msmmm -ar" rfSSsw?? KS" 3fft igasaes r 14 A REVIEWOFSPOHTS. Good and Bad Points of the New Kational Board That Is to Control Baseball. :A PLATERS' EEPEESEKTAT1YE. ijat Famll'i Challenge to Fitzsimmoni and Other Hlddle-WeighU Discussed from Tarious Standpoints. ABOUT THE COMING GL0TE FIGHTS. YntyxAl if. Beat Btzntlonil Test Bsms tat Piter Priddy'i Chiicti. Surely there is plenty of talk about at present regarding baseball affairs, indeed there is so much that in some respects enough cannot be said. 'Without doubt we are entering upon a new era in baseball his tory. A new departure of an extraordinary kind has been made and it remains to be seen whether or no the results will be for the weal or for the woe of the national game. The unprecedented plau of putting the con trol of baseball throughout the country in the hands of three men is to be tried and certainly that is a departure that was dreamt of a short time ago. It is a bold, diplomatic aud 1 Tenture to say, a wise step. There is considerable heroism connected with such a departure and 'a vast amount of policy. Of course there are more ways than one of looking at it. I am aware that some authorities have very serious misgivings about the new Rational Board. It would seem unnecessary to deal with any objections to it at present inas much as it would be more generous to allow the board to act before it is criticised. True, the system of placing the control of the national game almost entirely in the hands of three men is centralization, but it is centralization of a kind that circum stances and conditions have forced -upon business men for adoption. The principal is a correct one at this juncture and it remains to be seen whether or not the gentlemen clothed with extraordinary powers will act In accord ance with the correct and fundamental principles that places them in their positions. This very powerful trinity that has been created, viz., Messrs. Rogers, KrauthofT aud Thurman, will be the cusureof all eyes in the baseball world on verj many occasions, and depend upon it that while tuey ma be the objects of much ap plause, now and then ruanj a mid and furious tirade "ill be made againtheui and their find ings. This is as sere to happen as we lire, and to me it Is a question whether three men can be formidable enough to withstand the censures ar.d charges th it are snre to be hurled at them by discruntled people. t A Benefit to l'layer. It is generally understood that the National Board is to be a great benefit to players. I trust it will, but I cannot help observing that the board i made up of gentlemen who are Simon-pjre-djed-m.lhe-'uoo magnates. Bear in mind I don't mean by this to insinuate that the gen tlemen in question will shut their eyes to the rlchtsof ballplayers when called upon to deal with them. I believe they mil be actuated by their honest convictions, but it is natural to ex pect that these honest convictions Mill lean toward the sifie of the mag nates. This is human nature De cause daily business life is full of instances proving tuat the honest convictions ot employers lead them to think quite contrary to their einploje, although as far as a matter of right is concerned the cnnvictious of the workmen are the true one-. 1 have in my time had much experience with boards whose duties were to fceltle uifiVrences and claims, and have bad the honor of orhciating on borne, but I have riever had implicit faith in any board whne fuuctio s were to adjudicate between employer and emplojed made up entirely of employers. The truth 1-. the period when a board of that Lind was believed in has gone b. and it is too late in the day nun- to expect the masses of America to look upon anv such board as a thoroujzuly representative one. I have already said that the policy of crcatiug the National Board was a good policy. It is good in so far that it cementt the magnates, aud there the good part of it ends. As it is now composed almost every ' pljer who appeals to it, and whose appcil is shelved. 'is almost sure m say "Why, I couldn't expect acjthim: cle. Thej'reall magnates ou that boara," apd charges or complaints of this kind, vi hen continued, are sure to have consid erable influence with the public Well, some of my reader may no doubt bo si inn: " Vhat wouldoudo?" I'll tell you. I would put a player on the board. That would be a stroke ot policy, and that would tend to cement not oulj all the magnates but all the players. 1 am aware of the antipathy of the magnates con cerninc bavin: ball plavers figure in their de liberations at all. but as dignified, as learned, and as wealthy gentlemen as the magnates have long since consented to sit at the table with their cmploves and settle their differences and those of their fellows. Local Club Affairs. I haven't much to say to-day about the local club. Up to the time I'm writing, Saturday evening, the prospects ot securing a sumcient quantity of good men are not at all encourag icc. There are several good pljyers ou the string, but they are also on the strings of other people, and heretofore it has been the lot of Pittsburg to ahvajs "get left." Certainly President O'Neill is working like a Trojan to secure some hrst-clas plajers, but there are stioti very strong forces arraved against bim. All the boastmzs of League magnates concerning a generous distribution of stars plajers turns out to be idle talk. Every bod) is Tor himself and the strongest has the best of tr. The local club has signed llierbauer and Mack, aud. strange to sav, the American Association wants both these men. I don't urge the violation of any rule, but when it coi.ics to such unreasonable claims as that, it is evident there is no respect for right, and what Is required, is lor him to catch who can. Now tbatthetwo plajers in question Lave been sigpe4 the local club should hold on to them until every particle ot law has been tested. The indications are that we won't get Ward. As a matter of business it would seem best for him to Come here. He cannot gain anything in Brooklvn. 1 he team there is a pennant win ner and cannot get any higher, but may get lower. The team here cannot get any lower, but may get higher. It is. therefore, clear that "Ward would hav e nothing to lose here and very much to gam. But if he docs not want to come there is no necessity for force. l'ugllistic Affairs. After a storm c-niesacalm, is a saying that we all hare beard, and its truth has been fully set forth during the week just ending, as far as pugilistic affairs are concerned. The week has almost all been absorbed by echoes of the Demnsej-Fitzsimmons batilc, and I daresay those who would believe nothing else than the statement that no middle-weight in the world could touch Dempsey hate about recovered from their surprise, bincellast wrote on this subject I have met one or two friends who witnessed the fight. One of these friends, who, by the waj, is an excellent judge of either a glove contest or a prize ring battle, tells me that Dempsey had "no more bow than a child." ily friend goes on to say that the plucky "Nonnareil" never seemed to hare an opportunity to put any ring tactics into operation at all and that when be bravely stood and faced bis big opponent bis blows had no effect whatever. Fitzsim moos, says my friend knew be was a wluner in the first rournl, and Dempsey was also aware of that fact. This is one opinion or a very large number that have been expressed during the week, and it is worthy of note that all opinions of eje vitnesfes substantially agree with the god reports of the newspapers. As a result of the very one-sidedness of tue battle many peo- Sle are of the opinion that it bae yet to e proven whether or cot Kitzsimmons rralijr is the woudtrheis held up to bo by bis frience. There certainly is much to be said in defense of this opinion, because If a man like Hrenau, or like Tom King, had beaten Demp sey, none of us for a moment would haro taken that achievement as a proof of the first-class abilities of either Heenan or King. There really was snob a disparity between Dempsey and Fltiilmmons that we cannot with absolute safety come to the conclusion that Fitzslmmons is a "wonder" because he defeated Dempsey o easily. I admit that Fitzslmmons is a tighter, and a good out, but a wonder is something more than a "good"'man. Good Advice Neglected. While speaking of D-mpsey I am reminded of some excellent advice that he received in this city from a very Intimate friend of mine, and a gentleman who knows as much about pugilists and pugilism as any man whom I bare over met. When Dempsey was last in this city, my friend metjilm and they, of course, began a conversation about Fitzslmmons. My friend was extremely frank, because be had a very high admiration for Dempsey, and expressed himself as follows: "Now, lee mo tell you Jack, that Fitzslmmons is too big for you, and If you were to tram as clean as he does, you would be below HO pounds. Let met tell yon. further, that the people who are persuading you to meet 151-pound men are leadlng'you astray,' because that is much above your weight." Dempsev, dauntless as usual, replied that lie would certainly sign articles to fight Fitzslmmons as soon as he arrived at his home in Portland. "Then." rejoined my friend, "if you persist in that take mv advice and have a look at v our man before jou out your name to the articles." Ihis was probably tho best ad vice ever given to Dempsey and had he not neg lected it matt era might have been quite differ ent with him to-day. Dempsey may and may not fight again, but he will do well if he takes care nut to allow height, weight aud reach to be against bim. A "Week of. Challenges. Any number of men are talking about fight ing Fitzslmmons, and the latter, as far as I know, has had nothing to say in return. If be follows the example of modern pugilists he will meet nobody until he has squeezed the sbofe business for all that it Is worth. Ue has many examples to fol low on this point, indeed, the general opinion already seems to be: "If he won't Bgbt for a year you cannot blame bim. He is in the busi ness formoney." The modern conception of pucilistn takes this new ol the mattcr.no doubt, but it ia bad one and it another feat ure of the glove contest era in which the pub lic has been niched of thousands of dollars. The time was when a champion was bound to acknowledge a challenge if it was bona fide and if there was money behind it. That is not the rule now because it is not stake money that managers and others are after; it is the money of tho public In other words pugilism, or so-called pugilism, has become reduced to a show business and the great aim is to get the public to the show. This reminds me of the recent challenge of Fat Farrell to Fitzslmmons. Some of" the most ridiculons opinions -hare been expressed regarding that challenge. I certainly defend the challenge because it is a bona fide one. I hare a right to do that without eren expressing an opinion as to whether Farrell has or uas not any chance to defeat Fitzslmmons. Dozens of times I have been asked. "Why. what has Farrell doner Nowlwaut to point out that it is not what be has done, but what he wants to do. He has backers who are prepared to stake S3, 000 or fG,- 000 on their opinion that he can defeat Fitz slmmons or any other 16S-pound man in the country. In sporting affairs 1 haveal ways been led to believe that it was good policy to keep a "dark horse" as long as possible, and use him to tho very best advantage. In all branches ot sport this has been a recognized rule or custom. Let us take a Sheffield handi cap, for instance. Whv, it is the man with no record there that is invariably dangerous; it is the "dark horse," who has been kept on the quiet without doing anything in public, and no body would think of ignoring these dark ones siinplr because they hadmade no "reputation," as it is c tiled. Very well, then; if the backers of Pat Farrell have been attending to him on the quiet for two or three years and are now convinced that he is as zood as anybody at 153 pounds, and are prepared to stake about SO, 000 on that conviction, surely their challenge de mands serious attention. We must assume, nay, we must admit, that these backers know more about Pat Farrell's abilities than the pub lic does, and most assuredly peopleare not now adays lnvestinc $5,000 or $6,000 without believ ing they bare a strong chance of getting more than their own money back. TT A Business-Like Offer. But Farrell does not confine himself to Fitz slmmons. A day or two ago there appeared in this paper a statement to the effect that be would fight any 15S-pound man In the country for the belt offered by It. IC. Fox. Farrell par ticularly mentioned Reddy Gallagher, Kessler and Carroll, ot Brooklyn, because these men are not eDgaged at present. This does not mean that he is not anxious to meet anybody outside of these men. He is willing to fight the winner of the Mitchell-LaBlanche contest or.as I have above stated, he will meet any middle-weight. Now I ask is this offer not a fair one and a business one? Certainly it is not necessary for Farrell to half kill a number of men before ho can scenre a match; I am not now discussing the abilities of Farrell: that Is another matter and when he is matched I will be prepared to deal with that phase of the sub ject. What I claim at present is that nobodr can afford to treat with contempt his offers be cause, taking everything into consideration, the? are more bona tide than the majority of offers and as much so as any that have 'been mad The Modern Big Purses. The following opinions of Henry Samosou relative to the big purses of to-day- and the small stakes of years ago are sure to be of gen eral interest, because there is much truth in them. He says: Tho more one knows of what used to happen in the days when men had really to fight for erery farthing, and very often got soundly thrashed for nothing, the more is he astounded at what I hope I am right in calling our recent maniacal departure in the wav of purses; 5 or 10 most was considered a sufficient stake for anyone to light for who had not shown himself to be a real flyer; and teal flyers could be mentioned who never' fought for, or who at all event; never won, more than a tenner. The foremost of all champions, Tom Savers him self, never fought for 200 a side until close on to the end of his career. Two hundred pounds a Mile was then supposed to be the summit of the greatest man's ambition, and to the end jrallantTom never dreamt of exceculng it. Only fancy what was got e through between him and Dan Collins before it was settled which of them was to win a ponyl When Savers and Jones fought one another to a stand still for 100 a side, and the battle stood ad journed for six weeks or so. It was thought a most wonderful thing that the. principals should during the aojournmentbet one another an additional 100 level. After Savers won tho championship, and had happened on the first of bis easy things with Bill Bainge (or Benjamin), Paddock, one of the best men ever seen in the ring the really best m in of his day bnt for blind bad temper challenged Savers, but could not .raise the stipulated amount for a cbamnionsbip right, "200; bayers generously enough waived his rizbt and fought for the stake Paddock was able to raise, viz., 150. Talking about Bill Benjamin It is just on the cards that be was born a bit too early. I saw him spar very well indeed with the gloves, and should think It quite likely that if gloves andnot fists had had to be used bv them he might have bested Savers, especially when they came together for the second tussle. Just as Tom Savers would have been an outsider if there had been i.o fighting but glove fighting in his day, so we may reckon that sooieof our gluve champions would have been something other than champions if they bad nad to try their bands at knuckle fighting. A Few Words About Heavy-TVelghta. During the week various rumors hare been current regarding Slavin, Sullivan, Corbett and others. I am inclined to believe that all the talk concerning these big men has been for "show" purposes because every one of them is more or less in that line of business. Whether or not the object ot the talk has been what I say there are some matters connected w ith it of interest to those who are patrons of the ring. We are told that John It's friends waited upon him and asked him if be would fight Slavin. The former did not hesitate a moment and said he would certainly be willing to fight Slavin sit rounds with big gloves for S500 or $5000. Sullivan then gave his reasons for de clining a prize-ring contest A few days later Sullivan stated that he would not be at liberty to fight anybody for two years, ana this is the latest from Sullivan. It is very problematical whether Sullivan and Slavin will ever meet, and if they do it will be many months from now, but it is clear to me that John L. Sullivan is no took Were be in anything like good con dition I am inclined to think he would defeat Slavin in a six-round glore contest, bnt a battle under prize-ring rules is quiie another matter. 1 hare not a strong admiration for Sullivan's prize-ring tactics. At any rate be has yet to conrince me that be is anything like a first class general in a 14-foot ring under prize-ring rules. But it might not be bad advice to Sulli van to say to him; "Remain out of the ring if tho acting business is paying so welk" Some Very Strong Talk. James J. Corbett has also been talking very much and very strongly during the week. He is quoted as saying that if be defeats Jacksou he will proceed to England and make Slavin fight him, and if Slavin wriggles out of it he will be branded as a cur. This is exceedingly amusing, cominc, as it does, irotn Mr. Corbett, who, I believe, declined under all conditions to meet Joe McAuliff e beTore the latter went to Sugland. It might be well for Corbett to make no mistake aoout Slavin. Corbett will not bare to "make" the Australian figbt,because I don't tbink that the Australian is that kind of man. Besides. Corbett has yet to prove to the world j that he can light, and he may bare some new ideas about ngnting wnen ne is through with Jackson. They will meet before the spring is over, and although It is much too soon to come to any definite ooinlon regarding the results of the fight a few words may be said about Ik If vorueii aeieata uacKson, mat is proriuing doiu are at their best, it will on public form prove Corbett to be far above the aver age heavy-weight in this' country. Mark, I say on pnblic form, by this 1 refer to the very easy way in which Jackson disposed of God lrey, who has demolished three or four promi nent Americas heavy-weights since. This THE; phase of public form means that Corbett must be an unusually good man to defeat Jackson if the latter recovers thoroughly from his sick ness. Aud let none of ns forget that tho Aus tralians' are in rare form just now, and tbat they have good men of all classes. There are two more bcavv-weigbts getting ready for bat tle, viz.. Kilraln and Godfrey. This wflf be a very Interesting contest, no doubt. I will hare something to say about it in due time. At present it promises to be a good contest. w A Promising Organization. Last Sunday I bad a few words to say about the Allegheny Athletic Association. It was tho occasion of their annual meeting, aud as I remarked, the meeting was a great success. The members of the association have definitely decided to apply for membership in the A. A U., and that is a very important step to take. So far Pittsburg has to a very great extent been without any bona fide atniteur organization; that is, there has been no amateur organization wherein all the rules and conditions of amateurism were safely guarded. Matters will be quite different when the organization in question becomes af filiated with tho A A U.. because every year is finding amateur rules more rigidly euforced. Well, when our local association becomes a member of the national body we may expect to see some of tho best amateur athle'es in America here, and if this is accomplished we will certainly all be very grateful to the gen tlemen who are connected with onr local asso ciation. I have often contended, and so do I now, tbat amateurism is yearly growing in popularity. Amateurs, without doubt. In the most Interesting branches of sport are holding their own, and talent of the best kindisalxays attractive. The local associa tion bids fair, to get this kind of talent and I trust it will succeed. The Association Intends to make a big feature of baseball and the pro'- Sect are somewhat encouraging. If Messrs. 'ener and Gray could be reinstated as ama teurs then there would be a good ball team. I am told that there are precedents, and good ones, for the reinstatement of these men. Whether there are or not people interested seem to think that the rnles will not be rigidly enforced because the circumstances are in some respecs exceptional. I trust there is some precedent bearing en the case. The Pedestrians. What promised to be a series of sensational foot races has fallen through. I refer to the efforts to arrange a series of three races be tween Darrin and Myers. Some time ago the latter offered to run anybody from a quarter of a mile to a mile, and consequently Darrin ac cepted the offer. The announcement was made that articles of agreement had been made, but Myers appeared with the statement that his physician ordered him not to run. He also said that the match had been made without his consent. The two statements hardly har monize, so that we may safely come to the conclusion tbat Myers is convinced that he is not the pedestrian wonder he used to be X don't hesitate to say that Myers was one of the finest pedestrians I have ever seen, either professional or amateur. He was nothing short of remarkable, and were he in his best form to-day certainly he would not hesitate for a moment to run Damn or any body else a series of races. Steve Farrell has come to the front and challenged Darrin. and I suppose the pair will run. Darrin has already defeated Farrell twice in a half mile race, and the present match means one ot two things at least tbat Farrell must have improved or that Darrin must have gone back. The chal lenge coming from the Farrell party we may take it for granted that Farrell's party think he has improved The race may and may not be an interesting one. Both are good half milers, no doubt, and if they are both in form they ought to make a good contest of it. 1 wonder whv neither of them offer to tackle Peter Prlddy in a mile race. He has commenced to get ready for next season, anddoubtless be will be ready to accommodate cither Farrell or Darrin in a race of ono mile. A race be tween Friddy and Darrin on a new track in this city would certainly be an attractive event. One thing is sure, and that is, Pnddy will haVb great diffi culty in securing a race except he tackles such men as those just referred to.' I almost forgot to mention our old friend George. He is out with a challenge again, and if he ever gets back to his old form again it will Jie a surprise to me. It Is rare that these "flyers" can be laid on the shelf lor a long period and be taken off again as good as ever. George is not an ener getic trainer by any means, and it is, therefore, quite safe to say that he is very far from what he nscd to be; so far. indeed, tbat be will never get pack to tbat degree of excellence again. And I am Inclined, to think that from among three such runners as Darrin, Farrell and Prlddy, George would find a foeman worthy of his steel even in his, George's, best day. V The Billiard Tournament. Patrons of tbat classical game, billiards, will be very pleased to know that a tournament is to be held in this city. I had intended to deal with this matter fully, but lack of space for bids: but I have room to say that the tourna ment promises to be of a very interesting char acter. The winner will be recognized as cham pion of the State, and that fact will surely add considerable prestige to a the contest. There has been a remarkable boom in billiards re cently, and the only way to test as to whether or not the quality of playing is improving with the increasing numbers of players Is to have these tournaments. If there were more special contests in Pittsburg I am persuaded that we would have more good plavers. The tourna ment is one of those events tbat is worthy the support ot the public PltLNOLE. Electricity as the Town Crier. In the Tery early days of the telegraph its value in the rapid arrest of criminals was discovered, and many of us probably re member the thrill of awe that was felt when first the whisper of the submarine cable chased across the ocean the fugitive from the law, and armed swift retribution to pounce on him as he landed. All that is a commonplace ot justice to-day, and eren the telephone is beginning to take its place as one of the trusted allies of the policeman and detective. It has been found extremely useful for quite prosaic duties in this line, and there are not a few occasions when a runaway horse started at one end of the Brooklyn bridge has found that the news telephoned promptly across has reduced him to the alteruative of surrender or sausage. In some parts of the country it has become the practice to supply telephones for all the coroners, and now a new departure h.is been taken in organizing a "lost child" service. It is a Western idea, but is kindly seconded hy the telephone people everywhere, and has already given proofs of its instrumeu t.ility. It is evident that a warning of "lost, stolen or strayed" put into six or seven hun dred telephones will set a pretty large town a-going with excitement, and even on a more limited plan is likely to track the wander ing in an hour, or bring up the ruthless child stealer with a round turn. The extra territorial liues of the telephone exchanges run out also over areas of SO miles every way, so that the chances of more Charley Boss episodes are at once reduced to a mini mum. NEXT Sunday THE DISPATCH will be gin publication of a series of South Sea Let ters by Robert Louis Stevenson, the novelist. Watch for this great feature. When Wrinkles Seam the Brow, And the locks grow scant and silvery, infirmi ties of age come on apace. To retard and ameliorate these is one of the benign effects ol Hostetters Stomach Bitters, a medicine to which the aged and infirm can resort as a safe solace and lnvigorant. It Counteracts a ten dency to rheumatism and neuralgia, improves digestion, rectifies biliousness, and overcomes malaria. A wineglass before retiring promotes slumber. BARGAIN LIST NO. 4. Planos S25 Organs 823. (EASY PAYMENTS.) Boardman & Gray piano $ 25 00 Stoddart piano ; 25 00 Meyer piano 35 00 Hallet&Cumston piano 1C0 00 Stanley & Sons piano : 100 00 Henry F.Newton piano 135 00 Pease & Co. piauo 150 00 Checkering & Sons piano 190 00 Chickeriug & Sons grand piano..... 175 00 Kranich & Bach piano 250 00 C. H. Stone & Co. piano 200 00 New England organ i 25 00 Iicatty organ 35 00 Sterling organ 40 00 New England organ .... 40 00 Estcy organ 45 QQ Ohio beauty organ 45 00 Bay State organ 50 00 Bay State organ.., 65 00 Phil Kellorgan 50 00 Phil Keil organ 65 00 Dyer & Hughes organ 75 00 Mason & Hamlin 77..... 75 00 LECHNEB & SOHOEXBBSQEB, No. 69 Fifth avenue, General Agents for the celebrated Kranioh & Bach pianos. fvssu Furniture picked, hauled and stored. Haouh & Keenan, 33 Water street. SP .- I PITTSBURG DISPATCH; KESUMEs0F THE WEEK Facts Sncrgesled by the Proposed Ad dition to Westminster Abbey. FINANCES OP THE INDIAN WARS. Significance of the Keport That the Znjder Zee ia Frozen Over. D1SC0YEBT OP THE H0MB 0? THE SEAL IWHITTSN TOB THI DISFATCa.1 "Here is for a peerage or a tomb in "West minster Abbey," said Nelson before the battle of Trafal gar. Death came to the great war rior then and there, but not with it a place in the fam ous cloister, for his remains lie fully a mile away in St Paul's Cathedral. However.-he, like many others, is supposed to be buried in the Ab ITMimtiujer Abbey. bey, "and the recent report from England that the building of an addition is. contem plated to accommodate the illustrious dead of the future engenders curio'sity as to who are really buried within its walls. An enu meration would reauire too much space, but certain it is that many said to be interred there lie elsewhere. Said a late writer: "Here the.ashes of England's royalty have been laid for their last repose ever since the davs of Edward the Confessor." This is a mistake. The monarchs of En gland since the days of the Georges have with one exception been buried at 'Windsor Castle, and that will no doubt be the resting place of Victoria it she ever pleases to die. TheTemains of Charles I. are also at Wind sor; the Conqueror, the very next king alter the Confessor, lies at Caen, Normandy," and the latter's son at Winchester. Henry IL wns buried in France, as was also Bichard L King John lies at Worcester, and the un fortunate Anne Boleyn in the little church in the parade ground of the Tower of Lon don. There is considerable uncertainty sur rounding many of the Westminster inter ments, as was demonstrated bv the difficulty experienced years ago in finding the re mains of James I. The marriage of Prince Alfonso of Ba varia and Princess Louise d'Alencon, re calls the fact that the bride-elect was at one time engaged to Louis II,, the mad king of Bavaria, who committed suicide a couple of years since. The engagement was of short duration and the "breaking off" process had no appreciable in jurious effect on the prin -Prin-ejs V Orleans. cess, as she was quite young at the time (being only 21 years of age now) and read ily transferred her affections to the nephew of her former love. She may at least con gratulate herself on being more fortunate in the present arrangement for what are royal alliancesless than arrangements insomuch as Prince Alfonso is one year her junior and a handsome, dashing and popular officer of cavalry in Munich, while her former fiancee was fully a quar ter of a cent'urv her senior. Another inter esting feature of the affair is the fact that the Due d'Orleans, a cousin of the bride, aud a claimant of the French throne, has annouueed his intention of not being present at the nuptials for a trivia reason, but really for fear his action might be con Prince Alfonxo. strued unfavorably by his supporters in France, as the wedding takes place ou Ger man territory. The Indian war is over, according to General Miles, but discussion 6fthe Indian question is not, particularly thjt phase of it relatiug to the expenditures of the Gov ernment in their dealings with the redskins. It is reported on unquestioned authority that of 5929,239.284 02 expended iu 110 years, ending in June, 1880, $696,339,227 68 was spent in warring with them. Now, there is an interesting matter for'considera tion, especially when we investigate so far as to learu that in every case these wars have been caused by the most trivial cir cumstances, that could, in fact, have been remedied without trouble if the Indian Department of this conntry had been in anything like the shape it should be. Take, for instance, the Sioux war of 1862. A United States contractor was supposed to supply the Indians with first-class mess pork. That was what he was paid for. In stead, he sent the redmen a lot of pork re fuse, consisting largely of heads of hogs. Was it any wonder the poor fellows took to dancing like ma'd and from that to the war path? They were quickly subdued, how ever, and General Sibley, the officer in com mand of the army sent against them, hanged as many as 30 of the "red ruffians" a day, "not being hampered by the clamoring of the humanitarians," as one person expressed it. They were "red ruffians" simply be cause they refused to eat "rotten hog." Another instance the Sioux war of 1852. An Indian killed a cow belonging to a Mor mon emigrant. Complaint was made at Fort Laramie anda'force of 20 men was sent to the Indian camp to demand the sur render of the Sioux who had killed the cow, with the alternative, in case of refusal, tbat the camp would be fired upon. Thelndians relused to give tip the man. but offered to i pay for the cow in outtalo robes or skins. J-he oner was declined, and the 20 soldiers fired on the Indian camp, with the result that in a few minutes every one of the score of men representing our glorious mili tary Bystein was devoid of his scalp. The war that 'ollowed cost this Government close to 520,000,000. The Navajo war began in something the same way. An Indian killed a negro in an altercation; the tormer's tribe refused to give him up to the military authorities, and on this pretext the military was sent against them and in three camptigns the redskins 'picked the soldiers plumb out of their boots." That war cost mlly as much as the one mentioned previously. t From 1872 to 1882. Indian wars footed up a grand total ot 5202,094.506. and in the Apache wars since that time every Indian cai tured or killed has cost the Government no less than $100,000. Within the week the representatives of two of the most illustrious families of En gland have passed away .Sn the Earl of Devon and the Duke or Bedford. The first named traces his ancestry back to Phara tnond, founder of the French monarchy in 420, through Atlion de Courtenav, one of the most powerful barons of e irly France. The surname is derived from the town of that namein me isie i xrance, wnicn Atlion fortified during the warso: Kohert the Wise. Jlilo, grandson of Athnn and Ermangarde, his wifo, were the direct ancestors, of the English Courtenaya. From them came the famous Beginald de Courtenav, who went with the crusade of Louis VII., of France, in 1147; Baldwin de Brlonsls, who for his hare iu the conquest was given the barony of Oakbampton, the castle of Exeter and the custody of the county of Devon, and Hugh de Courtenavi who was cre ated first Earl of Devonshire by Edward L a a reward tor his services in the Scottish wan. Beginning with the sev enth earl, three in succession were beheaded during the Wars of the Boies, and the fourth fell gallantly fighting at Tewkesbury. From that on, the history of the house is one of turbulence and intrigue with royalty until til ip SUNDAY, JANUARY the time of Edward Courtenay, who, from 12 years of age until his death, was identi .fied prominently with the reigns of Edward VL and Queens Mary and Elizabeth. On his demise the present branch ol the house was founded, and always stood high iu honor until the last one, who has just died. Uis chief claim to distinction was tbat of having appeared in the Bankruptcy Court of 1872 with a debt of $3,588,000 against him. The Duke of Bediord's lineage dates back to 1221. It has had mauv distinguished representatives, who have been known to history by their surname Bussell partic ularlyiLord William, the patriot statesman, whose bead fell at Lincoln's inn fields, as the result of his unshrinking devotion to principle. The Dnke -who has just died distinguished himself as the money-grasping owner of 2,912 houses in the city of London, for all oi which big rents were paid aud there ends the history. That of bis successor, the Marqnis of Fairstock, ends likely enough, before it begins, as he has the reputation of being one of the most commonplace figures in English society. It is stated on authority that seven men have crossed the Zuyder Zee in Holland. If true, this shows better than anything else could how remarkably severe the weather must be in Europe, for, although this sea has been frozen before, it has not been within the last 150 years. It is also proven by this that in Europe the climate is much more regular or steady than here. We have again and again been visited with so-called "blizzards" that would be con sidered veritable "hair-raisers" on the other side, but they are usually of short duration. This is shown by the fact that none of our inland lakes have ever been frozen over within our knowledge, while in the case of the Zuyder Zee, a body of water 260 miles in circumference, and roughened by the winds of the wild North Sea, with which it is connected, has been fiozen several times, a circumstance that could only occur through intense-and long-continued cold. But even this sort oi weather must in some respects be considered temperate when it is remembered that in the year 402 the Black Sea was frozen over, which means a level of ice 380 miles wide and 700 in length, com prising 172,000 square miles of surface. An idea of the magnitude ot this phenomena may be obtained by comparison with our Lake Superior, which has never to our knowledge been nearly frozen, and yet it is scarcely one-fifth the size of the Black Sea, besides being close to the 50th degree N. latitude, while the other is on the 40th par allel or within ten degrees of the southern limit of snowfall. Among the other severe seasons recorded was that from October, 763, to February, 764, during which the seas at Constantinople were frozen 100 miles from shore. In 1063 the Thames river was irozen for 14 weeks; again for two months ending 1684, and iu 1716, 1740 and 1814. The winter ol 1684 was exceptionally severe, the people of London plying their trades on the Thames ice .as upon a regular thoroughfare. In 1323, 1402 and 1460 the Baltic Sea was frozen over. The above are the most important in stances ot extraordinarily cold winters re corded, but considerable of such a subject would not be complete without reference to the terrible winter of 1812, so destructive to the French army of Napoleon, causing a loss to that individual of no lesi than 400,000 men in his disastrous retreat from Moscow and his ultimate downfall, for, though the Man of Destiny lived for Waterloo, he never regained the power lost in the winter campaign of 1812, Apropos of tho Bering Sea muddle, it might be interesting to relate here the curi ous story of the discovery of the Alaskan home of the seal. For nearly 100 years Bussian seamen have been visiting the waters of the North Pacific and Bering Sea in ieanh of the fur-bearing animal that frequented those regions. Alaska, Hams chatkaaud Aleutian Islands bad been dis covered and trading stations established iu such numbers that it was feared that the otters and other commercially valuable ani mals would become extinct. In the mean while it was noticed- that -the Aleutian channels fairly swarmed with seals going northward in the spring and the opposite direction in the fall, and, no matter how they persevered, the hunters could not learn that the animals stopped for a single hour on any of the lands thereabouts. Even the natives did not know where the seals went ashore to breed, although they had a tradi tion, that it was on some land in the far North, which had never been visited by human beings. Many attempts were made to locate this land, but without success, the vessels oi the searchers coming back as empty as they went, and at last the hunters began to desert those seas, as the business was getting to be unprofitable. At this time there was an old seaman named Gerassum Pribylov, serving as mate on one of the Bussian ships, who, having heard from an Aleutian, patriarch that the seals frequented certain islands in the Bering Sea, determined to investigate. Securing a vessel, the old fellow set forth in the spring of the year, having as convoy a myriad of seals, all going in the direc tion he was taking; but they gradually disappeared and he cruised about iu the cold Northern seas the entire season, until com pelled to return at last emnty handed. Nothing daunted he tried again the following year, and went through exactly the same experience. For the third time he went forth in 1786, determined to estiblish the truth of the patriarch's story. For Weeks he sailed about without the slightest success nntil one day, while moving along iu a dense fog, he heard faintly the roaring and rumbling peculiar to seals. Guided by the noise, he iu a snort time, ran right into au island, along the shores of which were mill ions of seal, and he lost no time in filling his ship with skins and returning to TJn alaska, bis headquarters. Pribylov first name! the islands after-Mr. Sulov, oae of the owners of his vessel, but this was in time changed to that of the vet eran explorer. The islands are fully 200 miles from any other land, and are appar ently right at the spot where the warm Pa cific currents meet those from the Arctic Ocean, which results iu the interesting phe nomena of continuous fogs throughout the summer, and an endless storm of driving snow and ice in the winter. This peculiar ity of the region has no doubt drawn the seals to tbis place for (centuries. The islands are difficult to approach on account o! the mists; a vessel sometimes being in the vicinity for ten days before locating them. Investigation shows that none of the dictionaries contain the word "cloture," made so prominent in recent Congressional debate. It appears, however, in some works, under the heading "closure." "Cloture" is a French word, meaning the termination of debate. The universal lan guage ot this country is so continually pick ing up foreign words and phrases, withont the slightest warning or explanation there for, tbat the time will perhaps come when one will not know where the home-bred article ends and the foreign begins. A stack of bills is before our Legislature and none is more timely than the one look ing to the preservation of birds. How mapy sweet and beauti nl warblers' lives maybe spared if this. bill passes and its provisions are strictly carried out? A re cent inquiry showed that no less than 70,009 dead birds were sent from one village in New York State, for millinery purposes, in one seison. Iu three months South Caro lina furnished the New York market 11,000 bird skins, and one professional sportsman prided himself on having killed 10,000 white egrets; 40,000 terns were slain at Cape Cod for the same purpose in one year; 1,000,000 bobolinks near Philadelphia in one mouth, and at one time, a season ago, a New York bouse hod no less than 200,000 bird skins on! hand. All honor to old John Borroughs, who said: "I can pardon a man who wishes to make a collection for his own private use, though he will find it much less satisfactory and less valuable than he imagines, bnt he needs but one bird and one egg of a kind; bnt the professional nest robber and skin collector should be.put down either by leg islation or with dogs and shotguns." WlLKIH. 25, 159L . A GOOD SPECULATION No Ground for European Criticism on Electric Industries. .BATTERIES WITB THE DUMB-BELLS Application of the Current to the Soldering of Tin Cans. THE C01IINQ INSUIiiTIXG MATERIAL , rrnir-.ir.iD roc the disfjitch.i It has been the custom of some financial writers, especially in Europe, to be very severe in their reflections on the speculative nature of the electric light and power indus try. They remember only the outbreak of wild speculation ten years ago, and forget entirely that meanwhile the world has moved on, the industry recovering itself so thoroughly that it bears no more trace of the troubles of that period than a sturdy youth does of his teething ailments. Had England taken the money to promote electric light and power that it rushed to put into "Agentines," or had France for like purposes taken the millions that it spent in Panama ou the big gutter for the season rains, a good many thousand of their citizens would be much better off and both countries would be nearer our own standard iu the progress of the electric arts. What can be done by American enterprise and with the magic of a great name is shown in the statistics of the electric light and elec tric railway industries over which Edison wields a sway, and which were massed into a single corporation about a year ago with a capital of 52,000,000. As a "captain of industry" whose genius has called together tbis great sum, Edison has au army of 6,000 employes. The output nf his huge shops at Schenectady, where 3,000 men are at work, increased 117 per cent last year. The output of all the manu facturing establishments amounted to $10, 000,000 for the year, and over 8 per cent was earned on all the stock issued. At tbis mo ment the entire force has six months' work ahead, Edison is not a vain man, but be certainly would be justified in feeling proud of such massive results as the creation of his genius and perseverance. Even when a struggling operator, fighting through a bitter winter in a linen duster and thin soled shoes, he announced his wish to be one who should open up new avenues of em ployment; and never was laudable ambition more nobly realized. Beside the present point is not that of finality. An industry thus begun lays hold upon the future with irresistible grasp, its roots deepening as its branches widen. Nor shonld it be left out of sight that other great productive con cerns exist in the electrio light and power field in America, with constantly growing totals. A Good Insulating Material. An Eoglish journal recalls attention to the oft-repeated statement that a rich reward awaits the inventor of an insulating mater ial tbat will fullfil all the exacting require ments to which a perfect medium is likely to be subjected. Such a material must be, above allf beat and damp proof, and amen able to moulding. Porcelain is brittle, and warps a great deal of in firing. It cannot be worked, and is accurate in its dimen sions. Ebonite, besides being too dear, warps or so tens under heat, and no cement will stick to it. Wood does not insulate well for high pressure and warps easily. Celluloid warps and is inflammable. Marble is useless and slate is treach erous. An attempt is being made to utilize pure silicj; although accurate as to size, it must be molded before firing, and it canuot be worked. Portland ceineur, shel lac and mica are also being persistently tested. The two latter make a very good combination, but possess the drawback of being affected by heat Various sulphur and earthy cements have good results, but are inflammable. Spence's "metal" might be uselul if the makers ot it could be found. Vulcanized finer, celluvert, and parchment ized fibers are valuable lor low-tension work, but some of them break down under high pressure. Asbestos and shellac are com bined to form tobacco pipes, and this ma terial may be nseful lor electrical work. If there is so little shellac that it will stand considerable heat. A large range of ma terials are being tested with varying success, but, as a matter ot fact, the prize is'still awaiting the lucky inventor. An Electrical Exercising Slacliine. Too much dumb-bell exercise is a weari ness to the flesh and matutinal, swinging of the Indian club becomes, sooner or later, irksome. The idea of relieving the tedium of daily exereise while increasing its benefits is a good one, and it is now placed at the service of the public iu a practical form. A polished wooden box contains the appliauces incidental to the ordinary exercising machine, aud is equipped, in addition, with a magneto-electro apparatus capable of transmitting an electric current to ten or more persons at the same time, or being graduated to tlie endurance or pleasure of one person; so that, while the, various forms of exercise are being gone' through, an electric current oi any required strength can be imparted. It is claimed that electricity can thus be applied under improved and more pleasant Conditions than formerly in many cases where its use has been proved to be most beneficial. Attention is called to the fact that tele graph operators, accountants, typewriters, pianists, and all whose work is apt to cause muscular pains and stiffness iu the hand and arm, can by the use of this' exercising machine reap a twofold advantage. The machine ba: a bath attachment. This is placed in a bath, and when the foot is placed upon it an electric shock of gradu ated strength is imparted to the bather. The machine can be used either with or without the current, it has no battery, and its elec tric activity is guaranteed for years. Electric Soldering Iron. The application of electricity for the pur pose of soldering removes a difficulty which has hitherto seriously militated against the efficiency and economy of that process. The irons heretofore employed have been heated in open fires, and when the iron was taken out of the fire it was usually too hot, and it cooled so rapilly tbat reheating was neces sary. With the electric soldering irou a uniform temperatnre can be continuously maintained, and great saving iu time and convenience in working is obtained. The fact that 36,000 cans are soldered each day in one establishment in New Jersey will suggest the immense advantages of the new method over the old in the economy ot time alone. It is estimated that from lour to six soldering irons of the type nsedin the works referred to can be operated at an expendi ture of one electrical horsepower. Ad at tempt is now being made to remedy the de terioration of the German silver with the contiunous heating by the current, by the nse of graphite as a conductor. Electric Omnibuses. One of the many indications which are being afforded of the progress in the develop ment of the storage battery in England is the announcement by the Ward Electrical Car Company, of Loudon, that the details of the contract for the construction of their first line of omnibuses and for the charging station have been settled, and that the work will at once be proceeded with. It is in tended, as soon as the line is rnnning, to form a sub-company to take over the stations and omnibnses and to work a large line of vehicles. The difficulties which beset the attempt to perfect the storage battery are too formidable to allow the hope to be enter tained that they will be speedily conquered, butt none the less, results have been at tained during the past few months which afford solid encouragement to those who are so earnestly grappling with the problem. That the storage battery has come to star is the conviction of some of 'the soundest elec tricians in England and America, the opin ions of distinguished inventors to the con trary notwithstanding NEW APVEKTI.M-..M KN'IH. OUR INVENTORY SALE. fc tOtlTiCl'mm GOODS, AND OFFER CUSTOMERS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE MONEY. THE CUT EXTENDS TO ALL DEPARTMENTS. VISIT OUR STORES THIS WEEK AND SEE THE STACKS,. OF FRESH, NEW GOODS GOING AT A SAC RIFICE. . MILLINERY i 810, pieces wide, pure siltr,Fancy Bihbons, former prices 50c, 62c, 75c, this week 25c a yard. ' 320 odd Felt Hats, trimmed and nn trimmed, 25c; formerly 75c to 51 CO. f 1 50 Birds and Wings go at 50c f 1 Birds and Wings go at 25c. 60c Birds and Wings go at 10c. 50c Nellie Bly Caps, 15c. LACE CURTAINS Extra wide Lace Curtains, 65c a pair. Extra wide Fine Lace Curtains, 75o a pair. " 56-inch wide Lace Curtains, 90c a.pair, 3-yard long, 66-inch wide, Lace Cur tains, 51 35 a pair. 3-yard long, 60-inch wide, Lace Cur tains, 1 60 a pair. Extraordinary- values 52, 2 50, 53 pair, np to the finest. I Onr special sale of Muslin Underwear has been a pronounced success. The same low prices still prevail and ladies will do well to take advantage of them. Chemises, Drawers, Night Gowns and Skirts the best and newest styles only now on display. lenaum 510-514 MARKET STREET. THE OLD MUST fill Wi TO THE NEW. ; It's the natural order of things. And, in ao j cordance with this unalterable principle, the' balance of KEECH'S ; Fall and winter stock must go to make room ' for the large spring stock about to be received. tFor the next two weeks, then, you may look for the greatest and deepest price cutting ever known in the annals of the Pittsburg furniture -and carpet trade. No housekeeper of this sec- -tion should fail to grasp this truly golden op- -portunity. YOUNG MARRIED COUPLES, contemplating housekeeping, are especially invited to call and avail themselves of this extraordinary bar gain offering. Remember, too, that the big reductionswe have made are backed by our time-honored system of EASY PAYMENTS. In other words, you may select and have de-; livered at your home any goods you please, and pay for same on the installment plan. If you are wise, you will call at your earliest pos-' sible convenience. You will find big reduc-' tions in Furniture, big reductions in Carpets, big reductions in Curtains, big reductions in Housefurnishing Goods, big reductions in.. Cloaks and Clothing. A lot of Odd Tables and Chairs at greatly " reduced prices. Pretty display of Silverware and Bric-a-; Brae. ' '""h- KEECH'S, 923, 925 AND 927 NEAR NINTH STREET, OUR ANNUAL INVEN- TORY IS STILL IN PROG RESS. WE HAVE MARK-5. ED DOWN PRICES ON MANY THOUSANDS OF.. DOLLARS' WORTH OF CLOAKS AD WRAPS i- 55 Infants' Cloaks now 52. 56 Infants' Cloaks now 52 50. 510 Ladies' Newmarkets now 1 50. 512 Ladies' Newmarkets now 53. S15 aud 518 Ladies' Newmarkets now 55. 510 Fine Flush Jackets, high shoulders, now $6 75. 512 Fine Flush Jackets, high shoulders, now 57 50. 513 50 Fine Plush Jackets, high shonld ers, now 59. 512 Fine Plush Jackets, astrakhan trim med, now 57 75. 515 Seal Plush Sacques, 59 75. 519 75 Seal Plush Sacques, 512 75. 525 Seal Plush Sacques, 513.95. 528 Seal Plush Sacque, 514 65. 55 Cheviot Jackets, 52 95. 56 75 Cheviot Jackets, 53 75. . 510 "Vest Front Jackets, 55. 512 50 Vest Front Jackets. 57. 515 Vest Front Jackets, $8 75. DRESS TRIMMINGS Have been marked down to 10c, 15c, 25s a yard; former prices 50c to 51 25 a yard. Some of the nicest trimmings ever shows: are now going at these cut prices. Call and see how prices have been cnt to pieces in every department. It will asto ish yon. " ja25-TTSaa " PENN AVENUE, $CV - Cor. damson Alley& 'jf-fc lEiiiCffHpSTBKHH TrrarTTrTTt .-.. rS .HrVifrfltilfc
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers