THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH SUNDAY 'JTJLT 26. 1891
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riTTSlSl-KG sl'X-AT, JULY 26, 1H)1.
AGAINST THE CONVENTION.
A canvass of politieil opinion with
regard to the proposed Constitutional Con
Trntion, niado by the Philadelphia Z?uMfi7i,
brines out the fact that there is a large
amount of profred indifference as to
whether it is hold or not Among those
expressing a posithe opinion the majority
give very good reasons for opposing it
The leading objections are the good
character of the preen". Constitution, the
danger that cranks may engraft some iltl
sdeas upon the fundamental law, and,
finally, the unnecessary expense, which
Anil not be much less than a half million
dollars, while all its legitimate purposes
can be more diiectiy secured by other
methods.
These are valid reasons, but- not the
most weighty ones. The danger or crank
ism prevailing in the convention is not
half so great as the danger that the in
fluence of the corporations and professional
jmlitieians will be supreme for the emascu
lation of somo of the most vital
clauses of the Constitution. The
source from which the convention bill
came, the devices used to secure control of
that body through the apportionment of
its membership, and, finall', the unique
measure of electing its members before it
Is known whether the convention will be
held, all point to an intention to secure
the control of that body to remove the
provisions of the Constitution which now
restrain corporate agressions and the greed
of municipal politicians.
Apart from this it is a vital point that
every object can he obtained more directly
by other methods. Ballot reform with
practical secrcsy can be effected by statute
law, and the idea that the same influences
which falsified the Baker measure would
create a convention for the benefit of gen
uins ballot reform is a sufficient com
mentary on itself If any Constitutional
changes are necessary as some minor
ones may be eacl should be submitted to
the people on its own meritb. Where all
changes are submitted to be voted on as a
whole, tho people must either swallow the
bad ones for the sake of the good, or reject
the good ones on account of the bad. The
extra time that may be consumed in de
ciding each change on its own merits is
wholly unimportant, beside the value of
deliberate and clear decision on each Con
stitutional alteration, in accordance with
the popular judgmentof its merits.
The general disapproval f the conven
tion is well founded. The proposition
should be voted down, as it probably will
be.
A ItEMAItKAIILE THREAT.
A very remarkable deliverance with re
gard to the dispute about wages between
the bricklaying contractors and their em
ployes is credited to one of the former in
mi interview published yesterday. "If we
fail to get men," this gentleman is re
ported saying, "then there is one more ex
pedient." and the expedient is stated to be
to close down every mill in the organiza
tion to stop every stroke of work
now in progress" and to throw idle till
Jannarj 1 "carpenters, stonemasons,
plasterers, painters, plumbers, electricians,
tileiayeriv, etc."
In other words, because the bricklaying
contractors are ur.u.'le to get men to work
lr;heir wages it ::. announced that tho
roaclnnery of the Building Exchange can
be cmplcj ed to punish the whole eom-"
nnmity, more than the bricklayers, by re
newing the paralysis of the entire build
ing trade, and condemning an entire in
dustry to idleness. It would be hard to
Imagine a more egregious example of the
sympathetic strike transferred to the side
of the employers, or a more wanton
assertion of tho powei and intention to
run the business of building on the plan
of campaign adopted by the most reckless
labor agitators.
It is to be hoped that the Builders' Ex
change will not embark on any such re
markable polity as this. If it does, besides
the opportunity which it will afford for
the application of the conspiracy laws, it
will offer a strong premium fhr the public
to give its contracts for building to people
w ho are outside that organization.
"WJIEKE TDE DISCRI3IINATION IS.
The fact of a discrimination against
Philadelphia isdiscoered by the esteemed
Pres in the ocean freight rates on sliip--
ments rrom .Liverpool Here. The fact that
the rate is 6 shillings and C pence from
Liverpool to ew York, 6 shillings to Bos
ton, 5 shillings to Baltimore, and 10 Bhill
ines to Philadelphia is certainly an indica
tion, as the Press says, that Philadelphia
should investigate thoroughly.
Yet if Philadelphia studies the question
thoroughly it will be likely to find that tho
cause of the discrimination does not lie in
ocean transportation, but somewhere else.
alio jjiaiu, All liic iiioy J""- btiab MlusceiU-
ing discrimination does not arise from
MjeB
what gives discriminations in railway
charges their venom, namely, the will of a
corporation holding a monopoly at that
point There is free competition in ocean
transportation. If any steamship com
pany is levyim excessive charges on ship
ments to Philadelphia there Is the ecean
marine of the world to bring in and com
pete for the business if it exists. It is
plain, therefore, that the difference in
rates is due to some difference in the con
ditions. The figures quoted by the Press afford a
tolerably clear indication of that difference
in conditions. It is not in the presence of
regular steamship lines, for New York,
where regular lines center, does not get as
cheap rates as Baltimore and Boston, which
are no better equipped in that respect than
Philadelphia. The fact is that when the
principal tonnage Is the shipments from
this country to Europe the governing in
fluence in rates from Liverpool to this
country is the promptness with which a
return cargo can be secured; and the
seeming discrimination against Philadel
phia in ocean rates is probably an indica
tion of the actual disadvantage of Philadel
phia in railway rates on grain and pro
visions for exportation.
The matter is one well worth the in
vestigation of the Philailclphians. But it
is more than probable that the Investiga
tion will give point to the charges already
made, that railway policy is dwarfing the
export and import trade of that city.
TOE l'ATTISON UOOJl ABROAD.
The announcement of the Philadelphia
Times that Governor Pattison will take
the stump for the election of Democratic
candidates to the unimportant State offices
to be filled this fall, and that this is an in
dication of his cherishing a Presidental
boom, is elevated to an extraordinary im
portance by the New York Sun. The
allegation that Pattison, who has been
ranked as a leader of the Cleveland
Democracy in Pennsylvania, is men
tioned as a candidate is accepted by
the Sim with the more alacrity because
it believes that to be the end of the Cleve
land hopes.
"The mantle of the stuffed prophet is
rent in pieces," jubilates the Szin. and it
goes on with similar exclamations of joy
over the eradication of "the claimant"
from the list of Democratic candidates.
"There is no reason why tho friends of
Governor Pattison should not seek to have
him nominated for President," the Snn af
firms, evidently on the platform of "any
one to beat Cleveland;" and it sums up its
view of the situation with the declaration:
"The claimant is scratched, but the field
is still free."
All of which, though rather wild, is
flattering to the Pennsylvania possibility.
But the view of the situation lacks the
confirmation of fact in two important
respects. Governor Pattison has declared
that the intention on his part of stumping
the State is news to him. Mr. Harrity,
whose authority is unquestionable, has
stated that the Pattison influence is for
Cleveland first, with the possibility in
view that if Cleveland's nomination shall
not bo effected our Governor can come in
as a second choice. This places the heroics
of the Sun on a rather insecure founda
tion. Nevertheless the welcome which that
journal gives to a supposed declaration of
the Pattison boom is not without its sig
nificance. It is tolerably plain that the
bitterness of the enmity between the
Cleveland and Hill factions in New York
will make it injudicious to nominate either.
In that case the disposition of both to ac
cept Pattison as a compromise has moro
promise in it than any original and in
dependent boom for the Pennsylvania
Governor.
TRADE TVITH 3IEXICO.
The information on the commercial and
financial customs of Mexico contained in
special correspondence elsewhere exhibits
a remarkable contrast from those estab
lished in this country. A nation where
the principal loaning business is done by
the pawnshop; where people with money
hoardfid up prefer to buy at high prices on
long credits rather than pay out their cash
and secure cheap rates, and where banks
of discount arid deposit arc few and far
between, is not unnaturally hard for the
business men of the United States to com
prehend. Nevertheless, the fact is brought out
that when the character of Mexican trade
is fully understood, there is an immenso
field capable of almost infinite expansion
for the surplus goods and capital of the
United States. Judiciously conducted
banks yield large dividends on a safe and
legitimate business. Manufactured goods,
machinery and other products of Yankee
enterprise sell at high prices on long time.
To those who study Mexican character and
meet its wants there is the opportunity for
lucrative trade with Mexico, and the intro
duction of new ideas in that rich and half
developed country will undoubtedly pro
duce an illimitable expansion of its trade
capacities.
EAND TRANSFER REFORM.
In a private letter to the editor of Tiie
Disi'ATcn, Dwight IL Olmstead, Esq.,
takes exeeptiou to the reference in these
columns to the "partial adoption" of his
block indexing system in New York, with
the correction thalit has been adopted both
wholly and in detail in New York City.
Further, he says, that the admirable
workings of the system show "it is not
merely tentative, as you suggest"
Mr. Olmstead's criticism is due to a per
haps not unnatural misconception of the
language to which he objects. The article
referred to commented on the proposition
of a New York journal that the Australian,
or Torrens, syStcm should be adopted in
that State, and in that connection referred
to the partial adoption by tiie State of Mr.
Olmstead's block indexing system, mean
ing it had been adopted for that part only
which lies on Manhattan Island. Nor in
reference to Mr. Olmstead's tentative meth
od of going to work did we mean to castany
doubt upon the practical workings of his
plan, as the context would show. But
what does seem to us US' tentative in Mr..
Ohnstead's work for complete land trans
fer reform is the taking of the single step
of block indexing without urging in con
nection the other features to secure ex
peditious and safe methods of transferring
land titles.
This brings us to the quotation of the fol
lowing from Mr. Olmstead's letter, which
comes with the weight of high authority:
Now let tho other reforms which you sug
gest and with which I am in agreement bo
superadded; and the country will have, what
you desue substantially a stock transfer of
land. The principal of these reforms is not
guarantee by the State, but transfer of land
by registration, that is "on tho books," tho
deed belug relogated to tho mere office of a
power of attorney. Together with this is
the general assimilation of the laws relating
to real property to those relating to per
sonal property.
This shows that Mr. Olmstead practical
ly agrees with the course marked out by
TnE Dispatch. That is the addition of
the vital features of the Torrens plan
should be added to Ms system in .New
York, and that other States Should follow
.lUrh, UI1U UIHL UUlt'l OU1WTS SUUUIU iUUUW
the example by adopting a combination of
the systems. We cannot quite agree with
Mr. Olmstead that the reform can be made
complete without some method of secur
ing indefeasible titles. That method need
not be necessarily a State guarantee. It
may be, as Mr. Olmstead suggests in his
pamphlet, secured by af short statute of
limitation. But to secure the complete
perfection of transfer aimed at, it is neces
sary that the buyer shall have within easy
and unprofessional reach a clear evidence
that the title of the land transferred to
him is without a cloud or dispute.
On the general course to be adopted to
secure complete land transfer reform there
is practical agreement Mr. Olmstead's
indorsement of the addition of other re
forms to his is practically conclusive. The
only thing necessary to secure the adoption
of this course in various States is the
somewhat arduous task of making legisla
tors understand its value.
APPARENTLY INACCTJRATE.
Another phase of the dispute between
various city authorities and the Census
Bureau crop3 out with regard to assess-ments-for
street improvements. Besides
the general impeachment of the accuracy
of Mr. Porter's table showing tho per
capita cost of government in various cities,
New York has made a vigorous impeach
ment of that table which included a
special expenditure, in the case of that
city, of about 510,000,000 for new parks.
Buffalo next comes to the front with a re
quest that an item of 2,323,817 in its table,
which represents local assessments, should
be dropped, which the Census Bureau re
fuses to do, on the ground that this would
be unjust to other cities whose expendi
tures for new streets are included.
Two points present themselves in con
nection with this refusal of the bureau.
The first is that as the table purports to
be a statement of administrative expenses,
the cost of improvements assessed on
abutting or benefited property does not
properly belong in it The second is that,
to make the table accurate, if this
item is included in the case of some
cities it should be in the case of all It is
obvious that the amdunt of money Pitts
burg collected on street and sewer assess
ments in 1890 is not included, as the eight
dollars per capita, which gives us second
rank as the most economical city in the
Union save one, would not much exceed
the total of such assessments collected
that year before the street decision hit us.
As it is afact that Cleveland, represented
as the city of lowest expenditures, has
been making large improvements, the
same is likely to turn out to be the case.
Wo fear it is pretty clearly proved that
the census companson of muincipal ex
penditures is far trom accurate. If it were
corrected by taking exactly the same
items of expenditure iu all cases, it is also
possible that Pittsburg would not appear
in so gratifying and economical a light as
was shown by that table.
A panic on the Chicago Board of Trade
is not unusual.but one in which both bulls and
bears are equally scared is worth mention
ing. It was not a squeeze or a slump that
produced that unusual effoct, but a lunatic
on the lloor of'the Board with a pistol.
Otn: friend Colonel Bill Brown is in lack
onco more, his small newspaper, tho New
York JVcjcj, having been selected for tho
honorable position of contesting the consti
tutionality of the Now York law that papers
shall not publish the news about execu
tions. Col. Bill will meet tho legal emer
gency with the same calm superiority with
which he has been wont to call down a bluff
on queens up, and will enjoy tho position of
defender of the liberty of the press as much
as raking down an exceptionally largo jack
pot. Wo regret to see that professional jeal
ousy leads another New York paper, ambi
tious of this honor, to remaik that District
Attorney Nicoll "has ov idently jnade up his
mind not to prosecute newspaper violations"
of the act.
The World's Fair Commission having at
tacked the work of dining theirproject into
favor in Europe are to receive a reinforce
ment which makes victory sure. Tho genial
Chaunccy M. Depew is about to take part in
the dinners.
The signs at the last meeting of the Hud
son B.iy Comptny that tho great corpora
tion is iu its decadence were very strong.
Tho Governor of tho company was kept
busy defending its management, but could
not conceal the fact that its profitable char
acter had disappeared. Two conclusions
are ovident from this occurrence. Ono is
that officers of tho Hudson Bay Company
have not tho ability to suppress incon
venient questioners thai has been charac
teristic of the meetings of some of our great
corporations. Tho other is that the British
policy of putting vast regions under tho
rule of a commercial monopoly is nearly at
an end except in unfortunate Africa.
It is rumored that Secretary Foster
wishos to make Webster Flanagan Collector
at El Paso. At last Flanagan will know
what he is there for. But docs he take a
prohibitory pledge against whisky and
pokert
A wickeb cotemporary remarks that if
tho New York Republicans should take
Colonel Shepard for Governor "he would un
doubtedly agi oo to contribute a large assort
ment of beautiful campaign texts to tho
campaign." Ho might also, as once before,
give $150,000 to the New York bosses for the
purchase of votes, and then lament in his
newspaper tho day after election the
n ickedness displayed by the fact that the
goods were not delivered.
There seems to be some very decided
uncertainties as to who is managing tho
Pittsburg baseball team; but there is no
room ut all for doubt that tho team has got a
lirm grip on its position at the bottom of
tho list.
The perils of illustrated journalism if
we may dignify tho class ro ened to by that
name is strikingly exemplified by the pub
lication of the lower sort which appears this
weekwithn full page illustration of the
Hall-Fitzsimmons light "from photographs
and sketches by special artists." Tiie ability
to photograph and sketch scenes that never
ocenr is a high development of artistic
genius; but it is one that calls for discretion
in actual practice.
Wiggins is now announced to be writing
a scientific novel. From Wiggins' former
claim of verifications for his weather proph
ecies, it is plain ho has no slight power in
the line of works of the imagination.
The latest decision on electric patents,
which gives the Brush interests tho control
of the storage battery system, is predicated
by a cotemporary to bo "worth millions to
the company and its licensee." It v ill, when
two things is do'ne. Tho first is when the
company with a monopoly of tho system
puts its price so as to make it cheaper than
trolley motors; the second is when the stor
age battery Is improved so as to make it of
practical use.
Senator Sherman magnanimously re
marks that th e Senatorial race is open to all
comers. But this does not disturb the cool
conviction that he has got a sure hold on
first money.
It is interesting to learn that the Connect
icut nuts and woodchucks have already
taken to prophesying a hard winter. Tiie
goose bono has not yet been heard from, but
it Mill probably agree in tho prediction.
These Connecticut auguries have been fore
telling hard winters for several seasons,
and are not likely to be discouraged by the
fact that the cold weather does not mater
ialize. Perhaps Great Britain might find it
useful to engage in a war somewhere in
order to give her pot guardsmen some other
occupation than kicking up rows in barracks.
An ex-Governor of one of the Mexican
States has been imprisoned for2t hours be
cause he had tho misfortune to fit the
description of an absconder from the United
States. This untoward incident will con
vince the Mexican authorities that it is
necessary to oxcludo all levanters who look
like Mexicans of tho influential political
class.
Governor Hiel, like the owl sold under
falso pretense of being a parrot, is not talk
ing much now, but is doing a deal of thinking-
Fkom Texas comes the report of a bank
failure with tho not wholly unfamiliar re
mark that tho depositors will bo paid in
full. In Texas this may bo true. Its fulfill
ment will bo made much more probable
from the Texas habit, if a bank suspends
and does not pay tho depositors, of sus
pending bank officers.
GOSSIP OF PROMINENT PEOPLE.
Prince Alexander of Battenberg, who
is known ns Count Ilartenau, is recovering
from his recent serious illness.
Mrs. Amelid Kives Ciianler is ex
pected to sail for New York next week, and
arrive in America on August 3.
EDixn Sessions Tuppkb is writing a
play for W". J. Florence for his next year's
tour. She might appropriately call it "The
Mystery of a Trunk."
Emperor Wieeiam, of Germany, and
his party, are lying off Karsle, a small island
on the northwestern coast of Norway, where
they are preparing for a whale hunt.
Sir Edward Maeet, the British Am
bassador at Berlin, w ill shortly be raised to
the peerage. Humor says that he will be
known In the future as Lord Woburn.
The Prince of Wales will meet the King
of Rouraanlaat BLmkenberg, in Angnst, to
discuss the question of the marriage of
Prince Ferdinand, the heir presumptive to
the lioumanlan throne, to tho eldest
daughter of tho Duke of Edinburgh.
Dr. WiTnERSPOON, of Louisville, who
has been elected to till the Chairof Theology
in Central College, in Kentucky, has had a
remarkable series of successes since the
time he became the youngest doctor of
divinity in tho Presbyterian Church.
The engagement of Miss Mary Lincoln,
eldest daughter of Hon. Robert T. Lincoln,
to Chailes Isham, ofNew York, has been an
nonnced. The wedding will he solemnized
in London during the coming season. Mr
Isham was formerly private secretary to
Mr. Lincoln.
TnE Grand Duke Alexis will entertain
Admiral Gervais, commander of the visiting
French squadron, and the officers of tho
fleet now nt Constadt, on board the Russian
cruiser Asia. On Tuesday next the French
officers will bo entertained by the Czar in
the Imperial palace at Peterhof.
It is said that Postmaster General Wana
ma'cer spends his entire salary on his pri
vate secretory and tho various agencies fur
nishing newspaper clippings. He subscribes
to thieo of these agencies, and has given
them instructions to furnish him with all
clippings relating to himself and the postal
service.
TWO SMALL FINANCIERS.
A Never Ending Flow of Lemonade on
Tap and for Sale.
The East End acknowledges proprietory
claim to a couplo of small boys who aro
bound to become millionaires. The "other
day they went into a partnership to sell
lemonade. After spending 10 cent3 for
lomons and concocting a fluid that would
make tho circus product turn green with
envy, they located on a corner and let out
their musical voices:
"Hero's yor fresh lemonade, only 1 cent a
glass. It's made of pure lemons and- pure
water. Come, slack yer thirst with tho
nectar of the tropics."
Every few moments they changed their
song, but they had no difficulty in socuring
customers. Every timo they sold a couplo
of glasses a little water was added to tho
"lemonade," and thus they had a never end
ing supply.
About an hour after they began operations
tho beverage was getting pretty warm, but
an ice mm camo along, and while ho carried
a chunk of ice to the back door of an adjoin
ing lesidence ono of tho boys negotiated
with tho wagon for a good-sized piece ot ice.
By the tuno the driver was back tho boys
had lcmodcled their tune.
"Hero's your ice cold lemonade. Walk up
and squench yer thirst. Only 2 cents a
glais."
"Sav. what did vou raise the nrico fert The
ice didn't cost you nothing," said a pros
pective customer.
"What dcr ye tako us fer, anyway," was
tho reply. "If you don't want to buy yon
don't need tcr. We can dispose of tho stock
without you meddlni'. D'ye think we no
financiers."
BUSY WITH CALLEBS.
The President Makes Some Appointments
and Ilecclves Several Visitors.
fSPKCIAI. TELEGBAJI TO THE DISPATCH.
CArE Mat, July 25. Tho President was
with Private Secretary Halford all the morn
ing and considered several matters in rela
tion to appointments. Ho appointed five
postmasters, and named Henry E. Nichols,
Commander in tho Navy, having promoted
him from a Lieutenant Commander. He
also received word from the State Depart
ment that they had beon notified by Consul
Myers, at Victoria, B. C, that tho revenuo
cutter Thetis was in Bering Soa and that the
majority of captains aro submitting to the
agreement between this country and Great
Britain.
J. C. Prico and Mr. Manning, two colored
geutlemcn of South Carolina, had a confer
ence with the President to-day on tho
candidacy of Mr. Prico, who wants to bo
Minister to Liberia. A committee from
Mobile. Ala., will call on the President Mon
day, to ask for his influenco to have u line
of steamers established between Mobile and
Cuba under the subsidy laws. Stato Senator
Mn-sic and wife, of Chillicothe, O., called on
the President this ovening. The President,
Russell Harrison, Mrs. Dlmmick, Secretary
Halford, Miss Sanger and the two giancl
cliildren enjoyed another ocean bath to-day,
and tills afternoon tho Presidant passed an
hour in watching tho joyfulnossof children
on a carousal. Postmaster General Wana
maker and Rohert Adams, ex-Minister to
Brazil, arrived this evening.
TN SUNSET LAND.
In the Sunset land, in the Sunset land.
Behind the glorious gates of gold unframed of
human hand.
There lie the mountain, vale and wood.
The lake, the sparkling stream.
More uncoinpared and passing good
Than through the clouds they seem.
In the Snnset land. In the Sunset land.
The pearl-and-opal sea of light la ceaseless motion
grand.
Heaves at the feet of hills so bold
We can not dreim their height.
Nor guess to where their foreheads old
Bear up the gems of Night.
In the Snnset land. In tho Sunset land,
AU cool and sweet the pine tree waves its slumber
showering hand,
x And liquid argent runs the stream
Yt 1111 SIU1I1U1UU3, uijatu; liUU?,
And fast asleep the white clouds seem
Upon the lakes afloat.
In the Sunset land, in the Sunset land.
No trail of foot or trough of keel Is found on leaf
or sand;
No hand hath ever harmed a tree
Or bent a blooming flower;
And matchless sweet as matchless free
The landscape lies lu power.
In the Sunsetland, In the Sunset land.
The dream of Kcst swhns softly down as In our
dreams we planned,
' The war of work, the clash of care,
' " " The racking of regret
I'4- No echoing thought of these Is there,
'SotrigH'that land U set. - ' '
jOb. pearl-and-opal ,sca of, light, barred back by
gates oi goiu.
Oh rainbow bolts shot aU too strong'into Time's
pillars old
Let back, let in I and let us wend
Through country heaven-spanned,
And learn the Universe's end.
There, In tho Sunset laud I
-tWest ana Stream.
MURRAY'S MUSINGS.
The Politician Mnst Coddle the Dog Fan
cier The Crank and the Specialist Res
taurant Dills GettlngLonger The Corset
Habit Gotham Stories.
CFKOM A STAPP COBRESFONDEXT.
New York, July 2o.-"You will always find
dog men pulling pretty much together,"
said General Ben LeFevre over his Hoffman
House breakfast. "If you offend a dog man
during a oanvass you will loso the dog vote.
When I found a man who was interested in
dogs during my Congressional campaigns I
made careful note of it. I had a little expe
rience in my early political career that
tangnt me that the dog man is not to be run
afoul of if it can be avoided. I had refused
to take a pup from a man. Ho wanted to
show his good will toward me. He loved his
dogs, and to give away what he loved was
bis highest testimonial of friendship.
"I declined tho pup, and in doing so I prac
tically declined tho man's friendship. Not
alono his, hut that of all his neighbors with
out regard to party. They didn't want any
thing to do with n. man Tclin rllrtn'f. rt 'n n
dog and wouldn't have ono as a gift. It took
me a long time to live that error down. Since
that time I take every pup that is offered
me, trusting to Divine Providence to see ma
through."
A Dog That Cost Money.
Colonel Staples, the North Carolina law
yer, Is a dog man. That is, he is lond of dogs
and esteems them next to pretty school
marms and red wagons. Staples was at the
Hoffman House tho other day and bought a
fine cocker spaniel of tho dog fancier who
works tho Broadway cornels of that neigh
borhood. He instructed the dog man to
bring the animal to the Cortlandt street
ferry at a certain hour in the day, but they
didn't connect somehow, so ho missed ins
train. "So I had to pay a man to take care of
the dog over the river and came back to the
Hoffman Justin time to lend a fellow $10
that I'll never sue again.
"I got a coupe and rode out in the park. It
was $1 5J an hour, and I used it an hour and
ton minutes. The man wanted $2, and I told
him I wouldn't pay it. He could send his
bill to the hotel office. Here it is $2 50, hair a
dollar more yet. And 1 paid it, too. I was
afraid to kick again for fear it would tako
another boomupwaid. I paid $10 for that
dog, and if somebody doesn't steal him be
fore I get down home I shall consider it a
favorable change of luck."
Hard to Leave New fork.
"Nr.wYoKKisa pretty hard city to get
away from, especially for a Western man,"
said Mr. Scott Ray, tho Indiana poli
tician and Journalist. "I don't see why
so many peoplo want to leave the metropolis
in the summer. They can get 'the earth'
here."
Mr. Ray had Just been taking in Coney Is
land. "Thpt trip up the bay after nightfall," said
he, "gives one of tho mostmagnillccnt sights
that could be imagined. And as for Coney
well.that stretch of West Brighton known as
'the Bon ery' probably has no counterpart in
tlio world. Either is worth coming a thou
sand miles to see. When New Yorkers claim
more variety of pleasure for less money than
any other city in tho country can offer,
they don't claim too much."
Devoted His Life to Spiders.
"Ono of the curious things of this life,"
remarked an ex-Congressman, "is the devo
tion of somo men to au idea without regard
to tho opinion of tho rest of tho world and
without hopo of reward. I know of a man
fiom my Stato who has devoted a lifetime to
spiders. He died in the Alps, tthcre he had
been for tw o years collecting specimens of
spiders. He tacullced his life to spiders,
llo has left a collection of some28,(0 distiuct
varieties. You would hardly think thero
were many more spiders in existence. This
man has tliemstuck up in sections, in classes,
fully labeled.
i'He began fooling with spiders when a
i boy. no had a room that he At ould allow no
ono to sweep or clean, ana encouraged tne
spiders to such an extent that they wonld
come to him nnd feed out of his hand. He
discovered that by repeatedly destroying a
web that a spider reached a stage where ills
power of reproducing wob is exhausted.
When that stago was reached the spider
attacked another spider, killed him and took
his ball of wou from him. Just like a human
being, don't you see? Before this man died
he embalmed his knowledgo of spiders in
two volumes. Ho was a spider crank."
The Crank and tho Specialist.
"Speakixo of cranks," put in Mr. Mo
Millan, of Tennosseo, who will probably be
tho Speaker of the next Honso of Represen
tatives, "it would almost seem that to ac
complish anything remarkable in this world
it is necessary to become what we all call
crank.' That is, a man must shut
out everything that conflicts or in
terferes with the one particular subject
in which he is interested. Ho must become
a specialist. Byiigiuly excluding the rest
of the world and ignoring all social and do
mestic relations and devoting every energy
and every minute to ono particular line of
research something is to bo accomplished.
But does it pay? Is it the best uso a man
cm bo put to? Is it the ideal of intel
lectual manhood?"
"I have a cousin in Tennessee who is a
harmless crank on the chronometer. He
has been fooling with tho sun and tho timo
o' day until ho seems to be pretty well
known by experts, even here in New York.
He put his name in tho light shade of tho
"V" on a watch dial so it could not be seen
with the naked eye. He has made a
chronometor so perfect that it can bo put in
an ovon and baked, taken out and be trozen
in an ico oream freezer, then boiled, and
during the entire process would not only
keep on running, but wouldn't vary a twen
tieth of a second in timo.
"There aro a good many 'cranks' on
watches," continued Mr. McMillan. "I
known member of tho House who carried
a watch in every pocket. Ho ttasthe fun
niest of them all. Somo were gold, somo
silver and some nickel. Somo had chains,
some had fobs and some were fastened to
him with a cord or a shoestring. Ho could
tako a watch out of any pocket. The curious
feature of tho thing is lie was exceedingly
sensitive on tho subject. It was a harmless
fad, and amused him, I presume, if he tried
to regulate them as to the sini and to each
other."
AVns Cured by a Bill.
A Westebveb at one of tho prominent tip
town hotels was feeling restless nnd ill one
hot evening, and he rang for a doctor. Tho
latter was in tho samo house. He called at
his patient's room nnd diagnosed tho case as
simple insomnia, gavo a couple of powders
und retired. Tho doctor called the next
morning to see how the patient (whom he
correctly Judged to be a man of means) was
getting on. Dunng the day he saw him, and
incidentally thrco orfour times. Thebili was
$i5. FIvo dollars a visit from a doctor living
on tho same floor with him in the samehoiiso
was something that nearly caused tho West
erner to faint. It exceeded iis wildest
dreams. Tho bill had one eflect it made
him a well man, he says.
The Adulteration of Deer.
"I used to be a grout beer drinker," re
maikcd a well-known railroad lattycr, par
enthetically, as he squeezed a bit of lemon
into a cup of breakfast tea, "but I'vo given
it up. I find tea is thobest drink that a man
ever put down his throat. The chief reason
against beer drinking is adultei ation. This
is common to all American beers. The com
petition lias grown to such an oxtent that
even the best and well established beers
have joined the bogus gang and it is now
practically impossible to nnd a good, pure,
tt holesomo American beer. You may think
you drink it, but you don't do it.
If I had my way I would have a bill
passed in Congress that would make it a
penitentiary offense to adulterate liquors
and dnigs.andprovldeforGovennent inspec
tors to see the law was observed. The igno
rant public ought not to be left to the mercy
of every business harpy. A general law
no-ninst adulterations ot food, druirs and
drinks, ngidly enforced, would bear equally
and fairiv upon every class of business at
fectcd by the change and would encourage
men to bo honest."
Continental Custom or Hills.
Some of tho leading hotels andrestaurants
in New York havo recently adopted the
Continental custom of charging' for rolls
and other forms of bread. They haven't put
that little pa"t of butter on the list yet, but it
will follow. The time is coming when tho
bill for an Amei ican meal will be as long as
it is lor one over the water. I believe, us
yet, nobody but the American landlord over
conceived or practiced tho scheme of charg
ing up "boots" in the bill whether the gueot
ever left his boots out to be cleaned or not.
That doesn't "rile" the man fiom Peoria or
Kalamazoo half as much, however, as 20
cents for his 2 cent breakfast rolls.
"Wo are compelled to make this charge,"
says a hotel man, "because guests would
oome into the cato or restaurant and make n
brf aklast off of butter and broad and ice
water that they would get lor nothing. The
European custom of charging for every
thing a roan gets, and for that only, is the
correct one."
Corsets and a Coffin.
It is funny to hear women abuse the corset
habit dnring tho sheltering days of mid
summer. They uro practically a unit in
their denunciation of the oppressive rigid-
ity of bones and canvas and steel that con
tract the lungs and restrict the freedom of
tho body at all times and Insummerare next
to unbearable.
"All women hate corsets at this season of
tho year," said one of the fair sex whose
plumpness is supposed to require extraor
dinary restraint, "but they not only wear
them, Dut they are more patticular about
them than they are about any other article
of attire. Women utmost invariably discuss
corsets when they are alone together. It is
a staple topic. They immediately get out of
that corset, individually, us soon as they can,
which, of course, is iu the privacy of their
own quarters and Tree from company.'
They tako to tho comfort as a gentleman
takes to his slippers and dressing gown. To
many women corsets are absolutely neces
sary, bat to those to whom they are not you
might as well talk to the moon as to influ
ence them against the corset fashion, or to
make them believe the shapes designed by
tne oorset maker are not an improvement
on the work of the Almighty. In every
country where corsets have never been
worn women do not compose the weaker
sex. As generally used they greatly modilv
and often wholly prevent the enjoyment of
physical exercise. But if a lonu life or
death in a few years were alternatives offer
ed to a New lork woman dependent upon
wearing or not wearing corsets, she would
choose the latter and invest in a corset and
a coffin."
Chicago Is Stark Mad.
I met Congressman Stahlnecker in lower
Broadway the other day. He had Just re
turned from Chicago. "Tho people of Chi
cago," said he, "are stark, staring mad over
the World's Fair. They talk of nothing else.
I never saw so much superfluous onthusiiism
since I was born. They filled me so full of it
I thought I would burst, unless I got ont of
town, and so I skipped out for New York.
HU, JL U1U1L l. UO UlU SlOCK YUIU5. '
The Crowd at a Pool Room.
If anybody of acute observation will make
a note of the kind of people who frequent
tho NewTfork poolrooms it ought to take
out of him any speculative tendency to
ward the race track. The dissipated young
men, the rounders, tho broken-down busi
ness men, tho confirmed drunkards, the
beats and bums of every degree of degrada
tion swarm about these poolrooms. It is
about the most unpromising crowd that can
be seen in a single room. No man in his
sober senses can look upon it and reflect
upon all that has brought its particles to
gether without a feeling of profound regret
that the law against poolrooms wouldn't
hold water. The race track has ruined more
American boys than the faro table.
Charles Theodore Mukrax.
GIE0FLE-OIS0FLA.
The Duquesno's Summer Season of Comic
Opera Opens With a Boon.
The summer season of comic opera opened
at the Duquesne Theater last night most
auspiciously. The Garrow Opera Company
is a good deal better than such bodies usual
ly are, and many a traveling organizatipn
that lugs a high-sounding name about tho
land has not the voices or the acting ability
of Laura Clement, John E. Brand, Henry
Hallam and others associated with them.
The opera was J.ecocq's "Girofle-Girotin," a
bright and tuneful example of the French
school, which was popular here be
fore tho extravaganza and burlesque
began to masquerade In opera's
clothes. It is somewhat late in tho
day to point out the merits of "Girofle
Glrofla," but it may be well to summarize
them as consisting in music of the melo
dious and generally simple order, a trifling
plot, involving situations somewhat risky
in character, but hlshlv amusing, and dia
logue of the very thinnest order. The opera
fared well as far as the singers were con
cerned, hut the orchestra was not always at
homo with the music, though a few perlorm
ances will doubtless correct this. Miss
Laura Clement, the Qirofle and Oirofla, has a
reputation, and she sustained it. Especially
after she wanned to her work she sang very
acceptably, and her powerful soprano
shotted to advantage. Her host number
probably was thedrinking song, "SeeHow It
Snnikles." which, as wero several other songs
of hers, was encored. In the duet in the third
act with Mr. Brand she was again very good,
and tho audience expressed their approval
very warmly. Mr. John E. Brand has a bar
itone voice of an unusually pleasant quality,
which ho manages very well. A good make
up as the ferocious Moor, Jfourzowfc.and some
very clever acting assisted Mr. Brand to tho
most artistic performance of the night. His
farewell song in Act III. and his share of the
duet mentioned above won him encores.
Mr. Henry Hallam, tho tenor, is above tho
average, and as Jlfaraxqtrin was very success
ful. Mr. Charles H. Drew made lots .of fun
out of UonJ?o?ero'and sings farjbettor than
most comedians. Miss Roche was humor
ously immense as Bolero's bigger and better
half. Tho minor parts were well filled
and tho chorus, especially the women, mado
a good appearanco and sang the choruses
with plenty of power. The opening chorus
of Act III. was tho best concerted number.
The opera was nicely dressed and staged,
and the performance went very smoothly
from beginning to end. The house was a
large and appreciative one, and the summer
season may bo said to have begun with a
pronounceu Buccess.
BBILLIANT SCHEME OF AWEITEB.
How He Set to Work to Make His Fortune
With. His Pen.
Chicago Tribune.!
"That's a good story," said the nowspaper
man's friend as he finished reading tho tale.
"Yon can sell that."
"Well, I don't know about that," said the
newspaper man doubtfully. "It has the
merit of brevity, of course, but the papers
are not running muoh to that style of story
now."
"I see 'em every day."
"That may be, too; but-it's no sign that
this will be accepted."
"I'll bet you a dollar it will be."
"Tako youl" shouted the newspaper man
so suddenly that it made his friend start.
The friend reached down in his pocket and
pulled out a silver dollar, and as he put it
up he said:
"Look here, old man, what's the game?"
'Plaving a sure thing," was the reply.
"I'll get $3 or $4 for that if 1 6ell it and SI if I
don't. I've got three bets on three differ
ent stories now, and if my friends only hold
out I'll make my everlasting fortune with
my pon."
Try Htm and See.
Boston Traveller.
Governor Campbell, of Ohio, would prob
ably not veto an act annexing Hamilton
county to Kentucky.
DEATHS HEBE AND ELSEWHEBE.
T. H. Williams.
The many friends of T. II. Williams will
be grieved to learn of his death, which occurred
Thursday evening at Colorado Springs. Col. Mr.
AVllliams commenced his business career over 20
carj ago as cashboy with the drygoods house of
Hugus & Hacke. His honest, straightforward
-nays, and the Keen busintsd ablllt which redis
played early attracted the attention of his einiilo)
trs. who, iu recognition ot his services, maae nlin,
some several years ago. the general manager of the
business, which position he held at the time of his
death. For some years past his health has been a
cauc of great anxiety and only two weeks ago he
went to Colorado in the hope of being benefited;
the sad Intelligence of his death following so toon
aftThisarrltal there will be a severe shock to his
frlLncls. His remains will be brought home for
interment.
Robert S. Johnston.
Kohert S. Johnston, son of the late Simon
Johnston, u'cl at his mother's residence In Hatel
wood i sterday morning in his twentieth year.
Heh ill b ci sutler nc for the rait flic months"
Ironi rniH-&piini immugi i, am juii. rciurneu
home f om tin- fccvlmn- a fevIjvs ngo. He grad
allysaiifciiH'l hi d a'h. l'or s. me lime previous
foliUsiik hi- heuaa nits ergcr at the Masonic
Buik. In- ullliH'-iartljr
misseu oy a large circle of
IlieuuS a u ruiauv-cs.
Obituary Notes.
Joseph T. Joiinsox, the last but one of the
Black Hawk survivors, who lived Iu Baltimore, is
dead.
John BEitGEH, of the Allegheny police force,
died j cterday morning. He lived at No. 6 Spring
alley. Ho had bten 111 lor several iaontln.
James C. Feuccsos, formerly resident of In
dlampolls, and at onu time President of the Hoard
of Trade of that city, died at hU residence In ban
Joso jesterday.
Mas. Key, wire of Bishop Key, of the Southern
Methodist Church, died yesterday of heart disease
at Eureka Springs. Ark. Her remains will be taken
to Macou, Ua lor Interment.
S. T. Hoffman died yesterday morning at the
Allegheny General Hospital, aged 58 years. He
was a member of Post 12f. G. A. E., the members
of which will arrange for the funeral.
FBEDEmcic Guiffixq, an old Brooklynltc, who
died at the age of 82, was buried Friday iu that
cltv. He was one of the California pioneers of 19,
and built manj of-tlie first docks in ban Francisco.
IIekm ax Raster, widely known as edltor-ln-chitf
of the Chicago hkuita Zeituno, died Friday
et cuing In Cubowa, boutheru Silesia, a German
province. Mr. Raster had been In poor health for
some time and went to Europe hoping to recu
perate. AXDPEW DAVIS, of Snter's station, the chlcr
mining town on the Yonghlogheny river, died Fri
day at Dlxmont, aged VS years. The)ouugman
lost his mind one yeir ago when his brother died,
arter making several unsuccessful attempts at sui
cide, aud ww found to be mentally uubalaaced-
KTT.T.Tro BY TBAIHS.
Deaf Mates Have a Fascination for "Walk
ing on Kailroad Tracks.
New York Sun.
"This one makes 23 deaf persons that I
have a record of who have been killed on
railroad tracks since 1874," an old Erie loco
motive engineer said, after reading the ac
count of Homer J. Higbee, a deaf mute, be
ing run over and killed while walking on
the railroad track at Olean, a few days ago.
"Deaf people, and especially deaf mutes,
seem to have a fascination for walking on
railroad tracks and they invariably walk on
the track on which trains are running in tho
same direction they are walking.
"In 1874 1 had been running on an engine
ten years, and had never yet had tho misfor
tune to kill anyone I was working for a
New Jersey railroad, and one day I sounded
my alarm signal to warn a man off the track,
as he was walking leisurely along ahead of
me and the train was drawing perilously
close to him. He paid no attention to the
signal, and I gave it to him again, long,
sharp, and loud. He kept right on, and, as
I was unable to stop tho train, he was run
over and killed, lie was a well-known resi
dent of Orange connty, and a deaf mute. A
relative of his told mo that he had many
times narrowly escaped being killed while
walking on raflroad tracks, and he seemed to
have an Irresistible passion for such danger
ous pastime.
"Sometime after I went on the Pennsyl
vania road, and inside of a year killed two
men at different times, while they were
walking on the track. Both wore deaf and
dumb. In W6, during the Centennial, I
killed two other deaf persons who had tho
fatal fascination for railway track pedes
trianism. Then I began to make a study of
this queor habit of the deaf, and keptarec-
oru oi ail deaths or persons on raiiroau
tracks that came to my notice through tho
newspapers if it was stated that tho victims
were deaf or deaf and dumb. I have cases
from all over tho country, and this killing of
Deaf Mute Higbee at Olean makes tho
twenty-second. They aro Invariably killed
in the same way.
"A ueaf mute was never known to look
back while walking on a railroad track, and
he is generally discovered in places where it
is almost an impossibility to stop in time to
save him. The airbrakes have saved a good
many deaf railroad pedestrians since they
came into -Use. It is an old saying among
railroad men that a deaf and dumb person
will go two miles out of his way to walk ona
railroad track, and it isn't far from tho
truth. I would like to have some one
give some explanation of this strange phase
of afflicted human natnre. There is no doubt'
whatever of its existence."
ATE HIMSELF TO SLEEP.
Caliph, the Hippopotamns, Unable to Finish
Ills Matutinal Meal.
New York Sun.
It is not a matter of Important news, but
it Is nn interesting fact that hiDpopotamuses
can eat themselves to sleep. The male hip
popotamus at the Central Park menagerie
did it this morning.
Mr. Hippopotamus and his wife nnd child
are fed ever morning about S o'clock on
freshly cut grass. As soon as they see the
keeper throw the grass into the cage they
amble gracefully out of their bath up the
slanting stone pavement, the father going
into the 'left hand compartment and the
females retiring modestly to the right hand
one.
This morning, instead of throwing the cus
tomary five bushels into Mr. Hippopotamus
cage, the keeper was unusually munificent
and cast in about a quarter of a ton. Caliph,
the big beast, took in the situation in one
long, lugubrious glance. Accustomed as he
was to getting away with every morsel
served to him, he saw that ho had a big task
on hand this morning. He began his break
fast a few minutes after 8 o'clock, opening
and shutting his jaws with much delibera
tion. The big pile of grass began to disappenr
slottly, but steadily. When it was about
half gone it was noticeable that tho animal's
Jaws did not work with the same regularity
that they did in the beginning. He ate in
quick chops, with a long pauso between
each chop, during which he would gazo at
the rest of his breakfast in a kind of hope
less, dazed fashion.
From then on tho grass disappeared moro
nnd moro slowly, the intervals between the
bites grew longer, and his eyes assumed a
far att ay, dreary expression, as if he ttero
thlnkinsrof his erstwhile haunts alon? tho
River Nile.
Finally the bites ceased entirely. The
hippopotamus' legs began to shake at the.
knees and his eyes became glazed, like tuona
of a fish. Then they closed tightly and his
legs gave way under him, nnd with a huge
grunt he fell on his belly fast asleep.
Tho other members ot tho family had fin
ished long before and had resumed the bath,
whence they observed the father and hus
band's coma with much apparent satisfac
tion. THE SILVER D0LLAE.
Interesting Figures About the Coinage of
the Big White Wheels.
Indianapolis Journal.
The entire coinage of standard silver dol
lars by our mints from their creation until
July 1, 1878, was only $3,573,500. The weight
of the subsidiary silver coins was reduced
23 grains to" tho dollar in 1853 to keep them
in circulation, as tho full silver dollar had
more valuo to be melted and sent to Europe
as bullion, where the ratio was one of gold
to 15 of silver. From 1810 to 1878 the silver
dollar was a curiosity, and although a unit'of
money value in a certain sense, it was not
an exclusive legal tender, as both metals
were lawful monoy. Whatever coin
there was in the country from 1840 until 1&S1
was gold and subsidiary silver. If silver
had been tho only legal-tender money dur
ing that period, and a creditor should have
demanded payment in standard silver dol
lars to the amount of $1,000, the debtor could
not have found them in the country. In 1837
the gold in the eagle was reduced two
tenths of a grain, but it had
no effect upon tho drift of the
metals; 15 ounces of silver would buy ono of
gold in Europe, and, very naturally, sliver
would not stay here, where it took 16 ounces
of it topurcbaseoneofgold. Sonow, if the
United States should proceed to offer free
coinage in the ratio of 1 to It), or 15.S8, when
tho market price of the two metals is as 1 to
20, the silver, as the cheaper metal would
hasten to that country where It would have
greater vnlne, and tho gold would go
to Europe, where it would be worth more
than here.
There were no silver dollars of 412K grains
coined in the United States of Hny conse
quence from 1834 to 1873. because the value of
the silver dollar in gold, a legal tender also,
ranged from 101 to 105 cents: nnd no man
would take 101 or 105 cents wortli of silver to
n mint and get 100 for it. So, if the free
coinnge of silver should come no one would
take 115 cents worth of gold bullion in silver
and get a legal-tender gold dollar. Tho
human being is not constituted in that way;
consequently, unless tho commercial nations
agree upon a ratio for the coinage of both
metnls, that which offers more lor silver
bullion than all the others that Is, freo
coinage on the basis of iW, grains of silver
as the equivalent of 23.8 cruins of gold will
have the silver, and others will have the
gold.
IT IS A STAETLEB.
Seventy-Three Miles an Honrby Mannraot-
Ive May Bo All Bight.
Outing for August.
"Seventy-three miles an hour!" That's
what a Worcester, Mass., inventor claims is
the speed which riders can attain on one of
his cycles. Is it safe to lau;h at this man?
Let us sec. Twenty miles an hour was
deemed Impossible only a few years ago; 2:20
for tho mile was scoffed at, as being beyond
the range of possibilities a few months ago,
and yet these performances aro now known
to bo very much it ithin tho bounds of rea
son to-day. Yet, iu spite of these facts, I im
agine It ttill be perfectly safe to risk n very
loud chuckle at the claim of 73 miles an
hour on any mannmotive machine.
The description of tho machine, to my un
mechnnical mind, is vagne, and all I can
seem to grasp is that it is one big wheel with
ttto rims, and the rider sits suspended from
the inner rim.
OVEE 3,000 ACTIVE VOLCANOES
Discovered in the Cucupali Mountain Re
gion of Lower California.
Sa3 Dieoo, Cai, Julp 25. A descriptive ac
count has been given by Colonel I. K. Allen,
the well-known engineer, of n phenomenon
In what is known as the volcanic region of
the Cocapah mountains, 6.5 miles southwest
of Yuma, in Lower California.
Colonel Allen says the: onre over 3 000 ac
tive volcanoes there, one-half of which aro
small cones, 10 or 12 feet at tho base, the re
maining half five to 40 feet at the base nnd 15
to 25 feet In height. Tho whole volcanic re
gion is encrusted with sulphur. Ono peculiar
leature of tho region Is a lake of tvuter jet
Dlnck.a quarter of a miloloiignnd one-eighth
of a mile wide, seemingly bottomless. The
water is hot and salty.'
CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS.
One half of the people born die befors
the age of 1C.
There are upward of 50,000 earthworm
In every acre of ordinary agricultural land.
There are about 32,000 arrests each year
in Paris, and of those arrests 35 are assassins.
There are estimated to be 97,700 deaths
In the world every 24hours,andl04,S00births,
or about 70 every minute.
A fle3 can jump over a barrier 500 times
his own height. At that rate a man could
j nmp over a wall nearly a mile high.
The number of postoffices in the United
States is officially stated to be 64 311, show
ing an increase of 2,000 over last year at this
time.
Straight streets are unknown in Chinx
They are purposely made crooked to con
fuse Satan, as the Chinese believe the devil
travels In a straight line.
