Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-08-02

stone pile in his front yard" If this system
were generally adopted tramping would soon
cease 10 pe pcpular.-FhiG. Star.
The American Who Wasn't Taken
for an EngliShman.
There are some Americans who habituallv
"do" Europe who are so vain as to think. and at
the same time so lacking In good taste as tn
boast. that when abroad they are taken for
europeans. II 1t is in France their perfect
French pulls them through; II in England IT ia
the absence OF the use OF the nasal organ in
their speech and the dropping of the final RS"
that carries them along successfully. A good
story comes to us, however, OF one of these
fellows who, after Dragging all the way over on
a Cunard steamer that he was always ''taken
1or an Engllshman In England, you know had
the concelt taken out of him on his arrival i'm
Liverpool in the following simple manner:
HIS - ulster was OF Bond-street manufacture,
his rimless eye-glass was screwed into his left
eye In the most knowing manner: he
twirled an attenuated umbrella In one
hand; the porter at his heels carried a portman
teau covered with labels, a gun-case and a hat
box. and his head was surmounted by the most
elaborate check helmet-shaped travelling cap
To the ordinary observer he looked as though
ne were some st. James street or Picadllly swell
bound for weeks partridge slaughter. With
hall Gozen or more Of his fellow passengers
to whom he was going to exhibit the perfection
In the way he did the thing. he staggered up
to the booking office OF the London and North
western railway, and In the well learned fornu-
la he had so OFTEN heard, addressed the official
through the window thuSly: One. first, single
was the unexpected and decidedly destructive
reply from WITHIN. There was a loud guffaW
on all sides at the dead give-way, and our friend
deposited his one pound ten very hurriedly and
grabbed up his ticket, In his discontinue de-
parting without waiting for the shilling change
San Francisco NelrS Letter..
PANAMA HATS are principally manufactured
IN Neraquas and western Panama. Not ALL
however, known to commerce by that name are
p ,a a IN tne isthmus oy far greater proper
other parts OF Ecuador. The hats are worn
almost In the whole American continent, and
the West Indies, and would probably be equally
used In Europe did not their high price varying
from 50 to $3.50 prevent their Importation.
They are distinguished from all others by con-
slst1ng only of single piece, and by their light
put into the pocket without injury. In the rainy
season they are apt to get black, but by washing
with soap and water. besmear1ng them with
lime juice, or any other acid, and exposing
them TO the sun, their whiteneSS Is easily re-
stored. So little Is known about these hats
that 1t may not be out of place to give an ac-
count OF their manufacture. The "straw"
tpaJa), previous to plating, has to undergo sew
eral processes. The leaves are gathered before
they unfold, all their ribs and coarser veins re-
moved, and the rest. without being separated
After having been exposed to the sun for day.
and tied into knot, the straw is Immersed In
polling water until it becomes white. 1t is then
hung up in a shady place, and subsequently,
bleached for two or three days. The straw is now
ready for use and In this state sent to different
places, especially to Peru, where the Indians
which sometimes bring as high as $50 each. The
plating or the hats is very troublesome. It
commences the crown and finishes at the
or1m. The hats are made on block which is
piaced upon the knees and requires to be con-
SANITY pressed with the breast. According to
their quality, more or less time Is occupied In
tbe1r completlOn-the coarSer ones may be fin
ished tn two or three days, while the finest may
AXE as many months. The best times for plait-
Ing are che morning hours and the rainy
stason, when the air Is moist In the middle of
apt to break. and this, when the hat is finished,
l. betrayed by knots and much diminisheS the
Vaiue.-JOufnal OF Botany.
A SHOT AT THE SHARPsHooTERs. the first
tiIne Americans are beaten by foreigners In a
rifle match. Those people who take such
the reflection that the disappointed marksmen.
though an American team, were not the
American team Whatever comfort there may
be In this our friends who need it may fairly en-
JOY, but 1t Is better to need none. These rifles
shooting contests have attained prominence
absurdly disproporttoned to their importance or
pfacucal interest The skill Of these long
range marksmen Is OF no real value under any
circumstances. 1t is cultivated for the pre-
tended reason that 1t might be useful In war,
but that is a delusion. These crack shots can
90 nothing except on range where the dis
tances are accurately measured and the sight
adjusted to them, the direction and force of the
Wluu UUScINeu ny IueaQS OF instruments
adapted to the purpose, and the targets adjusted
so as to givethe most favorable conditions for
the markSmen, ana then they must be allowed
number Of sighting shots. Those of us who
have seen something OF actual military service
are OF opinion that the methods and conditions
of warfare must change considerably before
these shareholders will be of much practical
selvice.-WorceSte7 (AoSs.l Spy.
WHITEwAsHRD BABIES.-A missionary, sta
toned at one OF the South Sea islands, deter
mined to give his residence coat of whitewash.
To obtain this In the absence of lime. coral was
reduced to powder. by burning. The natives
watched the process of burning with interest,
believing that the coral was being cooked for
them to eat. Next morning. they beheld the
m1ssionarys cottage gl1ttering In the rising sun,
white as snow. They danced, they sang they
screamed with JOY. The whole island was In
connection. Whitewash became the rage
Happy was the coquette who could enhance her
charms by daub Of the white brush. Conten-
lions arose. one party urged their superior
rank another obtained possession of the brush,
and valiantly held 1t against all corners; third
p eclods cosmetic. To quiet the hubbuo, more
not domestic utensil, a war club or garment,
but had skin painted with grotesque figures;
not a pig that was not Whitened, and even
mothers might be seen. in every direction,
caper1ng .joyously and yelling with delight at
the superior beauty of their wh1tewaShed babies.
Chambers Journal
MAIZE M DTrrpprrru A how with hIISj-