Evening Star Newspaper, April 21, 1898, Page 12

THE EVENING STAR, THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1898-14 PAGES. To shade every previous effort at terday in the metropolis we came into poss the regular w ses of youll up, flimsy ex compare value , sO, The offerings are all the more remarkable when you remember that they come just at the dawn of spring—just when you need You couldn't appreciate them half as much at the end of July. Get here tomorrow—best choice is first Choice! ‘ing your purchase “charged” is extended you just the same as if full prices were asked. clothes. Be an “early bird. The privilege of new value gi too, wt morrow we start the greatest sal men’s and. boys’ clothing ever known! —a sale which in its magnitude and saving importance far outshines any other which has ever stirred Washington—casts into the ing ever made by us. John W. Tillard, at 636 Broadway, New York city—maker) of the | finest clothing for men and boys in this entire country—found that he had overproduced—and at the trade sale which occurred yes- ession of this immense surplus of finest tailored garments—getting it for spot cash at half alesale cost. Tomorrow we throw. open the doors of our establishment—and ask you in to share in the most stu- pendous clothing values that it has ever been possible to offer—the outcome of Hecht push and Hecht capital. You do usjan jpjus when you think of-this important money saving event in the same breath with the “Removal” ke clothie and “Retiring” sales—and other hatched Our sale is far removed from such catch-penny affairs as heaven is from earth—and, when you | Sa >» Of =| € ~ See how we’ve marked the : boys’ clothing! Boys’ suits, $1] 2° (worth $3 to $5.) n styles of boys’ donbl Boys’ suits, $ ' (worth $4 ar made been paying st $1.98. | Boys’ suits,$3°5° | (worth $7.) $6.) (worth chevtot Sieh mS. y i ‘i nts which a abe n—will go f | Youths’ suits, 53 8 the ident of fash much Tike the whieh cannot nt $5 and $9 are offered bo $3 shay Knee pants, 39e. tf the well-known ‘ou i= ee of you men’s long pants | In sizes 16 te 19 ALL-WoOOL <—will be sold S. Such a i was never by known, for $5 and $6 snits Boys’ $5 suits, $2.98. er Tot of ess’ fine all-wool suits and cassimere. which 1 carefully fini nall lot of be duck pants, . ase—which Sell 1 Will go for oe. a pair t Boys’ blouses, 49c. prs’ Meuse walsts, in a nnm- * linen crash and striped galatea liy at ow. 10} Ancther lot fancy lin jar XD for 196 Youths’ suits, $4.50. cutaway dy made sacks— for $4.50 perfe 7.50) values, The biggest suit bargains for the men! In this immense purchase are hundreds of men’s finely tailored suits—the admirable creations We could put them in with our ri but that isn’t our way. art. regular prices of master sartorial sular stock—and ask The suits range in price from ten dollars to twenty-five dollars—and we have di- “vided them into two lots—like thi Suits worth $10, $12 & $13, Splendid 98 6 variety Ament of light ¢ a sime =, in an amazing suits found selling for less than $10, $12 and $18 except on such occasions ag this—the coats have facings and piped inner seams— satin ut collars—-and a finish whic fine clothing has—You have the © of three or four-buiton cutaway sacks—dark plaids, castimeres and Eng- lish striped cheylots—conts are lined With tine Titian cloth, Fs Suits worth up to $25 -"4h2 ght of having a the matter until worst both sides —in plaids—in stri miatures plain blues and. bivcks the choice is given you of 3 or 4-button sack etsles, or if you wish you may have the bine and black chevlots and orsteds in the stslish eutawa, Hor in town er wearing garments pr Note the splendid note that the buttonboles are and sewn with silk—note trousers are cut narrower {han usual, y fad of fash has been followed closely, und instead of $25— you get them for $12. $9 Top Coats, $4.98, of English 8 short with $2 Pants, 090¢. Lot of men's pants, strictly all wool— $4 Pants, $1.98. 6 styles of striped worsted pants, which are cheviot facings—in. this Tot ie tn: five different patterns — regular $4 values—go at Sune Ae hlb serd cove made with the patent $1.08. These are made | sive “garment. than the riveted buttons—the equal up with 2 bip pockets cone ec of pants for which you and the facings are the have paid $: ed 99 cents, have been put on # table and mark- best materials—perfect- | fitting and well made. Splendid values, 56 bike suits Men's easst le svits, in as man: tyles of plaids and checks the made with 4 out- alde pol ngs, the have military golf There never suit sol less than $60 by any elothier on Y for any one of the * Men's plaid bicycle pants, in those yery combinations which apa fashionable this season; made with miulltery seats, giving them double strerguh and double the wear—where wear com pants Which are sold for $2 wherever ble clothing is sold—go t6 you for 99 cents. i ordinary values we offer during the certain hours specified. ' Underskirts, 39c. | (irom 11 to 12 o'clock.) 1 =< black sateen and Roman-st a ” r ith a ide roffle and between 11 and ~ Silk waists, $2.98. 11 to 12 o'clock.) { i { i (irom (from 9 to 10 o'clock.) ke your choice of this lot of ludies” fine skits of handsome figured brillfan- with pretty satin damask figures, t= and every garment well made and per- = feetly —lined and bound in the best mapner—for 99 cents. Worth $2.50. Silk skirts, $4.98. (irom 11 to 12 o'clock.) tue most stylish brocaded taffeta «kirts, h fail fen pleat. aud best Hong and binding such a skirt for which you pay s ially—will go between 11 and 12 -Child’s hose, 314. (irom 10 to 11 o'clock.) Children’s fast black ribbed | Ladies’ vests, 5c. (irom g to 10 o'clock.) Ladies’ white derby rib with taped neck—the for 3 cents between and 10 L ‘Shirt waists, 39c. (irom 11 to 12 o'clock.) one hour we will do the greatest aist of the season, Underwear, 29c. (irom 10 to 11 o'clock.) and cam- ehentise and ely Giamed with Inee yor also a lot of muslia Ts with long sleeves and a lot Ted short skirts; finest made under: tions of the best and TL tomorrow for 20e. “HECHT & | Muslin Underw’r, 9l4c. (from 11 to 12 o'clock.) - haye piled on a cent a lot drawe are t rset rinimed with o ude the latter are ory at the neck and nnot possibly meuts for less them for $1 Corsets, 69c: ."” corsets— the regular dollar cor- nd unharmed execpt for a siixht here and there—almost unnotice- will go for one hour. Boys’ wash suits, A9c. » $2-which we will offer you the cholce of at 4% Boys’ waists, 9c. (irom 9 to 10 o'clock.) Boys’ waists, 19c. (irom to to tr o'clock.) boys’ ind oa lot a row for 19 Men’s shirts, 49c {irom Io to 11 o'clock.) —made of best wo madras—laundered new spring patterns ffs to match—men's stores ask SSe. Men’s hdkfs, 6c. (from 10 to 11 o'clock.) A lot of men's genuine union linen handkerchiefs. with neatly hemmed edges, full size, and well worth 20 Will be offered for one hour at 6 cents. Men’s 50 & 75c. golfs caps, 19¢. (bet. 10 and 11 o'clock.) —made of imported cheviots—in blue and mixed patterns—-sold originally for 75e. amd 50c.—for 19. a The “hour sales” will draw a big crowd °°. | tomorrow—cannot fail to, because the values are greater than any that have ever been offered before. know about our famous “hour sales” know what to expect—those who don't will Suspenders, 14c. (irom 11 to 12 o'clock.) A lot of : m= » for Te. du Men’s hose, 9c. (from 9 to 10 o'clock.) 's fust black half hose, silk em- in a large varlety of new de- if 25e. grade—during this Tew pair, Knee pants, 914. (from 11 to 12 o'clock.) =a big lot of them—strongly made—well finished Just the sort for school and every-day wear, Tam O’Shanters, 15c. (from 11 to 12 o'clock.) —children’s Tam O'Shanters, in blue, brown and red and green—all sizes—have qbatent leather ba Ladies’ suits, $2.98, (from 9 to 10 o'clock.) Tt may scew extraontinary so early in the season to sell a ladies’ xuit worth $8 for much less than half; but that we are ‘They are made of tine ta are made reefer + And are silk-Hned throughout; the skirts are full fan-pleat, and generously fall in’ width, have a finish equal in every respect to the finest suits—being thoroughly ttilor-made, All-day millinery values. Tomorrow we have prepared for with some values which are entirely out of the usual run. Y ge of them please note the of trimmed and untrimmed hats—the rich- howing—the exclusive prices which prevail. There never cess as we have made of this millinery department. mendous leaps it has jumped right to the fore—gaining a popularity that has been the surprise of every merchant in When you come to take advanta, splendid display ness of the town. Bicycle hats, 33c. A lot of rough-und-ready straw bicycle hats, in brown, bl green, red and Wwhite—will be offered as a special value tomorrow for only 33¢ Ladies’ hats, 38c. A large lot of ladies’ and children’s huts, in rough and plain braids—which are worth double—will go for this day a8 4 specinl value at 38 cents. Sailors, 49c, A lot of straw seflors, in plain and rough braids, with silk bands.of black, blue and white—will be sold tomorrow for only 49 cents. COMPAN vv, 515 Seventh Street, Between Band Sts. tind froma the special list named below what extra- Ladies’ hose, 914c.' Those of you who,already $12 suits, $7.98. (all ‘day.) raordinary value for you. t black, blue, brown, green, gray and yal cheviot serge tailor-made Fults, lined throughout with fine q Diack taffeta silk, including the sleeves; ull plain pleat skirt; finished In the most careful manner. Not a sult in this lot is Worth Jess than $12, and you will see them in the windows of the stores about town at that price. Yet we offer t for $7.98. $16 suits, $12.50. (all day.) Two shades of tan covert and one shade of green covert tallor-mode sults; jackets ent box-reefer effect and taffeta stik Mned Ko for $12.50. The green suit Is trimmed with bluck brald—skirt and jacket. Note the careful workmanship of every one, te that each is trimmed with the best arl buttons. No ladies’ tallor on earth can turn out better fitting garments, (from 10 to 11 o'clock.) Ladles’ fancy fop and plain black and tan hose, such as ts nsuably sold for dou- ble the” price—go between 10 and 11 e'clock for 9c. @ pair. Wrappers, 39c. (bet. to and 11 o'clock.) —the prettiest and best made percale wrappers—trimmed with braid — ned waists — full skirts—with deep hems, Nothing skimpy about them—and you'll pay 69¢. for them everywher your millinery needs styles—the distinctly lower was such a previous suc- By tre- Ribbon, 9c. Tomorrow we will offer you the choice of line, Selnch allan moire, Hbbom, ia ewes only fbay Ee lor and shade—for 25c. ribbon, 19c. 4¥4-Inch Roman-stripe ‘taffeta and plain molre (ffeta ribbons)i which sell ar ularly at 25c. a yard—will be offered to- morrow for 1c. a yard, 1 Flowers, { Ic. As & special tomorrow wa offer you the gholce of, runes pind £elluge. forget-me- mor “iit datge bunched! of Velvet violets m of a Tornado. | Frea From the Kavsas City Times, | Meny strange and seemingly improbable told of the freaks of tornadoes, <traws have been driven through and of chickens entirely shorn of «tural covering of feathers, and of heing lifted bodily and being set upea mother earth apparently un- harmed. after having been carried through space for a considerable distance. Other tales tell of giant oaks being torn up by their roots and twisted into a mass of splinters by the terrific force of the ey- clone For two weeks past an interesting speci- Men of the tornado's work has been dis- played in a show window at 314 East 12th Street. It is what was the fron spokes and bub of # cultivator wheel, and it is bent of how Boards their ases down and twisted Into such intricate shape that it is hardly recognizabl It is a relic of the Norman, Oklahoma, tornado, which occurred in the spring of "05, killing twenty-nine people, demolishing hundreds of houses and leaving bleak and horrid desolation in its path. A few days after the long-to-be-remembered tornado this interesting object of the storm's fury was found two miles northeast of Norman by B. A. Davis of that place. He took it into the city, where it attracted a great deal of attention, and photographs were made of it and sent over the country. The wheel to which these crooked and bent spokes and battered hub belonged ‘as four and one-half feet in diameter, with an iron tire two and one-half inches across and three-fourths of an inch thick. This tire was torn completely off and no trace of it has ever been found. The spokes look as if they had all been gathered in a bunch and then mashed. No information has ever been found as to where the thing came from or to whom it belonged, and it will probably never be known whether the storm tore the wheel away from the cul tivator, as some peaceful farmer was plow- ing his ground or whether it was picked up from a blacksmith shop in Norman. As it now is, it weighs twenty-four and one-half pounds, an ordinary wheel of the sort weighing sixty-five pounds. People who have seen it have expressed amaze- ment that a wind should be so strong and violent as to carry such an object several miles and mash and bend it into the shape it appears. ——__+e. The largest advertising sign in the world is sald io be on the hillside of an {islet off the Grand Canary, northwest of Africa. It is several feet above the level of the sea and contains four words in letters each 15 feet wide &nd 30 feet high, each bar of th Tetters being 3 feet 3 IndBes broad. T! sign is 750 feet long. e@jcurves and deft touches Graceful Women. Frem the Kansas City gourdt(l. Observant and fa; linguish at great distances a man from a woman, not by dress, face or figure, but by movements, The motions of the most Sraceful men are ungainly when compared with the sinu- ous lines that most women instinctively as- sume. . It often happens that a singie motion of & distant figure, and especially a motion of the arms above the head, wil instantly de- termine for a trained observer the sex of the person, #4 If any one doubts this, let him note the awkward, windmill-like performance man ai his hair, and the graceful with which a the same thing. ‘woman accompanies THE FAIR EXTENDED The Masons Will Continue Their En- terprise Until Wednesday Next. CROWDS CONTINUE 10 INCREASE Mystic Shriners and Visiting Knights Templar Tonight. HOT TIME CERTAIN A If some ingenious architect could invent a building of the India rubber elastic sort, vtich could be stretched to meet unusual requirements upon its capacity whenever they were made, he would undoubtedly be employed to exercise his genius on Conven- tion Hall. The prcbabilities are, however, that the utmost extension of which the vast structure would be capable, even un- der suck remarkable circumstances, would not make it commodious enough to accom- modate the immerse throngs which come to the Masonic fair ard exposition every night. Certainly no enterprise of the sort in this or any other city has been so mag- netic in attracting the masses, and the longer it lasts the greater the crowds grow. By 8:30 o'clock last night there were so many people in Convention Hall and so many waiting to get in that it was nec y to admit the holders of season tickets through the entrance to the armory arnex in order to accommodate the pur- chasers of cdmissicn tickets at the regular entrance to Convention Hall. Three-quar- ters of an hour later locomotion in any tof Convention Hall and the annex was almost difficult. Civie Organizations, The civic organizations were the guests of the evening, and marched to the hall escorted by a detail of Knights Templar and preceded by the Mount Pleasant Field Band. ‘The visitors included the United Order of American Mechanics, about a thousand strong, under command of State Counsellor Moore; the four local branches of the Knights of Malta, under command otf Commander W. Beach, and the Red Men, under leadership of P. G. S. John C. Dunning, and the Columbia Typographical Union of this city, led by its officers. ‘The Red Men, about 200 in numbe tired in regular Indian costumes, feathers, bear claws, jingiing all, and added a most att feature to the picturesqueness of the scene. Aficr the visitors had marched through sed in review before their spective officers, ranks were broken i ightful evening enjoyed by all hand her one of those significant f:lustra- of the enthusiastic patriotism whi pspires every Amri t was given last night, when H shington Con- Band played “The Star Spangled Ban- As the strains of this great anthem pward a large American flag was 1 by one of the musicians. The crowd simply chzered itself hoarse, and all during the evening outbursts of the same sort were in order wherever the slightest incentive vas given for them. The Mighty Mystic Shriners. Th2 Mystic Shriners will pervade ihe en- tire enterprise tonight. Six hundred and fifty or 700 of them, attired in full dress suits and wearing the fezzes which indl- cate nobility, gained by a perilous trip acri jeurn>y down the precipitous will assemble at the > the burning sand and the dific lt journey up and a more difficult slope of Mt. tional 2ith and half ory at 6:15 o'clock this even! : an hour later will form in line behind Haley's Band and the Mount Pleasant Field Band and march to Convention Hall by way of 9th street, Pennsylvania avenue, 15th street and K street. There will be a large number of visiting Shriners from other cit- ies, and in addition to these will be the Old Dominion Commandery, Knights Tem- plar, Alexandria, Va., and 300 representa- tives of the commanderies In lsaltimore, who were prevented from coming last week on command:ry night, and very sensibly selected Shriners’ night for their visit. The Baltimore knights will come in a_ special train over the B. and O. road, returning at midnight. Of course they have all pur- chased round-trip tickets, knowing well that if this important matter has not been attended to many of them wou!d be under the necessity of walking home, after the eff2ct of the fair upon their pocket books had been realized. Fair Notes of Interest. Grand Commander E. B. Downham of Virginia was in attendance at the fair last night in full regalia. He had expected the Alexandria Commandery to come up, but It had postponed its visit till this evening. As indicated in The Star yesterday, the board of control at its meeting last night decided to keep the fair open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, closing at midnight on the latter day. The books containing the records of the various voting contests will be called in at 9:30 o'clock Wednesday night. The interest in these campaigns has grown so great that the blackboards containing the tabulated returns so far received will be removed to- day from the corridor in the armory an- nex to the space under the west side of the gallery in Convention Hall, next to Hohen- zollern Castle. Columbia Commandery booth contains many attractive features, but none is more magnetic than Mrs. Spencer, who is a past grand mistress of the occult art of palm- istry, reading with fidelity the characters of those whose hands she examines. It is impossible for Mrs, Spencer to accommo- date all the crowds who desire to test her powers, and long lines of people await their turns with a patience that is more than complimentary to her, when the sur- roundings are of such a chargcter as those at the fair. De Molay Mounted Commandery, No. 4, Knights Templar, has been doing hercu- lean work in behalf of the temple fund, and still continues to receive substantial assistance from its numerous friends. Among the recent cash donations received by De Molay were $60 from John R. Mc- Lean and $ each from P. E. Pursell, H. M. Cake, Senator Shoup, 8S. C. Neale and R. A. Johnson. One of the most magnificent donations yet made to De Molay was made today when Brother B. F. McCauley pre- sented to it a fine bay saddle horse to be voted for the most popular member of the commandery. The program in the exhibition hall of the annex tonight will consist of various at- tractive dances by the Misses Nott, Leon- ard, Stevens, Divver and Hodgson, who are pupils of Miss Geddis; juvenile athletics by the pupils of Miss Gora B. Shreve, a scarf drill by ladies, led by Miss Bertha Hetnline, and expert bicycle riding by Mr. SE? plat ae e following is the program fo! ny Old English Village tonteht. Part 1. ae p.m.—Exhibition of bag punching, Mr. Gec. A. Crawford, jr., Columbia Athletic Club: fancy dance, Miss Virgie Luckett: banjo solo, Steve Clements, Burnt Cork Club: wrestling, Messrs. Sterling Kerr, jr. of Harmony Lodge, No. 17, and George Schae- fer, Alleghany Lodge, No. 256, Virginia. Intermission. Part 2, 8:15 p.to.—Tricks. lack Bonnie,” owred and exhibited by Mr. H. O. French; acrobatic, W. C. Drury, Harmony Lodge, No. 17; caricature sketch- es, Mr. Felix E. Mahony: serpentine dance, Miss Mabel Thompson: fancy bicycle rid. “Racycle” Baker. Intermission. Part 8, 8:45 p.m.—Specialty, Mr. Henry Hills, Burnt Cork Club; wrestling, Messrs. Lee and Schafhirt, W. LC. and. La. C.; cake walk, led by Mr. Joe Bogan; fancy . (a) La Fascination, (b) Butterfty, Miss Mabel Owen. Intermission. 9:15 p.m. —European revolving ladder act, Mesers. Shreve and Morsell. Part 4—Club swing- ing, Mr. J. H. McGraw, Columbia Athletic Club; acrobatics, Messrs. Shreve, Horan and Chapman, W. L. I. C.. Intermission Part 5, 9:45 p.m.—Boxing, Mr. Earl Am- brose and Prof. Carter, Columbia Athletic Club; wonderful exhibition of electrical club ‘swinging, Miss: Emily E. Sauter and pupils; cornet solo, Mr. Walter F. Smith of Harmony Lodge, No. 17; “Black Bon- nie,” owned and exhibited by Mr. H. O. French. a Miss Williston—“How is it, colonel, that you have no rtedals? All the other officers "col, Copeton "Well, you ‘oe, T don't be- ‘ell, you see, " long to any bicycle clubs, and century run in my Hfe.- never madea/ are believed to News, ( K |BRIGHT'S FEMALE COMPLAINTS: URINARY DISORDERS: | GENERAL DEBILITY | THE YAND LIVER, of it has Thousands of people's lives have been irritability, melancholy, blues, bad taste in the mouth, loss of DISEASE containing the most valuable preparation for general weakness, sick headache, Thousands of men and women are kept in perfect health to-day wholly by its power. inflammations, all kidney and liver complaints and Bright's disease. cured so many others there certainly is no reason why it should not help you. = £ c Fa > J te = Se o LARIA g2 CAUSED BY £ 7 Vv AND LIVER = < a= 22 6 e+ ; £e& meES uz ro = FESS a4 £2? as S ADVICE. DECISION, Commissioners With Re In submitting to Chi an McMillan of the Senate District committee a report on Senate bill 4 granting to the ve: of Washington parish the right to sell burial sites in parts of certain streets in Washington, the District withdrew their former mendations on the me port thereon to the Hou They explain that since making the first report they gave a public hearing in the matter, and now, having had time to give it more ma- ture consideration, they are impelled to the belief that the proposed legislation should Commissioners favorable recom- re made in a re- state they believe it se the area for burials within the city limits. All ceme: the think, within the city limits should in tim: be removed therefrom. It seems to them that a wise public ‘y would suggest that only the lots in the cemetery (the Congressional) should be used for burial purposes, and the streets now exempt from buritls of other than for public serv- ants should not be encroached upon. eal — FREAK OF NATURE. Celebrated Mountain of Sand to Be for Relics, Trom the Atlanta Constitution. One of the most remarkable geological formations that is to be found anywhere in Georgia is located in Dougherty county, Ga., within rifle shot of Albany and but a short distance east of Flint river. The theory of its existence has for many years been the subject of wide speculation among the people of that section, but uncertainty as to whether it was created by nature 09 built by the hand of man still exists to es Great an extent as ever. The plantation of Mr. James M. Tift is directly cast of Aibany, a distance of about one mile, and is famous throughout south- ern Georgia as the Sand Hill or Sand Mountain place. The group of steep white sand hills, which has made the place cele- brated, covers an area of about 350 acres, and presents a remarkeble and most in- teresting sight to even those persons who have viewed it many times. It is located on a rich, flat stretch of farming country, unbroken by other hill or ridge of any a scription, with broad, cultivated fields and valuable timbered lots succeeding each other mile after mile. Nowhere hereabouts is there a rise of ground that deserves to be dignified by being called a hill except on the Sand Hill place; the country is uni- formly level for many miles in every rection from Albany. These sand peeks ere more than a hun- dred in number. They are grouped in the shape of an elongated circle just a mile m length and hut as wide. There is not a hill In the group less than thirty feet high, while many of them rise to a height of from seventy-five to eighty feet. The sides, almost without exception, are remarkably abrupt fer such sandy soil. The hardest rains that ever fall in this section can- not cause water to run down the slopes, as it sinks from view immediately on touch- ing the surface. The hills, however unfer- tile they may appear, are covered with a luxuriant growth of wiregrass, which serves to prevent heavy winds from drifting the sand. A person may begin at a point where the bottom of one of the hills bordering om the outside of this group meets the ila? country, walk entirely around the group until he reaches the starting point, and all the while there will have been on his one side steep, sandy hills, and on the other an interruped stretch of flat coun- try with a soil black and fertile. It seems that these hills must have been mad: after the creation of the wo-ld, and many per~ sons believe that they represent hundreds of years’ toil of the mound builders. A fact that would seem to support that the- ory is this: While the soil all around these great piles of sand has a solld clay foun- dation, the hills themselves are nothing but sand, from summit to base. One of them might be cut down to a level with the surrounding country, and no soil bu: white, shifting san-] would be encountered. Another theory that has often been cm- ployed in an effort to account for the existence of these remarkable peaks is that they ere a diluvial formation, perhap* thrown up by the action of a great whirl- pool at a time when this country was cov- ered with water. The absence of fossil remains indicative of the presence of the sea in past centuries, however, favor the mound builders’ theory. A number of persons have endeavored to induce Mr. Tift to make excavasions in some of the sand hills for the rurpose of settling, if possible, the question of their origin. Mary persons believe there is little doubt that the hills contain evi- dence that they were built by the hend of man. It ts a little remarkable tliat Mr. Tift has never yielded to the importun- ities of his friends, but he now states that he has at last decided to make one or more excavations. The result will be watched with a great deal of interest by the people of this section. It has been estimated that these hills contain, above the level-of the surrcund- ing country, more than 70,000,000 cubic feet of white sand. ———_+2-+—___ “Hunger stones” have been seen in’ the Ehine this winter. They only” ‘appear when | « the river is very low, and the date of their is then cut into them. a year of bad crops. Defense T was a nezer A. M riotic lecture by Fish D.D., of New York, on the colored Americans as crowd Chu arge E st ev ning h to listen to a W. B. Derr: bravery of t rs and sailors in the wars of the republic. Bishop Arnett officiated as master of ceremonies, Bi Salter making the opening prayer. Bis Gaines was also present. After bein, troduced to the audience Bishop Der lecture by referring back as » When colored blood was © of the country. He traced of his race showed where ver to nd the The speaker was a po he battle of Port Hi . and he rk perforn t conflict ncluding his marks the um ged his hearers to keep up the re length on the i speaker of the race. This was their country, bh said, and they ougat to appreciate it.) H urged the women to tender their services to the government immediately, so as to be ready to nurse the soldter the a Spain. jored children their charg advised the tea to still in <, especially the the To the Editor of The Evening Star: Please allow me space In your valuable columns to correct certain expressions made by a number of our best friends relative to the patriotism of the colored man to his country In atime when we are threatened with danger. Ido not think the fidelity « the colored man to the flag of this country ought to be questioned, especially by those who are acquainted with the history of the American negro in the line of patriotism to this goverament. When he had no flag, nv government, he showed his pa toward his neighbor. In the rev war, when he had no flag colored man was among for the Ar. erican liberty, a with the first that filled the patriot’s grave. In the war of 1812 he again offered his service, though a slave, to assist in protecting the fiag of his master. He was accepted and served, and was honorably discharged. In the war of 1861, at the darkest hour of the nation’s life, when the very foundation « this government was upon the eve of beir wrecked, the negro offered his service ¢ assist in saving it; he was ace jas a soldier and was paid half the sum that other soldiers received; still he murmured not. Afterward he was placed upon the full footing of other common soldiers. Then his ranks were increased from 3,000 to 4,000 to more than 200,000, Thousands of these men never saw a gun before, but showed their patriotism by fighting for their own freedom and for a flag that ts today his flag, and a land that is his coun- try. The honor of his country has been called into question, and has been tnsulted by the slaying of 266 of its proud sailors and officers, without a moment's notice and without the slightest provocation for the act. To this end the negro’s blood has run as high for vengeance as that of any other American citizen, and he stands ready to- day not only to offer 200,000, if need be for protection of a land that is his, but twice 200,000, if required. To this end, we are engaged in raising a regiment of colored troops froin the District of Columbia, offered to this governmen 4 to serve it at any point where they may be assigned. We hope to be able within a very short time to present to you a regiment of 1,000 to 1,200 able-bodied men who are willing to show their patriotism as their fathers have done. R. D. RUFFIN. April 20, 1898. Rats and Mice Electrocuted. From the Chicago Tribune, The latest device for catching rats and mice and killing them is by the use of electricity. The appearance of the ma- chine is very simple. The platform is of metal and connected with ene pole of the battery, while ths other pole is insulated by glass rest and resembles somewhat the case for electric light bulbs. In the center is the wire of the other pole, made into a hook bait, upon which the cheese is placed. The trap is operative only when the two poles are connected by some other medium. The current may be turned on and yet never have any effect unless both the metal platform and the hook are sim- ultaneously connected. The plan is to bait the hook and thus attract the rats and mice, which will have to mount the plat- form to get at the cheese. As soon as they touch i the connection is made and they fall dead—electrocuted. Ne Decision ia Nicaragua. Consul Sorsby writes from San Juan del Norte: ~ “Referring to the many rumors current