Evening Star Newspaper, June 12, 1897, Page 23

The weather for tomorrow, according to the conjecture, will be like last Sunday, fair. This will mean another day of good riding. and will afford a pleasant trip to many riders in the city. Last Sunday was @ good cay, and there were many thousand riders out, and it can be predicted that to- morrow pill witness equally as large a turnout. One thing is sadly manifest, and that is the lack of nearby places, where short Pleasure Jaunts may be taken in the fore- noon or afternoon. The few places that “re now open can be visited in very short 1 then the round has to be started When one looks over the list places within a radius of five from the city it can then be are Hmited. A good many more places could be added to the number if the roads leading in other directions were only gocd, but such is not the case. other drawback is the hills which surround the city, and which in some cases prove insur ble to the novice, especially » riders of the fair sex. There appears affairs and learning to ride now a lull in the racing worl, » only race of the near future w be the big meet on July 5, a little o three weeks distant. The race which wa: to have been held June 17 has been de- clared off, and there is hardly any likeli- hood of another race being declared in the intervening time, so that things regarding the track will be quite slow for a fortnight or | . The bombshell thrown in the ranks of the local amateurs during the week by the professional riders has caused more of a stir up than any one thing of re- cent years, and it would indeed be a queer thing to see all of the local leading ama- teurs turned over to ride in the professional class. Club Rams of the Week. League of American Wheelmen, tomor- row, for Brandywine, Md. Start at 9 a.m. from 13th and K streets. Wednesday, for Chevy Chase, Md. Start at 7:30 p.m. from ce. y Cycle Club, tomorrow, for Sur- rattsville, Md. Start at 9 a.m. from club quarters, 142) New York avenue north- west. Washington Road Club, tomorrow, for Cabin John bridge. Start at 9 a.m. from club quarters, 1224 F street. Washington Road Club, tomorrow, for Rockville. Start at 9 a.m. from club quar- ters, 1224 F street. Arlington Wheelmen, tomorrow, for Spa Athletic Club grounds. Start at’ 10 am., from 13th and K streets. Levant Cycle Club, temorrow, for Cycle Cottage. Start at 9am. from’ club quar- ters, #41 Pennsylvania avenue southeast. Catholic Clab Cyclists, tomorrow, for Myrtle Cottage, Biadensburg. Start’ at 9 am., from club quarters, Ist street near North Capitol street. Gotlen Rod Wheelmen, tomorrow, for Al- exandria. Start from club quarters, 64 C street northeast, a’ Mount nt Athletic Club, tomorrow, ietic Club grounds. Start at 9 ub house, at Mount Pleasant. Club, tomorrow, for a.m., from ‘club The Century Cycle Club made its third official century run last Sunday, and the following members finished in fine shape: Messrs. Andersen, Noordzy, Wili- iams, Wright, Dick Posey, Maury Posey, Lee Counselman, T. Reed, Irby Reed, Coons, Hourigan, Weesner and Capt. Byrnes. The club left this city for Balti- more at 6 a.m., and finished by 6:30 p.m., three hours being taken up in Baltimore for dinner and resting, and making just nine hours of active riding. It was by far the mast successful century run the club has taken this season, everything going off nicely. The route was via the cinder path and the shell road, making up the balance of the mileage tn and around Baltimore. The regular meeting of the club for the month was held Thursday evening, and va- rious business matters of importance to the club were disposed of. The hoys missed Lieut. O'Connor on the century run, who not feeling in good riding sbape decided not to attend. Capt. Byrnes ppointed Louis Anderson to act in his Place. Louis is one of the fast riders of the centurions, and can keep up a hot pace with any of the riders. The Posey brothers, with swift George Wright, made the return trip from Balti- more, Sunday, in three hours and seven- teen minutes. ‘The club will not run another century until next month, unless the captain calis one before that time. If the weather keeps cool it is likely that he will, as the club Was mot organized to ride Cabin John bridge run but a strictly long-distance club. Since its organization it has lived up to the objects of the latter. The ciub is now getting in some of the best road riders in the District, and with such men as Counselman, Heed, Dick Posey, Louis Anderson and Sam Dodds, with Harry Stocks, together with the old riders, the members should make the Cen- tury Club one of the best cycling organiza- tions known. The club road race,which has been spoken of before, will come off shortly, and the matter will come up at the next meeting for final action. The next run of the club will be to Sur- rattsville, Md., although the schedule calls for Marlboro. The boys are anxious to cat some of Wheatley’s strawberries, to say nething of spring chicken. President Coons has been known to eat three while the proprietor was not looking. (Of course this means strawberries). The club will leave 140 New York avenue at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning for the run. Capt. Byrnes would like to state to his friends that his chain stood the last week's cen- tury run lovely and no railroad trains were stopped to pick him up. He finished with the bunch and set the pace both going and coming. Levant Cyele Club. The Levant Cycle Club will take a run to Cycle Cottage tomorrow morning, start- ing at 9 o'clock from the club house, 641 Pennsylvania avenue southeast. Last Sunday the club went to River View. ‘There were eighteen mea in the party, and the ride was thoroughly enjoyed. The trip down was made awheel and the entire par- ty returned on the boat. Next Sunday the club will make its an- rual run to Colten’s, on the lower Poto- mac, one of the features of the club for the year. A general invitation is extended to all club members to join in the trip. All arrangements have been made, and the ac- commodations for the cyclists wili be as perfect as possible. In order te carry out as large a crowd as possible the party will leave in three squads. The first squad, un- der Capt. Norris, will leave the club house at noon next Saturday. At 6 o'clock in the evening a second squad, under Lieut. Hut- chinsen, will leave the club quarters. At midnight the third and last batch of riders will start. All of the riders will proceed to Mechanicsville, Md., where the night will be spent. Early the next morning the ride will be resumed, and all of the cyclists reach Colton’s in a body. The balance of the day will be spent at the resort, return- ing to the elty by the beat. Catholic Ctub Cyclists, ‘The members of the Catholic Club did not go out on the road a club last Sun- day, buf during the week there were sev- EELMEN pepular, and the members are joining in them with a vim. The run for tomorrow is to Myrtle Cot- tage, near Bladensburg, starting from the club hcuse, on Ist street, about 9 o'clock. Golden Rod Wheelmen. The various runs of the Golden Rod Wheelmen are made very successful this year, the one to Falls Church last Sunday leaving the headquarters at 9:30 with a large attendance. The ride proved to be delightful and was enjoyed by all the members. The run for last Wednesday evening was countermanded by the captain, but the evening was devoted to a program of vocal and instrumental mustc. At the meeting of the club Wednesday Capt. Willard called a run for Alexandria Sunday, leaving the headquarters at 9:30 a.m. Colambia Athletic Ctub. ‘There was a meeting of the cycle ¢om- Teittee of the Columbia Athletic Club Monday evening at the club house. The resignation of Mr. Harry Stiles as chair- man of the committee, which gave him the rank of captain, tendered his resignation as such. The resignation was accepted with regret, Capt. Stiles not finding suf™- cient time to devote to the cycling work of the club. The committee after accepting the resig- nation elected Mr. Richard J. Beall, jr., to act as captain until his election can be ratified by the board of governors of the club. He appointed as his lieutenant Mr. Thomas J. Fisher. Mt. Pleasant Athletic Club. The members of the Mt. Pleasant Athletic Club are all stirred up over the action of the local professionals in trying to throw the amateurs in their ranks. The club is especially interested in Wilson, who won the District championship and who is a member of the organization. The club claims to have one of the strongest base ball teams in the city, ana the string of victories of the Arlington Wheelmen has caused the issuance of a challenge for a match game to be played Sunday on the grounds of the Spa Athletic Club, near Bladensburg. The club will Teave its headquarters at 9 o'clock tomor- row morning for the place. Chain and Sprocket Club. ‘The Chain and Sprocket Club since its reorganization a few weeks ago has as- sumed the nature of a social club, and one of the features of the organization will be the ladies’ runs during the coming sea- son. The first of the series wag recently held, and a crowd of sixty-four was car- ried out, and the other runs that will be given are expected to be equally as well attended. Last Sunday the club took a run to Cabin John bridge, twelve riders participating. On the return trip the cyclists stopped at the International Park for practice riding. The run tomorrow is to Baltimore. The start will be made at 6:30 o'clock in the morning from the club house, 1115 9th street. Capital Bi. Club. The Capital Bi. Club took a run last Sunday to Ashton, twenty men going out, under Captain Allen. The trip was very much enjeyed, and the day was pleasantly si ent. Mr. J. McKee Borden, a popular member of the club, and his wife. are making ar- rangements to go abroad some time in Au- gust. They will carry their wheels with them, and enjoy a wheeling tour through the continent. Mr. T. Pliny Moran and wife will ride over to Baltimore tomorrow on their wheels and expect to make the return trip in the same rnanner. Washington Road Club. The members of the Washington Road Club did not take the- run to Colton last week, as was anticipated. This was due to the fact that ro connections could be made at the other end, and on thia ac- count the members deemed it unwise to ride down and back again. The acting captain, Rudolph Jose, has ealled a run for Rockville tomorrow, leav- ing the club house at 1224 F street at 8 o'clock. Capt. Joe Prince left town Monday for Atlantic City, where he calculated spend- ing the next three months. Arlington Wheelmen. The Arlington Wheelmen made a century run to Frederick last Sunday, completing the one hundred miles in a little less than thirteen hours. The start was made at 6:30 in the morning, and Frederick was reached at 11:15. After a lay-over the re- turn home was commenced at 1:30, and at 7 o'clock the bunch reached the city. Everything went off lovely. Seven men survived the trip, who were Captain Potts, Lieutenant Murphy, Messrs. Stone, Walk- er, Broadbent, Fred. Moore and Stocks. President Gettinger and Mr. Harding went out on the train and met the club at Frederick, but they refused to ride in on account of the condition of the highways. The road from here to Olney was found to be in first-class condition, but from Olney to Damascus they were horrible, and in one place the riders were forced to walk three miles on a stretch. The club will go to Bladensburg tomor- row and play a match game of ball with the team representing the Mt. Pleasant Athletic Club. There is considerable spec- ulation on the outcome of the game and the interest runs high. The start will be made at 10 o'clock in the morning. Queer Wheelmen. The Queer Wheelmen held a meeting dur- ing the week which was of more than usual interest. The resignations of John Woerner, jr., the treasurer, and Dr. Van Reuth were read and accepted. There was considerable discussion over card playing in the club, and, by a vote, it was carried that no more cards be played in the club house. A special meeting of the club has been called for next Monday evening, at_ which the names of a number of delinquents will be acted upon and the membership roll thinned out. Other business of importance will be brought up. Last Sunday the club took a run to Ash- ton, six men going out. No run has been called for tomorrow. Eastera Athletic Club. The annual excursion of the Eastern Athletic Club to River View, which was to have been given Tuesday evening, has been postponed on account of the rain. The affair will be held some time later in the season. Things in the club are extremely quiet, and very little ts being done in the ath- letic or cycling line. —_>—_—_. Written for The Evening Star. Edith's Dimple. All of thy charm Hes im one little thing, One feature of thy lovely face; ‘Tis not your bine eyes, nor lips so red, Nor figure, uor tall, stately grace. All of thy charm lies in one little thing, And that, like « star in the night, Is sometimes full fledged, conspicucas, grané, And, again, it is drifted from sight. Just laugh for us, Edith. Ab! there it is now, ‘That feature of thy smiling face. ‘To have such « @imple, & charm, and a smile, ‘One would win soon in life's weary race. —ELSID EVANS CURTER Se Ahead on Sweetened Wind. From the Albany Argus, American soda water manufacturers are THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1897-94 PAGES. RACING CHAT. ‘The publication of a paragraph im this column last week regurding the handicap- Ding im the one-mile open, amateur, race at the International Athletic Park on Dec- eration day, has called forth a long reply from the official handicapper for the occasion, seeking to defend his work The paragraph fn question was in no wise a reftection upon the work of the handicapper, but his reply seems to in- dicate that it was. The writer was in- clined to take @ charitable view of the situation and pass the matter over as a slight mistake on the part of the effictal, but that personage seems to still think that the work of handicapping in the par- ticular race should be praised instgad of condemned. In his statement of figures the official makes several miscalculations, and the ten- or of his remarks would seem to indicate that he figured entirely on the fifty-yard taarksmen, instead of the scratch men, for winning the race. Though Thropp won the race, he did not win his heat. On the ccmtrary he had to work extremely hard to qualify for a position, and it was ex- tremely close when the judges awarded him third place in his heat. ‘The object of a handicap race, as is well known, is to équalize the chances of all riders. The werk of doing this is extreme- ly difficult, and generally it is a hard mat- ter to gtve satisfaction all around. The slowest men are given the limit, while the speediest rider or riders are placed back on the scraich, the intervening space being filled up with men who are faster than the limit men, and slower than the men on scratch. It dees not necessarily follow that the limit men always win the race; nor does it necessarily follow that the scratch men will secure all of the positions. In the one-mile race in question the hand- icapping was so severely manifest on the scratch men as to call forth some expres- sion from those who know anything about racing. If only one scratch man failed to catch the bund, the matter might have been overlooked. Even if two of the men failed the same might have been the case, but when all three men in three different heats fail te do anything the fact can hardly be attributed to the stereotyped expression, that they did not ride as they should. Another thing that can be speken of. Wilson is a fast man, locally. Still he has not ridden as much or made as good time as has Schade or Halstead, yet he was placed on scratch with them. As a further excuse for his work the of- ficial handicapper states that only four of the sixty-one entrants to the race filled out their entry blanks as required by the rules, and that he performed the work of handi- capping from what he,personally knew of the riders’ ability. Evidently he knew very little of some,.judging by the way the race ended. In a case of this sort the referee can either throw out all of the en- trants or he can place all of the men back on scratch, or any other mark he may have chosen, but tt seems folly to have placed some so far in the lead that for the two laps of the three in the race they appeared to be gaining on the scratch men instead of the distance being decreased. At the seventh annual meet of the Quaker City Wheelmen last Saturday the racing was interesting, and many of the well? known racing men who have been in this city participated. Charles A. Church must have entirely recovered from his injurtes received Decoration day at the Interna- tional Park. He was in a one-mile match raee with E. S. Aker and lost by a foot. The men were paced by a triplet, with a purse of $100 hurg up. The time was rether slow, being 2:202-5. Fred Titus was also at the meet, and in the one-mile open, he managed to get second place, Earl Kiser winning,and Eddie Bald getting third place. The time was 2:13. In a one-mile haadicap, professional, Al. Newhouse, with 90 yards, won, and Carroh B. Jack, 7 yards, sceond. The time was 2. 3. Frank Starbuck, who was scratch man in the five-mile professional race, managed to get fourth place. Henry Smith, the Baltimore rider, who recently broke the Maryland state record for twenty-four hours by riding 314 miles, bas added another record to his string. Last Sunday he went against the Balti- more-Frederick record, which was held by Samtel M. Warns, the well-known century rider of the monumental city. The di tance between the two places is ay miles, snd the time of Warrs was 3 hours and 10 minutes. The attempt was made last Sunday morning, Sniith leaving Fred- erick at 7 o'clock. The roads were in none of the best condition, owing to the rain of previous days, yet the rider reached Gwynn’s Falls bridge at 9:50:42%%, com- pleting the ride in 2.50.42%4, or a little less than twenty minutes under the record for the distance. The form in which Smith has been riding nas surprised everybody, and he calculates going after a number of other state records. Several weeks ago he was to have made an attempt against the Baltimere-Washington record, but the event has been postponed until later. From continued observation It seems as though the number 13 eannot be an un- Ivcky number to the racing men, despite the fact that Ineverything else the par- ticular number is looked upon with dis- favor. Wilson at the first race meet was No. 13, and yet he won everything in the amateur line, reference being made to the matter in this column. At the Decoration day meet Carroll B. Jack wore the 13 num- ber, and he had phenomenal tuck, winning all three of the professional races and g&t- ting something like $140 in cash. He did not appear to mind the number, but, on the contrary, took it as an omen of good luck. This recalls to mind the fact that last year, at the national meet at Louis- ville, Tom Cooper was No. 13 on the list of entrants, yet some of his best work of the season was done on that day, and he cap- tured several championships. He, how- ever, was superstitious and at first kicked against the wearing of the number; but his trainer, “Mother” Webb, persuaded him to ride under it. If you see a dilapidated-looking wheel without any name-plate on it you may be reasonably sure that it is “‘ dee,”” the wheel of unknown quantities. Doubt- less many have seen the machine, but paid only a passing glance to ft, when it de served a much closer trspection. “Scrap- padee” belongs to a ycung man. whose name is omitted for obvious reasons. He did not have the cash to buy a wheel, and, with a mechanical turn of mind, he man- aged to get the parts of several wheels and make them into one machine, of rather unpretentious design. He exhfbited the ccmpleted machine to a friend, who im- mediately named it, “Serappadee,” and that name has stuck by ft. Though the com- posite machine {s not up to-the models of this year’s wheels in finish and style, yet it serves the purposes of its owner very well, and it may be that before long it will make its appearance on the track. The machine fs not half so bad looking as on? might tmagine, yet when the owner went out on it for a pleasure spin the other day, and a slight accident befell the steed, a youth remarked that a call ought to be turned in for an ashman to carry the bi- cycle to some dump and there bury it de- cently. But such remarks as these do not dismay the owner, and he is just as proud of his mount as a person riding a full mtckeled, high-grade machine. So if you see a wheel that has no bright and shining name-plate on the head, you may-be rea- —— sure that it is the great “Scrap- Dadee.”* ‘The race meet which was to be given ‘Thursday afternoon, June 17, at the Inter- national Athletic Park, has been postponed pifivee’ ae rated ome the a mae on July ven under the auspices local cycle board of trade. ‘The feature of the meet was to be # race between a ru: son, the fs i E : BF rr e 4% This is according tq recent an- noancement of the chairman of the racing board. The date wit undountedty give gen- eral satisfaction. It is nearly a earlier than last year,, the racea were held on October 17, thé“weather in the latter part of Septem! ae be just about right for the riders at tators. It will be remembered that tHe original date for was set for the circuit races trea a= October 2, but that as rather late, and the chairman of the racing board Was requested to c! date to some time In September, whi¢h ‘h¢ has done. There fs a good deS}. 6f'juncertainty in racing, and no one re: iit better than the contestants themsel . Because a man is speedy it does not ne@ssarily follow that he will win every event in which he will enter. There are too many chances afforded for accidents," ot fhe working of quiet combinations it ‘him, for him to be successful all of the time. A man may take every race on the program in one meet, and in another meet may not even get a place. An illustration of this oc- curred at the race meet in Baltimore for the Decoration day fair, which was held on the 20th ultimo. The local riders ecar- ried everything before them, and our Geo. Ball managed to sweep almost all of the prizes in the professional races. He car- ried away the bulk of the purse money, and yet while riding in his own city he hag not been near so successful. He captured third place in the mile open, and that was the only place he secured this season at any of the local meets. The accommodations at the Willow Grove track at Philadelphia cemprise 12,000 seats for the spectators, while at the Interna- tional Athletic Park the accommodations number only about 2,100 seats. This shows a wide range of capacity. While the ac- ccommodations at the Philadelphia track have frequently been taxed, there have been only two occasions when the accom- modations of the local track have been touched up to something like their capaci- ty, once this season and once last year. This shows a wide range of interest In cycling by the public of the two cities, yet with good sport it is only a question of time when the local track will draw as good a crowd as the one in the other city. The local board of trade is considerably incensed over the fact that in the Decora- tion day race meet four of the professional riders pooled thelr earnings and made an equal division of the purse. The men con- nected with the affair are Carroll. B. Jack, AI Newhouse, Charles A. Church and Fred Sims. It is alleged that by working the pool the races were not as interesting as they would ordinarily have been, though there can be no doubt that the two-mile handicap was a very pretty race. In the event of their winnings being pooled Jack was the man who lost by it. Between the four riders something like $205 was won, which would give each man over $50 as his share of the profits from the day’s work. FOR WOMEN CYCLISTS It is predicted by a good many people that women riders wil! soon desert the bi- eycle for the tricycle. This appears to be hardly likely. Back of the prediction i¢ the assertion that Dame Fashion orders the change. All of this is due to the fact that the Princess of Wales has started the inno- vation, preferring the tricycle to the bi- cycle. With such a fashionable precedent the society dames throughout England are following the example of her higness, and the craze is extending to this country. In Marlborough house, the London residence of the Prince of Wales} thére are stored m tke cycle room sixteen bitycles and tri- cycles. Conspicuous among them is the trivycle of the Princess of Wales, on which she tekes her exercisg within the spacious grounds surrounding "the {pansion. The Prince of Wales also Ras atricyele in the collection, which he upes considerably. In New York city some ofthe fashionable women who have taken tothe use of the tricycle are Mrs. FredeHick ¥anderbilt, Mrs. Henry Villard, Mrs. 7 Joh, Chambcriain, Mrs. Charles Fanchlyy, Mr. Clara Louise Kellceg-Strakosh, Mrsr W.'A. W. Stewart and a number of others “Atmong the prom- inent nen who have taker’to the tricycle are Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British am- bassador, Prince Wready, thé British diplo- mat,.and the Ear! of Abesdeen, the gov- €rner gencral of Canada. The three great reasons for the use of theltrike (2 name equally es applicable as’ pike) are fashion, appéarences and considérations of health, but they are not superior to the many other great advantages that can be enumer- ated to the bicycte. ss ~ A novel use of the bicycle lias been made by some of the female residents of West- chester county, New York, who are in fa- vor of prohibition, and who do everything in their power to #top the sale of liquor. For some time past the women of the coun- ty have been on to the sale of liquor from wagons, which traveled through the coun- ty from township to township, dispensing Hquid refreshments to all of those fortu- nate enovgh to have the price. While quite sure and certain that the business was carried cn in evasion of the excise laws, the women were never able to get infor. mation sufficient to obtain a conviction if an arrest was made and a trial followed. A happy scheme was struck by the women which has practically broken up the fl- Hcit selling of the intoxicating beverages. The suspected wagons were followed around by women mounted on bicycles, and enough evidence secured to convict. A number of arrests followed, an equal num- ber of convictions, and finding the busi- hess 80 unprofitable the owners of the wagens ceased to peddle whisky and other stuff. The women of the county, who in- terested themselves in the crusade, score a big vietory for their side of the case. Selecting a bicycle skirt appears to a difficult thing with many riers Abas the peranees ae matters of street dress, ice of er person: pie Persons is frequently Of course, there are certain dresses used for street wear that could not be used for the bicycle, but then, again, there are some dresses that are suitable for both purposes. As soon as a skirt gets worn at the bot- tom, mainly due to trailing on the ground, the eau astsioas girl makes the dress over again in another form. A good many, how- ever, discard the dresses. It is suggeated that the skirts which are worn or soiled at the bottom be used for a bicycle skirt. This can be done by cutting off five or six inches or perbaps more—to make the skirt long énough to suit the taste of the wearer —and using the goods cut off for patching Purpeses, in case a snag appears in the skirt, due to ita getting hooked in the Wheel or through an accident of some sort. The color of a bicycle skirt need not be limited, and any pretty color can be used. However, most skirts the writer has seen worn by bicyclista are of plain colors, with bo design, though it does not n jecessarily follow that no de: i fee! signs can be used in the well The skirt of this make is self-arrang- r déés not have to ible Of evenly divid- saddle. An- exe end = wraj sprocket wheel, as is the— rdinary ora skirt when wot. many makes . skirts on sale in the Pesacine: that to met 2 R i HA i Had ; I j 5 i i it Hr y @ good many women oe would never think of getting out Scperaly a arrow atret or bigawng 72 blockading other ridera and chat: with themselves, utterly unmindful of the an- TS. Ppetess ‘pumping up or lighting the lamp, she never thinks of taking the machine on the side of the road, but invariably performs the work in the center of the highway. These little things may be done unthinkingly, but they are noticed by others. Though a woman may not be acquainted with the interior wer! ef a bicycle she likes to have the outside looking clean and neat and shining. If the nickeling ts getting a dark and rusty color rub over it with a rag upon which some powdered whiting or chalk has been placed. A little rubbing will make it look like new. ‘To p the rims bright a little benzine or gasoline will bring back the luster, though care should be taken not to get any on the tires. Cold water is the best thing for cleaning the enamel, though the frame should te rubbed dry with a woolen cloth after a washing. If the tires are dirty a little water will suffice to cleam them and make them look good. An Ir'sh cycling journal asserts that the daughters of Erin were troubled last sea- son by the large size of the pedals on the wheels which English manufacturers sold them, and that the small feet of the Irish ladies are lost im the shoes made to fit Erglish women. Is it a fair question to ask how the daughters of Erin get along who settle down in Chicago? Gold clo-h is a new fabric used for cycling costumes this season. It is very wide and comes in wool or silk and wool mixed. A rival of this is cravenette, which will be found absolutely water-proof. With a cra- venette costume en suite a fair rider will find herself equipped for any kind of weather. STOLEN WHEELS There appears to be no diminution in the number of thefts of wheels during the past week. Nine cases were reported to the po- lice where wheels and accessories had been solen. The victims are as follows: J. Talvot, 2615 Virginia avenue north- west, Columbia bicycle (number unknown), stolen from in front of Baltimore and Ohio depot. Wilmot Lake, 898 Florida avenue north- west, Thistle wheel, No. 7561, stolen from th and F streets. J. P. Jager, Washington barracks, Lance wheel, No. 7099, stolen from his quarters. J. O. Tune & Bro., 25 H street northwest, rented Standard wheel, No. 6454, and Bel- mont wheel, No. 9409, to two colored men, who failed to return them. The same firm rented Rambler bicycle No. 2345 to white man, who has not heen seen since. J.'M. Doyle, 641 Pennsylvania avenue southeast, rented bicycle on Decoration day, which Has never been returned. Gerald Rickland, 1235 New York avenue, Columbia wheel, No. 7401, stolen from 9th and F streets. Thefts of lanterns have been reported by three unfortunates, as follows: Miss C. Wescott, Searchlight lamp, stolen from wheel at Western High School. H. G. Kimball, 620 North Carolina ave- nue southeast, Happy Thought lamp and cyclometer, stolen from wheel while in front of No. 1403 6th street northwest. W. P. Metcalf, 1331 F street, Searchlight lamp, stolen from his wheel. Five members of the National Fencibles joined this week. Mr. Crist is working among the members and has promise of twenty more members. It is the intention of several of the other military organizations to come in as a body. The membership of the District division has now reached 568, which is the largest number since the organization of the local division, with the exception of 1892, when the membership was 956, but before the end of the year this will be eclipsed. This week the states of Colorado, Maine and southern Califernia were passed in number and twenty-first place in rank se- cured. By the end of the month two more States will be passed if the members are secured in the same proportion as hereto- fore. and it will not be long before the locat division will be numbered among the strong divisions. The printer has delivered the road book to the committee, and it wil be ready for distribution Monday. Circulars will be sent out to each member, upon presentation of which to Mr. Wm. T. Robertson, at 420 10th sireet northwest, a book will be de- livered free of ‘ze. The members should be proud of this book. as it is equal to that of the larger di- visions, who have thousands of members and plenty of material which they have been collecting for years. There is not a Givision of the league which has less than Sue members. which can show one as com- plete. The second quarterly meeting of the Dis- trict division will be held Thursday, the 17th instant, at 8 p.m., in the parlors of the Ebbitt House, Manager Bureh having ten- dered the use of same. It is the intention at this meeting to bring up matters of interest to all wheelmen, among which will be the uniforming of the cycle police, the rights of cycles and other vehicles on the streets, and also the throw- ing of glass on the street. The fololwing are the latest local acqu!si- tions by the L. A. W.: Willam A. Noel, jr., R. G. Dun & Co. Willlam A. Torrey, 513 O street north- west. W. T. Carruthers, 1436 Kenesaw avenue. M. C. Ball, 1302 20th street. J. T. McClenahan, 1129 6th street north- west. = W. E. Baum, 1602 14th street northwest. W. E. Crist, 315 7th street northwest. George W. Moore, 436 New York avenue. Joseph K. Potter, 46 E street northwest. — ae If you want anything, try an ad. in “The Star. If anybody has what you wish, you will get an answer. 4 Ap \ ta wk Ost WAsHING PowpER ‘What more can be asked? Only this; ask your grocer for it, and insist on trying it, ‘THE ¥. E. PAIRBANE COMPANY, Chicago, 8+. Louis, New Yor, UNDER THE BIG DOME Some of the Points of Interest in the Capitol AS SEEN BY A PARTY OF TOURISTS Historic Memories That Cluster About the Great Building. PICTURES AND STATUES ee Written for The Evening Star. A congressman went to the Capitol re- cently at a quarter of nine in the morning. The sky was almost fieckless, and the fol!l- age was bathed in sunshire. A balmy spring breeze stirred the leaves of the trees and the bids were singing in the Hilacs and acacia3. A dozen wheelmen were dart- ing over the plaza like swallows on the wing. There was a crowd at the main en- trance of the great marble structure. Fancying that somebedy had been hurt, the congressman mounted the steps and found that the crowd was composed of New England school teachers, on their an- nual excursion, waiting for admission to the rotunda. Nineteen out of twenty were women. Scme were old and some were young. The faces were typical American faces, intellectual and pretty. Having a curiosity to know what would interest them in a tour through the building, the cengressman joined the party. All were strangers to him. The doors were opered at five minutes of nine, and a stream of eager faces poured into the ro- tunda. Another crowd of teachers, who had climbed the steps of the marble ter- race and entered the building cn the west, joined the throng in the rotunda. They were met there by the railway agent who had aéccmpanied the party from Boston. Under his direction it was divided among the Capitol guides. Each guide had charge of about thirty persons. One group went toward the Senate chamber, and another toward the hall of the House. A third visitec the library and a fourth descended to the lower floor. The party separated so as to cvoid confusion and give all an op- portunity to hear what was said by the guides. An Attractive Group. A fifth group remained in the rotanda. The congressman joined this group cf young ladies. They were pert, handsome and neatly attired. A few wore eyeglasses and one or two carried lorgnettes. The principak of the State Normal School of Fitchburg, Mass., accompanied them. ‘The guide who had them in charge was one who had made a study of the Capitol, and evidently knew what he was talking about. His story was interesting. He told how the plans of the building originated and were accepted. Under the authority of Congress, then meeting in Philadelphia, a town lot and $300 were offered for the best design. Out of eighty odd competitors, the committee selected two plans. One was drawn by Dr. William Thornton, an Er- glish physician, and the other by Stephen Hallett, a French architect. President Washington favored the plans of the En- glishman, and Thomas Jefferson those drawn by the Frenchman. Wasi ston fl.ally convinced Jefferson that Thornton's plans were the best, and they were adopt- ed. Before the corner stone was laid it was discovered that the Englishman was oniy an amateur draftsman, and not an archi- tect. The Frenchman was engaged to stperintend the construction of build- ing aceording to Thornton's draw . It was interesting to note the attention given by the young Iudies to the story of the guide. They listened intently, eager to hear evéry word. The : described the laying of the corner stone. He added that the Senate wing was first constructed, and finished in Work then began on the House wing, which was finished in 1811. The two buiidings were connected by a bridge. Thornton’s plans provided for a dome, but the deme was not built until after the destruction of the wings by the British, under Gen. Ross, in 1814. In 1817 the reconstruction of. the building was begun, and it was complcted in ten years. The Capitol remained thus until 1851. The House and Senate exten- sions were then built and finished in 1857 and 1859. The immense iron dome was fin- ished in 1863. Works of Art. The guide then turned his attention to the paintings in the rotunda. He began with the four Trumbull pictures: The Dee- laration of Independence, the Surrender of Burgoyne, the Capture of Cornwallis and Washington Resigning His Commis- sion. All have appeared repeatediy in school books and historical works, and the tcachers gazed at them in silent admiration. The other four great pictures were fully as famous and interesting. They were: Em- barkation of the Pilgrims, by Weir; the Landing of Columbus, by Vanderiyn; the Discovery of the Mississippi, by Powel and the Baptism of Pocahontas, by Chap- man. All were American artists. The school teachers heard this with nods of satisfaction. Then their attention was di- rected to the Brumidi friezes, and his mas- terpiece, the canopy of the rotunda. The friezes are so artistic that the teachers were slow to believe that they were paint- irgs and not bas reliefs. The guide next called attention to the great brorze doors at the entrance. Thcy were cast in Munich, and cost the govern- ment $28,500. The visitors examined them with great interest, but they manifested much snore interest when they saw the bronze doors at the outside entrance to the Senate wing. These doors cost $56,000. The teachers were delighted to hear that they Were cast in Chicopee, Mass. From the main entrance, where the plat- fcrm has been erected for the inauguration of the Presidents since the days of James Monroe, the guide conducted the party through the old Congressional Library to the west portico. Here Washington was spread below them, buried in foliage. It is the finest view of the city. 1t was here that Humboldt stood when he said that this was the most beautiful view of any city that he had seen in his travels around the world. The sight on this particular morning was enhanced in beauty by fleecy clouds. They cast their shadows upon the great obelisk erected to the memory of Washington. It was as white as alabaster and the shadows chased each other from its foundation to its apex, while the aluminum point, 555 feet from its base, sparkled at times like an immense Kohinoor. The party was charmed with the scene, and expressions of admiration were heard on every side. The 0 Senate Chamber. The guide next led them to the old Sen- ate chamber, now the Supreme Court room. Thia was the room in which Webster de- livered his famous reply to Hayne, and where Henry Clay awoke the world with his eloquence on behalf of the Greek patri- ots. It was here also that Brooks assault- ed Sumner and that the electoral commis- Passing the robing room of the judges of the Supreme Court the guide anon ed the party to the room in the Senate wing set apart for use of the President of the United States. It is said to contain the finest frescoes of any room on the western continent. Here is the choicest work of Brumidi. It was here that Presi- entered the sanctum of the Vice President. It contains Rembrandt Peale’s famous por- trait of Washington, It was in this room that Henry Wilson died while Vice President of the United States. His bust in Carara marble stands upon a bracket in- serted in the wall. While Levi P. Morion ‘was Vice President, the secretary of the Senate bought a magnificent inkstand and placed it in this recom. Mr. Morton, it is said, deemed this an unwarranted extrava- gance. He returned the six hundred d lars to the government and carried the Ink- stand away with him. Gracious to Visitors. Some Vice Presidents have been ex- tremely gracious to visitors, while others keep the dcor closed. Adlai Stevenson was @ great favorite, and Garret A. Hobart Promises to become equally as great. Ste- venson invariably left his door open, cept on special occasions. He did more then this, for frequently he shook hands with the visitors, and called attention to the objects of interest In the room. The guide recalled the visit of some teachers from Haverhill, Massachusetts, the year before. Mr. Stevenson left the Vice Pres- ident’s chair to greet them. They were so charmed with him that they wanted his autograph. At the suggestion of the guide the handsomest one of the party asked him to oblige her by giving it to her for an autograph fan. This opened the way for the others, and Adlai lost half an hour in signing his name. While the Vice Presi- dent was thus engaged Henry Cabot Lodge entered the room. “Oh, here is our senctor,” exclaimed one of the Haverhill beauties, “we certainly must have his autograph.” The great descendant of the Cabots of the time of Henry VII was overcome by this array of loveliness. He sank in a seat and spent twenty minutes in writing his Dame. Away from the Vice President's room and up the marble stairway trailed the teachers. They were attracted by a por- trait of Jefferson different from any ever seen in print. “Why, J never knew that Thomas Jef- ferson had a red head,” said a teacher. “Look at him. He ts realiy the only hand- some man that I ever saw with a head.” She toli the truth. It is a painting of more than crdinary merit. The coloring 18 softened by age, and at all hours of the day some one is seen in the subdued licht in front of it, quietly admiring it. More singular still, nobody seems to know who painted it and where it came from. The painting resembles in tone and coloring @ painting of Henry Clay now hanging in the Speaker’s lobby. It had bung in different committee rooms for many years and was finally placed among the portraits of the other Speakers. It was cracked and faded when it first attracted attention. Under the order of the chairman of the House com- mittee on library it was renovated by the superintendent of the Corcoran Art Gal- lery five years ago, The Whispering ery. The visitors spent mnch time in front of Thomas Moran's immense paintings of the Chasm of the Colorado and the Grand Canon of the Yellowstone. They then de- scended the stairway and moved backward toward the House of Representatives. Tl hall of statues rang with merry laughter as they were initiated into the of the whispering cubes. the party made a disecvery. While standing upon a block designated by the guide they heard a young man reading a love letter to one of his friends. He was at least fif- ty feet away, and a score of persons were between the visitors and the reader. The teachers werc at first unable to place the young man. The guide, however, readily pointed him out, and as the party passed him each girl burst into laughter. The young man was dazed, as he could not ag- count for the strange proceeding. The party afterward approached the door of the House of Representatiy The ring- ing of bells ard the scream of steam whis tles were heard as they reached the main entrance to the hall. It was high noon, Through the open doors the massive form of Speaker Reed was seen at his desk, gavel in hand. In clear cut words and sten- torian voice he said: “The House will be in order.” ‘The usual twang and peculiar drawl reached the ‘ear of each teacher. It seem- ed familiar to them. They gazed at Mr, Reed in open-mouthed wonder. As for the Congressman, he excused himself from fur- ther attendance on the party, saying he was not paired on prayers, and that con- sequently his presence was required in the hall. He last saw the trailing arbutus of New England loveliness as it swept around the corner toward Carpenter's picture of the “Signing of the Emancipation Procla- mation.” a AMOS. J. CUMMINGS. — If you want anything, try an ad. in The Star. If anybody has what you wish, you will get en answer. e WASHINGTON AGENTS: AMERICAN WATCH AND DIAMOND CO, 1425 Pennsylvania Ave. MONARCH CYCLE MFG. 00., CHICAGO. NEW YORK. LONDON.