Evening star., 1900-02-06

clouds for. household purposes. He has sue
ceeded in bringing the current into his
home, and is aow engaged in seeking a
means to harness the electricity into a
cheaper and better system than that of
the dynamo. Three tailless kites, 1000 feet
of threadlike copper wire. an iron rod and
a simple switch comprise the apparatus
necessary to utilize the intense intermit-
tent. current for Photographic and labora-
tory purposes. He says the system may
become a powerful factor in army signaling
and that the future promises to disclose a
means of lighting great sky-scrapers with
electric fluid from the clouds. Prof Eddy
says the high buildings in various parts of
the country can be lighted by electricity
gathered from the clouds by means of gil
Eantic collectors, and that the great prob
these structures in order to prevent the
current from escaping through the iron
framework into the ground. Millions of
volts can be secured from the clouds, he
asserts, when this problem is once solved.
Interest in L. A. w. Convention.
This section of the country, and particu-
lsrly this city, is greatly interested ip the
National Assembly of the League Of Amer
lean Wheelmen, which will convene at
Philadelphia on February IA. The most i'm
portant matters that will come before the
assembly are the election Of a new presi-
dent to succeed the present incumbent and
offset the evil effects of the policy that
has been followed by the present head of
the league. 1t has been apparent to league
members for some time that a new policy
should have been adopted last year, and
now the reform movement In the league has
acquired such an impetus that there is no
stopping it. Racing and the racing officers
who have plunged the league into so much
trouble will have to be dropped, the league
members say, and it Is expected that this
will be done almost as soon as the ma
tional assembly has been called to order
There is no question of the ability and
popularity Of Collector George r. Bidwell
of this city. who has agreed to accept the
presidency of the league, and the New York
delegation which will nominate Collector
BidweH has been assured of support by so
many other delegations that his election is
almost sure. The majority of the men who
make up the L. A. w. racing board have
declared against racing, and have permitted
it to be said that they favor the election
of new man.
1t is said that hereafter good roads and
wheelmen's rights will be the slogan of
the league, and the National Cycling Asso-
citation, which has shown itself competent
to manage cycle racing, will have sole pos
session of that field.
Lepers in New York.
According to DR.. Albert s. Ashmead there
are at least one hundred lepers walk
ing about the streets of New York. One
hundred victims of the loathsome and con-
tagious disease of leprosy have free access
to the cars, churches and theaters. They
can go and come when and where they
please. There is no law, federal or state,
for their detention or isolation, beyond the
ordinary regulations of the board of health,
and any report made to that august body
of case of leprosy is frowned upon and
promptly hushed up. DIR. Ashmead is one
of the best-known leperologists in the coun-
try.
One can hardly say the week past has
been such gay week, for there have been
few brilliant functions given. Still, society
seems to be having good time, and is en-
joying its last fling before fitting away to
Europe south. Those who have not al
ready gone are preparing to CO. and in a
very few weeks the haunts of the smart
people will be deserted. Nearly all~of the
people who are going away are destined for
the south of France or Egypt for London's
gloom and sorrow do not invite our society
butterflies. and Paris is in the throes of it's
final preparations for the exposition. Mrs.
Ogden Mills will sail the third week in
February. Mrs John r. DreXel will remain
here till March, and Mrs. Herman Oelrichs
will sail on February I to join Mr.. and Mrs
Willie X. Vanderbilt, jr., at Nice.