Evening star., 1902-03-08

1t teaches him to be more of a man than
he ever was In his life before man who
has never had a chronic, protracted case
OF dyspepsia does not know what 1t Is 10
deprive himself of food and drink, but the
real victim learns to do without anything
and everything. He can do without liquids
for hours before, during and after his
meals, he can eat the same thing over three
times day for six months or year and
see others eat the best to be had. He can
deprive himself OF smoking, take exercise
that he does not want to take. and do most
anything that he never believed he could
force himself to do. If in good health a
man would swear that he could never bring
himself to the depriVationS and discomforts
he endures when suffering from dyspepsia
1t is remarkable what a man can do when
compelled by the force of circumstances or
Ill health. and that is why I say man suf-
fering from dyspepsia has the hardest time
of any person in the world and his condf-
tlon is the least appreciated by those around
him, including his own family"
X X
Men and women who never pass the
line which brings them to the doors Of a
penitentiary. but ever keep lowering on
the border, constitute class that Is diff
cult to deal with"
The speaker was a successful and capa-
BILE business man and as he had just closed
vidual 1t was quite evident that he had his
caller In mind.
Such people are not deficient in ability
which would enable them to earn a COM
Portable living. Many are. however self
indulgent, shrink from the sternness Of
economy and self-denial and gradually so
weaken their will power that they simply
become orlftWood In the tide of circum-
stances. When they are stranded, which
is the inevitable outcome of such a life
when misfortune in some form or other
comes upon them. then their relatives or
trends are looked to. The Industrious and
Woodworking are obliged to contribute to
the support of such people as well as the
others who constitute the class of incom-
petents 1t seems hard. though when this
GLASS; already sufficiently large. should be
increased by the voluntary action Of those
who properly should be contributors to the
support Of the weaklings Of the commu-
nity.
X X X X
"A recent article In The Star on Tight
nlns Franks suggests to me an unsuccess-
full attempt at suicide in the Capitol" said
a local business man last week. IAN insane
man OF powerful build had climbed the
stairs leading to the dome and had walked
to the railing Immediately under the
canopy. AS he was climbing on this railing
to throw himself down to the floor of the
d
Capitol police, Caspar Koch The officer
seized him just when the man had succeed
ed in getting nearly over the rail- A ter
rible struggle ensued. which ended in the
arrest of the insane man and his subsequent
Incarceration in an insane asylum. In the
struggle between the men the insane man
nearly chewed the thumb off his captor's s
hand. Great numbers Of people were in the
rotunda at the time, and had the man sue
ceeded In throwing himself over the rail-
Ing no one can estimate the consequences
But 1t would not take very vivid imagina-
tion to picture them. medal should have
been given that officer, and there is no
doubt he would have obtained one had he
not been too modest to speak for himself"
* X X
There may be some truth In the idea
that detectives are born, not made" OBJ
served an old detective to a Star reporter,
though there is such thing as a man
learning the business. It takes some men
many years to learn the business, while
others pick 1t up almost instantly. A whole
lot OF things go into the making of a good
detective but unless a man Is possessed of
the knack and power Of observation he is
not likely to make much Of a success. He
should have a common school education,
but more than that Is not essential. It is
not what he knows that figures much in
Some years ago was asked by Mr. W. r.
Woodward, who was then chief OF the
special agents Of the Post Office Depart
ment. to assist him in the selection Of some
detectives to make the necessary investi-
cations in connection with the mail SER
vice. There were over a dozen applicants
for three additional positions which had
been authorized by law, and the task of
making the selections had fallen upon him.
ADDlfc9ntS
politically and otherwise, and they were
all thoroughly satisfied in their own minds
that they were qualified for the work to be
done. Mr.. Woodward was one Of the few
highly educated men that had ever known
who was q success in the detective busi-
ness He asked all the applicants to meet
him In room in the Post Office Depart
ment, informing them that his purpose
was to test competitively their powers of
observation. He talked to them while.
explaining exactly what he wanted to find
out as to their capacities. His talk was
interrupted by a gasftter. who entered the
room to change the burners on the gas
fixtures. The man tinkered away at the
gas fixtures for at least ten minutes and
then. gathering up his tools, left the room.
Woodward then asked the would-be de-
tectives to write accurate descriptions of
the gasf1tter and to specially describe his
personal features. color Of hair, eyes and
the like with a close guess as to his height
AMI weight. Would you believe it? Not
one OF them had noticed him. The entire
party were SO intent on being appointed
detectives that they seemed to be oblivious
of everything else except their ambition
and their own existence The trick OF hav-
ing the gasftter come In the room was my
own suggestion as a way of getting at
their powers Of observation, and 1t showed
effectually they were lacking. None Of that
dozen ever received an appointment"