Evening Star Newspaper, April 23, 1898, Page 14

————— THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Penaszlvanix Aveans, Cor. 11th 3s, by i Com; Et ete . Building, Few York Office, 49 bz ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers tn the eity by cxrriers, on their own account, at 10 cents per week. o- 44 certs per month. Copies at the qounter 2 cents each. By mail—answhere in the United States or Canada—postage prepald—50 cents © month. Saturday Qrintunte Sheet Star, $1 per year, with foreign postage added, $3.03. (Entered at the Post’ Office at Wasbingtoa, D. C.. as second-cla. s mail matter.) £7 All mail subscriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of edvertising made known on application. BORN TO DO BATTLE Magnificent Bulls That Come of a Noble Lineage. ee gS DIE T0 MAKE A SPANISH HOLIDAY Ideas of Sport That Are Very Dif- ferent From Ours. TRAINING FOR THE RING Bpecial Correspondence of The Evening Star. MALAGA, April 14, 1808. I: CORDOVA, THE home of Spain's great old bull fighter, La- gartijo, and during the bright tourist st preceding antne American who kr ail about bulls. He was much of a sport and had time on hands; he consorted with bull fighters and dealers, would drink with them and show them fancy revolver shooting; yet he could not b2 persuaded to witness a bull fight. He always refused with the words: “No, that ain’t what bulls was intended for. This American had been a cowboy in the southwest, and was ten engaged in breed- ing mules som2where in Nevada. His ap- pearance in Cordova was to buy up Spanish Jacks to elevate the standard of his blend. The mixed tourists of every land, well-to-do loafers, invalids, artists and students of history, art and archacology, floating in and out of the prim Hotel de Suisse, look2d at our ranchman with curiosity not unmin- gled with disquietude. Nevertheless in a few days they learned to appreciate at their value the honesty, the innocence and down- ‘Part2. Che Fy ening Star. Pages 13-24. WASHINGTON, D. C,, many of the deaths of matado come from animals sleepy and unw the very thrust. The Level-Headed Bull. The aplomado, or yell-balan headed bull, is supposed, neverthele: be the most dangerous of all. more imposing than his entrance into the ring. He shows himself to the public with a head well thrown up, without giving way to any disordered movements. His air Hing at moment before tie fatal horn- ato Nothing is so majestic that the 10,00) people of the audience send up a grat shout of enthus zstic appreciation. He scarcely notic enemies around him, men on foot and men en horses; but he seems purposely to iook to the audience and invite their admira- tion. Then, sharply beating the ground with his forefeet, he rushes surely at the spearsman mounted on his poor shaky and blindfoided stced. Throughout the fight he dces not fatigue himself, but shows an in- telligence and decision that amount to gen- eralship. And jt is not strange that some- thing of the kind should be—the Spanish fighter is no common bull. “What!” wrote a Madrid editor recently in an editorial on the progress of human ity, “shall we, for the sake of a new- tangled sentiment, repudiate a heroic sport that has been Spanish for more than ten fall centurie: And then he goes on, very logically, to explain that the bulls themselves like it, because of hereditary lust for battle. he argument run: omething like this Had Fighting Ancestors. buil today in Spain is at ng line of fighting ancestors, nd as noble in their way as any ) grandee is im his, you see. From antiquity his bull ancestors have and it would be indeed ability Each fighting the end of a as well Spani experience Unfortunately there seems to be a mon: strous dimeuity in the way of this thesis when one comes to iook at it in cold blood. It is true faat each bull today is a descend- ant of a long line of tighte hat is, of bulls who have fought in the ring. But no bull enters the arena twice—in almost every the buil is killed there. ‘There: fore, no nghting experience or taste other than that co:mmon to ali buiis throughout the world can have been communicated along this line of descent. A dead bull can- not become a father. And until the hour of his death he has never had a fight. Therefore, let us look the difficulty boldly in the face and pass on. The bulls have the blood of fighters in them? Undoubtedly. They have their gene- alogies. And the nobie Spaniards feel that to refuse a well-bred bull his glorious death in the ring would be like adding injury to right purity of mind that lay beneath an out-of-the-way exterior. An amiable En- glishman, the younger brother of a lord— although he did not look it, or did look it, exactly as you please—became his enthu- silastic companion on many a ramble along the Guadalquivir, listening to his Bret Harte storizs of adventure with unfeigned delight. Made Him Indignant. “I have seen cattle killed,” the ranch- man would insist, “and I have seen men killed by cattle, but this bull-fight institu- tion I have no use for.” The fact that slaughtering horses is a prominent feature in the Corrida de Toros filled him with in- dignaticn; and his knowledge and love of animals—particularly his admiration for the Spanish bull, which he inspected in its ne- tive wiids on many an occasion with us and filled him with scorn for Span- "and put to open shame some of his cvuntrymen who had been to the bull ring more than once apiece. The fighting bulls of Spain spend a free and glorious youth