Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-10-24
WASHINGTON LETTER
SPECIAL CoRREsPoNDENcE.

MUsT HAVE THEIR BIKE-An Eng
lishmnn, now in Washington, tells that
bicycling is even more prevalent in
that country than in this. "To get
possession of the coveted Wheel" he
says, sour young women have been
known to make uncommon sacrifices.
The daughter of clergyman, a very
intelligent and popular young girl,
quite II belle in II highly respectable
set, hired ont as n waiting maid in .
part of the city remote from her
home, and by saving her small earn.
ings managed to buy machine. BY
the merest accident her identity was
discovered, and the story was made
public. but the young lady did not
lose caste by the expose, and her
friends complimented her on her
pluck"
NORTH ATLANTIC FLEET. The
North Atlantic fleet is not to be broken
up with the approach of winter. but
will be retained in force and held in
convenient reserve in anticipation OF
need in connection with the Cuban
question. While this possibility is not
admitted at the navy department as the
reason for maintaining the squardon
underone command, and while the like
llhood of making n naval demonstra.
ton in the West Indies is remote, it
Is known that the condition of affairs
in Cuba justities certain precautions,
the principal feature of which is the
thorough equipment of the North At.
lantic squadron far emergency service.
The fleet will be overhauled at the
Norfolk and Brooklyn navy yards
during the next mouth. Many minor
repairs are reported as necessary.
CONTROVERSY WITH TURKEY-Min-
lister Terrell, at Constsntinople, is
likely to add another to the long list
of diplomatic controversies which dis
tinguish the state relations of the
United States, and the Ottoman gov
ernment, if it is true, rs reported, that
the porte has issued an trade ostra-
cising all Armenians who shall depart
from Turkey. and threatening with
arrest aud characteristic punishment
all such fugitives who shall presume
to return. This means that the United
States passports will not only be ig-
nored, but defed, and that that docu-
ment will surround the Americanized
Armenian with no more protection
than if it we're a Broadway handbill.
Any such condition--and it would not
be an unlikely circumstance in Tur-
KEYS destined to call forth prompt
and emphatic protest from minister
Terrell. The policy of the state de-
partment on this subject is already
we'll known to our representative at
Constantinople. The subject is not
novel one at that capital and at st.
Petersburg, Turkey and Russia being
we have dignitied dealings which still
cling to the monarchical doctrine of
expatriation.
A BAD SHowINa-The first half of
October shows deficit in government
revenues of IS, 739, 873. The deficit
for the fiscal year to date is $50,
O09. The total receipts for the fiscal
year to date have been SOL, ,575,670
and the expenditures 1922, 500, 679.
The receipts for October to date have
been $12, 45O, 1870, and the expendi-
lures $18. 100000.
WARNING TO LETTER WRITER'S
Assistant attorney general Thomas of
the post Office department., in his an
nual report, states that the courts in
every instance have sustained the
in the issuance of orders
against the fraudulent use of mails.
Lottery companies, he says, have
moved to foreign countries. Mexico
and Honduras seem to be the fa-
vored localities. Judge Thomas
states that the names and ad-
dresses of those who answer the various
alluring, fraudulent advertisements
aud the letters written by them are
sold in the market, the theory being
that all such may probably be victim
ized. One firm adver tised that it had
3, 900. 900 letters for rent or sale. The
green goods men, quack doctors, the
advertisers who catch their victims
with the word "free," bucket shop
operators, and various other concerns
deal in these addresses and letters.
OLD SOLDIERS GATHER-The 11th
annual encsmpment of the union vet
eran legion was called to order in the
exchange in this city by ma.
tionul commander George G. James of
An address of welcome
was delivered by commissioner Ross
Of the District of Columb bia. The
largest delegation both in delegates
aud visiting members comes from
Philadelphia, numbering upward
Df 400 veterans. Next ranked
Pittsburg, with between 200
md 800. New York, Brook
yn and Baltimore also had large
averaging about 100 each.
The other cities represented iu con-
siderable numbers are Boston, Oil
City, Chicago, Cincinnati, Buffalo,
Cleveland, Milwaukee,
Wilmington, WiIiumsport, Louis
vile and indianapolis. Prominent
among the men present besides the
oMCeISs HAl VI WuOW WoEo uoTSS
we're past nationa commanders general
A. B. Hay and general A. l.. Pearson,
Pittsburg; general G.. J. r. Miller,
Philadelphia; past national vice COM
mander Joseph B. Knox, Worcester;
past qm. general f. J. Blair of Pitts
burg; national standard bearer John
B. Renncr of Cincinnati. Among the
aid.de. camp on the personal staff of
the commander are JOS Knox OF
Worcester and Seth Chandler of
Lewiston. Me. Adjt general Schooner
said there had been an increase of
membership during the past year Of
1.2 percent despite the hard times.
The total membership is S.752, not
LOSS who have been tenn.
oornrily suspended for non-payment
II dnca
A 49, tSAk La Al