THE PITTSBTIRQ- DISPATCH, MONDAY, ' JAOTTAET . 27, 1890.
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ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, IMS,
Vol. 44, No. 334. Entered at Pittsburg I'ostoffice,
November 14, isoT, as second-class matter.
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PITTSBURG. MONDAY. JAN. 27. 189a
CHEAP CABLE FAKES.
The reduction of the fare by the Perm
avenue cable line to East Liberty to a fire
cent rate is an example of the force of com-
petition. The business which that line se
cured from East Liberty was comparatively
small. Obviously the reduction is inspired
by the hope that the traffic will thus be en
hanced. The decision is a wise one and
there is little doubt that the cheap rate will
justify itself by an enlargement of traffic
that will yield greater profits than the old
ten-cent fare.
The transportation of a passenger four-and-a-half
miles for a little over a cent a
mile is a marvel of cheap and popular tran
sit. Such marvels are the result of modern
enterprise providing transportation for
thousands of people daily, and 'oper
ating under competition. For it is worth
noticing that all the reductions in lares on
the traction roads so far have been from the
competitive point, "While we are told that
the East Xiberty traffic is the least important
portion of the business on the cable roads, it
is from that point that one line has made the
reduction on commutation tickets and the
other has brought down regular fares to a
nickel.
It is possible to hope that the same proc
ess will go on till the cable roads will event
ually discover that they can afford to carry
passengers for the shorter distances at a
three-cent rate on commutation or ticket
books. But it is not likely that the discovery
will be made before competition reaches the
intermediate points, as it now operates at
East Liberty.
THE CENTBAL PACIFIC CHEEK.
Mr. C. P. Huntington's modest proposi
tion that the Central Pacific Railroad shall
have its debt extended for 125 years, with
interest at 2 per cent, was again exploited
before the House committee last week. To
extend a debt on bad security for a century
is equivalent to making the debtor a gift of it;
and when that debtor has deliberately adopted
the policy of damaging the security for his
own profit, such a gift would be placing a
premium on bad faith in public dealings.
The nation can afford to lose the entire Pa
cific railway debt, ii necessary; but it cannot
afford to reward the defiance of honest obli
gations which has built up the great Cen
tral Pacific fortunes. The Union Pacific,
which is showing some honesty in its at
tempt to pay its debt, deserves at least a fair
hearing and good treatment; but there
should be no compromise with the Central
Pacific crowd.
HOW POVEETY IS ABOLISHED.
"There is many a poorhouse in New En-gland'writestheKev-EdwardEverettHale,
in Lend-a-Eand "where they take summer
boarders because they have no one else to
take. The cynical New York Sun suggests
that this is because the New England towns
farm out their paupers to the lowest
bidder; but we can credit Mr. Hale with
basing his assertion on more accurate infor
mation. Probably both authorities are
right, and there are towns in New England
where the poor are, as the Sun says, farmed
out to the lowest bidders, and others where,
as Mr. Hale virtually declares, there are no
paupers at alL
But if Mr. Hale's statement of fact is cor
rect, he ought to make a more accurate de
duction from it than he does. He has lately
become identified with a movement to
preach socialism of the Edward Bellamy
stripe, as a panacea for the abolition of
poverty. Yet it he will study the localities
where, according to his statement, pauper
ism is absent, he will find that this happy
condition of affairs is not produced by
socialism, but by the strictest adherence to
the conditions of individualism and equal
ity, established by the original spirit of our
constitution and laws. It is safe to assert
that in every New England town, where
this condition of things exists, there is the
greatest liberty for every individual to re
tain the rewards of his own industry and
efforts. At the same time, none of the great
abuses by which favored classes are able to
accrue wealth at the cost of the majority,
have created especial advantages in those
favored parts.
The deduction from Mr. Hale's statement,
therefore, is that the surest way to abolish
poverty is to give each individual the ut
most reward of his own efforts, and to take
care that no one individual is able to obtain
wealth by devices which create that wealth
at the cost ot others.
PASTIES AND FAEM MORTGAGES.
The Republican leaders and Republican
organs are putting themselves in a false po
sition by opposing the measure for includ
ing the statistics of farm mortgages in the
census reports. The wide divergence of
opinion as to whether the farms of the coun
try are swamped by mortgages is admitted.
Consequently the importance of settling the
matter is practically beyond dispute. But
the .Republican leaders with rather remark
able unanimity oppose the measure upon
the grounds of the additional burden thus
placed upon the census bureau. In re
ality the increase of work would be very
slight. The census officials of this district
could obtain the statistics by a few days
work at the diflerent county seats in the
district; and the same data could be ob
tained in every census district of the coun
try. Since the statistics are called lor and
are alleged to have a vital bearing upon live
political issues, the party which opposes it
makes a false step. It falls under the sus
picion of opposing it because the showing
will be unfavorable to its side of the pend
ing issues.
THEIB OWK LOGIC.
Considerable attention, and some criti
cism, is evoked by the movement of the
farmers of the extreme "Western States, with
the Governor of Nebraska at their head, to
induce the railroads to make a reduced rate
for the transportation of corn to the East.
This step is urged on behalf of the farmers,
with the argument that the corn cannot be
shipped at the present railway charges, and
that from the reduced rate the farmers will
.gain the part of the price left after the cost j
of transportation is paid, and the railroads
will gain just the amount of the revenue on
the corn which they transport.
It is not difficult for impartial observers
to see that any reduction of rates below the
average cost of service to the railroads,
means no permanent gain to the shippers.
But impartial observers do not so generally
see that this claim of the farmers is based
directly upon the theories which the rail
roads have been urging for years. It has
been argued by all the railway advocates,
notably Mr. E. P. Alexander, that it is im
possible for railways to base their charges
on the cost of performing the service. The
value of the service to the shipper, or "what
the freight will bear," has been preached
time and time again, as the proper basis for
railway charges. The farmers of the "West
are to be pardoned if they are unable to see
why, if the railway policy charges all
the freight will bear, it cannot, in a case
like theirs, where their product will not
bear the average charges of transportation
to market, be restricted to the rule of charg
ing no more than the freight will bear.
Again, the uniform contention of the
railways in discussing the long and short
haul question, has been, that when a rail
way can secure a considerable amount of
freight, which it cannot get except by re
ducing charges to a little more than the
cost of hauling,it is justified in making such
a reduction. This is exactly what the
farmers represent as their own position.
They are burning corn for fuel. Unless
freight charges are reduced, that commodity
will be used up in that wasteful manner. It
is not strange that they cannot see why
when the principle can operate against
them, and in favor of trans-continental
freights, it shall not operate in their favor
upon their principal product
The correct principle is that the railroads
should make charges which will yield them
a moderate remuneration. The farmers will
be most benefited by rates which induce
them to turn their corn into the higher forms
of agricultural product, such as pork and
beef, which will bear transportation. But
the surest criterion of the speciousness of
tne railway theories to which we nave re
ferred, is the contemptuous manner with
which they are rejected when urged on be
half of other interests than those allied with
the corporations.
WHERE HONOR STOPS.
That disclosure of Mr. Thomas, of Spring
field O., the rival millionaire of Brice in
the Ohio Senatorial contest, contains a feat
ure which is calculated to impress the pub
lic with the unique rules of political moral
ity which govern Mr. Thomas' conduct.
That gentleman asserts that he gave a legis
lator $600 to "defray his expenses" but that
the legislator subsequently took a higher of
fer from Brice. "Thus," Mr. Thomas sternly
remarks, "he showed himself to be a person
totally destitute of honor and manhood."
Mr. Thomas is decidedly right in severely
reprobating dishonesty. "What safety is
there for the ambitious millionaire if the
legislator whom he has acquired at a net
cost of $600 can turn around and vote
again for a higher and later bidder? If
such dishonorable courses are tolerated, in
dustrious legislators, by voting for all
the millionaires, might cripple the en
tire millionaire interest, and thus inflict a
fatal blow on the nionetary system.
Such a reprehensible practice of oversell
ing the Senatorial market should be stopped.
Mr. Thomas should agitate in favor of a
system of registration of the titles in legis
lators like that of real estate, by which the
first purchaser gets a legal title and sub
sequent purchasers are warned off.
Unless tiuch measures are adopted, it is
plain that the innocent and legitimate first
transaction in legislative votes, by advanc
ing money for expenses, is sure to be ruined
through the lack of security that the goods
will be delivered.
In the East one part of the people cannot
mine and fell coal because it is too cheap, and
the other part cannot buy and burn it because
it is too dear. This is regarded by the Phila
delphia Inquirer as hard on the coal trade: but
it is a good deal harder on the working people
who can get neither work nor fuel.
The squelching of a job in Philadelphia
by which the worthless property of the Schuyl
kill Water Company was to be unloaded on the
city, under the pretense of securing pure water,
which the water company did not have, is a
feather in the cap of the press of that
city. The Inquirer by sending men to examine
the canal which was to be sold, and Mr. Mc
Kean, of the ledger, by pertinent questions at
a committee meeting of Council, exposed the
scheme as an unqualified attempt to get a big
sum out of the city for nothing. If the Phila
delphia papers will continue to pull together
for the public good they will make that city
very uncomfortable for jobbers of various
degrees.
The golden rod gets TO per cent of the
vote for the national flower, and may consider
itself elected. Nevertheless, we hold to our
belief that the true and typical national flower
is the daisy. Not tho modest, shrinking daisy,
hut the daisy of proverbial and colloquial
fame.
It is surprising to learn that the Harvard
College students pronounce the word drama as
though the first syllable were that homely but
useful vehicle called a dray. The New York
Sun In noticing this fact asserts that the cor
rect New England pronunciation is "draymy."
It is more difficult to trace the origin of that
pronunciation than the rendering of the same
ft ord which is current In New York. The aver
age New Yorker makes the word dram give the
key note for the pronunciation of drama, evi
dently on account of the belief that tho most
important feature of the drama is that which is
absorbed between the acts.
In an editorial on Ingalls' speech the
Chicago Times, which is for the time being a
Democratic organ, declares "It is the Republi
can party that is always worrying about the
negro question." Thanks for the assurance
that Senators Morgan and Butler are not Dem
ocrats. The Emperor of Germany revives the
theories of Herr Teufelsdroch that clothes are
the one vital thing aboutcourts and monarchs,
by an order that all civilians appearing at his
court hereafter shall wear the dress of the time
of Frederick II, which consisted of knee
breeches, laced coats, silk stockings and high
heeled shoes. The determination of the young
Emperor to make his reign resemble that of
Frederick the Great, is very striking in the
matter of male millinery.
The mildness of this gentle winter, being
more persistent than ethereal, the general in
vocation will call upon it to go and not to come.
It is interesting to observe that Stanley de
scribes his personal appearance in a letter, by
saying: "My hair is like snow from Ruwenzori,
but it is a crown of a busy period and I wear It
without regret as the gift of time." It is well
that Stanley took his illustration from Africa,
which is not generally supposed to know much
about snow. If be bad said that his hair was
like the snow of the United States, the conclu
sion would have been that he had become as
bald as Ben Butler
The Eastern States are cow adopting the
fashion of raising the salaries of their Gover
nors, Massachusetts having increased the pay
ot her chief executive to 110,000 a year. It
they can raise the standard ot Governors as
well, the money will be well spent
The discovery of the body of Mr. Dit-
man. the banker of Philadelphia, in the
Schuylkill river nearly two months after his
disappearance, settles the question of his death,
but affords little solution of the mystery of his
disappearance. It Is permissible to adopt the
charitable view of accidental death; but a
great many will And equal justification for the
suspicion either of suicide or murder.
The five cent fare to East Liberty is a
vindication of the position which The Dis
patch took years before a cable road was built,
that the traction roads were what Pittsburg
needed.
It is interesting to observe that Mr. S. W.
Allerton, of Chicago, has joined the Hon.
Elijah Morse in his attack on the inter-State
commerce law. The vigor with which the for
mer beneficiaries of special rates are attacking
that measure is one of the most cogent evi
dences lately given that the law is doing some
good.
The Southside water question will not
down; and the Southslders are beginning to
complain that the result of investigating is that
the water will not stay down, either when they
drink it.
Shooting at Bishops in the pulpit is a
class of disturbance of religious exercise which
could hardly be perpetrated by any one but a
crazy man. Yet it is a singular thing that the
realization of that Western story about not
shooting the organist should take place in the
most sober city ot the dignified East,
PEOPLE OP PROMINENCE.
Senator Hawley practices on the violin
every day.
Queen Victokia receives 840 or more let
ters a day.
Sarasate, the fiddler, does not wear an
overcoat in cold weather. He merely puts on
an extra suit of clothes over the others.
Adah Forepauqh, it is said, never smoked
cor chewed tobacco nor drank intoxicating
liquors.
Mes. Frances Hodgson Burnett will not
visit Washington this winter, but will remain
at home, in England.
Miss Nita Shakespeare, daughter
Mayor Shakespeare, of New Orleans, will be
Queen of tho Carnival this year. Thus does
a well-known name again add to its laurels.
W. W. Johnson, the newly appointed post
master of Baltimore, Md.. first became conspic
uous in politic as one of the 308 who stood by
General Grant so faithfully in the Chicago
Convention of 1SS0. He is a young man, not
mucn past 4U, and proudly wears the badge
which shows his loyalty to Grant in the great
third term contest.
Prof. Sousa, leader of the Marine Band ot
Washington, has received a copy of the na
tional hymn of the United States of Brazil.
One of the first acts of the new Government
was to call on the Brazilian poets and compos
ers to prepare a national air, with suitable
words. A trunkf ul of songs and hymns were
sent in, one of which was adopted.
Mb. Louis Dyer, the chosen bridegroom of
Miss Macmillan, the daughter of the well
known publisher, used to be in some respects
"the glass of fashion and the mold of form" at
Harvard University. Born at Chicago, he was
educated at Oxford, where be was a protege of
Prof. Jewett. When Mr. Dyer went to Harvard
he was regarded as the very embodiment of
culture. He is strong in Greek literature, and
is regarded as quite a "superior" kind of young
man.
ABOUND THE WORLD.
Good Thing In Yesterday's Dispatch From
All the Earth Over.
Miss Nellie BIy circles blithely round the
globe, and returns with no new light on the
world's many cations. She has accomplished a
mighty feat, but the results thereof are but
meager. Now, The Dispatch girdles the
earth in a week, and tells us all that is strange
and noticable in every land and every clime.
It is no headlong flight that The Dispatch
takes week after week. Camera and notebook
are forever ready, and the public benefit by the
journey. Yesterday's 20-page Dispatch gave
to its myriad of readers lact and, fiction from
abroad and from at home.
X.
Dom Pedro is anxious to return to Brazil, and
expresses a willingness to accept the Presi
dency of that country. Benson, the notorions
Jubilee plunger.has be en discovered inforgery.
The French are prepared to sell to England
their Newfoundland fishing rights. The Ger
man Reichstag has defeated the Socialists' ex
pulsion bill by a large majority.
Ex-Sergeant at Arms Leedom thinks that
defaulting ex-Cashier Silcott has been allowed
to escape by Canadian detectives. Nellie Bly
completed her globe tour in 72 days. 6 hours
and 10 minutes. Doses of nitrate ot silver Dave
colored a Georgia man quite blue. Senator
Quay was harrassed with callers before his de
parture for Florida. Anarchist Most was ar
rested in New York. Harriet Beecher Stowe
has long lost her mind and is dying fast. A
hot school fight rages in New York State. Two
Pennsylvania Gubernatorial candidates attend
a Chester Burns banquet. A New York young
man played pious and skipped with thou
sands. n.
In the Republican primaries the candidates
had a walkover. A kick is looked for over the
Democratic candidate for Mayor. Exposition
Manager Johnston has negotiated in New York
for four musical companies. The old postofllce
is to be refurnished and remodeled within.
Orchids are not cultivated in Pittsburg. Hun
dreds of buildings are pronounced insecure in
the city, and many are to come down. The
Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall are
pronounced finished. A lively shindy occurred
in Yellow Row. Pringle's review of sports and
the usual sporting intelligence will be found in
their places.
HI.
Frank G. Carpenter, In "Fighting Senators,"
gives a crisp article on some Washington feuds
and friendships. "Beatrice," Rider Haggard's
strong story, grows more deeply interesting
with every fresh issue. B. G. John's article on
Much Hadham is interesting in connection
with George Washington's ancostry. An able
article on the Irish game of Handball is con
tributed by F. R, Burton. James C. Purdy's
entertaining reminiscences of old Pittsburg is
continued. W. G.Kaufmann contributes letter
press illustrations in writing of the develop
ment in naval transit. Bill Nye, Esq., is highly
amusing when describing his wonderful loco
motive ride. Miss Grundy, Jr., is pleasant on
tho Bachelors and Beaux of Congress. Clara
Belle writes of the snobbery of New York
"society" with effect. "Come Forth," the
Biblical story by Elizabeth S. Phelps, is f nil of
Interest; as also, are Fannie B. Ward's letter
on the Isthmus ot Panama, and LornaDoone
on "Roses for Winter." Other contributors to
yesterday's DISPATCH were Edward Wake
field. Bumbalo. "Redblrd." "ix M.," Bessie
Bramble, Rev. Geo. C. Hodges, "J. C," Henry
Haynie, "Geo. Newell Lovejoy," Shirley Dare,
Clara Belle, B. P. 8htllaber, Arthur West and
Carl Wilhelm. The children's fairy tale by
"Paysle," was charming. The science notes, to
gether with the G. A. R., Theatrical, Secret
Society, and Society columns, and the "Sunday
Thoughts" section, will be found useful and
entertaining.
AN OLD HOOSiER WAE HOUSE.
An Equine Veteran of tho War Dies at the
Ago of 34.
Indianapolis, January 28. The war steed
of the late Lieutenant Colonel W. H. Robin
son, which carriedils master during the war
of the rebellion, and afterward was brought
North, died last night of the influenza, aged SI
The animal followed his master to the grave
last summer, walking behind the hearse and
bearing the saddle and trappings of the de
ceased officer.
He was tenderly cared for by the family, and
was occasionally driven to a light rig, and then
care had to be exercised to prevent Mm run
ning away, which he would do if the opportun
ity offered. He is believed to have been the
oldest horse in the State.
DEATHS OP A DAY.
Prof. Flake P. Brewer.
DES IIOINKB, lA., January 2J. Prof. Flake P.
Brewer, of Grlnnell, died from the grip yesterday
afternoon. He was a brother or Justice Brewer,
of the U nlted States Supreme Court.
Judge Willlnm F. Plisbke.
Heidelbebo, January 28. Judge William t
Pitshke, or New York, died here at 8:15 last night.
The body will be embalmed and taken to New
York.
THE CRITIC'S REVIEW.
Sesame nnd Lilies ot Lost Meets the
Author's Ideal Sad Contrast Between
the Evening of Browning' Life and
That of UuiUIn Fact, Fancy, nnd Fable
Major J. O. Kerbey'a Boy Spy, Etc.
i (Valuable books should, in a civilized
country, be within the reach of every one,
printed in excellent form, for a just price, but
not in any vile, vulgar, or by reason of small-
ness of type, physically injurious .form, at a
vile price. For we none of us need many books,
and those which we need ought to be clearly
printed on tho best paper, and strongly
bound."
That is what Mr. Ruskin said In his incisive
and imperative way, in tho preface which be
wrote to Sesame and Lilies. And yet, for
these many years past, whoever wanted
"Sesame and Lilies" in a shape at all corre
sponding to the author's ideil, must either buy
a whole set of a dozen or 15 volumes.or go with
out. At last we have it in fair type, on good
paper and in tasteful binding. There was a time
when we looked at the bottom of the
title page of the handsomest books, expecting
to find them cither "Boston" or "New York."
But hero is an excellent specimen of the art of
the printer and the binder, which is dated from
Chicago. Tho publishers are Messrs. A. C Mc
Clurg & Co. Several other books of theirs lie
this week on The Critic's table, all notable for
the good taste of their covers, the pleasant
faces of their pages, and the thorough excel
lence of their workmanship.
"Sesame and Lilies" was written, the author
tells us (in words, which, in view of the sad
news about him which was in the papers a week
ago, have a pathetic sound), "while my energies
were yet unbroken and my temper unf retted."
There are few more helpful books for anybody
to read, who wants to make the most of life,
than "Sesame and Lilies." Much that Ruskin
has written about art will pass away. Much
that he has taught about political economy,
(and about nearly every other subject under
the sun) will be forgotten. Changing condi
tions will depreciate the value of these books.
They will suffer loss, as a piece of ground will
when a city takes a turn and moves away In
another direction. But it seems as if "Sesame
and Lilies" must go on helping to uplift the
ideals of bright young people Indefinitely.
(H, Watts fc Co.. 81 00.)
JMTb. Ruskin's failure of mind and body
during the past months contrasts sadly
with the sudden death of Robert Browning.
That seems an ideal ending of the life of a
great man in the fulness of his mental and
physical strength, in the full tide of success, in
the chambers of a great palace, in the Italy
which he wrote of and loved so well.
Mr. Browning was able to take life quietly
and easily. He was able to enjoy himself. He
had that rarest of modern possessions the pos
session of leisure. His body servant has re
cently described how Mr. Browning spent his
days. "He used to tret up at 7 every morning
and stayed in his bedroom till 8. He read dur
ing that time, generally French and Italian
works, and he invariably ate a plate of fruit,
which had been left in his room over night
strawberries or grapes by preference, oranges
and other fruit in their season. From 8 till 8:30
be bad a bath and at 9 came down to breakfast.
This took about 20 minutes, and he would then
turn his chair to the fire and read the morning
papers till 10 o'clock. He had the Timet and
Daily Ifews in the morning and in the evening
he read the Pall Mall and the weekly and fort
nightly reviews. From 10 till 1 he spent thetime
in his study writing. After lunch, to which he
sat down at 1 o'clock, he would go out to pay
afternoon calls or to the private views, fre
quently walking across Kensington Garden.
He came back at 5:30 or 6 to dress for dinner,
which was at 7 o'clock, and he went to bed at
1030 or 1L During the season he dined out a
great deal."
There was a lifel Good hard work for three
hours, and excellent recuperative pleasure the
rest of the time. Breakfast at 9, and the morn
ing papers, with his feet on the fender till 10,
and in the evening the reviews, with calls and
a stroll across Kensington Garden in the after
noon! Happy man that he wast
Jn such an elysium of leisure, of which there
is no glimpse visible upon the horizon, we
would take these two handsome volumes of
Scribner's Magazine for 18S9 and read them all
the way through, taking our time over every
article and looking carefully at all the pictures.
We would begin with "Castle Life in the
Middle Ages" and keep on till "The Age of
words" should remind us how much else there
is which makes demands upon a reader's time.
A year's reading of any one ot our great
magazines, done with attention and tested by
examination papers, ought to entitle one to a
bachelor-of-arts degree. The best that is going
in our modern life gets into these pages. This
year of Scribner's is worth while being proud
of. These two fine books are of permanent
literary and artistic value. Here are stories
short and long, Mr. Stevenson's "Master of
Ballantrae" being among them; here are
thoughtful and suggestive essays; here are the
series of papers on the uses of electricity andon
the American railway; here are accounts of
travel; here are excellent pictures in rich abun
dance. The laurel wreath, around the lamp
and the book, makes a good and fitting stamp
for the covers of this comely volume.
TsJobody has ever yet constructed a book
to which everybody can turn with perfect
assurance of finding out exactly what he wants
to know. It would be easier to make a volume
which should contain nothing which should not
interest somebody. Every book of reference
presumably interests the compiler, at least.
Tact, Fancy and Fable (A. C. McClurg & Co.;
H. Watts & Co., $3 50) does not succeed in ac
complishing either of these difficult feats, but
it approaches pleasantly near to success. The
worst fault we would find with it Is that it im
parts so much entirely local and
ephemeral information. We are de
lighted to be told about Mrs. Partington,
who plied her mop with vigor when a gale drove
the sea into her house, but had at last to give
up in despair, to whom Sidney Smith compared
the Lords who resisted the reform bill. "She
was excellent," he said, "at a slop or puddle,
but should never have meddled with a tem
pest." That is good, but when we open at an
other page and read paragraph after paragraph
of this; "Josephine Bailey, the stage name of
Mrs. Walter Eytinge, Josephine Baker, the
stage name of Mrs. John Drew, Jr., Josephine
Cushman, the stage name of Mrs. William Tet
ley," and so on by the yard, we get a little
weary. It would have been better to have left
these our. If anybody cares for them now,
nobody will next year. There are some traces
ot carelessness in the putting of the book to
gether. Under A. M. find "American
Cicero," and are referred to the titlo
"Cicero of America," but when we turn in
some wonder to see whether it will be the Hon.
Daniel Webster or tho Hon. Daniel Dougherty,
we find nothing at all. There is no such title
as the "Cicero of America." For which, after
all, we draw a grateful breath. The descrip
tion of Pittsburg will indicate pretty well what
the book is like. "Iron City, Pittsburg, Penn.
Noted for its furnaces, rolling-mills and found
ries. It Is also called "the Smoky City."
Bltumenous coal was, before the Introduction
of natural gas as a fuel, largely used, causing a
dense canopy of smoke to hover over the place
often obscuring the sun's light."
piTTSBUEG deserved the name of "the Smoky
City" in the days when Thomas A. Scott
was superintendent of railways hero, and
Andrew Carnegie was in his office as pri
vate clerk and telegrapher, and a young
boy named Kerbey was learning, under
Mr. Carnegie's instruction, how to trans
late electricity into English. The young
telegraph boy has the title of Major pre
fixed to his came cow, and "Major J. O.
Kerbey" appears on the title page of a good
sized book full of the most thrilling ad
ventures. The Boy Spy (American Mutual
Library Association; Presbyterian Book Store)
is an account of what befell that young Pitts
burg telegrapher in the days of the Civil War.
Almost everything that can happen to a man,
except having bis bead shot off, happened to
this plucky young fellow, who, as a spy within
the Confederate lines, braved all dangers, made
acquaintance with the inside ot prisons, found
out important secrets, fought in fierce battles,
and somehow found time and heart through
out it all to make love to any number of pretty
girls. Major Kerbey has written the story of
his adventures in a straightforward, animated
and conversational style. Tho book is set out
with many stirrlne pictures.
ATBS. WlSTER has had a long experience in
choosing German novels for Euglish read
ers, and it is pr.tty safe to rely upon her judg
ment, fche knows what a good novel is, and
she knows what good English is, and tho fortu
nate combination has resulted in a long list of
readable books, which most of us would other-
I wise have been ignorant of, Erlach Court (J.J
J. R. Weldin & Co., SI 25). is
Mrs. Wister's last translation.
inslation. Ossln Scbubin
is the author. Erlacb Court Is a "vine-
wreathed castle on the River Save. Here we
meet the people of the story, cot particularly
agreeable people, at first sight reminding one
of the illustrations in Thackeray and Dickens,
but presently to prove Interesting. Here comes
Stella, the pretty heroine, to light up
the rather dull and somber scene,
and her mother, a tiresome woman,
who is writing an unsalable and
unreadable history of "Woman's Part In the
Development of Civilization." Here, too, is
Baron Robritz, the hero. So the story begins.
There are plenty of incidents; poor little Stella
has a sufficiently bard time of It, Paris becomes
the scene, with Parisian society, good and bad,
in the foreground. There is a grand ball given
by Mr. ana Mrs. Fane, immensely w.ealthy and
unspeakably parvenu Americans, concerning
which it is said: "Most of the guests do not
recognize the host; and those who suspect his
presence in the serious little man in a huge
white tie and with a bald head, whom they took
at first for the master of ceremonies, avoid him.
His entire occupation consists in gliding about
with an unhappy face in the darkest cor
ners, cow and then timidly requesting some
one of the guests to look at his last
Meissonier. When the guest complies with the
request and accompanies him to view the Meis
sonier, Mr. Fane always replies to the praise
accorded to the picture in tho same words: I
paid 300,000 francs for it. Do yon think Meis
sonier will increase In value?" This reads a
little like ancient history. It would be bard to
find tho "timid" Mr. Fane to-day. However, at
the Fane ball the good and evil destinies meet,
with the good properlv triumphant and the
bad put to ignominious flight.
1hat is the advantage of being able to con.
struct your own plot. You can make every
thing come out just right. But when you have
any historical characters In your novel you
cannot manage thiucs so well. This is the dif
ficulty with Mrs. Catberwood's Story
of Tonty (A. C. McClurg & Co.; H.
Watts fe Co.. Jl 25). Frontenac and
Father Hennepin and La Salle and
Tonty are all real people whose characters and
deeds are written in the histories. Indeed,
Mrs. Catherwood reminds us of this, altogether
too often, by many interrupting footnotes.
There is not a great and dramatic story to tell,
as there was in the "Romance of Dollard," and
Mrs. Catherwood has not allowed herself to put
much plot in from her own imagination. As a
result the book, which make'" a good begin
ning and has some fine situations in it, really
has no ending at all. It stops in the middle of
the 227th page, and we are told no more; but we
are just beginning to be interested. Little
Barbe Caveher is a well-sustained and most de
lightful character. So, too, is Jeanne Ie Ber.
The scenes between Jeanne and La Salle and
between Barbe and Tonty, especially at Fort
St. Louis, are most charmingly done, and show
the strength which was evident In Dollard, but
the requirements of the history are rather se
vere and the wanderings into which we are led
by Fact, whose hand is as hard as Tonty's, are
a litte wearisome.
THE DEAD OHIO LAWIEE.
Interesting Reminiscences of the Career of
Hon. Joho McSweeney.
(SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO TUB DIBPATCU.l
Wooster, O., January 28. Since the death
of Hon. John McSweeney many interesting
reminiscences connected with the distinguished
lawyer's life are recalled, but none is more in
teresting than the circumstances connected
with bis childhood. When John was a little
toddler his parents resided in a little hut along
the Ohio Canal, at Bolivar, Stark county. His
father was a shoemaker, who, with his wife,
came from Innesfallen, Ireland. The cholera
scourge caused the sudden death of both bis
parents, and little John was the only one of the
family left at Bolivar. Neighbors investigated
the household effects left by the McSweeney's,
and in an old earthen jar found some sugar.
This discovery was the cause ot much com
ment, and a closer inspection ot the jar resulted,
Under a covering of sugar was found about
51,500 in gold. Tho finding of this wealth made
several persons anxious to take charge of
young John. Luther Pratt, who then con
ducted a small general store at Bolivar, took
the matter in bands himself. He placed the
youngster astride bis shoulders and took him
and the money to his store, and at once went to
Canton with the boy and the gold, and placed
Doth in the charge of John Harris, an attorney,
as guardian. The child was placed in the keep
ing of a Mrs. Grimes, and the money was ex
pended in educating him. He afterward
studied law with his guardian, and in 1815 came
to Wooster as a young lawyer. He gained a
footing here by reading a set of resolntions be-
1 ioro a Aiemocranc convention. a.a strong,
melodious voice attracted attention, and bis
subsequent success as an eloquent speaker soon
followed. He was devotedly attached to his
profession, and although frequently pressed to
seek political preference he refused to do so.
The goal of his ambition was to stand as a
peer in the legal profession, and although be
took a deep Interest in politics, he never lost
sight of the place for which he was striving
and to which he attained. In this he was
guided by the belief that political success and
professional success would not mix. One of
the most dramatic scenes ever enacted in a
eourtroom was by Mr. McSweeney, In Wooster,
when he was aiding in the prosecution of John
Callahan for the murder of John Tormie. and
for which the accused was convicted and exe
cuted ten years ago. Tormie died from knife
stabs received in a brawl at the fair grounds.
When jMcsweeneyaaoressea tne jury in tms
case, he had a pumpkin on a table before him.
The court room was jammed almost to suffoca
tion by an audience anxious to hear the elo
quent pleader. As the flow of rhetoric fell in
awe-inspiring eloquence from his lips, the audi
ence appeared to breathless attention. Sud
denly the great lawyer sprang forward and
seizing a knife began plunging it into the
pumpkin to illustrate the assault on the mur
dered man. It acted like magic and the intense
stillness of the room was broken only by the
burning eloquence as It rooted every auditor to
the floor, and scarcely a breath was drawn in
the room as the knife was thrust a cumber
of times into the pumpkin by McSweeney, as
be argued as he never argued before.
WOES OP A LITERARY MAN.
HI Difficulty In Regulating Price and Style
of Matter.
From the New York Sun.
"I have one source of acute discomfort," said
a fellow newspaper man to the Sun's reporter,
"that troubles me almost every day. I work
now for four papers and a magazine. 'Every
morning I work for four hours on a salary
which makes the copy I produce pay me say
one-third of a cent a word. My other three pa
pers are weeklies, and pay, say from a cent to a
cent and a bait a word. The magazine pays
best, say 2 cents a word. Well, the thing that
troubles me is this: I go to work about 9 o'clock
making paragraphs and doing odd bits for my
daily paper, and if it is a fortunate morning
and I get well warmed up it won't be an hour
before I begin stringing out 1 cent and lX-cent
words, and by 11 o'clock, just as like as not, I
will be giving that newspaper magazine lan
guage worth exactly six times what I am going
to get for it. When once you are started there
is no help for it.
"A man whose pen is in and whose ideas are
flowing is bound to write the very best be can.
Of course, though he may lay aside an idea
here and there, it i no saving to him to use
cheaper language. In goes the best he knows.
But I tell you it is a sickening sensation to
realize when half your article is already in the
compositors' bands that it is magazine, or at
least weekly paper, stuff that is running out of
you, and that only the low-grade remuneration
is runningin. You may laugh, but it is a dread
ful feeling. Just consider bow you would feel
if you had contracted to feed a gang of railroad
laborers on pork and beans, and found you were
out of that sort of nourishment, and had noth
ing but terrapin left in the house. Perhaps
you wouldn't feel wasteful; and if not, you
can't sympathize with me."
A PICTUKE BEINGS GOOD LDCK.
Having it Printed in a Paper a Boy Finds
Friends nnd Money.
ST. Loins, January 28. There is one newsboy
of this city who has been made happy. He Is
Richard Eagan and is 15 years old. He was lost
from East St. Louis when he was 2 years old.
He has no recollection of his parents, bis
mother having died when he was a baby. He
has been in St. Louis as far back as bis memory
goes. His first recollection is of being with the
Sisters of St. Joseph's, on Cass avonue, where
he got a good schooling. Recently he left there
and began selling papers. Last Sunday his
picture was published, with 15 other newsboys.
In a local paper.
The picture was recognized by his uncle,
Peter Matthews, of Belleville, 111., who came
here yesterday and took him home. He has an
estate of $3,000 coming to him. He is a bright
boy, and has for the last six months sold papers
to his elder brother, who is a clerk in a St.
Louis Btore, but who did not recognize him.
LIFE.
A flower that blooms and withers In a night?
A scaled book writ lu an unknown lore
A gem which broken nothing can restore
A fevered dream? An atom of delight?
A song that dies ere scarce 'tis given .flight?
A beaten wave that sobs along the shore.
And brcakiniron the rocks Is heard no more?
At best, a triumph hirdly worth the ujsht?
These are not life! Nay; what with lire compares?
Or what may with its glory dare to shine?
Life Is a girt ineffable, which bears
The Seal Immortal from the Hand Divine;
The gift to serve and Iovethrouch endless years)
O life most beautiful, whatjoy is thine!
ammn v, Jjovm n ioufn' vompanwn.
B. LiDnlncott Co. :
A PESSIMIST'S STANDPOINT.
Tho Dispatch Correspondent Pleased With
the Stnnach Support of Senator Ingalls
a to the Solution of the Race Problem
Jastlco to be Done, or Blood and Negro
Extermination Mast Follow.
fFEOM A STAFT COBRESFONDENT.l
Washington, January 25.
TXThen I wrote two weeks ago, just after the
Introduction of the Butler bill for the ex
patriation of the American negro, that this was
impossible, and that the increase in numbers,
the ambitions, the aggressive nature and the
persistent and villainous oppression of the col
ored people, could end in nothing but the right
ing of their wrongs by the application of the
torch and knife, I did cot so soon expect to be
indorsed by so distinguished an authority as
Senator Ingalls. I knew that this was the opin
ion of many public men; but they were brave
enough to speak it only under their breath.
They dared not avow it openly for fear of en
couraging the thing they prophesied. Never
was a speech listened to more intently by any
element than this one by the colored people
who crowded the galleries. At the picture of
their wrongs, worse than those of the days of
slavery, because perpetuated under the guise
of freedom and equality, they wept; at the pre
diction that if justice was cot speedily ac
corded there woula be a bloody uprising, their
eyes flashed, their jaws were set, and they ap
plauded long and loud regardless of the solemn
atmosphere of the Senate Chamber, where ap
plause is always promply checked as sacrilege.
Now that one public man has been frank
cuuugu ku preuiui but, UUkUUUlH 11 fcilO
present treatment of the colored people is con
tinued, let us look a little further into the sit
uation. Everyone knows that there will be no
change in the policy of the negro haters of the
South. The only method by which that can be
reformed is by the establishment of complete
Federal supervision of the Southern States,
the enforcement of the laws under which they
have a right to admission to all public halls,
conveyances and hotels and the right to free
expression at the polls. Imbued by no spirit
loftier than that of commercial exploitation,
sodden and shriveled by the horrible competi
tion for the possession of property and money,
void of patriotism as the lice and maggots that
feast on the live, the dying and the dead bodies
of men and things, what will so-called political
defenders of the negro, North or South, do for
him? Kindly feeling toward these unfortu
nates is measured by the strength of the desire
to have their votes.
TtTHAT then? The race war will very likely
come. The South may again be the scene of
murder and destruction unlimited. Nemesis may
require the enactment of greater horrors than
have yet been experienced In revenge for the
buying and selling of the black slave, and his
disfranchisement after he was nominally freed.
The power of the Federal Government will
then be brought Into play to put down the re
bellion; the colored people will probably be
crushed, and from that time the work ot exter
mination will begin systematically, as it did
with the Indian, and the race of men whose
only crime is its color will he driven to separate
reservations or to death. This is the inevitable
logic of the relations of the two races. The ar
rogant, rapacious, exclusive and indomitable
Caucasian! aptly so described by Senator In
galls, will insist on his being a serf, a hewer of
wood and a drawer of water; the negro will re
fuse to be so treated, will fight for the destiny
which he feels is as grand as that of the whites;
then the law of the survival of the "flghtist"
will stamp him out.
Immigration or colonization will not avert
this evil destiny. An African Republic would
sooner or later be appropriated by the rapacious
and indomitable Caucasian. The only person
of African descent who will ever be absorbed
and perpetuated as a part of the body politic i3
be who is bleached into chalky whiteness by
amalgamation.
Of course such pessimistic views may be all
wrong. The prophet can only judge of future
effects from present causes; and even prophets
see things with varying vision. To me the
J resent conditions seem to point to that which
have briefly described as the only logical con
clusion. AS Pennsylvania is just now agitating the
ijueauuu ui iiupxuvcu cuuuujr tuaus, ii
may be of interest to everybody to know that
the General Government gives a good deal of
attention to the construction of macadamized
roads in the District. Roads so built are by all
odds the best in the District, and are probably
built as well as any such roads in the country;
but there is still a great lack of knowledge as
to how to construct and maintain good turn
pikes. The trouble, to begin with, is that the
work is let to contractors instead of being done
under the supervision of officials of the Gov
ernment by workmen of the Government.
This vicious custom of letting contracts for the
construction of roads, streets and buildings is
for the purpose of giving politicians and tho
friends of politicians a chance to "make a
stake."
Abroad, the high roads are not only in almost
all Instances constructed by the employes of
the Government direct, and for that reason
honestly constructed, but they are better made
and more carefully maintained than they could
be by any other system. In driving and cycling
some thousands of miles in Great Britain and
Ireland and on the Continent, I have constantly
admired the beauty of the roads, smooth and
even more inviting than our asphalt streets in
Washington. I found the secret to be,
first, that they were under Government
supervision, and second, that they
were never permitted to get out of
repair, skilled workmen always being on tbo
ground to traverse every foot of the way, to
put the carefully broken stone in place and
keep it there till it was mashed and cemented,
hard and even as a floor. Here a contract is
given for the construction of a road, a passably
good street is made, and that is tbelast of work
on that highway until it becomes so wretchedly
bad that those who use it raise an outcry.
Everything done by contractors is with a view
of doing it just well enough to get theirmoney,
and then to get another contract as soon as
possible.
"pniEDS of the deceased in this city who
were present, tell me something that has not
been generally printed, if at all, in regard to
tho funeral of Father O'Hara, the noted Cath
olic priest of Syracuse, who died a few days
ago. He was probably the most popular and
broadest-minded Catholic clergyman in the
country. He bad tho greatest respect for the
opinions of those who did not agree with him
on any subject. One of the most intimate of
the personal friends of bis life wasan Agnostic,
and bis liberal spirit so permeated the town
that it was a common saying Father O'Hara
had made bigotry impossible in Syracuse.
Among the pall bearers at bis funeral were a
Presbyterian, a Hebrew, and an Agnostic It
was a people's funeral. The procession
stretched unbroken from the church to the
cemetery.
An affecting incident occurred just before
the coffin was closed. An old farmer, in rough
clothes, over whose head 90 winters bad passed,
tottered up through the crowd to tho coffin,
gazed a moment at the beautiful dead face,
and then stooped and imprinted a kiss upon
the cold lips.
Father O'Hara was as advanced in his views
of the industrial question as be was in his re
ligion. Only a short time before he died be
presided at a meeting of "single land tax" ad
vocates. In fact his opinions were almost pre
cisely identical with those of the suspended
priest. Father McGIynn.
Father O'Hara used often to visit his rela
tives in this city. He was one of the most fas
cinating and handsome men I have ever met.
His physical development was perfect. He
was apparently a Hercules In strength and an
Apollo in figure, a personification of the Gre
cian ideal of the gods. His devotion to duty
when be ought to have been in bed was pos
sibly the cause of bis death. E. W. L.
It Gives All the News.
From the Franklin Citizen Press.
The Pittsburg Dispatch Is one of the
great newspapers of the United States. It
gives all the news domestic and foreign, and
no expeose is spared to make every department
of the paper complete. The Sunday Dis
patch has a circulation of over 50,000 copies,
and is made up of 20 pages each issue. The
ablest and best writers are employed, making
The Dispatch without a rival in this section.
Let Us Hopo So.
From the Harrlsburg Independent.
Governor Beaver having in his speech before
the Commission to Revise the Road Laws
blamed the Legislature for neglecting to pass
proper laws during the past, the press of the
State in all directions Is now commenting on
the charge In tones not very complimentary to
lawmakers. It looks as If a public opinion will
be molded that will assure good roads all over
the Commonwealth.
Hard to Dent Bismarck.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer. 1
The German Reichstag has once more de
feated the Government. But. as the ministry
is not "responsible," what does It matter? On
his last military bill Bismarck was beaten three
consecutive times, and kept ordering new elec
tions until he secured a Parliament that would
'pass the measure.
0D2 MAIL fjOUCfl.
Allegheny's Impure Water. '
To the Editor of The Dlscatch:
I read In the papers a short time ago that Su
perintendent Armstrong had laid 20 miles of
new water main"!, and that Allegheny now has
the best water supply of any city in the coun
try. At the same time he stated that he bad
nothing to say about the character of the
water. I think he should give the citizens of
Allegheny an explanation of the character of
the water that they are drinkinc, and not sup
ply water solely for the benefit of the doctors.
I think in the last few years physicians have
made fortunes out of water, such as is supplied
to the people cow. By looking at the old' pipes
that were taken out this last fall, any one
could judge what kind of water was supplied.
I have been Informed by a Conncilman that
when the reservoir was cleaned out about three
months ago, an accumulation of two years or
more, the foul and filthy mass was about three
feet or more deep. I was told It was be
yond language to describe. For two
years the people have been drinking
water running through and washing this bed
of pollution. It is alarming, and that the peo-
file are sick is not at all surprising. I would
ike to know why the reservoirs could not be
cleaned out once or twice a year. About two
months ago at a meeting of the Water Com
mittee it was stated that there was to be a
positive recommendation made to Councils for
the furnishing to the city of a purer supply of
water. Superintendent Armstrong, who has,
at tbo suggestion of the committee and Coun
cils prepared several plans and modifications of
plans, was reported to bo still at work, and pro
posed, if possible, to demonstrate that the best
thing to be done is to extend the supply main
further up stream, claiming that this would be
the most economical coarse, and that it would
be a permanent improvement. I cau't see what
difference it makes where the water is taken
out of the river, whether it is taken 25 miles
up the river or at the place where it is taken
out now. The water is all the same, for it came
down from above to where it is pumped
at present. All the difference there would be
between letting the water run down the river
itself and in extending a main np the river, and
would be about $1,500,000 for the taxpayers of
Allegheny to meet. Tne character of the water
would remain the same unless it should be
filtered, and it could just as well be filtered at
the present location as up the river.
I have been informed by several Councilmen
that about three years ago the Water Commit
tee had the water analyzed from different
places up the river and from the reservoir and
from the pumping place, and that which was
taken out at the latter proved to be the purest.
I think about three years ago a committee and
Superintendent Armstrong visited some of the
Eastern cities to inspect some of the filter
ing devices, and reported that they
proved very satisfactory. A filter com
pany afterward put a small filter
on one of the avenues in the lower part ot the
city, where any person was at liberty to judge
of the water for himself, and it gave good sat
isfaction. There is also a filter that has been
constructed for some time in Allegheny, which
Superintendent Armstrong is said to have
tested and pronounced satisfactory. Several
Councilmen are of the same opinion, but as
they are on other committees, they have no
power to act. And still the character of our
drinking water remains as bad as ever. When
shall we have a purer supply? Taxpayer.
Allegheny, January 25.
Mr. Carleton Not to Retire.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
In your issue of this dateaparagraph appears
under the heading "Before the Curtain," which
states that, after this season, I intend to aban
don my career as manager and artist in this
country and return to England to remain there.
I beg to state that there is positively no founda
tion for this statement; my chief interests, do
mestic, social and financial, are on thu side of
the Atlantic, and having been received here br
both press and public in the most generous and
kindly spirit for 16 years, I have no intention of
giving np a position 1 feel very proud of.
I regret that your cntic's views as to the mer
its of my company are not so favorable as I
would wish, but I assure you the box office
receipts during the entire past week were of
flattering and profitable proportions.
W. T. Caklxtox.
Pittsburg, January 26.
Gladstone as a Conservative.
To the Editor of The DlsDatch:
Was Gladstone ever elected to Parliament as
a Conservative? L.
Mansfield, January 25.
Yes; in December, 1832, he was returned as a
Conservative from Newark. For four months
in 1831 and 1835 he was in Peel's Conservative
Ministry. In 1811 he was in Peel's second Min
istry. In 1816 he resigned from Parliament,
but was returned in August, 1847, as one of the
members for Oxford University. In February,
1851, he formally separated from the Conserva
tive party. He was re-elected from Oxford
University, but was rejected in 1865. Since
then be has represented South Lancashire,
Greenwich and Edinburgh city.
Rather Long Cars.
To the Editor orTbe Dispatch:
In a recent nnmber of The Dispatch I find
a statement of the longest train of cars ever
bandied on the Baltimore and Ohio, which con
sisted of 93 freight cars and caboose, being a
few fee t over a mile long. Allowing the caboose
and engine to equal In length two freight cars
would make the total 100 freight cars, as there
are 6.280 feet in a mile each car would average
just 52 8-10 feet in length. I would like to see
some of those cars in this section of the
country. Old Raileoadee.
Bbaddock, January 25.
About 40,000,000.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
What is the population of the Austro-Hun-garian
Empire? W.
Fittsbubg, January 25.
TWO KINDS OP SOCIETY EYENTS.
The Wealthiest City Allows a Poor Girl to
Die In Want.
From the Boston Globe.
Three years ago Edith M. Cook, a beautiful
English girl and an orphan, was left to shift for'
herself in New York, while the relatives who
brought her over the ocean went West. She
succeeded after a while In getting a situation
as waitress in a restaurant at $3 a week. Half
of this went for rent and the rest for car fares.
For two years she struggled to get a situation
by which she could live an honest ana respect
able life. But Bhe gradually fell behind. She
suffered tho pangs of hunger, and as a last re
sort was oDliged to dispose of all of her scanty
wardrobe that was pawnable. Last week pneu
monia came and relieved her from further
struggle and privation.
It is, perhaps, not worth while to sermonize
upon this incident. It occurred in a city which
spent $8,000,000 last year for champagne: where
nun f&milv. at least, dines off a solid cold
service; where $200.CCO necklaces are frequently
paraded, and where diamonds are as plenty as
snowflakes at "great social events' What
kind of "events" shall we call sup h as the inci
dent here related?
THROUGH EDITOR'S SPECTACLES. '
New York World : The Samoan treaty Is a
compact between three great nations to give a
small island something which it doesn't want.
It will never be ratified.
Nkw York Times: The great need of the
times is a higher standard of political conduct
among the mass of voters of the country. The
Government will be what they make it or what
they permit it to be made.
Cincinnati Enquirer: Mr. Springer wants
the House to select the site of the World's
Fair by secret ballot. Objection is herewith
filed. Let the vote be open. It Is desirable to
know whether members do that which, for valid
reasons, they promised to do.
Philadelphia Times: Ohio's own Butter
worth declares that destiny and geography
have declared that the United States and
Canada shall be one people. From this It
should seem that Mr. Butterworth reads the
stars and totes a surveying chain with equal
ability.
New York Herald: Now that la grippe is
declaring its final dividends and preparing to
go out of business the restless American people
are beginning to look about them and ask,
"What next?" We suggest a little real winter
and an actual sleieh ride as the most novel
thing we can think of.
New Yobk Tribune: It is not necessarily
Immoral to argue that time alone can solve the
problem of fair play for colored citizens at the
South. But if those who defend that view ot
the case would conceal their brutal indiffer
ence to the wrongs inflicted ou the negros their
arguments would be heard with greater atten
tion and complacency.
New York Sun: The Hon. Russell Ben
jamlnovitch Harrison, Markis of Montana, has
returned to the White House, and a more vig
orous policy may cow be expected. Baby Mc
Kee Is very powerful In fact, altogether the
most powerful young Republican in existence;
but it is feared and suspected tbat after that
leading youngRepubllcan is put into his little
bed at night his rival, Russell Benjamlnovitch.
'may poison the Old Man's mind.
CDEI0US C0HDMSATI0KS." 5
A grizily bear "that weighed 2,500
pounds was killed near Slssons, CaL, recently.
A 79-year-old woman confined in the
Steuben County, N. Y., House has read the
Bible through 15 times.
While sinking a well at his new saw
mill near Seymour, Ind., Jesse Cox came across
some large chestnut trees 35 feet below the sur
face in a perrect state of preservation.
Mrs. Haller, of Port Townsend, Wash.,
dreamed that her husband stood before her
without coat or vest and drenched with water
from head to foot. The next she beard of M"i
he was found drowned.
Tadpoles were seen swimming about in
pools In Preston, Conn., last week, and a Leba-
con man found a tadpole tbat had a ripe bead
A,.. Alt ...., ... B 1, ..... ..-.a .
u -" --- --uii ot activity, .n oDoay recol
lects a season before when a tadpole tried to be
come a frog in tho first month of the year.
Hopkinsville, Ky., has a prodigy that
Is attracting great attention. It is a colored in
fant named Lonella Graves, daughter of Rev.
J. C. Graves, that 13 only 3 months of age, but
can talk distinctly. The child could pronounce
many words before it was 3 weeks old, and now.
at the age of 3 months.it can talknlainly.
Great crowds have visited the minister's home
to behold this infant prodigy.
The fly fishermen of the United States
have a new pleasure before them. A fish not
hitherto known in America is to be introduced
this year, and there is every reason to believe
SS'J'v?111 tnrtTe and multiply wonderfully.
The fish is the European sea trout, salmo trutta,
a,fliS w.e11 nown and abundant in England.
While the sea trout is a salt water fish, it in
habits land-locked fresh waters and thrives
there. Eggs will soon be put into Maine
streams flowing into the ocean.
The other day there came to Salem,
Ore., a boxcar tbat left Detroit 16 days before.
It contained P. Harwood, wife and two babies,
seven cows, two horses, two sheep, and an end
less assortment of household and kitchen fur
niture and farm appliances. A stovepipe had
been pushed through a ventilator hole in the
car and the smoke tbat wreathed the onening
gave evidence those inside the car were not
suffering from the cold. Mr. Harwood said the
trip was made easily and quite pleasantly, con
sidering the crowded condition of the car. ,
The Elk county (Pa.) deer park of Hall'
tKanl is a mile square. All around the place
a fence made of trees stand from 10 to 15 f eetin
height, while inside the brush and trees are so
thick that people are easily lost there. Ap
proaches to the park are so arranged that the
deer coming np find but little difficulty in gain
ing an entrance, but once inside there is no pos
sible means of getting out. Inside the fence
the gronnd slopes so much that the most ex
pert jumper in the deer tribe would not attempt
to get out. It is thought now tbat there are
not less than 150 deer within the park.
Captain Joshua King, of Belpre. O.,
has without question the largest and most com
plete collection of Indian relics, curiosities,
moneys, etc, of any single individual in Ohio.
His collection of coins dates back to
the first issues of Continental money, coming
down with very few breaks and omissions to
the present dav. His collection of copper
coins is nearly perfect from the first issues.
But one or two are missine from the continu
ous cham. The Indian relics embrace toma
hawks, arrow and spear heads, cooking uten
sils, etc., many in a perfect condition. He has
also valuable mineral specimens ana copies of
many of the earliest American newspapers.
Homer Willis, a 12-year-old William
antic, Conm,Iad was lounging along the road to
school a day or two ago when he found an odd
looking shell by the wayside, and he picked it
up. He scrutinized it closelv, and his curiosity
was excited. He didn't know but it might be
a new kind of tropical nut. So he laid it down
on a rock, and, getting a stone, whacked the
shell several times with great force. Then sud
denly the air turned black, the queer nut
mysteriously disappeared, and a moment later,
when Homer had gained his right mind, he
found himself on his back in the road. He dis
covered tbat a couple of queer round holes had
been bored through bis upper lip. The surgeon
who dressed the boy's wounds said he guessed
the odd cut was a dynamite cartridge, and that
it had nelongevl to Wllliamantic sewer men at
work on Valley street.
It is a novel thing for blacksnakes to be
twining loose on rooftrees in January, even in
sub-tropical Connecticut, but one twined on
the roof of Mrs. Palmer's house at Christian
Hill, near Danielsonville, the other day. and
when Mrs. Palmer opened the door he came
down on her head, and there was an acrobatic '
act for a moment. The serpent appeared to
have no prejudice against Mrs. Palmer, but he
happened to come down just as the lady was
stepping out Into the world. First he hit her
about the crown of the head, then he sprawled
across her face, took a loop abouther neck, and
finally, with one long twist, curled about her
comfortable bosom. Mrs. Palmer is not par
tial to snakes, and with a whoop she tore the
black fellow loose from her bodice, and then
hysterically held him aloft; but in a moment
she flung him on the stone doorstep and
stamped his Ufa out. The snake was a fire
footer. In the last week of the hunting season
Jack Dunham, who was looking for gray squir
rels on Pole Ridge, in Clifton township, near
Scranton, saw a flock of snowbirds flutter
np from the brush a short distance ahead of
him as though they had been frishtened by
something. The next thing Dunham saw was
a wildcat. It had pounced upon the birds as
they were pecking on the ground, and it had
caught one of them and wa3 eating it when the
hunter got the first glimpse of it, Dunham had
a single-barrel rifle, and he palled np and let
unve at tne wiiacats neau. -tie suot tne tip 01
its nose off, and such a tearing around and
vowllng as followed the crack of tho rifle,
Dunham said he had never seen orheard in the
woods before. The wildcat didn't catch sight
of the hunter, and while it was scratching
around and making a great fuss over its
wounded nose, Dunham loaded np again and
sent a bullet through its vitals.
It appears tbat the national game of
baseball, in addition to its other excellences,
has remedial virtues in the treatment of the in
sane. So reports Dr. Selden H. Talcott, Medical
Superintendent of the New York State Home
opathic Asylum for the Insane, located In Syra
cuse, in the nineteenth annual report of the
workings of the institution, just issued. He
states that an asylum cine was organized last
year, uniformed and carefully trained. An ex
cellent ball ground was fitted up for their use.
So ereat was the skill attained and so sreat was
the interest manifested in this game that sever
al challenges passed between the asylum nine
and other baseball nines in Orange and other
counties. The asylum nine, during the season,
played 15 games; won 1L tied land lost but 8.
The beneficial effects of the national game
upon those whose minds have been depressed
or disturbed is very marked. The patients in
whom it had hitherto been impossible to arouse
a healthy Interest in anything seemed to
awaken and become bnehter at the sharp crack
of tho base hits. Even demented patients were
eager watchers of the game.
JOCOSE JOTTINGS.
"Jones lives in Cincinnati now.
Makes
110,000 a vear from his pen."
Does he do his own packing?' Sno lark
Evening Sun.
Bagney Why did you change your tai
lors? Couldn't Cnttem suit you?
Inndette (sadly) He could, bat he wouldn't
wait any longer. Time.
Optimist Do you know, I believe there's
money in the Keely motor?
Pessimist Yes, the stockholders' money. It is
securely invested, too. Seio York hvening Sun.
"Before we married she was yielding and
pensive. Bat now all is changed."
"In what way?"
"She is aggressive and expensive." Harper'
Hazar.
"That is not more than half the composi
tion," she said, as she turned ou the piano stool.
Shalllplaytherest?"
"Yes, "he replied, abstractedly, "playtherest
by all means; play all the rests you caa find." ..
Washington Post.
Book Agent Here is that book, ma'am, J
"How to Play the Piano." a
Lady of the House What book? I didn't order
any book. ....
"No'm, but the neighbors did, and they told mo .
to bring it to you." Time.
Schoolmistress Tommy, what did youT
disobey me for?
Tommy 'Cos 1 thought you'd whip me. ,
Schoolmistress What did you want me to whip " -
you for ?
Tommy 'Cos p said he would if you didn't, and
he hurts. Harper's Batar.
"Mr. Jaysmitb," remarked that gentle-; ,
man's mother-In-law as she entered the oflce and -
drew up a chair, "ray daughter was surprisedand
grieved at the condition yon went home la last .
night, or rather, early this morning." '",
"Yes, "replied Jaysmlth, cheerfully, "she didn't f
know 1 was loaded."--""- -.
AN IDYL 0 THE 60UTHLAHD. j,
John Henry went courting his girljg
In the South. " .'
And the dog of her rather, by chance, ,
Observing that Henry wore pants,
Just gave Mm one whirl, m
And now you may see at a glance
That he's wearing the seat of John's pants;
In his mouth, ,
Washington i
ESEti