THE INFLUENZA. THE LATEST REPORTS FROM AFFEC- TED LOCALITIES. DISCOMFORT, BUT FATALITY, RBeapive, Pa, Dec, 30.-0ld in. habitants say that the meteorological conditions within the past few days have been unprecedented within their recollection. has been a common sight to rallway travellers through the Schuylkill, Leb- anon and Cumberland valleys to see farmers busy plowing in the felds, which they usually do in spring, with ths thermometer at 66°, Daisles, pan- sies and violets in full bloom have been found In the flower gardens, while dandelion flowers were plentiful in the fields, and many families gath- ered dandelion the same as in June. Lilacs have been found in bloom, while some of the trees have commenced to bud. To-day the thermometer was at 62 degrees, at its highest, and in four hours later had dropped to 40 degrees, with every indication that these evi- dences of spring will soon disappear, Physicians here belleve that the com- ing cold will be death to the grip, Many new cases have developed to-day, some physicians getting as high as a dozen additional cases, It is believed that there are now 400 to 500 cases in this city, Berureuey, Pa, Dec. 30,—The physicians of Bethlehem anneunced the appearance of ‘‘la grippe” to-day, apd druggists say their business was larger to-day than on any one day dur- ing the s=mall-pox epidemic of 1882, The drugs mostly preseribed are qui- nine and antipyrine, The physicians report having attended since Saturday on un average of 37 cases, which would make the total number of people suffer ing from the influenza about 300. In the general offices of the Lehigh Val- Jy Railroad here, a dozen clerks are off uty. CagrisLe, Pa., Dec. 30.—The Rus- sian influenza, or *'grip,”” has made its appearance in the Cumberland Valley. Fully 500 cases are reported. In this city the physicians say there 125 cases, but few of serious nature, one doctor having as high as 20 cases, The pa- tients have all the symptoms as de- scribed by the medical fraternity. No deaths have occurred as yet. PorrsviLLe, Pa, Dec. 30 Mrs, David Tucker, of Mahanoy City, who has been suffering from a severe attack of influenza for the past week, has be- come hopelessly blind. All medical aid has been tried, but her sight has not yet been restored. There are 50 cases of **la grippe” in Pottsviile. Prrrssura, Dee, 30.—A special from Johnstown, Pa,, says; The phy- slolans to-night report 20 cases of Ia grippe In this place. The majority of cases were developed to-day. New York, Dec. 80.—According to the official records nearly 300 police- men are laid up with the grippe. This number includes Inspector Steers, ' A number of sergeants and detectives are also laid up, while severs! captains are mentioned on the sick list, The fear is that the epidenilc has seized pon the force. The death of Patrolman Tim- othy J. Golden to-day is sakl to have been the first fatal case of la grippe on the police force here. He was taken ill on Saturday. Frovipexce, R. IL, Dec. 30.—The epidemic of influenza prevails here ln a mild form. It 1sestimated that one- fourth of the population Is afflicted, and there are indications thal the disease bas not reached its height, Oswego, N. Y., Dec. 30.—~The epi- demic, *‘ia grippe,” has struck this locality, and scores of cases are report- ed. It Is indiscriminate in its attack, and merchants, mechanics, physicians and laborers are wrestling with it. To- day 12 crews on the Western Division of the Rome, Witertown and Ogdens- burg Railroad were laid off with the disease, Troy, N. ¥., Dec. 30.—lpfluenza Is very prevalent “here. Many cases are mported in all parts of the city. All ages and both sexes suffer. Dr. BR. D. Bloss, a prominent physician, says there is scarcely sa family In Troy exempt from the disease. MoNTREAL, Que,, Dec, 30.—Inquir- ies made by officials of the Board of Health on Saturday failed to discover a single case of ihfluenza in Montreal, To-day nearly every medical practition. er in the city reports having some cases under treatment. that the dis Leading doctors agree ease is the form of influenza which bas been epidemic in Russia and the rest of Europa. The disease as it has appeared here is extremely painful, the symptoms being severe headaches and pains about the loins and bark, accom. panied by ehills and bigh fever. The appears 10 have pald a sudden visit to the city Saturday night, and the doctors and druggists have been busy ever since, NEW YEAR'S DAY. New York, Jan, lL.—New Years Day was ushered in with the usual MUCH LITTLE CuannestoN, 8, C., Jan, 1.— New Yent’s Day wus observed blere bv a peneral s nsion of business, The Fist B ¢, Nutional Guarda, protm- bly tbe largest colored military organi- zation in the United States paraded throu :h the principal strests and, after being dismissed, assembled at Ham- sted Hall, where an address was de- livered by Rev. J. 8. Lew, (colored.) I'NILADELPHIA, Jan, 1.--Business was generally suspended yesterday and the streets in many places were filled with people, who viewed the masque- raders, Political and social clubs, as # rule, kept open house, and there were many New Year callers, Wasmunaron, D. C., Jan, 1.—In- stead of the brilliant sunshive of the last few days New Year dawned upon the National Capital cloudy and drizzly, and by 10 o'clock a steady rain set in, which was none the less dispiriting because it was a drizzle, The rain prevented those citizens who could not go In carriages from paying their re- spects to the Chief Executive. At 10,45 carriages began to arrive, and a throng of handsomely dressed men and still more handsomely dressed and attract- ive women entersd the great doors, The decorations of the East Room were particularly effective. The mantels were hainked with tulips, byacinths and ferns; the windows hidden b y palms, ferns, india rubber trees and the polnsetta, with its scar let blossoms gleaming amid the greenery, The corrider leading from the East Room to the conserva tory was turned Into an avenue of palms. The mantels and windows of the Blue Room were filled with flow. ers and potted plants, and the air was fragrant with the odor of hyacinths and roses. The glass doors leading from the vestibule to the corridor were opened, and the music of the Maurive Band penetrated every part of the house. At 11 o'clock the Marine Band, under the leadership of Pro- fessor Sousa, struck up “Hall to the Chief”? and President Harrison, with Mrs. McKee on his arm, followed by the Vice Presid nt and Mrs, Morton, the Cabinet officers and their wives came down the broad staircase and took their places In the Biue Room. Secretary Biasine made the introduc- tions of the Diplomatic Corps, which was headed by Buon Fara, the Italian Minister, as Dean of the corps, The minis ers of the different countries, ail of them attended by the attaches, were dressed In their court uniforms, which are gorgeous with gold embroidery and lace, A #diriking figure among the diplomats in Count d’Armno Valleg, of Germany, who towers a full bead and shoulders above his confreres, sir Jullan Pauncefort was soother noticeable gure, The Chinese Minis. ter and several secretaries followed pext and their brilliant silken garments rustied as they made their bows. The Korean Minister and secretary, accoms panied by thelr wives, were also there, and the Oriental ladies appeared to en- joy the novelty of the affair exceeding ly. The Turkisk Minster and suite wore the red fezes, with long black silken tassel. Colonel Ernst and Lieut, Parker presented the other guest as they filed through the room. THE JUDICIARY, THE ARMY AND NAVY. After the Diplomatic Corps came the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, many of them accompanied by their wives and daughters. The handsome uniforms of the Army and Navy next sitracted the attention of the com- pany, for the brass buttons and dif- ferent colors of the three ULranches of the service are effective. Senators and Representatives, ex Congressmen, Regents of the Smith. sonian and other Government Institu- tions, in their citizens’ dress of sober black, followed in rapid succession, and, at 12.30, those privale citizens who were brave enough to stand the drenching rain passed through. sito AY NEWS OF THE WEEK, ~ An express train on the Pittsburg and Lake Erie Railroad struck and killed William and John Angel, Ger- man laborers, on a trestle near Shouse- town, Pa, on the afternoon of the Bist uit, Four boys, aged from 6to 8 yesrs, were smothered to death at Jackson, Tenvesses, on the 30th ult, by the caving-in of a sand bank under which they were playing. George Starr, Presidest of the Coldwater Na- tional Bank, in Coldwater. Michigan, bad a fall at the Battle Creek, Sani. tariam, on the 30th ult,, which caused his death, «The electrical machines intended to be used in the execution of murders ers in the penitentiary at Auburn, New York, were tested, on the Slat ult., by highly gratifying to the commission,” A current of about 1000 volts was —=In Mitchell county, North Cue lina, on Christmas day, three men were killed iu a drunken row, On the 27th ult, Monros Garland, a brother of one of the murdered men, rode up to a crowd at the scene of the fight and fired into into it, killing three men and wounding twelve, ~-At noon on the 1st, the ground under the Lehigh Valley Railroad lo- comotive shops, in Wilkesbarre, Pa., which are directly over a coal mine, caved in. The foundation walls of the building crscked and some of ihe machinery wus badly damaged, There was considerable excitement among the 400 workmen in the shops, but no one was injured. ~The holler of a saw mill at Ein, Illinois, exploded on the 1st, wrecking the building, and killing the engineer, foreman and sawyer. A wreck oC. curred on the St, Louis, Arkansas and Texas Railway, near Pine Bluff, Arkan- sa®, on the evening of the 1st, A pas- senger train was thrown from the track. Engineer Apperson was killed and four men were badly hurt. The number of passengers hurt is not known. By an explosion of natural gas at Economy, Penna., on the morning of the 2d, George Hirschbaum, aged 40 years, was killed, and John Becker seriously injured. They were looking, with a lantern, for the cause of a short supply of gas, ~—Willlam L. Scott's Penncylvania Colliery at Mount Carmel, Pa., sus. pended ope. ations on the 2d, throwing 1000 miners out of employment. J. Langdon & Co., proprietors of the Pink Ash vein at the Neilson Shalt, Shamokin, Pa,, offered to start work on the morning of the 2d at a reduc- tion of 15 per cent, The miners, num- bering 400, rejected the offer and went on strike, The threatened strike of the employes of the various electric light companies in Pittsburg did not take place on the 24, and it is now doubled whether any general strike will take ~— About 200 feet of the tracks of the Delaware, Lackawanna and West. ern Railroad caved in at Plymouth, Penna., on the afternoon of the 2d, The eave-in has extended to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, but the build. iog has not yet bszen damaged, Man are at work shoilog up the interior of the mine, and all the miners have quit work. ~Edward Sherman, & machinist, was awakened, In Cluelounati, at two o'clock on the morning of the 2d by some oe working st the lock of the door to his room. Thinking It was a bur- glar, be fired through the panel and mortally wounded W. H. Poilhips, aged 73 years, who occupisd an adjoiniog room and had gone to Sherman’s door by mistake, AN EXTENDED SNOW BTORM IN THE NORTHWEST, St. Pav, Dec. 830.— Advices here seem to indicate that the greal stow storm of Saturday night raged over a very extended area, Humors were rife in the newspaper offices that many wires west of bere were down and travel much delayed, The centre of the disturbance appears to have been at Huron, 8 D., where the wind veered to the north and the storm in- creased until it became =» veritable iizzard, blowing 50 miles an hour. The memerable experiences of two years ago prevented people from un duly exposing themselves on the prairies and no bad results are anticipated. The storm has been marked in pla. ces by singular phenomona At Winona, Minn, rain descended In great sheets and the whole city was flooded. When the rain stopped the mercury fell 30 degrees in three hours, People can skate to business this morn. ing. At other points electrical dis turbances preceded the fall of snow. Duluth was visited with a severe blis- zard, ushering in the heaviest suow fall of tue season, Much damage has been done in the city and strest-cars are blocked, Trains are delayed by drifts six feet deep lu mavy places. Cricaoo, Dee, 30. —~Chlcago is expe. riencing its rst touch of winter so far this year. Oa Saturday the weather was very mild, the thermometer indi- cating about 60°, On Satdrday might a very peculiar metsorological eondi- tion obtained, While the temperature continued mild the city was lashed by the whip ends of a cyclone on a flying business trip from the Rocky Moun tains to the valley of the St. Lawrence, House-shaking gusts of winds, rain- jaden, went rattling by, making every. thing quiver and drenching the belated Five minutes later it would be ascalm asa day in Jure snd the heavens would be brilliant with stars, TALENTED TRAMPS, ——— Two Incidents Which Furnish Cone siderable Food for Thought. A few days ago s party of some five or six school-boys, on their way home, stopped in front of the home of one of their number. The conversation went from one stady to another until if reached the subject of algebra; here it stopped; one of the boys declared him. self unable to verform a difficult prob- lem in quadralics which had been as- signed to him. His companions tried to help him, but after all hands had failed it was given up as a bad job, An old and besotted looking individ- ual who was shoveling coal a few doors away, had been watching the boys for some time with a look of amusement on . his grimy face. After each one had tried and failed, he slowly laid down his shovel, picked up 8 piece of coal, and, walking quietly up to the boys, requested permission to look at the problem. After a good deal of laugh- ing it was shown to Lim, and without saying a word he quietly sot to work, and ina few moments had correctly completed the example, writing it out on the pavement with the bit of coal. The boys looked on in wonderment, and could hardly believe their eyes, but | were not slow to take advantage of the | state of affairs, and in a few moments | the work on the sidewalk had been transferred to paper. The coal heaver in the meartime had resumed his work, which was soon com- pleted, snd the last seen of him he was disappearing in the side door of a se loon, On another occasion a party of four men and one woman were seated in the | parlor of a hotel not far from this city. Adiowning the parlor was a bar room, Leaning egainst the bar, leisurely drinking, were several countrymen. At one of the tables sata tramp hall asleep, | His arm was curled up, forming a sup- | port for his shaggy head, which was | sovered with a tattered slouch hat of; ancient manufactare, Suddenly throagh | the loungers stopped | mediately resumed their occupation, | Nobody noticed the tramp. At the! first sound he had raised his head from | the table, and his eyes seemed glued to | the door through which the music| same. As it prooseded he arose and tottered toward it, but just ashe entered : the room the musio stopped. All eves | turned on the tramp, who was making | straight for the piano, which he reached | s moment later. Lightly running his dirty fingers over the keys, suddenly he began to play Mendelssohn's *“Wedding March.” For nearly half an hour the tramp sat thos, playing nothing but the choicest classien]l music, with a touch and execution that was iiselfl a marvel The listeners sal astonished snd in si- lence that was not broken until the tramp, rising from the piano, took his bat, and, going fhough the bar-room to the door, disappeared down the mud- dy road.—N. Y, Sun, Wisin The Man in No. 7. One night when three or four of us boys boarded a sleeper on the L. and N. road going south from Cincinnati, s passenger in lower 7 began fo snore as soon as we were in bed. He had » terrible snore for a human being, and after several of us had ealled to him sad failed to stop it one of our crowd slid out of bed, reached into No. 7, and with great definess affixed a spring clothespin fo the sleeper’s nose. It was of course, expected that be would wake up in a few seconds, but, to our surprise, he did not, while at the same time he suddenly ceased to snore. By and by all of us dropped off fo sloop, and every one in the car was. up before No, 7. In fact he slept so jate that the porter parted the ourtams to arouse him. After one look he jumped back with a yell, and when we hurried ap, we found the man cold and dead, He was lying on his back, hands locked ander his neck snd the elothespin had ‘nehed his nose all out of shape. The vody was taken to Cincinnatti, and most of us had to sitend the inquest It was there testified to by the doctors that the man had died of heart diseases, but I tell you we didn't hanker Yo do any more joking for a full year. New York Sun. A A IMI 5 SNe. Why Boys Leave the Farm. A great many people wonder why farms | are deserted by the sons of the fathers who obtained competence and happiness from them. One reason is that many of the sons are not willing to be as economiosl, and to work as did ther fathers. Instead of raising corn to fat. ten their cattle, they prefer to ride down to the village in a top carriage after » fancy team snd order Western corn of the dealer, and get it charged, too. In. . " Farewell tothe Ola Year, ; O14 Year, thy Hie Ia wellnigh spout, Thy feet are tottering a Thy hoary head with The time is liere for thes to pu Already in the frozen snow A louely grave is made for thes The winds are chanting dirges low, Upon the land and on the sea. 01d Year, thou wert a friend 10 some To some thou wert of worth untold, Thy days were bisssings, every one, ore precious far than shining gold: Tut unto others, thoi 8 Tos Didst prove thysellan enemy, Relentless as the chalis of woe 48 ruthless as 3 maddened sea. Boma will rejolee to know thee dead, Others will mourn thee as a friend Bome will look back on thee with dread, Others thelr praises to thee lend: I neither offer praise Sor blame, Old Year, for what you brought to me, For unto me both joy and Joie, Your active hands gave lavishly, Thy solemn death -hour draws 2-8igh-- And hark! I hear tny funeral knell Blow pealing through he darkened sky-- Farewell, Old Year—~farewell, farewell A FOOLISH JOKE. - A NEW YEARS INCIDENT, MRS, A. M., PATNE, The last touches had been given to the luxwriously furnished parlors and the lunch laid npon the table in the library, was tempting in the extreme. Rosy apples and golden oranges were the more solid dishes, chicken salad, sliced ham, snd rolled sandwiches, looked tempting, arranged apparantly for a number of expected onllers, also were in reoswdiness. Miss Alice in 8 gown of ereamy white trimmed in wa d through the long parlors looking was sifting at a dainty trifle of furn:- ture which was an apology for a desi, small cabinet, was looking over a long list of expected callers. For it was New Year's Day, an old fashioned New Year's Day in New ing’s of the season. Eaura and this day. They had a namber of friends, and were among the most hos- to their circle. charming in themselves, and there was their tables, so year by year the num. ber of callers incressed. Laurs who, being the elder of the two, acted as utation of the family was in her hands, was thanking of some of her [ather's old friends who were sure to come, and also sure to eritically taste the chicken salad, and of others who would notice the new chins with the mono- gram in gilt, and the plates which she had painted herself. The blinds were drawn, and the gas lighted, and the house plants, were beautiful and nvit- ing in the extreme. An open fire burned in the grate, and Alice stood before it, idly looking down upon the coals, when the tiny clock upon the mantle struck ten. “Lanra,” she said, with a surprised glance at the clock. “1 did not think it was ten. Mr. Girton, always called about this time, if not earlier, and call here very early.” “There is plenty of time Alice,” was the reply, “the coffee is not quite ready,” and Laura continued to survey the list of callers whom she expected. Half an hour passed, and the carriages were heard rolling swiftly through the street, and many of them stopped in the peighborhood, but there was wo ring at the bell The maid who sat in the ball waiting, came timidly and looked in at the draw- ing room door. Alice still stood by the grate, and Laurs had chosen a book from the table, and was reading. She shook her head, and went back to her post noiselessly, Eleven o'clock by the chiming bells of the time piece, and still silence reigned. Laura looked at the lunch table, examined the coffee urn, and re- turned to her chair, Alice sat down with a alight sigh, and a disengaged look toward the clock. Twelve! *“Laural what can it mean,” exclaimed Alice starting db from ber chair, ** not one caller yet.” “I am at a loss to understand it Alice, and such & beautiful day. You look so lovely too, I wish they won d come.” “Dear, your lunch will be spoiled and Dr. Brown likes his coffee fresh. Itis very tiresome sitting hore in state, 1 dress on. Is that a ring? Listen?" No, it was a step outside, but there wes buried in the depths of the sofa pillow, and Alice was wobbing is good earnest, “ilow dreadful after all our hopes,” she cricd, between her sobs. “What have we done to be so neglect ed, to be so openly insulted by all our friends.” “Naver mind Alice. Bomething mast have happened,” said Laura, whose own voice was far from steady. “Take some lunch with me, and let us forget it.” “I never could taste a thing. They are all stale, and look hateful to me” she said wearily. “Harry will bo in after dark acy way,” sobbed the disappointed girl,” “he said he would coms in on the five o'clock train. “What will he think when he hears the kind of day we have spent.” Harry was a young cousin, very fond of the girls, and a frank eager young man, one of those who never forgets his boyhood or his playmates. He had been called away from the city by busi- ness, and was expected to return st night, Alice and Laura gave up all hope cf callers, drew their chairs up to the fire, and listened in silence for his step. By and by, after the night had fallen, snd the steps in the street were fow and far between, they heard his cheery whistle, and in another moment he ran up the steps. He stopped there a long time or so it seemed to the girls—and then | threw open the door, and came with a { hasty step through the hall, and into | the drawing roon. i Both girls came forward, and as they { eried “Oh Harry!” their overstrung | nerves were powerless to help them, | and they both burst into tears. “Hey day, what is all this,” cried { Harry, “here you sre alone in sll your | splendor,” and this I find at the door. | He held in his hand a fancy wicker | basket, and from it showered down | upon the floor a grest snow storm of | cards, “What did you tie a basket on | the door for? he asked. Has the pug { died since morning?” “A basket! We never did,” eried both girls at once. “Then it is a mean joke somebody {bas played upon yom girls” replied { Harry, “Look over our cards. It 1s | the only satisfaction you will have, “What a» shame, when my darling | ponsin looks so beautiful” a Alice sat down upon the floor forget- | ing all about ber splendid robe, and | Harry sat down beside her, and topeth- er they examined and counted the gress pile of cards. “One hundred and twenty! think of it Laura,” said Alice, and your lunch wasted.” “Only a portion of it said Harry” if you will give me some. 1 have had nothing since breakfast, and only just caught the 8.80 train, as it was.” But after all he took only # sand- wich and a cup of coffee, and saying ho would be back presently, went away { suddenly. He looked back a moment into the parior as he went ouf, “Stay where you are girls,” be said, “I want to ses you on my return.” He was absent about half an honr daring which time the two disappoint ed girls found thet all the friends they had expected had dropped cards in the basket, and a number of others, some of which they greatly desired to see. But when Harry returned, be brought a large party with him. How he ever founa so many young men in ss short a time, nobody can tell but they made 8 gay party. They were all sorry for the girl's disappointment, and tried their best tc make up for it, and they had a very merry evening after all. “My dear little cousin,” sald Harry, coming up to Alice as she stood by the fire after they bad gone, and Laura was superintending the removal of the lunch *“if I ever find the author of that ernel joke, 1 will choke him." +] don’t care now Harry, after the evening and with the basket of eards, but 1t was hard. How good you were 10 bring them all, and 1 did not even w ou 8 happ New . if bak wi Phke it ally happy year for me, 1 will never forget dav,” said Harry softly, as he took her band. Will you Alice? him a ow Lear IE st, A A and be thanked her a forgot that Tet of January, smd keeps the basket