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.THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH,'' MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1889.
ir
lije Bippicjj..
ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8. 184a
Vol. 41, So. IL Entered ai Pittsburg Post
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PITTSBURG, 1IOXDAY, FEB. 18, 1SS9.
A TIMELY SERMON.
Rev. "W. J. Holland's sermon yesterday,
on the text "Thou shalt not steal," was aa
instructive and far-reaching discourse. It
started out with a reference to a petty and
vulgar theft from which he and other mem
bers of the church were sufferers; but did
not stop with the useless work of telling
church members that they must not carry
off other people's wearing apparel. It took
into consideration the much more vital
question of respectable forms of dishonesty
and ranked them all in the classification of
infringements upon this fundamental moral
law.
Possibly the principle was not directly
stated in the form that, to obtain the money
or property of others without a fair return
is a violation of the principle of honesty
enjoined in this text; but that was never
theless the foundation of the whole argu
ment, This is what makes gambling an
offense against the moral law; and it gives
the same status to all the fashionable false
pretenses among which the clergyman
Terr justly included stock manipulation,
the sale of adulterated goods and of staples
purporting to be other than what they arc
How great a need there is for the pulpit to
attack these evils is shown by the fact that
the financial powers of the country are now
engaged in the attempt to sustain a railway
capitalization declared by the highest rail
way statistical authority to contain $4,000,
000,000, or one-half of watered securities:
and that the most accepted method of at
taining rapid fortune is in selling stocks on
which from one-fifth to one-half of their par
has been actually paid in.
It is the attempt to gain money without
giving the fair and honest return for it
which forms the foundation of commercial
equity that is demoralizing this nation. It
' is time that the pulpit and the press joined
in exposing this evil; and we are glad to
count Ecv. W. J. Holland among its op
ponents. IKSTBUCTTVE FIGURES.
The report from the examination of the
Farmers and Mechanics' Bank, on the
Southside, showing 189,000 of assets to pay
$320,000 of liabilities, is a tolerably plain
statement of the results ot leaving a finan
cial institution to be run without close su
pervision and frequent inspection. The J
disappearance of more than halt the re
sources, including the capital, can hardly
be explained, except on the theory of gross
diversion of the funds on the part of those
who had their immediate handling; and al
most equally gross negligence on the part of
those who knew nothing of the disappear
ance of the assets, but whose business it was
to know of it. Such things cannot be pre
vented unless directors make it their busi
ness to direct Even when they do, it is a
great incentive to careful and honest bank
ing to have close supervision by external
authority. It is worth while to remember
that while there have been some half dozen
cases in this city during the past fifteen
years in which banks were completely
cleaned out, none of them have occurred in
the closely supervised national banking
system, which comprises four-filths of the
banking capital and nine-tenths of the
backing business of the two cities.
TOBACCO AND SUGAR.
The bill for repealing the tobacco tax is
looming up as about the only revenue re
duction measure that has any possible
chance of passage this session. It is not
grateful to Mills bud Carlisle, bnt it has
Democratic support enough to get it through
the House with the aid of the Republicans;
and the very fact that the Hills wing dis
likes it, is likely to make the Republicans
warm in its favor.
Any measure to cut off a portion of the
unnecessary revenue is better than none ;
but the motives which control the attitude
of all sides on this particular point are far
from that broad ground of acting for
tne best interests of the whole country
which should be the basis of all legislation.
The Republican support of the bill is based
on the expectation that it will make tariff
reduction more difficult; the Democratic op
position to it is for the same reason that it
will interfere with their pet theories ; and
the Democrats who support it do so avowedly
in the interest of their especial industries.
"Would it not be a rather severe com
mentary on the influences which control
legislation if the result of the two years'
fight should be to take the tax off chewers
and smokers and leave iton the breakfast and
dinner tables of the land in the shape of an
eighty per cent burden on sugar?
DANGEROUS FOR ALGER.
The statement that Alger of Michigan,
who was invited to the Ohio banquet to
rpite Senator Sherman, publicly declared
his intention of bringing Sherman to ac
count for reported remarks about the means
used to capture delegates for Alger at Chi
cago, may be disagreeable for Sherman, and
also dangerous for Alger.
The "Wolverine millionaire's declaration
is a good deal like that of the proverbial
man who asserted: "Jones called me a
thief and I am going to make him prove
it" If Alger should make it necessary for
Sherman to prove it, the outcome might be
worse for the former than lor the latter.
In this attitude the Michigan millionaire
relies upon his consciousness that he did no
buying of delegates, nor had knowledge of
it It is not understood that Senator Sher
man or anyone else charges that he had.
But if Senator Sherman was forced to back
up the assertion that money furnished by
Alger in such quantities as could only be
needed for corruption, and lodged in the
hands of those who might be expected to nse
it in that way, did actually purchase
ignorant or unscrupulous delegates, we
fancy that the impassive Ohio Senator wonld
find.no difficulty in making matters exceed
ingly unpleasant for his Michigan op
ponent The fact is that Alger's Presidental can
didacy had no other foundation or inspira
tion than his barrel. It stood avowedly on
that basis at Chicago, ana the vote that it
secured from other States than Michigan
represented about the purchasable propor
tion of the convention.
FORAKER'S YARN.
A story was told by Governor Foraker
the other night at Columbus, which was in
tended to show conclusively the necessity of
a clean sweep upon the inauguration of
Harrison. It is worth while to consider, it
less as a demonstration of the alleged neces
sity than as an illustration of the logic of
the opponents of civil service reform.
The Ohio Governor related, as told to him
by the President-elect, that an Indiana re
former called upon the Jatter during the
campaign and urged that if elected he
should make no removals except for cause.
General Harrison listened and replied:
"My friend, can you name to me a single
one ot Mr. Cleveland's appointees in this
State whom I could afford to keep in office
if I should be so fortunate as to be elected?"
According to. Governor Foraker, the civil
service reformer could not do so, and went
away very sorrowful.
There arc some inherent reasons for ques
tioning the authenticity of the story. In
the first place, while the usual gap between
political promises and political perform
ance arouses a not unnatural doubt as to
Mr. Harrison's views on civil service re
form since the election, it is not likely, that
before the election the candidate was in
dulging in anti-reform talk to reformers
especially in a close State like Indiana.
No better proof of that fact need be adduced
than his letter of acceptance. Then, too, as
to the character of Mr. Cleveland's ap
pointees, it happens to be the fact that since
the alleged conversation the United' States
District Attorney at Indianapolis, who was
then in office, has retired, with the praise
and indorsement of both the Republican
and Democratic press; which would indi
cate either that the reformer must have
been very dumb or that the Republican
papers have since been subsidized to white
wash an unsavory official.
But the logic of Forakcr's story is even
more shady than its facts. The argument is
that the request of the former was im
practicable because of the bad character of
the Democratic appointees. The audience
to which Governor Foraker addressed this
syllogism was not searching for its weak
points. All his hearers wanted was an as
surance thatthepap would boponred out. But
anyone else would have had no difficulty in
seeing that the reform proposition was only
that removals should not be made, except
for cause. If appointees are corrupt or in
competent there is sufficient cause for re
moval; and therefore the reoly attributed
to General Harrison was no reply at all;
and he would be a remarkably weak speci
men of the reformer who could not make the
obvious rejoinder.
The coming President's course on patron
age may be a sealed book; but Governor
Foraker's Btory is solely useful as showing
that Foraker is after bread aud butter.
FAILUBE OF STATE AEBITSATION.
Attention is called to the very positive lack
of results secured by State arbitration, by a
resolution in the New York Assembly ask
ing the State Board of Mediation to report
what it had done in connection with the
recent street railway strikes in New York
and Brooklyn. The Sun pungently says
that the board "might reply with equal
brevityand truth: 'AYe tried to do something
to earn our salaries, but failed as usual.' "
It is a cogent fact that during the two or
three years in which New York has had an
official board for mediation in labor dis
putes, no strike has been compromised by
its efforts, though the State has been the
scene of the most bitter and disastrous dis
putes in the country. Other States, Penn
sylvania for cxample,have had fewer strikes
and more in which a voluntary compromise
have been reached. The results seem to fully
vindicate the oft-repeated opinion of The
DiSPATCH,that while the spirit that resorts
to arbitration is invaluable in lessening the
bitterness and brute force of wages disputes,
it cannot be called into existence by legal
enactments. Voluntary arbitration should
be the universal resort; but people cannot
be forced to arbitrate by law.
The absconding treasurer of a New
England town has written back a proposi
tion to supply his former townsmen with
Canada 'ice this summer. This looks like
very solid coolness; but it has its practical
recommendations. In the first place it is
possible that the treasurer would make so
much money at this business that he could
refnnd the defaulted money without feeling
it, and in the next place he might offer a
great indeccment to public honesty by
proving that at the impending prices for ice
money can be made faster and more easily
than by stealing it.
Senatob Dee, of Venango, as a candi
date for the Republican Gubernatorial nom
ination, is such a distinct improvement on
the average that his success is likely to be
set down among the things that are too good
to be true.
The President has jnst sent in another
pension veto which does not leave the
honors with Congress. He vetoes the bill
because the pensioner was given a pension
of exactly the same amount three years ago,
by a bill in exactly the same language,
which the President then signed. Probably
the pension railroaders will object to this
petty criticism of their practice of duplicat
ing pensions; but on the whole it will be
discreet of them to be silent.
That cook who has obtained prominence
in the Church divorce case at Columbus,
earns her great fame by a rather unprofess
ional success in -serving up an unsavory
dish.
The story that Governor Hill is turning
all the Cleveland Democrats out of the
offices which he controls in New York, is
the natural sequence of the fact that the
Cleveland interest has no longer a quid pro
quo to render in the shape of the national
patronage. The effect of this policy will
doubtless be to strengthen the Democratic
disposition to worship Ihe rising and turn
their backs on the setting sun.
The talk of ex-Governor Foster, of Ohio,
for Secretary of Treasury, is very largely
watered stock. That is what the ex-Ohio
politician has been dealing in of late years.
The boom for Congressman Thomas, of
Illinois, as Secretary of the Navy, con
tinues. It certainly has the recommenda
tion that under his administration of the
Navy Department it would not be necessary
to insert in the naval appropriation bill the
extraordinary proviso that vessels are to be
built "according to plans furnished by
Congressman Thomas, of Illinois."
One of the most striking commentaries on
the grade crossing bill is furnished bv the
fact that the day after it passed the House,
a railway train ran into a street car at Ches-
ter, Pa., injuring fonr out of five passen
gers. The injured people will be likely to
claim that they need protection as much as
residents in cities of the first and second
class.
Aftek Piatt, New and Foster, of, Ohio,
have been nAmed for Secretary of the Treas
ury, the ascendancy of "Windom will be ac
cepted as a public boon.
The scheme to reopen the Coliseum by a
game of baseball between the circumnavi
gating American teams, has been vetoed by
the Roman authorities. Although it would
be in accordance with the ancient record, it
was not deemed wise to revive the antique
custom by permitting Captain Anson to
martyr the umpire.
The half-breed war out in Dakota indi
cates a passionate determination on the part
of that nondescript class to preserve their
hereditary privileges as Indians not taxed.
PEOPLE OP PROMINENCE.
Hon. Sidney L. Baiitlett, of Boston, who
last week celebrated his 90th birthday, is still
actively engaged in the practice of law.
Dr. T. H. Hays, a graduate of a Baltimore
medical school, has been appointed permanent
medical officer of the Bangkok Hospital, Siam.
The hospital is under the immediate care of tho
King of Siam.
Mns. James G. Blaine, Jit's stage name is
to be Mary Nevins 'Blaine. "She will travel
with an aunt, a maid and a nurse for her child,
but without a special car, and in a quiet, unos
tentatious way."
Philip A. Kakey, of Now York, wants to
present tho New York Park Commissioners
with tho cottage on Fordham Hill, where Ed
gar Allan Poo lived a long time and wrote somo
of his most striking poems.
K.B. Ball, the nearest living relative of
George Washington, occupies a stall in tho
south corridor of the. pension building at
Washington, where he sells cigars and fruit to
the clerks. He is nearly SO years old, and bears
a striking resemblanco to the father of his
country.
The oldest school teacher in active servico
in Vermont is A. 1. Searles, who began teach
ing in 1841 at tho ago of 19. Ho obtained his
first certificate from the poet John G.Saxe.
Ho is now in control of tho school which tho
late Sir Curtis M. Lamson gave to the village
of New Haven Mills, Vt Lamson was born in
this village and was knighted by Queen Vic
toria for tho part ho took in the laying of tho
Atlantic cable.
Levi Woodman, a Tutnam county, Indiana,
farmer, has just completed a gavel which he
will present to the Vice President-elect The
gavel is made of Indiana walnut, and is orna
mented with silver and ivory. It is capped
with a dome, in imitation of that on the Capitol
at AVashington. It is inlaid with strips ot ivory
representing each State in tho Union, and tho
silver bands, two in number, are inscribed with
the name of tho Vice President, "U. S. A,"
"Constitution" and "E pluribus unum."
Count von Moltke is very old, deaf and a
martyr to a bad liver. Yet he carries himself
easily and seems a well-preserved man. Tall
and lean, he is slightly bunt; his smoothly,
shaven face has the color of old ivory; the tall
brow is surmounted by a blonde wig (although
his portraits are painted without the peruke);
two gray-blue eyes look at you almost cruelly;
the lips aro thin, and the nose long, straight
and strong; a pair of long, muscular ears, and
a small and closed mouth complete a set of
features which givo every sign of discretion, if
not of taciturnity.
THE SETEX-TEAE EPOCH.
A Fecnllnr Feature in Ibo Petroleum Mar
ket Forcing Up Lima Oil.
Special Telegram to The Dispatch.
FlNDLAY, February 17. Major Matland, who
has charge of tho iron tank building depart
ment of the Standard Fipo Line in this part of
Ohio, in an interview here this morning on oil
and matters connected with its production,
handling and storage, gave expression to
several interesting features of the business.
Tho Major is an old-time producer himself,
having at one time been a prominent figure in
the development of the Clarion (Pa.) oil field.
He is a gentlemen of superior intelligence and
close observation.
In speaking of the vicissitudes and remark
able changes that are witnessed in the oil busi
ness, he considered it a remarkable circum
stance that so few of the fraternity ever con
ceived the idea of solving the problem of lifo
by the suicide route. There was one feature,
he said, that perhaps but few noticed, and that
Has the fact that ouco in seven years the daily
production and price managed to return to their
former positions as if to fake a fresh start The
early part of 18S2 and that of 18S9 were
very similar in the respects named. For many
years past the gentleman has felt bearish on
the subject of price. But like all flesh and
other things he feels compelled to enter this
fresh seven-year epoch on the bull side of the
oil business. Ohio grease is still, to the bear, a
conundrum. The wise plan for its care has
been taken by tha Standard, to store it in the
f round, instead of in big tanks on the surface,
t must be largely used for fuel purposes, but
as to future values his convictions are not as
settled as when Pennsylvania stuff is under
consideration.
Yesterday news spread of the appearance in
the field of a representative of a Lima refining
company, who proposed to pay 18 cents a barrel
for all the nil ho could obtain in Wood or Han
cock counties. It is therefore expected that
the market a ill shortly be forced out of the 15
cent groove, in which it has played so long.
FAEHEES TEOTEST
Against the Taxation of Sheep and Ihe Sale
Chicago Beef.
Special Telegram to The Dlsoatch.
"Washington, Pa., February 17. The Farm
ers' Institute held here yesterday under the
auspices of the State Board of Agriculture,
adopted the following relative to the taxation
of sheep and the inspection of meat:
"Whereas, The wool-growing business of our
county has at different times received serious
checks from injudicious tariff legislation and
kindred causes; and
Whereas, A convention of County Commission
ers of the State, recently held In the city of Erie,
prepared a revenue- bill and have petitioned the
LegislatureTor the passage of the same, which we
arc lnformea will result In the taxation of our
sheep; therefore be It
Kesolved, That we, as farmers and wool grow
ers, enter our protest against any legislation look
ing toward the taxing ofan Industry now reduced
to a very low standard of profits.
Whereas, The cattle Interests are being ser
iously depressed from the result of diseased meat
oriow-class cattle being sold In all our markets as
dressed beef, and
Vt hcreas. The consumers of beef are not bene
fited In the way ol low prices, but that great
profits are realized by the dressed meat monopo
lies, whonotonly control the prices paid for cat
tle and also control the prices of dressed meats in
all the principal markets; therefore be It
Kesolved, That we heartllv Indorse the meat
Inspection bill now before the Legislature, and
urge our members to give It their earnest support
A PEEACHEE ANU PITCHEE.
Rov. W. 31. Smith, Who Can Fill Both Posi
tion!!, Gets a Good Place.
Special Telegram to The Dispatch.
New Yobk, February 17. The Rev. "Walton
Merle Smith, of Cleveland, O.. has accepted the
unanimous call of the members of the Central
Presbyterian Church, of this city, and will be
installed as its pastor probably on March 17
next The Rev. Mr. Smith will fill the position
occupied by the late Rev. Dr. J. D. Wilson, who
died in June last The Rev. Walton Merle
Smith has won fame, both as a minister of the
gospel and as a baseball player. He was a
member of the class of '77, in Princeton, and,
as pitcher of the college nine, helped the college
to keep the inter-coUegate baseball champion
ship for three years. He was converted when
Moody and Sankey visited Princeton, in 1876.
One summer he preached in his native town
of Elmira, in the Rev. Thomas K. Beechcr's
Eulpit, and often pitched a game in the local
aseball club. Ho preached a month, one sum
mer. In the Dutch Reformed Church, at Forty
eighth street and Fifth avenue, and married,
whileinNew York, MlssZaidee Van Santvoord,
daughter of Commodore Alfred Van Saflt
voord, owner of the clay line of steamers plying
between this city and Albany. He has been
pastor of tho First Presbyterian Church, in
Cleveland, about three years. His salary in
New York will be $7,000 a year.
Not That Kind of a Job.
From the Charleston (W. Va.) Star.
Among the things which are not "put up
jobs" may be mentioned, the proposed Grant
monument, in New York, and it looks very
much as though it never will be.
Onlr One Man Hart.
From the Atlanta Constitution.",
The Samoan war scare appears to be over.
Secretary Bayard was the only one wounded on
our side.
O'BEIEK-BAIN GOSSIP.
i The BIblea on Which Presidents Take the
Oath of Office Senator Jones on Nevada
Politics A Clear Cnsc of Non-Residence.
tCOREESPOXDENCE OF THE DISPATCH.!
Washington, February 17. Clerk McKcn
ney. of the United States Supremo Court, is
about to purchase the Biblo on one of the pages
of which General Harrison will imprint a kiss
as he becomes President of the United States
two weeks from next Monday. The sacred
tomes which have been used for a President's
first oath have in the past been presented to
some near relative of the family as a memento
of a momentous occasion. This custom was
not followed in President Cleveland's case. As
will be remembered, he took the oath on a
Bible belonging to bis mother. Mr. McKen
ney opened the safe in his piivato office for my
benefit tho other day and took from the paste
board box the Bible which he had bought for
tho inauguration ot President Cleveland. It
was a handsomely bound volume, morocco
covered, and in size a large octavo. It still re
tained the tissue paper that surrounded the
rich and fragrant leather the day it left the
manufacturer's bands. I asked Mr. McKen
ney what he was going to do with the book.
"1 really don't know." he replied. "In a
strictly economic mood, tho other day. I al
most determined that as the Bible was as per-
luui as tut uay .l uuugui lb- iuur years ago, 1
would use it for tho ensuing ceremony, I bavo
decided not .to do this, however, and the Bible
will probablv rest with the other curious souv
enirs of tho Supreme Court"
Mr. McKennoy, in referring to the several in
augurals in which he had played by no means
an unimportant part, explained how narrowly
he watched the spot in the open page on which
the lips of the Chief Magistrate have rested.
As soon as the kiss is imprintedhe would mark
the spot with his finger nail, and lightly touch
it with a pencil afterward.
The Bible that President Arthur kissed was
presented to Miss Nellie Arthur by Mr. Mc
Kenney, and the Garfield Bible was handed to
Mrs. Garfield by Mrs. McKcnney on the 5th of
March. Ib81.
Mr. McKenney's predecessor, D. W. Middle
ton, was in office when President Hayes took
the oatb, but the present clerk was selected to
present the Bible to Mrs. Hayes. As Mr. Mc
Kenney handed the Bible to Mrs. Hayes in one
of the parlors of tho Executive Mansion Mrs.
Hayes said: "I hope Mr. McKenney will be
kind enough to read the verses aloud.'1 Those
present grouped themselves around as ho com
plied with the request of Mrs. Hayes. Tho
last of the verses read: "And they oppress me
-yea, they persecute me-but in the name of
the Almighty God will I destroy them." Mrs.
Hayes laughed good humoredly and said: "Oh,
no; I don't believo that anybody will be de
stroyed." Then she accepted the Biblo, and
instructed Mr. McKenney to present to Mr.
Middleton her warmest thanks for tho gift
NcTnda Campaign Expenses.
Senator Jones, of Nevada, resents the charge
so often made and repeated, that political cor
ruption is common in hi State. "I once had
occasion," he said a few days ago, "to tell
Charles Dana some plain facts about Nevada.
Ho had said in his paper that ours was the ono
State in the Union where votes were bought
and sold openly, and without restraint. I
dropped In to see him not long after the publi
cation, and asked him ou what authority he
based his statement I told him what is
perfectly true that there was no State in tho
Union where it would be so difficult to buy
votes. To buy a vote in tho Legislature would
be impossible. The members of tho Legisla
ture are instructed, and they would not dare
return to their people.if they violated their In
structions. As to buying votes at the polls
mat is almost out oi tne question, ino voter
has CO feet clear to go bctoro depositing his
ballot, and in that CO feet no one can approach
him. It would be very foolish to attempt to
buy votes, for the man who bought would never
know whether he got a delivery or not I think
our laws are the most stringent and tho most
effective in tho United States."
I asked Senator Jones how it was that elec
tions cost so much money. "That is easily ex
plained," he said. "You have to conduct your
campaign on an expensive plan because com
mittees arc scattered, and your speakers bavo
to spend a great deal on traveling expenses.
Then you have to pay your speakers and orga
nizers a great deal of money for their services.
Money is not worth as much there as it is here.
Finally, and the last item H by no means tho
least, you are continually meeting people you
havo known for years and are hard up. They
want a hundred or two to pay the grocer or
something. They aro your friends, and if you
are flush you'd help them out anyhow. Only it
happens that in an election contest you come
into contact with them more than at any other
time, and so they form a serious feature in your
expense account ,
Cliallcstrlng Stiffs.
Senator Jones tells a capital story. He was
telling a little crowd at John Chambcrlin's the
other night something about elections in
Nevada and tho trouble ho had in organizing
the only year that ho had opposition of a ma
terial character. Ho was strengthening his
fences as best he could, and ono day one of his
lieutenants came to him with the information
that there was ono loop-hole that had not been
guarded. No arrangement had been made, he
said, to voto "stiffs." Tho Senator asked what
"stiffs" were.
"Peoplo that's dead or has moved," was tho
reply.
"But I don't want to vote dead people," said
tho Senator. "Can't you prevent these "stiffs'
being voted?"
"I guess so," said the organizer; "but it will
cost a good deal less to vote them. You see,
we can vote them all ourselves before 9 o'clock
In the morning, but if you want to keep them
from being voted you'll have to keep watch all
day."
"I think I prefer keeping watch all day," said
Senator Jones. "What will it cost?"
"It will be very expensive," 6aid the organ
izer. "I'll have tq keep a challenger at each
voting place, and I wouldn't care to ask him to
risk his life and stand there all day for less
than SCO."
Tho details were finally arranged, and tho
challengers organized. When the polls wero
opened in Virginia City they were at their
places ready to challenge any man who could
not present a good title to the name he claimed.
As the day was coming to a close, a big Irish
man came to the voting place in a precinct of
the Ninth ward, and announced his name as
John Donovan.
"I challenge that vote," said a tall, slender
man who stood near the judges.
iiome iorwara ana mane tne necessary
affirmation," said the judge. "On what ground
do you challengo it?"
"On the ground of non-residence," said the
challenger. "John Donovan died in the Fourth
ward and was buried in the Third six months
ago."
The challenge was sustained.
A Reminiscence.
A figure that attracted somo attention and
comment on the floor of the House of Repre
sentatives Wednesday was that of ex-Senator
Ferry, of Michigan. Mr. Ferry came over from
the Senate Chamber with the members of the
Senate to witness the counting of tho electoral
votes. What a contrast there was between the
peaceful, regular proceedings of "Wednesday
and the tumult that marked the adjournment of
the joint session 12 years ago, when in tho
midst of a howling mob of angry men. Senator
Ferry announced that Rutherford B. Hayes
had been elected President of the United
8tates. There were many familiar faces to re
mind him of that day. Randall, who as
Speaker of the House, had sat beside him when
he declared the result of the ballot; Blackburn,
now a"Senator, but then one of the leaders of
the filibustering in the House; fcpringor, who
helped Blackburn to delay the proceedings un
til Congress had sat in joint session without
adjournment for two weeks. During that ses
sion there was constant danger that the coun
try would be plunged In domestic strife. On
Wednesday the proceedings were -as quiet as
though the House was passing a batch of pen
sion bills. Nothing disturbed the common
place character of the proceedings but the
crowd in the galleries and about the floor.
A Spirit message.
James G. Blaine was a conspicuous fiiura at
the theater last week. Mr. Blaine is usually
conspicuous, but he attracted more than usual
attention on this occasion. He sat in a box
near the stage, and watched Herrmann passing
silver dollars through the crown of a hat, and
doing other interesting and impossible things.
Presently the spirit hand was brought out and
placed on the glass table. It rapped out an
swers to several questions in a mysterious man
ner. Then Herrmann said: "Will James G
Blaine bo the next Secretary of State?" and
the hand slowly rapped out the answer. "Ye."
The audience applauded tumultously and
every eye in the liouso was turned in the di
rection of tho statesman from Maine. But ho
sat quite unmoved and apparently unconcerned.
"When tho performance was over he went be
hind the, scenes at Herrmann's invitation and
examined the machinery used in the display of
the magician's black art
Nothing attracts an audience as much as a
local "gag" of this character. Alluslonstomen
in public life made In topical songs or inter
polated dialogue are always sure of a hearty
welcome from a Washington audience. The
comedian often labors under a peculiar disad
vantage here, however. Ono of the favorite
subjects for the topical song is tho recent
election or the President or his wife, and it is
frequently necessary to cut out a verse or two
from a favorite song because the President or
Mrs. Cleveland are In the theater. No one has
any inclination or desire to offend the Presi
dent and his charming wife, and nothing that
could be distasteful to them is ever said or
sung on the stage while they are in the theater.
O'Bbien-Bain.
A H0DSE FULL OP GHOSTS.
Weird and Unearthly Sights Observed la a
Deserted Resldouce.
Charleston, B. C. February 17. For years
and years the house of the Trummonds, in the
Joyce branch neighborhood of Barnwell county,
has been known as "tho haunted house." Tho
story goes that on dismal, rainy nights the
ehostly visitations are manifest Dy tho house
being suddenly brilliantly illuminated by an
unearthly light Doors are slammed and clank
ing chains proclaim the presence Of an invisible
visitor who treads heavily about the house, but
never troubles the inmates except by the noise.
The illuminations proceed from the hearths.
Without an instant's warning fire blazes in
empty fireplaces and throws a weird light that
gives the windows from the outside the appear
anco of hugo locomotive headlights. This al
ways occurs In the dead of night, between 12
and 2 o'clock, never lasting but a few seconds.
No member of the Trummond family ever
died a violent death. Two generations of tho
family have lived there. These charges against
theii abode are partly admitted by the family,
but they never talk upon the subject when It
can be avoided.
On last Saturdav nir-ht the mvsterv of vears
was deepened. A wagon load of colored folks
returning from a meeting passed the housoat
midnight They were singing a campmeetine
hymn, when, as they passed directly in front of
the house, an unearthly glamor shot from tho
windows athwart their terror-stricken forms.
The mule attached to the vehicle darted to
ward darkness, carrying his shrieking and
praying load swiftly from the scene. The yells
of the frightened colored peoplo awoke every
one for a half mile about them. Soon a sheet
of flamo shot skyward apparently from the
chimney of the Trummond residence, wavered
for an instant and vanished. The air was damp
and the sky cloudy, but no rain was falling, and
the atmospherical conditions were not as favor
able for the ghostly flame as on occasions when
It had appeared in a less striking degree. The
flamo was intense, and rendered the smallest
objects in tho vicinity distinctly visible. No
one approached the houso that night, although
the inmates remained inside. The family were
ignorant of thero having been a ghostly illu
mination of mtro than usual brilliancy. Doors
had slammed that night and lights appeared.
This story, as improbable as it seems, is
vouched for bv persons of tho utmost trust
worthiness. B. L. Perkins, a prominent
farmer, who lives near the haunted house, says
that he has frequently seen the flames. The
storr was published by the Sun this afternoon,
and telegraphic inquiries from Barnwell bring
tho answer that it is correct in all essential
facts.
SECEET SOCIETY 31EN AROUSED.
Remonstrances Against tho Passage of tbo
Insurance Commissioners' Bill.
Special Telegram to The Dispatch.
HAKRisnuRG, February 17. A large number
of petitions will be presented to the Legisla
ture next week, against the passage of tho in
surance commissioners' bill, to regulate tho
business of friendly societies for protective
purposes, which, it is maintained, is a covert
attack and intended to injuro such beneficial
societies a? tho Ancient Order of United Work
men, Royal Arcanum, Knights of Honor,
American Legion of Honor, Order of Sparta,
Order of United Friends, Artisans' Order of
Mutual Protection, Knights of Birmingham,
and Merchants' and Salesmen's Beneficial As
sociation. These orders havo a membership in tho State
ranging from 15,300 to 16,000. and which have
paid millions of dollars to families of deceased
members and will pay over 8100,000,000 to tho
families of those who are now members. Tha
petitions being circulated for signatures say:
!'The bills are inartificially drawn, and are
wholly in tho interest of corporations which aro
conducted for profit, and against the interest
and rights of men ot moderate means, who are
unablo to pay the high cbarces of such corpor
ations for needed protection."
Commissioner Foster says tbeso organiza
tions are creatlv mistaken as to the purpose of
the bills to which objection is made, saying
they do not apply to them in the least But to
remove all doubt as to their object, theso fra
ternal orders will be specifically exempted
from their provisions.
A DKOWSY HOSOrOLY.
Pullman Closes Contracts for Sleeping Cars
With the Transcontinental Railroads.
Chicago, February 17. The Times this
morning says: George M. Pullman has se
cured a practical monopoly of tho sleeping car
service of both classes of travel on tho entire
system of tho transcontinental railroads. Ho
has just closed a contract with the Union Pa
cific for managing tho second-class sleeping
car servico of that line in connection with the
Central Pacific Tho Pullman company has
already a contract with the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe. which also covers the Southern
Pacific from San Francisco to ilojave, and it
has also placed the Northern Pacific on its
list It will establish a uniform second-class
rato of $3 for the trip between San Francisco
and tho Missouri river, and has put that rate
into effect on the Atchison between tho coast
and Kansas City. The rato between Chicago
and San Francisco will be H.
The first-class sleeping car rates are $13 SO
from Chicago, and $13 from tho Missouri river
to San Francisco. The application of the new
system to tho Union Pacific will result in the
withdrawal of the excursion agents on that
road from various eastern and western points.
The Denver and Rio Grande is the only trans
continental line not included in the deal, but a
contract will probably be made with it in a
short time,
A BEAYER DEADLOCK.
Conferees Cnnnot Agree Upon a Itcpnbllcnn
Nominee for Burgess.
Special Telegram to The Dispatch.
Beaveb Falls, February 17. A compli
cated state of affairs has arisen out of the con
test for Burgess in this city, and never in the
history of the town has there been such excite
ment over a nomination as that which tho re
cent Republican primaries has brought about
James Piper, the present Burgess, and C. C.
Sullivan are the candidates, and at the
primaries of the six wards IS conferees wero
elected, 9 being for Piper and 9 for Sullivan.
At the nominating conference last night, both
sides refused anything looking toward a com
promise, and, after a deadlock of five hours,
during which S3 ballots were taken, tho confer
ence adjourned without accomplishing any
thing in the way ff a nomination. The con
ferees will meet again Monday evening, and if
a compromise is not effected the matter will
be submitted to the people. At present both
sides are as firm as ever, and durirg to-day
band-bills were printed and distributed about
town in the interest of one of tho candidates.
The office pays about S1.000 a year, and, com
bined with that of Justice of the Peace, the
holder may make $200 more. The Democrats
have nominated D. W. Close, a Grecnbacker,
and hope to elect him.
IT WON'T SUIT SCHUOLMARJIS.
If the ItlnnnnI Trninine Bill Pnsscs Thoy
Must Learn Woodwork.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
HARmsBcr.G, February 17. The manual
training bill of tho Industrial Commission, in
troduced in the Houso after months of labor,
has a paragraph in it which will not be particu
larly relished by tha ladies. Thi3 paragraph
provides "that after the first day of April,
1890, no certificate or diploma for teaching
shall be grautcd by any normal school to any
student or other person who shall not have
completed a course of training In woodwork."
Three bills providing- for uniformity in text
books have already been Introduced in the
Legislature, and next week Representative
Beatty, of Fayette, will read another in place.
This bill will leave it optional with the school
directors of counties and cities to adopt uni
form textbooks after a vote by the people on
the question.
ALL EEF0E3LEKS.
A Notable Party Leave Kcw York to Hold a
Conference In Chicago.
New York, February 17. A delegation of
tax reformers, tariff reformers, and free
traders from theso parts, headed byHenry
George, left to-night on the 6 o'clock train for
Chicago, by the New York Central. The con
ference will take place there on Tuesday.
In the party to-day were Rev. Hugh Pente
cost Herbert Boggs, of Newark; W. T. Crons
dale and James Guenet. There wero about 20
in the party. ,
DEATHS OP A DAL
Rov. Dr. Thomas Storr.
Special Telcsram to The Dispatch.
Mt. PleasaSt, February 17. Hev. Dr. Thomas
Storr, one of the oldest and most popular minis'
ters In the Pittsburg Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, died here this morning, after
suffering for the past week from pnenmonla.
He was horn February 8, 1824, near Elizabeth,
Washington county, and graduated as a physician
fromthe Cincinnati College in ISIS, practicing
medicine ror the following 11 years at Farmlug
ton. F.iyettc county. He entered the ministry in
18o7, and scrcd during the war as chaplain or
Colonel Quay's regiment the One Hundred and
Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers. He had
been President or the SUnlsterial Heller Asocli
tlou or his church since Its Institution, and It Is
expected that a largejumbrr of his brother min
isters will be present Tuesday at 2 p. Mr, -when the
funeral services will beheld in the Methodist
vuuituui luiaiuacc.
ODE MALL POUCH.
A Bankruptcy Lair Needed.
To the Editor of The Dispatch)
The "Associated Grocers" of St Louis, by
their action in calling a conference of mer
chants and business men In relation to the
passage of a national bankruptcy act, have
revived a matter that should be of the utmost
interest to all our merchants and business men.
It isa very vital question, and one in which
they should all manifest some Interest and
assist in making this conference a success, and
also urge on their representatives in Congress
the passage of a national bankruptcy law, mak
ing uniform throughout the United States the
collection of claims. It seems hardly neces
sary to argue whether or not there should be
such a law. It is impossible to find anyone op
posed to the movement who really understands
the necessities of our country and the disad
vantages that business men labor under.
I am not a merchant, but in the practice of
my profession I certainly find enough reasons
to favor such a law, and to hope that it might
pass Congress, and that right speedily. Any
attorney who does, In any degree, a collection
business, feels the disadvantage he labors un
der in attempting to collect claims put in his
bands. A client in New York sends a claim here
for collection, the attorney demands payment
and finally brings snlt The very earliest he
can take judgment is in six days on claims un
der $300. Long before he has obtained judg
ment the creditor has given a judgment note
to bis uncle, brother or some other relative; it
is entered up, execution is issued and tho
Sheriff has possession of the stock and is ready
to auction it off. In nine cases out of ten the
plaintiff buys in the stock for a mere trifle,
and the next thing one sees is a slight change
in the name over the door, the three letters,
'Agt," are added, but they make a wonderful
difference to tho creditor who is not "pre
ferred." but is out in the cold.
Under the old bankruptcy law of 1S67 the
creditors had four months in which to
attach such, preferences. If they were
fraudulent the preferred creditor got
nothing, and the bankrupt could not obtain
a discharge in bankruptcy. If the claims wero
just and legal they must come in pro rata with
all the other creditors. An assignee was then
elected by the creditors at a general meeting
called for that purpose, and he administered
on the estate for the best interest of all the
creditors. While it was for the best interest of
the creditors that such a law was in
existence, it was also for the best in
terest of the bankrupt provided bo was
honestly bankrupt and unable to pay his debts;
by giving up all he had to his creditors ho
could be relieved from tho great weight of
debt on him, and be discharged from hi3 liabil
ity and start ont'anewto mako a fortune. There
was no reason to prevent his paying bis debts
after he became rich and able to do so. Such
a thing was done once in a while under the old
law, indeed I know of two instances out of
about eleven hundred bankrupts where it was
done. Hon. John Lowell, ex-Circuit Judge of
the United States, is the author of a bill that is
in some shape or other now before Congress,
although it has not been heard of for a long
time. He has always been regarded as a very
high authority in bankruptcy matters, and his
bill Is a very good one. and is so regarded uni
versally. The most radical changes he makes
is in making the register a salaried officer, so
that creditors in proving their claims are not
obliged to pay him a fee, and in the appoint
ment of an entirely new officer, the supervisor,
he is also salaried. He has jurisdiction over
tho teiritory embraced in the circuit for
which he i3 appointed, and makes his
reports to the Judge of that cir
cuit. This is a "very important
office and on the way it is conducted depends,
to a very great extent whether some of the
worst leatures of the old law are remedied by
tho now or not He must visit, four times each
year, the office of every clerk of the United
States District Court and Register in his cir
cuit and report on the condition in which he
finds their business. He must stir up delin
quent assignees and urge progress in settling
up estates and keep a general supervision of
all that is going on in bankruptcy matters in
bis circuit
One of the mistakes in his bill is that "any
person being a trader" who "has suspended
and not resumed payment of his commercial
paper or open accounts, made, passed or con
tracted in the course of his business, for a
period of SO days after the samo were payable,
shall be deemed to have com
mitted an act of bankruptcy and may be ad
judged a bankrupt, etc.'' There are very few
traders in active business who have not at
some period or other, by neglect or other
reason, suspended payment for 30 days of an
open account and we would not want to have
them all declared bankrupts.
That and other errors in the bill can easily
bo changed, before the bill becomes a law, bv
iiujircss m meir ueuaies on tne oin. whether
the Lowell .Dill bo found satisfactory and
passed by Congress or not thofact remains that
the country does need the passage of some law
on the subject so that our Eastern creditor,
when he sells goods to a "Western man, can
know under what law he must proceed to make
himself secure and realize on his claim and not
be compelled to lay in a stock of "Law Di
gests" as his first investment
Albert Yobk Smith.
Pittsburg, February 16.
Against Pool Selling,
To the Editor of The Dlspatcn:
In a recent Issue of your paper "Billy" Johns
gives a dissertation on horse racing at country
fairs, in which he says "racing is the life of the
fair,' and that pool-selling gives zest and main
tains interest in tho races." Tho article Is
written to call attention to the bill now before
the Legislature authorizing the selling of pools
at fairs under certain restrictions. The bill as
it is now reported puts the matter entirely in
the hands of-fhe board of directors of each as
sociation, who, by their majority votes, may or
may not authorize such selling as they think
best
Why should tho horsemen demand pool-selling
as an impetus to a good fair? Is it the suc
cess of the fair they have at heart, or simply a
chance to make money? Your correspondent
puts a very low estimate on the honesty ana in
telligence of the husbandry of this county
when he asserts that they need gambling in any
form, either legalized pool-selling or horse rac
ing by "professional drivers." to induce them
to attend a well managed fair. Many agricul
tural societies have failed, and their failures
are generally attributed to too much horse rac
inc R.
, Butler, February 16.
Automatic Car-C'onplers.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
I overheard one of our officials say that there
was a bill before our Legislature compelling
the railroads of the State to use an automatic
coupler on all their freight cars. This is a
matter that interests every railroad man that
has anything to do with coupling cars. In an
article in one of our railroad papers I noticed
that there 30.C00 deaths and injuries annually
from coupling cars with the old link aud pin,
and that the average expenses to the railroads
was $100 in each case, or a total of $12,000,000.
A matter so serious as the above figures in
dicate certainly should have attention. New
York, Massachusetts and Michigan have such
a law, and I am told Ohio will pass one this
winter. I hope it is true that Pennsylvania 13
considering such a law, and that it will pass
onr Legislature. Brakemait.
Pittsburg, February 18.
The Law Docs Not Exempt Him.
To the Editor or The Dispatch:
Is a man who has has no vote and who has re
sided in the country but two years required to
pay taxes? Subscriber.
Allegheny, February 16.
, APPE0YED BY THE QUEEN.
The Style of Garments to bo Worn by Her
Majesty's Lady Visitors.
From this London Standard. 1
With refence to the dresses that may bo worn
at the drawing room which is to be held by tho
Queen on the 2Gth Inst, the following official
announcement will be circulated immediately
from the Lord Chamberlain's office:
"Description of high court dress approved by
tho Queen No. 1. Bodico of silk, satin, or vel
vet, high and turned back" in front with revers;
high collar at back of neck, and small ruffle of
lace inside, falling in a narrow V shape down
the front; it has also a flat folded fichu on
either side which passes under a stomacher,
such as was worn in the cigteenth ccnturv.
Sleeves to the elbow, turned up with small cuff.
below which fall long drooping rullles of lace.
No. 2. Demi-toilette bodice of silk, velvet or
satiu, cut roujd at back three-quarters height;
the front heart-shaped; sleeves to elbow, with
full deep ruffies of lace; transparent sleeves
may also be worn with this bodice; trains,
cloves, and feathers as usual."
s Eefuses a Bishopric.
New York, February 17. At the noon-day
services in the Calvary Baptist Church to-day,
tho Rev. Dr. Henry Y. Satterlee announced
tbat he had decided not to accept the Bishopric
of the Diocese of Michigan, offered him on
the 6th inst. He has so informed the com
mittee. Cnno Rushes Barred.
Special Telegram to The Dispatch.
Washington, Pa., February 17. The mem
bers of the sophomore and freshman classes of
Washington and Jefferson College have been
forbidden br the faculty to indulge in a cano
lUUi,
YESTERDAY'S DISPATCH.
Brief Summary ot Leading Features of the
mammoth Donblo Number.
Full accounts of the earthquake disaster at
San Jose,' Costa Rica, show that terrible ruin
was wrought The entire city was wrecked,
200 people killed outright 1,000 injured and
many thousands rendered homeless. Accord
ing to Samoan advices, the Germans in that
kingdom continue to act In a high-handed
manner, and the rights of American and En
glish residents have been violated repeatedly
Martial law has been proclaimed. Bismarck's
organs deny the truth of the rumor that he is
to retirefrom the Chancellorship. The trouble
in France Is causing anxiety In Berlin. Presi
dent Carnot is confronted with the same prob
lem that General Harrison is seeking to solve
the formation of a Cabinet It is predicted
that Boulanger's triumph will be shortlived.
Prlnco de Goarie, who onco made love to Mrs.
Frank Leslie, turns out to be a jailbird. Mon
treal suffered from a $150,000 fire. The batch
of cable gossip from London was unusually in
teresting. Windom is believed to have been invited to
become Secretary of the Treasury under Har
rison. It is thought that J. W.Noble, of St
Louis, will also be offered a place. Mrs. Cleve
land held her last reception at tho White
House. At Glenville, Minn., a young man
named Chemelke murdered three women and
then com mitted suicide. In West county, W.
Va., John Elsmcr killed his wife, two daugh
ters and the hired girl, then burned his house.
He has been arrested. The questions of free
textbooks and of manual training in the public
schools are likely to come prominently before
the Pennsylvania Legislature. Olive Logan,
who has been added to the list of regular con
tributors to The Dispatch, furnished an in
teresting column of "Washington gossip.
II.
Belva Lockwood talked of her hobbies to a
Dispatch reporter. Local politics are the
question of the hour, and lively contests are
already in progress in many of tho wards. Rev.
F. R. Scully, of Lawrenceville, is missing. The
Wcstingbouse interests will start a foundry
and machine shop at Wilmerding. Four work
men were attacked by several persons on
Forty-first street, and Michael Cavanaugh was
stabbed, it is thought fatally. A decision made
by Judge Stowe ten years ago, regarding the
liability of corporations for injuries resulting
in death, has been sustained by the Supreme
Court, reversing a former decision of the same
court Real estate men favor making May 1
instead of April 1 "moving day."
Reviews of sporting events, sporting news.
the market page, editorials, the music world,
and other regnlar departments were replete
with interesting reading,
m.
Joaquin Miller's romance, "The Bnried
River," grows in interest as the plot of the
story is more fully developed. Frank Car
penter's letter contained an interesting ac
count of the Peking Gazette, the oldest news
paper in he world, also a description of other
peculiar institutions of the famous Chinese
city. BUI Nye reviewed the history of the mar
riage of the Duke of Marlborough, and gave
some advice to would-be duchesses. Dr. Ham
mond's paper dealt with the functions of the
human heart and the causes of heart disease.
Prof. Sbaler explained why he believes that
the copper trust must perish. Mrs. Frank
Leslie discussed Women's tempers and told why
married people sometimes disagree. Wake
man wroto from the wilds of Connemara, Bessie
Bramble from the sunny South and Clara
Bele from the Metropolis. M. M. told
of the .sights at the sub-tropical exposi
tion. Kate Kamera, who succeeded in gaining
admission to the most famous of women's
clubs, the Sorosis, gave a bright and humorous
pen picture of the scenes and incidents of a
Monday night meeting. A New York corre
spondent explained tho curious game known
as hurling. Henry Norman portrayed tne
monks of Korea; Barney told of a remarkable
character who once lived in Westmoreland
county; Blakely Hall furnished one of bi3 most
entertaining letters; Goodfriend continued his
story of the journoyings of the Ail-American
ball team: Ouida gave her views on art in
fluences; Bartlctt told how tho work of build
ing cars and locomotives is conducted; Shirley
Dare. Rev. George Hodges, "A Clergyman,"
and other writers also contributed valuable
matter.-
The number and variety of the subjects
treated by so many writers of well-known
ability made the second part of yesterday's
Dispatch a compendium of good literature
rarely it ever surpassed in the columns of a
newspaper.
COALS AND PHILANTHROPY.
An English Dealer Fined by a Magistrate
for Giving Ills Customers Overweight.
From the London GIobe.1
"Do good by stealth and blush to find it
fame" may have been excellent advico when
Mr. Pope wrote, but it would require reshaping
to bring it into harmony with modern require
ments. A Yorkshire coal dealer who has been
doing good by stealth on quite an extensive
scale, now has causo to blush at finding him
self fined by a polico magistrate. This philan
thropic trader owns a weighing machine which
gives his customers 21 pounds overweight on
every hundredweight Sometime ago his at
tention was officially drawn to the fact, and he
received solemn warning that if he continued
his sinful benevolence he would be summoned.
A weighing machine tbat gives overweight is
as illegal as one that does the other thing, the
law demanding a perfect adjustment of bal
ance. This coaly Samaritan refused to believe,
however, that his stealthy benefactions were
punishable, and so persisted in adding the little
bonus to every hundredweight of black dia
monds that left his shop. A fine of as. and
costs is the result the bench expressing the
opinion that it looked a little hard to punish a
man for cheating himself to benefit his customers-
It does look hard, no doubt, but what a
splendid advertisement Unless all the other
local coal dealers go In for weighing machines
made on the same liberal principle, their cus
tomers will be sure to get their supplies from
the convicted philanthropist After all, there
fore. Pope's lino does apply; this enterprising
trader's doing good by stealth will bring him
fame of a very profitable sort Nor need he
blush for it; there is nothing to be ashamed of
if, when conferring benefits on one's fellow
creatures, some small sharo clings to one's
fingers.
A CEAZB FOE OLD "MANSIONS.
Tho
Latest Washington Fad Adopted by
General Ben Butler.
Sneclal Telegram to The DisDatch.
Washtjxgtox, February 17. There seems to
be a growing passion among public men to
possess the old-time mansions of the city for
residences. On the heels of the acquirement
of the old Seward mansion by ex-Secretary
Blaine, which house was built 70 years ago b;J
uommoaoro juuu xvuucrs, au associate ol
General Decatur, General Ben Butler has pur
chased the old Gulick mansion, on Capitol Hill
situated only a short distance from his immense
granite castle now used for Government of
fices. The Gulick house is as old or older than the
one leased by Mr. Blaine, and was the scene of
many distinguished entertainments in the old
days when Capitol Hill was the fashionable
quarter of the city. A nieco of General Butler
will occupy the mansion, with her family, and
the General will reserve for himself only one
room, which he will use for a business office.
A STEAW IN HIS EAE.
It Remained There 20 Ycnrs Before
the
Ulan Discovered It.
Martinsville, Ind., February 17. On Tues
day evening Samnel Steele, an old citizen of
Spencer, felt a stinging sensation in his right
ear, which had been deprived of the sense of
hearing for many years, and upon close investi
gation a piece of straw about one inch long was
discovered and removed, after being imbedded
in his ear for over 20 years. It was in a good
state of preservation. Immediately after tbe
straw was taken ont his hearing returned and
the pain ceased. His car is now as well as ever.
An Accommodating Editor.
From the Washington Fostl
A man named "Whltchell, or TwItcheU, or
something like that, called at this office last
night with a poem longer than a piece of string
and said he wanted us to bring blmout "We
brought him out and we write these few lines
to inform him that if we can find furniture
enough to pile against the door we mean to
keep him out
Arrived nt No Conclusion.
St. Louis, February 17. The International
Railway Association, which has been In- session
here tbe past three days, adjourned last night
to meet in Chicago Monday. The Mexican
representatives not having put in an appear
'ance. nothing but routine "work was accom-
J plished,
C0EIODS C0SDMSATI0NS. -
Texas has 4D county seats destitute of
gospel preaching.
A Grand Rapids, Mich., reporter has
sued the editor of a rival sheet for ridiculing
his work and thus doing him injury.
In France juggling is taught for tha
benefit of the health. It brings tha muscles of
the arms and chest and back into play.
That Rockland, Me., schoolma'am hag
paid her election bet by selling peanuts in tha
postoffice all day and made 137, which was given
to a local chanty.
Some forms of dyspepsia are caused by
a deficiency of water in tho system, as tha
drinking of too little water Is much more In
jurious than the drinking of too much.
Thread from the fiber of the nettle is
now spun so fine that 60 miles of It weighs only
2 pounds. The same fiber has for some tima
been used in Europe In the manufacture of
ropes.
A man in Craig county, Virginia, has
three children wboso names are, respectively,
Jailey Green Bird Mayilower Brickey, Oregon
Texas Georgianna Brlckev andMolinaTruxilla
Eutaw Sebiila Tootiter Brickey. The names
are declared to be so entered in the family
Bible.
A strange negro while visiting Ty-Tr,
Ga a few days since, became quite boisterous
and got himself into several "sputements" with
other negroes. Finally he got quite exhausted
and lay down for a nap. When he got to sleep
somebody poured kerosene oil all over him and
set fire to it. He was badly burned, probaby
fatally. It was thought the deed was commu
ted by other darkies.
A cat upon the Tomlinson plantation,in
Lee county, Gx, committed suicide on account
of the loss of her kittens. The young felines
were drowned. In the afternoon the cat went
around in great grief, and that night ended her
life by placing her head throueh a large crack
in the crib and moving along until she got to a
narrow place and then letting go. She was
found in the morning hanging, stone dead.
A youth who went into a Buffalo store
and asked for socks, not knowing the proper
size, was told to hold out his hand. The cus
tomer held out his hand and doubled up his
fist as directed. The clerk took a sock from a
box, wrapped the foot around the fist and guar
anteed a perfect fir. "1 am just as sure it will
fit you as though I bad measured your foot,"
said he, "as the distanco around the list ia
always the length of the foot"
A daughter of Editor Mortimer, of New
Bloomficld, Pa., brought up out of the cellar a
largo head of cabbage to prepare for the fam
ily's Sunday dinner. She cut it open and im
mediately began to scream loudly. A member
of the family ran in and found a snake, nearly
two feet long, squirming about on the table.
It had been snugly coiled around the cabbage
head under the outer leaves, where it had
probably been making its quarters all winter.
An amnsinz misadventure happened
the other day to a well known artist in Pans.
He bad purchased an old helmet in a bric-a-brac
shop, and when he got home the idea
occurred to him to try it on. It went on easily
enough, but when he wanted to take it off he
found it impossible to do so. Finally he was
forced to go to a neighboring gunsmith'3 to
have it removed. His appearance on the street
wearing this mediaival relic produced a decided
sensation.
England has been very backward in ap
plying electricity to modern needs, but the
latest news is that in one direction the English
have proven alive to the possibilities of tho
new force- There is running in London an
electric 'bus. It carries 12 pessons, and is man
aged by a driver who sits just where he would
if he bad to manage a team of horses. Tbe
'bus makes six or seven miles an hour, but it
has not yet been run in the daytime, when tho
streets are crowded.
Nancy and Sallie Severns, two maiden
sisters, aged respectively 91 and 89 years, who
have lived from time Immemorial in a little
frame house opposite Grace Episcopal Church
in Hulmeville, Bucks comity, have passed
away within a few hours of each other. Nancy
having died on Monday and Sallie Tuesday.
They were known to everyone in Hulmevillo
and the surrounding country, and during the
past few months, in which they failed rapidly,
were kindly cared for by many friends.
"Bill" Mathers, the hunter and nimrod
of Wirt county, "West Virginia, caught a coon
in a box and took it to the county seat Calling
all tho dogs in town, many of which had never
seen a. coon before, he turned the coon loose on
Court Square, where it UcEed all the dogs
around, from the poodle dog up to the fox
hound, after which it took up a shade tree,
where it quietly picked the doz meat from its
teeth. There being no more dogs in town to
snare, the coon was shaken from tbe tree and
"BUI." tbe nimrod, ended its lifo with a club.
It was the Sullivan coon ot West Virginia.
A story comes from Europe to the effect
that tho two vessels, one loaded with silver,
which went down in the Gulf of Finland mors
than a century ago. have been found. Both
hulls were comDletely covered with seaweed,
which were partly cleared away, when tho
divers recovered the remains or apples, cucum
bers and shoes, together with numerous corked
bottles, wldcb burst the moment tho air
reached them. One of tbo vessels lies some
distance out at sea from Jussaro. and the ex
amination of it was interfered with by a great
heavy stone which rested on its deck. Th
stone constituted part of the craft's cargo.
A gentleman at Martin's Ferry, Ohio,
has a huge Newfoundland dog which has a
great deal of good sense and discretion and a
keen appreciation of tne fitness of things. Tba
entlcman has two small boys, one. however,
eing smaller than the other. One day last
week the boys got into a quarrel, and. natural
ly, tbe larger boy was getting tbe best of it
The dog, which is heavier than either boy,
came to the rescue at a very appropriate time,
and, standing on bss bind feet, parted the bel
ligerents with bis fore paws and then dragged
tho larger boy away without in the slightest
degree injuring mm or snowing any m temper.
Mr. A. D. King, a well-known lawyer
of Orilla. Canada, lost his life on the Grand
Trunk Railroad a few days since. He bad
been away on business, and on returning got off
the train while it was hi motion. Instead of
getting off at tbe station sidehe took the wrong
sido of the train, and hardly touched tha
ground when be slipped and fell so that his two
legs wero run over by the Pullman car. Ho
died in 23 hours. The accident took place at 2
o'clock in the morning, and at daylight a,
brother of the dying man drovea few miles out
from the station to tell Ills father ot tbe sad
business. To his surprise he found his father
up and dressed awaiting him. "Where'3
Daniel?" eagerly asked tbe old gentleman. "I
saw him about 2 o'clock or a little after. Ha
came to my window and rapped at it I saw
him three time3 and spoke to him!" The grief
of the father on learning of tho sad affair wm
very great
CLIPPED BITS OF WIT.
Tilly Jennie isn't as much tickled by
Charlie's attentions as she used to he.
Floe He's had his mustache shaved. A T.
Evening Sun.
Before some of our courts of justice, ex-
I ecutlonls sometimes suspended, but in Jndga
Lynch's court tne culprit is generally suspenuea
OiiUCnarleiton (H. Va ) Star.
3Ir. Lush I made a wager last night
and lost. I bet I could swallow a tumbler of
brandy and bold my breath for ten seconds.
Merritt You should have known you couldn't'
hold anything as strong as that J. Y. Evening
Sun.
An Old Family. Mr. De Pink My
dear, I've found a husband for yon.
Miss De Pink Docs he belong to an old famnyl
Sir. De Pink Yes, lndecdy. All his brothers
are over Su, and he's grayheaded himself. Phila
delphia Record.
Only Half the Job. Hobbs I under
stand that Dobson's Wire Is a German, and that he
mastered the German language to win her.
Jones Well, he must have expended all his
energies on the language, then. He has never
mastered bcr. Burlington Free Press.
In a Divorce Court Defendant's law
yer If your honor please, I would like to ask a
recess for ten minutes. A maiden sunt of tha
defendant has died and left him S90O,00O. r wish
to consult with my client lor a moment.
Plaintiff's attorney (hurriedly) The lady whom
I have tbe honor to represent Instructs me to
withdraw this complaint If the court please. I
move that the case be dismissed. Chicago Iter
aid.
A LITTLE MAN'S LAMENT.
I love, nay, bnt I worship her,
As all the world may seel
Eat quite as plain as that Is this
She but looks down on me.
While I before her beauty bend
Fpre'er a faithful knee,
Tis useless to disguise tbe fact
That she looks down on me.
' TIs not that she is cold, O, nol
She has a heart or she ' -
Bad one tilt It was mine bnt still
She does look down on met
For, ifshe looks my way at all
Since I'm hat five foot three
And she's six feet If she's an Inch .
She must look down" on me I
Boston Gloqe.