Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02

.EyhUs it cannot b.. stated that it ia an
American habit To light lamps and gas
with money explained an official Of the
redemption division OF the Treasury De
partment to "a Star reporter. there are
number who appear actually 20 have money
TO burn. and who now and then burn it.
There are more money burners, too. than
come to the front and demand redemp-
ton OF their partly-destrOyed money. for
some people hesitate before they are will
ing to appear in such an indefensible posi-
ton. l don't want TO be understood as
stating that it occurs every day, for that
would probably be stretching it somewhat,
but it Is fact that it occurs many more
times than would be supposed. y case Of
the kind came to the division last week.
where a fellow lighted a match at the door
of his room and from that lighted what he
supposed was a piece Of paper which he
had in his pocket. He started with the
lighted paper To find the gas Jet lie FOUND
IL, and "a he blew out his lighted paper he
asCertaiued. to his surprise and disgust.
that his taper was a ten-doilar bill. more
than oNe-half Of which had been burned.
In his communication to the Secretary or
the Treasury TO whom he advised to
write he admitted that he was a fool and
deserved a kick instead of anything else,
bur said grass was rather short with
him he would have to appeal for redemp-
ton. He furnished the necessary affda-
Wits which under the law have to be filed
in such cases. and a new bill was sent him
for the half-hUrHed nO-e which he sent in
for redemption. Lots of times people burn
money, but make no claim for redemption.
suppOsing that they have no redress i'll the
matter. But the Treasury Department
does not. as a rule, hunt up trouble un-
less the claim Is made none is suggested.
Il had "a case somewhat in the same line
recently, and there are frequent similar oc-
currenoes. where a one-dollar dog puppy
ate up two-thirdS of a hVe-dOllar note.
The pup was of a playful disposition.
wrote the man who owned it, and, though
I saw him playing with the note, did not
recognize il as money. But he won't play
any more in my back yard Later on,
when the puppy got tired playing with ii,
the owner discovered that the dog had been
amusing himself with note which HI by
accident fallen on the floor The atfdavlts
In the case were very amusing, but the
man got his remnant of note redeemed
at its full value. The lamp and gas light
ing people are by great odds in the ma jOri-
~. Out IF number Of such cases the
percentage of women sufferers Is small
that IL can almost he said they don't lose
money by using il as lighters. knew of
a woman who boiled almost out of exist
ence several bills which by some means
got in the folds If the leaves of a head Of
cabbage The money dropped into her
basket on her way back from the market.
The notes were pretty well wrecked for
the cabbage was being cut up when they
were disco vered. but there was enough left
On which To base a redemption"
x
The largest plant in the world said an
eminent naturalist To the writer the other
day. lis probably a gigantic sea weed,
known as the 'nereocytis which frequent
Iy grows 70 height Of more than 300 feet
The stem Of the plant is as strong as an
ordinary rope ami large quantities Of it are
dried and used as rope by the Inhabitants
Of the South Sea Islands, where the curl
Gus vegetable ropes are found. This sea
weed usually grows at a depth Of from
300 70 300 feet. As soon as the plant takes
root a pear-shaped balloon is formed which
grows with the sten toward the surface Of
the center This balloon frequently has
diameter Of six feet or more. 1t has. of
course. an upward tendency, and therefore
Keeps the stem growing until il floats on
the top Of the wafer This enormous weed
grows IN such quantities that large
rneadow-like Islands are formed which are
often So big as TO impede navigation. The
ropes made from the stems Of the plant are
used for building purposes and the bal
looms. when dried, make very serviceable
vessels
* -
Though X is q swindle beyond doubt
there does not seem to be any way to pre-
vent it." said a police officer to a Star
reporter, referring 70 the victims Of the
portrait charging and picture frame swim
de "and, notwithstanding al THAT has
been said and published IN the Newspapers
about It. the number OF the victims is con-
stantly increasing. Now that the holiday
season Is approaching. the canva ssers are
out in large numbers, though they seldom
operate except in the outer sections of the
city. Women canvassers are less employ
Ell than formerly. though there are q num-
Der Of them at work yet. for women do not
appear 70 have the faculty to impose upon
people with such success as do men. II
Is the OH. old story, freshended up to suit
the times. The canyasser calls at the resi-
dence end tells rigamaruIe about a new
FORM Of advertising that the concern which
employs MIN has put ir-0 operation just As
a trial between now and Christmas: that
one person in each block IS To be favored
with free Portrait as an advertisement
ana the particular person called on is the
fortunate one The portrait. Of course IS
free, but The fake comes in in charging
from 81 TO SIP for the frame A liberal
price for such a portrait Is about 81 for
the artists who are hired To make them