mm -"S. If Hf""" wrm? My'v-iP r- v wiwwg'r" THE PITTSBUBG DISPATCH; THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1891. Wlje BiMEcg. ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 1SIC. Vol 45, No. 3i Entered at Pittsbnjg Postoflicc November 1SS7, as second-class matter. Business Office Corner Sraithfield and Diamond Streets. News Rooms and Publishing House 78 and So Diamond Street, in New Dispatch Building. EA'TFtN ATVTEHTISIKf OrriCE. ROOW CI. TRIBUNKBCII.D1NO. MIITYCRK. wherecoin piete flle of TUB DISPATCH can alwaTs be found. Fo-rJcn advertiser nmreciate the convenience. Home advertise- im! friends ofTHE DISPATCH. bile In New York, ore also made welcome. J7TR DISPATCH U rtmuarlj on KUr at Rrentano't, f Union Sytuzre, ."WS Trri, and V Are de VOptra, Pin. Prance, ichere anyone who has been disap povntid at a hold news stand can obtain it. TEKMS OF THE DISPATCH. rosTAGE rnsE iv the cmiij stitss. Dailt Disr-ATcn, One Year I 00 Daily Drsr vtcii, Ter Quarter. 3 00 Daily DiervTcn, One Month 79 D ULY DlSPATcn, Including bnuiay, 1 vrar.. 10 CO IHILYDlsrtTCir, Including Sundav. 3m'th. I V Daily Dispatch. Including sundav, l m'th.. 03 bnM ay Dispatch. One Yar I.VJ Weekly D!FATcr. One Year. 1 5 Tee D1T Disr-AT-H Is dellve-ed bj carriers at 15 etnfc, per week, or. including Sjuudaj Edition, at to cents per week. PITTSBURG. THURSDAY, NOV. 16. S91. TWELVE PAGES THE NATIONAL K.iST. To-day is the annual festival which, by ibe devout aud appropriate custom of the couutry brought down from the earliest colonial time, is set aside as a feast of Thanksgiving. The feast, which had its origin in Xew England, has extended its observance to all parts of the country, un til to-day there are few places in the land so remote from the sentiment which makes Thanksgiving a national institu tion that it is not duly celebrated thcr. The feast is a peculiarly rational one: and as a balance to that fact thero are many considerations why it is peculiarly appropriate for this country to recognize that it has especial reasons for gratitude. Those reasons were never so strikingly marked in the case of this nation as in the present .year. To every man who gives an thought to the sentiment of the day the most impressive fact is that the United States, as a whole, has been to an ex ceptional degree selected for the favors of peace, plenty and prosperity. While other countries in v anous quarters of the w orld have suf fered either from the fear of war to be produced by the designs of imperial policy, oi epei'enced the actual horrors of con flict from the outbreak of revolution or the usurpations of military adventurers, the United .Slates has enjoyed the pro found assurance ot peace and can only complain of political vices which flourish h reason of-thefoelingof perfect security. V.'hile other parts of the world are plagued by famine or harassed by scarcity, our nation h had a yeai of unexampled plenty, and our prosperity is enhanced by the extraordinary demand for foreign countries for our suiplus. In every as pect the fact is impressed upon that the g.fi of Providence and the abundance of nature have been exceptionally lavish to ward tills country. Under such circumstances it is an espe nald'.Uy individually as well as collect ively to celebrate our gratitude for these extraordinary favors. A nation so uni icrsally prosperous and peaceful above nli other nations cannot but make its 1 hanksgiving a national expression of its sincere gratitude. GARZA A5D THE UNITED STATES. It is stated that the raids ot Catarino Garza, who poses as a revolutionist, but is lepresentedby most authorities as a ban dit, have an especial interes-; to this coun try because there is a strong suspicion at 'ast that they might strictly be construed as violations of the neutrality law. It is supposed that Garza organizes his expedi tions in Texas, and crosses the Rio Grande when he has got a sufficient band together at some point not guarded by our troops. The same supposition exists that when he is pursued by Mexican troops he and his lol lowers take refuge across the border. Of course, the Mexican Government understands that this is not due to any sympathy or even negligence on the part of our Government The difficulty of guarding a frontier stretching over more than a thousand miles in a sparsely in habited country has been illustrated by the Mexicans themselves with regard to the refuge which the Apaches used to find jrom tho pursuit of onr troops, and the ease with which they resumed their ra'ds. But if it is true that Garza is using this country as a rendezvous for raids nn Mexican territory it may be necessary ior our Gov eminent to take extraordinary steps to settle the matter. This will be with a view to deciding w hether or not we should give MAieo the same privilege of pursuit into United States territory that Mexico gave our troops in pursuing Apaches into the Sierra Madre. If Garza is reallj- a political revolution ist, of course the territory of the United States must be a sanctuary to him, although he cannot be permitted w ith the knowl edge of the Government to use it as a base ior further revolutionary attempts. But if, as the accounts indicate, he is really a lieebooter, who tries to give his plundei ing raids the color of rev olution, he should be pursued and apprehended wherever he can be found. In that case he occupies no better position before the law and a much worse one in civilized estimation than the Apache marauders of a fewj ears ago In tint case, if the United States car not appiehend or suppress Garza's use of its temiorj. the least it can do is to offer Mexico a return of the liberty given to i:s trcopsot pursur 5 tee outlaws across the lwder. The United Stales territory should not be made a b?f e of operations for bandita. If v.e cannot suppress that use of itour selv es we should let Mexico do it for us. A QUESTION OF TACT. Speaking of the late exhibitions of 03 cioni" porter at various cities, the Philadel phia Times remaik: "Xo form of build ing except the prairie dug-out has been in veiitedthat can withstand their furious onslaught, and no form of locomotion that will carry human beings out of reach of harm who happen to' find themselves inthe cj clone's path." If this statement were true with regard to the wind-storms wliich visit this section of the country,,their ad vent would be the subject of unmitigated dread. That there are sections where it is measurably the case may be correct; but it is worth while to inquire whether it is actually the fact that no form of build ing can withstand the fury of the wind storms that attack the Northern Central Statrs. It is clear that this is not true with re card to the storm that raged over the rountry from Pittsburg to Washington on Monday, because i it were there should be a desert of prostrat3 buildings