Evening Star Newspaper, December 7, 1895, Page 22

22 THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1895-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES, BALLOONS FOR WAR Airships May Do the Fighting of the Future. CRUISERS WILL BE OUT OF DATE No Available Defense Excepta Fleet of Sky Navigators. —__+ ING CARTRIDGES DROPP Written for The Ev ing Star. EW YORK AT THE merey of a fleet of war balloons! The idea cheerful; yet the metropolis might find itself some day in precisely that sit- uation, is not In the first place, the balloon that can be steered is no longer a problem of the future; it is an accomplished fact. Dirigibi have been built by both the F and German governments, though all data r ecting them are kept the grave. For many years past has maintained a school of aero- at Meudon, at which experiments are carried on under conditions of the ut- Most privacy. It Is known, however, that « shaped balloons have been made which are able to run at a speed of fourteen miles an hour and even maneuver in the teeth of a fairly strong gale of wind. ‘This is accomplished by means of a very large and Light cloth-covered screw pro- peller, which is operated by an electric mo- tor in the car. Defense Against Air Ships. Incidentally, the Germans have been try- Ing to find out what defense could be made against such balloons. The answer seems to be that the strongest and best-equipped army would be helpless and at the mercy of a single air ship of the kind hovering overhead and dropping cartridges contain- ing high explosives. To fire at it with rifles or cannon is hopeless. At a height of only 1,000 feet, a balloon is an extremely difficult object to hit. Tests proved that the most expert marksmen in the Ger- man army could not strike such a target at that elevation more than once in six- teen times. At an elevation of a mile a balloon wholly out of range of the modern rifle, t and no cannon has yet been Invented tha can be aimed accurately toward the ze. nith. A first-class mortar—the only large gun that will throw a projectile directly upward—will send a ball to the vertical height of considerably over a mile; but to make the shot w any degree of pre- cision at a target moving overhead is out of the q fon What ts to prevent a single hostile ship of war from pausing far out in the ocean, 100 miles from land, and taking advantage of a favoring westerly bre to send up half a dezen balloons, with orders their course towacd New York city? drogen can be put up in cylindrical tank. in small bu mtents of a fe such receptacles will suffice to fill a balloon, Where is the difficulty A Fleet of Our Balloons. 'The only possible protection against war balloons is a fleet of war balloons. Sooner or later, It is sald, Uncle Sam will be oblig- ed to build such a fleet, unless he is to re- sien himself to the prospect of being wiped off the earth. The progress of in- vention does not pause, and the navigation of the air is,a fact practically accomplish- ed already. In order to render practicable such things as Fere suggested, a very little improvement is needed. Maxim, the inventor of the famous ma- un, spent $89,000 on the flying machine {dea up to date: but he has not suceeeded In flying fifty yards. Herr Lili- enthal, ¢ ed with his patent wings, has jumped from heights, and has been seriously injured only once. With the Talloon it is quite different. It has been demonstrated that balloons will float. in the If an aeroplane machine could be induced to start properly the question of larding easily anc safely would still be as mveh unsolved as at the beginning. The balloon does float in the air—that ts the main point; it can he steered—that 1s preven, and it only remains to improve the method of directing its course. As quick- ly as the contrivance fs perfected, all meth- ods of warfare, it is claimed, will’ be wholly revolutionized. Alr Ships of War. It is predicted that the warships of the feture will be alrships—airigible balloons carrying high explosives in small compass, which may ke dropped wherever they will work the most destruction. Hovering over great citfes Mke gigantic birds of prey, they will compel submission on whatever corditions may he prescribed. It follows that the conditions of conflict between na- ticns will be wholly altered. No longer will the poor soldier be the victim—the king, members of parliament and other tm- ortant personages concerned in the mak- ng of the war keeping at a safe distar When such flying machines become com- Ton, as Mr. Maxim has remarked, the first man to be attacked will he the monarch or president; tho first bullding knocked down Will be the royal palace; the second, the parliament house. Useful for Invasion and Defense. With equal potntedness Mr. Maxim sug- gests that flying machines would be most useful for Invasion. No hostile man-of-war can get near the United States now without @ big fight, but an enemy's dirigtble balloon might enter the country overhead with per- fect tmpunity. It is reckoned that If half a dozen batter- fes of our balloons each were stationed at different points along the Atlantic coast no hostile squadron could come within reach ities along the eastern seaboard. ship of the If they ventured near, th gunk by dropping nitro-gly upon thetr decks uppose that a squadron of armor-clads were lying a few miles off Sandy Hook, threatening Ne A single dirlgihle balloon. with two men, could go out and wipe all of them off the face of the ocean within an hour or so. But It 1s by no means nec cartridge dropped from a ba at an enemy's vessel should 4 the latter, ssairy that a oon and aimed stually strike anywhe! , that ty pounds of dynamite feet of the most power- ship of war will sink it inevitably. thermore, the eartrt does not have to be dropped from far aloft; It may be sus} on the end of a long rope and @ the proj rr moment of on craft. loon might d of clouds, and w harge explo actually fal 100 feet or Nove Ppo iG an Overcast the to at ext én improvement In balloon making ti been accomplished within the 1: The old-time ballo etlk float bot is ma envel future a gr the at to or In fe known skin. This st of the ox, nishir five m of the y, one animal by tweaiy- ed im brine ‘dina # of glu fea sturgeon, is added to giv ity. The war balloon of the future, so far as present knowledge ates, will be of this mat It will be of Sufficient to hold 30,000 or 40,000 Mie feet of hydro- gen gas, and, the leakage t ht, tt Will be able to stay afloat for twenty-ilve or thirty days without difficulty. It will be spherical in shape, because a balloon of led that shape has the greatest lifting vower in proportion to Its weight. The car, bung beneath, will be of tool stcel, not thick, but capable of deflecting any projectile that may hit it. Explosives will be carried in the shape of cartridges, so made as to explode on impact. The most important consideration in the question of aerial warfare is not the dam- age done, but the moral effect produced. No hostile fleet of ships woul] dare to come near the shores of the United States if we owned a few practical war Lalloons, because to do so would mean cer’ de- struction. The Captive Balloon, A practical use for the airships in war has already been found in the captive hal- loon, which 1s elevated to a height of 1,000 feet or so, being anchored to the ground by a rope, through which a copper wire runs. This wire affords telephone communication with the aerial car, from which the ob- server gives notification of what he sces. In this way a full description of the ene- my’s formation, movements and fortifica- tions can he obtained. 1f desire]. the tele- phone wire may communicate with the headquarters of the commanding feneral miles away. The whole apparatus {s car- ried in three wagons, one conveying the balloon packed in a basket, and the others containing cylinders :illed with voinpressed hydrogen gas. When it Is desired to make an ascent, the bailoon Is ready In fifteen minutes. Sketch maps may be sent down by the rope. It has been suggested that, tf the v agers In a war balloon are operating at night and desire to get a clear view of the camp or forts of an enemy, they have only to drop one of the new “illuminating bombs," which will explode on reaching the earth, each one of them lighting up the surroundings with 109,00 candle-pow- er. RENE BACHE. THE WHALE FISHER’S PRIZE. How Ambergris is Used in the Manu- facture of Perfumes. From the Boston Transcript. To the conservative whale fisher of New Bedford or Provincetown the discovery of ambergris is as unexpected and as longed for as the sheeny splendor of the pearl that gladdens the pearl fisher, or the sparkle of the diamond that sends {ts radiance straight to the heart of the coal miner. There fs that delightful uncertainty, that same shake-and- throw douht, that allures the speculator to take his chances; though that of the whale- man {fs much more legitimate business, for with the zeal that characterizes these mer- chants of the ocean, there is coupled the ab- solute certainty of reduplication according to their efforts. Almost awestruck are the sailors when the cry of “Ambergris!” is uttered. This is the happy event of a lifetime. The substance !s carefully taken from the bowels of the whale and {s packed in casks, if {t {s in liquid form, or in sacks {f it is dry enough. It is then brought, in its nauseatingly odor- {ferous condition, direct to Boston, where it is appraised by the head of the largest wholesale drug firm in the city. This young man has no enviable task before him In as- certaining the value of the article. He has to examine the mass, which is sometimes in a rank liquid state, sometimes of the con- sistency of soft putty, and again a chalklike substance. That which Is more like putty usually is to be best relied on for making the best market ambergris, and gradually as it drles—the only curing process It undergoes— the unwholesome dark shade gradually turns to a soft squirrel gray. The substance light- ens in weight, and the subtle, fascinating odor develops an odor almost indescribable, like the blending of new-mown hay, the damp woodsy fragrance of a fern-copse, and the faintest possible perfume of the violet. And to what use is ambergris put? It is an Indispensable article with fine perfumes, as it Is used to give permanency and lasting qualities to very fleeting scents. It is a curi ous fact that the keynote or basis of “‘nose- gays,"’ or “bouquets,” as handkerchief odors are called, is not, as one might suppose, thr attar of garden flowers nor the penetrating balsams—these are indispensable, but are not the groundwork. That basis is always one of the four animal odors, |. e., ambergris, musk, obtained from small musk deer of Asia, clvet, from the civet cat, of India, an! castor, a secretion of the castor beaver, ani now almost obsolete In the perfume trade. The pure and separate tincture of any one of these odors is too intense and powerful to be tolerated. Like all substances of these kinds they must undergo a slow decomposi- ticn till the remainder possess very littl: volatility. Even then they contain a vir- tue which clings pertinaciously to woven fabrics, and not being soluble in weak alka- line lyes fs still to be detected in the mater- ial after passing through the lavatory or- deal. They are, therefore, of great value to the perfumer, and are the essential founda- tion In almost every formula. The essence of ambergris {s obtained by mixing three ounces of it with one gallon of. pure aleviiol, and not till after a month is It ready for use. This, however, is only kept for mixing, and is far too strong. Only when It has entered in minute proportion into the bouquet does it produce those agreeable and characteristic perfumes, the effect of which upon the nerves of the sensitive nose fs much like the happy sensation produced by har- mcnious musical chords on the delicate ear or the perfect blending of colors to the edu- cated eye. As ambersris !s the most costly of the an- imal perfumes, the bouquets containing it are of the most expensive kinds. It is used more in France than in this country, civet being extensively used for a retainer in Am- erican-made perfumes. Most of the amber- gris is shipped therefore to France, where it finds a ready de.nand. +o+____ IMITATION FURS. By Skillful Treatment Rabbit Skins Resemble the Costly Seal. From the Chicago Times-Herald. After the furrier, chemist and dyer have got through with the rabbit skin it may be a “sealskin,” a “sable,” an “otter,” a “Sibe- rian squirrel,” a “mink,” a “marten, “beaver” or any other fashionable fur. The transformation takes place in the shops which sell felt to hatmakers, carpet weavers and felt manufacturers, and Paris and Lon- don are the principal centers for this Indus- try. In those cities millions of rabbit skins are dressed and treated, and the bogus furs are sent out to robe men ard women of all parts of the world. The skins are purchased soon after they have been stripped from bunny’s back, and are stiff and hard when they are unpacked in the sorting room Experts examine each skin, and these which come up to the tablished standard are sent to the furrier: but the torn, unders’zed and punctured pelts are turned over to the men and women who strip the hide of its hair for the feltmaker. Rabbit skins are not the only pelts which are transformed into furs that bear the names uf animale living In ice and snow. Monkeys from Africa and South Americ send thelr skins to the furriers to be made into fine raiment. Cats are skinned to sup- ply the deraand for sealskins and beaver. The shaggy curls of the Newfoundland dog are made into buffalo robes and the skins of fox tailed squirrels are sold as imitations of rare furs. The United States buys more imitation furs than any other country, and millions of them are sent to China to line the mantles and robes of mandarins. Large numbers of rabbit and cat skins are treated and dyed in this country, but the French furrier has the credit of producing the best imXations. a A Foot Ball yer in Charch. From the New York World. The college foot ball fever assumed an unusual phase in Chicago recently. F. T. Seltzer, a northwestern university student and a foot ball player, went to the First Methedist Church and fell asleep in a pew directly in tront of Bishop Foster. The p Was well into the depths of a p found sermon when the grid-iron frenzy F ing student. He caught the sim and tried to throttle him. Kicked a derby hat and sent it d the pulpit. By this time the worshipers thought the man_ mad. ‘The good bishop ceased speaking and loo! frightened. The Kle and kick had ‘oused the slum culties of Student ", and he sheer apologized to th. isayed gent] tudent posse ltzer said he had dream- ing foot ball. The bishop the young man hur- tal ering f ishly olem wh m: ed of the d | ed Mr. Squigzen’ Queer Eye. the Springtie The Sau friends and of Peapack, relatives of Trelawny s Pa., are much disturb- ed over the peculiar affliction that has over- taken him. His left eye, which ts large, own and expressive, pops out of his head ito his cheek at the most unexpected and opportune moments. He has embarrassed actors and public speakers to such an extent that he has been requested to keep out of the Lyceum. THE ART OF KISSING. Sefentific Twaddle About the Dangers of Osculation. From the Boston Herald. It is announced that strenuous efforts are to be made to reinstate this gentle art in the polite world, and to render the act, what it some time ago ceased to be, an evidence of good faith. From all accounts the fear of this pleasing contact being a means of dis- seminating disease has now passed away, and believers in the practice scoff at the idea of any danger arising from a kiss given in amity. Physicians were the first to interfere with these prerogatives of affection, but that was only natural, considering how germ ridden the pathological mind ever {s, and how, to the scientist's eye, every breath Is drawn with peril to the community at large. The round: rosy cheek of childhood must be left unpressed by the parental lips; the warm, young mouth that seeks the mother’s with such baby ardor must be avoided, the cling- ing, twining arms must be unclasped from around her neck, because unhallowed mi- crobes hover about the human frame. Cases of excruciating bitterness are cited as the result of these tender demonstrations, but when the love of a mother comes into the question, the doctor's warning fails on a dull understanding. Because the Princess Alice died from kissing her lttle son, who in his death struggle clung to the mother who had given him birth, it does not argue that without the sweet caress she would have escaped. Better, perhaps, that both mother and child should pass away than for the yearning of a helpless little child to be re- pulsed at such a moment. This may be sentiment, but then, if ever, the cold bluoded tendency fs to be deplored from even the most common sense point of view. At all events, the northern races are unlikely to carry osculation to any excess, and the reckless kissing noticed between people of the Latin races will scarcely worry Americans, whose temperaments are gen- erally influenced by climate. Nevertheless, a rumor that has come across the Atlantic ocean this week will throw a bomb into the camp of our medical fraternity. It is only a rumor as yet, but experience warns us to take It for all it is worth, and look out for breakers at the same time. It appears no less a personage than the King of Portugal has been kissing his male relatives, to say noth- ing of those of the gentler sex, with the ut- most abandon, and, though phlegmatic Eng- lishmen do not like ft, they cannot resist the impact of royalty, without grevious com- ment from the Kisser. A gentleman is presented to his Portuguese majesty, and lu! jolly, good-tempered Carlos gives him a smack that would do credit toa sailor just on shore. Fear was expressed by the Prince of Wales that his mother might not relish having her welcome met with a kiss, but it did not deter the fat king from giving her majesty a good one, right on the cheek, after he had duly saluted the royal hand. And now, continues rumor, the mem- bers of the court are following the King’s example among themselves. Nobody really Ukes the seeming familiarity, but the Eng- lish handshake and cold “Good day” per- taining to high life have certainly received a setback that promises to revive the gentle art of kissing. When not indulged in to re- pletion it is a pretty, graceful expression of regard. Of course, among the undemonstra- uve the idea excites levity, but {ts opponents shoyld bear in mind that even Scripture bids us greet our brother with a holy kiss. 20+ MRS. FREMONT’S HOME, A Picturesque and Attractive Spot in California. From the Scranton Trath. Among all the fine homes and beautiful grounds in West Los Angeles, a very few of them old places belonging to pio- seer settlers on the coast and now in pos- session of their children, the one that In- terested me most in passing is the pretty home of Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont, se- cured to the brave general's widow chiefly by the women of California, It stands just outside the city lmits in one of the most beautiful streets of the place, and is set down in the very center of what was an orange orchard, trees enough being cut out to make a place for it, Driving “into town’ along Main street, which {s the only street entirely through the city and on, to the ocean on the west and toward the Sierra on the east, one passes an old adobe house where Gen. Fremont lived for a Ume in the early days. It is said to have been very picturesque and whole rows of enthusiastic sketchers might for a time be seen seated on camp stools across the broad avenue, transferring its outhnes to paper or canvas. But it has been made commonplace by modern wooden additions. At the eastern end of the mod- ern city Broadway, formerly Fort street, ends against a high bluff or hill on which General Fremont in 1840 erected his fort and took possession of the old Spanish- Mexican city, which the height completely dominates, and of the entire country, in the name of the United States. eee Beacon Hill's Glory Departed. From the Boston Herald. Who ar ong the prophets could have fore- told twenty years aso that real estate on far-famed Beacon Hill would have depreci- ated in value more than fn any other section of Boston? And yet there is the fact, and it illustrates how the whims cf fashion dom- inate over all thinga terrestrial. e+ An Exception, From Pick-Me-Up. He—The ring doesn't seem to fit very well. Hadn't I better take it back and have it made smaller.” She—"'No; an engagement ring ts an en- gagement ring, even if I have to wear it round my neck. TO THE DEATH. A Mosquito Vanquishes o Rattlesnake in a Pights “I have read accourits sf fights between turtles, between snaked'and: between turtles and snakes,” said a hulftei to a Star writer, “but the hardest fight*I ‘ever saw was in New Jersey. I heard @/rattling and a buzz- ing just ahead of me:and"knew something unusual was happeningi Seon I came across the scene of trouble. '*A Jarge rattlesnake and a full-grown mosquito, such as they ralse on the Jersey coast,\were engaged in deadly conflict. The snake kept up a con- stant rattle and would, strike at the mam- moth insect, which, realizing the danger, would, with an angry‘buz%, get out of the way and strike for the feptile’s eyes. I watched the fight for'an hour, when the mosquito got a firm hold in an eye of the snake and in a few minutes the rattler stretched out straight and the mosquito made a bee line for me, evidently not hav- ing had fighting enough. I shot the insect and had both it and the rattler stuffed. —_——_ “HIS CONCERN. The Drummer Was Proud of His House, but Somewhat Buashfal. A drummer on his first trip called upon a well-known druggist. He was nervous as he put his hand in his pocket and handed out a card. “I represent that concern,” said the young man. “You are very fortunate,” replied the druggist. The drummer was encouraged, and sald: “I think so, sir. And the druggist who trades with us is even more so. My con- cern has the finest line of cosmetics in the country." “I shouldn't have thought it,” slowly re- sponded the man of nedicines. “Her color looks natural,” and he handed back the photograph which the young man had given him by mistake. He took it and left wit out waiting to make zeny farewell remar Sane SINKING OF THE. GULF COAST. New Orleans Now Only Ten Feet Above the Gulf Level. From the Boston ‘Transcript. The Mississipp! river commission, which reached New Orleans November 17, atter its annual inspection of the levees and the work cf river improvements, finds itself confronted by an entirely new problem, a serious difficulty which may interfere with the work it has under way, and which, under all circumstances, demands a thorough examination, the reported sink- ing of the gulf coast. The theory that the land is winking, not only on the Gulf of Mexico, but also on nearly all other coasts, has long been accepted by scientists, but the rate of subsidence reported from Hol- lend of less than one-tenth of an inch a year was so slow as to create no apprehen- sion on the part of the present generation. The report of the sinking of the Louisiana coast was accepted, at first, by the Missis- sippl river commission and the public gen- erally as one of those scientific sensations (mat geologists deught in. In the last four months, however, the report has been thoroughly confirmed and verified from many points. The United States engineers and the river commissien now accept the tkeory that the land in, Jower Louisiana is sinking at a startling rate, never before re- ported; and they are compelled to face this fact and to determine to what extent it is Lkely to Interfere with the work of river improvement now under way. If the sink- ing has been going on for some time, as seems certain, then the estimates and cal- culations upon which the government work is based are uncertain or incorrect. This has been hinted at by the outlet or anti-levee men, although they never seem to have understood what was the cause of the trouble. They have complained that the gauges or datum lines by which the height of the water in the river is measured are incorrect, but they charge this to fraud, whereas the probability is that It is due to the sinking of the land, carrying down with it in slow and gradual Subsidence the gauge or datum mark. If this latter supposition is correct, it may explain what has greatly puzzled the engineers, te fact that the floods in the Mississippi seem to grow high- er and higher, a result Which the outlet ad- vecates attribute to the levees. ‘The gauge at the mouth of the Mississippi showed not long since that the waters of the gulf had apparently risen one foot since 1877. As this rise was out of question, the difference could only be due to the subsi- dence of the land. How long this has been gofng on is unknown, but doubtless for cen- turies, and it gives an entirely new geo- logical explanation of the origin of the lewer Lousiana. The sinking may inundate some of the low lying lands on the gulf, and compel their abandonment, and the fear is expressed that the subsidence may more or less interfere with and hinder the work of laying sewers underground in New Orleans. The commission thinks, however, that from what It can foresee at present there is no immediate danger to the city, although it stands only ‘ten feet above the gulf levels. +02 Cause of Happiness. From the Yonkers Statesman. Spinks—"Your English guest seems to be enjoying his visit to this country. He looks “*Yes. He’s found more things than he expected to grumble about.” Progressive. From the Indianapolis Journal. “I wonder if that diamond Mudge has is of the first water?” “I doubt it. It has been soaked so many times that it muet be of the tenth or elev- enth witer by this time.” Butios OMIGINAL ADD, CR-DINNiR JOKER. “MY COUNTRY, ’TIS OF THEE.” Mr. King’s Recollection of the Author of the National Hymn. To the Editor of The Evening Star: I first met Dr. Smith ou Mt Vesuvius iri January, 1876. On his return to the United States we gave him a reception at our house, where he read a poem descriptive of his travels. In the spring of 1882, tak- ing up our summer residence at West New- ton, about two miies only from his own hore in Newton Centre, M@®s. we re- sumed our acquaintance, and nearly every year since I have been with him to Harvard commencement, he taking me “under his wing,” as (jokingly) of his class of 1829. From 1882 to his death our intimasy with him and his angeli -ife has beea uninter- rupted. It is known everywhere that Dr. Smith died suddenly at the New York and New England depot in Boston, at 4:30 o'clock on the afternoon of November 16. He was ac- companied by Rev. Benjamin McKendry (on bis way to fulfill an engagemeat to preach that evening at Readville). They had taken thelr seats in one of the cars of the 5:40 train, and “a minute or two before the train was to leave, Dr. Smith gasped for breath, raised his hands and fell back on his seat.” Naturally very much startled, Mr. McKendry assisted to remove Lim to the women’s waiting room. When they reached there Dr. Smith was dead. There is a touching incident connected with the last of many letters I have re- ceived from Dr. Smith, and venture to give here a copy of it, to which I know he would rot object were he present. Soon after our return from our summer home I wrote to him, inclosing a newspaper ar- Ucle, written by a lady in California, in which she expressed great delight with raving received from Dr. Smith his na- tional aymn, written in a form for framing by his own hand. My correspondent, Mrs. Amie S. Page of Alameda, Cal., whom I knew in Portland many years ago as writer under the nom de piume of “Ami cf numerous excellent poems, and she has ever since continued to write as well he- fore as since removing to Californ Thinking to surprise her I wrote to Dr. Smith, asking him if he would be so kind as to send me for her his autograph hym1 to frame. Nothing could better show his Findness and lovable character every way than his answer, as follows: NEWTON CENTRE, Mass., Oct. 14, 1895. Hon. Horatio King: My deer friend: How pleasant it was to recelve your letter so soon after your de- parture. The good-byes had not had time to crystallize. I thank you for your kind opinion of my book. I doubt not I shall echo back to you a similar encomium of yours when I have found time to complete the reading of it. The table of contents is so rich, what must the feast itself be. How I shail miss you; tor though we did not often meet, it was such a pleasure to know that you were there, and that I could reach you at any moment. I thank you for the interesting slips from the news- papers. They will be preserved. I am happy to think of you and the dear madam as safely sheltered in the winter home. We shall often think of you both, and hall the red-letter days which will perhaps bring us sometimes a letter, allowing us to partici- pate in your pursuits. In the meantime, may your life and health be precious, your labor light, your joys many. .The next June commencement is not very far away. Shall I be honored by your presence, and be your honored escort? I send, as you request, “My Country” with pleasure. With regards also of Mrs. S. to your regal selves, I am, as ever,faithfully yours, a S. F. SMITH. 1 immediately sont the precicus gift and a copy of this letter to Mrs. Page, request- ing her to address to Dr. Smith cne of her sweetest letters of acknowledgment, and send to my care. I delayed replying to Mm, hoping scon to receive such letter: The following letter from her expresses her deep regret, as it also does my own, that the Intended acknowledgment could not have been received in time: : ALAMEDA, November 17, 189: My Dear Mr. King: 1 have had you in mind with much sym- pathy today after reading of the sudden demise of your long-time friend, Re F. Smith. And it grieves me on my own part that I have not made the return due him or you for the honor conferred by the dear ard treasured hymn transmitted through your intervention and kindness. Within a day or so I was to have sent a package in your care, which I hoped would convey my appreciation of his inestimable favor, and I had meant to assure him that it ‘com- pleted my trinity of treasures, viz., an au- tcgraph letter from Henry W. Longfellow, a poem written for me by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and his own lofty hymn! Today after church I was to have tran- scribed the lines expressive of my gratitude and, accompanted ft by a copy of my illus- trated “Christmas-tide,” to have dispatched the package at once in your car Some important mattcrs have engrossed my attention during the past ten days—the decease of a friend also added. It seems a fatality that my response, humble as it fs and unneeded by one “full of honors,” could not have reached its-destinat.on! I shall forward it to you, and if no other use ca be made of it you can retain it as a me- mento of your friend, whose correspond- ence and assoctation you will indeed miss, The hymn will be appropriately framed, as are my other valuables, to be guarded and handed down to those who in their turn come after me. You remembered me so richly in your last favor that my seeming remissness quite oppresses me. Yours ever sincerely, an autograph of AMIE PAGE. Yesterday I received the following beauti- ful response, written artisticaliy on six sep- arate corrugated gold-edged cards and tied with a red, white and blue ribbon: To Kev. 3. F. Smith, on zecelving an autograph copy of “Anerica,? . ee Houvred SI L give thee greetinj From the shores of the Pacitic . From the borders of the sunset, Send thee thinks and grateful” bom: For the fatr and. pr transeript Of that hymn whose lofiy unm Lending strength and inxplratic Stir the listening land to fealty: How the golden words have echoed From the pines of northland forests » Dy the land of the palmetto! Bast and West a rhytuinie anthom, Chanted clear by sweet-voiced children, Where the starry fags are waving Over seats of liberal learning, — Blending patriotism with knowledge. Sung by loyal hosts assembicd, When the Nation's heart is throbbing resolve or triumph, mple-places, ptUrONs pj nee IS Bo, from borders of t Proud recipient of th Send I greeting, thanl Like a gereed writ down Safe from Time's ¢ Lives the patriot lity While thy honored name stands blazoned In the annals of the Nation. AMIE S. PAGE. Alameda, Cal., Nov. 10, 18} Private as all this fs, I feel free, if The Star please, to give this little story to the press, not doubting that the relatives of my dear departed friend and my fair corre- spondent, as well as the people generally, will be pleased to sea it. a HORATIO KID December 4, 1895. $2500.°° IN PRIZES: ~MASON & IIAMLIN LISZT ORGAN.$700.00 In Quartered Oal SECOND—CHICKERING U NO.$575.00 id Mahogany ¢ FIRS! THIRD —"ESS From the French FOURTH—PURITAN . And 96 other high-grade prizes by the publishers of “KLOVA,” The latest and most popular “word and letter” game in The Greatest Spelling Match Ever Known, With Prof. Amos R. Wells, Managing Editor of the Golden Rule of Boston, and Mr. Mar Business Manager of the Boston Journ: For the largest number of _w Klova Board we will give ONE HUNDRE ~ ABLE PRIZES to 100 successful contestants. Send two two-cent stamps for our illustrated catalogue of prizes, with full directions. The game handsomely lithographed and finely ound in eloth, on extra heavy stock, may be had ot Wosdward & Lothrop And_all_ Dealers, Or will be sent, POST FREE, for $1.00 by THE EDDY TOY AND GAME CO., Mfrs. of the “Bur- dett Games,’ 258 Washington street, Boston, Mass, at | A Banquet We handle only first- class . Our stock I amp fo thet largest. and. the assortment the most for complete in the city. Our prices are low. We have Banquet Lampe 1.50. from $1.50 up. Shades, Shades, B3.%.0°m = 4 2 $1.00. - : Geo. F. Muth & Co., de6-24a 418 7th st. nw. \The latest musical sensation —1s the “Bijou’* Graphophone, It is 'adapt- ed for home and concert anusement, and is so simple that it can be operated by a child. Winds up Ike a clock. ** Only $go each. Columbia Phonograph Co., 919 PENNA, AVE. "Phone 1172. a4-24a J —ready to serve, white or red, only $2 gal. Order what you'll probably use—— we'll take back what you don't use. Evening parties and receptions supplied on short notice. To-Kalon Wine Co., "Phone 998. G14 14th ot. se14-3m,20 “Lafferty’s Complete Flour.’ ( The color is a_ brilliant white. Nutty flavor—appe- tizing. It has NO woody fiber (bran) in it. It makes beau- tiful bread. It is very rich (near 300 times the best flour) in the elements that nourish the BRAIN, the DIGES- TIVE FLUIDS, the TEETH and BONES. Con stipation, brain fatigue, indi- gestion, irritable stomach and dyspepsia, caused by under- fed and starved organisms, are cured by the simple and sensible process of supplying the needed nourishment to BRAIN, NERVE, BILE, BONE. The healthy the ses ses. ought, to use it to escape it bas been tested by al analysis and by use. We have heaps on teaps of letters cer- tifying {ts merits. The THEORY ts sus. tained by ACTUAL FACTS. A lot of “Complete Flour” knowledge mailed on request. ‘Complete Flour’” is sold in bags and barrels. Ask your grocer for a tral bag, $1. lunter McGuire, Richmond. Va., “Its value would be HARD TO ESTIMA‘TE."” WELT. & SON, 1412 Pa. ave. <0, AGRUDER & CO., 1417 N. ¥. C.C. BRYAN 1413 New York ave GEO. E. KENNEDY & SONS, 1118 Conn. av. Or address— THE WHITTLE & SYDNOR CO. Electric power — 1s clean, stable and inexpensive com- pared with steam or gas power. It ts sure and safe, too. Electric light is better than gas light, because {t fs stronger and less hurtful to the eyesight. If you are thinking about putting in electric light or power see us about It. . §. ELECTRIC LIGHTING CO., 13 14th st. ‘Phoue 77. oo, @2-204 baldness is Curabie! id lel Hundreds of unsolicited testimonials «| prove that LORRIMER’S EXCELSIOR ‘| HAIR FURCER fs the greatest remedy for Baidness ever discovered It will paitive- ly force a profnwion of balr on the baldest beed at any uge, no matter from what cause the baidcess ai and after all oiler cereals jay fail Saintes: bald tel manty partings, ir out, Rendrut, “scurt, "weak abd thin eyclashed ‘ond eyebrows." It will restore gray and * faded to its original color. It will abso- lutely produce a luxuriant growth of Whiskers aod Mustaches on the smooth- 'e| est face without injury to the most deli- 3] cate skin Its effects are truly marvelous. tains no dye, grease or any harmful in- eo] catnte, "Prepared by ‘Lorimer On, | Battmore, id. ice, SOc. and $1 per bottle. Wasbington Ag-ncy, ACKER & KEN. NER'S PHARMACY, 1429 Penna. ave. Call and g-t a descriptive efrcular. Rae FXxXXXEREREEEEEEE SEES jleseoeeee Am AsRBeneAsaAnenneseeesseeae iDon’tGet Wet { —This winter. No need to when Mackintoshes are so reasonably priced as ours. They make the most sensible of Xmas gifts, too. Select them now! 4Goodyear Rubber Co., 807 Pa. av. 4 de6-208 Py eee ee TT ee eee —You can read a different book every day in the year for $2.50! In clubs of six we make that the price of a 12 months’ subscription in our Circulating Library Nothing so sensivle as this for an Xmas present. Imperial Library, 511 11th St. de8-16d Howe About a New Stove? Or may be It's a Range, Latrobe or Furnace—you need. We have an unui ood stock of them from which make a selection, For heating “spare rooms’ 8 Radiator or Oil Stove te most economical he best makes at small prices are here. Robt. M. Harrover, 438 gth St. de6-144 Gray Hair A thing of the past when Nattan covery 3 used. Guaranteed tor faded batr to its natural color In positively not ‘Stops the hair out, arrests dandruff and mukes the nicest dressin, for’ the hair one can us: ment. No etoins. Price, $1. 1 ze, 5Uc. KOLB PHARMACY, SOLE AGENTS, 438° 7TH BT. N.W. Sent, exprees prepaid, to any part of the country on receipt of price. $u26-cf Crsstal_vis. tore gray to 10 days r from falling IF ALL OTHERS FAI, CONSULT DR. CZARRA, 16 Fourth st. n.e., Washington, D.C. Specialty—Ail_ Chronte, Blood and Skin Li ey. Bladder and + Stricture, &c. ermanent ind quickly cure E diseases und Woman Complaints. Vi- tored, Hours, 2 to 12 a.m., 3 to 8 p.m. 4 to 7 pm n080-tf Get the Best— “THE CONCORD HARNESS,” Horse Blankets and Lap Robes in great variety and at iowest prices. LUTZ & BRO., 497 Pa. Ave. N.W. n2164 — (A@Joining Natioual Hotel.) Ever see :such prices fon Clothing? Don’t believe you ever did or ever will again... We hard- ly expect to have such won- derful bargains to offer after these are gone. And you may be sure—if WE can’t offer bargains—there’re none to be found in town. bi $7.50" Overcoats ‘The finest ever offered for the money. Plenty of them at $750. Thousands at higher prices, (A idcent setercmnent. erseyn, jots, Mon! ca, Vici Worsteds, &c., &. ri as $6.48" Suits. As long as we've been in business, We've never sen thelr equals under $10, There's $10 -vorth of style—of wear —of satisfaction—in every one. Splendid assortment, too, $2.50fr Pants, $5 won't buy, better ones anywhere cise, We've Dut this price on them just to win trade, we're gaining friends every day. ee Chance for Boys! This ought to be the place that comes first in mothers’ minds, when the boys need Suits and Overcoais. One-fourth to one-half LESS than in other stores is the way we've put the prices, Boys’ Long Pants Suits. .$2.98 Beys’ Short Pants Suits. .$1.00 Victor E. Adler’ TEN PER CENT CLOTHING HOUSE, 927-9 7th St. SATURDAYS TILL 11 P.M. de2-100d . Big Reductions —Ae Rudden’s. Never were such inducements offered to eefessontentestonteaters Westeetestentongeets furniture bayere in this or any other city by a credit house as are being offered by by f credit house. Spot cash will not “Jos- tle” these prices cny lower at the biggest cash house in this elty—qualities considered. ALL the credit you want. A beautiful line of holiday Parlor and Banquet Lamps, cuitalle for Xmas gift giving, enitracing all the Iatest novelties and fads. Exquisite silk and porcelain shades. Prices, $3 and up—and every price a goxl TWO DOLLARS lower than you can buy the same lamp elsewhere. A big congregation of Rockers, cover- ing one entire floor, 25x125 feet, and every one of them marked down. A sample: Beautiful §7 New Style Mahogany Polished Rocker, fashionable saddle seat, fog $5. Brussels Carpet from 60c. yd. up. Ingrain Carpets from 350 yd. up. All carpets made, laid and lined free of charge. $12 Genuine Oak Chiffonter, with 5 drawers. Reduced to... $7.50 $85 Genuine Highly Polished Oak 3- nh Bed Room Suite, 24x30 Sel plate niltror. “Hedaced to, DBO. 5 Blegant 6-plece Overstuffed Bro- cattle Bavior Sites” Reduced $40. to .. see Sto. A nice $15 Osk Sideboard, with mirror top. Reduced to Rudden’s, 513 Seventh Street. 66-1004 Leading Diamond House. Est. 1874. HOLIDAY GIFTS BELOW PRICE! Prices talk, and these talk bigt 50 Lovely Opul Rings at tult omer” prices 54250 & $5 80 different styles Solitaire Diamond Rings, of selected white stone. One-third less others’ prices.....--+ Sie to $25 Superb S-stone Opal Hoop Ring. Syq Value, $15.. Vaio $ Value, 5 Sterling Silver Hair Brush. Ladice’ Solid I4-carat Gold Watch, extra $6.50 heavy case, beautifully chased, Elgin or Waltham movement. Value, $22. Sn@& Only .... oe JACOBS BROS., Diamonds, 1229 Pa. Ave. de6-400 STS IOOSSO SSL SSOSSOSOOOSOOOOD {Wedding Breakfasts, Denne and Luncheons of the choicestedescription, with all ac- ceascries of table linen end plate, provided at short notice. No party is too large for our facilltics to cope with. Personal supervision insures satisfactory results. Reasonable tariff. H Caterer, T. Jarvis, Contectioner. #426 Ninth St. N.W. a PO ELAR IA LE LS OA SHSSPECOCOOOO Leather Gifts. Who woulda’t be delighted with a gift of this sort—when of real leather. No end to the things you might give. Shopping Bags, to $5. Chatelaine Bags, T5c. to $5. Music Rolls, 50c. to $4. Collar and Cuff Boxes, 5c. to $6. Military Brush Sets, $2 to $5. : ‘A Collar or Cuff Box or a Whisk Broom Holder free with every purchase of $2 or more. Name marked free on all leather goods and anything you wish laid aside upon the payment of a small deposit. Kneessi, 425 7th St. deG-324