r" -, ,yrft'tay j-i-. p- n LANCASTER DAILY INTELLIGENCE!!, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 188. Jlancastcr rntriUgnicct. WEDNESDAY EVENING, JAN. 26, 1881. A Delphic Oracle. Cel. McClure docs net seem te be quite se sine as lie lately was that the Republi can machine is going j0 i,jj;lUy snatch the senatorial chestnut out of the fire. It does net leek very premising for them, certainly; notwithstanding tlu-ir professed confidence and their rashness even in fixing the day when their fruit is te be plucked. Te-day has l)een set, but vainly; and it leeks as though many another one would fellow it. Neither the rebel Republicans nor the Democrats are showing any visible indication of an ardent desire te burn tUeir fingers te help the family te what it wants. It may be strange, but it seems te be true that the situation is entirely without hope for them. We de net see a gleam of it about. The Times is one of the journals that is anxious that the Democrats of the Legislature should de something te help along the Republican machine in its trouble. It declares that "they can't elect a Democrat or any man whose Re publicanism is at all doubtful, but they could adept a public policy in regard te the senatership." and cheese a senator accordingly. That is advice worthy of the Delphic oracle. Te make it duly im pressive, it would be well for the Times te define the " policy " that it recom mends. Te our mind a policy which re quires Democrats te select, for the politi cal eflij'j of Unite I States senator, a Re publican whose- Republicanism is net at all doubtful, needs te be defended, for it does net obviously defend itself. The prime duty of a Democratic legislator clearly is te elect a Democratic sen ator ; and when a reverse " policy" becomes his duty, it must be compelled by very exceptional facts. If our representatives in the Legislature were compelled te cheese between two Republican candidates, one of whom was certainly te be chosen, then it would perhaps betiieir duty te Bidect the best. But thai situation is net yet presented, nor will it be if tiie Re publican managers, who proclaim their resolution te defend te the last ditch their respective positions, are telling the truth. They ought te fall into an alliance, and compromise their difference. That will be the final result if they consider the best geed of their whole party. That is what we shall be content te see them d. If they seek our alliance, certainly t ley must show us the advantage of giv ing it te them. .Thai advantage will ntbe obvious if we are called upon te eh'ct a stalwart Republican. All such jobs as that weiaturally incline te remit te the Republican party. We cannot be reasonably expected te have a stomach for them. But if either of the Republican fac tions is inclined te propose the election of a senator, solely en thy issue of his capacity te honorably represent the state, and ei.e who shall net be expected by either parly te h a partisan in his sena torial conduct, then weds) net doubt that the Democratic representatives in the Legislature will be ready te consider Use preposition and te confer with the Re publicans making it, as te who that- man may be. That is th.- only " policy'" which we can w--1:;.-.- it may be theduty of the minority parry in the Legislature te proclaim in r.-gard te ilu'sensitership : and when cither of the minority Repub lican factious can sea the same policy something may result faun it. At present they de net seem te be comprehending it very rapidly. The Times would de well te preach it le them rather than te the Democrats, who are new doing what they were elected te de and what they are expected te de ; namely, te vote for a Democrat ler United States senator un til they can pri.dace god reasons satis factory te their constituency for doing anything els?. If any e!' them can find a Democratic constituency that will leek with favor upon their vote for a stalwart Republican, they may safely se vote; etiserwi.se, we think, net safely. We are pleased te see that the Demo Deme crats in the Pennsylvania Legislature take the initiative in measures looking te the restriction of corporations te their just powers and te the enforcement of the fundamental law cf the state en this subject. Ter te Democratic party by its traditions, as well as by its freshest utterances in party conventions in this stale, is pledged te resist Use " aggressive power of corporations in collusion with peliticsil rings." It is the party of the people pledged te maintain popular rights against centralized and corporate pe-.ver.and in the struggle, which is com ing nearer and nearer every day, between the rights of the people and theabuses of their corporate creatines, the Demo cratic party presents tluj enlv enraniza- llOtl IllUlPr il-i'il-'f nltlnlinirii tirt.Ktlnt. ! rights are secure. The constitution of Pennsylvania amply curbs its corpora tions. It is only when they transcend it that they become dangerous. Hence the Democratic declaration of two succes sive j ears in this state : Th it we leek with alarm and apprcher fii tu upon the pretensions of the ieat ti.stifcp.irtatieu companies te be above the fundamental law ei' this commonwealth, which governs all else within our bonier.-, and until they accept the constitution of 1873 in geed faith they should remain ob jects Of the utmost vig lane and jealousy of both Legislature and people. Se 1. ng as the executive, legislative and judicial brasi.-'fs of the state gov ernment, te a large extent, La!;,- favors from these cei piratieti-s in the shape of free passes, issued in violation of that constitution, and put themselves under obligations te them, se long our legisla tures and courts are weakened in the purpose te enforce that constitution. But sooner or later the line must be drawn between these who sue for awl these who are against the people. When it is se drawn Democrats will find a nec essary te their party standing te be en the. right side of it. The Oliver forces at Harrisburg are , net. showing such solidity sis would natur ally induce the Democrats te find in com bination with them the only practicable solution of the present dead-lock. Mr. Kuesisi ;snd Mr. Ilewir have given plain notice thai iu :ise event of the Democrats was voting for Oliver, with any likelihood of him being elected by their aid, they will leave him, and that means the less of 20 or 30 votes from the Republican caucus strength. Meanwhile the Oliver men have net justified their beasts that when mere were needed they had eniy te reach out and get them. They have reached but they have net gathered them in. Oliver's strength has never since been as great as it was en the first bal bal eot, while Mr. Grew has held his very steadily. Lecal sentiment has net driven the kickers from their position, but has reinforced them, and in the cases of one of the Lebanon and two of the Delaware county members has driven them away rrem Oliver. Saving Readhig. Mr. Gewen seems te have entirely sue ceeded in realizing the deferred bend project for relieving the Reading rail road from the pressure of its heavy in debtedness ; but,after convincing the cap itiilists of what it seemed it would be very hard te convince them, he new finds his difficulty in persuading the stockholders, or rather the heaviest owners of stock, the Messrs. McCalsnent. The fact undoubtedly is, in regard te this scheme, that it is disadvantageous te the stock ; or rather that it would be se if all the stockholders culd be in duced te put their hands in their pockets and pay their portion of the money needed te discharge the pressing indebt edness of the cempatry. But this they will net de ; jind the ingenious scheme of Mr. Gewen preserves their read te all the stockholders, relieving them from the necessity of contributing their shsire towards the object, te keep their stock. They pay a heavy price for this in agreeing that the men who take their places shall have securities given them sit thirty cents en the dollar. But certainly the project is a beneficent one te them ; and probably the United Slates judges will say te the McCalments that it shall net be disturbed :it their demand, unless they sin; ready te present a party who will take up the debt of the read en still better terms. Com plaining of this scheme they must certainly be ready te offer a better. They have net taken their share of the bends ; and are hardly therefore in a position te say that the terms offered are unduly ad vantageous te the takers. MINOR TOPICS. In the division of the legislative spoils at Albany the thumb-screw was relent lessly applied te all the anti-Conkling kickers. While the anti-machine nun were wholly ignored in the matter of ap pointments smd denied everything, the Democrats were accorded some favors in the way of pages. Supeustitiex has for many years made a stronghold- of the year laSl, and has peopled its passing mouths will all man ner of hobgoblins and -chimeras dire, se that the feeling is widely spread that dis aster, death, and even the end of sill things earthly may be expected before the year closes. Up te the beginning of this month the Rev. Tedd's church, in the city of New H-ivcn, professed in its manual te belitve i.i " the condemnation of the wicked te everlasting punishment." It has new dis carded this formula, and leaves the future fate of the wicked an open question, con tenting itself with professing a belief that the Lord will ceme te indue the tverM in righteousness. Is ;i Montreal court one day last week a certain man appeared as a witness for the defense in a suit brought by :i physician against a widow. His testimony was net finished sit the time of the neon recess, and during the brief interval the witness a:id the widow were mars ied. Upen his return te the box his evidence wns object ed te by the plaintiffs counsel, smd the objection wsis sustained by the court. The whole of his evidence was finally rejected as illegal, the first, part, net having been signed and completed before his mar riage. As esteemed Philadelphia contemporary thinks that the only one grasul reason why the people of that, city can want, the seat of government there, is that, in such esse, a better class of members of the Lcgislsiture might be obtained te rcprc ssntthem. "Very few gentlemen of tal ent and responsible position in Philadel phia ase new willing te seek, or even te accept unsought, eificial places, the re sponsibilities of which will take them away from their families, their offices and their important private business, profes sional, commercial and industrial, for the greater part of the winter. If the Lugssta Lugssta ture sat here, such gentlemen could bs ob tained as legislators, because they would have some hours every day te direct and oversee their personal affairs, and yet be able te perform their official duties.'' Editor Davis, of the Reformed Church Messenger, has been badgered a geed' deal by complaints that hu did net publish enough "news." Se he took up i secular piper, commended te hiui for a model of journalistic enterprise, and prints the following heads of artistes published en one page of one issue of it ; aud he wants te kuew.if this is what his religious read ers want : "Lynched by a Meb. A Murderer of Twe People Hanged ;" "A Wife-Murder in .Newark. A Colored Man Clubs His Wife te Death and Then Sleeps Alongside tneuerpsc; An Absconding Bank- rupt. Assigning a Hundred Thou sand Dollars te His Wife and Then Running Awsiy;" "Arresting a Mer chant Obtaining Goods Under Fsilsc Reproentatiens What Beth Sides Have te Say;" "Killed While Coming from Chureii;" "Finding Her Husband in a Muidercr's Cell ;" "Suffocated by the Gas of a Lime Kiln ;" "A Cousin" of Secretary Sherman Suspended ;" "Thinks He has Found Charlie Ress;" "A Salesman's Suicide ; " Bartley Campbell's Libel Suit ;" " Killed in a Collision A Wreck en si North Carolina Railroad ;" " Betting en a Den Fight;" "A Beiler's Leng Leap;" "Suspension of a Mining Cem pany;" "Fire Among Combustible 'things ;" "The Fertilizing Company' Creditors:" "A Southern Merchant's Suicide;" "An ex-County Commissioner ArrcRted;" "Eleven Dead Bodies Pound." Frederick Warner, sigwl