18
A REVIEW OF SPORTS
SomeKemarks About the Local'Base-
oall Team and the Old and
New Managers.
ASSOCEJTIOFS PEASE EFFORTS.
A Few Entertsinins Feature -of Ana-'
tear Playing by the Tnriotu
Local Teams.
COKBETTS -CHALLENGE TO'TffE "WORLD.,
H Iw Approaching Blf Bprtnt Races -ana
Pritehsna Offer to Htrsimmoas.
Our poor and unfortunate baseball tesm
finished their second Eastern trip yesterday,
and it probably will be better for everybody
concerned if there is as little said about it
a possible. It has been a miserable jour
ney, and the sooner it is forgotten the bet
ter. Iv would seem as if the team were
going from bad to worse, and cer
tainly the bad playing cannot any longer
be attributed to bad management "What I
xncin by this is: That those who contended
the team were playing badly chiefly because
H anion was manager were in the wrong,
just ns I would now be in the wrong by
nrguincr the team are doing poor work be
cause McGnnnigle is manager. The gre3t
source of defeat is the downright bad play
ing of the players, and taking them as a
whole they stand ont as a monumen
tal disgrace to the baseball world.
It is preposterous to think that
so many of them arc receiving
lalaries almost equal to those of cabinet
ministers, and hae proven themselves to
be neither us-eiul nor ornamental. And
portions of the public talk about the in
justice done ball players. So bad has the
woik of two or three high-priced players on
thf team become recently that I firmly be
lieve there is an intention on their part to
lo bad work w ilfully. If there are the least
indications of this, Manager McGunnigle
should at once impose fines and suspend the
nikndcrs without pay, even though he has
tn officiate in their stead. The Pittsburg
public will support any action of this kind,
because the public will not tolerate au in
justice. I cannot avoid the coniction that
the players could have done better had they
so desired, a-d it is because of this that my
synipathv goes out toward the stockholders
el" tlii club. These gentlemen commenced
the year by spending money in unstinted
measure. "Whenever a star player was
available the- secured him, no matter how
high the cost. There was only one object in
view, that was to have for once a winning
team in Pittsburg at all hazards. The con
ditions of the time were such as to enable
some of the players to receive enormous sal
aries. They were paid, and what has been
the result? "Why, they have been shame
ful failures. I say shameful, because it does
appear that in some instances bad playing
has. been wilful. The directors of the club
deserve better treatment than this; tbey are
indeed worthy of better.
A rcw Important rolnts.
I am- 6ure that it becomes wearisome
writing about defeat? day after day, and I
can, therefore, understand how painful de
feats are dav after day to those who
have money invested in the club. Thete
stockholders, as I have just said, have
struggled to give us a first-class club, and so
Jar have foiled simply because they have
been deceived. Tbevhave expended money
and labor enough to have a peunant winner,
and yet the team are last. llut the directors
are as heroic as ever. They have resolved
to have new men, no matter what the cost,
jtnd this oucht to induce all of us to extend
our sympathies to the directors for the
present at least. The nearly succeeded
Thursday in securing three or four promis
ing young men from the West. Hut other
chances will come, and, in the meantime, I
trust that the directois will receive suffi
cient public encouragement to warrant them
in making all the changes necessary. Of
course, we will have the team here to-morrow,
and in one respect there will be a treat
in store for the patrousof the game. Ansen
ond hi Chicago team will begin their last
tcrics here this year, and surely we'll be
eager to see this very wonderful team a
team that on paper last spring did not ap
pear to be in it with our famous sluggers.
And a strange feature about the Chicago
team is the fact that our champions can al
ways put up a great game against them.
"Well, it may and it may not be that one or
two new players will be in the local team
to-morrow , but of one thing I am sure, viz:
That Anson's team will be well worth see
inc, and I venture to say that our heroes
will give then a very hot argument. I
really anticipate three good games.
Those Fence Humors.
The week just ending has been somewhat
notable because of the many rumors that
have been in circulation regarding "peace"
between the American and the National
League. To me there has never seemed to
be auy "war," as the National League has
not arrayed it-elf against the Association.
All there has been in it is that the Associa
tion resolved to travel in another direction
Irom the X. L-, and doubtless, because of
this, eftorts have been made to magnify this
switching on" into a war. The truth" is, I
don't think the Association could make war
on the League any more than a little terrier
iog could make war on a lion in the forest.
This being so, we may take it for granted
that all these rumors of "peace" mean the
Association magnates are tired of going it
alone But there is one very important
feature in this alleged war furnished be
tween the two baseball organizations.
"What I refer to, is the fact that almost all
the trouble between the two bodies, or at
least the trouble that the Association has
caused, has been about Cincinnati. My
readers will remember that when the Asso--ia
ion leaders broke away from the Na
tional agreement, they alleged that it was
!'f cause of unfair treatment by the National
3Jord in not giving them Bierbauer and
Jjtovey. Of course, that was a lie of the
boldest kind. The fact of the matter was,
the Association was without a complete cir
uit, and its leaders really believed that by
"making a break" they would get into Cin
cinnati and drive the League out. This
uas a very dishonorble programme,
but it wut nothing strange on that
account, as far a3 the Association was
concerned. But the League has not been
driven cut of Cincinnati; on the contrary,
it is there aud doing ten times better than
the Asocia ion. The latter has made a
iii.scrable failure in Cincinnati; an absolute
failure, in tact, and no wonder that there is
a desire to get out. Doubtless the Associa
tion magnates led themselves to believe
ilia' with Kelly in the Cincinnati team the
latter would be . i great favorite; but let me
Kiy that Kelly has been even a greater fea
ture than the Cincinnati Association club.
And I go further and say that it was the
League that made Kelly popular; and since
lie left the League he has gone into compar
ntive obscurity. He has done more; he has
descended to the level of Association ball
playing, which nowadays means that if the
uinpiie gives an unsatisfactory decision the
"antain of the aggrieved team asks him to
adjourn behind the stand and settle the
matter in prize ring style. Well, alto
gether, the Association magnates, Kelly
jind the Cincinnati club have done much to
injure baseball during the season and they
jiml themselves in dire difficulties. By all
means let them have whatthey call "peace"
it they want it. If they desire to vacate
Cincinnati let the League help them in
their moving, but by all means give them to
understand that nothing short of the utter
extermination of the Association will follow
any more rebellions.
The Western Association.
The troubles that have overtaken the
"Western Association are much to be re
gretted by all who are interested in base
ball affairs. "While there may be some hope
as to the holding together of that organiz
ation, it has been torn asunder to such an
extent that a very large amount of damage
has been done already, and more will fol
low. There were bright anticipations re
garding the "Western Association, but one
by one the various clubs got into difficulties,
and then the almost general collapse could
hardly be averted. But whatever may be
the fate of the Association this year, it is
sure to be to the fore next season, and that
menns that during the winter there will be.
many changes made. But whether or not
the changes will affect the National Agree
ment is very problematical; but they may
likely enough affect the salaries of players.
The difficulties of the "Western Association
once more proves that almost all the money
in the baseball business goes to the players;
there is little or nothing for capitak A
hcondition of this kind cannot last, because
while many capitalists, probably the ma
jority in baseball, are not in it to make
money, they aro certainly not in it to lose
money. They won't stand losses, and this
means that if the players are to get all the
money that is taken at the gate, and some
times more, the gates won't be opened at
alL But it seems to me that the National
League will not by any means alloy the
"Western Association to collapse if it can
possibly avoid it.
Onr Amateur Ball Players.
A day or two ago, as far as watching an
interesting ball game is concerned, I had an
enjoyable time. I think I saw one of the
most interesting contests I have seen for a
very long time. The game I refer to was
that between the Bridgeville and East End
Gvmnastic club nines, which took place at
Bridgeville. Besides being an unique game
of its class, the journey to, and the surround
ings of, Bridgeville were all that could be
desired to make up an afternoon's enter
tainment The rustio or the rural, or it
mav be the rough and ready, features of
Bridgeville make quite a pleasing contrast
to the arrangements and surroundings of a
city baseball game. And then Bridgeville
is proverbial lor female patrons of the game
of a very enthusiastic nature, and when en
thusiasm and beauty are combined many
shortcomings of a ball game are overlooked.
But I have a few words to say about the
game on general principles, because it
virtually decided what club will secure the
County League pennant this jear. The
East Enders won, of course, and it is safe to
say that they are worthy of the pennant.
It may have" been my fortune to have seen
them at their best on "Wednesday, but most
assuredly I saw them play an excellent
game. There was not a fielding error
recorded against them, nor did any of them
ever look like making one. They ac
complished a neat double play in each of
the first three innings, and earned seven of
their eight runs. Now, that's ball playing
"as is bill playing." I care not whether I
see it done by novices, amateurs or pro
fessionals. To me an errorless game by a
novice nine is just as important as an error
less game by National League pennant
winners. True, tills may not be the gen
eral sentiment, but for the life of me I don't
sec why it should not be so. If anybody
will show me why an errorless game by, say
the East End Gyms, is not just as good as
an errorless game by the Chicagos, I will
be exceedingly obliged. And when at
Bridgeville the other day I couldn't help
thinking that too little attention by the
baseball nublic is paid to our "amateur"
teams. The contest I refer to was well
played on both sides, and the quality of the
work done by the 18 men speaks very highly
indeed for those who have gotten the teams
together. As far as I have seen I deem the
winners the best amateur team in "Western
Pennsylvania, in fact, the best in the State,
and it would be a very interesting event to
see any aniateut team in the country come
here and defeat the Gyms. They are un
doubtedly the best amateur team there has
ever been in Pittsburg, and the local publio
should give them as much encouragement
as po;-sible. In Thompson they have quite
a speedy and tricky little pitcher, and when
in his best form he is far above the County
League standard. He has not yet arrived
at man's estate, and he mav blossom as a
star among the pitchers of the major organi
zations. In speaking of the County League
I mav be allowed to express the hope that
it will continuo to the end of the season;
that is, that all the clubs now in will stick
to it until the schedule is exhausted. It
would be a pity now that the season has so
far advanced to have such excellent teams
as Bridgeville, Tarentum and the Gyms
more or less laid aside for tha season. I am
aware that in some instances the teams are
costly, and that the receipts do not defray
expenses, but if the various clubs will pull
together efforts can probably be made
whereby clubs that have lost money can be
helped "along. The County League is an
organization that is very useful in its way,
and patrons of the game would do well to
try and sustain it as much as possible.
A Roam In Sprinting.
During the hast few months patrons of
general sporting affairs will have observed
that there has been quite a boom in sprint
ing in and about Pittsburg. For a time it
seemed as if that branch of sport had for
ever disappeared from Pittsburg, and as far
as I could learn, nobody appeared to
regret it. Foot-racing had been completely
run underground, and it is needless to
revamp the causes, as we all know them.
The public had been gulled so often that
they rebelled, and that ended it. But dur
ing the last few days two very important
matches have been made, and when I point
out that each race is for &500 a Bide the pub
lic will see that there is once more consid
erable interest in that exceedingly interest
ing branch of sport. Tom Hammond has
agreed to concede P. Morrissey three yards
start in 100 yards for 5500 a side. Some
time ago Hammond conceded Morrissey
four yards in the distance named and the
latter won easily b v six yards. Hammond's
latest resolve, therefore, can only be
explained by saying that he must not
have been a "trier" in the former
race. "While I have no opinion to express
regarding the result, or probable result of
the race, 1 may remark that three yards is
quite a good start. The two men are to run
at Homestead on September 5, and it is safe
to say that it will be jrreat time among
the sports from "up the river." The other
event is more importunt still, the competi
tors being onr veteran ot the track, Davy
Sheehan, and Grant "White. They, too, are
to run for $500 a side.and it is along time since
a more important foot race than their's took
place in this vicinity. Tbey are both good
runners and have been much before the
public, and I venture to say that the con
test will be productive of much specula
tion. Sheehan has proven himself to be a
sound and reliable man on the track and
there is no shrewder sprinter before the
pnblio to-day than David. White is his
junior in years and recently has improved
to a very great extent. He is in the hands
ot a very lortunate speculator in sprinting,
and one" who knows a good sprinter when
he sees him. One thing I want to say re
garding these races is this: I firmly believe
they are to be honest events, I am so cer
tain of this that I boldly express my opinion
to my readers, and it is seldom that 1 do so
on matters of this kind. If they are run
on honest principles foot racing may once
more get a good loothold here. 1 trust they
will be conducted all right.
Stansbury's Text Opponent.
The fates seem to be against any of the
Australian scullers coming to this country.
Not long ago Stansbury, the champion,
made up his mind to come here and row
O'Connor for the championship this year.
But just as Stansbury thus resolves a Mr.
Sullivan, representing New Zealand, steps
to the front and throws down the gauntlet
to Stansbury. As a result the latter has
agreed to postpone his visit to this country
and will row Sullivan. Stansbury could
not well do otherwise because as long
as there is a man on his side of the globe
who disputes the title with him he ought to
stay there and settle the matter so that we
will have the real champion here when he
comes. But it is somewhat surprising to
find New Zealand becoming so prominent.
I say this quite mindful of Macaulay's pre
diction about the New Zealander and Lon
don bridge and the ruins of St. Paul But
the name of Sullivan is hardly suggestive
THE
of the original tribes of New Zealand. j"iut
no matter how that may be, for one I am
glad that Stansbury has been challenged
by a man from a new quarter, and I sup
pose many of us will await with much curi
osity the result of the proposed race. It
would be exceedingly interesting if Sulli
van were to become champion, and land in
this oountry and also' sweep our decks.
"Well, if the race in question takes place I
suppose we need not expect a race between
an Australian and our champion in this
country this year. A. challenge has been
issued "by Hanlan and O'Connor, and in if
they defy the world, but I think little-will
come of it.
Corbett Rise to Remark.
There has been little else than talk in the,
pugilistic world during the week and one of'
the most significant talkers has been James
J. Corbett, who some time ago along with
Peter Jackson performed so long that they
had to be stopped. James J. Corbett has
mounted the rostrum and declared to the
entire mass of human beings on earth that
he will fight any man among them. Now
this is certainly sweeping enough whether
it be for advertising pnrposes or in earnest
for a battle. Not long ago John L. Sulli
van, who used to have quite a lot of good J
opinion to express about uoroett, saia tnat
J. J. C. was simply a duffer and that he, J.
L. S., could pulverize him in very short
order. I wonder what the Boston hero will
say of Corbett now when he learns of the
great challenge. I don't know whether or
not Corbett means what his challenge says,
but I assume that he does, and I cannot read
his challenge without wondering why he
won't fight Jackson. The latter has time
and tlmo again declared his anxiety to fight
Corbett and the latter has declined steadily
and yet he suddenly appears before the
world with one of the big challenges that are
ordinarily used to advertise some very poor
show. Corbett as a fighter may be all that
he thinks he is and that his friends think he
is," but while he has had chances
to show it he to far has failed to prove
it. Mark I do not say and hare not at
any time said that Corbett is not a champion
fighter. I want him to show that he is. So
far he has not even proven himself worthy
of being placed in the front rank. But I
am inclined to think that a contest between
Corbett and Slavin will be arranged if a
purse of sufficient value is offered. The
Australian intends to come to this country
during this month or next and I don't think
that he can remain long at any place with
out fighting if anybody will fight him.
And if Slavin comes here next month and a
contest is arranged between him and Cor
bett let me just state at this stage that Cor
bett will receive such a trouncing as he
never got in his life. Certainly he will hit
Slavin because I predict now that Slavin
will not trouble himself very mnch to get
out of the way of Corbett. Just let us
wait and see how Corbett will stand two or
three onslaughts on his body such as Slavin
is sure to make and then if Corbett can
withstand them or oven prevent them I
will heartily give him all the credit-he de
serves. Pugilistic Affairs In General.
Although nothing of much importance
has happened in the pugilistio world during
the week there has been much significant
talking. There is now a strong probability
of a contest between Ted Pritchard and
Fitzsimmons as the former has declared his
willingness to come to this country and
fight the best middle-weight that can be
found. One report has it that he wants to
fight anybody at all, but I can hardly be
lieve this. The other day I read an an
nouncement to the effect that the Olympic
Club was making arrangements for a battle
between Ted and Joe Goddard. This would
seem absurd as few people, I think, would
care to pay money to see a battle between
two men so unevenly matched. Without
doubt the most interesting contest that
could be would be ono between Pritchard
and Fitzsimmons. They could each scale
below the middle-weigh't limit and both are
deemed terrors in their class. With these
two men it would be the old English style
and the new Australian style of in-Sghting
for Fitzsimmons, although very long, relics
considerably on in-fighting, and it is
Pritchard's terrific in-fighting that has en-,
abled him to become such a terror.
But both Harry Overton and little Bill
Plimmerwant to come to this country and
fight anybody in their class. This means
that betore next winter is past we will have
any amount of international contests pro
viding the law does not interfere. The
Britishers are well supplied with little men;
they have lots' of them and some very good
ones.
The battle last Sunday morning between
Tom Kyan aud McMillan for the welter
weight championsliip was too onesided to be
worthy of much comment. Ryan was
so much superior to the Washington
man that the affair was not worth
seeing. Eyan is a good man and it will be
difficult to get a man of his weight to de
feat him. He is one of those well put to
gether fellows, who has activity and ap
parently pluck, combined with great hitting
power on his side. Of course, considering
the way in which he defeated Needham his
victory over a man like McMillan was a
foregone conclusion.
The Proposed Amateur Rules,
In the early part of next month the con
Tention of the League of American Wheel
men will be held, and if present intentions
are carried out a change will be made in the
racing rules of the national organization.
The proposed rules are exceedingly desirable
because they condemn a system that un
doubtedly has been in operation more or
less for a long time, viz. : That of bicycle
riders accepting various kinds of remunera
tion from bicycle manufacturers in
acknowledgment of 'they, the riders, using
certain machines. There is another good
provision proposed relative to an amateur
being allowed the right to teach bicycle rid
ing lor the purpose of effecting the sale
of a bicycle. The proposed rules are as
follows: -An amateur is one who has not
engaged in nor assisted in, nor taught
cycling nor any other recognized athletic
exercise for money or other remuneration,
nor knowingly competed with or against a
professional for a prize of any description,
or one who, after having forfeited the
amateur status, has had the same restored
by a competent authority having jurisdic
tion over the sport A cyclist ceases to be
an amateur by (a) engaging in cycling or
any other athletic exercise or personally
teaching, training or coaching any person
therein either as a means of obtaining a
livelihood or for a wager, money, prize or
gate money, (b) Competing with a pro
fessional or making pace for or having
the pace made by such in public, or for
a prize. (c) Selling, bartering, pawn
ing, or otherwise turning into cash, or
realizing upon any prize won by him. (d)
Accepting, directly or indirectly for cycling,
any remuneration, compensation, or ex
penses whatever, from a cycle manufacturer,
agent or other person interested in the
trade, or from any other person having a
pecuniary interest in the sport, except from
a bicycle or other athletic club. ' (e) A
cyclist does not forfeit his amateur status
by teaching the elements of cycling solely
for the purpose of effecting the sale of a
bicvcle. (f) The League recognizes in
addition to cycling as athletic exercises, all
sports over "which the Amateur Athletic
"Union, the National Association of Amateur
Oarsmen, and other amateur athletic organi
zations have jurisdiction. Pkingle.
A MODEL FOB NEAL.
John T. Raymond's Wife Sat for the Picture
of Slary Queen of Scots.
Boston Herald.
The death of Mario Gordon, the once
beautiful wife of John T. Raymond, recalls
the fact that she was David Neal's model for
his celebrated picture of "Mary Queen of
Scots." At that time Laura ilawkins was
regarded as one of the loveliest women that
ever dawned in Europe, and the regal turn
of her head and neck, well onset by the
brilliancy of her eyes and the loveliness of
her complexion, was the despair of all the
artists then in Munich.
Mr. Neal succeeded in getting the queen
ly poise, with its charming contours, on
canvas, and immortalized their owner m
MOoL Sellers" had failed to do on the stag.
PEETSBTIRG- DESPATCH,'
GOSSIP OF THE DAT.
Labonchere's 60-Lncky CareerShonld
Make Him Popular Here.
"ELECTRICITY MAY CAUSE GRIP.
nintauwnQnarterBof theGlobe Ynrere-Pame-
Aivalta the Explorer.
STORIEB 0? THE SHAH OP PEE8IA
wxtmit rant th-jiSpjtch,j
Henry Labouchere is coming over this
fall to see our famed Indian Summer on its
, native heath. While
Americans will not
be able to observe
the famous free
lance of English
journalism under
like favorable con
ditions, they will
nevertheless be
pleased to seeLon-
Itdbauchen. don Truih't cele
brated editor under any circumstances.
There it no question but that Labouchere
is one of the most interesting figures before
the publio to-day. He is equally gifted
with fame, wealth and genius, and all of
these have come to him unsolicited, the two
last being heirlooms, and the first insisting
on accompanying him in his career, whether
he would or not I do not know of a single
character of cotemporary times with a more
interesting or entertaining history. In ins
youth he was famed for his "squabbles" at
Eton and Cambridge. Quitting college,
he traveled; visited Mexico; fell in love
with a circus lady; followed the
troupe, acting as ticket seller, etc, went to
St Paul, Minn., when it was but a cluster
of houses; took up with a party of Chippe
way Indians; went to their home and re
mained there six months, learning every
thing from their language down to gambling
for wampum necklaces; went to New York;
thought be would like the diplomatio ser
vice; recommended himself to the English
Government and was accepted. From the
"United States he was ordered successively
to St Petersburg, Munich,Frankfort, Stock
holm, Florence and Constantinople. At
every place he acquired the reputation of
an out and out scapegrace and to hear him
recite in his own way, his many exploits,
is equal to listening to a five-act comedy.
Since his experience as a diplomat, he has
been a reporter, a war correspondent, an
editor and the owner of a newspaper, a
member of Parliament and a theatrical man
ager, in fact, he has dabbled in almost
everything worth talking about and been
generally successful in each with the ex
ception of the last named.
At the present time his chief occupation
seems to be that of acting as a thorn in the
side of Lord Salisbury, whom he criticises
from every point of view, both in parlia
ment and out of it Taking him all in all,
he is just snch a -character as Americans
like to see and he is certain of a hearty wel
come on these shores, even, perhaps, from
the deluded Boston Irishmen if thoy are
still living who imagined him the patriot
Meagher at one time, when Labouchere had
not a cent in his pocket, and feted him to
repletion during tne day, while be spent
1115 mguis ou bue common aiiu. maue
-toilet in the waters of the bay.
his
Electricity and the Grip.
The influenza, or as we know It "the
grip." has appeared in Russia again, and Is
comporting itself with all its old time vigor.
Already many are asking what should be
done to obviate another siege sueh as we
have endured the past two seasons. Can it
be possible that Schonbein was right when
Ke said that influenza was caused by too
much ozone in the atmosphere, and as ozone
is said to occur from the presence of an
abundance of electricity, it may be possible
that the advantages gained by the general
introduction of electricity as a motive
medium are attended by curses; that the
generation of too much electricity exerts an
effect as disastrous as it is in other respects
advantageous. If this be the case, what
remedy is possible?'
Famed for Her Works,
Hero is a picture of one who within a
few days past has solved the mystery of the
future existence.
Jessie Fothergill,
the novelist, will
hardly be known by
name or deed 500
years from now. The
books she wrote are
neither philosophi
cal or scientifically
valuable, but, who
can say that the
world is not all the
better for books that
are but the creatures
of a day so long as
they are made up of
Jessie FothergW.
bright, pure and beautiful ideas and are full
of sunlight, hope and life. The butterfly
scarcely lives beyond the hour, but the
world is made all the more beautiful by its
existence.
Miss Fothergill was a pleasant girl with
a sweet intelligent face, pale and delicate
looking, with dark brown curly hair and
splendid grey eyes beaming with intelli-
fence and the keen sense of mirth which
era and there crop out in her writings.
Her first books "Aldyth" and "Healey"
were utter failures, but, undismayed, she
wrote on until her ability was recognized.
No sooner did that fact establish itself than
success "grew upon what it fed" until even
in her short life she had lived to see herself
one of the mostpopular novelists. "The
First Violin," "The Lasses of Leverhouse,"
"Probation," "Kith and Kin," "The Well
fields," "Borderland" and "Peril" are
among her best known works, nlthongh she
has written many others. She was born in
Manchester, England, of mixed Lancashire
and Yorkshire stock and passed nearly her
whole existeree in that vicinity with the
exception of occasional visits to"the conti
nent, on which she eventually ended her
days, dying at Berne, Switzerland, at the
age of 40.
Worlr for the Explorers.
Readers of The Dispatch of Wednes
day last will Tecall a cablegram stating that
the Geographical Congress in session at
Berne, Switzerland, authorized the produc
tion of a map showing the districts on the
earth's surface yet open to the explorer. I
am of the opinion that most persons are un
aware how vast is the territory yet un
known to civilization. For that reason I
have compiled an abbreviated summary of
the more important sections concerning
which we have as yet but meager knowl
edge.and the traveler who opens them up to
civilization will confer benefits of almost
inestimable value.
In South America the field is not so in
viting as in other parts of the world, "but
vast districts in the neighborhood of the
upper Amazon and, the Orinoco remain to
be explored, and negro tribes existing in
the interior and said to have sprung from
escaped slaves are yet to be found and in
vestigated by the scientific traveler. From
all accounts they have sunk to a condition
of barbarism, if anything, worse than any
of the native tribes of Africa. In Central
Africa exploration has .just begun. In
Western Africa, between Adaman and the
Congo, is an immense district of which we
radically know nothing. Of the territory
i the neighborhood of the Sahara desert we
art tTtry bit u ignorant Central Asia is
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16,
yet virtually unknown, many of the places
down on the maps being as imaginary as a
fairy tale, and may have no existence what
ever if the truth was known. Thibet and
Afghanistan are yet sealed books, waiting the
explorer with nerve enough to open them.
No scientific person has as yet visited the
capital of Thibet. In the lofty regions of
Asia there are a hundred districts waiting
to be mapped and even the Er Reef mount
ains, the magnificent range in plain view of
the thousands sailing past the Rock of Gib
raltar, have as ,yet not been explored be
cause a savase race of "mountaineers pre
veet the traveler from entering within tneir
precincts. This is a curious fact, consider
ing that ever since the time of the Phoenic
ians these mountains have looked down
upon the highest civilization in the world.
Inner Australia and Alaska are as yet but
little known, and the largest island on tho
globe, New Guinea, is hardly known be
vond its coast lines. Immense spaces in the
Pacific have to be visited by the discover
and there is little doubt that many com
paratively Important islands will vet be
fgund there, while many as yet only known
to us by name, are to be mapped. What
wonders may yet be brought to light in this
process. Last, but not least, both of the
Polar regions are yet mysteries. Space will
not permit further enumeration, but, it can
be said that a list comprising the territories
yet to be explored on this little planet of
ours would contain at least 1,000 names.
Geographies Need Revising.
Speaking of undiscovered countries re
minds me that many of the geographies at
present in use are as unreliable, so far as the
maps are concerned, as a chart by one of the
early Spanish discoverers. Some of those
of Central Asia contain the town of Balkh,
which is in reality an ancient place, now but
little more than a mass of ruins. Chulmis
another town of implied dignity by its
prominence on the map. It consists of a
pile of mounds, while Tashkurgan, a really
important city of recent growth, cannot be
found at all in some of the most pretentious
works. The last error is to some extent ex
cusable, as advances in knowledge are being
made every day, but such as the first are not
Eccentricities of the Shan.
Brery once in a while we hear of tho
unique actions of the Shah of Persia, the
latest, that of boiling Ab
dullah Khan, a-delinquent
tax collector, being of
such a character as to
send a thnll if horror
through the very marrow
of the Bardsleys of this
country. This is -not the
only odd idea in the way
of dealing out justice
which the Shah has orig
2Vie Shah.
inated. For instance,.lt is said that it is no
uncommon spectacle in the Province of
Hamadan to hear groans issuing from pil
lars of brick on the roadside. These pillars
are the graves of wretched peasants who
have not paid their taxes, and who are
walled up alive in this way, a small aper
ture being left for breathing.
Along with the reports of the queer ac
tions of the Shah comes one suggesting the
possibility of another European tour, such
as he enjoyed 18 years ago, at which a cold
shudder goes down the back of royalty,
who, remembering his deeds at that time,
cannot well afford to slight Nasr-ed-din,
while at heart they wish him with McGinty.
In Germany the descendant of Xerxes and
Darius made himself so offensive that the
Emperor withdrew in the middle of the
festivities and refused to have anything
more to do with him. At the table he be
haved like an animal; when he found any
thing unpalatable in his mouth, he was m
the habit of withdrawing the morsel and
throwing it at the ladies of the court, even
the Crown Princess being no exception to
his rudeness. In England he made a prac
tice of laying his hand on the bare shoulder
of the Princess of Wales when in conver
sation. Paying a visit to the Duke of
Sutherland, he found that gentleman so
wealthy that he afterward coolly suggested
to the Prince of Wales that he ought to put
the Duke to death a being too wealthy for
a subject It required 5150,000 to put
Buckingham Palace in shape again after his
departure, as he was in the habit of prac
ticing the most barbaric excesses while
there, among which was the habit of sac
rificing live sheep in the very best apart
ments. In France the jewelers pursued
him to the frontiers, when he was depart
ing, to rompel him to pay for valuables
purchased from them. In Austria he bru
tally insulted everybody with whom he
came in contact, and it can be said without
fear of contradiction that when the holiday
was over and he took his departure a gen
eral chorus of joy followed him home.
A Chance for Toons Sawbonel.
Are there any doctors about who wish to
acquire a lucrative practice without great
expenditure? If there is, Asia Minor is
the place for them. Cholera has appeared
there again and as none but native phy
sicians are to be found and they the sorriest
of quacks, the need of experienced and
really learned men is apparent It is re
ported by correspondents that recovery is
so far unknown under native treatment
Tho Prince of Naples' Breath.
A light summer shower, such as makes
the roses blow wide their warm, red throats,
is said to have
changed a battle
from victory to
defeat and decid
ed the fate of an
empire. A drunk
en orgie of a Gre
cian King deter
mined the history
of Europe, but it
has remained for
the bad breath of
Prince of JVopJea.
the Prince of Naples, who is at present'
visiting England to prevent a marriage be
tween the royal families of England and
Italy and the consequent cementing of a
compact already begun in the triple alli
ance, a union of interests which will with
out doubt play an important part in tho
affairs of future Europe. It, seems so
ridiculous that one scarcely knows whether
to credit tha foul breath story or not, but
certain it is, that the fact of the visiting
Prince's possessing so undesirable an attri
bute has been heralded far and wide, and
where there is so much smoke there must
be fire, as the old saying goes.
All frivoltiy aside, however, there is little
likelihood "that the Queen of England would
have permitted any member of her family
to marry Prince Victor Emanuel, bad
breath or no bad breath. Victoria's views
on religious matters are a little too firmly
fixed to permit a union with a Roman Cath
olic This circumstance rather restricts the
young Prince's latitude in the selection of a
wife. Only one' or two of the European
royal families have marriageable daughters,
and none of these are of the proper persua
sion, except one or two, and they are not
satisfactory. Therefore the Prince will
have to seek amon the lesser houses for a
mate, a Princess of Bavaria retaining great
est favor at present; but, as the arrange
ment is not yet fixed upon, and will not be,
so it is said, until after the young man re
turns from his coming American trip, who
can tell what changes may take place in the
meantime?
Tho Wisdom of Rnssla.
The wheat crop being almost a total fail
ure this seasou, the Russian Government
has already forbidden the exportation of
either corn or rye from that country during
the balance of the year. In this respect, at
least, Russia is better off than the United
States. In this country producers or deal
ers would sell wherever they could get the
best prices, without taking the necessities
of the domestic community into the slight
est consideration, the' Government having
no power to act in the matter.
"WxUCTJL
rrz&mrirfmiFTp'
' 1891.
A BEAUTY OE CHILE.
She Drags Out a Monotonous Exist
ence as if Life Were a Bore.
DAUGHTERS DON'T KNOW MOTHERS.
Experience of an American With the Serv
ants of Conception.
A BEVEEAGE USED INSTEAD OP TEA
COEBISrOOTEXCB OF THE DISPAXCH.
Concefcicw, Chile, July 14. This is
life in Chile; to vegetate in a delightful cli
mate; whose hottest sunbeams are cooled by
breezes blown from the Andean snowfields
happily exempt from all excitements ex
cept those that spring from natural causes,
notably love, earthquakes and revolutions;
to attend strictly on all fiestas of the
Romish Church, and by that means (so say
the priests) to secure for oneself an equally
tranquil hereafter; to promenade every
evening in the public garden, which is
known in the native grandiloquent style as
el Jardin de las Delicias, "the Garden of
Delight," and later to attend the opera, or,
at least, a tertulia, as social gatherings in
private houses are called.
The fair Chilean rises late. She dresses
hastily, throwing a charitable shawl about'
her shoulders to hide manifold sins of omis
sion her little feet thrust carelessly into
slippers, her splendid black hair, snarls and
all, plaited in two longbraids thatfall down
her back, and her ablutions, if she troubles
herself to make any, being merely a form
of politeness at the wash bowl.
THE MAUTA IS LIKE CHAKITT.
Of course she must go to morning mass,
but the big black manta that oustom de
mands for that service, drawn over the head
to the eyes and closely enveloping the body,
obviates the necessity for any further dress
ing. In every case the Chilean woman
prefers a silk or woolen gown, however
soiled and tattered, to the finest and fresh
est fabrics, for sho considers the latter
material the exclusive property of servants
and the despised Gringoes, or foreigners.
Thus in dishabille she dawdles about,
amusing herself with fancy-work or doing
nothing at all.until ennui drives her to shop
ping or paying visits. Then the glossy hair
mounts up on top of the head in a marvelous
heap, the slip-shod slippers give place to.
French boots with the highest heels and
most peaked toes that were ever Invented
to torture their foolish wearers, and in all
the splendor of costly apparel, than
which Solomon in all his glory was never
so arrayed, she sallies forth with stately
tread, generally bare-headed, closely fol
lowed by a servant whose business it is to
bear my lady's purse, hankerchief, parasol
and whatever trifle she may purchase.
ONE MONOTONOUS BOUND.
At the sunset hour or in the early erm
ine before time for opera or tertulia she
repairs to the promenade, to enjoy a little
music and perhaps some mild flirtations
the hist mentioned amusement, however,
being discreetly restricted to sighs, "sheep's
eyes and following footsteps. Thus for
the women the days go by in one monot
onous round, year in and out The men
omit the mass, look a little after their busi
ness affairs, if they have any, during the
middle of the day," but diligently attend to
the promenade, tjie opera and tertulia, or
to the gaming table for the night
Gambling is a national habit. In many
of the swellest casas of Santiago and Val
paraiso the gamingtable Is regularly set
out and forms one of the features of private
entertainments, like the baccarat of Great
Britain, which lately plunged the eldest
hope of her respected Majesty into .such
boiling hot water. In Chile, the poorest
peons and ragged gamin may be seen at all
times in the alleys and by-ways betting
tacdios and centavos, (the pennies and
nickles of the country), with as much
eagerness as the wealthy mine owner stakes
his gold ounces.
A. HIGH ROMjER AT OABD3.
The tallest gambling that overcame under
my own observation tookplace on a steamer
between Copiapo and Talcahnano, when a
man who had recently "struck it rich" in
copper at the Atacama mines, lost 590,000
in a single night There are laws against
gaming, but they are seldom enforced; and
even the church winks at it the quid nuncs,
ossert because so many of her dignitaries
are addicted to monte. A friend tells me
that he once attended Sunday morning
mass in the church of an interior village,
where the congregation, having waited long
for the coming of the priest, finallv sent for
his reverence. The messenger found him
at a cock-fight, which he refused to desert
until the exciting combat was ended.
A Yankee school teacher who recently re-'
turned to the North after several years'
residence here, says of the Chilcnos: "There
3re notably two classes of society. If a
man wears a silk hat and carries a pretty
cane, it is presumable that he belongs to
the 'better class.' If he has a servant to
wait on him at home and to carry his small
luggage when he travels; if he settles with
his landlord by handing him a large bill
without a question, and shoves the return
change into his pocket without deigning to
count it, there is no doubt about his being a
first-class cabellero (gentleman). But
should he dare to omit the silk hat or the
pretty cane and the man to carry his be
longings, he can in no wise expect to be ad
mitted into the upper circles.
A MINISTEB'S UNPARDONABLE SIN.
"Thus the Rev. Mr.
-, a man of great
worth, ability and learning, was given the
approbrious title of vaquero (cowboy), be
cause he persisted in carrying home every
morning a small pitcher of milk to his baby.
A true cabellero would have sent tho serv
ant, and even his silk hat and polished cane,
coupled with extremely polished manners,
could not save him.
"In Chile the man who makes your shoes,
the tailor who cuts your coat, the woman
who irons yonr linen, will charge you ac
cording to your 'cloth' for his or her serv
ices. If you claim to be a gentleman by
dressing up to the charaoter, tne price will
be enormous; but if you are a tradesman, a
clerk, or a laborer of any description, it
will be more moderate. Should you be so
excessively vulgar as to venture to the mar
ket in person to purchase a piece of meat it
will cost you at least 40 cents a pound; but
if you send a servant, he will buy the same
quantity and better quality for half the
money. The Chilean physician who made
a professional visit to my family, requiring
his services for less than half an hour, sent
in a bill for 575; but when I informed him
that I was a poor man, he wrote me a very
polite note, saying that it was of no conse
quence, and that I might pay him at my
own convenience whatever sum I thought
proper."
EELATION3 OF MOinEE AND DAUGHTER.
In Chile the greatest respect is shown by
children to their parents, Dut the tender
love between mother and daughter, as it
exists among us, is almost unknown. At
birth the children of the wealthy are invar
iably given in charge of a wet nurse, whose
own child, in turn, is nursed by a poorer
woman and in about ninety-nine cases out
of a hundred this nurse of the nurse's child
has never been married. Then the small
senorita goes to school and sees less of her
mother than ever. She is constantly under
the care of servants, and between them
there can be little confidence. If she wishes
advice or sympathy she naturally turns to
some young companion, rather than to the
stranger mother, whose strict ideas of pro
priety she fears. In religious matters she
is guided solely by her confessor.
,A young girl never leaves the house of
her parents unless accompanied by some
member of the family or a female servant
If she goes topay a visit the duenna waits
for her at the front door, or gossips with
the female servants. Interviews between
young ladies and gentlemen never take place,
except in the presence of others. Of course,
xaarnagei of convenUnce are frequent and
there are many cases of matrimony within
the forbidden degieea of consanguinity
even to the union of uncles with nieces and
stepfathers with step daughters.
THE 8ERVA2JT QUESTION."
Servants are abundant, and if one does
not please, a better may be readily obtained,
so that Chilean ladies are entirely relieved
from some of the responsibilities that harass
Northern housekeepers. Here the hire of
servants is so cheap and their demands so
moderate that people can more easily afford
the five or six that usually compose the
kitchen brigade than the matron of the
"United States her one or two. Eight dol
lars per month is a high price to pay one's
cook, and so on down the scale to noth
ing but Kis "keep" for the errand boy,
who is everybody's servant and the hardest
worked member of the household.
A New England lady who is now wrest
ling with the mysteries of Chilean house
keeping at Valparaiso writes me as follows
concerning her experience: "We engaged a
cook, who promised faithfully to come on a
certain morning, and retained our predeces
sor's man-servant, neither of whom spoko
one word of English, while we were equally
ignorant of Spanish. We took possession
on the appointed day, but no cook put in an
appearance. The dinner hour came and
there was no dinner. There was nothing in
the house but groceries and bread, and we
could buy nothing, because we could not
speak the language of traffic; and even with
plenty of provisions on hand we could never
have cooked on that queer adobe range. So
the gentlemen returned to the hotel and the
ladies satisfied themselves on bread and
butter.
DINNERS FE05I THE CAFE.
"A friend who called during the evening
suggested that, pending the arrival of a
cook, we have our meals brought from a
cafe a common custom here. You have a
lot of tins made, fitting one into the other,
with a wire passing through rings at the
side. The bottom tin contains cools, and
different meats and vegetables are placed
one above the other in the successive tins.
At dinner time one may see men rushing
through the streets of Valparaiso in every
direction, with strings of dishes varying in
length according to the magnitude of the
purchaser's dinner.
"We lived in that way for a week (on
half cold food that all tasted ol unwashed
tin and the menu of many yesterdays) until
at last we secured a well-recommended cook
who is to have $6 per month for getting up
two meals a day, washing most of the dishes
end going to market She sleeps in her
own house and has the usual perquisites
accorded to servants here, viz., meat and
vegetables from our own table, one pound of
brown sugar a week and 3 cents' worth of
'bread per diem. Butter is never allowed
them; coffee at the generosity of their em
ployers. ORDERING WITH A DICTIONAET.
"You would laugh to see me in the morn
ing approach my cook with money in one
hand and a dictionary in the other, to give
orders concerning the marketing. It is not
difficult to catch the pronunciation of Span
ish, and in case of stern necessity one may
dispense with verbs altogether. The brief
est of dialogues, something in this fashion,
always occurs: Dolores, quiero papas,
buevos, beefsteak. (I want potatoes, eggs
and beefsteak.) To which Dolores respect
fully replies; Si, Senorita, muy bueno
(Yes, Miss, very welL
' The man servant, or major-domo, as he Is
magnificently termed, takes charge ot the
dimnsr-room. waits at table and act as chamr
ber maid for it is a singular fact that the )
chamber "maidens of Chile are universally
of the other sex. We have one street stair
case, up which everything is brought Tho
first thing I hear in the morning is tho clat
ter upon the steps of the water carrier, who
brings us two kegs of water daily, lorwhich
he Is paid ?2 60 per month. Then comes
the bread man, to whom we pay 50 cents a
day for what our family of seven are sup
posed to consume; then the milkman, bring
ing half a pint for eight cents; and, lastly,
the cook arrives, with the marketing and
the day's supply of fuel. In this hand-to-mouth
way of living I always have an un
comfortable impression that some day we
shall be left destitute. But everybody else
lives in the same fashion, and, indeed, no
other way is possible here."
A POPULAR CHILEAN DRINK.
In every Chilean household hospitality
to evening visitors is expressed by tea and
cakes, the hostess always pouring out the
beverage and a servant handing it to the
guests. The beverage of the common peo
ple is yerba mate, the leaves of a shrub
that grows in Paraguay, and itjis also much
usedby the better classes, though the Chin
ese plant takes its place in the parlor.
Yerba mate is a slightly exhllerating drink,
with the taste of tea and a faint savor of to
bacco. It is prepared by putting a little
burnt sugar in the bottom of a cup, then a
pinch or two of the dried leaves, after
which boiling water is poured on and it is
drunk, steaming hot, or rather is sucked
through a tube. The poor use little gourds
for cups, with a bamboo tube called a bom
billa, while the rich indulge in elegant
mugs of silver or china, with silver bombil
las. Evening parties, large and small, formal.
ana miormai, are very mucu ui lusmuu, ouu
the refreshments served are always cakes,
ices and tea. Years ago before the Chile
ans grew jealous of foreigners, and also,
perhaps, before journalists came down here
to publish unpleasant truths about them
all Btrangers were welcomed with overflow
ing hospitality and delightful simplicity.
But now such warmth is seldom shown, ex
cept in remote country places where the
mate cup and its bombilla is still passed
from your neighbor's lips to your own; and
where the hostess will pause in front of you,
with her dish ofdulces in one hand and
spoon in the other, while she envelopes a
peach in it rich syrup and gently thrusts it
into your mouth, and so on around the cir
cuit of the drawing room,
Fannib B. Wamx
FEAELS GET SICK SOMETIMES.
In Snch Cases a Change of Climate Slakes
Them All Right Again.
Bt. Louis Poat-Dlipatch.l
Discoveries are never to cease H seems,
A most singular fact about pearls has just
been discovered, or rather if it has been
known to a few, it was not by any means
generally known. A jeweler recently de
clared that pearls become "sick" like
babies, and then require a change of climate,
or else they crumble and die. The dealer
declared he knew a case once, when a lady
went into a jeweler's with a splendid set of
pearls, that were losing their luster and be
ginning to look dead.
"These pearls are sick," said the jeweler
examining them, "and unless you take, or
send them to a decidedly different climate
at once, they will become worthless." The
lady took his advice, sent the pearls to a
far off olimate, and within a month they
were as bright and beautiful in luster as
they had been before.
WHAT INTERESTS THE N0BIUTT.
An Heiress of More Importance to Them
Than a Dozen World's Fairs.
New Tort Herald.
The growing fancy of the British nobility
for marrying great American heiresses can
not be better illustrated than by the experi
ence of Chauncey M. Depew. It is said
recently London society has been greatly
interested in rumors of the wealth of a
well-known American society woman there.
Although it was known that Mr. Depew
represented the World's Fair, it is said that
four questions about the heiress' wealth
were asked him to one question about the
fair. Even the Prince of Wales was .inter
ested in the matter enough to make inqui
ries about it
Domestic Heating in the Future.
Great progress has been made of late In
tho development of 'apparatus for the heat
Ing of houses. There Is every reason to be
lieve that It will not be Ions before we shall
be able to turn on the beat in our rooms bv
the key, as we now turn on gas. This will
do away with at least one servant, who, in
large houses is employed almost exclusively
during the winter months In attending to
the furnace and grate fires.
A USEFUL SERTAKT.
How Electricity Has Been Harnessed
in Hotels and Elsewhere.
SAFETY APPLIANCE FOE ENGINES.
Heating by Means of the Current Will Do
Away With Extra Help.
ST0EAGE BATTERIES FOE OMNIBUSES
WRITTEl FOR THE DISPATCH.
An Australian electrician, speaking before
the "Victorian Institute, said he was very
mnoh Impressed, while traveling in Amer
ica, with tho extent to which the applica
tion of electricity was carried in the hotels.
He surveyed the annunciator dial, contain
ing 25 segments, with great Interest, which
was further increased by the prompt ap
pearance of a colored boy, with all the
necessaries for a "shine" when the pointer
was moved to "Bootblack." In further des
cribing his experiences, tho electrician said:
"That hotel I found to have electrical ap
paratus in all sorts of places. Tho doors of
the closets would not close from the outside.
but the pressure of a foot on the floor inside
closed a circuit and released a spring-, and
tho door was closed automatically and an
enameled disc showed on the outside the
word 'engaeed.' Burglar alarms were fitted
to every window. In winter the rooms are
kept warm by steam, and the supply of the
steam to the pipes is automatically ref
lated. A thermometer Is arranged bo that
as the temperature reaches the desired point
a contact is made which closes an electrio
current and by means of an electromagnet
cuts off the supply of steam. Directly the
temperature falls below the limit the ap
paratus again works and readmits the
steam. The arrangement I saw, and
which the manager calls a thermostat,
consisted ota strlpof brass and one of rub
ber (materials which expand differently
under the same degree of heat) riveted to
gether at one end." ThU composite strip is
marked unequnlly by changes of temper
ature, the two pieces being fixed at one end
while free at the other. There Is an appre
ciable range of movement at the free end.
This enables a contact to be made at any
point in that within that range, while a
screw adjustment arranges for the contaco
to take place at any temperature within de
sirable limits. The thermostats are, it it
said, so sensitive as to respond to the change
of a single degree of heat. Similar thermos
tats are need as fire alarms, when, of course,
they are set-not to make contact until ex
posed to a heat of, say, 120 to 160. Arrange
ments are made for the contact to ring an
alarm and actuate an indicator, whichsnows
In which room the excessive heat exists.
Sometimes it is arranged that the heat indi
cator and the burglar alarm shall, when they
make contact, also light an incandescent
lamp in the former case in each room la
the nonse, and in the latter in the room only
whence the alarm was given.
It is instructive, as well as interesting,
thus to see ourselves as others see us, and in
enables ns to realize more fully the extent
to which electricity is now being made to
contribute to the comfort and convenience
of everyday life In this country.
For the Telephone Exchange.
The city of Chicago has the credit of hav
ing introduced in its telephone exchange a
very useful "busy" call, which enable a
caller-up of a "busy" line to have his call
placed on record, so that it will have atten
tion so soon as the line is clear. A farther
Improvement has now been arranged by the
electrician of the same exchange. Under
the former arrangement the "busyM tickets
were made out and distributed at the
"target" or "busy" board, the call sometimes
passing through the.hands of several opera
tors. In the new system the tickets are dis
tributed to six operators, each operator re
ceiving only the tickets belonging to her
section. The distributer consists of a brass
box, two inches in width and 21 feet in
length, having six channels, each channel
terminating in a slot placed before an opera
tor. Under the box passes a cotton band,
forming an endless belt At one end of tho
distributer is placed a desk composed of six
sections, each section being provided with
lx slots, and each slot leading to one of tho
six channels of the distributer. At each
section of this desk an operator is stationed,
who receives the "busy" call, writes out the
ticket and deposits It In the channel, which
bears it to the operator at the "busy"
board, whose duty it is to make the connec
tion as soon as the lino is free.
Beading Lamp Outfit.
Many people would like to have the elec
tric light in their houses for other than or
dinary illuminating purposes. In snob.
weather a3 we have had during the past
week a cool light to read by or to use in the
piano lamp is a godsend. Hltnerto this has
been a difficult matter for many to procure;
they may be far away from the mains, and
even if they are not, a connection and lay
ing of wires all over the house for such a
small quantity of light as they aro lfkely to
require Is out of the question. For such as
these an electric reading lamp outfit, which
has jnst appeared, will bo particularly use
ful. The battery is put up in a case quite
convenient to handle. The elements aro at
tached to tho under sido of a movable
board, which can be raised and lowered at
will. The zincs are by this means lifted ont
of the liquid or lowered, as required. There
is a lid at the side of tho box, which, when
open, gives easy access to the battery. The
lamp is portable and can be adjusted to any
position. The light rays are concentrated
on the desk, book or music, and are of suf
ficient Intensity to enable one to read or
write without fatigue of the eyes. On the
ground of healtn and care of eyesight alone
it is a distinct boon to the public
Value of Creosote.
Mr. W. H. Preece, chief eleotrician to the
English Postal Department, gives soma in
teresting information concerning the use of
creosote in increasing the life of wood. The
average life of an ordinary uncreosoted tele
graph polo is, according to Mr. Preece, about
seven years, whereas a line of creosoted
poles about 20 miles In length, put down in
1818, were taken up in 1SS3, and were then
Serfectly sound. On the Great "Western
allway it is found that the life of uncreo
soted sleepers Is five years, and that of creo
soted sleepers eight to ten years, and many
last to doublo that length of time. In tropi
cal regions timber is very rapidly destroyed
by marine insects, more particularly the
teredo novalia and limnorla. On the Paclflo
and Atlantic shores of the United States It is
found that uncreosoted piles are destroyed
in two years, whereas creosoted piles last
from five to six years. 6Ince then this pro
cess doubles the life of timber, find the cost
of treatment is not more than 25 per cent of
the prime cost of the material, the advisa.
bility of creosoting all exposed timber be
comes manifest
Stopping an Enelno by Electricity.
The method of making an electrical con
nection with the governor of an engine la
such away that the engine could be in
stantaneously stopped on the pressure of a
push button which, was devised some time
ago has beenfound to workso well and to pro
vide such a valuable addition to the provis
ions against accident which are necessary
where large bodies of machinery are con
stantly in motion, that in many factories
these push buttons have been placed In con
venient positions all over the floor In whloh.
machinery is working. In case of accident
from any cause whatever any person who
happens to be nearest to one of these push
buttons can, by pressing It instantly, bring
the engine to a standstill.
The Electric 'Bos.
Eadcllffe Ward, who has been Intimately
associated with tho development or the
electrical omnibus in England, says that tho
statement that it is easier for electric trac
tion to compete on rails than oa ordinary
streets is fallacious, as it overlooks the fact
that if a ton of storage batteries cannot do
as much work on the street as on a rail
neither can a horse. Mr. WaTd finds that
when he runs 25 omnibuses from, one station
the cost is 6 cents per mile, including all
maintenance, as compared with 9 cents
horse cost. This calculation is based on the
present price of accumulators. They will
be cheaper soon.
A Door Hinge Alarm.
The great objections to many of the eleo
tric burglar alarms now in use for the pro
tection of buildings by the giving of an
alarm upon the opening of a window or
door are that they are of complicated de
sign, and liable to get out of order and to
deteriorate in other ways. These objection
have been surmounted ty the use of a very
simple circuit-closing device with a door
binge. The slightest opening of the door or
lid will cause an isolated strip spring to
make a contact with the metal body of the
hinge and close an electric circuit
i