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THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH.
PAGES 9 TO 12.
PITTSBURG-, SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 189L
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SECOND PftRT
DESTROYTHE DELI,
One Deep Mouth for the Father
of Waters Would in
Time Reclaim the
MARSH LANDS OF THE GULF
A Project of Priceless Value to Gen
erations Yet Unborn.
TO STRAIGHTEN THE CHANNEL.
At Least FiTe Cut-Ofls Shown to Be Desir
able and Kecesary.
METHODS FOE THE PROPOSED WORK
PArEK NO. 6.
How to treat the outlet of the Mississippi
is a question which has vexed engineers for
five generations. Fortunately the collateral
kti.iu ledge of the present day presents the
ausuer to the problem.
We can so control the ontlet that the
jmwer of the river will be utilized to raise
our culf coast above the Inch water level,
;.nd so render possible natural drainage in
the swamps adjacent thereto and their re
clamation and tillage. To do this we must
ilUlurli the equilibrium ot the earth's crust
in t!i:.t vicinity. If the Mississippi be pro
Miien with a single narrow mouth, so as to
ii-charge its waters in one deep and rapid
slHMia at right angles w:th the coast, the
current uill continue uubroken many miles
ut into the gulf, and the burden of sedi
ment will be deposited scores of miles from
land upon the deep floor of the gull, caus
ing it to subside und raising the marshy
coasts. According to the principle of the
lever, the coast will rise faster and higher
the farther the burden be removed from it.
The action would of course be slow; a de
cade or generation might show little im
provement; a century or more might here
quired to fully reclaim the marshes by this
iuean. No one can guess the time, but the
action has the certainty of gravitation,
Tf the 1 uid hunger of the people be so
javenous that they cannot wait the neces
sary time, the Holland system can be
adopted, which would, moreover, hasten the
desired end, as pumping off the swamp
water wonld reduce the burden on the land
end of the lever by several billions of tons,
materially expediting tbe permanent im
provement by a temporary, but very useful
measure.
To accomplish the desired end parallel
jetties should be built at right angles, or
nearly so, to the general trend of the coast
and extending to the 40-foot curve. Tbese
jetties should be some 4,000 feet apart, and
have wing dams reducing the channel to
3,000 feet or less.
When these jetties are completed, the
Atchafalaya, Cubitt's Gap, Jump and all
bayous, crevasses and ontlets should be
closed, an opening dredged into the newly
prepared channel to establish a scouring
current, the passes gradually restricted and
finally closed, the entire outfall of the Mis
sissippi Vallev being discharged through
the new single mouth. The clear depth
through the new moutn would be over 100
leet. The mean velocity would be the same
as in other parts of tbe river, and the cur
rent would be perceptible three or lour score
miles from the outlet.
The annual work of the corrected river as
affecting the swampy coasts would be to de
posit upon the gulf floor one-fourth oi a
cubic mile of detritus, weighing from 2,000,
000.000 to 2,250,000,000 tons every year that
cbaunel improvement is carried on. In 20
years the amount would be from 40,000,000,
000 to 50,000,000.000 tons. These figures
are based upon tbe assumption (made in
fourth paper) that the burden of the river
will be 1.600 part by bulk of the discharge.
The following table shows this to be a mod
erate estimate:
River Ganzes. nroDortlon of sediment.... '1.850
River Po. pronortlon ot sediment LSO0
River Rhine, proportion of sediment -1.100
Riror Vistula, proportion ot sediment.... M.43
River Rhone, proportion ot sediment L"1
River Mississippi, maximum observed. ...tL'-M
Authority, Humphreys and Abbott.
t Authority. Mississippi River Commission.
If the silt-bearing power of the controlled
river be in excess ot tbe estimate, then the
wort will be proportionately more rapid in
ixecution.
This earth carriage is the greatest trans
ference of eartb-weights since the age of
glaciers. At present this mass is distributed
upon or adjacent to the coast, and while the
primary eflect is to raise the marshes nearer
to flood height, the secondary and lasting
effect must be to depress the earth crust and
extend the marshy tracts farther inland.
This injury to the coast lands must go on
as long as the river is allowed to add to its
present delta. The bad effects of the present
ill-judged neglect may be cumulative, and
finally involve the gulf coast in great loss
and disaster.
Anyjmtlet system or any measure which
divide the waters of the Misissippi or per-
'? fy " C-u dr"- or m, e x ' JErO
mits them to escape otherwise than by one
deep mouth is a crime against our unborn
generations an oversight or a neglect of the
bounties and opportunities with which na
ture blesses us.
This work would cost not to exceed $15,
1)00,000 and might be built tor very much
less; and would reclaim 4,000,000 acres oi
land at a cost of less than $4 per acre.
Similar measures adopted on all tbe riv
ers flowing into the gulf would do a little
relatively a very little to hasten the work
end would, moreover, be most desirable aids
to commerce.
The best site for the proposed jetties is
probably from head ot passes across Garden
Island Bay to the east of the present South
Puss jetties, as shown in the plan above.
It is to be regretted that it is not practi
cable to turn the entire river through South
Pass, the axis of which lies very nearly in
the desired position. Beconnoissance for
Prof.it o' "if South Pass
!..t.';j.
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:y
W
X
this specibc work might show that one bank
of South Pass could be utilized and the ex
pense reduced one-third. In any event the
work can be uninterruptedly and cheaply
prosecuted, will be easy of access, perfectly
sate during construction, and little dredging
will be necessary to establish a scouring cur
rent. Experience has proved that all condi
tions are favorable to this work. The bot
tom is proved able to sustain the load; the
weather is generally good; the line is across
a well protected bay not so deep as to in
volve costly methods, but deep enough to
give water carriage for the materials, which
are at hand or easily procurable
The gulf floor falls away very rapidly off
the outlet, and experience proves that no
yearly extension of the works will be neces-
sary, as we know that there is a littoral cur
rent strong enough to prevent tbe formation
of a bar, bnt not strong enough to materi
ally affect the direction of the outflowing
water and defeat the object of the work by
deflecting the waters and bnrden thereof
toward or npon the coast.
Study of the above section shows ex
tremely favorable natural features insuring
the perfect success of the works. It will be
observed that there is now a shallow bar at
each of the river ontlets (except South
Pass, which discharges but one-tenth the
total outflow), and that the bulk of the river
Lonitodinal Sechon of rhe Mississippi River
Humphreys & Abbot. '
!hv N: S ,
5 T"Nr v J
s fc f'sf-
i . u
s
ft.
-"" 'SI h sL jL tdo sX Jo j'le Jo ,L i
water must be raised an average of 40 feet
ont ot the deep section of the
river to be discharged into the
gulf. This means work, and
results in a very considerable increase in the
slope of the river to overcome the obstacle,
the slope from the head of the passes to'the
gulf being seven times as great as mra Fort
St. Phillip to head of tbe passes. This is veil
shown in the following section of the river
Dea.
Theproposedlmprovement,byremovingall
oDstacles and opening an unobstructed ont
let, will so flatten the slope that the present
water heights will be verv much lowered be
low Bed river, and deep navigable water
will be extended many miles above its pres
ent limit, probably to the extent that 20 feet
or more can be carried as far up as Natchez.
The qnestion may well be raised as to the
probable eflect on the channel below Bed
river of turning into it a volume of water
probably half larger than it now accommo
dates. If tbe uncontrolled river were aug
mented in any snch ratio the answer wonld
.be very simple; the result would be the
utter ruin of the river and eTery interest
connected with it No such thing is con
templated. The controlled river would dis
charge its flood volumes in a period so pro
tracted that the maximum daily discharge
Delta of thf Mtssiipp Rtver.
I
)
would be no greater than at present; the
carrying capacity with equal slopes would
be far greater; and the greater uniformity
of flow wonld give a far more regular and
in every way snperior channel.
The maintenance of the river and its
banks would properly be assumed by the
General Government) and the character of
the necessary dikes or levees and other im
provements would be vastlv imm-nved.
rendering secure from overflow the present
ana prospective inhabitants of the reclaimed
lands and ensuring the safety and perma
nence of their investments.
The proposed improvements at the nutlet
in the upper reaches of the river, and in the
tributaries all come under a general law to
wit: the law of controlled velocities. The
proposed changes may be generally stated as
follows: where less than normal.the velocity
shonldbeaugmented;whereabovenormal,the
velocity shonld be diminished. Where the
river admits of permanent works, i.e. at the
outlet, the works should of course be nprrrm-
nent; when the discharge conditions vary
ucmecu cAiremeiimiis permanent worss can
affect the velocity at one stage only and are
worse thau useless at all other stages; there
fore the works in such places must be mov
able so that they can be adapted to varying
stages of the river and control the velocity
at all times that such action may be desir
able. A river flowing between banks of proper
contour, with suitable cross sections, will
have a suitable regimen; its constructive
and destructive actions will balance, and
the banks and channel will be permanent.
If in such a river a bar or shoal be formed
at any point, the current above the shoal is
retarded, the constrnctive action is aug
mented, and the shoal will grow from year to
year; while below the shoal the current will
be accelerated, the destrnctive action is aug
mented, the banks and bed will be washed
out, and all the conditions will favor the
growth of a second shoal below the swift
current caused bv the first sboal. If now the
velocity be sufficiently augmented by art
overthr rrest af4hafsbpaj- the said
ehoal will be washed ont, the banks and
bed below its site will cease to be destroyed,
the normal velocity will be restored, the
constrnctive and destrnctive actions will
again be in equilibrium, and the river will
neither build shoals in its channel nor wash
out its banks.
If in a river which it is desired to im
prove the discharge be uniform or vary
within moderate limits, permanent con
traction works, changing the cross section to
a form offering less friction will be success
ful, because such permanent works will at
all times control the velocity of theenrrent,
and so come under the general law above
stated. If in such a river the discharge
vary in extreme limits, permanent contrac
tion works are not applicable, and works
must be designed adaptable to varying dis
charge conditions; or dredging must be re.
Borted to. It is evident that the commonly
received statement of the jetty principle, to
wit: "A method of controlled dimensions"
can apply to successfnl works only when
they fall under the first stated law of con
trolled velocities. By the operation of this
law it is proposed to improve the non-tidal
portions of the Mississippi, and its tribu
taries. By converging the current upon
the shoals and bars and washing a deep
channel through them, continuing the ac
tion from year to year, the bed of the river
can be finally scoured down to the desired
slope and depth, the banks can be estab
lished with tbe grades necessary for safety,
and tbe country rendered well 'drained and
safe from overflows and washouts.
Intelligent supervision will easily main
tain what has been created; and at the first
sign of trouble the evil will be attacked in
its seat the shoals at the heads of the bends.
The first step in this improvement should
be the rectification of the channel by cut
offs, which would improve the carrying
capacity of the river, shorten sailing dis
tances and reduce the first cost and main
tenance. Ten or more cut-offs are desirable,
and five shonld be made by man in the best
locations before accident determines them
without reference to our interest. The five
most threatening cut-offs wonld shorten the
river fO miles; more radical measures wonld
shorten it 75 to 100 miles.
With proper precautions, cut-offs cannot
but be beneficial. Those made by engineers
Continued on Twelfth Page.
Jf
WORK OF NECESSITY.
Sunday Pnmplng of Oil Wells So
Defined -by Judge Stowe.
MATERIAL DAMAGE WOULD ENSDE
If the Salt Water Is Allowed Fnll.Sway In
the Different Wells.
BRIEF HEWS FROM THE COURTROOMS
Judge Stowe yesterday handed down his
decision in the hard fought oil well cases,
deciding in favor of the defendants.
The cases were appealed from the de
cisions of Aldermen imposing fines on the
owners of oil wells for operating on Snnday.
The informations were made by Captain
Wishart against Jennings & Patterson and
Gillespie Bros. A lengthy opinion on the
question of necessity was handed down with
the decisions. In it he said:
"The testimony taken npon the appeals in
these cases shows indubitably that if the
pumping oi the several wells involved was
entirely slopped on Sunday they would not
get back to the amount of their previous
Saturday productionuntil about Weaneiday,
thns materially reducing their weekly pro
duction from at least one-fourth to one-sixth.
There is nothing in the evidence from
which I can find that the life or period of
existence in months or years of the wells is
extended by this stoppage of pumping the
well, but, on the contrary, the weight of evi
dence shows very clearly to my mind that it
actually shortens it very materially. The
oil which is thns left in the ground, which,
by the continuous pumping, could have
been gotten ont, is a dead loss to the owners
of tbe wells a much as if it had actually
been burned up.
"The controlling question Involved in all
the cases is whether the work done by the
appellants in pumping their wells simply to
the extent appearing reasonably necessary
to keep down the flow of salt water, so that
the Monday's and subsequent production
for the week may be kept up to its regular
capacity, is under our Sunday statute a
work of necessity?
INTEKPEETATION' OP THE ACT.
"It has never been pretended that the
term in the statute, 'works of necessity,' was
intended to mean works of absolute neces
sity. The act itself specifically provides for
dressing victuals, landing passengers, ferry
ing travelers over the water, and the deliv
ery of milk and other necessaries of life.
Justice "Woodward declares that it is im
possible to lay down any general rnle as to
what are works of necessity and charity, and
says:
" 'If the works enumerated in the pro
viso of the statute be taken as a legisla
tive sample of works of necessity, it might
be said in general that supplying the ordi
nary demands of our physical natnres and
relieving from situations of peril and ex
posure are necessary acts and incur no
blame. The best we can do is to judge of
cases as they arise and to treat them as
within the prohibition or saving clauses ac
cording to the specific features which each
presents.'
"In considering this question, we must
hear in mind, as said- In reference to a sim
ilar act in Ohio by Thnrman, C. J., iu 4
Ohio, 571, that it is no part of the object of
the act to enforce the observance of a relig
ious duty. The act does not to any extent
rest npon the ground that it is immoral or
irreligious to labor orvthe Sabbath any more
than upon any other day. It simply pre
scribes a day of rest from "motives of public
policy, and as a civil regulation."
Continuing, Judge Stowe quoted extracts
from a number of decisions bearing on the
qnestion of works of necessity on Sunday.
He then said:
WITHIN THE EXCEPTIONS.
"Looking at the cases in hand in the light
of the principles announced in tbese de
cisions of the highest judicial authority and
which we consider well founded in legal
principle, tbe plain qnestion presents itself,
whether the circumstances under which the
several deiendants operated their wells upon
the several Sundays set ont in the record, by
pumping them for the purpose of prevent
ing them being injured by the accumula
tion of salt water which would have taken
place on the said Sundays, are such as may
properly be said to bring them within the
exception ot the statute.
"The evidence satisfying me that the
pumping to the extent necessary to protect
the wells from the accumulation of salt
water is required to protect the wells from
permanent injury and tbe owners thereof
from considerable damage from irreparable
loss of product, I am clearly of the opinion
to the extent necessary to prevent that re
sult, the operation of these wells by pump
ing was necessary and therefore fell within
the exception of the statute.
"In none of these cases does it appear that
unnecessary work was done by the de
iendants, and therefore judgment must be
entered lor the defendant in each case.
"The cases are ali decided solely on the
ground of necessity. I do not ca're to de
cide whether a man may carry on his or
dinary business on Suudays by automatic
machinery or contrivances which may be
made to operate for 24 hours without the
direct manipulation of human agency dur
ing tnat time, without violating the law,
until the question necessarily arises. I may
add, however, that I am not now satisfied
that such work would be lawful." In con
clusiou judgments were entered for the de
fendants. Captain "Wishart, the prosecutor in the
above cases, prosecuted a similar case at
Coraopolis yesterday afternoon against
Gillespie Bros. Justice Ferree reserved his
decision.
A MISSING CHECK.
B. K. Plain Sues a Commission Firm for
S52.G73 07.
B. K. Plain, doing business as B. K.
Plain & Co., yesterday entered suit against
F. L. Camp and Victor C. "Place, compris
ing the Pittsburg Commission Company, to
recover ?52,673 07. It is stated by Plain
that from March, 1889, to April 25, 1890, he
furnished the deiendants various sums of
money for the purpose of makinn Durchases
or stocks, groceries, etc The defendants
kept the accounts ot tbe transactions, and
notified the plaintiff at different times of
their standing. They also notified him of
sales made by them on the plaintiff's ac
count On April 25. 1890. they notified him that
they owed him 152,673 07, and said they had
sent him their check for the amount. Plain
never received tbe check, nor has he been
paid, and the suit was brought to recover
the amount.
NEXT WEEK'S TBIAL LIST.
Karnes or the People "Who Will Appear In
Criminal Court.
Following is the list of persons to be tried
in Criminal Court next week:
Josephine Demling (2), John Boyle, Edward
Kelly, Isaac "Woraser. Joseph Wormser, Sam
uol Dawson, Anthony Keavey, Charles Bonini,
George Varley, John Variey, John Haneb, Jr.,
William Bennett, James Mitchell, George F.
Pfeiler, Theodore Chapman, Betty Jlayho,
John Witmer, Joseph M. Robinson,
John Parks, Edwin L. Bness, Thomas
Strong. Michael Broderlck, Alexander
Kress, George Bauman. Jacob Baldaur, A.
G. Patton. L. Ork&njty, Charles Hendler, John
Martin. Patrick Chnrcuill. M. Scbultz, Frank
JohAskoppe, John alias Miko Betas, Paul Sel
leek, Pat Long. Charles Know, John J. Fisher,
Jr.. Ernest Raidenbacb, John Hartman, Al
Freadman, "William Bart ley, David McKnight,
Michael Leston, Charles Rosenthal, Edward
Schwerenger, James Walker, Gottlieb Letscb,
James OlieSe (2), Harry Breckenridge (.Eliza
beth Bums, Rebecca Hoyt, Michael Lulte.
Joseph Miller.
THACTIOK COMPANY SUED.
The Central Finds Three Salts for Damages
Against It.
Two suits were filed yesterday by Thomas
M. Marshall, Esq., against the Central
Traction Company for damages. The first
suit is by John H. Chilton, who claims
2,000 damages for injuries inflicted on a
son by being rnn over by car No. '62 on June
30. The next suit is brought by the boy for
$5,000 damages. The accident occurred at
the corner of "Wylie avenne and Fulton
street.
Mary S. Schoeler entered snlt against the
same company for $1,000 damages. She
alleges that on the night of September 12
she alighted from a car and fell into a hole
in the street made by employes of the com
pany. Monday's Trial IJst.
Criminal Court Commonwealth vs Josephiso
Demllng, John Boyle, Isaac "Wormser, Joseph
Wormser. Edward Kelly. Samuel Dawson, An
thony Kearney, Charles Bonini, George "Var
ley, John Varley.
To-Day In Criminal Court.
The trial list for Saturday in Criminal Court
is as follows: Samuel Maxwell, John Qninn,
John Bopp, Brontart Michos. They are surety
and desertion cases.
Briefly Told Court News.
A charter was granted yesterday for the
McKeesport Hospital.
Makt Daily yesterday entered suit
against Ezra E. Beatty for damages for breach
of promise ot marriage.
Executions against E. S. Day & Co. were
issued yesterday by tbe Anglo-American Pro
vision Company for 8,513 05, and Armour &
Co. for $2,385 89.
'Squire J A con Soffel, a tipstaff of Com
mon Pleas Court, No. 2, yesterday was ap
pointed Court Crier. He takes the place of
Crier Mitchell, wbose death occurred a few
davs ar-o. Mr. Mitchell was 84 vears of are. and
I had Deen ill for some time, 'Squire botlel act
ing in nis piace uuring nis aDsence.
NEW FEATTJTtES for the first Sunday
issue of the New Year In to-morrow's mam
moth DISPATCH.
HAKmtJ P0ETEY TO OEDEB.
Three Indianapolis Girls Try It, and Succeed
Fairly Well.
Indianapolis Journal.
Did you ever try to write a poem to or
der? Three young ladies of this city recent
ly did, with this result: For convenience,
they shall be called Sue, Kate and Flo. Sue
is a teacher, and a bard-working one. She
burst into the room one Sunday evening,
and said. "Mase me up a poem abont the
marigold, quick. I've got to have it to
morrow." "I can't make up a poem," said Kate; "I
never did such a thing in my life."
"Oh, -yes you can, you've got to," said the
excited Sue: "I've hunted everywhere for
something about the marigold, and I can't
find a word not a word. I must have it to
morrow, so think of something, quick."
The three girls put their beads together
and thought. "What does a marigold look
like?" asked Flo. "Oh, I'll get you one,"
and ont rushed Sue to return with the
flower.
"Oh. marigold I Oh, marigold" vent
ured Kate.
"Where did you get your gold?"
"Oh, no; that won't do," said Sue, who
was getting nervous. "You can't say gold,
and gold that's no rhyme. Now, girls,
let's think. Yon try Flo.
Flo gave a hysterical giggle and said: "A
marigold grew in the garden, and and
everybody begged its pardon."
"There's no sense to that," said Sue. "Oh,
now gifi, don't laugh. I'll write it myself.
Let's see:"
"Oh, marigold oh, marigoldl Ob,
pshawl How do they write poetry, any
way? Now stop laughing, girls, and all
think."
"Marigold, hold your shining clusters up.
That's good; that's splendid."
"But it's onlv one flower," said Kate; "it
isn't a cluster."
"That makes no difference; it sounds well,
and it's going "
"Marigold, hold your shining clusters np
up up cup slup pup "
"And while you do I'll bring the pup,"
suggested Flo.
"Ob, girls, don't. I was getting it splen
did. Think oi something to rhyme with
up, can't you?"
"Marigold, .hold your shining clnsters up
up sup stup. What does go with np?"
"While you do, we'll all go in and sup,"
said Kate.
"Too manv feet," said Sue.
"Then we'd go in and sun on one foot,"
said Flj. "How many fee: can you have?"
"Ob, vou know what I mean poetical
feet like.
Ma rv had a lit tie lamb.
Its fleece was white as snow
Don't you know, has to be smooth."
Flo ran her her hands through her bangs,
shut her eyes and thought. Finally she
drew" a long breath and said, wtthont stop
ping: "When the summer flowers are fast asleep,
Marigold her watch doth keep.
Her dress is green her bair is gold
And so she doesn't mind the cold.
"There! That's a good one, Sue."
"That isn't so bad," said Sue, "bnt it
won't do, it doesn't sound sensible. Of course
poetry isn't just exactly sensible, but it has
to have sense too, then it has to rhyme, and
it has to have the same number of feet and
it has to sound smooth and ohI don't know
what it don't need."
"I know whatl need," said Kate. "About
ten years to write one poem in. Why don't
you take something like 'Roses are red, and
violets blue,' or something and change it to
marigold. Like, 'Marigolds are yellow and
violets blue' or something."
"Oh, don't try to write any more poetry
to-night," said Flo, "I'll die if you do."
"Well," said Sue, "I don't know what
I'll do to-morrow, bnt I can't think of anv
thing but"
"Marigold hold your, shining clusters
up and not a thing to rhyme with it."
"If my splendid effort 'is rejected," said
Flo, "I'll withdraw."
"Marigold comes in the fall, and makes
us crazr, one and all," said Kate. "That
settles it, poetry and I are outJ'
EURO PE contributes all her news by cable
for to-morrow's DISPATCH. Its cable let
ters are exhaustive and exclusive.
THE BIG F0TJB IN ST. I0TJIS.
The Local Butchers Will Combine to Fight
the Great Packers.
St. Louis, Jan. 2. Quite a stir has been
created among the large butchers of this city
by the recent publication ot the purpose of
Messrs. Armour, Swift and Morris, of Chi
cago, and "Hammond, of Baltimore, to ac
quire control of the National and Union
Slock Yards, of East St. Louis and St.Louis
respectively. Matt Courtney, one ol the
largest butchers Of the city, admits that 'he
local butchers are going to give tbe big
packers the cold shoulder.
"It is a fact," said he, "that we have de
cided to build an abattoir where we can han
dle cattle as cheaply und as advantageously
as the largest concerns in the land. Our
plant willcost about $100,000, and will have
a capacity ot 200 beeves and as many hogs
per day."
READ the opening chapters of JOA
QUIN MILLER'S new story In TO-MOR-KOW'S
DISPATCH.
Siuloh's Cube will immediately relieve
crour),whoopine cough and bronchitis. Sold by
Jos. Fleming & San. 412 Market St.
THE CRITIC'S REVIEW.
Boots Examined for All Sorts of Chil
dren, Little and Ijig.
THE CENTURY'S GpOD DICTION AEI.
Mr. Lecky's Faithful History of the Modern
English .Nation.
HOW ix TEEATS THE IRISH QDEST10N
Let us begin at the beginning with the
babies. Here is "The Baby's Journal,"
(A. D. F. Kandolph & Co.: J. B.Weldin &
Co., 1 50), with a title page bestrewn, like
a nursery floor, with rattles, and
balls, and tops, and dolls and a
rabbit and a babv shoe in the middle.
And then follow spaces and pages
for all the happenings of an eventful baby
hood the naming, and the weighing, and
the christening gifts. No chronicle is kept
of tumbles. That, perhaps, would take too
many pages. The little crumpled shoes
near the end of the book may stand for that.
All through rnns the pleasantest chain of
golden verses, capitally selected; beginning
with "The Bairn That is Born on the Sab
bath Day," and ending with this bit of
rhyme about the little feet:
Two little feet, so small that both may nestle
In one caressing hand,
Two tender feet upon the untried border
Of life's mysterious land.
Ab! Who may read tho future? For onr darling
We crave all blessings sweet.
And pray that He wbo feeds the crying ravens.
Will guide the Baby's feet.
Alice Bray compiled and designed this
pleasant little gift for a new mother.
"Baby's Kinedom" (Lee & Shepard, J.
B.r Weldin & Co.) is by Annie F. Cox.
Within these golden covers, and upon these
wide, fair pages the mother may write her
story of the "Progress of the Baby" a much
more agreeable and hopeful "progress" than
any which Hogarth put into bis pictures.
Mary, tbe Virgin Mother, "kept all these
sayings in her heart," as all good mothers
do. But here is a way of keeping them in
a book also. The old blank leaves between
the Testaments of the family Bible have
grown and flowered ont into this beautiful
volume. The date of baby's birth; baby's
weight, increasing month by mouth; tbe
gifts and the christening; the first words,
the first tootb, the first step all have places
for the pen of the chronicler. Bits of
poetry, admirably chosen, and attractively
set upon the page, lullabys and slumber
songs, and sweet pictures, and baby's
progress at the end, make a royal book for
"Baby's Kingdom."
II.
And now, tbe boysl Good books for boys
that is what all good fathers and mothers
are on the watch for. And here, fortunate
ly, are two or three excellent ones this week,
which Tbe Critic can commend as interest
ing, profitable and uplifting real good,
healthy boobs, about possible boys, wbo are
good company for Pittsburg boys. First,
"King Tom and the Runaways" (D.Apple
ton & Co.; J. K. Weldin & Co.), bv Louis
Pendleton tbe adventures of two boys iu a
Georgia swamp. Snakes and bears" make
things interesting for this pair of lost
urchins. Stories told by plantation fire
sides are told again, for our reading in the
warmth of natural gas-r .Xhe ways.and man-,
ners and looks of things in Georgia before
any unwelcome visitors came "marching
through" those regions are admirably pict
ured. Some old boys will enjoy this book
as much as the young boys.
"From Boyhood to 'Manhood" is one of
those helpful books, ot which there cannot
well be too many, which show how some
real boy turned stumbling-blocks into stepping-stones
and made a success out of a Jife
which started ont along hard lines. Benja
min Franklin is the hero of "From Boyhood
to Manhood." (James H. Earle; J. E.
Weldin & Co. ?1 50.) William H. Thayer,
the author, has also written, for the reading
of young people, the lives of Washington
and Lincoln and of Garfield and Grant.
Tbese books are pretty sure to make the
boys who read them better citizens and bet
ter men. The life of Benjamin Franklin
readily lends itself to purposes of edifica
tion, it is full of texts. Few men have made
more of themselves thau this resolute, per
sistent, industrious boy, who at the start
made up his mind to succeed, and did suc
ceed. Mr. Thayer has done nis work; well.
He has not much to say of Franklin as a
public man. He wants to show what made
Franklin the kind of public man he was.
"The Naturalist in Silnna" (Gebbie &
Co.; J. B. Weldin & Co.) will interest all
boys who, like Franklin, are hungry after
knowledge. Captain Mayne Beid is the
author a name, a classic in the sort of
literature which boys are fond of. You
know at once, when you Bit down to one of
his stories, that there is to be a good deal of
storv with a good deal more of out-doors in
its breezv pages. Here is the ont-doors
without thestory. "Siluria" is a title with
a geological and prehistoric sound. You
think ot fossils. But "Silurian" meant at
the besinningof its use the ancient rocks
discovered in that southern part of Wales
where the Silures lived, according to
Ptolemy. And it is these southern counties.
which the author has in mind in naming
this last published of his many books. Here
Captain Mayne Iieid lived. And in this
book he tells all about it; how the seasons
come and go, and how the birds and beasts
behave themselves, and what the boys find
in the AVelsh woods.
"Thine, Not Mine" (Roberts Bros.; J. E.
Weldin & Co., $1 25), is a sequel to
"Changing Base," one of the best bovs'
books that was ever written. There is a big
bat on the cover, to prophesy that another
baseball story is inside. And the prophecy
is a true one. Good boys and bad boys enter
into the story as they do into the lileof every
day; and get their deserts as they do, too.
The tone of the book iu Us dealing with re
ligion, from which it makes no pretense oi
fighting shy, is manly and helpful. So it is
all the way through. A capital book for a
Sunday school library, or for any bright
boy's bookshelf.
After these excellent things for the boys,
here is a book for girls, as good as any ot
them, "Maroufsia, a Maid of Ukraine"
(Dodd, Mead Ss Co., Presbyterian book
store). It is well bound, in the first place,
and well printed, though tbe pictures are
not particularly good. It is translated from
the French, and the translation is so well
done that one is not reminded of it any
where. The style has that simplicity which
is so pleasant in tbe shorter stories of Tolstoi.
The scene is laid in Ukraine. The Cossacks
of Ukraine were like soldiers fighting iu a
four square fort, with a different enemy on
each side Bussia and Poland, and the
Turks and the Tartars. At last choosing (as
they thoncht) the lesser evil, they surren
dered to Bussia. But they speedily began
to repent them ol their bargain. They be
gan to regret their old independence now
taken away. They wanted it back. And,
inevitably, there Ciine an uprising,
a revolution. It had its heroes and
its traitors, and, of course, there
was a failure at (he end of
it so much of a failure that tiic very name
of the Ukraine has now given way lo the
titles of the Bussian provinces into which it
was divided. The story begins with the
first stir of revolution. Revolutions are al
waysjntcresting; heroism is always attrac
tive. And obscurity does not of necessity
diminish the excitement of the revolution,
nor lessen the character of the hero. Tbe
book is the story of the revolt of the Ukraine
Cossacks, and littlo Maroussia was the Joan
of Arc of that wild country.
III.
The fourth volume ot the "Century Dic
tionary" (The Century Co.. H. Watts &
Co.) contains the letters from M to P. The
Century Dictionary is by all odds tbe best
looking of all the dictionaries. Its clear
type, its wonderfully good illustrations, its
convenient shape and its wide pages, com
mend it at the first glance. This volume is
rich in scientific and technical words. Any
dictionary, which is five years old, is away
behind the times in this department.
The Century is the only dictionary which is
up to date. Anybody who thinks that one
dictionary is about as good as another, is
commended to the word "put." This word
takes seven long columns, is defined in more
than a score of various meanings, and is
illustrated with nearly two hnndred quota
tions, ranging Irom Merlin and Milton to
the New York Trioune of last May. This is
an example of the care which is used with
even the commonest words. Two more
volumes, being eight issues of the monthly
parts, Trill complete this great work.
Lecky's "England in the Eighteenth
Century," (D. Appleton & -Co.; J. E.
Weldin & Co., $2 25 a volume) comes to
the, last year of its time limit with tbe
seventh and eighth volumes. In thise eight
big books the events of English history from
the reign of William and Mary to the last
years of George III are set down minutely
as in a daily newsnaper,Jfully, fairly and ac
curately. WhenWilliam of Orange landed at
Torbay in 1688, modern English history be
gan. It is remarkable in looking over these
pages to see how mnch of importance lay
between the battle of tbe Boyne and the bat
tle of tbe Nile. The two great revolutions, in
France and in America, the administration
of Pitt and Fox, the orations of Burke, the
trial of Warren Hastings, the rise and
spread of Methodism, the difficulties of
Ireland, tbe invention of the spinning
machine by Arkwright, and of the steam
engine by Watt these two latter happenings
alone, what industrial and commercial
overturnings of things they have accom
plished! And this was but a hnndred years
ago!
Tnese two last volumes are of the nature
of a supplement dealing with the conditions
of things In Ireland during the last eight
years of the centnry. Mr. Lecky has
studied these years particularly and
thoroughly, reading everything that is read
able, mucb of it in mannscript; the letters
of statesmen, the communications ot inform
ers, the journals of interested people. This
is a period whose history "has been very
imperfectly written, and usually under the
influence of the' most furions partisanship.
There is hardly a page of it which is not
darkened by the most violently contradictory
statements," Out of this chaos, order; out of
tbese contradictions, trnth that is the
problem. Mr. Lecky . has probably ap
proached nearer to a solntiou than any other
writer. This, at least, can be said for him,
that he has spared no pains to learn the ac
curate facts, and has in no instance twisted
the facts to fit the crowded places of any
partisan theory.
"There is a method," says Mr. Lecky in
his preface, "a method of dealing with his
torical facts which has been happily com
pared to that of a child with his box of let
ters, who picks ont and arranges those let
ters, and those only, which will spell the
words on which he has prev'onsly deter
mined, leaving all others untouched. In
Irish history this method has been abund
antly practiced, and among the many crimes
and errors that have been committed by all
parties, it is not difficult to select on either
side the materials of a very effective party
narrative. I have endeavored to write this
history in a different spirit."
It is interesting and instrnctive to com
pare England's success in India with her fail
ure in Ireland. There are 200,000,000 ot peo
ple beside the Indian Ocean, and only about
3,000,000 across the Irish Sea; but the affairs
of India go on comfortably, while Ireland,
as at present, is a name to start a fight with.
Too much political meddling, Mr. Lecky
thinks. Ireland is too close at hand, and
too mnch involved in the interests of En
glish partisanship. Tne Irish are ex
ploited for political advantage, like the
negroes ot the South. The Irish question,
like the negro question, will never get satis
factory settlement till -it gets out of the
hands of party politicians. Indeed, what
scrions question can ever come to fair judg
ment in that court? Mr. Lecky's history,
in its impartial presentation of both sides,
represents the temper which alone can s,'lve
important problems. The more of it the bet
ter, says The Cbiiic.
THE DWARFS OF AFRICA U the subject
of a paper bv the famous ethnoloslst. Dr.
Oskar Leaz of the University of Prague, In
THE DISPATCH to-morrow. All the news.
BEEB AT THE SOLDIEBS' HOME.
It Has Decreased Drunkenness Among the
Veteran Inmates.
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
The huge beer saloon established a year or
more ago at the Soldiers' Home, at Dayton,
has been a unqualified success. Despite the
objections nrged against the establishment
of it, time has shown that the generous flow
of lager beer over the broad connter of the
Home bar has not increased drunkenness
among the 5,000 inmates. On the contrary,
it has reduced the amount of drunkenness,
and fewer men are in the guard honse or
working "on the dump" than ever before.
A very large proportion of the veterans are
not aver:: to a drink of either malt or spirit
ons liqnor, and now that they are able to
get the former at the Home very few of
them drift into the vile dens on the out
skirts of Dayton, where formerly they used
to indulge in a brand of liquor that would
kill at six paces, and be robbed of their pen
sion money with neatness and dispatcb,after
they had fallen by the wayside.
When tbe veterans couldn't get their beer
at tbe Home they went to town for it. Beer
they were bound to have, and the wisdom of
the policy of providing it at the Home has
been demonstrated by experience. Tbe old
soldiers participate in the profits from the
beer tliev consume, in that the small margin
of profit over and above the cost of the beer
goes into an entertainment fund. This
fund furnishesamusements for them summer
and winter. In summer they have a comic
opera troupe, and in the winter all tbe
traveling theatrical companies play in the
cozy little theater at the Home. If it were
not for the beer they drink at tbe Home
their amusements would be limited, for in
all their experience they never found that
the saloons they used to patronize before the
one at tbe Home was established, furnished
them passes to the theaters or free tickets to
all the fine concerts. No whisky is sold at
the Home. .
IAST WEEK'S UST OF DEATHS.
Pneumonia and Diphtheria Caused the
Greatest Number.
The mortuary report for the week ending
December 27 shows a total number of 92
deaths as compared with 83 during the cor
responding period of 1889. In regard to tbe
different sections of the city there were 25
deaths in the old city; 33 in the East End;
21 on tbe Soutluide, and 13at the institu
tions. Nineteen of the deaths were those
of children under 1 year of age; 6 between
the ages of 1 and 2 ye.irs; 9 be
tween the ages of 2 and 5 year-;
5 between the ages 5 and 10 years, 3 between
the ages ot 10 and 20 years, 18 between the
age of 20 and 40 year, 17 between the ages
of 40 and CO ye.irs. 13 between the ages of GO
and 80 years and 2 between the ages of 80
nnd U0 yejrs. "
There were 17 deaths from pneumonia, 7
from diphtheria, 6 front typhoid fever, 3 from
phthisis pulmonis, 5 from diseases of the
nervous system, 3 from diseases of the cir
culatory system, 1 from asthma, 3 from
croup, 1 from laryngitis, G from bronchitis,
4 Irom congestion of the lungs, 8 from dis
eases of the digestive system, 2 from prema
ture birth, 3 Irom old age, 1 from debility,
5 from railroad injuries, 2 from street car
accidents, 1 from gunshot wonnd and 2 from
violent causes.
AN INFIDJUS GHOST
Keeping a Solemn Promise That Was
Made in the Flesh.
FRIENDS VISITED AFTER DEATH.
Crawling Thronj:h Snow to Investigate a
Supernatural Light
AN MBASI SPIRIT LAID TO BEST
Bajtgoe, Jan. 2. A Burlington, Me.,
correspondent tells the following first-class
ghost story:
My father was a well-to-do farmer living
in West Newfield, Me. So were all his
neighbors, in regard to rum and cider to
drink, and food to eat and raiment to wear.
Beside this Christian faith they had one
failing. That was, they believed in ghosts,
all except one man by the name of W.
Heath. This man was a pure infidel. He
neither believed in God or heaven. He was
my father's nearest neighbor. He was
always, while talking, interjecting between
his words, "ahem! ahem! "HEM!"
Mr. Heath was between 50 and 60 years
old when he died. My father, with B. Jor
dan, A. Furual, G. Bogers and S. Knox,i
was summoned by Mrs. Heath, wife of the
sick man, for ha had instructed her to tell
them he was agoing to die. They were all
soon at his bedside. He appeared sane and
said, "Neighbors, I have summoned you to
attend on me while I am dying for lam
going to die hard. Now, if there fs a place
of punishment, where I am going from this
world to the unknown, I will come back and
let you all know it"
Dying In Great Agony.
He died the same as he had said, hard;
that was, in great agony. It took the four
men's combined strength to keep him on tbe
bed. Between the violent fits of pains in
death throes that had seized him, he would
exclaim, "Neighbors, yonr Satanic Majesty
is here; there he stands beside yon, looking
on to see me die." He-struggled in this war
for four hours before he gave up his life in
this world-for another hie in the unknown
hereafter.
Three daysafter he died hi3 funeral sermon
was preached and his remains were carried
to a new burying ground on Mr.B. Jordan's
farm, 15 rods or so to the northwest of Mr.
Jordan's honse, but in plain sight of it.
There Mr. Heath's remains were deposited
in a grave dog on top of a little knoll in the
center of the burying ground and left there
for good.
Before the people had got through the dis
cussion of Heath's deathbed scene, the whole
neighborhood for two miles north and south
on the road each way from this burying
ground, was, in three nights from the time
that the last shovelful of dirt was put on top
of Heath's grave, raised to the highest pitch
of excitement. Between the honrs of 11 and
12 each night Mr. Heath's spirit visited 12.
houses three nights in succession. Each
time that it oame it would stop at the head
of the bed ot each head of the family; no
other bed was visited.
The Ghost's Mode of Salutation.
His spirit wonld wake the sleeping inmate
of the bed by clapping its hands together
three times, and then rubbing tbem briskly,
and each time the spirit wonld say, "Ahem!
Ahem! 'Hem!" and then stop.
My father sprang ont of the bed with tho
exclamation: '"Mother, Heath is at the
head of the bed." Then he ran to the fire
place and raked open the coals, so the light
would reveal any person or persons that
might be in the room. The light reyealed
no one bnt father and mother, and the
writer of this and his wee brother in a trun
dle bed with him. Each time Heath's spirit
spoke, I heard and recognized his voice
plainly. This was in the fall of the year of
1835, in the middle of September.
Altera time the neighborhood anieted
(down. Winter 3et in unusually severe that
year; tne snow pnea down deep and drifted
bad. In the middle of February Mr. Jor
dan summoned my father, Furnal, Deacon
S. Dam, Bogers, E. Pearson and S. Knox
to his house. Jordan said that he and his
wife bad seen a light on top of Heath's
grave for a week, between 11 and 12 o'clock
every night, and if the light appeared again
that night he would like all of them to go
with him and investigate it.
Crawling Toward the Light.
Sure enough, the light appeared just at
the precise time, 12 o'clock. Now the snow
was deep, so they all had to crawl on their
hands and knees the distance to the burying
ground from the honse and back. For three
nights these men watched that light, and
made the jobrney to that burying ground
and back to Mr. Jordan's house. They all
affirmed that the light was on Heath's grave
when they arrived at the wall that enclosed
the ground.
Nowhere were seven men, representing
seven different religions, down on their knees
crawling through deep snow to an infidel's
grave, in tbe depth of winter. Mr. Jordan
took the lead. He was in faith a Sweden
borgian; father next, a Methodist; Furnal, a
Freewill Baptist; S. Dam, a Congrega
tionalist; Bogers, a Quaker; Pearson, a
Universalis; Knox, a Unitarian; all good
Christians. And all came back from
Heath's grave to their several homes firm be
lievers that Heath had fulfilled his promise
to some of tbem on his deathbed that if he,
Heath, found a place of punishment in the
tfnknown he wonld come back and let them
know it. After these men visited Heath's
grave no more lights were seen. His spirit
rested thereafter.
READ the ppeninc chapters of JOA
QUIN 3IIXLEIV3 new story In TO-1IOE-,
ROWS DISPATCH.
LANDSLIDES OH THE B0ADS.
The B. & O.'Eoad Rlocbaded at West New
touand Osceola.
Landslides on the railroads were the order
of the day. Part of two farms at Osceolal
and West Newton paid the Baltimore and
Ohio road a visit 'bout 2 o'clock yesterday
morning. 'They came down bag and bag
gage with all their relatives, and blockaded
the tracks. The eastbonnd track at both
places was soon cleared off, but the west
track won't be ready for nse before to-night.
Passengers are being transferred at West
Newton. The through express from the
East due here in the morning did
not arrive belore 5 o'clock in the
evening, but it was delayed on the main
stem oast of Cumberland. The Wheeling
division, which always canses the most
trouble, is iu good shape.
Early in the morning also part of the
large bill back of the Clinton mills on the
Soutbside came down on the Panhandle
tracks. The through trains were delayed
four hours. The damage to railroad prop
el ty will be $200. One of the tracks on the,
Pittsburg, Virginia and Charleston, between'
Harden and Green Springs, was carried f
away by a rush of earth from the hillside.
All trains were held several hours.
DIED AT DIXM.0NT.
An Old, Insane Pole, "Who Peddled Jewelry,
Ends Life There.
Hermann Kopsoski died yesterday morn
in Dixmont. He was a jewelry peddler
and for a number of years was confined at
the city farm, and abont a'jear ago was
transferred to Dixmont.
He leaves a wife and four children, who
now live on Shaw alley. He was a member '
of several beneficial orders, one of which
paid hfs wife $10 a week, and another will
pay her a death beneht ot $1,000,
1
3
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2
Ski
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