I
fje BippI4
ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 184&
Vol.41 No . Entered at Pittsburg Postomce.
November II, 18S7, as second-class matter.
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PITTSBURG, MONDAY, MAR. 25, 1SS9.
To First of April Movers. .
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of April or before, can have The Dispatch
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THE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENT.
Political circles at "Washington are full
of gossip about the nomination of a succes
sor to Justice Matthews, with some of the
reports involving a.recast of the Cabinet,
It is safe to say that the people who put out
the statements have about as clear an ideaof
what is going to be done as any reader of
The Dispatch, and but little more. No
indication has yet been given by the 'Presi
dent of his course, and probably the first
authoritative information will be when the
nomination is sent to the Senate.
The very wide mention of Judge Gres
ham's name is simply a recognition of his
independence and high qualities. If the
selection is made solely on that basis, there
would scarcely be any room for question
that Gresham would be the appointee. His
nomination would be not only in accordance
with the public interest, but it would be
good politics in the interests of the Presi
dent. It would consolidate factional ele
ments in Indiana and give the administra
tion strength throughout the country.
But factional jealousy is strong and the
corporation interests are stronger. The
ability of the President to rise above these
influences is likely to be tested in this ap
pointment. THE "GROUPED" BATE OK COAL.
The Inte-State Commerce Commission's
decision on the coal case against the Pitts
burg and Lake Erie Railroad decides in
favor oi the "grouped" rate which the rail
roads of this section have established for all
mines within a radius of forty miles from
this city. This is a complicated question,
and one on which a wide variety of opinion
is likely to be held. Evidently the group
ing of rates is a necessity to a certain ex
tent; and probably the great majority of the
mining interests here will indorse the ar
rangement of the railroads and the decision
of the commission supporting it. Xct it is
evident that the line must be drawn some
where, and that distance as an element ot
cost in transportation must be taken into
account. "When one mine is charged as much
for a haul of 110 miles as another for a haul
of 140 miles, thete seems to be room for
question whether the proper relations be
tween cost of service and charges are pre
served. A NEW BAILB0AD.
The report that a new railroad is to be
built from Pittsburg to Wheeling, there to
connect with the Wheeling and Lake Erie
Railroad, receives authoritative confirma
tion in our local columns' this morning. It
proves that, notwithstanding the efforts of
the trunk line combination to shut off new
connections from Pittsburg, its magnificent
qualities as a freight producer draw all the
lines which come within reach of it to a
final connection here.
The new line opens up a route to the lakes
which, though too circuitous to be a very
powerful factor in active competition, may
be ot use. It gives better connections for
westward shipments, and its work in open
ing up the oil and gas section between here
and Wheeling is positive. In all these re
spects it will have its value and should be
encouraged by the city.
But Pittsburg's greatest interest lies in
the securing of the new Eastern connections
of which it was robbed by the strangling of
the South Penn. Our business men should
give their attention to making up that lack
and providing terminal facilities for all
futUre roads that may desire to come here.
CUBIOSITIES OF LEGISLATION.
The efforts of legislators to provide for the
public weal sometimes lead to astonishing
results, and none are more astonishing than
those occasionally produced by verbal in
accuracies. Some years ago the Maine Leg
islature passed a law to provide for the kill
ing of old and worn-out animals, and then
by defining the word "animals" to comprise
"every living creature," included old men
and women among those to be killed off
when they became decrepit. We are glad
to say that the regulation has not been en
forced; but it is noted that the Nebraska
Legislature has rivaled that piece of states
manship. It has passed a law forbidding
the discharge of firearms on the highways
"except to destroy some wild, ferocious and
dangerous beast, or an officer in discharge of
his duty." The juxtaposition of thetno
classes does not seem to give Nebraska of
ficers a very good character, but, whatever
their offenses, they seem likely to be pun
ished by making them legalized targets for
Nebraska pistol practice.
ANOMALIES IN THE MEAT TRADE.
A rather novel feature of the dressed beef
and live stock dispute has grown out of the
laws which hare been received with some
favor by the Colorado and New Mexico
Legislatures prohibiting the sale of dressed
beef. These measures provoke the retort
from the Xansas City Journal: "If Kansas
City dressed- beef is not good enough for
Colorado consumers, then are Colorado bul
locks good enough 'for Kansas City
packers?"
Of course the intimation of a boycott by
-Kansas City packers against the cattle of
any especial locality is all nonsense. If
the packers can buy Colorado cattle cheaply
they will buy them, boycott or nb boycott.
It they cannot make money by buying
them they will not do so. But it is a vital
part of the whole matter that if the legisla
tion against dressed beef as widely urged, is
inforced throughout the country the market
for Colorado, New Mexico and Montana cat
tle will bo generally cut off. The economy
in transportation of dressed beef enables the
meat supply of the East to come from those
distant territories. Without that economy,
the market for the cattle of those sections
must be diminished very decidedly.
But this reveals another anomaly. What
is the basis on which dressed beef is sold in
the very States which "ship away an im
mense surplus oi live stock? The saving in
cost of transportation would, under normal
condition:, warrant the killing of cattle in
those States and the entire shipment by re
frigerator cars. But when cattle are shipped
East five hundred or a thousand miles, and
the dressed beef shipped back again, at an
expense which can be entirely saved by
killing the local supply on the spot, thero is
prima facie evidence of something ab
normal in the conditions. The presumption is
that extraordinary favors to thedressed-becf
interest by the railroads, combine with ex
traordinarily exorbitant charges by local
butchers to produce this singular result.
The evident interest of both stock raisers
and consumers is that all should be given
equal chances to compete in the dressed
beef business, in which case establish
ments will be located wherever they can be
carried on most economically. But the
present tendency in the West is directly op
posite, and is likely to destroy the market
lor Western cattle.
A REMARKABLE DEFENSE.
The ceiling investigation at Albany had
reached a point where it became necessary
for Speaker Tremont Cole to make the most
unique defense of his reputation that has
been heard for a long time. The investi
gating committee discovered traces of a
considerable sum of money in Mr. Cole's
possession last fall, and commenced making
inquiries about it. This led the Speaker to
make a personal explanation on the floor of
the House, in which he reprobated such
prying into his private affairs, and indig
nantly repudiated the idea that he got this
money from the ceiling contractors. To
show the falsity of the charge, he told
whence the money did come. The State
Committee, recognizing "that we had a
large vote that is questionable, sent a large
amount of money into my county," of
which I was the recipient and disburser.
The illustration of the demoralization of
New York politics, could hardly go further
than to present the Speaker of the popular
branch of the New York Legislature in the
attitude of repelling the charge that he got
the money as a bribe, by the undisguised
avowal that he used it for bribery. Per
haps Mr. Cole is right in in preferring to
put himself on record as the agent, rather
than the subject of political corruption;
and .in that light it is hardly correct to
say, as the New York Herald does, that he
has jumped out of the frying pan into the
fire.
But it is a terrible commentary on the
politics of the day, when the best defense
a leading legislator can make in the law
making body, is to explain that the sus
picious funds were in his possession for the
purpose of corrupting voters.
THE BABD IN CHICAGO.
The course of true culture in Chicago
never runs smooth. The Philistines, who
are as frequently found in the pulpits of
her churches as in the sweet areas other stock
yards, are continually trying to rupture the
coupling between Chicago and Art. It is
very hard on An because somehow she is
never allowed to get quite away from Chi
cago. The latest painful incident of this
kind is the united declaration ot a number
of Chicago's Methodist ministers that
" Shakespeare is a nasty old thing."
The reverend critic who delivered the
keynote of this denunciation of the world's
greatest poet is the Bev. John O. Foster. "!
Men were present, we are told, who are
fond of books, but no protest came from
them when itwas declared that Shakespeare
ought to be shelved as an indecent and
valuelesst book of the world. It may be,
however, that good will come of this.
Many will be tempted to read Shakespeare
just to see if it is as bad as alleged. So
Chicago may acquire culture yet by the
very stupidity of some of her teachers.
The death of Mr. John Scott, Receiver
and President of the Allegheny Valley
Bailroad, removes from our city one of its
leading and most active business men. Mr.
Scott's work for some years past lying in
the charge of a corporate enterprise that
was straggling under adverse circumstances
has not been very easy; but his personal
abilities and business character kept him in
a leading position, and won the esteem and
confidence bfalL Pittsburg's business cir
cles will share the bereavement with his
family and large circle of personal friends.
It is amusing to read in journals of the
stamp of tne Nashville American, such
pleasant little assertions as that " 'Yankee
tolerance' is a synonym for all that is little,
narrow, arrogant, envious, cruel and ma
licious," and then to hear Southerners ac
cusing the North of cherishing "sectional
hatred."
The justice of providing fully against
discriminations in railroad rates within the
State, is indisputable. The requirement is
also placed in the Constitution of the State;
and therefore there ought to be no donbt
about the passage of Mr. Wherry's bill, or
some other measure for that purpose. But
action on similar measures, has made it
tolerably clear that whers corporations are
concerned, this Legislature regards the
Constitution as a barren ideality.
Tee indorsements of Colonel Grant's ap
pointment are varied, but most of them
unique. The most unquestionable of them
comes from the Chicago Tunes, which de
clares that Colonel Grant will certainly
make an envoy extraordinary.
It must be rather surprising to the read
ers of the usually accurate Philadelphia
Telegraph to read its editorial reference, In
connection with appointments to the United
States Supreme Court, to Chief Justice
Poller's appointment "as the single ap
pointment to this high court that fell to Mr.
Cleveland." Perhaps the Telegraph means
to insinuate that Lamar does not make
enough of a Judge to be worth mentioning
u Cleveland's appointee.
The mountain regions of Pennsylvania
and Kentucky are furnishing more than
their fair share of outlawries and violence
to the public just at present.
After all that has said about it, it is
necessary to point out that notwithstanding
the outspoken charge of Jndge Cunning
ham, the grand jury of Conway county,
Arkansas, has adjourned without finding
any indictments either jor the ballot-box
robberies at Plummerville or for the assas
sination of John M. Clayton. This does
THE
not promise very much for the suppression
of political crime in that section.
Washin gtojt advices are clearly to the
effect that some one will be appointed to the
vacancy on the Supreme Bench if John C.
New does not object too strenuously.
The statement that Sir Charles Russell,
the great English lawyer, beats Chief Jus
tice Fuller's record by the possession of
thirteen daughters, evokes the suggestion
from a cotemporary that the two legal
luminaries ought to get up "a daughter
trust." A course more fitted to their es
pecial exigencies would be to form a society
for the encouragement of elopements.
PUBLIC PEOPLE PARAGRAPHED.
Sejatob Vaxce has only one eye now, but
his friends say that he sees the fanny side of
things as well as ever.
Mr. George B. Lake, just elected Bute
Superintendent of Pcblio Instruction in Ne
braska,isa graduate ot Dartmouth College,
Chandler Scientlflo Department, class of 1S67.
Three popular Washington belles will soon
go to the altar. Margueretta Cameron, Dorothy
Phillips and Jean Matthews will marry re
spectively William Clark, of Newark, N. J.,
Judge Hilton's son and Justice Gray.
When Lord Beaconsficld was on his way
hack from the Congress of Berlin, heremarked
to a friend: "I shall not last long. When I am
gone, Lord Salisbury ought to be leader. And
in his nephew you will find a second Pitt." The
nephew, of course, is Mr. Balfour.
Little Marshall. P. WiLDERbas returned
to New York froma successful tourin the West.
In Chicago one night last week he made up as
Coquelin to act as a super in the mob of "Paul
Kauvar." When the supers saw him they
howled with merriment, and the wrath of the
stage manager found vent in a summary eject
ment of the little joker. Wilder says that he
thinks the manager was jealous of blm, "as
they will not give an American actor a chance
in this country."
Franklin B. Gowen, ex-President of the
Beading Railroad Company, is now devoting
himself wholly to his law practice. His hand
some face and figure may be seen on Chestnut
street, Philadelphia, almost any day, as he is a
great walker and seldom lides when he can
avoid it. Ho dresses in rich but quiet style
and looks as if he hadn't a care in the world.
He still has a vigorous opinion about the man
agement of the Reading road, but declines all
invitations to speak for publication. His gen
eral health is good.
When Mr. Bayard becameSecretary of State
he found just above his desk the portraits of
Abraham Lincoln, Daniel Webster and U. S.
Grant. The combination did not please him
and he banished Webster to an ante room and
hung a picture of Mr. Cleveland in the vacant
place. When Mr, Blaine came to the desk two
weeks ago he louked at the picture of Mr.
Cleveland with displeasure. Calling one of his
assistants he whispered to him earnestly for a
few moments. The following day the face of
Cleveland had disappeared and Webster's
strong countenance again held the place of
honor.
CATS IN THE CITIL SERTICE.
An Attempt Will be Made to Fnt Them on
Government Par Rolls.
From the Philadelphia Eecord.3
When the politics of this country are brought
down to such a fine point as to give alarm to
the cats serving as nightwatchmen in the Phil
adelphia postoffice, something must be done
soon or the Goddess of Liberty may faint and
totter upon her pedestal. No one doubts that
the cats are worried as to what will be done for
them under the new administration. They
have so far refrained from trying to get at Mr.
Quay's ear, but if some definite action shall not
be taken soon they will, no donbt, take a run
down to Washington and call at the White
House.
When the Republican party was formerly in
power the felines had considerable influence,
and they managed to lobby through Congress
a bill making an appropriation for their main
tenance every year. Then they lived in very
aristocratic style, and about four nights in the
week went out and painted the town in half a
dozen shades of crimson. They were always
dressed to kill not rats, but cats of the other
sex. But then a change came, and one of the
first things the Cleveland administaation did
was to bounce the cats because they could not
pass a civil service examination, and put rat
traps in their places. But the cats refused to
leave. They shot oil the traps every time they
were set, and then caught the rats and ate
them. Now that the Republican party is back
in power.and as Mr. Blaine is known to be fond
of cats, the postoifice felines are looking for a
restoration of tbeirappropnation and a change
in their menu cards.
Speaking on the matter at a late hour last
night one of the cats that called at the report
er's residence and took up a position on the
back fence said he (or she) believed that they
would soon be placed upon their former status
and fed on catfish and waffles.
OTEERUJt BY SCOTCH TERRIERS.
A Joke Which Brought Scores of Canine
Visitors to a Plilladelphlan'a Door.
Philadelphia, March 24. Robert M. Sny
der, of Holmesbnrg, a clerk in Internal Reve
nue Collector Gerker's office, has for several
days been in receipt of numerous letters from
friends offering their services in his behalf to
have him retained by the new Collector who
ever he may be. Mr. Snyder was nonplused to
understand why his friends were interesting
themselves so mncb, until he finally discovered
that the whole affair was a practical joke, hav
ing originated in the fertile brain of Charles
Key, aiso of Holmcsburg.
fanydcr Immediately planned revenge. He in
serted an advertisement In one of tho morning
Iiapers calling for six Scotch terriers, to be de
lvered at Key's residence. The latter has
since been overrun with canines of all species
and descriptions, and has received bushels of
letters offering dogs for sale. One letter was
from a lady who stated that she could supply
all six of the dogs If Mr. Key uas not particu
lar as to sex four of hers being females and
two males.
BIRDS CADSE A FIRE ALARM.
They Stop Up a. Chimney nnd "a Hotel is
Filled With Smoke.
West Liberty, March 24. By the ringing
of the flrebell this morning a large crowd of
excited people ran to the hotel 'building
owned and run by the GInn Sisters, where
smoke was seen coming from all parts
of the house, but It proved to not be on lire.
It is thought that the English sparrows, which
abound in thousands here, had stopped up the
flue with rubbish, and were the sole cause of
the excitement. But little damage was done
outside of a good scare.
UETEE SAW A TRAIN BEFORE.
A Youth Views the Cars Tor the First Time
nnd Disappears.
Lancaster, March 24. A. M. Zimmerman,
aged 19 years, camo to town with his father
yesterday. He had never seen a railroad train
before, and was given permi'sion to go to the
railroad, while his father attended to some
business. He failed to return to his father, and
his disappearance is a mystery that has not yet
been solved. The police have scoured the ton,
but can find no trace of him.
A L0XG JOURNEY AL0KE.
A Ten-Tear-Old Travels 'From Hungary to
Cleveland Entirely Unattended.
New Yore, March 21 Among the immi
grants who arrived at Castlo Garden to-day
was a little girl wearing a tag on which was
written: "Susie Ivan Yak, 10 years old. Please
help this child reach her brother, Andrew Yak,
No..407 Hamilton street, Cleveland, O." She
had come all the way from Hungary alone, and
was duly forwarded this evening by the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company.
Bnseball In Scotland.
From the Chicago Times.
The clrcnmnavlcatlng aggregations have
been showing the Scotch people how to play
baseball. When "the baby" muffed a ball the
pawkio Scots shouted: "Hoots awa' man can
ye no grup it, ye wuckle coo?"
Chicago Detectives.
From the Pioneer Press.;
Tis when they draw quite near to him,
They droop in dire dismay;
Jut It's always, always Tascott,
Right thousand miles away.
PITTSBURG DISPA.TOH,
O'URJEN-BAIN G0S&IP.
Vice Fresldent Morton's Experience as &
Presiding Officer The Army of Office
Seekers Not nn Average Indlanlan
Harrison is Not Making Promises.
Special Telegram to The Dispatch.
Washington, March 21 There has been a
great deal of quiet hilarity on the floor of the
Senate since the extra session began over the
timidity of Vice President Morton as a presid
ing officer. No one feels Inclined to poke fun
at tho Vlco President, for everyone on the floor
of the Senate has a kindly feeling for him and
everyone appreciates the difficulty under which
he labors in trying to fill without experience the
place of so able a parliamentarian as Senator
Ingalls. But the hesitancy and the extreme
diffidence of Mr. Morton in the ebair are at
times very amusing. Mr. Morton is entirely
ignorant of the forms of speech used by the
presiding officer in laying papers before the
Senate or In putting notions. He does not
seem to pick them up with any degree of ease
either, and the clerks at the desk in front of
him are kept busy prompting him.
Secretary McCook, whose duties are not
usually of an onerous character, is under the
necessity of staying in the Senate chamber
most of the time to be ready with a missing
word or an unaccustomed but necessary phrase.
He sits on one side and Chief Clerk Johnson
and Reading Clerk Gilfrey on the other, and
in regular alternation they supply the Vice
President with the language appropriate to
whatever occasion may arise. When formal
announcement is to be made, Mr. Morton has
It written out for him in advance, and he reads
it in a rather diffluent manner from a paper be
fore him. If he has to appoint a committee, he
reads the announcement as well as the names
of the committeemen from the slip of paper
which has been has been prepared for him.
When a motion is made he goes through the
form of putting it to the Senate in a series of
short, jerky phrases. For example, Mr. Sher
man moves that the Senate proceed to the cpn
slderationof the proposed change In rule 11
The announcement proceeds from the presid
ing officer in this fashion:
...
A Popular Presiding Officer.
Mr. Morton The Senator from Ohio mores
that the Senate
Secretary McCook Proceed
- Mr. Morton Proceed to the-;
Mr. Johnson Consideration
Mr. Morton Consideration of tho
Mr. Gilfrey Proposed change
Mr. Morton Proposed change in the rules.
(Rising and addressing the Senate in an appeal
ing manner.) Senators in favor of in the
affirmative will please say aye (in a tone of
deep entreaty); Senators In the negative, no.
No one responds to either appeal. .
Mr. Morton The ayes appear to have it The
ayes have it.
.
Mr. Morton seems to be afraid to make a
noise of any character, and when he does suc
ceed in making himself heard he seems sur
prised at his own temerity. He brings down
the travel on the desk before him in a gentle
manner, as though he 1 eared to aronse some
one, and when headdresses the Senate it is in
an apologetic tone, which Is in strong contrast
with the emphatic manner of Senator Ingalls.
Notwithstanding the little peculiarities inci
dent to his initiation into the office of presid
ing officer of the Senate, Mr. Morton is very
popular with the men over whose deliberations
he presides. The fact that he forgets their
names and the States from which they ball
creates no prejudice in their minds. They
admire his business ability and his manner in
social intercourse; and in spite of his timidity
and diffidence in the chair, they say that Mr.
Morton can be as firm in refusing a "small
loan" to an indigent Senator as be is reluctant
to call that Senator to order when he is in the
chair.
They Want to See Quay.
All tbroughonttheextrasession of the Senate
the corridors of the Capitol have swarmed with
office seekers and their friends awaiting infor
mation about appointments and seeking out
Senators whose influence they wish to obtain.
Senator Quay is one of the most popular men
in the Senate just now, and his secretary,
Frank Willing Leach, sirs all day with a pile
ot letters two Inches thick In front of him. try
ing to dictate answers to them and at the. same
time to answer the questions of a line of im
portunate men who want to know where the
junior Senator from Pennsylvania Is to he,
found. Senator Quay has In his list ten appli
cants for every office in the gift of the Presi
dent. .
He Was Privileged.
