Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-17


Your article, "What a Comma Did, has AT
tracted wide attention. The fact that foreign
fruits have been imported free OF duty owing TO
the use Of comma after the word fruit In the act
OF lS72, when it was intended that fruit-plants
should be so admitted, has been familiar TO me
for number OF years. That an effect SO far
reaching should be thus ACCOMPLISHED IS remark
able. but that result pales into insignifcance
when IL can be demonstrated that the IDENTICAL
olunder has wrought the almost humiliation OF
the sumac trade, once nOurshing southern in
oustry, which gave profitable employment 10
thousands OF humble whites and destitute NEGROES.
Inc samac Is spontaneous growth, needing but
and shipping n North, 10 be 1sea ~
morocco tanning and calico printing,
Europe and the Island OF sicily is OF real or sup
posed superiority. For this reason the sumac
nagnates OF virginia earnestly sought protection
N 1877, that their rapidly developing trade thus
fostered might In time successfully Compete Win
the foreign product Protection was denied. This
the act which was intended 70 foster our frnirS
culture oy admitting "frut-planIs" free By acct
Dent or design let In fruit without paying duty,
Ano lnis country was gorged with foreign sumac
sent hither as ballast for the ships when We're
engaged In fruit importation, and the condition
Oh the domestic sulnac trade became deplorable
As long as the home trade had the natural protec
ton OF legitimate charge for TRANSPORTING
foreign sumac nearly four thousand miles IL
quite as much 10 send a ton or sumac from RIch
mond 70 Boston as it cost the foreign pro1ncer 10
ship Ike quantity from the Island OF Sicily. il
had 70 succumb. In 1870 the best brands OF Wiz.
GINA sumac readily commanded SllO per ton
Now the same quality Is a drug on the market al
$40; and more than half the suLnac mills OF the
south are as silent as the tomb oil the Capuiets.
louis Truly, Z. 5. RAMsBEkG,
GEORGETOWN, d. c., Oct. IL. 1883
MARRIED AT THE COURT HousE-Yesterlay morn
Ing young couple. samuel ID. Young OF AIexan-
ORA County, Va, and Fayette V. Javins, procured
license 10 marry at the clerks Office and stared
70 md q minister. They were, however. unsac.
cessiul Returning 70 the court mousse about x
O'Clock, Rev. E ID. Bailey, OF the ciyil-seryice
ou'eAu' was called upon and ued the knot
SPECTACLE FOB NEXT WEzK.-At the National
Iheater next week, the attraction Will be lure
ana spectacle, 'Mazulm," Including special seem
cry, ballots and Incidental speciality fearur,s
seats Tor the engagement 60 on sale Tomorrow
IHE WIDENING OF COLUMBIA RoAp.-The Jury Of
eondemnation on the widening OF Columbia road
Al the head OF Connecticut avenue, Messrs, H. A.
mn!aIu, Geo T. Dunlop, w. j. stephenson, 7. J.
LuIrell w. Henderson, Z Kurtz johnson. and c.
y. DVne anson, after hearing testimony and argu-
tomorrow. wa
silver white house. which is 70 be awarded 70 the
popular presidential candidate by ST. Peters
church fAir. viii continue until November s
NIT WEEK At ALBAusHs-Ar this house next
ssek the bin will be a new comedy called
,rasnionS' satire on society. The sale OF seats
ISf me engagement will begin az the box-ofy,ce oS
tne 'nealer tomorrow morning.
SPLENDID opportunity Is offered for invest
ment OF Tor ones own use, In the sale OF the
story press BRICK house No sO7 street nort hw~s,
wn.cn VIII De sold at auction Tomorrow ThnrS'
Gay Qsth OCTOBER, at O'Clock p. N. THIS prop-
centrally located and adjacent 10 several linz ~
car4-Adck ~
SPECIAL sale Of ladies' ine winter wraps win take
place at Duncansons auction rooms to-morroW
mo1ning, commencing az IL O'Clock.