Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-27
the great battloshtps Nebraska. Vermont

the great battleships Nebraska, Vermont,
Virginia. Georgia. New Jersey, Rhode
Island and Louisiana, the arnored crus-
ers California, South Dakota, Tennessee
and Washington and the protected cruis-
ers ST. Paul, Milwaukee and Charleston.
The result of this large addition to the
navy will be swing of the pendulum of
activity to the other extreme. Not for n
long time have there been SO few vessels
in the early period OF their construction
as now, and the consequence will be that
July I, 1906, will find fewer ships than in
many years in course of construction at
private or government yards.
Mrs. Roosevelt is not fond OF the lime
light and she says nothing outside the
circle of her closest friends about her
many little rhilanthropics yet she is one
of the most patriotic OF all the women
who have tenanted the White House, and
is always dcvising now plans for the
furtherance of the nations interests-es-
pccially those of the women. She Ia
sponsor for what promises to become the
great American silk industry-an enter
prise contemplating the establishment of
business that may rival European and
Asiatic commercial interests in that line.
Mrs. Roosevelt. at the Inauguration bail
last March. wore a silk gown which had
been woven on American looms. Before
she leaves Washington she may appear at
another big affair in n frock entirely Of
American production. for she is fostering
the culture OF silk worms by American
women, and already the plan has had n
rf
thrive wherever mulberry trees or Usage
orange bushes grow. The raising OF them
requires only 6j days a year. Little care
Is needed. the chief essentials being abun.
dance of leaves and large room that can
be given over exclusively TO the culture
for six weeks. 1t is Mrs. Roosevelts idea
that silkworm culture in the United
States will be conducted principally by
farmers wives and daughters. as 1t 10 in
Europe.
GLASS Luncheon" might he fitting
title for an entertainment given a few
days ago by Mrs. Harry I-ehr. Not that
the hostess had invited a dime museum
freak to teach her guests how to eat
glass. Simply she had carried out to IL
logical extreme the fad of using glass
covers for dining tables. On the table
had been spread piece OF the beautiful
Irish lace Mrs. Lehr had brought from
Europe. and ferns were strewn on that.
Seen through the glass top the effect was
charming. All the tableware was glass.
The only drawback the glassware offered
was that every time a metallic substance
was laid upon It there was a disturbing
clatter.
The Historical society Of Flushing, near
this city, which has been making an ef-
fort to raise funds with which to pur-
chase the old Johann Sprong house from
the Flushing cemetery. has announced
that il has been able to raise the neces-
sary funds. Now 1t is feared that the old
stone structure, which has been declared
unsafe, will be demolished. The building
is one and a half stone structure Of an
antique architecture. 1t was constructed
III 1861. In Revolutionary days it was oc-
cupied by famous men and for that ref,,
son the Historical society has been anx-
ious to get possession of 1t.
Brooklyn Is to have n million dollar art
temple which will be grand opera house
and Il Madison Square Garden in one
Plans for the structure have been ac-
cepted by the board OF directors of tho
Academy of Music. and work on the
handsome new building. to replace the old
academy. destroyed by fire, will begin at
once. The building will be constructed on
the most modern lines. and will comprise
two auditorums and ball room Tho
main auditorium will be for grand opera
and dramatic productions, and will have
a seating capacity Of 5000. The other
auditorium will seat 1900. and will be
used for lectures and concerts. On the
second floor will be the ball room, with a
floor space of $1,000 square feet.
The rigidity with which the child labor
laws are being enforced this summer Is
being bitterly protested by the parents in
the poorer sections OF the city. They cam
not understand why the board of health
should refuse a work certificate to a
child under IA years of age nor can they
understand any OF the other regulations
which govern the issuance of these certi.
ficates As a result of this Ignorance
scores upon scores of angry parents are
being turned away from the various local
Offices of the health bureau muttering
imprecations at the officials who refuse
TO give them certificates which will en-
able their children to work during the
summer months.
In former years II was a comparatively
easy matter for a child to obtain a vaca-
ton work certificate. but things nave
changed now and no child liz permitted to
work unless it Is IA years of age and has
attended school for 1870 school days since
it, 18th birthday. So rigidly are these
two qualifications enforced that no work
certificate Is issued to a child unless II
can produce absolute evidence OF age, to-
gothcr with n certificate from the prnci-
pal Of the school It last attended. showing
that il had been In school the necessary
number of days.