Evening Star Newspaper, October 8, 1898, Page 17

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1898-24 PAGES. FRENCH ELECTIONS How Candidates Curry Favor With Their Constituents. =p VOTERS ARE CAUGHT? BY CHEAP WIT = They Are at Superficial and Cynical the Same Time. = SOCIALISTS ALL AT HEART PARIS, Septembe 1898. N FRANCE IT 1S the deput or con- Desc: who fur- nishes the chief type of the prof politician. In that it is busine: to get he ican brotber; but his nitions and meth- his own. AS there are no two great partirs, the elections are a district there may be five ne ene adjoining there Persoral programs are ene puts down categor- he promises to do if sent candidates is to tance of his electors. This ry when, as so ofter an utter stranger in th not essential in Incidents with- of things uy part of France. ng them we'd like Why He Asked Questions. Just before the s it cam: He 5 program and | s ff t eches in all the ysen district. | with re- lways university atter thor- After patienc swered the other, “I er, and want informa- a out there. thing it {s most difficult for to get on with the peasants strustful and as hard-headed This year a not unlikely 2 at the expense of aj} who had been accused | ‘ out of a railroad man- ax vernment. In a country w ncluding farm hands and se its money into stocks of s ailway scandals were a r rable interest to his con 3 ingly, the candidate for smething in this way he encountered M. le depute; r pile this time in you mea t you affai I swear to you— come now; you might as so long as you dida't get ear I received nothing. ya Swear; Dut would you bet Money was offered me Well, I at 1 vote for m: don’t think I who dvesn thought you gain? shall. know ests 1s More Keen Countrymen. of the ectio: by each of the a rural distri g the former an at- opposing to form com- here easants. are less than three of these ca: are a dozen. The: ty in the way. Some uld not allow their of “compromis- they d, mysterious gave their names to in turn. One old answered.with as to know all of them. . if the candidate does not live ict, he tries to identify himself buying real estate or shares in mi afacturing or other busi- > OWNS & Country seat, the open- ing of the chase gives him a good oppor- tunity of recommending himself. He in- vites his more influential constituents to nt on his preserves; and he send® pres- ents of game to the least notabilities, even ness. | ele school teachers. promiscuous banquets, for w brand of “deputy champagne’ by a Paris house at 30 cents a bottle. corks must be sent back with the bott! Among the formalities to be gone through previous to the election day, each candi- date must take cath that he has not paid for any votes. A deputy in Brittany de- vised a plan for getting over this. To every voter in a dozen villages he gave a hundred of his election posters to dis- nd then, for the service, he paid As every men over twenty-one 1a hundred posters to start mm had to be made to the women and children In the larger towns the run of politics is at more lively, as well as more But local interests are still upper- . and the Dreyfus scandals, even, do cite the people as they would in America. The average French voter thinks of Httle outside his own parish. A war scare, at the least, would be needed to change this; and, in case of actual war, a dictator would probably have to come ‘up and suspend for a time the republican form to the village ich a special is furnished The Se of government, which works rather weak- ly in France. But in ordinary times the candidates in towns promise “mountains and valleys," as the French say, for all local interests, and confine themselves to gereralities in other matte Socialists at Heart. These candidates, of course, belong to one or other of the half dozen political groups into which the deputies fall when they are once elected; and, as the case may be, they talk servatism” or “re- vision of the constitution, pportunism,” letting things go as t re, or “radical anti-clericalism.” But each and every one of them, when he is appealing for the votes of the workingmen in a large manufactur- ing town, will be sure to wind up with something like the socialism which pleases It is in this way that they have and “socialistic radi- before the election it is important that each of the political groups or parties should have a banquet in some one of the argest cities in the country. This is to a chance to some prom: r deputy to make an after-dinner speec! in which he will lay down something like a political program. This all the candidate: throughout nee Will patch up and us ording to the pr they profess, cking {t on to their « al ut fter the election they will naturally they please about y not bound to any party, and combine in the most unexpected manner when vot- ing in the chamber of deputies. Law an stom, and perhaps the fear of riots, prevent anything like the Ameri- can parades and monster mass meeting its promise: But in the towns public reunions—real politic are of importance. The candidate such a meeting must have a qu a single break may cost him all the votes he has gained by rd electioneeering. An American can searcely bring himself to believe how light a thing may influence thi voters of a character so different from his own. Easily Influenced by Cheap Wit. A few years since one of the crack speak- e deputies was soliciting his ction. He held the crowd by his elo- quence, as he spoke of the unfortunate di- visions among his countrymen. “The gulf is still open between us; and we wish to close it. But our work should be slow and coastant, if it is to be sure.’ Far back in the crowded hall a petty jawyer, mome in a loud voice, called out at this “Well, sir, we want the work | done quickly We'll fill up y gulf, not by the shovelful, but by the cartful!” Phe meeting rar applause, and ) votes were Ic e orator, and his on with them. In all these meetings the mo: formulas are given out by the and with the utmost solemnity. ists” talk against government by ist “Radicals” declare themselves only genuine sons of the revolution. appeal And wherever an workingmen, geoisie” are has to be made to "and “the dirty bour- atch it hard. In a one of the gravely proposed “the extinc- pauperism by the emasculation of manufacturing suburb of Paris candidates tion of Ss well put!” cried a voice, and the phrase was embodied in a resolution as the unanimous sense of the meeting. STERLING HEILIG. soe INDIANS AS HOTEL WAITERS. Experience of a Traveler in a Small own of Nebraska. Frem the New & Peet. “Apropos of Indians secial traveling ma dents from Indian ec but I have tried in Nebrask Missouri botton I dare say the stu- leges will do first rate, in mind the time when it was in a small town on the , and in a way that was not altogether satisfactory to the guests who were waited on.” “Were you one of them?” entative cf a piano house. No, but I was at the little riv sked the rep- rv tavern where it was tried. The girl waiters had all left for a new. big hotel that was to be opened tn the next town, and the land- lord had to do the waiting himself, and then he thought of the Indians at the reservation and wert and hired four of them. They didn't get around until breeak- fast over the next day—an Indian dee ve any idea of tme—and there was only one man who hadn't eaten. He was a drummer for a New York clothing house, and the biggest growler in sixteen counties.” “You take his order, Jim,’ said the land- lord to the man he had been drilling. ‘Put this bill of fare under his nose, give him a glass of ice water, and may the Lord have on your soul.’ Indians are not as slow and this was one of the wicke the reservation. He oréer all right and carried it in and served it, and then, towel on arm, he stood at the back of the guest's chair, as he had been Instructed to do. But the drummer was ugly and swore a big, round of oaths at he would have no Indian in his. “At that the grim statue at the back whipped out a savage dirk from his store accouterments, and, holding it over the head of the grumbling guest, he said, with ccnsistent Indian brevity, accentuated by a Choet vear word: ‘You eat! “And eat he did, flesh and fowl, not dar- ing to move a muscle, while the arm of fate held the murderer's knife within an ch of his visage. And it was not until he had eaten everything in sight that his dilemma was discovered, and he was res- cued in a state verging on collapse. “That particular guest was never again heard to complain, but the trial of Indians as waiters ended then and there, their methods being quite too original or aborig- inal, for practical application.”” s they seem, est bucks on managed to get the 17 IF YOU GO TO CUBA Mr, Pepper's Advice as to What to Do and What Not to Do. THE DIFFICULTIES OF TRAVELING Business Opportunities Offered to Enterprising Americans. FAT POCKET BOOK NEEDED (Copyright, 1898.) Written for The Evening Star. With the military occupation of central and western Cuba by American troops this mcnth will begin aiso its occupation by American civilians. A iarge number of small capitalists, prospectors and others who xre seeking for business chances are going with the troops. They have chosen the season wisely, but many of them have apparently iittle notion of what is before them. For the benefit of these and of oth- ers who are plauning the trip later a few words of advice drawn from experieace may be given. The first 2nd most essential thing for the American who is going to Cuba is to put money in his purse. Cuban hospitality is un- stinted, but au impoverished people in a devastated country have not the means to entertain strangers, however strong may be their desire. In the present conditions there will be no opportunity for the man who h a knack of turning his hand at anything to turn it to account in Cuba. That may come within two or thr but at present it will be foolhardy for any: body to go to the island with the notion that he can work his way afcer he gets there. It is also n2cessury to state that there will be no immediate openings for young professional men. They cannot hang out signs as in new and growing settle- ments of the western states and wait for their practic: to grow with the growth of the country. The law will naturally be closed to Americans ‘inless they have been educated in the code Napoleon and are able to speak Spanish. Medicine presents a bar to immediate practice by Americans. Cuba has a large number of physicians educated in the United States. They talk English and they understand the d S incident to the country better ihan a stranger. There are also many dentists, graduates of the dental colleges in Phila- delphia and elsewhere. They are Kicely to monopolize their prof2ssion for som to come. There is likewise a c number of civil engineers educated in the United States. The Cubans who have enter- ed these professions are men of edacation who were excluded by the policy of the Spanish government from taking part in public affairs. With the n2w order many of them will undoubtedly find government employment, yet it will not be safe to as- sume that the professional ranks will } thinned sufhiclently to offer openings f lawyers, doctors, dentists or civil erginzers from the United St uniil there has been a large increase in the American pop- ulation. The Cost of Travel. Comirg back to the question of money in the purse, its necessity will be seen after arrival in Havana when a railroad journey into the country is undertaken. First-class fares ayerage between 7 and cents a mile in gold. The rates were even higher till a year ago, when Capi. Gen. Blanco arbitrarily reduced them and earn- ed the good will of the people who had to travel. The Cuban raitroads, some owned by English capital and some by Spanish capital, are managed on the theory of tak- ing all’ that the passenger traffic will be: and a little more. Second and third-class fares are lower, but except for the expe- rience, nobody is apt to make more than one trip second or third class. There Is, however, one railroad leading out of Ma- tanzas in which it fs possible to travel first class on a second-class ticket. A_ single passenger coach is used, the only difference being that the first-class passengers have better seats than those who travel second class. A Cuban marquis whose sugar plan- tation had been rendered unproductive first by the insurgents and then by the Spanish troops explained the plan to me. His own finances had reached that state where the difference between a first-class fare and a second-class fare was important to him, so he bought a second-class ticket, and after the conductor had come around transferred himself to the first-class section of the coach. Americans can do the same thing without loss of prestige. The steamboat companies which run vessels along the coast towns also charge very high. They are no worse, however, than the Americait lines, which charge $11 for passage from Key West to Havana, a distance of 90 miles, which {s made in seven hours. Re- duction in railroad and steamboat rates is one of the earliest reforms that is needed in Cuba. To and From Havana. Most of the railroad systems begin in Ha- vana and end nowhere. The town of Pinar dei Rio, in the province of the same name, may be called the western terminus, and Santa Clara, in the province of that name, the eastern terminus. All trains leave Ha- vana at daybreak, or in the winter season a little earlier. As a rule there is one train a day each way on all the different lines. Trains return to Havana at night. The farthest journey that can be made by leav- ing in the morning and returning in the evening is seventy-five miles. There are no sleepers and no night trains, for one rea- son, because the distances ‘are not long enough. Another reason is the uncertainty which would heretofore have attended night railroading in Cuba. As a rule the trains on the main line make some pretension to connections with the branches or with other lines. It is, however, an untrust- worthy reliance. A not uncommon expe- rience is to miss the connection by five or ten minutes at some Iittle station in the country and in consequence have to remain there twenty-four hours, Most of the rail- roads have good eating houses, where a meal can be had for 75 cents or a dollar. Hotel Accommodations, Nearly all the Cuban towns have fairly good hotels. They are not kept after the American fashion, and are not to be judged by the same standard, yet they have some pretentions toward accommodating guests. The prices are a little higher than would be the case in towns of the same size in the United States. Four dollars a day in silver is a common charge, and not un- usually it is more. Measured on a gold basis, the traveler will have to allow at least $3.50 a day for hotel expenses. I: the villages off from the railroad it is not so great, though the entertainment 1s pas- sable. In Matanzas, Cardenas, Santa Cla- ra, Sagua la Grande, Clenfuegos and other cities a higher price must be paid. ‘There are some stage lines off from the rai! road, and the fares on these are pretty stiff. Anybody who contemplates leaving the railroads would probably save money by buying a Cuban horse and saddle. The animals feed on the native grasses and their keep {s not expensive. Financial Complications. The money question is likely to be both- ersome in traveling about the country. American money is at a premium, which varies from 7% to 10 per cent, according as exchange rises or falls with the shipments of sugar and tobacco and other influences that affect commerce. It would probably be a safe calculation the coming winter to estimate drafts or letters of credit from the United States at a premium of 9 per cent. This is on the theory that American currency will not replace that which has heretofore been in use. It is not likely to do so, because gold is in reality the basis of commerce in Cuba. The standard Span- ish gold coin is the centen, which 1s given the valuation of $5.30. The most confusion in the future is likely to come from silver coin, and gtrangera will have difficulty in handling their small change so as not to be cheated. Before the war with the United States Spanish silver was at a dis- count which ranged from 20 to 22 per cent. It was difficult to make the shop keepers and others understand that American si ver did not follow the same rule. Gen- erally they thought the American silver dollar was worth less than the “peso” or Spanish silver dollar, while the “peseta,” or 20-cent piece, in their eyes was worth more ! than the American quarter. ‘They also pre- ferred the real, or 10-cent silver piece, to the American dime. When the American troops begin to receive theiripay and silver obtains a large circulation the difficulties are likely to be increased rather than di- minished, for no onessupposes that the Spanish silver will be *driven out of cir- culation at once, and the relative values of the American and the Spanish coins will be apt to cause haggiing. There will prob- ably be less of this in Havana than in the country, but the traveler will do well be- fore leaving to ascertain whether to sup- ply himself with American ér with Spanish silver coin. The paper currency known as “Weyler’s script will be orphaned, if not outlawed, so there willbe no other means of making change. « Proper Clothing. ‘The matter of looking after comfort and health begins with the clothing. The chance to wear out summer garments in- stead of casting them off can be improved. A light overcoat will be sufficient for the severest weether that will be encountered. As a matter of fact, most Americans would not miss an overcoat at all if they I>ft it behind them, although Cubans and Span- jards don extra coats when th> northern winds sweep over the island {1 January. Summer underwear with a chau.ge or two of medium weight will answer for the en- tire season. Americans as a rule have trouble in adapting themselves to the un- derwear which suits the natives of the is- land, and for a single season it is not worth while for them to bother to make the change. Pajamas are, of course, handy garments, as in all tropical countries. A Nght mackintcsch, or, if in the country, a pencho, will not come amiss, while an um- brella is also useful. While the rainy sea- sen ends with October, there are occasional heavy showers during the winter months. Quinine and Branay. While physicians and medical experts May quarrel about the quinine habit, the verdict of those who have spent many months In Cuba will unquestionably be in favor of quinine. The drug need not be taken as a diet, but a few grains of it at night or in the morning are useful both as a tonic and as a preventive of ma- Jaria. In traveling throughout the country, cognac brandy is also a good thing to have along, but to be taken as a medicine rather than as a bev- erage. Everyone can make the distinction for himself. The night air is to be avoided as much as possible, but the common ex- perience is that the early morning air is worse. General Fitzhugh Lee had a theory that malaria in Cuba did not differ from malaria in Virginia, and in both places, he declared, the worst hours for it were be- tween 4 and 7 o'clock in the morning. So he advised everybody who came to Ha- vana to stay in bed till 8 o'clock in the morning, taking the additional hour as an extra precaution. The general's advice, however, can not always be followed, es- pecially in traveling, and for those who have to rise carly quinine is an excellent substitute for lying in bed. With the care that Is being taken in locating the camps for the American military garrison, and with the freedom from the heavy ‘rains and the burning sun, it is a gafe assump- tion that the sickness which was incident to the Santiago campaign will not be re- peated in ntral and western Cuba. Yet, with all the safeguards that are established and notwithstanding the difference in sea- son, after a few months it will probably be found that a percentage of the soldiers in the garrisons are sick with fever. Ci lans, or a certain proportion of them, will come under the same rule. Nevertheless, they need not on thiS,dccount fear that their lives are in dangér. ‘Ordinary medi- cal attendance will be;sufficient for their wants. The Cuban fever is fearfully de- pressing during {ts first stage, but it is not likely to prove fatak. * What to Eat. What to eat is one of the problems which confronts every American who visits Cuba. A simple solution is to pat what the people there eat. Nevertheless it@is not always possible within a few months to change the habits of a Iifetimer to accustom the palate to strange tastes. It is not an ab- solute necessity to fall in with the Spanish and Cuban custom of faking coffee in the early morning and nothing €lse till toward midday, when a heavy_meal is eaten. In addition to rolls, with ~eeffee, it is always possible to procure fresh eggs and fruit. The virtues of the Cuban coffee are great, but the American business men can hardly do as the Havana business man does. He takes a small cup of black coffee and a cigar early in the morning, then goes to his office and conducts his business for halt a day. Nor are the American soldiers likely to adopt the custom which both the insur- gents and Spaniards followed of taking a little coffee at daybreak and then marching till noon without further sustenance. Whether in Havana or elsewhere, the American, by a little persistence and by stipulating in advance, can secure eggs and fruit and toasted rolls with his morning coffee. Meat, however, will not be supplied him. Instead of taking all the courses in the regular breakfast which is served any time after 10 o'clock, he will find ft to advantage to confine himself to fish and rice and the simpler dishes, unless he has been accustomed to a heavy midday meal. Wisdom of Temperance. The matter of drinking is even more seri- ous than that of eating. The life insur- ance companies, in giving permission for temporary residence or travel in the West Indies, quite generally require a stipulation not to indulge in alcoholic beverages. It takes a middle-aged toper several seasons to learn that the people of the tropics are wise in their temperance, and by that time his liver is sure to be hopelessly diseased. But younger men who can get along without an eye-opener or a night-cap will not find it dificult to adapt themselves to the cus- toms of the country. Moreover, it 1s not easy to get good whisky in Cuba. Scotch or Canadian is given the preference over Kentucky brands, possibly because the Kentucky whisky, which is imported, is not the real article. Englishmen in Cuba commonly take their brandy and soda, but with moderation. The native cane rum and the aguardiente, or native brandy, are safe drinks when taken moderately, but to the American palate they are almost tasteless. The gin fizz is a popular drink and is not harmful. it is largely ordered by newcomers for the sake of h2aring the wonderful pronun- ciation which the Cuban and Spanish bar- keepers give it. When this novelty is worn off, they content themselves with limes, tamarinos, refrescos and other mild drinks. Usually these hav> acid enough in them to be benefictal, though the complaint is that they are too sweet. The refresco is a concoction of pure water and the whites of eggs and sugar beaten together into a kind of honeycomb which is called a “Dpan- ale.” At first every American despises the refresco, but after a time h2 finds that it is really refreshing. ‘There ts a large beer brewery in Havana and beer is also import- ed from New Orleans. It is not, however, a go0d beverage in the tropics, especially to those of a billous temperament. English ales can always be had. The water drinker can get along all right in-Havana, which has a supply of pur2 water: not excelled by any city in the world» Most of the larger towns also have good systems of water works, but in the smaller villages, and es- pecially along the south coast in the marshy lands, the water {s not: good. Spanish clar- ets and other light wines can always be had as a substitute. For those who have scruples against the use of wine, there is usually a chance to procure a mineral wa- ter of some sort at the village drug store. The druggist as a rul2 does not know what he has in stock, but whem urged, he can usually find somewhere in his store a bot- tle of mineral water. Interpreters Plentifal. The impetus which has been given to the study of Spanish since. the results of the war with Spain became understood has caused many persons to study that lan- guage. Lack of knowledge of it, however, need not prevent any one from traveling over the island. In most of tha towns some- body can always be found who talks Eng- lish. The return of a large number of Cu> .ban refugees who have been in the United States during the last three years has largely increased the number of people spread over the island who talk English, so the American who wants to travel about, while he will be at a disadvantage, need not let his ignorance of the language keep him in Havana. He will find both Span- fards and Cubans invariably civil and cour- teous. For those who have gained some knowledge of the language advice is, of course, unnecessary, but a hint may not be out of place. Spanish js like ‘all foreign tongues in that those who speak it do not always under- stand thelr own language when spoken by strangers. Moreover, they themselves talk it in a way that the learner despises, for his ear does not accustom itself to the strange sounds as readily as he imagines. Naturally the fault is not with his ear, but with the people who talk so rapidly and indistinctly. For the purpose of travel in Cuba it is not worth while for the Ameri- can who proposes to talk Spanish to ob- serve the nice distinctions in pronunciation as laid down by the Spanish academy. He need not vary the pronunciation in the way he thinks pleasing to the Spaniard and the Cuban, respectively. The Spaniard will un- derstand him and will not be offended if he fails to give the consonant * the sound of “th.” Likewise the Cubans will not be affronted if he undertakes classic Spanish pronunciation. Out of compliment they may even reply, giving the same pro- nunciation. The Cubans clip the final consonant in many words cf one syllable, but it is not necessary to imitate them in this practice. Phrases taken from Ollen- dort or from “Spanish Self Taught in Six Minutes” may safely be avoided, because neither the Cubans nor Spaniards will know What is meant. The common expressions used in ordinary intercourse may be picked up in a short time, nor need the stranger be afraid of making mistakes. When he has learned to swear in Spanish so that those who hear him don’t laugh, and when he can order medium boiled eggs and get them, his knowledge of the language will be sufficient for his purposes. He will also find it an advantage to be able to read the newspapers, and he can make rapid pro- gress in this direction out of the books and manuals. CHARLES M. PEPPER. Eeerae CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR NOTES Tomorrow the Endeavorers will consider the topic, “Patriotism,” with Psalm 33 1-22, as a Scripture reference. The Rev. Carlos Martyn, D.D., among other good things, says this on the topic: “What is in his country that the intelligent Christian patriot loves? It is not only nor chiefly its Traterial intere: its swelling numbers, its fertile fields, its busy workshops, its white sails of commerce. In these he cher- ishes a just pride. But his intensest inter- est centers in its moral welfare. He de- sires his country to be pre-eminent for ju tice, virtue, religion, intelligence, happy homes and thrifty citizens, litted above bestial instincts. He studies to advance it through the aggrandizement of these ele- ments in its composition. Consequertly, the true patriot grieves over and ardently seeks to amend whatever sordid and grov- eling tendencies he discovers in private or public life.” The Rey. Howard B. Grose Says: “The best Christian will be the best citizen. He who fs most loyal to God's law will be the most obedient to the law of the land.” Calvary Baptist Sunday school celebrates tomorrow, and Mount Vernon Place M. E. Church South celebrates the 23d instant, each as Children’s day. Mr. P. H. Bristow, the president, and the other officers of the District Sunday School Union are busily at work preparing for the annual Sunday school convention in this city next month. Superintendent Powell of the District Public schools will deliver an address at the Christian Endeavor meeting at Ply- mouth Congregational Church, 17th and P streets northwest, tomorrow evening at 7:30 o'clock, his subject being “Education.” For the first time in ten weeks the mem- bers of the First Congregational Church worshiped in the audience room of the beautiful church home last Sunday. This room has been refitted with new heating apparatus, new carpet, new pews and cushions, while new pulpit furniture is on the way. Some very fine music was ren- dered at the evening service, it being an “evening with the choir.” Reports have been received by the Chris- tian Endeavor Society of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church of the work among the sick and wounded soldiers at Fort Myer by the Rev. Dr. Chester, who the past sun:mer was appointe! chaplain at that post. Aside from the personal work rendered. he has distributed umong the soldiers between three and four hundred Testaments. The series of meetings by the Yale Mis sionary Band, which begins in this city to- night with a rally meeting at Founiry M. E. Church, has stirred up a consiuerable amount of activity, enthusiasm and ex- pectancy among the Christian Endeavorers and Epworth Leaguers of this city. Aside from the rally tonight, the following pointments are anncunced, which is more complete schedule than has her fore been published: At 7 o'clock this even- ing at Foundry Church, conference of pr: ap a idents of Christian Endeavor societies and Epworth leagui officers of the unions and the members the Yale Band, followed by the rally at 7:20. ‘Tomorrow morning the following pulp: will be filled by the young men: Assem- s Presbyterian, Keller Memorial Luth- M. churches. In the afternoon four of the band wil on the Central Mission gospel wagon, wi the fifth goes to Anacostia, where he will Me attend the following serv: Garden morial Presbyterian Church, Junior C. at 3:30; Baptist Church Y.'P. S.C, 6:30, and M. E. Church, pulpit n the city the following ¢ ings will be held at 6:30: Mt. Vernon Place E. South, Lincoln Memorial Congrega- and First Baptist, Y. P. S. C. 0, McKendree M.E., Eckington Presb; terlan and Hamline M. E., pulpits. Moa. day evening at 7:30, meetings in the foliow. ing churches: Union M. West Street Pri terian, Waugh M. E. and Metropoli- tan Presbyterian. Tue evening at the same hour at Calvary Bapt Y. P. 8. C. E. servic Luthe morial Church, Nineteenth $ 3 and St. Paul's M. E. Church. Wednesda: at the same hour at Metropolitan M. Grace M. 5 Street Chr: \s y after- noon at 4:15 there will be a missionary worke conference at First Congrega- tional Church. On that evening at 7:30 meetings in the following churches, b: an adaptation of their prayer meeting to these 7 Pleasant Congregational. Baptist, Maryland Avenue Baptist and Twelfth Street M. E. Each one of these week night meetings will be preceded by a prayer e at 7 o'clock, and followed by a confer- ence of persons interested in the work. The Yale Quartet will be at the rally on this evening, and at several of the services tomorrow. Tenth Legion this week reaches an en- rollment of 11,348, and the comrades of the quiet hour, 1 The October medita- tion for the latter is “Overcoming.” At a business meeting of the Y. P. S. C. E. of Emory Chapel, Brightwood, last Wed- nesday evening, the following officers were elected: President, T. W. Mummaw; vice president, Miss Lucy Broster; correspond- ing secretary, Theo. H. Thomas; recording secretary, John G. Keene; treasurer, Miss Nellie Willet; organist, Miss Ella J. Keene; delegate to District of Columbia Christian Endeaver Union, John G. Keene. panied ae INEBRIETY AMONG ANIMALS. Birds and Even Insects Show a Love for Intoxicants. From the New York Herald. It is a curious fact that there are topers innumerable in the animal kingdom. Bi- peds and quadrupeds alike are fond of al- coholic drinks, and, although some display aversion when first tasting liquor, they soon acquire a craving for it. Chickens and ducks, after having once tasted brandy, become absolute slaves to the drink. They refuse to eat, grow thin and exhibit symptoms of dejection when unable to obtain their favorite tipple. Monkeys and apes are passionately fond of spirituous liquors. Of these, Buffon’s wine-bibbling chimpanzee was a shining ex- ample, and Brehm, the German zooiogist, owned several mandrills that drank wine regularly and did not disdain brandy. Herbivorous animals frequently become intoxicated, innocently enough, through eating decaying fruit. In orchards oxen and cows, after eating overripe apples, have been seen to display all the symptoms of drunkenness. They stagger, their eyes lose expression, and they grow sleepy. It seems that animals are susceptible to yhol:sm in proportion to the development of their intelligence. Elephants are fond of wine and rum, and rats gnaw the staves of wine casks to get at the contents. Cats, however, rarely exhibit a fondness for in- toxicants. Among b'res the parrot takes first place as an habitual toper. Insects have many opportunities to become intoxicated, ant it is the most active that most frequen‘ly avail themselves of the chance. There is an aromatic, irtoxicating fluid in lindea blossoins for wh:ch bees show an especial fondness. Instances have been observed where swarms of bees regaled themselves with the poisonous linden nectar until they cx- hibited all the signs of intoxication. Hun- dreds fell helplessly to the roadside, to be trampled under foot. OUR MERCHANT NAVY | Enjoys a Very Small Share of the World’s Commerce, WE ARE FAR BEHIND OTHER NATIONS Effect of Our Liberal Policy on American Shippers. HOPE FOR THE FUTURE Written for The Evening Star. I navy of the United . States ranks second Ea among those of the world. Last year there were in com- mission 3,160 Ameri- can vessels of over fifty tons burden, against Great Bri ain’s 11, Ger- many’s Nor- way’s and France's 1,151, these five nations being th. only ones above the 1,000 mark. These fig- ures are not altogether unflattering to the American until he examines them more in detail and in connection with other facts no less noteworthy. Then he learn instance, that while one alf the Is and approximate! two-thir¢ flying the British and German flags used steam as a motive power, only one- fourth of his country’s m: erchant fleet was equipped with th n means of pro- being, of up-to-dateness, in the ame € way. The following table give: figures: World's mode in respec Nor- the exact 13,48: 2,008, 1, 549 1,162,382 There has been an improvement in this respect in the past ten years. In 1887 the number of steam vessels registered in the United States was 402, and of iling ships 5,003, with a total tonnage of 4 While both the number of sail craft und the total tonnage have decreased in the past ten years, the number of ste am vessels has increased. When the matter of speed is taken into consideration the merchant navy of 1898 is probably more efficient than that of a decade ago. Taking into account the growth of the country and of its commercial efficient the demands, however, it is far less than the merchant fleet Possessed by United States at the beginning of the war, when the documented tonnage was at its maximum—5, 50,8) tons. Coast and Lake Trade. The figur2s in the preceding table wil! Suggest to the thinking American, what has been told him often, that a great part of his merchant navy is employed in coast trade and the commerce of the great lakes. The figures on this subject are very strik- ing and show that while our salt water fleet has scarcely held its own for twenty years, there has been a great ex- persion in internal commerce, r2presented | by the trade of the lakes—that this is, in fect, the only branch of our trade to show an increase. The figures follow: Distribution of Merci Tons. 1897. gulf nt Shipping by Atlantic const and 1,080,424 The +xpansion in the la trade—more than 100 per cent—is a fair index of the ccmmercial growth of the United States in the past twenty y. What it would mean to the commercial inter-sts of the country if American shipowre: ad main- 2ined the same command of the growth in cur foreign commerce that they have of the trade of the lakes may be conc2ived by the intelligent reader without the aid of figure Where We Are Weak. One respect in which the United States compares unfavorably with even the w2ak- e first of the preceding tables is in the control of its foreign trade. of vessels entering American harbors from foreign poris or clearing from American ports for foreign destinations (counting only 5 of same from lightly in excess of the United States. But of this 24,350,000 tons only 15 ” were made up of foreign shi) ping, while the remaining 8,650,000 tons wel of French registry. In other words, while two-thirds of France's exports and imports are carried in foreign bottoms, nine-tenths of those passing to and from the United States travel under other flags. If the fig- for Great Britain had been used in of those for France in making this rison, the contrast would have be>n 2 » only figures for the come much more striking. What France Does. It cannot be said that French shipowners possess any natural advantages not with- in reach of Amcricans sufficient to account for this difference. They do possess one decided artificial advantage, However. It is the policy of France to tax foreign shipping for the benefit of native owners. Thus, in 1897 the navigation dues imposed at French ports yielded 13,656, francs, and the bounties disbursed to French shipping for the vame period amounted to 13,630,781 francs. As approximately two-thirds of the navigation dues were paid by foreignel these figures indicate that other com- mercial nations paid out during 1897, in round numbers, $2,000.00) for the encour- agement of French shipowners in building up French shipping interest: taxes of the United States for the same year aggregated $731,769.61, or about one- third the amount collected by France from the same source. The important point ts that even of this amount American ship- owners did not get the benefit, as practi- cally the only sims paid out by the United States for the encouragement of its MMip- ping interests are in the form of mail sub- sidies bestowed on a few lines. Although it might seem r. the United States to impose h tion duties than any of the other com- mercial nations, since 2 larger proportion HE MERCHANT | the past | 1,046,178 | In 1896 the tonnage | The tonnage | | | ! { \ | of the five countries mentioned in the | | | | than of its the burden wo on none. posed of navigation evidently inclines to t comm n its the p of hh of th to a re own lic su) pel Sam cts, a m is British ton, for he said, in an last year: “Although ths in fe tr an in the united kinge vessels are taxed to m house and life saving improvement and maiz Although government j benefit of navigation. foreign shipr » federa fe of th ng and clearing 7 is foreign, v 1 taxe saving servic improvement and maintenan 1.000 annus tributes only a share of the ried for the “A proposition from Great Bri abolish all cha ping in foreign trade would b: nations shou tellight om ar ¢ ™ vice. nded Jun 000, in round nun St fiscal year to $64 tenance This c nt such of this government has f lity to his own other nations has se opt his plan. ; expende United St is in foreign control, and i therefore fall leas has heave never In ai students of the subject lowed the nual rep for of the tonnage ad clearing ports tain s nz con- Axes marine tonnage of the ri Iss We Are at a Disadvantage. British vessels undoub in that all ship- readily in= ly out in foreign ports a sum annually larger foreign vesscls contribute toward the ety of navigation in British ports and ng British coasts. Germany might, with- out consider loss, make the san n. In IS86, when the Unit sted the abolition of these dues by in- jonal agreement, it had, as a mari- Raticn, virtually nothing to gain by extending the invitation, and by abolishing, years before, light house dues and reducing taxes much b it had removed a ment for other nations t invitaticn. In so far as these charges may ber by the ship rather than as a ring into the ultimate cost of rted by it, the nation- al ad age accruing from the abolition of such charges must be r ned by th extent to which national els conduct the trade relieved from charges Others Reap the Benefit. “So far as our foreign trade is concerned, foreign vestels make three times as much use of the results of our expenditures for improvements in navigation on the seacoast as do American vessels, As a rule steam- ships engaged in the transatlantle trade are those which for the greatest depths of water in our harbors, and the ratio of foreign vessels engaged in this trade com- pared with American vessels is many times greater t > 1. al project concerning Amer- t our presi taxes questi amoun nters tenance and o tr ag it is respectfully suggested nt law in regard to tonnage may properly be reviewed and the ion be considered whether the large nt of shipping in foreign trade which ané | not contribute of ther our light federal aids to navigation. At tl eral b encouragement Changes Contemplate he iM co ming s the abolition of the p' hous: sion of Cong’ will be introduced looking to the of American ent rs at American ports should omething tow rd the main- establishment 1 improvements ss seve shipping and crimination, Which, as American ship owners declare, now works in favor of their fercign com- petitors. One of these bills will relate to the abolition of reciprocal exemption trem tonnage taxes. American sbipper com- plain that this law hus never beea fairy nforced by other na Last year the Secretary of the ‘Treasury inve cd a report that the cities of siermany, with which nation the reciprocal arrangement a existed for several yea wore har |irg American ships with light house dues and taxes for local improvements. It wi found that this charge was true in the cuse of Hamburg, Bremen and other German ports. it was found, moreover, that in Germany these matters were in the hands of the local authorities and tha: the cen- tral government was powerless io enforce the reciprocal arrangement on whieh it had entered several years before, an benefits of which its merchantmi nh yed in American ports, The result that this privilege was abolish: case of Germany by special act w result that about $40,000 was added to the tonnage tex income by the tolls paid in by German vessels during the remainder of the yeer. This year an attempt will be made for a several abolition of the reciprocal exemp- tion scheme. Other bills which are to be submitted to Congress will provide for an P of the tonnage taxes, an offer of bounties to American built ships various plans for the protect ot American seamen. There is to be a wide- spread attempt on the part of Amcrican ping interests to start our merchant avy once more on the do to that m- mercial supremacy to which the position of the country entit How a Tarant it. From the Country Gentleman ula Sheds Its Skin. An event of more than ordinary interest occurred large female tarantula sh onk The E | lated creatures are awar cased in i time fami my office since it h ay cts. th noon A spiders an hat the by a hard, unyielding integument. Increase of size is permissible oniy when the old skin is shed and one that has been newly formed beneath expands to th | requisite degree. This is a process con- stantly occurring in nature, and ever ex- cites interest in the behol When a | | | large spider three Inches 1 long throws off the old integument it is a thrilling sight. In iden’ days, a condition fre 215, she apparently irg disturb: the pre tly b mo when was f deac n fee ng insec the t case, the i unwell uently . and y and lying on her but moved a little upon be She lay th tarantula had for some preceding th yesterday mort back 4 us until about rustling her movements made excited attention. The old skin had then ruptured around the thorax in such 4 manner that the top could be tire. skin. the ei At the end o' effected. The side the perf. r was lite ight 1 ral vere exertion This tarantula was unusually large before she molted, She came north in a bunch of bananas about two and a January was the pet of Dr. J While under his care one skin wa and is now in my possession. half years ago removed en- and through this opening the giant y working out of her old This was accompanied b; zs and the tw n hour the ct ider lay upon her t skin, resting from the the aid of like palpl. ange had been ack, be- nd is now of still greater size, and until last M. Bigelow shed, An idea of the increase in size attendant upon molt- ing may be gained by comparing the di- mensions of the dorsal plece shed about the latter part of 18% under the care of Dr. Bigelow, shed yesterday. inch, and the second measures one quarter inches. The first of the skin when nd the one sures one and a me Therefore the present dor- sal piece will probably be proportionately larger when fully expanded.