The Washington herald., 1916-11-23
Seen and Heard
By George Miner

New York, Nov. 22.-In dingy lit
tie 2jewelry store on Sixth avenue
there is an old-fashioned English gold
watch with history. 1t is a watch
that has seen the United States navy
in the making, for it belonged to Ad-
miral Farragut. He carried it while
on the famous cruise of the Essex, at
New Orleans and at the battle of
Mobile Bay.
This watch was given to Admiral
Farragut when he was only years
old on the occasion Of his entering
the navy. That was in 1870. The
donor was Capt. David Porter, after
whom the admiral was named. On
the inside of the case is the inscrip-
ton ID. P. to D. G. F., U. S. N, 1870"
Capt. Porter was in command of the
Essex when Farragut entered the
navy aboard that ship.
The watch is open faced, with a
gold embossed dial and raised Roman
numerals. On the face are roses,
shamrocks and thistles done in red,
green and yellow gold. The crystal
is of the high, old-fashioned style.
Inside the case is engraved leop-
ards head and to the right of that
three swords.
That watch has recorded the time
of many victories. 1t was with Far
ragut on the famous voyage of the
Essex when she rounded the Horn.
1t told him the time when he, with
the mosquito fleet, ridded the Carib-
bean of pirates and privateers.
Somehow it got out of the Farra-
gut family and came into the posses
sion of William Paulding. When his
estate was sold the watch went to
strangers and has just turned up again
after all these years.
There have been several attempts
to break the taxicab monopoly in this
city, but they all came to disastrous
end. The existing companies were
too firmly entrenched and so the high
rates went merrily on. Now, how
ever, Chicago company has come on
the scene and in one week has made
a good-sized dent in the existing con-
ditions.
Their rates are about quarter low
er than the city ordinance has legal
lied and it is all the same whether
there is one passenger or FIVE. These
two facts have made them very pop
ular and in addition the cabs are new
and smart looking and clean and COM
Portable. The company claims that
they can operate at a profit as they
will take no charge accounts, but
make every ride a cash payment, thus
doing away with big clerical ex-
pense and the no inconsiderable item
of bad debts. 1t is a sort of co-opera-
tive affair, too. The drivers are not
paid salary, but get percentage of
their takings.
OF course they are being fought in
all sorts of ways. Perhaps the mean
est and most annoying thing they
have to contend with is fake calls.
For instance, a telephone call is re-
ceived at headquarters asking that a
taxi be sent to Smith at a certain
number The taxi goes there to find
that there is no Smith there and no
taxi wanted These fake calls come
in twenty times day and as a result
about half of the cabs in use up to
date have been running around on
wild-goose chases and not earning a
cent.
The managers say they are going
to grin and bear it and hope for the
time their enemies will get tired and
quit.
Mr.. Edward E. Rice says he is ar
ranging to put out his famous play
of "Evangeline" as a moving picture
offering. Nc play in the world ever
had as many actors in it at one time
or another who subsequently became
famous as did "Evangeline." Natur:
ally he is trying to get as many OF
these distinguished ones in the film
production as he can.