written by two friends who lived with him. Here is one of the incidents:
“The pattern of his drawing-room carpet began to fade when it had only been down a few months. It consisted, or, rather, had consisted, of clusters of blue flowers on a drabbish ground. Now, with the principal color gone, it had become far too dull for the taste of that lover of brightness. He, therefore, conceived the unique idea of having each flower stamped over with red ink. For this purpose he invented a small tin tray, which was made so that it stood quite flat on the floor to prevent any possiblity of the ink being spilled or dropped about. Bent in it were little wells about as large round and twice as thick as a halfpenny. These depressions were filled with the liquid. The seamstress — whom he was always glad of an excuse to employ, because she was so hard-working and so poor — was soon set to carry out his plan. Down on her knees she had to go, and as she was decidedly stout it was no light task. With a cork cut the exact size and dipped in the ink, she pressed firmly down on each flower, thus leaving it as if covered with red cherries. No wonder it took her over a week, working all day, for the carpet was from 25 to 30 ft. long and proportionately wide. ”
The Closing of Pekin s Gates. — To this day the great gates in the walls of Pekin are closed every evening with the queer ceremonies that have been observed for centuries past. The daily performance is marked with a due ceremony, which is quaint and full of interest to the intelligent onlooker, as the closing by no means signifies the mere bringing together of the
heavy wooden doors and the barring of the Emperorʼs highway against all comers. At the appointed hour a preliminary signal is given by a large gong or iron shield being struck with a big iron bar fifty times in such quick succession as almost to defy calculation and this is followed by 100 double strokes commencing slowly and dreamily for the first half and gradually increasing to half-hurricane rapidity, and this set of 100 blows is repeated in precisely the same fashion three times. When the third and last cycle of gong-strokes is entered on a number of old and at this season very much bewadded and muffled-up old charlies start a series of discordant yells to all and sundry to hasten or they will be shut out and this combination of signals is followed by a jostling stream of people from both directions. Presently the rush slackens until only a solitary pedestrian or possibly a man on a donkey, full tilt, a belated ’rickasha or a heavily laden cart straggles through. Then a movement is made with the gates, yelling bursts out afresh and another rush ensues, the gates being meanwhile half closed and occasionally opened a little way again until, the outgoers having meanwhile ceased, there is a final scrimmage to get into the city and the process of closing, which has taken some half-hour in all, is concluded. Then, the huge iron-plated doors having clanged to, a monster iron pole is dragged up and placed across them on iron supports, being retained in position by a padlock of enormous proportions and of the well-known Chinese type. There are, in all, in the city of Pekin some nineteen gates and the same ceremony is observed at each, but at such a thoroughfare as the Hatamen
there is naturally more traffic and the process is probably proportionately longer. — Pekin News.
The Rubber Trade and Rubber Supplies. — The question whether the demand for rubber will continue to be met by the supply, or overtake and exceed it, is one of great importance to certain rapidly growing home industries. The Times [London] recently expressed the opinion that the activity in planting in various parts of the earth makes the outlook less promising for the shareholders in new rubber companies, as the supply will overreach the demand, but the facts, so far as they are known, point to a somewhat different conclusion. The production of rubber steadily increases. The world’s consumption of rubber in 1903 was estimated at about 60, 000 tons, last year it amounted to 65, 000 tons, but it is worthy of note that the production of rubber in British colonies shows a large falling off. In 1896 it was 111, 225 cwt., in 1904 it had fallen to 40, 673 cwt., this decrease being due, no doubt, to the reckless way in which the wild rubber trees have been treated, as, for example, in Lagos, where in three or four years the rubber industry was practically destroyed by reckless tapping. There is no reason to suppose that in other parts of the world, outside the British dominions, where there is, and can be, no sufficient supervision, there has not been similar waste of the natural product. If this be so. it is not unreasonable to assume that the natural sources of rubber supply are being seriously affected, and must before very long disappear. The natural rubber trees and plants are scattered over such an enor
Interlocking
Rubber Tiling
makes the ideal floor for libraries, billiard rooms, smoking rooms and better class of residences, offices, hospitals, churches or any room in which quiet is desirable.
The Goodyear = Akron
Interlocking Rubber Tiling
is restful to others and to you when walking. Forms an integral body of tough, elastic tiles which is impossible to crack when building settles, and will outlast the structure itself. Can be laid in more designs and color effects than any other, to suit any taste. Is water proof, and frequent washing will not rot it.
Our catalogue gives all reasons for its superiority and advantages in practical use. Write for it and sample tiles.
THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO. Dept. B. Akron. Ohio, U. S. A.
NEPONSET
Waterproof Sheathing Papers
Standard for Over Twenty-five Years.
We have an Edition de Luxe Sample Book gotten out especially for Architects. If you haven’t one now in your files, write us.
F. W. BIRD & SON, Makers
Established 1817.
East Walpole, Massachusetts CHICAGO.
NEW YORK.
WASHINGTON.
Canadian Factory and Office: Hamilton. Ont.
We Also Make Florian Sound-Deadening Felt
and Paroid Roofing
“The pattern of his drawing-room carpet began to fade when it had only been down a few months. It consisted, or, rather, had consisted, of clusters of blue flowers on a drabbish ground. Now, with the principal color gone, it had become far too dull for the taste of that lover of brightness. He, therefore, conceived the unique idea of having each flower stamped over with red ink. For this purpose he invented a small tin tray, which was made so that it stood quite flat on the floor to prevent any possiblity of the ink being spilled or dropped about. Bent in it were little wells about as large round and twice as thick as a halfpenny. These depressions were filled with the liquid. The seamstress — whom he was always glad of an excuse to employ, because she was so hard-working and so poor — was soon set to carry out his plan. Down on her knees she had to go, and as she was decidedly stout it was no light task. With a cork cut the exact size and dipped in the ink, she pressed firmly down on each flower, thus leaving it as if covered with red cherries. No wonder it took her over a week, working all day, for the carpet was from 25 to 30 ft. long and proportionately wide. ”
The Closing of Pekin s Gates. — To this day the great gates in the walls of Pekin are closed every evening with the queer ceremonies that have been observed for centuries past. The daily performance is marked with a due ceremony, which is quaint and full of interest to the intelligent onlooker, as the closing by no means signifies the mere bringing together of the
heavy wooden doors and the barring of the Emperorʼs highway against all comers. At the appointed hour a preliminary signal is given by a large gong or iron shield being struck with a big iron bar fifty times in such quick succession as almost to defy calculation and this is followed by 100 double strokes commencing slowly and dreamily for the first half and gradually increasing to half-hurricane rapidity, and this set of 100 blows is repeated in precisely the same fashion three times. When the third and last cycle of gong-strokes is entered on a number of old and at this season very much bewadded and muffled-up old charlies start a series of discordant yells to all and sundry to hasten or they will be shut out and this combination of signals is followed by a jostling stream of people from both directions. Presently the rush slackens until only a solitary pedestrian or possibly a man on a donkey, full tilt, a belated ’rickasha or a heavily laden cart straggles through. Then a movement is made with the gates, yelling bursts out afresh and another rush ensues, the gates being meanwhile half closed and occasionally opened a little way again until, the outgoers having meanwhile ceased, there is a final scrimmage to get into the city and the process of closing, which has taken some half-hour in all, is concluded. Then, the huge iron-plated doors having clanged to, a monster iron pole is dragged up and placed across them on iron supports, being retained in position by a padlock of enormous proportions and of the well-known Chinese type. There are, in all, in the city of Pekin some nineteen gates and the same ceremony is observed at each, but at such a thoroughfare as the Hatamen
there is naturally more traffic and the process is probably proportionately longer. — Pekin News.
The Rubber Trade and Rubber Supplies. — The question whether the demand for rubber will continue to be met by the supply, or overtake and exceed it, is one of great importance to certain rapidly growing home industries. The Times [London] recently expressed the opinion that the activity in planting in various parts of the earth makes the outlook less promising for the shareholders in new rubber companies, as the supply will overreach the demand, but the facts, so far as they are known, point to a somewhat different conclusion. The production of rubber steadily increases. The world’s consumption of rubber in 1903 was estimated at about 60, 000 tons, last year it amounted to 65, 000 tons, but it is worthy of note that the production of rubber in British colonies shows a large falling off. In 1896 it was 111, 225 cwt., in 1904 it had fallen to 40, 673 cwt., this decrease being due, no doubt, to the reckless way in which the wild rubber trees have been treated, as, for example, in Lagos, where in three or four years the rubber industry was practically destroyed by reckless tapping. There is no reason to suppose that in other parts of the world, outside the British dominions, where there is, and can be, no sufficient supervision, there has not been similar waste of the natural product. If this be so. it is not unreasonable to assume that the natural sources of rubber supply are being seriously affected, and must before very long disappear. The natural rubber trees and plants are scattered over such an enor
Interlocking
Rubber Tiling
makes the ideal floor for libraries, billiard rooms, smoking rooms and better class of residences, offices, hospitals, churches or any room in which quiet is desirable.
The Goodyear = Akron
Interlocking Rubber Tiling
is restful to others and to you when walking. Forms an integral body of tough, elastic tiles which is impossible to crack when building settles, and will outlast the structure itself. Can be laid in more designs and color effects than any other, to suit any taste. Is water proof, and frequent washing will not rot it.
Our catalogue gives all reasons for its superiority and advantages in practical use. Write for it and sample tiles.
THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO. Dept. B. Akron. Ohio, U. S. A.
NEPONSET
Waterproof Sheathing Papers
Standard for Over Twenty-five Years.
We have an Edition de Luxe Sample Book gotten out especially for Architects. If you haven’t one now in your files, write us.
F. W. BIRD & SON, Makers
Established 1817.
East Walpole, Massachusetts CHICAGO.
NEW YORK.
WASHINGTON.
Canadian Factory and Office: Hamilton. Ont.
We Also Make Florian Sound-Deadening Felt
and Paroid Roofing