Evening Star Newspaper, January 4, 1896, Page 20

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1896-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. Our 4 Patent Nose PSs Pieces Relieve wearing glasses of its most disagreeable feature. They don’t “pinch” the nose—yet hold the glasses firmly—cor- rectly. We put them on our FRAMELESS GLASSES — with finest lenses—for $2. C7 Eyeglasses or Spectacles as low as $1. No extra charge for etamining the eyes and the proper glasses. McAllister & Co., EXAMINING OPTICIANS, TO 13mt F St., ass Take Up Your Pen and Write Right along—no time lost tence disturbed » sl a LANCASTER GOV MW The only pen indorsed and used by United tes overnment. Prices, $2 and up. Other Fountain Seay oc And repaired. 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It's inexpensive to do that. We've reduced Bilces vne-half on all Dress ‘Ties and Gloves, Silk, Mufflers, Handkerchiefs and Full Dress elds. —The best Dress Shirts, Collars and Cuffs at popular prices. P. T. HALL, 908 F'st. Ja3-16d S ‘Hundred ‘of heads <ere wearing our $1.80 Derbies and Alpines. Hundreds of heads are wear- ing hats for which their owners pald $2 which aren't near as good as ours ai $1.50. Wait till they know about the goodness of our Hats! How are they going to know? They'll find it out— People are tulking about It—so are we. CHAS. Ht. RUOFF, Up-to-date hatter, 905 Pa. Ave. de31-244 —y “I Gold - filled Rimless ;A New $ Glasses, guaranteed to | wear 10 years, $1.25. | EYE- The newest am 0 : sell to give de27tojazs' 52 é WILKES BOOTH’S DOUBLE. The Curious and Tragic Story of Rev. John G. Armstrong. Richmond Letter in Philadelphia Times. From a romantic point of view the most interesting object of all about the old Monumental Church at Richmond, Va., is the photograph of Wilkes Booth’s double. It hangs in a dark corner of the old-fash- joned vestry room, and represents a man, in the prime of life, standing beside a table, his long clerical garments giving him increased height and dignity. The long, straight hair is brushed straight back from the high, broad forehead, and the face—in its every lineament—is said to be -the Image of Wilkes Booth as he would have appeared at that time. The resem- blance fs certainly most remarkable—the Geep, black eyes, the shape of chin, mouth, cheeks, forehead, eyebrows and nose—and moreover, there is a subtle similarity of ex- pression {o members of the Booth family that defies description. This man was Rev. John G. Armstrong, Pastor of the church from 1878 to 1884. But even to this day strange rumors of the final end of Wilkes Booth are to be heard in places where his friends and intimates lived and talked long after the assassina- tion of President Lincoln had passed into history. There are tales of a mysterious grave, of a body that tallied in some of its marks with those of Wilkes Booth and dif- fered materially in others, and an intan- gible fabric of supposition built abont a series of gossiped incidents. However valueless these may be Historically, they show an undercurrent that found an out- break in the romance of Mr. Armstrong of Monumental Church. The likeness of Mr. Armstrong to Wilkes Booth was so startling that some people who had seen both men found it hard to believe that they were not the same. The preacher's manner might be called dra- matic. His movements and gestures had the repose and breadth that most actors ac- quire in following their art and living and working constantly before an audience. He Was, moreover, slightly lame, as Wilkes Booth would probably have been in conse- quence of the Injury to his leg sustained in jumping from President Lincoln’s box. Aside from this fact, Mr. Armstrong’s Manner, voice and temperament led to the conviction that were he not a priest he would have been a great actor. It Is said that his daughter did subsequently go up- on the stage and met with great success. No subject of discussion was more con- stant in Richmond than the possibility that Mr. Armstrong and Wilkes Booth were one and the same man. Mr. Armstrong stren- uously denied the identity, but such denials could not silence the rumors. There seemed, moreover, to be a shadow over his ante- cedents. He came to Richmond a com- parative stranger, and claimed that he was @ priest ordained in Ireland. An investiga- tion was quietly started to clear up the facts as to his past, but did not give entire satisfaction, In the midst of the constantly reiterated declsrations and denials the cler- guman was accused of irregularities in his abits, and this again called forth the charge that he was not all he seemed to be. He finally resigned tke rectorship of Monumental Church and went to a city in the extreme south. Shortly after he left the ministry he sank out of sight and died in obscurity. But even to the end the doubt as to his Identity hung like a shadow over his life, and when on his death bed his last words were a denial—a pathetic, heart- broken denial—that he was Wilkes Booth. — Not Much Change. From the Chicago Tribune What sort o’ place do you reckon heaven is?” said Mosely Wraggs, slowly shifting his seat on the park bench and looking dreamily out over the blue lake. “The good book says it’s a place o’ rest,” replied Tuffold Knutt, squinting contem- platively at the sun. “It won't be much of a change, will it?” rejoined Mosely Wraggs, after a long pause. coo —____ A Useful Gun. From th Chicago Record “I've bought Smedley’s new gun.” “Why, don’t you know you couldn’t hit anything, with it? It’s a beauty, but it Won't shoot straight.” Sh! That's why I got it. Fetlows al- ways guyed me because I couldn't shoot, end now I've got a good excuse for miss” Were it not that this article is addressed chiefly to women it would seem an act of extreme temer:ty to reiterate directions as to how to play golf. Elaborate instructions, brought to a scien- tific pitch of accuracy, may be found in the well-known books which have been long considered authorities on goif play. ‘There are, however, certain modifications of instruction which are peculiar to the feminine game of golf. In the first place, in the question of strength, women are in- dubitably inferior to men, in