'flj $sm 2a "iSmspw"! 12 THE PITTSBURGI- DISPATCH, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1891. rWEITTEN" FOn THE DIsrATCtl 3 xhe incident I relate came within my own experience. It was in 1870. "War had just been de clared. McMahon had received orders to cross the frontier and, by a bold stroke, par alyze the combined action of Xorth and South Germany. France was aflame with excitement; and especially in Paris the fever heat of anxiety had reached a high pitch. "With charaeteristieimpetuosityand sanguineness, and as if victory was already theirs, the Parisians plunged the deeper into the pleasures of the hour, and every where folly was given full swing. The chatter and din from the open-air restau rants rose above the music irom the band in the Champs Elysees; the lights of the Cafes Chantants shone brilliantly upon the dancers disporting themselves beneath the trees; the glint of dainty dresses was visi ble In the groves of the public garden", and lines of carriages swept by, carrying other pleasure seekers to the usual resorts. The theatres were all too sraaH for the crowds that besieged them. Especially was this the case at one of the largest on the Boulevards, where an impatient, eager throng surged around the doors and fought for admittance to witness the first appear ance of a new actress. Mademoiselle Jeaune de Bolney was an nounced to make her debut that evening. For months past her friends had pro claimed that a star of the first magnitude was about to rise in the dramatic sky, and the press, voicing these opinions, had aroused popular expectation to a point not usuallv reached in the case of a debutante. De Bolnev was credited with being marvel ously endowed, strenously devoted to her art, "and gifted with a natural splendor of appearance which charmed everyone on first seeing her. For her debut Jeanne had selected "La Dame aux Camelias," then in the zenith of its success. The author of that work had declared that the part of Jtlargiienie seemed written for her and for her alone. The result more than justified the ex pectations of her friends. From the moment of her first entrance her very presence had sufficed to capture the hearts of the audience. 'hen she advanced into the full glare of the foot-lights, disclosing to view an exquisitely formed figure; a head faultlessly turned, resting on a neck whose curve was perfect; ears, delicate and rosy, which shone like a pearl shell in the Hood of gold that mantled her superb,booin and beautiful face as she bowed again and again in the acknowledgement of the cor diality of her reception; eye, blue and clear and expressive ol naive astonish ment at the applause which greeted her, a murmur of approbation, increasing to a pro longed burst of enthusiasm, arose from the crowded house and continued for many minutes. Similar manifestations of approval were continued through the first act, and the second ended in an ovation such as few artists have received on a first appearance. Among those most profoundly affected by her victory was Louis Beleourt a pension aire of the theater. It was through him that Jeanne had been enabled to make her first appearance at this house, the director being prejudiced in favor of pupils of the Conservatoire, through which Jeanne had refused to pass. Beleourt loved Jeanne from his earliest youth. His devotion to her was unbounded and the admiration of his friends. His loe was unselfish, but hopeless, for Jeanne had already bestowed her aflections and Mas Imed in return. This had happened not long previously at one of the last races at Longchamps at which Napoleon III had been present. Jeannne had paused before the Imperial tribune to paze at the ladies of the court. "While thus occupied, she all at once became aware of a new and strange sensation in her heart as she encountered the gaze of a man whose bronzed face was visible from behind one of the chairs. His eyes sought and held hers, conveying to Jeanne an emotion the strove in vain to subdue. He in turn appeared to be profoundly affected; leaving his place he made his way through the crowd as if impelled by some unknown force, and abruptly presented himself before Jeanne. Only then did ne become aware of his strange conduct "With his face flushing with shame, he bowed confusedly before her, stammering forth his excuses. Con fused as he, and pale, Jeanne, seized with the instinct of pity which in a woman's heart keeps pace with love, murmured: "Mv name is Jeanne de jJolney. I intend to make my first appearance in a few days in 'La Dame aux Camelias.' " "And I, madame," boning profoundly, "am Boger de Morfeuille, Captain of Spahis, and for the present officer of ord nance to the Emperor." It was a case of love at first sight, and neither strove against its imperious domina tion. From that day life had nothing for either jpjrt from the other. Fate, it seemed to them, in its mysterious workings had brought them together. But war was on the horizon, and it was tacitly agreed' that life for them would commence with but the cessation of hostilities. Their ways, for the present, would be different. Eoger was sure to be ordered to the front; Jeanne knew she had to make her debut Thus for a brief period they lived in each other's presence. Happy in their new-found love, they knew they would be all in all to each other until the end of life's road was reached. Then at length Roger had to leave for the front, and when the final moment of separation arrived they silently betrothed themselves by the exchange of rings. v "When the curtainhad beenloweredforthe rixth time npon the second act of the "Dame aux Camelias" and the plaudits which greeted Jeanne, she slowly ascended to her dressing room conscious of " a feeling of mel ancholy, which her triumph could not dis pel. Her success would not be complete without congratulations from Roger. Even amid the smoke of battle, she thought, he would find opportunity to send her somo token, some sign of remembrance. Anxious ly she had listened to every footfall on the ctair, ana watcnea tne aoor tor tne expected message from her beloved. It was, then, with a mingled burst of joy, love and pride that on entering her room bhe found awaiting her a telegraphic mess age. Quickly closing the door so as not to be disturbed while devouring the precious words, she did not perceive that Beleourt was following her. All at once a scream, startling in it intensity, rang through the building. Beleourt, rush ing in, received Jeanne in his arms as she lefl in a swoon. In her hand was the mes sage. "While he was still thinking what he shonld do in the emergency, Jeanne re vived. Gathering sudden energy, she re peated, as if unconsciously, the fatal words of the dispatch: "Ve have been crushed at "Wberth. They are carrying me to the neighboring chateau; amputation probable. Pray forme. James will carry this dispatch to an open station. 1 love thee. Rogeu." This was unintelligible to Beleourt until, seeing the message, he had taken and read it. With sudden energy Jeanne picked up a few wraps and started for the door, her magnificent costume scarcely concealed under a long brown cloak. "What are you doing?" inquired Louis aghast. "I am going to loin Roger," came back the answer in low but firm tones. "But, nom de ciell" exclaimed Beleourt, "the curtain is about to rise. This is dread ful! Remain, I implore you! You will ruin yourself, your prospects, your life! Re main until to-morrow.' "Listen," said Jeanne, "it is now 9:45 There is a train from the Eastern station at 11 o'clock. If you prevent me from catching that train you see this dagger? I swear I will kill myself." Louis drew back terrified at this threat, uttered with au intensity of determination which showed she was in earnest Jeanne passed out and in another moment had called a carriage and disappeared in the darkness. Beleourt was constrained to see her as far as the street. When he returned to the stae he found the greatest excitement prevailing. The caller had just told the manager that Mademoiselle de Bolney could not be found. "When the director arrived a few minutes later to inquire why, it was too late, as Mademoiselle "de Bolney was even then driving in a hired coach in the direction of the Boulevard de Strasbourg. What was to be done? The audience was getting clamorous, and every minute of delay onlv seemed to make mat ters worse. "What should be done? Have Jeanne followed and arrested but then how to placate the audience. Meanwhile Louis Beleourt, inspired by a desire to save Jeanne, had hit on a plan. After a hurried conversation with a com rade, who immediately went around to the front of the house, Louis, forcing his way past the manager and director, who sought to prevent him, gave the signal for the cur tain to rise and stepped on the stage. His unexpected appearance brought about silence. "Gentlemen," he said, "Mademoiselle de Bolney has fainted on receiving a dispatch announcing that France has suffered defeat on the frontier. As soon as she recovers we hope she will reappear before you, and we ask j oil to be patient. " This speech was received with cold silence, but before any unfriendly demonstration could be made Belcourt's friend arose in his place and ex claimed: "We are as good patriots as Mademoiselle de Bolney. The performance must not con tinue under the news of a defeat to the arms of France!" This sentiment had the desired effect It was greeted with innumerable bravos from every part of the house, and the audience dispersed, now altogether absorbed in this unlooked for intelligence. Beleourt had saved both Jeanne and the theater from a disaster. The rumor of the defeat of Reischoffen which the Government had carefully con cealed, spread through Paris. Dismay took the place of the rejoicings in anticipated victories. While Beleourt was still re ceiving congratulations on his coup, he was arrested and lodged in the prison of Maszas on the charge of having divulged state secrets. His crime was punishable, during times of war, with death. A month elapsed, during which Beleourt resisted all the efforts of his guard to ob tain from him a confession of his reason for divulging the news of the defeat He daily expected to be taken out and executed. The day at length arrived which he was told would be his last on earth. He was think ing of something like sorrow of his love without hope which had brought him to the brink of a dishonored grave when his cell door was opened. "Mademoiselle la Comtessc de Mor feuille." It was Jeanne, indeed, but not the idol of a short month ago. Her shapely figure was hidden beneath heavy mourning; her beau tiful hair was sprinkled with silver threads; her mouth had lost its mobility and con tracted rigid lines, and her face bore the re flex of lost hope and inward suffering. Her whole appearance was an embodiment of incurable grie Beleourt was profoundly touched by the sad picture. "Vou are free, dear Louis," she said. "The Empress has just obtained your par don. I thank you from my heart for all you have done and suffered for my sake. I returned to Paris immediately after burying my husband at Morfeuille." Let us leave together." Jeanne soon after left for the resting place of him who had given her his name on his death-bed. Beleourt had tried to prevail with her that there was another love which might in time take the place of that she had lost, but she had stopped him with a gesture: "Do not proceed," she said mournfully, "I am henceforth but the widow of Roger de Morfeuille. Xot having been able to be his, I shall never be another's." Thus ended the sequel to that evening in the French Theater, and thus was blighted on the very threshold of a great career the dramatic vocation of a great soul. The in cident was lost in the thousand events that marked that period, and even those who were connected with it have probably long ceased to recall it HEJJRI ROLIilK PAEKEK. A NOTED SMUGGLER DIES. Bis Relatives Assert That Some of Bis Former Fals Poisoned film. Sand Beach, Mich., Nov. 20 George Wetzel, who has borne the reputation among United States Treasury agents as the keenest smuggler in the business, has just died at the home of his parents here. He had many aliases, but his principal one was George Thompson, a name given him bv Harris, the noted opium smuggler. He was about 31 years of age at the time of his death, and had been in the smuggling busi ness about 15 years. About a year ago the Treasury agents gradually closed in upon Wetzel, but he was too valuable a man to shut up in prison providing he could be induced to talk. He was, however, arrested -and threatened with punishment, and then, to the surprise of every one who had known him, he began giving tips to the Treasury agents, which enabled them to capture a number of noted smugglers. He remained in And about De troit and Windsor in the employ of the United States Government, and on Satur day last came to Sand Beach to visit his relatives. His death is announced as hav ing been caused by typhoid fever, but, as he was in perfect health when he reached here Saturday, there are some of his relatives who assert that he was the victim of poison, administered by some of his former as sociates. Another Express Car Robbery. MissoutA, Mont., Nov. 20. Yesterday afternoon two masked men entered the Northern Pacific express car, on the Miss oula and Cour d'Alene Railroad, and, at the point of their guns,- made Express Messen ger Case open the safe and give up all the money it contained, $2,020. The robbery occurred between Dorsey and Mullan, near the Montana and Idaho line, a wild, moun tainous country. IT'EE liquor is the solution of the tem perance question In America. See Rev. George Hodges' sermon on saloons in THE DISPATCH to-morrow. Tiihoat Diseases commence with a eotich, cold orjore throat. "Brown's Bronchial Troches" ftlc immediate relief. Soldonlj la boxes. Price '.Scents. B.B. Will it be a jacket or a cape newmarket? New ones to-day. BOGGS & Buhl. Stylish Saltings. For a good-fitting dress, business suit or overcoat at moderate prices go to Pitcairn's, 434 Wood street. Thbsu Time Lock And double automatic bolt operating de vice German National Bank safe deposit vaults. - a CfflLDKENOFTHEYAN Thousands of Wandering, Wretched, British Vagabonds, OUTCASTS, IN MISERY AND WANT. Great Philanthropic Wort of George Smith,! of Coalville. EFFORTS TO BETTER THEIR CONDITION CORRESPONDENCE OP THE DISPATCH. Crick, England, Nov. 9. In niv last article from this quaint old English, village, I gave a brief outline of the work of George Smith, of Coalville, In rescuing the chil dren of the brick yards and canal boats of England from their former frightful condi tion of slavery, ignorance and misery. The half of it all could not be fittingly told in an entire volume. But when the social history of England is written, this unlettered and furiously persistent philan thropist must stand as the greatest and most practical child-saver of his time. After between 20 and 30 years of labor through penury, scoffing and cruel discour agement, with a few later years of generally recognized eminence and national respect, this is the record as it now stands. Alone and unaided he has emancipated 30,000 brickyard boys and girls from a condition revolting beyond contemplation or descrip tion; and he has also, alone and unaided, rescued more than 40,000 canal boat children from a life of still more brutal slavery, inex pressible degradation, unnamable immor ality and actual crime. This has been accomplished, he believes,, through divine aid, guidance and strength. But I find there has been in and through it all, the most practical and sensible methods ever persistently utilized in any great phil anthropic work. There have been no com mittees, bureaus, canting officials or titles. Thirty Thousand Placed in School. The consistent and sequential character of his work has been remarkable. Scarcely had he succeeded in placing, on Januarv 1, 1872, 20,000 of the 30,000 of the brickyard little ones in the public schools, than he be gan his crusade against the iniquities of child life In the 25,000 canal boats of England. As a boy slave in the English brickyards he had worked where the yards abutted tne canals. His own eyes saw the horrors of their experiences and surround ings, in August, 1877, he had so thrilled England with his picturing of these out rages, that Fa.-1'atnent finally gave him all he had asked. Txe bill provided for the registration of all canal boats by the sani tary authorities; abolish the disease breed ing and carrying character of these craft: limited their number of occupants, brought every boat under surveillance and inspec tion, placed three-fourths of the canal popu lation in homes and brought every one of the little child beasts into the publio schools. Hardly had the practical workings of the enactments regarding the canal children be come operative, when George Smith, of Coalville, began storming Parliament in behalf of another class of semi-savage British children. In the long nights of his boyhood, when watching the burning brick kilns, he had not only seen the slavery" of brickyard and Canal children around him, but he had stored away grewsome memories of another host of miserable beings that skulked in the shadows about him. More lost than all were these, the half wild children of the Gipsies and other tent and van dwellers of the English highways. Related by Blood to the Romany. While our own country has for more than 100 years been depleting the ranks of En glish and Scottish Gipsies, Mr. Smith esti mates their present number to be about 100,000 souls. These are comprised in nearly 20,000 families. About 40 per cent are of Scottish and the remainder of En glish descent In my own judgment, based upon personal acquaintance with British Gipsies in nearly every county and shire in England and Scotland, his estimate is far too small. I should unhesitatingly say there were more than twice that num ber. However this may be, there are as many more humans who are not gipsies, standing in precisely their relation to the British public. These have, perhaps, intermarried with the real Romany, or possessing no relationship of blood or marriage, have fully acquired the most objectionable traits and customs of British gipsy vagabondism" be cause the average gipsy family among the thousands I personally know in our own country, is no more like the average gipsy family of England than is the Americanized English, Scottish or Irish immigrant like the cringing, cowering and often squalid personality he left on the Liverpool, Greenock or Queenstown docks behind him. Mr. Smith has no patience with senti mentalism over English gipsies. He is willing to admit that my tawny friends of the American roads and waysides, through their infinitely more favorable conditions, enjoy true gipsy prosperity and lead the Romany's genuine Idyllic life. He simply Bees the appalling degradation of the gipsy and van dwellers about him. It is the help less, hopeless children of these he would save. Experiences With British Outcasts. I like his rugged, vigorous description of his rough experiences with these outcasts, and feel sure that a few of hem, in bis own language, will be interesting to American readers: "I have visited many fairs, feasts, races, forests, lanes and wigwams in different parts of England and Scotland, and have eaten and chatted with the tent and van dwellers.'with the same sorrowful results confronting me. In many cases where parents attend fairs, feasts and races with cocoanut stalls and other initiatory gam bling amusements, the children are sent early in the morning to pick up a living in all sorts of questionable ways, and up to 11 or 12 o'clock at night some of the children of both sexes, together with their mothers, are often kept hard at work brawling, banging and shouting with co coanuts and balls in hand, while in many instances their fathers are drinking in the Eublic houses, and, as a reward for their ard day's toiling and trudging, Sunday and week dav,the poor children are sent supper less and unwashed to their bed. This is usually on some old rags, under a street stall, in hail, rain, snow, frost and fogs, and in fine weather, with the gleaming moon and twinkling stars peeping through the torn apertures of their street curtains and gutter beds. "I have seen these men, women and chil dren drunk, 'all of a heap,' like so many dogs, while there were others, engaged in thevagabond's calling, ashamed of their position, who hung down their heads and hands and went with the tide and pellmell crowd down to ruin. misery In the Gipsy Wlcwams. "Among these folk, on the outskirts of Iiondcn, in one wigwam I have seen a poor woman uymg; in auouier a man Who had taken to gipsying was gasping for breath; iu another tent a woman was at 'death's door,' anil at another abode of death, into which I had to creep on all fours,' there sat at the entrance, upon a brick in the mud, a poor lost, present day Gipsy girl of 7 years of age, but no heavier than a child of 1 year. Its legs were no thicker than drum sticks. It could neither stand, sing, speak, cry nor hear. ''At a 'crow pie feast near Rugbv I saw in five vans 15 children, two of whom could only read or write a little. During the deep snow of the winter of 1887-8 I met with in the old Watling street, but a mile or two from our home here, nine men, women and children crouched together, whose only sleeping apartment was under an old donkey cart. The man had worked honorably and well in my neighborhood for two years. The work gave out and he for sook his trade to follow hedge bottom creeping. "At Daventry I found a traveling show- man and his wife and their seven children. Their only home and stock and trade con sisted of a few sticks, old rags, knives, whistles and a cracked drum. At a North amptonshire fair I found ten vans and carts and between 30 and 40 children, only one or two of whom had ever been inside either Sunday or day schools. ilko the Woman Living In a Shoo. "Moses Holland, one of my oldest Gipsy friends, knows about 260 families in the midland counties, and thinks there will be an average of five children to each tent or van. In some tents he has seen as many as 10, and in other tents 12, children. In his own tent his wife was ill, and a dead child lay by her side, which Holland 'laid out' himself on a few rags and some litter. "At Broomsgrove fair I counted over 50 vans and covered cart homes, connected with which there were nearly 150 children. But six could read and write. In one van, 8 feet long 6 broad and 5 high, there slept 11 men, women and children, whose night dresses were saturated wet clothes. Some time ago I visited a flower show at West Haddon and found in two vans and a tum bledown wagon 18 children and 7 men and women. Only two could read and write. "On a recent Sunday in a Northampton shire lane, near Buckley wharf, during a pouring rain I came upon 11 present-day Gipsies, 6 men (and. women and 5 children, whose home was a small rickety donkey cart, tied together with pieces of cord, and a small sheet full of holes, under which they crept at night. Thousands of Gipsy Children. "On the preceding Saturday night these gipsies were under this one rotten sheet for the night by the roadside near weedon. A policeman told them to 'move on,' as on the following Sunday people would be go ing to church, and they would be an eye sore to all these good people. Driving the Gipsies about the country with a police' man's truncheon and a 'move on' will not improve their condition. It can only be done by means of the sanitary officer's in fluence directly upon their homes, and by the schoolmaster's influence upon their heads and hearts." These are the beings whom Mr. Smith has given the name of "Gipsy and Van Dwell ers," and it is the 40,000 to 80,000 "Gipsy and Van Children" of these wretched, wan dering vagabonds, whom he is endeavoring to rescue from their present condition of utter bestiality through the hoped for pas sage of his "movable dwellings bill." The provisions of this bill, if carried out, would cause the registration of all Gipsy and other traveling vans; bring each one under con stant surveillance and sanitary inspection, the same as with the lodging nouses of the great English cities; prevent the present horrible overcrowding of tpnts and vans. and, above all, bring every one of these out cast children compulsorily into the public schools, but wholly free of expense to their parents, by a system of free pass books for use wherever the Gipsy family might be temporarily tarrying. Edgar L. Wakkman. ALLIANCE plans detailed to Carpenter hy Jerry Simpson and Senator Fefler, in THE '.DISPATCH to-morrow. WHERE TO GO No Need to Be Puzzled. In the language of an immortal (?) "How tempus does keep fugitin!" We are wont to note the passing seasons by certain events or happenings. Spring is heralded by the new bonnet, and, alas for the editor, too often by. the old sonnetl summer wafts us to seashore and mountain, and autumn brings us back to the joyous wedding festiv ities, while winter well, here we are right "in it!" and soon the holly and mistletoe will proclaim Christmas time the gladdest of the year! Apropos of Xmas, what a genuine re lief to everybody in general, women in par ticular, that the all-torturing question: What shall I get that man? the chil dren and a dozen other friends, has been answered. The answer, as found at the aggressive house of Boggs & Buhl, Al legheny, is as varied as there are tastes to gratify. Among the more substantial gifts you'll find great comfortable looking blan kets from ?2 50 (indeed some very fair blanket specimens were quoted at 75 cents) to $25 a pair. Comforts, from cotton filled print at 75 cents, to chintz, satine and silk eiderdowns to 530. Gents' smoking jackets what an array! Cloth, plaids, checks, stripes and quilted silks in all desirable shades. English, Scotch and American dress goods in such variety and excellence of style and quality as even this establishment never be fore equaled! Maybe the sudden blizzard was responsible for the effect, but the cloak department was the center of attraction. Great fur mantles and capes of sable, seal, nstrachan, marten, etc., boas and mulls the latter ranging in grade and price from black hare at 75c to luxurious sable at ?50. Wraps for 2-vear-old toddlers to silver-haired grandmothers. This, but mere mention of two or three of the 52 departments of the popular house of B. & B., gives no adequate idea of the dis play in substantial gifts alone presented for your choosing, without any mention what ever of art departments bric-a-brac, leather goods, etc., etc. The enjoyment of the display is yours as was it ours for the going. If you'd settle the perplexing question: ''What shall it be, at not too great cost?" you will find the answer sure by going soon! Worth Looking At, "Turn to the press its teeming sheets survey, big with the wonders of each pass ing day." Among these the eye will pause to look at the old familiar family need in new dress. It will charm the sight, comfort the weary and bring cheer and hops to the pain-stricken. The columns of this paper are graced bv its reappearance. It is wel come, for what it promises to do, it does with alacrity, and proves its promise by an ample show of performance. The right thing, in the right place, at the right time, experience has proved it' to be. Upon this it has won public confidence and esteem, for while St. Jacobs Oil, the great remedy for pain, thus makes its annual rounds and re news its pledges of prompt and permanent cure, its continual success is the guaranty that what it says is true and what it does is sure. Its best recommendation is its true reputation, upon which all may depend for cure and comfort. To the Saloon and Private Trade. As the season is now at hand for ale and porter, the Straub Brewing Company take pleasure in announcing to the saloon arid private trade that they are prepared to fill all orders promptly. We also olaim that our celebrated brands of "Pilsener" and "Munich" lager beer cannot be excelled by any brewers of the States. We guarantee our beer to be four and one-half months old and all our goods are made of the very best quality of hops and malt. Ask the saloon trade for it or telephone No. 5038. The Straub Brewing Co. Corner Main street and Liberty avenue. ITS A' Rare Chance For some good man that understands the saloon business. Will sell all or half in terest in one of the best saloon and restau rants in Canton, O. Have other business, and cannot give it all my time. Call or ad dress T. A. H., loi South Market street, Canton, O. REAL ESTATE SAVINGS BANK, LIM. 401 Smithfield Street, Cor. Fourth Avenue. Capital, $100,000. Surplus, $75,000. Deposits of $1 and upward received and interest allowed at 4 per cent. . its GIVEN AWAY Every Day This Week. Your picture free and handsomely framed, with every dozen. Cabinets, $1. Hendricks & Co., 68 Federal street, Allegheny. No charge is made to determine if your eyesight may be improved or headache re lieved by wearing properly adjusted glasses. If your eyes trouble you consult Prof. Little, fill Penn avenue. MODERN SHIP CA-MLS. Colonel T. P. Roberts Discusses the Advantages of Waterways. AMEEICAIS AWAY BEHINDEUR0PE He Strongly Indorses the Ohio River and lake Erie Prjject. ASSURED SUFFICE NT WATER SUPPLY A highly interesting lecture on the modern ship canal was delivered to the stu dents and a few invited guests of the West ern University yesterday afternoon by Colonel T. P. Roberts, one of Allegheny's eminent civil engineers. The lecture was embellished by an elaborate series of maps and drawings, principally relating to the mnch talked of ship canal from Pittsburg to Lake Erie, In the accomplishment of which Colonel Roberts is greatly interested. As a preface to his remarks Colonel Roberts devoted some time to a review of canals of the past, stating his belief that they had been abondoned too soon and that their possibilities had never been fully de veloped. The history of cannls dated back to the Roman Empire, and China claimed to have had them 6,000 years ago, though noth ing is known of their size or importance. Little is to be said of the early European and Asiatic canals, he continued, for their importance was so trifling that the Edgar Thomson Steel Works, of this city, gives rise to more freight trafflo than was enjoyed hy all the countries of Europe combined at the time of the first voyage of Christopher Columbus. It was not until Bindley and Telford, about the middle of the last cen tury, created a revolution in the English speaking world by making Manchester, Birmingham and even Glasgow accessible as trade centers through means of the canal locks. Cansa of New York's Supremacy. Before the days of locks it was impossible to cross a divide for tho connection of water comses, and ascents and descents weie im practicable by the methods in vogue. Soon after Telford's time lock canals were Intro duced into this country. Hew York began hers in 1812, but her main lines were not completed until 1823, which year marked the relative decline of Philadelphia as a com mercial emporium: and it is tliat same canal which enables New York yet to hold her supremacy without dispute, because a great canal uy .1 reasonably direct route irom tne lakes or the Ohio river to Philadelphia is a ph j steal impossibility. Pennylvania begat her canal works iu 1820, the chief lines being opened in 1845, which year marked the de cline of the canal's importance by reason of the introduction of the steam railroad. It whs not exactly tho rivalry between the boat and the car in which tbe boat disap peared as a competitor, for while such was tho effect, the cause Is to be attributed to tbe difference in the mode of propulsion. In other words, it was rivalry between horse power and steam engines, and I think this a distinction well warranted and worth re membering. The proportion of passenger and fast freight tonnage on which time was an clement of importance was relatively far greater on the old canals than it is on tbe railroad to-day, so that if sizeable canals were in existence now they would afford to the railroads a relief in kind which the roads first gave them. Wherever steam power has been intro duced as a substitute for manual labor or animal power, it has proved its superiority, with the canals as with everything else. Tho old canals run too small and too shallow to allow use of propelling machinery. Many difficulties were encountered and met, but the width and depth of the canals was the insuperable one. Tho nearest approach to a modern canal in this country is the Elie Canal, of New York, which has already been twice enlarged and soon will be a third time. It is seven feet deop, with locks llOr 18 leet, passing boats of 250 tons, yet of tho more than 5,000 boats navigating it. not more than 50 are steamers This canal i9 pushed to its utmost from April to November IS each year, and while animal power is almost exclusively used upon It, tho finest, low frade, four-track railroad In the United tates, bas with its latest improved cars and engines only reached the point of competing with it upon equal terms. The Necessity of Large Canals. The French Government owns and con trols nearly all of 3,000 miles of canals in France, and has adopted for its standard of inland barge canals, a size capable of passing 300-ton boats. Experiments on the largest scale recently made in this country and Eu rope have shown that 800-ton boat canals is equal. If not better, than the present rail road in the transportation service, and it is unlikely that any will ever be attempted in this country of less than this size. Above this size would be too much for animal power, in my opinion, and any built above "it should be made available for the use of steam power. Thus we would come to dls tineuisu. the point at which large canals may be aid to cease and ship canals to begin. Of canals upon wbioh steam power can he applied to moving vessels of 300 tons and upward, no fears need be entertained that land carriage will supersede them as car riers of bulky or low classed commodities, though the time will come, and we can see It now in the so-called connecting rall roadB," that will be separately built for freight, and further reductions in railway freight charges may be expected, still the ship canal is of such larae possibilities that we cannot at this day piescribc any limit to its capacity. There is a loss in effectiveness of steam engines working wheels or screws in water, due to decreese of gravity in the churned and araeted water, but to whatever this is attributed, it is known that less power is re quited to move a boat by motive power traveling along a canal band, or by cables operated by stationary engines, than would be developed In doing equal work with her own screws. Tbis is a question merely in volving economy in fuel, but it has been seized upon by ship railway advocates as an argument In favor of their economy as com pared with ship canals. I am in favor of tbe Tehuantepeo ship railway, but I can never assent to this argument until I hear of a decline in the commerce of our great lakes by reason of the competition of the "land ship." Even the saving of hajf tho distance from Chicago to Buffalo, poslble with ship railway, is unlikely to produce such a startling result. Nor will even the saving of two-thirds of tbe river dis tance between Pittsburg and New Orleans be inducement enough to attempt hy means of any kind of railroad a competition in the coal trade with the river barge system. Ship Canals Versus Ship Railways. Large ship railways, requiring three trucks or six tracks, cannot tnrn curves of less than several miles radius. Great float ing turn-tables must be provided for more abrupt changes of direction than this. About Pittsburg, for instance, the topography is aiiftli tliAt searrplvn mlln run lift fnnnrt whtcli wonld not involve one nr moie decided changes In direction for a ship railway. On the Tehuantepeo route, 131 miles, onlv five decided changes in direction weie found necessary. While no water supply for a shin canal exists there, it is admirably adapted for a ship railway, and there are other ar guments as to the superiority of this route. However, it is apparent that only peculiar topographical and political considerations can bring ship railways into rivalry with ship canals. a It is unlikely that existing conditions in the transportation world will he disturbed until the economic problems involved in tbe study of large canals have been discussed nnd understood. After canals are built, as in Europe and Canada, with locks of durable masonry and slopes protected against the aotion of waves, they stay built, France in 1889 hud 2,935 miles of canals, with 2,792 locks and many aaueduats. etc. to care for. and the annual cost of maintenance, exclusive '. oi salaries, was only S3u per vane, ui tne M canalized rivers, aggregating 2,019 miles, with 617 locks and numerous dams, the annual cost was $530 per mile. Canals cost much less to maintain than railroads. and there are situations in this country where with equal volume of business at the same rates tne canal would pay for Itself much sooner than the- railroad. A careful investigation of the gigantic transports tion problem of the country will inevitably lead to the conclusion that in no direction is so large a shaie of relief in reduction of rates and increase of facilities to he so reasonably expected as from the construction of great canals and the improvement of our rivers. Tho Ohio river would be worth vastly more to us now if it drained into Lake Erie, though no one can tell what Its value may he when radically Improved. The Erie Canal a Possibility. When we look abroad and see tho enlarge ment of old and tho construction of new ship canals and whore the interests bene fited equal in few cases that which would bo served by a canal from Lake Erie to the Ohio, we may well wonder at tne lack of in terest displayed by our own people on the subject The Got Canal, crossing Sweden from the North Sea to Stockholm, is ten feet deep, elevated 800 feet above tide, has a total lockage of 600 feet, divided among 78 locks, which is 25 more than has been suggested for the proposed Lake Erie and Ohio Canal, and more than 10,000 vessels pass through It annually. The Caledonian Canal, crossing the Highlands of Scotland, a distance of 60 miles, of which distance more than one-half Is through natural lakes, has a summit level of less than 17 feet depth, while small steamers and sailing vessels pass through It. Most oi tho European ship canals, completed and projected, were designed chiefly to savo distance lost in go ing around capes or peninsulas, among which is the North Holland Canal and the Amsterdam, both extending from the Znyder Zee to the North Sea. Also the Baltic or Holstein canal, nearly finished by tho German Government, and the Isthmus of Corinth canal, "projected by Alexander the Great, resolved upon by Ca:sar and com menced by Nero." Other completed canals abroad are the Languedoc, North Holland, Crlnan, Gloucester Berklev, Witham, St. Louis, Suez, St. Petersburg, Ghent and Ter neuzen. Tho projected ones are the Bir mingham, Great Western, Newcastle-on-Tyne, the Scotch, and the Irish. The latter will be 127 miles long and SO locks will be re quired. Many others in various parts of the Old World are being seriously considered. The only ship canal in the United States is the St. Mary's, one mile long, connecting xaices superior ana .nicmgan, wmcu "' Government is now enlarging lor the third time. In Canada the Welland Canal con necting Lakes Erie and Ontario, 26 miles, having 25 locks 45 feet wide and 15 feet deep, and overcoming a descent of 330 feet, is a splendid example of British-American en terprise. With her other grand ship canals oompleted and projected, tho Canadian Government presents a striking cpntrast to our own. We have a few canal projects in this coun try, among them the Delaware and Chesa peake, the Niagara Falls, tne Lake Michigan and Illinois river; the Florida, the Delaware, mow xork, cape uoa, tne uennepin ana me Low er Michigan, which is proposed to con nect Saueatuck and Detroit, via Kalamazoo, length 173 miles and proposed for 1,500-ton vessels. Where tho Water Will Come From. Tho Lake Erie and Ohio river ship canal project is one in which a water supply is of paramount importance, and upon tbe deter mination of which rests its feasibility. The summit level of the adopted route, which lies partly in Pennsylvania and Ohio, Is 20 miles long, while upon the map the position of numerous reservoirs and lakes are indi cated. The country is so flat that embank ments of 12 to 11 feet in height, built across creeks, would suhmere large areas. One res ervoir shown makes a pond of more than 8,000 ncres. The total area of reservoirs for the summit supply is more than 5,000 acres, gathering water from 79.2S5 acres, or 121 square miles. The available storage capac ity of these reservoirs, including six feet to be drawn from Lake Conneaut and certain springs, amounts to a quantity which, dis tributed in the days of canal navigation, would supply tbe summit level with 13,0-3,-903 cubic feet daily. Mr. John M. Goodwin, who conducted the survey for the Canal Commission, flgured upon ten Vessels each wny daily for211 davs. which would permit the passing of 4,280 vessels, upon which 6,000,000 tons of freight could be carried. In this calculation allow ance is made for evaporation and percola tion from tbe canal. The surplus of water is fully equal, according to Mr. Goodwin, to passing 20 more vessels each way daily, or altogether, enough to .do the business of 18,000,000 tons annually. No Trouble About a Water Supply. The water supply can easily be doubled at small expense, and I have little patience with those who persistently assert, without the slightest authority for their statement that this proposed canal is impracticable by reason of the insufficiency of its water supply. Tho fact is it wonld be easier sup plied than some of the old time cauals. The length of tbe canal from Pittsburg to Beaver is 27.4 miles, following the right bank of tbe river. Its first level, after pass ing the six-foot lift at Davis Island dam would be 23 miles long. Lock No. 2 wonld ad mit tne canal to Beaver river at New Bright on. The Beaver would be slackwatered to the head of navigation, 79 6 miles from Pitts burg, requiring to that point 17 locks and IS dams. Thence to the south end of the sum mit 9 locks and 18 miles of canal would be needed. The summit level is 20 miles long, nnd from its nortb end to Conneant harbor 25 locks would be required- Tbe route is 30 miles shorter than the old canal, and the locks proposed large enough to admit tho new Government gunboats. With the exception of a few points no curves are admitted of less radius than 2,000 feet, and the route is free from engineering difficul ties and is only about ten miles longer than an air line from Beaver to the lake. The es timated cost is $20,375 000. The route abounds in mineral deposits of value, and runs through numerous hives of industry, there being located on it 33 fur naces, many rolling mills and other estab lished manufactories. It wonld benefit tbe lake oountry as muoh as Pittsburg, for there is now an interchange of from 7.000,000 to 8,000,000 tons per annum. If this is not showing enough to warrant a ship canal none will ever be built in the United States. TUBNED IN MANY FALSE ALARMS. The Result of Queer Complications in St. Louis Municipal Politics. St. Louis, Nov. 20. Fireman Eeidy, of one of the engine companies is in disgrace. He was discharged from the force this afternoon-on a serious charge that of send ing in false alarms. Ever since the spring city elections a war has been waged between the Mayor and the Council "combine" who declined to approve his nominations for Fire Chief and Water Commissioner, claiming that the two old officers were thoroughly competent and they ought to stay in office. It is now said that the Mayor's friends are throwing every impediment in the way of the Chief of the Fire Department with a view to making him resign. It is alleged that Beidy is one of the Mayor's friends, and that while the big "Famous" fire was burning fiercely Tuesday Reidy sent three false alarms from as many differ ent localities. The case is being investi gated. Blaine's Interest in the World's Fair. Washington, Nov. 20. President W. T. Baker, of the World's Columbian Ex position, to-day had a conference with Sec retary Blaine, by appointment, on matters connecieu wun me displays oi joreign coun tries at the Exposition. The Secretary ex pressed great interest in the subject BOTSand girls will be making; yEolIan harps after reading how to make-them In THE DISPATCH to-morrow. CALIFORNIA, The Country or Delightful Winters. California is the most attractive and de lightful section of the United States, if not of the world, and its many beautiful resorts will be crowded with the best families of the East during the entire winter. It offers to the investor the best open opportunity for safe and large returns from its fruit lands. It offers the kindest climate in the world to the feeble and debilitated; and it is reached in the most comfortable manner over the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. Pullman vestibule sleeping cars leave Chicago by this line every day in the year and go without change or transfer through to San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. This -is a feature not offered by any"bther line. Write to Charles T. Apple by, Traveling Passenger Agent, Room 303, Bank of Commerce Building, Pittsburg, Pa., if you desire any further information as to the country and the accommodations for reaching it "Very cheap. All kinds second-hand, first-class sewing machines. Wheelek & Wilson Mfg. Co., No. 6 Sixth street . Pratt's Great Sale of Books, Albums and Bibles at half price is now open at 428 Wood, near Diamond street. Call to-day and secure the bargains, as Pratt comes but once a year. Society Notes. At a recent swell wedding the bride re ceived a handsome diamond brooch and other beautiful pieces of Dorflinger's cut glass. If you have a congh don't delay. It is dangerous. Piso's Cure for Consumption will cure you. Guaranteed. All druggists. 26 cents. tus Mrs. 'Wixslow's Soothing Syrup for chil dren teething produces natuial quiet sleep. SSo. rrswk A WORLD DT THE PARK Prof. John Eiley Wants the Universe Placed on Exhibition. PANORAMA OF THE MRlkl BODIES. C. L. ITagee wm tj8 Asked to Bay the Ma chine for Sclenlej Fart. THE PROFESSOR FOOLED BY A GERMAN John Biley, a scientist and astronomer, whose home, when he is not soaring among the stars, is at 2G3 Colwell street, has a well-laid plan in hand for filling his pock ets with ducats and at the same time en riching the human race with knowledge hltnerto unthought of. lie has made a study of the solar system, the heavens and everything pertaining thereto, but unlike most great men he believes books do not convey ideas in detail, and he has there fore prepared charts in panorama style which he declares will show the workings of the universe so plain that the most ignorant will -understand. It is a great work, and Prof. Riley thinks he wonld be cheating humanity if he were to hide it under a bushel. At the same time, he thinks it would be injustice to himself to give it away for nothing, and in order to get some return he is going to make a proposition to C. L. Magee that the Du quesne traction road buy the machine and place it on exhibition in Schenley Park in order to increase traffic. The most important part of the professor's discovery is that the sun isn't a sun at all, but only a big chunk of electricity. Like natural gas on a cold day, he says that it doesn't give out either heat or light, and that the only thing which keeps the earth from being a Raum refrigerator or some thing similar is flashes of lightning that are continually going on cheap excursion trips between the place where the sun ought to be and a plate of armor just on the other side of the earth's atmosphere. A Discovery Made for Revenue. This truly wonderful discovery, sad as it may be to believe, wns made for mercenary purposes. Prof. Riley first commenced study on it in a desperate effort to get hold of 525,000, which one Herr Berger, of Germany, offered through an advertisement in the Detroit Free Pren to any astronomer who would prove that there is anything solid in the sun, moon or stars. HerrKrupp, the great can non maker, was given as reference by the aforesaid Berger and Prof. Riley believing that the offer was made in good faith re duced to a diagram the theory that had found a lodging place in his mind since time immemorial. By his discovery he claimed he could prove beyond doubt that the stars are composed of solid material and he therefore wrote to Herr Berger through HerrKrupp for the stuff that would make himself solid financially. A Glowing Prize That Vanished. He got an answer. It was written on a typewriter in German. The contents were in substance that "I don't give a d whether the stars are solid or not I don't know Herr Berger or any person else that made such an offer of 525,000. Trulv yours, Herr Krupp." For a while Prof. Riley's hopes went down with the letter. He thought it was a mean German trick to capture an innocent Irishman's invention for nothing, bnt he didn't fall into the trap. He decided on the plan to interest Mr. Magee in the discovery and if the scheme works, visitors to Schen lev Park next Vummer will be given the privilege of standing around with the r 1 hands in their pockets and watch the uni verse give a performance of its daily work ings on a reduced scale. The question was asked the professor if he would put a man in his exhibition moon, bnt he did not deign a reply. The Pennsylvania 'Will Rid 840,000,000. The sale of the Allegheny Valley road by auction eccursDecemberl5. It was learned from a stockholder yesterday that the Penn sylvania's limit in bidding has been placed at 540,000,000. This road now has 515,000, 000 invested in the Valley. It is also stated that if the Pennsylvania officials on the day of sale discover a combination present to foree up the price they will go into CHILDREN'S AND MISSES' OVERGARMENTS. $1.50 $3.00 $5.00 $5.00 $5.00 $6.75 ALL-WOOL JACKETS for Children 4 years old; gi.75 for 6; 52.00 for 8; 2.25 for 10 years. ALL-WOOL BEAVER JACKETS, from 4 to 12 years, in Blue and Brown. Reduced from $5.00. MISSES' BLUE BEAVER CLOTH JACKETS, from 12 to 18 years. Reduced from 7.00 for Saturday only. CHILDREN'S AND MISSES'-GRETCHENS. Reduced from 7.50. MISSES' NEWMARKETS. Reduced from 10.00. MISSES' ASTRACHAN-FACED JACKET, 14, 16 and 18) years. Reduced from 8.50 for Saturday only. r $10.00 MISSES' FUR-FACED Reduced from 15. 00. FLEISHMAN & CO., 504, 506 AND 508 MARKET ST. IRON AND STEEL BUILDINGS, ROOF TRUSSES, G0L1IS AID GIRDERS. PITTSBURG BRIDGE COMPANY, Thirty-Eighth St noU-47a- court and move for a postponement Tha terminals of the Allegheny Valley in Pitts burg alone are exceedingly valuable, and worth a good sum to the Pennsylvania. Tbe Valley stockholders think the full limit will be bid. They don't propose to give up the road for a song. It is thought that the Pennsylvania will be the only bidder. Tna Valley has the lowest grade across the mountains to Northern Pennsylvania. THE ALLEGHENY CONTEST. Judge Ewlng to Decide To-Pay Whether Ballot Boxes Can Be Onened Some of the Points Brought Out by the Attorneys for Mayton. The Stayton-Wyman contest for the Alle gheny Mayoralty will assume shape of some kind to-day, is it is the last allowed Wyman by Judge Ewing to make defense to the case which the Stayton side claims to have made out. Mr. Brennen says Stayton has made a prima facie case, which will justify an order for the opening of the ballot boxes, and Mr. Bennett, one of Wyman's counsel, refuses to .say what their line of defense will be. During the past two weeks an immense amount of arithmetic has been expended in calculating the probable effect of the open ing of the ballot boxes, and only one thin? has been definitely settled, and that is that certainly not more than one or two of the affidavits required "to be taken by those whose names are not in the registry list ara made in accordance with the law, and the Snpreme Court has ruled that every provi sion must be complied with in order to make a vote legal. The person making such affidavit must answer quite a number of questions as to payment of taxes, whers paid, to whom paid, etc., and if a natural ized citizen the questions are still more ex plicit. Investigation of the returns from almost any district will show that this kind of ilIegal;votes is the rule, scarceanv affida vit being legal. Sometimes enough havs been cast to vitiate an election from this cause alone, though the voters had a right to vote had they done it properly. It was developed in the present case that voters whose standing has been known to be unimpeachable for 20 to 30 years have voted illegally, though both their intent and that of the election officers wns to do the right thing. But the latter said when summoned, "why we knew that man had a right to vote, as he had been a property holder and voter for 20 years or more, and we did not think it necessary to swear him." Thus an intentionally honest vote will be thrown out, while that of a rooster who had no scruples against swearing a lie will probably go through, unless evidence is forthcoming to show that his vote was illegal. ZH0WH IK PITTSBITBG. Tbe Man Alleged to Be Responnlble for Stratton's Death Worked Here. The death by fasting of G. Henry Strat ton in a New York museum created consid erable talk among the museum people of Pittsburg. Elmer Collins, of this city, was in the fasting match with Stratton. J. M. Cousart, the manager of Collins, is alleged to have been the originator and manager of the New York fasting contest, and the museum proprietor, Mr. Hubpr, say that Consart is responsible for the death of Stratton. Cousart came to Pittsburg about a year ago. He was employed for a time as ticket taker at Harry Davis' Musenm, and be came well known to the profession. After Collins completed his fast of four weeks iu this city he left Pittsbnrg with Consart. The two turned up in Philadelphia, where Colhn3 appeared in another con test. The show was not successful, and for want of money both Collins and Cousart were forced to fast in reality. They left Philadelphia, and were next heard of in New York, and the fatal fasting contest was the first in which they appeared since leaving Philadelphia. It is not defi nitely known here whether Cousart has been arrested. It is known, however, that an effort is being made to hold him respon sible for Stratton's death. DRESSES for busy women, by Ada Bache Cone, In THE DISPATCH to-morrow. Handsome illnstrations. Avoid a costive habit of body, not only because of the attending discomfort, but lest it engender diseases involving more seri ous consequences. Dr. D. Jayne's Sanative Pills are either laxative or cathartic, ac cording to the dose, and may be depended upon to produce healthy secretions of the liver and stomach. JfES'S kid gloves, lined and unlined. James H. Aikejt & Ca, 100 Fifth ave. JACKETS, 14, 16 and 18 years;, . noil I - J w lv L. m.