'j3r
SsWT
THE " PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, ' WEDNESDAY, ' OCTOBER 28, 1891.
9
fHE ITALIAN OPERA.
Pittsburg, Like the Eest of the
World, Captivated hy
IIASCAGXI'SGEEAT LITTLE OPERA.
Strong Musical Individuality and Its
Well Won Successes.
TKIDMPD OP TAVAKI AND DEL PDEXTE
Pittsburg is now in touch with the whole
musical world. The all-absorbing topic of
the day among the cognoscenti of both hemis
pheres is Mascagni's "Cavalleria Eusti
cana." Now we, too, have heard it.
As the curtain falls upon that startling
epitome of love, lut, jealousy and revenge,
the listener finds himself in what Gilbert,
would call "a complicated state of mind."
Or, rather, state of feeling, for Mascagni
has not given him any time to think. He
has been hurried along breathlessly from
one phase of intense emotion to another,
until suddenly, almost brutally, the action
Is cut off an J he is left sitting there, pro
foundly moved, bewildered.
" That is just where the listeners have been
after the unnumbered performances in
nearly 200 theaters within the brief time
since the tierce little opera first saw the
footlights of the Constanci Theater, Home,
May 17, 1390. And this mighty impulse
was sent forth into the musical world by a
mere nobody a poor, dull-seeming young
chap in the middle ot his twenties, a peas
ant lad who had studied a bit
at the Milan Conservatory and
was running around the country
with itinerant opera troupes. Only 30 days
before the time was up he heard that Son
zogno, the publisher, had offered a prize for
the best one-act opera. Twofriends, as in
experienced as Mascagni himself, took a
drama of Verga's and hastily constructed
the libretto, sending it sheet by sheet to
the eager composer. At the end of the
seven weeks the opera was ready to win the
unanimous verdict of the judges in the com
petition: within a few months afterward it
was the talk of the musical world.
Such a spontaneous, universal success;
such an o'ermastering effect upon the indi
vidual listener cannot be without reason.
But what reason? There's the question.
A COMMONPLACE SUBJECT.
It is not in the subject-matter. Nothing
could be more commonplace. A fellow
loved a girl and, after her marriage to an
other man, took up with a second love, not
wisely. His old flame, a wedded and
wore coquette than ever, wins him
back (mind you, all this has happened
beforehand) and the overture of the
opera is interrupted by his singing a pas
sionate serenade to her behind the curtain.
The opera itself shows only the discovery,
the reproaches and the threats of vengeance
by the injured husband and the discarded
sweetheart, liven the fatal combat takes
place ofl' the stace. Tne people concerned
in this everyday domestic drama are com
mon Sicilian peasants.
Yet those two inexperienced friends of
Mascagni's have done well with this meager
and unpromising material. The very ab
sence of dramatic art .is a strong
point of the book. The story
is disclosed with all simplicity
and directness: it speaks right out for itself
and ncthing interferes to prevent those
strong,elemeutal emotions from laying hold
on the-listeuer. The idea of locating the
entire action on the public square in front
of the church, whence the singing of the
Easter macs is heard from time to time,
gives a background most dramatically in
contrast to the situations upon the stage.
The book alone, however, by no means ac
counts for the phenomenal success of the
niece. Neither does the music alone. That
Is, especially, those portions that can be
singled out for separate concert perform
ance. not vrajr originai.
Mascagni has not yet proven himself a
great melodist. His sustained melodies are
not at all strikingly original, nor are they
always even natural or spontaneous. Take
A1m's entrance song, for example; of mel
odic invention there is none, and its effect
comes from the bizarre rhythm and the
startling modulations. It is much the same
with Turruln' drinking song. The serenade
and Lola's dittv are about the only natural,
fluent melodies in the work, and they are
samples of the native Sicilian folk-song.
These tunes are for the most part carried
strongly, with the accompaniment strictly
subordinate. The prelude and the famous
3nterme770 are of rarely beautiful tone
color, but not remarkably original in design
or inspiration.
Macasni's orchestration can safely be
called his strongest purely musical point.
He i master of all the resources of the mod
ern orchestra. AVhile sometimes he makes
effects simply for their own sake, as a gen
eral tiling he uses his orchestral mastery to
the legitimate end of embodying and ilum
inating the actual dramatic situation.
And here we begin to see the reason of
success. It is not to be found in the
separate portions of the work. You might
as well strive to searcli out the individual
charm of a beautiful face by measuring each
feature. Individuality inheres only in the
whole. And in this opera the book and
score in all their elements are so perfectly
lused into a unit a single, complete, homo
geneous art work that it strikes the
listener as witli one blow. He is con
fronted with a new. independent individu
ality. It is only with effort that he can
discover and analyze the amalgamated
elements.
That is the lesson that Mascagni, in com
mon with his compatriots, Yerdi, Boito and
Ponchielli, has learned from Itichard "Wag
ner. The p'lay is the thing. All the di
verse elements are persistently focused
upon the dramatic situation. The result in
any case is a strong, self-consistent art
work. avoiding superfluities.
And in Mascagni's case having that
terse, pungent book to work with, and him
self avoiding every superfluity as he hur
ries from one situation to another, each
time striking its particular mood wfth
unerring accuracy the result Ms an
art -work so concentrated, of such intense
virility, of such complete individuality, as
to stir one to the depths and yet almost
baffle analysis.
Of the first performance of "Cavalleria
Busticaua" at the Duquesne Theater last
evening, space and time are lacking for a
detailed review.
Mrs Basta-Tavary as Santttzza made a deep
impression, no less by her noble voice and
fervent singing than by the strength and
directness ol her histrionic methods. Her
Pittsburg debut added a bright spray of
laurel to the many she has won on European
stages. Her further appearances this week
will be looked for with unusual interest.
Mr. Del Puente depicted tne injured hus
band in the latter part of the opera very
- dramatically for one whose favorite
roles are more in keeping with
the rollicking side of Alfio't char
acter as at first disclosed. He was in
fine voice and sang superbly. Mr. Bovet
the new tenor, showed email right to as
sume such a role. His voice is thin and
nas-al and his acting mostly poor. Miss
Helen Dudley Campbell, as Lola, did cred
itable work, as did Miss Holmes vi the
minor role of Lvcia. Mr. Behrens jjid, with
his comparatively small orchestra and
chorus, all that such a force could be ex
pected to do in so elaborate a ecore.
lied
C. "W. S.
Millions of Bushels of Wheat a Day.
St. Paul, Oct. 27. Grain Inspector
Clausen returned this morning from his
weekly trip to Duluth, and he reports that
heat is being received at that port at the
rate of 1,000,000 bushels a day, eclipsing all
former records. Mr. Clausen also stated
that the combined receipts at Duluth and
Minneapolis yesterday were 2,000 cars, or
1,.00,000 bushels of the cereal from the
farms of Minnesota and Dakota. The record
has never been equaled.
THE CRIME OF THE AGE.
Chauncey M. Depew Talks of the Tendency
of Pooplo to Gamble.
rWTJTTEN FOB THE DISPATCH. 1
"The big crops of this year," says Chaun
cey M. Depew, "are going to makes times
good fpr two yaars to come, and I think we
will have three or four years of prosperity.
The if ational Exposition will send plenty
of money afloat and for a time the whole
country will boom. More railroads will be
built, new manufactories will be started
and everything will boom on a credit basis
until some financial failure like that of the
Baring's trouble in London will precipitate
matters and we will have a crash which
will make every man who has ventured out
beyond his depths go up the spout.
"The tendency ot the present age is specu
lation or gambling. There seems to me to
be only this one vice that is increasing, and
this is growing with tremendous rapidity
all over the earth, and especially among
civilized nations. I mean by gambling the
betting on results which no knowledge nor
reason .can foresee. "We now bet on every
thing. We put up our money on stocks, on
food products and upon everything that en
ters into our markets. We create artificial
conditions and bet upon them. "We do the
same with real estate, and we now bet in a"
different wav upon our amusements. Our
baseball system has become a lottery, and
betting grows in-these respects and on races
and at cards all over the world. The tele
graph enables us to carry the betting stands
of the Jerome Park tr.ick to San Francisco,
and there is a crowd around the blackboard
in every city betting on the races. In clubs
and private houses, more in the Old "World
than here, games of chance of every kind
with wagers upon results are becoming as
common as the daily dinner, and you will
find a Monte Carlo going' privately on at
every one of the great watering places of
Europe."
THE BODKAN PBICE CLAIM.
Dick Wintersmith's Argument on It Was
Novel, bnt It Did Not Win.
The Hodman Price claim, which passed
the last Congress,- has been practically set
tled, but the Secretary of the Treasury will
not give the claimants the 575,000 which
they thought they would receive. There
was a case in a New Jersey court concerning
this claim which showed that a few hundred
dollars would legally settleit, and the Sec
retary of the Treasury allowed only the lat
ter sum. AVhile the case was before Secre
tary Foster some of the most noted lawyers
of the country appeared in its favor. There
were meu of the caliber of Senator Ed
monds, Bobert G. Ingersoll and others, but
the strongest argument was made by Colonel
Dick "Wintcrsniith, of Kentucky., Colonel
"Wintersmith made his argument in a whis
per. He got cloae up to Secretary Foster
and said:
"Mr. Secretary, these other lawyers have
good arguments, but mine is superior to all.
This case is a ground-hog case with me. "
And with that he slipped a strip of paper
out ot his breast pocket, held it behind his
arm and came closer still to Secretary Fos
ter, whispering: "Mr. Secretary, do you
see that note lor 5200? That note has gone
to protest and if this Price claim isn't set
tled in our favor I don't know where in the
devil I'm going to get the moneyto payit."
Secretary Foster laughed. He sympathized
with "Wintersmith, but he decided the case
against him.
ONE VICTIM FB0M ALIENTOWN.
The Result of a Serious Railroad Wreck In
the Far West
' Albuquerque, X. M.J Oct. 2". Par
ticulars of the acciden', of yesterday morn
ing to the eastboun.i Atlantic and Pacific
passenge- train, which was wrecked and
ditched at Pinereta station, are received to
day. The tender of the engine first jumped
the track and the baggage and express car,
smoker and day coach, the tourist
coach and the pullman sleeper
follow ed. The track was torn up the whole
length of the train and all the coaches ex
cept the day coach tumbled down the em
bankment. Strange to relate, no one was
killed and only three serionsly wounded.
J. M. Williams, the Wells-Fargo express
agent, was brought here with his ncad
bandaged. He received several deep and
ugly gashes on the head and face.
Mrs. Fossclman, of Allentown, Pa., had
several bones in her right arm broken and
her head badly bruised. Mrs. Dorothy'
Eckcrt, of St. Louis, complained of her
breast and is undoubtedly hurt internally.
WHEBE HEALTH IS FOUND.
The Health Resort Association Agrees Con
sumptives Should Go Southwest.
Chicago, Oct. 27. The first public
meeting of the American Health Besort As
sociation, held to-night at the Grand
Pacific Hotel, was largely attended. The
association is composed of leading phys".
cians of the United States, who have un
dertaken the collection of reliable data
concerning climate and effects on certain
diseases, the special merits of various health
resorts and the therapeutic values of min
eral waters.
Dr. A. Petin, of Paris, the accredited
representative of the French Government
to find a suitable climate for consumptives,
reported that one has been discovered at
Las Cruces. ST. M. Drs. J. F. Danter, of
Toronto; "W. P. Roberts, of Boston; "W.
Eggert, of Santa Fe; Seward, of New York,
andHartly, of California, united in stating
that all of New Mexico, "Western Texas,
Southeastern Colorado and Southwestern
Kansas has the health-giving climate pos
sessed by no other land upon earth and of
especial value for persons with weak lungs,
NOT A STBICT SAEBATAEIAN.
Dlshop Grafton Delieves After Church,
Healthful Recreation Is in Order.
Philadelphia, Oct. .27. Right Jlev.
Bishop Grafton, of the Episcopal Dioese
of Fond du Lac, Wis., who arrived here
yesteVdiy to take part in services attending
the consecration of Rev. Dr. Nicholson as
the Bishop of Milwaukee, was interviewed
to-night in regard to the qnestion of open
ing the World's Fair on Sunday. He said:
"I am certainly in favor of having the
Exposition open on Sunday, or at least
that part of it that includes the art and
kindred displays. The doors should be
open, Eay, about noon, when all those who
wished to attend church services have done
so. After one has properly observed his
duties cf the Sabbath there is impossible
reason why he should not devote the re
mainder oi the day to healthful recreation.
That is real benefit to man, woman and
child. Also, I wonldsuggestthatrestaurants
should remain open in order that refresh
ments should be served. I think that keep
ing the Fair open on Sundays would draw
to it a great deal of saloon and theater
patronage. It is foolishness to attempt to
do that which our intellect opposes and
which was not literally intended.
Cheap Amusements in Herlin.
At the Royal Opera Hofise in Berlin one
may hear all the best operas, in a good
seat, for 50 cents, or 75 cents at the most.
The Royal Theater is equally cheap. At
the other theaters the prices are, of course,
somewhat higher. But $1 at all of them is
at least as good as 51 SO in the United
States. At the Zoological Garden you can
heir any day a grand military concert by
two bands for 25 cents the music continu
ing with an intermission of only half an
hour, from 4 o'clock until 10 o'clock l m.
The cheapness of amusements of a high
class in Berlin Is one of the wonders of the
city.
The Mfcter Racket.
New York Herald.
White What did Joblots say when Jessie
said she would be a sister to him?
Greene He said tfiat was satisfactory tp
him provided they were to share alike under
the old man's will.
POLITICS AND TRADE,
Ex-President Cleveland Addresses a
Business Men's Meeting
OXSTATE AND NATIONAL ISSUES.
More Men of Affairs 'Should Enter
Country's Service.
Their
HE TOUCHES LIGHTLY ON TAJIMANT
New York, Oct. 27. A great mass meet
ing of Democratic business men was the
feature of the campaign in this city to
night, at which the utmost enthusiasm was
.manifested. A number of speeches were
made, but the one most loudly applauded
was by ex-President Cleveland, who spoke
as follows:
It must be confessed that here and in
other parts of the country those engaged in
business pursuits hare kept too much aloof
from public affairs, and have too generally
acted on the theory that neither their duty
as citizens nor their personal interests re
quired of them any habitual participation
in political movements. This indifference
and inactivity have resulted in a loss to our
public service. I am firmly of the hollof
that if a few business men could be substi
tuted for professional men in official places
the people would positively gain by the ex
change. And it is strange to mo that our business
men have not been quicker to see that their
neglect of political duty is a constant dan
ger to their personal and especial intorests.
LEGISLATION-MAT SPOIL ALL.
They may labor ana plan in their count
ing houses or in their exchanges, but in the
meantime laws may be passed by those ig
norant of their business bearings which in
their operation will counteract all this labor
and defeat all this planning.
The city of Xe w York, as the center ol all
that makes ours the "Empire State," and as
the great heart from which life currents
flow to all parts of tho country, cannot bo
indifferent to the questions, both State and
national, whicn have relation to the State
campaign now nearly closed. Much has
been said about the topics which should be
discussed in the prosecution of this cam
paign. It has been contended that the can
vass should be confined to State issues, and
it has been claimed that national issues
should be most prominently considered. I
conceive tho truth to be that both are
proper subjects of discussion at this time,
and In tho presence of this assemblage,
called together to consider the business
features of the contest, I am impiessed with
the fact that the best test to employ by way
of discovering the legitimacy ot any topic
In the pending campaien, is to inquire
whether it is connected with the good of
the country and with the business of the
cltynnd State, and whether it will be at all
influenced by the results of the canvass.
EFrECT ON NATIONAL POLITICS.
Can anyone doubt that the political verdict
which the people of New York will give in
Xovember next will affect her position in
the general National engagement which will
take place one year hence? In this view the
proper adjustment of the tariff, which con
cerns materially, not only all our pooplo but
the commerce in and the business of our
city, should bo discussed. This and the
question of sound currency cannot bo sep
arated from the business interests -of our
State, and they should be put before our
people now for tho purpose of inviting their
thought and settling their opinions.
Applying this same test, it is entirely plain
that un economical administration of btate
affairs and the numerous othersubjects hav
ing reference to a Just,honestaud beneficent
State government are in a business sense
legitimate and important. On all these
questions the New York Democracy Is right,
and we are willing and anxfous to discuss
them in any place and at any time; but our
opponent, apparently seeming to avoid the
discussion of subjects legitimate to the can
vass and aflectiug the business of our city
and State, and exhibiting such weakness
and fear as certainly ought not f,o escape
notice, are shiieking throughom the State
tho demerits and dangerous proclivities of
n certain political organization whoje mem
bers support the principles and candidates
of the Democratic partj
BELITTLES THE SITUATION.
It would be quite easy to show that, even
if all they allege against this organization
were ti ue, the perils our opponents present
to the people are baseless and absurd; but it
seems to me the argument of such a ques
tion belittles an important situation.
Every man knows, or ought to satisfy him
self, whether the principles and policy pre
sented to the people by the Deniociatlc
party are such as he approves.. If thovaie,
certainly his duty as a citizen obliges" him
to indorse them. Every man ought to satisfy
himself whether the candidates ot the Dem
ocratic paity are men of such character and
ability that "he is willing to trust them in the
administration of his Stat? Government. If
he believes they are he should not withold
his support from them upon any fiivolous
or irrelevant pretext-..
The exeiciseof the right of suffrage is a
a serious business and a man's vote ought to
express his opinion on tho questions at issue.
This it utteily fails to do if the voter listens
to the ravings of our opponents and allows
his vote merely to recoid the extent to
which he has fielded to the misleading and
'cunningly-devised appeals to his prejudice
made in behalf of a desperate and dis
credited minoiity. Such a vote does not in
fluence in the least tho real settlement of
any of the weighty matters of policy and
principles, upon, which the people are called
to pronounce judgment.
THE PENALTY OP DISLOYALTY.
If enough such votes should be given to
cause a false verdict in the state, those who
contribute to that result and thus become
disloyal to their beliefs, would find oveiy
tliing but satisfaction in their self reproach
and in their senso of degradation which
would follow the unconcealed attempt of
those paitisans who had duped them for the
puipose of thus gaining a party advantage
not otherwise possible.
Mr. Cleveland closed with a reference to
ihe purity of Mr. Flower's .business career
and expressed approval of the other candi
dates. CAN'T GET DBUNK IN GERMANY.
The Beer Is Too Pare and Wholesome and
That's AH They Brink.
I have now spent 'two weeks in Berlin
writes Edmund Hudson to the Boston
Herald, and I have not seen a drunken man.
The sobriety of the people is not astonishing-.
Everybody and his wife and children
drink beer, and plenty of it. There are
500,000 people, to say the least, every even
ing in tne beer and coflee houses of Berlin.
They are the social meeting-houses of the
people, and much of what w e know as home
life is spent there.
Such a thing as getting intoxicated on
Berlin or Munich beer is unknown impos
sible. The beer is good and pure. The last
man who was caught adulterating his beer
in this country was sent to prison for 14
years. "Whisky is an unknown beverage.
Cognac is drunk to limited extent The
liquors on which the average Frenchman
stupefies himself in Paris are almost un
known. The Germans are a sober people,
and the more beer they drink the soberer
they seem to become.
Women Approve Gambling.
"The condition of the public sentiment on
gambling," says Chauncy M. Depew, "is
illustrated by a conversation I had while
abroad this summer with a lady widely
known for her charities and for the support
which she gives both personally and finan
cially to all religious and benevolent work.
It was in a large aompany, and the conversa
tion had turned on what were good invest
ments, whereupon this lady said that the
best thing she lfad were some shares in the
gambling house in Monte Carlo. She said
these paid her 25 per cent, and advised her
friends to invest in them, as even at the
high rate at which the stock was then sell
ing it w ould pay 12 per cent net, and that
was better than the best Americans."
TireU of It.
Chicago Tribune.3
Mamma (raising the slipper) Willie, my
son
Willie (across the maternal knee) Spank
away, mamma, but don't give 'me that old
gag about its hurtin' you worse'n it hurts
me.
THE TALKEB OF THE CBNTUBi".
Gladstone Always Has Hearers A Mixture
That Clears His Voice.
New York Telegram. J
Mr. "Wilson R. Davis is a wealthy traveler
from London, who is over here for a pleas
ure jaunt and stopping at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel. Speaking last night about the num
ber of prominent men who had recently
died, he said:
"Gladstone is the only real leader we
have left, and the way the Grand Old Man
holds his own is simply marvelous. Here
you see men in the'prime of life cut down,
while Gladstone, like one of the ragged
oaks of Hawarden, stands erect ready to
meet any storm that may come. His extra
ordinary physical powers, as well as his
vivacity and enthusiasm, are best seen
when he is making a speech in the House of
Commons. He is always dressed in even
ing clothes, with a flower in his button
hole and wearing a neat little black tie.
By the way, Mr. Gladstone, never speaks
now without a little bottle on the dispatch
box before him. The bottle contains a
kind of flip prepared especially for him by
Mrs. Gladstone, and whenever his voice
gets slightly husky a draught gives it oil its
clearness and deep intonations again, so
that when he closes his address the echo is
like a mighty bellTesounding through the
house.
"Gladstone is the greatest talker of the
century. He is .always surrounded by a
crowd "of ladies and gentlemen, even in a
drawing room. He will listen to the great
est bore who poses as an authority with the
same attention he would giye the most
learned professor."
FEEDING A PTJMPKHT.
It Can Be Made to Drink a Can of Milk
After Cut From tho Vine.
St. Nicholas.
Johnny had found an enormous pumpkin
in his father's truck patch and he showed
it to neighbor Sam.
"A pretty sizable pumpkin," said Sam,
"but it ought to grow a bit bigger. I
should feed it-'"
"Feed it!" exclaimed Johnny. "Do
pumpkins ever eat?"
"To be sure they do they are master
hands to drink milk, as I'll show you, if
you'll fetch me some in a large-mouthed
bottle."
Away ran Johnny, who soon returned
with a glass jar of rich creamy milk.
Farmer Sam then cut off the end of the
stalk or large vine on which the pumpkin
grew, and placed the remaining part in the
milk. "There, now," he said; "you'll see
-that milk disappear in almost no time, and
you must mind and keep the jar well
fille'd."
Johnny followed directions faithfnlly,
and in a short time he was well rewarded.
The millgwas swallowed, and the pumpkin
thrived until no finer, larger specimen had
ever been seen in the country.
A NEW BL00MNG P1AHT.
Gigantic Machinery Now Being Set Up on
the Schuylkill's Banks.
New York Post. J
Pennsylvania goes on inventing labor
saying machinery. The last achievement
in this line is a "blooming" plant, which is
now being constructed on the Schuylkill, op
posite Manayunk, for the Pencoyd Iron
Company. The operation known as
"blooming" consists in reducing ingots to
rolls as they leave the furnacs. This was
formerly done with steam hammers, and
the work required the labor of a largi num
ber of men. A force of twelve men will
be enough to complete the "blooming" by
the new process, the machinery of which is
hydraulic.
The mill will be equipped with four ver
tical furnaces and two horizontal engines of
2,000 horso power, connected with a single
shaft. Two solid-steel gears, four feet and
eight inches in diameter, worked by an
electric crane on-an elevated railroad, will
receive the great mas of steel, and it is
said that one man will4 be able by this
means to handle an ingot of ten tons.
Much of the machinery is entirely new.
The rolls used for rolling the large ingots
after they have come from the furnace
weigh twelve tons, and by the electric crane
it will be possible to lift them out and re
place them by another set in two hours;.
Gas will bo the fuel used.
H0ESE AND GBEYHOTJND.
A
friendship That Served tho Bo;
Very
Well in an Hour of Trouble.
A fine hnnter had formed a friendship
with a handsome greyhound that slept in a
stable with him and generally ran alongside
when the horse was taken out for exercise,
says the Philadelphia Times. "When the
greyhound went with his master in his
walks,thehorsewouldlook over his shoulder
and neigh in a manner that plainly said,
"Let me go also;" and when the dog re
turned he was received with a whinny of
welcome. He would lick the horse's nose,
and in return the horse would scratch his
back with his teeth.
On one occasion the groom had, as usual,
taken the horse for exercise, followed by the
greyhound, when a savage dog attacked the
latter and bore him to the ground. The
horse, seeing this, threw hackhis ears, and
breaking from the groom rushed at the
strange dog, seized him by the back with
his teeth, speedily makiiifj him quit his
hold, and shook him till a ptece'of his skin
gave way. The offender, getting on his feet,
scampered off, glad to escape from a foe that
could punish him so severely.
CHRYSANTHEMUMS OF AMERICA.
Tlio Claim That We Can Compete With the
XSeautics From Japan.
New York Post.
Mr. G. W. Childs, in the Philadelphia
Ledger, is authority for the statement that
American gardeners are now producing as
fine chrysapthemums as those of Japan,
which will scarcely be credited by Sir Ed
win Arnold, who has sojourned so long in
that country and expatiated on its floral
beauties. The Pennsylvania Horticultural
Society will certainly try to make Mr.
Child's assertion good in the exhibition soon
to be held in Philadelphia.
Probably the finest specimen of this
flower to be found in America to-day is a
product of the slip sent from Japan to Mrs.
Alpheus Hardy, of Boston, and named after
that lady. The wonder is that Americans
should excel in the cultivation of this flower
after a comparatively few years of familiar
ity with it. The chrysanthemum did not
become generally known here until 18G2,
when a number of varieties were introduced
from Japan. We have now upwards of
2,000 of them. They have almost sup
planted the rose in the favor of rich and
poor alike.
FIGHTING GYPST-IIOIHS.
W"ht a Trench Professor's Mishap Cost the
State of Massachusetts.
A commission of gypsy-moth extermina
tors, acting at the expense of Massachusetts
under legislative authority, has been at
word in the vicinity of Boston. The State
lias already spent 100,000 in its war upon
this insect pest, which in more than one
suburb has strippedthe trees almost entirely
of foliage. The ravages were worse in Mid
dlesex County than anywhere else, and
billions of eggs were there destroyed. In
deed, the nuisance had become so offensive
that the Fire Department was frequently
called out to wash moths off the trees and
afterwards crushed them with rollers.
This winter the superintendent of the
work of aunihilation will keep fifty men
employed at marking trees with the fatal
white "circle. Twenty-one years ago the
gypsy-motli" was unknown in Massachusetts.
About that time a French professor who
brought some eggs over for a natural-history
collection, allowed them, it is said to blow
out of a window. Wence all tl troble
SUITS FOR MILLIONS.
Titles to Valuable Property in Chi
cago and Other Places
TO BE ATTACKED IN U. S. COURTS.
Heirs
of lieutenant I. T. Jamison iClaim
Thej.Were Done Up, and
DEMAND THEIR ANCESTOR'S ESTATES
f SPECIAL TELEGBAM TO THE DISPATCH.
Chicago, Oct. 27. To-morrow the ini
tial suit by the heirs of Lieutenant Louis
T. Jamison to recover property in the heart
of Chicago, Milwaukee and other cities in
Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, to the
value of 5150,000,000, will be begun in the
United States Circuit Court for this dis
trict. The papers are all in readiness, and
the first suit will be the signalfor the com
mencement of similar actions at law in the
"Wisconsin and Michigan courts. The pres
ent holders of the property are wealthy New
York, Chicago aud Milwaukee capitalists.
The facts in this strange case are given by
James McCartney, who is the attorney for
the heirs, and who wa3 Attorney General
for Illinois from 1880 to 1885. Lieutenant
Louis T. Jamison, of the regular army, com
manded the garrison at Fort Dearborn, Chi
cago, in 1835 and 1836. Jamison invested a
great deal of money in land, which was then
very cheap. In one of his larid deals he
used ?8,000 oi Government money. In 1837
38 hard times came On, and he found him
self with a large amount of unsalable prop
erty on hand, no money, and 58,000 due the
Government
HIS SnOBTAGE MADE. GOOD.
The fact that he was a defaulter was dis
covered by the Government, and he was dis
missed from the service. He having bor
rowed enough money to make the shortage
good, he was not prosecuted. During his
trouble he conveyed the titles to land to
his father-in-law, John Halliday, agent of
the American Fur Company at Sault Ste.
Marie.
Soon after the Mexican war, in which he
served with distinction, Jamison died, and
in 1812 Halliday died. Shortly after the
civil war a prominent, real estate man of
Chicago sent an agent to the heirs of Halli
day in Texas and secured from them what
they thought was a power of attorney, but
which turned out to be a deed releasing
their claims. On this deed, it is claimed,
rests the only title of the present holders of
the property.
McCartney has what purports to be the
original deeds to the land, which include'
2,000 acres in Chicago, not one of which is
worth less than 55,000 an acre, and much of
it is worth 525,000 an acre. There is also
a large amount of property in the original
town of Chicago, east of tlie river, and six
lots, of B0 feet each, on Madison street, be
ing worth 57,000 per front foot
THE PBOPEBTY IN OTHER PLACES.
In addition, there are 13,000 acres of farm
ing landln Illinois and several large tracts in
Milwaukee, Sheboygan and Manitowoc,
Michigan CityInd., Kewaukee, Wis., and
otner places, xne property in Milwaukee
is especially valuable. It is located in
Sherman's addition to the original town of
Milwaukee, on the west side of the river,
between Walnut and Lloyd streets. Two
of the lots are diagonally across from the
Evening irfca(C building, which is seven
stories in height, and the land is easily
worth 54,000 a front foot.
The plaintiffs in the suit, the heirs, are
Bruno Durst, John S. Durst, Horatio Durst,
John Durst, Bobert D. Iron and Marcella
Iron the two last named being minors, and
bringing suit by their legal guardians;
James E. Iron, John M. Blake, John E
Moss, Louis Hopkins, John A. Hopkins,
Sim Bateman and Ella Batcman are minors,
their guardians being A. E. Bateman aud
Bobert L. Summerlin. All these plaintiffs
are residents of Texas. Another of the heirs'
is W. Gussett, a wealthy banker in Corpus
Christi, Tex., and he is the.only wealthy
heir among the descendants bf Halliday, the
balance being farmers in only moderate cir
cumstances. Gussett it is who is pushing
the'litigation.
STBEET CABS OF BERLIN.
Tho Platforms Are So Comfortable That
Women Prefer to Stand on Them.
When I first began to ride in the street
cars of Berlin, says Edmund Hudson in the
Boston Herald, I thought them rather heavy
and clumsy affairs, not so good as our own.
But soon I began to like them better.
Their best feature is the length of the
platforms double that of our cars, so that
hal a dozen peopls can stand there
and not get in tho way of the
driver or conductor. The entrance is close
to the body of the car. and there is'a curved
railing around the corners at the ends of the
platform, which form a comfortable protec
tion to tnose wno preier to stanu mere, xne
result of this is that women stand on the
platforms as much as men do; indeed, thdy
seem to prefer it. Every day I see elegantly
dressed ladies standing on the platform of
the cars that pass near the Ivaiserhof, and
often the seats inside are not all occupied.
When a man and his wife .and a
lighted cigar get aboard a car altogctherthe
wife goes out and stands on tha front plat
form with the husband and the cigar. The
conductors give tickets for your money, as
in all other continental cities, which is a
good and necessary arrangement because
they don't charge you as much for riding a
quarter of a mile as for three miles. You
can pay first for the shorter distance, and, if
you elect to go further, your ticket saves
you from paying the full fare over again.
The cars are vtrv clean, and they seem to be
patronized by all classes of people.
CHASED THE CASH BAIL.
The Old Farmer nad an Idea That He Was
Being Dnnkoed by It.
BlnRhamton Herald.
Some amusement was created in a dry-
goods store in this city the other day when a
farmer came in to make a purchase. He
bought some calico, and when the clerk
placed the S3 bill the farmer gave him in the
oash ball and sent it spinning toward the
cashier's desk, a funny sight was witnessed.
Our rural friend evidently thought that
was the last he would ever see of his bill
unless he moved lively, which lie didr keep
ing bis eyes fixed on the ball. He collided
with an old lady, fell over one of the seats,
regained his feet and kept right on until he
arrived at the cashier's desk.
"By gosh! I want my money," he gasped,
"I've" read too much about bnnko steerers to
lose my money, and I'll have my change if I
clean out the whole sheebang."
He was finally pacified, and departed amid
the broad smiles of the ,clerks and customers
in the store. As he went out he muttered:
"If I don't come to the city very often,
them swindlers can't catch me with their
sawdust games."
-
Some Clerical Slips.
A clergyman in England, in an earnest
address to his parishoners advocating the
establishment of a cemetery, asked them to
consider the "deplorable condition of 30,
000 Englishmen ljying without Christian
burial." This suggests another clerical
slip, says an exchange. "When do you ex
pect -tosee Deacon Smith again?" a gentle
man asked a clergyman. "Never," replied
the -reverned gentleman, solemnly, "tfie
deacon is in Heaven."
A Thought on Free Sngar.
Boston Herald.
What a pity we can't eat sugar straight ! j
It is the only commodity in housekeeping
thai is cheap, but, with the usual cussed
ness of inanimate objects, it will not be con
sumed saye in most expensive partnerships.
If beef nd mutton were only sugar I &
LONDON'S FACE ABLTITIONIST.
She Quickly Picked Tip a Business Clear
ing Ten Thousand a Year.
Philadelphia Times.
At present there is but one lady face-ab-lutionist
in London, and she began timidly
in a remote corner of the metropolis to let a
few friends know that she had a system by
which beauty could be preserved for ever,
and wrinkles (or that much more intellec
tual word, thought-creases) gently rubbed
away never to return. Such a fascinating
light was too bright to be hidden under a
bushel. For the sake of society it seemed
wicked to conceal her secret. Urged, there-
rfore, by the constantly increasing number of
applications for her remedy, she took hand
some rooms in a handsome quarter, and
boldly announced her new profession. Her
success was marvelous. For1 51 827 shil
lings 6 pence in English money old or
young could be made beautiful! During the
first tnree months the face-ablutionist coined
at the rate of 2, 000 a year. As the busi
ness developed she took ladies to train as
assistants. ,
The face-ablutioning lasts but 15 minutes.
After being enveloped in the conventional
white sheet the fair visage is first submitted
to a rapid sponging irom a sponge dipped
in the hottest water. This is to break and
crack the outer skin of the face; for the
theory is that wrinkles are only on the sur
face, and that if the first skin "is removed
the one underneath will be smooth and
even. Then comes a smearing with glycer
ine, a vigorous massaging of the physiog
nomy till the friction seems to have set every
pore in feverish action, more- hot water
more face emollients, more scrubbing (less
vigorous this time), some powder, some
scent and you rise, feeling hot and uncom
fortable, but with the satisfaction that you
have done your duty valiantly and will be
rewarded for it.
F0INTEBS FOB WANAMAKEB.
How the PostotHce Department of
Ger-
many Manages Its Business. '
I must say that the Berlin postoffice can
teach Mr. Wanamaker a trick or two that
it would be for his advantage to learn, says
Edmund Hudson in, the Boston Herald. I
have been much interested in certain box
like yellow carts, set between four wheels
like the American herdics, and tall enough
for a man to stand up inside. The bear the
name of the imperial postoffice, one of the
principal branches of which is located just
behind the Ivaiserhof. Last night I had an
opportunity to see what the yellow cart is
used for. There is a door in the rear, and
on each side a set of good sized boxes; more
than 200 in all. The mail matter too bulky
for the carriers to transport to the different
city stations is taken into the cart in
baskets, and while it is rapidly driven about
the city the official inside distributes it. It
is a little postoffice on wheels, and by the
aid of it ihe Berlin city delivery is marvel
lously prompt and efficient.
Such a wagon is naturally much more
practicable on the smooth streets of Berlin
than it would be in New York or Boston,
but not all the streets of this city are paved
with asphalt, and the yellow wagon goes to
all parts of Berlin. What makes it all the
more important is that the whole
small parcel business that we give
to tho express companies in the
United States is done by the post
which letters are deposited are not attached
to lamp-posts they are too big for that.
They are fixed on the walls of the houses,
and one is to be found on every block. As
for tho branch postoffices, they are more nu
merous than apothecary shops in American
cities. The service is wonderfully complete
and in all respects efficient.
A HAWAIIAN LAKE.
Its Waters Are More Salt Than Those of the
Dead Sea.
Hawaiian News.
A wonderful lake, named Alia Pakai, has
been discovered on the Hawaiian Islands.
Its waters aro mora salt than those of the
Dead Sea. Samples of the waters have been
recently analyzed in the labor5toty of'Oahu
College, with results of popular as well as
scientific interest. The water, which in dry
weather deposits salt abundantly, is, of
course, satuated with brine, yet it differs
essentially from the brine obtained by
evaporation of ordinary sea water. The
difference is strikingly bhown by merely
mixing two clear Aulas, when a copious
deposit Immediately forms of sulphate of
lime, so that the mixture almost solidifies.
The sea water contains sulphate of maz-
ncsia in abundance, but scarcely any lime,
while tho salt lake water contains chloride
of calcium, lime salt, with only a trace of
sulphate, in composition. The water of Alia
Pakai approaches closely to that of the
Dead Sea. Analysis shows that it contains
at present moie saline matter than has ever
been reported, so far as knowledge goes;
from the Dead Sea. The specific gravity of
the water, even at a temperature of 80
Fahrenheit, is 1.SXS; at standard temperatuie
it would, of course, bo higher. The water
of tho Dead Sea is considerably lighter, its
specific gravity having been found by differ
ent ohservutoru to range from 1.13 (Lynch)
to 1.21 (Lavoisier). The most remarkable
peculianty of the water is the excessive
quantity of lime it carries. This should
give it peculiar medical virtues, the water
to be taken, of course, like that of strong
lime springs, only after dilution.
Hotel 9Ie Gentlo Stranger.
London Punch.
Mrs. Wpeelerand Mrs. Custer, two literary
ladies of New York, are startin-r a hotel for
women only.
Says Mrs. Custer to Mrs. Wheeler,
"I propose we put out a 'piomoting' feeler!"
Says Mrs. Wheeler to Mrs. Custer,
"Monopolist males we shall gieatly fluster:
'Hotel it not in Gatli! at prosent
Till we have made things nice and pleasant.
First rule 'No rules!' Oil, of course male
nobdies
Will snigger at once, the superior bodies!
But Oscar Wilde must 'pull up his socks,
Ere he'll equal women at paradox. i
What I mean is this, in our 'Women's Hotel,'
We'll have no such thing as the 'Curfew
Bell,'
And no fixed hour for the cry 'Out lights!'
We will give free way to true 'Woman's
Kights.
Which are to thump, strum, tap, twirl, trill,
From morn till night at her own sweet will,
That's why we cherish, desnite male snleen.
Typewriter, piano and sewing machine!
The 'woodnecker tapping' is indeed not in it
With Emancipate
v
oman no, not for a
minute!
Our hotel will be, when we've won the battle,
'The Paradise of unlimited rattle,'
'The Itealm of the Spindle,' 'the Home of tho
Duster!' "
Says Mrs. Wheeler to Mrs. Custer,
"taught tabooed save Man!" "So comes
Peace the Healer!''
Says Mrs. Custer to Mrs. Wheeler.
Punch hopes their hotel may .flourish only,
Spots "Iteserved lor Ladies" are often
lonely! A DITTO POEM.
Like a horse, without a bridle,
" " cart " " whe6l,
" "love " "nidol,
" "hne " "reel,
" "babe " "mother,
" "home " "fire,
" "boat " "rudder,
" " ohurch " " spire,
" "stick " "candle,
" "shoe " -"sole,
"knifo " "handle,
" "fox " "hole,
" "do" " "master,
" "ship " "sail,
" "plough " "holder,
" "kite " "tail,
" "gnard " "weapon,
" "court " "strlie,
" "life " "motive,
Is "man " "wife.
James 11. Wiggin, in Yankee Blade.
A Panther Story Trom India.
A curious incident is reported from India.
A dead man, a dead dog and a live panther
were all found together in a dry well. At
night the panther had evidently chased the
dog into the well and fallen in himself.
Hearing the dog howling, the man, know
ing nothing of the panther, had probably
gone to help the dog, -and the panther
killed both. In the morning the- discovery
was made. A noosed rope was let down
and slipped over the panther, which was
then .hauled tb the mouth of the well and
shot by a policeman.
STRUCK K THE MET.
LientenAnt Cowles Tells His Story of
the Wreck of the Despatch. .
IT WAS INDEED A SORRY SIGHT.
Eow the Course of the Yessel Came to Ba
Changed Before Day.
THE ESCAPE PK0M THE SES'KKfG BOAT
Washington, Oct 27. Lieutenant
Cowles, 'of the wrecked Despatch, to-day
read a statement before the court of inquiry
that is trying him for the loss of the boat, of
what happened on board. He says: "At
7:04 p. jr. of October 9 we passed close to
Five Fathoms bank light, and set course
from there S. 24 "W. Wrote night orders
and tent them to the officer of the deck in
person. I was up and about some time
after that and saw Fenwick lightship and a
schooner we were clearing. I went to my
forward cabin and turned in to get some
much needed rest, for I had been on deck
since daylight and had been a little anxious
about the weather considering the well
known condition, of the vessel and the tima
of the year, but the appearances were no
more threatening than before and the sunset
bad been fine if a little brassy. I expected
to be called for a winter quarter or when
anything was seen (as in night orders), and
if winter quarters were not seen I had set a
safe course for the night My bunk is
within a few feet of the helmsman and
officer ot the day.
AWAKENED BY THE SHIP STBIKEfG.
"I was awakened at about 250 A. M. by
the ship striking something heavily. My
first idea was that of a collision, as I knew
where my course would take me, but as I
was hurrying on deck the vessel striking a
second time assured me of the fact that it
was the bottom. I found the ship backing.
I saw a red light on the starboard beam,
and I said to Lieutenant Mulligan, who had
the deck:
" 'Why was I not called?'
" 'I was just going to send for you, be
cause I was changing course from winter
quarter down, for I was sure this was win
ter quarter light, and the Quartermaster
said he could see the hull and spars through
the glass.' he replied.
'The red light turned out to be Assa
teague. I saw breakers astern and soon all
about. I asked Mr. Noel, who soon came
on deck, 'What did you change the course
for?'
"He replied, 'Because I was sure that
light was the winter quarter shoal light; it
shows red.'
"I asked, 'How many did von head her
in?'
"He replied. 'To 35 W. and S. 40, be
cause the light was- 3 points on the bow,
and I thought it was winter quarter, and
that we had been-set out by tide.
NOT MUCH TIME FOE WORDS.
"Onr words were few, for the ship was in
Eeril, and I had to see to her. All hands
ad landed about 11 A. ai., and just in time,
fo she then laid over on herport bilge, and
her port gangway was full ofwater. I then
roitde a final inspection of the ship alone,
going down into the ward room, where the
water was rising fast, and, crawling through
a hole cut in the ward room forward
bulkhead, I passed through the engine room
and into 'the fire room, where the
water was putting out the furnace
fire. I the'h visited the berth
deck and found the forehold fnll of water.
I.then went into the cabin, which had been
flooded again and again by the vessel back
ing into broken water, and it was a com
plete wreck. I left the colors and pennant
flying. It was a sad sight. I lowered my
self over the starboard "side abaft the fore
rigging into the boat, Lieutenant Mulligan,
who had done a hard night's work, immedi
ately preceding me, all other officers and
men having left the ship."
When Lieutenant Cowles finished tho
reading of the narrative the officers and men
were asked, one by one, if they had objec
tions to make to the Commander's state
ment, or anything to lay to the charge of -any
officer or man on the yessel. In eaeh "
case the reply was in the negative.
SECEETABY FOSTEB'S CIGABS.
They Are of Fine Quality ana He Smokes
Nearly All tlie'TIme.
Washington Post.
Secretary Foster comes in full of life,
puffing away at a cigar. He sits there all
day puffing away at cigars and blowing
clouds of smoke. A cigar is his fidu3
Achates, and as cigars go, those Mr. Foster
smokes are worthy to hold 'that relation to
any one. They are finer than silk, are
bought in New York by the quantity, and
all Foster has to do is "to draw a check for
them and then strike the matches.
He smoke3 them all up too. When he is
discussing the most important affairs he
draws a long whiff, sends the smoke over
his head in a halo, deliberately plants it
between his second ami third digits, and in
spects both ends of it with an interest that
is perfectly tantalizing to the caller, who
has deposited his smoking weed on the
other side of the secretary's door. He
never fails, however, to give up the cigar
when his caller is a woman.
Plenty of Amateur Detectives.
That the desire to be. a detective is strong
in the American breast ia evidenced by cer
tain letters received every day by Secretary
Foster of the Treasury. They contain
green goods circulars and the sender always
describes himself as an honest man. More
over he thinks he has a clew to the gang,
and if Mr. Foster will only say the word he
will at once proceed to break up the mem
bers forever. Needless to- say tie Secretary
isn't engaging amateur detectives.
He Knew His Business.
Harper's Bazar.
For Callers "Mr. Upholsterer, I would
like to buy a nice reception chair. . Some
thing new."
"Wehaxejust the thing, madam. Hers
it is. Made especially for our trade. Take
a seat on it."
"Dear me! Why this chair is awful! I
couldn't sit on it five minutes. I never sat
on such an uncomfortable thimj in my life!"
"Exactly,- madam. That is just the idea.
You see, it is made for callers."
Deceived in Her.
Philadelphia Times.
"Yon promised me," objected the wife,
poutingly, "that when we were married you
would give up drinking and stay at home
nights. And yet here "
"Maria," he interrupted, and his face
took on a most serious look, "isv it possible
1 have been deceived in you? True, I did
say that and here I've been giving you the
credit all along of having too much sense to
have ever believed me."
Water a Pelican Can Carry,
In Gray's Harbor, Washington, the peli
can is a common sight. Captain Bergman
of the steamer Typhoon shot two of the
birds the other day, and in order to find out
how much water the pouch of this bird'
would hold, lie cut off the head of one of
them and tied a string tightly around the
neck. Water from a laucet was then al
lowed to flow in, and when the pouch was
full it contained six gallons.
We Will Have Oklahoma Cigars.
Mr. K. Brice, of Albany, N. Y., a tobacco
expert, predicts that Oklahoma will be
come a great tobacco growing country be
cause of the duration of the sunny season.
He has made experiments in the sell and
finds the results unusually promising.
1
sjlX