Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-12
Elevators Here and Abroad.

Murst Hastead In the Cincinnati Com mercia Gezette
The ''lift" is not displayed ostentatiously in
the great German houses. 1t is behind iron
doors, to be detected only by inspection, and is
moved by clanking chains. The elaboration
of the proceeding is Its most distinguishing
characteristic. You stand in the great hall OF
the hotel, where a reconnaissance has located
the laborlng lift" and silently await develop
ments. Everybody else has the greatest plenty
of time. Presently from the unknown interior
iron doors fly open, and soldierly-looking
servant with brass buttons ON his cap, preoccu-
pied with his responsibilities, steps forth with
an air Of majesty. The doors clang as they
swing and the lift is there, rather primitive but
elaborate in construction Perhaps there may
be i've passengers ready to get aboard. When
four have taken positions the master OF the
elevator waves the fifth backward with the
awful air of authority, and If the rejected one
Is an American urgent to go up at once, he is
told peremptoriy that there are places ''only for
four" The iron doors are banged, the engines
hesve and the massive machine moves.
Safety is consulted Here is a mastery
mechanism that might swing a pair of ele-
plants Of the size of Jumbo, but an attempt to
lift at once more than four persons would be
regarded as an affront 20 the empire. The
things impossible! The French have the same
elevating methods. There is usually an iron
gate as well as an iron door TO the ascenseur in
France, and in some of the first-class establish
ments they will risk taking up a. many as five
passengers at time. The chains that are
rugged for the security of this multitude of ire
sponsible beings are of links Of wrought iron
inches in diameter. There is nothing like
taking care of the people and stretching forth
the hand of paternal government. One ponders
what would be the effect of starting somewhere
in Europe such lifts" as they have in New
York, say in the Trib,.ne building, where they
yank a passenger through ten stories, dis
lance of $50 feet, in six seconds, provided they
are not delayed by jerking additional passen-
gers on and off at the several floors The
French would never endure the thought of as
cending ''the Eifel" in less than a minute, and
have shade of sympathy with them in that.
Maj. George Hopkins, chairman of the Mich.
igan republican state central committee, says
that Gen. Russell A. Alger can be elected COM
mander-in-chief Of the Grand Army of the Re.
public by reclamation if he will accept
At Mount Gretna, Pa, the joint encampmeni
OF United States regulars and state troops
opened Saturday, to continue one week.
The Massachusetts rihemen arrived in New
York Saturday from their victorious tour
abroad.
Young William Ralph Lee. son of Mrs Ste
phen w. Rawson, was released from Jail in Chi
cago Saturday, having completed the eighteen
months imprisonment to which he was SEN
fenced for shooting his step-father, the banker,
to avenge his mothers wrongs.
At Piper City, H., Mrs. y. Freeman and her
twelve-year-old daughter were killed by light
ming Friday. A seven months babe in the
mothers arms was not injured.