Evening Star Newspaper, January 11, 1896, Page 23

bail aes ee ee A SCIENTIFIC BALLOON, —_._> BY W. L. ALDEN. ——__.—___ (Copyright, 1896, by W. I. Alden.) “You're quite .right, sir," remarked the colonel in reply to young Thompson's question, “I have been In some pretty tight places in the course of my life. A man can’t fool along through fifty or sixty years of active life without finding himself eceasionally in middling tight places. But | wherever I am, so tong as I am on solid ground, I generally calculate to be able to j work myself out of almost any difficulty. It’s when you put me aboard a ship, or in [a balloon, that I begin to lose my grip. Speaking of balloors, I'l tell you right here, if you don’t mind, of a little ad- venture I had—the only time that I ever was fool enough to trust myself in a balloon. “One day there came to my house in ‘New Eerlinopolisville a fellow with a letter of introduction from Sam .Kendall, who used to be ringmaster of the ‘Hail! Colum- bia’ circus at the time when I was the maneger and proprietor of the concern. Sam was one of the best of fellows, and consequently any friend of his was wel- come at my house. Prof. Montgomery, which was the name of Sam’s friend, was a small, determined-looking chap that at first sight I would have taken for a light- weight fighting man, but, as it appeared, he was a balloonist. It’s a singular thing that every man who goes up in a balloon Professionally calls himself a professor, while a miner who goes down a shaft pro- fessionally never thinks of giving himself any such title. Sam's letter didn’t y that Prof. Montgomery was a balloonist, and so I supposed he was a regular college professor who had .aught the look of a fighting man through teaching foot bali and other athletic games to the students; and so, when he accepted my invitation to dinner, I just sent over for my old friend, Prof. Van Wagener, the great electric ‘EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1896-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. time enough to think of that when we get through ascending.” “He was as delighted as a child, and about as capable of looking into the future. With that he lights his spirit lamp, and presently the moon begins to rise, just as he said it would. s*What do you say to that? says Van Wagener to Montgomery. ‘That's all right,’ says Montgomery; he'll rise fast enough, but she ain't going to rise no more this afternoon,’ and he | blows out the spirit lamp. “Van Wagener was pretty mad, and de- manded to know what Montgomery meant by putting out the lamp. “While that lamp is burning she’s using up spirit, ain't she? he answered. ‘Well, that is decreasing the weight in this bal- loon, ain't it? If you'll look over the side you'll see that we're rising at this minute, and there ain't no earthly way of pulling ‘Van Wagener and I both looked over the side, and we could see that we were about twice as high in the air as we had been. Just then the machine took a fresh start, and we could feel her going up at a pretty good pace. “What's the matter now?’ says I. ‘Matter enough,’ says Van Wagener; ’ve dropped my false teeth overboard.” ‘More weight gone,’ says Montgomery. ‘Now we'll go up till the balloon busts. If I'd known that you had false teeth I'd never have trusted myself here with you. I might have known that you would have been heaving of ‘em overboard the first chance you could get. I never see a scien- tific man yet that was fit to be trusted.’ “Do you really mean,” said I, ‘that this balloon is bound to keep on going up?” “We've only one chance,’ says Mont- gomery. ‘If there's a heavy fall of dew to- night it may -weigh us down enough to make up for the professor’s teeth and the spirit he’s been burning. It’s our only chance.” = “I knew then that I was in a pretty tight place, and I'd have given considerable if I'd never agreed to go along with Van Wagener. However, there was nothing to be done except to wait for the dew, and so we all sat down in the car and waited. “Luckily there was a heavy dew. Mont- gomery made us take off our coats and hang them over thé side, so that they could catch all the dew there was, and about 8 o'clock we found, by throwing over a bit of tissue paper, that we were gradually sink- ing. We kept on sinking most of the night, sharp, to come and join us, thinking that the two professors would be good company for one another. i “Now it happened that Van Wagener, who was always interested in everything that was scientific and useless, was might- fly interested in ballooning, and instead of being disappointed when he found out that Montgomery was an ignorant chap, who couldn’t speak ten words of good grammar, he was just delighted to find that the man ‘was a practical balloonist. The two got to work and talked balloon till you couldn’t rest. Van Wagener said that it was his belief that a balloon properly constructed ought to be able to stay in the air for a month or a year ata time, and when Montgomery said that the thing wasn’t possible, Van Wagener wanted him to ex- plain why. “It's plain enough,’ cays the balloonist. ‘When your balioon rises and gets into thinner air the gas expands and escapes through the mouth of the bag. Even if it did: escape it would always leak out through the silk or cotton, or whatever stuff the bag is made of. That's the rea- son why you can't stay up only a few hours. No man ain't never been able to in- vent a balloon that won't lose gas, and nobody ever will invent one, for it can’t be done.” “ff I make a balloon that can’t possibly leak a single cubic Inch of gas, will you make an ascension with me and attend to the practical management of the machine?’ says Van Wagener. “You can just bet I will,” says the other chap. ‘Why, man, there'd be an everlast- ing fortune in such a balloon. But what's the use of talking about it? The thing can’t be done, as you'll find out when you set down to invent your gas-tight balloon.” “Well, the upshot of it was that Van Wag- ener set to work and made a balloon that even I could see was going to meet his re- quirement. The main balloon was a big globe of aluminum, and on top of that was a bag of thick rubber, connected with the globe by an automa valve. The idea was that the globe would hoid just enough gas to float the balloon at a height of 2 feet above the earth. Now, being at that height, if the balloonist wanted to rise, all he had to do was to light a big spirit lamp that would heat the gas in t globe and make it ex- pand. When it had expanded to a certain point, it would flow over into the rubber bag, and the lifting capacity of the machine would be increased about one-third. Of course, the balloon would rise, and when the balioonist wanted to descend again, all he would have to do, according to Van Wag- ener, would be to put out his lamp and let the globe cool off. It was a mighty ingenious contrivance, and Montgomery, who began by having no sort of confidence in Van Wag- ener, ended by thinking that perhaps he had really invented a balloon that could be made to stay up forever. “Nothing would satisfy Van Wagener but that I should go along on the trial trip of the balloon. I wasn’t in the least anxious to do it, for solid ground was always good enough for me; but Van Wagener being an old friend, and Hable, like all scientific chaps, to get himself into difficulties when he did mot have some practical man to look after him, I finally agreed to go. The ascension ‘was to be made from my back yard, where we would be out of sight of Mrs. Van Wag- ener and the general public. The machine was carted over to my house after dark, and the next morning, when we were ready to start, no one knew anything of our inten- tion except my colored man, and he knew how to hold his tongue. “] was surprised to find that Van Wagener had calculated the lifting power of the bal- Joon so closely that he knew to an ounce just what weight she must carry in order to flcat, as he meant her to, a couple of hun- dred feet above the earth, and stay right there. Consequently all,three of us had to be welghed, and we were a good two hours in reducing the weight of things In our pockets, or of increasing cur weight with its of gravel until at last Van Wagener was satisfied that the whole weight of the machine, with us and our instruments and traps in it, would be exactly what he cal- ctlated that it ought to be. Then came the filling of the globe with pure hydrogen made cn the spot, and consequently it was 5 o'clock in the afternoon before everything was ready and we made our start. The balloon rose slow and gentle, and when it was up to about the heignt of the steeple of the Roman Catholic Church it gradually ing and hung there perfectly quiet. ta breath of air stirring, so the no sort of drift, and promised to just where she wa: ld_ rise. P to have been satisfied that the invertion was all right, but he seemed a little uneas I i kim what fault he had to find the balloon. “ ‘We're all right so far,’ says he, ‘but the @ifficulty Is going to be In keeping ourweight Just up to the standard and no more. I'll have more confidence in this yer thing when the trial trip Is over, and nobody killed. There's one thing that I don’t exactly see, and that is how we are going to descend.’ ‘I declare I forz>t to provide for that,’ says Van Wagener. ‘However, it will be as I judge, and when the morning came we found we were about 600 feet above the earth, and that we had drifted out of sight of New Berlinopolisville. “Van Wagener was in high spirits, and began wringing out his coat and putting it on again. All of @ sudden he sings out something which I didn’t quite understand, not being familiar with scientific terms, and at the same time the balloon began to mount up again. « “What has that blasted scientific idiot dropped overboard now? yells Montgom- ery. “‘I happened to drop my purse out of my coat pocket,” says Van Wagener, ‘but that is no excuse {or your objectionable language.” ““I knew it,’ says Montgomery. ‘Now we are done for; the sun will be out pres- ently, and then the gas will expand. Colonel, I'm sorry you're in this scrape, but I'm glad you’re not a family man.’ “Tt did look middling scary. We sailed slowly upwards till the sun had warmed up the aluminum globe, and then we trav- eled straight up at a pace that couldn't fail to bring us up to 20,000 or 30,000 feet before noun. There was only one way of making the balloon descend, and that was by letting out the gas. There being, how- ever, no escape valve, we couldn't let out gas, and it didn’t seem as if there was any pessible way for us to escape. I will say this for Montgomery and the professor, that they both showed that they were brave men. Montgomery cussed Van Wag- ener, and science generally, but that was natural under the circumstances. Van Wagener sat quietly on the bottom of the car watching the barometer and making entrtes in his notebook, which he said would be of immense value to science in case they should be found. Neither of the men flinched a particle, though they knew that in all probability they would in course of time have a clean fall of say 40,000 feet. Of the two I was more sorry for Mont- gomery than for the professor, for he didn’t have the love of science to sustain him, which the professor had. “We went up and up. The gas expanded with the heat of the sun and flowed over into the rubber bag, as Van Wagener had meant it should, and when this happened we about doubled our pace. We lost sight of the earth by 9 o'clock in the morning, and by 11 o'clock the air had grown so thin that we began to have difficulty in breathing. Prof. Van Wagener, whose lungs were weak, suffered worse than the rest of us, but he kept right on making his scientific notes, and to all appearances was enjoying himself as much as he had ever dere in his life. Montgomery sat quiet, having grown tired of cussin’ the professor, and not having anything to occupy his mind. I turned around to look over the side when the hilt of my revolver, which was in my hip pocket, caught in the wicker work of the car, and gave me an idea. “See here, Montgomery,’ I sald, ‘I cai let the gas out of this balloon, but we'll have to take the risk of its escaping so fast that we shall land in almost as much of a hurry as we will when the thing bursts.’ “‘T'll take the chances,” says Montgom- ery. ‘If you let cut the gas we shall have a chance, even if it is a slim one; but if you don’t let it out we’re as dead as Julius Caesar.” “What do you say, professor?’ I said, for I didn’t want to act rashly. “ ‘Certainl, says the professor. ‘By all means try your experiment, colonel, though I should prefer that you should wait till we reach an elevation of 27,000 feet, which will be greater than any one else ever at- tained.” Ki £ “ ‘We're high enough,’ says Montgomery. I ain't pining to get among the angels just yet. Terry firmy is good enough for me.” “All right,” says I, and I drew my re- volver and fired at the aluminium globe. Of course, the bullet went through it as if it was paper, making one hole where it went in and another where it came out. This gave the gas the choice of two ways of escaping, ard it took them both. “In the course of the next five minutes the balloon began to sink, and I had hopes that we might reach land safely. But Mont- gomery knew better. The balloon kept sink- ing faster and faster, as more and more gas escaped, and in a little while we were dropping down almost as fast as we would have done had the balloon burst. The earth wasn’t long in coming in sight, and the trees and fields and houses seemed to be rushing up to meet us. “There was a good breeze blowing when we were, as Montgomery judged, about a mile high, and it drifted us westward to- ward a good-sized lake. “If we can orly stay up till we're over that lake we shall be all right,’ said Mont- gcmery. ‘Colonel, just heave overboard everything there is in this car.’ “With that he seized whatever he could lay his hands on, and I did the same, and for a minute or two it just rained instruments. and things over that section of the country. “Off with your boots, coats, waistcoats and hats,’ yells Mentgomery. Professor, if you've got any more portable teeth, heave ‘em over. We must get rid of every ounce of weight if we want to reach that lake.’ “Well, we reduced our clothing down to a pretty low point, and Van Wagener went so far as to throw over his glass eye, he having no more teeth ready for discharging. Then we sat down and waited to see what the end would be. “We were perhaps a quarter of a mile high when we came over the lake, and the mo- ment we got where the water looked as if it might be fairly deep, Montgomery caught the professor in his arms and threw him over, without waiting to ask him if he was ready to go. Then Montgomery yelled to me to jump, and we all three left that balloon so suddenly that we all struck the water at pretty near the same time. “I went down to the bottom, which was, as I judged, about fifty miles from the sur- face, though I afterward heard that the lake was nowhere over forty feet deep. When I came up, Montgomery and the professor were already swimming for land, and I fol- lowed their example. All the people in the neighborhood had seen the balloon, and there was already a crowd of men, women ete on the shore waiting for us to jand. ““This {s exceedingly awkward,’ says the professor. ‘I really can’t face those people with only one eye and no teeth. Colonel, there’s the balloon floating out there; I think we had better swim back to her and wait for an opportunity to land after dark.’ “ ‘I'm going ashore,’ said Montgomery, ‘and I'd go if I hadn't a limb left, and every female boarding school in Illinois was stand- ing on the shore.’ However, the professor's general appearance was so ghastly that most of the women and children didn’t care to wait for us, “We came quietly ashore, and a farmer rigged us out with dry clothes that fitted about as badly as a French soldier's uni- form, and then drove us twenty-two miles to New Berlinopclisville. “The professor seemed as happy as a young man coming back from a picnic w his best girl. He kept on talking about the tremendous success of his balloon, and what a fortune there would be in it when he should have invented some way of getting it down from the clouds at a reasonable pace. But Montgomery was mad all the way through. He wouldn't open his mouth till we got to our door, and then he turned on the professor and told him that sooner than #0 up in a balloon that a scientific man had inverted he would take and fill his pockets with Cynamite and then get a New York policeman to club him Then he said good right to me, and went off down the street, swearing to himself in a way that was real- ly unfit for publication. I never saw or heard of the man again. “There was one thing I will say for Mont- gomery. When the balloon began to sink, he might have thrown both the professor and me cverboard, and considerably light- ened the machine, for he was twice as strong as I was at the time, and the profes- sor had too much science in him to have any muscle. A selfish man would have done this, and that Montgomery didn’t do it was greatly to his credit. Of course he threw the professor into the lake out of kindness. knowing that Van Wagener wouldn't jump promptly tnough to save himself. Well, as T said, I've been in tight places a good many times, but I was worse scared in that balloon than I ever was before or since.” ——o AMERICAN BLOOD IN A PRINCE. His Grandmother Was a New Jersey Schoolma’am. From the New York World. There was American blood in the veins of young Prince Louis Napoleon Murat, who has just succumbed to fever while serving as orderly officer to Gen. Duchesnse, the com- mander-in-chief of the French expedition in Madagascar. For his grandfather, Prince Lucien Murat, after having jilted King Joseph SBonaparte’s daughter, Princess Charlotte, married that young lady’s hand- seme governess, a Miss Fraser of Philadel- pia. This of course entailed a quarrel with the ex-king, who at the time was living at Bordertown, N. J., and the newly married couple were left to their own devices, the first eighteen years of their married life being full of strange vicissitudes, their chil- dren being bern amid downright want and something akin to starvation. Thus they were in such straits for money that Prince Lucien was actually forced to accept em- ployment as the driver of a milk wagon in Trenton, while his wife eked out a scanty subsistence as a schoolma’am. Of course, the coup d'etat at Paris and the ascent of Napoleon to the throne changed all this, and on Prince Lucien’s return to France with his American wife he was grat- ified with the title of prince and granted a handsome allowance by the emperor. Of ris three children one is the Duchess de | Mouchy, who for so many years was the chief friend and confidante of Empress | Eugenie. Another was Prince Joachim Mu- | rat, formerly a general in the French army, and who was engaged for a time to Miss Caldwell of Washington, while the third, Prince Achille, famous for the duel which, while a3 young lieutenant of hussars, he fought at Marseilles with the colonel of his regiment, the Marquis de Galliffe a lovely and wealthy Armenian o: lustrious family of Dadian, bim vast estates in Ru: . Prince Achille, who had been born in New Jersey, and who, like his brother and spoke French with an American accent, committed suicide a few months ago while in Russia, and his young son, who held a commission of sublieutenant in the ty fifth regiment of French dragoons, has now followed him to the gray ———_+e+—____. His Honor Has His Joke. From the Chic: go Inter-Ocean, E. R. Lout, second trombone player in a down-town theater, started out after the show the other night to see the town. He secured the services of Cabman H. A. Mil- ler, and, after taking in a good portion of the town and a large quantity of stimulants as a safeguard against the weather, he commanded the driver to proceed to his home at 657 Wells street. After reaching that number a heated debate over ghe amount of the fare ensued, and the horn blower asserts that Miller beat him over the head with his own trombone and then relieved him of his diamond stud. The cabman aws arraigned before Justice Underwood at the Armory yesterday morn- ing, charged by the musician with larceny. The complairent brought his trombone into court and exhibited it to his honor. “It's ruined,” said Lout, ‘‘and how shall I get another “What did you pay for the horn?” quired Justice Underwood. “Two hundred and fifty dollars,” was the reply. “My,” exclaimed of money to blow in the i- who brought in- court, “that’s a lot -oe——____ A Remarkable Onk. From the Chicago Inter-Ocean. ‘There is a wayward wiilte oak tree near Laporte, Ind., that may well puzzle natur- alists with the vagaries of Its growth. The tree is nine feet in circumference at the base, and there are no branches of any size below fifteen feet from the ground. There the great bole divides into a number of limbs. Two, leaving the trunk about twenty. inches apart, grow west, their lines diverging for six feet, and then each bending toward the other. Twelve feet from the body of the tree they unite again, making a perfect oval, and out of this grow two smaller branches. As if not sat- isfied with that expressed disregard for the laws of nature, this old tree has performed another feat. Six feet from its base grows another white oak, less than half its size, and no socrer dozs the smaller tree arrive at the charmed circle of those branching limbs than one of them grows right into it | mittee for and is absorbed. The second tree is very much larger twenty feet from the ground than at its base. . Nothing Dead but the Law. From the Chicago Tribune. “I went shooting yesterday.” ‘What! Has the game law expired “Oh, yes! Nothing else did, though.” UNIVERSITY NOTES. rear Georgetown: University: The mid-year exhmis&tions are now in progress in the unffétsity. Next Monday, Friday and Saturday -Wyll finish the, exam- inations in Greck stadi¢s, and on the fol- lowing Monday, Jawuavy 20, repetition of Latin studies will obeSbegun in-/all the classes. ee The Draratic Sogefs; under the direc- tion of Mr. Boone. §..Jijis now engaged in rehearsing “Henry PY," which it will perferm the latter part of this month. Great enthusiasm pré¥ails over the pro- spective skating pos Which is to be built for the students. Fyycayaticns are now be- ing made, and before .kery long the littie, valley encircled by “the walks" will con- tain a pond, which will be used for skating in winter and swirAhiiffe in summer. The Glee Club is practicing for a con- cert, which will be held about the first part of February. The seniors have begun a study of an- thropology and cosmology under ‘Rev. Father Devitt, S. J. Judge Morris will soon begin his. course on the ory ard development of civil liberty before the post-graduate class. On Monday last the post-graduate class in law met to elect a president to succeed President Hartsfield, who is cbliged to discontinue studies on account of _ill- health. Vice President Michael A. J. Ly- den was made president and R. L. Smith was elected secretary, to succeed Mr. Barne Hownrd University. The Theological Lyceum Society held its first meeting tiis year on Thursday to de- bate the question “Resolved, That Luther was justified in his treatment of Zwingle.” The affirmative was ably supported by W. M. Bolham. and the negative by G. W- West. After the debate a paper on the subject was read by A. L. Gale. At a re- cent meeting of this society J. M. Jefferies was chosen president and E. Tortt secre- tary. According to rule, the first week of the new year at the university was observed as a week of prayer. Each day devotions were held in the chapel, where the students were addressed by different members of the faculty. On Monday President Rankin spoke; Tueslay, Pref. Clark; Wednesday, Prof. Warden; Thursday, Prof. Fairfield, and Friday, Prof. Moore. Catholic University. Dr. Orban, librarian in the Divinity building, is now engaged in registering scme cight hundred volumes left to the university by the will of the late Rev. P. J. Duggan of Waterbury, Conn. ‘Two new students have entered the Di- v:nity College, Rev. Fathers Holland and Gullivan, both from the dioces2 of Ogdens- berg. Mr. Ivar Tidestron, from the University of California, at Berkeley, has arrived at the university. Mr. Tidestron was a co- worker of Dr. Greene’s at Berkeley, in the department of botany, and will assist the doctor in the same department here. Dr. Greene is just in receipt of a large and rare collection of Louisiana plants, do- rated to the herbartim by Rev. Father Langlois of Louisiana. There have also just errived at the university for the depart- ment of botany two invoices of botanical works. Dr, Pace of the facuity of philosophy has been called to his home in Florida, on ac- ccunt of the sudden death of his brother. , Columbian Bniversity. The staff of the Columbian Call has re- ceived two additions {m the persons of Mr. Jordan, who represenls the Dental School, and Mr. Henricks of the Law School, who, besides being an associate editor, has been appointed business manager of the paper ident Whitman ‘eft on Thursday for | a two weeks’ trip south. Before retur ‘f home be will visit St. Aug Fia., where he will address the normal school teachers, who will convene there this month, Judge Bradiey will begin his course ,of criminal law pleading and prac the mid- die of the month. Judge Brewer will re- sume his lectures on the law of corporations next Monday. Tonight the Dehating Society of the L: School will meet to debate the questi “Resolved, That independent jon in tes is preferable to party allegiance affirmative w:ll Le supported by Mess A. Bay H. Colbert, jr., and G. B. Har. ris, while C. B. Calvert, H. B. Gram and H. L. R. Browning wil support the negative. ‘At the last meeting of the Debating So- ciety the election of representatives for the next public debate took place, and Geutsch and Symonds of the post- e: Zimmerman and Fort of the Oldfield of the juniors were the succe: jidates. jo, Mandolin and Glee Club of y is now hard at work prepar- ing for the several concerts it will give this year. At the last.meeting of the club four new members were elected, as follo Jeseph Finckel, college; Guy IL. Johnson and A. R. Johnson, law, and S. Fahnestack, jr., alu:nnus. At a_recent meeting of the sradaating class of "6 of the academy. an elec! "s took place, which resulted low President, M. F, Lanza; secretary, F. N. Everett, and treasurer, M. E. Dow. At the last meeting of the general ct: of the Medical School Eugene Le Merle, was elected chairman of the executive com- the commencement. members are Messrs. Lyne! Smith. The other , Hooe, Sims and — A Practical Postal Savings Bank. From the Chicago Reeord. A west side man of spendthrift disposi- tion has a scheme by which he uses the government mails as a savings bank. rks down town, is paid his salary turday evening and it is his cu after receiving the money may include all sorts of pending, aud so this shiftless per- before starting “out,” incloses a $3 an envelope and addresses it to him- side place of residence. y he had the letter in his hand, and an acquaintance happetied to see the address on it. “Well,” he said, “that’s the first time I ever heard of a man writing a letter to himself." “Til be mighty glad to get that letter Monday morning. It has $5 in it. I mail it tonight, and, as we“don't have any house etivery until Monday morning, I can't pos- get at it before then. Now, if I'm a blamed fool and get into a poker game or spend all my money settin’ ’em up, I’m sure to have a little left on Monday. It’s bet- ter’n a bank, and a good deal more relia- ble than loaning it out. I know the money will be returned to me Monday. Great scheme, eh?” every tom to “go out’ “Going out” meney-s| son, The Latest Thing in Thieves’ Conis. From the Chicago Daily Tribune. Pickpockets who rob men and women in street cars have adopted a new device to escape arrest—one whioh at the first trial proved successful. Detective Sam O'Neil of the central station) saw a pickpocket at work in a Wentworth avenue electric car last even‘ng, and when,the thief had ex- tracted 2 pccketbook from the pocket of a woman passenger O'Neil sprang toward the offender. Sail The car was moving south over the Madi- son street interseotion..and was heavily loaded. O'Neil's hand closed.on the coat collar of the thief, who dashed toward the rear platform. Like a shell the coat of the offender fell from his shoulders, and the former occupant had no .d°fficulty in reach- ing the street and getting away from the detective, vho, with the empty coat in his hand, stood still and astonished. Attempts to follow the thief were interfered with by the crowd on the car and in the street, and t was th. only evidence O'Neil could when he entered the central sta- Ar. examination of the garment showed had been slit down the arms and sleeve holes, under the shoulder blades, and in oth- er places, so that the wearer could get out of it without stopping to take it off in the regular manner. You don't drink cocon will not distress and is a delicious food drink. sufferers may obtain valuable Catarria pinpnice of Retosne amp to > lumbia Chemical Co., Washington, D. C. No eure, no pay. ‘This concern is reliable. de14,24,28, ja4,11,18,25 }dvcks taken in this way. HER CHECK WAS A CINDER. There Was E ah Left for Identifi- cation and She Got Her Money. From the San Francisco Bulletin. Many curious stories have been told con- cerning bank checks. Some of these relate to the largest drawn and others to whe smallest. One of the largest checks ever drawn in this city was at the time that the capital of the Nevada bank was in- creased from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000. This check was by Flocd & O'Brien for 5,000,- veo, As to the extreme, checks have been drawn to the value of a single cent. Other stories relate to the circuit made by checks before they are finally taken up and de- stroyed. Some of these migrations have covered different states and hundreds of miles. In these journeys checks have gone over ground sevecal times. Checks are wonderful money savers; that is, they save the handling of vast sums of money every day. They also serve to minimize the loss of money from mistakes, thefts, or other causes. But one of the greatest curiosities in the check line has just come to light in this city. A lady brought it to the Bank of California to be cashed. It was in a paper box and had to be handled very carefully, for it was in two pieces and both were burnt to a crisp. There was not a decipher- able word on either piece. The lady said the bits of crisp paper represented a check for $125, which she had received in a ‘etter. The check, she said, was drawn by the na- tional bank of D. O. Mills of Sacramento. She had removed the letter from the en- velope and had thrown the envelope on some live coaJ in the grate. Upon reading the letter she found a erence to an in- closure of check for the sum named, and turned to the fire in the grate with sore disappointment. The fire ha@ done its work. The crisp paper lay on the coals. She care- fully removed the same, placed it in a box and hurr-ej to the Bank of California to get the money before the pieces were further crumbled. After listening to the story the officers of the bank made a careful examination of the burnt paper; and by the aid of poworfal glasses they were able to make out por- ticns of words from the pen impressions made on the paper. There were enough of these lines left to show that “Ella” had been written, and part of the word “hun- was also made out, with two or three 's of the name of the bank. ‘hese dis- coveries corresponded with the story of the lady, and the bank officers then communi- cated the cirefimstances to the national bank of D. O. Mills & Co. of Sacramenio, and asked for a duplicate check in behalf ef the lady. This was forwarded and the money was paid. The circumstance dia- proved the charge about the curiosity of women. Had there been more curiosity about the inelosure of the envelope the trouble would have been avuiied The prac- tical application of the story is to be care- ful that what you throw into the fire has no further value for you. ~—see DUCKS CAUGHT IN DRIFT NETS, A Method Which is Bound to Result in a Large Cateh, From the San Francisco Chronicle. Large numbers of ducks unmarked by shot or bullets are sold in the markets ev- ery day by fishermen, Th> impression has always pr. d that the bids were trap- ped, and se they are, but not in the fashion that one might suppose. They are taken by chance in drift nets ou the fshermen are busily gatheriug in the finny inhabitants of the deep. Any one who has v s wharf gould not but take an interest in the sear spread out to dry. The most peculiar- looking net is what is known as the “trem- el-mesh.” It consists of three nets, the largest having meshes about ciglt inches in diameter and the smailest two or three inches. The nets ere placed in the water overlapping each other, the smailest drift- ing in front, Small fish in plunging about in the smali mesh net tumble through the larger meshes of the big net, and become securely entangled in the ’ pocket thus formed. Ducks very often have the same fate. The net drifts dow1 upon a flock feeding in shallow water, and as they dive for food they become entangled in the smaller nets and are held secure until taken out by the owner of the net. are bagged the water i opening of the game s men have done a profi Since the Mm many fisher- ie business in o-—___ Didn't Connect. thbridze (Mass.) Journal. ‘Pa, what is a presentiment?” Papa—‘“Weil, you thought last week that you were going to have a bicycle for a as present. I suppose some people 1 that a presentiment.”” —"Yes, and it turned From the Sou A DROP OF WATER. Pictures Taken of a Splash Show a Process. Beautiful From Knowledge. Prof. Worthing‘on has been studying a curious phenomenon for twenty years. The splash of a drop occurs in the twinkling of an eye; yet it is an exquisitely regulated phenomenon, and one which very happily illustrates some of the fundamental prop- erties of fluid. The problem which Prof. Worthington has succeeded in soiving ‘s to te: a drop of <cfimte size fall from a fixed height in comparative darkness on to a surface, and to illuminate it by a flash of exceedingly short 2uration at any de- sired stage, so as to exclude ali the stages previzus and subsequent to those thus se- lected. The numerons illustretions in the volume testify lo the accuracy and beauty of his work. The curious results of the splash of a drop of mercury from a height of three inches upon a smooth glass plate are particularly interesting. Very soon after the first moment of impact minute rays are shot out in all directions on the surface with marvelous regularity. From the ends of these minute droplets of liquid split off. The ligiud subsides in the middle, and af- terward flows into a ring. The ring then divides in such a manner as to join up the rays in pairs. Thereafter the whole con- trects, till the liquid rises in the center, so as to form the beginning of the rebound of the drop from the plate. Immediately the drops at the ends of the arms now break off, while the central mass rises in a column which just fails itself to break up into drops. He photographed no fewer than thirty successive stages of the splash within the twentieth of a second, so that the average interval between them was about the six-hundreth of a second. Re- merkable are the splashes of water drops falling about sixteen inches into milk, but mcte beautiful are the dome forms when the height is fifty-two inches. tle “Pell il = ie “Pellet” wil reretobage ! i = and act as a gentle laxative. ees l- lets” are a mild cathartic. A short, “course” of “‘ Pellets” will cure indiges- tion permanently, It will cure consti tion. After that, you can stop them. A good many act lently as to derange the its di state, digestion go on without a conti: use pills. That's the worst feature iH E 8 ; E i af 3 i Like the Tack. From Harper's Bazar. “Papa,” said Bobbie, pointing to the iron dog that stood on the lawn, “does dogs that ever bite?” “No,” said his father; “but that one barked on “Really?” cried Bobbie. “Yes,” said his father. “I stumbled over bim one night, and he barked my shins.” ‘ways in favor, 80 (4 to 7 doses) is sent to asks. World’s Dispensary sociation, Buffalo, N. Y. : eo - ONE ENJOYS Both the method and results when Syrup of Figs is taken; it is pleasant and fe thogas 3 to the taste, and acts gently yet promptly on the Kidn Liver and Bowela eam the sided tem effectually, dispels colds, head- aches and fevers and cures habitual constipation. Syrup of Figs is the only remedy of its kind ever pro- duced, pleasing to the taste and ac- ceptable to the stomach, prompt in its action and truly beneficial in its effects, prepared only from the most healthy and agreeable substances, its many excellent qualities commend it to all and have made it the most popular remedy known. Syrup of Figs is for sale in 50 cent bottles by all leading drug- gists. Any reliable druggist who may not have it on hand will pro- cure it promptly for any one who wishes to try it. Do not acceptany substitute. CALIFORNIA FIG SYRUP CQ, MIXTURE ‘ for S5 cents Every pipe stamped DUKES MIXTURE or <at> 2oz. Packaces 5¢ $100—BICYCLES—$100 14th N, W. Y & JENFERY MPO. 00., 7350 39°2 NY white. Nutty flavor—appe- TH: Family Medicine of the Age. Taken Internally, It Cures Diarrhcea, Cramp, and Pain in the Stomach, Sore Throat, Sudden Colds, Coughs, &c., &c. Used Externally, It Cures Cuts, Bruises, Burns, Sealds, Sprains, Tootliache, Pain in the Face, Neu- ralgia, Rheumatism, Frosted Feet. to such unbounded At Rticle of great merit and virtue—Cinm, fonpareil. ‘We ean bear testimony vo tho efficacy of the Pain-Kilier. We have scon its magic effects in soothing the severest pain, and know it to be ® Good articie—Cincinnati Dispatch. re for pain—no family should be jontreoal Prannc tpt. ‘ has set surpassed tho Pain-Killer, which is the most valuable family medicine now in. use.