The Washington herald., 1909-07-26
AT THE HOTELS.

Rats convey lepTOsy and otheF
plaques" said DR.. Edward S. Youngs.
Of London, England. who was seen az
the New Willard recently, "and all over
the world the fight against them is be-
Ing waged vigorously. A great campaign
Is announced IN England during the COM
ing months, with the society for the de-
struction OF vermin in command. As n
warrant for the battle II is stated that
the damage TO crops IN the United
Kingdom each year is represented by
the enormous total Of $3.50 10000
Already a good many rat clubs have
been organized in England" continued
the London physician. These are 70 be
stimulated by a competition IN rat killing.
The FIVE clubs which kill the greatest
number Of rats viii receive prizes OF SO
each. There VIII be more than fifty other
prizes for less notable achievements. No
prize win be given for less than 300 rats
The interest IS so keen that It IS be-
lieved that the winner Of, the first prize
will show 10000 rats as the result OF the
determination contest
The plan Is a good one" added Or.
4oungs. and it ought 10 be taken I'd
IN the United STAKES. Something Ia this
line Is often attempted IN rural commune
ties and small towns. Sides are chosen
and there Is merry war made upon
sDarrows. rats. and other destructive
pests. The joint dinner. paid for BY ths
losers. is an occasion Of jollity enhanced
by appreciation Of the value Of the pub
lie service rendered.
This world fight against rats. so often
noted In the publications OF the day. Is
sympathetic Of the new hopefulness OF.
present-day civilization Diseases OF vari-.
Gus kinds. long-tolerated pests. and evils
which have been counted uncomfortable
are being attacked with vigor. The war
against rats is one Of the most i'm
pOrtant Of these contests. Whether
counted as destroyers Of crops or con-
veyors OF disease, they are equally dan
gerOUs TO social welfare"
Michael S. Drake. OF New York. well
known contractor. who IS deeply inter-
ested in childrens reform work. was at
the Raleigh. and. speaking OF the boys
summer asylum. said: Lucky is the boy
who spends his days gardening. playing.
ball. and getting brown and fat OF the
hillsides Of Chauncey. in Westchester.
County, y. Y. He is a village boy. yet
has all the comforts and advantages OF
the luc6iest kind OF a boy IN the city.
All the boys at ChaUncey are sent 70 the
village from the courts. Some are trl-
ants for whom there Is not room in the
truant school IN the city; others have
been guilty Of various misdemeanors. and.
many others are boys whose only fault
is that they have no homes or proper
guardians.
The village life is almost ideal from
the point OF view Of a boy" continued
Mr.. Drake. with the exception that
every boy has TO 90 10 school The 30
acres Of undulating land are partly
cleared and planted while there are also.
beautiful patches OF woods and spacious
( lawns on which the boys play ball. There
is little lake. and the farm is stocked
with sheep and pigs
All the cottages are delights TO the
| eyes, and would enhance the beauty OF
any summer resort, with their soft COL
ored walls OF brick and concrete, their
I black beams, latticed windows, and
/ quaint roofs. Each cottage is the home
Of twenty boys. and is presided over BY
/ house matrOD and q village official.
Although the houses are as neat as pol
I ished wood and perfect cleanliness can
make them, they have none OF the bare
institutional air about them. Some have
twenty separate rooms for the boys. IN
others the youngsters sleep in dormi-
tories; but in either case the little chaps
are allowed 10 decorate their particular
hooks after their own fancy"
Discussing the Philippines as a mineral
bearing country, Joseph S. KInsley Of
Philadelphia who is interested in the
mining industry IN the archipelago. and
Is at the National said. In gold pro-
duction in the next few years the Islands
are likely 70 surpass Alaska OF course.
mining IN the Philippines Is IN its In
fancy. In fact work on a large scale
has scarcely commenced. In the various
regiments sent 70 the Philippine Islands
during the Spanish-American war. and
| later, were many men who were not only
| practical miners continued Mr. Kius-
| ley. but experienced prospectors. Taken
/ 10 al parts Of the archipelago by tho
exigencies Of the campaigns. men who
/ kept their eyes open could scarcely fail
I TO see IN certain localities unmistalyab bla
evidences OF undeveloped mineral wealth.
When their enlistment expired. hundreds
OF these men determined 70 remain in the
islands The lure Of gold was stronger
than any objection 10 living in the trop-
ics. Braving all sorts Of hardships. pri-
walton, and danger, they sought wealth
where II seemed most probable they
would find It."
Tropical rains" added Mr.. Kinsley,
the prohiCacy Of vegetation native con
ditons. and lack Of transportation make
IN
task, ever fraught with difficulty. But
10 the mining man qualified 10 proceed
intelligently. the Philippines OFFER atrrac-
tons and inducements not TO be found
elsewhere Though at times dlsadvan-
tageous environment might cause the
stoutest 10 despair, ever present is the
assurance that the gold IS there"
r. d. Neal, an electrical engineer OF
New York. discussing the use OF cleo
tricity in the Office, said that electricity
has been used so many years for light
ing purposes that it IS easily overlooked
as one OF the greatest .conveniences in a
modern Office building.
The electric push button" said Mr..
Neal, who IS az the Cochran, 'the tele-
phone, the telegraph, and the electric ian
have also become office fixtures. The
facility with which Office work now can
be handled IS astonishing. Letters are
dictated into a machine. and they are
written, folded. sealed, and stamped ana
dropped in the mailing basket ell by
machinery. The electric telephone places
the Office in instant communication with
nearly every town or city or individual;
the telegraph and cable circle the earth.
In the modern business Office, where
real fast work Is required the letters
are first dictated IN a phOnOgraph which
is driven by q tiny motor The wax
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