THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH, MONDAY. NOVEMBER 3, 1890.
e Bigpafclj.
ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 1848.
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PITTSBURG. MONDAY. NOV. 3, 1S90.
TO AGENTS Neat Wcdn.-sdaj't. DIS
PATCH will contain coinpleSe and ci
1uins:i ELECTION KCTlUSs i-eml in
3ourirtlrr-'arlj,a-.the edition 'nill heun
UkchUv heay, and li-.ts must lie prepared
early.
CONGRESS AND THE LEGISLATURE.
The State canvass for Governor has been so
thoroughly discussed that only the Con
pressional and Legislative tickets require
further attention. Despite the activity of
the Democrats outside of Pennsylvania,
there is no reason to believe that the public
will he imposed upon by the clamor against
the McKinler bill most of it entirely
gratuitous. The country has prospered
tinder the protective policy. It remains to
lie seen from the actual operations of the
McKjnley bill whether any lault is to be
found with it. The past results of the pro
tective rxilicy juti'y sensible people in all
parts of the country in expecting increased
industrial activity and prosperity from the
McKinley bill, in place of the dire predic
tions of the free-traders.
As for the Legislature in Pennsylvania.it
is. of course, sure to be Republican. Two
matters of practical concern in the State.tlie
reads and a ship-canal, are worthy of being
Irought to the attention of candidates as far
as the voters nay have an opportunity of
commending these opportunities for Legis
lative action.
A ISL'ILUING JOB.
If about fifty per cent of what is re
ported concerning the postoflice building at
Chicago can be accepted as true, it will turn
out a scandal of no small proportions. That
lmilding was made the excuse ot spending
millions of the Government's money. It
presented the usual example of work spread
ing over a long series of years; but was
finally finished. It had hardly gone into
rise before it began to show evidences of
faulty design, bad workmanship and poor
material; but these were patched up and the
statement was made that there was nothing
serious the matter. Hut the evidences have
multiplied, until now it is no longer possible
to conceal the fact that the building is in a
dangerous condition, and that the only way
to get a safe structure in its place is to tear
it all down and rebuild it from the founda
tion. It is hard to see how a first-class
structure could be botched so without collu
sion ana theft all around. It is comfortable
lo believe that while our postoflice is a mon
ument to the loitering way of putting up
government buildings, it is put up in a way
to ensure that it will stand.
CONSTRUCTION GONE CRAZY.
The curiosities of intellectual operation
are illustrated by some of the remarkable
constructions which have been placed by
the post-official mind on the anti-lottery
law. Some of the postmasters out in the
wild West are reported to have thrown out
of the mails papers containing notices of
clmrch fairs, turkey rallies, and similar
items of local events; while one instance is
recounted in which a newspaper was de
clared unbailable because it told of a
r.Jfi lor a sofa pillow ior the relief of a dis
tressed household. The amount of brains
required to run a postoflice seems to be
uadly strained when it comes to construct
ing an anti-lottery law and exercising the
general function of censor to the local press.
It seems to be necessary for the Postoflice
Department to instruct the third and fourth
class postmasters that they can restrain
their extreme ardor in the work of straining
st snats.
This is all the more necessary because this
class of consi-uction, like the judicial
theories on inter-State commerce, will, if
jiersued to their legitimate conclusions,
ring us all toa standstill. As will be seen
elseirhere, the tobacco trade is agitated by
an intimation that prizes in connection
with that business are illegal. Marriage has
lieen declared on the highest authority to be
a lottery; and there is no doubt that it is a
pood deal more of one than the church fair,
which, as a general rule, is merely prepara
tory for the bigger chances. On the post
master style of construction, there ore, all
newspapers containing marriage notices
must be excluded from the mails. Oi the
chances of politics there is no more doubt
than that politics make strange bed fellows;
and the postmasters, by their own theories,
will therefore be driven to the hard duty of
rejecting their own as well as the opposing
political organs. More than that, as a
final touch, the evidences that Mr. Porter's
census is a national guessing match would
exclude from the mails all pipers and docu
ments referring to its peculiar chances.
Indeed, according to this theory, which is
gravely announced as governing the action
of postal officials, pretty near v everything
would have to be excluded from the mails
except sermons and they would have to be
carefully searched for allusions to the
chances of life and death. A small infu
sion of common sense into the application of
laws intended for the public good would be
bighly beneficial in some cases.
A J FRY CAN DECIDE.
While some people are claiming that the
current devices of trusts and combinations
do not check competition or enhance prices,
there does not seem to be much difficulty in
determining tbecontrary when such organ
izations get before a jury. A case of that
sort was tried in .Sew York last week which
is of a typical character. The Sheep and
Lamb Brokers Association sued one of
their members for the penalty ot $10,000 for
withdrawing from the association. That
organization had rules which required a
hard and fast commission to be charged by
all brokers, except to the Sheep and Lamb
Butchers' Association, which got a 3c re
bate in consideration of the guarantee on
the part ol the latter that the former shall
not suffer loss which appears to mean that
the butchers should buy all their sheep and
lambs from the members of the Brokers'
Association. The Judge left it to the jury
to decide whether this copstruction was in
tended to restrain free and fair competition,
and the jury promptly decided that it was,
and gave a verdict for the defendant. It is
not so manifestly so as most of the greater
trusts; but it does not seem to have been big
enough to successfully defy the law.
INTERNA!. EVIDENCE ON THE CENSUS.
The publication of the official census
totals last week placing the population of
the country at 02,480,450 brings out new
causes of dissatisfaction with the results of
the enumeration. Wholly apart from the
the dispute between the United States offi
cials and the city and State governments of
Xew York with regard to the accuracy of
the count in that city, it must be said that
the figures accompanying this census state
ment require us to abandon some very
firmly settled convictions, heretofore undis
puted, if we are to accept the totals as ac
curate. The first remarkable thing about this total
is the shrinkage which it has undergone
since the last announcement from the Census
Office. Just before Mr. Poller went to
Europe it was stated that the 'otal popula
tion of the whole country on an informal
count was G4,500,000. What has been the
cause of this shrinkage of about 0 per cent
is left wholly unexplained. On any other
theory than the idea that the census an
nouncements . are based on guess-work, it
would be supposed that the first state
ment was reached as a result of footing
up the various reports. But accountants
who make mistakes of 2,000,000 between two
footings are rather remarkable cattle. This
rapid shrinkage which at the same rate of
figuring would entirely wipe out the popu
lation oi the country in two years and a
half is made all the more singular by the
reported shrinkage of something like 150,000
in the enumeration of Kew York City be
tween the time is was sent to the Census
Bureau and was officially announced.
These are matters which depend on
methods of counting and examination on
which the public is not fully informed. But
there are certain other features of the census
which bear their own conclusion on their
face. The percentage of growth as now
stated, of 24.07, is admitted by Mr. Forter
to be disappointing; but he excuses it on
the ground of the inaccuracies in the census
of 1870, which he alleges "was grossly
deficient" and makes comparisons valueless.
This excuse of Mr. Porter's calls for two
comments. In the first place, it does not
make comparisons valueless; but it only re
quires us to exclude the census of 1870 as a
basis for the comparisons. Thus, the popu
lation by the census of 18G0 was 31,443,321;
and by that of 18S0 it vas 50,155,783. Here
we have an increase of G per cent
in two decades, one-fifth of which period
was occupied by a war which not only
checked the natural and acquired growth of
population, but actually increased the de
struction of Hie; and yet in contrast to this
we are called upon to contemplate an in
crease of but 24 per cent in the most pros
perous and productive decade the country
has ever known.
Xot only does Mr. Porter's remark on the
census ot 1870 fail to prohibit comparisons,
but it actually makes them the more tell
ing. If, as Mr. Porter alleges, that census
was grossly deficient, then the ratios of in
crease for the preceding decade must be too
small. The ratio of total increase in the
GO's as given by the official figures, is 22.63,
while the ratio of natural increase is 13 per
cent. On Mr. Porter's allegation that the
inaccuracies make comparison impossible
it is natural to suppose that the real ratio
of total growth would be 26 or 27 per cent;
while the ratio of natural increase or ex
cess of births over deaths would be 17 or 18,
the percentage of immigration being fixed
by the statistics of the immigration officers.
But see where this leads! Mr. Porter's own
statement would have us believe not only
that the ratio of growth of this country in
this country was less than in a decade of
which four years were occupied by a deso
lating war; but that in a decade in which
prosperity and development were the rule, J
and immigration was greater than ever
before, the natural increase has been less
than in a decade during four years of which
increase of population was checked by civil
war.
It is certainly much easier to believe from
what has been before said that the census
was negligently and inadequately taken,
than that the order of nature has been
changed in this way. Bnt in view of the
curious alterations which have taken place
at various stages of the census proceedings
and the accusations of political juggling,
some peculiar things appear. Thus,
in view of the fame which has been given to
the development of the iron and coal regions
of Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia, it is
somewhat stunning to find that the ratios of
growth for those States are but 19.45, 14.35
18 95 respectively, or less than in Massa
chusetts and Connecticut, where it was sup
posed that no especial increase was taking
place in manufactures, while agriculture
has been retrograding. Texas, which has
been reported time and again to be one of
the growing sections of the country, shows
a ratio of increase of 40 per cent, while the
ratios for the Dakotas, Colorado, Idaho and
Washington, which occupy a somewhat
similar position, run from 111 to 365 per
cent. It is a peculiar feature of this census
that Democratic and doubtiul States in
crease at a less ratio than was expected;
while strongly Republican States, with few
exceptions, exceed expectations.
These things do not amount to proof that
the census is will ully doctored for political
purposes; but they add gravity to the sus
picions aroused by both the internal and ex
ternal evidences that the work was so
burdened by extraneous inquiries as to yield
inadequate results. -When we find that Mr.
Porter's figures actually indicate a lower
porportion of increase than what he alleges
must have been the case in the war decade,
his entire work is placed under the suspicion
of worthiessness.
A Republican claim of 18,000 majority
in Ohio shows a less degree of scare than the
Republican claim of only 14,000 in Pennsylvania;
but it shows that the politicians In both-States
arc profoundly impressed with the fact that
doubtful things are uncertain.
Now that one of the Tammany orators
in theNew York City contest.Bourke Cochrane,
has let himself loose to the extent ot calling the
supporters of the reform ticket "the ministers
of the pulpit, and the narrow-chested, narrow
minded, long-haired nincompoops who set be
fore them," there is quoted on the other side a
remark ot Dr. Howard Crosby to the effect that
the other side is supported by "the scum of the
people, immigrants and otherwise." All of
which is evidence that the political contest in
New York Jias got to the immediate pre-election
stage of silliness and demagoguery.
Me. Depew denies that he said those
nice things about Mr. Cleveland. The politi
cians seem to have impressed the genial
Cbauncey with the idea that it will not do to
let his geniality gash forth too warmly toward
the opposing side.
The postmaster at Donaldson, Ark., who
telegraphs that being "knocked down and
Kicked and stomped until I begun to think I
was used up," he agreed to resign as a com
promise, has a very keen perception of the
value of the compromise. Perhaps the Gov
ernment employes at Washington who are be
ing told to walk up and settle tlieir campaign
contributions will be permitted the same com
promise. And now the party hacis devote their
public utterances exclusively to the appeal to
"vote the straigut ticket" while turning their
private efforts to the business of trading votes
where it will do the most good.
The theory of the anti-lottery law which
affirms that it makes illegal the plan of offer
ing prizes in connection with the sale of certain
brands of tobacco, will only reach its full
f i union wbeu it swoops donuon the county
fairs. The prize package business is more or
less of a humbug, but that is no reason why
ordinary horse-sense should not be used in con
struing the anti-lottery law.
There is evidence of progress in the fact
that Pennsylvania got through this campaign
without the usual appeal to tho argument of
tne leathern capes of the marching clubs, will
their tin torchlights.
The appearance of ripe strawberries in a
field in Eastern Pennsylvania is a f utile effort
to get something in the papers beside campaign
shouting; but the campaign will ocenpy all the,
space uutii day after to-morrow, when w e can
fall back on ripe strawberries in November,
f onr-legged chickens and the extra session.
Feom the way in which Stanley and his
enemies are making and refuting charges, it
w ould almost seem as if Stanley must be a can
didate for some political office.
"If Warwick defeats McKinley he will
not owe his election to the exertions of either
of the national committees." remarks the
New York li odd. No indeed! He will owe it
to tne Ohio Legislature and the energy with
which that body gerrymandered McKinley's
district so that he could not be elected.
Dillon and O'Brien have arrived and
will now proceed to take in the Irish-American
dollars to the accompaniment of the howls
of the London Times.
The report that a Republican procession
in McKinley's district was greeted with a sa
lute of over-ripe eggs shows that the new tariff
on eggs did not cover the whole subject by any
means. There should be some protection ot
the political marchers against the pauper eggs,
cveu of home production.
PERSONAL MENTION.
The wife of the Poet-Historian Lamartine
gained some repute as an amateur worker in
plastic art. A font which she made is exhibited
in one of the churches of Paris.
Mrs. General Custee has gone to Bruns
wick, Nova Scotia, for a three months' stay.
Her health is poor, and she will not lecture
this season as she bad intended.
Dr. J. T. Rothbock, of West Chester, Pa.,
has been awarded a silver medal for bis photo
graphs of American trees exhibited in the
forestry division of the Paris Exposition.
Denmark has just lost her most famous
painter of military pictures in the person of L
V. Sonne, whose death at tho age of 80 has
taken place at Copenhagen. His first picture
was exhibited at Berlin in ISIS.
The most interesting feature of Mr. Glad
stone's face is his eyes- They are described as
of a "splendid, flashing, dark-brown color."
