THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH, J SATUEDAt APRIL"'1 l'lj 1891 You will hve leisure to Read and Reflect THE DISPATCH will furnish all you need in this line to-morrow. THE DISPATCH will give you all the news of Europe in Gossipy Special Cablo Letters. THE DISPATCH will give you ajl the news of America in Special and Press Dispatches. THE DISPATCH will give you all the news at Home through a corps of wiile-awake re porters. THE DISPATCH1 will give you reading on every newspaper topic through a corps of well-known Contributors. THE DISPATCH will give you high class Fic tion, tales of Travel and Adventnre, pure Humor and Scientific Research. THE DISPATCH contains departments for the Nursery, the Boudoir and the Kitchen. THE DISPATCH will tell you where and how to secure shopping bargains, real estate in vestments and business opportunities. THE DISPATCH is the best medium for all who need help as well as all who seek honor able employment. THE DISPATCH circulates everywhere. It will enter nearly 70,000 homes to-morrow. THE DISPATCH to-morrow will give you a week's reading. If you want to keep abreast of the world's progress have it left at your home by a carrier or sent by mail. Jje Bigpaftfj. ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY S, 1846. Vol. 45, No. 63 -Entered at Pittsburg rostomce, Ji ovcmbcr J4. .US7. as second-class matter. Business Office Corner Smithfleld and Diamond Streets. News Rooms and Publishing House 75, 77 and 79 Diamond Street JuASTKltN AUVFKTISING OFFICE. ROOM H, TKIWUNE 1IPII.D1M3, NEW l'OKK. where complete files t THE DISFATCH can always be IcunJ. Foreign advertisers appreciate the con venience. Home advertisers and friends ot THE DIM'AICH. -nolle In .New York, are also made welcome. T17E DISPATCH is regularly on sale at JSrcntino's. S Union Sqitai e. AYio York, and 17 jac.de rOpeta, raits. Fiance, where anyone who has been disappointed at a hotel news stand can ob:am it. TERMS or THE DISPATCH. rOcTAC5F TEEE IV THE CXITED STATES. J1AII.T HirATCK. One Year I 00 Daily DisrATCH, Per Quarter 100 DAILY Dispatch, One .Month "" Daily Uispvtch. includinc Sunday, ljear. .30 00 Daily DisrATCH, including Sunday.Jm'ths ISO Daily Vimmtcii. Including bunday, lm'th 90 hFNDAT DlsrATcn, One Year !M "Ulekly lHsrATCH, One year 13 3he Daily Diei-atcii Is delivered by carriers at Scents jier week, or including Sunday edition, at StcenTs per week. PITTSBURG. SATURDAY". APR. 11, 189L Patrons of THE DISrATCH who havo changed their residence should farnbh this office with their new address, cither per sonally , hy postal card or through Carrier. By prompt compliance with this request In terruption in the delivery or Till: DIS rATCH will be avoided. ONE VICTORY rOK THE LAW. From our Chicago special on the recently defunct agricultural implement trust, the hitherto well-kept secret appears that the real consideration which scared off manu facturers zrom that gigantic combination was the law against trusts passed by the Pifty-fiist Congress. This is a testimony of more value to the worth of that enactment than was generallv supposed to be possible. It has been the frequently reported taunt of the opposition press that this anti trust law vras practically worthless. There was a good deal of foundation for that opin ion in the way in which great trusts kept up their operations and new ones were form ed.in sublime disregard of the law. But it seems that when the manufacturers of agricultural implements came to consider its provisions, as aflectim: their scheme to double the cost of machinery to farmers, they found it was altogether too hazardous. The report is that the counsel advised them that they could dodge the law by the corporate form of organization; but the controlling minds seem to have had more respect for the efficacv of the law than the lawyers, and de cided to steer clear of it It is equally pleasant to find evidence that there were leading manufacturers in clined to respect the law, and that the law itself is exercising a restraining influence on the vice of monopolistic combination. "With that profitable example before us, it is to be hoped that a vigorous application of the national statute will result in wiping out all such attempts to increase the cost of life and industry to the masses. IKON riCKING OF. From reports of the iron markets appear ing in another column, and the detailed statement of sales during the last week, a somewhat firmer tone is noted. For months past the tendency of prices has been slowly downward; and this change is an encourag ing -one. There is reason to hope that this may mark the turning point, from the tact that prices are pretty nearly on a hard pan basis, and that the great consuming inter ests are beginning to recognize it. If our future reports show a continuance of the im provement it will be a very satisfactory turn of affairs for Pittsburg. THE SUCCESS OF RECIPROCITY. The progress of the Spanish reciprocity treaty toward complete success was reported by cable in yesterday's DISPATCH. "When completed it will add another point to the success with which Secretary Blaine has pursued that policy, and fully vindicates the support the press and public gave to his ideas last year. The Brazilian treaty was the first fruit of that policy, and the establishment of better commercial relations with Cuba will be the second. Severjl smaller Governments in South America and the "West Indies have taken the first steps, while the British "West Indies are showing a decided tendency to move in that direction. The extensiou of the same policy to Mexico and Canada is all that is needed to place the United States in the most intimate commercial relations with the most important countries of the "West ern Hemisphere. Indeed, the only check which Secretary Blaine's broad and statesmanlike policy has received has been the success of our "own emall-calibred and jealous politicians in preventing a decent consideration of the question of reciprocity with Canada. ARBOR DAT IN PITTSBCBG. The first Arbor Day designated by the Governor passed ver Pittsburg without the slighest attempt at observance. There night be an excuse for this failure this rear, in the fact that the lateness of the sea son makes the second Arbor Day a better date for setting out trees. But as it is the rule in Pittsburg never to do anything in that line on Arbor Day, it is pertinent to comment on the necessity of a change. The nearest approach to doing anything in -fthe tree line on Arbor Day, is that last year TO-MORROW on that day two trees were cut down in the yard of one oi the ward school houses. In the matter of ornamenting the city with trees, Pittsburg is far behind many places of one hundreth its importance and wealth. It is possible to secure more embellishments at less cost in this way than in any other. Yet Pittsburg, at a time when it is making new streets and spending millions in im provements, fails to add the inconsiderable cost of setting out the trees that in a few years would fill streets with foliage and beauty. This is not as it should be; and it is to be hoped our people will make an at tempt on the second date for Arbor Day to get out of the lethargy that prevents them from adopting the cheapest form of publio embellishment. STATUS OF THE SITE QUESTION. The reports with regard to the action of the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Library at its last meeting, while correct enough as to the statement of facts, seem calculated to produce some confusion as to the significance of the action. As this is a subject in which the entire public is deeply interested, it is well to have the present situation exactly understood. Two lines of action were proposed at the meeting. One was that the Board should at once proceed to the discussion and selection of sites. The other was that rough plans or sketches should be prepared, indicating what might be done in the way of erection of buildings and showing the possibilities of the various sites, either at the park en trance, or for local libraries, or for a por tion of the central buildings on any other eligible location, and that the site question should be determined in the light of the information thus afforded. After full dis cussion, the latter course was decided upon, with the distinct understanding that the site question was still left open. It will thus be seen that the burning issue between the park and a down-town site is still an open one, provided the advocates of the latter can present an eligible location near the business center of the city. It should be understood, however, that the tendency of events is strongly in favor of the park entrance for one reason. That is the difficulty of obtaining an eligible site in the closely-built-up part f the city. Up to this time the advocates of the down-town idea labor under the disadvantage that no location has yet been presented, adjacent to the business quarter, with sufficient area for the necessary buildings, at a cost that will not cripple the bnilding fund. If those who think the central library should be located near the center of communica tion can designate a good site at a cost that will not leave the project in the anomalous position of having more site than buildings, it will be entitled to fair consideration. But unless such location can be produced in the immediate future, it will be the obvious duty of the Board to make the selection from such sites as it has before it At present the choice is between locating all the main buildings on the park entrance and putting a portion of them on the Bed ford reservoir property. Unless new con siderations are presented within the next few weeks, the question will have to be settled by weighinc the respective advan tages and disadvantages of these two loca tions. THE OPERATORS' REASON. The real reason of the operators' refusal to grant the miners' request for an eight hour day having come out, the discussion that will ensue will be confined to the pro priety of the former's taking advantage of a real or supposed ability to win the strike. The point will be ma'de that all is fair in war, but a very pertinent answer will be that there was no actual war on the eight hour question, and that the existing trouble could have been averted. Unprejudiced persons, generally, believe that the miners should have been allowed a chance to show bow an eight-hour day would result The loss, if any, would have been theirs, while the operators would have come in for an equal share of any gain. As the matter stands now, however, both sides are confident of winning. The only difference in their claims of final success is that the operators quote figures to support their position. The actual worth of either claim can only be proved alter a bitter, even if short, struggle, and knowing this, it seems that another attempt at settlement shonld be yet made. ITALY "WANTS-WHAT? Italy has again broken loose. "With de liberate disregard of the conventionalities, she threatens to eject the United States Minister and recall her own legation if her last letter to this Government is not imme diately answered. Such action wonld not be a calamity to any but the Italians and those who aid them in what would ensue. No doubt she understands the difference be tween recalling her own representatives and dismissing the Minister of another conn try. It is to be hoped that she does. If not, she should be made to understand. This Government, ever since the New Or leans affair, has conducted matters in a calm and dignified manner, and any serious quarrel can but come with Italy as the aggressor. To agree to the demand that the lynchers be punished is an impossibility, for reasons already pointed out in The Dispatch. These reasons have been ex plained to the Italians, and if they will not see them, the blame does not rest on the United States. MR. OLMSTEAD'S REFORM. "We have before us a pamphlet by Dwight H. Olmstead, Esq., on land transfer reform, with an explanation of his block-indexing act. It furnishes valuable information on a topic which has occupied attention in con nection with proposals to adopt the Torrens system of guaranteeing titles, and though it consists of an address delivered to the American Bar Association last year, its character is such that it can hardly be di gested except from studying it in the printed form. Mr. Olmstead is able and conclusive in his explanation of his proposal to simplify the work of examining titles by the block index system; but he is not so conclusive, and in some points approaches prejudice, in his comments on the other proposal to extend the work of facilitating land transfers and securing titles. He shows beyond dispute that in lessening the "area of search" by making up separate indexes for each block in cities and for specified area as in country districts, a great deal of difficulty will be removed; but when he comments on other proposals not necessarily antagonistic to his he shows an unwillingness to give them a fair hearing. Thus one of his objections to the Torrens system is that "its plan ot indexing is fatally defec tive," while, as is apparent on the surface, there is no valid reason why the good feat ures of the Torrens system which Mr. Olm stead's plan does not cover should not be united ' with his plan of indexing. He ar gues a weakness in the Torrens plan of es tablishing indefeasible titles, and then shows how that weakness may be made good, but dismisses the subject without pro- posing to adopt either method, and stops short at the simple adoption of the indexing reform. This is on the plea that the indexing re form is the first step. That may be true enough; but with the experience of Eng land, Australia, New Zealand, Ontario and Manitoba in the establishment of indefeasi ble titles and easy transfer, why stop at the first step? It should be borne in mind that the indexing reform, while it may be a great step in cities, is not so vital in country dis tricts, and that uncertainty of titles and dif ficulty of transfer will still hamper real .es tate transactions all over the land. Mr. Olmstead objects that the preliminary examinations required for any public guarantee, of titles will cause a great deal of work in cities; but that is only an argument for providing that full time shall be given for such work. The important point is to proceed at once to secure a plan which will perfect titles and make their transfer easy the important features of the Torrens system. If Mr. Olmstead's preference for reaching this result by a short statute of limitations is agreed to by the majority of expert opinion there is no reason why that plan should not be adopted. But the point which would seem to be obvious to the lay mind is that when any attempt is made to effect reform in land transfer all three leading purposes of the reform should be effected instead oT only one of them. These criticisms are not offered as any derogation upon the value or authority of Mr. Olmstead's views. "We must recognise that in this question he is the expert on whose researches we must rely and whose opinion must be regarded with great respect. But when he himself specifies the further objects to be gained in making land trans fers as easy and as unquestionable as trans fers of personal property, it is legitimate for those less versed than he to call on him to abandon the conservatism, if not the tiraor ousness, which causes him to halt at the first step of the work. Having utilized all the objectionable forms of advertising, a titled London "actress" spreads a false report of her death. As she is evidently thinking of coming to this country, it is really too bad the report was not true. The order of the Buenos Ayres Cabinet, that deposits cannot be withdrawn from national banks there before Juno next, Is re ferred to by the New York Herald as a forced loan. That is undoubtedly correct; bnt whether this country is entitled to turn up Its nose at the Argentine people with very great freedom is another question. We seem to remember that there have been junctures when.by mutual agreement of the New York banks, depositors could not get their money unless they were content to take clearing-house certificates. If the mere attempt at negotiating reci procity with an Important country is to be squelched on account of the personal jealous ies of our rulers ther- will be more need of that , 'chair of apologetics" than ever. Because several State Senates stand in the road of certain favorite specimens ot Far mers' Alliance legislation, Jerry Simpson is quoted as desiring the abolition of State Sen ates. This is an examplo of sweeping legisla tion to secure a special purpose which might put to blush even our friends who are amend ing the city charter and the State Constitution in order to get out of a special and temporary scrape. APElii showers are now demonstrating that the succession of the seasons comes around notwithstanding that of lata thero seemB to have been some confusion between winter and spring. The bill to authorize the establishment of a morgue in this city has been reported ad versely in the House after passing the (Senate The grounds of the adverse report are not known to us: but thero is no donbt in the minds ot any one who knows the circumstances that the institution is needed here. It is to be hoped that trivial objections will not bo permitted to stand in the way of filling this public want The disbanding of the Toung Meu's Christian Association of Fottstown calls at tention to a missionary field nearer than Africa. Ex-PltESlDENl Seelte is quoted as saying that bv the end of the present century tho women will know more than the men. The time for the realization of this prediction is not very remote; but it is to be booed it will come sooner in order to entitle the softer sex to our respect If they do not know more than tho men in nine years they will not have much to brag about . That intoxicated woman at the polls in Kansas City might be referred to as a terrible example of mixed prohibition and female-suffrage. The reports abont the Continental situa tion ought to suit all tastes. It is certain that war will break out this year, and it is also be yond doubt that peace will be placed on an as sured and permanent basis. With both the war and peace parties able to pay their money and take their choice, no taste need g unsatis fied. The rumor that the survivors of the war between America and Italy are going to be pensioned by the next Congress is Indignantly denied. Rev. Dr. Mendenham, now comes out with a denial that he ever claimed to be the author of "Tho Breadwinners." Thus he shows a desire to maintain his reputation for literary judgment; which might bo, further es tablished by smng the fellow who started tho .report for libel. Senator Edmunds retires from public life with the proud record that after 25 years of public service be is not a millionaire. Ms. Amos J. Cumminos brings out JudgoHolman for the Speakership. The in dorsements this proposition is receiving show a decided disposition to get Holman where his objections cannot stand in the way of jobs as obstinately as heretofore. The proposition to create a new county in Rhode Island will probably bo abandoned on account of lack of room. If the Democrats in the State Legisla ture are foolish enough to make a partisan question of the ballot reform or the Johnstown relief work, they simply show that they are silly enough to let partisanship rise above com mon sense. THE STBIKE AT YOUHGSTOWN. Work on a Costly Residence Stopped I Through Its Instrumentality. SPECIAL- TELEGRAM TO TflS DISPATODM YOUNOSTOWN, April 10. The carpenters en gaged in the erection of a costly residence for Miss Sallie Todd struck to-day at the request of the Slaters' and Tinners' Union, which claims that a non-union contractor is engaged in slat ing tho residence and employing' non-union' men. No settlement has been effected of the paint ers' or slaters' and tinners' strike. Indians Get the Grip. Spokane Chronicle. 3 Dcath-on-the-Trail says that thoro is an epi demic of sickness in the Indian camp two miles northwest of the city. About SO Indians are very sick with malarial fever and la grippe. Home of them are without proper food, and none of them Is receiving any kind of medical attention or care. FRE-in FASHIONS from across the sea in THE DISPATCH to-morrow. A paper for every boudoir. Twenty pages. Profusely Illustrated. ENTERTAININGJXTRACTS, . Four-Eyed Moravian Cattle Divorced Thirty-Five Times A Greedy Pelican Cana dian Newsboys Ourlngthe Grip Versa tile Daniel "Webster Old-Time Etiquette. A dispatch from "Vienna says that the winter in Moravia has been so extremely severe that the whole country has been covered with a mautle of snow since November. The reflec tion of the light upon the snow has been so blinding that tens of thousands of beads of cat tle have been attacked with ophthalmia. At the suggestion of Dr. Venncourt, of the Govern ment Department of Agriculture, quite a num ber of farmers have had recourse to blue spec tacles in order to preserve tlie eyesight ef their herds, and on one farm of a single province over 4,000 animals are now meandering about with the aid ot bluo eyeglasses. On the principle that it is an ill wind that blows no one any good, the entire supply of blue glasses in Vienna has beeu exhausted and it is found necessary to obtain additional sup plies from Paris and London. It is said that tho Chambers at their next session will make a special appropriation to reimburse the farm ers and stock keepers lor the outlay thus in volved. An English farmer who is in Vienna says that the sight of thousands of cattle grop ing their way through the snow with their eyes encased In immense blue goggles is one that can neither be Imagined "nor adequately de- scriuca. Divorced 35 Wives. A tourist who had just returned from the East says that the day ho left Yokohama the native paper in that city mentioned a case of a man, aged 40 this year, living in the province of Bizen, who has married and divorced 35 wives, and is now married to the 36th. He was mar ried at IK, and the reason assigned for this ex traordinary example of inennsancy is that be has a younger sister of extremely jealous and rancorous disposition, who, from tho moment that a bride enters the house.institutes a system of persecution, which soon drives the unhappy woman to ask her husband for a divorce. The husband is helpless to restrain the vacaries of his sister, and cannot turn her out, so the wretched business goes on year attor year. Tho native chronicler adds a circumstance which is improbable, even in the East He says that in two cases the brides arriving at the door of their future home changed color, and declaring that they recognized the house as one where tbey had already passed some months of most miserable wedlock, fled without further parley. Pelican and Catfish. For several years a couple of patriarchal pelicans have flsned for a livine just off the end of my wharf. I have repeatedly begged their lives of sporting tourists, and so accustomed them to my presence that I could row within an oar's length of them without their taking flight, says a writer in Forest and Stream. I have often watched their operations with curious interest and was really much attached to the solemn-looking couple who, with their smooth pates and beard-like pouches, re minded me of feathered caricatures of Father Time. Yesterday, on coming down to the beach, I discovered one of my pelican pets drifting helplessly toward land. When he came within reach I found that he was dead, while in bis pouch, with its head completely closing the bird's throat was a catfish, still alive, and measuring 11 inches in length. Its horns stuck out through each side of the pelican's pouch, and thus the unfortunate bird had been unable to cither swallow or reject its unwelcome prey. The pelican's pouch was also torn and per forated in a number of places, showing that the strngglo between the would-be-awallower and tho would-be-swalloweu had been a long and desperate one. The fish died a few minutes after being removed from the trap into which he had fallen. The bird measured 7 feet 8 inches from tip to tip of his extended wings, and, from his general appearance, was evidently a patriarch of his race. Canadian Newsboys. Something in the shape of reciprocity be tween the newsboys of this country and Can ada is sadly needed, says the Chicago Tribune. The latter are numerous enough, heaven knows, but they are not posted on the goods they havo to offer. If the Queen should bo taken off suddenly, or the Prince of Wales was to put a bullet in his heart the Canadian news boy might vouchsafe to yell the information. On everything else in the way of news he takes it tor granted that you are as well posted as he. He stands on the corners and calls out his pa pers by name, and then becomes silent. It is possible that this indifference comes from that of the publisher. The morning paper comes out with monotonous regularity, and is made up just the same the year round. The eyes of the reader are never feasted with the line "Extra" or "Second Edition." The afternoon papers are issued with the same regularity and witnout regard to the news of the day. Twelve o'clock, 3 ana 5 are the issues. If one of these afternoon papers should re ceive information at noon that HisRoYal High ness the Prince of Wales had taken his mother by the back bair and thrown her down the stairway of Windsor Castle the afternoon paper would hold back tile news until the next regu lar edition. If ate o'clock the news should come that Mr. Parnell had taken a jimmy and gone through the "Old Lady of Threadneedle street," or that the "Grand Old Man" had cut his throat tbo atternoon paper would leave the important news to the morning ootemporary. And when it appeared the newsboy would never be any the wiser, so far as calling it out, and neither would the passersby. Some of the afternoon papers are simply re issues of the morning paper. They contain all the news of the morning issue, the same edito rials, the same advertisements, the same local. The only fresh news is what may have trans pired within the radius of the day-police re porter's rounds. This afternoon edition is for the benefit nf the laboring man. who gets It for a penny. If the newsboy has not the hustle of bis American cousin it must be laid at the door of the publisher. Caring the Grip. 1 Almost everyone has enjoyed some sort of an attack of the grip, the Chicago JPost Growler imagines, and almost everyone has a sure cure for, it The Growler hasihadthe grip. It was not as deep as a well or as wide as a church door, but it answered every purpose. What gave him more trouble than anything else were the "sure cures" recommended to nim by solicitous friends. 'unpr queriea one oi mem, as ne regaraea the Growler's weeping eyes and limp handker chief pityingly, "lean knock it for you, You so right home and boil a kettleful of water. Then you throw in a handful of red pepper. Jnst before you retire you put your lips around the spout of this kettle and inhale the steam. Ndxt morning you will be all right." The Growler followed directions and still lives. The red pepper steam took all tho peel ing .from his throat and made his lungs feel like a fiery furnace. Next morning be was better than he expected that is, he was alive. "I can cure your grip," saio. anotner sympa thetic friend. "You just rub your chest with chloroform liniment Hub it hard. That'll fix you." It did. Being flayed alive is not a pleasant fate, but chloroform liniment does a cleaner job than an oyster knife. "Mustard, my boy." said another amateur physician. "Big gob on your chest and your feet in hot mustard bath. "Sure cure." It is painful to walk around on feet that re semble lobsters, and mustard should never be placed upon a spot where chloroform liniment has been grazing: but tho combination gives a stranger a good idea of the great Chicago flro ol 1871. What the Growler is after now is a sure enre for blisters and a few friends who will loan him some new skiu. His grip is cured. Versatile Daniel Webster. The Boston Traveller thinks tho ignorance sometimes betrayed by educated or titled En glishmen regarding certain well-known facts of literature or history is almost incredible. Lord Kenyon, one of England's Chief Justices, used to speak of "Julian, the Apostle," and men of the same, country, who have moved in its hi"ber circles of society, havo referred to Hyde ami Clarendon of the Charles' time, as two dif ferent persons. When, in conversation with a graduate of the "University ,of Cambridge tho rector of an English church in Worceser, whom we met with in Pans we made some allusion to Sir Thomas Browne's writings, he petrified us with the query: "Sir Thomas Brownel Who is he?" But marvelous as are these self-exposures, they are altogether eclipsed by an observation made by an English nobleman to our late Min ister to the Court of St James, Mr. Phelps. "Is it not very remarkable," said the noble man, "that Mr. Webster, who was a great American statesman and orator, should have compiled a leading dictionary of the English language, and also havo been hanged tor mur der?" Old-Time Etiquette. Prof. James A. Harrison has a historical sketch in the Chaulauquan, in which he gives many of the rules which "Coxcombs and Co quettes ot Tudor Times" employed. Among them he cites the following: Sleep not after "a full stomacke;" be merry before bedtime; lie first on your left side; wear a scarlet nightcap, and sleep eight hours In summer, nine in winter. On rising "ryso with mirth and remembre God;" take a strop; play tennis: keep yonr neck warm; and keep out of sleeping rooms, infested with snai'- rats and mice. On these follow WMiam Vaughan's "Fifteen Directions to Preserve Health" (A D.1602), among which he recommends his own denti frice a "better worth than a thousand of their dentifrices." A charming remedy for dim sight Is a solution of sugar candy (!) and ' aloes; , j and the fourteenth direction commands you to pray to God and havo a hole in your night cap! A little later on Sir John Harington, author of the famous translation of Ariosto and a favorite of Italian-loving Elizabeth, wrote "The Dyet for Every Day." and "On Rising, Diet ana Going to Bed," showing us exactly how wise fops or wise coquettes should conduct themselves in these particulars. 'Sithesays in the winter season somewhat by the lire, not made with turfo or stinking coaie,bnt with cake or other wood that burnetii clere;" comb your head at least 40 times, and make your mind "more cheerfull" by rubbing your neck with a "linnen napklnc." Always work in the foro noon, he continues;wear a sapphire,an emerald, or yellow amber, "for in stones, as also in heartes, there is great efficacie and virtue," and people who wear emeralds have Aristotle's testimony that they aro "good against falling sickness." POINTS OB" PEOPLE. Verdi has finished a comio opera entitled "Falstaff." which Is to be brought out at Milan next winter. DR. Kocn has been honored in Berlin by having bis portrait displayed over the entrance to a new cafe called "The Jolly Bacillus." J. W. Midgeley, the Chicago railroad man, who is reported to ieceive a salary of (30,000 a year, was a newspaper desk editor not many years ago. Mrs. Annie Besant, who arrived in Now York yesterday, is said to be worse than the notorious Madame Blavatsky on the sub ject of tbeosophy. Rev. Edward Payson Hammond, the professional revivalist, is supposed to have added 10,000 members yearly to the church since bo set forth upon his labors. Prince Henry, brother of the Emperor of Germany, recently displayed surprising tal ent as a violinist at a concert in Kiel. The Prince played the first violin in the orchestra. Zola requires nine months to write a novel. He handles a pen as a laborer might a spade, and is a slow and painful toiler. The ex pression on his face when he is doing literary work is one of torment Eev. Richard Gilmoub, Bishop of Cleveland, who has been at tho point of death in Florida", was raised a strict Scotch Presby terian and was converted to the Catholic faith by a priest to whose church ho went in youth to play the organ. Henry Fielding Dickens, the Re corder of Deal, England, and the most capable of tbo sons left by the novelist, has successfully defended in court Charles Lyddon, the young medical student charged with poisoning his step-brother. Dr. W. R. Lyddon. Baroness Fava is an Italian lady of rare accomplishments, who speaks several European languages fluently and correctly, as well as English. She is a great admirer ot America, though the climate has prevented her from living here for two or three years, FOUR CURIOUS PLANTS. Strange Powers and Attributes of Some Things That Grow. In the United States Botanical Gardens at Washington, D. G, are four very carious plants, to which the Fast of that city alludes as "Nature's Hoax," the "Mother-in-law plant," the "Lover's plant" and the "Scotch Attorney." "Nature's Hoax" grows wild in Australian forests. The seed lodge about five feet from tbo ground in decayed trees, and tbo plant puts out leaves in the shape of heads of deer and elk. Many a hunter has been fooled by the plant The Mother-in-law plant, or "Dumb Cane," is really the Deffenbacbia seguina picta. An auctioneer, being unable to rattle off the botanical term, called it the "Mother-in-law" plant, becauso of its queer qualities. The peculiarity of the plant is this, that if a man takes a bite of it bis power of speech is taken away and his tongue is apt to De paralyzed for a week. Humboldt's articulating muscles were paralyzed for eight days by this plant. The specimen of the mimosa rudica is called the Lovers' plant, because if a girl bo really in love this plant will curl up at her touch; if not, not. Superintendent Smith, of the Gardens, has facetiously termed a creeper the "Scotch At torney." I be latter is credited with engaging himself in a case and absorbing everything of value In it before quitting it; and that's what the plant doe3. And Is Mean Clear Through. Ban Antonio Express. In favor of David Bennett Hill it may be stated that he means what he says, says what be means, and means and says a good deal. DEATHS OF A DAT. Frederick G. Maeder. Frederick G. Maeder, actor and play wright, died of pneumonia shortly before mid night Thursday, at New York city. Mr. Maeder was a native of New York and was JO years old. H13 first appearance on the Btage was at Portland, Maine, as Bernardo in "Hamlet," under the management of George Faunceford. Of late vears he had given most of his time to writing. ."Nobody's Daughter," "Help." "ilaunCre," "Sharaus O'Brien," In which the veteran min strel, Dan Bryant, made his first appearance in his natural oolor; "Urlfflth Gaunt, " ("Buffalo Bill, " and later, "The Canuck." were the most notable of his works. 1113 mother, who was well known to the theater-loving public as Clara Fisher, survives him, and, although SO years old, !s in excellent health. Bis father, James G. Maeder, was a composer. Dr. James McDonald. Dr. James McDonald, formerly of the Boutbslde, died at bis home In Jeannette, yester day. His death was caused by two weeks' illness resulting from the grip which he contracted dur ing the grip epidemic at Jeannette. He was 57 years old, and leaves a wife and two grown-up daughters who are married and living in the "West. Dr. McDonald was a resident of Jeannette three years, having gone to that town from the Bouthslde. He has a brother David McDonald, who still resides on the outusIde. ana Is at ? resent market master at the bouthslde Market louse. James H. McCabe. James Harvey McCabe, Sr., of Coraopolis, died yesterday after an Illness of several months. He was 7 years old, and died within a few rods of where he was horn. Mr. McCabe's father was a noted old-time J ustice of the Peace, and known, us was the deceased, to most old residents of this county. The subject of this notice was burgess or Coraopolis two Tears ago, and was succeeded by his brother Alfred. lie was a good citizen and active In public affairs as long as his health per mitted. Mrs. Margaret W. Herron. Mrs. Margaret W. Herron, mother-in-law of Samuel A. Duncan, of the Allegheny County Light Company, died at the residence of the latter. Thirty-third street and Webster ave nue yesterday, aged 76 years. Funeral will be held to-morrow afternoon at 3 o'clock. Mrs. Snsan Pentecost Mrs. Susan Pentecost, the aged mother of Major A. J. Pentecost the Grant street real es tate dealer and broker, died at 9:30 o'clock lait night. She was 80 years of age. Ihe funeral ar rangements have not yet beeu made. Obituary Notes. Mns. ANN MOBGAif, mother of Captain B. W. Morgan, died yesterday aged 83 years. James Keie, who for the past 25 years has baen the agent for the Pittsburg papers at Connells vllle, died there yesterday. Gexeral William K. Stboso, a well-known Chicaeoan, Is dead at Florence. He was Presi dent of the Pcshtigo Lumber Company. Sister Maiiy, Superior or the Sisters of Charity of the United States, died Thursday nleht at the Good Samaritan Hospital, in Cincinnati. The Kight Hon. George Augustus Frederick Cavcndlsh-Bentnlck, M. P. for Whitehaven, is dead. He was born In 1821, and was a Conserva tive. John Lindsay died yesterday at Decatur,' HI. no was the publisher of the Dally Labor Bulletin, and took a prominent part in the State work of various labor organizations. Patrick J. lynch, a prominent civil engineer, for many years in the employ of the Erie Railway Comnany, died of grip at bis home In Elmlra Thursday, Ho was 61 years old. James XEDKAJtr, a well-known resident of Woods' Bun, died yesterday morning, aged 43 years. Ho leaves a wile and three children. Death resulted from the grip. ains. Eliza Jank Murdoch died at her home Washington, Pa., yesterday. Mrs. Murdoch was the wife of the Hun. Alexander Murdoch, who was formerly Marshal in this district. DR. John S. Hudders, who died at Avondalc, Pa., on Wednesday, -was one. of the best known physicians in Eastern Pennsylvania. He was a graduate or Jellcrson Medical College at Phila delphia. James J. Brinton, who died at Christiana, Pa., on Wednesday, had held almost every office in the gift of his party In his county. He was a Republican, and was 66 years old. A wire and six children survive him. GENERAL JOHN It COOKE died In Klcbraond Thursday night. He was a native of Missouri. His sister married General J. Js. B. Stujrt, the famous Coniederatecavalryman. General Cooke's parents live in Detroit. Dr. Joshua Otis Stanton, 0110 ot the best known physicians or Washington, died suddenly Thursday afternoon of pneumonia, superinduced by the grip, after a brief lllne-s, aged H years. lit. Stanton was a natlvelor New Hampshire, and graduated In medicine from Bowdoin College. He went to Washtneton In 1861 and served through out the war, rising to the rank of Major. jt&fMti&f& .JVIII - ".Av&L,g-tofi ,-,, ffrt ?LfafcLra!L ' Jilir-iaBitl?fcrfi-altg-;'Tnlrf''?1fiWfr?Lri' t?aftf;i&La-iiPh4ASlf?A'IITlil Tr - '" ' -L fBT &r - jrr-r-n-1'r.f - It ... W-fl.-Mitfriiiiigr SSLflEEKs&SHBHHIBHssESgSiSE HOT SPRINGS BARBARISM, What There Is of It Displays Itself In Jew elryAll Bat the Best Classes Use It to Excess Plutocrats and Their Private Cars. tFROM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT. 1 Hot Springs, ArtK., April 4. The last days of Lent brought a good deal of trade to the storekeepers in this city. It seemed to strike nearly every visitor here at the same moment that he ought to send something home to show that even in the wilds of Arkansas he remem-i bered Easter. But the average man or woman found it rather difficult to discover anything suitable. One of the searchers in vain was George C. Waldo, a New "York bank president who is also engaged in a hunt for health. He espe cially was desirous of getting something to send to his little 3-year-old son, but the supply of toys in Hot Springs is exceedingly small the place is dead in earnest and juvenile- frivolity is not encouraged. But Mr. Waldo is not easily thwarted. Failing in the ordinary line, ho took a bold departure. Tho drug stores, as has been noted before, are the great glory of Hot Springs. Mr. Waldo went into one of them, and having bought tw6 pounds of candy and a souvenir spoon, found he had reached the end of the string so far as the shop's resources in the way of customary gifts went Then he threw les convenances to the winds and filled up the box with two sponges, some soap and two or three bottles of perfume of a make that New Yorkers affect and some other articles of household use. This singular pack age be addressed to Wlllard Waldo. Esq., and the box, doubtless, created a sensation In the nursery when Easter dawned. The sender had the satisfaction of knowing that the greater part of the Easter offering would be strictly useful, if the toilet articles did cost about 200 per cent more than they would have cost in New York. Tho Palace Car King. George M. Pullman, the palace car king, 13 one -of the big men here jnst now. He is stay ing at the Eastman, where I saw him this after noon with his two daughters just starting for a stroll. The Misses Pullman are tail, graceful girls, the younger especially pleasant-looking;, and their dresses were chiefly noticeable for their simplicity, although they were tailor made gowns of creamy English cloth, while their sailor hats indicated to the feminine eye the latest fashion in that becoming headgear. It cannot be said for most of the women here that they emulate the simplicity in dress of the Misses Pullman and a few others, mostly the womankind of rich men, who can afford to dress plainly. The costumes some of the fair creatures wear here actually warm up the land scape when they are abroad, and absolutely dazzle one in the electric glare of the dinine room or hotel lobby. The display of diamonds is also amazing wherever you go, and, strange to say, about the only men who abstain from the lustrous jewel seem to be their royal highnesses, the hotel clerks. On men's rheu matic lingers, on misses' taper digits or about their snowy necks, or in their little ears; in shirt fronts, in bracelets, and wherever the barbaric instinct in human nature has prompted their disposal, the light of the sun over Hot Springs strikes upon the glittering facets of countless diamonds. A Glut of Diamonds. In the great hotels hero tho only reason for the frequency of the diamond is, I presume, that the American woman, whenever she has the money, is more and more inclined to buy diamonds. There are other women here wbo do not stay at the best hotels, perhaps, but whose diamonds are as large and as white as any, and they make Central avenue scintillate In spots most of the time. Bur, though a good many of tho wealthy men, Chicago real estate brokers and pine-land millionaires from the Northwest, sport handsome gems, the bulkand the best of the diamonds are worn by gamblers and "sports" of varying degree. In fact I may add on good authority tor.tho benefit of res pectable humanity, that a man who wears a headlight stone In his shirt bosom or a huge sparkler on his hand is pretty certain to be taken for a gambler or worse in Hot Springs. This is all very pleasant when it keeps some dead-broke sport from slugging you with a sandbag, but not quite so agreeable if it impels a hotel clerk to tell you coldly that he cannot give you a room which happened the other day to a good-natured Milwaukee liquor man, who flashed a huco breast-pin in a clerk's eyes at the hotel which rightly prides itself on its exclusively family patronage. If you have big diamonds, ladies and gentlemen, leave them at home when you visit Hot Springs'. Not a Jewel ford Joke. Two weeks ago when George W. Porter, the well-known grain operator of Minneapolis, was in New Orleans, he had an amusing adventure in a jewelry store. He was walking down Canal street near the St Charles Hotel, when a tastefully arranged window display in a jew eler's store attracted bis attention. There was a big unmounted white stone in the center of the window, which Mr. Porter immediately thought would make a capital present to send to a fellow member of the Minneapolis Board of Trade, whose taste in jewelry, ties, trousers and the like is somewhat outre. It was the sort of a jewel that a nieser minstrel might wear with good effect Cbucklingat the idea, Mr. Porter stepped into the store to price the stone. "It the chunk of crystal costs $5, I'll buy it for ," said Mr, Porter to himself, adding aloud to the salesman: "I want to look at that big stone in the showcase." The jeweler smiled, but he didn't move to ward the window. "We never take that stone out of the case, sir," he said. "But I'll buy it," rejoined Mr. Porter, taking out a $5 bill and laying it on the counter. The jeweler repeated that tho stone was never taken out of the window except at night; when it was transferred to the safe. "Well, what is the blamed thing worth ?" asked Mr. Porter, somewhat nettled. "Forty thousand dollars," quietly replied the jeweler. "Great Scott 1 Then it's a diamond V "One of the three finest in the United States," was the reply of the dignified jeweler. And then Mr. Porter learned tbar what he had taken for paste or crystal, and a suitaDle medium for an April fool joke, was a jewel of world-wide fame which the New Orleans firm keep in their show window as an advertisement The jeweler explained farther that it was good business policy to keep 10,000 locked up in a single stone, because the price of diamonds is steadily advancing, and dtirnvr. the last two years this stone has earned a good rate ot in terest on the money which it represents. Plenty of Private Cars. Hot Springs' thoroughbreds are agrieved be cause Cornelius Vanderbllt has not taken his annual bath here this season. But the-assemblage of millionaires has been tolerably repre sentative of the country's plutocratic crop during March. Tho sidings at the Hot Springs railway terminus have been filled with private cars of railway and other potentates who can afford such luxuries for weeks. Just now the finest' private car here is Mr. Pullman's, of course. The' car is painted a quiet color, and there is nothing gaudy about its appointments: but the big arched plate glass windows, the massive steel frame, and many other details be speak the superior quality or this comfortable home on wheels. It is like Mr. Pullman that the Pullman monogram, P. P. C, in gold is the only distinguishing mark upon the sldo of the car. So many men would have put tbelr own initials there. Jt Mr. Pullman once told me himself that he hadn't much use for a private car, and most of his traveling is done in ordinary Pullman coaches. His favorite train is the New York and Chicago limited on the Pennsylvania, and I remember that when the vestibulewas firstin troduced Mr. Pullman was on hand in person to explain" tho virtues of the device when the ex hibition train stopped in Pittsburz one warm summer's afternoon four years ago. Another private car which is oxpected to roll into the Hot Springs depot some day soon is the Atlanta, with the "Little Wizard." Jay Gould, on board. Ha has just left New York for a tour over his Southwestern system of railroads, and the Iron Mountain road will probably bring 'him near enough to this place to tempt him to take a dip in the healing water as ho has often done before. Hepburn; Johns. A Newspaper's Semi-Centenary. New York. April 10. At the fiftieth anni versary of tho founding of the Now York rwtmie to-night speeches were inado by Major McKinley, Chauncey M. Depew, Charles A. Dana, George William Curtis and Hon. Mr. Horr. of Michigan. A poem for the occasion Was read by its author, E. C. Btedman, and a letter of regret from Secretary Blaine was pre sented. V A PLEASING EHTEHTAniMEHT Given by a Complug-Out Party on a Very Rainy Evening. The ram which fell in torrents last evening did not affect in the least the spirits of the cay camping-out party that occupied the stage in the chapel ot tho Pittsburg Female College bnilding; nor of the large audience that as sembled to witness the sorrows and woes of "Anita's Trial," which the" young ladies of the school presented under the management of Miss Mary B. Kier. The presentation was a re markably clever one, and succeeded in keeping the audience In ripples of laughter, with now and then more pronounced bursts of merriment, during tbo entire three acts ot the comedy. Miss Blanche Mead's Anita, an Italian waif, was a cood conception, thongh her dialect was hardly accented enough. Her dancing wai somewhat orthodox, but that may he accounted for by the rules of the college. Mrs. Deacon Pippin, the wife of a deacon in good and regular standing, was equal to any emergency, even to the loan of the Dea con as a sort of pnvato night watch man to the city folks while camping out. The Misses Dorothy and Lwclla Pippin, daughters of the deacon and deaconess, sug gested nink lemonade and circn tlx-r HtrnmrW. Miss Elizabeth Dick appeared as the deacon's wife, and Misses Nellie Manges and Inez Pier sel as the daughters. Aunt Matilda, the good old soul, necessary on a lark in the country, was impersonated by Miss Jean Harris, and Kate Fortcscue. a bride of three months, by Miss Stella Jordan. Miss Nan Fortesiue was seen as Miss Fose Slater, and Clover Weils as Miss Lulu Brcnll. Misses Clara Lawrence and Sadie Conelley, as athletes, were known as Mary Hyde and Helen Joy. One of ihe most amusing features of tho presentation was the kodak, under the skillful management of Miss Menges, who al lowed nothing to escape, not even a sun bon- DEAN LITERARY SOCIETY. A Very Pleasant Evening Passed at tho Annual Reunion. The Dean furies, the society paper of the Dean Literary Society of the High School, was so appropriate to the name when read at the last year's annual meeting by a young gentle man, that for the meeting last evening a youn lady had charge of the furies sheet and the re sult will not be quite so disastrous. The paper was, as usual, briirht and witty and abounded with pointed paragraphs. Miss Nellie R. Nobbs was the fair edi tress. A large audience that fairly filled the High School hall and overflowed into the side halls listened to the reading of the paper and the other numbers that constituted the twentieth annual entertainment of the society. Rev. J. T. McCrory invoked the divine bless insr, after which Mr. John Floyd, master of ceremonies, delivered the address of welcome. Harold F. Norton presented "The Advantages of Being Poor" in a theoretically pleas ing light "The Whistlmc Regiment was declaimed by Miss Anna M. McConnell, andMi33 Inez M. Griffith followed in a vocal solo. "Behind the Curtain," an essay, was read by Miss Lillian T. Beck, and Mr. James E Tib. .bey declaimed "The Tragedy of London." 'Ihe Negro Question" was the ambitious and exhaustive subject undertaken by Mr. William H. Stanton, and Mr. Otto C. Gaub recited "The Revenge." The reading of the "Dean Furies." conclnded the entertainment The society numbers 43, exclusive of the officers, wbo are as follows: Guardian, B. H. Patter son; President, Harold F. Norton; Vice Presi dent, Thomas L. Kane; Secretary. Inez M. Griffith; Treasurer. Thomas H. Wallace; A. Editors, Oliver R. Johnson, Edwin Lugsmith; B. Editors, A. B. Kiser, Alfred xountr; A. Critic. John Floyd; B. Critic, Lillian Beck; A. Judges of Debate, Anna M. McConnell, Lottie C. Jetfories; B. Jndge of Debate, Fannie N. Northrop; A. Marshal, T. C. Hays: B. Marshal, W. T. Benitz. Social Chatter. The Geroert Brothers furnished the music at a Jeannette reception last evening. The Acacia Club held its second annual re ception in Turner Hall, Jane street last even ing. Tni? Philip S. Fllnn Rod and Gun Club gave a masqnerade ball last evening in the Fifth Avenue Music Hall. The Woman's Relief Corps No. 22. auxiliary to Post 155, presented to the lit Washington Maennercbor a beautiful American flag at an open meeting held last evening on Mt Wash ington. The first annual ball of the James H. Porte Club was held at Turner Hall, Jane street, last evenine;. About 100 eonplesjwere present The Committee or Arrangements consisted of David Koester. Fred Hoffman. H. Siemon, Frank Strieckill, Henry Gang, B. Alexander and Louis Weil. QUEER SUPERSTITIONS About the Handling of New-Bom Infants Some Notions According to a Yorkshire, England, notion, a new-born infant should always be placed In the arms of a maiden before it 13 touched by any one else; and in some instances its right band Is bound in a cloth during the first day of it3 existence in order that it roav gather riches when grown to manhood or womanhood estate, says the Cbicacro Times. In many parts ot the United States. Germany, France'and Holland, as woil'as throughout the British Isles, it is considered very important that an infant should "go up" before it goes down in the world. Thus, if a child is born in the lower story of a house it is instantly bundled up by one of tho old women and carried up stairs; if the event occurs in tho upper story the same old woman is expected to take the child m her arms and clamber upon the top of the table, bnreau, or even a chair, anything to get the lit tle one up in the world. In the north of England, when a child is taken from a house for the first time, it is eiven an ezz. some salt and a little loaf of urcilu. nuu ui;u.3tuiiaiij aaujaiii(ici.GUi uiuudj. luese Kins ueiuftupuuacu luiuauio vaouuuu against ber standing In need of the common necessaries of life. In the East; Riding of Yorkshire a few matches are added to light the child to heaven. In Holland, Sweden, Norway and parts of Russia tho mother nf the new-born babe, if not too poor, provides a small cheese, which is cut in small slices and distributed among the unmarried ladies of the neighborhood. Any younsr lady who receives her share of the cheese and eats it without asking where it came from or who sent it, will meet her future husband at a cross path or crossroads within the month. In Northumberland a cake called the "dreaming bread" is distributed in tho same way, the young ladles who partake of It being supposed to dream of their future hus bands the same night In the United States, as well as in many other countries a book, a piece of money and a bottle of, liquor is placed before the infant the day it is a year old, the object being to test what its after inclinations will be. CONSUL J. 0. KEHBEI'S RECALL. The rittshnrcer Hasn't Received It and Doesn't Delleve It "Was Demanded. It was recently reported from Washington that J. O. Kerbey, who is woll known in Pitts burg, had been recalled from Para, Brazil, where he had been sent by the present admin istration as Its representative in the capacity of Consul. It seems to be common report in Washington that complaint had been made to Secretary Blaine by the Brazilian Government, or perhaps by the local government of Para, that Mr. Kcrbcy used his ability as a 'news paper correspondent in a manner not altogether pleasing to our South American neighbor. Mr. Kerbey wrote exclusively for The DIS PATCH, so the readers of this paper can com petently jndge ot the grounds upon which a complaint would be based. However, Mr. Kerbey writes to TnE Dis patch to say that "he has never received any recall, and ho i3 therefore still Consul. He adds that a recall would be very welcome in deed, be has asked relief from his post by every mail that has left Para since the first week of his experience as Consul. 'Ho has had a great plenty of life beneath the equator in an official capacity, and intends, as soon as he can shuffle off the trappings of power, to make an expedition of exploration to the head waters of the Amazon. Mr. Kerbey says he does not believe either the Brazilian or Para Govern ment has demanded his recall. And Pliiladelphlans Barred. Philadelphia Times. The sleep-tasting craze is hardly likely-to end iWtli one effort, tedious as such a match may be. A novelty would De a match to test who could sleep the longest without waking, police men to be excluded, and the contestants to bo forbidden the use of Blair's speeches or other sedatives. Teachers Mast Not Dance. rsrrciAL tslzqhxh to tux dispatch.! Uppeb Sandusky, April 10. The Board of Education has ordered that teachers must ab stain from dancing. The majority of teachers in this city are leaders in society, and this de cision cuts very deep. Will Manufacture Iron Laths. fSrEClAI. TELIQUAM TO TUB DI3FATCIT.1 YousasTOWN, April 10. A party of capital ists here will organize a company with a capital of 8100,00 to build a plant for the manufacture ot sheet iron lath to displace wooden lath In tha construction of buildings. CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS. An Atchison woman of 60 has kept t diary ever since she was 12 years old. In the poorer portions of New York there is but one church to every 10,000 people. A New York b iby, two weeks old, has surprised its fond mother by cutting two sharp icem. The Chinese of Boston have formed laundry trust called the Ung Han Hong Com pany. Alaska is now the roomiest of our terri tories. It contains 13 square miles for each in habitant. The average widtn of the path of destruction with tornadoes is said to be little more than 1,000 feet The Ohio Legislature has just officially recognized Christopher Columbus as the dis coverer of America. The United States h said to be the greatest candy country in the world, 55,OOO,0CU worth being consumed every year. A theojogical student was practic ing elocution in Central Park. New York, the other day when he was arrested fur lunacy. An industrious carpenter in Gloucester City. N. J., was sent to the almshouse as a pauper on a forged commitment the other day. At Lyon Mountain, Clinton countv, N. Y there have been 110 days of sleighing, and it is now as good as at any time during the winter. The meanest man in the. world lives iu Meadvilie, Pa. He beat his wife because she was caucbt long on sugar with one pound in the house on April 1. A lady of "West Chester, Pj., found a white violet in full bloom, in her yard. It bad been in bloom underneath a snowbank, which was melted by the rain yesterday. A judge of Alpena, Mich., caught two lawyers taking a nip from a bottle in the court room during a trial. It cost them ISO each for the fracture of the Court'3 dignity. The paper horseshoe, invented by a German, is light elastic and said to be durable. Moreover, it wears in such a way that its under surface is always rough. For that reason It is claimed that it would be admirably adapted for use on asphalt pavements. Some of the hide and leather men are amusing themselves in discussing the largest hog skin in the world. A Cincinnati firm claims to have the lead in this line, with a skin that measured 6 feet from head to tail and 6 feet wide, measuring in ail 37 feet of neat, fine skin. It is stated tnat-at Big Stone Gap, Va., the electric lights are used in a novel way. Tha town, as laid off, is two miles wide and five miles long, and all this space is lit np by elec tric lights, so that the people hunt 'possums and 'coons in tho woods by the light of tha electric lamps. According to the census of 1888 there were 10,221 Eskimos scattered In little settle ments from Cape Farewell to Upernavik. For the purposes of government the country Is divided Into two sections, called the North In spectorate and the South Inspectorate, each ef which has a Governor called the Inspector. Electric cars are now bowling alone tha classic highways of old Rome, a short line be tweon the Place del Popolo and the Ponta Mollo having jnst been completed and pat in operation. There are three cars, each carry ing a 15-horse power motor, and tha line is run in sections in series, automatically worked by the passing cars. A Cincinnati man woke up his wife iu the middle of the night to tell her that he had just dreamed that bis store was on lire. Sure enough, in a few minutes a messaga came tell ing him that his store was on fire. He felt so proud over his dream that he bragged abont it all over town; and the insurance companies have, therefore, refused to pay the insurance. ,' Near the old cemetery in "West Alex ander, W. Va., a big tree Is growing, which forks at 3 feet 9 inches from the ground. Ap parently it is a white oak, bnt on examination it appears that above the fork it branches into two species, one a white oak, and the other a white cherry, with the foliage peculiar to each. The oak is about 63 and the cherry 63 feet high. Near Dayton, Ga., there 13 a well locally known as the "well ot frozen air." In drilling the well a stratum of frozon clay and gravel was encountered at a depth of 65 feet After passing through Ave feet of this numerous cavi ties were encountered from which the cold air came in crusts. The escape ot the air from tha well can be heard roaring for nearly 200 yarda. A bucket of water set over the opening will freeze through and through within a few hours. Another instance of the absurd misuse of word3 was afforded by the new warden of tha Massachusetts State Prison recently when he addressed theassembled flower of rascaldom as "gentlemen." The urbane and gentlemanly murderer, the polite and high-minded burglar, the calm and cultivated highwayman, are sub ject to many restraints in State prison which seriously interfere with their liberty, and they are denied many luxuries. Bat of taffy they receive an unumiieu allowance. A very prettv idea is carried out in London, which aims to bring about a love of plants and flowers among the poorer classes. A fond is raised out of which prizes are paid for the best display of window gardeninz or potted plants, and the scheme has become so very popular that thousands of cottage homes are now beautified Dy floral effects; and It is no uncommon thing to see a window set out with plants growing in old teapots, cans or cigar boxes marked as a prize winner. The other night an engineer of the Dan ville, Macksville and Southwestern Railroad dreamed that a large rock had fallen on bis road near Leaxberwood Creek, N. C, and that bis engine, having come in contact with it was broken to pieces. The dream so impressed Dim that he declined to make his usual trip overtbe road in the morning until he had telegraphed to ascertain if there was anything the matterat Leatherwood Creek. An answer ns flashed back that a hnge rock had fallen on the track within a few.f eet of the identical place dreamed aboutand that, although hands had been work ing for hoars to remove it the track was still obstructed. At Mount Eagle, about eight miles from Charlottesville, Albemarle county, Va., there is a large residence, on tho windows of which from the outside can be seen the photo graph of a man's head and shoulders, the head and shoulders of a woman and child, and In another pane of glass the distinct outlines of a cat The theory is that the parties were look ing through the windows at the river during a storm, and a flash of lightning photographed them indelibly on the glass, but it is not known who tbey were. The pictures cannot ba seen from the inside, but that tbey can be plainly seen from the outside is vouched for by prom inent citizens of Charlottesville. FUN FOR FUTURE FIGHTERS. "Young man," said the good man im presblvely, "if yon keep on betting: on horse races do yoa know where yoa will eventually go?" "Ves. sir. ".replied the youth; "if luck don't change, I'm mighty apt to go broke.-" few fort Recorder. Miss Sharpe Your friend, "Wooden, re minds me so much of the learned professions. Jiulflnch Ah. he'll be glad to hear It; but In what way? Miss bharpe Why, there is so much room at the top. Boston Courier. THE ONLY WAT. A most accommodating man, lie tried to live upon the plan Of plcailne all his ncizbbors. Bnt what one thought icood the other thought bad; What made one smile made another one mad; Ho, worn out with his labors, Tne poor man laid down and died And everyone was satisfied. Indianapolis Journal. -The Count "What an unpatriotic lot your young fellows are. They seem to forget that they are Americans. Miss Babbldge-Oh. with them It's not so much forgctfulness as absence of mlna. Brooklyn Life. Doodles Just had a tremendous piece of luck. Xoodlcs-now ? DooJles-Why, I met Snyder, and he struck me for?:. Noodles-Well 7 Doodles Why, I hadn't a cent. Say, ean you lend me $r doodles No; I'm in the same good luck. Bar per' Bazar, Kenneth Miss Maud I Maud I "Will you gwant me that gweat happiness? Will you be mine? Maud Yon mar ask papa. Kenneth I shahn't I shall ask mamma. Papa ncvali lets me do anything. Puck. Iticii Uucle You might as well stop mounlngabout Misslleauty. bhc hasn't been la love witlT"Jou, after all. She's been arter the money she thought vou wonld Inherit from me. Kephew Impossible I Why do you think so? Rich Uncle-1 have proposed to he myself a4 been accepted. Kew York Weekly. evz - n, 1 --7 "-7- fir Tf -GtffcHtti&m iHS.3HHBHiE2SsS3Bi
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers