davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21
DICHMOND. FREDERICKSBURG
HI AND POTOMAC RAILROAD.

DlCHMOND, FKEDEhlOhODUIs
IN AND POTOMAC RAILROAD.
SCHEDULE IN EFFECT JAN. 10, 1897.
LEAVE BYRD-STREET STATION.
GAO A. NJ. Daily. except Mondays. COM
mencing January 2lst, Tor
Washington and points North.
The New York and Florida
Special. All Pullman cars. NO
extra charge other than regu-
lar Pullman rates.
100 A. NJ. Daily, for Washington and
points North. Stops al Elba,
Ashland, Taylorsville boswell,
Ruther Glen, Penola, Milford,
Woodslane. Guinea, Summit.
Fredericksburg. Brooke, and
Whitewater. Pullman car.
1900 NJ. Daily. except Sunday, for
Washington and points North.
Stops at Elba. Glen Allen,
Ashland, boswell, Milford,
Fredericksburg, Brooke, and
Whitewater. Parlor-car. Also,
connects with Congressional
Limited at Washington.
7:15 PM. Daily, for Washington and
points North. Stops at Eliza,
Ashland, boswell, Milford.
Fredericksburg. Brooke, and
Whitewater, and other stations
Sundays. Sleeper, Richmond
to New York.
ARRIVE BYRD-STREET STATION.
$40 A. NJ. Daily Stops at Whitewater,
Brooke Fredericksburg, Mil
ford boswell, Ashland, and
Elba, and other stations Sun
days. Sleeper, New York TO
Richmond.
2:bP NJ. Daily, except Sunday. Stops
at Whitewater, Brooke. Frede-
ricksburg, Summit. Guinea,
Woodslane. Milford, Penola,
Ruther Glen, boswell. Taylors-
willie, Ashland, Glen Allen, and
Elba. Parlor-car from Wash
ington.
no p. NJ. Daily. Stops only at Frede-
ricksburg. boswell. and Ash
land. Pullman cars from New
York and Washington.
to.o5 M Daily Stops at Whitewater,
'"- brooke. Fredericksburg, Sum-
nit. Guinea, Woodslane, NIL
ford. PenOla, Ruther Glen,
boswell. Ashland, Glen Allen,
and Elba Sleeping-car. Con-
meets with Congressional
Limited between New York
and washington.
r,pEDERICKSBUG ACCOMMODATION
DAILY except Sundayl
400 y NJ Leaves Byrd-Street station.
SEQ A. M. Arrives Byrd-Street Station.
ASHLAND TRAINS.
DAILY except sunday
71S A. NJ. Leaves Elba.
$40 Il. NJ. Leaves Elba-
Gao A. NJ. Arrives Elba.
GOO II. NJ. Arrives Elba.
c. A. TAYLOR, Traffic Manager.
r.. Il. ID. MYERS. President. il 10
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21

The ambulance. in charge of DR.. La
benberg. was called yesterday evening
at $50 to Fourth and Cary streets TO
attend Mr. Charles Crisler. an employee
OF the Richmond Telephone Company
who had become suddenly III.
He was treated and taken TO his home
ON Marshall street.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21
N NV NoIia|k.%Mes
Schedule in Eject
NOVEMBER s. 1886.

NOVEMBER s. 1886.
LEAVE RICHMOND, BfRD-STREET
STATION.
900 A. NJ, Daily-Richmond and Norfolk
VESTIBULE LIMITED. Sc
cond-class tickets not accepted
eo5 A. NJ. paily. THE CHICAGO EX-
PRESS" for Lynchburg. Roa-
noke, Columbus, and Chi
cago Pullman Sleeper Roa-
noke to Columbus: also. for
Radford. Bristol, Knoxville,
Chattanooga. and intermediate
7.ao A. NJ. Daily. for Norfolk. Suffolk,
and intermediate stations.
1880 p NJ, DALI for Lynchburg and
Roanoke. Connects at Roanoke
with Washington and Chatta-
nooga Limited Pullman Sleep
ers Roanoke TO Memphis and
New Orleans.
PULLMAN SLEEPER between RICH
MOND and LYNCHBURG, ready for &C.
cupancy at r. NJ: also. Pullman Sleeper
Petersburg to Roanoke.
Trains arrive Richmond from Lynch
burg and the West daily $40 A. NJ, and
40 p. NJ From Norfolk and the East
II O5 A M, and Vestibuled Limited, Il.
NJ. Office: SIS Main street
n. w. COURTNEY.
District Passenger Agent;
w. b. BEvII.L.
General Passenger Agent:
General Offices; Roanoke. We. ia II
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21
Laurel street Epworth League,

Under the auspices Of the Epworth
League OF Laurel Street Methodist
church. social entertainment was ten
sered to the members OF the congrega-
lion and their friends.
The programme included musical selec-
Mons by Mr.. J. l.. Mitchell, Miss Myrtle
Garter. Mrs. Bette Harrison. and the
choir Of the church. Miss Queensberry
recited, and Miss Julia Carter. OF the
Junior League. read an essay on the life
u Bishop Asbury. Rev. DIR. Starr. of
Broad-Street Methodist church. delivered
a humorous address. on. 1.-The Talk OF
the Town." dealing with the idiosyncra-
sizes OF certain types OF people.
The evening was very proftably spent.
and was most enjoyable.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21

Doctors visits are always costly and are
many times unnecessary. If only for econ
oncal reasons, send for DR.. Pierce's Com
mon Sense Medical Adviser. 1t is much
cheaper than sending for physician and
may save you very many doctors bills.
Besides that, it will give you some new
ideas. You will very soon learn TO be OBJ
servant of many little signs of illness that
now pass unnoticed. The better you know
the symptoms, the more surely may you
prevent serious Illness For this reason il
was written.
DIR. Pierce has spared no pains in con-
densing a world of useful knowledge in
these pages, for the use of busy people.
The early symptoms of many common all
ments are described, and prescriptions
given for them. The book will be found
especially interesting and helpful to wo-
men In its 1908 pages there are 800 illus
trations. You may have this great and
good book free, by sending 81 cents in one
cent stamps to Worlds Dispensary Med
ical Association, Buffalo, N. Y. Ten cents
extra (3I cents will give you the book in
fine French cloth binding
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21
YORK RIVER LINE VIA WEST rolSE
THE FAvoRITE ROUTE NORTH

LEAVE RICHMOND
3O5 p. NJ, No. 10. LOCAL TXPREssi
Mondays, Wednesday,, ana
Fridays, for West loht
and intermediate stttons.
Connects with stage at l.c7teI
Manor for Walkerton. also az
West Point with steamers ioi
Baltimore. Stops az ali s'A-
4:s5 p. 81. No. is. BALTIMORE LIMIT.
ED. daily, except sunday, ipt
West Point. there makis
close connection Mg r.ts,
Wednesdays. and frlla'a
with steamer FOR Baltimor.
500 A. NJ, No. 46, LOCAL MlAtl--
caves daily. except SUNDAY,
from Virginia Street station
Tor West Point and inter-
mediate stations
TRAINS ARRIVE AT RfCHMONp
OH A. NJ. Daily. except Monday.
1910 A. NJ, Mondays. Wednesday, anu
500 p NJ paiiy except Sunday. from
West Point and intermedi""
Steamers leave West Point az 600 n ~
Mondays. Wednesdays. and ff1@5s
and Baltimore at 500 i. NJ, I1e%"''
ThurSdays and Saturdays. ,,-,.f.
Ticket office at station. foot OF vifs,,si
street Open from A. Nj. 10 L. NJ "''
from $50 r. III. 20 2 A. NJ. a.,
cry ticket Office. VS. s s NT TiiRK.
rraft,c Manager. General Pass. AZ,
W. ii. GREEN. General superin'e'''A"
"rsn a. HORTON. travelling PasssnnssSI'
Agent. go east Main street hi0iaI
Va.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21
CHARLES W. GoDDIN. Clerk.
TO FRANK A. BROOKS:

TO FRANK A. BROOKS:
You are hereby notified that I shall on
the LIST day of March. 1897, at the office
OF A. Is. Dickinson. notary public, In
Room 49, Shafer Building. city of Rich,
mond between the hours Of 3 A. NJ. and
Is =. NJ of that day, proceed to take the
deposition of Daniel H. Alley and others
TO be read as evidence in my behalf In
certain cause in equity pending in the
Chancery Court of the city Of Richmond,
wherein / am plaintiff and you are de-
PENDANT, and If, from any cause, the
taking OF the said depostions be not
commenced on that day, or IL commenced,
be not concluded the taking of the same
will be continued from time TO time and
from day to day at the same place ana
between the same hours.
. IOTTIE LEE BROOKS,
ia A-Thiw BY Counsel.
VIRGINIA.-IN THE LAW AND
EQUITY COURT or THE CITY OF
RICHMOND. THE 18TH OF JAN
Name Jahar mee Wilkins). who sues.
etc.. .................. ......,...Plaintln,
w. II. Gathright in his own right and as
executor of Epaphrodetus Gathrlght
w in CHANCERY.
The object of this suit is to have a
decree entered herein directing the sale
OF the real estate corner Twenty
and Broad streets, Richmond, Va, DC.
vised bv the third clause Of the will
OF Epaphrodetus Gathright TO Mamie
c. wilkins for life and at her death.
without issue. the fee simple interest IN
same 10 the other heirs Of said Epaphro-
de,us Cathright and TO have the pro-
ceeds of sale reinvested by order OF the
Court.
And affidavit having been made and
filed that Hugo Jahar and Edward
Baker. defendants are non-resldents OF
the State Of Virginia they are required
TO appear here within fifteen days after
due publication hereof and do what is
necessary 10 protect their Interests herein.
. wy p. p. WINSTON, Clerk.
William II. Beveridge, p. q ia 81 Init
VIRGiNIA.-IN THE CLERKS OFFICE
HATAN COUNTY on MONDAY. THE
9th DAY OF DECEMBER. 1896:
Ellie Drew, who sues by Thomas III. Lacy
as her next friend........ ....Plaintin,
against
The object OF this suit is TO obtain for
the plaintiff a divorce from the bonds or
matrimony. and affidavit having been
made and fled that the defendant, j. l..
Drew, IL not q resident of the State or
Virginia, II Is ordered that he do appear
here, within fifteen days after due publ
cation hereof, and do what may be me-
cessary TO protect his interest In this suit.
And Il IL further ordered that a copy
hereof be published In the Richmond
Dispatch. newspaper published in the
city of Richmond. once a week for four
successive weeks, and that copy be
posted at the front door OF the court
house OF this county at the FIRE. day OF
the next term OF the County Court OF this
county.
A copy--Teste:
JAMES A. TII.MAN, Clerk.
William n. Flanagan. .. q. DC A-Ihst
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21

Frank A. Brooks. ...............D Defendant.
IN CHANCERY.
The object of this suit is TO obtain
divorce vinculo ma trimonii by the plain
tin from the defendant.
And affidavit having been made and
filed that the defendant. Frank A.
of Virginia IT is ordered that he appear
here within fifteen days after due publ
cation OF this order and do what is
necessary to protect his interests in this
suit.
4 coDy-Teste:
CHARLES w. GoDDIN. Clerk
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21
W 7. Guillaudeu. Vice-President and
Traffic Manager, New York. ia 10
PHILADELPHIA. RICH NEA
hoND AND NORFOLK --n1s.
STEAMSHIP COMPANY.

Appointed sailing days; Every TUES
DAY, FRIDAY, and SUNDAY at day
light.
Freight received daily until p. NJ.
Fare Including meals and BERTH, IS on
Fridays and Sundays steamer.
For further information apply TO
J. w. MCARRICK,
General Southern Agent; office Rockets.
w. =. CLYDE * CO,
IN a General Agents Philadelphia.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21

John II. Rogers. ....................Pla lntin
Home Building Company and others,
........ ........... ......''s
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21
CUT PRICES ON GROCERIES.
Selling at
SOC. on the Dollar at S. Ullman'S Son.
DEAD HOW CHEAP


Best GRADUATED Sugar, per pound. 4
cans Best Tomatoes for .........,..
Best Corn, per can ................'....
CFinest you ever ateD
cans Large California Yellow -
Peaches Tor ...........'....''.'.''''
Lima Beans, per pound ..............
White Beans. per quart ...........'..
Best Hams, per pound ......;...''..'
California Hams. per pound...;...' -
Best Creamery Butter, per pound.... 10
Carolina Rice. per pound ............
10 Bars Octagon-Shape Soap for. p
Light Brown Sugar, per pounu'''''' %
Old Rye Whskey years old ,,..... W
Large North Carolina Roe her ~
ings. Ice. dozen, or, half barrel... %
Blackberry Wine. homemade, per %
Large bars Jefferson Laundry Soap,
Fresh res IS Soda Crackers and Ginger
SNAPS per pound ..................... 4
Fresh Lunch Crackers. &C., or -
pounds for .........;'''. ''''''''''''''
Pigs Feet vERS per pound dcI ;b; for o
Nice. Fat Mackerel. per dozen.... 10
Large James-Riyer Shad. ............ 10
silver King Minnesota Patent Fam
lily Flour s5.25 per barrel, or per =,
sn saSk Flake Patent Family Flour,
e. per barrel. or, per sack %
French Candy, per pound ..;.....':.. %
Sb pl props. per pound ......... 12h
Ian. Brand Roasted Coffee, In j
pound papers, Java and Laguayra, r.,
i7c. or pounds for ....i,.....;t....; ~
(The kind you pay zoe. for eisewhere) -
Assorted Caramels, pounds for -
Quart Bottle Tomato Catsup....'... ~
Condensed Cream, per can.........,''
Best Condensed MIX. Fern Brand
4 pounds California Prunes for - , e.
CALL FOR OUR NEW PIX E-L 10 X 7;
AND SEE HOW CHEAP WE AhE
SCI = - EVERYTHING.
=. ULLMAN'S son,
1920 AND 1922 EAST MAIN STREET.
Uptown Store, SOC east Marshall.
Phone 316 Phone a.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21

Z sr. IoHS. vl.s. PresIdent and General Mango.
T. T. geBEE, General Superintendent.
NV. b. GLOVER. 4. .. ANDERSON,
frame Manages. General Pss'r A,
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21

10 Cure . Cold In One Day
take laxative Bromo QuiDine Tablets.
Druggists refund money II falls TO cWe
~
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21
COURT ORDERS.

THE LAW AND EQUITY
COURT OF THE CITY OF hlOh-
MOND:
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21
s S S
COURT ORDERS.

VIRGINIA.-IN THE CHANCERY
COURT or TIE CITY OF RICH
MOND, THE 9TH DAY OF JANUARY.
1897:
Lotue Lee Brooks, who sues. etc. .........
Plaintiff,
VS
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21
RAY LINE--JAMES-RIVE ROUTE
FOR BALTIMORE.
CLOSE CONNECTION FOR ALL
POINTS NORTH.

Appointed sailing days. every TUES
DAY. THURSDAY, AND SATURDAY
at Il. NJ
Freight received daily until p. NJ.
Elegant state-rooms. heated by steam
and lighted by electricity.
For tickets, state-room reservations,
and further information. apply to
III. NJ BOYKIN.
General Agent,
SIG east Main street.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21

VIRGINIA.-IN THE LAW AND
RICHMOND, THE 18TH OF JAN
UARY. 1897:
Mamie Jahar (nee Wikins), who sues.
plaintiff
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21

It is the only remedy TO
be relied upon in deep
seated cases.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-03-31
Leave the Clothes.

In some gossip from the national CAPT
tol Henry L. Stoddard says: among
the applicants for foreign missions III
Washington last week was New Eng
land man attired so faultlessly that he
might have served for a fashion plate
He reminded the veteran Tom Donald
son of story told of an Ohio dandy
whom President Lincoln appointed as
consul to a South American country. A
wag met the new appointee on his way
to the white house to thank the presi-
dent. He was dressed in the most ex-
travagant style. The Wag Mortified him
by telling him that the country to which
he was assigned was noted chiefly for
the bugs that abounded there and made
life unbearable. They'll bore a hole
clean through you before a week has
passed." was the comforting assurance of
the wag as they parted at the white
house steps. The new consul approached
Lincoln with disappointment clearly writ
ten all over his face. Instead of joy
ously thanking the President, he told him
the wag's story of the bugs. 81 am in
formed, Mr. President" he said, that
the place is full of vernin and that they Ii
eat me up in a weeks time ''Well,
young man." replied Lincoln, ''if that
true all I've got to say is that they will
leave a mighty good suit of clothes be-
hind -
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-03-31
COSTLIEST OF FISH HOOKS.
The TarpCn Hook and the Various Elah

The TarpCn Hook and the Various E1ab-
crate Attachments that Go with it.
The most costly of fish hooks are those
for tarpon They are sold at retail at
various prices from 81 Il dozen for bare
hooks up to 81 a dozen for hooks fitted
up. The standard tarpon hook is four
inches in length. Some tarpOn fisher
men prefer to mount their own hooks.
They have ideas of their own as to the
best way and the best materials. \
swivel is always used. Some of the
hooks that are sold fitted up have smells
of German silver chain. Sometimes laces
of rawhide or porpoise skin are used for
smells. Some hooks are fitted with smells
of piano wire two feet long, made in
three lengths of eight inches each, linked
to prevent kinking. Fitted up tarpon
hooks that are sold at 81 a dozen are
provided with 36-inch braided or plated
linen smells, wound for two-thirds of
their length, from the upper end down
ward, with copper wire. The tarpon
swallows the hook AMI its teeth are
brought up on the smell where it is pro-
tected by the copper Wire. Sometimes
a shark takes the bait. 1t is desired to
lose the shark without the trouble of
hauling it in and casting it off, and the
shark is likely to free itself by biting
through the unprotected lower third Of
the smell.
While the tarpon hook is the costliest
of hooks there are flies that sell for more
there are some salmon flies that retail
as high as SO a dozen.-New York Sun.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-03-31
JUST AS MOTHER USED TO DO.

He criticised her buildings, and he didn't
like her cake;
He wished she'd make the biscuit that
his mother used to make;
She didn't wash the dishes, and she didn
make q stew,
And she didn't mend his stockings, as his
mother used to do.
All, well. she wasn't perfect, though she
tried to do her best,
Until at length she thought her time had
come to have q rest;
SO, when one day he went the same old
rigmarole all through,
She turned and boxed his ears, just as his
mother used to do.
-NeW York Evening Sun.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-03-31
Hydraulic Barber Chairs.

There are barber chairs that are operat-
ed by hydraulic power. The chair is
movable, like any other. Under the
seat, and supporting it, is vertical steel
column, which is a piston, working in a
cylinder in the base of the chair. Adjoin-
ing this cylinder, and also within the
base of the chair, is a small reservoir con-
tanning oil. By means of a pump operat-
ed with the foot, oil is pumped from the
reservoir into the cyc!jnder under the
piston, causing the chair to rise. The
pump is so adjusted that a single pressure
on the lever downward to it's limit lets
the column of oil flow back into the reser-
voir, and the chair is thus lowered
New York Sun
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-03-31
Some Big Coins.

It is said the largest gold coin now in
Of Anam, a French colony in Eastern
Asia. 1t is fiat, round gold piece, and
on it is written in India ink its value,
which is about $500. The next sized coin
to this valuable but extremely awkward
one is the ''ohang," Of Japan, which is
worth about $50, and next comes the
''benda," of Ashantee, which represents
a value of about $40. The California $50
gold piece is worth about the same as
the "benda." The heaviest silver coin in
the world also belongs to Anam, where
the silver ingot is worth about $15; then
comes the Chinese ''tael' and then the
Austrian double thaler.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-03-31
CENTRAL AFRICAN HUNTING.
Big Birds of Countless Kinds Ready fol
the Gun of the Sportsman.

Big Birds of Countless Kinds Ready for
the Gun of the Sportsman.
There is great sport awaiting the wild
fowl hunters who press across the dry
deserts of the North Kalahari to the
Botleti or Lake river, as it is usually
called. This is where the pelicans,
hamingOes, ibises, storks, cranes, herons,
fishing eagles, jaconos, coOts, rails and
other aquatic birds unknown to most
sportsmen rub bills with ducks, geese,
widgeons and teal in countless hosts,
can scarcely be found elsewhere.
The water fowl of south Central
Africa when the Botletli overhows dur
ing the dry season, as it does every year
from April to August, gather in the great
marshes. There are also side shots to be
taken daily with rifles at giraffes, wilde
beest, gemSbok, springbok and other des-
ert and woods creatures. The camp is
made in an open grove OF camelthorn
and motjeerie trees on a piece of rising
ground Near by is a big lagoon, and at
daybreak wild geese tell the hunters TO
get up, which the hunters do, with load
ed guns. A little sneak, which need not
be too carefully made, brings the shoot
ers within range, and geese fall Topping
to the ground before the sun rises.
Rare lechive-a kind of water birch
may be seen occasionally on still-huuting
expeditions.
Near lagoons Egyptian geese, black
and white, spurwinged geese, knob
billed geese. yellow-billed ducks, red
billed teal, Cape widgeon, Widow Tree
ducks, dark brown African sochards,
avocets and lean plover may be seen
gathered on or about the water, with
other birds as beautiful and as game. A
shot puts them to flight, and for hours
one may shoot them as they come and go
in screaming focks, as one may travel
from lagoon to lagoon and shoot with no
interval of waiting for the game. l. is
rims q chill ono
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-03-31
Venus.

Venus is playing a star role these even
ings and has no rival in the western
heavens. She is the evening star" and
shines brightly through the wind-swept
March atmosphere. So brilliant is Venus
as she chases around after the sun that
many have been puzzled and have writ
ten letters asking if a new star has found
a place in the armament, or if the star
of Bethlehem has returned. This is not
the first time she has puzzled humanity,
for Sir John Herschel had a hard time
of it trying to discover what made her
shine with such brilliancy. He had to
give it up, for it dazzdel his eyes.-Mil-
Maukee Evening WISCONSIN
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-03-31
Naming the Flowers.

We differ from the Japanese in many
things, even to the naming of flowers.
If we name a chrysanthemum in this
country it is Mrs. Lucinda Brown, Betsy
Baker Smith or Miss Robinson. Every
to euphony or the fitness of things. a
queeniy blossom of splendorous hue is
apt TO bear the name Of the insipid char
acterless Miss Brown. On the other
hand, the Japanese endeavor to have the
names as pretty and unique as the flow
ers are themselves. Anyone will grant
dragon Blood Eye of the Sum-
Morning Crown or Pearl Palace" are
vast improvements over Smith, Jones
and Robinson in the naming of flowers.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-03-31
WHAT MERCURY REALLY IS.
Perciva1 Lowell Summarizes the Grea1
Planet.

Perciva1 Lowell Summarizes the Great
Planet.
Mr. Lowell summarizes his Atlantic
article on Mercury as follows:
Mercury is a body devoid, practical
~ if not absolutely, of air. water and of
vegetation; consequently incapable of
supporting any Of those higher organisms
WHICH we know as living beings. His
surface is a vast desert. 1t is rough
rather than smooth. Whether this rough
ness be due to mountains proper or to
craterS we are too far away from him
to have been able yet to say. The latter
are the more probable. Over the greater
part of his surface change either diurnal
or seasonal is unknown. Three-eighths of
his surface is STEPPED in perpetual glare
three-eighthS shrouded in perpetual
gloom, while the remaining quarter slow
ly turns between the two. The planet
itself, as a world, is dead.
Interesting as Mercury thus proves to
be, the interest as regards the planet it
self is of a rather corpse-like character.
Less deterrent, perhaps, is the interest it
possesses as Il part of the life history
OF the solar system. For tidal friction,
the closing act in the cOsmic drama, has
brought it where it is. The machine has
run down. Whether it ever supported
life upon its surface or not, the power
to do so has now forever passed away.
Like Venus and for like cause, it is now
dead world. And it was the first
thus to reach the end of its revolutionary
career, earlier to do so than Venus, mas
much as tidal action was very much
greater upon it than on her, and conse-
quently produced its effect more quickly
Mercury has long been dead-how long,
measured by centuries, we cannot say,
but practically for very long time. Venus
must have become SO comparatively re-
Gently. Buth, however, now have fin
ished their course, and have III most
literal sense entered into their rest