18
THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 1891
REVIEWOFSPORTS
Some Feuds and Qnarrels That Have
Done Injury to the Local
Baseball Club.
LESSORS TO THE DIEECTOES.
Aa Interesting Summary of Ore Opinions
cf J. L Sogers Regarding Con
tract Jumping.
FRJTCD IN TUB GRAND OBGUIT RACES.
Cre Dlmtrt Btgj Deftat of Trails, tie iJntnBam,
ftr the ChinpioMhlp.
First and1 last the officials of the local
bull club hare had quite an interesting time
of it Their experiences this year so far
have been of the most unhappy kind, and
the unhappiness does not seem to hare been
confined to any particular person, for all
have been included. "Without doubt the
feuds and fights hare had a very bad effect,
as the attendance t the games this week
lias shown, and in this respect the circum
stance is to be regretted because some very
fine gentlemen are identified with the club.
But, on the other hand, it may belong to
themselves that such results have come, and
wliat is more lamentable still, the team is
and has been playing very bad ball. Re
cently I have often thought that the di
rectors of the club would do well to stndy
the old and simple lines of Dr. "Watts when
he says:
Bird's In their little nests agree,
And It is a shameful sialic
"When children of one family
Fall out and chide and fight.
Because these lines were written for
children is no reason why they should not
be noticed by directors of baseball clubs.
I daresay we are all ready to admit that
every official connected with the club has
worked earnestly and incessantly for the
club's success, but despite that fact the re
sults, to say the least, are bad, not to say
discouraging. This is very unfortunate,
indeed, when we consider that Pittsburg is
really one of the most plucky baseball
cities in the country. In the face of defeat
after defeat the attendance at the games
until very recently has been excellent.
That there should have been such a sudden
collapse is a fact that everyone cannot but
l egret. An important change has been
made in the clubduringthe week, of course,
but none of us can sav yet with certainty
what that change will produce. Manager
Hanlon has been deposed and Jlr. "W. H.
McGunnigle has replaced him. Readers
of The Dispatcii are already aware of the
lively times there have been in connection
with the change, and it is, therefore, need
lets for me to sar anything more about
them. Results will eventually tell their
own story.
2I0RE ABOUT THE XOCAL CLUB.
It is legitimately within my province and
to a great extent my duty to express
opinions on sporting matters of interest
nuce a week, and most assuredly I always
have a defenw for any opinion that may be
expressed. Some of these opinions may
come in contact with the predilections of
other people, and may ruffle the serenity of
some minds, but while they may do this X
trust it will ever be understood that no
abuse is intended in any shape or form.
Abuse is not argument, and if any of my
rcadeis have at anv time been inclined to
think that abuse has been conveyed in any
thing I have written I. assure .them that I
have not been aware of it. But to the club.
"Wc are all convinced, I think, that the
club's team has so far been a miserable dis
appointment, and that the disappointment
has been made the keener by the fact that
fo many extravagant things were said about
them in the cariier part of the season. I
know that I more than once bestowed
lery high proisc on the team
and expressed the belief that they would
tand well up in the pennant rare. But
things have so far come out different, and
at this juncture it is needless to recall the
causes, real or alleged. 1 daresay the blame
cannot be limited to one man, or to two
men; but, however that may be, we have
the fact of the failure of the team. The
lessons of this season are sure, it is to be
hoped, to have good effect on the directors
lor next year, and there may be consolation
in that. As far as this season is concerned
we must await the results of the efforts of
the new manager, Mr. McGunnigle. Let
him have a fair and honest trial. He has
greater advantages than had his immediate
predecessor, and what is more the team are
playing in better form than at any previous
time. Taking these things into considera
tion, it is to be expected that Manager Mc
Gunnigle ill, in his unfettered position,
bring out good results.
A LOCAL ASSOCIATION TEAM.
A few days ago readers of the local news
papers were informed that Mr. J. E. Wag
ner, of Philadelphia, had been in the city
and leased Itecreation Park for an Associa
tion "jail team next year. It may be that
some people believe that there is an earnest
intention to put an American Association
-lub in this city and that hones! efforts are
being made to accomplish that object. 1
say there may be a few people who think
this ts ay, but I have failed to meet auy yet. .
It is perhaps true that Mr. Wagner secured
fn option on Recreation Park for next
j ear, but I will put myself on record as
trying it is not true that "there will be an
Association ball team here next year. How
iio I know? "Why. simply because common
sense tells me. The local history of base
ball alone is sufficient to convince me that
fools enough will not be found in Alle
gheny or Pittsburg to throw away money
in trying to place a second team in this
city, indeed, if I am not mistaken there is
tto'ck of the present club for sale. To try
and locate an Association team here would
be a certain Ioes if the Iieagne had also a
team in the city, and tell me the man or men
in the city with money enough and lack of
brains enough to begin the folly? And
let me tell you that Mr. "Wagner and
his Association friends in other cities have
had quite sufficient baseball experience at
. r.eir own homes to satisfy them without
oraing here. They have no money to spare
;r Pittsburg, and, altogether, it is the
i eriest nonsense to talk about an Associa
tion team for Pittsburg as long as the Na
tional League has a foothold here. But were
matters to come to a stage where it would be
.seriously intended to locate an Association
club here there would be one thing in its
!ivor, viz., the 25-cent ball. I have always
held the notion that this is a 25-cent ball
tity, although the National League rules
prevent a price of that kind here. But I
lail to see any reason why the public should
pay more than 25 cents per seat on the
t'leachers, and at a more opportune time I
propose to discuss this matter.
ABOUT CONTRACT JUMPING.
Last week I had a few words to say about
contract jumpers. Since then ColonelJ. H.
J lodgers, a member of the National Baseball
Doard, has fully expressed his views on the
matter, and as he is a recognized authority,
aad has all the facts in his possession, I now
,rive his opinions on the subject. Regarding
the Kaymond case, he sets forth that the
National Board has jurisdiction only over
baseball organizations parties to the national
agreement. Contracts between such organiza
tions and their players are registered and
promulgated, and the board has no official
knowledge that any other organization or
contract is in existence. "When, therefore,
:i player, in violation of his contract, plays
ball outside of the national agreement the
Ixjard has no jurisdiction to interfere, and
i he club from which the offending player has
leserted has no recourse unless to invoke
the restraining power of a court of equity
an expensive and sometimes doubtful rem
edy. "When wholesale violations of contracts
were threatened by Raymond and others,
the "Western Association clubs demanded
that the board take some action in tho mat
ter. After considerable correspondence be
tween the Chairman and members of the
board, it was resolved, by virtue of the
plenary powers conferred on it by the na
tional agreement, that thereafter a player so
offending would be ineligible to play with
the club he had deserted, as well a3 under
existing rules he was ineligible to play with
any other agreement club. The hoard re
fused to add the stigma of blacklisting to
the punishment, that being reserved for dis
honest playing, which is an unpardonable
offence.
In reference to the reinstatement notice
issued by Mr. Young. Mr. Roger savshe at
once wrote to the President and asked his
authoritv for such announcement. Thn r-
Iply was that his (Young's) proclamation
making contract jumpers forever ineligible.
was not published until arter -Kaymond had
jumped, and that the latter's lawyer held
that the decree of the board making a new
penalty for such offence could not apply
retroactively, or it would becomean ex post
facio law. Mr. Rogers says no one can ques
tion the legality of this conclusion, but that
it was unfortunate Mr. Young's proclama
tion did not sav "hereafter" contract jump
ers should be ineligible, etc. No vote was
cast on the question of reinstatement, Mr.
Young assuming that Messrs. Rogers and
Krauthoff, the other two members of the
board, would approve of the reinstatement
when the legal reasons were explained.
THE OMAHA CASES.
As to the Omaha players. Mr. Rogers
explains that no action has yet been taken,
lor the reason that the tacts in the case are
in dispute. Mr. Young, as secretary of the
board, received notice that the Omaha club
had disbanded, and the players, under their
contracts, had been held subject to assign
ment by the "Western Association. He ac
cordingly notified the players to report for
duty, he having no knowledge of the release
of the players. Several of the players then
sent him copies of releases, dated July 1,
1891, and signed by the proper officials of
the Omaha club. Mr. Young never having
notice of such release, brought the matter
before the board for a decision of the ques
tion whether players duly released (and the
ten days for the other clubs claims having
since expired) could be held under his con
tract and the Western Association consti
tution, because of the neglect of the club's
officials to send proper notice of such re
lease. Mr. Rogers decided that the player
shouli not suffer for such neglect, and that
under such release the player was free to
sign where he pleased.
Mr. Krauthoff now contends that the re
leases of the Omaha players were fraud
ulent, and were really granted on July 12,
but dated back to July 1 in order to cheat
the other Western Association clubs of their
ten days' privilege to accept the services of
the players. Mr. Krauthoff is now investi
gating the truth of this charge of fraud, and
the final ruling of the board will rest on the
result of the investigation. Meantime the
players will remain with the clubs of their
choice. If the allegation of fraud is estab
lished, the releases are annulled and the
players must fulfil their contracts and give
their services to the Western Association
club to which they may be assigned. At
the same time the players will have a chance
to offer counter proofs and be fully protect
ed in their rights.
THE GBAND CIRCUIT EA.CES.
Probably there never was a Grand Circuit
season opened out any better than the pres
ent. The inauguration at Homewood was
one full of enthusiasm and success in all re
spects, and the meeting at Cleveland just
finished has without doubt not onlv kent un
that enthusiasm, but has increased. Cer
tainly the Cleveland meeting was a great
one in all respects and it is to be hoped
that the excellent work begun by the Cleve
land and Pittsburg associations will be sus
tained by the balance of associations
interested in the circuit. Of course
none of us will forget the great perform
ance of Hal Pointer at Cleveland, and it is
reasonable to expect that famous paeer to
do even better before the season closes.
But there was a very unfortunate feature of
the Cleveland meeting, resulting in the ex
pulsion of the owner and driver of Temple
Bar, and the latter was also expelled. The
expulsion was unfortunate because of the
necessity for such action. We, who are
admirers of honest horse racing, will doubt
less all regret the expuUion, but I venture
to say that our regrets, are not for the al
leged dishonest men who have been ex
pelled, but because of the appearance of
traud on the track. That drivers and
owners hatch fraudulent schemes to rob and
cheat the public, is not, as a rule, the fault
of the race track authorities; but when the
fraud is detected these authorities can make
examples of the rascals. The judges of the
Cleveland track, when convinced to some
thing was wrong in the Temple Bar race,
were not slow to aet, and their action will
be indorsed by every lover of honest racing
in the country. While the trotting track
is very much purer to-day than it has ever
been, none of us can deny the fact that
much dishonesty on it still exists. This
dishonesty is of a kind that the ablest
judges cannot well detect, but whenever
fraud is detected, the penalty should be such
as to purge the track forever of the perpe
trators. Doubtless that is a severe remedy,
but it is the only safe one, or at least the
safest one that I am aware of.
A TREAT FOR CRICKETERS.
During the week the announcement has
been made that a team of English cricketers
are to visit this country this year, and that
they will play in Pittsburg. While I am
not certain about the Pittsburg end of it, I
trust that it is true. If it is true, then there
will be an interesting treat in store for the
lovers of the historic game. lam sorry to
say that of late the good old game has been
on the wane in and about Pittsburg. A few
years ago there was an enthusiasm thrown
into the game that gave it quite a IocaI
boom, and as a result we had cricket con
tests every week. And we also had a host
of very promising young players, and where
they have all gone to I am at a loss to
know. But I see no reason why the crick
eters in and about Pittsburg should not get
together at once and arrange a series of
contests among themselves. The season is
none too far advanced, yet, and it is only
these local contests that firmly root an ad
miration or the game. It may be true that
cricket will never become anything like
the leading game in America, but it is also
true that it Has more patrons than many of
us think, and I'll say more, there are more
interesting features in the game than
the uninitiated ever imagine. I am fully
convinced that if the prominent members
of the various clubs would get together
they could formulate a plan of oontests that
would result in popularizing -the game.
And it would also make matters much bet
ter for the appearance of an English team
here if they intend to come.
THE DIXON AND "WILLIS BATTLS.
Those who read the review of last week
would not be very much surpriied at the
defeat of Willis by Dixon. If there was
any surprise at all it would be because
Dixon made such short work of his man.
I was surprised on that score, for I really
thought the contest would last at least ten
rounds. I now cannot help thinking that
the "talent" of San Francisco inubt have
had Willis considerably over-rated, and it
is quite easy to sea .how the over-rating
could be caused. Since his landing in San
Francisco Willis has met one or two third
rate feather-weights, and he polished them
off to the Queen's taste. He settled them
so easily that many people who saw him
thought him a demon. But here is just
where people can be fooled. When one
man is a little better than another and
takes a good lead in the first or second
round, he speedily gets so much the better
of his man that he appears to be invincible,
while he really is no such thing. I have
seen this time and time again, and I have
also known many people to have been mis
led by such things. It was this fact that
caused me to say last week that while Willis
had made short work of several opponents,
he had not yet met a McCarthy, a Wallace or
a Dixon. Well, as a result, the first time
the little Australian has met a really first
class man he has made a poor stand, in
deed; I mean he had no chance of vic
tory at alL -Dixon simply made an ex
ample of him in every possible way, and
it is likely that the colored youth
from Boston could have settled three or
four Willises on the same evening. There
is not much to say about the contest, as
Dixon out-seienced, out-hit and out-gener-oled
Willis by great odds. Willis was out
of his class and that's all there's in it. In
my opinion there are lots of feathe&weights
in the country who would make matters ex
ceedingly warm for Willis. But the con
test was one more proof of the prowess of
the Boston feather-weight. He is now the
undisputed champion feather-weight of the
world, and as far as glove fighting goes he has
earned his title honestly and well. It will
need a wonder to defeat Dixon at his
weight, and while there is talk of a contest
between him and Griffo or Van Hecst, I am
inclined to think that it will be difficult to
secure a substantial purse for another con
test. It seems to me that Dixon is so far
superior to any of the present feather
weights that no club will be willing to riBk
a ?5,000 purse for a contest.
THE SMITH AND PRITCHARD AFFAIR,
Well, well, well! But weren't we led
astray on the contest may I call it con
test between Ted Pritchard and Jem
Smith? To be sure, a week or so ago I had
quite a lot to say about how Smith would
stand any length of time before Pritchard,
and I even went so far as to say that Prit
chard would not stand as long as Smith.
But it must not be forgotten that I said, "if
Smith wanted to." Well, I don't think
Smith "wanted to" because, judging from
the published accounts of the affair, it was
a fraud on the face of it We were in
formed that Smith nearly killed Pritchard
in the first round, and had him just about
knocked out. But notwithstanding this in
less than a minute Pritchard was as fresh as
ever and Smith was the victim. In a few
minutes more Smith was helplessly on the
floor and all was over, and on the dav fol
lowing Smith was allJ. Jb- except a black
ened eye. This is the same Smith who
fought a draw with Kilrain when the latter
was at his best, and Pritchard is not a big
middle weight. That's all the explanation
I have to give regarding the mat
ter. Without doubt Pritchard is an ex
ceedingly good middle-weight pugilist, and
if he had the chance I would not be sur
prised if he proved himself the best middle
weight in the world. That his backers have
a verv high opinion of him is proven by the
fact that they have offered to match him
against Charley Mitchell. In an age of
three-minute round contests with gloves, I
would indeed like to see a contest between
Mitchell and Pritchard, as I have an idea
that it would be worth seeing. As far as I
can understand, their styles are quite dif
ferent. While Mitchell is artful and very
effective, Pritchard is one of the rushing
kind, and what may be termed a "glutton"
for punishment. It would therefore be in
teresting to see two styles of this kind come
in contact with each other. Of course I
hold that it would require a better man
than I think Pritchard is to defeat Mitchell
either in a 24-foot ring under P. R. rules or
before a club under Queensberry rules. But
nowadays when boxing and fighting has be
come such on unreliable business one
hardly knows how to sum up the vast ma
jority of events. It may be that Mitchell
win accept .rritcnara s cnaiienge, ana h
may be that he won't. I don't know ot
present writing. If they are matched to
light or box, I will in due time have some
thing to say about it.
JACK M'AULIFFE AND GIBBONS.
At last a match has been made between
Austin Gibbons and Jack McAuliffe, but as
I pointed out last week the contest cannot
be for the light-weight championship, as
the men are to fight at 135 pounds. The
contest is to take place at the Granite Club,
Hoboken, and will be for 51,500 a side and a
purse of l,000. The club is also to give the
pugilists 600 for training expenses, and the
contest is to take place on September 11.
This contest suggests many things, but the
most prominent is: Can McAuliffe get into
good condition? That is, can he get down
to 135 pounds after being on the shelf so
long, and still be the McAuliffe he used to
be? If he could enter the ring in form simi
lar to that when he was at his best, I have
no hesitation in saying that I should
certainly expect nun to be a winner.
Those of us who have paid attention to
affairs pugilistic during the last few years
cannot forget the great lightweight, Jack
McAulifie. There was a time when I used
to estimate him as one of the very few real
fighters in America. He was a strong.
plucky, clever and cunning man in the
ring, but I have something like a fear that
his prowess has been impaired in recent
years. Of course, this is merely a surmise,
and if the surmise is wrong and he is all
right, or at least will appear all right, then
I expect him to defeat Austin Giboons.
There is plenty of time to discuss the pros
pects of the contest and I have nothing def
inite to say about it just now. But at
present I confess that I have not a very
high estimate of Gibbons, judging from his
performance against Mike Gushing some
time ago. He is a tall lightweight, but with a
man like Jack McAuliffe I don't think that
height will amount to much, because he
must be very finely trained himself to get to
weight.
THE AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVES.
Efforts are still being made toward having
the proposed contest between Jim Hall and
Bob Fitzsimmons take place. The latest is
that the California Athletic Club will offer
a purse of 510,000 for the two men to fight
for. The offer is a good one, and if it is ac
cepted X shall have more faith in the affair
than I had in the contest that was to take
place at St. PauL If they fight in San
Francisco they will have to show that they
are in earnest. But they and their friends
have been trying their best to secure a
pavilion in San Francisco and also the
license to fight in it. This smacks much of
"business," and only tends to bear out or
strengthen the suspicions there existed re
garding the St. Paul affair. If the Athletic
Club's offer is not accepted then we have
proof positive that only a scheme was in
tended. But whether the contest takes
place or not I have an idea that one or both
of the Australians will soon set sail for
England, and it strikes me that they are
just waiting to get pile of American
dollars before leaving. PREfGLE.
TEA A8 A TEST FOR POISOH.
The Delightful Beverage Serves to Detect
Adulteration of Syrup.
New Tort: Thnei . 1
"Tea," says a woman who knows, "clear
tea, without sugar or cream, is one of the
best of agents for the detection of suspected
poison. I remember stopping onoe, in my
travels, at a little country inn whose buxom
landlady offered me some beautiful-looking
waffles, beside which she sat down a small
pitcher of syrup. There was talk at that
time it was several years ago about the
adulteration o'f some syrups, and this par
ticular pitcherful had a peculiar color which
I did not like. So I asked that a cup of tea
be brought to me first, and when it came I
took a teaspoonful of the syrup and put
it in.
"Instantly the tea turned perfectly black,
showing the presence of a mineral poison. I
don't know that there would have been
enough to have done me serious harm, but
as I don't care to take poison even homeo
pathically, when I know it, I ate my waffles
that day with butter and sugar. More than
that, I called the landlady's attention to the
circumstance, which resulted in banishing
all of that syrup she had in the house."
SKELETON OF A RACER.
Electioneer" Bones Keveal the Secret af Bis
Great Speed.
Electioneer, the magnificent horse owned
by Senator Stanford, died on December 3
last, says the Rider and Driver, and his
skeleton has been carefully mounted with
nickel wires and bands. To the anatomist
it reveals the secret of Electioneer's wonder
ful powers. The main points of strength
are the extraordinary sire of his hinder
parts, or pelvis, consisting of the ilium,
pubis and ischium; the width and length of
the femur, or thigh bone, and scapula, or
shoulder blade. The limbs and hoofs indi
cate that they were entirely free from blem
ishes and marks.
The skeleton will be placed in the mu
seum of Senator Stanford's stock farm at
Palo Alto.
RESUME OF THE WEEK.
Something About Sir Eichard Burton
and His Manuscript.
THE PARISIAN IDEA OP BEAUTY.
Significance of Leopold's Action in Tlehtij
Up to Germany.
AIT OHIO Gnu's SUCCESS Iff KTGLATn)
HllLUl.k.1 rOS TUB DISPATCH.!
The world hears more of the dead ex
plorer. Sir Richard Burton, to-day than it
did at the time of
his death, more than
a half year ago.
That fact was hard
ly deemed import
ant enough then to
warrant anything
but the most abbre
viatednotice. Noth
ing, I believe, but a
shorthand report
could have sur
passed it in brevity;
BIT Richard Burton, while now one can
scarcely look over a single newspaper or
magazine without meeting with some sort
of reference to him, and all this is owing to
the destruction of one of his manuscripts,
which hardly anyone living, excepting the
prudish widow, who burned it, can say had
a specifio value. Too much import
ance is attached to this incident.
It will be acknowledged that
Burton, in his writings, was more
or less actuated by a desire for fame, and
may have been of the opinion that the mat
ter destroyed would do more than anvthing
else to perpetuate his memory; nevertheless,
the fact remains that he made his wife the
legatee of his property, of which this manu
script was a part, aud she was undoubtedly
privileged to" do just as she pleased with her
own. That she may-have had good grounds
for her action will be evidenced to those
who have had an opportunity of seeing or
reading her husband's translation of "The
Arabian Nights," in which he uses lan
guage with Oriental freedom, and if he was
still freer, as it is claimed, in the work de
stroyed, it is just as well that it did go up
in smoke.
But while so much space is devoted to
the incident of the manuscript, the man
himself has been lost sight of. Burton was
undoubtedly a clever man. His works
treating of his travels have always been
read with the most eager interest. His ex
ploration of Africa, Brazil and the Land of
Midian were all fruitful of results and have
been well covered in his entertaining books.
It was he in company with Speke that dis
covered the great Central African lake Tan
ganyika. He also visited the Gold Coast,
the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and
Salt Lake City in this country, his visits to
each resulting in works which are valuable
to the world for the accurate information
which they contain.
SIGNIFICANCE OF LEOPOLD'S ALLIANCE.
Leopold of Belgium may have bad luck,
but there is no questioning his ability to
administer his State affairs with tact and
intelligence. His latest act, that of joining
the triple alliance as the ally of Germany
shows that he keenly appreciate! his posi
tion as the monarch of a country that is
liable to be badly torn up during a conflict
between the great powers. Belgium occu
pies a very peculiar position geographically.
Bounded on the one hand by Germany, on
the other by France, it has been the theater
of some of the greatest battles of European
history. So often have these conflicts been
waged within the borders of the little king
dom that somebody has dubbed it "The
Cock-pit of Europe," a name which has
clung to it for a long time.
The most curious part ot the King's pres
ent action lies in joining forces with Ger
many. Can this be an indication as to Leo
pold's opinion of the probable outcome of
the combat that will ensue sooner or later
between Germany and France? One would
think that the Belgians all things be
ing equal would not hesitate to league
themselves with France. Flemish they
are termed, but what does that amount
to in a country where 2,230,316 speak
French against 2,485,384 the national
tongue? Still more remarkable is the fact
that out of a grand total of C,093,798 only
39,550 are German, and yet the Government
takes sides with that nationality against
those who represent almost half the popula
tion of the kingdom. There is some deep
reason for Leopold's action and only time
will make it clear.
THE REIGNING BEAUTT OF PARIS.
It may interest the ladies and gentle
men, too to present here a portrait of
Mme. Gauthereau,
a reigning beauty
at the French capi
tal just now. Paris
ians are known to
be slightly peculiar
in their tastes,
otherwise it would
be pertinent to ask
someone for infor
mation as to what
lines the distinctive
beauty of the lady
in question are Madame Gauthereau.
founded upon? According to the portrait,
which is a copy of a picture by Courtois,
which is attracting much attention in this
vear's Salon, there are manv defects in thn
.face. ,The nose is large, as is also the chin,
the latter projecting lorward to an alarming
rate, while the eyes are much too small. It
is said the faults noted above are admitted
by the lady's admirers, but it is claimed
they are more than made up for by a mag
nificent figure and a complexion of. the
most marvelous tints imaginable. To be
sure this last method is somewhat different
from the old way of defining beauty, but if
the Parisians are satisfied certainly we
ought to be.
Thus is a new field opened to some of our
girls." No longer need they bewail the
irregularity of their features. Lei them
have beaks like unto parrots, chins like
"Punch's" and eyes like black beans stuck
in a dumpling they are all right. They
are a little short of the requisites, but these
can easily be made up, particularly if a
proper and energetic coach is secured to
"boom" their charms.
SOME CURIOUS TVAGEES.
The Austrian who wagered his life on the
accomplishment of an object and lost no
doubt established a precedent, but it is
hardly likely he will have many emulators.
The circumstance recalls other curious
wagers of which record has been made. One
of the oddest was that between Queen Eliz
beth of England and Sir Walter Raleigh
on how much smoKe was contained in a
pound of tobacco. Another unique idea
was that of a man named Corbet, who bet
that his leg was the handsomest in the En
glish kingdom. Pictures are still preserved
in the family representing the process of de
termination. Lord Spencer once cut"off
his coat tails, and wagered that the muti
lated style would become the fashion. He
won. A gentleman wagered that he could
stand on London bridge a whole day with a
trayful of new sovereigns and be unable to
dispose of them at a penny a piece. He was
victorious, not a single one being purchased.
An Alabama man wagered that he could
swim across the river with two small fishes
in his mouth. One escaped and the other
went down his throat and choked him so
that he drowned. Three men in Indiana
made a bet that they could walk a half mile
through the snow barefooted, the one who
was injured most to buy a pound of tobacco
for the one who suffered least They all
three had to have their toes amputated.
Asclapiades, the physician, wagered that ho
would never be sick in his life. He died of
old age.
Many other curious wagers could be re
lated, but space will not permit. However,
it will riot be out of place to mention the
fact that it is not generally known that the
first Carlist war in Spain was decided by a
series of bets over a game of cards, which
took place during a temporary truce between
the rival generals-in-cnief, who had been
staunch personal friends before the war.
Espartero won the entire submission of the
Carlist army, article by article from General
Maroto, who was more of an enthusiast than
a player.
AN OHIO GIRL IN LONDON.
The English publio has substantiated the
good judgment of New Yorkers by admitting
that Elita Proctor
Otis, of the latter"
place, is a remark
ably handsome
woman; an intelli
gent one, and, also, a
very graceful and ac
complished e 1 o c u
tionist, all of which
she proved by her
appearance at tit.
James Hall, London,
recently. Miss Otis
is a native of Ohio,
who has achieved all
her histrionic fame
in New York, while
acting as editress of
Elila Proctor Otis.
the Saturdau Review of that city. Her
talents were so exceptional that she was
frequently advised to adopt the stage pro
fessionally. The English critics speak very highly of
her, comparing her acting in some respects
to that of Mrs. Kendal, and that in high
comedy she would ably fill the place once
occupied by the great favorite, Miss Nis
bett They also state that several man
agers ere treating for a professional engage
ment and the offers are so flattering that she
may take advantage of one or the other and
make her debut on that side of the water.
JCTVILIZATION VERSUS RETROGRESSION.
A recent writer declares that the Veddahs
of Ceylon are the laziest people in exist
ence. The informa
tion is interestingj
but could be made
much more so if the
article containing it
had continued on
and observed that
notwithstanding
their slothful habits
the Veddahs are one
of the most remark
able races on the
globe. Philologists
say their language is
a derivative of the
Sanskrit and the
people themselves
ore degenerated de
scendants of the
Aryans who con
quered India. The
most curious fact is
that the Aryans were
undoubtedly some
what advanced in
culture, while the
Veddahs are prob
ably as debased a
race as can be con--ceived
of. They have "
no God nor have "'
they a m emory. They
cannot count above
two or three; their
language is limited
to some 200 or 300 A Veddah.
vocables; therefore, they have no knowledge
of either letters or mathematics. They have
no arts; no weapons but rude bows and ar
rows and have domesticated no animals but
the dog. The principal reason why these
people are so interesting' to scientists lies in
the fact that they are an existing refutation
of the generally held theory that civiliza
tion is not retrogressive.
FRANCE GOT A GOOD THINGS
In the way of a bargain France has got
one in the purchase of Tahiti, one of the
Society Islands. Twelve thousand dollars
was the amount paid, which is about 51 an
individual if the population is considered as
part of the purchase. The main importance
of Tahiti, however, exists in its trade, which
is heavy enough with the United States
alone to have justified this country in offer
ing a much higher price than France paid.
During 1889 this country imported from
Tahiti no less than $333,640 worth of prod
ucts, consisting chiefly of cotton, sugar,
coffee, pearls, shells, etc., and the United
States did not consume everything that
Tahiti had to Isell either, for -the total crops
of the first three articles mentioned aver
age every year between 160,000 and 170,000
Sounds each. Taken as a whole, France's
itest acquisition was simply "a find."
THE CZAR AND THE HEBREWS.
Although loud spoken in their objection
to the action of the Czar of Russia, regard
ing the Hebrews, New Yorkers evidently
forget or are not conversant with their own
history. It is just 150 years since the same
people were disfranchised by the Legisla
ture of that State and as systematically per
secuted as they are in Russia to-day. But
New York has lived long enough to see its
error, and, if we have patience, Russia may
do the same.
FRENCH ARTISTS AT BERLIN.
Madelaine Lemaire, Bouguereau and
Vuillefroy are the three artists who sent
works of art to the Berlin Exhibition and
now they are being roundly berated in their
own country for doing so. Says one news
paper: "These names must be nailed on
the pillar of shame as those of the worst
Frenchmen, unworthy to represent French
art." The newspaper is guilty of a slight
mistake. The individuals named are well
worthy to represent any art, and if France
does not want them we do, and t. hearty
welcome is extended them to make their
homes with us. Americans may be narrow
minded in some things, but I think the ma
jority are just broad enough to permit a
man to have his own opinion. The artists
named need not conoern themselves much
about the actions of their pettish country
men. There will always be a strong market
for their productions outside of their own
country; in fact, a better one perhaps than
they have enjoyed in it hitherto.
WiLxm
A BANANA WILLPEEL ITSELF,
That Is If Ton Utilize the Pressure of the
Air In the Right Way.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
A neat table trick is to make an egg force
its way into an ordinary wine carafe" such
as is found on all well-regulated dinner
tables. The other accessories are some
paper and a medium hard-boiled egg with
the shell taken off Drop the paper lighted
into a wine bottle and get the interior well
heated. This expands the air within and
forces part of it out. While the interior is
still hot stand the egg up on end in the
neck of the bottle and let it rest there. As
the bottle cools off the egg will begin to
force its way in until it finally drops.
Another trick which works on the same
principle is to make a banana peel itself.
To do this all that is wanted is ;a wine
bottle, a ripe banana, and a bit of paper
wet with alcohol. Light the paper and
drop it into the bottle. Have one end of
the banana partly peeled, so that the ends
of the skin will catch on the rim of the
bottle. When the air in the bottle is well
heated set the banana on end on top and
let it do the rest itself, as the air on the
inside cools off and contracts the outside
pressure, pushing the banana down into the
bottle until it has pulled itself out of its
skin.
A Bit of Philosophy.
Baltimore American.
When you hear a man say that he has lost
all faith in humanity put him down as one
who is not on good terms with his own conscience.
iff 4?)
r "try
W
LOWLY OF LIVERPOOL.
Capital There Has Found the Limit
on Which Labor Can Live.
m HOPE FOE THE WAGEW0KKEBS.
More Squalor and Woo There Than In Any
Ten American Cities.
PUBCHASIXG POWER OP TEE WAGES
CCOBRSTOITlCl: OT THE DISPATCH.!
Liverpool, July 31. With its. outlying
boroughs and suburbs, Liverpool houses
well nigh 1,000,000 souls. Its maritime in
terests are enormous, and commercially it
110 doubt ranks as the second city in the
empire. It is a hard, practical city. Its
business men and factors are grim, severe
fellows, stern of decision os New York mil
lionaires, and restless, diligent and uncon
querable as the men who have set the kill
ing pace in Chicago.
There is little room for pleasant things In
Liverpool. Its chief and almost sole gal
lery of paintings was given to the city by a
graduated rumseller, whom Victoria, out of
surprise and wonder, no doubt, made a bar
onet. Although one of the world's greatest
depots for the book collector, it has but one
library of note available to the public.
Charities are done in a perfunctory, petu
lant manner, as though the helpless were
most ill-mannered in selecting busy Liver
pool to starve in. And its hundreds of
thousands of working men and women are
treated with less consideration than cattle.
GROUND BETWEEN MILLSTONES.
With a few shining examples, it is a city
of commercial Gradgrinds on the one hand,
and public house devil-fish on the other.
The lowly have a sad lot between them.
Nobody here wants it that way. Nobody
here believes it is that way. A few men,
like Sir James Poole, are endeavoring to
help the masses to better things, and are
finding a little time from business affairs
to do something practical and good.
But as a rule the men who own great fleets,
who exchange half the English-speaking
world's raw and manufactured products,
push forward in their money-grabbing
career like automatons of stone, and their
fellow humans are counted as cool, iron or
cotton are computed in loss or gain.
In studying the condition of the lowly of
any great city, the demand for labor, wages
paid, and the cost of living, are the first
things to be considered. These things indi
cate how the people might live, if possessed
of all prudence and sobriety. How they
really live, and why, is another matter.
There is seldom a dearth of labor in any
treat seaport. Liverpool has always stood
igh in percentage ot labor demand. The
city has never been subject to the relentless
overcrowding of manufacturing towns like
Leeds, Manchester and 'Birmingham, or the
destructive greed of tremendous and endless
immigration, as at New York.
THE "WAGES OF THE WORKERS.
Fifty thousand men are alone constantly
required in the various forms of dock labor.
This fact will sufficiently indicate the
almost measureless business ramifications
requiring uninterrupted service. Steady
labor and plenty of it is the rule. The
least possible wages upon which the work
ers may exist also prevail. The best paid
men among the 60,000 laborers employed
upon the dooks are the stevedores who load
and unload the ships "'lumpers" they are
called who get 6 shillings per day, and the
dock porters or "goods" handlers, who re
ceive a sixpence less. "Lorrymen" or cart
meu with two horses tandem earn 30 shill
ings, and, with one horse, 26 shillings. The
police are paid from 20 to 32 shillings,
with corresponding deductions to event
ually pay for their own pen
sioning when too old for further
service. A gateman at the Exchange Rail
way station told me he had been in the
same service 16 years and had never re
ceived above 19 shillings per week; and no
manner of employe about these great sta
tions is paid upward of 20 shillings. All
grades of clerks, porters and salesmen and
women about the markets receive from 8 to
18 shillings. Tramcar drivers get as high as
24 shillings, but conductors never above 21.
Barbers, caretakers or janitors and watch
men, milkmen, bakers men, grocery and
market trap drivers, express and railway
package and freight collectors receive only
from 10 to 18 shillings; while corporation
day laborers are paid from 16 to 20 shillings
per week.
PAID LOW BECAUSE THEY STEAL.
Liverpool cabmen are the most woebe
gone lot of their kind in the world. Cab
owners occasionally rent a hansom or
brougham to a trustworthy fellow at a
stated sum, but there are not CO out of
nearly 3,000 that have arrived at this dig
nity m their calling. The remainder get
from 12 to 18 shillings per week. One pities
these fellows. They are lame, halt, blind,
veinous-nosed and palsied, without suffi
cient spirit for genuine viciousness. I had
thought the Havana cocheros the most beg
garly set of these fellows on earth. But if
you wish to observe at one study all that
could be seen in all the British workhouses,
reformatories aud hospitals for incurables,
station yourself anywhere on Crosshall
street opposite the municipal buildings,
near St. George's Hall, or at the landings
on any steamer arrival day, and cast a
glance down along a line of waiting Liver
pool cabmen. I have asked several cab
owners why, in the name of human
existence, such mockery of wages is paid.
"W'y, blow their bloody h'eyes! they rob
us juss so much hany'ow," is the universal
rejoinder.
"Couldn't you 'book them for each trip
and fare?"
"O aye, some hon us dooes that werry
thing. Then they rob the 'fare' (passenger)
at th' hend o' the journey, an' picks oop a
back fare hon us beside. Theys a possel o'
pirates, is they!"
HELD BT HOPE OF ADVANCEMENT
The clerks of Liverpool are not to be en
vied. Male clerks employed in the great
warehouses, refineries, insurance offices, in
the gigantic cotton trade, and in the myriad
shipping offices, ore the victims of a most
iniquitous system. It is true that a few
head clerks, accountants and office managers
receive trom J to 40 shillings per weeK,
and manage to lead comparatively comfort
able lives. But fully 90 per cent give
their best years, from 16 and 18 to
30, at from 6 to 18 and 20 shil
lings per week. They are deluded in
to this sort of Blavery by the glittering
hope of "advancement." Tremendous
wealth and its power ore all about them.
They slave like beasts and dream of ulti
mate place among the money kings of Liv
erpool. After years of faithful service, and
at a time of life when no neV career is pos
sible, they are met by the stonewall of in
difference on the part of their employers;
helplessly see the posts of trust about and
above them filled Ty still cheaper imported
help Irom Germany ana Holland; ana come
to be hopeless old men at 40. Clerks in re
tail establishments, of whom the greater
number are women, fare better in one re
spect. While their wages are even less than
those in offices, a system is in vogue here
which gives them at least the necessities
of life. A large number of establishments
provide food and dormitories for their
staffs. A regime of the utmost severitv
exists. But employers thus secure the ad
vantage of absolute surveillance, of the
miserable "truck" system in another form
where all they give is got back with profit,
and the docile, unquestioning labor of their
prison-kept white slaves, from 8 in the
morning until 8 and sometimes 10 o'clock
at night.
THE GIRLS WHO PICK OVER COTTON.
Looking at the great army of more lowly
toilers ana house servants, the study is cer
tainly not a pleasanter one. There are
large gangs of girls known as "cotton pick
ers," who may be seen at the noon hour
wandering bareheaded through the streets.
their beggarly garments covered with cot-
ton lint. Those who are not barefooted
wear heavy clogs without stockings, and
they will kick shins with any rrough in
Liverpool for a pot of beer. Many cargoes
of damaged cotton arrive here. It is sold
by auction to a class of dealers who dry it,
and prepare it a second time for the market.
Two or three thousand of the hoodlum class
of young women sort or "pick" this Btuff in
filthy noisome pens. The employment is
not steady, and they get what the renova
tors have a mind to pay; all the way from
4 shillings to 10 shillings per week.
These girls and women are about as re
spectable as men would be under like cir
cumstances; drink gallons of beer per day
while at work, "clubbing" their pennies
for its purchase; ferociously beat those who
do not "drink fair;" and live in any manner
they may; there being absolutely no effort
on the part of anv person or society to bet
ter their condition. Plain cooks in houses,
restaurants and the common grade of inns,
will earn 8 shillings per week: A general
house servant receives 6 shillings. A house
maid, nurse and waitress combined, who is
regarded as the highest graae of house
servant, may receive 8 shillings.
WHAT A. BREAKFAST MEANS.
Charwomen or scrubwomen receive 3 shill
ings per day and breakfast, that is, tea and
bread and butter, and they may possibly se
cure two engagements per week. Washer
women are very glad to earn altogether 10
shillings per week, and perhaps their
assistants may get from a shilling
to one and four-pence a day and "tea," or
"three ha'p'worth of bitter," which trans
lated means three cents' worth of bitter
beer. Girls in tobacco, confectionery
and stationers' shops will receive from &
to 6 shillings per week; and waitresses in
restaurants, considering the severity and
hours of their labor, are the poorest paid
of all. Many of these girls are required to
serve meals in gentlemens' chambers and in
offices, at all hours, after the manner of tho
Havana coolie cantineros, and are subject to
all manner of insult which they endure with
a dogged bravery and cheery invulnerability
entitling them to be regarded as real
heroines in any other land.
There is a very fine cafe at the head of
Dale street, where nearly 1,000 employers
and clerks from the Cotton Exchange and
neighboring offices lunch or dine daily. It
will rank with our better class American
restaurants. The entire service is by
women. There ore from 25 to 30 as comely,
cleanly, bright, well educated and thor
oughv respectable young women here as
could be found at any aristocratic levee in
New York or London.
A. BRIGHT WOMAN ACTUALLY CONTENTED.
Having often been served at the place, at
the same table and by the same waitress, I
asked her the amount of wages per weekshe
was paid.
"Six shillings;" she replied cheerily.
"Cannot you find service at better -wages
in Liverpool?" I inquired.
"Oh, no sir; that is very good pay here.
"Do you get any 'tips' besides?"
"Very seldom, sir. Only occasionally
from strangers. The clerks who come here
can't afford it. And the masters-never do
that in Liverpool."
"And this 6 shillings per week Is all
you do earn, or can earn, after a good ed
ucation, and while using the best years of
your life?"
"Oh, but you must remember, sir"
and this triumphantly "we get our own
food besides. And very good food it is,
s?rl"
There was no use of continuing the in-
' quisition. Here was the absolute limit of a-
handsome, capable, well-educated and re
spectable woman's possibilities and aspira
tions, because of her own absolute knowl
edge in the matter, in this second city of
Britain.
"Ah, but money haa twice the. pur
chasing power' in Great Britain than it has
in America," some one remarks.
PURCHASING POWER OF ENGLISH WACES.
There never was a cruder political or
other falsehood coined. It is absolutely
true that there is not a human need, I do not
say a luxury, which cannot be as cheaply or
more cheaply purchased in America than in
England, barring the one item of a habita
tion. The burning fact is that the lowly of
this country are forced to live twice or
thrice as meagerly as our own toilers. Here
capital has with devilish ingenuity, as it
may do with us in time if immigration be
not soon wholesomely restricted, ascer
tained to a farthing ou how little human be
ings who labor may be made to exist, and
Britons who "never, never will be slaves,"
are slaves of the most hopeless character
from the cradle to the grave.
But what may be the amusements and di
versions of the Liverpoollowly? is a natural
inquiry. They are drink, drink, drink, and
"scamping"Jhe rents. Not all drunkards.
Most of them are regular drinkers. The
horror of it all is, women predominate.
There is not in, any ten leading American
cities as much actual squalor and beastly
hopelessness as may be found in this one.
And vet nearly every one of this class does
something and: earns something here. What
ever may be tho "purchasing power" of
money in America, it is a good thing to re
member that American laborers are not the
subjects of such studies as these.
Edgar L. Wakehax.
BED-TAPE OF THE LAW.
A Squabble In England as to Whefh-erd
Typewriter Copy Is TVrltten.
New TorkTrlbnne,
An elderly clerk is a Justice's Court In
Yorkshire has been writing for advice to on
English law journal. He has held office
for 33 years, and whatever may have been
his early facility with the pen, he now
finds his handwriting criticised. One judge
spoke to him on the matter, and, as he in
nocently remarks: "It remains a matter of
opinion between us, whether the writing of
the deposition in question was or was not
easily legible. I thought it was. His
Lordship was of a contrary opinion."
.Being, however, as he says, wishful to
remove any possible doubt on the subject,"
the clerk bought a typewriter, and after no
little difficulty, mastered the intricacies of
the machine. The next depositions he sent
off were neatly prepared in typewriting,
but unfortunately the clerk of the higher
court returned them with the statement
that the depositions Vnust be in writing.
The clerk then asked the law paper for
advice, and is comforted with the answer
that under some recent English law it is
Srobable that typewriting may be included
1 the jgeneral term "writing." There Is
thus a chance that the clerk may retain his
position and their lordships be no further
troubled with illegible manuscript.
REMEDY POB SNAKE BITES.
Whisky Is Only Good to Inspire Couree
The Knife Is Sure.
"I do not believe in many popular reme
dies for snake bite," says G. E. O'Reilly,
of Trinidad, in a New York World inter
view. "I believe in the knife, but not in
cauterization. If a person is bitten in a
fleshy part, and the venom not directly in
jected into vein or artery, cutting with a
knife to the same depth as the snake's fang
has penetrated, and afterward sucking the
place strongly, will remove nearly every
vestige of the poison.
"The supposed cures effected by so-called
remedies are due to the fact that persons
are often bitten by harmless snakes. Num
berless instances occur where people die
through'sheer fright. A glass of whisky to
restore their courage is the best remedy,
although the common belief as to large
amounts of whisky forming on antidote is
ridiculous."
Rough on a Summer TConng Man.
Grand Rapids Telegram.
A Saginaw young man made a double
mash at "Wenona Beach the other day.
While conversing with the fair ones he was
startled by feeling a tug at his coat-tails
while a child's voice said, "Papa, mamma
wants you." The call had the desired
effect and more, too. In justice to the
young man it may be said the small boy
was the son of the manager of the resort
and had been bribed into the joke by two
curious friends of the young man. The
trio aonrt speak, now.
THE HUMANE BULLET.
Better to Be Drilled Through by One
Shaped Like a Lead-Pencil
THAN SHATTERED BY THE SLUG.
Br.
Brown-Sequard's Simple Bemedy for
Coughing- vnd Sneezing'.
cfdm camphor toe the mosquito
rwirrrzir ron the dispatch. 1
There is quite a difference of opinion about
the humanity of tho new style of bullets for
military purposes, which are claimed by the
German surgeons to be the most humane
missiles yet employed in war. The new pro
jectile, which is made to be fired from a rifle
of small calber, is long, so that its "weight
of section," as it Is termed by soldiers. Is
large, while its actual weight may bo smaller
than that of bullets of the old shape. By
combining great weight of section with
small diameter, great velocity Is given to
the projectile, as well as such penetrating
force that it will easily go through two or
three men at the distance of a mile.
31. Selahaye, who is calling Into question
the mercifulness of the new bullet, regards
the process of being drilled through by a
bullet shaped like a lead pencil not much
more humane than that of being shattered
by an old-fashioned "slug;" but tho Ger
mans say that the new projectile will not re
main in the wound, but will make a straight
perforation through the body, greatly sim-
Slifying the surgical treatment. There is no
oub t that the camp undertaker will in fut
ure have more to do after a battle, and the
surgeon less than under the old re gime, but
as a soldier dreads long suffering from a
wound as muchns death the balance of "hu
manity" may, after all, be on the right side.
As lead bullets of the modern shape would
be likely to bend, they are cased with steel
of nickel tubes, which gives them the prop
erty of penetrating the hardestbone without
deviating from their course.
An Improved Buoy.
A new buoy consists of an annular copper
tank, with a hole In the center, across which
is hung a life chain, upon which a person
can either sit or support himself with ease,
while grasping the buoy. This tank is
divided Into numerous water-tight compart
ments to minimize the possibility of injury.
At the side are arranged two hollow rod,
working upon a swivel Joint, the bottom or
heavier portion of these rods being equipped
with cans for the reception of phosphide of
calcium. When the buoy is hung at the
ship's side the upper ends of these hollow
rods are closed by stonpels, whioh answer
the double purpose of steadying the buoy
while hung for use and also for preventing
the entrance of rain, etc.. from above into
the can at the lower end. When the buoy is
cast adrift the heavy ends of the rods swing
under the water like pendulums, immersing
the cans containing the phosphide of cal
cium, which is Immediately ignited by the
entrance of the water through the perfora
tions for that purpose at the bottom. In the
daytime a discharge of smoke Issues from,
the upper ends of the hollow rods, while at
night this smoke becomes a luminous flame
that can be seen for several miles. It will
sustain three persons. In a late test of the
buoy a man Jumped overboard when the
ship was going ahead at full speed. The
ship was stopped, the buoy was dropped and
the life boat lowered, and in three minutes
the man, who had reached the buoy, was
picked up and brought on board.
A Boon to Travelers.
Anything that will reduce the rattle and
vibration of the ordinary railway car is a
boon to the traveling man. A new appli
ance, which Is said to possess this qualifica
tion in a marked degree. Is the cushion cor
wheel, which has the additional advantages)
of being simple, safe, eoonomical and noise
less. The wheel is composed of two parts,
the center and the tire, while between the
two Is a thick rubber band which acts as a
cushion to absorb all the vibrations. The
tire is so made that it may be removed with
out taking the wheel from the axle. The
rubber Is so placed between the center and
the tire as not to be liable to injury from a
hot box or from the corrosive action of the
lubricants. The rubber will run 20,000 miles
without showing the slightest signs of wear,
and in a similar distance the wear of the
tire is but one-thirty-second of an Inch,
which is less than one-half the usual wear
Ibrtbi3 amount of travel.
A SInt for Campers.
A correspondent woQldllko tomakeknown.
the way in which he once secured lasting
peace from the arch enemy of tho camper,
the mosquito. He found among his stores a
piece of gum camphor. Taking a piece about
the size of a walnut, he placed It on a tin
plate and set fire to it. It burned as readily
as pitch with a clear, bright flame, and ap
parently no smoke, but it acted like a
charm. In two minutes the hated "ping" of
the mosquitos had ceased, and In five
minutes not one of the tormentors re
mained within the walls of the tent. It may,
however, be well to state, that while the)
fumes of gum camphor are distasteful to the
mosquito, they are not particularly benefi
cial to human beings.
Coughing and Sneezing.
Dr. Brown-Sequard, In one of his lectures,
dwells with great emphasis on the import
ance of general knowledge in the matter of
checking coughing and sneezing. Eo states
that coughing can be Stopped by pressing
on the nerves of the lips In the neighbor
hood of the nose, and sneezing may ba
stopped in the same way. Pressing in the,
neighborhood of the ear, or right in front of
the ear, may stop coughing. It is so also of
hiccoughing, but much less so than for
sneezing or coughing. Pressing very hard
on the roof of the month Is also a means of
.arresting a cough, and the will itself Is often,
found to be a wonderful preventive.
Automatic Street Gas Ijimps.
According to present appearances, the
days of the lamplighter are numbered. A
device Is coming into vogue whereby the
gas lamps on the street are lighted and ex
tinguished automatically. This machine is
attached to the gas lamp and is wound
up once a week, when the lamps are visited
by the cleaners. The machine is actuated
by a dock movement, which at the lighting
time turns on the gas and ignites it by a
percussion spark, and at the required mo
ment shuts on the gas. It can be set so aa
not to light on moonlight nights.
A 31111c Sterilizer,
m-rtew of the great importance now at
tached by physicians to the sterilization of
milk, espeolally that intended for the food
of infanta, a practical and handy milk
sterilizer will be a welcome addition to many
households. Snch an appliance has been de
vised, and it consists of a castor by whioh
the bottlea of milk are held, placed within a
tin vessel with proper cover. This castor so
holds the bottles that they are exposed to
the action of steam when the boiler is placed
on the stove. This sterilizer presents In a
cheap, compact and portable form all the
advantages of the more expensive appa
ratus. A ITew Measuring Instrument.
Anew form of chronograph has been de
signed for the purpose of ascertaining the
distance of a gun from the observations
of the flash and report of its discharge by
the difference of time that light and sound
take In reaching the observer. The instru
ment, to which the name of "phonometer"
has been given, can also be used for measur
ing the distance of lightning by timing the
interval between the flash and report of the
thunder.
Spring Biding Saddle.
According to the inventor of anew saddle.
horseback riding of the future willbeapure,
unmixed delight. This saddle owes its pe
culiar merit to a series of springs. The
upper tree or seat is connected with the
lower simply by these springs, so there is
nothing to interfere with that free working
without which no spring saddle can fulfil
the purpose and object of its construction,
viz: to relieve the rider from the constant
Jolt experienced In riding on a springles
saddle.
A Photographic Car.
A "photographic car" has been equipped
for the express purpose of making surveys
along the line of a railroad. The car Is fitted
up with dark room, water supply and all
other photographic necessities, as well as
with sleeping and dining conveniences.
A Peculiarity of Genius.
Boston Herald. 1
Sculptor St. Gauden's remark that there
ore only four men in this country who can
design coins, and that he is one of them,
hows how closely genius is allied to a pro
found appreciation of it.
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