Evening Star Newspaper, February 6, 1897, Page 12

oOo FRENCH DUELING It is Characterized by Humanity Nowadays. D MUST FLOW oF BUT BLOO Contestants Always Hoping to Be Touched. ed A RECENT DUEL DESCRIBED PARIS, Janv , 1897. N A CERTAIN morning and after- noon of the week gust past ali Paris brilliant, Paris up to date and Paris pa- triote spoke of a cer- tain duel and little else. Monsieur Na- val Lieutenant Buch- ard and Monsieur Naval Lieutenant @Agoult met, with their seconds, doc- tors, newspaper re- {erters and a crowd of several hundred un- invited witiesses behind convenient trees and bushes, cn the race track of the Parc of Saint-Ouen, between the grand stand and the mutual pool booths, and for two hours the priacipals fought flercely with sharp-pointed, flashing rapiers.” tn pas en arriere. * * *, Allez, sieurs! * * * M.-Buchard, slender and small, but well backed up against himself, maintained mes- M. le president de In salle d’armes. from beginning to end the newfangled Htalian guard, the rapier parallel with the ground, the arm outstretched to its ut- most length. With his short-cropped au- burn hair excitedly en brosse and his still more auburn mustache twirled fiercely @nd waxed warranted to stay, his steely Dlue eyes glittering and his wiry muscles trembling like a nervous terrier’s, he bent ferward—ever on ihe spring. D’Agoult, tall, magnificent, calm, blonde-bearded, with a world of patience in his mild (but firm) blue eyes of darker hue—the blue of Lake Cocytus or the Roman sky at nud- night in October—held his guard low and ‘waited, as the French say, “on the expec- tative.” But his opponent, short-cropped, wiry and nervous though he be, was also wailing; the pure sclence of the beautiful French school forbade them both to leave A Warm Encounter. the least to hazard. Here a peck and there @ jab and jump behind—ciel, those jumps! —a tapping of the glittering points—ihe tip, tip points!—an instart’s tragic scraping of the edge, a lightning circle and a click!— and then another jemping back. After eleven rounds like this, rounds of five min- utes each with ihtervals of two minutes for Fepose, both the combatauts began show- ing, by their tlerce demeanor, how their deadly purposes were gathering implacabil- ity and vehemence. But M. Ozanne, the director of the duel, was always there to ery: “Halte!” when the ardor of the com- bat warranted a stop io look for wounds. The twelfth round terminating by a coup en sixte, which seemed to land on M. @Agoult, the “halte!” discovered that it was but une eraflure au bras—would you have me say “scratch on the arm?"—hut the point had not penetrated! But it was the unhappy d’Agoult, nevertheless, who t the dread thrust just a little later on. Touched. “Je suis touche!’ he cried, but still kept his feet. The doctors ran to him and found he had received a wound in the lower part of the right arm, penetrating something Jess than five centimeters, or two tnches. “A simple pansement,” says the official Proces-verbal, “was sufficient to dissipate Evenly Matched. ll eventual complications,” and the lan- daus rolled off gaily through the park gates to the highway. More than four hundred sight-seekers cheered the two officers as they rode away, and tne inhabitants of Saint-Ouen are very properly rejoicing ever the prospect of enormous crowds of Sun- day visitors for several weeks to come. Lieut. Buchard had come expressly from Berlin—where he is the French naval at- tache—and Lieut. @’Agoult had come ex- Pressly from Toulon—where he ts on his ship—for the purpose of this encounter, whose provocation had been by letter. Bach has gone back to his duty, says the Figaro this morning. “Day before yester- day. in a superb assault, they gave us a new proof of their courage and their beau — @u danger. Now they go simply and unostentatiously to their respective posts again to reprendre their oceupazions “nd continuer a servir la patrie franca‘se!” down in so many humiliatii are, indeed, bright-minded y« refuse to fight in gloves, because it 1s their secret intention to manage a scratch on the hand from their opponent's point; so much r in his standard book, “L'Art du It is to the bloody part of this duel that | I ought to cajl the attention of American readers; for, in some way or another, bas it not got about that French duels ere so often bloodless? As a fact, that idea is quite erroneous. Blood must be shed. The most moderate agree on this point. “Why, that is the very reason-for-existence cf the duel a epee (the regulation dueling sword, and not, of course, the rapier, or fleuret, used here only for convenience)! It has the I Think I Have Been Touched. Impossible. On, precious advantage of causing blood to flow—faire couler!—without resulting neces- sarily in death or grave wounding. Eap- tism!""—it was an Italian-frontier maitre d’armes who was explaining it to me, end he said: “Baptism! then why attempt to take away from this weapon so appropriate to the duel its principal merit?” “I am not a ‘blood-drinker,’ far from that, I have always been for the ‘arrangement’ ‘of the majority of affairs; bet if you are going to derange four men, without counting the doctors, It is net to amuse yourselt at bead-stringing, is It? No, it is to fight. to wash out an injury! But if the blood does not flow, nothing is washed!!" he went on, When to Cease. The quantity of blood that ought to flow is quite another question. When one of the parties feels the point of his oppouent’s weapon he should call out: “I am touched!” And it is even the duty of the aggressor to cry: “Messieurs, I think I have touch- ed!” whenever he imagines to have done so. He who ultimately decides on the gravity of the wound 1s, of course, the doctor; though the proces-verbal which precedes the encounter undoubtedly nes its influence. Should that paper make no men- tion of it, the conclusion is forced that the duel is te be a “first biood” affair, which even here in France we blush to write words. There ung men who Adolphe Tavernier felt called on to expound the question: gloves on his adversary?’—which he, re- Sretfully, decided in the negative. “Well made proces-verhal regularly have it: “The combat will cease on the agreement of the seconds, jay one impose the docter being heard in consul- ."" Or bien: “The combat is not to cease except on the advice of ihe seconds and the doctor,” which leaves the man of science a trifle more authority. Yet such is the humanity of Frencn dueling—we are not in the days of the Three Musketeers-— that unless the proces-verbal distinctly <n- ticipates the gravity of the wound, a duel- ist even lightly wounded may insist that y his ewn honor, bu- the honor of his adversary, has been vindicated, and put on his coat, and this even contrary to the advice of all the seconds! No Draw Allowed. “But when the combatants have fought bravely and risked their lives a dozen times, though—owing to their skill and cool- ness—blood has not been drawn on either side, may they not call it off by mutual consent?” a young man asked yesterday at the Grand Hotel tournament. “No! A thousand times no!” the answer came from a fine old sportsman, who has cut holes in two dozen men and more. And it was then he cried: “Bapteme! You're not out gathering wild fiewers, are you? But to wash away an injury! If there is no blood there 1s nothing washed!” It must be admitted that where euch opinions are to be met with in the hazard of life, French dueling, though humane, is not without a possibility of danger capable of threatening at times to crop out to the dis- advantage of the impetuous or thoughtless unprovided with reliable seconds, a compla- cent doctor and a timid antagonist. This glorious little duel of the race track of the Park of Saint-Oven—to which young girls from every part of Paris are hurrying even now that they may view such a ro- mantic spot and pluck a leaf for memory from some hallowed bush—this “superb as- sault”—it was superb, according to the finesse of the salle d’armes, where pretty ng is the program—and this “proof of courage” showing off to the patrie Fran- caise her navy’s “beau meprise du danger, is, in detail and result, completely in ac- cordance with the modern ways. Fifty years ago, thirty years ago, and even twenty years ago, the duels appear to have been rougher. Why certain encounters have become celebrated and others are suffered to lie Umequal as to “Touch almost forgotten would make a curious in- quiry. Such is the fact, however. Some- times the duel is connected with a joke, as that of Sainte-Beuve and Dubois, when the popularity of it becomes more understand- able. Under an Umbre! It was at the time when Sainte-Benve was writing in the Globe and Dubois was one of the stockholders. The latter took offense at the political tendencies which the celebrated writer was giving to the paper. “Vivacious injuries” were ex- changed by pen and word of mouth, and a meeting was judged necessary. On arriv- ing at the meeting place Sainte-Beuve was een to be carrying a pair of fiint-lock pistols of the sixteenth century, while sheltering himself under an umbrella. It was raining,steadily. Sainte-Beuve contin- ued to hold up his umbrella, even to the moment when the word of “Fire!” was to be given. The seconds protested. Sainte- Beuve insisted. “I am willing to be killed,” he said, “but I am not willing to catch a cold in the. head.” They were forced to accept the condition, and the great writer shot frem under his umbrella. Four balls were exchanged with- out result. Later on, while Sainte-Beuve had ralifed to the empire of Napoleon III, while remaining faithful to “liberty of therght,” he did not hesitate to defend his beliefs in the French senate. One of his colleagues, Lacaze, considered himself of- fended and challenged him to a duel. But Sainte-Beuve refused to fight, except with the “arm with which he was most famil- far’—the pen! THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, SEBRUARY 6, 1897-24 PAGES. ‘ THE NATIONAL GUARD Details of the General Efficiency Competition Decided On. ATTRACTIVE CASH PRES OFFERED Engineer Corps Riflemen to Com- pete at Sea Girt. INAUGURAL PARADE PLANS Within a very few days the general ef- ficiency competition that has been the sub- ject of so much discussion for several months past will, in all likelihood, become a reality. At a recent meeting of the com- missioned officers of the brigade the report of the committee having in charge the ar- rangements for the competition was adopt- ed. Copies of the report are now under preparation in order that regimental, bat- talion and company commanders may be fully acquainted with the details of the contest. When the coples of the report and accompanying orders have been sent forth, the competition will be launched. At pres- ent it is the intention to award six prizes, the first to be $200, the second, $150; the third, $100; the fourth, $75; the fifth, $50, and the sixth, $25. Each of the prizes is subject to a substantial increase, and the probabilities are that such will be the case. ‘The scoring of the competition will be in accordance with the system followed by the inspector general in rating the organi- zations at the annual Inspections. An ex- cellent showing will be scaled as 4; good, 3; fair, 2; poor, 1, and bad, 0. The details of the competition will include among other things the condition of books and papers. The condition of quarters will also come in for a big share of attention, one inspec- tion to be made prior to April 1_ next, and a second some time before the coming an- nual inspection. These inspections are to be in the nature of surprises, and, of course, no notification in regard to’ the same will be given by the inspecting offi- cers to she company commanders whose quarters are scheduled to meet their gaze. The condition of arms and equipment will not pass unnoticed, and they, too, are li- able to be examined and scored at any and all times. Rifle practice will figure to a considerable extent in the consideration of the winners, as will the general subject of drill. The school of the soldier, of the company and of the battalion, as well as the movements in extended order, must be interpreted. The drills will be held on the evening of the annual inspection, and this feature is expected to be interesting and entertaining, not only to guardsmen, but to the general public as well. Discipline, de- portment, the matter of salutes and the general set-up of the men, at all times and on all occasions, will figure in the compeu- tion. Strict Marking at Camp. The strictest marking, it is understood, will occur during the encampment of the brigade at Fort Washington next June. An unbuttoned blouse, the careless wear- ing of a campaign hat or the failure to sa- lute an officer may mean the loss of a prize to the company of which the offend- ing individual may be a member. Every company in the brigade will have an op: portunity to “put up” a guard mount, and an officer is to be detailed expressly to score the compantes on their guard mount- ing. Battalion commanders are to be re- quested to make a careful inspection of the ccmpanies of their respective battalions at least once each month, and regimental and battalion adjutants will searchingly ex- amine every paper that passes through the hands of each, in quest of errors. The con- dition of the papers and the errors will be reported. It shall be compulsory for every com- pany cf the brigade to participate in the competition, and it is likely that the ma- jority of the organizations will enter int the contest with enthusiasm. The aw: will not be made until after November 30 next. The reports of the judges are to be referred to an executive committee of five officers, who, in turn, will submit their conclusions to headquarters, whence the announcement of the prize winners will emanate. The committee further reported that it would be desirable for the officers of the brigade to become better acquainted than is at present the case. This could be done through the instrumentality of lectures and other entertainments, or by following the example recently inaugurated by the officer temporarily in command of the prigade— that of holding weekly receptions. The prizes offered are certainly tempting, and worth serious effort. Several com- mands have already taken steps with a Spl of moving to the fore in the competi- tion. At the meeting of officers to consider the report it was proposed that a memorial, signed by every officer in the brigade, be ferwarded to Congress, asking that the items eliminated in committee from the District appropriation bill be restored. The memorial was drawn up and signed by a number of officers, but will probably go no further, as, it is understvod, the idea dues not meet with the unbounded approval of the powers that be. Engineers at Sea Girt. The District of Columbia National Guard will, in all probability, be represented, and strongly, too, at the Sea Girt rifle compe- titions next September, notwithstanding the practical determination of the inspector general of rifle practice that the money necessary to cover the expenses of District teams may be put to a better use by abol- ishing the annual trips and expending it on the brigade as an entirety. The En- gineer Corps, it may be announced, prac- tically as a certainty, will send several teams to participate in the next meet of the New Jersey State Rifle Association. Entry will be made in the company, regi- mental and other matches, and, if the necessary permission can be secured, in the Hilton trophy match. No objection ‘will be made to the engineers visiting Sea Girt, as they will pay all expenses entailed thereby, but it may be announced on the very best authority that Major Thompson's sharp- shooters will not defend the Hilton trophy. If the District National Guard is ever again represented at Sea Girt by a brigade team the aggregation, beyond all question of doubt, will be selected from the entire brigade, and will be captained by the in- spector general of rifle practice. a Arranging for March 4. Col. Clay has directed that a spectal re- tufn of each battalion of the brigade by company be made at once, showing its con- ition as to strength January 31, 1897. All alterations since December 31 last are to be accounted for by name. Col. Clay has also communicated to bat- talion commanders his decision that they will permit only such men as are properly accounted for as bona fide members of their respective commandr January 3) to parade with them March 4. The uniformto be worn by the local brigade on the occasion of the inaugural parade will depend entirely upon the state of the weather. If the latter is unpro- pitious, field dress, with overcoats and cam- paign hats, will be in order. Directions have been issued that each company com- mander make an inspection of his equip- ment, and see to it that the outfit of every man is complete in all details. Facilities for Rifle Practice. The rifle gallery is open for voluntary practice daily, except Sunday, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The opportunity has not been taken advantage of as universally as was expected, and in this connection it may be stated that the District Guard fs better sup- plied with facilities for rifle practice than any other militia organization in the coun- try, Nevertheless, the local citizen soldiery is discouragingly slow to realize “a good thing.” Elsewhere, it is stated, a rifle gal- lery, under similar conditions, would be taxed, and constantly, to its utmost capaci- ty. First Lieutenant Arthur A. Birney, Ist Battalion, will be range officer for the first section of the company rifle match for Feb- ruary. ‘Thursday evening next First Lieu- tenant Luther H. Reichelderfer, 34 Battal- fon, will look after the recording uf the scores Friday evening next. Capt. James E. Bell, 24 Regiment, is to officiate at the battalion match, February 18, and Major George H. Harries,. tor general of rife practice, will be on duty during the regimental match, February 24° Rifle Contest by Telegraph, STERLING HEILIG. The Amateur Rifle Club, through its shooting magter, has received an invita 0" to engage in-a series of friendly telegraph matches with a team composed of the best shots of Erié Pa., who have earned a reputation as expa?t marksmen by repeated victories in sfmilar contests. The teams are to consist of teq-men each. Every man must fire tem-shot™ at 200 yards. The con- testing teams a fire the scores on their own ranges-and telegraph the results as soon as the na 1s completed. Election of Officers. An election of/¢aptain of Company A, Engineer Corps, jyill be held February 20, to fill the va caused by the recent resignation Capt. James M. Pollard. It is the expectation that an outsider will be selected by the apany for its new com- matling officer. Capt. Edggr A Shiling has” requested that an sledtion jbe ordered for Saturday evening, February 13, to fill a vacancy of seconé lieutenant of Company A, 3d Bat- talion. Several sergeants and ‘corporals will be appointed by Capt. Shilling in the near future, Second Lieut, Wiliam H, Mellach has been unanimously elected first Heutenant of Company A, 5th Battalion. Second Lieut. Sorrells of the 2d Separate Company has been chosen junior subaltern of Company C, 5th Battalion, To Act as Escort. Company A, 2d Battalion, in connection with the National Guard Athletic Assccia- tion, will hold a reception at the armory February 12, in honor of the Young Men’s Christian Association of Baliimore. The basket ball team of the latter organization is to engage in a contest on the evening mentioned at the Carroll Institute. Capt. Edwards’ command is also arranging to Properly celebrate the fourteenth anni- versary of the birth of the company, Feb- ruary 22. Capt. Edwards missed his first drill in twelve years Monday evening last, being confined to his home by the grip. Engineers and “Rifle Making.” The recent general meeting of the En- gineer Corps was unusually well attended. Appropriations were made for miscellan- eous expenses in connection with the in- augural parade, and general instructions in regard to the same weré given. ; Private W. M. Farrow of Company A read a valuable and interesting paper on “Rifle Making,” which was followed by a Prolonged and instructive discussion. Pri- vate Farrow said, in part: All firearms were smooth in the bore until the year 1520. It was about that time that a rifle maker named Augustin Kutter of Nuruberg, made rifles with star-grooved barrels, in which the grooves had a spiral form. This improvement added greatly to the accuracy and aim of the piece. It was an Invention of the greatest importance. Notwithstanding the value of the inven- tion, however, it was not until 1851 that England ordered the manufacture of 28,000 arms with spiral grooves for the use of the regular troops. Much advantage is de- rived from the spiral groove. The bullet acquires rotation in its passage up the barrel, and if from any cause the projectile should cut across the grooves the accuracy would be destroyed. In years gone by the rifling of a barrel was a serious and pains- taking Operation for the rifle maker, but now with proper machinery it is a much simpler operation. Private Farrow went into details of the machines and the methods employed. In conclusion he said: “Nothing endears a rifle so to the heart of the hunter, the marksman or the ex- pert, as the quality of accuracy. The po- sessor of an accurate firearm values it as a constant an reliable companion, a never- failing friend, alWays ready to obey, and never speaking out until called upon. And I hope that the tithe will soon arrive when each member of this corps can truthf Say that he possesses just sucn a fi and companion.” First Battalion Notes. At the regular monthly meeting Wediesday evening the following elected to active membershi 8, Jacobus 8. Jones, Louis N.- Mallet, Jos. B. Baker; Company C, Thos. J. Manning, W. B. Crapster, Andrew Burga, Thos. Washington, Alexander C, Brummett, Edw. F. Farley, Emil E. Holst, Frank I. Greene Company D, Chas. Robey and Jas. R. Gem- Sau x It was announced that the following were entitled to service medals, for long and faithful service, and it was ordered that same be presented February 22: Capt. Chas. M. Shreve, fifteen years; Sergt. A. M. Muzzy and Sergt. A. B. Suit, nine y. Capt. Chas. Ebert, Privates Frank J. W lke and T. V. Mackintosh, six years each. The report of the committee on athletics was read and showed this part of the cr- ganization to be in excellent condition. Lieut. Henry Carll was placed on the veteran roll. It was decided not to parade the February, as is the usual custom, count of the inaugural parade being so close at hand. Battalion drills have heen ordered for four nights, nameiy, February 5, 11, 19 and March 1.* Sergts. John S. Robinson and Alex. M. Allison of Company C have been oidered up before the brigade examining board for examination as “candidates for promoticn, second lieutenants.” The board mects Feb- ruary 17. Several new candidates have appeared upon the horizon for the position of qua termaster sergeant, wiaich will become vacant soon by the transfer of Sergt. House to Company B as second lieutenant, the most popular of whom seem to be Sergt. McCathran of Company 3) and Sergt. Mar- shall of Company A. Company C will give an informal re- ception the night of the 221, instead of a full dress reception, as previously an- nounced, in accordance with the wishes of a great many of its ‘riznds, which have been communicated to the committee in charge. During the latter part of March, however, the regular Zull dress receptic will be given by that comnany. An election will be requested at an early date to fill the existing ancies in Company D, caused by the resignation of Lieut. Duffy and the transfer of Cant Miller to Company A. Lieut. Howard Beall is at present in command of the com- pany, and there is no doub: of his ing elected to the captaincy, as he is ie- garded as one of the most efficient orfi- cers in the corps. A3 io the lieutenants it would be only a matter of guesswork to attempt to name them, so that will be left to the future. The many friends of Sergt. Pinck:ey W. Smith of Company = will regret learn that he nas been very ill for sev- eral days. He is now convalescent. Notes. D, 5th Battalion, constituted the “troops” in a presentation of the "Con- federate Spy” Monday and Tuesday even- ings last in Gonzaga Hall. Captain George W. England was in command. held were For Company Company Activity among the engineers continues. Major Gilbert Thompson means that his command shall be above criticism on the occasion of the inaugural-parade, and with that end in view {is holding frequent drills of the battalion. A new ambulanee, spic and span in every particular, arrived. at the armory yester- day in sections from Fort Leavenworth. It will be turned, over to the Ambulance Corps. The ‘#mb' ilance formerly used by the corps was condemned and sold at auc- tion. ‘ The Ambulance Corps is making great preparations" for’ ‘the inaugural parade, when the organization will appear in new uniforms anti ube {ts new ambulance. Lieut. Fales’is untiring in his efforts to bring the corps to the front. Sergt. Kreig has been appointed: quartermaster sergeant. Troop A will take the field February 22. In accordance with their custom, the cav- alrymen, mounted, are to proceed to Bright- wood and make aay of it, with exercises and maneuvers that cannot be attempted in the armory or drill hall. From all the reports, the prospects of a new armory for the District of Columbia National Guard are brightening from day to day. It is understood that plans for the proposed armory have been prepared, that the board of trade will soon take action on the matter, and that a bill providing for the erection of the structure will be intro- duced in Congress in the very near future. Gilman Marston Fague, who took his own life Wednesday last, was a well-known and popular member.-of the District National Guard. At the time of his death the de- ceased was quartermaster. sergeant, but for five years was commissary sergeant of the 1st Regiment: Mr. Fague enlisted as com- missary sergeant on Col. Moore’s non-com- emer or staff ocembany 5, Lavi oo hake a) quartermaster 8ppol : c poresan 6, $50 “Full Dress” Suits To-order For A Week! Attendance at the ‘Inaugural Ball” means a Dress Suit. mean a dress suit of Noah’s time or even a decade ago. pecialty. March Ist and expect your suit in time for the 4th. always been our s; We don’t want 40. It does not Dress Suits have you gentlemen to come here Impossible! Now, to induce you to place your orders at once, we will take orders for our tlegant $50 Full Silk or Satin-lined Full Dress Suits the com- ing week for - = Finest Im any New Yor rted English Worsteds or Thibets, finished tailor’s $75 or $100 Suits. $40 equal to G. WARFIELD SIMPSON, ba IT WAS A STRANGE EXPERIENCE. Polite Treatment of an American Ar- rested in Cuba. A copyright cablegram from Havana to the New York Evening World says: The arrest of Henry K. Sheridan of 1364 Euclid avenue, Cleveland, by the military authorities of Guanabacoa is a strange affair. He was treated so well and dis- charged so promptly that no inquiry has been made into the matter. Why he was seized and detained is still a mystery to young Sheridan. He made no complaint to General Lee and no explanation has been asked at the palace. On the day Sheridan, who is an adven- turous, but tactful tourist, was arrested. he came to the room of the World corre- spcndent at the Hotel Inglaterra, and said: “I hear that Cojimar, a watering place beyond Guanabacea, has been burned by the rebels. I'm going out there to see it. I can’t speak Spanish, but I want to go alcre just for the fun of the thing.” As the country between here and Coji- mar is full of troops on the ale: t, watching for rebels, who also abound, an effort was made to persuade the young man not io 2. “Oh, I'll get some fun out of it,” he said, and started, fully convinced that he could “jolly” any Spaniard on earth. That night there was a fearful storm of wind and rain. Sheridan did not return. It was thovght that the young man might have sovght shelter, but his friends were wor- ried ard were about reporting his absence to General Lee when into the hotel ne came. “I have been arrested,” he explained. “They seized me at Guanabacoa, kept me a prisoner all night and then let me go.. I could 1 ot understand what they said about it, but I made such a stiff kick that from belrg rough they changed to being very polite. “I had my American passpert and had done nothing, so I put on a bold front. I fourd on arriving at Guanabacoa that I would have to get a pass to go to Cojimar. I ayplied at the office of the commandant and he asked fur my papers. As soon as he sew my name he compared it with one in a card he had and smiled with glee. He called two soldiers with guns, and they stood by the door while he went out. I waited. Another officer came in. He was so gcod looking that I asked l-im by signs to take a drink. He nodded, I thought, and I put my arm in his and walked him to the door. He whistled, seized me by the arms, and the two soldiers leveled their guns at me. “I then saw I was arrested. The high cockalorum came back, had a_ rocking chair Lrought in and I sat down. It was then 8 o'clock. “At 8 o'clock a lot of officers came in. ‘They invited ime to their table to dinner and always passed things to me first. They were very polite. “I went back to my chair and slept un- der guard until 3 o'clock in the morning, when the commandant woke me up, gave me iny passport, opened the door, men- renee that I could go, and bowed very low. “I saw that I was the aggrieved party and I refused to go. It was dark and rain- ing. I shook my head, made signs that I wanted a bed and sat down. The officer had a cot brought in, a servant made a bed and I turned in.’ At & they brought me coffee and rolls, I dressed and left, the officers bowing and evidentiy apolo- gizing for my detention.” “Were you not afraid at first?” Sheri- dan was asked. “There was only one thing I was afraid of,” he replied. “I was afraid they might search me.” Vhat if they had, you had nothing dan- ge*ous about you.” “No only a pass to Gomez, signed by Estrada Palma, belonging to a friend. I ate it up-while I sat in that chair.” — A Chinese Civil Service Examination. To the Editor of The Evening Star: The remarkable scholarship of Miss Stal- naker, the lady who recently passed a most difficult, but successful, examination for a position in the Attorney General's officc, will be far surpassed on the 24th of Feb- ruary, if any one not a Chinese is found capable of sustaining the following civil service examination for the Treasury De- partment: “A person, non-Chinese, to be examined, not only in spelling, penman- ship, copying, writing and arithmetic, but also in the Chinese language, and able to internret the various dialects of China.” The truth is, there is, strictly speaking, no one Chinese language, any more than one European language, unless you call the written characters such; and these characters no foreigner is capable of writ- ing to any extent. There are many thou- sands of these characters, written and meaning the same ali over China, but pro- nounced differently in the eighteen prov- inces or states of the empire, just as the numeral 8 is written, and means the same in all the countries of Europe, though pro- nounced differently. These written char- acters are drawn with a small brush and India ink, and constitute one of the earliest lessons of boyhood, proficiency being ac- quired after years of study and practice, though some pupils become skilled early in life. From one of the minor classics I quote this passage: “Then Lee of Tang, when still quite young in years, With marv'lous skill could form our won- drous written speech— Each stroke correctly draw—and elder pu- *_pils teach! He soon was high advanced!” Even Christian teachers and other for- eigners, after mastering the dialect where they reside, always employ native scholars to write the Chinese characters for all lit- erary work. There are practically many dialects (spoken languages) in the eigh- teen provinces; and no native Chinese even ever masters them all. There are five great dialects with which foreigners are more or lesy acquainted—those of Peking, Shang- hat. ‘Chow, Amoy, Swatow and Can- ton—the first-named coming nearest to a national language. The Chinese minister, residing today in Washington, a member of the lterati, speaks the mandarin or court dialect, used in Peking and generally throughout the north of China; and he is probably familiar with one or more of the other dialects, as a part of his liberal and official education. But, as a matter of fact, he cannot communicate, except through an interpreter or by the written with the three hundred Chinese in this elty who use only the Cantonese dialect. He, thererore, would be an American lit- erary prodigy who in Washington or else- where is able to examine candidates in the Chinese written characters and in the va- rious dialects of China; or the individual who sha.l pass successfully an examination in these branches of oriental scholarship. I venture to assert that there is not an American living who can write off-hand five hundred Chinese characters or speak more than one or two Chinese dialects cor- rectly, though I can name one or two la- dies, resident here, who can speak and in- terpret perfectly the Cantonese dialect— the language of the Chinese in America— for they all come from the province of Quang Tung (Canton). VARNUM D. COLLINS. HAVEMEYER TESTIFIES. Investigation of Trusts Began by a Legislative Committee. When Chairman Lexow called the joint legislative committee on trusts to order yesterday in New York there were pres- ent upon subpoenas to testify H. O. and Theodore A. Havemeyer, besides a number of men prominent in mercantile pursuits and several lawyers whose clients’ inter- ests it was supposed might be affected by | the investigation. At the outset the resolutions under which the committee was created were read, as was also a letter from C. B. Richards & Co., steamshop agents of New York city, calling the attention of the committee to the alleged existence of a pool by the trans- Co., steamship agents of New York city, | ing an investigation into their methods. Theodore Havemeyer, vice president of the American Sugar Refinery Company was then sworn. Having explained that prior to 1891 he was connected with the eight sugar refining companies now oper- ating as the American, Mr. Havemeyer said that he had nothing to do with the com- mercial or fiscal side of the business. He could not give the capitalization of the va- rious companies that were absorbed in 1891 without a reference to the books; that was @ matter upon which Mr. Searles would probably be able to inform the committee. The witness. on being questioned, said that the preferred stock of the company Was $37,000,000 and the common stock $37,000,000, A dividend of 7 per cent was declared last year on the preferred stock, and 12 per cent on the common gtock. In addition, there may have been “an accu- mulated surplus. “I would not go into business,” Mr. Havemeyer said, “if I did not make 15, 16 or 20 per cent mM it.” Senator Lexow quoted some figures from a financial paper which showed that in 1894-5-G the surplus of stock increased from $9,000,000 to $13,000,000. “Are these figures correct?” asked Sen- ator Lexow. “I can’t say. If you got them from Mr. Searles they are correct.” “Do you know any business not in the nature of a monopoly that pays 15 or 16 per cent?” “Plenty of them.” ‘Tell us one of them.’ ‘Coffee, for instance.” “And that is the reason you went into ‘One of the reasons,” smiled Mr. Have- meyer. no agreement, verbal or written, between your company and any other regarding the fixing or maintaining of prices?” “I am willing to swear that, as far as I know, there is no such agreement.” Chairman Lexow wished to take up the examination of Mr. Searles, secretary and treasurer of the American Sugar Company before calling H. O. ness chair, but waived his preference upon being informed that Mr. Searles could not conveniently appear before the committee until today. The Coffee Business. In the examination of Henry O. Have- meyer,president of the sugar trust, Senator Lexow wanted to know about Arbuckle Brothers’ relation to the American Sugar Refining Company, and spoke of that firm competing with the sugar company. “They were never competed with us,” said Mr. Havemeyer. “They are wholesale grocers and handled our products. We took back their empty barrels at 20 Mollenhauer offered = shifted their trade from u: “Why did you organize a coffee company within a day or two? Do you think the coffee business as alluring as the sugar business?” “Yes; I propose to carry on the coffee business just as we have the sugar busi_ ness, and that is—I s te it here in open “Are you willing to swear that there is | Havemeyer to the wit- | Expert Tailor, 1208 F St. court, without fear of contradiction—to the advantage of the consumer.” Mr, Lexow then created a surprise calling Mr. John Arbuckle to the stanc. Mr. Arbuckle then testified that after he had determined to build a sugar refinery a director of the American Sugar Refining Company, in speaking to him about it, said: “How would you like us to go into the coffee business “I felt.” said Mr. Arbuckle, “ that it was an implied threat James N. Jarvie, who is associated with the Arbuckles, was called to the stand. He said: “Lowell M. Palmer of the American Su- gar Refining Company, came to me and said: “If you start refining sugar we will go into the coffee business, and the Have- myers have more millions than by, buckles.’ ler me Mr. Havemeyer here arose and said: ‘Lowell M. Palmer had no authority to Speak for the Havemeyers or the American ugar Refining Company,if he did so speak. Mr. Palmer is the head of our cooperage department. He is not on the directorate nt on to say: “W. Me- Laughlin of Chicago, a competing coffee Toaster, came to me and said: “I have éu- thority from one high in the sugar trust to Say to you that if you do not go into the sugar refining business they will stay out of the coffee business.” “ Angrily Mr. Havemeyer jumped and exclaimed deny most emphatically that any such position ever emanated from us. it is F. to his monstrous, We are going into the coffee business regardless of the Arbuckles.” Senator Lexow announced that if Mr. Searles, the secretary, was not present to- day the full vigor of the law and Irgisla- ture would be invoked against him. The committee adjourned until 11 a.m. ——. see SHORTAGE CAUSES A sUsj SION, Defaleation of the Northwestern N, tional Bank at Great Falls, Mt. The Northwester National Bank, one of the oldest institutions in Montana, posted a | notice announcing its suspension yester- day. The board of directors and officers charge that the trouble is due to a defalea- tion on the part of Cashier Benton D Hatcher, of $180,000. The controller of the currency wired Louis G. Phelps to take temporary charge of the bank, pending the arrival of the examiner. The assets of the institution are given out by the directors as $750,000; abilities about an equal amount. Cashier Hatcher is lying pros- trated at his home. All day he refused to Say anything for publication. The charges made by the beard of dlirect- ors are of a sensational character. It is believed, however, that in the wrecking of the bank Cashier Hatcher is rot the only person implicated. December 12 last the Conrad brothers, who were the organizers of the bank in the early 80's, offered their stock, amounting to $189,000, for sale, as they were retiring from all active business. The entire holding was purchased by Cash- jer Hatcher, who informed the directors of the bank that he had friends in Boston who wanted to purchase the stock. Mr. Hatcher went cast in December, and on his return informed the directors that he had sold the stock to his friends. ‘The correspondent of the Northwestern in the east is the Globe National Bank of Boston. Cashier Hatcher, it is alleged, being un- able to dispose of the stock as he had agreed to, drew from the Globe National the amount of the purchase price of the siock, $180,000. This was over a month ego, | and no suspicion of where the money came from was entertained untii just before a movement for reorganization was revived, January 12. An investigation was put on foot, but no knowledge of it was possessed by the officers or directors until the arrival of President James A. Coram from Boston Thursday. He at once culled a meeting of the directors, and for the first time it was known that the Globe National Bank did not have on deposit the amount reported by the Northwestern books, $18¢ 000. The directors decided to suspend, and yesterday morning wired the controller to that effect. ———+e- Heavy Failure at Selma, Al Maas & Schwarz, cotton factors, and Maas & Co., wholesale grocers, at Selma, Ala., have made an assignment to M. S. Smith for the benefit of creditors. S. Maas is senior partner in both firms. The as<ign- ment was precipitated by the failure of the Commercial Bank. The liabilities will prob- ably reach $300,006 “Auction Sale of the Everett Stock. THE EVERETT SALE IS TOWN TALK. No like event has attracted so much attention Ever since the sale morning a host of wide-awake buyers has been in at- for years. tendance, all eager tion. CERI of GOLD AND MO) CHI Sales daily At 10.a.m. & 2:30 p.m. Have you given this sale the attention it de- serves? Do you fully realize its importance? Think a moment what it means. ever you want from Everett's incomparable collection DS, WATCHES, NAWARE, PAINTINGS, etc., at practically your own prices. Oughtn’t this to prove irresistible? Let nothing prevent your presence Monday. Come prepared for a revelation in bargains. q Thursday to share in the bargain distribu- A chance to select what- SILVER JEWELRY, DIA- ART BRIC-A-BRAC,