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f PITTSBURG. TUESDAY. DEC. SL 18SSL
TEE PEOPLE'S LIBRARY.
'he interviews -which are published else
where with regard to the management of the
Carnegie Library, in Allegheny, advocate
She proper course to be adopted, beyond ques
tion. It is not necessary to insist on any
'particular form of organization in order to
secure the highest utility for that beautiful
and valuable benefaction; but it is necessary
jto observe certain guiding principles. The
jcohtrol of the library must be kept entirely
Jcftar from the exigencies and complications
iSt ward politics; the membership of the
Spard of Commission which controls it
should be subject only to gradual changes
Jinfcrder to secure the benefit of experience;
rand finally the selection of these members
must be made with a view to personal qual
ifications and responsibility which will in
sure its highest usefulness to the people.
jplhe importance of carefully observing
uiiese rules is fully shown in the Interview
hth James B. Scott Esq. The value to
Sine Institution, of a management which will
sinvite confidence on the part of donors of
fliterary and art treasures, is almost infinite.
The importance of the work which, within
the next three or four years, will determine
Ihe character of the library is of no less
magnitude. Finally the unquestionably
false policy of subjecting the gift of private
munificence for the public benefit, to the
hazards and squabbles of municipal politics
.nnnt lint lu anrrT,irpr) SB lhA Tnnst pflforrt
Rtal.way of discouraging further public en
Eaowments of that most commendable class.
I Our friends of the Allegheny Councils
prill doubtless perceive upon fell considera
tion that the only way to serve the popular
'interest in this matter is to place the library
niftier such control as will secure its great
est utility to the people, and thus to carry
.out most completely the purpose of its
donor.
".
' THE CABLE BOAD STRIKE.
f The ordering of a strike on the Pittsburg
Traction Road yesterday, brings a dispute,
'which has a somewhat indefinite beginning,
to i the arbitrament of the last resort in indus
"trial quarrels. "We call the beginning an
'indefinite one, because of the disputed facts
vlth regard to the acts of either side to the
'.quarrel. The men claim th&t members-of
'the K. of Xi. have been discharged simply
fior belonging to that organization. The
managers of the company say that the men
who have been discharged used unfair means
'to force new men to join the order. The
dispute looks like one which, if each side
had been careful to respect the rights of the
other, might have been avoided; but it has
now-reached a point where neither will be
.ialisfied withont a trial of strength. That
kjfc may soon reach a speedy settlement, and
"ck kept wholly within the bounds of law
'and order, -will be the unanimous prayer of
the long-suffering public.
DEGREES WITHOUT HONOR.
, Honorary degrees have been showered
.upon worthy and unworthy men by our
colleges in such a reckless and promiscuous
.fashion that it no longer profiteth a man
much to be able to write after nis name D.
Ob., Ph. D., or LL. D. This abuse of a
.custom that in the outset was of rather
.doubtful propriety has caused college Presi
dents to consider the matter seriously.
Xaymeu have long ceased to regard an
honorary degree as an honor. How could
it be otherwise when men are made doctors
of divinity, of philosophy, of law, for no
Store reason than that they are very rich,
popular, or successful in some profession,
trade, or politics? lioneot these men are
necessarily more learned than their fellows.
The college awarding the degree makes no
Inquiry as to their ability to command such a
degree by works. In some cases it is cer
tainly i fact that the college conferring the
degree seeks to advertise itself rather than
to honor the public man it dubs a doctor of
something or other.
1 The statistics on the subject, for which we
tire indebted to Prof. Smith, of the Vander
hilt University, show that between the
years 1872 and 1885, no less than 2,259
honorary degrees of D. D., and 1,186 of
3EL. D. were conferred. Since 1885 fewer
degrees of this kind have been granted.
Ihe colleges of the Middle States are greater
Sinners than any others in this respect. But
even they are evidently conscious that the
honorary degree business is being overdone.
It is time, we think; to have done with
complimentary degrees that do not compli
ment. The huge army of doctors of divin
ity, law and philosophy which occupies the
land 'reminds us of the staff of field
marshals, generals and colonels, without
which a German Prince, having a standing
BrmyiOf twenty men, cannot get along. But
we can exist with tolerable comfort without
titled, dunces.
J ' K0T A CREDITABLE COURSE.
'pnless a recently psbiished interview
'with the United States District Attorney at
Indianapolis, is a gross fabrication, the
position taken, presumably with the assent
of the administration, concerning Dudley's
famous "block-of-five" letter, is so discredi
table that It will be a heavy ourden for the
party. That official is reported as declaring
the document In question an "honorable"
Snd "patriotic" production. Of course
such an assertion relies npon the popular
iorgetfulneas of the nature of the latter; but
its salient feature is the expression of the
intention to whitewash the matter and at
Jhe same time, to prevent it from being
brought into court. If the letter was all
nghl no, better place of proving it exists
tbanln a court of justice. As opposed to
jh'ejxilicy of requiring full Investigation of
Sveryfckarge ot corrupting the ballot, the
policyyof smothering a fair trial, in this
cMeflis one which will not bear exami
nation. w' t
jVAWAKI) ITS EHFORCEKUTT.
.he comments otbe press on the procla
im or Governor Goodell, ot New Hamp
calling npon the people of that State
ein-the enforcement of the prohibi
t; snow a good deal of uniformity.
iT.L- ' rr . t . ., i . -
ijo.inc cueci mat me proclamation
ifauure-'of prohibition which
prophecy for the fate of
the!
Olbe'snTeasy
j -aw iiiif i jet rnfor t u ' mist of
our Ouiemporarie go- iurthcT.-.Bna arawwe
moral, With regard tojthat sort of legisla
tion, that it is useless to try to enforce such
a law became publiateBtiiaent does not up
hold it.
But that is a principle which can very
easily be made to prove altogether too ranch.
Governor Goodell's proclamation points out
that other crimes are rife in New Hampshire,
as a result of the illicit sale of liquor. On
such reasoning, this would indicate that it
is useless to pass laws against murder, may
hem or brawling. If the general violation
of law proves it to be wrong, the reports
with regard to the number of illicit liquor
saloons in Pittsburg would prove high li
cense to be as mistaken a piece of legislation
as prohibition. The same logio would in
dicate that it is useless to pass laws against
mob murder in the South and "West or
against gambling in the cities of the North.
It is of course wise in passing legislation
to stop and consider whether it will be an
active force, or will cumber the statute
books with dead-letter legislation. But
when a law is once enacted by the vote of
a majority of the representatives of the peo
ple its non-enforcement points to a graver
evil than the passage of laws that are not
upheld by public sentiment. It indicates
the tendency to act as though, in a popular
government, law will enforce itself. To
rouse the people from the neglect which
permits law to be violated with impunity,
we can hardly conceive of a more legiti
mate pnblic step than such a proclamation
as "that of Governor GoodelL
THE REPORTED RAILROAD CHANGE
The report that Mr. Andrew Carnegie
will, in the early part of the coming year,
become the owner of a controlling interest
in the Pittsburg and "Western Railroad is
renewed with a good deal of detail. This
report simply carries out the Indications
which were noted in The Dispatch, early
in the present year, and it will not be undue
credulity to hope that it will soon be satis
fied by the actual event.
The location of the control of this road in
Mr. Carnegie's hands can' hardly fail to
have a good influence on Pittsburg's Indus
tries. It is not, of course, to be expected
that Mr. Carnegie, will be quite as free in
action for reduced freight rates to Pittsburg
as he was while a manufacturer. But his
interests remain Pittsburg interests; and in
that position he is never likely to lose
sight of the fact that the way to insure the
highest prosperity, both for his railroad and
manufacturing interests, is to secure such
cheapness in the transportation of Pitts
burg's leading freights as will create the
greatest volume of traffic and highest pros
perity both for the mills snd the railroads.
Snch a change as is rumored means that
the Pitttburg and "Western will be kept in
its position as an active competitor for
Pittsburg traffic, and will thus fulfill its
highest public usefulness.
REPUBLIC OR DICTATORSHIP.
The self-assumed championship of the new
Brazilian Government by the esteemed New
York World, against those who wish to be
sure that it is a real Republic, before in
dorsing it, leads that journal to the follow
ing deliverance:
It is rather amusing to hear the descendants
of the old American Tories around here talk
ing about the usurpation in Brazil. What
was Bom Pedro but a usurper! By what au
thority did be asscme to rule in Brazil? Cer
tainly not by the consent ot the governed.
If the esteemed World will examine Bra
zilian history it will probably find that
Dom Pedro was accepted iu his infancy by
the representatives of the people of Brazil,
as the sovereign of that country, and has
during his liberal reign been repeatedly
recognized as the head of the State by rep
resentative bodies. That the progress of
liberal ideas should eventually replace his
form of government by a Republic, he him
self agreed; but it is neither unsafe nor un
republican to say that a throne resting on
such a constitutional" basis, is preferable to
a military dictatorship, whether it mas
querades under the guise of a Republic or
not
It is not yet, fully proved that the new
Brazilian Government is such a dictator
ship, but the indications to that effect, in
the establishment of the Provisional Gov
ernment by military uprisings in the arbi
trary censorship of the press and telegraph,
and more than all, in the failure to call a
representative body to draft a Constitution
and provide for regular elections, certainly
render it wise for the United States to wait
and see whether Brazil makes herself a real
Republic. If she does, the United States
will be foremost in friendship and recog
nition. But if the fact appears that the Brazilians
have really lost liberty by the substitution
of a dictatorship for the enlightened rule ot
Dom Pedro, ought not the United States to
show enongh knowledge of real constitu
tional liberty to keep from being taken in
by a mere counterfeit.
DESERVES TO BE ENCOURAGED.
There are a few signs on the horizon of
local politics which must be as agreeable as
they are undoubtedly novel. Chief Brown's
bold insistance npon an actual competitive
contest between the Amoskeag fire engine
used in Pittsburg, and the Silsby used in
Allegheny,, taken in connection with the
Allegheny Fire Committee's proposed ac
ceptance, would be gladly hailed by the
people of both cities as the beginning of a
generous rivalry for efficient government be
tween the sister corporations. This is prob
ably too much to expect all at once; but any
sign of an approach to it we are inclined to
welcome all tbe same.
As The Dispatch has frequently pointed
out there are laurels to win in the matter of
city government. The public would gladly
see the authorities on both sides of the river
ambitious to win them. That would be
wholly in the line, after all, of the best
politics. It may be early to look for an
extensive recognition of this principle, yet
any genuine symptom of it will be greeted
with satisfaction.
HOW YE SHALL ENOW THEM.
The secret is out The secret of the super
lative grace which gives a human being the
entree into New York's far-famed Pour
Hundred. In an unguarded moment, we
must presume, Ward McAllister let the cat
out of the bag, or rather the jewel out of tbe
casket. Hr said the other day thatithose
who would attend the great fashionable ball
in New York to be given under the patron
age of the Four Hundred would be people
who knew whether a canvas-back duck
should be cooked twenty or thirty minutes,
and whether terrapin should be eaten with
black or yellow sauce. And, Mr. McAllis
tei gravely added, the character of the ball
would be made by the people who attended
it.
But let not anyone imagine that the test
of admission to the most aristocratic circles
of New York is as easy as it may seem to
be. Of course the blue-biooded patricians
who go to the ballroom will find no dicnlty
In answering Mr. McAllister's question -aa
to the cooking of canvas-back duck and the
erring -' it -v Blue-blooqed ' 'patri
cians grapple with these terrifio problems
In the nursery. It comes as easy to them,
-we believe, to prescribe the cooking of a
two'dollar'duck as it'does'to ns plebeians to
dictate to the haughty waiter 'the treatment
of a vulgar steak, Wemay wonder at the
wisdom of the Pour Hundred, hot let as
not hope to tread their exalted intellectual
paths.
Bat we are really indebted to the irre
pressible McAllister for the key he has fur
nished us to the shiboletbof the exalted
ones. It requires but little calculation to
adjust a seale of social classes from the data
he has given us. If the greatest swells in
this land are known by their acquaintance
with the lore of canvas-back dock and
terrapin, the next class should be dis
tinguished by its exact knowledge of how a
turkey should be stuffed this test sorely
would be sage the next class by the proper
comprehension of the roasting of a rib of
beef; the next class by the reduction of the
cooking of liver and bacon to an exact
science, and so on down till the bottom of
the social ladder is reached on tripe and
onions, let us say. The notion is a savory
one, quite worthy of George IV. In fact
McAllister is about as much the first gen
tleman of America as that adorable mon
arch was "the first gentleman of Europe.
The strong compliments which Sir Ed
win Arnold paid In a speech at a banqnet in
Tokio, on the exquisite courtesy of the Japan
ese, is qnoted by the New York Herald as a re
markable testimonial to the Japanese charac
ter. It may be so; bat taken In connection
with the honeyed words that fell from the
same lips In this country are they not more
significant of the possibility that before the
author ot "The Light of Asia" set oil on his
tonr'of circumnavigation he paid a visit to
Castle Blarney.
The total of 3,241 buildings completed In
Pittsburg this Year as against 2,070 in 168S,
shows the activity in building operations
cansed by the growth of the city. The expend
iture of 7,000,000 in that way is not more than
is called for by the needs -of the city, and with
a wise and conservative policy on the part of
builders and real estate men, in keeping the
cost of homes within the means of the masses,
the record should be beaten in 1890.
The story that the price of natural gas
will be Increased 50 per cent oy the Philadelphia
Company after the 1st of the year would indi
cate the belief that the company is anxious to
drive away customers. Against the rumor is
the denial on the part of the company and -the
fact that if it were going to do any such thing
next week there would be no object in denying
it this week.
The influenza loves a shining'mark, it is
said, because kings, empresses and statesmen
are down with it in Europe. In this country
the conditions are likely to be reversed, and
fashionable society is trying its best to have
the Influenza for the same reason. But all ef
forts to develop more than the plebeian cold in
the head, have so far registered a decisive
failure.
The proposed fire engine test will be an
interesting event if it comes off, and the public
should make it certain to come off. It is well
worth the trouble for both cities to have it fully
settled which class of engines has the greatest
efficiency. But might it not have better results
if such tests preceded the purchase of engines
instead of following them?
The plan for the anion of the Academy
of Sciences, in providing a borne for the vari
ous scientific societies of the city, which is out
lined in our local columns, contains a definite
promise for the addition of a very valuable in
stitution to the city's list of important public
o.-ganizations. Success to the new scientific
union.
It is asserted by the "Washington Star
that there is a man in New YorE who makes
his living by waking people up. Judging by the
Grant monument and World's Fair record of
that city, be must have been neglecting his
duties lately as shamefully as the f ool-killer.
It Is intimated by the Philadelphia Press
that the office will seek the man In 1892. It is
to be hoped that it will, but it is wonderful the
trouble that Hill, Alger and a few others are
taking that the office shall not fall to find the
man.
Select Coxnrcrx. very properly thinks
that the board for the condemnatiou and
purchase ot bridges should be a live board.
Let the vacancies be filled, and then perhaps
the city may have some work for the board to
da
The estimates of the city officials of the
needs of their departments for the ensuing
year show that they duly perceive tbe pnblic
Importance of keeping their expenditures
within the limits of the present tax levy.
The determination of the brave Bou
langer to omit coming to this country, is based
on sound commercial principles. The market
in tbe United States is already overstocked with
sham heroes.
The new South seems to be In earnest
about rescuing itself from the horrors of negro
dlscrimatlon by tbe severe yet simple expe
dient of keeping down the negro vote,
Tobt society will hold np IU "hands in
horror at Parnell, if tho scandal comes out, for
infringing on the privileges of the aristocracy.
PEOPLE OF PROMINENCE.
Tbe remains of the poet Browning will be
buried'in Westminster Abbey to-day.
Stepniax, who is coming to this country
next year, is described as a black-haired, brist-ly-bearded,
vigorous-looking six-footer, with
gentle manner and kindly ways.
Kkpeesentative Poset Greek LestEe,
of Virginia, is one of the new Congressmen..
He is a Baptist preacher and bas held forth in
18 States. Be is one of tbe publishers of the
"Baptist Hymn and Tune Book."
Mb. Gladstone bas sent to the newspapers
a general reply of thanks to those who sent him
congratulations on the occasion of his birth
day. He refers to the indulgence shown bim
in tbe pnblic estimation of bis parliamentary
and publlo labors, rind says he hopes it win
make bim watchful to avoid errors.
The estate of the late Alfred Cowles, busi
ness manager ot tbe Chicago Tribune, is valued
in ronnd numbers at from SL200.TJ00 to 1,400.000,
and is left in its entirety to tbe three children,
Alfred Cowles, Jr., the eldest son, fiarah
Frances Cowles and William Hutchinson
Cowles, each to receive one-third of the estate.
The property Is to be held in trust by the ex
ecutors until the youngest child Is SO years of
age, when it is to be turned over to the chil
dren. Xe Wait Yono, Ye Cha Yan and Kang Sing,
members of tbe Corean Legation at Washing
ton, are very fond of society. Tbey trot about
making calls and attracting attention from
mischievous street urchins. Ye Cha Yan, the
Secretary of the Legation, is the only one of
tho three who can speak English; nevertheless
Ye Wan Yong and Kang Blng have a good
time. They like American girls, American
drinks and Washington customs. They are al
ways well received except by servants. ,
Ncsia GltiiT, ex-Mayor of Nlmes, whose so
called -Bevelattous" abontleadingFrencbpolK
Ucians and Cabinet Ministers got him into hot
water some' time since, bas been released from
the Prison of Salnte-Pelagle in Paris. He bad
shared bU Imprisonment for some time with his
publisher, M. 8avtneand M. Chirac, one of bis
colleagues in the compilation ot the famous.
"Dossiers." M. Gilly states thai he was remark
ably ell treated in Sainte-Pelagie, and he now
intends to return tranquilly to bis cooperage at
Nimes, where be will resume "his trade, and
think twice bctpro be identifies himself with
polities and politicians again.
Almost 167 Team Old.
CUMBBBiAsn, Md., December Stt Mary
Ann Carter, the oldest Inhabitant nf AUtiai.
.county, dieitacberhbinn at Mt. Savage yester-
; m&bu aw yvaro bqu v moniae.
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
A Piece of TJnnannt Advertising and Its
Remits Jnfluenjca Goaslp A Tale of
AttonW Dlxry,
THE streets ot Pittsburg on Sunday snggested
that a circus was at the city gates. I doubt
whether a play has ever been so extensively or
so well billed as has "After Bark." The litho
graphs were everywhere! upon telegraph poles,
on fences, at street corners, in doorways, and
in every conceivable place. The fine weather
Of Sunday filled the streets with people, and
they had to see the pictures of "After Park,"
wherever they looked.
ConpUd with the great advertising of the
play in the newspapers, this extraordinary
lithographing put BoueicauU's old play before
the public as I have seldom seen a play placed
before. It is worth noticing, too, that the re
sult of this advertising extraordinary came at
once in an unexampled demand for seats at the
Bijou Theater yesterday.
rp jib state of affairs at his theater may help
1 Manager Gulick to fight the foreign foe,
influenza, which has laid him low temporarily.
Mr. Oulick's illness is said to be the fashion
able, imported article, (a grippe.
m
A DOCTOR who has a large and general prao
" tice in Allegheny assures me that the talk
of Influenza, or to be more exact, of the Rus
sian Influenza's presence in that city is not well
founded. If be wero not a, doctor having a
wide experience and a practice that is not con
fined to'any class, I should not quote bis opinion
against the reported opinions of other doctors
to the contrary.
One thing be said which I have no doubt is
strictly true, namely, that nearly every roan
who has a cold of any kind, or in fact any sort
of physical ailment that man is heir to, will
seek to find some symptom indicative of la
grippe. The people who pore over medical
advertisements are tempted in like manner to
imagine they have the diseases they have seen
minutely described.
It is somewhat insolent, I suppose, to say so,
but I believe the influenza as it is reported to
be raging in Europe, has not yet reached Pitts'
burg, if it bis America.
V
Dalph EDsnwDS tells this story about
Adonis Dixey:
There is a paraeraph current about "Richard
Golden, who Is now starring in "Old Jed
Prouty," to the effect that the comedian was
the distinguished fore legs of the heifer in
Rice's everlasting "Evangeline" wben tbe same
was first produced in Boston some 16 years ago.
The paragraph states further that the equally
distinguished hind legs was none other than
Henry E. Dixey.
"That paragraph is correct," said Charles
MacGeachy, tbe manager of Mr. Golden, re
cently, "but it is incomplete as it stands."
"What Is lacking!" was asked. '
"Wiy, the cause of their subsequent dis
missal from the company for fighting inside of
the belter one night just after their act."
"How was that"
"Oh," explained Mr. MacGeachy, "Dfxey
was tbe easiest man to get out of tbe skin, but
in doing that be used to throw bis empty hind
legs on Golden and entangle bim all up. On
the night of the unpleasantness Golden deter
mined to let himself out first and overwhelm
Dixey with the entire skin. The latter under
took to frustrate Golden in tbe attempt by
holding on to the skin in a way that kept
Golden a prisoner to his forensic fore legs.
Golden resented this with a blow of bis fist on
Dixey'seye. But Dixey sailed in and the two
future eminent comedians went at it within the
mock heiter like two cats in a meal sack. The
scene-shifters and beholders were obliged to
sit on the wriggling mass and rip open tbe
heifer before they could extricate and separate
tbe pugnacious leggists. They were discharged
on the spot and Bice suppressed the particu
lars of tbe Battle of tbe Legs by industriously
assigning some other reason for the change in
the cast.
"The men never spoke or recognized each
other again until last spring, when Dixey
strolled by accident into tbe Union Square
Theater and discovered bis fore-legged foe of
16 years ago starring in 'Old Jed Prouty.'
Golden sidled up to the box where Dixey was
sitting and said 'sotto voce: "Say, Legsy, old
boy, have a glass of beer with me after the
show.' Tbey did so, and they have been the
greatest of friends since, to the relief and grat
ification of their mutual acquaintances."
AN INSUBANCE COMPANY- ATTACKED.
Massachusetts' Commissioner Criticizes (he
Acts of tbe New York Life'.
Boston, December SO. Insurance Commis
sioner Merrill bas written an open letter to
President W. H. Beers, ot the New York Life
Insurance Company, one of the largest life In
surance companies in tbe world, pointing out
what be calls unlawful actions of said com
pany, He charges tbe company with Issuing a
misleading policy and making an unfair dis
crimination among Insurants. The Commis.
sioner says that recently there bas come to the
notice ot his department a form of policy is
sued oy wis company, caneu tne "ordinary lire
distribution policy." Careful examination or
this policy, he says, shows it to benotouly
wholly inconsistent with tbe spirit of tbe stat
ute but contrary to its language, while its pro
visions render it unfair, misleading and en
snaring. Major Benjamin 8. Calef, the New England
manager of the New York life Insurance
Company, said to-day that while none of the
policies which Major Merrill objected to bad
been issued In Massachusetts, be believed that
the scheme was a good one.and several experts
who examined it were of the same opinion.
-, A Vnluablo Palillcatlan.'
The Dispatch has received from W, T.
Hornaday a copy of nis work on "Tbe Ex
tinction of the American Bison' published by
the Smithsonian Institution. It is a hand
somely illustrated volume, replete with inter
esting facts ot much scientific value,
A Dignified Exir.
From the "Washington Post.1
December came In like a lamb and is going
out like a daqde-linn.
DEATHS OF A DAT.
Morton C. Flaber.
IDT CABLE TO THE DISPATCH.)
London. December 3a-CopyrIht.-Morton
U. Fisher, a wealthy Californlan, well known
in New York, and one of the best known Ameri
cans in London, was fonnd dead In his chambers
to-day. Morton spent San day evening at the
bouse of a friend and went home early. He was
heard breathing heavily all tills morning, and his
door beinc forced at once he was found dean.
Fisher was a widower, about 5i years of age. with
no children. lie had been In London 3 vtjrsflnd
constructed tbe Worth Metropolitan Tramway
here. He was the son of Jabez Fisher, a Quaker
of .Philadelphia.
Colnnel G. EIIU Porter,
CUHBEIILAND, MD., December 50. Pr.'G. Ellis
Sorter died at LoBaoouing to-day in his 63th year.
Dr. Porter was a prominent Kepubllcan and a
mason. April IB, 1861. he made Ms nrst speech
against secession, and organized a military com
pany of which be was made captain. Jlo after
wards served as Major. Lieutenant Colonel and
Colonel In the Twent -third Maryland (I'otoinac
HomeUrtpa.de). in I ssi he was surgeon in charge
of the Cumberland Hospital.
Alexander Hamilton.
NEW York, December 80. Alexander Hamil
ton, grandson or the first Secretary of tha
Treasury, died this morning at his home
at Irvington-on-the-Hndson in hl 79th
year. Tbe immediate cause of Mr. Hamilton's
death was heart failure. .Mr. Hamilton, who was
Go years of age, died suddenly of heart disease.
He had occupied tbe old homestead from bis boy
hood. The estate consists of 55 acres, snd bears
Hev. Dnvid MoFall.
A telegram announces the death of Key. Dsvld
MeFall, pastor of the Chamber street K. p.
Church. Boston. Mr. McFall was a son-in-law of
the late Dr. A. M. Mil lgan. of the Eighth street
charcb, this city, and was a delegate to the recent
convention of toe National Ueforin Association,
lor which he prepared an able paper entitled,
"Catholicism Versos Public School."
Hire, Mnrln KInjr.
Mrs. -Maria King, widow of the late Dr. S. M.
Xing, of Uonongahela City, died Bunday morn
ing at her home In that place. Mrs. King was M
years of age, and bad spent her Hie in Mononga
hel City Dr. C. , )ng, of this city, is son
ot the deeeased.
Mlsa Uertrndf "Rnpp.
Miss Gertrude Rapp, aged 81, granddaughter of
George Espp, tbe founder of the Economite So
ciety, died at her borne at Economy on Sunday
evening. Ry her death the number of members
in the society has.been reduced to 29.
lirrnnrd lioary.
Gbeensbueo; Decembers. Bernard CSassr. "for
many years proprietor of tbe-Xatrebe House, at
LairoDe.' dl4 suddenly t his homeln that place'
last flight He was known to ail the knights J of
uv ....... ..... pi. ,.,.... V.WU.V...
) ' 46
IT THE THEATERS.
Welodraraa nt thri BiJjb nndlfarcoComedy
at jibe Grand.
Tbe newsies and bootblacks were in tbe
seventh heaven of delight last evening as tbey
crowded'tfie gallery of the Bijou Theater in
response to an invitation from tbe management
to witness. William A.Brady's production ot
Dion Boucjcault's melodrama. "After Dark,1'
The play is a good one, and has
several really dramatic situations, In addition
to the usual thrills which constitute the differ,
enpe between a drama and a meloarama. "A
tank of real water" is utilized in the second
act. where a very faithful representation is
given of the Thames by moonlIght,wlth"Londan
in the background, and into which the heroine
and her rescuer plunge with a reckless disre
gard of influenza possibilities. Another good
scene is a view of a section of the underground
railroad, with a train approaching.
. In some respects the company is hardly up to
the standard, some of the performers notwear
ing their roles as If tbev fitted, but as a whole
the cast was good, and kept tbe Immense audi
ence applauding tbrongh the greater, part of
the performance. Mr. William A. Brady gave
a .forcible representation of Ola Tom, the
wreck of a once bright and popular light
dragoon. Probably the smoothest character
was that of Captain Gordon Chumlev as
presented by Mr. J. W. MeConneL Mr.
E. L. Walton handled well tbe low
comedy part of Dicey MorrU. the proprietor of
a gambling house, and Mr. Frank Richardson
was a sufficient villainous Richard KnatchbulU
Miss Laura Bigger, as Eliza, was a very pretty
heroine, and well sustained her rather trying
role. The other parts were fairly well handled.
In tbe fourth act Marie Rene Introduced some
character dances; Kelly and Murphy thnmped
each other with gloves in a scientific manner,
and Bobby Gaylor gave a clever Irish sketch.
Grand Opera Honae.
Jn Hoyt's"A Hole in the Ground" there is
truly never-failing food for laughter laughter
Which is wholesome and loud. Lastpigbtonce
more it pde a big audience laugh oyer and
over again. Frank Lawton bad a good deal to
do with this conspiracy of merriment as he has
had in daja gone by be smashes trunks, whis
tles as it he had only just started in the busi
ness. Except Julian Mitchell, who is the
unique baseball mascot, we believe the com
pany is a new one. it is a good one in song, in
dance, and in comedy. Mr. Stanley is a deli
cious old hayseed, and the roplng-ln done by
Messrs. Gllfoll and McDowell fs roughly
and Jiroadly humorous, Bnt in tbe
way of novelties Miss Katie
Hart, the comely waitress, kicks
the records to pieces ih tbe dance. The enthu
siasm her twinkling feet awoke was' tremen
dous. The other girls one pretty and clever
enongn. If you want hearty laughter and do
not mind If the joking Is a little broad now and
then you cannot do better than to fall into
"A Hole in tbe Ground."
, HarrU' Thenter.
N. 8, Wood has for some time been In need of
a new play. He has It now. It Is entitled "Out
in tbe Streets," anditisaflrst-classmelodrama.
Mr. Wjood is the most popular star who visits
this house, and with his new play, presented as
it is by an excellent company and with tbe most
elaborate scenery that has filled the stage of
Harrii' Theater this year, be will, without
doubtjplayat each performance to audiences
whichhrill fill the house to the doors, as was the
case at both matinee and evening performances
yesteiilay. The company is so far capable that
it Is dot necessary to particularize, and Mr.
Wood! himself was perfectly at home in the
roleoj Barry Farley. Standing room could
not bd procured when the curtain rang up at
each serf ormance yesterday,
Harry Williams' Academy.
Another eood vaudeville comn&nT hnM tfin
boards at this, house for New Year's week.
John ind Harry Kernell have "kissed and made
up," knd bare organised a company at tbe
head f f which these two old favorites are seen
in one of their character sketches. Their
fellow entertainers are Fred J. Wnhoi- unit
Kitty) Allyne, Ward and Vokes, Nash, the
bicycle wonder, Weber and Fields, Baggessen,
Whose act must ba snnn tn hn AnnrpMntoH. th
Inmal Sisters, great Pittsburg favorites; Har
dinz and Ah Sid. and the .Briatz Rrnthan
The bbase had not even standing room to sell
ui, mi ciuy uvur last nigniv
World's Bluaeam
The procession of Eliza, weighing nearly a
tb,ons id pounds, by some singular system of
weigh ag, passed of without accident yesterday
and ! ie is now holdlne har oonrt at tha
Worh s Museum. Tbe other attractions are
new a d lively.
j.Vi , : s.
PltTSBDEG'S NEW POSTMASTER
Tells a nltndelDbln Reporter How He Ex
f. ipecta to Kan ins uuice.
From the fblladelphla Ipqulrer.
James A McKean. the recently appointed
postniastei at Pittsburg, is making a flying
visit to tbiiclty, and is with his sister at the
Lafayette. I When questioned last night asto
the policy to be pursued in tbe Pittsburg office
be said tbahe bad not as yet taken charge, as
his predecessor, John B. Larkin, had asked per
mission to remain until February L
"I am a Mslness man," he said, "and X In
tend to run ae office on business principles,
This may notjsuit everyone, bnt as I was put In
office by the tmslnets men of my city they ex
pect me to conduct the affairs of tbe office for
the interests t the city and not of the poli
ticians. Tbe soldiers will not be forgotten and
they will have(tho preference whenever possi
ble. In a week or two X can tell you more
about the office than at present, as I have
really not looked Into Its workings, but from
what X can understand there are no abuses to
correct. What appointments and removals will
be made is more than I can tell just at present.
Wherever a change is necessary it will be
made.
Mr. McKean is no stranger in the city, as he
comes hereon business every few weeks, He
returns home at noon to-day.
' HONORS FOR H S MINISTERS.
The Austrian Emperor's Method of Express
Ing Confidence in Hie Cabinet.
VrEiriJA, December SO. Emperor Francis
Joseph bas created Chevalier Gautscb von
Frankenthnm, Minister of "Worship and Educa
tion, a Baron, and has transferred General von
Welzerscbeimb, Minister for the National De
fense, to tbe upper bouse of tbe Reichsratu.
He bas also conferred the Grand Cross of the
Order ot Leopold on Count von Falkenhayn,
Minister of Agriculture, and the first-class
decoration of tbe Order of the Iron Cross on
Count von Scboenborn, Minister of Justice,
andon Herr Zalewsky.
It Is believed that the Emperor's action was
taken to openly exnress his confidence in the
Cabinet on the eye of the conference n Ger
man and Bohemian affairs to be held iaVienna
on January 15, at which an endeavor will be
made to arrange an entento between the Ger
mans aud tbe Czechs.
.Hovr lo On n Good Turn.
From the Harrlsbnrg Patriot,
If the author of the McGinty joke will kind
ly celebrate the first day of the new year by
blowing out tbe gas before retiring all will be
forgiven.
" THE WORLD'S PAIR QUESTION.
Chicago Tribune: Between sneezes Chi.
cago continues to pile up her subscription for
the WorloVs Fair.
6t. Path, pioneer JPfesi: The name should
be modified, So far as the "World's Fair is con
cerned fbe New Yorkers are at last developing
into Knickerbockers.
WASHTif gtojj Star: There is a man In New
York who makes his living by waking peopte
up. No effort should be spared to put him on
the World's Fair Committee.
St. Louis -Post Dispatch: St Louis Is loom
ing up In the World's Fair contest and Chicago
Is showing signs of flight whlMrwfll develop
into a panic before tbe battle Is over.
Peoria Transcript: Subscriptions to the
World's Fair fund la New York have ceased.
The New Yorkers have concluded it will be
best to allow Congress to..f uroisa all tbe money.
Des Moines llegftler: St "Louis has np
show' of securing tbe fair. She is out or tbe
race. It took tbe slow Southern blood too long
to warni up on tbe first quarter, and she was
distanced before the homestretch was reached,
yM.rvyrxvfx Bentinel: Congressman Flower1
is reported to express confidence that New
York will be chosen as the site of the World's
Fair. As a representative pf. New York it is
Mr., Flower's regular business to express confi
dence. Kansas frrr Stars The industrious World
of New York Is publishing "designs for an en-
trance to
the World's Fair," It is not ob
t designs for ad entrance to the
serVed tb!
World,'
ir in New York are troubling Coo-
Stes. Y
It is rather Important lust now Out
the.d
should be concentrated'ia wash-
ington...
r ,x
IV t ii.v V. s Al'-. - v " jwa " ;-. . ".-v... .-' KSMWtiCWB-iWk-": i'.'-t - jk nHnkg&sJPUaixL AsV. ',. : , - at
OT YEAR EBOQBAMMB.
White Honse Festivities Other Coming Re
options nrtbn Capital Mrs, IHeKee to
belrst LndyPro Tempore Mrs. Dior
ton Attncked by Iho Grip.
trnOM A STAT (iOIUIESFONDETr,)
Wasimoto, December That most in
teresting of announcements to "Washington's
official society, the programme of the White
House festivities, is out, and now fashionable
and official social elements will ie able with
knowledge to prepare adequately for the grand
ronnd. On Tuesday evening, January 7, tbe
ministerial dinner will occur. "Ministers" i
pow the proper word, for a member of thfr Cab-
mens no more merely a "Cabinet officer," or a
"member of the Cabinet" He is a "Cabinet
Minister." This Is a Select dinner, at which
only the President and Mrs. Harrison, tbe Vico
President and Mrs. Morton, and tbe "Cabinet
Ministers" and their wirrs will ba present As
yet there Is no other way to designate, tha
Wives of the ministers except to call them by
that homely name, but tbe advisability is being
discussed of awarding them the title of "hon
orable," as "the Hon. Mrs. Blaine," and so on.
Xt'is decided that Mrs. Harrison will preside at
their first state dinner, as it will he unlet and
exeluslve, of the nature of a. gathering of an
official family. As none of the other state din
ners will occur until after the expjratlon of the
month allowed by society for mourning, Mrs,
Harrison wlll.tage ber place as the President's
wife and "the first lady of the land," and pre
side at dinners and take part at receptions.
On January 14 tbe evening will be given to
tbe gorgeous reception of tbe diplomats, and on
the evening of the 21st these same gorgeous
diplomats wili be dined and wined, for there
will he no prohibition at tho White House now
any more than in Cleveland's time, custom
giving excuse for an act which would otherwise
be left out of the Droeramme. Tho fat rood
feeders of the United States Supreme Court
will be dined and wined on tha eveningof Feb
ruary 4. This is always one of the jplllestof
state dinners, for the Supreme Court Justices
are used to it through long years, and are well
acquainted with each other; so there is not the
least stiffness nor formality.
These are ail the official dinners that wUl.be
given previous to the Lenten season, which be
gins early this year, and Is observed by society
because so many pf the leaders of fashion are
Catholics or Episcopalians, Tne receptions
will pegln wjth the great mob of New "ear's
pay,wben everybody and bis neighbor squeezes
Into the White House, the only regulation
being that which prescribes the hours for
each classdiplomats In full feather. Supreme
Court Judces. Cabinet Minlafara Ranotnr
Congressmen and newspaper men and women
being admitted comfortablv. each in their
proper turn, before the masses are permitted
to begin the grand rush. It is formally an-
uuuuccu toai Mrs. .aicK.ee, tne r resident's
daughter, will take tbe place of Mrs. Harrison,
and "(or this occasion onlv" act tbe role of tho
"First Lady of the Land." The Cabinet Jadies
have decided, in many interviews, that this is
suite the proper thing, in view of Mrs. Har
rison's late bereavement, and there is no jeal
ousy on the part of any of them.. Conse
quently, Mrs, Morton, the wife ot the New
Xorfc millionaire VJce President and Presi
dent of the Senate, will stand second to the
wife of the obscure Indianapolis shopkeeper,
who holds no official position whatever, ana
thus illustrate in a way that even tbe upper
tendoni of official and social life can he
graciously and gracetully democratic when it
Chooses.
The grand Congressional reception, exclu
sively for Senators and Kepresentatires and
their wives, will be held the evening of Janu
ary 28. On the evening of February H will
take place the reception of the officers of th
army and navy, about tbe only time cavalry, ar
tillery and infantry and the jolly jack tars get
a chance to show their uniforms together. The
last great reception will be held the evening of
February 18 for the general -public, and there is
usually crush and jam enough to last even the
curlostty-loving public for the rest ottbe year.
The fashionable people are connting on a very
brilliant post-Lenten season, as tbe early ad
vent of Lent will end that period of somber
ness a little after the first of April, just at that
biiuo wuou vrtuiuugbun JSXUU DIOWU Wlin 1011-
age and flowers, and reveling in matchless
weather. Congress will yet beln session, and
everybody will be in trim for a lively whirl of
social dissipation.
It is learned this evening that Mrs. Morton Is
attacked by "La Grippe," and may not be able
to assist at tbe New Year's reception, or to en
gage in the supplementary New Year's recep
tion of her husband, the Vice President Some
spiteful ones are already saying that it. is a very
convenient influenza which comes around just
when Mrs. Morton does not want to stand sec
ond to the Indianapolis shoeman'S wire'" at the
White House, but this is really mallclpus, as
Mrs. Morton is known to be perfectly satisfied
with the arrangement and has insisted that it
couldn't reasonably be expected to bo planned
otnerwise. If Mrs. Morton be too 111 to take
part In either reception, the Vice President
w(U either hold a reception by himself or im
port a relative from New York to assist him.
This, too, will be a sort of opening of tbe re
modeled Bell mansion, now owned by tbe Vice
President
Tbe New Year will be a dull "day at tbe resi
dences of most of the Senators, as many of the
statesmen ire ont of the city, and among them
bgta Quay and Cameron. Lightnee.
A FEEAKISH wildcat well.
After Being Abandoned for Six Weeks It
Suddenly Brgi.ni to Flow.
rSFXClAI. TEPEOIIAM TO THJ8 DISPATCH.!
BUTIee, December 80. Two months ago
Bredln & Heydrick drilled a wildcat well on
tbe John Kennedy farm, in Adams township.
Some oil was obtained in the 100-foot sand, and
the well was torpedoed. The shot split the
casing and the well caved in. Considerable
effort was made to remove the br ken casing,
but all to no purpose. The fishing job was
given up as a hopeless one six weeks ago, a new
rig was erected and everything put in shape for
drilling another hole, wben, to tbe surprise of
everybody concerned, tbe abandoned well sud
denly began flowing, the little stream ot oil
and water making its way across the lease
through the Dean farm adjoining.
What subterranean commotion caused the
overflow, wben tbe well was bridged and noth
ing bad been done to it for six weeks, is bard to
determine. The well is two miles southeast of
the Balfour development, and close to tbe
Allegheny county line. It is attracting consid.
erable attention, and will undoubtedly cause
more drilling in the vicinity.
IT LACKED INTEREST.
Tha
First Dance Given by lbs Plliabnrg
Cotillon Club.
"Whafs in a nameT A rose by any otber
name would smell as sweet" And so tbe first
dance given last evening by the Monday Even
ing Dancing Club, the new cognomen, for the
Pittsburg Cotillon Club, was strikingly ana
logons to the dances given under tbe old re
gime. Some pew features were introduced,
tbe. decorations of tbe stage were moro elabor
ate than formerly perhaps, and a 12 o'clock
snpper was served, but the same lack of Inter
est' in tripping the light fantastic that bas
characterized the whole season was quite per
ceptible. The german. that was expected to form at 9
o'clock, did not materialize until a much later
hour. It was lea by Mr- Blair Painter, Mr.
William Proctor and Mr. Harrv Sincer. tbe
otber member nf the committee, ilr, Frank
Sprout, being otherwise engaged just at pres
ent The patronesses ot the evening were Mrs,
JohnH. Bicketson, Mrs. A. E. W. Painter.
Mrs. Ross i'roctor andMrsTW.H. Singer.
OUR FISHERMEN IN CANADA.
A Government Orgnn Favors Continuance of
the License System.
Montreal, December 80, Tbe Gazette tore
shadows that tha Government wblcb meets in
January, will favor legislation necessary to ex
pend, fhe modus vivendl. Continuing, the ar
ticle says: "The licensing system may" fairly bo
extended for another year. Under Its terms
Canada maintains every right to which claim Is
laid under tbe provisions of tbe treaty of 1818,
and by taking' out licenxes the flsnermen of tbe
United States recognize those rights in the
most practical way. It is Important to avoid
Irlotiun with our neighbors; It is equally im.
panant to maintain tbe valuable nghuseenred
by treaty, and both ot theaa conditions are se
cured by the license system. '
"Tbero is, moreover, hop of reopening nego
tiations with th United States, If nor tllrectlv
in connection with the fisheries, at least in re-latlon-fo
the reciprocal -interchange of prod
ucts, and in that event it will always be a
great and important advantage to have the
fishery question in such shape that our rights
can be firmly insisted upon,"
Ton mtill for Homo Fplha.
yrom tbe Chicago limes,!
The largest sbeetnf plate, glasr ever made in
this country is i2288 Inches. If it was made
into a Mirror It would still bo too- snail for
some'DeosIe. to se their- own- reflections of
themselves Is, '
mill popefl.'
Defending (he Bedford Revivalist.
TotheEditorof SbeDIspateh: ,
Accepting as trnetho report of yonr widely
circulated paper concerning the revival of re
ligion in the Bedford M. E. Church, is there
any wonder wa paused and re-read, the names,
of the rererenc gentlemen, who signed
tbe letter of remonstrance written to
the Rev. Smizer. pastor of tbe M.
E. Church of that town, as to the
manner of conducting services in his own
church. These gentlemen, whose sermons ap
pear ory and insipid, consequently lacking
appreciation of public sentiment, charge upon
tbe Methodist church, and especially its
pastor, tbe view of proselyting the members of
other denominations.
Did not these formal expounders of the
glorious gospel of Christ give evidence by
ine:r signature or grave ana serious lauus in
the? own churches on tha one band, or an en
vious disposition, kindred to dogmatism, on tba
other 7 Tbey disclaim tbe idea of revivals as
condncted by that church for bringing men
andwpmen to tbe Savior in snch a manner.
But are men and women converted lo God, do
tbey lead a better life, do they become sober,
moral and better citizens under the teachings
of tbe Methodist church T It so, then every
pastor of every church and every member of
every congregation should wish and pray them
Godspeed.
Are not 'b doors of the otber churches wide
open and bidding hearty welcome to all wbo
may cnoose to enter t Are not tne reverena
gentlemen of these churches nnder obligations
to
i preach the gospel to every creatnre and
elcorse all who may come to God through
welcome all who may
Where in the teachings of the New Testa
ment do they find authority to enslave and de
graaeany person to the level of machines?
Gentlemen, we are- free men. and respectfully
decline to attend yours or any other church
against our own free will. Have not Metho
dists the same equal rights to conduct their
services in their own way that you bavef Nay,
more than this. Are tbey not in duty bound to
exert all right and honorable influence on men
and women to induce them to become disciples
of Jesns Chnstr
If by lukewarmness, apathy or laCt oC ablll.
ty to draw the peoole to your several churches,
and you preach to vacant pews as a conse
quence, don't throw a stumbllm? block in tha
path of a brother minister possessed of more
magnetism, more fire, fervor, power, energy
and zeal. Brethren, go to his church, learn a
lessen by bis results, ask bim to preach
for yon, help bun by your faltb and prayers.
Then shall ycu receive an increase of spiritual
fervor, a deeper yearning for fallen humani
ty, a greater zeal for the spread of Christ's
gospel. Then, too, shall men and women turn
to God. Pastors shall be blessed, the com
munity moralized aqd spiritualized, and God
shall be glorified.
In conclusion, we certainly believe that were
all denominations as zealaua as Methodists, and
as anxious for accessions to the Church of
Christ, and as devout as- Roman Catholics,
there wonld soon be only a few straggling,
lonely, isolated, unsatisfied, disconsolate un
believers left outside the influence of God's
pardoning graee and love.
Yours, very respectfully.
BF2T CA.-n.ET.
WA8BOKOT0W, D. O., December 80, 3839.
Why He Fnvors Wnshlngto-.-
To the Edltpr of The Dispatch)
The mora Lthinr of it, the more I am satis,
fled that tbe national capital is tbe proper
place for holding such a gathering as the
World's Fair. As I understand it the enter
prise i9 to be under the general management of
tbe United States Government, who will direct
Its policy and be responsible for its methods.
If such Is the .case, it is eminently proper that
it shall be located where it can receive the at
tention necessary to creditably conduct and su
pervise its affairs. Then, again, If it is to be
under Government auspices, the invitations to
foreign countries should be Iseuec. from Wash
ington, and, if suoh invitations are accepted,
tbe representatives of those countries should
be received and welcomed at tbe capital of tho
nation. No one can deny thattbls is the only
proper and dignified way to proceed-
in the matter of tbe bull
an
ngs a very irapor-
tint question arises: If the fair is locate
a in
New York op Chicago, tbe buildings win re
nuire to be removed when the Exnosltloc is
over. Not soin Wftsbingtgnttbere tbey can be
built so as to conform pretty generally to de
partmental requirements afterward, and need
not be torn down and disposed of at a great
sacrifice. I think when large disbursements of
money belonging to the public treasury are
permitted, in every case the greatest economy
should be practiced. By that X mean that,
while the most liberal expenditures should be
authorized in the character and construction of
the buildings, yettheyshonld be so arranged
that they could be utilized for permanent nses.
It is an established fact that the various de
partments in Washington need more accom
modations, and bv following this plan the
buildings can remain and need not be removed
Or sold.
No ODfl wonlrl thmV nf linlrifno. ft XVrrrlA'
Fair In Frafl-ie ontsMrior Paris," its' etpltarr-or-f-
.uuitutm tw ztogiano, or oaxita tor vterxnany.
All rival cities, anxious to secure the Expo
sition, Till, if Washington U selected, give it
cordial support, from the faet of it being com
mon or neutral ground; and there being no
jealousy, all will work for Its success.
J. H. JonnsTOK.
Ptttsbubo, December SO.
A Veteran's Living Sacrifice. .
To the JSdltorof The Dispatch:
"Well, I am certain he was never in tbe front
ranks, never heard the zip of a bullet, but lay
In a dismounted camp during most ot the war.
How could be expect, or why should be have a
pension?"
The above remark, made on the streets a few
days since, cansed us to write this. Now then.
When a man enlisted he offered himself a living
sacrifice to tba honors and fortunes of war,
and had in everything to obey military disci
pllne and the orders of superior officers. How
could he then be a free agent and bunt glory in
the front while bis superior ordered tim to
tbe rear, orto tbe hospital r He may bare been
just as ambitions t j get hiscarcas filled fall of
lead as that "otber teller," but the fortunes of
war decreed otherwise.
This country is rich enough to pension every
soldier alike, according to the time he served,
whether in the hospital, rear or front ranks.
We notice this, too, that the "big" pensions,
with but few exceptions, are granted to tongs
who wore shoulder Straps, or to the recruiting
officers. We see this, also, that the county,
municipal and governmental fat offices are
chiefly held by General. Colonel or Caotaint
To settle an argument would the editor of
The Dispatch, or some one else, tell us bow
many private?, if any, bold office in Allegheny
county, and also why this wonderful country,
after promising every soldier 160 acres of land,
broka its faithf Did any of them get their
land warrant, or are tbey expected to go on It,
and fight the grasshoppers, cyclones, blizzards.
Indians and starvation from it like other citi
zens? Mack Macxesaz,
WELL8VH.LE, O., December SO, 1883.
Tbe American Fng.
To tbe Editor of The Dispatch:
Wben was tbe American flag firstnnfurled?
bciioomoT.
WrxsufSBUito, December 30.
Tbe resolution of the Continental Congress
of June 14. 1777, read: "Resolved, That the
flag of the United States ba ITstripes, alternate
red and white: that tbe Union be 13 stars, whlta
on a blue field, representing a- new constella
tion." Perhaps tbe first flag made according to
this resolution was displayed at Fort Schuyler
(now Borne), in Oneida county, on August 3.
1777, during the slego by tho British. Sheets
were cnt up to form the white stripes and the
stars, scarlet cloth made the red stripes, and
Captain Abram Swartwout's blue cloak served
a.s tbe field of- the Union. Paul Jones,
in tbe Banger, hoisted tbe flag November I,
1777. It is probable that the first time tha flag
was displayed In battle was on September 1L
1777, on tbe banks of the Urandywine, By the
act of January 13. 1791, tbe stripes were in
creased, together with tbe stars, wben a new
State was added, and in 1818 we had 20 stripes
and 20 stars. Intil8.by act of April . tbe
stripes were made 13 in number and a new star
was ordered to be added for each new State
admitted,
A Slight Inacearney.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
Id your issue of Sunday last a slight inaccur
acy -occurs in tha introduction to "An Ancient
Protest" tbe same being a document in posses
sion of George Plumer Smith relative to the
purchase of property tor a-tMnklng house by
tho directory ot tbe Bink of Pittsburg. Tbe
pioneer bank of 'Pittsburg was tbe Farmers'
and Mechanics', from 1810 t.t 1SI4 It was em
narrated during tbe wsr of 1812, and went nn
der in 1814. The second bank was the Plttaburp
Manufacturing Comp.im 1810 to 1814. lo tbe
latter year tne directors uncovered tnat they
were individually liable, and applied for a new
charter nnder the name ot tbe Bank of Pitts
burr?. After reorganizing under tbe new ehar-
ter, they purchased the property of the defunct
farmers' ana Aiecnanics' Bank, running
through from Third to Fourth- avanues, and
have occupied It ever since. The tbird bank
founded was tbe Branch Bank of the United
States 1817. It was located on Third avenue
between Market and Ferry, and afterward re
moved to Fourth avenue, opposite-the Bank of
Plttsbnrg. OLD TlXKB.
Pittsbubg, December 3a
Not Tbero for Ills Health.
Frpm tbe Kansas. City Star,
Calvin S. Bflce Js inhabiting. Okie l
days'agobddoaL'rnbre' numerously than pure-'
'W hvglftnlfi'nonflil.tl&njt AwninA. . ktv-.
;rrm :.;- zrr.
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WKIUIS CUHDE5SAIWS.
The oldest inhabited town in the world!
issaid fob Damascus. V -
A Chicago Jady gathered some Bpanisb?,
moss in Florida and brought it North with berAM i
Rhn hnnirlt nn it .ba.il.ii , -.lr 2 9
It b.oomed in tne room. The moss retained its t ?" ..
vitality for over a year. " .5y . .'-... ;
Five varieties of tba alternantnfi'
plant nativs cf tha Cane of aA tt 'Z'z&tVJr.
t14AiT tfk fintflA1 tlnwa hafla -. i W. 1. &
Alcazar grounds at St Augustine. The'brieSltl
rn!nrflnrw1nra'i nra- .w. M
vv.v. w wm,w HtCkkj CUClib
Auageaiaay 01 jsimwood, near Cia
Oinnatl, peiug taKen HI while ont driving r-I
quested 'ier drir c to take her to the office oft
nuuuuciMaa. it 1UI 3UO JUIOW WCIl. 16 did'
ao, ana she ajtja & few minutes alter hex ar
riT&I.
4
AKew York drygoods merchant siivi
that frequently some of tbe subordinate vP
ployes receive larger remuneration than .
"nip whose hand? rests tho main responstS
hulty for running a business. The men who
uautuj uidko uio most money in toe very large
firms are not the snpenntendent and bis chief
assistants, but tbe buyers of departments.
The biggest edible oysters in the world
are found at Port Lincoln, in South Australia.
They are as Urge as a dinner plate,and the same)
shape. They are sometimes more than a foot
across tbe sbelL and the oyster fits his shell so
well be does not leave much margin. It is a
new sensation, when a friend asks vou to lunch
at Adelaide, to have one oyster set before you
fried in bu tter or eggs and bread crumbs. But
it is a very pleasant sensation, for the flavor
and delicacy of tbe Port Lincoln mammoths
are proverbial in that land of luxuries.
The last pearl fishing season in Ceylon
could not have been more successful than it
was. Tbe season only lasts 23 days, and dnring
that period 11,000,000 oysters were brought to
the surface by 60 divers. Tbey are paid by one
fourth of the number. This season the. wbole
PJ22n?8,Tra,?0,dattll8rata ot 24 shillings for
1,000 shells. The government received 20,000
as their share and tbe divers 6,400. The.
largest pearls are wprth In Ceylon from 40 to
60, and in Europe they fetch three times the
price or more.
Af Ansonia, Conn,, some old women go.
together and cured r child of membranous
croup, after the doctors bad given it up. Tha
patient was thoroughly wrapped up in flannels,
and his bead and throat were rubbed with,
goose grease. A dr se of the stuff, mixed with
vinegar, was with difficulty forced down tha
child's throat In a short time he vomited up a
large portion of mucus and broke up the clog
ging mattsr in the throat B.:ng placed in bed
be soon wentto Sleep, and the next day be was
playing about the hduse, and appeared to bo
far from dying.
Salem, Jfasi., formerly had a large
trade with Africa, All that trade was grad
ually transferred to Boston. Itisjastaslarga
as it ever was, bat because the country bas
grown so enormously it has become small in
comparison with other lines of trade. One of
cur modern ships will take a cargo to Africans
large as all the ships of Salem in tba old days
could carry in a year. There are' over a dozen,
vessels engaged in African trade from Boston.
There is close competition with the English f on
this trade. Ships take out miscellaneous goods.
Bum Is the chief thing; Then bright calicoes,
beads, muslo boxes and so on. The return
cargo is mostly palm oil, gold dust furs and"
ivory.
The trained seals now beinir exhibited
ip Oeorgia had a big picnic at Macon Thursday.
They were put in the large lake in Central
City Park. Tbe seals, not being accustomed
to such a largo sheet of water, were somewhat
difficult to control. During tho exhibition one
of the seals seized a setter dog. which had
jumped into the water, and pulled him to tbe
bottom of the lake. T4ie poor canine was not
as expert as bis teacher would like, and was
drowned. After the performance tbe seals
took it into their hearts to have soma sport
with the fish in the lakes, and so intent were
they npon their unique sport, that they took
no heed to their masters, who have not. as yet,
been able to induce them to abandon their
sport and return to their cages.
--In common with other matters of statis
ticaliritarest incidental to tbe approach of the
new year, influenza figures are helping to swell
the annual round-up. Of course the records go
a long ways back of ordinary returns for the
fiscal year. The Sfovoe Vremya furnishes fig
ures showing that in 1729, when tha whole of
Europe suffered severely from la grippe, the
disease caused 909 deaths in London within one
week. In Vienna 60,000 persons were affected.
In 1737 and 1743 there were further outbreaks,
and tbe deaths in London amounted to LOGO.
In 1775 domestic animals wera first attacked by
it During I7S2, in St Petersburg. 40.000 per
sons tell 111 of it within 24 honrs. Between
1510. when the diease first attracted attention
-a.Mln. and 16V thaj-a-jera .altogether 500
aiaunct epidemic or tnnuenza In Europe- Iir
St Petersburg quinine is now servsd out dally
to tba troops mixed with vodka.
The mementoes of an old love affair are
always interesting. Romance never dies. Tba
flavor of It clings to the materials which aided
in carrying it on. And so the finding of a be
grimed and badly battered metallic box con
taining a locket abuodle of parchment letters;
and a faded ribbon on the revolutionary battle
field of Stone Arabia sets tha imaginative mind
at work to weaving a romance of tba days of
'73. One side of the locket was engraved with
a monogram. Tha letters were evidently
written by a titled woman living In London in
1778-9 to her betrothed, wbo was a Captain
Lowe, probably with the English force" in
America. Tbe last letter told of tbe failing "
health of tha writer and of ber wish to see ber ,,
love again. It was received just before tbe
battle of Stone Arabia. Did the .over return
to England, leaving tha ease behind, or was he
killed in battle, and is the package ot letters -so
carefully preserved the abiding proof that
bis true love's love was returned T
A Bridgeport, Conn., young woman
made a sensation last week. Sheisabrunette,
and had long been vain ot her handsome .
glossy black tresses, bnt one day having read
that Paul had bleached her hair, she concluded
that a young lady act have straw-colored hair
in order to be in the swim. The Bridgeport' -
Mrt Hpriripfl n drift tnwnrri hlRAhnrI hair hv
easy tacks; she would start in for auburn hair;
So she bought a drug store preparation that
was warranted to turn tbe hair any hue Ue-.
sired, "or money refunded." and applied it
She put tho stuff on Just before going to bed,
and next-morning awoke to a bead of hair that''
was ot a deep and glistenipg purple, like tha
color on a oeacock's dorsal ulumase. Bha
made another trial of her bleaching fluid and
ber balr came out on the second morning a
vivid blue; so a Bridgeport newspaper advised
her to enter a New York; dime museum under,
the pseudonym of the "Blue-Haired Bella ofj
Bugleville." But she became frightened and
consulted a physician, who told her to wash
her bead in soan and water. She did so, and ,
on the third morning her balr bad become as
white as wool, and exceedingly brittle. Then
tbe Bridgeport journal advised ber to becoma
an "Olive-eyed Albino," but she is waiting for
nature to reproduce the original color.
IFLIPPAKT AND FANUFUL. ' ;
The Indians are the largest land owners. A
in the country, bnt they have raised more hair- '
than potatoes, thus In. Minneapolis Journal. ? i
Brown Jones has got tha grip. ''$?
Koblnson-IUshe? I'shawl That's too bad. if
Brown Notblne- very bad about it He's got t-
...i. -Ian mmA .,.tm1 tew TTftf. Af., vm. .. ?
UiCftaU aM ViO"., .- .,y.w.
inow.JttUicauzee nxscontin.
have been trying to get a gold dollar coined tho Jgt
yearl was horn, ,-.''
Miss Custlin I'm afraid there must b a very,,
high premium on them now, Stio Xurk bveningL. .,"
Poor Old Man. La Grippe (to "Uncle
Sam You'll feel me In every part of your lean old' ,
carcass before 1 am done witn you.
Uncle asm (red-eyed but defiant Don't 'bltaj
oil mors than you can ab-chool Chicago TrUJ
tune.
THE' old Qcrsnox.
Fifteen apples, fourteen pies, A.
Sixteen doughnuts, one whole cake
, Johnnie ate, yet Johnnie, cries:
Whence doih come this stomach ache? -
Neia Xork hrentng Sua. T'
THE SS3I02V WHO TPESS TO THE 1KVTV. ' -.
There are all kinds of people abroad in th
street,
Ofev'ry condition and class; . 'rr
Some Jostle and crowd us whenever we meet
And others go peacefully past j. "
But there's one wo encounter -wherever we stray
Ur wnom waa do giaaiy oereit, t
go, wuy uoew-EruTiuciicwciiii uiu nii
The demon wbo tarns to the left
He seems to take pleasure In dodging atmat-r-
To him 'M the highest delight . "
To fill your whole soul with a horrible doubt iffy
IfheUUnrntotheleftortherlirht. "li.
In a manner that baQes your reason complete-',
rt lth a movement both snbtle and deft . '
He'll manage to knock you dear off or your feet
Tbe demon wbo turns to the left.
There's tbe woman we alt of u frequently meet
whose narasol's aimed at our eye;
And the champs who persistently trann on 03
feet
Thr1rel!firetfYhard taretbv.
Bat there's no oth?r lunatic ronBlna;foaB(1
WpoiomJiyorsenae.ls Dereii
if o'ctner transgressor .has raec'Ksn foand
Like the demon who turns to tbe Ieftfi
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