18 REVIEW OF SPORTS, Causes That Tend to Lead to the Demoralization of the Local Baseball Team. WHATEXCOURAGINGWORDSCAffDO The Absurd Xotion of Transferring the League Club Prom Pittshurg to Indianapolis. REGATTA OP THE AMATEUR OARSMEN. Gossip and Opinions Abcut the Latest Fruits Among the Leading; rngilists. Probably the most important series of the season between the local and Eastern teams will begin to-morrow. The series vill be Important because it may go a long way in determining what team shall have the pen nant. The Bostons will be the first to ap pear, and at this stage defeat to them means very much, indeed. But whether or not the home players will be able to admin ister any defeats at all is another matter. As we all know, the career of the local players has been so full of disappointments this year that few of us have nerve enough to make any predictions of victory regard ing them. The censure, the ridicule and the jeers that have been heaped upon the local players have been numerous, and, of eourse,this does not make things any better. True, all of us who aie anxious to see Pitts burg have a winning team say many strong things when defeat after defeat is recorded; but if we examine closely we'll find that these strong things very often do no good. Besides, when a baseball team are losing al most everyday, almost everybody else knows better how to mend matters than the man ager. Consequently, he is inundated with all kinds of advice, pointers, suggestions, etc, gratis. This, too, only augments the difficulties of the situation, and instead of making the prospects better, they aro as a rule made wQrse. Then a;ain we have another class of cranks who are daily condemning the team as worthless, yet every enort made to mate the team stronger is by these very cranks condemned. True this is inconsistent, but bless your hearts, dear readers, inconsistency among baseball cranks is as natural as sunlight. Still again there are others who make it their business to stir up the bitterest of feelings among the players, and as a grand result everything and everybody is at sixes and sevens. Xow I do not lor one moment con tend that patrons of the club have no right to grumble and complain about the team, and also talk as much about the players as they choose. I know of no authority to prevent that, but I most emphatically con tend that when our grumblings, complain ings, censures, etc., prove to be a disturbing element and tend to make matters worse instead of better, we should not find fault about bad results of the team. In other words while we are condemning the team as a bad team we should not be helping to make it wore, that is, if our desire is to see a good team in the city. I think this is fair enough. The Releasing of Players. There is always more or less dissatisfac tion caused bv the releasing of players, and it is quite safe to say that many patrons of the local club would have been pleased if Carroll had not been released. But the fact is I would not be surprised if almost every player in the team were released, because hardly one of them has escaped public cen sure "and ridicule at one time or another. The management of a baseball club must cater to the public, and when the latter, either tlirougn the press or otherwise, make wholesale condemnations we must certainly not be surprised at, nor must rwe object to the releasing of anv man on the team. I have argued steadily that the bad playing of the team was not theiesultof bad man agement. I strongly maintained this point when 3Ir. Hanlon was in charge, and I am now more than ever convinced of the fact. The players have more or less been failures, and doubtless they have gotten so far down the scale that discouragement has knocked much of the fire and ambition out of them. And let me say that when matters get to that stage we can depend upon it that harsh words, jeering terms, abuse and censure do no good. If ever words of encouragement are useful; if ever they have a noble mission to fulfill, and if ever they can be productive of the greatest good to the giver and the receiver, it is when they are spoken to others who are Ftruggling in distress; who are down in difficulties. And, after all, as far as I have observed, kindl v words will go much further with baseball pfayers than harsh or abusive ones. Just excuse this little divergence. "Well, I w as going to say that when it is found that the poor success of the team is the result of the inferior work of the players and that the inferior work is not the result of bad management, there is hardly anything left for the management to do but get new players. When this is done the old ones must be released, and cer tainly none of us need be surprised at that. It is not fair to charge Manager McGunni gle with having bad players and to find fault with him when he tries to secure bet ter ones. The Important Series. A minute or two ago I remarked that the scries of games which the Eastern teams begin here to-morrow will in all likelihood be an important one, and it may be that during the games our local team will get down to good work. I trust they w ill, not only because of themselves, but "because of the stockholders of the club. If the team can pull themselves together during the next two weeks and win a few games the club will come out all right financially on the season. Amid all the failings and dis appointments of the team I still believe they can plav as good a game as any team I know of, anil if ever it was the duty of ball players to do their best it is the duty of the local players to do their best this week. They ought to banish all personal feeling; indeed they must act like men and place themselves above personalities of all kinds. Thev are working for employers who have handed,out salaries to them with no sparing hand. Jlost certainly it is the duty of these players to at least try their very best to reimburse their employers. The most ordinary sense of gratitude should prompt the players to do that, and if they put aside all personal bickerings and resolve to do their work in their best pos sible form we may have lots of pleasure even yet. The real excitement of the season will just commence now as the end of the race is getting nearer. The worth of each victory will be seen now at its full value, and every possible effort will be put forth by Boston, ew York and Chi cago to score" victories. And there is this very unique feature about baseball,that al though the Pittsburg team are tailenders they will fight just as determinedly against the leaders and try as much to knock them out of a position as if they, the Pitts burgs, would step into it. This tact shows a contest at the end of the season between a tailead team and it team fighting for first place can be just as exciting as a contest be tween any other two teams. If the weather keeps fine I anticipate quite an interesting week. Baseball Rowdyism During the week we have had quite a dis graceful proceeding on the ball field, and on the League ball field at that Ordinarily a few "hot" words between players on the ball field might pass unnoticed, and even a "little scrap might pass without very much attention being paid to it. But of late un pleasant scenes on the ball field have be come numerous, and they all have arisen irom one player trying to take an unjustifia ble advantage over another. This spirit of unfairness among ball players when taking part in a game is developing at such a rapid rate that something must be done to check it. Such disgraceful scenes as that which took place at Cincinnati the other day be tween Latham and McAleer must not be re peated. It is not for me to say who was at fault. I don't know who was most toblame, but, judging from an account of the affair which I read in a Cincinnati paper, Latham ought to be taken severely to task. He is quoted as saying that he was "mad at the decisions of the umpire." "Well, now, here we have the thing in a nutshell. The um pire caused him to lose his temper and he unfairly interfered with SIcAlccr to get even. As a result a highly disgraceful scene occurred. The National League mag nates cannot well allow this affair to pass unnoticed. The offender must be taken to task if the dignity of the game is to be pre served, because if it is not we might with great advantage have at every game all the apparatus handy for a prize ring. Now don't think that all my fault finding about disorderly and unruly players is entered on ether teams than our own. I daresay we have as many as anybody else and they need just as much chastening as others. True, there are occasions when it is very difficult for a ball player tokeep his temper. Eor instance, last Wednesday there was any amount of excuse for Bcilly and King al lowing passion to get a little the better of tbcm; I mean, if there can be an excuse at all for such a thin" they were to a very great extent excusable. "But I don't go much in for excuses under the circumstances ami players should be taught to curb their tempers. The circumstance in question was an annoying one. Umpire Lynch called Burns safe at third when he was out by at least two feet It was a matter of bad judgment with Lynch,Jbecause he would not under anv circumstances do it wilfully; that is, if ne had thought Burns was out ho would not have called nim safe. "Well, now, under these circumstances there is no neces sity for a p.laycr to go fighting round the diamond and prompting the most hostile and offensive demonstrations from the spectators. I say there is no necessity for that, although itmust in some instances be very difficult for a player to keep quiet. Just for a moment let any of us suppose a case in which we are interested. Suppose we are running a race and we reach the string two feet ahead of our opponents and the referee decides that one of the other fellows got there first. This would, indeed, rouse our ire; wouldn't we kick and jump and use some very unedifying epithets? It would, indeed, be hard to keep quiet and submit to the decision. And so it is with the ball player now and again. An umpire once in awhile makes a palpable mistake and the player against whom the decision is given knows it just as well as we know we are living. Under these circumstances it is natural lor a man to get "mad" and say a Jew words. The Association's Movements. Had there been much public faith in the stability of the American Association we might have had during the week one or two baseball sensations. But that organization is such a moribund condition that nothing need surprise us in connection with it, ex cept anything that will prove to us it is prospering. Von der Abe & Co. have left Cincinnati no doubt sadder and wiser men, but the must amusing thing in con nection with their skulking from that city is their "declaration" that they will have a team there next year. "Was there ever a bolder bluff made on earth than this? Can anybody tell me of one? I pause for a re ply. They'll come back to Cincinnati, will thev? "Why, they're so glad to get out of it that they're snaking each other's hand yet. Oh, yes, the association magnates have now nine cities, and, gentle reader, do you remember that just on the eve of the death of the late P. L. that so-called organization also had nine cities. But what is the As sociation going to do with nine cities? They are wonderful people, no doubt, but their present declaration about Cincinnati is so absurd tliat I don't propose to argue it. 1 really think they are stupid enough to be lieve that their bluff will have some effect of the League. But there is a still more re markable thing in connection with the As sociation. The latest rumor is to the effect that a deal is to be made whereby the. Asso ciation is to vacato Boston and the League is to vacate Pittsburg. The Associa tion will then put a team into Pittsburg and the League will lay hold of that great and flourishing baseball center, Indian apolis. Now isn't this a nice scheme? And it has evidently been formulated and ma tured without any assistance from the Pitts burg maunates. A man whose name is Brush a man whom some people in their envy call a baseball schemer and trickster I believe is "rushing" the scheme. He has a residence in Indianapolis and some kind of business that may be yirofited by League ball players in that city. But there is one very wonderful thing connected with this extraodinary scheme proposed by Mr. Brush, viz., that the Pittsburgers directly interested in the business have not been consulted in the matter. "We in Pittsburg seem to be something like Ginx's baby, we have nothing to do whatever with the dis posal of ourselves; that is, if scheming Mr. Brush has his way. But let the fates forbid the location of any Association baseball club in this city. Onr baseball public haye been trying for years to improve matters, and have spent much time and money in their efforts. Surely we cannot afford to knock all these efforts on the head at one fell swoop by again de scending to the level of a rag-tag-and-bob-tail lot like Von der Ahe & Co. If we can not get along with a National League team, in the name of everything decent and re spectable let us confine "ourselves. to the County League. But I do not for one mo ment ever dream of the National League giving up Pittsburg, and in all fairness to everjbody concerned, if 3Ir. Brush' made that suggestion the Leagut$iagnates should from now on keep entirely "clear of such a man. He cannot be a true friend of the League. "What a prolific move it would be on the part of the League to move from Pittsburg to Indianapolis. Just make a note of this. "We may get a little disfig ured this season, but we'll still be in the League arena next year. Regatta of Amateur Oarsmen. General sporting affairs have been ex ceedingly quiet during the week, and almost the only event of note has been the national regatta of amateur oarsmen. The regatta was a great success, as the attendance was large and the contests of a very exciting kind. But as far as I have been able to learn there was nothing remarkable done by the scullers; that is, none of thera showed form that marked them as anything like world-beaters. This means that we need not expect for some time to come to have an amateur sculler to defeat our rivals, the Britishers. True, there was some clean and strong rowing, but judging from trustworthy accounts there was nothing to lead one to believe that more than a good average win ner was there. But the regatta proved one thing beyond all doubt, viz., that there is an increasing admiration for amateur contests. I have noted during the past few years that the popularity of amateurism was increasing, and it is not only increas ing in athletic sports generally, but most' certainly it is also increasing iu aquatics. This is a very hopeful sign and ought to en courage our local amateur organizations to have a boat club established as soon as possible. Of course I am aware of the Columbia club, but I mean to say that if the Allegheny Athletic Association would organize a boat club it would not only be of benefit to amateur rowing in this county, but it would also be of benefit to the Colum bia club. I would be very pleased to find that we had two or three good boat clubs in our midst next season. I firmly believe that all of our most prominent rowers are inclined to start out as amateurs and re main so. Among the Pugilists. The summer is fast waning, and that means the time is fast approaching for the pugilists to take an active part in the sport ing affairs of the week. Eor sometime past matters have been exceedingly quiet among the fistio performers. But there are several big events pending, although some of them are quite a distance off yet. Ons of the latest matches to be modeis the match be tween Jem Carney and Dick Burge for the English lightweight championship. Of TEE course, it is almost' needless to say .that they fought some time ago, when Burge was de clared the .winner on a foul. I carefully read several exhaustive accounts of that contest, and I couldn't help thinking, after I read tkenij that Carney had Burge almost beaten when the referee :gave bis decision. Mark, tho referee was right as far as I was able to judge, bat what puzzled me then, and what puzzlos me now, is to find out why Carney persisted in .fouling so flag rantly. He fought foal almost every round. It may have been because Burge was, so much superior in boxing and could keep out of.Carae's way. But Cnrney'fough't yery foul, and that's all there is about it. Burge also should have won in a few rounds, but he missed his chance, and then Carney's remarkable stay ing powers came in, and doubtless he would have won had, the referee not stopped the contest. . I mention these few points to show that the next battle between them will be, in all probability, a lively one. Certainly Burge in tie next instance will try his best to settle -Carney right off the reel. If Burge wins 1 understand that he is to challenge SlcAuliffe if the latter defeats Gibbons. If the latter jis the winner then I suppose Burge will be prepared to tackle him. But. let me say this: IfBurgeisa better man than Jem Carney, he will prove himself the superior of, either McAuliffe or Gibbons. Gallagher and Mitchell. During the last week or so I have re ceived one or two queries asking me why I do not say somethiug about the approaching contest between Beddy Gallagher and "Young Mitchell' The entire cause of my silenee on the matter has been because the contest is too far off. Of course, it is nearer than it was and a few words now may not be Tiut of place. Erom the day on which the match was made between these two men I have looked upon young Mitchell as the winner. I still think that he will defeat Gallagher, although I may have reason to change my opinion before the contest takes place. I don't think that anything will transpire to cause me to change my opinion, but one can never tell what is going to happen. Gallagher is an active and strong young fellow. He is a clever boxer, and, according to what. Charley Mitchell told mo last year,,can deliver quite a hard blow. He is a shifty fighter and is not easy to get at. Bat, after admitting all these good points, I have yet to be convinced 'that he is game. He is to meet a man equally as clever as himself, and if anything a better hitter, and certainly a real game fellow. Young Mitchell has also had considerable experience, and has had some yery pro longed and tough arguments to settle. I, therefore, at present come to the conclusion that Gallagher will very likely be defeated. The JBIg Hitters. There is hardly anything new to say about the heavyweight pugilists. Cables from London during the week have stated that Slavin and Mitchell will leave Liverpool for New York on September 24. The cables also state that if Slavin cannot make definite, ar rangements for a. battle with Sullivan he will fight Corbett. If this is Slavin's real intention I anticipate that he will fight Cor bett, because there is apparently little hope of a contest being arranged between Sulli van and Slavin tor a long time to come. Sullivan may resolve to fight again, but it will require something more than the put ting up of a forfeit of 1,000 six months be fore the contest to convince me that he means to, resume fighting. In my estimation he will be a very foolish man if he re-enters the ring, as he'has many very great risks to run. "Well, if he is not ready to fight, Slavin will meet Corbett, and if they meet the contest will be quite an interesting one. Kilrain has lapsed into silence, and JoeMc Auliffe has apparently disappeared entirely. Corbett and Slavin are the only two men among the big fellows who are doing the talking, and depend upon it Corbett is fool ing with a very dangerous man. Thoso Who'Are After Dixon. Not a'week is allowed to pass without somebody wanting to fight George Dixon for the 'feather-weight championship. The latest is young Daly, who, if ever he gets in front of Dixon, will haye some notions of fighting knocked out of his head. But the most likely opponent of Dixon is Fred Johnson, the little Englishman. Johnson is quite a clever little fellow and a desper ate fighter. Last year, after Dixon had de feated "Wallace, I saw 2,500 that could have been put up at any minute in behalf of Johnson against'Dixon. Subsequently a forfeit of 5500 was put up for Johnson to fight Dixon, but the latter came home. Dixon is a much better man now than he was when he fought "Wallace, and were he and Johnson to meet,, and both in condi tion, I'think the chances of victory would be 5 to 4 in favor of Dixon. SlcAuliffe and Gibbons. Everything is going along all right for the contest between Jack McAuliffe and Austin Gibbons. Both men are training hard, and as far as I can learn both men are going to try to win. This is a very important feature in the affair, and, if they are both out for blood I shall look for McAuliffe being the winner. This conclusion is a little risky at this stage, as McAuliffe has a deal of hard work to do yet before' he -gets down to weight. But according to published ac counts he is getting along in first-class style and is getting to weight even better than his backers expected. The contest no doubt will be a lively one and there will be much betting on it. PKurGLE. SPONGES OF TEX BAHAMAS. The Treatment Tbrongh Which They Pass Before Being Sent to Market. ITew York "World. An interesting sketch of lhe method of fishing for sponges employed in the Bahama Islands is given by United States Consul McLain in a recent report to the State De partment. The- sponges are gathered by means of iron hooks attached to long poles. By using a water-glass the fisherman can readily distinguish the sponges at the bot tom, and then, with his pole and hook he will bring up those he may select as fit for his purpose, leaving the smaller ones un touched. "When the sponge field is reached the vessel anchors, and the men, putting off in the small open boats, do the fishing in the manner above indicated, returning to the vessel before nightfall with their catch. The sponges when brought to the vessel are at once spread upon the deck and left ex posed to the sun for several days, during which time the animal matter that covers the sponge gradually dies. This is a black, gelatinous substance, of a very low order of marine life, which, during the process of de cay, emits a "most objectionable odor. The vessels visit what is called the "kraal" once a week to land the load from the deck. The kraal is an inclosed pen, fenced in by sticks of wood so as to allow a free circulation of water through it, usually built in a sheltered and shallow bay or cove, on one of the cays near by. The sponges are placed in the kraal and left to be soaked and washed by the action of water from four to six days, when they are taken out and beaten with sticks until the decayed covering is entirely removed. Having been subjected to this course of ex posure, soaking, beating and washing, the sponges are quite clean and are taken on board the vessel, packed awayin the hold, conveyed to Nassau, and in this condition are sold on the local "market. Electric Light Prom Chemicals. A California electric sharp 'thinks he is on the track of a big thing. His idea is a chemical plant which will generate and store at a small expense enough electricity to maintain 25 or SO lamps on a small sys tem, say in - one house. Ho has one that feeds half a dozen lights now. The chem icals used are new in the electrical field. ' A Woman's Preference. Mrs. LS. Hinton.ofGrahamville, Florida, says she prefers Chamberlain's Colio, Cholera and Diarrhoea Bemedy to any other medi cine in the world, having used it for two years and in some very bad cases and always with perfect success.' This remedy has gained a wide reputation and is undoubtedly a medicine of great worth and merit, "vvsu PITTSBURG DISPATCH; GOSSIP ' OF THE DAY. Stories of Early Pittshurg Eecalled . By William Sample's Death. LIFE OP PRESIDENT POLK'S WIDOW The Great Canard Company Maj Hare a Great Eastern on Its Hands. A DOCTOR'S OPINION OP MEDICINE r W Kill JUT FOR TIIZ DISPATCH. A little over 100 years ago, a veteran Revolutionary soldier, who had fought in the army of "Wash ington, moved from Cumberland coun ty to a tract but a few miles from the present busin ess portion of the city of Pittsburg. At the mouth of Gir ty's Bun he built his cabin an d brought to it his wife and family. On January 7, 1791, n'illiam Sample. a child was born in the new home, the fourth to them, but the second male white birth North and "West of the Allegheny river. Two weeks later the cabin was at tacked by Indians and the child, its mother and all the family, with the exception of the father, who was absent on a scout with the minute men, taken prisoners. The first night out the savages engaged in a triumphant scalp-dance over the trophies taken on the foray, during which a squaw, who had been befriended the winter before, took the poor captive woman with her off spring to the banks of the Allegheny and ferried them one by one, through heavily floating ice, to the other side and safety. That night they stayed with Mr. Ewalt, who owned the farm on which the Butler Street Arsenal now stands and the next day reached Fort Pitt. As soon as the excite ment of the Indian raids had died away, the weman and her family, joined by the husbaud, returned to their home. Nine years later another boy was born, and that boy in the person of "William Sample died just one week ago in Shaler township. It seems almost beyond belief that lives beginning in the days when Pittsburg was hut a frontier post, have extended down to our time, for although the capture of Mr. Sample's mother took place nine years before he was born, the incident was by no means the last exploit of the Indians in the limits of this county. Nineteen years later outrages were committed within four miles of the City Hall. Mr. Sample could remember many thrilling incidents of his early lite and yet he lived away beyond the time, when the land which his immediate family had wrested from the Indians, brought nearly $190,000 in hard cash. During tho War of 1812. I suppose it will be interesting to readers of The Dispatch to give here another story of early border annals, in which, a number of the Sample household took rather an unfortunate part. As the "History of Allegheny County" tells the story as well as it can be told, I will quote from it: A family named DIok settled on tho run sinco named from them Dick's run. They eame shortly after Sample. Sample had a hired man by the name of Chapman. , One evening this man went to stay over night with a relative who was living with Esley Powers, within the present limits of Sharps, burg, llo left the next day, nnd on his way back stopped at Dick's place, where, he was invited to cat breakfast with the family. lie was in the act of sitting down to tho tabic when ho was shot. A band of savages rushed into the houso, scalped him, secured the Dicks and immediately left with them. The next day Powers passed Dick's house, and noticed that there was no one near, and that the door was standing open. A day later he passed again, and seeing the door still open, and no person nbout the premises, he sus pected that something was wrong, and en tering, found Chapman murdered and lying on the floor. The settlers for miles around were aroused, and a company started In pur suit. The Indians were tracked into Ohio, and thence to Detroit, which was then in possession of the British. There they re mained until exchanged. From the fact that the British were in Detroit when the family were taken, wo conclude that they were-captured shortly after the commence ment ot the last war with Great Britain. The Widow of President Polk. One would travel far to meet with a more perfect ex ample of constancy X than that exhib ited by saran , Childress Polk, widow of ex-President Polk, who died last week. j Men and women now middle-aged were not born when James IC Polk died, and Mrs. Polk. through all the intervening years the widow has lived so solitary and unassuming a life in the historic old Polk mansion at Nash ville, Tcnn., that I will venture to say thousands did not know she still lived, until informed of her death. During all this time she has never left off wearing mourning for the man she had loved ever since girlhood, and has continued to love when nothing more tangible than the mound which covers his remains in a cor ner of the grounds surrounding the old homestead was left her. I remember a re mark made to a visitor two years ago who had called upon her. "As you see me dressed to-day," said she, "so'have I dressed ever since the death of my husband, almost 40 years ago. I have not followed the fashions very closely." And this in spite of the tact that during her regime in the "White House she was one of the most brilliantly and fashionably dressed women in the gay company usually to be found there. It seems as if on the death of her husband all the gayety went out of her life never to return again. Al though a handsome woman and one of the most graceful and refined ladies at the capi tal, she gave up everything immediately she became" a widow. Retiring to Polk Place she never left it again Invitation after invitation were in every instance met with a polite but firm refusal to visit any one. N at once did she visit "Washington. She claimed her duties ended there with her husband's life, and since then she has lived patiently through long, long years for the time to join the love gone before. It is an interesting fact that the room which ex-President Polk used as his study has not been touched since his death. His consort loved through it to recall his memory, and many a time since, no doubt, she imagined she could see the old familiar figure seated at the desk now crumbling to dust. In the same room is an old hair trunk, belonging to the dead President, which has never been opened since the key was turned by its owner. "What interesting. relics it may containl Ships Can Be Too Big. Thirty-four years ago Messrs. Stephenson Brunei, the ship-builders, invited "W. 8. Lindsay, a prominent ship-broker and owner, down to Millwell on the Thames, where the famous Great Eastern was wait ing to be launched. "When the party had made a complete tour of the giant vessel, Mr. Brunei said to Lindsay: "Well, what do you think of her?" Lindsay .answered that she was the biggest affair of the kind he had far seen. "But, will she pay?" continued Brunei. "Ah, that's quite a different matter." "If she belonged to you, in what trade weuld you place her?" "Turn her into a show; something attract wwHT 1S11P 'fit Jmir wzd? ifl fflB& mMsvwe.Ta flSSMS SUNDAY' ATJGJTST 23, ive to the people. She will never pay as a ship." Lindsay was right. The great ship of which so much was expected proved a total failure. She was too long, burned too much coal and the total rate of expense could not be met by the income. I wonder if we will not have another big ship-building failure some of these days. Tor years the length of the ocean steam shipswas kept down, but of late it is in creasing again, and a few days ago a con tract was let with the Fairfield concern, in England, by the Cunard company calling for a vessel 600 feet long," with which it is intended to try and win back the champion ship of the Atlantic, recently taken from them by theflyers of the White Star line, the Teutonic' and Majestic This is within 80 feet of the length of that useless hulk, the Great Eastern, which was sold for old iron a year or so ago. The Usefulness or Physicians. Sir Henry Thompson is one of the most learned and skiltul physicians living. His opinion on all subjects pertain ing to medicine is held invaluable. It was somewhat of a surprise, how ever, to many, when several months ago, he re- , fused to take any medicine, while suffering f r o m a temporary indis- niuifinn " rannirl'. Sir Henry Tlionipson. ing something to the effect that no doctor was foolish enough to take his own or another's medicine. His meaning was not very clear, but, the infer ence remained that the great doctor was not a believer in the use of drugs. The matter is recalled by a case at present attracting attention in New York. In it the implied ignorance of doctors generally is made only too manifest. A young man named Charles Deicke is suffering from a yiolent attack of trichi nosis. If he ever recovers he will hardly thank his physicians for it. The first called to attend him pronounced his case scarlet fever. The medicine prescribed seeming to have no effect, a second doctor was sent for, who after a minute examina tion, said it was typhoid fever. But in treating the disease he was as unsuccessful as his predecessor, so a third was called upon, who with equal confidence began to prescribe for Inflammatory iheumatism. It required a fourth doctor to get the case right, but, in the meantime the suficring boy had swallowed enough different kinds of medicine to kill any ordinary individual. Happily he lived through it all, the assort ment of drugs poured into him seeming too much for the trichinae, and is now in fair way to recover. The Bear Gardens of 'Berne. Berne, Switzerland, is now celebrating the seven hundredth anniversary of its foundation. Berne is so called after the bear which the founder of the city, Berthold V., killed on the spot in 1191. On that ac count bears have been kept at the expense of the city for several centuries past. They had a number on hand iu 1798, when the French captured the place, but for some time after did not have so many, as the lat ter took occasion to stock the Jardin des Plants, Paris, from among the number found in Berne. Since that time, however, the supply has been renewed again, and the bear gardens, which are among the sights of the city; are no doubt being fully enjoyed by the visitors at present crowding it. The Source of the Mississippi. The State Park Commission of Minnesota" a few days ago submitted a report to the Governor of the State in which was de tailed the interesting fact that Lake Itaska cannot any longer be considered the actual source of the Mississippi, as the school boys for years past have been taught to believe. The true source is in a great ultimate reser voir nine miles above Itaska. This makes the Mississippi river proper,from the Gulf of Mexico to the extreme limit of the reser yoir, exactly 2,535 miles long. Henry George's Right Hand Man. Through the death of "William T. Croas dale, of New York, which took place last week, Henry George, the dis tinguished social economist loses his right hand man, although Croasdale has only been a disciple of Henry George for a couple of years, yet, inthattime'he had made such rapid strides for- I'". T. Croasdale. ward as a worker in the latter's cause, that he may readily be considcaed only second to the author of "Progress and Poverty." Mr. Croasdale was born 44 years ago in New Castle, Del. He entered the army while btill a boy, serving in the Seventeenth Del aware Begimeut until the conclusion of the Rebellion. After that experience he be came associate editor of the "Wilmington Commercial, and later founded the Every Evening, a still.flourishing newspaper. He afterward located in Baltimore, founding the Day, a short-lived sheet, during the same time being one of Thomas F. Bay ard's most enthusiastic friends and support ers for the Presidental nomination. A few years later we find him in New York, having just read "Progress and Pov erty" and become an immediate convert to the ideas set forth in that famousbook. Thereafter he was one of George's principal workers, managing his Mayoralty campaign in '86, and for the last couple of years acting as managing editor of the Standard, that beacon light of Single Tax believers. Croasdale was the originator of the National Single Tax Convention which met last year, and was Chairman of the National Commit tee established at the time. He was also nominated for Congress in the Seventh dis trict, New York, by the County Democracy last year, but was defeated by Dunphy on the straight-out ticket The Old Santa Pe Trail. Thirty-five years after Columbus discov-, ered this continent, Alva Nunez Cabeza de Taca sailed from Spain and lauded in Flor ida, or in the region now called by that name. From there be made a wonderful overland journey to the City of Mexico. On that journey, a part of the way he tra versed a route- which ever since has found great favor with travelers to New Mexico. Just think of itl There is a road 800 miles long, rising so imperceptibly for over 600 miles of the distance, as.to seem absolutely level, and without a single bridge from end to end! "What wonderful tales that road could tell of the bearded followers of de Taca, thin and worn by privation and the fatigue of their long journey through a wilderness until then pathless -t the after settlement of the neighborhood by the Spaniards of the com ing of the hardy American pioneer, traders, soldiers, settlers and last but most important of all the railroad engineers. Many an ex ploit of soldiers, scout and Indian warrior has that anoient trail witnessed. Phil Kearney knew it well, for had he not fought over nearly its entire length.- Kit Carson achieved much of his fame in its vicinity and in the early 60's F. X Aubry, a young man, made a famous ride against time oyer tho same route, from Santa Fe to Indepen dence, Mo. And now it is said Colonel Henry Inman is writing a book about the old 'Santa Fe Trail." He writes well who has something to write about, therefore that will be an interesting book, if the oppor tunities offered are only reasonably well covered. "WiLSiE. Jilt' JBija. Wffr 1891. AN OLD , CHRONICLE. Curious Information Gathered From a Book Published in 1765. FACTS ABODT THE STAMP ACT. Hotr the Wig Makers Petitioned the King for a McKinley BilL THE BATTLE FOR A FP.EE PEESS rWBlTTES FOB TIIE DISPATCH, A book published 120 years ago may not be of great interest to an antiquarian, or a bibliomaniac with a passion for rare books and first editions, aud who is willing to go as far in the satisfaction of his taste in this direction as the Marquis of Blandford, who paid over 512,000 for the only copy in the world of the first edition of Boccaccio's "Decameron" known to be perfect. Such a supposed treasure is not for the pleasure of reading, but for the joy of its possession the proud satisfaction of knowing that one has what nobody else can get. A "Breeches Bible" is a source of rapture to such col lectors of rare books, while a man with a craze for china will find equal delight in the peach-blow vase sold not a great while ago for a fortune which, after all, is merely something to look at, but too precious to be used. But while it may require several cen turies to make a book superior or val uable to these dilfetanti, people who have a taste for history will find some yery inter esting reading in one which presents a picture of the good old times in England when George the Third was King, and sub ject unto nim were the colonies of North America. THE SITUATION 126 TEAKS AGO. The Annual Begistcr for 1765, now before us, gives a history of the "Politicks and Lit erature of England" at the time when the stamp act was passed by the English Par liament, through the influence and power of Grenville, and which roused the people in this country to resistance! rebellion and finally revolution. "When this book now only a fragnlent, printed upon coarse paper and discolored with age was published, George "Washington and his wite Martha were living in domestic happiness at Mt. Vernon. On this magnificent estate of 8,000 acres Washington, without a thought perhaps of the coming Bepublie, the War of Independence or the honors of the Presi dency, was living the quiet life of a farmer, while his wife gave her time and attention to her children, her "housekeeping, and the management of her maids. When these an nals were written Thomas Jefferson was studying law and languages, and making love; John Adams had Just been married to his wife Abigail Smith, and was engaged in the study of law. The passage of the stamp act plunged him into politics, and he became the legal adviser of the patriots. While the writer of these records of 1TC5 was congrat ulating himself and his readers upon the re pose which Great Britain was enjoying, and the pleasing prospeot of its continuance, James Otis, of Boston, who was said by Ad ams to be a "flame of fire," was making those eloquent speeches against the arbi trary measures of the British Government which resulted at last in American inde pendence, and Patrick Henry was talking -treason after the same fashion in Virginia. "WHAT GKEAT ME5T 'WErcE DOING. In this same year, 1765, James Watt was making his experiments for the application of steam, and had jnst hit upon the happy idea that filled him with rapture and made his name forever famous. Herschel, with out a thought of coming greatness, was in the music line and playing the organ in a church at Bath, where he was also in great demand for fashionable concerts and ora torios. A look through a telescope turned his mind to study the stars and set the spark to his genius for astronomy. His dis covery of the creat planet which he named Georgium Sidus (Uranu3) in honor of George IIL, brought him a pension and gave him a chance to achieve the fame of one oi me greatest asiroiiuiuers in me world. Voltaire at this time was settled at Ferney engaged in writing his plays and satires and in planting the seeds of the French Kevolution. Tom Paine was teach ing school in London and writing the fore runners of his famous essays, which after ward made such a stir in the colonies. He came to this country through acquaintance with Benjamin Franklin, then also in Eng land as representative of the colonics, using his best efforts before tho Privy Council and the Government for the repeal of the oppressive measures from which the people of this country were suffering. The odious stamp act was passed during this year of 1765. but through the efforts of Franklin, aided -by the intelligence and in fluence of the best minds in the kingdom, it was soon repealed. The editor of this old Eegister, while still hoping the storm would blow over, goes largely into the sub ject and tells in amusing style the stories of how the Americans conducted themselves to show their detestation of the British Ministry and the stamp act and how they abused every officer who attempted in any way to enforce it. CAUTIOK OF THE EDITOB. o The courts were closed, the ports were shut up and even persons of quality sub mitted to have their baus called in church rather than take out a license for a mar riage. The writer evidently had sense enough to see that the Americans had ample cause for their "sullenness" and "refrac toriness," but claims that much as the laws the- resisted injured the colonies they very much more hurt Great Britain herself. He expresses great surprise, rather mildly though and with due deference, that the ministry and a British Privy Council and Parliament should pass such measures, and says that they realized the worst idea that could be formed of them, and argued such a want of reflection as could scarcely be paralleled in the history of the country. He does not allude to tho obstinacy, bigotry, prejudice and hatred that ever dis tinguished George IIL, who egged them on in their idiocy, but speaks of him always as his "Most Gracious Majesty," alludes to his tender and paternal regard for all his people a tenderness maniiested, as history proves, by fleecing them and taxing them to death. The writer of the Eegister is full of the loyalty that ventures on no strictures upon the royal family. The King to him was sacred. Every wrong he did, every manifestation of bitter prejudice and want of common sense was due to his advisers and ministers. The adulation of royalty and nobility, always nauseous to an independ ent mind, is not so striking in these days as in centuries ago, when people were so over awed by the royal presence that they fell down fainting but it is no less fawning and ridiculous. QUOTES Slit KOBEET "WALPOLE. But while not finding fault with the King, the editor of the Eegister quotes Sir Eobert Walpole, as a Minister, whose prudence, sagacity and devotion to the true interests of"nis country 'was always shown by his en couragement of the trade of the American colonies rather than in its repression The first part of this interesting book is devoted to the history of the country and of Europe, and although printed in the old style with "s's" that look like "Ps" to one unaccustomed to the literatnre of this period, and there fore bomewhat difficult to read, it pre sents a most entertaining picture of the manners of the times.- The second part is a "Chronicle" of events during every month of the year includiug the births, marriages and deaths of the nobility. The third part is devoted to biographical sketches of emi nent persons, while other parts are given to liturature and an account of the books pub lished during the year npon all subjects. In the "Chronicles" for January, 1705, it is stated first, that "being New Year's Day an ode written for the occasion by Will iam Whitehead, poet laureate, was per formed before their majesties and the royal family at the Chapel Koyal of St. James. This poet laureate evi dently was not "On fame's eternal beadroll worthie to be fyled," since his tragedies and comedies anil poetry are buried in oblivion. Will Alfred Tenny son, the present poet laureate, be likewise forgotten after a century of time? Or will his be one of the immortal names not bom to die? The "Chronicles" continue: WHAT THE AUTHOR SET DOVTS. Jannary C This being twelfth-day was ob served at court as a high festival. His Maj esty, aftor divlna service, making the cus tomary offerings of gold, frankincense and myrrh. This mean, rapacious sovereign, who so hated William Pitt, the friend of the colo nies, that he called him the "trumpet of sedition" and was ever wishing for his death, posing as head of the church, and "defender of the faith" is an instructive sjght indeed. January 10 The King made a speech in Parliament and announced a marriaRe projected between his sister Caroline Ma tilda (aged H) and the Prince Koyal of Den mark (aged 16). This marriage was arranged for political purposes by the guardians of the poor chil dren pawns upon the chess board of Europe. January 20 A duel was fought between Lord Byron and Mr. Chaworthin which the latter was killed. A fuller account of the aflair is promised inthe biographical portion of the book, but this, sad to say, is missing. This Lord Byron was the poet's great uncle, and this tragic quarrel was the foundation of the feud between the two houses, which pre vented the marriage in after years of Lord Byron and beautiful Mary Chaworthl January 31 in this ancient chronicle is marked by the condemnation in Holland of a book, written by J. J. Eousseau, to be torn and burnt by the common executioner, as containing impious and scandalous 'ex pressions and licentious remarks from Mon taigne. On this day, too, is published the notable fact that Sir William Pynsent left the bulk of his fortune to William Pitt and a legacy of 1,000 to John Wilkes. This to show his admiration for the men who were brave enough to oppose the King and his ministers in their attempts to coerce the American colonists into paying oppressive taxes. APPEAT, FE03I THE TVIO MAKERS. February 11 Tho peruke makers of Lon don visited the King to humbly beseeoh His Majeity to consider their distressed condi tion occasioned by so many people wearing their own hair, and by employing foreigners to cut and drees it, and they begged that he would be pleased In hia goodness and wisdom to grant them relief, and by his own example to rescue them, from distress. The King promised to use every en deavor for their welfare, and as he persisted in wearing a wig himself, and forcing all of his servants to do likewise, and the fashion lasted for many years afterward, it looks as if he kept his word. Imagine how it would be regarded in these days if all of the bar bers should go down to Washington and petition Harrison to set the fashion of shaving, in order to keep them in work and give them good times. As the, "Chronicles" go on to say, the very next day went the hatters to humbly beg and petition for redress on account of hay ing so much of their business engrossed by foreigners, to the ruin of His Majesty's sub jects. From this, it appears, that all the trades in that day wanted special McKinley bills for their protection against foreign competion. February 14 John "Williams, a bookseller in Fleet street, was brought from tho King's bench prison to stand in the pillory in the palace yard, Westminster, for daring to pub lish the "Xorth Briton" in hound volumes. More than 10,000 persons gathered to show sympathy for him and a collection amount ing to more than 2C0 guineas was given to Mr. Williams at the conclusion of his pun ishment. This was one of the incidents in the battle for the freedom of the press in which John Wilkes took the lead. In his paper he had the audacity to critise the ministers and the King, and todenounce their policy. He was imprisoned, convicted, of "false, scandalous and malicious libel." He was expelled from the House of Commons, but like Brad laugh, got back again aud again, as the peo ple were with him. Through the agitation on his case was established the freedom of the press to criticise the Government and even the royal family. THE 3IEECUET IiT HIDrXO. The 18th of February was a cold day for England, since this chronicle of 1765 records that the mercury in the thermometer in the county of Kent 'sank down within the bulb the greatest degree ot" cold ever felt in that conntry. In this same month it is stated that the weavers in Spital Fields had invented a method of quilting in their looms much neater than that done by women in the usual -way. But, says the "Chronicle:" This, however, will only be a changing of hands, and talcing the bread from "the mouths of the poor quitters to put it into the months of the poor weavers, no very wise scheme, till women havo as many ways to get a living as have men. They would have waited even beyond the present day for that state Vf affairs, though women aro beginning to "get there" in great shape. An interesting note, showing the divinity that hedged a King, is given in a reward of 10,000 crowns being offered by the King of Sweden for the discovery of the author of a book taking the position that "a minister or royal oJhcer is not obliged to obey the or ders of the King, when he is persuaded that they are contrary to law." This was held to be highly injurious to His Maj esty's person and government, and the'nu thor if caught, would have had a hot old time without a doubt. In March, it is noted that 12 of the most noted eminent practitioners in Paris appointed by the faculty of physic to ex amine into the advantages of the practice of inoculation for smallpox, reported that the operation has been, and may be attended with tatal effects, and that consequently it should not be tolerated. On the other hand some one had given not ce that 1,200 litres had been donated as a reward to any one who should prove in the space of six years that any person inoculated for the small pox has afterward had the disease in the natural way. This shows that the doctors had fights on theirhands, and were as preju diced then as many of them arc even in these days. , In this "Chronicle" are records of a large number of persons living far above 100 with all their faculties unimpaired, and of all manner of wonders and freaks of nature. It is a pity that half of this old book is gone and that, too, perhaps the entertain ing part, as relating to biography and liter ature. What seems strange is that the original owners of this Annual Eegister of 1705 evidently did not readit through, since some of the pages remained for the present reader to cut. Bessie Beamble. THE NEW LAKE AT SAITOH. How It Is Revolutionizing the Climate in Its Vicinity. The great salt lake at Salton has really had a beneficial effect upon the climate iu this vallcyj says Prof. Wheaton, of Palm Valley, San Diego county, in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. We are some 55 miles away, and since the formation of that lake the temperature has been cooler and there have been cloudy days. Palm Valley, however, is no place where one may expect to wear heavy clothes. At 9 a. m. the thermometer ranges between 100 to 140,and it has been even more. But what is most singular has been the extraordinary heat at Hiverside and Colton. There they have it as high as 116 and even 120. It seems' that the heat haying been driven from here has fled nearer the coast and fiven those people a taste of our weather, t has been wonderfully warm in Los Angeles, too, and the people haye been dis mal in consequence. Stop at the Hollenden, In Cleveland. American and European plans. Su SPEED ON THE SEA. less Bisk on an Ocean Grey Hound Than on the-Slower Steamers. PERFORMANCE OP THE TEUTONIC. Science as Applied to the Requirements of ETery Day Life. EJfGLAXD TIEED 0P IIEE TORPEDOES WRITTEX TOR THE PIsrATCH. The White Star steamship Teutonfo hat smashed the ocean record all to pieces by crossing to this side in 5 days, 16 hours and 31 minutes. She has also made the record for a single day's performance, having cov ered 517 miles the day before she arrived here. The Dest previous record was made by the steamship Majestic, belonging to tno same line, and was 5 days, IS hours and 8 minutes. This remarkaDle performance has raised again the question of the safety of ocean racing. It is now clearly established that the risks incurred by ocean travelers are lessened rather than increased by tno conditions of racing. When a vessel is being pushed to her ut most limit the spirit of rivalry becomes in fectiousandeveryone on board from the cap tain to the stoker, is apt to be eagerly Inter ested in the rosult. Everyone i3 working at high tension, and the work is fall of snap. Everyone is on the alert, and extreme vig ilance is exercised in every department. Fires arc carefully tended and the bearings of the machinery are watched with un usual care to guard against overhea'tingun der the tho tremendous friction to which . they are being subjected. This redoubled yigllanee unquestionably lesseps the dan ger of accidents in the engineer's depart ment, but there is still the liability to col lision to be considered. This danger is never absent from tho mariner's calculations, but it is a well-known fact that a vessel going at a high rate of speed is more perfectly, under tho control of her helm than one steaming at a low rate. In this respect apparent recklessness is often the height of prudence Nervy captains have often saved their ves sels from disaster by throwing the throttles wide open, when slackening of speed wonld .have been fatal. An experienced traveler, who has been in every navigable part of the globe, has stated, during the recent discus sion of this snbject in the daily papers, that he would rather trust his fortunes on board a swift ocean racer than on a vessel which, wallows its way across the Atlantic at a ten knot gait. Stoppers for Chemical Dottles. A surgeon has called attention to the fact that a more convenient form of acid bottle is needed. The ordinary bottle allows drops to run down the outside, and eat off the labels and burn the shelves, and perhaps the hands of the user. A form of bottle 13 sometimes used for essences and oils which, might be adopted with advantage. In the place of the ordinary aperature there is a tube with a lip. On the side opposite the lip there is a groove leading back into the bot tle. The liquid is then poured oat by means of this tube, but any drops that run down the outside run back into the bottle. The whole is then covered by a ground cap. This principle Is employed in the ordinary collodion bottle and in some claret jugs. A newstooperhas been brought out in Eng land which meets some of tho objections to the ordinary form. It is really a glass lid with a pin of glass passing into the neck of tho bottle to keep it from tailing off. The external appearance of the new stoppered bottlo Is thus nearly tho same as usual, but tho stopper is replaced by a much smaller body with straight sides. This form Is said to be quite air-tight, and at the same time to avoid sticking. Virtue in Lemons. A writer who seeks to mitigate tho suffer ing caused by excessively hot weather by describing how to make simple and cooling drinks suitable for tho summer season, inci dentally pays a tribute to the great virtue of the lemon, and a medical authority ha3 promptly written a letter confirming this commendatf 041 of the cooling frait, and urg ing its more frequent use in lieu of strong medicines, whirli often do more harm than good. He says that although most people know the value of o. glass or lemonade be fore breakfast, few know that the benefit is more than doubled by taking another at night also. A better way to fight a bilious attack than powders or quinine, is to take thejnlceof one, two or three lemons in as much water as will make it pleasant to drink without sugar before going to bed. In, the morning on rising, at least half an hour before breakfast, take the juice of one lemon in a tumbler of ordinary or soda water. Fining and Frothms Beer. It is hard for the uninitiated to under stand that the frothing os beer is a matter of any importance. That it is so considered, . however, is shown by a recent patent. It appears that the preparation usually em ployed for imparting the froth or foam, the depth of which enters so largely into the calculations of the saloon keeper, is saponin, in the form of an infusion, or extract of quillai bark; and sucH-preparatlon is made, according to the ordinary methods, by first either concentrating an infusion of quillai bark bv evaporation, so as to produce a strong liquid, or evaporating such infusion to a paste or dryness, and then adding vari ous ingredients to preserve it and to render it convenient in application. The object of the recent patent is to combine in one oper ation ingredients both for fining and froth ing beer and other fermenting beverages, and thereby avoid the use ot extraneous matters, and also tho need for cither con centrating or evaporating to a paste or dry ness the infusion containing saponin used for producing the froth or foam. Sew TTse for Cotton Seed OIL If tho method of charging cotton seed oil with lead, which is said to have been dis covered, is found practicable, the value of that abundant product will be greatly in creased. The process a3 at present defined is of the utmost simplicity. One gallon of puro cotton seed oil is placed in a suitable iron vessel, into which 20 pounds of molten lead are poured in. After a thorough stirring the lead separates into globules, and when, the oil has been poured off, after cooling, there is found to be about 17 pounds of tho lead, the remainder having b;en absorbed, by the oil. On the lead being again melted, nnd the operation repeated to tho fifth pour ingthe amount of lead absorbed boing less at each succeeding pouring t:he total amount of lejid absorbed is about ten pounds. The oil thns charged with the lead is then, used as a paint, being applied in the ordi nary way to metallic surfaces. It is claimed that this liquid, which adheres closely and becomes very hard, is especially, useful in protecting metaU from oxidization or cor rosion. The TJse of Torpedoes. There is Jnst now a strong reaction against the use of torpedoes in England. "Whatever may be the ultimate conclusion with regard to the merits of the torpedoin timeof war.tho recent manuevres have demonstrated that tho type now U3ed in the English navy will havo "to be greatly improved before it can be regarded as formidable element in offensive warnire. It is not unlikely that English practice may be modified by the torpedo of American design and make which has dur ing the past week passed most successfully n series of tests as to speed and efficiency, as already reported in The DisrATca. The inventor of this torpedo is understood to bo about to exhibit its capabilities before the representatives of the principal European governments. Profile of a, Kiver Bed. A cleverly designed instrument by means of which the profile of a river bed can be taken automatically, has been invented by a German engineer. Tho record can be taken from a boat at the rate of3J to 6 miles an hour. The apparatus consists of a curved arm, which is-hinged at its upper extremity, and Is so long that the lower curved portion trails on the bottom of the stream. The deeper the stream the greater the inclina tion of the arm, and hence, by a suitable recording mechanism, the depth can bo automatically registered on a revolving drum, as the boat moves. The instrument has already made a record in practical test ing of 237 miles in ten days. Spectacles In Photograph. A photographic Journal reeommndTery professional photographer to b prepared against the difficulty frequently found ot producing satisfactory portraita of titjers who wear spectacles. To avoid th reflec tion of the glasses, the operator Is ad-rteea to keep a few unglazed spectacle frame ready for such, occasions.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers