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ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8. 1S18.
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PITTSBURG, TUESDAY, APR. 9. 1SS3.
PITTSBUEG'S BATTLE.
The reports from business circles show
the mercantile And manufacturing interests
to be getting fully awake to the importance
of the -agitation on the question of railway
rates. The recognition is almost universal
that in this matter are bound up the future
of Pittsburg and the question whether our
city shall gain the full benefit of its natural
advantages or have its growth limited and
restrained by adverse railway charges.
The Tery vital fact is pointed out by one
wholesale merchant, that we have in the
Constitution a very complete system of regu
lation for State railways, which has re
mained a dead letter for fifteen years because
railroad influence prevented its enforce
ment This is a fact to which The Dis
patch has often adverted, and it is made
the more cogent because these Tery pro
visions of the fundamental law are evaded
in the compact by which the South Penn
road was strangled. However it may be
necessary to support the Constitution with
provisions requiring a more reasonable pro
portion between State and inter-State rates,
it is certainly a good platform for the start
to insist on enforcing the constitutional
provisions that we have.
To add to the force of awakening public
opinion Mr. Carnegie gave the members of
the Legislature last night a very lively
statement of the needs and wishes of our in
dustrial interests. If Mr. Carnegie suc
ceeds in waking up the Legislature as he
has aroused Pittsburg, he can congratulate
himself on a great success.
SISUUPTIOir OF THE EIVEE MINES.
The resumption of the majority of the
river mines, a little over a week after the
shut-down which was so impressively an
nounced, will be likely to create the im
pression that the declaration of an indefinite
stoppage, until wages were reduced or the
market improved, required a considerable
saline seasoning. It seems Dy the commen
tary of events to have rested on the basis of
a customary shut-down until the empty craft
got back aud there was another opportunity
for shipments. "Whether this is the true ex
planation or not, we congratulate both the
operators and miners upon the practical
evidence that there is still a little margin
for shipping coal, and that work can be
found for the miners on their present basis
for wages. "Whether steadier work might
not be secured by a slight reduction is a.
qcestion for the operators and miners to de
termine between themselves. But that the
above conclusion is justified by the resump
tion is proved by the well known fact that
the operators do not, as a rule, ship coal
merely for amusement.
TWO KINDS OF METHODS.
The first day of the conflict between the
Producers' Association and the middle
men in the milk trade does not seem to have
crowned the policy of shutting off the sup
ply with any glittering suocess. The milk
dealers profess to have been able to obtain
supplies for their trade; and, so far as can
be perceived from the outside, the principal
losers are those producers who, by the edict
of the association, have cut down their
shipments 75 per cent.
Claims are made that the grip of the asso
ciation will be demonstrated in a day or
two; but the tact that the milk supply is
easily increased makes it doubtful if the
actual result may not be the other way.
But another project of the association,
namely, that of directly supplying retailers
and consumers promises more of an out
come. That is a legitimate way of de
creasing the cost of taking the product from
the producer to the consumer. There is
little doubt that the middlemen's charges
have been large, and an organization which
reduces that margin by controlling a large
trade will be likely to confer equal ad
vantages upon the farmer and the city con
sumer. The sooner the Producers' Association
enters upon that legitimate effort to control
the milk trade, and abandons the illegiti
mate attempt to create artificial scarcity,
the sooner will it aid the farmer by increased
competition and increased consumption for
its product.
THE DEMAND OF DISCIPLINE.
The statements which are made on behalf
of Mr. Ellis H. Roberts, in accepting the
position of sub-Treasurer at New York, in
dicate the growth of an unwritten constitu
tion governing the duty of political leaders
to take offices. It was the Hon. "William
Lawrence, of Ohio, we believe,' who once
developed the theory, in connection with an
antediluvian salary grab, that as ihe Con
stitution says that Congressmen "shall re
ceive" the compensation fixed by law, they
have no option, and if they refuse to take
their share of a big salary they would vio
late the Constitution. Some unwritten en
actment of the same tenor seems to have
prevailed in Mr. Roberts' case. The place
of f8,000 a year could not lure him from his
rural grandeur as a Utica editor; but Presi
dent Harrison insisted that the Republican
party owed the appointment to Mr. Roberts,
and therefore party discipline required him
to lake the tolerably well-paid place he did
not want This is a singular example of
the way in which the love of party con
straineth ns.
TEES' PAY THE EXPENSE.
As a criticism of the proposition to re
duce letter postage to one cent, the Atlanta
Constitution advances the proposition that
"the rednction in postage has already out
stripped the facilities for handling and de
livering the mail." It then proceeds to
criticise the fact that the resident of a city
has his mail delivered to him several times
a day, while the countryman is compelled,
to go a great many miles for his mail, and
is fortunate if he gets it once a week. These
considerations lead the Constitution to de
clare: ,
It cannot be denied that the postal service,
as It is now conducted, centers privileges on
one class of citizens that it docs not conler on
another. The mail facilities of the people of a
small town are not to be compared with those
of the people of a city, and yet there is no rea
son why the Government should accommodate
one at the expense of another.
This is, perhaps, a natural view for a rep
resentative of the agricultural interests to
take; hut there is a boomerang in it. For
although the mail facilities of the country
district are necessarily far less complete
than those of the cities, if the account is
drawn between them as separate classes, it
will be found that the postal system gives
mail facilities to the country people at the
expense of the city people. In other words,
the large receipts of city postoffices not only
pay the expenses of their increased facilities,
but yield a material balance toward bearing
the cost of the ordinary facilities in country
districts where the receipts 40 not meet ex
penses. This has been demonstrated in two ways.
In the first place city delivery systems have
prospered and made money by delivering
letters in cities at the regnlar postage
charges, until the Government interfered
with the business as an encroachment on
the governmental monopoly. In the next
place, the showing of the largest postoffice
of the country gives the exact figures. The
excess of leceipts over expenditures at the
'New York Postoffice in 1888 was $3,271,000,
or about half the gross receipts. This bal
ance, with similar contributions in smaller
amounts fromther cities, is used in paying
the expenses of country mail service where
the receipts do not balance the expendi
tures. The city people can well afford to pay the
slight contribution made upon them to keep
up a good mail service to all parts of the
country. But if instead of viewing the pos
tal system as a whole, the idea of setting
the interests of one class against the other
were to prevail, the inevitable result of our
cotemporary's principle would be the lower
ing of postage in the cities and raising it in
the country districts.
BOULANGER'S LAST MOVE.
General Boulangcr has been told to leave
Belgium, it is said. General Boulanger
probably did not expect to stay in Brussels
for any length of .time. He will, it is said,
go to England and console himself with the
salt air and expensive hotels of Brighton.
There will be no objection to his presence
there, so long as the "Boulanger March" is
played in the slow time and minor key
which has characterized it lately.
An absurd report has appeared to the
effect that some Englishmen objected to
Boulanger's being allowed to take refugein
England, and would petition the Goern
ment to put their objection into execution.
In the first place it is very improbable that
any Englishmen of importance entertain
such remarkable hostility to General
Boulanger, and, in the second, it would be
against all precedent for the English Gov
ernment to forbid, therelugee to land in
England. The case of Johann Most, who
was imprisoned for publicly expressing
sympathy with the assassins of Emperor
Alexander of Russia in his London paper,
has not the remotest bearing upon the
question of General Boulanger's right to
stay at his pleasure in an English hotel.
The charges against General Boulanger
are entirely political, and as far as the
French Ministry has revealed them, do not
amount to much anyhow, considering the
normal characteristics of French politics.
His worst offense seems to have lain in his
successful flight. The leader of the anti
Boulangist party, and motive member of the
present Ministry, was in favor of removing
the "man on horseback" from the public's
view by measures more or less desperate.
The proposed victim did not see the utility
of permitting his enemies to experiment
with him as they pleased, and quietly fled.
Lord Salisbury might be glad to close the
doors in the highly-advertised Frenchman's
face, if he could do so with safety to himself.
But he cannot. Boulanger will be heartily
welcomed Uy the Brighton hotelkeepers,
and the Sonth Coast railways will doubtless
soon be running excursion trains to accom
modate the crowds eager to seethe blue-eyed
hero and bogy of France.
THE "W0EEY OF PATEONAGE.
The editorial deduction of the New York
Tribune from the visible effects of the worry
and strain to which the President has been
subjected of late, is a rather striking proof
of the logic of events. The Tribune among
the ranks of the civil service reformers is
almost as refreshing a novelty as Saul
among the prophets; yet that journal very
plainly declares that the greatest tax upon
General Harrison's strength has been from
the office seekers during the past month. It
then proceeds to drive the nail home by in
dorsing ex-Secretary Endicott's asseition
that "civil service reform is a necessity, in
order to protect the health and life of a
President."
However conclusive this may seem to the
public mind, it will fall short of the occa
sion bv utterly failing to convince the Sena
tors who have lately been flinging up their
hindquarters over the President's exercise of
his appointing power. They are heroically
ready to stand in the breach and relieve the
President of all trouble. They will jointly
and severally undertake to bear the worry
of selecting the appointees" from their re
spective States. Their theory of govern
ment has been announced to the effect that
the members of the Legislature should wield
the nominating power and bear the responsi
bility. "With the offices parceled out to the
Senators and Congressmen, they think that
the strain upon Presidental strength might
be wholly taken away, and any damage in
the past could be wholly recuperated by let
ting the President go fishing.
This plan seems admirably adapted for
relieving the President, alike of trouble, re
sponsibility and authority. The Senators
seem confident of their ability to stand the
strain; but after a few years of that sort of
appointments the people might worry them
a good deal.
A BURGLARY COMPANY.
A rather stunning example of the lengths
to which corporate undertakings can be
carried is furnished by the annonncement
that, under the laws of Connecticut, the
Hartford. Burglary Company is to be
started. This title is not intended to ad
vertise a wholesale departure in the
burgling business. On the contrary, its
purpose is to insnre policy holders against
burglary and to secure the. arrest of th'e
burglars. "Whether that protection might
not be aided by an entente cordtale between
the company aud the burglars, like that
between Donald Bean Lean and Fergus
Maclvor, may provoke discussion in the
future.
But'it can hardly fail to impress itself on
the minds of the majority that they already
belong to an organization, to which they
have contributed considerable payments,
for purposes very similar to this. If 'the
purposes of Government do not include the
protection of the people against burglary
and other crimes, and the arrest of the crimi
nals, it is getting high time to inquire what
we really do pay taxes for.
"When the corporations begin to discharge
the tunctions of Government it is getting
to be high time to decide whether they shall
run the Government or the Government
run them.
The reported statement of a grand jury
man, that the effect on constables of the re
cent disciplinary measures has been to make
them anxious to do 'their duty, is calculated
to provoke the wish that the trouble might
bo contagious and that in the contact be
tween the officers of the law and the grand
jury the latter body might catch it
In referring to, the visits of the Secretary
of the Javy to the League Island Navy
Yard at Philadelphia, the Record of that
city describes the place as "covered with
rotting timbers, rusty and grass-grown rail
way tracks, disordered material, ramshackly
storehouses, vessels bilged and sunken, and
other obstreperous indications of neglect
and decay." It then goes on to refer to "a
continuation of the reforms begun by Sec
retary "Whitney." It seems as if four years
of reform under Secretary "Whitney ought
to have ameliorated some of the conditions
which are described by his party organ at
the end of his term.
"When a "West Virginia grocer is able to
eject the Governor of that State from his
grocery, it seems as if the people of that
State might summon up resolution enough
to eject the official from the office which he
is holding, and which belongs to another
man.
The circular of an Eastern brokerage
firm to the stockholders of the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, urging
them to send in their proxies for an election
which shall make a change of management
in the interest of the protection of the stock
holders, is made some what remarkable from
the fact that this firm is closely allied with
Jay Gould. The idea of putting Jay Gould
in the charge of a railroad for the protection
of the stockholders is either a gigantio joke
or is intended as the most cutting sarcasm
upon the former management ol the com
pany. The advance of spring brings wheat
down and accomplishes the still more use
ful result of making all the fellows who
have been screwing up on the price of flour
for the past six months run to cover. "
The progress toward a change of the
moving day from April to May suggests the
further question, why it is necessary to
have any moving day at all. "Why not let
leases begin and expire at all seasons
throughout the year, just as contracts for
iron or sales ot steel rails are -made? On
such a plan the renting business could be
extended over twelve months, and the de
mand and supply of houses would be more
nearly equal at all seasons.
The failure of the Signal Service to say
anything about the dying kick of the , Snow
King on Saturdav warrants the remark that
the weather bureau did not make it snow by
the success of its predictions.
Mb. Ainstvobth, of the New York As
sembly, recently declared on the floor of
that body that he would vote against the
Sew York bill because the papers of New
York were in favor of it. Since the papers
of the metropolis have been pitching into
Mr. Ainsworth for the energetic way in
which he did not investigate the ceiling
jobbery, he has come to the obvious con
clusion that it is his policy to copper the
New York press on everything.
Since Major Armes is to be court-martialed
for pulling Governor Beaver's nose,
how much Senator Chandler must wish that
military discipline conld be enforced in the
Senate.
A phenomenon w"hich accompanied the
announcement of the appointment of -Col
lector Erhardt and Postmaster Van Cott, of
New York, is considered by the JFVeM.suf
ficiently important to announce in a dis
play head to the effect that "they have
many friends." The fact would be more
remarkable if the Press was able to name a
case in which the appointees to those offices
ever did not suffer from an embarrassing
richness of friends.
Fboji present indications that milk com
bine is likely to do more execution at the
breech than at the muzzle.
A characteristic of New York relig
ious observance is displayed by the an
nouncement, in the fashion columns of the
Tribune, that "the Lenten season drags
along with an all-pervading listless
ness." It may seem peculiar to some that
a devotional season should be characterized
by listlessness; but after all it maybe no
more than natural when the devotion is of
the fashionable-kind.
PEOPLE OP PROMINENCE.
FrVE of the seven members of tho Vermont
Supreme Court were born in 1835.
Rev. G. O. Barnes, the "mountain evange
list" has settled on Sanibel Island, off the
coast of Florida.
It is recalled that President Lincoln once ex
tended executive clemency to a young English
man found guilty of piracy and blockade
running because, as he expressed it,
"John Bright of England, has asked us to par
don him.."
Rev. Sterling Bbown, formerly of Cleve
land, is pastor of Plymouth Congregational
Church in Washington. Mr. Brown is a rather
slim mulatto about S3 years old, with a slight
black mustache, and wears glasses. He is a
pleasing talker.
The daughter of the celebrated Prof. Aeas
siz is busy in Boston establishing a manual
training-school. Over 2,000 boys and girls
shared in the advantages of this school last
year. Efforts are being cut forth to have the
school adopted by tho city.
Captain Axel Aslaksen, of the Nor
wegian steamer Amicltia, will hereafter carry
a costly gold watch and chain, presented by the
President of the United States for his bravery
in rescuing the crew of the shipwrecked
American schooner San Domingo on Novem
ber 27 last
Cabl Benjamin, King of the Marshall Is
lands, is a native of Massachusetts, about SO
years old. He was shipwrecked on one of the
islands about nine years ago, became ac
quainted with the people, and was made King
a short time ago. He has 19 wives and numer
ous children.
General Benjaktn F. Tract, the newly
appointed Secretary of the Navy, paid his first
official visit to the New York Navy Yard yes
terday. The place presented a holiday appear
ance, and the flags were flying. Commodore
Ramsey welcomed the Secretary, and he was
saluted on all bands.
Mrs. McCbea, daughter of Millionaire
Snell, who was killed by fugitive Tascott last
year, wants 10 buy or lease a New York theater
in order to make her professional debut She
has been prominent In the amateur circles of
Chicago, and Is very rich in her own right. Re
cently she has been a pujsl !u Dion Boucicanlt's
school.
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
Senator Quay Means to Best A Woman's
View of tho President A New Nursery
Ballad The Mocking Bird and the Hen.
The office seeker who thinks to advance his
cause by descending upon Senator Quay in his
home at Beaver is sadly mistaken. Mr. Quay
has been so thoroughly exhausted in his tussle
-with men wanting favors at Washington that
no nas anowea nis family to decree mat now he
is homo he shall deny himself to all who ap
proach htm asking gifts.
He is accessible to .those whose business is
not connected with securing consulates and of
fices for themselves, but on the best authority
I learn that the office seeker pure and simple
ik ill not receive the slightest attention from
the junior Senator from the State until he has
enjoyed a season of rest and recuperation. One
who saw him a few days ago says that JIr.NQuay
is looking very much more tired and unwhole
some than he did the day after Harrison's elec
tion In November.
V
A young woman of this' city who has just
returned from Washington, D. C, said to me
yesterday: "President Harrison has not been
treated "very generously by the Washington
correspondents in some respects. By almost
everyone he seems to have been given the
name of being an austere, chilly and curt sort
of man. I thought he would have no use at
all lor me, but I was agreeably disappointed.
Some friends of mine from Colorado and Kan
sas, who had been spending the winter at St.
Augustine, Fla., came up toWashlngton a
week or two before I left, and of course they
wanted'to see the President
"Well, an obliging Senator was found to pro
cure a morning audience for us at the White
House. There were more than a dozen In the
party, and only two of them were gentlemen.
More thaa that not more than three of the
ladles were really grown up. It was a crowd of
girls. Possibly there was a good deal of gig
gling when the President came into tho East
rqom, where we were all assembled. The Pres
ident, however, did not appear to ba a bit em
barrassed, and he smiled and said something to
Senator , who advanced to greet him,
which I could not hear, but which was prob
ably some jocose allusion to the number of
ladles nnder the Senatorial wine. Tbeu' Mr.
Harrison shook hands with U3 all.. He has a
nice way of shaking hands. It isn't the rather
flabby grasp which Mr. Cleveland dealt out to
girls I believe he gripped a man's hand good
and bard but a nice, genial clasp and pressure
of the hand. I noticed Mr. Harrison's hands
are well-shaped and not very large.
'Then for 20 minutes Mr. Harrison and our
party talked about all sorts of things, about
Washington and St Augustine, the weather,
and strange to say, about the Paris Exposition,
which Mr. Harrison said he would have very
much liked to see. I said and I don't know
how I dared to: 'Mr. President, I will take
your place if you want to go to Paris this sum
mer.' "Mr. Harrison laughed heartily and replied:
'I'm afraid I should have much the best of the
bargain but I'll lay the matter before the
Cabinet'
"If you ask me what I think of Mr. Harrl son
I say that he's too nice for anythingf'
V
A NEW NCBSEBT BALLAD.
There was a line new President,
Who tried with all his might,
To serve his friends whene'er he conld,
And pen the pigs in eight.
There were a dozen Senators,
All wise and worthy men.
Who said that nalstcad was a pig
Not fit for any pen.
Then Halstead? who is called Hunt,
Uprose as large as ten.
And skewered every Senator
' Upon his cruel pen.
A moral 's In this piteous tale:
"Ne'er tight a porker when
He's after public office. If
He owns a private penl"
It was such warm, cheery weather yesterday
that the mocking bird was taken, cage and all,
from his cozy corner in the kitchen and given
a sun bath on the porch. The bird enjoyed his
first outing for the year immensely. For the
first ten minutes or so he amused himself trying
to catch a few small gnats that buzzed rather
prematurely about a leafless vine. Then he
began to whistle scraps of hymn tunes and
popular songs indiscriminately.
Under a tree near the porch an old hen had
gathered her brood ot interesting balls of fluff,
andpromlsory feathers, some day to boreal
spring chickens. Between the porch and the
tree, under which the old' hen was delivering a
noonday lecture to her 13 children, lay a plump
and religious-looking cat. She was not one of
your scampish, frisky, half-fledged cats; but a
demure, old tabby, too well fed and perhaps
'too moral to even look with evil eye upon the
sparrows in the bushes nearby. She certainly
was at the time I speak of when the mocking
bird was making a strange aitty out of "Hark!
HarklMySoul" and "Dem Golden Slippers"
combined as quiet and benevolent as a cat can
be.
After awhile the mocking bird stopped whist
ling, and apparently directed all his attention
to observing the scene before him. All at once
there came from the mocking bird's cage the
shrill pipe of a young chicken in pain. The old
hen heard the cry, and in an instant had left
her flock and flown with ruffled neck and wings
outspread upon the sleepy cat The cat was
terror stricken by the suddenness of the as
sault and received several sharp pecks and
scratches before she could get away. The old
hen kept up the pursuit till the cat fled Into the
house.
The mockingbird, whose skillful imitation of
a chicken's cry had caused the disturbance,
cheerily whistled:
"There's a land that is fairer than this."
BUSK WON'T BUN IN DEBT.
He Will Keep Within His Means, If He
Discharges Bis Entire Force.
Washington. April 8. Secretary Rusk
finds the roll ot employes of the Agricultural
Department so largely in excess of the re
sources for the current year that until affer
June 30 there" will be far more dismissals than
appointments. In the second division alone 80
of the employes have been dismissed, and the
forco will be still further reduced.
Secretary Rusk says he is determined that
there shall be no deficiency in his department
for Congress to provide for, If he can help it,
and he thinks he can,
Luxuries the Poor Can Have.
From the Western Press. 3
A Sharon man has been fined $20 for kissing
a young lady. All Sharon men don't pay 120
apiece, however. If they did we would rather
have the aggregate of fines for a' month than
to have Kimberley's judgment of a million
against Arms.
DEATHS OP A DAY.
Dr. J. H. Kidder.
WASHLVOTOIf, April f .-Dr. J. H. Kidder, of
the Smithsonian lmtitutee died this moraine at
his residence In this city, from an attack or pneu
monia. Dr. Eldder served as a surgeon in the
navy until he resigned, about 12 years ago, since
which time he has been connected with the
scientific branch of the Government service. Tin
der Prof. Ralrd he was connected with the Fish
Commission, and latterly was director of tho In
ternational Exchanges in the Smithsonian Insti
tute. He leaves a widow, daughter orthc late As
sistant Postmaster General iiaynard, of Tennes
see, and three children.
Blaster Workmnn W. H. Hnnnn.
Special Telegram to The Dispatch.
NEWCASTLE, April 8. yr. H. Hanna. District
Master Workman or the Knights of Labor, died at
his home In this city 'at an early Dour this morn
ing, aged 31 years. Mr. Hanna presldeo over this
district at the time of the Carbon limestone strike,
and when the Knights of Labor failed to gain
their point and went to work, the matter weighed
heavily on his mind until he Anally became In
sane, and congestion of the brain took him off.
He was one or the best known labor advocates In
the Shenango and Mahoning Valleys.
Sirs. Theodore Thomas.
New Yobk, April 8. Mrs. Theodore Thomas,
wife of tlie musician, died in this city this morn
ing, after a lingering and painful Illness. She had
been confined to her bed since last autnnui with a
form of nervous prostration which from the first
pnzzled medical skill, thongh It was not till within
a lew weeks of the end that hope of successful cop
ing with It was abandoned. Mrs, Thomas was a
woman of fine intellectual attainments and un
usual force of character.
. J. HIcDowell.
f ALlJCQUEBQCI, N. iL, April 8.-A. J. McDow
ell, of Boston, auditor of the Mexican Central
Hallway Company, and well known in New York,
Boston and the West was taken with a congestive
chill last Wednesday morning en route from the
City or Mexico and was compelled to stop over at
Albuquerque. After lingering five days he died
this morning. "
- AT THE THEATERS.
Jim tho Penman, Minnie Bladders and Other
Theatrical Attractions.
When Sir Charles Young's drama, "Jim the
Penman," was here last ysar It was pronounced
generally the best modern work seen upon the
stage. It was then acted by a superb company
beaded by Miss Ada Dyas, one of the best
actresses In .America. This year "Jim the
Penman" Is given by a. company even better
than the first, but Miss Dyas Is not at its
head. Miss Brooklyn has been supplied to fill
Miss Dyas place.
There Is no occasion now for a recital of the
plot and the wonderful dramatic effects of
"Jim the Penman." It is still a marvelously
Interesting play; Impelled by a motive that is
rationally outside the possible, but by the
author's and actors rare art brought back
within the possible to all appearances. The
play was very nicely staged; the drawing room"
scenery did not look like a butler's pantry in
bad repair, but conveyed a full impression of
the rich setting of life in aristocratic English
circles. So perfect a performance is hardly
ever vouchsafed to Pittsburg audiences.
Miss Brooklyn Is a woman of considerable
facial beauty and a figure which is seldom to
be seen except in the masterpieces of sculpture.
She is also an actress of large emotional powers
and fine artistic training. The delicacy of the
character of Nina Iialston Is easily recognized,
and very few women on the stage to-day could
interpret the nice work it involves with greater
skill and discernment than Miss Brooklyn
showed last night. It was in all its chapters,
from tbe subdued passages to the awful climax
of tbe letter scene, a remarkably fine piece of
acting.
Some may like Miss Brooklyn better than
Miss Dyas she has physical charms which the
latter had not. As far as our opinion goes the
wonderful, easy grace and poise of Miss Dyas,
her revelation ot varying emotions without ap
parent effort, and her personality, made her
performance as Nina Iialston distinctly supe
rior to Miss Brooklyn's, very good as the tat
ter's is.
Mr. Whiting repeated his admirable work as
Jim the JPenman, and the detective of Mr. W.
J. Ferguson is as finished and Ingenious a char
acter as ever. Tbe changes in tbe cast all
seem to be for the better. Mr. Harry Eytinge
gives a Jewish color to the Baron Hartfeld,
the rascally confederate of Iialston, and makes
him intensely offensive without the least exag
geration. In fact, this character in Mr.
Eytlnge's hands is a seta, Mr. Hardy Vernor
makes -a very acceptable .Lord Drelincourt,
and the Louis Percival of .Mr. Clarence Hahdy
side is fully up to the requirements. The rest
of the company cannot bo caviled at.
Tbe audience was large and received the play
with generous applause.
Grand Opera Honse. v
It Is impossible to bury the genius of MlssMln
nie Maddern out of sigbt,even If a bad play and
a poor companj are used as clods in the grave.
Miss Maddern's genius is as clear in How
ard P. Taylor's so-called picture of to
dayIt should have been called a phan
tasy of to-morrow Caprice," as it would bo
in a drama of power and sustaiued
interest She is the same intensely human,
unconventional, perplexing, almost exasper
ating, little package of nerves and brains that
has been wandering without a compass in the
dramatic heavens ever since she left school.
Some day she will get into port and the whole
country will fall at her feet. But very few will
understand or grasp the real potency so long as
she laughs and cries in such a jungle of Impos
sibilities and small talk as "Caprice."
But It was in "Caprice" that she braved her
first New York audience some five years ago,
and made the critics scratch their heads and
say nice and nasty things about her because
they could not catalogue her easily, because
she was abnormal and not deferential to the
rules of the stage grandmothers. She's faith
ful to the old rag baby still, and because she Is
a genius she makes its poor old battered nose
look like a live baby's, puts a dimple in its
chin, sets fire to its eyes, and, In .a word, suc
ceeds in making the public doubtful whether
it is so bad a libel on the genuine article after
all.
Here is the story of "Caprice" in a nutshell:
The heroine is a country girt uncouth and un
educated. A swell artist marries her; tire s of
her, because of her lack of culture, in six
months; she leaves blm after he has used harsh
"words to ber; in an impossible way gains an
education without anyone's knowledge; con
ceals net identity all the while, and finally
wins back her husband as a young woman of
fashionable accomplishments. Tbe stbry is
absurd, and it is poorly told. But the heroine
in Miss Maddern's hands is a warm-hearted
little woman, full of kittenish charm and
girlishness. A thoroughly sweet child. In fact.
At the parting from her cad of a husband Miss
Maddern's control of pathos is grandly shown.
In dashes and splashes here and there she
wins the audience to laughter and tears. Be
side her there is no one in the cast who can act.
Mr. John Jennings is capital as her unsophis
ticated old father. Miss Mary Maddern was
aiss fairly good. The rest of the company
seems to lack the experience that years bring.
They are too young and innocent The play,
"except In the first act, was not-staged it all
well. Tbe waits between the acts weie very
disagreeably long.
Harris Theater.
For some time past tbe performances at this
house have been of a high character but none
were more enjoyable than the bill of the pres
ent week. A capable company is giving "Hood
man Blind," with good scenery and effects, and
as a result tbe standing room of the theater
will doubtless be filled all the week. As an
emotional drama, "Hoodman Blind" is a suc
cess. The plot Is clear cut and well told, and
in no portion of the play is it allowed to drag.
Pretty pictures of rural English life alternate
with squalid scenes in London slums in strik
ing contrast and tbe honest heart that beats
beneath the village blacksmith's jacket is ex
posed in high relief side by side with the sordid,
grasping nature of a brute in the form of a
.smooth-tongued land agent who stops not even
at murder to gain his treacherous ends. The
dual roles of Nance and Jess, sisters, are ex
cellently portrayed by Miss Eva Mountford,
who several times rises far above even the re
quirements ot the play. Especially Is this
true in the "spinny" scene and on the Thames
embankment where, driven to desperation by
being cast off by tbe lover to whom she was so
true, she attempts to suicide and is rescued by
Jack Yeulett (Hamilton Harris), a character,
by tbe way, that is assumed In a very manly,
careful way. Others in the cast deserving es
pecial praise are Elmer Grandln as Mark Lez
zard his partner, Thomas Fitzgerald, Tony
Eddinger, a typical country tavernxeeper, Miss
Carrie Elberts as a crippled waif, J. E. Mc
Gregor as Tom Lattiker, Harry Rogers as the
blacksmith, who can also sing and dance quite
well. Miss Agnes Roselle as Polly Chibbles, the
blacksmith's bonny bride, and little Miss Bella
McGregor as Klt,JacKt child. All the others
In the long cast till their places acceptably.
Tbe play runs with that smoothness that comes
of a long acquaintance in eood hands, and is
consequently pleasing to both eye and mind.
Academy ot Music.
There Is a departure from tbe usual order of
things in the programme at Harry Williams'
Academy this week. That popular border
melodrama, "Nobody's Claim," was produced
last night to a large house. The leading parts
were taken by Mr. Joseph J. Dowling and Miss
Sadie Hasson, both of whom are very pleasing.
The play abounds In romantic and thrilling in
cidents, with plenty of humor as well. The
company, as a whole, was fully up to expecta
tions, and held the attention of the audience
closely. The play is sure to have a successful
run.
Tbe Casino DInseum.
At tbe Casino Museum this week the Great
Eastern Specialty Company appears. It in
cludes a number of first-class people, such as
Pauline Ames, Healy and Saunders. Henry
Lobman and others. There are also a number
of new features In the Curio Hall, headed by
the Baby Venus. This house Is open from 10
A. M. to 10 P. M.
IE PAUYBE B0ULAKQKB.
Minneapolis Tribune: Drop a nickel In
the slot and hear Boulanger blow.
Buffalo Times: Boulangcr Is a living ex
emplification of the old adage that discretion
is the better part of valor.
Nashville American: Boulanger should
come to America and lecture. Then he could
go back and buy the French Republio and do
what be pleased with it.
Richmond Dispatch: The truth of the
matter seems to be that Boulanger is trying to
work a big advertising "lake" in the interest of
Boulanger.
Cleveland Leader: It begins to look as if
the movement In behalf of Boulanger has
fizzled out If such be the case it will bo a
blessing to France.
Chicago Inter-Ocean: If Boulanger should
ask a vote of confidence from the American
people just now he would be invited to stay In
Belgium and let France saw her own wood.
ChattAnoooa Timet: Boulanger is still
over in Brussels conferring with a squad of his
satellites and promulgating manifestoes to fire
across the line. If the French cannot get rid
of this small nuisance then certainly they are
not fit for self-government
Petersbttro Index Appeal: Boulanger,
the hero without a battle, hunting a.throne
with a brass band and a torchlight procession
while the French Government goes into hys
terics, Is a theme more worthy of Kepler's
pencil than of the serious comment it has
evoked In high editorial quarter.
MUSIC FOB A SNAKE DANCE.
A Serpent Orchestra Plays a Grand March
for a Reptilian Ball.
It does me good to read so many solemn
truths about snakes, writes aBcecher City, 111.,
correspondent of the St Louis Republic I
would like to shake hands with those who have
been relating them. It makes me feel young
once more, and brines to mvmlnd the days
when I was a barefoot boy with one suspender
and a sore toe. I like to read the old-f asmonea
truths.
I recollect once, when I was a boy, I found
two tin cans that bad been used for holding
baking powder. 1 poured some shot into the
cans and carried them around to rattle. I was
In the orchard one evening, and, seeing some
apples that I wanted, I laid my cans down and
shinned up the tree. On coming down I was
horrified to Bee two large snakes by the cans.
In my excitement I picked up a" stick and
struck tbe snakes a vicious blow, when. Jump
ing Jerusalem! them snakes flew right Into
pieces, and, before I recovered from my aston
ishment bad coupled onto the cans and were
streaking itf or tbe woods. Run? well I should
say they did run. Every time the cans hit any
thing the would rattle and scare the snakes.
But tbe strangest part happened tbe next
day.
I had to hunt the cows, and while going along
(he bottom I heard a tremendous rattling in
the brush. I slipped around to see what It was,
and what do you think it was? It was a genu
ine old-fashioned dance. Actual fact. There
were 40 snakes on the floor, besides several
spectators, who also bad charge of the lemon
ade stand. They had all takeu off the tail joint
and were bopping around ion the stubby end,
while the two old cusses, who had stolen my
cans, furnished music for the congregation by
lying across a log and raising the cans a little
and then let them drop ontotbelog. Yes, sir,
fentlemen, and tbe scene so impressed me that
wanted to take out my French harp and play
them a regular old dance, but suddenly recol
lecting my cows, I went on my way.
CENTENNIAL SN0BBEET.
A Wearisome Exhibition of the Follies of
Shoddy Aristocracy.
From the Boston Glpbc.1
"We now see every ambitions clique in the
kingdom of social shoddy and aristocratic
aspirations in New York chafing and bickering
in jealous rivalry as to who shall sit highest on
the roost for public Inspection as the procession
goes by, and who shall cut the biggest and most
gaudy figure at the centennial ball. Modestly
beginning with a committee of the New York
Historical Society, the arrangements had not
gone far before the Chamber of Commerce,
wanted a band in the proceedings. It was soon
found that the famous "first 400" had deter
mined to saddle the ceremonies with rare ex
clusiveness. This stirred up the diamond
studded political shoddy in the Albany Assem
bly. Having pacified Albany, other "sassiety"
claimants for chief honors put on their paint
and feathers and took the warpath, and noth
ing Is settled yet, except that tho expenses of
the job are so enormous that tbe longer the
purse the greater will be tbe family and social
lay-out of centennial honors on April SO.
Tbe result of all this wearisome exhibition of
snobbery is that people of modesty and true
cultivation will pay the real homage to tbe he
rolo past In the quiet of their homes, while
shoddy will swell and puff itself in the grand
parade, glorify itself in print, and perchance
score a point in tbe "sassiety" game.
The solid structure of American society. In
its better sense, still rests upon a groundwork
of sober thought and patriotic appreciation of
all that is noble In tbe past as well as in the
present If we were to believe that the exalted
virtues and heroic careers of Washington. Jef
ferson and Franklin had left nothing better to
perpetuate in em man me snooDery exmmieu
in this noisy scramble for places at the coming
centennial show In New York, the prospect of
perpetuating a republic based on the glorious
idea of equality would be Indeed dark.
FIGHTING FOB A F0ETUNE.
A Somewhat Peculiar Will Case to Come
Into the Courts.
New Yobk. April 8. A warm contest will be
waged over the 500,000 estate of Thomas J.
Monroe, the PHarlem hermit" who lived in .1
seclusion many years up town. Mr. Monroe
was originally "Jacobs." His father made a
fortune in the clothinc business, which was in
herited by three sons, "William H. Jacobs,
James M. Monroe and Thomas J. Monroe. The
Monroes acquired their present names by the
act of the Court of Common Pleas. On Janu
ary 21, 18S9, the alleged will of Thomas J. Mon
roe was offered for probate. It bore tbe date
of March 22, 1888, and was apparently re-executed
June L The subscribing witnesses were
Erastus F. Brown and Edward K. Brown, and
the instrument seems to have been written by
the testator himself. It provided that three
fourths of the income of his estate shonld be
given to bis wife and one-fourth to George C.
Grennel. the survivor to have the principal.
Mrs. Monroe died Jnlv 1. 1888. while the tes
tator did not die until January 19,188a. Tbe
value of the estate is admitted by urennell to
be 225,000. although some estimate It as high
as $500,000. Mr. Grennell is said to be a stranger
to tbe relatives of Monroe. His name was
originally Larry Bensen. Mr. Jacobs says that
the first Intimation he bad that his brother was
ill was in a call from Grennell's attorney, who
Informed him of his brother's death. Undue
influence is tbe ground for contest The con
test will be tried before Porter V. Ransom, as
sistant to the Surrogate.
FODETH-CLASS P0STMA3TEE8.
Tho Work of Removing nnd RcpIncInaThem
Still Goes On.
Special Telegram to The Dispatch.
"Washington, April 8. The following post
masters were appointed to-day for Pennsyl
vania: Albert Griener. Beneyeth; N. S. Shaf
fer, Caledonia; J. H. Beadle, Dogus Mines;
Hid Snyder, Slanchard: L. S. Bricker, Baals
burg; M. Yost, East Brady; G. M. Long,
Esthal; A. J. St Clair, Fleming; J. W. Gable,
Hellam; A. D. Lydlck, Mabaffrey; J. S. Drake,
Mllford; Samuel Hooker, Jr., Penn's Park; J.
R. Schrock. Pipersville; 8. R. Pringlo, Port
Matilda; J. L Yarncll, Snowshoe; J. D. Lone,
Spring Mills: T. H. Byers, Worth, and S. F.
Donnan, Zion.
The following were appointed for "West Vir
ginia: Kate A. Arthur. Addison; W. R. Buz
zard, Berkeley Springs; J. R. Anderson, Brink;
C. E. Haddox, .Carroll; William Bloomfield,
Calls; Eliza Hoult, Diamond; William Living
good, Earnshaw; W. A. Watson, Fellowsville:
J. L. Sweeney, Friendly: W. H. Jenkins, Inde
pendence; J. L. Spangler, Ingleside; J. E.
Reese. Lazearville; C. P. Bradley. Lindside; C.
E. Woodburn, Loudensville: E. B. Stone,
Romelsburg, and J. B. Knots, Wileyville.
v A LONG COUNT OF MONET.
So Many Silver Dollars That the Job Will
be a Tedious One.
Washington, April 8 The Secretary of
tbe Treasury has approved the bond of Mr.
Huston as Treasurer of the United States, but
he will not qualify and assume the duties ot tbe
office until after Treasurer Hyatt is relieved of
his duties at the New York sub-Treasury, and
probably not until after the count of the
moneys and securities at that office has been
completed.
Assistant Secretary Roberts expects to take
charge of tbe New York sub-Treasury next
Monday, and the count will probably lie com
pleted in about three weeks. The Washington
office will then be transferred. The examina
tion of tbe Treasury vaults will occupy several
months, owing to the immense quantity of
silver dollars to be counted.
Charity Wins In Coart.
Philadelphia, April 8. The hard fought
legal contest instituted by tbe heirs of the late
Dr. ScottStewart, to brcaKhis legacy of about
$209,000, for establishing a hospital of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, was brought to a
close to-day by a decision of tbe Supreme
Court In favor of the trustees of the hospital.
Grent Distress at Panama.
Panama, April a Owing to the distressed
condition of the negroes on the canal works.
the British Consul to-day distributed bread
among tbe sufferers. Great distress has pre
vailed among tbe workmen since the suspen
sion of work on the canal.
Still Coining: Silver Dollars.
Washington, April 8. The Issue of stand
ard silver dollars from the mints during the
week ended April 6 was $360,978.
A Man Easily Offended.
Prom the Chicago Tunes.
It is entirely superfluous to speak of Russell
Harrison as the son of the President Espe
cially It Russell is present
,
Throngh a Booster's Spectacles.
From the St. Fanl Globe.1
It was probably an, Indiana man who looked
over the river and remarked: "How small tho
Ohio men are this year."
Like n Senate Session.
From the Washington Post.
Yesterday wq had regular Halstead weather
thunder.lightning, snow, rain and wind.
A XITTLE NEW t0E TALK.
Hilton's Grip on Mrs. Stewart.
rmW TOEK BUBXAU SPECIALS. 1
New Yobk, April & In th Stewart will
case to-day Mrs. Helen D. Brown told what
Mrs. Stewart did not know about art The
first time Mrs. Stewart saw George B. Butler's
"Rose of Capri" she said she supposed it was a
nice picture, but she "could not understand
why George had not put a better gown on the
girl." Mrs. Brown explained that the girl was
a Usbermalden, and Mrs. Stewart said "Oh."
Mrs. Stewart often complained she was "sick
and tired of pictures, but bad to buy them be
cause the Judge (Hilton) wanted her to."
Thomas Hope, formerly of the upholstery de
partment in Stewart's store, related bow Judge
Hilton charged Mrs. Stewart S28 a yard for
goods Inventoried at Jlla yard, and $160 for .a
curtain worth but $75. f
"
Tbe Real Article Going Over.
The real "Little Lord Fauntleroy," Master
Vivian Burnett, will sail for England with his
mother shortly. The object of Mrs. Burnett's
trip Is to secure an English copyright for a
play that she expects to write while abroad.
After a brief tour through Southern France,
Switzerland and Italy Mrs. Burnett will take a
home in London and settle down to her sum
mer's work. Her companion during the trip
will be Miss Chlellml, an Italian young woman
of phenomenal beauty.
Captain Ericsson's Biography.
Shortly after the death of Captain John
Ericsson, the inventor, the report was circu
lated that he had destroyed all his correspond
ence and like materials for a biography at the
beginning of bis last illness. The rumor was
only partially true. Captain Ericsson destroyed
his diary, but all his documents since I860 have
been preserved. These, with all his papers,
have been turned over by his executors to
Colonel William C. Church, editor of the Army
and Navy Journal. This is according to the
desiro of Mr. Ericsscn, who bad expressed tho
wish that if a biography of him should be writ
ten it should be intrusted to Colonel Church.
A Femnlo Smuggler Caught.
Mrs. Anna M. Parks, an inspectress of Sur
veyor Beattie's force, to-day seized from Mrs.
Davis, a passenger on the steamer Adriatic,
from Liverpool, about three pounds of woolen
yarn, which she had quilted into one of ber
petticoats; 13 yards of dress goods, sewed into
another, and about 20. yards of flannels, which
bad been wrapped around ber little daughter.
Mrs. Davis is a resident of Minnesota, and con
fessed to having smuggled goods In this man
ner before.' The goods were sent to the seizure
room.
AVEALTflT WOMAN IN CASTLE GABDEN.
Government Officials Detain a Rich Pas
senger Who Is Incnrnblr Insane.
New Yobk, April 8. This morning, for the
first time under the new regulation of the
Board of Emigration Commissioners, com
pelling steamship boarding officers to inspect
and examine -first-class passengers' a saloon
traveler was detained and placed in confine
ment in Castle Garden. The prisoner was
Madame Albert 1'Homme-Bonglirale, an edu
cated and refined woman of nearly TO years.
She occupied one of tbe most costly suites of
staterooms on the French steamer La Gascogne.
She had 16 large trunks filled with property on
board. Tbe boarding officer found that she
was Insane, and cansed her removal to Castle
Garden. The? physician there said her malady
was incurable.
Her maiden name, Susan Kennedy, was
marked on her baggage. She said she was a
widow, her husband, Albert l'Homme-Bon-glivale,
having died in Paris ten years ago. She
comes of an excellent Irish family. Her
brother. Hugh Kennedy, was for many years
British Consul at Louisville. Ky where her
three neices, whom she was on ber way to visit
now reside. Her brother was a graduate of
tbe Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin. She la
a fluent conversationalist and speaks French,
Spanish and German. Her relatives m Louis
ville have been telegraphed, and they sent
word that one of them would come at once to
this city.
A SQUABE MILE OF S0TEEEIGNS.
What it Cost to Supply Great Britain With
Drink for a Year.
From the Newcastle (Eng.) Chronlcle.l
Yet another curious calculation based on the
nation's annual expenditure in drink. Last
year's drink bill, as taken from Parliamentary
returns, was 124,611,439. This amount, it Is
stated, would give 3 7s. per head to the esti
mated population of the nation, and 16 15s.
for each average family. Its weight in sov
ereigns would be 976 tons, while it would cover
a space of SIS acres with sovereigns laid edge
to edge. If the coins were placed face to face
they would leach 115 miles, or make a golden
cord reaching from Carlisle to Liverpool or
Manchester. Placed edce to edge they would
extend a distance of 1,720 miles.
To count these coins at one sovereign per
second would take four years, less a fortnight.
For each letter in the Bible the amount last
year expended In liquor is set down at Jt 18s.
Oct It is added that about 2,377,736 acres of
land in the United Kingdom are estimated to
be devoted to the production of tbe raw ma
terial used for brewing and distilling. This is
exclusive of the 60.000 acres used for hop
growing, or nearly one-nineteenth of tbe acre
age of the land under cultivation.
CEAZED BY BELIG10N.
A Young Lady Enthusiast Made Incurably
Insane by a Revivalist.
Special Telegram to The Dispatch.
Ansonia, Conn., April 8. Two weeks ago
yesterday Chaplain McCabe preached in the
Methodist Church, Birmingham, in an effort to
raise money for missions. Among his congre
gation was Miss Mary Moore, a young lady
well connected here, who was so affected by tbe
sermons that she became insane and created
quite a commotion in the crowded church.
Since then every effort has been made to cure
her. Eminent specialists have examined ber
aud they have given their opinion that she is
hopelessly insane, and to-day she was taken to
the asylum at Mlddletown. Miss Moore has
always been an enthusiast In religious matters.
ODD ITEMS FE0M F0KEIGN SH0BES.
Db. Tebbt, of Louvain, an astronomer, an
nounces the appearance of a "white region ;on
Saturn's ring, opposite shadow globe."
The Lord Mayor of London has raised a
fund of f 5.000 to pay the expenses of a dele
gation of English workingmen at the Paris Ex
position. The Paris Exposition will open on May 5. A
series of grand fetes has brea arranged to
last all through the summer. The Exposi
tion wilt end in"September with the award of
prizes. y
One-thirtieth of tbe whole population of
Iceland emigrated last year, moved, it is said,
by the unpopularity of the Danish Government
and the blandishments of Canadian emigration
agents.
English public opinion is scandalized by
the proposal to build a "dead house" to re
ceive the overflow from Westminster Abbey.
It is urged that .there is still room enough
in the Abbey for monuments to all tlje
really great men that are likely to die for some
time. t
JIenky Ibvtng is said to pay a liberal an
nuity to Lewis, tbe adapter of "The Bells,"
although not under any legal obligation. Lewis
never made a success of any play but that one,
and is now best known at the bars of public
houses, being described as "a curious survival
of intellectual distinction mingled with a gen
erally dissipated air."
M. Dees, tbe new bead of the Sevres china
works, hai bad the trade mark of the establish
ment registered. Heretofore Sevres' ware has
had a different stamp under every different
Government, and none of them have been pro
tected against forgery, which Is said to have re
sulted fn the turning ont of alarge amount of
alleged Sevres that never was within sight of
the factory.
A collection of photographs ot snow
scenes taken by Donkin. the celebrated moun
tain climber, is being exhibited in London,
and is creating much interest, which the
climber cannot enjoy. Ho and an English
companion are supposed to be lying in a
crevasse somewhere in the Caucasus, no trace
of them having been found since they started-
out to ascend one of tbe loftiest peaks.
A pobtbaxt of Anthony Payne, the Cornish
giant, painted for Charles IL in 16S0, which has
just been acquired by (he Royal Institution at
Cornwall, was once the property of Lord Tem
ple, and after many vicissitudes passed into the
hands of a farmer, from whom it was pur
chased by Gilbert the historian, for $10.
At the hitter's death.it was sold to a dealer
for $210, and In a few weeks" was resold for
$4,000.
CU110DS C05DENSATIOKS.,
S Vf
One-thirtieth of the whole population of
Iceland emigrated last year. .
During the civil war267 Union soldiers
were executed for desertion.
It is estimated that there are 20,000
more women in Washington than men.
Onions are worth only 10 cents a bushel
at Cochrantown, Pa., and potatoes only 17.
A "sneezing party" is the latest Maine
diversion reported- The "treat" was maple
sugar on snuff.
Glass furniture is. manufactured espe
cially for India, where tbe-rajahs like glitter
lug and showy rooms.
A lady claims to have seen at Albany,
Ga.. a snake larger than any boa constrictor or
anaconda in tbe New York museums.
An Iowa clergyman recently married
three couples and conducted two funerals in
one day, and to do it drove 50 miles. Total re
ceipts, 15.
A full-grown coon invaded the play
grounds of the school at Ocean View, Cape
May county, N. J., a few days ago. It was shot
by one of the pupils.
A Long Island waiter found a pocket
book containlnz J6,8G0 on Sunday and returned
it to the owner. Ho received 25 centsTas a re
ward for his honesty.
Samnel Jones, a colored farmer near
Mlddletown, DeL, runs a school house exclu
sively for his own children. The eldest sob
teaches a dozen of his younger brothers and
sisters.
A discussion as to the height of trees In
the forests of Victoria, New South Wale?, has
elicited from Baron von Muellor, the Govern
ment botanist, tbe statement that he saw one
525 feet tall.
One of the most entirely satisfied men in
the country lives at Columbus Junction. Iowa.
He has drawn $90 per month all winter for su
perintending a snow plow that hasn't been out
of the roundhouse.
Hosea Ham, of Corinth, Me., has an
iron pot, which was brought to this country, in
the Mayflower. It was used as a cooking pot
in some ot the campaigns of Miles Standish
against tbe Indians.
A York lady bit Into an apple -and
found wrapped around tbe core a piece of
coarse thread 21 Inches long. It is thought to
have been dropped by a bird when tbe apple
was in full blossom.
A woman who keeps a saloon in Cincin
nati during the past five years has broken
beads, arms and legs for seven different men
who wouldn't walk out like gentlemen. A
wagon spoke is her-favorite weapon.
The biggest barometer on the continent
is being made for the Georgia Technological
School at Atlanta. The tube Is to be 20 feet
long, with a diameter of three inches. Sul
phuric acid will be used in the tube.
The Jamaica railway system, which has
been sold to an American syndicate, comprises
about 93 miles of line in all, running from
Kingston to Spanish Town and Old Harbor and
another line from Kingston to Porous.
A family which claims the honor of '
being the heaviest in Kennebec county. Maine,
is that of William Merrill, of Gardiner. Mr.
Memll himself weighs 303, Mrs. Merrill 264. tot
eldest daughter 3CQ, a younger daughter 267
and the only son 215. a total fortune of 1,342
pounds to say nothing of shillings and pence.
The lance, which once played an im
portant part in warfare, is likely to find general
readoption in several European armies. It is
picturesque, and could doubtless be made ef
fective in the bands of cavalry, but it Is scarce
ly probable that it will supersede tbe weapons
which have been so long in use for ba-J-to-hand
conflicts.
Robert Sheidler and wife, who live
southwest of Fort Dodge, Iowa, were driving
when Mrs. Sheldler's clothing took fire by a
spark from ber husband's pipe, and she wan
burned to death. In his attempt to extinguish
the flames Mr. Sheldler's bands were so badly
burned that they both had to be amputated,
and his recovery is doubtful.
A sad and unusual result followed the
ringing of a firo alarm at Kingston, N. Y.
George W. Shaw had been ill for a few days,
but was apparently much better, and was sit
ting up when the fire bell began to rinz from
the tower near his home. He became greatly
agitated at the sound, went into convulsions
and died soon afterward. Mr. Sbaw and bis
maiden sister lost all their household goods bv
a disastrous fire a few years ago. and afterward
Mr. Shaw was greatly disturbed by every alarm
of fire.
Bud Harper, of Carroll county. Georgia,
tells ot a very peculiar circumstance which
happened at John Nicholson's, a tenant on E.
Creel's'place, the other day. Mr. NlcholsuTs
children bad put a bottle of linseed oil on the
bed and it was turned over. The oil went
thtough the bed clothing and into the feather
bed. Mrs. Nicholson washed tbe oil out the
best she conld and the bed was used two nights.
On the third day she was away from home, and
on coming in she found there was a peculiar
scent in the house like leathers burning. She
went to the bed, raised the clothing, and on the
sheet she discovered that it had been scorched.
Tbe bedtlck was also scorched, and the lady
cut it open and took out a very large bulk of
feathers that were on lire. The question is,
did the linseed oil set tbe feathers on fire? The
fire could not get into the bed otherwise.
A discovery of immense archaeological
interest has recently been made near the small
town of Painted Cave, Tex. Laborers came
upon a graveyard containing Indian.and Aztec
remains, arrows, battle axes, etc About ICO
skeleton were dug out A score or two of the
maqnanity. the peculiar weapon of the Azat
lan race, were found. This weapon is a short
metal ax. with blades of class. The metal Is.
sapposed to be copper, but the specimens just
found are so tarnished and mcrusted by age
and burial that this point has not yet been
folly determined. A ghastly object was a pair
of clinched jaws, holding between their discol
ored teeth a small image engraved on agate.
This must have been the likeness of a god
thrust into tbe mouth by the dying possessor.
A, number of gold and silver pendants and a
quantityof Aztec currency were picked up.
This latter consists of bits of tin in shape like
the letter T.
-
LITTLE PLEASANTRIES.
"Yes," saldBagley, "I have become quite
fanfbns as an author, and noi I hare to cultivate
eccentricities. I am around paying my debts."
Albany Journal. ,-
OWED TO A CAT.
He waked me up at early daws,
A most nnseemly time;
I conld not go to sleep again.
And ao I've writ this rhyme.
Somerville Journal,
TEMPEBANCE SONG.
Whisky is cheap
And so Is beer,
But their effect
Is very dear.
Horning Journal.
"Now, remember," said the doctor,
gravely, "you must have absolute rest and quiet.
If yon do not, I tell yoa plainly, I will not answer
for the consequences.'
'Yes, doctor," moaned the patient feebly; 'I
nnderstand. And Is there any particular place la
Philadelphia that you, would recommend?"
Somereille Journal.
All Right as a Sentiment Sunday
school teacher (to new pupil) We are taught by
the Bible that when someone smites us on one
cheek we should turn the other to him. Isn'tthat
a beautiful sentiment?
'Yes, ma'am."
"Now, if an enemy were to smite you on one
cheek, what would you do?"
"I'd ponnd the top of his head off." Hebratta
State Journal.
Young Journalist Do you keep all sorts
of pens?
Salesman Yes: which do you prefer?
Y. J .I've been advised to use a trenchant pea.
I'd like a small box of them, and yoa may pnt ln
some caustics, too. Cincinnati Commercial Qa
zettt. C. Hicago I say, Jack, old man, what
makes yoalook so glum?
T. Oledo Divorce ease In which a friend of mine
is Interested.
a Ulcsgo Aht Some scandal doubtless. Inti
mate friend? , , -'
T. Olcdo-No, not very; my wire.-vwoniw
Commercial Qaitttc.
H
THE "LAY" OF THE V. V. T. C.
I'm a "Western Union Telegraph Jay ,
AndmynnmberlsNo.il
Since J built my L's and shnt out the day
I've a mortgage on the sun:
I've a mortgage on all the elements
My stock of water is simply immense
And my lletl on the streets, to all intents. ,
Is thoroughly well begun I
I'm a Western Union Telegraph Jay,
I'm railed at on many a road;
It's hard to mate some of my properties pay
Unless you know when to unload;
Bnt I'm working this town for all It's worth.
And I'm not an appropriate theme for mirth,
For I've got a mortgage on the.earth.
As my lawyers recentlr showed I
' -ff. r. World.
V,
J i