w x r 'PBIDBKDEGEMBBir ras ..&. .73 9 fcj&. ic j. -t i im-i "-'? V--' os rit! s ---; Bar &' v . fcA. 0?AVi H&ffIEf EHinWuBD, . mr . w tr&f&J3 a-S'-wv y kl '. " w v k-JOESTABLISaED FEBRUARY 8. IMS. Vtl JJ Va w Vniimri JMtKhnre PnKtOffleC ,. w .- w wm. .....ww....... - --, H. -vBuslness O race 87 and 99 Fifth Avenue. T ?Z - . . .... "? ewB Rooms anaPuDUswngriiouse-vo, 77 ftnrt 70 TjinTTinnd Street. B'f -J?--,. i .,....., -i m. tiwim J3 Trfhnnm t , Building, Mew York. TERMS OF TIIE DISPATCH. POSTAGE PBXX IN TBS TOOTED STATES. VlMnvrDBsrATCH, One Tear. I 8 CO , Daily Dispatch. Per Quarter aw JJailtDbipatch. One Mouth TO t -""Uailt DisrATcn, including Sunday, 1 year. 10 00 . XUH.T DISPATCH, lncluuingSunaay.Jm'tns, sw Dailt UisrATCH. including Sunday. 1 month 90 'SOTTDATDlf PATCH, One Tear. S SO "Wxeklt Dispatch, One Year 1 3 Tax Dailt Dispatch Is delivered by carriers at IS cents per -week, or Including Sunday edition, at 20 cents per week. PITTSBURG. FRIDAT. DEC. 6, 1869. WHAT MIGHT HAVE "SEES. Pittsburg had its fire yesterday, and the main feeling it one of congratulation that it occurred when it did and that it resulted no worse, particularly when one reflects how terrible, under other circumstances, It might lave been. Ahotelfirein the daytime inevi tably suggests how much greater is the horror of a hotel burning at night, Bo tinted is the old Mouongahela House with the history of notable events in Pittsburg 'that a particular and personal regret will be felt by the community or any serious dam age to it; but since it liability to disaster las been so effectually demonstrated, there is a distinct feeling of relief that the acci dent occurred when there was a chance for the guests to escape and for the firemen to do their work by daylight This local event will unite with the fires at Lynn, Boston and Minneapolis in im pressing upon the owners of property, and upon insurers, the need for constant vig ilance. Investigation yet remains to show positively the origin and causes of the 'Monongahela House conflagration. It is safe to say beforehand, however, that they were such as could have been prevented by proper care on the part of somebody who did not exercise that care. There is hardly a fire which occurs or which this unpleasant iaet may not be stated with an almost abso lute eertainty that inquiry would bear it out. tththi OK THE DEMOCRATS. The discovery that the cashier of the Ber-geant-at-Arms of the House in the last Con gress 'is missing, together with over $70,000 of the pnblic tunds is an unfortunate one for the Democrats. "While it may not be fair to impute the dishonesty of the levant ing official to the whole party, it is never .theless a fact that he was the personal choice of the man who waB selected by the assem bled wisdom of the Democratic Congress men to take charge of the money used in .the House expenditures. Less complete and Wholesale disappearances on the Republican side have been used by the Democrats to impeach Bepublican honesty; and the com pliment is likely to be returned with inter est. The party cauens which results in ap pointing men who wind np their accounts by running away with the cash, will have to bear the brunt of the criticism. TJISEHTANGUHG THE H00E. The impetuosity which is very generally accepted by the pnblic as one of Governor Poraker's characteristics has led him into a most uncomfortable position in the ballot box forgery matter, as the detailed telegrams in -yesterday's Dispatch sufficiently showed. But what his friends most regret it that his candor did not lead him out of it as earlyas wonld have been desired. Wood is an arrant scamp who deserves punish ment for bis fraud, and he seems to have been ingenious enough to have thoroughly imposed on Foraker. Still, the telegrams which the Governor himself furnishes, show that he was far more eager to believe "Wood, and to think ill of, and plot damage to, his Democratic opponent, Campbell, than is at all pleasant to contemplate in the attitude and feeling of one public man to another. Foraker took the bait so greedily that it is a case in which there will be little sympathy for the pain which he now suffers in disen tangling himself from the decidedly awk ward and sharp-pointed hook. Governor Foraker by his boldness and dash has often won friends and admirers. The present, however, is an instance in which these qualities, stimulated by an un generous impulse to believe the worst of an antagonist, have served him in bad stead. He has so much vitality that hitherto he has quickly recovered from mistakes. This latest embarrassment, however, he evidently takes to heart. It will serionsly affect any political plans or high ambi tions that he may etill entertain as to the future. THE EUHIKATIOB OF DEMOCRATS. It is a remarkable but not altogether serious state of affairs that is disclosed by tibe assertion of W. L. Scott that Sir. Dana of the New York Sun has not a drop of Democratic blood in his body. This asser tion concerning the newspaper man who regards the declaration "I am a Democrat" as the most thorough epitome of political "wisdom, is calculated to create donbt whether there axe any Democrats. ' Tha doubt is strengthened by the fact that Mr. Dana has led in the discovery that several prominent men supposed to be Demo- -crati are not 60. Some time ago the atten- tention of the nation was arrested by the declaration of the Sun, that Jndge Reagan, of Texas, was not a Democrat. The opinion of both the Sun and Governor Hill has been for some time decided to the effect that President Cleveland is not a Democrat. Mr. Scott's epistolary revelations recently made establish the fact that while he may be nominally a Democrat, he is really a corpor ation man. "With Mr. Dana's addition to the list, there is ground for fear that if the .process of elimination keeps on, there will 'soon be no Democrats left. The last election justified the belief that the Democratic party was a little too small. But the energetic way in which its members are reading each other out of the party indi cates their conviction that it is altogether too large to suit them. OLD MAIDS. It was hardly to be expected that the will of the Indiana man who left $3,000 to found a home for old maids would be permitted to stand. The court howled over the will, and declared the testator to have been crazy. It may comfort the old maids to think what a very small home (3,000 would have built. Everybody, including the elderly spinsters, knows that it takes a pretty big home to hold more than one old maid at a time. The fact is, that old maids are not gregarious. If tihey were fondof company they would not be old maids, for we hold that no woman, unless she be insane in mind or body, need remain in singleness. In an eight-roomed ilhouse, such as S3.000 might serve to build. litis difficult to say exactly how many aged J virgins micht be stowed. It it a question for experts to decide. But we do not appro re of encouraging celibacy in the sex which shines eo brightly and usefully in the matrimonial relation, whether by three-thousand-dollar homes or more substantial prises. Those who have money to spars for such 'purposes had better bestow it upon worthy wives and mothers, or leave it to form a fund for the encourage ment and reward of wifely virtues, or to en dow an asylnm for widows. Not that the spinster is altogether undeserving of assist ance if she be needy, suoeor if sick, a home if homeless; there is no sight in the world more pitiable than a homeless, friendless old maid, and none more provocative of charity. But the old maid is too often a burden and a disturbing element io be held np as a good example to the rising generation. Pelicans in the wilderness are well enough, but at the fireside they are inconvenient and too picturesque. A GOOD 6H0WINO. "Water proves a more reliable liquid for city revenue than whisky. The same fact has often been observed in the respective effect of the two fluids upon private revenue and expenditure; but the result in munici pal finances is notable and novel. In other words, while the receipts of the city from liquor