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The Washington herald. (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, June 25, 1911, Image 4

Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC

Persistent link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045433/1911-06-25/ed-1/seq-4/

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On the left is Mme. Sarah Bernhardt, as she appeared in "Sister Beatrice" at trie Glob'e in her farewell
New York engagement. On the right at the top is Alma" Francis, with "The Pink Lady" at the New Am
sterdam, and below are Valeska Suratt, in "The Red Rose," at the Globe, and Grace Freeman, in "A
Country Girl," at the Herald Square.
AN fcLEtlTftlC RAY
A recent addition to the division of
flsherlei la the new National Musuem In
Washington has proved one of the most
Interesting specimens in the entire col
lection. It Is the electric ray, known In
the language of the scientist as the Nar
clne braslllensls, harmless enough as to
name, but capable of repelling Its ene
mies in a manner peculiarly Its own.
which gives it Its common title of the
"torped6" fish.
The electric ray is of the skate variety,
with a broad, flat, ncarlj oval head and
body, and. a caudal appendage something
like that possessed by the majority of
wel-known fishes Jts mouth is on the
under side and It can only feel the way
to It when feeding. But the Teal curios
lty about the Narclne braslllensls Is the
fact that It carries Its own storage bat
tery -with It on all Its wanderings, and
that Jt has the power of recharging the
thousands of little cells when they be
come exhausted, using Its power over and
over again
There are really two batteries. They
are Mocated where one would naturally
expect to find the breathing apparatus of
the nsh,to the right and the left of the
beady black eyes and back. They are
kidney-shaped, occupying perhaps one
third of the upper part of the body.
When at peace with Itself and the rest
of the world the torpedo fish swims
around at leisure or rests In shallow
water burrowing In the sand at ease,
but If attacked, the battery is discharged
and the enemy Is glad to call It a drawn
battle If It can swim an ay. It gets tts
prey by using Its batteries to supply the
necessary current to kill, but It must first
complete a connection with the object of
Its attack.
Men have speared these torpedos In
shallow waters and hae caught them
In pets, but on handling them have been
very glad to call It off and avoid further
shock. Fishermen have been repeatedly
knocked down by contact with them
The species Is common along the South
Atlantic and Gulf Coast, the electric ray
In the Museum coming from the West
Coast of Florida. In Bulletin 28, of the
American Museum of Natural History, J.
Russell Coles says: "They can give a
powerful shock, and I have been knocked
down many times when experimenting
with this fish, yet could make no record
of this peculiar form of electricity, as It
had no effect on my battery testing
needle, and It would not light a little
electric lamp that required but two and
half volts.
'Several barefooted fishermen have
been knocked down by stepping on the
electric ray in the water. They remain
soft and rubber-like In a formalin solu
tion that hardened other specimens "
There Is one adult ray and fourteen
little ones In the division The little rays
In life are capable of numbing the human
hand by contact.
White Star Line's New Vessels Eclipse
All Other Ocean Greyhounds in Di
mensions and Modern Con
veniences for Travelers.
In the White Star Line's new jtrlple
screw steamers Olympic and Titanic are
epitomized all the science and skill of
L century or steam navigation, 'ine
same spirit of progress which actuated
the White Star Line In introducing Into
the Atlantic passenger trade the wide
ly known mammoth steamers Oceanic
the first steamer to surpass the length
of the Great Eastern, Celtic, Cedrlc,
Baltic, and, latterly, the giant Adriatic,
has produced these new surpassing:
Striking Statistics.
Figures speak most concisely and elo
quently of the supremacy or the Olympic
and Titanic, but tne following table re
cords a remarkable advance In the dimen
sions of these latest and greatest con
querors of Neptune:
Tonnage, registered 45,000
Tonnage, d'splacement .. 66.000
Length over all SS2 feet, -6 Inches
each, the center (turbine) propeller 22
tons and each of the two "wing" pro
pellers 33 tons each. The huge after
"boss-arms," from which are suspended
the three propeller shafts, tip the scales
at 73 tons, and the forward boss
arms" at 45 tons It Is also Interesting
to note that each link in the anchor
chains weighs 173 pounds. In each ship
the unusually large number of side
lights and windows over 2,000 add much
to the brightness and cheerful effect
of the public rooms and passenger
Breadth over all 92 " 6
Breadth over boat deck.. 94 " 0 "
Height from bottom of
keel of boat deck 97 4 "
Height from bottom of
keel to top of captain's
house 105 7 "
Height of funnels above
casing 72 0 "
Height of funnels above
boat deck si " 6 "
Distance from top of fun
nel to keel 175 " 0 "
Number of steel decks 11
Number of water-tight bulkheads.. 15
Passengers carried 2,500
Crew 860
While referring to these numerical de
tails. It may be well to point out that
the largest plates employed In the hull
are 36 feet long, weighing 4 tons each.
and the largest steel beam used Is 92
-feet long, the weight of this double beam
being 4 tons Further, the. colossal rud
der, which Is to be operated electrically.
weighs 100 tons, the anchors 15 tons
New Yoik; June 24. For three days this
week Sarah Bernhardt, fast nearlng
threescore j ears and ten and fresh from
a tour of 2.500 miles, during which sho
plajed almost continuously in varied
Tepertolre, dazzled New rork with nn
art that Is perennial and a face and
figure that have apparently defied the
ravages of time. Hers has been the
triumph supreme. She leaves the coun
try of her many tours like a victorious
general of old, taking with her captives
in spirit the thousands who have wit
nessed her performances.
That her New York appearance, un-
"I'uy mat naie gone Derore,
.manes ner last nrofessional visit tn
this country there can be little doubt.
Even the "divine Sarah" must succumb
to the inevitable, and. as the years flow-
on, t is oniy reasonable to suppose that
mcir increasing welgnt will sap the
vigor and mar the art of the greatest
actress or tne age.
"Though the good God sows health,
one must work like the devil to reap the
harvest." has been the maxim that has
carried Mme Bernhardt to artistic, and
financial success through over half a
century before the public. Since she was
a tiny girl, scarce in her teens, madame
has exacted from her body a redundance
or emotional power that -would have
wrecked many a stronger person. She
has neither rested nor retired Her aim
has been to "die In harness," and the
glitter of the footlights has been mir
rored back to millions in her inimitable
pathos and emotional power. She has
won the praise of king and yokel,
swayed thousands of audiences from
tears to laughter with the power of her
art, and on counties occasions seemingly
reached the pjnacle of success, only to
return and eclipse past performances
Mme. Bernhardt, playing youthful
roles In "Sister Beatrice," "Jean Marie,"
"L'Alglon," nnd "Madam X." and Mme.
Bernhardt, surrounded by her suite of
solicitous attendants. In the Hotel Marie
Antoinette, Just before sailinc- tlm. din.
played little of the changed appearance
one would expect a keen morning light
to accentuate in a person of slxty-Beven.
A wrinkle here and there, and tell-tale
crows feet beneath the eves, norhnno
but none of the hard, harsh lines with
wnicn time so often marks its followers.
Her features In repose, she Is a marvel
of jouthfulness Jt Is when she talks
and smlle3 that one Is disillusioned, jet
captivated. Then It Is that time shows
lis nana ueneath the artifices of nge.
yet it Is then that her still brilliant
eyes light up with an animation that
soon brings the observer under the spell
oi ner personality.
Yonth In Dreu.
Half her jouth is la her dress. "One
Is as old as one looks," says rnadaroe,
and when one glances at he suede shoes
and silken hose, carelessly displayed, the
bunch of white carnations in the cors
age, and the dainty dress of diaphanous
material, wjth here and there a Jewel
sparkling in J.he morning light, one
knows that madame, at heart. Is yet six
teen. Then, she Is surrounded with the
accourterments of a girt or twenty. Her
secretary holds a silver-mounted foil
ing piece -with which she shot birds
while on the wing; against the wall Is
another and larger gun. used wnile alli
gator hunting- In the JEverglades. and
near at hand Is the haft of a miner's
pick, used "by this youthful person of
sixty-seven v while 2,000 feet below the
fcurface of ihe earth when Inspecting a
copper mine In the West. But it is the
hair that recalls the attention Dull
gold, strikingly cohYured Vlth tendrils
and curls escaping in studied- profusion.
it makes an imposing effect, well cal
culated to receive tne critical and to
heighten the effectiveness of madame's
youthful role.
America has ever been the ! Dorado
or Bernhardt' tours. She has returned
again and regain each time for "a last
farewell" and each time departing laden
with the wealth that her name has
brought from an enthusiastic American
public Her last appearance befo"ca
Americans has teen of thirty-five -weeks.'
duration, and, during that time, she has
played ZS performances, many of them
one night stands. Truly no mean tastct
Her tour has netted box office reee'etit-
amounting to a cbol million of good
American dollars, a, quarter of which
will fall to tho lot of madame.
Her appearance in New Tprk, despite
the fact that but a few months had
elapsed since her arrival, was marked
with on enthusiasm Jhat was mirrored
bv a box office nightly besieged by hun
dreds "Sister Beatrice;" and "Jea
Marie" were played on ,Mbnda.V. Th
first, a play ly Maeterlinck, well kw
u Aew iur.it, 5B.VS ipo OCtrcSS B 6J-
that has made her known and admired
by millions
In the first act of "Sister Beatrice,"
Mme Bernhardt, in the title role, stands
at the foot of the Virgin's statue, and,
torn with doubts about her worldly love
for Prince Bellidor, makes her plea for
a sign from the Image. Here her voice
Is soft, modulated to the tones of a
young, girl, speaking, halt afraid of be
ing heard. When the prince appears and
pleads with Sister Beatrice to wait long
er for thesign she wishes, Bernhardt' s
voice begins to vibrate with stronger
tones, her speech comes more rapidly
until the climax of the scene.
In the second act, when the statue of
the Virgin comes down and assumes the
Place of Sister Beatrice. Bernhardt gives
to her face, to ber voice, to her whole
manner a suggestion of humility, of
gentleness, that beggars description. In
much to be done, that Bernhardt' power
or characterization Is shown in all Its
"Jean Marie" is a one-act drama, first
played by Mme. Bernhardt at Odeon In
1S7L It Is the tale of a fisher maiden,
Therese, who has married old Joel, after
she hears of the death of her sweetheart,
Jean Marie. The sea gives up its dead.
Jean Marie, like Enoch Arden, Teturns
to claim his betrothed, only to find her
tho wlfer of another. He pleads with 'her
to' run away with him, then for "one last
kiss, but Therese bids him go, never to
return. Here again the art of madame
leaves the house enthralled, and there Is
a moment after the curtain falls when a
sigh, preluding the tumultuous applause,
speaks more plainly than words of the
depth of interest of the audience.
"L'Alglon," given on Tuesday night,
and "Madam X," her last play before
leaving, are too well known to merit crit
icism. Each was enshrouded in the 'veil
of madame's art, and each glistened like
a Jewel of purest water under the magic
of her art.
The latest feat of dramatic-production,
viewed through the perspective of 4 time,
takes on a rosy complexion that backs
the tales of Slnbad Into a corner and
administers a stem-winding stoop pro
ducer to his aureate hallucinations. It
makes the narcotic nightmare of a hop
smoker pale in comparison, and sheds a
light of sheer inspiration upon the great
est problem of the day how to enter
tain ,your girl without setting the family
Dame roll back past the lunch limit- In
a word, proletarian New York is to be
enlivened with a playhouse where for
the sum of two dollars listen carefully-one-
may purchase admittance to good
theatrical performance and excellent
vaudeville, eat a live-course dinner, end
take a taxJcab home.
Oh, beneficent enterprise! Let us repeat,
for the benefit of the skeptical, the form
ula. You don jour claw hammer, cock
your "kelley" over the left optic, non
chalantly extract two bones from a
waistcoat pocket, step up to the B. O ,
and gracefully chirp, "All the way, old
roan, noodles to pecans." In return you
get about a yard or bo of ticket, walk
majestically past the ticket chopper, ease
yourself Into a chair, signal awalter, light
a cigarette, let him blow out the match,
eat an excellent dinner, crack a cold
bpttle of vlchl, watch aforementioned
theatrical performance and vaudeville,
throw out your chest, and ride homn in
a taxi. Tho Terrace Garden Is the place,
the time shortly, and the price $2.
President Taft Xeareat .AvBreaek te
BasiWess Man 1b White Mease.
Trcm the Botton Adnrtlxr.
Bear Admiral Bowles thinks we shottfd
have a "business man as President of the
United States.' It is worth while calling
attention to the statement, 'it only to
Bljow how far the critlc falls to appre
ciate the. fact, which is recognised pretty
generally, however, that thia country has
never -before had a President who has
worked so hard and so successfully tor
the legitimate advancement of buelnesf as
jitu x-resmeni -j. ate une state .Depart
ment, under President Taft inspiration,
has labored, consistently and successfully
to advance the, proper Interests ot Amr!-.
v uunrotra:. una nuinw me aui pert
Of the World. The &tta nuM f
th4 admtaletra-tiOR feu domTrnWe In this
aioii thn aay preowste admrnlftrs.-
uph ov -mm diMtMt. - The feithMM
te fees been .eontntly -mm! eOKstrrely
Ha4ed thnWitwttifte tvsrear. and
three Months "-y Trrrtinni Okt tu
keen te oHc. Ne "bvieinw W m tne
Chief JBxoeutlve offic ntOLSiLm. ,u
do mere, or eould do tt WfeaLi-Hi.
Jrteent PreeMent. Ut. YnfMtlencnntlnllr;
TUyetasee yreetdnt. in the neifw' thnt ksT
jm. v npmnt
J,0Fi2?;,ty,0J' a & ot Ber WU that buetaee va4vnenRt ummtTlht
enthralled the. spectators. It was rlc. I eoaxtnr tad !.... n S gT T
ed throughout with the .superb eecen4o J-ikfa cMrroueb. "
Washington is asserted to be the "best
treed" city In the United States and pne
of the best in the world. The statement
is made by men who are authorities in the
matter of trees. This being the case, and
considering the fact that we have been
making history by leaps and bounds ever
since the time of Columbus, it follows
that there are a number of "living monu
ments" in the form of historic trees scat
tered about the Capital City. Some of
the historic trees have disappeared from
the ken of man, and others are In a fair
way to follow, although modern tree sur
gery has stepped, in to save many of them
from death.
The White House grounds contain sev
eral of these notable trees, though the
number Is not what might be expected, as
it would seem but natural that each
President should be represented In this
way. Probably the most notable of the
White House trees Is the American elm,
said to have been planted by John Qulncy
Adams during his incumbency of his
office as sixth President of the United
States. It Is situated on tho mound to the
southeast of the White House, and is Im
mediately noticeable by reason of Its size,
towering above the' plantings of a later
Another American elm was planted by
President Rutherford B. Hayes In March,
1S73, near the west entrance of the north
roadway approach to the White House,
while near the roadway on the east side
of the grounds is a sweet gum tree
planted b- Benjamin Harrison while he
was President
Later Presidential Trees.
-Jn 1SSS President McKlnley planted a
scarlet oak In the lawn west of the
White House, bordering the walk now
leading to the executive offices, where It
still stands as a monument to the third
martyred President No other President
eems to have perpetuated his memory by
this means until Mr. Roosevelt came to
the White House,-when, on Tebruary 22.
1904, he and Mrs. Roosevelt each planted
a fern-leaved, beech tree in the lawns
east and west of the walk leading to the.
entrance to the White House from Ex
ecutive' avenue These trees were thirty
years of age when removed from their
original situation In Seaton Park, and
were removed with frozen balls of earth
protecting their roots. They suffered no
dwarfage by reason of their uprootal and
later transplanting, but proceeded to takp
root and thriv e hardily.
Another Interesting tree, having a re
markable history, is the Russo-American
oak planted In the lawn east of the west
terrace or tne wnite House, also by pres.
ident Roosev elt assisted bv Secretaries
E. A. Hitchcock? and James Wilson of
the Interior and Agricultural departments.
The tree is a linnal descendant of
a native American oak which once grew
aDO,ve and overshadowed the tomb of
George Washington at Mount Vernon.
Acorns from the trea wera sent bv the
Hon. Charles Sumner, while a Senator, to
ine wsar or Russia. The following is tho
statement furnished by Secretary E, A.
Hitchcock at the time of the, planting of
the seed:
"While Ambassador at the Court of St
Petersburg I made Inquiry With respect to
the disposition of some acorns that the
Hon. Charles Sumner, while a; Senator
from Massachusetts, had sent to his Im
perial: majesty the Csnr". I Warned that
these acor&ahad been planted on what
is known as 'Csarina Island, which is
included la the sunerb surrmmdtRr of
one of the palaces of the Czar jwar ptr-
ui, a.ua lucre i lirttna a DeaUtifUl OaJC
With , taoiet at its root hearing . Rus
sian inscription, the translation of which
is at iwiows: .
"The. aeorn planted here was taken
from an oak which standee the tc-mi f
the celebrated and Bever-to-be-forgotten
WflItonr is presented to fe Imperial
mnjecty-thn. Emperor. of H the Rueetas
asJjpB ot greatest respect y an
Mr. Hitchcock was fortunate enough to
Hnd. aomt sooths beneath the -tree, and
gatberinf a. few,. he. sent thent heme and
secure Jro tfeem a few ok Laa(na.
one ofwfcien JM'had Just planted A Httfc
later aaotner of pm sapttec was plaited
near t the mM tiW at Trashta.
tea's tnb;rteiB lastfn tourisMa.
hm mMfafetac Wen.
Probably meat tetereattoc tree tn
w.fhtagte.., Hwg ft MwK We- 'a
Vrnoana. 'it la 'a sansman. -ssssTkr ta.
brick house In North Capitol street
planted some trees on the east side of
the Capitol, of which this elm Is one
Another view taken of the origin of Its
name Is the popular one that Washing
ton used to come over from his house,
after he became a resident there, and eat
his lunch under the shade of this elm.
The "Washington elm" has undergone
several surgical operations during the last
generation and Is still under treatment
The weight of Its several boughs has
caused a break at tbe crotch; also the
neglect to remove leaves and dead stuff
which accumulated In this crotch rotted
the tree The tree has been scraped
thoroughly, treated with creosote, and
then with a coatlngpf tar to hermetically
seal the wood from" dampness, and then
filled with cement This Is practically
the same method followed by a dentist
in filling' a tooth, and Is used for the same
purpose In the case of the "Washing
ton elm," however, there Is a seepage,
which will later necessitate the Insertion
of a drainage tube, as the tree has been
neglected or improperly treated until the
decay has gotten too far down to be
remedied by other means
The tree has been bolted together to
obviate any further Injury from the force
of the winds and Its own weight and this
part of the surgery Is not yet completed.
The elm Is being nursed and coddled like
any other beloved Invalid, and tts general
health Is Improved and Improving, but
fifty years of life Is about all that Is
promised it by its gardener-surgeon, Mr.
Duff, whereas it should have lived 200
years in a healthy state.
Senator Cameron's Tree.
At tho southern entrance to the south
terrace approach of the Capitol Is an
other. Old tree which has suffered from
imperfect surgery, but Is now in a way
to complete recovery. This Is the "Cam
eron tree," also an elm, and Is notable
by the fact that It owes Its life to the
Hon. Simon Cameron, while he was a
United States Senator from Pennsylva
nia. Senator Cameron was passing down
the walk where several trees had been
condemned to be sacrificed to the new
walks and Capitol approaches. One fine
old tieo had been removed and workmen;
were about to begin upon this, elm, its
twin, when the honorable gentleman.
Who, by the way, was then a member of
the Senate Committee on Buildings and
Grounds, objected to its removal. He
then went Into the Capitol and made an
impassioned appeal of the "Woodman,
spare that tree" variety, and the old elm
remained. It stands high above the level
of tbe grounds, a monument on a green
pedestal of nature's own handiwork, in
the center of tbe stone walk.
The old Sumner tree, however, was not
so fortunate, for despite all efforts it was
doomed when the grounds were Iqwered.
It stood in the center of the section
graded down, and though It struggled
along- valiantly. It could not seem to take
root successfully, and died In its prime.
Soveral old trees were thus sacrificed
which might have been interesting to pos
terity. Also some have gone the way
the "Washington elm" was going, via
the improper surgery route. The old way
of amputating was to cut a limb squarely
oft. leaving a flat surface to "catch and
hold? the water and leaves, thus causing
the dampness to eat into the yltals and
nerves of the tree, sometimes causing
tuberculosis. Even after tbe tilling was
dona the tree would continue to waste
below it But now the limb is cut diag
onally, and after a single coat of creosote
to seal the wound, and sometimes a light
coat of paint added. If will heal up, cover
Itself with bark, and become almost in
visible. A slight scar at the most is the
result, while the heart of the tree is
sound, and impregnable-
Naturally, the Botanic Garden is the
place where tbe majority of the hlstorto
trees are puttlrg forth year after year.
Here are found trees which are worthy
and dignified Biemeftls of notable men.
Transplant Wx Tree.
Over near the north, side of the garde n
ie tbe "Crittenden Oak," planted In ISO
by the HjOn. John X Crittenden. Al
tewgh the- label intense the observer
that 'the seen rren wnicn tms tree was
afewn were breught by Hon. Ji J. Crit
tenden from Kentucky In Wt ana planted
er by him and WHHenr R. Smith o
BimawaMsta hie great eCEert for peace,"
the statement Is obsolete a measure,
for .three, r feur years ae the tree was
snared tram the east gateway entrance
where It stood a little to the south The
removal was ordered and executed to
make way for the large unfinished monu
ment non dominating that side of the
garden. It Is a lamentable fact that sev
eral Interesting living monuments were
sacrificed to this marble one. It cost
many thousands of dollars to transplant
thl oak, and it is a sort of miracle that
it Is living, though It still Is supported by
ropes and stakes. v
Mr Smith, who helped to plant the tree.
Is still the superintendent of the Bo
tanic Garden, and says that the tree
is not only thriving but will bear fruit,
and that lie "hopes to be able to raise a
big family from the seed of the 'Peace
Oak,' " that being its popular designation
Another tree which was planted in the
gerden In 1K2 13 now flourishing In Lin
coln Pork This is a fine specimen of the
Oriental plane tree, and was planted by
direction of the Hon. Thaddeus Stevens,
a Pennsylvania Congressman The -removal
of this tree was considered neces
sary for Its preservation because of an
overflow of the Potomac in 1S70 After
Its removal It stood a bare-stemmed ob
ject with a few small branches near the
top, and when the park was grided and
otherwise Improved a mound was built
up around It and the stem covered to
a depth of several feet with earth, and
It speedily sent out shoots and became a
lofty and vigorous tree It Is now up
ward of seventy feet In height and as
handsome as any In the citv.
Tito Masonic Tree.
The Garfield tree, planted by the walk
near the south entrance to the large con
servatory of the Botanic Garden, Is an
other tree with a noval history. At the
funeral ceremonies of President Garfield
a small seedling branchlet of acacia was
placed by a member of the Masonic fra
ternity on his coffin After his burial this
seedling plant was brought to Washing
ton and was subsequently, planted In its
present location Near this tree, on the
opposite side of the walk, has been plant
ed another acacia as a memorial to the
late Gen. Albert Pike, for so many years
the central figure of the Masonic fra
ternity In the United States.
Within sight of these trees Is a stem of
what was once the Beck memorial tree.
The tree Is dead and will have to be cut
down. Near this dead tree flourishes the
Jefferson tree, a turkey oak, so named
because wild turkeys eat the seed that
fall from It Jefferson was discovered
gathering the seed of the tree from
horseback for the purpose of decorating
and beautifying the grounds at Wash
ington. This tree is the result of some
of the seed he so gathered.
Another beautiful tree Is the "God tree"
of Japan, planted by Garland when
he was Attorney General. It is a
lofty and stately smooth-barked tree,
most striking and unlike any other tree
near it. Near it are trees planted by
Foraker and Hoar, and near the Beck
tree is the Shepherd memorial tree This
and the Beck tree were both propagated-
from tho roots of the Washington elm.
Planted south of the greenhouses, near
Maryland avenue and Second street
southwest is a Chinese oak with a most
Interesting history. Many years ago a
friend of the Hon. Charles A. Dana, trav
eling in China, picked up a number of
acorns under a tree growing by the grave
of Confucius, brought them to America,
and gave them to Mr. Dana, who planted
a number of them In his pounds. This
tree was grown from one of these seeds
presented to Mr. Smith by Mr. Falconer,
Ihe well-known horticulturist, who was
at that time superintendent of Mr. Dana's
grounds on Long Island.
Many Other Jfoted Trees.
Besides these and a British oak planted
to commemorate the settlement of the
Alabama claims, 'there are tree .memo
rials of J. W- Forney, Edwin Forrest
Senator Conger, Senator Stewart and
other notable men, Including two Jap
anese umbrella trees, memorials of Hanna
and Dick, planted by tbe latter, and the
Cannon memorial tree, planted by the
"Nor do these comprise the historic tree
colony of Washington In the Agricul
tural grounds are the Rusk and Wilfets
memorial trees, two pin oaks planted "by
the honorable. Secretary of Agriculture.
James Wilson. April 22. 190L In. the small
triangle formed by the Intersecting: walks
west of Thirteenth street near the center
ef the grounds, in memory of the former
Secretary o Agriculture, the Hon. "Jer-
rv" Ttuek, anrl tho Assistant Rwroton-
iisa, Xdwln Wlllets. Located ta a group
The Strongest Ships.
As already Intimated, nothing has been
left to chance In the construction of these
superb ships, and besides being the
largest and heaviest vessels ever built
the are also undoubtedly the strongest.
Their towering hulls are molded to bat
tle against the seven seas and boast In
each ship, the presence of three million
rivets (weighing about 1,200 tons) holding
together the solid plates of steel. To
Insure stability tn binding the heavy
plates In the double bottom of each ship
half a million rivets, weighing about 270
tons, have been used.
The whole of the "plating" of the hulls
has been riveted by hydraulic power,
with an almost entire absence of the
usual deafening noises, new type 7-ton
riveting machines, suspended from trav
eling cranes, having accomplished this
work quickly and well. A very pleasing
symmetrical appearance and, more Im
portant, a sound, tight connection, has
been attained In this way.
The double bottom, referred to above,
extends the full length of each vessel,
varying from five feet three inches to six
feet three Inches In depth and lends
add-d strength to the hull. The subdlvl
slon of the hulls of the Olympic and
Titanic Into fifteen compartments, sepa
rated by water-tight bulkheads of steel.
further assures the safety of the ves
sels The gigantic size of these steamers Is
best appreciated when it Is recalled that
in length each vessel overtops by 1S21-2
feet the height of the Metropolitan Tower
In New York the highest office building
In the world, and 122 1-2 feet beyond the
height of the new Woolworth Building.
now under, construction. Each ship being
lour times as long as the height of the
famous Bunker Hill Monument, and 327
feet longer than the height of the Wash
ington Monument their massive measure
ments far excel America's most famous
Mai dc Mer Conqnered.
Bilge or fin keels pi event these fine
steamers from rolling, and their machine!-
Is the unique- combination of
reciprocating engines (operating the two
"wing" oropellers) and a low-pressure
turbine (operating the center propeller)
an Ideal arrangement which has been
tested thoroughly and found roost satis
factor from an engineering point of
view in the White Star Line's Canadian
service steamer Laurentlc It is also
pleasant to record that Judging by the
experlerce of passengers on the Lauren
tlc, this ingenious combination eliminates
all vibration, with its accompanying dis
comforts, and therefore it is assured
that among a hundred other fine quali
ties, the Olympic and Titanic will pos
sess that most important of all abso
lute steadiness at sea
A rapid surve of the eleven steel
decks o? the Olympic and the Titanic
reveals the most careful and compre
hensive preparations In every depart
ment. Three elevators In the first class
and one in the second class provide a
comfortable means of access between
decks, which, on ships so vast as these,
saves the passenger much effort The
sumptuous character of the passenger
appointments is In keeping with the most
exacting requirements of present-day
travel In fact, the fullest advantage
has been taken of the extraordinary
dimensions or these vessels to excel in
size and comfort an thing hitherto at
tempted, both In the numerous public
apartments and the private cabins of the
Outdoor Game and Golf!
On the topmost deck cheerfully named
the "sun" deck one finds a commodious.
cpen promenade with a large area for
deck sports All the enticing outdoor
games that seem exclusivelv Identified
with the pleasant hours aboard ship are
played here, and the ardent devotee of
the putter and the niblick can keep in
"tip trim" by assiduous attention to the
fascinating pastime, "deck golf," with
its elghteen-hole course! Here also Is
located the room gymnasium with Its
complete equipment which will attract
many passengers seeking mild and
healthful diversion. Forward are the of
ficers' quarters and the wheelhouse and
Comfort and Luxury.
On the vast area of the upper prome
nade deck "A," Just below, the-steamer-chair
"brigade" will be much In evidence.
as here are many sheltered nooks and
corners where the bracing salt air can
be enJoed with tho utmost comfort
There Is also abundant space for prome
nading. On this deck are situated sev
eral of the most charming public apart
ments. The extensive, richly decorated
"lounge," one of the chief social cen
ters, and the spacious, elegantly fitted
smoke room vie in Interest with the
exquisitely furnished reading and writing
room, with Its delicate colorings; All
these public cabins have the spacious.
graceful windows of the various colonial
periods, which easily cause the impres
sion that outside one might see lawns
and trees, and although this be not so.
the view is one excelled by no other In
all the world the mighty grandeur of
the ever-changing sea. The amateur pho
tographer will be especially pleased with
the photographic dark room, which is
provided with fittings of the latest pat
ten., all' available without charge.
The palm court and veranda cafe,
where one may vvh'Ie away many a
pleasant half hour, are also situated aft
on this deck, and will be found largely
remlnfscent of the delightful boulevard
cafes of Paris and Vienna. The wide
outlook from this vantage point adds
greatly to the pleasure of those who
visit it3 precincts.
On the upper promenade deck are also
a large number of the choicest state
rooms, both as to location and luxurious
furnishings, which are In excellent taste.
The Snn Parlor and Reatanrnnt.
A striking, and at the same time
pleasant, feature of the promenade deck
"B," Is the glass-Inclosed section. As a
protection against inclement weather. Its
rwlndows make it a pleasing and perfect
sneiter, while on cold, clear days, when
the windows are closed to prevent the
ingress of Icy breezes, the deck becomes
a veritable sun parlor, and here at times
promenade concerts by the ship's pro
fessional string- orchestra and delightful
evening dances are held with every de
gree of comfort Under gleaming vari
colored electric bulbs, and with gay
streamers adding their brightness, one
could hardly wish for a more pleasurable
On this deck are also many cabins and
apartments de luxe, the latter consisting
of several rooms en suite, having their
own private bath and toilet arrangements
with rooms for servants adlolnlnr i'h
beautifully appointed restaurant with its
superior a la carte service, seats 160 peo
ple, and it is designed to cater to those
travelers who prefer merelv to engage
their cabins and transportation, and. as
a separate transaction, avail themselves
of the restaurant's facilities
On the upper deck "C," in addition to
the passenger staterooms and apartments
de luxe, one will find the ship's inquiry
office, where the business of this floating
city will be transacted Aft on this
deck an important innovation Is the spe
cial maids' and valets' salon, where serv
ants may congregate and where their
meals will be served
The Grand DInlngr Hall.
The saloon deck "D," Just below the
upper deck "C." has Is Its most promi
nent feature that important gathering
place, the grand dining saloon, seating
560 passengers and extending the full
width of the ship, 92VJ feet Small tables
are everywhere In evidence, and the al
coves, which congenial parties will find
especially pleasant lend an air of cozl
ness to this apartment which is at first
view, so vast and impressive. The large
leaded glass windows about the sides of
the room are an unusual feature, assist
ing materially in ventilating and lighting
tne saloon. On this deck also is the
beautirully decorated reception room
whose handsome furnishings and hang
ings add to It a distinct noteof refined
Turkish Bath and Swimming Pool.
Among many other special attractions
for passengers In the first class are the
Turkish and electric bath establishment.
completely equipped with a hot room,
temperate room, cooling room. shamDOO
rooms and massage rooms, but more w-
tably the adjoining large salt water
swimming pool, of even greater dimen
sions than that on the company's well
known steamer Adriatic, which was the
first ship to be equipped with these de
lightful Innovations The remarkable di
mensions of the Olympic and Titanic have
also made It possible to introduce for
the pleasure of passengers a full-sized
tennis and handball court, thirty feet
long, extending through two decks, where
these healthful exercises may be In
dulged In
The Passenger Iccnmniodattone.
Throughout the passenger staterooms
the upper berths are of the folding or
Pullman tpe, and a large number of
"Bibb" rooms, notable even on these
great ships for their exceptional spa
ciousness, will please a host of passen
gers Everywhere the important item
of ventilation has received the most
painstaking attention and the system
employed assures a constantly changing
atmosphere without drafts.
The White Star Line Is Justly famed
for the superior excellence of Its cui
sine and the careful attention paid to
all passengers by Its well-trained corps a
of servants, a large percentage of whom
have been in Its service for many years.
On the Obmplc and Titanic the culinary
arrangements are most complete, and
the cuisine will continue to be a promi
nent feature to which the most watch
ful supervision will be given
In second class the preparations for
the comfort of passengers are thorough.
On the promenade and bridge decks are
situated the library and smoke rooms,
and on the saloon deck a great dining
hall, seating 400. What Is most essential,
all the passenger staterooms, centrally
situated, are of the latest modern type,
handsomely fitted, and with every crea
ture comfort
In the third class, every attention Is
paid to the needs of passengers The
rooms and berths are all most com
fortable, and special rooms for families
and two-berth rooms for married cou
ples are. provided Large dining saloons,
lounges, smoking room, and social halls
for passengers In the third class speak
of the detailed care with which this sec
tion of these ships has been planned.
The Olympic and Titanic are scheduled
In the fast mall service of the White
Rtar Line's New York-Plymouth-Cher
bourg-Southampton, the favorite English
Channel route to England, and all parts
of the Continent
of American elms bordering Twelfth
street about midway between B street
northwest and B street sautnwest. Is an
oak brought from Arbor Lodsre. Nebr..
and planted by the Hon. J. Sterling Mor
ton In April 22, 1S33, to commemorate
Arbor Dav in the United States, of which
day he was the founder. Mr. Morton was
at that time Secretary or Agriculture.
Perhaps the saddest story of the neglect
or abuse of trees is told by a gigantic
tulip poplar, probably the largest tree of
Its kind In or, about Washington. This
mighty monument stands almost directly
In front of the nurses' quarters at the
Walter Reld Hospital. The avenue enter
ing the ground at Butternut street curv es
across the roots of this tree in such a
way that to accommodate a cement side
walk the roots and part of the lower
trunk have bein hacked away. In conse
quence the tree is dying, like a maimed
giant wasting with grief. Upon a tablet
Is Its history, which reads like 'this:
"Used as a signal station by Confed
erate soldiers- under Gen'l Early during
attack on Washington, July 11 andM2,
1$$4. Also occupied hy Confederate sharp
shooters." Jt Is said that there are nine of the
aforesaid soldiers and sharpshooters
buried underneath the tree. A any rate
it does not seem- the thlng;to let a monu
ment of such historic import go to its
death without. some effort to arrest Its
torles of more than a few of the trees In
Washington. We are acquiring many
dead marbles In commemoration of men
who have made history, while the "living
monuments" which have sheltered them
and felt the touch of their hands in fond
ness are passing out. But a greater
effort is now made and modern methods
applied, and with the help of surgery,
conjoined to common sense, our children's
children may, be able to see the old trees
which hav e been given a new lease of life.
Belgians Organise for Waterloo Bat
tle Centenary.
Brussels, June 24. A Belgian committee
has now been formed, under tho presi
dency of Gen. de Heusch. to organize
great centenary festivities on the field of
Waterloo In 1915. . '
It iff Intended to construct another mon
ument which will be of black marble.
Every nation that took part in the battle
will be represented by a bronzo figure,
and all the bones and other souvenirs of
the historic struggle will be collected and
placed In the monument
The idea of erecting a peace monument
on the battlefield of Waterloo has been
abandoned. Fetes: of an International
I character will be organized try an Inter-
It would be Impossible to trace the his. I national committee for the year 1316,
t., 2"i r

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