iy T-a,jfcjri m- t iu,- -a. LANCASTER DAILY INTELLIGENCER THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21. 1882. Hancaster Jntelligencer THURSDAY EVENING DEC. 21, 18B2, fccheel-Becfc Officials. Senator Pugh proposes to amend the Penaleton civil service bill by requiring old as well as new officers of the government to come under its harow. There does not appear to be any good reason why present officials should not undergo the examination declared nec essary (or all new officials. To be sure, it may be said that the officials who are now in office have demonstrated their capacity by the work they have done. As they are kept in office the presumption is that they are com petent, else they would have been discharged. That ought to be a first rate argument, but unfortunately it is not worth much. Little can be predicat ed of the fitness of the present officers by the fact of their retention in office, be cause they are retained, as they have been appointed, for reasons foreign to their fitness. But if wo could admit their fit ness we still could not concede thatthoy should thereby be remitted from the civil service examination pro posed for their successors: because, if they are fit they will pass the examina tion with flying colors, and they and the public alike have the satisfaction of see ing the examiner's seal set upon their fitness. But that is assuming, again, that this examiner's seal is to bu accepted as meaning all it says. It is admitting that when an applicant passes out of the hands of the examiners with their endorsement, he is qualified in every way to be an officer of tho government. Wo do not believe that the examination will have any such virtue. It is very doubtful, in our judgment, whether the examination will have any other re sult than to reject the men fit to be offi cials and accept the unfit, in about equal proportions. That is about the result of the winnowing of the West Point pro fessors and of tho professors in col leges generally, and it is not likely that the Dorman Eatons of the civil service commission will have any better luck. They will never discern the na tural capacity which the stale needs in her servants ; not the moral stamina, energetic impulses and honest aspira tions which are comprised in her de mand. But if a mess is to be made of the new appointments, let us have the old mixed in the same pot. If the Unite 1 States is to have for its officers a set of men qualified to be school teachers and nothing else, let us have the same gauge of qualification run through the entire list. Do not let us put the old fellows to shame by giv ing them subordinates who can spell every word in tho dictionary, and parse every parsablo sentence in tho presi dent's message. If our officials are to be stamped as possessors of a liberal edu cation with a fireproof knowledge of all the arts and sciences, let us stirl away up with a college president as president of the United States, college professors at the heads of all the departments, and college graduates straight away down to the bottom of the list ; and so wc may be happy and prosper. The Iron Market. The Pittsburgh meeting of iron man ufacturers is reported as having been a more cheerful gathering than the gen eral public would have supposed it would be in the present condition of the trade. The manufacturers expect a better demand for their product in the new year, and they have good reason for their hope. There is nothing in the condition of the country to create the opinion that its enterprises are going to collapse at an early day. Tiie railroad activity has been unduly stimulated by the speculation in stocks, and is unduly depressed now by the condition of the stock and money market. But gener ally the trade of the country is in a good condition, and is likely to be so for .)me years to come. The Pittsburgh meeting fixed the price of bar iron at two and a quarter cents per pound, which is somewhat more than the present price of the Pittsburgh mills. The card rate of the manufacturers docs not seem to control their prices, being of use chiefly to fix the wages of labor. The Philadelphia mills last month fixed the price of their product at two and n -half cents a pound, when they were not able to get that figure. -They seemed to be afraid to confess what they were soiling iron for, and preferred to put a price upon it that they could not get, even though it compelled them to pay a higher rate of wages. There was not much good seuse in that policy. It is not one probably which animated the Pitts burgh meeting in fixing the January price of iron at 2 cents. That price will be as likely to be below as above the Pittsburgh market when the new year opens. There is every reason to be lieve that manufactured iron has touched its lowest price for the season. The Ilarrisburg Telegraph makes the eminently wise and very practical sug gestion that if the Legislative Record is to be published and it must be vastly improved to be tolerated the pasters and folders can be dispensed with by having the Record mailed from its publication office. This is true. Two boys at $5 a week can thus do the work that twenty men bave been paid about that many thousand dollars for. Any publication can be mailed most promptly and with least expense from its office of publication. One thing that makes the Record useless, as it has been published, is the delay in its distribution, caused by the present system of pasting and folding. The Democrats of the House must abolish the pasting and folding de partment. The Republicans of the Sen ate will not dare to continue it Judge Siiabswood was the recipient . of a deserved compliment from the three hundred Philadelphia lawyers who 'in vited him to a dinner last evening, at the foyer of the Academy .of Music. Judge Sharawood has been recognized as the chief justice of the supreme bench not only in title, but in fact Injudicial learning, and in the firm and honest ex-1 predion pf his opinion, he has been what a judge should be, and he has well earned the approval of the people in his constant conduct. If there is any such item in the au ditor general's report for this year as $1,000 paid to Chief Senate Clerk Thcs. B. Cochran for taking care of the state property during the recess, as there was in the report of 1SS0, it should be in vestigated. m s Oil's down again, bat we observo that a couple of banks have gone up. The annual report of the public printer shows that daring tho fiscal year which ended on the 30th of June last the ex penses of his office was $2,035,159, which is 410,219 laigcr than in any previous year. The reports printed of the gigantic thefts of trusted bank officials who were tempted by their passion for speculation areastiikiug commentary upon the de generate stato of public morality that renders such c: inies possible. One ol the reasons comm unicated to us why beer is now really worth a dollar a barrel more than it was recently is that the hop crop was poor and that the price of hops is exceedingly high at tho present time. We stand corrected on this point sssuining that a fair proportion of the beer sold really contains a legitimate quantity of hops. TilK feet of tho unwary verily stand in slippery places to day, and the injunction comes with special emphasis to take heed lest yo fall. It was just as easy as you please to take a sudden and uucomfoi table seat upon the pavement to-day and tho same condition of things will continue to night, though thoughtful people will sprinkle their sidewalks with coal ashes or sawdust. Mrs. Lajcgtisy is receiving as liberal ad vertisement as any actress who has ever visited our shores. First wc had tho quarrel between the fair amateur and her chaperon, Mrs. Labouchero ; now wo have this samo Mrs. Lab. suing in the Virginia courts to be divorced from a man whom she says is not her husband. All of which serves to further stimulate tho public cu riosity, and invito the shining shekels to the coffers of tho Lily and her enterprising mauagcr. Somebody or other always has a " big claim" out around Pittsburgh. Wheu tho hilf-brced Indians aro nob claiming tlio ground on which that city stands, or 83mobody is not claiming a slice of the Economites' property, Chris. Mageo is sure to be claiming 12,000 Republican ma jority. Now that the progeny of tho In diana woman ' Straight Back" aro found to not own Pittsburgh, a lot of old Pittsburghers have got together and dis covered that they own tho ground on which stand tho Uuitsd States capital, tho Whito House, treasury, navy and other government building?, and hundreds of fine dwellings and business houses in Washington, as well as thousands of acres of landinGoorgotown,D. C, Maryland and Washington county, Pa. Besides this vast amount of real estate there is said to ho considerable money in the bank of Eng land belonging to tho claimants ; and, of course, eminent counsel have been pro cured to eject the president, Congress and the Euglish government. Hoop, la ! PERSONALS, Mme. Jaxausciiek, when bliu gets her picturo taken, insists on assuming her own poses, will not allow the photographer to touch her and lets the drapery tako caro of itself. Ex Govekxok Seymour has recently picscntcd to the state library the original of a deed of land in this stato mado bv ueorgo Washington and and witnessed by Tobias George Clinton Lear and I)e- Witt Clinton in 1730. William Castle and Emma Abbott have beeu photographed as Paul and T7r ginia, and also in an embrace as Iiomco and Juliet, in the balcony scene. Their faces necessarily came very close together, and Miss Abbott jocosely inquired of the aitist if he could photograph a kiss. Iokd Derby's surplus income is esti mated at $700,000 a year. He has lately been buying property around Loudon. He is childlcs?, and has only one brother and one sister, who is married to a man com paratively poor. Lady Derby has 620. 000 a year jointure from tho late Lord Sal isbury. Ross J. Alexander, tho lato Democra tic candidate for Congress in tho Seven teenth district of Ohio, has sent a letter to tho chief clerk in the office of the secretary of state, in which he expresses the opinion that ho is ontitlcd to tho certificate, as he was the person having tho highest number of votes for represen tative to Congress at tho timo tho votes were counted in tho secretary's office. Dr. Updegraff, being dead, not being a person in his opinion. Mr. Wiiittier has thus gracelully ex pressed his gratitude for one of the pres ents he received on bis recent sevouty fifth birthday: "Mr. John G. Whittier hastens to acknowledge the beautiful gift from his friends of Mr. C. W. Sauderson'a fine water-color painting. Such a testi monial on his birthday is gratefully ap predated, and the picturo itself, on his walls, will pleasantly recall memories of rambles by trout streams musical in New England woods, and bring the warmth and greenuessof summer to winter days." John Greenleaf Whittier, the aged poet, is tall, straight and slender, and his forehead is very high, rising massively into a region of snow-white hair. Tho face and bead in appearance are almost Semitic. His religion and his habits are those of tho Quakers. The writer of this paragraph remembers hearing Bayard Taylor (.with ruddy rugged face) and William Cullou Bryant (with cheeks still boyish and with an elastic step) saying several years ago that they feared they must soon lose whittier ; but they are no longer with us, while the Quaker poet seems as fresh as the roses that little schoolgirls daily take to his home. Abolish tfat Faatars and Folder. Harrlsbunr TeleoTann. Chairman Hensel is alive on the subject of reform, and adopts P. Gray Meek's suggestion that the pasters and folders bo reduced in numbers, and that the men who draw the salaries should be compelled to do the work. The, TelegrapJt can suggest a much better, plan if the Legislature earnestly desires reformation in that par ticular. And it is to have tho Record mailed from the office of publication as soon as published. This can readily be done, and for about the cost of a single paster and folder, and with satisfaction to the public. The trouble with the Record heretofore has been that it was not mailed until sometimes as touch as two weeks after its delivery on the hill. A NIGHT FIRE. A. HJU BLAZE lH fHlLADKLFUIA Proper! j Valued at 8370,000 Consumed in a Flro Starting no One Knows How Pobltc Buildings Threatened. Lofty, blackened walls, llame-scarred and gaunt, masking great heaps of debris within their confines, are all that were left Thursday morning of the six-storied Goldsmith' ball, on Library street, below Fifth, Philadelphia, destroyed by fire Wednesday evening. Heaps of bricks blockade a side court leading from Library street and an entangling mesh of fallen telegraph and telephone wires gird Li brary street telegraph poles and ensnare the feet ot horses and pedestrians, while fragments of charred signs and cornices show the ruin the flames have made. Ad. jacent buildings with blackened cornices and partly burned roofs indicate further tho narrow escaps they bave made. Two hundred and seventy thousand dollars would probably coyer the loss that was mainly inflicted in half an hour's time. Old firemen who wero exposed to tho great heat said they had experienced few Mich horrid scenes. At one time tho flames wero so fierce and the wind so strong that apprehensions wero felt for the post office building, the old Philadelphia library, now occupied by the central news company and adjoining the postoffice at tho northeast corner of Fifth and Library streets, and for tho American hank noto company's head quarters, in the former Mercantile library building at the southeast corner of Library street, tho venerable Philadelphia dispen sary next door below on Fifth stieetand valuablo properties occupied by insurance companies on Walnut street. It was nip and tunk bMwrca tho fire men and the Hauler, with the dds decid edly favoring tho destroyer far a long time. Goldsmith's hall was put up in 1851 iiiid was bix stories in height, with a frontage of iifty-seveu feet on Library street and a depth of one hundred feet, but had a wing subsequently attached in tho rear five stories in height and about twenty-four feet square. The Library street front was brown stone. As far as it was possible to make such a structure it was designed to be fireproof through out. Jacob Uaehnlcn was tho owner and erected tho building. At a calculation based on tho onhanrcd value of the prop erty since it wa3 put up it was worth $100,000 yesterday. E. C. Mark!cy & Son, pi inters, who have had contracts to do work for councils and public departments, had an office on tho first floor of 422 and carried on busi ness on tho fifth and sixth floors, over all. A. C. Farley, manfacturer of blank books, paper tablots, envelopes and other station ery specialties, was tho lessee of the five story building in the rear. The hands employed by Lehman & Bolton and Markley & Sou were still at work, about quarter beforo seven o'clock last evening, when American District Officer Hess and two citizens, who wore passing along Library street, saw smoke in the narrow alllcy adjoining Goldsmith's hall on tho east and traced it to tho back wing, occupied oy Jir. r arley. An alarm was given instantly and tho work people ran down the stairways to Library street and escaped. Watchman James Morgan was on the fifth floor at the time and could not reach the stairs on account of tho blinding smoke, which had already p;urcd into the front building. He descended the fire escape on tho cast wall and was helped down by .Letter-carriers uarrcttand iilow. Word was (cut to to the central station, but the alarm was not mounded until a re serve ariivcd. Tho tlinies spread with almost lightning rapidity. Mounting through a rear hatchway they burst into every floor simultaneously, so it appeared Tho first alarm, at 0:45, had scarcely sounded belore a great red mass ol lire was visible above tho roof Eilorts wore mado atonco to remove samo of tho fur niture and safes from tho first flojr of fices. The iiromen found a poor water sup ply to stait with. Every niiuuto of delay increased tho danger and tho forco of tho flames, which shot forth from every win dow on tho eastern side of tho doomed building. At G:52 and G:50 additional alarms wero sent ont and all the extension ladders were sent into Library street and reared against tho flaming structure. Firemen mounted the roofs of the post office, the American bank noto building, a two-story saloon across an alleyway and on Walnut street buildings, and attacked the firo on all sides, but without any pal pable effect. Tho fire grow fiercer every minute. At ten minutes past 7 o'clock it had lull possession of Goldsmith's hall, and it became a question whether it would not sweep everything before it up to Fifth street. Tho i oof of Wal titer's military hall saloon, 412 Library street, smoked and the cornico and back part of tho roof named up. 1 no iiremen, glad to escape from a furuacu temperature, scrambled down from the roof of tho two story building and flung streams against Wal ther's establishment that Hew iuto steam as they struck the heated bucks. A dense crowd of spectators spread over Independence square and tho back steps of tho custom-house, neighboring house tops and other points of vantao and gazed at the li-iy spectacle. Tho wind ironi tho cast-.r.wd blew before it apeifect storm of embers and sparks. It seemed to be literally raining lire. Tho back part of the roof of the dispensary, which touched the burning building, took firo, but tho flames were soon stifled. About quarter past seven o'clock it wan percep tible that tho eastern wall was about to tumble. Engine 20 and truck B were moved back a few yards and the hosemen withdrew to the shelter of tho postoffiro wall, whence they kent un tho attack. With a frightful rumble and crash the wall of tho back building dissolved and when it tumbled took down with it the floors of tho front building and about half of tho sido wall. Ten minutes afterward au other big slico followed. Tho souud was liko a thunder peal. The flames mounted higher thau ever as the floors tumbled in, but this was only momentary, and then the firemen felv. that their . adversary would not got beyond control, as they had feared. Eighteen engines wero throwing a delugo of water into the blazing crater by this timo. Hundreds of telegraph and telephone wires which had hindered the firemen wero broken loose from their fastenings on the building when the roof fell and hung in confusion in Library street. The lircmen finding ihat the streams had got into the basement threw many streams through tho wiudows, whence a fierce heat, generated by printer's ink, chamois leather, etc., flamed in many col ored tongues. Water had but littlo effect upon it, and it burned sullenly, with occa sional outbreaks of energy, for hours, long after the remainder of the building was iu ruins and the fireman wero resting from their labors, and the spectators, who had Decome chilled through after tho fire bad subsided, had dispersed and joined the throng of Christmas pedestrians on Chest nut street. " Well, that was the quickest work I ever saw," ono of tho bcimmed firemen said as he looked up at the totter ing walls. While the conflagration was at its height and threatened to extend across Library street to the post office, the clerks and carriers began the removal of records and mail matter to the front of the build ing. Some of the janitors of Walnut street buildings also became alarmed and packed np household goods and piled them in tho entry ways ready for flight, iu case the flames came their way. Estimate or the Losses. Jacob Haehlen's loss on the main and rear building is estimated at 9100.000, on which he has an insurance of $50,000. Lehman & Bolton are probably the heaviest losers of any of the tenants, their loss Demg about 7o,0UU, wsucn is said to be nearly covered by insurance. E. C Markley & Son's loss is from 140,000 to $45,000, on which there is an insurance of $30,000. The loss of A. C. Farley & Co., is estimated at about $40,000, on which there is an insurance of $30,000, while E. G. Haehulen & Co.'s loss is about $15, 000, covered by insurance. Lehman & Bolton a few weeks ago put in a newptess at a cost of $17,000. Markley & Son, who have the contract for printing the sheriff's posters, had been engaged during the day in preparing them for distribution and had a large number on hand. In the hurry a few were removed to the Central station Wed nesday, bnt the larger part of them was destroyed. This loss will probably cause many of the sheriffs sales to bo postponed for some time. Great care was necessary to guard against the showers of sparks. At the north east corner of Fifth and Walnut streets the awning in front of Joseph Sculitz's saloon was in a blaz?, but one of the men employed there succeeded in putting out the flames. Engine No. 1 broke down at Tenth and Market streets while responding to the first alarm and lay a wreck, with all her wheels smashed, right in tho car track. The cars had to be derailed to get around the obstuction. Flames Ragln.; Elsewhere. Tho farm building3 of E. C. Hawkes, at Charlcroont, Mass., were burned Wed nesday, with 150 sheep, 50 calves and a quantity of hay and grain. Tho hospi alof the Sistcis of Charity, at Big Rapids, Mich., was burned Wed nesday, and a valuable library, belonging to the estate of the late Father do Conick, was destroy od. Au incendiary the at Morristown, N. J., Wednesday morning, destroyed a large barn and outbuilding belonging to Sena tor Raudolpb, also a new steam ditcher, lately patented by biin and built at an ex pense of over $6,000. THE SHAKSWOOU BANQUET. Bench and Bar Unite In Honoring the Re tiring C'lild Justice. Philadelphia Times. Three hundred Philadelphia lawyers harried home early yesterday afternoon to put on a few extra touches of toilet and don their black dress suits for the compli mentary dinner to retiring Chief Justice Sharswood, which was to take place a little later in the evening at tho Academy of Music. The preparations Lad been made on an elaborate scale and every essential detail had been attended to in advance. Tho foyer or concert hall of the academy, on the second floor, a fine apartment, with classical outlines and Corinthian pillars, was selected as tho scene of the banquet. The large lobbies and corridors ap proaching it were wainscoted their entiro length with tropical plants. No foliage was introduced in tho banquet hall,except four delicate and elegant palms, which wero placed in the four corners of the room, on standards between doable pil lars. Tho table at which the guest and other members of the bar sat was at the head of the room, extending across its whole width, and was elevated a few feet above the three other tables, which were ranged in the direction of the length of tho room. Tho space between tho elevated table and tho tablo which adjoined it lower down was filled up with lounded banks of natural flowers, principally roses in fall bloom. In the middle of the centre table was a large figure of justice, with her scales, cat in ice. Some twenty or more floral designs and pyramids of fruit were placed at different points along the tables. In front of each guest wero six wine glasses of various colors, several china plates, small buttonholo bouquets and decorated guest cards and menus. A Toast to tho Retiring Jndge. Tho dinner was tendered to Chief Jus tico Sha:swocd by tho entire bar of Phila delphia as a recognition of tho eminent qualities with which he has adorned the highest judicial bench of the common wealth, from which he is about to retire, having served tho full term allotted by law. Eli K. Price, tho oldest memhor qf the Philadelphia bar iu active practice, sat besido him at tho banquet. Mr. Price examined Judge Sharswood in 1831, when the latter was admitted to tho bar. Iu the speech which he mado Justico Sharswood gracefully alluded to this fact and complimented the " laborious, useful and honorablo career" of tho venerable counsellor and fiiend of his early days. On the titlo page of tho menu was printed tbo priucipal toast of tho evening, reading: "Our guest. Closing a judicial lifo with legal learning and adorned with the integrity of judicial virtue, we tender our chief justice this tribute to character istics which bavo ennobled the jurispru dence of tho commonwealth of Pennsylva nia." As Judgo Sharswood rose to respond to the toast, which was offered by Henry M. Phillips, who presided, cvory ono stood up and ehecr upou cheer resounded, whilo tho banqueters waved their napkins or throw them into tho air. Judge Shars wood was apparently deeply affected by tho reception. Ho responded in an ad dress so forcible and interesting that it ovoked round after round of applause. He introduced many amusing reminis cences of the change which had taken place in the practico of tho bar since his entrance, and alluded particularly to tho progress of other events which had oc curred since it took him seventeen dayB to reach Uarrisburg by way of Reading and thirteen days to get back again by way of Lancaster. He took occasion towards tho cloao of his remarks to say that he was sat isfied that the supremo judges were over worked, and to recommend that legisla tion be invoked to lighten their burdens. He believed that tho seventy seven law judges in the stato wero enough and, therefore, without an incrcaso of judiciary suggested an intermediate court betweeu the common pleas and supreme bench. Otner Toasts and Speakers. Tho other regular toasts of the evening were : " The Supreme Court of Pennsyl vania," responded to by Justice Paxson ; ".The Federal Jndioiary," by Judge But ler; "The Bench of Pniladelphia," by Judge Thayer, and" Oar Bar," by William Henry Rawle. Afterwards there was a number ol im promptu addresses, among them one by Serjeant Ballantine, tho English barrister, who was among the guests. Among the other judges present besides those who spoke were Judges Sterrett, Trunkey, Biddle, Hare, Mitchell, Hanna, Ludlow, Peirce, Allison, Fell, Finletter, Yerkes, Elcock, Green, Ashman and Briggs. Be sides the judges, nearly eveiy prominent member of the bar in the city waspresent. The credit for the successful arrangements for the banquet is largely due to tho com mittee having the matter in charge and especially to the labors of Thomas J. Dichl, its chairman. Marshal McMicbael Confirmed. The Senate yesterday confirmed Clayton MoMichael, of Philapelphia, to bo marshal of the District of Columbia ; J. C. Ban crolt Davis, of New York, judgo of tho court of claims, and Comraodoro Edward It. Calhoun to be rear admiral. Bombarding aa Editor. The trouble at Opelika, Alabama, con tinues. The houso of B. II. Heiser, editor of the Times, was fired fifto ' on Tuesday night. Ten buokshot crashed through his bedroom window and buried themselves in the opposite wall. A CUBI0US CASE. MltS. LABUCCHEKE AMD MB. HUEOX Seeking a ittvorce JTrom m JKan Wtf Se Mays is Mot OsrButlMiid-A Mysteri ous Visit to Klcbmond. A rather singular case has just been de veloped in Richmond, Va., growing out of a divorce suit which, when it becomes known to the public will be likely to at tract very considerable attention in con nection with the Langtry Labouchere gossip. About December 4 there arrived in Richmond by a train from the North a lady, accompauied by her maid and Messrs. Dunning and Fowler, attorneys, of New York The party stopped at one of tho leading hotels, and the attorneys immediately sought a conference with tho law firm of Messrs. Carrington, Hooper & Davies, gentlemen of high standing; there, to whom it was made known that tho lady who accom panied them was Mrs. Henrietta Pigeon, of Liondou, England, whose husband s name is Richard Pigeon, but who has sinco been identified as Mrs. Henry Labouchere. The objeotof their, errand to the law office of the Richmond firm was stated to be to seek a divorce for Mrs. Pigeon from her husband. A bill was prepared and filed in the Richmoud chancery court. In that paper it is-stated that the cause of the de sire for a legal separation between Pigeon and his wife is that tho former deserted the lady and treated her cruelly. Tho plaintiff made affidavit to these facts, aud further alleged that she was married in London in July 1864, and that the fruit of the union is a son who is cow 15 years old. The bill further sets forth that the whereabouts of Pikeou, tho de fecdant, is unknown to the plaintiff. In accordance with the laws governing divorces in that state a publication has beeu made setting forth that Henrietta Pigeon, through her next friend, C. J. Carringtou, biings this suit tor divorce, and calls upou him to come Joiwatd and defend his interests. The btrauuer paid a liberal retainer's fee to the Richmond counsel to represent tho case, with the understanding that when the divoieo is secured for Mrs. Pijreon that a still larger, though by no means exorbitant, sum will be paid. Mr. Hooper, tho Richmond at torney who prepared Mrs. Pigeon's affida vit, describes that lady as rather inclined to be stout, a brunette, about 40 yeara, cf pleasant manners and decided culture. The lady remained with her attorney until Dec. 7, when tho party left for Washing ton. In an interview with a newspaper re porter on that or on tho following day, Mrs. Labouchere's attorney stated that there was no truth in the story that a rup turo had taken place between that lady and Mrs. Langtry. Continuing tbo con versation the gentleman who represented Mrs. Laboucheio said that his client had como to Virginia to attend to somo laud interests she bad in the state. An inves tigation at the time failed to discover tho presence of Mrs. Langtry's chapcrono in Richmond, but J lis. Pigeon was there at the timo it was reported that Mrs. La bouchero was absent from New York. When Mrs. Pigeon lclt tho city it was with the understanding with her legal ad visers that she would return in February next, when it is expected her case will bo called in the chancery court. This suit has brought to light a feature in the Vir ginia divorce laws not generally known there, and that is that a party to such a proceeding need not necessarily bo a citi zen of tho state. Mis. Pigeon, iu her bill claims to bo a resident, but the time could not have been if more thau 28 hours' dsne- tiou. Tho discovery of that oversight iu the law, ofcouise, would recommend that state to citizens of other states who de sired to be ideated from the mani.ige bonds. A KKUTAL FJUMT. Two i'lou l'ou tiding Kach Oticr lor t'ooe otS250. A prize fight took place Wednesday morning about twenty-fivo miles from Pittsburgh on tho Fort Wayne railroad. The principals wero John Gilsono, a Swede, and a German named Reiseu houscn. Tho two men worked together in a mill on tho South Side, aud consider able bad feeling had becu engendered' owing to the uncertainty as to which was the better man. They agreed to 11 ht for $250 and they cam a together at eight o'cloclr iu tho morning. The first round was a kock-dowu for tho Swede. Iu the second round they both fought for all thoy wero worth. There was no science displayed, but they struck each other right and left and battered each other's frontispiece in a terrible manner. Tho round was finally settled by tho Ger man knocking tho Swede down. Tho third, fourth and fifth rounds weio all knock downs for the German. The sixth, seventh and eighth rounds were knock downs for tho Swede, which made them a tio. In the ninth round they both carao to tho scratch promptly and this was the hardest fought round during tho whole battle. They stiuck at each other as if they were blind, and the round was called a draw. Tho German bad the sido of his nose nearly torn off by au upper cut and the Swede received two very bad cuts t abovo tho eyes. Tho men were very weak when they came into the ring tor the tenth rouud. After fighting about four or five minutes they stopped and asked to have the blood rubbed off their faces, which was done. Then a conversation took placo between tho backers and the men and it was de cided to s'op tho fiht, as tho men were so weak they could scarcely stand. They shook bauds and tho Swede said to tho German : "I think wo will meet asain. and if wo ever do one of us must win." Two Disgusted luglll8tK. The order prohibiting tho match be tween Sullivau and Elliott, on Friday evening next, in Chicago, has caused much disappointment jn sporting circles, it having been anticipated that" tho contest would bo ono of the most interesting of the kind which has ever taken place in Chicago. Both Elliott and Sullivan are very much disgusted over tho state of affairs. It causes a pecu niary loss to both of them. " Parson " Davies, Elliott's backer, feels very much mortified over tho matter, having made extensive arrangements for the meeting, besides being a loser in a financial way. Sullivan left for New York very much an noyed at the interference with the match. He said : " It's a sure thing I could have knocked out Elliott, and I wanted a chance to get at him. The match couldn't come olf in any other western city as I'm engaged to appear at Joo Coburn's benefit iu New York. I don't know when I'll getaebanec to do up Elliott." VBIENDS IN MEED. One of Fllr.-John Porter's Staff Defending Bis Former General. At a secret session of the society of army and navy officers, held iu Cincinnati, Captain Monteith, a member of Firz John Porter's staff at the second battle of Bull Bun, defended General Porter's conduct. He, Captain Monteith, in re viewing the character of the order from Popo to Porter, which Porter is charged with disobeying, took the ground that i-orcrr, wongo not ooeying to tne letter did obey the oider in t-pirir, and that sub sequent events prove that Porter showed great wisdom in exercising his own dis cretion. The officer who brought the or der traveled nine miles in bringing it, and reached Pope at 7:50 p. m and such was the character of the country they travers ed that it required them, doing their bast, three hours and twenty minutes to make their trip. Porter's first impulse was to literally follow the order. His staff, however, advised a rest and, as it was, the march was made in less time than it would have been made had not tho worn-out army been allowed to rest until 3 o clock. Cap tain Monteith said that when the joint order was received its requiiements had already been met, and in the event of a mistake tho responsibility rested on Mc Dowell. He denied that Porter's attack on Longstrcet lacked promptness or vigor. Captain Monteith was given a voto t.f thanks for his speech. He was introduced by General J. D. Cox, who had been a violent literary assailant of Porter. IliON AM) STEEL. Jlaiters ot Intorestla aianulaetoxlns; Circles. The Western Iron Manufacturers' asso ciation met Wednesday in Pittsburgh, and was attended by representatives of all the principal cities of tho West. Reports wero leceived from all sections, showing that, while prices wero low, trade was " fairly good," and tho prospects for next season " exceedingly bright." It was de cided that ths- card rate of 2J cents on nails should not bo changed, but that the selling rate be 2 cents. This is cxplaiued to mean not a reduction, but au equaliza tion, "as many manufacturers have been selling for less than that aud none for more," and it wiil not effect the market for wages. A resolution was adopted urging Congress to pass tho tariff com missioncrs' bill this season. The superintendent of the Suih Chi cago rolling mill says that, " as the re duced prico of steel rails orders como in freely, and the mill will start soon iuoider to retain their customers, even though they make no money." The steel mills "of tho Licawauna coal and iron company, at cranton. aro again. working with : foil force, "and have orders m hand which will insure operations continuously lor tho coming year." Tho rail department will open next Monday afternoon, Tho trouble iu Singer' r steel Mill at Pittsburgh has been settled, tho nielters accepting a reduction of $1 per tou and their helpers a reduction of 7 per cent. UUUEL.TY TO A SA1I.OU. Boutcti and Left Swaying t tlio Wind'n Mercy In a Sturm at Sen. Captain Robert Wiltbank, of the brig autiue Daphne, lying at Wilmington, Del., was arrested yesterday aud pnt uuder bonds for a hearing on Saturday before United States Commissioner Bell on the charge of atrocious cruelty to Frederick Lealto, a colored seaman. The prosecutor says ho shipped as steward of tho brig Senorita, of which Wiltbank was captain and his brother Bartholomew first mate, in January last. While on a trip from Aspiuwall to the island of St. Andicwsthe Wiltbanks took every opportunity of tor menting Lealto. IIo was struck and knocked down aud beaten by tho captain and his brother and pounded with belay ing pins several times during tho month of April. One day ho was put in irons, gagged with a belaying pin aud bound so that he could not struggle, and wa then loft dangling in tho rigging duriug a high sea. Ho prayed for mercy, hue was not releas ed until the storm abated. He was thou covered with blood from his wounds. His persecutors contiuued their abuse daily until St. Andrew was reached on May 3, when he was left ashore and tho brigan tiue left, lie could got no lcdress through tho Amcucan consul and hid toiemain on the inland four mouths. Loalto declares that during that tnuo tlio Sju-irita arrived aud ho h.ard that. Wiltbank, having mado money out of a wreak, had taken a new vcss-tl ::id appmtfid Bartholomew mister of tht Sjuonia. LDalto came to Philadel phia in September, but not fit.diug Wilt bank a.tiled aain for Cuba On his ro turn ho learned that tho D.iuphme was at Wilmington and swore out a wan ant for Wiltbank's arrest. Tho latter was a prisoner about six years ago for ciuelty to a sailor. a summation Kxri.oii::. Fount ot foul l'lay Ulsslpateil by tlio Open, injj ot it Uravo Tho borough of Womolsdorl was qnito excited over tku disinterment of John L. Leiningei, who was supposed to have died of foul play. A number of witnesses were examined by Djputy Coroner Kintzsr, J. G. Seltzer, esq., representing the com monwealth. Tho wituesses testified to the uiiusui oventa at Lsiuinger's houso on tho night of his death how ho had jumped fioui the window and iuto the creek ; how his aged housekeeper had dragged him out of the water during tho mosc bitter cold wetaher, aud how tho neighbois had loaded him up on a wheel bairow aud hauled him hoii:-. and when they ariivcd there ho w.i; iband to b-j dead. Tho body wjs dug up aud Lsiniuger was found to have been b;t:i.;il with his oveicat ou. Dr. W. Murray Weidman found a contused wound on tin: scalp, but thcio was no fracture of the skull. There was no evidence to show any foul play, becausn the wound was received by fall ing from the window. Tho vcrdiot of the Jury was that Lininger died of exhaus tiou, aouto pneumonia, delirium tremens and exposure He was reinterrcd. Sutclrio of an Insane Woman. A horrible suicide occurred at tho Cen tral insane asylum iu Columbus at au early hour Tuesday morning. When the lady attendant arose she discovered that the door to tho room occupied by Mrs. Cath erine Stoutcnour, a patient from Craw ford county, was open and the patient misbing. Ono of tho windows was found to have been opened, but it was not at first thought possible for a person to have escaped. Au investigation soon disclosed tho fact that this had been done for down on tho ground, GO feet below, was found the mangled body of the insane suicide. iho patient had forced her litho form betweeu tho bars which arc only five inches apart and'drop. ped from tiio fourth story. Her insanity partook of tho melancholy type, and there had never been a suspicion that she would ever attempt to harm herself. Tlio Greenback i'arty IllMtolved. Tho national committe of tho Green back Labor party met Wednesday in St. Jjouis, and considered a proposition by Mr. Do La Matyr " for the dissolution of the Greenback parly, the calling of a na tional convention of all elements opposing tho Republican and Democratic parties and tho organization of a now party under a new name." No ono but Mr. Harper opposed tho proposition. Beer Going Vf. Tho Western broWcrs' association met yesterday in Chicago and elected John H. MrcEvoy, of that city its president. The object of tho meeting is to consider the expediency of advancing tho price of beer " to correspond with the advance in the price of hops and other ingredients." A voto was taken on a preliminary proposi tion, which iudicated that an advanc: of SI per barrel will be agreed upon. A Revenue Officer Shoots nan. Revenue Agent Wagner, at Huntsville, Alabama, telegraphs to Washington that, on the morning of the 19th inst., Deputy Marshal Goodwin, while seizing an illicit distillery near Attalia, was set upon by two armed men in charge,'" whereupon Goodwin fired killing oho man and wound ing tho other. A coroner's jury found that Goodwin's act was "justifiable homi cide." A frlnccly UUr. John Q. Buchtel has sold $200,000 worth of stock in the Buckeye works at Akron, O.. to Lewis Miller and his three sons, in order to make an additional gift of $100, 000 to Buchtel college. The gift will be formally tendered on January 18, which w the anniversary of the founding of the college. A Town Attacked by Brigands. A dispatch from Matamorus, Mexico, says a band of 40 brigands mado a sudden attack upon the town of Ahuacatlau jos terday and, by a display of firo-aira. overawed the inhabitants, who fled terror stricken to their homes. The brigands seized aud bound the mayor and justice, and the aldermen, and carried them off captives, intending to hold them for a large ransom. Five Men. Killed. A special dispatch to the JVeiM from Huntsville, Tex., says : " During a severe hail storm Wednesday night. Dean's Milling house, bix miles from that place, was blown down, instantly killing Albert Dridcn and four negro women who had sought shelter in the building. Three or four others were slightly wounded. There were 10 persons in tho building at tho timo of the accident." An Army UIBccr Iu Trouble The war department yesterday ordered a court martial, to meet at Jeffenon bir raeks, Missouri, on tho 4th proximo, for the tiial of Captain II. 11. Brews, of tho Fourth cavalry, on charges of "disobrdi ccce of orders, fraud, conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, and conduct subversive of good order and military dis cipline." By advico of friends Captain Crews recently sent in his resignation, hut after further consideration, withdrew it. J S'JAl&r: ALL. AKOVMI. A storeroom Foand Upon Last Night Kobbory Suspected. At a late hour last night and an early hour this morning.thcre was quito a scare, wo might say several scares, on West King strsi't. Private tYnv' nii Erisman, iu making his rou-id.-, discovered that tlio front door of M. II. Bash & Sou's cloak store was unlocked. Ho of courso sup posed the stoic had been uihbcd, or was to bo robb.-d. m ho kept a c1mj watjh over it and examined all adjacent premises. His intrusion set the dogs barking and tho noise mado by them alarmed tho wholo neighborhood. As daybreak approached and no thieves appeared tho watchman tiied to lock tho front door, tho key being in it : but the key was so much bent that it would not go iuto tho keybolo from tho outsido. Seeing a light in the kitchen of Mrs. Albright's boarding liouso, adjoin ing Bash's store, tho watchman rapped loudly at tho door, and ;:k(;il to bo let io, he wanting to borrow a hatchet to straigh ten tho key. The barking or tho dos, the rapping at tho door, and tho demand for admittance, frightened Mrs. Albright, and as she had just arisen from her bed for the purpose of Iookin - alter her fires, she was not at any rate, in the best trim to receivo visitors, so sho stoutly refused to open tho door. Tho watchinau then went to tho Cooper house, borrowed a hatchet, straightened tho dor key, locked the store-door from tho out side and went homo. Tho greatest t.caro of all was when Mr. Bash c.imo to open his stoic in tho morning and found that some ono had been there before him :rnl carried off his key. He, of course, sup posed robbers had stolen hundreds or thousands of dollars' worth of his lino costume's. Ho examined his stock with many misgivings, but a earful investiga tion showed that nothing wan raissim; ; and then ho recollected that on leaving tho store last night he had, while It is thoughts weio busy ou other mattcis, neglected to IojI: the front door. Hut "all's well that ends well." IN MlCIKTV. Tlie AiiroachluK Stevens Houe Assembly. A feature of tha approach ing hol:if:iy festivities will bo tho giaud annual a.ssim . bly of which previous mention has bun1 mado iu theso columns, aud which v.-ill tako placo at tho Stevens house on New Year's night, Monday, January 1, 18:;. The invitations wero issued to-day. They aro haudsomely engraved aud bear tho names of the following well known citizens as managers of tho affair : Messrs. Samuel II. Reynolds, J. L. Stcinmctz, Samuel II. Piice, 1. Kck. Slaymaker, B. J. McGraan, John E. M.i lone, D. G. Eshlcman, S. W.Altick, Chas. II. Loeher, B. F. Breneman, Dr. Ileiuy Carpenter, W.J. Forduey, 1C.A. Maloue, James M. Buiko aud Mayor John T. M; c Gonigie. With such a formidable Hit if names at the head of it, there can be no doubt the assembly will prove one of tlu most brilliant and successful social events that has ever taken place in Lan caster, and wc understand that m st claborato preparations are under way t make tho affair outshine any previous undertaking iu the Hue of local festivity in Lancaster. The number of invitations sent out exceeds four hundred, aud it is expected the guests wiil tepresuut tho most fashionable society of t'tc city aud county with a large atteudauce from abroad. Tbo price of tickets admitting gentlemen aud ladies has becu placed at five dollars, and the number of subscribeis thus far is sufficient to iudeinniiy the pio- jee'ors and assure a large aud brilliant gathering at the steveua houe on New Year'r, night. i'HE KUO.NuMIlEa. lienry .Lively Visit to tne Settlement. Editors Intklmgenckk. I wish to correct a misstatement or two into which you wero led in thu publication of an ar ticle on tho Economites. which appeared in your paper on the 10th icst. I bad five uncles who belonged to tho Ecouomiro society, some ot whomjo:ned it in 1805, and spent their lives thcie,. while some oj my other relatives after spending somo time with tha society left it. My recent visit to the Economite society was not tor tho purpose of receiving auy money Irom them. I have no prcuniary claim air.tmst. them, and am not interested in this suit of Elias Speidel against them. I believe that Speidel & Co. are not entitled to any thing, as their ndatives forfeited eveiy thing when they left tho society, and I would regard it as a sin and a shame to disturb theso good, old people who havo lived for so many years in a quiet, religi ous way. My recent visit to their s"ettlr ment was for the purpose of seeing the placo where my relations lived and died. Their graves were shown mo by one of tho sisters, and I brought home with mo as a memento some grass plucked from tin in. I spent a week among these people and received the kindest attention, and the best of everything they had. They t-Id me very decidedly that I was their guest, and must not think of paying for any thing JIenkv Lively. 3AboiC. t j fclccliuii and Installation. At a regular meeting of Goodwin Coun cil No. 10, R. S. and S. M., held at Masn'iiu hall, on Wednesday evening, December 20th, the following officers were duly elected and installed by D. 1). G. M. W. J. Forduey, for tho ensuing Masonic yiT. L G. Master John HnlL D. I. G. M, Joshua L. Lyte. P. C. of W. Dr. Jno. R. Morris. Trcas. Cbaa. A. HeiniUb. Recorder Hugh S. Gara. Grand Repreaantative Wro. J. ,Ford ney. ThoT.I. G Master-elect stale thefol lowing appointments : Capt. of Guard Joel S. Eiby. ? Marshal E. Oram Lyte. . First Keeper of Temple Chas. , A. Fon Dersmith. Heralds 1st, Henry E. Carsoa ; 2d, Dr. Geo. R. Wclchans ; 3d, M. M. Sour beer. Sentinel Geo. Lutz. Organist Adam Oblender. m fa 1 li AVI 6 h va H tA r : a ul tJ d