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THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, MONDAY,- PEBRUART 4, 1889.
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ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 1S4S.
Vol. 43, No. 163. Entered at I'lttsburg l'ost
oQlce, November 14, 1SS7, as sceona-ciass matter.
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PITTSBURG, MONDAY. FEB. 4, 1BS9.
VOLTHTABY PE0H1BITI0K'.
The report that the monastery of St Vin
cent is contemplating the abandonment of
its famous, though not very large brewery,
affords an example of Frank Murphy's
theory of "every man passing. his own pro
hibitory law" that furnishes a new feature
of the temperance agitation.
The bearing of such a step on the prohi
bition question can be made to act very
much according to individual views. Those
opposed to prohibition can say, as is qnotcd
in our correspondence, that it shows that
people can and will abstain or not both from
the use and manufacture, as they choose. On
the other hand others, not necessarily from
among the fanatics, will be apt to think
that if the manufacture of pure beer, such
as came from the mountain monastery, is
stopped, the manufacture of other kinds of
vinous and malt beverages might as well
Etopwith it
Indeed, the announcement of this possi
bility will be likely to inspire a good many
lovers of the old monastery beer with a
desire for some sort of compromise by which
prohibition shall go into effect for the rest
of the State, but the production of St Vin
cent beer shall go right on.
WHEKE ABE THEY LOCATED !
Speaking of the attempt to lynch Frank
W. Pope at Madison, Fla., on Thursday
night, the Sew York Telegram editorially
says that it "was not a reproach to the State
as such hotheads as these would-be lynchers,
intolerant of political differences where ac
companied by active effort, are to be found
in every State." This makes it pertinent
for the Telegram to give a few instances of
attempts to lynch men in the States north of
Mason and Dixon's line for the offense of
gathering evidence to aid a contest over an
election. If, as the Telegram asserts, "these
would-be lynchers intolerant of political
differences" are to be found in every State,
it ceria.nly should be able to produce ex
amples of their operations, say in the States
of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois
or Iowa. When any such cases are produced
it will be also pertinent to point out that
tbey constitntc a deep and decided reproach
to the State where they are committed.
FBEE TO BESIGN.
In reply to some very sharp criticisms of
Mr. Bayard's rigid spinal column in dealing
with the Hayti business and his utter lack
of backbone when he is confronted with the
power of Germany, the New York Sun
says:
No part of this blame properly belongs to
the Secretary of State. He is not a free agent
in this matter, as his estimable organ the Balti
more Sun has expressly declared. The Presi
dent has peremptorily dictated the whole
policy of the State Department; and all the
blame to be bestowed and the quantity is not
limited should bo bestowed upon Mr. Cleve
land alone.
"We are afraid that after our two esteemed
and luminous cotemporaries get through de
fending Mr. Bayard, he will appear in a less
favorable light than ever. It is true that
the President is responsible for the policy
of the State Department, whether he dic
tates it or not; but that does not relieve the
Secretary from responsibility. It is. bad
enough to suppose him so devoid of stamina
that he loses his head when Bismarck
growls; but it would be far worse to suppose
him capable of recognizing how weak and
inconsistent our foreign policy is, but also
capable of assenting to it in order to hang
on to his office.
Most certainly it is to be hoped that the
esteemed Suns under-estimate Mr. Bayard's
position as a free agent If our foreign
policy cannot be manly and consistent, Mr.
Bayard ought to be free agent enough to re
sign and let the country know why he
resigns.
OPPOSED TO DEGBADATION.
The objection of the Providence Journal
to Mr. Samuel Gompers' advocacy of the
plan of employing convicts to work on the
highways, that organized labor "has al
ready condemned the convicts to enforced
idleness and would now substitute for it
public degradation," carries the implication
that no work at all must be done on the
highways. If it is degradation for" convicts
to work on the highways, it must be degra
dation for honest labor to do it; and cer
tainly our cotemporary would not expect
tree labor to do that which it considers too
degrading for convicts. Or does it hold
that the only labor which legislation should
take care to keep clear and unsoiled by the
"degradation" of hard and useful work is
that of the men who nave committed crimes?
A great deal of the nonsense and false senti
ment that exists in society to-day will be
abolished when people are intelligent
enough to perceive that the degradation
consists in committing crime, and not in the
honest expiation for it, even in public
SAVINGS BANKS WITHOUT CAPITAL.
Senator Delamater has introduced a bill
modeled on the New York law for the incor
poration and regulation of savings banks
without capital stock. This, it is said by
the Philadelphia Times, is calculated to
make "the savings bank interest of Penn
sylvania bear some proportion to the same
interests in New York and New England."
Considering that we already have promi
nent examples of the savings banks without
capital stock in the State, it is rather diffi
cult to see how new legislation would create
any especial boom in the savings bank busi
ness. The fact that- one of this class in
Pittsburg is our largest and most successful
financial institution does not weaken its
anomalous character in being an institution
t whose surplus and profits belong to nobody,
and whose business for the first few years of
its operation was done without any guaran
tee fund to the depositors in case the assets
should have become impaired. The stability
df an institution on a basis like that, must
be seen to flow from good management, not
from the form of organization; and the
policy of multiplying institutions of thit
kind, with power to any person to start one,
would be likely to produce, in the end, any
thing but a boom for the savings bank busi
ness. jf
The proposition to let any fifteen incor
porators start a bank of discount and de
posit, to handle the money of business men
without any capital, would be instantly re
jected with jeers. Why such an absence of
a guarantee for the safety of the working
man's savings should be moro satisfactory
we wholly fail to see. If any people wish"
to start a savings bank let them get together
a substantial paid-up capital as a' guarantee
of good faith just as a large number of
very solvent and satisfactory savings banks
are already doing in this State.
SALT WATEB IH GAS -WELLS.
The dispatch from Lima, which is pub
lished elsewhere, stating that the presence
of salt water in the oil and gas wells of
Northwestern Ohio is threatening tho pro
duction of these fields, shows that our hith
erto successful rival is experiencing some
of the difficulties to which the Pennsyl
vania fields have been subject Indeed, if
the telegram referred to docs iot exagger
ate the matter, the Ohio fields are expe
riencing the trouble nt an earlier stage than
the Pennsylvania fields and it is more gen
eral. For while some districts in this sec
tion have been choked off, the general sup
ply continues good and bids fair to do so
for Tears to come.
Still, the fact that this fate seems to pur
sue many of the gas producing wells,
whether in the Ohio or Pennsylvania dis
tricts, warns us to consider the possibility of
a time when it will be necessary to
augment the supply by manufactured
gas. Methods for the cheap manufac
ture of fuel gas from ccal and petroleum
have been practically demonstrated before
this. In view of the possibilities, it may
yet be recognized that a main utility of the
natural gas era is to show the economy, con
venience and cleanliness of distributing
fuel in the gaseous form rather than in solid
and material shape. It now appears to be
pretty well settled that, as between coal and
gas, the former can be most cheaply trans
ported by rail and river for long distances;
but that when it comes to its distribution
and consumption in cities, the method of
turning it into gas and distributing it
through pipes makes a marked economy
over hauling it in wagons and the wasteful
and dirty methods of burning it in grates.
But the prospect of getting cheap fuel
gas in the future must, comprise the exclu
sion of any attempts to monopolize either
the manufacture of the gas or its distribu
tion through the pipes. If we cannot avoid
the vice to which our public enterprises'are
prone in that respect, the hope of cheap
fuel for towns like Lima, as well as Pittsburg,
will bs wofnlly diminished by the influx of
salt water such as is reported at the former
place.
NO HOPE FOE TEE BREECHES.
Every now and then some daring revolu
tionist in society starts out to curtail the
clawhammer coat and abbreviate the
trousers which civilized man universally re
gards as full dress. The Dispatch noted
the other day the latest insurrection of this
sort. A party of young men in New York
have organized to popularize knee-breeches
and sack coats as a substitute for the con
ventional garments of evening dress. At
tired in satin knee-breeches and short coats
these sanguine reformers attended a fashion
able reception. Their garb naturally caused
a sensation, but we understand that the in
novation evoked more jeers than cheers.
It is said that experiments of a like
nature are to be made in other society cen
ters, in Baltimore, Washington, Philadel
phia and Boston, and some of our cotempo
raries are sanguine enough to assert that
the reform deserves serious consideration.
There is one obstacle, however, which
must forever block the return to knee
breeches. Trousers cover a multitude of
shortcomings. Knee breeches make dis
closures that even skillful padding and em
bellishment cannot conceal. The fact that
symmetrical limbs are not possessed by a
majority of the men of to-day makes it easy
to predict the failure of any attempt to re
turn to knee breeches. The beautiful, per
haps, suffers by the continuance of our
present fashion of fall dress, but it is not
clear that any other mode would prove more
convenient Fnll dress is the modern form
of the feathers and war paint which the sav
age delighted in. To most men of serious
intentions in life full dress is an unalloyed
nuisance.
Senator Butax's statement of the po
sition of the charter legislation, as affecting
the interests of Allegheny, shows the citi
zens of that city who are not content with
the pending bill the pressing necessity that
they should either fish or cut bait
When those resolutions of the Kansas
Legislature denouncing Clayton's assassina
tion, moves the Chicago Herald to break out
with the declaration: "So much falsehood,
so much cheap cunning, so much shameless
subserviency to party, so much disloyalty to
liberty, has proceeded from no other State,"
it is a sign that the Bourbon end of the us
ually esteemed Herald has still got the up
per hand. Sometimes that bright journal
permits some rays of political intelligence to
permeate through its columns, after the
election is over.
The departure of John L. Sullivan to
Canada, to officiate as referee in a prize
fight, creates the impression that the con
test is to be fought out with Sampson's
weapon. John is an expert on scientific
fighting with the jaw bone.
Senatoe Sajjik's visit to Indianapolis
was intended, it is reported, to assnro the
President that notwithstanding the absurd
action of the Minnesota Legislature in
electing some one else to the Senate, that
State is still open in the person of its retir
ing Senator to offers of patronage. No ad
verse action of a State Legislature can
dampen the ardor of Sabin'J patriotism
so long as there is a President-elect to
tackle.
The New York reporters are already gird
ing themselves up for the race as to which
shall first get hold of Mr. Phelps, when he
arrives at that city, and obtain from him
his first impressions of the United States.
The report that the House Democrats will
present a compromise tariff bill, indicates
that they are beginning to perceive the
uncomfortable position in which they will
place themselves if they do not take some
steps to secure tariff reduction. But they
are too late. If they had perceived the
necessity of compromise tariff' some time
last year, things might have been different
now.
It is beginning to be apparent that the
January cabinet will not stand the Febru
ary freeze.
The profound dubitations of the Inter-
State Commerce Commission have again
discovered that the railways wage their wars
by violating the inter-State commerce law.
But they fail to go beyond that to the obvi
ous point of making the railroads obey the
law by enforcing its penalties for disobedi
ence. Ip no more St. Vincent beer is to be
brewed, there will be a very general convic
tion that life up in the vicinity of Latrobe
will be no longer worth living.
We do not think that there is anything
in the report that the railway Presidents
will hold another meeting this week and
choose another member of the inter-State
commission to run their combination as a
guarantee of good faith. That can hardly
be looked for much sooner than week after
next
TEOMINEXT TEOPIiE.
The full name or the biggest man in Franco
at present is George Ernest John Maria Bou
1 auger.
The Portland papers speak with pride of A.
M. Cannon, who peddled sewing machines
through Oregon nine years ago, and who is now
worth 5,000,000. Mr. Cannon evidently shot off
his month with great profit
Colonel O. W. Tolford, of Ohio, who is a
reformer of great energy, made a curious mis
take last week. He went to Washington, D.
C, in a groat hurry to preside over a Sunday
school convention. Upon reaching the capital
he found that the convention was called for
Washington, Ind.
Rev. Robert Collier lias presented Cor
nell College with an old factory bell which has
an interesting history. It was the bell that
rang him to work every morning in his young
days and fixed the time the day's toil was over.
The bell will bo used at Cornell for summoning
the students to their classes.
The heirs of Colonel Nicholas Lotz, who
died in tho last century, have held a meeting at
Reading, Pa., and have taken steps to suo the
Government for $17,000,000. Lotz, it seems, fur
nished the American army with hay during the
Revolution, for which he was never paid. His
descendants will probably have Lotz of trouble
in collecting the money.
Miss Harriett Weed, the eldest daughter
of tho late Thurlow Weed, who was a ruling
force in politics for a half century, still lives in
the Ninth street house, in Kew York, that her
father occupied in tho latter ears of his life.
She is devoted to good work and kindly deeds,
as many of her beneficiaries are aware, but her
habits aro domestic and her ways reserved.
There are few people who arc more familiar
with State and national politics than Miss
Weed.
University Park, Indianapolis, is a little
public square In which many of General Har
rison's campaign speeches were made. Recent
ly the Common Council of the city thought it
would be a graceful act to call it Harrison
Park. But the Democrats around town just
stood up and howled with horror at the thought,
and introduced a bill into the Legislature
naming it Thomas A. Hendricks Park. The
probablo settlement will be to leave the origin
al name unchanged.
Jesse D. Abrahams, who was nominated
on Friday to the office of Controller of the Cur
rency, to succeed Mr. Trenholm, resigned, is a
native of Virginia, but for many years has lived
in Washington. At present he holds the office
of Deputy Controller of the Currency, to which
he was appointed by President Cleveland Janu
ary 27, 16S7, on the recommendation of J. Ran
dolph Tucker, of Virginia. Before that time
he was engaged as an instructor in a private
educational institution in Washington.
K0 L0YE FOR GINGERBREAD.
Ho Took a DUIIko to it After His Cofflo Was
Ordered.
From the Hew York Graphic!
There have been many instances of men or
dering their coffins before death, sometimes
sleeping in them, sometimes keeping them as
articles of furniture, and oftenest stowing
them away in a garret until needed. But ono
of tho queerest ornaments for a mantlepiece is
in the possession of a young artist of this city,
and occupies a prominent .place in his studio.
It is about nvo inches by ten, and has the
owner's name, birth and death recorded on its
face, it having been taken from his coffin whon
he recovered from a trance, during which ho
came precious near being buried.
The circumstances which led to the trance
are as curious as the use of tho coffin plate for
an ornament He was studying art in Paris,
and his landlady was an enthusiastic ginger
bread baker. One day returning from his
studies extremely tired, the artist found in his
room a large pan of gingerbread still warm
from the oven. It was tempting aud he was
hungry. Piece after piece disappeared, and in
a few moments he sank into comfortable drow
siness. When found the following morning ho
was to all- appearances dead. Doctors wero
summoned, but. one and all pronounced him
dead, giving as the causo everything from heart
disease to dyspepsia. His landlady, possibly
feeling a little guilty after observing the
amount of gingerbread her lodger had eaten,
refused to believe him dead. The French cus
tom generally demands burial within 43 hours
of death. Tho coffin was ordered, his relatives
in this country cabled and all preparations for
the funeral consummated. The landlady, how
ever, was Btill incredulous, and between the
time the body was placed in its coffin and its
removal to the grave she worked over the sup
posed dead man, chafing his hands and face
and rubbing the region of the heart
Just as the bell sounded that denoted the ar
rival of the hearse she rubbed moro rapidly
and was rewarded by a faint sigh. Quickly
she removed the body from tho coffin and plac
ing it on tho bed continued her attempts at re
suscitation. The rest followed naturally. The
young man revived, took his coffin plate off the
coffin and camo home in the next steamer to
meet a family clad in the deepest mourning for
his death. The landlady forgot to say she bad
cabled and he thought he'd wait and tell tho
story at home.
The coffin plate now rests just below a pict
ure of Langtry and the young artist had a big
picture on exhibition in this city a few months
ago. He declares that ho can never seo or
smell ginger bread without experiencing tho
most violent nervous attacks.
A BUSY TIME AHEAD.
Plenty of Opportunity This Week for Con
gressional Pntriotic Oratory.
WASniNOTON, February 3. Senators expect
this to be a busy week. To-morrow the Ap
propriations Committee will report the Legis
lative, executive and judicial appropriation
bill, and it will be called up for consideration
on Tuesday. The naval bill will be acted upon
by the committee as soon as received from tho
House, and will probably bo reported to the
Senato by the end of the week, if indeed it be
not passed by that timo. When the appropria
tion bills are out of the way Mr. Hale will call
up his census bill. To-morrow afternoon at 2
o'clock the Pacific Railroad funding bill comes
up as unfinished business, and several speeches
are expected en it, but no definite action.
There are several other measures ponding, in
cluding Mr. Sherman's anti-trust bill, which
-are likely to be called up during the week as
opportunity offers, but upon which, according
to the present outlook, no decisive action seems
probable. Under the resolution introduced by
Senator Saulsbury, and referred to the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, that committee
may be expected, after its meeting Wednes
day, to report in some form a declaration of
its idea of what is necessary and right to bo
done by the United States to maintain tho
dignity of the Government and to fulfill its
obligations under tho treaty with Samoa.
Should this come in it will doubtless lead to a
debate of some length, probably in secret
session.
From present appearances, the week's busi
ness in the House will he made up of patriotic
oratory and routine hard work the former to
be called forth by the Edmunds Panama Canal
resolution, and the latter occasioned by the
necessity of disposing of the remaining appro
priation bills. Monday will afford individual
members one of their last opportunitcs during
this Congress to secure the passage of measures
under a suspension of tha rules, and the
Speaker has been fairly besieged by Represen
tatives who have abandoned hope of eottinsr
their bills before the House in any other man
ner. Mr. T.J. Campbell, of New York, feels
confident that he will be able to secure recog
nition to move the passage of the bill to pen
sion the widow of the late General Sheridan.
Mr. Blanchard also is hopeful of his ability to
rescue the river and harbor bill from its pres
ent perilous situation and get it before the
House.
Parallels Not Numerous,
from the Providence Journal. 1
If history repeats itself General.Boulanger
may be another Louis Napoleon. But in spite
of the proverb history very seldom does it
CRUMBS FE0M THE C0RRID0B.
A Lack of Spirits, Animal and Liquid, In
the Present Legislature Party Disci
pline A Great Pipo Line Constructor A
Grcnt Writer.
fFBOM A STAIT CORRESPONDENT.!
Harrisburo, February 8. Conviviality is
the distinguishing feature of only a minority
of the present Pennsylvania Legislature. A
whole month has passed away since the mem
bers first arrived here, and only ono big cham
pagne supper is on record. It was given by
Hon. John Stegmaier in honor of the Clam
bake Club, of Wllkesbarre, who were his
guests for two days. On this occasion 80 quarts
of champagne and ono quart of beer were dis
posed of by the club and the other guests.
Such events were of frequent occurrence dur
ing tho session of two years ago. but prohibi
tion was made so strong an issue in tho last
campaign that tho gentlemen who love to dally
with the sparkling wine are many less in num
ber than they were two years agone.
"Why." exclaimed one gentleman, talking
about the matter, "Jim Russ alone cleared $18,
000 last session. He'll do well to make his ex
penses this one."
Lieutenant Governor Davics Is a big man
and a live man. He doesn't think tho sessions
of tho present Legielaturo havo had sufficient
vim in them. "I think." ho said, "that when
the members take sides and talk warmly on
the subjects that come before them the legis
lation Is apt to be better. When men's minds
become warmed by the excrciso of discussion
and thought they do better work."
Party discipllno at its best was seen during
Thursday night's session of tho House, when
the inter-municipal bill was on second reading.
The third-class cities were clamoring for the
passage of the bill, and nearly all of them wero
satisfied with it in the. form in which it camo
from the committee. Chairman Andrews sat
in his seat welt to the front, and set an ex
ample of silenco to his party over which he
kept a protecting eyo as tho bill progressed
section by section to tho finish. Amendment
after amendment was voted down with only
brief debate, until at last Mr. Fow, of Phila
delphia, who led the opposition, turned around
to his little band of supporters and exclaimed:
"Oh, what's the use boys; they're bound to
swallow it whole, without pepper or salt."
Some of tho constitutional points raised by
Mr. Fow were of a decidedly interesting char
acter, and some of his amendments were so
good that a legal gentleman, who represents
one of tho interested cities, afterward re
marked: "It was very hard work to kill them some
times, but it had to be done. If we began
to amend there is no telling where the thing
would stop."
Chairman Andrews smiled like an angel of
peace when it was all over and received con
gratulations modestly.
The Legislature Is likely to pass some general
act for the incorporation of street railways this
session. It has two measures to consider in
stead of the objectionable one just negatived
by tho City .Passenger Railways Committee.
Such legislation is badly needed, as, there being
no act now under which a new company can
operate, tho smaller cities, as they grow in pop
ulation, are unable to have this improvement.
"In Oil City," said Representative Hays, "we
have had all the necessary arrangements made
for a street railway for some time, but we can't
go ahead until the Legislature gives us an in
corporation act"
Hon. Alfred W. Smiley, member from
Clarion, stood some years ago on tho border of
an international reputation, but docs not regret
that he went no further. He was selected by
the Gladstone Government to prepare the way
for the British troops with water trom Suakim
through 200 miles of desert sands, but whilo
awaiting orders in New York, Khartoum fell
before the forces of El Mahdl, the gallant
Gordon was slaughtered, General Wolseley re
tired from the Soudan country and tho war
ended. Few men are better known in the oil
country than Mr. Smiley, and few watch legis
lation more carefully. When at home hots a
division superintendent of the United Pipo
Line Company, and his connection with this
particular branch of the oil business dates back
to 1865, when ho was one of the promotors of
the first successful pipe lino ever operated
the Pitbole and Miller Farm Lino. It was his
reputation in this branch of business that led
to his selection for the dangerous and difficult
task of constructing a pipe lino to transport
water through an African desert, filled with
fanatical Moslem Arabs. Mr, Smiley is 45
years old, dresses plainly, is dark complex
ioned, has a firm, determined expression even
when his face is lighted, as ft nearly always is,
by a genial smile: is remarkably stoop shoul
dered and wears a "! hat
One of the most interesting figures of Harris
burg is that always busy and ever cheerful cor
respondent for half the papers of the United
States, William Rodearmel, the veteran of the
newspaper corps at the State capital. During
a long series of years of hard writing Mr.
Rodearmel has originated a chirography pe
culiarly his own, which would make the com
positors who tolled on Horace Greeley's manu
script in times gone by weep. The other day,
when a gentleman handed him a page of manu
script with a request for some information con
cerning it he exclaimed:
"What's thisT Oh, pshawl I can't read that
That's something I wrote yesterday."
It is perhaps a base and ungenerous slander,
though, that a gentleman who had lost his
check on a Chinese lanndry secured his clothes
without the slightest difficulty on presenting a
note from Rodearmel.
Mr. Rodearmel now does nearly all his work
with a typewriter, and does it well.
Simpson.
RAILROAD WAGES REDUCED.
Prospect of a Strike on the Buffalo, Roches
ter and Pittsburg.
BuFFAJCO, February 3. There is much dis
satisfaction among the freight crews of the
Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg Railroad, in
cluding engineers and firemen, fn consequenco
of a heavy cut in wages. Brakemen aro re
duced from $2 C2 to $1 77; engineers
40 cents; firemen, 20 cents, and
conductors from 75 to 05 cents a day. This is
equivalent to an average reduction of from 817
to 25 all around. Four crews quit here to-day,
and were discharged, and it is understood that
two crews were discharged at Bradford for re
fusing to work. This reduction applies all
along the line.
All tho brotherhoods on the Bradford,
Buffalo and Pittsburg divisions have grievance
committees except the brakemen on the
Buffalo division, which, it is said, have been too
hasty. It is probable that committees will wait
on the general superintendent Monday or Tues
day. If they get no satisfaction, they will go
before General Manager Baldwin at Rochester,
and if with no better success, a general strike
Is likely to follow.
Bayard Might Listen.
From tho St. Louis Globe-Democrat
The American Peace Society is protesting
energetically against the talk about additional
fortifications for the country's harbors. The
only place in this country in which tho Peace
Society could get a hearing for their notions at
this moment Is the State Department at Wash
ington. Young Ilnrrison's Eccentricity.
From the Louisville Courier-Journal, 1
Russell Harrison appears to be the only Re
publican who doesn't want an office. He is a
nice young man, but from now on he mnst sub
mit to being considered eccentric by a large ma
jority of his pa's party.
EXTRAORDINARY DEATH'S.
Lelt died of jealousy at tho success of Sir
Godfrey Kncller.
Elphinstone, the Chancellor of Scotland,
was heartbroken by the battle of Flodden.
The Emperor Frederick III. and his son,
Maximilian L, both died eating too heartily of
melons.
Falzntia, tho Spanish theologian, died be
cause he was accused by the Pope of having
falsified.
Cheke, the great English scholar, "who
taught King Edward Greek," died of grief at
having perverted from his religious belief.
An hour before Malherbe, tho great French
writer, breathed bis last, ho woke suddenly)
irom a proionna swoon to reprove his nurse
for using a word which, In his opinion, was in
different French.
Angeleri, a Milanese actor, was so over
come by his enthusiastic reception on his first
appearance at the theater to Naples that he
fell down at the side scenes and died.
YESTERDAY'S DISPATCH.
Brief Summary ot the Leadins Features of
the Mammoth Donblo Number.
The most startling news in The Dispatch
of yesterday was the exclusive publication of a
detailed report of an investigation, begun by
the Board of Inspectors of the Western Peni
tentiary, of tho conduct of Dr. Maharneke, the
hospital steward of tho institution. The doc
tor is charged with attempting to aid notorious
criminals to escape, and also with general cor
ruption in office. The testimony was of a most
astounding character. Tho steamer Tnro
Brothers was blown in pieces while lying above
the Fort Wayne Railroad bridge on the Alle
gheny river. The explosion destroyed another
boat, the Return. George Wilson and Wilson
Cochrane, two of the boatmen, were instantly
killed and several others injured. The pro
ject of building a traction road on Wylio and
Center avenues is being discussed. Interest
ing testimony was brought out at the hearing of
H. ir. voigt, the ex-cashier of the Farmers ana
Mechanics' Bank, ot tho Southside. Sporting
news, market reports, and other regular de
partments contained much that was of Interest
both generally and locally.
n.
Tho numerous and conflicting stories regard
ing the manner in which the Austrian Crown
Prince met his death are giving place to the
generally accepted theory that he committed
suicide. Bismarck is reported to bo much dis
turbed, and it is feared that international
complications may follow Rudolfs death. The
German newspapers disapprove of the action
recently taken by their Government in tho
Samoan affair. Boulanger's popularity is at its
height in France. Conservative statesmen
look to Carnot to maintain a stable govern
ment. The course of Balfour in enforcing tho
coercion law3 in Ireland has been so outrage
ously brutal that he is denounced in every
quarter.
A fire in the business portion of the city of
Buffalo destroyed $3,000,000 worth of property.
Tho House Ways and Means Committee is
preparing a now tariff bill. Allison has de
clined to enter tho Cabinet and John C. New is
uentioned as tho probablo Secretary of the
Treasury. An interesting account was given
of the results of electrical experiments made
on tho animals composing Bamum's menagerie,
and topics of public discussion were troated at
length by the Washington and Harrisburg
correspondents.
in.
The opening chapters of the story entitled
"The Buried River," a California romance,
written for Thk Dispatch, by Joaquin Miller,
was a leading feature of the second pai t of the
paper. An arrest by St Louis police was the
subject of an original humorous sketch by Bill
Nye. "Cultured Can't" was a text handled by
Gail Hamilton in her own fascinating style.
Country depots and country railway manage
ment furnished Ellakim Eastman a theme
which be treated in a felicitous manner.
China's boy Emperor, and the peculiar
customs of the people of tho Flowery King
dom were pleasingly portrayed by ;Frank Car
penter. A touching picture of life among tho
poor in Ireland was contained in Wakeman's
letter, and the South and the Southern women
received tho critical attention of Bessie
F.ramble. Tho mineral resources of this coun
try were discussed by Prof. Shaler; the hermit
kingdom, Korea, as It appears to Henry Nor
man; Clara Belle's gossip; an essay on juvenile
depravity, by Shirley Dare; a leaf from a re
porter's note book, by E. W. Bartlett; a wom
an's ideas on modes of entertainingly Mrs. M.
V. Dahlgren, and rcminiscenses of West Point
life, by Captain Charles King, were the sub
jects of other attractive contributions. Mrs.
Sherwood answered numerous questions re
lating to etiquette, and "Frank" explained
why the dance is perpetually popular. The
column of religious thought and Rev. George
Hodge's paper wero well worthy of tho atten
tion of every serious minded person. Yester
day's Dispatch, both in its news and its lit
erary features, was a most excellent number.
EATING HIS WAY OUT OP JAIL.
Editor nailer's Life of Luxury In Prison at
Mrs. Stoner's Expense.
Lancaster, Pa., February a Editor J. E,
Hotter, of Mount Joy, who went to jail last
Saturday for 60 days because he would not pay
$500 damages awarded for writing a libelous ar
ticle about Mrs. Laura K. Stoner, is contented
in his new quarters. The law gives to him the
privilege of the prison corridor and yard. He
boards at the jailor's table, has a room in the
keeper's apartments, and that official is bound
under the law to give him anything to eat he
now orders. His appetite has wonderfully in
creased since ho was Incarcerated, and his fre
quent demands for oysters, terrapin and other
delicacies keep tho Warden busy. He is un
der no expense, as tho plaintiff must pay for his
maintenance.
The Prison Inspectors at their meeting on
Monday will fix the amount of board to be
paid, and the bill for the last week and every
week hereafter will bo presented to Mrs.
Stoner. Should she default in payment Hotter
will at once be released from prison on the mo
tion of his counsel. Mrs. Stoner has no means
beyond what she earns as a seamstress, and
those in a position to know assert that she will
get tired of paying for Hoffcr's maintenance,
which will give him his liberty at an early day.
Enriching tho Soulb.
From the St. Paul Globe. 3
Strawberries from the South aro now in the
Eastern markets, selling at from $2 to 51 a
quart A good deal has been said about North
ern capital going South. This shows why somo
of it takes that route. If the crop holds out
that ought to be tho heavy financial part of the
country.
Mrs. Frollnsbuysen Dend.
Washington, February 3. Information
was received here this evening that Mrs. Ma
tilda Grlswola Frellnghuj sen, widow of the
late ex-Secretary of Stato. Frederick T. Fre
linghuysen, died to-day at Newark, N. J.
A 'Good Thing for 'Llgc.
Washington, February 2. The legislative
appropriations, completed by tho Senate com
mittee, increases the salary of the President's
private secretary from $3,250 to 55,000.
FASHIONABLE FANCIES.
MOUSSE, a kind of moss color, is seen in com
binations on many tea gowns.
Bearskins arc among the latest of fashion
able furs. As yet their popularity is limited.
White cloth and velvet bridal gowns are
worn with fur trimmings by London women.
Shoes of white kid with chased metal hecl3
of silver or gold tint are a pretty novelty for
the ball room.
A favohite tea-gown combination is velvet
in two colors, as emerald-green and black or
coral-red and gray.
Thick-PL A' ed ruches of pinked silk, called
chlcorees by the French, are made to trim the
bottom of the skirts of many dancing gowns.
Carnation brooches are a new feature in
jewelry. Some are fn pure, dull gold, while
othersro enameled and powdered with dia
monds. Three very fashionable browns are cachou,
a bright yellowish shade, cordone, a leather
color, and tobac, or tabac d'Espagne, a light to
bacco color.
Corsages of full-dress gowns are cither cut
low all around, disclosing the shoulders, or are
made three-quarters high. Recamicr berthas
are worn with the former.
A tasty violin gown Is made with a full
straight skirt a loose round waist banded with
a sling sash of soft folds, and sleeves which are
loose pull's as far as the elbow.
The English mania for coin jewelry has
brought forth a gold-wire bracelet of three
strands, united here and there with little gold
balls, and having for a pendant a Roman coin.
According to fashion authorities, the habit
of wearing removaDle trains is growing. They
are fastened to the waist by handsome clasps
and buckles, which aro ornamental as well as
useful.
Newly imported ball toilets of tulle. In
pale champagne de Tin, smoke gray, silver, and
apricot tints, are brightened by empire gar
lands of blast roses, scarlet poppies or Jacque
buds and leaves.
A ball gown recently worn by a young girl
entering upon the second season, was very sim
ple but wholly charming. Both skirt and waist,
of delicate heliotrope faille francaise, were
gathered full into a band, from which the skirt
fell to the floor in straight, simple folds. The
waist, cut after the fashion of 40 years ago, ex
posed the soft, round shoulders in its prim cir
cle, and was finished by a fnll lace bertha
reaching almost to the waist line. Small puffs
of the silk edged with lace were the only
sleeves.
TWINKLING STARS.
Thero Is Always Moro Day Than Night
Tho Effect of Refraction Yenns the
Glory of the Evening Sky A Conjunction
of tho Moon and Mars.
rWBITTXN FOB HI DISFATCII. 1
The snn Is now rapidly comingmorth, making
the days grow longer and longer, while he
reaches a considerably greater altitude now
than be did a month ago. and were it not that
our seasons lag two or three months behind
the sun's influence as he travels north and
south, we might count on having passed the
severest portion of our winter somo time ago.
On the first day of the month the sun rises at
6.57 A. M., crosses the meridian at 034 P. Jt.,
aud sets at 5.30 r. jr.; on tho 28th he rises at
033 A. M., transits at 0.32 p. jr., and sets at 6:02
p. jr. He stays above the horizon 7 minutes
longer on the last day of the month than on.
the flrst, while the length of twilight also In
creases. The old song was more -than right
when it declared that taking tho whole year,
"There's never more night than day." In fact,
on any portion of the earth's snrface light is
received from the sun more than half the time
each year. Even when the days and nights are
said to bo equal in length, on the 20th of March
and the 22d of September, refraction, by bend
ing the path of tho sun's rays," practically
raises him up more than half a degree when he
is rising and setting, thus making him apnear
above the horizon several minutes more than 12
hours, while twilight adds an hour or two on
each end of tho day.
Fleet Mercury.
Mercury, the swift messenger of the gods, as
usual makes but a short stay as an evening
star. He got on the eastern sido of the sun on
the 23th of last December, and has already
reached his greatest distance east of the sun, on
the 30th of January. A few days before and
after his "elongation," as this occurrence is
called, he may usually be caught sight of, if
looked for in the right place and under proper
conditions. On the evening of the 5th, at 635,
Mercury will be about 14 7' abovo the true hor
izon, and about 8 45' south of due west He
remains in approximately the same position for
two or three days before and after the 5th. It
is somewhat difficult to catch the planet hut
when the eye has once sighted him. it is easy to
keep him in view. A good field glass, or even
an opera glass, will greatly aid in the search.
xne pianec presents tne crescent pnase at tne
beginning of the month, which grows narrower
as he approaches inferior conjunction on the
14th. The apparent diameter of the disk on
thoothisS".!
R. A. Declination. Transits. Sets.
Feb. 5..22h.l6m. 8J7' south. 1:32 P.M. 6:59 P.M.
Feb.l5..Zlh.7m. 924' south. 0:24P.M. Kies.
Fcb.2S..:ih.lSm. 1328' south. 11:16 A.M. 5:27A.M.
Bright Venus.
Venus takes the palm this month. While the
professional observer, with tho telescope, is
more interested in Saturn, who appears at his
best this month, Venus is a joy to every be
holder. She is evening star, and is the most
brilliant object in tho western heavens, barring
the moon, for several hours after sunset She
reaches her greatest elongation east from the
sun on the 18th, when she is 46 36' distant from
him. The disk appears abouthalf illuminated,
and increases in apparent diameter during the
month from 21" to 28".
K. A. Declination. Transits. Sets.
Feb. 5..0h. 12m. 1 43' north 3:27 p. M. 9:38 P.M.
Feb.l5..0h. 49m. 6 iff north 3:15 P. St. 9:52P.M.
Feb.25..1h. 21m. 11 31' north 3il r. M.10:05r.M.
Blurs and Jupiter.
Mars, tho warrior, is now far away and of lit
tle Interest He is in the constellation Aqua
rius, about half way between the southern side
of the square of Pegasus and Fomalhaut, the
brightest star in the Southern Fish, and of the
first magnitude. He is to be looked for below
Venus, from 5 to 15 away. He sets about 8.30,
the time varying but little during the month.
His apparent diameter is 5".
J upicer is aDout Zf south of the equinoctial,
and not far from? the sun, so that he rises not
long before hinrin the morning, and far to the
south, so that in northern latitudes he is in too
unfavorable a position for making good obser
vations upon him or his attendant satellites.
Saturn and Its Rings.
Saturn is the most interesting of all tho plan
ets to the astronomer at present He rises
about the time the sun sets, and is in good po
sition lor observation two or tbreo hours after
rising. He will be in opposition to the sun on
the 4th, i. e., he will be ISO0 from tho sun, bear
ing tho same relative position to him as the
moon does when full, so that tho present month
is the most favorable for a study of his wonder
ful rings, his belts and his satellites. The rings
are still well open, i. e their plane is consider
ably inclined to the line of sight, although they
havo been closing up for several years, owing
to the revolution of Saturn in his orbit around
the sun, which is accomplished in 29j of our
years. They will continue to close up until
1892, when we shall seo only their edge.
Saturn is in the constellation Leo, nearly 15
northwest from Its leading brilliant, Regains,
which is situated at the end of the well-known
sickle. His apparent diameter is 19''; tho
longer axis of the rJne .is 1' 32", tho shorter.
24".
R. A. Declination. Transits. Rises.
Feb. S....8h 19m 16 53' north 0:37 A. M. 5:29 P. M.
Feb. 15.. .9h 16m 17 OS' north 11:50 p. m. 4:46p. m.
Feb. 25.. ,91i 12m 17 22' north U:08P.M. 4:02p.M.
Uranus.
Uranus may bo found by means of the flrst
magnitude star Spica, the brightest in tho con
stellation Virgo, the Virgin. This star rises
about 11:10 p. it. on the 5th, and four minutes
earlier each succeeding day, and is on the
meridian at 435 A. M., on the same date. Uranus
is to be looked for 2 40' north of this star, and
about half a degreo east of it He presents
the appearance ot a star of the sixth magni
tude, just barely visible to the naked eye, but a
careful scrutiny with a two or three inch tele
scope win reveal tne tact mat, uniiKe a nxed
star, he has a well defined disk. His apparent
diameter is 3".8.
K. A. Declination. Transits. Klses.
Feb. 5 ....13h22m 757soufh 4:39A. M. 11:06p.m.
Feb. 15 ...13h 21m 7 53' south 3:53 A. M. 10:26 p. M.
Feb. 25 ...13b :lm 7 48' south 3:15 A. M. 9:45 P. it.
Distant Ncptnne.
Neptune, the most distant member of the so
lar system known, if wo exclude a few of those
erratic wandereis known as comets, though
having a diameter nearly fire times that of the
earth, is so far away as never to be seen by the
unaided eye, and a telescope of considerable
size is required to give him a well defined disk,
so as to distinguish him from a fixed star. He
is about 6 south and a little east of the Plei
ades, and his disk subtends an angle of
about 2".6.
It. A. Declination. Transits. Sets.
Feb. 5 3h 5lm 18 2.y north 7:0G P. M. 2:39 A. ji.
Feb. 15 ,...3h51m 18 !6' north 6:3P. M. Z:U)A. M.
Feb. 25.... 3h 61m 1S 27' north 5:47 r. M. 1:21 a. m.
Our Neighbor, tho Mood.
Tho moon presents the following phases:
First quarter. February 7, 4 P. M.
Full moon, February 15, 5 P. jr.
Last quarter, February 22, 7 P. M.
The moon is farthest from the earth on the
9th, when her apparent diameter is 29' CC";
nearest on tho 24th, when her apparent diametor
is 82' 23". She reaches her greatest altitude,
71 39'. on the 12th; her least 27 23', on the 25th.
The moon is in conjunction with Mars on the
2d, at 6 JO P. M., Mars being 3 51' north; with
Venus on the 3d, at 2:43 p. Jt, Venus being 5
37' north; with Neptune on the 8th, at 1123 A.
M., Neptune being 2 31' north; with Saturn on
the 14tn, at 735 P. M., Saturn being 1 05' south;
with Uranus on the 19th, at 226 p. M., Uranus
being 4 53' south; with Jupiter on the 21th, at 8
p. jr., Jupiter being 1 11' south; and with Mer
cury on the 27th, at 9 r. It, Mercury being 4 ID'
north. Bert V. Lutv.
JOINED BT HER SON.
Russell iTnrrlson Arrives nt the New York
Hotel Patronized by Ills Mother.
New York, February a Russell Harrison
arrived at the Gilsey House this afternoon, at
430 o'clock. Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. McKee
bad left the hotel at 2 o'clock and lunched at
the residence of Mr. Whitelaw Reid. The son
and brother followed them when he learned
where thev had gone.
At the Gilsey House it was said that Sirs.
Harrison would probably leave for borne
to-morrow evening or Tuesday morning.
A TAKING TUNE.
"1 will wed my love when the days sre warm.
When the sun on our path way glows, "
He sang as he sat by his fair one's side
And gazed on the drifting snows.
In vain she longed for a loving word
As she knelt by the hearth's red blaze.
For the song still rang in her lonely heart
He was waiting Tor "wanner days."
"I will wed my love wheb the days are cold,
When the nights are fierce with storm, ' '
Another sang, and clasped her close
To his bosom young and warm.
And the tardy lover sighed In vain
In the days of sultry June,
For the maid he loved had long since wed
The man with the other tune.
-& r. Extnlng Sun.
ODE mail men.
A Voice From the Lone Star State.
To the Kdltor of The Dlsoatch:
Through the kindness of Steubenville friends,
we have been permitted to read a copy of the
Sunday edition of The Dispatch of January
20, containing a reminiscence of Edgeworth
Seminary at Braddock's Field. I feel as though
I must express the great pleasure it has af
forded our aunt Miss Julia Boggs, also the
children and grandchildren of ourmother; for in
that galaxy of names enrolled as former pupils
at the seminary theie shone out "one bright,
particular star," which has ever been the pilot
star of our lives, and though three years have
flown by since that star has set, we know it has
risen on another shore, where it3 beams are
still shining in a clearer, holler light
Lilly Boggsl Tho name a very synonym of
all that is pure and sweet and trne. When
sons and daughters, in childhood clustered
about her knee, we never wearied listening to
the stories of her girlhood days,untU tho
names of "Braddock." "Mother Olver,"
"Aunt Gould," "Smithy," "Sissy Jane" and
many others became household words in our
home. "Mother Olver" surely wears many
stars in her crown that grand, queenly
woman who trained and educated our mother,
aunts and so many other noble, fine women,
though she was something of a stickler on the
subject of blood and family. I insist that when
the "Boggs girls" were placed, young and
motherless, in Mother Olver1! care her material
was most exquisite from which to chisel out
noblewomen! Ourmother ever cherished the
sweetest memories of Braddock, teacher?,
schoolmates; also of her childhood's home,
"dear old Pittsburg." Among some few relics
of those days we prize a picture of the semi
nary, just as it looked in olden time; also two
letters, yellow with aee, written to mother
after leaving school. Those letters are from
"Smithy."
I wonder, if any of the Braddock girls who
may be living, should they chance to peruse
these lines, would tbey like to know, after leav
ing school at Braddock, their friend and school
mate, Lilly Boggs, lived in St Louis awhile
with her aunt Mrs. Dent? There she met and
married Dr. Graham, a highly respected and
honored citizen and physician of that city.then
came to Texas, where tho reared a large family
of children, who "rise up and call them
blessed;" and though father and mother have
entered Into rest the influence of such lives
will not be lost but will be fragrant for genera
tions to come. Pardon me for trespassing on
yonr timo and space, but a Southern woman
onlv wished to lay one flower on the ruins of
dear old Braddock, which sheltered our sweet
mother in her girlhood days. The instructions
she received there are still living on and on,
and will to the end of time. "She being dead
yet speaketh." Ellen Graham,
Austin, TEX., January 30.
Tho Commanderv's Rejoinder.
To the Kdltor ofThe Dispatch:
Your issue of Saturday contains a copy of
the papers to a suit filed by a woman for dam
ages for being put out of a public Dall, held in
Imperial Hall, New Grant street on the 17th of
last month, by certain gentlemen who, from
the allegations made, handledherveryrougbly,
insomuch that she was badly bruised, wounded,
etc In justice to those persons, I ask you to
insert the following:
On the evening of the 17th of January last,
the members of Keystone Commandery No. 1,
A. O. K. of M. C., had assembled with their
ladies and friends for an evening's enjoyment,
and tho celebration of their anniversary.
Quite an artistic invitation had been struck
off. There was a friendly contest between
Keystone and Holmes Commandery, of the
East End, after which Toerge's orchestra
furnished the music for dancing. The com
mittee had gone to considerable expense to
make the affair as pleasant and as select as
possible, and 'it was not a public
ball or dance called a "reception and
drill." Those present can testify as to
how well the committee had succeeded, and
not one person can be found who. can answer
to having seen any such occurrence as de
scribed in the paper filed. The woman did not
come and present an invitation in company
with her husband, but came unaccompanied
and deliberately passed the doorkeeper, who
did not wish to use force to detain her. After
ward one member not five or six very quiet
ly and politely asked tho woman and
her husband to step to the door,
and when outside the door they were
quietly told that the affair was private. No
one in the hall knew anything of what had
taken place till Some time afterward. As to
our right to exclude persons from the society
of our wives and families the court will prob
ablv decide.
This is only written to present a true state
ment of the facts to your readers. The gen
tlemen whose names were mentioned are not
bullies as the paper would Indicate, but are
mucn esteemea and stand nign in ine com'
munity. member of the Commandery.
Pittsburg, February 3.
A Taxpayer's Perplexity.
To the Editor or The Dispatch:
How am I assessed? Accordingto tho assess
ment made by the county the valuation of my
property in the Third ward, Pittsburg, is G6J
per cent of the valuation put upon it by the
city. In the Fifth ward it is 63 per cent and in
the Seventh ward 108 per cent of the city valu
ation. In view of the above astessed valua
tions for the county, will the county taxes bo
equally and uniform ally levied for the year
1ES9? And further, when we consider that the
assessed valuations as compared with those of
1SSS have been largely increased, if the tax
will be equally and uniformally levied I fail to
see it.
In the Third ward. Pittsburg, my assessed
valuation for 18SS was $12,000, when the tax was
4 mills, making the county taxes on said prop
erty $48. This year the assessed valuation of
the same propertv is raised to $17,500. making
the county taxes $70, or $22 more than last year.
Now, with the growth, increased number of
buildings, etc, in the county it is claimed by
the County Commissioners that the same tax
on the same property is sufficient to pay all the
county obligations for the coming year. It is
also claimed by the County Commissioners that
tne tax levy lor istsv win oe i mms. jnow in tne
face of this, I can't see how it is right and
equitable to charge me more county taxes for
18S9 than I paid in 188S? AgaiD, what plea can
I give to appeal from thoso valuations when
neither the valuations o f 18S8 or 1889 aro whatthe
property is worth? If the valuation is In
creased the millage to raise tho same amount
of money as in 188S shonld be decreased to
make the tax equitable. The only proper plan
of valuation, therefore, should be for full cash
value of tho property, and tax all alike. It Is
queer, and incomprehensible to me, why taxes
shonld be creeping up all the time, while at the
same time the county and city are getting
wealthier every year. Is it business-like? Why
Is it? Taxpayer.
PiTTSnuito, Februarys
The Panama Canal.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
Please state briefly the importance to the
United States of having control of the pro
posed canal across the Isthmns of Panama.
Also stato the cause of the trouble between tho
United States and Samoa, and between the
United States and Hayti.
Home Student.
Allegheny, February 2L
L Thero aro many reasons why such control
would be Important one of which will perhaps
suffice. In case of war between this nation
and somo other' you can easily see that tho
United States would be at a great disadvan
tage if such a canal were in the hands of some
unfriendly power. Under such circumstances
this country would be unable to transport
troops or supplies by water to the Pacific coast
or from the Pacific coast eastward except by
the devious route via Capo Horn. With tho
canal in our possession we could control the
movements of inter-oceanic commerce and per
mit only our own ships or those of friendly na
tions to pass through. 2. If you had read The
Dispatch carefully of late you would not have
asked the second question.!
Boulnnger's Election.
To the Editor of tho Dispatch:
Will you please answer through your col
umns to what position in the French Govern
ment was Boulanger recently elected, and to
which office in this Governmentitcorresponds?
Subscriber.
Mushet, Va., February L
Elected a member of the Chamber of Depu
ties, corresponding to the House of Congress.
The significance of tho election is that he rep
resents one of the largest and most populous
departments or districts in the country.
An Interesting Question.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
If Harrison and Morton should both die be
fore the 4th of March next who would become
President on March 4, and bow long would he
serve? H. P.
Reynoldsvtlle, Pa., February Z
The Constitution and existing laws regard
ing Fresidental succession apparently do not
provide for such a contingency.
No Such Word.
To the Editor ofThe Dispatch:
Is there is such a word as "cxe" In our lan
guage? I think it is an old Cornish word signi
fying axle. E. M. B.
Braddock, February 2.
It is merely a corruption of axle, and not a
proper word.
CUEIODS CONDENSATIONS.
There are wild lands in Southwest Mis
souri that can bo bought for $14 a quarter
section.
Mt Hercules, in New Guinea, is the
highest monntain'in the world. Its height is
given as 32,768 feet The samo authority gives
Mt, Everest 29,002 feet.
John S. Bell.Chief of the United States
Secret Service, reports that for tl year ending
June 80 there were 407 arrests for counterfeit
ing. Of those arrested 146 were convicted, 165
dischared, and 96 cases are stiirnnUecided.
Forty-six of those arrested wero old offenders.
A faet or interest is that a largo percentage of
the counterfeiters are Italians.
As a result of the mild winter it is said
there is a glut of eggs in the New York mar
ket. The moderate weather has pcrsnaded the
hens all over the country to commence laying
much earlier than usual. Some old dealers be
lieve that there will be a scarcity of eggs later
in the summer. Thev believe in the theory that
a hen lays a certain number of egg in a year,
and if she lays more In an early warm season
she will lay fewer later on, or stop altogether.
Three horse3 had died mysteriously in
a Madras training staole. The owners, accord
ingly, sent to Calcutta for a doctor, who should
be able to put a name to the disease, and take
measures to prevent it spreading any further.
However, as when the medico arrived the
natives had already eaten the deceased ani
mals, there was not much evidence for him to
go upon. He is now awaiting the demise of
the hippophagists, in order that he may make
a report.
Captain L. C. Owen, of Vineyard
Haven, Mass., has prepared and presented to
the Committee on Commerce in Washington a
chart of tho Arctic Ocean, showing the location
of the loss of every whaler that has been
wrecked in that ocean. There have been 79
such losses, and 58 of them were near-Point
Barrow. The chart was prepared at the re
quest of the New Bedford Board of Trade and
of certain San Francisco firms, mainly as an
argument in favor of establishing a House of
Refuge at Point Barrow.
A California man borrowed a dog and
went gunning. The dog frisked about hither
and thither, hut didn't find game, and didn't
seem to want to. At last quite tired out, the
sportsman sat on a log and reviled the dog, who
didn't seem to care, but continued to frisk; and
play. Presently he began digging in the ground
in a very enthusiastic way. and Anally un
earthed a dark object. The gunner, who had
been watching him in sheer disgust, sauntered
over to seo what the fool had found. It was an,
old leather purse, and in it was $300 in gold and
$1 in silver.
James Dickey owns a farm in Fannin
county, Georgia, For years the Dickey family
has cultivated It, getting what could be raised
on its thin rocky soil. Mr. Dickey has worked
it from early boyhood. He won't work it any
longer, for a few months ago a Chicago firm
that is looking for marble in Georgia struck
this farm, and after prodding into its crevices
and gullies, told Mr. Dickey that they would
like to lease it for 100 years on a royalty for
every square foot of marble quarried, which
they guarantee shall reach $1,000 a month, and
not exceed $5,000 a month. Mr. Dickey tblnkl
this is good enough, and has leased his farm.
Miss Belle McArthur, aged 20, of Haw.
leyville. Conn., has a peculiar malady which
puts her Into a state of suspended animation
for several days, although her general health is
good. The attacks are occasional, and tho
young woman has no warning of their coming.
She suddenly loses all her will power, her
Sower of speech and the control of her muscles,
he is. in'fact to all appearances dead, and
life can be detected only by placing a mirror to
her lips to catch the moisture of her respira
tion. While in this state her senses become
more acute. Her hearing is especially sensi
tive, and she says the agony of knowing all that
goes on about her without any power of demon
stration is terrible.
James McCloud, of Lodi, Wis., owns a
horse on his Dakota farm which has eight feet
It is perfectly formed in all respects, except
that he has eight feet Not until the pastern
or fetlock joint is reached in the descent from
the shoulder to the foot is there any apparent
difference between this horso and any other.
But at the pastern joint or lower end of the
shin bone the branch begins, and two perfectly
formed feet are found, one on each of the four
legs. The horse runs on the range the same as
any, and Is as fast as most of them, and all
eight feet are shod, or may be if desired. Mc
Cloud has refused 52,500 for a bair Interest in
the curiosity, but he wants $5,000 outright for
the whole animal.
A young delivery clerk in a 'West
Chester grocery attempted to "spark" a ser
vant girl in the kitchen the other evening.
The young woman objected, and turning off
the gas went into another part of the house,
leaving the would-be "masher" in the Kitchen
in darkness. As a mode of revenge, he deter
mined to kiss the girl the next time he went to
the house. The following day, after he had
emptied the basket, the grocer's Lothario
seized the girl and was in a fair way to get in
his kiss when a poll parrot who had observed
the proceeding from its perch in a cage over
bead, cried out with surprising distinctiveness:
"Mistress, mistress, man got Mary! man got
Mary!" Tho young clerk let go in a hurry and
hasn't been seen around that house since.
Coltharp and Crown, placer mining on
Snake river, near Salmon Falls, Idaho, un
earthed a complete skeleton of a mastodon.
It was burled about 25 feet under ground. The
place had at one time evidently been a whirl
pool or eddy of the river. Many large bones
have been found there, but this last discovery
was a perfect skeleton, it having, without
doubt, been deposited there while the hide was
yet intact. It was about 16 feet IoDg, and it Is
estimated that the pile of bones would weigh
3,000 pounds or more. The tusks were between
six and seven feet long. The tusks and some
of the huge molars and other bones were, pre
served, but it was impossiblo to save the skele
ton entire, as soon after it was exposed it began
to crumble.
A ghost has caused a divorce suit and
broken up a once happy family in Blount
county, Alabama. About Ave years ago James
Martin married a Miss Noel, one of the belles
of the county. The young couple went to live
at the old Martin home, and all went well until
about a year ago. Mrs. Martin, naturally very
timid, heard a ghost rambling through the old
house one night and was badly frightened. She
told her husband about it, but he could hear
nothing, he said. From that time it became
nightly visitor at the Martin home. Mrs,
Martin wanted to leave tho old house at onse.
but her husband objected, declaring thostrango
noises heard were made by rats. Several times
Mrs. Martin, so she says, saw a white-robed
figure wandering through the old house, and
soon her nerves and health began to give way
under the strain. She was finally prostrated
by her fear of the ghost and went to the home
of her parents to recover her health and
strength. Fear of the ghost overcame love of
husband, ana Mrs. Martin refused to live with
him again. Martin tried in vain to induce his
wife to return to the hannted hou9e to live, but
she refused, and a few days ago he filed a suit
for divorce on the ground of abandonment
FCKKT MEN'S FANCIES.
A Chicago man claims to be living on 8
centsaweet. nothing is said about the father.
In-law he is probably living on also. Buffalo Ex
press.
A new novel has lately been published in
raised letters fflr the use of the blind. It is said to
evoke a great deal ol feeling. Terrs Haute .to.
prets.
Hannah More, it is related by tradition,
"never was kissed in her life." Is it possible
that this betrays the origin or the slang phrase,
rrhat's what's the matlerwith Ilannsh?" Snot
Letter.
"Wife "What a happy looking couple those
two are! I wonder how long they've been mar-,
ried?
Husband Oh, I guess they're only engaged.
Kev York Weekly.
Pride of Station. Prima Donna (proud.
lyV-H that Is the Prince of Wales at the door, tell
him that the queen of the operatic stage has no
desire to associate with mere princes.
Maid It .is nut the 1'rlnce, madam; It Is a soap
manufacturer.
"Oh! Admit hlm."-Mrw York Weekly.
"You would be sorry to lose yonr sister,
wouldn't you, Johnnie."' asked the visitor, sug
gestively, to the little boy who was entertaining
him in the drawlngroom. ".Nope," replied John
nie. "I gues3 1 could stand it, Mr. Hanklnson.
Slaw says I've got to wear short pants till after
Irene's marrlcd."-A'Jnc(erAoo Hough yottt.
Emily "What are you crying over, dear?
Julia Longrellow's Evangeline! It makes mo
sad that women don't appreciate love and con
stancy as they should.
(Servant enters with cards.)
Julia (after reading them)-ChollIo Jones and
Freddie de Browne. Oh,nowlovelyl Corae4owa
with me and help In the fun. lam engaged to
both of them. Texas Sifting.
A New Yorker's Bad Break. Philadel-phian-You
are very fond of society, I see. Do
you belong to theexcluslve 400?
New Yorker-X-o: unfurtuuately there is a dark
stain on uir social record.
"Indeed?"
"Yes, It's too true. I once walked two squares
on Firth avenue with a very dear friend or mine,
an eminent scientist who had on a suit of ready,
made clothing. "-Philadelphia Record.
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