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THE PITTSBUKG DISPATCH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1890.
Bigpafclj.
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ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 1846.
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PIT L'SKT,RG. SUNDAY. DEC. 2L 169a
THE SEALING DISPUTE.
Apparently authorized statements are
made that the administration has rejected
Lord Salisbury's proposition for arbitration
of the sealing dispute, and that the Presi
dent will send a message to Congress put
ting before that body a statement of the
case, with an intimation that the action of
that body will determine the resumption of
seizures in Behring'a Sea for marine seal
ing. This indicates the return to a policy
which has already been recognized as
doubtful and dangerous, while, so far as the
public is informed, a safe and honorable
settlement of the dispute was within reach.
Unless tht message can show better
reasons for rejecting the proposition for
arbitration than arc vet in the possession of
the public, it is not likely to strengthen the
administration in its position. The sober
sense of the nation will be very positively
to the effect that the questions arising out of
this dispute are exactly such as should
be submitted to impartial arbitra
tion. The claims advanced by the
"United States involve no question
of the national honor. They are
to a certain degree new issues in inter
national law, and their settlement by im
partial reasoning rather than by stubborn
ness or brute force, is a course which com
mends itself to all thinking minds. For a
Government so positively committed to the
policy of international arbitration as ours,
the fact that we have in this dispute re
jected two offers of that mode of settlement
is hardly creditable.
It is certainly no excuse, that, as alleged
ty the Philadelphia rress, the British Gov
ernment sought to have the arbitration turn
upon the marc clausum claim, which, as the
rrcss says, "has not a leg to stand on."
The United States Government should not
weaken its case by setting up claims so ab
surd as thit; and it could very easily get
out of any such dilemma, by simply waiv
ing the mare clausum nonsense, and putting
its case on the advisability of an inter
national convention to protect the seals from
extinction. On such an issue its reasonable
request would command respect; while by
sticking to a case which represents an open
sea as big as the Gulf of Mexico to be a
closed sea, it simply brings its own claims
into contempt.
One thing, however, should be under
stood. All the seals in the Pacific Ocean
are not worth one day's suspension of the
pacific relations between this country and
Great Britain, such as may be brought on
by the course in which the two Governments
are drifting. As to the actual calamities of
war, to let them ensue would be insanity.
A RAILWAY SOLUTION.
The passage of the Belt Line ordinance in
Philadelphia last week by an almost unani
mous vote in both branches of Councils
carried a double significance. It presents
a decided illustration of the salutary effect
which popular opinion standing ready to
express itself at an election is likely to have
upon the official mind; and it also shows a
model for the practical improvement of the
access of railroads to the quarters of large
cities whence freight is to be shipped.
The Belt Line ordinance has been pend
ing before the Philadelphia Councils for
eighteen mouths. Its purpose was the ob
viously public one of affording improved
access for all the railroads to the wharves
along the Delaware river. Its conditions
were scrupulously framed in the public in
terest It was endorsed by the great mass
of the commercial bodies and workingmen's
organizations as a measure eminently cal
culated to enhance the prosperity of the city
by improving its shipping facilities. Yet
with this overwhelming prepondefance of
considerations in its lavor, the ordinance
was subjected to what bade fair to be an
almost indefinite game of postponement,
It was shelved in committee for
a year and a half, while measures
favorable to the corporation which
opposed it were passed without delay.
This thing went on indefinitely until the
issue was set up plainly as one which would
be mace the controlling one at the coming
municipal election. As soon as the prob
ability of having the question settled by a
popular vote took definite shape, Conncils
made haste to repair their delay, and the
measure went through with flying colors last
week. The moral as to the considerations
most powerful with municipal politicians is
too obvious to require enlargement.
An even more important point is the model
set by this measure of the best method in
which to solve the problems of railroad
access to large cities. The Belt Line ordi
nance is a type of measure which has been
often advocated in these columns. The
characteristic feature is in furnishing tracks
to the points whence freight is to be shipped
in large quantities, and in guaranteeing by
the charter and organization of the project,
the right of all railroads present or prospect
ive to use those tracks in sending their cars
to be loaded or unloaded. The practicability
of such an arrangement is demonstrated by
this Belt Line project; while of its economy
and necessity no better illustration need be
asked than the condition of affairs in this
city.
At present almost every known route of
railroad access to this city is occupied by
the tracks of one corporation or another.
The result is that for any new railroad to
reach the city would be an immensely ex
pensive undertaking. Beyond this there is
a vastly expensive duplication of tracks and
an unnecessary multiplication of crossings
and incumbrances to the streets. Along
both banks of both rivers, this duplication
makes itself more or less apparent. If at
the inception of the railroad era, a right of
way had been established by which all rail
roads could gain access to the city in com
mon a great share of this expense would have
been spared, all railroads would bave been
placed on an equalitv, and the attempt to
build up exclusive privileges by shutting
out competing roads would have been
blocked at the outset.
Indeed, the public advantage of such a
belt line is so obvious that a far-sighted
municipal policy would provide it on a
broad and liberal basis, and then mate all
railroads use the common track on a royalty
or toll sufficient only for its maintenance.
This would do away with the necessity of
cutting up cities by the tracks of com
peting roads, and yet would provide
the most perfect facilities for freight
shipment, aud make easy the solution of
the problem of assembling all the passenger
traffic of the various lines in a single union
depot. Any factory located along the line
would have the ability to ship on anyroad
that reaches the city; and any railroad
counecting its tracks with the belt line
would reach every shipper on equal terms.
Finally.thc cost of the perfect attainment of
these purposes of railway franchises by this
method would be only half as great as the
imperfect attainment under the present hap
hazard system.
Philadelphia is to be congratulated on
her move in the right direction by the Belt
Line project. Pittsburg has made similar
efforts in the Marginal and Junction enter
prises. But one of these projects was de
feated, and the other hamperel by the
interest of exclusive control, to such an
extent that the full advantage of the system
is not likely to be ever realized in the ex
perience of this city.
TOE SILVER QUESTION AGAIN.
The financial measures which are pending
in the Senate seem likely to give an oppor
tunity for the display of the strength of the
free silver Senators, and it is possible that
the amendments introduced by Senator
Reagan yesterdav, providing for free
silver coinage, will afford the oppor
tunity for that demonstration. If the sil
ver men should by their action re
verse the attitude of some of the
House leaders, and declare that unless
free coinage is accepted the elections bill
shall not pass, it might prodnce as interest
ing complications during the present session
as during the past one.
It is clear that without the votes of the
silver men on the Republican side the
elections bill cannot be passed. Those Sen
ators have been taking so clear a stand
against the elections measure that the doom
of the measure is generally regarded as
sealed. But intimations are not want
ing that the support of the Bepublican side
of the silver party can be obtained
for the elections bill, if free coinage is
given in exchange for it It might be
supposed that a slate of that sort would
arouse the antagonism of the Democratic,
silver Senators. But while they are fight
ing the elections bill, there is reason to im
agine that they might be willing to let the
bill be passed without their votes under an
arrangement by which they got something
in exchange for what tbey cannot help.
The passage of the bill would make the
South more solid than ever, and would keep
alive the old issues on which they hold their
tenure of office. Of course, they could not
support the elections bill nnder any circum
stances, but they might not deem it their
duty to vote against free silver coinage if
the two measures were put on the same
slate.
Concerning free coinage as a possibility
of the situation, there is a good deal to be
said pro and con. Of course, it is to be
recognized by an impartial observer that
it would mean the reduction of the
currency system of the country to the
silver basis. The measure of values would
be probably about one-firth shorter
than it now is, or in other words the general
range of values wonld be inflated twenty
per cent. This would be very disagreeable
to the creditor class, but would present ex
actly equivalent attractions to the debtor
class. To business at large it would give
the stimulus always supplied by an infla
tion, and which nearly always must be paid
for by the reaction. This does not look very
much in consonance with the principles
of sound economy. But the alternative prop
osition which is pending in the purchase
of silver bullion in 512,000,000 blocks,
means the same thing ultimately; while free
coinage would free the legislation from the
suspicion that surrounds the purchase of
bullion from the speculators' ring suspected
to have ramifications within Congress itself.
A cogent objection to the free coinage
proposition is that it makes a change which
should be effected gradually, if it is to be
made at all. But it is one of the misfor
tunes of our political system that measures
orfinancial character cannot be passed so as
to make their effect be extended over a term
of years. Under these circumstances the
country will have to take whatever Congress
allots it
a.
TNGALLS IS HEARD FROM.
Senator Ingalls seems to see an intimate
connection between the new Constitution of
the State of Mississippi and the elections
bill. At least he devoted the greater part
of bis speech on that measure to a tirade, in
his usual bitter style, against the Missis
sippi Constitution. But the speech will
probably avail nothing, either against the
Constitution or in favor of the bill. The
former has already been adopted by what
ever means, and the latter does not seem to
have anywhere near support enough to carry
it through.
EYRAUD TO DIE.
Though the famous French trial was ended
yesterday, Eyraud condemned to suffer
death on the guillotine, and Gabrielle Bom
pard sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment,
the end is not yet The defense set up by the
young woman that she participated in the
crime nnder hypnotic influence has attracted
the most wide-spread attention. Of , course,
many believe that hypnotism is a fraud,
and class this style of defense with that
species of insanity which compels ordi
narily sane people to homicide merely a
plea to save a guilty neck. But there are
many, even among eminent doctors, who
hold that the defense is reasonable, whether
truthful or not It is held that a subject
may be made to do anything under the hyp
notic influence. This is a knotty point
Science should unravel it so there may be
no further doubt about it
TIN PLATE MANUFACTURE.
Tin plate is to be manufactured in this
country. Pittsburg is furnishing the, ma
chinery for the mills to be established at
Baltimore, St. Louis and other points.
With the superior facilities of this section It
is probable Pittsburg will enter on that line
of manufacture itself. Some people who
have been crying out there would be no
such manufacture seem to have been im
bued with the idea that tin-plate mills
would spring up like mushrooms after the
passage of the McKinley bill. Had they
waited a reasonable time for results they
would have had less rash talk to retract.
The "Welsh manufacturers do not doubt the
the successful production of this plate in
this country. And it is more than probable
tin plate will be produced here, a few years
hence, cheaper than it could be imported
without any tariff.
SOCIALISM AND FRENCH REVOLUTION.
The recently expressed desire of the young
German Emperor that, in place of teaching
the classics in the German schools, more at
tention should be given to history and espe
cially that the terrors of the French revolu
tion should be studied by the scholars in order
to counteract the demand for popular govern
ment, is thought by an Eastern cotemporary
to indicate that the young monarch is much
less favorably disposed toward socialism
than formerly.
If "William II. regards the French revolu
tion as an example of socialism, he is as ig
norant of the character of that event as the
American newspaper which attributes that
idea to him. The French revolution may
have a bearing on the question of democratic
institutions. It is undoubtedly an example
of the excess to which a down.trodden na
tion is prone, when it regains its liberty
after centuries of degradation and tyranny.
But of socialism, beyond the principle which
we of this country will hardly recognize as
belonging to that school, that government
must be for the benefit of the whole
people, there was hardlv a trace
in the French revolution. The acquisi
tion of individual wealth went on as
freely under the republican government us
under the royal or imperial rule. There
was no attempt on the part of the Govern
ment to assume control of industrial opera
tions or to establish community of property,
or to limit private enterprise. It was sim
ply a Republic, founded on the uncertain
basis of popular desire to be free and popu
lar hatred and fear of the horrible tyranny
from which the nation just escaped.
As to taking the French revolution and
holding it up to the European nations as a
bugaboo to warn them against democratic
institutions, that would be a very natural
predisposition of the young war lord of
Germany, and is the stock resort of the sup
porters of monarchy. But when we find
journals of public opinion in this country,
where any such idea should not receive the
slightest sympathy, inclined to take a sim
ilar view, there is a necessity for reproving
such a shallow view of that introduction of
a new epoch. The French Bevolution is a
warning; hut it is only a warning of the
results of privilege to the few and oppression
of the masses. Any student of that event
who has taken the trouble to learn what was
the condition of society overthrown by the
revolt, must be very stupid if he does not
see that the violence of the revolution was
the necessary consequence of the oppressions
which caused it. Beyond that, without
justifying the excesses of the Beign of
Terror, any intelligent student ought to
know that they were not so bad as the
abuses of the preceding centuries. The
victims who were hurried to the guillotine
by the Revolutionary' Tribunals had at
least the chance of an open trial and a
knowledge of the accusation against them.
The men who were condemned to living
deaths by lettres de cachet neither had any
trial, nor any information of the accusation
against them. Nor indeed was it necessary
that tbey should be accused of anything,
the right to condemn them to a life-long im
prisonment being exercised merely as a mat
ter of court favor. The aristocrats who were
torn to pieces by infuriated mobs were sub
jected to less deliberate and cold-blooded
cruelty than the masses who for centuries
before that were subjected to the degrada
tion and oppression of the droit seignorial.
As to the connection of socialism with
French Bevolution a very good proof of the
fact that it is very slight, is that there is to
day more actual practice of the socialistic
doctrines by the imperial government of
Germany than there ever was in the first
French republic The German Government
has taken control of railways, has assumed
a paternal care of the workingmen aud in
manv minor details, has undertaken
the discharge by government of the func
tions which socialism proposes to put in its
bauds. Although the Socialists do not gen
erally comprehend the fact their system is
not inconsistent with imperialism. It re
quires a strougly centralized government,
discourages private enterprises, and limits
Individual rights. It is therefore uot an
anomaly, but a uatural indication of the
normal relations of State socialism, that the
examples of its actual practice are found
under the absolutism of Germany to a greater
extent than under the democratic systems of
the world.
The fact is that democracy is more widely
separated from socialism than socialism is
from absolutism. But neither Socialists nor
absolutists are aware of their natural rela
tionship. NEED OF A CITY HOSPITAL.
Mayor Gourley will recommend to Coun
cils the necessity of having a city hospital.
This subject has been talked about for a
longtime. The need of such an institution
is quite generally admitted, but there has
been hesitancy on various grounds about
providing for it The Mayor makes out a
pretty clear case in favor of the hospital
and Councils will likely take the matter
into careful consideration. The movement
is especially favorable now as the hospitals
in the city have all been crowded for some
time. The city is growing and it is wealthy
enough to support a hospital.
Senator PettiGrew is out with a novel
idea in connection with the seal fishery dispute.
It is to the effect that it is tor the publlo inter
est that the seals should be exterminated, as if
left to multiply tbey destroy the codfish. As
to the correctness of this statement In natural
history, it Is open to question; but Senator
Pettlgrew is evidently actuated by a laudable
generosity toward Senator Hoar. The Massa
chusetts Senator has declared that if the
elections bill were defeated he wanted his con
stituents to lire on codfish. Senator Pettl
grew is evidently desirous that the. Massachu
setts Senator's people shall have an abundant
supply.
Mr. J. Gould remarks that the Repub
lican party has drifted far away from its
original moorings. Unfortunately for that
party most of its drifting bas been In the direc
tion of Mr. Gould's peculiar interests. Under
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these circumstances the remark is a case of
cruel Ingratitude based on Mr. Gould's idea
that It will be for bis profit to make capital
with the Democrats.
The experiences of the winter so far would
cot be unpleasant if it were not for certain un
pardonable lapses of the gas supply.
The defense which Mayor Grant, of New
York, makes for appointing two rather nof ori
ous characters to the positions of Police
Justice, exposes one of the current social weak
nesses. He declares that the candidacy of
Divierand Ryan was endorsed by prominent
merchants and bank presidents, and the infer
ence Is that an appointment so indorsed must be
all right The facility with which indorsements
can be obtained for any and everything, is one
ot the peculiarities of this country; but it is
well known that if Grant bad not been able to
make anything out of the deal, the indorse
ments would bave made very little difference
The fact that the Republicans in tho
New York Legislature are reported to be con
sidering the project to support Smith Weed
for United States Senator In order to defeat
Hill is not creditable. As Weed was promi
nently engaged in the attempts to buy electoral
votes for Tilden in 1876, will make it impossible
for him to gain any decent Republican support
"When Stewart, of Nevada, jumps on the
elections Dill, there is reason to believe that the
sinking ship is about to go under.
The sarcastic proposal of the Russian
organ A'ouoe Yrcmya that Russia would swap
two Hebrews for one Irishman, is intended as
a stab at England; bnt the effects of such a
change might not be unsatisfactory. The
Russian Hebrews might be able by their fru
gality to build up prosperity even under tho
Irish landlord system, while it can be taken as
a certain thing that the Irish would make it
very warm for any attempts to impose arbi
trary government on them by the Russian
bureaucracy.
The organs are so anxious to make out
Senator-elect Itby, ot South Carolina, a very
bad man that they are representing Wade
Hampton as a combination of goodness, cour
age and nobility, which makes it strange that
the organs aforesaid should have been able to
dissemble their love for him, lo these many
years.
"When retail men report rents as being
easy of collection there can be no doubt about
the prosperity of the masses.
"The New York t'entno- Post has never
found a good word to say for tba Cameron:,
father or son, until the latter announced his
intention to vote with the Democrats against
the Federal elections bill." This criticism of
the consistency of a cotemporary by the Phila
delphia J'ress is likely to evoke the retort that
while the frets itself has grumbled at both
Senators betweeu important elections, it is al
ways whipped into line, and swears itself black
in the face, on their behalf, when they go to
tho people.
If Mr. Charles A. Dana will pledge him
self as Senator to do some sharp editing of the
Congressional Hecord, he can count on the
unanimous support of the press of the United
States.
And now it must be proven there was a
woman at the bottom of the trouble with Sitt
ing Bull and the Indiana.
Senator Farwelx, of Illinois, is now
reported to bo making the three Farmers'
Alliance members of the Illinois Legislature
the objects of his tender solicitude. There Is a
possibility that with their votes he may gain a
re-election over Palmer, and the consequence is
that he is trying to convince them that Farwell,
cot Palmar, is the farmers' friend. There are
intimation', however, that be will bavo to resort
to mo ;i solid arguments before he can convince
them of his unlimited friendship.
The resort to flour and lime as political
missiles in the Irish campaign is calculated to
produce the impression that the supply of
over-ripe eggs In Erin is phenomenally smalt
Internal revenue collectors think they
can see fraud through the glass cigar boxes,
Woodisopaqus.
The Idaho Legislature has just covered
itself with glory by successfully doing what no
other State legislature bas ever succeeded in
doing, electing tbree United Stales Senators at
once. This was done by electing two Senators
for the short terms ending March 4, 1891, and
1893. respectively, and a third for the full term
beginning in 1S91. This gives Idaho a maximum
of Senators to a minimum of population; but
that was the object for which that Territory
was created into a State.
PEOPLE OF HOTE.
Kins. Keei.ey, tho veteran English actress,
has just entered upon her 88th year, and is still
in vigorous health.
Editor Hesky Wattersox, of the Louis
ville Courier-Journal, celebrated his silver
wedding ) esterday.
Princess Beatrice is preparing tableaux
vlvants on a scale to excel all previous efforts
for the Christmas festivities at Osborne.
Chauncet M. Depew has had tho honor of
having a steam tug with the londcst steam
whistle in New York harbor named after him.
Chang, tbo famous Chinese giant, bas be
come a naturalized British subject and an earn
est religious worker. He is a "high" church
man naturally.
Congressman Langston, of Virginia, who
is a negro himself, says that many of the col
ored men of his State and section are going
over to the Democrats.
Joaquin Miller's handwriting looks like a
freo-fur-all fight of black cats. An extended
description of it seems to warrant some such
conclusion, to say the least
Brick Pomeroy, as he appears nowadays,
is aportly. well-dressed gentleman, whose at
tirels topped off with a slouch bat He Is de
scribed as tbe same jolly, good-natured,
abstemious, cynical gentleman that he was of
old.
Gozo Taleno. the new Japanese Minister to
Washington, who is expected to assume the
post by the end of next month, was a leading
member of the committee that received and
entertained General Grant during the tatter's
visit to Japan.
Mrs. French Sheldon, who proposes to
travel into the heart of Africa in search of
fresh material for a new book, may succeed in
getting there; but will any life insurance com
pany take risks upon her getting back again J
There's the rub.
General Ben Butler, though nearly 75
years old, is one of tbo hardest-working law
yers in Boston. He comes down from Lowell
every morning and goes back at night after a
day of toll, and he doss not hesitate to burn the
midnight oil when occasion requires.
Henry Rider Haggard. Esq., j. pgljS
the full name of the famous author. He is 33
years old, but loots more like 20 or 25. He re
sides in the village of Ditcblngham, In the
southern division of the county of Norfolk,
through which village, near the outskirts of his
estate, runs the Waveney Valley Railroad.
Governor Tillman, of South Carolina,
wants enlarged authority. He would hav? a
direct voice in the management of every penal,
charitable and educational institution In tfcj
State, and absolute control of the vast phos
phate industry, involving the collection of
$21)0.000 a year, and of tho entire railroad system
of the State.
T. B. aldrich bas taken advantage of his
release from editorial duties to achieve more
literary work than bad been possible for him
before in some years. On the other hand,
Horace Ei Scudder, since assuming tbe chair
Mr. Aldrich vacated, bas found no leisure to
accomplish anything beyond the work connect
ed with his position as editor.
An 111 Wind, Indeed.
From the SeattIo"Telcgraph. J
Over In Eastern Washington they are talking
ot tbe wheat blockade as a fine advertisement
of the State. It tells the world the wonderful
fertility ot the solL It's a very distressing situ
ation from which a cheerful mind cannot de
rive some comfort
MURRAY'S MUSINGS.
Gigantio Enterprises Already Under "Way
in New Vork Troublesome Canadian
Coin A Way to Keep City Sidewalks
Clear The Howling Swell.
IVHOM A STAFF CORBE3PONDEXT.I
"Iigantio enterprises now In progress and
still more gigantic enterprises duly char
tered and to be early begun indicate a future
for New York beyond the wildest dreams
of enthusiasts of this day and generation of
dreamers. These enterprises will all be under
active headway within two years, and will bo
carried on simultaneously. They comprise tbe
railway tunnel now being constrncted under
tbe Hudson river, and tbe magnificent railway
bridge over the same broad stream, both con
necting the trunk lines directly with New
York and the great Northern routes; tbe rail
way tunnel under the city itself by way
nf Forty-second street, between tbe Hndson and
Long Island (just authorized), tbe railway tun
nel by way of Htaten Island nnder the Narrows
to Brooklyn; tbe enlargement of the city's
boundaries to include her present and future
population; the comprehensive scheme nf rapid
transit by tunnel or viaduct which will doubt
less be authorized by the Slate Legislature this
winter. Almost any of these enterprises would
command the undivided attontion and require
all of the surplus energy and capital of a great
city. It is proposed to practically Inaugurate
and carry them forward here at one and tbe
s.irao time. Nor is any one of them considered
unnecessary or financially hazardous.
Perhaps with tbe tunnel now under way be
neath the Hudson, New York might get along
without the projected bridge recently chartered
by Congress: perhaps the tunnel under New
"Xork by which freight and passencer transfers
can lie effected more rapidly and cheaply would
seem to render the Wlman tunnel under tbe
Narrows to effect tbe same thing unnecessary.
But then it will bo remsmbered what was said
of the Brooklyn bridge scheme on its incep
tion. That grand structure taxed to its fullest
capacity is not equal to half the demands of
everyday travel. The added facilities for get
ting around encourages people to travel. So
unquestionably the Increased facilities tor han
dling freight will bring more freight to handle.
That New York should have so long depended
upon the uncertain fernoi and clumsy barges
paddling around with loaded freight cars will
soon bo a wonder to even the oldest of old
focics.
Already visions ot "The Greater New York"
rue before her business inhabitants. With the
completion of the magnificent undertakings
above mentioned she will have laid tho founda
tions for the most Important commercial city
in the world. The removal of the extra cost of
rchandllng freight and thns cheapening food
to metropolitan consumers and goods to inland
customers will alone soon repay every dollar of
expenditures. Cheap freights and rapid transit
will invite population and business energy and
lncroased capital. The New Yorker of to-day
need not bo surprised it tbe next census finds
the great metropolis with over 3,000,000 inhabi
tants aud the second largest city m the world.
Overtops Pittsburg a Little.
TlK cost of living in New x ork is greatly
enhanced by the lack of immediate and
direct access of freight from those garden
spots. Long Island and New Jersey. This cost
is not to be correctly estimated by tbe daily
market reports sent out by wire. Tho great
mass of New York's population does not and
cannot huy at any such prices. The majority
of people have no market except the grocery
and butcher shop around the corner. There
are two or three sets ot middlemen between
the general market and the consumer. As a
householder I buy just as cheaply and advan
tageously as anybody can buy on tho West
Side. Here are some actual figures taken from
my grocery book this week: Butter, S3 cents;
potatoes, 60 cents a half-peck; eggs, 43 cents;
apples, 18 cents a quart; flour, 90 cents a 21K
ponnd sack; onions, 15 cents a quart; Dananas,
15 cents a half-dozen; cauliflower. 15 cents;
maple syrup, 35 cents a quart; celery, 18 cents
a bunch" of three stalks; wax beans, 25 cents a
quart; lettuce, 12 cents a head; milk, 6 rents a
quart. All kinds of meat are in the same pro
portion. Let the out-of-New York house
holder scan these figures well if he would un
derstand what direct freights mean for this
city.
.
Women and the L Roads.
A bsent-mindedness is by no means a rare
thing. The gateman of an elevated sta
tion bas a splendid opportunity for studying
this phase of human nature. There is some
thing in the rush and bustle of tbe elevated
crowd, tbe rattle and bang of gates and grated
portcullis, the hiss of steam and grinding of
wheels that drives the wits out of many people.
I bave myself several times dropped myebange
in tbe box instead of tbe ticket Tbis is too
common to excito attention. Of course, you
must put a ticket In also, a fact that is espe
cially aggravating to women. The otber day
my wife told mo on her way home she bad
walked right by tbo box and boarded tbe train
with tbe bit of pasteboard in her fingers.
Somebody bad yelled at ber, but she didn't take
tbe bint She cannot get over tbe idea that
the conductor will collect fare. When I told
the gateman about it, he said: "It's done hero 20
times a day. Women are tbe hardest to teach
anything. They seem to expect somebody else
to do tbeir thinking fcr them. Down at tbe
big shopping stations an extra man is hired to
do that. A good many women will actually
sneak by, in my opinion, knowing that once on
the platform they are s-ife. I can't leavo the
chopper an instant, or a dozen may get through,
so the woman who bolts past is
liable to get away. Most of them, however,
are simply confused and can't think quickly or
of two things at once. A woman yesterday
threw her little bundle in the box gloves she
had just bought and it took smart work ot two
men to keep ber from boarding the train.
When they drop their money in they get just
hopping mad and threaten all sorts ol things to
me aud the company. They usually expect me
to break the box and get tbeir nickel, or pay it
out of my own pocket. An old gentleman threw
his glasses into my chopper once. There aio
women who would tbrow tbeir babies in it If
thev weren't watched. Curious, but it's a fact
"Hold onl Pot your ticket in the box,
madam. Put It in yourself." The woman
turned an indignant look upon him as she re
plied, for be bad touched her arm, she had
tendered the ticket and he bad of course de
clined, as he was in'duty required. It was only
an instant but sbe missed the train.
"Now that lady is just mad enough to bito
my head off," said he, moodily. 'I'm not al
lowed to take tickets. That is just why the
chopper is put here. This business is enough
to make a man go off and croak."
Sailing Under raise Colors.
i,Tiie most pestiferous individual with
whom we have to deal," said a hotel man
the other day, "is the fellow who uses ourread
ingroom and writes bis letters on our station
ery. He Is nearly always a swindler, or at
least sailing under false pretenses. Perhaps
be may stay a day in tbe house as a bona fide
guest and then go off to some cheap place, but
continue to have his mail directed to tbe bouso
jnntii use our stationery. This may be a harm
less deceit through vanity, as ho wants to be
known to his friends as stopping at a first-class
house, but usually this deceit is for immoral
purposes. Very frequently, however, this sort
of a man never stopped here at all. He will
not then call for stationery, hut will take his
cbances on such stray noteheads and en
velopes as be may find lying around loose on the
writing tables, often taking them away with
him and using them elsewhere."
Insensible to Everything.
T-HE correct thing in swell manners is to be
tray no especial interest in auybody or any
thingto assume happenings as a matter ot
course unworthy of notice to neither
laugh nor cry to smother every gleam
of Intelligence under a stolid stare
of insensibility This is "English, you
know," as she is understood and practiced
in New XOIK. wueuever yuu see a siupiu
lookliic party of gentlemen about Delmonico's
who exhibit countenances, entirely devoid of
the mobility of expression wbich characterizes
the average American, they are swells or want
to bo considered swells. In short, the "howling
swell" doesn't howl. Quite tbe contrary.
Keeping Sidewalks Clear.
AT LAST the authorities of this city have
found a way by which down-town trades
men may be restrained from occupying tbe
sidewalks to the exclusion of pedestrians. In
the old town, on the lower part of tbe island,
the narrow streets are so choked by daily traffic
that tbey have long been well nigh impassable.
The streets are just wide enough tor two teams
to pass, while the sidewalks would fcrdlnarily
permit two persons to walk abreast when the
sidewalks are clear. But they are usually occu
pied by skids and boxes and barrels and crates
and whatnot, so the pedestrians must hop, skip
and jump these obstructions and dodge among
tbe trucks and horses In the narrow roadway at
the risk of neck and limb. In addition to this,
many merchants are accustomed to backing
trucks across tbe narrow sidewalk and shutting
off foot people entirely. Of course there is a
city ordinance against it but tbe fine is small
and rarelv collected. Tbe other day some smart
neople applied to tbe courts for an injunction
and got it Now a general attack Is to be made
all along tbe line. The Judge said, very proper
ly that pedestrians have rights, and that If a
tradesman hadn't room to transacthis business
without violating those rights he must move
somewhere else.
liotlier of Canadian Coin.
""AW adian coin is of no small worryin metro
politan life. Intrinsically it is worth more
than our own, but practically it is commercially
tabooed and is always a source of irritation
and sometimes personal loss, except to those
who deal In it as a commodity. Nearly every
time' yon get change a slxpense or 25-cent
Canadian coin will slip in usually tbo former,
wbicb can scarcely be detected from our dime.
Then when you are In a hurrying line ai an
elevated station the ticket agent will push that
coin back to you and you innst tumble around
for more money. If you should board a street
car and happen to bave no otber change short
of So note you will be compelled to eet off
and get change; for the conductor will neither
accept your Canadian piece nor change any
thing bigger than a $2 bill. Yon may have not
noticed up to that time that you bad the
donbtful coin. You take an Inward oatb that
yon never will accept another and during tbe
next hour will probably be caught again. Some
tradesmen will take tbe coin at par, others at a
discount The result is. It Is shifted on some
body else and gets passedaround in some way
perhaps to you onco more. There are business
men who let this coin accumulate and finally
sell It to a broker, who In turn makes a good
margin on it by shipping it at a premium back
to its own country. When all the small worry
of aCanadian slxpense is considered, tbe "fiat"
of the Government amounts to a cood deal.
Charles T. Murray.
New Iork, Dec. 20.
OUR STATESMEN.
Capital Matters Viewed Through Differ
ently Colored Glasses.
AH hat New York Satisfied.
Minneapolis Tribune, Kep.
Tbe House passed the Dunnell apportion
ment bill yesterday, and its work will meet
with general commendation. There was no
serious objection to tbe measure, even on the
Democratic side, except from New York, and
New York's real basis of complaint was the
census and not tbe apportionment. The New
York City members believe that the census of
the metropolis was 200,000 short, and that there
should Have been a recount, which tbey claim
would bave given tho city another Congress
man and the State another Elector. Some
effort was therefore made to delay any and all
apportionment measures until New York's
claim for a recount should bave been granted.
Fortunately the opposition was easily over
come. A Significant Rebuke.
Chlcaso Inter Ucean, Itep.
The defense of Air. Porter and tbe eleventh
census made in the House Wednesday by Mr.
Tillman, of South Carolina, was a significant
rebuke of the contemptible course of the Dem
ocratic ana Mugwump press in general and
Tammany in particular. Himself a Democrat,
be had no sympathy with the carpings ot the
Ignorant fault-finders, who pretended to 'be
lieve that tho enumeration had been partisan
and incomplete. Mr. Tillman has been in a
position to judge fairly and intelligently. His
rebuke can hardly fail to have a wholesome ef
fect upon the. debate in tbe Senate, to which
body tho apportionment bill now goes.
To Destroy the Judiciary.
Philadelphia Telegraph. Kcp.l
If the Federal elections bill, or so-called force
bill, is to be properly amended before it be
comes a law, its title should be changed so as to
read, "An act to destroy the judiciary of the
United States." This may seem a rather strong
statement of the purpose and effect ot tbe act;
but anyone who will briefly consider its pro
visions, and recall the political history of this
country, will be forced to the conclusion that
only such a title would properly describe and
characterize the proposed act.
Spare the Ticket Scalper.
Detroit Free Press. Dem.l
Tbe amendment proposed by Representative
Baker, of New York, to the inter-State com
merce law, should not prevail. The amend
ment to Section 21 is directed at the business of
ticket scalping, and is a revival in another
form of tbe effort made at the ast session of
tbe Michigan Legislature to prohibit this
business by State law.
Reciprocal Reciprocity.
Cleveland Plain Dealer, Dcm.l
Senator Gray has no regard for the feelings
of the "reciprocity" Republicans in tho Senate.
Ho introduced yesterday a resolution looking
to full reciprocity with Canada and Mexico.
That would be reciprocity in earnest and the
Republican preference is for a paper reci
procity that doesn't reciprocate-
No Merit in It
Anaconda Standard, Oem.1
If there were a Dartlcle ot merit In the force
bill, it would not be zigzagging Its way In the
Senate at its present unseemly pace. Senator
Hoar Is pusnlng this scheme, while at tbe same
time he is reviving last year's racket to tbe
effect tbat the President will surely veto a free
coinage bill.
Hurry the Belief Forward.
Kansas City Times, Kcp.
Having agreed in caucus upon what measure
of financial relief shall be granted to tbe
country, tbe Republican majority will do
well if it hasten. The situation calls for action
now.
Will Destroy Home Rule.
Alta California, Dem.l
The fight against the fraud and force bill is
one for home rule. That bill will destroy it
here as completely as it was destroyed in Ire
land by the English force bills.
Confessedly Fraudulent Census.
Albany, N. Y., Argns, Dem.l
Only a besotted, unscrupulous and conscience
less body like Reed's House could have passed
a Congressional apportionment bill based on a
confessedly fraudulent census.
Strictly Business Principles.
Scranton Republican, Kep.l
The passage of the Congressional apportion
ment after less than two days' debate, shows
that tbe House continues to transact business
on strictly business principles.
Proprietary Bodies.
St Louis Republic, Dem.l
The apportionment bill based on Porter's
partisan census bungle, having been railroaded
through Reed's House, is now ready for in
dorsement by Hoar's Senate.
Not tbe Workmen Here.
Boston Traveller, Hep.
The McKinley law has Indeed reduced the
wages of workincmen, but the workmen thus
affected live in England.
Not Much of a Bull Agreement
From the Boston Herald. J
Banker Morgan's party appears to have been
a good enough Morgan to sell railroad stocks
on, and that's about all.
Might Grease a Redskin.
From the Chicago Times.
Petroleum bas been struck in Montana. If a
well could be found in tbe Dakota Bad Lands
oil might be poured upon the Indian troubles
there. '
DEATHS OP A DAY.
Hon. W. L. Green.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. M. The Mariposa brings
news of the death of Hon. W. L. Green, for 40
years a resident of tbe Hawaiian Islands. Green
was three times a member of the Hawaiian
Cabinet the last time being on tbe occasion of the
overthrow of the Ulbson regime In 1837, when he
was entrusted with the formation of the new
ministry. Two years ago 111-bealth compelled
him to resign his post as Minister of the Interior.
He was a native of London, aged 72 years.
Father Anton Peck.
MEADVTLLX, Pa... Dec. . Eev. Father Anton
Feca, the oldest priest of the Erie diocese, died
last night at the home of his niece In this city.
Kov. Father Peck was a native of Germany, and
wrk In the 78th year of hl9 age. He whs pastor of
St. Agatha's Church, this city, from IS31 till 18W.
and at shorter periods since. Seviral priests of
the diocese will participate In the funeral services,
to be held Tuesday morning, December 23.
Andrew Pltcairn.
Andrew Pltcairn died yesterday morning at his
home on Robinson street Allegheny, at the age ot
El rears. Albert Pltcairn, the Wood street mer
chant tailor. Is a nepnew of the deceased. Tbe
funeral will occur Tuesday at 2 r. M.
W. A. Turner.
:fpkai. tkleobam to th DisrATcn.:
Wheeling, Dec. 20. VT. A. Turner, who had
beenajeweler ofthis city for -10 years, retiring tu
1S7S. died to-dar. Ped It years. He was a native
or Massachusetts.
Mrs. Sarah P. Brady.
Mrs. Sarah P. Brady died yesterday at her resi
dence on Pearl street, at the age of M years. Mrs.
Brady was the mother of Bev. Father Francis
Brady.
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
'Score One, for the Baby.
Jli Perkins, who lectured here the otber
day, Is fond of telling stories about chil
dren, and be is an authority on the subject of
story-telling to put it mildly in general. As
to tbe childish witticisms tbat are reported in
every household Mr. Perkins thinks that most
of them originated in the mistakes of elder
persons.
"For instance," said he, "my little girl came
home from school not long ago in a high state
of elation. 'I'se the. best girl in the school,' sbe
said, 'I'se head of my class 1'
" 'Wouldn't It sound better if somebody else
were to say that?' I said, using tho word
'sound' incorrectly.
" ' Yes, papa 'cause I'se got a bad cold V she
replied, to my confusion."
Not Too Pious, After AIL
Qn a recent Sunday a baseball reporter was
sent to one of the downtown churches to
report a sermon. He made first base, as he
phrased it, or, in other words, reached a pew in
safety, and spent the ten minutes that elapsed
before tbe service began in admiring a portly
and very dignified deacon who sat just in front
of him. The piety of this good man was not
likely to pass unobserved, for he took some
pains to call attention to it by reading his
Bible attentively till tbe opening bymn
was given ont Tbe baseball reporter,
with many qualms of conscience,
wondered if he could by any means
and at any time it be took a few weeks off, for
instance, without salary attain such an atti
tude of righteousness. Then as the minister
read out the first verse of tho bymn, the portly
deacon turned around and handed a book to
the reporter. As be did so he said in a whisper:
"Yon're from the Herald, aren't you?"
The reporter colored up and admitted thai
he was.
"I thought so I've seen you over at tbe ball
gamer' said tbe deacon, and Btralghtway
plunged into the bymn.
Justice in Parisian Garb.
TtTHAr would happen if a murder trial were
to be conducted in Allegheny county
upon tbe Parisian lines, as revealed in the sen
sational affaire Qouffet Tbe dissimilarity ot
American and French judicial proceedings
could hardly bave been brought into stronger
relief than in this case. Seldom bas a murder
trial many thousands of miles away in a
strange land excited the American
public Tbe exclusive account of the
trial of Errand and . La Belle Gabrielle
in The Dispatch has brought the strange
scene very vividly before our eyes, and very
seldom Indeed bas a local murder case been
followed with so mucb Interest hero by all sorts
and conditions of men. Tbe report of tbe trial
bas read very mnch like a chapter from a novel
of the modern French scbool. The proceedings
have been essentially theatrical, thanks not
only to the excitable citizens in tbe pit and tbo
fashionable ladles in the parquet, bnt also
to the presiding Judge, the attorneys on
both sides and of course to the prisoners. Tbe
latter, by all accounts, more than half the time
are forgetful of the shadow of the guillotine in
the blaze of notoriety.
But the behavior ot the presiding judge is
the most extraordinary part of the whole fan
tastic drama, more extraordinary than tbe
political orations of the witnesses. Of course,
a French judge has Inquisitorial functions that
our judges bave not Starting off with the as
sumption that the accused is guilty till proved
icnocent, tbo French law seems to take every
possible precaution tbat a conviction shall be
obtained if possible. To secure this just and
humane end the judges are empowered and ex
pected to act as prosecutors. The presiding
Judge in this case has given some remarkable
samples of judicial behavior. He bas bully
ragged and berated tbe prisoners, lectured
them, flung vile epithets at them, and re
minded them as a tiger might a pair of sheep
that their fate depended upon him and tbat ha
was hungry. At the same time in
another direction, tbe French Judge seems
to bave his bands tied wbere his
American brother has plenty of latitude. He
cannot, or is it does not care to stop witnesses
when tbey wander off into irrelevant discus
sions of politics, science or religion; be allows
bear-say evidence to pass unchallenged, and. in
short, as far as tbe witnesses are concerned, is
ai lax as he Is severe and minatory toward the
prisoners. j
What a revelation a trial a la Franealsa
would be to tbe American murderer handled by
Justice with kid gloves, protected in svery pos
sible way from prosecuting attorneys, and, even
after sentence, treated with far more respect
and consideration than the average bonest man
wbo comes by hard lines to the poor house.
Blue Eyes.
1 danced with fonr or five of them,
Or may be many more.
My senses left me when I trod
That ballroom floor.
And all 1 saw that livelong night
And all I knew,
Was that her eyes were very bright
Her eyes of bluel
"And what did Cousin Bessie wear?
And did you dance with Belle?"
They asVed and wondered why it was
I could not tell.
"What cared I who the dancers were.
When all I knew
And all I saw belonged to ber
Two eyes of blue.
And ohl tbe time, the after time.
Among the pens and Ink,
When ledgers large and flgnre-fuil,
Would have me think:
The balances went all astray.
For all I knew
Was one and one make two that day
Two eyes of blue!
A Sonthern sea, a summer sky,
A (lower In the wheat
All shades of deep and shining bias
Her lashes meet
And ohl tbe day, tho day divine.
When first 1 knew
That I conld call them wholly mine
Yoareyes of blue.
Hepburn Johns.
ME. W ATTEESOITS SIXVES WEDDIHG.
Celebrated People From Both Continents
Attend or Send Letters.
Louisville, Dec. 20. Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Watterson celebrated their silver wedding at
their Fourth avenue mansion in this, city to
night the reception lasting from 8 to 12 o'clock.
There were over 1.000 guests. The presents
were amazing in their quantity and splendor,
filling an entire room set apart for tbe purpose.
The happy couple received 2,000 congratula
tory letters and telegrams from every part of
America and many parts of Europe, including
some famous people.
Mr. and Mrs. Watterson, who is a daughter
of the late Hon. Andrew Ewinr. of Tennessee.
were married at Nashville in 1565. From Hon.
Harvey Watterson, the father of Henry, to the
child of Mr. Watterson's son. Ewing Watter
son. therewerefourgenerations of the family
in tbe house to-night
CABS FE0ZEH TO THE TBACK.
A Peculiar Accident Delays a Lake Erie
Train at Beaver Falls.
rfriciAt. TUtoaut to the dispatch.
Beaver Falls. Dec. 20.-Early morning
trains on the Pittsburg and Lake Erie Rail
road were delayed several hours this morning
owing to a peculiar accident Near ShannoDin
tne engineer of a heavy freight train north
bound discovered that bis engine was out of
water. He detached tbo engine and left his
train standing on the main track, while he ran
back several miles to get a fresh supply.
When he got back again the Intense cold had
frozen the train so firmly to the track that it
conld not be moved until two additional en
gines were procured and hitched to it
WILL STUDY SOUTHEEN STABS.
An Important Astromical Expedition Sent
Out From Cambridge.
Cambridoe, Mass.. Dec 20,-An important
expedition was sent out by Prof. F. O. Picker
ing from the Harvard Astronomical Observa
tory to-day. Tbe party will go to Peru to ob
serve and photograph the stars and determine
tbeir relative brightness.
A new station will be founded near Aquairoa,
the second city 1 size In Peru, about 8.1)00 feet
above tbe sea level.
SUCCESSFUL DYHAMITE TESTS.
Two Shells Fired From Dr. Justin's Experi
mental Gun.
Syracuse, N. Y., Dec 20. This afternoon a
dynamite shell was fired from Dr. Justin's big
n t T rville Gorge with complete success.
r Another shot was fired later, and was also an
unqualified success.
CUEI0DS CONDENSATIONS.
A postoffi ce in Chariton county, Mo.,
has been named Mike
L. E. Blochman, of Cat Canon, Cal.,has
a perfume farm containing over 3,000 lavender
plants.
The celebrated star Algol has a diame
ter of 1,118,000 miles, or 253,000 times greater
than our snn.
The number of confirmations in the
Church of England last year was 220,000, against'
14L0OO in 1S76L.
Farmer Drisko, of Jonesborougb, Me.,
has a plow, it is said, that has been in constant
service for 53 years.
A candidate for Alderman in Macon,
Ga.. has made a bet or $1,000 upon his election.
Should he win, the money is to go to the hos
pital fund.
At the christening of a Chinese baby in
New York, a few days ago, each guest pre
sented the child with a J20 gold piece wrapped
in red paper.
A Brooklyn court has just awarded
$25,000 to Frank Ehrman. aged 4 years,who lost
a leg by being run over on the Brooklyn City
Passenger Railway.
As the result of an agreement arrived
at by tbe Mayor and tbeatncal men of Mil
waukee, showbills must be submitted to the
Chief of Police hereafter before being posted
There is a 812 hog case in Montgomery
county, Ind., which bas been in litigation for
jears. and in which the costs already aggregate
$500. Last week it was appealed to the Supreme
Court
In Nebraska City, Neb., the other day,
Judge Cbapman sentenced Lee Finney to 18
months imprisonment for burglary, and Will
lam Fry to four years for stealing an old suit of
clothes.
Secretary TVindom has ordered the strict
enforcement of a rule, which bas been in abey
ance. forbidding the smoking of tobacco in any
?"?.' the Treasury Department building, at
Washington.
An invalid's chair propelled by elec
tricity is among the late novelties. Tbe battery
is capable ot propelling tbe chair over an
ordinary road for nine hours at tbe rate ot six
miles an hour.
A demand seems to have lately arisen in
England for hydromel, a drink prepared from
honey, and a large consignment of this Polish
specialty bas just been dispatched from War
saw to London.
French Canadians have been attracted
by the accounts of deserted farms In Vermont
New Hamptbire and Maine, and report has it
that by spring tbe great bulk of these lands
will have passed into their possession.
According to a recently published
censns of Vassar College graduates it appears
that of 867 young ladies, whose career alter
leaving the institution bad been learned. 315, or
a little more than 30 per cent had married.
The Springfield, Mass., police have
adoptod the plan of giving tramps a soup
breakta3t and making them saw wood for four
hours after the meal, which is having the effect
of thinning out those lodgers at the City Hall.
If a boy 15 years of age shonld be left
ten acres of land in Michigan and his guardian
should cover I: with hickory trees, the income
ot tbe boy when became to be 30 years old
would be from S9.C00 to S1L000 clean cash off
his little farm.
Samuel "Watts, of Boston, has presented
to tbe town of Thomaston, Me., a handsome
brick block, known as Watts' block, which he
bas built during the last season at a costot
$30,000, and which contains stores, offices for
town purposes, a large hall and banquet room.
The rent from tbe building is to go to the de
serving poor of tbe town.
There is a man living in Androscoggin
county who is obliged to go to Jay, In Franklin
county, Mc, every day to feed his pigs and
cows. His name is Mr. Loanii B. Thompson,
and be is one of Livermore's well-to-do farmers
and largo fruit growers. He lives about IX
miles north of Llvermore Corner, on tbe Jay
road. The town and county lines run between
his house and barn.
A relic from tbe days when people yet
resorted to old heathen rites instead ot to
modern skill for the cure of toothache, was
found in Porter, Me., the other day, wben a
man in cutting down a white ash tree came
upon a lock of hair six inches or so under the
bark. It would be interesting to know what
was the result of tbis particular instance of a
misguided attempt at faith cura in auld lane
syne.
Major Von Wissmann expects togoto
Bagomoya from Zanzibar and to Inspect all the
stations along the coast. New buildings will
be put up under his direction, where tbey are
needed, if the necessary funds are at band. He
Is still convinced of tbe great Importance of
building a railroad from Bagomoya to Dar-es-Balaam,
and work will be bejun on it as soon
as the German Government gives Its approval
to tbe project
The movement for purchasing Dove
Cottage. Grasmere. and fitting it up as a perm
anent memorial of Wadsworth has been re
markably successful. It was announced that
$5,000 would be required for the purchase of
tbe freehold and lor fitting up tbe cottage as a
Wordsworth museum. Ot this sum 54.250 has
now been subscribed, the cottage is purchased,
and in tbe present winter the little place will
be put in order.
At Quincv, Ga., the other day Mat
Armlstead went over to his father's home to
bave a settlement with him, and carried bis
Winchester rifle along. A dispute occurred and
old man Chatles Armlstead. the father, turned
away from his son to reume plowing, when
Mat shot bint in tbe back. Charles fell for
ward on bis face, when Mat ran up to him and
fired tbree more balls into the already dead
body, and then fled.
Flat Bock, Jennings county, Ind., is in
a fever ot excitement over an alleged find of
diamonds there. It is said two brilliants were
picked out of tbe rock in a newly dug well by
Charles Stader, which were pronounced by ex
perts to be diamonds of the first water. They
weighed over tbree karats each. Somearold
was loand in Jennings connty years ago. but
not in paying quantity, and several fine rubies
bave been discovered In that section at various
times.
Orders have been given by the French
Minister of War for the construction of Iron
clad light towers for use in tbe fortresses along
tbe banks of the Maas. The light will be sup
plied by a powerful arc lamp with fixed focus,
and the approach of an enemy at night without
detection is thus rendered impracticable. The
dynamo will be driven by a gas ensine.and the
cupola ot the towers will bo so made tbat In
stintaneous elevation or depression can be
effected from different points of the fort The
prnlectors as well as the men working them
will be protected by steel armor.
During the last fiscal year $3,667,948
were disbursed from the office of the pension
agent at Augusta, Me. Ot course the greater
part of this disbursement is on account of the
War of tbe Rebellion. The survivors received
$1,563,710; tbe widows. $382,262; minors. 25,297,
and dependent relatives, $285,072. They all re
ceived the large sum total of $2,677,943. These
pensioners are drawing sums of money varying
from S2 66 a month to $118 66 a month. There
are only tbree persons, however, who get the
highest figure. The highest amount a month
for any considerable number of pensions is $72
a month. At tbe rate of $30 a month are 13,193
pensioners: at $21 there are 17,055; at $17 are
10,931 ; at $16 are 15,813; at $14 are 12,753; at $12 are
35825;at$lUareSU,709;at$8arB77.S85;at $8 are
63,586, and at $4 monthly are 70.885 pensioners.
There was disbursed to the survivors ot the
War ot 1812, $3,595 and to the widows ot tbe
soldiers of that war $83,022.
WHS AT WORK.
Soon he'll take anew his oatb.
'With a loud, resoundlnz smack.
Who the lover plighting troth?
No; the dipsomaniac.
Philadelphia frtis.
"Emmeline, can you keep a secret?" hs
whispered hoarsely.
I don't know. I sever tried to. What Is
It?" Philadelphia Times.
Among the swellest of the swell.
Where notblne's very slow.
They say. what is extremely fine,
"lstoppy, don't you know."
Washington Star.
There's snow flies on Pittsburg when it
comes to having a storm. Oil City Blizzard.
Tramp I say, ma'am, can't ye gimme a
bite o' something- cold to eat?
Mrs. Pancake-Why, yes, poor feUowIroana
lake one of those Icicles off the fence. Juda:
She And what have you ever done to
prove your love tome?
He Done! Why. 1 have done without yincn
every day for a week In order to take yon to the
opera last nlghtl-JSpar.
The Kilkenny elections next Monday
will demonstrate Who Is the sham rock of home
rule Chicago MalU
So stand to your glasses steady,
Uaze with unflinching eyes
Ont Indian's dead already;
Hurrah for the next that dies I
St, Paul (Hoi.
I Hurrah for the next tnatoiea i ii