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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1886)
RECORD OF THE RED CROSS , Only Humane Society Eitablislied and Sup ported by International Treaties. A BALM FORTHE SOLDIER IN WAR How It OHliuiu a-ll4 KyMeinntlu OpcintloiisVhiU in Hone In TlnicHof I'raco In tills Country. Talk With Cini-n Itnrlon. The ear of the whole world \3 \ familiar tvitli tile name Hud ( ross 'oeiety , and in times of war Its nets of tomler care of sick and wounded combatants have claimed the earnest attention of the iiumano and tender-hearted In every corner of Christendom. Nevertheless there are very few who understand the workings of this society , its origin , the ficopo of its operations , or what it does in time of pence. Tin * visit of Miss Clara Barton , president of the Hcd Cross of America , to this city a day or so ago , afforded a representative of the HII : : a. good opportunity of laying before the public some interesting tacts connected with the society. " Itsonlyobject"said tliedistiuguishcd lady , who organized , and has really maintained the existence of the lied Cross In this country , "is the relief of the Hick and wounded in war. It was started in 1801 in Geneva , Switzerland , by delegates from all nations in the civ ilized world , and the personelle of this memorable and historic meeting included crown-heads , scions of royalty , bends of governments , military leaders , etc. The representatives of Amcriqu on this occa sion wore Mr. Fogg , diplomat at Berlin , nnd Mr. Henry Brooks , the well-known banker of Paris. " run socnrrv ix AMPIIICA. "There was no organi/ntion perma nently effected in the United States until 188U. Tills dilatorlness was caused prin cipally because the society is founded on international treaty , and is the only as sociation for charitable purposes in the world that is ; also some obstacles were thrown in the way l y the distance of this country from the scene of the early action of the Ued Cross , and on account of the difference in the languages of the countries engaged In its operations. I worked under it in the Franco-Prussian war , where llio lied Cross did all that was done for the sick and wounded. IJy request ot the nations of Europe I laid betore the government of the United States the nature of the work , to sco if it could conscientiously adhere to the Treaty obligations entered into by other nations. This was in 1877 , and it IOOK tive years before the United States wheeled into lino. It was of course a matter that could not bo rushed into existence , tor an net of congress w s required changing the treaty relations ot the country with all the governments of the world and , more over , the articles of war relating to the medical department of the army had to be radically altered. Finally consent was obtained and adhesion given to the treaty under the administration of President Arthur and the United States was the thirty-second nation to act under the sav ing sign of the Ued Cross. Tin : NATIONAL SOCIETY. "A national society had been formed in this country in 1881 such as all nations may operate according to their local desires and needs without reference to outsiders. At the request of the late 1'rcsident Garliold I was made president. Of course there is a vast difference be tween the last mentioned association and the Hcd Cross proper. The latter is international one nation with all nations. Wounded or siek soldiers , who come under the Ued Cross , become noncombatants - combatants at once , no matter how inimical they may have been in health. It neutralizes all the rigors of war. The unfortunate on both shies of the bloody contest are taken care of by the Red Cross as tenderly as if they fought under the sumo ilag ; all supplies for the sick or wounded stamped with the Uud Cross have to bo forwarded to their destination no matter where found , even in the cam ] ) of the bitterest enemyno wounded nor sick man in care of the Ued Cross is subject to capture , its surgeons must be ullowed to enter any lines to care for the ailing even before pcaco is declared ; wounded men under tills treaty cannot bo hold as prisoners of war if their side of the conflict bo able to oaro for thorn ; no surgeons of the Hcd Cross uro subject to capture ; it made but one hospital Hag throughout the whole world where before - fore there wore as many as the armies of nations. There are ten articles in this international treaty creating the Ued Cross and it must bo under that badge that the aforesaid amenities nro available. It was LITTLE swi rziii.AN : : that first called upon the nations of the earth to behave bettor when angry. It was its government that gave the Red Cross its sign. Wo could not take her colors so nobly ami patriotically won the white cross on a red background. So , said the nations with one assent , Jot ns reverse it and use a red cross on a white ground. Tims the yellow or other colored lluga wcro taken from all the hos pitals In civilized countries and the little insignia of the Hcd Cross adopted for the protection of the sick and wounded everywhere. There can bo no mistake now , no matter how iierco the battle rages , the Red Cross silences the cannons aim musketry unit sheathes the sword. The regular army of the United States has changed its hospital Hag that was handed down from the days of the revo lution. With the mark of the Ued Cross upon it , a box of supplies can bo sent from one corner of , the world to thu other Mifoly , and the sohilor will find a friend in need , though thousands of miles from the laud to which ho owes allegiance. " MISS lIAUTON'b WOUK. "Something of your personal history , Miss Barton , " suggested the reporter , "would be of interest to the public. Are you a native of Washington , whore you now reside ? " "Oil , no. I was born In good old Now Lnjjland , in Worcester county , Massa chusetts. I know full well that my per sonal affairs would bo of little moment to your loaders , and what is more , I do not cure to speak of myself at all , I wish I could toll you of the Hcd Cross and omit the personal pronoun altogether , as the Hon. James Bluiiiu did in his mem orable eulogy on Gurllold. In fact , I would not bo Interviewed at all wore it not that I know the workings of the Red Cross are not properly and generally un derstood , audit is to the press we have to look for our principal aid. " "How did you como to bo engaged in thn work in which you have expended your largo inheritance and all your time J' ' "Well , I wont to the front with the Sixth Massachusetts , which , you will re member , was mobbed in Baltimore. My lirstwork was in nursing the noor follows injured nn that occasion , and afterwards 1 nerved during the entire rebellion , I never was connected with the sanitary commission because I commenced work long before it was organized , 1 cannot njprcss in words the kindness of Presi dent Lincoln and the high civil and lalJIurv authorities to mo during the war. It did not make any difference wlmt I naked big or little favors they were granted without the least hesita tion. 1 could go anywhere , had traua- port boats and trains at my disposal whenever I desired them. " UJ TIMES OK TRACK. "Miss Barton it would seem that your society is essentially n war association. Wo havn very few conflicts in this coun try. How ilo you work in times of peace ? " "I expected you were goinjr to ask that question. You are right , the United Slates is not cur-od by a war fever and 1 hope there will he loss in the future than we have had in the pa l. But in Kiiropo there Is always a skirmish of some kind and of course thn Hed Cross hero alls the Hed Cross llioro , The fiocielios of Hnropo work only during war times. There was nothing to hinder us Ami'riraus doing some irood civil work , so uu organized an independent feature of thn Hed Cross in tliis country to render assistance in cases of dire calamities , such as plagues , overflows of rivers , great fevers grasshopper vi ita- lions , olc. , where the suffering commu nities have to rely on outside assistance for food , raiment , shelleranil fuel. There was no oiganizod system in this country to meet llin requirements of those calami- lios. The church and benevolent socie ties were not strong enough and perhaps had enough to do in their respective homo localities. So It wius that the Hed Cross , being of International existence , saw an opportunity to do good work in timed ef peace. " rir.i.u orncr.ti Hummi. . "This is Ihe reason we have u Held offi cer , whinli position is hold by Dr. Hubbell - bell , As soon as a calamity is reported In1 immediately visits the spot nnd makes n thorough investigation , If there is really need of assistance and no means of procuring it near by , ho telegraphs mo at Washington and I notify all the socie ties in the country. They liavo never failed me once in sending money and supplies , which under llio Hed Cross are sure to reach their destination The lirst work the doctor nnd the society did of this kind was during the Icrriblo forest ( Ires in Michigan in 1881 before the treaty hail been made. The UcdCrossdldgreat work at that timo. You remember the lirst great overflow of the Mississippi in 183J. Wo went the entire length of the liver with supplies of all kinds. Kvery auxiliary society in the United States re- Mionclcd most generously , especially those in VIeksburg , Memphis and St. Louis , and the ox tires * and freight offices were overstocked with goods ot all kinds sent on a moment's notice to the suffer ers. In 1883 , when the Ohio overflowed , the Hed Cross repeated its good work. Wo got donations from all quarters as soon as the exigencies of the case wore made known. Among llio most liberal was $10,000 worth of coeds given by Hi ram Sibloy of llochesler , NV. . , lo bo planted when the waters would subside in districts that had lost every vestige of a crop. These seeds were judiciously distributed by Dr. Hubbell - bell , and hundreds have testified that their growth to a good harvest saved the unfortunate section from starvation. When the next great overflow of the Ohio occurred 1 determined to go myself and see what \ wng Jiko , I woyjd not have realized ine real state or ii ur3 ! Vvei'o I not on llio scene. It was heartrending. I telegraphed all the societies to send aid to the headquarters of the Hod Cross in Cincinnati , where the water was flowing into the third-story windows on some of the streets. As quick as the railroads could bring supplies wo had them from all parts of the country really moro than we needed Wo took a boat , loaded it , and accompanied by a committee of kind ladies , went the whole length of the overflowed district. At that time the war department was authorized to expend $150,000 in aiding the sufferers. But only certain things could DO furnished under llio law , such as rations , medicine : ind blankets. The Hed Cross selected just these things that the government could not give , and side by .sido the boats pa trolled the overflowed districts , bringing sustenance , joy and comfort to thou sands. " NO END TO TIIH SUI'I'LIHS. "For four months this good work was carried on among the unfortunate of the Ohio river districts , and the amount of supplies distributed by the Hod Cross was over $175,000 , with a grand surplus remaining in the freight and express offices at Cincinnati. In fact wo arc still giving aid to people who su tie red from these great Hoods. The attention of the Hod Cross was called to the epidemic in Virginia a. few years ago , and Dr. Hubbell - boll was sent to investigate the matter. He found that the dire visitation was caused by the faults of the suflbrers , their utter disregard of sanitary measures , etc. He also was thoroughly satisfied that the community nlllicted was able to support and aid its own sick nnd suffer ing , consequently the Rod Cross rendered no assistance. This is the one great char itable society in existence that has the courage to publish to the world the true state of facts , and to tell the good people what applicants for assistance do need and do not need to placard as it wore before fore the world the worthy and unworthy. In the Galvcston lire wo did good work nnd placed on their feet again many suf ferers. " sEuvo-norOAniAN WAR. "One great feature of the Red Cross is that the pnblie know now the medium through which to distribute their chari ties judiciously and with absolute cer tainty of the money and supplies reach ing their proper destination. A striking example of Ibis could bo seen in the Servo-Bulgarian war. The society in America aid not take any very active part , simply distributing the circulars sent out from Geneva , but many of the subordinate societies responded promptly and their donations wore forwarded at once to the front. For instance , friends of the Bulgarians in St. Louis wanted to send $500 to the sick and wounded sol diers. The Hed Cross was notified , and the amount aforesaid was cabled to the field immediately , nnd before sundown of the day the application was made the suffering soldiers had the benefit of that $000 raised by llio good people of St. Louis. So with the citizens of Now Al bany. Ind. In consideration of aid wo had extended them in cases of need they wanted lo do something for the Hod Cross in the Bulgarian contest. Mr. Do- paux , president of the American Plato Glass company , and the man after whom Dopaux college is named , telegraphed a substantial amount of money , $000 , to our headquarters in Washington , nnd it reached its destination through the same channel and just as promptly as the St. Louis funds. Bankers never make any charge for exchange or forwarding , but telegraph and cable companies do. TIIOSI : UACK OF Tin : itr.n citoss. "Back of this soointy and ex-olllclo at Its head in this country are the president , the cabinet officers and heads of depart ments down to the surgeon general. Should any occasion require it I , as pres ident of the Hed Cross , have the power to call these high government officers to moot for the discussion of ways nnd means , or any other business of impor tance in the premises. Should J drop out of the ollico the president of the United States becomes the uxeoutivo head of the Hed Cross , or lie can appoint any one he deems proper with the approba tion of the heads of the departments , who are its trustees in this country. It Is in no shape or manner n money making ; association , Wo have no funds on hand at any time , and the emergencies are mot by simply notifying the subordinate so cieties , who never fail to respond gen erously. It is not a secret society , but a grand hunnmo agency. There are very few subordinate societies in this country. The first great work was to establish the government relations , and then to in struct the people thoroughly in ita work ings , nnd to accomplish the latter \vO \ de pend upon the press , " VATIIKR OK Till : ItKI ) CllOSS. "Ibo organizer of this grand society , and the man who has been the interna tional president since Its birth is M , Gus tavo Moynlcr of Geneva , Switzerland , Ho possesses immense wealth , nnd with a few associates , who also ha\c great fortunes , ho devotes himself entirely to Hed Cross work. It is really the first successful step towards "beating the sword into a plowshare" and silencing the sounds of war torovcr. The wealth of the heads of the Hed Cross places them above all cupidity. There is no question of their beintr trusted with the contributions of all the world , anil the nations want no local representation at Geneva. " A SIIOWEK or .irwti.s. : After leaving Miss Barton many inlor- pstlug facts in nor lifo were learned from Dr. Hubbcll and several prominent veter ans who had known her during the war. She carries the Iron Cro , which is the highest insignia of Prussia and was pic- settled lo her by Ihe emperor'and em press personally while Miss Uarton was the guest of their only daughter at Baden. She also received a cro s of re membrance from thu grand duke and duchess of Baden , also n court jewel from the latter j a court jewel from the queen of Servln and co tly mementos from al most all the bends of government in the world , besides engrossed resolutions , di plomas , etc. , without end. She is un- doubtcilly one of the most prominent characters among American women and better known in the high places of En- rope than any of her sex who claim this country as a home. She has spent much money in Hed Cross work mid all her lime , never having received any compen sation. Wliile establishing national cem eteries after the war and discovering the fate of 80.000 missing soldiers she ex pended over six thousand dollars of her own money. This congress repaid , but never another cent lias MIC received from the government , nor does she ask for any. It is unuct'cssari to say that she will u ti leading figure in the national encamp ment that opens in San Francisco , Tues day , August 3. HER HAIR WAS FRIZZED. But Slic I'osed an a Circassian Iteanty Two Days Only. Springfield ( Mass. ) correspondent of the Boston Globe : A few days ago one of the Main street stores was rented to parties who said they wished to open a ( time museum. Satisfactory figures hav ing been arranged , the proprietors agreed to rent the store and the goods were accordingly moved in. The show was in no way great , but there wcro monkeys , snakes , birds and several cages of tropical animals , besides an old hand organ and a young girl who acted as a snake charmer and a manufacturer of wax flowers , a man , the proprietor of the show who did tricks in magic' , a cannon ball act and other works on a small stage. They did a good business and all wont well until last night , when a young man named Uardlncr came from Longmoadow to the police station hero , when ho com plained that his wife , a pretty plump lit tle Frenchwoman , had been enticed away front her homo nnd had joined the dime luD&oum and that the w-op.notor refused , to give up his Wife's clothing and otjie ? goods which she had leftlhorc. Harding is a slender-built follow , perhaps twenty- eight years of age , but so angry was ho that , fearing that he might do violence to the mighty canon ball thrower , he wished to have the aid ol a policeman. Headed by Officer Evans , the husband and wife sorrowfully took their way to the dime museum , whore Ihcy found a stage per formance in progress. The proprietor at first refused to have his Miow interrupted but the olliccr soon softened him and he hunted up the young woman's luggage. Ho said , however , that the woman had como and remained of her own free will , and that she had not represented that she was married. Mrs. Harding , it seems , had become tired of the humdrum lifo with her hus band on the farm in Longmoadow , and wished to pass before an admiring world as a Circassian beauty. In proof of this one side of her head siiowcd'that her hair hud been beautifully frizzed. The friz zing had taken four ilays , and Mrs. Hard ing , under an assumed name , was to have received $0 a week for her services. Hut to all this the husband objected , and after some persuasion the two sorrowfully started for Longmcadow in a farm wagon to-day , Mrs. Harding promising to be a faithful wife in the future. SAM JONES IN NEW ORLEANS. The Georgian llcvivnllst Sluices n Kcinarkablo Impression on u Reporter. Now Orleans Times-Democrat : Sum Jones is a slight man , small in stature , sum-faced , a face as sharp as a swift yacht at the prow , and n nose to second the impression. Ho has a black jot moustache , the only hair on liis face a face worn with work , with a half pensive determination , retreating brow , jet black eyebrows , nnd unimimired coat of rather short , silky-looking hair ; face rather wedge-shaped , and indicative of going through things. Ho talks with a naive egotism , and witli a delicious half con sciousness of young childhood. One sees some scones he draws , nnd his descriptions arc as vivid as pictures on canvas. His voice nn avers now , ami pious laughter broatts. but no tears. The two former seem mechanical. His turns in thought are nssuddonnndscintillating as a bright broad Hash of sunlight on brilliant birdsswings as they turn in flight and the radiance strikes them. It is impossible to tire of the pathos , anecdote , illustration , imagery , sly humor , and broadest comicality that dance on the stream of Ins speech like the sea at sunrise , crinkling with the swiftest , multifarious scintillation in the bright light , with clouds sunlit and radi ant , helpintr the wonderful effects by ray ing down their variant elfulgoncios to variegate the glory. Ilo unrolls himself like avast panora ma. Sometimes the pulpit seems like a circus ring , and then it is transformed , In an instant lie is back to drollery again. What u strange cue ho gives to laughter by his dry. quaint laugh , ns though ho wanted to dupe vou into merriment , but ho does not , for the reporter has to break out into laughter himself us he takes his notes. It is evident that the theatre has lost one of the best low comedians extant. His expressions ot low humor are fol lowed by bits of pathos. One laughs and cries by turns. Sometimes his black eyes seem to hcinlilato in his swarthy face like lirellios In n dark night , and ho grits Ids teetli and frowns unddrolly scratches his head , and talks in adrnwliii nasality , and jumps around in action , in change of tone like a well-trained monkey at the organ grinding of ms master. Ho says he has talked an hour or more nnd ought to quit. The audience won ders If U can bo so. Any dignity BO fur ? Yd , brief strokes. Decision y Lots of it. His gesticulation is so free and wide and sweeping that the minister behind him dodges to escape the wild-moving swlns of his arms. Now he tells a plaintive tale of his father , and the tone simulates the tear , but the latter is not in thn eye. Ilia face docs not seem pertinent to such subject matter. The look that ought to bo soft and tender is not there. Long indulgence in the expression of broad humor seems to have put its seal upon his lineaments , nnd to have incapacitated him for the facial flexibilities of tender mood. That ho makes everybody laugh Is ap parent , for it can bo heard. How many weep at the softer aspects.of his case is not known , Anyhow , he is the wizard of the pulpit , and one of the greatest p.roto- uus of thu tinier in that sacred sphere , FINE PICTURES AND PRINTS , The OiowtU of Art Study and Art Collec tions in America , SPECIMENS IN THE WEST , Notes I-'rom Omaha Collector1 * An Increasing Demand Tor Hotter Painting anil llet- tcr Prints. The Increasing interest in art nnd the study of art in the United States has been one of the mot marked features of our developing civilization during llio pasl liltcen years. Like other branches of collecling and study , only possible where leisure gives time for careful selection and wealth means for ils'gratilicatlon , It has been especially stimulated by the growth of largo fortunes. The galleries of the Vanderbllts , SUnvarts , Morgans , Wolfes , Walters , Corcorans and Cliig- horns' , the growth of scarcely two dee- ados , wcro all llio result of the expendi tures of princely fortunes. But the exhibition of 1870 , witli the great loan colloctionsof New York In that year , gave nn impetus to the study of pictorial art and awakened an enthusiasm which made itself felt throughout the country. Since that time moro money has been spent for pictures in the United States , notwith standing the financial depression , ihan in the fifty years previous. American art dealers have scoured the foreign markets for the masterpieces of French , Spanish nnd Gorman artists , and the long - neglected lected American school , which counts among its brightest lights such geniuses as Wlntridgo , the Inncsscs , Shirinw , Page , the Dellaases , Chase , Moran and Church , lias found a rising and a slcady market for its productions. Possession of Iho best paintings is only possible for heavy purses , but the en graver's and llio printer's art , joined to the use of the photographic camera , now place faithful reproductions of llio best work in colors within the reach of all. There are few individuals or families so poor that they cannot possess a first-class line engraving , a meritorious olching or n photogravure of some artistic master * picec. In nothing lias there been a greater advance than in the line of black and" white art representations. Even our illustrated magazines show the effects of the advance and prnt each month illus trations many of which might well oc cupy posts of honor in our houses. The west , and Omalia with the west , have felt the impetus of the increased in terest in art which has swept over the V'liolu country. H'hoiiQ ' tire geycral collec tions in Omalia [ which would do oromt (9 ( much larger cities. Perhaps the largest is Unit of Mr. G. W. Liningor , chiolly collected by himself when abroad , mid which shows ral'o taste and discernment in its selection. The paintings include several excellent Specimens of the old masters , with a-nnniber ot line examples of the modern scliopl. The house of'Mr. Herman Kounlze is filled with valuable and beautiful works of art. The exquisite Lc Brim tapestry is one of the finest examples of this class of art work in the , country , and is valued by its owner at , $8.01)0 ) , a figure which it would probably readily command , at public sale in Now York. Mr. Kountzo's parlors contain in addition a number of carefully seleeted paintings of the mod ern school , with many line prints. Mr. James Woolworth is another of our citizens with a line sense of artistic ex cellence and a collection which , though not largo , is rare , and valuable because rare. His paintings , though unpreten tious in size and subjects , are all worthy of study nnd the work of artists of repu tation. In line engravings Mr. Woolworth - worth has one of the most judiciously selected collections in llio city. Mr. Popplcton , Judge Savage , D. V. Barkalow , Airs. Crary , Lewis S. Heed and J. II. N. Patrick , among a dozen others , have devoted time and attention to the collection of prints. There is a steadily increasing demand for the best in this line of artistic productions and art sub scription works , editions do luxe and limited editions of illustrated literature find a steady and growing sale. Mr. W. F. Parker , of Florence , has what is perhaps the most varied , as it certainly is one of the most interesting art collections in the west. Mr. Parkoi * has been collecting for years , from the time when lie studied in Paris and Homo and traveled over the continent with artist's knapsack ami Alpineslock. His home is a veritable curiosity shop , with the rooms hung in every available inch of wall space with photographs , engrav ings , sepia and wash sketches , copies of old masterpieces in colors , paintings , mostly the work of Ins own brush , and bric-a-brac which ho carefully arranged - - , has plckeii up in his travels. One room is frescoed with life-size paintings from the antique mingling with copies of modern artisls. Another is lined with photographs , mounted by himself , which faithfully reproduce the marble master pieces of the Louvre , the Luxembourg and the Vatican , while shelf nnd book cases are filled to overflowing with prints and etchings , photogravures and photo graphs of the exhibits of the Salon and Academies. In llio rear of his house ana embowered among the ample shade of llio grounds in which it stands , Mr. Parker has fitted up a studio , in which ho sketches at his ease , models In clay when the ianoy strikes him , or bestows his at tention upon Jiis camera , in whoso use ho is one of the best skilled of amateur pho tographers in the west. There are n score of other homes in Omalia whoso occupants , while they do not claim the title of connoisseurs or col lectors , are possessed of a judgment which knows the host when they see it , and pocket-books which , though not heavy , open not. " reluctantly at moderate bargains in unpretentious works of art. This , after all , is the class which leavens a community artisOcallv , because they mingle with a greater number and which may bo looked to to stimulate a demand for something bijitur than the trash of glaring uhromos , wretched lithographs , and the product of worn out plates with which the markets nVo Hooded. at a Bride. Atlanta Constitution : The custom of throwing nn old shob'aftor ' a newly mar ried couple come/ ; from the ancient Jewish custom handing \ a siioo to n purchaser ot Innd'oii ' the completion of a contract ( vide Huth , iv. , 7) ) . Parents ulso gave a shoo to the husband on a daughter's marriage in token of yielding up their authority , Urquliart , in his "Pillars of Hercules , " states ; "At a Jewish marriage I was standing by the bridegroom when the bride entered , As she crossed the threshold ho stooped and struck her with the heal of a shoo on the nape of the nook , I at once saw the in terpretation of thii passage of scripture respecting the transfer of the shoe to another m case the brother-in-law did not exorcise- his privilege. The slipper in the east , being taken off indoors , is at hand to administer correction , and is here used to .signify obedience of the wife and the supremacy of the husband. The Highland custom is to strike forgood hick , as they say , with an old shoo. Little do they suspect the meai " r implied , " THE -WILL OPEN AT- 502 , 504 , 506 and 508 , South 13th Street , -WITH A COMPLETE LINE OPT - T OOD Jewelry and Fansy Goods , NOTIONS , CROCKERY , Cloaks , Blankets & Comforters , Glassware , Woodeiiware , Tinware 504,506 , and 508 S , 3th Si. . "HELLO , TDERE , CENTRAL ! " Something About Telephone Girls and Vfliat They Do. The Mysteries of TSielr "Work The Apparatus ? Their Trials and Trib ulations Facts and Fig ures or Interest , The Telephone Girls. An unsophisticated stranger , stepping into the central telephone exchange , in the second story , northwest corner Fif teenth and Farnam , would , on first im pression , be apt to believe that ho had wandered into a female lunatic asylum , whoso inmates amused themselves by shouting numbers at each other and sticking little pegs into a big board full of small holes. Later on , however , ho would probably repent the nngallant turn of his thoughts , when lie learned that the institution was the "central oftico" and that the young ladies were telephone operators. * There is no class of beings who work harder , and at the same time nro less ap preciated , than the telephone girls. They are at their post of duty early and late , and while they do worlc , have scarcely a moment's rest. Yet the arduous charac ter of their work is not appreciated , and if a subscriber over thinks of thorn , it is only to anathematize them for notattond- ing to his calls quickly enough to suit him. There are cloven telephone girls in the local exchange , including u head oper ator and a night operator. In addition to this , there is one young man who helps during the noon hour and after supper. There are rarely moro than six or seven working i't the same time , the others being held in reserve for relief duty. To fully describe the apparatus manip ulated by these young ladies would , in an article of limited scope , bo impossible. Hut a general idea of it can easily bo given , The wires centra from all parts of the city in the tower on top of the ex change , and pass thence to an instrument known as an answering board , at which a young iady stands witli her ear to a "phono. " The moment u subscriber rings liis boll and calls for a number , n small valve on the answering board , showing the number of Ins telephone , drops open. The operator at the answering board re- pouts the number calling and the number called , and the connection is made by a girl standing at the "switch board , " with which all the wires are connected. The switeii board is full of little holes , num bered to correspond with the differ ent wires which enter there , and con nection is easily established by moans of pins , which are attached to wires center ing in what is known as the connecting rod. By this means the electrical con nection is established and the two "i > honcs" are placed in communication. The disconnecting is done by two young ladies sitting at what is known as the "clearing board , " who watch until the subscribers arn through talking , and then by moans of a delicate contrivance "break the circuit. " TIKI whole apparatus is an interesting and intricate one , worthy , certainly , of more extended mention , did space permit. Mr. K , U. Smith , a gentle man of lone experience and sharp busi ness tact , is otlicp manager of the ex change , and occasionally when the fora > is short turns in and "makes connections" himself. The "calls" for suburban towns are an swered at an instrument upart from the others , which is in charge of a young lady especially detailed for that duty. The average working duy of the telephone - phone girls is one of eight hours. Some times she docs not work BO long as this , while at others bhu is compelled to work longer occasionally ton or twelve hours a duv , UQCU or twicer u week slip has a "half-day" oft' ; every eighth Sunday she is assigned to do a halt-day's work , and on the Sunday following , a full day's work. So that , on the whole , the length of her average working day is not ex cessive. The telephone girl possesses many vir tues and but few faults. She must be ( juiek to think and equally quick to act Those are the primary essentials of a good operator. A girl may possess in- tclliucnco in n high degree , but it will avail her nothing if she bo not 'rapid in thought and action. She must bo able to catch the subscriber's call on the instant , and place liis wire in connection with the "phone" lie desires to talk witli , and that , too , without hesitation or error. She must bo cool-headed and clear , without a liability to lose her self-possession amid the volley of calls which at times pour in upon her. Above all the telephone girl must , and with rare exceptions does , possess the pa tience of Job. A subscriber may lese his temper and occasionally say hard things ; but the young lady at the other end of the wire must sit calm and unnillled at the operating board , and answer his testy call for 10,71'J or some other number. Occasionally , however , she will forgot herself and say in tones slightly tinged with acerbity : 'Mil , I do wish you would take oft'that push-button " your linger - , or111 , will you ever remember what I tell you about ringing that bell ? " or "For gracious sake-111 , can't you hold on a miiiutov" But the calm is only temporarily rily disturbed , and a , moment or two afterwards she is again lost in a sweet resignation to her duties. But though the tulophoncgirl is an incar nation of many excellencies of charac ter , and in many respects far superior to her sisters in other avocations , .sho docs not receive a princely salary. The best paid girl in the local exchange is the head operator , who receives $50 a month. 1'rom this lignro salaries are graded down to $20 a month , at which salary the be ginner starts. The operator of fair abil ity and average experience receives from ifSO tot10 n month. The head operator has been in the service five years , anil during that period has repented "hollo" moro than two million times. Some of the other girls have been in the exchange nearly ns long , while others are compara tive novices. The beginner at the business has a hard row to hoc. As already noted , she starts in at $20 a month , Sho' is placed by the side of nn old hand , who initiates her into the mysteries of the "switch board , " "answering board" and "clearing-oil" board. " For the first throe or four weeks she is voted both by subscribers and her associates , "more bother than she is worth. " She is clumsy , forgetful , and very apt to Jose her head at the most critical moments. But gradually all this is remedied by practice ; she acquires ox- porlence , tact and deftness , and before two months have passed away , is no longer considered a "grcon hand. " Owing to the fact that many of the girls boeoma thoroughly worn out by the arduous labor , or retire to seek exchange of work , now additions to the force are constantly being made , Important Omission. Washington Test ; "drover , slop hero for a moment , please , " "Yet. dear , what is it ? " "Grover , did you wrltn that letter to Albany that one right there , that my linger is on ? " "Yes , darling , ha ! hal pretty well turned , dontyon think so ? " "Have they printed it just exactly as you wrote it , braver ! Just look It over carotully , " "Why , yes , dearest 1 thought it would please 'cmyes , that's Just as 1 wrote it , Jove wliyi" "Well , Grover , it remarks ; 'In present surroundings and all that the future may have In store I must rotor to the time 1 lived in Albany as the happiest period of my life.1 Is that as you % vrote it ? " "Certainly that isdidn't they put it out -hang 'cmI limy loft that oil'l I added , 'excepting the inst six or seven weeks. ' " "Aro you pur-foct-ly su r you added tlml , Mr. Cleveland ! Very well ; I will formvu you , then. " Tlio Magnificent Bequest of a Mil lionaire IMIlmalcnr. Few Americans realize the progress whieli is being made in the cause of higher education for women in other countries than the United States. A recent issue of the Illustrated London News certainly surprised many persons in this country by describing and illus trating the magnificent college for women which was opened the last day of Juno by Queen Victoria at Eyhinn , near London. The noble proportions and striking beauty of the buildings , as pic tured , were enough tooxcito lliocuriosily of thu moat casual reader , and Ins interest was curtain to deepen on further investi gation. The college has been Greeted with funds bequeathed by Thomas Hollo- way , the Englishman who made a great fortune in pills. In 1870 a line tract of ninety-live uorns , kiiown as Mount Leo , was purchased : it Kghain , and since then the princely sum ot § 3,000,000 has been expended in improvements. The main building is 550 foot long and 070 feet wido.o ontaining nearly 1,000 rooms , and is constructed in an elegant and substan tial manner. There are pictures worth $4.1iOOOJ in the reception room , and the college has a line museum , a lecture- room and theatre , a library , gymnasium , cliappcl , and all the appointments of a model institution ot its kind. The buildings are lijrhtod throughout with incandescent electric lamps , and all sup plies are convoyed from the public road , half a mile distant , by an underground tramway. After the lavish expenditures which have been made there remains of Mr. IIolloway'B bequest $1,000,000 , for the endowment and further equipment of the college. This magnificent institution is to be conducted on a strictly nonsectarian rian but religious basis. Its founder has done Ins utmost to insure its manage ment upon broad and liberal Hues , and the "Iloyal Hollowuy college for women" ought to have treat usefulness and fame , Its opening marks a jjicat stride forward iij the cause of Inglmr education for women , and all lovers of progress and truth can take pride in the noble monument ment of the British plllmaker. Pay or I'aua. Newark Call : There isagenoral Inter change of passes among railroad men , and the president and vice-president of the Pennsylvania railroad have pusses all over the country President Roberta is a very strict man. One very stormy day in winter he got on the New York division and took a seat in the middle car. The conductor know him , ns wo nil do , and when ho passed him the presi dent siinply'nodded. Jt was a catch , and Roberts was only trying to see if his mini would break the rules and not make him show Ins pass. The conductor full into the trap. When lie passed through thu train again Hobnrts arose from his sent , and , tupping him on the shoulder , suld : "hoe hero , you have not soon my pass. " "No , sir , " fullered the conductor , "but but I know who yon nro " "That makes no dilloroneo , " retorted Roberts with a frown , "tho rules are made to bo obeyed and not to be broken. The rules laid down for your guidance say that any passontror who has neither u ticket nor a puss must pay Ids faro or else you must eject him from the train. " "I know it , " replied the conductor but " "No 'butb , ' Now you may fjo. " "I haven't seeuyour pass yet , though , " demurely remarked the tiokcl-punclicr , wishing to demonstrate the thoroughness of the lesson. "That's right , " nfpliud Hoburts , ap provingly ; "make no difference between the procident of the road and the poorest passenger. " Ho reached in his inside cor.t pocket and then into his vest pockets. Ills face grow rod and he fumbled around his hip pockets. The conductor grinned. Hob- ens' sullow complexion grow palnr and then redder , Ho went through his pockatd ugaln , but no passes. Thu coiuluetor'a smile grow more Rxpunsivo. "Humph ! " exclaimed the president. "Singular ! Just stop us yon pus * this way again. " The conductor stopped , and the presi dent dryly handed him u live-dollar Dili mid told him to take out .the tare. He Lnd. Ictt his book of pusses at nib ollico.