BELIGIOUS BRITTANY. Paganism and Christianity Strik ingly Blended Over There. WAKEMAFS MCE PEN PICTURES Of the Most Superstitions of All Evangelical Believers. GOBLIXS AND DEAGOXS TET OH GUAKD I rcOBKKSPOXDXlfCI Or THI DISPATCB.l Quimpeble, Betttant, December 26. In the interweaving of paganism and Chris tianity there was undoubtedly large ec clesiastical sanction entertained toward many of the superstitions practices of the Armoricans, the ancient Breton people. As with their race brethren of Ireland, "Wales and Conwall, the retention to almost the present day of a distinct language, and the fostering of the clan theory of society, lelt countless legends, superstitions and customs among this stolid though remarkably im pressive and sentimental people. The most trivial study of the subject will reveal, espe cially in Brittany, Ireland and Cornwall, precisely the same tremendous groupings of pagan monuments; startlingly similar cus toms and practices lingering as ineradicable outgrowth of a like pagan influence from a common Celtic parentage; a rude and al most barbaric mythology, half-paean and half-Christian, from a like stock and time; and, a wondrous troop of wraiths, fairies, elves, and quaint old legends clung to and treasured with the same interesting and defiant perti nacity. Britanny hat less of the queer and comical giants and giant fighters like Bel lerian, Cormoran. Jack the Giantkiller, Holiburn of the Cairn, Nancledry, Trebig gan, Blunderbns, Gogmagog, Thnnderbone and Bolster, of Cornish mythology. Breton peasantry are perhaps not in the thrall of so many and such a variety of the "wee folk," as may be found in the "brownies," th "spriggans," the "buccas" or "knockers" and the "piskies" of Cornwall, or the "ban shee," the "farshce," the "dullaghans," the little imps in green, the "leprechauns," of Ireland; but still the Breton folk boast their giants bold, as wonderful as Cornwall's; their demonology possesses kindly elves and torturing Jairy rascals of' equal standing, and from the" same oricin as those of the Irish; while I find innumerable portents, superstitions and superstitious customs pre cisely the same among the peasantry 01 eacn country. BELIGION OF THE iOWXY. The remarkable thing about it all is that, while the lowlv of Ireland and Brittany are fervent Catholics, there is scarcely a Catho lic in Cornwall, nine-tenths of its people being equally as ferventWesleyan Method ist", and the remainder, Church of England adherents. Among all these people the wonderfnl stone monuments of tneir early pagan ances tors are the haunts of the "wee folk." The latter hold possession of them; perform nightly the old Drnidic rites about them; guard untold treasures beneath them; entice unworthy folk to them for all manner of confusion and worse; cause blights and charms to be wrought within their weird presences; create tests of marital fidelity or ol innocence or gnilt of crime; provide sover eign remedies lor certain diseases; give op portunities to those who will brave their presence at night for sale of their souls to the evil one, as well as for secret riles which effect expatiation; and issue forth at all grewsome hours to all manner of folk with harm and help on expeditions of punish ment and errands of mercy. All this is to that degree of likeness and persistent treasuring that were there no other ethnological parallels, one could not escape the proof that the first Celts of Ire land and the first people of Cornwall and Brittany were not only common stock, but were, while pagans, a people of common language, enstoms, and of interest as against the savage and finally all-conquering Sax ons. Another fact ot interest has aided in investing these granite enigmas of pagan times with sacred interest. When Chris tianity first strove to overthrow paganism in Brittany, Cornwall nnd Ireland, it was found necessary to temporize with existing belie s. Thus, the earliest Christian mis sionaries dare not at once destroy, or cause the removal of, the ogham stones of Ireland, the huge monoliths of Cornwall and the mighty pillar stones and dolmens of Brit tany. Instead, as mighty emblems of the new religion were built upon them, or be tide them. THE STONE CBOSS EVEBYTVHEBE. Go where you will in these three lands, each marvclonsly rich in pagan remains, the great stone cross will be seen gleaming pure and white, upon or beside, the emblems of the Drnidic faith. So intense was the reverence for the latter among the early peoples that no one save Charlemagne, in Brittany, ever had the power or hardihood to attempt their widespread destruction. This compromise effected and ever since maintained between Paganism and Chris tianity has always been thoroughly recog nized by every priest of Ireland and recteur of Brittany; while the power of "Wesley in gaining complete control over the hearts of the people ot Cornwall was in no other way so remarkably shown as in his preaching, precisely as did SL Patrick 1,300 years be- lore him, in the open nelds, where the Christian Cross and the pagan monument, hallowed in common by the people, stood side by side together. One must know these facts to know these people, and to understand the deeply sacred traditional association in their minds link ing their lives and religion of the present ton the llruidic belieis and practices and the heroic myths of the past. It accounts not only for the sanctity with which all these relics are regarded. Cut also for the extraor dinary demonology with which they are in vested and those weird and semi-barbaric powers with which they are accredited. It is a universal belief in the department of Morbihati, among the lowly, that one cures Rheumatism by dragging himself across or Ahrough a hollowed Druidio stone and in yoking the good offices of St. Etinne. J A bit of stone chipped fronn these pagan monuments is a sovereign cure for headache Jr with the Breton peasantry. Tho "rocking stonei." or stones of the dwarfs." fnrnish tests of innocence, as in Ireland and Corn wall, but in an exactly opposite manner. In the latter countries one accused of guilt may move a rocking stone bv the gentlest touch, if innocent. Here one's innocence is alone certified to if the application of his greatest strength fails to cause its vibra tion. A NOTEWOBTHT XltYSTINQ PLACE. Each Saturday in June the youths and lasses repair to a pagan dolmen, rigorously excluding all married folk, lor long and vigorous dances about the ancient and sepulchral monument. The men are pro vided with green wbeatears in their hat bands, the maidens with flax blossoms pinned to their high, white caps. On ar riving at the place those whose affections or troths have beep plighted, lay their wreaths J of wheat and flax upon the gray old stones. If during the festivities ihtlf loves remsin I unchanged the offerings will for weeks re- main green and freshjpbut if their affections I be diverted, the .withering of the wreaths will instantaneously follow. These are ,bxft a few instances among scores I could citeot Breton belief in the su pernatural powers, in common with a like or similar belief of the Irish and Cornwall peas antry, innerenur existing in tness pagan monument?, "When we come to the demo nology, legendary lore and treasured every day superstitions and portents, the affinity is quite as marked and entertaining. The generic term for all fairies and elves of active viciousness or geniality in Cornwall is "pixy;" in Ireland, "sidh," Anglicized into "shee," as "far-shee." and "ban-shee." nan and woman of the mountains or fairy mansions; In Brittany, "Korrigans," of which there are many families, the principal ones, representing respectively good and evil spirits, being the "Teuz," and the "Korils." The pagan sepulchral and Druidic monuments as well as Christian churchyards are invariably the headquarters of all these little people; but for some in explicable reason the wild moors strewn with dolmens and pillar stones are es pecially the domain of powerful evil spirits. ABE THOUGHT TTONDEBFDT. HEALERS. The "Teuz" issue from their abodes in friendly beneficence to assuage all manner of ills at the humble Breton fireside, and to exert the kindliest offices with the sodden peasant in his interminable toil in the fields, or to aid the fisherman in his hazardous labors along the howling coast; but the "Korils," those malevolent imps of Breton superstition, are ever on the alert to annoy and distress. They dance and perform the wildest orgies around dreary dolmens and pillar stones from nightfall until daybreak; and all manner of evil will befall him who chances upon their enchanted ground during these witching hours. The least penalty he will sutler is to be compelled to dance with such fury that every bone in his body seems breaking, until the crowing of the cock at the first streak of dawn; disbelieving ones who have braved their powars have been whisked through the air never to reappear in mortal form; drunken pipers, desecrating their roadside haunts with saucy rondeaux snd roulades, when returning from the vil lage fetes, have paid penance with their lives; and these elfin enemies of mankind are at the bottom of every manner of mis- cmet ana mistortune Detailing the humbler classes of Brittany. Breton folk have no sad and mournful "banshee," as have the Irish; but what could be more touching than the universal superstition that on the eve of the Pete des Morts, in November, the souls of the de parted are allowed to visit their loved ones upon earth aud reinhaoit the places they on occupied, all in benignancy and con tent? On that night there is not an humble home in Biittany where, on the awed and hushed retiring of the occupants, the fire place is not banked high with blazing fir, and the table set with the best viands the household possesses, for the possible use of the ghostly company, "so numerous in the house," Souvestre tells, "as the leaves in the deep Breton lanes." Out of this belief and practice has grown a superstition of the grimmest character. The return of the spirits of the dead compels the appearance of a grisly retinue. These attendants are known as "Lavandieres de Null" washer women of the night. These phantoms wash the shrouds of the dead. MOKSTEES GUAEDIKO TREASTTBES. There is also in Brittanv a nnmprnrn brood of monsters, dragons'and unhappy spirits whose offices are especially to watch over the untold treasures concealed beneath pillar-stones and dolmens. Once each year at the honr of midnight mass of Christmas eve, these tortured spirits are freed from antagonisms to fraternize with each other, or to quench their burning thirst at wells and streams. At this moment, all these wonder ful treasures lie unguarded, and if theDlaees are approached with certain herbs entwined with cinquefoil, a chance is given mortals to obtain the coveted wealth. The difficulty in securing it, however, has always been the fear on the part of the peasants that the stony hosts would rush back pell-mell from their yearly diversions to sentinel their posts, and claim the treasure searcher's spirit as their own. Brittany, always rich in heroic legends, is especially so in those ever-delightful ones which wreathe the memory of Britain's "stainless King," ArthnroftheTableBound. Though Cornwall, Tays claim to Arthur's birth place, and plscexn death, atCamelfordV Br'utany's tendcrest heritage of legend and song is in the imperishable traditions of his heroic exploits upon -her soil. There is a rock in Pinistere to wfclcb. for 17 years he fast ened his steed. On the strand at Lannion he slew the dragon. At Mont St Michael dwelt the terrible giant who fell by Arthur's arm. Prom the summit of the Menez-Arrez Mountains his shadowy hosts is seen to de file at break of day whenever war is impend ing; ' Cool Weather Improving Business in the Big Western Cities. IRON ADVANCES BUT COAL IS DULL. Money Easy at Sew lork, Though Stocks Are Somewhat Depressed. STATISTICS OP IMPOETS AND EXPORTS "Horsemen all mounted on war steeds of gray. like the mist wraiths; ' Coursers that snort with the cold on the heights of tbe mountains. That shadowless isle of Avalon to which he was conveyed after his mortal hurt is held by Breton folk to be a little islet off the Cot tes du Nord. And among the peasantry there is an almost universal loving belief in good Arthur's -final return, in fulfillment of Mer lin's prophecy. AX AEEAT OP SUPERSTITIONS. Along down this line of Breton wraith, mystery snd portent come countless troops ot every-day superstitions. Many books might be filled with them. Here are a few any one can gather in this quaint land within a fortnight: Blight will come upon all infants unless blessings are bestowed be fore they are fed, or if passers fail to call out, "God bless you I" to its mother. Pass in? a sick person through the split trunk of a live fir tree will remove disease. To shoot a raven will bring down a curse, as King Arthur's spirit went into the Breton raven. The oxen at midnight of Christmas eve may be found upon tneir knees groaning in prayer. The souls of fishermen lost at sea, without grace, "hail their names" along the coast at each anniversary of loss of life. To pnt wooden shoes on the wrong feet is certain presage of coming temptation to great crime. As in Cornwall in the departments of Morbihan and Finistere bullock calves are still secretly ujurueu 10 urive evu spirits irum me neras. Hundreds repair annually to a men-an-tol, or holed pagan stone, near Carnac, to be drawn through it for the cure of rheuma tism. If tbe flame in tbefire-place ever as sumes the form of a coffin, death will pres ently come to that house. If one observes proper conditions of dress and mind and can place foot upon the plant herbe d'or- or selago, the language of any animal will become as plain to him as mail's. The old pagan custom of St. John's eye fires is universal iu Brittany. Any Breton irl who dances around nine of these fires efore midnight, will marry within the year. Cattle driven through their em bers will be preserved from witch-evils. Any one who will walk nine times around the great men-an-tol, near Lannion. nine times at midnight may ever after enjoy powers of the evil one; end a woman may become a witch by sacrificing the blood of a black cat at the same witching hour on a "stone of the betrayed spouses." The howling of a dog with his bead toward the house; the crowing of March roosters belore midnight; the sud den appearance of swarms of butterflies; or the losing by a cow of her cud, bodes death. Tbe crops of blackbirds hold the souls of those exposed to purgatorial fires; and tbe maepie is the repository of the soul of an evil-minded woman. Edgab L. Wakeman. EAP1D TEANSIT TO FLORIDA. -'SPECIAL TELZGEAM TO Tin DISPATCH. I New York, January 10. Special tele grams to Bradztreet'i note the temporary ap pearance of colder weather, followed at im portant western cities, particularly Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City and St. Louis, by a moderately im proved distribution ot clothing, boos and shoes and grocery staples. The gain is not .large, being met by lower temperature and hampered by tbe unfavorable coiuution of wagon roads at the interior, Booth and "West Leather and lumber are cattle and hogs, with freer receipts, teild to weakness at "Western centers. Mercan collections generally are slow and the i mediate outlook is not for material improve ment At the "West, Indian corn is moving with freedom ; but South, farm products are shipped wilh less freedom, notably cotton. Hog products have been more active, with firm or steady prices, and in some instances slight-advances. stock: market depressed. The New York stock market was de pressed by tight money last week, and this week by the tronble about Beading in comes. Charges have been made that the executive of the Beading Company recently asserted that a dividend had been earned and would be declared on the income bonds. The management declares the dividend has not been earned and will not be paid. An election of Beading officials takes place Monday, and the excitement attending the situation is intensified by an attempt to change the official head of the Beading Com pany. The condition of the coal trade, aided by the Beading trouble, has affected the gen eral share market, and depression has re sulted. Sugar Trust has dropped to 50, the lowest on record, but has reacted. Money is easy at 1 to 7 per cent on call. Sterling exchange continues to favor the importation of gold, but the Bank of En gland prevents it by raising its rate of dis count, evidently fearing the results of the inflation in Argentine, and possibly the outcome ot the industrial investment craze in England. ADVANCES IN IBON. Beports to Brad'sfreef's of gross earnings of 02 railroad companies for 18S9 aggregate $327,330,853, an increase oyer 1888 of 9 per cent. Nominal advances are reported in prices of steel blooms, billets and slabs, in barbed wire and in several brands of south ern pig iron in the latter instance with a view to check speculative demand. Steel rails are expected to advance SI per ton be fore soring. Mills have already contracted for 810,000 tons of rails for 1890 delivery. Copper is up 4 cent to 15 cents and may go higher. The demand for flour and wheat has been dull, both at home and abroad, cash No. 2 red closing at cents over the previous week. Indian corn is more active, specula tively, with the close showing an advance of 4 to 14 cent on nearby options. Oats followed corn with rather, less activity. Stocks of wneatiffHmrtrntted8tates, both, coasts, and Canadas,out of farmers' hands, with like stock in Australia, in Europe and afloat from all countries for Europe, as The Trip Can Now lis Made In Thirty-Two and c Half Hoars. The Pennsylvania Bailroad yesterday an nounced that, with the completion of tbe new bridge oyer the St. John's river, iu Florida, they are now able to run solid trains from New York to Jacksonville. The trains will begin running to-morrow, and will leave New York on Monday, Wednes day and Friday of each week. The time to be made will be 32 hours. In addition to this, special excursions will be run to the winter resort on the 21st inst., February 4, 18 and March 4. A number of Tittsburgers will go shortly. J9-3HIRLEY DARE TO-MORROW'S 20. im xi uuDiitt aiscustes the auMtlon, "What is Beauty Without Youth J"' cabled to Bradstreet's, aggregate 115,800,000 bushels on January 1, 1890, against 133.800, 000 bushels on January 1, 1889, a decline of 18,000,000 bushels, 13i per cent. BBEADSTDFFS SENT ABROAD. Exports of wheat (and flour as wheat), from both coasts, United States and Canada, this week aggregate 2,317,221 bushels against 1,898,054 bushels last week and 1,682,885 bushels in the like week of 1889. The total wheat (and flour as wheat) ex ported July 1, 1889, to date, is 56,662,531 bushels against 53,982,000 bushels in a like portion of 1888-89. Notwithstanding free receipts of raw sugar, refiners have enjoyed a good demands which, with firm cables, is responsible fol an advance of 5-16 of a cent for raw aud ot a cent for refined sugars. Stocks of refined in the United States are reported to be 20,000 tons less than they were a year ago. There has been more activity in coffee, with prices J of a cent higher. Spring trade in cotton goods has opened encouragingly, a good pacltage .trade being reported. Print cloths are only moderately active. "Woolen goods are quiet. Deliv eries by agents of spring goods on orders are large. Baw wool is steady, but in moderate demand. Prices pre firm. Bight crop movement and improved speculative de mand have advanced cotton prices Jc to 5-16c. FAILURES OF THE WEEK. Failures reported to Bradstreet's, number 354 in the United States this week, against oiu jast wees ana 001 mis wees last year. Canada had 46 this week against 28 last wees:. The total of failures in the United States, from January 1 to date, is 663 against 623 in 1889. B. G. Dun & Co.'s weekly review of trade says: An easier money market and colder weather have helped business some. The large payments by the Treasury have much relieved the money market, the excess of disbursements over receipts during the past week having been no Jess than 15,200000. But the remarkable movement in foreign exchange, which has risen from M 84 to 54 86 during a single week, tends strongly to increase the impression tnat tbe advance in Vate by tbe Bank of England to 6 per cent and the refusal ot gold bullion for ex port by that bank have started a considera ble realizing on American securities by foreign holders. DE2IAND3 FROil EUROPE. The possibility or gold exports at no dis tant day is therefore discussed. Imports and exports have botB fallen off much since January 1, and while either change may be but temporary, there are some facts which point to a different conclusion. Cotton ex ports have been remarkably heavy for three mouths and are nowfalling below last year's, a change which is natural and must be ex pected to continue. The movement of wheat has not been large; in December, with prices comparatively low, and can hardly be ex pected to increase much with higher prices. In general, the foreign demand for Ameri can products must have been to some extent satisfactory for the present, by the unprece dented exports of the past quarter. Boston observes more life since the arrival of cooler weather, but sales of boots and shoes are curtailed because winter supplies have not been sold, aud sales of wool were but 2,446,000 pounds, fleeces being firm, but territory wools lower. DULL- TRADE IS THE WEST. Beports donble last year's movement in dressed beef and grain, but a decrease of a third in coal, and a decrease in hides and wool, drygoods sales below last year's, mod erate dealing in boots and shoes and quiet 1 in clothing. At Cleveland trade is rather inactive, at Detroit fair and at Milwaukee quiet, with unfavorable prospects as to large country collections, owing to the weather and the practice of dating ahead. St. Louis enjoys good bnsineis. At Kansas City trade is dull, at Omaba generally,good and at St, Paul the spring trade ja" oneningfrairlr. 1 The mills are "all operating at Pittsburg and iron products' are steady, coal more active and the glass trade fair. Respecting money and collections, the sit uation is about as last reported. Slow col lections in Philadelphia with money easier; prompt collections in boots and shoes and average in other -trades in Chicago, wilh money firm and a good demandat 7 per cent, and slow collections at Detroit. COAL AKD OTHER INDUSTRIES. There is some stringency at Cleveland. with collections better than was expected, considering light 'country trade; some im provement at Milwaukee, rates 7 to 8 per cent at St. Louis, and some stringency at Bt. Paul, are the more prominent features. In general the interior markets appear only fairly well supplied, notwithstanding the large amounts of money sent "West-and South during the past four months. No important change is seen in the great industries. The coal trade remains dull, and affects prices of coal stocks, though the average for active stocks is about 50 cents per share higher than a week ago. But Sugar Trust stocks have been pnshed down to about 50, notwithstanding higher prices, for raw sugar. Tbe business 'failures number 373. For the corresponding week of last year the fig ures were 381. WHTTTIEE SCHOOL OPENING Becalli n Prophecy Ay the I.alo William Thavr, Novr Fulfilled. The formal ppening of Mt. "Washington "Whittier School, last Monday, was a gala iccasion for that section of the hill. It an epoch not only in the'history of jcation in the Thirty-second ward, but alstWn its phenomenal growth in popula- ..-". .. f. icn maces tne school necessary, rogramme. including the presenta tion of Tfce flag bv William Penn Council. Jr. O. UA. M., was the same in substance as that outlined in The DISPATCH some weeks sine'' Kirk Q. Bigham, Esq., was prevented being present to deliver the ad dress on the hVtory of the school on account of sickness. 2Xr. William Halpin took his place, and, thoifch baying had no time to prepare data, etl, he succeeded admirably in delivering a vost interesting adHress. Mr. Halpin was Mr. "Whittler's successor on the school boardand served altogether something like 17 years. In his address Mr. IHalpin made a state ment that is significent of the rapid growth of the hill district. It Vas to the effect that, in 1869 the taxable valuation of the ward was $225,120. It is nort $2,750,000. In a subsequent'ehat, Mr. Halpin said the rapid growth of the hill district aid the building of a big city on the hilltops had been prophesied by the late "William Thaw, years ago. At tbe time he made tbe remark, Mr. Halpin, as a director ofjthc Mononga bela incline, spoke to Mr. Thaw in regard to purchasing land from the Pennsylvania Company, for a landing for the freight in cline. After listening quietly! Mr. Thaw said: "If it were between you ad me, you would not have to negotiate fuUher. Do you know I have had it in myftmind for years that some dav the overflow f Pitts burg's population will build a lari those hilltops. The Sonthslde is up fast with mills and will be facturing center. The laborers must have homes, and your hilltops will furnisnthem. For that reason I will do all I can to give them access to their future homes." Mr. Thaw lived to see his prophecy! ful filled to a large extent, and the growing generation will see it in its fullness. "VVhen St. Clair township, Knoxville, Beltzhoffyer and Chartiers township join hands withlthe parent city (which "is thought to be an action of the near futnre) then will Mr. Thaw's prophecy come true beyond probably las greatest expectation. To Fight for a Bailroad tfridge at South Seventh Street, IS THE STAND MADE BY CITIZENS If tbe Company Fails to do Its Whole Duty Toward Them. AN EARNEST APWIAL F0S PK0TECTI0N ; city on iuildiug maun- NEW DEPOT FOR THE P. & W, yae aoai rarcnaslpjt. Land on Which to -. JEroct-n.BSID 3fre-K8ra Tfeede'dw Better Accommodations Wanted. Numerous reports have been in circula tion recently to the effect thai tbe Pittsburg and Western Bailroad was about to erect a new depot in Allegheny. The business of the road has been such the last six months that the officials feel warranted in going to the expense of a substantial depot to re place the barn-like structure which now shelters its patrons. Besides needing more room for its passen gers it also needs more accommodations for freight traffic, and a rumor was in circula tion yesterday that it bad agents at work purchasing property on Isabella street, be tween bandussy and Anaerson streets, on which to erect an immense freight depot. The old depot is codstantly undergoing repairs, and by tbe time a few shingles have been put on one part of tbe building, or an alteration made, some other spot is lound which needs attention, and this continual outlay of money to repair the present- building has been largely in strumental in bringing the officials to the conclusion that better accommodations are needed. A visit was made to tbe offices of General Manager McDonald, yes terday, but as he was not about, Superintendent Doyle was seen. That gentleman stated that he had no au thority to give tbe plans of the road to the public, and said that Mr. McDonald had charge of the purchasing of property and the erection of the new depot. It was stated on good authority that the Pittsburg and Western had about finished negotiations for the' purchase of tbe property mentioned, bnt that the deal would not be closed for several days yet EFFICIENT ARTlIiLERI. General Gobln'a Report Shows Vp the Fltti bnrif Gunners. Dispatches sent -out from Harrisburg Thursday night state that General Gobin in his report to Adjutant General Hastings, condemns the artillery 'branch of the National Guard. Why the ar tillery of the guard should be condemned any more than the bther arms of the service is a quandary to the average citizen. Captain E. A. Hunt, of Battery B, was visited at his office in the Smith & Fri day building, on Filth avenue, yesterday afternoon, and asked for an explanation of the charge. Captain Hunt, when shown the J dispatch, seemed very much surprised that such a statement should have been made, and, in answer tb it, said: "General Gobin is oply a commander of one brigade, and I cannot bee how he has any authority to make such sweeping charges against the entire artillery of the State. He has the authority to report on the battery of his brigade, which is located at Phconixville, but on no other. The artillery of the guard as regards men, equipments and discipline is just us efficient as any other branch, bat in armament we are Inferior. This, of course, is not our tame. "We are armed with 3-Inch rifles which have been condemned, and for which no ammunition is now manufactured. The only effective guns' which we noir have con sists of a couple of Gatllng guns. I do not believe that General Gobin made such a sweeping charge, as he is too cool-headed and efficient an officer -to denounce any branch or part of the service over which he has not immediate charge." Banding Permits. Sixpermits were issued by the Inspector ot Buildings yesterday, the most important being to .Mrs. I. K. Cappeant for a two story brick residence on Dithridge street, Fourteenth ward, to cost 57,500, and one to Morris Haas for a two-story brick building in rear of 2G Carson street, to be used as a galvanizing works, to Cost $3,000, 43-HON. HENRY,HALLe(rtutt ta la. teresting London sketch lor TO-MORROW'S 20-PAGE 1S8UB In The Dispatch ofDecember 14 ap peared a 'true statement in regard to the need of a bridge over the Pittsburg, Vir ginia and Charleston Bailroad at Seventh street, being the result of interviews with different property holders on the hill oppo site tbe street named. Nothing has ap peared in print since the above date. The agitation Dy tne property noiaers nas not been allowed to relax by any means. Short ly after the publication of the facts in the case by The Dispatch, Street Commit sioners Fording and Emory called 'Chief Bigelow's attention to the matter, and about the same time a committee of ladies living in tbe district called on tbe Chiet and also earnestly urged that something be done. Last Tuesday Commissioners Emory and Fording were instructed to lay tbe matter belore Superintendent Watt, representing the railroad, and request tljat a bridge be erected at once, xney were armed witn a strong letter from Chief Bigelow. A PROHISfi WAS MADE. Superintendent Watt told the Commis sioners that the company would put up the bridge if the people would use a little pa tience, but he did not want to be bothered with committees visiting him continually. The Commissioners reported to tbe citizens, and they were in a hopeful mood once more at the prospect of guarding their lives and being given tbe protection from tbe city that they deserved. The residents watched from the windows of their houses for some days for some indi cation of the fulfillment of Superintendent Watt's promise, and at last were in a meas ure rewarded by seeing a number of men supposed to be surveyors looking the ground over and taking notes. They then thought, as they looked at the long line of cars, that they were to have the much coveted bridge "for sure," and were like imprisoned birds in their joy at a prospect of being released. However, their bright prospects were again doomed to taKe tne ascendency. BOUND NOT TO BE POOLED. The ante-election times have made them suspicious that after all the delay and in structions to keep still and wait may be a ruse to tide the matter oyer until after tbe election and then drop it. They are bound .that such shall not be the case, and have taken a side move to insure themselves of the bridge. Wednesday a petition was circulated among the property holders asking those to sign it who would be responsible for a share of the expenses of carrying the matter to court. In one day tbe following names were obtained: Messrs. C. Sullivan, Johnson, Bradley, Gallsher, Jennings. J. D. Jenkins, Goette, Sterling, E. Watt, Joseph Steiner and Mrs. Fickley. Other names have doubtless been added by this time. The next move was the retaining of a noted corporation lawyer, who fell ih with the idea. The property holders say they do not wish to be aggressive, but wish it under stood that they mean business and will do all iu their power to get a bridge. If they have to go to the courts'as a last resort they will do so, but would much rather they could get the bridgp without such a move. WOMEN THE AGITATORS. The prime movers in the recent move are be women of the neighborhood. They say at the men have so far failed in their etlort lor recognition, and nave grown mo rose over the idea of working, as thev think. uselessly, and so have allowed their wives and daughters to take the initiative. Al most any day little knots of women may be seen on the hillside discussing the out lookvor a bridge. Some-of them say that they Veel out of place in becoming agitators, but cdbsole themselves with the thought that tlv are working in a good cause. Inadvertently it has leaked out that some of the women have more than once went home am had a good cry after being baffled in the envrt to accomplish their end. And it is a wen-known fact that when a woman's eyes are bedewed with tears of anger or dis appointment is not the end of it some one must look out for consequences. They are thoroughly aroused, and will do any thing to get reUief from their present bond age. One toldla Dispatch man that she would become on anarchist if necessary to accomplish the dnd desired. ITS POLITICAIi significance. The men are juit as much aroused as the women, and it isncedless to say will back them in all they do It is a significant fa'ct that the sectio'n that woulji be effected by the bridge controls at least 60 votes, and that number sometimes comes pretty handy to a candidate who has none to spare, and sucb is generally the dase, The necdot the bridge was clearly pointed ont in The Dispatch) of December 14. It is nearly impossible toget across the track at Seventh street withWt crawling under two or three long lines oy cars, and the resi dents must thus endanger their lives or take the Brownsville road, which would take them 'out of their way. lhe Eighth street bridge is inaccessible except in tbe best of weather, to those living dorth of it, as the road leading to it has slid down tbe bill, ft ABOUT THE WORLD'S AIE. HBIS WHE LAK came out from the theater in a state of men tal exaltation; the play he had been seeing was tragic and the hero heroic Tery heroic, very noble and self sacrificing. In tbe auditorium the women had all been crying their complex ions off, and the men who were just as much moved, had had the additional excitement of trying to look as if they were not. Chris Whelan had not been crying! the play had had a different effect on bim;he felt stirred, awakened, exalted and almost envi ous. He had felt the grandeur of the story so keenly that he envied the great actor who ha"d played the hero's part his opportunity of self-sacrifice as intensely as if the sacri fice had been a reality. Fate had been very kind to Chris Whelan. He was young, strong, and impressively handsome; he was rioh, well-born, well mannered and thoroughly well liked; but yet he was not exactly content, because (impossible as it may seem in the nineteenth century) he would have liked to be a hero. He had tried such means of self-sacrifice as appeared open to htm; he had gone in for slumming when it was the rage, bathe did not catch a fever, nor. lose his life nobly rescuing some one from anything disa greeable; moreover, several of the ladies with whom he worked showed signs of falling in love with him, so he gave up slumming as a failure. . He had tried politics, choosing an unpro pitious time to attach himself to an un popular party, but did not find even that successful as a means of self-sacrifice, for his colleagues simply worshiped him, and none of his old friends made the least differ ence in thefr behavior toward him. Some of them indeed were more conspicuously cordial than ever, either because they wished to show that they too were capable of magnanimity or because tney had Deen rather jealous of his popularity while he had been on their own side, and they were glad to get rid of him. On this particular night he walked home ward feeling very discontented indeed; the pains 01 rDmauceauuBeii-uuucttMuii seemed closed against him, he seemed doomed to perpetual enjoyment, which was common place and prosaic. He was so wrapped in his own thoughts that he scarcely noticed when some one touched hinx on the arm. "Hallo, Davis," he said absently, "where do you come from ?" "I have been to your rooms," said Davis; "they told me there where you were. I tried to wait till you came in, butl got so impa tient I couldn't keep still, so I came to meet you." Whelan was still only half recalled from his own castle building. "All right; do you want anything?" he said. "Yes, I want generosity." Davis would rather have said "justice," but some instinctive knowledge of his friend's character told him that he would be much more likely to get what be wanted if he .called it bv the more -attractive nam?. I JTo be just is only one's dnty, that ia why flattering to one's vanity in the mere name of generosity, Whelan was thoroughly interested now. "You are in some trouble," he said, "and I can help you. Come into the Mall and let me hear." They walked along slowly in the shadow of the trees, lilent at first, but presently Daniel began-his appeal. "Chris, old fellow," he said, "we have been friends a long time." "We ha' ve, and. mean to be, come what may." Whelau half expected a confession of murder, forgery or bigamy, or perhaps all three, and was fairly reveling In the thought of how steadfastly ha would stand by his friend. Davis went on. "You are a lucky fellow, Whelan; you are rich, popular, in good society, a favorite with the best sort of women." "Well, yes," said Whelan. It was all true, and he did not see any need to deny it. Well, yesj what then?" "On the other hand, I am well, not any thing to look at or to talk of a person of account wnatever. i. want tou to see f of Madge Parry No," he went on after s pause, "no, Tom, I can't tnmic or it." But the answer showed Davis that he had been thinking of it. They sat silent for a moment or two, and then Davis tried again. "You remember-that fellow in the Bible, Chris, that we used to hear about when we were boys. Tbe great man had flocts and herds without number, you know. The poor man had only one littlcewe lamb. You are in the position of the rich man; don't take her from me." "It's altogether different," said Whelan, whose scriptural knowledge was vague, but practical, since he mixed tbe allegory with the fact, and between the two made out his case. "It's altogether different; Miss Parrv don't belong to you, like the lamb did to the fellow in the story, and he was cheated out of it, while no one is acting unfairly toward yon. Yon did introduce me to her, I know, but I did not know you liked her, and, if I had, the trial was as free to me as to yon." "That's all trm?,"said Davis coagratu lating himself inwardly on having taken the right line at first. "That's why I ask you for generosity and not for justice. Some men micrht sav. 'I introdnMvl Ton in the woman I loved, trusting you not to sup-. plant me,' but I don't; I ask you to give up m iue, not oecause J. nave tne oest right, be cause I have the greatest need. I love her aa a prosperous man sucb as you cannot love. She stands instead of everything else to me. Sfee is my riches, my society, my ambition aa well as my love; and what have I to offer? what means have I of winning her love. Itf comparison with you? Don't you see bow terribly handi capped I should be in the contest with yuu? What could happen to me but defeat? And I tell you that in this matter defeat will be bitterer than death. It will be bard to bear such a blow from such a friend, from my friend, too, who is armed so much better than I that I have no chance against him." "I can't help it, Davis," Whelansaid, but he spoke with less energy, "I can't help it. I am sorry it is so. I wish we were better matched, but I don't think I have quite so faults., too. Mrs. Davis was the most charming and lovable woman he had ever seen, and, of course, she was passionately attached to her ugly, commonplace husband. This was quite as it should be, only why did she so labor to convince him of a fact ha never had doubted? So time wore on, and if ha began to find that the hours spent in his friend's housa were the only hours worth bavins; in his life, the discovery did not hurt him much. He went at his own risk; Davis was glad to have him, snd Madge was absolutely safe in her exaggerated love for her husband. He was satisfiecUtbat it should be so, for he had not an evii thought in connection with Mrs. Davis. Indeed, incredible as it may appear he had probably never had an evil thought in connection witn anyone. Indeed, he took a sort of wretched pleasure iu the suceess of his sacrifice, and as often as he left tbe friends of his own set to go down to the quiet, cozy little house at Toot ing, told himself emphatically that he did not regret it. How it had happened that while Davis and his wife had been on their boner moon they bad. fallen in with an old uncle of Davis', who was a great ad mirer of pretty women, and he had been so taken with Madge's beauty and brightness that on parting with them he immediately made his will in his nephew's favor, "as a recognition of his good sense and cleverness in securing such a charming aud amiable woman ,-as his wife." The old man said pothing about this at the time or afterward; he probably saw other pretty women, and forgot all about Madge, for he never held out a helping hand to her husband in all the long strnggle with poverty which followed their marriage, and took nonotice when he was informed that their second child was called after him. But if he forgot his fancy for Madge, he also forgot to make any other will, and when at last news of his death reached Davis in London, he found himself the owner of a good deal ot railway stock, a fine old country house, several" well-let farms, and a coal mine at Glywwycb, North Wales. This, of course, entirely revolutionized the three lives. Davis and his wife had now the means to enter that sort of -society which is spelled with a capital "S," and were only TnET SAT SILENT A MOMENT OB TWO. clearly how much" that is worth having you have, and how little I have. I want you to recognize this and be generous." "I have not many virtues, Tom," said Whelan warmly, "but Iknow what friend- r- A Sobtcrlber Asks Questions to Bring Peace Inio a Uoase. To the JMlt or or The Dispatch: To decide a dispute will yoh kindly In form me through your columns (1) whether thero is such a thing as an inter national world's fair held every! four years by agreement between the powers at an agreed spot? If so (2), do IParis and New Orleans come under this he&d? (3). Also, is the coming fair a world's fair in the above sense of the word, or is it really a cen tennial of tho discovery of America? If you will solve these problems you will bring peace into a troubled house. Yours truly, G. T. BAISHEtoOE. PiTTSBDEO. January 8. There is no agreement between thevdiffer- ent countries relative to holding fairs of any kind. The word "International" vis ap plied to any fair in which foreign exhibitors compete for prizes extensively. A wdrld's fair is a large "international fair, ttjeoauie as the latter could be called an overgriwn country fair. How much the coming fat-in 1892 can merit the application of the wlprd "world" will depend on the interest taaea by the countries of tbe Old World. J 1 Bhall Like to Know Bova Tou Get On. A 8PBhG-CniCKE.V F0UNDKT. A'CornopolIa Firm Golnir Into tho Incnbnlor Easiness. A new industry has been organized Coraopolls. J. HMcCabo & Sons, halve Started a hennery with patent incubators, etc., and soon the village will resound with the sad chirping of several thousand dis consolate little orphans. It saves tbe galinee a great deal of hard work, but ijs rough on the. progeny who are debarred tne possibility of ever acquiring sufficient wis dom to know either father or mother. 1 J9-HAUGARD'S BEATRICE, a fsseinsting romance, will please every reader. The second inttaltseat will appear la 10-ilOEBO W'S M- rAxtj.uiur ATim. ship is, apd I shall not fail you. Speak without any more preface; what form is this generosity to take?" "I want you to give up Madge Parry to me." "Good God!" Whelan stopped dead short in tho middle of a crossing. This sort of sacrifice had never entered his mind. Davis bad fairly to drag him out of the track of the cabs that were rattling past; the two sat down on a seat in the shadow of the trees. "I am asking a good deal, I know," said Davis, "bnt I am asking it of a -man who can afford to give,'and, as you said just now, I don't think you will fail me. I have very little in the world; can't think you would have the heart to tako from me tbe little I have, seeing you have everything you could desire. Any woman would full in love with you, there is only this one in all the world for me. She was on the verge of caring for me when you came on the scene; she will care tor me again if she does not see you any more. Let me have this one piece of good luck, Chris spare it to me out of your affluence. There's Lady Lily Levison, who used to share your Whitcchapel wanderings,she'd have you any day, and small wonder; or McNamara's dangr.tcr.-tne beauty, proud as she v, she would be" prouder to marry you- Among all the women who would be ready to marry you, can't you -find someone else, and leave Madge to me? Why, with all your advant ages any wemaa who was not a fool would jump at yos." "You ftgeie thlag," mui Whtlsa sbwlyj !'ajLWu4a.w(wdI.luH.iai much the best of it as you seem to think. You have your advantages, too; youare-very ItlAVRf " He"wks very""clever fnoeidr for not only had he known what line to take and now to work it effectively, bnt he knew exactly when to stop. He heard compunction in his friend's voice, so he kept silent for some time to let it work fully. To do him justice, however, the cleverness was instinctive, noj calculated: he was really pleading from the depth of his own feeling. At last he spoke again. '.'I've said all I can, Whelan. The thing is in your hands. I can't contend against you, as I said. I've put the matter before you as strongly as I can; as to cutting it as it is, as I feel it, that's impossible." Whelan did not answer. He sat looking absently at the clear, silent, frosty sky. The Mall was getting empty now, and the cold, pnre night air was quieting and pleasant. The surprise with which he had listened to his friend's request began to wear off: the feeling of exultation which had fillet! him when he left the theater began to reassert itself. He remembered bow eagerly he bad longed for an opportunity of self-sacrifice but half aa hour ago, and was almost ashamed to see that, now his opportunity ..had come, it was doubtful whether he would avail ttlmsell oi it. lie looked across at Davis, and saw his attitude of utter and helpless dejection; he fancied, too, that be saw tears In bis eyes; and was profoundly touched. At the moment his friend's plead ings seemed o him full of force and truth. There could be no question which of the two wanted (to use the only available wurd) Miss Parry most. Would it not be comtemptible to use all his unquestionable advantages against a man who had absolutely no power of competing with him? So easy a victory would be no glory, but to resign a certain victory was true generosity. After a long pause ne spoKe. "You think she will have you, Davis?" 'I am sure of it. If not, you can still try your chance, you know." "Leave my chance out of the question and trv your own, and I wish you success with all my heart, Tom " Three months later the marriage of Miss Parry and Mr. 9vis was announced in the papers, and Chris Whelan, who had been keeping himself ont of the way through the, best part of the season, now felt himself at liberty to return to town. "You won't mind my looking youjip oc casionally, I suppose?" he said to Davis; "I shall like to know how you get on." "Ob, come by all means," Davis said en thusiastically. "You have a right to see the result of your generosity,and you'll con gratulate yourself when you do see It 'We are making a success of marriage, Madge and I." So Chris went The Davises had nothing of what is usually termed "position," but they had a cozy little place at Tooting, where Chris got into the way of going very often indeed, always sure of a warm welcome from bis friend and his friend's wife. Mrs. Davis, indeed, was particularly gra cious and cordial toward her husband's friend, bnt now and then Chris caught a glimpse of something behind her friendly manner that puzzled him. She never seemed to have any hesitation iu letting him see how devoted she was to her husband, and bow completely happy In her married life. Some times, indeed, it seemed a? if she rather went out of her way to impress him with her felicity, for she often positively over whelmed Davis, iu his presence, with dem onstrative affection, or sometimes, when Whelan and she sat talking, as they often did, all through a long afternoon, growing confidential together, listening to each oth er's pet theories and day-dreams, speculat ing upon all those immaterial and mystical themes that are so delightful to discuss just because we never can arrive to any under standing of them, changing iu a sentence from sarcasm to solemnity, from tragedy to frivolity, growing earnest over trifles or playing iightly round the edge of immensi tiestalking, in short, ns any people who thoroughly know and like each other can talk she would suddenly break, off and in dulge in an utterly commonplace eulogy of her husband. Thk weald have bored Wbelaaii It bad set pwlcd him so, for he had kaown Davis ,a geed deal leaf or than sh had, aad was perjhetir familiar with his virtues, aad his doubtful as to whether they should found their claims to admission on his wealth or hex.beauty, acd Whelan found those pleas ant Impromptu or matter-of-cours visitsquite out or tbe question. Formerly when Chris had left the fashion able world and gone down forthose pleasant . quiet hours at Tooting, no one had known 'or cared anything nbout it. Now, in the full glare of capital S'ed society, all that was changed. If he bad tried to monopolize the beauti.ul Mrs. Davis tbe thing, would im mediately have become conspicuous and conv monplace a mere vulgar flirtation, a de gradation of his sacrifice. Whelan and .he Davises still saw a great deal of each other, met the samepeople.weat to tbe same houses, but th: Arcadian days were past. For the first time since his friend's mar riage Whelan found himself alane. He had to luce the problem of lite apart from Madge Davis, and could mike nothing of it at all. At the end of the season Mr. and Mrs. Davis went to Wales, but their departure made very little difference to Chris; the sep aration ot the past months had been so complete. Presently, however, he received a letter from the Davises asking him to spend a few days with them, to inspect the new honse and the farms and the coal mines and the scenery, and to ruralize generally. He went gladly enough, and had a very pleas ant time, almost as pleasant as tbe old days at Tooting. Davi3 was fall of triumph in bis new possessions, but he did not bore his guest, with them; be let him off easily as far as moumaiueering and larm-inspecting were concerned. But on one point he was resolute. Whelau must go down a coal mine. Whelan agreed, but he was not verr en thusiastic about tne expedition; so it was postponed time after time until the day be fore he intended leaving. At breakfast Mrs. Davis, remembering that Chris had not yet seen the mine, proposed that they should walk down and. visit it that morning. Davis agreeing, tbey lost no time in setting out, bnt halfway there they met the manager, who reminded Davis that it was a holiday aud the men were not working. "Dear me, so it is." said Davis. "I had quite forgotten. What is to be done. We can't let you go back without seeing our mine, Whelan." "We can go all the same, can't we?" asked Madge. "It is the mine we want to see, not the men. I have not been down myself yet, and I want to go so much. Yon could find us a guide, I suppose, Mr. Wyattr(tbls to the manager) "and, if you have not any engagement yourself to day, perhaps you would come with us?" Mr. Wvatt said he should be most happy, and set off to find a guide, and iu due time ' the party found themselves wandering about in the dark and dirt and bad air, and trying to pretend that they liked it because it was a new sensation. Mr.Wyatt and the guide had wandered to a little distance. Madge was just asserting vigorously that she would never allow any of "the children to come into this dreadful place, and, that she wished they were all well out of it themselves, when a sudden ominous sound was heard. Instinctively they all stood still and waited; there was a loud, doll roar a shaking, as it seemed, of the very foundations of the earth a crash, and then the whole rodf" of that part of tha mine near which they stood fell in, and there was dead silence and blact darkness. Davis was tbe first to speak. "Nobody need be alarmed if we are all here," he said. "Madge, are you all right? Whelan? That's well. And Wyatt and Derrick?" Neither Wyatt nor the guide answered; they had been some distance away when the roof fell in, add it was too evident that they uerft hnrfod rjAna.ih the mini were buried beneath the ruins. "Well, we are all right," said Davis. "Let ua be thankful for that, at least; I don't know much tff my own mine yet, bnt I know we can't be very low downj we must be quite near the 'surlace, in (act, and they know at the house-where we are, so we have a good chance of being rescued." But even whilo they spoke they heard other explosions, one after another, in differ ent parts of the" mine; and presently one in their immediate neighborhood -was" followed? oy a ruau oi not air ana men py a stream . i$ta i-a .
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