Evening Star Newspaper, December 21, 1895, Page 9

_—————— THE EVENING STAR PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 01 Penngylvanig Avenue, Cor. 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company 8. H. GFFMANN, Prest. _— Wew York Office, 49 Potter Building. ge ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers in the efty by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents F week, or 44c. per month. Copies at the counter cents each. By matl—anywhere in the United tates or Canada—postage preoaid--50 cents per meath. Baturda; int Sheet Star, $1.00 per year; with fore! Sree alded, $3.00. Entered at the Post Orice at Washington, D. C., &s_sccond-class roail matter.) §2,All mail .obscript!sas must be paid in advarce. tes of advertising made known on application. rate, Oe Fpyening Slav. reso WASHINGTON, D. ©, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1895-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. QPrinfers’ Inf, che fittfe school master of advertising), saps: JE is cfaimed for the Washington Sfor, and profabfp frufbfuffp cfaimed, Bat no offer newspaper in f§e counfrp goes info so farse a percenfage of aff fhe Bouses tiffin a radius of fwenfp mifes from Be office of puffication. MIGHTY MONITORS| “Fighting Jim” Jouett Describes Their Necessity to the Nation. FLOATING FORTS FOR COAST PROTECTION Their Efficacy Greater Than That of Battle Ships, Which Cost More. SOME RECOMMENDATIONS The far-reaching effects of President Cleveland's message declaring it the inten- tion of the United States to uphold and de- fend the principles of the Monroe doctrine at all hazards are already beginning to be seen in the discussion that has arisen over the resources of the nation in case of a war, and the means at its disposal for pro- tection from the onslaughts of a foreign foe. Naturally, the most important branch of this subject is that relating to our coasts and the populous cities lying along or near them. Their absolutely unprotected condi- @on at gresent against the long-range ord- nance of the present day carried by, foreign battle ships is the source of grave appre- hension and the inspiration of a general query as to how this helplessness may be overcome. The men who have studied the ert of war in its most practical sense, and who are familiar with its engines and im- plements, as artisans are with-their tools and appliances, are giving the question se+ rious and careful consideration, and espe- cially is this the case among those belong- ing to the naval branch of the government service. Among these gentlemen probably none has so studiously and impartially investi4 gated the subject as Admiral James A. Jcuett. Years and years ago he earned the famous sebriquet which makes “Fighting Jim Jcvett” an inspiration to the younger officers in the service, and sets the tongues of the old tars wagging with tales of dar- ing and heroism. It would be almost idle to repeat the story of his brave life, b cause that is indelibly written upon the brightest and bloodiest pages of the na- tion's history. Our Unprotetted Coasts. Admiral Jouett, hearty and jocund, and bearing his years as though his body was as*young as his heart, was met by a Star reporter this morning, and.the talk natu- rally turned on the subject of our coast defenses. “We are virtually unprotected along our coast lives now," said the admiral, with & serious expression. “Our coast cities at the merey of any foreign fleet w ma visit. them with hostile intent. conditions should not be allowed to con- tinue any longer than it wili take common sense, which is another name in this in- star for the instinct of self-preservation, and money to remove them. Gen. Miles,’ continued the admiral, “recommended in his last report the erection of a line of fortifications along the coast. They would cust $80,000,000 or $90,000,000, and would un- doubtedly be very good things, but it is difficult to see where they could be eftica- cious when modern fighting ships can He off twelve, thirteen or fourteen miles from bh and set our cities on fire, while it would be impossible to see those ships when they were more than eight miles out from shore.” Necessity for Experiments. We have the means at hand to protect ourselves from foreign attack in abundance without indulging in experiment. What we want for the safety of our coast and its thriving and populous cities are forts, to be sure, but not stationary forts. Floating forts are the necessary adjuncts to our sys- tem of protection against loss or invasion from without “Yes, we have them now, vent on, In reply to the reporter's question. “The Purl- tan is the most powerful fighting machine atloat. She is simply invulnerable to at- tack and irresistible in assault. That Is the type of vessel we need—the Monitor class modified to meet requirements. “Look at the Montere: continued Ad- miral Jouett, with a ring of enthusiasm in his tone. “The reports to the Navy Depart- ment from Captain Kempff are revelations to the student of naval warfare. In one of th reports he dectares that while at sea in the Monterey he experienced two gales as strong and violent as any he had ever known. Fought the Batteries in the Gales. n a pitching, tossing sea on both occa- sions he ordered the men to quarters and fought the battertes without difficulty, when, he declared, tt would have been im- possible to have fought the battery of an ordinary man-of-war. Another point In one of the reports from Captain Kempff ts re- markable in another Ir rtant particular. The average ship of war is prevented fre- quently from rendering necessary service by reason of her immense draught. When the Monterey was at the mouth of the Co- lumbia river she found there a merchant vessel that couldn't get over the bar. The Monterey, however, went in and slipped over it without difficulty. “There should be no reason,” said Ad- miral Jouett, ‘‘with all these splendid obje: lessons at hand, for the government to hes! tate an instant in selecting the most effi- aclous mode of protecting our seacoast The Puritan Can Whip Anything Afloat. Again referring to the extraordinary fighting machine which we have in the Puritan, Admiral Jouett said: “I consider her capable of whipping any battle ship afloat for these reasons—first, she carries a very heavy battery, which e can fight in any seaway; second, she has a twin screw and is easily maneuvered, and third, she has but thirty inches free board, which can’t be seen two miles and which presents only a very remote oppor- tunity for getting struck In a battle. A ship, on the contrary, has from ive to thirty feet free board from he water line up that “presents a good target at a distance from which the Puri- continued Ad- tt, “draw but fourteen feet of ainst over thirty feet by a battle The Puritan can seek harbors and of a secluded sort and run out at and strike the enemy. Her decks will Will admit of the finest possible torpedo platforms, and the cost of such a magnifi- cent fighting machine as this ts about a million and a quarter against four millions and over for a battle ship. And, too, a Monitor ike the Puritan can be built in half the time a battle ship can. The Navy the Nation Needs. \ “2 should consider our northern coast per- fectly secure," added the admiral, “if we possessed twenty or twenty-five of these home-defense vessels.” “It should not be our policy to build ex- pensive battle ships,” he went on, earnestly, “when, such a ship as the Puritan can do all that a battle ship can do and more. The monitors have been reported as unsteady gun platforms, but Capt. Bunce, who took the Monadnock around the Horn to Califor- nia many years ago, reported that she was absolutely steady and safe at sea. The re- cent report of Capt. Kempff of the Monte- rey, taken in connection with Capt. Bunce’s conclusions, completely disproves the theory that monitors are unsteady gun platforms. “What we must depend on in the future are powerful home and harbor defense vessels of light draught that can go out in any weather, night or day, and drive off a squadron of battle ships, which can, by the way, be seen at night at quite a dis- tance, and present admirable targets for heavy guns such as the boats I speak of should carry. The most vulnerable part of a commercial nation is her commerce. AS the powerful home-defense vessels are needed to make us secure at home, so they should be supplemented with twenty more of such fleet commerce destroyers as the Columbia and Minneapolis, which, though capable of fighting a successful battle, should be employed solely to prey upon the shipping of the country with whom we may be at war, and under no consideration be permitted to fight a’battle unless forced into it.” -————. -— A YANKEE FROM THE SOUTH. And His Very Original Plan of Mak- ing a Great Wad of Wealth. As a Star writer was passing through the Capitol the other day he met a southern Congressman, and the two walked along toward the Senate side. “I have a friend here from my state, said the Congressman, ‘‘whom I want you to meet.” “I'm sure it would be a pleasure to meet any friend of your,”’ said The Star writer, “but why especially do you want me to meet him?” “He's here on a mission that will in- terest you.” “Political No; business.” phat is it?” “Well,” and the Congressman sat down on the wall around the crypt. “I'll tell you for fear you miss him and miss the item. He’s got a scheme for getting African gold.” “Anything in the Barney Barnato line?’ “No; straight goods. I'll tell you what he proposes to do. He's going to get a phonograph and fix it up with tinsel and gewzaws, and make it about as wild and woolly as possible in appearance, and then he is going to Africa with it, somewhere in the Congo country, where gold and other valuable things are not yet swiped by Barnato corporations, and open up for busi- ness.”” “But how will the phonograph get the gold? He'll make.more money with one at county fairs in this country.” “Oh, no, he won't. Before he gets into the gold regions, he is going to have a native, who talks English, talk the cyl- Inder full of African lingo, rerpesenting their chief god, who feels that he has been Imposed upon and wants the people to bring all the gold and ivory and other stuff of value to him as a sacrificial ap- peasement. The command of the god will be accompanied by all sorts of dire threats and a general sweep of everything alive in the country, if the people do not at once hasten to appease the divine wrath. “Well, when he gets all this talked into the cylinder with one or two extras for different days in the week, and several more for people speaking different dialects, he will take it up the country and es- tablish it in a bamboo temple that he will put up, and start the thing to work, with red lights and some stage thunder, and when the astonished natives hear their god talking right at them, he is sure they will bring in all the loose valuables for miles around. “These he will drop down the cellar dur- ing the night and remove from the country at his leisure. When he has cleaned vp everything in sight, he will slip in a cyl- inder with the outraged god's compliments on it, and the frightened people will re- joice that the imminent danger has been staved cff by the surrender of a few car- loads of ivory, a hatful of diamonds and a hundredweight or so of virgin gold. Then the outraged but appeasable god will move ever into the rext country, and so on until my southern Yankee will get nearly every- thing in central Africa worth carrying away.” “Or thinks he will," suggested The Star man, and the member arose from his seat on the crypt wall and went on toward the Senate-side. ——-+—_—_ CALIFORNIA PIONEER BANKING. Large Profits, but the Banker’s Path- way Was Strewn With Thorns. From the Overland Monthly. In treating of the romantic period of the Argonauts, writers have touched but light- ly upon pioneer banking, a subject which would havo furnished many an interesting chapter. This is to be doubly regretted, be- cause the business was of a magnitude hardly equaled In any other new country, and because the records are today mainly derived from personal reminiscences, blot- ted and dimmed by the passage of time. The old banks of San Francisco were un- doubtedly marvels of the age. While lack- ing the showy exteriers and handsome fur- nishings of their modern successors, they proved fully equal to the requirements of a day when gold was more of a commodity than it has ever since been, Statements of immense deposits of gold in the ramshackle buildings and the pot metal safes peculiar to the times might seem exaggerated were they not amply proved by reliable statis- ties. If the profits were large in those days, many and varied were the vicissitudes of the business. While as a rule the banker of the period is general!y supposed to have rolled in luxury, his pathway was liberally strewn with thorns. It could hardly be said that capital was cautious-then, but it certainly was timed to a degree which fre- quently precipitated a crisis, short-lived as a rule, but sufficiently threatening in its aspect to cause general uneasiness. The dspositors among the mining commu- nity were inclined to be as fickle as the fortune which attended their search for gold, and when not engaged in delving among the gulches and ravines of the higher Sierra, or along the banks and beds of the Sacramento and its tributaries they seem to have kept a watchful eye over the movements of the banker. An apparently trivial event would suffice to create suspicion, and that meant an tm- mediate demand for whatever money was on deposit, which had to be forthcoming on short notice. - There was no law then to protect the banker by requiring formal application for the withdrawal of deposits under special classification. The drafts presented had to be paid or the doors must be closed. In the beginning of 1854, Adams & Co. were Subjected to a most trying experience from the most trivial cause. Usually large ship- pers cf coin, the January steamer had de- parted without their name appedring on the manifest for some reason. A run im- mediately was commenced on the bank, and before the first day had closed, nearly helf a million in gold had been paid over the counter to an excited crowd of deposi- tors. As usual in such cases, the appar- ent ease with which the sudden demand was met, and the well-stocked trays of gold behind the counters confronting cus- tomers, scon turned the tide, and a few hours later the deposits were pouring back again more rapidly even than they were withdrawn. This is only one instance of the kind, quoted to show the nervous disposition of a community largely made up of men who had followed the exciting and precarious career of miners In a comparatively wild and unexplored region, a life in Itself cal- culated to inspire ard foster a natural feeling of distrust in their surroundings, THE NATIONAL GUARD Result of the First Ordered Company Team Rifle Match. THANKSGIVING DAY WINNERS Preparations for the Fifth Bat- talion Prize Drill. NOTES OF INTEREST With the possible exception of war talk resulting. from President Cleveland’s mes- sage on the Venezuela boundary question, the chief topic of interest during the week in District National Guard circles has been the match in the rifle gallery between teams of five men each from each company in the brigade, shot Wednesday and Thurs- day evenings. The gallery was crowded beth evenings with guardsmen and inter- ested spectators, and the reports of rifles and the splash of bullets sounded more briskly than for many a day. The com- panies of the first five battalions were rep- resented Wednesday evening, while the teams from the remainder of the compa- nies shot Thursday evening. The result shows that company A, engineer corps, Stands at the head of the list, with com- peny B, second battalion, second. Company A, sixth battalion, score: but a protest vas entered, and twenty points were de- ducted, making the final score 186. ‘This protest was a verbal one, and was made to the officer in charge of the gal- lery, while the firing was in progress. It was to the eifect that one member of the team representing company A, sixth bat- talion, leaned on a heater while aiming, and thereby was able to steady himself, and naturally make a good score. The attention of the inspector general of rifle practice, who chanced to be in the gal- lery at the time, w: alled to the matter, and, on ¢xamination, he became satistied that the man complained of—Whittaker— was using the heater as a support, and it was therefore directed that twenty poini be deducted frem his score. It is reported that Capt. Simonson threatened to ten his resignation if the score was threwn out. Several Failed to Appear. Another interesting feature of the match was the failure of company C, fourth bat- talion, company D, first separate battalion, and light battery A to participate. As every one knows, the shooting was made compulsory by general orders. Capt. Bell In a communication to the inspector gen- egal of rifle practice, has formally reported the matter, and the commanders of ghe erganizatio: mentioned will more than likely be called upon for explanations. If such are not idered sufficient, @ court- martial for d nee of orders is among the possibilit The team from company D, fifth battalion, consisted of but four men, and therefore their scores were not recorded. The absentee, Private H. Beach, Mill also be given an opportunity to gxplain bis failure to apy Company B, engineer corp: without a commissioned officer in com- mand, and, although the team was per- mitted to shoot, its score does net count. ‘Vhe scores made in the match demon- strate clearly that a large number of com- panies are far below the average as regards rifle practice, and this deficiency ts ac- credited to the company commanders, be- cause of their failure to devote the neces- sary time and attention to the matter. It is known that in a number of instances the teams were composed of men who hap- pened to drop into the armory and were rressed into service on a moment's notice without having any previous knowledge of or preparation for the competition. The match, however, served as an awakening, and it js a certainty that the next contest will be marked by a greater display of in- terest and by better scores generaily. There has been considerable doubt ex- pressed as to the presentation of a trophy to the winner of the match. As hereto- fcre stated in The Star, the winning team Will positively be rewarded with a prize, although the nature has not as yet been determined upon, The omission to mention the engineer team in the general orders was due to an oversight. The battalion team match will be shot Friday evening, December 27, and the regi- mental team match Monday evening, De- cember 30. reported Scores in Detail. The scores In detail were as follows: First battalion. Company A—Corp. G. W. Sneden, 38; Sergt. E. L. Phillipps, 38 Sergt. O. O. Leech, 38; Pvt. M. R. Wool- ridge, 38; Pvt. W. W. Chase, 34. Total, 181. Company B—W. D. Davy 38; J. W. Cline, 26, F. N. Wells, H. O. Plugg2, 35; — Hall, Total, 170. Company c Seret. P. 32; Thomps G A. M. Smith, Company Sergt. B. Pvt. L. W Total, 17 Ga. FF. “Company _A—Sergt. Pvt. Collins, 29; Pvt. Brit= Hazard, Corp. MeCath- 18: gt. Stokes, 40; Pvt. Crist, Pvt. Colloday, 44; Pyt. Taylor, 34; Pvt. Webb, 40. .Total, 200, Third battalion. Company A—Pvt. Ste ard, 35; Pvt. Lacey, 39; Pyt. Mayer, Corp, Wimsatt, 40; Sergt. Taylor, 40. tal, 1 Company D-—Sergt. Adams, Beach, 36; Corp, Bowdler, 38; kins, Pvt. Higgins, 42 ‘ourth battalion. Company A—Pvt. H. Whaley, 27; Pvt. H. Boucher, 27; Pvt: F. Wall, 11; Pvt. P. O. Shea, 13; Pvt. J. O. Connor, 22. Total, 110, Company D—Lehman, Dolison, (42; Evans, “39 Fifth battalion. Company A—Corp. T; ler, 18; Corp. McLeod, 40; Pvt. Bowers 'To- 29; Pvt. Total, 187. Sergt. Hop- 28; O'Connell, 28; Allen, Total, 14; Pvt. Callan, & Pyt. Trembley, 31. Total, 139. Company B—Sergt. Bremmer Sergt. Acker, 41; Sergt. Weir, PaRGoIDe, 18; Sergt. Thompson, Sixth battalion: Company A—Whittaker, 45; Atkins, 45; Groome, 44; Bush, 38; Wil- cox, 34. Total, 206; with 20 points deduct- ed, 180. Company B—Sergt. King, 37; Sergt. Day- erport, 46; Corp. Hosford; 40; Barstow, 87; Private Gunderson, 31. Total, 1M. 2 Company C—Goodrich, 29;' Garner, 26; Sweeny, 20; Prunell, 23; Vanderbilt, 17. To- tal, 124, First separate battalion: Company A— Sergt. Custis, 88; Private Gibson, 34; Pri- vate Sedden, Private Smith, 34; Private ‘Thomas, 88. Total, 180. Company B—Sergt. Addison, 20; Sergt. Henscn, 24; Sergt. Brown, 23; Sergt. Jack- son, 26; Sergt. Preston, 28. Total, 130. Company C—Sergt. Erown, 28; Corp. Da- vis, 32; Corp. Rucker, 20; Corp. Brown, 28; Private Brcoks, Total, 128. Engineer corps: Company A—Private Bir- ney, 41; Cookson, 39; Williams, 41; Morgan, 41; E. W. Scott, 39. Total, 201. Company B—Edwards, 41; Owens, 44; 89; Stewart, 43; Mayes, 85. Total, 5 C—Lampson, 83; Wright, 44: Lepper, 35; Stephens, 39; Sturgus, 42. To- tal, 193. First separate company—Stouffer, 81; Taylor, 21; Matchett, 17; Carroll, 86; Stew- art, 34. Total, 139; with 5 per cent added for carbines, 146. Second separate ecmpary—Sergt. Gibson, 36; Sergt. Sorrells, 32; Private Washburn, 25; Private Frech, 28; Private Pryor, 17. Total, 138. Thanksgiving Day Winners. The winners of prizes in the shoot at Ord- way Thanksgiving day have been deter- mined as follows: First class—Lieut. A. O. Hutterly, en- gineer corps, first; score, 170; amount won, $1.55. Private E. W. Scott, engineer corps, second; score, 164; amount won, 93 cents. Private S. I. Scott, engineer corps, third; sccre, 164; amount won, 62 cents. Second class—Private E. W. Colloday, en- gineer corps, first; score, 164; amount won, 90 cents. Private Colloday, engineer corps, second; score, 357; amount won, 54 cents. Private E. J. Williams, third; score, 155; amount wen, 37 cents. Third class—Private E. W. Scott, engineer corps, first; score, 164; amount won, $2.10. Sergt. Lanham, ‘engineer corps, second; score, 158; amount won, $1.26. Private E. J. Williams, engineer corps, third; score, 155; amount won, &¢ cents. Fourth class—Private O'Connell, company D, fourth battalion, first; score, 128; amount won, 44 cents. Private Garrison, engineer corps, second; score, 127; amount won, 26 cents. Private Gunderson, company B, sixth battalion, third; score, 97; amount won, 18 cents. Fifth class—Private Hill, engineer corps, first; score, 142; amount won, $4.30. Private Dobson, company D, fourth’ battalion, sec- ond; score, ; amount won, $2.58. Private O'Connell, company D, fourth battalion, third; score, 128; amount won, $1 Preparations for Prize Drills. The annual company competitive drill for the fifth battalion prize cup will take place in Conventicn Hall on the 17th of Feb- ruary, and company D, the present holder, has already begun active preparations, with a view of retaining possession of the trophy. After the holidays company D is to drill three evenings each week, and, beginning February 1, the team will maneuver every evening. According to Capt. England, the other companies must work much harder than he thinks them capable of in order to best company D. Complaint about the lack of suitable drill grounds Is on the increase, and this draw- back is expected to seriously affect the suc- en of the fifth Lattalion competition. The captains say that without a drill hall they have no place to drill, unless the companies are marched outdoors and forced to plod through the mud, which fn all probability will be in evidence on the streets during Janua and February. These conditions are plainly not encouraging for prepara- tions for a competitive drill, and will not add to thg efficiency of the other companies quartered in the new National Guard Arm- ory. The annual individual competitive drill for the fourth battalion prize. medal, open to enlisted men of that organization, will be held January 14. Col. Peters Has Resigned, It will be news to the many friends.in this city of Col. I. F. Peters, who was the general manager of the Memphis interstate drill last year, and who spent some time in this city, to learn that he has tendered his resignation as commander of the second regiment, Tennessee National Guard, and with his family to Chicago. ’ Miss daughter of the colonel, will be re- the gracious sponsor of the 's during the drill period. Notes. Corp. Joseph T. Duffy, company D, fifth battalion, has been appointed fifth ser- geant. Sergt. Maj. Allen D, Albert, jr., third bat- talion, has applied for a transfer to com- pany A, third battalien, as a privaie. The brigade board of examination met Wednesday evening last, but no candidates appeared. Private H. E. Simpson was before the court-martial of the first battalion Mon- day last, charged with disobedience of or- ders. The court consists of Capt. Chas. M. Shreve ard Sergt. Maj. John A. Heydler. The drill of the second battalion ordered for Monday evening next has been post- poned because of lack of drill ground, and also because many of the members will be aged at their places of employment during the evening. A number of the commisisoned officers of the District Guard are in receipt of in- vitations for a reception by Col. Willard Howard and the officers of the fourth regi- ment of infantry, Maryland National Guard, to be held Thursday, January 23, in the Music Hall, Baltimore. Company A, second battalion, the Cor- coran Cadet Corps, it is anpounced, reai- ized a large sum from its recent military fete. The cash is to be devoted mainly to the purchase of new company uniforms, A contract will be entered into for the clothing early In the new year. Company “A, third battalion, has ar- ranged an elaborate entertainment, with an oyster supper as the principal feature, to be held in the quarters of the company at the armory some evening during Christ- mas week. It Is to be a stag affair, and attractive numbers will be contributed by some of the leading talent of the city. The fifth battalion has been ordered out for parade in Convention Hal! Monday evening, December 30. The Second Regi- ment Band will probably participate, and in calling for a full attendance, Maj. Suess announces that warrants will be presented to non-commissioned officers, and that mat- ters of general interest to the’ battalion are to be published. —— HABITS OF THE ALASKA Dr. Sharp's Interesting Exhibit at the Academy of Natural Sciences. From the Pitladelphia Record. The collection of objects made by Prof. Benjamin Sharp in Alaska and Siberia last summer for the Academy of Natural Sciences arrived last week, and Dr. Sharp exhibited some of these Friday evening be- fore the anthropological section. A great variety of implements andweapons used in fishing and the chase was explain- ed. A curious apparatus consists of a number of ivory balls attached to strings of sinew, and ig used in capturing birds by the natives, who throw it intg a flock, some of the fowls thereby becoming entangled in the strings.. A squirrel trap was shown, in which the animal becomes caught in a noose as it plucks the bait. In the houses heated by oil lamps nude dancers perform in winter, and on their arms they have curious leather gloves, to which a great number of birds’ bills are attached. As they dance these ornaments make a somewhat musical sound, which, with the tomtom, is the only music used. An interesting collection of smoking pipes was shown. pipes in shape, are made of the Ivory of walrus tusks, and are prettily carved. Those most commonly used, however, are made of lead and are very heavy. The Alaskans are very skijlful in throw- ing spears from the boats. The boais are easily upset and require great care in bal- ancing. A curious ornament consists of a small piece of jade stone, which is fitted into a slit made in the angle’ of the mouth and worn much as an earring or nose ring. It is called a labrette. Arrows with ivory heads, masks and totems were also exhibited. Dr. Sharp then showed a number of views with the lantern, explaining the manner of living of the natives and their methods of preparing skins, etc. The king of one of the tribes has a house with several rooms in it, one of which is decorated with pic- tures taken from American pictorial pa- pers. He is worth about; $60,000, made mostly in trading. The ordinary houses \have wooden walls and’a dome-like roof of walrus skin. The houses are about forty feet in diameter and several families live in each, with a box-like apartment for each family and a common fire in the center of the house. In rainy weather the whalers wear coats made of the intestines of seals, and these are quite water-proof. Many of the men have their heads shaved in the center, presenting the appearance of a tonsure. Many other curious habits and customs were described. They resemble the Chinese’ REAL ESTATE GOSSIP Tnfluence of the Christmas Season on Realty. PROSPECTS OF ACTIVE BUILDING Foreign Legations and Their Res- idences in This City. SOME IMPROVEMENTS eo It is not expected that any great amount of business in the real estate line will be done during the holiday season. That this expectation is fully realized this year goes without saying, and the same is true of any season, whether one of great activity or where the reverse conditions prevail. The fact is that the attention of nearly every one is so engrossed in preparations for Christma® that they have not cither the tirffe inclination to give much ie or the thought to investments in real estate. The market is always dull at this time of the year, whatever explanation may be offered. There is fio reason, however, why houses and lots should not take a place in line with other objects which are used to con- vey our affection and regard to our friends at this time of the year. Certainly the cost does not stand in the way, for property is offered at reasonable figures and at terms to suit, so that even a Christmas stocking of small dimensions would not prove an en- tirely insufficient receptacle for such a gift. However that may be, realty is not classed among the Christmas commodities, and hence there is no great activity in business at this time. Kuilding Activity. There are indications, however, of a re- vival of activity, and not the least of these is the promise of a good many new build- ings being erected during the coming year. One ef the large brickmakers said recently that the orders now on hand for brick are much more numerous than was the case at this time last year, and that the number of bricks supplied is much greater. The e1 tion of houses is presumably to pr homes for the increased populatio this increases the favorabie prospects of the building interests of this city for the coming year. Rexidences of Legations. Announcement has beén made of the pur- chave by the Austrian government of the Yulee house on Connecticut avenue, to be used as the residence of the legation in this city. The title to the property will be vest- ed in the government just as is the case with the property occupied by the British embassy, which is just across the street. This {s the fourth of the foreign govern- ments represented in this city which has acguired property here. The fine residence of the German embassy on Massachusetts avenue between 14th and Isth streets i well known, while that of the Mexican le} tion on I ‘street between 1ith and loth streets is the center of much social interest. For a good many years England was the only country that owned property in this city, but quite recently one country after an- Other has found it advisable to procure a permanent residence here, and it is quite probable that others will follow in the same line. Fine University Buildings. In the coming years one of the most at- tractive features of the suburbs will be the groups of handsome buildings located on the sites which have been chosen for unt- versity purposes. During the past week action was taken by the authorities of the American University which will result in the course of 4 few weeks in the preparation of the plans for the erection of the first building. Exeavations have already been made for the foundations of the first build- ing on the grounds of the Protestant Epis- copal Cathedral foundation, and during last fall the second large building erected on the grounds of tne Catholic University was dedicated and