'
ESXABUSUED FEBRUARY 8, 1S18.
Vol,K N 0.311 Entered at flttsburg 1'ottofflce,
November 14, lsS7, as second-class matter. a
Business Office 07 and 08 Fifth Avenuo.
News Booms and Publishing: House 75,
77 and 70 Diamond Street
r.iitern Advertising Office, Boom i Tribune
Building. New York
Average net circulation of the dally edition of
TuxDisrATCUforslx months ending July 31, 1S83,
as sworn to before City Controller,
29,914.
Coplet per Isaac
Average net circulation of the Bandar edition of
The Dispatch for three months ending July 11,
54,897
Copies per Issue.
TERMS OF THE DISPATCH.
rOSTACE PEEE IX THE CKITZD STATES.
JJAILTDlsrATCn, One Year 8 00
Dailt DisrATCU, rer Quarter 2 00
Dailt DisrATCU. One Month 70
Daily Dispatch. Including Sunday, 1 rear. 10 00
DAILY Dispatch. Including bunday.Sm'ths. Z SO
Daily Di6rATCH, Including bunday.l month 90
fcCNDAY Dispatch, One Year 2 50
Weekly UI6PATCH, One Year IS
Tni DAILY Dispatcji is delivered by carrlersnt
I&cents per week, or Including bunday edition, at
SOccnts per week.
PITTSBURG. WEDNESDAY. AUG. 28. 1839.
THE DEK0CHATIC EXAMPLE.
The principal features of the Democratic
County Convention, yesterday, were what
had been conceded in advance, the indorse
ment of Judge Collier and the nomination
of E. H. Johnston for District Attorney.
The fact that this action has been a fore
gone conclusion for some time does not pre
clude the recognition of its significance
when formally taken.
In this action upon the nominations for
Judge and District Attorney the Demo
cratic organization has lifted itself above
the level of partisanship and placed itself
upon the plane of integrity, cleanness and
ability in the administration of justice. It
has shown equal unanimity in indorsing
the re-election of a Republican judge who
has demonstrated the possession of those
qualities, and the nomination of a Demo
crat for District Attorney, whose private,
character is clean and whose public record
is, not smirched by scandal. The readiness
to disregard party lines for thr sake of sup
porting the best qualities in the machinery
of justice is not usual in political conven
tions; and while the party machinery of the
Republicans can hardly be expected to meet
the Democrats half way, it is more than
likely that a great many of the Republicans
will do so, in their individual rather than
party capacity.
It is certainly an encouraging sign when
even a minority party obliterates party lines
in its support of the best qualities in the
courts. The example is not likely to belost
on the majority of the public
THE G. A B. REUNION.
The first day of the G. A. B. reunion at
Milwaukee, notwithstanding the unfavor
able indications which have preceded its
assembling, appears from the reports to have
been largely attended and enthusiastic. The
parade, reunions and campfires, which com
prised the proceedings, were imposing, and
indicated at once the warmth with which the
old soldiers greeted each other and the pub
lic appreciation and honors paid to the vet
erans. The first day has been given over to
parades, enthusiasm and sentiment; the
business meetings, which wili follow, will
be more important as showing the attitude
of the Grand Array on the pending ques
tions in which it is interested. Conservatism
and moderation on these issues will be as
beneficial for the Grand Army as for the rest
of the nation.
A SEAL IK SEAL ESTATE.
The news that King Leopold, of Belgium,
has got so tired of the expensive sovereignty
of the Congo Tree State, that he is ready to
throw it aside, or turn it over to anyone who
wants it, is a little surprising if not at vari
ance with antecedent knowledge. Inas
much as Leopold has just concluded ar
rangements for building a railroad that
bids fair to make the Congo organization
EcU-EUstaining, and as England and Ger
many, if not France, Italy and Portugal
stand ready to snap up that very large
sized morsel in the way of an African
colony, it is safe to conclude that if the Bel
gian King wished to rid himself of that
great river, he would not need to advertise
his desire in the cable dispatches.
However, the statement suggests one point
that may, perhaps, prove a new develop
ment in the line of royal acquisitions. That
eminent American railroad king, Mr. C. P.
Huntington, has of late shown a disposi
tion to acquire extensions in the Eastern
hemisphere. He is reported to have bought
a German Prince for his daughter and has
made a liberal subscription to the Congo
railroad. If Jiing Leopold is in need oi
cash, why should not Mr. Huntington buy
np the Congo State and be king of the
Congo legions, as well as of the Chesapeake
, and Ohio and Southern Pacific royalties?
The water privileges of the Congo Valley
are understood to be excellent, and tho way
Mr. Huntington could load up that de
voted district with watered stocks and sub
sidiary monopolies, would remove all
doubts whether he could make the invest
ment profitable.
If the Congo Free State is for sale, we
nominate Mr. Huntington to be the pur
chaser. Why should not the monarch of so
many railroads own an African river?
TOASS1MILATING ALIENS.
The article on "The Transformation of
New England" in the last number of the
Forum is possibly pessimistic with regard
to the displacement of the American ele
ment in New England by the French Cana
dian. Yet it must be admitted that the
overflow from Canada of a population which
s most persistent in refusing to assimilate
with this country, and in retaining its for
eign language and foreign customs, is a sub
ject which can only be viewed with grave
apprehensions. An indication of the posi
tion of the French Canadians in this coun
try is aCbrcfed by a call for a convention of
the members of that race residing in Massa
chusetts and Rhode Island. The stated ob
ject of the convention is to consider the
measures which are to be taken for the pre
vention of the assimilation of the French
Canadians with the people of the United
Btates, and the preservation and propaga
tion ot their language and customs. When
Each purposes are publicly avowed, it be
gins to be time to consider whether the
United States should not take the public
position that additions to its population
which refuse to become an integral part of
Ibis nation are not wanted in this country.
"vXEWS OK LI0.U0B QTTESTIOHS.
Decidedly divergent views on the liquor
legislation are cropping ud in varions
quarters at present. Une of the most notice
able is that presented by Mr. Bradley, the
founder of Asbury Park, who from having
been a leader among the Prohibitionists,
has concluded, by reason of his own exper
ience, that high license is more likely to be
effective in checking the evils of drunken
ness than prohibition can be. He bases
this conviction upon the fact that even at
Asbury Park ho has not been able to sup
press the illicit liquor traffic. Thence he
arrives at the conclusion which a great
many other sincere temperance men adopted
long ago, that ntter prohibition being im
practicable strict regulation must be ac
cepted as the best that is attainable. To
offset this, we have the opinion of the De
troit Free Press based upon the experience
of Pittsburg with its speak-easies that high
license is a failure, and that free rum is
more triumphant under the system prevail
ing here than ever before. This will give
to most Pittsburgers a new reading of
the old adage about going away from home
to learn the news.
Another idea of the liquor question is
that advanced by the Philadelphia Record
in answer to Judge Agnew's recent letter
arguing that there is no constitutional ob
stacle in the way of passing a local option
law for Pennsylvania. Our Philadephia
cotemporary concedes the Judge's legal
authority, hut opposes his conclusion on
the ground that "he has utterly failed to
comprehend the meaning of the great pop
ular verdict of Pennsylvania on the 18th of
June." But the fact that the Record con
strues this verdict to forbid the enactment of
local option, or the privilege of each
county to establish prohibition if the peo
ple so vote, indicates that the failure to
comprehend that verdict is not on the side
of Judge Agnew. The vote was upon one
question, simply, whether the sale and man
ufacture of liquors should be prohibited
throughout the entire State, without regard
to the settlement of local option.
Actual prohibition is one thing; local op
tion is an entirely distinct measure. The
fact that one has been defeated affords no
legitimate obstacle to agitation in favor of
the other upon its merits.
CONSOLIDATION IK THE COKE INDTJSTEY.
The statement that the H. C. Frick Coke
Company has purchased the coke properties
of the J. W. Moore company, which gives
the purchaser a total ownership of 7,000 out
of the 13,000 ovens in the Connellsvilje
region, draws renewed attention to the
change that has been going on from the time
when the coke industry was divided
among thirty or forty different firms to the
present ona-when it is practically divided
among four or five, and the majority of the
industry is owned by a single one.
Off the causes which have produced this
remarkable concentration of the coke trade
into a few powerful hands it is perhaps
unnecessary to speak. While the operation
indicates the tendency in the direction of a
single control of that industry, it is a fact
that the latter consummation is still a long
way off. New fields both to the north and
south of the Connellsville district are com
ing into operation, and competition will
still have its influence in fixing the price of
that staple, as well as the wages paid in its
manufacture.
It is rather suggestive to see it announced
in connection whh this purchase that the
price of coke for the past year has been
below the 'cost of production. As there are
no commercial reasons for the prolonged
sale of any staple at less than cost, that
assertion contains an intimation that there
may be a mutual interdependence between
the sales ot coke at that price and -the sales
of coke property.
CANADA'S SEPARATION FBOM ENGLAND
The news that some of the Canadians are
so angered over the course of England in
failing to quarrel with the United States for
the seizure of the Canadian sealers, is a
novel conviction of the long-standing ex
pectation that Canada would separate from
England and unite with this country. The
separation seems nearer than'ever; but it is
not 'of a character that tends toward union
with our Government.
The fact that the Canadians wish to abjure
English supremacy in order to secure a
greater liberty of quarreling with the United
States promises a near and inimical neigh
bor rather than a peaceful union. In this
connection it is pertinent to remark that a
policy on our part which makes enemies of
the Canadians could hardly be expected to
pave the way to friendly incorporation of
the two nations into one. Yet it is
a singular fact that the element in
,cnr press and politics that talks the most
of securing the annexation ot uanaaa is ex
actly the one that has given the most sup
port to the policy of irritating and antagon
izing the Canadian people.
Irrespective of the justice or reason of
our highly divergent claims on the Atlantic
and Pacific, it is worth while to remember
that the best way to prejudice the Canadians
in our favor is not to tread on their toes on
both sides of the continent at once.
THE USE OF EXP0SITI05S.
The assertion of Mr. Edward Atkinson,
with regard to the Philadelphia Centennial,
that its principal result was in affording
new ideas with regard to the internal de
coration of houses, is'principally valuable
in showing how little comprehension Mr.
Atkinson has of the result of the exposition
of thirteen years ago.
The fact is that a large share of the new
ideas and improvements which have been
perfected during the last decade, received
their primary impetus from the exposition.
How largely the introduction of improve
ments and inventions extended into every
branch of industry cannot, of course, be in
indicated here. The newspaper interest in
the United States knows that the possibili
ties of improved presses, which multiplied
the capability of rapid printing by an al
most indefinite factor, was first illustrated
there. The beginning of the electrical age and
the first telephones were brought to public
notice at the Centennial; and the capabili
ties of vast and powerful machinery, as de
licate as it was colossal, were also displayed
to the hundreds and thousands who visited
that great show.
When enterprising manufacturers make
use of such expositions to show what can be
effected in their lines of enterprise,
thhy, can hardly fail of having re
sults beyond the power of computation.
That is a good principle for the managers
of onr local Exposition, as well as those of
the National projects, to bear in mint.
The remark of the Boston Herald con
cerning the presence of three ex-Confederate
soldiers on the Republican ticket of Vir
ginia, that it is only when the brigadiers
are members of the Democratic party that
"they appear to become obnoxious or dan
gerous," naturally provokes the retort that
the once independent Herald has adopted
the regulation Democratic idea that it is
only when the former Confederates become
Republicans that they are regarded as ob
noxious to the Democratic and lost cause.
It most be conceded that Senator Man
derson's course with regard to that pension
allowance has a flavor about it of the old
THE
Jedwood justice, of hanging a'man first and
holding the trial afterward. The Senator
gets the pension allowance and then calls
for a medical examination to demonstrate
that he is entitled to it.
The annonncement that Cousin Ben
Folsom will not be disturbed in the posses
sion of the consulate at Sheffield is some
what disturbing alike to the aspirants tor
that position and to the critics of the admin
istration. It is yet to be explained whether
Cousin Ben is retained in bis place because
he is an able representative of the national
gam: of baseball, or to indicate the present
administration's approval of the policy of
appointing family connections to fat-offices.
High pressure is bringingthe Exposition
into shape for the opening, a week from
to-day. A week ago it hardly seemed
possible that the "building could be got
ready in time. But work against time has
wrought wonders, and the prospects are
excellent for a fine Exposition next week.
The fact that, after all Chicago's boom
ing of the World's Fair enterprise, a paper
of that city editorially bewaifs the fact that
the millionaires have done nothing for the
project, is made much oi by our Eastern co
temporaries; but a curious coincidence,
which is not noticed by the Eastern press, is
the fact that exactly this same booming, and
exactly this same absence of subscriptions
by the millionaires is the record of New
York's progress in its similar enterprise
The offer of two prizes, of 5,000 -and
53,000 respectively, by a Spanish descendant
of Christopher Columbus, for essays with
regard to the discovery of America, is inter
esting to ambitious writers. Those who
think they can do better than Washington
Irving may set to work on their essays.
That specimen of Southern" statesman
ship who figures out that the way to solve
the Southern problem is, first, to disfran
chise all the people, black and white, who
have not a stated amount of property, and
then to confer the franchise anew upon the
white people who are disfranchised by the
first act, is evidently possessed by the opin
ion that the Constitution of the United
States can be whipped around the srump
whether the devil can or not.
The advance in wheat at Chicago pre
dicted upon the shortage in European crops
may be all right; but as the European short
age has been known for sometime is it not a
little suspicious that the advance comes just
at the time when it is practicable to squeeze
the Angust shorts?
The announcement of an esteemed cotem
porary that one of the nominees of the Dem
ocratic Convention yesterday belongs to a
family which has resided in Allegheny
county for the past 160 years, conveys in
teresting information. Fort Dnquesne
having been first built by the French 13S
years since, this credits that old family
with a decidedly aboriginal ancestry.
A coTEMroRABY remarks: "Most of
the large failures this year are traceable to
debts." True enough. It there were no
debts there could be no failures; but
there would also be a remarkably decreased
amount of business.
The assertion of ex-Commissioner Oberly
that the publication of the eligible list will
mark the end of civil service reform, is
slightly tinged by the adverse disposition of
the "outs" to criticise ihe action of the
"ind." It is not likely to harm anything to
have the results of the civil service exami
nations and the selections made therefore a'
public matter.
The idea that the laws of the State of
New York concerning capital punishment
can be permitted to conflict with the inter
ests of an electric light company is produc
ing a storm center in the lower part of Man
hattan Island.
The organization of a new bank on the
Southude, to take the place of the defunct
Farmers and Mechanics, shows that the
commercial requirements of that part of the
city, for banking facilities, are not to be
balked by one miscarriage. We take it for
granted that the officers of this bank will
not do any speculating, for some years to
come, at least.
ONE nOKDEED AND THIRTY THOU
SAND laborers out on strike in London,
affords our free trade friends an evidence
that their favorite pattern is not wholly
exempt from that trouble. .
PEOPLE OP PROMINENCE.
The Queen's estate at Osborne comprises
about 5,500 acres.
Irn. Oliver Wendeli. Holmes will be 80
years old to-morrow.
Wayne MacVeaqh has written "Pennsyl
vania" in the American Commonwealth series.
Senatob Sherman and family are in ex
cellent health. They will sail for home Sep
tember 4.
Captain Henry Crawford, who recently
died in Philadelphia, was the wealthiest steam
beat owner in Pennsylvania.
Prop. Max Muller, in a recent lectnre at
Oxford, England, on the Science of Language
expressed the opinion that if language were
taken away man would be lower than the dumb
animals of the field and forest.
Henry Irvinq cables to a friend in New
York au emphatic denial of the report that he
has ever complained of unfair treatment by
the American press. He says: "I feel almost
ashamed to contradict it, feeling that there is
little need of my doing so, but would not like a
shadow ot doubt In the minds of my friends."
It is curious, says the San Francisco Alia,
how the name David rnns through the princi
pal incidents in the life of the late ex-Judge
Terry. He was named David, and he killed
David C. Broderlck in a duel. One of Broder.
let's seconds was David D. Colton, and the
duel was witnessed by David J. Brewer. United
States Circuit Judge of the Eighth Judicial
District of Illinois. Terry was killed by David
Nagle. and Justice Field's father and one of
his brothers were baptized David.
AN AGED LADY'S UAED LUCK.
A Woman Who Used to -Work for Lincoln
Asks for Froo Lodging.
tSrECIAX TELXQEAK 10 THE DIgrATCH.1
, New Yobk, August 27. A woman who said
she wasMrs. Catharine Eliza Wright, 72 years
old, from Louisville, K v., applied for lodging
in the Jamaica town hall on Saturday night
last. Mrs. Wright lived in Jamaica before the
Long Island Railroad was built. She was
twice a widow, and is the mother of ten chil
dren, eight ot whom are dead. A son and
daughter lire In Rlrerhead, Mrs. Wright says
she lived in the family of Abraham Lincoln in
Springfield, IB. Her second husband, William
w. Wright, she says, worked for Horace
Greeley in a printing office in a basement in New
York City.
Mrs. Wright says she walked part of the way
from Louisville In order to save her money.
The overseer of the poor will send her to ber
relatives in River head. Her maiden name was
Weeks. She was born In Jericho, Lv L
Ain't Savin' n Word.
from the Chicago Inter-Qrean.1
If the Hon. James G. Blaine would only fas
back a few words tired Democrats would be
exceedingly happy. Democratic organs have
literally wornbcmelvea; ont on the Cabinet
and hare nothing to show for it.
t, . - f
PITTSBTJEG-
DISPATCH.
TEE TOPICAL TALKEK
Some of the Ware in Which tho Drowsy
God ta Wooed.
Have you ever noticed how various are the
ways of men and women In wooing sleep? For
a while past I've been making "notes in this
field, and though only a few hare given me an
account of their habits, the result of the obser
vation is rather interesting.
Nearly everyone appears to have well-marked
lines of action, or perhaps it is more accurate
to say inaction, in approaching the drowsy
god. This man must be on his right side, that
on his left, another on hishack, before he
thinks of shutting his eyes. "Everyone of them
is convinced that if he took any but the exact
position he affects he would remain awake In
definitely. These varieties of habit and varied
again in themselves. For instance, a man I
know has to lie on his back for about ten
minutes, and then quietly rolls over to his
right side with the immediate result of being
in the land ot dreams at once. Another man
who is a brain worker, and is therefore predis
posed to restlessness at night, has a regular set
of maneuvers, through which he goes nightly
in his search for slumber. To begin with he
wants the right edge ot the bed, and ha insists
on lying on his right side with his right arm
and hand extended at full length. If his brain
yields easily to the invitation of its
owner to put up th6 shutters and
cease work these movements are suf
ficient to bring unconsciousness. But
should the machinery of the brain rattle on
and show no signs of stopping, then the hunt
for sleep calls forth a new leash of hounds.
The restless mortal deliberately takes the pil
low, excavates an opening into the bed at its
foot and goes through a series of tactics
similar to the first tried. When this falls he
knows that sleep is out of the question and he
generally gets up, dresses and takes a book
tils he is actually tired out. They say Corporal
Tanner, Commissioner of Pensions, is a victim
to extreme measures ot this kind.
V
Sous men and more women must have a
light of some sort or other in their sleeping
chamber; wbile the majority of both sexes are
in favor of perfect darkness.
I am reminded of the case of two ladles re
siding in this county who were good sleepers
enough, but very easily waked. Just outside
their chamber door was a gas jet which was
left burning all night The light from this did
not shine into the room but a single ray of it
fell upon the polished surface ot a wardrobe.
Neither of these ladles could have closed an
eye with that little ray shut out. More than
this on several occasions some blundering moth
or beetle would make a pyre of that gas jet and
extinguish the tiny flame with its ashes, and
as soon as the flickering ray ceased to throb
upon the wardrobe panels'tbe slumbers of the
two sleepers were broken also.
Probably were the investigation of Ibis sub
ject carried further it would be found that tbe
idiosyncrasies of women as to,findlng the pearly
gates of sleep are far more numerous and pict
uresque than those of the stronger sex. For but
a limited pursuit ot tbe inquiry has revealed no
little anecdotal matter involving women as the
actors.
V
How many women there are in this land of
the free and tbe fair who indulgeln the whole
some and refreshing afternoon sleep. You,
have seen the transformation this American
siesta will work in a woman, haven't you?
She's spent all the morning in fatiguing exer
els perhaps has had a pitched battle with the
cook, and an executive session with ithe prom
ising 5-year-old; has mended a bait dozen gar
ments, chased the Maltese cat out of the par
lor, and not till the lunch hour has passed does
she get a minute to herself. Then, with blinds
drawn down, a loose wrapper on in place ot a
dress like a mediaeval coat of mall, she lays ber
head upon tbe cool pillow and sinks away in
the midsummer hush to the shores of some
imagined river.
She gets np a few hours later, and, rearrayed
in some cool dress, greets her husband as be
comes home hot, dusty and cross,. with a smile
and a refreshing air of health injthe glow of her
cheek and the light of her eye, No wonder her
lord and master looks wonderingly at her and
says: I wish I could keep cool and cheerful
as you do what's your secret!"
Answering truly she should say: "Sleep."
This afternoon sleep deserves a chapter to
itself some other time. An expert practicer
promises me the fullest access to her experi
ence and knowledge ot others' habits.
HIS COLOE AGAINST 11111.
Fred
Douglass Not Wanted In Haytl ns
Minister There.
16TECIAL TXLEOBAM TO TUX DIsrATCH.1
New York, August 27. The possibility that
Mr. Fred Douglass may not be sent as Minister
to Haytl after all pleases many of the New
York merchants interested in the Haytlan
trade. The principal avowed objection to Mr.
Douglass seems td be that he is a colored man,
and that the Haytlan negroes have less respect
for a negro tban they have for a white man.
The lighter the negro is in color tbe lower be
sinks in the estimation of the native Haytiaru
A prominent representative of a New York
house doing business with Haytl. said: "I
certainly hope that Mr. Douglass will not be
sent to Haytl."
"He is not at all skilled as a diplomat, and is
not even a practical business man. Besides, he
does not speak French, and Is a man of narrow
views at best. But even without these disad
vantages under which he labors, the fact that
he is a colored man makes some other selec
tion advisable. The Haytians have no respect
for a negro, and It Is time we stopped sending
colored men to represent ..us there. What the
United States wants In Haytl is a white man of
abllity.'wbo will inspire respect and really have
control of onr interests at the Haytian capital.
We have a splendid chance just now to effect
this bv Bonding the proper man, and I hope the
State Department will recognize tbe fact."
Other merchants expressed similar views as
to tbe disadvantage of having a colored repre
sentative at Port-au-Prince. Minister Preston
is in favor of Mr. Douglass, and points to the
fact that Mr. Reld, who has been sent to
France, does not speak French, and that Mr.
Bassett and. Mr. Thompson, tbe two former
American Ministers to Haytl, were both
colored men. "What the United Btates wants
in Hayti,'UaId Minister Preston, emphatically,
"is an honest man who cannot be bought."
THEI HOLD TUB KEY.
Pennsylvania Congressmen May Dictate the
Next Speaker.
From the Philadelphia Itecord. J
Congressman Charles O'Neill returned from
Washington on Saturday, where he bad been
taking a survey ot the Speakership fight, and
in speaking of tbe situation yesterday Mr.
O'Neill said:
"There are a good many new men elected to
the Fifty-first Congress, and while I presume
they will generally fall in with their colleagues
from the same Bute it isTfot absolutely certain
that they will. In all the calculations of tbe
candidates for Speaker a good deal more has
been taken for granted tban it is safe to trust.
I do not know how the Republicans from
Pennsylvania will vote in caucus. They hare
more votes to give tban any other State, and if
these 21 votes are held together, as appears
likely, they will represent 25 per cent of the
vote necessary to nominate."
AN IDEA OP ME. WANAMAKEB'S.
His Postal Package Station Scheme to
be
Tested In Boston.
rsrXClAX. TELEGRAM TO THE DISr-ATCIT.l
Boston, August 27. Boston is to be made an
experimenting station for a new scheme which
Postmaster General Wanamaker has decided
to try. Fifteen package stations, so-called, are
to be located in different parts of the city, for
tbe use of those who have merchandise to mall
and who would otherwise he obliged to go to
the main office for stamps and to secure the
safe deposit of the packages.
Tne agencies will be located in drugstores,
news stands, etc.. and the agents will receive
salaries of $100 per year.
Echo Answers, Wbof
From the Chicago Times. 1
An American minister is needed at Haytl,
Who wants the jobT
DEATHS OP A DAY.
Wm. E. Havre.
William E. Bowe, an old civil engineer. Wa at
the City Poor Farm, Monday night, at the age of
60. During the war he was tent to Pltlsbnrg by
theUoTernmot to superintend the building of a
number of gunboats which were built by Torallo
son, the well-known contractor. Mr. Bowe re
ceived his education in the United states navy.
After the war be settled In this city, and was at
'Wednesday;
rt
KA'OCKED INTO A COCKED EAT.
Ex-Commissioner Oberly Says the Civil
Service Law la a Dead Letter.
! SPECIAL TELXOBAX TO THE DISPATCH.1
Washington. August 27. Ex-Civil Service
Commissioner Oberly, speaking of the new
plan of the Civil Service Commission to make
public tbe list ofeIigibles, said to-day: That
ends tbe civil service law. It Is tbe end of tbe
system. The publication of the list ot ellglbles
gives to the public all the information which
has rendered the civil service system efficient.
It destroys tbe system of competitive exami
nation, and prevents the successful competitor
from receiving the appointment which is 4ue
upon his merits. The publication of the list of
ellglbles involves giving to tbe applicant, and
to all tbe publlo as well, information as to
when the different States will be called in their
order; and in the absence even of speclflo in
formation of that sort, the publication ot tbe
list of ellglbles allows anyone mferentlally to
ascertain the other facts, so that the Congress
man In whose Slate an eligible stands near the
head of the list needs only to use his influence
to secure his appointment, just as be did
before.
"it is easy to see how the whole plan of the
merit system can be destroyed by this new de
parture. Suppose acandldate has passed upon
tbe eligible listaa bookkeeper, and is rated at
83. He looks at the nulillnhvH list and seen that
be ranks higher than any other of the elielbles tj
on uub uak ns can men go to this memoer oi
Congress and suggest to him that he shonld use
his influence in the proper department to
have bookkeepers asked for. It would not be
at all difficult to have any department or bu
reau officer call for a bookkeeper, whether one
is really needed or not. It is not necessary that
the person certified as a bookkeeper shall per
form strictly the duties of a bookkeeper. He
can be put to any other kind of duty. That,
for that matter, is the practice in the depart
ments now. A particular eligible might not be
at the head of the list, and might be one of the
three to be certified at the same time, but the
department officer has a choice among the
three."
NOT EN ABLE TO FLOAT.
The Battleship Texas Alight MaUo a Good
Submerged Fart,
JBFKCIAL TXLXOBlM TO TUX DI3FATCII.1
Washington, August 27, The new battle
ship Texas was estimated to cost, in round
numbers, at least $3,000,000, and the organs of
the last administration were loud in their
praises of the success of Secretary Whitney in
socuring plans from an English concern which
promised so much in the way ot giving the
United States a vessel which would compare
favorably with any in the foreign fleets. Boon
after work was begnn on the vessel, in the
navy yard at Norfolk, naval experts began to
point out alleged imperfections. A technical
examination was made and a report followed,
wiich made it appear that the plans were all
right. Work, which had been suspended, was
begnn again, and up to the present time there
has been expended upon tbe hull upward ot a
quarter of a million dollars'
Secretary Tracy has bad experts at work for
some time in calculations as to the displace
ment of water which will result from tbe at
tempt to float the Texas with her full equip
ment of guns. There is a great deal of reti
cence about tbe matter at the department in
the absence of the Secretary, but it is learned
that tbe most careful examination of the plans
has convinced the construction engineers that
the Texas might possibly make a good sub
merged fort, but that It will be impossible to
get her to sea on top of the water unless there
are radical changes In the design. She cannot
be of the least possible service as a man-of-war,
and as a consequence, the officers ot the navy
and officials ot the department are anxiously
waiting to learn what course tbe Secretary will
adopt when he discovers the exact situation.
1 hero is certain to be an interesting Congres
sional investigation.
KISSED AGAINST THElfi WILL.
A Prohibition Cnmpnlgner Gets Into Troublo
Through His Oacnlatlon.
rSriCIAI, TXT.XOBAK TO Till DUFATCB.1
Reading, August 27. Foreman W. J. Di
vine, ot the chemical works of Keasly Sc Matti
son, was charged before 'Squire Bitting, of
Ambler, to-day, with having kissed Mrs. Eliza
beth Keller on four different occasions, against
her will, and having also kissed her pretty
daughter Lizzie against her will. A.B.Clift,
Esq., represented the prosecution.
It appears that Divine rented a house to the
Eellars, and he and his wife boarded with
them. Mrs. Kellar testified that one morning
she was getting ready to go to Cape May, when
Divine sneaked up behind her, -when his wife
was not present, put bis arms around Mrs. Kel
lar, and gavo her a hearty kiss. On another oc
casion he did the same thing, and when she was
visiting Cbaltont he kissed her twice again, in
rapid succession.
Miss Lizzie Kellar swore Divine was an ardent
Prohibitionist, and he Invited her to distribute
tracts with him. She and a servant. Nettle
Stoner, accompanied him. He treated them to
ice cream, when tbey reached home, and
when in the house, he sat between them and
kissed them against their will. The girls then
slipped off to bed. The present suit of assault
and battery followed, and Divine was held in
200 bail to answer at court. He is 85 years old,
tall and slim, bushy-whiskered, and claims
that the women were not averse to the kissing:
that they were only common kisses of farewell,
and that the suit was the outcome of some sort
of a quarrel. The magistrate's office was
crowded for several hours by a merry throng.
A P0WEEPDL PEESSDEE
Brongbt to Bear on tbe President by Friends
of Three Schemes.
ISriCTAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISFATCn.l
Washington. August 27. President Harri
son is occupied in work on his first annual
message. A powerful pressure Is being put upon
him to force him to exert tbe Influence of his
recommendation in tavor of three schemes,
and it is questionable whether he has tbe
courage, if, lnaeed, the inclination to resist,
Tbe friends of silver, of the Blair bill, and of
unlimited pensions are clamoring for him to
take up their respective causes. The more
earnest movement is tbat iof the West to com
mit the administration and- Congress to an un
limited coinage of silver. Party lines are lost
sight of in this question largely, and it becomes
a fight between tbe West and the East with
tbe sympathies of tbe South chiefly with the
former.
Mr. Cleveland's anti-silver message was re
sented in the House by tbe friends of silver in
both parties, and tbe proposition to limit the
coinage was overwhelmingly defeated. But
the silver men were not satisfied with this.
They wanted unlimited coinage, and they
would probably bave passed a bill through the
House It it had not been for the attitude of
tbe Speaker. Tbey now proposo to make the
most of their opportunities.
' TEI-STATE TEIFLES.
A PabkersbubG man went up to Wheeling
with a party ot friends and some of them, who
bad no use for their band satchels, gave them
to him to care for. In this manner he acquired
about half a dozen satchels. The Wheeling
police had received information that morning
that several valises had been stolen in tbat city
the night before and to look ont for the thief.
Tho Parkersburg man was arrested, but re
leased after explaining. He was badly scared.
MBS. JIanda Conner, of Ellis, Gilmer
county, W. Va., had near her house a nice
martin box, which was filled with martins, and
one day missing the pretty little songsters she
scrutinized the box and observed the head of a
blacksnake peering out of It. The pole was
cut down aud the snake slaughtered. Soon
thereafter, being at her son's, she related her
adventure, and her son having a martin box
also, went out to examine tbe same, and, be
hold, a huge blacksnake was climbing the pole
to devour the Inhabitants of tbe box. Tbls
snake was also soon laid low In death. It
measured 6 feet in length.
ASHEPHEnnsTOWN, W. Va, cow switched
her tall off, and thereby reduced her milk
product from fire gallons to one gallon per
day.
These is a story going the rounds about a
monster snake which is supposed to hare been
seen near Mount de Cbantal Academy, near
Wheeling, at various times recently. It is de
scribed as being about 20 feet long and as thick
as a man's body. People In tbe vicinity say
they have seen it and there is no mistake about
the size.
I AN Akron parrot keeps the whole neighbor
hood uneasy by shouting "Fire!" about a dozen
t'mes a day.
John Pobteb, a landlord of a Willlamsport
b'4el, a conple of nights since was bitten in
the corner of the mouth by a small black
sp-der. When he woke next morning he
th Jugbt bis face would burst, so badly was it
twdjfen.
While Coroner White, of West Chester, lay
dreamily on the bank beneath a tree a couple
of diys ago, a four-pound bias darted off with
fishing pole. The splash and splutter
d to 'wake htm, and he recovered fun
ckle.
his lis
suffice
andta
WASHINGTON IRVING'S HOME.
.Where the Gifted Antlior Lived and'Wroto
A Neighborhood That Abounds In Ko.
maotlo Lore Sleepy Hollow and tbe
Docner Berg Anpcdotes of tho Famous
Writer.
l warms yon ran nurAtcn.t
About the valley of the Hudson hovers many
a tradition. To Washington Irving do we owe
the charm of the quaint legendary lore tbat is
thrown around the lower river. Sunnyside
itself is a romance. Originally it was a little,
old-fashioned stono mansion, all made up of
gable ends and "as full, of angles as an old
cocked hat" The scene of some of his best
romances is laid In the vicinity of this, living's
home. Here are "Woltert's Boost" and
"Sleepy Hollow." It was in this home that
Irving was always accessible. Here old friends,
his Dutch neighbors and little children all
found him genial and ready for a talk. At one
time an English newspaper reporter came and
introduced himself, accepted the characteristic
hospitality and remained for luncheon. After
ward, when the host fell into a little doze,
as was his custom, tbe wary Englishman took
a rapid inventory of everything in tbe honso
and served up the description through the
British press, Idcluding the nap ot his enter
tainer. At another time, Irving good naturedly
says: "Two persons came to mo and one held
me In conversation while the other miscreant
took my picture."
Irving and His Cotemporarles.
Irving stands alone in the field of literature.
Few have attempted his style none have suc
ceeded in it. Every literary man of his time
had nothing but affectionate praise for his
wonderful good nature and bis exquisite
literary art. He is less read, however, by the
present generation than in former years, and
literary critics -maintain varying views of his
genius. But when he won the praise of such
writers as Thackeray,Byron,Scott and Dickens,
bis position in Jiterature was assured.
Thackeray named him the Goldsmith of our
time, while Charles Dickens, in referring to
blm, said: 'There is no living writer, and few
among tbe dead, whose approbation I
should feel so proud to earn. In my thoughts
and in my heart of hearts, I may honestly and
truly say so. "DIedrlch Knickerbocker" Ibave
worn to death in mv pocket." And again In his
"American Notes," descriptive ot a reception
given to Washington Irving just before leaving
for the Court ot Spain, says: "I scarcely be
lieve in all the madness of American politics,
few public men would bave been so earnestly,
devotedly and affectionately caressed as this
most charming writer. I have seldom respected
a public assembly more tban I did tbls eager
throng when I saw them turning with one mind
from the noisy orators and officers of State and
flocking with genuine impulse around that man
of quiet pursuits, grateful to him with their
whole hearts for the store of graceful fancies
he bad poured out among them."
A Modest Great Man.
A modest air never disappeared either from
the works or the character of this writer, who
modestly answered the question, "Who reads
an American bookT" by giving to
the world an American book which it
was delighted to read. Neither the publlo
honors that were heaped npon him, nor the
prosperity that rewarded him, had any charm
to wean him from his taste for the pleasures oj
a simple country life. In his writings he re
flected his life. Mirthful, tender, droll, he
could make himself at home with anybody, and
put a child or a bore at his ease. It Is told
that, as the great writer was walking" one day
in his orchard, a small boy accosted him and,
with a confidential air, offered to "show him
the old man's best tree." if he would- shake it
for him. Irving agreed, and adds: "Bj George,
sir, if the youngster didn't take me to the very
best tree on my place."
Tbe Knickerbocker Enmity.
Tho several generations of the Knickerbocker
family, as tbey took their place; in affairs of
tbe government, made them conspicuous rep
resentatives of the New Netherlands, but
Irving, in his humorous history of New York,
Immortalized the name, giving it a generic
term that now applies to all descendants of
the early Dutch settlers of the Hudson valley.
Herman Knickerbocker, known as tbe "Prince"
on account of his lavish hospitality, was an in
timate friend of Irving's. Very many anecdotes
are related by Irving of this typical representa
tive of the old-time Dntch. The Knicker
bockers were landed proprietors, but one of tbe
conditions by which thay held tbelr estates was
that once a year the Mayor and Council ot the
city of Albany should be feasted at the family
mansion. The "Prince" was to entertain, and
on the arrival of the guests, with appetites
sharpened by ta long, cold drive, pretended he
had forgotten tbe (lay, and was ntterly unable
to receive them. He allowed his guests to over
hear him in an apparent dispute with the but
ler as to bow to make one pair of chickens
suffice for so many famishing mouths. Tbe
consternation of the guests may be imagined,
but when tbe dining room door swung open,
and a feast sumptuous and lavish was dis-
Jlayed,the practical joke was no doubt en
oyed. The Sleepy Hollow of To-Day.
The contrast between tbe primitive dreamy
neighborhood of legendary times and that of
to-day is great, yet Sleepy Hollow is still very
much the same lazy road. Following the turn
pike we come to Beckman's mill pond and
crossing the picturesque Poncantlco, on tho
bridge over which Ichabod galloped, come to
the queer looking Dutch church, where, ac
cording to the legend, "the Connecticut school
master led the singers on the Sabbath." The
story Is too well known to need repetition, and
the plump Katrinas and spruce Ichabods of
the nineteenth century have little sympathy
for the faint hearted hero of Sleepy Hollow.
Suffice It to say that Ichabod loved Katrlna
Van Tassel; sodldBrom Borne, a stout young
Dutchman. With a tender word in Katnna's
ear, the hero of the legend left the Van Tassel
mansion late one night and departed for home,
soon to discover tbat be was being followed by
a horseman "who carried his head on the pom
mel of bis saddle."
Ichabod end tbe Goblin.
Ichabod once across the bridge, thinking
himself safe and probably not lememberlng
the fate of Lot's wife, ventured to look
back. At this moment tho goblin rose
in his saddle and threw his head
at Ichabod. In another moment the Connecti
cut schoolmaster lay spawling In tbe dust,
while the horse, the goblin and missile all
passed like a whirlwind. A broken
pumpkin was found next morning at the spot
and Ichabod was never beard ot again. Brom
married Katrlna, and wise people guessed (?)
who was the headless horseman.
Irving has given to New York a fanciful
early history based on fabled traditions of
Van Twiller. Stnyvesant and dull Dutch cus
toms. But contrasted with the metropolitan
and cosmopolitan life of New Yorkers to-day
it makes the early history as fabnlous and as
mythological as that of the Greeks or Trojans.
Every part of this region abounds In romantic
associations. Each mountain, bill and valley
has some tradition.
In the Kural Districts,
In the descendants of these early Dutch we
meet with a primitive, frugal people,
who, in their characteristic vernacular,
tell us countless legions, some beauti
ful, some historical, some ghostly. The
tragical story of Major Andre's capture makes
that point a haunted spot. The Donner Berg
(Thunder Mountain) that rises so grandly at
the turn of tbe Hudson, opposite Peeksville,
was so named Decanse of tbe frequent storms
that gather around its summit in summer. Irv
ing in his legend says: "The- captains of the
river craft talk of a little Dntch goblin, in a
trunk hose and sugar loaf hat with a speaking
trumpet in his band, which tbey say keeps tbe
Donner Berg. Tbey declare tbat tbey had
heard blmtn stormy weather giving orders in
LowDutch for the piping up of a fresh gnst of
wind or tbe rattling off of anotbertnunderclap.
Sometimes he has been surrounded by a crew
of little imps, tumbling head over heels and
playing a thousand gambols in the air and buz
zing like a swarm of bees about St. Anthony's
nose, and that, at such a time the hurry-scurry
of the storm was always greatest,"
Irvine's Lonely Grave.
Surrounding the old Dutch church, made
historic by Irving's romance, is a graveyard.
Here our great American author Is burled, his
grave marked by a simple white slab, with no
inscription but his name and the date of his
death upon it. A trodden path, which bears
more enduring testimony to his work and life
than any written praise, leads to the grave.
With all the changes that hare been brought
about by the growth of the country, the old
graveyard still retains that same repose and
quiet that Irving describes In his "Legend of
Sleepy Hollow," and this, his burial spot, har
monizes with tbe associations that gather
about his name. M. M.
Died at Her Haaband'e Fan era I.
Carlisle, August 27.-rJacob Meixel, who
died a few dajs ago of typhoid fever, was
buned this afternoon at Mt. Holly. While the
funeral was on 1U way to the graveyard Mrs.
Meixel. wife of the dead husband, died from
grief. Great excitement prevailed at the
graveyard.
GIST OP GOTHAM'S GOSSIP.
Accompanied by Samples.
tHXV YORK BUREAU SPIOIALS.3
New York. August 27. Mrs. Swftzer, of
Harlem, complained at sanitary headquarters
tbat since the dumping of sand in a vacant lot
near ber house all of her rooms had been In
fested by fleas. Tbls complaint was. investi
gated, and a formal official report, tied with a
red string and sealed and stamped, was filed to
dary for the information of the Board of
Health concerning Mrs. Switzers fleas. Aa
companying the report and duly stamped and
folded with tbe report as an official exhibit Is a
slip of paper with four dead fleas stuck on,
squeezed flat, and the following commenti
The above specimen of fleas Is In reference to
eltlsen's complaint No. 11,792. and ia very common
at present in many places In Harlem, where there
Is no sand near, as mentioned In said complaint.
The specimen is from Ho. 433 Xast One Hundred
and Fifteenth street (next door to Mrs. Bwltzer).
as tbe complainant was not at home, and Mrs,
Beck, next door, said that the fleas In her house
are the same as In No. 477.
3UTTHEW aaiTH, Sanitary Police Inspector.
Work at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Fourteen hundred men are now at work in
the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Tbe riveters and
iron-plate men areTapidly pushing forward tbe
work on the Boston's damaged bottom. The
Chicago's engines are still working well, and
she will be ready In two or three weeks' time.
The Brooklyn will be taken to the Norfolk
Navy Yard, there to undergo needed repairs.
It is probable tbat many months will roll by
before she will be ready for commission. The
Yantlc will participate in the Baltimore cele
bration next month, and will then go to Norfolk
for repairs. The construction of tbe steel
cruiser Maine is progressing slowly. Tbe
Lancaster, which is to be dismantled, will go
into .Rotten Row,
Wouldn't Leave Without Her Mother.
About 5 persons escaped on Are ladders from
tbe upper stories cf a burning tenement house
on the iSastslde, early to-day. A young girl In
her nightdress stood crying at a third story
window. Everyone before the building was
shouting to her to come down, but she only
wept harder and shrank up to the window case
ment, to avoid the smoke and sparks. Fnally
the firemen climbed up to tbe window. When
they reached her she' said: "My mother Is In
side. I will not go down without her." The
firemen entered the rooms, but found nobody.
They told tbe girl so, and bade ber go down.
She refused, and held to the railing, still crying
that her mother was Inside. An immense
crowd had gathered and the excitement be
came intense. The firemen had to exercise all
their strength in getting the girl down, for she
struggled like a maniac. They succeeded,
however, in reaching the first story of the
next building with her. There the girl met her
mother and fell unconscious at her feet.
Lost nil Last Friend.
George M. Starrs, son of late Emory E.
Storrs, of Chicago, passed last night in jail be
cause he had stolen several hundred dollars'
worth of bric-a-brac from his roommate, Rob
ert W. Place. He was arraigned this morning
in a police court, on the specific charge of car
rying off and pawning several bronze vases
worth $300. He wept, confessed, and pleaded
for mercy In tbe courtroom till, out of pity for
bis miserable condition, young Place withdraw
his complaint. As he left the courtroom Storrs
exclaimed: "This winds me np. I am ruined
and disgraced forever, and haven't a friend in
the world." Storrs' troubles began with his
acquaintance with Aline Le Huray, in a West
Side boarding house. His intimacy with her
led to bis divorce from his first wife in 1831.
He married Miss Le Huray, ana lived un
happily with her till 18S8, when she, with her
13-months-old child, deserted blm. He fol
lowed and stole the child, but was subsequently
arrested and had to give bonds to keep the
peace. Finally Mrs. btorrs commenced suit
for a divorce against him, and Place, the man
he has just robbed, went on his bond.
Brongbt to an Abrupt Halt.
A few days ago Mrs. Thomas Solo abandoned
her Italian husband to live with John Clark,
on one ofSenator Plnnkett's garbage scows, of
which Clark was captain. Solo discovered ber
whereabouts, and got a summons which ordered
Captain Clark to produce Mrs. Solo in court.
Alter dark last night. Solo, with the summons
in bis pocket, rowed down tbe bay to the scow
on which Mrs. Solo was enjoying her peculiar
honeymoon. Clark" did not recoenlze him in
the dark, and helped him to climb aboard. As
soon as Solo's feet touched the deck, Clark
recognized him, seized an ax, and with it
knocked him down and cut several chunks of
flesh from his shoulders. Then he tried to
throw Solo overboard. .The commander of a
passing Government tug Interfered, rescued
Solo, and caused Clark's arrest. Clark is In
jail.
No Tlnie to Exchange Compllmenta.
Dr. Lewis A. Sayre, it Is alleged, has spoken
slightingly of Dr. William A. Hammond's ex
periments with Dr. Brown-Sequard's elixir. Dr.
Hammond, in reply, called Dr. Sayre a liar and
no gentleman. Dr. Sayre was asked to-day
what he had to say to that. He did not seem to
worry over the matter. He laughed after read
ing tbe charges, and said: "I am not going to
discuss this matter with a blackguard. His let
ter answers itself. I never saw a representa
tive of the San Francisco Examiner, as he
charges; but no matter, I simply denjj all his
charges.
Caught an Old-Timer.
Thomas Collins, the fashionably-dressed man
who was captured by Detective Mallan, of
Captain Castlin's steamboat squad, afterbehad
stolen Mrs. Ennis' purse at tbe Cunard pier,
Saturday, was shown to the 60 Central office de
tectives at police headquarters to-day, to ascer
tain if any one knew him. Detective Sergeant
Lyman identified him as a Philadelphia crook
who goes under the alias of "Long-faced Kel
ly," alias Coffin. He has served several terms
in Pennsylvania prisons. After his photo was
taken foi the rogue's gallery be was arraigned
before Judge O'Reilly at the Tombs, where
Mrs. Ennis was. Judge O'Reilly held the pris
oner in $2,500 bail for the grand jury, and told
the detective it was a good arrest.
Thinks Fleming Will Win.
Senator Kenna, of West Virginia, was at the
Hoffman House to-day; "When will the elec
tion contest for Governor be settled in yonf
State?" he was asked. "Very soon, I think.
The committee on the contest will soon be
through with their work, having only two
counties to canvass,' McDowell and Mercer.
The Democrats have never claimed general
fraud in tbe State, gin the counties of Mc
Dowell and Mercer, adjoining Virginia, they
claim that many negroes from the latter State
came over and voted for Goff. Tbey were
Illegal voters, and I am told that many of them
bad registered in old Virginia. On the face of
the returns Goff was elected by 110 votes. If
the committee succeed in getting at the bottom
facts I think it will be shown tbat Fleming has
a small and legal plurality. Work so far seems
to have been conducted in a spirit of fairness.
There are many transient negroes in the two
counties mentioned, and many of them were
not legal voters. '
Yonng Swedish Mormon Convert.
The steamship Moravia brongbt 123 Mormon
converts here to-day. More than half of them
were young Swedish peasant women. They
wero in charge of tbe elders who persuaded
them to come to America.
ATTACKED BY A COPPEEHEAD.
A Farmer Likely to Die From the Effects
of n Snake Bite.
3rrEXBYVliLE, Ino-, August 27. Robert
Rosencraatz, of Washington township, was at
tracted to the barn, last night, by the noise ot
his dogs. While groping his way around he
was attacked by a large copperhead snake,
which bit blm severely on the arm. The arm
began to swell and gave him terrible pain. His
condition to-day was of a Critical nature, the
doctors fearing that be could not survive.
A New Kind of Fire.
From the Boston G.lobe.1
The freight steamer Hindoo has arrived In
this port with a Are In her hold, which had
been burning for ten dajs. It must bave been
a very conservative kind of fire. Insurance
companies would like to obtain some Are of
tbat slow-going variety, and introduce It to
general use.
, Such Case Net Bare.
From tbe Denver Tlmes,l
Some one suggests that when a roan's wife
goes away to spend tbe sqmmer the first thing
to get low spirited le the bottle oa the mantel.
CUBI00S CONDENSATIONS,
A watermelon was raised by D. 31.
Keavis, of Chlco, CaL, that measured 6SX
Inches by 33 inches.
The town of Milford, Conn., is cele
brating tbe two hundred and fiftieth anniver
sary ot its settlement.
At East Marshfield, 'Mass.. two men,
ofie aged 84 and the other SO, engaged In a game
ot tennis the other day.
James Lee, of Patton Valley. Ore., re
cently shot a cougar that weighed 200 pounds
and was seven feet in length.
A death notice in a Brooklyn paper
speaks of the "eldest son," of a certain couple,
and gives his age as 5 months and 3 weeks.
At Jamestown, Dak., recently, a
Frenchwoman 108 years old took out citizenship
papers and "proved up" a claim to a home
stead. Sir Edward Watkin is the leading spirit
In a movement looking to the erection of an
iron tower 2,000 feet high in London. They are
determined to beat that Eiffel at tower build
ing. Howell, the 15-year-old son of Post
master Waring of Madison, Fix, fell bead
foremost into a well. He caught the curbing
as be descended and held on until rescued by
his father.
Ernest R. Ackermaa, of New Tork, has
an umbrella that he bought in Liverpool la
1380. It has been all over Europe and America
with him, and Mr. Ackerman estimates that ha
has carried it 100,000 miles.
A white kitten playing In the front
window of a store on Broadway got caught in
the neck by a fish book and hung there for
some time. When released she at once went to
play again among the hooks and lines.
Paul Smith, a watchman in a Belle
ville, N. J., manufactory, had a terrible fight
with a six-foot blacksnake In one of tbe build
ings tbe other night. After half an boor of
hard work he succeeded in vanquishing the
reptile.
Among the marriage licenses recently
Issued lu Philadelphia was one permitting
Wtaidystawa Bqtczrinska to wed Piotrowicy
Ntadystawa, and another tbat will be the
means of cementing Stanislau Tobolsk! and
Maryuna Sklnatowiak.
A young alligator, 3 feet long, was dis
covered lately basking in the sun on the
banks of tbe Little Blue river, near where it
empties into tbe Missouri. It was shot hy
Gabe Carlton, a farmer. How it came there is
a mystery, as no alligators bave ever before
been known to come nortll of Memphis, Tenn.
J. C Buff, Gloucester, Mass., has four
tomato vines trellised on bis premises, which
have reached a height of 9 feet 4 inebes and are
still growing. There are over 100 green toma
toes growing on the vines. He has also a pea
vine which hat grown to 10 feet in height;
from which 77 pods, each pod containing seven
peas, have been picked.
Recently, at a village near Athloae,
Ireland. Margaret Mulochlll, 100 years old.
gave evidence at a coroner's inquest relative to
the death of Honora, ber twin sister. The old
women lived together, and on Saturday, when
Margaret went to the market, she left Honora
at home in good health. On returning she
found ner lying dead on the sofa.
A few nights ago the gong in the Wash
ington hosehouse. Chestnut street, Harrisburg,
began a series of raps and kept It up over an
hour striking all manner of signals. The ap
paratus was wound up four or five times, and
finally was left alone. It was tben discovered
that an Industrious rat bad eaten tbe insula
tion from tbe wire and the exposed part hung
dangerously near an electric light wire.
At a german at a hotel at York, Me.,
there were six figures in all, five of which were
favor figures. One of them was particularly
striking. Behind the screen stood four gentle
men, and in front of each was a slot in the
screen through which four ladles, taking their
place at hazard, dropped a nickel. Tbe xentle
man danced with the young lady who dropped
the nickel in the slot opposite him.
An inventive genius in Rome, Ga., has
constructed a little machine that he calls the
"chicken walker." It proposes to do away with
tbe fences around gardens, and protect the
gardens from damage by chickens. When the
machinery is placed on a chicken's f eet,and tbe
fowl goes in the garden and makes an effort to
scratch the soil, instead of accomplishing its
desire, the attachment walks the chicken out
of the garden;the harder it scratches the faster
it goes.
Singing bird tournaments seem ta be an
English institution, Jndglng by this regulatn
style of report from a London sportlnf journal:
"A linnet handicap took place on August 11' at
the' Cooper's 'Arms, Hyde road, Hoxton. Re
sult: Albert's bird beat Walter's, JC Wallace's
bird beat Ted Schoneld's. Dick's bird beat
Harry's. Albert's and Wallace's bird tben sang
off, both scoring 4 score 11. In the final Wal
lace's bird won with 3 score 2 chalks, against 2
score It."
A very peculiar ailment has broken ont
among tbe inhabitants of Peru, lnd. It is tbe
result of the sting of an insect which resembles
tbe ordinary house fly, though a trifle larger.
The patients do not feel the bite, but after 24
hours tbe parts which have been bitten become
swollen and feverish, and there la tbe most in
tense pain, indicating blood poisoning. Some
of the patients bave lain for days in the most
critical condition, and fatal results are antici
pated in some cases.
The phenomenal success of the great
campmeetlng near Camargo, I1L, is attracting
attention all over that part of the country.
Thousands flock to tbe camp grounds almost
every day. Public sympathy in behalf oft the
Pentecost band, who are conducting tbe ser
vices, is aroused to the highest pitch by the
recent incarceration in the common jail at Tus
cola of two young ladles belonging to the same
organization, engaged in tbe revival work at
that place, for no other offense than preaching
and praying too loud.
J. W. Douglass stands higher than any
othjr man in Henry county. Mo. He Is 6 feet
0 inches in height. He was raised in Cooper ,
county, near Boonville, Mo. He says when he
was 18 years old he weighed 230 pounds. He
has a sou 12 years old who weighs 200 pounds
and is almost 8 feet tall. Mr. Douglass says
that be did most of his growing after he was
22. He stoops down when he goes through
doors that an average-height roan touches with
an uplllted band. He measures 40 inches from
center of back to tip ot finger.
CLIPPED BITS OF WIT.
A' lawyer Mepends on werds; the real
estate man on deeds. Merchant Trateler.
Goes without saying The youn? man
too bashful to pop the question. Ttxat SVttngs.
The reason some men can't make both ends
meet la becanse they are too busily engaged la
making one end drink. Baltimore American.
The burglar .who was caught ia a shoe
store after midnight asked to be dlscnarged by the
Judge on the ground that It was a fitting place for
everybody. Kearney Enterprite.
Dashwood I am going to do something
noble, and get my name in the papers.
Merrltt If that's what yon're after you'll have
to do something bad. Harper' Bazar.
We knowSiot what's before us,
What trials are to come;
Bnt each day passing o'er us
Brings some new kind of gum.
Chicago Tribune.
Hadn't a Chance to Form an-Opiniou.
Mrs. Gsdabout-What kind of neighbors are those
whe have moved next door to your
Mrs. Kewerlous I don't know. They havent
had a wash out on the Une yet. Uoiton Courier.
"This seems like a sweet dream," ha
raptarously remarked as be lingered with ber at
the door step.
It doesn't seem like a dream to me, '-she re
plied, "for a dream soon vanishes, you know."
Ue vanished. Akron Telegram,
Why He Was Dismissed. "Then it's all
over between yon and Miss Etch. Jack?"
"It Is Indeed. Bob. I'm sorry to say."
"What was the matter?"
"1 was In the bablt of staying too lata at night,
and htr father bounced me."
'Obi 1 see you tried to make it an all-night
affair, and nbw It's all day with you." i'oto
Courier-
Justifiable Homicide. "How came the
Jury to acquit the prisoner?" asked the astonished
stranger "Ihe evidence all went ta show, did it
not, that he killed the man?"
yea," replied the juryman, "but It also ap
peared la evidence, before you came in, that the
man he killed always persisted la saying 'Is tbat
so?' whenever anybody told him a bit of news."
SomtrvilU Journal.
A fteutleman who has been talked of as a
candidate for Governor of one of the Western
agricultural States waa conversing with some
friends la front of the Arlington Hotet last even
lug. -Out In our State we pay very little atteatton to
the vote or the cities," said be; we go for tbe
farmers, and the man who gets them carries the
Htate."
"Ves," said. listener absently: "when you
.want to steer the ship of State you get held o' the
UUtT.,w-inunmgion trot, - i
;