Evening Star Newspaper, August 15, 1896, Page 22

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1896-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. THE PARLOR. COREA'S MINISTER Sa Forthcoming Retirement of Pom Kwan Soh. ———: HE IS 70 BE CHIEF OF PRIVY COUNCIL The New Minister is a Millionaire Marquis. COMMERCE een en N THE COMING fortnight a new min- ister from the little known but rapidly Progressive country of Corea will appear in Washington. The retirement of Pom Kwan Soh, the pres- ent minister, was some months ago de- cided upon by the King of Corea, In or- der to promote him to the high and hon- crable position of president of the privy €ouncil, a place.second in importance only fo that of prime minister. This mark of honor is intended to reward one of the most patriotic noblemen of the new regime in Corea. Minister Soh has been identified all his with the progressive party in tha country, and to hls efforts may be attrib- uted some of the most striking reforms aken place. It was through that the government olicy of building railroads from the seaboard inland by means of which the remarkable manufacturing cap- ties ef the Corean people might be- come known to modern cor ce and their goods be disseminated throughout world. Modern Improvements. graph lines have been built also over Jong distances throughout the realm, so that the government is strengthened in S maintenance of order and is gradually assuming the characteristics of western civilization. But of far wider importance material reforms was the de- the by established through Was promulgated and libert was influence of Soh which religious and guaranteed nister in Official Dress. throughout Corsa. For three hundred Years Buddhism had been barred and Christianity has never received any en- couregement to enter the isolated and seemingly benighted land of the Coreans. Now the Buddhists are building their tem- ples and the of Christian evangeli- zation $s rapidiy establishing mission sta- tiens in every part of the kingdom. A Representative Corean. « minister, whose statesman- ke breadth of character has accomplish- ed so much for his native land, ts a well- known figure in Washington. He 1s about thirty-five years old, spare and tall, with @ smoothly shaven face, dark brown hair and keen, penetrating black eyes. Like all men pre Tarta Th Soh ts a “n not only to ¢ but to China and Japan all the great men of both modern and ancient oriental history. He enjoys the splendid height of the Tartar and the strong com- manding features, the dark auburn hair and the mental traits which make the Tar- tar a master and wueror. He long ago discarded the peculiar garb that made the Coreans so interesting when they came first to W ton in ISS4, and wears the convention: ress of the average Ameri- ean citizen. He was the private secretary of the original Corean embassy, which in President “Arthur's administration visited this country and first established diplo- matic rel: between the Uni-ed States a@né Corea. In the inte rval since that time he has experienced all the vicissitudes which in our oc enial mind are associ- ated with the despotic absolute monarchies of the casi During the riots which in 1883 broke out in the capital city of Seoul against the king it was Soh who saved the life of that im. Portant personage. Soh and several other ministers had taken refuge in the king's Palace, which consists of many buildings, Covering an area of two square miles, f closec hin a strong wall. He Saved the King's Lite. The mob broke through this wali, but failed to find she king, Sp had conducted ¢ it Yi ip a Ts Buddnist teiapte in the @rounds, where they remained together. Although the mob slew the royal guards and overran the palace, they did not find the king. It was following this service that, through the intrigue of leaders of what !s called the recalled Tong Hak party, the persuaded that Soh, Kuen @nd Pak ha yspired against her, and her fectional followers sought thefr lives and forced them to fiee Into exile for safet Beeking safety on the flagship Trenton Soh was treated with the honors due his high station and cruised around the world, visiting India, the Mediterranean ports, Paris and London, and finally reached America. During his exile in the United States Soh endured his lot with fortitude, and nothwithstanding poverty and the dls- advantages of being a stranger in a strange land, he turned his adversity to good ac- count by hard study, so that today proba- bly he ts the most accomplished representa- tive of his country and the foremost and ablest statesman Corea has. Cause of W: Singularly as it may seem, it was through the exile of Soh and his two compatriots that the war between China and Japan was brought on. Kuen was decoyed to Shang- hai and there, through Chinese machina- tiens, assassinated. Prince Pak remained in Japan, living quietly in Tokio, where finally the agents of the pro-Chinese party found him. When the!r assassin broke in- to the prince’s apartments and undertook to take his life, they found the wily Corean Erovided with two huge Japanese athletes wkom he had employed to stay with him | | The Hallway. day and night. These alert detectives slezed the assassin, tled them hand and foot and proceeded to bastinado them al- most to the point of death. For this the Japanese authorities put Pak’s men in jail for several months. Kuen’s body, horribly mutilated and dishonored, was sent into Corea to taunt and harass his friends and fcllowers and gratify his opponents. Both Kuen and Pak were for the time being residents of Japan, and therefore construc- tively entitled to bodily protection. The indignities offered them became the pretext for the war. During the conflict between the two great nations the anti-progressive party passed from power, and the king recalled Soh and»Pak. ‘The former be- came minister of justice, and later minis- ter of education, and it was while occupying these positions that he accomplished the religious and material reforms alluded to. The New Minister. The name of the new Corean minister 1s Ye Pom Gin. In his own country he en- Joys a rank equivalent to that of a mar- quis, and is possessed of vast estates and a fortune, made from his boundless rice fields, which is estimated, in our terms of wealth, to be about a million. Well edu- cated in his own tongue, he is wholly un- versed in the ways of civilized countries. This is his first departure from his native land, and he is now seeing the wonderful accomplishments of the Anglo-Saxon civ- ilization fer the first time. The notable thing about the néw minsiter is that he 1s | regarded as a giant, being upward of six | feet high and a man of athletic build and habit. He brings his wife with him, and it is expected that th residence of the Co- | rean minister, which, by the way, is the property of the Corean government, will witness many soctal events, in keeping with the great wealth and high station of the new minister. One of the first things the new envoy will do upon entering his diplomatic life will be to give his name a Proper setting in our every-day English nomenclature. He will undoubtedly be called Mr. Ye, and not Mr. Gin, as might seem likely. The middle name in his tri- partite “handle,” the Pom, is aimply in- dicative of rank. Ye, the first, is his sur- name. Gin corresponds to the ordinary | given name in English. A Progressive Man. He Is identified with the progressive par- ty of Corea, and will do all in his power while in this country to bring to the atten- | tion of the world the commerce possible with his cotntry. The Coreans are a remarkable race of skilled workmen. Their slik fabrics sur- pass in fineness and in beauty of artistic pattern the most remarkable productions of the Chinese or the Japanese. Their works of art are regarded by connoisseurs as far superior in design and execution to the most costly work known in Japan. In- deed, to the Coreans the Chinese and the Japanese owe very much in art and arti- A Working Corner. sanship. It was the Ccreans who gave shape and direction to Japanese pottery. They, too, furnished them lacquer, whic! enters so largely into all their art work; and in the line of bronze castings the Co reans have from the earliest time bee) past masters. From Corea there fitere down through Japanese art all its expres- sions of Buddhism and Confucianism,which lend it that artistic grotesqueness which pleases the student and lover of eastern art work. To the Coreans the Japanese owe also the perfection in embroidery which they have attained. So it is possible that sooner or later there will rise above the horizon of the art world a passion and @ fad in the collection and importation of Corean works of art. There awaits the coming apostle of a newer scheme of household decoration a deluge of Corean manufactures. Some of Their Resources. . “The Coreans,” satd a gentleman who knows the country well, “can create any- thing in art work that the Japanese can. They are wonderful in their ability to de- sign. You can see this in the embroidery on the gowns which the ministers and attaches here wear at times. Those two swans, which mark high rank, on Minister Soh’s official gown, are marvelously grace- ful tn their draughtsmanship, and when it comes to the needlework, the world Never saw any so fine. They are masters of color as well as form, and their deco- rativo art is destined some day to arouse a tremendous furor in this country. The Chinese lack perspective. They can draw nothing that requires light and shade. All is in a flat plane. The Japanese sur- pass them far in this respect, but the Co- Yeans are above them all. They need only @ little familiarity with European art to become masters on a footing with the great artists of Europe and America. “There is on the floor of one of the par- lors in the Corean legation a magnificent tiger rug. When the minister tells his friends that this came from his native land, and that, notwithstanding Corea is north of Japan and !s a cold country, it is overrun with tigers, they hardly believe him. Yet this is so, and the people in some sections of the country live in great dread of them. Besides tigers, there are leopards, mountain licns, foxes, wolves and many fur-bearing animals whose beau- tiful pelts enter extensively into household decorative art. Corean Commerce. “With the building of railroads, Corea will soon be a competitor with Japan in oriental manufactures. The Corean gov- ernment has now five railroads under con- struction. Two of them center at Seoul, the capital, and run to Chemulpo and Fu San. Others are feeders running inland and northward. The building of these roads has been let to Russians, Americans, English and Japanese contractors. When these roads are built Corean goods will begin to make their way to this country. Probably the first articles of merchandise to be imported into this country will be dress goods, silks and the various quaint and pretiy woven stuffs which they pro- duce. Corenns Like Americans. of interest to Americans to know country 1s Hkely to enjoy the first opportunity of buylng Corean goods. In Corea the name of America is magic. An American is a privileged person. He can go anywhere that any outsider can go. No other nationality stands so high in the opinion of the leading citizens of Corea. ‘fhe king thinks America is the greatest nation on earth and his best friend, a vie which