Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-21

Written Exclusively for The Evening Star
Malaria is not distinct condition. germ
or poison" remarked a physician to Star
reporter cit is the result Of a combination
of circumstances, conditions and poisons
In a few weeks at the farthest 1t Will De
rather prevalent not, however, because
there is any particular poison In the air In
this city or section, but as the result OF
very warm days and rather cool nights
The bodies get very much warmed up dur
ing the day, and the anxiety to cool them
inclines persons to ride about In open cars
or sit out porches or the parks In the
evening. They therefore cool off too sud-
denly, and the eongested condition of things
resultant for want of a better name is
called and known as malaria. In old
fashioned times the same condition Of
things was known as bilious fever. Ihere
are, of course, many persons who are
strong enough to resist the evil influences
of the night air. but in cases where the
system is run down many are very senst-
tive to it. l do not know that there is any
panGcea for this condition. If a person
feels that he is run down, 1t would be
well for him to take tonic preparation
for a couple of weeks. and particularly to
avoid the night air. This riding about the
streets in the open cars at night time is
very bad for some persons, though 1t does
not seem to do any harm TO others. On the
harmed by it than otherwise If people
Must so out ] would advise that they wear
clothing somewhat heavier than that worn
by them during the day. For the last ten
days in August and the first ten in Sep
te:nber. If II Is warm, TO be on the safe
side. would say avoid the night air After
that II Will make but little difference. for
the clothing will be heavier and there will
not be the danger of too sudden cooling
off,"
X X ;:
Sailor folks are the best customers for
livery stables" said livery stable keeper
to Star reporter. lin one respect, though
they are about the worst in others. They
hire horses frequently and always pay for
them, but they drive a horse very hard.
They never let up on 4 horse, but keep him
going all of the time. For years / was in
the livery business in Norfolk and Balti-
more. and my custom was very large from
those who follow the water. That explains
why Ii Is that there are more sailors seen
on bicycles in this city than soldiers,
though there are twice many soldiers
stationed in and about Washington as there
are sailors at the navy yard. People who
reside Capitol Hill realize this much
more than those who live in other sections.
A sailor on a bicycle is just like sailor be-
hind horse. 1t Is go. go, all of the time,
and the faster the going the better. The
only let up Is because the rider in one case
tires himself out and in the other he tires
the horse out"
y +
THE lightning bugs or fire flies, as many
call Them explained d bugologist of the
Agricultural Department to Star reporter,
disappeared as suddenly as he made his
appearance this summer. They were a
couple of weeks later than usual in making
their public appearance, for but few were
seen until the middle of May. In compari-
son with former years the number was de-
<.ift. llx-c 1ir,ar i1xr thnxr in,
evidence until nearly the end of August.
but none has been seen for nearly two
weeks. The more rain there is during the
summer the fewer the lightning bugs.
There is only this CONNECTION between light
ming bugs and rain. The frequent rains
wash them on the trees and drown them
II has always been noticed that they are
much more numerous during dry summers
than wet summers. The present summer
bears off the palm as wet summer. In
this respect IL has not been eQualed for
thirty years; that is in the east. In the
middle west il is just the other way, ex-
tremely dry. 1t may be that the lightning
bugs knew of it. and went to places where
there wers no rains.
X
1.-The battlefieIds OF Virginia and the
. other southern states have been pretty well
cleaned of mimic balls, slugs, old bayonets
and other evidences of the late war; OBJ
served a gentleman who has done consid
cradle collecting of battlefield curios for
various museums and those who pride
themselves on their collections of that kind
Of material. and II can be said that the
business is about ended. Time was when
collectors could purchase any amount of
this kind OF stuff from farm hands and 9TH
ers but now a tour of the country rarely
pays its expenses. for there is nothing in
that line to be had. it matters not what
amount of money is offered for it, Some
rather clever coIored fellows in the neigh
bcrhood of Fredericksburg turned few
dollars couple of months ago by re-
porting that they had made a big find of
mimic balls 1t transpired. however. that
they had nodded the balls themselves.
They sold them at the rate of about one
dollar pound. which was about Einety
cents proft per pound for them, for the
lead and their labor was not worth over
ten cents a pound. have customers I ow
for about one hundred old war sabers, but
SO far have not been able to supply them,
though have maze considerable effort in
that direction
II think I have seen II printed once.
though it will do no harm to have it appear
again, Of an almost certain preventive of
chills. far children are concerned"
volunteered a professional nurse to a Star
reporter. land that is to have the children
wear small camphor bag under their
clothing next to the body A penny's worth
of camphor is all that Is needed. My plan
is to put piece Of canphor as large a
chestnut in a small bag. This will last
week or So The smell of the camphor is
not an unpleasant one. / do not know
whether il is the smell of the camphor or
its stimulating effect that keeps he chilIs
off. but my experience has been that chill
dren. and especially those who live IN the
country. escape chills. which are so .,reva-
lent in the autumn season, when This Ire
caution is taken. Camphor will ward off
other troubles 10 which children are often
very susceptible. The preventive is an
easy one to try and ] am sure that those
who try it with the children will thank me
for my suggestion"
IAN eccentric carpenter in Alexandria
some years ago.. says an olG-tirner erect
ed a three-stOry dwelling by constructing
the roof first and set high up on the cor
ner posts. He did this to have protection
from the weather ne worked down.
ward. This was looked on as a novel way
to work, but in ante-bellum days the third
story of a building in the northern part
of Washington. which had served as par