They show his fire and genins, and give his face
an ever-changing expression.
Senator Evarts is" sometimes known to
work constantly at his desk for lfi or 12 hours.
During the preparation of the judiciary bill,
at the last session of Congress, he sometimes
satin his chair writing and dictating from 8 in
the morning till 9 in the evening.
Jonit Burks, the London labor leader, does
not think well of General Booth's plan of rid
ding the metropolis of its wretchedness and
suffering by a gigantic charity. Burns con
tends that tne only substantial improvement
must come through legislation, with a reduc
tion in the hours of labor for its basis.
Mrs. William K. Vascderbilt owns a
magnificent pearl necklace which belonged to
the Empress Eugenie, and is supposed to be
worth 1200.000. It is a single row of about 40
inches, which she throws around and around
her neck until it falls in successive rows to her
waist. The average necklace is about 14
Inches.
The latest French sculptress is that phoenix
of genius. Sarah Bernhardt, After excelling
in painting, as well as standing unrivaled in
histrionic art, she astonished Paris by exhibit
ing a group in plaster, "Apres le Tempete,"
representing an old mother with her drowned
son on her knees. The name and description
vindicate it as artistic in conception.
Mns. Lityledale is said to be the first En
glish woman who has traveled from Russian
Turkestan to India. She and her husband,
Mr. St, George Littledale, after being im
prisoned for a time by the Afghans, crossed
tho Hindoo Khoosb, and passing through
Chitral, Yassin and Gilgit, reached Casb
mero and finally arrived at Srinagar tho
capital.
A NEW anecdote of Liszt tells us that when
on one of his concert tours through Germany
he was obliged to remain some days in a small
city. As soon as it was known the great abbe
was in town a group of his admirers, headed by
the Burgomaster, went to pay him homage and
invite him to a banquet. When it was found
that 13 were seated at the table the general em
barrassment was checked by Liszt remarking:
"Do not be alarmed at such a trifle. I can eat
for two persons."
THE FIRST POBTEAIT MEDALLION.
The Romantic Origin of Tills Feature of
the riastlc Art.
From the Jenncss Miller Magazine. t
In plastic art we find that the debt It owes to
woman is less for work than inspiration: from
its beginning ber influence has been the main
spring of its development. Tho story is- very
beautiful:
In the middle of the seventh century before
Christ a potter lived in Lyconia and there fol
lowed his art. He had a beautiful daughter
named Kora. Although women were obliged
to go veiled in the market place her grace and
bearing won the ardent admiration of a strange
youth. He sought to be employed by the pot
ter as an assistant and succeeded, still further
gaining his wish by securing a place in the
young girl's heart. The life of tne father,
daughter and lover was an ideal of Grecian
simplicity and beauty. When the time came
for the lovers' temporary separation they were
sad.
The last evening, as they sat together, Kora
noticed the shadow of her friend's profile on
the all, and, taking a piece of charcoal,
traced the noble outline. The next day ber
father, seeing the sketch, and recognizing the
likeness filled it in with clar, so modeling it as
to represent the young man's features. Thus
was made the first portrait medallion.
True Dress Reformers.
From the Ladles' Home Journal.
It looks as if the wealthy women of this rich
land of ours are to be the true dress reformers.
The past summer has demonstrated this tact
very strongly. On every hand at the great re
sorts it was noticed that the women who pos
sessed the greatest wealth were the simplest in
their dress. While this has been, to a certain
extent, true in the past, the fact has been
more noticeable of late because it has become
more general.
DEATHS OP A DAY.
F. F. Spencer.
CmcAoo, November Z-F. F. Spencer, vice
president of Ulbbard, Spencer, iiartlett & Co.,
one orthe best known men in the hardware trade,
died last evening. Mr. bpencerwas 73yearsold.
lie has been ill only a week.
Simon Bachman.
Simon Bachman. a well-known resident or Alle
gheny, died yesterday at his residence. Ho. 117
Grant avenue, seed 80 years. Mr. Bachman had
been for mauv years engaged in the tailoring busi
ness at No. 147 federal street.
SNAP SHOTS IN SEASON.
Ox Wednesday morning you will know who
are the people.
Yon have a duty to perform to-morrow,
haven't yon? Of course you have heard all
the uproar of the past couple months, and took
it all good naturedly. Or have you grown ex
citable with the excitement? Possibly some of
you have, and undoubtedly some ot you
have not. Now what's the use work
ing ourselves up to a high pitch
of political patriotism every time thesbouters
go up and down the land? Wouldn't it be bet
ter if wo kept cool and comfortable? Of course
somebody will make the noise, and we are
forced to hear it; but don't let it switch us off
the track. Persuasion and argument won't
hurt us, of course, but if we allow our
passions to influence our politics, why
then look out for a jar in our little
world. Take it all good naturedly. It's a
serious business, to be sure, but in smooth
going every-day times we are not called upon
to do violence to ourselves or to others. In our
own way we can size up tho situation and rise
up to it, too. Just watch and wait. Sift the
wheat from the chaff without sweating or
grumbling during the operation, and after
mind-bolting the whole patiently await the
day when you will deliver your grist as
your conscience dictates. Let the other
fellows do the worrying and the shooting.
If you are not passion-blind all will be
well, even if it does not turn out ex
actly as you wished. Politics, like pov
erty, will be always with us. We have the
power to relieve both. Both call for charity,
and discrimination, too. Of course you have
your preference:, your likes, your dislikes.
Well, that's all right. We're built that way,
you know. And, thank heaven, we are at bot
tom good natnred and lorgiving. So we
can act religiously and politically as we
please without drawing down upon us lasting
hate or unforgiving enemies. We will be twit
ted and chaffed at, to be sure, bnt back of the
scowl we see a smile. Life Is too short for quar
reling over the battle? of others. Take your
laughter along with your ballot wben you co to
the polls to-morrow. The other fellow will en
joy it as much as yourself, even if you are per
forming a serious duty.
A horse will carry a beggar as safely as a
king.
The ballot is more effectivo than the bullet
hi securing a people happiness and prosperity.
The night school opens when the nights cool
off.
It is easier to pass a law than it is to inter
pret it.
Everybody is liable to have a good idea, but
only those who are able to recognize it reap
benefits therefrom.
THE VOTER OIT AGE AND HIS FATHER A
FAMILY CONSULTATION.
The Son.
You must wake and call me early, call me
enrlv father dear.
For to-morrow is the lively day of this very
much off year;
Of all the offish years, papa, the hottest, busi
est day.
For tho fndeperdents are fighting mad, and
there's the deuce to pay.
The kickers, called Mugwumps, papa, are
hourly growing greater.
And they propose to make it hot for Mr. Deta
in ater;
For, papa, dear, they say they've got the enemy
on the run.
So just call me early, father, dear, Til vote for
Pattison,
Big talkers out for "stuff," papa, are now giv
ing us a "stiff."
By arguing that the kicking vote will kill the
new tariff;
I don't believe them, papa, dear, they arc giv
ing us a "guy,"
And just trylnr, papa, aren't they, to close the
voters' eye?
27ie Stern Parent.
I will wake and call you early, and together we
will go
Where bulldozers and ward workers will be
standing in a row;
And we'll watch there till the ballots bury some
one out of sight,
And send a would-be Governor simply higher
than a kite!
A great many people are pulled through
life by banging to the coat tails of others.
They are top weak to fight their own battles,
and, like barnacles on the ship's bottom, im
pede the progress of those upon whom they
fasten themselves. Fortunately for the world,
they usually cling to politicians.
Some lies are inspired by hate, still we hate
liars.
Children should be so trained that they
will seek knowledee from parents instead of
strangers. Don't evade their queries, no mat
ter if they do seem a trifle strange.
Thank heaven, all this talk about the tariff
will end after to-morrow.
The cry of the bettor What's the odds?
PUT your ticket in your pocket, walk up to
the polls, pay no attention to tbe patriots who
hang around the window, drop the little joker
in the slot, and then return to your place of
business with the knowledge of having faith
fully performed a public duty.
A DisnoNEST clerk should make a clever
pugilist. He's good at knocking down.
A green-grocer One who gives a dishon
est customer credit.
Circus tumblers are the men who have
vaulting ambitions.
Women are permitted to bare arms in time
of piping peace.
People who burden themselves with trouble
need not expect others to relieve them of a
portion of their load.
Little bits of nonsense.
Little harmless jokes,
Never should give offense
To tbe sourest folks.
THE proudest fellows in the land are those
who will vote on age to-morrow.
Porter's census returns make countless
thousands mourn.
The Philadelphia Record wants to know
where Pittsburg will go when the gas goes out.
Well, she won't go to sleep like Philadelphia,
at all events.
The Bible stories to which man can apply
actual tests are always found to be truthful.
It is a good sign of the times to see the med
ical profession keeping peace with the search
ers in other lines of science. You have been
rather slow and selfish, gentlemen, but a pa
tient public will overlook the past and look for
good things from you in future.
Vote as your conscience dictates to-morrow.
How you voto is nobody's business but your
own.
LET US PEAT.
Another day of agony.
Another day of bluff.
Another day of tariff
And other silly stuff.
Another day of tumult
Through tbe Keystone State;
Another day of shouting
For each candidate.
Another day of betting
On tbe vote they'll poll;
Another day of worry
Trying to the soul.
, Another day of scheming
How to win the tight;
Another day thank heaven!
Then comes Tuesday night.
The bell boy is a faithful public servant.
There's a man in the honeymoon without a
doubt.
Girls, you cannot all be beautiful, but It you
try you cau all be graceful and sweet tempered.
Love is easily recognized even if it cannot
be defined.
The weather prophets will have their Inning
after to-morrow. It's not safe to bet on their
predictions, either.
Corn stalk just tbe same as trees bark.
Why is a fashionable woman like a Thanks
giving turkey stuffed with oysters and served
with wine sauce ? Because the dressing costs
more than the anatomy.
You may be better off next Wednesday if
you don't bet to-day.
The people will take a hand in the proceed
ings of Congress to-morrow. It will be a great
day for unseating members.
The instantaneous photograph is not a baso
flatterer by any means.
They are figuring on the vote ot this good old
State
Ere tbe battle of tbe ballots commences;
But they'll likely be as offish in their estimate
As Porter was in ciphering the census.
After to-morrow you will realize that you
are a freeman, until the next campaign,
ft
It's not what the worker cams, but It's what
he keeps that counts.
Banjo players are always fretting.
A BErEATER An echo.
Boxing matches is light employment with
out a doubt. Willie Winkle.
NUESEEY EHYMES.
The Antiquity and Origin of the Most Fopu
lar of These Clever Jingles.
From Sparc Moments.!
One of the oldest jingles or rhymes common
In nearly every country of the world is that fa
miliar one commencing
One, two, buckle my shoe;
Three, four, shut the door;
live six, pick, nn sticks;
Seven, eight, lay them straight, etc., etc.
The following are some of the records of
the age and origin of popular English nurserv
rhymes namely. "Froggio would a-wooing go"
was licensed in 1580: "Threo blind mice" is in a
music book of 1009; "Boys and girls, come out
to play" dates from Charles IL, as also "Lucy
Locket lost ber pocket;" "Pussycat, pussy cat,
where have you been?" dates from Queen
Bess' reign; while "Little Jack Horner" is
older than the seventeenth century, and tho
"Old woman tossed in the blanket" alluded to,
and dates from James IL "Old Mother Hub
bird," "Humpty Dumptv," "Goosey. Goosey
Gander," "Old Mother Goose" appear to be
among the oldest of our nursery rhymes.
"Humpty Dumpty" was a bold, bad baron who
lived in the days of King John, and was tum
bled from power. His history was put into a
riddle, the meaninc of which was an egg. "The
Babes in the V ood"was founded upon an actual
crime committed in Norfolk, near Wayland
Wood, in the fifteenth century. An old house
in tbe neighborhood is still pointed out, upon a
mantelpiece in which is carved the entire his
tory. "Cinderella." "Jack the Giant Killer,"
"Blue BearJ," "Tom Thumb," were given to
the world in Pans in 1697. The author was
Charles Fenaulr,
A CORNER IN PUMPKINS
Caused by Washington Hoys' Guessing Con
tests as to the Seeds in Them.
From the Washington Post.
"Just look at that, will you?" said the keeper
of one of the large produce stands in Center
Market to a Post reporter, as a party of a dozen
boys trooped off, each with a big pumpkin un
der his arm. "That is the way it has been for
ten days past. Bet I have sold a carload to
boys. They want big ones, too. The" common,
ordinary size doesn't seem to meet their no
tions." "What do they do with them?"
"Count the seeds. There's a perfect craze
over it. Nearly every lady who comes along
here doing her day's marketing says: 'Send
mo up a pumpkin, a large one; my little boy
" 'ants to count the seeds.'
"I thought at first it was jack o' lanterns they
wanted them for, such as we used to make
when I was a boy, but it seems that there is a
guessing contest for a pony going on up here at
Sak's. The child guessing tho nearest to the
correct number of seeds in a giant pumpkin ex
hibited in nue of their windows gets the pony,
and these boys are hunting a few facts on the
seed question. 'Tisn't a bad idea, but it keeps
us produco men hustling for big pumpkins."
PRAISE FOR PENNSYLVANIA.
Generous Words From Massachusetts Upon
Our Gifts and Resources.
From the Boston Herald. J
Pennsylvania is a State settled under as dis
tinctly moral and religious auspices as was the
State of Massachusetts. There was more en
lightenment in its religion and in its morality
than in that of Massachusetts in that most im
portant feature of its early policy, tbe dealing
with the Indians. It had tbe advantage of that
great man of his era. Benjamin Franklin, as its
citizen when independence was being achieved
and the national and State Governments wero
formed.
It has been for more than a half century the
second State in population in the Union, and Id
advantage of situation, combined with those
natural resource that constitute wealth, there
is no State in the Union that equals it.
Indeed, we doubt it there is the same amount
of territory in the world so blessed by the gifts
of Providence as is this same State of Penn
sylvania. AN ICE PALACE
In St.Fctersbnrp;inl739 Which Was Men
tioned by the Poet Cowper.
From Spare Moments.!
A remarkable ice palace was built at St. Pe
tersburg in the winter of 1733-40, and was thus
beautifully referred to by Cowper in the filth
book of the "Task:"
Silently, as in a dream, the fabric rose.
No sound of hammer or of saw was there;
leu upon lec, the well-adjusted parts
Were soon coujolncd; no other cement asked
Than water Infused to mate them one.
The palace was 52 feet long. 16 feet wide and
20 feet high. The blocks were from 2 to 3 feet
thick. They were colored different tints by
sprinkling them over with water colored in va
rious ways. Six cannon, made of ice and
mounted on wheels ot the ame material were
placed before tho door, and one of them was
fired, and carried a hempen bullet through a
board two inches thick at 60 paces. This is said
to have been done several times without burst
ing the cannon.
PEACOCKS' FEATHERS.
The Curious Keason Wliy They Arc So
UniversaUy Considered Unlucky.
"Hero is an answer to tbe question why
peacocks' feathers are unlucky, and I trust
that it will satisfy the lady on whose behalf I
made the inquiry," says a writer in London
Truth. "Whether this be the true explanation
I cannot sav, but I should think that it will do
as well as any other:
"A lady for whom I lately searched 'Notes
and Queries' in quest of information on the
reason for tbe alleged unluckiness of peacocks'
feathers, has forwarded me a cutting from the
current nnmber of your journal.
"I found in 'Notes and Queries,' series HL,
vol. viii.. P- 528, a reference to Pilgrave's 'Cen
tral and Eastern Arabia.' I., 826. We learn
from that source that, according to Mahometan
tradition, tbe peacock opened the wicket of
Paradise to Satan, and received a very ample
share of tbe punishment awarded to him."
TWILIGHT.
When I was yonngthe twilight seemed too long.
How often on the western window seat
I leaned my book against the misty pane
And spelled the last enchanting lines again
The while my mother hummed an ancient song
Or sighed a little and said. "The hour is sweet,"
When 1, rebellious, clamored for the light.
Bat now I love the sort approach of night.
And now with folded hands 1 sit and dream
While all too fleet the hours of twilight seem;
And thus I know I am growing old.
'o granaries of Agel O manifold
And royal harvest 01 me common years;
There are in all thy tresnre-hone n ways
But lead by soft descent and gradual slope
To memories more exquisite than hope.
Thine i the Iris born of olden tears.
And thrice more happy are the happy days
That live divinely in the lingering rays.
So autumn roses bear a lovelier flower;
So, in the emerald after-sunset hour.
The orchard wall and trembling aspen trees
Appear an Infinite HesDerides.
Ay, as at dusk we sit with folded hands
Who knows, who cares In what enchanted lands
We wander while tbe undying memories throng?
When I was young tbe twilight teemed too long.
A. Mary i'. Robinson in the Athenaum. .
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,
REV. GEORGE HODGES' DESCRIPTION OF
PARLIAMENT.
Quite a Quantity of Ked Tape Necessary to
Secure tho Entrance Not Enough Seats
for Members Some of the Peculiar Feat
ures. IWRITTEX FOB TBI DISPATCH.!
Tverybody has seen the palace of West
minster, at least in pictures. And every
body knows, accordingly, how it rises straight
upoutof the Thames and how it has a great
clock tower at one end with a big bell In it.
Here is whoro the laws are made. There is no
other manufactory in Europe half so well
worth visiting. This law making is one of the
most interesting and significant of all the
sights in London to every visiting American
who desires to see it.
The first thing to do is to get in. On Satur
day this is an easy matter, for on that day the
great building Is open tree to every visitor.
But thero is nothing coinc on on Saturday.
You rmy see the stone floors and the oak ceil
ings and the cushioned seats on which the lecis
lators sit, but If you want to see the men who
mni.e tne laws and to watch them In tbe act
you must go on some other clay. Bnt on any
other day to get in is not an easy matter.
Of course it Is the House of Commons which
you want to see. Because it is in the House or
Commons that the real work is done. You will
read in the London papers that the House of
Lords went into session at 4:15 o'clock; that
Lord This asked such-and-such a question; that
Lord That made answer thus-and-thus. and
thatatS o'clock the House adjourned. There
is very little going on in the House ot Lord.
It is said to be quite easy to get entrance into
tbe sessions of tbe House of Lords, because
not raa.iy people care about going in. But of
the House of Commons you will read on the
tame day that the House sat down at 3 in the
afternoon and rose up at 3 in the morning.
There Is some work done in this House all tbe
real work, indeed, that is done. And you want
to see it. But how?
Any Amount of Ked Tape.
You must got a special permission from the
Speaker of the House. You cannot walk
easily in and out, as if you were in the land of
the iree and the home of the brave. You must
get this bit of door-opening paper, or you must
stay our. I do not think that this is so much
from a desire to set a hedge of difficulty and
ceremony about the deliberations ot the House
as from a lack of room. Indeed, there are not
seats enough 1 1 the House of Commons for all
its actual members not near enough. There
are nearly 700 members, and not quite 500
scats ! So seats are in demand.
If you know an M. P., however, he will get
you a permit. In you go. You enter by St.
Stephen's porch, looking on your left Into the
great hall of William Itufus, bare and empty
now, furnished chiefly with historical associa
tionsbut with these most richly. Presently
you are in a great octagonal room, which is just
in the middle of this great labyrinth of halls
and courts and corridors, and is fitly named
the "Central Hall." To jour right a corridor
leads to the House of Lords, to your loft
another corridor opens into the House of Com
mons. In great Latin letters, in the Mosaic
beneath your feet is written: "Except the
Lord keep the house, their labour is but lost
that build it." The hall is full of men, mem
bers of both housps. walking about, fathered
in groups, discussing politics or luncheon, for
there is a refreshment "counter" at one side-
settling the destinies of the race.
Tho First Impressions.
YOU Proceed along the left hand corridor,
between walls glowing with most beautiful
frescoes of scenes in English history. Your
"open-sesame" is carefully examined, and you
are directed to climb a certain narrow and dark
staircase. You do so, and at the other end you
emerge Into tbe House of Commons. You are
in a plain room, finished substantially in oak,
with a high ceiling, paneled with glass. To
tbe right and left aro tall windows
in color, adorned with representations
of coats of arms. There is a stout
gallery around the four walls, and
a broad aisle in the middle. Thero are long
leather-covered benches, facing this middle
aisle five rows of benches on each side, rising
in tiers. Your seat is at tbe back of the room,
beside the door, on a bench of the highest
tier.
Above your head is the gallery. In front of
you, at tho other end of the room, above the
main gallery. Is a second one, whose occupants
can nearly touch the high ceiling. This gallery
has a lattice in front of it. There are people
in It, but nobody can tell who they are.
This is the place which is reserved in the
House of Commons for the ladiesl It reminds
one of a similar arrangement in the waiting
houses of the Mohammedans. The Mohammed
ans do not encourage the attendance ot women
at church. At the same time they do not abso
lutely torbld them. But if tbey will go, here
behind this lattice they mut sit. At tho end
of the broad middle isle is a solid and dignified
table. At tbe end of tbe table nearest the door
is that mysteriously dreadful instrument which
is called the mace.
You get r.sed to maces in England. The
verger carries one every day as the procession
of clergy and choristers goes in to tbe daily
prayers In the cathedrals. There is one for the
dean, and another tot the chancellor atd an
other for this official and that. And the eccle
siastic cannot even go from his stall to the
lecturer to read the lessons, but before him
must march tbe verger with the mace.
A Subject for Reflection.
YynAT a queer ceremony it is, and how far
back it carries the reflective observer
even to the days when tbe mace was the stout
war club which was borne before the chief!
Tbe mace, tbey say. Is tbe symbol of authority.
And no doubt it was a symbol, and a most
significant one, In the days wben it was con
structed for tbe purpose of breaking refractory
heads. In tbe House of Commons It symbolizes
the authority of the English people not a
pleasant symbol. However, there it is, a big
gold stick with a crown on the end of it. At
tho other end of tbe table sit the clerk,
in wigs. For the first time tho Ameri
can tourist beholds a barrister's wig. But
tbe Speaker wears tbe largest and most impos
ing wig. The Speaker is one of the "big wigs."
You begin to understand what that ancient
epithet means. Down falls the curled gray
hair over the Speaker's shoulders. It is like
the old pictures. It looks queer enough, and
must be very uncomfortable.
On tbe long. leather-covered benches sit the
members, mot of them with tboir bats on.
You sit by tho door and watch them as tbey
enter. They take their hats oil as they come
in, and put them on when they sit down, re
moving them when they address the Chair
"top-hats," of course, every one of them. On
the benches beside .the aisle, and nearest the
Speaker, having the Clerk's tabic between
them, sit the leaders of the two great parties.
The Government party are on your left as you
look toward the Speaker: the opposition are ou
the righi. Behind them sit tbelr followers.
There they are, looking into each other's faces,
dividd into two regiments, with tbe broad
aisle between them.
Of course. I looked first for Mr. Gladstone.
Nobody could help recognizing him from his
pictures. He is not so tall as I had imagined
him, and sat down low in bis seat. He said
nothing, but paid close attention to everything:
Mr. Bradlaugh was the only man who made an
extended speech the day I was present. Mr.
Bradlaugh looks like Henry Ward Beecher.
His subject was some injustice which appeared
to have been done to tbe Maharajah of Kash
mir. He spoke at great length, and was still
speakiug wben I came away. Mr. Bryce, Mr.
Balfour, Mr. Smith, the "First Lord of the
Treasury," Mr. Cbildors and others spoke. The
Irish contingent sat together and made a good
many speeches, keeping things stirred up, Mr.
Cunningham Graham heing the chief speaker.
The Opening Proceeding.
THE session begins with tho "questions."
This is a roost interesting procedure by
which the Opposition are enabled to put the
Administration through a severe cross-examination
every day. Tbe questions are all
printed, and you are given a copy. The
Speaker calls upon the questioners in order,
and each questioner refers to bis inquiry
by number. He desires to ask the Chief
Secretary to the Lord Lieutonant of Ireland
question No, 4. Tbe Chief Secretary must get
up and answer. The questions arc,some of them,
by way of suggestion. Some are printed criti
cisms; some desire information; some attack
tbe action or the Government Nearly all,
however, are hostile.
Questions large and small that is one of the
things which )ou notice as you listen to them.
Mr. Edward Bobertson desires to ask the Un
der Secretary of State for the Colonies whether
tho commanding officers of Her Majesty's ves
sels have nn different occasions ordered the re
moval of lobster cages set by and belonging to
British subjects, and if so under what law were,
tbey acting? Mr. Montagu has a question for
the Chancellor of the Exchequer about paying
off tne Turkish l per cent bunds. Mr. Labou
chcre desires Information about the Protec
torate or Zanzibar. Mr. William Abraham
asks the Pojtmastor General It heisawa.-c that
John Cowhey. sub-postrajster at Bruree, is
addicted to tbe use of strong drink, and
whether or not be purposes to have him dis
charged. All things in heaven and eartn are touched
upon iu these questions. You are equally
amazed at the vast extent of the interests in
volved in some of them, and at the minuteness
of inspection which is revealed in others. Tbe
opposition keep telescopes and microscopes
trained upon the movements of the administra
tion all the time. Open-air meetings In Hyde
Park, duty on gold and silver plate, the train
Ingot school-teachers, repairs upon Westmin
ster Abbey, the tea-gardens of Assam, tbe ces
sion of Heligoland, the troubles of Kamahere
ro. King of the Damaras, tbe disputes in the
Government ot Venezuela, the relitlons be
tween tbe Indian Midland Railway and the
chiefs of Bundelknnd, tlie condition of prison
cells In Eshowe goal in Znluland, tho delivery
of the malls at Harrowgate, the moral condi
tion of Whitechapel, and tbe sending of glass
bottles by parcel post, were all considered in
questions in my hearing on one day.
And then Mr. Bradlaugh began bis long
speech, and in the midst of itl came away. But
the House kept on its session into the small
hours. G. H.
EVERY WATCH A COMPASS.
How the Cardinal Points Can be Ascertained,
From It.
From the London Truth. I
A few days ago I was standing by an Ameri
can gentleman, when I expressed a wish to
know which point was north. He at once
pulled out bis watch. looked at it and pointed
to tho north, i asked him whether he had a
compass attached to his watch. "All watches,"
he replied, "are compasses."
Then he explained to me how this was. Point
the hour band to tbe sun, and the south is ex
actly half way between the hour and figure XII
on tho watch. For instance, suppose it is 4
o'clock. Point the band indicating! to tbe sun,
and II on the watch is exactly south. Suppose
that it js 8 o'clock; point the hand indicating 8
to the sun, and the figure X on the watch ii
due south.
My American friend was qnite surprised that
I did not know thK Thinking that very possi
bly I was ignorant of a thing evervone else
knew, and happening to meet Mr. Stanley, I
asked that eminent traveler whether ne was
aware of this simple mode of discovering tho
points of the compass. He said that he had
never beard of it. I presume, therefore, that
the world is in tbe same state of ignorance.
AmalU is proud of having been the home of the
inventor of the compass. I do not know what
town boasts of my American friend asa citizen.
THE WHITE RHINOCEROS.
Its Karity and Efforts to Get a Specimen for
European Musenms.
From the Saturday Review.
The extermination of the white rhinoceros
is, perhap, not to be wondered at, as it is ono
of the inevitable results of the extension of the
settlements in Soutn Africa; but that no mu
seum in Europe or Ametica should possess a
specimen if we except the young mounted
specimen, about the size of a large pig, in tho
British Museum Is curious, and very much to
be regretted, and we are pleased to see that
Dr. Sclater has called attention to the fact in
the columns of Nature, "in the hope that the
attention of the several exploring parties now
traversing Mashunaland and Matabeleland
may be called to this subject, and that in case
of a straggling survivor of tite white rhinoceros
being met with, it may be carefully preserved
for the National Collection at South Kensing
ton." We can only say with Dr. Sclater that "the
country in which alone (as it is possible, bnt
by no means certain), the last stragglers exist
being now within the British Empire. It is
clearly our duty to- endeavor to obtain and pre
serve examples nr the great white or sqnare
moutbed rhinoceros for the use and informa
tion of posterity."
KATE FIELD AND DICKENS.
Example of tho Art With Which the Novel
ist Turned u Compliment.
From the Toronto Mail.
It was worth while to receivo a compliment
from Dickens, because it was turned with so
nice an art. One worthv of note was paid to
Kate Field, who had been a constant attendant
on his readings, which were to her a dramatic
revelation. Going up the steps of Steinway
Hall, New York, on the occasion of Dickens'
New Year's Eve reading, she was met by a girl,
who stopped her, saying. "I've a message for
you from the Chief." Dickens was always
called "The Chief" by his intimates. "1 asked
him if hosawyiu in the audinnce. "See herf
replied Dickens. 'Yes. GoU Bless her. She's
the best audience I ever bad.' " In acknowl
edgment of a basket of violets which she sent
him, among other things he said:
I must avow that nothing In the prettr basket
of flowers was quite so interesting tome as a cer
tain bright, fresh race I have seen at my readings,
which. 1 am told, you may sec too. when you
look in the glass! Cordially your?.
Chakles Dickens.
"1 wouldn't part with this autograph." says
Kate Field, "for the Presidency of the United
States. What saue;woman would?"
A TIMELY RHYME
In Which Readers of Th- Dispatch Should
he Interested.
A few verses in our csteemc.'- cotemporary,
the Saturday Hevieic. 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.
End yard 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 tbe literary world is especially inter
esting owing to the fact that the biggest gun
that Mr. Kipling has yet loaded will be beard
in The Dispatch on November 9 through the
beginning of bis first serial, "The Light
that Failed."
ANOTHER SHIP CANAL.
Preliminary Work Begun Along the Upper
Hudson to Lake Champhiin.
Work has been begun by State surveyors on
the river, near the Stato dam.sajs the Troy
Times. The surveyors had sounding apparatus,
and their work was to determine the material
it would be necessary to remove in constructing
a ship canal between tidewater and Lake
Champlain. They propose a channel 400 feet
wide and 20 feet Jeep.
What tbe results of tho measurements and
soundings may be will be laid before Congress
at tbe next session, and recommendations will
be made as to tho most feasible plan of fitting
the river for the movement of sea-going boats
used for freight between New York and the
West. It will also be determined whether or
not the best results may be obtained by the
excavation of rock and other material or by a
series ot dams.the locations being at Watcrfnrd
and Center Island. The dams would give the
desired depth, but it would also be necessary to
provide each with locks, as at tbe State dam.
Cure For Consumption.
From the Philadelphia Press.
If Koch has discovered a method of inocula
tion to cure consumption which will act as a
bacillicide, he certainly has given mankind a
boon second only to'jcnner's discovery of tho
potent influence of the vaccine lymph to ward
off smallpox.
THE DISASTER AT SEA.
BUFFALO Times: Who was responsible for
that dire disaster off Barnegat ou the Jersey
coast, Thursday evening?
Philadelphia Press: The terrible disaster
in which the Vizcaya w as run down Thursday
evening by the four-masted coaling schooner,
Cornelius Hargraves, ought, but we fear will
not, bring a radical reform In the manning,
management and inspection of these mam
moth coasters.
New York Ti'o Id: Whoever was in fault
has had fearful consequences of his neglect.
Two men, who were booked for passage on the
lated Vizcaya, missed the boat, and opposite
their names on the passenger list is the note in
Spani-h. so sicniticantrin the light of the sub
sequent event: "Stayed on earth."
Philadelphia Bulletin: Tbe terrible dis
aster off Barnegat isone oi those casualties for
which no explanation, except criminal careless
ness, is apparent. It was early in the evening.
the night was clear, Were was a large, tnougn
not full, moon, and tbe vessels should have
seen each other at least a quarter of an hour
before tbey met.
New York Press: Words cannot adequately
portray the grim sea tragedy of Thursday night
off Barnegat. The horror of it Is beyond word
painting. Tbo nearness of tho disaster brings
its terror home more forcibly. It was only 60
miles from New York that it occurred. The
ill-fated Vizcaya had left our own city only
seven hours before. That such a collision
should have taken place without gross careless
ness is inconceivable.
New York Tribune: The fatal collision off
Barnegat is the latest In a never-ending series
of disasters at aea which, described in detail
by the survivors, serve to explain the fate of
ships which disappear and leave no trace.
When two vessels can crash together on a clear
night and go to tbe bottom within ten minutes
it is easy to imagine what befell lost ships
whose story has never been told. It is not easy,
however, to imagine a catastrophe moreinex
cusable than that which has just destroyed
three-score lives.
CUKI0US CONDENSATIONS.
Ten ordinary eegs will weigh a pound.
There are always 3,500,000 people on
the seas of the world.
The sixteenth century may be called
the "Golden Ago" of tapestry.
Twenty million acres ot the land of the
United States are held by foreigners.
There are 10,801! school districts, 62,372
teachers and 2.800,000 school children in Japan.
A Toronto paper figures out that the
drunkards or that city lost 8191,632 In wages last
year.
"More people kill themselves by eating
than by using intoxicant?," is the statement of
a celebrated physician.
The Croton Aqueduct is now practically
completed and in me. The supply is 31S,000,OUO
gallons or water per day.
Five hundred children under 10 years
of age were taken into enstody last year in Lon
don as drunk and incapable.
The first and only modern windmill in
London-is to be seen at work on the top of a
warehouse in City Koad, Loudon.
Thirty-six years ago tbe first settler
built his houso in Omaha, and tbe Indians re
luctantly fell back a few miles to the west.
It is calculated that nine-tenths of the
reading time of most men and that of a large
proportion of women is given to newspapers.
Two of the albums sent to the interna
tional exhibition of postage stamps at Vienna
were insured for iZb'M and 3,000 respectively.
The population of Vienna, by the an
nexation of several suburban villages, now
amounts to 1,300,000, ranking as Europe's fourth
city in point of inhabitants.
Iron collars for heavy work-horses are
coming into use. They may weigh less than
seven pounds, and the advantage of their usa
Is said to be immunity from sore necks.
A new rose has been introduced at
Lyons, which is described as a velvety red, with
a delicious perfume. It was named in honor of
the Department Commandant, Baron Berge.
A Russian has invented a fireproof paste
which has recently been put to a crucial test
by tbe Moscow Imperial Society of Agriculture.
It proved a great success; straw when covered
with it will not ignite.
As palms are fashionable decorat:oo, a
hint may be taken from the practice of one
florist who rubs with sweet oil the leaves of
palms, and even of the rubber plant, until they
are of the richest and darkest green.
It was in Italy, alter Flanders, that the
manufacture of tapestry attained tbe highest
position during tho sixteenth century. Ferrara
appears to bave been tbe most ancient and most
important manufactory iu Italy.
A curious art imposition ha3 been dis
covered in Paris. An ingenious person stole
bronze and marble busts from the cemetery of
Montparnesse, Paris, touched them up and
sold them as effigies of famous heroes, states
men and orators.
Some amazingly big pumpkins have
been raised in Maine this fall and the contest
for tbe honors is now on. Mr. Guy Mullen, ot
Newport, 1 pretty well to tba front in tms,
having raised seven on one viue whose com
bined weight was 102 pounds.
Graphite has been discovered near Santo
Espiritu, Cuba, and tbe owners ot the mine in
tend to commenco work immediately in con
nection with some American capitalists, as the
mineral, which is as good as that ot Siberia,
cau be advautageoujly disposed off in tbe
United States.
The law providing for execution by
electricity iu New York is again before the Su
preme Court of the United States. Tbe ques
tion is, as in tbe Kemmler case, heretefore de
cided, whether tbe punishment provided is
"cruel and unusual." and as such prohibited by
the Constitution of the United States.
The hop vine is said to be sinistrorse be
cause it twines with tbe motion of the sun,
that is, from right to left. Beans, morning
glories, and all other species of climbing pla.its,
with tbe exception of one of tbe honeysuckles,
are dextrorse, turning opposite to the apparent
motion of the sun, or from left to right.
The probable value of all the diamonds
In the world, according to a recent estimate,
is about f 1,000, 000.000. Tho world's diamond
traie is carried on by about 8,000 dealers, with
a total stock of not lar from SSSO.OW.OOO. Tho
stones are prepared for market by perhaps
4,500 cutters and polishers, principally iu Ams
terdam, Antwerp, Paris and the Jura.
The Financial Beform Almanac gives
the following list of the 'trades" and "profes
sions" of tbe British House of Commons:
Land-holding interest, 209; trade, commerce
and manufacture. lC3:law. 133: fighting, (army
and navy, etc.;, 128; official (placement aud ex
placemen), 91: literary and professional (law
excluded). 77; railway;?; banking, 33; liquor,
21; labor. 8.
The following populations make an in
teresting comparison: Russian empire. 113,334,
619; United States, 62.4!0,540: Germany, 46,852,
4; Austria-Hungary, 40,464,808; France, 38,218,
903: Great Britain and Ireland. 35.21ti.633; Italy,
28,460.000; Spam. 17.550.21u. It is only a ques
tion of time when we shall lead even Russia,
and with our increase will be tbe leadership ot
the English-speaking civilization.
The average daily supply of water de
livered to London from the Thames in August
last w as 96,213,202 gallons, from the Lee E9.S79.
606 gallons, from springs and wells 28,529,582 gal
lons, from ponds at Hampstead and Highgate
339.339 gallons. Tho daily total was. therefore,
lS-i.01I.729 gallons for a population aggregating
0,671,051!, representing a daily consumption per
head of 32 62-100 gallons for all purposes.
M. Desbouverie in Roubaix, France,
has made many experiments recently in the use
of swallows instead of carrier pigeons for postal
service in war. He says his repeated tests of
the capabilities of the swallows bave convinced
him that in war tbey can bo made much safer
and swifter carriers than pigeons. They fly
higher, have a quicker movement, take their
food on the wing without stopping, bave more
affection for their homes, and aro many times
more intelligent than tbe pigeons.
The strength of the London police force,
roughly speatting. is about 15.000 men, from
which may no deducted 2,000 men who are em
ployed around the dockvards and military sta
tions beyond Metropolitan police limits, or on
special protection posts at public offices or
buildin"". Tbe -trength of the police force of
New York in 1SS8 was about 3.400 of all ranks,
supplemented oy "special police." together
with the power to call to their assistance, in
time or special emergency, hundreds of detec
tives from Pinkerton's agency.
. i
THE MERRY WAR.
"Why don't '00 tis tumbndy of oor size."
sild a little S-ycar-oId girl, poutlngly, to her uncle
w ho had Heir itost whiskers on his race, Texas
iitmas.
Mr. Keucaller Is Miss Sauso in?
Mary Jane I'll see. Ulve me your name,
please.
Mr. .Scucallcr Won't my card do you Just as
well? It is to .Miss h.mso that I wish to give my
name. -Veto l'ork Sun.
Coughton (to beautiful girl whom he has
rescued from drowning) I see you are fair and
bewitching, but I cannot woo and win you. lam
married.
Beautiful Girl-But, Ueorge, It is I, your own
wire.
"Pshaw! I never did have a real romance In my
life." Spare Moments.
Cholly Chumpley (election day) Aw,
I say, old man. have you-aw voted yet?
Willie Vavasour Too deuced common, doneher
know! So uu-Eng.lsh.babJove! Boston Trarelttr.
Binks Why do you we ar your glasses so
high on your nose. Jinks'
Jinks (who reads the papers-The Slasher ssts
that the tarlffhas made eyeglasses go up. Jewel
ers' Circular.
"Hullo, Hubber," said Calumet to his
Boston rrlend. "What's the good word?"
'In what connection do you wish to use the
word?" returned Uubber. Kew fork Sun.
"Yes," sighed the disappointed mother,
"I brought my son np very carefully and piously.
As soon as be was old enough I got him to Join the
church, and made him give me his solemn promise
that when he married he would marry a Christian
woman."
"And didn't he?"
"Mo: he married one of the girls of the choir."
itvslcal Courier.
Oldbov Young man, don't try to fly too
high at first. Always begin at the bottom and
work up.
Flippant Youth-Tbat's all right if you want to
climb a ladder; but what If you wast to dig a well?
Light.
"And now, children," remarked Professor
Balles, In one of the Board schools the other day,
"if a family consisting of father and mother and
seven children should have a pie for dinner, how
much would each one receive?"
An eighth pirt." answered a bright boy.
"Bnt there are nine persons, you must remem
ber." "Oh, yes, I know that: hut the mother wouldn't
get any. There wouldn't be enough to go rqun-U"
rSpare Moments.
I
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