A letter was published in the Chicago Times
not long ago telling of the respect with which
all Indiana people Were greeted at the White
House and of the army of Hooslers that be
sieged the Executive Mansion. Evidently the
writer thought that there was some unjust dis
crimination practiced, and he seemed to feel
particularly aggrieved at the reception ac
corded "a Colonel Heath, of Indianapolis."
He did not know, apparently, that Colonel
Heath was the correspondent of the Indianap
olis Journal, President Harrison's 'original
organ, and ot the New York Prat, and that to
Mr. Heath, as much as to any newspaper editor
or correspondent. General Harrison owed his
nomination. And. further, the correspondent
knew nothing of the peculiar conditions nnder
which Colonel Heath visited the White House
on that day.
It had been the practice of Colonel Heath to
walk silently into the White House, slip Into
the private room of Secretary Halford, and
there arrange a brief conversation with the
President whenever he desired to talk with
him. But one day Colonel Heath tired of his
greatness and freedom at the White House.
He determined to seek a new "Arabian
Nights" adventure, and disguising himself as
"P. S. Heath, of Indiana," to see how quickly
his commanding presence would obtain for
him access to the President's library. In other
words, after seeing day by day the throng of
eager office seekers awaiting an audience. Col
onel Heath made up his mind he would know
how it was himself. Accordingly, he went to
the Executive mansion and oresented his
card to the doorkeeper with the information
that he would like to see the President. The
doorkeeper took the card and placed it care
fully on the top of his desk. Then he sat and
hummed "Sweet Violets" while Colonel Heath
paced tho Hall and grew nervous, wondering
why that card did not go In Fifteen minutes
elapsed. Colonel Heath had worn a pathway
down the hall. His nerves could stand the
pressure no longer. He stopped in front of
the doorkeeper and addressed him: "Has that
card gone in yet?" he said.
Th doorkeeper stopped humming. "Not
yet," he said; and then be hummed again.
"Why don't you take it in?" said the Colonel.
'The President has just got through the
Cabinet meeting," said the doorkeeper. "He
doesn't want to be disturbed."
"You had better take it in," said the Colonel,
and he resumed his tigerish pace. The door
keeper .fat unmoved. Ten minutes more
elapeed. Then the Colonel went to the door
keeper with a look of determination on his
face. This waiting like common people was
giowing monotonous. There was not one-balf
tbo fun in It that he had thought there would
be. 'Look here," he said to the doorkeeper,
"Yon take that card in to the President. I
will be responsible if. there Is any trouble.
You take It in."
The doorkeeper looked dubious, for a minute.
Then be went Into the President's room, twist
ing the card between his fingers. Colonel
Heath, expecting that he would be several
minutes getting an answer, walked into the of
fice of SecretaryHalford. He bad just shaken
bands with Mr. Halford, when the doorkeeper
shot through the door into the hall. Colonel
Heath was not there. He left the door stand
ing wide open and made a dash for the door of
Secretary Halford's office. He grasped Colonel
Heath with an evident desire to transport him
immediately into the presence of the President,
At the same time the door leading from the
President's room into tne office ot the secretary
was opened and thePresldentnimself appeared
and extended his hand to the colonel All of
this display was calculated to inspiro the on
lookers with a sense of the importance of the
average Indianlan. But Colonel Heath is not
an average Indianlan.
i
Harrison Won't-MnUo Promises.
President Harrison has manlfestedjone strik
ing peculiarity in dealing with office seekers.
He refuses to promise appointments. When
he gets ready to appoint a man he makes out
the commission and sends it to the Senate, but
until he is ready to sign tho commission he
will make no promises and give no definite as
surances. This is very unpleasant for the
office seekers, but It is -a measure of protection
for the President. A peculiar case was laid be
fore him a few days ago. It was the case of a
man now holding office who was willing to re
sign if a Republican who was highly recom
mended for the position was appointed to suc
ceed him. He handed his conditional resigna
tion to a friend of the aspirant, who came with
it to Washington and saw the President. He
explained the conditions nnder which the
resignation was given and said that there was
practically no opposition to his Republican
friend. The resignation of the incumbent
would relieve the administration of some em
barrassment, as the office was well managed
and there was no excuse for a change. The
President) took the papers and said that the
matter would have early attention.
"But wjll you make the appointment?" said
the ambassador.
"I cannot promise that," said the President,
'Iwitliot promise anything. There are men
going dround Washington to-day saying that
GrantQied to them, and .Hayes lied to them,
and Garfield lied to them. They shall never say
.that Harrison lied tp them.
J , W SW.-1AU.I
MONDAY, MAR0H' 25,
SINGULARTtESEiNTMENT.
A Father Who Didn't Speak to HlsDaagfater
for Flftr Tears.
Baluetvum:, Pa., March 21 Fifty years
ago James Martin, a well-to-do farmer living
near this place, refused to purchase his 15-year-old
daughter a dress that she very much cov
eted, on the plea that he could not afford it.
It was a few days before St Valentino's Day.
The daughter was a quick-tempered girl and
took her father's refusal to purchase her the
dress much to heart On St Valentine's Day
Farmer Martin took from the village postoffice
a valentine addressed to him In his daughter's
handwriting. Itwasarough caricature, repre
senting a miser counting and gloating over his
money. There lived in the neighborhood a man
of that kind. He had a niece whom he treated
brutally. When Farmer Martin looked at his
valentine he showed It to his wife, simply re
marking that he had not expected such a bitter
and uncalled-for insult from their child.
Mr. Martin took the girl to task about it
The daughter at oncedeclarcd that she hadnot
sent the valentine to her father, but, on the
contrary had mailed him a very complimentary
one. entitled "TheHonest Farmer," it having
been her custom since she was a little child to
send him a valentine every year. Tbo old
miser's niece had obtained the valentine Farm
er Martin received to send to ber uncle. Farm
er Martin's daughter was with her when she
bought it The two girls had sealed'thelr val
entines at the same time, and the Martin girl
took them both and addressed tbem. In doing
so she got them mixed, and sent the misers
Valentino to her father.
In spite of all explanation. Farmer Martin
could not be brought to believe his daughter's
story. From that day he never spoke to her.
She narried and lived on a farm adjoining ber
father's. With her husband and her children
Farmer Martin was on the kindest and most
familiar terms, but he never noticed his
daughter. Last week he died. He left an
estate valued at $15,000. To bis aged widow he
left $30,000. To his son-in-law he bequeathed
the remainder of the estate, provided he sur
vived his wife, the farmer's daughter. If the
son-in-law died first then the 315,000 was to be
divided among his three children. To his
daughter Farmer Martin bequeathed "a pack
age to be found in his trunk, tied with a green
ribbon, and sealed with green wax." When
this was opened it was found to be tne unfor
tunate valentine that had caused the extraor
dinary estrangement of the farmer and his
daughter 0 years ago.
SEEKING A LOST SISTER.
The Search, Began la 1872, Is Still Kept Up
Fruitlessly.
Special Telegram to The Dispatch.
Netjt York, March 21 For five years James
J. Hughes, a young man employed in the com
posing room of the Catholic News, has been
trying to get some news of a sister whom he
has never seen. In all that time he has written
over GOO letters to different parts of the coun
try and received but a single answer, and even
this one didn't given him any clew.
In 1864, Mary Augusta Landon. then a girl of
15, left her home in this city where she lived
with her mother and stepfather, and went to
Pittsfield, Mass., to learn the dressmaking
business. She never returned to New York,
but from Pittsfield went to Bennington, Vt, to
live with Miss Kate Harrington, an aunt She
wrote letters home at odd intervals to her step
father, but in 1872 the letters suddenly ceased,
and nothing more was ever beard from
her by her family. Her last letter
intimated that there was some great
trouble distressing her, but she did not tell
what it was. About six years ago ber step
father, the father of the young man who is now
searching for her, met Myron Landon on Fifth
avenue. He is an uncle of the missing woman.
They had not seen each other In ten years. "I
have news for yon," said Landon; "Mary is
still alive and is married to the cashier of a
bank in Holyoke or Pittsfield." Landon could
give no further information, and all inquiries
whlcb Mr. Hughes made at the time proved
fruitless.
In 1884 Mrs. Hughes died. Just before her
death she exacted a promise from her son
James that he would spare no efforts to find
his sister. This promise he has faithfully kept,
and for years he has written letter after letter
to bank officers and others in Massachusetts
and other. States who, he thought, might be
able to give him some clew. He has written, be
'says, as many as 25 and 30 letters on a Sunday,
in which he has told again and again the story
of his sister's disappearance, and the promise
given to his dying mother, and now, after five
years of fruitless Work of this sort, he is about
ready to give up his task disheartened.
QUEER DEMANDS OF CRANES.
- - ..... -
"" T
Uncle Sam Asked to Give Away Land, Oxen
and Scrap Books.
Washington, March 21 The newly-organized
Department of Agriculture, while it Is one
pf the most interesting departments of the
Government so far as its work is concerned,
does not possess much attraction for the
avarage visitor, unless be is interested in some
of the experiments which are constantly being
carried on there. Probably no other office is so
bothered by cranks.
Several days ago a request was received for a
yoke of oxen, a horse, cow, wagon, plow and a
complete agricultural outfit of the latest ap
proved patterns from a modest farmer. In ad
dition to stocking a farm for him, he asked the
Department to give him an order on the Gen
eral Land Office for 160 acres of land on which
to place his outfit when he received it A Vir
ginian, with a theory for the manipulation of
rain storms, isa frequent visitor. His ideals
to havo balloons carrying cannon, sent up into
the cloud and fired. In order to produce rain,
and he bases the feasibilitv of his theory on
the fact that after every great battle rain has
followed.
The officials tell a good story on one of the
clerks, who formerly attended to tho cor
respondence. It happened one day that the
mail was very light the only letter being a re
quest for an agricultural report Not having
anything else to do, the clerk wrote a long let
ter to the applicant, which was a model of
rhetoric. lie informed the applicant that the
department had been in operation for some
years, and consequently had issued a great
many reports, both monthly and annually. If
be would specify which particular one he de
sired the office would take pleasure in comply
ing with his request, etc The letter evidently
riled the man whb received it, for this was his
answer:
"I have your letter. I don'tcaread what
year It Is. I want It for a scrap-book. "
INTOXICATED BY WATER.
New Facts In Alcoholic Ilerldlty Somo
Remarkable Cnscs.
From the Fopular Science Monthly.!
A prominent military man who had drank
moderately during the war and had abstained
from that time on, while attending a dinner
with his old comrades, where most of them
were intoxicated, suddenly became hilarious,
made a foolish speech and settled back in his
chair in a drunken state, and was finally taken
home quite stupid. He had not drank any
spirits, and had only used coffee and water, and
yet he had all the symptoms of the others, only
his was intoxication from contagion the
favorinc soil had been prepared long ago in
the army.
Another case was that of a man who had
been an Inebriate years ago, but had reformed.
He was recently elected to office and gave a
dinner to some friends. Among them was a
physician, who had been greatly interested in
these studies. He sent me a long report, the
substance of which was this:
On the occasion referred to many of the
company became partially intoxicated, and the
host who drank nothing bnt water, became
hilarious and finally stupid with tbem. Ho was
put to bed with every sign of intoxication, but
recovered, ana next morning had only a con
fused notion of these events.
The third case occurred four years ago. A
reformed man of 12 years' sobriety went on a
military excursion with a military company,
and, although bo drank nothing bnt lemonade,
became as much intoxicated as the others.
This event was tho subject of much comment
and loss to him, socially and otherwise, al
though be protested, and others confirmed his
statements, that he did not take any spirits at
this time.
BAILROAD CONSOLIDATION.
The Northern Pacific Will Gobble tbo Wis
consin Central.
Philadelphia, March 24. A reporter ot
the Inquirer to-day learned from a well-known
railroad man that the Northern Pacific Rail
road Company has at last secured control of
the Wisconsin Central Railroad, and- through
it an entrance to Chicago.'
The directors of the company will hold a
special meeting In New York on Wednesday to
formally approve the lease, but It will be purely
a formal matter, as tho directors are a unit on
the question, and the company is already in
practical control of the Wisconsin Control's
lines.
HowThry Are tlandlcappcd.
From the New Vork World J
Certain good women of Washington meet,
every day to pray that none but virtuous and"
reverent men may be'appointed to office. They
are handicapped by the fact that there are
100,000 offices to be filled.
1889.
SOME STEANGE BELICS.
Mementoes of the Time When Franklin
Handled the Malls A Letter on a
Shingle The Museum of the P. O. D.
When Benjamin Franklin was appointed
Postmaster Gei eral of the Colonies in 1775, he
went down to the office in Philadelphia, hung
bis coat on a peg behind the only door ot the
one room which constituted the department,
and went to work. He procured a small boost
of 63 pages. In which he opened an account with
each postmaster for the 40-odd postofflces In
the 13 colonies, and kept it himself. Unlike
the present Postmaster General, remarks the
Washington Pott, the old Pennsylvanlan was
not bothered to appoint assistants, and as for
clerks, he did not have any. At odd times, and
when he was feeling lonesome because some of
the neighbors did not come in to bore him to
appoint John Smith postmaster at Juniper
ville, Franklin would go down to the city post
office and assist to make up the raall which left
by stage coach every week. In a glass case In.
the Postoffice Department the curiosity seeker
can see the very old leathern bound book In
which Franklin kept the accounts of the Gov
ernment The transactfons for three years
from 1776 to 1778, inclusive are included in its
53 pages, and the mail transactions seem to
have cut but a very Insignificant figure. You
can also see the record of the uncalled for or
misdirected letters that were returned for tho
11 years from 1777 to 1788. The book covers 44
pages, and during that time 365 letters were re
ceived. The number of letters returned to the
Dead Letter Office daily now averages 13,000.
Revolvers and Reptiles In the Dlalls.
The museum of the Dead Letter Office Is
one of the most interesting resorts for visitors
in the city. Many of the more curious articles
that have been sent through the mails and
failed to reach their destination have found
an abiding place in the three large glass cases
that are devoted to their exhibition, while a
local auctioneer yearly disposes of thousands
of the more commonplace articles that come to
that office. The musenm contains some very
interesting relics, but one's interest is mainly
claimed by seeing bow some people have en
deavored to use the malls for the transporta
tion of articles that no express company would
receive, knowing what they were. A stick of
cord wood and a loaded revolver occupy posi
tions of honor in close proximity to an alli
gator and some snakes, which were alive when
the attempt was made to send them. Bread
must have been scarce at one time, or the
sender had a hungry friend, for somebody
mailed a loaf of bread, which is now one of
the relics of the museum.
A Love Letter on n Shingle.
Some rural swain, who evidently lived in a
section of the country where paper was a
luxury, indited a loving epistle to bis best girl
on a shingle. Whether the girl still looks for
the letter that never came is a question. At all
events, the postoffice officials never found ber
to make tho delivery. An Indian scalp, a
bottled centipede and a hitching post form a
trinity ot curios, while a skull that never found
an owner makes the background for the most
miscellaneous collection of old combs that was
ever gotten together. An old mall bag stained
with blood tells the story of the faithful de
votion to duty which he sealed with his life of
an Arizona mail carrier who was killed by
Apache Indians in 1885.
A Relic of n Tragedy.
An envelope bearing the inscription, "This
contains my hair. Chas. G.Guiteau," recalls the
tragedy of July 2, 1881. There are any number
of other curious mementoes that never reached
the parties for whom they were intended. One
room in the Postoffice Department Is seldom
frequented by strangers. It contains samples
of all tho locks ever used by the department
for the letter boxes and mail pouches. The
first lock ever used was in 1812, and so far as
outward appearances go, differs but little from
the present style of lock. In the mechanism is
where the improvement has been made, and
the vigilant Cerberus who has charge of the
exhibit will not allow you to examine the work
ings of the lock.
A Colored Mao's Great Invention.
There are also three cases fitted with rejected
locks, somo of tbem very ingenious, of all
shapes and sizes. Probably the most ingenious
lock over made was offered the department by
a Texas negro. It is a flat piece of wood, with
a staple on one side and a crank somewhat sim
ilar to that nsed on a fishing reel on the other.
The crank is the key, and yon conld turn all
day without opening the lock, unless you knew
the combination.
When Mali Bags Were Few.
There are also on exhibition the different va
rieties of ma)l pouches. The office uses 25 dif
ferent styles, some leather and some bagging.
There are two old leathern bags, "gopher
bags" they are called, that were nsed in 1835.
At that time the mail was carried on the boot
ot a stage coach, and one of these pouches car
ried all the mall that went from New York to
the South. To-day the Southern mail requires
thousands of pouches.
SOON TO SLEEP FOREVER.
The Famous Slumberer of Attica, N. Y.,
Nearlng Death's Door.
(SPECIAL TZXXGKAU TO THE DISPATCH.!
Attica, N. Y March 21 Mrs. Emma Alt
house, the sleeping woman, Is believed to be in
a dying condition by her relatives. Her last
long trance was six days, and since reviving
from that she has had several shorter ones.
The woman Is so weak that she cannot commu
nicate with her attendants, and is unable to do
the slightest thing to help herself.
She is worse now than she has been, and her
relatives think that the end is very near.
THE LAST WAR HORSE DEAD.
The Pet of an Ohio Regiment Expires at the
Age of Thirty-Seven.
Fremont, O., March 21 General R. P.
Buckland's famous war horse Barney died to
day at the age of 37. The faithful animal was
in many of the principal engagements of the
Rebellion, and received several wounds. He
has ever since been tenderly cared for, and has
been a pet of the boys of the Seventy-second
Regiment The horse was probably the only
one living that had been in the war.
That. Puzzle Again.
From the Chicago Tribune.
"Goodbjt Vm gone!"
'Twas the voice of Grover,
"I'll stay away
Till the craze Is overl"
r And he's fleeing South
From the pigs in clover.
A Sliding Scale Wanted.
From the St. Pknl Globe.'!
There would be little objection to increasing
the pay of Congressmen If a scale of service
could he established. One who earned nothing
should be paid accordingly. A few should
have 110,000, or more. Ten cents would be a.
high appraisement of a good many.
When Terrible Examples Abound.
From the New YorkTclcgram.i
Kate Field is lecturing on prohibition at
Washington. Kate should pick a time when
both branches of Congress are in full blast
THE COMING OF THE SPRING'
There's something in the air (
That's new and sweet and rare
A scent of summer things,
A whirr as if of wings.
There's something, too, that's new
In the color of the blue
That's In the morning sky,
Before the sun Is high.
And though, on plain and hill
'lis winter, winter still.
There's something seems to say
That winter's had Its day.
And all this changing tint,
This whispering stir, and hint
Of bud and bloom and wing,
Is the coming of the spring.
And to-morrow or to-day
The brooks will break away
From their Icy, frown sleep,
And run and laugh and leap.
And the next thing, In the woods,
The catkins In their hoods
Of for and ilk will stand,
A sturdy little band.
And the tassels soft and fine
Of the hazel will untwine,
And tho elder branches BhoV
Their hnds against the mow.
So, silently but swift
Above the wintry drift
The' long days gain and gain,
Until, on hill and plain,
Once more and yet once more
Xeturnlngas before.
We see the bloom of birth
Make young again the earth.
Nora Firry, in XouWs Companion.
YESTERDAY'S DISPATCH.
Brief Summary ot Lending Features of the
Mammoth Doablo Number.
The week just closed was f nil of turmoil and
trouble for the British Parliament Govern
ment organs-continue to talk of unanimity and
harmony In the Cabinet, say that the Ministry
is determined to fight home rule at any cost
An American named Fletcher is astonishing
London by wonderful experiments In hypno
tism. The conduct of the Prince of Wales at
York has been severely censured by the press
and tbe people. Queen Victoria is in bad
spirits, having caught a cold at Biarritz. The
visit of Count Herbert Bismarck to England is
regarded as one of great political significance.
It is announced that the Samoan conference
will De postponed, probably until May. to await
the outcome of the Count's mission.
The Senate confirmed tbe nomination of
WhltelawRcid as Minister to France, though
a number of Democrats tried to prevent such
action. Fred Grant's nomination was con
firmed without opposition. Corporal Tanner,
who is to become Commissioner of Pensions, is
the happiest man in Washington. Another
having proved futile. Count di Montercole
sailed for Europe. Mrs. Cleveland's dally life
daring robbery Is reported in tho vi
cinity of Unlontown; the whole county
is thoroughly alarmed, all efforts
to capture the gang of desperadoes
in the metropolis was pleasingly sketched by a
correspondent Ex-Presldeni Cleveland has
arrived in Cuba and was heartily welcomed by
the Governor General. Welsh tin plate
makers talk of forming a trust
u.
A colored man named Lee, employed at tbe
Black Diamond Steel Works, was fatally shot
by Charles Allen at 2 o'clock yesterday morn
ing. Thomas Atterbury. Sr., says the suit
brought against the Mouongabela Water Com
pany is a scheme to squeeze money from the
corporation, and predicts Its complete failure.
A business man of Sab Antonio talked inter
estingly In regard to tbe demand for Pittsburg
products in the South. A special article pre
sented the results of some novel experiments
with the phonograph.
The sporting review was complete and newsy,
as usual. A correspondent gave a humorous
account of a game of ball played by the Amer
ican team in Auckland. The teams abroad
met English players and had an exciting game
of ronnders at Liverpool The manner of
playing this ancient game was fully explained.
The usual departments, Olive Logan's enter
taining letter from Washington and much in
teresting special correspondence were also in
cluded in the first eight pages.
m.
In the second part Frank G. Carpenter graph
ically described tbe largest Chinese opium den
in the world. J. W. Breen contributed a valu
able paper on the art of money-making; Bill
Nye sketched some of tho peculiarities of great
men of bis acquaintance; Captain King con
tributed another chapter, recounting exciting
adventures among tbe Sioux; "The Lily of
Rochon" was brought near its conclusion;
Havana and its Interesting sights were de
scribed by Beverly Crump, while a pretty pic
ture of Florida, the land of roses, was furnished
by M. M. "A Clergyman" and Rev. George
Hodges furnished several colnmns of sound
religious discourse, and Gail Hamilton con
trasted the agnostic and the Christian creed.
Mary Gay Humphries' paper dealt with a sub
ject of particular interest at this season the
Interior decoration of houses. Bessie Bramble,
Clara Belle, Evelyn Malcom. Blakely Hall and
Henry Haynie also discussed various interest
ing themes. Theatrical and society gossip,
military, Grand Army and secret society news,
art notes, market reports, etc, were other
features of an excellent number of a great
newspaper.
A SMART WOMAN OP SETENTI.
An Aged Connecticut Lady Cleverly
Captures a Bold Barglar.
WATEBBTnrr, Conn., March 21 In a hand
some mansion on Church street lives Mrs.
Olive M. Elton, relict of the Hon. John P.
Elton, mother of ex-Senator James S. Elton,
and one of the wealthiest persons in the city.
Although she is over 70 years old no one but
her maid servant remains in the house with
her. At an early hour this morning her maid
came to horcbamber saving, she heard a noise
below. Without the slightest hesitation the
old lady slipped on a wrapper and hurried
down to the pantry where the silver Is kept
There she made out the figure of a man.
"What do yon want here," she asked from
the hall door. All was still Bhe locked the
door and in a low voice summoned the police
by telephone. One officer entered, leaving two
outside to cut off retreat As the officer en
tered tbe kitchen his light was extinguished,
but he successfully grappled with his man.
His name is Morris Mansfield, a workman,
whose home is In a remote quarter of the town.
In court Mansfield said he had mistaken the
mansion for his house, and had broken a win
dow and crawled In as the door was locked.
He was bound over to Superior Court for
burglary.
PATABLE ON RESURRECTION DAT.
An Uncertain Period Set for the Pnyment of
an Obligation.
Brooklyn, March 24. An application was
made yesterday in the Supremo Court to have
the case of tbe assignment of Henry Ruppel to
George James Johnson transferred to the Court
of Oyer and Terminer. Mr. Johnson, who lives
in Greenpoint, makes some qneer charges. He
declares that Mr. Ruppel got possession of the
bouse 60 Bemsen street by fraud, and he also
makes this picnliar allegation In the complaint
he has filed:
"And this complainant demands of this
honorable Court that Herman Michael Her
berg shall produce that check that Herman
and Michael Herbert gave to Christina Ruppel
payable on the day of resurrection, and placed
in tbe coffin. She died May 26, 1872, and Henry
Ruppel says she did not have It Who then
didr
Justice Cullen has not given any decision in
the case. The complainant does not tell of the
consideration for which tbe check was given.
Two Krmarkable Tnicotts.
From the Chicago Inter-Ocean.
Dr. Alvin Tascott of Connecticut a Yale
man of the class of '26, says that be reads 100
lines of Homer every night to go to sleep on.
But that is nothing to tbe achievement of our
Chicago Tascott Every night before he goes
to sleep be dodges SCO detectives and refuses
150,000 in cash.
Mr. Wntterson's Love for Pennsylvania.
From tbe Louisville Courler-Journal.l
A part of Scranton, Pa., is built over a mine,
and some of the Scrantonlans are now surprised
to find their houses sinking or getting out of
plumb. The Pennsylvanlan will gradually learn
that he cannot, at the same time, have all that
is in the earth and all that is on top of it
He's Bound to bo Heard.
From the Kansas City Star.i
A Neosho man bas invented a new kind of
ear trumpet by the nseof which a very deaf
person can be made to bear tbe very slightest
whispers. It is understood that ChannceyL
Filley is going to try it on President Harrison.
PACTS AND FIGURES.
Leather belts run with grain side to the
pulley will drive 30 per cent more than if run
with flesh side.
The arrivals of immigrants at Castle Garden
during the past six months show a decrease
of 21,500 compared with the same months last
year
The anthracite coal production this year
up to the latest advices foots up 4,370,722 tons,
an increase of 281,763 tons over the like period
last year.
The average price of 14 of the principal Bos
ton copper stocks is over 20 points below tbe
highest average of 1888, tbe decline rep
resenting a loss ot upward of S19.C00.000 in
value. v
The average natural-age of tho oak is from
1500 to 2,000 years: of the elm, 330 to 500 years;
the maple, 600 to 800 years; the yew, 2,500 to
3,000; the cedar, 800; linden', 1,200 and the cy
press 350 years.
The shipments of oil from the port of Phila
delphia last week were the largest ever before
experienced, being 4,S65,928 gallons, and since
January 1 they were 25,762,810 gallons, as com
pared with 19,113, 006 gallons for the correspond,
ing period last year.
Competent experts estimate that nearly if
not quite S3O,OuO,00O will be spent for newspaper
advertising in the United States during the
year 1889; and that over five times that amount
will be diverted into the coffers of those manu
facturers and firms who advertise, that would
otherwise go Into the hap-hazzard channels of
chance trade.
CUKI0DS COKDENSATIOSSJ
There are 623 newspapers and periodi
cals published in foreign languages in this re
public Fully 20O persons in Fairfield county,
Connecticut are engaged In trapping skunks
for their skins.
Miss Braddon has written over 50 novels
in which she bas given tbe world of fictIon,It is
said, more than 500 characters.
It Is said th3t a Georgia man committed
forgery becouse starvation stared him in the
face, and then starved himself because the for
gery stared him in the face.
A. hint that the silly season is coming
around is given in the story from Yonngstown,
O., that a turtle which disappeared last July
has been found alive in the craw of a chicken.
There is a superstition among miners
that every ten years rich diggings will be dis
covered somewhere. The record so far Is Cali
fornia. 1849: Pike's Peak, 1859; Nevada, 1869;
Leadville, 1879.
Out near San Diego, in California,
where there is much coarse sand rock, covered
by, a tbln lajer of soil, the experiment Is being
tried of blasting holes into which to plant
shade and fruit trees. ""
A lady of Albany, Ga., who went over
to Nassau, purchased a pink pearl from i
native for J10. Upon her return to America
she wrote to a leading jeweler in New York,.,
clvlng the size of the jewel. He offered her
JoOOforit She refused to sell. " '
Thirty-eight years ago Mrs. Frank Bur
nett, of MInden, Mich., lost a pail ol butter In
the well. A few days azo it was determined to
dig the well deeper, and quite an amountof tba
butter was found. It ! white but still solid,
ana the butter flavor is plainly discernible. - - '
Joseph F. Young, of Augusta, is tfia
owner of one of the smallest dogs In Maine. He
Is a cross between a ratter and a spaniel both
his parents having been extremely diminutive.'
Though now 4 months old the little canine
weighs bnt 24 ounces and is lost in the pocket
of an ordinary overcoat
Middletown, N. Y., has a blind nan,
who buys and sells horses with good judg
ment, after carefully feeling the animal over
with his hands. He can take care of his horses
and hitch up a team almost as readily as any
man in his employ. He once, unattended,
made the trip to New York City.
There is an organ belonging to a family
in Waynesboro, Ga,, whose keys are touched
by unseen fingers. A few evenings ago, the
gentleman of the house says, dellzhtful strains
of music were heard issuing from this organ,
and bis curiosity prompted him to investigate,
but tbe music ceased. as soon as be entered the
room.
The ladies of Texas are making a hugs
map, drawn on canvas, with all the 264 counties
of the State laid off. One county, Tom Green,
is larger than the entire States of Massachu
setts and Connecticut combined. The name of
each county will be worked with soraebeauti- .
f ul prodnct made in the connty. The map will
be exhibited in the Texas Spring Palace to be
built at Fort Worth.
A case of horse resurrection has come to
light in Newburg,N.Y. Ahorse died, appar
ently, on Thursday, and was buried beneath a
pile of rubbish until an "equine undertaker"
could be summoned to remove it to the bone
factory. On Saturday removal was attempted.
A rope was fastened to the animal and on the
first pull it arose to its feet and frisked its tail
Now the equine is seen drawing garbage on the
streets.
Prof. Kirchoff, of Halle, estimates that
the language most spoken on the globe, for the
last 1,000 years at least is Chinese, for it is,
without doubt, the only one which is talked by
over 400,000,000 of the human race; the next
language most In nse (but at a verv great dis
tance behind Chinese) being Hindustani,
spoken by over 100,000,000. Then follow En
glish (spoken by about 100,000,000). Russian
(over 70,000.000). German (over 51006,000) and
Spanish (over 47,000,000).
Thomas Harris, a queer old recluse who
recently died intestate, in China, St Clair
county, Michigan, leavinjt an estate of 25,000
or 30,000, which may possibly escheat to the
State, owned a good farm house, but he kept
his wool in the parlor, his grain in the bed
rooms, and slept in a wagon box on tbe kitchen
floor, using an old sail for a coverlid, and a
counle of sheepskins for a pillow. The Judge
of Probate i trying his best to find If Harris
bas any legal heirs, but with no success thus
far.
In Dalmatia chrysanthemums are large
ly cultivated to supply chemists with the sub
stance from which the well known "Dalmatian
insect powder'is1 made. The Island of Lestna.
is the chief seat of cultivation, and the flower
most generally grown Is C. Cineraricetolium
Trev. It Is said that no other local crop pays
so well the product of a single acre of ground
selling for from 500 to 1.500, and tbe Govern
ment yearly distributes plants at very low rates
in order that the industry may be still further
developed.
The fruit of the banana is the least
valuable part of the tree. The fiber, which in
some countries ispermitted to goto waste, is
of value. Throughout Central America and
the continent of Africa it is used, with only the
preparation of drying, for sewing threads and
fishing nets. The threads are of silky fineness,
and It was thought that as an article of com-
merceitwouldpayto import in large quanti
ties. A firm in Bradford, England, having got
possession of some of the fiber, wove a quantity v
of handkerchiefs from it that for delicacy of
finish and strength were unexcelled. With a
silky sheen and remarkably fine web such arti
cles would have obtained a ready market bnt
it was found that tbe mode of obtaining the
fiber by the natives was too slow, and until
some machine was invented to strip the fiber
quickly tbe small quantity would be of practi
cally no use.
As a Florida steamer was going around
abend in Dunn's creek it struck a huee alli
gator near alarge floating Island. The captain
noticed that this particular 'island was rather
large, but paid no attention to It for an oppo
sition steamer was crowding him and be conld
not afford to check up. The boat struck the
floating Island with terrible force, breaking her
bow stem and shattered tbe boat considerably.
The passengers were terribly frightened and
the ladles ran about asking in pitiful tones for
help, and it toolc several minutes for the crew
to quiet those frantic passengers. An invest!-
atlonwas made. The creek was red with
lood and the snorting In the water terrific. It
turned out that the supposed island- was noth
ing more than a huge alligator; whose back was
covered over with bonnets and water lilies, re
sembling an Island, obstructing the hide of the
saurian from view.
SIFTED AND SORTED.
When Stanley is found he -will be a seen
It lie old maa.
We 'bear and read remarkable stories
about cats abandoning their kittens and raising
motherless papules or squirrels, but ln,Texas not
long since a mule raised a giown man 11 feet,
without any apparent effort
At the Theatre. Miss Jones (to Smith,
who has Just been out to see a man) You ought to
go once more and toboggan. little.
Why so?
Because they say it takes away one's breath.
One of the Congressional districts in
Texas Is so large that when a candidate travels
through It the suffragans at one end of It hare got
sober before he bas been able to enthuse at the
other end. The Prohibition candidate suffers a
great deal durlngtthe canvass.
Adding Insult to Injury. Hatter I've
got no uso for young Snobberly.
Friend What has he been doing?
I met him the other day and" be .didn't take off
his hat to me. I didn't mind that so much If he
hadn't been owing me for that Identical hat
How They Hade It TJp. They are newly
married, but they quarrel over a trifle She will
go home to her mother "Stay, dearestt"-Bat
she won't stay He weeps A sadden thought
strikes him "I have tickets for Barnum's
show." "Oh, tieorgel George! How good you
are!" Beeoncillatioo.
Fully Justified. Judge Yon assaultedf'
this man seemingly without any provocation.
Prisoner Without any provocation! V hy,yourv
Honor, we were talking about the acqnlttalJ,of'"
Mr. Rerr. and he said It was as sad an a-kerr-ance
aa he ever remembered. '
He said that? Mr. Sheriff, take luto custody the
policeman who arrested this worthy gentleman.
Yon can go, sir. $A
A Gross Injustice. Pastor How is your
son coming onr I've not seen blm lately. 3K
Parent-Pretty well. ., Li
I hope he Is not showing any signs or becoming
fast as Is so frequently the case with boys In large
cities. a-msS
Fast? Why. parson, he's a messenger' boy.
Don't (lander the poor boy that way. ' "j -s
I beg pardon. Excuse me. I had no Idea' that
he was paralyzed- ("'
A Harmonious Couple. First clubfian
So Prince Alexander of Battenbnrg has married
an opera singer-
Second club min Yes, and he Is so poor and so
mncb In debt that she wilt be obliged to resume
her profession. - t
Funny. Isn't It? u i b.r
What? ,- n ?XV
That she has to take np her notes so as to enable
him to take up his notes. " S: .,
AUrom Texas Sifting t.
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