. P 4" WK - i i ii m vJY J- O f y;j ipcuuj ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8. 1846. Vol. 46, No. 101. Entered at nttsburg Fostofficc. November 14. lssr. a& second-class matter. Business Office Corner Smithfield and Diamond Streets. News Rooms and Publishing House 78 md 80 Diamond Street, in New Dispatch Building. EASTERX ADVERTISING OFFICE, ROOM H, TRIBUNE BUILDING. NEW YORK, where corj plete flies of TIIE DISPATCH can always be fotmd. Foreign advertisers appreciate tfce convenience. -Home advertisers and friends of THE DISPATCH, while in New York, are also made welcome. TEE DISPATCH is regularly on Sale at Brentana's, t Chin Sivore. cu For, and n Ave de VOpera, Parte, .Btw-s, where anyone who has been disap pointed at a hotel netcs stand can obtain it. TERMS OF THE DISPATCH. POSTAGE FUEE IN THE CXITED STATES. Dahy Disfatcii. One Year $ 8 00 Daily Dispatch. PerQuartcr 4 00' Daily Disfatcii, One Month . TO Daily Dispatch, Including Sunday, I year.. 10 00 Daily Dispatch, including Sunday, S ra'ths. 2 SO Daily Dispatch, including Sunday, 1 m'th.. 80 Edxday Dispatch. One Year .. 1 50 Weekly Dispatch. One Year 1 S5 THE Daily Dispatch Is delivered by carriers at 15 cents per week, or, including Sunday Edition, at 2 cents per week. PITTSBUKG. TUESDAY, MAY ID, IS9I. THE STREET ACTS. Thp signing of the street and curative bills by Governor Pattlson puts the city business on the high road to a creditable recovery from the muddle in which it has been struggling ever since the decision of the Bogqs avenue case. All five bills are signed," so that the city is now at liberty to proceed under the new law forneedd street improiements, and at the same time to secure a prompt test on the efficacy of the curative law. As to the first named enactments, we do not think that there is any possible doubt of their validity. They have been framed with, a special view of meeting all objections, and vwll doubtless be so generally recognized as impregnable that they will stand without even being ques tioned in the courts. On the other hand, the stringency of some of the provisions will much decrease the activity of street im provements in years to come. The fact that no otreet can be improved without the petition of a majority of property-holders affected, both in number and interest, will confine future work to streets where there is a nearlj unanimous demand for the im provement But this difficulty may pro vide Its owacorrectlve. 'When its effect is fully understood purchasers of property n ho ha e a preference for pavements and sewers will avoid new streets unless the requisite petition is obtained, and it will become necessary for property-owners to sign the petition before they can sell their propcrrj. The future is not quite so clear with re gard totheeffectof the curative bill; buttlie way is fortunately open to the city to make it clear. Even if the validity of the act were more indisputable than it is, property-owners, after recent experience of the disadvantage of promptitude in the way of paying assess ments, are not going to pay those made under this act until it is sustained by the Supreme Court As to the bearing of the Chester case on our curative act, it Is per--tinent that in that case the trouble was not with any act of the city with regard to the streets, but with the general charter law of the State: while in our case the fact that inherent defects in the law by which the improvements were begun may be re garded as ital by the Supreme Court When in addition we find it cited as a material fact in the Chester decision that a majority in number of the property-owners petitioned for the improvement, while in the majority of our own streets not even amajoiitj in iiitp-t signed the petition, it is quite Important that the city shall secure a full test of the act before making a gen eral demand on the property-owners for their assessments. Under the terms of the act it will take about three months to got an assessment fairly before the lower courts. This indi cates the necessity of prompt proceedings in order that a case in which the law is fully tested shall reach the Supreme Court at its October term. TIIE SCHOLARS' IIOLIDAT. The idea of a monster picnic for the school children, as outlined in our local columns this morning, is one which, un doubtedly, will meet with the approval of both paients and teachers. The Dis patch has, ere this, pointed out the necessity for some such affair to bo held annually, and takes pleasure in furthering the present plan. In the past, when the school children of this city vishcd to have an outing, they were compelled to go to Allegheny and while they were always welcomed, the parks of that city were not large enough to accommodate the boys and girls from both cities. There may be a few who will say that the school children have already enough holidays. If number alone were to be taken into consideration this .might prove true. But there are many so-called holidays during the school year on which no amusement is provided for a child and he is left to his own devices. The fact that the proposed outing is scheduled for a Saturday this year will have some effect in making a trial possible By all means let the attempt to equal our sister city's "Jubilee Day" be made. One thing should be remembered. "While the affair is primarily intended for pub lic school children those who do mot go to our national institutions should be made welcome. Young blood, w hether in school or factory, needs sunshine and fresh air occasionally. trxtii and popularity. The experience of the French lecturer who last week undertook to expose to an audience of his countrymen the abuses of Siberian prison methods is illustrative of a general trait of human nature. No one disputed the accuracy of his statements; but Russia is an all of France, and there fore Russia is popular. Consequently one of the auditors, described as a "savant," proposed cheers for Russia, which were given as a complete .response to the lec turer's comments on Russian prison methods. It is a good illustration of the general idea that unpleasant truths can be silenced by the shouts of a prejudiced audience that a person of scientific attainments should have led in this idea of howling down any criticism of Russia. Of course, the scientific man would never think of arguing that it would dis prove a scientific assertion to call, on the people to shout against it But scientific men, from the days of those who frowned down Columbus, are likely to be just as prejudiced and unreasonable as any other kind. Consequently, this specimen of the class with (he exuber ance of the Idea "Our country right or J wrong" extended to the allies of his country secured a practical declaration not that the charges against Russia are untrue, but that it is the kind of truth that France will not listen to just now. Of course, no other nation can turn up its nose at France for this exhibition. It is common to all nations that those who undertake to tell unpopular truths must expect to be cried down. No longer ago than last year, the members of the Re publican party who dared to say that the party leaders were faking a false course underwent practically the same experi ence. They were cied down; but the event has proved that they were not far wTong. It Is a rather ctnf ortunate trait of universal human nature (that the man who tries to tell unpopular-truths will not be given a hearing. HOW TO MEET CO-HPETITOBS. The Baltimore Manufacturer' Qazette, whose especial function itiis to report the progress of manufacturing enterprises In the South, reports the organization of a million-dollar corporation to manufacture steel at Birmingham, Ala. It is to be sup posed thatan enterprise of that magnitude has not been entered into without duajn vestigation of the availability of the ma terials of that section for steel-making. Heretofore this has been a doubtful if not negative quantity; but it is necessary to recognize that if actual experience should demonstrate the ability of turning out good steel in the Alabama region, a power ful competitor of the Pittsburg steel inter est will be brought into the field. This is a perfectly legitimate enterprise, and Pittsburg" can only regard the pros pect of additional competition with the friendly rivalry that is the feature of hon orable competition. But one of the first and most legitimate acts of an interest when confronted by new competition is to consider how it can strengthen itself so as to be superior to loss of trade. This is the evident point which Pittsburg needs to consider in view of the possible growth of a large and active steel industry in the South. The advantage which the Southern steel industry will have, if it establishes Its in dustrial right to existence, will be the close proximity of ores and coaL Pittsburg cannot secure such a proximity; but it can do what is the close equivalent to it, namely, establish continuous water trans portatioi between them. If it is made possible to bring ore vessels to the furnaces and mills of "Western Pennsylvania, the econom of Northern Alabama in the transportation of materials will be more than counterbalancea by the superior quality of the Pittsburg products and our central position with reference to their distribution. In other words, the extension of lake navigation to Pittsburg means that West ern Pennsylvania can be placed above all competitors in the iron, steel and coal In dustries. That fact should unite every citizen of Western Pennsylvania in the support of the project A PRAISEWORTHY CAMPAIGN. We notice with decided satisfaction that the Ladies' Health Protective Association are getting decidedly -on the warpath in their movement to rid the city of smoke. The ability to abolish smoke having been demonstrated both at home and abroad, these influential and public-spirited ladies are determined that they will see it done, or know the reason why. One of that organization is quoted as saying that the success of the movement to abolish smoke in Chicago has an especial bearing on the question In Pittsburg. The crowningsuceess of the Chicago effort was in requiring railroad locomotives within the city to adopt smoke-consuming devices. Among the railroads which have equipped their engines with successful smoke con sumers are the Pennsylvania Company, the Baltimore and Ohio and the Lake Shoie. "Now," asks this very discerning lady, "if these railroads can successfully consume their smoke in Chicago, why should they not be able to use the same cleanly devices within the limits of Pitts "burg and Allegheny?" The question is an exceedingly perti nent one, and it is to be hoped that the ladies will direct it with effective force against the railroad authorities at their meeting this morning. But before they attack the railroads they must give their attention to local smoke producers. If the ladies make life a burden for their hus bands, brothers and fathers until the latter have abolished smoke from their chimneys and smokestacks, the conquest of the rail roads will prove an easy victory. Success to the ladies in their public-spirited campaign. AN' IMPORTANT QUESTION. The issue as to whether the dangerous poisoning in the vicinity of Sharpsburg was caused by eating smoked sturgeon or not bids fair to be an interesting one, though difficult to settle. On one hand Is the statement that numerous people purchas ing that viand at different places exhibited the same symptoms. Against this stands the fact that other people ate the same j article at about the same time without any deleterious effects. Of course, the only public interest is in a fair determination of the question of poor and healthy foods. The whole sale dealer who cured and sold the fish has very properly offered to pay for an analysis, and if it is found to contain deleterious ingredients promises to abandon its sale. Such an analysis should be made, os well as thorough investiga tion of the circumstances accompanying all cases of illness notedi If smoked stur geon is a dangerous food the fact should be established beyond peradventure; if it is harmless, that fact should also be made clear. WHERE OCR GOLD GOES. An interesting illustration of the way-in which the financial increments in one part of the world extend themselves to other hemispheres is presented hy the present specie movement The balance of ex change is in favor of this country, but gold continues to flow to Europe. This is because Russia, for purposes of her own, is drawing upon Europe for gold. To make good that draft the European bank ers are buying gold in this country, even when the exchange inflicts a slight loss. An interview with Baron Bleichroder, the great German banker, reports him as saying-that the United States has no cause for uneasiness over this draft on her coin reserves. Indeed, he thinks the United States will have the benefit of it presently. He says Russia is not drawing gold for war purposes, which is not to be expected for at least three years, as that power has just commenced arming its troops with a new rifle. But the Russian Government, being unable to negotiate an extension of its maturing debts, has got to pay certain Dutch loans, and is calling on the gold for that purpose. When these loans are paid the United States, as a strong creditor in the balance of trade, will find the specie flowing Its way. It is fortunate for business In this coun try that the Busslan financial campaign did THE not occur in ine xaii, when such a draft on our reserves might have made the monetary stringency a very serious matter. Wejcan hopevthat the gold will flow our way before next fall; but it wouldnotbe an auspicious time for any of the speculative "powers to try kite-flying schemes without first entering Into an alliance with the European Powers to prevent them from demoralizing the gold reserves.' . The movement of Philadelphia busi ness men to organize a "bourse"' Is one of the features of the awakening of that staid city. But Is it an essential part of the new Phila delphia that it must go to the Continent for its municipal nomenclature. Can it not find a good plain name for its commercial legisla ture in the language of the United States! The fact that it usually takes four years to get a casejeettled in the Supreme Court of the United States indicates that the appeal of the Governorship contest in Nebraska would, under normal circumstances, result in some one getting left. The term of the man on the outside will expire in two years; and it would be little consolation for him to hear four years hence that he was Governor de jure, when there will bo no chance of his ever getting the de facto satisfaction of hold ing the position and drawing the salary. Perhaps, however, the Supreme Court may advance the case on the docket sufficiently to decide that the Jurisdiction over the Gov ernorship of Nebraska belongs to the Su preme Court of Nebraska. The New York press Is beginning to protest that it is time that the highway robberies in that city should he stopped, when it comes to breaking open a mall wagon on Broadway. The only highway robberies whichNew York can condone aro these perpetrated hy corporate combinations on the steam hlghw ays of the land. "The farm indebtedness of Kansas is b elng paid off at the rate of $1,000,000 a month, but this is not the work of the Farmers Al liance," remarks the Boston Traveller. Are we to understand the esteemed Traveller to assert that some one outside of the Farmers' Alliance is paying off mortgages for the farmersT Sinco that organization consti tutes the bulk of the farming population it may be presumed that, if the above state ment is true, the members of the Alliance are paying off their debts by the hard work that is characteristic of the Western farmer. The stupid enmity of some of the Eastern papers toward the farmers of the West goes far to excuse the enmity which the farmers are cherishing toward the East. It is asserted by the Washington Post that tho difference between a boy's throwing and a girl's throwing is explained by the greater length of tho female clavicle. Bosh! The difference is explained by the fact that the girls as a rule do not learn how to throw. A very aggravating and exaggerated specimen of the American hog is pointed out by the Philadelphia Press in the shape of the drunken man on tho street car. The charac terization is a proper one, but it requires a single qualification. One specimen of the American hog exceeds in hogglsbness the drunken man on the street car, and that is tho company which lets him ride there and inflicts him on tho other passengers for the consideration of five cents. Gold departed for Europe at the rate of $4,000,000 on a siuglo steamship last Satur day. WiU some of those financiers who as sert that gold cannot bo driven out of the country, please assert themselves and drive this gold back into the country? The disposition of an Albany organ to make an international issue of the prohibi tion of the British Government on the wearing of swords by the Albany Knights Templar during their summer tour in Eng land is hysterical and Anglophobiac It is sufficient to remark that a Government which can perceive danger in Knights Templar swords would faint away at the sight of a doctor's lancet Now Mr. Edmund Russell is quoted in Chicago to the effect that "color in ladies' dress should not be dumb; it should sing." It is plain that Mr. Russell Is placing himself in strict rapport with tho Chicago tendency tow ard loud dressing. ' Concerning the late Presidental trip, tho New Yoik Sun remarks: "Benjamin Har rison is not n popular man, but he has suc ceeded in great measuro in reuniting his party, and that is no small achievement for a President, even if ho has to travel 10,000 miles to do it." And the same week that the trip ends one of the family organs cartoons Blaine as a chicken thief. Call you this re uniting his party? Now that the curative bill has been enacted into law, the Supreme Court should be given nn early opportunity to say whether it will cure or not. There is a touch of prematureness in the jubilation with which the press of this country is announcing tho nselessness of the Esmeralda because she has to get a fresh supply of coal. As tho Charleston is a vessel of exactly tho samo typo as the Esmeralda she had to get a new supply of coal also. Her only superiority was in the luck of being ablo to get coal wheio the Chilean vessel could not. The frosts have made their ineffectual effort, but tho dry weather continues to get in its woik. Pbesident Diaz, of Mexico, has put himself in tho position of taking a "firm stand against cxtravnganco and over-pledging the national cicdlt." As Diaz himself has done most of tho over-pledging and been guilty of most of the extravagance, his re formation permits a hope that the indomita ble Thomas B. Reed will appear in tho next Congress as a champion of retrenchment and economy. NOTABLES JT0TED. General Jural Early still clings to the Confederate gray as the color of his dress. Rev. Dr. T. P. Mahan, of Cleveland, is named as a possible successor -to the -late Bishop Gilmore. Rev. "Sam" Jones has given notice that ho cannot conduct services at the Round Lake campmeeting this year, and Mr. Moody has therefore been secured. -- Charles Fechier left the jewelry worn by him as Hamlet to Lester AVallack. Wal lack In turn left it to Madame PonisI and she in turn has given it to Frederick Pauld ing. Mrs. Richard Manning, of South Car olina, is tho only woman on record who was the mother of a Governor, tho wife of a Governor, tho sister of a Governor, the nieco of a Governor, and the aunt of a Gov ernor. Countess Aymsuy de la BocHErou cauld is said to be tho most beautiful woman of this century. Her profllo is strikingly like that of Marie Antoinette, and her hair is of tho real shade possessed by the martyr Queen. H. C. Bunnek, author and editor of Puck, lives at Nutley, N. J., where he has.a pretty cottage nearly buriod in the woods, no is a great pedestrian andsomething of an amateur photographer. Ho has a wife" and a little daughter named Nancy. Michael Tschigorin, who recently won the cable chess match with Mr. Steinitz, is 40 years of age, and was born near St. Petersburg. Ho learned the game to which he is now so devoted while about 15 years old, and in less than, 12 months could beat his master, though giving tho latter tho odds of a rook. President Carnot went recently to the Jarein d' Acclimatation, and a Bohemian was asked what ho thought of the French chief magistrate. "Oh, ho is a dignified and gravo looking man," replied the dark cpm plsxtoncd gentleman; "bnt ho always comes with the same woman. For tho Lord's sake, has ho only one?" PETTBTJEG- DISPATCH, A RELIGIOUS MELANGE. The Consecration of the First Methodist Episcopal Nurse Deaconess in New York A Couple of Prominent Ministers Coino to the Defense of Dr. Brlggs. SPECIAL TELEOB IM TO THE DISPATCH. New York, May 18. The second anniver sary of the New "York Deaconness' Home and Training School of the Methodist Epis copal -Church wa3 held to-night in the Park Avenue Methodist Church. Bishop Edward C. Andrews conducted the service which consecrated Mrs. H. L. Jenkins to the work of nurse deaconess. Mrs. Jenkins is the first nurse deaconess in New York. Sho took the regular course of training for nurses at the Methodist Hospital and was the first grad uate from that institution. She left the hos pital just as theDeaconess' Homo was opened in May, 1889, and at once entered the home training school. She has taken the regular two years' training coarse of study and read, ing and 13 the first graduate. The discipline of tho Methodist Episcopal Church provides that "the duties of dea conesses are to minister to tho poor, visit the sick, pray with tho dying, care for the orphan, seek the wandering, comfort the sorrowing, savo the sinning, and relinquish ing all other pursuits, to devote themselves to such forms of Christian labor that may be suited to their ability. No vow shall be ex acted from any deaconess, and any one of their number shall be at liberty to relinquish her position as deaconess at any time." The Conditions Made to Suit. The deaconesses live in the Homo under three different conditions. They may pay their own board and expneses, they may pay their board, but not their expenses, and they may pay neither. In any case, after they have served a proper time in probation and have been recelvedas candidates, they must remain for two years taking a course of reading and study and practical training in the work beforo they may receive their diplomas, xiie nurse deaconesses muse ntso be graduated from some reputable training school or hospital. Tho work of all the dcaconosses while in the home consists in visiting the poor and sick and relieving dis tress in every way possible. They give up all the' afternoon to the work, leaving the home at 130 o'clock and returning at some time between 5 and 6. Their mornings are devoted to reading and studying. Although the Home is strictly a Methodist institution tho work of the deaconesses is non-sectarian.Thcygowherovcrtheyflndthe opportunity. Whenever they are allowed to enter the house they call that a visit; but when they aro admitted no further than the door that is a call. Tho nurse deaconesses finds still different employment. Often her visits continue nnd ore extended into days at the bedside of her patients. Mrs. Jenkins, acting ln.this capacity, has made ovor 700 professional calls and has been remarkably successful in her work. Sho is a woman of pleasing personality, and her kindly manner ana cneor way greatly augment ner useiui ncssinhei: profession. Tho nurse deacon esses live at the Home, but it is not unusual for a deaconess to leave the Home to work under the supervision of one church. In such cases she is under tho direction of the pastor of the church with which she is con nected, but when associated in a Home all members are subordinate to the Superin tendent. The Superintendent of the New York Home is Miss Isabella A. Reeves. There are also connected with the Home a number of associates. These are ladies whose home lives do not permit them to enter tho Deaconess Homo, but who can yet give part of their timo to the work of the Home. The records of tho visits of tho deaconesses and nurse deaconess contain much that is pitiful and unpleasant but there aro many cases reported where tho cheery helpfulness ot the visitors has wrought great changes in tho llfo and conditions of the unfortunates whom they have found out nnd helped. Not always have their ministrations been to the poorest classes; but their work is done for its own sake and not for show, and their records are kept for their own profit only. Calls Dr. Brlggs n Martyr. As a prelude to tho sormon last night the Rov. John L. Scudder, pastor of tho Jersey City Tabernacle, touched upon the trial of Dr. Brlggs. "Another theological war has been de clared," he Bald. "Once more tho disciples of Christ are preparing to do battle with one another, and before this conflict is over I fear many people will bo seriously damaged. It is with great misgiving that I look upon the coming trial of Dr. Briggs for heresy. This is a purely theological quarrel a war fare of opinion which is destined to Increase the dissensions which already exist, if, in deed, it will not sever the denomination. "There is little to be gained in such dog matio conflicts. It is a poor recommenda tion for the gospel of love when the follow ers of the meek and lowly Jesus join in angry debate and exhibit sr harsh, unchar itable controversial temper. Multitudes of people stand aloof and say with a sneer, 'You had bettor convert your selves before you attornpt to con vert us. Whether Dr. Briggs agrees or disagrees with certain statements in the Vestministor Confession whioh, itself, sadly needs revision In my Judgment the entire movement is a mistako and highly Srejudicialto tho Interest of Christ's klng om. In addition to the wisdom of this anti heresy movement I believe it will defeat the very purpose for which it was inaugurated, for it will be national notoriety to the prin ciples of higher criticism for which he stands, and thus bring it down to tho masses. "Dr. Briggs represents a growing party in the Church of God a party which believes in obtaining all possible light upon the Scriptures and that is suro to win. This learned and conscientious professor is sim ply a martyr to the cause of religious pio gress. Whatever may be done with him, and heresy hunters do very queer things at times, tho principle of higher criticism for which he stands is certain to prevail in course of time. "Dr Briggs is a man of tho ago, an inaugu rator of a now era in tho history of the American church. Ho w 111 bo remembered centuries nftcr his persecutors He forgotten in the gravo." Another One Defends tho Professor. In his prelude talk yostorday the Rev. Thomas Dixon, Jr.v discoursed on tho "Re ligious War Against Prof. Brlggs." "The religious war that has been bicwingfor a generation," said ho, "has now fairly begun. Tho dear old solemn owla composing the Presbyterian Sanhedrim of Now York have delivered their verdict. Prof. Brlggs must bo arraigned and trlod for thinking a crime for which they look up and truly thank God they are guiltless. The Protestant religious world has been rapidly dividing into two great classes during the past few years tuose wno tninK axiu muse wno ooiieve it is a crime to think. "I defy any man who thinks to taker Shed's Dogmatio Theology,' believe it and Reason keen hor throne. The lunatic aav- lum would certainly be his home." Mr. Dixon found four issues involved in the heresy trial: human tradition against divine progress; human dogmatio assertion against tho religion of the Bible; a paper creed against a vital religion, and slavery against freedom. "The men who make this fight," cried Mr. Dixon, "make no intelligent appeal to the Bible. They simply use the Bible as a bludgeon. With the bigness 01 the typo and Saper and binding they try to beat out the rains of those wno refuse to bow down to a little god they havo -created in their own way. They appeal to human dogmatics and proposo to try him by standaidsmade by human hands. Theyproposctatry him for heresy for undermining tho Bible; at the tamo time refuse to confine themselves to its teachings for the standards by which to con dnctthetiial. "This fight means reason against stupidity, mis-called faith. Faith is a moral act of tho soul, and is utterly foreign to the pious stupidity which rejoioes in swallowing dog matic contradictions and absurdities. This fight means n battle for tho very life of Christianity with its misled but earnest de fenders." EEPOBTEBS HOT BARBED. Tho United Presbyterian Ministers Discuss a Very Interesting Question. The question as to whether the reporters should invade their meetings wns the chief question, before the United Presbyterian ministers yesterday. It was called up by a resolution presented by Hev. T. W. Young' to oxcludo the press from the meeting. Tho question was discussed, but it could hardly be said to havo been de batod, as the largo majority of the ministers favor tho idea or having the reporters swell the audiences they uddiess. A vote was taken and only I Out of about 30 voted to close the doorjn their faces.. Kev. R. M. Russell rend nn exhaustive pa per on tho "Tithing Law." It proved so in teresting and entertaining that it was unan imously decided to request its publication in tho church paper. The question to be dis cussed next week will bo "What Lesson May Wo Learn from Dr. Talmago as a Preacher?' A Poker Expert Speaks. Chicago Post, "A Norwegian has Just discovered a new substitute for ivory. On a pinoh there are Amorioans who have foundmatches orbeans a fair substitute. TUESDAY, MAY 19, 0UB KAIL 20U0H. A Briggs Critic Criticized. To the Editor of The Dispatch: In the criticism of. "Dr. Briggs on the Bible" by Dr. Sutherland, as reported In this morning's Dispatch, he sovs tho "urgent bold speech" of Christ, "without one word of caution," was "Search the Scriptures." This text, John v., 39, is ono of tho most doubtful interpretations In the New Testament, and is the one on which Dr. Brlggs could most safely rest his case. If thoso who are Interested in the discussion' of this question nised by Dr. Brlggs -will get a copy of the Now Version of the Scriptures they can see that this text so con fidently quoted is changed from the impera tive to the indicative mood, and reads: "Ye do Bearch the Scriptures because ye think that in them ye have eternal life," and then Christ adds as a rebuke of such "thinking," "Ye wiU not como unto mo that you may havo life." In Lange's great Commentary, after giving the arguments in favor of the imperative mood, he says: "These arguments are in themselves insufficient, ana must give way to the one consideration that the connection and natural sense of the passage as a whole requires the indicative. Among Bible critics of ancient and modern times, who agree with the New Version in not adopting the imperative, "Search the Scriptures," as given by Dr. Sutherland, may be found such names as Cyril, Erasmus, Beza, Bengal, Lucke, Meyer, Heny. Dodridge, Olshausen, Barnes ana jnany others. In view of this conflict of sentiment among Bible critics, the counsel of the Church, in which the writer has long been a minister, "Not to at tempt to settle doubtful questions by doubt ful texts," seems to be especially applicable to the Briggs controversialists at this time. C. W. H. 6121 LlBEnTT AVEBUE, PlTTSBCHO. FOB COMMERCIAL INTERESTS. The Trans-Mississippi Congress to Meet at Denver To-Day. Deuveii, May 18. The Trans-Mississippi Congress will meet at the Fifteenth Street Theater to-morrow nt 10 "o'clock. Seven hundred delegates have already arrived, amonr them President H. M. Frisback, of Fort Smith, Ark. "Every incoming train bring! additional delegates and by to morrow morning it Is expected ovor 1,000 will jiave arrived together with as many visitors. The object of the congress is to unite the people of. the States nnd Territories west pf the Mississippi river for the promo tion of their commercial interests. Among the questions to be discussed will be: "Lekislatlon Affecting Commerce, Trans portation and Finance;" "Improvement of Watetways, Lake, Gulf and Pacific Ports;" "Maijrets for Western Products:" Promotion of Manufacturing and Agricultural Inter ests.'! "Irrigation and Reclamation of Arid Land);" "Western Mineral Lands and Their Development;" "Cause and Effects of Busi ness Combinations and Their Uses;" Reel, prociiy and International Trado Extension;" "Thoandinn Question nnd Opening of Indian Lands," and such other subjects as maybe worthy of consideration. An Inter-State Commerce Trip. Washikotoh, May 18. Beginning May 18, Inter-State Commorce Commissioners Mor rison, Bragg, Veazey and Knapp will make a circuit to the Pacific coast nnd return, and hear cases and make investigations at vari ous points on tho louto. PEOPLE COMING AND GOING. G. M. Gardner, superintendent of the Mono Mining Companv, of this city, left yes terday via the Lake Erie road, for Pitkin, Col. William Adams, the Southsldo glass man, is treasurer of tho company, and he, with several others, will go out in a few days. Judge Inghram, of Waynesburg, was at the Union Depot last evening to receive the body of Albert S. Black, who died of con- gestionofthe lungs nt Washington. Black 1 a brother of Mrs. Inghram, and formerly tias assistant cashier in the Waynesburg Bank. r J. C. Herold and wife, of Little Bock. registered at the Duquesno last evening. Mr. Herold was a former Pittsburger, and went to school with C. L. Mageo. He hasn't been in the city for seven years, but during that time, he says, the place has grown wonder fully. Charles H. Nutt, representing the lam.es1 Home Journal of Philaaeipma, a phe nomenal publication which is a visitor to nearly a million homes, is at the Anderson. He leaves for the West this evening, going by easy stages slopeward. W. S. McGinnis, Assistant Superintend ent of the Railway Mail Service, inspected the local wagon and messenger service yos torday. Ho says the horses and wagons compare with tho best in tho country. Mrs. August Fecke, of 1402 Carson street, Southslde, yesterday started on a trip to Germany in company with her 10-year-old son. She expects to visit hor paients and and will be gone four months. Among those who went toHarrisburg last evening were A. C. Robertson, Adjutant General McClelland, Mr. Giles, W. C. More land and Diok Quay. O. A. Lappe started for Europe vestorday to spend a year. He will bo in England dur ing the summer, and put in tho winter in Germany and Egypt. C. A. Egley, commercial agent for the Queen and Crescent route, is on one of his monthly visits to this territory after freight. Coroner Heber McDowell and Mrs. Mc Dowell returned yestorday from a trip to Eastern cities and the seashore. General A. J". "Warner, of Marietta, and Thomas Sutton, an Indiana banker, are at the Seventh Avenue Hotel. H. M Horton, of Pomeroy, and A. J. Packard, of Youngstown, are stopplngattho Monongahola House. Alonzo Loring, the ancient Wheeling nail manufacturer, was nt the Monongahela House yesterday. "William Garrett, Secretary of the Illinois Steel Company.is at tho Duquesno. He 13 here buying iron. Postmaster McKcan left for Norfolk last evening to attend a land sale. E. A. Hess departed yesterday on a busi ness trip to Eastern cities. Collector Warmcastle returned from Har risburg yesterday. Mayor "Wynian left yesterday for Ohio on a business trip. DEATHS HEBE AND ELSEWHEBE. Colonel Robert McForlane. Colonel Bobert McParlane, a prominent hardware merchant of Bellefonte, died suddenly yesterday. Colonel McFarlane bad a nar record. When the Rebellion broke out he raised Company G, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was 'elected Its Captain. One month alter be was made Lieu tenant Colonel of the regiment, James A. Beaver at that time being Colonel. Colonel Mc Farlane served In that capacity for two years, "having command of the regiment most of the time, in one notable Instance at the hattle of Gettysburg, when Beaver was In the hospital. Mr. McFarline was discharged on a surReon's certificate In No 1 ember. 18G3. At the time of bis death he was 63 years of age. Lord Edward Cavendish. London, May 18. Lord Edward Caven dish, youngest son of the Duke of Devonshire, and member of Parliament for West Devonshire, died to-day from the effects of an attack of influenza. Lord Edward Cavendish Was the only surviving brother of the Marquis of Hartlngton and lxrd Frederick Cavendish, who was murUircd atl'hcenlx Park, Dublin, lie would have succeeded to the dukedom of Devonshire had be outlived the Mar quis and had the latter died childless. Obituary Notes. Blaise Sooles, one of the best known railroad men in Connecticut, died at his residence In Barne gat on Saturday night, aged 67 years. CHARLES W. TAYLOR, who died last week, had been the leading Justlceof theTcaceatMlncrsvlUe, Pa., for the past 25 years. He was prominent In Republican political clrUes In SchuylHU county. He was 74 J ears old. ( -William I". GnAnAjr, editor pt the Merldcn (Conn.) Republican, died Sunday, after a long Ill ness, of consumption, aged 46 years. Mr. Graham had been a resident of Merlden for a years, and for years editor of the Kepubllcan. MISS SUSAN COLLINS died at Norwich, N. Y., on Wednesday, in the 95th year of her age. She was born in Ehode Island, of Quaker pirentage, nnd she lived the serene and pious life enjoined by that faith. She retained her faculties in a remarkable degree to the day of her death. JOHN T. Pfeifpeii, for many years leader of the Naval Acidemy baud, died In Annapolis Sunday, aged 75 years. A pension of (72 a month was re cently awarded Mr. Pfeiffer. Reproved that his loss of sljtht began while writing music for the use of the Naval Academy band when he was the leader. HOK, EpWAUD JonitSTOy, an eminent lawjer, and an imclo of District Attorney Johnston, of this city, died yesterday .at his home In Keokuk, la. District Attorney Johnston received the intelli gence In a dispatch yesterday morning, Mr. John ston was for many ) ears a Judge on one of the Iowa circuits, lie migrated West wncn quite young. He was at the time of Ills death In his 711 year. 1891. THE PLAY'S THE THING. Fanny Davenport as Cleopatra A Magnifi cent Spectacle Realism In Two Modern Melodramas, tho Patrol and the Mid night Alarm Yariety and Other Enter , talnments. "Cleopatra" as presented by Fanny Daven port and her associates at the Grand Opera House last night is a magnificent spectacle. Nothing like it for scenic splendor and gen eral gorgeousness has been shown hero for a long while. Taking it as a spectacle wo have nothing; but .praise for it; whatever fault may be found with play, or the performers. It is worth while to see -"Cleopatra," if for nothln j else, to see the typhoon scene with Itsintonselynatural picture of element al fury. The trouble last night was that with everything else the intermissions were of magnificent proportions, nnd the per formance rolled grandly on till nearly midnight. The play is in sis acts, and the scenery for each of these is heavy and com- fillcatedto an extraordinary degree. Still here is no reason why the play should not consume much less time after the novelty of the first night's performance has been overcome. A testimony to the play's inter est Is the fact that in spite of tedious waits and tho final approach of another day very few of the audience left tho house before the conclusion of tho piece. "Cleopatra" is an English version of Sar dou's play in whioh Rernhardt has also ap peared. It is not a great play, nor even a moderately good one. There is a lack of con tinuity in the plot, and the dramatla art has been ruthlessly sacrificed here, there and everywhere for the sake of spectacular effect. As far as the adherence to history goes Mr. Sardou has probably kept as close to all the known facts and they ore none too many nor too clear ns Shakespeare in his play, "Antony and Cleopatra," which, by the way, is practially less actable than Sardou's by a very great deal, and the weakest of all tho bard's his torical tragedies. Sardou hasnot taken very much from Shakespeare, and he has shown excellent taste in selecting what he has taken. The scene in act III., wherein Cleo patra obtains from a terror-stricken messen ger a description of Antony's new wife, Octavia, nnd vents herjealousy in sarcastic comments upon her rival's attributes, is borrowed almost verbatim from Shake speare's"AntonyandCleopatra."Thenatural humor of this episode, a rolief after the outburst of wild rage which It succeeds, is Shakespeare's, not Sardou's and the language in which Cleopatra's scornful interpretation of the messenger's description, the most telling perhaps in the play, is Shakespeare's to a considerable extent also. There are other strong scenes of Sardou's own, hut the in genuity of the great French dramatist seems to have failed him in certain places. whore he might have been expected to shine. For instance, how ridiculous Is Cleopatra's concealment (t) in Mark Antony's bridal bed at Actium. If the author was resolved to have Cleopatra overhear Antony's connubial coolngs with Octavia, and in plain sight of the audience, nnd everybody else, show tho tempestuous course or her passionate resentment, he might have given her a bettor platform than an old four-poster bed and three towzled pillows. The situation stopped but little short of the comic, and a great deal of the glamour of Cleopatra's charms was rubbed off as sho tumbled about 111 a neglige led dress under and over and around tho big bed. And what manner of Cleopatra is it that Fanny Davenport brings tousT Not tho sub tle, sinuous shadow of nn unholy beauty that history and the poets have but faintly limned, leaving half to be imagined. Rather a very substantial woman of warm, deep passions and veins well filled with red blood; a qneenly woman, if you will, whom Tennyson's description might fit in good Sart; a character compounded of eaven and hades, with Hashes of light from both places. It is impossible to bolievo that Cleopatra was the woman Miss Davenport makes her with Sardou's help, but the creation has no littlo ohnrm of Its own, and tho physical appeal of this Serpentof the Nileisundeniably strong. The dressing, or rather the undressing, of tho part has to be a feature of the character, and Miss Davenport's solitary clinging gar ment, or the transparent gauzy robe she wears at her first entrance in the inter view with Antony, cannot be said to conceal very much. Tho question of propriety hero arising involves tho whole play, but while it is on dangerous gronnd the drama is not offensive in any great de gree. Tho lesson it might serve to teach is the old one which Cleopatra and her kind have always taught sinners and fools who followed them. The end of the easy descent is shown plainly enough. Aioioourne McDowell has a snperb phy sique to recommend him in his embodiments of Mark Antony, and some other attributes of his befit the character of the Roman con sul. In several episodes Mr. MoDowell rose to real tragic power, but he has a regrettable tendency to be theatrical in his gestures, nnd.'wnen representing any intense feeling, talks so fast as to be unlntel llgible. In a lesser degree Miss Davenport, at times, had this latter fault, also; but she showed rare elocutionary talent in the rela tion of an Egytian legend in the second not. Theodore Roberts, as Kephren! a slave of Cleopatra, was the only notable actor besides the two prinoipals.and his work was exceed ing artistic and worthy in every respect. Every scene in the nlav is a nicture of con siderable beauty. The advent of Cleopatra's barge at the mouth of the Cydnns, if not an exact realization of what Shakespeare and a host of painters have tantalized us with, was managed with a wonderful skill, so that tho stage was ablaze with color, and the oriental idea of Cleopatra's atmosphere was suggested In a score of ways. The views of Egyptian temples, tho seashore and the desert and the holy Nile, which subsequent scenes unfolded, were wondorfnlly real and beautiful. Tho climax wns the storm scene. Cleopatra standing on tho steps of tho Temple of Isls prays for a storm to confound hor enemies. Tho storm comes; tho furious typhoon of the desert, with Its wind nnd snn'd and rain wound in a weapon of nwful splendor and destructiveness. The storm Is leprodnced with exact fidelity. You see the skies white with lightning, the palm trees bending be foro the wind, the thunder roars, and tho wind seems to whistle through the wings. A large audience gave the play a hearty re ception. BIJou Theater. At the BIJou Theater last evening "Tho Midnight Alarm," a realistic comedy-drama In five acts, made a decided hit. It is full of life and action from start to finish, and was well staged. The locality is New York City, nnd the timo tho present. The characters aro well defined and the various scenes and incidents fairly natural. In the fourth act is introduced a scene at tho truck house. Suddenly the alarm strikes nnd out dashes the Hayes truck, followed by engine and hose carriages, the whole forming a very realistic and exciting episode. Fred erick Julian as tho villlan Silas Carringford made the hit of tho evening, nnd in the third net his -work is especially fine when Oarrina- ford discovers the loss of papers whioh he aepenuu upon 10 mace a lortnne. tuos. Brldgeland was a manly hero. W. W. Bitt ner played the old farmer well. Gcorgo T. Hall and George Scott ably sustained tho comedy element, and Kate Pearson as Sparkle, -a gieuui 01 siuisuuie, ino Heroine, maao a pleasing impression. The houso was largo and appieciatlve and will do a large May business. The Duquesno Theater. Mr. Scott Marble, who has hcretoforo traveled in tho paths of comedy, has con structed a strong melodrama in "The Patrol," and one 'destined to bo a great financial success. Tho cast embraces names well known to all theatre-goers, and from the leading part to the most insignificant, all are well taken. Mr. Handvelde as the Captain 0 Police. Mr. Hamilton ns Hell, Mr. Anderson as tho French Detective, and Mr. Carpenter were all good. Miss Alice Fischer ns the Adventuress, wns charmingly clover, and Miss Blanche Seymour as "Sieceter"' was excentionallv irood. Miss Wlllett gave a natural Xauraand Miss Morton ns the wife alHraden gave dignity to a small part. Among tho bits of character refreshingly real was that or Herbert Jones as the tramp in the station house scene. Of course, Luke Schoolcraft was fanny. The realistic feature of tho performance wa tho patrol barn scene. Thenlnrm nnd the hitoh ingortho horses and their wild dash from tho stagennd their return In answer to a call from an nctnal patrol box was 11 scene of realism long to be remembered. Harris' Theater. Clom. C Mageo has so long beon a favorlto with vaudevillo entertainment patrons that ho will doubtless do a good week's business at thls'house, whore, with n tolerably fair company, he began a week's engagement vestcrdav, in a farce comedy entitled "Irish Luck." Tho play was simply put together to fnrnish nn excuso for the Introduction of n number of specialties, including skirt dancing, singing, dancing and ' lightning crayon sketches. x Notes of tho Stage. The now performance and exhibition of curiosities at Harry Davis' Museum attract ed lrgo audiences. The World's Museum has a new bill nnd a great many good things in It which a host of people enjoyed yesterday. The "Emma Juch Company has finally come to smash in St, Louis, Manager Locke's many creditors are chasing him hard, MA E. D. Wilt among them. Ths Fay Foster English Gaiety Company at Harry Williams' Academy is not especial ly strong, but the wonderful balancing feats of Yanola are worth going to see. The May Festival chorus is called for re hearsal at Old City Hall at 7:30 this evening, for the Gilmore concert. Members having copies of the "Creation" are requested to bring them. - The large advance sale of seats for the Gil moreB and concerts to-morrow afternoon nnd evening indicates that the people of Pittsburg appreciate popular music. Gil more is noted for playing what tho public want, and the programmes this time show that ho will not depart from his rule now. Ho will bo assisted by Campanini, Natale, Maud Powell, Ida Klein, Spigaroli, Sartori, Anna C. Mantell and the May Festival mati nee. At the matinee all the school children of Pittsbnrg and Allegheny will bo ndmitted for 10 cents apiece. This Includes the chil dren of Catholic and other sectarian schools. SOCIETY AND CHAEI1T. A Honsewarming Opens the Hostetter Man sion on Fifth Avenue. Yesterday afternoon tho portals of tho magnificent Hostetter residence on Fifth avenue, were for the first timo thrown open to tho social world. The event was in the nature of a housewarmlng, as well as a pleasing attention to the Misses Friesse, of Now York, guests of the hostess, Mrs. D. Herbert Hostetter. Nature and art vied with each other in their efforts to beautify the home, and the result was charming in tho extreme. Costly and exquisite vases, urns and mantels, bloomed with the love liest of fragrant flowers. Rare paintings and antique furniture, with luxurious car pets and window drapings completed the background of elegance, for tho many lovely ladies that were on it outlined. Guests to the number of 300, in the very ideal of ex quisite costuming paid their respects to the charming hostess and passed a few words with tho ladies receiving, who were Mrs. Allen Wood, Mrs. Herbert Dupuy, Mrs. E. W. Gerdes, the Misses Gerdes, Mrs. Wood well, Mis Susie Dilworth, Miss Louise Dil worth nnd Mrs. Frank Nicola. Flowers in garlands and bouquets fes tooned nnd flanked tho pulpit of the Eighth Street Covenanter Church last evening. Upon the platform were seated representa tive ministers of the Presbyterian denomina tions, while the auditorium was well filled with members and friends of the congrega tion. It was the last day of the Quarto-Centennial celebration of the church's history a sort of nine-day wonder," because the en thusiasm and interest in the occasion were maintained without abatement for that length of time. The services last night in cluded an address by Rev. Prof. D. B. Will, son, D. D., of tho Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, on his recollections of tire church. Of the members of the Con ference of his childhood days but one is loft, and of the next following generation of clergymen he is the only one performing ministerial functions. Ho was followed by Rev. Dr. W. J. Robinson on "The Covenanter Church and Reforms," and according to him tho church is 50 years ahead of others in reforms, w hile it might be an equal distance in the rear on some doctrinal matters. Rev. Dr. J. W. Sproull, son of the Rev. Dr. Thomas Sproull, the old pa3toroftho "Union con gregation," kept at home by an enfeebled constitution, spoke for his father and him self. During his delivery he declared, with great earnestness and force, that the "Covenanters aro not narrow minded, nor biggottcd; they grant to their ministers the very widest latitude of belief so long as they remain true to the Covenant." The concluding address "The Covenantor Chuich. and Her Mission, as Seen by a Friend," was dellveied by Hev. Dr. I. N. Hays. Johh PATTEKSoir, a son of Attorney David T. Patterson, and a young man of wide ac quaintance in and about the Court House, where he conducts his stenographic busi ness, will become a benedict on the third day of June. Miss Gregg, of Allegheny, for merly of Wheeling, is tho bride-elect. It is to be a homo wedding, and as early In the evenlncc as a dres9 suit is nermissable. The young couple will dopart on the evening train for Niagara Falls and other points of interest m wo usc A man noon wedding in Pittsburg 13 not an uncomion event, bnt a midnight wedding is qnito so. However, there is to bo ono shortly. Miss Moorhead and, her fiance, Mr, Tan Mothen, are to become man and wife at to Americans that very unseemly wedding hour. The wedding will be conducted ac cording to French principles, and will be solemnized in the bhadyside Presbyterian Church. The invitations will be limited to tho family connections and intimate friends. The Casmian Literary Society, of the Al legheny High School, is preparing for an en tertainment tobogiven next Friday evening, and is putting forth 'all Us efforts to make tho event such a success that its rivals will turn green with envoy. Part first of the programme will be musical and literary and part second will be a German comedy translated. In the comedy a newly wedded couple figure. The musio will be furnished by tho Philharmonio Club. Social Chatter. The ladles of the W. C. T. XT. will give a lawn feto and supper at the Howard place on South street, Wllkinsbnrg, Thursday and Friday evonings. There will bo all sorts of amusements and plenty of refreshments, and there is every indication that tho occa sion will bo a very enjoyable one. Tnnyonng men holding membership in the St. Paul's P. E. Church chapter of the Brothership of St. Andrew's will give a musical and literary entertainment in the hall of the Fourteenth ward public sebool building on the evening of Jnne 4, the pro ceeds to go to the churon building fund. The regular monthly meeting of tho Woman's Temperance Alliance of Alle gheny County will be held this afternoon in the Fourth United Presbyterian Church of Allegheny. Mrs. Francus L. Swift, the former president, Is expected to speak. The Woman's Wealth Protoctivo Associa tion will meet at 11 o'clock to-day in tho Mercantile library rooms. A lawyer and a member of Councils will be present to dis cuss tho legal aspects of a fight with the smoke nuisance. A meetiko will be held this afternoon In Camcglo Hall lecture room, in the interest of tho proposed Young Woman's Christian Association, of Allegheny. "The Slodern Deborah; or Woman's Rights nnd Woman's Wrongs," is the subject Rev. C. E. Locke will lecture on at the Smithfield Church this evening. Miss Eleanor M. An-ratm, of Henderson IHU, will bid adieu to friends before her de parture for Dansville, with a reception this evening. WASHraoTOX and Jefferson College Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar Club will give a con cert to-night in Dilworth Hall. The dedication and reception of the Home for Aged People at Fair Oaks took place yesterday. LrEOTESAKT Geabet Circle No. 7 will cele brate its seventh anniversary this evening. TnE Southsldo Medical Society will enjoy a boat excursion and basket picnic to-day. Mns. A. E. Clark was hostess yesterday afternoon to a delightful card party. A cocsnT -a 111 bo given to-night In St, Michael's Hall. ODD FELLOWS IH C0TO0TL. Opening of the State Encampment and. the Election of Officers. SPECIAL TELEORASt TO THE DISFATCn.J Lancaster, May 18. Tho annual session of the Grand Encampment I. O. O. F., of Penn sylvania, opened nt 9 x. v. to-day with prayer uy uranu nign i-riesi niciiirru.ii. Graham. The reports of the Grand Chief Patriarch and Grand Scribe shows a gratify ing increase. Slxtocn new encampments were instituted and 73 new members ad mitted to the Grand Encampment. Tho relief paid out Inst year amounted to 70, 789 5i, nnd for 10 years, $1,233,401 50. Officers were elected and installed as fol lows: Ricliard II. Graham, No. 47, Grand Chicr Patriarch; r. V. Van Arsdalep.Nd. 115, Grand High Priest; George Hnwkes, No. 20, Grand Senior Warden; James B. Nloholson, No. 101, Grand Scribe; John S. neiss, No. 20, Grand Treasurer; II J. Grismnn, No. 217, Grand Jnnlor Warden; M. Richards Mnckle, No. 51, Grand Representative. The Grand Encampment finished its session at 5.30 p. jr. The Grand Lodge convenes Tuesday tCt 9 o'clock. The parade of cantons, lodges, etc., at 2 r. 11. will be a large ono. An Rdltor's Birthday. Delta (O.) Atlas. The 21st of this month Is the birthday of the editor of this paper. Wo are 53 years old at least. Valuable presents may bo for warded tons nt your expense, bnt wo aro well supplied with flower and garden seed and literary matter. We wish ourselves many happy returns of the day, and If wo can pay our debts and serve the people ac ceptably, contlnning to glvo them the best paper in Fulton county at tho lowest price, we trust they will join with ns la the wish. CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS. The grave dug to receive the body of William P. Weidner, of Lehigh county, wai 11 feet long and 9 feet wide. A fine pussy cat in a Chester, Pa., fam Hy Jumped for a rat, caught its neck ribbon on a nail and strangled to death. A resident of NewIoorefield, O., hasa cat which has adopted an infant skunk and is as attached to it as to her own kittens. Wheeling, W. Va., is proud of a col Ored man who eats nothing but lamp chira neys and live chickens, if he can get them. A hen which grows a mustache every" spring and sheds it each following fall is onfl of tho able-bodied curiosities of Atchison, Kan. A fonr-leggcd chicken has been pur chased by tho bulls of tho New York StocJc Exchange. It 13 hoped tho fowl will prove to be s mascot. Burial ground being very scarce in Hong Kong colony, the Government pro poses to take up and urn Chinese unclaimed dead buried for five or six years. The biggest orange tree in Louisiana is claimed to be in Terrebone parish. It is 13 feet in circomferenco and 50 feet high. Tho yield this year Is expected to reach 10,000 oranges. The first word spoken through the Lon don-gnris telephone was the old English word "Hello." So was the second, third, fourth and fifth. The sixth had the sylla? bles reversed. One of the milder claims to futnTf) greatness advanced by Pittsburg, Kan., Is that beneath the surface of that town there) still remains $552,000,000 worth of coal, at the) lowest calculation. It has been reckoned that if the whole ocean were dried up, all the water passing nwny as vapor, the amount of salt remain ing would be enough to cover 5,000,000 square miles with a layer one mile thick. A large number of Manchester, N. H., people, old and young, are saving all the 1 cent pieces of the issne of 1891 on the curl, ous rumor that the Government has called in all the cent pieces of the 1S91 series. The wife of a clergyman in New Goshen, Ind.,compIained for several months! of nn acute pain in the side, and the surgeon being consulted, a needle was extracted which the lady swallowed when a little girl, nearly 40 years ago. The depth at which some of the Belgian coal mines aro worked Is something pro. dlglous. In a pit at Flenn the work Is now done at 8,700 feet; in a pit at Fremerin nt 2,800 feet, and in tho St. Andre pit at Moo. tlgny-snr-Snmbre at 3,000 feet. A 12-year-old youngster at Eobinson, Me., Went to the woods four weeks ago witn his ax and felled a rock maple, and made & violin out of it. The other day, for a caller, he executed a reel, whiio his father, 66 years old, danced to the musio in a manner that would test the powers of a young fellow of 20 years. A Georgia editor says: "We came across a snake a few days ago that surpassed anything in the snake line we have ever seen. The reptile was no larger than a lead pencil, out was abont 9 or 13 feet long, and. Its head was about the size and shape of a, tea. saucer. On top of its head was an exacts likeness of a tiger?' Under the Dakota statutes a man who robs a stage can be sent to prison for life. If lie attacks but falls to get any plunder, ha can be sentenced ror half a lifetime. In & case where n Judge figured that 15 years wns half a life, the Supreme Court has upset the sentence, figuring that 19 years, J months and I days is the correct figure. A colored man was hanged at Trenton, Gn., the other day. The landlord of a hotel in that little town, advertised as follows: "Are you going to the hanging? The Blank; Houso at Trenton, Ga., offers an excellent view to witness the execution. Stop at tho Blank Honse, Trenton, Ga., when visiting the hanging, May 13. Can see all from windows. Gallows within 150 yards. Meals 50 cents." It is customary for the Emperor of China to offer prayers every New Year's Day for the "welfare and bright prospects of his subjects in the 13 provinces of his empire. At 'the ceremony 13 pairs of candles are burnt, and the name of each province Is marked on each pair. Any of the candles that burn badly slgnifr that such provinces as are named will suffer great calamities sickness and the like. The, biggest cocking main ever fought in South Carolina was concluded in Charles ton tho other day. It was between South Carolina and Georgia and North Carolina combined, and consisted of 18 fight", with $1,000 on each sido and $1,000 on the odd. South Carolina won against Georgia and North Carolina by a score of 8 to 10 after three days' fighting. Over $17,000 changed hands in the three days. A report comes from Leadville of tha discovery of an arrowhead, made of tern, pered copper, and of a number of human bones, in the Rocky Point mines, near Gil man. Col. Tho relics were disclosed 40O fees beneath the surface of the earth, imbedded in a vein of silver bearing ore. 3Ioro than $100 worth of ore clung to the bones when thoy were removed from the mine. Here is a puzzle for the geologists. The latest scheme for direct railway communication between England and France provides for a double water-tight tnbe, capable of containing two railway tracks, nnd sank about W feet in the channel. The engineer proposing this method pro. poses to utilize the displacement and buoy ancy of the tnbe to give tho necessary sup port, piles being driven into tho channel, to which the tube wouldbe chained to prevent " it rising. A citizen of Stamford, Conn., has been driven insane by his yonng lady neighbor practicing on the piano, and his mania took; a very queer form. When it seized him, ho went to all the piano dealers in the town and orderedtheratosend costly instruments to the young lady's house at intervals of half an hour. As he was rich, his odd orders were complied with, and the young woman, despite her objections, had ten instruments blocking tho street In front of her house, besides two hi the parlor and one in tho hall, Finally tho madman was captnrednnd the pianos rotnrned, but tho young lady has ceased practice. While a fair yonng daughter of York, Fa., was serenely seated in her aerial bed chamber the other night, weary with the toils of the day, about to doff her wrap and lay herself down upon her couch to enjoy tho kindly embrace of Morpheus, she sud denly heard n strange noise.which affrighted and almost bewildered her. Itwa3 that of an old family clock which had been stored away in the room. Its truthful tones had not been heard for half a centnry, when all nni its irhenls besran to vibrate, and thA old familiar gong sounded out tho time of night 11 o'clock. It did not strike or "tick" again, bnt stopped, not to go again. The nlnrm is a mvsterv. and the timid lassie awaits in breathless silence the sequel of the occasion. SOME FUNNY THINGS. A shrewd old lady cautioned her daughter against worrying her hasband too mnch, and con eluded by saying; "My child, a man Is like an egg. Keip him in hot water a little while, he mar boll soft; bnt keep bun there too long and be hardens. Gossip. One of the earlier yeomen of Bridgeton was a pimp maker, a good citizen, bat with "no religions preferences." One day lie was waited upon br one of the church assessors, who handed him a bill for the support of preaching. "I hain't heard no preaching," said the old man, somewhat surprised. "Well, brother, it's your own fault then." replied the churchman. "It'sbeen accessi ble to all every Sabbath for a year." He paid. Not lopg after the parish received from htm a bill forapnmp. "We have bought no pnmp of yon," was the answer. "Well, then." replied the old gentleman, with a twinkle hi his eye, "It's yoar own fault. Tor I have been making them forycars." Leiclston Journal. ' "These firemen must be a frivolous set,' said Mr. Splllklns, who was reading a paper. "Whyao?" "I read in the paper that alter tho fire was under control the (Ircmen played all night on the ruins. Why didn't they go home and go to bed llko sensible men. Instead of romping about like chuaren.-r,3a S(TUn3s. AFTER BYKOX. The maidens are coming like lambs to tho fold. With their bathing suits gleaming with purple and gold. Ami tho light of their eyes Is like stars on the sea. Where the blue waves lave nightly the eoast of Jer-zcc. Kew Yuri Herald. "Always aim a little higher than the tnart." says a philosopher. What! Kiss a girl 'on the nose! Never. Adrian Dally Timet. Guest How is this? My bill this time is (la days and last December I had the same room and 1 1 Was Only 3 a day. Clerk Yea. I know ; but the days are much Ione tnwittm Cwrier,