The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 11, 1897, Page 28

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 1897. The call of the National Mining Kureau of Denver for an international gold miners’ con- vention in that city June 15 and 16 next lias not reached California except by newspaper report, and mining men here have not yet given it any particular attention. There is no doub nowever, that when official intorma- tion is received and the scope and purposes of the convention understooa the Miners’ Asso- ciation will take the lead in securing cordial co-operation from this State and a proper rep- Tesentation. A valuable contribution to fhe slowly in- creasing knowledge of the oil resources of Cali- fornia is Bulletin 11, by the Mining Bureau, on “Oil and Gas Yielding Formations of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara countfes, part 1,” by Field Assistant W. L. Watts, Mr. Watts has spent two years or more in the exclusive study of the ofl fields, mainly of Southern California, and this illustrate pamphlet of 100 pages. of which 3000 copies have just been printed, gives the net results of his Work in the territory mentioned. While this bulletin is one of the results of the administration of State Mineralogist Craw- ford, who has just retired, it is a reminder that the oil fields of California are about tobe studied more extensively than ever and that we may be at the eve of a great development of the oil resources ol the State. Along the coast, from Humboldt County to Los Angeles, and in the foothills of the San Joaquin Valley there are a multitude of signs of oil-bearing formations, but exceptin a district.of South- ern California there hss yet been practically no prospecting or scientific study of them. The new State Mineralogist, A. 8. Cooper, has acquired a great personal interest in the oil and ssphalt resources of the State and pro- poses to vigorously push their exploration Quring his term of oflice. He expects todo s great deal of field work in this Jine himself and has in contemplation a bulletin dealing | velop the property. The Safe Depositmine Spring Creek, owned vy Stump, Foster, Fitz- patrick & Lilly, was bonded last weex to George Senn, who will at once put on & force of men to push development, and if the prop- erties come up to the expectations will close | the deal by the payment of $30,000 at _the ex- piration of tke bond in ninety deys.—Redding Searchlight. The Natioual Consolidated Min- | ing Company has contracted with the Spring | Creek Eieetric Power Company for 50-horse- ‘ power and will run the machinery at its mine in Shasta County by electricity. | . The Rosenill gravel mine, Caiaveras County, | bas been sold by the Rodoscino heirs, and the | new owners are preparing to lay 10,000 feet of | pipe and begin operations on & large scale. | The Pinon Blanco mine, owned by Captain | A. H. Ward, has been bonded to the Iron | Mountain Mine Company of Colorado. The | first payment has been made.. The company | expects by the 1st of May to havea full force | of men at work developing the mine. Surveys | are being made for farther plants.—Mariposs | Gazette. | Captain H. H. Todd, who bonded the Quertz | Mountain properties near the junction of the North Fork end Merced mines in Mariposa last October, is with Captain A. H. Ward about to begiu their development, and buildings are | veing erected. There are immenso deposits | of low-grade ore in cases 100 feet wide, over | 2000 feet in length, with strong feeders run: | ning tn. With the cheap water supply avail- able and facilities for working through tun- nels the ore can be worked very cheaply. The Virginia mine, Marivosa County, be- longing to D. 0.Toole, has been bonded by the California Exploration Company. Their en- gineer, R. A. Parker, has put a force of men to work sinking a shaft and clearing the old | tunnel, and will in a short time consid the erection of & 20-stamp mill it it develops well, | A good deal of placer mining on a small A LOS ANGEL ES OIL WELL. with the subject in a general way. Mr. Watts is spending this season at further work in the southern field and Harold W. Fairbanks is studying the economic geology of & territory in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara coun- ties All this work stimulates the interestin t possibilities of oil outcroppings and af- fords snformation of value in prospecting and developing. In Le Angeles County retroleum is the chief min g to nearly a lion barrels in 1895, and coming from three . those of Los Angeles City, the Puente and the mountains near Newhall. The wells in the city of Los Angeles have excited the most interest since their discovery. For many years a small deposit of crude oil on West State street was used for fuel, but it was not until 1892, when Doheny & Connor sunk a shait 155 feet deep for luck, that the rich deposit was made known. ment was soon in full blast with much excite- ment, and in 1895 the highest production was reached. The product of 300 wells fell 10 50 cents a barrel through lack of co-operation and storing facilities. The production is now greatly reduced through the partisl exhaus- tion of the supply, but the advance in price to $1 50 ver barzel has been an offset. In the Los Angeles field the ofl deposit is a stratum of sand from 100 to 150 feet thick, containing about forty feet of “pay dirt” tilted at varying angles, averaging about 40 degrees. Indepth the wells range from 600 10 1100 feet. according to location. So fur as developments have shown, the field of this ofl- bearing stratum has an area of about 4,000,000 equare ieet, containing at the start, mate, 2,850,000 berrels of oil. About of this total has been pumped out, and profit- able operations have largely ceased. Many wells will continue to pay moderately for & good while, with only occasional pumping. Tt1s Mr. Watts’ opinion that the field may bs recovered outside of its present Loundaries. In the Puente hills are twenty-five produc- ing wells, which ylelded 100,000 barrels of oil in 1895 from depihs of 700 to 1500 feet. The Puente Ol Company operates a pipe line fif- teen miles 1ong to its refinery at Chino. Taere are anumber of oil fields in Venturs, mainly controlled by the Union Oil Company of Santa, Paula, and producing 245,000 barrels in 1895. The Summerland and otner oil fields and bituminous deposits of Sauta Barbara County are minutely described. The geology of ail these deposits 1§ made the smportant feature, though with the compil- cated problems presented it will require years of expert study to coliect the data for an ade- quate and reiable description of these oil- yielding formations since the price of oil at Los Angeles has gone up 80 hign the Santa Fe road has discontinued the use of oil as fuel and has gone back within a few weeks to coal. A chapter devoted to the fuel tests of oil shows that, with coal at $6 65 per won and oil at $1 33 per barrel, the saving by using ofl was 27.1 per cent. Other experi- ments make still better showings. The tunnel in the Boulder mine, El Dorado County, has reached 550 feetand is expected to reach the ledge in going 30 feet more.—A custom mill hes been erected st Placerville and is about ready for operation.—The Carl- isle mine, Butte County, has started up with ten men employed.—A San Jose company has bought the Gesion Hill drift mine, Calsveras County, for $12,000.—Prospecting for oil has reacned & depth of 500 feet at Richland, San Diego County.—New York capitalists contem- piate the erection of & large smelior at Phaenix, Ariz. Roller-mills are to be adopted at the Robin- son mine, Amador County, to the contem- plated capacity of 100 stamps. At the Oneida, ‘Amador County, the new shait which is to go 1500 deet has reached a depth of 820 feet, and & mew hoist is in operation. The shaft in the McMahon mine, Amador County, is to be sunk 140 feet deeper, and it 1s the intention, if the results are satisfactory, tosink a new and deeper shaft to the east- ward. The Giant Queen mine, Nevada County, an extension of the Giant Kiug, has been bonded to capitalists, Who propose to de. The develop- | scale is being done along the Snake River in Idaho. About 2500 men are at work. The Montana Legislature has passed a law re- quiring iron-bonneted safety-cages, inclosed in an iron casing, in all shafts over 300 feet deep. The Cripple Creek district shipped 18,200 tons of ore 10 the smelters in February. March will show an increase. The Union Miiling and Smelting Cowmpany of Tecoma, Wash., has incorporated to apply to smelting the hydrocarbon principle according to a manner patented by Barron Bros. of Tacoma. The Consolidated Gold Mines of California, | limited, has now been fully formed in London, end will take over and opersie the Banner, Long’s Bar, Clark, Hedges and Coffee mines of Butte County. These are practically the same people who own the Golden Feather property. By an act of the Legislature both Chinese and Japanese are forbidden to work in the British Columbia mines. A suecession of cop- | per discoverles in the Northwest continues to be reported in the daily papers. A 20-stamp | mill is to be erected at the Lightner mine, ad- Jjoining the Utica, at Angels Camp. Califor- | | | | cost of §5000 a year if Governor Budd had not given that biil a pocket voto. The annual report of the Minister of Mines of British Columbis, glviag an acconnt of the work of the first year of the new Bureau of Mines, has been published. The complete statistics for the year make a vers fldttering showing for the province, which has so fur in its history proauced $60,000.000 in gold, and coal to the value of §34,000,000. The buresu proposes to give la boratory and otheg in- struction in metatlurgy, mineralogy, etc., and to establish a plant for the testing of all ores. TS USEFULNESS GONE No Ooce Now Attends the Local Passenger Asscciation Meetings. Formal Dissolution Will Teke Place on the F:irst Day of Next Menth. As a result of the recent decision of the United States Supreme Court against railroad and other trusts and com- binations the San Francisco and Oak- land Local Passenger Association has gone to pieces. The first withdrawal notice was given by the local ager.t of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad. This was soon followed by that of the Rio Grande West- ern. A notice of withdrawal by any one road requires the calling of a special meeting to act on the matter. When the notices were sent out on March 29 by Sec- retary W. W. Smith reiative to the Rio Grande Western’s withdrawal a quorum failed to respond and it has been found 1mpossible to secure the presence of the requisite number of members since, It is understood that the persistent absentee- ism of the representatives of the roads which have not yet formally their withdrawal is due to instructions received from headquarters in the East. Meanwhile, one after another, the ma- jority of the lines have withdrawn, as fol- lows: Atchison, Topeka ana Santa Fe; Atlantic and Pacific, Burlington and Mis- souri River, Canadian Pacific, Central Pa- cific; Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific; Northern Pacific, Rio Grande Western, Southern Pacific Company (Atiantic sys- tem). Southern Pacific Comnany (Pacific system), Chicago and Northwestern, Van- derbilt lines, Denver and Rio Grande. The roads that have not formally with- drawn are: The Great Northern, Oregon Railway and Navigation Company, Texas | and Pacitic, Union Pacific; New ' York. Ontario an Western; Pennsylvania lines; Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul; Dela- vare, Lackawannaand Western; Judson’s Excursion Agency. As matters now stand the local associa- tion is dead to all intents and purposes, as even the representatives of the roads which are still nominally members of it dare not attend any meeting, and it is, therefore, impossible for the organization to transact any business. Last Wednes- day was the regular monthly meeting day of the association, bnt not even the for- | mality of sendinz out notices was at-| tempred by the secretas The expenses of the association, it is | stated, are guaranteed by all the former | and existing members until the end of this month. Unless something develops in the interim that will permit its con- tinuance it will go out of existence by formal dissolution. The object of the organization was to | bind members under penalties of heavy fines not to cut rates. It is not feared, | however, that the absence of its restrain- ing influence will havs any evil effects, as the dread of the iron hand of the Inter- state Commerce Commission has sufliced to restrain rate-cutting proclivities in the great railroad centers of the East and will be sufficient to maintain things in their normal condition in this City. e e Young Men’s Institute. | The lecture before Phil Sheridan Council No, | 72, under the auspices of the Central Lecture Bureau, will be given by Past Grand President F. J. Kierce on the 28th inst. in Mission Opera Hall. The lecture to be given in Metropolitan Hail, heretofore announced, has been postponed to the 11th of May. It will be delivered before Ignatisn Council by Rev Joseph M. Gleason and the subject will be “One Man Against the World.” The new council at East Los Angeles was orgauized last Monday by the board of organ- izers, of which J. B. Dockweiler is president and Anthony Schwam is secretary. The new. council will be calied Sacred Heart and the | president is T. B. Hayes and the secretary P, Salz. The next meeting of the Fourth district will be held on the evening of the 20th inst., under the auspices of Council No. Arrangements are being made for the organ- ization of another new council in Los Angeles. Borromean Council bas organized a choral society. The new council in 8t. Joseph’s parish was | organized last Thursday evening. It is known | peculiar style of his wearing the hair Barbarian Fashions. The differences existing in modes of dress, style of hving and means of subsistence in the civilized world has been a subject of much comment, but in those parts where the only semblance from nature, consisting of 4 narrow girdle apout the loins, maae from the manilla fiber or cocoanut (grass or paver), the con- trast becomes ex ceedingly striking and a subject of interest. It does not verify, by unadorned is adorned the most The Kanakas of the South Sea Islands, especially those clustering about New Guinea, deem themseives most ornate when their bodies are tattooed—the more hideous, the more beautiful. On account of the darkness of their skin it is impossi- ble for them to make a display in the | ordinary acceptation of that art, but it is | wrought by means of introducing a knife so that it presents thé appearance of a wart. These tattoos are placed in dif- ferent parts of the body as a distinguish- ing characteristic or designation of the various tribal islanders. In some these are vlaced in rows on the upper part of the arm or shoulders, others on the breast, and still others down the back between the shoulders. They vary in number from three or more in line to a dozen, or are placed in double rows. Another 1dea of making themselves at- tractive is by means of piercing the lobe of the ear and introducing into the open- ing a small stick or bone, increasing the size of the aperture as nature heals the wound until, in some instances, the open- ing becomes several inches in extent, and the outer portion of the ear hanging down the side of the head bas the appearance of a small piece of indiarubber fubing attached to the ear. This distension is often utilized in carrying their pipes, when mnot in use, by twisting it around the stem and placing the bowl close to the ear, which holds it securely while they are at work or walking. Itis said ‘“‘the glory of a woman is her bair,” but how the male portion of the wild Kanaka became so thoroughly im- bued with such an ideal characteristic is very chimerical. To one who has never seen the =almost hideous modes by which the hair is made to display his idea of esthetics the aston- ishment experienced would be difficuit to depict. The hair is usually worn longand parted in the middle, especially by the chiefs, and is colored in various hues, from bright carmine (0 a solt-tinted golden hue an d sometimes pure white, though the age of the wearer might be less than a score of years, This coloring is accom- plished by means of juice expressed from | certain nuts or berries in the tirst instance of a covering for the body is obtained | any means, the poetical idea “that beauty | beneath the skin, raising it from the body | NEW TO-DAY. her approval as regards shade TO-DATENESS. Early season’s prices are totally ignored by us. policy in conducting our immense establishment never varies. Little Prices are one of the important features that have made us what we are. TEHEHE WONDER, 1028 Market St. NO BRANCH STORES. IT IS DAME FASHION'S CAPRICE OFFER YOU FLOWER-LADEN MILLINERY | FOR THE EARLY DAYS OF SPRING. We are splendidly prepared to entertain you with the styles upon which she has set the stamp of or shape, and GENERAL UP- Our being of such an entirely different nature from anything extant in American civili- zation. Oa the head of some of the participants is worn a mask which covers it com- pletely. This is made generally of an en- tire cocoanut, opened sufficiently for the insertion of the head, orifices being cut for the eyes, nose and mouth, though some- times the eyes are partially hid by the substitution of small stones known as “'cat’s-eyes,”’ and bits of wood or bone for teeth in the opening for the mouth. These | masks weigh from two to tive bounds, and | are held in position by fastenings around the neck. The long fiber is made to stand erect upon the crown of the head, the whole presenting the appearance of some hideous heathen god in all of its barbaric conception. If no mask is worn the faces are painted and the head dressed in col- ored plumage, somewhat like the repre- sentation of American Indians. Theonly covering tor the body is the *‘lavalava’ about the loins. The dance consists of movements for- ward, backward and sideways, the parties forming 1n lice “‘en militaire,” but using and a liberal application of a thick solu- tion of limewater in the latter. The lime | is obtained from burning pieces of coral or shell, which are sbundantly found on the islands. A distinguishing mark by the Prutestant native is designated in the pompadour, the heathen disdaining to adopt such a style. Ornaments made from a flat shell, simi- larin shape to our scallop, without cor- rugations, are wrought into various shapes and sizes and fastened by the hair, either to droop upon the forenead, stand erect about the front of the head or worn by a piece of fiber about the neck, or attached to hair upon the breast, the supremacy of the sterner sex usurping the richt of such adornment. 1none instance of decoration the *verbena,” or female, stands in equal- ity with her mate, viz.: in the use of arm- lets. These are of multiform construction as to shape and size, made from shell tortvise-shell or bone, and are usually worn upon the arm between the elbow and the shoulder, varying in number from one to 1 score. Tnese are placed upon the native when quite young, and are held in such esteem that even when the pleasure is ofttimes turned into severe pain by the growth of the arm the flesh protruding on either side above and below the armlets, nothing will induce the wearers to part | with them, their idea being the larger the “ arm and smaller the armlet the more or- | namentation. Giving an appreciative description of the grotesque paraphernalia which in- | cumber the natives when in full regalia | most extreme contortions of the body, continuing for hours in duration. The ng sing” is conducted by a leader di- recting its various phases by beatings of an outside member upon a “‘tom tom,” or drum, constructed by excavatinga log, & slit down tne upper side being made. The desired depth of tone is obtained by the introduction of water into the interior of tne log, producing only one intonation, | which music (?) **hath charms to soothe the savage breast.”” Women have no par- ticipation in the “Sing Sing."” However emphaticaily it may be urged that civilization is beneficial to the hu- man race, one instance in Kanaka life proves a most notable exception, for tre- quently when these nativs islanders are induced to adopt the attire of the Euro- pean, nature, having been previously un- trammeled in this respect, declines the in- novation, and sometimes death follows from such action, but always a dezeneracy of the physical system is the inevitabie | result, Those living on the seashore are almost as aquatic as the birds and fishes of their country, but not like the bird or fish is the subsequent effect upon the bodies of the Kanaka, as these daily, almost hourly, ablutions cause a scurfiness that ma- terially weakens their strength, Another very detrimental habit common to both sexes of these people is the dis gusting use they make of chewing a nat (called the beedle nut) dipped in lime powder and sometimes taken with a cer- tain puagent cone, like the American pine tree, only smaller. This custom de- stroys their teeth, which originally are leaving them and their mouths amw! cotta color and full of disease. | The Kanaka subsists principally upon fish and the bulb of a plant called “taro,” strongly allied to the “‘calla.” Thisgrows wild, but cultivation has so improved its quality that it has even become a part in the menu of the white man. Nuts and berries are highly esteemed, but sugar cane, when it can be obtained, is consid- ered almost a luxury, little of it being raised on these islands. The introdne- | tion of rice as a food upon the plantaticns | forms another very essential article of | diat Little meat, except salted, is eaten by | the native, as there are no cattle or sheep in range upon the land, all being im- ported that are found there. Whenever opportunity is afforded to the Kanaka to avail himself of a meal from the white man’s repast he is considered exceedingly | fortunate, as he highly appreciates the | difference of the cuisine. In what manner beneficial may best be extended to these benighted tribes is a pertinent and interesting sub- ject of solution for the political economist. This cannot be evolved simply by legisla- “ tion or religious tract distribution emanat- | | influences | ing from foreign shores, but the bene- factor must become thoroughly conver- sant with their wild nature and cause | them to be imbued with confidence in his | good intention, on account of advantages | that they may receive by mutual'inter- course, and not because of any gain being | derived from them, this pernicious feature | having already been too severely experi- enced by them. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. SANTA RITA MINE—M. W., City. There is no such mine as the Santa Rita in the list of mines on this coast FroM HONOLULU—E. A., City. Letters are re ceived from Honolulu in from six and a half to seven and a half da BLossox Rock—D. F., City. Blossom Rock, | in the harbor of Sar Francisco, was blown up on the 23d of April, 1870, “SHABBY GENTEEL"—S., City. Any first-class music store can procure you the musicand | words of “Shebby Genteel.”” | RAILWAY MATL CLERKS—G. G., Oakland, Cal. The average run o f railway mail clerks in the United States is about 165 miles. QUARANTINE—Subscriber, City. This depart- | ment knows of no such quarantine at Port- land, Or., as men tioned in your communica- tion. BREWERIES—C. A., San Diego, Cal, This de- partment is uneble 1o give the desired infor- ma tion about the breweries of the two cities named. TIN MiNEs—G. B. 8., City. There are deposits of tin on the Owens ranch, in San Bernardino The committee of women appointed to con- sider the question of the formation of a woman’s whist league, consisting of Mrs. T. H. Andrews of Philadelphis, Mrs. J. W, Hawley of Washington, Mrs. Waldo Adams of Boston, Mrs. Clarence Brown of Toledo and Miss Susan D. Biddle of Detroit, hus issued the fol- lowing announcemen! T the Women Whisters of America—A Woman's Whist Congress will be held at the Hotel Walton, Philadelphia, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs day, April 28 and 29. At ihis congress the auestion of whether a woman’'s whist league shall be organized will be considered. The programme (subjec: to alteration by vote of the congress) is as foliows: ‘Business meetings April 27, 28 and 29at 11 A w. Pair contesi for woman’s pair championship April 27 and 284t 2 P. x. Mixed double pair contest for mixed double pair champlonship, April 27 and 28, at 8 r. . ‘ontest for women fours, under Howell- Itchell sysiem 1or progressive fours, April 29, 2 o ‘Women vs. men, April 49, 8 p. M. Prizes will be awarded to the winners in each contest. A cordial inviation to attend and participate Is extended to every woman-whister in the country, regardless of whether she is connected with any woman's whist club. » All the women's whist clubs are also urged to send delegates and teams. In the contests there will be no restriction in the comwposition of pairs or teams as to elither ciub membershlp or residence. Any players may enter together. The entrles for each contest will close at noon on the day said contest starts. The committee would be pleesed, however, to receive entries &5 soon as Ppossible. The Hotel Walton will make a rate of from 81 50 per day up (European plan) io all attending the congress. For information on this subject ad- dress the hotel direct. For any information in regard to the congress address Mrs. T. H. Andrews, 1119 Spruce street, Philagelphis, to whom all entries should be sent. California sends greeting to the women whisters of America, and would, no doubt, send delegates to this congress if the time was not quite ¥o short. The whist ciubs of Cali- fornia are the only clubs in the America Whist League that have lady and gentlemen mem- bers. Our whist clubs were the first to say women should be accorded the same privi- leges or rights as men, and in our clubs we welcome our dsughters as weil as our sons. We have been a stanch advocate of women in whist for years, and we hope the good work done at this congress will spreed, and if the right spirit prevails it will always have our earnest and hearty support, Whist, With or Without. The cancer politics has already bobbed up its head in certaln whistcircles in the East, and 1f the disease is allowed to spread it won't take long to k1ll off the body. There are also a certain class of individuals getting into whist for what there is in it—for revenue only, and working the whist clubs for all they are | worth. Lately we regret o say we see in our | exchanges whist writers slinging mud atone | another. Has it come to this? The bestor- ganization ever founded by man should care- fully guard its entrances, and should any suc cced in gotting through its portals thatare not | wanted the knife should be applied before it | is 100 late. | | “The Bath Goup”—What Is It? How meny whist-players can answer this question, “What is the meaning of the Bath coup?” Ttis of so little importance in whist that one would not want to spend much time in investigating it. Where it camo from or who introduced it we eannot say, but you will find it in Drayson's “Art of Practical Whist,” | fifth eaition, page 307, and it is asortofa “catch” that is usually worked successfully on green whist-players. and to give a description of how the ~coup” is mede it is well to quote General Drayson’s own words: not uncommon error of young or inex- perienced players is, if leading 1rumps from king, queen, knave and one or two others, and the king or knave wins the trick, they will lead a small trump. The fourth player may hold ace, ten, and one or two others, and practices what is technically known ss ‘the Bath coup,’ and refuses to win the first trick with his ace, in hopes that & small trump may be led by the original leader, when his ten is sure to win the irick, and his ace is still in hend.” This same play is often made in plain suits, butalways made to catch the inexperienced. All whist-players of the first rank when they lead knave from a suit of king, queen, knave and two or more others, and it wins, will always follow with king or queen to show number, and get valuable information from partner. The adversaries won't hold upace the second rourd, and the partaer will not, unless he has still another card in the suit. Tormey's Low-Trump Lead. We have been asked a great many times what is Tormey’s low-rump lead? Some three years ago we introduced into the game | in our little whist circle the innovation that | is now known by the sbove title. - We believe that the more information you give your vari- ner with each card you play the better your | whist. When you are the originl leader of adeal and hold four, five or even six small trumps and no suit worth trying to establish you should lead the lowest trump and have it convey this information to your partner: “I am strong in trumps” (that is, at least four, rossibly five or six), “but have no suit 1o es- tablish; so don’t return trump without good reasons of your own for doingso.” Should my partner immediately return trumps he should sey, “I have a zood suitl can make with the assistance of your trumps; get them out.” Should you wish to tell your partner the ex- act holding you have in trumps: high-low at the first opportunity in any side suit. 1f the original leader wanis an immediate or quick return of the trump suit then lead any tromp that can mark & lower one fn hand. The number can be shown later by the high- low play. This and our rotary discard play is a trick-winner in the hands of an expert—it isa sharp-edged tool and should be carefully handled. Whist Lectures by the Whist Queen. The Providence (R. 1) Telegram of March 28 gives an accouat of a whist lecture given by Miss Kate Wheelock. It says: ‘The whist-players of this clty had a great even- ing at the Providence Athletic Club last night, when Miss Kate Wheelock spoke to an audience that completely filled the gymuasium. Although Biss Wheelock is well known in this city this was her initial sppearance as a lecturer, but the recep- tion accorded her was a suflicien: indication that succeeding talks of the same kind wlil be very welcome additions (0 the sources of Information of the whist-players. President Barney of the National Assoclation {n- troduced Miss Wheelock. who then went immedi- ately Into the consideration of the subject. She 00K It Up With the assumpuion that the audience was composed mainly of beginuers, but those who knew Lhe value of the cards and had some knowl- edge of how 10 follow suit at least. It was & very instructive introduction that was given before the room was darkened in order that sample hands might be shown by the use of the stereopticon. This lattr feature was a novelty and one that t0ld the story in better form than could have been gained in any other way. Tho proper leads from these specimen hands were given and the faults that might occur were pointed out. This tovk considerable time, but the twohours that were spent with Miss Wheelock were Over all too quickly. It was a talk that ap- pealed particularly to those who like to play whist for recreation rather than to make itan exact sclence, aud as such Miss Wheelock's lectures hereatier will be well recelved In all probability. Duplicate Whist by dohn T. Mitchell. We are glad to take Mr. Mitchell by the hand and say: Well done, John T. You have given us something we have been looking for for many years. This new book is called “Mitchell's Duplicate Whist ana Modern Leads.” We can- not do justice to it at this writing, but will it contains about everything that one can ask. ‘ 0 s el Frenk A, Dumont, | {OF their “sing sing” or festive dances is | most beautiful in color and shape, caus- | County. Cal. bat there is no. produer frm | nia would have had mining inspection at & | president, and H. H. Hay, recording secretary. | by no means an easy task, the festivities them.” ‘There are mines of this metal in South Gall for the Woman’s Whist League exception of the billlara-room) for the competi- for pertaining to duplicate whist. It gives s full description of interclub duplicate whist, progressive duplicate whist, single-table duplt cate, individual schedules, Whitfeld’s pro- | gressive duplicate, ladies’ aud gentlemen’s | schedules, teaw schedules—in fact, everything that one could possibly wish to know pertain- | ing to the game, and how all these games or tournamenis are conducted. We will give & more extensive review of this good work at an early day. Itisa book of 160 pages elegantly gotup and published by Ihling Bros. & Ever- ard, Kalamazoo, Mich. The suthor dedicated it to the American Whist League (in particu- lar) and to whist-players the world over (in | general). Trist Duplicate Whist Glub. | The members of the Trist Club enjoyed a treat last Tuesday evening—twenty-four of the deals that were played in the Albany-St. Paul match for the American Whist League challenge trophy, that took place at Detroit, Mich., just pefore the midwinter meeting of | the league. The deals were played by the | entire club, and every one seemed 1o enjoy them very much. Next Tuesday evening twenty-four more deals of the same match will be played. Every member of the club should be on hand to commence the evening's Dlay sharp at 8:15 o'clock. Second Ganadian Whist lieague' Gongress. | The following letter from the honorable sec- | retary of the Canadian Whist League to the | whist editor of THE CALL explains itself: | TORONTO, Canada, March 25, 1897. Whist Editor Cull: The executive committee bas decided to hold the second annual congress in ‘Toronto on Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17, 1897, st the Victoria Club, Huron street. That only members of the Canadian Whist League be allowed to compete. That the team entrance fee 10 congress competi- tion be abolished. ‘That the entries, which will close Monday, April 12, 1897, may be made in the name of & club, or any four players may enter together, whether members of the same club or not, provided they enter under u club or other distinciive name, and any club may enter more than one four. The committee soliclts your hearty co-operation and trusis that this year's arrangements as to length of competition and accommodation will be everything that could be desired. Some complaint was made Iast year that the teams were asked {0 vlay (o0 many matches, so this year the number of matches will be reduced, thereby sllowing considerable time for “whist talk.” The Victoria Club has generously set aside the entire capacity of its handsome rooms (with the tion. This should give ample accommodation and the comfort of all will be carefully looked after. Answers to Whist Queries. A correspondent in Sunol asks the follow- ing questions: 1. Has the American Whist League formu- lated a system of play? 2. What is Foster’s standing in the league, and can you suggest better handbook? | 3. What is the rotary discard ? i 4. Wil you kindly send a description of | solitaire whist? In answer to tne above questions we will | say, first, the leaguo has not and will not for- mulate any system before the next congress, t0 be held in Put-in-Bay July 6 to 10, if it does | then. | 2. Mr. Foster is one of the best whist- | writers in_this country, but so far as we are | able to judge he advocates no system of play | except 10 go contrary to the recognized whist principles. He has written several books, | and no whist student should go without them, | We have about 200 different books on the | game and they are all good. | To the third question—What is therotary ! discard? This is an innovation of our own. a description ot it in THE CALL. It was first explained in “Whist” of Janu- ary, 1895. In Mitchell's new book, *Dupli- cate Whist and Modern Leads.” you will find on page 104 a full description of it. Lastly, we are asked for a full description of the game of “solitaire whist.” i This game is not gnite perfected, and as | soon as it Is it will appear simultaneously in 81l the whist papers in the country. Another writer asks us why we advise the lead of ace from ace king and two small in THE CALL'S Whist Donts, and in deciding a ques- tion of what to lead from a certain hand we ay king from the same holding. Oaranswer is: In deciding questions of correct whist play, | more especially the proper leads, the great | majority of whist-players consider the Amer- | can leads introduced by Nicholas Browse Trist the standard. We bow to whet we con- sider superior authority. The new leads we ad- vocate in Whist Donts are more informatory | than any system in use to-day and we would | like the trial of them in connection with the | rotary discard. Ghallenge for the Rideout Trophy. ‘The following speaks for itself: Mr. P. J. Tormey, President Pacific Coast | Whist Association—DEAR SR: The Petaluma Whist Club herewith challenges the holders of the Rideout trophy t0 a mateh for said tro- phy in accordance with the rules of the Paci- fic Coast Whist Association. Should tnis chal- lenge be accepted the 24th of April would be a convenient date for the Petaluma team, if agrecable to the San Francisco Club. ANGIE H. TIBBETTS, Secretary Petaluma Whist Club. We gave | { | eation. | Chickens in the condition described are | introduce her as | comes a law notwithstanding the veto. | zdjourns within ten days fter the passage of Dakota, but they are mot worked. It issaid that the manner of producing the ore thers did not pay. = RUNNING RECO City. As your com- munication does not state if you want the rur ning record for man or horse the question can- not be answered. Ep HARRIGAN—J. D, City. that Ed Harrigan wou Columbia some time this engagement has been made. 1t was expected appear at the ar, but as yet no | ~ | COLLECTOR OF CUSTOM D. Q, City. The ! name of J. P. Jackson for the oftice of Collector | of Customs of the port of San Francisco has not | been sent to the Senate for confirmation. NITRATE OF SopA DEPOSITS—J. W., City. There are deposits of nitrate ot soda on the boraers of California and Nevada, but they have never been worked or thoroughly prospected. THE LICK SCHOOL—A. B., City. For informa. tion about the Lick School of Mechanical Arts and the requirements for admission apply in { Derson or by letter to principal of the school. ] Books—T. W. L., San Rafsel, Cal. The law A imposes & duty on books imported from a foreign country, unless such books are more than twenty years old from the date of publ AsToR None of the biographies of John Jacob Astor, the founder of the Astor i Library, show that he was of Jewish des He was born in Heldelberg, Germany, an iather wasa peasant UNICIPAL ELECTION Municipal elections F., Oakland, Cal. Cbicago are held in in the first week in April in odd numbered ars. The municipal election in Cleveland, hio, was held April 4, this year. BosToN CAPrTAL—J. P. H., Ciiy. There are no statistics 10 show how much capital is in- vested in the city of Chicago by citizens of Boston, Mase. After the big fire in Chicago | that municlpality received assistance from 4 many cities of the Union A GIrL's MaJomity—O. 8., Santa Cruz, Cal } In the State of California a boy attains his mae j rity at the age of 21 and & girl at the age of 18, Agirl on reaching her eighteenth birth. day is entitled to receive property willed to 4 her. LARGEST THEATER T. 8, City. I you mean by “the largest theater in San Fran- cisco” the largest size, the Grand Opera-house is the answer; if you mean the one having the larzest seating capacity then the answer is the Orpheum. The Grand Opera-house' has 0 2500 seats and the Orpheum about 3100. FoOD ADULTERATION—F. A., City, Tartario acid is an article not permitted in the manu- uiacture of human food. All articles of man- factured food will be subjected to analysis by the City Chemist. Salicylic acid, glucose, cope peras, and any ingredient that has & tendency 10 retard digestion_is injurious when used in the manufacture of food. i RIGHT OF WAY—P. J. P, Blanchard, Tuolumne County, Cal. An individual has no right to close a public road that runs through his land. 1f there is reason why the road should be closed he would have to take legal proceedings toeffect such a result. The other question as H to right of compensation is one that a court would have to answer aiter a presentation of ) the facts. i BLIND. ESS IN CHICKENS— Alameda, Cal, fected with what is known as “blindness.” Itis & common disease generally accompanying roup. Itisstated that it is readily eured by i dropping a very weak solution of laudanurn . into the affeciea eyes. Chickenskeptin clean, | well-aired houses are not troubled with either roup or blindness THE Homse—J. §,, City. The horse, accord- ing to & number of writers, is possessed of both | instinct and intelligence. He has the instinct | of self-preservation and inteliigence or sa- gacity, s is manifested by his ability to learn | and 10 remember what he is taught. Asun instence of sagacity Romanes, in “Animal Intelligence,” narrates s number of instances, such us the case of a Shetland pony going to be shod oi his own accord after droppi shoe; of a Canadian horse saving a v trom’ drowning by hoiding her gown in his teetn, and several instances of horses over- coming obstacles to the oat-bin. M1ss OR MRS.—M. N., City. When a woman is granted a divorce ana is allowed her maiden | name ihe decree reads: “And that the plaine Uff in this action be permitted to resume hi maiden name, which was,” and then follows what that maiden name was, say for instance, Alice Jones,” not “Miss” Alice Jones. There is no rule that ruthorizes & divorced womsn 10 assume either “-Miss” or *Mrs.” when Jowed to resume her maiden name. She ca not_by any right assume the title of “Miss, for that is & term applied to & young giri or to an aged girl who hes never been marriec and peing no longer married, she cannot cal herself “Mrs.” Consequently she is neither «Miss” nor “Mrs.” and has strictly no right to use either prefix. If a women on being divorced is allowed to resume her maiden name, which was, say, “Alice Jones,”” she could not be introduced as “Mrs. Alice Jones” or «“Miss Alice Jones,” but it would be proper to lice Jones." ] POCKET VETO—Schoolboy, Aterdeen, Inyo County, Cal. A veto is the act b, which the executive refuses his concurrence in a mea- sure of the legislative body with which he is associated and thus prevents it from becom- inga law. The power of veto is generally given to Mayors of cities and 1o Governors of States, the latter sometimes acting in con- junction with other officials. The veto Imay be overridden by & vote of the legislative body, in most of the States & two-thirds vote being necessary for that purpose, while in others & three-fifths vote or even & simple majority is suffiient. Rhode Island, North Caroling, Ohio and Delaware are the only States that have refused to give the executive the power to veto. The right to veto acts of Congress is vested Dy article I, section 7, o1 the constitution in the President alone. He is required (0 sign every bill or return it to the House of Congress in which it originated, with his objections. The latter act constitutes a veto, and if twoe thirds of each house pass the bill again it bes 1t the President failsto reiurn the bill within ten days (Sundays excepied) it becomes s law as if he signed it unless ““Congress by their ad- journment prevents its return, in which case itshall not be alaw.” If, thereiore, Congresy a bili and the Presiden! hasrefrained from act- ingon the billitdoes not become alaw; the dis. posal of & bill in that way,when the President does not choose to veto it lormally, is termed & “:pocket veto,” & term which it scems was first” applied by the Whigs to the disposition in that j ‘manuer of two internal improvement bills by President Andrew Jackson. i