THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH, SUNDAY. APRIL 26, 189L
$paftfj.
ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 18.
Vol. AS, Sa.7S -Entered at Pittsburg Fostoflice,
loveinbcr H. l&g, as second-class matter.
Business Office Corner Smithneld
and Diamond Streets.
News Booms and Publishing House
75, 77 and 79 Diamond Street
FAhTEKN ADVEKTISIiG OFFICE. KOOM 21.
TKIliUNE BUILDliU, NEW YOKK. where
complete tie ot THE DIfcPATCH can always be
Jound. Foreign advertisers appreciate the con
venience. Home advertisers and friends ol THE
DISPATCH, while In iew York, are also made
(.Iconic
THE DISPATCH is regulaily on tale at
Ercntano't. S Union Square. JVftc York, and 17
Aie.dc VOpeia,Jart3, France, where anyone
vho hat Leen disappointed at a hotel newt
itand can obtain ft
TERMS OF THE DISrATCH.
POSTAGE TKEE IK THE CiTTED STATES.
miLT Ditatch. One Year ?
Daily DifrATCH, 1'er Quarter - 2 00
Daily Dispatch, One Month 70
Daily Disiatch, Including Sunday, lyear. 10 00
Daily DifrATcn, lncludlngbunday,3in'ths i50
Daily DisrATCU. Including iunday, lm'ta 90
semay DisrATCH. One Year :50
IMlklv Dispatch. One Year 325
The Daily Disfatch Is delivered by carriers at
15 cent per week, ur Inducing Sunday edition, at
20 cents per weeV.
This iue or TIIE DISPATCH contain.
24 paces nmilo up of THREE TARTs.
Failure on llio part of Carriers, Ascnts,
Newsdealer or Newsboys lo supply pa
trons vi ills a Complete Number should bo
prompilr rcporlrti to this office.
Voluntary contributors should keep copies of
cuticles. If compensation is desired the price
expected must be named. Tlie courtesy re
turning rejected manuscripts Kill be extended
tehen stamps for that purpose are enclosed, but
the Editor of Tnr: Dispatch unit under no
circumstances be responsible for the care of un
solicited manuscripts.
rOsTARU All persons who tnnll the
Sunday iinr of The Dispatch to friends
should bear in mind the fact that the post
age thereon is Two (2) Cents. All double
and triple number copies ot The Dispatch
require a 2. cent stamp to insure prompt
delivery.
PITTSBURG. SUNDAY. APR. 26. 189L
A DISCREDITABLE RIDER.
The House of Representatives hardly did
itself credit iu adding the Governor and
Lieutenant Governor to the commission
named iu the hill providing a State appro
priation to the AVorld's Fair. The appro
priation itself is unquestionable; and the
misfortune is that a measure so necessary
far the credit of the State cannot De passed
without loading it down to provide free en
tertainment for favored members of the State
Government.
The amendment needed was lo reduce the
commission having charge of the expend
iture of the fund to a plain business basis,
and keep it ciear of providing extra per
quisites for officials and legislators. It has
heen made better instead of worse by adding
the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor
lo the eight legislators provided with a pro
longed junket at the co;t of the State. The
bill displays the usual contempt for the
Constitution by ignoring the rule that no
Senator or Representative shail be ap
pointed to any civil office under this Com
siocwealtb, and that they shall receive no
other compensation than the salary and
mileage fixed by law for the performance of
lheir duties as members of the General As
sembly. The bill in itself invites a veto, all the
more emphatically from the stupidity of in
cluding the Governor among those who are
to be entertained out of the fund. This im
perils the proper representation of Pennsyl
vania at the Fair, which will be a great
misfortune. But the responsibility will
rest clearly on those who insist upon sad
dling a praiseworthy appropriation with a
petty job.
OT HARMED BY FROST.
Probably there was no question which
had a larger interest to all people yesterday
morning than the one which the vast major
ity of people asked whether the frost had
injured the fruit Few people in Pittsburg
are directly interested in fruit-raising, but
the difference made in the pleasures of life
if fruit is dear or if it is cheap affects every
person in the country. "With that universal
interest in view it is a pleasure to report the
opinion of experts that the frost of night be
fore last did not injure the iruit at all. It
was a close approach to disaster, and a repe
tition of the cold snap in damp weather may
yet be sufficient to ruin the crops. But up
to the present time the prospects are encour
aging for a profusion of fruit next summer
that will go far to compensate for the scarc
ity last year.
THE THREAT OF YELXOYT FEVER.
The report that one of the vessels arriving
in New York last week had three cases of
yellow fever on board indicates the need of
more than ordinarily strict quarantine
against that disease. The typhus, the grip,
and other epidemics which have given tha
nation occupation of late, are cold weather
diseases. The yellow fever is one that gen
erally takes its start in tropical countries
after hot weather has set iu, and if it reaches
this country, does not as a rule do so till
the summer is well advanced, and it is cut
short by the first frost. If that disease is
already on its travels, an active vigilance all
along our coasts will be necessary during
the entire year to prevent it from getting a
foothold.
ev use ror. xaphtha.
It might be the general opinion that the
means of procuring alcoholic stimulation,
or the worse effects of the anaesthetic drugs,
were already sufficiently large. It would
transgress our space to imply go over the
list of possible intoxicants, from the homely
and effective stone fence up to the entranc
ing but destructive chloral. It is well
known, however, that the man who wishes
to put au enemy in his mouth o: his nostrils
to steal away his brains has a very expan
sive liberty of choice. That it could be
further enlarged has been discovered by
some working girls in a factory of Paris
where naphtha is used as a material. They
have availed themselves of the discovery
that the fumes of that staple can be used
to produce an effect like that of opium
smoking to indulge in a cheap form of that
vice.
It has been asserted as one of the limita
tions of the weaker sex that no woman ever
made a scientific discovery. This is-an ex
ample decidedly ,to the contrary, althongh
whether the discovery is one that will work
greater benefit than injury to the human
race is not stated. A new antithetic may
be of great use in medical practice; but as
the practical application of the discovery so
far has been to give the Parisian working
girls an inexpensive substitute for opium
and hasheesh, its present effect is in the line
of a curse. It i a novel use for one of the J
W$M
products of, petroleum that it can be used to
soothe French working girls to oblivion,
and finally, if the practice is continued, to
reduce them to as utter wrecks as if they
used opium.
THE ERRORS OF THE CONFLICT.
The review of the situation in the coke
regions, given in our correspondence else
where, presents some interesting; points. It
impartially shows the mistakes on both
sides which tend to breaches of the peace,
and thus suggests the means which might
be taken to decrease the frequency of those
disorders.
It is quite easy to see how the indiscreet
tauntings of deputies and private guards
might arouse the ignorant and passionate
element among the strikers to acts of vio
lence. The idea ol an officer challenging
the strikers to commit illegal acts presents
a remarkable commentary on the failure of
the majority to understand the attitude that
should be assumed by representatives of law
and order. Such acts do not, of conrse, con
done the disorder which follows; but it
should be remembered that to the ignorant
and foreign element such talc is a decided
provocation. Those in charge of deputies
and guards should either employ men who
can be trusted not to provoke disorder, or,
if that cannot be done, to keep them under
such strict surveillance as to promptly
check such criminal indiscretion.
But if anyone thinks this is a justifica
tion for the acts of the strikers it is suf
ficient to point out that acts which are
equally in the nature of a challenge nearly
always precede these things. A great many
strikers, we are glad to hear, stay at home
and thus keep out of collisions. If all did
so there would be neither Sheriff's deputies,
Pinkerton guards or militia at the works.
But the disorderlies who march around in
crowds, and have commenced the breaches
of law by assaulting workmen ana destroy
ing property, are, together with those who
direct tbeir movements, the responsible
parties for all the disorders.
The impartial review of the whole situa
tion by our correspondent shows, what The
Dispatch has often urged, that a struggle
like the one going on in the coke region is of
the sort which, however it may turn out,
will cost both sides more than it comes to.
TORPEDOES IN NATAL WARFARE.
Several times since the commencement of
the present Chilean rebellion startling ex
amples of the torpedo's utility in naval war
fare have been presented. Some days ago
this paper printed a dispatch from the seat
of war telling about the blowing up of a ves
sel by means of these agents of destruction.
Every person on board perished, and all
that remained of the ship was some wreck
age floating on the waves. To-day a similar
occurrence is chronicled.
The rebellion itself may Dot be a matter
of absorbing interest to the people of this
country, but the work of the torpedoes will
arrest attention. Their practicability as a
means of defense or offense has been ques
tioned, but the news from Chile seems to
prove that they can be made eminently
practicable in either case. The claim that
thev would revolutionize naval warfare has
been sustained. Time was when sea fights
were of long duration and were often only
ended by one crew boarding the
vessel of the other and engaging in
hand-to-hand conflict The honors bestowed
upon, a marine victor were gauged by
the number of prizes he brought into port,
and his pecuniary recompense was often
calculated on the same basis. The torpedo,
however, has changed all this. Hand-to-hand
conflicts on the deck are now unneces
sary, when one vessel can, from a distance
of some miles, drop an explosive on its
adversary; and the monetary reward
will be small, because, when one of the
things strike a ship, there will be nothing
left to capture. Moreover, it may be ex
pected that in some naval battle of the
future, two contending ships will launch
torpedoes at each other at the same time
and with the same fatal degree of accuracy.
In this case the battle will never be recorded
on the page of history, because no one will
live to tell of it.
As a means of coast defense for the United
States, the torpedo has been the subject of
much talk, some experts even saying that,
if this country does not wish to make con
quests, but only desires to protect itself, a
navy is entirely unnecessary, as torpedoes at
various points will give sufficient protec
tion. They will now point to the Chilean
instances of what the explosive things can
do and argue therefrom to support their
theory. It must not be forgotten,
however, that in times of war it is often
necessary to act on the offensive as well as
on the defensive, and the United States
might wish to carry hostilities to the shores
of an enemy. A first-class navy would be
very handy then without slighting torpe
does in the least The whole matter re
solves itself into a conclusion that in the
future a navy without torpedoes or torpe
does without a navy will be of bnt little use.
PARDON FOR PRUT ART DRUNKS.
The latest thing in sociology is a bill pend
ing in Massachusetts providing that when a
man is convicted of drunkenness for the first
time he shall be let off without fine or im
prisonment. This is supported on the plea
that a warning followed up by lenient treat
ment for the first offense is likely to effect
more in the way of reformation than punish
ment It has been suggested that a kindly tolera
tion for the frailties of human nature in this
respect might regulate the alcoholic habit
on a wider gauge than this measure. Thus,
if the law s-hould provide that a man should
not get drunk more than once a year, and
should punish sharply any excess over that
allowance, there might be a marked im
provement over the present state of affairs.
A license which set aside one day in the
year for one set of imbibers and distributed
the privileges of intoxication with im
partiality over the entire circuit of the sea
sons, with a strict punishment for any dis
turbance of the balance, would be a varia
tion of the broad-gauge theory of dealing
with drunkenness even more original than
the one Droposed in Massachusetts.
But if the principle of reforming the
criminal by letting him off for the first
offense is the correct one, why not apply it
to otber offenses? It may be taken for
granted that if the first drink is forgiven, the
first time of breaking the head of the first
man the drunkard comes across will have to
be condoned. But the principle can be car
ried still further. Why not Jet the man off
the first time he wrecks a bank or steals a
railroad? It would certainly be a great im
provement over the present rule of letting
him off all the time, except when he makes
a fizzle and gets caught at it without any
funds.
The same consideration appears in the
practical application of the Massachusetts
provision. That State may be especially apt
o jump on the bibulous, but in most States
the question is not whether the man is to be
punished when he geU drunk the first time,
but whether he is eveXto be punished for
getting drunk. When fce law snatches up
the inebriate without r J trd to-wealth -or
siatiou, and does so without fail, it will be
time to consider whether he shall be let off
the first time or not.
The great ship canal from Liverpool to
Mancbesterwlll be opened next year, and then
cotton will bs taken directly to the manufac
turing point instead of being unloaded at Liv
erpool. Yet, the tonnage of the entire cotton
crop of the world does not equal the tonnage
of the coal output of Western Pennsylvania;
and the saving by canal transportation on the
cotton is not one-fourth as vital as the saving
by a canal to the lakes on our coal and iron
freights. The example of Manchester shows
what Pittsburg and Western Pennsylvania
should do.
While the President is enjoying the de
lights of the Pacific coast, Secretary Blaine is
bringing in the reciprocity treaties with a rush.
Yet there are some people who profess to be
very much horrified because Foraker said that
Blaine is giving the country a good administra
tion. The English census is displaying its su
periority to onr system by the fact that within
two weeks of the day of enumeration, tho
total of population is announced at 3S.000.000.
Bat it shares a common weakness with ours in
falling below expectation and creating disap
pointment. The low marriage rate and the
large increase in emigration is charged with
the falling off in England; hut it may be duo to
the way which the cold figures usually have, of
cutting down extravagant expectations.
Mrs. Besaxt announces that she will
tell in a singlo lecture "What Tbeosopliy Is,"
whereupon a cotemporary remarks, "Hurrah,
bat will she do it?" She might easily toll what
it is in a single word humbug.
The esteemed Philadelphia Ledger com
mends tho.Duke of Marlborough's article on
American railroads "to those Americans who
are prono to decry the transportation systems
of the United States." From which we conclude
that the Ledger has not yet penetrated that
part of the article which gives a very accurate
sketch of the means by which great manipu
lators transfer railway lines belonging to other
people Into tbelr own pockets.
MOB and lynch law does not work as sat
isfactorily in Oregon as in Louisiana. A deter
mined Sheriff with a knowledge of the power
of the law is a very damaging thing for a mob
to run up against
Mb. Wattekson is quoted as saying
that if Cleveland is not nominated by the
Democrats next year "the Lord will provide."
Perhaps so; but the rules of Democratic con
ventions do not generally contemplate reliance
lor candidates on that source of supply. The
Democratic theory with regard to getting men
into nomination has long been to the effect that
Providence helps those who help themselves.
A Chicago politician has sued the Herald
of that city for $50,000 for defamation of char
actor. This high price Indicates that someone
must have got up a corner on Chicago political
reputations.
The investigation of that charge of
bribery in connection with the issue of licenses
brings out the fact that the charge was an
anonymous one in the first place, and that no
one backs it up now. The desire to ventilate
any assertion of crookedness is all right; but is
it not rather extreme to raise an investigation
of charges which no one will stand over in his
own nameT
Baron Fata, unfortunately for himself,
appears to have got back to Italy just about
the time Rndinl began to consider it necessary
to look about him for a scapegoat that would
not kick.
Xow we are struck by the information
that ground Is to be broken for the Grant Mon
ument next Monday. The rate of progress in
.connection with tbat enterprise heretofore had
produced an impression that the ground was
the only thing about the f nnd thatjiever could
be broken.
Shooting at faithless lovers in front of
the Court Honso is jnstice, in very Irregular
shape, illustrated in front of Its temple.
An annoying error crept into a Harris
burg dispatch in yesterday's edition, by which
it was made to read that the proposed amend
ment to the Taggart revenue bill would tax
horses, cattle, sheep and swine "under" one
year old. It should have read "over" one year
old.
MEH AND WOHEH.
Mks. Isabella Smith Cooper, who
died in Massachusetts the otber day, was the
oldest gypsy In the United States. She was over
95 years old.
Jay Gould, who arrived in Kew York
from his Western trip the other day. Is said to
be feeling quite well. The state ot health of his
victims is not mentioned.
BALLiNGTOjf Booth, Commissioner of
the Salvation Army, deemed it necessary to
preface his little talk in Baltimore by a contra
diction of the rumor that he and his wife had
eloped.
Joe Mulhatton, the Prince of Pre
varicators, who was released from the Chicago
detention hospital tho otber day, is accused of
inventing the story of bis insanity merely to
keep in practice.
Mrs. Cleveland is looking forward to
closing her New York house early in May, and
will then go at once for a quiet summer to tho
re-idenco purchased last autumn by Mr. Cleve
land at Buzzard's Bay.
Count Von Moltke had, just before
his death, been giving daily sittings to Vilma
Parlagh.v, at present the most noted portrait
painter in Germany. She was painting the old
Field Marshal in uniform, with his breast cov
ered with orders.
James S. Clabkson, who made a name
for himself as a decapitator of Democratic
office holders, was spoken of by the New York
papers as John S. Clarkson when he was
elected President of the Republican League
the other day. Such is fame.
Secretary Rusk will soon receive his
grandfather's sword, worn in the Revolution by
Samuel Rusk, and lately In the possession of
WlUiam'Berry, of Macon, Mo., who was Gen
eral Rust's tutor, and who received It from an
uncle of the new owner.
Jenny Lind, according to her memoirs
just published, disliked her career as a pro
fessional songstress very much. Writing to her
father in 1812, she expressed the desire that
God would save her from being obliged to sing
on the stage. During her whole life there was,
a gradual increase of religious feeling, which
doubtless induced her early retirement from
the stage, althongh not through puritanical
motives.
General Wade Hampton is one of
the most interesting survivors of the war. Ho
lost his leg after and not In the war. but he suf
fered a greater misfortune in tbe death of his
son, who was shot down before bis eyes during
a cavalry skirmish. The brilliant cavalry leader
dashed up to the fallen body of tbe boy, raised
it and kissed tbe youth's face, and then rode on
into tbe fight
A Complete Apology.
Persia and the Persians.
A promlnenent official at Tabreez, In the
course of an altercation with an English gen
tleman, called his adversary a liar. Tbe result
was a challenge, which seemed to the Persian
preposterous.
"IfighU" said he. "What shall IflghtforT
I only called him a liar."
"Well," said the gentleman who took the
note to him, "be says you will have to fight
him; there is no way of getting out of it It
will never do to call an English gentleman a
liar." ".
"But I say I won't fight" replied the other.
"Then you must apologize."
"Apologize! What does he mean by apolo
gizing?" '
"Why, take It all back, and say that you are
sorry that you called him a liar. That Is what
it means."
"Is that all?" replied tbe Persian, "Ot course
I'll apologize; I'fl say whatever he wishes me
to say. I lied wben I called him a liar. J. am a
liar, the son of a liar, and the grandson of liars.
What more does he want me to aajt"
WE PAID FOR IT ONCE.
The Almost-Forgotten War Claims Scan-dal-rOver
S130.000 Commissions on the
Direct Tax Twenty Years Ago The
Leader Died Poor.
.'FROM A STAT COBRCSPOKDENT.I
HARniSBUBQ, April 25. That the State,
over 20 years ago, paid, or was cheated out of
1130,471 as commissions on the direct tax, is a
fact wbicb has doubtless dropped out of public
recollection, and wbicb, wben recalled, brings
back to memory one of tbe greatest public
scandals tbat ever startled and shamed the
Commonwealth. That was the famous "War
Claims" scandal of 1872, a steal by which tbe
notorious George O. Evans got over a quarter
of a million of the State's money. The highest
officers of the Commonwealth were charged
with knowledge of, if not complicity in, this
affair, and while some were exonerated and
afterwards attained to higher honors, one, at
least, suffered a blow from wbich his prond
spirit never recovered and wbich many claim
hastened him to the grave.
It was during the Gubernatorial campaign of
1872 that this scandal was most prominently
before the people of Pennsylvania. That was
perhaps the bitterest political fight ever waged
within her borders. Following the advice of
Vallandigham, uttered but a short time before
a bullet, accidentally directed by his own hand,
had ended his stormy life, the Democratic
party "toot: a new departure" and nominated
for President their foe for nearly 40 years,
Horace Greeley. "Anything to beat Grant"
was the cry with wbich tbe leaders attempted
to silence' the objections of the rank and file,
and as the old political watchword, "As
goes Pennsylvania, so goes the Union,"
had -not lost its force, the State
yet voting in October, It was mado
the battle ground, and with Andrew G. Curtin,
Galusba A. Grow, A. K. McClure and otber
Republicans of lesser, prominence as their
allies, tbe Democracy attempted to storm the
very citadel of Republicanism. Their candi
date for Governor was Charles R. Buckalew,
who In 1SG3, by a bare majority of one vote, had
succeeded David Wilmot, of "Wilraot Proviso"
fame, in tbe United States Senate. The Repub
lican nominee was Major General John F. Hart
ran ft, a soldier with a brilliant record, and one
of the most popular young Republicans of the
State. He had twice been elected Auditor
General, and when nominated was serving In
that capacity by direo(ion of tbo Legislature,
David Stanton, elected in 1871 to succeed him,
having died before assuming office.
The War on Young Hartranft
As soon as he was nominated it was charged
against him that as Auditor General, he had
had a guilty connection with the '"War
Claims" steal, and although tbe legislative
committee appointed to investigate tho matter,
of wbich ex-Speaker, then Senator, James L.
Graham, of Allegheny, was Chairman, with
William A. Wallace, since United States Sen
ator, and Harry White, now Judge of Indiana
county, as the other members from the Senate,
and B.L Hewitt, of Blair, since Speaker; A.
C. Noyes, of Clinton, elected State Treasurer
by the Democrats in 1877: D. N. White, of Al
legheny, R. A MoConnell, of Greene, and J. B.
Hancock, of Philadelphia, from tbe Honse,
had fully exonerated him from all blame, be
was made the target tor the bitterest abuso
ever heaped upon a candidate, abase which
only ceased when the people had vindicated
him by 35,000 majority, and given Horace
Greeley's eager chase for tbe Presidency a
turn which ended only in defeat, madness and
death.
The history of this war claims affair, as given
In the report of the investigating committee,
reveals a surprising blending of craft, weak
ness, ambition, credulity and dishonesty, all
ending In disappointment, failure and disgrace.
Tbe man who was put forward to rob the Statu
died in poverty and obscurity, disgrace fell
upon those who had used him, and he whose
political fortunes were to have been advanced,
it sucb. Indoed, was part ot the plan, bad a
blot, justly or unjustly, placod upon a char
acter hitherto irreproachable.
Briefly given, the story is this: On March 1,
1862. the United States owed Pennsylvania
$2,037,331, money expended in equipping troops,
while the State owed tbe National Govern
ment 2,552,719, of which 1,916.719 was for the
direct tax levied in Ibbl, and $006,000 cash ad
vanced by the United States. The Legislature
authorized Governor Curtin to release to the
United States these claims, to be applied on
the direct tax, eta. and to pay tbe usUance in
cash, which was done. No final settlement
was made, there being simply a mutual ap
propriation of the accounts to tho liquidation
of each.
The State's Claims Disallowed.
In 1655 the Government attempted to state
this account, and, apparently ignorant of the
settlement in 1862, "disallowed and suspended,"
for purely formal and technical reasons, all of
the State's claims" except $112 50. Tbe matter
lay in this shape until 1807, wben D. C. Forney,
editor of the Washington JPost, and S. P.
Brown, of that city, got up a scheme for tbeir
collection. A joint resolution was prepared
authorizing Governor Geary to appoint a
special agent to collect these "suspended and
disallowed" claims at a rate of compensation
not to exceed 10 per cent of tho amounts thus
collected, and to be paid out of such collections.
George O. Evans was to be the agent, and
Forney swore that tbe agreement between tbe
three when the matter was begun was tbat
Evans should pay him 110,000 and Brown 20,
000. Evans swore tbat he had paid Brown his
share but had only paid Forney 6,000.
Evans took tbo resolution to Harrisburg, and
on March 22, 1E67, tbe Legislature passed it,
and Governor Geary appointed Evans agent
tho same day. On the very next day
Evans, with marvelous celerity, filed a state
ment of the claims with tbe Third Auditor at
Washington, and so rapidly was the work done
that on April 24. but 31 days alter his appoint
ment, the Third Auditor and Seoond Controller
reversed tbe former decision and credited
Pennsylvania with $1,939,155 of these claims,
before "disallowed and suspended." Tbe Sec
ond Controller afterward testified tbat "this
was a simple carrying through of tbe forms of
auditing and adjustment."
Of this sum 1,304,711 was carried by a counter
warrant to the credit of, tho direct tax. Neither
money nor warrants passed through Evans'
hands for those sums, and yet upon the whole
1,989,155 be claimed 10 per cent commission, or
5198.915 for less than 30 days' work. The Secre
tary of the Treasury, on May 1, 1867, drew his
check for a balance of 878,516 dne the State,
payable to Evans. Not a cent of this ever
reached the Slate Treasury, nor of a subse
quent check for 105,051; nor did the account
ing orhVervpt tbe State know of their payment
until 1871, four years after, although Evans
notified Governor Geary at the time.
Between March 2S, 1887, and October 23, 1868,
he collected 181,168 and kept every cent of it.
He had employed no clerks or assistants, and
the bulk of his work had been done inside ot
SO days. As the resolution for his appointment
provided tbat he should be paid '"10 per cent on
the amounts collected." and out of such col
lections, his maximum compensation should
have been 18,410.
No Language Would Fit the Case.
The Investigating 'Committee well said that
they had not "language sufflclentlyVstrong to
express their disapprobation of so bald an out
rage, or fitting to characterize those inofficial
position 'who seek to excuse or palliate the
wrong."
Out of this generous slice of spoils be paid
Forney J6,r00 and Brown SIS.OW. while 2.600
wont to a member of tho family ot J. Rohlcy
Dunglinson. Governor Geary's private secre
tary. Mr. Dunglinson testified that this was a
present from Mr. Evans, which would show
that Mayor Grant, of New York, was not doing
a strictly original act when he made a present
of 110,000 to Richard Croker's little daugbter.
But Mr. Evans was not yet satisfied. His
appetite for plunder "grew with that It fed
on," and in 1870 Governor Ueary again ap.
pointed him agent to collect claims against the
Government He filed S1,05J,793. and In 15
months, having employed five clerks, at an ex
pense or about $2,500. retained from bis col
lections 81,55.', or 10 per cent, and &5.S19 to
complete his 10 per cent of the first lot A'
together ha retained abont 291,000, of wbich
130,000 was on the direct tax.
In 1871 the explosion came. Brown and For
ney felt tbey were not getting tbeir share, and
kicked. A fuss was raised and the whole
matter came out Robert W. Mackey, State
Treasurer, proceeded against Evans criminally
for embezzlement and brought a civil suit to
recover tbe 291,000, but Judge Pearson dis
missed tbe criminal suit The Legislature ap
pointed an investigating committee, and the
affair was probed to the bottom, Evans left
the State and refused to appear, but an act was
passed making the wilful neglect or refusal to
appear and testify before a legislative com
mittee a criminal offense, and a requisition
upon tbe Governor ot Kew York was about to
be made, when be concluded to present him
self. Brown testified that Evans had given
him a memorandum of the money paid, or
promised to be paid, to Pennsylvania Officials
for tbe necessary legislation to collect the
claims. Among them was 30.000 to "Gov
ernor Geary and friend." Brown swore that
Evans told him tbat this was to be used
in publishing a life of Geary, and tbat be was
also to start a paper in Harrisburg to boom
Geary for the Presidency. Both Governor
'Geary and Evans denied this under oatb.
Evans testified tbat ho was without property
of any kind, and had used all the money col
lected In paying his debts and expenses.
It was charged that Evans had paid Hart
ranft $7,000, but both testified tbat this had
been a loan, and that it had been repaid five
months after it was made. As has been sala
the committee exonerated the Auditor Gen
eral, and also State Treasurer Mackey, who
had been charged with complicity in the steal,
from all connection with, or blame therefor.
Governor Geary was not so fortunate. While
be was not named", yet tbe reference to "this
astounding stato of facts" and "gross derelic
tion of official duty," employed in detailing tbe
fact that Evans, with tbe Governor's knowl
edge, retained large snms of tbe State's money
for nearly four years, could hardly bo inter
preted in any way but one. He sent a special
message to the Legislature relating his action
in tbe matter, but It bad little effect Justly
or unjustly the scandal darkened bis few re
maining years.
Evans died a poor man. Nearly all those
prominently connected with the matter have
passed away, too, and it is only recalled' to
mind by the repayment to the State by the
Government of the direct tax wbich figured in
tbe transaction. Henry Hall.
FIEST CHINESE LOCOMOTIVE.
It Was Made Out of Scraps of Iron Dy Native
Workmen In the Year 1881.
Railways of North China.
In 1875 coal mining was begun at Tongsan,
about 80 miles northeast of Tientsin. It was ar
ranged to build a railroad 29 miles long from
tbe mines to tbe nearest navigable water, that
is tn Lutai, on tbe Pen Tang Ho. It was then,
in 1878, that Mr. Kinder went out as a resident
engineer. Before tbe railroad work could be
begun the authorities had decided to operate a
canal 21 miles long, to a point within seven
miles of the colliery, and to,connect the canal
and colliery by a tramway, to be worked by
mules; this was done.
Fortunately tbe gauge of 4 feet 8 iucbes
was, after much difficulty, sanctioned, but it
was stipulated tbat no locomotives should be
used, but befoie tbe track was completed this
had virtually hecomo a dead letter. Tbe coun
try was easy, but several sharp carves were in
troduced to avoid graves. Subsequently the
owners of these graves objecting to tbe notes
so near to tbe bones of tbeir ancestors, allowed
the remains to be removed, and the line was
rectified. Tbs track was laid with 30-pound
steel rails, flange section, and ballasted with
broken limestone.
During the winter of 1880-81 Mr. Kinder
built a locomotive in the shops of tbe company.
It was built entirely of odds and ends wbich
conld be procured without attracting attention.
Tbe boiler belonged to a portable winding ma
chine. The wheels were 30-inch Whitney
chilled wheels, which had been bought as scrap
castings, and the frames were made of channel
iron. 'Before this was finished its preparation
became known, and orders were issued tbat it
should be stopped.
Eventually, however, through the offices of
1.1 flung cnang, air. iuuuer was allowed to
finish the locomotive, which was christened the
"Rocket of China," just 100 vears after the
birth of George Stephenson. On November 8,
1881, this engine took a paity of officials over
tbe line at a speed of 29 miles an hour.and after
tbat the objections to locomotives were virtu
ally abandoned. Mr. Kinder says there is little
doubt tbat if this engine had noc been built as
it was, in China, and by native workmen, it
would never nave been allowed to run, and the
use ot locomotives would have been postponed
for many years.
Tammany's Tiger Never Dies.
Baltimore American.!
A tiger died in New York from the grip, but
tbo animal was not of the Tammany variety.
Tbo grip is fatal to the offspring of African
jungles, but it is the life ot those of Gotham
jungles.
DEATHS OP A DAY.
The Archbishop of Bogota.
The Rev. Ignacio Leon Velasco, Arch
bishop or Bogota, died In that city on April 10.
He was born in Popayan. Cauca, the adlolnlng
State, to Panama, on April 11, 1834. and became a
member of the Society of Jesus on November 12.
1817. Subsequently, as a member of that order, bo
became an exile and traveled In Ecuador. Central
America and Mexico, and concluded bis studies
in theology at Salamanca. Ihence be proceeded
to the Canary Islands and, after teaching there
for sometime, returned to Fcuador and Mexico.
In 1S82 he was raised to the dlenltv of Bishop of
Pasco, In which province he founded schools and
other establishments or Importance. The decease
of Archbishop Paul led to the appointment of
Bishop Velasco as Archbishop of Boxota.
Emmett McClure.
Emmett McClure died at his residence, at
16 Arch street Allegheny, at 4 o'clock yesterday
afternoon. Ills death was caused by erysipelas
brought on by an attack of the trip. The de
ceased gentleman was connected with the firm of
Jones & Laujchllns. as cashier, for over 30 years,
and was respected and esteemed by the larsre
number of business men with whom his duties
brought him in contact. He was a brother of
Alec McClure, and also of O. W. McClnre. the
well-known broker of Ninth street. Tbe de
ceased leaves a famllv of four daughters and two
sons to bemoan bis "loss. 'Ihe funeral arrange
ments have not yet been completed.
Charles K. Wolters.
In the death of Charles E. Wolters, at
his home on Fulton street Plttsburjr, his parents
and relatives mourn tbe loss and departure or a
light and Joy of a happy household. Although
young In years his solicitude for the happiness of
others had made him the center oflhe converging
lines of family love. The gcntleneis or his dispo
sition won for him a ho-t or friends among those
who knew him. He had been ill but a lew days
with ccrebro-splnal meningitis, and bore bis suf
ferings with patience and calmness. Death was
a sad blow to tbe family.
William Hoskinson.
William Hoskinson, one of the oldest
citizens of Erie, went to sleep Friday and never
awakened. Deceased was born In Fayette county,
nnd S3 years ago was carried In his mother's arms
through the wilderness to the hamlet then at that
point. He was the oldest Freem ison In Erie, and
wis one of the oldest brick building contractors
In that section of the country. Mr. Hoskinson
voted lor both or the President Harrisons. He
leaves a large family, many of whom are prom
inent. Rov. Charles Banna.
Bev. Charles Hanna died in Philadelphia
Friday arternoon. Tbe deceased had been suffer
ing from the grip, which developed into typhoid
fever. He Was at the time or his death pastor of
the North U. P. Church, or Philadelphia. He
was called to his late charge from Monmouth, 111.,
January 1. at about which time he was married.
Mr. Hanna was the son or Kev. T. H. Hanna, ror
raerly pastor of the Second United Presbyterian
Church in this city.
Obituary Notes
GESEUAI. ti. O. VAN Cleve. aged 81, an old
resident or Minneapolis, died Friday night or
pneumonia.
Hon. Homer a. Nelsox, Secrotary of the
State of New York, died In Poughkecpsle, sud
denly, yesterday moruing.
Iseuoen CHArjiAK, oulv son of the late Gov
ernor Reuben Chapman, of Alabama, died Friday
at Huntsvllle, in the 35th j ear or bis age, of con
sumption. Majob Nelson C. HOtchkiss, one of the best
known railroad men In Virginia, died suddenly
Friday evening at bis home in Staunton, Va. He
was Ti years old.
Nestore Cobraso, an Italian-American
painter and opera singer of note, died at his home
in New yoricuiiy Bunuay, ageuoi. no was prom
inent in Italian ucncvoicnt organizations.
Clarence 1 Dressler. the reporter who se
emed the l-imous Interview with W. II. Vandcr
bllrpln which that gentleman was reported assay
ing, "the public be d , "died Friday at Kansas
City.
Ex-Judge John F. Bingham, who has been a
well-known counselor of Jay Oould since the
FIsk-Gould partnership of tbe early seventies,
died early Friday morning at the home of his
physician. Dr. Chauncey M. Field, 83 Broadway,
Plainfleld, N. J.
C'HAFLAIN O. COLLINS, United States Army,
retired, died Friday at Chatham, Mass. He was
a sailor in early lire. He arterward became a Uni
versalis! minister, and waB appointed ch iplaln or
the seventy-second Pennsylvania Volunteers
when the war opened.
Dr. 1SICDARD GUNDRT, Superintendent of tho
Maryland Hospital lor the Insane, at Sprlug
drove, died at that Institution Friday nlgbt of
Brlght's disease and other complications. Dr.
Uundrv was one of tbe best known experts in dis
eases of tbe mind In this country.
COOL White, one or the best-known minstrels
in the country, died In Cbicajro Friday night of
dropsy. He was middleman for Mr. Hooley In
the first minstrel hall opened In Brooklrn. and
his face was a ramlltar one to theater goers ror 20
veirs or more. He became stage manager at
Hooley'a Theater In Chicago scveu years ago.
ex-Ciiiep Justice Homer 'K. Koyce died at
St Albans", Vt, Friday night or apoplexy. Ho
was a member of tbe Thlrtv-nfth and Thirty
sixth Congresses, and had also served his town
and conn ty in the Legislature. He was mada
an associate Justice of tne supreme Court or Ver
mont lml870, and appointed chlet Justice In 183:,
to succeed Judge Pierpont, deceased, bat re
signed last 'fait
MURRAY'S MUSINGS.
Stage People at a Restaurant Gotham
Newspaper Enterprise Silver Coinage
and Gold Mortgages Trouble Ahead tor
Gamblers A Check for a Drink.
There is a modest and quite select little fam
ily hotel on upper Broadway much affected by
the better class of tbe "perfesb." That peculiar
pushing air of new-laid whiskers is always ob
servable about the front office. But this stub
ble invariably comes off before its owner goes
on. Tbe rich and varied assortment of leading
juveniles, ingenues, soubrettes, comedians, am
bitious stars of both sexes, comic opera
singers, stage managers, etc., that may
be seen daily in the' little restaurant at
the rear is altogether charming to the
observant layman. Tbis restaurant,
facing the blank walls of the Metropolitan
Opera House, is not expensive, as New York
restaurants go, but the cooking is fairly excel
lent and tbe pricps beyond tbe reach of those
members of the profession who are not In pro
fessional luck. It is a very pleasant place, not
withstanding the heroic pond lilies, or some
thing else oppressive, on the walls of the
interior, and the polite and well-fed head
waiter has a happy faculty of adjusting the
service to a maximum of comfort and a
minimum of friction. He has need of all bis
experience and knowledge of human nature,
for tbe people who live here are cosmopolitan.
Tbey have little or no nonsense about them
when it comes to eating and know when they
are getting the worth of tbeir money.
There is a pretty good chunk of tbe fictitious
Importance of the stage carried around daily
by these ladies and gentlemen. A woman who
holds tbe center of tbe stage every night
usually wants tbe center of tbe dining room
that is, the choicest place next day. While
there Is no p ossible relation between the big
gilt property goblet of the royal banquet and
the honest glass of table beer, tbe airs of the
footlignt qneen crop out here and insist upon
recognition. For tbe most part as a whole,
they are a gloomy set The ladies sniff at each
other's clothes. It is a painful truth. There is
a tall young ingenue with tbat delightful com
bination ot red balr anil brown eyes, who flits
around with most charming graci and affabil
ity, chatting aw hile at this table and at tbat,
bnt she Is exotic Tbe rnle is to glare at each,
other or ignore the crowd. Louis Aldrich
eats his strawberries as If tbey were personal
enemies. A saturnine expression sits upon his
full round face as be pores over bis morning
paper. Perhaps it is tbe paper and not the
strawberries. Aldrich hates tbe newspaper.be
says, yet he alwajs reads at meals.
Quite the opposite is that bright young come
dian, Jimmy Powers. The latter has a counte
nance made to smile and cause others to smile.
Jimmy's mouth is bis fortune. He makes good
use of ltbere. BometimesJimmy tries to chain
his face down over his dinner, but it never lasts
long. Powers is coining money In "A Straight
Tip," and can well afford to smile. Little Ben
Teal, the expert stage manager, sits over in a
corner with bis wife a tall, straight, dark
woman of uncompromising aspect. Teal al
ways drinks a bottle of Bass at dinner, and
looks as if he were perpetually fnll of grief.
But he isn't He is thinking of bow he would
like to cut some of these parts out aronnd tbe
restaurant. There are bait a dozen small
theatrical families about the bouse. And tbe
mothers invariable take tbeir children far up
the room, where their chatter cannot be over
beard and where the maternal crow's feet will
be less distinct Tho breakfast table is very
trying on footllght favorites. Only the young
actresses fondly sit in tbe glare of the electric
light. Then, a new and wonderful wrapper
win occasionally strike tne whole outfit fairly
speechless. To the layman all of these faces
are familiar. You bave an Indistinct recollec
tion of having seen this or that one at the
Broadway, at tbe Casino, at Palmer's, at tbe
Bijou, or somewhere, you know not exactly
wh ere and don't care enough about It to Iden
tify them.
A Typical Southern Lady.
Colonel Wbarton Green, of North Carolina,
was at the Fifth Avenue Hotel last week, ac
companied by his excellent wife. The latter
was the wife of tbo late Hon. David Davis.
Several Washington correspondents, myself
amone'thoin, went down to Fayotteville to write
accounts of the distinguished Wedding, which
occurred on Wharton Green's plantation.
Colonel Green had a lovely daughter, afterward
a noted Washington belle, now married and
settled in Wilmington. The old lady was still
living, and, together with tbe bride then soon
to bo, the household was an interesting one. Tho
family residence was one of those old-fashioned
verandaed Sontbern affairs, and sat right In tho
middle of a large vineyard. It was three miles
from Fayetteviile, and the must tbe newspaper
men could Jo was to ride out dally through tho
tall turpentine trees and sand and sit on the
fences. This continued for a week, and then
the family carriage was intercepted in tbe mid
dle of tbe forest and tbe brief story of the
wedding was imparted. Jndge Otto was best
man. I accompanied tbe wedding party down
tho Cape Fear river to Wilmington, where wo
had a hotel wedding breakfast, and thence to
Charleston.
The pleasures and incidents of tbat trip wero
pleasantly recalled by tbe presence of one of
tbe principal figures, now Mrs. Green. It is a
somewhat remarkable coincidence that one
who attracted so much attention because of
her marriage to Judge Davis, should have
finally gravitated back to her old borne in
North Carolina and become the wife of tbe
man who had formerly given her away to an
other. Always a lady of high breeding and
gentle, retiring disposition, Mrs. Green is of
the best type of the Southern woman, at home
anywhere, but chiefly admirable under the
sunny skies.
The Gold Mortgage Myth.
Every now and then tbe statement is made
by Eastern monetary writers that a very large
proportion of the farm mortgage indebtedness
of tbe West an Northwest is made payable,
principal and interest, in gold. The last num
ber of the Century Magazine gives editorial
sanction to this financial myth, which first
made its appearance in the New York papers
during ;the pendoncy in Congress of tbe free
coinage bill.
"If we were to bave free silver coinage,"
says the Century, "and tbe country were to
reach the silver standard, and gold wero to rise
to 120, or thereabouts, mortgagors who are
conntmg upon having their rents reduced by
the change. would soon discover their error."
This from the alleged fact of their gold
mortgages. This seems to prove too much for
practical purposed, since if it were true that a
majority of moneylenders bad their; money out
on a gold basis fhey would fall into any scheme
tbat promises to make gold as scarce and as
dear as possible. But this gold mortgage bug
bear doesn't exist, as the Century could easily
ascertain II it desired to do so. in course, we
expect to read such things in an opposition
newspaper. When a great magazine, bow
ever, solemnly airs sucb a fallacy for sober
fact it elves every fairmindod man a twinge of
contempt.
Inspector Byrnes and Gamblers.
Inspector Byrnes is a taciturn man. but when
he has anything to say it is with an everlast
ingly startling effect He gave his opinion the
other day about tbe character of tbo gamblers
who have been fleecing the public at Gutte'n
berg nnder the guise of racing sports, and tbat
opinion was about the hottest arraignment
those so-called sporting gentlemen ever list
ened to. Tbe Inspector ajdu't deal in generali
ties, but went over tbe personality of the indi
vidual gamblers and showed up their unsavory
records. There has been a good deal of com
plaint about the Guttenberg sharpers. Enough
of their tricks have found their way into tbe
New York papers to scare away from tbat
track anybody of common sense.
All of these warnings, however, do not Have
tbe slightest Influence upon tbe poor fools and
worse who are infatuated with tbe race-track.
Sometimes it Is tbelr own money, and some
times It's tbe money of 'their employers. It
goes, just tbe same. No amount of experience
teaches the race-track man anvthmg. At
least, nothing short of open pnblic disgrace and
tbo penitentiary. The lnpector is determined
to niako be operations of tbe race-track hai p
ers as difficult as possible, and will do his best
to close every pool room in New York.
The Newspaper Market Glutted.
The warm newspaper rivalry that expends it
self In chromos and personal visitations smacks
of country journalism. But New York Is noth
ing it not provincial. You are assailed on every
hand in some way or other by newspaper
agenti. A newspaper is lighting its way in all
tbo other papers are squeezing it while they
are still desi-erately kltliiiig each other. 1 be
agents are lying in wait for tho unsuspecting
citizen when ho gets up in tbe morning, catch
him on the trains,, button-hole him at bis office.
You must take the paper. If you don't want
to pay for it, why, it is sent to you for nothing.
They Are All Stars Now.
This is the season of the year when the re
turning actors sport good clothes on the Strand
and talk of coming engagements at $150 per
week. Three months hence tbey will be swarm
ing aronnd tbe dramatic agencies glad of a job
of any kind at 525.
A Hai binger of Spring.
A pair of russet shoes came out boldly ou
Broadway tbe first suuny day last week. They
made some people look faint.
A New Wrinkle at the Bar.
One of tbe newest metropolitan wrinkles b.
to give a customer a check for 2 cents rebate
on a 15-cent drink, so tbat tbe next drink at
that bar will be but 10 cents and tbe check. As
tbe custom is to give two drinks for a quarter
it Isn't necessary, nnder the new regulation, to
call In a friend in order to obtain tbe reduction.
Tbat2-cent check acts as a reminder of un
quenchable tbirst.
Fanny Davenport's Cleopatra.
Miss Fanny Davenport's "Cleopatra" Is an
Ideal representation of Egypt's famous Queen
strong, poetical, vacillating, affectionate,
sensuous. She looks the part, does Fanny; of
the earth, earthy. -
chablm Theodore Mubbat.
New Yobk, April 25.
A BEVEHGEFUL BAT.
A Rodent Punishes a Doctor and Then
Commits Suicide.
Beaver Citizen.!
Dr. T. J. Richie, a physician of Beaver Falls,
bas bad an experience with a rat dnrlng tbe
past week which he will not forget for some
time.
Recently be has been experimenting on rats,
dogs and cats and otber small animals, for the
purpose of studying the process of digestion.
He would place the animals under tbe influ
ence of chloroform, and .then, after cutting
them open and noting the working of tbe
digestive orgaas, would sew up the wound,
anoint it with a healing salve and let the ani
mal go.
On Saturday last he captured a large rat and
placed It under the influence of the drng,
when, to his surprise, be discovered tbat the
animal was one he had previously operated
upon.
He examined it for a second, and then, just
as upturned to his case to get the necessary in
struments to make further investigations, tbe
rat revived, jumped from tbe table, sprang
into tbe open fireplace and escaped up the
chimney. The doctor, thinking the rat would
nop out of the top of tho chimney, ran out on
tbe street to see it, but no rat appeared.
That night as he lay asleep he was awakened
by a sharp pain in his finger, and opening bis
eyes he saw a rat, wbich proved to be tbe one
wbicb bad escape'd from him the previous
evening, scamper off tbe bed and up tbe chim
ney again. He examined his finger and found
it badly bitten.
He washed and bound un tbo wonnd and
went to sleep, only to be again awakened by
the same rat biting bis nos&. He chased it
away, but he got little sleep tbat night for the
rat Kept returning, and when be attempted to
kill it the wily little creature always success
fully took refuge in tbe chimney.
The next night, and for several nights after
ward, tbe rat disturbed his rest by its persist
ent and bloodthirsty attacks. Dr. Richie
couldn't help but be curiously interested in the
little fellow's warfare, even though his experi
ence was rather unpleasant
Finally ho stopped up tbe chimney, but the
rat managed to get out He then left the door
of his room open, thinking tbe rat would seize
the chance to leave the premises. He also set
a trap for it, but be didn't catch it until Mon
day evening.
Wben the rat saw the doctor it showed every
sign of terror, and when he put tbe trap on tbe
table and brought out his bottle of chloroform
abd sponge it gave a despairing saneak, tore
savagely at its abdomen with Its sharp teeth
until tha wound, only imperfectly healed from
tbe previous operation, Durt open, and tbe
poor little animal rolled over, kicked convul
sively and died. It had committed suicide
rather than submit to another operation.
AN APPALLING LIST. .
Tabulation of the Greatest Ocean Disasters
of a Century.
Discussing the snbject of marine disasters,
the Newcastle, England, Chronicle makes np a
list of some shipwrecks tbat have occurred
since 1782. When notice is taken that no dis
aster in which less than 200 lives were lost is
scheduled, the record will be pronounced an
appalling one. It is as follows:
Lives Lost.
178! H. M. S. Koyal George, wrecked off Spit
head eio
1788-HalswelI, Fast Indlaman 3SS
1850 Koyal Adelaide, wrecked on the Tongue
Sands, off Margate 400
1852 Birkenhead, troopship, wrecked lu
Simon's Bay. South Africa 454
1859 Koyal Charter, wrecked off the coast of
Auzelse.i 4f3
1300 Lady Elgin, sunk through collision on
Lake Michigan M7
1885 The London, foundered la tbe Bay of
Biscay Z
1870 H. M. S, Captain, foundered near Flnls-
terre.... ATS
1872 Northrleet run Into offDungeness too
1873 Atlantic, white Star Liner, wrecked on
Meagher Kock SCO
187S H. M.S. Eurydlce, capsized near Vent-
nor 300
1878 Prlnoess Alice, pleasure steamer, run
into in the'Thames, near Woolwich, by
the Bywell Castle COO or 700
3878 Grosser Kurfnrst, sunk by collision 300
1887 Kapunda, emigrant ship, sunk off the
east coast of South America 300
1890-H. M. S. herpent wrecked off the coast
of Spain :oo
1891-UtOpla.... 579
Total 6.504
Smaller disasters, each attended with loss of
life, are almost to numerous to be counted. If
tbey were tbe foregoing total would be in
creased many told.
A DOUGHTY "V7AEEI0E.
Single-Handed an Aged Fencing-Master
Whips Three Men.
New York Tribune.'!
An actor told a story the other evening abont
a fencing master in London who had two sons.
Both of tbem, like the father, were physical
giants. Who was tbe strongest and best fighter
was a disputed question until a burglar got
into tbe bocse one night One ot tbe sons,
opening the front door with a latch-key lata at
night, found a robber in the hall. Tbey imme
diately clinched. The other brother, hearing
tbe noise, rushed downstairs, and not being
able in tbe dark to distinguish a burglar from a
worthy add honest citizen ot London, pro
ceeded to pound both men whom he ran
against. Meanwhile brother No. L. thinking
there were two burglars in the bouse, tnrned
half of his attention to tbe new enemy, and tbe
fight became desperate. Tbe father, anakened
by the uproar, rushed down stairs with a
heavy walking stick. Tben tbe fight was
something to admire, but to avoid.
Wben it was all over and tho gas was lighted
by tbe aged fencing-master, it was discovered
tbat he had whipped not only the burglar hut
his two sons. When tbis story was told an En
glishman was one of the party. "Well," he
said, "I never before beard of abnrglar so
reckless as to enter tbe house of an English
fencing-master. Served him right"
An Ante-Campaign Canard.
Chicago Mall.
When President Harrison first announced
bis Intention of visiting California the state
ment was made that Senator Stanford was to
foot tbe bills. Tbis the. Republican press in
dignantly denied, asserting that President Har
rison would pay all the expenses ot tbe trip
from his own pockot. As the trip is estimated
to cost about 185,000 Benjamin is likely to
leavo the White Hone a bankrupt since 15,
000 is a small sum to be devoted to tbo ex
penses of the Presidcntal household for four
years.
What It Looks Like.
Boston Herald.l
It is explained that Commander Reiter has
not been lully restored to the navy. His detail
is for purely scientific duty, and the ship which
he is to command will not carry a single gun.
All the same, it looks as if the naval authorities
recognized the fact that Commander Rciter
had been a llttio too harshly dealt with, and
that all hands needed to be let down easy.
Where Wo Aro Wise.
Indianapolis News.3
The English and Portuguese are about to
come into conflict over tbelr possessions In
South Africa. The United States are spared
what is a continual source of contention amon,
other conntries. We bave no colonies iu for
elgn lands and want none. Our interests am
all "under one roof," and so united and firm as
to 'fear no foreign interference.
Secession's Snarl.
Birmingham, Ala., Axe-Herald.J
So distinguished a soldier and son of the
South as Colonel J. Courtney Hixon. Com
mandant of the corps ot cadets at the Onlver.
sity, speaks of "Decoration Day." Don't do It
any more. Colonel. The victors "decorate."
We observe tho day as a "memorial" of tho
dead.
But He Is nn Expert on Calico.
Washington Post'.
Secretary Foster has bad to do with Indian
treaties and other delicate questions, but he is
too shrewd to take part in the controversy of
the lady Board ot Managers of the World's
Fair.
CDKI0DS CONDENSATES. -
It is reported that a wild animal resem
bling a bear in shape, but striped like a leop
ard, bas been seen near Empire. Ga.
During the past few years crime bas de
creased to such an extent in England that over
200,000 a year less 13 spent upon prisons than
was tbe case ten years ago.
Maple trees have been set out at various
points through tbe South, and if it is found tha
sap will run well, groves of them will bo planted
instead ot orange groves wherever possible.
Thirty-five years ago, an Augusta, Me.,
man bought a clock from a jeweler. The clock
ran and kept good time until the night of tba
.jeweler's deatb, which happened about two
months ago, wben tho clock stopped and ha
not run since.
Pearls get sick, and, like men and wo
men, require a cbange of climate when their
health is bad. or else tbey will crumble and
die. When ill tbey lose their luster and be
come chalk-like, but rapidly improve if given
a cbange of air.
A subterranean Boman temple has just
been unearthed at tbe foot of the Calvarien
berg at Badeu, near Vienna. In a niche of tbis
cave or Mithras grotto are tbe remains of an
altar hewn out of tbe rock. Fragments of
Roman vessels and utensils, as well as knives,
arrows, lamps and coins were also found.
The largest flowing well in the world
has been struck two miles west of Hnron, S.D.
The well Is 935 feet deep, bnt will be put to a
depth of 1,000 feet. If possible. The flow is esti
mated at 10,000 gallons per minute. It flooded
the ground so rapidly tnat great ditches wero
cut to carry the water into the Missouri river.
A mule shipped from Kentucky con
cluded he could not wait to he unloaded in the
regular way from the car, and while the train
was switching about crawled through the little
window in the end of tbe car, fell to the track
and threw tbe car off. How an average-sized
mule could get through tbe little window is a
mystery.
Lightning performed two unusual feats
at a house on Bean Hill, Norwich, Conn. It
cat half an inch off the rim of an inverted gob
let on a table and left the goblet sitting as it
found it. This work is said to have been dons
as neatly as if it had been done with a diamond.
The electricity also sent the bands on the dial
of the clock four bours In advance ot the true
time without stopping tbe clock.
There is in an Alabama town a colored
man who is quite a well-known character.
He is a chronic laugher, and, no matter what
kind of conversation is begnn, bis rlslbles get
tbe best of bim, and be bends himself double
and often rolls over when he is very much
overcome with laughter. The boys frequently
stop him on tho street just to see him laugb,
and It is an amusing sight to watch him.
A Newburyport, Mass., man has in
vented and built a novel craft She is about IS
feet long, and bas two cockpits,wh!cb are large
washtnbs, the bandies being left on. She Is to
be named tbe Washwoman, and will run as an
auxiliary to the American Yacht Club, to do
their laundry work during the summer season.
In the winter tbe tubs can be taken out and
used at home. A patent has been applied for.
Au editor in a large French town re
cently published this notice: "Tbe wine mer
chant who sold me last week a bottle of lemon
ade flavored with vitriol, for a bottle of cham
pagne. Is requested to send me, within 24 hours,
a bottle of genuine champagne, falling which
his name and address will be made public."
The result was that he received almost unlim
ited contributions of first-class wino forthwith.
A soldier's widow with two children
moved from tho East to Wyoming two years
ago for the purpose of holding a mining claim
left her by her husband. She maintained her
self by teaching tbe school in Jawbone Gulcb,
and held possession of her claim by doing with
her own hands tho required amount of assess
ment work. Whiledoingtbis she has uncovered
a body of rich quartz, and tbe mine promises
to be one of exceptional valne.
An Alabama colored boy about 16 years
of age, who has only had a short apprentice
ship at tbe blacksmith trade, bas constructed
a bicycle ont ot raw material. Tbe wheels are
made of tire iron and steel rods, the beam of an
old iron pipe and the saddle of scrap iron. It
Is very strong, and wbilenot quite as light run
ning as tbo factory machine, it answers the
purpose admirably. He rides his bicycle with
skllL He Is at work on an invention, but will
not divulge the nature of it
A curious story is told by a Texas man.
He said that last Wednesdav a colored woman
living along the river bank lost her 2-year-old
child, a boy just able to walk, and search was
made, but unsuccessfully, and tbe mother
gave it up for lose Further, that some fisher
men, while returning from an excursion, found
tbe babe, alive and well, perched on some
driftwood drifting placidl7 toward tbe Gulf,
abont 20 mile3 down tho nver; that It took the
fishermen two days to discover the mother aud
restore the babe to its home.
There is a goose in Alpharretta, Ga.,
that walks around on an artificial leg. The
goose met with the misfortune to loso a
foot somehow. It hopped wben It traveled,but
could not hop fast enough to keep up with tbe
balance of tbe gee'e. Its owner took a joint
of cane and fitted tbe leg of tho goose in the
hollow of the cine, bound it to tbe leg of tbe
goose with a cord and cut off tbe lower end ot
tbo cane even with the foot that was not in.
jured. Tbo goose now walks with ease, and
seemingly without pain.
A great sheet of plate glass that fell and
went to flinders in Brooklyn the other day, had
a queer history. It was about 12 feet squaro
and was worth 1,200. It could bave been made
in tbis country, but it could not have been
rarried to Brooklyn, because of tbe tnnnels it
would bave to pass through. It was too bin to
travel on tho canals. So it was made In the
sonth of France. It met with tronble In its trlD
across the Brooklyn bridge, and had to be
canted to one side to pa-s under tbe passenger
platform. After all that, just as It reached Its
destiuation it was smashed.
A sable cloud invaued tbe western sky
over Norwich, Conn., at 5:30 o'clock the other
atternoon.and a single thunderbolt shaped and
flashing like a cimeter, fell straight to tbe earth
at East Great Plain, in the suburbs of the city.
It went down the chimney of a new house la
tbat village. In whose cellar carpenters were
working; and speared one of them, killing bim
instantly. Abont him woro several other men,
but it picked him out in the group and tbe rest
were not hurt. Tbe crash of thunder that fol
lowed wat deafening. Tbere was no other
lightning flash. The sky was clear at the time,
and tbo cloud moved around to tbe southeast.
An inquest was held at Falmouth, Ire
land, on Friday on tbe body of a butcher, car
rying on business in Princess street Falmouth,
who met with bis death under singular circum
stances. The deceased and bis wife were on
the best of term. Onrising from dinner on
Wednesday they went into their shop, when
the deceased remarked that be should have a
hot job in running down fat. His wife took up
a sharp knife and commenced scraping the fat
into a basket saying she could jump over her
husband's bead for doing work. Deceased laid
hold of bis wife, and swung ber sharply round,
when doing so tbe knife wbich she held pens
tra:ed his chest and he died shortly afterward.
Tbo jury returned a verdict of accidental
death.
SOME SUNDAY SMILES,
"We are a nation of typewriters," said
Cynlcns.
'Then we should have a dictator Instead of a
President itansey's Weekly .
In a New York Pnblic School Thomas,
whyareyoa not paying attention? Whydoyoa
smile?
"I was Just thinking about something."
"Well, please bear In mind It you want to Ihlnk,
yon have to do it outside or this schoolhouse. .
Board of Education.
Bob Bunkum (actor) Failure? I should'
think it was! Why. the whole play was ruined.
Fair Hostess How was that?
.Bob Bunkum Wiit. at the end or the last act a
steam pipe burst and hissed me off the stage.
JSuffaio Express.
"Aha! I catch you buying a porous plas
ter, do I? I thought your devotion to fresh-air
theories would bring you to this."
"It ain't tbe plaster that does me good. " an
swered the crank. "It is tbe ventilation obtained
throngh the oles.-IndianapolU Journal.
"The effect nf the Rav. Mr. Harkin's ser
mon on tho terrors of hades was lost."
"How so?"
"Tne church was as cold as a barn, and the
prospect he held out was rather agreeable.
Epoch.
Teacher What gender Is "cart?"
Little Boy Please, do you moan an ash cart?
Teacher Yes, any kind ora cart.
Boy Well, I guess an ash cart mast be of the
female gender, 'cause I saw a bustle banging on
behind one to-day. Harper's JSasar.
THE QUEBX OF SONG.
I'm glad the birds have come again,
1 love to bear them sing:
Their carols jriy and happy songs
such Joy and gladness bring.
1 love them alt but there Is one
1 love by far the most;
That sweet aud tender queen of song
Tbe young spring quail on toast
Boston Couritr.