Evening Star Newspaper, December 7, 1895, Page 18

18 THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, DECEMBER = 4, 1895-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. THE LATE FASHIONS Sleeves Are to Be Tighter, So the Authorities Say. FANCY WAISTS STILL IN FAVCR What is Worn in Capes and a Novelty in Jackets. THE THING IN GLOVES ee LENTY OF MATE- Pe is the keynote of fashion’s theme. A woman now car- ries around enough material in her gar- ments to clothe three women quite respec- tably If they wore the scant attire of Puritan days. Sleeves do not look so large, but the amount of stuff it takes to fash- : fon them ts simply scandalous, The dressmaker says to mad- am: “Now, let me see. It will take four yards of double width goods to make your sleeves. Well, I think you may bring me ten yards of forty-inch material!” A few years ago four yards of forty-inch goods would have been oceans for a dress skirt, with some left for sleeves. Then there are the capes! Why In the world does a woman want to burden her- self with a great lot of goods in a cape, which weights her down and flaps over her head, wraps itself about her escort, and lets her fairly freeze in cold weather, when the air slides up under its folds? It isn’t quite settled that they are so fetching, either; for a dumpy little figure in a capo looks like a Dutch doll, whereas it would be quite witching in a jacket or a long, close-fitting coat. The skirts are almost scarecrows in some instances, but the reac- tion is coming, slowly and surely. From across the water the rumor is borne that Parisian costumers are fashioning sleeves of almost skin-tight proportions, and that the skirts of ballet dancer width have had their day. Nobody wants to see the hid- eous tight sleeves again, but smaller ones would certainly be a boon to lean pocket books. While sleeves are as large as ever, or a little larger, the fullness comes in a differ- ent place, falling through graceful manip- ulation about the elbow, leaving the upper portion near the shoulder perfectly flat. Sec- tions or gores are features of nearly ull the sleeves, especially those of the coats and long, ulster-like garments. Three pieces are the minimum, and six are common. If you have not the time to cut your old sleeves to pieces, just simulate the seams by putting cord and braiding, gimp or fur in strips down the outside. Yeu will find that it will answer quite as well. An example of fur- trimmed sleeves come in a Worth costume of black satin. The bottom of the skirt is tucked and has a seam down the front. The large sleeves have a stripe of the fur down the outside, and the revers to the jacket front are bordered with fur. With this cos- tume is worn a bright brocade silk scarf, with a deep fall of lace on it, the whole ue being attached to a ruff of the black si The fancy waist is as popular as ever. You sce it in silk and velvet, In crepe and cotton, in wool and in the thinnest of all febrics—chiffon. They are made on close- fitting linings, and are elaborately trimmed with anything that fancy dictates for gar- Miture. Much jet is used and nut a little of the oriental embroideries. ‘There is some- thing singularly rich about those oriental combinations of colors which makes them very attractive to women, and, oddly enough, there are but few women to whom they are not becoming. Whole dresses are seldom made out of them, but the sleeves and trimmings are. Plaids are in high favor, and the woman who can scratch up a Scotch twig on her family tree is going around tell- Ing her friends that her new plaid waist is “clan” plaid to which her family : y claim to be a McDonald and be wearing a Stuart plaid, or a McLean and be sporting a plaid of their bitterest enemy, but that makes no difference to her. A plaid is a plaid to a woman, thougi some herein lies the are prettier than others, 1 difference in her opinion. re very fetching affairs avy street skirts, if the are well chosen, and they brighten an old frock wonderfully. By all means plaid waist if possible, but for good- ness sake do be careful about matehing the stripes or you will go around looking as though you had a hump on one shoulder and one hip was down. Plaids are the most provoking things in the world to manipulate Properly If y an old black silk which you want to make over in- to a neat evening gown with small ex- pense, this is a pretty desizn. You see the old skirt can be used, and if you like ft yo! can piece it out unde velvet or vassemen- je at the foot, if It appens to be worn too much to pass mus- ter without. » old waist only needs to have the tails cut off and out- and made V front and then lined with ste so makes the t y pute rate in siz Furs, and then more furs. It is really fremarka the amount of fur pat small woman can dispose of nm, and how dear fine furs « man's heart! Piush and velvet for handsome capes, and taffetas with cashmere patterns, all of them fur trim- med; of course. Passamenteries are also used for trimming, and long ends are quite the thing. Shawl capes are among the very newest fashions of the winter, but their only trimming ts the self fringe. The littie capes are not quite so full—the fur ones— as they have been, and it is well, for they were most ridiculously ruffled about the shoulders, making most of their wearers look deformed. Some women who object so decidedly to having their sleeves crushed wearing a coat or Jacket, and yet are cold In a cape, might apply the td in the flustration of the tight jacket waist of Persian lamb, with | Wing-like sleeves of cloth or velvet trimmed with bands of the lamb. It makes a jaunty and attractive-looking wrap, quite warm erough for ordinary wear in this climate. Just a suggestion of outdcor neckwear to those who have no furs and cannot afford them or feather boas either. Get two yards of black India silk, that which costs about fifty cents a yard. and cut it In six-inch strips—lengthwise. Sew them together neatly, pink each edge and plait it in triple box pluits. It will be a yard or more in length when completed, and is an excellent substitute for a boa of fur or feathers. “Put narrow black ribbons where you wish to fasten it close about the throat. Such a boa, if bought at the shops, would cost you about three dollars. It reed not cost you over a dollar. If you desire one for the neck only, 2 yard of silk cut In three strips will suffice. It will be very pretty edged with narrow lace. A visiting dress that is charming in design ts made of opalescent silk, In which tan and green and red give a Persian effect In certain shadows. It has a simple ruffle at the foot of the unstiffencd skirt, and the waist is made in blouse er- fect with a vest of cream lace and bands of green velvet, an odd but attractive effect in bows of lace with jet buttons giving a Frenchy touch. The sleeves are of green velvet with dark shaded red roses stamped on the fabric. The jaunty bonnet is of green velvet with white lace rosettes. The description sounds bizarre, but the effect is really strikingly elegant. New gloves are heavily stitched in colors, and the thicker kids are selected for win- ter wear. They are unstinted as to shades, but the cruder colorings are not worn by ladies of taste. Large buttons of metal or fine pearl are both worn, and a few who lke the close fitting glove wear the hock. It Is a little old-fashioned, but there are some things, like Queen Victoria's congress gaiters, for instance, which never go out of feshion—for some people. — A WONDERFUL BATHROOM. The Bather Stands in a Whirling Maze of Water. From the New York World. Nothing delights the civilized man or wo- man more than to view a well-ordered, con- | Yenfent bathroom. This is an account of the ; best bathroom In New York. It is at the | Montefiore Home for Incurabies and Chronic | Invalids, one of the most deserving charities in New York. After one has gone through its clean halls and wards one is prepared for something excellent in the wav of a bath- room. But one is surprised and more than pleased when its full beauties are displayed. This bathroom is in the basement. Of course it has the usual things, including the box in which one may be parboiled in hot air or steam, with electrical accessories. It has the marble foot bath and the needle bath, the shower and the hose, and in addition it has other things that make it impossible for any human being to leave it with the re- motest trace of uncleanliness, In the center of the large room is a marble stand, on the fiat top of which are a dozen stopcocks, two lines of hose, thermometers and steam radiators. In a corner is what looks like the usual combination of needle and shower bath. The attendant takes his position behind the marble stand and with the ald of the stopcocks controls over a score of baths and combinations of baths. He who seeks bodily purity takes his stand in the center of the circles of pipes that make the needle baths. The attendant turns a cock, and several thousand streams of hot or cold water, as he chooses, issue from the tiny holes in the pipes and center upon the body. He turns another wheel, and a shower of water descends fom the ceiling. He turns a third wheel, and from the floor under the feet rises a powerful fountain. The bather is now standing in a whirling maze of water under high pressure. Round go the wheels under the hands of the attendant, and the water stops. Then he turns another wheel, and steam issues Instead. The man who is bathing now comes out of the needle bath and stands against the wall. The attendant points the hose at him and turns a wheel. The cold water rushes out in a great stream. He gradually reduces its temperature and, by turning another wheel, makes hot water, almost boiling, issue from the hose. A third wheei controls steam, and this may be projected through the hose. “The hottest bath any man takes here is 140 degre: aid the attendant. “The cold- est is below zero. We have the water artifi- cially chilled as well as heated. IN THE TOILS. The Visitor Knew the Ropes and Acted Accordingly. From the Boston Transcript. It certainly was an unfair advantage to take of a man; but business is business. He was expecting a dun, and he instructed nis office boy to say, In case anybody called, that Mr. Pilgarlic was out to lunch. Pres- ently there was a caller. He was stopped in the outside room by the youthful Cerberus, who delivered himself of the formula according to instructions. : “Oh, he’s gone out to lunch, eh?" said the visitor; “I'm sorry for that. I wanted him to take dinner with me.” P.lgarlc came out of the inner room precipitately, and with a face glowing with anticipated pleasure. But the visitor caus- ed the blood to recede, for the visitor was a dun and knew his bus:ness. “If you can make it convenient,” he said, “to pay that little bill—” But why dwell upon the agonies of the situation? —____+e+__. A Little Knowledge. From Punch. COOKING IN FUTURE Housekeeping May Be a New Problem in the Next Century. KITCHENS 10 BE RUN BY ELECTRICITY It Costs More Than Coal to Do It Now. HEATING DWELLING HOUSES LECTRIC cook - ery is in its infancy, yet the time is nearly approaching when the kitchens of all well-managed house- holds will be run by the mysterlous fluid. Eleetricity will take the place of fuel in the range, the de- partment of the cuis- Ine will be Nghted by the same agency, and it is entirely coa- ceivable that a small electric motor will be made to serve for such purposes as beat- ing eggs and mixing gri-lile-cakes. Already electric cook stoves in a number of patterns are on the market. You can even buy an electric chafing dish, which may be attached at a moments notice to an ordinary electric iignt wire in any house. These chafing dishes are made in one-quart and two-quart sizes, nickel-plated. All you have to do is to make the attachment by a plug-switch, turn on the current and al- most immediately your oysters are begin- ning to stew cr your eggs to frizzle. Before long householders will take elec- tricity regularly for domestic purposes, just as they now take gas. Lut the more subtle fluid will be made to serve for cooking and heating as well as for lighting. The con- venience to the ho: wife of being able to rely upon one system of wires for fuel for cooking and for -varming and illuminat- ing the dwelling will be enormous. She will find it particularly deligntful to be rid of a hot kitchen in the summer time. Nowadays the kitchen is apt to be the dirty part of any house. ‘To keep it really clean is almost out of the question. ‘The coal used for fuel blackeas everything with which it comes in conta*t; ashes make more dirt, and smoke blackens the ceiling and walls. In the electricaily conducted kitchen of the near future it will be quite different. There will be no coal, no ashes and no smoke. The range will be ready for cook- ing at a moment's notice, with no time and patience wasted in the laborious kindlins of a fire. The turn of a switch will start the current, which may be shut off again when no longer wanted. An electric kitchen in full operation was exhibited at the world’s tair in Chicago. All sorts of cooking were lone in it, including the roasting of joints nd fowls, ihe broil- ing of steaks, the baking of bread and cakes, etc., and the results were extremely sati! factory. The only reason why this method of cookery has not alrealy come into gen- eral use is that electricity us a substitute for fuel costs more than Cal or oil or Ra! The difference of c : le, but some ds be discovered by which electricity can be produced more cheaply, und then even poor people will be able to -Ufford electric ranges and heaters A Domestic Luxury, Meanwhile « good many people who are able te pay for the luxury are buying ele tric culinzry apparatus. It is undeniable that the kitchen thus equipped is a joy and a blessing—free from dirt and noxious guses, ard cool. Think of the happ.ness of a kitchen that is always cool; of a cook who is not red in the face end soiled as to clothing; of a fire that requires no kindling, being turned on or extinguished at an i stant's notice! Why, under such conditi Ife assumes a new aspect from the point of view of the housewife. With the introduction of the chating dish ends the era of the alcohol lamp, with its d zble odor and lie bility to overflow and set fire to the tabi: cloth. Similar in idea is the electric te kettle and stand, admirably adapted for 5 o'clock tea. The stand is connected with an electric w a turn of the button, and presently the water for the beverage that cheers Without inebriating is singing in the pot. Take off the teakettle, and you have in the stard a suitzble apparatus for mak- ing coffee in a bachelor's apartment, or for various uses in the nursery or sick room. In hospitals electric contrivances are par- ticularly well adapted for heating food, warming bandages, etc. It is said that meats roasted in the elec- tric oven have ail the qualities of meats cooked in front of a fire, and they do not require basting or watching. They are cccked more evenly and in less time, while retaining a larger percentage of the nutri- tious juices. Bread is baked in the same apparatus ideally. No culinary process is more difficult than to broii in a first-class manner. The coal stove is usually not in suitable condition, and the gas flame often ignites the hot fat and burns the food. The electric broiler does its work without singeing the food, smoking it or burning it. The escaping juices are collected unspoiled in a pan beneath, 30 that the cook can readily baste the meat. Electric Iron and Curling Tongs. Electric cook stoves are made in portable shapes, like gas stoves. Urns for heating water are sold for use in hotels, restau- rants, barber shops and other places where hot water is constantly required. An or- dinary electric tight wire supplies the ca- lcric. The electric sad iron is a boon alike to the laundress and the housewife. The current supplied to it by a wire keeps it at a constant temperature, and thus no time Is lcst in changing and reheating irons. One incn may be used continuously, and no coal or gas stove is required. The iron never becomes overheated; it always remains clean and bright, and does not require wip- ing to prevent the soiling of the fabric. Another blessing for the women is the electric curling tongs. They can be at- tecned at a moments nouce to an electric wire, and are heated almost instantly. They remain at a constant temperature so long as required, or until the connection is cut off. All that is necessary in the employ- ment of this contrivance is to remove the incandescent lamp from its socket, attach the cord of the iron to the socket in place of the lamp, and turn on the current. To Warm Dwellings by Electricity. The time is prophesied to arrive before long when houses will be warmed in winter by electricity. What the electric lamp is to artificial lighting, as furnished by the can- dle, oil or gas, the electric heater is to artifi- cial heating. But the problem in this case is very different from that of electric cooking. For the latter purpose the object aimed at is to provide an apparatus that will localize the heat as much as possible, confining it to the spot and not diffusing it through the surrounding air any more than can be helped. On the other hand, the ideal heater fer warming a dwelling or other building would be itself cool, the heat given off by it being diffused as much as possible. Of course, this is scarcely practicable. But the electric heater is a great improve- ment in this respect over the ordinary stave or radiator, which, while itself very hot, is apt to warm the air only in its immediate neighborhood. Stoves and radiators, too, are uniovely objects to the eye. Electric heaters, on the other hand, occupy little space and are easily concealed. Some day such heaters will be distributed over the walls of theaters and concert halls, form- ing, it may be, panels in the wainscoting or incluced in the scheme of ornamentation. Moderna warships and mercantile steamers are nowadays equipped with apparatus for electric lighting. Before long their dynamo capacity will be Increased so that heat as well as light may be furnished. One system of wires will supply both, and the present costly equipment of steam pipes will be done away with. It is expected that in Canada, where coal is very expensive, and abundant mechanical power ts afforded by swift-running streams, power stations will be established within a few years for sup- plying adjoining territory with electric cur- rents for heating purposes. Eventually coal for heating will be largely dispensed with in towns and cities which have plenty of water power for the manu- facture of electricity, All over the electric country street car companies are put- ting electric heaters to their cars. The apparatus consists olls of wires be- neath the seats, which a¥e connected with the trolley wire overnead, or with the wire cable in the conduit below. Thus the vehicle is heated, lighted and propelled by the same electrical energy. Furthermore, the heat is uniform throughout the car, in- stead of being uncomfortably flerce about a stove and scarcely perceptible near the ends of the conveyance, Heating Cars. Such heaters are now in successful opera~ tion on about 1,000 cars belonging to street railways in seventy-four cities and towns in the United States and Canada. One ad- vantage possessed by them is that they take up no space; another is that they re- quire almost no attention, and do not re- quire any of the time of the conductor. The turning of a switch does everything, and the current Is easily regulated so as to produce any degree of temperature that may be wanted. The current may be di- minished or increased to any one of five In- tensities. of heat, and, however the tem- perature may be regulated, it remains con- stant. With a stove, similar control is out of the question. Of course, there are no fires to be built and no ashes to be disposed of; when a car Js laid off, there Is no nre to be drawn. The electric heater furnishes a large quantity of pleasantly warmed air instead of a small quantity of overheated air. In cars the apparatus is so plazed as to dis- tribute the heat as evenly as possible, and an advantage is contained by delivering it near the feet. Thus the warm air is com- municated to the passengers before it rises to the upper parts of the vehicie. A coal stove, on the other hand, sends its heat first to the upper part of the car, while the gua tiear the floor remains uncomfortably ee LIVE BY FAITH ALONE. “Children of God” Toil Not, but Rely on the Almighty for Their Needs, From the Chicago ‘Times-Herald. Huddled in a small building in Hyde Park are fifty people, who call themselves “Children of God." Among them are ser- vants who have forsaken their masters and refused their wages. In proof of their sincerity, whole families have deserted their homes to live In this remarkable community without labor, dependent on the bounty of God. Led by a Jew who has forsaken his own religion, they are giving a practical demonstration of this new faith. The good people of Hyde Park are filled with wonder by the conduct of the new religionists. The “Children of God" have their Chi- cago “heaven” at 5487 Madison avenue. Within a stone's throw of the clanging cable cars filled with worldly people is an inconspicuous two-story building, in which this handful of believers is setting the world and the devil at defiance in a test of their faith. The front of the building js used as a church and the rear as a dwell- ing. The building has existed for several years, with various occupants, but not until last week did it become an object of general interest to the curious. Several proud owners of horses and car- Tiages received unexpected “notices” from their hired men. There was no question of wages, no complaint of dissatisfaction. The men simply wanted to quit work. Scme of the employers offered to give their men more wages, and were astounded by flat refusals. “We don’t need money any more,” was the surprising response. “We avoid the filthy lucre, and you may keep what you owe us.” When wages due were tendered, the de- parting servants turned away with a gran- diloquent sweep of the hand and the re- markable explanation: “We need none of the sordid goods of this world. The ‘Chil- dren of God’ are cared for in a way that is a mystery to the unbelieving.” In many a kitchen a similar scene was being enacted by the mistress of the house and the cook or the maid of all work, and Hyde Park was sprinkled with late dinners and burned dishes. When these servants were presed for explanations for their un. usual conduct, they declared they w “the Children of God,” and the knowledge of that fact had just been imparted to them in a special revelation. The basis of this new sect is a ¢hurch or- ganization that hi xisted for several years with Scandinavians as its members. The new development kas come within the last week.or two through the leadership of Jacol) Elihn, a Jew. A thember of thé sect explains that “Brother Jacob” and'a score of proselytes came from 1084 West Madi- son street three weeks ago to join the church. Mrs. Anna Spafford is said to have joined about the samé time. ‘Other Jacob” has been preaching the new doctrine, and for a week the members of tha.community have abandoned all ia- bor except such as is necessary-about their own building. They have an organization, a part of which is a treasurer, who is ex- pected to receive funds from some myste- rious source. No collections are taken. There are three meetings on Sunday and two on week days. With this strange com- pany is quite a number of children, and a school has been organized for them. The cardinal faith of the “Children of God” is the doctrine that work and money are not essential to happiness, and that by putting their trust im God’ their bodily wants will be provided for without labor on their part. COTT BY STUDENTS. NOVEL BOY Rutgers Men Indignant at New Bruns- wick Women for Giving a Reception to 2 Princeton Club. Because of a dance the young social wo- men of New Brunswick,,N. J., gave to about fifty Princeton students Tuesday night, the men at Rutgers College are up in arms. The reception was patronized. by many of the most prominerit' women in town, including the wife of. Austin Scott, ‘president of Rut- gers College, and the wives of several pro- fessors and trustees of the college, and was given after a concert of the Princeton Glee, Mandolin and Banjo Clubs. Few Rutgers men wett-invited, and some who were refused to go: The Rutgers men declare that they, through the colfege classes and fraternittes, give nd fess than ten dances a year, to which the young women are in- vited, and that, in consequence, they de- served a reception much more than the Princetontans. The affair is looked upon as a direct insult by Rutgers men, who have now threatened to boycott those who gave the dance. Last night the Beta Psi fratern- ity were to give a dante at their chapter house, but none of the girls who helped to entertain the Princeton men’ were invited. ————+e+ Healed by a Pincushion. From the Hirtford Times. Physicians often meet with people who are carrying around imaginary ailments and really believe themselves as badly afflicted as they assert. Some curious cases have been noted. A lady had been confined to her bed for many months with an illness which wholly deprived her of the use of her lower limbs. The doctor who attended her failed to discover the nature of the affection, which might ordinarily have “been attributable to several causes. Examinagon, however, re- vealed nothing calculated throw a light on the matter, and the me practitioner, af- ter patient and exhaustiyg analysis and at- tention, came to the gon@usion that the ill- hess was imaginary, f Although he discreet himself, proof was as to the accuracy of his. the sheets out of her bed mattress was rearranked, her attendants by sydd the couch on which sie hs plac@’, with a loud pre; was discovered that e a needle cushion inadvet sofa, and that the shal ints of several needles had pressed Wielegsly into her back. The contretemps revealeéthe fact that she could stand easily. t this opinion to ‘yensfally forthcoming w.Being lifted in e day, while the e lady surprised ly jumping from een temporarily ion of alarm. It }d been laid upon ntly left on the Ses = ggg ee An Unfair, Adfpntage. Ficm the Chicago Times-Herald. Speaking of gambling; I once saw three darkies down south who had made a bet of “a quatah” each as to which could name the two best things to eat. *~ They drew straws—to decide which should have the first ‘name. That one who got the first straw proudly declared: .: S “Well, gemmen, spring chickeg en water- million is good enough for me.” This made the man of the third straw look somewhat wild, and when the other sailed in and announced: “You kin jis gimme possum an” sweet-ta- ters," the other’ man grabbed the money and Youse fools, if you think namin’ ever-thing you gwine tek in de worl’ Buy it at onee—Dr. j the weeds until is the woman with beautiful hair. Few have it. Many it. could have it > rade Mark, INSTANTLY RESTORES GRAY OR BLEACHED HAIR TO NATURAL COLOR. Leaves it clean, soft and glossy, and no one dreams that you color It. Absolute ly harmless, odorless and Tasting. Does not prevent curling or crimping. Send sample of hair to be col- ored free. ‘No. 1—Black. No. 2—Dark “Brown. No. 8—Medium Brown. No. 4—Chestnut. No. 5—Light Chestnut. No. 6—Gold Blonde. No. 7—Ash Blonde. 1: Price $1.50 and $§: Sole Manufacturers and Patentees, Imperial Chem. Mfg. Co., 292 5th ave., N. ¥. In Washington—SOLD BY EDW. P. M) , F AND 11TH STS. aAEPLIED BY: G. WAGNER, 1826 11TH ST. VERY RICH WOMAN EXPERT MEDICAL TESTIMONY. It is Proposed to Intrust Such Duties’ to a Board. Albeny Letter to Buffalo Commercial. An important measure to be introduced into the legislature during the coming ses- sion will be one to abolish expert medical testimony in this state, so far as it is now given by physicians and surgeons of any de- gree of ability who may be called by the law- yers in a trial case. = During the last five years in this state both the medical and legal professions have view- ed with alarm the growing frequency of the introduction of expert medical testimony, es- pecially in cases of murder where the de- fense has usually become to be a claim of in- sanity. Any physician, however shallow his knowledge, has been called upon to testify and in some cases there are known to have been men introduced as experts who have proven to be purchasable in their opinion. Several prominent members of the medical profession whose names cannot at this time be mentioned have drawn a bill which will be presented to the legislature early in the session of 1896. It will be very radical in its terms and will lodge the right to give med- ical expert testimony in the courts of this state in a non-partisan board appointed by the governor, subject to the approval of the senate. The province of the board will be to act in the capacity of instructors and advis- ors to the courts. It will be large enough to provide amply for all criminal trials, and the quorum will be small enough to allow sections of the board to act with the courts in various localities. : The members will be chcsen from the ranks of the most expert alientsts, having a high ascertained qualification. The function and power of the board will be to examine with reference to the sanity or insanity of any ac- cused person and will have the power to call for any evidence throwing light upon the ease. When any section of the board dis- agrees upon the questions involved, the whole board may be called together for a de- cision. Under no circumstances will any physician not a member of the board be al- lowed to testify in any of the courts of the state unless it be upon the absolute facts of the trial. Any such expert may, however, appear, before the board and give evidence. The matter of remuneration of the board has not yet been decided, and the bill may be amend- ed so as to make the board consist of the medical heads of each of the state hospitals for the insane in the state. In any event the departure is so radical that the proposed measure will be sure to call forth a great deal of discussion. = << ABOUT FLAX GROV \G. How the Crop, is Grown and the Effect on the Soil. From the New York Tribune. It is now several years since it was fully demonstrated in this country that the tex- tile fiber known as fibrelia could be manu- factured successfully from flax straw, and, although the predictions that it would be generally used as a substitute for cotton may not have been entirely fulfilled, it is used to a considerable extent with goods made of wool and cotton. The attention called to the new fiber gave an incentive to flax growing, however, which has re- sulted in a much larger ‘acreage of this crop than ever before. Many farms that were abandoned in New England, or in former days raised flax for spinning, were planted with this crop, and the general output last year was enormous. The real extent to which fibrelia is used in the man- ufacture of goods can be gathered partly from the fact that in 1890 over 1,000,000 acres of flax straw were burned in the fields after the seed had been gathered, while today little, if any, such straw is thus destroyed. In the west the flaxseed is sown broad- cast for the fiber at the rate of two bush- els to the acre, and all the cultivation given to it is that required to keep down the leaves shade the ground. The plants are allowed to ripen their seeds, and then the straw 1s pulled and put up in small bundles for drying. The seeds are thrashed out a good deal as an ordinary farmer would thrash his oats or wheat, that is, with a flail or with a ma- chine thrasher, the latter being the more desirable, as it does not injure the straw so much.’ Some still resort to the “rotting” process, so common in early New England days. The bundles are taken to the shal- low pond or brook, and stcod in it with the butts downward. ‘After standing there for five or ten days the core will come out of the fiber when the stalks are broken. When rotted sufficiently the bundles are taken out with a pitchfork and stood up to drain and dry. The next process is that called “grass- irg.” The stalks are spread out upon the grass and turned over once or twice a day for a week. This improves the color of the fiber. The “breaking” process which fol- lows is done by a set of fluted rollers, and the “hatchelling” by a machine that sepa- rates the fine and coarse fibers. New and improved machinery has been invented for all of these processes, and some factories take the flax direct from the farmers be- fore the rotting and bleaching processes have taken place. A good crop of flax will produce 600 pounds of fiter to the acre. Sold in the open market, this means about per acre. But flax seed !s exhausting to the soil, and, after it has been grown two or three years on one fletd, a period of from five to eight years should elapse before another crop is planted. The soll has to be heavily manured, from 400 to 600 pounds of mineral fertilizers being required each year to the acre, besides barnyard and other manures. Potash and phosphoric acid are the chief ingredients that the soil requires to pro- duce good flax. OOGS0THOSCOHHOOONHOOSOOOOOOCOSO aS) The greatest artists. That is SOS: 3 é A Great Magazine! The most famous authors. The most interesting fiction. Color-work illustrations. Everything the best that money can buy. he Cosmopolitan Magazine, Se SSSee $<] a Year. illustrations. magazines. magazine. Giving yearly 1,344 pages, with more than 1,000 The equal of the most expensive No home is complete without this Women and men, young and old, will find in it-amusement and instruction: what can a dollar be better expended? THE DECEMBER EDITION, 400,000. COPIES. ever given to any magazine. from $4,000 to $8,000 more ~advertising than was ever published in any magazine, at any place, {x any country, at any price. This is why 2 magazine ranking with the best in Mterature and art can be sold at 10c. a copy. The Cosmopolitan for that month recelved the greatest recogaition from advertisers It contains SSSTSCSSHSEDS HOSS SSSHESINOOSOS ‘Send one dollar to THE COSMOPOLITAN MACAZINE, Irvington-on-the-Hudson, New York. OSOSCOSHSHHOGOOHOSHODOSOSOOOHOOIOOO TREES ON THE PRAIRIES. Small Results From the Efforts Made by the Government. ©. M. Harger in the New York Independent. ‘The cne theory of all others that was 2. favorite a few years ago was one setting forth that tree planting on the western prairies would materially and speedily in- crease the rainfall and make agriculture profitable in regions where, under existing conditions, it was manifestly out of the qvestion. Growing from this idea came the “tree claim” provision for settlers on gov- ernment lar.ds, by which the dweller on cer- tain quarter-gections was given a clear pstent to the same upon showing that ne had succeeded in cultivating and keeping alive a fixed number of trees, which were a matter of proof for the United States register’s office. ‘Tree cla:ms are pracdcally a thing of the pest. To be sure, there are many thou- sards of acres in the west not yet filed upen by claim seekers; but they are for the most part the refuse odds and ends of rough greund, cut up by ravines or marred by sand or rocks, end so made undesirable for the settler. Very few tree-claim papers have been filed in the past half dozen years, compared with the thousands that were started during the eighties. Final proofs are not yet made on all the claims, however, and on some will never be. The tree-claim provision was open to the grossest abuse because of the collusion o! government agent: and witnesses. The neigt bors of the settler who had tried his best to keep a thousand trees alive until the end cf a certain period were not likely to report lim if he was a few score short. The kind of tree chosen was usually the cottonwood, a variety utterly worthless for anything except indifferent shade and very poor firewood. But the cottonwood thrived fairly well on the high uplands and giew r.nk and strong on the bottoms. Hence it became a favorite; and when the claim was “proved up” and a title secured, it quickly went stoveward in the settler’s cabin. The upland tree claim in western Kansas and Nebraska is pitiful, consider- ed as a climate modifier or even'as a land- scape beautifier. ‘The promised climate changing has never been perceptible. This year western Kan- sas and parts of western Nebraska have raised good crops, but it has been an ex- ceptional record. ‘The rains came oppor- turely, and surprised those who had almost lost fait in the return of sufficient mois- ture. But not the most ardent advocate of the tree theory claims that the scattered patckes cf starved saplings dotting here and there the level prairies have had the slightest influence upon climatic conditions. Further cast on the prairies better re- sults have been obtained. The eastern two- thirds cf Karsas and Nebraska show many well-shaded homes, and long rows of box elders and cottonwoods along the road- ways. Some, and, indeed, most, of the cities are becoming like forests, so high akcve the housetops are extending the trees planted Ly the ambitious home own- ers. The towns situated on the bottom lards have the advantage here also, and there fs a decided difference noticeable as to their condition, compared with places on the upland hills. In the latter the trees locked starved, weak and of slow growth. os — BUSHELS OF MAIL HIDDEN. A Fall River Carrier Didn’t Hav Time to Do His Work. A post office scandal has been revealed at Fall River, Mass., by the discovery of twelve bushels of mail matter In the loft of the armory and central fire station, which are in close proximity to the post office building. The discovery was made by City Engineer Gerry, who reported the matter to Postmas- ter Sullivan. On investigation it was found that nooks and crannies of the place were stuffed with mail matter sent from Baltimore, Detroit Philadelphia, Glasgow, Montreal, Manches- ter and Paris. At first It was thought that some lazy letter carrier had thrown away the patent medicine circulars that burden the mails at all times, but on a closer inves- tigation it was seen that sealed letters and some of the best-known publications of the country were strewn about with the most reckless carelessness. The post office authorities learned that the matter was sent between August and No- vember, and was taken from the office for delivery by a substitute letter carrier, named James A. Lawson, who was accus- tomed to use the armory as a loafing place. Rather than do the work of delivering the letters intrusted to his care, he stuffed them in the hiding places that were at hand. Lawson was arrested last night, and con- fessed. He said he did not have time to de- liver the mail in the eight hours allotted by the government officials. HORRI BLE!!! Master of Ceremonies (to a chamberlain)—“For gracious sake, you are standing on the shadow of his serene highness!” SHEATHING BY ELECTRICITY. A Device Which It is Believed Will Keep the Hulls of Vessels Clean. From the Providence Journal. Clipper ships with copper bottoms are the pride of the seas. Salt water has no effect upon their bilges, except, perhaps, to make them brighter. In a dry dock in Jersey City the iron tug Assistance ts having copper sheathing plated on her hull below the water ‘ine, and when it is completed it should not only keep the tug from fouling, but make her at least a knot faster. The process is simple to an electrician, but mystifying to a layman. Imagine thirty or forty flexible, watertight baths cr boxes about four feet square and six inches deep fitted to the shape of the boat’s hull and held close up to it by props, which are kept against the sides about two days. Into these baths is pumped a chemical so- lution stored in a large vat. The power is supplied by four dynamos, the current passing through two solid copper bars to the anodes, which are sheets of copper, in the big vat or reservoir. Here they are entirely consumed in the solution, and the copper from them is pumped in the chemi- cal solution directly to the baths, fastened against the vessel sides. The positive sup- ply bars are connected to the vat, the nega- tive to the boat. With copper plating on iron and steel hulls there will be an immense saving in dry docking expenses, inasmuch as bar- nacles will not attach themselves to a cop- per-sheathed craft. All of the big liners have to be docked sometimes more than twice a year to be cleaned, and every time they go into dry dock it costs thousands of dollars. oo Wound Up the Cat. Ficm the Louisville Commercial. An old Gefman, noted for his veracity and his regularity of habits, had his face all scratched up. His friends asked him what was the matter. After much per- suading, he consented to explain his facial fsorder: “Vell, you see, I vos wery reg- ular in mite habits. Usually by nacht I drive out mine cat and vind up mine glock. Now, last nacht I get me mineself full a little bit von beer. I gone home, und being a little mixed, I put dot glock out of der house and vound up der cat. Der cat ob- shected, and dot is alles.” The Hygienic Treatment of Constipa- tion and Ordinary Dyspepsia. Sir John Andrews, the English professor, believes that in the vast majority ot cases constipation may be successfully overcome by taking a teaspoonful of the genuine import- ed Carlsbad Sprudel Salt dissolved in a tumblerful of water (half a pint), cold or hot, early in the morning, and, if necessary, on going to bed. Best taken when outdoor exercise can be had. The Doctor’s Advice. Athlete, St. Lou's.—Am troubled with palpitation of the heart, dyspepsin and extreme nervousness, What would you recommend? Take our Gastrine, three times a das, after meals, Cerebrine, exiract of the brain, for the nervousness. J. M. C., Wash.—Have a lameness of the right mb betweea the knee and hip. Have suffered for some time. Please advise. Take our Febricide Pill, one three times daily, Twice a week a dose of cur Natrolithic Salts. M. H, Cincinnati.—I enjoy a hearty meal, but have that fuil feeling. Can you state a good rem- eds? A teaspoonful of our Gastrine after each meal. Mary L., Staunton.—Take Ovarine. THE pocToR. ‘The above preparations and other specialties of the COLUMBIA CHEMICAL CO., WASHINGTON, D.C. including the famous Anima! Extracts and NATROLITHIC SALTS, At all Druggists. Send for Literature, World's Fair! HIGHEST AWARD. IMPERIAL GRANUM The STANDARD and BEST prepared FOOD Prescribed by physicians. Relied on in hospitals. Depended on by nurses. Indorsed by the press. Always wins hosts of friends wherever its supe= rior merits become known. It is the safest food for convalescents! Is pure and unsweetened and can be retained by the weakest stomach. Sold by DRUGGISTS EVERYWHERE! myi8-s Joba Carle & Sons, New York. ~