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14
ri STUDY OF SUICIDE.
IjHow Civilization Fosters the Ten
dency rowaru reio ae oe.
ITS FIRST FOHH SACRIFICIAL.
The Causes Underlying Suicide Substan
tially the Same at All Times.
IKFLUEXCES THAT FATOfi THE CHIME.
WRITTEN roR THE DISrATCH.l
The increase of suicide -with the progress
ofcirilization is a matter or grave and in
significant import. That there is such an
increase, statistics abundantly prove. Com
mon to all parts of the globe, and practiced
by all nations and peoples -whether civilized
or not, it is nowhere so common or universal
as in the more advanced and progressive
centers of the -world. The mere proximity
of such a center increases the suicidal rate
throughout the territory around. Is the
fact condemnatory of civilization itself?
Say rather that it is, like those other facts
of murder and insanity, the evolutionary re
sult of natural and spiritual law. Civiliza
tion is the evolution the evolution of man,
meaning the gradual and logical unfold
xnentof all his powers, latent or acquired.
That evil is thus developed as -well as good,
but proves the moral duplezity of human
nature.
Apart from its moral aspect, however, the
act ot self-destruction is but the extreme ex
pression of man's inherent freedom of will
as applied to the choice of life or death.
But setting all this aside, it is absolutely
certain that the very influences that do most
toward fostering mental culture and devel
opment, have also a fostering influence on
the tendency toward suicide. The particu
lar causes leading to such a result -will be
considered further on. Considered per se it
is more than propable that suicide is, in its
way, but one effect of the law of natural se
lection, the weaker going to the wall and
perishing in order to make way for the
stronger and capable. The Italian author,
Horselli, moreover, advances the idea that
the instinct of self-preservation is naturally
counterbalanced by that of self-destruction.
He cites the suicide of animals in sup
port of his theory, and opines, that
to the primitive mind, the natural
solution to an unbearable life is
to put an end to it. As a matter ot fact, the
question, "To beor not to be," is the nat
ural resultant of that other, "Is Hie worth
living?" and the suicidal impulse is the
logical outcome oi the individual's em
phatic "No!" Under stress of the nega
tive, he proceeds "to take arms against a
Eea of troubles, and by opposing, ends
them." The "dread of something after
death" does not seem totrouble him;
having decided that life is not worth the
living, he is more than willing to take his
chances with death. The growing skep
ticism and doubt regarding the immortality
of the soul and the nature of the life to
come, ban without doubt much to do with
this indifference to what "comes after," and
this, too, is generally true, whether the deed
itself be impulsive or deliberate. The sui
cide of insanity even, is also, in many
cases, undoubtedly influenced by similar
causes.
SUICIDE HISTOKICAU.T SKETCHED.
But before entering more fully upon the
field of causes, an historical sketch of sui
cide will not be amiss. Anciently,suicide had
its rise in the universally accepted doctrine
of continuity, i. e., that of the immortality
of the soul. Its first form was sacrificial.
"Widows, slaves, officers and friends sacri
ficed themselves upon the funeral pyre of
lord and master, or were buried with them
in the belief and expectancy of continuing
to serve them in the' other world. Compul
sory in the beginning, time, usage and re
ligious training gradually made of it a vol
untary and meritorious act. The suicide of
widows was especially regarded efficacious,
even to the redemption ot the souls of their
husbands from torment for even the
heathen had his ideas of purgatorial justice.
Kor was this custom confined to any one na
tion or race; East Africa, Asia, and
the Americas, all anciently prac
ticed it to a greater or less ex
tent The suttee of widows and the
suicide of friends is even now carried on in
some parts of the world, notably China and
Japan. Against suicide, per se, paganism
had and has no law. The right to takeone's
own life seems to have been universally al
lowed. The question of sin was not in
volved. As a natural result, suicide from
other motives and causes than the sacrificial
gradually crept in, and gave rise to a series
of restrictions, mostly civil, distinguishing
between honorable and dishonorable suicide.
The laws of the Chinese on this subject are
illustrative in a general way of all: honor
able suicides were sacrificial, those caused
by'defeat in battle, insult to the sovereign,
insolvency, fear of capital punishment'or
of public disgrace public disgrace mean
ing to an oriental anything from an unin
tentional breach of etiquette to a discovered
theit or murder. Dishonorable suicides
were those caused by gambling, quarreling,
revenge and vice.
The Eastern doctrines of transmigration,
reincarnation, etc, has also a most import
ant influence favoring suicide wherever gen
erally accepted. The hope of bettering
one's condition, or a too impatient desire
for heavenly beatitude in the ascetic, the
subjective tendency of oriental mysticism,
which looked on life and more especially
"earthly existence as but a passing change
and show, and upon mind and spirit as the
only and substantial reality, all this led to
an increasing indifference toward life itself
and a contempt for the earthlv barriers su
perimposed by the flesh. That the Eastern
crop of murders should keep pace with that
of suicides is not much to be wondered at.
SUICIDAL nfFLUEJfCES.
Turning westward we find ancient Greeks
and Bomans an eminently cheerful, life
loving people, regarding death with the
natural distaste of the healthy and sensuous
minded. But with the invasion of eastern
ideas, brought abont by cmquestand travel,
there arose a melancholy change. The
Greek, indeed, grew more spiritually minded
and mentally cultured, and Grecian civili
zation took on a transcendent degree of
polish and refinement. But even as in our
later days such influences foster the sui
cidal tendency, so also was it with the Greek.
Xiife took on the aspect of an accident,
of which he wearied; death took on that of
a friend, whom he soaght. Suicide, to the
Greek philosopher, became not only a rea
sonable act, "but was the noblest expression
of moral freedom," the Stoics especially as
serting the "inborn right to sever the con
nection between soul and body when con
vinced that one's true usefulness and oppor
tunity to live happily and well is over."
The condition implied within the conclud
ing words illustrates the lact that the
Greeks also distineuished between honor
able and dishonorable suicide, and this
very much after the fashion of the Chinese.
Impulsive suicide the Stoics regarded as
vulgar. The Epicreans, however, inter
preted the right to self-destruction in a far
more lax and sweeping way, fear of pain
being in itself an all sufficient cause.
In practically unsuccessful opposition to
all this, rose the Pythagorean doctrine that
"No man shall abandon his post in life,
without the ordersof the Great Commander,"
that the deitv must first give cause; which
doctrine is the first approach toward con
sidering suicide itselt as a .moral offense
-against self and the deity. So much for the
pagan. East and West.
The Mosaic command; "Thou shalt not
till," included by implication the act of
celt-destruction. Suicide then, has ever
ieen, and still is exceedingly rare among
ihe Jews. To them it has all the moral at
tributes of murder. The Jews, too, are by
feature a practical worldly people, and are
thus constitutionally averse to many of the
ideas that foster that of suicide. They, also,
have their laws, civil and ecclesiastical, dis
tinguishing between honorable and dis
honorable suicide, a fact that would seem to
Imply a certain degree of departure from the
ideas ofscriptural times. Itiemained for the
Christian church to inaugurate the first real
and decisive crusade azainst suicide as a
crime, aud in this, it has never faltered.
The voice that was lifted up in the second
centnry, is practically the same whichnow
denounces the act as tone at variance with
God, man aud nature. '
LEGAIi STATUS OP SUICIDE.
The legal enactments against suicides,
whether heathen, pagan or Christian, would
make an interesting chapter by themselves.
Suffice it, that so far as the former are con
cerned, they chiefly distinguished against
the class known as dishonorable suicides.
But under Christian civil and Ecclesiastical
law the property of all suicides whatever
was confiscated, their bodies treated to the
grossest indignities, and their souls doomed
to eternal torments. Host ot these laws and
Senalties were, repealed, however, after the
'apoloneonic wars, the Code Napoleon rec
ognizing the pagan right of every man over
his own life. That suicide is still regarded
as something of a public and private dis
grace, is due to the influence of Christian
canon law; but both church and public now
unite in a more merciful judgment as to the
unfortunate's future state, throwing over the
charitable mantle of supposed 'temporary
insanity.' '
The causes that underlie suicide are sub
stantially the same at all times- and places,
and may be generally set down to a revolt
against the duties and hardnesses of life, or
to a deliberate and well considered motive,
founded upon a supposed justifiable cause.
Specifically, the revolt and motive change
with the time and thejriace. Prof. O'JDea,
classifies the special causes of modern sui
cide as follows: Eace and nationality, sex,
hereditary, insanity, imitativeness, mental,
affectional, physical and external. The
mental causes include education, literature,
8ciei.ceand.art, and, above all, religion.
The affectional, domestic and love troubles.
The physical, diseases more especially of
the brain, the digestive organs, the lungs,
and diseases appertaining to the sex
nature and the excessive use of in
toxicants and narcotics. The ex
ternal causes include occupation, financial
standing, environment, climate and atmos
pheric changes, which last are, however,
principally local. As to age, the maximum
rate of suicide occurs between 25 and 65.
The suicide of children is purely of the in
stinctive and unreasoning kind, due not
unoften to a spirit of revenge for cruelties,
actual or imagined; or else from a supersen
sitive nature that cannot brook unkindness
or neglect. In matters of sex, the propor
tion of women to men is 1 to 3. In barbar
ous countries, however, the number is more
eqnal: also, in cases oi an afiectional and
domestic nature. -&
INFLUENCES FAYOBEIG SUICIDE.
Hereditary exercises a real though as yet.
undetermined influence on suicide. To
insanity, one half of all self-inflicted deaths
are probably due. Under the head of imi
tation, come the epidemics of suicide that
have arisen from time to time in days
ancient and modern, and which are gener
ally the result of religious frenzy, or a
common and invincible feeling of despair.
Prominent among these is that of Versailles,
in 1793, during which 1,300 victims per
ished. The educational -influences are
chiefly those arising from cerebral irrita
tion, and may be done away with by better
systems of instruction. Literature stands
convicted of moral causes fostering suicide,
vicious and sensational books and papers
having a direct influence on many of its
underlying motives. Science and art have
more to do with the purely mental and
physical side. Lack of religions faith(uni
versally followed by laxity of morals), is
one of the most fruitful cadses of suicide. A
creed that tends to religious trust and sub
mission counts fewer suicides than one less
restrictive and more investigating. Thus it
is that the Boznan Catholic Church num
bers fewer suicides than the Protestant, and
in a country where there is universal free
dom of thought on religious matters the rate
of suicide is proportionately large. "Wit
ness Germany; her per cent of suicides is
206 in 1,000,000 inhabitants; whereas in
Catholic Spain it is but 14.
As to occupation, the per cent of snicides
is naturally higher among those of a sedent
ary character; 12 per cent of suicides,
furthermore, arise from causes attendant on
poverty and financial disgrace. National
differences concerning suicide are based on
temperament, industries, environment
and population. The densely .populated,
themorc intemperate, irreligious and unfav
orably situated centers yield the larger per
cent. But take it all in all, there are no abso
lute laws regulatingsucide. Any cause that
develops the subjective or sentimental side
of a people or of an individual to the detri
ment of the objective or practical, may be
set down as an influence favoring suicide.
Most of our modern suicide is strictly im
pulsive in character, and that which the
Stoics would accordingly term vnlgar, and
without sufficient cause. One thing is
tolerably certain; insanity is not near so
frequently the cause of suicide as the char
itably minded are inclined to imagine. As
to times and seasons, more suicides occur
during June, and fewest in December; more
during hot than cold or damp weather, and
more during the early hours of the morning
and at noon.
The methods and means employed have
and have always had a certain sameness
about them, though here and there are ex
traordinary and eccentric exceptions.
Drowning and poisoning are most common
among women, and the use of firearms and
of the rope among men. The moral
aspect of the deed itself cannot be
too deeply deplored. Apart from the
religious culpability attached by Christen
dom to the act, there is in it little savoring
of human courage and dignity, and avast
deal savoring of human weakness and cow
ardice. Better for the maxim. Pagan thongh
it be, that "No man should abandon his
post in life withont the orders of the Great
Commander." Habe F. Gbiswold.
GREAT AUCTION SALE.
Lace Curtain., Heavy Cnrtnlni,
Portieres, upholstery goods, plushes, piano
and table covers, easels, screens, shades,
etc, for a few days only, at 2 p. at and 7
o'clock in the evening, to close ont our en
tire stock regardless of cost; now is your
time for genuine bargain; private sale's in
the morning at H. Holtzman & Sons, 35
Sixth st,
Worth Perusal.
The financial statement of the "Western
Assurance Company, of Toronto, as pub
lished on the third page ot this paper.
This old and reliable fire insurance corpora
tion has paid out millions of dollars in
losses to its patrons in the United States,
and still shows a large surplus of over $450,
000. Property owners who are wise
enough to secure policies in this company
may congratulate themselves, as the in
demnity is absolute. Their office in this
city is at 61 Fourth avenue, in charge of
John D. Biggert, who will give prompt at
tention to applications for insurance.
The Honiekeeper's Gnlde.
A monthly publication of interest to every
housekeeper. Gives the price of eyery ar
ticle we carry in stock, interesting reading
matter, household recipes, etc. April num
ber now ready. Mailed on application.
"Wat Ha&lage & Son,
Select Family Grocers, 18 Diamond, Mar
ket square, Pittsburg.
TAYLOR Si DEAN,
S03 and 303 Market St.
Call ou them for wire window and door
screens, which are a preventative against flies
and dust, also for iron fencing of every de
scription. THOSE who are not acquainted with the
various makes and styles of furniture should
always deal with a firm that have but one
price, and who can be relied upon as carry
ing the verv latest designs. Such a firm is
Dain & Uaschbacb, 111 Smithfield st.
The celebrated XXX 1855 pure rye
whisky, the finest in the United States, can
always be had at G. "W. Schmidt's, 95 and
97 Fifth avenue.
Bemembee Pearson's "So, are 96 Fifth
ave. and 43 Federal street, Allegheny. Cab.
photos for less money than elsewhere.
THE
AS OTHERS SEE US.
Sensations of a Stranger Visiting
This-Bnsy Hive of Industry.
PITTSBDEG A BEAUTIPDL C1TT,
With Its Handsome Buildings and Pic
turesque Scenery
OH THE BANKS OP THE THEEE E1TEES
rwEITTEK FOB TUX DISPATCH.!
A stranger, having a taste for the pictur
esque, after a few days visit to Pittsburg,
is often impressed with a wonder if the peo
ple of 'that vicinity have any idea of the
scenio effect and picturesqueness of that
locality. There is no doubt but most, if
not all, readers of Allegheny county have
been -delighted with a hope of a visit to
some noted place in a far off land, on read
ing a glowing description of it by some
prominent writer, and localities in distant
States in this land of ours have charms for
the same reason. Because, perhaps, they
believe with Campbell " 'Tis distance lends
enchantment to the view."
Such readers should be advised to turn
the small end of U powerful telescope upon
their own locality and they would then
have, in imagination, distance enough aud
variety enough to suit the most fastidious,
for there is more to be seen in certain sea
sons within 20 miles of Pittsburg than on
theUhine, Seine, Tiber or the Thames. At
least that is the qpinion of one who has
spent some time in Allegheny county, and
who has no interest in its past, present or
future.
A PICTURESQUE LOCATION.
The location of Pittsburg is in itself
picturesque enougn, situated as it is between
the two rivers and overshadowed, as it were,
by the hills above the river's banks, hemming
it in on every side, as though to prevent the
city from spreading itselt. But we see it
climbing the hills on every side and crown
ing their tops with dwellings and business
houses; carrying thoroughfares to their
summits, determined not to be hemmed in
by the hills as long as human ingenuity can
find'means to surmount them with "in
clined planes," in themselves novelties of
which not a great many cities in foreign
lands can boast. Then the numerous bridges
spanning the rivers, some of which are not
only useful, but ornamental enough for any
locality to be proud of. To these may be
added the fleets of steamboats moored to
their wharves ready to carry her commerce
to the world, making a scene in all, which, if
properly described, would fill the mind with
admiration.
But the greatest of all Pittsburg's great
ness and scenery and when I speak of the
city in this sense I mean the whole vicinity
which attracts the world, is its busy hives
of industry. There is enough to be seen in
the numerous mills, workshops and factories
that line the rivers in that locality to pon
der over for a'life time, and is worth going
a long way to see. "Well may Pittsburgers
be proud of them and take delight in show
ing strangers through and around them.
Tourists may travel in many lands, but
they will find here something to admire that
cannot be found elsewhere.
NIGHT SCENES.
Interesting and instructing as the locality
may be in the daylight, it is at night the
city's wonder, beauty and variety shines
out brightest, and anyone who sees it at
night and is not impressed must be dull in
deed. I visited Pittsburg a short time ago,
the first time for several years, and got to
the city in the early morning before day
light, and while looking through the win
dows of the cars I saw what I thought were
stars shining bright and clear. This seemed
a revelation, indeed, when I remembered
that the last time I was there, on a clear,
shining day outside the city, it was so dark
in the city that trainmen and switchmen
about the Union station had to carry lighted
lanterns, and the storerooms and every other
place had to be lit up. with gas as at night.
But on crossing Smithfield street bridge I
saw that what I thought were bright stars
were the lamps on Mount "Washington,
which I could see outlined clear and bold
against the moring sky.
At night I came down the Allegheny
river from Sharpsbnrg. "What a beautiful
panorama was spread before me, all the
way from the bridge at Sharpsburg as far as
I could see! There was the glare of the
furnace lights of the works that line the
Pittsburg side of the river, casting, every
now and then, their reflections in the water,
in the foreground, while in the back ground
the lights from windows and the lamps on
the hill above the Pennsylvania Railroad,
shone ont clear and white. Mingled with
them could be seen the bluish glare of the
electric lights, and here and there the "dull
red and white blaze of the natural gas,
making in all a scene reminding one of the
descriptions of the enchanted palaces of the
Arabian Nights.
THE HOME OF VULCAN.
That same night I crossed the Monon
gahela river over the Panhandle bridge,
and the scene over on the hills of the South
side was, if anything, more romantic, while
the lights from the glasshouses, mills and
furnaces on both sides of the river reflecting
in the water, make it look, indeed, a fit
dwelling place for the mighty Vulcan.
For a scene, such as no genii with all his
magic power could unfold to mortal gaze, a
trip should be taken down-ihe Monongahela
Valley on a calm night. Foreigners may
boast of their ancient castles, baronial
halls, and royal palaces, bnt they pale into
insignificance when compared with the
massive structures and modern monarchs of
to-day's progress, as found along the Mo
nongahela river.
On coming around the land, above Mc
Keesport, you come in sight of "Wood's
mill and the National Tube "Works, bril
liantly lighted trom floor to roof. Stop for
a few moments dud you can hear the hum
and murmur of the rolls, and occasionally a
sound as though shots were being fired in
succession by a battalion of musketry, end
ing sometim'es with a' loud report like the
sharp report of a 12-pounder, as though a
battle between rival armies was in progress.
It really is a battle, between the rolls and
skelp iron, being welded into pipes for va
rious uses, in which the rolls usually con
quer, and the other subdued into its proper
form. Slowly drifting down the river, you
pass manv works, an important one being
the United States Tin Plate "Works at
Demler.
Another bend, while allowing you to see
the vari-colored gas escaping from the vast
furnaces ot the Edgar Thomson Steel
"Works, shuts out the works itself.
, AN ENTEANCINC SIGHT.
But on coming around the bend you are
rewarded by a sight entrancing. Myriads
of sparks can be seen flashing in midair like
rubies and brilliants of all kinds and colors.
It is caused by manganese and spiegeleisen
being put into the molten metal to convert
itto ite proper use. Ton will also see a lit
tle locomotive puffing forth the fiery sparks
as it draws the liquid cinders from the fur
naces in wagons to be emptied on the river
bank. "Watch it as it runs to the river and
as it reflects in the water all the colors of
the rainbow; the river looks as though, iu
that locality, it was a river of fire and gold.
"We pass on and see the light and blaze
from other works until we reach the vast
steel works at Homestead. "While pausing .
here, and seeing the billets and bars flashing
and passing from furnaces to rolls in every
direction and noticing the number of furnaces
of all kinds, we are sensibly impressed with
the fact that it is a large mill, and, if size
goes for anything, not only the rails that
carry the commerce but the armor plates of
the "future American men-of-war will be
rolled in this mill. On our journey down
toward the city we pass glass houses, coal
tipples, and works of every kind, until we
reach the American Iron and Steel "Works,
with a fine bridge connecting the plants on
each side of the river and giving employ
ment to between 3,000 and 4,000 people.
From this on the works are so thick and nu
PITTSBURG- DISPATCH,
merous as to be beyond the power of de
scription, yet adds to Pittsburg's glory, and
makes up in part the beauty and variety of
its scenery and the enjoyment of a trip
down the Monongahela by night.
T. T. O'Mallet.
PITTSBURGERS IN PARIS.
Indication! That Many of Onr School
. Ma'am Will bo to tbe Exposition
Teachcri Academy Beconstractcd.
In all probability Pittsburg willhaye
quite a showing of its educational people at
the Paris Exposition- Since the announce
mnet, last Saturday, that Mr. Luckey had
received a circular stating that a 33-day
trip to Paris vas obtainable for $150, the
idea of a visit to Europe has struck a num
ber of Pittsburg teachers most forcibly.
Inquiries regarding the trip have been
coming in quite'rapidly. The success of the
excursion from Pittsburg depends on the num
ber of teachers and their friends who are will,
ing to make up a party.
The following named teachers will litely
embark on the briny ocean in July for Europe:
Mrs. M. B. Redman, the Misses Hare, Young,
Janet McCutcneon, Morgan, Anna Flack,
Emma Bridge, S. A Piatt, M. Hays and Mrs.
Petty.
That Important meeting of the Teachers'
Academy that has been heralded for some time,
tyok place yesterday at the Grant school.
There are 350 members in this society, and one
of its important tenets is secrecy. To hare the
academy a more benefiting and actlro body, a
committee was appointed make important
changes in tlia-constitution.
Thlsmnch lifaUowed for outside teachers to
know: The new constitution was adopted yes
terday, and there must nave been some clause
in it that told them to keep the proceedings of
this body very quiet. The members always
have been pretty quiet about ic but yesterday
they were more "mum" than ever.
Tbe old plan of electing members is also
abolished. Heretofore a committee of three
was notified at different intervals to visit a
teacher proposed as amomber fortbe academy,
to see if she were eligible to membership.
This was always done without the proposed
member's knowledge. At the next meeting in
June a revision of the membership roll will be
made.
Atyesterday's session Miss Lilian Hoag, of
the Grant school, was initiated, and the Misses
Olive M. Smith, M A. O'Donnel, of the Mount
Albion school, and Katie Evans, of Bono, were
elected to membership.
Yesterday the following programme was ar
ranged for tbe Prosser Benefit Concert, which
takes place in the Grand Central Rink, April 29:
Selection Philharmonic Society
Chorns Prosser Glee Club
Solo Ur. W.T. English
Chorus, a. "Praise the Lord School children
b. rrhe Fairies" Schoolchildren
Selection Zltterbart Orchestra
Solo Miss Belle Tomer
Becltatlom..., Miss Edith Harris
bong Alpine Quartet
pabt n.
Selection Zltterbart Quintet
Woodland Echoes Allen School
Song Richardson Quartet
Chorus: "Star of Descending Night"
....becond ML P. Church Choir
Solo E. H. Deimltt
Chorus.... Class from Normal School
Solo Miss Belle Tomer
Selection Philharmonic Society
Educational Echoes.
Mbs. C. O. Myiee, of the Liberty school has
the sincere sympathy of her many friends in
the loss of her sister who died last week.
The Lucky school will give an entertain
ment at the West End Rink on May 11. The
proceeds are to defray the expenses of their
annual school pic-nic.
The programme that the school children
will render on tbe Washington Inaugural Cen
tennial, was issued yesterday. The music will
be in charge of Prof essors Rfnebart,Martln,and
Slack.
The Misses Marv J. and Rosetta Poller, of
the Soho and Bellefleld schools, respectively,
were at Marshal station yesterday attending
tbe silver wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse
BrinKer, of that place.
A school exhibition will he given at the
Birmingham school next "Wednesday.Thursday
and Friday evenings. From the previous ef
forts of Miss M. E. Hare and her excellent
corps of teachers the entertainment is sure to
be a grand success.
The attendance at theHomewood school,
Twenty-first ward, has increased most rapidly
this spring. The present building contains bnt
eight rooms, which are entirely inadequate for
the number of school children. Steps will be
taken toward the erection or procuring of ad
ditional quarters.,
Supebintendbnt HAMILTON-, of the Alle
gheny Connty schools, this week issued a circu
lar annonncing the dates and places for the
annual examination of tbe connty teachers.
They will be held at Turtle Creek, May 25,
Coraopolis, May 27: Elizabeth, June 8: Sewlck
ly, June 11; Etna, June 14; Charters Borough,
June 19; McKeesport, June 21; Oakdale. Jnne
27; Tarentum, July 2. The examination for
Pittsburg teachers will commence the 2d or Sd
Saturday in May.
HIS MAJESTY'S SNAKES.
The. Serpents Which Were the Favorite
Peti of an Indian Monarch.
Youth's Companion. '
. That a person can enjoy keeping snakes
for pets is incomprehensible to those who
look on a snake merely as a disgusting and
dangerous creature; but the true student of
nature finds something interesting in the
snake's habits of life, and never ceases to
admire its sinuous, gliding movements,
which are the perfection of ease and grace.
The late Xing of Oude had a snakery in
the gardens of his palace near Calcutta, and
there snakes of all sorts and sizes were as
sembled. "It was an oblong pit," says one who had
seen it often, about 30 feet long by 20 feet
broad, the walls being about 12 feet high,
and perfectly smooth, so that a snake could
not climb up. In the center of the pit there
was a large block of rough masonry, per
forated so that it was as full of holes as a
sponge. In this honeycombed block the
snakes dwelt, and when the snn shone
brightly, they came out to bask or to feed.
'Lis Majesty used to have live frogs put
into the pit, and amused himself by seeing
the hungry snakes catch the frogs! "When
a large snake' catches a small frog, it is all
over in an instant; but if a small snake
catches a large frog, so that he cannot
swallow it at once, the frog's cries are
piteous to hear. Again and again I have
heard them while out shooting, and have
gone to the bush or tuft of grass from which
the piercing cries came sometimes'in time,
sometimes too late to save poor froggy,
though the'snake generally got shot.
"But a frog has' been known to turn
the tables on the snake. Two gentlemen in
Cachar, some years ago, saw a small snake
sieze a small frog and attempt to swallow
it. But suddenly a large frog jumped for
ward, seized the snake's tail and began to
swallow the snake.
"How the affair might have ended cannot
be told, because my friends imprudently
drew near to watch the combat, when the
frogs and the snake took alarm, and the big
frog disgorged the snake's tail, the snake
released the little fiog, and they all dis
persed, eaoh his own way."
Beecham's Pills.
It has recently been demonstrated that
some articles of merchandise, which have
been before the public of England for the
last half century, are nine times more used
there than all other principal patent medi
cines put together, we refer to Beecham's
Pills, which in order to meet the wishes and
requirements expressed by Americans,
many of whom already know their value,
are now introduced in such a thorough
manner that no home need be without them
in America. "We believe this shrewd and
discerning people will soon join in the uni
versal testimony that they "are worth a
guinea a box," although they can be pur
chased of druggists for but twenty-five cents.
These pills are round" and will therefore
roll. They have already rolled into every
English-speaking country in the world, and
they are still rolling. All sufferers from in
digestion, flatulency, constipation and. all
other forms of stomach and liver troubles
have now this famous and inexpensive
remedy within their reach; but should they
find, upon inquiry, that their druggist does
not keep Beecham's Pills, they can send
twenty-five cents to the General Agents for
the United States, B. F. Allen & Co., 365
Canal Street, New York City, who will
promptly mail them to any address.
Black Jersey silks, three qualities, 95c,
?1 10, $1 25; the lightest aud best wearing
summer fabric known.
mwj-su Huous & Hacks.
' - , -
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SUNDAY, APEIL 21,
YOU CAN'T PUT THE
NEITHER CAN WE DESCRIBE THE
HO
PITTSBURG'S LEADING
To judge of the magnificent stock and assortment by ourmeager description would be like testing the comforts of a v
feather bed by lying down on one feather. The prompt and generous responses to our advertisements assure us that our . '
statements don't fail of the respect to which they're entitled, But then we've got- a "pull." It's a price pull, and it pulls
more trade than any amount of windy bombast in the newspapers, '
OURS IS THE GREAT CREDIT HOUSE OF
Despite the Loud Mouth and Venomous, Yet Impotent Croakings of Other Dealers,
Who, chock full of egotism and inflated with bombastic vapor and flatulence, make them
selves the laughing stock of the whole community by reason of their nothing short
of absurd, nonsensical, ridiculous, aye, and even impertinent assertions and windy say
ings, for is it not impertinent to ask the public to believe that there is only one firm in
this city in our line of business who do business on the common platform of hon
esty and fair dealing? The citizens of Pittsburg and vicinity know that it isn't the
loudest blown horn that produces the sweetest music. We don't blow as loud
as some would-have-it-all-and-everybody-else-starve dealers, but our music
is pleasing to the ear. -That good old tune "Honest Goods at Reasonable
f Prices, accompanied by "The Best of Treatment Always Draws Well,"
and we know how to play it to perfection. No bombast for us; -we
believe in merit and merit alone, and if our ways of business are
not meritorious enough to command public patronage we are
content to sink into oblivion. We sell goods strictly on their
' merits. If they are not as good as people expect to find, if
they are not as. low-priced as we lead people to believe,
V if our treatment is not' as fair as people expect, we don't
: - suppose that those who enter our store will purchase.
But, judging by our enormous business increasing, we are happy to say, daily
we can say to our envious, ill-bred and snarling competitors (Oh, how the shoe
must pinch somewhere), "We're quite well, thank you, and hope you're the same."
With Malice Toward ITone and Charity for AH, we remain,
TFAPPFft URffti Xt TO THE PEOPLES FAVORITE
JaUriJlili DiMft. CK; W., CASH OR CREDIT FIRM.
CARPETS
OF ALL CRADES
Suitable for furnishing the mansion
of a millionaire or the home of a
day laborer. Everything from the
cheapest Rag Carpets and Ingrains
to the very finest Brussels and
Royal Wiltons. We take special
pride in the fact that owing to our
immense stock, our peerless assort
ment, our acknowledged bargains
and our facilities for doing business,
we find ourselves peculiarly well
fixed to do business alike satisfac
tory to ourselves and our patrons.
We would like you to come and see
our stock, find out all about our
way of doing business, and we've
no doubt of our ability to make
customers of you. On all purchases
made before 12 noon any day we
will allow a' discount of 5 per cent
Bedroom Furniture !
Magnificent Bedroom Suites in
Solid Mahogany, Natural Cherry,
Black Walnut, White Walnut, i. e.
Butternut, Antique and Natural
Oaks, quarter and blazed, sawed,
Mahoganized Cherry, Birch and
Maple, Elm and White Wood, etc.
See our 20 Antique Oak Suite.
See our $17 Antique Oak Suite.
MARVELS FOR THE MONEY.
ANTIQUE OAK and WALNUT
Wardrobes
AND FOLDING BEDS,
Bed and Single Lounges, Couches,
etc. Odd Dressers, Odd Beds and
Odd Washstands, Bedroom Chairs,
eta, etc. Bedsteads as low in price
as $2 75, and as high as $7S-
A GRAND ASSORTMENT OF
FANCY SILK PLUSH
AND REED ROCKERS,
As well as beautiful Antique High
Back Rockers and Chairs, on which
we are having a very big run.
Rugs in Beautiful Designs
Of Dagistan,Moquette, Smyrna and
Brussels, in all sizes,at extraordinary
low prices.
CASH OB CREDIT!
1889.
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
3F
IN THE WELL-KNOWN
PPER BROS. & CO.,
CREDIT FIRM. 307 WOOD
OUR CREDIT SYSTEM
-OF-
EASY PAYMENTS!
Enables you to meet all the requirements of the season just the same as
if you had the cash ready in your hand. NO PREPARATION NECES
SARYNO SAVING UP NO BORROWING OF MONEY. It's a
system by which you can make your home possessed of all the comforts
of life. We ask you to acquaint yourselves with the system that gives
promise of help in these dutie's, as ours does. We have supplied thou
sands of customers for years with
Furniture! Carpets! Household Goods!
And everything pertaining to the interior of furnishing their homes, and
are happy to say that all our old patrons stick by us. We don't claim to
have no competition. We have, and some of them are doing,quite well,
which we are pleased to see. As we, however, concern ourselves with
our own business solely, we leave ont all reference to other dealers and
give to our readers a few pointers relative to the goods we have to offer.
Ml! ail Hie INI
An extraordinary display truly ! An assortment which is, we think, one
of the most extensive and artistic in the city, certainly we know that
our prices 'are as low, if not lower, than any other Cash and
Credit House in Pittsburg. We make all our own Parlor
Furniture, being the only house in our line of business
in the city doing this. You'll .find here in the great
est profusion Sofas, Couches, Easy Chairs,
Rockers, Etc., Etc. The Finest Furniture
' ever kept in a store. We make a special
exhibit of Onyx Top Tables, Brass
and Gilt Furnfture, Side-
- boards, Cheffoniers, Cab-
jnets,. Etc., Etc
Then we have Dining
. Chairs, Extension Tables in thfe
most popular woods and latest designs.
ELEGANT HATVT. IFTJRMTURE-Every Pattern,
from a little Inexpensive Stand to the
1 Most .Elaborate.
Wonder how many know how much thought we bestow on Office
Furniture? A large division of our store is devoted to it. Roll-Top
Desks, Office Tables, Chairs, Bookcases:. Bookcases without Desks and
Desks without Bookcases. Everything for a Business Office or an Office
at Home.
Everything sold for CASH or on EASY PAYMENTS
HOPPER BROS. & Co,,
307 WOOD STREET. Please Don't Mistake the Number.
OCEAN IN
THOUSAND AND ONE
THE-
AND POPULAR STORE OF
STREET, BETWEEN THIRD
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A TEA-CUP!'
FEATURES
v 1 -
a1-
fsF& '.
-
AND FOURTH AVENUES.
THIS CITY!
,T t (
?-:
307 WOOD STREET.
A Magnificent Stock of
Lace Curtains.
This department replete with th.
finest goods in the city. Tambour,
Swiss, Oriental, Nottingham, etc,
etc Turcoman and Chenille and
Silk Curtains and Poles in great
variety. Ladies come and inspect)
these beautiful goods; you can de
pend on getting the best, the finest I
Eight different styles of bed
springs; nineteen different styles of
mattresses, not including feather
beds, which we also carry or make
to order. Feather and Down Pil
lows and Bolsters. Dress Pillows,
Pillows and Bolster Slips, White
and Colored Bed Spreads, Com
fortables and Blankets. An elegant
line of Bed Lace Sets.
Refrigerators and Ice Chests!
From the Cheapest to the Finest, ,
M GARBAGES I
r
In all styles, upholstered in any
kind of material reauired. at nricea
which make all other dealers turn,
green with envy.
Hanging Lamps,
Two and Three-light brass Chan
deliers for oil; Handsome Line of
Engravings, Oil Paintings and
Photos on Satin: also Easels in any.
wood.
AIsJO KINDS OF
Kitchen Utensils.
Dptut I
This city's make of Stoves and- ,$
Ranges, goods that we can give
positive guarantees with as regards
baking qualities. Dinner and Teat .'
Sets, Chamber Toilet Sets, etc,T"
etc, etc '"'
Host of other goods too nume roil
to mention. ,
: '.CASH OR OREDITjl
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