +. Tomorrow afternoon the Methodist Epis- copal congregation of Brookland will dedi- cate its new church, which will make the second building of this character erected in this suburb. This congregation has had to struggle very hard to reach this point, so the coming event is one of great inter- est to its members. The beginning of this congregation dates back to April 14, 1893, when the Methodists of Brookland, feeling the need of a place of worship of their own denomination, under the leadership of Mr. Geo. B. Johnston and Mr. I. S. Hollidge, met at the residence of Mr. Hollidge to discuss the advisability of taking such a step. At this first meeting the at- tendance looked hopeful, for there were present Mr. and Mrs. Hollidge, the Misses Hollidge, Mrs. N. B. Malone, Mr. and Mrs, Fisher, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. B. Johnston, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan, and Messrs. McDonald, Har Quin, P. H. Johnston and Cissel. The services were led by Messrs. Benton and Crist of Ham- ne Church. The meetings were at first held at the resider.ces of the various mem- bers, and from week to week increased in numbers, so that, when the Brookland Hall Association had completed its build- ing, in June, the Methodist congregation at once secured the large hall for the pur- pose of holding religious services until such time as they should feel able to erect a building of their own. On Sunday, June 18, 1803, the first services were held in the hall, and on this occasion about $1,500 was subscribed toward the purchase of a lot. With this start, the congregation felt en- couraged, and a committee was immedi- ately appointed to secure a proper site. The New Building. In a few days this object was accom- plished, and the present lot on the corner of Frankfort and 11th streets was pur- chased for $1,375. Subscriptions amounting to $1,600 were given to pay for it. The contract for the building was given to Bur- gess & Whitside, ard the architects were Donn & Peter. The edifice is a neat, pret- ty frame structure on the cottage style, and is painted a delicate green, with olive green shingles and yellow trimmings. It will seat abcut 300 personsseomfortably, and, when necessary, can be made to accommodate about 450. The building has cost in the reighborhood of $3,000, and many articles used in its erection have been generously donated. From the first the question arose whether it would be better to become a mission of some larger congregation, or to maintain a separate existence. Rev.’Dr. Todd of Ham- line generously offered his assistance and advice, and Brookland, in part, became a branch of that church. Dr. Todd under- took the task of furnishing ministers from week to week, and aiding in the regular prayer services. This arrangement con- tinued for about six months, when the Rev. J. H. McCarty, from one of the northern conferences, who had filled some of the best appointments in his church, took charge of this body. The little Brookland congregation, now fully enthused, assumed an independent existence and asked to be ¥ecognized in the conference. It was dur- Dr. W. H. Chapman. ™mg Mr. McCarty’s pastorate that the church lot was bought. At the annual meeting of the conference, March, 1804, Brookland and Langdon were united in one charge. The Rev. Church Tabor, a mem- ber of the Vermont conference, and tem- porarily residing in Weshington, asked and was assigned to this charge. He labored hard to perfect the organization, and gave his earnest attention to the raising of funds With which to begin the erection of a house of wership. He succeeded in obtaining a hundred subscribers at $5 each to form the nucleus of a building fund. Other sub- scriptiors were received which served to swell the amount in the hands of the treas- urer until the trustees felt that they could begin the erection of a building. Taking up the thread where Mr. Tabor left off, Rev. Wm. H. Chapman, a man of untiring energy, who was appointed pastor in March, 1895, pushed the erection of the church forward. On June 16, 1895, the corner stone, donated by Messrs. Jardine was laid, with appropriate ser- ‘There was a large assemblage for event, and when the pastor asked for contributions quite a sum was subscribed. The church has a gcod choir, which ‘s un- der the direction of Mr. I. 8. Hollidge. Mrs. Hollidge is organist, and the choir is com- Posed as follows: Sopranos, Mrs.Wolfe, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Dickerson and Misses Annie Hollidg2 and Gudgin; second soprano, Miss Annie Braley; tenor, Mr. B. E. Cissel, and srs. Homer Fisher and Murray. done some fine work, and on special cccasions has shown unusual capa- dilities. Immediately after securing the use of the hall as a place for religious services, the organization of the Sunday schcol was effected. Mr. E. E. Cissell was chosen superintendent. y school was held in the after- noon, and there was a large attendance from the first. A good corps of teachers was chosen, and everything done to secure @ successful school. Its work has been very satisfactory, and the church has at all times felt proud of Its success. It has already started a nice library, which will be very materially increased in a few weeks. After meeting for two years in the afternoon at 2:30, it was decided to change the hour to 10 a.m. At this time, Mr. Cisse] having resigned as superintendent, Dr. Theo. Y. Hull was chosen in his stead. The morning hour has been found aulte advantageous, and the school is gradually increasing in strength. The present officers are: Theo. Y. Hull, superintendent; I 8. Hollidge, assistant superintendent; N. B. Malone, secretary; Homer Fisher, librarian; J. BE. Eastlock, treasurer; Mrs. I. S. Hollidge, organist. The Present Pastor. The Rev. Wm. W. Chapman, the present Pastor, was born xt Middleburg, Loudoun county, Va., and entered the ministry at the age of nineteen as a member of the Baltimore conference. His father before him was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and a member of the same conference. Although a very young man when he entered the work, he soon gained quite a reputation as a preacher, 2nd his popularity and ability secured for him some of the most prominent appointments in Baltimore and Washington. At one time he was chosen presiding elder of the east Baltimore district. While stationed at Dumbarton Avenue Church, Georgetown, he served as chaplain of the Seminary Hos- pital, which was occupied by officers only. Altogether, his career as a minister has been an unusually successful one. The young congregation over which he now presides looks forward to great prosperity under his pastorate. Tomorrow's Program. The program for the services tomorrow will be as follows: Preaching at 11 a.m. by Rev. E. 8. Todd, D. D., of Hamline Church, and an anthem by the choir, under the direction of Mr. I. S. Hollidge, “I was glad when they said unto me.” At 3 p.m. an address will be delivered by Rev. Luther B. Wilson, D. D., presiding elder of the District, followed by the dedication ser- vices and an anthem, “Unto Him That Loved Us,” by the cheir. In the evening at 7:30 the services will be conducted by Rev. M. F. B. Rice, D. D., and the choir will render “We Have Thought of Thy Loving Kindness.” There will be a few solos by talent from Washington, and per- 4cps one by the pastor’s daughter, Miss Annie Chapman. ————— LOUDOUN COUNTY SNAKES. A Veracious Narrator from That Sec- tion Relates a Tale of Importance. “How’s the snake crop up in Loudoun?” inquired The Star writer of a man who was airing his whiskers in a promenade on the Platform at ‘the B. and P. station. “Got ne snakes in Loudoun,” he replied, with confidence. ‘Never saw a snake there, did you’ ‘Never.”” “Never had to walk on stilts to keep them from making nests in your breeches legs, did you?” “No, sir.” “Never run wires through them and used them for bean poles, did you?” ‘No, siree.”” ‘Never fastened a thousand or so of them together and made carpet rags of them, did you?” “We don’t use rag carpets in Loudoun.” “Never put handles on them and tied crackers to their tails and tried to corner the whip market with them, did you “Of course we didn’ and the whiskers began to saw the air. “Never—" We had a circus up there last October a year,” interrupted the promenader. “What's that got to do with snakes?” in- quired the writer. “Have snakes in circuses, don’t they?” “Yes; boa constrictors and anacondas and that kind.” “That's the kind I’m talkin’ abeut.”” “That kind doesn’t grow in Loudoun.” “One did or he tried to. He got away, — the circus men had to go away without “What became of him?” “Listen,” and the man sat down on somebody’s satchel by the wall. “One mornin’ in December after that, my wife hadn’t no stove wood to git breakfast with and I had to go out and saw some. It was long before day, but I knowed that old wood pile, and I went out and tackled some saplins that the boys had hauled up the evenin’ before and sawed away like a good felier. When I had got an armful I picked it up and carried it into the kitchen, Where my wife was shiverin’ and makin’ remarks. She had some Kindlin’ wood in the stove, but it wasn’t doin’ much, and I shoved in three or four of the sticks I had ‘brought in, and then I went out to feed the cattle. Pretty soon my wife celled me in and asked what kind of firewood was that I brought in, and I told her I didn’t know, any more than that it must be kinder rot- ten, for it sewed mighty soft. She said it wasn't burnin’ at all, and was givin’ off a powerful bad smell, and I investigated it, and what do you think I found? Why, dad blame my cats, I found that cussed boa constrictor out of the circus had crawled up to my wood pile and froze stiff, and I had sawed him up for stove woo “Did you——” began the writer. “Of course I did,” replied the Loudoun tran, “but I haven't got any time to be foolin’ away here; there’s my train,” and he rushed through the gates and disap- peared in the throng that always goes to Loudoun county on every train. ————— WHIST AS A PROFESSION. Men and Women Who Make a Hand- some Living by Teaching It. From the New York Herald. Men and women teach the game of whist in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Mili- waukee, Brocklyn and San Francisco, re- ceiving handsome sums for their services and ranking with the professors of science and language. Professors of whist they do not call them- selves, preferring to figure as experts in a scientific calling, who may be consulted at their offices like other experts. Those of them who consider their calling from its ar- tistic side receive pupils in their studios. The best of them—for there are not more than half a dozen good professional in- structors in this most dignified of all the combinations of cards and amusement— make an excellent living. That woren should have speedily taken high rank as instructcrs in an art, so to speak, whch requires concentration of thought, inrocuous desuetude of tongue and deliberation of both purpose and ac- tion, is surprising at first blush. ‘There are several women instructors, and several men, too, in the large cities, who receive as high as $1.50 an hour for in- struction. An instructor of New York is frequently paid special rates, in gross, to take charge of classes in Pottsville, Read- ing, the Oranges, Long Branch, Richfield Springs and other summer resorts. To the roster of crack whist players in the United States at least two hundred women ara added every year. The best known whist players of the gentler sex nutaber as follows, approximately: In San Francisco, 12; in Washington state, 12; in Boston and vicinity, 50, in Milwaukee, 50; in Chicago, 60; in New York, 25; in the Oranges, 10, and in Philadelphia, 100, com- posing the entire membership of two whist clubs. Two of the best whist players in New Jer- sey are ladies living in Englewood. What used to be a man’s amusement, a sport of kings, is now par excellence a woman’s game. And it is better pleyed today than it ever was in the three hundred years of its history. ~~ ————_+-e+_____ Particular About His Shoes. From the Boston Transcript. Salesman—‘‘Shoes? Yes, sir. Giv pair that will fit you like a glove.’ Customer- never saw the glove that would fit my foot. If it is all the same to you, I'd rather have a pair that will fit me like a shoe.” IN COMMAND Gossip About the Highest Place in the Regular Army. UNCERTAIN STANDING IN LAW Men Who Have Been at the Head of the Army. ——--+——__ NAMES OF DISTINCTION —S The change in the command of the army, consequent upon the retirement of Lieu- tenant General Schofield, has drawn special attention to that exalted military office. Its status and functions have been the cause of almost continuous controversy among military authorities, and are still imperfectly understood by persons outside of the service. The public has become so accustomed to hearing of the “general ecmmanding the army” that it will hear with surprise and doubt the statement that there is no such office in the usual actepta- tion of the term. Yet such is the fact. There is no constitutional provision for a “general commanding” nor is there any law on the statute books creating such an office. It is true, however, that Gongress has recently recognized the existence of such an officer by legislation providing that its incumbent shall be ex-officio president of the board of fortifications and ordnance, a body constituted to devise means for the national deferse, and that he shall also be president of the board of commissioners of the Soldiers’ Home in the District of Colum- bia. According to the Constitution and the law. the President of the United States is ex-offi- cio commander-in-chiet of the army and navy, and according to repeated decisions of the Supreme Court his powers of com- mand over the two services are legally ex- ercised through the Secretaries of War and the Navy. The so-called ‘general com- manding the army’? has no independent authority whatever over that branch of the service, and the same is true of the navy. All orders issued by them are subject to the approval of the civilian head of the de- partment, as the personal representative of the President. A Subordinate Place. For instance, Gen.Schofield cannot change the station or duty of a subordinate officer, or even grant him leave of absence, without the sanction of the Secretary of War. Gen. Schofield has always recognized his sub- ordinate capacity in this respect and has acted accordingly. Some of his predeces- sors in command of the army, notably Gen. Scott and Gen, Sherman, had more exalted ideas of their official powers and functions and consequently were in constant friction with the President and the Secretary of War. The army officers, however, were worsted in beth instances. Gen. Sherman became so vexed over the failure of his con- tention that he secured legislative authority to transfer his headquarters from Washing- ton to St. Louis. é A carefully prepared review of the his- tory of the army from Its earliest organiza- tion shows that the actual command of the army, With the exception of a brief period, has always been as it is today, in the hands of Congress, acting through the President and the executive departments. During the pressure of war Congress has for brief periods parted with this control, but on one memorable occasion during the presidential term of Andrew Johnson it exercised its control to the extent of depriving the Pres- ident of his constitutional functions as com- mander-in-chief. During the war of the re- bellion the administration of the army was in the hands of a congressional board of control. In June, 1775, George Washington was appointed general and commander-in-chief, and during the six months beginning De- cember 27, 1776, he was granted dictatorial powers. With this exception Congress ex- ercised command over the army, part of the time directly and during the remaining period of the revolution through the board of war and the Secretary of War. Senior Officer in Command. On the resignation of Gen. Washington in December, 1783, Maj. Gen. King became the senior officer of the army, but he was not placed in command. Subsequently, in June, 1784, when Congress mustered out all the troops excepting eighty privates and a few company offi¢ers, Capt. John Dough- ty, commanding a small artillery force at West Point, was the senior officer of the army. In 1784 the army was increased to 700 men and Lieut. Col. Josiah Harmer was the senior offic The Sccretary of War, however, exercised command of the army. Under the Constitution adopted in 1789 the President of the United Siates became commander-in-chlef of the army, navy and militia, and to him was delegated all the authority previously exercised by Congress in that connection. Maj. Gen. St. Clair was the senior officer from March, 1791, to March, 2, when he resigned, and Gen, Anthony Wayne was appointed major gen- eral and made general-in-chief over the army on the frontier. On his death, in December, 1796, Gen. Wilkinson was placed in command: In July, 1798, in v: of the threatened war with France, Washington was appointed Heutenant general and com- man‘ier-in-chief of all the armies raised or 1in the United States. of March 8, 1799, the office of nder of the army of the United with the title of general of the army, was created. It was intended that Washington should receive this office, but President Adams contended that” this trenched upon his constitutional preroga- tive. Therefore, no appointment was made and Washington died while holding the office of lieutenant general. This made Alexander Hamilton, inspector general, the senior officer of the army. He did not exer- cise command, howe , that duty being performed by the Secretary of War. The retirement of Hamilton, with the disband- ing of the provisional army in 1800, again made Gen. Wilkinson the senfor officer of the army. General Scott in Command. In January, 1812, when the country was at war with England, Henry Dearborn was appointed a major general and ranked Wil- kinson. In 1813 John Armstrong, Secretary of War, took the field by direction of the President and conducted the operations of the army on the northern frontier. Maj. Gen. Jacob Brown succeeded Dearborn as senior officer. He was assigned to the di- vision of the south, and the President, through the Secretary of War, exercised di- rect commend of the army. In May, 182s, Maj. Gen. Macomb, the only officer of that rafik, was directed by the President to sume command of the army. He was suc- ceeded «n his death, in June, 1841, by Gen. Winfield Scott, then holding the rank of major general. Scott was made brevet lieu- nt general under the act of Fi 1855, and continued in comand until May, 1861, when he was succeeded by Maj. Gen. G. B. McClellan. In June, 18 Maj. Gen, Halleck was assigned to the command of the army, over the heads of Gens. McClel- lan, Fremont, Barks and Butler, all of whom were his scniors. In February, 186%, Gen. U. S. Grant was commissioned Heutenant general, but Hal- leck was not relieved from command uatll the following March, when he was assigned to duty as chief of staff of the army, and up to the close“of the war he continued to exercise the same duties as when general- in-chief. In July, 1866, the rank cf gerieral was re- vived for the benefit of Grant, and his au- thority was increased by the act of March 2, 1867, forbidding his removal, suspension or relief or his assignment elsewhere than at Washington, and requiring all the or- ders relating to military operations to be issued throvgh the general of the army. This authcrity was subsequently revoked by the act of June 15, 1870, which limited the term of the offices of general and lieu- tenant general. When Grant became Pres- ident, March 4, 1869, Sherman became gen- eral, and the day following he was ordered by the President to assume command of the army. By an order issued on the 26th day of the same mcnth the President himself practically assumed command of the mili- tary forces, and has exercised it from that Gay to this, through the terms of both Gen. Sheridan and Gen. Schofield, who in turn sueceeded Gen. Sherman. During the 120 years of its existence there have been but twenty-one senior officers of the army. Their service at the head of the army has averaged a little over six years for each, ‘he longest period of command was that of Gen. Scott, who held the office for twenty years and six months. Wash- ington was in ccmmand for eight years and six months. Gens. Macomb and Brown each served abcut thirteen years. Licut. Gen. Schofield has been in command seven years and two months, a longer period than any of his predecessors except the four of- ficers named—Washington, Macomb, Brown and Scott. ST. MARGARET'S COMPLETED Rapid Growth of the New Edifice for Woxship. Handseme Exterior and Interior—The Congregation an Energetic One— Brilliant Church Future. It is not very often in the history of churches that people start a small mission at the beginning of one year, and, without the aid of any outside help, be in posses- sion of a handsome and completed house of worship before that same year is over, yet such is the case with the congregation of St. Margaret's Protestant Ep!scopal Church. The architect, Mr. James G. Hill, and the contractor have ‘all finished their part of the work, and all that remains to be done is to put in the pews and chancel furnishings, which will be done in a day or so. Rev. Robert Howell, the rector, has spent the months of the summer season at Ls horre in the Adirondacks, but will, it is expected, return to Washington next week, and ther the details of the dedication will be decided upon. Those of. the congrega- tion who have returned to the city are | anxious for the ceremony to take place as soon as possible, and it is hoped that this may occur the first Sunday in October, and, if not, then the following Sunday. The con- gregation of St. Margaret's resulted some nine months ago from a realization by the Episcopalians living on Connecticut Avenue Heights that a church was needed in that locatity. As a result, it was decided not to wait until a church could be built, but to hold services in the interim at once, and this project was consummated by those in charge securing for a rector the Rev. Rob’t Howell, a young minister of striking ora- torical abilities, who immediately com- mienced to read the services of the Episco- pal Church in the home of one of the mem- bers. Ground was broken {cr the present building the Ist of last June by two or three of the building committee, and this was all the ceremony with which St. Mar- saret’s was started. When it is formally opened, however, a special program will mark the day. Handsome Building. It being the intention of the congregation to build as soon as the growth of that sec- tion of the northwest warrants it a very elaborate edifice, the present edifice is only temporary, but for all that is handsome and churchly in appearance. The congre- gation owns six lots on the northwest cor- ner of Connecticut avenue and Bancroft place, and on the two scuthernmost of these St. Margaret's is erected. The entire ground has a width of 160 feet and a depth of 106 fect, and of this the church occupies a frontage of 41 feet and runs back 91 feet. The striking feature about it is the low walls of red brick and the high pitched root in the Gothic styie of architecture. The roof is slated and with an ornamen- tal belfry at one end and a cross at the other. Facing Connecticut avenue there is a half-timbered gable. Entrance is pro- vided for by a portal at the southw. corner and is in the form of a brick vest! bule. Another doorway, intended chiefly for use as an exit, is situated at the east end. Ample light is supplied in the d time by four groups of windows on each side and large triple windows at the cast and west ends. They are at present glaz- ed with cathedral glass in amber tint, though it is probable that at least the chancel windows will eventually be of more ornamental character. The Interior. The interior is plastered and frescoed, and springing out from the sides are arches supporting an open-work roof of Georgia heart pine. The pews will provide com- fortable sittings: for about four hundred yeople. The floor plan allows of three aisles, the center one being broader than the two outer ones, The ‘chancel at the west end is unusually spaciows for a small church, being twenty fect wide and twenty- three and a half feet deep. A vested choir of about twenty voices will be located in the front portion of the chancel, and to the south is the vestry room. By means of a small door openjng into this room from the side of the church thé officers of the church, when called to mectings, will not have to pass through the whole church. ‘Lhe organ is placed to the north of the chancel, and adjoining it fs a small room to be used as the library for the Sunday school. A robing room for the choir oc- cupies the south end. Under the church in a cellar is the apparatus which will heat the church by steam. Gas Will be used in the evening. St. Margaret's is still | a part of old Rock creek parish, but St is heped that before the present year is out it will be a separate parish. This 1s the more likely to be the ease from the fact that the congregation, while smal}, is wealthy. As yet the church has not been organized itito divisions for chureh work, but it is probable that it will be as soon as the congregation is settled in its new home. a A Delicate Slicer. From the New York Weekly. Guest—Do you have machines for mak- ing these Saratoga chips? Waiter—“No, sah. Tu’ fust assistant cook shaves ‘em off wif er knife.” Guest—“I don’t see how he gets them THE NATIONAL GUARD Official Rifle Practice to Open Up Next Week. THE COMING COMPETITIVE DRILLS A Model Company to Be Com- posed of Experienced Men. NEWS AROUND THE ARMORY National Guardsmen are preparing for the official rife practice, which opens at Ordway Tuesday morning. Comparatively a small number have taken advantage of the opportunities for voluntary practice, and, as a natural sequence, a large number of soldiers will be more or less Gisappoint- ed in their scores, for only the pkenomenon shcots well without practice, and the phe- nomenon js a trifle scarce even in the Dis- trict of Columbia. The practice schedule has already been printed in The Star, so by this time every cfficer and enlisted man in town knows the date on which he will be expected to face the targets. Ccming Competitive Drills. Interest in the competitive drills to be held in connection with the military fete of company A, second battalion (Corcoran Cadet Corps), increases as the dates for the contest approach. There will be a squad drill, an individual drill, and a contest for drum majors. As is natural, greatest attention is being paid to the squad drill. This is open to squads of sixteen men with one commis- sioned officer. It will consist of the manual of arms, with the Springfield rifle of the model now in use, and will include the load— ings and nrings, and stacking with and without bayonets. Programs will be handed commanding officers after the squad has formed on the stage of National Rifles’ Armory, and it must be returned to the senior judge immediately after the com- pletion of the drill. Fifteen minutes from the time of formation will be allowed for the drill, and credit is to be given for time saved. The drills in this contest will occur Wednesday, November 6, and Thursday, November The individual drill, which is booked for Friday, November 8, will be for the cham- pionship of the District of Columbia, and a hardsome conception in the way of a gold medal as a prize. This drill will be in the manual of arms, according to the United States drill regulations for the Springfield rifle of the model now in use. Entries are limited to two men from each company in the National Guard. ‘The drum: major competition will be held October 30 and 31 and November 4, 5 and 6, one corps appearing each evening. The drill will be in accordance with the pro- yisicns for drum majors in the United States drill regulations. The contestants | will each be allowed a squad of eight men | to be drilied in the movements prescribed in the regulations, by proper signals, the }squad to be formed in column of fours. The prize ‘is to be a costly baton. The prize for the squad drill will be a trophy to be known as the “Corcoran Cadet Corps Prize Cup.” It will Le fourteen inches in height, with an engraving of a national guardsman in full uniform. The name of the winning squad will also be engraved on the cup. ‘The-medal for the individual drill winner consists of a Maltese cross with a burst of sun rays as a background. A wreath of green enameled gold is raised in relief with a United es regulation blanket bag, rolled and strapped, on top in colored enamel. An eagle is perched on the blanket in the center of the cross. Above this is a flying eagle, having in its claws a shield vith crossed rifles, the shield inscribed The whole is suspended from a vy sold bar bearing the words “Com- petitive Drill” in raised blue enameled block letters. Several squads have already commenced drilling in preparation for the squad drill, while 100 or more guardsmen are losing no time getting into shape for the individual The Medal. contest. Up to date the entries in the drum major contest consist of the J. B. Hender- son, C. G. Conn, St. John’s and Brookland organizations. The Canton Potomac Drum Corps is also expected to participate. The Next Interstate Drill. Already talk is general in the local brigade regarding the next interstate com- petitive drill, and at least six companies intend to send teams to engage in the fray. Nothing definite, however, can be learned concerning the location of the event. Gen- eral rumor has designated New Orleans as the place and February, during the mardi gras in the crescent city, as the time. A cording to recent advices received from New Orleans it would seem that the program for the mardi gras has ere this been mapped out and no provision made for a drill, nor is it likely that any consideration will be given the subject. During the recent drills in Memphis and St. Louis the subject wa s length, and it is among judging from what was said at those places, that the flower of the militia from all sec- tions of the United States will meet In friendly combat either at Louisville or In- dlanapoiis during the coming summer. A Coming Model Company. A new company—one that its projectors intend shall surpass any similar organiza- tion now in existence in the drill line—-is expected to materialize within the next few months. Men possessing years of experi- ence will be the officers, and only the most desirable material is to be enlisted. Ac- cording to present arrangements, the new member will be assigned to one of the va- cancies now existing in the second bat- talion. In the First Battalion. It has been ordered that all vacant non- commissioned offices in the first battalion so uniformly thin.” Waiter—“He useter be dah roas’ beef carver in er boardin’ house.” be filled at once and to that end a bat- talion board of examination will be ap- pointed, made up of First Lieut. Jesse Grant, company B; Second Lieut. Thomas W. Williams, company A, and Second Lieut. Jesse B. K. Lee, company B. All the companies of Major Ross’ command are drilling the new manual of arms reg- ularly, Notes. Harry Douglas King, recently elected captain of company D, third battalion, has been ordered to appear before the brigade bd&rd of examination October 16. Major E. R. Campbell of the fourth bat- talion is confined to his hore by illness, and for that reason Cant. Harry Walsh, company A, continues in command of the battalicn. Quartermaster Sergt. E. E. Barton of The Cup. the fifth battalion has been transferred to company A of that command as a private at his own request. Private A. P. Agnew, company A, has been appointed quarter- master sergeant. Private William M. Ettley has been transferred from company D, fifth battal- ion, to company B, first battalion. Capt. Drury of the engineer corps is absent on sick leave. Company B, engineer corps, is consid- ering a proposition to put into operation a telegraph system at the armory. At a meeting last evening in the head- quarters room of the fifth battalion much progress was made toward the perfection of the new organization to be assigned as company C, fifth battalion. Enlistments in troop A continue to in- crease and from present appearances one hundred members will be a certainty in the near futur —_<—<—_ WHAT IS A SEISMOGRAPH? Descripiion of One at the Weather Bureau and Its Recent Record. The earthquake which this month shook the whole of the eastern coast between New York and this city was automatically ebserved and recorded by a seismograph in the instrument room of the weather bureau at exactly eight minutes thirty-nine sec- onds after 6 a.m., on the Ist of the month. This interesting fact has been unknown until recently to any except those scientists who made the observation. Since this was the only seismic observa- tion made in the country at the time, by aid of an instrument, and since it was the first satisfactory experiment of the kind ever accomplished in America, news of it will excite great interest. The results ob- taired have not been announced before, due to the fact that the specialists having the instrument in charge have been preparing a detailéd diagram, showing the exact cor- rections applied to their clock. The observers only regret that another selsmograph was not set either at New Ycrk or Philadelphta, on the same morn- irg, in which event it would have been pos- sible to estimate the exact time occupied by the wave in Its journey south. Other seis- megraphs were formerly set in the old raval observatory, but these have never been adjusted since the removal of that in- stitution to its new quarters. The weather bureau possesses two kinds of seismoscopes. That which observed the recent earthquake is the more accurate of the two. In the basement of the main building of the bureau is a small room, whose floor is a heavy slab of cement, ex- tending a foot or more into the ground. The lately used seismescope rests upon this foundation, which cannot be shaken except by a quiver of the earth itself. The prin- cipie of this instrument is that of the pen- dulum, which will move in sympathy with every change of position of the mass upon wrich it rests. A hollow cylindrical weight hargs on a long metallic link fastened in- side of it. The upper end of this link is at- tached to the bottom of a vertical steel needle, very delicate, about a foot in length. The needle is balanced to the pedestal by a pivot allowing it to swing in all directions, and fixed near its lower end, so that every slight tremor of the weight is greatly mag- nified in the upper point of the needle. ‘The whole instrument is placed under a glass case, to prevent its disturbance by a cur- sent of air or any other force otherwise than a movement of the earth. The extreme point of the long needle, which is tipped with platinum, passes through a small round hole in a horizontal sheet of metal. So carefully 1s the needle bal- anced that it does not touch the rim of this hole, which is also of platinum. One pole of an electric battery is connected with the needle, and the other with the metal plate centaining the platinum-lined opening. Now, when the earthquake shook the ground under the building, likewise the slab foundation, the weight, and the needle, the platinum point of the latter vibrated against the rim of the round hole and closed the circuit, sending a message to the recording instrument every time a wave passed through Washington, on its way from New York. The seismograph which records the shock is kept in the instrument room, a building separate from the main structure. The principle parts of the seismograph are a regulator clock and a revolving chrono- graph. This latter instrument is a large cylinder, turned by clock work, making one revolution exactly every six hours. Fitted to this cylinder is a covering of paper, graduated into fine black lines running lengthwise. The distance between each of these lines indicates five minutes of the revolution. As the cylinder automatically revolves a small metallic arm holding a pen traces a spiral around it, like the chisel of a turning lathe. The regular clock is so connected with this arm as to make it give a sudden hitch back and forth every five minutes, making small, sharp points along the line the same dis- tance apart as the graduations of the pa- r. Pethe electric wires leading from the sele- mescope are connected with this arm, as well as is this circuit from the clock. Every throb of electricity coming from the seis- moscope makes the little arm twitch ard make similar points on the paper. Hence when the recent earthquake closed the cir- cuit, as before described, the only indica- tion’ of the disturbance was a small point, between the regular five minute points. By counting off the number of five minute lires checked off since the arm passed the midnight mark on the paper, the time of the shock was figured out in five-minute multiples of the day. In other words, it was between five and ten minutes after 6. By applying a carefully graduated scale, under a magnifying glass, the exact posi- tion of the earthquake mark was located, even to fractions of seconds. In this man- ner the shock was found to have occurred at six hours, eight minutes and thirty-nine seconds ante meridiem, or after midnight. a To Be President of Colby. It is officially announced at the University of Chicago that Prof, Nathaniel Butler, director of the university extension depart- ment, has handed his resignation to the toard of trustees to accept the presidency of Colby University, at Waterville, Me. His qesignation is to take effect January 1, 1 REAL ESTATE GOSSIP The Next Step in Executing the Street Extension Law. EXPENDITORE OF ‘THE MONEY Vacant Lot Nuisance and the Use of Colored Brick. SOME IMPROVEMENTS Property holders as well as those inter. | ested in District affairs are looking forward with intense interest to the next step in the execution of the street extension law. An! application has already been made by the | Commissioner’ of the District to the court asking for the condemnation of a perma-. nent right of way for the public over the land lying within certain subdjyisions in the first map of the street extension plan. The law provides that the court shall al- low reasonable time for the cause to be heard and the appointment of a jury to de- termine the amount of damages as well as the benefits to the property holder. It is further stipulated in the law that in the event Congress does not make an appropria- tion for the payment of such award within the period of six months, Congress being in session for that time after such award, or for the period of six months after the meet- ing of the next session of Congress, the pro- | ceedings shall be void and the land shall re- vert to the owners. = It is supposed that the money needed to secure the title to land required for stréets will be raised in the manner proposed at the last session of Congress, namely, by an issue of District bonds. As will be remem- bered, the proposed issue provided not only. for the payments of a portion of the ex- penses incurred under the streef extension ' law, but also the funds to carry out the very necessary system of sewer extension. The proposed issue was about $7,500,000, and one of the features of the bill which was criticised was the large area of dis- cretion allowed the Commissioners in the expenditure of the money that would be ob- tained from this loan. It seems to be the opinion that the form of the bill will be ma-; terially changed in this particular. In this, as well as in other respects, it is believed the law will be carried out in accordance with the best interests of the District. Naisance of Vacant Lots. At this time of the year no doubt a goof many residents of the city, especially those whose homes adjoin or are in the vicinity, of vacant lots, are of the opinion that Con- gress could enact some legislation which would be in the interest of the health of the community. As is well known, unimproved lots are allowed to get into a neglected con- dition, the grass and weeds reaching a rank height, only to become a decaying mass and acatch-all for a great deal of the refuse of | the neighborhood. Under the heat of the sun during the fall months such places become a nuisance, as well as an eye-sore. If there is any regulation or law which compels owners ef such property to keep it in or- der, that law or regulation is not enforced, Now that the law has been so changed that owners of unimproved property are compelled to keep the sidewalks from snow and dirt, it is hoped that something can be done, so as to bring about a more sightly condition of the lots themselves. Colors in Brick. Brick of various shades are now 60 exe tensively used in building that they may be said to form quite an important factor in the list of materials used for building pur- poses. The supremacy of red brick as @ building material has been recognized here for a good many years. Sometime ago it was thought the front of a house was im- proved by the use of stone, and even now it is considered that a house is more valu- able in proportion to the amount of stone that is used in its construction. In spite of fashion, however, red brick still held its own pretty well as a building material, but. now the colored varieties of baked clay have come into the market and are making —- inroads upon the domain of red brick. The new claimants have also the ad-. vantage of the sanction of fashion, and { that is quite important sometimes in de- termining the vogue of a building material | as of a dress fabric. There is one thing, | however, about the use of light brick, and | that is it presupposes some idea of color on the part of the architect or builder and the adoption. of a color scheme which will neither dazzle the eyes of the passer-by nor frighten the horses. It is unnecessary to say that the designers of buildings who use colored brick are not always successful in avoiding these extremes. The Building Record. This week's building record shows a slight improvement. During that period a total of twenty-six permits were granted, aggre- | gating in cost $109,850. This was divided among the several sections as follows: Northwest, 20 permits, $08,000; southwest, 2 permits, $2,050; rortheast, 1 permit, $6,000; southeast, 1 permit, $1,200; county, 2 per mits, $2,600. . Some Improvements. Edward A. Mosky is building at 1113 16th street northwest a handsome three-story, stone-and-brick dwelling. The plans were. made by F. L. Montague, and show a house with a frontage of 15 feet with a depth of 94 feet. Indiana lime stone and red brick) will constitute the front, which latter will be relieved by an octagonal bay window, ~* A row of eleven brick-and-stone dwellings will shortly be erected from 1321 to 1341 Columbia Avenue Heights by Barr & San- ner. The houses will have a frontage of 19 feet by different depths, ranging from 41° feet 6 inches to 48 feet. They will be three stories high, with basemerts. The fronts will be of press brick, with Hummelstone trimmings. B. Stanley Simmons is the architect.” Brooks Carson is erecting from 3504 to 3506 Madison and from 2080 to 2098 85th street a row of eight two-story and cellar brick dwellings. B. 8. Simmons & Co. are the architects end B. G. Hanback the builder. Plans have been prepered by George 8. Cooper, architect, for five houses to be erected at 17th and U streets. They will two stories in height, with a frontage of feet. —_—_—_— A Story of Mystery. Do you know what a “Story of Mystery”. is? It is a continued story of which all but the last chapter is printed, and then guesses © are made as to the solution, then the final installment is printed. Early in October a most interesting mystery story, “When the War Was Over,” will be started in The Star, and five hundred dol!ars will be given for the first absolutely correct solution. In case no guess is abso- lutely correct the amount will be divided among those nearest to a correct solution, ‘The guesses will be confined to women read- ers. Fuller particulars later. —_——_. The Gallent Grocer. ' From the New York Weekly. Mrs. Binks—‘My husband did not lke that tea you sent us last. Grocer (politely)}—Did you like it, mad- am?” Mrs. Binks—‘‘Yes, I liked it.” Grocer (to clerk)—“James, send Mrs, Binks another pound of the same tea she had last. Anytbing else, madam?”