Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-24
in HOTEL CORR DoRs

whether suicide Is q sin or not de-
ponds a good deal upon the provocation a
man has for committing" said Frank Gull
lom of Oswego at the Ebbitt last night.
TT has always been question in my
mind If Joel Barnes, who killed himself in
Toronto a couple of years ago, didn't yer
form a noble and highly meritoriouS action.
A mighty realistic novel could be founded
on the events that led up to his act. He
was q scholarly man. of a very even and
bright disposition, and married woman
he had loved from childhood. His domestic
life was the subject of remark on account
of its noticeable happiness. His wife &C
were perfectly devoted to each other. He
was successful and well-to-do, and went
to Toronto from Michigan, intending
to retire and settle in the Canadian city
Suddenly he committed suicide. Those
who knew him were as astounded as they
were Mortified and were naturally eager to
learn the cause. 1t was developed when
the poor fellows last letter was read. IT
was a long letter and described the per-
feet torment he had suffered for months
He told infinitely how he had conceived
the awful idea that he should kill his wife
and how the intention took complete pos
session Of him In spite OF all his efforts to
throw 1t off. He lived a double life; worse
than that of Jekyll and Hyde. He loved
her intensely, and yet every time she came
near him his impulse to take her lie he
came almost Irresistible. At last he had
determined that he could not longer with
stand the horrible promptings, and in order
to save himself from one crime, had made
up his mind to commit another, with him.
self as the victim. That is the brief story
1t presents a problem for psychologists to
study. There is no doubt of its truth. for
everyone who knew Joel Barnes KNOWS
that his last letter was gospel
"The captain of an ocean steamer in
most cases finds out when his vessel Is ap-
preaching an iceberg from the men down
In the engine room," said t. V. Dorsey OF
Brooklyn at the Arlington this morning.
THAT sounds queer. but 1t Is fact never
theless. 1t appears that when a steam-
ship enters water considerably colder than
that through which 1t has been going its
propeller runs faster. Such water usually
surrounds the vicinage Of bergs for many
miles. When the propeller's action, there
fore, Is accelerated without the steam
power being increased word IS passed up
to the officer On the bridge that bergs may
be expected and a close lookout for them
Is established. / don't know anything
about the natural reasons for the propeller
acting in the way / have described, but
sea captains will tell you the same thing"
"a good many rich men who do not
fall over themselves in backing ephemeral
schemes are seriously contemplating the
formation of company to utilize the pow
err from the water that runs through He'll
Gate" said Edward s. Brigham of New
York at Wormley's last night. Several
expert scientists of a practical sort, in
GLIDING / believe, a couple of army Off
GERS, have reported upon the feasibility
of the plan under consideration. 1t en-
braces pretty much the same ideas as the
sy stem in vogue upon, or rather under
the river Seine near Paris, and includes
the placing of several series of water
wheels beneath the surface of the Hell
Gate current, sunk deep enough to allow
free navigation, while at the same time re-
ceiving the full force OF the rush. SINE
one has made estimates which show that
the power wasted at He'll Gate would De
sufficient, If properly controlled aud AZ
piled, to run all the machinery on Manhat-
tan Island. AT any rate, the idea Is taxi
ing practical shape, and II would not be
surprising If a power company growing
out of the present Investigation asked for
a charter, with permission to carry out
the system / have outlined from the next
legislature that meets In Albany"
Captain Adrian c. Arson of the Chicago
Base Ball Club stood In the lobby of the
Arlington, and his six feet two inches
of glowing health and powerful man.
hood illustrated what activity and good
habits will do in preserving the original
handiwork Of nature. For twenty years
"Anse% has been the foremost figure in the
American national sport, and he smiled
broadly when asked II he would don a
uniform next season.
Il reckon you'll find my name on the
Chicago score card he said, significantly
Il feel as well as ever did in my life, and
Just as enthusiastic as ever about ball.
believe the league will have it's most pros
porous season next year. and that the
fight for the pennant will be an. exciting
one. The clubs will, / think, be more even
ly matched. There are many players who
have been wonderfully improved by their
work this year, and there Is tendency
all along the line TO strengthen weak spots.
VIII Chic ago be in it? Now, you know how
modest l am, but in spite Of that ruling
CHARACTERISTIC, would be trifiing with the
truth If did not say that Chicago will be
great factor in the next pennant race.
You'll put me down as q good prophet this
time next year"
tor
Nothing" was the emphatic response
1t needs money to support a base ball
club, and the new association people will
find 1t Difficult to secure it. Capitalists are
always chary about backing wildcat
schemes. The present league gives the pub
lie all the high-class base ball it wants.
and you will find that 1t will occupy the
field alone next year, just as it did this"
1.-The fruit growers out In my country are
In a fever of excitement over the discovery
Of new and simple means Of preserving
ripe fruit Indefinitely" said William L. Gill
lis Of California at La Normandie last
night. "Sterillzed air Is the substance used
In the new system, which Is the result of
the study and experiment Of an Episcopal
PerlAins-of Alameda The
doctor began his experiments upon the
basis that the decay Of fruit and the mold
that destroys other perishable articles are
due to the germs that are present In or
binary air, and decided that no decay could
cnsue If they were kept in an absolutely
pure atmosphere. His ideas have been
proven to be practically successful and are
long distances. An air compressor is at
tached to the loc omotive, IN which the
pressure Is eighty pounds to the square
inch At this density air becomes 80 heated
that all the gerninal life 1t contains is de-
stroyed. 1t is thus steriliZed. After being
cooled in a receiver 1t is conducted to the
c and introduced, with the result Of driv-
ing all the impure air out In the pure at
mosphere thus established ripe fruit has
been kept without giving sign Of decay
for a month. The general adoption of the
system on fruit cars will revolutioniZe the
industry in California, as it will admit of
OUT marvellous pears, grapes. peaches, and
so forth, being shipped after they are per-
fectly ripe and have reached the full of
their exquisite flavor, instead OF being pick
ed. as they now are, In O half green state