Jlr'f'
m
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P1TTSBORQ, SATURDAY. MAR. 16. ISS3.
TEE LOGIC OF EEPKESSION.
The French Government seems to be
drifting into the adoption of the Tory idea
that the best way to silence inconvenient and
annoying discussion is to prosecute their op
ponents and throw them into prison.
There is, no doubt, a good deal of humbug
about the Patriotic League, the orators of
which are prosecuted by the French Gov
ernment That organization is simply a
principal part of tbe Boulanger ma
chine. The French Government also
has the excuse that in French politics an
tagonistic oratory is much more likely to lead
to revolutionary outbreaks than in British
politics, ifevertheless. the prosecution of
the Boulangist Deputies has the same es
sential basis as the imprisonment' of the
Nationalist members of Parliament, It is
the attempt to use the arm of the law to
suppress hostile criticism.
It hardly ought to be necessary at this
stage of civilization to argue that such, at
tempts are inconsistent with, the principles
of representative government There could
hardly be a more remarkable evidence of
the ease with which people turn back to
medieval ideas than these examples of two
Governments supposed to stand on repre
sentative principles resorting to imprison
ment as a reply to hostile arguments. That
France, where such means of repressing
violent opposition are comparatively recent,
should do it, is less remarkable than its use
in English politics, where the principles of
free speech were supposed to be bred in the
bone of the whole country. In either coun
try it is an anachronism and anomaly.
Of course, such methods can only weaken
the Government that resorts to them. The
party in power that cannot meet argument
with argument, and reserve force only to be
opposed to force, deserves the downfall
which it is surely preparing for itself.
01110111X411X8 HOT AT THE PLOW.
That halcyon time when the office will
seek the man has evidently not yet arrived.
It is somewhat sad to be obliged to confess
that in place of the offices seeking the men
under President Harrison's administration,
the less pleasant, but more vigorous, old
style continues of the men seeking the offices
with desperate energy.
Perhaps in the high places, and among
the leaders of parties, it might be supposed
that the ideal would be realized; but what
has been seen in the fierce struggling and
bitter disappointments over Cabinet seats
and first-class missions totally dispels that
pretty idea. Cincinnati, in our day
and generation, is not following his
nlow, awaiting, unconscious and un
expectant, the call of his country.
He is either at Washington noisily
nourishing his petitions in the face of the
President,reciting his services for the party,
or working the newspapers for a "boom"
expressive of a supposed tumultuous public
demand for his elevation to high dignities.
And we are sorry to say that even some of
the great newspaper people are likewise
rather too much in evidence as visible and
audible aspirants for place, instead of modest
ly waiting that call from thePresident which
their recognized ability should insure.
Thus Whitelaw Ueid, in telegrams yester
day, is described as making "a great fight"
for the English mission. It is to be hoped
that this is untrue; as Mr. Eeid, while fre
quently too narrow in his partisanship to
fill the measure of a great statesman, is at
least large enough to be easily discerned,
without effort upon his part, when the ad
ministration needs him.
K 0T THE PITTSBCTEG STYLE.
We take pleasure in expressing our in
credulity with regard to the story that
certain persons in the city raised a fund of
200 for hiring a member ot the short-haired
profession to thump, punch or otherwise
administer corporeal punishment to the
alleged Count di Montercole. The reason
for disbelieving this story is that we have
too much pride in the Pittsburg character
to believe it capable of descending to the
depth of hiring coughs for such a purpose.
Pittsburgers as a ruje are manly enough to
do their own fighting when they make up
their minds that it is to be done; and this
would be especially easy in this case.
The Italian Melnotte being about as muscu
lar a specimen as the Lord Arthur, who is
exhibited at the Opera House this week,
even the most cautions Pittsburger ought to
be adequate to any pugilistic task, with him
as an object of attack. The man who would
let out the contract of thrashing the Count
would be about as contemptible as the
Count himself. Pittsburgers are not of that
stripe.
HfCOHGBTJOUS ACTION.
The anti-trust beef convention whleh has
been in session this week at St Louis, re
commended two lines of action in treating
with the alleged combine in the dressed beef
business. The confusion of ideas which
widely exists on the subject of economic
abuses, appears in this union of the con
vention on two measures which' by the
nature of the case are radically antagonistic
and Irreconcilable. The two measures were:
(1) a bill of sweeping character-prohibiting
any agreement or contract to restrict pro
duction, impede competition or maintain
arbitrary prices; and (2) the fashionable
measure prohibiting the sale of meat un
less it has been inspected on the hoof in the
State irhexe it.to. bajsold.
A moment s consideration -will shdw
the utterly incongruous nature of the two
measures. -The device 't)f '-.transporting
"drested beef in refrigerator cars, permits the
economy of saving the transportation of the.
offal ot the animal and the cost of feeding
it in transit This economy, if competi
tion enables it to reach the producer and
consumer, is a direct benefit to both. It
simply brings the two classes nearer to
gether and diminishes the cost which must
be divided between them of bringing the pro
duct from one to the other. If there is any
trust which appropriates the entire advan
tage resulting from this economy it is plain
that the enforcement of law against such
combinations, is just what is needed. Com
petition should be open to all, and the
cheapness of this metnod ot transportation
should accrue to both the people who raise
cattle and those who buy meat
But having indorsed this line of action
the convention turns around and recom
mends another measure which proposes to
abolish the dressed beef business altogether.
In other words it first declares in favor of
preserving free competition in an important
line o'f business, and next tries to further
mend matters by abolishing it altogether.
And the unconscious irony of the action is
heightened by the fact that it is taken by
representatives of the various States which
are most interested in maintaining cheap
transportation of meat from their distant
ranches to the cities of the East!
The Western people are right in trying
to abolish trusts. But to abolish the dressed
beef business because a trust is suspected
of controlling it, would be exactly like
abolishing the refining of petroleum because
a trust controls that business.
AN TTKFOBTTJKATE OUTCOME.
The failure of the inter-State convention
of miners and mine operators to reach a
basis of agreement for the next year is a
misfortune for the entire mjning interest.
The effect of the mutual agreement between
miners and operators by which mining
rates in the various districts have been
placed upon a uniform basis, has been un
questionably beneficial to both employers
and employed. It placed the solution of the
wages question on the basis of mutual and
fair consideration of the needs of both sides;
and during its two years existence has sub
stituted reason for the semi-civilized trials
of strength known as strikes.
That such a beneficial organization should
be broken up by serious differences, is of
course much to be regretted. It is the more
unfortunate because it not only leaves the
strike as the most easily resorted to method
of settling wages disputes, but it immensely
increases the tendency toward disputes. Over
half the strikes in past times were caused
by operators, first in one district and then in
another, trying to get wages reduced so as to
be able to undersell competing districts.
This has been obviated for the past two
years by the uniiorm rates established un
der the inter-State agreement With that
agreement gone, the former influences in fa
vor of crowding down wages will resume
their force.
It is not necessary to anticipate the im
mediate occurrence of the worst results. We
may hope that the miners and mine operat
ors of this section will unite in seeking for a
method of agreeing upon wages that will
avoid the suffering and danger that follow
in the wake of strikes. But we mnst recog
nize that the effect of the rupture at Colum
bus has been to vastly strengthen the ten
deucy toward such conflicts; and we may
hope that, when this tendency makes itself
felt, it will convince all parties of the
necessity pf restoring the inter-State agree
ment or of finding an equivalent method of
furnishing a peaceful and adequate method
of fixing wages.
Pending such an outcome it is a matter of
local congratulation that the representatives
from Pittsburg, both miners and operators,
did what they could toward preserving the
agreement and preventing the restoration of
the striking regime.
A COMMISSIOHEE'S PEOMOTIOF
The announcement that Mr. A. T. Wal
ker, of the inter-State Commerce Commis
sion, has accepted the management of the
new railway combination formed by the
Western railroads, presents anotherremark
able detail of the respective strength of the
great corporations and the law. The finan
cial gaue, which it usually accepted as the
most important, is shown by the fact that
Mr. Walker's salary in his new position
will be nearly twice as much for three years'
services as he would get for his entire six
years' term on the commission.
It is not necessary to link this with what
follows as cause and effect; but on the other
hand'it is not possible to ignore some of the
points in connection with this transfer.
When .nominated to the commission Mr.
Walker was comparatively unknown. Pool
commissioners were appointed as frequently
then as now, but Mr. Walker was never
so much as heard of for such a place.
It is clear, then, that his work
on the commission has made him so valua
ble a man for the combination of railways
as to secure a salary three and one-third
times his present liberal compensation. It
is also a fact that while the theory and
spirit of the inter-State commerce law,
which created the commission, is opposed to
railway combination and supports free com
petition, the commission has not made any
vigorous effort to prevent pools, and Mr.
Walker leaves the commission to accept a
higher-salaried place under an organization
which not only tries to evade the purpose of
the law, but in two details directly violates
its letter.
.It-has been a notorious practice of the
railways to take Judges from the bench and
convert them into corporation counsel by
the lever of high salaries. The same prac
tice seems to be extending to the Inter-State
Commerce Commission. The people can
hardly feel assured that their interests are
served by the growth of such a'practice.
LEISURELY PE0GEESS.
The first step toward the construction of
the Herr's Island dam was taken yesterday
in the purchase of property for the abut
ment on the northern side of the river.
This promises that in the fullness of time
the slackwater navigation will be extended
up the Allegheny as far as the manufact
ories are now located, giving them the ben
fit of water transfer from all parts of the
city. It will not do to expect the realiza
tion of this improvement very soon. The
fact that it is ten years since the agitation
in favor of this dam commenced illustrates
the deliberation with which the government
works of that character are pushed. At the
same rate of progress the belt of manufact
ures will extend far beyond the reach of the
slackwater provided by this dam before it
is finished; but we may hope for a little ac
celeration' of its speed so that steamers can
go to Sharpsburg before the century has ex
pired.
DIPLOMATIC HUMBUG.
The hnmor of our diplomatic service is
rich and delightful. Xobody who looks for
fun in it will be disappointed. It is just as
well that this is so, for what earthly use tbe
diplomatic service Is'to the United States,
except to be -laughed 'at.-nobody seems to
know. .
6nejfttie cdinical features'."-of' public
policy, in diplomatic appointments has been
for a number of years the choice of incum
bents for the mission at Borne. It seems to
have become a superstition in the State De
partment that the Minister to Borne should
be a man of unusual distinction in the
fields of learning, a great scholar, or a book
worm at least Mr. Marsh, a great scholar
of Vermont, was the first of the class to fill
the post Then the millionaire novelist and
dilettante, W. W. Astor, and by Mr.
Cleveland's appointment, Judge Stallo, of
Cincinnati, successively employed their
large minds in keeping Uncle Sam in har
mony with the powers of the QuirinaL
In adverting to Judge Stallo's perform
ance of the functions of his office the New
York Sun says that: "The immense learn
ing of Judge Stallo, especially upon every
subject connected with the intricate and
multifarious annals of Italy gave him a
consideration in official circles at Borne
which few foreigners have ever attained."
Perhaps so. But why it is necessary for
the United States to have a novelist, a
scholar of supreme distinction, or an
amiable being who is well-posted on the
"intricate and multifarious annals" of the
country at Borne, at a very considerable ex
pense, too, to the nation, is not clear.
Scholars and literary men may gravitate
naturally and properly to Borne at their
own expense; but if a Minister is to be of
any earthly good to the people whom he rep
resents he should be a practical man of
business, with his eyes open for the com
mercial interests and political advantage of
his employers.
President Harrison perhaps had this truth
in mind when he appointed Governor Por
ter, of Indiana, Minister at Borne.
Seceexaey "Wisdom's explanation of
the appointment ot Bachellor instead of
Coon as his Assistant Secretary is one of the
explanations that fails to explain. The im
pression will still remain that Mr. Piatt, of
New York, went gunning for that Coon and
made it come down.
One of the oft-repeated interviews by
which the beauties of the railroad pool are
preached, appears in another column. It
first claims that, under the pool, rates were
never cut, and then procceeds to say that
the shippers used to make contracts relying
on the rebates or secret cuts made by the
railroads in their favor. The beauties of a
system in which there were no cuts, except
the secret ones given to the fellows on the
inside, are so manifest that fnrther com
ment is unnecessary.
It may be a mere coincidence; but it looks
rather significant when you perceive how
promptly the report that Wanamaker will
leave the Postoffice Department follows
upon his declaration that "there will be no
politics .in my department; but the slug
gards must go."
Although the Senate did not get its bill
passed for an indefinite extension of the
Pacific Bailway indebtedness, its members
do not lose sight of those corporations. The
Senate committee will take a six weeks'
tour over the lines, and will not be less dis
posed when it gets back to fix things up as
the corporations wish. But the tour will be
very pleasant to the dignified statesmen.
The announcement that Jay Gould has
made his medical attendant one of the di
rectors of the Missouri Pacific Bailroad
creates a special wonder whether he intends
to give his corporations a course of treat
ment for dropsy.
The Fall Biverstrikers have shown their
desire to insure good ortjer and strengthen
their cause by passing resolutions to boycott
the saloons. The action is commendable;
buyt may be instrnctive for the strikers to
reflect how much better they would have
been able to stand the drain of a strike if
they had adopted the same resolution two
or three years ago and kept it.
The sporting world should ponder the
fact that John L. Sullivan's long-continued
match with John Barleycorn repeats the old
demonstration that the latter champion can
lay out any man.
The gravitation of prices under abig sup
ply of unsold coal, has proved too much for
the anthracite combine, and prices have
come down in the East 25 and SO cents per
ton. But the reports ofa restriction of produc
tion indicate that a good many miners will
have to suffer in idleness to make up to the
great corporations for that loss.
Can the administration be regarded as a
a moral success while the only Elliott F.
Shepard remains unsupplied with his
longed for diplomatic position?
With New York in possession of the
Navy Department, the Assistant Secretary
ship of the State Department, Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury and Assistant Sec
retary ot the Interior, it looks as if consola
tion might be found for the failure of the
Big Four to make the Cabinet positions go
around.
Up to the latest advices President Harri
son appears to be running this administra
tion. The gold mining fields in Lower Cali
fornia now appear to be composed of six
parts sell to four of very ordinary quartz
mining. The vast fortunes which were pic
tured by the imagination as existing in that
peninsula are only realized by those who,
have sold claims and provisions at famine
prices.
PEOIILNEJiT PEOPLE.
It is stated that Queen Victoria bas sent for
an eminent Indian scholar to teach her Hindu
stani. Taunton, Mass., expects the Vice President
to help celebrate its two hundred aud fiftieth
birthday.
Jebky Rusk, of General Harrison's Cabinet,
was the tow-path companion of Garfield when
the latter was a boy.
The Duke of Cambridge is said to be the only
member of the royal family who composes his
own public speeches.
M. Renau has contempt for popular govern
ment "To unchanged, universal suffrage," he
says,'I prefer tbe most dissolute court and tho
most mediocre monarch."
A pabty from the White House consisting
of Mrs. Harrison, Mrs. Russell Harrison, Mrs.
McKee, Mr. Charles Saunders and Miss New
comer attended tbe performance of Nadjyat
Washington last evening.
Bnt Joseph Bazalqette, wbo has just re
tired from the service of the Metropolitan
(London) Board of Works, was that board's en
gineer since Us organization. He built the
Thames embankment; 100 miles of now severs;
besides 250 miles of old ones enlarged; four or
five Thames bridges, and about three thousand
new streets;
A numbeb of years ago tbe late John Erics
son was invited to hear OJe Bull play the violin.
The Inventor replied that he bad no time for
such trivolityj that he had no ear for music,
and that his habits could not be changed. How
ever, Bull was brought to Ericsson's workshop,
and the two men talked while the Inventor kept
qn at his task After a time tho .violinist took
np his instrument and began to play. .Ericsson
paused, -dropped hi .tools and listened spell
bound to the.cntranclnc sounds. He acknowl.
edged that something had been wanting In his
life, and that be had found it at last -After
tnat he sbowea great lonanesg lor music - y
Acquiring a Tremor Bnrdwell Slote Hero
A Tooth as n Jewel Odds and Ends.
Mr. Lpujs Cabpenteb, who plays the confi
dential clerk to Old JS'lck In "The Henrietta"
so admirably, does not do anything better than
his simulation ot intense anxiety as be bends
over the ticker to watch the panicky course of
the Henrietta stocks. His hand, clutching at
the tape, is kept in a continuous tremor for
many minutes together. -
I chanced to allude to Mr. Carpenter's skill
in simulating that nervous trembling of the
hand before several young men yesterday and
one of them unintentionally betrayed his expe
rience by remarking: "Ob( but it's a blanked
sight easier to tremble than to keep one's hand
from trembling, I've found.
But then everybody can't afford to experi
ment with delirium tremens.
V
The Bon. Sarduell Slote, otherwise our
esteemed fellow citizen, Billy Florence, man
aged to enlighten this city with his presence for
a few hours yesterday, as he hurried from
Wheeling to Youngstown. He was In a terriflo
hurry, and, barring a little throat trouble, in
fair health. To everybody be met he remarked
that he was awfully pressed .for time,- but
nevertheless when he ran up -against his
brother comedian, William H. Crane, he
stopped to swap yarns and compare hopes and
plans till his, Florence's, manager, Alf. Haz
man, was driven almost into a panic for fear
that Youngstown would go Florence-less to
night. Bnt Mr. Florence caught his train with ten
seconds to spare. He will make his bow to
Pittsburg publicly on Monday next
They used to make curious finger rings in
our grandfather's time. On'e of these eccentric
ornaments I saw the other day on a lady's hand
was Intended to represent and did strikingly
suggest a human eye. The -white of the eye
was the clearest kind of crystal, and the pupil
was made of brown hair. Probably it was a
memorial ring, and the hair thus woven into a
strange sbape belonged to someone dear to the
wearer of the ring.
But tbe eye had a rather disagreeable fasci
nation for me. It seemed to fasten a continual
and cold critical gaze upon one.
A YOUNG married man of my acquaintance
has a quaint conceit In the sbape of a scarfpln
made from a pearly tooth that once belonged
to a babe of his. The little bit of Ivory set
openly In etrnscan gold makes a very tasteful
bit of jewelry. Nobody would recognize the
baby's tooth in it
The shifting of tho population on April 1
this year promises to be of larger proportions
than usual. The dwellers in suburban places
seem to bo, unusually discontented with their
present abodes. One district Is much the same
as another it appears. The popularity of an
annual change of base is certainly on the in
crease If a conclusion is to be drawn from one
large borough near this city, which possesses
extraordinary advantages over other semi
rural neighborhoods.
In the borough I speak of, which contains
perhaps GOO houses, no less than 40 are now
marked to let There is no particular reason
assigned as far as I can hear. Simply a desire
to change. Bnt that there should be 10 per
cent of these oddly constituted flitters seems
a large proportion in such a favored com
munity. AN ALDERMAN NOT GUILTY.
The Jury Soys So, Bat His Friends Will
Hear From the Judge.
New Yokk, March. 15. District Attorney
Fellows finished his address to the jury this
morning in the case of Thomas B. Kerr,
charged with bribery. Judge Daniels then ad
dressed them at some length, reviewing the
evidence and the law in the case. Judge
Daniels' charge might be considered a strong
one. The qnestion, he said, lor the jury to de
cide was did the Broadway Bailroad Company
raise the money for legitimate uses in its
business, or was the money raised to corrupt
the Board of Aldermen, and if the latter was
tbe case what part, it any, did the defendant
Elay in it? When Judge Daniels concluded
is charge, the jury retired.-. The Judge in the
meantime placed-Kerr in. the custody of his
counsel, an action said td be without a prece
dent in such cases. Tho jury returned with a
verdict of not guilty a few minutes past 5
o'clock. They had been out since 2 o'clock.
When tbe jurors had answered to their names
and the foreman announced tbat they found
Kerr not guilty, there was a wild scene. Hats
flew up and there were cheers in the room.
Judge Daniels was much angered. Ho directed
the court officers to arrest anyone participating
in tbe riotous proceeding, Mr. Kerr's brother
Chauncey and a friend Were seized upon. The
Judge lectured them and told tbem to come
around at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning to re
ceive their punishment Mr. Kerr's counsel.
Colonel Ingersoll, pleaded lorthem, but in vain.
Hna the Opposite Effect.'
From the New York Sim. J
The offer by tho State of Maine of a bounty
of 10 cents for a dead crow will greatly stimu
late crow farming down East, and it is proba
ble tbat the State Treasury will be made leaner
than the leanest old crow that ever cawed
sarcasm at an indignant boy looking for him
with a gun. In fact, the way to increase the
rusty tribe of the crows is to set a price upon
their heads.
Tt Is Not Complete.
From the New York Sun. 2
An English show called "Niagara in Lon
don" is to inclnde the roar and rumblo of the
falls, whose voice is to be heard by phonograph.
With a stereopticdn and a phonograph a bridal
trfp to the falls may bo taken at homo at re
duced rates. A phonographic reproduction of
the sound and fury of tbe hackmen would add
to the joy of such a cheap excursion.
Consolation for OBlce Seekers.
From tho Providence Journal.!
Tbe true philosopher can extract the sweets
of consolation from tbe sting of apparent de
feat President Lincoln informed a disap
pointed applicant, who bad learned the Span
ish language in the expectation of receiving a
diplomatic appointment that be still bad a
very good thing in being able to read Don
Quixote in the original.
Ho Would Mnko n Fortune.
From the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
Unfailing is the struggle for "the Presi
dent's ear just for a minute." There is no tell
ing how much money the President might
make, if so disposed, by renting out his ear by
the minute.
FACTS AND .FIGURES.
The bullion In the. Bank of England In
creased 514,000,000 last week.
These are 3.500 watches manufactured in
the United States dailyf at a cost of from ?5 to
500 each,
CANNEt. coal has been discovered in inex
haustible quantities in Alaska. An analysis
made of it by Prot Lowe developed the follow
ing: Carbon 80, nydrogen 7, ash 6, sulphur a
trace.
The greatest emigration society at present is
the Argentine Republic It will spend this
year 5,000,000 to bring immigrants front tho
North of Europe alone. Ships from England,
Holland and France are taking tbem over in
thousands.
The gold coin and bullion in the Treasury
amounts to 326,160,014; silver dollars and bul
lion. 268,791,037; legal tenders, 44,438,015; gold
certificates in circulation, 128.895,910; silver
certificates in circulation", 247,866,459; currency
certificates, 15,920,000.
According to the report of the Commis
sioner of Agriculture for .February, the farm
animals of the world are estimated as follows:
Horses, 60,453,504; cattle, 293,380,341; mules and
asses, 0,331,822; sheep and lambs, 497,343,012;
swine, 99,037,973; goats, 29,186,984.
THE nickel mines of France, Germany and
Wales yield but 2 per cent of nickel, while
those of' Pennsylvania, .Nevada and Oregon
yield 20 per cent The general opinion that
nickel is a mineral, .mined, smelted and re
duced from the ore like silver, is an erroneous
one. It is a chemical element and is extracted
from arsenides, cobalt i sulphides.
THE number of flouring lllls in England Is
estimated at about 7,000, with a total capacity
of a little more than 61,000,000 barrels per
annum.' This is one-fourth larger than the re
quirements of the country. The mills could
not be run to more than 80 per cent of their
capacity U no flour were'fmported. But large
quantities are'recelved from the United States
and some jtrom Hungary, and the production
of the home mills is - not much more than half
of what it would belt there .were no competi-
I AAWXUAhfiiUaU
ODE MAIL ruPCfl. -
. The German Nary.
To tbe Editor OSThe Dispatch:
I had a discussion with a friend about the
German navy. He claims it is tbeweakest of
any of the great European powers. Is he
right? Inquiekb.
PrrrSBTjBQ, March IS.
Your friend is rlghC The Emperor's fleet is
composed oflOS vessels, carrying 605 guns.
But only 27 of his men-of-war are ironclads, and
not half of tho Ironclads are of modern build
oc capable of elther.salllng rapidly or under-,
taking long voyages. It Is also worth noting
that of the total number named (105), nearly
half are Incapacitated for foreign or ocean ser
vice, and are really schoolboats and revenue
cutters The fact is, Germany's diminutive
seabpard has led to a grave neglect of its navy,
which the Teutonic colonization policy of re
cent years has only in part served to remedy.
Something About Flags.
To toe Editor of The Dispatch:
1. When was our present flag adopted, the
"Stars and Stripes?" 2. What flag did Wash
ington fight under? JAMES.
.Beatee, March 11
On January 13, 1794. Before that time, bow
ever, on June 14, 1777, Congress had ordered
that the flag be "13 stripes, alternate red and
white, that the Union be 13 stars, white in a
bine Held." 2. Washington's flag, first raised
at Cambridge on January 2, 1776, was of red
and white stripes, with the crosses of St
George and St. Andrew on a blue field for its
union. Later he used the flag authorized by
Congress.
Balls nnd Entertainments.
To theSdltor of Tbe Dispatch:
Is it necessary for a club to have a license to
give an entertainment and ballf W. L. F. F.
PrrrsBTreo, March 15.
All entertainments charging for admission
are required to have a license.
Yes, In Retirement.
To the Edltor.of The Dispatch:
Please answer through your columns if the
original "Blind Tom" is living.
A Constant Reader.
SrrAItrsvTXXE, PA., March U.
No nnd Yes.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
1. Can a man who has taken out bis first
papers vote in this State? 2. Does a working
man have to pay the borough tax on his occu
pation? Wednesday, January 9.
To the Editor of The Dlspatcn:
Can you give me the date of the terrible
storm which occurred in your city In which the
Wllley building was blown down? E.
Columbiana, O., March U,
Population of Home.
To the Editor of The Dlspatcn:
What is the present population of Home?
McKeespobt, March 14 J. E. B.
It Is over 300,000. In 1881 it was 273,288.
Use Our Advertising Columns.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
Can you tell me where second-hand bicycles
are bought and sold in the city? H. L. M.
Allegheny, March 14.
CALLING ON HARRISONv
The Bush to See the New President Con
tinues Unabnted.
Washington, March 15. There was no per
ceptible diminution in the number of the Pres
ident's visitors to-day. The rush began at 10
o'clock and continued till 1230, when the Cabi
net assembled for Its regular semi-weekly
meeting. The President received three dele
gations daring the morning, one from Georgia
headed by General Longstreet and another
from Virginia headed by Mr. John S. Wise,
and the third from Washington headed by
General CreswelL The latter urged tbe ap
pointment of Mr. Thomas A. Somerville, as
District Commissioner to succeed Mr. Webb.
General Goff, of West Virginia, called dur
ing tbe morning and had a brief talk wltb the
President, as did also Colonel Fred Grant
Among the other callers who succeeded In se
curing an audience were Senator Spooner,
Representatives McKinley, Morrow, McKenna
and Thomas: A. M. Swope, of Kentucky; W.
T. Durbln, ot Indiana; J. F, Scanlan, of Chi
cago; General Swayne, of New York; John S.
Wise, of Virginia, and John W. Linck, of In
diana. MAJOR EOCKWOOD'S REWARD.
He Graduates From a Newspaper and Gets
a Government Clerkship.
WASnrNOTON, March 15. Major S. S. Bock
wood, of Wisconsin, was to-day appointed
Chief Clerk of the Department of Agriculture,
vice N. Esbitt, removed. Major Bockwood is
the editor of the Daily State Gazette, pub
lished at Portage City, Wis. He served in the
army four years, and since the war has been
Professor of Mathematics at tho State Normal
School at White Water. Assistant State
Superintendent of Public Instruction of
Wisconsin and more recently bas been con
nected with the State land office, at Madison.
Bliss Cameron's Coming Wedding.
Special Telegram to The Dlsoatch.
Habbisbubo, March 15. Senator and Mrs.
Cameron -have sent out Invitations for tbe
wedding reception of their daughter. Mar
garetta, who is to be married to Mr. Clark, the
son of the rich thread manufacturer, on the
28th instant Tbe marriage at tbe residence of
Senator Cameron, at State and Front streets,
will be followed by a reception from 12:30 to
230 p. si.
nis Mission.
From the New York World.1
Jacob Kilralu sailed tor Europe yesterday.
The Administration has sent him,' doubtless, to
Hammersmith.
Valuable to Autograph Collectors.
From the Providence Journatl
It is to be feared tbat a good many recom
mendations for office will be chiefly valuable
as autographs.
CAUGHT ON TUB GRIP LINE.
She sent her letter witn a penny stamp,
Bnt not because she's a stingy lass;
Sbo only knows that what she writes,
Should by no means be called first-class.
Tramp Madam, this pie is tough.
Kind Lady Why you unappreclative, Impudent
mortal, tbe recipe for tbat pie took tbe first prize
given by 'The Press" of New York.
Tramp I don't donbt It madam, I don't donbt
It In the least. They are looking for a platform
for the Republican party for 1892. and this would
make a good one; tough, pl(ous) aud not too
short.
SurroB Mr. Banks, I want to marry your
daughter Agnes. Iloyeber somocn, In fact she
Is so dear to my heart that life without her would
be simply tortnre.
Mr. Banks Take her, my boy, take her, and If
she ever ceases to be dear to your heart you can
rest assured she will always remain dear to your
pocket
Fumty Max Have you seen the phono
graph? It Is the greatest thing out Why It Is al
most human.
P. M.'s Friend-What can It do besides repeat;
F. M. It can appreciate a Joke. Yesterday I
gave It one of my best, and Instead of repeating
what I said It went, ha! hat ha!
jf. M.'F.-Which shows It Is liable to go In
sane. Wife My dear, here Is a letter for you post
marked New Orleans, I didn't know you had
friends there.
Husband I haven't but still 1 have been trying
every month to make one, but It's no go.
Wlfe-Wholsltf
Hnsband Soulslana Late Sottery.
A MAN got on a cable car,
And badly did he stand,
But when It started with a Jerk,
He on h.l back;dldland. C, H. B.
DEATHS OP A DAY.
Jnsper Slnrkle Thompson.
"Wasiiingtos-, March IS. The community was
shocked thhj evening by the news of the death of
Jasper Marine Thompson at his farm near here
He was taken, slot with pneumonia while on a
southern trip aid at once started homeward. He
arrived at noon to-day, lust six hours before his
death. He was born in Kentucky In island his
wife and four children survive Hun. Mr. Thomp
son was widely known and' lias a host of friends
In Pittsbnrg. With Many of whom bo was assoel.
ated In industrial enterprises. Ho was President
or the First National itank, of this place, aud.
largely Interested In coal and Ironworks In Ala
bama and this county He served two terms as
Internal revenue collector under President Lin
coln, was elected.tothe State Legislature from
this county In 1872 and was a director of.tha West-
BITS OF NEW YORK GOSSIP
A Sisters' Sqnnbble for Wealth.
rHKW YORK BUREAU SrXCIALS.J
New YOBK. March 15. The probate of ibe
will of Francis W. Lasak, one of the original
partners of John Jacob Astor. came up before
Burrogate Coffin, at White Plains, to-day. It
was opposed by Antoinette Lucinda Bchermer
horn, one of the daughters of the decedent, who
claimed that it was not the last will; that dece
dent was of unsound mind when it was exe
cuted, and that it was tbe offspring of undue
influence on the. part of Ophelia Juliet Cnth
bert, another of the daughters. The estate
which is in dispute betwen these romantically
named sisters is estimated at upward of 5,000,
000. Tbe will divided these large sums, after
legacies, amounting to 3100,000, had been paid
between Mrs. Cuthbert and two of her sisters'.
while Mrs. Schermerhom. tbe third sister, was
left with only the income of 30.000. Mr. Lasak'
was w years old when he died, a month ago.
He was associated with Mr. Astor in the fur
trade.
A Centenarlnn Shipbuilder.
Major Thomas Harward, of Brooklyn, cele
brated his 100th birthday to-day. He was born
in uowdoinhan, Me., and. after farming a bit
became a shipbuilder. In the course of his
career he built 60 ships. He did some coast
defense duty In the V ar of 1812, and In this
way got his military title. He has never used
tobacco and seldom spirits.
Andrew Carnegie to the Uescue.
Andrew Carnegie announced to-day tbat he
would make up 'what was lacking 11 the stock
for tbe proposed music ball at Seventh avenue.
Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh streets, wasn't
all subscribed, so that there is not much doubt
of tbe undertaking being carried out One
effect of this will doubtless be the collapse of
the project to build a big combination amuse
ment structure on the site of tbe Madison
Square Garden, as there Is not patronage
enough InNewYork for two music balls of such
size. Mr. Carnegie subscribed for 1,000 shares
of the stock of the combination concern's
company, conditional upon the rest being sub
scribed when the time for settlement came.
The condition was not fulfilled. He initiated
the rival venture.
She Has Plack, If Not Talent.
Mrs. Langtry's illness is not of the advertise
ment kind. She was drawing large houses at
the People's Theater, with every prospect.of
their continuing, when forced to stop playing.
Her original trouble was a catarrhal affection,
which has necessitated the performance of a
painful operation involving the burning of the
diseased tissue of tbe nose with chromic acid.
In addition to this, she has tonsilitles, tbe re
sult of a cold caught while acting in Harlem.
The operation, which consisted of what Is
termed the deviation of the septeno, was per.
formed on Sunday, and the cheerful process of
burning the tissue with the acid has been go
ing on since That Sirs. Langtry, under these
circumstances, was able to play on Monday
and Tuesday nights, shows that she has pluck,
if not dramatic talent She hopes to be able
to keep her engagement .in Philadelphia next
week.
Somebody's Darling Is Lost.
The following letter has been received at the
Coroner's office from Miss Jessie Bennett, of
Kansas City, Mo.:
City Coroner, New York City:
Bra Has there passed through your hands or
the morgue a woman of about 25 or IS years (looks
mnchyonnger), very small and pretty both In
form and features, with dark, blue eyes, brown,
silky habr not much of lt-and small hands and
feet size of shoe about 2 or 3; very tasty In dress'
and clean In person; teeth pretty, and kept lu
good shape, some of the front (upper) filled with
gold: hair worn In curled bane In front or rolled
back front perhaps cnrled all over bead. She
may be dressed In black. Always yery dressy and
styllsb. If you have seen a person corresponding
to the above descrlhed.pleaae letme know at once.
This will be done.
THE JURI PLATED P0KEB,
And Thercforo a Man Convicted of Mnn
slaughter Gets n Now Trial.
New Orleans, March 15. The fact was
brought to light in court to-day that the jury In
the case of Oeorge.Dunn, when locked up for
tbe night after the case had been given into
their hands, played poker for four hours.
Judge Evans, counsel for the accused, who was
convicted of manslaughter, in making an ap
peal for a new trial, by testimony offered in
open court, showed how the jurymen had
passed their time. In deciding the application
Judge Baker said:
Twelve men, supplied with a quart bottle of
whisky, a deck of cards and ahandful of beans,
who played poker from 12 o'clock at night to 4
o'clock in the morning, and holding a man's
life in their hands, could not possibly give tbe
prisoner a fair trial. As long as I preside over
a court I cannot sanction such a thing, and,
therefore, I grant the prisoner a new trial.
ITS ENGLISH, T0U KNOW.
Another Trlnl Made of the Mammoth Im
ported Locomotive.
Special Teleeram to The Dispatch. .
Altoona, March 15. The Webb Compound
English locomotive, better known to the Al
toona machinists as "Jack the Ripper." made
another trial trip this afternoon. The Webb,
pushed by two Pennsylvania locomotives,
hauled mall as far as Gallltzin. The now en
gine will be given two daily trial trips up the
mountain for the next week.
It Is believed by old engineers that it will be
a failure on a curved track, but that It will in
time be placed on tbe New York division,
where it is believed it will be a success as far
as speed is concerned. No test of speed bas
yet been attempted.
JTrom the Chicago Mews.J
The following recommendations for Consu
lar appointments are respectfully submitted to
the Secretary of State:
Greece Mr. Frye, of Maine.
Cognac Mr. Blddleberger, of Virginia.
Cologne Mr. Bosewater, of Omaha.
Faro Mr. Lucky, of Indiana
Canary Mr. Singer, of New York.
U a uiero MTinc.
from me i-nuaaeipnia ximes.j
Admiral Porter says that with 50,000,000 In
60 days he could put an improvised fleot in
motion which would make short work with
German commerce, Onr naval supremacy is
sate if a mere trifle like this is all that is re
quired. WASHINGTON NOTES.
"Bill" Windoh was the first bill passed
under tho new regime.
Only three new Congressmen have been
taken in by bunko steerers as yet
A new administration pudding, advertised
by an enterprising caterer, was found to be full
of plums.
Peesident Harrison is giving many people
the shake just at present particularly the
office seekers.
A babe specimen of a Kings county man
wbo did not hope for an office has been placed
in the National Museum.
.The Republican Senators do not feci It in
cumbent upon tbem to smoke Connecticut
cigars in order to encourage home industry.
Anxious Inquires No, the Marine Band
is not a seafaring organization. It only in
dulges In waves of melody to enliven tbe ship of
state.
A dentist in Washington is showing tbe
strength of the false teeth that he makes by
biting off pieces of tbe monument and selling
tbem as mementoes. t
'It is the general opinion that General Har
rison selected good, stout timber for bis Cabi
net There is a great deal of pine, however,
left among the politicians.
Some paper, In a joking way, bade the stran
gers "beware tbe Ides of March," and a couple
of Texas men were seen with rifles bunting for
tbem on tbe Potomac flats.
A jxaojian pn one of tbe railroad crossings
has resigned because some strangers took blm
for an officer of tbe Signal Bureau and blamed
him for tbe recent inclement weather.
.To a correspondent: You are mistaken in
thinking that the mutilated casts in tbe Cor
coran Art Gallery are due to the vandalism of
visitors. The ravages aro only those of time.
The Hall of Representatives will not be sup
plied with cut-glass reflectors, this season, Tbe
Congressmen object to have any reflection
whatsoever cast upon them.
A yisitob from tbe East was toldtbat there
were 83,080 negroes in Washington, and bo is
willing to. swear that.be saw tbem all twice
aver in one day, so amazedwas he. at the num.
bersha met.'- ;''-''" -1 '4'. V- . "
. -7JtT..-. .,...--. v .--..,.. ? . , ,,.,
?.5?rj; ui .New .York ZEvenfna Sun.yi
CDE10DS C0NDESSATI0BS.'
Daniel Potter and his wife, of Salem,
Mass., celebrated the sixty-fifth anniversary of
their marriage recently.
Under the head" of "Net Gains," a St
Louis paper contains the following: "Joy
Faatz, of Cleveland, lost his wife the other
day."
Ai man at, Walla "Walla, "W. T., eats an
egg for each year of his life on every birthday.
He was recently 42,and ate that number of eggs
on that day.
The regulation step in European armies
is longest in tbe German army and shortest in
the Russian. Tbe Belgian march Is the slowest
110 steps to the minute.
It is claimed that there are 5,000 tailors
in and near Boston out of work, because, as al
leged, the local clothing manufacturers send
thepr goods to New York City to be made np by
tbe cheap labor of the tenement house disv
trlcts.
Enterprise, even though it be of a fane
real kind, is always appreciated in the West
And so there is not a little subdued rejoicing
among the live citizens of Chardon, Nell,
because tbat town can now support a hearse.
The first funeral at which the vehicle was used
occurred a few days ago.
According to a financial cotemporary
the Russian Government has accepted the
proposition made by a company, recently
formed In St Petersburg, for the construction
of a ' canal to connect the Black Sea with tha
Sea of Azof. The canal will be 111 versts long,
and will afford a passage to steamers drawing
not more than 19 feet
A leading clergyman of Louisville was
suddenly called away.and a substitute preached
to his congregation. The substitute had no
sermon ready, and he used one of tbe regular
minister's manuscripts. The tracings on tha
margin kept him smiling all through a deep
and serious discourse; much to the wonder of
the congregation. Among otber notes were,
"bite llf bitterly," "extreme agitation," "pious
smile and "loud, ringing voice."
Several practical jokers in Bridgeport,
Conn., finding a friend had gone off and left
his store door unlocked, went inside and began
"turning the place upside down." When they
had had fun enough, they started out only to
find a policeman at the door, wbo, with a
loaded revolver, ordered them back. They
could not convince him that they were not
burglars until a messenger had brought the
storekeeper to identify them and authorize
their release.
The Surrogate of Suffolk" county, New
York, has admitted to probata a rather novel
will, that of Richard L. Peters, of Southold,
L.L It directs the Investment of a sum of
money, the income of which shall be used in
keeping the grave of the deceased covered with
growing flowers. Another request is that a
sum be invested at compound interest for 100
years. The principal aud Interest at the ex
piration of the time are to be used to erect a
a monument and celebrate the centennial of his
death.
A Georgia physician writes to an At
lanta paper that the solution used in the hand
grenades now offered so extensively for sale Is
easily and cheaply mada by taking 20 pounds
of common salt 10 pounds of sal ammoniac
(muriate of ammonia, to be had of any drug
gist), and dissolving in seven gallons of water.
When dissolved it can be bottled and kept In
each room In tbe bouse. In case of a fire ona
or two bottles should be thrown with force Into
the burning place, hard enough to break them,
and the Are will certainly be extinguished.
In April, 1868, 1"red H. "Woolworth, of
Waterbury, aged 23, disappeared. Nothing
was heard or him, and it was supposed he had
committed suicide or had been foully dealt
with, and a large sum of money was expended
In trying.to find his body. A few days ago
Woolworth's friends received a letter post
marked Australia, and. on opening it, discov
ered that It was from Fred. He said tnat since
leaving Waterbury be had led a somewhat ad
venturesome life. He went to Australia,
where, a few years ago, he purchased a gold
mine, supposed to be worthless, for S25. and a
day or two later discovered gold sufficient to
make him rich,
Prof. Bakef, of the Illinois University,
writes of the sustaining strength of brick,
work, "by actual experiments in a testing ma
chine, the average strength, from 15 experi
ments, of piers laid in ordinary brick and com
mon lime mortar, using the same care as that
with which ordinary brick mnsonrv is bnlli.
stood a few pounds (I am writing from mem
ory) over 1,500 pounds per square inch, which
is enual to 21&00Q sounds tier snnarn foot, or
the weight of a column of brick 2,000 feet high;
with ordinary Portland cement mortar the
strength Was, for a mean ot eight experiments,
2,500 and some odd ponnds per sqnare Inch,
wmen is eqnai to aou,iAAJ pounas per square
foot or the weight of a colnmn of brick ma
sonry 3,600 feet high."
The oldest pieces of wrought iron now
known are probably tbe sickle blade found by
Balzonl under the base of a sphinx In Karnac,
near Thebes; the blade found by Colonel Vvse.
imbedded in the masonry of tbe great pyra
mids: tbe portion of a crosscut saw exhumed
at ramrod; Dy nr. iayarti au or which are
now in the British Museum. A wrought bar of
Damascus steel was presented by King Porus
to Alexander tha Great and tho razor steel of
Bblna for nianv centuries bas surpassed all En.
ropean steel in temper and durability of edge.
The Hindoos appear to have made wrought
iron directly from the ore, without passing It
through the furnace, from time immemorial,
and elaborately wrought masses of iron are
still round In India, which date from the early
centuries of the Christian era.
It is told in Boston that a party of
Harvard students, anxious to get even with tha
Boston ' police for some undoubtedly good
reason, bought a barber's pole, got a receipt,
and started through their property. OTcourse
they were soon stopped by a policeman.
"Hejlo, there, what yer doin"ith that poleT"
"That's our business." "Ob, Is It? Well you
along 'lth me." So he marched them to tha
police station. "What's the trouble, officer?"
asked the Sergeant "Stealin'abarber'spole."
Then the policeman gave a detailed account of
the crime and the arrest of the criminals, who
were abont to bo sent to their dungeon cells,
when one ot them banded the Sergeant the re
ceipt "Officer, you may return to your beat."
said the Sergeant and the students filed out
bearing the pole proudly. Two blocks away
another policeman stopped them. Then fol
lowed the same dialogue, another arrest, and
the same scene at the station. And so it went
on until the young men had been arrested six
times. They might have been arrested 12 times
had not a general notice been sent out to tha
police not to molest the party of young men
parading abont Boston bearing a barber's polo,
CLIPPED BITS OF WIT.
Logic Below Stairs. "See how dusty
these chairs are, Mary!"
"Sure, mum, it's because nobody's sot Into 'em
the itj.Juttgt.
A Big Thing. Wild "Western Tourist
(traveling In England) I say, coudue., what's
tbat big establishment there?
.Uuard Windsor Cawstle, sir.
W. W.T.-By tbunderl It beats our soap fae
tory In Kansas City all to blaies-forslze. To-day.
NO INSULT INTENDED.
"Shut your month and look pleasant!" sho
beard him say;
For a wonder It did not surprise her;
She-was having ner picture taken that day
The photographer this did advise her. "
Judge.
Saving Wear and Tear. Miss 81imdiet
A new boarder came while you were out-a young
lady.
Mrs. Sllmdlet (boardlng-housa keeper) Is she
pretty?
"Awfully."
"Well, yut an extra strip of rag carpet In front
of her mirror. ' 'PMtadelpMa Record.
Thoroughly Posted. Cigar Dealer Tes, I
want a boy here. Hare y6u had any experience?
Youthful Applicant Lots.
"Suppose 1 should mix up tbe price marks In
these boxes, could you tell the good cigars from
the bad ones?"
"Easy enough.!'
How?"
The wurst cigars Is In the boxes wot's got tha "
purtlest nletur's," Asm Xork Weekly.
An Investigating Mind. Mrs. Hayseed
(at big city hotel)-They Is awfnlly attenUve at ,
this tavern, ain't they?
Mr. Hayseed Tes, slree; they're bound toglva
us the worth of onr money, I uess. Them errand v
boys has been In a doien times In the last half
hoar to see If we wanted anything. What are you , .
worklu' at there, ilarlar? . --. K
Mrs; Hayseed-I've been tryln' fer the last halT-
nour ter see what this ere outton in me wau a Jor..
Philadelphia Record.
EXC1LISII AS SHE OBEAUX.
A hunter, brave, of the Esquimaux
Bhe meets, and her fond affection geaux
To this unique lover, the Eskimau. ,
For whenever ho enters her hut mean,
Thongh Tearless and fleet, most gracefully leaa -.
Ho bends, and on bis knees doth geau.
And again at departure be does Just seau
'Snch realadoratlon for in, you keau."
He Ilkenshcr unto the gentle reaa -
A eomplluent pe w, for each Other beau
Has likened her eyes unto thesleau. ,, .,
. How could she to lover like Ibis say.neau? .
Bhe cooldnlt and didn't;' tut all her .beauxStrV
. la the land pf tbe free, got a surplus ofsaai'!!-
WW sue west to aweu wun mo .uauimaux,
. '. 5? i. ," J'. T , 1 - S r.....-4
r-JIHWl,
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