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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1895)
i - * V-ff THE ( ttLAITA. JJKKi M/Xi > YY , MAY 10 , THE SCHOOLS OF THE PEOPLE Demoralizing Iffeot of School Politics Illustrated in Philadelphia. HOW CHILDREN'S EYES ARE INJIMD BtnrtlliiK Itennlt of Invr tliitlont | I'tiniuert by n Yale I'rofmior School llrioki anil Yimnc ijre : V rlom Kitnratlunnl Motel. Philadelphia IB no exception from the universal American complaint of too much politics In the management of the public schools. The evil has reached an acute singe In the Quaker City , nnd efforts ore being made to provide a remedy through legisla tive enactment , llut tlie frlentls of reform re met at the doom of the stale Icglstoturc with tlio malign and demoralizing Influences which dominate In the schools , and which threaten to block nil remedial measures. Concerning this Influence the Philadelphia Ledger says : "The educational bill now being consid ered by the legislature la opposed In till ? city by Koine of the nclioM boards and a certain class of tmall fry politicians. On the other hnnd , the mass of the citizens , who have looked Into the matter , nre almost a unit In favor of the measure , and with them In Its suppuit Is the mayor and every dally newspaper. liven a few of the frhool boards , It li understood , agree that the educational bill , abolishing ward lines nnd placing the schools under the direct care of the board of cducntton , assisted by local boards of visitors , It far better than the present antiquated , cumbersome and Inefficient system. Those vho oppose the bill do so , as a iulo , from purely solfUli motive * . They rare nothing tor the betterment of the school- ) , the thor ough education of the children , or for the best good to the whole city. To the petty imlltlclan and tome school directors , local boards arc but n means to personal ends , ends which can be best served by keeping thf school dhtrlcta Identical with the ward linen , To this rlass of persons to be a director menus that he , or the petty politicians caus ing bis nomination , shall have the appoint ment of nn Indefinite number of teachers nnd janitors. There la one board In thlt city the members of which recently Indi cated grrat satisfaction over the near com pletion of n new school house , because , as they expressed It , they would have five ncvi appointments , namely , four teachers and i Jnnltor. There was not even n thought ut tered of the gratifying prospect of liavlnj four new divisions , except that theru wouh bo places for four persons , through whom directly or Indirectly , they expected to galr acme petty political advantage In the ward. "There Is no doubt that there are tchoo boards In Philadelphia of whose member ! the niajoilty are earnest , Intelligent men actuated by a desire to further the best In tercsts of the schools nnd city , and to pro mote the welfare of the children. There nn also as certainly good , true men In ever ] school board , but It Is just as certain Urn the boards having a majority of such mci are In a minority , and It Is just as trui that. In other cnses , the good mnn are RI tew In number as to be practically helplesi to do good In school work. "This wretched condition of affairs I known to nearly every parent In I'hlladelphli whose children attend the public schools and they are therefore almost unanlmou In n desire to ce the bill urged by the Clvl club adopted by the legislature and made i law. " HOW CHILDREN'S KYES ARE INJURED I'rof. E. W. Scripture ot the psychologlca Department of Yale university has been In vcstlgatlng n subject that will Interest ever ; parent In the land who has a child In th school3. Some tlmo ago It occurred to hln that It would be a good plan to find out wh ; there was so much shortsightedness In th children who arc attending the publl schools , and other schools for that mattoi ami the result of that line of Investigate will bo something of a revelation to th fathers and mothers In this country who hav little OHM In the various Institutions o learning. In a word , I'rof. Scripture declare that out ot every 100 cases of shortsighted ne.ss more than ninety cases arc the resul of school work. A representative of th Now York Times called on Prof. Scrlptur recently , nnd In answer to a number ot ques tlons on this subject the professor said : "Spectacle dealers are very serviceable t humanity , yet I propose that the parent and teachers of the land join In a benevc lent boycott to drive them out ot buslncs ! I don't mean to boycott the dealers Olrectlj but to boycott the bad eyes by which w give them trade. "Do you know why you wear glasses fc shortsightedness ? Did It ever occur to yo that somebody Is to blame for all the shorl elghtednesa In this world ? It seems strange and almost Incredible statemen that , with a few very rare exceptions , a the shortsightedness In the world has bee manufactured by man himself , yet this Is th truth. Manufactured ! Yes , manufacture by those who had charge ot our childhood days. Our parents , our teachers , our guai dlans , Rnd our playmates are the persons I whom wo owe the Irreparable Injury ot tti beautiful eyes that God gives us all. Mai ufacturedt Yes , manufactured by our earl sports , by our early lessons at home , by tli occupations of the kindergarten , by vlcloi BChool books , and so on. "I have a couple of children for who ; education I must begin to provide ; they nee and must have , something to do ; they mm hnvo books itnd toys and school , In a shoi time the school days must begin , lint ca I , as a father , send them to the schools f < which wo pay so much , when I know tl ; chances of ruined eyes ? Can I trust them I teachers who will oblige them to use ba books yes , 'bad' books , for a book th : ruins the eyes Is just as bad as a book tin corrupts the morals. Who Is to blame f < this difficulty ? Not the publisher ; he maki books to sell , and will make whatever tl school authorities will buy. Not the bean of education ; they are busy men ot tl world , and , of course , have no knowledge i ( the safe requirements for the eyes. Not tJ 1 euperlntepdonts , principals and teacher they have had no Instruction on the subjcc . nnd know no better. Are the normal schoo ' .ami training schools to blame ? They ai 5 aupposcd to teach all things necessary fi , BChool work , but they nro apparently li noranl on this as well aa many other snl Jects. "What Is the cause ot shortsightedness It Is the amount ot work near the eyi which we do during early life , and this mainly school work. The child's eye Is vei noft. The strain of near work causes tl eye to lengthen , and It does not recovi from this lengthening. "I cannot on this occasion discuss the e : tensive and careful Investigations whlc prove that shortsightedness Is due to sclio work. The results make It thoroughly sal and reliable to say that out of every 1 ( cases of shortsightedness more than ntnel cases are the remit of school work. I alt cnnnbt relate the great disadvantages < hortslghtcdness and the evils that folio upon It ; the oculists and physicians can tc the story better than I can. Moreover , I wl pass over for the present certain crimes < * h kindergarten , although when I think < the little eyes now being ruined all over tl country I can hardly justify my conscience keepingstill. . All small objects and fli work must be held near the eyes , In ord to be seen. Consequently all Hne work Is direct Inducement to shortsightedness. "Uut the books In the school are thi Uangerous ? I will let each parent amw the question hlmielf. Oet together the boo ] your chtlii uses In school. Now , I will gl' ' you the measurements for the wont Ixx to be allowed In any school. It you ha' one of the ordinary steel measures used 1 mechanics you can make all measuremen yourself ; I mean the steel rule that U marls * Jn sixty-fourths of an Inch , llcqulremen to be met : Height of smallest 'n , ' at lea 1-16 inch ; thickness of line In 'n , ' at lea 1-100 Inch ; distance betwcn letters , at lea 3-100 Inch ; space between lines , at least 1- Jncli ; length of line , at most 4 Inches. "I picked up * tew school books the oth day. Among them was a primer ; type fair Rood for little children , but under the dl fercnt exerciser were lines In thin Italic vhloh were trying even to my own eye Italics should be absolutely forbidden to chl drcm under 10 years ot age anyway , Shou not the conscience of the lady author troub lior for the eyes she has ruined ? A best nr' rMdlDK book ; the very flrit lesion star out with fearfully fine-line. ! Italic * type not linlf MR enough for I ho little eyes An cle mentary arithmetic , the tarn * one t had when a choolb"y , best typs In the hook Just comes up to the luixt requirements for the wont books In HIP highest Krurle-a ; more than hslf the bonk U In smaller lyre and as for the nilnutely-p'lntcd portions and the complicated fractions heaven preserve our eyesl And sj on ; worjo and norse they grow. Compare - pare especially your children's geographies with the specimen. Shortsightedness It Is tlio blackmail wu pay to careless publishers and Ignorant school authorities for the sake of getting un education. " NOTED WOMAN ASTRONOMER. Mrs. Maria Fleming , who Is In charge ot the astronomical observatory ot Harvard , lias a good record s an astronomer. In 1890 sto was able to announce from a spectrum that a certain star In the Constellation Cygnus as variable , nnd during the next year and half ehe dl covercd eleven new variables , slJes suspecting forty others. Slie. alto as the honor of having llrst discovered lanetary nebula by the aid of photography , nd In ISM she discovered Nova Nomine. In 'The Observatory. ' " says the Boston llobe. "tho regular publication ot the Green- Ich ( England ) obierralory. Mrs. Fleming as received very cordial recognition for her cal , skill and hard work , and hai been called , loreover. a 'brilliant discoverer. ' The brlcl eports of varloui phases of the Draper icmorlal work hnvo appeared for years In 'Astronomlschen Ndohrlchten' nnd other stronomlcal journnU , over the flsnature ol M. Fleming. ' nnd her imme Is well known 0 scientific men In this country nnd Europe. 1 Us Maury , Miss Lclniul nnd Ftvcr.il others f the Indies associated with Mrs. Fleming ave been engaged In Important pieces ol n\estlgtlon. Miss Druce's Eltt of a J50.00C elescopa , to be used In the Draper memorial crk at IVru , lll mnkc It postlble to photo graph star * of tlin pmallest mHgnltude. The ntcrlor of the Draper memorial building al lambrldgc Is very attractive to the eye. Thf ooniB are large and light and pleasant and , f course , ppotlcsrly neat. The walls ur < ung with beautiful photographs of the star : nd other heavenly objects , nnd of views ol he different stations ) of the Harvard ob ervatory. There nre good rugs on the flooi and largo library tables nnd well filled book , in.'es In the different rooms fcr the con enlciice of the workers , \Utu here and then nngnlfylng glasses nnd other optical Instrn ncnts that show what kind of work li carried on there. In one room all the photo graph plates HIC stowed awny for reference n large , convenient cnses like a library o etinss books. Over all Mrs. Firming preside ; vltli n word of welcome fur the visitor reallj lerested In scientific work " PENNSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY. It Is now HO years since \\hnt Imd been ni academy wns Incorporated as the College o Philadelphia , which , thirty-six yenri later became the University of Pennsylvania. Th catalogue for 1894-95 bwrs witness to th remarkable prosperity nnd usefulness whlc his institution has attained. It Includes n llvlnlty school , but all the other depart ments comprehended In universities of th highest grade are represented , nnd grea pains nre taken to assure a large measur of significance nnrt value to each of Its va rlons diplomas. The University of Pennsyl van In was one of the first. If not the ver first , In this country to Insist on four year of study In Its medical school , and it stand firmly by the nlde of Yale In requiring knowledge ot Greek ns well as Latin as condition of nn AHl. degree. In point c size this Institution ranks among the large : of American universities. The professon lecturers and Instructors number 273 , an there are 2,3)8 ! ) students , of whom 751 ar credited to the college proper and S15 to th medical department , which Is the oldes school of the kind In the United Stntcs , an has always maintained n relatively hlg reputation for efficiency. EDUCATIONAL , NOTES. Prof. Edward Everett Hale , jr. , son of th author and preacher , has resigned the chnl of English In the University of Iowa , an will go to Union college , Schenectndy. N. "i Prof. C. D. Jameson ot the chair of civil cr glnecrlng has aUo rcslgned , to practice hi [ irofcsslon. In Oakland , Cal. , the teacher may rcquci the school boird to take off 1 per cent of hi salary for the pension fund , urn ) then , whc lie has taught twenty years , and Is Incapac tated , may receive | 15 per month. The twenty-fifth annual oratorical contei for the $100 pilze that Cornell unlverslt offers through the generosity of Genen Stewart L. Woodford , formerly llcutcnar governor of New York , was held May 3 nn wns won by one of Cornell's famous athlete ; George Palmer Dyer , of Washington , D. C whose oration was on the subject of "Edt cation and Ideal Citizenship. " An American In Germany was surprise to find a number of cripples nmong the cell bratcd college professors , men whose hlg standard of learning makes them famous tl world over. One Berlin professor Is wheels Into his lecture room every day , and thei arc others similarly though for the most pa : less painfully nfillctcd. This la due partly ' the fact that under the military regime i Germany when a boy Is disqualified for tt army he 1s trained for science or the law. The registration of the University of Mich gan , as It will appear In the forthcomlr annual calendar , Is 2.S1D , the largest of ar year. Of this number , 1,514 are literary ati dents , 374 modlcal , 648 laws , 77 phar-nac 1S5 dental and 17 homeopathic. Of the tot number , 1,545 are from Michigan and p : JIC.SEO ot the $107.030 fee. ; , and the 1. ? from other states pay $ G0.3S8. The senli law class numbers 307 , and the senior literal class 211. Joseph Jefferson has been engaged by Ya college for a series of lectures at tbat un verslty on dramatic art. Last year the New York legislature appn prlated JS.OOO for Investigation and exper ments In the sixteen western counties of tl state by the Department of Horticulture i Cornell university. The results .of the e : pendlture were so beneficial to fruit growe and farmers that these Interests demanded larger appropriation this year and the leg ! lature accordingly voted $16,000 double tl amount appropriated In 1894. The caute ( it education has been given in tcrlal assistance through the munificent gt of Anna T. Jeanes to the Philadelphia Year 'Meeting of Friends of $200,000. Speclflcal the money Is to be devoted to "education purposes , to libraries and the encouragemei of literature on subjects moral , scientific ar truthful , and to the support ot schools und tbo earn ot the monthly meetings of Frleni beyond the limits of Philadelphia , " The coming session of the Cornell summ school bids fair to be the most successful 01 yet conducted , lleglnnlng In 1R92 , the sur mer school has grown rapidly , both as r gards the number of students In attendan and the number of courses offered. , Th year eighty-four courses are offered , whli will be given without regard to the numb of students registering. The faculty co slits of fourteen professors and seventei Instructors. The school Is open to women well as to men , and the same facilities f work are extended to Its students as to reg- lar students of the university , who In fa may receive credit for work done In t ! summer school up to a certain limit. * 1 BEAD IT IN THE STAB Development In tlio Science ot Astroloi Uncounted. No era In the history ot our planet has be- more distinguished for Investigating the o cult In nature than the present. New fore are constantly being discovered , while t : Intelligence of the past , long burled benea the dust of the dark ages , U once mo beaming from the altar ot science. The po Jerous wheel of the engine now turns the sands ot shafts , where formerly the hand man turned but a single one. Electrlclt once the dread ot the superstitious , has b come subservient to man. llghta his stree and houses and carries his messages swift than the fabled Mercury with wings on I cap and heels. Psychic research has d ! covered a sixth sense , and millions are 1 fatuated with a belief In hypnotism , clal voyance , spirit raps , spirit materlallzatlo and Christian science , which Is nothing mo that the production ot tno hypnotic atal short of unconsciousness. Amid all tl search for the wonderful Americans a among the foremost , yet It Is remarkable th so few are Interested In the science and ph osophy ot the celestial orbs. Is there pr portion In the universe ? Ask Jupiter , wl ills moons , and Saturn with his far off cloui skies and broad girdle of light , If there U n room for their spheres as they wheel throui space and turn toward the unwinking eye day. Infinite Intelligence makes no mlata In the time tables ot the unseen celestial ra ways , and though the orlu go thunderli through space with a speed that almost d fles the power of thought , yet they nev dash against each other to darken the heave with the fragment ! ot theirruins. . Even t W'ci > u > e decided lo tlose out al our $ ftcs Goa.is al special sale at sperixl prices , - > -i BEG-mNING MONDAY MINING. } Vf need the room ami the money nnd ih\i'kc \ the wftst unheard inducements to buy , Alidsnmmcr \ wash coo 's TW.included. . \ r 6V P. MORSH DRY GOODS CO. i , itu 54 inch Suitings Worth $1.00 CENTS. The newest tans and silver gray effects , a yard and a half wide , 5 yards to make a dress , exquisite quality for traveling or bicycle costumes , worth $1 a yard , reduced to 390. Silk and Wool Suitings Worth $1.25 CENTS. Every thread silk and wool , a yard and a half wide , neat tai lor made checks , etc. , worth $1.25. reduced to 690. French Challis CENTS. t No finer challis in our owner or any one else's stock genu ine French imported. The best satin stripe and plain light and dark , worth 45c to 6oc , all for 250. comet , the mall carrier from one system of worlds to another , as ho drives by torchlight across the abyss ot space profound , coming up to each goal with a curve , bending the necks of his fiery coursers in a graceful , elongated sphere , even ho can be calculated In his orbit nnd his returns precisely fore told. Throughout the universe wo read the evidence of Infinite Intelligence and Almighty design ; wo see them Inscribed upon every mountain and embedded In every gale. Every event is foreseen , else God would cease to be Infinite. Man has been given the power of choice between good and ovll , and hence his responsibility Ho can elect whether to plant a thorn or a grapevine , but If he plants the thorn U will not yield grapes. He may prune It and render the thorn less mischievous , but It will always remain a thorn ' and an object ot distrust. So , too , when a th'lef U conceived , ho must be born a thief ; yet In proportion to his Intelligence lie maybe bo trained In ways of honesty , and the dis honest Inclination dwarfed , but to be effective this training should begin In Infancy- for ex perience dally proves that "an ounce of pre vention ts worth a pound of euro. " Very bad children are sometimes born to flood le parents , which brings up the question : "When a child has been born predisposed to vice and crime , the parents being1 virtuous and honorable , does It not seem unjust , even cruel that God should ; have'thus cursed tlio Innocent offspring , and then given no sign or token that such is the case until too late for successful discipline ? " This query assumes as true something which requires proof. God does give warning of every * vent , but we heed not. We watch the form and appear ance ot the clouds and read of a rain storm , a shower or cyclone. In Gen. I. , xlv , we read : "And God said let there be lights In the firma ments ot heaven to divide the day from the night , and let them be for signs and for seasons , and for days and for years. " These lights are the signs as well as for the seasons , days nnd years , but It is evident from their having been mentioned first as signs they were of the first importance. That the-sclence of astronomy was known be fore the bible was first written Is evidenced by the frequent reference thereto , wherein the names of stars and constellations are given. Astrologers are frequently mentioned In the bible. "Tho wise men of the east" were astrologers. Wo also flail this expression In the bible : "The stars in V * their course fought'against Slsera , " that Is , the evil configuration of the heavenly bodies was against Slsera. If the blbl U the oldest book then astrology Is older than the bible. But it was nearly lost during the dark ages from ha\lng been perverted Into a system of divina tion. Frauds , pretending to tell fortunes by the aid of a deck of cards , now call themselves - selves "astrologers , " when they know no more ot this ancient and sublime science than a donkey does of music. They dress them selves In tone fastidious manner , claim to be "the seventh son of a seventh son , " and talk about the "star ot destiny , " as though our traits of character and events of life are In fluenced by the stars , when the truth Is It Is the planets In our solar system and not the stars that are the signs. U Is not the heavenly bodies but ante-natal conditions that make us what we are. When a murderer has been conceived God will not Interfere to p-re * vent a murderer from being born , because He has given us the ability to prevent the conception of a murderer , and It wo err In this particular then we must suffer the re ot sults. God will write "Murderer" upon the brow of the unborn Infant as indelllbly as the mark upon Cain , thus giving warning to those ts who learn to read his handwriting. The same rule will apply to sickness of the body. Tha celestial signs at birth will Indicate the true status ot the man , unless after birth he shall be carefully trained In the way be should co. From these considerations tt Is evident that ns astrology , It true , Is a great necessity to hu ree manity , for the moment a child Is born all ; e , the leading characteristics may b discovered. ill Then , as habit Is a sort of second nature , the f ? child may be trained In a way to dwart the II- at evil propensities and develop all that la good. The same can be raid ol the child predisposed by birth to disease. A great many so-called "astrologers" teach that the planets exert an Influence over us and cause ui to ba what we are. If this doctrine be true then neither In heritance , ante-natal conditions , nor training after birth will produce the least Impression In fixing the statui of the child. Such a doc ig trine renders man a cnere machine , no more responsible for his acts than the buzzsaw that clips off his hand. Some of these so- called "Astrologers" talnk nothing ot adver ting a "child's caul" as a charm for a sea Newest French Crepons CENTS. 42 inches wide , all new col ors , brocaded and plain , resru- o lar i goods , tans , grays , car dinals , etc , reduced to 580. Black Storm Serge CENTS. 42 inches wide , all wool , the 75c quality , reduced to 480. Novelty Dress Pattern Finest French novelty sum mer dress patterns , silk anc * . wool ; they cost'-$25 ' to 535 to . IX. 'I import , down 'to ' $7 only a i ( i > few choice styles. captain , "Magic crystal. " "magnetic mineral rods , " "St. Jacob's rod" and various other charms to keep off disease , and still claim that the planets control us. God In Ills Infinite wisdom laid down a law hat If we conceived In sin we should reap the reward , that wo would reap what we sow. His law Is that If we are born in certain signs we nlll follow the Inclinations of our birth If left to our selves ; that the natural condition ot our llv-s will bo according to these signs unless trained In a different line. Astrology and astronomy were synonymou ? until the copernlcan system was proven , when they became srparatc. We have at the present Urns two systems of as trology one' called heliocentric and the other and older system geocentric. Ily heliocentric we mean that the sun Is taken as the center of the zodiac around which we located the planets. By geocsntrlc we mean that the earth Is used as a center around which are located the planets and the sun. The signs In the heliocentric system are always station ary , while In the geocentric they are mova ble For Instance , In the heliocentric plan January Is always In the same sign ; In the geocentric a person born In January may ba born In an entirely different sign. Ilello- centrlcally , all that Is required Is the day ot the year , without longltudo or latitude ; geo- centrlcally , we must have the exact hour and minute of birth , as well as the exact longitude or latitude of the place where birth occurred. It will , therefore , bs reasonable to suppose that the geocentric system Is the best , If there is anything In astrology. It Is not reasonable * to suppose that all persons born the same day throughout the world would have the same traits , which they must have according to heliocentric astrology. In astrology we have to deal with our solar sys tem , of which the sun Is the center , and which Is mode up of the planets proper , and a belt ot small bodies oil led planetoids , varying in size and distributed In an orbit about the sun. Desldos these , there are numerous satell ites belonging to different planets. The plan ets named , according to their distance from the cun , aro. Mercury , Venus , Earth , Mars , Jupiter , Saturn , Uranus and Neptune. The ancients Invented symbols to distinguish these planets , ono from the. other , all being a com bination ot a circle , cross and crcse'nt. Mer cury's sign consists of a crescent , a circle and a cross ; Venus' consists ol a clrclo and cross ; Garth's a clrclo with a cross In center ; Mara by a crops and circle Just1 opposite ot Venus. In order to avoid mistakes of this sign , It Is used to draw a line from ono point of the cross to the other , forming a pyramid at top ; Jupiter's is composed of a crescent and cross ; Saturn by the cross and crescent ; Uranus has two crescents , a cross and a cir cle ; Neptune by the crescent and cross. These signs can all be found In any almanac. ( This subject will bo continued in next Sunday's edition ot The Dee. In the mean time any ono who desires to ask any questions can have them answ red by addressing a letter to "Aster , " Bjuq pfflce. enclosing stamp. ) INDIANS Stcbll ' J > Ii > SATISF2KD. I - Claim tha Government ; li To ° Slow la Uolnc at It .eroed. DULUTH , May JgJj-The present term of the United States , , cgurt has brought to Duluth halt a hundred ot Indian * from tha several reservations In Minnesota , White Earth , Leech Lake''aKh Red Lake. They hara determined \ti .V no moro time should be lost In securing ehdllgea In the admlnlstra- tlons of their affairs /and have held Informal meetings with that object in view. They find all manner of faulwlth { the Indian com missioners. Their case , as stated at their request by W. F , Campbell , one of their number , who belongs f 'on the Whlta Earth reservation , ls practically as follows : Much dissatisfaction exists among the Chlppewas at present , owing to the loose manner In which the government Is carrying out the treaty made with them six years ago , and also from the fact that the government owes them large sums of money under provisions ot treaties made long ago , which for some reason they are unable to get. Under the last treaty the cost ot making allotments , etc. , U borne by the Indians , the government advancing the money , such money being re paid out ot the common fund of the tribe arising from the lale ot Unds. Although a commission has been at work five years , they have made no permanept allotment * of land and have done practically nothing toward winding up the work and relieving the Indians ot an enormous , txpeniiv New Cliallies , Worth lOc , CKNTS. 5,000 pieces newest pat- erns mixed challics on sale Monday. The IOG and is cincl for 3c , French Or gaiidi es Worth 50c CENTS. Newest patterns , light and dark , always sold for 5oc , reduced to 250 come eaily for these. Swivel Silks , CENTS. Beautiful colors swivel silk , 32 inches wide , all at 390 , worth Crepons , CENTS. 30 inches wide , lavender , blue , pink grey , silk stripes and checks , worth 5oc new goods , 250. A CASTLE IN THE CLOUDS The Vanderbilt Mansion on a North Carolina Mountain. LAV.SH . EXPENDITURE OF MONEY A Thlrtj-Thonsiuut Acre Fnriu Improved at nn Kipenio of 8OOOOUO ( , V blirewd Uurkoy Torched In the Middle pf the -Hstiuo. ( Copyrighted. IE95 , by S. 8. JlcClure , Minllcd ) ASUKVILLK , N. C. , May 15. High up among1 the pine and oak-clad mountain ranges * ot the Blue Illdge In western North Carolina Is the greatest country scat In all America. It Is named "Blttmore. " and the vast domain of 30,000 acres comprises the "Dlltmore es tate. " The owner ot this Immense estate Is George W. Vanderbllt , who has made the place his pride , his hobby and his ambition. It Is four or five years since Mr. Vander- bllt's agent began buying tract after tract of wastes and forests In this "Land of the Sky , " as Hie region around Asheville has long been kpown. Quietly , but quickly this and that farm \\ns bought , and , before the sellers and the natives knew the name ot the real pur chaser , between 6,000 and 7,000 acres had been acquired at reasonable figures. When Frederick Law Olmstead , who laid out most of Central 1'ark and the grounds of the Woild's fair at Chicago , nnd that from 100 to 150 stone cutters , masons ami carpenters Imvo been nt work raising the stately struc ture according to the plans of the architect , Itlch.ud M. Hunt. Then , there have been the foiestry operations under tilt- directions of 0 Iff ord rinchot , the brick nnd tile fac tory and other Industries , which hnve given employment to more than 100 men ALHEADY COST $1,000,000. It Is easy to see how the expenditures have run Into the millions. No accurate figures can be obtained , but It Is estimated that thu , Ulltmoro estate has already cost Its ouner , $4,000,000. It will take , perhaps , J2.000.000 more to carry out the plans of the landscape gardener , of the architect , and ot the ouner. As near as cnn be calculated the work nt lllllmoro tins been going on nbout four years at a cost of at least J 1,000 a day , or nt the rate of $313,000 a year , not counting the fifty-two Sundays. The Imposing mansion Is rapidly approach ing completion , although It will not bo ready for occupancy before next year , I was told , though , that Mr , Vanderbllt expected to spend the next Christmas holidays here. A score of carvers and stone-cutters are Btlll at work on the outside of the building , while the cabinet milkers and Interior decorators are beautifying the rooms Inside. Hut with the house finished there will still remain much to do to render the place fin ished and complete. The house Is constructed mainly of In diana granite , but of course Immense quan tities of brick were used and near HIHmoro THH VANDERI1ILT MANSION. Mr. Vanderbllt's name became associated with the purchases the prices advanced at least 100 per cent. Mountain land that pre viously went begging for a few dollars an acre jumped up to $250 , and some of U could not be bought for $500 an acre. IMPnOVBMENTS VAST AS THE ESTATE. The mountain slto and thouiands of acres having been acquired , the most elaborate plans and preparations were made for tha transformation ot the rough and ragged hills Into a scent of great grandeur and beauty , and ( or the building of one ot the moit splen did and sumptuous piles of architecture to be tound anywhere- the- United States , The work ot Improving and beautifying the citato was put Into the hands ot the most competent and experienced men. The architect , the landscape gardener , and the forrester were particularly given "free swing" to carry out their Ideas ) and plans on a , larger scale than ever l > eforo attempted In this country. Some Idea ot tha extent ot these operations may be had from the tact that , during1 the past three years , 200 men have been steadily engaged In bringing the grounds to the per fection exacted by the landscape gardener , Dotted Swisses CI-NTS. A beautiful now assoit- nent at 250 , 300 , 350 , worth 4oc to 6oc. New Percales WORTH 12lc. CUNTS. All the.newest patterns , best quality Garner Percales , cheaper than calico , 50 a yard , worth i2jc. Newest s * 3 CalicosJ 4 CKNTS. Just one case Monday , the best Calicos made , worth 6c wholesale , for 3c. . BUTTERICK'S JUNE PATTERNS. We are sole agents in this city for these celebrated pat terns , also for the DELINEATOR , the very best fashion paper extant. Subscribe for it ; only 51.00 a year to our customers. station brick works were established. There was plenty of good , red clay at hand , suitable - able for first-class brick and tile. These will bo uied mostly ( or the surrounding buildings , stables , etc , Three brick ami tile kilns were erectpd , each with a ca pacity ot 50,000 a day. The brick machine * turned out bricks at the rate ot 60,000 a day. Desldes these , about 2,000 or 3.00C flower pots were made a day , as the manu factory made more than was used , the sur plus was sold to outside parties. When the writer visited ( he place , the works were running on halt tUiio , and few men were employed. A SPECIAL IlAlLItOAD TO TUB PLACE. To carry the material tor the different buildings a railroad from Dlltmore station to the site ot the mansion , a distance of three miles , was built. This cost about $50,000. The workmen went back and forth every day on the cars. When the buildings are completed , the railroad will be torn up , the track and bridges removed and the grounds put In proper order. The foundations of Hlllmore were laid broad and deep. This was particularly nec 9- Monday Kill hen m-eivt Hnrrjnlii Day loupe to boromcmborotl. Von till hnvo bought Roods nt n Bpcelul stile nnd special prices , but y in Imvo iiuvor rnps I\H nlicnp \\o uro going to frp'l ' Monday. KoinuinVor thcso wrnjis tire nil now nnil tnndc in th ( } ljxtr > t stylos. This Style Si.CO LOT I nt SI.OO All wool PpHnp ,1n < ItiMft , li'.neU , navy nrul tan , woith JovW. LOT 2 nt * 2 H Choice spiliiK Jncket ) * , made of kerscyi cloth , half lined , worth U.OO. LOT .1 nt S3 7B Worth JIO.OO , nil coloiff nnd lzcs ; not one of these Jackets worth less tlmti woo. LOT 4 nt WOO Von cnn have your choice of mir entire line of Smlnir JnclcctR. worth from $1500 to * WOO. nt onlj J500 men. Wo 1 ii like to mil your peoliil attention to our line of iniilorsklrtB that K on xntn Mon day. Fnnt Itliul ; Sixteen SUits gtiiir- iinlrod ( u 1,1 43c Knch Limit t to a uusl inner , 1'iiht llliiok Hntvt'ii SklrU with Mornon ItnlllliiK , ex tra full. $1.23 Knch. Olorla Silk 8M K cnloni. lilnck , srny , nnxjr blue inul rnnllmvluirlh (50) ) , At 1-2.25. JD.M All KI1U Humli HklllS. At S-J.no. 23 pinlimlilfrcil Infants' clonk * , cream or tan , u.Hlh f2.2. > , At $1.48. A\ > nip showing : n full line of Htanly Blilrt \Vnlstn , miKli * "f plain percnllne. stilt emlirold" lrd front , llio Inlodt I'nil'lftn ftjlo , At $2.25 mat f.l.SO. Jewelry Department Everything pertaining to tlio Jewelry business nt Imrd-tlino prices. Spectacles Fitted by n Practical Optician , ritto Watch Ucpnlrlnu Ashbel Patterson , Algr. snry , slnco the site was a sloplnR mountain Ride. The walls will last as long 83 tha mountain Itself They art- the fc-imo as the lumiU wall , about eighteen feet thick nnd 'orty feet high. And how much do you think .he foundations cost ? You nilKht Riiesa thrgo times and then not come within $100,000 of the real figures. The contract price for the foundation was let for $400,000. No such sum of money was ever before expended lin- ily for the foundation of a private house. The state npartmcnU uro In the principal front , nt each end of which rise the towera five slorlM high. There aro. perhaps , 200 rooms In the house. If you Htart at one end of the building and try to reach the other end you will get lost. At any rate , that was my experience. It Is not easy to describe the principal rooms In detail , ap they are In an unfinished state. I Rupposo the great hall or ball room U one of the finest In the United States. It must bo sixty feet high and eighty feet In length. There are three Immense open fire places at one end. The celling Is now being decorated , \\lillu all nround the sides are the niont ehiborato carvings anil' ' the finest mar bles and onyx. An organ costing $30,000 will be placed In a suitable place made for tt , VAST C1AKDKNS AND NURSBIUES. All about the house , In the grounds , there Is ample proof ot costly and tasteful work. The flower garilond are especially fine. Many of these are sunk below the general level , and , \\lien the sun Is out bright and strong , the blaze cf color Is like reflections from inar.V'liucil mirrors , The total area covered by the gardens , greenhouses and nurseries cannot be far from seventy-five acres. They are not at all finished , and the owner In tends to keep enlarging them as his collec tion ot plants and trees and shrubs growa larger and larger. Already the conservatories are filled with rare and beautiful plants , In cluding especially rare roses and orchids. The nursery Is said to contain more kinds of trees and shrubs than there nro In tha botanical gardens at Kew , near London , North Carolina Is rich In the number ot native trees , and the climate U aa well suited to the growth of a largo variety of trees and shrubs ns that of any state In tha union. In order to have fine gardens and grounds It was necessary to have the strongest and beat EOlI. Immense quantities of rich soil were brought from the valleys and river bottoms miles away. Carload after carload was dumped on the ground and made Into garden spots , Ono man employed on the estate tnld ir.c that the amount of dirt brought over the railroad would make another mountain. ' THE STAOLKS. HOADS AND FORESTS. Tlio stables are now about finished and ara aa fine as any Jn the country. Mr. Vender- bill If fond of blooded Mock and no doubt the stalls and barns will delight the lover of long pedigrees and blue blood. Then , there are the deer park ot 3,000 acres and the well stocked trout tiearns. Tin forest will afford shelter for game and the partridge shooting , now good , will be better as the year * go by. A little old house that Is of almost as much Intercut to visitors as theK \ \ mansion Itielt la "the houco that Vandarbllt can't buy. " Yes : that's a fact. Right In the midst of the 30,000 acre estate Is u rude cabin and nine acres of land , It It , perhaps , leu than ona mile from the mansion and on one of the main roadi to the place. ' The owner of the property has obstinately refused to sell to Vanderbllt. What makes the matter worse he IB a colored person. I call him Vandcrbllt's bete nolr. It Is said that the old darky haa been offered as high as $1,000 an acre for the nine acres. There Is no way of shutting him In , as ho has the right of way over the road. On my way back I stopped to see thl In dependent colored man. As I drew up to tha small white house at the end of the road and called out n black woman appeared In the doorway , while two active plckannlnlea bobb d up from behind , "Does 'Josh' Moore llvo here ? " I Inquired , "Yei , sah , " she replied , and In reponso to another question she went to the rear ot the house and In a short time "Josh" ap peared. We soon fell Into conversation and found htm friendly and ready to talk. When I said to him , "Ot course Mr. Van derbllt objects to you as a neighbor , " he replied with a broad grin , "Well , I don't Ject to Mlstah Vanderbllt as a naybor. " "Why don't you sellt" I Inquired. "I reckon I'se will , sah , wen I git man price , sah ! " At ] uit what price he would sell Josh shrewdly refuted to say.
