4 THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH," SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 1889. - ' ??'
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PITTSBURG. SATURDAY. JAN. 5, 1SS9.
MB. E0BIKS0ITS POINTS.
Mr. Robinson, in an interview elsewhere,
makes clear his position on the subject of
that smothered revenue bill. He does not
charge personal responsibility on the Gov
ernor, but he does make a very distinct
statement of his reasons for believing that
the "quiet investigation" to which the
Governor alludes in his message did not
give an accurate statement of the facts.
Mr. Robinson's points are, in brief: (1)
An affidavit that the bill was taken from
the House to the Senate for signature there
before going to the Executive Department;
(2) that it was in the hands of the latter
department two days before the Legislature
adjourned; and (3) that the lack of a proc
lamation calling an extra session to repass
the bill in a single day, unite in pointing to
a different theory than the one advanced in
the Governor's message.
The assertions of the outspoken ex-member
certainly appear to leave the Governor's
entourage in a position where it devolves
on them to do or say something.
A SOURCE OF DANGER.
The authorities at City Hall, including
Ihe Special Council Committee, are still
drifting into contention over the erection of
wooden buildings within what are known
as the fire limits. Nothing better can be
looked for until an absolute rule is set up
and then respected. To permit one man
and to refuse another is an exercise of dis
cretion for which there is no call, and looks
very much like putting a premium on favor
itism or official neglect. Too much is at
stake to allow of any more frame buildings
in the older part of the city. Those which
are there now should be removed. It should
not require a conflagration starting with
such material to make this clear to Councils
and to the authorities.
AN EVIDENCE OF PROSPERITY.
The statement that the Pittsburg and
"Western is doubling its track to Callery
Junction, and will probably give the She
nango and Allegheny a connection that will
open a new route from Pittsburg to Erie, in
dicates a gratifying progress for the young
est ot Pittsburg's railroads. This enterprise
was heavily handicapped at the start by the
prevailing corporate vice of over-capitalization;
but it now is overcoming that difficulty
and has built up a traffic that places it on a
sound basis.
In this connection, it is pertinent to point
out that the remark attributed to one of the
officials of the corporation, that it would
not give the Shenango and Alleghenyan en
trance to Pittsburg, "without an agreement
that there will be no competition on the ore
traffic," is not based on sound business
principles. The Pittsburg andWestern has
two or three strong competitors in the ore
traffic already; and the admission of an
other, with a royalty that will yield material
contribution to the fixed charges of the
Pittsburg corporation, will be as much of
an advantage to it as to the public.
HARDLY A VALID EXCUSE.
There seems to be a slight lack of sin
cerity in the reported position of the coke
operators, that they cannot have a confer
ence with the coke workers "because there
is no syndicate." There is no syndicate in
the iron business, nor has there been until
recently at least in the coal business; but
that has never prevented the employers
from meeting the men to discuss the wage
question. In view of the intimations that
coke is selling above the open rate, it would
seem no more than justice to the miners to
give their claim a fair hearing at least.
The coke workers can hardly be blamed if
they refuse to be put oft" with a plea of that
sort; and inasmuch as they can very easily
get along without a conference, by present
ing the scale to the operators separately, it
is cot likely that they will accept it. The
conciliatory course of discussing the matter
fairly and irankly with the men will be
found the most profitable in the long run.
SENSATIONAL JOUBNALISH.
Newspaper enterprise in Chicago is al
ways presenting novel departures, but it is
nevertheless astonishing to learn that a re
porter there has killed himself because his
courtship of a Cincinnati girl had been un
successful. Such self-sacrifice in the manu
facture ol sensational news is almost un
heard of even in Chicago. It is not desira
ble that other reporters in that city, cha
grined as they may be at their comrade's
undeniable "scoop," Ehould follow his ex
ample. Much safer and more comfortable is the
method of Henry Andrea, an advertising
agent of a Brooklyn newspaper, who has
achieved notoriety by stealing $10,000 of his
employers money. This journalistic episode,
however, cannot be considered complete
until Mr. Andrea has been endued with a
striped suit at Sing Sing.
AN APPEAL TO CHICAGO.
The hostilities have broken out again
with renewed vigor between the cities of
Chicago and St Louis. It is not probable
that Thomas W. Tines, after embezzling a
large Bum of money in Chicago, cared very
much whither he went in the Saratoga
trunk wherein he stowed himself away.
But Chicagoans are evidently disposed to
judge him harshly because the trunk was
directed to St. Louis. An embezzler of
money may have some excuse for his delin
quency, but in the eyes of a loyal Chicagoan
nothing can palliate the offense of prefer
ring St. Louis to the Windy City.
The feeling in St. Louis is much the
same. "When a St. Louis man tells you that
a certain man has gone to Chicago, it is
customary to inquire whether the man is
alive or dead, for Chicago is a pet synonym
in St Louis for a hot region which is said
to be paved with good intentions. It is
somewhat singular, therefore, that the ad
venturer who passed through the hands of
the baggage-smashers in a trunk and sur-
vived should have been arrested by the St
Louis police and returned by them to Chi
cago. Perhaps it should be hailed as a
laudable triumph of virtue over the local
prejudices of the St. Louis police force.
But we trust that the lesson of St. Lotus'
magnanimity will not be thrown away upon
Chicago. Let Vines be punished for em
bezzlement alone, and not for preferring St.
Louis to Chicago, also.
IT WILL HAVE NO OPTION.
The threat which has been attributed to
some of the officials of the Western Union
Telegraph Company, that if the State's suit
for forfeiture on account of the telegraph
consolidation is pushed, that corporation
will withdraw from the State and leave us
without telegraphic facilities, calls for
pointing out two facts.
The first point is that the Western Union
corporation will not have any option about
leaving the State. If the Constitution and
laws aro enforced, it will have to go, be
cause it will have forfeited all its property
and franchises in the State. But it is very
certain that it will not go until the suits are
finally decided against it, for the very rea
son that to do so would cause the very re
sult it is striving to avert. In other words
it would thus surrender the franchises which
the Attorney General's suit is proposing to
forfeit
The other point is that when the Western
Union does leave the State because it has
to the State will possess a very complete
telegraphic plant of its own. It can lease
or sell these lines to State telegraph com
panies; and it can provide that these lines
shall exchange business with all competing
companies outside the State. This will
furnish a permanent corner-stone for com
petition; and as Pennsylvania furnishes some
millions of telegraphic business annually,
it is perfectly 6afe to calculate that the
Western Union will be glad to make an
equitable arrangement for its share of the
business, when it finds that it cannot get the
business any other way.
The only danger in connection with this
matter is that the corporation will prove
powerful enough to get the proceedings
smothered in court, or the forfeiture waived
by the Legislature. If the representatives
of the people do their duty, and the law is
enforced, the Western Union will have to
submit with as good grace as it can com
mand. THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.
Yesterday The Dispatch drew attention
to the lamentations of the Railway Age over
the bankruptcies and failures of railroads.
Before the subject passes out of notice it
cannot but be well to consider the effects of
stock-watering and of fictitious indebted
ness on the future of the roads. We hear a
great clamor made from time to time, that
the public sentiment is adverse to corpora
tions; that the public are not paying enough;
that property shonld pay dividends and so
on. No w let us see what is to be said for the
public.
In the first place it is a huge fallacy to
assume that all the roads which either fail
of dividends or even default on interest
charges are therefore not paying properties.
Many such would pay handsomely on the
actual cash put into their construction.
Whether they are able to pay also upon the
wind and water in their capitalization is
quite another matter. That depends very
much on the moderation of the promoters or
their rapacity, whether they are content
with moderate inflation or put the utmost
tension on the bubble. To illustrate: it was
estimated that 12,000,000 possibly, but at
the utmost 515,000,000, would have con
structed and equipped the South Penn road.
Yet the first move of the Yanderbilts wns to
put 520,000.000 of bonds and $20,000,000 of
stock-making a total of 540,000,000,
on which the public would be expected to
pay interest and dividends. The road might
pay good returns on 520,000,000, that is
to say, on the full cost of construction, yet
if it did not also pay on the 520,000,000 of
water the same talk of "non-remunerative
railroads" would quickly he heard. Of
course the rates would, if possible, be as
quickly adjusted to cover the deficiency.
As for the most part railroad charges are
arranged equally with reference to paying
on the water where it exists as well as on
the actual cash invested, it is hardly to be
expected that the public, who defray them,
look on the policy with favor. We have called
attention only to the one item of stock-watering,
which seems to be almost the rule rather
than the exception with corporations now
adays. It is not necessary to dwell upon
other factors that produce seeming failures
in railroad property. The system of rebates,
discriminations, special contracts with en
terprises in which officers of the roads are
interested, and the methods of inner con
struction companies have in some cases not
a little to do with the results that are viewed
with such gloom when they take the shape
of failure of dividends or default upon in
terest. It is of very high importance to the pub
lic and to the railroads themselves to con
sider causes in these matters. It certainly
would be absolutely needful to know how
much actnal cash has been put in any road
before concluding that the enterprise of
building it was misjudged or a failure. The
volume of "shares" and "securities" put on
the market in its name is too frequently a
most misleading criterion.
SOME CONTRASTS.
The condition of affairs with regard to the
live question of overhead and underground
electric wires presents some remarkable
phases, just at present Most of them come
from New York, where the attempt to get the
wires underground has been supposed to be
going on for two years.
This work was put into the hands of a
commission. It may be remembered that
The Dispatch then remarked that the
fashionable practice of putting such matters
in charge of a commission was a very good
illustration of the method how not to do it.
The announcement is made now that after
the commission has been working with the
subject for two years, New York has more
overhead wires than ever before. Some of
the commissioners have tried to get the
wires underground, and one at least Mayor
Hewitt, for instance has tried to obstruct
the work, with the result that while some
thing has been done to the extent of remov
ing nearly 1,000 miles of overhead wire, the
increase has been greater than the amount
removed.
A comforting contrast to this record is
afforded by the very salient decision in
which Judge Lawrence, of the New York
Supreme Court, refused an injunction
applied for by an electric light company
that was seeking to obstruct the work of
putting its wires underground; and asserted
the change to be "a great public work, the
speedy conclusion oi which is desirable for
the safety and convenience ot the people."
There is also a contrast between the fact
that the New York courts and some of the
public officials are upholding the under
ground movement, and the fact that in
Pittsburg where the first underground
wires were laid on a large scale, the public
authorities seem to have concluded that it
will be just as well to let the city be cov
ered by the overhead electric light wires.
It is better to try, even though not very
successfully, to remove a nuisance and
a danger than to appear to encourage the
design of enhancing it.
Judge Stowe's opinion of the criminal
code is not so flattering as that of Governor
Beaver. In this matter judicial experience,
acquired on the bench, is of more weight
than the compliments of the season conveyed
through the Executive message.
There is a report in the West that Will
iam Walter Phelps contemplates a Btill
hunt for the New Jersey Senatorship, which
the Chicago Times says is absurd because
"Phelps never does anything without a
bang." There are other cogent reasons for
disbelieving the report, namely that the
New Jersey Legislature is Democratic,' and
that Governor Leon Abbett has been gun
ning for that Senatorship and is now be
lieved to have it in his game-bag.
The Prime Minister of Austria guaran
tees the peace of Europe for a year; but as
no furloughs are being given to German and
French soldiers, there is evidently a feeling
that in order to maintain the peace it may
be necessary to fight for it
The statement that the Wholesale Gro
cers' National Association wants to "pre
vent the sale of sugar below the cost," is
calculated to provoke the retort that the in
stinct of business self-preservation will do
that without any agreement. We never
came across any wholesale grocer who- con
tinued steadily in business for the fun of
the thing. It is the sale of sugars consid
erably above cost that the grocers' combina
tions are after.
The course of the Mugwump-Democratic
Boston Herald in booming Senator Allison
for President in 1892 looks like an attempt
to rival'the New York -Sun's record in kill
ing off promising Presidental candidacies
by premature exposure.
The position of things in New York is
illustrated by the fact that Alderman
Dowling. who was at the head of an attack
in the Board oi Aldermen upon corporations
that refused to put up the boodle, is leading
candidate for Deputy Commissioner of Pub
lic Works. The necessity of putting an ac
tive striker where he can do the most good
for himself and his coparceners, seems to be
paramount in New York.
Goveenoe Hiil's view with regard to
the purity'oi elections is a good deal like
the old citizen's attitude toward prohibi
tion. He's in favor of ballot reform in the
abstract; but is against any law that will
enforce it.
That electric sugar refining process ap
pears to have been nearly as big a steal from
the capitalists as the Sugar Trust is from the
public. The first beat the investors out of a
million dollars and the second beats the
consumers out of about twenty millions an
nually. But the poor capitalists cannot
stand that sort of thing as quietly as the
public has to.
There is reason for fear that this mild
winter will destroy the Delaware peach
crop. The crop fabricator has not yet been
heard from; but it will soon be time for him
to make his appearance.
Nineteen students are reported to be
engaged at "studying journalism" in Cor
nell College. Having pursued that course
to the attainment of high views with regard
to tariff editorials and international corres
pondence, we hope that some of them will
be found capable of a start in learning
newspaper work by taking the police station
route.
Sesatok Riddlebep.gek has not
raised any row in the Senate lor two weeks.
This happy season of order and quiet may
be accounted for by the fact that the Senate
was not in session.
After all that has been said and dope on
the subject of building insdection it is
hardly more than reasonable to insist that
building inspectors shonld know where the
fire limits are. Let us hope that the warm
discussion of the question will be provoca
tive of general knowledge in official circles.
The energy with which the Salisbury
Government is sending the Irish members oi
Parliament to jail shows an earnest inten
tion to lose no chances to keep the Tory ma
jority intact.
It is stated that Jay Gould's children
each received a Christmas present of ?100,000
worth of railroad bonds. Mr. Gould Was
too wise, it will be perceived, to dampen the
holiday festivities by deluging his family
with any such watery present as $100,000
each in the shares of his corporations.
PERSONAL FACTS AND FANCIES.
A fund is being raised at New Orleans for
the family of James Givens, the hero of the re
cent steamboat tire.
The Sultan never uses a plate, but takes his
food usually with a spoon or his fingers di
rectly from the little kettles in which it is
cooked.
The Garfield Monument at Cleveland will
not be dedicated before Decoration Day. It is
said that an admission fee will be charged, per
manently, to all visitors.
Prof. E. A. Park, of Andover, who led the
action against Prof. Smyth for heresy, is now
an old man, with a smooth face and long gray
hair. In cold weather he wears a heavy shawl
abont his shoulders over his overcoat.
Despite the reports to the contrary, Secre
tary Bayard is a comparatively rich man. He
is worth more than $300,000. He inherited from
bis father, the lato Senator Bayard, $50,000.
From his wife ho acquired three times that
amount By judicious investments in Balti
more real estate he has added, at the very
least, 8100,000 to all this, and is now in receipt
of a handsome and assured income. He has
fully determined to Indulge in rest and recrea
tion for the remainder of his life.
The Princess Mathilde, who has gathered
around her all the Bonapartist and literary
notabilities of Paris at her Sunday evening re
ceptions for many years past, is debarred by
failing health from resuming them on their
wonted brilliant footing this winter. She will
open her salons as usual; but her invitations
will be limited to old and intimate friends, be
longing for the roost part to the world of art
and letters. The doctors disapprove of her
stirring out of doors in the evening, but she
means to make an exception in favor of M.
Edmond de Goncourt, who is a particularly
valued friend.
The Pope has received nearly BOO reqnests
from French ecclesiastics for one of the jubilee
offerings which he announced his intention of
giving away. In most cases the choice of the
article was left to himself; the object of the
applicants being merely to secure a memento
of the j ubilee, however trifling. The Pope will
probably present the costly ivory tabernacle
sent him bv the American Catholics to the
Church of Our Lady at Lourdes. Over a thou
sand demands came from Germany, mostly
from the priests of the poorer parishes, and'
nearly all asking for one or another of the ob
jects used In Catholic worship.
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
Though the Bine BIrdi Are Singing We'd
Better Keep an Eye Open for Blizzards.
When the sun shines as it did yesterday it is
hardly to be wondered at that the small winter
remnant of birds come out from the sheltered
spots In the valleys and sing and fly from
branch to branch as if springtime had Indeed
arrived. The sparrows hardly need the provo
cation of bright sunlight and balmy air to col
lect In chattering groups about the lawns and
garden paths. In the course of a very brief
ramble over country roads yesterday, I saw no
less than three blue birds and one robin, besides
any quantity of damty little snow birds. There
are always a low blue birds who linger in this
latitude after the main body of their mates
have flown South, but three in a flock, so to
speak, are an uncommon sight In the first week
of January in Allegheny county.
V
Weather prophets are never hard to find,
but I found one yesterday in a place where I
would never have expected one to be. It was
in a dark and dingy city office, Into which the
sunlight literally never comes, and where the
air Is more like the breath of the opposite place
to heaven.
He is a man of no little consequence; keeps
tho books of a great firm, and is a confidential
adviser, I guess, in a good many matters to his
employers as well Though I never heard the
exact figures he has probably been sitting on
tho same chair, at the same desk, in that black
and stuffy office for 20 years. Yet he Is a
weather prophet
Ho conducts, simply for his own guidance, he
says, a signal service of his own. Makes his
observations coming to the office in the morn
ing, adds to them others casually made at noon
and winds up the collection of pointers for the
day when he goes to his East End home at
night It is his single hobby; I was going to
say dissipation.
What his system is he won't say. He will
gladly share with you tho result of his observa
tions. Unasked he warns junior clerks to take
their umbrellas with them as they start on a
round of collections or business errands somo
afternoon. Or he gratifies tho office boy with
tho remark, "Tommy, there'll be skating for
you to-morrow." Even the great personages
whose collective name is "the firm" condescend
to ask the old bookkeeper what sort of weather
the night is likely to bring forth, and he tells
them gladly and sincerely what his observa
tions have led him to expect.
But how he knows, or by what instinct or
science he is guided ho won't say and none of
his friends or companions can say. When you
ask him he morely laughs and may be says,
'Guess it'sm my bones!"
And nine times, or to be conservative, eight
times out of ten this eccentric weather prophet
hits the mark with his predictions.
V
Yesterday I encountered him at lunch, and
not thinking of him in his character of weather
expert, remarked upon the glorious but unsea
sonable weather.
"Yes, the day Is worthy of late March or early
April," he replied, and then, shaking his fork
laden with mashed potato impressively at me,
continued, "but you'd better keep your eye
open for blizzards next week. There will be a
tremendous drop in the mercury before Mon
day next, and I look for snow, and plenty of it,
before Thursday. It will be the first touch of
real winter precisely how sharp or how long
the cold spell will be I can't say, but I know it
will be here before I've eaten three more din
ners." Now, as to this rather disagreeable predic
tion, I can only say that the man who uttered
it possesses the reputation I have described.
We shall have to wait and seo. The Signal
Service authorities may have to acknowledge
the existence of a most formidable rival In my
old friend.
AN IMPORTANT DECISION.
Notices on Telesrnpli Mcisngo Forms Are
Not Binding on the Sender.
Chicago. January i. Judge Baker to-day
delivered a decision which is of interest to tele
graph'companies and their patrons. Tho de
cision was in a motion for a new trial by the
Postal Telegraph and Cable Company in a suit
brought against them some time ago by C. L.
Lathrop & Co. The latter sent some dispatches
to their correspondents in New York in regard
to the purchase of a large quantity of coffee.
The telegraph company, it was claimed, made
some mistake in the transmission' of the dis
patches, through which Lathrop & Co. lost
J8.000.
They began suit against the company and re
covered a verdict for $6,930, and the telegraph
company thereupon entered a motion for a new
trial. They set up that their printed message
forms contained a notice of exemption from
liability, and that on that ground alone a suit
against them did not lie. and the verdict, there
fore, was improper. It was further urged by
them that tho transactions of the coffee mer
chants were in the nature of gambling transac
tions, and hence damages were not recoverable.
Judge Baker overruled these points and re
fused to grant a new trial. The Court held
that a telegraph company was obliged to use
ordinary care in the transmission of telegrams,
notwithstanding what mav have been printed
on their message forms. With regard to the
charge of gambling, the Court held that such
transactions were not necessarily illegal. If
actual purchases were made, under which the
buyers were bound to take and the sellers to
deliver coffee in a specified time and for a
specified price, the mere fact that the purchase
may have been made with tbe intention of re
selling did not necessarily make the pnrchaso
illegal under the gambling act
The motion was denied and a judgment given
for amount of verdict An appeal was taken
to the Appellate Court by the Postal Telegraph
Company.
PICKED UP AT SEA.
Perilous Adventure of the Crew of a
Schooner Laden With Lumber.
Special Telegram to the DIsDatch.
New York, January i-The bark Belle
Wooster, from Cork, arrived in port to-day,
with the crew and captain of the wrecked
schooner Kate Carnie. The Kate Carnie sailed
from Brunswick, Canada, on November 3, with
a cargo of white pine, for Rotterdam. Fivo
weeks out she encountered a hurricane which
lasted 30 hours.
All tbe deck houses and railings were swept
away. Eventually she became completely
waterlogged. Her crew abandoned her. They
were picked m, two days after they left their
ship, by tho captain of tbe Belle AVooster.
ENTIRELY TOO PREVIOUS.
Boston Tulips Growing Too Fast for This
Time of the Year.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
Boston. January l A queer result of the
warm weather is that hundreds of tulips In
flower gardens throughout Maiden, which were
to bud in the spnng, are now budding through
their straw coverings, and in one garden on
Pleasant street the tulips aud hyacinths aro
four inches above the ground and'blossomine.
It is thought by florists throughout the city
that if cold weather duej come it will destroy
the entire gardens of tulips and other early
spring flowers.
Imprisoned for Their Opinions.
From the New York Trlbun.
England opens the year with the unique ex
periment of sending one member of Parlia
ment to jail for what is practically a political
offense, and indicting another for conspiracy.
There is no other country in Christendom
where duly elected members of the National
Legislature are prosecuted and imprisoned sys
tematically for the sake of their opinions. It
is a unique experience because the English
Government alone employs this method of har
assing political opponents, but it is not by any
means a novel one for the present Tory Ad
ministration. Irish members were under arrest
and in Jail, sometimes as many as a dozen at a
time, from tbe beginning to tbe end of the year
of grace, 1688.
An Execution In Germany.
From the New York 'World.
Emperor William does not make any pre
tense of sharing the repugnance displayed by
his father and grandfather to signing a death
warrant against a murderer. Ten days ago a
man was executed at Madgeburg by means of
tho ax, for the murder of his betrothed. Think
of nineteenth century civilization maintaining
a brutal headsman with an ax!
Oar ministers to England.
from the New York Sun.1
Perhaps there is more truth than was in
tended to be conveyed In the friendly and jocu
lar remark of the Liondon Telegraph concern
ing our recent Ministers to the Court of St
James: "We have always contrived to make
them more English than they were before they
came to England."
Suppose the country tries for once an Ameri
can whose Americanism is warranted to wash.
WAR AGAINST MAH0NEI8M.
Other Republicans In Virginia Intend to
Have Something to Say.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
Washington, January i. When Senator
Quay and ex-Senator Mahone, of Virginia,
were frequently closeted together m the weeks
following tbe election, it was surmised by many
that the Pennsylvania Senator bad espoused
the cause of the little Virginian and would
recognize blm as the rightful boss of the Re
publican party of tbe State. But Mahone
seems to have dropped out Tbcre is no more
heard of him, the conferences have ceased, and
on the other hand, steps are being taken in a
vigorous manner to overthrow Mahono rule in
the State, finally and for all time. A meeting
of the antt-Mahone State Committee was held
last night at Petersburg, under a call from
Chairman D. F. Houston, during which the
latter made a vigorous attack on Mahone and
the committee decided to issue an address to
the Republicans of the State to protest against
the autocracy of the ex-Senator.
One of tbe peculiar features of this newly
inaugurated onslaught on Mahone is that
Houston is known to be much more intimate
than Mahone is with Senator Quay, and it is
not supposed by his friends that he would take
such a step at this time without consulting
with Quay. Houston is a Pennsylvanlan, a
native of Chester county, but has been In poll
tics in many parts of the State. Years ago he
would go Into a county where he was a perfect
stranger, and in a few months would be hand-in-glove
with the leading politicians of the
county, and engage boldly in the rearrange
ment of slates which would give him a good
grip on affairs.
Eai
larlyin the seventies he was prominent In
politics of Mercer county. He became such a
poworin State politics that he was given a good
Government position in Philadelphia, and
played a notable hand in tho local affairs of
that city. Then he went into business In Vir
ginia, and within the last two years has become
one of the'most formidable opponents of Ma
hone rule in the OldDominion.alongwith John
S. Wise, General Brady and others. Uno of his
alms in the present movement is to destroy the
last vestige of any chance that Mahono might
have for a place in the Cabinet of President
Harrison, though Houston would never for a
moment admit that any such chance existed.
It is Delieved from recent developments that
the weight of the friends of the new adminis
tration will be thrown in exactly tbe other di
rection from Mahone, and that powerful in
fluences will be at the back of Houston and
his friends, with the purpose of breaking clown
the rule of Mahono, which has been for years
probably tbe greatest obstacle in tbe way of a
Republican victory in tbe State. Those who
have a near view of the Inner working of affairs
in the Republican party regard this freshly in
augurated movement against Mahone as de
cidedly significant of something more than a
fight to be confined within the limits of the
State of Virginia.
THE SECRET OUT.
Origin of tho Mysterious Quay Telegram
About Fornker'a Chances.
From tbe Fargo Sun.
The Sun hasno desire to embarrass President
elect Harrison in his administration as Chief
executive of the United States, and for this rea
son it'deems it proper to state tho facts in re
lation to an alleged dispatch from In
dianapolis, which has been going tbe
rounds of tho newspapers throughout
the United States, and which has been
extensively commented upon editorially. The
dispatch, so called, was a short note, received
by mall, by a party in Fargo, and made Its first
appearance in tho Sun, and was given it in
strict confidence, and for that reason the name
of both the recipient and sender were with
held, and the Sun has positive evidence that no
other copy has ever been made public. The
note, as published December 22, is as follows:
iNDiAXArous, December 18.
My Old Friend :
I leave here to-night for Washington, and am
in a rush. You can, however, pin your everlast
ing faith on the appointment for Fargo, as It Is
already settled. Foraker li sure for the Cabinet
Yours, .
This note was copied by the Fargo corre
spondent of the St. Paul and Minneapolis pa
pers as a telegram to Dr. Shurlock and signed
Quay. From that it was copied by Eastern pa
pers and signed M. S. Quay, to Dr. Shurlock, of
this city, who was Quay's family physician and
personal friend in former days. This bogus
telegram, as published by Eastern papers, has
been made tbe text for red-hot editorials de
nouncing Harrison as wanting in backbone,
and as positive evidence that Quv and Blaine
were to run tbe incoming administration.
Now the Sun wishes to say right here that
these papers are all away off in their reckon
ing. The Fargo correspondents of the St. Paul
and Minneapolis papers have proved them
selves to be liars, and their papers bavo been
grosslylmposed upon. In justlco to Dr. Shur
lock, Senator Quay and President Harrison,
these papers ought to acknowledge the corn,
and take back what they have said. The note
publisbed In the Sun was not from M. 8. Quay,
neither was it received by Dr. Shurlock. How
ever, the recipient thinks he has a dead sure
thing on the Fargo Postoffico shortly after the
4th of March, and has promised to give the
Sun a discount on postage -stamps when ap
pointed, if it will not give him away.
CONTEST FOR A JUDGESHIP.
Candidates for the Ermine in Chester County
Beloro tho Governor.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
Harkisburo, January! Nearly every dis
trict in Chester county was represented at the
hearing to-day before Governor Beaver, in the
interest of Thomas S. Butler, son of ex-State
Treasurer Butler, one of tho candidates for
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Ches
ter county in place of Judge Futhey, deceased.
Among those present was Senator Harlan, and
remarks were made by E. D. Bingham, W. H.
Windle, and H. C. Pennypacker, members of
the bar; Doctors Snyder and Pnzer, and citi
zens William Reynolds, Hope Hepburn and
Levi Griffiths. The appointment of Mr. Butler
was. asked because of his qualifications and
great popularity. It was stated that he bad a
practice of about 87,000 a year and represented
some of the largest corporations in the State.
As to the estimate which Ithe people fof his
county placed on him reference was made to a
petition which the delegation bad submitted to
the Governor signed by 8,000 Republicans and
a considerable number of Democrats.
After Mr. Butler's delegation had retired
about a dozen friends of John J. Pinkerton,
another candidate for Judge Futhey's place,
filed into tbe Governor's room to present tbe
claims of their favorite. Attorneys John J.
Green; Rev. James Criegn, and Abram Ash
bridge, and citizens Norman Bernard, Nathan
T. Hayes, and W. H. Rupert requested the se
lection of Mr. Pinkerton.
As Mr. Butler is the son-in-law of Congress
man Darlington, whose candidacy has divided
the Republicans of Chester county into two
factions, it was stated as a reason why Mr.
Pinkerton should be preferred to Mr. Butler
that he would be acceptable to both Republi
can elements. The Governor will probably fill
the judicial vacancy next week.
RELIGION AND GOOD GOVERNMENT.
Tho President Tells Colored Catholics That
They Go Hnnd-in.Hnnd.
Washington, January 1 At the Colored
Catholic Convention to-day 8. F. Hardy, a del
egate from St Paul, read a paper on Catholici
ty in the Northwest, and George R. Thomp
son, a delegate from South America, spoke of
the color line as drawn at home and abroad.
Tho St Augustine Debating Association pre
sented an address to tho convention, express
ing deep interest in its ork and in tbe relig
ious and educational advancement of the col
ored race. Father Walsh, of this city, ad
dressed the convention on the work of the con
gress. He said he had learned more about the
colored race during the last three days than he
ever did in tbe 13 years he had labored for their
benefit. He said that from this time on it
would mare a new era in his life; that it would
urge him on in his work and make him more
progressive.
The members of the convention called at the
White House this afternoon. Mr. R. L. Buf
flu, of Boston, made an address to the Presi
dent in which be thanked him for his kind
treatment of the colored people. The Presi
dent replied that be was glad to meet the rep
resentatives of the Colored Catholic Church,
recognizing in them a powerful element in the
progress and prosperity of the country. He
said be was fully convinced that good religious
interest in the welfare of tbe nation is a power
ful auxiliary to a good administration and a
good government. He then shook hands with
each delegate.
r&
TURNED OUT OP THEIR SHOP.
Two
of the Contestants of Tllden' Will
Unable to Pay Their Rent.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
New Yokk, January 1 Two nephews of tho
late Samuel J. Tilden are said to have been
dispossessed of their apothecary shop for non
payment of $250 rent. They deny the truth of
this rumor, and say that they have long con
templated giving up tbe business. They fail to
explain, however, why they do not pay the
$250 which they owe their landlord.
Their embarrassment is attributed to the
fact that they lost greatprospects by their fail
ure to break Samuel J. Gulden's will.
FEES FOB COMMISSIONS.
Philadelphia Judge Not Sare Titer Are
State Officials Thoy Object to Paying 33
Each for Their Papers Custom and Pre
cedent.
fBPECIAL TltlOKAM TO TBI DISFATCH.l
Hakkisburq, January i The alleged In
dignation of tbe judges of the courts of Phila
delphia, elected last November, because they
were asked to pay 3 each for their commis
sions, has occasioned surprise in tho office of
tho Secretary of the Commonwealth, for the
roason that judges in Philadelphia have been
paying the amount indicated for their commis
sions since 1851 without complaint and judges
from other portions of the Commonwealth since
1883.
Inl8S4Jndge Robert N.Wilson is on record
as having paid $S for his commission, and' sub
Bequently Judges Gordon, Reed, Bregy and
other members of the bench of Philadelphia
submitted to tbe imposition of tbe fee without
apparent protest Thero is no record in the
office to show that the commissions cost tbe
judges anything before 1883, in which year,
Mr. Hassler. the Commission Clerk, consulted
the then Deputy Secretary of the Common
wealth, John O. Shumaker, as to the propriety
of requiring the judges to pay for them.
The law was examined and interpreted to
justify tbe demand subsequently made on the
judges of the various districts in the State, as
an act of 1830 imposes a State tax on commis
sions ef health officers, lazaretto physician,
port physician, superintendent of powder
magazine, regulator of weights and measures,
prothonotary, clerk of Oyer and Terminer,
clerk of Quarter Sessions and Orphans' court,
mayor's court, register of wills, recorder of
deeds, interpreter of foreign languages, and
sheriff of a county of $10 each. This act does
not authorize a tax to be charged (or a judge's
commission, but the act of 1371 provides that
the Auditor General, Surveyor General and
other State officers shall pay S5 for his com
mission. If, as contended by the complaining judges,
they aro not State officers, it is thought their
case is covered by another provision, which re
quires every city, county or district officer who
receives emolnments and pays no tax on com
missions to payfo as a fee for bis commission.
Commissions are an important feature of the
State Department and yield a handsome reve
nue. The Secretary of the Commonwealth is
not allowed anything for commissions of any
kind, but receives 85 for every paper filed in
the department, including articles of incor
poration of all kinds except those of co-operative
associations, statements of foreign corpo
rations, election returns, increase and decreaso
of stock or indebtedness, returns of Increase
and decrease, certificates of organization after
judicial sale, acceptance of constitution, etc
Secretary Stone earned in personal fees in 23
months, beginning January 18, 1887, and ending
December 19, 1888, about (10,500, which amount
is in addition to his s'alary of nearly $5,000.
There is only one office on the hill which pays
as well as that of Secretary of State that of
Attorney General, which. In addition to an ag
gregate salary of $,000 a year, regularly pays
$7,000 in commissions to the possessor. The
Attorney General, under a law of 1870. receives
a commission of 6 per cent on every claim col
lected through the courts, and he invariably
manages to win enough suits to reach the max
imum allowed, with a small sum to spare, which
belongs to the State.
AGAINST THE CORPORATION.
Dr. Prentice Recovers 910,000 Before
Judge Gresham for False Arrest.
Chicago, January 4. Dr. Chalmers M. C.
Prentice, of Norwalk, O., recovered a verdict
for 510,000 before Judge Gresham in the Federal
Court to-day, against the Lake Shore and
Michigan Southern Railroad Company. Dr.
Prentice sued the company for alleged false
arrest and imprisonment, October 12, 1888. The
doctor, accompanied by his wife, boarded a
train of the defendant at Norwalk to come
to Chicago. He had bought several re
turn excursion tickets from Chicago, for friends
of his, and he was arrested on the train in tho
presence of a number of acquaintances.
At Chicago he was taken to Harrison street
police station by a policeman, and when the
desk sergeant asked what the charge was. Con
ductor James Curran, at whose instance the
arrest was made, replied: "Well, 1 don't know
what charge. Make It disorderly, anyhow."
Next morning the Justice 'discharged Prent
tice, and he sued the railroad company for 850,
000. The evidence showed that Dr. Prentice
was very roughly treated both by the conduc
tor and a watchman for the road. After
Prentice's arrest the conductor said to Mrs.
Prentice:
"Where Is your doctor-husband now?" Ho
also refused to allow Prentice to help his wife
remove her baggage from the train and she Was
not permitted to talk to him at the station.
Judge Gresham commented strongly on the
outrage of the arrest and said Prentice had
doue nothing illegal in buying excursion
tickets.
Tronble Over a Tutor at on End.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
New York, January 4. The trouble between
tbe faculty and students of the University
Medical College ended to-day. Dr. Woolsey,
the bone of contention, read his lectnre to the
students, undisturbed by jeers or whistling;
The students who led the revolt against Dr.
Woolsey's substitution for Dr. Weisse, as in
structor, will be suspended or expelled. Dr.
Woolsey Is a son of ex-President Woolsey, of
Yale College.
ETIQUETTE AT THE OPERA.
Ladies in boxes must rememW that it is ill
bred to whisper.
It is not allowable to snore during the love
passages in the opera.
Do not ask yonr deaf friend how he enjoyed
the pianissimo movement.
It is permissible to talk across the house if
you have a receipt for your box in your pocket
When you throw bouquets at the prima
donna be careful not to hit her in the eye with
the stem.
DO not occupy your box on nights when yonr
creditors are likely to be there in.company with
tbe Sheriff.
Never attempt to applaud with a pair of
shingles, nor to add to the general enthusiasm
with a tin horn.
Never perpetrate that old chestnut, which
is the heaviest, a ponnd of feathers of a pound
of German opera?
Polite persons do not go to the opera in a
horse car, nor do they enter the opera house
until the first act is abont half over.
When you go to hear Patti do not offer to
sing "Home, Sweet Home" better than she can
do it for 25. Yon might be taken up by a
policeman.
It is not proper to throw cherry pits at tbe
tenor's mouth when he is chasing a high C
around bis diaphragm. One might go in and
ruin his voice.
No gentleman will appear even at a perform
ance of "Mephistopheles"in a campaign suit of
red andblue oilcloth. Remember that f nil dress
is a sine qua non at the opera.
Do not insist on more than 11 encores In the
first act or on less than three in the second. It
is neither well to ruin the artists' voices nor
to offend them by a failure to applaud.
Never think of buying an orchestra chair at
the opera for U when you can get a box for
$1,600. This would look as if your income were
small, and no man ever got on in society with a
small income.
If you occupy an orchestra chair do not pre
sume to open your mouth or to intimate that
you came there to hear the music The ushers
would probably put you ont if you so far for
got yourself.
Relate all the fnnny anecdotes you know
during the piano scenes and hum all the
crescendo movements, taking care to keep two
bars ahead of the orchestra and three bars
ahead of tbe singers.
No matter if occupants of boxes do chatter,
you are not justified in throwing your rubbers
at them. You must not forget that there are
such things as chatter-boxes, and the noisy
people may have one of them.
None but ill-bred persons buy books of the
opera. Even a book of the opera will fall to
enable you to understand Wagner's music, and
fashionable people have never yet been known
to go to tbe opera for the pleasure to be got out
of the libretto.
Do not get so excited in a storm scene as to
offer to lend tbe soprano your umbrella, or to
advise the tenor to' put on a muffler lest he
catch cold. Remember th&t nothing before
you is real except, perhaps, the prima donna's
paste jewels and one or two obnoxious hats.
New York Evening Bun.
NEW AND STRIKING FEATURES
To be Offered Readers of The Dispatch To
morrow A Charming Story.
The Dispatch to-morrow will contain a
number of striking and exclusive contributions
from the pens of now and old authors and writers.
The main feature of general interest will be the
opening chapters of "The Colonel's Cards."
the first of a series of strictly American novel
ettes. This fascinating story deals with the
characters met at the fashionable American
summer resorts, and is full of dramatic spirit
and action. It is from the pen of Mr. Frank
lin File, a rising young American author whoso
versatility has long been recognized, although
much of his literary work has appeared over
various nom de plumes. "The Colonel's
Cards" will be followed by other novelettes
by Joaquin Miller, Maurice Thompson,
Dr. Edward kverett Hale, Will Carl
ton and others.
The fashionable dances of the Metropolitan
masters are to be presented to the readers of
The Dispatch in such manner as to be easily
understood by all lovers of the light fantastic.
The minuet, which will this season become tho
popular dance in fashionable society; will be
fully described in the opening paper of this
series to be published to-morrow. It is hand
somely illustrated, and wUl be followed in fu
ture issues by others equally interesting. Dr.
Hammond, the celebrated physician, also con
tributes a paper on dancing, which scientifi
caUy discusses the amusement from the stand
point of health.
Lovers of horses and horseback riding will be
pleased to learn that The Dispatch has se
cured a series of articles on equestrianism
from Captain Charles Kino, U. S. a., tho
popular novelist, and formerly instructor, of
cavalry tactics and horsemanship at West
Point Captain King, in to-morrow's DIS
PATCH, discusses riding styles, English and
American saddles, difference between riding
on the plains and in cross-country English
hunts, etc Other contributions on this fasci
nating topic will be f nmished by Captain King
in succeeding issues of The Dispatch.
Clarke Russell, the famous writer of sea
tales, will tell readers of To-Mobrow's Dis
patch why he left the sea. The article con
tains interesting incidents from his early life as
a sailor, and is a rare literary treat for both
young and old, particularly those who have
read Mr. Russell's fascinating tales.
Prof. Sbaler, of Harvard, will to-morrow give
readers of The Dispatch an interesting re
view of recent inventions and discoveries; Lil
lian Spencer will tell all abont the London
music halls; Frank Carpenter will write up the
King of Korea; Bill Nye will tell howthe inter
State commerce law works, and Blakely Hall
will discuss the dramatic authors of the coun
try. Shirley Dare, Bessie Bramble, Clare Belle
and many others will also help to fill the broad
pages with offerings of a high order that will
cover timely topics and late gossip.
A EAEE MUSICALS.
Miss Agnes Togel Highly Honored Before
Going Into Opera Society News.
Wealth, beauty and talent crowded the par
lors of the Misses Maloney at their residence
on North Hiland avenue, East"End, last night,
to hear the soiree musicale given in honor of
the departure of Miss Agnes Vogel, of this
city to St Louis, where she joins the American
Opera Company.
The houBe was a blaze of light from basement
to attic, and profuse floral decorations graced
every nook and corner of the spacious parlors.
Tho guests, who represented the very best fami
lies of the East End. Pittsburg aud Allegheny,
were late in arriving at the house, hut when
they got there they found a musical treat in
store for them. The entertainment was, with
out doubt, the finest of Its class that has ever
been given in a private house in this city for
years.
By special request, Miss Vogel and her
brother, who also goes with the opera company,
sang their duet from "The Bohemian Girl," In
which Miss Vogel will make her debnt This
is the aria which so Impressed Mr. HInrlchs
the manager of the company, that he hired her
on the spot.
At the conclusion of the duo the hostess pre
sented Miss Vogel with a bunch of white roses
in token of the wish that her f ntnre career may
be strewn with flowers.
M'lle Marie Rebough's solo. "Yon," was sung
with pleasing effect and elicited hearty ap
plause.' Mr. Curtis Buffum, the celebrated
zither player, performed several of his delight
ful solos. Miss Grace Miller sane with tbat
clearness of vplce that has characterized
her recent performances. Prof. Charles
W. Fleming rendered a violin solo,
which was followed' in pleasing contrast
with Charles Corcoran's "Will o' the Wisp"
and the "Nocturne." as rendered by Miss Rose
Callery, could not be too highly praised, and
the same mav be said of Miss Acnes Kcane's
vocal solo "Waltz." The accompanist of the
evening was Mark Porritt.
Miss Keane has just returned from New
York, where she was under the instruction of
one of the best professors of music Mr.
Charles Corcoran will leave In a few weeks for
Paris, where he will enter the Conservatory of
Music, to finish his studies.
Among those present from a distance were
Miss Hammer, from New York; May Watter
son, of Columbus, sister ot Bishop Watterson,
and Harry Dabbs, of Philadelphia.
Mrs. Miller's Afternoon Reception.
Mrs. Jacob H. Miller, of No. 75 Lincoln ave
nue, Allegheny, gave one of her pleasant re
ceptions yesterday afternoon from 3 to 6
o'clock. Mrs. Miller was assisted in receiving
by Miss Miller, Miss Walker, the Misses Aiken
and Misses Darlington. About 200 of her many
friends were present and enjoyed the com
panionship of the entertaining company which
Mrs. Miller had drawn around her. The par
lors were decorated with flowers and in other
ways made attractive. An orchestra played
lively selections. The refreshments were served
in Hagan's best style.
An Evening of Pleasure.
Mrs. William Metcalf. of Fulton street, gave,
a reception last evening in honor of her
daughters, and was assisted in her duties as
hostess by the daughters, Misses Agnes and
Edith, and by Miss Bailey. The floors of the
large parlors had been covered with crash, so
tbat dancing became the favorite pastime.
Toerge's Orchestra furnished the music.
The floral decorations were very attractive,
consisting of the choicest of conservatory
blossoms and plants. About 150 guests were
present The majority of them were young
people.
A Fnrewell Fnrty.
Miss Cora Easton, of Fifth avenue, gave a
party last evening in honor of Miss Bessie Tarr.
About 60 young people were present Miss
Easton was assisted in receiving by Miss Grace
Williams and Miss Tarr, the guest of honor.
Dancing was the favorite amusement Dinner
was served at midnight by Hagan. Tho party
was a special farewell to Miss Tarr, who will
leave for school to-day.
JACKSONVILLE ITSEU AGAIN.
The Once-Popnlnr Winter Resort
Opens
Once More for Bnsinesj.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
New Yore, January A. Dr. Neal Mitchell,
President of the Board of Health in Jackson
ville, Fla., is In town. He has come north to
recover his health, which was broken down
during the recent epidemic of yellow fever. He
said to-day:
"Jacksonville to-dayis perfectlysafe for tour
ists, there being not a trace of the infection
left, In consequence of the disinfecting, which
was as nerf ect as human power could make it
The quarantine was only raised on December
15, but the influx of refugees has been so great
since that tho city has now nearly its normal
population."
DEATHS OF A DAY.
Rev. Sninmervllle.
DAYTON, O., January t-The Rev. Bnmmer
vlile, a prominent father In the Christian Cbnrcb,
who has attained distinction as an author and the
former editor of t Herald of Gotptl Liberty,
men snuaemy at leuow springs aa morning.
aged 70 years.
He recently returned from atonr
or Europe.
B. Frank Gilmorc.
Special Telegram to tbe Dispatch.
CHAJrerESBiJBO,Jannary4.-B.lfrankGllmore,
Esq., died here late last night He was prom
inently ldentifled with the telegraph service
during the war, and held commendations from
ex-Governor Cnrtln and Alex. McClnre for bis
work during the war. He was S years old.
CUK100S CONDENSATIONS. .
AH the prisoners in Pensacola, Fla.,
jail were set free on Christmas Eve.
The number 3 was the perfect num
ber of the Pythagoreans, who said it repre
sented the beginning, middle and end.
The total amount of quicksilver con
sumed in the world averages 133,000"flasks, and
California consumes more than half ot it
The United States consumes 160,000,000
pairs of boots and shoes per annum; 100,000,000
of which aro furnished by the New England
States.
Among the Chinese heaven is odd,earth
Is even, and the numbers 1, 3. &, 7. 0, belong to
heaven, while the even digits are of the earth
earthy.
Every French bank has a photograph of
every employe, and in the case of the more
responsible ones they are under the surveil
lance of private detectives most of the time.
The following are the figures showing
the size ot the European armies: Russia, 4,
000.000; Germany. 2.5C0.CC0; France, 2,130,000,
with, perhaps. 1,000,000 more if needed; Austria,
1,077,000; Italy, 2,400.000; Turkey, 800,000.
Morgan Wild, of Greenbrier cpunty.
West Virginia, the other day shot a large buck
deer of a species entirely unknown in that
locality. The animal's horns were long, smoo:h
and sharp, without prongs, and greatly resem
bled the horns of a cow. The saddle, when
dressed, weighed 90 ponnds.
Sarcastic brakemen on the New York
elevated roads have taken to calling out after
the name of the street a warning to the women
not to take the car along. This extreme meas
ure has been rendered necessary, it is said, by
the fact tbat women now and then try to carry
out the iron nat racks ana tne cushions.
A young woman in Bridgeport, Conn.,
recently complained to tbe police that she was
being systematically robbed of her jewelry by
an unknown thief. It was subsequently found
tbat the owner of the missing articles had
taken tbe trinkets herself while asleep and hid
den them between the mattresses of her bed.
Two electric lifts will bo employed in
connection with the Eiffel Tower in the forth
coming Paris Exhibition. They will convey
the public from the second to the third floor of
tbe tower, a distance of 433 feet and wi.l make
the trip in Ave minutes and without any inter
mediate stoppage. The car of each lift will ac
commodate 100 persons.
Sunday the fishing Schooner Northern
Eagle reached Portsmouth with a large man
eating shark of the Bhovel nose species. This
shark, which is very nncommon In northern
waters wa3 caught in a vessel's trawls whUe set
in Ipswhich Bay. The monster measured 13
feet in length and 9 feet in circumference, and
weighed about 1,500 pounds.
Eecent experiments with the subma
rine boat Le Gymnote, at Toulon, were very
successful. The boat moves horizontally as
well as vertically, and is easily kept at any
depth that is desired. It can be run at a speed
of from nine to ten knots. Its crew ordinarily
consists of three men, but during the experi
ments live persons were on board.
John Butler, an aged man living near
Foxcroft, Me., set fire the other afternoon to
the buildings he occupied, killed his colt and
goats, stabbed himself slightly tour times and
took paris green and went into the woods to
die. He was found and .taken to tc-vn, where
the physicians relieved him of most of the
poison, but do not think he can live.
A mammoth sweet potato was taken
home Monday by Lewis Smith, of May's Land
ing, N. J., who gave It to his wife to be roasted.
She placed it in the oven of the stove without
breaking the skin. Shortly afterward the
family was startled by a terrific explosion.
The potato bad burst, blowing off both oven
doors and stirring things up generally in the
kitchen.
Ireland no longer sends the greatest
number of emigrants to this country, being
behind Scotland and England. During last
September and October the number of emi
grants from these countries was three times the
number from Ireland. During the ten months
of 1888. ending in October, there came'237,811
English and Scotch emigrants, against 129,779
from Ireland. The influx from Italy also bids
fair to overshadow that from Ireland.
The logs of the great raft which broke
up on the New England coast several months
ago, have not floated In vain. They are still
making their weary way eastward and west
ward in large numbers, and when sighted by
vessels a memorandum is taken as to their ex
act position, etc, and sent to tbe Hydrographic
Office, where they are compared. As a resulta
chart of tbe various ocean currents has been
made, which could not have been obtained in
any other way.
La Nature recently received a communi
cation from a correspondent who thinks tbat
diagonal streets shonld be added to the right
angled streets of American cities. In Philadel
phia, for instance, he says, with 850,000 inhabi
tants, the extreme distances traveled would be
reduced IK miles. The annual number of pas
sengers by cars being 125,080,000. the saving
would reach S1S0.0UO a mile. Tbe passengers
would gain 3.565 years in time, and save more
than 8,C00,00O-horse power now used in round
about tracks.
The Harvard crew are going to practice
for their annual race this winter In a tank
filled with jcal water. This tank measures
about 50x25 feet and will contain about 23
inches of water. The boat will float In tho
middle and will be fastened at each end. Down
tbe middle, underneath tbe boat there will be
a pianK partition to amue tne tanK. ay this
arrangement when a stroke is taken tbe oars
will make the water in each half of the tank
run around in the form of an eclipse, with its
longer axis parallel to the boat This current
of water makes catching the water with the
oars very much like catching it when the boas
is in motion. To decrease the pressure the
blades of the oars will be cut out a little.
A middle-aged woman went to a prom
inent physician of San Diego not long ago and
asked him to amputate her two great toes. He
examined them, assured her that there was
nothing wrong with them, and said he wouldn't
cut them off. She begged him to, saying that
if they were off she cou dwear No. 2 shoes in
stead of No. 4s. as then. Her toes were her
own, she said, to do what she pleased with, and
she would give $300 to have them cut off. The
doctor refused, and tbe woman went in quest
of some one with less conscience. A San Diego
newspaper says that sbo found some one to do
the job successfully, for, two weeks later she
went to San Francisco wearing the best pair of
No. 2s that could he bought in San Diego.
MEANT TO BE FUNNY.
The mariner is always glad to see a light
house, but this cannot be said of the actor. -Bot-ton
Qautte.
Hostess I hope you are enjoying .your
dinner, Mr. Fowler
Guest Yes, Indeed. This country air has given
me such an appetite, that I can ea most anything.
-Boston Beacon.
A Nice Present "That's a fine wallet
yon have, ncnrT?"
"Yes. 5V wire gave it to me for Christmas."
"Indeedl Anjrtning in It?"
"Yes; the bill forthewallet."-iarjHr,.BaMr.
Suspended Animation Vender Lire
crabs to-day, boss?
Customer Why, them crabs are dead.
Vender-No, dem crab3 ain't dead, boss; 'deed
din ain't; dem'i sleepiu', dem te.-Harper'i
Weekly.
Tommy I wouldn't like to be the preach
er's little boy.
Aunt-Why?
Tommy Ob, he's got hundreds and hundreds of
slippers. They are scattered all over the house.
Terre Haute Express.
A Musical Arrest "Did you he3r about .
the burglar who wai arrested this morning?"
"So. What for?"
"For hreiklng Into song." '
"Is that so?" -
"Yes. Ho got through two bars when someone '
hit him with a stave. "-Scranton Truth.
Surely Insane Judge Well, deacon,
you are charged with stealing a hen from your
neighbor, Mr. Jones. What Is your defense? i
Deacon Wheatly-Insanlty, Jedge. Insanity.
Judge-Insanity? Why. I neTer knew you wers
Insane.
Deacon Whcatly I was Insane datnlght shush, -Jcdge:
'cause Mistah Jones sez dat big roostah ,
was in de same coop, sn' I neboer looked 'lm.
Harper's Weekly.
Change of Base Smith I understand
that Jobson's wife makes it pretty warm for hlin
Somebody saw her chasing him around the hoaso'
with the bootjack the other day. j ..
Joncs-Sd! I pity the poor man. By the vay,
do you remember her high school graduation ,'3.
essay ten years ago? Jfi
Smlth-rNo. Whit was it about?
Jones-It was a beautiful thing. The subject i
was "Eepose of Character. "-Burlington resJ?-
Prets.
HTnr.n(.na Pins " hnfMintls aVnlA A
Boston woman registering to vote gave her age as&j
"21 plus."
'What do you mean by 11 pins?' ' ' inquired the'5
registrar.
lmcan. sir, that I am over 21," was the tart .
reply.
"We cannot allow any of that nonsense here," ;
said the official; "yon must give your exact age If
you desire to be registered." This she persist
ently declined to do, and her name Is not on the
voting list Wateroury American,.. t 7 ', '
'i. 4fcft?