The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-04-25
MRs, MOmL's wAsHIsarON LETTER
Preparations for the Howgatc Arctic
Expedition - whiiiaker's Ear
and Toe--Politicni, Eir,


For some tlmo n momenlary curiosity has
been aroused in tho minds of those whose
duties or pleasures load them along Four
teenih street, near New York avenue, as 10
what long, low wooden house, resembling
Workshop, Is doing within the fire limits of
the city. Judlclous inquiry develops the fact
thatthis house Is destined for the Arctic ro.
gions Last week Congress authorized what
is known Us the " IIowgate Expedition" to
the North Pole, and this house
is built In pursuance of plan which
has for years been advocated by arctic ox-
plorers as the only solution possible of tho
great problem elbow TO roach tho North
Pole" This plan Is to leave men In the
arctic regions already explored, long enough
TO become acclimated. This house will be
taken to pieces horc and set up again on the
west coast of Smiths SOUND ab jut Sis
north latitude, and Just opposite
Thank God harbor, whore tho polarls
wintered In 1871. A vein of coal discovered
there by the English, and the fact that Musk
deer are found near by, are two
excellent reasons for choosing this location.
The house Ia built in what we call Cali
fornia STYLE" and the walls are double leay-
ing space between the two TO BIO filled with
charcoal or some non-conductor. The doors
and windows ara also double there Is a snow
shed at each end, and the roof projects about
two feet all round. The idea Is 10 make
their house headquarters instead Of n ship.
Tho advantages of this plan are obvious,
Expeditions will be sure to find the house in
the same pace where they loft it, for ono
thing, which Is by no means the case with
ship that may be driven from anchorage by SO
many accidents. The "Gulnare," which Is
now being fitted up ut Alexandria, will carry
the explorers, leave them in their summer re-
sort, and return. The most singular feature
of this expedition is, that although il had its
origin and is carried out in Washington, no
appropriation has been asked of the gov
eminent for it, only permission and authority.
The expenses are betrayed by private contr-
button. Captain Howga.e, TO whom Congress
has given entire control Of the matter, Is a
man of experience, resource and practical
good sense He writes delightful papers on
the artic regions and invests that solitary and
awesome region with n sort Of icy romance
and frozen grandeur very attractive, md
what is more to thepurpose,he is using his ex-
perience and knowledge to an eminently prac.
teal use in the expedition. | understand he
does not 90 with this expedition, but will 90
next year. | dare say the next five years
will see railroad from here
to Smiths Sound, with the long
wooden house transformed into four
story hotel, with modern Improvements, and |
flaming posters will announce the opening
for the season of the "Grand Polar hotel"
with railway and telegmphic communca-
tions with the entire civilized world.
There are now four other American ex-
plorng parties in the Arctic regions, viz: the |
Herald's party, which left in 1879; the Geo
graphical Society's party; the Coast Survey
expedition, and revenue cutter sent to
relieve the twenty whalers caught in the ice
in Alaska bay. I hope they will find Cap
tain Howgute's big house.
The attempt of 'colored cadet Whitaker
to bring a load of grist to the
outrage mill has proved signal failure. The
general belief is he slit his own ear and
hacked bis own toe, The wounds were too
slight to have been inflicted BY an enemy so
furious and determined as his are reported TO
be. The "under-bit' in the right ear and
"slit" in the left are both poor ear marks, to
say nothing of the attempted "over-crop,"
which was simply an abrasion.
Blaine and Carpenter got after each other
again yesterday This is always a good
hearing for Democrat like myself.
can listen with such supreme indif-
ference as to who beats. Besides, you are
sure to hear some genuine wit and humor,
and then they are such contrasts to each
other. Baine-impulsve, excitGble, earnest:
Carpent r--cool, deliberate, 'rcasiic. And
then there is Conkling, his back turned on
Blaine, ard always near enough to Car
penter to suggest word now aud then. 1t
isn't exactly. fair fight with Conklng
thrown in, for Blaine and Carpenter are very
evenly matched, but it isn't my fight, so |
can look on unmoved.
The National Academy of Sciences meets
to-day at II o'clock a. m. These annual
meetings are very delightful to me. l hear
all possibly can of the charming papers
read BY ear scientists, especially those of
them who have gone beyond technicalities in
their search for truth, and are educated up
to ono syllable" as Mr. Carnes used to say.
There is an unusual gathering of lterati
here also Charles Dudley Warner, r. II.
Stoddari and Abby Goold- Woolson are here.
The last named has just completed a series
Of lectures on English literature and its in-
auence on English history. The first
series was given in the spacious parlors OF
Congressman Clafn, of Massachusetts,
whose wife is a highly educated lady. These
lectures were delivered at noon, and the par
Tors were crowded with the intellectual men
and women of this country and distinguished
visitors from abroad. The last series were
given in the evening at Mrs. Johnson's resi-
dence, on Twelfth street, and were equally
well attended.
The much shot-at Lloyd Phoenix has lost
a finger in the last duel with woman. Fanny
Lear, who is the Mrs. Blackford for whom
the Russian Grand Duke stole his
mothers diamonds, and who is Phenix's
divorced wife, sliced piece out of his side
with a knife. Mrs. Beecher, afterward no. |.
torious in Paris as Countess of Pourtalles,
shot little bit off his left ear; and now the
equally notorious Mrs. Gould-Thorpe has
shot of the first joint Of one of his fingers
and gone TO Europe with Fred MAY, who
fought duel with Bennett. Phoenix has
left on his yacht for parts unknown. Let US
hop, he will now arise from the dirty ashes in
TO which he has sunk. | dare say Mrs.
Thorpe will marry foreign noblemsn
and loom up on the boulevard as new sen