PITTSBUBGJN LUCK With Labor and Other Troubles on Every Hand the Local Mills Are STILL IN SUPERIOR SHAPE. They Hare Once Moro Proved Their Abilitr toBeatthe World. EEPORTS OF SEW INDUSTRIES. Orders Booked and ImproTements Made hy the Various Firms. rLATES TOR SEA AXD LAKE STEAMERS The condition of the iron and steel trades at the close of February is one of moderate activity. The volume of orders offering the different mills is not so great as to tax their capacity, but it is fortunately of sufficient proportions to Rive local mills enough to do, and keep the immense army of workmen they employ steadily engaged. "While the trades have been extremely quiet since the firstoftl e year, the dullness has so far not interrupted the activity mills nave expe rienced for many months back. Mill workmen have seldom witnessed such continued prosperity as they have been blessed with during the last two years. All the mills have been working steady, in many cases not finding time to make neces sary repairs; no serious labor difficulties have arisen to mar their peace and prosperi ty; the standard of wages paid has been very satisfactory, and on the whole they have much to be thankful for. They need eater tain so fear that a continuance ol the pres ent dullness even for more than a reasonable period vull interfere with their present pros perity. The Current Demand for Iron and Steel. The fact that under ordinary circum stances the current demand for manufact ured iron and steel is never much less than it is at present, that the construction and equipment of the Pittsburg mills demon strate their abilitv to manufacture iron and steel comparatively cheaper than mills else where, which is a guarantee of their always receiving their share of what business is Komg, coupled with the knowledge of the &nown fact that cessation of operations among iron and steel mills is never caused from lack of business, but to strikes, acci dents, etc, warrants the prediction that no interruption will occur in the present Kiddy condition of work in the mills. ,J.iitc an opposite and deplorable condi ti ti ot affjirs to that recorded above pre vails ihrouirbout the Monongahela river mining districts. s here 12,000 miners are iile, and throughout the entire Connellt i.llc coke district, where it is estimated some 13,000 men are also unemployed. 'J he coal operators are taking the matter Tery philosophically. They assert that they cannot accede to the demands of the work men, owinz to the poor condition of tneir trade and the abnormally low price that is ruling, and that it is more profitable to let ineir works stand idle than to operate them Et a loss. They are making no strong effort to breach the difficulty over, and tne out look for an early resumption of work is not Very bright Open tti a Friendly Conference. The Prick Company has posted notices at its various works noti'ying their employes that they are open to a lriendly conference iu the matter of wages at any time thev de sire to return to work. A peculiar feature so often witnessed in labor disputes was brought cut at tiie recent conference between luc operators and the labor leaders. Before the close of negotiations the Miners' Com Mittee proposed arbitration as a means of settling the difficulty. This proposition was readily consented to on the part of the operators, when, however, the workers' rep resentatives could give no assurance that the decision of the Joint Board of Arbitration would be recognized and obeyed by their constituents. So the iaca of arbitration was sbiudoned. Out of a total of nearly 16,200 ovens in the region only 400 are reported to be in active operation, and the consequence of such a distressing state of affairs is that the general trade ol the region is stagnant. The question viewed from any standpoint cannot be called chcciful for either operators or workmen, and the likelihood of an imme diate resumption of work is very remote. The only consolation that can be wrought out of such a deplorable state of iffairs is that the forced inactivity may indirectly benefit the iron trade. The continued shut down of the furnaces in the Mahoning and bhenango Valleys since January 10, which tnrows some 8,000 or 10,000 men out of work, is an evidence ot how much the pig iron in dustry is in need of a reviver. PirUbnrs In a Good Position. In briefly reviewing the labor situation I again repeat the assertion that Pittsburg workman have cause to feel contented. It is seldom that such a general idleness is forced upon the workingmen of these us ually thriving districts. Within a radius o 75 miles of Pittsburg it can be safely said that fully 40,000 men are idle, with pros pects of an early return to norknotverv bright, and, while this city is the hub of the inactive districts, it is indeed pleasing to know that neither her workers nor mer chants are sharers in the inactivity. Work has now been resnmsd in "nearly all those millsand blast furnaces which were compelled to close down last week owing to the high waters. Nearly every mill located ot the river fronts was forced "to close from three to six days. Al .ogether there were 34 iron and steel mills idle, and manufacturing interests suffered heavily by losses to ms terials, loss of time and "damage to furnaces and machincrv. Among the mills at which t'ic damage was particularly heavy were those 0 i the Allegheny river, extending from the Wayne Iron and Steel Works of Brown & Co. to the Lucy Furnace, and included such industries as Mcintosh, Hemphill & Co. Zug & Co., Shoenbergcr & Co., Pittsburg btcel Smelting Company, Oil Well Supply Company, Totten & Hogg Iron and Steel 1 oundry Company, Pittsburg Steel Casting Company, Hainaworth Steel Company, 11 UEscy Brown & Co., the Carnegie mill's, Crescent Steel Company, McConway & Torlev Along the MonongabeK river the damage was also very considerable. Effects of the High Water. The number estimated to be thrown out of work while the waters were at flood height is 35,000, and the production of muck bar i-. estimated to have been restricted about 000 tons and finished iron about 20,000 t"ns. Of the 23 blast furnaces in this district 12 're chilled on this account, and all the other furnaces were compelled to close down with the exception oi the Carrie, the Edgar 1 lonison, and the Monongahela Company's ants. The latter furnaces, which were i, v constructed last year, were built above high water mark ot 1884. lhe improvements, additions and repairs jong all the local industries keeps pace nh the prevailing activity, and is an indi- tion of the increased business that mill wncrs tre anticipating for the coming rin:r. At the Hainsworth Steel Company arnal test of tne ti-vly trected blooming i I'll was recently made with qune sitisiac" i j resuus. xi i as teen stated, though not anhoritativsly, that 25 new puddling fur naces s ill soon be erected at the "Elba Iron and Bolt WorKs to meet the increas ing demand for the companv's product At the Edgar Thorirson Steel Works fur nace E recently blew out forrelining. A and D, which are out of blast, will remain to for some time. The other furnaces are reported banked owing to the idleness of the rail mill, which is closed for repairs. At the works of the United States Iron and Tin Plate Company considerable experimenting has lately been made in order to determine the bed" method by which to manufacture plates for commercial use. At the Dnqnesne Forge Company's works two Stirling boilers, with an aggregate horse power of 500, are being 3uded. Me chanical stokers will be used. At the works of the Sterling Company, located near the above works, a newboiler house has recently been erected and a battery of four boilers and other improvements made in order to meet the increasing demand for the high grade of steel manufactured by the company. The Duquesne Tube Works have completed ironclad additions to three departments which will be used for assorting and storing the various sizes of tubes, as well as increas ing the capacity of the plant, the sizes of the additions being 75x140 feet, 85x125 feet and 50x80 leer. An Increase of Capacity. The Pennsylvania Tube Company, in order to enlarge their capacity for manu facture, are compelled to make use of their old warehouse. Anew warehouse 100x400 feet, and built entirely of iron, is now being erected. At the drilling and fishing tool works of Ireland & Hughes, on Twenty-first street, the firm has just occupied their new machine shops snd offices. The additions to the forge are about completed. A very novel piece of mechanism is being used at these shops. It is a movable steam hammer patented by an employe of the firm. It is operated by a swing joint and can be worked in any position and is claimed it can do the work of three men. The Walworth Manufacturing Company, which recently occupied a portion of the old Continental Tube Works out Second avenue for the manufacture of metallic telegraph and electric poles, but was com pelled to remove when the old lease ex pired, is now erecting a building 36x136 feet in rear of the Keystone mill to pursue their former woik. At the Edcar Thomson plant the inten tion of the. firm to shut down on the 7th inst, which Was previously noted in THE D'SPATCii, did noc go into" effect until the 14th inst., as it was necessary to wait a week to complete an order. Several very important improvements will be made at these works, the nature of which have pre viously been fully described in these col umns. The improvements will greatly in crease the capacity of the works and enable tiie nrm to cheapen the cost of produc tion, and will include three new 15 ton converters, a new blooming mill, a new rail mill engine, new chargers, improved hydraulic machinery and 20 new boilers which will be eauined with mechan ical stokers. Among the furnaces, "E," "D" and "A" are out for repairs, but the other furnaces will continue in operation. Sixteen new boilers, with the necessary buildings and stacks, are being added to the steam plant and many additions are being made to seme of the casting furnaces. The Largest or Its Kind. At the Homestead Steel Works th work of erecting the new 36-inch beam mill, which will be the largest of its kind in the world, is progressing rapidly. Mr. J. A. Potter, the superintendent of this plant, has recently invented a train of four high rolls which will be ued for rolling heavy armor and other steel plates. The firm have award ed the contract for tnt construction of the rolls to Bobinson, Bea & Co. The first and fourth rolls are each 34x113,-while the sec ond and third or middle pair are of the same length, but only half as heavy. The weight of the four rolls exclusively is 75 tons, while that of tne housings is 90 tons. It is claimed that while the small rolls do the rolling the large rolls bear the immense pressure, that the danger of breaking is not half so great as in ordinary rolls.and even then the break age must necessarily be in one of the two small rolls. Messrs. P. Barrow and J. J. Broderick, pnddlcrs at the American Iron Works of Jones & Laughlin, have applied lor letters patent on a new puddling furnace. In the new furnace one half is movable, and the other half stationary. That part of the fur nace in which the iron is to be melted re senibles a cWinder and will revolve. It is built ou a standing platform, and constructed to hold from 1,500 to 3.000 pounds ol iron. The furnace in which the balling process is per formed is very little different from the pres ent style of furnace. The draught stack will remain stationary, but all other parts of the furnace including the fire box will be move"abli. From the revolving furnace the iron passes in a semi-liquid state through a conveying trough in the bottom to the ball ing furnace. It is claimed that a puddler can turn out from seven to eight heats with the new furnace in the same time that it now requires to make five, and that there is a saving of 500 per year on each furnace over the present styleof furnace. Reports ofXew Industries. It is reported theNimick & Co. have pur chased the Fairchance furnaces with the ob ject of moving their mills to Fairchance. A charter has been received by a company of capitalists to be known as the Adams Iron Company, who intend the erection of a steel plant in this city for the manufacture of steel by the Adams process. The capital stock is $200,000. A charter has also been granted to the Klein-Logan Company, with a capitalization of SlOOjOOO for the manu facture ot iron and steel in this city. Itife Bros, contemplate the erection of a large factory near Hazelwood for the manu facture of wagon hardware, which will em-, ploy 100 men. The ground for the new works has been secured. The Standard OU Company has awarded a contract to the International Boiler Com pany for two Stirling boilers of 200 horse power each. J. B. Sheriff, Son Ss Co. recently shipped to Lathrop Bros., of Hew York, an order for 70 of their patent injectors and an order for 15 siphons to New Orleans. HilliardSterritt & Co. are completing a large shipping order for their special pfpe threading machines. Velte. & McDonald have in their shops a considerable amount of work for the Sparrows Point plant of the Pennsylvauii Steel Company, of Steel ton, which consists principally of work for the rail mill, including roll-table, hot beds and three hydraulic cranes. The Oliver Iron and Steel Company and Charles Jutte & Co. have received the con tract for the construction of the Portview bridge over the Youghioghenv, above Mc Keesport, at an aggregate price'of 546,000. B, Monroe & Son have just finished work on a steel boom 150 feet long and 50 feet high which will be capable of lifting from 10 to 15 tons. It is for the bed of a river near Denver and will be used in gold dig ging; it weighs over 40 tons, machinery in cluded. The A. Garrison Foundry Com pany has received the contracts from the South Chicago works of the Illinois Steel Company, and the Wellman Iron and Steel Company, ot Thurlow, Pa., for the machin ry ot two mills, the rolls of which are to ; 34 inches in diameter and 132 inch?: ng. Tor Sea and take Steamers. It is t le intention of both these firms to equip their works ready to make all kinds ot heavy plates for sea and lake steamers and to compete with makers in this city. The Totten and Hosg Iron and Steel Foundry Company are now building for the Wellman Iron and Steel Companv, formerly the Chester Boiling Mill, of Thur low, an improved grinding pan of the largest size. They are also engaged on two of the heaviest Forster rock and ore crushers for an iron mine in Michigan. Theyare also completing an order for a com plete set of nail and spike machines tor ship ment to Glasgow, Scotland, and have re ceived oruers lately from Australia for three crushers, from the Pacific coast lor three crusher, and from Noviu Scotia for one crusher. C. J. K. IN SIBERIA'S HEART. Not Altogether the Dismal Place That It Is Usually Depicted. THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE THERE. Even the Exiles Seem to Be Making the Best of the Situation. A DEMOCRATIC FEELING PREVALENT Mr. Julius M. Price, a staff artist of the London Illustrated Ifews of the TTorfd", is writing a series of papers under the caption of "From the Thames to Siberia." In his last article, which treats more particularly of the city of Yeniseisk, he says that very few outsiders have any real knowledge of Siberia. To most of them its name raises a dismal vision of ice-bound wastes and wretched exiles pass ing their lives in hope less and cheerless misery. Little do they know that( far away in the very heart of Asia, there ex ists civilization equal to Cossack at Yeniseisk. what is to be found in any part of Europe. But this is the case, and here, sitting after dinner smoking a cigarette, in a luxuriously furnished and delightfully warm apartment, surrounded by rare tropical plants, with appointments not excelled in Paris, I can hardly reaiize how far I am from Europe, or that outside the cold is 28 below zero (Keaumur), and that I am at a short distance from the wild, uncultivated, uninhabited regions that we had to traverse before reaching this far-away Siberian city. I shall never forget my impressions when, after the 14 long dreary weeks passed in the j THE POST BOAT OK Arctic Ocean, and in river navigation, we at last anchored off Yeniseisk. It was, toward 8 o'clock, a cold wintry evening though October was not. yet passed. The moon was just rising, and in a still evening air the effect was almost that of a huge pano rama; against the southern sky many churches a-.d strange-lookiu.t wooden build ings ot the Asiatic city stood out in sharply defined silhouettes, relieved here and there by the lights iu the windows of the many houses facing the river, while along the banks we could just discern in the increas ing twilight dark masses of people hurrying down to greet us on hearing the sound of our steam-whistle, which was being vigor ously blown to announce our arrival. A Strange and" Weird Sight. The church bells began ringing as we let go our anchors, and immediately all the Bussians who were crowded on the upper deck, from the captain downward, un covered their heads, and, bowing devoutly, crossed themselves again and again as they murmercd a prayer of thanksgiving for their Bafe return. It was a strange and weird sight, and made me involuntarily rub my eyes, to ascertain if I were really awake, and all this not a dream the long and wearisome journey at length at an end the goal attained. There was, however, little opportunity for soliloquising, for within a very short space of time after the stoppage of our engines we -were boarded and taken possession of by the inevitable Custom House officers and their assistants, and the voyage of the Phoenix, successfully accomplished, was a thing of the past. Much as we all naturally desired imme diately to go on shore, we could not do so, for we were courteously though firmly in formed that until oar baggage had been ex amined none of us could leave the ship. The next day, however, was Sunday, and we were all awakened early by the sound of many church bells not the lnmiliar notes one knowi so well in the old country, but a curious sort of jangle, without any attempt at harmony, in a low key, which reminded one of the "noise produced by a child strum ming with two fingers on the bass of a piano very much out of tune. Sleep after this was impossible, and we were all of us soon on deck, anxious to get a glimpse of Yerii seisk by daylight. The effect, though of course not so strange aswhenseen bymooulight, was undoubtedly imposing, and seen from the Yenisei the city certainly presents a grand, appearance. No less than three fine churches stand in close proximity to each other facing the river, each one vying with the others in architect ural pretensions, while all along the road facing the water are houses or, rather, large villas, which remind one much of the South of France, except that-thev are of stucco in stead of marble. Snow had fallen during the night, and, though tin- temperature was not cold, the aspect in lhe bright morning sunshine was decidedly wintry in effect. ramiliarity Does Not Breed Contempt. On closer inspection, Yeniseisk does not like many foreign cities, lose in interest, for the streets are wide, and there are many fine buildings in them which would compare well with those of most Western towns. Nov el and interesting sights were to be met with at every Btep strang-looking vehi cles crowded the spa cious market place, surrounded by motley crowds of noisy peas ants, who, however, were far too occupied iu their bargaining to notice me by mores than a passing glance, in spito of my cos tume, which, to say the least of it, must have been a novelty to most of them. I could not help pictur ing to myself the prob able effect a Busslan tourist would produce were he to turn up sud Market Woman at Yeniseisk. denly in an English provincial town on market day and walk about among, the crowd of rounh country folk; He would possibly get more than a passing glance, andj doubtless, be glad when he got out ot the place. What ttruck we were at first Li 16 fin ft PITTSBURG, SATURDAY, sight in Yeniseisk was, to all outwardap pearance, the entire absence of shops, which, as a rule, give so much local coloring and life to a place. Of course there are shops, but from the outside thev are unrecognizable, as no goods are displayed in the windows, and only a name-board betokens their existence. This, I hear, is the custom throughout Siberia, and it is easily understood, when one con siders that in all the houses there are double, and in some cases even treble, win dows, to keep out the intense cold during the winter, and that even in spite of these precautions the innermost windows are thickly coated with ice, notwithstanding the high temperature of the rooms! Not a Hotel hi the City. I was surprised to learn that there was no hotel in Yeniseisk a fact, doubtless to be accounted for by reason of the few travelers who visit this out-of-the-way place, those haying occasion to do so prdbably staying with friends or taking lodgings. Perhaps, however, with the possible annual advent of English tourists br the Kara Sea route, some enterprising Yeniseisk citizen will find it a profitable venture to start one (on the English lines, it is to be hoped). Fortunately lodgings were readily to be got and cheap into the bargain; so, with the aid of an interpreter, I was soon snugly quartered in two rooms, which ior comfort and warmth left nothing to be desired, though there might perhaps have been a little more furniture, and also washing accommodation, but that, however, was a detail. However, in spite of this slight incon venience, I managed to settle down com fortably in a very short time, and found the people I was lodging with very obliging and ready to do their best to supply mv wants when I tried to express them in the few words of Bussian I had managed to pick up while on bo ird the Phoenix. It was the commencement of the "season" when we arrived at Yeniseisk, and the town was full; for, with the advent of winter, the neighbor ing gold mines are deserted, and the rich owners return to their palatial town resi dences, so the place presents a much more animated appearance than it does during the summer, when the greater portion of the male inhabitants are absent, and the streets look comparatively empty. All Interested In the Gold Mines. The great industry of Yeniseisk is, of course, centered in its gold-fields, which were once among the most i' 'ant of Siberia, but are now not S' - as formerly. Everybody in t - THE YENISEI EIVEB. direct or indirect interest in them, this be ing easily accounted for the money made in them being all, as! a ruK, spent in Yeniseisk, so all the local trade profits by it. No less than 8,000 men are annually em ployed in the different workings many coming from long distances to get employ ment, the pay, as a rule.being exceptionally good, and all their food found them. Some or tne wealthiest of the mine-owners em ploy as many as 600 men, and have a hospital and medical staff permanently at tached to the works. The alluvial gold mines of the Yeniseisk district have been worked since 1839. The quartz working has only recently been commenced, and it promises very great results. Better skill and appliances than are at present available are, however, needed. A Temperature So Equable. What, I fancy, astonishes an Englishman most in Siberia for the first time is the won .derful temperature he finds inside all the houses, from the richest to the poorest a temperature so equable as to permit of the rarest tropical plants being cultivated with the greatest success I may say, in fact, many of the houses of the rich mine-owners present the appearance of conservatories, so crowded are they with exotics of all sorts, from climbing plants trained to grow round the doors to huge palms or plantains and all in the most perfect condition. An Englishman's surprise is, therefore, com prehensible. He has heard of the frightful cold of the Siberian winter, so arrives in the country duly armed against it according to English ideas. To his astonishment he finds that, when the tnermometer in the street registers 40,of frost (Keaumur) the temperature of his room is still as genial as though it were spring, although there is no stove visible: his thick flannel shirts are nat urally very much too warrd he only requires one thin blanket on his bed, and, when he goes out into the open air, hi3 f ur schooba is amply sufficient to keep out the cold. That most complete device for heat ing a house that was ever imagined, the Eus sian stove, robs, there fore, the Siberian winter of many of its terrors, a Swell in Furs. and makes a visit to this interesting and little-known country pleasant even during the coldest period of" the year. A Tory Democratic Place. Duringthe winter months Yeniseisk is well provided with amusement: there is a capital club house, which would pass muster anywhere, to which is attached a theater and a ball room, with a delightful "floor," aud performancea or dances take place two or three times a week. I shall longremem ber my first evening at Yeniseisk, when I was taken to see the club; there was a dance on, and in the large, brilliantly lighted rooms, with an excellent band "playing a familiar waltz, it was hard to believe one self nearly 2,000 miles from a railroad, and in the very heart of Asia. Society in Yeniseisk, of course, consists principally of tbewealthy mine owners, or merchants, and their families, and the Government officials and theirs. These are sufficient prettv well to fill the club on big dance nlehts. Exiles, who naturally form an important contingent, are only allowed to enter sub ject to certain restrictions. For instance, the criminal ones are only permitted to come to the performances in the theater, and are obliged to leave immediately after; while the political Ones are permitted to remain after the performance, bat on no account to dance. Still, in spite of all this, I could not help feeling that 'Yeniseisk is a very democratic place. Everybody somehow seems to think himself as good as anybody else, and at a perlormance, during the entr'acte, when everyone walks about, you become quite tired of the number of -people tt ho expect you to shake hands with them, from the riih miue owner to, the dUcharged convicted fvrtr. in S hziii -Vor lifj." I FEBRUARY 28, 189L PLUCK OF THE WOMAN Who Is Now on the Way to the Depths of the Dark Continent. MRS. FRENCH SHELDON'S J0DRNEY. It Is Neither a Philanthropic Sot Mission ary Undertaking. THE PLANS OP THE FAIR EXPLORER Now that Mrs. French Sheldon, the former Allegheny City lady who is to emu late Stanley by an expedition to darkest Africa, has actually started upon her re markable trip, a great deal ot interest at taches to the remarkable enterprise. The London Pall Mall Budget contains the fol lowing written shortly before the fair ex plorer's ueparture by steamer: There is absolutely nothing of either the virago or the prying old spinster about the lady who will leave England on her self imposed task of penetrating into the parts of Central Africa which the foot of a white woman has never trod. "Is it really true, Mrs. Sheldon," I asked, "that you are about to start on an expedi tion to Central Africa?" "Yes, it is per fectly true. I should be off already by the French steamer, but I was not back from America in time to catch it, and I am now going to join the next English steamer at Naples." "But surely you don't mean to say that yon, personally, mean to lead the expedi tion?" I went on, trying to imagine the elegant lady with tbe crown of beautiful brown hair and the large, laughing, dark blue eyes, who toyed carelessly with the diamond rings on her white hnnds, pressing onward through Mrs. Fren-h Sheldon. endless forests or burning plains of an un known, uncivilized country. "Yes, yes, tiiat is exactly what I mean to say," she replied, very cheerfully, even en thusiastically. "I am only going to tate one companion with me from here, or rather one attendant, and that is a woman, a for mer stewa'dess on one of the Cunard steam ers, whom the company have, put at my disposal. She knows something about African traveling, is a thoroughly trained nurse, and altogether quite an exceptional woman. She and I will be the only white persons in the expedition. When we get to Zanzibar I shall engage as many natives as I require, and we shall then start for the in teriOA as soon as possible." The Size of tho Tarty. "Have you any idea as to how large c party you will be, all told?" "I should say about 50 natives will be sufficient, but I shall have to see about that when I get to Zanzibar. Of course, the few er attendants I require the more convenient it will be. I have had over a thousand ap plications ironi lawyers, scientists, doctors, and all kinds of men who want to join the expedition, but I am determined to t ike out only my attendant. If you want 1,000 men you have to take what you can get; if you want only 50 you can have picked men. You see, in this, ns in many other things, I have the advantage of being able to piofit by the experience of former travelers, and I can choose from among the men who proved the most trustworthy during the Stanlev expe dition." H "Then are yon going to take only native men?" "A few women, too, the wives of some ot the men who go with me. I want to see how they live among their own people. They can do the cooking for the men, and other domestic work, and that in itself will be an interesting study. My attendant will, of course, cook for me; lor, although I do not mean to live as if I were at home and had my maid to arrange my hair and see to all my want3, 1 do not think I could go quite as far as to share their meals with the natives." "And what is the object of your enter prising plan?" "Let me tell you at once that there is ab solutely no truth in the foolish rumors which have been spread that I am going for mis sionary or other philanthropic, or even for commercial or geographical purposes. I have the interest of neither committee nor company at heart, nor that of any one spe cial person except Mrs. French Sheldon her self. I go on my own responsibility and lor my own purposes, one of which is that I want information for finishing a book I have had in hand ior some time past Another of my objects is To Study the Xatlvei, especially the women and children, as long as they are still in their primitive state. In a year or two a,great highway will have been opened across Africa, and there will be no more primitive natives: evervbodv will be going across Africa, and the real interest will cease. Before that comes about a whole world of interest is hidden in the unknown regions. For instance, from Mombassa, the starting point of the expedition, I go on to Kilimanjaro, where no white woman has ever been. It will be intensely interesting to watch and study the home life of the na tives iu these places." "And from Kilimanjaro?" I asked in great expectation, and with the picture of Mr. Stanley's majestic "black forest" rising once again before my mental vision. "What I am going to do after that depends on a certain circumstance which I cannot explain just yet, but I have not the slightest ambition to go across the 'black forest. I see no obiect in going through that wilder ness, and as to long-distance marches I do not care if I don't walk a single mile in Africa. I want to see the people, the places where they live, and get to know as much as I can gather about the different tribes." "Of course you take a photographic ap paratus?" "Oh dear, yes. I have eight or nine, so as not to be beaten if the one or other fails me. No, I am no botanist, but one of the studies I hope to make, and which, to me, is full of interest, is that of some of the con stellation of stars and planets which you never see except in the South. Mrs. Bich ard Proctor is giving mc some hinis I can hardly call them lessons, for I have no time for real lessons on the subject." "But how are you going to travel if you don't care for walking?" ' Quite a TVonderf ol Structure. "A chair is being made for me quite a wonder'ul structure in which I shall be riers, .four of whom will take it in turns, j The chr.lr is ioadei"ully light, audio in-J geniously made that my European attendant and myself can also sleep in it at night. We' also take a tent, from England, because they are better than those you get at Zanzibar, but, as far as possible, we get our provisions just before we start for the Interior." "And will you taKe arms?" "Yes, jnst enough to protect myself in case of need. I have had a pair of beautiful revolvers given to me. I must fetch them and show them to you." "What is your opinion about all this?" I asked Mr. Ward, while Mrs. Sheldon went into another room. "Is it possible for a lady to do what Mrs. French Sheldon intends doing?" "That depends on the lady," Mr. Ward replied very quietlv. "I certainly think Mrs. Sheldon will do" it." "Yes, that is what my friend Mr. Stanley tellsme," Mrs. Sheldon said, as she came back carrying a glittering revolver in a leather case in each hand, and sitting down on tbe floor beside an ottoman, toying with the playthings and chatting on. "They are very plain, but they are beautifully made. I have got past the age when one cares for ivory, or'carved or inlaid handles. These are exactly what I shall want in case of need, but without dire need I shall not use them. I shall only defend myself as I worild if I were attacked in my own house, and as anybody would in the same case. Mind you, I am not going as either a bucca neer or a harlequin. I am simply going as a woman who has common sense, and who thinks that it can be done in a womanly way and without indulging in any violent eccentricities. No Bloomer, Harberton, Hancock, or other mannish costumes for me. Nothing only simple traveling dresses snch as I have always worn on my former jour ney ings." "Then yon are an experienced traveler?" A Great Traveler From Youth. "Oh, yes; I began when I was 12. Yes, I am an American by birth. My first trip was to Italy. Oarabaldi was a great friend of mine, and I was passionately attached to his cause aud that of a freed Italy. Later on I went across the States from end io end, often for days and weeks in the saddle, and so you see I have had some experience." "Have yon traveled in Africa at all?" "Only in the north. But I think I know nearly as much about Central Africa as if I had been across. M. du Chaillu, who is a friend of mine, has told me so much; then Mr. Stanley, who is another friend, Mr. Ward here, and nearly every one of Stan ley's lieutenants, have all talked it over with me again and again, and I feel quite confident that I shall get back in about six months, having accomplished my object," "Will you travel in an ordinary Euro pean traveling costume?" "Not exactly. For instance I have a pair of soft leather boots that reach right up over the knees and which I should hardly want on an ordinary expedition. But, on the whole, lightness has been the chief con sideration in choosing my clothes. I have a large number of the thinnest Indian silk things, and a few light Jaeger dresses; the whole of them, though I have taken suffi cient to do without having many things washed, hardly weigh anything. One very useful article which has been given to me is a medicine belt; a leather belt, inside of which "can carry quite a surgery of small medicine 'es, to be at hand in case of sickness." that is another serious considcra Sheldon. What about your " be all right, I have a good ver ill, never feverish, fraid of the African "ct of Edgar vrcn to- -t at Its JU VTakfc morrow. best. HEW PATEH'x. Inventors In Western K r ern Ohio and West Vlrjlni O. D. Levis, patent attorney, ' avenue, furnishes the followinglist oi t i issued to Western Pennsylvania, Eas.. Ohio and West Virginia inventors for the week ending February 24 : William Bennor, Tiffin, apparatus for heating and ventilating the walls or bnildings; G. E, Blaine, Waynesville, O., combined fence and tree protector; Andrew Brlce. Pittsbnrg. ap paratus for finishing or cleaning surfaces (two patents): Z. B. Coes, Hamilton, O., filter press: O. A. Crrtbes, Dayton, tug: J. P. Dela hunty. West Pktston, Pa., dyeing machine; E. B. Entwisle. Johnstown, railwav cross ing; E. W. Fain. Franklin. W. Va..tool handle attachment; J. B. Gnswold, Zanesville. brick kiln; iiutlwig Gntroann. Pittsburg, electric motor; William Heckort. Findlay. smelting furnace; Paul Kronttnaurer, Whitehall. Pa., apparatus for tbe calcination of cements; W. A. Mack, Jorwalk, O., sewing machine: C. W. Miller, Canton, burnishing machine: if. P. Mor rison. Big Skin Creek, W. Va.. box lifter, S. E. Painter. Cranberry, Pa., can opener; T. J Parkinson, Pittsburg, bed: Joshua Pnsey, Lima. Pa., typewriting machine; J. P. Robert Pittsburg, vaporizer: T. E. Smith, Hew Castle! combined building and water tower: B. a Thayer, Allentown, oscillating meter. BALAHCE OF TEADE AGAIUST CA1TADA, The Navigation Ketarns Show Increase In Imports and Exports. Otta-wa, Ont., Feb. 27. Navigation returns for 1890 were issued yesterday. The exports were 597,704,891, and the imports 5128,858,241. The imports increased last year by 57,500, 0(Jb, and the exports increased abont the same. The balance of trade against Canada was 525,109. Canada's exports to the United States were $40,000,000, and imports $52 000,000. WOBLD'S FAIR ITHArTCES. The Board of Control In No Danger or Go ing to Pieces. Chicago, Feb. 27. All danger that the World's Fair Board ot Control will go to pieces for lack of funds, if there ever was any, seems to have been dissipated. It has been discovered that the $20,000 set aside for the use of the Foreign Affairs Committee can be used for the pavment of salaries. With a total of $60,000, the matter can be managed. CARPENTER has learned of some odd superstitions of statesmen. II In charming letter will appear in THE DISPATCH to morrow. A Verdict for G Cents. NE-wYonx,Feb.27. Thetrialof the libel snit of John H. Hollander against Consul General Jacob Baiz, of Guatemala, for the recovery of 550,000 damages, which was on trial in the United States courts, ended this altenioon by the jury rendering a verdict of 6 cents for the plaintiff. A Rising Town. The town of West Toronto Junction possesses exceptional residental and business advantages aud promises to speedily become tbe chief manufacturing center of tbe Dominion. This town has the following railwas, viz: Grand Trunk Main Lino (Carlton West station); Northern Division of ihe Grand Trunk (Davcn; port station); the Toronto, Grey and Brnco, and Credit Valley, and Ontario and Quebec Divisions ot iX P. R. and Belt Line Railway (now in proeress). The town offers to large manufacturers, free sites, water at cost and exemDtion from taxation. Any information regarding the same will be given noon applica tion to Robert J. Leigh. Town Clerk, or D. V. Clendenan, Mayor. Will Price Opens new neckwear every Saturday. The largest assortment in the city, 47 Sixth stbeet. The People's Store, Fifth Avenue. Large stock of new dress silks, plain and fancy weaves, both black and colored, for spring wear, just opened. Campbell & Dick. Will Price Opens he.w ueckwear,every Saturday. The largest assortment in the city; , , ,., 47 Sixth stehst; . f - OUP X 1 Y v -- iciTHn On the western side of the island of Ar ran, seldom visited, and almost unknown to tourists, is the little island named Uffa. Between the two lies a strait or roost, two miles and a half broad, with a dangerous current which sets in from the north. Even on the calmest day there are ripples, and swirls, and dimples on the surface of the roost, which suggest hidden influences, but when the wind blows from the west, and the great Atlantic waves choke up the inlet and meet their brethren which have raced round the other side of the island, there is such seething and turmoil that old sailors say they have never seen the like. God help the boat that is caught there on such a day! My father oWned one-third of the island of Uffa, and I was born and bred there. Our farm or croft was a small one enough, for if a good thrower were to pick up a stone on the shore at Carracuil (which was our place) he could manage, in three shies, to clear all our arable land, and it was hardly longer than it was broad. Taking one thing with another a -rofter in Uffa had as mnch chance of lay by a penny or two as most men on thr nd. Besides our own familv 's of Carracuil, sla" I,, r ... our farm ,inygenerations, paying 1 - me i)nke of Hamilton and all prospering in a moderate way. 5fy father had been enabled to send me to begin the study of medicine at the Universitv of Glasgow, and I had attended lectures there for two winter sessions, but whether from caprice or from some lessening in his funds, he had recalled me, and in the year 1865 I found myself cribbed up in this little island with just education enough to wish formorc, and with no associate at home but the grim, stern Old man, for my mother had been dead some years, and I had neither brother nor sister. There were two youths about mv own age in the island, Geordie and Jock Gibbs, but they were rough, loutish fellows, good hearted enough, but with no ideas above fishing and farming. More to my taste was the society of Minnie Fullarton, the pretty danghterof old Fullatton of Corriemains. We had been children together, and it was natural that when she blossomed into a buxom, fresh-faced girl, and I into a square shouldered, long-legged youth, there should be something warmer than friendship be tween us. Her elder brother was a corn chandler in Ardrossan, and was said to be doine well, so that the match was an eligi ble one, but for some reason my father ob jected very strongly to our intimacy and even forbade me entirely to meet her. I laughed at his commands, for I wa3 a hot headed, irreverent youngster, and continued to see Minnie, bat when it came to his ears it caused many violent scenes between us, which nearly went the length of bows. We had a quarrel of this sort just before tne equinoctial gales in the spring of the year in which my story begins, and I left the old man with his face flushed, and his great bony hands shaking with passion, while I went jauntily off to our usual trysting-place. I have often" regretted since that I was not more submissive, but how was I to guess the djrk things which were to come upon us? I can remember that day well. Many hitter thoughts rose in ray heart as I strode along the narrow pathway, cutting savagely at the thistles on either side with my stick. One side of our little estate was bordered by the Combera cliffs, which rose straight out of the water to the height of a conple of hundred feet- The top of these cliffs was covered with green sward and commanded a noble view on every side. I stretched my self on the turf there and watched the breakers dancing over the Winner sands and listened to the gurgling of the water down beneath me in the caves ot the Comberj. The whole air was prickly with tbe smack ol the sex Away to the north there was a piling up of clouds, and the peak of Goat iell iu Arran looked lnrid and distinct. There were no crait in the offing except one little eager, panting steamer making for the shelter of the Clyde, and a trim brjgantine tacking along the coast. I was speculating as to her destination when I heard a light springy footstep, and Minnie Fullarton was standing beside me, her face rosy with exer cise and her brown hair floating behind her. "Wha's been vexing you, Archie?" she asked with the quick intuition of woman hood. "The auld man has been speaking aboot me again; has he no'?" It was strange how pretty and mellow the accents were in her mouth which came so raspingly from my father. We sat down on a little green hillock together, her hand in mine, while I told her of our quarrel in the morning. "You see they're bent on parting us," I said; but indeed they'll find they have the wrong man to deal with if they try to frighten me away from you." "I'm no' worth it, Archie," she answered, sighing. "I'm ower hamely and simple for one like you that speaks well and is a scholar forbye." "You're too good and true for anyone, Minnie," I answered, though in my heart I thonght there was some truth in what she said.v "I'll no' trouble anyone lang-," he con tinued, looking earnestly into my face,. "I .a 3 got my call last nicht; I saw a griaist. Archie." "Saw a ghost!" I ejaculated. "Yes, and I doubt it was a call for me. When my cousin Steevie deed he saw one the same way." "Tell me about it, dear," I said, impressed bv her solemnity. '"There's no' much to tell: it was last nicht aboot 12, or maybe 1 o'clock. I was lying awake thinking o' this and that wi my ecu fixed on the window. Suddenly I saw a face looking in at me through the glass an awfn'-like face, Archie. It was na the face of anyone on the island. I canna tell what it was like it was just awfu'. It was there maybe a minute look ing tae way and tither into the room. I could see the glint o' his very een for it was pressed against the glass. My very blood ran cauld, and I couldna scream for fright. Then it went awa' as quickly and as sudden as it came." "Who could it have been?" I exclaimed. "A wraith or a bogle," said Minnie posi tively. "Are you sure it wasn't Tommy Gibbs?" I suggested. "Na. na, it wasni Tammy. It was a dark, , laughing, "I hope the die a look up, whoever ha am who he is and where he Bnt we won't talk of it, or ,htening yourself to-night again. reary night as it is." nicht for tho pnir sailors." she J sSaiy, glancing at the dark wracK jg up from the northward, and at tha , . line of breakers on the Winner sands. "I fonder what you brig is after! Unless it gets roond to Lamlash or Brodick Bay, it'll find itself on a nasty coast" She was watching the trim hrigantine which had already attracted my attention. She was standing off the coast, and evi dently expected rough weather, for her foresail had been taken in and her topsail reefed down. "It's too cold for you up herel" I ex claimed at last, as the clouds: covered the sun, and the keen north wind came in more frequent gusts. We walked back together, until we were close to Carracuil, when she left me, taking the footpath to Corriemains, which was about a mile from our bothy. I hoped that my father had not observed ns together, but he met me at the door, fuming with pasion, Hi3 face was quite livid with rage, and he held his shotgun in his hands. I forget if I mentioned that in spite of his age he was one of the most powerful men I ever met in my life. "So you've cornel" he roared, shaking the gun at me. "You great gowk " I did not wait far the stiinj of adjectives which I knew was coming. "Vou keep a civil tongue in your head," I said. "You dare!" he shouted, raising his arms as if to strike me. "You wunna come in here. You can gang back where you corns frae!" "STou can go to the devil!" I answered, losing my temper completely, on which he jabbed at me with the butt end of the gun, but I warded it off with my stick. For a moment the devil was busy in me, and my throat was full of oaths, but I choked them down, and, turning ou my heel, walked back to Corriemains, where I spent the day with.the Fullartons. It seemed to me that my father, who had long been a miser, was rapidly becoming a madman and a danger ous one to boot. II. My mind was so busy with my grievance that I was poor company, I fear, and drank perhaps more whisky than wa3good for me. I remember that I stnmbled over a stool once and that Minnie looked surprised add tearful, while old Fullarton sniggered to himself and coughed to hide it. I did not set out for home till 9:30, which was a very late hour for the island. I knew my father would be asleep, and that if I climbed through my bedroom window I should have one night in peace. It was blowing great guns by this time, and I had to put my shoulder against tha gale as I came along the winding path which led down to Carracuil. I must still have been under the influence of liquor, for I remem ber that I sang uproariously and joined my feeble pipe to the howling of the wind. I had ju3t got to the enclosure of our croft when a little incident occurred which helped to sober me. White is a color so rare in nature that in an island like ours, where even paper was a precious commodity, it would arrest the at tention at once. Something white flattered across my path and stuck flapping upon a furze bush. I lifted it up and discovered, to my very great surprise, that it was a linen potket handkerchief and scented. Now I was very sure that beyond my own there.' was no such thing as a white pocket hand kerchief on the island. A small community like ours knew each other's wardrobes to a nicety. Bnt as to scent in Uffa it was pre posterous! Who did the handkerchief belong to then? Was Minnie right, and was there really a stranger in the island? I walked o very thoughtfully, holding my discovery my hand and thinking what Minnie ha seen the night before. When I get Into my bedroom and lit ray rushlight I examined it again. It was clean and new, with the initials A. W. worked in red silk in the corner. There was no other indication as to who it might belong to, thnuzh from its size it was evidently a m in'.. The incident struck me as so extra ordinary taut I sat for soma time on the side of my bed turning it rf Jff-esir 2i-i -S&:, k, V.i
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