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THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH, ' THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, ""1891.
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ESTABLISHED FEBltTJAKY S, 1SI0.
Vol.43, o. IBS. Entered at 1'ltlsburg rostofiicc,
November 11. US, as ccond-class matter.
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PITTSBURG. THURSDAY', FEB. 5, 1S9L.
JCCGEs AND EXCISE BOAIIDS.
The views of several leading Philadel
pbians on the transfer of the duty ot grant
ing licenses, from the judges to an excise
board, as published, show marked unan
imity against the change. Archbishop
Evan. Bishop Whitaker, Bobert C. Ogden
and Lewis D. Tail all speak strongly
against giving the license-granting power to
any board that would be subject to political
control or liable to be influenced by the
saloon element. More remarkable still, so
leading a member of the liquor trade as Sir.
"William Van Osten, President of the Liquor
Dealers' Association, declares such a trans
fer of the power "would be detrimental to
every respectable man in the liquor busi
ness." This opposition is based on the feeling
that to create excise boards or commissions
would place the licensing authority in the,
hands of a political machine, and would
either result in giving license to every ap
plicant or making it a matter of political
, favor. Mr. Van Osten's view coincides
with that expressed by some of the leading
liquor dealers of this city, that they want
their business kept out of politics and freed
from the temptations to corruption that
flourish if licenses are granted as a
matter of fear or favor. So far as the present
workings of the system are concerned the I
results of the license courts are far more sat
isfactory than could be obtained from any
excise commission.
Cut this view does not take into consider
ation the question how long this satisfactory
condition would endure. If the element
that wisbes unlimited license can control
the election of excise commissioners can
they not also in time control the election of
judge? If that was done would uot the in
jury be far greater than the control merely
of the licensing board by the saloon element?
"While the respectable clement ot the liquor
dealers join the rest of society in Keeping
the license business out of politics, there is
no reason why excise boards should not be
kept free from injurious control, as well as
the judges.
It is possible that the best way to at once
relieve overworked judges and to keep the
license-granting power above the suspicion
of undesirable influences is to let the courts
appoint the majority, if not all, the mem
bers of the commission, and to leave in
the hands of the courts the power to re
voke licenses for misconduct "With the
opposition to permitting this duty to get
. into politics, the Legislature can hardly
afford to establish elective commissions or to
compose them of officials who are subject to
political influences.
HIGHBINDERS IN TEOUBLE,
The police of San Francisco have moved
Fhrewdly against the Chinese Highbinders,
with the probable object of driving them out
of that city. The Hichbinders threaten to
take their case into court, but it is not prob
able they would have much of a standing
there if they did and such a course would
brine; dire consequences to their friends and
relatives left in the Celestial Kingdom. The
police have taken their josses and they have
no means of levying tribute upon the den
izens of Chinatown any more. This is the
cause of their complaint The act ot the
San Francisco authorities may savor of in
terfering with the worship of the Chinese
according to the dictates of their consciences,
but as the vcrship is that of joss it is hardly
within the meaning of the bill of rights. It
may also be said that judging from all ac
counts of Highbinder practices they may be
reasonably suspected of having no con
sciences to dictate to them.
THE COUNTY SALAKY QUESTION.
County Controller Grier is evidently de
termined to keep the atmosphere lively
about the Court House. In his first month's
career he has succeeded in making things
interesting for the official world in the big
granite pile, by raising the question of the
compensation of deputy coroners, by join
ing issue on the alleged advance in county
officials' salaries on account of the advance
of population, and finally by the bill filed
yesterday for the mandatory formation of a
salary board.
These proceedings place the new Con
troller in iPratker pugnacious attitude; but
it is really a kind of pugnacity that will be
accompanied by good results. The Con
troller seems to bs determined that what
ever is done m the line of advancing sala
lies because the county has advanced to the
first class, shall be done on an indisputa
ble legal foundation, and that nothing shall
uc done which is not required by law. The
last proceeding is evidently intended to set
tle the status of the county. In that view
it is likely to reach by the shortest route a
final settlement of the disputes which the
Controller's incumbency has so far been
prolific in producing.
The questions which the Controller has
raised are well worth authoritative settle
ment, and the disturbances which he has
caused in the official atmospbere are clearly
in the interest of the public and in the line
of hisdut.
WtOirHJITION OF PEfKEKTON GUAKDS.
That the new political element in control
of the Kansas Legislature is not all farmers
is evidenced by the passage, by 'the House,
of the bill to prohibit the employment of
armed forces while a strike is pending.
Farmers never strike. It is not possible
from the nature of their business. Hut the
Alliance members of the Kansas Legisla
ture stand for the Knights of Labor, as well
as the farmers, and the hostility of this
order to the Pinkerton guards is well
known. This bill may be considered an ex
treme measure, bat it is really on the side
of good order. The Pinkerton guards exist
only as a product of trouble and it is to
their pecuniary interest to canse. disorder.
And a class of men who will hire out to
take chances on their lives with a probable
mob can hardly be regarded very highly.
Striking workmen, who are citizens of the
locality, are rather less likely to be disor
derly if let alone, than these migratory
special officers.
INVITING CHANCES FORAItECOBD.
Whether it is owing solely to the granger
man, or partly to an awakening among
members from the cities also, the gratelul fact
is apparent that the present legislative
session in Pennsylvania promises to be
notable for its opportunities to deal effec
tively with several matters of broad
public concern. In taking up the road
question alone, it enters upon a field of the
utmost usefulness. We can never have fit
country roads if a wider interest and more
efficient activity be not applied to them than
can be evoked from mere township or county
organizations. There must be a State
standard, State encouragement and some
measure of State supervision. If the present
Legislature will pass a good working law for'
the roads, that simple enactment would of
itself make a distinguished record in the
annals of Harrisburg.
Again, upon the great issue of water trans
portation, which is now attracting the atten
tion of our people as it has never done be
fore, it is the privilege of the present Legis
lature to originate plans of vital importance
to the future development and prosperity of
distinctive Pennsylvania industries. Here
the path may be obstructed at the start by
near-sighted opposition from railroad inter
ests, and by as yet immature views ol mem
bers who have not fully examined and do
not adequately comprehend the scope and
possibilities of these improvements. But the
obstacles can be overcome if the colleagues
who have made a study of the subject press
it forward with a vigor proportioned to their
intelligence.
Again; in response to the appeal of the
oil men and of complaints against excessive
telephone charges, the Legislature is called
upon to deal with the principle of a just
regulation of tariffs for corporation services.
The spirit in which the demands are made
is far from radical. It does not call for any
regulation which would cut down the profit
of the corporation: concerned below a fair
or even large profit uponll of the capital
invested. It proceeds solely upon the sound
basis that where public franchises are given,
and these become practically monopolistic,
the power and the duty rest with the Legis
lature of the Commonwealth to see that they
are not made the instruments of conspicuous
extortion or oppression. Here, again, the
present Legislature will be met by insiduous
opposition. It remains to be seen whether
it is equal to rising above this, and to the
discharge of its functions honestly and fear
lessly. Snch is part of the inviting prospectus
which opens out before the body now sitting
at Harrisburg. It has been slow enough in
its progress so far, only a single bill
having, as we understand, yet obtained final
passage. Bnt there is ample time still for
the performance of much good work if the
Legislature has the will to undertake it
The public will watch its further movements
with genuine interest
COLONEL BROWN'S GREAT STEOKE.
The meeting of those lights of modern De
mocracy, Grover Cleveland and David Ben
nett Hill, at the dinner recently given by
the Hon. Colonel W. L. Brown, has attract
ed pnblic discussion in several of its aspects.
What the ex-President and the future Sena
tor said to each other in the moments of fes
tivity, alter the weary months in which they
failed to speak as they passed by, how the
interview may be held to affect the future of
Democracy, and what long dug-up hatchets
were buried under the mollifying influences
which the Brooklyn Eagle describes as "clos
de vigot" and "chambertan," have formed
the subjects ot columns of profound and di
verse editorial comment
On one point, however.all are agreed; that
the master mind which succeeded in getting
Cleveland and Hill to put their legs under
the same mahogany has made the political
stroke of the season. For a long time some
malign fate had decreed that these eminent
Democrats should be unable to get together.
If the ex-President went to a political din
ner at Philadelphia the Governor's execu
tive duties developed a cohesive power
that stuck him last to Albany. If the
Governor was to participate in any political
function in New Tork, the ex-President was
carried off by pressing business to Boston.
The man who conquered the adverse fate and
succeeded in inducing these two lights of
Democracy to illuminate the same board
with their presence, commands the attention
of the country as a pre-eminent political
tactician. The aspects of that famous ban
quet to which we invite attention, are some
pecnliar characteristics of that Senator, sage
and warrior, the Hon. Colonel W.L. Brown.
To study the qualities which enable men
of eminence to achieve their greatness is al
ways a profitable task. It will therefore
be a work of pnblic instruction to throw
light on the quality of the Hon. Colonel's
eminence, which enabled him to bring David
Bennett Hill and Grover Cleveland into fes
tive unison, thereby causing the wonder and
admiration of all true Democrats. Long
before the Hon. Colonel Wm. L. Brown had
become famous as a light of legislative
halls, or as a metropolitan editor before
he had even attained the military rank of a
mere captain, and when he was known as
plain Bill Brown he was famous in
the Mahoning and Shenango valleys,
and in the parts about Youngstown,
as au unsurpassed adept in the great
American art of draw poker. To prevent
any misconception as to the characteristics
of an eminent statesman we hasten to say
that Colonel Brown's championship at that
avocation was in no respect due to the sur
reptitious arts ol ringing in a cold deck or
holding supeifluous aces up his sleeve. He
was an exponeat oi the square game, and as
such" was at once the terror and admiration
of a constantly widening .circle. He even
frowned down upon the alluring but dele
terious indulgence in jack pots: and dem
onstrated his championship by adhering to 1
the rigor of the game as a conflict of scien
tific intellects with great profit to himself,
as the demonstrator of the most scientific
methods.
In the illustration of science as applied to
draw poker one prominent characteristic of
this profesbor of tbe game was to convince
his antagonist he was bluffing, when he was
really tbe possessor of some such triumphant
collection of cards as a king full or an ace
flush. It is still a tender though costly
memory with those who have, by sitting
opposite to Colonel Brown, gained ex
perience, while be gained money, how
be would permit them to catch him
bluffing one or two moderate sizjd bets,
and then when lie, on a third encounter, had
stacked up the chips to a towering and fab
ulous height, how they would call him on
two little pairs, with an assurance of secur
ing great riches, to discover that he had the
winning hand.
It is in tbal characteristic of plain Bill
Brown that wediscover thesccret of (he Hon.
Colonel Brown's recent great success. All
previous means to get the Hop. David Ben
nett Hill and the Hon. Grover Cleveland
together had failed, until the Senator who
now represents Tammany and journalism in
the New Tork Legislature took them in
hand. When he invited them to the ban
quet, he must have exercised the art which
he learned in the fierce conflicts of the great
American game. He convinced both of
them that he wan bluffing. They called
him down by coming to the festive board,
and discovered when the hands were shown
that they were captured, No other man in
the country could have done this" but the
man who had mastered the finesse by long
and successful practice in the game at which
Colonel Brown has held undisputed mastery
and championship.
ECONOJIY COUNTS JUST NOW.
In view of the statements of Mayor Gour
ley in re the Poor Farm inspection and of
the manifest Heedlessness of buying a big
tract and paying away beyond the usual
range of farm land prices for it. Councils
will probably go slow about taking any one
of the farms offered. The city should pur
sue the same course that ordinary prospect
ors would. It ought to be sure first what it
reasonably needs, and next get what it
needs it a reasonable price. A farm of
fifty acres or at the most one of an hundred
acres is about all that can be handled by
the Charities Department with profit or any
sort of advantage. If nothing of the sort at
usual market rates has offered, the city
could better afford to lodge its wards at a
town hotel until something suitable turns
up than make a permanent investment of
several times as great as the occasion calls
for.
In these days with increased taxation
hinted at for other purposes, and the street
improvement expenditures unprovided for,
judicious enconomy becomes a timely char
acteristic at City Hall.
BALTIMORE'S SWINDLING NOVELTIES.
Baltimore bids fair to take a position well
up in tbe front rank for novel Bwindlers.
There is yet a lingering memory of the man
who named a fictitious baby after a great
many prominent public men to their loss
and sorrow. And now the Monumental
City comes forward with a much married
couple which has been set up in housekeep
ing innumerable times by charitably dis
posed people. The husband and father
drinks and the poor wife and mother asks
for assistance for herself and five suffering
children. The husband reforms always in
consideration of material kindness shown
and the couple get married. The record so
far as traced shows 19 marriages, all on the
same principle. And the five suffering
children have been 29 times subjected to
baptism in various forms and christening
with a miscellaneous assortment of names.
There is no telling how long this "racket"
would have been worked, had it not been
discovered by the minister who officiated on
the last occasion, but it would probably ave
gone on until the stock of Christian names
bad been exhausted on the five. silently
suffering buds.
The Farmers' Alliance has improved its
money-borrowing schemo by limiting the sum
to be loaned by tho Government to anyone
person to 3,000. This is not confined to
farmers cither, so that the owner of a city lot
can build a house by this loan, provided that
tbe obstinate builders when every one has got
bis S3.000 do not put tbo cost ot a $3,000 house
up to $:o,ooa ,
"Money on the open market was quoted
at 186 per cent in November; tbe same mones
goes a begging in January at 2 per cent" notes
tbe Commercial Advertiser, of Now York, and
proceods to infer that tbo principle that credit
does the business ot thocouotry andnotmoney,
is wrong. Tbe principle as stated is certainly
wrong, bat tbo fact that bnsincss transactions
are carried on credit is illustrated by tbe con
trast to which tbo Commercial Advert iser ro
f ers. Tho volume of monoy was practicaly the
samo in November as in January; but bank
credits were artificially refused in one month,
and extended freely in another. The events of
last fall can hardly be held to have any real
bearing on the currency system. But they Illus
trate two great business evils, namely monetary
marts at tbe mercy ot the great money king?,
and corporate methods which elevate most
surely the most unscrupulous men to that posi
tion of power and connted wealth.
Rapid transit in New York means an
underground viaduct with the swiftly moving
trains away from tho surface. Rapid transit In
FhiladelDhia means the elevated system that
New York is just discovering to be inadequate.
Rapid transit in Pittsburg well what rapid
transit means in Pittsburg no one has yet been
able to tell.
Apropos of the remark of Sir Bichard
Cartwright that Canada with 5,000,000 people
bays as much from tho United States as the
50,000,000 of population to tbo south of us, the
Philadelphia -Record says, "that being so, the
proposed international railway should run
northwardly instead of southwardly." It
should if wo had no direct communication with
Canada; but the fact that very close communi
cation with oar northern neighbors has built
up this large trade, is an argument for Improv
ing oar transportation connections with tho
southern countries.
Txiere is a big fight reported between the
American Uiscuit Company and the New York
Biscuit Company. That will be all rigb,t If they
do not get to throwing their own crackers at
each other. An artillery duel with machine
made biscuits might be hazardous to tbo by
standers. The foolish idea that, because a man wins
one prominent position, therefore be is a Prcsi
dental quantity, is getting in its work on Judge
Peifcr. Ho is already talked of as the Alliance
candidate for President. Let tbe pernicions
idea be suppressed at once. If Feffer and Hill
are to push their Presldental booms in the Sen
ate at the same time, the pnblic will not get
any of its business done, and the only compen
sation will be ihat both of them will break
their political necks.
IX is to the credit of Senators Hoar and
Dawes that they ba e joined in recommending
the retention of General Corse as Postmaster of
Boston. If the President follows the recom
mendation, be will join the Massachusetts
Senators in doing better than was expected.
An Indiana legislator has proposed to
punish wife-beaters by sixty lashes, and that
tbe public shall bo admitted to the punish
ment. The proposition is uneconomic and
medieval. A much better use can be made of
wife-beaters than nhippine them. Let them
bo forced to use their muscular energy in mat
ing good roads, with thcirjwages paid to the
wives, while tho latter take a vacation from
family discipline.
Let us hope that the reports of a strike
and indefinite shutdown in tho coke region will
prove to bo unfounded. This is a bad time of
the year and an unfavorable juncture of trade
to enter upon unnecessary and enforced idle
ness for the settlement of wages disputes.
Tun name of Joseph Cannon is urged by
the Chicago Inter-Ocean for the Treasury
portfolio. Recent experiencebaving impressed
on Mr. Cannon tbe necessity of keeping his
.mouth In subjection, there is reason to believe
that he might make a Tcry decent Secretary of
tho Treasury. His character for integrity
would make bis name a grateful relief from
tho candidacy of Thomas C. Piatt
It is not calculated to increase the useful
ness ot gas to havo it assume tbe function of
tho mercury and tell us bow cold it is by a
shrinkage of tbe supply in direct ratio to the
fall of tbo temperature.
Examples are multiplying of lights of
tho stage and society who on incomes of 512,000
to $130,000 per j ear find the expenses of living
so great that they cannot possibly use any ,of
their incomo to pay tbeir debts. Yet the
Eastern press reserves ail of its denunciations
for the farmers of the West, who only want a
coinage law passed that will knock a mere i!0
per cent off their indebtedness.
The plea of a short supply of ice is def
initely but conclusively ruled out from the case
of tho ice companies for next summer.
The announcement that the strike of coal
miners up the Allegheny Valley road, wbicb
has been in operation since last May, has been
abandoned, may be premature; but it is cer
tain that it has reached a stage where tbe
miners may profitably ask themselves whether
it has not cost them a great deal more than it
can possibly come to.
PEBSOHAL PABAGBAPHS.
Mb. J. C. Bancroft Davis has been se
lected to fill to vacancy in tbe Washington
National Monument Societv caused by tbe
death of his uncle. George Bancroft. '
Judge John LATnnor, who has just been
elevated to the Supreme Court bench of Mas
sachusetts, can trace his ancestry back to tho
minister of that name who came over in tho
Mayflower.
Judoe Geinnell, of Chicago, who prose
cuted tbe Anarchists before bis elevation to
tbe bench, is about to retire to private life, and
has accepted employment as counsel from the
Chicago City Railway Company.
Mrs. Jebky Simpson was with her husband
at Topeka during the Senatorial canvass. She
is a modest, agreeanle and sensible little
woman, who is devoted to her liege lord, and is
proud of the honors which have been showered
upon him.
Mbs. Carrie Steele, colored, has founded
a colored orphansvlum in Georgia. She has
built a cottage and stable, a larger building is
going up, and fonr acres of land around it have
already been put under cultivation. Mrs. Steele
has collected the money entirely by ber per
sonal efforts.
Meissonier was one of tbe many little men
who have played big parts In the world's his
tory. His head was large and his shoulders
were rather broad, but his body was short and
slender. His legs were small and insignificant,
but they answered Abraham Lincoln's test, in
being long enough to reach the ground.
John D. Rockefeller's gift of 81,600.000 to
the Chicago University is being paid in install
ments of 5100,000 each 30 days. He said recently
to one who had spoken of bis gift as munifi
cent: "O, It is nothing compared with what I
intond to do, as I havo only just begun to make
monoy." And he is rate lilt 8100,000,000.
Governor Jones, of Alabama, while In the
national Capitol building tbe other day, was re
quested by some Northern visitors, who did not
know him. to show them about the place. Be
performed tho task acceptably, and one of the
strangers handed hiin CO cents. The Governor
then revealed himself, to the confusion of the
visitors.
Sir Edtvin Arnold saw tho Emperor of
Japan at tbo opening of Parliament, where he
presented a very interesting figure. He is tall
in comparison with the majority of his subjects
and has strongly marked features. His eyes
are dark and watchfnl, and he has a slight
beard and moustache His manners are at
once gracious and imperlurbably reserved. The
Mikado was dressed in the uniform of an army
General and wore tbo broad red ribbon of the
Order of tbe Rising Sun.
Senora Gonzales, wife of tho ex-President
of Mexico, is now traveling tho United States
unattended by maid or escort She has been
12 months away from her Mexican home, and
in that time she has visited th principal cities
of Europe. The senora is a fine looking little
woman, with large and pretty brown eyes, an
olive complexion and an abundance of black
hair. She does not appear to bo more than 33
years old. She is interested in medicine and is
a graduate of two medical colleges.
CHICAGO'S MUK TBTJST.
Its Ingenious Method for Preventing a
Flooded Market.
Chicago, Feb. 1 Is tbe price of milk to be
raised! That is tbe qncstion which is at pres
ent agitating the minds of the milk dealers in
this city. About two weeks ago tbe shippers
from tbe surrounding country organized the
Milk Shippers' Association. Yesterday the de
tails of the organization were perfected,' and to
protect the members it was decided to make
every dealer furnish a bond for tbe payment of
milk. All tho milk will be bandied through tbe
tbe association, and no dealor can buy a single
can unless ho furnishes the required bond for
the full amount.
To remedy the difilcnUy that occurs when
there is a surplus a sinking fund will be pro
vided by assessing each member 5 cents for
every can of milk he ships. When there is a
surplus, instead of shipping to tho city, the
members will use their milk for making butter.
As tbe milk is not worth to them when used
this way as much as when sold, there is a conse
quent loss. This loss will be paid out of the
sinking: fund, and milk will never, as a dealer
put "flood the market" The city dealers are
not jubilant over tbo tarn affairs have taken,
and are wondering whether or not they aro in
the hands of a full blown Milk Trust,
Onr Spectral Merchant Marine.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
The Flying Dutchman has been seen again.
Doubtless Captain Vanderdecken is on his way
to the United States, in the hope of becoming
an American and getting a subsidy for his ctaf t
He has probably often seen the specter of our
foreign commerce.
DEATHS OP A DAY.
Mrs. Lena Horner.
A notable womin passed away from life yester
dayat the residence ofher son. Christian Horner,
ofthe Twenty-fifth ward. County Commissioner
Mercer states that, though in her 811 year, her
life was shortened by her dctcrmlnitlon to main
tain her standing In life as one of usefulness.
Though surrounded by all needed to make her ago
one of ease, she persisted In Keeping her place
in the domestic establishment, and abreast of the
times in matters ot thought, taking as keen an in
terest in public affairs as a woman of 33. With
her husband, tho late Jlclchor Borner, she came
from Gcrmauv to Baltimore in l'ssfc From thence
they came to this citr. and lost much or their
worldly effects In the ureal fire ofl813. Ilia fam
ily altar was then set up on the Souths! de, where
the lamlly have sluce resided. Four children sur
vive their mother, William. Christian. Mrs. Eliz
abeth Tesh. of Braddock, and Mrs. Mary fainlth,
who lives in Ohio.
Kev. Dr. T. N. Haselqulst.
KOCK ISLAND, Feb. 4. Kev. Or. T. N. Hasel
qulst, for 80 years President of Augustaua Col
lege, and for 20 years the senior minister of the
Swedish Lutheran Augnstana Svnod, died in this
city this morning. He was born at Hkodek,
Sweden, In 1SI0; was ordained in I83D: arrived in
America In 1351. He wis a rounder or the Angus
tana Svnod. As pi tor. edncator, editor anu au
tboi. few men have cxercistd so great and wide
an Influence. A strong anti-slavery worker, he
took sleidiug part In founding the Republican
party. Ihe college exercises have been suspended
for the remainder or the week. Ihe funeral will
take place Monday.
William T. ISenrctsloy.
BniDGSrOBT, Conn., Feb. 4. 'William T.
lleardslcy. Police Commissioner or this city,
drooped dead of heart disease on the street yes
terday afternoon. He was an oil merchant and
one of the best-known Democrats In the State.
He was GO years of age and at the time of his death
was a member of the Iloird of Aldermen. He
leaves a widow and one child.
Charles tt Drinscombe.
Lawrence, Kan., Feb. 4. Charles H. Urlns
corabe died In Denver Monday evening, of pneu
monia, after a short illness. Thirty-seven years
ago he laid out the slte of this city for the New
England Emigrant Aid Boclety of Boston. He
figured prominently in the early politics ol Kan
sas. Four years ago be was the Prohibition can
didate for Governor.
J. G. Backofen.
J. O. Backofen. one of the best known resi
dents of Pittsburg, died yesterday afternoon at
his residence in the East Knd, at the advanced
ago of 84 years. Ills funeral will occur irom his
late home, at the corner of Sheridan avenue and
blatlon street, to-morrow at 1 1 u.
General It. J, Henderson.
ATLANTA, OA., Feb. .-General K. J. Hender
son, a prominent Confederate officer, dled here
yesterday.
alit
"wn.'i "l
SNAP SHOTS IN SEASON.
If you worship your boy you alone are to
blame if be turns oat an Idle man.
"What shadows we are, and what shadows
wo pursue," said someone. Only tbo faint
hearted and cowardly aro afraid of shadows.
only tbe visionary see ghosts in them, only the
imaginative build substantial shapes oat of
and nurse and cberisb them. But the latter
class too often mistake the shadow for the sub
stance and find naught but dust and ashes
whero they expected fame and fortune. But
if you want to get some consolation out of
shadows go to tbo fireside. There you will find
them ruddy, cheerful, restful. When the rain
falls and you are sad, when the wind howls and
you are cold, when tho darkness falls
and you are sunless, study the slumbering
coals and the leaping flames. No pale
ghosts or black bogies there, only the pretty
forms and faces, the beautiful pictures tbat
fancy can trace and paint with the magic of tbe
mind. Surely no evil shapes lurk in tho lurid
shadows of the fireplace; no canny wraiths
form in the crimson glow to linger and to
haunt. In the coals you bnild bright castles.
They crumble, to be sure, but ere they mingle
with .the ashes another is reared, perhaps
grander than the one the blue-red flames de
stroyed. And you dream on, led by tancy
through the fairyland of the flames, snatching
hope from the embers, burying sorrow in the
ashes. Faces come at will magicphotograpbs
of the long absent, pictures of the loved, the
lost, the true, the false, tbe living and tbe
dead. And these portraits are neither fantas
tic nor flattering, bat faithfnl and enduring so
long as tbe fancy wills that memory play
painter. But when yon seek the shadows of
the firelight don't go to sleep there, else the
dreams may grow dark, tbe fire die, the chills
come. And when you awake where tbe red
was you see nothing but blackened cinders,
wbite ashes blasted hopes,, crnmbled castles.
Prince Dalgourki Is making arrange
ments to live on Ayer. She is an heiress, too.
A blizzard chaps the hands and chills the
chappies.
The only thing Pfeffer loses, by fame Is the
first "I" in his name. He seems content to let
'er rip.
When statesmen see a good thing they don't
hesitate to ask for It.
When the gas goes out suddenly th sbtver
ers keep tbe telephone hot at all events.
The legislative roosters are gradually real
izing that Pennsylvania has a Governor.
Hire wages are not always as high as they
should be.
Hope From the 'Weather.
Break, break, break, e
O coppery wires bright;
Perhaps one more blizzard will bring us a
wizard
Who'll bury you out of sight.
O for the ears of the deaf.
Or relief from buzzing sound
That will be guaranteed when the wires, like
seed.
Shall live in the cold, cold ground.
Break, break, break,
O wires, when snow falls free;
Then the message she'll send about money to
.spend
Will never be civen to me.
Water will strengthen a human being, but
it weakens whisky and milk.
People who keep dogs and do their own
barking should wear tbe muzzles, too.
If you want to find out how many people on
the street have nothing to do get up ft dog
fight.
The sluggard frequently goes to his- aunt
and makes her ante.
A coward will be brave under pressure, but
the performance of tbe deed scares him so that
bo forgets all about tbe danger.
The foolish worry about their neighbors'
affairs and the wise attend to their own busi
ness. The more you study tho gas meter the more
you appreciate its intricacies.
They are not .wearing linen dusters In
Dakota now, at all events.
The cur dog is hybrid, but he is not well
bred.
Whales are not quarrelsome, but they fre
quently como to blows.
Cleveland embraced an opportunity when
he shook hands with Hill.
The silver pool has interrupted the current
of partisan legislation in Congress.
Especially on the H11L
The blizzard came down like a wolf on the fold,
And frosted the glistoning glass;
Ob, heavensl but wasn't it deucedly cold
In houses that were short of gas.
Lite grows less amusing as we grow older,
and the children should be allowed full swing
in Innocent amusements.
Giddy folk are more apt to stumble and fall
than their sedate brothers and sisters.
Precocious children are over-trained, and
soon give way under the burdens imposed by
the responsibilities of maturity.
When the mercury drops quicksilver quota,
tions do not fall in sympathy.
Sailors and authors are compelled to sign
articles.
Reformers in order to got behind a reform
are forced to go before it.
Visionary beings can twist a shadow into
any shape and make a mountain out of a mole
hill. Murderer West has been attacked by
dropsy in jail at Little Washington. It may
prevent him from being drooped.
fJWHEN is a coat llko a watch? When It's second-handed.
THE Legislature has been in session a month
and has passed one bill. Laws como high, but
we must have 'em.
Wrath Turned Aside.
She turned her head, be stole a kiss.
And she, sweet girl, her wrath did smother;
She only said. "Dear, this is bliss.
And one good turn deserves another."
The Senatorial poker players seem deter
mined to make Harrison show his hand on tbe
silver issue.
The police receipts for the past year show a
heavy upward tendency, and some say crime is
on tbo Increase. The population is increasing,
and crime Is merely keeping up a fair average.
The Prince of Wales, now mixed up In a
gambling scandal, will show tho fraternity bow
one Queen can beat a pair of knaves.
WHEN is a girl like a brook? When she
babbles.
Ice is 5,000 feet thick in Greenland. Bat
Greenland is several thousand miles away.
Silver collars of the kind worn in Washing
ton tarnish the character.
It is perfectly natural for witnesses to loss
their tempers daring cross-examination.
The Indians in Washington can secure fine
polnts'on face painting in tho drawing rooms
during their stay.
THE oil bill seems to have been piped to a
pigeon bole in the committee room at Harris
burg. Fishing tools may have to bo used to
And it.
If the fire boss at Mammoth had been fired
things might have been different.
Willie Winkle.
i-JM,k tiZfch&i?
n ' i m mu WMMPrwHMi 'iiiitin
JHE TOPICAL TALKER,
Secretary Follansbeo's Riddles.
The cheerfulness and calm of tbe applicant
for a barrel of statistics make Secretary Fol
lansbec, of tbe Chamber of Commerce, marvel
exceedingly. Everybody knows that Mr. Fol
lansbee does not complain no matter bow busy
he mav bo?bnt he has elevated his eyebrows In
protest once or twicejately when somo stranger
in a brief note has asked for statistics by re
turn mail that wonld take a month to collect.
A man writes, for inltance, saying: "PIeae
give me the glass tonnage of Pittsburg for tho
month of December, ISflO, the gross tonnage of
Fittsbnre during tbepist ten years, and such
other statistics as you may consider, useful in
estimating the traffic, eta, etc An imme
diate reply will oblige yours, etc"
Such letters as these do noi come singly to
Secretary Follansbee, bnt by the dozen. The
Chamber of Commerce is buried under them.
Mr. Follansbeo keeps on digging his way out
as best he may. but never gets really clear.
He completed a table of statistics for one man
a few days ago that kept him hard at work for
a week to obtain. Snch labor is doing a good
deal for Pittsburg.
No Fun for Lynchers.
Some people in Pittsburg laughed when they
read about the alleged intention of the miners
at Mammoth to lynch Superintendent F. C.
Keighley. But they laughed because- it wonld
not be fun for the would-be lynchers. Mr.
Keigbley is not the sort of man to allow him
self graciously and without protest to be hung
or shot full of holes. Just the opposite in fact.
True, Mr. Keighley is quiet and gentle In his
manners; he is wiry and tall, bnt not very im
posing in figure. But those who bave bad
much to do with Mr. Keighley know tbat there
is an awful lot of will power behind the quiet
exterior: and courage with the bine eyes and
the light mustache. He has not come to 33
years without showing time and again that he is
not a man to be fooled with.
Once there was a fellow working in the
mines, which Mr. Keigbley managed, whose
repntation as a bnlly and a fighter rested on a
bloody basis. He had half murdered several
of his comrades in drunken brawls before he
gave it out that he intended to make Mr.
Keighley his next victim. The fellow was
twice Mr. Koighley's sizo and a very ugly
customer In many ways. Mr. Keighley did not
take any chances when he was attacked by the
big bully, according to programme, but poured
four bullets into him In places where they
would do most good. The curious part of the
story is that the fire-eating bully recovered and
reformed. The diet of lead changed his dispo
sition, and now he worships Mr. Keigbley.
He Hath Ears to FeeL
"Kind of cold to-day," I remarked to a man
who was rubbing his ears vigorously and
breathing very hard.
"Cold ? It takes a man with ears as large as
mine to realize how cold it Is," he renlled, and I
noticed for the first time that owing to the
large area of aural territory he had to employ
both hands to rub one ear. He seemed to bo
more Sensitive tn thn r.olH than rtnnn (ha nnh.
ject of large ears, an unusual phenomenon.
A Cow's TalL
A cow, a nondescript cow, disregarding sign
boards of warning, trespassed upon the proper
ty Ot FrOf. Wood nn I IhaArrnfnpv TTfll t, nfh..
day. Prof. Wood objected to a cow trampling
upon nis iana,and upon bis feelings toboot.and
straightway summoned a policeman. The po
liceman came, arrested the cow and took her to
City Hall. There are not many things tbat are
out of place at Allegheny City Hall, bat a cow
IS OnO Of them. Nn nrnvlelnn f- .ntira Vita
been made there. The policeman, after con-
oun.iuuii witnme nignomcersof his depart
ment, realized tbat the cow was out of place
in tho front Office, thn rVinnntl rlnnW tho
cells or in the Mayor's private room. Inde-
iaun oi a Dener place ne took the cow back to
the lot on Observatory Hill where he had
fonnd her and left ber there.
Since then Prof. Wood has sued the owner of
the cow for a variety of offenses beginning
with trespass and ending somewhere this side
of murder, and the case has been appealed to
court. Everything is in train for a nice law
suit. Moreover Mr. Scandrett, Secretary of
tendent Morrow have become entangled in
some mysterious way with the cow. What the
cow thinks about the matter is not known.
His Right nand Didn't Know.
A stout man plunged toward his seat, number
Ave from the aisle, a stouter woman plunged
after him and after they had passed the four
people who had risen to allow the latecomers
ingress sighed In unison and thanked heaven
they were alive. Stay! one gentleman did not
thank beaven and his sigh was cut short for he
began to grope about under the seat furiously.
"That fat beast mast have carried off my
bat," be muttered so'tto voce, and then made
another dive with bis left band.
"What are you looking for?" the three ladios
wity him exclaimed at once.
"My hat!" he curtly replied, not deigning to
look up even, bnt waving bis left hand up and
down the narrow way between the seats.
"Why, you've got it In your hand," three
sweet voices chorused, and sure enough his
right hand held the bat which the left hand
was seeking.
Drink In the Coal Regions.
The absence of police at Mammoth, and at
other little towns in the Westmoreland coal
field such as Hccla, Mutual and Horrocks.
strikes a city man as singular. A miner at
Mammoth was ask'ed if they did not have
lively times now and then, and feel the want of
police protection.
'Things are pretty quiet here mostly," be re
plied, "and we haven't any call for police to
speak of. It used to be worse when the men
wero unable to get drink at home, and they'd
all go off in a body on pay day to some neigh
boring town and fill up on bad whisky an' get
to fighting. Bat you see now the Hquor men
have agents here, and a man can get his keg ot
beer or his flask of whisky when he wants it,
and he drinks at homo or nigh to home through
tho week. It's more peaceable and less
liquor's drnnk that's my beliet."
Tho nnmber of empty kegs and bottles to be
found in a coal town certainly show that the
drink is on the ground and the pilgrimage in
force to a large town or city is no loncer a
necessity for men who want to drink. The pay
days are much quieter than they used to be is
another fact about which there seems to be no
doubt. As to the comparative harm of tho
drinking fashions, more competent authorities
must decide.
Not All Mentioned In the Book.
New Orleans I'lcayune.l
A new edition of the book called "Tbe Bird3
of Pennsylvania" is to be published soon.
There are some raro old birds in Pennsylvania.
PLAYS TO COME.
The dazzling beauties of "The Crystal Slip
per," Mr. Henderson's spectacular and extrav
aganza, will be re-cxblblted to Pittsburgers at
tbe new Duqnesne Theater next week. Tbe
delightful production met with such an enthu
siastic reception on the occasion of its recent
visit, that its success tbis time is assured and
it should be. The "Slipper" contains something
of everything beautiful and amusing from
pretty, graceful women to clever and topical
songs and brilliant pageantry. The ballets, the
music, tbo glitter, the fun are all of a high
order and more magnificently environed
than in any other American production. The
advanco sale of seats and boxes begins to-day.
The sale of reserved seats for tbe seven per
formances to be given by Francis Wilson and
company In the Bijou Theater next week, will
begin at the Bijou box offico this Thursday
morning. It is quite unnecessary to introduce
to the theater patrons of Pittsburg, either this
favorite comedian or bis company, as each of
tbe prominent members of tbo organization
havo vion their popularity here under other
conditions. Marie Jansen, Laura Moore. Nettie
Lyford, Charles Plunkett, Gilbert Clayton aad
and most of the others will be cordially wel
comed, and as for "The Merry Monarch," its
success everywhere else has aroused the keen
est Interest in its Pittsburg production.
A VERY handsome production of "The Dead
Heart." is promised us at the Grand Opera
House next week. James O'Nell has shelved
for a time "Monte Cristo," and appeals to us In
new clothes and in a character tbat is said to
fit hira as well as it did Henry Irving who
placd"lhe DcadjHcart," 200 hlgbts in Lon
don. Tho play will be carefully and richly
staged, and tbe supernumeraries ate being
trained now for tbe production. Mr. O'Nell
will be supported by Joseph E. Whitney; J. W.'
Shannon, Nat. T.Jones, Miss Grace Raven and
Miss Kate Fletcher.
3lJ
Lidt-im'J&tet!4
i hm mi iip wiii'mpwwiw1 'iwwMMwiMi
MAY REFUSETHE BEQUEST.
The Conditions of tho Thaw Bequest to the
Home for Aged Protestant Women Con
flicts With fhe By-Laws Lady Gradu
ates Lunch Society News.
Thero is a possibility that the Board of Man
agers of the Homo for Aged Protestant Women
at Wilkinsburg will not accept the bequest of
the late William Thaw, whereby he gave them
the sum of 0,000, conditionally. Miss Jane
Holmes, the President, when seen regarding
tbe matter yesterday, said that an Executive
Committee had the matter anderconsideration,
and would probably appeal to Mrs. Thaw to see
if they cqnld not accept tho 'money
unconditionally, to do with it as
might seem best. The conditions
accompanying the bequest conflict with
tbo rules and by-laws of the corporatlon.and Us
acceptance as it now stands wonld render a
complete new set of regulations a necessity.
The annual meeting of tbe officers and man
agers of the Home was held yesterday at
Christ M. E. Church, and the reports of the
various officers read, approved and ordered
published. The report of Mrs. George H.
Thurston, the secretary, was a lengtby and
affecting one, for in it she traced the history of
the Home from its inception, '20 years ago,
uqwn to the present time, and paid tributes to
tbe many earnest workers who bave passed to
tbe other shore. Financially, the Home is free
from debt, and is enabled to remain so. The
year has been a prosperous and pleasing one.
MID-SESSION" SEAWCE
Of the Holy Ghost College, at Which JEx
amlnation Results Were Announced.
Results were announced yesterday in the
mid-session examination of tbe pupils of Holy
Ghost College. Tbe best of the papers will be
sent to the Educational Department of World's
Fair for competition. An interesting pro
gramme was the feature of tho mid-session
seance, which follows:
Overture, "Optimates,"collegeorchestra;read
lng of notes and application; song, "In the Star
light," select choir; reading or examination re
sults; grammar and second academic; instru
mentaldno, "American Souvenirs, " Kev. Father
Grlffln and Sir. h. Hamilton; elocution. "Battle
ofHohenllnden," Charles Jaegle: reading of ex
amination notes first academic and freshman
class; music, "Grand Polonaise," college or
chestra: elocution, "Marco Bozzarls. " Jerry Hun
levy; reading of examination notes, sophomore
and senior business course: sacred song, "Faint
Not, Fear Hot," select choir: elocution, "My
Familiar," Thomas Barry: reading or examina
tion notes. Junior and senior; music selections,
Kev. Father Grlffln and Mr. Hamilton. Messrs.
B. Strzelczok and Al Oelgcr; elocution. "KIchard
Lajur de Lion, " A. Uavln: reading or examina
tion notes. German, drawing and penmanship:
mnslc. "Fantasia Mexlcalne," college orches
tra: song. "Listen to the Wood Bird's bong."
select choir; address by the Very Kev. President;
music, "Jet Black March, " college orchestra.
The following pupils obtained first places at
the examinations:
Grammar Department-James Kennedv, Chris
tian doctrine: John McClory, Christian doctrine;
Thomas O'Brien, geography: Arthur Anger,
grammar; Arthur Aurer, Bible history: Arthur
Auger, composition: SHchaelbcanlon, arithmetic;
Joeph Kress, arithmetic: Lawrence Koerner,
arithmetic; Arthnr Auger, dictation; John Mc
Clory. dlctatton.
Second Academic l'atrick Hessou, Latin; Fred
erick Miller, Litln; John Larkln. Latin; Fred
erick Miller. Greek: William Lannlgin. arithme
tic: M. C'lohessv, arithmetic: A dolph Meyer, book
keeping: James Mcighan. bookkeeping: "M. 'lo
hessy, bookkeeping: Cnarles Knmmer, vhrlstlin
doctrine: Fred Good, composlllon: josepliGntfel
der, composition: A. Meyer, geography: Charles
Ehrenreld. grammar: TiarlesK'irenrcM. spelling.
First -Arademle-JSdward McCormlck. Latin;
Edward McCormlck, Gruk: diaries bheehan,
bookkeeping: i liirlcs bneelian. United State hls
tory;Falr!ck Ilesson.Clnlstlan doctrlne:M.Katka.
grammar: M. Katka, geognphy: John Larkln,
composition: .limes Lee. arithmetic.
Freshman Clas Adolph Beck. Latin transla
tion; Adolph Heck. Latin composition; Adolph
Beck. Greek translation: Adolph Beck. Greek
grammar: Thomas Barry.Latln grammar: Thomas
Birry, Greek composition: Charles Frost, Chris
tian doctrine: Jerry Dunlevv. English composi
tion; W. Alachnlewlcz, arithmetic; A. Beck,
arithmetic
bopbomore Class James Nelson. Latin, Greek;
C. Tomaczewskl, Christian doctrine: J.O'bhongn
nessy, Christian doctrine: Joseph Uanner.sclcnee;
C. Tomaczewskl. science. Kngllsh. geometry: B.
titrzelczok. geometry; J. U'uhonzhnessv. geome
try: Patrick lloherty, algebra: Thomas Barry, al
gebra: tjoseph Danner, algebra.
benlorlluilness Course William Grogan. book
keeping; Thomas Cullln-in. bookkeeplng.Kngltsh;
Thomas Cashing. Christian doctrine: Stephen
Bookln. arithmetic.
Junior Class Cxsar Tomaczewskl, Latin. Greek;
Joseph Nelson, geometry, chemistry: Frldolln
Frommherz. ancient nlstorv, literature, composi
tion, rhetoric, history. ,
Senior Class William McMnllen. Latin: Will
iam McMullen, cbemistrv: William McMullcn.
physics: William 3IcMnllen. history: William
McMullen. composition: U. MrMullen. liter
ature: W. McMullen. political eennomy: Robert
Lawlor, Greet: Fred Kausch. logic: William
Stadelmann. Christian doctrine: John Flihtr.
mathematics: James Qulnn, "Macbeth:" Thomas
Glhlln. history.
German Class Thomas Barry, fonrth German
class; Joseph Nelson, third German class: Jnmes
Qulnn. second German class; Henry Goebel and
Adolph Beck, first German class.
Penmaushlp Arthur Anger and John McClory,
grammar class; Arthur U alsh. second academic
class; M. Jtetka, first academic class: A. Meyer,
second Junior business class; James Brady, first
junior business class.
Drawing William Stadelmann. Vlnrentlns
Kydlewskl, Joseph Daley, 'Ibomas Daley, Patrick
llesson.
A TDIIP LUNCHEON
Given by a Fair Graduate to a Bevy of Her
Classmates.
A coterie of Bowman Institute young ladies
who graduated in '!S5 with Miss Minnie Becker'
were her guests yesterday at a talip luncheon.
To meet, the young ladies were two guests of
honor. Miss Walker, of New York, visiting at
present at the Becker home, and Miss Meek, of
Bellefonntaine. Tbe dining room was a dis
tractingly pretty vision, with the center piece
of rich red tulips nestling amid luxuriant
green adorning the table, and the candelabra
shaded by canning little tulips of the
same warm color, casting a red glow over
tbe dainty damask covering and the delicate
table service. Little scarlet souvenirs were
laid beside each plate, consisting of tiny mem
ento books sweetly tied with satin ribbon and
bearing the gold inscription, "To be well read."
Tbe luncheon was served in courses, by Kenne
dy, and exactly one dozen charming maidens
graced tbe table, Jll-s Nellie Becker declining
the invitation to defy fate and become tbe
thirteenth.
Both Miss Minnie, and her sister Nellie were
gowned in crimson equally becoming to either
the datk eves ana bair of tbe former or the
blonde loveliness of the latter. The guests of
honor were attired in stylish afternoon toilets
and tbe otber young ladles in chic street
gowns. A fall liit of the gay company Included
Miss Walker, Mis Meek. Miss McCreery, MiS3
Garland, Miss Foster. Miss Crawford, Misses
Kcbccca and Mary Patterson, Miss Lewis, Miss
Thompson and Hit' Cluly.
A PHUiHTHEOPISrs PAIL
Mrs. F. R. Brnnot 31eet With an Accident
Ti hilo on a Mission of 3Iercy.
The many friends of Mrs. F. B. Brnnot, who
is and has been for years pre-eminent in the
philanthropic work of the city, will regret to
learn of the seriou? accident by which she is
now confined to a bed of suffering.
Last Tuesday, while engaged in the charitv
work to whicn she bis devoted her life, and in
the act of ringing the door bell at the Tem
porary Home for Women her hand slipped,
and losing her balance as a consequence, she
sustained a severe fall. She waa conveyed to
her home on Stockton avenue and medical a
sistance summoned. It is hoped her indisposi
tion will be of a brief natnre, and tbat skilled
attention and careful nursing will soon restore
her to health.
- .
A Gymnasium for Orphans.
The boys of the Protestant Home in Alle
gheny are living in hopes of a gymnasinm in
the not distant future.- The lady managers, at
their regular meeting yeuerday, dicnssed the
feasibility of devoting the basement to that
laudable purpose, as no other space is availa
ble on the premises. The oflicers re-elected at
tho annual meeting last month assnmvd posi
tions at tbe meeting yesterday, and many plans
for tbe stnrdy little lellows' comfort and happi
ness were discussed.
Social Chatter.
Mas. Gilbert Rafferty gave a delightful
luncheon yesterday in honor of Miss II erne, of
New York. Tbe table was decorated with car
nations, and other details carried out In pink,
making a very attractive and harmonious
effect. A mandolin orchestra played during
lunch. Beautiful band-painted souvenirs were
also a feature of tbe occasion, which was in its
entirety one of tho most elaborate affairs ol the
season.
The merry travelers of the "Tourist Club"
stopped long enough yesterday to luncbwtth
Mrs. McCoy, their President, at her charming
Wylie avenue home.
The ladles of St. Klernan's Catholic Church
beld their annual tea party at Lafayette Hall
last evening.
Mrs. Dr. nAZzanrj, of Montgomery street,
will entertain friends at luncheon to-iriorrow.
The Alegro Club reception at Cyclorama
Hall to-night.
The Chaplin-Campbell wedding at Sewlokley
to-day. '
The Cole reception this afternoon, '
k3.f..-"fe.A
CORKTUS C0NDENSATI0SS.
In France there is a Government tax of
2 per cent levied on all bets on races.
The candles at Mrs. Boger A. Pryor's
receptions, in New York City, stand In candle
sticks 200 years old.
During the fine weather of last week
several farmers near Calgary, Canada, sowed
wheat as an experiment.
Clay Center has an interesting curiosity
In the shape of a man who is the editor of ft
newspaper and the cashier ot a bank.
The development of smokeless coal
mines in Tonqoln shows much larger deposit
than were at first believed to be possible.
A Springport, Mich., man's greatest
feat was tbe drinking of six barrels of elder In
one winter. He actually feels proud of it
It was an old lady from the rural dis
tricts who said she envied boneless sardines
because they never could have the rheumatism,
One of tbe employes of the postal tele
graph office in St. Fetersourg has invented a
watch which will run 15 days at a single wind
Ing. The results oi the recent expedition to
Greenland prove that north of 75 the land is
covered witn a sheet of ice 5,000 to 6,000 feet
thick over the valleys.
Tbe numerically smallest religious de
nomination discovered by Porter's census
takers is tbat of the Scbwankf eldlans. Thero
are SOS of them and all dwell in Pennsylvania.
Joseph Bond, colored, liying near
Toronto, has lain in bed In the sulks for 27
years and is now approaching death, all be
cause bis mother sold her farm against his will.
Newfoundland is just now in the throes
of a f earf nl scourge of diphtheria. One of every
12 inhabitants of St. John's Is suffering with
the dread disease. The plague is not by any
means confined to the cities, but seems to bave
extended over the whole country.
The Bockwood, Tenn., Times says: A.
young lady from our sister city of Cardiff has
started oat on the most sensible plan, which is
becoming very popular, of riding astride on
horseback. We can see no reason why this
practice should not.be come tbe general custom.
It was found frem careful germination
tests at the Wisconsin station that the hulled
grains of timothy seed neither germinate so
well nor retain their vitality so long as those
not bulled; also that timothy seed, when prop
erly stored, is fairly reliable up to five years
old.
ProC Vaughn, of the Ann Arbor Uni
versity, has manufactured a lymph for the cure
of typhoid fever upon the same principles as
Koch's lymph. He has experimented with the
lymph npon small animals. He will try it upon
human patients as soon as be has thoroughly
tested tbe Koch lymph, 1.000 injections of
which have been received at the university.
A young woman of Athens detects the
presence instantly of any feline that enters the
room where she is. She need not see or bear
the animal when it enters, bnt has intimation
of its disagreeable presence bystrage sensa
tions that she invariably experiences when she
is brought into contact with a cat. and sbe en
tertains an unconquerable repugnance to these
animals.
Petroleum wai discovered near the sur
face at Lafayette, La., recently. Drilling was
commenced at once in the hope of tapping a
reservoir of the fluid. At a depth of 50 feet a
bed of solid coal of fine quality was struck.
The oil, which tests 58 percent pure kerosene
and a small per cent of lubricating oil. naphtha
and vaseline, has so far appeared only in lim
ited quantities.
Lucy Tiucker, colored, of Trigg county.
Ky aged 105 years, has cut a fall set of new
teetb, tbe old ones having decayed and disap
peared about 40 years ago. She had also been
nearly blind for many years, bat receatly ber
sigbt began to improve, and she can now see as
well as when a young woman. She is the
mother of 15 children, and ha3 ninety odd
grandchildren now living.
The Princess Gbika, sister of Queen
Natalie, has one child, a boy. So displeased i3
the Princess with the sex of tbe child, who 13
now about 9 years old. tbat she calls him by a
girl's name, dresses him exactly like a little
girl in frills and lace, and is bringing him op
much after the fashion of girls. What the re
sult of tbis treatment will be on tbe boy nature
will be interesting as time goes on.
Pay cars are familiar sights on Ameri
can railways, but this country has not yet em
ployed the locomotive in banking operations.
One of toe New Zealand banks has a special
car wbicb visits the rural districts, cashes
checks and receives deposits. The experlmenc
Is said to be nrofitable. and is a creat conven
ience to settlers v. ho would otherwise be com
pelled to leave their farms and visit town on
numerous occasions.
Great anxiety is feltin Switzerland con
cerning tbe decadence of the watch-making in
dustry, which, next to tbo textile industry, U
the mainstay of tbe inhabitants of the country.
Tbe profits are dwindling down, as the United
States ana England are every vear becoming
more powerful rivals in tbis field. The de
mand, too. for Swiss watches is falling off con
siderably in certain countries, notably in this
country and In France.
A bill has been introduced in the lower
branch of the Minnesota Legislature providing
that any pnblic officer, state, municipal or
county, accepting any gifts, free pass or otber
favors, no. granted to tbe general public from
any railroad or otber corporation in the State,
shall be held guilty of felony, and be punished
by a fine not less than 1,000 nor more than
$5,000. or by imprisonment in tbe State prison
not less tban six months, nor more than one
year, or botb.
ATwhlte book is published in Berlin
containing Emln Pasha's reports to tho middle
of November last. They form a record of
Emin's extravagance and disregard of instruc
tions. He ignored tbe order to found a station
on the Victoria Nyanza. and hoisted bis nag at
T&bora. Emin spent 120,000 marks instead of
tbe 60,000 marks allowed him. He repeatedly
complains of the insufficiency of his supplies,
owing to which, he says, bis men are becoming
mutinous. He therefore declines responsibil
ity lor tbe failure of the expedition.
A recent microscopical stddy byHerr
Schultz of the skin of toads and salamanders
has yielded some interesting results. Thero
are two kinds of glands, mucous and poison
glandi. Tho former are numerous over the
whole body, while the latter are on the body
and limbs, and there are groups in tbe ear re
gion behind tbe eye and in the salamander at
the angle of the jaw. The poison glands are, of
course, protective, ana tbe corrosive juice is
discharged differently in toads and salamanders
on stimulating electrically; In the latter it is
spurted oat in a fine jet sometimes more than a
foot in length; whereas in tbe toad, after
Ion" action ot thecurrenr.it exndes sparingly
in drops. There-is no reason for supposing
that the mucous glands become poisonous.
FUNNYMEN'S FANCIES.
Blimmer Why is it that poets always
make the barefooted farmer's boy whistle.
Bubble I suppose It's so that he will keep his
courage up when be goes into a stubble pasture
after the cows. Chicago Timet.
"Ob, madam, Jipbas just bit a man on the
street!"
'What kind of a looking man was It?"
"He was nearly in rags."
"1'oor Jlp! Wash the darling's month out with
a little eau de cologne." Judge.
In view of the actions of certain Prussian
dlplomates It is bard to believe that the real reason
of the German refusal to admit the American bog
13 not based upon professional jealousy. Chicago
Kewt.
Tommy (gazing after dude) When I get
to be a man, papa, will I dress like that?
l'apt (severely) J o. Tommy ; not If yon get to
be a man. Life.
Mamma Willie, you must not spin
tbat humming top of yours to-day. This Is San
day. Willie (whirling It agaIn)-That's; all right,
mamma. It's humming a Sunday school tune.
Chicago Tribune.
Young Husband Here's the old chestnut
about a rose being Just as sweet by any other
name, it's a lie: it wouldn't.
Young WHe Fray, what difference could the
name make?
Young Husband Well, here's your own case.
Two monthJ ago, yon were Miss Catcblm. and
Moses! how sweet yoa were! and now you're Mrs.
Qottlm, and-Jerusa!em!-.Bofo7 Courier.
At 10 she jumps the rope and performs on
a trapeze. That Is the age or action. At 20 she
lolls on a sofa or hammock and reads novels.
That Is the age or passion. At 30 she wields tbe
slipper or stove poker, according to the slie of the
subject. That Is the age or reaction. And vet
they say tbat action and reaction are equal and
opposite In effects. Buffalo Sxpret.
The report giving the quantity of distilled
liquors used in works of arCetc, In Texas shows
that only 2, 101 gallons ol high wines were con
sumed, whereas of soar mash, old Bourbon, rye
and such like, wo devoted to art during the year
90.860 gallons and upward. Tbe wide difference is
readily accounted for when we remember that
only a few drops or wine are needed to make the
cheeks red and rosy, bat that the young men use a
whole gallon of-low wines to paint the town red
after the party breats np and they corns in Irom
the subarbs.-2aJ!ar, Tex,, Xewt.
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