Evening Star Newspaper, February 26, 1898, Page 20

20 THE EVENING STAR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1898—24 PAGES. CYCLING CLUB GOSSIP ‘The opening of the weather has turned the minds of the local wheelmen to the time when regular riding can be resumed. Spring is only a matter of three weeks dis- tant, and while its advent does not neces- sarily mean good riding weather, yet the days are much better for the sport than during the middle of winter. While the racing season does not open until the end of May, the bicycle riding season, as a rule, opens up nearly two months earlier. The weather of the past week has been good for general riding, and the wheelmen have taken full ad tage of it. Tomorrow weather, it is thought, will be pleasant. Capital Club, Unpleasant weather prevented the run of the Capital Bi. Club last Sunday. If to- morrow is favorable a short run will be taken to some point around town. Earl Quackenbush, one of the pepular members ef the club, gave a farewell ban- quet Thursday evening at the Raleigh to twenty-five members of the club. He will 1 for the Klondike roon. The german given by the club last Friday evening Was a very successful affair. The attendance was large and a very enjoyable evening was spent. The smoker which was held Washington's birthday proved to be a very successful affair. A good program was which was well enjoyed by and the invited guests. Arlington Whceelmen. Owing to the almost impassable condition of the roads surrounding the city, caused by the 1eavy downpour of rain the latter the members part of the week, the club run scheduled for Arlington Sunday morning was pos! poned. In spite of the inclement weather several of the most enthusiastic riders registered « n within the city lim party of A.’s took a car ride to the wharf and enjoyed an! oyster fe while some of the members dined at the homes of several of the club's oldest’ men.be so, notwithstanding the inability of the club to have a general run, an_enjeyable time was had among the Arlington Wheelren. Captain Murph concluded to send out weekly announcing to what point th to be made. He reached this con in view of the fact that many of embers who take a ride amor Sundays claim to be entitled to the credit of having made a run, whereby swelling their record in the competition for the ciub’s gold medal. To avoid any misunderstanding in the future as to club runs, he will resume the old ¢ tom of mail each member a weekly notti and only when a regular run ts made will the members participating be given credit for a run. A iu! meeting of the amusement com- mittee will be held some time during the ‘iscuss several ide coming week to s in the amusement line, which have bi con- e 1 submitted by members of the committee, with a view of having an in- teresting entertainment to present at one ef the regular The ciub's in been elabor: neetings in the near future. signia (the winged A.) has . and the result is the same d A., but with more of th ible, the same being artis- y worked in the wings, which gives a beautiful effect. These embiems are to supplant the ones now in use, but given to Ww members and to the desire a fresh-looking method, in time, every be wearing the not will be old e th B; of ex-Captain friends, because- every were compelled to travel 's of mud in order to induced “Congenial"” s domicile. He 1s now located in a ¢ little home, No. 322 Sth street northeast, which i ble in all s ons, and where he will be glad to wel- come his friends at any time. At the next regular meeting, Tuesday evening, several important matters are to come up for ussion, and it is earnestly ed bi president that as many ble be present. During the week five full nickel-plated wheels arrived in the club, briuging th total number up to twelve, and it is ex- pected that the owners thereof will h: them out on exhibition in tomorrow's run. The best wishe nd hearty congratu- lations of the Arlin n Wheelinen are ex Carney, a new mezaber t in the club. hn Wick, a member whom the club infrequently has the pleasure of seeing at bec of his position out » expects to leave soon for In- dian territory ‘The postponed Arlington will be run of last Surday to made tomorrow, starting from Lith street and New York avenue at 10 o'clock. It is especially desired by the captain that new members, and those Whose applicat have been recuved, at- tend the run. An applicant for admission to the club must attend one run before his bame can be acted upon. This cule is posi- © and admits of no exception. Century Cycle Club. The members of the Century Cycle Club Were prevented from taking a run last Sun- day by the Inclement weather. Many of the boys, however, spent a pleasant after- noon and evening at the club rooms. The excellent work of the basket ball team in We day's game pleases the ts. The rooters of the Century Club iways on hand on these occasions and keep up the interest m the game, as well ing it exciting. The work of Abell, Kauftman, O'Connor and Counselman was excellent. Sam Dodd, » was slightly injured in We lay with tne Mount Pleas- s much improved and around again. voys will start into active road riding month, and a century run will probs latter part of the w game boys is or teiling yarns. = much pleased at the success inment which was given last Hall, under the au- re on hand The Ss of the en- to Mr. W. 5. Young and on, who have worked un- t month to make it a lub is also greatly indebted took part in the affair and as- ement. a run tomorrow leaving the club house, west, at 9:30 o'clock. Ss will be in command. ut Wheelmen, of the Levant beys attended fi nt and dance given by the Cen- le Club last evening and enjoyed selves immensely, ction ard installment of officers day evening. the revision ®f the con- be ready to report at the next y have made several very im- nges, which will, if adopted, be us to the club, m of a new emblem was the ult of the special meeting last Satur- ‘The emblem {s a monogram, “L. W.” .” {s In crimson and the “W" in old gold, the club color, which makes a very pretty effect on the wine-and-pearl jerseys. 2. P. Hazleton had his saddle stolen last Inesday evering from his wheel, which Was standing in front of the club rooms, Aeme Cycle and Social Club. The residence of Mr. Harry Butler was occupied as the meeting place of the club last Tuesday evening and an enjoyabie time was spent, although Messrs. Frank Howard and Robert Hunnington, the club’s musical entertainers, were obliged to leave quite ecrly, owing to other engagements, ‘The last two weeks have proven that the to ¥ Cy presented, | S$ on their cyclometers | i | three-quarters miles unimproved. club will be cbliged to arrange for tem- porary quarters, as the number of applica- ons for men bership has increased to such an extent that continued meetings at the €ifferent residences will have to be dis- pensed with. ‘he club has now twenty riembers, and more applications to be con- sidered by next meeting. The applications of Messrs. Fred Reyn- olds, Rickard Dugan, William Sparshott, Charles Butler and Louts M. Morrison were submitied at last meeting and these gentic- men were elected to men:bership. A feature of the meeting was the adop- tion of club colors. It was decided to take the old Georgetown © Club colors, or- arge and black, to be d layed in stream- crs, with the emblem A. C. S. C. on the black and the initials cf member on the orange Each member will be required to rige under these zolors on all runs and are obliged to have them streaming from the handie bar. ‘The first run of the season was called for Sunday at 2 o'clock to Cabin Jolin bridge, and Capt. Richard Watts extends an inv tation to every one desiring to accompany the club on this rt The boys will meet at 32d and M stree and will leave precisely on time next meeting will be held at the of the secretary, _L. IS O street, Tuesd s hoped tkat this will be sion to call a meeting at any residenc ee has been eppointed to get tem- porary quarters as soon as possible. LOCAL STREETS AND ROADS The total length of the streets of the city of Washington within the corporation lim- ts is 243 miles and a fraction. Of this length nearly 169.50 is improved with as- phalt, asphalt blocks, coal tar, granite block, cobblestone, vitrified brick or mac- adam, leaving seventy-three and nearly In the suburbs the total mileage of streets and highy is placed at 71.90 miles, out of which only 10.96 miles are improved. In the county surrounding, .not including the suburbs, the total mileage of the roads is figured at 135.10 miles. Of the street improvements in the city proper the northwest section makes by far the greater showing. This is probably due to two things—the area of land is much greater and it is much more thickly popu- lated, while the limits of the eastern sec- tion of the city only extend officially as far as the Eastern branch. The country be- yond the stream is classed as a portion of the county. The following tables show the number of miles of roadway counted in each section, the number improved and the number unimproved: Section. Improved. Unimproved. Total. rthwest. + 93.09 . 10: 22.64 9.50 32.14 24.12 24.3 48.50 17AT 26 83 13.08 3.12 Out of this total mileage the bulk of the improvement {is in asphalt pavements. Granite comes next, but it will not main- tain the position very long. Coal tar pave- ments are third on the list, asphalt blocks fourth and cobblestones fifth. Only a fifth of a mile in the entire city is paved with vitrifed bricks, though experiments are now being conducted with the latter mate- rial in the hope of securing a style of brick that will stand general use. While the macadam streets are not men- tioned in the list, the mileage of such high- ways in the city limits is respectable, and if classed with the other improvements would be entitled to fourth place in the list. If placed that way the table compiled would be as foilow: Matertal Cobblestones. Vitrified brick... .20 In the county the 10.96 miles of improved public streets is divided as follows: As- phalt, 5.08 miles; granite blocks, .85 of a mile; macadam, 4.92 miles; asphalt blocks, -13 of a mile. Counting all of the improve: ments the total amount of mileage of each kind of paving material can thus be sum- med up: Materi Miles.! Material. Asphalt 86.29 Granite | block: Coal tar, 20.19| Asphalt block: Cobblestone: 14.00 Vitrified blocks Macadam..... 16.98} It will be seen by the above that the total mileage of asphalt pavements is move thon treble the next nearest material end much greater than that of any of the other materials. The total of asphalt is nearly equal to the combined total of all of the other material used. While this is so during the last fiscal year it is apt to be more £0 by the end of the current fis- cal year, and it is only a short time when the asphalt pavement will be much fur- ther in the lead. Capt. Lansing H. Beach of the Engineer Commissioner's office, under whose charge the matter comes, says: “Sheet asphalt and asphalt block continues to be the pave- ments preferred by the poeple, and no other kinds were laid during the year. The western portion of the city seems to prefer the sheet asphalt, while the eastern portion expressed itself equally strongly for the other. In laying sheet asphalt pavement the practice of making the gut- ters of vitrified brick has been continued, with very satisfactory results. The rea- son for this is that, as all fluids falling upon a pavement flow to the gutter, it is thus the portion most exposed to their action and the place where decay of the asphalt is most apt to originate, and where it progresses most rapidly. As soon as a gutter becomes ‘uneven it ceases to carry off readily the rain water and other fluids, but allows them to be cellected in pools, and its disintegration is then more rapid than before. * * * No granite block pavements were laid, and it is not probable that any more will be. The noisiness of those that are now upon some of the streets is a source of constant complaint from the people accustomed to the qulet- hess of smoother pavements, and their slipperiness upon the steeper grades, after they have been down a year or two, forms a strong objection to their use. This slip- periness exists mainly during dry weather, the smooth tops of the blocks becoming roated with a thin layer of iron from the horses’ hoofs, which appears to act as a lubricant almost as effective as graphite, but which largely disappears, however, when the street is thorough wet. This slipperiness may not be so important in other cities, but here, where, owing to the moderate grades and mild winter climate, the horses are, as a rule, unprovided with calks, it becomes a serious objection.” George N. Beale is the superintendent of roads, and in his report nothing is given outside of a detailed account of the money paid during the last fiscal year in keeping the roads in repair. This amount varies from less than $1.50 in some cases to over $2,700 in another instance, the latter being the largest single expenditure on any one road. The appropriation for the repairs of the roads last year was $40,000, and sum- marized, the expenditures were as follows, the county being divided into thiee sec- tions: Central section. Western section Eastern section. Purchase of s' + $21,045.42 seeeeee 10,262.69 « 6,130.89 roller and sprinkling Ste eeeeeereeees 2,544.24 Total .. seeeee . 39,983.24 In _the central section the expenditures roads, amounting and over, were as follows: Tah street oad, 11,; pilose; Bulahtwood ‘road, $1,067.50. In the over this amount was expended, the canal road costing $2,703.38 and the Tenleytown road costing $1,265.94. In the eastern section only one road received any extensive improvement, and that Nichols avenue, which cost $1,382.39. The superintendent of roads states that to properly maintain roads and suburban Streets would require at least $75,000, and an appropriation of $5,000 is asked for sprinkling the main thoroughfares. Thé present appropriation of $40,000 is entire- ly Inadequate to Keep the existing roads in repair. The principal roads and streets repaired and the character of the improve- ment is given as follows: 14th street road, graveling and general repairs; Bunker Hill road, graveling and general repairs; Bla- densburg road, graveling and general re- pairs; Benning road, graveling; Linnean Hill road, graveling; Park street, gravel- ing; Phelps place, grading; Kenesaw ave- nue graveling; Michigan avenue, gradin; Harewood road, graveling; Shepherd road. graveling; 16th street extended northwest, graveling; Canal road, macadamizing and graveling; Tenleytown road graveling and general repairs; Nichols avenue, graveling and general repairs; Livingston road, grav. eling and general repairs. On other roads ard streets repairs of a minor nature, such as required from time to time. > RACING STATISTICS. No one in the country {s perhaps better able to judge the extent of bicycle racing as well as the chairman of the racing board of the League of American Wheel- men. This position, which is held by Al- bert Mott of Baltimore, now entering upon his second term, gives the incumbent prac- tically the reins of bicycle racing all over the country. The work of the office has been systematized, and not a race meet goes on without the chairman being aware of it. If it is a meet sanctioned by his of- fice It is all right; if not, the men who hap- pen to ride are punished with suspension, while the promoters are placed on the black list. For every sanction for a race meet a return has to be made. This re- turn consists of a program of the meet, with the contestants’ names all published and with the names and time of the wi ners plainly marked. The list of prizes also given. In this way the chairman of the board is able to keep acquainted with the movements of all of the racing men, and regulate his work accordingly. Accordingly the figures compiled by Mr. Mott relative to bicycle racing ought to prove interesting. These were read in con- nection with his annual report. Last year in all sections of the United States 2,912 race meets were held, with a grand total of 17,316 races. This would mean that each meet averaged six raees. Some of course had more and others less. The figures, however, do not include the trial heats which were necessary in a majority of cases, If these trial heats were counted the total number would be swelled nearly double. In all of the races there were 9,000 men who participated. It seems strange that with such a large number of bicycle racers there is such a small num- ber of really good crack riders. The prizes at all of these meets aggregated in value, counting the cash for professional events and the estimated valuation for amateur prizes amounted to the big sum of $1,645,020. From the other point of view at the 2,912 race meets there was an attendance, in round numbers, of 8,000,000. This would make an average attendance of over 2,700 persons. While the average attendance at the races in this city may not have reach- ed that number, yet there were many other cities, especially up north, where the average attendance figures were much larger. It is estimatéd that these specta- tors paid $3,600,000 to witness the races, which represents quite a neat sum. De- ducting the total value of the prizes, which is given as $1,645,020, there will be left $1,089,180, which went to the race meet promoters, after paying for all incidental expenses. “The sanction is the foundation of the rules of discipline and the government of bicycle racing,” says Mr. Mott. ‘In such vast interests as are controlled by the L. A. W., extending over three millions of square miles of territory, the power given the league by the sanction is absolutely necessary. It also protects the promoter. In effect, it takes the unscrupulous ad- venturer by the throat and says he shall not ‘fake’ the public or throttle the legit- imate enterprise of his neighbor. The sanction is not only necessary, but it is a wise measure in fostering this class of recreation and entertainment for the pub- lic_this taken with all other innocent en- tertainment being necessary to the health and longevity of the over concentrated business man and woman—inviting them to relax and recuperate from the cares other- wise driving them to the long bourne. And to this extent the world owes the League of American Wheelmen a debt of gratitude. In those other countries where the sanction is not used, bicycle racing has languished until the occupation of the promoter and racing man is almost gone, while in this vast country, under the un- limited but wise powers created by the sanction rule, biclcle racing flourishes bée- yond any other method of entertainment. “There is no class of games, entertain- rrent, recreation or spott in the civilized world that flourishes to the extent of that furnished by the wise fostering care of this national assembly. It is beyond the range of experiment—it is a fixed fact that the details of your provisions for the gov- ernment of bicycle racing are almost per- fection. Any tinkering or tampering with it would be experimental, and to that de- gree dangerous. You cannot recognize these facts more clearly or profit by them so much as the real, enterprising capital- ists and business men, who have adopted for its remunerative properties this form of entertaining the public “since it has been cleansed and popularized by its gov- ernment by the League of American Wheclmen, It is safe to predict that these vast investments will continue as long as the L. A. W. controls racing and might eventually be withdrawn if the league should ever decide to abandon it. The control by the L. A. W. without direct pe- cuniary profit invites public confidence to an extent that could not be accomplished in any other marrer, and this is as clear to business foresight as it is to the na- tional assembly. “The method of determining the pro- fessional national champion {is at fault. There are several of them for the year of 1897, and in the future they should be concentrated or consolidated. There should be but one champion, and he should rep- resent the average of the best work for the whole season at all sprinting distances, and that representation should -not de- pend upon the temporary poor condition of one man and the temporary exaltation “of another at one rarticular time. In con- sidering this matter the importance of the championships to the annual national meet must not be dwarfed or lost sight of. To harmonize all the conflicting interests and yet adopt a method by which the desired object will be attained with any degree of accuracy is a difficult matter. The nearest approach to it appears to be as follows, and that method is recommended: The professional national championships shall be determined by points. In granting sanction for national circuit meets, require that at least one national championship the championship rule, {. e., one-fourth, cne-third, one-half and five miles. In these aces the first prize must not be less than $150. Not more than $1 entrance fee shall contestants are reduced to not more five for the final. The first to finish the final shall count five In the cham- pionship table, the next four, the next a Re Rie tees professional cl national Eas as mt |. player. except that the first to finish in the final shall count fifty,’the' next forty, the next thirty, the next ‘y and the next ten. The national circgi, ghall begin not earlier than May 14 and enti not later than Oc- tober 15. The sito the credit of each contestant shall -be ‘published weekly in the bulletin of the cijairman, and the con- testant having the greatest number at all distances at the erdi of the national cir- cuit shall be declared the champion. No excessive time shall be placed on these races, and they. shall be open to the world. In the trial heats of these races pacemakers shallanot:qualify for the final, and no one skall be Wilowed to compete in the final for any" otHer reason than win- ring one of the qualifying positions. If there is a dead hcat,between any two or more, those making the dead heat may run it over or decidé by‘4ot, at the discretion of the referee. aT ee SOME CYCLE CHAT Though rather too early for any bicycle race meets, it is not too early to secure sanctions for events to be held all through the season. The management of the In- ternational Athletic Park has already done this. in the first batch of sanctions which have been issued by the chairman of the racing board three have been awarded to this city, taking in Decoration day, the Fourth of July and Labor day, which falls about September 5. While the sanctions are given in the name of the park, they can be transferred to any organization which cares to run the meets on that date. In connection with these meets, application has already been made for the national cir- cuit race meet, the date of which will not be announced untii some time in April when the head of the racing board will ar- range the circuit for the convenience of the circuit chasers, In addition to these events, there re two more meets sched- uled, which will be held under the auspices of the National Track Owners’ Association, one of which comes in the early spring and the other in the fall. This makes a total of six meets that have now been prac- tically arranged for. There is every likeli- hood that fully this number of meets will be given between the dates, so that the sport will be every bit as lively as last year. There is also a strong probability that the intercity races will be resumed this season, and be more of a success than the races of last seuson. The management of Internation! Park have written to M. F. Carter, in Saltimore, who, it is expected, wil’ look out for the affairs at that end of the line. Bieyele racing in Baltimore last year was something of a failure, and an effort is being made this year to bri the sport back to its old-time popularit Carter is at the head of the movemen and it through: his efforts that the twenty-five-mile mateh r: between Le Compte and Moran he be willing to t. it is quite likely tha $ arringed. Should p hold of the matter, the series will be a success, as Carter is‘a hustler, It may be will consist of only three races, in of five, as has heretofore been the One of the races will be held in this city and the other in Baltimore, tion of the third place being de- a toss-up. A series of three races s one of will prev five race . An effort is being made polo become a popular winter season in the city. The cffort not meeting with much success, howeve! The game w. troduced in the city last year, and seemed mure popular during the first season than it has been che pr at season. “fhe championship of the District claimed by Thomas J. Reed and Harry I. Dodge, and during the week they issued a challeage to meet any team in the Dis- trict for a game of bi cle polo, the result an would determine the champion- ship. yele the is during se: Local wheeimen will be glad to learn that the wheelmen of Hagerstuwa, Green- castle and Chambersburg, Md., have made rangements to build a cyclé path from Chambersburg to Hagerstown, passing through Greencastle. The distance is twenty miles, and it is proposed to construct the path of sand, clay and cinders. The ¢ of the improvement is placed at $1,500. The wheelmen not having the funds to spare with which to pay for having the work done, will consiruct a path themselves, expecting to get’ it eompleted before the seusen is over. fhe. width of the track will be between 4 4nd 9 feet. t A NEEDED IMPROVEMENT The wheelmen of the city will be glad to legrn that steps will in all probability be taken soon to improve the Kockville and Georgetown turnpike. The completion of the improvement will give an excellent road to the county seat of Montgomery county. As it is now this is the shortest road to the place, but many wheelmen do not care to use it on account of its miserable con- dition... The road was formerly owned by a cor- peration, and it is not so many years past that a toll was charged. This has been abolished, however, and it is now a free road. The old pike began in the District a short distance below the Loughborough road. That part of the read was purchased by the District government and made a free road. The pike ow commences just outside the District Ine and runs through in a direct line to Kockyille. ‘The new or €irt road, which wes a érec road, started at the blacksmith snop at Bethesda and ran past Bethesda Park. This is the high- Way used by the Bethesda electric road. The county commissioners purchased the interest of the turnpike company, the con- sideration of the transfer being placed at $500. Now that tke county has control, it is proposed to improve the highway at a cost gf $25,000. To raise the necessary money for the improvement a bill is to be introduced into the state legislature per- reiting the county commissioners to issue bonds to the full amount, bearing four per cent interest, payable semi-annually. ‘The bends are to be redeemed at the rate of $1,000 per annum, beginning five years from the date of ‘issuance. The bill. will lcave to the discretion of the county com- missioners as to whether the bonds will be seld at public auction to the highest bid. der or sold at a private sale. For ten years from the date of passage the highway will be operated as a toll road, after which it will be a free highway. If the matter be- comes a law the improvements will have to be made by January 1 of next year ac. cording to the present wording of the bill The rate of the toll tax is not stipulated but it is supposed to be in conformity with the tax exacted by other toll roads in the county or state. —_———___ A CURIOUS OR (AN. Used in a College to Study the Science of Note-Making. An organ which the leading organist of New York could not play is now being used by professors of Ccrnell College. This organ is not, as might be suppcsed, cut of tune. It is because it is in perfect tune that {t differs so raqically from an ordinary organ. The ordinary ergan, such as is used in churches and drawing tocms, is not in tune, even after thé maker Fas just de- clared it to be in?perfect order. The Cornell organ vwas invented by Von Helmholtz, and it,contains a purely mathe- matical scale. It is made for the composi- tion cf chords sch as are rot to be ob- tained on an ordinaty instrument, and is used to study the vibration of notes, and of what tones an orn, note is made. Every tone in music fs to bg found on this organ. For instance, what are known 1s sharns and flats on a piano Are not really sharps and flats. C she ce D flat are struck on ie same black ‘Key, but strictly speaking, that black key 18 “‘néither—it is Sie tone situated mitiway“between C sharp and D flat. If both ‘of*the latter were on the piano, however}! the‘ difference between them is so slighi®that it would confuse the So a corp) ise is made, and the two are blended, or, rather, the tone mid- way between them is used. But in Cornell the organ contains keys for every note in the scale, no matter how fine the gradation. With it students can see just how a note on the organ is built up. Certain notes on the organ are made up of certain other tones. On the ordinary piano you would not be able to illustrate what these notes are. You would need the true sharps-and flats in order to compose the notes. The overtones on the domestic instrument would be quite different. The Bee avery aOch curtaten een te is very much curtailed on the piano> ain conection with thls o —* complete resonators, or forks, In order to out how resonations aro contained in @ given note it ts only nec~ essary to strike note, ‘Those forks Pe oak eases The ones are not fi in it, OVER MILES OF WIRE Some Queer Messages Sent by Long Distance Telephone. BIG SUMS PAID FOR SHORT TALES Often Used in Closing Up Large Financial Deals. POPULAR WITH POLITICIANS a Written for The Evening Sta (Oa THE fact that millions of miles of wire and half the states of the country are in- cluded in our tele- phone system, and that we have some- thing like 250,000 subscribers, it isn’t strange that some peculiar things hap- pen over the long- distance lines,” said the telephone man, as he leaned back in his chair after con- necting Omaha and New York just to show how easy it is to talk across 1,600 miles. “The other day the papers printed a story of how a bank president in Minneapolis pre- sided over a meeting of directors in Lowell, Mass.,” he went on. “That was~correct enough, but it wasn’t such an unusual thing as one might infer from reading the accounts of it. It has become quite the regular thing for railroad and bank ¢irect- ors who can’t get to the regular place of meeting to be connected with the meeting place by wire. By the use of a arge trans- mitter he is able to hear everything that goes on, and to take part in the proceedings almost as well as though he were on the spot. I know, too, that the distance ‘phone has been used to close some of the largest commercial transactions that have taken place in this country during the past five years. “The use of the long-range ielephone for great business affairs seems natural enough, for the high charges are trivial compared with the interests involved. But anybody who hasn't hed a chance to iearn from being in the business would be astonished at some of the messages that go over the wires and for which the sende: pay good round sums in the way of tolls. I suppose the reason for this is that the (elephone is still comparatively new to most people. They look upon it with something cf won- der, and they like to experiment with it to see if it will do all that is claimed for it. A atly Conversation, “Here, for instance, is a case that we had last night, and which fs one of a kind that we get six days in every week. A Cincin- nati man had come on to New York on business. He had evidently just left his train when he came to the "phone and call- ed up his Ohio house. There evidently not any particular reason for it, except desire to talk with his famiy.’ One after another the mother and five children came to the "phone and exchanged a few sen- tences with the head of the house. In such long distance work, where the charges are high, it is customary for tke onerator to notify the user of the wire at the 2nd of cach five minutes of the tim, so thai there won't be any confusion about the crest at the end. In this case the conversation kept dragging out, and the night manager, who had the wire, notified the man every fiv minutes, each time being met withxthe re- ply, “I'll take five minutes more.’ The Cin- cinnati man was determined that every ene of his family should hear his voice, and he didn’t care how much it cost. Last of all the baby was brought to the transmitter, a youngster, who could just lisp ‘Helo, pa and then the man settled his bill tor $108 without a murmur, doubtless feeling well repaid in having listened to his baby’ coo across that distance. “Of course, that’s an extreme case in the size of the charge, but in other re- spects it isn’t an unusual thing, especially with westerners. It seems to me that about one every ten men, whether the come from Chicago or some little cro: roads town, rush off to the telephone the first thing when they strike New York, and cali up the wife or sweetheart whom they have left behind at home. To the outsider their little home go: or sweet nothings don't seem to amount to much, but I dare say it makes life pleasanter fur those who are interested, so nobody else can object to it. Telephoned to His Dos. “I remember a case mofe peculiar than that of the Cincinnati man that happened while I was manager in the Chicago ex- change. A man in the city had a fox ter- rier of which he was very proud, while the deg was as completely devoted to him. He had to go to some place in Michigan on business which kept him away for sev- cral days. As scon as he had gone the dog began to suffer from a severe attack of loneliness. He wouldn't eat, and lay about moping vntil the man’s wife was afraid the terrier would die before his master’s return. One night the man went into the station of the town where he was stopping and said that he wanted to talk to his dog. So cennection was made with his house and the receiver was placed to the terrler’s ear. Instantly re recognized his master’s voice and began to frolic about and bark at a great rate. Two or three times after that the Chicago man repeated the performance, and he didn’t mind the $10 or $12 that it cost him in the least. Won by Telephone. “There have been various fiction stories written which involved proposals by tele- phone, but I know of,at least one instance in which such a thing actually occurred. The young man was so pleased that when it was over he told me all about it. He had been courting a girl in an Ohio town, the name of which it isn’t necessary to give here, had quarreled with her for some foolish reason and had come east, intend- ing to sail for Europe. He had been think- ing the matter over on the way, decided that he had been a fool, and when he heard that another fellow was after the girl,*made up his mind to heroic measures. So he sent a message to the girl asking her to come to the telephone, but not giving his name. When he came to the office to keep the appointment ke was the most nery- cus fellow I ever saw, and I'll bet that no man was ever more agitated in the actual presence of his charmer. But he managed to get through the business some how, and the result was so satisfactory that the first thing he wanted to know when he came out of the booth was how soon he could get a train cack to the west. “We have a good many queer orders to fill, and they are becoming more numerous as the telephone comes into more general use. Last fall an opera singer had negotia- tious under way with some New York man- agers. They didn’t want to engage her, however, without first hearing her voice. She was singing in Chicago at the time end couldn’t leave. The difficulty was ad- justed by telephone. The managers came to my office, the woman sang before a big transmitter in Chicago and her tones were heard with perfect clearness here in New York. The test was so satisfactory that she was engaged on the spot. “The newspapers printed accounts of our reproduction ef Niogara’s roar at the elec- trical exposition, and of the sounds of the gieat sound money parade in Chicago last year, and, as I say, such orders are becom- ing more numerous. . ' Popular With Politicians, "One class of men with whom the long- distance telephone is in high favor are the sideration; perhaps it is because of the fa- cilities which the telephone gives for keep- ing in constant touch with events that are occurring at distant piaces, but certain it our. the Lungs. A Note of Warning. The Grip is raging worse than ever. Te has caused three h DI neventy-five di # im London in six weeks.—News Item in N. ¥. Herald, Feb. 13. People at this time of the rear should be more careful than ever to check the pre trouble, and eradicate from the system ever catarrbal poison, A tom o In no other instance ts the trite saying, ounce of prevention is better than a pound of « more applicable. The treatment of Doctors McCoy and Cowden, if taken in time, will, by restoring the air passages to healthy and normal condition, and by strengthen- ing and building up the system, prevent sn attack of the Grip, while it is no less efective in curing the condition existing after the acute stage of the disease is past. Mrs. A. P. Collins, 3138 P St. N.W. Cured of Catarrhal Deafness. This week we present for the first time th of Mrs. Collins, ove of almost one thousand ‘that have been cured in Jess than two says: “Tam sixty-seven I have been deaf tw over me one day while 1 stove, by an open window. the side of my face, when, any warning, I suddenly becany (This case had catarrh previous to this t and the exposure to the wind produced a violent congestion of the already irritated membranes, which, in turn, sv denly closed the tube. t reducing instant deafness.—Dr. Cowden.) “A great roaring came to my ears; T got worse and worse for two years, until I came here, 1 went to another doctor first, but he did me no good and I got tired; I left him three months before I came here. “I came here through the recommendation of a gentleman, who told me about you, and asked me why I did not come to you. “I could not hear the door bell unless I was right under it; bat I can hear it plainly now all over the house. I could not hear the clock strike in the adjoining room, but I can hear it now, I can bear a sermon in church row, but before I came here I had stopped going to church, beeanse I could not understand the sermons; I can hear the words of music. too. In ordinary conversation I can understand very well, but be to sit and say nothing, while others we “I have found the treatment mild a I bave taken tue treatment for several m s a good while before I noticed any change n it came it came suddenly. I got disco at times, but it is all right now. and my appetite is good; my whole h proved, my digestion and strength bette fore I began treatment. “I heartily recommend this treatment fe tarrhal conditions, because I know what done for me and for others.”” This de was stand! the ig at The wind blew across minute, without than be- i ca- it has nges keep close watch of the tariff leg- cial discussions in Con- President McK first chief by the way, the trate to make regular use of the Lelephone in the White Hovse for communicating With his cabinet officers and congressional little time ago some citizens of Montclair, N. J., anxious for some new form of entertainment, hit upon what they ealled a ‘telephone symposium.’ They ar- ranged tor special quick connections, and then listenc shcrt speeches, songs and jekes from a dozen different parts of the country. There was a regular time sched- ule, and the range of the cntertainment ex terded all the way from Cuyahoga Fall Obio, to Boston. It was voted a great suc- ress, and shows the possivilities in one of Ss yet undeveloped fields of telephone >—— UNIVERSITY NOTES Georgetown University. Tuesday was a holiday in all the depart- ments of the university. The first practice game of the season in bare ball was played Tuesday. There are a number of candidates for positions on the team, and enough material will probs be found to form a second or reserve nine. The Merrick debate was held Tuesday evening between Messrs. Edward J. Brady and Samuel J. Waggaman, both of the ciass of ’98, affirmative, and Me Morris B. Kirby and Thomas J. O'Neill, "08 and ‘uY, respectively, negative, on the question, “Resolved, That it would be expedient for the United States to establish a national university, having centrol over all colle- giate degrees.” There was a very large attendance on the occasion, and the speeches were very gvod. The decision will not be announced until ihe end of the year, when the winner will receive the medal offered annually. ; The senior law class met Monday even- ing. a The Law School Debatfhg Society met last Saturday evening to discuss the ques- ticn “Resolyed, That the coast defenses of the United States should be strengthened. Prof. Dovglass was absent from the Law School Thursday evening, and the juniors, therefore, had a holiday. z ‘The examinations at the Law School for the second term will be held the second week in March. : The essays in competition for the Ed- Ward Thompson Company prige must all be in by Monday evening. There was a conecrt at the university last Saturday evening. The entertainment was held in Gaston Hail before a large ccowd. The program follows: Mandolin Club, “Rendezvous;” Mr. John Shea, “For- est King’s Victory;” Mr. Sol. Minster, vio- lin solo; Master Hall Lusk, song; Mandolin Qvartet, “Spring Song; banjo solo, J. H. Keller, “Darkey’s Awakening,” Mr. T. Crosby, tenor solo, idier’s Song;” banjo sextet, “Bride Elect Mr. L. E. Gannon, baritcne solo, “Gipsy John;” Mr. J. Fahne- steck, solo; Mr. E. J. Walsh, recitation; Dixie Quartet, the Banks of the Wa- bash, Far Away;” mandolin quartet, se- lection; Mr. George O'Connor, vocal selec- tions. Howard University. The C. E. Society will hold its regular meeting this evening, it being a consecra- tion meeting. Last week Mr. I. T. Gillam was the leader, and his subject, “Every Christian a Missionary.” Prof. W. V. Tun- nell made a short address, and a general followed. oeyuskington’s birthday was a holiday at iversity. TSror R. B. Warder and Seniors G. S. Murray and Calvin Alexander are now at Creveland, Ohio, where they are attending as delegates from the university to the in- ternational convention of the students’ yol- unteer movement. ey. are expected to turn Monday, or ps . be ra Foster delivered a lecture | and Messrs. SYSTEMATIC CATARRH. A Condition Which, If Not Cured, Renders the Pa- tient Liable to Pneumonia, Bronchitis and Con- sumption--This is a Season of Great Danger to DISEASES OF HEAD AND THROAT. The head and throat become @ eased from neglected colds, cau: ‘atarrh when the condition of * Doos the nose tls there pain across th tris there tickling in ¢ Is your sense of su tis there pain in fron “Do vou hawk to “Is the throat dry {Are you Josing sour sen: Fou slecp with the mouth open! ~ Does your nose stop up toward ‘bight? leaving 7" DISEASE OF BRONCHIAL TUBES. This condition often re: catarrh extending from and, its from the head cough inz thes wh at might ? mt pala in side © variable titches in sid eh until y “Do you feel “Is there a “ Hav ou “Do you cou * Do you haw pain in behind the ch up at uly DISEASE OF THE STOMACH. This cond | eral athe fon may result from sev= cnuses, ut the useal cause ts | eatarrh. the mucous dropping dow: into the thront and b swallowed, “Is there naus “Are you cost “1s there yomitin *: Do you belch np * Have you wa Are you light ‘is your t ave sick headac * Do you bloat up afte “Te ihere netant sensation in the stomach?” ou feel as if you had le you get op s en Stomach Is empty “Do you belch up materia t “When stomich ts full do y t burns th feel opp A FREE TRIAL. NO HIGH FEES. Or. J. Cresap McCoy, Dr. J. M. Cowden, 715 13th Street Northwest. Office hours—9 a.m. to 8 p.m. dail; pm. m.; 2 to 5 pm.; 7 to Sundays and holidays, 10 a.w. to 2 | spectively, on the. question, “Resolved, | That a scientific education is better than a classical,” followed The moc! congress of the Alpha Phi Lit- erary Society met last evening. Colambinn University. The first rehearsal for the buriesque, “Queen Lil,” was held at the preparatory school on Wednesday evening. The Law School Debating Society, at its meeting next Saturd will discuss the question, “Resolved, That the government should own and contro! the telephone and telegraph stems.” The sp2akers will be Messrs. C. O. Guynes and B, F. Kirk, af- firmative, and Me Hawksworth and H. A. White, negative. On th of March the question will be: “ That the policy of excluding Chines ers should be maintained a enforced,” and the speakers seic Messrs. R. H. Riddicberger and Carter, aftirmativ and C. E. Matthe The Enosinian Soc ing, discussed the That co-cducation and Messrs. J. B, Butts negative ty, question, is desirable. M Watson and Maynard, class 1, and Misse sv! Smith and Parkinso: ; » class 2, affirmative, Stuart and Fuller, class 1, and Mr. Beatty and Miss Norris, class 2 negative, were the speake: with Miss Smith and Mr. Maynard, classes 1 and 2, respectively, as editors of the Bee and Mr. Haws and Miss McKelden for the News. | Mr. S. H. Rogers was critic. The Washington Mycological Club held a meeting at the university last Wednesday. The annual cane rush of the university cccurred Thursday mornizg, and resulted in the sophomores retaining the can>. The senior law class gave a dance Tues- day night. ational University. Prof. Schouler will deliver three lecturees on wills and administrations on Monday Wednesday and Saturday evening of next week. W. W. Miller, esq., of New York deliy- ered his first lecture on corporations Mon- day evening last. After next weck Mr. Miller will lecture every Monday until fur- ther notice. The Ceurt of Appeals held its second session Tuesday evening last. A number of cases were decided. It is the intention of the court to sit until the docket is clear. There are qdite a number of appeal cases. Prof. Carusi received quite an ovation from the juniors t Thursday on his re- sumption of his lectures to them after an absence of six weeks. Mr. Landergren, the president of the class, made an address of welcome, which was happily responded to by the professor. The Nationai University Law School De- bating Society will hold the second of tis public debates at the law school building this evening at 8 o'clock. The question for debate is that “Immigration Should b FurtheraRestricted.” The disputants are for the affirmative, Charies H, Merrillat of the District of Columbia, J. L. Underwood of Tennessee, A. D. Smith of Pennsylvania; for the negative, E) R. Magie of Indiana, F. 8. Bailey of the District of Columbia, A. 8S. Dalton of North Carolina. Miss Blanche Woods, Mr. George H. O'Connor and Mr. Gilbert A. Clark will render mus- ical selections. The judges selected are Representative Jacob Yost of Virginia. Mr. Frederick L. Siddons and Mr. Bugene D. Carus, | Pennyson’s Letter Form, From the New York Post, A letter of Tennyson's to Marie Corelli je Hl d Fat ’ if