F3- t THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, PEIDAT, MARCH 6, l&L Hie Bipaftg. ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY IS4S. "- Ko. rs -Entered at Pittsburg rostofficc, Joveinber 14. 1m-c as Eccond-elass matter. Business Offlc e Corner SmithSeld and D?iam0a Streets. News Roony3 anci publishing House 75, 77 p.ii&j 79 Diamond Street EASTERN AijTrv-jt; OFFICE. KOOJI 21, TRIBUNE iuilAlNB. NEW YORK, where complete fl'e, 0f frHE DISPATCH can always be round. 'Srelgn advertisers appreciate the ccn venlencc. Hoybe advertiser and friends ot HIE DlSPATjr. -friiilc In New York, are also made welcoir ' 7,XE piSPATCB is regularly on sale at rcnty'o's. S Union Square. JVcw York, airf!7 j4f. e VOpe a, Pa, is. Fiance, where anyone ut.o has been disappointed at a hotel neurs rtztnd ean obtain it. terms or thi: DlSrATCH. TOFT M5E FREE IX THE CXTTED STATES. JATir 1)ipatch. One Year f "0 Dailt Dir-ATCii, 1'er Quarter 100 Daily Dispatch, One .Month ... TO Daily Dispatch, Including bnnday, 1 year. 30 oo Daily Dispatch, including bunday,3m'ths "So Daily Dipitcii. Including Sunday, lm'th 90 t-U:.DAT Disr-ATCH. One Year 150 Miekli Dispatch, One Year IS The Daily Dispatch U dellTcred by carriers at -Jcenls per week, or including bunda edition, at t cents per week. PITTSBURG. FRIDAY, MAR. 6, 1S9L AN UNC0.1IFOKTA15LE BCKDEX. It is pertinent to warn our friends in the Legislature that if the tendency manifested in the House to generally modify and loosen the provisions of the license law, is permitted to reach the form of perfected legislation, the party managers who are held responsible for legislation will find they are playing with fire. It is easily to he conceived that the mem bers of the Legislature regard the liquor in terest as a force in the local politics of each member which it will par to conciliate. But what may be water on the grindstone of each member may attain the danger line of a flood in the politics of the State There has been a tolerably clear view of the opera tion ot the license law lor the past two years. The people have generally recog uized that it is good. While there have been periodical outbreaks of acclamation over its restrictive (.fleets', we have yet to learn of a single case in which any portion of the public has suffered serious hardship for the luck of liquid refreshment. If it were submitted to a vote of the people whether the law is to be retained as it is, or emasculated in its important provisions, the law, we believe, would be maintained by an overwhelming majority. Under these circumstances it is well for the legislative managers to understand that the Republican party in Pennsylvania can not afford to shoulder the burden of retro grading toward the old system of unlimited ealoons, as is comprised in reducing the license fee foity per cent, or permitting brewers or wholesale firms to furnish bonds for retailers. The party has already got to bear the weight of dissatisfaction with the Legislature in the oil regions. It, in- addi tion, it takes the burden of breaking down a salutary and papular law in the interest ot free liquor traffic, and in a way which the most responsible of that trade does not ask, it will lay up a most unpleasant future for itself. rnr right course taken-. Senator Flinu took the right course at Harrisburg yisterday in offering on his own behalf an amendment to tue much discussed whar bill, providing that nothing to be don- by the city shall interfere with the loading or unloading of boats. "With this provision iuserttd, the river and coal in terests will lme remedy by injunction should Councils interfere with their rights. This coes as far as possible, aud certainly to effective lengths in making impossible the interference with the river traffic which the opponents of the wharf bill claimed as the ground of their opposition. The question now turns solely upon the point whether, if the city can utilize the wharf to any degree for market purposes, subject to this neces sary restriction, it should not be permitted to do so. That object in itself is commend able, not censurable; and so long as by the amendment of the bill the river traffic is adequately protected, there is nothing visible to complain about. The Senator also repudiates the charge that he said "the river interests were dead past lcurrection." As The Dispatch criticised the folly of that alleged state ment, it is glad to learn that the Senator did not commit himself to such an erroneous and extravagant proposition, but was mis rcjtorted. THE MISSING nEIK. The story of the missing heir to a great fertune in Germany, as published in another column this morning, makes interesting lending, and draws attention to thecunous contrasts of lile. American claimants lor vast fortunes in Europe are by no means lare, nor are their chances of handling the coveted wealth at all good in most cases. These people are generally the victims of their own delusions or of the machinations of dishonest men who hope to make capital out of the claimant's greed. It has been proven that a regular business of discovering immense wealth tied up in chancery in England or other countries exists, and the mere fact that reputable at torneys generally fight shy of clients after tbese fortunes does not seem to deter those anxious or easily acquired wealth from sending good money alter bad. The case made public this morning is the direct opposite of these. Here we have a real fortune hunting a claimant instead of a claimant hunting an unreal fortune, and, judging by the completeness with which the much wanted young man has managed to lose himself, it is likely that some time will elapse before he turns up. That he will eventually turn up, if alive, goes without saying, unless he is radically different from the rest of mankind. A share in a fortune such as is said to be awaiting bim is quite sufficient to make hi in discover himself with startling sudden ness. However, before he does make known his whereabouts the prediction that numerous false claimants will arise may hafely be made. The Dispatch hopes that it will prove the medium by which the missing man is made aware of his good luck, and in case he is found uill add its congratulations to those of his friends. THE CANADIAN ELECTION. After weeks of excitement, Canada's elec tions passed off quietly yesterday, and the troops that were said to be ready to guard the pools were conspicuous by their absence. Throughout the whole campaign its resem blance to the United States article was no ticed. This resemblance was principally in the bitterness with which the leaders caused each other to be attacked, charges of fraud, intimidation of voters, etc., having been bandied about with great freedom. The charge of treason to the British Crown was also made early in the campaign, and was reiterated at every opportunity; bnt, like his fellow across the border, the Canadian voter seemed to be but slightly affected by the rabid utterances of political organs, and deposited his ballot in accord ance with self-arrived-at convictions. The reports of the election indicate that Canadians are about equally divided on the questions of high tariff and reciprocity, with the advantage slightly in favor of the former at present. This result means the return cf Sir John Mac dona d to power, and the failure of the plans for commercial union between the countries; but by its closeness it also shows that public sentiment in the Dominion is veering around to reciprocity as desired by the Liberals. Further and more complete returns may change slightly the figures published this morning, but they will have little effect on the final result. Canada has weighed the issues of the campaign, and the decision in favor of the Conservatives will stand for a time at least. The Liberals hope to force Sir John and his followers from power before next winter, acd they may be successful. Until then quietness will reign. TWO ANTI-CANAL MISTAKES. The report