Evening Star Newspaper, January 23, 1897, Page 18

LIFE ON THE BANKS — Hardshipsand Perils of the Gloucester Fishermen. BATTLES WITH WIND AND WEATHER A Rough Set of Men, but Good at Heart. TRAWLING FOR COD — i Writie ‘or The Evening Star. ECENTLY I SPENT several weeks in the fameus old fishing town of Gloucester, and while there vis- ited the Gloucester- men on board their vessels, talked with them for hours on the wharves and watehed them at work on the Grand Banks and during their leisure mo- ments on the street or in their homes. This peculiar and quaint old city has ever been the home of fishermen, and its essential industry fish and fishing. On the jong and rambling wharves one sees litte but fish—fresh fish, salt fish, smoked fish— but always fish of some kind. Along the re water front such signs as “Fresh i= THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1897-24 PAGES. product of their toil? So they labor on and on, and after hours of hard work, at grea: risks, succeed in landing the catch, cnly to realize that the dory is overloaded, the se: very rough and getting rougher. Thi n.ust row for their lives. ard the burden of fish, for which they have worked so hard, must be thrown overboard. Who could wonder if the poor fisherman became pro- fane and cruel? But this is his life, and usually the situation is, alas, more serious! In summer there is the dauger that he may be eaveloped in a heavy fog. In win- ter he is liable to be caught in a violent snow storm. When finally forced to aban- don their task, the dorymen make a run, they suppose, for their vessel of hard pulling they realize that they have been going in the wrong dire-tion, and, without food or water in iheir tiny craft, are lost upon the now tempestuous A.W Kind Hearts. A few weeks ago a hurricane swept over the North Atlantic ocean. As I stood on the fish wharves, the hurricane siill at its heighi, there were many fishermen under the lee of the mackerel sheds, peering anx- iously out beyond the lines of snéw-white | breakers dashing over the bar. A weather- beaten little schooner, with topmast gone and colors at half mast, beat up the en- trance to the harbor, and, as she secured her last line at her wharf. a tall. hardy fisherman stepped on shore. “Holloa, there. Bill! What's up the greeting from those on the wharf. Bill shrugged his shoulders and [ could see tears in his eyes as he answered: “Well. boys. Gus is gone. We tried to save him, but it waren't no use. We run es long es ‘twas safe, and then we tried ter heave her to. Gus wuz at the wheel, and as she swung roun’ a big sea come aboard, sweepin’ the decks clean. He waren’t lash- ed. Well, boys, you know the rest. Here's the paper. Some uv you take it.” In a rear tenement in Rogers street sat a wo- man by the bedside of her sick child. Oc- casionally she would peer out through her window and gaze anxiously down the street. She was looking for some one. ‘Trouble was depicted on her face. “Would he never come?’ she had asked for the hundredth time, when there was a loud knock at the door. The door being opened, in walked a hardy fisherman. And there was A WINTER SCENE ALONG Here.” “Livers are everywhere stand- the industry of the place ig the edges of the harbor are miles i miles of fish flakes shining out white with salt cod. the wharw and large and within easy reach of re those most offensive of ail fish glue factories. rmen are a mixed lot T percentage of them Foundlanders and Sdward and Cape and North the crews. temporary homes naturally, but lit- and good name it is to them more or less like usht head of ‘Their lives are lives of ontinucr rdship, and lavery tc discomfort. If there is of men on earth to whom Ife imagine as pleas nger have and e: H and wretched 1 narrow, for cod, is done with trawis. z is sttil jad weather, but under ordinary When the banks she fn which t are put over- two men and that number The trawls are set the most op- men ha skins from nl in the fol the bow and with all hand windlass, pulls in the iine. the stern of the hem off the lire b in which it is tes Ae rt of the hand, clos mets covered with | wool, a ntation around the cireum ~. into which the line tts, are wor Hauling a trawl seems simple and easy, bat under the best eircums:anees it is hard work. and often extremely painful. Cod- bh weigh from to 108 pounds. The are not . and the line is smail. vateh it would be well nigh ul the trawi without wear- < to prevent the line from cut- reads. dorymen hard at work, eight lines out and a heavy haul is being landed. ‘To windward tt is Wark and threatening. A storm is brewing and night Is setting In. he wind increases and, as ihe sea gets higher and higher, md the little Loat pitches high in the air and drops sudéenly inte the hefiew of the sea, the work gets barder and er. With the exeitement * the time flies There ts plenty of time, they say. Why lose their lines and the THE ¢ “Fresh Bait for Sale,” | was | t | tion, he tucked | icane | and pitiful appeals told Blackh . 2 | dering him en| OUCESTER WHARVES. a touch of gentlen manner as he s stricken other. though neither It would not have be part the sad news. ss about his silent overed, before understood nh necessar} But be told not roughly and brusquely, but quietly, of her loss and theirs. The poor woman was almost frantic. She had longed for he husband's coming. They were poor and searceiy the ssities uf life could be provided many longer. ‘To her grief Was added poverty and want. Jong. The child recovered. ing one of the best phys i But not for » that even- ans in the city ame a regular attendant at his heds The next morning a letter was left for the widow. It contaired a check for $100. The “papers” had meant that ’ mates would take care of nis widow and child. I have recently met in Gloucester one Howard Blac! burn. who was for years a Gloucester fisherman. Abeut ten ago this man had one of the most mar ous adventures at sea on record. He. with a dory mate named Welch, were caught out in a frightful snowstorm hauling their trawls on Burges Eank off Newfoundland. ‘The wind shifted and blew with almost hu force. They were compelled abandon the lines and pull for their lives. The seas ran higher and higher, and every effort to pull in the direction ef the smail @ooner anchored well to windward was in vain, and. knocking the head out of one of the kegs used for buoys, a drag was ma¢ and they to that. Tossed up and down on the foa billows, their tiny boat shipped barrels of water, and the ice formed in large lumps and dashed against the boat's sides and against its occupants with great force. and the little dory was in constant danger of swamp A Tale of Suffering. During the long and weary watches of | that night the occupants of the dery, hun- | ery. cold and bleeding. could sce the glare of the flashlights their shipmates on board the schooner kept burning in the vain hove that the poor sailors might reach the ship in safety s the night wore on, the dory with ice and water, drifted to | half-filled yard, and before daybreak was out of s! £ of the flashlights. In the meantime Welch was sraduaily dying frem hunger and cold. Blackburn loxt his mittens. and, standing amidst the and w in the boat, ht hands and f dory mate, ¢ the stern of th rt had begun to freeze. | raged and faint, Jay- boat, and his stony stare mh as plain- 'y a8 words Reali the was own pi his the utter hopelessness of his ul pos a - m up gently and lovingly in the stern of the boat. that he as comfortable as possibl lived. And then, with th Presence of mind. incomprehensible nervy and grit, he sat down on the thwart facing hi ing comrade, pitifel to his hopeless and freezing condition, grasped the oars firmly, that his hands might freeze in a curved posit let straight, ren- ely helpless. A few hours jory mate was dead. As he more and his had lain there in the bottom of the boat he knew he was freezing to death, and his last words were: “I am soing. Howard. od-bye and God bless you. Howard, I can trust you, and now make me a prom- ise. If you ever reach shore, Howard, take me with you. Good-bye. God bless yo! Words cannot describe the suffering. the physical pain and mental anguish through which this poor fisherman passed. Nor can the pen do credit to the fortitude, the man- hood, the heroism and noble nature of the man. For four days, withcut food or waiter, he struggled on, bearing with -him. the dead body of ais comrade. His feet were suff and freezing, and the flesh was grad— ually slipping off of his hands. from con- tact with the oars. On the fifth day “he reached store. In his wretched condition, after all his snffering, in his touching de- votion he spent hours in fulfilling the dying request of his lost comrade. After finally getting the corpse safely on shore, he Started in quest of food. “Bome ig00¢ ‘sim- ple people took him in and cared for him After hours | aud bathed his frozen hands and feet and some days after he reached Gloucester. He lost both hands.and his feet became warped out of shape, rendering him for- ever unable to do any manual laber. But the good people of Gloucester recognized in Blackburn a hero and he was establish- ed in a small liquor business by them. He is as modest as he is brave, and, while rough and brusque, he is as gentle as a child. In his daily life he fs as he was in those dark hours when adrift upon the tempestuous ocean, generovs and noble. He is the friend of the widow and or- phan, the sick and the needy, and no one in need ever appeals in vain to the Glou- cester fisherman. As I stood in his small store (not rum shop, for Gloucester grants no liquor li- ce! now) talking to him one rainy after- noon, a burly fisherman entered. ‘“‘Halloa, | Howard!” “Halloa, Bill!’ was the greeting to each other when Bill hurried to inquire of him if he knew of the sad condition of Mrs. —— down in Duncan street. He told of her illness, of a sick child, of her pov- erty-stricken condition. Her rent was over- due. Netice had been given her to vacate, unless her rent was paid within a very short, specified time. “I never heard of this | before,” ysaid Blackburn, after hearing the man’s story; “I will investigate the mat- ter." And he did. The poor woman was not ejected and her suffering in other ways was alleviated. All are net able to give as Blackburn is, but I have yet to see among men of their corresponding level in life a more courageous, fearless, brave, generous and mo1.l set than the Gloucester fishermen. —= MOTHER AND SON. The Boy's Thirst for and Hix Desire to Impart Informaticn. From the Sum Francisco Wave. They were mother and son. She, a wo- manly little woman, about twenty-seven years of age, while he, the spoiled and oniy, child, aged about six. As they seated themselves in the cabin one could easily observe that the mother’s thoughts were not of her surroundiugs, but elsewhere, while the child, probably its first trip on a ferrybodt, was restless and most observ- ing. The child said nothing, but did consider- able squirming in his seat until the gong rang in the ergine room for the boat to start, when, with awe in his voice and his large brown eyes opened to their full extent, he said in a stage whisper that could be heard by every one within the cab What's thet?” ‘That's the gong for the boat to start.” What makes the gong go?” ‘The captain. What does he make the gong go for? ‘So the engineer can start the boat.” “What does he want to start the boat for?"" ‘So we can go to the other side.” ‘What do we want to go to the other side for “Oh, don’t ask so many questions. Look out of the window and see all the water.” (After a silence)—*Ma?” dear.” did all the water get th ed it there, my de He put it there fo ie have any other place to put it?” I'm sure I don't know.” a moment's thought)—“Oh, I know re!” rey” Didn’t , So the boats could run across.”” After a long siience, looking intently at is mother’s hat)—"Ma?” Well, dear?” ou trimmed that hat, didn't you?” shall be compelled to whip you.” “You did trim it, ‘cause I seed you. (As she jerks his arm)—“Keep stil “But you did trim it, just the same, and you know it. Will vou keep st‘ll (Between his sobs)—*Well, iia didn’t you whip you gcod if you don’t keep you trimmed it, just the same. mother boxed the child's ears . we could hear through his boo-hoos, “Well, you did trim it, and you know you did, ‘cause I seed you.” the As f and dragged him onto the dec +o- Peopte Do Read the Papers. From © Baffalo Courier. Scme persons wonder why engaged peo- ple generally prefer to keep their engage- jet as possible until the day of the weddirg. Perhaps the reason Les in the results of a newspaper announcement. The other day an engagement was men- menis as tioned in one of the afternoon papers. li was in the iast edition of the paper, but rly the next morning several awning makers were at the home of the future bride’s parents, soliciting the contract for rplying an awning when the event came ff. On the same rhorning aud in the first | mail no less than half a dozen printers and engravers sent samples of their work, and quoted prices for which they would be willing to prepare the wedding cards, ac- cording to the latest dictates of fashion. During the remainder of the week milli- ners, caterers, dressmakers, liverymen, furriture deslers, hardware men and dry gocds merchants made known their désir to supply tne future bride and groom with all the outfit that they might need or im agine they necded. The young folk now waiting for bids from ministers who are willing to tie the knot at bargain prices. - CoS SS In Mamma’s Day. ris didn’t wear a tailor suit, yearned for poiitics, el, like Torus and Dicks, nud, with big golf sticks, in Mammua’s day. Aud sail a boat through stormy seas, In Mamma’s day, been told, ite duil and slow 11 From the Atlanta Journal. W. C. Coleman of Cencord, N. C., one of the wealthiest negroes in the country, is now promcting an enterprise from which he expects profitable results for himself and his race. He proposes to build and equip a mill for “the double objeet of teaching and giving employment to negroes &s cotior mill operatives.” He has disposed of new all the $50,000 worth of stock with which the mill will start, and wilt be- gin work on the building in a few weeks. There is at present no cotton mill in the United States which has negro operatives. egroes are empioyed in a knitting mill at S. €., and there is a plan on to build a cotton mill in Alabama in mvicts will be worked, but Concord will probably get under way first. Its projector is con- fdent that negroes can be used as cotton mill eneratives satisfactorily to the miil «wners and greatly to the pecuniary ad- vantage of the negroes themselves. After aving tried in vain te get some of the mills alrealy established to change their of orerauves, so as to give the ne- groes a chance to demonstrate their abil- ity in this respect, or to obtain the consent of whtte mill men to build a mill esp he set about the ta ing the ssary money to build small one among the members of his own and he has succeeded beyond his ex- pectations : the experiment a ~eee Pitted Him, From the New York Truth. Mrs. Witherby—“Last night the man next deor made an awful mistake. He got into our house instead of his own, and I thought at first it was you.” Witherby—“Yes, I met him on the street this morning and he said he never was so sorry for any man in his Ife.” — ~~ +00 Good Practice. From the Boston ‘Transeript. Mother—Dear me! the baby has swai- lowed that piece of worsted.” - Father—‘“That’s nothing to the yarns ‘she'll have to swallow: if she lives to graw art ‘Yes, but “private car. lable, wasn't awfully stylish—he dted in his UNIVERSITY NOTES a Georgetown University. The Morris Litefary and Debating So- ciety at the last meeting debated “Re- solved, That the jury system should be abolished.” The.ispeakers were Paul Dil- lon, affirmative; Rrancis E. Smith, nega- tive. At the ne§t meeting the topic for discussion is “Reg@ived, That the right of education belongs. primarily to the state.” E. M. Lam wilt speak iu the affirmative and J. K. Brodetiék in the negative. An essay will also be read by M. J. Scanlan. The examiration™ of the post-graduate class in Roman thw: will be held next Fri- day evening at 6:30, The biological department was the re- cipient the past'tvtek of five microscopes made by the Bausch & Lamb Optical Com- pany and fifty-five charts by Leuckart & Nitsche. The microscopes are a very fine quality, and the charts, which are 42x64 inches in size. are printed in colors on heavy glazed cloth. They cover every range of organism in the animal kingdom from the protozoa and protoplasm to the perfect human structure, and each chart is accom- panied by descriptiye text in three lan- guages, German, French and English. The department Is indebted to Mrs. Elizabeth McColgan of New York city for this mag- nificent addition. Lectures will be given Wednesday evenings on the charts by Prof. James E. Benedict and Prof. Simpson of the Smithsonian Institution. The Law Sehool Debating Society at its last meeting completed the election of offi- gers as follows: Vice president, M. H. Yeunt; secretary, J. H. Luthy; treasurer, F. P. Kennedy; sergeant-at-arms, R. Thomas. The debate for this evening will be on “Resolved, That the government of the United States should own and operate the railway lines within the borders of its territory.” The question of a series of pub- lic debates with Columbia College, New York, is expected to come up tonight, when it is hoped some definite announcement can be made. Catholic University. The University Club is fitting up club rooms in McMahon Hall, in which the meet- ings and entertainments of the club will be given. The first entertainment will be given about February 15, and a program is now being arranged. The first of the public lectures in_the winter course was given Thursday after- noon in McMahon Hall by Librarian A. R. Spofford, his subject being “The Library and the University.” Mr. Spofford will de- liver the nex lecture, “The Choice Books,” next Thursday afternoon at o'ciock. ‘The official reception given by Dr. Conaty, the new rector, at 12 o'clock Thursday, the faculties of the university was attend- ed by all members in full academic cos- tume. The fnformal reception to the stu- dents in Caldwell Hall last night at 8 o clock was well attended. Howard University. The program for the sacred song service in Miner Hall tomorrow evening is as fol- lows: Song. “Still With Thee,” tull chorus; solo, “Tell it Again,” Prof. J. M. Stephens: Scripture reading and invocation, August i. Jansen; song, “S: by Grace,” full chorus; anthem, * Cc. FE. choir: solo, “I Will Not falter,” J. Hi. Hughes; son; Some Time We'll Under- “Saved ne stand, Lord, Rod,” tion, chor E. choir: closing song, full chorus. An epidemic of) grip is prevalent, Secre- tary J. B. Johnson.:Gen. Balloch and a num- ber of the students: being confined to their rooms with that complaint. The Alpha Phi Society (mock congress) met Friday evening and discussed a joint reselution introduced by Mr. De Reix, re- questing i Commissioners ‘6 re- consider rescind their action in refer- erce to the strects. A free coinage bill, which w troduced by Mr. Beckham, was report-d from the tinance comunittee. was under discussion when adjournment The Chr Indeavorers evening and held 4 missiona topic being meriva, was delivered by Mr, Ford, fitustrated large special map, and a genéral diseu followed the reading of a paper on History of Central American Miksiohs, met sion, the An address Miss N. F. Brown. Prof. Lewts K. Mco sed the Beth- el Literary Soctety on Gree® Basis of Education’? Tuesday afterroon. The debate in the Pkeclosical and Debating Society Wednos vas on “Resolved, That Luther id more for the cause ef church than John Wesley.” i. Tartt: supported the affirma- tive and J. W. Neill the negative. tion delivered by G. W. Wa At the next meeting the question, solved, That a man in some stances, justified in telling a lie.” will be debated. W. M. Barham, affirmatiy W. R. Moore, negative, will be the ers. The quartet of the society. Messrs. Hammond, Hughes, Washington and Lec. Literary y afternoon ton. Re- clreum- will sing several song: | ‘The M. rd prize Cebate, founded | Rev. Maynard of Boston, will tal March 27. Tae speaker pete are P. C, Dilts, Geo West, Hughes, J. H. Hammon tt, V i Stewart, and the question is, “Resolved. That high lcensi iv better for the regul: tion ef the liquer tr At the last session of the “Contributory Negligence by Geo. M. Wyatt. } Miller, Wm. H. Cox a question for dise ight and Obligations of Common ¢ R. J. Malone, P. M. Sween! Clark, W. H. Harris, H. Williams will be the speakers The moot court met Wednesday and a number of cases were fe than prohibition evening disposed of. umbinn University. In the academie department the schedule has been rearranged and a series of Fr day lectures by professors from the college department have been inaugurated. The brary has recently received two han some additions. Prof. Otis ‘T. Mason and Col. Weston Flint were the donors, The 1897 catalogue will be issued in a few day: The Enosinian Society will meet on Feb- ruary nd leet officers for the term The Law School Debating Society will meet tonight and debate the question: “Re- solved, That the United States should grant ligerent rights to Cnba.” The affirma- peakers will be Benjamin Martin, R H. Riddleberger and F. L. Tarbox: nega- second tive, Tharm, F. >. Hyde and A.D, AL bert. The post-graduate law class met last night and transacted routine class busi- ness. - Wm. A. Harris, from Kansas, is in the class of 1859. Prof. E, B. Pollard delivered a lecture Thursday on “The English Romantic Movement." Mr. E. LeRoy Parker, assistant in chem- istry in the Corcoran Scientific School, at- tended the recent meeting of the American Chemical Seciety at Troy, N. ¥., and read a paper on “The Present Status of Argon. dames H. Hopkins, jr.has becn appointed academy editor of the Columbian Call, vice Everett L.. Piper, resigned. The practical course in the assay gold and silver ores, bullion, lead, copper and other metals has opened in the Cor- coran Scientific School, with a large clas: several of whom are owners of extensive mining properties. Instruction is given by the chief. assayey of the bureau of the United States migt. Dean Monroe o&the Corcoran Scientific | School and Prof. Br. Schweinitz were cl ed meiabers of the council of the Washin, ten Chemical Society Thursday. National University. At the regular meeting of the cl of the Natlonal Law School, held ‘Tues day evening, January 19, 1897, the following officers wére elected: President, George N. Brown of’Wyoming; vice president, C. K. Allen of the District of Columbia; secre tary, Gilbert A. Clark of the District of Columbia; treasurer, Oliver V. Emery of Petinsytvania;. executive committee, C. H. Merillat of the District of Columbia, G. R. Davis of Maine, and J. 1. Underwood of ‘Tennessee. ‘There wiltbe no mid-term examination of the te class. The mid-term examination of the senior class was held Januaty (1407, The mid-term cxamina- tion of the junior class will be held about February ¥, 1807. ‘The Debating Socieiy of the Law Depart- ment hus resumed its sessions. ‘Phe court of oe wilt eshte about Febroasy.13, and wil! remain in sesston until all the cases on the docket are dis- posed of. as senator e of Columbian of ADVENTURE OF A $500 ROLL. —_ Up Against a Half Dellar fer a Whele Evening Without Knowing It. From the New York Sun. The sporting man stood at the bar toying idly with the dice box. “Funny thing, Joe,” he remarked to the bartender, “how little saloon gambling there is nowadays. Now, there was a time, only a few years ago, when you| couldn't go into a saloon up this way with- | out heartng the rattle of the dice box.” A plainly dressed young man came in and | ordered a drink of whisky. He gave it a/| dash of absinthe, tossed it off at one gulp. | threw fifteen cents on the bar, and glanced over at the sporting man. “Shake?” said the latter. “One or two to kill stranger. ‘The sporting man tossed a half dollar on the bar. The stranger did likewise, the dice rolled out and the stranger won. He won the second and the third time, then lost twice and won once more. “Lucky start,” remarked the sporting man. ‘Have something?” ‘Nothing for me, thanks.” The sporting man drank a hot Scotch, and the game went on. Half an hour passed away and the sport was $10 behind the game. “Make it a dollar and one shake,” gested. “I never change my game,” sai stranger. peas earns “Very well,” said the sporting man, good naturedly. “It’s a little faster, that’s ali.” ,This is fast enough for m>. Have a drink?” “No, thanks. The sporting man drank another hot Scotch, and the game went on. The luck was against him. and his losses grew with | every shake. Once in a while he'd make | a spurt and win three or four straight pots. Then the stranger would win half a dozen to make up for it. Two hours had passed and the sporting man was $40 in the hole. He grew excited. Til shake you for $80 or quits,” he said, hauling out a roll as big around as his leg. “I never change my game,” said the other quietly. e z In another $50 ahead, an nervous. “Friend. will you oblige me by drink?” he satd, 4 ‘ “TI really don’t care to drink,” said the stranger, and the sport drank his Scotch alone once more. Then there was a turn in the luck. T dollars went back to the sporting man in, less than fifteen minutes. Ten more fol- lowed it. and the sport’s brow cleared. The stranger never turned a hair. Gradually the half dollars went back to their original | owner, and finally after three hours of! play the men were just where they started. | “Now have a drink,” said the sporting | man, with a sigh of relief, No, thanks,” said the stranger, t a half dollar on the box. “Let's chake.” In three throws he rolled out four deuces. | The sporting man threw four trays and | hauled in the money “Thank you,”” remarked for a pleasant evening.” time,” said the i * he sug- | the half hour the stranger was id the sporting man was very having a ossing | bar and picking up the | the stranger, | You're not going to quit?” said the orting man in amazement. | ‘an't_ do anything else. Only started | with a half dol . L couldn't drink with } 1 without asking you to drink, and I ldn’t do that without using” money hich I meant to give you a chance to win back. Good day,” and he waiked out of } the saloon, i Well, I'm blanked,” said the sport to the tender. “To think I had a roll of $0 | p against his fifty cents. Great Scott! 67 | the luck hadn't changed he might have had the whole roll, and I never had a chance | to get more than that half dollar. Give me | another Scotch,” and, looking very pale, | the sport drank up his liquor, buttoned his coat and went out. ——+e+ What He Saw and Heard. From the Boston Budget. He was traveling in France and he had comforted himself down in the corner of a | ss railway compartment. He was the carriage. The train, in was just on the point of starting, run four hours without stopping. which would “Four hours’ quiet, ing,” he’ told himself, fat cigar.” And he purred at the prospect of reading and smoking—and smoking—undisturbed by the quibples of chance acquaintances. And he did everything so easily, so elegantly— he was a gentleman—an American gentle- mar, He uninterrupted read- | “accompanied by a placed a handful of papers by his | side. He produced a jeweled cigar case | from his breast pocket. He put a cigar | between his lips. He closed the cas a snap and returned it to its resting plac slowly, calmly. From his trousers pocket he produced a pearl penknife. with which he clipped the cigar and then returned the knife to its resting place—calmly. slowly From his waistcoat pocket—what a host of pockets men have, to be sure—he pro- duced a silver matchbox and struck a light. The guard blew his whistle. In dashed a young lady, all breathless. She scrambled into the seat opposite the | ntleman. The sex swore, hi eman paused. but the young lady » gentleman | didnot heavy he train glided out of the station. ‘The young lady arranged her skirts, and she did she saw the match burn to the She saw the match fall from the gen- Ueman'’s hand. w othe cigar ca: prod: the ci placed among its fragrant companions, and the case returned to the pocket. She chuckled—almost aloud. He swore—almost aloud. He buried himsetf in his paper. She laughed outright. He looked up. And what did he see? He saw a little, neatly gloved hand find its way into a tailor-made skirt pocké He saw the hand embracing the daintiest of little cigarette cases, and a gold match- box, er suite. He saw a cigarette between | the first and second fingers of the left hand, and a match between the finger and thumb of the right. And what did he hear? “I hope monsieur does smoke.”” | | Rot object to | without the with jit color and show: ART AND ARTISTS. The principal art event of the week was the sale of paintings belonging to the estate of the late Marshall O. Roberts, which took place in New York on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. It was an eminently remiscent event, both in the names included in the catalogue and the style of the works offered, and was notable, furthermore, for the low prices realized, instead of for extravagant figures paid, as has usually been the case in pic- ture sales during recent years. Of the three hundred and thirty odd numbers scld it is doubtful if a single piece brought as much as it cost, or anywhere near it. Less than half, and probably even less than cne-fourth, of the original price was only reached in many instances, and in some it Would seem that not ten per cent was real- ized. This unusual result was largely due to two causes. Mr. Roberts was a very rich and public-spirited man, and it is likely that he bought paintings partly he- cause It was the thing for a rich man to | have a picture gallery, and partly to en- courage artists, rather than because he had a deep feeling for or profound knowl- edge of art. It is probable therefore that his purchases were often made without the exercise of sufficient judgment and dis- crimination. Then, again, the collection was largely made up of pictures by artists of what were known as the Dusseldorf and Hudson River schools, and by others whose names and styles are no longer fashion- able. Not that there were no good paint- ings in the collection. On the other hand, there were many canvases painted by men of high and deserved reputation, and of real merit and enduring quality as works of art. But there was nothing from the Barbizon school; no examples by modern Dutch masters; nothing from the pencils of the early English masters of portrait- ure; no puzzling products of Impression- ism,—nothing, in short, in the lines that are being boomed just now by picture deal- ers, or taat are in vogue with the million- aire collectors of the da: Hence these important factors staid away from the sale, and between that circumstance and the prevailing hard times, many good things were picked up by connoisseurs for a song.—for a mere stave, in fact. The two most important pictures in the collection, or at least the two that are best known, were “Washington Crossing the Delaware, by Leutze, and “Merey's Dream.” by Hunt. ington, a replica of the one of the same name in the Cercoran Gallery. The first | named is an immense canvas, being 21 fect in width by 12 feet, 3 inches in height, and most elaborately framed. It was sold for $16,100 to Mr. J. S. Kennedy, a banker of New York, for presentation to the Metro- politan Art Museum in that city. What Mr. Roberts paid for it is not known, but it probably cost him considerably more than the sum it brought. “Mercy’s Dream” went for $525, which was also much less ban was paid to the artist for Its pur- chaser was not announced, but most likely it was bought for some museum or public gallery It must not be supposed from experience in this case that the purchase of works of | art is always a bad thing as an investment pure and simple. Directly the contrary very frequently happens. In a large num- ler ef instances more than double their cost has been realized for a collection of well selected paintings by artists of merit and established reputation. Indeed, the | rule inay be said to be a handsome ad. vance in prices in such cases, and espe- cially for works by artists no longer living, and for which there is a steadily increasing demand correspending with the increase ot wealth and growing interest in art. As an example in this direction, it may 1 mentioned that a tentative offer of twenty thousand doliars has been made (fcr a small canvas in the Corcoran Gal- | lery. which was bought a few years ago fcr a little more than half that sum. The | offer has not been accepted, and perhaps not seriously considered, as yet, but it is by ro means impossible that later on it may he thought wise to use so handsome a um in some other direction, when an op- portunity to procure something else quite s desirable and for less money might p _* + Mr. Huber: Vos arrived in the city sev- eral days ago and has fitted up a pleasant studio in the Everett. He will probably re- main he for two months or longer, as he has a number of commissions to execute. | notabl The most of these is the portrait which he is to paint that he plans to make it one of most important works. In a short time he will also begin work upon a like- ness of Mrs. Carroll Mercer. Mr. Vos’ por trait of Senator Brice, which he com- menced when he was here last spring, was recently on exhibition at Veerhoff’s, wh: attracted much atiention. is quiic large and a ter-length view of the figure is attitude being easy and naiura treatment of the head. how the painting at once into the high and the genidl expression of the especially well rendered. The that it gives one is that it is three-qua: t plane, face impres ex- pression of any one moment. but an ex- pression which is characteristic of the man, and for this reason the portrait give the observer a clear idea of Senator Brice’s personality. The inting very ful and conse fine in work throughout. * ‘The bronze doors which th ate Oiia L. rner designed for the new Congressional Library are now in position, and the two panels containing the figures representing Memory and Imagination have been much © State Department, and it is under- | sniious | Warner and the pair which Frederick MacMonnies is now working on have been put in place, the appearance of the entrance wil! be very fine, though eral architects have criticised the doorways as being too small for the size and dignity of the steps and platforms which form the approach. * xs There are now in the city some fine speci- mens of early Phoenician glass, which Mr. Alexander Abu-Khalil has on exhibition at Fischer's. Those who are well up in such matters say that the collection is finer than | that in the British Museum. Most of the Pieces have been unearthed during the past year near Tyre and Sidon and throughout Palestine, and have been taken from that are thought to be three thou years old. * The interesting collection of water colors which Mr. De Lancey W. Gill has shown at Heitmuller’s Rallery during the past week will remain on exhibition for a week longer. The exhibition is rather small, and contains several pictures that have been exhiblied Yefore, but there are a number | of very taking things that are shown fot the first time. Much of the charm of Mr. Gill's work is in his individual style of treatment, and when working in a broad, sketchy manner, or when elaborating de- tail in a careful way, his technique is al- Ways satisfactory. There are sev: Venetian scenes, a class of subjects with which the artist is especially successful, and one or two sketches in which pictur- esque tumble-down houses form the mo- lives. One of the pictures in the collection is particularly teresting on account of the rather difficult artistic problem which it Involves. It is a landscape view, painted from the brow of a hill, and Mr. Gill has given the effect of the sloping hillside in a very truthful manner. * ** Mr. Carl Gutherz has recently finished an oll portrait of Senator Morgan, and it 1s now on exhibition at Veerhoff's. The painting shows Senator Morgan seated |) side a desk, as if he had turned away from it for a moment, and the figure is rather effectively placed upon the canvas. It is considered a good likeness by those who * * x Mr. V. G. Fischer brought back several new pictures from New York, and they are now on exhibition in his gallery. Perhaps the most noteworthy one is a small paint- ing by George Inness, entitled” The Passing Shower,” possessing, as it does, the fine qualities of color and atmosphere that ar characteristic of Inness’ work. Another new picture is a study of a soldier, by A De Neuville. The Julien Dupre that has recently been placed in the gallery is particularly fine morning effect, and is a good example of the artist's work. A peasant girl has driven a cow up to a tut of water, and is leaning up against a tree while the animal drinks. The silvery light that falls across the cow’s back is painter with great truth, and the bluish t which envelops the landscape @ids in ing the early morning effect. On ond y an exhibition of water colors by Will. | Robinson of New York will epen at Fisch- er’ Mr.W.H. Chandlee has rec nily added = pen drawings to the series he is mak- ing of well-known and actresses | Two of the new ones are the drawings of actors |wm. A. Crane and Joseph Holland AN | the drawings are executed upon Japan pa j per, which gives a peculiarly j quality to the | figures, and a ef fective specimens of pen work A | ber of the studies bear the signatures ot nusn- the players, a | something to the | Mr. pe umstance which adds interest of the drawings Chandlee will probably send several illustrations to the exhibition of newspap-t drawings which is to be held in | cisco the first week in March. * * Mr. E. H. Miller has recen voting himself to cattle 5 y been inting, and is now at work upon a picture contain ng several cows grazing in a cool grassy spot * : + Mr. Edwin Lamasure has taken a pleas- ant, well-lighted studio at 1424 New York avenue. In his trips out into the counvry he obtains many good motives, which he jots down in pencil and elaborates in his studio. He has now on his easel a river | scene which he obtained in this way. While j ne usually confines himseif to landscapes, he sometimes essays figure painting with | no little success. A good example of his | work in this line is a sketch that he has made of his wife. It is treated in quite a broad, simple manner, and is very good in color. * * Moser will a short time, though he not made any definite plans as yet, may pay Washington short About Christmas time be held a small ex- probably ot Mr. J. H. studio here in only a visit | hibition in New York, placing on view a is! number of the studies which he made abroad last summer. He has now turned to West Cornwall, Conn., where is working busily, and where he will main until he has completed his arr: ments for coming here. The work which he did in the summer has been very highly praised, and his exhibition e this winter will in all probability be immensely vance of all his previous ones. * * AWD ber of the Washington artists are ow at work on pictures for the Tennessee centennial exposition, which are to be {lected and sent about the 15th of March. | Mr. Theo. Cooley, the chief of the art de- mired. This pair of doors has been | partment, was most favorabiy impr sed placed the doorway at the left of the | with the exhibition of the A egg! center, the other two doorwa are | Water Color Society, and sine has appo! a 2 tee. eee ith temporaty” woodwork. ae {oar Me Mr. Max Wesl, Mr. Brooke, ta eagee : - In) Mr. Parker Mann and Mr. E. M. Gutherz the spandrels above the deorways are fe- . rages Menge tg “atest a4 to pass upcn male figures designed by Bela L. Pratt of | from here by the artists who have. been Boston. When the uther bronze doors by eeee a EVENING STAR ALMANAC AND ENCYCLOPAEDIA. How often do question answered? derous encyclopzedia you there. The chances are you could easily find the desired information in The Evening Star Almanac for 1897. Politics, science, trade, finances, religion are all completely covered. From cover to cover it is replete with concise, ject imaginable. When you go look in reliable facts you want some di invited to contribut Sputed to the pon- vain--it isn’t on every sub- evéce? seeeseee sone seeeeeneee