Evening Star Newspaper, October 26, 1895, Page 9

THE EVENING STAR PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Oor, 11th Btreet, by The Evening Star Newspapsr Company H. KAUFFMANN, Prest. Eee ew York Office, 49 Potter Building. peace nella ‘The Kvening Star ‘s served to subscribers In the aity by carriers, on thelr own account. ut 10 cents < week, or 44c. pe: month. Copies at the counter cents each. By mail—anywhere in the Unitcd Canada—postage previid--50 cents per turday quintupl> Sheet Star, $1.00 per year; with forclen pestaze aulded, Entered at the Dost Ovfice at Washington, D. C., as second-class mail mattec.) "All mail .abscriptioas must be paid in advarce. ates of advertising made known on applicatica. Part2. Ch e Fy ening, Siar. Pages 9-20. ~~ — WASHINGTON, D. C, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1895-TWENTY PAGES. QUAIL SHOOTING Birds Are Scarce Owing to the Hard Weather of Last Winter. HE HONTING IN THIS LOCALITY About Guns and Dogs ard Other Features of the Sport. YHINGS WORTH KNOWING Written for The Evening Star. OVERS OF QUAIL shooting who do most of their hunting in the vicinity of Wash- ington will be griev- fously disappointed this year, for the un- usual cold weather and deep snows of last winter were too much for the little ! ¢enows, and they died ‘by the hundreds, J, frozen out and 5 starved out,and what eighteen months ago was a fairly good cover, and held a tolerably good quota of birds, is now barren to a feather. I douht if ten birds can be found in an area of twenty square miles with Washington for {ts center. There may be a few of which the writer has failed to learn after careful search and inquiry, but any one who would shoot one knowing the present status of the birds in this locality ought to be con- victed of a misdemeanor. Washington is peculiarly forward in re- gard to the abundance of bird life, and Particularly is this true of the quail. In past years there was scarcely a single di- Not a Very Big Day. tection in which one could go for any dis- tance without striking a covey, and only two years ago a flock of some fifteen or twenty spent the summer in the grounds of the Zoological Park and adjoining fields. There is not a sportsman in the city who has not enjoyed quail shooting in the im- mediate vicinity. Not for many years at least (just how many none can say) will the cheery ‘‘bob- white” be echoed and re-echoed from field to forest, and from one tangled briar patch to the next. It seems but yesterday that the writer tramped the woods hack of Falls Church and found birds as numerous as one could desire. That was a favorite locality for them, and a day’s hunt there was invaria- Ly successful, even when other regions ap- peared barren, but a recent tour of the surrounding country, to ascertain the real ecrdition of thin, failed to find so much as a feather, even this favored spot, and but elicited from the farmer and country sportsman the same sad story of death and’ destruction. One informed me how often the first two days of the blizzard the birds flocked around the stacks fn the barn yard, regard- less of the presence of himself and men, by whom they were fed, and how upon missing them the following morning a search re- vealed the entire flock huddled together and frozen solid in a drift at the foot of a stack of straw. Another told me of finding the birds dead in the spaces between the sticks of wood in the weod piles through the forest, while still another mentions having caught an entire covey in his hands in a brush pile that were too benumbed and too weak to fly or run. These were taken home and fed and warmed, but all efforts to save a single ene were fruitless. The above are but a few of many such tales that were told, and even at a distance of sixty miles further south the same con- Gition of affairs existed. A New Supply. It is apparent, therefore, that the man who would shcot quail this fall must go to more scuthern shooting grounds, where the birds ere stili abundant, and where good sport may be had. Before proceeding further, just a word for the rer edy for the condition of things existing here at home. The open season, a@s regulated by law, varies much with lo- cality. Lying, as we do, between two states, the laws of both must be observed. Neither agrees with the other, and in Maryland particularly ro two counties agree as to the date of beginning and ending of the closed and open seasons. In general, though, the open season for Maryland and the District of Columbia begins on October 24 and ends ry 1. In Virginia the laws are still ‘onservative, the shooting season ex- from November 1 to the day before ivirg, thus doing away with the of general slaughter.” Now, the er would suggest that the various clubs take the matter in hend, petition the legis- latures of both states to pass a law prohib- iting the killirg of quail for five years in all counties affected by the freeze. Then, by pooling funds, a sufi nt num- ber of birds, say five hundred or a thou- air sand and 1 could be brought from the south ted at different points through- ountry. Quail are rapid breeders, ing from twel¥e to fifteen and even teen yi to the brocd, and despite y the prowling pot hunter, . seed sprinkling of birds would be nd at the end of the period. This meth- Ss been successfully tried in many lo- situated, and there is no nm why, with 2ll urited in a common cause, it should fall short ef success here. frem Washington one can find the yemely abundant at various places a few hours’ r'de. Particularly is true of High Point, North Carolina, 2 the very best’ of sport fs to be had, from various neighboring regions es word of the great nvmber of birds to bo found there. In fact, throughout nearly ail of the more southern states quail fairly swarm, and one can scarcely go amiss in the choice of a shooting ground. They are more abun- dant In Ficrida than any place known to the writer, but much smaller in size than our northern bird. They are also much tamor, and are frequently seen around the clearings end even the doorsteps of the “erackers."" North of us there are no bird to mention, for the sama reason that the: are none here, and west of us the distance {s too great beforo birds are found in sutfit- cfent to pay for the trip. A south trip is. therefore, the only choige this year The King of Sports. Quall shooting fs, with few exceptions, the king of fall sports, while with many it holds first place, and is the only one to which the sportsman looks forward from year to year, and in which he sinks his spare cash in tke shape of guns, dogs and every new Cevice for convenience and com- fort. It is a sport in which the uBe of a dog is imperative. To many the intelligent working of a well-trained dog is the chief attraction of the spcrt, as the numerous field trials throughout the country every fall can abundantly testify. The choice of dogs lies between the pointer and the setter, and there are many things to be said for and against each. There are many varieties of each to choose from, but the main thing is to get one that is well trained. The writer has seen dogs whose pedigrees are lengthy, and whose values were reckoned fn four figures, that On the Wing. at actual work were not worth a charge of shot; while one of the ugliest-looking mon- grels I ever saw was the best quail dog I ever shot over. Just at present the bal- ance of faver seems to be toward the Folater, but the pendulum swings back and fcrth every two or three years, and an- other year may see the setter holding the palm over his shorter-haired rival. Choice of Dogs and Guns. Personally, I prefer the setter,’ possibly because I have always owned one, although there is the job of breaking in a wild dog each fall, while a pointer, once trained, is always trained and ready for the field, even after a lapse of several years. In the matter of guns, the twelve and sixteen-gauge are the proper weapons, the latter being preferable, as being lighter and easier to carry on a day’s tramp. For the former three and a half drachms of powder, and for the latter three, with an ounce of No. 10 shot, is the proper charge to shoot. Quail, like every other species of game bird, while they may be found most any- where at any time, nevertheless have fa- vored spots and favored resorts, runways and feeding grounds, at or near which they are generally found, and a little attention to the character of the country and general lay of the land is the first care of the ex- perienced hunter, and should always be looked into when shooting over a country for the first time. Their Favorite Resorts. Generally speaking, quail are birds of an open country, and little of your shooting will be done in the woods, so that unless you perchance drive the birds into it for shelter, you will confine most of your at- tention to the fields and pastures. Wheat stubble is most eXcellent ground to shoot over, as Is also corn stubble. In the south- ern states 1s a variety of pea, known as “cow pea” or “pcor man’s pea.” It is ex- tensively grown in many localities, and proves a never-failing source of food for these birds. If a covey is not started out of the patch itself it is almost sure to bé found within a very short distance of one, and your dog will quickly track them. In fact, some hunters merely travel from one patch to the next. If now, after care- fully hunting the country over without finding anything, you will seek out some aittle swale in which the grass grows a trifle higher than elsewhere, you will be almost certain to find the quarry. This knowing about where to find the birds ts one of the things you have got to learn for yourself by experience. No one can tell you; it is like tying a particular knot— easy to do, but hard to explain. THEY SWAPPED LEGS. Twe Grand Army Veterans Had Trou- ble Until They Did So. Mej. Jobn W. Burst of Chicago, who was quartermaster general of the G. A. R. un- der Commander-in-Chief Lawler Jast year, is one of the greatest practical jokers in the country, and his mirthful propensities will peep out at the least shadow of a chance for fun. Col. Jack Stephens, also of Chicago, is not so much given that way, and very often can’t see any fun in Burst’s nonsense. Both lost their right legs near the hips during the war, and while Burst is about five feet seven inches in height, Stephens is pretty close to six feet in his stockings. Burst was on the G. A. R. national pen- sion committee for several years, and his duties in that line brought him to Wash- irgton frequently. On one of his visits he registered at one of the uptown hotels with his friend Stephens, and after transacting seme business and having considerable fun with the boys ‘they retired for the night, occupying the same room. The next morning Burst was wandering slowly down F street, apparently having much difficulty with his wooden leg, fcr he got along very slowly, but evidently not painfully, as his face was beaming with smiles. In the middle of the square an F street car stopped, and a very excited man came toward the sidewalk with a hop- skip-and-Jump motion. It was Col. Ste- Phens. “Here, Burst, what in the d—1 did you run off with my leg this morning for?’ ex- claimed the colonel, his head bobbing up and down as ne wobbled toward the major. “Your leg?’ responded the major, danc- ing around in a three-step polka move- ment, with a look of innccent amazement. “Well, I thought something was wrong with tho blamed thing. Let's swap.” And they meandered into a private room of a near-by restaurant and traded. —_—.__. THE STRANGER SMILED, But the Young Man Didn’t Know That There Was Anything to Smile At. An eminent scientist from a distant city was visiting Washington a short time ago. Being emirent and being a scientist, he was accorded the privileges of the Cosmos Club, being provided’ with a visitor's card. He much enjoyed seeing and meeting the many men of note who occasionally drop in at the club for a little diversion. One evening there secmed a good many strange faces present, in fact, there seemed to be no one in the rocm that the visitor had been intro- duced to. He was anxious to know who some of them were, for he judged from their pearance that they were lions, so he made bold to address one of the younger men, who was particularly well dresred, and who seemed perfectly at home. He called the names of several who were pointed out, and scemed pretty well posted as to who they were and what they had done. “And who fs that man in the bay window the heavy beard?” asked the stranger. * was the re- ply. “He published a book on ‘Scciolozy’ a short time ago. I don’t sce how he could know much abeut socicty. { went out a good deal myself last winicr, and I never saw him at a tca or reception, or any other social gathering.”* The stranger tricd not to let him see that he siniled. ————— Positively the best, Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup. REFORM IN FUNERALS A Discussion of the Matter by Col- ored Baptist Clergymen. OPPOSIPION EXPRESSED 10 SHOW Criticism of Double Funerals Where Secret Societies Officiate. DANGER OF DISEASE The pastors of the colored churches in Washington have for some time been con- sidering a plan to reform the method of conducting colored funerals. The change which their clergymen propose to effect first is to stop the custom of opening coffins in the church and having the congregation view the remains of the deceased. The clergymen who have interested themselves in this proposed change say that the opening of coffins in church may spread disease and endanger lives. Dr. Fields Cook of Alexandria, Va., who is a member of the Baptist Ministers’ Union of this city, and one of the oldest colored clergymen in the country, has taken the initiative step in the movement. At the meeting this week of the Baptist Ministers’ Association Dr. Cook called the attention of ‘the association to this evil, and said that it was due to the good health of the public that it should be done away with. Other mem- bers of the association agreed with Dr. Cook and spoke upon the subject. In this con- nection it was stated that often bodies are kept out of the grave for several days or more, especially if the deceased person hap- pens to be some dignitary in any of the many lodges or secret societies in the city. After having been thus kept several days, in order to allow the members of the lodges opportunity to participate in the funeral, the body is taken to the church. Very often the crowd is so large it cannot be accommo- dated in the church and friends of the dead remain waiting on the outside. After the services are completed the casket is opened and all those who desire to do so are re- quested to pass around and review the re- mains. A Great Danger. According to the talk before the associa- tion caskets are sometimes kept open for an hour or more and hundreds of people pass around ft, some attracted with the desire of beholding the last of the deceased and the majority for mere curiosity. This, some of the clergymen declared, was a dangerous custom. The majority of the mémbers of the min- isters’ association were of the opinion that hereafter there should be no more opening of coffins in churches. Anathemas at the Coffin. Another thing which was brought out In connection with the discussion of the sub: ject was that often those whom the de- ceased had been so unfortunate as to make his enemies in life, take opportunity, upon such occasions, to say unpleasant things about the deceased over his remains, as they pass around the coffin. One clergyman related an incident where the deceased was @ man, and in passing around his coffin, one of his enemies remarked: “‘S’pose you's done lying about me, now.” On another occasion one remarked: “Stay there, you rascal.” The clergyman said that such conduct was disgraceful, and the conduct of ccriosity seekers had brought the thing to a point where it ought not to be further tolerated. Another matter which occupied the at- tention of the meeting was whai one of the members was picased to cail “double fun- erals.” After the preacher has had his say, according to this member, the society of which the deceased is a member often con- ducts another service, consisting of ritual- istic services, mystic signs and grips, clap- ping of hands and giving of Arabic or other passwords. The clergymen who partici- pated in the discussion said that it was in- tended that these services should be con- ducted at the grave and not in the churches, and the societies take advantage of the church because the people don’t go to the cemetery. Suuday Funerals. In most cases it matters not how early in the week a member of the lodge may die, the body is generally kept until Sunday, in order that there may be as big a display as possible. Bands of music are secured, and the chief grand exalted potentate, or the past worthy grand chief, has charge of the services. After parading through the principal thoroughfares leading to the church, they arrive there usually about 2 o'clock. After the pastor has finished with the church service the chief grand exalted potentate assumes charge of the remains, and the ritualistic services of the erder are gone through with. So much time is consumed that one of the clergymen said the major portion of the Lord’s day is taken up, not in worshiping the Lord, but in making a show of the dead, and they have accordingly deter- mined to have no more “double funerals.” Those who are of this opinion say that if the societies are determined to have this kind of funeral they will have to be con- ducted in halls, and not in the churches. Comment of the Clergymen. During the discussicn of this subject one of the clergymen, who participated in It, sald that these displays on the part of the secret societies had a baneful effect upon the colored people here, as it caused many of them to identify themselves with secret societies in preference to the churches, with the hope of having a big display over them when they are dead. Incidents were told where poor colored people worked hard for the mere pittance of a salary and pald mest of it into secret societies, or, in some ceses, denied themselves the pleasure of attendance at the churches, and even some- times of food and clothing. To be a mem- ber of some secret order was more to them tkan being members of the church. The clergymen expressed themselves as favorable to secret societies, but not to the extent of having the members neglect their churches or the duties which they owed themselves. Tho members of the meeting, while not taking any official action upon the subject, expressed their determination to use their influence in the suppression of what they complained of as evils. The membership of the association in- czades the members of the Baptist churches of this city and parts of Maryland and Vir- ginta. —>—— He Could Spare It. From the Roxbuzy Gazette. Tramp—‘One moment, my friend, can you epare the price of a glass of beer?” Party Accosted—“Yez, easily, and what's more, I’m just going down street to get it. G'da -—-s0e A Supreme Test. From Scribner's. Ga a quiet corner at the reception.) She— “You say you would be willing to risk your to the supper room i to eat.” Wher He fand Tost. sighed Cummin Weele, “I Gone. From the Cl “Ho-hum! wish these wheels 'n electricity would hurry up their wor Truck Wyder—“W'ot Idee ye got now, Caummin?” start out huntin’ a job o° SNAKES AND PARTRIDGES. Prince George Will Not Be Outdone by Loudoun County in Stpry Telling. “I saw a piece in The 8 some time ago about a man from Leudoup county,” said the man from Prince rge, who was sitting in the end of his wagon in the rear of Center market. “Yes, I think he ealled}at the office,” said The Star man. z “Well, you know he was telling about a nineteen-foot snake that et a bushel of eggs and 2 couple of turkeys.” “I believe he mentioned that sort to the snake editbr. “When that paper came out to Acco- keek with that story in it a good many of the neighbors said it was a blamed false- hood, but I tol’ ‘em that it was correct, ’cause I’ve knowed snakes to do things like that myself.” It was quite evident that the Prince George man had a story to relate, and after a short pause, during which he swung his cowhide boots to and fro re- flectively, he continued. “I was out in the meadow one day and I see’é a lot of patridges running around and I stopped a minute to watch them. After a little while a snake crawled out- “en the bushes. “How big was it? Oh, he was a middle- 3ized fellow, abovt so long,” and the nar- rator almost dislocated a shoulder blade in giving the measurement. “He laid down in the sun near the flock and opened his mouth good and wide and Kep’ real still. After he’d been there some time another snake come out’en the bush- €s, jumpin’ up and down and runnin’ right at the flock of pairidges.”” “How big was he? Oh, about so long,” and the Prince George man stretched his arms until he was red in the face. “I thought he must be a fool snake to try to catch a patridge that way, but that wasn't his idee. Now you know when a patridge is skeered it wants to hide and will lay under roots or inside holler logs until it gets over bein’ skeered.” The Star man was not certain that such were the bird’s habits, but said nothing. “Well, when they saw the other snake layin’ there with his mouth wide open I Suess they must have thought that he was a holler log, ‘cause they every one of ’em run right plum into his mouth and down his throat. After they had finished up the ficck they both ran into the bushes. - I s’pose they wuz lookin’ for another flock, so the other snake could get a meal.” There was silence for a period, but The Star man made no comment. “I don’t reckon patridgeshootin’ will be very good this year,” added the Prince George man regretfully, as he bit off a fresh chew. mething of — ee PRANKS IN A CABLE: CAR. A Boy's Opportunity to Play a Trick and He Doesn’t Mesttnte. “A fellow needs his sea legs in a place like this,” said a gentleman on a cable car Saturday night, as the sudden starting of the car seated him rather unceremoniously, with a flushed face, in the corner. Two youngsters sat next to hm, and they giggled at the abrupt way in which he sat down. Pretty soon the car stopped, and a couple of auburn-haired misses tripped in, with a strong odor of sweet violets, and seated themselves on the opposite side near the center. They reached their seats without any mishap, as the can waited for a fat man, who didn’t commence wobbling from the sidewalk until the car stopped. He had squeezed through the door: and taken a couple of song-and-dance steps toward a seat, when the car siarted, and threw him back against the conductor; then “he lurched forward and sat down suddenly on the two boys, crowding them apart like a big wedge, and they giggled again. When the car stopped next it was to pick up a little woman with a well-loaded mar- ket basket, and she came forward by fits and starts until she secured a seat next to the little boy near the center of the car, placing her basket on the seat between her- self and the boy; and soon the scents from the various vegetables and the odor of sweet violets were battling for supremacy. The fat man’s coat pocket was gaping wide open, and it caught the eyes of thé young- ster seated next to the market basket. He had also noticed some onions on top of the conglomeration in the basket, and it wasn’t long before he had five of the vegetables transferred to the pocket. ‘Then the young rascals put four or five of the onions in his cap, and, holding the cap in his hand,walked to the dapt, motioning to the other little chap to join him. After a few whispers and giggles, they again took their seats, but had exchanged places, and it didn’t take much time to make another transfer, and the cap was empty again. The fat man and the little woman are both undoubtedly readers of The Star, and will understand now something that prob- ably seemed very mysterious and puzzling as they reached their respective homes on last Saturday night. ———__- TIGHT LACING SAVED A LIFE. The Fox Terricr Escaped Injury Be- cause He Was Protected. Three fashionably dressed young ladies were sauntering down 16th street the other afterrcon, laughing and talking. The one in the center held a pretty fox terrier pup closely pressed to her stylish belt, which was rot more than nineteen inches in cir- cumference. As the young lady was by ro means attenuated there was a nice cum- fortable niche for doggie to rest in. The other two stepped off the curbstone all right, but she with the deg was so en- grossed with other matters that she step- red off without knowing it. As might have been expected, she measured her length in dusty asphalt, and her pet was underneath. He thought he was killed, so did the young ladies and so did everybody cn the square, for he was a good yelper. The fallen fash- ion plate was assisted to her feet and the howling pup was “poor little fellowed,” and stroked by three pretty white hands which felt for broken bones, The howling soon ceased, however, and when he was put on the ground he dashed off in true fox terrier style, as much as to say, “she never touched me”—and she didn’t. But if she had held that dog in-any other way he would have been smashed. —_— The Imperial Stud of Lippiza. From the Westmirster Gazette. The gift of a stallion to the Mabaraja of Jodhpore by the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, in return for the hospitality he received from that Rajaput,Prince during his recent Indian tour, calls attent{on to the oldest stud in Europe. This is the im- rerlal stud of Lippiza, in the Karst coun- try, about one hour’s journey from Trieste. It was founded by the Emperor Ferdinand I in 1580, and the breed, which is a mixture of Arab and Andalusian blood, has been k-pt quite pure ever since. = There are at the stud at present eighty mares and five breeding stallions, and about 250 young horses and geldings. About forty horses are sent annually to Vienna, where they are used exclusively in the imperial stables. One peculiarity of this breed is that, as they have been allowed, for genera- tions, to roam over the Karster mountains unshod, their hoofs and feet have become so hard that they do not reqnire to be shod. They are Gescribed as being as handsome as they are hardy and intelligent. —_—_+ Her Error] From the Indianapolis Journal “I see that you have been buying a bi- cycle,” he casually remarked, as they sat side by side on the sofa. “Yes.” “Cash or installment? “Two dollars a week,” she admitted. And thus it was she unknowingly caused him to postpone his ‘proposal for nearly a year. When ordering Cocoa snd Chocolates be sure and ask for Huyler’s, ‘They have no superior. AMONG THE TOILERS The Washington Building Trades Council and Its Work. RECENT DOINGS IN THE LABOR FIELD Coming Convention of the United Garment Workers. A RAILWAY FEDERATION The Building Trades Council of Washing- ton is one of the most thoroughly represen- tative bodies of workingmen that can be found in any city of thé Union. Its membership comprises carpenters, soft stonecutters, hard stonecutters, brick- layers, plasterers, plumbers, galvanized iron and cornice werkers, steamfitters, electri- cal workers, painters, paperhangers and gas- fitters. Each of these crafts is represented in the council by five delegates, in whose selection the greatest care is observed to secure men of discretion and good executive ability. Although in existence but a little more than two years, it has already accomplished much good in settling disputes between the members of the various crafts who com- pose the membership, and between the lat- ter and contractors. The Building Trades’ Council never of its own motion takes up the settlement of a grievance which may, for instance, exist be- tween the plumbers and a contractor unless requested by the former to do so, but should its good offices be invoked, the proper com- mittee would, under the rules of the council, leave no resource untried to settle the trou- ble in a manner satisfactory to both sides. The counc:l is opposed to strikes or to placing a business man or firm on the unfair list except as a last resort. Its members are proud of the fact that thus far it has pre- vented several threatened strikes and by this means has saved an immense loss in wages to hundreds of the working people of the District. The present officers are P. T. O’Brien, pres- ident, who enjoys the distinction of never during the period he has held office having had one of his decisions questioned or ap- pealed from Wolff, vice preside: M. Boyce, s ary; L. Sch treasurer, and M. D. Rose, official reporter. The meet- ings occur twice a month, and are held at Monumental Hall. At the semi-monthly meeting of the coun- cil, Tuesday night last, more organizations were represented. Delegates were admit- ted from the Steam Fitters,’ Carpenters’ Council, Galvanized Iron and Cornice Work- ers and Stone Masons. The delegates from the Galvanized Iron and Cornice Workers presented a very en- couraging report of the condition of their affairs, which was warmly commended and accepted. The committee having charge, so far as the Building Trades’ Council was concerned, of the trouble at the National brewery re- ported that all differences had been set- ted in a manner satisfactory to the com- mittee. The council discussed at considerable length a proposition to appoint an agent to represent them in all disputes and business transactions. The idea was favorably re- ceived, but, without taking a vote thereon, the subject was laid over until the next meeting. The Garment Workers’ Convention. Much interest is felt in labor circles in Washington, as well as throughout the United States, in the approaching conven- tion of the United Garment Workers of America, to be held in Baltimore November 11. This is in some respecis the most re- markable labor organization on the conti- nent, having in five years, mainly through the efforts of one man, Mr. Charles F. Reichers of New York, who has traveled from city to city explaining its benefits, attained a membership of 35,000. It is true that a national organization of the cutters and makers of ready-made cloaks and clothing, which are the crafts composing the United Garment Workers of America, existed for several rs prior to 1890, when the present body was formed, but the organization possessed but little vitality, and in 1884 it was completely obliterated by the Knights of Labor, who were then in the heyday of prosperity. Clothing mak- ers in all the great manufacturing centers by the thousands united with the Knights of Labor during that year, and were or- ganized into a National Trade Assembly, the same as the steam fitters and members of several other crafts now are. Great ex- pectations were formed of what this Na- tional Trade Assembly would accomplish, but for various reasons the members were disappointed, and early in 1800 the assem- bly began to go to pieces. At a conference held in New York city April 12 of the same year the United Gar- ment Workers of America were organized. From that day the movement has pros- pered in a manner unprecedented, and in nearly every city where there are garment makers ts thoroughly organized. The organization has had a number of severe fights, notably in New York, but in nearly every instance has been victorious. The first strikes were for higher wages and shorter hours only. In New York the wages of the mzkers of ready-made clothing were extremely low, and the hours were very long at the time the United Garment Work- ers were organized. Last year a definite warfare was begun upon the sweat shops in every great city and decisive victories were won nearly everywhere. The revelations made during the progress of the various strikes were such as to cause the legislature of New York to appoint a committee to investigate the sweating- system. Although the work of this committee is not yet completed there has béen @ great improvement in the conditions complained of in New York and Brooklyn. At present the United Garment Workers have no president, and the affairs are managed by an executive board, which is composed of Charles F. Reichers of New York, secretary; A. Harrison of New York, treasurer; Herry White of New York, au- ditor; A. J. Felz of Boston, organize: Louls Kallen of Chicago, Samuel Gold- man of Boston, Joseph H* Barron of Bal- timore, Meyer Schoenfeld and Dion W. Burke of New York, trustees. It is expected that a change will be made at the cof€ention in the constitution, and the present secretary, Mr. Reichers, who has been a power in the organization,elect- ed president. A Fedcration of Railway Employes. Ever since the incarceration of Eugene V. Debs in the Woodstock, I"), jail he has claimed that upon his release he would be able to revive the American Railway Union, and make it a greater power than it has ever heretofore been, and, fearing that he may be able to accomplish this if steps are not taken to check him, the executives of the five great labor organi- zations in the employ of western rail- roads, viz., Frank B. Sargent, grand mas- ter of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen; Grand Secretary Arnold and Sec- ond Assistant Grand Master Mayer of the same order; W. B. Powell, grand chief; M. M. Dolphin, first assistant grand chief, and L. A. Tanquery, chairman of the grand executive committee of the railway tele- graphers; First Assistant Grand Chief Lee of the railway trainmen, and Grand Chief Clark of the railway conductors, have determined and have already co! pleted arrangements for forming a federa- tion, which, in strength, both numerically and as a body, will not be of less signifi- cance than the powerful alliance with which Mr. Debs tied up the entire system of several of the largest lines in the coun- try. The managers of the present movement | announce that it is not their intention to antagonize the railroad officials. In speak- ing of the matter, Grard Master Sargent said the trouble between the employe and the employer was that they did not under- stand each other. We thought there should be more honesty of purpose upon the part of both capital und labor. He was sure that the labor sdcieties were rapidly bring- ing such a condition into being; they had already improved the moral tone of all railroad employes, who had learned to ed- ucate themselves, and thereby to appre- ciate the better class of work, whereby the railroad itself had been greatly benefited. He thought that the first step in the mak- ing of the proposed federation was to see that conservative men were placed at its head, men who would do the greatest good for the greatest number, and put their foot upon anything that savored of antagonism toward one another. The Electrical Workers, The usual weekly meeting of Local Union No. 26, Electrical Workers, was held last night at their hall, No. 827 7th street northwest. In the absence of Pres- ident Berger, Mr. R. F. Metzel was called to the chair. The attendance was good. Henry Hubbel was reinstated and S. Sil- verberg was admit*ed to active member- ship. Applications for membership were received from four other persons. The matter of differences between the Electrical Workers and the Plumbers’ Union relative to the hanging of some combination electric and gas fixtures by the former in a large establishment in Washington was discussed at much length and a committee was appointed to confer with a like committee from the Plumbers’ Union. An effort was made to adjust the matter satisfactorily. The action.of the convention committee at their meeting Sunday last regarding the appointments of various subcommittees was ccnfirmed. The list of the latter is as follows: Theater, J. M. Berger, chairman; Walter Burke, John Lloyd, John Hebbard and John Rosser; banquet, J. M. Berger, chair- man; R. F. Metzel, Malcolm Beaton, Geo. A. Malone, Henry Phillips, David H. Carr, John Lloyd, John Rosser and William Watzel; printing, David H. Carr, chair- man; Albert Brooks, Rk. F. Metzel and Wil- liam E. Dykes; reception, Henry Phillips, chairman; George A. Malone, Wm. Watzel, Malcolm Beaton, David H. Carr, Joseph Darmill and John Hoffacher; illumination, Alexander Poevert, chairman; »John Rowe, Albert Man, John Collins, Joseph Collins, David H. Carr, William Watzel, H. T. Balser, Joseph R. McCrink, H. Miller ani A. Johnson; night parade, Wi liam H. Balser, chairman; Joseph R. Me- @rink, John M. Berger, R. F. Metzel, Wil- liam H. Whitman, Walter J. Williams, William Watzel and Henry Phillips. The past has been a busy week with the members of the union getting ready for the biennial convention of their national brotherhood, which meets here November 11 to 17. The contract for making the banner, which is to be a very fine one, has been awarded. It will be suspended across 7th street from their headquarters about November 1, when the front of the building will also be decorated. In the Labor Field. Contracts have been made with the Mid- dletown, Pa., car works for the construc- tion of 250 cars, fifty of which will go to Mexico. The building of these cars will put a large number of idle men to werk. Articles of agreement have been signed transferring the Tonesdaie, Pa., green glass works, which have heen idle for five years, to a syndicate of Scranton glass blowers. Fires will be started November 1. The semi-monthly pay roll of the Penn- sylvania Steel Company Saturday la: amounted to $101,118, divided among 4,8 employes. The plant is being run to its full capacity. President John McBride of the American Federation of Iaoor addressed a mass meeting of workingmen at the cld city hall, Pittsburg, last night. It is said that a large number of miners in western Pennsylvania are sick and des- titute, and that in some places in the min- ing districts the typhoid fever is epidemic. An appeal has been made for aid. The iron manufacturers and tke workers’ representatives are preparing for the next adjustment of the iron scale, which will be during the first ten days in November. It ts said that the demand for labor ai Minneapolis is greater at present than ever before known. Men are wanted for the woods and for the logging camps, and for railroad work and various sorts of work that will last all winter, while there is no end of employment for men willing to do such work as must he finished be- fore winter, and therefore of short dura- tion, It is estimated that at this time there are fully 25,000 miners or strike in Pern- sylvania alone. The leaders in the strike counsel a policy of peace, and will try to accomplish their ends withovt having re- course to violence. It is understood that the trouble at Fort Myer, Va., between one of the contractors for the erection of the government build- ings and his bricklayers has been satis- factorily adjusted and the men have re- sumed work. —_---—— SNAKES AND MOSQUITOES. Big Stories About Them as Products of New Jersey. One of our F street young business men, who spent the greater part of the t sum- mer in the northern portion of New Jersey, comes back loaded down with scars re- ceived in battles fought with mosjuitoes, and wondrous tales of the boring propen- sity of the pestifercus insccts. For medicinal purposes ke kept a pint bottle of whisky upon the bureau in his room, and one night on going to his ioig- ings he found about fifty of the large-sized mosquitoes staggering arcund on the bu- reau, not one of them able to fly. Miscing his whisky flask, he commenced searching, and finally found it standing on the win- Gow sill. Two of the mosquitoes had bured through the glass from opposite sides, and im some way their stingers had become clinched together in the center of the hot- tle, and, being unable to extricate them- seives, they had started to fly away with the whole load, but the closed window had stopped them. Innumerable small holes through the sides ef the bottle accounted for the befuddled condition of the stagger- ers on the bureau. “The srakes up*there are almost as ra- pacious as the mosauitoes,” said the vera- clous young man; “and when th can’t i else to eat they swallow “Did you see any performance in chat asked The Star man, I was out walking one Sunday bury Park, and saw a big black near stake squirming around a stump as fast as it could go, evidently trying to cate its own tail, which wriggled along about six inches ahead of its open mouth. Sud. derly the snake turned its head and ds ed back the othcr w: snapping at the tail when it came in sight. In less than a minute the tail and about half the body had disappeared down the snake’s throat, and then he stopped a moment to take breath.” The young man also stopped a moment to take breath at this point, then con- tinued: “It didn for in a moment more the last inch neck was gone, and, presto! The had disappeared!” e Star man whistled softly. t take long to finish the job then, of Ms snake “See here, old man, 1 the youas traveler, “if you doubt my word, yo up there next summer with Doc Lewis, znd he'll show you the stump!” a, To Treat a Sprain. From the Medical Record. Most svecessful treatment is use of hot foot baths for fifteen minutes three times a day. Follow cach bath with massage for fifteen minutes, then apply snugiy a rub- ber bandage from tocs up as high as ankle and have patient walk. Ballet dancers use this method with such success that they are seldom incapacitated for work Jonger thaa a week. REAL ESTATE GOSSIP Some Sales of Suburban Building Sites and the Prices. INTEREST IN BUSINESS PROPERTY People Who Have Money to Invest Are in the Market. SOME IMPROVEMENTS Considerable interest has been manifested recently by property holders and others ia reports of sales of building sites made in the vicinity of the property formerly owned by the President on the Tenleytown road. It is known that several blocks of land have been disposed of, and the announce- ment is made that the new owners intend to erect hcvses. The property in question is a portion of the tract of land owned by. the Richmond Park syndicate, and com- prises sites in the eastern part of the tract nearer to Connecticut avenue extended than to the Tenleytown road. One of the purchasers is Judge Cox, who intends to erect a residence there. In spite of the fact that there are practically no improve- ments, the property was sold on the »asid of a per foot valuation, and the price se- cured in the sales mentioned was about fourteen cents per square foot, each lot containing about one acre. For Business Purpose. Some attention has been called during the past week to property in the business section of the city. One piece of property changed hands and another was offered at public auction, and while it was withdrawn the highest bid received attracted some at- tention. Mr. John R. McLean secured the title to the property at the northwest cor- ner of 10th and F streets, and it is an- neunced that he intends to erect 1 modern business building on chat site. There is not very much ground in this building site, but nowadays iron is used so !arzely in the construction of buildings the walls do not occupy as much space as is required when stone or brick is the material employed, and so comparatively roomy structures are erected on what would have been consid- ee @ few years ago extremely narrow ots. The building on the ground purchased by Mr. McLean has been built a good many years. and adjoins on the east the modern structure erected by the Equitable Co-op- erative Building Association, while in the rear is the 10th street wing of the great building occupied by the business of Messrs. Woodward & Lothrop. Mr. Me- Lean is already. quite a large owner of Washirgton real estate, and his recent pur- chase is only an addition to his extensive holdings. Prices Remain Firm. ~ There was quite a good attendance when the property at the northeast corner of 13th and G streets was offered for sale. It has a frontage of over twenty-four feet and a depth of seventy-five feet, and the improve- ments consist of an office building. As has® been stated, this property was not sold, but the highest bid was an average of over $21 @ square foot, although the property was not bid on at a per foot rate, but in a bulk svm. The owner believed that the property was worth more than that figure, and de- clined to let it go. It is quite evident, how- ever, that valuations in that locality have rot suffered from the late depression, and that in the estimation of investors it is not only worth having, but is worth a fairly good price. Looking for Investments. It is believed that the investor has again appeared in the market. There are indica- tions pointing to that fact. The auction- eers, for example, find that the attendance at sales of real estate is much larger than it has been for some time ‘past, and that the competition is much more lively. In fact, one of the leading auctioneers of the city said not long ago that good prices could be obtained for property that was well situated. He said that, of course, in localities where prices had reached a speculative figure, it was impossible to get the bidding at a public sale up to the same point. As a rule, he said, the prices re- mained firm, and not only was it apparent that there was money to invest, but also a desire on the part of those who controlled funds to place them in real estate. The Week’s Record. Ten permits, at an estimated cost of $43,- 400, were issued by the building inspector during the week. This amount was divided among the several sections of the city as follows: Northwest, two permits, costing $050; southwest, one permit, $2,500; north- east, six permits, $40,000, and the county, one permit, for $250. Some Improvements. Hector McNeal is building a row of six two-story brick dwellings, and when com- pleted will be known as Nos. 32 to 42 18th street northeast. They will have a depth of thirty-six feet. R. J. Beall is the archi- tect and James Burns the builder. Architect Woltz has prepared the plans for a two-story brick dwelling for Francis Leonard, which will be known as No. 62 Delaware avenue southwest. The building will have a frontage of twenty-three feet with a depth of seventy-three. feet. John W. Foster is having house No. 717 lith street northwest remodeled, which, when completed, will be used as an apart- ment house and store. He will add two additional stories to the front of the Louse and three stories to the back. C. L. Hard- ing 1s the architect. The work will cost $8,000. The Columbia Phonograph Company con- templates an improvement to the front of its building on Pennsylvania avenue which will add greatly to the possibilities for ef- fective display. Instead of having two show windows, as at present, there will be one large window, projecting several feet beyond the building line and extending about two-thirds of the way across the front of the bullding. The entrance will be to one side. A. Goetz has been awarded the contract fer this improvement. A one-story brick store is to be erected cn the corner of 4th street and Florida uve- nue northwest, plans for which are being prepared by H. A. Campbell, archite: At the corner of 3d and E s east there will be erected a t basement double dwelling, plaz are beltg prepared by M. Hunier Jones, architect. Buff brick and Indiana Mme- stone are to be used In the constru George S. Cooper, architect, has plans for a handsome residence whi L. Weaver proposes to erect for himself in Chevy Chase. It will be t 9 foot front, with 2 depth of forty fee*, an is to be of colonial Cesigu. It will be Uwvo stories in height, with an attle, will contain tweive rooms and will be supplizd with 71 modern conveniences. The cost Js estimated to be about $5,000. ———- Would Institute a Boyevit. From the Chicago Record. “Aw, Chelly, hawve yaw been weading about these Turkish outwages in Ar- menia?” don’t cs; beastiy thing, you weally, Cholly, I’m so that l'm going te give up me Tur wettes!”