Mil wm fSfflii fc?5 LC"WH?FIi Tlf P5?f pPWr1 RW" ssaossa $ i r Sv I '"I e Bigpafttj. ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 1846. Vol. 46. .No, IS. Entered at FltUburR Postoffice, November 14, ltST, as second-class matter. Business OlHce Corner Smithfleld and D iamond Streets. News Booms iind Publishing House 75, 77 and '79 Diamond Street KAVTFRN ADVEimG OFFICE. BOOMS, TBIHIDSE BUII.DIM'. -NEW YOKE, where complete flies of 1ME DESPATCH can always be lonnd. Foreign advertisers appreciate the con venience. Home advertise.-'' and friends of THE Dlsl'ATCH. -while In 2.ew York, arc also made welcome. THE DISPATCH it regulariy on sale at Brentano's. S Union Square. JWru- York, aid 17 ulie.de COpeia.I'aris, Fi-ance. it'here anyone uho has been disappointed at a hotel news stand can obtain t TERMS OF TILE DISrATCH. "POSTAGE FEEE JXT1IK CXTTID STATES. DAILT DISPATCH. One Y-ar f J CO Daily Uitatcii, l'cr Qnwter - -Jjj Daily Dispatch. One .Month.... Wailt Dispatch, Includln g Sunday, 1 year. 10 00 Daily Dispatch, Including bundaY,3m'tha "5o Daily Dispatch, including buuday, lmUh 90 fccj.DAY Dispatch. Ono lcir 150 M EEia.T Dispatch, One Year l3 The Daily Distatch Is de-'Ivered by carriers at :! cents per week, or Including fcunday edition, at If cents per week. PITTSBURG. THURSDAY". FEB. 19, 1S9J. suggestions n:o3i the ixood. Before noon yesterday the extreme height of the flood was shown to have reached 31 feet 3 inches by the gauge on the "Jlononga hela wharf, about 32 feet in tie Allegheny, or nearly three feet less than tlie great flood of 18SL By this morning be water will probably have receded from the fleoded portions of the two cities, and the work of repairing damages will be under way. After estimating the damages a pertinent question is whether it might not have been prevented. The most important phase of this question is the encroachments on the river channels. The opinion is Tery clearly expressed by engineers that if the normal bed of the rivers had not been narrowed this flood at least would not have gone Jar beyond the banks. Such abnormal dowa-pours and thaws combined, as occurred in 18S4, would probably go far beyond any norraal channel; but the rains which preceded this rise were not of so extraordinary character as to rival that flood, unless there was some .obstruction to the rivers. The encroachments which prevent the tree outflow of water from the Allegheny have been well known to be considerable of late years. But perhaps the most striking measure of their extent is exhibited by the fact that a rainfall of not much beyond the ordinary experience of heavy storms produced a flood that rivaled that of 18Si in the amount of damage done to the lower part of the cities. If the damage from such floods cannot be minimized by opening the channels, it then becomes an important question whether pub lic works cannot be constructed to accom plish the same end. The use of the reservoir system along the headwaters of streams, and the incidental deepening processes, have already been set forth in The Dispatch, and in addition to that, the adoption of the levee method of protection is practicable at special places. It ought not to be a matter of great expense, compared with the dam age from periodical floods, to construct levees that will protect thelower parts of the city. In the meantime an immediate public duty is presented in the shape of relieving those who have suSered loss. The flooded parts of the two cities are largely peopled by a class ill prepared to suffer the loss of having their homes inundated, and help should be prompt to aid them oul of the mire. A GOOD REPORT. The report of the work done in the Crim inal Courts during the year 1899 is highly creditable, and especially so to District At torney Johnston. The responsibility for the rapid disposal of court work rests with the District Attorney, and Sir. Johnston evi dently realized the tact when he took charge of the office. The weekly list has proven of great aid in the facilitation of wore, while attorneys are still given plenty of time to secure necessary postponements. "Sot the least reason for commendation is the cheapness with which the work was car ried on. A great reform was made when the two clerks were appointed, and the ability of constables and witnesses to pile up costs was removed. How well the work of keeping down expenses was done can be ascertained by a glance at the report pub lished in yesterday's Dispatch. Over 200 more cases were tried in 1801 than in 1890, while the saving to the county was over 55,000. THE WORK OF EXPOSITION. It i: stated that the manufacturers of Germany are taking a strong interest in the preparations for the Columbian Exposition. They are assured that the tariff will inter pose no material obstacle to large sales of goods that are exceptionally attractive in character or unique in design. The expe rience of foreign manufacturers at the Cen . tennial Exposition was one of enormons sales, and there is little doubt the memory of that exhibition will stimulate the desire of foreign exhibitors to be well represented at Chicago. In this respect American expositions offer greater attractions to exhibitors than those in the capitals of Europe. The average American, when he is out for the purpose of enjoying himself, has generally plenty of money to spend. He is a free buyer of whatever is novel and suits his fancv. On the other hand, the benefit to tne buyers by comincr in contact with new ideas and fresh inventions is of the widest character. The effect of the Philadelphia Exposition on architecture, on domestic furni ture and decorations and on the spread of new inventions throughout the United States is almost beyond calculation. If such an international exposition is a suc cess, and escapes such burdens of bad man agement and untoward circumstances as made the failures in New Orleans and Vienna, its pecuniary and social gains in bringing distant countries together are of the most positive character. This shows the importance of well-managed expositions as a class, and applies on a smaller scale to enterpriser such as Pitts burg has enjoyed dnring the past two years. There is the danger that the desire to make trade may turn the expositions largely into mere bazaars for fancy articles, as was the case at New Orleans. But this tendency is subject to regulation in the assignment of space to the various classes of exhibits. In addition to that the proof afforded by previ ous exhibitions of the fame given to new in ventions, or great industrial achievements that are properly shown at them insures that such important features will not be neg lected. In making the Chicago enterprise an un qualified triumph the whole nation is inter ested. As a nation it will do its share. But the actual discharge of the work bas been undertaken by Chieago, upon certain well understood lines. That city should at once devote its energies to carrying out the agree ment with the sole view of making the Ex position a success, and without any more of the fooling which has hampered the project for the past Tear. YHO TVOCI.D BE THE GAEJERS? A review of the stock market in a New York pa.oer notes that the large operators are keeping out of it, and says they will do so until Congress adjourns. "In other words," says the review, "they are still harping on the fear of siver coinage, and while they themselves disclaim any anxiety about the silver coinage measure on the ground th at there is no possibility of its passage at this session, they do not credit general financial opinion with entertaining the same confidence." The review in question goes on to express the belief that this is not the real reason why the large operators are not buying stocks; which is a very moderate deliverance con cerning the threadbare use of the stock mar ket bugaboo on any public question which docs not suit the New York shade of opin ion. The Dispatch has already stated the grounds of its opposition to free silver coinage. In the Interest of clear under standing of the reasons why this measu re would be injurious, this resort to an entirely factitious ruse, long ago become thread bare, should be suppressed. The state ment that the stock market is afraid of legislation has been used on nearly every issue of importance from the inter-State commerce act to the last Congres sional election, and it has become so trans parent as to really weaken whatever side the bugbear is paraded on. It should bo silenced not only because it is injurious to the anti silver side, but because so far as the connec tion of silver coinage with the stock market is concerned it is utterly a fabrication and not in accordance with the facts. So far from free silver coinage preventing the buying of stocks and depressing the mar ket, it will actually have the opposite effect. The gist of the effect of free silver coinage is that it will reduce the standard dollar to the equivalent of 80 cents in gold and thus inflate prices. Now in the process of infla tion railroad stocks invariably lead, apart from the other influences which aid corpor ate interests in times of inflation, and this result will be produced by one universal and controlling cause. The great injustice of re ducing the standard of values to 80 per cent of the present unit is that it takes 20 per cent of all debts away from the creditor class and gives it to the debtor class. In discussing this question the fact has been very nearly lost sight of, that the railways constitute the largest Steele debtor interest in the country. Their debt amounts to a total somewhat over 4,500,000,000. Let the standard of money valuation be lowered 20 per cent and the railway interest will obviously gain ex actly that proportion of its debt, which must be added to its stock. In other words, if free silver coinage effects a reduction of the real value of the dollar to SO cents, it will be making a free gift of 5900,000,000 to the railway stockholders of the country at the expense of the railway bondholders. It is exactly such facts as we have pointed out that constitute the gigantic injustice of free silver coinage. The great mass of the railway debt of the conntry was contracted since the demonetization of sil ver. It is the one form of railway capital ization which represents an honest invest ment; and it was furnished for the benefit of the class which issued the stocks, that contain so vast a mass of water. For an act of legislation to now step in and take away 5900,000.000 from the investors in rail way bonds, and give it to the rail way shareholders would be a wanton wrone. That such a wrong would be of any benefit to the masses is most completely dis proved by the fact that the great railway and stock manipulators bold the bulk of the stocks, while railway bonds are scat tered among hundreds of thousands of small investors. If Mr. Jay Gould's fortune con sists of 575,000,000 of railway stocks, against which the same amount of bonds are out standing, the effect of this operation will be to make him a present of 515,000,000 at the cost of the smaller investors, with similar donations to the Vanderbilts, Huntingtons, Sages. Bockafellers and Brices in propor tion. As a representative of railway bondhold ers "Wall street may well be opposed to free silver coinage; but the assertion that the probability of it depresses the market for railway stocks is the most factitious humbug. Let "Wall street cure itself of monetary squeezes and the control of the market by railway kings who manage both the railway properties and the market for their own enrichment, and stock specula tion need not worry abont free silver. It will then become a feature of legitimate in vestment. THE FEOOD'S AFTER-EFFECTS. Alter the waters have subsided to their regular channels, the people who suffered temporary inconvenience from the inunda tion are liable, in their delight, to overlook the fact that danger to health may lurk in the damp walls of their houses. "We have no desire to create unnecessary alarm, but would advise that all houses submerged dnring the flood he thoroughly dried before reoccupancy if possible. Build big fires in crates and stoves, and keep them burning until the last vestige of dampness has disappeared. Pile on the coal and turn on the natural gas, consoling yourself with the thought that the paying of coal and gas bills is better than the paying of doctor bills. Another abiding place of danger will be found to be the sewers through which the debris-laden water of the river was backed up into the cellars. The water, on its dis appearance, will be found to have left much of the debris behind it; and this, in the shape of small sticks, etc., will, if not re moved, soon catch enough of other matter passing through the sewer to seriously affect the health of the people with whose houses it communicates. DISCUSSING THE BURDICIC BILL. The pipe lines and Standard interests claim that they are supported by some pro ducers and independent refiners in opposing certain provisions of the BurdicE bill; and communications quoting names and inter views are given to substantiate the claim. This is legitimate enough. The Producers' Protective Association, which fathers the bill, wishes " nothing but what is fair and reasonable, and is in no sense averse to a frank and full dis cussion. The Legislature, however, will be expested to bear in mind in which direction the bulk of the testimony weighs. No one expects this or any other bill, however per fect, to get the approval of everybody. It is with objectors, sometimes as with swal lows, one, two or a dozen of them do not necessarily make a summer. However, the recent attitude of the pipe line and of the Standard in being willing to discuss the details of the situation in the oil fields is somewhat encouraging. If those powerful corporations even yet were to take a liberal view of the undoubted de pression of the producing interests, and to act as generourly in a new adjustment of dealings with the same, as their great re sources wonld permit, they would be pursu ing the most beneficial course for their own interests in the long run. The Producers' Association avows itself entirely willing, and even anxious, that all interests shall he treated on a fair basis. Should the corpora tions concerned show a like disposition, the proceedings at Harrisburg might be very much simplified. A measure of substantial relief is what the producers want. The cir cumstances establish pretty clearly that they need it badly. If, in any degree, it is extended voluntarily, it will doubtless be appreciated all the more. THE INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT. The copyright bill, amended, has passed the Senate by a vote of 3G to 14 . Only one Republican voted against it. It now goes to a conference committee of the two Houses, and there is a fair prospect of its passage in Borne form. The committee may modify the "chronio" amendment to suit the fine art views of the House, and without antag onizing the Senate. "While The Disfatch expressed a preference for Senator Teller's royaltybill.it U glad if any measure tend ing in the right direction shall be passed at this session. If not found altogether satis factory in its workings, popular demand will secure proper amendment. PROSPECTS OF IMPROVEMENT. There are some gratifying indications which permit the hope that the present ele ments that point to a restriction of business will not be lasting. An increase of $12,000, 000 in loans shown by the New York bank statement, with corresponding expansions of the same item in Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore, show that the stringency is a matter of the past. The reports of 155 railroads for January show an increase in gross earnings of 6 per cent over last year; while the statement that several import ant railroads are placing orders for supplies contains the most immediate promise of ac tive business for our local industries. These are hopeful signs. But they do not prove that the steps urged by the iron man ufacturers for placing production on a basis .where it can stimulate a restricted demand by the offer of a low cost are unnecessary. On the contrary, the fact still appears that the best way to insure steady prosperity is to put the cost of production on a solid basis. This can be done for the iron in dustries of "Western Pennsylvania and East ern Ohio bv reductions in freight charges, which will still leave their traffic the most profitable of any business done by the rail ways in equal volume. Ihe immense force of this fact should be kept before the public and the railway man agers. It will inure to the profit of both. Another fact should not be lost sight of, namely, that 525,000.000, or less than half the capitalization of the lines between Pitts burg and the lake ports, would give us a ship canal to carry the Vast majority of the iron freights at less than half the present railway charges; while in turn this would so build up the varied industries of the whole region as to more than make up eventually to the railroads for what would at the start seem to be taken from them. Theke is an apparent lack of a due sense of proportion in tho attacks of a good manr cotemporaries on tho attempts of the Western Legislatures to pars laws that will be effective against usury. Kansas and Nebraska have as good title to pats usnry laws as New York or Pennsylvania; and it may be worth while to remember that the rates of interest al lowed by the proposed Western laws are higher than those permitted by the Eastern States. It is pertinent to criticise the effectiveness of usury laws; but to make a sectional matter of it is to exhibit total blindness In the near eye. Alabama has taken a hand in the Con gressional apportionment business and laid out a map of the State by Congressional districts that looks like an ice gorge in a fit of delirium tremens. This serves notice on all ReDUblican offensive partisans that they need not try to get ahead of tho Solid South on the gerry mandering business. That special legislative committee which investigated the Mammoth mine disaster came to the same conclusion that the Coroner's jury did, that no ono should bo censured. Rut the inoperative and faulty mining laws may be censured, just the same. Mb. Andbew Lang takes up the cndgels against Rudyard Kipling in defense of the slang of tho American vernacular. He as serts that "the one virtue ot American slang is that It is an effort to find new and expressive phrases for now objects and conditions of life." It is difficult to determine which oar people will enjoy the most, the defense of our slang by one of the most polished of English writers, Mr. Lang, or the criticism of it by the slangiest and most idiomatic of new literary lights, the amusing Mr, Kipling. Another divorce case is threatened in English high society. This time the petitioner Is a prominent figure in Parliament, the re spondent his "younjr and lovely wife," and the co-respondent a young "gentleman" with two connected distinguished names. "Lovely wife," indeed! It's sensation, me boy, don't you know. "What an odd sensation "Washington so ciety, accustomed to decollette costumes on the rostrum, must have experienced from Mrs. Ballington Booth's blue navy uniform and plain poke bonnetl The members of the anthracite coal pool are making desperate efforts to save their com bination from the rum implied In a reduction of 10 cents per ton. In the early part of the winter they put up prices 25 cents, on the ex pectation of cold weather; but as supply ex ceeds demand, they have got to hustle like everythinc to prevent prices Irom going back. Thus does adverse fate pursue the attempts of the poor corporations to make extra profits on watered stocks. The down-town merchant who, when the waters were within a foot of his ceiling, hung up the sign, "We Are Still in the Swim." gave a good example of ability to make light of trouble. All the water that ever went down the Allegheny Valley would be insufficient to drown the ardor of Pittsburg business men. General Shebman profited by expe rience and left instructions for his burial which will save New York City the trouble of mark ing his resting place by not erecting a monu ment over it. Eefuoe behind the inter-State commerce law, on the part of the trunk pipe line, would make the liurdick bill favor the Bradford field in shipments to the sea board. But such a course would build up refining interests in the white sand districts of Western Pennsylvania at the expense qf sea board refiners. If the trunk lines which are not wholly within this Commonwealth ignore BurdiCk bill rates, it will be cheaper to refine white sand crude here. Edmund Russell, Delsartean, while allowing himself the greatest latitude in tho choice of carments for house wear, dresses for the street In strict adherence to conventional rules, thereby proving bis right to the title of Apostle of Good Taste; for good taste is but a hatred of vulgar oddity. Allegheny Cixy water bonds we're THE PITTSBUKG DISPATOH, knocked out In the flrsi round by the North side voter. SOME of the Eastern rivers have been try ing to rival our own crooked AUechenv and turbid Monongahela in the flood making way. ' The Mohawk and Susquehanna are both out of their banks. There is not much of the noble red man left in this part of glorious America except these names of streams, and the sus picion may be entertained that they are playing even on the usurping white man by indulging in periodical ghost dances. Philadelphia surgeons are contem plating the possibility of preventing tubercular disease among cattle, and consequently among human beings, by inoculating cows with Koch's lymph. This new form of 'trying it on a dog" may be safer for the people, but it is hard on the cows. It "was a very creditable freshet; but 1SS1 still holds the high-water m,irk. Now comes out the fact that Sir Gordon Cumming, the figure in that British gambling scandal, was engaged to an American heiress, who has terminated the match since the scan dal came out. The honorable baronet will thus be able to make out a plain case of pecuniary damages in his libel suit, but the matter might be compromised by inducing the young lady to pay the damages as a cheap price for her nar row escape. PARAGRAPHED PEOPLE. Mr.s. Cleveland is taking lessons on the violin. Ex-Gotebnob Beateb now insists npon people calling him General instead of Gov 'ernor. Hehbik Ibsen was a little boor in his b oyhood, and even his brothers and sisters dis liked him. Jay Gould's daughter Nellie is said to be so afraid of fortnne hunters that she has de cided never to marry. Madame "Wobth, wife of the great Parisian drescmaker, dresses so plainly that she looks as if she had never seen a fashion book. Colonel Nathan "WHiTNET.of Frank lin Grove, I1L. who was born January 22, 1791, claims to be the oldest living Mason. He joined tho order In 1817. Timothy M. Healy, leader of the anti Parnellite faction, is only SG years old. At one time he was a stenographer In the employ of an English railway. Babon KOTHSCHlLD,,in urging English high schools to pay more attention to the teach ing of living languages, claims that English clerks qualified to correspond in French and English are ereat rarities. Bev. John Jasper, of "the, sun do move" fame, steadfastly refuses to have his salary of 550 per month raised, although the congregation to. which be preaches ha3 several times offered him an increase. The home of Mrs. E. Lynn Linton, the novelist, is in the Queen Anne mansions over looking St. James' Park, London. Here she has charming rooms that are always bright with flowers, and here she receives a delightful circle of friends. Far from disclaiming her age, Mrs. Linton makes her boast of having lived in three reigns. MAIDENS HT BUSSU. A Fen Picture of the Girl Subjects of the Mighty Czar. Madame Eomanoff, In the English Elustratcd Magazine. ' The daughter Is a great pet in Russian fam ilies, perhaps because there are generally more sons than daughters. Tako the younger mem bers of the imperial family as an example, and we find 22 grand dukes and only 7 grand duchesses: and this may be stated to be about the average pronortion in most families. The necessity for men in the rural districts as as sistants in the agricultural labors of their fathers, has given rise to a saying. "Ono son is no son; two sons are half a son; but three are a whole son." Notwithstanding the pride and satisfaction with which the birth of. a boy i3 hailed, the little girl is the darliric, the object of the tendercst affection and care of parents and brothers, not to speak of other adoring relatives. Much is not expected of her in the way of assistance in the family, she is indulged as far as their means and circumstafices permit, and she takes it quietly and as her due, but it is rarely that she does not voluntarily and tacticly contribute her share in helping her mother. Her occupations are much about the same as those of all Euro pean girls, but parish work in Russia existeth not for her. Sne cannot have classes at Sun day schools, as religion is tauzht by priests or deacons. It would be thought quito extraor dinary and improper were a young unmarried girl to visit the sick or poor in towns, but in villages it is sometimes done nnder the direc tion of mamma or grandmamma. She is un doubtedly fond of pleasures, likes to be well dressed, and generallv adores dancing. Music is not the Russian girl's forte, nor is solo sing ing. Most of the Institutkas. though they thoroughly know the theory of music, play like a child of 12; of course, there are exceptions, but it is seldom you find a girl able to play a quadrille or polka off hand. Girls marry very youne in Russia, and there are very few of those most estimable individ uals called old maids. There are no colonies for the Russian to run away to: and statistics show tbacthe births of boys much exceed those of girls. Long engagements are not approved of, they seldom last longer than a few months, during which time the fiancee is the mistress of the house. Her cirl friends assemble to heln tn sew the dowry, the sewing afternoon generally) euuiu m a uanco alter tea, wnon tne oriue groom drops in with a few bachelor friends. Another weddinc is thus often arranged: and so on, little by little, till, like the 51 cards in the game of "old maid." they pair off, and one, generally of tho sterner sex, is left forlorn. THE VASSAB ESTATE. An Effort to Settle the Action or Heirs by College Officials. Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Feb. IS. There is a report that Vassar College officials have offered the heirs at law of John Guy Vasar tho sum of J139,000 to settle the action brought to break the will. Judge Nelson, counsel for the execu tors, says he has had no notice of snch a propo sition. Robert E. Taylor said: "The report is only rumor; there Is nothing tangible yet, noth ine definite." Another lawyer sala there was a meeting of lawyers ten davs ago In relation to tho matter, but no definite action was taken. He heard that Jo-cph H. Cboate told the exec utors that the heirs at law stood more than a chance of oeine successful, and this lias scared the Vassar College people. Tho case, unless settled, will come before the Court ot Appeals on the 21th lust, for argument. A Real Eight to a Finish. Anaconda Standard. Sullivan, Fitzsimmons. Dempsey and the balance of the pugilists are nonhere. The greatest fight on record occurred in Yakima county between Saluskin and another Yakima Indian, who fought for four nights without a single mouthfnl to eat. Wheu tired nature would not permit the strife they would fall down and sleep for a few hours only to go at it again. The battle was for the possession of a squaw. Elegant Etiquette. Chicaco Dally Wcws.l Captain O'Shca, the gontleman now conspicu ous among Parnell's enemies, refers to his ex wifo as "the divorced lady." There is a singu lar beauty in that nice etiquette which prompts a man to call a spade a utensil for cleavine and excavating the homogeneous component parts of the alluvial globe. . His Iron Horse "Will. Chicago Tribune. Jay Gould was suffering from fatigue when he reached Jersey City on his way home from the South, but he was able to walk from the train to the ferry and save the 23 cents that a cab would have cost him. Mr. Gould's iron will rises equal to every emergency. Or Trunks and Drunks. Chicago Mail. Tights, it is claimed, seriously interfere with the artistichtstrionic performances of Lillian Bussell and John L. Sullivan. DEATHS OP A DAY. General Sibley. ST. Paul, Feb. 18. General Sibley, Minnesota pioneer and first (Iqrernor of the State, died at hia home in thisctty N:30 o'clock this morning. He has ibeen lingering near the verge of the grave for some time, and for nearly 60 hours prior to his death was unconscious, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY A VOTE ON FRIDAY. The Decision Beached by the Committee Having tho Silver Bill in Charge A Re port TJpon the Pool Inquiry Expected In the Near Future. Washington. Feb. 18. Mr. Francis New lands to-day resumed his statement before the House Coinage Committee in advocacy of free coinaee of silver. Mr. Newlands and Repre sentative Walker combated each other on the assertion of the former that the prices of products always rose and fell with the advance and docline in the price of silver. Mr. Bartlne and others wanted to know how long the ex amination was to be kept up, and another wrangle ensued. Mr. Walker I have questions which will last all day long. Mr. Bartine That is absolutely unreasonable. The othermembers of the committee have some rights. After a brief exchange of words Mr. Walker declared that he had no desire to prolong the hearing. He had a list of the questions careful, ly noted down, which were pertinent to the in vestigation into the silver problem. He would agree that a vote should be taken, but he want ed bis questions answered. Mr. Comstock, of Minnesota, paid a tribute to the abilities of Messrs. Bartine, Bland and other committeemen, but thought they should concede to Mr. Walker the right to continue his questions. Near the Close of the Session Mr. Wilcox, of Connecticut, suggested that Congress was on the eve of the close of the ses sion, and the people desired a hearing in Con gress. Although be did not accord with the views of a large proportion of the people on this question, Mr. Wilcox said he wasready to bring the matter before the House, believing the committee had maJe a thorough investiga tion. Mr. Williams, of Illinois, moved that the hearings close with to-day's session. After that motion was agreed to he was willing Mr. Walk er should ask all the questions he wished. Mr. Walker protested against the charge that ho wished to kill the bill by hearings, and said he did not ask anything except fair treatment and expressed a willingness to take a vote at 2 o'clock Ifnday. Mr. Bartine said that his friend Walker was determined that there should be no final de cision in time for the House to act. He be lieved that Mr. Walker was willing to fix Fri day for a vote in committee because be thought it would be too late to secure action. Mr. Walker arose and objected to such statements. Mr. Tracey, of New York, as a substitute for ending motions, moved that tho hearings cease at 12 o'clock on Friday, and he adopted sug gestions of other members that a vote should be taken at 1 o'clock I'riday on the reported bill. It was cvluent that this was the best that the silver men could do, and Mr. Bartiuo ac cepted the substitute motion. -Taking What They Can Get. Mr. Williams said be would vote for the proposition of Mr. Tracey under protest, be cause bo could not help himself, and Mr. Bland made a similar statement. It was agreed that hearing should cease at 12 o'clock Friday, and that a vote on the bill should be taken that day. Mr. Walker then resumed his examination of Mr. Newlands. After it had been decided to take a recess for an hour, Mr. Warner, of Ohio, called attention to the charge which had been made, that the advocates of free coinago were not willing to be questioned, and stated that ho was willinc to answer any inquiries which might be made. Mr. Walker asked him if he were not the head of the National Silver Executive Com mittee, and when Mr. Warner responded in the affirmative, Mr. Walker Inquired how much money bad been expended to promote silver legislation. Mr. Newiand interrupted with the remark that he had given a statement of expenditures to the Silver Pool Investigating Committee, and advised Mr. Warner not to answer the question. Mr. Warnerdeclined to eive the amount, but declared that Jo had been expended by the gold pool and bank pool for every dollar spent by the silver men. Mr. Warner declared that ho represented no pool, and said be had been advocating the cause of silver ever since he had learned of its demonetization. Mr. Walker several times pressed Mr. Warner for information as to his knowledge of the ex istence of any gold pool or bank pool. Mr. Warner's response was, in effect, that ho had no knowledge except that which was in the public press, and that he intended to say simply that the national banks were doing just what the silver men were doing, and which they hadansht to agitatini; these questions and briniilnc; their views bdfnrn thR npnnlp. After recess. Mr.Ncwland's examination was continued until adjournment for the day. The Result of the Agreement. If the programme agreed upon to-day by the House Coinage Committee to govern Its action upon the Senate bill is carried out it will make it impossible to pass that bill a second time if the President declines either to approve or dis approve it. The period of time between 1 o clock Friday and noon March 4 Is just one hour less than the period of teu dtys, exclusive of Sunday, that the President is permitted to retain a bill without returning it to Congress. The Actine Secretary of the Treasury, in an swer to a Senate resolution, states that the basis on which he estimates tho market price of silver is the daily quotations of Biheriu London, New York and San Francisco. The market price, the Secretary estimates from a comparison of these prices and tho prices at which silver is offered for sale to the Govern ment, the rule being to accept tho lowest offers, provided tbev do not materially exceed the highest market price in the three named cities. Mr. Nettleton further states that no silver bullion has been purchased bv the Govern ment outside of the United States, bat un doubtedly large quantities of foreign silver bullion have been delivered on purchases to tho Government made from parties residing in tho United States. The Silver Pool Investigating Committee has about completed Its inquirj, and though the committee has not formally declared tho in vestigation closed, it is probable that no more witnesses will bo summoned. To Tako tho Place of Ingalls. Ihe subject of tho selection of a successor to Senator Insalls (who retires from the Senate March 4) as President pro tempore is being privately discussed among the Republican Senators. It will be necossary to arrange this matter before tho 4th of March, in order to guard against a vacancy in the presiding officer's cLal rafter that date, so a caucus ot Republican Senators will be held probably next week to elect Senator Ingalls' successor. It does not appear that much effort is making on the part of Senators to secure the place, and but three names have been put forward prom inently, nhich are those of Senators Piatt, Hoar and Frye. Opposition to the Shipping Bill. In the goneral debate in the House to-day Mr. Bloutit, of Georgia, took position against the shipping bill on tho ground that all the ef forts to build up the merchant marino by means of subsidy would prove futile so long as the present high rates of duty were main tained. He enveighed against the ceneral pol icy of subsidies, and instanced the Pacific Mail bteamsbip subsidy as being of no benefit to commerce, but resulting only in a scandil rest ing on the American Congress. Mr. Kerr, of Iowa, favored the shippinz bill as tending to build up tho merchant marine. Mr. Crain, of Texas, made an argument in support of the resolution reported by him to amend the Constitution so as to provide that the terms of Representatives shall besrin on the 1st of January and the President shall be inau gurated on the 30th of April. Mr. Cummlngs, of New York, addressed him self to an advocacy ot his resolution protesting against the persecusion of the Hebrews in Rus sia. He had the kindliest feeling toward the Government ot Rusia, which bad awas shown itself friendly louard the United States, but he thought it was the duty of this country to inform Russia of the outraged position of mankind. Mr. O'Ferrall submitted an amendment against the shipping bill. In the course of his remarks he touched upon tho silver question, and in response to a question by Mr. Hopkins, of Illinois, as to the position of Mr. Cleveland upon thit subject, he declared that Grovcr Cleveland was deeper down in the heart of the Democracy of the country thin any other living man. It micht bo that Mr. Cleveland's views on sliver did not suit the Democracy. They were the views or an individual member of the Democratic party. He (Mr. O'Ferrall) assumed that whatever Mr. Cleveland's posi tion might be to-day on the question of silver coinage, when the National Convention spoke in lSili lie would indorse the principles of their platform, whatever they might be. Ho did not believe that Mr. Cleveland would surrender his convictions, but there were questions of Demo ciatic principle far paramouut to the question of the free coinage of silver. Withuut dis posing of the bill the committee rose and the House adjourned. The Case-McCIain Wedding'. Mr. and Mrs. John A. McClain will bo "at home" to their friends March 12 and 19. They are now away on their wedding tour, having started East last night after the performauce of the ceremony of their marriage at the home ot the bride's parents in this city. Mrs. McClain was Miss Nan Case, daughter ot City Assessor Frank P. Cae. Her husband is the son of ex Senator McClain, of Washington county, and is connected with H. Clark & Co., the Wood street firm. The .fflciatiug clergyman uasR v. J. M. Wallace, of tlio Eighth U. V. Church. An Old Frieud. Syracuse, N. Y Evening Herald. 1$ i the umurellatbat flnus jt 0?8ieet; to keep lent. ' 19, 189L NEWS OF THE THEATERS. The McCauU Opera Company In The Ulack Hussar Plays Coming. The McCaull Opera Company presented "The Black Hussar' at the Grand last night to a good-sized audience, which was a great deal more enthusiastic than that which beard "Clover" Monday evening. .Everybody is familiar with Millocker's work, and though rendered time and again in this city, it is as popular as ever. The humor which runs through the lines was greatly augmented last evenlncby frequent references to the local flood situation, which never failed to call out a warm response. All the parts were in eood -bands. Mr. Charles W. Bungan ztllelberl was very pleaa ing, and Miss Helen Bertram as Minna was all that her previous efforts in this city warranted the audience in expecting. That the charm ing little lady knows bow a kiss should be re ceived was the popular verdict as expressed In an enthusiastic encore to her duet with Mr. Bungan. A large share of the honors of the evening fell to the vivacious Annie Myers, who appeared in ihe role ot Hosetta. The solos of both ladies at the beginning of the third act had to be repeated. The humorous characters fell to Miss Jjaura Joyce Bell. Mr. Fred. H. Frear and the inimitable Digby Bell. "Read the Answer in the Stars" in their hands is full of fun and melody. The scene from the base ball field convulsed the audience. Attractions That Are Coming. The coming of Marie Tempest with the J. C. Duff Opera Company, at the Grand Opera House next week, will be hailed with delight by Pittsburg's lovers of comic opera. Miss Tempest made her first appearance in America last August, and won immediate and substan tial success. "The Red Hussar." which will be sung the first half of the week, is a light opera by Stevens & Solomon, of tho type now popu lar at the Casino. "Dorothy," in which Miss Tempest sang 900 consecutive times at the Lyric Theater, London, will be given the last half of the week. Miss Tempest will become the prima donna of the Casino in September next. The opera in which she is to make her debut has not been decided on as yet, but it is rumored that it will be in something from the joint pens of two English comic opera writers. Mb. Archibald Clavertno Gcnteb is fast becoming a very rich man. From the ob scure assayer in an office at Salt Lake City ho has developed into perhaps the best known author-dramatist-publisher of his day. "Mr. Barnes of New York' in its narrative form hit the popular taste, and at one bound put the author into the front rank of cotemporaneous writers. His hero, Jlfr. Barnes, has proved, too, quite as interestinc a personage on the stage as was his prototype of the novel, and the reception accorded him everywhere has been but a repetition of bis Pittsburc: experi ence. The company remains practically the same as when here last. Mr. Barnes will so journ during his stay in this city next week at the Bijou. Mb. Hott's satire on popular superstitions "A Brass Monkey," will be at the Duquesne next week. In George F. Marion Mr. Hoyt has found a comedian who p;ive3 a proper humor to superstitious Jonah and plays the part unctiously. All the rest of the characters are in good hands, and the brass work that Mr. Hoyt is responsible for in the comedy is pol ished up to the brlgnest degree before being delivered to the audience. The most notable among the new features is Georgo F. Marion's Italian "Chestnut" speech. The Bijou Theater had nothing but the AI leghenyriver in the honse yesterday afternoon, so the matinee was postponed until this after noon when the waters will have receded enough to give "Kajanka" a chance. "TheMeteoks" will hold the boards at Harry Williams Academy next week with a Washington's Birthday matinee Monday. The attraction at Harris' Theater next weetc is "Struck Gas" with its usual quota of fun. EVEBY-DAY MIBACLES. "Why Hoes One Person Always Look Neat While Another Does Ndt. Chicago Herald J We are surrounded on all sides by miracles. We become so used to them that we walk the vast arena of this world's wonder, as a child flits through a powder-mill, unmindful or ig norant of the stupendous powecpf its environ ment. The law of gravitation taken alone, if we realized it in its Immensity, would occupy our amazed thoughts in a whirl forever. The mere act of locomotion is enouzh to engage our attention for a lifetime. We move about by exactly the same ordering of laws by which the planets revolve in their infinite circles. But there is one miracle of daily living that 13 not taken under consideration, and when it is, the average female intellect confronts it in placid and hopeless amazement without hope of any earthly solution. Why is it that one woman, pursuing a per fectly tranquil tenor of life, doing very little moving about, sitting at her desk all day and ascending and descending no staircases what ever, wears out her clothes and treads out her shoes with a wild abandon unkrown to her more active neighbor? Take two women: "A" buys a new dress npon the same day that "B" casts off her old suit and invests In a new one. At the end of a month "A's" dress Is riddled with rents; her elbows are darned and patcrd, her skirt braid is utterly worn to shreds, "ifer skirt facings hang like tattered fi3g3 from a beleasuered fort. "B," on the contrary, walks to and fro without a sign of devastating wear as to her gowns. Her elbows aro decorously housed, her braid unbroken, her facings as good as on the day of purchase. Explain the marvel, ye who can. It is beyond me. APPBECIATED MEBIT. What Is Thought of the Dispatch by n live Newspaper. Klttanning, Ta., Union Free Press.l The Pittsbubg Bispatch promises its readers many new and attractive features for 1S91. It bas fitted out its new granite, fire proof building on the corner of Diamond and Smithtield streets with a complete new outfit of the latest and best printing machinery, and has made every arrangement for putting out with expedition its immense daily and Sunday edition", which reach over 60,000 and 60,000 copies respectively. The Dispatch has com plete facilities for the early receipt of home and foreign news. It is the only paper In West era Pennsylvania which controls leased wires connecting its news rooms with the leading cities of the country and carrying a special daily cable report, covering all European news centers. Its financial, commercial, produce, live stock and iron markets are accurate and exhaustive, and it i recognized as tho leading oil news journal. The Dispatch continues as it has been, an Independent Republican jouftial, and claims the distinctive merit of di. cussine events alono with regard to truth and public interest as a first and only consideration. In fine it is a first-class, go-ahead newspaper. PH0T0GEAPHIHG E0AD3. The L. A. W. Offers Trlzes for Pictures of Bad Highways. The New York and Connecticut Division of the League of American Wheelmen join in offering three prizes aegregatlne to S100 in gold for the best collection of amateur pho tographs sent to them on or before May 1, 1S91. The photographs must be confined to such sub jects as most strongly illustrate the unfitness of pablic roads all over the country. Tho prizes will be awarded before May 15 by a committee to be selected by the Chief Consols of State Divisions or New York and Connection-. Isaaa U. Potter. Chairman Roads Iniprovemunt Com mission. New York Mate Division, L A. V., 273 Potter build d jr. New York, and Charles L. liurdette, Hartford, Conn., will receive nega tives and give information. Does Depew Drivel? Charleston, S. C. News and Courier. Chauncey Depew says that he made a politi cal speech in the Mohawk Valley when he was a young man in which he indulged in a eood deal of "rhetoric," and that, when he had finished, an "old campaigner" stepped up to him and said: "Chauncey, that speech hid 'more frill than shirt.' The honest but homely comment of the "old campaigner" can bo ap plied to nearly all of Dr. Depew'sspeecbes. For the purpose of healthy criticism as ap plied to the utterances of this man of many words, it is as good as a perpetual calendar. No man in the United States has made more speeches than Dr. Depew, but very little that be has said will outlast the echoes of bis own voice. A Fnlr Invader. Indianapolis Joumal.l Mrs. My F'ench Sheldon, who js about to invade Africa in search of the novel and curi ous, was a Pittsburg belle In hor youth. Ids even declared tl;at she was the most boautiful woman that ever graccd the, society of the Smoky City. OUR MAIL POUCH. Comparative Enterprise of Two Countries. To the Editor or The Dispatch: 'Montreal Elector," -doubtless one of the large contingent of enterprising Canadians who seek on our soil the opportunities for a career and competence, which their cramped nativity denies them, brags a little, not obstreperously, of the superior enterprise of Canada. He is justified by the facts. By art. liberal and ju dicious expenditure, the Canadian Government does its best to overcome natural dlsadvantaees. Our own Government does comparatively lit tle, leaving our great opportunities neglected. Canada has spent ;56,C00,0C0 and proposes to spend as much again, and yet again, if neces sary, to develop her water route from "Soo to the sea," and create conditions which enable her people to make serious inroads on our com merce. The State of New York has spent probably half as m ucn, and the United States Govern ment a. sum comparatively Insignificant. For tunately, the private enterprise of American citizens has made amends for governmental neglect. Bnt the conditions are changing. Can ada is considering and will doubtless execute works so facilitating transportation that our private enterprise cannot cope with herzovern mental measures. For 20 years wo have been talking, and Canada bas been doins. We bave talked abont the Niagara Shin Canal; abo'it. improving the Erie Canal, and of the possibility of transporting warships from the ocean to the lakes. There is not one chance in twenty billion thit we will ever want to transport a warship from the ocean to the lakes, bnt to transport commerce from the lakes to the ocean is something that wo must do. and do. every minute. Now. thla is what Canada is trying to do, and to do cheaper than we can; and unless we look out we will wake up some morning to find her carrying off our export grain and provision trade. It is the old story ot the lion, the bear, and the fox. While sec tional and party jealousies hold us back from improvements imperative to advance the inter ests of the whole people. Canada, acting as a unit, is doing for herself what we ought to do far ourselves. Now, nature bas given ni the advantage of position. The Mohawk and Hudson valleys constitute the great natural outlet from the lakes to the ocean. The St. Lawrence, tho other Northern outlet, is at a great disadvantage in that it terminates (for practical business purposes) at Montreal, and can never do much local business, being an out let to Europe only; and further, because it opens Into tho Arctic current, and is closed or obstructed by ice for six months of the year; whereas our own line, thi line of the Erie Canal and Mohawk and Hudson riven, had a harbor which is never closed, a dense industrial and agricultural population its entire length, and debouches centrally on our Atlantic sea board mixt advantageously for our coast and foreign trade. The great commercial and topographical ad vantages of this roadway cannot be overstated, or stated too frenuently. It is the onlv practi cal water route between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi Valley and our Atlantic sea board. It is the only down crade from Western producer to Eastern and European consumer. Anywhere else the freight must be lifted over the mountains; on this line it runs down hill of its own weight. The Canadians' boast is justi fied. If our Government bad shown equal en terprise, and had spent monev in on-thlrd ratio to our people and wealth, tho Atlantic seaboard would to-day extend its arm to the Rockies; ships would load in the heart ot our great granery; Pittsburg, Chicazjo, St. Louis and Kansas City would be ports having a direct foreign trade; our agricultural and industrial people would be prosperous and satisfied, and our politics would not bo polluted by monopo listic agencies. But we are a peculiar people. It used to be said that we could not be kicked into a war; and to-day it may be said that we wait to be cuffed into prosperity. PirrsBUEG, Fob. 17. Esgineeb. Knocks Out Dry Restaurants. To the Editor of The DliDatch: As I am a constant reader of your newspaper and a citizen of Pittsburg, and bave served f onr years in the Union army and have been in the Eighteenth New York Cavalry, and cpn sider myself a good citizen of the United States, I presume I have a right to express my opinion about the liquor licenses of the State. Now, what I have to complain of is simply this, that the license law compels a saloon keeper to keep a restaurant. This is an injury to owners of restaurants without saloons. About a year ago I opened a restaurant in tho city, I did a fair business until two saloons opened np in the same block and commenced to spread out free lunches; After a little while the saloons opened up dining rooms, with verv noor accommodations, but the result was that I had to close my doors and lose the bard-earned money I put in and my time beside. 1 consider ibis a very unsatisfactory state of things. 1200 PSNN AVENUE.' B. W AX.TBB. Information as to the Conangh. To the Editor of The Dispatch : In answer to MP." of Braddock, would say that the British steamer Conaugh sprung a leak at sea in 1SC9. and also took fire. Captain Wilson, of tho brig Minnie Schaffer. discovered her at a distance, and bore down on her, ran alongside and took off COO people and bore them safely to Boston harbor, for which be received a vote and card of thanks from the British Government. I was personally acquainted with Captain Wilson. A. K. Weteb. Pittsbubg, Feb. 17. CATHEB3AL AECHITICnJBE. How tho Great Chnrch of Rome Was Built of Hatter. Philadelphia Public Ledger. "The cathedral Is first found to perfection in the thirteenth century, but it Is more elaborate in the fourteenth. Tho tenth century was an important epoch in the history ot cathedrals. It was the general belief at that time that the end of tho world was approaching, and a fall ing off in building activity is noticed inconse quence. After the beginning of the year 1000 A. D. a general sense of relief is shown in the building of new churches. Tho erection of a church was a convenient means for the expres sion of thankfulness. The founding of monas teries, especially of the Cistercian order, led also to this phenomenal activity. An illustra tion of this progressive spirit is seen in the tower of Rouen Cathedral, which was built of batter. I mean by that that the people of Rouen, by giving up butter in Lent, paid for It from their savings. "The sculpturo of cathedrals, which was so exquisitely carried out in the Middlo Ages, contained a means for teaching the I'ib'e in days when books were almost unknown. This is well shown in tho statues of Chrisr. At that tune it was moro than a symbol; it was a ign of the Living Spirit. Then, too, the cathedral was more than a church and was not merely a re ligious place. It was the one superlative place in tho citi the center of learning and of the community. Our modern churches have deterlo rated, as in the early days, to a mere place of worship." CANABA'3 COAST DEFEASES. The Dominion Is Ilnstllngto Pat Things in Shape at England's Expense. Ottawa, Ont., Feb. 18. General Herbert, commandant of the militia, bas left for the Pacific coast, where ho will inspect the coast defenses. General Herbert, on coming to Canada, was, it Is nnderstood. charged with the .mission of perfecting these defenses and get ting the Canadian Government to assist there in financially. The Canadian Government is not at all averse either tn the strengthening of the coast defenses or to the liberal expenditure of im perial funds in Canadian cities, but they are loath to contribute anything thereto, as they see that the Canadian coasts 'could only be threatened by a war arising over imperial con cerns. The foe feared on tho Pacific coast is understood to be Russia, with its great naval arsenal of Vladivostock on the Siberian coast. SALUTE SNOW. A Tall of the Heantifal Melts Rapidly and I-caves a Deposit of Salt. Salt Lake Crrr, Feb. IS. It snowed here Monday night, and a peculiar feature ot the snowstorm was a large quantity of salt which fell with it. The Bnow melted yesterday, and left the salt on the ground at least one-fourth of an inch in thickness. The salt was evidently absorbed from the lake. Reportorial forethought. "I am dying, Clara, dying," the old reporter said: "I have got my last assignment I must Inter- Ticv the dead; But don't be nervous, darling, my time has come to rest. And when my Joyous spirit fits among the blest, I'll know I had a send-off when I left this earth below. For I wrote my own obituary twenty years ago." New York Herald. Sherman's Fortune. lloston blobe. Goneral Sherman died p'USCJ'ed of a i-nn-sideralile fortune estimated at between lljd, OjOand ?-"O0.0C0. He bought real estate In grow ing cities in the Wtst, and cleared a good deal of money. Although a good liver. General Sherman did not spend all of the S13.EO0 salary received by v him frooit the.. Government for many years, and his Savings he invested, CDEI0US C0NDENSATI05S. A burglar's drill will go through cast iron 1 inches thick In 15 minutes. The new constitution of Brazil hai passed the second reading in the assembly. A petroleum-motor tricycle that will run 40 miles in one hour has been invented. With a manufacturing plant costing 500 artificial eggs can be made for 3 cents a dozen. A Texas man named Bail has a cousin named Tubb. Neither of the gentlemen ever get full. This country in 1873 produced 6,000) boxes of raisins. In 1880 the product was VSR. iG3 boxes. Henry 311. Stanley is credited with sug gesting to' Sir Edwin Arnold the idea of "The Light of the World." Siam, one of the most backward coun tries in the world, is to have an electric railway SO miles long; and costing Jl'JO.000. All coal mines are infested with rats, and when the rodents begin to leave "squeeze" or cave-in can be expected. At a recent sale an inch-square chip from Washington's coffin brought S2, and Ben Franklin's silver watch sold for $2,100. As a genuine curiosity in the world of crime is recorded the arrest and conviction of a Dayton, O., man wno stole an umbrella. ' A tramp in Georgia extorted a half dollar from a good housewife by threatening to commit suicide and "muss the premises" if not given something. With the new picking machine the field work on each bale of cotton costs SI 50. Before the introduction of the machine the field cost was tlS a bale. The Bussiau Government has ordered that all sardine boxes be opened by the custom officers because Nihilistic tracts were sent into the country packed in the fish tins. The late Mrs. .Zook, of Kansas City, beqneathed to her husband So, while the rest of her fortune of 5100.000 is left to other peo ple. Mr. Zook Is not very well pleased. Soak waste paper in water until soft and pulpy, then squeeze it into balls, put on the fire with a piece of coal and you will save coal andlncrease the heat. So says an exchange. A German scientist applied a mild elec tric current to a swarm of bees, causing them to fall stupefied to the ground. No harm was dono them and they could be safely handled. The first city directory of London was printed in 16G7. It contained 61 pages and the names of 1.730 persons and firms. A copy in the British Museum attracts much attention. Bridget Cavauaugb, after residing in this country a few years, came to the conclusion that her name was entirely too Hibernian and discarded it, adopting the ornithological cog nomen of Birdie Canary. New York has an area of 41 square miles; Chicago. 135; Philadelphia, 129: Brook lyn, 31: St. Louis. 62; Boston. 37: Baltimore, 32: San Francisco. 42; Cincinnati. 21; New Orleans, 60; Washington. 72and Pittsburg, 3& A heavy snowfall has blocked the rail ways in the mountain districts of Moravia, Si lesia and East Galicia. The weather is Tery cold and the Danube is frozen from Pesth down the river for ISO miles. Navigation is at a standstill. A Tacoma woman, "Mrs. Hannah Do ber, mother of five little Dobers. has invent ed the most unique toilet apparatus on record. It is a machine that bathes, rinses, drips and dries the entire Dober brood simultaneously by the simple turning of a crank. The streets of Melbourne, Sydney and other Australian cities are reported to be swarming with unemployed young men, all of them anxious for work. These young men ara mainly English, lured to Australia by the charm that envelops new countries. Bristol proposes to light her streets by a most elaborate system of electricity. Stand ards of electric lights will be placed in the broad thoroughfares, while the narrow streets are to be spanned oy ornamental iron arch ways to sustain the lamps. After midnight only half the lighting power will be utilized. Smallpox is epidemicin Marion county, Kan., among the Mennonites, and fears are en tertained of a repetition of a scourge which killed scores of people) in that community a few j ears ago. Ibese people are uncleanly and so careless that all attempts to arrest the spread of the plague have proved futile. The young sportswoman, Fannie Hardy, who roughs it in the woods of Maine with her father, writes pleasant letters from nnr retreat. She says that the lake commonly called Nica tons should be snelled "Nicatowis." Tfte In dians call the junction of the Penobscot at Medway 'Nlcatow," a fork. "Nicatowis" is Little Fork. An electrical fog-signalling device for railways has been devised. By means of a metal rail at some distance from the ordinary signals, a sliding contact on the locomotive completes an electric current, and thereby places a minatnre semaphore at "danger" or "line clear" up or down, according to the direc tion of the current. The other day a magistrate in Ceylon, finding that a witness would persist m telling lies, ordered tho culprit to be then and there "handcuffed and com-tommed round the vil lage as a liar." This summary method of deal ing with perjurers has not met with the ap proval of the Government of the island, and an official inqniry is to be held Into the case. The popular idea that all old bones aro ground up as a fertilizer is erroneous. From the thigh bones of cattle are made knife, parasol and fan handles, while smaller bones are boiled and then burned for lampblack. The matter extracted by boiling is used to make glue, and the marrow and fat is mada into the "bear's grease" used in barber shops. Bone black is also used by sugar refiners to purify sugar. An alarm for telling when a ship reaches a certain predetermined depth of water Is now being tried on the Uritish man-of-war Rambler in the Red Sea. It consists of a wire-sounding auparatus having a sinker, which, on coming; into contact with the bottom at the deotn ar ranged for, relieves the drum on board the ship from strain, and strikes a bell there to raise the alarm. A recoUr sounding is then taken to verify the alarm of the '"sentry," as the new machine is called. Lady cricketers are in fashion in Mel bourne, but a sad discovery is likely to unsettle the public filth in feminine honesty. Recent ly a team of lady ccsceters carried all before them, owing chle" ' ' he skill of their cap. tain, who played w Kef tness of a mascu line professional. ttnl3 talented lady was playing tn a hi rand as she ran a sudden squall cangh cap and carried off not only the cap. but tTemlnine wig beheatb. AlasI an unmistakable bov's bead was revealed, and the seciet or the feminine proficiency was out the supposed damsel was a disguised med ical student. The Alliance made a formal contest for Congressmen in 11 States and one territory last year, and this is the aggregate vote cast by that party in each: Colorado, 5,207: Illinois. 6,603; Indiana. 4,649: Iowa. i720; Kansas, 63,924; Ken tncky. 10,033; Louisiana. 931: Michigan. 8,513; Minnesota. 21.570; Nebraska, 41.S97; South Da kota, 49.911; Oklahoma Territory (for delegates to Congress), 1.529. Tho total vote polled by the- Alliance was thus 230.343. In Kansas and Minnesota thero was a sort of coalition in some districts between the Democrat and Alliance, which polled 76,844 votes in Kansas and 20,3oS in Minnesota. FAR FLOATING FUN. It may sound paradoxical, but authorities are unanimous 'hat so long as a woman is alive she cannot be said to ho still among the living-. Bugalo bxprtst. "Uncle Ebenezer,"siid Hojack toMlstah Johnilng. '! understand that Madison Clay Washington tried to set Into the Xidnlgbt Club, but that the members wouldn't have him." 'Dai am a fac. sah," replied Uncle Ebeaeier; "we whlleualled the waffles nlggar, sah." CA( eago Inttr-Oeean. "How is your friend doing out in Helena, Mont.?" "Oh. he's carrylnz everything before him." Good; what business Is he la?" "He's a waiter In a restaurant. "-St. jtul aloie. Pastor (to applicant for church member ship) We halt be glad to welcome you among us, brother, but in order to become a member of this denomination you will have to be kept on proba tion, as it is called, forslxmonlhs. Applicant Six months? What for? To prove yourfltness for being received into fall membership." (Struck by a. sudden thonnht)-Mr. Goodman, six months won't make any difference at all with i thlsreilnes3attheend of my nose. It's err.irw- ' las.-l'Meaj Trlive. J p j "M.gjie. I helicv? if it wasn't for my ' hateful money, Julian would have prbpoied lonz alio. Don't yoffthlnk so?" Yes-to me."-(V. , , It never rains but there's a flood, Jbins, ' town Tribune. . L ' " f" V &5s. . v mm Ewmsmtma SJBBjiEf.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers