9 f
THE- PITTSBTJEG- DISPATCH, WEDNESDAY,- MAKCH 20, 1889.
?w
Hje Bipplclj.
ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 1818.
VoL, No . Entered at Pittsburg rostoffice,
November 14, 18S7, as second-class matter.
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PITTSBURG, WEDNESDAY, MAR. 20, 1889.
AN TJHFATHEEED ACCUSATION.
The breeze raised in the House at Harris
burg yesterday over reported allegations of
financial irregularities in the management
of the Riverside Penitentiary appears, so far
as it can be followed out, to have -whistled
through the desolate remains of a mare's
nest.
"When definite allegations are made con
cerning any public institution, investiga
tion is in order. That principle called for
the Maharneke investigation; and the pub
licity and completeness of that inquiry was
undoubtedly salutary. But charges which
are made by no one and assume no definite
shape, are not worthy of notice. To catch
up some underground rumor for which no
responsible sponsor can be found and ele
vate it into a subject of dispute indicates a
morbid sensitiveness that fails to take coun
sel of wisdom.
So far every one makes haste to disown
the paternity of the very inchoate charge
which Sir. Dearden brought up yesterday.
"When any one assumes the responsibility
for the charge it will be time to notice it;
and no sooner.
GOFFS JETKRMTKATIOy.
Having criticised General Goff, of "West
Virginia, for his reported abandonment of
his claim on the Governorship of that State
in order to run after federal patronage, Toe
Dispatch is glad to quote his declaration:
"I claim that I have been elected Governor
of "West Virginia and I propose to continue
in my efforts to get possession of that office."
That is the only course for General Goff to
take, and it is well for him to stick to it.
He now represents, not any party, but the
right of the people to have their will re
spected and the result of the elections de
clared And carried into force. This coun
try has never witnessed a more complete
denial of the basis of republican govern
ment, than the practical declaration that a
party can be continued indefinitely in
power, by the refusal of the Legislature act
ing as a returning board to count the vote
and the consequent retention of his office by
the executive whose term has expired. "West
Virginia partisanship is a rather more
demoralizing agent than even "West Virginia
whisky.
VEBY DaHGEBOTJS FEIEHDS.
Everything with a single exception seems
to point to a victory for home rule in Ire
land. "We are informed that the singers in
the London music halls have attuned their
ditties and their jokes to the pro-home
rule sentiment. The topical allusions to
Gladstone and Parnell were but a few
months ago very abusive, now it is said they
are laudatory.
"With the music hall brigade against
them Gladstone and Parnell have continued
steadily in their triumphant career; is it
not reasonable to suppose that the opposi
tion of the vulgar howlers and buffoons of
London's variety stage was a real assist
ance to the cause of home rule? "Under the
circumstances the Irish leaders will be well
advised to go out of their wayo antagonize
the MacDermptts, the Jimmy Fawns, the
Jolly Rashes and the rest of the music hall
prophets. The English people, however,
are evidently ready to change the tune of
their Government
AN ORIGINAL SENATOE.
There is hope of an improvement in the
standard of Senatorial delicacy, in the re
port that Senator "Wolcott, of Colorado, has
asked to be excused from the position on
the Senate Committee on Railroads, to
which he was appointed by the Senatorial
caucus. As Senator 'Wolcott was a cor
poration attorney before his election, and
was sent to the Senate by the aid of the
railroads, his action shows a much more
delicate sense of propriety 'than was enter
tained by the caucus which assigned him to
that place. The caucus idea evidently was
ttiat a Senator should be put on the com
mittee where he can be of the most use to
his private interests. But the discovery of
a corporation Senator who wishes to serve
only the whole country is an earnest of the
hope that we may some time reach that
millenial condition in which all Senators
shall think that way.
CAN THE SOUTH STAND HI
The panacea prescribed by Mr. Flournoy,
of "West Virginia, for the Southern politi
cal system, which consists of disfranchising
the Southern negroes, need not necessarily
make tronble with the If orth. To make the
right of suffrage dependent solely on a
matter of race or color would be a4 step
backward to barbarism. It would only be
possible in communities which had worked
themselves into emotional insanity over a
wholly imaginary race conflict But on
the understanding that the proposition is to
disqualify voters by an educational qualifi
cation that would shut out the vast majori
ty of the Southern negroes, the North need
find no objection to it.
Of course, the question would be open
to discussion whether it is better in the
presence of an uneducated class to try to
raise and educate it by liberal school appro
priations, as the Northern States do, or to
punish its inferiority by disfranchising it, as
this specimen of Southern chivalry pro
poses to do. But as regards the respective
weight of the two sections in politics, the
proposition would be to the advantage
of tbe North. The disfranchisement of the
4,000,000 negroes in the South would de
crease the Southern representation in Con
gress and the electoral colleges about thirty
votes; and if the South decides to lose that
representation In order to rid itself of an
ignorant electoral element, the North need
not interpose any obstacle to such a gain
on its side.
In fact, that element of the change is
likely to prove its death among the South
ern political classes. It is more likely to
be urged on behalf of the North that since
the negroes of the South are practically
disfranchised already, they should be so in
law, in order that the South may not have
the representation that it secures by the
legal fiction to tbe effect that the colored
people have the right to vote.
WHAT SEAL ESTATE SIGNS SHOW.
A most convincing proof of the substan
tial character of Pittsburg's growth is to be
found in the abounding activity of the real
estate market. Not until the present year
opened did the element of speculation enter
at all into this movement Manufacturers
bought sites because they wished to extend
their plants or to build new ones; merchants
bought stores "because their business pressed
them out of old quarters, just as growing
boys quickly outreach their clothes; people
bought or built dwellings because the mar
ket was bare of houses suitable to rent, or
for the reason that their means warranted
the.securing of permanent homes. No sort
of growth could be more satisfactory than
this. It was a direct, evident result of the
increase of papulation and business. Lately
there are Bigns of another demand ahead,
the speculative. The great enhancement of
values following the demand to meet exist
ing wants has' turned attention to the
probabilities and possibilities of greater
growth. Capitalists arc figuring out what
the Pittsburg of to-morrow is to be, where
its lines of development will run, and how
the real estate bought at prices of to-day is
likely to sell one, two or three years hence.
This is a process which always follows, or is
coincident with, a period of established pros
perity. "When undertaken without reference
to facts and figures, as -has been the case in
some Western towns, it is known as a
"boom;" and such "booms" are sure to be
followed by reactions. In Pittsburg there
has been, in late years, no "boom," nor is
there likely to be any. There was one be
fore '73 for suburban property, but the bot
tom fell out,of the prices then set up by en
thusiastic buyers, and a sharp lesson was
taught The best proof that there has been
no "boom" since, or mere speculative en
hancement, is that there is probably not a
piece of business property in Pittsburg
which would not find to-day purchasers
needing it for legitimate business, for more
than the price at which it last sold. Thus
thoughthe tendency is to speculation, prices
are not yet affected by that spirit
The truth is the real estate activity which
is attracting extraordinary attention has
thns far been, as stated, mainly but a mere
necessary incident of Pittsburg's marvelous'
trrowth. The Sispatch can only surmise
what the censns reports next year will show,
but it judges that Pittsburg and Allegheny
will pass the 400,000 mark, and not im
probably get nearer to the half million.
This would not be more surprising than the
fact, demonstrated Irom week to week, that
we now almost constantly lead Cincinnati
and. Baltimore in the Clearing House re
turns; and frequently come seventh on the
list of American cities, viz, immediately
following St Louis.
W0ESE THAN THE TRAMPS.
The persistent bent of some communities
toward barbarism is illustrated by a report
which comes from an Indiana town of the suc
cess of the citizens in capturing some tramps
and making them run the gauntlet Bun
nine the gauntlet is a custom adopted from
the gentle North American savage, and in this
case it is reported that it did so much credit
to its source that the blood trickled from
the victims.
An equal energy on the part of the citi
zens could have captured the tramps and,
under the vagrancy laws, have put them to
work. Such work us making roads, build
ing side-walks and cleaning streets would
have added to the general comfort and given
the vagrants something to do. But these
people could not rise to the height of re
specting their own laws and reverted by
choice to the penalties of actual savagery.
It is only to be rexnark'ed that such a pro
ceeding put the tramps in the light of the
respectable and innocent victims of lawless
ness. SEAL RELIGIOUS WORK.
The Salvation Army in England deserves
credit for showing that it does not consider
its religion to consist solely of "whooping it
up tor the Lord," as it fs generally credited
with doing. It is developing a line of work
among the" poor and vicious classes of Lon
don, in which it shows a practical fullfilment
of the gospel of feeding the poor and needy.
It has established a food and shelter depot
where the destitute have been fed and
lodged for more than a year. It has also
given its attention to the reclamation of
fallen women, having five homes for that
purpose open in London, and seven in other'
towns of Great Britain.
It is in that department of charitable" work
that the efforts of the Salvation Army will
afford a strikingly interesting and important
test of its value as a charitable and religious
agent There is hardly any question that
the ordinary social and religious machinery
for reclaiming women from vicious lives
and giving them useful and honest work, is
a failure. If the peculiar character of the
Salvation Army enables it to do better; if
it can redeem women of this class and find
them occupation in its work, as reformed
sinners, it will furnish the most convincing
reply to the many jeers at its grotesque
methods and utter violation of all convent
tionarities, which its career has heretofore
provoked. If it does that work, its value
andeven its eccentricities will be vindicated.
handshaking by proxy.
Undoubtedly this is the day of doing
things by.proxy. "We indulge in the heal
thy and exciting pastime of .baseball by
proxy; we have given our aquatic exercises
to professional proxies; a very large portion
of the nation's prayers are said by proxy,
and.wherever you look you will find proxies
in the field. The delegation of our obliga
tions to proxies is occasionally carried to
extremes. Mary Anderson is earning fame
as a magazine writer by proxy; several legis
lators at Harrisburg have obtained unenvi
able notoriety by voting on important ques
tions by proxy,. and a year or two ago one
of the Standard Oil Company's shining
lights who had been convicted'ot conspiracy
ct Bochester, took his sentence by proxy,
his attorney paying the fine out of his own
pocket In short the only thing that can
not apparently be accomplished is to live by
proxy.
At this very moment a very proper opp6r
tnnity for the extension of the proxy plan
exists at the "White House. J'resident Har
rison has already been made to feel what a
painful duty his is to shake hands with
thousands of.citizens in a day. The nation
is awake to the necessity of saving our J
chief magistrate from death or disablement
by what may be termed applied palsy. It w
clear even to the most hostile Democrat thai
it is not right that Mr. Harrison should be'
so shaken after he has been taken.
Why not appoint some one to shake hands
for the President? Indeed, there already
exists an officer of the Government of ex
alted rank who usually suffers from ennui
and indigestion from want of exercise, the
Vice President Mr. Morton might have
the title of "High Handshaker" added to
his perquisites for waiting for the President
to die. By having the handshaking done
by proxy Mi. Harrison could find time to
sign somemorenewcommissions, patriotism
would be more quickly rewarded, spoils
would not go bad on the hands of the Be
publican party, and the -Vice President
would always have an excuse, of some
weight for letting Mr. Ingalls sit down
upon the Senate.
The remarkable number of restaurants
which crop out in the license court pro
ceedings indicates that the down-town pop
ulation must be extremely well fed. It
also indicates that the threat of some of
them to go out of business unless they are
permitted to pass off oleomagarine for but
ter undisturbed, is not so terrible as it
might be.
A yeae ago the rubber manufacturing
trade was declaring the necessity of getting
up a trust because theie was absolutely no
profit in the business under competition.
The trust scheme went to pieces and now it
is announced that a new factory, to be the
largest in the world, is to be erected at
"Woonsocket, B. I. The company which js
investing its money in this establishment
seems to thins: there is some profit in the
business. The difference between the alle
gations of the trust combiners and the show
ing of actual fact is always something
phenomenal.
The report that Bussell Harrison is to be
one of the new Senators from Montana in
dicates that the admission of that State was a
more deadly Parthian shot by the retreating
Democrats, than any one dreamed of at the
time.
Concerning the report that the United
States troops have driven the Oklahoma
boomers out of that inchoate territory, but
that they keep right on booming and
threatening to occupy the promised land,
the Chicago Times asks: "Have the Indians
no rights which a white man is bound to
respect?" They have indeed when they
turn over their lands to the big cattle com
panies. '.Then the United States troops
rally to their relief "very effectively, other
wise not
These is a report abroad that "Balfour
is going to throw up his position as Irish
Secretary." If the Times case has that
effect on the Tory leader, it mnst take rank
as the most powerful emetio recorded in his
tory. The suggestion of ex-Congressman So wden
for the Democratic place on the Civil Ser
vice Commission is evidently inspired by
the fact that it would be a slap at the late
administration. Sowden is very much the
same kind of Civil Service reformer as the
departed Edgerton; and it is doubtful
whether he would take any office where he
could not get in his work to secure the goal
of his political ambition a new postoffice
lor Allentown.
It is pleasant to observe that half the
Allegheny delegation in the House were
able to consult the public interest by voting
against the grade crossing bill. This is
more than the usual proportion.
The best defense of the London Timet, if
it should be iued for damages by Parnell,
would be that it has been damaged a great
deal more than Parnell has. Perhaps the
London Standard's late attack on Parnell
for not exposing the forgery more promptly
foreshadows a suit by the Times against Par
nell because he did not stop the slanders so
promptly that their exposure would not
hurt the slanderer.
These is a fair prospect that the Stan
ley relief expeditions may get started in
time to have Stanley tell them where to go
before he leaves Africa.
It is said to be Uncle Jerry Busk's am
bition to exploit the agricultural greatness
of this country by sending a watermelon to
the frowned heads ofEurope next fall.
Uncle Jerry's joy at partaking of the water;
melon which President Harrison cut upon
March 5 is so great that he wants to go and
do likewise. But he should have some care
against deranging the internal affairs of the
effete monarchs.
PROMINENT PEOPLE PARAGRAPHED.
Dr. Monk is dead; the well-known composer
of church music
Mrs. Harrison is suffering from a severe
cold and was not allowed to see any visitors
yesterday.
The Rev. Bartholomew Edwards, who died
in England the other day, lacked a weekpf
being a century old, and was ordained and
settled as Vicar of Ashill, Norfolk", some years
before the battle of Waterloo.
Elsie Leslie, the original "Little Lord
Fauntleroy, has signed a contract with Mana
ger Frohman, of the Lyceum Theater, for next
season. She will be seen next year in a drama
tization of Mark Twain's "Prince and Pauper,"
in which she will enact a dual role.
Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes advises
young men not to smoke. "-It is liable to in
jure the sight," he sajs, "to render the nerves
unsteady, to enfeeble the will and to enslave
the nature to an imperious habit likely to stand
in the way of a duty to be performed."
The London Globe says: The world of
Birmingham, according to a gossiping jour
nalist is disappointed at the quiet, retiring
manner of Mrs. Chamberlain. What did "the
world of Birmingham" expect? There are
plenty ol American girls with quiet, retiring
manners.
One day, says tbe Philadelphia American,
Dr. McCosh, when President of Princeton
College, came into the mental philosophy class
and said: "Ah, young gentlemen, I bare an
impression! Now, young gentlomen," con
tinued the Doctor, as he touched his bead with
his forefinger, "can you tell me what an Im
pression isT" No answer. "What! No one
knows? No one can tell what an impression
is?" exclaimed the Doctor, looking np and
down the class. "1 know," said young Alan
Arthur. "An impression is a aent in a soft
place." "Young gentlemen," said the Doctor,
removing his hand from his forehead and grow
ing red in the face, "you are excused. for the
day."
It is evident that Senator Evarts does not
fear the malarial blights of the Potomac flats,
says the New York Sun. He has built a log
bouse, his friends say, in honor ot President
Harrison, in the very heart of the Potomac
swamps. It is on the banks o'f Swan creek, a
few rods removed from tbe. sweeping Potomac
It cost $2,000. It looks solitary and almost
forlorn from tbe river, but the senior Senator
'of the Empire State has some quiet times
there With the opening of spring and tho re
turn of the malarial gusts the Senator leaves
bis scat in tbe august body and has a quiet
night In tbe log cabin. Wbcn in the Senate he
sinks low down In Ms armchair and wraps his
coat about him up to the ears. His friends do not
believe that -this is an Indication that the
malaria has taken hold yet but they add there
is plenty of hope for him, particularly if he
spends many more nights in the forlorn log
cabin in-the swamps.
Mr. Phelps Bang-.
trom tbcLQalsyllle Courier-Journal. 1
When Blsmarpk sees Mr. Phelps' bang, he
will understand that wo.mlght (hoot if- driven
to do so.
THE TOPICAL TALKEB.
Slipped Upon a Banana Feel Storing
Printed Treasures A Case la Point
Odds nod Ends.
It comes easy to some people- to explain
things.
Bilkins said the other day: "Most of the
bananas tbe Italian fruit venders get from the
South reach here green, and It has always been
a puzzle to me how they are ripened ?"
"Oh, that's easy enough," replied Philkins,
who absolutely knows everything, "the venders
sleep with the bananas!"
Now Bilkins always lets the bananas pass at
his boarding' house, and Philkins, who has a
great liking for the fruit takes two where he
used to take but one.
V
Almost every man of literary taste falls into
tbe habit of keeping books, magazines and even
newspapers, to say nothing of clippings from
all sorts of publications, which at the time
seem to possess some sort of permanent value
How the pile of printed matter will grow, to be
sore 1 and how ephemeral its value proves to
be. Some men who have this babtt avoid its
most unpleasant consequences by taking stock,
as it were, every once a year, usually discover
ing that in that short time very few of the re
served papers are worth keeping. A bonfire or
tho ragman is then called into requisition.
'But often the accumulation ot printed mat
ter continues for years witaout a break, some
times till death removes the accumulator.
Then the habit surely devolves annoyance npon
the possessor thereof or his heirs.
V
Dr. Jennings, who used to look after the
souls and bodies of most of the people who
lived on the south side of the Ohio from above
Coraopolls to below Sbousetown, years ago,
was a victim of this habit of preserving nearly
every religions paper, pamphlet or tract that
came to bis house. He would note something
of interesrin a magazine or what not, and
straightway it would join the mountain of ma
terial for reference
Whether he often referred to tba treasures
in the mountain I don't know. Perhaps he did,
for the way Dr. Jennfngs worked would make
most of onr modern- divines perspire and
tremble simply to contemplate. He had need
of plenty of material for his sermons, which
were delivered in no less than three churches,
the Sharon church, one on tbe Island and an
other called, I think, the Hopewell church at
Snousetown. He preached twice every Sunday
at the Sharon churcb, and once on alternate
Sundays at either of the others.
When good old Dr. Jennings died his daugh
ters were at a loss what to do with the gigantic
store .of printed matter.. Every nook and comer
of the house was filled with knowledge ot one
sort or another, but mostly theological. Op
portunely a ragman appeared upon the scene
and no less than 400 pounds of printed matter,
as much as he could load in his cart was sold
to him. About the same amount was turned
into smoke and ashes in the orchard of the par
sonage. w
...
The Hon. Bars welt, Slote. otherwise Mr.
W. J. Florence, strolled into the ofSoe of the
Phonograph Company yesterday morning. He
was asked to speak "a piece" Into the phono
graph, and chose some familiar passage from
the "Merry Wives of Windsor" in the charac
ter of FaUlaff, his famous speech and other
bits from the lines of the Hon, Bardwell Slote
and a selection from "Dombey and Son" in his
masterly characterization ot Captain Cuttle.
The phonograph repeated the recitations with
great success, and Mr. Florence was delighted.
AN INDIGNANT POETESS.
EH Wheeler Objects to the Use of Her
Portrait in an Ad.
Meriden, Conn., March 19. Mrs. Ella
Wheeler Wilcox is a great favorite in this city,
the home of her husband, and there is much
feeling over the unwarranted liberty that has
been taken with her photograph. A Meriden
man traveling in .Nebraska saw a paper pub
lished in Kearney, and the first thing that at
tracted his attention was. a double-column cnt
of Mrs. Wilcox. Interested in her as he was,
he was somewhat startled to see the name of
a third-rate actress attached to it, advertising
a performance to be given there.
The paper was sent to Mrs. Wilcox's friends
in this city, and the storm it raised bas not
subsided yet. Mrs. Wilcox herself wrote the
editor, demanding to know what it meant. The
editor replied that be received the cut from
the advance agent of the company, advertising
Miss Blanche Inman, and it was inserted in
good faith. He apologized for having unin
tentionally injuied the feelings of Mrs. Wilcox
and her friends, concluding as follows: "But
our Eastern friends mnst bear with us. We are
young, have only a barn-like building for an
opera boose, and only a few 'stars' come our
way; our artistic education has not yet reached
that point where we can invariably distinguish
celebrities by newspaper portraits of them,"
DEATHS OP A DAT.
Mrs. Eliznbelh Steel Mngee.
Tno numerous friends or Mrs. Elizabeth Steel
Magee will deeply regret to learn of the death of
that venerable lady, which occurred yesterday at
the residence of her son, Mr. C. L. Magee, corner
Forbes and Halkct streets, Fourteenth ward.
Widely known and appreciated for many quali
ties of distinguishing excellence, Mrs. Magee had
been a resident of Pittsburg for almost 70 years.
Fetr, If any, persons living knew so much of the
growth of Flttsbarg from a mere village to its
present great population. In the course of this
long residence here Mrs. Magee was universally
esteemed, not only for the gentle traits of woman
hood, but for qualities of mind of an uncommon
order. Despite her advanced age all her faculties
were clear and strong to tbe last.
Mrs. Magee was born at Barrow-in-Furness,
Lancashire, England,-March 9, 1814; left Liver
pool for the United Mates May 27, 1819, and after a
long voyage arrived at Philadelphia August 27;
tho same year came to Pittsburg. Her elder
brother, John K. Steel, Is the only direct member
of tbe Steel family now surviving. Deceased mar
ried ChrlstopherL. Magee In 1849, and leaves sur
viving children F. M., C. L., Thomas S., AV. A.
and Margaret O. Magee. While all of these were
yet young children her husband died, and the
responsibility of rearing them safely to man's
and woman's estate was borne with an in
telligence and fidelity which found loving recom
pense In the devotion of her family to her and
the solace which their presence around her af
forded tier constantly in her later days.
Deceased was still an active and energetic
woman until July, 1887, when a fall resulted
seriously. The last time she was out of her room
was to take Thanksgiving dinner with her family.
Deceased was a member of the Methodist Church
until her marriage, when sho joined her bus
hand's churcb, the Episcopalian. In the truest
sense of the word she was a Christian woman, and
her many unostentatious acts of charity and
Kindliness will cause her death to "be deeply .re
gretted by very many others besides the relatives
and Immediate friends.
Mrs. Magee's nearest friends bad been for sev
eral days anticipating the sad end, which came
about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The funeral
will take place at the residence at 2 o'clock to
morrow afternoon.
Mrs, J. C. Lappe.
Mrs. Caroline Lappe, wife of 'J. C. Lappe, a
prominent Allegheny tanner, died suddenly last
evening at ber home, No. 8 North Canal street,
Allegheny, bhe was 69 years of age. and was a
leading member of the Presbyterian Church, al
ways taking part In church and missionary work
Her death was very sudden, and was caused bv
blood poisoning. '
She was present at a reception given by her
husband on the occasion of his 73d birthday last
Thursday, and assisted In entertaining tho guests.
The deceased was born in Charleston, B. C. She
leaves a family of nine children. They arc Hon.
C ,0. Lappe, ex-member of the Legislature.
Adolph, Dr. Martin, Harry, C. Eugene, Albert
C, and Oscar, tbe last four named being mem
bers of the firm of J. C. Lappe & Sons, tanners
The other two children are, Mrs. James Wettach
and Mrs. John Daub, Jr.
The funeral will take place on Friday afternoon
at i o'clock.
Wnltcr Coskey.
Walter Caskey, who died yesterday morning at
his home on Meadow street, East End, has been
for long j ears a leading produce commission,
merchant of this city. He was a man honored
and beloved by all who knew him. Those who
knew him best esteemed him most. In all matters
pertaining to business he was the soul of honor
and rcctltuJe. 'flie memory of the Just Is blessed,
and many will cherish In all time to come the
memory of tho departed.
Mr. Caskey was a member and trustee of the
First Congregational Church of Allegheny, and
one or Its most generous and scir-sacrlficing sun
porters. He was also a Knight or Honor, lie
was liberal to fault.
Of quiet, reserved manner, only his most Inti
mate Iriends fully knew his worth. It Is pleasant
to know that bis widow will be provided for By
wise forethought. Mr. Caskey leaves beratlO.0d0
life insurance policy and an unincumbered home.
Rev. Jnmea Cutley. k '
Spectal Telegram to the Dispatch.
W asuinoton, March 19, The Kev. James Cur
ley, S. J., the oldest Catholic priest In the United
States, Is dying at Georgetown College. The dy
ing priest was born in the County Koscommon,
Ireland, on October IS, 1798. In 1817 he camo to
Georgetown to begin life as a Jesuit. Father
Curler is famous as an astronomer. It was under
bis supervision that the observatory of George
town College was built. Until his present illness
he never failed to celebrate mass every day.
Father Curley frequently visited this city, and
onlya few months ago he mounted the flight of
WO steps which lead to the top of tSS Washington
Monument.
HEART OP HEARTS.
The Florences Very Successful In a New
Comedy at the Opera House; .
Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Florence, In a new play,
ought to have drawn all tbe town to tbe Grand
Opera House last night, but unhappily it
didn't. The few who were there saw a most
masterly performance on the part of Mr.
Florence, and a charming and characteristic
bit of portraiture by Mrs. Florence. Tbe play,
.'Heart of Hearts," by Henry Arthur Jones, is
pretty and innocent enough to give dellgbt to a
Vassar College audience, but it is not a strong
production. The first act is structurally weak
and talky to dreariness. The second is a strik
ing improvement on tbe first, and it includes a
glorious opportunity for Mr. Florence in the
role of James Robins, the butler, of which he
takes the fullest advantage. The finale of this
act is also extensively dramatic
The dual role which Mr. Florence takes en
ables him to appear as an English butler of con
ventional stoutness and plump politeness, and
as a worn and, ragged old ne'er-dd-weel. The
larger portion of bis work is done in Ills charac
ter of tbe butler, and it is of -tho wonderfully
hitch order wn hnvA lAnmnri tsi -mect of Mr.
Florence. His humor is racy and so unforced
tnai nature was always in it His interne w wi m
Lady Clarissa, in which he gets tbe better of
tbe aristocratic dame in a delidously funny and
equitable way, is the biggest'gem in the play.
Strongly contrasted to this embodiment of
good nature and ?ood sense is the other role
he assumes, that of an old vagabond tonched
to penitence by a pure and Innocent daughter.
Mr. Florence brought tears as well as langhter.
Mrs. Florence has not so much chance as ber
husband, but she too made much merriment
with her gentle touches of tht sly. unpresum
lng humor others In the presentment olMiss
Wllhelmina Filzralpn, a passe woman of aris
tocratic blrtb, who has married her butler (Mr.
Florence) secretly. Miss Annie Mayor was
powerfnl at the right time in her presentment
of the heroine, and Mr. Win. Herbert was very
quaint and original as a doctor with a big
heart. Mrs. E. L. Davenport was also success
ful. To-night Mr. Florence will appear as Captain
Cuttle,
Tbe Rose of Castile.
"The Rose of Castile," unlike the other
famous opera byBalfe. "The Bohemian Girl,"
has never been popular in this country. As
rendered last night at tbe Bijou, it was a de
cided success, to judge by the hearty applause
it received. Emma Abbott as the Rose of
Castile was at her best, A number of the arias
of the opera called forth ber best powers of
voice and action. The Convent song was par
ticularly well -received. F. Michelena as
Manuel, and William Broderick as Don Pedro
fully came up to expectations, which were
high. The former has improved in his English
ntterance since his last appearance before a
Pittsburg audience.
The opera was greeted by a full house, and
one thoroughly appreciative of its many fine
parts. Miss ADbott was in better voice and
spirit than on Monday night, and all indica
tions point to a successful week at the Bijou.
LIKE A X0UNG INFANT.
The Peculiar Cose Reported From u West
Virginia Community.
Weston, W. Va,, March 19. A most pecnl:
iarcaseis interesting the people of the Holly
neighborhood in Webster Connty. Abraham
McMasters has long been a well known citizen
of that section. His family consisted of &a
children two girls and three boys all in per
fect health except tbe youngest, a boy., of
seventeen, whose mind bad been affected from
birth. He was what is in provincial sections
known as "simple" With the greatest diffi
culty he had been taught to read, and by years
of laborious application bad learned what most
children of five years know. He was harmless,
good natnred and industrious. Early last fall
the boy was sent to tbe mill, and not returning
at tbe expected hour, nor,for some time later,
search was Instituted, and the -Imbecile was
found unconscious by the roadway. Blood
oozed from his nose and ears, and bis bead ap
peared to have been struck by Some blunt ip
strument. A cheap watch and some change the lad had
were gone, giving evidence that the boy bad
been assaulted and robbed. He was taken
home and remained unconscious for two weeks.
At the end of that time the boy became as a
new-born child. His eyes rolled and he bad no
control over bis limbs, and was cared for just
as an infant. In time his teeth came out, and
he Is now cutting a new set, just as a baby. He
first crawled, then began to walk. Speech
camo gradually, as with all infants, though
much earlier if his age De measured from the
time of his injury. Ho is now able to
talk about as a 4-year-old does; his
mind is clear and he is in everything
except stature a boy of 4 or 5 years. So
far as can be learned he has no recollection of
his past life, and scenes be knew well then are
now unfamiliar to him. He treats his former
playmates as strangers, and plays with toys and
wooden horses as do the babies of the neigh
borhood. Physicians say he will grow into an
intelligent, healthy man.
A PROPOSED NEW BOLE
In the Senate Causes an Exceedingly Wnrm
Debate. ,
Washington, March 19. In the Senate to
day Mr. Sherman called np tbe proposed
amendment of the rule requiring resolutions
that call for information from executive de
partments to be referred to the appropriate
committee. He said that the adoption ot such
resolutions without inquiry sometiinesinvolved
very large and unnecessary expense, and that
such a change of the rule was desirable. Mr.
Voorbees opposed the change, of rule. He
understood that no assent to it bad been given
on tbe Democratic side of tbe chamber. He
called attention to the fact that the Govern
ment was within a few t eeks of closing its first
hundred years of history, under tbe Constitu
tion; and that during that century of national
life no such rulo as that now proposed bad ever
been found necessary.
Ho could see no object that it was likely to
accomplish, except to stifle investigation
and obstruct inquiry into tbe conduct of any
executive department. He submitted to the
Senator from Ohio and to all Senators on the
other side, whether they conld afford, at the
threshold of a new administration, to give no
tice to tbe world that investigation and in
quiry into proceedings of tbe departments
snail be less free and less untrammeled than
had been the case heretofore. The adminis
tration of the affairs of the Government was
now in new hand?, and he wished to those
hands success and prosperity. He had no de
sire to drag down or to destroy that adminis
tration. But the majority of tbe Senate could
ill afford to let it go forth that )t bad put up
the bars to stop the pathways byrwbich wrong
doing could be found out. The proposition,
when he first heard of it bad startled him.
In the debate which followed Mr. Sherman
sustained the measure, while Hoar, Spooner
and others opposed it. It was finally referred
to the appropriate committee.
A LITTLE DECREASE.
The Annual Report ot the Panhandle Rail,
road Company,
Coltjmbtjs, March 19. Tbe annnal meeting
of tbe stockholders of tbe Pittsburg,Cinclnnatt
and St. Louis Railway Company was held in
this city to-day. The annual report of the
Board of Directors for the year ending Decem
ber 31, 1SS8, was .submitted and read, showing
tbe following results: On tbe main line, be
tween Pittsburg and Columbus: Gross earn
ings, $5.3SS,543 81, a decrease compared with
1887 of S419.830 89. Net results for 1888, a profit
of $344,838- 9L a decrease compared with 1887 of
$478,236 47. The results including all lines
operated for 8S8 being a deficiency of $95,234 74
against a surplus for 18S7 of $002,947 43. Tho
expenditure during the year in betterments,
but charged to operating expenses, was SHS6,
112 96. This includes the completion of the
second track between Pittsburg and Mingo, as
well as about 8 miles of new second track
between Columbus and Newark.
Tbe directors elected were as follow;:
George B. Roberts, Wlstar R. Morris, John
DuUarry, H. H. Houston. Frank Thomson,
William H. Barnes and John P. Green, of
Philadelphia; J. N. McCulIougb, W. Thaw.
Thomas D. Messier and James McCrea, of
Plttsbnrg; Robert Sberrard, Jr. and George
W. McCook, of Stenbenville. The board will
organize by the election of officers at an early
date.
Not So Large, Considering.
From tbe Philadelphia Bulletin.!
The junior Senator from Pennsylvania is said
to have received 4,000 letters from his State on
tbe subject ot office. This may seem like a
great rush, but when we boar in mind that
there are now half a million Republicans In
this Commonwealth, the' proportion Is not so
very large after all.
An Obstacle Overcome.
From the New York World. 1
It has been conclusively proved that the fogs
of England would make baseball as nowplayed
impracticable in the "tight little island." Per
haps, however, a transparent ball with an
electria light inside might be used to overcome
the atmospherlo obstacle ref en ed to.
Tho European Tourists' Goal.
From the Boston Ulobe,
The American baseballers have at last
reached tbe final goa) ot European-tourists'
distinction ft recognition from the Prince of
Wales.
WHAT TREES TO PLANT.
Some Seasonable Hints for the Guidance
of Amateur Landscape Gardeners Tbe
Effect of Evergreens In Beautifying
Spacious Ground.
The almost entire neglect of evergreen trees
and shrubs in planting tbe grounds surround
ing the many beautiful homes that are being
built around Pittsburg, Is becoming the sub
ject of remark by the most experienced gar
deners and other persons of refitted tastes.
This neglect, says W. L. Akers in a communi
cation to The Dispatch, arises from the asso
ciation of evergreens with cemetery planting.
A friend speaking on this subject, remarked:
"I want tbe surroundings! of my borne to be
bright and cheerful, and when I look out at the
window do not wish to be reminded of the
home where the departed are laid to rest." In
answer to the objection, it is proper to remark
that evergreens do not belong exclusively to
cemetery planting. They belong to the great
art of landscape gardening, and are used to
some extent in cemeteries ana other public
grounds, as well as upon private estates. It
has been the misuse of these trees that has
lent to our cemeteries a certain air of melan
choly. They have been planted in such abund
ance that when a few years have elapsed the
grounds have presented the appearance of a
forest of evergreens. The present style of im
proving cemeteries does not admit of their
use in this indiscriminate way, but confines all
planting to the drives and to other portions
held for ornamention.
Some Beautiful jTrees, --
Another objection is made that most' of the
so-called evergreens are brown in the winter,
just at the time when a bright green would be
cheerful ana refreshing. The Norway spruce
and the American arbor vita are notable far
this unfortunate trait. Of native evergreens
we have several that are beautiful always and
everywhere, and yet, because they are pative
and common, they have been neglected. The
ables canadensis (hemlock spruce), abies alba
(white or blue spruce), plnus strobus (white
pine) and jnniperius "Virginianum (pea cedar)
are all worthy of being iplanted in localities
suited to their respective characters. The latter
is not quite so bright in color as the others, but
the habits ot the plant are so graceful that it is
almost indispensable.
The Hardy Hemlock.
The hemlock spruce Is simply peerless among
evergreens for this latitude. It is perfectly
hardy, of a bright green color that does not
turn brown in the coldest weather, and when
making its growth in the month of May, cov
ered with its bright young shoots, is one of the
most beautiful objects that can be imagined.
There are specimens of this plant from five to
SO feet in height, growing in deserted fields of
Cambria and Clearfield counties, that have haa
room to grow in a natural manner. They form
a well-denned cone from the ground up per
fect and symmetrical. When laden with snow
tbe limbs bend gracefully to the earth, and
when the winds relieve them of the burden
they spring to the,ir place again, unharmed and
bright with their shining green foliage.
Fines for Extensive Grounds.
The white spruce comes to us from the cold
region about Lake Superior, .and is conse
quently a hardy plant. It is something like the
Norway spruce, but more dwarash and com
pact in habit. This, together with its bright
and enduring color, renders it a very desirable
plant to fill a certain place in landscape plant
inc. The grand old monarch of the forest, tbe
white pine, needs no commendation, and yet
there are so few that have seen it in all that
beauty wbicn crowns the first SO years of its
existence, that it should be planted on all es
tates ot considerable size. To these native
trees must be added the Siberian arbor vifce
and retinospora aurea, which are ot small
growth and more suitable for less spacious
grounds.
Too Many Lawns.
With these most desirable evergreen and our
long list of deciduous trees and shrubs to
choose from, the experienced gardener can
easily fit up a place that will be creditable at
once, and be continually growing In beauty.
The "well shaven lawn" idea is good; bnt we
are carrying it to excess. Beautiful trees have
a place in gardening as well as grass.
NAYAL VACANCIES FILLED.
Only One Way to Secure Them, Through
the Congressmen.
Washington, March 19. The Secretary of
the Navy sent out yesterday the nana", notices
to members of Congress who have vacancies at
the Naval Academy to make their nominations
of candidates, who will be permitted to report
on the 15th of May for examination. There are
now 47 vacancies; and 41 more will occur early
in May oft account of that number of cadets
completing the six-year course. Only one
cadet is allowed to each Congressional district,
and its Representative has the selection of the
candidate.
Neither the President nor Secretary of the
Navy nor the Senators have anything to say In
this matter, and therefore applications to them
are useless. There are no vacancies at large
for the President to fill, and none will occur in
1890, and then only one, unless some casualty
interferes. Tbe candidates nominated to nil
the vacancies referred to must not be under 19
nor over 20 when they report for the examina
tion, and mnst be actually residing In the dis
trict from which they were appointed.
GAMBLED AWAT HIS LIFE.
Failure to Wla a Lottery Prize Drives a
. Man to Suicide.
Philadelphia, March 19. His life was
staked on a lottery ticket; he lost, and he gave
up tbe stakes. This is -the brief stoiy of the
death of August Weidemann, a grocer at No.
1115 Federal street Weidemann bought a
ticket in the Louisiana lottery for the drawing
last week. He failed to draw a prize, so he put
a bullet through his heart yesterday.
On Saturday last Mrs. Weidemann noticed
that her husband was very despondent, and he
confessed that he had gambled all his money
away; that his business was all gone, and cred
itors were pressing him. In his clothinz was
f onnd a letter written on Sunday. It was ad
dressed to his "badly injured wife," and started
off with: ."What is the necessity that I should
live any longer? My life has not been such
that you could expect anything better of. me
tban death, Tbe cursed lottery swindle has
brought me to do this; not tho beer, neither
'the women. I was three times under water,
and bitten seven times by dog. I fell off a scaf
fold at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Coburg."
SATED BI PARENTS' PKAYEES.
A Revelation and a Supplication Followed
by a Miraculous Care..
Hutchinson, Kan., March 19. At Burrton,
a little town 12 miles east of here, forthe past
six months the 12-year-old daughter of W. H.
Osborne, bas been afHctedwith some mysteri
ous disease which has confined ber continually
to ber bed and bas baffled tbe skill of the loeal
physicians. Last Friday night the parents
claim they bad a revelation that earnest prayer
would cure their little girl.
The next morning they knelt bythe sufferer's
bedside and earnestly invoked Divine interven
tion. The invalid was asleep. Shortly after
ward she awoke and expressed a desire to get
up. Two hours later she was dressed and play
ing in the yard with other children, and to-day
to all appearances is quite well.
A Mnn Wuo Wanted Two Offlees.
Washington, March 19. The'Secretary of
the Navy has decided, in reply to a query from
a retired officer of the navy, whether or not he
could accept a position in the Consnlar service
without vacating his commission, that, under
tho law and the rulings of the Attorney
General, tbe acceptance of suclf an appoint
ment would be regarded as a resignation of his
commission as an officer of the navy.
Scnrcu tbe Scrlptnres,
From the Columbus Dispatch.
The Stenbenville Herald gives the name of a
man near that place who f onnd. In his family
Bible, a check on tho old Farmers and Me
chanics' Bank, of Steubenvllle, dated Decem
ber 19, 182L The depth of the dust on the
Bible is not given.
An Explanation.
From tbe Chicago Inter-Ocean.
A white spot has been discovered on one of
the rings of the planet Saturn, and the astrono
mers are unable to account for it. Probably it
is a moonstone.
Onr Clean and Progressive City.
Fromthe-New York Herald,
It is claimed that Pittsburg is now the.clean
est of all the large Western cities neither
smoky nor pokey. -
Its Well Tbnt Dudes Haven't Brains,
From the'Detrolt Free Press.l
Convicts at Singling, N. Y., are going in
sane under the system of idleness in vogue
there.
A 6EEAT CITY'S BEIEF8.
Honesty Among Ex-Convicts.
IKZ.W YOBS BUEIAU SFZCIALS.I
New Yobk. March 19. Matron HowelLof
the Florence Mission, a refnge for women in
Bleccker street, lost ber pocketbook. containing
a check, a J5 gold piece, a 15 bill and some
change, while on her way to visit some friends
on Snnday. When she discovered her loss she
returned to the mission and. prayed that the
finder would restore the purse to her. She
says she had scarcely finished her prayer when
the manager of the Refnge for Discharged
Convicts in Houston street appeared with the
lost property. It had been found at the
Bleecker street station of the Elevated- Rail
way by two Inmates of the refuge. One of the'
nnaers, a. F. Simpson, bad served three terms'
in Sing Sing, two for forgery and one for theft.
The other, John Chester, bas served 2 years
for larceny. Neither man had a cent when
theyfound the' pocks tboot, yet its contents
were untouched and they both refused to be
rewarded.
Going to Camp la Comfort.
Samuel P. Bordman, of Brooklyn, has gone
to Dnlnth to make arrangements for a party of
200 New Yorkers and Brooklynites who intend
to camp out on the shores of Lake Superior for.
two months the coming summer. The party,
which will be provided with a complete camp
ing outfit, will establish a permanent camp in
the wildest and least frequented spot that can
be found, in addition to tents, cooking uten
tensils, and hunting and fishing paraphernalia,
tbe party will have steam yachts, as well assail
and rowboats and plenty of horses, and will be
accompanied by competent guides and wood
men. Hunting a Mad Dog to Death.
A big Newfoundland dog which was appar
ently mad ran&muck in the Ninth ward, about
breakfast time this morning. It first appeared
in Perry street, near the North river, where it
bit Mrs. Beattle in front of ber home In that
street, through the arm. While she was still
screaming with fright and pain, the dog'hit
"William Perry of 336 West Eleventh street, in
the leg. It then headed for the river, knocking
down in its career Charles Gibson, of 136
Charles street, who was so unfortunate as to
get in its way, and biting his right arm. By
this time the neighborhood was aroused, and a
swelling crowd of men was pursuing tbe beast
with guns and clubs. Policeman N. Nash
headed the band of avengers, and succeeded in
cornering the dog on. the French Steamship
Company's dock, where he shot the animal.
Called From the Flay to Work.
While the Rosina Yokes Company was play
ing in the Brooklyn Park Theater last night,
two young men rushed into the dress circle
and made their way to a pretty girl In a brown
dress, to whom one of them whispered. Before
he could have spoken ten words tbe pretty girl
got up with flushed face and excited manner.
Seizing her sealskin sacque she began putting
it on, as she hurried out of the theater with the
two men. Several of the audience followed
them, thinking something alarming was on the
carpet. Manager Sinn, to whom the trio had
spoken as they rushed past him, assured in
quirers that the exciting episode was due to no
more serious a cause than the sudden illness of
Miss Marriott, of the London Gaiety Company,
now playing at the Standard Theater, in this
city. The pretty young lady, who was Jenny
Dawson, her understudy, was wanted to take
her place.
A Touug Heiress Kidnapped.
Mrs. Gresham. the wife of Saloonkeeper
Patrick Gresham, of 1165 Third avenue, Brook
lyn, died three months ago. She left all her
property, valued at J20,000, to her 3-year-old
danghter, Nellie, naming her husband as guar
dian and executor of the estate. Gresham be
came greatly depressed, either over the death
of his wife or the disposition she made of her
property, and tno weeks ago be died at the
Seney Hospital, after slashing himself with a
razor. John Toohy, a brother of Mrs'. Gre
sham, was appointed on Friday last by Surro
gate Abbott to act as guardian of the infant
heiress. Onth6 following day the child disap
peared, and it bas been reported bythe police
that she was kidnaped by Mrs. Margaret Mc
Cann, a sister of Mr. Gresham, who bas started
with her to Europe, on the TJmbria, A cable
dispatch has been sent to the police at Queens
town asking for the detention of the woman
and child.
Terr Narrow Escape of a Babe.
Little Jennie Hadfleld, the 2-year-old daugh
ter of Thomas Hadfleld, an employe ot the
United estates Electric Light Company, is in
bed at ber home on Riverside avenue, near
Paterson with a pretty bad cut.onher bead,
but otherwise uninjured and not in tbe least
disturbed by the recollection of her enconnter
with a train about 100 yards below the River
side station, on the Erie Railroad, on Saturday
afternoon. The baby had wandered to the
track while Mrs. Hadfleld, who has ten other
children, was busy. She was sitting playing
with pebbles on the ties, when the engineer
saw her, whistled "down breaks," and tried to
stop bis locomotive. Tbe child stared wide
eyed at the monster as it swept down upon her,
but did not move. The cowcatcher lifted her
from the track, carried her a short distance,
and threw heron an embanknfent. When
picked np she was screaming lustily for her
mamma, but a stick of candy given to her by
one of the passengers quieted her cries.
MISTAKES WILL 0CCDB.
A Couple of Embarrassing Errors Made by
Congressional Clerks.
Washington, March 19. Tbe clerks of th,e
Committee on Appropriations of the two
Houses of Congress, having completed trelr
statement of the appropriations made at tbe
last session, are now loo king over the acts to
discover the errors of enrollment, some of
which are almost always found. Several have
already been discovered In tho acts of the Fif
tieth Congress, two of them of quite an'annoy
ing character to Representative Randall and
Senator Edmunds. Tbe first is the omission of
an amendment reported by the House Commit
tee on Appropriations to a Senate amendment
to the paragraph appropriating 630,000forfuel,
lights and water for public buildings. The
House proposed. to concur in the Senate
amendment, which was clearly clerical, with
the following amendment, viz.;
"Which sums shall be expended under con
tracts to be made by the Secretary of the Treas
ury with the lowest and best bidder or bidders
therefor, after advertising once a week for
four consecutive weeks for proposals."
That amendment was made bv Chairman
Randall for the purpose of preventing the let
ting of these contracts by Chief Clerk Yon
mans of the Treasury Department, whose
methods were not thought to be economical by
Mr. Randall. The conference report was
agreed to on Saturday, so that all of Sunday
was available by the enrolling clerks and com
mittee to carelully enroll and comoare the bill,
but that amendment escaped and fs not in the
law. .
THE I0EKT0WN ON TRIAL.
Final Examination of tbe Completed Gun
boat to be Made To-Day.
Washington, March 19, The contractors
for the gnnboat Yorktown having reported her
completed, Secretary Tracy has ordered the
board, of which Commodore Fitzhngh Is Presi
dent, to reassemble at Cramp's shipyard to
morrow, for tbe purpose ot making such
further examinations as may be necessary, and
to report whether or not the unfinished work
has been completed and whether tho hull and
fitting and the machinery, boilers and ap
purtenances have been completed in strict con
formity with the contract.
The board will also report whether sbe is suf
ficiently strong to carry the armament, coal,
stores and machinery indicated on the plans
and in the specifications. This board is the
same one which conducted the recent official
trial of tbe vessel.
TWENTY FOXES CAPTURED.
A Lancaster Connty Tblef Robs tbe Pre
serves of a Hunter King.
Lancaster, March 19. Brisbin Skiles, of
the Gap, this county, is known throughout this
region as the king of fox hunters, and keeps
tbe largest pack of hounds in the connty. Up
to Saturday nieht he hadinhisburrow20foxes,
which be kept to enjoy tbe pleasures of the
chase when he felt inclined. On that night
somebody broke into bis burrow, cut tbe col
lars from tbe foxes' necks and carried tbe ani
mals away in wagons, so that the bounds could
not discover the trails. (
Growth of Internal Revenue Collections.
Washington, March 19, The collections of
Internal revenue for the first tight months of
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1889, were
83,384,211, an increase of 2,603,744 over the
collections for the corresponding-period of the
last fiscal year.
I
There are in "Vienna at present six com
panies who make a business of hiring o
steam boilers to small manufacturers. .
A florist at Lancaster, Pa., has so im
proved the dandelion that he has produced
specimens 20 Inches in diameter.
Tbe London and Northwestern Rail
road has put a dining car upon one of its trains,
and the whole English nation is open-mouthed
with wonder at the progress railroading ia
making in Great Britain.
Man is the universal animal. It is esti
mated that there is L250,000,000 of aim on the
globe.' The sheep rank next with G0O,00U,0O9i
300,000,000 cattle, 100,000.000 hogs (the four
footed variety), and 60,080,000 horses continuo
the list.
The professional molasses taster fre
quently has 20 or SO samples to experiment
upon, taking cars to swallow as little as pos
sible. It is said that only a man with a sweet
tooth and a clear head can bear np under the
strain of the occupation.
The extremely cold weather proved of
unique service to a North Dakota jailer, who,
being unable to quiet his prisoners of an even
ing, extinguished the fires and opened all tha
windows. After shivering for a while the men
ceased singing and shouting; whereupon their
quarters were again made comfortable.
Nearly every westbound train on th
Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad car--rlesfrom
flretpa dozen emigrant cars filled
with emigrants for Dakota, a majority of whom
are Germans. The Dakota towns are rapidly
filling up with strangers, and the liveliest kind
of a boom is looked for during the coming sum
mer. ' - i
John Maguire, a New Haven lad, wast
caught by the hand in a belt, and, although v
cafrleB around on the rapidly moving shafting
'about 700 times, received only injuries from
which he is certain to recover. At each revo
lution his body struck tbe celling and floor.
His shoes were torn from his feet, and nearly
every inch of clothing stripped from his body.
A Pacific coast paper reports that the
blowing up of a rock in the harbor of Nanaimo
was attended by a remarkable sight. At tho
moment the explosion occurred an immense)
shoal of herring was passing over the place.
and thousands of them were thrown high in
tho air. For several minutes afterward the
water was of a silver color from the immense)
number of flsh which floated on the water to
the depth ot a foot or more, stunned or killed
bythe shock.
During last week one of the collectors
for a firm in Columbus, Ga., was made the vic
tim of a very daring and curious counterfeit
bill. A payment of $20 was made to the col
lector in paper money. A day or two later,
upon a close inspection, it was found to be a JS
bill. The "Vs" on the back were almost com
pletely rubbed out. The face ot tbe bill was
marked 0 in the usual corners. These marks
had been cnt out of some old Confederate bill
and gummed on so neatly and cleverly to tho
the 5 bill as almost to be beyond detection.
Investigation of fire ruins show thai
porous terra cotta bricks and blocks best resist
fire, water and frost, next to these in the order
of fire-resisting qualities being the various con
cretes, or some of them, and burned clay work.
In the best building work now done, tbe iron
part is encased in porous terra cotta, tile or
brick work. In roof, floor and tile construction;
the hollow tiles are faced with yitrous tile,
slate, or any good weather-proof coating, or
with a single thickness of brick. Encased in
fireproof materials, iron and steel framework
is claimed to give the best results.
Dr. Kayser has succeeded in obtaining
a photograph of the aurora borealls from the)
summit of Mount Rigi, in Switzerland. This
is an interesting fact, it having hitherto been
regarded as impossible to photograph ths
aurora for want of a plate sufficiently sensitive
to be impressed by its rays. Gunther, in. his
well-known physical geography, declares It to
be utterly impossible to photograph the aurora,
the most carefully prepared plate remaining
neutral when exposed to the aurora's rays. Dr.
Kayser resorted to special precautions and em
ployed a colored dry plate the azalln trocken
platte. A Schleycounty.Ga., farmer hasacatthat
bas developed tbe same interest In clothespins
that an ordinary cat takes in mouse catching,
and She parades with her captures with just as
mnch pride. She has ever devoted herself to
collecting lost clothespins and not a few pins
that were not lost. Strange to say, she never
touched the pins belonging to ber owner, but
is death on clothespins which belong to ths
neighbors. In tbe past three months she bas
brought home over 24 dozen clothespins, and
inquiry shows that the cat keeps her eye on
the place where tbe pins are kept. One neigh
bor kept a basketful of pins on a tin roof, and
the eat had to pass over twa or three roofs to
get them, but sbe succeeded in taking three
dozen from the basket before she was discov
ered. M. Hair, of "Buena Vista, Ga., has in
his possession a genuine mad stone of very
large size, which was given him by his father
many years ago. Tbe stone was brought from
North Carolina in 1834 by the senior Hair, and
has been in the family z long time. It Is about
three-fourths of an inch thick. l?i inches wide
and 2 inches-long, slightly oval-sbaped, is Of
light gray color and about as heavy as an ordi
nary stone. Mr. Hair savs he did not. until
several days ago, think of this as a mad stone,
thinking that they were something very differ
ent, but after reading descriptions of mad
stones, that thev were taken from the stomachs
of deer as his was, he began to value his heir
loom very much. He said his father used it
for carrying away wens, warts, and in divers
other family afflictions.
In 1880 some young ladies in Berlin,
Germany, founded a club, the meifibers of
which pledged themselves not to marry, under
pain of a fine of LOCO marks. At first the club
was a great success; it started with 23 members,
and soon increased its number to 3L Suddenly,
however, an epidemic of marrjing broke out
in the club; and this year, at tbe general meet
ing, there was only one solitary member left,
who f onnd herself called upon to dispose of 28,
001) marks, the amount remaining of the fines
that bad been paid. This, bythe official ad
vice of the perjured ex-members, the general
meeting resolved toIivlde Into equal portions,
one to be given to tbe Berlin hospitals, tha
other to be settled on the last member. It
seems a pity that tbe following advertisement,
which bas just appeared in a Frankfort paper,
cannot be brongbt before this member's notice.
It reads as follows: "A poor devil wishes to
make the acquaintance of a rich angel, with a
view to matrimony, in the hope of making for
himself a little heaven on earth."
CLIPPED BITS OF WIT.
CUEIODS CONDENSATIONS.
It is one of the paradoxes of life that the
more a wife keeps her husband In hot water the
colder be grows toward her. Boston Courier.
Although experience is an excellent
thine. It does not help a girl who has bad a plenti
ful variety of It In courtship to a speedy marriage.
Boston Courier.
Rather Ambiguous. Patient I'm not
afraid to die, doctor, bat I do dread being buried
alive.
Doctor (cheerfully) Don't let that worry yon,
I'll see that you ain't. Boston Courier.
Needed Exercise. Doctor You seem to
need exercise. What do you do for a Irvine?
Fatlent-I am a cannon-ball tosser In shows.
"I see. Tell the manufacturer to put a little
more paper Inside." PhtladclpMa Record.
No "Wonder. "The garment is an excep
tionally warm one, " urged the salesman.
Yes," assented the customer, "I should judge
it might be warm; I see It's a melt(o)n"
The look that salesman gave him was calculated
to freeze the blood In his veins. Detroit Frtt
Press.
Sweet Confections. Customer (in confec-
tlonery store) Have you any kisses?
Busy Dealer Yes. sir. Which kind, Baltimore t
or Boston? ',
Give me two dozen Boston." i
"Yes, sir. William, two dozen Boston xlssat, ,
Don't forget, William, to close the refrigerator."
PMlaiilphia Steord.
A 8ZNSXBXX VASHION.
"When dust clouds fly before the gale s -And
men half blind use language strong, '
Protected by her Hading veil h
Tbe staid serenely walks along. . ";
Full oft the fashion man derides i
For woman's comfort means provides. , '
Boston Courier,
A BHXTOBIOAX, DISTINCTION. f3
4,Pray, can I try to win your heart?"
I asked a Boston mslden ; "
She looked perplexed and gave start -
My heart was heavy laden. (.
She spoke and said: Whstyoueandov
How should I know, I pray, sir? . m
But you" she changed ber tone "but yo-
l think, I tnina, you unj, w . -jb'
Detroit JreeFrsWJ,
Incredible. "I have seen some prottytw
markablewhUthands," said the drummer, as he
began to deal. "When I was making my last trip'
tdChleaxol saw one man hold all )3 trumps.'1
That's not very unusual," remarked on of
his bearers.
"Not Mall; hut the curious part of It was that
be only took one trick. "
How's that?" , ag
"Why, ho trumped hU partner's aeet first time
round, and his partner got up'aud threw bin oat
of the window," concluded the "dramme,"i h
turned up a two spot, Harvard Lampoon