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THE PITTSBTJKQ- DISPATCH, ' TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, r1889;
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P1TTSBDRG, TUESDAY. JAN.22. 18S9.
THE SOUTH PENH'S REVIVAL.
The last announcement of the settlement
of the South Penn reorganization, following
bo closely as it does upon the heels of the
purchase by the Yanderbilts of the Hostet
ter interest in the P. & L. E., confirms the
view of that transaction -which was taken
by The Dispatch yesterday.
It is certainly good news to Pittsburg that
the differences and obstacles in the way
of reviving that project have, as stated else
where, been overcome, and that the capital.
Vanderbilts' investments in this section, is
to be expanded into the creation of a new
East and "West line, of which Pittsburg will
be the central point. The triumph of this
project implies the expansion of Pittsburg
and "Western Pennsylvania industries by an
indefinite proportion; and the community
can but rejoice over the now assured fact
that the long and wearisome fight is finally
won.
The South Penn will go through, and as
an unwatered and independent line will be
prosperous by itself and contribute to the
prosperity of "Western Pennsylvania.
AN AFPAREHTLY WEAK ATTITTOE.
,The attitude of the State Department in
.e Samoan afiair, so far as the public can
judge by the data within its reach, presents
a peculiar contrast to the course taken with
Hayti. A man who flies into a great rage
when he is insulted by one who is weaker
than himself and calmly shies off when the
insulter is his equal in strength, does not
get a very good reputation for courage or
manliness. Of course it is fair to remember
that the public may not be in possession of
all the facts. The disregard of our rights
;may not have been as wanton as was report
ed, and the Government may be taking
steps not known to the public But the at
titude of Secretary Bayard does not promise
incisive steps for the preservation of Ameri
'can interests abroad; and unless some such
steps are taken it is donbtful whether even
the property of American citizens in that
quarter of the world will be safe against
German aggression. If the reports are true
.it is time for us to assert our position as a
nation, and to develop a backbone in the
State Department.
NO COMBINATION IN FLOUR.
The interviews given in our business col
umns ou the subject of a reported "amalga
mation," as it is called here, between the
flour dealers and the wholesale grocers to
regulate jobbing prices for flour, show that
many among the leading firms have no in
tention of going into it. That may be con
sidered to give the quietus to a scheme
which would have met with failure in any
event, if it had been attempted.
It is quite natural that firms who have
built np their business by the recognition
of the principle of small margins and quick
profits should perceive the fallacy of any
proposition to establish arbitrary prices.
That margins are narrow for flour is un
doubtedly true; but the .real effect of such
margins, and the falsity of the plea for
combination, is shown by the fact that on
just these narrow margins some of the larg
est and strongest houses in the city have
attained their strength. The further vice
of the combination system appears in the
fact that any such combination in the flour
trade would work its own defeat Suppose
that an "amalgamation" had been formed
which would raise the robbers' margin to 40
or CO cents a barrel, after years of experience
had shown that 20 or 25 cents affords a living
to the trade. How long would it be before
a dozen new houses were in operation, either
to share the excessive profits or to sell
cheaper flour at the legitimate prices?
Combination in the flour trade is happily
an impossibility; and it will remain so un
less the same policy is applied to build it
np which was nsed in the case of the petrol
eum trade, namely, railroad discriminations
in favor of the monopolists which enable
them to drive all others out of the business.
A SEDUCTION FOE STANDING UP.
The municipal railway problem has as
sumed a new phase in Cleveland, where an
ordinance has been introduced, and is urged
by a very strong popular support, enacting
that passengers on street cars, if they are
not provided with or offered a seat immedi
ately on entering the cars, shall pay only
three cents fare. The patient Pittsburgers
have never thought of claiming a reduction
because they had to stand up in cars packed
like sardine boxes, and have only been anx
ious that they should be delivered at their
homes in a reasonable length of time. Some
of them when they had to get out and help
push the cars up hill, in a storm, in order
to get home before midnight, may have felt
like claiming a rebate; but they now live
in hope that the advent of cable roads has
abolished that necessity. "Whether Cleve
land succeeds in accomplishing the unique
reduction remains to be seen; and it will
also be interesting to learn whether it will
result in more liberal provision of cars by
the companies, or greater gallantry on the
cart of passengers in standing and letting
others have the seats at the enhanced
price.
THE B. & O.'S SOUNDNESS.
The appeal by the Johns Hopkins Univer
sity, of Baltimore, for aid in its temporary
financial straits, caused by the suspension of
dividends on the Baltimore and Ohio Bail
road stock which it holds, is made by the
New York papers the text for sermons on
the fallibility of human judgment in con
sidering that stock a sound investment.
The trust shown by the late Johns Hopkins
in that corporation is paraded as a case of
misplaced confidence; and it is intimated
that the value of the property is not what it
is now estimated at.
All of this is the outgrowth of the feeling
steadily inculcated by the other trunk lines
against theHaltimore and Ohio because that
corporation has assumed, with a compara
tively unwatered capitalization, to put itself
in competition with the other lines. "We
have Mr. Gould's own authority for the
statement that he urged upon Kobert Gar
rett the argument that it was ridiculous to
run such a property as that of the Baltimore
and Ohio with a capital stock of only
519,000,000; and there is little doubt thatjif
the advice had been taken and the capital
ization multiplied by three much less would
have been heard from railroad quarters
about the suspension of dividends. Other
trunk lines have suspended dividends be
fore this without half the acclamation.
It is worth while in view of these utter
ances to note the fact that although the B.
& O. is not paying dividends at present, it
is still the most solvent of the trunk lines.
Its total stock and debt is less than 530,000,
000 on a property certainly worth half as
much as that of companies bearing three
times that capitalization. It is true that its
property was weakened by utter incompe
tence of management; and there is little
doubt that its difficulties were magnified
and its credit injured by representatives of
capital anxious to eliminate it from the list
of through competitors; but it is still the
least unwatered of the through lines and in
vestments in it rest on a more solid basis
than in some other lines that are pushing
the policy of shutting out competition for
the benefit of watered stock.
The policy of attacking the credit of a
solvent corporation in the interest of its
rivals may in time react on those who in
spire it.
KEEP THE BALL B0LLING.
To-night the friends cf the Pittsburg Ex
position are called upon to gather again at
Old City Hall. The assemblage one week
ago, though small, developed a handsome
pay-streak, and everyone who wishes the
city well hopes that to-night's prospecting
may do better"yet
Of course the Exposition is to be built,
and the quicker and heartier the response
to the call for funds, the cheerier will be the
feeling all round.
Let all be there who can. Pittsburg must
have an Exposition becoming the great
mercantile center it has grown to be. It
should be a privilege to every citizen to
take part in this work and do some of the
shouting.
THE INTEBBEGNUM.
Our esteemed cotemporary, the Commer
cial Gazette, is not of the same mind as THE
Dispatch that the whole high license law
would go by the board and not count in 1890
if a prohibition amendment were adopted this
year. That it is possible to argue on both
sides of the question, we do not dispute; but
the view is widely, and we think soundly,
taken that the result, as indicated byTHE
Dispatch, would follow. Assuredly if a
prohibition amendment is adopted in next
June the courts in 1890 will ignore those
clauses of the Brooks law which call upon
them to hear applications for li
cense. The only contention then
can be that while the provisions
for license fall, the penalties prescribed in
the same act for "selling without license"
shall continue. Bnt statutes inflicting pun
ishment are construed strictly; they are also
considered as a whole; and, further, the in
tention of the Legislature which passed the
law has to be taken into account. It is at
least difficult to see how, taking into ac
count those three cardinal rnles of construc
tion laid down by good old Mr. Blackstone,
the courts could consider the penalties spe
cifically created as part of the licensing act
of 1887, the proper or applicable means for
enforcing total prohibition in 1890 which
was surely not in the mind of the Legisla
ture in 1887, nor the thing that body was
then legislating for
That the Bepublican leaders already per
ceive the importance of the question is suf
ficiently shown by their communications
to our Harrisburg correspondent That
they will eventually prepare to meet it in
the only way possible by providing for an
extra session of the Legislature is also likely
unless indeed, they expect the amend
ment to be defeated at the polls.
GIELS CAN'T BE TRUSTED.
There is no reason to believe that the
latest thing in trusts, a so-called "Best Girl
Trust," which some young men at Adrian
College, Michigan, have organized, will do
much harm. The organizers of the trust
have selected an equal number of young
women, students in the collefe, and to each
young man one of these girls has been as
signed. According to the provisions of the
trust each young man must monopolize the
society ol the fair student assigned to him,
allowing no other fellow to escort her at any
time, under severe penalties, in which a
coalshed and social disgrace figure. The
monopoly of any given girl only lasts a
month, and at the end of that period each
man must trade girls with any other mem
ber of the trust who may call upon him to
do so.
The young male students mayf have an
idea that such a scheme could be carried
out, but we are sure that the fair objects of
the trust will speedily rid them of the de
lusion. On the face of it the trust is an
impossibility. "What girl sophomore, se
nior or graduate would allow any committee
of young men to portion off her affections in
the way proposed? The sanguine young
men of Adrian College have probably dis
covered that, however they may propose, it
is the young woman who does the disposing.
And we will warrant that the "Best Girl
Trust" has been disposed of very summarily
'ere this. Girls cannot be trusted in that
sense of the term.
It appears that when the break came in
the Minnesota Senatorship fight, Igna
tius Donnelly only succeeded in holding on
to four votes. This is asserted to cast dis
credit upon the Bacon theory of Shakes
peare; but it is not clear evidence that Don
nelly did not get some of the pork.
The legislators of various States are now
busily engaged in introducing bills to drive
various monopolies into the corner except
the lawmakers of this State, who seem to be
engaged in exactly the opposite operation.
Possibly the Pennsylvania bills, apparently
designed to create monopolies, will not pass
in any greater number than those of other
States designed to abolish them; but it
would be pleasant to have some better pro
tection in that respect than legislative indo
lence. Governor FowXE, of North Carolina,
end Governor Eagle, of Arkansas, ought to
be able, jointly, to make a spread of them
selves especially after the former has made
the proverbial remark to the latter, which
attaches to his office.
It is interesting to hear that the real
name of Pawnee Bill who is proposing to
lead the movement to steal the Oklahoma
lands, is Lillie, and that he is also known as
the Oklahoma Lily. If he should get on
the lauds in defiance of law and the
Government, it will become the duty of the
troops to pluck that lily up by the roots.
Pixtsbtteg will he more likely than ever
to recognize the crying need for an honest
count, in matters matrimonial as well as
political.
There is promise of improvement in the
Southern situation when we find the Atlanta
Constitution earnestly asking this conun
drum: "Is it strictly in the line of
chivalry for a mob of Southern white men to
jump on one negro and do him to death?"
If newspapers can ask such questions in
the South without getting mobbed, it is
possible that the light of the answer to
them may begin to penetrate the Southern
mind.
TnE announcement that the most elabor
ate fireworks ever seen in this country will
illuminate the inauguration of President
Harrison may be made good by the pyro
technics after the Cabinet announcements
are published.
The pilgrimages of Pennsylvania poli
ticians to "Washington for the purpose of
seeing Senator Quay, bear a miniature re
semblance to the trips of national politicians
to Indianapolis. Of course the only pur
pose of either class is "to make a social
call;" and the resemblance is probably com
pleted by the fact that the objects of both
pilgrimages have a wonderful genius of
holding their tongues.
Ella "Wheelee Wilcox promises to
swear off writing poetry when she reaches
the age of forty. Despite the fear that she
means to stop only when she admits she is
forty, the public will live in hope.
Me. Biuce is said to be ambitious to
succeed Mr. Payne in the Ohio Senator
ship. It appears that Mr. Brice has the
same qualifications which elected Mr.Payne,
in the shape of a big barrel. It is also
true that Mr. Brice could make as good
speeches as any that Mr. Payne has made
during the past five years.
The South Penn is like Banquo's Ghost.
However, the Macbeths of the Pennsylvania
Bailroad may abjure it, it will not down.
Balfour's improvement on his former
policy by imprisoning Scotch members of
Parliament as well as Irish, shows progress
toward an ideal Tory government. By the
time that he has all the opposition, whether
Irish, Scotch or English, safely in prison,
the task of governing ought to run very
easily.
PROMINENT PEOPLE.
General. Butler has become a more per
sistent cigar-chower than ever.
Colonel Henry Watterson yesterday
accepted the invitation of the Harlem Demo
cratic Club to respond to the toast, "Memory
of Tilaen," at the club's Tildcn memorial ban
quet in Now York next month.
Me. SprRQEOK, the celebrated Baptist
preacher, is unablo to take exercise at Mentono
because of the swelling of his feet. It was fre
quently his 'custom, or rather his necessity, to
preach to his London congregation with one
leg resting for support on a pulpit chair.
The name of tho Arab leader at Suakim is
sometimes but incorrectly called Osman Digma.
It is properly Osman Digna; or, as the natives
there pronounce it, Dikna. The second name
is from the Arab 'dikn," meaning a beard, and
was given to Osman on account of the heavy
beard that adorns his chin.
Sin Robert Burnett David Morier, P.
C, G. C. M. G., K. C. B., LL. D., tho British
diplomatist, whom Count Herbert Bismarck
and the "reptile press" havo been slandering
so ferociously, is a splendid physical specimen
of manhood. He is over six feet high, finely
proportioned, and full of dignity and energy.
In private lifo the late Lord Eversley was ex
tremely popular. He was a great sportsman,
and he and Sir BobertPeel were rival shots,
and two of the best game shots in England.
When they shot together, as they often did, at
Strathfieldsaye, they were generally the two
favorites, on one or tho other of whom the
keepers used to lay their money. In cover
shooting Lord Eversley preferred walking with
tho beaters, Sir Robert, who disliked being
rumpled, taking the outside. Ho enjoyed years
of well-earned repose after his retirement from
public life, but seldom took part in the busi
ness of the Upper House.
ROMANCE OP A SCOUT.
The Grave of Texas Jack to bo Carefully
Looked After,
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
New York, January 21. The traveling com
pany of comedians, headed by the Daly Broth
ers, recently visited Denver. Whilo there the
two Daly boys were informed that the grave of
a former actor and famous scout, "Texas
Jack," bad been in a neglected condition for
months. They immediately made generous ar
rangements with the keeper of Evergreen
Cemetery, in that city, and the plot will here
after be carefully looked after. Nearly every
actor in the country, all border men, ana a
great many other people will remember Texas
Jack. He was born John B. Omohundro, from
Spanish and Indian stock, and after a bravo
career as a scout be became a fellow actor with
.Buffalo Bill, sharing with the latter much
celebrity in this city, when they were first lion
ized here.
Jack was the favorite scout and guide of the
Earl of Dunraven. Years ago he loved and
wedded Morlacchi, a dark-eyed dancer, famous
in her day, and wealthy, too. He died in Den
ver ten or a dozen years ago, and was buried
with military honors. Morlacchi soon went
into retirement and passed away about 18S6, at
Lowell, Mass.
POTTERS' ANNUAL MEETING.
A Large Representation in Attendance From
Cast Liverpool.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
Washington, January 21. The Potters'
Association will hold its initial meeting at
Wiilard's Hotel to-morrow, and it promises to
be even more numerously attended than that
of last year. Nearly all of the leading potters
of New Jersey are here, and a large representa
tion from East Liverpool, most of whom are
accompanied by their families. Following are
those already registered from East Liverpool:
Homer Laugblin, William Brunt, Joseph C.
Chetwynd, W. Harkcr, J. H. and B. C. Simms,
John W. Vodrey, John Purinton. John Rowp,
John H. Mountford, J. K. Way, N. A. Fred
crick. Mr. Alfred Day, Secretary of the asso
ciation, is registered lrom Steubenville.
The East Liverpool visitors made up a party
of 20 this evening, and occupied several of the
best boxes at the Grand Opera House, where
Maggie Mitchell is presenting her new drama,
"Ray," and enjoyed the play hugely. As
usual, the meeting of the association will end
with a grand banquet
ARRIYAL OP ALBANI.
Tho Noted Soprano in New York, With
Several of ncr Company.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
New York, January 2L Madame Albani
and several members of her concert company
arrived here on tho steamship Servia this
morning. It is expected that several oratorios
will bo rendered in New York during the
Lenten season, with Albani in the soprano
roles.
Among Albani's companions are M. Barring
ton Foote," basso; Mile. Damian. contralto:
Signer Messlml, tenor: M. Barrett, flute, and
Signor Bevigani, musical director and accom
panist. AN OFFICIAL MAP TO BE HAD.
The Government Publishes One for Sale at
n Nominal Price.
Washington, January 2L Commissioner
Stockslager, of the General Land Office, has
just published a large and complete map of
the United States, copies of which he is au
thorized to sell to schools, libraries and to the
public generally at 51 23 each, free of carriage.
The map is about 5x( feet and is backed
with cloth. The price at which they are of
fered represents their net cost to the Govern
ment. Want to Buy Cuba.
Washington, January 2L Senator Davis
presented to-day a petition signed by Hon. P.
Cudmore and 274 other citizens of Faribault,
Minn., praying that steps be taken by the
United States Government for the .purchase
from Spain of the Island of Cuba, Bef erred.
' THE TOPICAL TALKER.
There's Time for. Plenty of Winter Yet A
Cold Day for n Poker Flayer.
"Perhaps a repetition of the winter of
1855-fl is in store for us," said a Flttsburger
with a long memory yesterday. "In the au
tumn of 1855 I remember the weather kept
warm, and even summer-like, and winter didn't
put in an appearance when the calendar called
for it. Building proceeded without interrup
tion till after Christmas, but about the begin
ning of the year 1856 frost and snow descended
upon us, and for three solid months there was
good sleighing, I remember seeing Captain
Schenley, who spent that winter here with his
wife, swell around in a four-horse sleigh, whilo,
by the way of contrast, old Jim Farke, who, of
course, was one of the most important citizens
in this community then, rigged up a crate as a
sleigh, and drovo all over town in it"
The fall of snow in Pittsburg seems to have
been strangely less than that noted only a few
miles outsido the city limits. At a spot not
more than five miles from the Pittsburg post
office the snowfall by actual measurement was
4K inches, and at another place less than 20
miles distant from Pittsburg, though in Beaver
county, I know by painful experienco that tho
snow was not less than five inches deep.
This variation in the depth of snow after a
storm so general in its character seems a trifle
peculiar. There was no high wind to drive it
into drifts, cither.
Talking of this cheerful and novel subject
tho weather, havo you observed the delicious
lucubrations of the Signal Service bureau for
the last 6U hoursT On Sunday morning the
United States weather prophet bade us expect
generally fair and warmer weather, and yester
day morning, with snow falling, the cheery In
timation from the same quarter that we should
have clearing weather was equally accept
able. V
FniL Dwyer, tho toll-taker at tho Point
BriJgoover tho Monongahcla river, has had
any number of queer experiences with pas
sengers, but one of the funniest came to him a
few weeks ago during the Christmas holi
days. A good many country folk from this and
Washington connty get off tho Panhandle
trains and cross into Pittsburg by the Point
bridge, and most of them are prone to chat
with Mr. Dwyer as they pay their toll. Ono
day shortly after Christmas a Washington
county farmer camo to tho toll-gate in the
morning. After remarking what unseasona
ble weather it was, the old farmer became con
fidential and informed Mr. Dwyer that he had
just given his wife the slip and sent her home
to Little Washington, so that he might enjoy a
day in town.
"When I was a lad I could play a tidy, stiff
game of poker," said the old man. "and I've
got $75 which I mean to double before I go
home to-night ir I can find anyone to play with
in Pittsburg."
Then tho old man passed on across tho
bridge.
That night Mr. Dwyer, according to custom,
went to the other end of the bridge, the Pitts
burg end that is, and at a very- late hour the
same old farmer, with weariness and pain
written in his clothes as well as his counte
nance presented himself. There was no need
of explanation; it was quito clear that tho old
farmer and his 73 had parted company.
"Kin you lend men 85?" the old man said
piteously to the toll-keeper, "them players in
Pittsburg are too dum smart for me!"
THE LIFE OP CERTAIN PATENTS.
An Important Decision of tho Supremo
Conrt, of Interest to Many.
Washington, January 21. The Supremo
Court of the United States to-day rendered an
opinion in the important patent case of the
Bato Befrigerating Company, applicant vs
George Hammond & Co., appeal from the Cir
cuit Court of tho United States for the district
of Massachusetts. By statute of the United
States it is provided that when a patent is
taken out in a foreign country, and one subse
quently is also secured in this country, the
patent shall expire in the United States with
the expiration of the patent in the foreign
country in which it first runs out. Under the
Canadian laws patents aro granted for five
years, with the privilege of renewal for two
periods of five years each. The question in
this case was whether the lifetime of the
American patent expired fivo years frofk its
issuance in Canada, or at tho end of 15 years,
which is the limit to which the life of a patent
may be extended in Canada.
The Supreme Court, through Justice Blatch
ford holds that the patent in the United States
does not expire for 15 years from the granting
of the patent; that is to say, the lifetime of an
American patent, first taken out in a foreign
country, does not expiro until tho extreme
limit of time for which an extension of patent
may be secured in tho foreign country. The
Court, therefore, reverses the decision of tho
Circuit Court of Massachusetts and remands
tho case to the lower court, with instructions
to enter a decree in accordance with the judg
ment of this court.
The case is regarded by persons interested in
patents as one of great importance. Many
eloctrical patents are affected by tho decision.
A TRUST'S PROTEGE,
For Which a Receiver Is Asked to Wind
Up Its Affairs.
New York, January 21 General Roger A.
Pryor and William Lardner, representing the
Attorney General of the State in the litigation
to annul tho charter of the North River Sugar
Refining Company for its connection with the
Sugar Trusts, which Judge Barrett held to be
illegal, to-day applied to Judgo Barrett for a
judgment in accordance with the decision re
cently given, declaring tho company's charter
forfeited. Mr. Lardner contended that tho
code provided for the entry of such a judg
ment. General Pryor supported Mr. Lardner,
and said that he should move for tho appoint
ment of a receiver of the company.
John E. Parsons, for the company, objected
to tho appointment of a receiver at present.
He suggested that this question be laid over
temporarily, intimating that they could agree
upon a receiver. General Pryor, whilo making
no objection to this proposition, gave Mr. Par
sons to understand that if he had any idea
that the appointment of an officer of the com
pany might bo agreed upon he was greatly
mistaken. He said ho should certainly oppose
the appointment of any person connected with
the company.
Jndge Barrett reserved decision,
THE WILL OF MRS. JAY GOULD.
Each of Tier Children to TJavo the Incomo
or $30,000 for Life.
New York, January 21. The will of Mrs.
Helen S. Gould, the wifo of Jay Gould, was
filed in tho Surrogate's Court to-day. It was
execnted November fi, 1877, and tho execntors
are Jay Gould and tho decedent's brother,
Daniel S. Miller, Jr. She bequeaths all her
jewelry, wearing apparel and silverware to her
two daughters, Helen M. and Anna Gould.
The will sets apart a fund of $30,000 for each
of the children. It is to bo invested by the ex
ecutors and the securities deposited in tho
United States Trust Company for safo keep
ing. Tho Income is to be paid to each child for
life. Upon the death of either the principal is
to go to his or her issue. All the real and per
sonal property is to bo divided between the
children, share and share alike.
A RATHER NEAT LOT.
Detention at Castle Garden of 110 Alsatians
Worth $100 Encb.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
New York. January 21. The 110 Alsatians
who came to America to cultivate Mr. Storm's
tobacco plantation in Florida aro still detained
at Castle Garden, despite Mr. Storm's protests
that they are not contract laborers. They will
be examined to-morrow.
They are a clean and able-bodied lot of immi
grants, and each of them have $100 or more.
With the consent of Collector Magone, they
hope to sail for Florida to-morrow.
DEATHS OP A DAY.
Mrs. Martha Slokcly.
At the advanced age of 78 years, Mrs. Martha
Stokely, a lady well known and highly respected
for ber womanly and Christian character, died at
her home, IIS Bluff street, of general debility.
Deceased was born and raised In West Newton,
and came to Pittsburg with her husband and
family of 12 chlldren"durlng the war, all of whom
have died except two tons, Joseph and Nick,
both engaged in the drug business, and two
daughters.
Merrick Loir.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
Erie, January 21. Merrick Low, one of Erie's
most prominent citizens, died suddenly to-day of
heart disease. Mr. Low was In his 70th year, and
had recently been bereaved by the death of his
wife. He was one of the pioneer millers In this
atrbiuu ui iuu vvuuiry.
GLOVER'S CABEEB.
The Rise and Fall of an Ambitions Missouri
Politician-He Wanted to be Governor,
But Was Unablo to Make It.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
Washington, D. C, January 21. Ono of
the members of the House who will not be a
member of the next House, and who, like a
number of his kind, does not seem to be in the
least interested in the subsequent proceedings,
is "Little Johnny" Glover, of Missouri. Tho
rise, career and end of Mr. Glover is almost
tragic. It is certainly pathetic. Glover is a
son of Samuel Glover, in his day one of tho
most influential Democratic politicians in Mis
souri, and who himself served several terms in
Congress. Consequently the son fell naturally
into politics and Congress. The son has all of
the eloquence of the father. Perhaps he was
oven his superior in vigor of expression. He
is a little, stoop-shoulaered, insignificant man In
personal appearance, but he has a remarkable,
massive, bulldog jaw, and an extraordinary
frontal development of the cranium.
He was eleeted to Congress. It cost him a
good deal of money, and he is not a good
financier. Here in society he met the daughtor
of a wealthy widow and married her. Mrs.
Patton, the lady referred to, was the widow of
a Callforman who had made millions in tho
mines. Like many of those Croesuses of tho
mountain streams and caverns. Mr. Patton w as
not a gentleman of broad culture. He and the
partner or uis poverty and rlcnes pariooitoi
the nature of thorough life, and in their sub
sequent Iuxnry found themselves too old to
take on the fine polish of idle and polite so
ciety. A few years ago Mrs. Patton, having be
come a widow, removed to Washington with
her seven marriageable daughters, built a mag
nificent residence at the terminus of Massa
chusetts avenue, kept open house, was em
phatically "in the swim." The first marriage
celebrated in that brick palace was that of the
Hon. John Glover and Miss Patton. But Mrs.
Patton was exceedingly ambitious to have her
family allied to a higher official, as she viewed
official rank, than a member of "the Houso of
Representatives. Her new son-in-law was also
ambitious. Their aspirations lay in the samo
direction. Examination of the roads leading
to fame and social distinction led to a mutual
decision that "Johnny" should make the can
vass for tho gubernatorial nomination for Mis
souri, and once Governor, use his power and
distinction in that position to accomplish his
election to the United States Senate.
To have a United States Senator in the fam
ily and move in the circle assured by such an
alliance, was the final goal of the ambitions of
the family of the late Mr. Patton. Mr. Glover
found himself confronted for the guberna
torial nomination by the young, rich, popular
and aggressive Mayor Francis, of St. Louis.
It would take money to win a victory over such
an opponent, but Mrs. Patton was willing to
pay to have a son-in-law a Governor and Sena
tor. Tho canvass was fierce. Money was
poured out like water. Forovery dollar spent
by Glover Francis flung out two. As a nat
ural consequence when the convention was
held Glover had a beggardly exhibit of less
than a dozen votes. He had spent $50,000 of
his mother-in-law's money and had not got a
scent of the odor of the gubernatorial ban
queting board. Francis spent 80,000, but his
liberality paid.
.What a vast gulf between success and failure.
If Glover had got the nomination he might
easily have marked out his ambition and that
of his wealthy mother-in-law. Now ho finds
himself without tho Governorship, the Senato
rial chair lost forever, his career in the Lower
House ended, not a single hopo of official
preferment left, his mother-in-law, who helped
to lay the foundation of his magnificent plans,
called away by death, his affairs involved, a
quarrel between him and his sister-in-law,
which is already in the courts. It seems that
tho late Mrs. Patton gave Mrs. Glover $100,000
soon after the marriage of the latter. The
other heirs claim that this was intended
by their mother to be the entire por
tion of Mrs. Glover, and they now sue Mr.
Glover for the 50,000 given to him to
secure the Governorship and work out his
final ambition. This seems rather hard, as
Mrs. Patton was to share in the glory of his
success; but such i3 life. It is hard to forgive
failure. But this is foreign to the story. The
point is that six months ago Mr. Glover was on
the high road to fame, full of hope and enthu
siasm. Now he is forever extinguished, and
rarely thinks enough of his future to even make
his appearance on the floor of that chamber
from which ho will finally pass away on the 4th
of March. E. W. L.
OUR MAIL POUCH.
The Telocity of Light.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
By whom and how was tho velocity of light
discovered? J. B. W.
Altoona, January 20.
The Danish astronomer, Olaus Romer, mado
the discovery of the velocity of light whilo
taking observations of tho eclipse of Jupiter's
satellites in 1C7C. He found that the eclipses of
the satellites seemed to be retarded as the
earth moved farther away from the planet;
that they occurred too soon when the earth was
nearest and too late when it was farthest away
from Jupiter. The astronomer found that this
retardation of the occurrence of the eclipses
could only be accounted for satisfactorily by
the time that the light would take in crossing
the earth's orbit, and that calculating the time
occupied in accomplishing this, the velocity of
light was 192,500 miles a second. The best de
terminations made by the more accurate ob
servations of modern times make the velocity
about 186,300 miles a second.
Something About Quicksand.
To the Editor of the Dispatch :
Please give me some information about
quicksand. M. J.
Pittsbtbg, January 21.
IQuicksand is found in nearly all parts of
tho country, but in very great quantity along
the Platte river, in Nebraska. It is composed
principally of mica, or small particles of rock
disintegrated from large bodies of rock and
subjected to a continuous washing process.
The water removes all the raggedness or angu
lar shape from the particles. The fragments
become smooth and slimy and sup upon each
other with the greatest facility, so that any
heavy weight resting upon this sand causes tho
particles to be displaced. They separate from
tho center, allowing the weight to sink until a
solid basis is reached. When particles of sand
are ragged and angular any weight pressing on
them will crowd them together until they are
compacted into a solid mass. A sand com
posed of mica, or soapstone, mixed with water,
seems incapable of such consolidation.
Doctrines oi Tiieosophy.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
What aro the doctrines of theosophy, as
taught by Mme. Blavatsky? James K.
Allegheny, January 21.
The chief doctrine is, believe in Mme. Bla
vatsky. The name Theosophy is composed of
two Greek words, meaning knowledge of God.
Theosophy is a sort of spiritualism, mingled
with Buddhism. Mme. Blavatsky teaches her
victims that by due contemplation of and com
munion with God they may become spiritually
exalted, become possessed of occult powers,
and in proportion as their physical chains grow
lighter they may be nearer and nearer to the
Great Power.
Arctic Flowers.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
Have flowers ever been found in the Antarc
tic regions? Flowers.
Allegheny, January 21.
No, but In the Arctic region thero are 7G2
varieties of Towers, but their colors are not so
bright or varied as in warmer regions.
Tho First Eclipse of tho Moon.
To the Editor of the Dlspatcn:
What is the first record wo have of the
eclipse of the moon? Nemo. ,
Beaver, January 20.
It is recorded that the Chaldeans observed
an eclipse of the moon at Babylon on March
19, 720 B. C
A LARGE LIBRARY.
Is What a Butler Editor Calls This Journal.
From the Butler Citizen. J
A "big" paper all round is The Pittsburg
Dispatch broad in its views, unapproached
in the amount of genuine news it puts before
its readers, and high in its standard of that
news. It takes the place of a tolerably large
library for its many thousand readers for what
science or art or fiction is not represented and
treated of in its columns? We feel justified in
saying that it is a paper for the people.
Scientific View of a Wind mine.
From the Norrlstown Herald.
A man in Butler, Kan., whilo boring for
water, struck what he thinks Is a wind mine.
A, local scientist of considerable reputation,
however, advances the theory that his augur
struck a woman's rights convention on the
other side of the globe.
AT THE THEATERS.
La Toscs, She and Other Dramatic Events
of Last Night.
There was a man whom we once knew who
would rather go to a hanging than his dinner;
who doted on scaffolds, nooses and trap-doors,
and could describe to anyone who would listen
the demeanor of 60 criminals in the presence
of death. This man is no longer on this earth,
or he might rejoice that in "La Tosca" he
could find all the delicate refined delights that
the most long-drawn-out hanging could afford.
Sardou is not prone to niceness, and it is un
usual for him to doff his hat to decency. When
he has caught a plot, or the episode of a plot,
which strikes him as being powerful he is apt
to write the play first, and let the critics tell
him afterward, if they have a mind to, how
many outrages against morality, religion and
common decency ho has committed in the ac
tion and tho dialogue. There is a splendid ex
hibition of this contemptuous disregard for the
things most men still think should be respect
ed In M. Victorlen Sardon's dram?. "La
Tosca."
The lowest vilest and most violent of man's
passions are knit across and across the web of
the story of the Italian singer. There is not a
breath of anything that is pure and sweet in it.
Even the action of Fiona Tosca in murdering
the infamous Scarpia, which seems noble by
contrast with its context, is inspired by feelings
which are hideously out of place in a woman's
breast except at the last foothold before the
precipice. There Is power in the convergence
of tho direct motives of the plot: several situa
tions show the wonderful constructive genius of
the dramatist, but "La Tosca" Is not, in our
judgment a work of high art, because, besido
portraying life truthfully, the tendency of
the dramatic picture should be ennobling,
elevating and healthful to the beholders.
It Is sheer nonsense to think of "La Tosca"
benefiting a living soul.
Miss Fanny Davenport presented Floria
Tosca to a large audience at the Grand Opera
House last night. Miss Davenport possesses
many qualifications for the embodiment of
this character. She has evidently given all ber
energies and great study to the part The re
suit is that her acting is finished in detail
and carefully jointed together. Where she
falls to terrify or distress and she has little
else to do for the spectators it is due to her
natural defects and not to any negligence of
hers. Sne bears her years well and is comely
to a degree, and pleasing to many. Her great
efforts occur in the third act where she hears
and at last saves her lover who is being tor
tured in an adjoinlaj room and her anguish
was distressing without evoking that degree of
sympathy tho episode justified in the fourth
act when she bargains with Scarpia for her
lover's lite, and again in the last act when she
discovers that her lover is really dead.
Nc doubt the work of Miss Davenport de
serves commendation. In some of the few
light touches which the character permits her
to exhibit the quality of her comedy was high.
It was so spontaneous. But in the heavier por
tions of her work she made the common mis
take of expressing awful emotions with gross
vocal disturbances. The highest indignation
does not necessarily seek expression in a bel
lowing. Nor can a situation be made great by
slipping through a series of statuesque poses
strangely suggestive of sitting for a lithograph.
And it must be said that there is a vulgarity in
Miss Davenport's .work at tunes which is really
painful.
Miss Davenport's dresses are becoming al
ways, and they are very costly. Her jewels
also are plentiful and gorgeous.
The Scarpia of Melbourne McDowell is un
doubtedly a masterly study and portraiture.
Sardou, we should imagine, would like Mr.
McDowell's conception of the character. That
is precisely why Mr. McDowell is likely to turn
tho stomachs of most men and women who see
him. Tho fidelity of the picture of a lecherous
brute which he gives is so great that the
bounds of decency are oversteppod several
times. Tho rest of the cast, though fairly
competent, is not remarkablo for individual
brilliancy. Perhaps Mr. Ross would make it
easier to understand why La Tosca loved Mario
Cavaradossi so dearly if his wig and forehead
came to more even terms.
In this hurried review of an important event
much must be necessarily left unsaid which it
would be well to say. For instance, there is
considerable ground for the belief that the in.
troduction of much realism in the church
scene is an offense against good taste to say
the least. A Roman Catholic might regard the
offense as graver still. But this is largely a
matter to be left to the judgment of the indi
vidual. The scenery was not well placed upon
the stage.
Is it not possible for Manager Wilt to give
tho public something better in the shape of a
programme? The two sheets supposed to be a
programme of "La Tosca" last night, did not
even specify the number of acts in the play,
and not a syllable of description was there of
the scenes. Such a makeshift of a programme
is worse than nothing at all. It is a disgrace to
a theater which claims to be first-class.
BUou Theater.
"She," as presented at tbeBlJou Theater last
night is tbo same weird and fantastic produc
tion, on a somewhat grander scale, that was
seen here last season. The scenic effects were
superb, and it is donbtful if -anything surpass
ing the barbaric splendor of the underground
palace of Aycsha has ever been on a Pittsburg
stage. The choruses, by a numerous band of
Arabs and Amhaggar, were most pleasing and
peculiar. The female element predominates;
tbo girls are pretty and their costumes rich.
The staging was admirable and the play in
tensely Interesting throughout
Of course it is the spectacular effects which
have made this curious play, introducing im
possible Africans and genuine Englishmen and
Americans, so successful and popular. Yet
the company is a strong one, quite capable, ap
parently, of better work than is required in
this nondescript but remarkable piece. Miss
Laura Clemedt, who took the leading role,
is a fine-looking woman, and, though
not a great actress, made a decided
ly favorable impression. The best talent
in the cast belongs to Miss Tellula
Evans, who, as Ustane, gave evidence of con
siderable dramatic power. Mr. M. B. Snyder
was dignified and manly as Horace Holly,
while Mr. William S. Harkins, in the character
of Leo Vincent, appeared to excellent advant
age. Mr. Charles Bowser personated Martin
Brown, the American drummer, in a manner
that brought roars of laughter from all parts
of the house.
The tableaux were marvels in their way, and
alone worth going to sec. Thero was a good
house.
Hnrrls' Theater.
An audience that is perfectly satisfied with
a play after waiting three-quarters of an hour
for tho curtain to rise 'must have witnessed
something a little above tho ordinary. And
that's just what the audience at Harris Thea
ter did at yesterday's matinee. The night per
formance began a little nearer the scheduled
time. This delay was something unusual for
this house, where the performances begin
promptly on time, but the romantic melo
drama, "The Romany Rye," was given so ex
cellently in every respect that the packed
houso soon forgot its impatience. James L.
Edwards, as the hero, the gipsy gentleman, was
an ideal heroic in voice, appearance and mannerand-
the largo company and beautiful
scenery furnished by Mr. fl. R- Jacobs are as
good as conld be asked for. Only three more
matinees will be given of this play, on Wednes
day, Friday and Saturday.
Academy of Blatlc.
Is there anyone who cares for variety per
formances who does not know what to expect
when the Rentz-Santley company Is announced
at the Academy of Music? Tho faces, the
forms, the burlesque business and the feminine
specialties that have always been associated
with the names Rentz-Santley. are to be found
in the same quarter still. Of its kind it is un
equaled, and a large audience testified its ap
proval of the performance last night.
The Casino Museum.
There is a big aggregation of vaudeville
artists at this popular little temple- of amuse
ment this week, beaded by Heally and
Saunders, and comprehending many others of
note. In the curio hall there are several nov
elties, including a White Cap victim.
HER HEART'S ALL EIGHT.
Lilllao Russell Does a Kind Act, If It is a
Card for Her.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
New York, January 21. A few days ago a
stage hand at the Casino Theater hung his new
overcoat on a peg near tho street door, before
he began shifting scenery for the rehearsal of
"Nadjy." Afewminntes later it was stolen.
The man made a big stir about it, and said the
coat cost him two weeks' wages. Lillian Rus
sell heard him say it. She gave another stage
hand $20 and told him to buy an overcoat just
like the missing one as soon as he could.
When the man brought back the new coat
Miss Russell hung it np on the same peg nejr
the door. Hut she didn't go away and leave it
for the next thief. She stood right by it, till
the man who lost the other coat came out,
kissed her hand and put on his new ulster.
TnE TRIALS OF A BENEDICT.
Bhe thought It wrong alone to roam,
A bachelor to be:
And, as I had a better home.
She gave up all for met
Though oft she says, when out of sorts,
She will return, I know
That she would sue me in the courts
If I but let her go!
Whene'er I come home late at night,
fihe's sure to raise the deuce:
And while I know I'm very tight,
She swears I'm getting loosel
Nor can I hope to reconcile
My inconsistent dear
For If I chance to tjko a smile,
She says I'm on a tear !
, -tf, X, Evening Sun.
JONATHAN AND HIS CONTINENT.
Selections-From Max O'Rell's Bright Crill.
cisms on Americans and Tbelr Manners
Food for Laughter Peppered With Truth.
Nothing is ordinary in America.
Tho ordinary American himself is extraordin
arily extraordinary.
Meeting you in a railway carriago ho will ask
yon point blank where you are going, what you
are doing and whore you come from. By de
grees ho grows bolder, ana n tne xancy takes
him he will touch the cloth of your coat and
ask "what yon gave for that" He has not tho
least intention of being disagreeable. He, on
bla part, will give you all tho information yon
care to have about himself. He takes it for
granted that you are as inquisitive as he Is, and
he is ready to satisfy your curiosity. He 13
obliging.
r This man, whom yon began by taking for
some Ignorant babbler, presently gives to ms
conversation a turn that astonishes you. He
speaks to you of France in a way which shows
you that he is conversant with all that is going
on there. The sayings and doings of General
"Bolangere" are familiar to him. He knows
the names of the chief members of the French
Ministry. He is Interested fn M. Pasteur's re
searches; he h3s read a review and an account
of M. Ernest Renan's last book, and of M.
Victorlen Sardou's latest play. He has judicious
remarks to make upon literature. He knows
his Shakespeare as not one Frenchman of his
class knows Cornell! e, Racine, Mollere or
Victor Hugo. You discover that he fs well
read, this man who says I come for I came, you
was, you hadn't ought, I don't know as 1 do,
etc. He can give you information about his
.country as useful as it is exact.
He talks politics even foreign politics like
a man of sense. Ho is far more enlightened on
the Irish question than people are generally in
England.
.
If the American thirsts after money, it Is not
for the love of money, as a rule, but for the
love of that which money can bay. In other
words, avarice Is a vice almost unknown in
America. Jonathan does not amass gold for
the pleasure of adding pile to pile and counting
it. He pursues wealth to improve his position
In life and to surround those dependent upon
him with advantages and luxuries. He spends
his money as gayly as he pockets it especially
when it is a question of gratifying his wife or
daughters, who are the objects of his most as
siduous attention. He Is the first to admit that
their love for diamonds is as absurd as it is
costly, but he is good-humored, and say3:
"Sinco they like them, why should they not
have them?"
In Europe thero is a false notion that Jona
than thinks only of money, that he passes his
life in the worship of tho.'-almlghty dollar." It
is an error. I believe that at heart he cares
but little for money. If a millionaire inspires
respect it is as much for the activity and talent
he has displayed in the winning of his fortune
as for the dollars themselves. An American,
who had nnthimr htlt his ilnllars tn hnnut of.
-- - ..
might easily see all English doors open to him,
but his millions alone would not give him the
entree into the best society of Boston and New
York. There he would be requested to produce
some other recommendation. An American
girl who was rich, but plain and stupid, would
always find some English duke, French
marquis or Italian count ready to marry her,
but she will have great difficulty in finding an
American gentleman who would look upon her
fortune or her dot as a sufficient indemnity.
..
The beauty of the American women, like that
of the men, is due ouch more to the animation
of the face than to form or coloring. The aver
ago ot good looks is very high, indeed. I do not
remember to have seen one hopelessly plain
woman during my six months' ramble through
the States. American women generally enjoy
that second youth which nature bestows also
on numbers of French women. At 40 they
bloom out into a more majestic beauty. The
eyes retain their fire and lu3ter, the skin does
not wrinkle, the hands, neck and arms remain
firm and white. It Is true that in America hair
turns gray early, but, so far from detracting
from the woman's charms, it gives her an air of
distinction, and is often positively an attrac
tion. .
That which is lacking in the pretty American
faces of the East is color and freshness. The
complexion Is pale, and it is only their plump
ness which comes to their rescue after SO and
prevents them from looking faded. Those who
remain thin generally fade quickly; the com
plexion becomes the color of whitey-brown
paper, and wrinkles freely. If American
womc'nVent in tor more outdoor exercise; if
they let the outer air penetiate constantly into
their rooms; if they gavo up living in hothouses
they would have some color, and their beauty
need perhaps fear no competition' in Europe.
.
If good style consists in not doing what the
vulgar do, good style in America ought to con
sist for one thing in wearing no diamonds un
less democracy should demand this sign of
equality. Diamonds are worn by tho woman of
fashion, the tradesman's wife, shop girls, .work
girls, servants all the womankind. If you see
a shabbily-dressed woman who has not a pair
in her ears you may take it for granted that she
has put them in pawn. Naturally, in America,
as elsewhere, all that sparkles is not diamond.
There is a pronounced childish side to the
character of all Americans. In less than a
century they have stridden ahead of ail the na
tions of the Old World; they are astonished at
their own handiwork, and, like children with a
splendid toy of their own manufacture in their
hands, they say to you. "Look, just look, is it
not a beauty?" And, indeed, the fact is that,
for him who will look at it with unprejudiced
eyes, the achievement is simply marvelous.
.
Should a minister indulge in unorthodox the
ories in the pulpit, the Eastern man will con
tent himself with shaking his head and going
to another church to perform his devotions the
Sunday after. The Pennsylvanian will open a
violent polemic in the newspapers of the locals
ty. The Kansas man will wait for the minister
at the church door and give him a sound
thrashing.
..
American hospitality is princely. You are
not of ten invited, even in houses where tho
daily menu is of the most appetizing, to go and
sharo the family dinner. You are not invited
to dine, a fete is got up for you. If this cannot
be arranged, you may not be invited at all.
America suffers from this state of things.
The country's genius, instead of consecrating
all its time to the production of works which
would tend to elevate the Ideas and aspirations
of the people, is obliged to think of money
making. .
To the American woman the diamond is not
an object of luxury, it is an object of prime
necessity. An English old maid would do with
out ber tea before an American woman would
go without diamonds.
The well-bred American is to my mind a
happy combination ot the Frenchman and the
Englishman, having less stiffness than the lat
ter and more simplicity than the former.
,.
The character of tho American is English
from the point ot view of its contrasts and con
tradictions, which aro still more accentuated
in him than in the Englishman.
This necessity for being rich is the reverse
side of tbo medal in America, where, more than
anywhere else, talent without money is a use
less toot
The American may be eccentric, or what you
will, but he is never monotonous.
K0T A MERE FIGUEEHEAD.
Brooklyn's Famous Invalid at the nend of a
Manufacturing Concern.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
Brooklyn, N. Y., January 2L Nearly a
year ago Miss Mollio Fancher, the famons
invalid of Brooklyn, became the Vice Presi
dent of the Sargent Manufacturing Company,
a concern in this city that makes and deals in
goods designed for the comfort of sick people.
Ever since that time all the meetings of tbo
company have been held in the lady's darkened
chamber, from which she has not stirred for 23
years. The fact that she thus becamo con
nected with a manufacturing enterprise was
kept from the public out of respect to her sen
tiveness. Of course it came out after a time,
and it reveals more than ever the remarkable
genius of the invalid. Said Mr. George K.
Sargent, the President of the company, to-day:
"Miss Fancher is no figurehead in this con
cern, but one of the most active and valuable
members. She knows all about the sufferings
of invalids, and just how to relieve them. We
had and have no desire to make any capital out
of the use of Miss Fancber's name; she is ex
ceedingly sensitive about parading her sufferings."
CUEI0DS CONDENSATIONS. "
Of the 198 members of the Illinois Leg
islature, 123 were born outside the State.
A little boy living in Bondout, K. Y.,
was attacked with a severe cold last week,
wftich brought on a fever, and he was booked
by the family physician for a long illness. HU
thirst however, gave him a craving for oranges,
and his mother indulged his appetite ti'l he
had swallowed four very "large ones. The next
morning the fever was gone and the little fel
low was prancing about the house in good
spirits. This was three days ago. The cold re
mains, but the fever has not returned.
Mere is a little yellow bee in Honduras
that is Tcry much like the little yellow flies
found about corn silks. The bees are without
stings, and the most industrious little insects
imaginable. They build in hollows in trees and
wherever they can find a lodgment and they
gather a double handful of honey of delicious
flavor in these nests of rough comb. So plenti
ful are they that a person can take a hatchet
and cut into the knot hole in the trees and
soon collect all the honey he wants tOTfithout
the danger of being stung by the bees.
A party of hunters while skirmishing
around Green Pond, on Anastasla Island, Fku,
recently for rabbit, ran into a nest of rattle
snakes. There were three big Bnakes in a
bunch, measuring from 8to8K feet in length.
There was lively shooting for a few minutes,
and when the battle was over the stench was so
strong that the visitors had to retire from tha
field after securing the rattles. Strange to say
the largest snake had the smallest rattle, a
mere stub, while the rattles from one of tho
others number 15 and a button.
There are two wfys of splitting a piece
of paper. One is to lay the sheet of paper on a
piece of glass, soak It thoroughly with water
and then press it smoothly all over the glass.
With a little care the under half of the sheet
can be pealed off, leaving the upper half on
the glass. Let this dry and it will come off the
glass very easily; of course the glass must be
perfectly clean. The second way Is a better
one, but it requires some good practice. Paste
a piece of cloth or strong paper on each side of
the sheet to be split. When it is thoroughly
dried pull the two pieces of cloth apart sud
denly and violently. The paste can then be
softened with water and the two halves of tho
sheet easily taken off the cloths.
Farmington, Me., has an unnatural
curiosity In the line of stinginess. A young
lady went Into a dentist's office a few days ago,
and had her teeth examined. The doctor re
ported them Badly decayed, but said that with
quite a sum of money he could put them in
good shape. The young lady departed, saying
she would report to her husband and call again
in a few days. She did so, and on her second
call she was accompanied by her father, the
latter telling the dentist to go ahead and he
would pay the bill. Thinking the dentist
might wonder why he was paying the bill the
father explained that the husband had said his
wife's teeth decayed before he married her and
he was not going to pay for fixing them up; her
father ought to do it.
Solomon England, of Pocahontas coun
ty, West Virginia, went hunting for bear one'
day last week. He came upon one rather sud-i
denly in a narrow mountain pathway, and there
was mutual surprise from which bruin recov
ered first. Bruin made for the hunter, and the
hunter dropped his gun, made for a sapling
which he climbed jnst in time to escape having
a hugging match with the bear. The bear kept
guard for several hours, and England, becom
ing afraid that it wouldbean all-night job.began
yelling for a friend who started out on the hunt
with him who finally heard the calls for assist
ance. He dispatched bruin with two or threo
balls from bis Winchester, and England slid
down off the tree. The bear weighed 350
pounds.
Last week a St. John Indian named
Solomon Paul, who lives on Indian Islands,
Me., startled his neighbors by rushing in among;
them as though 10,000 demons were pursuing
nim. According to his story he was sitting
alone eating his supper, as usual, when the
door was suddenly swung open with a Dang, and
simultaneously with it he heard the most awful
hubbub in the room overhead and on the stairs,
as though a ton of chains were being hurled in
every direction. Asjoon as he could collect his
scattered senses from the awful fright he made
a mad rmsh for the open air. and couldn't be in
duced to enter the house again till some of his
friends volunteered to stay with him. He has
no idea what it was that caused it. and his
nerves are very much shattered over it.
A new scheme of card telegrams is
being tried in Hungary for use in districts
having a postoffice, but without a telegraphic
service. Card3 are sold at the postoffice at the
price of 35 kreutzer for five words, excess to bo
paid for by additional postage stamps, to be
affixed at the corner. The telegram can be put
in any letter box. and is forwarded to the near
est telegraph office, and from there it is dis
patched without further delay or charge. It Is
not so generally known to the public as it
might be that in England telegrams can be
posted at any pillar box, and will be sent on
from the nearest telegraph office. Some such
scheme of special forms for this purpose, in
the shape of card telegrams, might render this
of greater practical utility, and the example of
Hungary is worthy of the attention of the post
office authorities.
An old man living np in the mountains
near Eliijay, Ga., has had his wife'3 grave sur
rounded by several lightning rods. While the
old lady was living, lightning struck the old
man so often that he dreaded to think of even
his wife's body being struck, so he bought tho
rods. He's got 93 of hl3 dead wife's dresses
and 33 pairs of her shoes piled up in the house,
and he wouldn't sell them for anything. He is
a queer customer. He's got a hat for every
day in the week, and the last one of them is out
of style. He wears a beaver on Sunday, whito
Jaded derby on Wednesday, an old brown Tool
hat on Thursday, an old-fashioned white derby
on Friday and a coon skin cap on Saturday. He
has 40 pairs of boots, and he Is buying new ones
every week or so. Another curious thingabont
the old man is that he has a mania for pocket
knives and has 125 of them, and is still adding
to his collection. He's a farmer, and every few
days be brings a load of extra fine potatoes to
sell. He won't accept any kind of money for
them unless it's silver or gold. He wants hard
money, and will take no other kind for his po
tatoes. He recently married a 16-year-old girl,
though he's 60 himself.
CLIPPED BITS OF WIT.
Adding Insult to Injury. First Shop
ping Fiend Madam, that's my muff!
Second Shopping Fiend Why, how Inexcusably
stupid of me to pick up an Imitation monkey-skin.
Time.
A Lonesome Life. Friend (to sick man)
Don't you find the long days lonesome, John,
confined as you are to your bed and easy chair?
Sick Man-Lonesome, friend. That doesn't ex
press It. Why, the gas collector called this after
noon with a six mouths gas bill, and I paid the
bill and put my arms around bis neck and called
him brother. Sew York Sun.
Theory and Practice. Doctor io brother
physician) Yes, gentlemen, the sovereign rem
edy for all iUa Is fresh air. and plenty of it. Peo
ple don't let enough air Into their houses. 'Well,
I must hurry; I'm on an errand.
Brother Physldan-Golng tar?
"No, only down to the hardware store to get
hair a mile of weather-stripping." -Too Xor
Weekly.
Uncle Berkshire Heow much be thai
watch?
Jeweler-Forty dollars.
Uncle Berkshire En that smaller one?
Jeweler Fifty dollars.
Uncle Berkshire En the smallest one?
Jeweler Seventy-flve dollars.
Uncle Berkshire Gosh, Mister! How much tt
no watch?-Jfl-' Weekly.
Catering for His Wife. Countryman (to
grocer) Mister, doyou keep this what d'ye call
it Sweltzer cheese? It's all holes and smell.
Grocer Oh, yes.
Countryman Welt gimme a pound chunk orit;
it's for my wife; she's very fond of it but as for
me, by gum, 1 can't even eat the holes.
Grocer Tell your wife to cat the holes out an'
throw tbem away. The Epoch.
Speaking Literally. Miss Breezy (to
Prof. X, or the Natural History Museum)-Do
you not think. Prof. X, that Miss Smith, at the
piano there, Is a very beautiful girl?
Frof. X. Er yes, Indeed, Miss Breezy, she Is
exceedingly lovely.
Miss Breezy I have always contended. Profes
sor, that she Is one or the most beautliul girls la
Chicago, and that there are no flies ou her.
Prof. X. (here his profession shows Itself) Yes,
Miss Breezy, but I suppose that In the summer,
when the weather Is very warm, she Is naturally
more or less troubled with them. Sew Xork Sun.
Miscalculation. c'John,"said a wile who
was supposed to be on her deathbed, "in case of
my death 1 think a man of your temperament and
domestic nature, aside from the good of the chil
dren, ought tomarry again."
Do you think so, my dear."
"I certainly do, altera reasonable length of
time."
"Well, now, d& you know, my dear, that re
lieves my mind of a great burden. The Uttlo
widow Jenkins has acted rather demure, toward
me ever since you were taken sick. She Is not the
woman that you are. of course, a strong minded.
Intelligent woman of character, but she is plump
and pretty, and 1 am sure she would make me a
very desirable wife."
The next day Mrs. John was able to sit up, the
following day she went down stairs, and ou the
third day she was planning for a new dress. Hev
Xork Sun.
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