in the wild mieadows of Andalusia or the highlands of New Casille. Their breeding places are chosen for them as if they were young princes with a taste for natural scenery, or gods masquerading tm the ovine shape. No valley is too fresh and sweet with odorous herbs for them, no stream of mountain source too virginal and cool for their hot youthful hides to wallow in. And, that nothing should be lacking, the wide world is hunted through to find them brides. The blend most now in vogue appears to be the Andalusian buil and cow of Portugal. The result is an animal unit- ing the nati trength of the father wiih th horns and great agility of the more delicate mother, fresh from the sweet valleys‘of Braga. Oxen Their Guides. The bulls intended for the arena have for their companions from their youth up intelligent oxen—cabestros—who, in a way. fulfill toward them the office of guide philosopher and friead. As soon as a young bull goes beyond the limits of his natural pasturage and runs away into the cpen country these cabestros, even with- eut an order from the guardian, dash after him, ringing furiously the great bells which hang to their fat necks. They very soon surround the deserter, who, withou making ths lcast resistance, comes ba with lowered head to the fold in the midst of his imposing escort The usefulness of these cabestros is no less great in the bull ring. Frequently a brave and intelligent bull has his lif: spared at the demand of the audience or disables the two esp him. It would be in vain to try to drive him from the ring. But it is sufficient that these brave old oxen should appear—ring- ing the remembered bei's of his childhood for the bull to hasten to join their troops again to the stables, after a little trot around the rirg. The Fighting Age. The age in which the fighting bull ts in full vigor varies between four and five years. He ought to be of good lineage, and to have never quitted his brecding grounds. On this point the regulations of the bull ring are strict and formal; and a bull that has once been in the ring and managed to disable the competitors assigned him, or who has been spared by popular approval of his bravery and generalship, may never appear again in any fight—he is too da gerous for a second trial. Without being too fat—which would rob him of the precious quality of agility—he ought to be in good flesh, in order to sup- port, without too much fatigue, the Inces- sant false attacks which precede the defi- nite battle. To be perfect, he should have a black hide, glistening and soft, brown eyes with a golden glint, a proud carriage, large head, shoulders and breast very much developed, horns thick at the base and lightly curved ard very sharp at the ends. Such « bull comes high, from $800 to $1,200 being the ordinary price for one of a good Tace. Besides these qualities, there are oth- ers which determine the fighting value of a bull; but the most important of all is per- soral character. And as to personal character, bulls are of three kinds; so that whenever a new buli Jumps into the ring he immediately dis- Plays in his first few movements what kind of bull he is. Bulls are levantados, Parades and aplomados—just as men are, heedless, indolent or well balanced. The Foot Bu The levantado, the giddy or thoughtless bull, rushes immediately, with a high head, across the ring, making in turn for every side, with a deal of leaping, sometimes comic. Then he charges on the horses and the picadores who ride them. He ts sald to be an easy bull to get out of the way of and te kill. His adversaries know with ex- actness just how he will act; because he will always go directly at the thing whien atiracts his attentien for the moment. The parado, or lezy bull, comes in on a Mttle trot, then stcps, wheels round and returns quickly eneugh to the gate of the arena whence he cmerged. He does not want to fight. He wants to get in ‘he shade of the shed outside and continue his meditations. But, as the proverb has it, “Beware the anger of a patient man," so it is necessary to distrust an indolent bull. Sometimes he becomes irritated in the midst of his languors and immediately i terrible. With such a bull there is little counting; his humor, when it changes, changes suddenly. as at tee first stab in his neck by one of the little barpoons; and s assigned to kill insult in the breach of class privileges be- tween equals to which it would amount in stern reality. Longer Lineage Than Duke. “Noblesse oblige!" as one of the Dukes of Veragua oncg remarked of an animal from his own meadows. who am a noble of Spain, owe something to these noble bulls, whose lineage, to tell the truth, is longer than my own. Shall I deprive one of his hereditary right to die in the full joy of ccmbat, under the eyes of 18,000 apprecia- tive Spaniards?” Neither the present duke nor his father, nor yet his, would have dreamed of such a wrong. The bull Pavito, bred in the Ve- ragua granaderia, is on the golden scroll of the great buils of history as early as 185 On June of that year, at Madrid, he Killed the celebrated es Manuel Ximi- nez, quickly and almost painlessly, before a fashionable audience of the _ period. Again, 1s74, the bull Cachucho, also. the property of the Veragua family, killed, at Madi again, the toreador Manuel Hermo- silla-Sonera. That certain bulls have died really quite gloriously, without the least attempt to jump the fence and get back to their medi- tations in the shed, and that others have escaped even more gloriously, may be seen from a few nctable examples of the present century. I take Scroll.” Barbado.""—This bull, ou May 11, 1800, Killed, at Madrid, the toreudor Jose Del- gado. “Barrabas.”"—He killed Manuel Dominguez in the ri anta Maria, June 1, 1857, by thoughttully driving a horn into the gentleman's ey “Bragoclo. ch nut color. Panchos in 154: Great Fighter. “Cantanero.”"—This animal was of extra- ordinary strength, courage and agility. In 1S71, at the plazo of Puerto Santa Maria, their names from the “Golden superb animal of-a bright He killed the toreador he killed uine horses and wounded one, after having received thirty-two spear thrusts. He was so covered with blood that the color of his skin could not be seen. The public demanded that his life be spar- ed, which was done. ‘armeleo.”—This animal, which be- lerged to Don Manuel Suarez de Co: fought, turn by turn, a lion, a tiger and a man, and whipped all three. This was in April, 1849. Pitting of bulls ag: animals is still sometimes acticed in Spain, as it was in the Roman Colisseum in the middle ages, when the authorities Would not permit inter-human engage- ments. 1 once met a Frenchman who, in 1881, was present at such a conflict’ at Palma, in the Balearic Islands, and saw a lion conquered by a bull. “Centenela.”"—In 1880, at Tarragona, this ee Killed the banderillo Rafael Arch- no. “Garbata."—This animal, one of the most beautiful ever seen, fought, on March 25, 1s65, at Madrid, against an ¢lephant, which he attacked valiantly six times without being able to injure his thick hide. ron.”"—On June 16, 1870, he mortally vounded Augustin Penera and then, thanks to his agility, jumped the fence. He was killed by the sword of a Civil Guard. “Gorchito.”—This terrible animal killed six horsee and received more than thirty spear blows before dying himself. lariomeno.”—In 1s64, in the afternoon of May 24, this bull received, without ever orce turning back, fifty-one spear blows and killed six horses. After his death his head was carried in honor around the ring, u usic and the shouts of the people. respicos.”—On June 15, 1846, this most terrible of all known bulls wounded and completely disabled nine picadores and one bandertilo; that is to say, ten men, and Killed six horses. The people demanded that his life be spared, which was done. To go conscientiously through the whole lcng list would take up too much time, and Ure you; but if the recitation of the few noble names I have culled here and there spall have had some effect of awakening in the American heart a hearty admiration for the Spanish bull, these labors will have not been in vain. They do their best, the little Spanish bulls, to kill the men who torture them. And often they succeed. STERLING HEILIG. ———— German Club Meets. “Der Deutech-Amerikanishe Club” had its regular meeting at the home of Miss Emily Proctor Tuesday ev2ning. The program was as follows: Reading, “Das Grab im Busento,” Aug. von Platen, by the presi- dent of the club, Mr. B, F, Schubert; rect- tation, “‘Sehsucht,” Korner, by Miss Char- lette White; two autoharp solos, by Mr. ‘Walmer; readings, “Die Ren? Kummacher” and “Vater Treu Hey, by Mrs. von Hart- leben; anecdotes related in German by Miss Proctor; quartet by four members of the club. . ——+. Approves the Sale. Judge Cox, presiding in Equity Court No. 1, has signed an order approving ths gale by Receiver W. Kesley Schoepf of six box cars and six open cars of the Belt Railway Company. The price paid was $225 each for ‘the box cars and $65 each for the open cars, the purchaser being the Knoxville Traction Ccmpany. The proceeds of the sale will be devoted to defraying the operating expenses of the Belt railway that have accrued sinc? the 15th SATURDAY, AI AGAINST ASSAULT Description of Some Remarkably Brave Defenses, THE BOMBARDMENT OF ALEXANDRIA How Gibraltar Withstood a Siege of Three Years. INVESTMENT OF HAVANA Written for The Evening Star by Robert Oswall Seallan, Lieutenant Royal Artillery. In the event of war between Spain and the United States, it is generally anticipat- ed that the American navy would proceed to invest Havana ind demand the uncon- ditional surrender of that city. Such a course would put to an immediate test tie resources of the Spanish fleet, and the suc- cessful issue of the American attack on their principal naval station would pui a terrible handicap on all future operations Undertaken by the Spanish ships against ours, One can easily imagine, therefore, the strenuous efforts that would be made, on the one , and on the the other to repel any k. Yet it is difficult to see how, face of a strong attacking fleet almest cer: the insurgents, aided possibly by an in- vading force of our own troops, the gat rison could hope to hold out against the inevitably disastrous bombardment that must follow a vigorous resista Noth- ing save the presence of a powerful Span- sh squadron could avail to prevent the failing at orce into our hand. in the in front and an ain attempt from the rear by In view of these facts it interesting | to review the fates of some famous cit which preferred the horrors of a bombard ment to an ignominious surrender. most remarkable instances of recent years were those of Alexandria and Paris. In both cases the attack prevailed over the defense, notwithstanding that the fortifi- cations of both cities were immensely sirong ard up ty date in every particular. However, there were extenuating circum- stances in each case which accounted for the premature success of the enemy. abard t of Alexandria. The contest of Alexandria was short, but decisive. Within ten hours the British fleet, under Admiral Seymour,” had ef- fectually sileneed every gun on the shore. Ten thousand shell and solid shot were poured in on the thorougnly frightened Egyptians, and a complete evacuation of the forts was tie result. Yet very little execution was done by this veritable hall of iron, for the great parapets of sand, which prote:ted the batteries, rendered harmless the huge 13-inch projectiles, and it was only because of the havoc caused by the fragments of shells which flew around everywhere and accomplished a frightful slaughter among the gallant ad- herents of Arabi Pasha, Joined to a knowl- edge that their want of accuracy in aim- ing left the fleet practically unharmed, that the defenses were so speedily relin- quished to the British admiral. As every one knows, the guns were mostly all spiked or blown to pieces by a landing party of marines, but outside of the forts them- selves, the destruction was yery small, for the presence of friends as well as foes in the city forbade an extensive shelling of any but the recognized native quarter, yet sufficient damage was done by the incen- diary shells to start a fire that almost de- stroyed the entire town. In this engage- ment the enormous power of the Sl-ton guns, the projectiles of which weigh o 1,700 pounds, was amply demonstrate: but it was also made evident that the quickly thrown-up and inexpensive em- bankments of sand formed an invulnera- ble defense against even these terrible weapons, and there can be little doubt hands of experienced gunners, the harbor batteries would ch better account of them- "rhe that, in the of the guns selves. It is even an open question whether the fleet would not have been repulsed un- der such circumstances. Herein lies an example and moral which those who oppose all proposals to increase the artillery branch of our army might well ponder, for the success of the ships under Admiral Seymour's mnmand showed conclusively that it is useless to expect that the mag- nificent engines of modern warfare can be manipulated even moderately well by men, however brave and willing, who have not undergone the lengthy and arduous course of training that is necessary to turn out a properly qualified gunner. Sieze of Paris. The bombardment of Paris, though it can hardly be cempared with a possible attack on Havana, is yet worthy of notice as {l- lustrating what measures can be taken to reduce an unwilling city to subjection. During the month of January, 1871, the Prussian guns literally rained on the forti- fications of the beautiful capital the seem- ingly impossible number of 10,900. shells each day, and of these more than 500 fell on a daily average into the city proper; the devastation caused by the latter in some parts was frightful, and the fires in conse- Guence often threatened to ruin whole dis- tricts. Many houses and walls were thrown down by the garrison, so as to leave large open spaces where shells could do but little cr no damage, yet many a one who had en- dured the pangs of hunger in silence and submitted without complaint to the severe regulations of the commissary general, for the honor and sake of ‘La Belle France,” found it hard to restrain both tears and in- dignation when, on returning from the front after a long and hopeless struisgle against an apparently invincible foe, he could discover nothing save the ruins of his former home. During the civil war there were many furious bomLardments, but they were prin- cipally directed against important forts, and in no case were the ports or cities threatened with destruction; in fact, the wonderfully =mall loss of life in all these operations during the momentous struggle of 1861-65 is worthy of remark, as showing the completeness of the means adopted to protect the defenders from the dangerous missiles; the more ncteworthy sinco, in nearly every case, the forts in question were very severely handled and many of them dismantled. A few years before, however, during the protracted siege 0% Se- bastopol, the combined fleets of France and England had demonstrated the power and possibilities of the cannon of tne period when arrayed in opposition to even the most elaborate and scientific systems of de- tense; only the severity of the climate and the extraordinary intrepidity of the Rus- sian soldiers enabled them to keep the al iies at bay for such a lengthy period. Gibraltar’s Defense in 1779. Undoubtedly the most interesting story of siege and bombardment in the annals of warfare since cannon were first invent- ed is that of the unsuccessful attempt of Spain to regain in 1779 the fortress of Gibraltar, which England had taken by storm a few years before. For three years and seven months the stronghold was in- vested by a large force of all arma and a practically uninterrupted fire from 185 guns, including some fifty mortars of 18- inch caliber, was maintained from January 12, 1780, Ull February 2, 1783. Meanwhile, the gallant little garrison was but once re. lieved and suffered all the pangs of starya- tion, not unmingled sametimes with a fe:l- ing of despair; still they clung to the He gantic rock, repelling attack after attask with indomitable courage ‘and enduranc: and inflicting enormous losses on ponents. The latter indeed RIL 23, 1898—TWEN TY-FOUR PAGES. of praise for the pertinacity and persever- ance with which they returned to the fray tme after time, undaunted by continual re verses, and hopeful ever to retrieve the dis grace which they considered the presence cf the nated “infidels” put upon them. The most interesting and exciting epi- sode during this long siege was the fe- rocious attempt made by the Spaniards toward the close, when they strained every nerve to dismay and cvercome the already exhausted but still unflinching garrison. More than 50,000 troops and 170 pleces of ordnance of large caliber were at the dis- posal of the Spanish general, and an inge- nious type of floating batteries, strongly resembling the famous “cheese-boxes on rafts" of the late war, had been devised by the dons, who expected great things of them in the meditated assault. The num- bers of the opposing forces were ludicrous- ly disproporticnate. Besices the above- mentioned trcops and guns, the Spanish possessed nine line-of-battle ships, 15 gun or mortar boats, covered boats sufficient to jand nearly 40,400 men and, in addition, the 1 floating batteries, which: consisted of large y , their sides protected by a banking of tmber seven feet thick, and the decks and guns screened with a slant- ing roof of shot-proof material. Unevenly Matched. To this gigantic armament the defense could only oppose some 7,000 men, many of them sick or wounded, and all reduced to scanty rations for many months past; am- munition was limited, and the eannon even then were antiquated. On the 8th of Sep- tember, 1782, fire was cpened on the fort- rr at a preconcerted signal by the entire “streagth of Spanish artery, both on land and afloat. The “floating batteries” were moored within half range and proved in- deed invulnerable to shot and shell, which lasted all night and day until late’ on the 1zth. On that day the garrison, unable to make any impression on the fleet, whose efforts were beginning to give the sma!l force of defenders considerable trouble and inconvenience, conceived the brilliant idea of loading their guns with red-hot shot.and burning shells, which, though of little or no penetrating power, turned out to be very effective against the wooden sides of the battle ships and gunboats. In fact, within a very few hours every one of the floating batteries lay perfectiy quiescent on the water, a useless mass of burning hulks. The endeavors and energy of the defenders finally prevailed over the vast numerical superiority of their opponents, and on the 14th of the month the desperately conduct- ed attack was given up, and the Spanish troops retired to their lines, severely crip- pled by the enormous losses they had suf- fered. Winter quarters were taken up, the bombardment practically abandoned, | and peace was declared on the 2d of February following. ‘Thus ended the most memora- ble siege that can be found in the pages of history; remarkable for many reasons, but most of all for the small loss of life among the defenders, who, during the three years and a half that the investment lasted, lost in all but 500 men, while they inflicted on the enemy a total loss.of several thousands of lives. Gibraltar today simply bristles with artillery; the mogntain is honeycomh- ed with passages and guileries leading to remotely hidden batteries, some the resu!t of nature's workings, but most of them excavated by years of arduous toil in the very bowels of the gigantic rock. Looking at the huge guns, many of them of im- mense weight and large caliber, one is al- most forced to the conclusion that they must have “grown-there,” for to one not learned in the mysterious ways and work- ings of the gunner and engineer it seems absolutely impossible that these monstrous- long and bloited-looking engines of de- struction could, by any but superhuman agency, have been brought through the steep and tortuous passages that form the sole approach to the dark, silent casemates where they repose. | The Case of;Havana. To return to our story, it is evident that Havana, not enjoying the admitted im- pregnability of the “Pillar of Hercules,” nor yet possessing the magnificent detenses that were the boast of Paris, is more com- parable to Alexandria, which similarity 1s, indeed, further berne out by the resem- blance between the climates and strategi- cal positions of the two cities; und though Havana is lacking in quantity to equal the Egyptian batteries, the deficiency may per- haps be compensated for by the more mod- ern quality of the guns and a superior class of gunners. ‘This last desideratum is a most important one, for it is indisputable that with good guns and well-trained men behind them, even though the number of beth leaves much to be desired, and_ the for- tifications be anything but invulnerable any fort ought to give a good account of it- self against even greatly superior odds, for a short time at least. With the improve- ments of late years in range-finding instru- ments, and the enormousl ased de- structive range of high-power guns, the advantage is all’in favor of @ stationary fort, from which distances are merely a matter of momentary calculation end di- rections easily observed, as opposed to a constantly moving ship, on board which distance observations are practically «a matter of trial, while the rolling of the sea constantly interferes with correct laying. Especially 1s this the case in any kind of a heavy sea; but once let the guns of a fleet be properly trained on the fort, and @ couple of good shots made, and it will take a most powerful set of fortifications to resist annihilation, for, once the range is definitely obtained, the pitching and toss- ing of the ship, as well as its capability REAL ESTATE GOSSIP Decision of Questions as.to the Use of Street Parkings. ISTH STREET CONTROVERSY SETTLED Location of Statues and the De- struction of Large Trees. SOME NEW BUILDINGS A permit has been issued to Mr. Robert L. Preston to erect a house at 1310 18th street. Action upon the application for this permit was deferred in accordance with the law until after the Secretary of War had approved the proposed use of the parking. All questions reiating to the occu- pation of the parking by house projections must be referred to the Secretary of War for his action. It is said that this is not merely a perfunctory duty on the part of the head of the War Department, and that each application of the sort is referred to the superintendent of public buildings and grounds, and that official details some one to visit the premises and w the effect of the proposed extension cn the public prop- erty. In the case above referred to the issuance of a permit was opposed by Mr. She the owner of the adjoining property on the south. It appears Mr Shepard some ago, in the erection of hi building line which is at right an the side lines, instead of being at right an- gles with the line of the street, ming that this was in accordance with the build- ing regulations. But, on the other hand, it was esserted that the regulation in tion referred to lots facing circles or hues and not to streets, and as 18th stre was neither an avenu cirele, the build- ing line should have been ht angles with that street. ‘This view seems to hi been sustained by the District Commission- ers, as well as the Secretary of War, and, ag stated above, a permit has bcen issued to Mr. Preston for the erection of the house. Mr. Preston's House. Plans for this residence have Leen made by Messrs. Hornblower & Marshall, archi- itects, and provide for a three-story struc- ture of brick. There will be no projections, and while the main lines of the building are simple and the details are plain, the effect will be pleasing. The structure will not cover the entire frontage of the lot, which ig thirty-three feet deep. but will recede from the north building hne five feet, and as there is 2 yard space to the house joining on the north there will be an of constant motion, altering both speed and direction, combine to form a great ele- ment of security, whereas the fort is now a fixed and immovable target. The capture of Havana, therefore, would not only be an importent strategic movement, but also one easy of accomplishment, except in the event of the presence of a large Spanish squadron in the immediate vicinity of the harbor, since there is no reason to fear the power of the guns of Morro Castle in @ prolonged bombardment. Havana Invested. It is a bit of history worth recalling that Havana itself was once successfully in- vested and cannonaded, and that, more- over, the troops to whose courage and mettle the capture of the city was almost wholly due were of American, or, as it was then called, provincial, extraction. On June 6, 1762, a British fleet landed some 12,000 troops on the coast a few miles east of Havana. The work of investment was quickly begun, and notwithstanding the gullant defense made by the garrison and the mortality caused among the British troops by disease an@ famine, the 30th day of June saw the opening of a fierce and de- structive fire on the,forts of Morro Castle. Seventeen days later the Spanish guns Had been all silenced, and-a footing was gained by the besiegérs within the ditch itself that forms the outer jof the castle. One month after the opening ef the bombard- ment a breach of Patent dimensions had been made, and a storming party, com- Posed of provincial tropps, known as the Royal Americans, the fortress by surprise. Tho city of Havana was subse- quently reduced to smrrenéer, and became British: property. Mad its subsequent charge for the Floriges net been effected, how differently woul@ have read the story of the “pearl of the Antilles!” It may be incidentally ment: that the fleet of ships of the line were compelled early in the bombardment to.xetrest ignominiously, when the admiral in.command thought to supplement the land @ttack by a cross-fire from the sea. ————_++. Complimentary Entertainment. - The entertainment given by Ruth Re- bekah Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F., in honor of the drill team of Naomia Rebekah Lodge, mo 1, We ay evening, was ‘a success in ev. = The program was: Opening Diapo a Nellie Sacrey; recitation, D. Bs 3 solo, Miss Clark; recitatt tie Kirby; banjo sclo, Prof. ‘Clemntes recitation, “The Min. Grand Mester J. J. a , Ethel Ranke; ; Highland terval of some ten feet between the two houses. The entrance to the rear of the house will be through the le yard, and there will be no area under the front steps. As the house is to be exposed on the ‘three sides, the rear and side walls will be finish- ed with the same material and in the same style as the front. Brown stone will be used in the exterior walls, and there will be a handsome frieze of brick extending around the house. Admiral Selfridge’s Residence. Plans have been prepared for a residence of colonial design to be erected by Admiral Thomas O. Selfridge on Columbia road, north of Woodley road, and at the north- east corner of Kalorama avenue. The lot has a frontage of 123 feet on Columbia road and 62 feet on Kalorama avenue. It is triangular in shape wo d contains 7,137 ware feet. The design of the house has een made by McKim, Mead & White, architects, of New York city. It is under- stood that the house will not only be a large one, but will be quite a handsome example of the colonial style of archi- tecture. One specimen of the work of these chitects is in this city, as they designed the residence at the northwest corner of New Hampshire avenue and R_ street, which is the home of Thomas Nelson Page. Trees vs, Statues, ‘There are several measures pending be- fore Congress for the selection of sites in this city where statues of persons distin- guished in the history of the country can be located. A number of memorials of this sort are already here, and, although some have more artistic merit than others, yet, taken as a whole, it can be said that works of art of this character increase the inter- est which citizens throughout the country take in the capital city. It is asserted, however, that a plan is under consideration for the erection of statues on the three re- maining corners of Lafayette Park. As is well known, the Lafayette statue occuptes the northwest corner, and in or- der to provide a suitable site for this mem- orial of the assistance given by France to this country during her struggle for inde- pendence, several of the fine shade trees were removed. It is the opinion of some people if there is such a plan as outlined above, and if its execution involves the de- struction of more of the fine old trees in Lafayette Square, it would be to the pres- ent as well as the future advantage of the city not to have the statues, but to keep the trees. In other words, it 1s the belief that the statues will not make good the in- jury to the beauty and attractiveness of the city which will be caused by further inroads upon the splendid old trees which are in some of the public parks. Some Improvements. Three houses are to be erected by Mr. M. H. Meline on 21st street between P street and Massachusetts avenue. They are to be three stories in height. Plans have been prepared by Appleton P. Clark, architect, for a house to be built by Mr. Charles Javins at 8th and F streets southwest. It will be three storizs in height, and the front will be built of press brick with stone trimmings. The dimen- sions will be 25 by 50 feet. There will be a stable which will be 25 by 47 feat, and the front facing the street will be built of press brick. There will be an elevator for car- riages. : One-story additions will be built by Fran- cis F. White to the residenc2s at 206 and 208 D street northwest. General repairs and alterations will be made in the interior of the residences. A house will b2 built at 1985 Vermont ave- nue by Capt. F. Hay. It will be two stories in height, with press brick front and full bay windows. The dimensions will be 18 by 82 feet. A two-story brick house is to be built at 633 I street southeast by Albert A. Vernon. It will be 14% by 85% fe and the front will be constructed of press brick. A two-story house is to be erected by Elizabeth B. Powell at Brookland. It will have a high pitch shingle roof, and the front will be covered with rustic siding. P. H. Pickford will build a two-story brick house at 611 H street northeast. It will be 15 by 29 feet, and the front will be made of press brick. A building is to be erected at 2501 and 2503 14th street by B. H. Warner from plans repared by M. T. Haller, architect. It will ve a front of 76 fset 4 inches and a depth of 100 feet, and will be four stories in height. The interior will be divided into On Grounds of Immorality. Suit for divorce has been instituted by Philip H. Fitzhugh against Mary T. Fits- hugh. Immorality on_the part of the wife Another Capture! We've captured the commendation Advertising is not an expense. It is a business investment. If you_want to invest your money, profitably you will therefore put your advertisements in such a paper as The Evening Star, that is read regularly and thoroughly by everybody worth reaching. The Star is the recognized household and family journal of the National Capital, and has no rival as an advertising med- ium. Seedeeeeeteeteeteteeteteaeey | About May ist | we remove to 935 | Pa. Ave. j and trade of Washington. Never in the history of the jewelry business have prices on reliable Diamonds, Watches and Jewelry been so sensationally low. A Saving of 40 Is turned into the pockets of every buyer. “0 Our plain figure prices were always 20 per cent under any other jeweler’s. Now another 20 per cent is taken from them. —Remember, we remove to 935 Pa. Ave. about May rst. Everything must be closed out before then. 6 with an entirely new stock of Diamonds, Watches, Jew- Silver Ware and Clocks. Castelberg, 1103 Pa. Ave., Next Star Office. Baltimore House, 108 N. Eutaw St. elry | So een Sonnet We'll open™ The Bargain Giver, Established 1846. sosestosteetestestesfeee BELONG TO CONGRESS. The Decision Privateers. The question of allowing privateering on the part of American vess2Is has not been considered by senators to any extent. The granting of letters of marque is purely a congressional action, provided for in the Constitution. The President has no power to authorize privateering. In the case of any vessel carrying sup- plies for the relief of the enemy of course the naval forc2s would be authorized to capture, but this is very different from what is generally undarstood as privateer- ing. The Senate committee on naval af- fairs and committee on military affairs have not been called upon to consider this matter, and there has be2n no discussion of moment regarding it among senators any- where. This opinion prevails among representa- tives in Congress. Representativ> King, who is recognized as one of the ablest constitutional lawyers in the House, in reference to this question, and in response io an inquiry from a Star reporter, said: The question of “privateering” ts now one of intense interest, not only to the United States and Spain, as belligerent nations, but to all neutral governments, and especially those engaged in carrying our commerce upon the high seas. Privateering is the commissioning of private vessels, by which they are authorized to be armed and to prey upon the commerce of the enemy. Ac- cording to the declaration of Paris (1856), “privataering ig and remains ab»lished.” The United States was not a party signatory to the treaty or declaration, but sympathizes with its purpuses. As early as 1785, in a treaty batween our government and Prus sia, it was stipulated that in case of war neither government would commission pri- vateers to depredate upon the commerce of the other. The United States has always condemned priyateering, except during the progress of the civil war, when Congress authorized the President to issu2 letters of marque. But even then the executive strongly denounced privateering, and de- clared that if any for2igners accepted let- ters of marque from the confederate states such vessels would be treated as pirates. By the Constitution the power to “declare war and grant letters of marque and re- prisal” ts lodged in Congress and not the executive. Halleck, in his work on inter- national law, states that “the right to issue letters of marque is inherent In the gov- ernment of every independent state and a part of the war-making power, but its own constitution or internal laws must de- termine by what particular branch of t! government this right is to be exercised.” As stated, the war-making power is vested in Congress, not the President. The Constitution: framers were not willing to pass the subject of granting letters of marque without alluding to it specifically. They were not willing to leave to the courts the determination of the question as to whether it was a power flowing nec- essarily from the authority to deciare war, but solemnly declared that Congress sha have this power. Not satisfied with this. it was declared that “no state * * * shal grant letters of marque and reprisal.” It is clear the purpose of the framers of th. the Use of Constitution was to vest this authority ta, Congress. In the monarchical nations this power has been lodged in the crown, but our fathers wisely confided the war power and its essential corollary (granting le ters of marque)—this high prerogative, eme phatically the ultima ratio regnum—to “the Congress.” Judge Story, in his work on the Const tution, states that “the power to declara war would of itself carry the incidental power to grant letters of marque and ree prisal and make rules concerning capture.” Sometimes it is said the granting of lets ters of marque occurs when there is aq war. Therefore, for the purpose of differs entiating it from this war power, in such cases, the Constitution expressly ‘refers to it as a power belonging to Congress. Though the President is commasder-ine chief of the army and navy of the United States, he can carry out only the laws of the nation. The declaration of war, tho raising of troops, these and other duties relating to the conduct of the war, belong to Congress. President McKin! ey cannot, without au, thority from Congress, grant letters o marque, nor can he contract with nations: to refrain from so doing. His agreeme: would be invalid—a mere brutum fulmen. —-2+_____ TRANSFER OF RAILWAY. Control of Local Li; It is understood that the promoters off the proposed Washington and Baltimore eiectric railroad have given up the original plans of securing an independent eniraneq into Washington. Instead, it is alleged, the management has secured contre! of thé Georgetown and Tenleytown electric ling and will use that road as the Washington entrance of the propossd Baltimore line. A majority of the stock of the Georgetown ard Tenleytown road, tt is claimed, hae been secured, the sale haying been made very quietly some time ago. Mr. Hail, who was the superintendent and general ‘man- ager of the Washington and Baltimore j; read, has been placed in charge of the Georgetown and Tenleytown and will in tha future have absolute control. He succeeded J. Hite M sition last summer. The Georgetown an@ Ten has the right of way to extend its tracks to Rockville. This was given out some time ago, when it was stated that prepara- tions were to be made to continue the Bethesda road, the upp:r end of t ytown line, as far as Rockville. Under the new management it is thought work will be done without loss of time Nothing has as yet been announ: farding the policy of exchanging h the Glen Echo road and running through cars on the Tenleytown te Glen Echo and Cabin John Bridge this sum- ner. This policy was inaugura’ E son, and its continuance ts expect year. ler » Who held the po- town roa@ ourtesies tizen to Voluntee: papers have b Beco uralization on issue a at the District Supreme Court to William F. Pigott, formerly a subject. of eat Ktritain. It is understood that Mr. Pigott Hecame a citizen of the United Stat.s in or cer to fight for this country in the war with Spain, SPRING IS HERE. (Copyright, 1898, Life Publishing Company.)