Evening Star Newspaper, October 23, 1897, Page 14

sively for The Evening Star. 1 colony of African negroes remarked Professor Gustav Congress Heights to a Star r “of which but little has e ared in the newspapers, though the ony ne, or at least was at one time large. They were imported originally direct from Africa b a fund raised for the s, but Just abeut ap- is a lar pury They were slav the time they arrived in this country the war of the rebellion broke out and, of course, the slaves were free to do as they A few of them may have re- con- tr but very few They mene tented to remain and organized themselves 1 of a co-operative colony in a rude wa They minded their own bu very well considering everything and the a ences of their coming, managed fairly well sin The most of into a ki nbers of the colony have and gr The nd- . un their children ave run thin, out. that worth owning Atrie: to until or pa} . however, b: things runnin, | and makin: < the ich gene lasung about which time th The native n rely ventured to ta ies or even to witn evotional exercises are a that ar ever pe Though the during lively. them ar part int them series of in api the known it elsewhere rmed well = they even in the rvice is a su ess in many re- peculiarly re of the very operates watchman serv rved an al ot partments to a Star re- present wher there is a va hman service the civil n has te be called upon to rem which the selection ss they de- ce i the ne ances al do not know as good and eff r men who gen- but somehow “he but n= men 7 hmen a uch places. n the custom to have old men, end older, for such duty. t of ten when young men t men and thus pre- elves for examinations for pro- many cases they have been re of the w 1 rating, and counts considerable in ‘aptains are reduce thei crd for « ney the matter of promot & will a of taking them off the wat man service jr y are thorough broken filled with it is cre n be nad, are not desi artments hk are well bro eek et ever t was d set of men,” avenue line of Star re “it venue and 1th week after the se. Indeed, some driver o: zy to on the wr the fir burning of the power he rte: stre ef them have not got thoroughly rested yet. Many of them had never had any ex- perience as drivers of horses, or at least of such horses s were drafted into service for the first week after the fire, 1 they could only hold out for ual hours of work, they were sot off their cars. an five out of the ber who were able to comb their or four days, or as high as their he d to t on the grip we had to s just as mu in th t the hor ng on to rake and for from eight ured the resum: fier the fi of | t demand or look old men as hmen. The idea is that they are best | 1 for the work, ard, anyhow, it has | elt EARD Ee tion. In the interim they have been kept at work as car cleaners, switch tenders and at other work in the mechanical ser- vice of the company. It was but the work of a couple of hours to get them back to the hills, and as they had been trained to the work they caught on very rapidly. Without their experienced service I don’t think the company could have managed to keep the cars moving for a couple of days after the fire, when things were very con- siderably mixed. Nearly one-half of the horses which were pressed into service for the first three days were knocked out and Jone for by their severe work, unac- customed as they were to it. The mules, however, seemed to thrive on ft. It took two men to manage each pair of mules, one to drive them and brake the car and the other to keep the mules going, for though the mule can last a long time at heavy work, he Ists his steam run down unless he is kept right up to his collar with a whip. — xe eK KK “The water cooler that stands on the main fioor of the 17th street corridor of the War Department building, in front of the effice of the chief of engineers,” said Capt. William Lee to a Star reporter, “has prob- ably had as much water drawn from it as any other water cooler in the possession of the government. It has been in use for nearly forty years, and for half that time has been in my charge. It was originally purchased for the Winder building and re- mained there until the officers and cierks of ihe Engineer Corps of the army were transferred to the new War Department building. At a rough calculation over one hundred thousand gallons of water has been drawn from it. Many of the public men of these years have drank from it, ncluding the leading army officers of the war and since, and senators and represen- tatives running up into the thousands. The strange part of the thing is that the gov- ernment can today, notwithstanding its con- stant use during all these years, get more for it than it cost wher purchased, which cannot be said of most office or corridor fur- niture. What gives it its value now is the fine portrait of an American Indian paint- ed on it. The portrait was painted from an actual sketch, and while the Indian's name is not known, it is understood that he is a big chief of a tribe. On several occasions, ten or fifteen ing In- dian chiefs in passi ed the rtrait and did the test reverence to They tried to explain to me who the Indian was whose portrait adorn- ed the water cooler, but it has been so long since I talked Indian or had occasion to de so, that I did not fully understand. In addition to its long years of service, it has the reputation on account of its forma- m and lining of furnishing the coolest slass of water that can be obtained in the building.” wk eK “Things are very different here,” writes a former High School student of this city, now in Boston, to a Star reporter, “from what they are in Washington,in many ways, and particularly in regard to being seen carrying school books through the streets, In Washington it would only be the cus- tomary thing if the student carried his books. Here a high school boy or girl or a student at the Tech, or, indeed, at any of the colleges, would not dare to be seen with his or her books, on the streets. While Boston runs to books, it is not the proper thing for any one, man or woman, to be seen carrying them, the idea being, I sup- | pose. that knowledge comes to Bostonians | direct, instead of through books. It would | Make the High School fellows and girls | laugh, as it did me, if they could see the | | | crowds of young people on the streets on their way to, or returning from the schools and colleges, with their books hid away in small satchels, traveling bags, paper boxes and the like. Som enough S, but these © few compared to the satchel carriers. “{ have ‘toted’ my books openly in my hand, as I did when going to the High School, but T hav n told at least a n times th not proper to do so, . it is not the Boston way of doing and that there is no way proper e cept the Boston way. I don't want to aj pear odd, and I suppose I will have to give in, finally, but I Intend to have some fun out of them before I do Lots of things the boys and girls in Washington do are | not prover, though I did not know it until I came here. For instance, the High School's college yell, is not proper. Boston has decreed that it is nonsensical and friv- olous, bad form and all that sort Here is where the only is dealt out—in their minds. a a peaking of Parisian politene re- ked a Washington man, “I think a servant we have at our house, one my wife discovered in Boston and imported for demestic purposes, rather takes first place over all comers in that line. Not long ago I sald something to her about Farragut Square, and she asked me where it w “Well,” I replied, ‘it is somewhat scat- tering, pei I and 17th SAL E did you say, sir? she repeated in a tone which seemed to me to have a note of shock in it. nything the matter with that?’ , a bit annoyed. ted a moment and then seem- | ed to take ccurage. “‘If I may be so bold, sir,’ she said, fac- ing me like a heroine, ‘taking my Boston education intu acount as worth anything against the Washirgton methods, I should say there was, si = pray,” I said, with a superior air, sk what it is? . the transposition of terms,’ |. ‘Now in Boston we have taught differently, and I hope you | will excuse me ff, when'I am asked where | Farragut Square is, I reverse your method, | sir, and that it is at 17th and I streets, sir. If one of our Boston children should | put the I first, sir, he would be punished.” | “Then she courtesied and went out of the tidy and I have adopted her correc- of thing. uine education He—“I think I shall have to Parishioners to ride a wheel.” = She—“Why, Joseph, it was only three weeks ago that you denounced the wheel mest thoroughly.” He—“Yes; but remember, my dear, that preach @ bicycle sermon tomorrow advising all my was while I was learning to ride.” THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1897-24 PAGES. z= FACTS ABOUT MUSHROOMS. Care That Should Be Used im Select- ing These Toothsome Fungi. The season having returned when wild- growing meadow mushrooms are again sold in considerable quantity in the markets and stores, attention should be called not only to the careless and unclean manner in which they are handled and offered for sale, but also to the fact that many of these mushrooms are too far advanced in their growth to be healthy, and are at best not serviceable for the dainty dishes that might be prepared with them. To many it must seer strange that any one can be tempted to prepare these black, bruised and Soiled things for the table. It is not to be wondered why so few believe in the fair- ness of the praise that is bestowed upon ind that it is deemed absurd to call he food of the gods.” We would, hewever, become more favorably impressed with some species, at least, if a chance was offered us to see them in a stage when they are truly sweet and healthy, and if they were presented to us, not exactly on a gilt salver, but on a clean and neat tray, be it wood, tin or paper. Parties who gather them should not bring away half the farm—that is, sand, clay, hay and other foreign matter attached to them. They should know how to discriminate between plants that are young and those that are old, and also know that these pink-pleated fungi are at their best as long &s a yeil covers yet partly their delicately colored underlining. The vender snould have them on sale assorted according to size and age, and exhibited on trays as already sug- gested, stem, or, rather, stump, upward, as the stem should be cut off below the ring as soon as gathered. The promiscuous packing in baskets of mushrooms that have not been cleaned or assorted should no longer be continued. It is advisable that every purveyor of a household who is in any way inclined to make use of mush- rooms at some future time should purchase a basketful of them as they now are. The amount of money thus expended will be well spent if he takes the trouble to exam- ine each and every one carefully, and notes their color, form, odor and condition before beginning their dissection. The first opera- tion should be to cut off the stem just be- low the ring. This ring, which is part of a sil, is peculiar to the meadow mushroom many other species, and almost always esent, except in old plants. If this cut on the side of the cap is clean, smooth and white, no further care need be taken; the sample is sure to be healthy, even if the underling should be dark, instead of pinix. Should, however, this cut be spotted or furrowed, it will be necessary tc spiit the cap through the certer and examine it the meaty part is healthy or not. ‘There is no reed to state that mushrooms infested by larvae or maggots, or partly eaten by s! or insects, are unfit for food. In spt the lower part of the stem vertically through its center, you may discover that it Is, if not alive with larvae, at least filled with a coarse-grained substance, which is nothing else but thousands of eggs of lar- vae, deposited here by some insect or other, and now nearly hatched out. In older plants the larvae eat their way with | great rapidity upward into the cap and in- vade the entire plant. This is a reason why the very short-stemmed and_thick- skinned meadow tungus, peculiar to the parks of Washingten, is so soon completely invaded by larvae. At the end of such an examination you may count how many plants were healthy and how many not, and the necessity of this advice to use greater cere in selecting fungi for the mar- ket will be apparent. In most European citfes they have not only a careful daily in- spection of all the mushrooms that are of- fered for sale, but they have also stringent laws and regulations governing their sale, It is generally i:sisted that all fungi, of whatever species they may be, shail’ be placed in the stalls on trays, each plant side by side, and not piled one on ihe top of the other, and that they shall be turned in such a fashion that their identity can be iscertained at a glance. The stores are obliged to have the entire stock of fungi on exhibition in a window, so that they can be seen from the street. Passers-by who might detect anything wrong usually vol- unteer to call attention to the matter, After a certain hour of the day all perishable plants not sold zre confiscated by the au- thorities and destroyed. The importance of such regulations and the influence their nce exercises on the public mind verestimated. When people are aware that this new article of food, though strange and novel it may be, has been care- fuliy examined by experts and passed the rutiny of many other persons, they no longer hesitate to make ise of it. They will enjoy the feast without fear of un- pleasant consequences. Some may contend that the laws of forcign countries are not applicable here, that they have an odor of antiquity or tyranny about them, but we will soon discover that 1f a greater demand r mushrooms is made and many species sold, some laws will have to be enacted yy which the public health can be safe- guarded. In the method that should best he followed in this country to enhance the alue and preserve the quality of mush- oms used for general consumption, our Migence will guide us in the matter, scconded by an inborn disposition to per. petually improve the things of today and to increase the material well-being of the nation. All lovers of mushrooms must have a heartfelt wish that this mean and reprehensible way of selling their favorite food should cease forever. Connoisseurs, res and other fastidious people on the ect in question will soon rise in our i. ‘The science to know and the art to eat mushrooms will in this country not much longer remain a privilege of the Bos- tonians alone. FRED J. BRAENDLE. SHORT WORDs. They Are the Best When the Thoughts Are Worth While. A dozen or less newspaper men were col- lected together on the steps of a building in the soft October evening discussing the things that don’t occur in Washington dur- ing the summer solstice, when somebody said something about Rudyard Kipling. “I notice in the papers,” said another, “that he fs the best pald writer in the world at present, and that he fs to receive a dollar a word for a long poem soon to appear in an English paper.” “The Pall Mall Gazette people say they paid him $750 a poem for all they printed of hi: ventured a third. “And why not?” put in a fourth; “he is the best writer of English prose or verse now writing. That one line of his, ‘A rag and a bone and a hank of hair,’ describing a vampire woman, couldn't be stronger, I think.” “Good and strong,” commented a fifth, “but Kipling is not the only man who has chosen monosyllables to give emphatic ex- pression to his thought. If you will remem- ber, Pope in his essay on Criticism re- marked: ‘And ten low words oft creep in one dull line,’ and before and after him there were others, who, as he, were scarcely dull and seldom crept. Hymn writers are strong tn this. Take Watts in that well- known hymn, for instance: “ ‘Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend to grace To help me on to God?” “Shakespeare found one syllabled words good enough for him, and you all know that passage of Young's: ie poe bell strikes one. We take no note of time, Save by its loss;’ &c. &c. “Balley’s Festus, that makes its reader feel as if he had ‘eaten of the insaneeroot that takes the reason prisoner,’ has many examples, and this one you will recall: “We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths— We should count time by heart throbs. He most lives ee most, feels the noblest, acts the at” “And the Bible, the greatest of books, is filled with the short words. Right at the beginning of things we find: ‘And God said let there be light, and there was light,’ and at the end of things, so to speak: ‘For the great day of His wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand” And still further along: ‘And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day; for there shall be no night ere.’ “Oh, Kipling is all right; he knows he has plenty of authority for seeking short words when he wants strong ones.” ——— Well Mated. From the Chicago Record. “I know what ought to be done with cigarette flends. What?” “Marry them to the girls who kiss their poodles.” —-o-—____ Cholly (with an air of adoration)—“Ah, eybags, Miss Mon how would you like a little bull puppy?” : Miss ‘bugs—“‘Oh, , this is sudden. The Cornell “widows as THE GOVERNOR oS “I havé learned that parrots and girls sometimes talk too much and too careless- ly,” remarked a pretty girl not long back from the” Nashyille exposition to a Star reporter. “You: see, I was doing the expo- sition, under the most delightful auspices, and meetihg'all. sorts of people constantly. I was also collebting souvenirs, everything from badges t@ food specimens. One day scme spefial gtremonies were going on, and the Washington delegation had its headquartérs € the leading hotel. I was on hand making my everlasting collection of souvenifs. Papa had introduced me to a lot of be-tshed; badged and ribboned men, and I was chatting away regardless of names and titles. It was safe to call every- body colonel. Pretty soon I found myself talking to an exceedingly good-looking gen- tleman with a pair of merry eyes and an expansive forehead. I didn’t notice much else, because I was so taken up with the magnificence’of his decorations. He had a dream of a gold-fringed sash crossed about his breast, more’Masonic, military and so- ciety badges than I could count, and a chining pair of epaulets, not to -nention a plumed helmet. Visions rose before me of possessing one of those epaulets ur at least cre of his many decorations. The man fairly scintiHated gold, red and blwe, and as he appeared to be very deferential, with a wealth of southern chivalry in his manner, 1 had no hesitancy in making a bid for an addition to my collection of sou- venirs. Summoning my most fetching smile, I asked for an epaulet. “My ‘colonel’ looked rather surprised, and expressed his regret that he was not at liberty to comply with my request, add- ing that he was booked for a conspicuous position in the parade to take place later on. “‘At least let me have one of those stunning badges. You have no idea what a cherished addition it would be to my col- lection of Nashville mementos.’ The ‘colonel,’ looking further amused, replied that it grieved him beyond expression to refuse me. ‘Now, colonel,’ said I, growing bold, ‘don’t say no to everything. Can't I have a single rivbon of all your gorgeousness” “‘So sorry,’ murmured the polite colonel, ‘but I'll tell you what I will do. I'll get you some pieces of ribbon corresponding in color to my badges. It’s the nearest I can ccme to giving the badges themselves.’ ‘All right,” I assented. ‘But don’t be long, colonel, for I may have to go any minute.’ “With a profound bow, the colonel with- drew, and just at that moment papa came up with a smiling remark about my ‘catch- ing very big fish in my conversational net,’ after the manner of teasing fathers. “Oh, he was rather nice,’ I retorted, in an offhand manner. ‘I have just sent him to get me some ribbons. He refused ut- terly to part with any of his own decora- tions.? ‘Sent him to get you some ribbons?’ gasped my astonished father. ‘Sent the governor of Tennessee for ribbons?” “Who? I almost shrieked. “Why, the governor; the governor of this state. Child, that was Governor Bob Taylor you were talking to. He's regarded as the most popular man in the state, and he Is famous for having won his election by playing the fiddle on the stump instead of making long-winded campaign speeches. Hew dare you transform the governor into a messenger boy, to do your shopping?” “Papa and:I groaned out a_miserere duet, and I simply flew from that hotel. You don’t suppose I waited to get the rib- bons? Not -I. Another sight of that man would havé maile me feel about the size of a fly. Oniy think of it, a girl ordering about a goyernor of a great state with as little concern as she would have com- manded a ‘college freshman. I heard that the goyernbr returned shortly afterward with the ribbons and a box of bonbons. and he wag greatly disappointed because I was not present to receive them. During the remainder of my stay in Nashville I devoted myself to keeping out of the way of Governor Taylor. Papa says when I learn to keep my ears wider open and my mouth cloger shut I will be more of a credit to the family name.” ONE WOMAN'S WIT. FY How an Fden Added Materially to Her Success in Business, A Washihgtorf modiste, who enjoys the patronage ‘of many fashionable women in the offical set, léet'a Star reporter into the secret of her success a few days ago. Said she: “No, I don’t claim to have begun busi- ness with more perseverance or genius for dressmaking that the average professional. I date my success exactly from the time I hit upon a‘little idea that being a novelty immediately won for me a reputation. Am I French? No, indeed; yet my idea was sufficiently Frenchy to go with my cus- tomers. One night I was finishing up a gown for a senator's daughter, and though I had tried hard to please my young lady, knowing if I succeeded it would be the means of increasing my _ business, the thought came to me that if I could make up the package and send it home with some stamp of individuality about it, it would be a feather in my cap. At that moment I was sewing hang-loops on the waist, and the great idea flashed through my brain. I jumped up, seized a candle and made fer the cellar. Arrived there, I a hatchet and knocked of a barrel hoop. Dividing the hoop in half, I hurried back up stairs with my embryonic waist holder. It did not take me long to cover the curved stick with some pieces of ma- terial left from the gown and attach a ribbon and bow. It made a very dainty and useful accompaniment to the gown, and my customer was delighted. Wasn't it a happy idea? Why, I never send a gown home now without a pretty waist holder to match, and I put sachet powder in ae hangers to increase their attractiven@s. You have no idea how quickly the news spread that “Miss — was such a clever dressmaker with such original ideas.” 1 honestly believe my little barrel hoop crea- tion procured me my present large busi- ness.”” —__>—___. SOME UNUSUAL TITLES. The Names of a Few Books Which Have Not Been Copyrighted. The journalist who had just written a de- lightful little brochure, entitled “The Liber- ty of the Press, or How to Knock the Props From Under the Archimedean Lever That Moves the World,” was calling on Mr. Young at thé library to get it copy- righted. Mr. Young gracefully referred him to a clerk in that department, and as the clerk was getting the paper ready he was making himself interesting by talking. “Yes, sir,” he was saying, “I rather think you have hit upon a good title for your book. Of course, some people won't know what the dickens—I beg your pardon—what on earth it means, but that doesn’t make any difference to you. They are stupid people who wouldn’t buy it anyhow. Still there's a good deli in a title. Of course I don’t mean the id dur rich girls love to mar- ry,” and the clerk chuckled, “but titles of books. You undgrstand. I just made a list I came across today. They are from differ- ent sources, Here's a few that. funny fel- low Tom ‘hod ve to the Duke of Devon- shire to on Some dummy books for an entrance “dgor ‘tp his library: ‘McAdam’s h Views in -Rhogés,’ ‘Boyle on Steam De- signs for Friezgs, by an arctic explorer,’ ‘Pygmalion! by Lord Bacon,’ ‘Cursory Re- marks onSwi » by Juplter;’ ‘Percy Vere, in 40°vols,” ‘Cook's Specimens of the Sandwich Tongue,” ‘On Sore Throat and the Migra: ion. of the Swallow,” ‘Kosclusko, nt “Of Poles to Stick Up For b's Recollections of ical Account of the Date Palm,’ and sevefal others. on the High-Heeled Shoes For Dwarfs in Holiness, Hooks and Eyes Fo. Believers’ Breeches, The Spiritual ‘Mustard Hon, Tobaoce Battered, and the Pines ahet- tion. ered, and the Pipes Shat- tered About Pheir Ears That Idly Idolize so Loathsome @ Vanity, by a Volley of Holy Shot Thundéred From Mount Hell- con, A Poem Against the Use of Tobacco, by Joshua Sylvester; The Snuffers of Di- vine Love, Seven Sobs of a-Sorrowful- Soul For Sin, and-some more of the same sort. Added to these are a few scattering ones like these: Waves of Sound and the C, A Jawey Forever, by an fighter; A Rich” A DEBT OF GRATITUDE. Epicures Owe Much to the Men of Holy Orders. “It is a remarkable fact that the epicures of the world shculd be so largely indebted to the French clergy for the luxuries they enjoy,” said a famous French restaurant keeper in New York to a writer for The Star recently. “Two innkeepers establish- ed at Mont St. Michael are at daggers drawn to this day respecting the right sort of omelet to put before their patrons. One is Ridel, who holds out for the old Gallic omelette aux fines herbes, while Poulard, his rival, contends that the genuine articic is an omelet the secret of which has been transmitted through ages by a religious order. I have tasted both dishes, and it 13 difficult to decide which is the better. The latter is easily prepared. The whitcs and yolks of the eggs are not mixed. The whites are well flogged up to a creamy consistency, while the yolks are only slightly beaten. The whole is poured into a frying pan, and a large lump of butter put in at the same time. After cooking over a hot fire for exactly two minutes the omelet is ready to serve and the result is a miracle. “The monks and cures of France have done as much for their country in the prep- aration of savory delicacies as the most renowned chefs. One of the largest oyster parks in the country was started by Abbe Bonnetard, the cure of La Teste, whose system of artificial cultivation is now so successful that of the number of ovsters distributed through France every year per- haps two-thirds are produced by the abbe. Canon Agen was the discoverer of the terrines of Nerse. The rillettes of Tours are the work of a monk of Marmountiers. ‘The renowned liqueurs of Chartruse, Trap- pistine, Benedictine and others betray their monastic origin in their.names, and the strangest part of their production is that they should be the work of the most severe and ascetic of religious bodies. “The elixir of Garns is the invention of the Abbe Garns. The Bizirs sausages were first prepared under the direction of the Prior Lamoureux. The popular Bergoug- noux sauce was first mingled by the Abbe Bergougnoux. The delicate Floguard cakes are the invention of the abbe of that name. Eyen the immortal glory of the discovery of champagne is attributed to a monk. To these may be added the delicacies in bon- bo. confectidhery and the like, which owe their origin entirely to nuns in French con- vents.” ——— PERSONALITY OF DR. DUCHE. The Minister Who Offered the First Prayer Before Congres: The Star recently printed in full what was supposed to have been the first prayer ever delivered before the Congress of the United States. The minister on that occa- sion was Rev. Jacob Duche of Phila- delphia, and the prayer was printed first in an issue of Thatcher's Milita vurnal, bearing date of The article came to the attention of a well-known resident of St. Louis, who belongs to the family of which Dr. Duche wus a member, and who has sent to The Star some addi- tional information about that interesting incident. “Dr. Duche,” the writer says, “was the eldest son of Anthony Duche, jr., 2 mer- chant of Philadelphia. His grandfather, Anthony Duche, sr.. was a respectable Protestant refugee trom France, who came over with William Penn the tirst time in 1682, His mother was the xranddaughter of the very ‘first family’ of Philadelphia, the Swedish general commanding Fort Christing, on the Delaware, the owner of all theland where Philadelphia now stands, and the original old Swede trom whom the church of the Gloria Dei gets its name. “The tombstones of Anthony Duche and Katherine Swan Duche, his wife, and Dr. Duche's parents, are on the east wall of the Church of the Gloria Dei in Philadelphia. Jacob Duche was the first American-born ‘or of Christ Church, Philadeiphia. He assistant pastor in 1759 and rector He was also rector of St. Peter's Church. When the first American Con- ss met in Carpenter's Hail, September 5, 1774, they closed without having accom- plisMed anything; and, with anxiety and fear, Thomas Cushing of Massachuset!s proposed that the next day’s proceedings should he opened with prayer. Jay of New York and Rutledge of South Carolina op- Posed it, because they were so divided in religious sentiment that they could not join in the same kind of worship. Samuel Ad- ams immediately rose and said: ‘I am no bigot. I can hear a prayer from any man of piety and virtue who is at the same time a friend to his country. I am a stranger in Philadelphia, but I have heard that Mr. Duche, an Episcopalian clergyman of this city, deserves that character. I move that he may be requested to read prayers to Congress tomorrow morning.’ The mo- tion carrying, President Peyton Randolph walted upon Dr. Duche, and received the assurance that, if health permitted, he would gladly accede to the wishes of Con- gress. The next morning, attended by his clerk, he entered the halls, read prayers in the established form and’ the psalter for that day, the 35th Psalm, and, unexpect- edly to every one, broke forth into extem- poraneous prayer with, an old letter re- cords, ‘such ardor, such fervor, such pa- thos, and in language so elegant and sublime, praying for America, for Con- gress, for the province of Massachuseits Bay, and especially for the town of Boston, that even the staid old Quakers of Phila. delphia were moved to tears,” for on their way that morning they had heard of ihe cannonading of Boston; Washington, Pai- rick Henry, Lee, Rutledge and Jay ‘knelt, while beside them stood the Puritans of New England, and the Quakers of Penn- sylvania sat, with covered heads, facing the crisis of the American nation. “We have no record of this prayer except from old letters; no notes were taken; the printed prayer said to be the ‘first prayer’ was never delivered in Carpenter's Hall, but before a succeeding Congress, after an army was in the field. Dr. Duche was a warm personal friend of Washington. His elegant mansion on the corner of 3d and Pine streets was built for him by his father, copied after a wing of Lambeth palace. His wife was a daughter of Fran- cis Hopkinson. His friendship for Wash- ington and his brother’s high position in the continental army made him so secure in his reputation for loyalty that when the British had possession of Philadelphia, the colonial treasury empty, the army naked and hungry, he wrote General Washington advising him to give up the unequal strug- gle. At that time Washington was cross- ing the Delaware at Trenton. The letter became public and made Dr. Duche so un- popular that he fled to England, where he had been educated. He was a high church- man, so he carried the records of Christ Church to the archbishop of Canterbury and deposited them where they remain to this day. Col. Hay may imitate Secretary Bayard and return them to Philadelphia. Dr. Duche was given an honorable position in a boys’ school in England. He remained there till 1793 and returned to this country, died just a hundred years ago and is buried in St. Peter's churchyard. He was a mys- tic in belief, handsome, eloquent and popu- lar, honest in his opinions, and does not de- serve the brand of traitor, for he believed that what he advised was for the country's good. —_>+__. NEW MASONIC TEMPLE. No Easy Matter to Find Just the Proper Site. A. prominent local Mason, who is actively interested in the selection of a site for a new Masonic Temple, informed a Star re- porter this week that popular sentiment appears to Be concentrating upon the site at the intersection of New York avenue, H and 13th streets. The committee author- ized to locate the site for the new temple have looked at a number of desirable pieces of property, but the price of land has stag- gered them. The old Corcoran Art Gal- lery has been suggested, and the property opposite, at the corner of 17th and G streets and Pennsylvania avenue, also received some attention. The property at the corner of 14th street and Pennsylvania avenue, op- posite Willard’s, also has some supporters. ‘The site atthe corner of 14th street and New York avenue has not been overlooked. In selecting the site the committee have in view the fact that the new temple must be accessible to the street car ‘lines. so that the large music hall contempiated in conjunction with the building will be pooree for concerts, lectures, receptions, lancing parties, etc. Some of the mem- site at the corner of New York avenue, 13th and Hf streets that it can be obtained at - JOHNSON” Written Exclusively for The Evening Star. Loneliness. De trees bows dah haids, heaves a sigh, An’ de fog comes a-hangin’ low-down ‘crost de sky. De fros’ fin’s de fiel’ whah de daisies once grew, An’ de. bushes is sheddin’ big tear drops 0” dew. De birds Is all still as de gray shadders creep, "Cause Miss Katydid come an’ done sung “em to sleep. an’ de win’ Hit don’ seem no time sence de roses was bright; Sence de crick useter laugh ter hisse’f wit delight. Sence de willers bent ovuh de watuh an’ smiled, As de breeze come a-courtin’ wif music so mild. But it’s different now an’ dey's lef’ me ter weep, "Cause Miss Katydid come an’ done sung "em to sleep. An’ ol’ Mistuh Crow is de onlies’ ting, When I looks f'um my do’, dat I sees on de wing. Wit aller de sky to hisse'f, “long he goes, An’ he's natchelly dressed in complete mournin’ clo’es. r An’ he’s hoarse f'um a-tel so deep, "Bout de friends dat Miss Katydid done sung to sleep. " his sorrows * = 3 Real Diplomacy. “I'm very sorry, Henrietta,” Meekton. “You know perfectly I dislike very much to refuse you any- thing. But you know also that there are circumstances over which I have no con- said Mr. well that replied his wife in slow impres- sive accents, “and I desire you to distinct- ly understand that I am one of them. I expect you to rigidly refrain’ from en- deavoring to exploit any of these lord-of- creation theories in my presence. I have told you what I want and I will have no excuses.” “What you want,” he expostulated, is for me to make m; self ridiculous.” “If that were all,” she coolly _ replied. “there would be no necessity of further steps in the case. What I expect of you is very simple. I offer you a glorious opportunity to establish yourself as cne of the great men of this e as one who had the courage to stand forth, an advocate of the principles of common justice and a cham- pion of the oppressed.” “But I don’t want to stand forth, Hen- rietta. I never stood forth in my life that I didn’t forget what I had to say and feel supremely uncomfortable. Besides I would only waste my time. Let me understand precisely what your position is. You ure indignant because women are not allowed to serve on juries.” res. And righteously’ s “And you desire me to see that your name is placed on the list so that it can be crawn.” “I do. I wish to be mentioned merely as H. Meekton.” ‘And then, when you present yourself for service and are rejected you will loose the vials of your wrath and proceed to make everybody concerned as sorry as you know how.” ‘That's the precise program.” Mr. Meekton was mournful and contem- plative for some time. Then an inspira- tion illumined his counterance. “Henrietta,” he said, “I'll do what ask. But I want you to thoroughly un stand the matter. Do you know the re- quirement that is usually mentioned as es- sential to an ideal juror?” “I suppose it’s intelligence, isn’t it?” “No. He must go into the case without prejudices or previous information. Yn other words, his mind must be like a blank piece of paper.” “Is that phrase commonly used?” she asked in a tone that showed her resolu- tion was wavering. you “Very commonly. Now. of course,” he went on, pursuing his advantage, “I am willing to follow your instructions pre- cisely. But I should think you would have some regard for the fact that if they hadn't wanted people with minds like blank pieces of paper, they would have de- manded long ago that women be com> pelled to serve.” “Perhaps there is some truth in that. Maybe,” she added after a pause, “it would be just as well not to say anything about i ‘Don’t hesitate on my accoi Meeckton exclaimed with energy. right out on the errand whenever you say the word. The one thing that will go against my feelings will be encouraging the deceit by which people are to be con- vinced that you are a person with that kind of a min “Next, to not habbin’ no sense at alll,” said Uncle Eben, “de wust t'ing dat kin happen to a man fs tryin’ to be too smah’ “Yassir,” replied Pickaninny Jim, prepar- ing to move away and escape a lecture, “dat sho'ly is de troof.” “Hol’ on, sonny,” the old man exclaimed. “Jes’ you wait a minute an’ lemme illus- trify. Did you know dat one time Mistuh *Rastus Pinkley had er hull lot er money lef’ *im in a will?” “No, suh.” “Well, he did. "Twas when we bof lived in a yuthuh paht er de country. Now he’s goin’ roun’ tryin’ to borry ‘nuff to gib "im a license to stan’ ‘round an’ say ‘come seb- ben’ once in a while. Whah is dat money what he useter hab?” “I dunno, suh,” replied the boy. “It's done squandrified. Dat’s whah "tis. Lemme tell yer how it happened. I were stan'in’ in froni er de grocery-sto’ one eve: nin’ when ‘Rastus come “long. “Hello, unk, says he, an’ ‘Hello, "Rastus,’ says I. “You's @ pooty ol’ mar,’ says he, ‘an’ I doesn’t see @at you's got rich yit. You must of wes'e yoh time bad.’ I done tol’ ‘im dat dah was lots 0’ folks dat warn’t so rich, an’ dat I didn’ see no bank-books bulgin’ out his breas’-pockets. Den he says, ‘Jes’ watch me. De reason some folks don’ git rich is “cause dey done misses dah opportunities. Dah is opportunities comin’ ‘long all de time,” he continnered, with great solemnicy, an’ all yoh gotter do is reco’nize ‘em when dey is befo’ yer.” De grocery man hap- pened by jes’ den, an’ "Rastus axed ‘im ef he had any good sweet taters “De grocery man p’inted some out ter im, an’ "Rastus picked up one to ‘zami it. j De fus’ Ving T know his face mos’ change color an’ he wah smellin’ at it like er dog ata rat hole. Den he bit into it, an’ in a minute mo’ he iuck de grocery man off ter one sid> an’ Den he "gunter whisper to ‘im. away in a dead run, wifout I seen ‘im ag’in in a couple t ready ter take yoh hat off es me comin’ ‘long de road,’ ne it.” ‘Done what?’ I axe: faweh'n. I done bought ‘What fahm? says I. Den he ‘Dat shows,’ says he, ‘how a hab de chance right unduh his an’ not git no good out'n it. Dat was whut done put me on de I fou out whah ‘twas raised an’ I done put mer money down as a fus’ pay- ment. All I has to do now is to git some white folks to hep me make up a com- any an’ sell out a share in de property pr pay off de mawgaxe.’ ‘Lemme un'stan’ tus,” put in de y man, who stop ter listen. “Did you by whah dem sweet taters was rais whut I doz "Rastus, mighter done de laugh. man kin ucin’ like me. Ez soon as I pi dat tater I seen dah was sumpin’ cur’us “bout it, an’ when I bit into it it was plain as dat I dore foun’ an ofl weil. De groun’ wah 0 soake wif it dat it was runnin’ ce wif sap in de pore You go on, Mistuh Groce sto’ an’ mebbe one er dese like de way yoh dk Whut in quired a, tendia’ 5 ia sit, PM buy yer out grocery man fay ter y Jim, “He said he done dat boy o° his ‘nuff times ‘bout by de kk rue in asket wif de gahden 3 ‘on he might as UN cischahge an’ hab it cvuh wif. Da’s all he said, * x Checkers. Golf? TI haven't tried my hand. Foot bal! ain't the game fur me. ball’s more’n I kin stand; us gits too free. me, a liberal lot 0’ sportin’ blood is what I've got. Callers finds me, like as not, Playin’ checkerds. There's the game as makes ye think? Givin’ one an’ takin’ two; Seein’ quicker'n a wink What the other man‘ll do. In a corner near the sun, When the chores is mostly done, That's where I have reg‘lar fun, Playin’ checkerds. Never played fur money “tall. Jes’ the pride in makin’ kings, Or a cornerin’ of ‘em 's all The reward my study brings, Yet I wonder ef great men, Winnin’ wealth to lose again, Has the pleasure I do then, Playin’ checkerds. — A Bullet of Clay, From the London Engineer, A curious illustration of the power of light matter to perforate more substan- stial substances when driven at a high velocity occurred in the royal arsenal a few days ago. In the course of experi- ments on firing gas in mines, conducted by Capt. Cooper Key, a special gun is em- ployed to do duty for a bore hole with a charge of high explosive, and pressed cylinders of raw dry clay 3 inches long and 17-8 inches in diameter are used to rep- resent tamping. These “shots” are mate to act in various mixtures of air, coal dust and gas, and to stop the course of the plug, eventually a cast iron target plate 1 inch thick was placed 25 feet in front, at an angle of 45 degrees, in order to break up everything into dust and throw it up- ward. After three or four shots with this arrangement the clay plug, weighing 71-2 ounces, perforated the inch iron plate, and the hole thus made has been steadily ex- tended since. The familiar tallow curdile passing through a door must hide its before a 7 1-2-ounce plug of cluy perfor ing an iron plate an inch thick at an angle of 45 degrees. Doubtless the velocity must be tremendous. The calculated velocity for a hard cylinder of this weight and size to cut through an inch of wrought iron aigi5 Gegrees would be over 1,800 foot-secontis. With cast iron and clay and the three or four repeated blows everything is so greatly aitered that there is Mttle more to be said than that the effect is remarkable and un- expected. LATEST FROM <= THE MOORS.