dress they are encumbered and in the practice of all athletic sports very far behind. A woman can neither see as accurately nor hit as far as a man. There is no use denying these unfortunate facts. Tney ex- ist, and must be dealt with as seems best. First, then, a few words a3 to what the game actually is, as it is now played. From an inch high pinch of dirt, called a tee, which is placed upon a slightly ele- vated platform of earth, the golf ball is Placed. From this advantageous position the player drives the ball with a wooden club as far as he can toward a small hole in the ground, which is lined with tin and Placed in the center of # smooth green of very level turf. His object is to get the ball into this hole in as few strokes as pos- sible. There are a number of these holes; sometimes seven, some-im2s nine, but prop- erly cightéen, placed at distances varying from 200 to 500 yards, and returning in a more or less circuitous course to the origin- al teeing ground from which the start was made. 5 There are a number of clubs adapted to the various positions in which the ball has fallen, and toward which it must be driven. The principal ones are these: The driver, a wooden club with a thick wooden foot strengthened with horn, with which the ball is struck from the tee. The brassy, a wooden club much like the driver, varying only in being a little lighter and more flex- Ible and soled with brass. This club is used to grive the ball through the green. It may be used only when the ball lies smoothiy without obstructions or uneven indentations or hillocks of earth, and can be sent off freely. The brass soling pro- tects the club in its contact with the ground. The third club in the list is an iron,called a cleek. This has an iron face put on at nearly right angles to the wooden handle, slightly turned back, and ts tne club which wemen will find ‘of most use. The ball can be driven off the tee with the club, and it can be used, except in the case of lofting shots and in bunkers, almost ex. clusively through the green. The lofter is much like the cleek, only that the face is much turned back. It is intended, as the name indicates, to lift the ball up over ditches, streams or bunkers, and particu- larly in what is called approach shots, where the intention is to seid the ball a limited distance and to drop it dead as near the hole as possible. An accurately gauged distance may be managed best with these shots. ‘The niblick is a club like a spoon of thick iron, intended to extract the ball from bunkers and cuppy les. ‘The mashie, a very useful club, is a cross between a niblick and a lofter, and is very effective in lofting balls out of dangerous places. The putter, used for sending the ball into the hole after it has been lofted upon the green, is a smocth-faced tron club, heavy and straight, the face at exact right an- gles to the handle. It must be held firmly in the hands while the wrists remain flexi- ble, and swung smoothly back and forth like a pendulum. There are many varieties of clubs, modifications of the above, which are ne*essary to all play. As to the posi- tion to be taken in driving, a few direc- ticns may be permissible to those who have rot the good fortune to be able to take les- sens. Take your position upon the teeing ground, stand so that the ball is midway between your feet, and at a sufficient dis- tance from the line on which you stand, so that the end of the club whose head touch- es the ball falls just inside the left knee. Grasp your club in your two hands, firmly with your left, lightly with your right. Stand at right angles to the line in which you wish your ball to go, swing your club back over your right shoulder, moving your bedy as a pivot, and lifting the left heel so that you stand poised upon your right foot and the toe of your left. Swing the club in a line as nearly like the arc of a circle as is possible and sweep the ball away. You mvst make your body into a machine; your stick into a pendulum attached to this machine. Take your position with the care and according to directions and do not vary it; do not be surprised or discouraged if the ball does not fly into the air and over the Eills, as you dreamed that {t would, but Practice patiently and the skill will come. Keep your eye on the ball. This is the eternal chant of every teacher, but not on the top of the ball, on the side where you expect your chib to hit it; the club will follow your eye. Use this same swing mcdified for your iron shots and the brassy skots upon the green. When you are ap- preaching the hole use, according to the distance, a three-quarter or a half shot. The positions for these shots may be studied in authorities upon the game. Putting is comparatively easy to most women. In this women will get the better of their masculine opponents, and may make up for their deficiency in driving. There are innumerable intricacies to be studied and learned in the use of the differ- ent clubs. There is discouragement about the game which, as an old Scotchman said, “is always fechtin against you.” There is discouragement, but there is always ex- hilaration: hope never deserts the golfer. At each stroke, no matter how many years of hopeless duffer play lie behind us, we still believe that we shall send the ball skimming triumphantly into the air. This hope takes us with curiously irresistible fcrce over miles of hills and sand dunes which we would otherwise never dream of traversing, and we return, after a long day. in the open afr, our lungs filled with ozone and a day of innocent and healthful occu- pation behind us. The possibility of companionship with husband, brother or friend is an important and a luring reward for the practice of the game, even did not ample joy result from Playing it. The name golf “widow,” once @ term of misfortune, need now only be that of reproach. But it behooves us al- ways to be modest and self-effacing if we wish to play upon the links which are al- lotted to the men and forsake the humble and unambitious course laid out for us. Golf is not a pastime; it is a serious pro- fession. Undue indulgence in conversation must be rigorously frowned down. Each stroke must be considered with equal care; even when we have attained to the best game within cur power the same care is imperative, bet the rewards are saved for those who have the courage to win them. The fields are open to us, and the new life of vigorous and healthy exercise is ours if we will take it. There is no lack of promise that these opportunities will be more than amply taken advantage of. There is the greatest benefit to be de- rived from watching the play of a cham- pion golfist. Mr. Charles McDonald, whose recent successes have made him champion of America, plays a most inspiring game. He played ‘as a boy at St. Andrew's, in Scotland. and renewed the practice of it here in America, within the last three years. His play is dashing and beautifully easy. He does not try too hard. This is the danger for most amateurs, who forget that the motion to be acquired is an even swing, which in its course sweeps the ball away. Mr. McDonald's playing, when*he is not off his game, which calamity happens to all devotees ‘of golf, is also very accurate. His approach shots drop upon the green with delightful regularity and accuracy; his putting shots are as sure as if he were playing champion billiards instead of champion golf. He does not stand long over his ball, nor annoy his* spectators with unnecessary and elaborate addressing. He walks up to the ball like the champion he Is, gives one keen look at it, swings his | club 'as if he liked the operation better than anything in the world, and away goes the ball, sailing over the hills of his favor- ite Wheaton 200 yards or more. Mr. Andrew Lang puts the sensation of seeing a golf ball fly off the lee in a triumphant long drive as one of the two or three most exhilarating that lifecan af- ord. “With few exceptions, women do not excel in driving, but there is no reason why they may not play the tron clubs as well as | men, and it is indubitable that they may excel in putting, and thus make up on the putting green what they have lost by an inferior drive. And there is much sport to be got out of foursome play, where a man and a woman play against’ another pair, alternating strokes. In this way a very even and in- teresting match may be played. A game which will bring weak and idle women off -he couches, and by its fascination carry them over miles of hills and meadows among the sunbeams and breezes, should be considexed in the light of a great bless- ing to humanity. Its rewards are for wo- men as well as for men, for all ages and conditions, irrespective of rank or of wealth; a real game for America, demo- cratic and free. ae TOWN OF VLADIVOSTOK. Street Scenes That Are Characteristic of Russian Life. From the Fortnightly Review. Vladivostok has the aspect of an inferior Hongkong, of about a quarter the size. Hills crowned with forts rise around it up to a heigh. of 800 feet. It lies on the south side of a peninsula twenty miles long, call- ed Maravief Amursky, in 43 degrees 6 min- utes 51 seconds north latitude, and 131 de- grees 54 minutes 21 seconds east longitude. The town 1s between four and five miles long, but 1s straggling and unconnected and of no breadth. Some streets are very steep and all are horribly dusty in dry weather, being never watered, and being continually crossed in all directions by droshkas driven at a smart pace. In- stead of pavements the streets have ‘“‘side- walks” of planks, as commonly seen in new American cities. You take six stout planks, some twenty-five feet long, and lay them side by side, and you continue the process for the requisite number of versts of miles (three Versts are two miles), and the “sidewalk” is complete, save for F apek props and nails, where the ground is tOo soft or the foundation degenerated into holes. The droshkas are driven by red-headed, snub-nosed Russian izvozchiks in low, glazed, stovepipe hats, with very curly brims, red sleeves, pleated black skirts and high boots. In them one often sees, lolling as passengers, a couple of frowsy Chinese, or a still frowsier Corean. The fare is only’ eighty kopeks, or one shilling and eighteenpence, an hour, or over half an hour; and from point to point there are terpenny and tlvepenny fares, according to distance. The regulations forbid charging more, but, with fine irony, allow the driver “to take less, if he likes.” He may not leave his cab to take care of itself, may not “sing. make a noise, or cause a disturb- he must temper his pace to a “town and “keep to the right-hand side of the road.” The troika has a dashing look; the horse in the middle trots under the arched duga, whose object and effect, when properly put on, Is to keep the shafts at the same dis- tance apart. The small horses right and left are centering, and their bodies incline a little outward from the car. In Vladivos- tok are few complete triple teams; gener- ally there are only the “middle horse” trot- ting and one other cantering on its near side. The water barrel on wheels, drawn by horse or bull, and often driven by a sol- dier, is a frequent sight, carrying water up to the forts and to the upper town. A funnier horse vehicle 1s the sit-astride, cushioned beam, on which izvozchik and cloaked and spurred officer sit, with dan- gling legs, one behind the other—the officer behind. . —_——+e+_____ Thirty Years Older. From Harper's Bazar. Boggs—‘Hiow Is it that your hair fs quite white, while your beard Is very dark?” Noggs—“It’s the most natural thing in the world. Boggs—“Indeed?” Noggs—“It is thirty years older.” His suta..c slajesty—“Py jove! If that building gets much higher I'll be afraid to go up after the tenants.”—Truth. PLAYING AT ALBANY eet Capital Club's Four Contending for the Whist Trophy. ——> ++ COMPOSITION OF THE LOCAL TEAM Matches of Interest-in Chess and Checker Circles. GOSSIP OF THE CLUBS eee Unless something unforeseen has happen- ed, Messrs. C. M. Barrick, D. J. Carr, Lind- ley Fogg and H. N. Lowe are in Albany, N. Y., this afternoon and evening, contend- ing on behalf*of the Capital Bicycle Club with the Albany Whist Club for the tro- phy of the American Whist League. The trophy is held by the Albany club, which won it from the Continentals of New York, and defeated the Brooklyn Whist Club last Saturday night by four tricks, 20 to 24. The team which went from this city with the hope of bringing back the trophy have had no practice together,so far as Mr. Lowe Is concerned, for six months, and this will undoubtedly tell against them. It was found impracticable for any of the others who bave been playing with the team to leave their business, and for this reason Mr. Lowe, who is Spending most of his time in New York city, was substituted. Mr. Lowe, however, has played with the club heretofore, and his strength is known. The other three members have, with the addition of either Stevens or Dr. Harban, shown themselves superior to any other four in the club with whom they have played. Last Saturday evening they de- feated Messrs. Wooten, Williamson, Quack- enbush and Britton by five tricks. The Albany Whist Club is one of the strongest in the country. In 1894, at the Philadelphia tournament of the league, in which twenty-nine of the strongest whist teams of the cguntry participated, the Al- bany club came out ahead. A team from the Capital Bicycle Club finished fifth: Last year at Minneapolis a pair of Al- bany club players carried off the prize as the champion pair in the United States. The team from this city have a hard game before them, and should they win the match, with their lack of practice, it will be a big feather in their cap. Whist is becoming more lively at the Washington Chess, Checker and Whist Club. Nearly every evening parties are contesting duplicate whist. Pairs from other clubs are there playing frequently. On. a recent afternoon Messrs. Saxton and Sabin of the I street club were the visitors. They contested two rounds of nine and ten toards, duplicate whist, with Messrs. Knight and Lake, the latter win- ning by the scores of 4 and 6 tricks, respec- tively. Among the Chess Players. The return of Mr. Usina to the city has given chess at the Capital Bicycle Club an impetus. He is still in the lead, but is tied for first place with Mr. Quackenbush, who has added three wins to his score, and is making quite a creditable Yecord. Messrs. Carr and Barrick are devoting their atten- tion to whist, and have not played any games this week. The score ts as follows: Usina won 18, lost 2; Quackenbush won 9, lost 1; Barrick won Douglas won 4, lost 3; Carr 644, lost 614; Mac- daniel won 7, lost 9; Rines won 2 Falck won 7%, los! 3%, lost 1914, and Calver won 0, lost 6. In the tournament at the Washington Chess Club some of the first prize eligibles seem to Le employing delaying tactics, no zame having been played between some of the pairs for two weeks. 'G! terson are prosecuting thetr match with vigor and evenness, the score being, Gich* ner 4, Patterson 3. Douglas kas found it necessary to withdraw from the tourna- ment and Usina has been paired with Tib- betts. The scores of the other pairs are as follows: Hayna 1, Martin 1; Wright 1, O'Farrell 1. In the second prize clast-Waiker won the fourth game and the match from Gwyer, the score stand!ng 3 to 1. Otte and Tharp drew their second game. Play in the continuous chess tourney commenced at the Washington Club Thurs- day. The entries already number over twenty, and the affair is attracting much interest. The annual meeting of the Washington Chess Club will be held at the club rooms, 614 12th street, on next Monday evening for the election of officers and the transac- tion of other !mportant business. Quiet Week With Draughts. The past week has been a quiet one in checker circles. The tournaments at the Mt. Vernon Clu) are progressing slowly. 1t is hoped they will be completed by the end of another week. The scores are as follows: Class A—Ward, won 3114, lost 10%; Me- Hardie, won 2, lost 9; Mundelle, won 41%, lost 26%; Farquhar, won 4, lost 24; Pedal, won 30%, lost 244; Wendell, won 21, lost 22; Jackson, won 17, lost 1; Fitch, won 20, Jost 40; Miller, won 4, lost 8; Smith, won 4, lost 26; Whitford, won 10%, lost 4044. In class B. the leaders are as follows: Mur- Ty, won 47%, lost 1514; Grove, won 21%, lost 1234; Stephenson, won 31, lost 20; Cramer, won 10%, lost 714; Walker, won 23, lost 19. The Match With Richmond. The Washington club expects now to draw its correspondence chess match with Rich- mond. It will be remembered that four games were started simultaneously and two of them wert won easily by Richmond. The remaining two are nearing completion, and vnless the calculations of those conducting the games fail, both will be scored in favor of Washington, which will make the score a tle. The position in game “B" is interesting, and it requires the most careful analysis to figure out a win, This Captain O'Far- rell cla'ms to be able to do, and to him will fall the credit if the game !s won for Washington. a ‘The position is as follows: White, Wash- ington—K at K3, Q at Q6, R at KB'sq., P's at KR2, KB5, K5, QB3, QKt4 and QR5. Black, Richmond—K at QR sq., Q at QB2, R at KKt sq, P’s at KR3, KB2, Q4, QB3, QKtt and QR3. It is black’s turn to move. In game “C” Washington has four well- advanced compact pawns protected by the king against king, knight and side pawn, and will win easily unless a blunder is made. The Game With Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Chess Club has sent an im- possible move in one of its games by corre- spondence with the Washington club. Should the latter inflict the penalty and re- quire the Brooklynites to move the king, it would give the local club the advantage of a pawn and the’ superior position. As the game is a friendly one and there is nothing depending on the result, the local club has decided to let the Brooklyn club change its move, rather than win an advantage by a technicality. The American Champlonship. As already stated in these columns, Mr. J. W. Showalter is again chess champion of the United States. He formerly held that title twice for short periods. He first won it at a tournament of the United States Chess Association. Then Max Judd of St. Louis defeated him in a match, and in January, 1892, he regained it by defeating Judd. Next, Lipschutz challenged Showal- ter and won the match by the score of 7 to 1. He has since held the title, though ill health has compelled him to spend years in California and prevented the title being contended for. In the meantime Hodges has won the championship of the New York State Chess Association, and Pillsbury has risen. Both Pillsbury and Hodges have finished ahead of Showalter in state and international tournaments. Speaking of the championship, the Brook- lyn Eagle says: ‘There are now only three who will claim the covéted title, namely, Showalter, Pillsbury and Hodges. It stands to reason that Showalter will try to arrange for a meeting with Pillsbury after the lat- ter’s return from St. Petersburg. This would be a splendid contest, and American chess players would hail the arrangement of an encounter between the men with the greatest possible delight.” They are prob- ably the best living exponents of the queen’s gambit declined, and should they meet, some additional analysis on that opening, both offensive and defensive, would doubtless be given the chess world. Of the fourteen games played in the match between Showalter and Lipschutz, the open- ing adopted in eight of them was queen’s gambit declined. Showalter chose it every time he had first move. Very litle was added to chess knowledge so far as defensive Measures are conecrned. Lipschutz played on the defensive, and his tactics were proven inadequate. His opponent gained the bet- ter position, and eventually forced the game, winning five of the seven games in which he played first and drawing the other two. In none of the games did Lipschutz adopt a de- fense played, at Hastings by Pillsbury and Janowski with good success. No other de- fense fared as well there. The defense re- ferred to consists of playing 6 P to QB 4. Lipschutz delayed this move two or three moves. Showalter’s mcve, 6 Q to B2, in the queen’s gambit declined, seems to be orig- inal. He played it first in the eighth game of the match, caught Lipschutz unawares and wen the exchange. In the last game of the match Lipschutz was slow in devel- oping his pieces on the queen’s side, and before he woke up to the situation his skill- ful antagonist came dawn on him with 10 Kt to K Kt 5. He was unprepared for it, and made a poor defense. Instead of play- ing 10. P-K Kt 3, had he played 10. P-to K R 3, he would have had some chance. The Kentuckian would have replied 11. P to K R 4, as he actually played. Black could not then take the knight, but would have had time to bring his other pieces to the defense. Lipschutz made a stubborn fight, as is evidenced by the fact that the fourteen games averaged nearly fifty-eight moves to the game. The thirteenth game. in which 112 moves were made on each side, is said to have been the longest sitting with a time limit on record in recent years. The game lasted 15 hours 10 minutes. The St. Petersburg Tourney. Thureday’s game at St. Petersburg com- pleted the first half of the tournament. The position of the two in the lead is un- changed, Pillsbury and Lasker each having drawn two games and won once this week. The American continves to lead by one point. This does not constitute all of his advantage, however. In the third round, as in the first, Pillsbury played the black pieces in all three games, while Lasker had fifst move twice. The first move in the next three games should give Pillsbury an opportunity to increase his lead. It is gratifying to the friends of Steinitz to see the brace he has taken. This week he has drawn against Lasker and Pillsbury and beaten Tschigorin, which places him but one game behind Lasker. The shortness of the games played the past week is quite noticeable, the average being about thirty- five moves. —_—.—- YOUNG TRADE ADVENTURES. Honest Pennies Turned by Little Street Waifs. From the New York Tribune. To the casual observer the callings of bootblack and newsboy seem to absorb all the energies of the juvenile adventurers of this great city. There are scores of boy, however, who make their living outside of the ranks of either vocation. Thrown on their own resources, they put their wits to work and strike out into less frequented paths. Almost any morning, snowy, rainy, windy, promising clear, however the weather hap- pens to be, an enterprising group of these youngsters may be seen in the City Hall Park, or any of the conspicvous news cen- ters, eagerly scanning the columns of a newspaper. The newspaper may be the joint property of all, or else It 1s a loan from some friend in the news business. Picturesque enough these small citizens look, eager, ex- cited, urged on to keener interest by the knowledge that bread, and perhaps butter, certainly a place to sleep, depend upon their exertions. No man of business scans the morning daily more thoughtfully, seated at his luxurious breakfast table, than do these would-be merchants, turned out of their lodging places after a hasty meal, in the cold light of a wintry dawn. “‘Here’s a canal boat in,” exclaims one. “And a fruit schooner,” says another, pointing with a childish finger to the adver- tisement. “I guess that’s about all today,” says the boy in possession of the newspaper, proceed- ing to fold It up. “Hold or!” exclaims a third. “I think there was something about a fire uptown; that would be a chance!” In less than five minutes the knot of boys that stood so long with their heads together have vanished. Two of them have gone to the canal boat, others to the fruit schooner, yet another party has set off uptown to tite scene of the fire. This has been an unusually good morning, when three such promising chances for business offer. These boys clean out the canal boats, brush out the cabins and scrub up the decks a bit, and in return for their services they get potatoes or other produce which the boat has happened to bring, and such rem- nants of coal as may chance to he left over in the coal bin. The potatoes and coal both are readily vended in the tenement house districts, where the people are glad to get small lots at less than market price. For helping to unload a fruit schooner the boys get paid in oranges or bananas, and these they sell on the streets or round at the different houses, For helping clear up the rubbish where a fire has made havoc, odd lots of the dam- aged goods are given them, such as gloves, suependers, socks, etc., and these the boys sell at a few cents a pair to comrades of their own, who are glad of the chance to get the articles for a nominal price. Several of these little Arabs went into business not long ago, establishing a wood- yard on a miminutive scale in a celiar, which they rent for $1.50 a month. They get the frames and discarded boxes from var'ous large establishments, conspicuous chemical factories and type foundries, and, after breaking them up, sell them for kindling wood. Sometimes they break up boxes and frames for the establishment, working a couple of hours for the privilege of using what they can carry away. At first they broke up the frames with a stout Paving stone, but lately they have been able to procure hatchets and an ax. For 6 cents these venturesome spirits se- cure a clean, comfortable bed in the lodg- ing houses. Breakfast costs 6 cents, iike- Wise dinner; lunch they get or not, accord- ing to circumstanees; but no inmate is allowed in the lodging houses after the breakfast hour unless he fs ill; even then the hospital is the more likely place of refuge. The boys are all turned out in the early morning, and the dormitories, living and eating rooms made clean, and receive pure and wholesome ventilation until nightfall. * Eighteen cents is a good deal for a small boy to earn every day in the year. Yet this 1s the lowest rate at which even the most charitable houses can afford to lodge em. From eight to fourteen years of age are these self-supporting little men, and a list of the employments by which they earn their precarious livelihood is interesting. Many of them scour the lines of railroad tracks for pieces of iron, bolts, horse-shoes, nails, hoops, &c., and ofttimes,- according to account, they find a dime, a nickel or even a quarter shining in the way. Thi old iron is sold to the regular venders wh make a business of collecting it. Many business men, loath to leave their desks even for an hour, have their lunch brought to them, and boys are employed for this purpese by the big lunch companies. Washing dishes in restaurants on extra busy days is another source of income, and boys domestically inclined wait on sick people in the poorer districts, who are glad to have nimble hands and feet at their dispozal for an hour during the day. If a man or woman fs confined to bed with no one to sweep or clear up the room, no one to hand a cup of water, or fetch a bowl of needed nourishment from some neighbor's kitchen, they are glad to give a boy a dime who is willing and intelhgent “I lent a lad $2.50 to set up in the lem- onade business,” said the superintendent of a big lodg:ng house. “He got two big tin pails, some glasses, a squeezer and mate- rials. In six weeks he had paid me my money back and had established for him- self a tolerably good trade. , ——_+-e+—___ English and Zulus. From Current Literature. Count Leo Tolstoi is a vigorous hater of England. He says the English and the Zulus should be herded together as the two mcst brutal nations of the earth. His chief regret, he declares, is that he cannot spare the time to write a book about the English people. —+—__+e+____ As the Crow Walks. From Spare Moments. McTavish—‘‘Hoo faur is’t to London?” Cockney—“Ten miles as the crow flies.” McTavish—“‘Hoots, toots, man, I'm no gaun to flee; I’m gaun to waulk. Hoo mony miles is’t as the craw waulks?” NEED OF A TRACK! Why the Crack Cyclists Do Not Come to Washington. NO PLACE FOR A GOOD CONTEST What It Would Cost to Fix the Benning Course. OF THE CLUBS ee Ss NEW There are a good many local wheelmen who would be glad to have this city includ- ed in the national racing circuit, but whether such a thirg is probabie or possi- ble remains to be seen. The view is taken by a good many local wheelmen, especially those interested in the trade, that it is not pessible to have the capital city included in the circuit unless a suitable track is first erected. There is orly one track suitable for cycle races, and though that has a fair surface, it is dangerous for the riders. For that reason it is claimed that the local bicycle riding population will not be favored with a visit from the crack racers. If this is the case, it is to be regretted. The Benning track has been thought of as a suitable course, but its construction is essentially for horse and not bicycle races. There is a wide variation between the two classes of spcrt. The Benning treck is al- mest flat its entire lenzth, and though it could be used for bicycle races after an expenditure of several hundred dollars, it weuld not make a fast track by any means. The turns need banking and a number of other repairs are necessary, including an entire new surface, which would cost, at a low figure, about $1,500 to get it in shape for a first-class eyele course. With the outlay of this sum of money the question arises as to whether or not the investment would be a profitable one. There is every reason to believe that a good card would bring out a good crowd. One thing which is noticeable is that faster time can be made on a quarter-mile track, the racers loafing fully one-half the dis- tance on a half-mile track. The National Circuit. For the benefit of those who do not know what the national circuit is, it will be briefly explained. It is nothing more nor less than a schedule arranged some time before the racing season opens, to enable the racing teams to visit places with the least amount of railroad traveling. The cities which make application for the circuit are placed in as near a geographical line as possible, the dates of the eveats being arranged for the convenience of the racers, a limited time being allowed them in traveling from point to point. The circuit is arranged to prevent the racers from doubling on their tracks, that is, perhaps racing one day at Springfield, then flying to St. Louis, and, after that, coming back to Louisville or some other | place. The classi ication of racing men into ama- teur, semi-professional and professional ranks has been in operation for one season, and, briefly summed up, the results are far from being satisfactory. About the only class In which the contention has been lim- ited was in the professional ranks. The tanks of the class A and class B riders have become sO polluted that something has to be lone. The classification of the racers may be all right, but the trouble lies in the ee managing the classs ard determining what riders shall be in the classes. The L. A. W. has had complete contro! of this, and though the intentions of the officials may have been of the highest order the execution of their duty has been too lax. Indeed, the matter has beccme so bad that there is an agitaticn on foot to.do away with the semi-professioral riders, class 1 men, and have cnly amateurs. In the ranks of the “pros” will be thrown all riders who work for the glory of manufac- turers, while the amateurs will be com- Posed of the cyclists who ride for pleasure and glory. Urged to Give Up Racing. The situation in this respect reached such & state that it was urged upon the L. A. W. to relinquish control of racing and let the national beard of trade of cycle manufacturers assume charge. This the league ts unwilling to do, and at a recent pow-wow between the representatives of both bodies it was agreed to let the mat- ter remain as it is. This is according to the reports given out, and no one outside knows whether or not they have been doc- tored to suit the occasion. Few people would be surprised if a change did occur. Even in its own ranks there is a sentiment growing out of this matter to have the league release its con- trol of racing, and that by continuing in this position it is doing itself a great in- jury. Probably the easiest way out would be for the league to keep contro! of class A riders and let the manufacturers look out for the rest. The Coming Local Season. As successful as has been the past sea- son regarding racing among the local wheel- men, this season promises to eclipse it, and this is saying a good deal. It is only natural that this should be the case, as the cycling population is greatly on the in- crease, and as a rule all those who ride like to fee such sport. The Washington Road Club has taken the initiative in the matter, and at a meet- ing heid Wednesday evening it was de- cided to give a race meet May 30, Decora- tion day. The club gave a succéssful meet last October, at which good time was made, and having decided to hold the meet there is plenty of time on hand to make it a better success than the last one, which was railroaded through the club and run off in short notice. The committee in charge of the matter is composed of William Jose, W. T. Rob- ertson und C. I. Ronsaville, and three bet- ter men to arrange for such an event could not be found. Having had plenty of experience in this direction, it can be safe- ly said that it will be the best race meet ever held here. It has not been decided as to the races which will be held, and being five months off the entry blanks will not make their ap- pearance for some time. in the matter of prizes some good things may be looked for, and to this matter the committee will first turn attention. An Excursion and Banquet. The Road Club at the same meeting de- cided to give an excursica in the ly part of June, opening the cycling season in an avspicious manner. A committee, consist- ing of Messrs. Prince, chairman, Bischoff, Eggleston, Patrick, Bowle and Wm. Jose, was appointed to arrange ail preliminaries. The date will be announced at the next meeting of the club. The anniversary of the incorporation of the club will fall on February 6, and it is intended to celebrate the event In an ap- propriate style. A banquet will be held, to which only a few of the friends of the club will be invited. Messrs. Rudolph Jose, Cc. I. Ronsaville and W. J. Tubman con- stitute the committee to arrange for the af- fair. A committee was appointed to select a distinctive club uniform and emblem, the members consisting of Messrs. R. Jose, Ronsaville and Smith. The annual election of officers of the club will be heid on January 15, and the nomi- nating committee has nemed the following officers: President, W. T. Robertson; vice president, P. P. Patrick; secretary, C. E. Wood; treasurer, Rudolph Jose; captain, Wm. Jose; lieutenants, J. E. Bischoff and W. J. Prince. The nominating committee is composed of C. L. Petze, J. E. Bischoff, C.H. Cooke, W. J. Tubman and Wm. Jose. Frank J. Wisner, a local wheelman, was unanimously elected an honoraty member of the club. Claude J. -Allen has been elected secre- tary of the Capital Bi. Club, to fill the un- expired term of the late WaNer S. Dodge. A meeting of the executive committee will be held this evening to consider sev- eral applications for membership now on hand. The regular club meeting will be held next Saturday. The pool end billiard tourney is pro- gressing at a lively rate, and increased in- terest is shown as the end advances. The tourney is to close next week. The annual exhibition of the Camera Club will be held in May, and for the first time the new gallery will be used for the purpcse. ; The entertainment committee has pre- pared the following amusements for this month: Ladies’ night, January 10, stereop- ticon lecture on a trip to the Bermudas; guests’ night, January 18, duplicate whist, pair contest; January 24, german; January 25, club pool and billiard contest; January 31, annual banquet. Other Wheel Clubs. The Potomac Wheelmen have made ar- rangements to occupy the large building at Sth street and Virginia avenue southeast for their club quarters. The Knights of the Golden Eagle will share the room with them. The Queer Wheelmen were royally enter- tained New Year eve at the residence of Miss Nettie Brown of No. 482 M street northwest. The lady friends of the club Were out in full force, ard the new year as welcomed with appropriate ceremony. The evening was spent in dancing, during the cotrse of which refreshments were served. Messrs. Adolph and John Volk of Ports- mouth, Va., two enthusiastic wheelmen,were in town on a visit during the week. They brought their wheels with them, and took advantage of the good weather by enjoying plenty of road riding. The country around Portsmouth is level, with shell roads, and the visitors did not relish some of the local hills which they were obliged to climb. C. E. Gause of the W. R. C. is improvi wonderfully, < zd Bicycle Notes, The final report on the wonderful tandem ride of a mile in L17 1-5-by Green and Erswell over the Cheyenne course has just been made. The track is not a straight- away course, but has three turns in it. The wind was blowing at the rate of thirty- five miles an hour and the weather in- tensely cold. The half mile, according to the electrical timing device, was made in 35 4-5. Zimmerman is proving to be a great drawing card in all events he enters in Australia. Over 32,01 ed his first ride, and at the Sydney meet 29,000 people were present. Through the employment of the hardware trade alcne as scliing agents, it is said that over $3,000,000 worth of bicycles were marketed this year. Peter J. Berlo’s wonderful performance at New Orleans places him far out of the “tas been” class. William Martin, the six-day rider, has followed Zimmerman’s example and gone to the antipodes, where he has captured Several records. The Century Road Club of America has allowed the following records: Thomas Butler, 10 miles in 25.30; L. N. Walleston, miles in 11.49; 10 miles in 24.14; 15 mi in 36.24; 20 miles in 48.58; 25 miles In 1:00 Massachusetts records. M. M. Krentz, 100 miles in 6:37:00; Evans’ century course record of Denver. Tandem records: R. H. Bartsch and J. Nonnenbacher, New York- Philadelphia record, one way, 8:50; both ways, 19:56. E. P. Hamilton and W. L. Krietenstein, Terre Haute-Rockville record, 1:34:00, A hydraulic brake is an English novelty, which is not very apt to become popular in_this country. The Association of Bicycle Repairers In Chicago are up in arms against the recent enactment of the city fathers compelling them to take out a license, and are going to take the matter into the courts to test its legality. A French wheelwoman owed her landlady rent, for which the latter seized her ma- chine; this the courts declared to be illegal, as a cycle was neither a vehicle nor a piece of furniture. However, the courts did not say what it was, and now the French own- ers of bicycles are wondering just who and what they are. > — AN INTERVIEW. It Will Be an Incident in Political Campaigns. From Harper's Bazar. “To what am J indebted for the honor o1 this call?” 4 It was Mrs. Mary Ellen Ricketts who spoke. She held in her hand the card of Mrs. Samantha Jenkinson, which had just been laid on the desk by the office girl, for the card was followed almost instantly by the entrance of the person whose name it bore. There was really no necessity for the use of the card, for the two had frequently met. = Mrs, Ricketts was the candidate for Con- gress on the republican ticket, while Mrs. Jenkinson wes the democratic nominee. Under the circumstances. it was natural for her to be surprised at receiving a call from her opponent “I came to see you on a small matter of business,” replied the visitor. “Pray proceed.” “I have learned from good authority that your managers are bent upon a campaign of personalities, and that they intend to give io the press certain slanderous gossip about me intended to injure my candi- dacy.” The speaker paused, and Mrs. Ricketts said, interrogatively: “Well “Well,” echoed Mrs. Jenkinson, “we must keep personalities out of the campaign.” “We must, must we?” Fature “We must!” 5 Mrs. Ricketts sneered. Mrs. Jenkinson waxed wroth. 5 “Look here, Mary Ellen Ricketts,” she exclaimed, “don’t you dare to turn up your snub nose at me, now.” “Samantha Jenkinson,” retorted Mrs. Rickeits, “my nose is not snub, and don’t you dare to presume to dictate what my managers shall or shall not do in this cam- paign.”” “We'll see about that. Mary Ellen Rick- etts, you were engaged to my husband in your young days, a g90d many years ago.” “I'm not nearly as old as you, I'd ha’ you know. “You are!” I'm not, you insulting thing!” ‘You ar ‘I'm not!” “We will pass that point, but I want to say that when I married my husband all your love letters were still in his possesr sion, and I have them now.” ‘You spiteful thing “Many a good laugh I've had over then What a perfect goose you were!” “I just hate you; so, there!" “And I merely wish to add that, on the very first publication of a personality about me in your newspaper organs, I shall print in the Daily Bugle every single one of your mushy, lackadaisical episties. Do you un- derstand?” The two women glared at each other half a minute, and then Mrs. Samantha Jenkin- son withdrew, leaving Mrs. Mary Ellen Ricketts deep in thought. The campaign was conducted without any personalities. MONEY IN HER HAND. A Story About a Woman That ifs Claxsed ax Improbable. From the Chifago Evening Post. “She is a remarkable woman,” said the man who was meditatively smoking a cigar. “In fact, I y say that she is the only one of the kind. “Nonsense,” returned the man who had been reading a newspaper. “Except in the eyes of lovers there are duplicates to all of them.” 5 “Ah, but you don’t know this one,” pro- tested the man with the elgar. “Why, wo- man-hater as I am, I could marry this one myself. She has no equal.” “Where did you meet her?” “In an ‘L’ road station.” Not a very romantic place.” jo; but you should have seen what she ‘cll me about it.” “Well, there was a big crowd, and she was ahead of me in the line trying to get up to the ticket office. Of course, I hate to have a woman ahead of me at a ticket window when I'm in a hurry, and I was saying all sorts of uncomplimentary things about her to myself when she got to the window.” “And then?” “Why, then I was struck dumb with amazement. She had a nickel in her hand.”” “In her hand!” “That’s what I said.” “Do you mean-to tell me she didn’t wait until she had reached the window to get her purse out of her pocket and hunt through it for a nickel or five penuies?” “I do.” ‘The man who had been reading broke into a loud laugh. “If you are ever on the witness stand and I want to break the force of your testi- mony,” he said, “I shall recall this Bittle tale to show that you are not a man of truth and veracity. ne A Case of Ignorance. From the Indianapolis Journal. She—“I notice that it is the single men who are the most anxious to go to war.” He—“Yes. They don’t know what war is.”