licenses fall 23,000 below estimates, the "Water Bureau more than makes up the loss by an excess of receipts over estimates of $75,000, and shows itself to be nearly self sustaining. This is a good showing for the energetic and business-like management of the "Water Bureau; and justifies the faith of those who, during long years of discouragement, mis management, and even worse, held to the belief that when run in accordance with business principles, the water works could be made to vindicate their existence. The present state ot affairs demonstrates that truth; the old chronic break-down of pump ing engines a thing of the past; a clean and adequate supply of water is furnished with out interruption, and the public generally are able to recognize that all the honest and legitimate expenditure on the water works was an excellent investment of the public funds. The satisfactory nature of the showing is increased by the fact that when the city is able to refund its 7 per cent water works bonds which will probably not be before the maturity of the bonds the revenue from the water works will fully balance its expenditure. AIT IDEAL CONGRESS. Suppose Congress were really able to do something positively good for the people It represents, that by some Providential dis pensation it were endowed with supernatural powers, for with merely natural powers experience has taught us Congress can do precious little, what an expectant, excited nation would be fastening its eyes on "Wash ington! Look at the single, simple, no complex, item of the weather. THe Bepublican majority would vote a dry, frosty winter for us, with a seasonable snow storm about Christmas, and enough of the soft and beautiful to make pleasant sleighing till 1S90 would be a month or two old. This done, of course a number of smaller bills would have to be passed to provide for the national needs in cold weather. To cut legislation short, an omnibus bill wonld be the thing; a bill enacting that after such and such a date every one should be well clothed, lodged and fed. "What President would be cranky enough to veto such a popular measure, or what party headstrong enough to oppose it? Then the Congressional Record would be read in church as a part of the services. It would be cheery reading, too. And Congress being supernaturally wise, wonld clear off the work post haste and adjourn as soon as possible. Every body would revere and love a Congressman then, and even the candidates for the post offices wonld have a kind word to say about them. But this is idle talk. Congress is the same old human machine it always was. "We must bear with it and be long suflering and charitable toward it, for we are human, too, prone to err, and to talk too much, and to waste time, and squabble and fight about trifles just like our selected and representa tive wisdom in "Washington. FATTEHIKG ON AIE. A St. Louis physician has elaborated a theory, based on the alleged tact that every body is getting fat this year. This he ex plains on the theory that this has been a veg etable year, and the oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen being in almost equal proportion, the people are all gaininir flesh on it. The theory would seem to indicate that the allu sion in "The Lady of Lyons" to the diffi culty which a man would find in being a chameleon and living on air is unnecessary. The man might be expected to get fat over it if the air was in right proportion. But we are much more interested in the act than in the theory. Is it trne that the people are all getting fat? "We certainly hope not An increase of healthy avoirdu pois might be all right; but an epidemic of adipose tissue would be much to he de plored. Investigations might give different ideas on the point; but we do not believe that the coal miners of Spring Valley, 111., Brazil, Ind., or even np the Monongahela river have observed any general increase of fatness. Bank accounts may have swelled somewhat; bnt the bank depositors up sbont Lawrenceville will be apt to consider this a lean year. Street car horses might have got fat where their work has been under taken by cable and electric motors; but so far as their manifest presence in this city shows, they are still a bony and angular race. "We fear that the St Louts scientist has been founding his theories on one of the fat women shows which form one of the leading amusements of that cultured city. Else where the increase of fat has not been visi ble to the naked eye. The declaration of the Bev. Howard Henderson that the people of Cincin nati wonld walk across the month of the bottomless pit on a plank, in order to get at the almighty dollar on the other side, Is -generally taken as an impeachment of the Cincinnati folk. Bnt another view is possible of it A stndy of the money-making proclivities of peo ple in other cities mages it assume the natnre of an indorsement of the Cinclnnatlans, when it is not alleged that they would plunge to the bottom of that bottomless locality in order to get hold of the dollars that have dropped in. Pittsbueo has the happy experience of getting through a big hotel Are without burn ing any one to death. Bnt it remains to be proved that this was not as much the result of good lack as ot f oresighted management Ik the midst of commonplace President's messages and ordinary casualties, the startling and unique news comes from New York tbatat last a man has been hanged tor committing mur der. No such intelligence could come from Pittsburg, it seems; and the failure is not from any lack of murders here either. In" Now York It does not seem to be a sure precaution against hanging to get craty drunk before killing your man if be is a policeman. Tnn cold wave which has passed to the north of ns has certainly emancipated the localities reporting zero weather; from the reign ot mod. Any such relief for Pittsburg is so far only a hope for the future. Newabk, N. J., recently treated itself in a nntque and sensational manner. By an explosion In a brewery the whole town was treated to a shower-bath of beer. This being duly appreciated, the antidote was administered by the explosion of an ammonia tank. Am monia being a specific for cases of enlarged bead, the presumption is that Newark is none the worse for tbesndden and explosive distri butions of beer and its counter-irritant. TnATtfotinMexico.causedbytbetameness and lace of pugnacity m the bulls at a hull fight, suggests thafthe same tronblo must bo prevailing in Mexico that is epidemico n tha stock and oil exchanges. Mb. Leokidas C. Hotjs, who wishes the civil service law repealed. Is like Flanagan of Texas, under no donbt as what ho Is there for. The place of assistant doorkeeper for his son was the consideration which he wanted for supporting the regular candidate for doorkeep er. It is not remarkable that a man who is in such straits to secure patronage for bis family is opposed to the civil service law. It is suggested by the unbridled opposi tion that the New Hampshire earthquake was a slight attempt of nature to compensate for the absence of anything new or startling in the President's message. The Minneapolis coroner declares that he will in bis investigation of the nre there place the blame where it belongs. Promises of that sort are always made, but not always kept Still, in a case ot this kind, where a whole na tion has been aroused by the fatality, there is generally active work in locking the stable door after the horse is gone. A veedict of $13,500 for pushing a man oil a street car will induce street car companies to establish schools of instruction in tha art of removing people from the cars In the mildest manner. It is one of the humorous aspects of the season to observe how the newspaper corre spondents who were going to rescue Stanley and Emin, and tear open the mysteries ot Africa, are now quarreling as to which of them was actually successful in first meeting the returning explorers a few miles from the Zanzibar coast The intelligence that Portugal is going to warn Great Britain out of Central Africa war rants the suggestion that a spirit of fairness should induca Portngal to take one of her own size. The Chinese people are reported to be on the verge ot a revolution, on account of tho general opinion that the Emperor and Empress are hoodoos. The Chinese seem to have very nearly the same estimate of their ruler that the people of the United States have of the entire Mongolian race. It must be a blindly partisan view which.1 claims that tho Harrison administration is a success, with this brand of weather continually dealt out Mb. Cab-lisle has quietly elbowed Mr. Roger Q- Mills to the rear. As be is the leader of the minority in this Congress, he Is also quietly letting the Republican leaders do the worrying, except in the transitive sense, when he worries thorn. PEQf LE OP PROMINENCE. Secretary Blaine, having recovered from his recent attack of lumbago, resumed his du ties at the State Department yesterday. Geokqe Banceoft, who is now S9 years old, still remembers his early literary days, when be received 52 for an article, and was glad to get It Lobs Randolpii CmrncrxiLi. is liberal with bis money, which is the most uncommon form of Liberalism. But bis wife is an Ameri can, which may account for his success in poll tics, as well as for his liberality with his money. Fit AN CIS Pakkman, the brilliant historian, is one of tho most noticeable figures on the streets of Boston. He has a slight bnt sinewy, body, crowned by a noble head. His whole ap pearance is that of a thorough man of the world. He is fond of a good joke, and some times makes one, but not often. Caedinal Bonaparte is one of the oldest members of tho Sacred College, being in bis 75th year. He Is the son of Lucien Bonaparte, the only one of Napoleon's brothers who had the spirit and courage to resist the imperious will of tho Emperor. The Cardinal is dark, swarthy, thin and wiry, an Italian by birth, education and life-long association. James It, It ahdaij, was teaching at a col lege, near Now Orleans, when his quiet life was broken in upon by the startling news flashed from one end of the country to the other that tho first blood of the Civil War had been spilled in bis own native city of Baltimore. After a Bleepless night he arose feverish and excited, sat down and wrote "My Maryland," and sent it to the New Orloans Delia. It was soon published, and became the most popular of all the war songs of tho South. For this Spirited lyric, which has given him an immenso fame, he was not paid 1 cent General James Graut Wilson has been a soldier, editor and author. He Is by birth a Scotchman, bnt was brought to America when 3 years old. His father was William Wilson, the poet-publisher. General Wilson was well acquainted with Bryant Halleck, Paulding, Poe, Willis and most of the brilliant galaxy of writers who, SO years ago, gave this country an intellectual standing among the nations of the world General Wilson married a relative of the ex-Empress Eugenic, and the two were handsomely entertained at tbeTnileries during tho second empire. He has many interesting autographs, among them letters of Poe, Gen eral Grant Bayard Taylor and others. James Russell Lowell played a clever trick upon James T. Fields when the latter was editor of the Atlantic ilmttily. Wishing to ascertain whether articles were accepted on their merits or on the reputation of the writer, he sent Mr. Fields an article on "American Humor," signing it "W. Perry Paine." Hear ing nothing from it, bo called upon Mr. Fields, and turning the conversation to the subject of American humor, the editor prodnced Mr. Lowell's own article, as an example ot the stuff that was being constantly received, and pro nounced it "an absurd farrago of stuff." When Mr. Lowell laughingly proclaimed himself the author of the article, the editor made a ver lame attempt to crawl out of bis embarrass ment A BEDSTEAD FOE A GIANT. Wonderful Piece of Vnrnllnre In the Room of a Chlcaeo Hotel. Chlcaco Heralfi. Down in one of the rooms at the Tremont House is a bedstead which strikes terror to the heart of overy man who is assigned to that room. The strange feature about it is its im mense proportions. It is a bed fit for, or a bed that would fit, a giant and it is a bed with a history. Years ago, in the old days ot the Tre mont "Long John" Wentworth used to board there, and this bed was constructed especially for him. He stopped at this hotel for a long time, and left thero only when colored help was introduced. Mr. Wentworth did not like, colored men, and he went over to the Sherman House to board, There he remained until he died. Bnt colored men did not like Mr. Went worth, so It was a sort of stand-off. The big bed is still at the Tremont; however, and it is usually reserved for extra tall men. This week De Wolf Hopper, the elongated comic opera comedian, is occupying it Once In a while a mistake will be made, and a small man will be assigned to the room. In snch cases a search warrant is usually sworn ont t find the man in tho morning. This' happened onqe when Frank -Pan felt, the ,sawed-off com edian, was given the bed, but be.was discovered before the evening performance. .They .found hlmjoopeqf Jbealde pockets, itnd the next. nigoi Hiey urew a n-incu pais una arouna tae pea. THE TOPICAL TALKER. A Fllsbl With the Rooks Over American River Hills, EnglUu Glades nnd Gar dens, nnd Heme Again. Somethwo was said in The Dispatch tho other day about crows being good weather prophets, bnt not half enough credit was given them, Besides, (f I am not mistaken, the writer meant rooks rather than crows. Rooks are gregarious in their habits, living together in colonies of hundreds, or even thousand:, while crows prefer to have individual homes. But rooks are called crows as often as not by most people, and it Is their habit of foretelling changes in the weather which has been so often remarked. There is a rookery among tho trees on a lofty bluff above the Ohio river which has often given me amusement to watch. The rooks there, as tbelr fellows all over the world, per form regular evolutions at daybreak and sun. set and they are wont to move out to observe the weather at any time of day when soma warning Indiscernible to man of approacnjng atmospheric change is at band. When you see rooks wheeling slowly around and around In the air, high above the (ops of the tallest trees on a fine summer day, you may be certain that a storm is approaching. And in a storm there is no more sure sign of the weather clearing np than these lofty gyrations of the crows. The behavior and domestlo economy of rooks have always seemed most interesting to me. As a schoolboy I remember watching them performing their morning exercises in a great grove of elms in the park; a glimpse of which could be had from our dormitory win dows. They had a good deal better time than I had, I used to think; free to fly where they pleased, and safe from 'any danger moro for midable than tne missiles hurled from slings in theneigbboring playground, which a wall of a height which in those days appeared to me stu pendous I suppose it was IB feet high divided from tho park. The old dowager to whom the park and thefturreted house behind the elms belonged was devoted to her rooks, and wonld allow no one to harm thorn. No tender rook lets came from that rookery to roost In pies. Tom Hughes makes one of his characters in Tom Brown's SchooldayB" tell how the rooks in the Rugby school ground used to have call ing over or prayers when the locsung-up bell rang, and I remember how regularly the rooks used to come borne from their foraging expedi tions just as the sun was sinking every evening when I was staying awhile two years ago within sight of the historic trees in Lord North brook's park, near Micbeldever. There must have been a conple of thousand rooks in that great rookery, and flying in regular squadrons, with distancos properly preserved, officers in front and on the flanks, they wonld take ten minntes in passing over the old-fashioned garden, where I was dividing my atten tion between the landscape and a pipe of birds eye. Rooks Tho word recalls a hnndred pleasant things to me. Abopso all gables; gables all roses and honey suckles, or black satin-glossed ivy; a house whose mellow red roof and weather beaten chimneys rise from a nest ot green toward a sky of softest sunniest bine and clouds as white as the breast of tbe dove teeter ing on the comb of the roof. And not only tbe sight of the vine-wrapt honsa and the summer sky, the beds of sweetwilliam and stocks, the hollyhocks, like sentries, mounted by the crazy gate, and the squares of green and pasture land between tbe bithermost hedge of box and ihe blue green woods that close the picture in, but the scent of tbe honeysuckles and tha mignonette, the sound of an old skyo terrier whining wist fully at my feet, the patter of beech nnt shells two saucy squirrels are tossing to tho ground, all come back to me, at no more potent sum mons than a single word. Why the millionaire with his princely cottage in Florida or his hotel in Southern California, his villa at Cannes, or what not, can't do better than this. It takes days or weeks to get to those delightful scenes, but one can look out on treeless hills and cold gray skies in Alle gheny county and then in a second, if imagina tion and memory are willing, conjure up the loveliest rural scenes, the warmest skies, and all the odors and sounds tbe senses crave for. ffOEK OP THE WOOL GEOWEKS. Officer Elected and Plans Formed for the Ensnlnc Yenr. WAsnrscTox, December 6. At tbo wool growers' convention to-day the National Wool Growers' Association of the United States was reorganized by tho adoption of a constitution and the election of the following officers: Hon. Columbus Delano, of Ohio, President; Hon. J. T. Rich, of Michigan, Vice President; C. H. Beall, of West Virginia, Treasurer; George H. Wallace, of Missouri, Secretary, and Davis Cossitt, of Ncvr York, Assistant Secretary. E. N. Bissell, of Vermont W. L. Black; of Texas, and John McDowell, of Pennsylvania, were elected to act with tho officers of tbo asso ciation as an executive board. Tbe committee appointed to draft an address to tbe wool growers of tbo United States hav ing reported to tho convention that it required additional time in which to prepare the address a resolution was introduced and adopted, granting further time and authorizing tbe Executive Board to revise and publish tho same at its earliest convenience. All matters pertaining to legislation were by resolution re ferred to a committee to bo hereafter desig nated by tbe President One of tbe principal subjects of discussion to-day was the under valuation of so-called ring waste. It was shown that during tho last year the importa tion of this so-called wasto equaled the entire wool clip of either Ohio or Texas; that it is superior for nearly all wool manufacturing purposes to tho finest scoured wool in this country, and yer, it was said. It paid a duty of only 10 cents a pound when it should have paid, upon a proper and business classifi cation, from 30 to 69 cents per pound. It was stated that last year about 24,000,000 pounds of this wool was Imported principally from Bradford, England, and sold in the mar kets of this country at from 63 to 65 cents a pound, whllo.in tho same markets, tine scoured California wool sold at 63 cents per pound. Quotations from the Philadelphia market were read in support ot this assertion. It was also stated that this fine grade wool was manipu lated by machinery, before shipment especially constructed, to coil it into small rings, in imita tion of waste, for the sole purposo of evading tbe law and avoiding tbe payment of just cus toms duties. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Lawrence, McDowell, Harpster, Cossitt and Wallace, waited upon Secretary Wlndom this afternoon and protested against the admission of this so-called waste at a rate less than is charged upon wool scheduled as partly manu factored wool. The Secretary stated to the committee that ho was then engaged in a thorough investigation of this subject, and ho assured them that full justice would be dono tha wool-growing interests of theUnltea States. The next annual meeting of tbo Association will be held at Chicago on the second Wednes day in June next Tbe Convention adjournod until to-morrow, P0B THE WORLD'S PAIR. Senator IognlU First to Introdoee a Qaadri Ccntepnlal Bl. Washington, December S. Senator In galls to-day introduced a bill to aid and secure the commemoration of tho four hundredth an niversary of the discovery ot America. The bill provides that the President shall appojrit, by and with the consent of tbfc Senate, a com mission, consisting of two members from each State, o different political affiliations, two from the District of Columbia and One from each of the Territories, Tbe President is au thorized to eitepd ap invitation to all the American nations and States inviting them to unite in celebrating the anniversary. Shonld Italy, Spain or other European Powers desire tojoiu In the celebration they shall be invited. The bill provider that tbe commission shall meet in Washington, after SO oars' notice, and organize. It shall be its duty to secure a site, by purohasa or otherwise, for the convocations of nations, of an area not less than 300 acres of ground, the commission to apportion the Jand for the building&of tho various countries, each one to select its own style of architecture. The appropriations are as follows: For the pur chase of ground, $5,000,000: for grading and clearing, 51,500,000; lor buildlnxs of the United States, 1500,000: for incidental expenses, LOOO . 000: total, i3,W,000. ' Not Literally True. From the New York Commercial Advertiser. "Great Britain is witip)it apeer."oncp re marked a statesman. It would be a good thing for England it the statement were f mo, DEATHS OF A DAY. a. tr. ni-.pii. i!r. A. H. illsscll.ii tj-pograpliereinplpyednpon Tnx Dispatch previous to fil three, weeks ill. mas, died yestcrdar at tliqjioir.eopathlc Uotni tl, Ue was a rapid workman and bad fl tared In eevcral public eopteUS. -Tho funeral will Tbo tliia. r'"?;:-." "i".,inr,.1 ,'. ..:"",'f ." X cbUdrcnto Kama tbe Iqh onnelr brcaawlaiicr, j MILLER fOE REFORM. The First Keport of the New Attorney General United Slates Courts Ham pered by Outside Interference, Washinoton, December 5. Tbe annual re rcrt of Attorney General Miller wad made pub lic to-day. During tbe year 2,287 civil salts and H&sS criminal proiecoticris were terminated and there gre cepSlpg S.f?0cObB former and. 7,E12 of tha latter class. Mr. Miller recommends that prevision be made for a United States pen itentiary and a United States reformatory, ihe latter being intended for the confinement of the milder class of criminals. It is also urged itat a prison bureau ba estab lished in the Department of Justice, where conld be gathered, collated and recorded in a permanent form the criminal statistics of tha United States. A Reform la Elections. , In a chapter on law business the Attorney General says; ''Very soon after the 4th of March last It was brought to my attention that at the then recent Congressional elections there were very numerous and far-rech(ng violations of (he Federal laws relating to such elections. It was charged that by intimidation of voters, by seising and destroying ballot boxes, by substitution of false ballots, by false returns, by bribery of voters and election offi cers, and by various other means well known to those engaged in this nefarious business, the popular will was stifled and falsified, and retnms obtained wholly at variance, with what would have been the result of a free and fair vote honestly counted. 'In every case where such charges were brought to the attention of this department, instructions were given to the district attor neys to investigate and prosecute to the utmost of their power every person Implicated in such violations of Federal laws, and I am happy to be able to report that in a number or States such prosecutions have been successful. A large nnmber of indictments have been returned; upon some of them, trials have been bad; In a number of cases convictions have been ob tained, and in some cases the culprits have pleaded guilty and asked for mercy at the hands of the Court A Large Number of Cases. "A large number of these cases are still pending, and the instructions to the district attorneys are still to push them to the end. It is proper to say that in some cases the efforts have been made. Some of them very recently, to prevent and cripple these prosecutions, the attempts to intimidate the marshal ffom serving propesa and witnesses frpm giving tbefr testimony, such intJmfdatf on going to the ex tent of actual assassination, lint it must not be supposed that hostility to tbe United States Courts and United States officers is confined to election matters. njn ina contrary, tbo recoras oi tne uepart mentof Justice shows that in some districts tha civil proceedings of these courts, and criminal prosecutions wholly disconnected with the elective franchise cannot proceed be cause the lives of necessary witnesses are in snch danger that it would be Bimply inhuman to enforce their attendanqe and the giving of their testimony; while the evidence is abundant that in certain localities no occupation is so dangerous as a faithful performance of d uty by United States Marshals. "Of coarse such lawlessness cannot be toler ated. In every caso the instructions to prose cute have been coupled with the assurance that no means within tbe power of this depart ment will be spared to protect officers and wit. nessesin the discharge of their duties, and iq bring to ounishment every man who illegally attempts to thwart Such prosecutions." Somo Changes Necessary. Tbe Attorney General speaks of the Im portance of same changes in the judicial sys tem which will enable the courts, and especial ly the Supreme Court to dispose of accumu lated business, and in this connection calls particular attention to the "Davis bill," which was fully set forth in the report of bis prede cessor for 1885. Tho Attorney General calls attention to the fact that the court In Oklahoma, tbe pourtin the Western district of Arkansas and the court recently provided for at Paris, Tex., require an expenditure of money. In the payment of wit nesses, that very largely depletes tha appro priation made by Congress for that purpose, and he says that tbe demands of these three courts aro such that if they are mettberesnlt will be a very large deficiency, or else the conrts m other districts will be obliged to stop for want of funds. In view of these f lets the estimate for the payment of witnesses for the next year has been made in tbe sum of 51,000,000 Instead of 5300,000, appropriated for the current year. AN EMINENT PREACHER'S CANCER, Dr. .De Tints, of Mnrlln'a Ferry, Onco of Pltiaborar, Slijwly Drlng-, rSFECIAI TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH. I Martin's Feiiby; O., December 5. Rev. Dr. Frank S. Do Hass is critically ill at nis resi dence here with cancer, and cannot possibly recover. The,cancer has eaten the left side of his face, and has entirely mined his stomach. He has not swallowed any food or stimulants for nine days, and during this period nothing has been administered by his physician except a few opiates and several teaspoonfuls ot lime juice. He is able to move his body and arms, talks some and is perfectly rational. His power of endurance is unprecedented. Dr. De Hass was educated at Washington, Pa., and has been a prominent divine in the Methodist Episcopal Church for 48 years. He built the Metropolitan Church in Washington, D. C, and has been pastor of the largest churches in tbe United States In New York, Brooklyn, Cincinpati, Cleveland and Pittsburg. He was American Consul to Palestine eight years, under Grant's two terms, during which he made many important discoveries, and ha lectured all over the United States and written several books on bis travels and explorations in tbo Bible lands. His books have had an; enor mous sale, and bo has lately been negotiating with a large publishing house for another one. Until afflicted with cancer ho had always en joyed excellent health. Ho is 72 years old. ESCAPED FROM EXILE. A Russian Editor Suffers Torturo la Siberia for Eighteen Yeur. VANCOtrfEB, B. C, Decomber & There ar. rived here yesterday, on the steamship Batavia from Japan, a Russian gentleman who had just escaped front Siberia, where ba had been in exile 18 years. The gentleman, who had as sumed the name of Brant, was 18 years ago the editor of a newspaper in Russia. He was not a Nihilist but his liberal views, as expressed in his paper, displeased tbe Government and f or the off epse ho was sentenced for llfeiu Siberia. For six years Brant was in Solitary confinement After that he was 12 years on parole, going from place to place. A tew months ago ba drifted to the seacoast There ho found a British ship and explaining the cir cumstances to tbe officers,, he was taken on board and landed at Nagaski. There his pas sage was paid on the Batavia by his new-found friends. On arriving hero the officers of the Batavia Presented Brant with a ticket to Washington, I. C for which place ha started at once. Ha is 45 years of age, but his long suffering has made him prematurely old, Cost oT Living nnd Dying, Jfrom the New York Telegram. I Getting borq costs ihe people of tho United States E225,00O,O0U annually; getting married, 300,000.000; getting buried, 575,000.000. There is no choice about birth, bnt any one can see that it is cheaper to get buried than to got married. This being the case, it is rank- extravagance to become Benedict when you can become Dennis just as well. Rich Assay of nilcblann Roelc SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO TUX DISPATCH. 1 IsnPEHixo, Mich., December 5. An assay of average rocR from thoSeven-foot vein at the bottom of the deep shaft Of the Michigan gold mine, jnst completed, gives over 4.000 per ton in gold and silver. Tbe rock is not nearly as rich as has been taken from the rjch chimneys, but from present Indications there is a seven footvein of the stuff. t SOMETIME. " ' " Lsst night my darllnj, if ypu olept; I thought I heard you sigh, And to your little crib I crept And watched a space thereby; Then, bending down, I kissed your brow For, Oh! I lore you so Yon are too yonng to know it now, Bat some time ypu shall know. Some time, when, in a darkened place "Where othera Come to weep. Your eyes shall see i weary face Calm iq eternal sleep. The speechless lips, the wrinkled brow. J The patient amilamay show You are Joo young to know It po w, Bnt Some time yod shall know. Lool; backward, then. Into the years, And ctomehcro to-nlght-cc, U my darling! bow my tears Are falling ad 1 write: And feel oncetnore uponyour Brow The KtM long a"feci -' Jnu arejqo yqqng to, knpw It nowj ' But some time ypu shall know. u.t.gmt twatn mwgo Mwt. TWO HEARTY MEALS. Tbe Ladles of tbe Fonrlfa Avenue Baptlit Church Give Unique KotertaloraeaU LargoCrondi n Attendance. "I shall habere again for supper," was the remark almoie every ess miss thai diced at the Fourth Avscue BF':tCbab yesterday. And they meant It, too, as ths pretty lecture rccm with Its lscgtablt proved wasavtewsl atao'clock in tteeteMcj, Every place at th) tables was filled, and tbe ladles in charge, with their numerous aids, had time to lay a pleasant word to each one at their respective tables while serving them with creamed oysteri, raw oyilers, chicken salad, cold meats, slaw, pre serves, bread, biscuit, tea, coSee and cottage pnddlng. Tbe dinner comprised roast beer, turkey, Chicken pie (of which more anon), mashed po tatoes, baked beans, cranberry sauce, celery, pickles, bread, butter, tea, coffee, deserts of alt kinds. Everything was served In the most appetising style, ana hot steaming hat from the ranga, for with a view to making their church dinners and suppers very "fetching" affairs, the ladles baye utilized so extra room for a kltebervand during the past week have had it supplied with all the modern conveniences of a model culi nary apartment Witn their unusual accommodations they were enabled to serve their gnests in the most satisfactory manner. A Special feature of tha dinner was the chick- Sn pie, and, fortunately, the lady, Jlrs. Joseph ohnson, of Hazelwood, who concocted tho very popular dish, had prepared for an emerg ency of a general demand, or gome would have been chicken pie-less. Ladles Mnde Famoaa. The ladles who have made themselves famous by the achievements of yesterday are Enter tainment Cqmmittee Mrs. M F, Hutchins, Chairman, who gracefully recelTedeyery one as they entered tbe door, and looked to their com fort in a charming manner. She was assisted in her pleasant duties by Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. StTickler, Mrs, George Parte?, and plrs, Berlin. At taole No. I Miss LihDle Johnson and Mrs Milton King presided at either end, apd served tea and coffee. The ladies who assisted them In supplying the wants of the hungry visitors were: Miss Latbroo and Misses Joe Richard son, Lizzie Stewart Anna Stewart, Maggie Burtt, Hannah Stewart Table No. 2, Mrs, Godfrey and Mrs, Badger, as chairmen, pre sided in ike manner, and were assisted by Hisses Ida HanlOD, Margaret Kdstrom, Kettle Bray, Anna Prichard, Mary Wright Gertrude Clark, Helen Grimes and Kate Woolridge. Mrs, Riggs and Mrs. William? at table No, 3 did the honors, ana as aids Misses Harriet God- oy, iangui.ouie. xuea verner, nimmaijip pincot, OUie Harvey and Miss Bingham served. Table No. 4. Mrs. Baird and rMrs. Wright served the beverages and Misses Bingaman.Os born, Williams, Fox, Ela, Richardson, Hum phrey, apd Sadie and Lepra Hyde assisted. ' ucuerai uuuiuiniee oi arrangements in cluded Mrs, J. L. Lewis, who is president of the aid society of tho church, and was also presi dent of tbe committee on arrangements, and Mrs. M, F. Hritchlngs, Mrs. Eliza Strickler. Mrs. W. E. Lincoln, Mrs. C. A. Porter and Mrs. Harry Berlin. Tho Festival of Days. In connection with the dinner and supper, a Festival of Days was held, and tbe different booths represented the different days of the week. At Monday's booth wo found everything sym bolic of that much dreaded washday. Soap, stareb, washing fluids, clothespins, laundry sacks, tubs and washboards, and tbe attendants were attired in the customary wash dress of dark calico, with large was,h aprons. Tuesday's booth suggested in every detail the ironing day. It was connected with an arch to Monday's booth, and the neatly folded white aprons, iron holders, ironing boards and irons of all sorts and sizes, with tbo ladies in at tendance attired in fresh, light print gowns and white aprons, were the pictures oi tidy housekeepers on Tuesday. Wednesday's booth was mending day, as tha variety of needles and darning cottons, stock ing bags and balls testified. Everything be longing to a full "darning outfit" was there to be found, even to the young ladies with their neat little pocketed aprons fpr the necessary paraphernalia of a successful darning time. Thursday's booth reminded one of visiting day. The attendants were all in pretty aiter noon toilets and tha exquisite lunch cloths anuuoyues oispiayca suggesiea cozy luncnes and afternoon teas. Friday's booth was in charge of a number of sweepers with dusting caps on and supplied with all the Implements with which to waga war on dust and cobwebs. Saturday's booth was "very attractive with ice-cream and cake and everything that would delight the palate in commemoration of baking uay. xue uooma were in cnarge oi tne following ladies, many of whom served also in tbe supper room. Monday Mrs. J. H. Stauff, Chairman; Misses Blanche Richardson, Sadie Hyde, Sadie Wil lets, Annie Pritcbard. Tuesday Misses Emma Lippincott Jennie Williams, Mrs. OX -E. Jones, Mies Marian Blngaman, Miss Ida Ela. Wednesday Misses Lizzie MoMabon, Leora Hyde, Lonise Connor, Ida Hanlon, Mary Wright Thursday Misses Blanche Noble, Gertrude Lewis, Ida Davis, Edna Warren, May Terry. Friday Misses Rata WooIdndge.Libbie Johnson. Lizzie Askin, Moll Lowry, Mrs. Ward West. Saturday Misses Phcebe Morris, Maggie Van Horn, Olive Anderson, Delia An derson and Amanda Morris. It is unnecessary to state that the entire affair was a great success. TflE SECOND RECITAL. The Beethoven Quartet Farnlsbcd nn Enjoy able Programme Yesterday. A select musical audience was delighted at Hamilton's Music and Art Chamber yesterday afternoon, by tbe excellent manner in which the Beethoven Quartet Club, assisted by Miss Agnes Vogcl as soprano, rendered the various numbers of the Interesting programme which constituted their second recital. The members of tbe club are Carl Better, piano; Fred Toerge, violin; George Teorge, viola; Charles Cooper, cello, with Mr. George Teorge, Jr., violin, assisting. The programme opened with qumtetto No. S by Boccherini, and the unity ot tone showed careful re- The "Cradle Bong of the Virgin," sung by Miss Agnes VogoL with viola oijligato played by Mr. George Toerge, received warm ap plause. Tbe quartet for Stringed instruments by Schubert, which Mr. Carl Retter accom panied with the piano, was heartily encored, as tvqs also the "Die lioreley," sung by Miss Vogel. . Tho concluding number, Schumann's quin tet op. 44, with its various iptrjeate movements, allowed tbo pianist of tbe occasion an oppor tunity of giving some very effective assistance, and was a suitable climax to the unusually en joyablo programme. IN TflE SECOND, CITOKCH Miss Sarah McClnln Dorland Becomes Mrs. William P. Drawn. In the Second Presbyterian Church, corner Franklin and Market streets, Allegheny, last evening, Mr. William P. Brown, cashier of the Pennsylvania Railroad freight station In Alle gheny, was united in marriage to Miss Sarah McClain Dorland, a well-known belle of tho Korthside. The. ceremony was performed in the presence of a largo number of friends of the bride and groom by Rev. J. S. Fnlton, pastor of the church. Tha bridemaid was. Miss Bessie Brown, of Irwin avenue, sister of the groom. She was dressed in a beautiful bridal costume. The best man was Mr. George Kline, of Indiana, Fa. John Taggart Brown, D, J. Brown, Harry Dorland andUfred Rapp were tbe ushers. Im mediately after t(io ceremony the yonngconple took a train for an extended trip West The trip will Include Kansas City, Denver, Omaha and all the Western cities. Upon their return they will settle dawn in a hausealready fur nished on Franklin sweet. Freemasons to Banqaer. Tbe Master Masons' Association of Wilkins burg will banquet at tha Seventh Avenue Hotel this evening. Plates will be laid for 80 persons. Tbe banquet will be one of tbe events of tbe season in Masonic circles. Social Chatter, A rimTTT feature of tha epfertajument given by tno Yotwg Ladles'. Missionary Society of the Seventh TJ,, P CJturch, pn Forty-fanrtb street last evenlpg, was tbe Japanese weddjng, The-rjuaint costumes and customs of the Japa nese that solemnize tha Jmpqrtant step of wed lock were faithfully represented by the young people, and the grouping was very effective. Tan entertainment of the East jSnd Council if o. 270, Royal Arcaunui. for the benefit of the Libratyfund, In Gymnasium Hall, Shady ave nue, last evenlpg was a very pleasant affair, An enjoyable programme was rendered and a comedy in onO.act, entited "The Rehearsal," as tho concluding number was heartily en joyed. The first of the December "atbomes" to be given on Thursdays by Mrs. Charles Sblnkle at her pretty home in tho East End, was given yesterday. In a charming afternoon toilet tbe recent bride received her friends and grace fully entertained them. MISS MyhA R. SUIEI.D3, a popular South tfeyouni.JadJV.VhB 4g -VmjUIU .frromo, weeks;- s recovering, to tbo delight of her many -friends.' V v " " ' ? ' .. , Jlisa CoitAjMcKELYEY, of the' East Ead.- eBtertsMeii hi a deWnstfal mawec mem bars of theTaaepoes CteVyesterday afternoon. Mbs. FoRci, of Center' avenue, ave a very eejayabls esehrr party yesterday afternoon to a large number ot Mr, friends. MM, W h Abbott, efNevnio street W"l tender large reception, to-day to her f tieadv Ttie first assembly ballot tha season in the: Pittsburg Club Theater to-night OATflERED IS GOTHAM. The? Are JNTaseBm Freaki Kpw, (new Tons, bCbeau BricuiXj New Tons, December 5. Joshua Mann, the lover of Robert Ray Hamilton's wife, and Mrs. Anna Swlptdnv who conducted the celebrated SIB baby swindle, were engaged to-day to ap pear all winter rn a Bowery dime museum. Tbo manager of another museum tried to engage them for his establishment to-day, and Was so anxious to forestall all competitors that ha waited for them at the door of thi court room, a friend having given htm a tip that they would ba discharged. Mrs, Swinton, however, upset his plans by fainting as soon as she was set free, and getting sa upset that talking basines was out of tbe question. Whan her called upon her this afternoon sua hid already agreed to be the "freak"' of the manager's rival. Josh Mann refused at first to be Mrs. Swhrson's- com panion freak, but was won over by the man ager's offer to -'pay him more than a Congress, man got." The competition for Mann's and Mrs. Hwln ton's services is explained by the fact that a dlmo museum manager mads his fortune immediately after tbe Atlantic City scandal by exhibiting Nuris Donnelly, the woman Eva stabbed. Mr. Dana at Done Again. ' Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Dana returned home to-day on the steamship Hispania, from an ex. tended tour or the United Kingdom and conti nent of Europe. The Hispania came front Trieste, Austria, and Mr. Dans and his wife boarded tba craft at Gibraltar. Mr. and Mrs; Foulteney BIgelow and Ogden Mills arrived pn tha Teutonic Paul Play Suspected". The 15 survivors of the wreck of the steam. ship Edith Goden on November 20 were brought into port to-pay by the steamship Atlanta, from MontegoBay. The Edith Goden left here for MoRtego Bay, November Vi. When, but 30 miles from her destination she sprang a leak. After two hours of fruitless work at the pnmps the 14 members Of the crew and the captain abandoned her. She fonndered five minutes later. The crew was picked up by a tug and taken to Montego Bay, Tha mysterious cir cumstances of tbe sinking of the Goden have not been explained. Foul play is suspected. Tho Italian Rioters a Coarr. All the survivors of yesterday's bloody Italian riot in James street were to-day marched into tha Tombs police court They were as dirty and worthless a lot as has been in tha dingy court room for many months. Asanto Boento, the woman who killed Amelia Verallo, was the. most prominent prisoner. All tha prisoners testified a? length, and told snch conflicting stories that it was difficult to make up a com. plaint Tbe principal witness was Antonia Verallo, the 7-year-pld child of the murdered woman, who told the clearest story of the tragedy. She saw Mrs. Bocuto fire two shots at her mother. Mrs, Bocuto was committed to the custody of the Coroner. Sognr Swindlers Plead Gollty Mrs. Olive E. Friend, Ms. Emily Howard, Orrjn A. Halsfead and George Halstead, all of Milan, Mich., were before the Recorder this morning tQ answer tbrea Indictments for help ing to engineer the great electric sugar, swin dle. All withdrew their former pleas of "not guilty," pleaded guilty to ope charge and were discharged qn fhe other two charges. Their counsel made no argument "There is no use in saying anything," he said; "all that could be said has been said in Howards trial." Tha Recorder ordered the prisoners remanded for sentence. They have been in prison since March 10. Howard, the chief conspirator, was tried on tbe same charge and convicted. Mrs. Friend, tha moving spirit in the conspiracy, is likely to get the heaviest sentence. AFTEK 38 YEARS IN IHE GEATE, The Features of a Dead Boy Appear Per feet apd Natnrnf. 1SFXCIAI. TXXXailAX TO TUB DISPATCH. 1 SykAccsc December 5. What is. known as tbe Fourth Ward Cemetery, in Oswego, is io be devoted to other purposes, and bodies that have been buried there for years are being re moved. On Tuesday morning among the bodies disinterred was that of a 12-year-old boy, who, according to the inscription on tha coffin, was buried 38 years ago. Tha body was m clrsed in an iron casket hermetically sealed, and, when the outer l(d was removed, the feat ures, clothing and everything about tha body were f onnd to be in as perfect condition as though burled to-day. When the lid was removed, the body was seen through a thick plate glass; Tho coffin was not unusually heavy, and it Is not thought that tha remains are petrified, bnt simply pre served in the air-tight' compartment, and that they would ernmble to dost if exposed to the air. Upon tbe coffin plate was engraved; "F. A. Richards, died September 17, 1831, aged 12 years." IRRIGATION NOT NECESSARY To Slake Some Portion! of Ibe Arid West Bletsom as the Ro.ie. Wasotnqtok, December 5. Secretary Rusk has received a report from tbe agricultural experiment station in Southwest Kansas, near Garden City, announcing that It has been, dem onstrated that the arid lads.ol the West can bo made productive without tha aid of irriga tion. Experiments at the. station named hare proved that too qesert lapa. nnirrigatea, wui -..-..; j .. ..... ... produce plenfitui supplies oi grasses arutoraga plants. Including sorghum, and it is believed that wheat corn and potatoes wilf grow equally as well. Only two things were necessary to accomplish these results: First Tbe ground was pulverized deeply to make a bed for holding tha water, that falls in rain; and. Second The planted surface was covered after the sowing of the first crop with matted straw, to keep tbe loam from blowing away.and with it the seed, gnbseqqenf crops will re quire no straw, for tbe reason that the matted roofs will keep tbe dry earth from being blown away by the high winds. Wants to Cbncg-o Oar Name. WASHnraTOW, December 5L Among the numerous memorials and petitions presented In tha Senate to-day was ono signed by D. F. Webster, asking that the national trtlo ba changed to that of "Tho United States of Columbia." As Pictured br Partisans. From tbe Chicago News. J From the descriptions given of Mr. Speaker Reed by various able Democratic newspapers we Infer that ho is about 9 feet high, drinks vitriol and water, and has horns on bis head. Same Style ns Last Year. From the New York Commercial Advertiser. Circus rings arq rnado of Sawdust wedding rings Of gold, and political rings of brass. TKI-STATE TRIFLES. A bibUT,ot;s individual, of York, went to sleep while soaking bis feet in hot water, and when be was awakened in the morning by bis wife tbe firo bad gone out and thin ice had formed in tbo tub. An '"Uncle Tom's Cabin" troupe, out in Ohio, announces tne most "life-like death scene" ever produced. A nnsxEtt In Freedom township, Blair county, a few days since, shot three wild tur keys at one shot Hebbxbt Jokes, a 10-year-old boy, shot a black bear near Richmond, Pa., that weighed 150 pounds when dressed. Rich corundum deposits- have been found near Wq t Chester, and, a company Is preparing to mine it on a large scale. Pabkeb CrxAXPAjrr, of-WestFallowfleld, Chester county, who- went to Paris to ba treated for rabies, has returned apparently welt TnB wrecking crew of tho Pennsylvania ScnuylkiU Valley Railroad had to be sent for to rescue a horse which had become fastened iu the trestle bridge at Douglasxilfe, ' AWswnisOyoungwVMiktfebwMriporftriiy lost her sight by gazing tco steadily at an else- "--Ja - - . . .ft- rnTnTfo rtixmrwo mnva, Jvr- vvaivuv W11UII11U4UVUU John Lafountairr, who died near Hunt ington. Ind. the other day, was a grandson of -the last chief of the Miami Indians. " "' An auctioneer at Bath, Me., disgusted at the1 low price offered tor his goods, sarcas tically put up a S5 bill, which was promptly bid offfatHa- v Two hundred a day was the average number of tourists who ascended last month theaVesuviuSi Railway to look; qawjrlnfo t&9. month of the volcano, At Waterville, Me., a 1,000-ponnd weight dropped from tba clock in tha Unitarian Church, crashing the, coiUr church organ be yond thd possibility of repair. ' A resident of Murfreeshoro, Tenn., pre sented a ticket issued in l&jd on the Nashville and-Chattanooga Railroad the other day, and rode in a palace car on tbo tame bit of paste-"" board xbatwould bava secured him passage tot one of. the clumsy coaches of 31 years ago," Captain E. 8. Drake, a prominent farmer of Marlboro county, S. C, has gathered the phenomenal yield of 251 bushels and 40i ponnds'of corn from one acre. This beats tha ' world1 record: Tba highest yield heretofore that is on record at the National Department, ot Agriculture is 212 bushels and a fraction.3' raised by Dr. T. W. Parker, near Columbia In 18531 Captain Drake is) competing for a tLWBi prize. s, A freak in. the way of handwriting ha) just coma under notice in England, Alittla , girl of 4 years writes with her left hand, and writes her words backward, as they alalia. fleeted in a mirror from ordinary writing; "HerT friends have to read them by means of a look-' ing-glass, The child was taught writing with a sister, but would do things in her own Tray. with the result that she writes fluently in this! fantastic style. J , Tho-smallest, simplest and best pro tected postorHce in the world is in tbe Strait of Magellan and has been there for many years It consists of a small keg or cask and Is chained to tha rocks of tba extreme cape. In tbe straits opposite Terra delFaego. Each passing ship sends a boat-to take letters out and pat others In. The posfafllee Is self-acting and unproyidea with a postmaster and is, therefore, under tba protection of all the navies of tha world, A young man of "Warsaw ordered a dress suit froma tailor, who agreed to deliver non a certain day. Tha latter failed, and hence a curious lawsuit The plaintiff alleged tbat hq bad arranged to go to an evening party at which be had resolved to offer his hand to tha daughter of the house. Because of tha failure of his dress coat he could not go, bat his rival went, proposed and was accepted, and the plaintiff considered himself damaged to tho value of tho lost bride, Most of the old houses on both sides; of the Tiber, at Rome, have been removed, fine embankments of masonry have been erected, slightly deepening and widening the rive to an average width of 65 yards, and on top of tha embankments, on both sides, esplanades are, formed as on the Thames embankment at London. One of tbe new bridges crossing the stream is 13 yards wide, and near it. at either end, stand new buildings seven stories high; completely shotting out tbe views ol the Jani cnlum and San Pietro hills. One, of Georgia's poets will in all prob ability soon wear convict's stripes. Ha is & G., Leak, whose claim for fame lies in the poem "Tha Red Hills of Georgia." After it had been printed over Leak's name in different newspapers it was alleged that somebody elso was. tba author. Leak started the Leak Mercantile Agency, announced himself as hav ing strong backers and opened handsomely furnished offices. The furnishing he obtained upoa the latter representatious, and as ha lailea to pay foe them ha is now sentenced to the penitentiary for cheating and swindling. The development of the accident insur ance business in this country of late has been very wonderful. All over the country em ployers in large concerns are insuring all tbeir employes in tbe accident companies because it can bs dona for less than by co-operation among tba men of a single concern. The other day a, great railroad went to one of these com panies for its terms for Insuring all their pas sengers the idea being to issue a policy for S50U or 81,000 with each railway ticker, Tbe cost appears to have been too high for this particu lar railroad, bat possibly some rival road will coma to tbe mark and steal its thunder. Some tima ago mention was made of 8 German project to fit out a big steamship as a floating exhibition palace, which shonld carry Genna? products into all the principal ports of the worla, exhibiting them as novelties and taking orders for tbeir sale. Tbe nrofect has advanced so far that an enormous steamer tha Kaiser Wilnelm is being: fitted up Xor.this, use. It win carry passengers as well s tbe ax hlbited articles, and those who can afford the time and money required, may make the tour ., ot tbe world in tbe novel and apparently agree able way of passengers on a vessel that in the nature of things will be the center of interest in every port visited. France now has a "sleeping girl." She belongs in the Department of the Olse, and her slumber Is not that of one in a peaceful trance, but is agitated like that of a person under tha influence of a nightmare or the "blues." A dispatch says: "For the past nine days she has been plunged into this somnolency, daring which she sometimes beats herself on the head and breast and- utters unintelligible exclama tions. Bouillon is now and tben poured down her throat when she opens her mouth, and by this means she is kept alive. The girl, who is 20 years old. and a farm servant, has had brief fits of drowsiness before, bnt none of them lasted so long as tha present one." Two brothers, William C. and Sydney C. King, living at Newport Washington coun ty, Minn., were discussing an advertisement for a wife which recently appeared, and were soon in a heated argument. Finally Sydney offered to bet S50O against William's farm tbat the lat ter wonld not choose a wife by a lottery schema that be proposed. The offer was accepted and a contract was drawn up. It provides tbat William is to make, a hundred tickets, num bered from I, to 100, which are to be put in en velopes and one given to each lady wishing a husband, regardless of her age or nationality; A. certain day is announced for the drawing, and. public notice is to ba given of tba place where it is to take place. William must marry the lady holding the corresponding number to the una that he draws. Christmas trees ought to be cheap in Now York this year unless a Trust is organized to control the evergreen market In tha town of 0rland, Me., at the mouth of tha Penobscot, a Rockland firm have a large crew of men em ployed In cutting fir trees, and expect to ship 400,000 to the metropolis between now and tba middle ot December. The firm pay about half a cent a. tree for the privilege of cutting tho firs, and alt the expense, except for freigb ting; are smalt The trees range from 5 to 30 feet in height, but tha- greatest demand is for those measuring from fiye to eight feet The bushiest and most symmetrical trees bring tbe best prices, and these are found in abundance along the edges of tbo woods. There are enough young fir trees along tha Penobscot river to supply tho. world with Christmas evergreen far centuries to come. GENUINE JOKES. Counting the clergyman in, it takes three; to make a pair. CkrUtmat Puck. "To what' do yon attribute your success in lifer asked the economist. "To my fall ore," replied the ex-merchant JAfe. Do not make puns if you care for your reputation. Shakespeare was a victim of tbe bsbit, and now people are trying to prove tbat he didn't write his own works. Ckrittmat ruck. Ho Wonder iVis Green. Cumso I know now why Oreenl and is so called. FangleMyhy? "There Is only one newspaper In the whole country. Time. Angelina I do wish that papa wouldn't act so mnch like an old bear; Edwin. Edwin 1 wish he would act more like one, and go off somewhere and hibernate, for the next two months. Angelina. ClurUtmtu Puck. Young. Hopeful Father, what is the' meaning of the word opera?"" Father-It means s work. "That's what I thought. Now. canloperayea for S3 to buy s conple of tickets for the comic work to-night?" Time. A Connndrnm. Johnson Sam, why is this play like the guillotine daring the French revolution? Sara-Give It no. Johnson liecause there are verv short waits be- tween tne ax. -Judge. Wife (reading history of the Pilgrinn) Those old bine laws mast have been uorriois;u Idea of prohibiting a man from klislng bis wire on Sunday. -3 Hnsband-Yes, they made a great many nnfl necessary laws la those days.r-.tv 4,TT is nnn.M,lVilv -nolilS." . Lt , .TJaw ..111 "Why, wbenlgavemybal! last winter I never:'-., 1.,1 t,i .,i... -nn, nt of at reirrets." p? "Kegreta for what?" That 1 hadn't invited hlm."-i. Not a New Sensation. Over the walnujy and tne wine. ,v "Dirt ion never flzht a due!. doctprm&J .WrrcfrVlist sAtisraction coaldl! derive! ktlHni''reMdw-ccature?, S-! "Ofc,-1 Ke; yoVie to used to lVir!.7j , . vv ii-&. are vJSS. ivHS r, t -ay s tfcArJc. &,Sm.?j .t:
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers