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PITTSBURG. -WEDNESDAY. JAN. 2, 1SS9.
HOW POWEBFUL IS IT!
If the Attorney General of Pennsylvania
5s fully in earnest in his move against the
-water-inflated "Western Union Telegraph
Company, that concern which now snaps its
fingers alike at citizens, at laws and at Con
stitutions will have to come down a peg.
Everyone knows that there is a provision in
the Pennsylvania Constitution against the
consolidation of telegraph companies.
Everyone knows that the Western Union
lias on three distinct occasions defied that
provision. It has bought and bribed com
petition ont of the field in order that it
might levy an extra tax on the public to
pay dividends on the water in its inflated
stock; and it has done this with that au
dacious and cool indifference to the law
which its master-spirits have never tailed to
'show when it suited their purpose. Having
swallowed the Mutual Union and the Amer
ican Union without interference, or so far
as we know even protest from the State, the
Western Union was of course not deterred
for a moment by Pennsylvania's Constitu
tion from gobbling the B. & O. when oppor
tunity offered.
Considering how openly corporations at
their pleasure succeed in defying the funda
mental laws oi the State and of the nation,
it is not surprising that news of the move
against the Western Union has already
been met by the sneer that the concern in
qnestion will know how to obtain a stay of
proceedings.
The Dispatch, nevertheless, sincerely
trusts that no such reproach will attack the
State administration. It accepts as satisfac
tory Attorney General Kirkpatrick'sdcclar
ation that the twelve months of delay have
been occupied in preparing the evidence. It
hopes that, now the case is started, nothing
will prevent its adjudication. Let it be
publicly known to all citizens of Pennsylva
nia whetner their Constitution is null and
void when it comes in conflict with those
schemes by which promoters of corporations r
firvt fill their pockets with watered stock
and afterward conspire to shut off competi
tion, so that the public shall have to pay
them dividends on the bogus stock as well
as that which represents actual cash or labor
invested.
A forfeiture of a few millions of the
Western Union's property in Pennsylvania
the penalty which the law prescribes
would teach a useful lesson. AYhat a howl
would go up from that corporation if the
proceedings so resulted; and yet by buy
ing out competing lines in defiance of
the Constitution, and by unlawful combina
tions it succeeds in making such nrbitrary
charges to the public as transfers from the
pockets of citizens of Pennsylvania to its
coffers for more money every year than the
interest on all its possessions in this State.
It has established a virtual monopoly which
can practically levy any tax it please on the
business of the country. Can it also, at
will, upset the Constitutions of States and
paralyze the executive arm of the law? We
shall see.
THE VALUE OF FALSE TEETH.
At Victoria, B. C, two houses were de
stroyed by fire the other day and the corre
spondent who describes the disaster states that
"one woman was so fearful of the loss of the
valuables in her bureau drawer that a fire
man risked his life to save them. He found
only a set of artificial teeth."
From the last sentence we infer that the
writer is of the opinion that false teeth can
not properly be called valuables. He is
probably a stripling to whom, of course,
false teeth have no more worth
than a bear skin would have in
the eyes of a lizard. But he
should not conclude that because false teeth
are not treasures to him they are precious to
nobody. Doubtless that alarmed old woman
had good reason for classing her false teeth
is. valuables. Maybe they were all that
stood between her and the silent grave.
Without them she could not talk; withont
them she conld not eat; and what is life to a
woman, even in British Columbia, if she
can neither speak nor cat? Is it wonderful
that she watched with horror the flames
wreathing their red tongues around the
bureau in which her teeth lay? We can see
her stretching out her hands and pleading
with the firemen to save her little all. And
irthe spectators did not cheer when the fire
man came down the ladder, teeth in hand,
then Victoria deserves its appendage of
B. C, in a chronological sense.
Ealse teeth not valuable? Well, as they
Bay in Prance, we shall see.
THE SCOPE OF THE CENSUS.
The propositions with regard to taking
the eleventh census of the United States
have called forth an almost unanimous ex
pression of opinion that it must not present
such an excessive example of eternity in
time, as was realized by the tenth census.
The imminent peril that the last census will
not be completed before the new one is be
gun makes the need of restriction indisput
able. But the extraordinarily protracted nature
of the last census is likely to produce a re
action in the other direction. This is indi
cated by the incisive remark of the New
York Sun, that the seven volumes proposed
by the House bill on the census are too many,
and that three volumes are sufficient This
-would enable the inquiries of the census to
go little beyond the statistics of population
and some of the leading items of produc
tion. It would go as far in the direction of
jiarrowing the scope of the census as the
last one did in diffusing it all over the fol
lowing decade.
The fact is that the trouble with the last
censns was not so much in excessive scope
tias in permitting the special reports to spin
'Tout without any regard to either time or space.
Of the twenty-two volumes of the census,prob-
I&uiy two-thirds dealt with topics on which
mill information was important and inter
esting to the nation. But the whole report
could, with strict regulation, have given iu
eleven or twelve volumes all the informa
tion now spread out through the twenty-two.
This would have cut the total down to about
the seven volumes contemplated by the bill,
and in that form the census would have been
more useful than it now is.
If the new census is energetically pushed
and carefully edited, it ought to give a full
view of our social and industrial growth in
about seven or eight volumes. One of the
most effective methods for securing prompt
work would be a provision in the bill that
all reports, special or otherwise, must be
completed within two years from the com
mencement of work, in order to be paid for
out of the appropriation. With that done
there will be little danger of the scope of
the work getting too large.
TEE GOYEBHOB'S MESSAGE.
The Governor's message, which is pub
lished iu full to-day, treats of a wide scope
of subjects and necessarily occupies consid
erable space. It is inevitably so, and is
hardly to be criticised for its length, al
though the unique references to that quality
at the clote of the message implies a sus
picion that it needs an apology on that
score
The subject most fully treated in the mes
sage is that of revenue and taxation; and, in
thatconnection,the failure of the revenue law
passed two years ago is considered at length.
The most creditable explanation is pre
sented of the remarkable omission of a vital
signature; and the rather questionable idea
is advanced "that it was perhaps well for
the Commonweath that the bill did not be
come a law." It is necessary to dissent
from any such view. It is never well for
any Commonwealth that legislation deliber
ately planned by the legislative authority
shall be nullified by either stupidity or col
lusion on the part of the officials of the
Legislature. Whe there may be founda
tion for the Gubernatorial belief that the
bill was not all that it should be, the farther
fact set forth in the message that millions
of corporate and personal property are
escaping their just share of taxation, leaves
it pertinent to ask why this condition of
aflairs was left to continue for two years
without calling a session of the Legislature
to rectify the miscarriage of the last bill.
It is to be hoped that the Governor's recom
mendations on this subject may bear fruit
in measures equalizing taxation at this
session. As the Governor well 6ays: "Men
are more essential to the life of the Com
monwealth than money."
The recommendations with regard to in
dustrial training, schools for seamanship,
mining schools, and the orphans' schools
show a careful consideration of these im
portant subjects. The suggestion that the
transfer of the orphan school pupils
to the normal schools would bene
fit the latter "by thus furnish
ing them pupils for their model schools,"
reveals a unique need for model educa
tional institutions. If institutions of that
class are in need of pupils, it indicates some
thing radically wrong either with the
schools or the public.
The notice given to the generally bad con
dition of the country roads throughout the
State, lends force to the idea which has been
discussed by The Dispatch of using con
vict labor in building first-class roads
throughout the country. The recommenda
tions for simplifying legal practice and
giving the Supreme Court the benefit of
modern inventions in the preparation of
their decisions are timely.
The message is in the main a business
document, and pays no attention to politics.
If the Legislature will exhibit a similar
choice of subjects for consideration, the ses
sion will probably be more useful to the
people of the State than several of its pre
decessors put together.
THE ESTIMATES FOE 89.
Those reports from the Chiefs of Depart
ments will need careful examination, detail
by detail, and then again in bulk, before
they come up in Council. Some of the de
mands made, for instance, nearly $150,000
extra for fire and police, will find the public
in an emphatically non-concurrent mood. The
property-owner who has been able to pay his
taxes and insurance through 1S88, and who
still lives, will not see why he should dive
his hand deeper into his pocket for police
and fire protection for 1889. There is a point
at which he will offer sturdy resistance.
Having been told that last year's expenses
represented the fair running cost of the city
government he will likely plant both feet
on that platform with the firmness ot intel
ligent conviction which results from seeing
that the city has neither been burned nor
plundered during the past twelve months.
Insurance rates do noFdiminish in propor
tion as new thousands are laid out on the
fire apparatus, nor is it in numbers so much
as in activity that the police force becomes
formidable to offenders.
Of course when we come to the streets it
is very apparent that more is to be done in
1SS9 than was attempted in 1888; and de
mands for more fnpney may well be ex
pected. This is because of special work
which may be small one year and large the
next, or vice versa. But as for the ordinary
running, expenses of the city the taxpayer
will want them down to a business basis;
and the heads of all the departments can
rely upon it that the scrutiny of items will
be qnite close. Economy is looked for as
well as efficiency.
HE. PIATTS JEBEMIAD.
It will not add to the fame of Donn Piatt
to figure as the author of such a sweeping
and unreasonable charge as the following,
which we quote from an article from his pen
in Selford's Magazine:
There is not a man, woman or child in our
country possessed of any brain bnt knows that
Benjamin Harrison was elected President by
open, wholesale bribery.
Mr. Piatt either knowingly says that
which is untrue, or without proper thought
slanders his native land. If he possesses
the qualification he defines for "a man,
woman or child in our country" he
wouid in his deliverance upon this
momentous question have seen the
necessity of marshaling facts in
support of such a tremendous indictment.
But while big-sounding words and vague
generalizations are plentiful in Mr. Piatt's
article, facts are very few and not at all
new. Mr. Foster's silly campaign circular,
Senator Ingalls' advice to a Kansas delegate
at the Chicago Convention to nominate
"some such fellow as Phelps, who can tap
"tVall street," and the alleged Dudley circu
lar directing the handling of floaters in In
diana "in blocks of five or more," constitute
the entire basis for Mr. Piatt's charge that a
President of the United States has been
elected by wholesale bribery.
The Dispatch is with Mr. Piatt, cr
any other man, in an honest attempt to dis
close political debauchery if it exists, to
prevent the bribery of voters, or to guard
the purity of the ballot. But The Dis
patch does not believe that Mr. Foster,
Mr. Dudley, or even Senator Ingalls, repre
sents the Republican party, or a majority of
it, and consequently the proof afforded of
the personal corruption of these three men
cannot convict,in oar judgment of the party.
The election occurred two months ago and
the most serious allegation of corrupt prac
tises, founded on the alleged Dudley circu
lar, has not been properly proved yet, al
though the Democrats of Indiana possess
the means and the machinery, as well as
the natural desire to discredit a
political foe. It is not to be
denied that the raising of enormous
campaign funds is dangerons and abomina
ble. The Dispatch has never been back
ward in denouncing large expenditures of
money in politics, even though the treasure
be squandered in ways that are not abso
lutely illegal. Donbtless too much money was
spent on both sides during the last cam
paign; doubtless there were men wicked
enough to bribe and be bribed, but that the
great political fabric has passed into the
hands of corrupt dealers and has become "a
mere sham, to shame us before the world,"
as Mr. Piatt says, we do not believe.
Neither do we believe that Mr. Piatt, de
prived of his envelope of anger and disap
pointment at defeat, would still insist on
bewailing the downfall of our Republican
institutions.
Me. Chauncy M. Depjew declares that
John Sherman had nothing to do with the
nomination of General Harrison. As this
is jnst what every aspirant for position says
of his opponents, it is timely to suggest to
the genial Mr. Dcpew that a man of his
talents should evolve somcthingoriginal in
this connection. Such a stroke of art, for
example, as saying that the other fellows
have a better claim for the place, wonld
keep up his reputation for strikingly novel
expressions.
TnE Quay Elate took the legislative posi
tion yesterday without enough of a fight to
make it interesting. The DiSPATCn was
of opinion that when your Uncle Errett
started out for a position he would be likely
to pocket the persimmon.
Gen. Habeison's reported declaration
that "no one will ever put me in his
breeches pocket" is general construed to
mean that Blaine's Cabinet chances are not
worth mentioning. But is not the opinion
that Blaine cannot be a member of the
Cabinet without carrying the whole govern
ment in his pocket, more flattering to
Blaine, than to the President-elect and the
other fellows?
Sixty pauper immigrants were sent
back from New York last week to the
countries which had sent them here. It
seems that investigation has some effect in
spurring up public officials to the point of
doing their duty.
It is rather amusing to find our Demo
cratic cotemporaries nursing the hope that
the narrow Republican majority in the
House of Representatives may be wiped
out by the death of some of the members
before the regular session begins. This
hope seems to be based on the opinion that
when a Democrat once gets into office he is
immortal.
It appears that the London Timet is still
trying to bribe witnesses to swear to Par
nell's connection with the Fenian outrages;
but that dodge is so old with the Times that
its renewal does not attract any attention.
The claim of the K. of L. officials that
three-fourths of the miners in this section
belong to that organization, and that of the
miners' union that two-thirds of the miners
have joined it, indicates a surplus of
miners. Is it possible that any of the mem
bers of that bard-working industry are re
peating? The New Year's call has fallen into in
nocuous desuetude. Gilded yonth desirous
of swearlng-off with a bpree, have to do it
at their own expense by patronizing the
regularly licensed saloons.
Berry Wall is reported as saying that
if American actors are protected against the
competition of the pauper tragedians of Eu
rope he will go on the stage. That ought
to settle it. Any step which will induce
the dudish Berry to exhibit himself will be
voted down by a large majority.
Tun report that a florists' trust has
been organized, may be passed over with
slight attention in view of the fact that it
can make no difference in the price of
bread.
The Savannah News has joined the
phalanx of Southern papers that are anx
ious to have the Northern press denounce
the White Caps as much as the KuKInx.
As that is exactly what the Northern press
is doing we hope that the esteemed News
will profit by the example.
The Citizens Traction road, after letting
itself be beaten by Christmas and slowly
moving events, finally got its cars to going
on an even start with 1889.
The advice of the New York Sun that
General Harrison shall buy an encyclope
dia is probably good, if the President-elect
is not already provided in that respect.
But it may not be entirely disinterested.
The editor of the Sun is also the editor of a
very good encyclopedia.
Milan-, the malodorous, appears to have
succeeded in discovering a new manner to
make himself a stench in the nostrils o
decent Europe.
It would be well to be careful about ask
ing too much indemnity from Hayti. That
small but perniciously active island might
take the fearful revenge of ceding itself to
the United States; and then we would find
ourselves in the position of the man who
caught a Tartar.
Don't forget in, dating your letters to
day to cross out your inadvertenf"8V and
write in the "9's" over them.
FUBLIC PEOPLE PARAGRAPHED.
MARY Andebson is meeting with success in
Boston. She was clever enough to let that city
know that she had met Mr. Browning.
Mns. Humphrey Waed, author of "Robert
Elsmere," is very much annoyed at the reports
that her famous-story is to be dramatized.
11 K. and Mns. Gladstone are accompanied
on their Italian tour by their daughter, Mrs.
Drew, whose husband is curate of Hawarden.
AsiSTEKof the late Colorow, Chief of the
Southern Utes, died the day after her brother's
demise. She was old and feeble and conld not
withstand the sad news of the renegade's de
parture. The public, however, has borne Oolo
row's death with great equanimity.
On Saturday William E. Gladstone reached
his 79th year. Naples and Hawarden both re
allied this fact. Gladstone is now at tho former
place, and the telegraph office there was over
worked in the effort to keep pace with tho con
gratulatory'messages sent to him from all parts
of the world. Countless presents went to
Hawarden. Oxford sent him a silver lamp.
Cambridge presented him with rare books.
There were all sorts of gifts, from sweetmeats
to a weighing machine. Gladstone is in splen
did health at present, and even talks of climb-
.ing Vesuvius.
J
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
Tho Mariner's Fear of Lnnd-A Tale of a
Jolly Boatswain.
In an inland city, such as Pittsburg, there are
always plenty of people to be found w..ose
dread of the sea would prevent them from
trusting themselves on board an ocean steamer.
A few men, and almost any number of women
are known to me who could not be induced to
cross tho Atlantic. Perhaps a good many of
these timorous ones would be converted if they
were to go on board such a floating town as the
Inman "City of Chicago," or any other of the
gigantic Atlantio liners. Of course, there are
many, also, who do not favor going down to tho
sea in ships, because of the attendant terror of
sea sickness.
Great and unreasonable as is the landsman's
dread of the sea, it is equaled very often by the
seaman's dread of travel on land.
, ,
A short time ago a young Pittsburger, who
happened to be in Now York, encountered the
captain of a Cnnarder with whom he was well
acquainted. The captain possesses literally
world-wide fame, and a braver or better sea
man does not breathe. He had been often in
vited to visit this city bofore for he has not
only friends of travel, but at least one school
mate here and the young Pittsbnrger begged
him to accompany him on his return home.
But the old sea dog thanked him kindly but
added, "Nothing could induce ino to trust my
self to a railway train ovor the Allegheny
Mountains. No, sir! it's too much ot a risk for
me to trust my bones on such a journey."
And yet If you shvuld chanco to cross the
Atlantio in that old' captain's ship in tho wild
est weather of tho year, when the winds are
contrary, the waves mountains high, and fog
wrapping tho great steamer in a dozen extra
dangers, I'll wager you'd find him at the mo
ments of greatest peril, cool, calm and coura
geous. He cares not for the dangers of tho
sea; he knows them all but the dangers of the
land he wots not of and they are terrible to
him.
Talking of ships and the sea, I am re
minded of a story that a traveler told mo re
cently to illustrate and enforce his belief in
the honesty and fidelity of sailors.
"I was crossing theJAtlan tic from Now'.York
inaCunardera year or two ago," saia the
traveler, "and as we reached tho ocean on our
first night ont we passed tho wreck of the
Oregon outside tho bar. That ill-fated Cnn
arder had but recently sunk and there was a
light hanging from the masthead, which was
abovo water, to show passing vessels the loca
tion of the wreck. I was on deck as we sighted
the light and I asked a sailor standing near me
what it was. Ho told mo and we gradually
drifted into conversation. He had been a
sailor on the Oregon when she sank, and I re
member how graphically he described the way
in which the passengers were packed into the
life-boats, by laying them In layers crossways.
"Well, when the chat came to an end, I hand
ed my sailor friend a shilling to get some grog.
The next morning I met him again on deck,and
he touched his hat and asked me if I was the
man he had talked with the night before. 1
told him I was, and he said: Then, I guess,
you didn't mean to give me this, did you?' and
he held up a sovereign. I had mistaken the
English gold equivalent of a S3 gold piece for
a shilling. That was pretty honest in my sailor
friend, wasn't it? I didn't let him suffer for his
honesty. I told him to keep the sovereign. We
had many chats after that, and he proved a
very interesting fellow."
V
"It chanced" continued tho traveler "that I
came back on the same steamer a few months
later, and I renewed my acquaintance with the
sailor. As we neared the journey's end there
was the usual sale of pools on the number of
the pilot boat which should take us into New
York harbor. I had lost so mnch money in tho
pools before that I didn't think of buying any
this time. But my friend the boatswain came
to me and told mo that if I had any thought of
bnying pools to take number 19, for, said he,
that's the pilot who takes this tcescI in nine
times ont of ten. Bo I went to the auction and
bou ht number 19 for about $15, 1 think it was.
"I didn't stay up all night watching for the
pilot as somo men do, but went to bed. I was
awakened in the morning by hearing a young
lady in the state room next mine exclaim. 'Oh!
number 19's wonf
"I found that it was truo and I won about
$500 in tho pools. You can bet I gave the
boatswain a fat share of tho fortune his tip
brought me."
A BOSTON BOODLER.
He Pockets a Quarter of a Million oi Pub
lic Pnnds.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
Boston, January L A year or two ago a
rumor crept into print that Mr. Leighton, for
many years clerk of the Municipal Conrt, was
a defaulter to an amount of not less than S250,
000. The rumor was emphatically denied by
Mr. Leighton, and there was really not much
ground for the story, except that an accountant
was examining bis books. The matter was
dropped. The accountant was kept at work on
Leighton's books, and he has been at work
ever since.
The result of his labors has not been made
public, but it is understood that the deficiencies
m tho ex-clerk's accounts will not be much less
than the amonnt above stated. The first of
ficial reference to the matter was made by
Mayor O'Brien last night. It was embodied in
a veto of an order authorizing the expenditure
of 18,000 for certain county expenses. Mr.
Leighton is still living in style at his residence
at the Back Bay. He is reputed to bo worth
nearly gauu,uuu.
THE GREAT BORE LIGHTED.
The Wcstinshonso Company Completes Its
lloosnc Tunnel Contract.
Auiant, January L The Fitchburg Rail
road Company, a year ago last November, con
tracted with the Westlnghouse Electric Light
Company of Pittsburg to light the Hoosac
tunnel. The system has at last been completed
after a year's work. The obstacles enconntered
have been thought to bo almost insurmountable
by many electricians, and the success of the
venture has caused much comment. Forty
miles of lead-covered cables have been laid in
wooden condnits in trenches on each sido of
the tracks.
The lamps in tho tunnel are arrayed in sec
tions of 20 50-lamp volts each. The power is
supplied from two 125-horse power boilers and
a 12o-liorse power engine, three dynamos each
of 050 16-candlelight capacity, and tno direct
current machines. The engineers can now sco
a. mile ahead in the absence of fog, and work
in tho tunnel can be accomplished much more
rapidly, and travel is rendered mnch safer by
the electric light.
Singular Information Abont Americans.
From an Article by Max O'ltell In the Forum.
It most strike Europeans as very droll to see
ladies attired in low-necked ball dresses to re
ceive afternoon callers, but 1 found the prac
tice was universal.
Parisians remember to this day the American
millionaire I as going to say billionaire who
on the occasion of his- daughter's wedding,
wroto to the Town Council of Paris to ask for
the loan of the Arc de Triomphe, which ho was
anxious to decorate in honor of the wedding
and have tho special uso of during the day. Ho
was politely informed that tho arch was not to
let. "Then I will buy it," he replied; "name
your price."
The American woman docs not render to
man a tithe of the devotion she receives from
him. ,
Their politics appeared to me perfectly child
ish; but, if I am right, I may add, that like
children, they will learn. It Is by voting that
people learn to vote.
Cast Steel Gnns and Naval Officers.
From the New York Trlbuna.
Whatever may have been tho cause of the
unfortunate and disastrous bursting of the six
inch cast steel gun at the Annapolis proving
ground, we would suggest to tho officers in
charge of those tests to bear in mind the apt
remark of the late Charles Sumner in tho
French arms investigation discussion: "A child
should be nursed by one who loves it" Tho
gun was both a theoretical and a practical
novelty; hence an attempt should have been
made by the officers to increaso their knowledge
of the behavior of Bessemer steel under strain
of firing.
Application of Convict Labor to Roads.
From the Philadelphia Kecord.
ThePittsbubo Dispatch favors the appll
cation of convict labor to the roads of the
country. No Industry would be disturbed by
convict labor so applied, and there is much to
be said in 'favor of it. The only serious ob
jection lies in the public spectagle of com
pulsory servile labor under such restraint and
cuard aswould'bo necessarv in thn mo nf
convicts. I
A LETTER LOST FOE SIX YEARS.
How Two Lovers Learned Too Lato tho
Fate of a Missing Note.
From the Detroit Free Press,
Janet Russell was tho belle of the village, a
Canadian village on the St. Lawrence, and was
admired by all the swains who dwelt in those
parts, but her "steady company" was a hand
some young fellow John Miller son of the
village postmaster, who also kept a general
store. John and Janet went together to a
runic frolio one night, and on the road John
asked the old question, which was
answered in the affirmative. Things went
nicely, but at last, Janet dancing
twice in succession with a young fellow
whom he had looked upon as a rival, John felt
bad, and on the way home sharp words passed
between them. The girl told him she wished
it had been Charley Hall (tho rival) who had
asked her the question before mentioned,
whereat John said he would give her a day to
take that back, and if not why, all was over
between them. Janet relented when she had
time to think about it, and tho next morning
wrote a note to John and drooped it into the
letter-box at old Mr. Miller's store.
Time passed on. A year or so after that
Charley Hall and Janet Russell wero married,
and John Miller was wedded to another girt.
Some fivo years passed and old Mr. Miller died,
leaving his property and bis store to his son,
too at once set aiiout making improvements.
And it so happened that the day the old letter
box was broken up, Mrs. Hall, accompanied by
her eldest daughter, i years old, was in the
store. A letter dropped to the floor; a work
man picked it up, anl with the remark, "Here's
an old letter addressed to you, Mr. Miller,"
passed it to John. At the moment he was
talking to his old sweetheart.
Ho toos: the letter and turned it over and
over in his hand. As Janet's eyes fell on it she
blushed. John opened the note and read it,
then he handed it to Janet with a bow and the
words: "That has been in the box ever since
the day after we went to the dance at Turner's.
Ah. Janet, if I had only known!" Mrs. Hall
took her child by tho hand and went home
without a word. Janet's poor little note had
been caught and concealed for nearly sixyears,
and had changed the current of two lives, but
for better or worse who can tell?
ALIVE, TT LEGALLY DEAD.
Peculiar Operations of the Lnw In Cases of
Life Imprisonment.
From the Sen- York Herald.
It is not generally known that when a person
is sentenced to imprisonment for Ufa in this
State he is regarded as, legally dead. The Sur
rogate of Westchester county will so con
sider Francis E. Brouty, who under the will of
his father, the late Francis Brouty, of Mount
Vernon, was devised property worth $15,000
or 520,000, which he would have taken if he
had not been sent to Sing Sing prison for the
rest of his natural life for the murder of Police
man Woods.
I had a talk with Warden Brush, of Sing
Sing, on this subject. He told me that there
had been several cases like that of Brouty. A
good many years ago, the son of a millionaire
of this city was sent to the prison for life.
Some time after that the father died, and his
will was offered for probate just as the elder
Bronty's has been. In the partition of the es
tate the convict was utterly ignored, and bis
share was divided among the other chil
dren of the deceased. After a while
new evidence was discovered which
plainly showed that an innocent man
had been convicted ot murder. The matter
was properly placed before the Governor, who
not only granted the unfortunate victim of cir
cumstantial evidence his freedom, but issued a
full pardon, which restored him to citizenship.
This It was anticipated would place the un
justly accused mau in the eye of the law ex
actly on the same footing as before his convic
tion. Not so. however, for when he brought
suit against those among whom his father's
estate had been divided to recover his share the
case was thrown out of court. A decision was
rendered, in effect, that as he had ,onco been
dead in law he must remain so.
TROUBLESOME GIFT.
Annoynnco a Ulan Hns From Hi Wife's
Christmas Present.
From the New York Sun.:
'That's j our Christmas, is it? A sliver dollar
of 1SSS, nice and new and shiny. Is your wife
going to put a hole in it and hang it round your
neck on a ribbon? Thinks you haven't cut
your teeth? That's nice."
"No, but she has done this to it, and thinks it
is so nice for me, 'cause I can always carry it in
my pocket," and, touching the letter e in tho
inscription on tho dollar, it flew open, revealing
two hollow halves, the inside of ono bearing
his engraved monogram, with the date, and
from the other smiling the portrait of a beauti
ful woman, with full, soft lips and wistful dusky
eyes.
"Her picture, you know. It is nice, it's very
nice," he continued. "I don't see how I ever
lived withont it. The first thing I did was to
spend it for cigars. I ran back three blocks,
offered the boy 12 for it, and paid him two
more to run after a crusty old party to whom
he bad given it in change; then I spent it for a
glass of brandy and soda in an art gallery, went
in and played a game or two, thought of ic,
and set every boy in tho place hunting for it.
The fellows all turned their pockets inside out,
and at last it was found. I helieve it cost me
abont $7 that time. Let me see, seven and
three are ten, and six just now, make SIS in 24
hours. Oh, it's a great success immense."
ITS VOICE IS LARGE,
Bat tho Baby is a Year Old and Weighs Only
Thrco Pounds.
Detroit, January L A weo little bundle
done up in any number of diminutive bed
clothes, was a center of great attraction yester
day. It was the Windsor one-pound baDy. Mr.
andMrs. McEjren, living in tho western por
tion of our Canadian suburb, are tho proud
parents of tho lilliputian. Dr. Reams, of
Windsor, guarantees that the child when born
weighed less than 16 ounces. It is now a year
old and weighs three ounces less than three
pounds. Its voice has grown all out of propor
tion to its size. It proved of immense interest
to mothers in the audience.
no Got Ills Watch Bach.
Pottstown, January L At a fair at Faeg
leysville, three miles from here, a watch and a
sum of money wero stolen from two persons.
The man who lost bis watch stationed himself
at the door, drew a knife and refused to let
anybody out until his property was returned.
Several persons then flourished revolvers and
knives, and for several minutes the wildest
.excitement prevailed. Finally tho thief re
turned tho watch to the owner.
Bnicm's New Year's Gift.
Special Telesram tolhc Dispatch.
Salem, O., January L The Salem Daily
Jfcus made its first appearance this evening. It
is a neat, six-column sheet, pnblished by J. W.
Northrop, former publisher of tho Buckeye
Videite. G. W. Pent, of Beaver Falls, is asso
ciate editor.
RHYMES FOR THE NEW YEAR.
TAKE AS DIRFCTED.
About this time 'most every year
Upon the druggists' shelves
Two vials at tho outer edge
Present their useful sell cs.
Full well they know that New Year's Day,
And also New ear's night,
Will make of many manly heads
A large and an ful sight.
To conquer sundry acbes and pains.
And throbbing veins subdue.
These little powders counteract
The city's earminc hue.
Apolllnarls lends Its aid,
And sparkling vlchy bright.
Combined with sodll bl-carb,
And bismuth! sub nib.
TWO 6IDES.
Now ladles of uncertain age,
Who realize their fate,
Kegret they did not make the lean
In 18SS. "
Now bashful bachelors once more
The sheltering woods resign,
To hall with Joy the welcome year
Of 18S9.
DEBTS.
It's not among the poor you'll find
The men who most the dun dread;
The ones who run the most behind
Are of the big 400.
wonps OP WISDOM.
The friend you meet among the throng
Who of your welfare questions you
Just let Dim think you get along
A little better than you do.
TUE SMALL BOT.
Though we are taught it Is sublime
To rise from low degree,
The small boy shouldn't try to climb
Upon the Christmas tree.
TUE YOUSO MAN.
The young man with a bank account
Among economists should rank.
Providing that this good amount
Itnput Into a farobank.
H. X, Extning Sun,
NEW YEAR'S IN ABW I0BK.
The Hotels Celebrate 'the Dny by Betting
Elnbornle Free Lunches. I
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
Niw York, January L There was a marked
difference in the manner, of the various hotels
in receiving their guests and customers to-day,
and in none of them was there so elaborate a
spread as in the Marlboro Hotel. In the cafe
adjoining the office was a big table that fairly
groaned beneath the weight of the dishes that
for three days Steward Henry Borel and
August Duin, the chief, bad been preparing.
A striped bass, weighing- pounds, was the
center piece, so built on tower of jelly and
pastry work as to seem invincible. A pyramid
of boiled lobsters, live feet high, stood behind
it, wnne onevery nana were tngiisn pneasants,
partridges, and quail. There was a game salmi,
several huge turkeys, four big squares of beef,
and salads of all kinds.
At the Parker House Chief Steward. Charles
Steward, who used to be at Delmonico's, bad
charge of the arrangements. On a little side
table was an immense piece of cold corn beef
that was surrounded by every vegetable in
season. Another table held a Kennebec salmon
in holiday garb. Jellies, fruits and wines were
in profusion, and justice was done to the good
things.
The Hoffman House was lammed during the
entire afternoon, and the big table in the cafe
was crowded. Wonderful structures were
tumbling over nnder the attack of hungry men.
The chef, E. Laperruque, had several fine
specimens of his handiwork on the table. One
was a wonderful creation made entirely out of
suet. It represented a table three feet long, on
which stood a wild boar fighting with dogs. It
looked like a work In Parian marble.
The Morton House did things up in great
shape, and ended up the day in a philanthropic
manner. There was a big Kennebec salmon
there, and huge mounds of roast and corn
beef, turkeys, chickens and salads. At 8
o'clock all the messenger boys that conld be
gathered in from tho various offices were
brought in front of the feast and helped to all
they could eat. The little fellows showed their
appreciation of this kindness by acting like
geuuemen.
A SCOTCH SEEM0N.
Some Seasons Why Discontented People
Ought to be Happy.
From Social Gleanings, by Mark Boyd.
"Ah, my friends, what causes have we for
gratitude oh, yes, for the deepest gratitude!
Look at the place of our hanitationl How
grateful should we be that we do not leeve in
the far north: oh no! amid the frost and the
snow, and the cauld and the weet, oh no!
where there's a lang day tae half o' the year,
oh yes! and a lang, lang nicht the tither, oh
yes! that we do not depend upon the Aura wry
Boreawlis, oh no! that we do not gang shiver
ing about in skins, oh not smoking atnang
tho snaw liko mowdiwarts, oh no, no! and
how graatef ul should we be ' that we do not
leeve in the far. South, beneath the equawter,
and a sun aye burnin' burnin', where the sky's
het, and ye're burnt black as a smiddy, oh
yes! where there's teegers, oh yes! and lions,
oh yes! and crocodiles, oh yes! and fearsome
beasts growlin' and grinnln' at ye amonfr, the
woods, where the very air Is a fever, liko the
burnin' breath o'a fiery drawgon; that we do
not leeve in these places, oh no, no, no! no! But
that we leeve in this blessit island of oors.callit
Great Britain, oh, yes! yes! and in that pairt of
it named Scotland, and in that bit o'
auld Scotland that looks up at
Ben Nevis, oh yes! yes! yes! where there's
neither frost nor cauld, nor wund, nor weet, 1
nor nan, nor rain, nor teegers, nor lions, nor
burnin' suns, nor hurricanes, nor " Here a
tremendous blast of wind and rain from Ben
Nevis blew in the windows of the kirk, and
brought the preacher's eloquence to an abrupt
conclusion.
BELGIUM'S IRON TRADE.
Interesting Information Abont the Condi
tion of tho Soilness There.
From the North British Mall.j
The production of finished iron in Belgium
increased considerably in 1SS7, although the
manufacturers were Ifmany respects placed at
a disadvantage as regards the raw material.
The demand for girders was unusually active
on the part of the United States, and the ex
portation to Italy was greatly increased in an
ticipation of a change in the Italian customs
tariff. Great Britain also imports large quan
tities of girders from Belgium, though it regu
lates the prices on that market as regards bars
and merchant iron in general. The extraordi
nary activity that prevailed in the German iron
market had a remarkable influence on the
position of tho Belgian ironmasters, who had
been accustomed to procure a large proportion
of their refining pig-iron from Luxemburg, but
as the works In the latter country found it was
more advantageous last year to dispose of their
production in Germany, tho Belgians were
compelled to cover their requirements in
Great Britain and France, since owing to the
comparatively high price of coal and coke thev
were unable to increase their own prodnctioh
of pig-iron to any great extent. There are at
present 39 rolling mills in Belgium, with 316
motors driven by steam and water power, rep
resenting together a force of rather more than
9,000 H. p. The nnmber of hands employed in
the mills is stated to be 5.36S. and their average
daily wages amounted in 1887 to 3.07fs, the to
tal production of bars, girders, plates and
sheets being about 330,000 tons.
MAYOR GRANT, OF NEW YORK.
Hewitt Is Glad That His Duties Aro at an
End.
New Yobk, January L At 12 o'clock to-day
the new Mayor, Hugh J. Grant, was led to his
desk in the City Hall by Hon. Abram S.
Hewitt. For more than an hour previous the
City Hall was filled by a throng to witness the
ceremony of the incoming Mayor's introduction
into office. Mayor Hewitt first received Mr.
Grant in his private room. After a brief con
versation both gentlemen entered the Mayor's
oflice, and leading Mr. Grant to the Mayor's
desk, Mr. Hewitt said:
"According to law tho hour of 12 o'clock this
day brings my official duties to an end and
jour's as Mayor begin. I can only say that if
you have half the pleasure in taking up these
duties that I have in laying them down, you
must feel a very happy man. I wish you every
happiness in your administration."
Then, turning to the assemblage. Mayor
Hewitt continued: "Gentlemen. I introduce to
yon the Mayor of the city of New York." and
then walked out of tho building. There was a
good deal of cheering for Mayor Grant, but
when the crowd bethought ittelf of the out
going Mayor and gave him a lusty cheer, Mr.
jiewiit was ont oi neanng distance.
Other
heads of departments
elected in November
were also installed,
THE COPf RIGHTURS 3IEET.
They Decide That They Have a Great Deal
of Work Before Them.
Boston, January L Tho annual mee'ting of
the International Copyright Association was
held yesterday. President W. Elliot presided.
There were also present H. O. Houghton, Rev.
Joseph Cook, Rev. W. E. Gnffo, Daniel Loth
rop. W. T. Adams, James Pa'rton and others.
DanaEstcs, tho Secretary, said ho had no
formal report to make and that there seemed
to be no special recommendations to make. Mr.
Houghton mentioned cases of organized oppo
sition to tho work of the association, which he
said bad a great deal of work before it. It was
decided best to defer the election of officers
until a future date.
It was then voted that a committee of 15 bo
apuointed by the Chair to assist the Executive
Committee preparing an authors' reading or
other entertainment to raise funds for tho
work of the association.
WOULD LIKE TO BE SENATORS.
Six Colorado Citizens Who Want to Go to
Wunlilnston.
Denvfb. Col., January L Tho biennial
session of the General Assembly of Colorado
will conveno to-morrow. The session frill bo
of considerable importance, as a U. S. Senator
to succeed Senator Bowen is to be chosen.
The candidates for this office are: Ex Senator
Tabor, ex-Congressman Svmes, Senator Bowen,
ex-Senator Chilcott, Rev.'Dr. David H. Moore,
and E. O. Wolcott, of Denver.
A WORRIED ACTOR. -
John A. i)Incknyo Disappears Rather Than
Attempt a New Part.
New Yobk, January 1. John A. Mackaye,
the comedian, who has mysteriously disap
peared, has not yet been found. Every hos
pital and police station in the city has been
searched fn vain. His mother has received a
telegram Raying be was eolng to Cleveland.
It is believed that he has been overwrought
with worry about his new part and has pre
ferred flight to the risk of making a failure.
Charles T. Woerd.
WAT.THAM, Mass., January 1. Charles V.
Woerd died yesterday at Hackctt, Cat., while
en route from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
He was born in Holland 70 years ago, and came
to this town in early life. He did much to
promote the growth of American watchmaking
by the invention of many wonderful maohiaes
for the making of different parts of the watch.
AN EX-SLAYE AN ALDEE1TAN.
Jeff Davis' Old Servant Writes a Letter to
His Waster.
Raleigh, N. 0., January Warnes H. Jones,
colored, of this city, who was Mr. Jefferson
Davis' body servent while the latter was Presi
dent of the Southern Confederacy, wrote him a
letter some weeks ago expressive of his high re
gard. Jones stated that he had not seen his
former master since both were taken to Fortress
Monroe. Jones was captured with Mr. Davis in
Georgia, and made crcat efforts to secure his
master's esctpe. Mr. Davis makes special men
tion of him in his history. Jones has made par
ticular denial of the story that Davis was at
tired in woman's clothing when captured. Since
the war Jones has lived here. He is a Repub
lican In politics, and has for 18 years been an
Alderman. His love for Mr. Davis amounts to
devotion.
The following autograph letter came to-day
irom Air. uavis, oatea at Beauvoir, juus., De
cember 2ih
"I was very glad to receive your letter, with
its assurance of kind remembrance, and it
gave pleasure not only to me but also to my
daughter, who was,an infant when you last saw
her. Mrs: Davis you know was always your
particular friend. We have all rejoiced when
we have heard of vour hnnnrahln nrnsneritv.
and have felt that it was what was due to your
integrityand fidelity. The many years which
have come and gone since we parted have in
nowise diminished my regard for yon and in
terest in your welfare. On Christmas Day I
mailed to you a portrait taken of me in order
that you might see me as I now am.
"Witn the best wishes of myself, Mrs. Davis
and all my household, I am truly your friend,
"JErriBSox Davis."
BISTOEI.EEPEATS ITSELF.
Evidence That the First Harrison
Com-
pnlgn Was Like tho Lasr.
Indianapolis, January L A short time ago
General Harrison received in his mail a scrap
book, which will prove decidedly interesting.
It contains a history of the political campaign
made by William Henry Harrison.
This history is made up from newspaper clip
pings. All the speeches of that early cam
paign are contained in it, together with the
stories and gossip of the campaign. It -would
seem that even then charges and counter
charges of all sorts were made, just as during
later days, with the exception, probably, that
they were more serious in nature. With per
usal of the clippings one would be especially
struck with the incidents and happenings of
the campaign of the grandfather, which re
peated themselves in that of the grandson.
Strangest of all to those mostly interested is
the fact the Sl-a-dav story is also a repetition,
save that William Henry Harrison was accused
of saying that 10 cents a day was enough for
any laboring man. That much compensation
in those day, however, would probably he about
an eqnevalent for a SI a day compensation at
the present time.
The charge appeared to have originated at
some distant point. William Henry Harrison,
it is shown, was warned of it by amend, who
in writing stated that the story was being
spread, and that it was intended to reach Ohio
so late in the campaign that its falsity could
not be proved to those voters at distant points.
Thera are similar Interesting noints. and the
scrap-book will prove a valuable addition to the
library otf the President-elect.
AN INFANT MONSTROSITY.
A Two-Year Old Child Whose Head is 36
Inches In Circumference
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
JOHNSTOWN, January L A Mr. and Mrs.
Boss, of Morrellville, are the parents of a son
with a remarkable head. The child was born
two years ago. At its birth it was apparently
sound and healthy. Some time after the child
was born its head began to grow out of all pro
portions to the rest of its anatomy. Doctors
were consultPd, and everything that medical
science suggested was applied to stay the un
natural development. AU efforts proved f utile,
however, and the growth of its head continues.
It is now 36 inches in circumference, or almost
as big as a half-bushel measure. The body is
about tho right proportion for a 2-year-old
child. The little ono cannot stand owing to
the weight of its head; neither can it speak,
hut it seems to understand what is said to it,
and to have all its mental faculties unim
paired. The cause of the unnatural growth of the
child's head is called by the doctors
hydroclephalus," or in plain English it is the
accumulation of fluid in and about the brain.
Medical science has no cure for the malady,
and death is liable to occur to the sufferer at
any time.
WHAT THEY SWORE 0FP FROM.
Somo of tho Bnd Habits Abandoned
by
Well-Known People Yesterday.
From the New York Sun.!
Mrs. Rive-Chanler from chumming for ad
jectives in the rivers ot sixteenth century liter
ature. Edgar Fawcett from mayhem of English
grammar.
The Emperor William from uniforms.
The Prince of Wales from anti-fat.
The General Boulanger from Boulangering.
King Mwanga from being a bad man.
Mrs. Parsons from lecturing.
John Jacob Kilrain from Anglomania.
Fire Alarm Foraker from ringing himself up.
R. B. Hayes from charging double for single
yolked eggs.
Matthew Stanley Quay, from shutting up.
B. Harrison, ditto.
William Walter Phelps will abandon his
bright crimson scarfs and nnbang bis hair.
Colonel Dan Lamont Will give up shopping:
tours to New York.
YANKEE GOLD HUNTERS REJOICE
Over tho Discovery of Precious Metal in
Blnssachasetts Hills.
SntUfariEf.D, Mass., January L Franklin
county farmers are considerably excited over
the discovery of gold among the Euckland
Hills, and some are so enthusiastic as to pre
dict an old-fashioned California boom. The
discovery has attracted the attention of ex
perts. The principal find is at an elevation of
1,500 feet above the mean sea level, and the de
posits aro found in quartz veins, or reefs,
traversing blnc-slato rock in a northerly and
southerly direction, nearly parallel with tho
glacial stria on the surface rock. They have
increased In thickness as they nave been de
veloped below the surface, the dip of the veins
being very nearly perpendicular.
Prepared for the Worst.
From the Chicago News. J
General Harrison insured his life on Satur
day for 510,000. This is good evidence that ho
is about to make public the names of the mem
bers of his Cabinet, and that he wants to be pre
pared for the worst.
One of the Triumphs of tho Campaign.
From the Chicago News.
As one of the notable triumphs of the late
campaign of education it may be mentioned
that the country has learned to pronounce
Chairman Quay's name properly.
Colonel John C. Dent.
St. Louis, January 1. ColonelJohn C. Dent,
brother-in-law of General Grant, died at his
homo in Carthage, Mc, early this morning,
aged 73 years.
ETIQUETTE FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY.
Do not leave tho Jack of spades in your min
ister's card receiver.
Nose of New York's best people ever go so
far as to make calls in Chicago and Boston on
tho same day.
If you expect to get homo straight eschew
such combinations as ice cream and lobster
saiau, ausinwe ana ciuer, cnampagne anu oia
rye.
It is not necessary for you to wear a dress
suit on New Year's morning when you call on
your landlord to ask him to swear off 10 per
cent of your rent.
Do not carry a lunch basket with you either
to shame those who receive but do not furnish
spread, or to carry away what you cannot eat
from the table of the lavish.
Never mistake a cab for your own house
and go to sleep in it. A cab at S2 an hour is
more expensive and not so luxurious a lodging
place as the Windsor Hotel
Neveb mako more than 400 calls. Remem
ber the limitations of society. The man who
knows more than 400 swell people cannot be a
member of the McGallnster circle.
Do not go about dropping potatoes in the has
kets on fashionable bell pulls. Because fash
ionable people are rnde enongh to hang out
baskets is no excuse for your wasting so much
good provender.
Do not give yourself away on your one hun
dred and twenty-first call by asking the youne
lady who is entertaining you alone to introduce
you to the other lady sitting beside her. If
you so far forget yourself as to do this laugh
tha error off, and expatiate upon the mistakes
astigmatism leads a man into. Xew York
Evening Sun,
CUKIODS COMNSATIOHS,
Strawberry plants are In bloom in the)
Tallahassee country, Fix
A man down in Whitfield County, La.,
has not slept for the last six weeks.
A shingle nail was fonnd in a perfectly
fresh egg recently by a farmer near Niles.
Mich.
Nine knots mads in a black woolen
thread formerly served as a charm in the case
of a sprain.
The Czar of Bnssia recently picked op
700 pounds of steel in a PetershofC gun factory.
The workers cheered.
In Paris, France, a big company has a
monopoly of the funerals. This company
handles 60,000 bodies yearly.
A man can hire a honse in Japan, keep
two servants, and live on the fat of the land all
for a little over $20 a month.
In the Faroe islands there is a supersti
tion that seals cast off their skins every ninth
month and assume the human sbape.
A prominent citizen of Fresno, CaL,
has started a 'possum farm. He has procured
a carload of the animals from Missouri.
The number of muscles in an elephant's
trunk, according to London medical authori
ties, is 33,122, and he has use for each and every
ono of them.
Some of the brick houses built in En
gland 200 years ago are so cemented together
that the walls have to be blown down with gun
powder when it is desired to erect new build
ings. A grizzly bear that weighed 1,700
pounds was killed at Big Hom Basin, Wyoming
Territory, a short time ago. One bnndred and
nine shots were fired from nine rifles before
the brute was killed.
Mr. Houston, of Sanford, Fla., has an
orange which measures UxM inches In cir
cumference and weighs 1$ pounds. He has
shipped a great many boxes of this variety
which sold at JO per box, running mostly 96 to
tho box.
A new dynamo with a capacity to run
eight incandescent lights has been invented by
a Vermont electrician. It has some novel f eat
ture3, one being a slow current obviating all
danger, while one light ran be shut off without
affectiqg the others on the same current.
A recent novelty is an invention de
signed to facilitate the manufacture of dur
able bootheels. By its use a heel-shaped leath
er shell 13 made and filled with a solid body. It
hns also a novel device for pressing the leather
into the approximaie, form and for molding
and working it.
Haymaking in December was the novel
sight seen in the meadows back of the Pali
sades, near New Durham, N. Y., the other day.
The gras3 thus cut at Christmas is marsh grass,
and it can be gathered, oecause of the softness
of the soil, only after the ground is frozen. Tho
hay is used for bedding and packing.
There was a terrible ending to the
Christmas festivities at Austin, Mo. At an
amateur performance of a drama, in the course
of which the heavy villain commits suicide,
Walter Webb, a farmer, took the part. His
foot caught under a loose board on the stage
and he fell to the floor. The knife pierced his
heart, killing him instantly.
Colonel W. E. Earle, of Washington,
has presented to the State of South Carolina
the great seal of the Confederate States of
America. The seal is of polished bronze three
inches in diameter, bearing on one side the in
scriptiont'The Confederate States of America;
22d February, 1862. Deo Vindice." And on
the other an equestrian statue of Washington.
Zebulon Hancox, aged 79 years, of
Stonington, Conn., was jilted by a village
maiden many years ago, and since that time he
has lived in a little hut, cooking his own food
and wearing rags. By fishing he has accumu
lated money sufficient to build nine good
houses, which he rents, and 10,000 more which
is lodged in the Stonington Savings Bank. He
never purchases anything he can make. But
tons on his clothing are whittled fiom pine
wood; he weighs his fish in wooden Dalances of
his own making, and in catching eels he uses a
wooden spear. His yearly expenses average
less than S.U
It is not often that a fire is put ont with
wine. This was done last week at Kreuznach
on the occasion of afire which broke out at
night in the bouse of a large wine merchant,
soon cnvelopinc the whole building. Some CO
hogsheads of wine in the store could not only
not be saved, but burst, and their contents ran
into a ditch in the garden behind the house.
Here the firemen placed their engines, with
which they poured streams of wine upon the
burning building, and succeeded in getting the
fire nnder control. The fumes of the wine were
so strong that the firemen had to be repeatedly
relieved.
Berry, the executioner, after the recent
hanging at Worcester, England, visited Kid
derminster, where he was feted in a remarka
ble manner. He visited several public houses
ana at one was induced to make a speech to a
large number of persons. He spoke of various
executions carried out by him, and moralized
upon his public calling. He freely distributed
his visiting cards, bearing his name and pro
fession as public executioner." One publican
offered him 5 to lecture in the eveninc on his .
pnblic duties. He conversed freely with all,
and was f jllowed about by a considerable num
ber of persons, members of the corporation
were introduced to him, and he held quite a
levee at one hostelry.
Horace Vernet, the artist, was going
from Versailles to Paris by railway. In the
same compartment with him were two ladies
whom he had never seen before, but who were
evidently acquainted with him. They exam
ined him minutely and commented freely upon
his martial bearing, his hale old age, the style
of his dress, etc. They continued their annoy
ance until finally the painter determined to put
an end to the persecution. A3 the train passed
through the tunnel of St. Cloud the three
travelers were wrapped in complete darkness.
Vernet raised the back of his hand to his
mouth and kissed it twice violently. On
emerging from the obscurity he found that the
ladies had withdrawn their attention from bun
and were accusing each other of having been
kissed by a man in the dark. Presently they
arrived at Paris and Vernet, on leaving them,
said: "Ladies, I shall be puzzled all my life by
the inquiry, which of these two ladies was it
that kissed me?"
FUIT MEN'S FANCIES.
Why Harvard is Popular. Hastings Hall,
'91 Do you know why Harvard's getting to be
such a great Institution of learning
Jack-Go-Easy-Jfo; why?
H. H. 'Cause every freshman brings In soma
knowledge, and no senior ever takes any out; it's
bound to grow. Uarxani Lampoon.
One Quality Lacking. Popinjay Blob- -son.
your wife Is like a Damascus blade. She Is
so keenl
BIohson-Thanks; hut I am sorry to say she
lacks one quality quite as essential to the Damas
cus blade.
Fopinjay-Indeed! TVhatUlt? '
Blobson Good temper. Burlington Free Prut,
Scented the Battle. First Stranger (in
street car) I see you In these Icars quite regu
larly, but seldom at this hour.
Second Stranger-No, this is an extra trip. My
wife wished me to go to a store and match trim
mings for her.
"Ah! Glad I met you. Here's my card. lama
divorce lawyer."-JVw lork H'ty.
Slisplaced Sympathy. Citizen Why aro
you In this condition?
Tramp It Is nut long to tell, sir. I can't live
with my wife.
Citizen (filled with sympathy, because he has
Jnst had a qnarrel with his own) Poor man I I
deeply reel ror yon. litre's s quarter, leu me
why you can't live with your wife
"Uecause she won't support me. Ta, ta!"
Sew Xork Weekly.
A Special Inducement. Friend (to very
sick youth) Charley, you must brace up and get
well. I have some glorious news for you.
Sick youth (feebly) What is It' 9t
yrlend Your Aunt Minerva told me personally. rf
that If you'd only try and get weU she would '
leave you every dollar she's got In theworld. "
Sick youth (with more strength) Is that so, 3
Fred? Did you ask her how much she is worthT Ek
The Epoch. ,TO
A Good Reason. '"Excuse me," said tho 4
parcel man, "but I left a package here about ant-4
.. kfk ..I... ,., ,-.. F...OT, n.llV.fM ...tw. 'L.
nonr agu nuicu buuuiu iiaic w. v..v ua - ,
door."
"Yes sir, "replied the girl, "butyou can't gets
It just yet."
"Why!"
"Because the lady hasn't had time to undo It
and examine the contents. Please call In about i
hlfnhnnr mtroit Free Pre3t. i
The Shadow oi Coming Events. "What T
an elegant gentleman that was with whom yoa
parted in the depot to-day, Arthur!" !H
"Very nice, llella."
"He said as he took your hand: TVe shall meet
In that bourne from whence no Americans re- ,.,
turn?' Where was he going, Arthur?" , .
To Canada, my dear. Be was running off with '
ihi funils of the Home Savings Institution."
" " - -:
That handsome young gentleman? And.prayA
what made him speak his parting response?" --t 3e
"Oh, he knew that I have Just been electedS
Cashier or the spread eagle National Bank.; Hltv'fl
remarks were merely anticipatory; nothing more,
I assure you, Bella." DraWi Magax M.r.'MS
4
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