the whole trend of our diplo- matic relations with Corea amply sup- Ports. His majesty is always glad to meet Americans, 1s continually Inquiring about this country, and cherishes the hope that the international good will may in time lead to extensive commercial relations of, great common advantage to both nations.” Corea for Coren Minister Soh is a strong believer in “Corea for Coreans.” He wants to see his country adopt all that makes modern ctv- ilization progressive and ameliorating to mankind. He is anxious that his people should not only have railroads and tele- graphs, but schools, hospitals, churches, museums, colleges, universitles and all the instituuons and incidents of Anglo-Saxon genius and courage. He is a man of great humanity and desires all worthy moral reforms. He abolished capital punishment by beheading and substituted hanging. He j1s a practical business man and wants to see his country engaged in commerze with other nations. Corean Robes. When Minister Soh presents his successor to the President the occasion will be one worth seeing. Both ministers will wear their robes of state. That of Soh indicates a rank equivalent to that of a duke. It is of a rare blue, which owes its odd shade to the peculiar weaving, the result seemingly of an art unknown in this country. Em- broidered on the front and back are two white swans, the insignia of his civil rank. Were he a military man these swans would give place to embroidered tigers. The min- ister’s hat will be the peculiar one of horse- hair which has been seen on several state occasions in Washington. On each side of the forehead are the white jade buttons, also marks of his high rank. The new minister will wear a white robe, embroidered with swans. In his hat also will be two white jade buttons. It is not known when the retiring minister will go back to Corea. With him will return Bong Sun Pak, the secretary of legation; Mr. Foster Jennings, the attache will re- main in that capacity with the new minister. Mr. Jennings has had conferred upon him the honor of an appointment from the King’ himself. Accompanying this distinction {s a robe of green silk with one white swan embroidered on the breast and on the hack, and one of the horsehair hats decorated with tortoise-shell buttons. BURNS’ MORAL OBLIQUITIES. A Striking but Peculiar Compassion, From Lord Roseberrs’s Glasgow Address, The chivalry that made Don Quixote see tke herote !n all the common events of life made Burns (as his brother tells us) see a goddess in every girl he approached; hence many love affairs and some guilty ones: but even these must be judged with reference to time and circumstance. This much 1s certain—had he been devoid of genius they Would not have attracted attention. It is Burns’ pedestal that affords a target. And wky, one may ask, {s not the same treat- ment measured out to Burns as to others? The illegitimate children of great captains and statesmen and princes are treated ag historical and ornamental incidents. ‘They strut the scene of Shakespeare and ruffle it with the best. It is for the illegitimate cFildren of Burns, though he and his wife ckerished them as {f born in wedlock, that the vials of wrath are reserved. There were two brillant figures, both descended from the Stuarts, who were alive during Burns’ life. We occupy ourselves endlessly and severely with the offenses of Burns; we heave an elegant sigh over the kindred lapses of Charles James Fox and Charles Edward Stuart. I should like to go a step further and af- firm that we have something to be grateful for even in the weakness of men like Burns. Mankind Is helped in {ts progress almost as much by the study of imperfection as by the contemplation of perfection. Had wo rothing before us in our futile and halting lives but saints and the ideal we might well fail altogether. We grope blindly along the catacombs of the world, we climb the dark ladder of life, wo feel our way to futurity, but we can scarcely see an inch around or before us. We stumble and falter and fall, our hands znd knees are bruised and sore, and we look up for light and guidance. Could we see nothing but distant, unap- Proachable impeccability we might well sink prostrate In the hopelessness of emu- lation and the weariness of despair. Is it not then, when all seems blank and lightless and lifeless, when strength and courage flag, and when perfection seems remote as a star—‘is it not then that imperfection helps us? When we see that the greatest and choicest images of God have had their weakness, like ours, their temptations, their hour of darkness, their bloody sweat, are we not encouraged by their lapses’ and catastrophes to find energy for one more ef- fort, one more struggle? Where they failed we feel it a less dishonor to fail; their er- rors and sorrows make, as it were, an easter ascent from infinite imperfection to Infinite perfection. Man, after all, ts not ripened by virtue alone. oe Sanctum Mysteries. From the New York Weekly. Humorist’s wite—“What in the world are you sending all these mother-in-law and plumber jokes to the Daily Blowhard for? They are as old as the hills.” Humorist—“Yes, my dear; but the editor who selects the humorous matter for that paper {s a young fellow just out of college, and they'll be all new to him.” ———_+e.-+___ Stimson’s Sagacity. From the Detroit Free Press. “Why does Stimson always carry his umbrella closed when it rains?’ ae is afraid the owner may recognize Plea tor [GATHERING BOTTLES A CLEARING’ HOUSE ESTABLISHED Prosecuting Offenders Who Refuse - to Return Bottles. A UNIQUE INSTITUTION eae ee ee One of the most unique institutions in Washington is the exchange or clearing hovse of the Bottlers’ Protective Union, located at No. 818 4% street southwest. The stockholders are the companies owning the brewerles in the District and the Port- ner brewery at Alexandria. At this inst!- tution, which gives employment to a large force of men, beer bottles are handled in much the same way as ure notes, drafts and checks by the different banks. it would be nearly, if not entirely, impracti- cal for the breweries to do singly what they are eminently successful in doing by the operations of their clearing house. The two greatest features of the work of this peculiar instituticn are the collec- tion of bottles from every part of the Dis- trict and Alexandria and their distribution from the one central point, and the sup- pression of the illegal traffic in lager beer bottles, which up to the time of the or- ganization of the clearing house was car- ried on, it is alleged, to a great extent, and which resulted each year in losses to in- dividual brewers of thousands of dollars from this source alone. So satisfactory have been the results attained through the operations of the union that the latter point is considered far more valuable tnan the former. It Is known to the great majority of per- sons who are at all conversant with the beer trade that every brewery has its trade mark blown or cast in the bottles, and.cn many of them there is also stamped the additional warning: ‘This bottle must not be sold.” In the hundreds of thousands of bottles which are annually distributed over the District from the breweries. many are, of course, lost, but many more are hidden away or purposely concealed. So great a nuisance had this become to the brewers that some years ago Congress, at the re- quest of those interested, passed a law which absolutely forbids the use, except by the owners, of any trade-marked bot- tles. Notwithstanding this, there are, it is known, so many violations of the law that the union keeps in Its employ a detective to prosecute violators, and in every in- stance where a conviction results. the full penalties of the law have thus far, been meted out by the court. “" °" Former Heavy Expenses. Before the opening ‘of’' the” clearing house each of the breweries was com- Pelled to keep at least one or two wagons running for the purpose of gathering up the bottles belonging to it, and as this not only requited the services of a man for each wagon, but several horses to draw them, the item was one of much expense. Not only was this the casé'In respect to saloons supplied, but also as to private houses. Very often {t was some time after each delivery before bottles were emptied of their contents, This required in some instances several returns of the man who delivered the bottles, and this occupied a great deal of time, all of which was an item of expense to the “brewers. But there was a worse evil than this to contend with, for tn a great many in- stances when the cases were returned a number of botties ‘were missing. Often wher this occutred the driver would take the case away without saying anything about the shortage. At a house, where this occurred several times in success‘on it was usually found that the mi: sing bot- tles had either been sol@ or were being used for a different purpose from that for which they were delivered to the customer. The next thing to take place was that the driver would report the loss and a search Was made by the brewer interested, for a recovery of his property. ‘To accomplish this he had to go to law, which, invariably entailed much expen and even then there was the risk that the brewer would lose his case. Not infrequently, however, the officers of the law would find ‘large numbers of bottles belonging to every brewer in the District, in saloons or pri- vate houses, and these after the usual te- dious court proceedings would be turned over to their respective owners. Now when the driver of. the. wagon makes his collection of bottles he takes all, no matter how many kinis ke'may pick up, to the clearing house, where they are as. sorted and :placed in boxes ‘provided by the different brewery proprietors, whose,teams call at intervals to get them. Generally once a week is frequent enough for thi and usually one wagon frem each brewery is able to haul all the bottles which fail to its respective share. Thus there is a great saving in this item, alone, The Ownership of a Bottle. The’ most Important work of the associa- tion is its protective feature. The law of Congress above referred to provides that a heavy fine shall be placed on every person having bottles with a trade mark upon them other than the firm which owns it. Such bottles are never sold by the brew- erles. In no Instance does a brewer part ownership with trade-marked bottles. Only the beer In them fs sold, and this with the express understanding that the bottles are to be returned. Before the passage of the law and the or- fanization of the clearing house junk deal- ers and families could not be prosecuted for buying and using these bottles, and there were numerous evils which ‘arose frcm_.that source. Sometimes families would put catsup in them. Junk dealers bought them and sold them in some in- stances to persons who conducted small bottling establishments, and there were in- stances in which the proprietors would put |.an inferior grade of beer into the bottles which bore the name of some famous brew- er. In these days, after the law has been nost vigorously applied, honest junk deal- ers and small bottlers would no more touch a bottle which has a trade mark upon it than they would a venomous reptile. A special officer, Mr. Charles E. Flinders, who has had many years’ experience as a detective, {s employed by the association to look after all violations of the law. Mr. Flinders has secured the return of much valuable property of this kind, and a few months ago he, with his assistant, discov- ered in a warehouse in Anacostia a great qventity of bottles belonging to the Brew- ers’ Association, all of which were turned over to their rightful owners. In most instances Mr. Flinders accom- plishes his purpose when he goes after lost bottles without trouble, but there have been occasions When he was attacked by those for whom'he had warrants, and then a fight ensued., Eventually, however, Mr. Flinders gained’his ¢nd, and the person or persons, who attackett him were arrested and fined in thé’Poli¢e Court. Brewers, Fine, Themselves. By mutual understanding the brewers have made the, law Apply to themselves, and about once:a mopth an agent of the association goes through each of the va- rious breweries and:inspects all the bot- tles. In every ‘caso where the inspector finds bottles belonging to another brewery than the one h@ is faspecting the brewer willingly pays the fines without the neces- sity of a prosecition. It is generally sup- posed that most missing botiles are in the hands of private parties who are innocent violators of the law. They seem to think the bottles to be of no value, and in many instances put them to private uses. It {s said to he the intention of the Brewers Union to prosecute all cases of that kind that may be discovered with as much earn- estness as those of any other class, for they believe that when householders become aware that they are liable to a heavy fine ; for not returning bottles to their rightful owners they will make haste to have them taken back to those from whom they were recelved. It is sald that an attempt was made some months ago by a person who had bought & large quantity of trademark bottles to do business in this line by sending a large shipment of bottles to another city, whefe they were to be sold, but the attempt re- sulted in a failure. The brewers got wind of the affair and informed the person who had charge of that department of the busi- ness and he telecrapliedl to the chief of police of the city to which they were con- signed, asking that the unloading of the bottles be stopped. The request was Promptly complied with and in due time the bottles were shipped back to Washington. One of those most directiy interested in the clearing house safd to a Star reporter: “The clearing house and protective asso- ciation have been of immense benefit to the brewers here. Without wi: hing to work any hardship upon the violators of the trade-mark bottle law we must pro- tect ourselves and see that the law is fully enforced. To people who have bottles and are using them illegally we give all the op- portunity that could be asked for squaring themselves. “They are asked for the bo!:les politely, and can return them without any trouble to themselves if they 80 ‘vse, but a con- tinued and evidently intentionxl violation of the law will be punished severe It seems evident that most uf our bottles that disappear nowadays do so through private houses. Probably the people throw them in the garbage boxes, without thinking, and in this way they are carted off. Kut it Seems that very often our bottles find their way to the pantries, where they are filied up with root beer and catsup. ‘These peo- ple must learn that they lave no right to the bottles, and must give them up, even if they have to throw away the root beer and catsu: > THE YOUNG OF WATERFOWL. They Often Sleep All Night on the Water. From the London Spectator. In the Irish sea rock fowl of all kinds are very numerous, and vessels going north pass large numbers of guillemots and razor bills swimming far out at sea. In August these are accompanied by their young, often lese than half-grown, and still cov- ered with down. The little guillemots are “launched” very soon after they are hatched, and unless the old birds carry them up to the rocks on which they roost, in the same way as they are said to carry them down, they must spend their nights, as well as their days, upon the sea. Young wild ducks are so light and active that they scem able to run on the surface of the water. It is hardly credible that they can do so, as a “water boatman” doe: without breaking the “surface film,” but they certainly can make a dash for a short distance with their feet on the water, and the whole of their body out of it. In catch- ing insects on the water they rival the dex- terity of a young partridge on an anthill. There 1s very ttle doubt also that, like young fish, they live largely on the micro- scopic entomostraca, which come us a kind of a manna in the wilderness to all aquatic creatures. Mr. St. John once found a whole brood imprisoned in a water hole in the heather. The sides were steep, and it was evident that they had fallen in and had been un- able to get out. There were signs that they had been there for some time, but they Were all in good condition, and it was sur- mired that they had lived on insects which hud fallen into the water from the sur- rounding heather. Probably they had largely supplemented this by devouring the Water fleas and other entomostraca bred in the pool itself. Young coots, water hens, Water rails, grebes and swans are almost as clever as the young wild ducks when in their downy youth. Later, when nearly fledged, and even when able to fly, they are rvch less adroit. They lose their cley erness together with the beauty of baby- hocd, end pass through a_ stupid helf- fledged period as “flappers.” Even their nerves go amiss. In parts of Iceland the Une of flight of the young swans is mark- ed by the natives, who assemble and when the flocks pass over yell, shout, and scream at the birds. The young swans become perfectly muddied, and many of them sim- ply close their wings, leave off flying, and drop to the ground, when they are caught. A YEAR OF OPULENCE. Experience of a Barber Who Won a Lottery Prize. From the Seattle Press-Times. John Bryant was one of the most noted characters that ever struck the eound. He would attract attention anywhere. C. A. Rideout, the colored attorney, who has known him for many years, Says that twenty states might be traveled over be- fore a finer specimen of physical manhood could be found. He was tall, straight, well proportioned, a shade darker than olive and always faultlessly dressed. Just abcut a year ago Bryant was a barber in Helena, Mont. He invested in a lottery ticket and drew a $15,000 prize. He gave up his trade, came to Scattle and pur- chased the Blue Front saloon, on Jackson street. He reaped a golden harvest in his saloon. Money was no object to him. He purchased everything that struck his farcy. The finest clothes, made by the mest fashionable tailors, were none too good for the colored Croesus. Suits run- ning from $75 to $125 were the order of the day. His shoes were all made to order in the east, and if they cost less than $15 a pair were deemed upworthy to be wo He fancied beaver hats at $20 apiece, silk underwear at $40 a suit, shirts at $0 a dozen, neckties, kid and dogskin gloves and silk hose by the dozen. His canes were numbered by the score, all of the costliest make. He paid $25 for a silk umbrella. He had a gold watch made to order in Chicago at a cost of $800, and on his costly watch chain hung a diamend horse shoe fastened to a gold book, cost- ing $200. His diamond stud cost $500 and his sleeve buttons $200. He paid $00 for the solitaire on his finger and $50 apiece for his four diamond collar butions. He fitted up a suite of rooms in oriental mag- nificence. In those rooms he kept a score of brands of the finest Hquors and cham- Pegnes and boxes of the costliest ¢ . He paid a carriage by the hour to stand in front of his loon, so that when he wanted to go anywhere he would not have to wait, walk or take the street car. But the fasciration of games of hazard proved his ruin, craps being his favorite. He weuld go into the People’s and bet $100 at a crack. If he lost he would double the bet and double it again and again as long as allowed to do so. He lost $1,500 in one right in Tacoma. In fact he never won arywhere. He was a pigeon plucked by everybody. The end came finally and Bryant left attile broke—minus diamonds, Jewelry, fine clothes, ete. He is now back at his trade again in Livingstone, Mont. ———_ee SWISs: WATCH MAKERS, Why They Rexent the Introduction of Factory Methods, From Casster's Magazine. It is most interesting to compare the dif- ferent methods by means of which the highest grade of mechanical perfection is obtained in various countries. Notwith- standing the high character of American watches, for example, the finest Swiss watches still maintain their great reputa- tion. The Swiss workman receives the parts from the manufacturer in the rough, takes them to his home, puts his best indi- vidual skill into the finishing and assem- bling, and brings the completed watches to his employer. The latter inspects the work and out of a batch of say fifty watches, he selects five as worthy of his at- tention, and puts the others into his regu- lar trade under some general trade name. The selected watches he readjusts, working over them for days, weeks and months be- fore he considers them worthy to bear his own name, and {t is these watches which go to those who not only have the money to buy, but also the patience to wait. A prominent firm of American jewelers, chafing under the inconveniences of this old-world method of doing things, sought to introduce American methods and see if the highest grade of Swiss watches could not be made more methodically. A factory was built, enticing rates of wages were of- fered to the most skillful workan, and the experiment was tried. But the Swiss workman soon found that no regular wages could pay him for his loss of liberty. To be on hand when the whistle blew in the morning, to have his stated hour for dinner and his fixed hour for quitting at night— these restrictions he could not long stand. Formerly he had worked when he felt lke it, and stopped when it pleased him, and when he was paid for one job he took his time to begin the next, generally waiting until his funds ran low. The factory plan did not work for long, and the idle building now bears testimony of the Swiss love for independence, which is as much a factor In present life as it has been in past his- tory. 2o0—-____ Counter Irritation, From the Buffalo Times, Lafayette Parke—“So Measurer lost his situation at that dry goods store?” Ellicott Squeers—“Yes; he was too brusque. They looked on him as a counter- irritant.” | DOWN ON SAM WHITE. He Wanted His Old Partner to Feel as Badly an Ponnible. Written for The Evening Star by M. Quad. A freight train had struck an open switch and a score of cars had bee piled up in the ditch. Of the three tramps sieal- ing a ride on the bumpers two were taken out dead and the third fatally injured. When the doctor had told him that he could net live beyond an hour the wayfarer replied: “That's cutting it pretty short, but I'm not Kicking. I've no relations, but thar's a feller out in Chicago. I wish you'd drop a line to. His name is Sam White, and we used to be pards.” “What shall I say to him?” asked the doctor, as he prepared to make notes. “I want you to speak of the accident and say that among the distinguished pas- sengers on the ill-fated train was Mr. Will- jam Burton. I've allus beea called Bill, but vou kin make it William this once.” “AL right.” “Say that he was on his way to Florida to pen: the winter ai a first-class resort.” And that a search of his personai ef- fects brought to light the sum of sixty cents in cash and enough grub to last for two days.” “I have it down.” “And that when he was told he must die he exhibited great stoicism and did not utter a single complaint.” “Yes. Anything more?” “Add to that something to the effect that he had been a tramp for twenty yeare, and that he died as he had Iived—wi:hout bring- ing disgrace to the cloth. Hitch on a trail- er by saying that he has xone to his re- ward. You needn't make any guesses as to where he has gone to or what the reward is, but leave it an open question. 1 want to make Sam feel as bad as I kin.” “Then he injured you?” queried the éoc- toi He did, and I never kin forgive him. After trampin’ with me fur ten years he left me to open a grocery und became an alderman and gin other wamps the cold boot and disgraced the purfesh. Durn his hide, doctor, but put it strong to him and finish up by sayin’ that the most svuper- ficial observer could see that I was a gen- tleman, and that my gain is the loss of the fraternity. If you have room you kin say that—that—” “That he passed quietly away and the railroad company buried him at its own expense,” finished the doctor, as he turned away from the dead. HE LEFT THE BOOK. But the Other Man Did Not Get It. Written for The Evening Star by M. Quad. He entered the strect car with a parcel in his land, and as he sat down he placed the parcel at his back. “Bock?” queried the man at his left. & it hore to read this evening?” "I see. Had to go half a mile out of your Way to buy it?” “About half a mile.” “Just s0. Dollar and a half book, I pre- sume?” “That's exactly the cost.” “Think I've read it?” ‘an’t say, but it’s only out toda “Then I haven't read it and am in luck. Thank you for taking this car.’ The man with the book looked at the other in a queer way for a half minute and then suid: “Did you want to see the book?” “Oh, ro. I'l take it home with me, you see.” ut I can’t loan it to you.” ‘0 need to; you'll leave it on the car. ‘Oh, I see. Weill, I shan’t leave it.” He reached for the book and laid it on his knees, but after riding three blocks he sli it dow more he worked it behind him again and became interested in the young woman op- pesite. The encouragement he rec=ived was slight, but it was enough to keep his thoughts busy, and the first thing he knew he was carried a block past his corner. He suddenly started up and skipped out, and as he went the man who had been talking with him reached back for the book and chuckled: “Told him he'd leave it behind and ra take it home.” But the book wasn’t there. The woman beside him had already gobbled it, and as it rested on her lap she stared straight out of the opposite wirdow and never moved a muscle wher he growled out : ‘That's & —— of a game!” ————_++—____ A Lesson in Courtesy. From the Cleveland Post. Affable Stranger—“Kindly tell me what time the 4 o'clock train leaves. Ticket Agent—“Well, of all the chump questions! Say, you'd better chase yourself away before the depot falls on you.” Affable Stranger—“Oh, never mind, if the question irritates you. I just wanted a lit- Ue information. I'm the new superintend- ent of the road, you know.” They Were Saved. From Judge. Flowery Fields—“Is dere any demand fer farm laborers between here an’ Squedunk Farmer Jones—“Naw; I reckon th’ farm- ers hey hired all th’ help they nced by this time.” 2 Flowery Fields (shaking his partner)— “Wake up, Weary! We've struck de right road at last.’ alongside his leg. After two blocks | <a RENTING MOUNTED ANIMALS. Almost Any Animal May Be Hiredy From a Squirrel to an Elepha From the New York Sun, Mounted animals and birds are rented fon 4 great variety of purposes, and almost any animal or bird may be hired. The furd bearing animals are rented principally to turriers for use as show pieces. Many fur- riers buy show pieces, but there are othe! who prefer to rent them, thus getting a! new or different show piece every séasoné Sometimes # large number of animals, from! the smallest squirrel to the largest tier’ and lion, are rented together, for the dec-’ oration of a show rvom; and birds in large’ numbers and in great variety, from hum— ming birds to cks, are sometin tented for similar purpores. Animals and birds both are rented for. theatrical uses. A stuffed dog was needed iu a play. Just the dog required was found at the taxidermist’s. There may be a play, with @ scene in it in which a b ter comes: in with a fawn over his shoulder. The’ fawn can be hired at the taxidermist’s. It may be that in som play an eagle alights Upon the s: an eagle may be hired. In plays depicting circus life, if a parade forme Part of the representation, the waxons cat! be filled with lifelike stuffed tigers, bears and cther animals, such as might be foun’ in a real circus. And bears, elephants and Various other mounted animals are at one time and another used on the stag Mounted animals are rented for various civic displays and parades and for ball rcom decorations and other us Tigers van be hired for political p: ssions. For @ presentation of “Little Red Riding Hood” & wolf can be hired Swans are rented an@ all sorts of birds. Sometimes a dinin suppef, a room, as on the occasion of a game is decorated with all kinds of game birds. Lecturers hire mounted animals Leo- turing on natural history to a school, for example, the lecturer might have upon the stage a caribou, an elk rnd a deer, to show the difference between them. ‘Mounted anrimais and birds are rented for various photographic purposes. A bear, or an eagle, perhaps, to be photographed for a trade mark, or a parrot, to be held by @ child. The live bird would not keep | a stuffed bird will. Birds are rented td artists to draw or paint from. For fish store openings, big porpoises, sharks and sturgeons are rented; and croc- codiles and alligators are rented and shoe stores The cost of renting mounted animals ang birds is much less proportionately for longer than for a shorter period. The charge for show pieces is a certain percent- age of the value, graduated according to the length ©. time for which they are take en. For a single day a big tiger could be hired for $10 and a small tiger for %; « to leather middiing-size elephant for $25 a day; @ tig grizzly bear for $10, and a sm ively for %. An eagle. for a single occasion, one or two daye, would cost $3 to 4. A squirrel could be hired for a day for ™ cents, @ wolf for $3, @ parrot for 8% cents. a hum- ming bird era robin for 25 cents, and ag ostrich for $8 a day. ad ———— ps Know the Town Was There From Harper's Round Table. There ts a smart little town in North Dakota, and its inhabitants imagine that they are smart. They have an excellent opinion of their city, as they term it, and blow and bluster more over its welfare and growth than a Kansas cyclone. The main line of the railroad runs throug!, it, an® once a week a@ train stops there. This ine cafference on the part of the ratiroad peo- ble 1s a source of bitterness to the inhabt- especially as the engineers make it to go through at full Finaliy they revolved to put a stop’ ‘9 one day they built a barricade on tracke and forced the first train to come to a halt. Then they arrested the «ngineer and took him before the judge of the place. He was charged with running through a city regardless of speed and to the danger of the populace. “What have you to say in answer to this charg: sternly asked the judge. The « smiled and looked around. He st the door and looked at the few strageiing houses, and allowed an expression of as- tonishment to settle on his face. Then he walked slowly up in front of the judge and said; “Upon my honor, judge. frst time I ever knew there place as a town on this part The citizens after that slow! barricade and let the engineer proc his way. this is the ——<+e+- An Irish Sockdologer. From the San Francisco Wave. If the following joke really did come from the Christian Guardian, to which tt is cred- ited, that paper deserves a and sud- -den boom in its circulation eostory te about an Irishman and a Frenchman, were disputing over the nat tity friend of thetrs, “I say.” said the Fr: man, “that if he was born in Franc a Frenchman.” “Begorra,” said (at cat should have kittens in an oven you call them biscuits _ +0 An Una From the New York W: vkiy Mrs Nocash—“I don’t see why you can’t be more carful. You might save a eal out of your income if you'd try.” Mr. Nocash—“Huh! Look at Lighthead. Rood He saved up $2,000 and went to a horse race yesterday, bet on the wrong horse and lost every cent of {t. Now he's dead killed himself. I was there with him and jest all, I had. about. too, but It wasn't enough to bot HE HAD A BEAR. A Ferocious Creature Exhibited to Belated Passengers. Written for The Evening by M. Quad. When we reached Summit station the train switched in to walt for the east- bound express, and after dinner the con- ductor gave out that we had two hours to wait. The passengers were strolling about when a man mounted a box and began: “Ladies and gentlemen—A few rods down below I hev a grizzly b’ar as captive. Iam now about to feed him. All of you hev heard of the savage ferocity of the grizzly and how he kin never, never be domeati- cated. Kindness 1s throwed away on a grizzly, and as fur bullets, he rayther en- joys bein’ shot.” He, of course, attracted everybody's at- tention, and when surrounded he went on: “A grizzly b'ar is allus hungry, but about this hour in the day he’s hungry and sav- age to boot. I am offerin’ you the chance of a lifetime to see him in his most fero- clous state, but it will cost you a quarter a head to see the show. Thar will be whisky on hand fur anybody with cold chills, and sich as faint away will be brung back yere on a litter.” Of course we all went down. He had a rocky gorge fenced in, and in the center of the gorge was a pole about twenty feet high, to which a cub cinamon bear was not chained. He was not only grizzly, but the frowsiest, scraw 4 ever put on exhibition. at to murmur about the 5 of the beast, and the man rose up to explain “Did I say grizzly War? Wall, it was to gin you an agreeable surprise e cinna- mon bar drinks a gullon of blood whar’ the grizzly drinks a pint. He's got the fe- rocity of a lion and tiger rolled into ot Behold his savage speerit as he smells this fresh meat The young bear simply sat up and cocked up his ears. The man had about a poun® of beefsteak, and this he threw to hi explain Now, watch him! See his eyes blaze with fiendish ferocity, his claws work and bis fangs stand out amidst the froth!” All the cub did was to reach out for the meat and bolt it down and lick his chops for more. Is that all?” asked one of the kickers. That is all, ladies and gent en, It ts you a quarter a head to come in, but ou get out for nuthin’, The show is now ut it's a blame swindle!” ‘A swindle! Great man talk! You have se cious denizen of the Rocky have seen him seize his prey. hey, Yarned more about b’ars in two mint than you ever knowed tn all your lives b fore, and yet I am called a swindle Stand back, everybody! Five hours he » this tiger of the mountain from and if he che-aws up men, fe-as on wimin, and sucks the b-lood of inner- cent children don't blame me—don't say I du't gin ye yer money's wuth!” 3!