Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-20


Chicago 70 Washington. The day was
warm and sultry and the three occupants
of the smoking room were in shirt sleeves.
putting drowsily at their cigars. A we'll
proport!oned, well-groomed. gray haired
gentleman was doing the talking
You have no idea said he. "of the
enormous waste in wear and tear on steel
rails and car wheels. Railroads all over
the country are taking up their eighty and
ninety pound rails and substituting for
them 10 pound rails, and even these soon
give way under the great strain"
Over in the corner sat little ms: gnifi-
cant looking foreigner whose eyes bright
ened when he heard mention of wear and
tear rails.
81 tell YOU" he said, with a decided ac-
cent. why not make an axle. on a pivot.
50 the wheel fiange keep parallel with the
rails This make little friction, save lots
of money. No?'
The prosperous looking individual
glanced at the foreigner. scornfully.
Ridiculous and absolutely impractical
BILE" lie said. taking an extra long pun at
his cigar and throwing his chest out sew
eral inches. We railroad people are the
most progressive in the world. bar none,
and We are using everything modern TO
facilitate our services our Scneliie 70
absolutely impracticable, absolutely. And
the prosperous individual leaned back IN
his chair. much pleased with himself.
.'Impracticable. huh?" asked the little fell
low in the corner : - W , Is NJ answered
the railroad man. IF such an idea was
any good we railroad people would nave
adopted il long ago. AS | said. we We're not
born yesterday. and that cohioulioeu pi' ,,e
axle business is ridiculous And again he
leaned back, much as to say, w ELL 1
guess that will hold you for awhile
But it didn't -,,
I guess you tink different in about year.
/ lust got patent on dot scheme. ana IL
work all right In one year you ne use my
pivot axle" So saying he pulled series Vi
working drawings from his pocket showing
the pivot axle scheme in detail A smlle
crept over the foreigners face, while pas
senger No. laughed outright Inc pros
perous looking individual threw MS cigar
out of the window, ana ieit the summing
room in disgust.
* 4 u
..Tbe evolution of the shoe presents
rather interesting study" said drummer
for footwear to a Star reporter recently.
And it will be Interesting to know just
what changes will take place in the future.
Boots have about disappeared except Ill
plays of a romantic kind. Boots are most
" found on the stage now. or course one
might find them in remote sections OF the
country in lumber camps, where men are
forced to work a great deal in marshS
places, and where they often sink up 10
their knees in mud and water. But IN
modern life boots are, as a rule. in the
way They are TOO heavy. They are
handicap in the race for success. Men
have taken to lighter footwear. They want
to carry just as little weight as possible.
They do not want anything that interferes
too much with the suppleness of the limbs.
NJ. ha |
thinking more particularly of the lnfu-
ences in detail that have worked out the
changes in footwear.
The modern method Of living has been
at war with the old style of shoes. just as
IT has been at war with old fashions in the
matter of clothes. Why should a man or
woman wear heavy shoes in the cities oil
today? There is no reason for it There
are too many convenenceS. man can
step in the car at his Office door and in "a
few minutes he can step out of IL right at
the door Of his home. 1t is cheaper ID ride
than it is to buy shoes We find In these
conditions an explanation for the popular
ity of the low-quartered shoes in these
later days. l suppose after awhile men
and women will be able to wear toe shoes
without any sort of Inconvenience. and
they will be able to get around quite as
we'll as their forefat hers did in boots and
shoes of heavier kind. Besides The de-
velopment in sidewalks in cities has had
much - do with changing the character of
of mud and water and to keep ones feet
dry without crawling into a cab or a street
car. So | might go on and mention many
other influences which have been AZ work
to bring about the changes we observe in
footwear. But these things will naturally
suggest themselves to persons who take
the trouble to keep in touch with modern
styles. 1t is an interesting study. and one
which may be pursued with profit"
=
Smoke as a preventive of frost is the
subject of a report 10 the State Depart
ment by Consul Haynes. at Rouen, France.
Experiments conducted by NJ Bignon for
many years attest the efficacy of artificial
clouds in preventing late frosts These ex-
periments were made with a vineyard
about fifteen acres in extent and divided
into five parts by walks twelve to fifteen
feet wide and circled by an Avenue of
equal width. These walks were used in
the building of fires in small basins about
hfty feet apart. These basins were filled
with resinous matter and pieces of pine
and other vegetable debris. which when
lighted. throw out dense clouds of smoke
ana IN that way raises the temperature OF
the surrounding atmosphere. The consul
says any substance can be burnt which
gives thick and abundant smoke such as
green herbs. moss. damp straw tufts OF
grass. etc. but In France the be st results
have been obtained by the use of heavy
oils which are the residues of gas NJ
Bgnon says that recourse was had to
these artificial fires four times In I9O8 when
the frosts were very heavy. The total ex-
pense was 800. and the result was the
preservation OF % per cent of the harvest.
OF about 100 barrels of wine
TWO painters, now employed In connec-
ton with the annual midsummer removal
ton of the city hall were busily engaged in
the office Of the clerk OF the Court Of AD-
peals. few days ago. and their animated
conversation was overheard.
IL know two painters IN Alexandria who
haven't worked for two years" one Of the
brush handlers observed
Yes, the other responded. ''and I'll bet
they dress better than we do"
That's right" No. l admitted
And live better"
They certainly seem to-"
And look more prosperous"
You're right" No. remarked. rather
mournfully. Il wish knew the recip, they
follow"
so do t. No. rejoned IL had the book
In my hand once, but | wasn't allowed To
open IL"
The solution of the liquor problem re-
marked a temperance man to a Star re-
porter. lis on par with that OF the negro
problem. about which we hear so much.
There Is simply no problem. but a question