Evening star., 1896-07-25

old accounts of tWelvs years ago or so.
In houses where they always used Is cents
worth of ice each day then found that
they now use but 10 cents worth per day.
The amount of the reduction is caused by
the improvement Of the refrigerator. In
other words. 10 cents worth Of ice today
in the modern refrigerator does all the
work that IL cents worth did twelve years
ago."
* \ X X X
One Of the interesting sights of Wash
ineton during these summer evenings is
the gathering of mechanics which takes
place about the Cogswell fountain at the
corner Of 7th and Pennsylvania avenue.
The men begin to collect about o'clock
and they lnger about there until about
9:30 o'clock. when the asemblage disperses
until the next evening. AS rule, the
men are engaged in the work Of house
building. Carpenters seem to predomi-
nate. though there are many plumbers,
painters, plasterers and bricklayers in the
number. They discuss matters relating to
their trades. swap gossip about the work
they are engaged In and now and then
take a hand In political discussion. There
is no more Independent man on earth than
the average mechanic when he Is dressed
up after having done his days work. They
have ideas nearly all subjects, and are
very free. though in quiet sort Of way,
to express them.
This corner has been for some years a
popular meeting place for carpenters. and
many Of that trade use 1t as ar exchange
In the matter Of securing work. Bosses
always know they can find carpenters
there when they want them. Plasterers
have likewise had a weakness for the cor
ner. though of late years nearly all Of
those engaged in housebuilding find 1t to
their advantage to collect there frequently
and talk over work in hand or contem-
plated.
X y II
There is no 0anper of eating SOft-ShelIpd
crabs" observed an epicure, "if they are
fresh. but they are poison Il they are not
They should be we'll seasoned. and an extra
lot of pepper put on them as a precaution,
especially If the weather Is very hot when
they are eaten. or II they are eaten shortly
be fore one retires. 1t is the habit Of many
persons to eat soft-shelled crabs at night
time. 1 do not know but that they taste
better then. 1t Is somewhat dangerous to
many to drink milk after eating crabs
Milk seems to develop the coiic that fol-
lows eating soft-shelled crabs with some
persons.
Another thing that should be remem-
bered. and that is a sharp thunder storm
will kill softshell crabs. and even the
hard-shelled crab at times. Unless the soft
shelled crab has been cooked before the
thunder storm. think the safer plan would
be to decline to eat it. Under all other condi-
tons there is no danger in partaking Of
them. for do not think any one would be
criminal enough to cook q dead crab hard
or soft shell. The proper way to Kill a crab
Is to throw him into a kettle Of boiling wa
ter. know that some people think this is
cruel. but it is no mere cruel than it is to
stab them with needle or kill them with
sensitive persons to do
Il was speaking once of a little girl fas-
cinaaing some snakes" said Montana
man, land an incident was related to me
which was just the reverse the snake
being the charmer. 1 was in one of the
western states, probably in the same part
of the col ,try where you saw the blue sky
through the shimmering leaves and the
sparkling brook and all that. In any event.
this little girl was wandering in the woods
one afternoon. and had gene to a favorite
bower formed by wild grape vines growing
over a small tree in such a way as to
make something in the form Of summer
house. She could be seen from the house.
and wnen some one called to her and she
made no answer, 1t could not he imagined
why she failed to respond. Her mother.
seeing her standing In this ma atural bower,
went toward her, and was struck by the
attitude of the child. She stood in the CEN
ter Of the vine-inclosed space gazing to-
ward the top When her mother looked in
she was almost paralyzed with fear at the
sight Of q large snake swinging over her
childs head. 1t was suspended by It's tail
and passing pendulun-like just above the
head Of the little girl, who followed 1t with
her eyes. The mother could not make a
movement for fear that the snake would
strike. The serpent's head drew nearer at
each swing. and one more pendulum-iike
motion and the child would be struck.
Then there darted from the foliage above
another snake. jet black in color. which
twned itself about the first They dropped
together at the feet of the child The spell
was broken and she ran to her mother