Evening star., 1898-07-16

81 do not know that our people fully ap-
preciate IT, but they have so many privf-
leges that their parents and grandparents
did not have maybe they cannot" remarked
q well-kr own aged colored resident to
Star rep rter. These privileges are so
many that 1 cannot enumerate them, even
IL 1 desired to do so. Tt was a very rare
thing for a coIored parson to ever enjoy the
band concerts at the White House grounds
on Saturday afternoons in the times gone
by, not that they could not do so, but be-
cause they were not allowed entrance into
the grounds. Those who ware servants,
nurses and the like could enter If they had
white children in their charge, but nothing
else could secure admission for them. There
were few who ever tried to get into the
grounds but If they did they would be un-
able to do so, for the policemen at the gates
carefully observed the rule, though it was
entirely unwritten, there being no record
of it Times have changed greatly since
then, for on a recent Saturday afternoon
there / think l saw mora colOred than
white people. Colored persons were never
allowed to ride in the stages that were run
in this city from Georgetown to the Capt.
tol and from 7th and Pennsylvania avenue
to the steamboat wharves before the street
car lines were established. For a long time
even after street car lines were establish
ed cOlored people were admitted only to the
bob-taiIed cars, which had on them a sign,
For colOred persons only 1t took years
to make these changes, and they came one
by one SO. gradually that hardly anybody
noticed it The strange part of 1t Is that
no one appears to be injured by 1t. l do
not expect to live very long, but somehow
think l will live long enough to see all the
churches open TO colored and white alike.
II will not take such a revolution to bring
this about as it did to get the colored race
into the street cars. public buildings and
the like. and / really think III live TO see
1t, though 1 have never advocated it."
X x x x
81 will never forget Washington" sail
Mr.. H. R. Radcliffe of Chicago, who pre-
sided over one of the branch conventions
Of the educational convention, to a Star
reporter. and I don't think any of the dele
gates TO the convention will, for they real
lied everything that they had anticipated
by coming here, and had a grand time in
every way But my reason for not forget
ting Washington dates back to August,
twelve years ago, the night Of the earth
quake which shook up this section of
country SO thoroughly. I was the guest of
some friends in a large boarding house,
who had prepared a nice lot of refresh
ments- After they were all eaten, 1 sug
gested to some of the ladies that they go
to a drug store near by to have a glass of
soda water 1t was about 10 O'Clock at
night There were about thirty-five board
STS III the mouse, InOuSn not over a nalE
dozen had been in our party. As we start
ed to go down stairs. of the ladies
asked who of the party were included
in the invitation to have soda water, and
l answered everybody, all hands, come.
We were all on the stairs and did not feel
the shock. but by the time we had reached
the lower floor every man and woman
boarding in the house was there, many of
them in a half-dressed condition. l had
not the slightest idea that an earthquake
had occurred ard supposed because 1 had
said that everybody was included in the
Invitation for soda water that they were
specially active in responding. Mutual
plantations followed. though the entire
party were so alarmed that not one of
them Joined me in the soda water. 1
never have seen soda water sign since
that l did not remember that earthquake
Incident and the many humorous things in
connection with it. l had nearly the same
party with me a few evenings since. and
thOugn l SAID soda water again none of
them failed to respond that time, though
1t was about the earthquake hour
The soldier boys of today are no worse
or no better than the soldier boys of the
last war, explained an officer of the COM
missary generals office to a Star reporter.
land while they growIed good deal the
first couple of weeks after they entered the
service, there is no growing heard now
They first started out with the idea that
Trey were going to be starved to death, and
that it was their duty to howl before they
died. In a little while that idea passed
away and then they began to kick because
there were not as many changes and va
fieties in the bill of fare as there are on
the menus of the hotels They were right
about this. and they soon found 1t out.
They have, many of them at least, found
out for themselves that an elaborate
menu Is not essential or convenient, and
Th.lV hG4r lE.A
get. The fellows who thought they were
to be starved to death on a ration of four
teen ounces of meat daily. probably twice
as much more than tbs same fellows
had ever consumed during their previous
HE, have since realized that they cannot
get away with II. 1t is difficult to get
at the exact amount consumed. for there
Is as mucn meat wasted now there is
eaten every day and will be for some time
yet, when things will run in better shape,
out 1t Is safe 10 say that the average SOL
der does not eat six ounces of meat each
DAY Even If the weather was cool the
run amount could not be eaten until the
Solder learned how to eat it. az he has
70 learn 20 wash, shave, dress and drill. AS
tne weather gets warmer the consumption
OF meat In the entire southern country
decreases The fourteen ounces of bread or
hour Is also more than the ordinary SOL
Oler can eat In q day. as he hgls found ont
one thing is sure, and that Is that the
american soldier would not starve even If
MS ration was reduced one-haIf Nine
tSAtuS OF the men will grow fat on The
ration. for they get more solid food than
ever before In their lives. When they learn
70 make fancy dishes for themselves there
vii! be no more complaint, and this they
Will learn In time"
me criticisms Of the new summer uni
1orns Tor the army. and especially against
tbs canvas uniform designed by General
Miles" explained an army officer to Star
reporter. ARE nearly all made in ignorance
OF facts and requirements In the case
Nearly everything in connection with the
army has been reduced to cold statistics
and 1t is these that govern such matters
rather than theories. The ideal uniform
should be suitable for the season and the
place and circumstances under which II Is
worn The color should be that which
mostly resembles that Of dried grass, so
that soldiers wearing 1t would be as little
IN evidence as possible. The red and glar-
ing uniforms of the British soldier Of
years ago has been entirely discarded nv
tnat government, for the reason that 1t
TOO clearly indicated the wearer to an enc
by II proved to be the most fatal color
I4iAL mas been devised O, 49,,