The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-22

"DlCOmer social would appear In Dlcycle
bloomsrs. They did appear with bloomer,
but not OF the bike description. They
wore prominently on their bosoms roses,
pinks and other flowers in full bloom.
There was discomfort among those who
had come to witness function presided
over by young women In bifurcated gnr-
ments, and some of the men whispered
among themselves that they had been
buncoed, hut their presence had been
secured, which was the main point, and
they did not long continue their resent
ment at the deception that had been
practiced, and their pockotbooks were
soon opened, and the social Is announced
TO have been a grand success financially.
One thing that has resulted In giving
Providence such a sturdy and sta.wart
set of men as policemen is the rigid
physical examination which they are
compelled to pass. Some years ago this
examination was OF the perfunctory sort
and in some cases was not insisted upon
at all, the pull of the candidate being
sufficiently strong TO save him from the
necessity of demonstrating his physical
fitness, or for that matter, his fitness in
any other way. But there came
change, very much needed one, and
since then no candidate for place
on the force has been able to evade
thorough examination as to his physical
condition. Since that time the depart
ment has had no aeed wood foisted upon
1t, and the men who wear the blue in
the city's service are as a whole fine
specimens OF physical manhood.
Larger cities do not appear to be so
fortunate in securing sound men for their
police department. At least that is how
II appears to the Gossiper after reading
| 4 mr. up ~ paf rfptr ph IN hoc fnr
moro than year served on the Brooklyn
force. In the City of Churches very
rigid mental as well as physical examine-
tion is made of candidates for police po-
sitions, and on the face OF the returns an
peared that Mannix had an excellent per
centage in both. In the physical and
athletic tests he was particularly success
full. securing 80 per cent. in the former
and SO in the latter. Now 1t has trans
pired that Mannix is suffering from
, physical ailment known as "house
maids knee" which incapacitates him
for service. What Is still more surprising,
he was affected in the same way at the
timethe examinations took place. When
these two fucts became known X was the
opinion OF those high in authority that
tho examining officials were either cor
rupt, or had performed their duties caro-
lesely and there might have been serious
trouble for them had not Mannix come
forward and saved their rcputat ions by
declaring that IL was not he who passed
the examination, but substitute he
hired for the purpose. In Brooklyn here
after candidates examination papers will
be accompanied by an authenticated
photograph.
A sailor friend OF the Gossiper calls Mt
tention to the statement OF an Italian sea
captain to the effect that he had proven
by experience that a ship goes through
the water faster when her sails are per-
forated by a mum ber OF holes than when
the sails are sound. Wien the Italian
first made his claim says the Gossiper's
sailor friend, he was laughed at, and
his claim was regarded az ridiculous. But
the Italian has since gone n long way
toward proving his claim. His theory is
that the force OF the wind cannot fairly
take effect on an Inflated sail. because of
the cushion of lmmovable air that fills
up the hollow. To prevent this cushion
collecting he bored number OF holes in
the sail, which let part OF the wind
blow right through IL and allowed the
remainder to strike against the canvas
and exercise its full effect. Several trials
have been made, and Ii looks as II this Is
another OF those parodoxIcal truths
which appear SO impossible on the sur
face. The experiments wers made in all
weathers. In light wind a boat with
ordinary sails made four knots while
with the perforated sails she covered five
and a quarter knots; IN fresh breeze she
did seven knots with ordinary sails, and
eight and three-quarter knots with the
improved sails; ina strong wind she did
eight knots and ten knots respectively.
IL this augmented speed were sustained
throughout long voyage 1t would in
crease in value OF the ship one-hfth, as
she would make the same trip in four
weeks that he did before in FIVE weeks.