opened for the use of students. It may be said that only the beginning in these great. educational entervrises has been made, and that in the coming years large sums of money will be expended and these localities will not only be adorned with types of handsome architecture, but they will be centers of university life. An F Street Improvement. Plans have been prepared by Frederic W. Carlyle & Co., architects, for a building to be erected at 1327 F street, and the, con- tract has been awarded to Emmert & Heis- ley for a four-story stone and buff brick building, which will be occupied exclusively by Sanders & Stayman, now located at 934 F street. The first ‘loor will be used as a show room and the fourteen rooms in the upper stories as exhibition rooms. Quartered oak will be used throughout the building, the upper stories will be com- municated with by an electric passenger elevator, and the retiring rooms on the dif- ferent floors will be finished in marble and mosaic. The Building Record. The building record for the week ending yesterday show that only fourteen ‘permits were issued, at an estimated cost of $35,500, divided among the several sections of the city as follows: Southeast, eight permits for $16,000; northwest, cne permit for $500, and the county, five permits for $19,000. Some Improvements. ‘acob Brothers will erect a row of three brick and stone dwellings at Nos. 1349, 1351 and 1353 Harvard street, Columbia Heights, from plans drawn by Architect William J. Palmer. The building contract has been awarded to Peter Fersinger. The front of the buildings will be composed of buff brick and Indiana limestone, with mansard roofs. They will have a frontage of thirteen feet nine inches, by a depth of fifty-three feet. A. L. Richardson will erect two two-story frame dwellings in Uniontown. The build- ing will be done by Masson & Tarper. M. P. Caldwell will build a row of eight two-story brick dwellings from plans drawn by Arckitect A. Goerman. The buildings will be numbered 112 and 114 Heckman street southeast. They will front fourteen feet nine inches and will be built of press brick. Clarence Harding, architect, has prepared plans for the erection of six three-story houscs on Zist street between O and P streets. The owner is Redford W. Walker. The fronts will be of mottled brick and the interior will be finished in hard wood. —— DIDN'T LIKE TEA, Soup Was Bitter and Leaves Not Good and It Wouldn’t Grow. C. E. Davis has just returned from a timber inspecting trip in North Carolina. While in the mountains of Swain county he says that a pecullar kind of drink was served by his host and he asked: “What is this drink made of?” “Willer leaves.” “Do you drink it all the time?” “Mostly, ‘ceptin’ sassafras season. I reckon you'ns drinks tea.” “Yes, and coffee,” said Davis. “I don’ keer for tea, but I knows {t's kin’ ” fashionable,” continued the mountaineer. “We tried some onct. A peddler sol’ it to us. We cooked a mess of it an’ the soup war too bitter, while I'd ruther hev dander- line than the greens part. Samanthy kin’ o' liked it with molasses poured in, so I planted the rest in the garding, but it wouldn’ grow, so we didn’ buy no mo’ of the stuff. ® CESSSSOSSSSSSS SECO SHHOSOS u Great Sacrifice SALE OF PIANOS —Has met with a success that has been most gratifying. No more than should be ex- pected, though—for we've sacrificed prices at a rate that’s remarkable—cut them below the lowest figures ever quoted on fine Pianos. In GOEOSOSHOSOOO OOO fact, NO REASONABLE © OFFER WILL BE RE- ) FUSED. ® The instruments are all new—seven standard makes to select from—sold for cash or on easy terms. A handsome piano stool and scarf free with eaeh pur- chase. yp a) eae .) Hardman Pianos. Sale ends December 31. $1,200 Hardman Baby $ Gi in San Domin; Grain 'n Sin Doni B77 QQ) $700 Hardman Cab- inet Grand, in antique A | 5 in rose- $375 tandard Pianos. 4—-$350 Standard Up- $ 225 $650 Hardman Cab- inet Grand, handsomely carved, in rosewood... $550 Hardman Cab- in rose- inet Grand, wood... $500 Hardman Cab- Grand, inet ‘wood. rights, in mahogany and rosewood, with the famous lock pedals... Slightly-used Morris Cabinet Grand, fn ma- hogans—a $300 Plano... $175 Open evenings METZEROTT MUSIC @O., m0 F Street N.W. SOS & @ Gildemeester & Kroeger Pianos. tet + $800 $900 G. & K, Cabinet Grand, in Circassia walnut... OSSOSDS9GSOSSS $750 Kimball Cab- inet Grand, in antique $650 Kimball Cabinet grand, in $500 Kimball Cabinet Grand, in" French wal- 375 enki: $2509 toca o S22e 4 Brown & Simpson ° Pianos. $300 $400 B. & S. Cabinet Grand, in mahogany, oak or walnut......... Krell Pianos. $400 Krell Cabinet Grand, in mahogany or CAOR oe = $300 Whitney Pianos. eaten: $250 pan! $175°@ Sligh H. : o Heert4s $3500 QSOEa @ ° SOSSSOGHGSOO till Christmas. National University. Prof. Thomas Wilson, LL. D., is deliver- ing a course of lectures on prehistoric med- icine and surgery every Wednesday eve: ing. The dental department has an augmented corps of clinical instructors and lecturers. Dr. Benson's course en practical dentist and Dr. D. E. Wiber’s on dental history and pathology have been largely attended. The prospect for a new college building, modern in all its details, is bright. The faculty have promised its completion this spring. The students will appreciate the space such a builling will give them, as the quarters are crowded during junior ‘lec- tures. Prof. Watson