fourteen years, , vas killed by a tram of cais at Seutli Ik, i.i. 1 euu. en PEBSONAL. The two distinguished writers of fiction, the late Jacob Abbett and the existing Victer Huge, are said te have looked se much alike that they rabjht be taken for twins. Mr. Riciiaise II. D.vsa and his family arc passing the winter in Reme. Mr. Dana devotes his mornings te his work en international law and his afternoons te sight-seeing. Mrs. IIaikmet Beechek Stewe writes from her winter hesne at Mandarin, Fla., that the hard frost of the night and morn ing of the 30th of December caused a less of all her oranges about 300,000 of them. The fruit lies in heaps en the ground. Br.iGHAM Youxe's grave is in the cer ner of the Mermen cemetery at Salt Lake City. It is covered by a slab of granite, but there is no name or inscription of any kind. Outside of Brighain's personal graveyard the grounds ase se shabby that they might be taken for a dumping place for garbage. The physical condition of .Mr. Glad Glad stese, owing te the strain upon him in performing his duties in the Heuse of Commens, is occasioning some anxiety te his friends and medical advisers. William Seheener, employed in Rob Reb bins's grist mill, Wilkesbarrc had his clothing caught in a shaft and was whirl ed around with terrible velocity. Beth his legs were broken and it is thought that internal injuries were sustained, lie was insensible when rescued smd was sent te the hospital. The Sun's Washington correspondent says : "The treasury department has been positively aud formally offered te Senater At.i.ises, oflewa, svsid there is no doubt that he will aecept it. With Mr. Blaine in the state department and Mr. Allisen in the treasury, the third-termers will think that they have get a very peer show. He hsis, however, net been entirely sound en the hard money question. The people who voted for Garfield as the incarnation of hard money, will be apt te think that they are sold in the appointment of Alli Alli eon." Rev. R. Leiohtes Gehuakt, of Lcwis burg, son of Rev. Dr. E. V. Gerhart, of this city, recently had an article in the Mereenburg Review en Teiiiiy3ea. The pjet laureate, receiving a copy of it, sent the following : " Farringl'erd Fresh water Isle of Wight Jan 7th 80 Dear Sir Accept my thanks for having sent me your kindly and able essay and believe me Yours very trulv A.Tcnnvsen Mr. R. r.eighten Gerhart." "The let ter." writes Mr. Gerhart, "though net run together as here printed, is with out a single punctuation, with the excep tien ei me period at the end or my name. 'I'! .. . I . .. . . ., ... The poet, tee, has forget ten that the old year is gene." WJif 1 Mie t There is a lady living in a little four roomed cottage iu the environs of Bosten, wIiqsc name is well known te literary peo ple, writes a correspondent of Lippiimett's. She depends wholly upon her own exer tions for the support ei herself and chil dren, and docs all her own housework, yet her cottage is the focus of the best society of the locality. A gentleman calling there recently was received at the deer by a daughter of the lady, who told him her mother was tee busy te be called, but that he could see her in the kitchen if he pleased, and he followed her te thiit room. The lady greeted him without, the least embarrassment, though she had en a big apron and her sleeves were pinned back te her shoulders. She was cutting a pumpkin into strips for pies ; and there sat a venerable gentleman gravely paring the strips te the accompa niment of brilliant conversation. I wsis asked te guess who this gentleman was, and after several fruitless attempts was told thsifc it was the poet Longfellow. While the pumpkin paring was in process another distinguished poet called, and he also insisted upon being impressed into the service. It was a dreary day outside, and no one eared te leave .the pleasant cot tage, se they all s ayed te lunch, one of the pies forming the piece 0c rcshlance- of the occasion. Taffy for Heaver, l'hilmlulpliiii Evening ISiiIlelin, Itep. is it expedient for the Republican ma jority te prolong a contest like this en purely individual grounds? It might net be altogether dignified te submit te a com promise dictated te it by factious minority; but might it net test the sincerity of that minority by offering le it some first-class man like General James A. Beaver, whom all Penn sylvsmia delights te honor, and, who would represent Pennsylvania brilliantly in the Senate? Pennsylvania would be satisfied with Mr. Oliver! but Mr. 01 ivcr is net the only man. And if this Grew faction has bound itself up into a sehd caucus, as it has, the regular party organisatien had far better elect a mail like General Beaver than te prolong a contest that is only increasing in bitterness as it gees en, and that is doing incalculable harm te the futuic prospects of the Re publican party throughout the state. Ciirieuii Attempt te extort tteuey. Jehn P. Mett, one of the wealthiest men in Neva Scotia, received en Frithvy last an unsigned letter, threatening him wilh deatli unless he placed a bug contain ing $000 in geld behind a deer of the Dartmouth ferry steamer at 8 o'clock last night. At the hour named Mr. -Mett, hav ing prepared a bag containing pennies, de posited it behind the deer, and then went en beard the steamer, which immediately started for this side. Just before she reached the wharf a young man approached the hiding place of the money, grasped the bag, and wsis walking rapidly away, when a detective, who was en the watch, arrested him. He proved te be Warren P. Herman, who had until lately been te sea, but is at present unemployed. THE IKISll FiCUT. End 1 the State Trinlft Farce at Dublin. Tlie jury were discharged at quarter te ei-ht o'clock, the foreman stating that it wsis utterly impossible that they could agree. A juror had previously that they were ten te two, but the judge said he Ciitild only receive a unanimous verdict. Oreat excitement prevailed, and it was heiKhteiifd when the judge said after the exhibition of te-day iu court he could net expect there would be a free and unani mous verdict. Immense crowds wern cheering outside the court house. The first news of the result of the state trla'sia Dublin reached the Heuse of Con" Cen" Con" luesis in a telegram from the solicitor of the t raversers te Mr. Sexten, stating that tt'ii jurors lavered a verdict of net guilty. m m Singular Suicide. Wesley C. He.ulley, aged thirty-live, of Earlville. III., in whose family there is said te be heieditsuy tendency te suicide, took his own life iu a peculiar manner en Sunday night. At half-past nine p." m. he left the house and went te the barn, where no lain oewn in tuc nay mew, covered himself with a lap robe, and then tsiking a razor with which hu had carefully shaved himsL'lf during the day, he severed the ficsh and arteries of the left arm just above the elbow. When he was feiind a half hour later he had bled te death. He i in geed circumstances aud owned the fsi Tvnn farm ( which ne Jived. THE SHADOWY LAND. A Brooklyn Merchant Wbe llellcves That HI Sen Appeared te Him a Year After Death. A prominent resident of Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, doing business iu New Yerk, who is an earnest Dcliever iu Spirit ualism, has recently had his faith strength ened by an extraordinary experience, of the actual eccurence of which he has net the least doubt. He is a shrewd, practical business man, inclined, as he says himself, te be skeptical and te doubt anything out 1 of the usual run But he states thsit a few days age in the daytime he saw distinctly his son, who died about a year before. As he desires te avoid undue publicity sill names are emitted, but the story, as he related it te a Tribune reporter, is as Ad Ad lews: "The death of my seu occurred a year age this month. The severity of the blew had become somewhat softened by time, and previous te his appearance te me had net been at all constantly in my mind. I had come home in the afternoon, and just about sunset I passed from the front par lor, where we are new. te this room in the rear. As I reached the deer I saw dis tinctly my dead son sitting in a low chair by the window. His face, which was pale was turned toward me, and his head a litttle inclined te one side. His eyes were earnestly fixed upon me. He was drcssad in the same -clothes that he were when alive. I steed as if thuudcrstruck gazing at him. In an instant the vision vanished like a Hash. It seemed te melt into the air le the right, the feet disappearing last. Then I recovered myself. I am net easily moved, but the perspiration steed out en my ferehesul and my hands were cold as ice. I examined everything and tried te see if I could have been deceived bj' the light coming through the window, but I could find no explanation, and I lay awake all the night thinkuig it ever. Come into the back parlor and I will show you what the arrangement of the room was." nil! speuKer eiucveu tne icar room, which has .a large b.iy-windew looking ever the harbor te the west. He changed the position of the chairs somewhat, and con tinued : "I steed in this doorway where veu stand new, looking towards the window. It was just this time of the day ; about sun set, smd the light was striking into the room from the west. Directly in front of me, by the tabic, was this high-backed chair. Leeking ever tlie top of this chair across the rays of liht from the west I saw my son in that low easy-chair, which steed where I have placed it new, in the corner te the north by the window. My son was net iu my mind when I entered the room. I have carefully studied the effects of the light, and I am sure that I was net deceived. My belief was con firmed by a subsequent occurrence. About a week afterwards si medium, who Jcnew nothing of what I had seen, gave my wife a communication from my seu. He de scribed my appearance and actions when I saw him in this room, and mere than this, he repeated the remarks made by mem bers of my family when told by me of my experience, lie said that he was con stantly with us in spirit, and had been struggling te nisike himself visible. He had succeeded this once, but ether forces were te strong for him, and he was com pelled te JO. " I cannot explain this appearance ex cept by my belief that, there is a connec tion between this world and the next which people generally are net ready te accept. There were some singular occur rences during my son's illness. He had been ill for eighteen months with con sumption and after traveling in search of health returned home about three weeks before his death. We learned then that he was a believer in spiritualism. He announced his approaching end a week before it came, and said that he would probably fall into a trsince. A few days before the end came he passed into si deep trance, remaining in this state for about six hours. On regaining con cen con scieiisness he exclaimed Beautiful !' and said that he had had a vision of an open sea containing many beautiful objects in dcseriiiably bright, from one of which came a voice calling him. He frequently spoke of this vision, which seemed te recur te him up te Lis death. All these experi ences have taken away from the members of my family any fear of death." RESIST MOSOI'OLY. Curbing tha Corporations. Senater Hallkasinireduccdabillat Har risburg which recites the necessity for legis lation le make effectual the previsions of the constitution prohibiting the consolidation of competing telegraph Hues, the purchase by a telegraph company of a controlling interest in the stocks or bends of a com peting line, or the acquisition by purchase or otherwise of a competing line of tele graph. Mr. Hall's bill proceeds te declare that the lines and proper ty i mis couseuusteu, or the stocks and bends thus controlled, or the competing lines thus acquired, as the case may be, se far as they are within this state, shsill be forfeited and escheated te the commonwealth. The escheat is te be decreed in any court of common plcsis upon proceedings by quo warrante. An appeal may be taken te the supreme court by any party interested within three months after final decree, aud net after wards. The telegraph hues and property thus escheated te the commonwealth are directed te be sold by the auditor general at public auction for cash at the capital in Harrisburg after no ne ticc published for four successive weeks iu at least one newspaper in each county through which such telegraph line passes. The sale te be consummated by deed from the commenwesilth uuder the seal of state, and signed by the governor smd sittcsted by the secretary, the deed te vest a valid title in the purchaser te the property therein conveyed. Senater Beidclman has offered a resolu tion te instruct the committee en corpor ations te inquire as te past violations of Use constitutional prohibition and te re pert such bill as they may deem proper in the premises. DIFFERENT KINDS OF MUSIC. Tite Cincinnati Clergy in Arms .Against the Operatic Operations ut the College of .-Music. The clergy of Cincinnati are up in arms against the operatic operations of the Col lege or Music. There has been consider able internal rumblim? for some timn. nn-1 it broke out strongly at the weekly meet ing of the Methodist clergy, at which was adopted a resolution condemning the action of the trustees of the College of Music in startiuir this deDartmnnt. nn.-l declaring it a breach of faith en their part te which it was their dutv net only te object but te "demand that" it be done away with. When the College of Music was started it was the expressed under- standing that it should be a place where everybody could go and enjoy music in its highest aud purest form, but the trustees, with Gee. Ward Nichols at their head, were endeaveriiiL' te introduce feat hips in the college objectionable te the best class of citizens, many of whom had lent their aid in establishing the college. What was supposed te be a school for the study of music was new being turned into a feeder of operas and theatres. If this would be allowed te go en the College of Music would stand sit one end of a chain which is connected with the variety shoes at the ether end by series of links composed of theatres and operas of all descriptions. Such an outrage en the faith and cenfi dence of the community should be de nounced." The resolution called out a warm discussion, but every one who spoke strongly favored the resolution. SOTHEKX THi; PKACTlCAt JOKER. SuineortilaltUlteulens Freaks. The late actor Sothern's peculiar tem perament led him into numerous practical jokes. Many queer stories are told of him that had no foundation in fact, but there were enough based en truth te satisfy the most exacting lever of the farcical. Per haps one et the chief of these wsis perpe trated in Xew Yerk some years age, when the " sacred spire " of Trinity church was selected as the scene of his caper and the geed people of New Yerk in general and Wall street iu particular were the chosen victims. He inserted a card in the papers smd issued a circular also te the following effect : "Prof. Cantell A. Biglie, of the scien tific school of Wisconsin university, has the honor te inform the public that he will give ah exhibition of his completed appar atus for navigating the air en Wednesday afternoon, the 9th inst, at 3 o'clock, pre cisely, in the vicinity of Trinity church. The professor proposes te fly from house te house across Brcadway, at angles, then from Trinity te Bowling Green and return, and will ascend as high as the summit of Trinity steeple and hover a few hours in that vicinity. An opportunity will be given after the exhibition te examine the apparatus. The people arc respectfully invited." Such, in brief, was the bait offered, and was greedily swallowed. At half-past 12 en the day in question a little knot of people had gathered clese te the church yard railings ; at t o'clock ihc pavement was in a measure obstructed. At 2 the tide oveillewed into the street, and by: p. m., the advertised hour for the exhibi tion, the whole breadth of Broadway was occupied by a densely packed and strug gling mass of humanity. The hubbub continued for some time, but, like all things, ended, after which Sothern aud two confederates crept quietly from behind the Lawrence tomb and demurely walked up town. Sothern endeavored te ncrsuade tue puuue mat lie knew nothing of it, and sent the following card te the Herald: Gramerct Park Hetel. Te the edi tor of the Herald : Will you kiially state that I am net responsible for the" flying hoax at Trinity church en Wednesday last. Believing with Washington that it is wrong te tell a story, I will simply state that Florence did it. Yours, etc. E. A. Sothern. One of the most extraordinary bits ei " pleasantry" he ever connived had a most natural origin. Mr. A. M. Palmer, of the Union Square theatre, Mr. Sothern, and Mr. Lee, the husband of Adelaide Ncilsen, were lunching in Mr. Brown's restaurant, when Mr. Lee, incidentally commenting en tlite American habit of carrying a pittel, aired his knowledge of what ah English swell would de if a rufiian assaulted him raise his hand quietly and knock him down. Sothern invited a party te dine with him en the following Sunday. They did. Mr. Setliern presided, the guest of the evening, Mr. Lee, sitting en the riidit, Nel-c Seymour at the feel of the table, and Dan Bryant at the left. The guests were all in even ing dress. The dinner was a sumptuous one, and well served ; the wines were of rich and rare vintages. Hardly a smile rippled ever the face of any one present, siUheugh, indeed some remark was made when Mr. Gsiyler took from under his coat a paper battle axe the bread blade bsing covered with tin foil such as is used te kill tyrants en the stage. While as the soup was being served Mr. Xeil Bryaut drew from beneath the back cellar of his coat a dirk knife, the blade of which was ever a feet long, which he solemnly unclasped and placed beside his plate. Mr. Chris Cenner took a six-shooter from his coat tail pocket, and laid it down carelessly ou the teble. Mr. Lee looked around in a bewildered way. ISclse Seymour drew a scythe from under the tsiblc. and then a policeman's club, and laid them iu the middle el the beard. At this Mr. Lee be gan te move very uneasily, and whispered te this friend Mr. Sothern : "Old friend, what docs this meau?" "Keep quiet," replied Sothern, "it is as I have feared. These gentlemen have been drinking and they have quarreled about a friend of theirs, a Mr. Wcymyss Jobsen, quite sin eminent scholar.' smd a very es timable gentleman ; but I hope, for our sakes that they will net attempt te settle their quarrel here. It is dreadful, but I hope, dear boy, that they will go' away quietly and have no row. It is a fashion they have here te settle their disputes at a tsiblc or wherever they meet. All we can de new is te await events." "But there will be murder here. Can we net notify the police of their inten tions?"' " Impossible, ray dear fellow," answer ed Setheru, in a distressing whisper, "Were you even te be suspected by these men of attempting te leave the room you would be shot like a deg, and no satisfac tion would be given te your relatives in a court of justice." By this time Mr. Lee was thoroughly aroused, and in no mood for tasting even the first course. " What an infernal country ! " he said, in a whisper. Fer a few moments the regular fiercely exclaimed : ' Whoever savs that the History of the French Revolution, writ ten by my friend. Davit! Wcymyss T.osen is net as geed a book in every respect as that written by Tem Carlylc en the same subject, is a liar, a thief, an 1 if there is any feel present who desires te tnL-n it up I am his man." All the guests rose suddenly, and evciy one grasp ed his weapon. Chris. Cenner reared, as he seized his pistol, " Yeu are another, Bryant, and by my halidemc I will move it en your treacherous bedy." Then shots were fired and the room was filled with smoke and uproar. Several of the guests clinched and struggled, and Nelse Seymour while struggling across the tabic thrust his feet into the eight-quart soup tureen, made a wild plunge, but was knocked down, and then found it impossible te re lease his feet from the vessel. Mr. Lee ran te the deer, but the conspirators had iecKed it. lidly Florence thrust a leug knife in Lee's hands and cried out " De fend yourself! This is butcherv sheer butchery!" Sothern kept saying contin ually te him, "Keep cool and don't set shot ! This is awful a thousand pardons I am a stranger in the country, and I had no expectation of Meeting these de mons at a dinner given te my friend !" The hotel in the meantime had been alarmed, and the guests and waiters out- susc were maicmg Iran tic endeavors te break open the doers, fearinir that mur der would be done. Iu St. James street Sothern had very elegantly furnished apartments, which he was fend of lending te such of his friends as wished te spend a night in town. An acute observer, however, noticed that no friend from the country ever occupied the rooms twice, and a very respectable "host s'ery was eice worked ud en this feun datien. The secret finally leaked out that .no sooner did the guest stretch himself en Sothern's luxurious couch than his weight en the bed started a small edition of the deluge and hundreds el" tiny streams of lavender water poured down from the ceiling en the unhappy individual. The former lna-'arcr of St. .Limp tlnv,. tre, Londen, recallls an adventure with Setliern, as fellows : " Walking down Recent strcnt wiMi n, one day, he said : "Yen go ahead a couple of blocks, Fiskc, and I'll go back, but we will both take the Atlas omnibus.' I followed his instructions, and entering the omnibus found Sothern sitting in the di agonally opposite corner. I naturally eanquet ensmess went en, wncn suddenly a row sinise at the lower end of the table, and Mr. Neil Bryant, sprinimr te his feet looked at urni with some curiosity te knew why he had sent mc two blocks ahead. Perceiving this, he assumed a very fierce aud belligerent expression and exclaimed : "Are you staring at me, sir ?" The om nibus wasfilled with several elderly Isidies, two quiet gentlemen, who looked like clergymen, and a farmer from the country. I took the cue at ence and replied, 'Xe ; if I wanted te stare at anybody I would stare at a better looking man than yourself.' At this Sothern's indignation apparently became uncontrollable, and it required all ei the force of the clergymen, seconded by the farmer, te keep him in his seat and prevent him from throwing himself upon me. Finally he insisted upon stepping the 'bus, and invited me te step eutside and either apologize theu aud there for the in sult or fight him en the spot. I pre tended te prefer te de the latter; but said I would remain in the omnibus, whereupon Sothern took off his overcoat and hauded it te the nearest old maid te held while he chastised me for my impertinence. In the course of the desultory remarks in which we indulged during the melee, he remarked that' he would allow nobody except his friend Jehn Robinson, of Philadelphia, te speak te him in that way and live, whereupon I im mediately informed him that my name was Robinson, surnamed Jehn, and that I had just arrived from America, but that I hadn't the pleasure of his acquaintance nor did I particularly deiie it. In an in stant Sothern's manner completely changed, anil, climbing ever the old maids, the clergymen, and the fanner te my cor ner of the stage, he endeavored te em brace me like a long lest friend. He avowed that he had never been mere de lighted iu his life, stepped the omnibus and proposed that we should get out. to gether, which we thereupon proceeded te de." TAFFV FO! STANLEY JIATTUKWS. Why He it te be Appointed Supreme Jmlgn. riilladeJiilda EvininjTe!cj;r.iIi, Uep. The president betrays the great tsust which the constitution confides te him when, from personal, partisan, or ether reasons, he presumes te nominate for the supreme- bench a Isiwyer whose learning, integrity and judicial spirit will challenge the most searching criticism. The Senate equally betrays its trust when it superser vieeably confirms what it knows te he an unfit nomination. There is no necessity whatever for Mr. Hayes, or any president, te'scck te put en the supreme bench a sec ond or third-rate man. Iu the ranks of both parties arc men who have every qualifica tion fertius bench men who, while holding positive opinions ou contreverted political questions arc nevertheless learned in the law, have well-balanced judicial minds; and who can be relied upon te give judg ment between suitor aud suitor in accord ance with what they honestly believe te be right interpretations of the law. There is no necessity whatever, for instance, ler Mr. Hayes te pass by the very many'first class lawyers who have years been promi nently identified with the Republican party, in order te reward the exceedingly inconsequential personal and political ser vices of Mr. Stanley Matthews by nomin ating him as the successor of Justice Swayne. Mr. Matthews csime te the front a few years age in very brilliant fashion. .Much was expected of him, aud grievous was the disappointment when, after first-rate opportunities having been given for the demonstration of his qnsility, it was made as plaiu as daylight that he was te nut the ease verv mildlv only a second-rate lawyer and a second rate statesman. He was net si success in the Heuse, he was a disma failure iu the Semite, aud he hsis done himself no honor by hanging about Washington since his unlaracnted exit from the Senile, waiting te be provided for in a soft place. As at present composed, the supreme court of the Lmtcd btates has no mere dignity than is necessary te keep it within the respect of the public, while it will come near falling into utter contempt if 3Ir. Matthews or any of his particular kind arc added te its composition. Theic is no earthly reason why Mr. Matthews should be nominated te succeed Justice Swayne except that he is a politician out of office, and lias performed some supposed per sonal sui vices for Mr. Hayes, rn plain language, he will be put en the supreme bench te decide final appeals between the citizens of this nation because .Mr. ILtycs thinks he ewes him something and is anx ious te force the public te pay the debt. If the Senate were composed of real states men and true patriots, such a nomination as this could net ceme within sight of a confirmation. As its, however, mainly composed of men who de net knew what statesmanship or patriotism means, and who are nothing if net professional politi cians, the chances are all that Mr. Matthews,if nominated, will be confirmed. LATEST NEWS BY MAIL. The retail price of ice has been reduced 40 per cent, iu Bosten. Frem November 15 te January e, Cin cinnati and Chicago salted down "l,87.";,0C0 negs. Jehn Smith was killed by the bursting ei a grmusiene in liradiey s axe lactery at Westen Conn. Rebert S Malene was fatalty burned in Dinwiddie county, Va., bj his clothes taking fire fs-em a grate. Twe sections of a freight train en the Baltimore & Ohie railroad collided near Tiffin, Ohie, and killed William Cum in ings, an empleye. Se heavy a snow storm prevailed yesterdsiy-aeong the Wilmington & Welden railroad that the fast train from the Seuth was delayed three hours. Gray Vsirnell, ajusticeefthepcace.it Memphis, Tenn., was found dead at his store with large dent in the side of his iiuau, iunicieu ey a n.immcr, wnicii was found sit his side. A negre named Ben yard has been arrested en suspicion of be ing the innrdt'icr. The steamer Minnie, owned by Clarke & Ce., Millvicw, Flerida, and used for towing tugs en Pcrdide bar, exploded her boiler en Saturday night, killing the cap tain, engineer and the firemen, and com pletely demolishing the cabin. The steamer immediately sunk. The Knickerbocker company has secured along the Hudsen river about 1,40'J.OQO tens of ice. Last year the total tennare secured was 150,000. Altogether the ice companies have harvested this winter in the neighborhood of 3,000,000 tens from the Hudsen river and adjacent waters. United States Engineer Merrill told the Pittsburgh chamber of commerce en Mon Men day that "within five miles of the Yeugh- mglieny, there are 10,000,000,000 tens of bituminous coal. At two dollars per ion mis weuiii represent a sum el thirty thousand of millions of dollars. Twe bulls and eight heifers en the steamship France, from Londen, were found by the inspector te be suffering from epizootic cptha, or feet and month disease, and two animals were unaccount ed for. The htng plague has ap peared en two mere farms in Queens county, iew lerk. and another at Yonkers, making the disease almost as widespread as before any sigitatien led te state interference in that state. A Centenarian Dead. Near Hcllerstewn there has died Mrs. Maria Rciss, aged 104 years. She lived with her son-in-law, Solemon Bedder, and up te within a few months of her death was possessed of all her faculties. Last summer she spent several months in Beth lehem with relatives find seemed te enjoy herself hugely. She was well known ,n I Northsimpten and Lehigh counties, where I she has lived all her lifetime and wherever she went s; warm reception awsiited her. Her memory was quite geed, being better concerning events in her earlier life than in her later years. STATE ITEHS. The Pennsylvania cempauv, which con trols the lines west of Pittsburgh, and is itself controlled by the Pennsylvania rail road company, has determined te issue a lean of ten million dollars 4J per cent, forty-year geld bends for tha purpose of perfecting certain financial negotiations. William Kessner. a flagman en the Pennsylvania Tailread, was attempting te make a coupling, when he slipped and"fell beneath the cars, which passed ever his legs mutilating them terribly. He was taken te his home at Derry. Pa., but he died en route. He leaves a wife and one child. The bids for state printing were opened yesterdsiy. Edwin A.Myers, of Pittsburgh at -17 per cent, below maximum prices ; B. F. .Meyers, Harrisburg. 5B per cent, below maximum prices ; C. II. Bcrgner, Harrisburg, 35 per cent, below maximum prices; F. L". Bcrgner, Harrisburg, 45 per cent., below maximum prices ; Lane S. Hart, Harrisburg. 01 percent, below max imum prices. The contract will be awarded te Lane S. Hart, the present state printer. The senatorial convention at Harrisburg yesterday rejected Grecnbackcr Welsh's preposition that ballets without intermis sion from that time forward should be taken until the convention should reach a choice, ami that the scrgcant-at-arnis should be instructed te lock the doers aud see that no member of the convention left the Heuse until that happy consummation was attained ; and also that en and after Wednesday the 2th, net less than thirty nor mere than fifty ballets be taken until there should be a choice. Curious Murder Case. T. J. Stells, who claims te be a farmer of McLeansboreugh, 111., was arrested in St. Leuis, as the murderer of a man found dead in an alley between Pine and Chest nut streets. He acknowledges that he was drunk, and had a fight with three men who, he says, attempted te rob him ; but he denies iiavimr stabbed anybody or hav ing had a knife. He admits, however, havingbecn with two women who identified him as the man wlfe gave them a bloody kuife and told them that he had killed a man in an alley. The murdered man is though te be a painter named Mack. LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. K1VAI. KICVTAUKAKTS. Tlie Glory of Ilarbary Coust te Ue Kevlvett. Our readers will remember, the proud pre-eniinence which erstwhile the "Snap per Bex" saloon enjoyed en Bsirbary Coast, when thsit classic region was the centre of political discussion and of competition for the prize belt in the pugilistic ring. The g?ei-y of thee departed days was re called pathetically some time age by the anneuncmeut that the "Snapper Bex" was closed. It will be revived, however, by the tidings that, this famous resort isle be refitted and opened iu time for the com ing Republican campaign. Levi Scnscuig having built si large addition te the Leop Leep ard hotel, smd titled up a saloon fronting en Grant street, application for its license for a tsivcrn, smd sit least for a restaurant, will be made ; while his political rival, Samuel A. Greil", is te sissume proprietorship of the " Snapper Bex." The rivalry between them may manifest itse'f in competition for license and in cress remenstrances : it certainly will ensue iu their struggle for .the patronage of the politicians. Each place, it is expected, will become the headquarters of one of the factions in the Republican party in this county. The re organized Bull Ring will find its abede at one and the Heg Ring sit the ether, and "horns"' and "hogsheads" will be the symbols of their trade, in spirits and in votes ; bat just which one will accommo date which ring cannot be determined until the politicians have mere definitely taken sides. Then Barbary Coast will see the splendor of its former days and the P. R. will once sigaiu invite its champions into the lists. Culerain Item. Surprise parties arc new very numerous, there being thicu held en last Saturday, a fellows : Abram Striely's, Win. Hegg's and Jeshua Miller's. Sleighing still continues geed ; the rains seem only te msike it better, for the sleighing new is better than at any tirae before this winter. Rev. Sharp is treating his congregations te very able sermons. Mr. Sharp preaches in the Culerain Baptist church. Hiram Whitman's large stack of straw was overturned a few days age and his wagon was found te be at the bottom sifter the stack capsized. Mr. W. had quite a time getting the wagon extricated from the straw. Mr. Marshal Stevenson gees te Cornwall te clerk for Mr. Fex in his store. Mr. C. B. Johnsten takes Mr. Stevenson's place as clerk iu Mr. Hemsher's store at Bare-' ville. These changes go into effect iu March. Iu the Snnw Hank. Prison Inspector Johnny Miller and ex Candidate for-County Solicitor Jack Fry took a sleigh ride " yesterday afternoon. Dick Malene came up behind them at the lower end of Seutli Queen street and the two teams had quite a little brush, when -uaiene's nersc appearing te get the better of the Lampeter nag, the latter cut straight sicress the course aud burst into Morten avenue at a terrific rate of speed. New, Morten avenue is net cleared for a sleighing ground and the Miller-Fry racing combination suddenly struck a snow hank, their courser stepped short, the sletigh upset and the whole neighborhood was excited te sympathetic interest in the fate of the office-holder aud office hunter. who were spilled int.) Rilly Morten's weed pile. Ne serious casualties. COURT OF COMMON 1'LKAS. Hef ere Judge Patterson. Iu the case of James Kecmer vs. Elizsi beth Brady, the jury allowed the set-off claimed by the defendant te be in the plaintiffs bauds, and, therefore returned si verdict in favor or the defendant, certi fying that there was yet a balance in her favor, due from the plaintiff of $23.65. Kcferc Judge I.ivlagitten. In the upper court room the case of Beiijamiu D. Myers vs. Henry Nefl", which grew out of si wsitcr right en the request creek, is en trial. But four wit nesses have been examined and sufficient evidence has net becu developed te give the details. On trial. " Death Leves a Shining Mark.' Dr. Compten's position as thejeadin" candidate for register has invited the sela? opposition which growing strength se gen erally induces. The candidates for coro ner in opposition te .Mishler's re-election sire said te be solid against the doctor be cause he is solid with Mishler, and some of the medical fraternity, jealous of the doctor's held at the prison and in the coroner's office, are said te be " ferninst " his further political aspirations. The sit tempt of the doctor's friends te have the primaries postponed until after the camp meeting season will be bitterly resisted. ."lajer'd Court. His honor the mayor had fourteen visi tors at his grand reception this morning. Twelve of them wire vagrants, eleven of whom were discharged and the ether sent te the work-house for :10 dsiys. Twe dis- . rt:es J'!i',an'd I c ' werc sent e tlie county fail for twenty days respectively. Chickens Shipped. Dr. I. II. Mayer, of West Willow ship ped a very valuable pair of chickens te m gentleman in AVarsaw, Indiana, te whom lie sold them.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers