r
ije m W4
.ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 1S46.
Vol.45. 2o.321.Kntred at Pittsburg rostofllce,
JtoverabcrU, lssr, as second-class matter.
Business Office Corner Smithfleld
and Diamond Streets.
News Rooms and Publishing House
75, 77 and 79 Diamond Street
KASTKKN ADVERTISING OFFICE. ROOX9,
TRIBUNE liUll.DINO, MEW YOKK. where
complete Blcs of THE DISPATCH can altars lie
found. Foreign advertisers appreciate the con
venience. Home advcrtlicre and friends ol THE
lilbl'ATCH. while lu New York, are also made
n clcome.
THE DISPATCH is legvlaily on sale at
Brent-mo's. S Union Squat e. Jfeto 1'orJfc, and 11
Are. de TOpeia, fat is, Pi-ancr. where anyone
uho lias been disappointed at a hotel news
stand can obtain it
TERMS OF TIIE DISPATCH.
TOSTAGE ri.FE IS TIIE EXITED STATZS.
Daily Dispatch. One Icar 8 00
Dailt Dispatch, l"cr Qaartcr ' 00
Daily Dispatch, One Month.... 70
Daily DisrATCU, Including bunday, 1 year. 10 00
Daily Dispatch. Includinctundav.Sin'ths !M
Daily Dispatch. Including fcunday. lm'th 80
Mtnday DisrATCU, One iear ISO
Miueit DisrATtii, One iear 1 15
The Daily Dispatch is delivered by carrlirs at
j: cents per week, or Including fcuuday edition, at
JX cents per-eek.
Thv-. isuc or THE DISPATCH contains
24 rage, randc tip of THREE PARTS.
Failure on the part of Carriers, Agents,
N'raiHflr-nler or Xewaboys to supply pa
tmni with a Complete" Number should bo
promptly reported to this office.
Voluntary contnbutoi s should keep copies 0
articles. J comvensatwn is desired the pi ice
expected must be named. Tlic courtesy of re
tvrnmq rejected manuscripts will be extended
when stamps for that purpose are enclosed, but
the Editor of The Dispatch will under no
circumstances be responsible for the care of trn
ioliated manuscripts.
POSTAGE Ail persons who mail the
Sunday insuc of The Dispntch to friends
should bear in mind the fnct that the post
npc thereon is Two (d) Cents. Ail double
nnd triple number copies ot The Dispntch
require a --cent stamp to insure, prompt
delivery.
PITTSBURG. SUNDAY, DEC. 2S, 1830.
TIIE LIBRARY QUESTION.
It is pertinent to remark that some ex
traneous matter was imparted into the dis
cussion in the Councils' committee over the
Carnegie Library site by the assertion that
the Library Commission, through its 'Exec
utive Committee, had asked that the park
site be offered to it by Councils.
This aroment is not entitled to weight
as binding Councils or its committee to take
any course that is not in accordance with
their own judgment. On other matters in
connection with the Library, Councils
have an equal voice with Mr. Car
negie's representatives in the Com
mission itsel'. But where the prop
osition is to denote city property
for the sites, it is entirety within the prov
ince or Councils to decide the question on
its merits. The park entrance was pur
chased by the city with a widespread idea
on the part of many people that it would
afford a site for the Carnegie buildings, but
with a much wider agreement that whether
the buildings were located there or not, the
land would be worth the expenditure several
times over, merely for a park entrance.
When it comes to settling the question
whether the main library shall be put there,
Councils have the same right to decide the
question simply on its merits that the Com
mission will have. That fact mav prolong
the dispute; but it carries with it the guar
antee that, if a site is selected which earns
the approval of both bodies, it will be satis
factory to all interests.
There is a lurther reason why it should
not be urged unon Councils that they must
oiler the site to the Commission because it
is asked for, in the lact that the representa
tion is incorrect. The Executive Commit
tee of the Commission and the Library
Committee of Councils occupy the
the same position in this respect,
that each is able to recommend
certain action to the main body, but neither
can commit the body which it represents to
any line of action. Further, since the
Cnairiuan of the Library Commission and
its executive committee has been referred to
as authority for this representation, it is
necessary to say that it pnts that gentleman
in a lake position, through no fault of his.
While Mr. James B. Scott has used his
personal right to express his individual
-views, and to take whatever steps he may
have deemed proper as an individual mem
bur of the Commission, he has always been
careful to disclaim any authority to commit
the body over which he presides to any
course of action; and we are in a position to
say that Mr. Scott has protested against the
inference that his individual views or acts
amount to a decision of the question by the
Commission.
"With regard to the rival sites, there is an
almost inexhaustible fund ol arguments on
both sides. AVhile there is a practical agree
ment that the pari: entrance will be a most
ciicibic site for the art gallery and perhaps
the museum, it is the lact teat its principal
strength as a site for the main library build
ing is because no attractive site for that
building has yet been discovered in the
down-town section. If further investigation
Miould develop a practicable site near the
concentration of railway lines, at a cost
that would not impoverish the building
fund, the popular opinion would probably
be in its favor, as the most accessible place
ior the bulk of the population.
While the question on the surface is far
from settlement, there is a driit in the direc
tion of a compromise, such as was mooted
early in the discussion. This would consist
in putting the main library building as
near the business center as possible, while
the art buildings will be located at the park.
This would not preclude the location of the
main library at the park entrance if at some
time in the future the growth ot the city
should make it the center of communi
cation. A NEW DISCRIMINATION.
An interesting example of the way in
which the accepted railway methods tend to
preferences and favoritism is illustrated by
a question that has come up in the effort of
the new trans-Mississippi combination to
put up rates. One of the roads had made a,
contract with a, Kansas City firm to carry
packing house products from Kansas City to
Chicago at an 18-cent rate. As this means
nnder the inter-State commerce law that all
Kansas City shippers will have that rate,
the contract was a valid one, and simply
amounted to a guarantee of the permanence
of the rate Bnt this combination, despite
the assertion of its advocates to the contrary,
desiring to put up rates, it was necessary to
get rid of the contract, and it was finally
agreed that the railroad should pay the firm
530,000 to be released from the contract.
Bat this amounts to giving the firm $30,.
OOOmore its traffic over the railroad than on
its rivals will receive; and that is exactly
the practice forbidden by the most vital
section of the inter-State commerce law.
There is no doubt that under a rigorous
enforcement of the law every railroad
official concerned in this arrangement
together with the firm receiving the draw
back, would be liable to fine and imprison
ment; but a more efficient way of rectifying
this error lies in the civil suits. Every
person desiring to ship packing house
products over this road can do so, and then
recover damatres to the amount of this
$30,000 discrimination. After that had
been done by all the Kansas City shippers
the railroads would probably appreciate
that when they enter into a contract to
guarantee a certain rate to shippers their
onlv course is to carrv it out
DESTITUTION XX OKLAHOMA.
Oklahoma people are destitute and suffer
ing. The cause is the failure of the first
year's crops. What a rush there was to get
into that territory. It was pictured as the
finest arable land in all the wide West.
Thousands waited on the borders for weeks,
awaiting the proclamation which would
open the territory to settlement. Claims
were staked with a rush, and not without
dispute and trouble, ior there was not
enough land to go around the crowd. How
the only thing that prevents an almost
equal rush away from the famous territory
is the fact that the people have no money to
go away with. They have spent what they
took there with them, and their harvest has
brought hardly any return. Though they
have been unwise, they still deserve sym
pathy and assistance. In another year they
can probably help themselves.
OUTPUT Or PITTSBURG MILLS.
Our review of the iron and steel trade this
morning shows a marked degree ot prosper
ity lor Pittsburg mills. Comfortable for
tunes were made by some of them during
the year, and a surplus is thus laid by that
will tide them over any prospective depres
sions of the trade. In the light of these
figures it is not to be wondered at that the
people generally are prosperous and con
tented. The products of these milU run
into fabulous figures. Tonnages of finished
product are enough to astonish the arith
metician, and the value of the total is
astounding. The statistics of Pittsburg's
industries have not been published fre
quently, and TnE DisrATCU is glad to be
able to present such interesting data from
week to week. The exhibit cannot but be
beneficial as showing our real industrial
status.
A GOOD EXAMPLE.
The reduction of 23 cents in the price of
coke, announced yesterday, shows that the
coke interests are ready to do their share to
ward reducing the cost of production in the
pig iron industry. If corresponding action
is taken by the railroads and ore companies
there is no doubt that the nig iron interests
will be placed on a solid foundation.
The action of the coke companies is based
on the sound business principle that it is for
their advantage to keep the industry that is
the leading consumer of their product on
the basis of activity. If the pig iron has to
be produced on a margin which carries a con
stant threat of loss the volume of production
will necessarily be limited and the consump
tion of coke correspondingly reduced. After
enjoying a year of good profits, the coke in
terests recognize in their action that they
can better afford to keep up a large con
sumption by lowered prices and a reduced
margin of profit, than to try to keep up
prices on a materially reduced output
The same consideration applies to a greater
or less extent on ore prices and railway
charges. The railroads and ore companies
may be less prompt to recognize its import
ance in practical action than the coke com
panies have been; but the sooner they do so
the earlier will be the establishment of the
conditions lor steady and reliable traffic.
RESERVES UNDER TIIE BANK ACT.
Now that monetary complications which
started in Wall street last month have come
to an end, our esteemed cotemporaries are
full bt wise reflections on the cause of the
trouble and the way to prevent such dis
turbances of business finance. These re
flections arc not entirely in the line of lock
ing the stable door after the steed is gone.
The full comprehension of the causes should
be the best safeguard against producing such
disasters anew if the nation as a whole
was capable of remembering such lessons
longer than for the eight or ten years which
it takes to go around the circle of specula
tion, inflation, panic, depression, econ
omy, improvement, expansion and
thence to speculation and inflation once
more. The suggestions as to coin
age, bank circulation, clearing house
certificates and other measures, are good, bad
or indifferent each on its own basis; but
there is an evident disposition that a more
immediate cause of stringency than either of
these remedies wonld meet is to be found in
the practice of concentrating the idle funds
of banks all over the nation in Wall street,
there to be loaned out to stock speculators
and used as the vehicle for bubbles.
It would require but a superficial observer
to see that the monetary stringency would
never have amounted to anything if there
had not been a speculative interest in Wall
street to be squeezed, and if the banking re
serves of the nation had been entangled in
the squeeze. The Barring difficulty might
have produced a slight contraction in the
New York money market; but when that
contraction was utilized to get up a mone
tary flurry in the stock market, the epidemic
of universal caution was started all over the
country. The connection between the Wall
street panic and the disposition of hanks all
over the country to contract their loans,
would have been still more remote if the
concentration of bank funds in Wall street
had not implicated the whole system in the
putative losses, so to speak, which might be
feared from such a cataclysm.
It is not the province of the law to place
any restrictions on the banks so far as keep
ing in the central cities whatever deposits
may be necessary for the adjustment ot ex
changes. It is also to be recognized as a
fact that the attempts of legislation to curb
the vice Of speculation are likely to prove
futile, so far as its effects on business move
ments are concerned; But it is not the
province of the law to offer a premium on
speculation by stimulating and exaggerat
ing the concentration of funds in Wall
street to be loaned out to the speculators; and
that is what is done by one feature of the
national banking law, which in its charac
ter as a whole is the most successful work of
banking legislation the world has ever
seen.
Under the national banking law the
banks are required to keep a nominal re
serve of 25 per cent of their deposits in the
reserve cities, and 15 pir cent in those out
side those cities. But this reserve is actually
decreased by the fnrther provision that all the
banks outside of New York may keep half
their reserves on deposit with the banks in
reserve cities. Now, while such deposits
with reserve banks are unquestionably a
good asset, they do not serve the purpose of
reserve, which is to have a supply of cash
on hand necessary to meet a withdrawal of
deposits in excess of what is likely to occur
in the usual run of business. The reserve
banks, in order to makeatiy profit on the de
posits of the correspondents, must loan them
ont again, and the consequence is that a
large share of what is treated as the reserve
of the banking system of the country is
loaned out to the speculators of Wall street,
where it is used in blowing bubbles, which
in time of contraction afford less reliable
security than the bank. The difference
between the nominal reserve and actual
cash reserve is seen when we remember that
the half of its reserve sent to New York by
a country bank is treated as deposits there,
and onlr has 25 per cent of cash held against
it. So that the actual cash held as reserve
under the requirement of the law is 15
per cent in the,reservc cities outside of New
York, and 9X per cent in the country banks.
The experience of the national banking
system for the past twenty-five years goes
far toward showing that those percentages
are ample; bnt the point which is urged here
is that if they are accepted as ampW, it
would contribute to the stability of the
system, and prevent the fluctuations from
plethora to panic in Wall street, if the law
simply enacted that the reserve of city banks
should be 15 per cent and country banks 10
per cent, and permitted them to loan the
excess to their own customers. As it is, the
law practically says to every Pittsburg na
tional bank, for example: Of every S100,000
of your deposits there is 512,500 which you
must not loan to Pittsburg business men
whose reliability you know, and whose busi
ness creates your deposits; but you may
either keep it idle in your vaults or send it
to New York, where you can realize perhaps
two'' per cent as your share of the profit
which your New York correspondent will
make by loaning it to the Wall street bor
rowers, of whose reliability yon know little
or nothing. Of course the money is sent to
New York, and equally, of course, it is
loaned to speculators. In this rule we find
the ability of the speculators to involve the
funds of the banking system in their bub
bles, and the power of the money kings to
start a monetary squeeze which is felt all
over the country.
The provision referred to is one that can
be amended. It calls that reserve which is
not actually so, but which increases rather
than alloys the complications arising from
stringency. It forces the banks to concen
trate in Wall street a portion of their funds
which many of them couid employ more se
curely at home; and it thus offers a
premium on speculation by bringing to
gether in Wall street the funds which at
times can be loanedjfor no other purpose.
It would contribute to the stability of the
system to reduce the reserve requirements,
make each bank keep its reserve where it
will be wanted, and it loan the excess among
its own customers.
A VERY ENCOURAGING PROSPECT.
Leaders in finance nnd commerce in New
York take most hopeful views of the present
situation. The flurry was due to unex
pected troubles in England, and the strin
gency in the money market may be easily
traced to a partial loss of confidence on the
part of certain classes. But with the en
couraging facts at hand there is little reason
to doubt confidence will soon be fully re
stored and business moving at an even
brisker rate than before. The only thing
wanted to insure this result is good crops
for the coming year, and the prospects for
such are flattering. Snowy winters .are al
most invariably followed by teeming vege
tation. STATE CHARITY COMMISSION.
Some good may be accomplished by the
work of the legislative commission on State
charities. There is certainly room for im
provement in this direction, it the commis
sion is governed in its deliberations by pure,
charitable considerations without reference
to the political advantages of certain appro
priations. The State should be charitible
and generous, but not indiscriminate in its
giving. Some grave abuses have become
legislative acts under the cloak of charity.
Tins winter bids fair to be so much of
an old-fashioned ono that It will appear more
like a new fashion.
The announcement that Pat Calhoun, of
Georgia is to come to the front as an Alliance
candidate presents the unique feature of a
farmers' movement, started as a revolt against
corporate supremacy, linking itself firmly to
the boom of a director of the greatest and
most monopolistic corporation In the South.
It is painful to find the New York
Tribune criticising persons at the NcwEngland
dinner because some of them indulged in pri
vate couvcr-ation while the after-dinner ora
tory was pouring forth ; while others actually
went to sleep under they eloqnenco of the
speakers. That people might talk to each
other regardless of the variations of the New
England themo is not Inexplicable ; bnt when
we are told that some of the guests gunk into
slumber after dinner It suggests the alarnilug
thought that the potables of the preceding
feast could not have been of the strictly
temperance character which was to have been
looked for at a festival of the Puritans,
It is reported that the bacillus of lock
jaw has been discovered; but ho ooubt it. If
it had really been found the Republican lead
ers in Congress would, long before this, have
rushed through an appropriation to purchase
a supply in the undiluted form to inocculate
tbo Democratic Senators withaL
HYriNOTiSM, while it may not intrude
Itself into tho jurisprudence of the country. Is
making a good show in the columns of the
newspapers. There are reports that the Senato
is hypnotised by the Democratic Senators, and
that the railroad interest is under the hypnotic
influence of Jay Gould. To this a little while
ago might have been added tbo suspicion that
the President was hypnotised by Secretary
Elaine; but the veto of the Bar Harbor post
office bill shows the contrary.
The adoption of the methods of Amer
ican politics by tbo Irish parties cannot appear
more plainly than in tho way both sides claimed
everything with confidence before the Kil
kenny election, and after the election the de
feated leader says he did not expect to carry it
anyway.
Conceekino the statement that Bed
Cloud is "talking a good deal about the way in
which the Indian census has been cut down,"
the Philadelphia Jlccord remarks: "Red Cloud
should remember the fate of Sitting Bull and
keep quiet." It might also be apposite to
remind linn of the late of Nbw York City on
learning that the censns returns are like the
law of the Medes and Persians after the
Bureau has got through with them. '
Considering the veto of that Bar Har
bor building grab, it is a matter of public re
gret that the President was unable to discern
Mr. Blaine's presence beside soma of the big
surplus-smashing appropriations of the last
session.
Speaking of Mr. W. TJ. Hensel the
Philadelphia Press asserts that "his speech at
the New York dinner is chiefly interesting as
showing that courage Is much easier displayed
after election than before" The same lesson
might be discovered in tho columns of the es
teemed Press, which finds It much easier to
pitch Into the Senatorial controllers ot the
State Republican machine after than before
the election.
Holiday money is still circulating, 1
has some of tho brisk nimbleness of the bright
holiday shopper.
A coTEJirOBARY thinks that as Kala
kaua's kingdom has thirteen States, he should
set up another United States, as ho has "tho
same material we bad a hundred years ago.'
The character of the people who formed the
original thirteen States may have had a good
deal to do w 1th tho material. If Kalakaua can
show tbo same material the people of Hawaii
are wofully misrepresented by their King,
Pittsbueg labor earned many millions
or dollars this jcar, and tbo outlook is good for
equal earnings next year.
Becent combinations among railroads
have led to the formation of the National
Shippers' Protective Association. One combine
brings on another. By and by everybody will
be In some combination. .Letthe'good work go
on. One extreme Is followed by another, and
the gentlemanly combiners may ultimately find
an overwhelming spirit against even ordinary
corporate combination of capital for useful
purposes.
Veey few oil men's fortunes are larger
than thpv spptti n In Pfttnr T. Tvonnedv's rnftn
Mr. Kennedy was a very modest man and made 1
nearly as much money from lumber operations
as from oil.
PEBXINENT PEBS0NAIOTIES.
Dr. Emile Welti, President-elect of tho
Swiss Confederation, bas held that office three
times, in 1S75, JSS0 and 1S84.
The new villa of Senator Jones at Santa
Monica, Cal.. overlooks the ocean, and adjoin
ing it is his 30,000 acre ranch.
It Is understood that when T. P. O'Connor
returns to the other side he will establish a
weekly newspaper in London, possibly a Sun
day paper.
Peinckss Beatrice has just translated a
picturesque page of romance from Germau his
tory. "Tho Adventures of Count George Albert
of Erbach."
Mrs. Robert Goblet, who is one of New
York's married belles, is a tall and slender
blonde, who has gray eyes and a profusion of
golden hair. She Is reputed to have an income
of S500 a day.
The Sultan of Turkey looks much like Jay
Gould, except that he is somewhat taller than
the Wail street wizard and his nose a trifle
more prominent.
The poet Stedman is a short and rather slen
der man. He dresses like any other Wall street
broker, and looks bnt llttlo like a poet. His
face is intellectual ana somewhat careworn.
Mrs. DoLrn, wife of the Oregon Senator, is
one of the pretty women of Washington, She
is a brunette, of fine figure and handsome face.
She Is a farmer's daughter and was a dairy
maid in her youth.
Mrs. Jclia Ward Howe has been buying
properly near Seattle. She is still so young
and vigorous that it would surprise nobody if
she proposed to go out to Washington and grow
up with the country.
Mrs. Henrt Draper, now in Peru, Is her
husband's constant assistant in all his astrono
mical researchos. She spends much of her
time among the telescopes and photographic
apparatus of tho observatory.
Vice President Proctor of the Singer
Sewing Machine Company Is reported to be
worth 525,000,000. Ho shared the inventor's
poverty with him and afterward married his
daughter. Singer's original capital was SoO,
which grew to bo 530,000.000.
SiGNort Emanuele Mtzio, the early pre
ceptor of Mine. Adelma Patti and her sister
Carlotta, has just died in Paris. He was born
at Bnssetto, in Itally, In 1825 and studied under
Verdi. He wrote the pianoforte part for the
vocal scores ot several of that composer's
operas.
The wife of Dr. Schliemann, the groat Ger
man archaeologist. Is 30 years younger than her
distinguished husband. She is hardly more
than a girl, In years, bnt she is a beautiful
woman and bss been most carefully educated.
She knows several languages besides German,
and is said' to know nearly all of the Iliad by
heart.
Ladt Florence Dixie, during a recent
tour In Bavaria, came upon an unwritten chap,
ter In the life of "The Mad King" Ludwlg a
romance which befell him during one of his
lonely peregrinations after tho chamois in tho
Bavarian Alps and sho has faithfully recorded
It with the purpose of showing that, far from
being insane, the King was a man of high im
agination and chivalry.
TO MAKE MONEY PLENTY.
A Few Enlargements of the Stanford Scheme
Would Make It Popular.
Baltimore Sun.
Senator Stanford's proposition that tho Gov
ernment should loan money to farmers at 2 per
cent is favored by Secretary Windom as a
benevolent scheme, provided it be extended so
as to include other classes of citizens among
Its beneficiaries. Land, the Secretary holds,
should not be the onb' security. All kinds of
property should be equally favored. In the
next placo the Sectetary would amend Mr.
Stanford's bill by providing that brains as well
as property should be considered good security.
Thirdly, the loans at 2 per cent should be open
to snch good citizens as have neither property
nor brains.
A certificate of citizenship ought to suffice as
a basis for a loan, it it is in the powor of the
Government to co into the loaning business
without injury to taxpayers. The Secretary is
of opinion that Mr. Stanford'', bill, thus
amended, would be popular. Tho majority of
voters would favor it. That, it must be ob
served, is about the only argument advanced
in support of tbo inflationist schemes now so
much in favor at the Capitol. The views of
experts in finance are noVin demand there.
They are a small minority and can be disre
garded, it is believed, at the polls.
CANADA AND C0PYEIGHTS.
The Dominion Parliament Has No Author
ity Now, but May Iluve Soon.
Ottawa. Dec. 27. Sir John Thomson says
that since his conversation with Lord Kunts
ford on the copyright question, the Canadian
Government bas received no communication
from the British Colonial Office on the subject
except the transmission of the views of the
Society ot Authors already published.
Lord Kuntsford Is of the opinion that Par
liament has not power to legislate upon foreign
copyright. Sir John Thomson, however, has
good reasons for believing that during the
present or next session of the Imperial Par
liament, legislation conferring the power will
be placed. He is of the opinion that the pas
sage of the Simonds copyright bill would not
affect the Canadian question, as that measure
ouly gives British authors domestic copyright
in the United States on condition that the
work is reset with American type and rebound
in the United States. An order in council was
passed by the Canadian Government some time
ago, askinz the Colonial Office to withdraw
Canada from the copyright convention.
Henri Watterson's Barometer.
Louisville Courier Journal, Dcm.l
Whenever the Republican leaders are bard
pushed they talk abont twisting the lion's tail.
Whenever they are not, they make no men
tion of wild beasts,
Hosiery Which Might he Observed.
Savannah News, i
Upon close examination to-day it is but fair
to presume that the stockings of the ballet
dancers will bo found bulging.
James R.'Gorfield in the Toils.
Chicago, Dec 27. James R. Garfield, a son
ot tbe late President Garfield, took out a
license to-day in this city to marry Miss Helen
Newell, a Chicago lady.
DEATHS OP A DAY.
Arthur Kirk.
EBASON, PA., Dec 27. Arthur Kirk, one of
the best-known citizens of Sharon, died at his
home Thursday evening it 9 0'elock.aged 87 years.
The immediate cause of his death was heart
failure. Induced by a cold contracted only a few
days before. Mr. Kirk was one of the best known
and oldest citizens of Sharon. He leaves awlfo
and large family or adult children, who are well,
known In the different communities of which
they are residents! David Kirk, the well-known
oilman orBradford; Arthnr Kirk, of Pittsburg,
and Ueorge Kirk, of bharon, are among the best
known or tho family.
MURRAY'S MUSINGS,
A War Story of Remarkable Coincidences
Russell B. Harrison as a, Man Incidents
In Metropolitan Ranking Publication of
Criminal News In the Tapers.
TFROM A STAIT COIlBKSr-OXDXKT.1
pnE other evening while a group of poll,
ticlans, newspaper men and travelers at
tbe Fifth Avenuo Hotol were discussing things
in general one of tho party remarked what a
small world this Is. IIo gave an interesting ex
ample of how he had met the same gentlemen
in London; in an out-of-the-way placo in France,
and subsequently at a dinner party in New
York. Others of tbe group gave similar ex
periences. During tbe conversation a gentle
man with whom I had too slight an acquaint.
an co to remember approached and called me
ont. An explanation followed, and I found
that he was the real estate agent in upper New
York, of whom I rented my flat some three
years ago. "I'm living In the South now," said
he, "at Bridgeport, Ala."
This brought some military reminiscences
up In my mind and I observed at once that I
once lived in Bridgeport and was engaged there
for a sbort time also in the real estate business.
It was while a soldier in tho army of the Cum
berland in 1SC2 and the real estate transaction
consisted of digging rifle pits along this side of
the Tennessee river and building a fort of earth
and timber at the foot of the mountains over
looking the then dismantled railroad bridges
leading to Chattanooga.
"You did!" he exclaimed, laughing. And
then be called to a counlc of native Southern
ers, who were a few feet away, and introduced
me. "Here is a man who helped build those
earthworks around there," went on my real
estate Iriend. "I wish you hadn't piled so
much dirt up. I'm building my house on that
very spot."
"Yes, and we dug up two skeletons nearby,"
interrupted one of tbe others "Union soldiers,
who had been buried by you fellow s."
I hastened to assure him that neither of
them as mine. And then 1 recalled bow just
as we had abont finished the fort we were
ordered back on the Bragg campaign, and how
we attempted to cross the mountain by a direct
route, and bow having boosted a lot ot artillery
half way up the rocky slope we were obliged
to come down again, thoroughly used up and
everlastingly disgusted, to take the old Hunts
ville road. We had a signal station on tbe
heights above and from it could see Into four
States of the 'Union and the glowing camp
fires of the Confederate army on tbe other side
of the stream.
"My summer house now stands on that old
site," said tbe Southerner, grasping my band
again, "and it looks down on a new town of
nearly a thousand souls. We havo blasted a
good wagon road where you worked that night
anu x use it every day. wnue you were there
I was over across the river in our rifle pits, I
tell you, sir, wbeu those two skeletons were
turned up tbe other day and tbe boys gathered
tho brass buttons and bullets out of the shal
low grave it made my heart sick, for it brought
to mjynind the memory of the near and dear
ones who fell later at Chattanooza. But
its all gone now. You wouldn't know that coun
try. FuIIv one-half of the new town is com
posed of Northern and Western men. and we
are now developing the splendid mineral re
sources of tbe region hand in hand that you
and I dug up with spades and with shot and
shell in the effort to kill each other. There is
nothing but the skeleton of the war lefr, but it
is rather unpleasant to have this skeleton rat
tled in our faces either metaphorically or act
ually." So I thought, as I thanked them for the cor-,
uiai invitation to visit meir corner or AiaDama
and returned to my friends. But supposing one
of those skeletons had been mine what thenr
Crime and the Newspapers.
pEOFLE would save money by reading the
papers," said a Broadway policeman,
commenting on the bogus check game, tbe
flimflam game, tbe overcoat and umbrella
game, tbe bunko game tho green goods game,
tbe get-nie-out-of-thc-station-bouso game, the
send-the-goods-homo game, and other common
methods of swindling prevalent In New York.
He had dropped into "The Owl" cigar store to
notify the proprietor that a tall young man
with a blonde mustache was operating
in that neighborhood, and to request
that if tho aforesaid young man
shonld order a few boxes of cigars as
Christmas presents for bis friends delivered at
his rcsidenco iu a swell part of town to do up
tho goods slowly enough to consume time
enough to notify tbe headquarters of the
"Tenderloin" precinct. The name which would
be given, bo said, would be tbat of tho real
resident at the address named, bnttbe swindler
Would meet tbe delivery boy on tbe front steps
and get possession of the goods under some
pretext or other. It was a game tbat bad been
worked somewhat extensively of late, and had
been duly exposed, but as long as people didn't
read tbo newspapers tbey were liable to be
caucht. They wanted to catch tba swindler.
"You see," be continued In a philosophic
mood, "no matter how tboroughly these tricks
are exposed by the newspapers there are plenty
of people to work 'em on. You'd tbink nobody
ofanysenso could be bunkoed now, wouldn't
you? And yet there are lots more being caught
that way than you ever hear of. A good many
smart men and lots more smart women never
read the newspapers at least the police re
ports, the crimes record. They think papers
shouldn't print It, maybe, and yet tho printing
of such tnings saves many from being swindled.
These swindlers are more atraid of the news
papers than they are of us, for if their games
weren't made public, you know, they'd bo
swarms of 'em where there's only one now.
Yet It seems like nobody reads tho news
papers when a chap like this can work
cint, mnVof nnip ln' it? Anrt nil thnnthni
games too. I tell you if everybody would read
tbe newspapers It wonld save us a good doal of
trouble and drive these swindling games out of
tbe market ves it would." And with this bit
of sound philosophy the big man in blue swung,
out and tacking down upon ine inirty-tiiiru
street corner into a gang of toughs caused a
sudden movement in all directions.
Not so Bad as Painted.
tvtr. Russell Harrison is rather a popular
young man In New York society. Ho is
not only popular, but deservedly so, and those
who know him best would like him just
as well if he wero not tbo son of the
President of tbe United States, though, of
coursv. the relationship gives him additional
importance in the eyes of a great many people
I studied his mannors very closely one evening
last week while in his company at the big doll
show, and failed to soe any evidence
of that dlseaso known as tho big
bead, with which he is reported
to be suffering. Young Harrison is a
handsome fellow, of pleasant, gentlemanly
manners, kind and obliging even to impudent
strangers who forco themselves upon him.
There is nothing ot tho habitual hauteur of his
distinguished father about him, and he strikes
me as a plain, honest gentleman who is satisfied
with his own merits and is willing to pass for
w hat they are worth. At the doll show, in
which he took with Mr. Artcll. of the Judge, a
great deal ot interest, he was evidently re
garded by the ladles with the same considera
tion they would feel toward any gentleman who
had devoted tbe like time and energy to such a
commendable charitable enterprise.
Quite a Ladies' Man.
pnoai the doll show with Mr. Russell Harrison
as guide and companion to Otero and
"Buck" Taylor is a wido step for tho imagina
tion, but it is one of the violent contrasts of
metropolitan life. On this occasion it was two
minutes long. The stalwart figure of the rough
frontiersman was clad iu a big overcoat with a
fur collar a foot broad, over which fell a mass
of light brown bair. Under the slouched som
brero the merry twinkling eyes looked down
npon you in a genial way that little children
understand and love.
"She dances that bat dance exactly as an In
dian executes a war dance around the camp
fire," he said. With ibis confidential burst of
dramatic criticism several ladles andgentlemon
in tbe vicinity laughed immoderatelv, for the
comparison went right to tbe spot. The curi
osity to get close to "Buck" Taylor and to speak
to him consumes most New York ladies and he
gets more notice than young Harrison from
both sexes. "Yaas," drawled Taylor, "the
ladles take a good many liberties with me. Tbo
other day in a horse car a dark-skinned woman
leaned over and asked me if I was an Apache
Indian. Tbis made everybody else laugh: but
when I mildly slid 'no,' and inqnlred whether
she was a Sioux squaw tbe laugh wasn't on me.
I don't mind what is said and usually accept
comments and familiarity good naturealy, but
such a qnestion as that was just a little too Im
pudent, even for a highly civilized com
munity." A Core for Free Check Making.
THE other day a man presented a check forn
SO at a down town bank and it was passed
back to him with tbe remark that it was ."no
good."
"Hasn't the man got any funds borer" In
quired tbo indignant check holder.
"Y-es, a small balance. He bas been drawing
other checks ot this kind of late," said the
teller.
"Well," thoughtfully remarked tbo man with
the check, "I'll see if we can't stop it. What's
bis exact balance V
It was against the rules of the bank, but the
teller gave It. It was $2 50. Then tbe check
holder stepped over to tbe receiving teller's
window and pulling out a roll of money said be
desired to deposit N7 60 to tbe credit of Mr.
Blank. "Now," said be to tbe paying teller,
"pay this check." The latter did so and then
closed Mr. Blank's account "Now, It any
more checks of tbis kind come hero Mr. Blank
can be jailed," saying which tbe check-holder
walked out.
Christmas Run on Savings Banks.
Jp anybody had stepped Into a New York sav
ings bank jast before tho holidays began
an interesting sight would have been seen.
Tbe servant girls and working people of all
grades of the thriftier sort wero on hand to
pull out a little money for Christmas. It was
usually In amounts from 35 to $25. A good deal
was in gold com. Tbe latter seemed to be pre
ferred by foreigners. A long line of depositors
ot this kind bothered tbe paying teller.
Tbongh tbe amounts withdrawn were small
great stacks of gold disappeared during Mon
ay, Tuesday and Wednesday. The safeguards
thrown around savings bank accounts make
the business slow work, and the comments of
the impatient wore both amusing and instruct
ive. The act of getting money out of a bank is
not always as easy as getting it in. I made a
deposit In a savings bank once. It Is there yet.
w
Jay Gould's Ready Cash.
"A Wjlli. street man" is authority for the
statement that Jay Gould had S12.000.000
in cash at tbe beginning of tbe recent flurry.
Tbis seems like a big pile of money for one
man to have lying about loose. With the col
ossal fortunes tbat permit snch marginal ac
cumulations of cash by a few It Is no wonder
tbat about a million souls in the Unitod States
have practically nothing. If about half a dozen
millionaires in New York bad to cut their own '
coupons anil count their own money they would
be the hardest working peoole of Gotham.
CiiAS. T. Murray.
New York. Dec 27.
WHO PAYS THE TAXI
The Foreign Manufacturer Is Getting the
Worst of it at Present.
Philadelphia Inquirer, ltep.3
A leading manufacturer of this city has just
bought 100.000 pounds of woolen yarn in Eng
land at 60 cents per pound. In May last he paid
68 cents per pound for tho same yarn, and
since then wool has advanced ten percent in
price the world over.
The McKinley bill advanced the tariff on this
grade ot yarn 11 cents per pound.
English yarn manufacturers have increased
their mill capacity enormously in the last few
years, depending upon the American market.
Now tbat this market is greatly restricted by
the McKinley bill, competition among them
has forced a reduction in price
And yet Mr. Cleveland tells us the consumer
pays tbe tax.
TBEED BY A WILDCAT.
Serions Experience of a Man Who Went
Gunning at Night.
BiSHARCK, N. D., Dec 27. News comes
from Mercer comity of an exciting wildcat ad
venture in which H. U. Loy, Register of Deeds,
figured.
Mr. Loy heard a commotion among the chick
ens in bis ben-coop at night and went with a
gun to investigate. Just as be reached tbe
door a big wildcat sprang out with a rooster in
his mouth. Loy gave chase and fired several
shots without effect. The cat took refuge in
the brush, into which Loy poured several loads
of shot.
The cat, perhaps, thinking this was becom
ing monotonous, now assumed tbe offensive
and sprang at Loy with a blood-curdling yell.
Loy shinned up a tree nearby, with the animal
close behind. The cat made several frantic at
tempts to get at him and remained on guard
for over two hours waiting for Loy to come
down. Finally it raised the siege and Loy re
turned home pretty nearly frozen.
CHBISTMAS FOR THE POOR
Needy Children at the National Capital Well
Provided For.
Washington, Dec 27. Tho Christmas Club
of Washington to-day entertained 600 poor chil
dren at dinner, and afterward distributed a
present to each one. Mrs. Dimmick represented
the President's family, and was an Interested
spectator of the pretty scene.
Miss Jane Fuller, a daughter ot the Chief
Justice, the President of the children's depart
ment of the club, and Miss Jessie Miller, daugh
ter of the Attorney General, Vice President,
took a leading part In caring for tbe needs of
tbe young guests. Tho East Washington Club
provided a good dinner and presents for about
1,000 young people.
An Interesting Experiment.
Baltimore Herald.
Tbe great railroads in the United States run
East and West. It is only a few of those that
.run to the points of tbe compass that have
gained Influence ar.d power. A project on foot
In Pittsbutg, therefore, to go down into Vir
ginia with a railroad and divert trade trom the
seacoast ports will be watched with interest.
That it will succeed is by no means assured.
They Wonld Stand Under.
Heading World. 3
By putting up objectionable candidates upon
objectionable platforms the Democrats can
readily find out just where they stand in rela
tion to tbe Independents.
Not While Funds Lie Aronnd Loose.
Wllllamsport Gazette and Bulletin.
Ex-State Chairman Cooper says be will not
be a candidate for State Treasurer, and It goes
witbout argument tbat be is in earnest.
On Ye Editor's Way Down Town. .
Sunbury Dally. 1
There are some people In tbis city who love
tbebeautifnl snow so much that they won't
shovel it off their sidowalks.
CURRENT COMMENT.
Some Ideas About State Craft and the State
of Society.
St. Paul Pioneer-Press: They do say that
Secretary Blaine's turkey would bavo tasted
much better if the President had not vetoed
that Bar Harbor public buiiaingbill.
Butte City Daily Miner: The Republican
party of tbe United States has done well this
year. It carried Walkerville by 33 votes, and
now has its eyes on Bitter Root City. .
Philadelphia Times; True to tariff predic
tions, both the snow and tbe mercury have
already come down so as to be within easy
reach of the poorest and'humblest citizen.
Buffalo Express: Instead of enlisting the
Indians in the regular army, as General Miles
proposes, why not let them join tho police
force in Eastern cities? Apparently they make
admirable policemen.
Philadelphia Inquirer: Both France and
Spam are now talking seriously about increas
ing their tariffs with a view to protection. The
brilliant success of tho American system in
spires their emulation.
Cincinnati Commercial-Oazettet The con
spiracy, jnst discovered, to flood the country
with counterfeit silver dollars, was not going
about tbo work of relieving tho monetary
stringency In proper form.
ilfinneajoZ 27-toune: Tho Oklahoma Legis
lature has pasted a complete codo of laws.
This will be a great convenience to such prom
inent citizens ol the Territory as are worried
for fear there are a few laws that they have
not broken.
Philadelphia Press: No Vassar girl has
ever been divorced from her husband. The
fact is easily explained. Any reasonably agree
able and pretty girl can get a husband, but it
takes an extremely clever woman to retain
hiin. Tbat is where tbe ability of the Vassar
girl tells in her favor.
Philadelphia Record: Besides the Harvester
Trust, a thrashing machine syndicate and a
grain drill combine are being industriously pro
moted by the Interested manufacturers. Un
less the jolly farmer shall wake up and over
turn tbe legislation under which such combina
tions flourish these fellows will have his hide
hanglngon tbe fence before long. '
Philadelphia Ledger: Maine reports a bad
state of afiairs, due lo low railroad freigbts
from the West and tho impoverishment of
land in tbe older parts ot the country. No less
than 3,318 farms in Maine have been aban
doned. They might be supposed to be worth
less, but the assessors value them at 81,263,769,
or an average of to per acre. Maine shonld
cet some home industries to give a market for
the farm products of these places or to occupy
them for other uses.
Denver News: It is doubtful if the rulings of
American courts have developed grosser In
justice than in discriminating acainst employes
of a railroad who may be crippled or killed in
the service, because of the company's negli
gence, and denying damages to them or their
legal representatives. The senseless theory
tbat has been constructed as a warrant for that
outrage must be punctured by tbe eighth Gen
eral Assembly. We must have a law tbat will
harmonize with equity In lieu of court prece
dents tbat are a disgrace to our civilization.
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
A Lesson in Law.
A young lawyer who bas been practicing at
the bar for maybe three or four years received
one Christmas present which he did not ap
preciate. It was a nice enough present, but
well, the whole story had bettey be told.
On Christmas morning a messenger boy
brought to tbe young attorney's house a pack
age done up in brown paper and tied with very
inoffensive looking string. He carried tho
package into the dining room, where his wife
sat at breakfast, and she of course started up
fnll ot excitement and curiosity. In fact
it was she who took the bread knife and
cut the string. Her hands removed the brown
paper and uncovered the Inner skin of white
paper scaled with red wax. A card, a plain
visiting card, lay there. The young lawyer saw
it, and heaven preserve us! blushed. Tbe card
bore tbe name of a client of bis whose case he
had conducted laboriously and expensively to
defeat.
"What does be mean by sending me a pres
ent!" ho asked. "The last time he was In my
office I felt Inclined to pitch him ont of the
window."
"Perhaps he wants to make up at Christmas
time, dear," his gentler half suggested, as she
proceeded to rip up tbe white paper with a
silver hair-pin. In a few seconds a couple of
volumes covered In law-sheep were revealed.
The attorney took one of tbe books up and read
the title: "Blackstone's Commentaries, vol. I,"
Tbe other book was vol. IL
"What in thunder does he mean by sending
me thisr he asked fiercely.
"I am sure I don't know, dear," said she
meekly.
There was an nncomfortable silence for sev
eral mln utes. Then the attorney said with con
siderable more emphasis than can be repro
duced in words: "Nowl know what that
fool meant by saying wben be left me that he
would teach me the rudiments of law, if he bad
to spend good money to do it. I thought he was
going to sue me."
Nothing New to Him.
A crowd gathered around one of the Fifth
avenue cars which had stalled near Wood Stre2t
when the cable broke last cvenlnr. A burly
man whose storm coat made him look simply
immense elbowed bis way through tho loose
fringe of the crowd, asking: "Phwat's tbe
mather with tbe car?"
"It's stopped," someone answered.
"Is that all?" asked tbe big man, returning to
the pavement at once. "Why, thim cars stop
at the earner o' my strata a hoondred tolmes a
day!"
A Score of Bachelor Sinners.
Twenty sinners, bachelors every one, and
mostly belonging to the redoubtable Sixth
ward, of Pittsburg, are doubtless quaking in
their shoes this morning. If they don't get
"Hall Columbia" as a matin hymn from their
sisters and their cousins and their aunts, with
a rousing tiger from their best girls, they will be
apt to bless their stars. A more heinous crime
than theirs has probably never been chroni
cled. The reader will do well to.'shuddor be
fore going any further.
Lust night, tbe night of Saturday, December
27, to be exact, these young men being in full
prssession of their natural faculties, and witb
out any provocation of any sort, did with
malice prepense and out of tbe wickedness of
their hearts, procure, hire or otherwise obtain
for their sole use and gratification, to wit, one
sleigh capable of carrying 20 persons and
drawn by four horses. Iu this vehicle tbe de
fendants aforesaid did seat, bestow or other
wise dispose themselves, to their own ease and
comfort at the honr of 8 in tbe evening or
thereabouts. Whither they went or what they
did, further than that the Perrysville road and
other favorite paths were traversed by them
and tbat tbey were still absent when The
Dispatch went to press this morning, is not
known.
Just tbink of it, 20 stalwart young men and
not a single lady fair! It is enough to make tbo
beauteous maidens of tbe Sixth ward deny their
birthplace and claim a heritage witb some other
bailiwick. If tbis is not a crime, what is?
Twenty yonng gallants who might have made a
score of sweethearts merry; 40 hearts that
might have beat as 20, pulsing apart in scores:
20 livery stable keepers or 19, at least de
prived of their proper revenues! If the livery
men are wise they will charge bachelors who
make stag sleighing parties more exorbitantly
if that is possible than all others.
One of the 20 has already met his punishment.
He revealed the nature of tbe excursion to bis
inamorato, and as a forfeit promised to take her
sleighing every nlgbt next week. The 19 re
main to bo settled with, and the eyes of every
girl in Pittsburg will be npon the sisters of the
Sixth ward that they neither faint nor fail in
the exaction of the penalty.
A Magnificent Wreck.
In a bird store yesterday among the pathetic
sights and there are plenty where hnndreds of
feathered flying things are caged I no
ticed a big macaw sitting on a
perch pensively regarding a white cock
atoo that had dropped off to sleep. Tho
Macaw's plumage was magnlficient, red and
blue in deep rich tones over the wings and long
graduated tail, witb a lining of palo golden
yellow to the former. The 'gay hues of the
tropics were never more gorgeously combined
in living creature. Yet all tbat snperb and
cigantlc parrot could do in tbe dark rocesses of
a Pittsburg store was to sit on a perch and
stare continuously at a white cockatoo looming
up like a ghost in the remote shadows. Stay!
from time to time the big bird said "cab!"
which the old lady sitting by interpreted into
"Carlo," its name, she said. Even the green
parrots screeching in tbe show window seemed
to have tho advantage of the imperial macaw.
Some painter shonld make1 a picture of this
splendid and pitiable bird, with the title "How
are the mighty fallen!" for instance.
A Chance for Gas Companies.
A cart bearing tbo name of a natural gas
company and tilted with coal stood in front of
tbe Sobo school, on Fifth avenue, the other
morning. The coal was intended for the
school's boating apparatus, and a good many
people wbo saw the natural gas company's sign
on the cart were struck with the Idea tbat it
would be a lovely thing if tbe gas corporation
were to supplement its meager service of
natural fuel with ono of coal.
Hepdurx Jonss.
OEGANIZED POE PEOTECTION.
Combining Railroads Lead Naturally to a
Combination of Shippers.
Denver Republican, Kep.
Tbe National Transportation Association is
an organization of shippers, formed to protect
tbem against injustice on the part of railroad
companies. It bas already acquired sufficient
strength to make its influence felt in the con
sideration of transportation questions by those
companies.
The transportation problem can never be
properly solved if, in considering it, the rail
road companies entiroly ignore tbo rights and
the wishes of shippers.. The Interests of tbe
shippers and the transportation companies are
mntual, and neither party can afford to Ignore
tho other.
One thing which the association will insist
npon is tbat it be given a representation in all
conferences of railroad officials lookine to tbo
adoption of rules or the forming of agreement
calculated to curtail tbe privileges of shippers.
This Is a jnst and reasonable demand, and the
railroad companies cannot afford to disre
gard it.
Let the Visitors Pay.
Baltimore American.
The President sat down on Bar Harbor right
bard. But how could ha help it? Tbe Gov
ernment can't earn any money out of postage
on lore letters even at tbat charming resort.
Why cannot rich visitors club togetber and put
up a fine bnildimr just as tbey want it?
Most People Prefer Liquor.
Mt. Pleasant Journal.)
It is said that Dr. Koeley.an Illinois phy
sician, can destroy the appetite for drink,
opium or tobacco by frequent, but perfectly
harmless, injections of bi-cblorlda of gold.
Who wants a gold-plated stomach?
The Dispute Should be Settled.
Mobile Keglster.l
The people ot the country as a whole care
very little about tbo Bebring Sea controversy.
They would like to see It settled, however, and
done with. Arbitration shonld be resorted to.
Having Ills Rare Innings.
Bt. Louis Itepubllcl
Tbe much abused and oft discredited weather
prophet is once more enjoying the confusion of
those who bave been pointing the finger of
scorn at biro. It is his time to laugh.
CDRIODS CONDENSATIOSS.
James Look, of Jonesport, while out in
a hunting party, was fired at twlco by one of
tbe party, who mistook him for a deer.
D. A. Slaght of Buffalo, N. Y., has a
cat which weighs 28 pound". The dogs of tht
neighborhood give the animal a wide berth.
An Indian graveyard has been discov
ered on tbe farm of W.F. Black, on the North
eastern Railroad, about five miles from Athens,
Ga.
The building of water tinks and ladders
for orange growers is rpldly becoming a lead
ing branch at the iron and wood working shops
at Apopka, Fla.
A church in Reading," Pa., boasts that
it has just paid off its debt in SO.COO pennies.
Between this disbursement and tbe arrival of
gold from Europe, the monetary stringency
should disappear.
A new institution to be incorporated in
Hew York is tho New York Bacteriological In
stitute. It will furnish free treatment to con
tjcious diseases, and will have a Pasteur and
Koch department,
There is money in turkeys. One firm
at Richmond, Ky., has slaughtered 4000
turkeys this season. Fully 7,000 of the birds
bave been marketed there, and tbe people who
raised them have pocketed S7,O0O.
A 14-year-old cat belonging to Mrs.
Bradley, of Westport, Conn., recently died. It
was given an expensive funeral. The remains
were placed in a handsome casket and a granite
slab is to be erected over his grave.
. Five children are reported lost in the
snow storm on Thirteen Mile creek, W. Va
and they are probably dead by this time. More
than 100 families, mostlv miners, are snowed
In near Roncevert, and their sitnatlon Is dan
gerous.
Several marine fossils have jnst been
found. It is reported, on the top of Farmington -Mountain.
Conn. The mountain is about 300
feet high, and Is seldom visited necause It bas
a dense growth of underbrush and Is tenanted
by rattlesnakes.
Mrs. Amanda Fleming, wife of Hon.
Benjamin Fleming, was buried at Fairmont,
W. Va., on Monday. She was 85 years old and
was the daughter of Thomas Fleming, who
came to that place in 178a and wbo was one of
the earliest settlers in Marion county.
The town of Starks, Me., is in a dreadful
predicament It has no tax collector. A cor
respondent ot the Fairheld Journal says tbe
collector elected at tba annual town meeting
resigned, and here It is almost 1891 and none ot
this year's tax collected and nobody to collect it.
A church and a clubhouse in Brooklyn
took fire on Fifth avenue one night, The
church burned- down, while the clubhouse was
saved, so the only moral tbat can be drawn
from the circumstance is tbat it is a good plan
to look well after tbe furnaces in cold weather.
Burglars in Maine seem to be eettinjj
not only bold but fearless. Several officers of
tbe law have been among their recent victims,
and now one has walked into the Bangor police
station and walked out with an overcoat be
longing to tbe City 'Marshal, wbo has since
found bis property in a pawnshop.
John Williams, colored, lost his life at
Vicksburg, Miss., last week, in a singular man
ner. Having an aching tooth which pained
him severely, he took some nicotine from an
old pipe and applied it to the cavity. Ten
minutes later he fell from his buck, dead.
Opinions differ as to tbe causa of his death.
George Young started to run across the
track In front of a Cleveland and Pittsburg
passenger train at Bridgeport, when his foot
slipped and he fell directly In front of tbe en
gine. Young jumped to his feet Justin time
to be struck by tbe end of tbe pilot beam and
was violently tbrown Into a snow pile Ho
made a miraculous escape from injnry.
The railroad commission bill just passed
by the South Carolina Legislature is copied
closely after the Georgia bill, and gives tha
commission absolnto power to fix and deter
mine rates of transportation for freight and
passengers within the State. A new commis
sion is to prepare and publish the rates when
decided on. Tbo railroad men made no fight
against it,
Mrs. Julia McDonald, of Portland, at
tempted suicide Monday evening by jumping
into a pond at Providence. R. L She was res
cued, and. accompanied by her sister, left for
New York. Mrs. McDonald had been engaged
in literary work, principally in writing sbort
stories for newspaper press syndicates. She
was married II months ago, and later was at
tacked witb melancholia. She attempted to
take her life once before
Middleborough, Ky., has the champion
eater. A young man, wbo is a peddler about
town, named Philip Herman, asserted tbat he
could eat 3d raw ezes iithout stoppings Mr.
Rothcnild doubted this assertion, and Herman
offered to bet SI that he Jconld accomplish the
feat. Tbe dollar was put up. Max Flexner
went out and got tbree dozen eggs, and tbe
feast began. Herman ate 30 of tbe eggs with
out a break, but there his appetite went back
on him, and he concluded he couldn't go any
more.
Mrs. C. Zimmerman is the heroine of
Fort Angeles. Dak., jnst now. She killed a
deer the other day all by herself. She was out
hunting witb her husband near Morse's creek.
She was near the top of the bluff wben she
beard the dogs coming down the stream after
a deer. She says she got to the bottom of tbe
hill in some way, she doesn't know how, bnt
soon enough to see the deer coming at fnll
speed. Sne raised her gun and blazed away
and bronght it down in great style. Mr. Zim
merman saw tbat the game was carried home.
It is not often that a wife's jealousy
brings a fortune to a husband, yet one of tha
most prosperous artists in America is said to
owe bis success and popularity to tbat cause.
He began bis professional career as a painter
of female Azures, mainly of ladles in fashiona
ble attire. He married, and his wife exhibited
a stronc dislike for bis practice of working
from female models. In sbort, she was jnolous.
Ho was obliged to promise that be would not
employ any more women models, and ha shifted
his line of work into a totally different field.
The result was that he became famous for his
new specially and rich from bis sales.
At the eastern edge of Cfoverport, Ky.,
near tbe railroad track. Is a well 10 feet in di
ameter and ?3 feet deep. From it bas been
taken and tested a peculiar clay or slate. Its
quantity is apparently limitless. The product
of this hole makes a brick as bard as flint and
glazed on its surface, which withstands the ac
tion of fire beyond all others, and makes a pave
ment Impervious to water and frost and wear.
It also makes the best tiling, and is regarded as
a most valuablo discovery. A large manufac
turing concern in one of our cities bas been
quietly prosecntlng tbe investigation and trsts
of this remarkable product of nature, and,
rumor says, is far advanced tow ard establishing
extensive works to utilize it.
WE ALL MAY SMILE.
The question discussed in St. Louis the
other day was, "Onr lawmakers: how can w
reach them most effectively? " Better catch the
at tbe tavern bar alter the legislature adjourns.
Sew Orleans ricagune.
"How thin and tired those Evanston
ladles look."
Yes. they belong to the new co-operative house,
lecplnjr association." Chicago atobe.
Augustus Yojir uncle, Mr. Prettypenny,
is a numismatist, lihe not?
Charles-What's that, me boy?
Augustus A lover of coins.
Charles I ftuess he Is. He never let's one gtt
away from him. Chicago Timet.
Piggerfast Good news for you all I I've
Jnst been elected to tbe position of cashier In tbe
bank! li-i
His Dsuzhter-Ob, Isn't that nice! When do we
go, j.apa? . C
Go where?"
Way, to Canada!" Jr. Paul Dispatch. "-
Ophelia I gave young Mr. Lunimix tha
mitten last nlgbt.
Dora I thought you told ma you lntanded to
handle hlmlthout gloves. Chicago Inter Ocean.
"Fellows," said the editor of the funby
column, pausing with his pen iu tbe air, "I.luve
Justthnughtofa good one." "
And all tbe fellows immediately went over to
his desk ami congratulated him with Innch
warmth. Chicago Tribune.
"That's a handsome mantel. What is that
sentiment carved there?"
"Eat, drink, and be merry."
"Ah! curious combination."
How so't'
"Oakmanttl; chestnut sentiment," loungt
toum Telegram.
, A dazzling glance she did display,
Ber month a pretty pout,
Bnt she was freckled lu a way
Tbat made ber hands like trout.
Washington Post.
A simple little song to sing,
A slmplellttle Joke to spring,
A gay sonbrettr.wltb flippant feet,
And then you bave a show complete.
Washington Star.
"I wonder how a composer eels when he
encounters an organ grinder turning out one ot
bis compositions?"
"I don'tbelleve halites it ny better tbaa wt
do wben we have to meet ourowanotei,','