Evening Star Newspaper, April 3, 1897, Page 24

24 DEEP WATER PILOTS : = A Vocation That Requires Great Skill and Daring. SOMETHING OF THEIR LIFE AT SEA. | candidate who survives this ordeal must not suppose that he is to become at once a full-fledged pilot. For the first year he Lying in Wait for Vessels to Ap- pear. | LINER} | HE ANNOUNCE- ent that the asso- jation of Sandy Hook pilots will put Into commission th teamship buil veiy for pile > about May 1] to a new era n the pictu of vessels The r will undoub: ocean into steam- edly be followed by others, port er w he gradual dis- for many years vessels of all of the abber has schooners, most too having too | that great to make harbors re Fs wone and {es | his THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1897-28 PAGES. pilot boat is sald to be manned when there are no pilots on board. The boatkeeper ast serve for three years on one boat. he leaves without permission from the verning board or is discharged for any reason he loses the benefit of the he has served, and must put in three more on another boat. If he passes through this five-year period he comes up for examination as to his fitness come a pilot. This examination is nducted by the pilot commissioners, who iy call in one or two old sea-dog pliots to ald them in proving to the appll- t that he knows nothing whatever about the harbor and its pitfalls. But the is allowed to take charge of light vessels only; during the second year he can de- vote his attention to vessels having a@ draft of between 18 and 22 feet, and after that, having served seven years in apprentice- ship nd probation, he is allowed to take charge of the proudest, or, what is more to the point, from his way of looking at it, the biggest ship afloat, and to bring her into the harbor where he happens to ply trade. Life on Board. The provision of the law which requires a captain to accept cr at least to pay for he services of a pilot in case they are offered, ard to take the first pilot who applies, results in many exciting episodes for the pilots themselves. Races between the trim Ittle schooners and some ship anxious to avoid the pilots, or with other s equally anxious to capture a . May occur a dozen times a day lend plenty of variety to an existen| $s at no time likely to become monoto- nous. In the old days of fierce competition the pilot boats were often to be met with 100 miles or more off shore, but now they sel- dom go out more than a dozen miles. Still the pllot’s life is not one of ease and idle- ness, especially in winter, when every wave that breaks across the schooner’s prow coats her deck with a covering of ice, turns ner masts and sails into miniature ice- bergs and wraps the lookout man in a slanket of the same frosty material. Just what the pilot's lot is in cold weather may much an air of business for mere pleasure | craft. They darted hither and thither a most like the gulls that sometimes raced beside them, each one displaying some nuinber in big black figures on its main- sail, and thousands of Americans returning from foreign travel have felt a thrill of pleasure at sighting these bold little sea- birds perhaps 150 miles from the coast, welcoming them as the first sign of land, and feeling that with the pilot on board they are almost at home again. But here, . time brings changes, and the | gs is even now passing able that the beginning of h century will see the last of h around which eo many asseciation ling and herolc adven- tures have accumulated during the past life of American commerce he struggle to replace the sail pilot boats n craft has been a long and some- | itter one, but the victory of steam by the capitulation of the Sandy ots, Who have always been its most ‘ble antagonisis. Almost every 6ea- | he past twenty years somebody has | sted the building of a steam pilot But these conservative sea dogs, | the inborn scorn of old-fashioned railors for steam craft, have always fought | | the proposition tooth and nail, either thre elr commissioners, by Tefusing | to the steamboats, or else by a} of boyc The mere | of a steamer’s guiding the great is yugh to make | ed salt water guldes but they were quiet not likely to make | A Unique Calling. ° I of changes pending or already arrt the vocation of harbor pilot Sal n ©. whe unlike any other ; irect control which its the manner tn which and the sys- | tt more closely re- | i is than any In spite of | h law has ssions, ft fs | hy n | pting an | There ts no school | a man to be al at the end of a! d with a diploma } The pilot's diploma work, exposure to ough w and int e with all the “rips rs’ for 100 miles along the jission to the ‘aft is so re- the number of pilots never It_ts usually about 160 for For the other ports the mber ts co derably less. Only enough admitted to take the piaces of drop out on account of death or nat it is a difficult matter for to get even the opportunity of the hardships of the pilot's KO ye hard that much Hook. are ‘going would-be pilot begins his training usually at the age of sixteen or eighteen, thovgh frequently older men who have s before the mast or in some tr: take up the pilot's S an apprentice he {s put on a . Where he works as scullion and all-werk, picks up what informa- ton he can about tides, shoals and chan- nels, and learns not to fear the sea in its is. He helps to row the pilots essels in a little yawl when ning mountains, and grows stomed to risking his life every day argriest m to a a fi with ce of the men older in the by After two years of this kind of work the “cub” becomes boatkeeper, and 1s in- trusted with the charge of the boat when Bhe is r Curtously enough, a HARBOR PILOT BOARDING | she near foundered with the weight of It.’ | ene stands away, and the pilot who had AN OCEAN LINER, best be told by a record of two days spent on board pilot boat No. 2, otherwise known as the Ambrose Snow, on a recent cruise off Sandy Hook. It was just after the first of the big March storms that the writer, cold and shivering in spite of his heavy garments, and badly scared by the heavy storm, was landed on the deck of the Am- brose Snow. A great gale was blowlng out of the northwest, and from stem to stern the little schooner was coated over with Ice. But on board the pilot boat nobody seem- ed to mind the storm, for in spite of their smallness no stancher craft sail out of the harbor than these same little schooners. There is real danger, though, as the look- out announced when the watch was changed d he come below. “Looks as though we might get In the fix that No. 12 did in the big blizzard,” he said cheerfully. “You remember she took on a foot of ice on her decks, and her spars and rigging carried so much that Still there is no delay or hesitation when the call came, “All hands on “eck.” The lght of the steamer had been shted, and it Is the duty of the pilots to offer their services. The sails are shaken out as well as they can be with the load of tce that they carry, and No. 2 flies in the teeth of the gale toward the steamer, whose light can be seen whenever we rise on top of a big wave. Presently, when No. 2 is within easy signaling distance, a light fs run up at her masthead. In a moment a blue light is hoisted half way up the steamer’s ma Then the sails on No. 2 are reefed again, to go on board the steamer The sig- “Do you need | been ready turns to his own cabin instead. nal on the pilot boat meant, a pilot?” and the answer had been, ‘No, thank you; have one alrea “Do you mean to say,” asked the passenger, “that any one here would have trusted himself to one of those little yawis in such a sea as this? A Risky Job. “That's just tt," responded the boat- keeper; “any one of them would have done it if it had “been his turn” “But they wouldn't have a chance for their lives In rowing through those waves.” “Oh, yes they would have a chance. Them boats will Hve in almost any kind of weather. The biggest danger would have been from the chance of being swamped by the roli of the steamer. It's risky work boarding a vessel in this kind of weather, and more men are lost in that way than in any other.” When one says that the pllots are brave men he bestows no special praise. It is their daily business to be brave, and one realizes !t nowhere so well as when he stands upon the deck of one of their own vessels and watches the black, swirling seas, their tongues tipped with foam, rush open-moutked- upon him. A little later the pilot boat runs in close to a big sailing vessel and the order comes to “Give her the torch.” This is done by wrapping cotton waste on the end of a pole, dipping it in tar, and then, when it is lighted, whirling the torch below the big figures on the mainsail, which shows that she is a pilot boat. But this vessel, like the former cone, is already supplied with .a pilot, so that goon the torch is extinguished and every one who can do so has turned in. When the passenger goes on deck the next morning he learns that another steam- er has been sighted. Meeting a Liner. “It's a liner,” announces the lookout man without turning his head from his intent gaze at the eastern horizon. The passen- Ber's eyes sweep the horizon line, but he can see nothing. The wind has gone down somewhat, but the seas are still running high and their foaming crests sparkle in the morning sun. It ie still bitter cold and No. 2 looks like a well-developed iceberg, so thoroughly coated is she. Presently the lookout man speaks again “It's the Majestic,” & GOOD GAME FOR TWO. $3.38 per foot; 18 to 21 feet, $4.14 sides, their draft is known. a freighter sometimes unde | Cathedral With the ald of a strong glass, the pas- senger has just been able to make out the outlines of a dim something far ahead, but he cannot tell whether it is the Majestic or the Volunteer. “You don’t mean to say,” says he, half angrily, “that you can make out the ship's name at that distance?” “Why, sure,” replies the lookout man with a grin. “Then I'll bet you that the steamer, if it's a steamer at all, which I doubt—I'll bet that it isn’t the Majestic,” says the passen- ger, Lecoming excited. “Wait and see, my son, wait and see,” is all that the lookout man says as he turns again to gaze at the approaching speck. When the passenger comes on deck after breakfast, prepared to triumph over the lookout man, the latter silently hands him a glass, through which he can faintly make out the gold letters ““M-a-J-e- on the approaching steamer’s prow “But you don't mean to tell me that you could make out ker name when she was scarcely in sight?” asked the passenger, still incredulous. “I'll admit I fooled ye a little on that,” said the lookout man with a laugh. “I knew from the marks on her funnels that she belonged to the Majestic’s line, and no other of that line was expected in just now.” ‘That was easy, of course, for the pilot, but it was remarkable enough that he should have been able to see any mark at all when the sieamer was a mere dot upon the horizon. Such worderful powers of vision are not uncommon among the pilots. Long practice enables many of these men to see farther with unaided eyes than an ordinary person can with a g' Everybody seems to be in excellent humor on board No. 2 this morning, and the pas- senger learns that it Is because of their luck in capturing a prize, for the Atlantic liners are the capital prizes in the pilot lottery. The man whose turn it was to go on board has put on a clean white shirt and his best suit of clothes, for the pilot suits his apparel to the company he keep: and it is necessary to “spruce up” whe he has to take charge of a passenger ship. Coming Into Port. There is always great interest and some excitement in watching a pilot come aboard a ship at sea. The little yawl goes dancing up and down over the great waves until she is under the lee of the big steamer, where, it seems more than likely, she will be dash- ed to pieces against the vessel's side or overturned by the swell. The rope ladder is let down, and the ship's officers shout themselves hoarse with directions to the men below. Presently the pilot jumps from his place, catches the swinging rope, and in a moment ts landed on deck, shaking hands with one of the ship's officers. The ttle yawl goes back to the pilot boat, which continues its cruise for perhaps a week longer before she is “manned” and at liberty to return. Meanwhile the pilot on board the liner has a comparatively easy and pleasant thing of It. To be sure, grave responsibil!- tles are upon him, and he may be held ac- countable for the luss of lives and property if he gets the ship into trouble, but his mind is easy on that score. For several reasons he has cause to thank his lucky stars that he has found so easy a berth. In the first place, a pilot's pay depends upon the draft of the vessel. The rate fixed by law is for vessels drawing less than 14 feet $2.78 per foot; 14 to 18 feet, per foot; over 21 feet, $4.88 per foot. The big pas- senger boats are of heavy drafts, and be- The captain of ‘ates his draft (although there is a penalty attached to this) and there are frequently amusing con- tests between pilot and captain, in which the former endeavors to find out the ship's exact draft without insinuating that the captain fs a Har. The passenger steamers make the fastest time in getting into har- bor, so that the pilot earns his pay more quickly than he would on a sailing vessel. As the pilot who brings a ship in thereby earns the right to take her out again, the pilot on board a liner may be sure of a few days on shore to spend with his family before he goes back to the trade of risking his life for duty. On shore the pilot is quiet unassuming, temperate and wentle- manly, as he always ts. He lives a clean life, and barring accidents, reaches a hale old age, but he never becomes a rich man, and the Pilots’ Association may be called upon to bury him. Many deeds of heroism of which the world never hears are entered to his credit by the recording angel, and it may be truly sald that of all them that go down to the sea in ships honor is due to none morg than to the pilot. — I? you want anything, try an ad. in The Star. If anybody has what you wish, you will get an answer. 200 The Townn of Crete. From the St. Petersburg Viedomost!, Candia, Retimo, Canea, are of the “Crete of the hundred towns” the cnly three cities existing, and in using the word city every attenuation must be understood. Candia, situated at the mouth of the Kittle river, the Geofiro, was built in the ninth century by the Saracens on the site of Heraklion, one of the ports of Cnossus. The distance between Cncesus ond Candia is under an hour's walking, and in antiquity the two places were connected by walls, which re- called those between Piraeus and Athens. In the time of Venetian sovereignty Can- dia enjoyed great prosperity. Today {ts aspect is essentially Turkish on account of its houses, {ts mosques, its minarets and its bazaars, in which are exposed all the products of the east. It is surrounded by & bastioned wall, almost triangular in shape. Within there is another wall sepa- rating the old town from the new, the lat- ter being rearer the river. The fortifica- tlons date from the Venetians, but war and earthquakes have left iittle or nothing of the city’s ancient splendor. Tournefort has called it only the carcass of a city. Its chief monuments are the remains of the Church of St. Francis and the old Latin to St. Titus. Its population is between 13,000 and 14,000, mostly Mussul- mans. The port 1s protected by two moles, but the sand has been allowed to sift up 80 much that only very small vessels can enter. Its chief trade is with Trieste,which takes fron: it raisins and oll in return for soap. Canea comes next to Candia with a population of 11,000, equally divided be- tween Christians ‘and Mohammedans. Canea 1s the ancient Cydonia. The modern town dates from 1252, and Is the principal port of the island, the commercial capital, and the residence of the foreign consuls. Not far from Canea is the admirable an- chorage of Suda Bay. Retimo, the third town, is fifty-two miles southwest of Can- dia. ‘Its population is not above 3,000. If We Knew. If we knew the woe and heartache Waiting for us down the road, If_our lips conld taste the wormwood, If our backs could feel the load; Would we waste today in wishing For a time that ne'er can be; Would we wait in such impattence For our ships to come from se: If we knew the baby fingers Pressed against the window pane Would be stiff and cold tomorrow— ‘Never trouble us again; Would the bright eyes of our darling Catch the frown upon our brow? Would the print of rosy fingers Vex us then as they do now? Ah! these little ice-cold fingers, How they point our memories back To the hasty words and actions Strewn along our backward track! How those little hands remind us, ‘As in snowy grace they lie, Not to seatter thorns, but roses, For our reaping by-and-by! Strange we never prize the music Till the sweet-volced bird has own; Strange that we should slight the violets ‘Til the lovely flowers are gone! Strango that simmer skies and sunshine Never seem one-half so fair 4s when winter's snowy pinions Shake their white down in the alr! ips from which the seal of silence Rone but God.can roll away Never blossomed in such beauty ‘As adorns the mouth today! And sweet words that freight our memory With thelr beautiful perfume Come to us in sweeter accents ‘Through the portals of the tomb. Let us gather up the sunbeams Lying ull along our path; Let us keep the wheat and roses, Casting out the thorns and chaff; Let us find our sweetest comfort In the blossoms of today, With a patient hand removing All the briers from the way. ———_+e+______ How It Could Be Done. From the Chicago Evening Post. “I want a good likeness, photographer. “Of course,” he said. “But at the same time.” she continued, “I naturally want the most attractive fea- tures given special prominence,” “Yes, yes,” he returned. circumatances we'd better make it a full- lergth portrait so as to get in all of your gown.” she told the “Under those. A BOHEMIAN CRANK Henri Pille, the Paris Artist, and His Long-Haired Friends, A REMARKABLE GENERATION A Man Who Was Broken Up by Money and Success. CHAT NOIR AND M.SALIS Spectal Correspondence of The Evening Star. PARIS, March 16, 1807. ENRI PILLE, WHO is just .dead, was surely one of the foremost Parisian cranks. To his un- disputed talent as a painter and an artist in black and white he joined as undis- puted an unconcern for the conventional- ities of dress and cleanliness. It was Henri Pille of whom it was said: “If his hands are dirty it is because he is always rubbirg his face with them.” Such neg- ligence was his specialty. Although the personal untidiness of Henry Pille 1s a matter of hot dispute at the present mcment, the truest analysis is Ikely to be as follows: Henry Pille began life poor, plain-featured, ungainly, unprac- ticed in life's elegances and—untidy. This original defect he first accented, then ex- aggerated. Why? Some have it that be- neath all the exterior of Bohemian care- lessness he concealed the heart of a busi- ness man who saw in the exploitation of Bis native uncouthness a. powerful adver- tUsement. This reputation did, indeed, as- sist him, in a way. People remarked him at the Salon of the Champs Elysees. His hairy face, ravaged and weazened; his soft felt hat; his eternal summer overcoat— which never left him—hanging Imp and frayed; his ragged beard; his shoe-string necktle shifted out of place to show his stained shirt front; his phenomenal “Prince Albert” frock coat, longer than his unpre- cedented light-weight overcoat; his “snow boots,”’ 1. e., “arctics,” worn in summer as in winter; his too short pants; his unclassi- flable high hat and his encroaching pulse warmers, which at one time must have been bright scarlet, made him a figure not to pass without remark. When he walked he slouched, and he seemed ever to be look- ing © deways. Talent to Arrive. And so when people after taking in this rude ensemble noted with surprise the bit of ribbon at his buttonhole—the tiny red bow of the Legion of Honor—how could they do otherwise than sagely nod their heads and say, “All the same, it takes more talent to ‘arrive’ rigged out like that than if he were able to dress well, as we do! The day that Herri Pille first over- heard such words must have been one of &reat contentment for him. At last! He had succeeded at last in letting in the pub- Nc! He was a sacre Bohemian, a fanciful personage, an irregular, a spendthrift and a cafe pillar, he, the conscientious and in- dustrious worker, economical and saving! Others of a more friendly judgment have it that he keenly felt the disadvantages un- der which he labored naturally; and, de- spairing to overcome them in his early days, they say that he took refuge for his pride and sensitiveness in that exaggera- ticn of his ilis which came to be the habit of his Mfe. In elther case this man was an “original,” hig titles to originality be- ing clearly fourfold. His negligent ge hid a wealthy man. The airs and accent of a peasant which he always kept con- cealed a cautious and sarcastic mind, alert, advised, a boulevard Parisian. Underneath his outward — indifference there lay an excellent heart. And—what most of all accents his originality in the Montmartre Bohemia where he lived—he had not only talent, but was an untiring worker! AN Montmartre Bohemia. Ah, that Montmartre Bohemia! Its rep- vtaticn for folly cost Henry Pille dear in some ways, if it assisted him in others. There ts nothing from the brush of “Father Pille” on the walls of the new Hotel de Ville nor the Paristan mayors’ offices. Yet ene could scarcely have found a talent more fitted for such municipal decoration. Every one {s saying that this artist, who chose voluntarily the middle ages for his theme, would Fave been exactly the one to ovoke the good old times of the proud city’s history. They sre perceiving the error now, only to regret it; but it is too late. The municipal councillors never took Montmartre seriously, because Montmartre was gay. Commissions did not come to those young artists; they came down the hill to the commissions. As time wore on this one and that cut loose from the Bo- hemian life, forgot his folly and set up a painting shop respectably in a chic man- ner; Henry Pille stayed on, both faithful to the Quarter and the cafes. In the new life of the “tavernes artistiques,” so called, which now flood Montmarire to profit on the reputation of the Chat Noir (now de- funct) he was the only real Bohemian of the lot. Yet he was no Bchemlan at all! Exactly In “the good old days"—toward 1889-90— a milky way—or beery way—of talent threw its light across the city from the Latin Quarter—which the geniuses were leaving to the students—to Montmartre, the Southern Latin Querter’s northern antipo- —where they were settling. There was Jules Jouy, now in an institution for the insane, the author of ‘’The Moving Stove;” Mac Nab, carried off by the consumption, author of “The Expulsion” and “The Still: born;” Charles Cross, the exquisite poet of “The Santal Box" and “The Herring-Sour” —but why these names? The list is long But the story is short. The Chat Noir. Fifteen years ago, on the Boulevard Rochechouard, there was a small shop with windows, where the shutters were closed in the morning, but which reddened and flamed at night. Old lanterns were hung from the smoky beams, here and there were old-fashioned plaster casts, great nails served as coat hooks, and at the cashier's desk there was a blonde girl such as Ru- bens painted, surrounded by a brood of black cats. A poor poet, who is now dead, thrummed feverishly on the piano. Near him a bard stood upright and declaimed, and the long-haired, whiskered spectators applauded, howled, made the utmost noise and piled up the Iittle saucers which mark- ed the beers they were to pay for when they left off drinking. The master of the Place was full of joy: He was a painter who hed failed, 4 pretender to Bohemian- fem who gave himself the manners of the middle ages, and flung ‘out speeches whose wit excused their insolence. He professed to conquer Paris the name of art. In reality he was laying up money for his old age—very Iike*our Henri Pille. This was Rodolph ‘@alis, the founder, owner and explofter of the Chat Noir for fifteen years, whd' sold’out the shop when it had run its tine. { His extraordindry fancies drew artists around him and &® cifcle of geniuses was formed. It was a part of their Bohemian- ism not to mix with the infamous middle- class respectability of ‘the “bourgeois.” So they set up an academy in a little hall at the end of the place and curiosity hunters flocked in to look at their heads over the railing. The Decorated Walls. The artists decorated walls and ceilings with exquisite panels and frescoes, where the Black Cat mingles in the adventures of Pierrot and his lady friend. To an ac- companiment of Chinese Shadows a poet declaimed his dramatic verses. It was like an artistic Punch and Judy. Henri Somm composed for it a burlesque melodrama and songs and parodies. Chartran, who has now painted the portrait of McKinley, was ore of the young men of the place, and so was Jean Richepin, the author of Yvette Guilbert’s “La Glu,” accused of heartlessness by some one in New York. Success came and all Paris heard of the evenings at the Chat Noir. Soon a whole house had to be bought to accommodate its publfe, and the artists again decorated it in every part with extravagant genius. The watiers were dressed in green coats with giit embroidery,like members of the French Academy, and their-first coats were actual second-hand garments which Salis had found means of procuring. The laugh on the prudent academicians who sold their old uniforms was not the least of the amusement. Guy de Maupassant was made the hero of the inauguration. He, too, with the fate of McNab, Jouy, Charles Dela- court and so many another of these geni- uses, was to die a few years later in the madhouse. Throwing Off the Mask. Meanwhile Rodolph Salis grew rich, and did not pay his artists. His poets had their food from him, but they complained that that was all. Last year they ventured @ little tour in the provinces on their own account, advertising their Chinese shadows and verse recitals as the Chat Noir of Paris, and Rodolph Salis, the “friend of genius,” and who was made by them, has- tened to appeal to the courts for an in- junction, It was time to throw off the mask. Frankly, masks are not uncommon in Bohemia, wherever the tricky kingdom sets iiself up, for a time, to dumfound with | admiration, fear and veneration the sim- ple-minded middle class, which the French call bourgeoise. For this reason the bour- geoise have an instinctive shrinking fron’ Bohemia as not too true. The masks are varied, and the one that Pille wore was al- mest innocent. The Typical Poor Artist. He was of the band of Montmartre art- ists. You can imagine what this word “Montmartre” brings to the mind of the respectable French reader in the line of dis- orderly existence. He was dirty, and his garments were of uncouth cut. It was in this new Athens he was to be always found. A year ago he signed the manifesto of the “enraged-cow pros sion, and in that apoth-osis of “penniless art” there was actually “the car of Henri Pille.” It showed him, in person, as the typical poor artist, moving rather than pay rent. In reality, he waz almost if not quite rich, and had a spacious apartment for his wife ard children. He was always working, paid all his debts, and understood that he should be paid in turn. Even money he had lcaned out to other Bohemians he was not above dunning for. Henri Pille understood the essence of all Bohemianism. He reduced to the minimum the restraint of social proprieties. He was unconventional, he was dirty—but he was not lazy and he was not pooi STERLID oe FUTILITY OF THE SPELLING GRIND. Maturity Said to Be the Leading Factor im Learning to Spell. Dr. J. M. Rice in the April Forum, Believing that the most rational method of determining what our teachers might be expected to accomplish would lie in dis- covering what results the more successful one had been able to obtain, I ventured to undertake a series of researches which I hoped might serve as an initial step toward bringing this problem to a solution. The material presented in the present article is Intended to show what our teachers have accomplished in spelling, and what, ther: fore, may be reasonably demanded of our schools on this subject. The traditiona! standard in spelling is perfection; but this standard is unreasonable and consequently cannot be too soon abandoned. . My reeearches in spelling were made in t form of tests, the number of children e: amined reaching nearly thirty-three thou and. My first test consisted of a column o/ fifty words; the second of words in sen- tences; and the third of gpelling as found in compositions. - On directing our attention tc the results of these tests, we | are confronted by a number of interesting phenomena. The most striking of these ar. First, that In the vast majority of instances the results are very close. In fifteen of the twenty-one schools shown in table No. 2 the averages on the second test were from 73.3 to 77.9. Second, while the results in the lower graces of different schools showed considerable variation, those in the eighth- year classes, which represent the end of the School course, were also remarkably even. In twelve of severteen eight-year grades the averages were from S4 to 88, and fifteen of a total of twenty sets cf cighth- grade compositions, examined for spelling, the variations were only three-tenths of 1 per cent, the results lying between 9.1 and These figures become doubly re- markable when we consider that the twen- ty-one schools rot only represent institu- tions in many sections of our country, that, in addition, they are sa sckools corducted under all conce conditions. Further, from a pedagogical standpoint, all varieties of schools are in- cluded, some of them belonging to the most mechanical, while others are among the most progressive in our country... . Do not these results indicate that, learning to spell, maturity is the leading factor, while method plays only a subordi- nate part? And, if the superiority of the old-fashioned spelling grind cannot be demonstrated, is it not our duty to save the cbild from this grind? Moreover, as the re- sults prove t@at, beyond a certain mini- mum, the compensation for time devoted to spelling is scarcely if at all appreciable, have we not here discovered an element of waste, which, if eliminated, would open the way to an equal enrichment of the course of study, without detriment to. the focmal branches? iG HEILIG. +2 Discipline—Military vs. From the Philadelphia Press. A courler had arrived, bringing the in- telligence that Troop B was surrounded by hostiles, and was standing them off with the greatest difficulty; that, unless aid reached them very shortly, Troop B was doomed to massacre. The quiet post sprang to arms. Troopers and officers hurried hither and thither. Noise and confusion, tempereg by discip- Une, reigned. In an incredibly short time the bugles sounded boots and saddles, and the battalion filed out. There was no song, no jesting nor laugh- ter to lighten the march in ail that column. The peril of their comrades weighed upon each heart; the stern determination to save or terribly avenge was stamped upon each face. Suddenly there was a sharp exclamation, and one of the troopers, with a pale, set face, turned his horse from the column and trotted back toward the post. In another moment an officer swiftly gained his side and, with a wrench that nearly jerked him from the saddle, stopped him. “You cowardly cur,” hissed the officer, “what does this mean?” “I—I forgot to tell my wife that I wouldn't be home to supper,” exclaimed the trocper. Domestic. —___+-e+____ Well Flushed. From the Philadelptia Press, Carrie—Well, I was in great luck last night.” Stella—‘‘Indeed, in what way?” Carrie—“I drew to another diamond and filled. That makes five men I'm engaged to.”” “Want” ads. in The Star pay because they bring answers. IN THE CHURCHES Several churches and religious organiza- tions have tried to establish gymnasiums in this city for the benefit of the younger members of thelr organizations, but in nearly every instance the efforts have been unsuccessful. It is probable, however, that the one now in operation in the parish hall of Triniiy Protestant Episcopal Church, corner of 3d and C streets north- west, will be a success, as the interest In it among its members and the members of the congregation is on the increase. A mission began at St. Joseph’s Catholi Church last Sunday, and it ts last through next week, with daily services It is in charge of a band of Redemptoris Fathers, under the supervision of the pas tor of the church, Rev. V, F. Senmi:t. The 10 services this week were for women solcly, while the services next week are to be for the male membrs of the parish At the congregational m Memorial Presbyterian J. Russeli Verbrycke, pastor, rece 1, the following officers were clectec he Elders, C. H. Merwin, E. M. Finch, ¢ Kimmie, A. . H. Powell; de eh Baldwin, Joseph N. Rose, Ber § E. A. Coleman and W. s. Curtis, and trus , Frank McClelland, T. Tipton, W. B. Grove, James T. Metcalf, F. c. J. Myer and L. R. «inney The jand Avenue Branch of thi Central Union Mission is closed for the ont, as a result of the t fire, which slightly damaged the wall and roof. Ar- rangements are have the resumed. Quite a number of the ladies of th estant Episcopal chur. part in a “Qu day at the F Chareh of St Mark. The service was a novelty to most of the ladies present, this being the first one of the kind to be heid in this city, and i sted Of alternate devotional exer- cises and silent meditation. It was con- being made, however, to amage repaired and the services Thurs- ducted by the bishop of Washing:on, Dr. Satterlee, assisted by the cle of the Pro-Cathedral. At noon a lunch was At the annual congregational meeting of the First Methodist Protestant Church Rey. G. Q. Bacchus, pastor, the following were elected officers of the church to serve during the ensuing conference year: Trus- tees, L. W. Shoemaker, W. H. Johnson, W. B. Hartley, N. Brewer, W. J. Brewer, N. Cornwell, George Johnson and M. Baldi- ston; stewards, W. H. Johnson, W. B. Hartle: W. J. Brewer, John Club, W. Watts, Miss F. Pritchard, Miss Geneva Thompson, Miss Sirah Parks and Mrs. B. B. Earnshaw, delegate to the conference, B. Hartley, and alternate, W. J. Brewer. St. Teresa’s Catholic Church, Rey. M. P. Sullivan, pastor, is being enlarged. The improvements are to cost nearly $5,000, and when completed will have the effect, prac tically, of making St. Teresa’s a new church. Among the features of the im- provements is to be a fine. new organ. The literary department of the Epwo:th League of Metropolitan M. E. Church held “An evening with Henry Ward Beecher” Tuesday evening in the lecture room of the church. The Young Ladies’ Misston- ary Soclety of the church held a meeting the same evening. Mr. Frederick A. Fenning, one of the younger members of the First Presbyteria! Church, recently returned from a winter trip to the Bermudas. Next Friday even- Ing the Sunday school of the church is to g:ve a complimentary entertainment, the feature of which will be a talk by Mr. Fennirg on his trip, illustrated by numer- qus views. Rev. Mason Campbell Stryker, rector of St. Paul's P. E. parish, Prince George's county, Md., is to assist the rector of St. Paul's Church, Washington, Rev. Alfre Harding, during the remainder of Lent and until after Easter. The annual spring meeting of the pres- bytery of Washington city is to be held next Monday evening and all day Tuesday at the Western Presbyterian Church. At the Monday evening service there is to be a sermon preached by the retiring mod- | erator, Rev. J. N. Westcott of Vienna, Va. Tuesday evening there is to be a popular meeting under the auspices of the Christian Endeavor Presbyterlal Mis- sionary Union. Bishop Hurst mental service Church. William Everett Johnson, rector of Church of the Redeemer, New York, is to deliver special sermons ‘to men next Wednesdey, Thursday end Friday evenings at St. Paul's P. E. Church, under the au- spices of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew Chapter of that church. A recent guest at the parish residence of St. Paul's Catholic Church was the Right Rev. J. J. Monahan, bishop-elect of Wil- mington, Del., who is to be consecrated by Cardinal Gibbons May 9 at St. Peter's Pro-Cathedral, Wilmington. The fifth anniversary of the pastorate of Rev. W. P. Gibbors of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, corner of 4th and L streets north- West, Was observed last Monday evening by a supper, at which there were present a large number of locai colored Baptist clergy and laity. Rev. George W. Lee, pastor of the Ver- ment Avenue Baptist Church, is conducting revival services at Cambridgeport, Mass. In his absence the services are in charge of Rev. Mr. Browder of Oklahoma. The annual meeting of the Washington and Alexandria branch of the Women’s Fcreign Missionary Society of the Metho- dist Protestant Chureh, took place Monday at Central Church. Officers were ele for the ensuing conference y President of the branch, M . A. Lips- comb of Congress Street Church; vice pres. idents, Mrs. Julia Perkins, Central Church Mrs. J. R. Caton, First Church; Mrs. Thos. is to conduct tomorrow at the sacra- Metropolitan Grimes, Congress Street, and Mrs. W. B. Hartley, First Church; recording secretary, Mrs. A. C. Germond, Alexandria; corre- sponding secretary, Mrs. Mary C. Ong, Central Chur epasurer, Miss Lizzie Amiss, and assistant, Miss Florehce Ham- mond, both of Congress Street: Miss S. A. Lipscomb was elected delegate to the ex- ecutive board of the general conference, and Mrs. Ong alternate. At & meeting of the Baptist Ministe: Association Monday morning at Calvary Chureh, Rev. A. F. Anderson of Grace Church delivered a lecture on “The Social Side of Christian Work.” Tomorrow evening at Trinity Church there is to be a memorial service in me: ory of the late rector of the parish, Rey. Thomas Grafton Addison, D.D., who died one year ago, April 4. The service is to be conducted by the rector, and the sermon will be delivered by Rev. Randolph H. Mc- Kim, D.D. The president of Columbian University, Rev. B. L. Whitman, D. D., is supplying the pulpit of the Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia. The District Sunday School Union met Wednesday night in Anacostia. Addr@sses were delivered by Rev. W. G. Cassard, pas- tor of Twelfth Street M. E. Church, and by Mr. W. H. H. Smith. The union is to hold a similar meeting next week at Tenleytown. Central M. P. Church has selected the fol- lowing as its new officers: Board of trus- tees, W. K. Hill, T. J. Wilson, E. C. Reid, O. M. Ong, W. R. Kemp; stewards, George Compton, W. H. Martin, sr., J. Bicksler, J. Cc. Dulaney and E. V. Mayers; secretary of the church, W. H. Martin, jr.; organists, Miss Beulah Parsons and Miss Bessie Reid, and musical directors, J. 8. Mills and W. ?7M3I0ISIAI An Appeal to Reason Tf you are sick with any kind o the doctors don’t help you, why lose further thos with them Your ailment ts surely carrving ye the graveyard. If vou have been taking all » eines without benefit, is it w Why not be fair to yourself and to those who ge- pend upon you? Why wot be fair to RADAM’S MIGROBE KILLER and give St a trial? AN you want ts heal:h. You will get St surely and positively if you 1 this Microbe Ki roevery day. It is py Water charged with antiseptic gases. It will kill the millions of mi = in your Wood thet a making you sick, Non where the seat of your disease may be, Radam’s Microbe Kille hunt down and destroy every germ that is ene the trouble. Remember that it cures ali diseases, be they are in the blood, and when the blood Is made per fectly well, the whole body will be perfectly weil, too. That is what Radam's Mi Killer does makes sick p je well all over by making every drop of Wlood In thy r veins healthy. It has eared thousands pon thousands during the past ten years, and every day its sales grow larger aug larger. Fall information and testimonials about this gr remedy can be had FREE in a fifty page which will ent on request. Address The Wit! fam Radam Microbe Killer -y 121 Prince #t., New York, or Washington office, ava 1018 7th #t. now, K. Hill. The congregation adopted resolu- tions asking the coming annual conference to return to them their present pastor, Rev Samuel J. Smith. The young ladies of Metropolitan Baptist Church gave a sociable and taffy pull terday evening. The board of control of the Washington District Epworth League is to mect_ Wed- nesday evening next at Foundry Church and arrange for a celebration of {he eighth anniversary of the organization of the k worth League. The annual congre tional meeting of the Not Presbyterian Church was held last week, and Messrs. William ©. Iby and William D. West elected trustees for a term of three years; Judge John P. Jortes secretary of th liam Hefry, auditor. AS a result of revivals held during the past winter there have been 500 converts added to the membership of the local cc ored Baptist churches. The new officers of the Junior Christian Endeavor Society of Kendall Church are a< followe: President, Charles Tabler; vice congregation, and Mr. Wii president, Miss Elsie Wi Ethel Vernon, and un The annual Sunday sc urch ts to be held tomorrow. dies’ Mite Society of the an Presbyterian Chureh h evening in the ch A farewell reception w: turing pastor of Mt. Vernon M South, Rev. I. W. Canter, T ing. The Ministers’ Baptist Chureh meeting from Mt. Carmel Church t Vermont Avenue Church. At the mer this week a paper was read by Rev Bishop Johnson, D. D., on “The Rise Baptist Principles.” Rev. M. McVicar, one of the of the Baptist Home Missi in Washington this week on bu nected with Wayland Seminary. At St. Matthew’s Church on Wed: evenings during Lent Rev. Cha Currier of Baltimore is delivering a s of sermons. A retreat in charge of Bishop Curtis recently closed. Next week at Epiphany Church th to be noonday services for men, under the auspices of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew >. “Want” ads. In The Si bring answers Association »of Colored s has changed tts place v. ot r pay bec se they > A De Quincey Heroine Dead. From the Westminster Gazette. Readers of De Quincey will remember the very touching account which the essayist gives of a family of children who for two days and two nights were snowed up their lonely cottage in dale, The par- ents had gone to a neighboring village, were overtaken by 4 terr! orm and never came back. The eldest child, a girl of twelve, who had played the mother to her } brothers and sisters in a way which only {some children can, ultimat made her | way to a farm house, a search party was ! got together, and the frozen bodies of th: parents, who had been unable io make their Way aginst the wild force of the storm, were found near the famous Easdale Tarn. The incident has frequently been the sub- Jeet of story, and, if we remember rightly, Wordsworth also utilized it. We refer to it now in consequence of the death of Mrs. Hall, the last survivor of the orphan far: ily, at the age of ninety-two. She was tie youngest of them all, and it is a singular ccineidence that she should have passed away at a time when the snow—which had such a momentous effect upon her early life—again lies thick upon the Fells, Deserves No ‘agement. From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. About the poorest industry in this co.n- try is that in which ninety-nine disappoin ed men watch cne man secure an office he can hold only a few years. Where Oblivion is Bliss. From L-fe. Angelina (after receiving a score of kiss- s)—“‘Are you sure you love me, Edwin “Oh, Angelina!’ “Then you may kiss me.” Jong my throat was filled with sores, lange lumps formed on my neck, and a horrible uleer broke out on my Jaw,—says Mr. 0. H. Elbert, who resides at 714 Eighteenth st., Galveston, Tekas. He was three times pronounced cured by prominent physicians, but the dread- ful disease always returned; he was then SPRING Book om the disease and tte treatment matied free by Swift Specific Co., Atlanta, Ga.