— Tenn. Orge Tt has real merit ‘6.8 means of removing pain, red & reputation equal to in-Killer.—Nexport (Ky.) Daily "the genuine Bold everywhere, QR.CHASES Blood»Nerve Food +GH YOURSE! Fee etrane raKINe For Weak and Run-Down People from Childhood to Old Age. WHAT IT IS! The richest of all restorative Foods, because it replaces the same substances to the blood and nerves that are exhausted in these two life-giving fluids by disease, iudigestion, high living, overwork, worry, excesses, abuse, etc. Wnar it Dons!” Wy taking the blood’ pure and rich, and the digestion perfect, it creates solid tlesh, muscle and strength. ‘The nerves be- ing made’ steonz, the brain becomes active and clear, For restoring lost vitality and stopping all wasting draius and weakness in elther sex it bas no equal, and as a female rezulator it is worth its weight in_ gold. One box lasts a week. Prico, or 5 boxes $2.00. Druggists or by mail 50 BOOK FREE. HE DR. CHASE COMPANY, noi2-tu&satéSt 1512 Chestnut st., Philadelphia, Grateful—Comforting. Epps’s Cocoa. BREAKFAST- SUPPER. “By a thorough knowledse of the natural lawa which gcvera the cperations of digestion and nutrl- tion, and by a careful application of the fine prop: erties of well-clectod Coco Mr. Epps has provided for our breakfast sid supper a delicately flavored Deverage which inay sive us many heavy doctors! bills. Jt is by the jedicicus use of such articles of dict ‘that a constitition may be gradually built up until strong encugh to resist every tendency of dis- ense. Hundreds of subtle maladies are floatis around us ready to attack wherever there js a weak int. We may escape many a fatal shaft oy ceping Curselves well fortified with pure blood and @ properly nourished frame.”’—Civil Service Ga- zetie. Made simply with boiling water or milk, Sold only in half-pound tins, by grocers, labeled ns? JAMES EPPS & CO.. Ltd., Homoeopathic Chemist, London, “England. och-s,m,tu,9m ‘MEW YORK, WY. tizing. mis It has NO woody fiber = ae eee (bran) in it. It makes beau- for Purity of tiful bread. It is very rich Deliciousness of Flavor. ear times the best fi Their Prok Wrapper Vanilla Chocolate is a god gadoenigr av in the elements that nourish the BRAIN, the DIGES- TIVE FLUIDS, the gooestreserrereers=ess7g| Shon bran tate, ed ;| Special at Grogan’s. | > sone see by under- S| K fed and starved organisms, K 500 i are cured by the simple and is K en nourishm: ‘ Rockers "||Q BRAIN, NERVE, BILE, : And Reception ||? ®OX% : Chairsat §£ : One-Quarter Off TEETH and BONES. Con- Marked *| ° * @. G. Cord i Pr 1c | 5 INO. BH. T's (| es | OC BRYAN. 1418 New You aves < j*} ‘These Cnatrs occupy much valuable $20, 3 RUDE 6 SORE, 2158 Con. os, 3} Space eaeae first floor—and must go— THE WHITTLE & SYDNOR os | to make room for other things, al¢-2m RICHM va. Evers piece is marked in plain figures and ‘tis sume price is as low as like quality can be bought for—any- where—spot CASH. You can deduct 25 per cent from these prices and still On Credit! No notes—no interest—just tell us tha: you will pay a little something weekly or monthly. sirply ht is Feliable, it is inexpensive, it is clean and absolutely free from danger. Hundreds of U.S. Electric Lighting Co, 14th st. We are still making and laying all Carpet free of cost—no charge for waste In matching figures. What's the use of paying CASH for Furniture when we undersell the cash dealers on credit? : Grogan’s MAMMOTH CREDIT HOUSE 819-S21-823 7TH STREET N.W., BETWEEN H AND I STREETS Ja7-84d i a | EWELR AT COST! Think of buying Watches, Dia- oe monds, Jewelry, Silverware, Clocks, Feees &e., at the same price I paid for them . at wholesale! This is @ bona Sde— i —eleesiad a 200° season. Carl Petersen, j mos Seman Bargains in XEREEKES PURRKKLKERERKEKERERERARERARES | | | rxxuxeeRRRREEEEMEREEEEYS Jeweler, 427-29 Tth st. ET A INGROWING NAILS Permanently and painlessly cured. Our Bunion and Cay Shiek ford absolute comfort. nee ot. Cons re- | | ong Hair Switches. Prot. J. J. GEORGES & SON, Cut 50. Formerly $5.00. Hours: 8 to 5:30; Sundays, 9 to 12. ‘ja6-10d 30. noe 10.50. First-class attendance in Hair Evening Gowns and Waists MISS HOTCHKISS, Artistic Modiste and Designer, test French or Domestic Styles. Perfect Fit. Parisian Finish. ATH ._ N. S. HELLER’S, 720 7th Street N. W. Established 1861. Franklin & Co. —Opticians—1227 Pa. Ave. Complete line of Fine Opera Glasses, Field Glasses, Spectacles and ‘and general line of OPTICAL Goods. promptly and accurately filled. Prescriptious: Remove to 1203 F St, January 18 NEL PERFECT FITTING SKITS A SPECIALTY. 3a9-61* IF ALL CTHERS FA, CONSULT DR. CZARRA, 16 Fourth st. n.e., Washington, D. C. Specialty—All Chronic,’ Nervous, Blood and Skin Diseuses, Indigestion, Liver, Kidney, Bladder and Urinary Troubles, Piles, Fistula, Stricture, &c. A NEW METHOD for permanent and quick cure of all PRIVATE diseases and Woman Complaints. | Vi- tality restored. Hours, 9 to 12 a.m., 3 to 8 p.m Sunday, 4 to 7 p.m.