The hobby of a Bangor merchant was
to collect all the stray buttons that came in
his way. During his life he accumulated a
barrelful, and no two buttons were alike.
5L Ader, of Paris, after expending
more than $100,000 on a flying machine, has
produced one in which he flew about 100
yards. He says it is propelled by "a combi
nation of vapors."
It is a whole day's task for two men to
fell a mahogany tree. On account of tho
spurs which project from the base of tho
trank, a scaffold has to be erected and the
tree cut off above the spurs, leaving thns a
stump of the very best wood from 10 to 13
reet nign.
On Cabinet days the President of the)
United States sits at a desk which has an in
teresting history. It is made of the timbers
of tho bark Resolute, which went to tho
rescue of Sir John Franklin, and was pre
sented to the United States by Queen Vic
toria in 1377.
ST. Janssen, President of the commis
sion instituted by tho aerostatic congress
in 1SS9, has asked the French War Minister
to define the status of aeronauts in time of
war. He thinks that aerostation is sufficient
ly important in tho army for those who aro
engaged in it to be designated as belliger
ents. Between the years 1884 and 1888, ac
cording to official statlstics,&19 soldiers of tha
Prussian army had committed suicide in
the Twelfth Saxon and Thirteenth Prussian,
regiments. The largest nnmber of suicides
occurred in the company stationed in the
province of Posen; the next was in that of
the Berlin company.
Guessing parties are quite popular in
Michigan. Invitations are sent to tho young;
men in "our set," from the vonng ladies, to
this effect, "Party in "our set this eveninsr.
Gues3 where and come there." Shortly
after 8 o'clock the hunt for the house be
gins, and sometimes it is quite late beforo
the right house is found.
Observation stepladders are the latest
innovation in the Belgian field artillery.
They are intended to enable tho command
er of a concealed battery to better detect
the fire of the gunners. Every ladder ia
abont seven and a half feethigh, of Iron, ana
weighs about Co pounds. All ammunition
wagons tt ill carry the ladders.
Fish ought to be very plentiful and
cheap, as most of them grow and Increase
without any care from man. It is said that
each flounder, for instance, produces many
millions of eggs. The sole produces 1,000.000
ezgs. n plaice not less than 3,000,000, while a,
large turbot has been credited with the de
position of 11,000,000 or 12,000,000 of eggs.
An Auburn (Me.) business man, one
who is seen upon the streets of that city
every day of tho weeic. cuts and makes his
own clothes. And thoy are well made and
they fit like a good-fitting glove. The man
isn't a tailor, either. He has cut and mado
his own clothes for years, and no one can
suit him as well as he can suit himself. Ho
does his cutting nnd sowing after business
hours.
All duels among officers of the Italian
army are hereafter to be matters of special
investigation by tho corps commanders.
The circular of tho Italian War Minister to
this effect states the object of the inno
vation to be thelimitingof dueling to affairs
of honor. Many duels of Italian officers are
now for trivial causes, noreafter officers
who light for such reasons will bo severely
It 13 the little things of life that tax
one's nerves the most, as a stalwart youth
of Kansas found vt hen lie ucconted a wager
that he could not stand a quart of water
dropped into his open hand drop by drop
from a height of threo feet. Ecforc50O drops
had fallen into his hand he almost cried
with pain and said ho had enough. After a
little water hud fallen each drop seemed to
crush his hand, and a blister in the centro
of it was the result.
In spite of temperance lectures and
anti-liquor laws breweries and distilleries
continue to multiply, bnt their increase is
small if compared with that of tho patent
nostrum traffic. Thirty years ago Great
Britain derived from patont medicines a
revenue of $210,00i. Tho same tax now
yields $8,500,000 a year in other words, the
traffic in "proprietary medicines" 1ms in
creased moro than four hundred fold iu less
than a third of a century.
The Bloomficld (3Io.) Ecpiiblican, t in
looking over a merchant's daybook of tho
date of 1845, found the following prices,
which will be of Interest in comparison with
tho prices of the present time: Two pounds
of nails, IS cents; 1 pound of tea, $1 25: 7 tards
of calico at 22 cents per j ard and 19K yards
at 33 cents per yard; Si pounds of Ltdf at 2
cents per pound: butter as low as 1 and 5
cents per pound; black muslin 11 cents per
yard; corn 12J to 15 cents per bushel: 'resti
pork, 3 cents per pound; 2 hogs weighing 240
pound each, at 2 rents per pound; brown
sugar, 12K cents per pound; eggx, 2 cents per
dozen; whisky, 37 cents per gallon.
A remarkable incident is reported from
Dublin. While three young" Indies were
bathing near tho coast gnard station, the at
tention of somo gentlemen on the bank was
attracted by u succession of piercing shrieks
from thebathers. Ono of the ladies appeared
to be struggling in tho grip of an enormous
and infuriated Jellv fish, which the ladv's
unaided efforts could not shake off. Fortu
nately a younger lady seized a stick which
was on the shore and dashinginto the water
engaged in combat -with the tenacious in
vertebrate. A desperate struggle ensued,
hut the courago exhibited by the gallant
rescuer finally secured tho safety of her
companion, tne animal succnmDingto tho
repeated stabs of the stick. The elder lady
was severclv stung, and remains in a pre
carious condition. The jelly fish measured
3 feet in the length of its tentacles.
LAUGHING WATEE.
Gladys (aged four) O o o Just hear
the wind blow;
Harold (five Yes. do you know what that is?
That is God breathing.
Gladys (slowly) I guess God has got a cold. Seta
Tcrk Tdtarmi.
Carruthers What do you think of Brob
son's new diamond
Waite It would make an excellent paperweight.
Carruthers That's the way he got It.
Waite AVhat do you mean.'
Carruthers He had to pay per weight! Una
Turk lkrald.
ilagistrate What is the charge against
this old man?
Policeman Stealing a lot of brimstone, Your
Honor. He was caught in the act.
31-igIstrate (to prisoner) Jlr aged friend,
couldn't you have waited a few years longer?
CUieaso Tnlmne.
Wishlets We had a flag r Using in front
of our house the other day.
Blshlcts-Gcttlng patriotic?
Wishlets Ob, no. there was a 1,-ak In the water
pipe and tncy had to take up the sidewalk. Broot'
Ijn Eagle.
"Do you know," he said in a low tone,
"that I reel very narrow-minded when I come to
sec yon?"
"Why?" She breathed the question very, -very
gently.
"Because then I am a man of one nigh dear."
.And the goal, sensible old moon, who has seen
so much of that sort of thing, made all possible
haste to retire behind the nearest cloud. Washing
ton tstar.
"I like to go in bathing with my wife."
"Why?"
"Well, she's afraid of being choked by the
breakers, so there's a certain amount of satisfac
tion in something being able to make her shut her
vioata.nUadtlphiiTimes.
They fay the baby looks like me,
A circumstance I dreaded.
But the only likeness I can &ee
Is that t c're both bald headed.
XeutXorX Press.
To love a woman
Is easy quite for man
But to unlove her! ah.
Who is It of us can?
Detroit FruPrus.
I
-&NSi
UXjIL-i