through out the entire section. Wo believe it to be true that the storm was more furi ous in Washington thin in Pittsburg; but thtre, as here, the result is that the average building withstood the strain, and only one building in each city was over thrown. In the case in this city a few years ago, when theWilley building was overthrown, the fact that structures could be erected to withstand the strain was amply proved by the buildings of equal size and height within a few hundred yards of that which was wrecked, that stood the storm without a tremor. Certainly so far as the wind-storms re ferred to are concerned, the fact that buildings can be erected to withstand them, is amply demonstrated from the fact that for every building, blown down hundreds stood the gale without difficulty. In both cases in Pittsburg the destruction of the buildings was due to some weak ness, temporary or structural, in the wrecked buildings; and we very much suspect that a critical inquiry would dis cover similar weaknesses in the majority of cases of destruction by cyclones. The high winds are a very decided ar gument in. favor of strong and thoroughly braced architecture. If that lesson -is properly heeded, we will probably hear less of irresistible wind-storms in the future. BELIEF FEOH STARVATION. Mr. Cvrus W. Field, Jr.. publishes an appeal in New York for the United States to do something to aid the famine stricken districts of Russia. The duty of a nation which is celebrating its festival of plenty and prosperity to give some thought to the condition of a people dying of want and starvation is so large that it hardly needs to be enlarged upon. But there are some impressions, whether created by false reports or not, which go far toward discouraging efforts for the relief of the Russian sufferers One is that the relief which gets into the hands of the Russian bureauciacj is not likely to reach the suf fering peasants. The other is that offers of organized reljef contributions from England have been rejected by the Czar's governments whether from simple preju dice, or from the determination of un scrupulous officialism to keep all the relief business in its own hands, is not stated. If these statements are tru3 it is useless for America to give of its abundance for the enrichment of Russian corruption. If Mr. Field can show that the American contribution will be used for the relief of the Russian poor and starving, there can be no better use for a portion of our ov er flowing surplus than to devote it to the rescue of part, at least, of the destitute peasantry from the horrors of starvation. THE CONTENTION" INCONGRUITY. The discussion of the defeat of the Con stitutiona. Convention project between tbe York Gazette and the Philadelphia Press stimulates the latter journal'in a somewhat heated manner to make some assertions on the subject which are more truthful than pleasant. They are briefly as follows: First, that the Baker ballot bill as passed by the Legislature is un satisfactory and unfair, entailing all the burdens of the Australian system without its advantages, and practically disfran chising such minorities as the Prohibition party. Scond, that the Constitutional Conv ention project contained so unusual, unfair and unnatural provisions as to pre vent the people from voting for a con vention under is. Xext, that the purpose of embodying these grotesque provisions was to defeat the Constitutioral Con vention. Finally, that the issue of real ballot reform will still be made an active one at the next legislative elections. In these assertions, with the exception of a single one, the position which The Dispatch took from the first is corrobor ated. That is, that ballot reform can be secured through legislation, and was within its proper province; that the Con stitutional Convention was unnecessary, and in the form in which it was presented contained the danger of a job in favor of the corporations and politicians; and, finally, that there was not the slightest reason to expect -from a convention so constituted anv more sincere action on ballot reform than from the Legislature which devised it. In one respect the motives which prompted these measures the Gazette is mistaken. The Constitu tional Convention scheme was used to di vert the demand for genuine ballot re form, instead of both these measures being framed to defeat the convention. It is a remarkable example ot how sin cere minds can be led to false conclusions, that is presented by the fact that the ele ment, of which the York Gazette is the organ, committed the error of accepting the unusual, uhfair and unnatural con vention scheme and adopting that mis shapen and illegitimate measure as its own offspring. A color of consistency is given to this course from the f&ct that the same element gave the politicians of the Legis lature the pretext for this convention jug gle by insisting upon the mistaken idea that ballot reform cannot be secured with out the amendment of the Constitution. Nevertheless, the most impressive aspect of its very forcible characterization of the convention bill is that which gives the "best possible reason why all sincere men should join m defeating that measuie. We are glad to learn from the Gazette that the effort to obtain real ballot reform will still be pushed in its proper place, namely, the Legislature, After the late experience we may hope that the Gazette and its friends will not again be diverted from their active campaign in behalf of this reform by any such transparent jug gle as the convention scheme. A BACKING PROPOKTION. Mr. Frank J. Sprague, the electrician, in a recent article on the electric motor audits work, published m the Forum, makes a claim for success in the electric motor ior street railways, w men proves to be rather strong meat for the electric com panies. The assertion is that "the electric motor has halved the expenses per car mile," has "effected even greater reduction in the cost per ton mile," and has lessened expenses in other respects by increasing the number of mdes traveled and the traffie per car. This is a very glowing eulogy of the results of the electric system; but one shaip cotemporary finds a meaning in it which is hardly gratif j ing to the street railway corporations. The Buffalo Courier points out that this is a statement that the cost of carrying passengers in horse cars has been reduced more than a half by the change to electric motors. The horse car business as a whole was prosperous and remunerative before that change; yet the reduction of fars as a result of the change to electricity, far from being com mensurate with the reduction of cost, has been mainly conspicuous by its absence. There is much point in this, although it fails to allow for one fact. The develop ment of improved motor power for street railways has in many cases exercised the function of changing unprofitable horse railways into profitable electric or cable incs. Of the three cable lines of Pitts- burg.two took the place of notoriously un profitable horse car lines. Of the five electric roads, one succeeded to a bank rupt horse car line; one divides with a cable road the business that formerly did not suppoit a single horse railway, and three have taken the places of the old lines, which were more or less profitable under the old regime. Of the eight new lines in this city, therefore, the argument applies to just one-half. It is nevertheless true that the cheapen ing of expenses by improved motors has reached the public in very fevvnstances. The public has gained by improved serv ice as a rule; but the pecuniary gain in the actual operation of the roads has been directed into the sustenance of largely watered capital for the enrichment of pro moters. This is simply because municipal legislators, untaught by experience, have permitted the old conditions, by which the benefit of competition is prevented from reaching the people, to be increased rather than removed in the creation of the new lines. The effect of competition on street rail way fares has been illustrated in this city by the fact that it first reduced fares-from East Liberty from ten cents to five and then along one line to three cents. The last reduction cut the rates to very neaily the cost of operation, and may now be ranked as a measure of warfare to force the combination recently announced. But it show s that under the influence of legiti mate competition, a rate of about four cents, or six tickets for a quarter, would yield a fair profit on a line of large traffic. As this means a saving of about six dollars per annum to the average man, it is perti nentto ask if it wouldnothave been worth while for municipal legislators to have made some effort to secure competitiv e rates to the public Cocerxino the assertion of a cotem porary, that tho bupicmc Couit confined its oiderdiiecting tho assumption of liability to tho indebtedness of $i,000,i)00 existing when tho decision was handed down, Tun DisrATcueTpiesed a doubt as to thu exist ence of such an order, wheieupon tho para graph fionii the decision is quoted, stating that tho assessments must fail and all "un collected liens must fail with them." Sup posing that this statement of principle in a decision which issued an "Older" only with regard to one case oil a single street can be stretched to be an order dnecting a general assumption of liability, will our coteuv porary please hunt again and find out where it makes any difference between people who paid the--- assessments in ls90, say, aud those who paid them in ltS9 or 1;SS? So far as it confines the putativo older to auythiiig.it ispeitinent to note that it confines it to "uncollected liens." Lord Stanley's denial that he has re signed the Governor Generalship of Canada proves tha' His Lordship knows when he is well 01T too clear';- to resign the lucrative and not laborious position of figurehead to the Canadian ship of state. "Plenty to eat and nothing to do," as the facetious Buzfiiz lemarked to Mi. Sam Weller, describes His Lordship", occupation with practical ac curacy. With regard to the proposition to make Pennsylvania's building at the World's Fair a facsimile of Independence Hall in Pnila delpbia, the Philadelphia Ledger very per tinently says that while such a fac simile might be an interesting exhibit it w ould not be suited to the purposes of a State head quarters. The obj ects of tho latter building requ're another kind of structuie. and it should be planned for its 1 eal put poses. On the other hand, as a State exhibit a fao simile of Independence Hall or a reduced copy of it with its contents might be very attractive, snbjectonly to the objection that it woul-.boajiepetitioa of one of tho feat ures of tho Ccntenn .al. A telegraph company him a laborer ts set up somo telegraph poles, the laborer leaves the holes unguarded, a girl breaks her leg 111 one of th J holes, sues the company and gets a vcidiei which the court sets aside saying that she must sue the laborer. This is tho la' est condensed report of the grand judicial principle that coiporations cannot break legs vicariously. "If the crowned heads and prime minis ters of Europe were encaged in stock specu ationon their own account, what fortunes they might make," remarks an exchange. And why use the potential mood in refeiring to it. Inasmuch -as the crowned heads and statesmen generally do lay up very snug lit tle nest eggs, is it not charitable to suppose that they rival the example of their brethren, the American money kings, by speculating on the sttengthof their inside knowledge? Any othei theoiv of the ac cumulation of their fortunes while in power would havo to suppose a raoie dnect appro priation of the sums out of the public reve nues. Ifow it is heard in Xevv York that Gov ernor Hill will take his Senatorial salary as well as his Gubernatorial stipend. Did any man who was acquainted v ith tho versatile David Bennett ever doubt that he would do so afterbe 6ad made up his mind that he would fill both positions? It is interesting to observe that the New Yoik World has come to the point of leoog nizing that neither Cleveland nor Hill can reconcile the factions of New York, and therefore suggests William C. Whitney as an eligible heir to tho political fortunes of both. The infrl declares Mr. Whitney to be an ideal man in vanous respects, but omits to mention one very weighty qualifi cation with the Demoeiatic wire-pullers, namely, tho fact that Mr. 'Whitney would be backed up by a very capacious and elfectivo Standard Oil barrel. EnnEMlcs of influenza are raging in both France and Germany. Under this common affliction it is to be hoped that the two countries can sneeze at each other with out bringing on open hostilities. It is noted by the XewYork Telegram that little money changed hands on the Yale-n-irvard football game because -Yale was afraid and Harvard didn't dare." This may be the true reason; but it is much to be wished that our cotemporary could have found good ground for saying that it was because the students of tho two leading educational foundations of the country had been taught that betting was an attempt'to get the money of someone else without giving him an honest return for '.t. The Democratic Xational Committee meeting comes next. Might not Pittsbuig renew its effort for a convention in the hope that it could captuie and convert the party? Xovv wo hear that Germany is to supply heraimywitha new field gun, and the im portance of the point of view is illustrated by the statement that its projectiles "com bine the good points of both explosive snell and shrapnel." From the standpoint of the people who flic the gun tho qualitiesie ferred to may bo "good points;" but from tho standpoint of the people torn to pieces by them they might be considered simply infernal. Afteb the blasts of the past week, the piospectis fair that even tbe weather will be good enough to giro thanks for. The report that the cruiser Philadelphia wasfoiced to sail short of $250 000 worth of fittings that belong to her is not very satis factory. It is true that if naval contractors had their way tho chance of a vessel getting to sea would be very problematic; but it is still more to the point that to send out a ves sel at this season incompletely fitted may bo a case oT the moio haste with the worst speed on record. , WHERE SOCIETY REIGNS. Preparations Tor Thanksgiving; and Christ mas in Chirltablo Circles The Pitts burg Club Hinders Buds From Blossom ing Tilings of Which People lake to Talk and Read. The ladies in Pittsburg, partially forming the Auxiliary Committee for Pennsylvania in the Woman's Department o( the World's Fair, aie immensely puzzled. Tho formal notification tluough The Dispatch yester day, of the Governor's ratification of their appointments was no: inspiring, since it convoyed not the slightest grain of intelli gence concerning the duties of a member of tho Auxiliary Committee for Pennsylvania of the World's Fair. Tiro mmors aie vary ing and slightly confusing. Somo state ments aie to the effect that the positions aie wholly honorary, and that the prestige of notable names is all that is wanted; a not unpleasant condition of affairs on tho whole. Others think cynically the thing bites and that the committee will know this to their sorrow befoie the Fair conies ott in tho amount of work requited. Xot a few smil ingly inquiie wnat tho levy is likely to be, pioducmg their puises at the same time as an evidence ot good faith. And a diligent and painstaking search tailed to bring to ul uuyuouv who Knew anyuung oi tno burdens tho nosition entails. At the same time there is evident 11 universal desne to do anything and everything, if only any thing and eveiything be pointed" out and giv en a name. The Thanksgiving sales at Ihc Pittsburg Women's Exchange arc really meant to be an introduction of the Christmas goods. Since the opening on Tuesday theie has been most successful results; and neither the managers can complain for lack of pation tionage, nor pations complain for lack of beautiful goods. Consequently general sat isfaction is felt Peoplu have'uever quite looked upon the Ivxchange us an edu cational factoi, but have contented themselves witn piaising it as a mea. s of doing good by supplying the needy. Hut this fact is becoming potent. Tnose behind the scenes say that lesults are astonishing in the matter of inner development among the consigners. Of course there will bo those, tho tiieome utihtailans, who want nothing of all this, but neveithe'ess it proves the Exchange a valuable aid in civilization, or what we aie better pleased to tei 111 cultiva tion. In this one paiticular the Exchange deserves many compliments. There ap peals to be no immediate likelihood that the Eschango will lcmove Iron its piesent quaiters. even if Home's diygood shop should go fuither down street. While a good deal of credit is given to Home for the good pationage which the Exchange en jojs, nevertheless the minagers have a gi eat belief 111 the Exchange's own reputa tion. Mr. Henry Oliver's house, with its re cently completed addition, nobly crowns the prettily using gi ound surrounding it on Kidge avenue. The lumored accounts that Mi. Oliver would soon dispose of tho lesi dence cannot bo traced to any authentic source, and is doubtless as absurd as the stones circulated lecently about the sale of so many Filth avenuo lcsidences. It is scaicely piouable that Mr. Oliver would add to his house to please his individual taste and then get nd of it to please somebody else. While aiclntecturally disposed a mention should he made of Mr. Harry Dar lington's house, now being erected on Irw in avenue. It completes a veiy pretty bit of stieet beginning with Mr. Hostetter's tem Tiorary place of abode at the coiner of Western avenue, including Mr. A. E. W. Paintei's picturesque and handsome resi dence, the stately, cold Jones house and concluding with Heniy Phipps' house at Kidge avenue. It's a pity that these mag nificent houses should have streets sopooily paved. It can't be any pleasure to drive over a roao. "fanged with mutderous stones." Thanksgiving Eve sales were in order yesteiday both in town and in the East End. Calvaiy Church sisterhood held one similar to the successful event of last jear, and for the same purpose, that of realizing money for the Christmas charities. Some thing which commends the sale to large heaited people is the manuei in wuich Calvary distiihutcs the money, or rather that which the money put chases. No differ ence in sex, sect or nationality is made. Theie is only one thing demanded and that is need. The work of charity is gone about svstematically and quietly, and thanks to tho good sistei hood, that respecter of pei sons, Santa Clau- pays good visits at houses, at which otherwise he would quito forget even to stop. The talked-of housewarming at the Pitts buig Club House will doubtless end in its coalescing w ith the opening Monday even ing dance. This is due to the fact that the hou e has been in the hands of the uphols terei and decorator a great deal longer time than anybody expected. There certainly will bo 110 time befoie the dance, which comes off December 11, so that the house warming must be included either in that date or given at a later time. Tbe de bntantus balls havebeen hindered by the de lay at the club house, or, at least, some of them, as several will be given at the Da- qucsne uiud, tne dates 101 ready been settled. which have al- Social Chatter. Tns Mendelssohn Band of Wilkinsburg gave its first concert last evening in the new Opera House on Penn avenue. The band is a local organization, composed of some of the best musical j oung men of the borough. They have been 01 king hard under the guidance of Piof. T. F. Kirk all winter, and have made wondeiful piogiess, as was shown 111 the excellent programme. The band was assisted by the Plnlhaimonic Or chestra and the following soloists: Mis. Adah S. Thomas, J, C. Sweitzer, Misses Emma and Clara Chester, II. F. Ncilsson and W. Sutley. The Exchange, in connection with the Employment Bureau of the East End. did a good ante-Thanksgiving trado yesterday. The pallor looks very cheerful with its tables coveted with china and lancy work. Not the least mospeious sign was tempt ing pies, 111 inv of which Doiea little caid marked "sold," thus telling the belated cus tomcr that if she vantcd a pic she had better get theie alopg with tho eaily biid. A plfasamt little "piofessionnl" tneater raity consisting of Jiiss Susie Kcrwin ana her inotliei, Mi. Wilbur and his mo'her, Miss Kci w ln's nephew and Miss Belle Ham ilton enjoyed Fiank Daniels at the Du qnesno Theater last night. Miss Julia WatsoVs coming out Mil is likely to be given at the Pittsburg Club. Miss Julia is a pretty and charming gul, and as she has alwaj s been a lavoute, the indi cations aie for a debut that will be second to none. Mr.s. GrsKT cave a card party to a nnmber of friends last night al the Monongahela House. PEOPLE OP PROMINENCE. SECr.ETAr.Y FosTxn was reported last night to be fast improving. Mrs. Bernard Beeee, the actress who will soon start on an Australian tour, rejoices in the fact that she is a godchild of William Makepeace Thackeray. According to a vote taken -by a popular woman's journal, Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe is one of the ten most popular nov elists of Amenca among cither men or women. Jay Gould's private car has been ordered putinieadinesslor immediate use for his Western tup. Ho will probably leave to night, as he is reported to be well enough for a ti lp over his roads. Adjutant Generate McClelland is slowly recovering, says a vestei day's dis patch from Harrisbuig, and is expected to be at his office again before long. Ov ei work probably contributed to his present ill health. Congressman Cuisp, candidate for the S,peakeiship, belongs to an old Virginia family, who lemained in the Old Dominion until tho outbieak of the Civil War, and then lemovedtoGeorgia. He is a lawyer by profession, and was on the bench before his flrsS election to Congress seven yeais ago. Sara Bernhardt did not know until recently that she was born In the Latin quar terofPans. She supposed that she was a nativo of Havie. She was born in 184(, ac coiding to the birth ceitiflcato. and her mother was a Berlin Jewess who was then engaged in the millinery business in the Rue de l'Ecolo do Medccin. Mark TWAIN, who went to Berlin re cently, has been the object of great interest to the people of Geimany's capital. His portraits have been printed in the daily and weekly papers; long ai tides upon his life and works have been written, and numei ous accounts have been given of his fabu lous wealth. Tw ain's works have long been translated Into the German language. The humorist is popular in the Fatherland. THAHKSGIVIHG DAY. Its Origin and an Epitoms ot Its Hls- tory. Doubtless the setting aside of an especial day for the giving of praise and thanks had its origin in tho appointment of tho Hebrew Feast of Tabernacles provided for in the Mosaic code. The day we celebrate now in, a national sense as Thanksgiving Day is, however, traced to a more modern origin. Says the Baltimore American: In July, 1623, a day of fasting and prayer was appointed in the5 in fant colonies of New Unfland on account of diouth. Kain had come abundantly while they wore praying, and Governor'Bradforil appointed this a lcligious service in token of it. At Charleston, S. C, 1G31, a fast day was turned into a day of thanksgiving on account of tho ai rival of supplies from lie land. Therecoids tell of many such cele brations in the Massachusetts colony, for several 1 easnns, in 1B-J, 1G."1, 1(37, 1CH and 1G39; in the Plymouth colony in 1651, JObS and 1680, when the custom seems to have become general and v eailj-. Massachusetts Bay was the hrst to appoint an annual th infcsgivmg, by the proclamation or the English Gov ernor. During the Revolution Thanksgiving Day was a national institution, hnnuallv recom mended by Congress, but, after the general tbanksziving for peace 111 1781, there was no national appointment, until, in 179, George Washington, at tho suggestion of Congress, recommended a day of thanksgiv ing for tho uuopuon oi ine i;ons ltntlon. lie issueu an other proclamation in honor of the supres sion of an insuiiection in 1795. Piesident Madison, by reqnest of Conitress, recom mended snch a day as thanksgiving for peace in 1815. But the official recommend ation for the giving of thanks was confined mainly to New England until 1817. after which it was legulnrly appointed by the Governor of New Yoilc. The Dutch Gov ernor of New York had proclaimed uch days 111 IGU, 1W5, lR.r5 ind 1661 and the Eng lish Governors in 1755 and 1760. In 1835 tho Governor of Virginia, lecommended a davof tliHiiksgiviug, but, in lt57, Governor W lse, when requested to do so, publicly declined, on the mound that he was not aifthoiized to interfere in leligious matters. During the civil war Piesident Lincoln issued pioclatnations recommending annual thankscivin days, since when it has been the custom for the Piesident, the Governors of the sev eral States, and even of the Mayors of principal cities, to recommend the ou sel vance of the day. Custom lived the d.iv as th,e last Thursday in November, hut theie wasnounilormity in the appointing of the clay up to 18C4. MENTI0MNG MINNEAPOLIS. That it is Minneapolis and not Chicago should cause 110 heart-burnings, tor Chicago, as stated, could not be looked upon as an active competitor at any stage of the pro ceedings Chicago Tribune. It is another triumph for the great and bounding West, no Eastern city having had ev en the ghost of a show, and it is doubtful w hether any Piesidental convention here after w ill be held east of the Alleghenies. Philadelphia Bulletin. CoxoKATCLATiois to the bright young city of the Isoithwest! Ohio will be theie in goodly repiesentation to see the best men win in the nominations, and in next Novem ber will choose her usual number of repre sentatives to support them in the Electoral College. CVicmnaft Gazette. The most impoitnnt point in favor of the city chosen by the National Committee is tho unfair and dangerous nature of the contest which the KepuDlicansof the Noith west will have to engage in nevt year. They aie neaily certain to Je compelled to fight con scienceless and yet very foimldablo com binations between tho Democrats and the Farmers-' Alliance. Cleieland. Leader. The convention would have enjoyed itself better 111 its intellectuals, its lustheticals and its general inside aud outside if it had been held here, but it's all the same to the town. The delegates will miss New York, but New York is large and forcetful, and it won't miss them. Incidentally, we may ob serve that in the business technically known as hustling, Minneapolis doesn't need any fly paper. iV. Y. Sun. Now that Minneapolis has been chosen as the place ior holding the Bepublican Na tional Convention there is no thought of "calling in tho coroner," or of having the Republican party "go into bankrutcy," On tne contrary, tne politicians, giving up their lnsinceie and absurd contentions, seem to be fairly well' satisfied with the choice made, which is colorless as to candidates. In Minneapolis the convention will be as free as may be from strong local politics. Philadelphia Ledger. The idea that the selection of one city rather than another has "significance" or "political effect" is mainly nonsense. The Republican Convention, when it assembles at Minneapolis, will nominate the same can didate it would havo nominated if it had been, held in Chicago, Cincinnati or New Yoik. It is Mr. Blaine in any case ir he will run, and otherwise Mr. Hairison, no matter wheie the convention is held. The choice of Mmneanolis is by no means an in judicious one. JYcio York World. The holding of the convention at Minne apolis will be helpful to the Republican party The gathering of a great body of lepiesentative national Republicans H the Northwest will ineiease the confidence, unity and nneigy of Republicans in that glowing and pi ospeious legion. It will ox eitanimpoitant ellect in strengthening Re publicanism in eveiy Northw estcin State in such a degiee that the National Republican Committee can chiefly devote its time and attention to the States of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Indiana. Xcic York Press. GOVERNOR HOVEY'S REMAINS Taken I"rom the Rotunda of the Capitol and Transported to Mt. Vernon. IxDiASAroLis, Nov. 25 TUo remains of Governor Hovey wore lemovea from the ro tunda or the Capitol at 10 o'clock this mm n ing and staited on their journey to Mt. Ver non. They weie followed to the depot by a large concomse of people. Minute guns were filed by a detachment or light artillery, and tho bells of thefcity tolled duimzthe march. The way was Hd by eight Grand Aimv posts, followed bjvthe hearse with a platoon of police on citheride, and Governor Chaso and tha other State offlceis. The train left the city at 10 30 o'clock. The members of the family, State offlceis and Judges ot the courts occupied President McKeen's private car, which was tendered for their use, while detachments of eight Grand Army posts and of the various mili tary companies of the State and numerous citizens occupied the lemain ing ears. The train will stop at Terre Haute, Vincennes and Evansville, where the citizens will be given an opportunity to view the remains. THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR. The time is at hand when the ovster lies clown with the turkey and a little child shall eat them. Buffalo Express. Hail to the turkey! This week he will be what old Ben Franklin would have made him instead of the eagle the national bird. ?ew York Recorder. Th xksoivii.q sermons ot this season ought to be models of their kind. The'ministers hav e before them an unusual supply of the very best material. Baltimore American. That the cropsof the United States for this year aro worth $700,000,000 more than those oflast year is a good point for a Thanksgiv ing sei mon. Cincinnati Commercial-Gazette. While wo are' sending our pork product abroad, we aro fattening our turkeys for homo consumption on Thanksgiving D-vy. It is one ot the fine tnings about protection that we keep tho best things for the home mat kct. -Veio York Press. Ivthe first place I think wo ought to be jubilantly thankful that we have ev er been born at all. The greatest and luckiest thing that can happen to a man is to be born. If there is any man of whom'this cannot be said, theio is something the matter with that man. lam well awaie that when a manisboin bo must look forward to the colic, and teething, and tho measles, and failing in love. But theie is so much mote fun in being a live man than in being a dead stone, that all these little troubles I hav e enumerated will net weigh a feathei's weight in the balance against it. So every man ought to celebrate his birthday with waving banners and beating drums; but as theie aro so many birthdays, and this would, perhaps, make so many processions as to in terfere witu tne leguiar courso of traffic, a man should be just as thankful as possible for be'ng born, every Thanksgiving Day. Uncle Dudley in Boston Globe. OUR MAIL POUCH. The Language of Monkeys. To the Fditor of The Dispatch: I see an article in The Dispatch devoted to Prof. Garner's monkey language. I have been for five years a trader on the west coast of Africa; have been witn Baron Coponfelts, Count de Brazza, La Glize, the French naturalist, and many other people of note, and have had ample opportunities to study the habits of tho gorilla, both in tne dense foiests of the Ogowe and Gaboon rivers and also in their captive state prior to having them shipped to Europe, I have hunted with some of tho best natives in the Ogowe tfgion, and after all am of this opinion: That tho gorilla. chimpin?ee, Colo Camba, and in fact all African monkeys, are able from the natural formations of their tongues, throats, etc., to uttei uei tarn sounds, as of warning, menace, pleasure and want, and nothing else. As for their distinguishing between water and milk it is absurd. In their natural state they have no milk, and thereforo hav e no word for what they don't have, andas tbev are alw ays out of doors they don't much mind the weather, and if they wanted sneiter they would go and tako it. They go to the river for water and don't have to ask for it, and the same with food, rheio is an old saying in Gaboon or Em pongwe: Kerama ni niemma a nosi lunda, which means, "Diclvou ever see one monkey ive another a nut?" Certainly not, if ho egged ever so hard tor it in Garner's or any other linsro. Let him once camp in the woods around Lake Ayingo at night and ho will soon find out that theie is more reality in the mosquito's little song of th rst than the gorilla's morning trummings and roar ing. A. Smith. Pittscdhg, November 24. Against the Slaughter of Birds. To the Editor or The Dispatch: The statement has been going the rounds of the press that the other day at the great convention of the Woman's Christian Tem perance Union in Boston a resolution ex pressing disapproval of the custom of wear ing birds was lost. This is a mistake. It was only referred. On the last afternoon of the convention, after other resolutions had been discussed and adopted, this one was again niesentcd and carried by a rising vote. It was as follows: "Resolved, That we hereby expies our disapproval of tho custom of wearing the bodies, wings or feathers of biids (except those of the os trich) as a part of our clothing or headgear, and we call upon all right-minded women to unite with us in efforts to abolish this de structive and cruel fashion." The lollowlng concerning vivisection was also adopted unanimously: "Resolved, That we reaffirm the lesolntion condemning vivisection as being cruel, unnecessary and demoralizing, which was passed last year at Atlanta, and we recommend State unions toendcavo-to secuio such amendments to tho State laws as shall piohibit the experiments on ani mals now so often performed before classes of young people as being revolting, tending to deteriorate the moral character, and to directly antagonize the work of our bands of mercy." Mart F. Loveix, Superintendent Depaitment of Meiey, Na- t onal W. C. T. U. Brvh Maw it, P, Novembers!. Entirely Too Conservative. To the Fditor of the Dispatch: The failure of Pittsburg to secure the next Republican Convention 13 more evidence of a conservative town, and also evidence that we should have an active body, always on the alert for tho interests of the city, or we will find that Pittsburg, w ith all its advant ages for being foiemost, w ill pass into a dry rot. Some person said: "Pittsburg is slow in getting a start, but when started she goes." Yes, but she gets a start on too late, and it would be more credit to her to not get a stait on than to come in out of breath ask ing for favors that other cities have pre pared for and put up money for without stinfc months ahead. It is not conservative we are, but too slow and selfish. It requires readv cash to pnsh the city lust the same as it does to push a business. Now, then, with no organized body to present these matteis properly befoie, you cannot get the proper financial support, a,nd those who put up their money uoro tardily and not near tho amount thev would it more vim or push were shown. Then if the enterprise wns a failure, as in the case of the Republican Con vention, they cannot be indnced to put up on another occasion. What we require is that our leading business people organize, and you will have the middle class and workinsman join in any thing that w ill have a tendency to push our city as it should be. The Pittsbnrir naners aie all ii?bt and will alwavsdomore than their share, but they cannot do all. Let us get to the front or we will in a shoi t time be called a slow town. Pittsbcko, November 21. Pittsbukq. Tolttoi's Unwise Zeal. New York Sun. The impracticable character of Count Tolstoi, the Russian novelist, is clearly shown by his manifesto to the Russian Gov ernment, declaring that unless it guarantee to feed the people until the next harvest, and faithfully perform the pledge, there will be a revolution, in which he, To'stoi, will take part himself. It mav be impossible even lor the autocrat of all the Eussias to save his people from the fatal consequences of famine, for the means of a Government depend on the piodcct ofloans, taxation, or confiscation, and if, as in Europe to-day, Russia's credit in tho money market is bioken, on what can the Government de pend but confiscation? Can a human itarian Auarclnst like Tolstoi consistently favor confiscation instead of voluntary char itj ? And can Tolstoi, the preacher of peace at all hazards, consistently advocate a 1 ev olution, if confiscation fails or is denied? buielvsuch a manifesto is the act of a vague sentimentalist, not of either a serious phil anthropist or philosophic statesman. PLAYS TO COME. There will be matinees at all the theaters to-day. Miss Ollie ToitBrrT and her concert com pany w ill appear at Carnegie Hall on Friday evening. , The Boston Symphony Orchestral Club will give two concerts to-day, afternoon and evening, at Old City Hall. The Wilbur Opera Company is giving comic opera in better style at Harris' Theater this week than some of the re splendent starring organizations seen here this year. The favorite comedians, Evans and Hoey, will hold forth at the Alvin next week, and aided by Miss Minnie French, a3 Innocent Kidd, and tho statuesque Sisters Lealy, who aie new to this city, they will present their latest version of the popular larce-comedy, "A Pallor Match." New music, new acts and new specialties will be the mle, and a fine performance may be looked for. Os Saturday "Camille" will be given at the matinee at the Alvin, and Miss Clara Morris will assume her most notable role. The late Don Piatt, alter seeing a performarce of "Camil'e" by Clara Morris, remarked to General Daniel Sickles, who accompanied him: "This woman is the Rachel of Amer ica." "Rachel? Yes," said the General, "but with warm blood in her veins, Morris appeals to the heart as well as to the intel lect." Miss Marie Wainw right has gone out of Shakespearean roles into the lomantic cica- tion of Sir Walter Scott, "Amy Kobsarr," and in this will be seen at the Grand Opera Hoiv-o next week. This is a dramatization of "Kenilwoith,"aud the New York verdict upon tho production was veiy favorable. Wonderful stones ai 0 told of the scenery and general 1110 anting of tho play, and re membering how- Miss Wamw light staged "Twelfth Night," they may be believed. Since Florence's death Mr. Gnfno has more than ever a dlaim to he considered the fore most exponent of pure American comedy.' It is good news that he will piesent "The Senator," a v cry bright, if not a very deep, play, at the Duquesnc Theater next week. As to tho company suppoiting him, the promise is made that it will bo as good as last car's, allieit that charming ingenue, Miss Stuari, who was here recently with the Pitou Company, is no longer with it. Robfrt Ma:tlll, one of the few young actors of ability who have elected to be faithful to the romantic drama, will beat the Bijou Theater next week. He will ap pear in the ev er-atti activ e drama of Dumas', Tho Corsican Brothers," on Monday night and for tho greater rart ot the weck At the Wednesday matinee and Friday night he will bo seen in D'Eunery's drama, "Mon bars," a part which suits Mr. Mantell well. On Friday -evening he will present for tho first time in Pittsburg two new plays, "The Louisianian," a romantic drama by Edward M. Allfriend, and a one-act piece, "A Lesson in Acting." CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS- California sells wine to Paris. Mackerel Jiave appeared off the Pacific coast. Delirium tremens kills four people per day in England. England and Ireland together drank C.COO.OOO gallons more beer than Germany last year. The great bell of Moscow (which has never been hung) is 21 fest high and 63 feet in circumference. Indians enlisted in the cavalry service are easily disciplined. learn the drill readily and soon acquire the esprit de corps. The famous Anaconda mine havin? swallow cd several fortunes, has begun at last to disgorge and is producing heavily. In Iceland, with 66,000 population, a murder which has lust occurred is the flret for 56 years, and tho whole island is in an in tense state of excitement. Two hundred and twenty-five loaded four-w heeled coal cars on the Lehizh Valley Railroad are said to have, constituted the heaviest train ever hauled over any road in America. .Rattlesnakes are raised for their oil by a man named Jav nes, near Gainesville, Mo. He has 10,000 snakes and the "crop" which he kills each year is about 2,000. The oil sold for liniments, brings $1 a plat. Compressed air delivered from a flexi ble hose with a small nozzle at a pressure of 50 pounds to the square inch is very effective in cleaning plush cushions. It is so used on the Union Pacific Company's road. The expression "it is me" is idiomatic, and "it is I" is pedantic, is maintained by authority on English. This Is very flatter in ir to the masses, but the educated classes will, in this instance, doubtless, prefer to bo pedantic rather than idiomatic. The population of the world is about l,500,00O,C0O people. One-fourth dies before the 15th year, and tho average duration of life is about XI j ears. Thirty-three millions and thirty-tlneo thousand people die each year, making a total of 91,501 each day. The fact that first strikes American visitors to Rome is the noticeably modern character of the Holv City, and the an tiquities have to be looked for. The city appears prosperous and improving but these arc not things usually said of it. Four-fifths of the steam engines of the world havejbeeii constructed within the last 25 years. The total horse power is estimated it 49 000,000, of which the United States has 7,500,000, Great Britain 7,000,000, Germany, 4 5O(i,O0O, France 3,000,030, and Austria, 1,500, 000. Corn is king this year to the following extent in the 10 leading corn growing States: Iowa. 331 502 000; Illinois, 241,076 000; Missouri, 20I.17S 000: Kansas, 163 853,000: Nebraska. 145,004,000: Indiana, 116,490,OCO; Ohio, fti 200,000: Texas, 93123 000: Kentucky, 6,040.000, and Tennessee, 81,824,000 An Indian tomahawk was found in the center of a sawlog 33 inches in diameter at Moore, Mich. It is six inches in length and has a blade of roughlv forged iron, about two and a half inches long. The solid timber over the head of the tomahawk wa3 ten inches in thickness. It is estimated that it had been m tbe tree two centuries. German blood predominates in the roval families or Europe. Tho English Princes are Germans, the Eus3iaus are, all the Teu tonic Princes are, the King or Spam's mother is German, so was the mother of King Hnmbert, while the reisrning house in Poituzal is the "house of Braganza-Saxe-Cobourg and Gotha." Germany is the mother ot Kmss.just as Virginia was the mother Presiden ts. Berlin has 210 miles of streets, so that t person might walk ten days in the German capital without going np or down the same stieet twice. If the 1,400,000 inhabitants were to turn out at a grand review, and march in double file, thev would form a line 750 miles in length. If the citizens should all deter mine to start on a journey on the same day and at the same time, all the cars m Ger many would accommodate but two-tbird3 of their nnmber. Old watches of particular value include those with hog's bristles for reeulatmg tho vibrations, egg watches, all watches with one hand, with or without ornamentations. watches without balance springs and with out regulatinjr arrangpments,those with per forated cases, those with finely chased cases, if tho chasing bo distinct; enameled gola watches of the finest workmanship, wateb of wood or ivory or with iron or porcelain cases, and nearly all watches with peculiar movements. Pre-Columbian discoverers of America are claimed by several nations. Chinese Buddhist monks are said to have landed in Mexieo in the fifth century or onr era. St. Brendan, who is said to have flourished in Ireland in the sixth centnry, is said to have landed at some unidentified place on this continent: but Leif Ericssen, in the year 1000 actually made a landing in what is now Mt. Hope Bay, Rhode Island, and called tbe country Vinland. The settlement was broken up by internal dissensions In MIL Madoc, Prince of Wales, is said to have visited this country in 1170." An elephant ranch is the latest novelty proposed in California, and a Mr. Newbury, the projector, is enthusiastic about his plans. He proposes to cultivate the ele phant for its meat and its capacity for hard and diversified work. Ho says that "as an article of food the elephant is superior to tne horse," and most people will be willing to accept his statement, though not fully appreciating its fores. He says that behind a touzh exterior it hides a tender steak, and that African explorers are profuse in their praise of elephant cutlets. A full grown elephant weighs about 7.000 pounds, and Mr. Newbury counts 6,000 of this as good meat. The Esquimaux, says a missionary who has been long among them, are in many re spects superior to the Northern Indian tribes. They are not numerous, but their numbers do not seem to be diminishing. They escape the terrible famines that occa sionally carry off iarge numbers of Indians, partly because the food supply of the Esqui maux, consisting offish and seal, is less pre carious than the moose and reindeer on w hich the Indian depends. The Esquimaux aro also more provident, and they lay np a stock of food for a chance period of scarc ity. They are more industrious than the Indian and show greater ingenuity in the manufacture of tools, weapons and other articles. THEIE PARENTS THINK THEM SMART. Mrs. La Mode. ."Oh, I beg yon to take off that dear little bird, fro much is being said about this destruction ofbird-Ilfc that I wonldnot wear one for the world, Haveu't you anything ele?" Milliner (UyiDg a wing on the hat). "I hardlT think we have, madam. Wcare trimming with birds and wings almost entirclv ." Mrs. La Mode. "That wing would do very well were It not so small. If yon can get more of that stvle you mi j trim it up with wings." Uarpcr's Bazar. Mr. Mercer "Do you think advertising pajs?" Mr. Mcrcur"It didn't pay me; Host money by it." 3Ir. Mercc r "VV hat did you advertise;" 3Ir. Jlercur "I advertised for a wife andjr. her."-Vcfc. "What an accumulation of sweets these little fcllowshoard:" ald a philosopher, eontem plating an ant hill swarming with myriads or the tiny creatures. "Ye. I suppose they are nnite wealthy from their standpoint." "Do yon know by what principle they manage to accumulate so much" . "No. JIow'' "Well, probably lecan- thev understand the principles of line niiN.'' PhilvtelvMn Pre. Neighbob Do you fancy you conld sup port Etlul on ten dollars a week? Clarklcts I am n llling to try it: that is if that is the best j ou ran do. -Vw Tork llerahl. AVagg You can say what you choose, but it is a stprn necessity. Wooden Why what i V'a?g-Thc rudder. Oust m Courier. OLD-TIME TIIVMCSGIVIfO TIES. The splendid pies grandmother made Of strong and hearty mince. Throw modern efforts in the sbad They've not been equaled since; So. don't. I warn yon. gentle friend. Toy with these modem pies; Each rfparatc liairshill Und on end. And frightful dn.anisarie. Bnt grandma's pie: They werp the dreimil I slept without a snore! When I look bick It sometime seems I should have eaten morel The boy would And his slumbers sweet, Who"put his earthly trust t . In grandma's lx-weeks-old mince meat. Aud light and Hjkj crust. Spirk. Sjfcl