Eraaca ?$P ?9?fTppJ5HPTO THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 189L :v i mt M$titt ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 1841 Vol. . o. IS. Entered at Plttsbnrg Tortoffice, November li. us; as second-class matter. Business Office Corner Smithfleld and Diamond Streets. News Booms and Publishing House 75, 77 and 79 Diamond Street KASTEKN ADVERTISING OFFICE. BOOM U TKIUUNK BUILDING, .NEW YOBX. where complete files or THE DISPATCH can always be found. Foreign advertisers appreciate the con venience. Home advertisers and friends of THE DISPATCH, -while in ew Yort, are also made welcome. TBE DISPATCH is regularly on sale at Brenlvno's. S Union Square. JVeu 1'orfc, aid 11 Are. de VOpe tr, Palis, France, tohere anyone ulio has been disappointed at a hotel news stand can obtain it. TERMS OF THE DISPATCH. FOOTAGE FKEE IX THE TOOTED STATES. lit.T Dispatch, one year I CO Daily Dispatch, Per Quarter 2 00 Dailt Dispatch, One Month " Daily Dispatch, including Sunday, 1 year. JO 00 Daily DI'patcu, lncludlnefcunday.Sin'tbs ISO Daily Dispatch, including Sunday, lin'ta 00 m;j.dat Dispatch. One tear E0 Weekly Dispatch, One lear. IS The Daily Dispatch Is delivered by carriers at -I rents per wed, or including Sunday edition, at Ii cents per week. PITTSBURG. WEDNESDAY, FE& 25, ISM. THE RIVER ENCROACHMENTS. The river men seem to have profited by the example of the old man in the ancient printer. Having tried tbe effect of words in protesting against tbe encroachments on the channels of the rivers, they omit the pre liminary of throwing crass and resort to a very solid legal missile in the shape of the hill in equity. This was filed on behalf of the Attorney General of the United States yesterday against the railroad corporation, which has taken a leading part in the work ot encroachment. If it is not a vigorous example of locking the stable door after the horse has been stolen, the successful prosecution of such a suit will be weighty warning against further encroachments. The fact that the removal of the immense amount of embankments constructed along the river banks, with the inevitable result of narrowing the flood channel, will absorb the profits, if not the capital, of tbe encroacbers tor many years, may be an effective warning; but it will cer tainly be the strongest incentive for fighting the snit in all its stages and by all means. "Whether these methods will be confined to courts, or spread over to the use of po litical influence at the capital, is for the future to disclose. If the Gould-Rockafellar combine is interested in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, we may be sure that no stone will be left unturned to stop the prosecu tions. "Whatever the result in the courts the suit cannot fail to have effect on public opinion. The encroachments have gone on during a series of years without seriouB steps to stop them. It is a practical hardship that the neglect to interoose as soon as the encroach ments began has permitted the wrong to CO on until it will cost an immense sum to re move them. On tbe other side the damage done by narrowing the outflow has been demonstrated beyond question, and the need of a remedy is indisputable. A COSTLY LESSON. An impressive demonstration of the seed of some effective power to compel prompt removal ot condemned buildings was fur nished by the fall of the old Excelsior building in Allegheny yesterday. The fact is prominent in this case that while building inspection may inspect, there is no power to enforce the findings of the in spection, and, therefore, it does not make much difference whether it inspects or not. After a recent fire in this building the walls were officially condemned. But it appeared upon attempts' to enforce their prompt removal that the building law fur nished no such power. The consequence was that the waifs of this building were lelt standing a threat to passers-by. They were undermined and weakened by the flood, and finally when work was com menced on them, they tumbled down, and sacrificed one life to neglect. Such occurrences area severe commentary on the effectiveness of our legislation. We pass laws to secure the safety of buildings, and leave unprovided the necessary powers to enforce them. Qualities of stupidity, ob stinacy and meanness are given the power to resist the orders of the building authori ties, and maintain a more or less constant peril for the public t If our legislators have any desire to pro tectee safety and welfare of .the public they will promptly enact legislation for the en forcement of the condemnation of unsafe buildings, and their prompt removal through tbe courts. HUMAN ENDURANCE. The news that four of the miners en tombed in the Jeanesville mine have been found alive brings joy tempered with sorrow to the heart of every man deserving tbe name. Joy is felt because at lest four human lives have been spared, and sorrow rises in the breast when tbeir awful suffer ings are made the subject of reflection. Pour men imprisoned for nineteen days in a space i feet high by 2 feet wide, without food, and with but a minimum supply of air, must have endured physical torments from the contemplation of which the human mind turns appalled. Their mental misery must also have been as terrible as their phys ical sufferings. Alternating feelings of hope and despair undoubtedly racked their minds with conflicting emotions for days be fore the dull, settled apathy which gives surcease ol mental pain came to them. Even the deliriuuspleasure they experienced when they first heard the voices of the rescuing party was a pain, made so by the impatience awakened by the knowledge that, while aid was at hand, actual" rescue was still some hours distant The experience of these miners is a profit able theme for discussion just now when the scientific world is concerning itself with the problem of human endurance in the line of ability to do without food. Under the best conditions men have fasted for periods of irom five to nix weeks, and re covered their usual bodily vigor in a short time. But the imprisoned miners, who probably knew nothing of psychic force, had no doctor in attendance to watch with careful eye for fluctuations of pulse and temperature, and were not upheld by the knowledge that they could eat as soon as they tired of fasting. They had not even the cheering influence of light to make their miseries less, but existed in darkness like that of midnight. The only thing that seems to have kept them alive was sheer inability to die without recourse to suicide. This inability to die will seem to some a close relation of psychic force if it is not the same thing; but when the fact that psychic force if it has any existence is claimed to be an entirely voluntary exertion on the part of those who nse it, the differ ence will be at once perceived. These miners, unaided by psychic force, without light, and toward the last without hope, hare shown a better example of human en durance than has yet been given by any of the fasten for fame and lucre. The problem of how long a human -being can go without food will probably never be satisfactorily settled. Conditions will be different, and while one man might be able to fast for five or even six weeks, another would succumb in less than a fortnight Under these circumstances the usefulness to science of even well authenticated cases of voluntary starvation will be rery little. THE FIGHT FOR GOOD ROADS. Those who want to see something ac complished in tbeir own lifetime must have read recent intimations from Harrisburg that the road bill may not pass, with a feel ing of disappointment closely akin to dis gust If ever a fact was patent to anybody ft is that the roads of .Pennsylvania are the most wretched makeshifts, and we think nobody disputes also that the loss thereby to farmers alone far exceeds tbe cost of good roads. This is to say nothing of mere com fort Yet while everyone admits the undesirable condition of things, there is strange haggling and hesitation when the Legislature is brought face to face with the duty of pro viding a remedy. Some pennywise people at Harrisburg are averse to the moderate appropriation of fl.000,000 by the State for good roads. They want, forsooth, to gel out of the mud; but they seem to expect the ways and means to fall like the gentle dew from heaven, or the manna in the wilder ness, and by no manner oi means to be raised by taxation. This is the sheerest nonsense. Good roads will cost money. But as depreciated farm lands, low prices for products, loss of time, and wear and tear upon vehicles, horses and harness already cost the farmers and for that matter people in the towns and cities of the State also far more than good roads come to, it is incom prehensible why measures for relief are not more vigorously insisted upon. If the road bill introduced by the commission is not perfect, let it be perfected. But intelligent legislators should not return to their con stituents without making every effort to get some adequate law passed. They should not be intimidated or blockaded by the pro tests front the parsimonious and unprogres sive element, which, whenever any improve ment is suggested that will cost a penny, is to be heard forthwith vociferous in opposi tion. One million dollars per year from the great State of Pennsylvania is not too much for good roads. The trouble is, we appre hend, that some of those who are opposing this reform have never seen good roads and do not know what they are. They certainly will not find them in the rural districts of this State. Mr. Arthur Kirk, in his strong presentment against bad roads which is given elsewhere in to-day's Dispatch, thinks that it wonld pay the Slate to invest not merely 1,000,000, but $6,000,000 per year in this direction. This is probably more than is reqnired, but as representing the money difference between the results of bad roads and of good roads wedouht if even Mr. Kirk's high estimate is at all extrava gant The Legislature will not meet again for two years. Now is the time to act SEW YORK HONORS SHERMAN. Tbe action ol the New York Board of Aldermen in naming the triangular space at Seventy-third street and the Boulevard "Sherman Place," is commendable for rea sons that will at once make themselves ap parent to everyone familiar with the manner in which the metropolis treats the memory of distinguished men whom it wishes to honor. Grown wise, probably, since the miserable fiasco of the Grant monument, New York makes no vain boasts of what it will do in honor of-General Sherman, but quietly gives his name to part ol the city. There was no boasting of what wonld be done, and when what was intended was found to be impossible on account of metro politan closeness, there was no attempt to make the whole country responsible for a local failure by pleading the national fame of the subject THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. A very interesting paper on the previous question and its original eflect in parlia mentary proceedings is published by Hon. Daniel E. Goodloe. The gist of the argu ment is that the motion known as "the pre vious question" has been perverted from its original use. The assertion is made in the headlines of the article as published by the New York Times that it was "never in tended to throttle the minority or cut off de bate." This is hardly made good in the body of tbe article, although there is a strong showing made to the eflect that the original use of the motion was not for that purpose. The article consists mainly of extracts from a debate in the House of Representa tives in 1616 upon a motion of Mr. Stan ford, of- North Carolina, to expunge from the report of the Committee on Bules that part relating to the previous question, alleg ing that tbe rule had departed from tbe original purpose and was then used as a gag law. The practice of the previous question was defended by Henry Clay and attacked by John Eandolph and "William Gas ton, ol North Carolina. Copious ex tracts from the latter's speech bring out the point that the demand for the pre vious question "was simply a demand that when the main question should be ripe for decision the House should first pronounce whether it was then expedient to decide it It was no matter at what period of tbe de bate on the main question this demand was made, the previous question could only be put when the main question was about to be put, and the main question could not be demanded while any person who had not spoken wished to speak upon it" This was supported by examples from English Parliamentary practice. The form in the usage of tbe Continental Congress was ttiat "the main question be not now put" "While the form was changed in 1769 the liberty or debate and amendment after the motion of the previous question was shown by cases in which not only debate had followed, but amendments and even postponement of the main question were ordered. The. chaDge to the present understanding of the effect of the previous question took place a tew years after. In 1807 the Speaker held that the previous question cut off de bate, but on appeal the House overruled the decision by a heavy vote. The old practice continued therefore till 1811. In this case the Speaker decided that it was in order to debate the main question after the previous question had been ordered; bnt the House votetTtbe other way, and thus ac cording to Mr. Gaston, "the monster which we now call the previous question was nshered into existence and utterly sup planted tbe harmless, useful being whose name it usurped." All this is Tcry interesting as a review of the history of parliamentary law; but Mr. Goodloe fails to make out any case to the effect that the use of tbe previous question to cut off debate has not the sanction of prec edent On the contrary, the debate shows that it had been, in 1816, tbe rule of the House for five years previous to that time; that its practical eflect was defended by Henry Clay; and the inference is very strong that its use for that purpose was in dorsed by a vote of the House in which the debate was held. And modern experience of debate in a body like the House of Rep resentatives will lead to the general opinion that a reasonable nse of tbe rule for that purpose is necessary. The old meaning of the rale seems to have been something akin to the modern order of the House that de bate shall continue on a given time with certain fixed limitations, and that at the end of the debate a vote shall be taken; but iftherewere.no further power to terminate debate, it would make the transaction of business impossible in the House of Repre sentatives. To assert the general need of the previous question to cut off debate when necessary is not to indorse the Use of the rule in the pres ent House. Parliamentary rules should not be warped to enable them to be used for rank partisanship. The suppression of de bate should not be made a practice. The rule is, like the exertion of the Speaker's powers, a necessity. But it is no less a ne cessity that it shall be used with fairness, moderation and impartiality. For the vio lation of these fundamental principles, the majority in the present Congress have re ceived exemplary discipline; which renders it all the more unnecessary to revive an an tiquated theory of parliamentary law which would render progress impossible in our modern legislative bodies. And now tbe fact thatSenator Peffer isin favor of woman's suffrage causes the Eastern organs to make renewed assaults on his "crank iness." These esteemed cotemporaries are ignorant that the women being already voters in Kansas to a considerable degree it behooves the politicians to keep oq their right side. It might also be noted that the effects of female suffrage and the support of it by Republican Senators in Wyoming, has not evoked any charges of crankiness against those statesmen by the organs of their party. But there is reason to suspect that if Peffer should endorse the Ten Commandments, the organs, especially those who swore by Ingalls in his prime, would accuse blm of political heresy. If United States Marshals have to pay for the boats swept away by the floods while in their custody, strong official influence should be enlisted in favor' of governments under taking the work of regulating flood by storage reservoirs. Allegheny City furnished an object lesson yesterday. When a building is declared to be unsafe by official authority, some means should be provided to insure its prompt re moval. One of the gratifying aspects of Foster's appointment is the discovery that every New York paper knew all about it beforehand, it there is one of our metropolitan cotemporaries which has not declared after the event that it was possessed of early and exclusive Informa tion, it is qualified for exhibition as a nnique. A political event which thus demonstrates tbe prescience of the press must he regarded with feelings of high gratification. Six more days are left of Speaker Reed's career; bat following it is the delightful mystery of bis successor. A large number of Democratic statesmen have a deep seatea con. victiun that they possess the qualifications for getting even. The Parisian reporter is trying to get a long-deferred recompense for G ravel otte and the siege of Paris, by besieging the Empress Frederick for interviews at hex hotel in Paris. "It isn't pleasant, though it It quite Re publican, to have a Secretary of tht, Treasury who holds Intimate relations with the Standard Oil Trust," remarks theNew York IForJd. No more pleasant, though perhaps as Democratic, as to have the sanfe features in the United States Senate. The esteemed World should not overlook tbe fact that tbe mortgage of the Standard is about as binding on one party in Ohio as on the other. Afteb next week the Hon. Thomas B. Reed will be able to take a much-needed rest from the strain upon his mental powers in volved in perceiving members in the barber shop of the House in order to count a quotum. And now some scoffers are saying that Mrs. Jefferson Davis should have published her biographical work as a historical romance. Why not let the poor ghost walk in peace T As TO the Nicaragua Canal there is still a great deal of effort to prove that the United States will lose nothing by lending its credit to the tune of 100,000,000, to an enterprise which has already provided its own Credit Mobilier in fine working order. To make their argument convincing, the supporters of this scheme should first pay off the Pacific Railway debt. Some of the utterances of the United States Judges contain a sinister Inference that the new tariff bill is likely to have as mournful and tragic experience as our own efforts in the line of street legislation. The anthracite mining disasters are more merciful than the coke country calamities. In the former a few of the miners are sometimes permitted to escape with their lives. The report of the Department of Chari ties that it did not spend quite all of its appro priation last year, and inferontially that it does not wish any larger appropriation this year, is calculated to make the public view any little idiosyncrasies in connection with tbe purchase of a poor farm with a tolerant eye. "When cheap sugar follows Brazilian reciprocity as another of tbe fruits of Repub lican policy even the Democrats will be com pelled to reluctantly aamit that some good can come out of In azareth. It is pleasant news that a burglar was captured in this city yesterday. Bat it is noted that he bad tq gee outsido of the regular police beats to meet with that fate. SHOULD Mme. Barrundia sneceed in es tablishing ber claim that her dead husband is tn lift valued -it 91 AfYI llOf) ivhlnh the TTni,.i states ought to pay, there is no doubt that it would have the unfortunate effect of largely stimulating tbe present overproduction of Spanish-American revolutionists. The Hon. Arthur P. Gorman is not par ticularly in love with the Civil Service Com mission. Mr. Gorman is desirous of getting things in shapo to lubricatojiis Baltimore ma chine after 1832, v. The rivcrtuen are after thcencroa'cherson the river channel with a judicial sharp stick, but it will be a big job to make anyono move the encroachments. It is not corroborated that the Chicago World's Fair directors have appointed a com missioner to explore .savage conntries and take Rndyard Kipling's scalp for exhibition at the Fair. They let "I dare not" wait upon "1 would," for fear that Mr. Kipling might write something about the attempt Judging- from tbe literary merit or rather lack of literary merit in John J. Ingalls' sonnet, "Ouportnnity." the sarcastic Senator must havo taken up rhyming as a means of revenge on an unappreclative public. FROM THE FOREIGN MAIL. Odd Lenten Calculations English Artists on Women's Dress Facts About the Paris Opera House An Aristocrat De fined A Hare's Adventurer An early Lent, such as the present, Is much liked both by the clergy and by the tradesmen; by tbe former because more people always at tend church when the "season" practically does not begin till Easter; and by tbe latter, because they anticipate an immense influx of people into tbe metropolis for an uninterrupted spell of four months' gayety, says a London writer. Services of all kinds and at every conceivable hour will tempt the devout to church during the next few weeks? bnt midday services and even song at S o'clock are the fashionable hours of devotion. The fact that Easter falls on a very early date this year (March 29) has caused a "friend of facts and figures" to collect some curious stat istics. In 1883, he says, Easter fell on March 25, and it will only once again this century, namely. In 1KH, fall on so early a date. In the three following centuries it will occur only eight times on the same date namely, in 1951. 2035. 20JG, 2057, 2103. 2114. 2125 and 2198. The earliest date on which Easter can fall is on March 22, and this only in case the moon is fnll on March 21, when this date happens to fall on Saturday. This combination of cir cumstances is extremely rare: it occured In 1093. 1761, and 1817, and will happen aeain in 1990, 2076 and 21, while daring the three fol lowing centuries it is not once "on the books" at this early date. On the other hand. Easter never falls later that April 25; this was the case In 1666, 1731, and 1SS6, and will only happen once in the next century namely, in 1943. Rainiest Seasons of the Tear. In all latitudes the quantity of rain is greater in summer than in winter; butin the temperate zones the showers aie more frequent in winter, though less abundant than at the opposite season. Thus, says a weather expert, at St. Petersburg the number of rainy or snowy days during the winter is 84, and the quantity of rainfall about Ave inches; bnt during the sum mer, with the same number of rainy days, the quantity that descends amonnts to 11 inches. Districts north of the equator have their wet season from April to October; when the sun is in tbe northern half of the ecliptic, tbe reverse occurs on the sonth of the line. This is a remarkable instance of Deneficlal arrangement; for tbe rays of a vertical sou would be insup portable bnt for the screen of cloud which Is coincidently expanded. Therefore, throughout Central Enrope and America rains are most prevalent in summer; but in Southern Europe and America tbe preponderance is on tbe side of winter rains. The Paris Opera House. The Budget of tbe Paris Opera House varies from a little under 8.OCO.000 francs to a little over 4.000.000. Salaries are paid to no less than 700 persons. The enumeration is Interesting and curious. Artistes which means singers 30, ballet-dancers 150, chorus 80, orchestra 100; at the booking offices 30, carpenters 80, gasmen 15, dressers 20 of each sex, ballet-masters, stage managers, prompters, 4c, 15 so tbe list runs on till we get tbe full number. The claque only got their admissions from GO to 90 tickets for tbe pit some of which they may dispose of. Every artist has a right to a dresser, who has charge of bis wardrobe and conducts bis toilet, but tbe artist may have his own valet if he prefer it. The chorus get each about l.oOOf a year, but they combine the opera with singing in the choirs of churches and also of the con servatories, and havo their special employ ments during the day. The leader of tbe orchestra gets 12,000ra year, and the lesser lights from l500f to 3,000f; but they stand out for tbeir status. Meyerbeer used to call them "Messieurs les Professeurs," and the tradition remains. Then there are the dancers tbe corpi de ballet who, starting with 1,800 a year, get an annual increase of 200f, and sometimes rise very high indeed. Mile. Mauri at present receives 40,000f. English Artists on Women's Wear. Tbe Strand Magazine, ot London, contains a symposium on feminine attire, in which dis tinguished artists give their views on the pres ent styles, their defects. O. K. Watts, R. A, says: "No lady can be really well and beauti fully dressed If what she wears outrages Nature's intentions in the structure of tbe human frame. Such outrages are: A waist like a stove pipe, shoes that compress th e toes into a crumpled mass of deformity, and. it might even be added, gloves that confine the hand till it looks little better than a fin but as this Inflicts no permanent injury, it does no matter but the foot is irredeemably ruined, to tbe destruction of spring and grace In move ment, and to no inconsiderable injury to health.". Mr. G. D. Leslie, R.A. I tbink much can be done by right-minded girls by careful selec tion and wholesome reform in such things as tight-lacing nd high heels. I care not for tbe so called high art school of millinery. Dresses that look like bed-gowns of green sergo, and little girls smothered in Kate Greenawav flop, pertv bats, seem to me, however picturesque intrinsically, in bad taste from their eccen tricity. A young lady of real taste can always find amid the prevailing fashions some that suit ber individuality; and those that have this taste invariably seem to do so. Tbe Hon. John Collier I should hardly ven ture to express an opinion on tbe delicate sub ject of modern female dress, were it not that in my double capacity of husband and portrait painter I have been obliced to devote a great deal of attention to it. I tblnk tbe outlook Is, on tbe wbole, encouraging. To begin witb, there is much greater variety of style and free dom of choice than has obtained for a very long time. Then, azaln. there Is at present a bappy'abence of those monstrosities that have first offended, and then corrupted, our ideal of feminine form; the crinoline has long disappeared, and at length the bustle perhaps tbe most odious of all these misshape ments has followed suit If there must bo a waist. I distinctly prefer the one placed under the armpits, in the fashion of tbe beginning of this" century, for it is physically impossible to tie it so tightly at to much alter the form, and having tbe division bigh up tends to minimize tho most common defect of tbe English female flgnre. a want of length in the leg. Of course it Is this very want of length that has led to the high heels, but tbe remedy is worse than the disease. It does not really give the lmpreslon of long-leggedness, and it does alter and spoil the whole carriage of tbe body. The high heels also help to deform tbe feet by pressing the toes forward into the pointed ends of those terrible boots that are another disgrace to our civilization. Painters and sculptors bave good cause to know that tbe modern female foot is a hideous object our vitiated taste has become accustomed to it when clothed, but when seen in its naked deformity ills a thing to shud der at What Is an Aristocrat? What is an aristocrat? The question is not easy to answer. But the following conversa tion between two London street arabt, re ported in the Pall Mall Budget, is suggestive of a solution: SO eke The outside of a grocer's window. First Boy What's them green things in a bot tle? Becond Boy Olives. Can't you see it's wrote on the label? First Boy Well, what's olives? becond Boy oh! things what the aristocracy eat. First Boy And what's the aristocracy? becond Boy-Whys Them folks what eats any thing. Whether it be true that your true-bred lord, like your irue-bred pig, will eat "anything," Is a Question that cannot be decided without carefnl cross-examination nf both parties. But it is certainly a fact that relatively to tbe diet of the poor the diet of the well-to-do is enor mously varied. Nino-tentbs ot tbe cheap and wholesome side foods that appetlze tbe bill of fare of the middle class household would ba looked on by the poor as foreign and unholy inventions, A Hare's Remarkable Adventnre. A Derbyshire correspondent of London J?od and Gun reports an exciting episode. Mr. John Smedley, of Matlock Bath, the owner of the famous Cumberland Cavern, and several friends, were coursing on the heights of MassaL. The baro disappeared down an old lead mine shaft which had fallen into desuetude. Sore that it was dcad.be hired an old miner, who descended tho shaft by means of a rope. There were foot prints, and, believing tho hare to bave escaped miraculously, Mr. Smedley low. ered a cabbage tied to a string, tbe depth of the shaft measuring an actual perpendicular length of 210 feor. Tho next day, on drawing up tbe twiue. the cabbage was found to have been eaten. This seemed proof positive of the escape of tbe hare after ttsflylngleap. A search party descended tbe shaft with lights and re freshments, and, after two hours, tbey found that tbe animal was lurking in a small headln" at the bottom. Tbey returned to tbe surface ana continued to lower food, which pussy ap preciated to tbe full, and on their decent being made she jumped into tbe arms of tbe searcher, squealing all tbe time like a child. The man wrapped the affrighted hare In a smock frock and sent her up to tbe top, where tbe spectators discovered that she bad only suffered an injury to one eye. Why and HoV Wo Laugh, -Laughing is caused byj.be very opposite in fluences that produce sighing, says a writer in London Sparc Moments. The nervous system is highly excited by some external cause. The" impression is so intense, ana the mind so fixed upon it, that the respiratory process is irregular and uncontrolled. Persons excited to a fit of laughter generally bold their breath until they can hold It no lonzer, and then suddenly there, is a quick expiration, causing eccentric sounds, tbe mind being too intently fixed upon the cause of excitement either to moderate the sounds or to control the breathing. It has been observed that laugnter is indicative of par ticular temper and character, according to the sound of the vowel that prevails. Persons that laugh in a broad Latin "A" are open-hearted. . honest people. Excessive jerking laughter is vulgarity. Those laughing in a dry "A" are bnt little expansive, and a hard lot of people. When the Latin "E" prevails, they are a phlegmatic, melancholy sort. Timorous, un steady people laugh In a kind of swelling "L" Laughter in "O" is the utterance of proud, bold. Imperative people. Beware of those that laugh in "o, o" (o). They are traitors, haters, scorners. PROMINENT PEOPLE. Tifpoo Tib will be a social lion in Lon don next season. Sib Edwin Abnold's favorite diversion while in Japan was a weekly kite-flying party to which each guest brongbt his own kite. The widow of the Dnke of Aosta will marry Prince Roland Bonaparte. She was Princess Letitia Bonaparte before she married the Duke. , (jEOKGE "W. Cable, the delineator of Creole life, claims that the moment be hears a Southerner talk be can tell where he is from and guess at bis ancestry. Mabquis di Rtjdini, the new Premier of Italy, is a Sicilian, 8 years of age, tall, and with a long, flowing beard that gives him a very striking appearance, Alice, sister of Patrick Bronte, and aunt of Charlotte and Emily Bronte, famous in English literature, died recently, aged 95 years. She was the last of the Bronte family. Veba SASSULITSCH, the Nihilist, has been supporting herself in Switzerland by translating. Her health is now failing, and her physician has ordered her to stop and proceed to a warmer climate. "William 33. H. Leckt, tbe English his torian and essayist, whose great work on En gland in the eighteenth century has just been completed, was born in Dublin in 1833, and graduated from Trinity College. Lady Stanley, wife of the Governor General ot Canada, is very popular with the Canadians and is simple and pleasant In her manners. She is a handsome woman, with a tall and graceful figure, and she looks surpris ingly young for tbe mother of a grown-up family. "W. "W, Stoby, the American sculptor and poet, whose borne is tbe Palazzo Barberini, Rome, is modeling a figure of Christ, dressed in tbe Oriental Jewish robes, with the keflyeh (couvre-chef, kerchief) on his head the usual bead dress in the Moslem East, where the tur ban is not worn. General de Galliffet, the gallant hero of Sedan, looks like a young officer just come out of a lady's boudoir. He wears his white hair brushed up so that it gives tbe ap pearance of a wig touched by a powder puff, and though now over 60 he is straight and sup ple as a young lieutenant. Philip A. White, who died in Brooklyn recently was a negro, a millionaire, a cultured gentleman, and one of the best chemists of the two cities. Nearly half a century ago he es tablished a wholesale and retail drug store iu the "Swamp." In New York, and later built a large store and warehouse in Gold street, where he grew rich anH achieved a wide repu tation in tbe trade. I r many years he was prominent in edccatlonal circles in Brooklyn. There are few better private libraries than that collected by the late Dr. White, as he was al ways called. A GHASTLY CEREMONY. Notifying a Dead King of France That Dinner Is Beady. Chicago Mall. The service performed a few days ago at Paris in the Chapelle Espiatone in memory of tbe death on the scaffold of King Louis XVI. and Queen Mary Antoinette a . service at tended by all the leaders of tbe royalist party in France recalls to mind tbe queer ceremon ies which used to be customary at tbe death of French Kings. It certainly has something ghastly about It, strongly savoring ot the Mid dle Ages and tbeir grewsome ways. The em balmed corpse of tbe deceased sovereign re mained lying in state at the church of the Abbey of St. Dennis for 40 days, and it was only on tbe 41st day that it was carried to the vault. During that entire time tbe conrt cere monies was carried on witbla tho abbey as though the monarch were still alive. The royal table was set night and morning In tbe refectory, and the grand master ot the cere monies, when dinner was bropght up, would proceed, dressed in full uniform, to tbe hall where tbe corpse lay rigid and cold on the parade bed, and with a low obeisance would say: 'Sire, the dinner Is served according to your majesty's orders." A chamberlain standing beside tbe corpse would then answer with great dignity: "Ills Majesty has been graciously pleased to dtne already and desires to remain undis turbed." Whereupon tbe grand masterwouldback out and order dinner to be removed from the re fectory. Applies to Men, Also. New Orleans Picayune. It will be found almost without exception that the brightest talker In tbe woman's world is she wbo reads tbe newspaper. Most women read tbe deaths and marriages, and tbe -society columns and sensitions, but very few really read tbe news of tbe day, the literary articles or the editorials. You have only to talk with a woman five minutes to find ont whether she is a "skimmer" or not. Damages for an Overflow. Sr-ICIAI. T1H.KPBAM TO TUB niSPJLTCR.S Washington. Feb. 24. The Committee on Claims of the House, through Congressman Ray, of Pennsylvania, has favorably reported tbe bill to pay $450 as a compensation for dam ages caused bv the overflow of water from lock and dam No. 8 on tbe Monongahela river which is owned by the United States, Logical ZiO. byraense, N. Y., Herald. When it was explained to the Sioux chief Rocky Bear that the object of tho World's Fair at Chicago was to do honor to the memory of Columbus for his discovery of America, the savage remarked: "He Is a heap bad medicine man. If be bad not discovered our land by coming across the great river, we wonld not be having all this trouble witb (be pale faces." - DEATHS OP A DAY. Rev. J., G. Armstrong. Wheeling, Feh,21.Adispatch has been received here announcing the death In Atlanta of Kev. J. O. Armstrong. Mrr-Armstrong for years was a pastor of this city, and was remarkable for bis resemblance to J. Wilkes Booth, ilany people maintain to this day that he was IJootb. There certainly was a strong resemblance. When faced with the stories here he alwaj s declined to talk on the subject, ana all efforts by his vestry, men to trace I1I9 past history were futile. He also erusei! to talk of Lincoln's assassination. He was fond or theaters, and often associated with actors. His daughter recently went on tbe stage. She created a sensation a yearago by Retting mar ried and leaving ber husband the next day. P. H. Judd, Oil Producer. Oil City, Feb. 24. P. H. Judd, of this city, died this morning at St. Augustine, Fla. He went there for his health with bU brother a week ago. He was aged about 40. He leaves a.wire and two children. He was one or the best-known producers In this section, and with bis partner, William Gelser, owned nearly 1W) producing wells in this county. . Rev, J. W. Bolton. PAJiKEHsnunc, Feb. 24 Rev. J. W. Bolton, forsevcial years pistor of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this city and since then at other large towns In tho State, was buried at Pala tine yesterday. He was regarded' us one or the leading ministers in the State Hts death was sudden, from heart disease, after a short illness. John C. Shaler. John C. Shaler, an old and respected citi zen, died at his residence on Duqnesne Heights yesterday afternoon at 5 o'clock. Mr. Shaler was In his 75th year, and is the father nf John O. blialer, Jr , and Fred J. Shaler. who has but re cently returned to this city from Chicago, where he had been tor-some time. Colonel. Richard F. O'lllemc. New YORK, Feb. 2 J. Colonel Richard F. O'Blerne, Colonel oftheTwenty-arst Infantry. U. S. A., lately In command at Fort blicrjdan. died at S o'clock this morning at the Ken xork Hour He was East on leave of absent. SOCIETY IN LENT, ' An Able Speaker Interests an Audience at the Eighth Street Temple A Luncheon of Purple and Gold The Mlller-Hoyt Wedding Social Chatter. "Seek peace and preserve it," Beneath that motto, and surrounded by an effect of delicious coloring on walls, pillars and celling, that would insnlre a less gifted man to eloquence, Rev. Dr. Stolz, the learned young Chicago rabbi, spoke last evening in the Eighth Street Temple, to a large audience composed ot the friends and members of the Young Men's Hebrew Association of Allegheny county. He was introduced by Herschel Benedict, Presi dent of tbe Assoolation, and then proceeded, with directness and scholarly conciseness, to give a clear outline, of tbe great nation without a country during almost 20 centnries of past Biblical existence, during which period the speaker, in epigram, characterized them as "a people of tbe Book, not of the sword." "The history of the Hebrews," said the speaker, "is the grandest berotc poem tbe world possesses. A people without a leader, without a country, without a bond of union, yet they retained their individuality for over 1.000 years, and in all bave endured 20 centuries of the severest trials and persecutions ever in flicted upon human creatures. Through it all they have stooa unchanged in devotion and faithful to their beloved institutions." He told the pathetic story of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A. D., following this wonder ful people in their wanderings from that date down to tbe present, reciting many of the dark est pages of its history, and emphasizing the innumerable persecutions inflicted by the na tions holding different religious views, particu lar stress being given tbe accusations that tbe Hebrews bad poisoned tbe wells, had caused the "black death" plague in Europe, and were guilty of killing Christian children. He also recited tbe edicts of Rome and tboseof earthly sovereigns, depriving Hebrews of the privileges of citizenship, even prohibiting tbeir marrying out of tbeir faltb. "Tho Hebrew had finally," said he. "no rights that anyone was bound to respect. Even tbe schools and universities were cloed against them, and tbeir pleadings were nnheeded in tbe courts of kings. N o longer permitted to be a tiller of tbe soil, nor a merchant, nor to en gage in enterprises, the Hebrew was deprived of one means of support after another, until nothing remained for bim but to become a money lender. He knew tbe laws ot Moses, and in spite of persecutions he kept them and lived a man of peace. The Hebrew was destined to suffer, in order to bring about the happiness of tbe human family. The post-Biblical history of the race was not one of wars or conquests, nor of the subjection of empires nor of scoemes of revolution, nor cf tho destinies of political parties. The Hebrews strove to keep the law and obey the rulers of tbe land in which they were domi ciled. Theirs was tbe fostering of religious truths, and tbe perpetuation of institutions dearer to tbem than any sovereign, any kingly power, any polltioal fate. Statesmen, politl ticians, generals, were not of them; they were instructors of God's laws and teachers of His instructions. Their institutions were not na tional banks, standing armies and postofflces; they were synagogues and schools for the benefit of mankind. To this people it has al ways been that the revelation of God's will is found in tbe Old Testament, particularly in the Pentateuch. Tbey recard the expounding of the law the highest virtue, and ignorance is to them deficient piety. Study and research, as was in the seventeenth century, are still part of tbe worship of God. To the end that all might have an early opportunity for acquiring knowledge, tbe Hebrews established schools for children over tbe age of 6 years in 1818, tbe first example of the kind in all history." Dr. Stolz then took Christ for bis subject, and during bis remarks following that phase of his discourse, grew eloquent in his account of Him who, he said, had always called Him self "The Son of Man." He said the Saddu ces were the aristocrats, wbo wanted forms in service not agreeable to the Pharisees, who were of tbe people, the democracy. Said he: "Jesus was a Pharisee, and, like them, believed in one God. He prayed to 'Our Father which art in heaven.' and ever considered Himself as the Son of Man. His words are those always of tbe Pharisees, as when He said: 'What is hateful nnto thee that da not to another,' and 'Love tby neighbor as thyself.' He observed tbe Passover and tbe fast days, spoke com munism and abhorred asceticism. He was like other men. and spoke tbe very language of tbe Pharisees." Tbe trend of the speaker's remarks on this point were to show that exaggeration of fancy by tbe emotional natures ot Christ's followers caused His claims to be perverted, as from His stating that be was tbe Son of Man, He was called tbe Son of God. Dr. Stolz concluded his dissertation by point ing out tbe great growth of liberal thought in tbe world to-day largely attributed to bis people, and spoke of tbe more modern great ness ortnls people without a conntryrxs was due to the positions in affairs and science taken by Individuals all owing to the efforts of that same persevering people In their progressive march in tho light of God's laws, the source of all learning. THE HnXEE-HOYT "WEDDIHG. An Interesting Nuptial Event That Occurred Last Evening. The ministerial flavor, and tbe fact that it was a Lentep affair, did not In tbe least detract from the brilliancy of the wedding of Miss Cornelia Maude Hoyt and Rev. James Henry Miller, which was solemnized and celebrated last evening. The Sixth Presbyterian Church was tbe scene of tbe ceremony, 8 o'clock the hour, and Rev. Dr. Patterson the- officiating clergyman, assisted by Rev. Dr. Mackay. The bnde, wbo is a lovely and accomplisbedas well as progressive young lady, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Hoyt, had chosen for ber maid of honor a little cousin.and selected Misses Sara CbalmersJ and Annie Yonng to be her bride maids. The groom, a prominent yonng- divine, pastor of a cSarge in Evansville, Ind., was supported by his old classmate. Rev. Dr. Garvin, pastor of the Concord Preshyte.lan Church, as ben man, and a quartet of ushers, Messrs. Norman Nolen, Chester Nelson, John Barnes and George Barnes, led tbe way to tbe altar.- Tbe bride was clad in a lovely fnll dress toilet ot white India silk, combined with gold embroidered satin, the front of tbe skirt and a girdle at the waist being fashioned ot tho lat ter rich material. The bodice was cut square In the neck, and filled In witb Valenciennes laoe, tbe same finish being adopted for the prettily puffed sleeves. A bridal veil was con fined to tbe hair with a wealth of freeza. and bride's roses and valley lilies composed the bouquet. Tbe petite maid of honor was sweetly dressed in a girlish robe of white silk, proluse with rosettes, and carried a basket of roses. The bridemaids were in golden material of clinging texture, with gloves and bouquets of the same color. Miss Annie Flowers, tbe organist of the church, out of compliment to tbe pretty brido, who has been a devoted Sunday school teacher and an earnest member of tbe church tor some time, arranged music especially for the happy nuntials, and won for herself many compli ments on the rendition. A large reception fol lowed tbe church ceremonies, at tbe residence of the bride's parents, on Webster avenue, and subsequently Rev. and Mrs. Miller departed for their future borne in Evansville. To-morrow evening the newly married will be ten dered'a reception at that place by tbe groom's congregation. Tho wedding trip in tbe sunny South will be taken afterward, and will ex baust several weeks. AN ENJOYABLE MTJSICA1E Given by Valley Forgo Council. Daughters of Liberty, Last Evening. A lnusicale of no ordinary degree of merit rewarded those who congregated in tbe cozy hall at No. 27 Federal streets, last evening. It was given under the auspices of Valley Forge Council, No. 53, Daughters of Liberty, and tbe programme opened with an overture, "La Diadem," Hermann, by tbe Oakland Orchestra, with Cora Brown Sellers as directress. The opening address, "Our Order." was delivered bv James H. McCleary, National Council, D. ofL. The remainder of tbe programme, as out lined, was: Vocal selection. Miss Lambert: recitation, "Nathan Hale, tbe Martyr Spy." R. H, Dnrbln: vocal selection, "Once and Now," Cora Brown Sellers, with orchestral accompaniment;selectlon,DavIs Mandolin Trio; recitation, "Laca." Miss Grace Hague: banjo selection, Messrs. Greaves and Kauffman; con cert waltz, "Tenderness." orchestra; recitation, "The Sergeant's Storv," Albert Cbrlstv; niano solo. Miss Belle Lone: vocal duet. Miss Sadie Herron and M. C. Wagner: march, "Dorsch No. 2," orchestra; recitation, MI3 Jennie Scrib nen vocal selection. Davis Quartet; fancv masked drill, Mcssr. Hurley and Totten; voral solo. "King's Champion," William Sutler; spe cialties, Horace Mcntzer; piano solo.-- Ouo Linn; "Love's Droamland," orchestra: "Out on the Deep," vocal selection. Charles Kabn, and "Guilty," a recitation, C. A. Taylor. Miss Stella Jope was the efficient accompanist of the evening. U. A DELIGHTFUL EVEHIHG Enjoyedhy the Many Friends of Union Lodge No. 86, A, O. V. W. Tho musical and literary entertainment given last evening by Union Lodge No. Ed. A. O. U. V at their hall on -Sixth avenue, was most enjoyable. Addresses wero made by John SpraU and Rev. H. C. Applegaarth. the latter having as bis subject "Objects of the Order." Tho instiumental music was furnished by the Ideal Orchestra; vocal numbers were sung by Mis MolUe Levy, and several very pleasing chorus pieces were given by the Union Quar tet. William Hbaefer played "Rossignol Waltz" on tbe mandolin. Prof. Phillips made music come from a banjo, and R, . Knapp gave organ and barn selections. Recitations were delivered by Miss Eva Heslip, J. W. Sip pey and R. H. Dnrbln. The aceonipaimsts were William Shaefer, John Voltz and Harry Katz. ArE0YALLUUCHI05. Purple and Fine Gold at an Enjoyable Evening Entertainment. A truly royal luncheon of purple and fine gold with a queenly hostess wa enjoyed yes terday afternoon at "Calrncarque." the splendid East End residence of Mrs. Robert Pitcairn. The floral embellishments of the affair were really qnlte unique, and the most charming of tbe season. Tbe center of the exquisite mahogany table, draped in white bolting cloth over pale heliotrope satin, was E laced an immense wheel of solid violets ind eliotropes, the ISspokes of which radiated to tbe 18 covers laid for tbe guests. Ombebub of the floral wheel which was 17 feet in dia meter smothered in violets was placed a re ceptacle for the sovenlrs of silver that, by purple ribbons, followed the flowery spokes to tbe solid gold plates that completed the royal effect. , Tbe entire service was of gold, and tbe dining room was Illuminated by solid gold candelabra of exQutsite'detigns with shades and candles of the violet hue. The guests were in costumes that Increased the effect of splendor and mag nificence and several hours wera spent at tho table. The luncheon was served in courses by Kuhn, and the floral decorations were by Messrs. A. M. & J. B. Murdoch. MISS TOP MABEIED. She Hecomes tho Wife of a Local Commer cial Railroad Agent. Miss Kate Ulp was married to W.H.Boyd yesterday at ber home in Wlldwocd. Mr. Davis, Assistant General Freight Agent of the Cotton Belt route at Cincinnati, acted as best man. Mr. Bovd is tbe local commercial agent of the Big Four road, and is very popular among railroad men. He is a risingyoung man, and many of his railroad friends were present at tbe ceremony. Banquet to Employes. Campbell & Dick gave a very enjoyable ban quet to tbeir employes, at the Monongahela House, last evening. Covers wera laid for 163 people, and a local orchestra, furnished plenty of music. Addresses were made by the mem bers of tbe firm, and a literary programme helped to brighten the evening. . Social Chatter. At a meeting of tbe graduates or Lehigh University, located in Pittsburg and vicinity, held at tbe Hotel Anderson, a permanent or ganization was formed, called tbe "Lehigh Club of Pittsburg," and the following officers were elected: President, two vice presidents, secretary and treasurer and an executive com mittee. C. L. Taylor, of Carnegie, Fhippsik Co., was elected President. The membership will enroll about 50. The Ladles' Missionary Society, of the Seventh U. F. Church, Forty-fourth street, will give a social and muiicale to-morrow. Amopg those wbo will assist are Mrs. Dr. Sands, Miss Maggie Given, Miss Johnson, Miss Chalmers, Miss Eggers, Miss Powell, Mr. W. H. Hamilton and Mr. W. Ligntbody. One feature of the Verestchagin exhibition last night was Rnsslan music, and the visitors enjoyed tbe simple melodies and -war pieces. As tbe time for closing tbe great exhibition draws near the attendance increases. Delsarte methods of physical culture, under tbe direction of Mrs. Boardman, are to be tanght (be young ladles of Lawrenceville. A class has been formed. Geqkge Kznnan will lecture Saturday evening in tbe Sewickley M, E. Church, on "An East Siberian Convict Mine." Miss Kittt Hamm. tbe popular young elo cutionist, left yesterday morning for Altoona, to recite at the- G. A. R, reunion. As entertainment for the amusement and pleasure of the WestPenn Hospital patients was given last evening. Gknxbal Hancock Lodge, A. O. U. W of Beilevae, celebrates its fifth anniversary this evening. A social will be held at the Butler Street M. E. Church to-morrow evening. OUR MAIL POUCH, Independent vs Dependent Producers. To the Editor or Tbe Dlsoatch: Tbe awakening of tbe Franklin producers and refiners to the vital importance of the Bur dick bil(,and tbe general opinion, asascertained from personal Interviews with a large nnmber of producers and refiners belonging to the Standard Oil Company, that the bill as it now stands would work an injury to their business, and a failure to see wherein tbey would be benefited in tbe leaitbyits becoming a law, together with manufactured optnions, both public and legislative, give another illustration of tbe means by which tbe corporation has ac cumulated tbe colossal fortune it now pos sesses and tbe unlimited power it exerts. They see in the Burdick bill a death blow to tbe inde pendent refinors, as this class would be unable to get a discrimination of 20 per cent in their favor. "Independent refiners" in tbe communica tions furnished mean Standard refineries.. All others are "dependent." The dependent re finers have nothing to fear from dependent re finers at the seaboard, and ask for nothing but a fee and open market, giving to each his local advantages. Has not tbe Standard now the discrimination of 20 per cent or more in its favor? Of course, it does not nse this discrimination until tbe dependent refiner offers his goods in tbe market; and from mart to mart, wherever be flies, he finds goods of Standard brand offered at less than cost tq bim. When sick and tired of a profitless busi ness tbe dependent refiner leaves tbe markets this discrimination ceases, and the dear people are allowed once more to buy oil of Standard brands at remunerative prices. To-day, wben the nrodueer sells hjs production be is asked to sign a remonstrance against the passage of the Bnrdick bill. Dare he refuse? Don't ask me; ask the power that makes the demand what tbe penaltv is; and judge his action. Should this state of affairs exist? Should tbe Legislature of Pennsylvania look through gold-rimmed glasses, make it seem right and just to continue the discrimination in favor of the Standard? A SMALT. PnODUCEB. BtfTLEB, Feb.-2a Wants to He a Clergyman. To the Editor of Tbe Dispatch: Please would you inform me by your "Mail Pouch" column where are colleges in tbe United States preparing young men for the ministry. J. P. G. Pittsburg. Feb. 23. (There are many snch institutions in all parts of the country. If you are of tbe Pres byterian faltb, the Western Theological Semi nary, of Allegheny, is convenient. Who Can Give This Information ? To tbe Editor of The Dispatch: Please Inform me. if you can, through the columns of your paper.wbere I could find a rec ord of the grants of land made by William Penn to persons In the early biltorv of, this State, or-bave such records been kept ? A Keades. Pittsburg. Feb. 2t WOMAH'S HATIOHAL COUHCIL The Subject ot Temperance Discussed by Several Ablo Advocates. Washington, Feb. 2t The Woman's National Council at to-day's session devoted a great deal ot time tn the subject of temper ance. Mrs. Ellen J. Foster. President of tbe Non-Partisan Woman's Christian Temperance Union, gave a brief sketch of the movement of which she was tbe head, and said that it bad decided to devote Its energies and its influence to tbe support and encouragement of the party which would best protect their homes. Addresses were also made by Mrs. Mary T. Latbrop, a delegate from tbe Woman's Chris tian Temperance Union, and Mrs. Matilda B. Carse, of Chicago. The latter has been the leader in the movement for a woman's temple tn that city. She said tbe plan was a beautiful one, and that tbe bunding Is to cost f 1,500,000, tbe land having neen leased. The building was to be 13 stories high. feLANUEK. It was only a passing whisper. From the lips or a careless child, But It caught the ear or the llit'ncr, And the sinister-minded smiled; As though tbey had found great secret. Of broadest and deepest import. And away it went. On its mission bent. That gossips might giggle and sport. It entered the homes of Innocence, And harsh Acre the blows It dealt; It Konudetl the klmtllcsi natures, its !ioUoiioufnni5 were lelt; It 13 known by the name of blander. And It springs from the fount of In, But It will redound With asuddea bound On those who Indulge therein. -it. E, Q in (M fforrUtoun JiiraU. CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS. - The Chinese cultivate an ..odorless onion. -The Farlsiansspeak of Ward McAllister as tbe author of 400 books. There are places in the Arctic regions where the snow is said to be three miles deep. A wildcat has taken possession of the town of Berlin. Conm, and is running things to snit itself. A novel written by a Haitian negro has made its appearance in Pans, and is said to show considerable ability and great originality. A 15-year-old boy has just died in Brooklyn of too rapid growth. At the time of bis death be was 6 feet, 2 inches tall, but did not weigh 1U0 pounds. An inventor in Elmira, K. Y., is per fecting a flying machine which he expects to move at tbe rate of 120 miles an hour. It will if ho goes high enough. The Austrian gentleman's pet fad is to bave his lady love's features carved on the bowl of a meerschaum pipe, so that he can worship beauty and tobacco at tbe same time. Recent statistics show that French rail ways annually kill one person out of 2,000,000 earned, while in England 21.000,000 are carried before one meets a violent death. The Chinese spend 5200,000,000 annually on their religious worship. There is a spiritual side to tbeif religion, and spiritualism, pure and simple, has existed in China for ages. Ajecretary of a fire insurance company has been arrested at Flint, Mich, on a charge of arson. It is alleged that be tried to burn out a store which was insured in a rival company. Scientific men say that the earth's age is about ball a million years for the nebular and stellar period, and about 5.000,000 of which lo,0b0,0C0 are past for the period of or ganic beings. A Danish archaeologist has found in Macedonia, near the modern town of Nlausta. a Greek painting on the walls of a tomb. It shows a Greek horseman battling; witb a Per sian foot soldier. In the Silvester-basilica of Home have been discovered the tombs of six Popes, among them that of Silvester, wbo succeeded in converting Constantino to Christianity, and who lived at tbe time of the Council of Nice. The English postal authorities have in trocfuced nickel-in-tbe-slot machines for the sale of postage stamps. Tba Town Council nf Inverness has just given permission for the erection of the first ma chines. A Syracuse, If. Y., man has a snake in bis stomach, and unless the reptile gets what it wants to eat and drink it makes trouble. Port wine is its favorite tipple, but if it gets too much of the wine it acts as if It bad delirium tremens. A Newark, N. J., family is bothered by mysterious rappings on the walls and furniture. Though tba members of the, family donot believe in spooks, thev think tberappings are intended as a warning of some approaching calamity. The latest plan for beating the nickel-in-tbe-slot phonograph is for two meh to drop one nickel into the aperture and each hold a tube to bis ear. Tbe music, speecb, or song ground out by tbe machine then costs tbem only 2K cents each. Many explosions in flouring mills are said to have been caused by electricity gener ated by belts. Even ordinary belts are fonnd to ten.rate sufficiently strong currents to per form tbe common experiments for which elec trical machines are used. A 'huge Maltese cat deliberately com mitted suicide on East Fifth street, N ew York, yesterday, by jumping from a third story win dow of a tenement house. The animal sprang through the glass, and carried part of the sash with it as it fell to the street. The longest board fence in the country has jnst been completed inNew Jersey. It is 12 miles long. 10 feet bigb, and is made of hem lock boards an inch and a half thick. It cost 320,000, and one sawmill has been running con stantly for a year cutting tbe timber for it. A perfect shell or armor of the Glypto don, tbe ciganticarmadilloofprebistorlc times, was found In South America, surrounded by evidence that, abandoned by its original owner, it bad become the habitation of man. It meas ured seven feet jn length by nine in height. -A parrot iu Atlanta, Ga., devoured, in a little less than six weeks, two horses, two men, six dogs and a whole forest of tree. In other words, he ate a painting representing those objects, and is now looking around Tor something else to satisfy bis artistic appetite.' Curious persons may like to test the ac curacy of some observations by an Austrian physician. He asserts that persons stung by bees are exempt for several months from the effects of further stinging, protection being af forded in the same manner that vaccination protects from smallpox. A gun to fire under water has been in vented, and one for tbe United States ship Destroyer is in course ot construction at Beth lehem. Pa. This experimental gun is to be 35 feet lone, and will throw a projectile 25 feet in length, containing 400 pounds of nitro-glycerine, 1,000 feet through tbe water. A stallion belonging to a Mercer coun ty, Ky., man was bitten by a rabid dog some time ago and went mad the other day. It at tacked a jackass, and for 15 minutes a terrible battle raged, ending witb tbe end of tbe stall ion. Tbe lack was mortally wounded, and was killed to put him out of bis misery. Many names of materials in common use have queer origins. Nickel was first ob tained as a metal from Germany over a century ago. but tbe ore bad been previously known to tbe miners as kupfernickel. or Old .Nick's cop per, because, altbongh It looked like copper ore, they could obtain no copper from it. A Eoman doctor has discovered in many of tbe skulls found in Etruscan tombs, as well as in those deposited in various museums, in teresting specimens of ancient dentistry work and artificial teeth. Some of these skulls date as far back as the sixth century before Christ, proving that dentistry is not a modern art A Bussiad physician has found that microbes were always present in great numbers in the fasting stomach of a healthy person. During the earlier part of digestion they are always quite numerous. The gastric juice, however, tends to destroy the microbes, though bo effect on digestion appears to be exerted by tbem. Eecent investigations go to show that the horse bas no ear for music, and only a slight understanding of time and military signals. Tbe popular impression that a trained horse can waltz in time to music is unsupported by experience, as In such cases tbe music is al ways played to suit tbe step of the horse, which is regulated by signs from tho trainer. A biacksnake, seven feet two inches long and six and one-balf inches in circumfer ence attempted to swallow a baby in a Western village not long ago. Tba snake had swallowed one arm up to tbe shoulder and was writhing in horrible contortions in efforts to make farther progress, when the child's mother, at tracted by Its screams, made her appearance. She grasped tbe snake in the middle, when it disgorged the child's arm and turned on her. but she dashed it to the floor and trampled it todeatb. The babe lived, and the only incon venience resulting from its terrible experience was a blistering'of the arm as if It had been scalded- PLEASANT PARAGRAPHS. Fair Penitent Oh. I have a beautiful sacqne for Lent. It Is made out of the very best sackcloth and trimmed with ash-colored ribbons. Won't that be appropriate.' New Xork llerald. , A treatise) on palmistry is properly de nominated a handbook. Boston Courier, f By good church people what is Lent is kept Few York World. Mr. Hasher I'm going to ast my friend Jackson to come here to board. He is looking for a nice, quiet place. Tbe poor fellow works like a beaver. " Mrs. Basher-Well, I don't want him here. Beavers do all their work with their teeth. Har per's Baiar. "This story of yours," said the magazine editor, "Is about tbe matrimonial quarrels or an lll-assortra couple. You may have written it as a warnln;. but It will bc.tool.cd upon by many good people as, on attempt to make light of the sacred marriage relation, -I eant melt." Bo tbe young man wrote a beautiful story, in which ls hero and heroine were married- and lived together for SO years without tbe slightest disagreement, and the same magazine relected it as too wildly Improbable. Chicago Times. Hurly What business are you in now Burly? Burly I'm a stock broker. -,. Hurly They say there's a good deal of money, in " thai business. '-&4& Hurly (dolefully j-WeU, there Is a good deaVofl my jaoney,-Pet, '0 Beore a girl becomes a wife she cannot hclppla nine sometimes bow she may spend hert allowance-front ber husband to the best ad vant age;, afterward she oReo. spends a good deal of time planning bow she may act an aUgwaace to sjend. Somerviite Journal. '
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers