The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-02
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
TIE BIAMOND-BACK TERRAPIN
AND THE BULL FROG.
An Industrious Author Receives a
Poor Reward-Madame Durand.
oreVille-Charlty Ball.
l.elErsroNprNcE on raE ArrEAL. !


question, and the epicureans Of Wash
ington find no daintier dish at the
clubs and first-class restaurants here.
The immense traffic in terrapins is a
fact not generally known 10 the pub
lie. The Chesapeake bay and its
tributaries produce every year 81 ,500,-
600 worth Cf diamoDd.back terrapins.
The price will average 81 80 apiece.
The Yield thus amounts 10 about 600,-
900 ierrapins. The business affords
employment 10 over 500 men, and
terrapin "farms" have been established
on both sides OF the bay, from its
mouth TO the head, and are particu-
lsrly abundant in rivers and islet,.
One dealer in Baltimore says his sales
amount to 100000 a year, and that
he Could easily increase his trade to
$S0O,C00 il terrspins could be found to
supply the demand. Terrapins sell in
Washington for 81 so TO $40 apiece,
according to SIZE, and the restaurateur
ia obliged 10 give his orders in the
markets here weeks ahead. A terra
pin served by John ChambeIlain's
$4,000 a.year cook is about as near per-
iecticn, in the way OF an epicurean
feast, as can be reached.
Ia the ftt warm days OF spring the
bullfegs quit the mud-holes where
they have slept during the winter and
oonRregate in still ponds and muddy
places along streams OF water. At this
season the female deposits her spawn
and the young frog enters bis iadpole
existence, and usually remains In this
state for two years. Before the fore
legs have appeared the hind legs are
only half an inch in length and the
tadpole measures five inches from the
tin OF the nose 10 the end OF the tail.
The ball frogs are either shot or
caught with hook baited with a red
or bright piece OF flannel or an artifi.
cial insect. The traffic in frogs legs is
assuming vast proportions in large
cities. They are presented for sale in
Phi sielphia game markets arranged
in dosens--one dozen pairs being i'm
psled on stick. The length OF the
head and body OF fulI-grown bull
frog IL from six 10 ten inches, and OF
the hind legs from eight TO twelve
inches. An authority says that they
reach even twenty-one inches in the
South. The prices range in this lati-
tude fem 81 30 20 SO per dozen.
Mia Anna Katherine Green is one
Of the most prolific American writers,
She has written seven books, and their
total sales have been over 100000
copies. One would think that she
must have made great deal OF money
out Of her literary productions. How
ever, great many were bound In
paper covers, and she got but 2 cents
copy for them. Such good work ia
any other branch OF business would
have brought handsome returns, but
il M. Gardner g. Hubbard NAV be
believed, an author has no right TO
expects any returns at all. Mr.. Hub
bard says that when an author gives
their thoughts to the world, "they be-
come the property OF the world.S II
would thus seem TO bewisest TO keen
ones thoughts to himself-a hint Mr..
Hubbard would do well to act upon.
Nine. Durand-Greville, who has
been in this country for some time
lectnrinE, Gays she loves the United
States, and that her attention was frat
attracted 10 this country by the assist.
ance she rendered her father in trans.
lating the history Of the United States.
She speaks English with perfect ease
and is born linguist. When only
thirteen years Of age abe passed sue.
cesstul examination In Greek aud
Latin and four modern languages.
She has contracted with Ticknef 4
%. Of Boston for the publication Of
her works.
Mr.. Tarsney Of Michigan has intro
duced in the House OF Representatives
bill No 5293, 10 regulate the trsnspor.
tatiOn Of live stock, which he will
press 10 . passage at the earliest pos
sible day. Its provisions, upon their
face appeals to everybody who eats
meat, as we'll as to those who are AMI.
mated by humane sentiments. The
preamble shows the evil which this
bill seeks 10 correct. Ii says that as
reports oil committees Of the House |
OF Representatives have established |
the iso. that live stock transported in
RAILROAD cars are so crowded, starved
and maltreated as 10 cause immense
loss by death and shrinkage, and thus
largely increase the price OF meat food
and put on the market diseased and
ungholesome meat in this country,
and to largely curtail the foreign de.
mand for this class OF our product, az
there is great favoritism shown 10
some clippers Of live stock and inius-
tice and oppression shown to others,
through an association OF eveners,'
and a. humane, sanitary and CONNER
cial interests demand correction OF
these evils, the interests OF the con.
sumner aud OF the public genei ally
would be conserved by the govern.
ment stepping In and enforcing a
proper attention TO the laws of nv.
giene aud humanity. The bill then
goes on and In eleven sections pro-
vides for the proper regulation OF such
ma ters.
NQf the many handsomely dressed
ladies assisting at Mrs. Oarlisle's re.
ception on Wednesday, no one was
more elegantly and artistically dressed
than the wife OF Representative Dunn
OF Arkansas, In low neck and short
sleeve, pointed waist, white brocaded
satin, court train, with pettcoat OF
white brocaded velvet heavily threaded
with gold, the entire front outlined
with exquisite ostrich tips, satin slip
peis aud twenty-button Stoves en-
broirdsred with gold, with diamond
ornaments, presented tout ensemble
Of perfect effect. Mrs. Dunn is greatly
admired for her beauty and vivsoity.
and this charming costume enhanced
her social prestige as one Of the most
beautifully dressed women in Wash
ingtoo society.
i htard a good story about a Treas
ury clerk the other day which seems
10 be worth telling. An able young
mao, who is an expert in his particu.
lar line Of duty, and whose fne per.
sonal appearance has won for him an
snviabls reputation in the depart
nent, took a trip up into Delaware a
week or 90 ago and there met an amia-
lie widow with some property, who
vas IN search OF a husband. The
vidow was struck with his maply pro-
lortions, and instead Of sdmiiyng that
q was a Treasury clerk, he assumed
, b. a newly appointed offic i Ia one