J. Newton, LL. D., will be- gin a course of lectures on medical and dental jurisprudences after the holiday re- cess. Messrs. Geo. M. Godrey and Chas. E. Ferguson are serving as resident students at the Washington Asylum and Sibley Me- morial Hospital. Columbian University. An item of news that will interest many of the friends of the university is that Dr. Montague’s Latin class is preparing to give a Latin entertainment. A committee has been appointed, with Miss Morrison as chairman. The program will be both Iter- ary and musical in the Latin language. The Quintus Quiz Club recently elected Dwight V. Jcnes of Nevada as president and C. C. Wells of Llinois as secretary. The Columbian Call has lost a_ valuable assistant In the resignation of Robert J. Barrett from the position of managing editor. His resignation from the staff was accepted with great regret. The academy has recently received a val- uable addition to the library, consisting of a large set of historical reference books. At the recent meeting ef the Columbian University Base Ball Association R. S. Bar- rett was elected manager and H. S. Greene captain. From the present prospects the team this year will be a strong one. It will probably play Yale, Harvard, Pennsylvaria, Princeton and the teams of other institu- ions. vhs university closed yesterday for the Christmas vacation, and will resume stud- les January 6, 96. Georgetown University. The January number of the college jour- nal was issued today in order that the col- lege men would have a copy before leaving for home. The journal contains a long 1l- lustrated article on “Summer in Alaska,” written by W. T. Martin, ’86, and also pre- sents as a supplement a copy of the George-. town College March, by Professor Callan. Professor Howard Helmick began last Saturday a course of lectures to the post graduates, on the history and philosophy of orth philosophers have finished their ex- aminations in major logic and mechanics, and after the Christmas vacation they will take up outology. ‘All the departments of the university closed,tcday for the Christmas holidays, and will reopen January 3, 1806. Examinations will begin in the lower schools immediately after the holidays. Howard University. The Livingstone Missionary Society of the theological department held a largely at- tended meeting yesterday, at which G. A. -Jones read an excellent paper on the author e and occasion of the missionary hymn, “From Greenland’s Icy Mountains.” P. F. Dilts also gave an interesting talk on “For- eign Missious.” J. N. Scanes was recently elected president of the society, and Mr. F. E. Stuart secretary. The university closed yesterday for the Christmas vacation, and will resume studies January 2. The library has received a large number of valuable scientific and historical books. These, with all the other library books, will be removed to the new library under the Rankin Memorial Chapel as soon as the shelving there has been completed. Catholic University. The Athletic Association held a meeting last week, at which they made all pre- liminary arrangements for the equipment of a gymnasium. A committee for the selec- tion of the various apparatus was ap- pointed, with Mr. Cashman as chairman; one of the largest and most commodious rooms in the McMahon hall has been grant- ed the association, and everything will be in readiness for the athletes the first part of the New Year. The Debating Society which has just been organized in the law school meets Monday evening, tu debate legal avestions only. The society is organized in such a way that every member has an opportunity to speak at every meeting and on every subject. The first debate was held last Monday evening, the subject be- ing “Is the Present Method of Affordi Legal Redress of Private Injuries Benefici to Society?” Immediately after the Christmas recess the first term examinations will be held for the junior class of law. The university closed yesterday for the Gbristmas recess, and will open on January —_.__. CHILDISH COURTSsyY. Little Folks Are Natural Mimics and@ Will Ape Your Good Manners. ~ From the Philadelphia Times. nless you've ‘been there’ yourselves xou've no idea how much a_ teacher knows ¢f her pupils’ home surroundings, though she may never see her pupils out- side of school hours,” said a bright little “schoolmarm” ° “In my school were a few who lacked politeness. I did not know how to teach it to them at first, but decided to be polite to them at all times and watch the effect. I'm satisfied. The little ones are decidedly amusing at mes in their attempts to do as ‘teacher does.’ "” It would be well for many mothers to try this method of teaching politeness. Don’t scold nor threaten the children. It soon becomes an old story, is met with a know- ing smile or frown, passes for all it is worth and no more. Teach the boys to be gentlemen and the girls to be ladies. Po- liteness pays everywhere and at all times, and a smile will win the coldest nature if it comes from a true heart. Begin at the be- ginning to train children. Be firm and Pleasant, but not to train them as thougk they had no resoning power, or were not thinking beings. One Way to Do It. From Harper's Bazar. ‘How did you get Borely out of your whist club—did you ask him to resign?” jo; we didn’t like to do that; but we all resigned excepting Borely, and then we all got together and formed a new club.”