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THE PITTSBUEG DISPATCH, STTCSTDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1890.
resstwasa
lite Bigpaftft.
ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 1816.
Vol.No.268.-Entcrcd at Pittsburg rostofflce,
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PITTSBURG. SUNDAY-. NOV. 2, 18901
TO AGENTS Next Wednesday's DIS
VATCII Mill enntaiu complete and ex
hante ELECTION KElVniNS. Send In
a our orders earlj, as the cdrieii will bcun.
lisnally heavj, and lists must be prepared
caily.
THE POUOCAL "WIXD-UIV
The curious and deeply interesting politi
cal struggle in Pennsylvania is about drawn
to a close. The only thin that remains to
be said is that whichever way the vote turn,
the majority will be entirely likelto get
just the sort of Governor that particular
majority want. They have had every op
portunity of judging of the recotd, qualifi
cations, disqualifications and tendencies of
the opposing candidates. These candidates
differ so widely that there is no possibility
of a blind choice.
There has not even been room ior argu
ment in the canva&s. That Pattison was a
faithful and safe public servant has not
been disputed, excepting m a single in
stance. That instance but redounded to bis
credit, as the false charge in 'he South Penn
matter was completely retracted with apol
ogies, and acknowledgment made of its
ialsitv. Pattison stands before the public
nominally as a Democrat, but actually as
one who, twice elected to high office by lie
publican votes, fully justified in every par
ticular the non-partisan trust reposed in
him. Common justice compels the acknowl
edgment that the public rights and interests
will be in absolutely safe bands should ex
Governor Pattison be elected on Tuesday.
The voters are almost as well informed as
to the brieler official record ot Mr. Dela
mater. He has not himself discussed it to
anv great degree. His arguments have been
mostly on tbe tariff and on the grandeur of
the party history. Those who are satisfied
to vote for Governor lrom the latter stand
point will doubtless always find Mr. Dela
mater quite ture upon these two subjects.
His probable policy as Executive o the
State is another matter of which he has left
us to judge solely from his political ante
cedents. The prospects are for a close vote, with
tbe result uncertain until the count is made.
"Each voter ought to be able to make a choice
for himself. It is not a case where special
exhortation should be required.
THE CLEVELAND JJUGBEAR.
A contributor to the public press who
evolves matter for publication under tbe
nom de plume of "Communicated"' has dis
covered that Mr. Cleveland has been talking
about the campaign, and takes care to spread
the matter before the public by repeated as
sertions of tbe fact.
This is evidently for the purpose of mak
ing the voters believe the assertions of the
Democratic organs that a vote for Pattison
is a vote for Mr. Cleveland's tariff views.
But when we find under the head, "Cleve
land Shouts for Pattison," that Mr. Cleve
land is talking exclusively of "the discus
sion of tariB reform by the Democratic ad
vocates," cud say not a word about Gov
ernor Pattison, it may dawn on the public
mind that Mr. Cleveland is speaking solely
of the Congressional elections.
Inasmuch as the Bepublican managers
with whom "Communicated" is more or less
directly connected have refused the chance
to gain a Congressman in Philadelphia and
are ready to trade votes on Congressmen for
votes on the State ticket, publication! of this
sort hit tbe Bepublican organization in
Pennsylvania harder than anyone else.
TITLES FOK TAXATION.
The proposition ot M. Moreau, in tbe
Trench Chamber, to make titles of nobility
subjects of taxation is certainly in accord
ance with the fiscal rule of placing the
burdens of taxation so far as possible on
objects of luxury. Titles of nobility are
luxuries, especially in a Republic like J
France, and M. Moreau s bill to impose a
tax of $100 annually on the nrefir "de,"
51,000 on the title of baron, $4,000 on that
of count, and $10,000 on that of prince,
ought to establish a decided addition to the
public revenue It might be a diminishing
source of public income, like Pitt's tax on
wigs and hair powder, which yielded a
million dollars tbe first year, but gradually
wiped out the use of those articles
altogether. If tbe owners of these titles are
cot willing to yield the contribution to the
State's expenses, the revenue might be kept
up by adding the Italian plan of letting
anyone have the titles who is willing to pay
for tbem.
This scheme of taxation contains a valu
able suggestion to the United States. Our
Constitution forbids the granting of titles of
nobility, which is a deprivation to tbe gilded
aristocracy of the East, who would no doubt
be lad to pay whatever taxation might be J
I --"' trl" t mhi
imposed for the privilege of wearing that
crown of social distinction. But the propo
sition in France to tax the exotic titles of
the Old World suggests the ability of this
country to do the same thing on the mar
riages of Americau heiresses with the
wearers of those titles the important thing
which is acquired by such unions being tbe
money on the one side and the titles on the
other.
Such a duty on tbe titled husbands of
American girls could be levied either for
revenue or for protection. There is no doubt
that, properly adjusted, it could be made to
yield a large revenue. "When American
millionaires pay their titled son-in-laws
gambling debts by the hundreds of thou
sands, who can think that they would
grudge some additional tens ot thousands to
the United States Government? But the
United States does not need the revenue,
and it is in the light of a protective tax that
the proposition has its greatest attractions.
Shall not the free and independent Amer
ican citizen, in his search for a well-dowered
wi.'e, be protected from thecompetition
of pauper European titles?
TKC&TS AND T1IE LATV. (
The efforts of two trusts to prolong their
existence despite the judgments of the
courts, form a very iuteresting feature in
the financial columns of the press at present,
and contribute great pertinence to the ques
tion whether the organized masses of wealth
can be brought into subjection to the law.
The two trusts which are thus fighting to
maintain their existence after the courts
have declared them to be utterly repugnant
to the law. are the Sugar Trust and the
Chicago Gas Trust, The decision against
tbe first combination left no doubt that it was
illegal. It was intended to destroy com
petition and engross the market, and on
that ground it placed itself outside the law.
The organization being illegal, tbe transfers
of the sugar refining corporations in the
trust to its ownership were declared vltra
rtrcs, and it was even held that
one corporation had forfeited its
charter by doing so. Unuer such circum
stances it was obvious that the entire organi
zation was destroyed by its own illegality.
Yet the trust lawyers have succeeded in so
far preventing the necessary steps to wind
up the concerns, and are cow prosecuting a
plan for reorganizing by turning over its
property and the control of all the sugar
refineries to a New Jersey corporation,
which, with a capital of 50,000,000, shall
perpetuate the monopoly. In other words,
it is proposed that what has been declared
to be illegal shall be kept up, and the idea
is developed that the illegality cau be
dodged by calling the combination a cor
poration instead cf a trust.
Yet this point is just what has been de
cided, cot only indirectly in the Sugar
Trust case, but directly in the Chicago Gas
Trust case. There the trust took the form
of a corporation, and the decision was di
rectly to the effect that one corporation
could not tracs'er its autonomy to another
for the pcrpose of wiping out competition.
Yet it has taken repeated decisions to that
effect by the Chicago courts to impress the
fact on the minds of the corporations, and
alter the lapse of years nothing has
been done toward dissolving the trust. It
is also noticeable that the attempt to per
petuate the Sugar Trust, as well as the
action taken by the anthracite coal com
panies, in restricting production and raising
prices, show that the corporation magnates
do cot think It necessary to pay the slightest
attention to the anti-trust law enacted at the
recent session of Congress.
This evident conviction in corporate
circles, that the plain and direct declara
tions of the law and the courts need not be
respected by them, has especial pertinence
in Pernsylvania. We have the most
gigantic example of tbe calm superiority of
the corporations to law in the strangling of
the South Penn organization. That deal
was brought to a halt at the close of Pat
tison's term; but during four years of Be
publican administration it has been al
lowed to quietly go on, and the courts and
Constitution have been alike ignored. The
people of Pennsylvania will have an op
portunity next week to express their
opinion "as to whether these masses of capi
tal should be superior to the law or subject
to it; and it is to be hoped that they will
improve the opportunity.
MR. BLAINE'S DELUSION.
The pith of Mr. Blaine's speech in Phil
adelphia yesterday is: Delamater and pro
tection are identical in this campaign; to
retain the latter's blessings the Bepublican
candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania
must be elected. This is no new argument;
it has been the chief reliance of Mr. Dela
mater's advocates ever since his per
sonal weakness became painfully plain.
The Dispatch has shown time and again
the absurdity of this contention, and we be
lieve the great mass of voters see through
this attempt to cover Delamater's failings
with the tariff. Of course, Mr. Blaine's
words will have some effect, but at this late
day they can hardly delude any great num
ber of sane persons who know what is really
at stake in the State election.
EMINENCE IN SOC1ETV.
One of the most interesting testimonials
as to what is necessary for a member of so
ciety in New York has recently been made
by that amusing and instructive person, Mr.
Ward McAllister. The career of thatieadcr ot
the Four Hundred, and the methods with
which he has been successful in exploiting
himself, have presented numerous lessons
alike calculated to combine instruction with
amusement; but none of them have given us
a stronger dose of both than Mr. McAllister's
last deliverance. Beferring to some criticisms
on hislateventureintothefield of authorship,
which alieged that weaknesses in grammar
were to be discovered in that literary gem,
the author and leader of fashion said: "A
man of fashion is not expected to be a gram
marian, don't yon know. My language was
like that of society."
This is surprising but not the less im
portant as adding another to tbe long lists of
qualities which are testified by adequate
experience not to be required to qualify a
man for entrance into good society. That
literary fame, leadership in politics, promi
nence in science or art, do not constitute the
necessary qualities to take the social leader
ship has lone been conceeded. A writer or
thinker would be unknown in the social
world, and one who did cot go there to
gratify his curiosity or study social phenom
ena would also be disqualified by getting
deadly sick of it, A politician would be
disqualified by the faults of both spheres,
while men who rise to the height of states
manship are only accepted in Mr. McAllis
ter's sphere as lions. It may be' supposed
that the posession of millions gives the
entree in New York; although it has often
been denied that it is'a mere dollar aristoc
racy; but even then the men who have the
record of creating wealth by their own abil
ity are barred out, and only those who have
received it from their fathers or grand
fathers are made welcome.
Thus it lias already appeared that no eri
jiaHtom -rttar - - - :s'etesre hihii mi i mBmmMmMw
deuce of ability or record of success in
spheres requiring strength of mind prove to
be the qualifications lor that charmed circle
of which Mr. McAllister is at once tbe ex
ponent and censor. Culture, scientific
learning, political wisdom, or financial abil
ity, all are a dross beside tbe real social
touchstone; and here we have another qual
ity which is entirely unnecessary. It seems
that the social aspirant does not require the
ability to speak and write tbe English
langnage correctly. Grammar is entirely
a barren ideality from Mr.-"icAHister's
point of view. We believe that Herbert
Spencer develops a similar ide from very
different grounds; but the corroboration of
that philosopher will not strengthen Mr.
McAllister's opinion. Fashion and gram
mar are two widely separated subjects, and
it is vain for tbe vulgar herd to expect a
a man of fashion to waste bis time on any
sucb useless and severe mental exercise as
to remember that a verb in the plural re
quires a subject of the same number, or
vice versa.
What then are the qualifications required
for that society which Mr. McAllister hold
up for our admiration and awe? Family
is talked of; but the fact is that the families
which have been prominent for keeping up
the tradition of culture and ability are the
exception in this circle, while those whose
progenitors fi'ty years ago were prominent
for other-pursuits are much more common.
Money is necessary, but you"' must inherit
it in large amounts from your father, or,
much better, your grandfather, before you
can aspire to real social eminence. Clothes
are necessary, but scores of obscure fops
succeed in clothing themselves as gorge
ously as McAllister himself, and remain un
known of men. McAllister's great literary
work has revealed the secret. The social
leader must know how to get up his feasts;
he must never let himself betray that depth
of social ignorance which permits salmis of
tame duck to masquerade as an entree.
Then can his proud soul mount to the loft
iest social beights,and from his eminence be
can laugh to scorn tbe vulgar theory that a
man of fashion needs that degree of culture
necessary to burden his mind with the rules
of English grammar.
In short, the qualifications for society are:
a large inceme which the owner never
gained by his own exertions and does not
know how to use discreetly; the taste in
clothes of a dude, and tbe culinary tenden
cies of a French cook. If a man combines
in his person those shining advantages, he
need never bother his head about such trivial
matter as culture or ability or even grammar
as claims to social eminence.
PLAYGROUNDS FOK CHILDREN.
In New York the other night a company
of big-bearted and liberal-minded men and
women met to consider a project for provid
ing the children of that city; with play
grounds. In that and other large cities
there are miles of city blocks with no place
for the children to play ball pr shinny or
the numerous games of youth unless they use
the streets and do so at tbe peril of them
selves and others. It is said that Boston is
a notable exception in this respect, having
provided her children with seventeen play
grounds and a big place for coasting. It is
cot wise or just or kind or generous for the
body politic to provide art treasures, great
libraries, fine drives and a big park out of
town for tbe grown-up folks, and
make no provision for simple play
grounds for her children. Pittsburg
ought to have several centrally located
places that should be given over to the chil
dren for their free playgrounds. They need
not be very large, but they should be selected
with a view of accommodating the children
of such localities as most need something of
this sort, Big folks and little folks alike
would rejoice to see this done. There would
seem to be no good reason against it and
many for it.
A bell-boy at the Hotel "Vendome,
in New York, wbo was recently sen
tenced to the penitentiary for ten years
on account of the theft of a package
containing $16,000. seems to take as cool a view
of tbe situation as a trust magnate or big cor
poration in Pennsylvania. He told tbe landlord
of the hotel that he had tbe money put away
safely: that he would serve out bis sentence, and
that then he would be better off than he could
be by ten years of honest labor. It wonld bo
safe to predict tbat this boy will become a
Napoleon of finance, if it were not for tbe lia
bility of tbe latter class to break up. But his
principles of money-getting are the same.
It is announced that one of the English
manufacturers wbo is going to move bis plant
to this country will bring over all his skilled
workmen under an agreement to give theui t
least a year's employment But in such a case
as that what becomes of the law against im
ported contract labor?
Me. Gbeene B. Baum, Commissioner of
Pensions, is reported to have taken a character
istic revenge. He has sent circulars into tbe
district where Congressman Cooper, who de
veloped the need of whitewash for Raum, is
runuing for re-election. The circular informs
tbe old soldiers tbat "at the special request of
John G. Dunbar (Mr. Cooper's opponent) their
claims will t e allowed in a few days." Perhaps
pension administration of this sort may cause
old soldiers generally to ask themselves what
sort of a system it is under which tbe allowance
of their claims depends upon the special re
quest of influential politicians.
There is room for tbe fear that the Gov
ernment will stand by the census blunders with
enough obstinacy to earn a sharp defeat by
raising those shortcomings of the enumerations
to the rank of an issue in New York.
Me. Robert P. Portee's statement
that calculations as to tbe rate of natural in
crease of population, or the excess of births
over deaths, are valueless as to the decade be
tween 1370 and 1SS0, on account of the imper
fections of the census of 1870, leaves him open
to the retort that tbe same thing cau be said
as tq tbe last decade, on account of the taper
factions of the census of 1890.
Thomas V. Cooper may be red-headed,
but tbe organs which have come down from
that prediction or 60,000 majority in September
to 14,000 at the present time are not hopeful.
The esteemed New York Press gives ex
pression to its earnest hope tbat "tbe rumor
tbat President Harrison has offered to Judge
Gresbam'the appointment nn the Supreme
Bench Is true," If the Press has very much
faith in that hope It is evidence that it has not
cultivated its opportunity for careful study
of tbe character of tbe Executive of this
'nation.
TnE fact that we have once again had two
successive days without snow or rain causes
hope to spring eternal in the human breast
It is pleasant to receive the Tory assur
ances that there Is no danger of famine in Ire
land; and it Is no less pleasant to observe that
Mr. Balfour has set hurriedly to work to spend
money on railroad building there, under tbe
spur of the knowledge that tbe United States
stands ready to relievo Irish want when it
comes.
Portee does not care who passes the ap
portionment laws of the country so long he
can take tbe census. -
Ms. Jay Gould is on top. The St Louis
Brotherhood of Telegraphers bad to dissolve or
quit, and it dissolved, with muttered lnUma-j
'Z 1
tions tbat another time will come. This will
leave Mr. Gould at liberty to elaborate his
economic theories on the basis of one suit of
clothes for common pedple if they can get it
MEN AND WOMEN".
Mme. Cn JUSTINE, NlLSSOH'S husband has
been made Under Secretary ot the new Spanish
Cabinet
Vick Pbbsidkkt Morton has added $1,000
yearly to tbe rental of his Shoreham fiats In
Washington.
Mark Twain received K0.000 in royalties
from the play in which the famous Mulberry
Sellers appears. j
Mr. Joseph Wkkruzto. of New Orleans,
thinks he Is tbe only surviving soldier of the
Black Hawk War.
Congressman McKinlet Is by no means a
rich man. He owns a small farm in Ohio and a
modest residence in Canton. Aside from this
be is worth about S50.000.
Miss Harriet McEwxx Kimball, of
Portsmouth, N, H has received tbe first prize
of 3100 for a hymn to bosunR on hospital dajs.
in the churches and synagogues of New York.
Me. Herbert "Ward, who was an officer of
tho rear column, says he Is not aware of any
conduct on tbe part of Major Barttelot tbat
would justify Mr. Stanley's insinuations.
Senator Edmunds has attached to his
handsome residence in Washington an outside
stairway, built on purpose for his favorite dog,
which is not allowed to meander through tho
main hall.
Queex Victoria Is only four feet cieht
Inches In height, yet she is said to be a real sov
ereign in her bearing. Singularly enough, the
one place where tbe Queen is never to be found
is London, ber nation's capital.
WrmtAM H. Crawford, onceTJnited States
Senator and Minister to France, and one of tbe
greatest men this country ever produced, is
buried between Crawford and Lexington with
not a shaft to mark his grave.
Mrs. Jefferson Davis Is in New York
reading the publisher's proofs of tbe lire she is
editing of her late husband. Journeying North
ward she passed through Washington. She has
cot been there before since 1865.
SIb. Robert Buchanan,. like everyone else
wbo starts a new review, reckons on making a
stir after Christmas with the venture be is
hatching. Curiously enough, one of its chief
functions is to be to "criticise criticism."
Mrs. JIona Caird. whose theories on matri
mony have made her famous, 13 a slender
woman of pretty figure. Her hair is brown and
wavy. She is very restless in dinner, and is
said to be an occasional victim of nervous pros
tration. A xexel Pr.ATSCHEJEW.the poor but famous
Russian poet who was sentenced to death in
1S49. partially pardoned by Nicholas, and re
stored to his privileges by Alexander IX, has
just become incredibly wealthy by tbe death of
a kinsman.
Lady Florence Dixie, tbe famous English
woman, has a boyish head, covered with short,
wavy hair that has threads of gold in it She
has bold features, fine eyes and a brilliant com
plexion. She is a noted horsewoman, using a
cross saddle.
The "Napoleon of tract distributors," Mr.
Charles Watson, of Halifax, England, baa just
died. He worked for temperance only, and for
more than 40 years scattered tracts gratuitously.
He once said tbat in 12 months be distributed
nearly 3,000.000 tracts.
The stones that have been cast upon the
grave of Helen Hunt (in accordance with her
wish tbat visitors should cast upon it two and
take away one as a memento) have completely
bidden from view the original mound and
formed one tbat somewhat resembles a huge
coffin. Tbe pile is now five feet from the
ground and increases rapidly.
A TIMELY RHYME
In "Which Readers of The Dispatch Should
be Interested.
A few verses in our esteemed cotemporaiy,
tbe Saturday Heview, are of timely importance:
"Falling loud on our tympanum, fearful as'the
crack o' doom;
Speeding westward, awful, thund'rlng; 'tis the
Kudyard Kipling boom.
Kudyard Kipling, gifted stripling, praise and
glory to his name.
Prosing, rhyming, bravely climbing to the pin
nacle of Fame."
This graceful recognition of a new develop
ment in the literary world is especially Inter
esting owing to tbe fact tbat the biggest gun
that Mr. Kipling has yet loaded will be heard
in The Dispatch on November 9 through tbe
beginning of his first serial, "The Light
that Failed."
LAST TBIAL OF THE PHILADELPHIA.
The Test in the Main Satisfactory, but
Minor Defects Developed.
New York, November L The new cruiser
bearing the blue oennant of Rear Admiral I.
A. Klmberly, President of the Naval Board of
Inspection, returned this morning from a 48
bour trial at sea. Tbe crnlser has been ac
cepted by the Government, but thi fin 1 trial
was prescribed in the builder's contract for tbe
Durnose of testing her sea-going qualities and
discovering any latent weakness in construe
tion which It nut have developed. To remedy
these the sum of 33 000 has been retained by
tbe Government from he contract price.
The tests were tn the main satisfactory, al
though the board finds room for improve
ment in numerous minor details. Three gun
carriages v. ere disabled. Owing to tbe foul
condition of tbe cruiser's bottom no trial of
speed over the measured course was made, but
it is believed tbat when the bearings are
vorked smooth and the resistance of stiff ma
chinery overcome her speed will be greater
than that shown in the preliminary trial.
THE LTJCKY HOBSESHOE.
The Superstition Can be Traced Back to the
Thirteenth Century.
From Spare Moments.
It is claimed that the origin of the supersti
tion that a horseshoe brings good luck can be
traced back to tho thirteenth century. The
monk Gervaise, of Tilbury, informs us that at
tbat time there was a kind of demon in En
gland which appeared as a horse rearing on bis
hind legs and with sparkling eyes. Whenever
this apparition was seen It was a sign that a
conflagration would soon break out. Hence, as
giving a kindly warning, this mysterious horse
was regarded as a friendly spirit, and the
animal in general was believed to be a bene
ficent mystic power.
A borse tooth carried in tbepocket prevented
toothache; it was a sign of good luck to find a
horseshoe, and one was placed under the pillow
of a cblld to cure tbe colic, or nailed against a
building to prevent it from catching fire. This
led to its general adoption as a protective
symbol.
, Immigration.
From tho Philadelphia Telegraph.
Tbe Government has no greater or more
pressing duty to perform than that of restrict
ing immigration, and with such intelligently
directed rigor as to keep out hereafter all im
migrants whose coming will cot be of certain
benefit to the country. k
Unfortunate Canadians.
Fom the Toronto Empire. 1
Indisputable information comes to us tbat
tbe unfortunate Canadians in Dakota are now
preparing by hundreds to transfer themselves
to Manitoba and our Western Territories.
DEATHS OP A DAY.
Horace Gilbert.
rSPECIAt. TEI.EHB.AM TO THE DISPATCH.!
New York, November l.norace Gilbert, w hose
daughter Eluday, because of her work among
criminals Is known as the prisoners' friend, died
at her house, ES.Wtist Blxty-nrtli street, at the ago
of95. He was a descendant of the navigator. Sir
Humphrey Gilbert, hall-brother of bfr Walter
Kalelgh, who. alter attempting to establish a col
ony in Newfoundland, was lost at sea In 1853.
The great-great-grandfather of Mr. Gilbert came
to this country In the Mayflower. Mr. Gilbert
wasbornlnMlddletown, Conn.
' H. A. Ahlboni.
B. A. Ahlborn, one of the best known citizens
or LawrencevlUe, died yesterday, aged 71 years.
Mr. Ablborn was a partner in the KeTitone Axle
Works, and in his younger days worked with J.
J. Moorhead, with whom he learned hlj trade.
HcWrved for many years as Councilman and
betioot Director or tbe Seventeenth ward, and was
a stanch Peuiocr.it. He was a director or the de
funct Lawrence Uank and lost heavily when It
failed. lie leaves a wire and two children.
Gideon L. Peace.
East Wilton, JU., November 1. Gideon L.
rcace, thelast survivor of the Black Hawk War,
died yesterday, agea 83,
s- I '...- ' I - , . . aft. . .-J-iiiX-M. f .' LxJEsX'f.-alStuLL. - laknUi-rf1 . i r HIV m t filiitfiW ft
. - . .. a, . "f'.vj ' -,.-.' . - - i. ..-.. - .-,..--. , . kLiUi - --.j ,.'..giHu,jEs..-fMjM. -Yinrsnr mum- . i in miiMf mnw am -hm n i..itbiI1iti i in
MURRAY'S MUSINGS.
America Should Adopt the Swiss System of
Taxing Wealth An Automatic Car
Coupler That Promise Well Berry
"Wall learning; a living-An Episode.
IFROM A STAFF COBBESrONDENT.l
TFtlie Fassett Investigating Committee has
done nothing else In this long and weary
probing ot cltyaffalrs.it has succeeded in again
calling attention to tbe fact that the million
aires of New York are still practically escaping
taxation. This subject was "agitated several
years ago by a similar investigation, but more
emphatically before that time by the evil re
sults ot the income tax. People will remember
that one of tbo greatest frauds ever perpe
trated under the income tax laws was about
those same millionaires and men of lesser
wealth who made false returns of their in
comes and thus defrauded the Government
and threw a larger burden of taxation upon
the middle class. The Fassett Investigating
Committee having tho City Assessor upon the
witness stand, had no trouble In demonstrating
thatabont the same state of affairs prevails
to-day. From his testimony it appears that a
taxable list of property amounting to 11,500,000
was cut don n to less than J500.000 at the re
quest of these property holders.
A casual inspection of the personal property
tax lists will show that not one-tenth part of
the personal ptoperty of tbe wealthy citizens
of this city is returned for taxation. Tbee
statements of personal property aro made
under oath, and inasmuch as these oaths are
false, tbe men making them are perjurers,
whether they are liable to punishment for
their perjury or not. It would seem that one
of the greatest evils of the American system
of taxation Is exposed right here. Under that
system tbe poorer a man is the nearer the as
sessor comes to the actual value of his prop
erty. The richer a man is tbe less be pays in
proportion. If, by any accident, tbe assesior
should get a valuation of something like one
third or one-fourth of the real value of bis
property, he will have no difficulty in convinc
ing the authorities tbat he is uverassessed and
of securing a reduction of tbe amount. Tbat
is tho way tbe thing works here where wealthy
men are plenty, and that is probably the way it
works In a lesser degree in other cities. What
we need in this country is tbe Swiss system,
wherein exactly tbe reverse prevails. In that
older and better republic a man who has 4,000
or 5,000 pays taxes on only one-balf ot it, and
if be should have 25,000 be is assessed upon
eight-tenths of it, aud It he should have 8100,000
or more, he must pay taxes on every dollar of
it. It is the progressive system. If the United
States were progressive. It would adopt a sim
ilar system ot taxation. Under the present one
it is not. difficult to understand how the rich
get rlcber and the poor get poorer.
Fun in a Silk Shop.
A last on the hunt for a piece of silk to
make a blouse waist for her little boy, en
tered A big drygoods establishment .on Sixth
avenue. After the necessary instructions lrom
the floor walkers and clerks she succeeded in
reaching tbe right floor and department. Con
siderable discussion between tbe customer and
the clerks as to color and quality ensued, and
finally resulted in a yard and a half of India silk
being put up and paid for. The lady spent
several minutes finding the thread connter, and
after matching tbe silk went out. At the foot
of the elevated stairs she paused and rum
nated. She had forgotten material for a
sasb. She had seen a half-yard remnant lying
on the counter, and concluded she'd better go
back and get it for a sash. So she was soon
once moro in the silk department.
"You sold me this India silk." she said,
poking it at tbe clerk, balf inquiringly.
"N no; I don't think 1 did," be replied. He
was sure something was wrong. This was the
nearest way out.
"Why. dear me!" she exclaimed. "It wasn't
20 minutes ago!'
She sank upon a stool, now completely out of
breath, st'.ll twirling the slender package in her
hand. The man's eyes took on a stony glare.
Several clerks, casb girls and floor-walkers
gathered around. One of the latter pushed
forward and inquired what was the matter.
"This is the eentltman who waited upon me,"
said the lady, smiling in .'Ho of her first in
clination. The old clerk denied point blank, up and
down and crosswise, tbat he bad sold any lady
any India silk that afternoon.
"What is tbe matter with it, madam?" politely
inquired tbe leading floor boss.'
"Why, nothing! I only want some moro of
the same kind!"
Everybody laughed, that is. everybody but
tbe poor fellow wUo had sold the silk. He
turned red as a boiled lobster at sunset.
"You Enow, I concluded I hadn't enough for
a sasb. 1 nad forgotten baby's sash. I only got
a yard and a half. There was a small remnant
lying here" looking anxiously 'round "about
half a yard, which would jnst dor'
The old clerk began io hustle around for tbat
remnant to cover his confusion. About half a
yard would do a little scant. It was not to be
found. In the meantime he had unrolled the
package, and tbe remnant fell out and floated
to tbe floor.
"Well, well, well!" exclaimed the lady, "If it
wasn't put up In that package! There it is!"
At this new complication even the absent
minded clerk could not express his feelings. One
of the new attaches did it for bim:
"It was very honorable in you. madam, to
bring it back," said he. "Most people would
not have done it."
"Why, IJdidn't know it was there." gasped the
lady, flushing with indignation. Tbe audience
had become larger, and the clerks and cash
girls who were not in the ring were divided as
to whether it was a case of detected shoplifting
or a guilty conscience. Tbe latter idea seemed
to be the most popular one, but the man who
suggi sted it was hustled away.
"Well, 1 want that bit of silk!" said madam,
finally recovering.
"Certainly to be sure!" And a clerk began
to roll it up.
"Do you want to pay for It, madam?"
"Pay for it! Of course I do! That's what I
caruebacK for to buy it to pay for it to get
out of here!" desperately.
This seemed to strike everybody favorably,
and tbe entry went down in the sales book.
Thirty-six cents "Cash!"
Berry "Wall Is Now' Hustling.
i T et me insure your life." The speaker was
Mr. E. Berry Wall, once known as the
King of tbe Dudes. Mr. Wall bas given up
tbe profession of a dude and has become an
insurance agent. I don't know but what he is
now a worse terror to his friends than he could
have possibly been as a fancy man about town,
He addressed this remark to a knot of us in
the Cafe Savarln, In the Equitable building.
Berry was dressed in a plain business suit and,
I regret to say, had on a soiled collar. The
soiled. collar Is the exclusive badge of men who
earn their own living by liustlinc. Mr. Wall
has turned bustler. He has joined with two or
three other gent lenien once millionaires, I am
told. In the business of an insurance agent.
From all accounts he is doing well. If berry
bad never Deen possessed with the ambition to
be tbo best-dressed man about town, be would
cot now be a bustler. It is by no means cer
tain, however, but that in his case, as in a
great many other similar cases of financial re
verses, it will be tbe best thing for blui.
w
A New Automatic Car Conpler.
A GOOD many experiments have been recently
made with patent car couplers, but up to
tbe present time these experiments have cot
been as successful as railroad men could wisb.
Quite recently, however, a new patent has been
issued ar.d Mr. Chauncey Depew. President of
tho New York Central, with his Vice Presi
dent, Mr. Webb, and a number of railway ex
perts, have been testing this Invention. It con
sists of an automatic attachment which can be
placed npon the regulation draw-bead at the
nominal expense of from 56 to 10 a car. A
railroad man informs me that tho great diffi
culty in the way of former patents lies in tbe
fact tbat new draw-heads were necessary, and
this entailed an expense of from $25 to K0 per
car, thus ptacing it practically beyond the
reach of railway companies for general Intro
auction. The new appliance was invented by a
Washington newspaper, man wbo has given
some attention to other inventions. A Minne
apolis lawyer. A. 0. Brown, who is both a cap
italist and a hustler. Is pushing it here in New
York. Tbe Invention Is called the Davis Auto
matic Car-Coupling Attachment, .and the im
mediate result of tbe present tests on tbe
Central will be its Introduction on all of tbe
trains, passencer and freight of tbat company.
Tbe present law of New York, passedby the
recent Legislature, requires some apprramce to
prevent the extraordinary loss of life to train
men which has characterized tbe operation of
the railways in this country during the last tew
years. I saw at the Hoffman House the other
night the models of this car conpler and I pre
dict without hesitation that it will not only
revolutionize the entire system of car coupling,
but will leave a. fortune to Its inventor.
The Swarm of Italians.
decent occurrences In New Orleans have
drawn publio attention to tbe extraordi
nary growth of our Italian population. There
are 50,000 Italians in this city alone, and tbey
are coming in at the rate of about 2.000 per
week. Most of these Italians come from lower
Italy and sail thence from Naples, though tbey
aro not Neapolitans by any mean. The naoli
tlon of the padrone system in New York has
rather oncouraged Italian emigration than de
creased it The padrone system, while H
seemed to bffer.au easier way for poor Italians
to come to America, kept them in slavery
while they-weio here for sucb a length of time
that it served as a'warnlng to those of their
native land to remain where they were. The
laws of tbe United 8ates, which have operated
beneficially for American labor, have also
operated in favor of Italian emiiratlon. It
would really seem as though tho descendants
i ''""Pho Columbu had made nn tbclr
minds to elaim this country, bo far as tbe
Italian population of New York is concerned,
tbey form a very industrious featnre of the
community without being degraded to tbe ex
tent of the Chinese. They are also equally
economical livers and quite as desirable as
American citizens. Tbey have monopolized
here tbe larger portion of all the smaller
trades, and especially tbat which relates to
street traffic of all kinds. As mosi or tbe
Italian emigrants stop hero In New York, it
will soon form a difficult problem to grapple
w"h. CHARLES T. MURRAY.
QEEAT EMOmEEEIHO.
The Immense IJneg of Railway In Siberia
and China Under "Way.
From the Imperial Kevlew.
The great work on hand Is the Siberia rail
way, which' will link St. Petersburg with V!adl
vostock. The Mlustrirte Zeitung. Leipsic. gives
a map of the entire surveyed route, Tbe length
will be double that of the line from New York
to San Francisco. The journey will take a
fortnight. General Annenkoff Is the moving
genius. He laid the stiaiegtc railways toward
Germany and Austria, and afterward laid the
Transcasplan railway. The railway through
Siberia, bas been surveyed in 40 sections and all
is ready. This gives the impulse to railways in
China.
"But much greater works are authorized.
First a railway from Pekin, In the northeast,
to Hankow, in the center of China, on the
Yang-tse-Kiang river, COO miles from the
mouth. The railway Pekin to Hankow will be
near 800 miles. A railway ot almost equal
length is authorized from Pekin to Chinkiang.
all along the north. The Chinese Government
will Itself construct the railways. It repudiates
two rival schemes; first, by the Rothschilds and
Knipp. to advance 36;0OO.OO0; second, by Jay
Gould & Co., to establish a Shanghai American
bank in connection with railway making. A
railway right across the South American con
tinent will shortly be finished.
SHEELDAH'S WIT.
He Organized a "Walking Match. Between
Turkeys arid Geese.
When Sheridan was hard up for casb, he used
to make his wit earn the means of subsistence;
and he could accomplish this in no better way
than by laying wagers with tho Prince Regent,
A discussion once arose, says Spare Moments,
as to tho respective walking capabilities of
turkeys and geese; and tho wit expressed him
self very incredulous of tbe assertion that
turkeys would walk twice as far as geese in a
given space of time. He affected to believe
tbat geese could be driven a3 fast on tbe road
as turkeys; and the thing appeared so very ab
surb that the Pnnce instantly laid him a heavy
wager that such was not the case.
Sheridan, however, knowing tbe "early-to-bed"
habits of turkeys, took care to arrange
for a long distance to be traversed, and to fix
the period of trial late in the afternoon. The
consequence was that evening set In before the
rival flocks had anything like arrived at their
destination, and, although tbe turkeys out
stripped the geese at first, as the shades of
night fell they refused to be driven forward,
and got flying up on to tbe branches of the
trees at the roadside. The geese, however,
were driven steadily forward to the goal, and
the Prince, as usual, lost bis wager.
EX-PEESLDEHT HAYES ON THE 1TEGE0.
"What He Says of the Capacity of the Race
for Education.
Baltimore, November L Ex-President
Hayes, while in the historical library of tbe
Johns Hopkins University, was asked by Dr.
Adams to say a few words to the students on
the subject of negro education in the South:
Mr. Hayes said:
What can we do with the negro? Is a qoestlon of
great Interest to-day. Their number is not over
. 500,000 in this country but It is a matter or great
importance how to improve their condition
morally and educationally. If there Is any young
colored man In the South whom we find to nave a
talent for art or literature, or any especial apti
tude ror studv, wearcnllllngtoglve him money
from the education funds to send him to Europe,
ortoglve him an advanced education; but hith
erto ilicir chief and almost only elft has been
that ororatory.
What you find, as historical students, as to their
Si0?.1.11.011 ln V" South, especially In the "black
belt." Is surely not encouraging. They are seen
most favorably ln what is called the Virginia laud
district or Ohio. This tract or land, between Ihe
Scioto, Little Mlamt and Ohio rivers, was granted
by the State of Virginia to Its officers ln the Revo-,
lutlonary War, many or whom settled there with
their slaves. A careful examination or that
region will show a considerable advance ln the
good qualities of civilization and a proper appre
ciation or citizenship. 1 do not despair or the
other negroes, but am rather hopeful of their be
ing uplifted ln tbe future.
i
HE HAD C0BK HEELS,
And "Wore Them to Increase His Height and
Pass the Civil Service Examination.
New York; November 1. Another attempt
to defeat tbe provisions of the civil service
regulations has just come to light. Although
the officials tell of the incident they refuse to
give the name of tbe man. He applied for ex
amination as a candidate for a place on the
police force. When measured by Police Sur
geon Ford be was found to be under the stand
ard heigtft of 5 feet 7 inches.
The next day his brother visited W. J. D.
Campbell, secretary of the Civil Service Com
mission, whom he knew, and said tbat there
was a mistake, for several persons had meas
ured his brother and he was over 5 f e"t 7 inches.
Mr. Campbell 'finally agreed to measure tbe
candidate himself. He did so, and found him
5 feet 7 inches. He thought the man's heels
were abnormal and asked bim to remove his
socks. Upon examination tbey were founa to
be padded half an inch with cork. Tbe can
didate and his brother tried to laugh the mat
ter off as a joke.
THIS TEEE WOBTH $5,000.
A New York Lumber Dealer Gets a Bargain
in the South.
On tbe side of the Big Black Mountain, 300
yards from the Wise county line, in Harlan
county, Ky., and about ten miles from Big
Stone Gap, says the Louisville Courier-Journal,
there stood, until last week, a tree tbat is
thought to be tbo most valuable treo In tbe
South Appalachain Mountains, and is, per
haps, without a peer on the continent.
It is curled grain black walnut, and the
owner had it grubbed up by tbe roots, so as not
to lose a chip. It is between 5 and 6 feet in
diameter at tbe base.
A New York lumber dealer bought the tree
from an ignorant mountaineer for $50. paid a
man SSOO to move it to tbe nearest railroad, ami
thinks he will make a profit of 5,000 from the
tree.
THE CENSUS TOTAL.
The New York 31i'i; It is at least safe to
say that the census does not and will not com.
mand tbe confidence of the people of the' coun
try. '
New York Morning Journal: Look here.
Uncle Sam, if you were to do this thing
all over it would be money in your pocket.
You've lost three millions through Porter's re
porters! New York has set you tbe example.
Brace up and count it all over againl
The Philadelphia Times: That the nat
ural growth of population by excess of births
has diminished oMate is not disputed. This Is
a fact of familiar observation for which various
causes may bo found among the conditions of
modern life. But tbat this decrease has gone
on during the past ten years with the rapidity
indicated by these returns a sudden fall ot
nearly one-half is incredible.
The Baltimore American: The showing Is
not what some will expect, especially when we
remember tbat 6,500,000 ot immigrants arrived
here In the last ten years. And yeU with the
decrease, it is an enormous growth a growtb
without parallel in the entire world. It places
us next. to the Russian empire as the most
populous of tbe civilized nations. In DO years
tbe British Isles, with Ireland, have grown
about 22.000,000 in population. Iu tbe same
period tbe United States have grown 58,01)0,000!
Tbe contrast makes a magnificent showing!
The Philadelphia Press: The aggregate
population announced, by the Census Bureau
yesterday will undoubtedly be a disappoint
ment to tbe country at large. There are tests
which can be applied to a census when its
figures are all in which establish its accuracy.
Tbe proportion of tbe population at different
ages, the ratio of births and deaths to tbe total,
the distribution of tho sexes thee and many
other minor returns can be relied upon to prove
the accuracy or impeach the credibility uf
census returns: but nothing short of a pure
partisan prcjudlco will lead any candid person
to attack a census simply on tbe evidence
afforded by a total 'which failed to meet
patriotic expectations or suit party purposes.
-V
- '- . .-' - fc".. : ., -.,- nni.
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
Lost Her Voice.
i.rjREADFUL, Isn't It, dear, about Mrs. Par
lay?" she remarked, as she stood before
the mirror putting the finishing touches to ber
back hair.
f'As I don't know what it is, really' I can't
say," was her husband's reply.
"Why, haven't yon heard? She's lost her
voice altogether: can't speak even in a whis
per "
"Not so bad for Mr. Parlay," was his com
ment, """
"Don't be ridiculous, dear. It's no joking
matter. She lost her voice quite suddenly just
as she reached home after tbe sewing society,
and when I saw her yesterday sheconldn't "
Tell you a bit of all tbe gossip she'd heard
that was awful indeed," he broke ln. and
another woman lost ber voice for tbe time
being.
He Pushed the Button And
u'J'nE other day," said a young Pittsburger
. yesterday, "I Inserted an advertisement in
an Eastern paper offering a piece of property
for sale. I got two or three answers, but only
one tbat seemed to mean business. To this let
ter 1 replied, giving the details very folly, as
desired, and I was very much disgusted when
I received an answer explaining tbat my cor
respondent was a broker, who wonld try to sell
my property, provided I sent on $5 at once."
"What did yon say to that?"
"Ob! I guess I bad tbe laugh on him. It got
my camera out and took a photograph of a five
dollar bill. This I sent to the broker with a
note saying that I had the original of the photo
in Pittsburg, and he could have it as soon as he
sold my property."
"You think you have the laugh on th-3
broker?" asked an elderly lawyer wbo was
among the listeners.
"Well, I should rather think so yon see I
sent him the photo and kept the fire-dollar
bill."
"Quito so," replied the lawyer, "but if the
broker knows anything be can make it very in
teresting for you. It Is a penal offense to pho
tograph United States papermoney, and all tbat
broker has to do is to hand the photograph to a
Secret Service officer, with your name and ad
dress, and you will be likely to hear from it at
once."
Found A Modest Comedian.
TnE dodo is extinct, sea serpents are uncom
mon, to say tbe least, and it Is very seldom
indeed that tbe star comedian of a farce com
edy caravan bas an unswclled bead. Pittsburg
his been entertaining sucb a curiosity, sucb an
angel, I may say, unawares; not a dodo, or a
sea serpent, mind you, but a comedian, whose
hat is no bigger than it used to be before its
owner commanded the imperial honors of
displayed type in the plays bills. This is
not a piece of theatrical news, for doubtless
actors and managers, the associates of this
eccentric comedian, havo known it for years
and years. But the public only knows Mr.
Powers on tbe stage which is a good deal of a
privilege, it is true and it is only right and
proper tbat tbey should know also that he is a
modest, unpretentious, hard-working, little
man, with red hair, who doesn't know what
jealousy is. This sounds a good deal like a
panegyric on Mr. Powers but it's the truth,
and the truth will out sometimes, even if it be
pleasant.
The mention of Mr. Powers hair recalls to
my mind a ay scene in which be played a
somewhat prominent part one summer day not
so very long ago. It was in tbe home ofthe
Fivo A's Club on Twenty-eighth street. New
York, that X first met Mr. Powers off the stage.
There were present besides a dozen other
comedians more or les3 known to tame who
bad congregated to start for some suburban
spot where they were to play a mighty game
of baseball with certain lawyers. The last
man of the party to arrive was the gigantic Burr
Mcintosh, and, according to a prearranged
plan, the party sainted him with a stentorian
shout of: "Me,in Uott! baf you came at last!"
By this time a tally-ho coacb, with four
spanking bays did you ever see a coacb that
was not drawn by spanking bays or dashing
blacks? was at the door. Having equipped
themselves with tin horns and other horns
taken internally the "galaxy of youth
and beauty," as De Wolf Hopper
called tbe crowd of comedians, clambered' up
the coach. When the crew were all on board
the coach presented a truly grand sight. Be
sides Jimmy Powers and the two giants. De
Wolf Hopper and Burr Mcintosh, 1 remember
Ed Stevens, Eugene Canfield, with his won
derful nose, Frank Lawton. with his not less
wonderful whistle, Fred Solomon and DIgby
Bell, were among tbo passengers. As tbe
coach drove away and turned the corneinto
bustling Broadway, the un glorified tbe dark
curly wig which sheltered De Wolf Hopper's
cranium then as now, and one long limb be
longing to the same gentleman waved a fare
well. A Chariot and a Conspiracy.
A bout S o'clock last night a chariot drawn by
four horses rolled down Fifth avenue,
turned down Market street and wheeled up to
tho curb on Liberty street. A band of music
packed most judiciously inside the charir.; her
alded its arrival in magnetic fashion. Upon
tbe chariots were streamers announcing that
"a meeting will take, place bere,"and after a
few minutes had elapsed a grander gonfalon
challenged the evening air and Informed the
curious that "Pattison and Brennen" were the
occasion of the display.
Tbe singular ill-luck of the orators who
sprang up when tbe musicians were out of
breath was what attracted my attention. Mr.
Brennen had but started to address the honest
voters wbo thronged tbe roadway when a cable
car came along with a jangle and roar that
would have disconcerted Demosthenes. Cable
cars kept punctuating tbe orator's remarks, in
fact so long as they stayed there. Then to cap
tbe climax a long freight train of cars hauled
by a snorting' Republican locomotive went
slowly up Liberty street. It was clearly a con
spiracy against tbe chariot load ot patriots,
and it speak: well for the latter's pluck and
perseverance that tbey had their say out in
spite of everything. Hefburit Johns.
CHEAP HOMES.
How the Question Is Being Pleasantly
Solved ln London's Suburbs.
Many people with small Incomes have recent
ly taken up their permanent abode in England
for economical reasons, says tbe New York
Evening Telegram. Atarentalof 6 per month
nice villas, with small grounds attached, can be
obtained in such desirable subutbs of London
as In tbo immediate neighborhood of the
famous "Starand Garter" tavern at Richmond,
on the Thames. From them one can be In the
heart of London in a few minutes by the Un
derground railroad trains. Bicycles are very
much used as a method of locomotion.
Standards of Success.
From tbe New York Krenlng l'ost.3
Ninety-nine men out of a hundred in this city
to-day start in life with tho idea that unless
they make a good deal of money the world will
consider their lives a failure, and In order to
achieve this sort of success, therefore, it is
human and natural to suppose that tbey should
be ready to put aside all other concerns.
TTtn SPABKOWS OF THE SEA.
Above our head the storm rack drives.
As madly sky with ocean strives.
While tne stern rocks look on;
One ne'er would deem
That, save ln dream.
Here sunlight ever shone.
As momently the tumult lulls.
We hear the cruel shrieking gulls
That seem to mock our pain; -But
shoreward borne
To ns that monrn
That loved voice ne'er again.
As feathers shows the soft white spray.
A bed where men tired limbs might lay
Ahlcrutl as the grave
its Iron grasp:
From that close grasp
Ho love hath might to save.
They ro down to the sea ln ships.
Our kbises warm upon their lips;
It bears tbem out afar,
When dawn l red
To fling oar dead
Across the moaning bar.
Kind earth's dead blossctns bloom again;
Her burled teed yields golden grain:
But, ah! what help may be,
Save on a far-off tldeleit shore.
That day when sea shall be no more.
To ease the smart
Of one whose heart a ,
Xles burled la tbe sea?
Isnbella'J'-l'oitnate-in Gentteman? Mdaaiine.
CURIUDS CONDENSATIONS.
There are 3,061 languages and over 1,000
religions.
The sea bas a net population of several
thousand millions.
Two thousand two hundred trains leave
London ordinarily every 24 hours.
Nearly 750,000 a year is paid by the
British Government for tbe carriage of mads.
There are about 1,500,000,000 inhab
itants on the globe. Of these 33.033,033 die
every year.
There were in operation in tbe South
le,1S2"'00 a' many as 1.621,335 snludles, against
561.J60 in 1S7D-'8U.
It is calculated that 91,823 persons die
per day, 3,730 per hour, 60 a minute, or one every
time the clock ticks.
China has 136 telegraph stations. The
system Is mainly controlled by tbe Govern
ment, and the operators are all Danes.
It is interesting to know that the hair
which waves from tbe helmets of- French
dragoons Is the real article, being the product
of Chinese and Tonkin skulls.
Brazil it larger than tbe United States
but in tho whole 20 States which make nn the
Republic there are not as many people as you
have ln New York and Pennsylvania.
Dark-haired persons have a better
chance in the great struggle for existence
than those of tbe opposite complexion, except
in contagious diseases, where blondes are com
paratively exempt.
Between 30,000,000 and 40,000,000 gal
lons of wine will be mado In the United States
this year, of which California will produce more
than half. Seven-eighths of tbo grapes of Cali
fornia go to the wine press.
The French Minister of "War lately
offered a prize for the swiftest bird in a flight
from Perigueux to Paris. 310 miles. There
were 2.746 entries, and tbe winner did the dis
tance in 7 hours and 31 minutes.
The number of marriages is in propor
tion of 75 to every LOOO individuals born; the
time when the greatest number of marriages
takes place is in J line and December about
tbe tinio of tbe summer and winter solstices.
Married persons live longer than single
ones, and the tall have a better chance for long
life than those of short stature. Women bare
more chances of lite in their favor previous to
50 years of age than men have, but fewer after
ward. There are growing on a farm in San
Antonio, CaL, two large fig trees tbat aro as old
as the State. They are 30 feet in height, have
a very large spread, and are marvels of pro
ductiveness. Itistbought they will yield 1,000
pounds of fruit each.
Tbe greater majority of these micro
scopic plants are what tbe botanists call "bac
teria," the smallest form of vegetable life. So
small are ther tbat it wonld take, ln some
cases, as many as 15.000 of them arranged ln a
row to extend one inch.
A person born in hot weather stands
the heat a great deal better than one born in
tbe cold months of winter; of course tbe rule
works vice versa. Those born In the spring
are usua!Iy;of a more robust constitution than
If Porn at any other time of tho year.
It is stated that from May 1 to Septem
ber 13 350,357 tons of ice had passed soutn on
the Cham plain canal. In August tbe ship
ments aggregated 312,311 tons. The heaviest
shipment In a single week was in the last week
of J uly, when 35,111 tons were cleared. A cargo
of Ice is about 150 tons.
In Alsace, not far from "Worth, there is
now a monument to the young Englishman who
.was tbe first victim in tbe Franco-German war.
Young Lieutenant Winslow, who was attached
to tbe German army, was shot while recou
noitering with tbe stall by one of tbe first bul
lets fired on the French side.
A number of horseflesh restaurants
have just been started in Berlin, and they are
doing a brisk trade. It is strange tbat they
have cot been opened sooner in Berlin, for
those which bave existed for several years past
in Dresden, Hamburg, Magueberg and Frank:
fort have done an immense business from the
first.
The number of males and females is
about equal and their average life is about 33
years; one-fourth of the inhabitants die before
they reach tbeir fifteenth year. To 1,000 per
sons only one reaches the age of 100 years; to
every 100 only six reach the age of 65, and not
more than one in 500 lives to see their eightieth
year.
"Nephelococcuquia" is a Greek word,
and means, translated into English, "cloud-cuckoo-town,"
built by tbe birds, and found m
Aristophanes on "Tbe Birds." This town was
built in midair, so as to cut off the gods from
men. It was used as a satire on Athens, or
ferhaps on tbe visions of conquest in Sicily,
taly.
The largest gold coin in circulation in
the world is stated to be tbe gold "loof," of
Annam, tbe French colony In Eastern A-ia. It
is a flat round piece worth 65. Tbe next in
size to this unwieldy coin Is the Japanese
"obang," which weighs more than two ounces
and a balf, about equal to ten English sover
eigns. N
The corn crop for 1890 in the 12 'ollow
Ing States is thus-estiinated:Illinois, 224.623.712;
Indiana. 105,033,192; Ohio. 92.220.123; Kentucky,
66.920.446; Missouri. 184 583,612: Kansas. 13.217.
058; Wisconsin, 4L4S7.920: Michlzan. 41.835,311;
Iowa, 208 454.CS0; NebrasKa. 74.484.660; Minne
sota. 22.82.012; Dakota, 19,592,044 a total of
1,229.858,374.
Systems for distributing power in cities
from a central station are coming more into
use every day. Steam, electricity and com
pressed air are the common agents, bnt Paris
has a system which is tbe reverse of tbat em
ploying compressed air. The motois operate
by vacunm created by immense air pumps at
the central station.
THE SPICE OF LIFE.
""What's 'caffy o' lay, anyhow, Jim?"
'Dun'no'. Guess It mmt be coffee and eggs."
Harper' t Bazar.
She Ah, Mr. Bassett, there is one thing
that money can't burl
He What Is thai -a girl who bas plenty of It
heiselliJlunsty Weekly.
' Elderly Suitor I bave spoken to your
mother, Helen, and
Helen Oh, I'm so glad. Did she accept you?
Spare Moments.
In a Texas School. Small Boy (holding
up band) What's B. C. bitched onter them dates
ln Greek history mean?
Teacher (a trifle conrused) -Well-er. Sammle.
you see them old Greets were queer kind or
creeters. so whin they didn't know a daterur
sartln, they put B. C, '"bout correct," arterthe
numbers. Yale Record.
His Thought ulness. Cleverton How
did you come to wear an embroidered shirt at the
wedding reception last night? Don't you Know
It Isn't good form? '
Dashaway Mr dear boy. I did It out of compli
ment to the bride and groom. Tbey are both from
St. Louis. Clothier and irnfjAer.
Young Wife (saying an aSectionate good
by to her husband) Now. tailing, you can't en
Joy a moment while ysu r.re gone, can you,
dearest?
George (oft for a few days' yachting) Well,
m'dear, 1 can't tell a He.
Yonng Wife Ob, darling, please aotilarptr'i
liaiar.
Caueht "Tell me, dearest Emma, -will
you" be mine?" 'Will you always let me havemy
own way?" "Always, dearest." "And my
mother may live with us?" "Willingly." "And
not ask for a latch-key?" "I would rather throw
It ln the sea." "And give up your dob. and al
ways be at home to dlnt.er?" "Always, and on
the minute." "Then yon must excuse me. bat
yon arc not at all the sort orman I should wish lor
a husband." i'Uigtndt Blaetter.
Mrs. De Bort Dear, I think Mr. Corral,
wbo recently made bis .fortune ln Texas, Is a
veritable rough diamond."
Jeweler DeBort-Then. "iy dear, we ought to
cat him. Jeiceter's WetlJy.
The religious euitur, the scientific editor
and the society editor have arranged to kill the
political editor as soon as tbe polls close on Tues
day. Ills remain will be cremated. No flowers.
Carriages can be hired at tbe hackstands at the
usual prices. Exthang-'
He said my eves .ie diamonds brigat,
my cheeks like Jacqueminots, my neck and brow
a fair and white a winter's purest snows. He
swore my hair was like the gold tbat tints the
snnset Skies, my chin was cast ln Cupid's mold
and truth seemed lnbls eyes. My smile was like,
tbe new-born day, my teeth twin rows of pearl,
and alter tbat be went away to see another girl
Cape Cod Item.
Dashaway I want to get a pair of trous
ers. 1
Tailor-Yes, sir. Something for Sunday or
everyday?
Uushaway 1 waut a Sun Jay pair with an every
day prtce.-rtotMerano! JTumtslitr.
She But howoan you think I'm pretty
when rqy nose tarns up so. dreadfully?
He elU all I have to sar it that It Shows
-mighty poor taste ln backing away from such A
.lovely mouth, Sjpart Moments, J.
&