The times., 1899-07-08
PICKED UP AT RANDOM.

chosen at random and IN the ordinary
course of business they mean much to the
sea dog who pins faith on the small
chances. Already several of the officials
in the Navy Department have runs
changes on the letters and seem to believe
that the signal will prove mascot. One
retired captain who has sailed for years
has interpreted the letters as meaning
Keep Prize Defend Valiantly," and other
changes have been rung on the four letters.
At all events TX. P.'' is but the phonetic
method of spelling cup and this in itself
is said to mean much. To which all good
Americans and sea dogs in general will
say, as did Captain Cutie, When found,
make note on
Capt. n. NJ. Dyer, of the Baltimore, tas
returned to his native town, Melrose,
Mass, and is showing the natives OF The
Bay State of what stuff the men who
fought with Dewey are composed. His
first move was 10 refuse any reception with
lavish display. This was followed by nat
refusal to do any bombarding for the mag
azines and lastly, but best, he scored GER
tain Boston citizens for their anti-expan
sion sentiments.
They are doing more harm than they
know said the gallant captain, land they
are deluding the insurgents, who think
that if they hold out little longer The
present Administration will be oyerthrown
and they can do as they please, This state
of affairs is due to the Vaccinations OF the
goody-good people of Massachusetts, and
other States, ana they should be sup
pressed at once"
All of which comes from a man who has
been in the Philippines for year, and
knows whereof he speaks.
Probably the only trust now existing that
has not been incorporated under the laws
of some friendly State is the combination
OF street beggars, which is now doing 4
fiourishing business in New York. The
Beggars' Trust is syndicate of expert
charity mongers who are doing business in
systematic and thorough manner. Lists
of benevolent parties and residences are
furnished 10 those in the ring" and the
books are so carefully kept that no man
ever duplicates a call. member of the
syndicate who was recently arrested was
promptly bailed out by his associates and
while the trust cannot yet defy the law as
have other combinations, it is doing good
business.
An official of the War Department called
attention yesterday to a very pretty COIN
cidence which occurred last week. While
the gunboat Nashville was entering Nor
folk she sighted and passed large mer-
chant steamship which was flying the Stars
and Stripes. As the vessels drew nearer
1t was discovered that the steamer was
the Buena Ventura, the first prize of the
war, which was captured by the little
Nashville. The crews of both vessels ex-
changed cheers and a big gunner's mate
on the Nashville exclaimed: Il seen that
boat when she wasn't fyin' as pretty a
flag as the one her halyards now
The kissing bug" Will have to make
way for the telephone germ" and Chi
cago has gone New York one better. The
latest fad is to scrape the mouthpiece OF
telephone and then examine the scrap
ings with strong microscope. lively
continuous performance is promised, and,
according 10 the inventors CT the tele-
phone germ, the hello microbe" has come
TO stay. The new discovery may lead TO
the solution of the strange noises which
make telephoning very much of nui-
sance, and if it is discovered that the ba-
cilli are at all TO blame. the new order
of things Will be TO yell, Say, scrape your
mouthpiecei" instead of Stand closer, y
as formerly.
a Regular Army officer who saw service
in Cuba was relating some of his expert
ences in the Ebbitt House a few nights
ago. when one of his auditors asked him
why it was that the Spaniards did not put
up a better fight in view of the fact that
the troops were well armed and had loads
OF ammunition. In answer to the query the
tanned warrior wiped his mouth and said.
Very easily explained. The rank and
file were never paid, and when you do not
pay soldier for his services he forgcts
the meaning of his flag.
why" said he. Il once corralled a
Spanish commissary officer who could
speak English and he told me something
that caused me to grin. He claimed that
there were no paymasters. in the service
and that when the regular allowances
came from Madrid they were turned over
to the colonel of the regiment. There are
only two battalions in a Spanish regiment.
each OF these being commanded by lieu
tenant colonel. and when the colonel had
taken some of the money he turned the
balance over to the lieutenant colonel, who
also took dip and then turned the funds
over to the captains, who gave the balance
to the sergeants and the latter received
very little. ne assured me. Yes. it is
great pay system for the officers. but
where do the privates come in?"