Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-17
THINGS
HEARD
and SEEN -.

y a.
are not of such stuff as to lead to the belief
that they disintegrate, as did the deacon
famous shay" which went to atoms in an
instant. after rolling safely for one hun
dred years to a day. Bicycles are inde-
structible things, whatever fastidious and
unfortunate riders may think to the con-
trary. Tires may be punctured. but the
frame remains fairly stiff. and is not to be
disintegrated, Perhaps some place may be
found where the skeletons Of old machines
are thrown. a spoil pile of years. They
may be returned to factories when too far
gone, to be there given over to the fur
naces and recast and forged into fresh
tubes and bearings and chains. But an OBJ
servant person In a large city will find ex-
PLANTATION of part of the mystery without
reference to this possibility. In this city,
especially. a spectacle may be seen almost
daily which will throw light on the ques-
ton. II an inquisitive person will look
closely In the neighborhood of some public
work, such the digging Of a sewer, the
laying of new sidewalk or pavement, the
digging of foundation, wherever, In fact,
common labor is employed, he will notice q
great stack OF bicycles. in all stages OF dis-
repair and with strong evidences of age.
Sometimes as many as forty wheels are to
be thus found near the scene of sidewalk
laying. They belong to the negro laborers,
who have picked them up here and there
for practically nothing-it Is to be assumed
or course, that they are honestly obtained
and who find them of great service in get
ting to and from their work. When the
whistle blows for knocking off in the even
ing these men will be seen scurrying for
the wheel stack. and In few moments the
streets will be alive in all directions with
men in dirt-stained clothes pedaling vfgor-
ously for home. They will ride often in the
worst OF weathers, for they do not care
for the condition Of the wheels or their
clothes. and by this means doubtless they
n Std ora 10 In far
while they add many minutes to each day
which can be devoted to rest or recreation
The general use Of the wheel by this class
has enabled many poor families to move
to distance from the center Of the city,
where rents are cheaper and conditions
more wholesome. SO that the wreck"
STANDS To-Day as an economic agent OF rare
sociological value. The bicycle may be
passing through the usual experience of
fads, which wax and wane. but it is prob
ably permanently adopted as the poor
mans vehicle. as long as the supply Of
cheap and abandoned machines lasts.
\ X
did 1t ever strike YOU" asked a naval
officer on duty at the department Of a
Star reporter. what queer position Cap
tain Lemly will hold after the Schley court
of inquiry convenes? You see he is judge
advocate of that court. and its findings
must come before him the second time in
his capacity as judge advocate general Of
the navy. Thus he may often be called
upon to recommend something to himself.
Il can fancy right now" the officer con-
tinued, walking jauntily along the cor
ridor, as Is his won't and solilouuizine:
=" Perhaps. Captain Lemly. judge advocate
OF the Schley court Of inquiry. 1t wouldn't
be bad Idea for you to step into the Of
flee OF Captain Lemly, judge advocate gen.
erai Of the navy, and make few sugges-
and QStt 40
officer"
x X X X X
Every time the troops Of the District OF
Columbia National Guard go into camp
said an officer of the local brigade to a
Star reporter, "a certain class of persons
residing In the vicinity Of the camp
grounds seem to think the presence Of the
soldiers Is sufficient excuse to warrant
them in submitting all manner Of claims to
headquarters. For instance. before the re-
cent camp at Leesburg was three days old
a score of more or less indignant farmers
had called to see Gen. Harries and de-
manded that they be paid for chickens,
pigs. tomatoes. corn and almost everything
connected with farm susceptible Of being
stolen or trampled upon. Although it was
we'll nigh impossible to prove that the al
legged damage had been wrought by District
National Guardsmen, every effort was
made to carefully investigate each COM
plant. Finally. the day prior to breaking
camp board Of officers. consisting OF
Major Charles II. Ourand the inspector
general of the militia: Major r. D. Simms
Of the 9Th Battalion, and Capt. Charles r.
Swigart. adjutant of the I'd Regiment was
appointed to consider and pass upon all
claims.
Those who appeared before the board
included a woman, the wife of farmer
who lived very close to the camp Enclosure.
Among other things she declared that men
In uniform had completely wrecked a fine
new gate-had actually torn 1t from its
hinges-directly in front of her house. The
board promised to visit the premises later
In the day view the wreck and make an
estimate of the amount of the damage.
1.-The complainant departed. but instead
of waiting, the officers followed close after
her. From a convenient distance they
watched her proceed to a perfectly sound
gate. and with a Ratchet, begin to demolish
it. When the destruction was well under
way the board appeared suddenly the
scene The discontinue of the woman " as
beyond adequate description.
THE board recommended that the claim
be disallowed." concluded the officer.