of the Commissioners on the Pittsburg and Lake Erie Canal project is reviewed at length by the New York Post. That journal presents a favorable contrast in recognizing some of the strong features of the report. Thus it starts out with saying that "nowhere in the United States could commercial conditions be found more favor able to an artificial water way," and gives full weight to immense business furnished by "Western Pennsylvania, and the fact that it is now limited by the carrying capacity of therailwavs. But that the tendency of journals which imagine the Interests they represent will not be subserved by this enterprise produces criticisms of a largely factitious character, is still illustrated by the Post's article. Thus it criticises the report because iu its estimate of the extra charge which vessels must make for extending their trips to and from Pittsburg it docs not include the canal tolls for interest on the cost or maintenance and operation of the canal. This omission was plainly due to the fact that the charges for these items would depend so largely upon circumstances that they cannot be de termined until the plan of the work is fixed. Thus if the State and national Government should undertake the work and make it a free highway, like the Erie canal, or the Sault Ste. Marie this item would not exist. If the Government or State should guarantee the bonds of the enterprise and have tolls imposed to pay the interest, one rate would be fixed; while if private capital should build the canal another rate would be imposed. The Post thinks that if these items were supplied the cheapness of trans portation over the canal would disappear. Its own estimate leaves a margin ol forty five or fifty cents a ton, and it is swelled by estimating bnt five million tons of traffic for the canal, when eight million tons can be taken as a certainty at the start; by calcu lating twenty or thirty cents per ton as nec essary for the cost of maintenance and opera tion, when ten cents per ton would be lib eral: and by adding a charge fifteen cents pe,' ton for storing ore in largo quantities; which has to be done under the present system. Further, with regard to Government aid of the canal project, the Post says: "There are cases, indeed, in which Government or State aid is rightly given. The Sault Ste. Marie Canal was all that was needed togive us thousands of miles of uninterrupted water communication." Has the esteemed Post ever considered how many thousands of miles nf water communication this project will join? The Sault Ste. Marie project united L.ke Superior with other lakes. The proposed canal will unite the entire lake system with the almost countless thou sands of miles of river navigation. If this project is properly understood, and more especially is recognized as one of the first steps toward furnishing a comprehen sive and united system of internal water routes for the whole country, it will com mand the respect and approval of all whose interests do not lead thrm to oppose the im provement of the methods of inland trans portation, A DIVIDED RESPONSIBILITY. Two illustrations of the tendency of ex treme legislation have recently attained prominence in newspaper discussion. One is the protest of the railway employes of Minnesota against the Carrier bill, pending in that State. The objection to it by the employes of the Minnesota railways is frankly stated to be that it puts the control of the revenues from which their wages must come in the arbitrary control of three politicians who know nothing about the business, and that a similar course in Iowa has cnt down thenumberof employes twenty per cent. The other example is the Elder bill in Kansas, which likewise places the fixing of rates in the hands of a railroad commission; requires the railroads to pub lish itemized accounts of their expenses and receipts in every county through which they run;makes it a crime for railroad employes to work over sixteen hours: authorizss the commission to fix the salaries of all railroad employes, determine the number cf trains that shall be run, reduce rates whenever they are too high, and, it is asserted al though this looks like an invention of the enemy distribute any surplus over ex penses among the various counties through which a railroad runs, while the stock holders are to be assessed to make up any deficit necessary to keep the roads in good order. "Without going into the details of these measures, it may be admitted that they are remarkable examples of extreme and op pressive railroad legislation, produced by the conviction of the "Western people that railroad combinations have taken the greater share of their earnings. But it is not just to charge the whole responsibility for such measures to the Granger element. If the railroad employes of Minnesota who are protesting against the commission plan of regulation, had taken the trouble to study the history of raUroad regulation they would have discovered that the one scheme which has received the widest corporate en dorsement is that by governmental bodies, generally called commissions. Throughout the whole of the discussion that preceded the passare of the inter-State commerce law, the railroad interest was unanimous in insisting that if any regulation at all was attempted it should be placed in the hands cf a commission. There was a similar unan imity in crying down Judge Reagan's plan of laying down certain statutory principles to govern the railroads and leaving their enforcement to the courts, as crude and im proper. No doubt this course of the railroad in terest was based on a belief thct the corpora tions could control the commissions, or at least reduce their power as a regulative force very nearly to nullity. That belief was partially justified by previous experiences with commissions. Bat now that they have found their miscalculation, they should have the frankness to recognize that those who foresaw that the commissions might be either a scourge or a cipher were in the right, and to assume their share of responsi bility for throwing all their influence in favor of the commission plan of regulation. Yet so far are they from recognizing the real bearing of the present conditions, that simultaneously with these protests against the radical action of the "Western railroad commissions, the general corporate claim is made that the railroads should be permitted to organize pools, with the provision against exorbitant rates that the charges fixed by the pools shall be subject to the regulation of a governmental commission. This proves that the. railroads, as much as the "Western people, are still unable to per ceive that the one way to establish just charges is to leave them subject to the action of the great rule that the just rate is what people are willing to perform the service for under free competition. If one railroad is willing to carry freight at loss, that is the just rate, but no other railroads are com pelled to follow its example. "When the charge for railroad services is fixed by free competition as unerringly as the price of a bushel of wheat or a pair of shoes, the rail roads will have no more difficulty in con vincing the people that legislative reduc tions of rates are unnecessary and foolish than the shoe merchant or the farmer now have with regard to their wares. The discovery that ex-Senator Blair once referred to Chinatown in San Francisco as "a seething; roaring, blood-curdling curse," is taken by several opposition organs to indicate that ho is unfit to serve as Minister to Fekin. "We can say with confidence that if Brother Blair had ever referred to this matter in the more contemptuous vernacular of his own State, as '"a cuss." it would have made no dif ference at Pekin. The Brother of the Moon and tho Son of Heaven will permit him to draw his salary without the slightest objection. The announcement at the opening of the Spanish Cortes, that the existing commercial treaties between Spain and foreign nations will be modified so as to place customs rela tions on fresh bases, looks as if our Spanish friends have heard of the reciprocity pro visions ot our tariff laws, and are walking Span ish accordingly. The cold-wave flag flying yesterday morning materialized in tho afternoon predic tions to "fair and slightly warmer." That has been tho unfortunate termination of more than one cold wave recently. The reflection is widely made by numer ous correspondents in connection with the bac carat scandal that "a very black shadow." in the language of one correspondent, "is thrown across the hospitality of tbo prsent day when a hostess joins with a party to spy upon her cue6t." A very black shadow is thrown all around; but the declaration that the guest cannot enjoy himself when it is probable that he will be detected if he cheats is rattler more severe on the guest than on the hostess. On'X hundred and thirty-five thousand names hare been signed to a monster petition which will he presented to the Czar in behalf of the Siberian exiles and persecuted Hebrews. The petition will hardly be as effective as would a refusal of financial favors from the great banking house of Rothschild. The investigation of the Mammoth Mine disaster reaches tho conclusion that it was not caused by gross negligence, but simply by neg ligence enough to result in the death of some scores of people. A rather queer state of affairs in New York is indicated by a paragraph goincthe rounds that Mr. Jay Gould, by the payment of a single fine of 100 secured exemption from jury duty. The actual case is rather better than that, as the courts are assessing a fresh line of 5100 for every non-appearance on Mr. Gould's part. But they have not yet risen to the height of daring necessary to collect all these hundred dollar lines from a hundred millionaire. The practical politics of Mr, James J. Belden, the millionaire Congressman from New York, have displayed their most effective triumphs in the distribution of unlimited liquor on the floor of the House. Belden is evidently determined to dispute Bill Brown's triumphs. The story about the discovery at Davis Island dam of a jellow snake with horns on its tail is incomplete, in that it does not specify the peculiar brand of corn juice used in the neighborhood. The trouble which that New York club composed exclusively of men who are worth at least a million dollars each is taking to find a nan.e, is explained by a cotempurary to exist because "tne millionaires' club sounds osten tatious and vulgar." It is a sign of grace that the members of the club are desirous of having a name that sounds less ostentatious and less vulgar than the principle on which tne club is organized. Delaware is all torn up. Over ?500, 000 of the State's securities are missing, and the peach crop has only been killed once this win ter. If this thing keeps up the small State 'will experience one of those seasons in which it cannot lay up a cent. Betting at French races will be pro hibited by law after next Sunday. Hereafter if the gay Frenchmen wish to lose their money, they must drop it in the brace games of their Bourse. A somewat vernal New York cotem porary, not to fall into a slangy characteriza tion of at, declares, in a decisiou of the pro posed compulsory voting act, that "there is no power on earth that can constitutionally com pel a man to serve in the militia if he chooses not to do so." This instructor of public opinion should read the provisions of the Constitution of the United .States with regard to the militia. The fact that Emperor William has in structed his Minister at Paris to thank the French Government for the courtesy extended to his mother there, is an indication that Ger man diplomacy is taking its revenge by sar casm. It is to be hoped that the reported settle ment of the Monongahela mining strike may prove true. It is never too lato to make a bad thing like a strike better by settling it up. Mrs. French-Sheldon, who has set out with a due flourish of trumpets to Central Africa, declares she is not going to carry out missionary or philanthropical ideas, or has any definite purpose of exploration. But fatal omission she has not given any pledge that when she returns she will not go upon the stage or take to lecturing. SNAP SHOTS IN SEASON, Porter claims to have hit the center of population by striking a balance. Civilized humanity is often impelled to rebellion through fear, but it is safe to assume that envy has caused more trouble in this harnm-scarum old world. In the struggles that have swept society the fears of the people were playedupon by the envious the foxy ones who when they saw rule beyond their reach grasped the rod of rnin and mercilessly flayed their fello.ts. The mangy fists will bark and snap at the glos-y-coated. gold-collared canine aristo crat, not because they regard him as a monstrosity, but Decause they envy his sleek coat and tat sides. .Naturalists aver that the white crow's feathers are plucked out by us black fellows, and the poor bird flayed alive, not because they fear it, bnt because they are jealous of the striking plumage they cannot possess. So envy claims its victims among the brutes as well as among the bumans. The agitators who wrap themselves in Charity's well worn and much abused mantle and Deck at the tinseled plumage of their more fortu nate fellows flaunt the banner of fear but hurl the javelin of envy. The men and the women, too, who seo Wrong In everything and everyone above the commonplace who long to soar, but who from some mysterious causo beyond the ken of the human mind cannot lift themselves or bo lifted sound the tocsin of fear by day and bv night, merely to gratify envy's Insatiable appetite, to feed the scorch ing fires of jealousy. They envy the worthy rich, and try to teach others to fear them; they envy their neighbors, and endeavor to induce others to shun them; they envy your success, and try to belittle it; they envy law and order, and try to produce discord; they envy the laughers, and try to got others to mock them; they envy the joyous, and strive to turn their joy to sorrow. But all the while tho string they play upon is fear, and in the dolcfnl sounds produced they hope to sooth envy and appease the monster with the green eyes, cloven hoofs and forked tongue, called Jealousy. "We kick about a hair in the butter, but devoar the hare in the stew. When women are treated like men breach of promise suits will be decided on evidence instead of sympathy. Ix the Southern iron region Colonels go into the nut making business. A stae coach The prompter. ZOLA has explored a new sewer in Paris, and is putting his discoveries into a new novel. The mother hen hatches trouble, as her anxiety begins with the advent of the brood. PEKHAPs'Jack the Bipper is concealed in Hyde Park. This is a pointer for the Lon don police. The mother tongue is frequently unin telligible to every one else except the baby and herself. According to Comstock two persons wero driven insane by gambling in New York last year. Anthony must have been subsidized to suppress the Wall street statistics. WnES the Senate adjourned the august member) should have struck up that good old song, "Pull forthe Shore-ham." Congress closed with the Doxology. It should have been revised to run: Praise those who framed the Nation's laws, Praise them for stopping statesmen's Jaws; Praise them because they set the date When wind-bags cease to legislate. Salt Lake is to have natural gas. Now tho Mormons will have to flee. Put meters in their homes and the polygamous problem will be solved. Rich men who ignore bills make work for the juries. There seems to be a blue outlook for blue law legislation at Harrisburg. Harrison signed the copyright bill with a pen made from the quill of an eagle. He should have signed several of the others with a goose quill pen. The death rate rises with a falling barometer. Jack Frost is not a respecter of persons, either. Take care of j ourself. More treasure has been sunk in the waters of the speculative sea than in the waters of the ocean. Ingalls has an excuse for quitting Kan sas if he wants one. Smallpox has broken out within her borders. One rich man's autograph on a check worth a dozen in a book. is Some men are luckier than others, and plnckier, too. Now the business women want a "busi ness dress." If they go into the stage business thoy will get exactly what they want. Cemetery lots are the only things moving In the real estate line In Philadelphia. If the fruit crop had been a lailure in the Garden of Eden when the serpent hypno tized Eve, life would not have been a failure to so many human beings. Delaware and the United States now suffering from a looted treasury. are The spring poems have all been pigeon holed. People 'who living. run crematories urn their The ice plant people have to hustle now to keep their machines from freezing. Belief societies are usually the ones who cry out for relief. Even in life's long train some of us must take the upper berths and ride second class. Willie Winkle. PROMINENT PERSONS. Miss Emma Steiner, a Southerner by birth, is said to be the only woman operatic con ductor in Ameiica. Miss Braddon, the novelist, is careless about the style and material of her garments, but her diamonds are dazzling. Mrs. "W. K. "Vanderbilt always wears a "common sense" shoe, and when she walks she places her foot -quarely on the ground. Admiral Brown, of the United States cruiser Charleston, is alleged to have kissed al the pretty giris in Honolulu during a recent visit there. Joel Chandler Harris ("Uncle Remus"), now 60 years of age, is a great pedes trian and is said to have walked 86 miles in one day recently. Samuel P. Jones, the Georgia evangel ist, declared in a letter to a Texas friend that his health has failed and he is on the verge of physical collapse. Joseph Pulitzer, of the New York World, has much improved in health, and he expects to resume his personal management of the paper at no distant day. Farragut and Porter were the only two American naval officers to hold tho rank and title of admiral. The rank will probably not be revived until we have another war. Baron von Soden will, according to Berlin papers, be appointed Governor of East Alrica, aud Dr. Peters, the well-known trav eler, will be inaao Lieutenant Governor. General Butler says there is lots of fun in bis coming memoirs. Can it be possible that the General contemplates giving tho coun try his experience as Mr. Dana's Presidental candidate? Prof, Theodore N. Dwight, who has recently retired Irom the head of the Columbia Law School, had been with the college since 1858, and is probably the most noted teacher of law in tho country. Vasili Verestchagin, the celebrated Russian painter, whose pictures are to be sold at the American Art Association after tho Brayton Ives sale, Is coming to America to su pervise the exhibition which will be given pre liminary to the sale. Eben D. Jordan, the famous Boston drygoods merchant, went to Boston from Maine a fatherless boy ot It and worked on a suburban farm at H a month and thought he bad struck affluence when he secured a place in a mercantile house three years later at (275 a year. William Morris, the noted poet is making preparations to be his own printer. One of his forthcoming volumes will bo issued from a nress which lie has es.abllshed near his Hammersmith residence. There are judical tlons that Morris has tired ot his socialistic ctusado and that he will soon return to poetry, for the pursuit of which he Is much better fitted, MELANGE OF THE MAIL. Mild Winters Not Particularly Unhealthy A Political Coup d'Etat Kipling an Ego tistThe Unmistakable Turk and His Wives Making Gum Shoes. Many notions held by the public generally concerning cold weather and its effects on the health are erroneous, according to a writer in Chambers' Journal. In discussing the cold weather of past years he says: One result of this unusual cold was an in crease of mortality in January sufficient, along with the whole tendency ot recent statistics, to dissipate tho old idea that a mild winter Is par ticularly unhealthy. In London, the rate of mortality lor the week ending with Jannary 19, 1861, bad risen to 1,923, or 585 more than the es timated average for the same week, and about double the number of deaths for a week in autumn. This increased mortality was attrib uted to the effects of the cold, especially on the respiratory orcans: and pulmonary com plaints, exclusive of phthisis, carried off in one woek 701 persons, whereas the corrected aver age was only 301 for the corresponding week in ordinary years. Deaths from bronchitis were nearly three times the estimated number for tne corresponding; period of the year. Apo plexy increased greatly during the cold weeks; paralysis increased in a still greater proportion, and heart diseases, according to the official rec ord published at the time, were fatal in 119 cases, while the usual average was only 53 for the same period. In the city the mortalitv rose within seven of the number recorded in IMS, during a visitation of the cholera. Among hill sheep there was great destruction in the spring following: that remarkable winter. The total loss to flock masters in Ettrick Forest alone was estimated at 10,000. About one-tltth of the old sheep in that locality perished, aud three-fourths of the Iambs, besides a deterioration in the constitu tion of those left alive. Among bill shepherds it is still remembered as "the bad year." A Political Coup D'Etat. According to the St. Louis JPost-Dispalch, Mr. Patrick Brennan, of the Eighth ward, that city. Is a very astute politician. There are over 150 Italian voters in his ward, and Mr. Brennan naturally desired their suffrages. To gain this end be has put uut a card, which is said to be making him many votes. Here it is: : PA1KIUK BREI.NAN, j : caxdidato dehocratico, : : : I DELL' 8VO WARD : : per la : CAMEKA DEI DELEGATE : : Dletro ApprovazlonedelVotoFrimarlo : : Deinocratlco. j S-hl Legga C'Altro Lato. It would not have been well to say within the lines of tho Eighth ward that Delegate Bren naa's lust for power would lead him into any inconsistency. To-day many of his best friends scan this card and regretfully admit that they "didn't tmnk he'd do that." dome hostile wag has circulated the story that a suppressed first edition of the candi date's tickets were headed: PATRIZZIO BRENNANO. Thi3 is not true. It is a vicious invention of the enemy. Patrick Brennau is "as proud of that patronymic as any man might be of his Peternymic or his Johnonymic." Tho wags of the ward are having great fun over his bid for the Italian vote, but while they l.ugh Paddy Brennan enjojs the confidence of the house holders of the ward, who are content to let him look after their interests at the City Hall. His goodnature and his cards make friends for him in all languages. Egotistical Kipling. Mountjoy Jephson, Stanley's famous and faithful lieutenant does not seem to have a very high opinion of his popularly-supposed-to-be-talented countryman. Rudyard Kipling, Esq. In an interview with a Cincinnati Times-Star reporter the African explorer expressed him self thus: "I have been reading Mr. Rudyard Kipling's book on America, where he puts such emphasis upon the spittoons. Such books are very superficial and nauseating. Tbey can do no harm but thoy are not pleasant, you know. Why, with just as much reason might some American be in London and hear about Jack the Ripper crimes and then write a book and say that we're all Jack the Rippers over there. Well, of course we are not, but these things are not pleasant. No man can rush through the country on a railroad train, and then write a decent book on America and Its people and custom. O, I recall a little experience with Mr. Kipling. It might be interesting. It was at a little tea, and Mr. Kipling as usual was monopolizing the conversation, and it was T this aud !' that, all U I III I' Well, finally he said to the party sitting beside him. but loud enough for alt us to hear, as usual. 'Madam, I was recently asked a most extraordinary ques tion by a lady, and I thought it was a very pe culiar quistion to ask me, hut, she said: "Mr, Kipling, why are you such a prig ?" ' Well, as you can well imagine, there was a dead si lence, for every one was thinking the same thing. Then one dropped his napkin or a spoon, or spilled some wine so as to make a commotion, for no one really knew what to say." Turks Take Three Wives. "The Turk is not the man of many wives he is commonly believed to be It is an exception rather than tho rule for the men of Turkey to have more than one wife. The lower classes never have more than one. It is only the wealthy Pashas who have two or three wives, the latter number according to the Koran be ing legally allowed to every Mussulman," said Carlos Rivero, a Spaniard, now at the Palmer House, to a writer on the Chicago Tribune. "I have lived several years at Constantinople." continued the traveler, who speaks excellent English, "and have been as close an observer of Turkish harem life as it was possible far an outsider to be. The number of wives legally allotted to every Mussulman is exclusive of any number of slaves and concubines. Slaves and concubines are not found in the homes of the lower classes. Hie middle classes keep slaves, but the heads of these houses rarely have concubines. "Bnt when I say that polygamy Is an excep tion I do not mean that there are not numerous harems in the Empire, for there are. The Turk, however, who Is at the head of the barem does not have the royal time and many privi leges one is led to suppose. He pays the bills, though. He calls on bis wives when it is con venient for them to receive him. No acquaint ance, however slight, must he have with others than those of his own harem. Sometimes be cannot enter his own bouse. When a lady calls on no ot his wives she leaves her slippers outside the harem door. Should the husband observe them ho knows ladies are visiting, and therefore he must take a stroll around ihe block, smoke a clgaretle, or do something else until the fair caller has departed. "If in a public square or a bazaar he should happen to see somo of his own women he is not permitted to recognize them, even if they are squandering bis money on something that would be of no uso to anyone. He may see one of his wives paying fabulous prices fur silks and jewels and know the bills will be sent to him, but he must not object in public What be says or does at some subsequent time I know not of, but there is no law 1 know of that prevents him from blacking her eyes or pulling her hair when he gets her in her apartments at the harem." Making Rubber Shoes. A reporter on the Denver, CoL, Daily News, troubled with the professional desire for in formation, asked a drummer for an Eastern rubber house bow gum shoes were made. The drummer answerod in Yankee fashion by ask MB a question, "How do you think?" "By melting the rubber and running It Into moulds," was suggested. "This Is just what 99 out of 100 suppose," he said. "The manufacture of rubber shoes is not very ranch different from the manufacture of leather ones. They are made on lasts just tho same, but Instead ot beine sewed they aro cemented. We get most of tho raw material from South America. It is about the color of molasses and is of a sponey nature. First it goes through a crushing or rolling process and comes out in rough sheets and looks very much like a cow's hide. Then It is taken into a com pounding room whero it is mixed with a com pound and vulcanized. After that it is cut up into small pieces, according to the parts of shoes whioh we wish to get, and is afterward fitted unto lasjs by the workmen in the same manner that leather is. How much pure rub ber is contained In the mannfactured article? About 70 per cent. Tho best Para gum costs 95 cents a pound, so you see rubber bo ts and shoes canuot be made for notbinc. In the smallest rubber shoe mado there are about four ounces of pure rubber, and from that to probably four pounds in a pair of rubber Knots." "What do you do with the old rubbers that are bought up?" asked the scribe. "Tbey are ground up, lining and all, into what we call rag carpet, and it Is used for in soles. The work is nearly all done by hanil and in the factories are cruploted yonugchildren and from that up to men .11 d women. A boot maker ge s 20 cents a pair for making them aud a irood man can turn out from 10 to 12 pairs a day There are between 15 and 20 rubber boot andshoe factories in tho country with a total capacitv ot aboutl50,000palrsof boots and shoes a day 'There are four factories having a ca pacitv ot over 25.000 pairs each and one which It is a mystery Asleep in Westminster Abbey. The New York ijecorttertakes a little fling at Boston in perpetuating tho following: "An amusing story is told of a Boston girl which shows that tired human nature will as sert itself sometimes despite the demands of fashion or culture. This particular yonng lady was a great traveler. She had been over the greater portion of Europe and the East, and had always occupied her time to the best ad vantage. After her return from ono ol these extensive jaunts sherwas talking of tho trip to her friends when one of them asked her what she enjoyed most among her experiences iu the realms of art, science and architecture. To the'questioner's astonishment she replied that she had derived the most real pleasure and comfort from a short nap takon while in the chapel of Henry VIII. In explanation the girl said that when she was wandarlmr through Westminster Abbey she was so broken down and exhausted that she felt as if she could never get rested again, and on reaching the chapel she seated herself iu one of tho stalls and went to sleep." EXPLODING PR0VER3S. Two Abont Death Shown to Be False In Every Particular. Chicago Tribune. They had been discussing the death ot a prominent member of the bar and the lawyer icmarked with a sigh: "Well, 'Death loves a shining mark.' " "Nonsense," retorted the doctor. "There is about as much truth in that sayingas in 'Death is no respecter of persons.' "Study your history and you'll find that if Death loves a shining mark he is one of the worst marksmen in the world. Look up statis tics and you will And that he gives the rich every favor. "There's Gladstone, Bismarck and Blaine. What a trio to shoot at if he had any confidence in his marksmanship. All three have been shining marks for years, and he has never even winged tbem. And what's the matter with Von Moltke. Pope Leo and Queen Victoria? They're all old. but Death has hardlv touched them. And Hannibal Hamlinl As" hale and hearty as a man of his years can be. If you stop and think a moment joucanadd a score of names to those I have given. "Ihen go into history. How about William II. of Germany? And George Washington? And Dr. Johnson? And Ben Franklin? And Darwm? True. Death cot them in the end. as he gets thenrall. but if he loves a shining mark he must have wasted an awful lot of ammuni tion. He must have missed Bancroft a number of times. "Tbo sayinc is an ab3urd one evervwavvon look at it. The shining marks have generally lived long, because the average mortal has to live long to become a shining mark. Fully nine-tenths of the shining marks have lived to a good old age and Death never hit the major ity of them until they wero ready to drop from feebleness. "Of course he occasionally hits a shining mark, but he will generally find that be had his man wounded before he became such a shining mark. The lato Emperor Frederick of Ger many was hit before he becamo Emperor. "And the other, 'Death is nojrespecter of per sons.' Just look it up. Measles are ten times as fatal among the poor as among the neb. ty phoid fever twice as fatal, scarlet fever three times, pneumonia twice, and so on to the end of the list. Convulsions are nearly 13 times as fatal to the babies of the poor. "By the way, how old was your friend?" "About 78. 1 think." PLENTY OF GAME THERE Queer Edibles Offered Two Hungry Sports men In Virginia. Texas sittings. Jordan L. Mott, President of the Harlem Democratic Club, and ex-Congressman Ed Ein stein, were recently on a hunting trip in Vir ginia. What particular branch of hunting they were chiefly engaged In we do not know, but what we do know is that one day in the old town of Roanoke they were huntirg something good to eat. They entered the restaurant and asked the sable attendant what he bad that was good to eat. "Oh, everything, boss. Anything you want to order." "Got any oysters?" asked Mr. Mott. "No oysters, sah. Oysters jis' out. Every thing else, though, in 'bundance." "How aboutyour fish?" "Jis out of fish. Got 'bout everything else." "Well, some game would suit us," said Presi dent Mott. "What game have you got?" "Any game you want, sab. Billiards in a back room, pool, ten pins in do cellar, and a Very lively game of poker In de third story, front. More game then anything else, sab," The New York party concluded not to in dnlge In any game and sought another restau rant to satisfy their hunger. A BEAUTIFUL LIAE. The Slightly Mixed Story Told by a Hand some Chinese Girl. St. Louis tilobe-Dcmocrat.? The arrival of the China steamer Gaelic re cently brought a handsome Chinese girl, ap parently not much over 19 years old. She bad no papers and was released on the usual writ of habeas corpus, along with a score of others. The writ was returned a few days ago, and with it the fair Fo Sing. She claimed to be married and said that her husband lived in San Francisco. Between herself and an assistant attorney for the prosecution the following con versation ensued through an interpretator: "How old may you be?" commenced the at torney. "Nineteen years," was the prompt answer. "Are you married?" "Yes, sir." "Where were you married?" "In China, five years." "Have you ever seen your husband?" "No, sir. He has always been In San Fran cisco." "Well, well! And Is if a custom in China to marrv a man without seeing him?" "Yes, sir." "Yon have never seen vour hus band then?" "No. sir." "Would it be too mueb to ask you to tell the Court how many children yon have?" "Two." This answer fairly paralyzed the Court and the almond eyed damsel was ordered to return to her children. Trusts Not Trnsted. Chlcaco limes. Tho malleable iron people declare that their "combine" is not a trust. The shyness of the monopolists of that little word indicates a dis trustfulness of the reception which their enter prise will be given by tho people. DEATHS OP A DAY. Mrs. Eleanor.McGlnnls. Mrs. Eleanor McGinnis died at Pitts bur. February 15, 1811, in the 83d year of her age, loved and honored by all who were privileged to know her throughout her long and useful life, bhe was a daushter of William and Mary Ramsey, of Allegheny county, I'a. She was born on June 5, 1SCS, at bit Mile, Kerry, on the Monongahela river, near l'litsburg. In 182S, belnc then about tS years of age. she married John MrGlnnls, and resided in Pittsburg, where her husband was en gaged in business, a number or years. Later they removed to a farm, whereon a part of the flourish ing town o! Uraddoct wassuDsequentlv built. The place was long and popularly known as "Brail dock's Held." in commemoration orthe battle in wnlch the English General Hradilock was cleleat ed (and mortally wounded) by the Frencn and Indians from Fort Dnquesne. John McGinnis removed from llraddock's Field to a large trnct of land at Turtle Creek, about I7mlleseastof Pitts burg, which he purchased and improved as a homestead, and lor half a century It was the home of the family, lids homestead tract or land was celebrated as a camp ground of colonial military rorces during the war between contending powers for the sovereignty or the then Western frontier. Marvelous changes have been produced in this reglou during the lifetime of the deceased. .John McGinnis died about 17yeirs since. Ills widow survived him until February 15. 1D1. fehe cime or a sturdy ancestry, or vigorous constitution and great intellectual ability, her lire :ird charac ter w ere lights and lindmarks or that early people who made, improved and elevated Pennsylvania homes and families and whose descendants haic greatly aided In building un gre it commonwealths throughout the West. With all her strength or mind and character, her womanly graces and tenderness or mind and heart made her a noted and loved wire and mother and a kind and hon ored; nelgnnor. one saoiy missea among a wide circled friends, and the vacant chair In her lite home reminds all or us of the tender hands aud loving heart now6tllled in death, .bno was a member ortl.e Presbytcriau Church.and her body was burled in the "Old Mone Church" Cemetery. Sare bevond the troub'ed stream. Her tired heart's strife o'er, Our ;ingi I mother, giorlned. Will grow old nevermore. Mother Snperloress Mary Agnes Magoveney. GALVESTON, March 5. Mother Supe rioress Mary Agnes Magevener, of the Sacred Heart Convent, or this city, died at 11 o'clock last night, bhe had been Superioress or the convent for eight years, and lonnerly occupied a similar position at Columbus, O. Hhe was so years orage, and originally came from Memphis. Mrs. W. IL Stoddard. Northampton, Mass., March G. Mrs. W. II Stoddird, formerly principal of the Mt. llolyote College, dltd yesterday, aged 70. bhc was the wile ol the noted missionary to Turkey, Rev. Soldmon T. btoddard. Jndge Robert C. Pitman. Boston, March S. Judge Robert C Pit man, of the Massachusetts Supremo Court, died this morning at Newton, has a capacity of 40,000 pairs, where they all go to. LAB0RINGF0R CHARITY. Opening of the Allegheny Diiy Nnrsery Bazaar Old City Hall Transformed Into a ISoyer of Heauty Closing Entertain ment of a Pleasant Series. Old City Mall looketl gay yesterday, with pro fuse decorations of flowers and (estoonings. The ladies interested in the First Allegheny Day Nursery were in full charge, and served dinner and suppor to au. army of friendsand admirers of their work. The bare walls of tho big hall were hidden behind pretty booths and stands, where tastefully attired ladies dealt out flowers and sweets to the many patrons of the bazaar. The doors were thrown open at 1130 o'clock, and within two hours over SOO people were served with dinner. The crowd was almost too great for the ladles to care for, but there was good management aaid tho din ner hour passed off without a discord. An at tractive supner in tho evening drew an equally good attendance. A shortage of gas somewhat interfered with the preparation of viands yesterday and dinner to-dav maybe ser7ed cold on that account. The bazaarwill close with supper this eveninc. If the attendance to-day should prove as satisfactory as yesterday the ladies will donutlcss realize a handsome sum with which to increase the facilities ot the Day Nursery. In the center of the hall 19 tables were pre sided over by the following ladles: Mrs. bamucl Watson. Mrs Dr. Sturgeon, Mrs. Harry Campbell, Mrs. Oliver Anderson, Mrs. Thouia Marrow. Airs It. J Shaw. Mrs. C. S. Rose, Mrs. J. It McKee. Mrs. James s. 31arshall. Mrs. J. U. Hslett. Sirs. S. Hall. Mrs. W. II. Uutellus. Jlrs. W. W. Annstong. Mrs. W. U. Rhnailct. Mrs. A. -McAtcer. Mrs. J. D. Uhantlcr, Mrs. William 1. II ley, Mn. James UotiI and Mrs. b. Aul. 'Jhey wereasUted by Jlrs. J. K.Turner, Mr3. Dr. Beatty, Mrs. J. s. Dunscalh, Mrs. a. W. Hlgler, Mrs. M. A. lavlor. Mrs. J. S. Forter.MiM Sarah Anrterou, Miss Lizzie Anderson, MlsS barah .Mehafty, Miss Lizzie Mllllgiii, Mrs. Ft II. Uoyil, Mrs. M. 'libby, Mrs. C. Hamina, Mrs. James McKee. Miss Jcaue Wllesple. Mrs. Dr. Miller, Mr. lio'Hjrt McCain, Mrs. J. iloag. Miss M. McEIvalne, Mrs. J. H. Ir win, Mr. G. W. Cowan. Mrs. R. S. Robb. Mrs. Emma Gracy. Miss Doille Aiken, Miss s C'askey. Mrs. Hauier. .Mrs. Henry, Mrs. Mary Dancin, Mrs. Small, Mls Tnggart, -Miss Brown, 3Ir. Dr. Lang. Miss line Lewis, -Ml.-s Jennie Dnnlevy. Mrs. E. W. Hagan, Miss Minnie Leonard, Miss blbl Leonard. Miss Mary Webb, Mrs. lirown. Mrs. Kenuely. Mrs. Itobb, Mrs. Chestnut. Mrs. Williams. Mrs. James Allien, Mrs. W. twine, Mrs. William Follansbee. Miss Jennie Bracken. Mrs. Dr. Easton. Mrs. Brown. Miss Mevay, Miss Jennie Brown, .Mrs. K. Mawhlnney. Mrs. L. C Johnston, Mrs. J. Sturgeon, Miss Grace Lcggate. -Mrs. J. S. Colviii. Miss Lizzie Lemon. Mrs. B. Glenn, MIS3 Fanuio Colvlu. 3Ilsses Mary Beatty, -Mary Hemming, Lorena Cae. Lillian Swift. Emily Moffatt, Mrs. C. IS. Harman. -Mrs. S. W. McKee, Mrs. L. IS. Jones, Mrs. Elvira Franois. Mrs. Cornelia Ewart. M las Maud Krens. Miss Cora Livingston. Miss -Moore, Mrs. Barker, Mrs. Ram sey, Mrs. Holden and Mrs. McCican. Those in charge of the various booths are as follows: Fruits and Flowers-Mrs. Judge Fetterman, Mrs. D. C. Martin. Miss Agnes Sterling. Miss Elsie Rankin, Miss Margaret Martin. Miss Etta Glimorc. Miss cttie Donaldson, Miss Annie bmlth. Miss Linille tettermau, Mrs. Harrah.Mrs. Alex Patterson. Miss Julia Lappe. Miss Vclina Smith and Mist Lllllc Copeland. Ice Cream-Mrs. M. IJ. llaslett, Mrs. John Gib son, Mrs. HI e. Miss Etta Armstrong. Miss -May Anderson, Miss Bella Fisher. Miss Lizzie Fisher, -Miss Jessie McDonald. Mrs. Ed Means. Miss Alice Frisbcc. Miss Annie lilbcr. Miss Gertrude Hemp hill, Miss Edle Hill. Miss Belle Love, Miss Nellie McAinbly and Miss Agnes Orr. Candr Jlrs. 4. W. Allison. Miss Mary Trlmball, Miss Josle Mcllenry, Miss Carrie Illce. Miss Ida Lyons. Miss Amelia Hill, Mi-s Gertrude Shuman. Miss Vcrdlc UasletU Miss badie West, Miss NUlle Mevav and Miss Annie White. Variety Mrs. Dr. John Hamilton, Mrs. S. McNaughter, Mrs. Barr, Mrs. Anthony Ewer, Miss Elizabeth Hamiltou. Mrs. J. K. McKee, Miss Margiret McKrlde. Mrs. James E. Duncan, Miss UcmmcII and MI-s Dazle 'lhompson. Coffee aud Chocolate-Mr.. D. Multz. Miss Mar garet bloan. Miss Anna Hutchinson, Miss Minnie 11-ix and ECle Young. Common bense Mrs John T. Morton, Mrs. James RIchey. Mrs. Dr. bproul, Sr.. Mrs. Algeo, Mrs. Thomas Marshall. Jr.. Mrs. Esheiman, Mrs. Jane Brown. Jlrs. J imes Wilson. Mrs. John D. arson, Jlrs. James JIc teer, Mrs. II. W. JlcKee, Jlrs. J. York. Jlrs. John Frazlcr. Mrs. T. L. Rogers, Jlrs. bawhitl. Jlrs. J. C. JlcKee, Jllss Jennie 'turner. JlUs Ella Thompson. Jllss Stewart. Jllss Jlary Boyle and Jllss Margaret Mc Millan. The flower girls were Misses Alice Neason. Annie W bailey, Nettie McAteer. Bessie Hus sar, Florence Well. Valie Fetterman. Eda Arthur and Ella JlcKee. Miss Agnes P. Orr presided over the phonograph. EHTEBTA1KMEHT AHD BAZAAE. Benefit for the foreign Missionary Society of Emory 31. K. Church. The "Queen of Fame," in four acts and five tableaux, was given under the auspices of the Young Ladies' Foreign Missionary Society of Emory M. E. Church, last night, at the Palace Kink, East End. Mrs. Charles W. Woolslair supervised the preparation for tho affair, which was given for the benefit of the society. A goouT-sized audience was present. After the performance a bazaar was given. The tables were presided over as follows: Flower Table Clara Squires: aids. Jllsses Jeff ries, U llson, llobson, Butler, Reabard, Ayers and Klncald. Patch Table Adle JlcKee: aids. Jllsses Davles, Wallace, Henderson, Aull. Able. Keahard. Candy Table-Emma Squires: aids. Jllsses Slmonds, Henderson, Thrumpson, Kutter, Waln wrightand Jlrs. t . W. JlcKee. Curiosity Table Jlaggle Holland: aids. Jllsses Bryson, Hughes, Rlneliart. Lytic and Cressen. Cake Table airs. Bulger, Jlrs. Drnmm and Miss Watson. Ice Cream lables Jllnnle Clelland. assisted by Jlrs. Blattenberger; aids, Mrs. Jlallor. Jllsses Walker,' Bohanan, Wilson. Leroy. Hobaugh, Jlltcheil. JlcKee, Sheaffer. bhrlmplln, Cot, Bax ter, .Martin, nines, belgner, Pearce, Aull, Hoy, Cowden, Watefleld. lopping. Collins, Ayers. Clelland, Fleming, Jlrs. Melxner and Jlrs. Jim Crawrord, Jllss L) dick. The entertainment will bo repeated this even ing. CLOSING THE SEASON. Last Entertainment ot the Railroad Branch or the T. M. C. A. The last of the winter's course of entertain ments by the Pennsylvania Railroad Depart ment of the Young Men's Christian Associa tion was given last night at the rooms on Twenty-eighth street. Tho programme was as fol lows: Piano duet, W. McDonald and J. Mc Carthy: recitation, Mr. William A. Wmton; vocal solo. Miss Clara Chester: banjo solo. Mr. Allred A. Farland; recitation. Miss Sadie Smithson: vocal selection, recitation. Miss Jen nie V. Scfibner; piano solo. Miss Katie Brani can; recitation, Mr. Fred C. Rommel: vocal solo. Jliss Chester: recitation, Mr. Winton; banjo solo, Mr, Farland; recitation, Jliss Scrib ner: piano duet. Miss Bessie and JIaster Harry In many features it was one of the best of tbe season's entertainments, and it was witnessed by a large audience. Reception at the Cycloramo. Colonel John B. Clark Circle No. 11, Ladles of the G. A. R.. last night gave a pink reception In the Cyclorama parlors, Irwin avenue and Beech street. Allegheny. The followincr ladles acted as chaperon': Jlesdames William T. Bradberry, Aloert F. Scott. James Stewart, Adam Moos, Lee M. Armor, lames Davis, G. B. Squares, Edward Hunt, Dr. Mcintosh, Charles F. Sheriff and J. G. Shreiner. Banqueted Their Friends. The ladies of tbe Young'Women's Christian Association, of the EastEnd, gave a banquet to their friends Wednesday evening, at their cozy hall on Collins avenue. M:ss Mary E. Davison presided. The society is doing a good work and reports are very favorable. After the ban quet tbe society was tendered a vote of thanks by the guests. Calling for Contributions. At a meeting of the Ladies' Relief Society of Allegheny at the Fourth U. P. Church, yester day, it was decided to issue a circular to tbe friends of the society calling for supplies and money for the poor people now suffering from cold and huntrer. Contributions can be sent to Mr. Bassett, of the Diamond weigh scales. Social Chatter. TnE Phi Kappa Pi Society, of the Central High School, will give an entertainment March 20 in the school cbapel. Quite a number of East End residents went East yesterday on the first excursion to Wash ington and Old Point Comfort. TnE Industriil School will hold its closing exercises at the Fourth Avenue Bapti3t Church on the afternoon of March 14. THE employes of Adams Express Company at East Liberty gave a reception and dance in the new Masonic Hall, Collins avenue, last mgbt. Mrs. M. Tctell and daughter. Miss alllly, whose Western trip was stopped by the sudden nines of the latter, will return home soon by a Southern route. Mrs. W. H- House, of Center avenue, gave a luncheon party to her friends yesterday in honor of Mrs, Biddle Arthurs and her sister. Miss Wolverton, of Sunbury. THE Allegheny County W. C. T. U. will hold its quarterly meeting at Braddock next Tues day. Day sessions will be held in tbe Preshy tenan Church.and in tho evening in the Metho. dist Cliurh. Rev. George Hodges last evening deliv ered bis lecture on the "Passion Play" to a large and deeply interested audience at the chapel of the East Liberty Presbyterian Church, for tbe benefit ot the Domestic Train ing School. CURI0DS CONDENSATIONS. A wealthy English woman is building a town and a railroad near Decatur, Ala. An Egyptologist claims that labor strikes occurred In Eeypt over 3,000 years ago. ' A bell stolen by Napoleon I. in Switzer land is now used in a Paterson, N. J., school bonse. A brand new graveyard has been pre sented to Jefferson City, Mo., by a charltablo woman. For the first time in 20 years the Repub licans have elected the Board ot Aldermen at Ru.hester. N. Y. A driver for a Chicago undertaking es tablishment recently took bis sweetheart driv ing on a little white hearse. The heirs of a wealthy Austrian who died recently have given S13.0CO to found a school of housekeeping for girls. The largest barn in the United States is about to be erected near Lexington. Ky. It will be 1.000 feet long and 100 feet wide, A Maine man has a theory that the North Pole can be reached by a land journey, and is about to attempt the journey on foot. Next to agriculture, mining and the ex traction of the metals from the ores,which may he rcgardeda3one,cnnstitnte3 tbe most import ant industry in the United States. In 18SS the value of these products was Jotrl.coO.KU A woman justice oi the peace at Chey enne complains that ber husband aud three sons, while willing to help her in ber official duties, will not do the washing, ironing, cook ing, scrubbing and other work about the bouse. An English begging letter asking foi a pair of cast-off trousers, closed pathetically with tbese words: "So send me, most honored sir. the trousers, and they win oe woven into the lanrel crown of Heaven." your good deeds in Tbe timber on our railroads amounted to 616,000,000 ties, or an average of 2,694 por mile of railroad, in use in this country in 1US0-, 310 ties per mile, or a total ot 00.000.000. were an nually required for renewals, and U.000,000 for new construction. One branch of the Kansas Legislature has passed a bill appropriating S3,du0 to estab lish an experimental station at the state Uni versity lo promote investigation into a schema of destroying chinch bugs by contagion with cholera infected insects. A resident o-'Middlefield, Conn., makes the strange boast that he has skinned more skunks this winter than any politician in the Nutmeg State. So far his record is 45 skins. He states that tbe only drawback to the busi ness is that he is compelled to live practically by himself. The officers of a steamship just arrived from Naples, Italy, report the fall of half a foot of snow in that city recently. The phenomenon is unprecedented in the history of Naples, and much suffering has ensued. The vessel visited a number of tropical cities and at allot them the weather is much colder than has been known for many years. The Sank ol England is the custodian of a large number of boxes deposited by custom ers for safety during the past COO yeirs. and in not a few instances forgo'ten. Some years ago tbe servants of tbe bank til-covered in its vaults a chest which, on being moved, literally fell to pieces. On examining the contents, a quantity of massive plate of the period ot Charles II. was discovered, along with a bundle of love letters indited during the period ot tbe Restoration. On the deaQ walls iu the cities in all parts of England one sees staring signs. legible enough, but unintelligible to the stranger. "F. 1. 23" or "F. P. o" they read, and the passer by who sees them forthe first time wonders why F. P. 13 23 at one place acd only 8 at another. F. P. stands for "fire plug." or hydrant, and tbe figures following the letters snow the distance in feet ot the hydrant from the letters. The lire plug is never more than 50 feet away from tbe sign. It is sank level with the sidewalk. An East Nashville, Tenn., negro, who sells poultry for a living, recently found him self without any stock in trade and minus tbe money to buy more. He had an old gray eagle, though, which he had received from his former master at the close of the war, and this ne de termined to kill and sell as a turkey, despite the fact that it was known to be about 40 years of age. He killed the bird of freedom, sold it for a turkey and was arrested bv the irate pur chaser, who had cooked and vainly tried to eat the national bird. Probably the most novel industry m Michigan is located near Homer. Afewyears ago a Michigander began to breod polecats. The first year he made a profit of 60 per cent, and for the third year be expects his dividend will reach 600 per cent. His establishment con- tains nearly 1,400 of tbe animals. Some of the older ones have been given names, and respond to bis call. This season he has slaughtered 102, which will bring bim about S12i He Is a very humane man, and when he thinks one of his pets ought to be skinned, he calls it into a box and administers chloroform. A curious instrument of writing exists in Dunkirk, Ind. It appears that two early lovers failed, for some reason unexplained, to marry, but married others. Lately a written agreement has been signed up, In absolute secrecy, providing for their f ntnre marriage to each other, in tbe event they survive their present companions. This contract further provides a liquidated damage of $5,000 upon lailure of contract, as provided. Tbey set forth in their contract that, owing to respect for children, etc., no divorce shall be asked for, but that they shall trust in providence to re move present unwelcome stayers. A strange story comes from Anisted, in the Elk River mining region. Miners have been at work for over two months driving an entry through a 10-foot vein of coal. When over 1,000 feet in tbe mountain they broke through into a "room" about 20 feet square. It had no visible signs of ever having been in communication with tbe outside world. On the floor lay tbe skeleton of a human beirg, tbe bones crumbling into dust on exposure to air or at the slightest touch, while on the walls were many rude outlines of skeletons aud what seemed to be inscriptions. It is a mystery which awaits tbe solntion of tbe learned. Every day the needle of tbe magnetic compass has been observed to sway first one way and then the other upon its pivot with no apparent cause, tbus varymc from the true meridian of a place. Scientists have for many years been trying to account for this. One of them has just published his theory of the cause ot tho disturbance. He ascribes it to elec tricity, assuming that the earth is whirling on its orbit between two magnetic fields, and that the varyingintensity of the current one way or the other produces the disturbance of tbe imi neticncedle. The two magnetic currents, he believes, arc streaming to us from tbe sun. ono being produced by the corona, the other coming directly wuh the sun's rays in straight lines. In other words, according to this theory, elec tricity is generated by the snn. It reaches us the same way as sunlight does, and the conclu sion is that it is akin to, if not identical with, sunlight itself. Tho revolving earth is the gi gantic dynamo which excites the electric cur rents and makes them manifest. rCNNY FELLOWS' FANCIES. Sharpsou Phlatz, what makes your nose so red? Phlatz It glows with pride because It never pokes itseirinto other people's business CMeago Tribune. Johnny Hojack Papa, Utah doesn't touch the ocean, does it? Hojack No. my son; Utah is an Inland Terri tory. .lnhnnv Holack That's what I thought, but I . heard some one say It was a marry ttme Territory, CMeago Jnter-Oeeaa. A German poet hiving loaned a small amount to a friend round it very dlflcnlt to collect the same, as his rrleud failed to recollect the Inci dent. Meeting his lrlend in need the poet said: "Ifyou don'lpav me that 17 prennlgs which you owe me I shall have to resort to extreme meas ures." . "And what may they be?" "I'll dedicate my next poem In your honor." The friend tnrned pate, and shelled out abrupt ly. Texas kiftina: Little boy (in the menagerie) Say, pa, Is that parrot thero tbe wife of the other parrot? Little boy's rather (sadlv) Yes, my son. Don't you sec how much larger her bill is? Clothier an I furnisher. Dolly Varden I'm allowed to sit up till S o'clock now. 'cause I'm 6 years old. Freddie Sparkle Hah. but I was allowed to lit up all night, last night, 'cause I had the cramps. imith dray's Monthly. O'Korke Have you got the change for f5? O'Brien-Sure. O'Korke Say, lend me p will you?-Zfcxrjr'i Bazar. WORSE THAN SLIPPERS. Be thankful, boysyou didn't live orold. in Greece, or anywhere here grown-up people sandals wore. And youngsters didn't trousers wear. , Puc.. , 'Do you think those shoes are worth! mending?" "Vell.jas, if I sole and heel tern, and put aewvj uppers on tent. The strings are still goot." Lii,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers