.4 THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, "THURSDAY,. ' DECEMBER 3, 189L ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY & IMG. Vol. 4fi. Nn. 39. Entered at Pittsburg Postoffiee November 1SS7, as second-class matter. Business Office Corner Smithfield and Diamond Streets. News Rooms and -Publishing House 78 and 80 Diamond Street, in New Dispatch Building. EASTERN ADVERTISING OFFICE, ROOM U. TRIBUNE BUILDING. NEWYORK. wre com plete flle of THE DIBPATCH can alwars be found. Foreign advertisers appreciate the convenience. Home advertisers and friends ofTHE DISPATCH, while la i'c York, are also made welcome. T&R ZTSPATCBis nsvlarixm mCt at Brenfmo'l. I Cnwn Stuart. Aeu Fori, awtn Ave de VOpera, Pant, Prance, where anyone trim hits been aitajy pointed at a hotel neat stand am obtain it. TERMS OF THE DISPATCH. rosTAGE rim ik Tin: tooted statxs. DAILT DjRFATCH. One Year. . 00 DAiLTDrerATcn. Per Quarter...- J 00 Daily Dl6rATCn, One Month 70 DaU-T Dl6rATCn, Including Sunday, 1 year.. 10 00 Daily DisrATcn. Including Sunday, Z m'tbs. 2 SO D AILY DISPATCH. Including Sunday, 1 m'th.. SO Pckdav DisrATdt, One Year. SM Weekly Dispatch, One Year. 1 Z The Dailt Dispatch Is dcltvered by carriers at IS cents per week, or. Including Sunday Edition, at S3 cents per week. PITTSBURG, THURSDAY, DEC. 3. 189L TWELVE PAGES TIME TO DECHRF. HIMSELF. A special telegram to a New York paper dcclarps positively that Secretary Blaine will accept the Republican nomination if tendered. While it is easy for correspond ents to affect certainty as to a matter which is probable and the temptation grows so long as the country continues to call for Mr. Blaine and he shows no sign of declining it is still well to recognize that something direct and positive from the Secretary himself is now about due. Yery soon within a few weeks Repub licans all through the country will begin to pick upon men to represent them at the national convention. Enough has already reached Mr. Blaine to assure him that, if he will accept, the great majority of the delegates will be chosen with special ref erence to his nomination. If he means to decline the party is fairly entitled to know it in time to consider the situation. Eerything points to the Secretary's willingness to accept a nomination which will be tendered with enthusiasm. But the circumstances are such as to make it reasonable to have some direct acknowl edgment from him by at least the opening of 1892. w I.OW POLITICAL MORALS. The "point of view" is admirably illus trated bv the comments of some Demo cratic organs on the proposal in Ohio to ra'se the question of Senator-elect Brice's elegibility. The Baltimore Sun regards it as "perhaps the strongest evidence of the low standard of political morals in the Buckeye State thathasyct been afforded." Considering that this is predicted not upon an expressed intention to turn out Senator Brice anyhow, but upon a very doubtful and cautions exnression of desire to in vestigate and see if the chargs of ineligi bility is well-founded, such a statement is a remarkable illustration of the fact that the lightest offenses of political opponents are worse than the blackest ones of their own party. Indeed, the expressions of belief at the Ohio meeting that Senator Brice is eligi ble were such that the Buffalo Courier re fers to them as "evidences of squeamish- ness." According to the .New York Dem ocratic plan of turning out duly elected representatives it is quite possible that a set of men who recognize that an oppon ent is eligible, and confine themselves to an investigation of his eligibility before taking further steps, would be regarded by Xew York Democrats as "squeamish." Xothing can be plainer that if a man has been elected to a positionfor which he is ineligible under the Constitution, it is within the limits of right to exclude him. The general opinion with regard to Brice's case is that he can prove his elegibility; but so long as Ohio Republicans confine themselves to an inquiry into his legal elegibility, and to presenting evidence against it to the Senate, they are acting strictly within their rights. If no other evidences of a low standard of political morals were to be found than this we could rejoice in a very pure status of our popular Government But unfortunately the esteemed Sun need not go outside its own party lines to find evidences of much lower political morals. If the Democratic, machine of its own city does not affoid it such evidence suppose "that it casts his eyes upon the means adopted to count out the repre sentatives chosen by the people in Xcw York. AN EXAMPLE FOR PITTSBURG. The history of the Manchester Ship Canal, nearing completion, affords inter esting instruction for cities in similar cir cumstances. Pittsburg only differs from Manchester, with regard to such a work, mainly in having a greater benefit to gain from the canal project, in proportion to its present prosperity, by having a traffic in which the cott of transportation is more vital. It is interesting to Pittsburg, therefore, to learn that the canal project for Man chester i not a novel one. Seventy years ago Manchester, to escape the exactions of the barge canal which then held a monop oly, projected a rival canal by the river Dee. But the railway system sprang up which was expected to bring reliet Man chester accepted the railway regime and waited for relief with the patience that we in Pennsylvania can find parallels for. But the net result of this waiting was ex pressed in 1877 by a resolution of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce that a ship canal was imperative to the prosper ity of that city. The effect of this resolution alone was not satisfactory. The Liverpool Docks and Railway Company declined to reform its charges on the strength of a resolution, and Manchester, after waiting five years longer with exemplary patience, got a sun ey for her ship canal and went up to Parliament with her project But here another obstacle was encountered. Im mense corporate interests were opposed. A traffic of twenty millions a year was at stake. The canal would reduce charges on cotton, wool and petroleum to less than one-twelfth the railway rates; and railway interests of a magnitude fully equal to those which control the trans portation of Western Pennsylvania threw cold water on any such plan to lessen their profits. Wc do not know certainly that any theory of "vested rights" and charges of "confiscation" of railway capital were aired; but it may be persumed that no such arguments were lacking. This power ful opposition delayed the bill for years in Parliament before It was finally got through. But this did not end the struggle. The project was placed on the market and subscriptions were called for to the extent of $30,000,000. But the subscriptions did not come. Capital looked coldly on a scheme that was expected to jeopardise its darling railway investments; and it is no stretch of the imagination to suppose that the railway interest was profuse with demonstrations of its impracticability. So after years of struggle the project was at dead halt until Manchester struck the idea of building her canal herself. A committee investigated the project and reported it sound. Upon this Manchester capital took the subscription. When this money was spent the city of Manchester raised a loan for the balance. The final result is seen in the fact that ocean vessels will unload their cargoes in Manchester next year. The morarof this for Pittsburg is very impressive. If you want to be sure a thing is done take hold and do it yourself. While the Ohio River and Lake Erie canal Is within the line of enterprises taken hold of by the Government, far more than the Nicaragua canal project, for which the moderate draft is proposed on the government credit of $100,000, 000, if Western Pennsylvania wishes to promptly secure the inestimable benefits of cheap water transportation it must take hold of the matter itself. There is capital enough in Western Pennsylvania to build the canal. The cheapening of freights on two staples iron and coal will pay for .it in six years. Why not realize this vast incentive to our prosperity as soon as the work can be done, and then when the Government gets ready to provide the country with a comprehensive system of free waterways turn over the canal to it at cost? ERRORS ON TI1E IIOND 1S5UE. A communication elsewhere takes strong ground against the proposed bond issue, on the assumption that if the bonds are issued the result will be to relieve nroperty owners who would be liable under the curative act from the payment of their assessments. We take this to be the argument from the assertions (1) that "an obligation is held by contractors against local parties," under laws which prove to be framed .in the interest of contractors and minority property holders; (2) that no one doubts that the curative legislation will be the future fixed law of Pittsburg; and that "here those interested see an opportunity to saddle the taxpayer with bills that they ought and nlust pay them selves, if they wait until the courts pass upon the justice of the curative act." The Dispatch is by no means set on the issue of the bonds. It has frequently stated that, if the majority prefer to have the money the city will have to pay, before it can collect the assess ments under the curative act, raised by a single levy in the year it falls due, it is right that such a course be taken. But in order that the decision of the people shall be intelligently rendered, it is well to have all the details of the matter clearly under stood. For tha5 purpose it is pertinent to say that each position quoted from our correspondent is fundamentally erroneous. The obligation held by contractors is not against private parties but against the city. If the city can maintain the cura tive legislation it can on its part collect a claim whirb. it holds in equity against the property holders benefited; but the con tractors can only look to the city for pay ment both under the terms of their con tract and by the specific rulings of the Supreme Court As to the question whether the curative legislation will be upheld or not, it is by no means so much of a foregone conclusion as our contribu tor thinks. That point need hardly bo discussed at length, because it really has no bearing on the issue of the bonds. The assertion that by some means the issue will relieve property owners who would be liable under the curativa act would be a very valid objection if there were an truth in it; bnt it is wholly without foun dation in fact It has been expressly stated that if the curative acts are sustained the city will proceed to collect the assessments under them, and apply the money to the redemp tion of bonds issued for the payment of the contracts. To suppose that the city officials will refuse to perform this duty when the bonds are issued is to accuse them of a monstrous and purposeless fraud, to be carried out by men of such standing as Mayor Gourleyand Controller Morrow. Such an accusation should not be made without foundation; and that it is without foundation is shown by the fact that to-day, in advance of either the issue of bonds or the decision on the curative act, the city is proceeding with the levying of all the special assess ments and preparing for their collection as soon as their legal status is indisputa bly defined. The whole question with regard to the issue of bonds is simply this: There are certain claims against the city which must be paid. If the curative act is sustained some of them though not a majority must be paid befdre the assessments can be collected. If the act is overthrown the city must pay them all. Whether the bonds are Issued or whether the city raises what must be paid by a general levy, the money will be collected to repay the city from the property benefited, pro vided the curativs legislation is upheld. The question for the taxpayers to decide is, whether they prefer to have what the city must pay raised by an increase of the tax rate or an issue of bonds. The fact that the latter course will entail the payment of interest would be an objection if it were not that, as the city can buy the bonds for its sinking fund, it will be paying interest to itself. On this statement of the case the voters can make up their minds which course they consider preferable and decide the question accordingly. THE PARAMOUNT OBLIGATION. A very intricate question of casuistry is that which is to govern the action of Mr. D. T. Beales, the Kansas City millionaire, with regard to the prosecution of the people who kidnaped his three-year-old boy, and got 8:5,000 ransom. Mr. Beales holds that by the agreement under which he ransomed his son he is in honor bound not to appear against the kidnapers or in any way contribute to their punishment This is placing an extreme construction on the obligation of a man's word. It is the highest estimate of the value of per sonal veracity; but unfortunately it runs counter to some other obligations of equallf not higher importance. Leaving them for a minute it is worth whileto inquire whether there are not limits to the obligations of personal promise. It is to be remembered that Mr. Beales was dealing with individ uals who had declared themselves by their acts, enemies to social safety, faithless to all obligations, and ready to prey upon him by the most outrageous acts. Is a man bound by a promise extorted by such means,or is he even compelled to keep faith with those who class themselves among the faithless? We do not hesitate to decoy a wild beast to his slaughter by deceiving him with the false promise of food. If a raging maniac gets possession of a danger ous weapon, we are ready to delude him with soothing words nntil we can clap him in a straight-jacket Why should the morality which permits us to deceive a wild beast who only jtollows the promptings of a savage nature, or the maniac who is led by the delusions of a disordered brain, bind ns to keep faith with nnmitigated rascals who prey upon us by the violation of all faith and the disregard of all promises? ' It is plain that whatever obligation rests on a man in Mr. Beales position is founded not on any claim whjch the kid napers of his boy have against him, but on hts claims against himself. In other words, his duty to himself may oblige him to respect his word So far as securing any advantage to himself by breaking his word is concerned, we are inclined to think Mr. Beales is right He could not honorably seek to recover back the 55,000 paid for his child's ransom, because that would be seeking to obtain an advantage by violating hls personal pledge. An honorable man's self-respect would pre vent that; but we do not think it can be carried o the degree of freeing the hon orable man from his duty to society.- Here is where the limit to the personal obligation is very clearly defined. A man's faith to the public duty of protect ing society from the ravages of outlaws and thieves is more binding than his per sonal "words to those public enemies. There is good morality in the common law principle that a man cannot make a bind ing contract that is opposed to public pol icy; and nothing can be more opposed, to public policy than an agreement that crim inals shall be protected from punishment Strictly speaking, Mr. Beales has com pounded a felony, and, while the public sympathy for the terrible straits of a parent seeking to redeem his child from the clutches of a criminal act will condone that fault, it is clear that the law cannot permit him to disobey its mandate to give his testimony when he is called upon for It It is certainly to be hoped that the Kan sas City court will compel Mr. Beales to testify in the case of the persons arrested for kidnaping his child. The protection of society is of more importance than an extorted promise to a criminal gang. cmr LIGHTS. The electric light bidding yesterday, while not bringing any propositions from outside concerns such as were expected, resulted in a less price than before. The charges for arc lamps are not above those generally prevalent for cities, and are in fact less by nearly forty per cent than to private consumers, but the charges for incandescent lamps are higher. With these latter, however, the city authorities say they will dispense wholly. The Dispatch is of the opinion that the city should be able to supply its light cheaper by a plant of its own. But it is fair to recognize that the figures at yester day's bidding are by no means exorbitant Life on the Chicago street railways has its touches of excitement of which travel on our traction lines is destitute. The other day passengers on a West Chicago car re fused to pay fares because the car was not heated. The conductor, in a spirit of mean revenge, left the door open and tried to freeze the rjassengers out; but this was met byaieversal of the usual procedure, and the passengers promptly put the conductor off the car. Then cries were raised for smashing the car and Indulging in other riotous proceedings; but the excitement quieted down, and the passengers telt so good'over their self-assertion that they paid up their fares like little men. Thus docs the long-snffering American street car pa tron occasionally break ont and demon strate that the worm will turn. The trouble with the water supply in New York, Brooklyn and Pittsburg moves the Baltimore American to refer exultingly to Baltimore's water supply, which, it asserts, "can never grow less." It might also add that owing to the nature of Balti more thore does not seem to be muoh danger of that city's doing what is the main trouble with Pittsburg, namely, growing beyond its water supply. The reported organization of Democratic ex-letter carriers and other ex-office-holders of that political complexion is regarded by the Buffalo Express as "a menaco to good government." If the organization were important enough to be a menace to any thing it would be a menace to Democratic success, both as an advertisement of the hunger of the Democratic machine and as a warning that Democrats who are not ex-rjlaca-liunters will be in danger of as cold weather in the event of Democratic success as in that of Democratic failure. It is stated by the Mexican Government that Garza, the alleged revolutionist, makes his raids as a cover to smuggling schemes. This relieves Mr. Garza from the graver sus picion that his raids were lor the purpose o prosecuting the enterprise of surreptitiously accrnlnsr illicit horseflesh and such other unconsidered trifles as he could get his hands upon. A Xew Yoke paper asserts that Ameri cans are too big to care what Rudyard Kip ling or any other English writer says of them. That is, we ought to be, especially since Kipling was hardly more epigram matical and sarcastic at our expense than was to be expected of a writer of his moods. But the fact that somo of. us do writhe and raise a tnss over the smartness of our trans atlantic cousins proves thai there is still an element among us that has not attained a realizing sense of our bigness. The latest and most practical suggestion with regard to Arctic exploration is that the rescuing party should De sent into the re gion first in order to bo on hand When its services are needed. This would be a very valuable suggestion if It did not leave open the puzzling question, who will rescue the rescuers? " The New York Frets says that "unless $10,000 is promptly raised work on the Wash ington memorial arch must be stopped, which, the Press remarks, "would be a dis grace to New York," This condition is a common fate forNew York's memorial enter prises; but it hardly seems that the disgrace will be any moro emphatic than the one in connection with the Grant memorial. In view of that $500,000 disgrace, what is the use getting worked up over a little $10,000 discredit? Sixteen thousand lives lost in the Japanese earthquakes! This, if we could realize it, would make even the Johnstown calamity seem commonplace. But the swallowing up of human lives on the other side of the globe cannot become as real to us as the lesser calamity at our very doors. ABOUT two-thirds of the liberated Ten nessee convicts have been recaptured and the Governor of the State is quoted assay ing that ''they shall bo returned to the minesifittakes.every able-bodied man in the State to dq it." That is more emphatic than discreet. Some means should be fonnd of asserting the supremacy of the law; but convicts In the mines were a blot on civili zation in the first place and will continue to be as long as they are kept there. The discovery pf Dr. Scott, the Presi dent's ather-in-law, that Mr. Blaine, "al though perfectly healthy is not the mag netic and pushing-looking man" he used to be, is important. Is the work of demagnet izing Blaine expected to polarize the Har rison boom? THE SCOTCH-AMERICAN. For Him Andrew Carnegie Claims the Credit of Oar Independent Nationality The Union ot the Two Races Forms the Most Perfect People Yet Evolved. In responding to the toast of "The Scotch-American" at the annual dinner of the St. Andrew's Society in New York, An drew Carnegie, among other Shines, said: 'This is indeed the age of instantaneous" phonography. -1 appear betore yon to-night commissioned to kodak, develop and finish tho Scotsman at home in four minutes, in four minutes rnore to picture him in Amer ica, and in two minutes moro to celebrate the union of tho two varieties and place be fore you the ideal, character of the world, the best flower in the garden, the first prize chrysanthemum, the Scotch-American. Gen tlemen, no race pure in blood has ever amounted to anything, either in the human or in the lower varieties of the animal king dom. The Briton sings 'Saxon and Dane, Norman and Celt are we.' The American is great chiefly because he is a conglomerate of all the races of Europe. For the improve ment of a race we must have a cross. Taken by himself the Scotsman's qualities give blm a high place; taken by himself the American is also in the front; bnt it is only through their union that the crowning mercy has been bestowed upon the world, and perfection at last attained in the new variety known as the Scotch-American, who in himself combines in one perfect whole the best qualities and all the virtues of both and stands before the world shining for all, the sole possessor of these united talents, traits, characteristics and virtues, rare in their several excellencies and wonderful in their combination. . "The result of lack of fusion between the races Is seen in the royal families of Eu rope, most of whom are diseased, manv weak-minded and not a few imbecile, and none of them good for much. Tho nobilities of the continent show the operation of the same law, and the aristocracy of Britain has been preserved from equal uegredation only by the wise fusion which Is constantly going on between the different classes of our parent land. We must have these mix tures if we are to live and improve; but the greatest and best of all these that ever was made is the union between the Scot and the American. The Scot a Love for liberty. "What are the elemental traits of the Scot? Two are prominent: An inextinguish able love of liberty, both civil and religious, and a passion lor education. Before he was educated, away back before the days of Ban nockburn, in the days of Wallace and Bruce, imbedded in the Scotsman lay the inRtinot of freedom and independence; he was born to be neither slave nor sycophant; he would have liberty if he had to fight for it, and in dependence if he had to die for it. Lot it never be forgotten that these sentiments have been powerfully moulded by his re ligion, for while the church in other lands in Europe, when connected with and supported by tho State, has always been the tool of fmwer in England, the Church of Scotland las sprang from the people, and has re mained true to its origin, the Church of the people. In all the crises ot Scottish history, among the most powerful advocates of the cause of the people havo been men in the Sulpit, and this jrom tho days ot Knox and ellvllle to the present. "His mountains and his glens, his moors and his heather, his babbling burns, his re ligion, climate, everything surrounding him has inculcated in the core of the heart of the Scotchman this intense and all-consuming love of liberty and independence. What, gentlemen, is the greatest glory of a State? The universal education of its people. In this Scotland stands pre-eminent. An Educated People. "Education has done its work with the Scotch. One might be challenged to produce a Scotchman who cannot read, write and cipher, and cipher well, too, and who knows just where the balance lies and to whom it belongs. For the educatiou of their chil dren the poorest Scotch family will suffer privation. They may starve, but rear their children in ignorance they will not. Frugal, shrewd, prudent, peaceable, conscientious in the discharge of duty to a degree, and above all other races gifted with the power of concentration, the Scottish race of 4,000. 000, as is acknowledged by all, has produced an effect upon the world which no other four millions of human beings, or double that number, can pretend to lay claim to. "Every Scotchman Is two Scotchmen; as his land has the wild, barren, stern crags and mountain peaks, around which temp ests blow, and also the smiling valleys be low, where thewildrose, the loxglove and the bluebell blossom, so the Scotsman, with hls'rugsed force and haid Intellect in bis head above, has a heart below capable of being touched to the finest issues. Senti mental, enthusiastic, the traces of a hare brained race floating about- him from his Celtic blood, which gives him fire, he is the most noetic belnr alive. Poetry and song are part of his very nature. He is born to such 'a heritage of poetry and song and romance as the child of no other land en Joys. Touch his head, and he will bargain and argue with you to the-last; touch his heart, and he falls upon your breast. Such Is the scot as ne find him at home. Founders of the Nation. "Who made the American nation ? A little more than a century ago what was the American? A puny, miserable colonist, a depen dent of another nation. Who gave the American a country? Bancroft tells: 'The first voice for dissolving all connection with Great Britain came not from the Puritans of New England, the Dutch of New York or tho planters ot Virginia, Dut iroin the Scotch Presbyterians of Noith Carolina.' "The great claims of the Puritans, of the Virginia planters, are gladly admitted; and to tne Dutch of New York every ono is will ing to express our gratitude for the part they played, but these races only followed the first voice crying aloud to the poor, de graded colonists to rise and be men; that voice was the echo from the heather hills, and rightly so, for ours is the race of whose main work for centuries as the mainten ance of the independence of our country at home, against England. The same great task devolved upon the Scot here. It Is the mission of the true Scot ever to lead the peo ple wherever he goes, in the cause of liberty and independence, and in any struggle for liberty our place Is ever in the van. ' And when this Scotch idea hud electrified the laud, and the second declaration was signed, no le.-s thnn six of these great scotch-American leaders attached their names and pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. The part that our race played in the Revolutionaiy struggle, taken in compari son with our numbers, both in council and in the field, is one worthy of a race of heroes. Wherever the Scot goes he cannot live with out a country. The development of tiio Australian Commonwealth to-day is another pi oof of his ineradicable yearning lor a coun try of his own. If there benocountry.hecalls upon his less alert, less independent lellow citizens to follow him and create one. He found this a colony, and he summoned it to rise and become a nation." Applause. PDEELT PERSONAL The Emperor of Japan celebrated the 39th anniversary of his birth on November 3. F. D. Millet, the famous American artist, arrived in New York from England last week. Mb. Albert Bieestadt has sold his great painting, "The Last of the Buffaloes," for $50,000. Mayor Grant, of New York, will sail for that city from England Thursday, in the Teutonic. Mr. Blaine's grandchildren, the Cop- h pingcr boys, are named respectively Blaine and Carnegie. Sib Edward Arnold says that the late Lord Lytton was the best after-dinner speaker heever heard, and superior to our own Dr. Depew at his best. A son of the sculptor, Powers, has a studio in Denver, where he is engaged on a work entitled "A Closing Era." It repre sents a lonely Indian standing over a pros trate and dying buffalo. A London cable dispatch says Her Royal Highness Princess Helena Augusta Victoria has given her consent to be Presi dent of the English Committee on Women's Work for the Columbian Fair. Secretary Foster continues to improve slowly, but does not gain strength as rapidly as his friends expected. He will go to some point South, possibly Asheville, N. C, early next week for a few nays' recuporation be fore resuming his "official dntles at the Treasury Department. THE condition of Dora Pedro, ex-Emperor of Brazil, is exciting the gravest ap prehension. He was attacked by a chill Monday, and despite the attentions of his physicians he has since continued to grow worse. His daughter, the Countess d'Eu, is constantly at his bedside. Drs. Charcot and Boachard have called Dr. Mattamaia in for consultation, STEAT STATE TOPICS. He Had Pluck. Chambersburg Valley Spirit. -To walk three miles with both hands blown off, with his face burned and his legs injured, requires a man of extraordinary nerve, yet such a man came to Chambers burg this morning for surgical treatment. John Bash, of Shippensbnrg, is his name, and his injury has excited the sympathy of everybody, while his pluck hns aroused everyone's admiration. John Bash has been a railroader for years. Recently he Joined the civil engineer's corps employed in build ing the Chambersburg and Gettysburg Bail road. Tuesday morning he was working on tho extension from Caledonia station to the 'Wolf Hill tunnel, and was about to throw a dynamite cartridge into a crevice on an 18 degree bank when the powerful substance exploded with terrific force. He was hurled 40 feet away from where he stood. Both his hands were blown off, his face was burned and his eyes were injured, although it is not yet known whetherhe will lose their sight; and he was inj ured abont the legs. The pain he suffered must have been Intense, yet he undertook what no man of less nerve could have accomplished. Ho started to walk the entire distance to Caledonia station and he made the three miles without a groan. Blood was dripping from the strips of flesh hanging from his wrists and was pushing Its way down his throat. His sufferings cannot be described, yet he said no word except that he wished to reach a physician's office in Chambersburg quickly. He wns taken in a box car from Caledonia to Fayetteville, and then was driven to Chambersburg, where his wounds were dressed, and he was then taken to his home in Sh'ppensburg, where both his hands wero amputated above the wrist. Foolish Farmers In Two Counties. Irwin Standard. We remember a couple of years ago when a number of our farmers were taken in by some fruit tree swindlers, that some of the Allegheny county papers made consldera, me mn aDouc it ana aavisea tue vv escmure land county farmers to hire somebody to pen them up, etc. Well, Just now there are a lot of farmers in Allegheny county that had better have guardians appoin ted over them and have themselves painted a bright green so that their outward appearance may correspond with their mental capacity. They have been caught by some sharpers on n fake so thin that a Chestnut Ridge sheep would not have bitten at. Some slick tongued fruit tree agents persuaded a num ber of them residing in the southwestern part of the county to purehase a lot of fruit trees on long time. The farmers gave their notes pnvable in one year, but the wily agents told them they would not have to pay the notes for three years, and If they so desired the time could be extended longer, and, though they only had the agents' word lor this, the silly coots gave their notes pay able in ono year with legal interest. The year is now up and they find their notes have all been discounted at different banks. They are ottering big wages for strong men to kick them. First Iran Tipple in the Coke Region. TTntontown Standard. A company of It machinists from the Key stone Bridge Company, of Pittsburg, passed through town Tuesday morning from Lel enrlng No. 2 to Pittsburg. The Keystone Bridge Company has been constructing an iron tipple at Lelseniing No. 2 Coke Works. This is the first iron tipple to be constructed in the coke regiou. About five months ago the H. C. Frick Coke Company gave the con tract to this company. Three months ago the old tipple was torn down and the work of erecting the new one begun. Tho new tipple was completed yesterday all except the roof. It stands 87 feet high and Is a unique structure. Another is to be built soon at Leith. Want the Crawford County System. Meadvllle Republican. Tho Republicans of the Twenty-fifth Con gressional district, composed of the counties of Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties, are thinking seriously of adopting the Crawford county system of nominating candidates for Congress thns abolishing the conferee system with its annoyances and delays. It the Crawford county plan had been in vogue in the counties named, last year, a Democrat would not to-day be representing that district on the floor of Congress. THEATfilCATi GOSSIP. One of the best war plays ever written, Bronson Howard's "Shenandoah," will be played by Mr. Charles Frohman's company, which lnoludes many old favorites in the important roles, at the Bijou Theater next week. Ox Friday nigbt Mr. Mantell will put on "The Louislanlans," a rotnantio drama by E. M. Allfrlend. As a curtain-raiser at the Bijou to-morrow night John Ernest Mc Cann's "A Lesson in Acting," whioh has been praised generally, will be done also. AT Harry Davis' Fifth Avenue Museum next week, Linus, the $100,000 Oregon horse, will be on exhibition. Linns is a beautiful animal. His tail is 12 feet 3 inches in length, and his mane nearly 10 feet. He has created a furore in nearly every city in the country. Rbillt & Woods have some big features In the show they will give next week at the Academy. One of them is Peggy Pryde, the daughter of Jennie Hill, about whom New York raved last summer; and another is the spectacular farce comedy, "Hades and the 400." The World's Museum-Theater will have a special treat for women's eyes next week, in the shape of one of Mrs. William Astor's ball dresses, that was seized by the New York customs officials a few months ago for undervaluation. The costume is by Felix; of Paris. Miss Pfoixiott Paget, who will be remem bered as the jolly impersonator of Aunt Jack last season, will play at the Grand Opera House next week in "The Last "Word," a comedy of Daly's, and a pretty funny one If reports are to be believed. Miss Paget has been amusing people successfully elsewhere. The sensational fall of Varney through the trapdoor in the bridge, in the last act of "Amy Robsart," makes some woman in iho audience scream every night. Mr. Barton Hill, It may be remaiked for the benefit of a correspondent who Inquires, does not risk his life nightly. Tho dummy is very human. If there is such a thing as novelty on the stage the pantomimic absurdity "Eight Bells," which comes to the Duquesne next week, seems to come under that head. It is said to be something like the Hanlons' "Voyage en Suisse," In that its fun is acro batic, but it is laid in; a different scone alto gether, on ship-board, hence its title "Eight Bells.' Sib Edwin Arnold, the poet-editor and distinguished Englishman, will have a brilliant audience no doubt in Carnegie Hall to-night. There is one comfortable thought for those who hive not bought their tickets yet, namely, that all the seats In Carnegie Hall are good. The Rev. Dr. Holland's, in troductory address will be to many almost, as interesting as the poet's readings from his own works. TnE matinee at the Alvin yesterday was largely attended by actors of the Wain wright and the Crane companies, who had an afternoon off. Professional audiences have tho reputation of being nwfnlly chilly, but Messrs. Hoey and Evans and the other clever people in "A Parlor Match" had no reason to comolain of the andlence's atti tude. Beautiful Mario Mainwright, In black, satin one of the boxes, and in another was Joe Howard, the New York newspaper man, with his ward, Miss O'Neill, of the Crane company. "The Dancing Girl," In which E. H. Soth ern will bo seen next week at the Alvin Theater, is a more serious and ambitious vehicle than ho has hitherto tried. It is a drama or English ltfo by Henry Arthur Jones, who wrote "Tho 3Iiddleman," in which WHIard played here recently. "The Dancing Girl" excited a good deal of atten tion in London and New York, and it Is at least a play that deserves a respectful hear ing. Mr. Sothcrn's DuUe of Guisebury Is said to bo a powerful study of character. It Is promised that the play will be produced ex uctly as it was in New.York. Good People and Good Conntrj. New York World.! Now England and the northeastern por tions of Pennsylvania seem to be remark ably productive of people who live to a great age. The "oldest inhabitant," if he or she attains to the age of 103 or 104. immediately becomes at least a local celebrity. In the early part of the century Scotland seems to have been famous for her centenariais. The "Laird or Berulllon" lived to be 120 years old, and "was married 17 times." Dr. Beaton wrote In 1831 some ol his experiences at the battle of Drumossle in 1746. PITTSBURG ORPHANS The Beneficiaries at a Dinner To-Day A Bride Disappointed In Trying to De prive the Public of Its Bight to Be Amused. The mammoth annual charity for the United Presbyterian Orphans' Home begins to-day in Old City Hall, which has been elaborately arranged until its grlmness seems to have departed from it. Booths dressed In gay bunting surround the four sides of the hall and stand in the middle, thus permitting an aisle on either side. Dinner and supper will be served at the left side and up toward the door, where tables have been temptingly arranged. The entire list of committees is as follows: Treasurer-Mrs. M. F. Reed. Printing Commltter-SIrs. H. C CampbeH. Purchasing- Commntee-Mrs. H. C. Campbell, Mrs. M. F. Reed and Mrs. Wm. Campbell. Frnlt and Flowere-Mrs. A. P. Bnrclifleld. Chair man: Mrs. B. A. Elliott. Mrs. H. C. Bair. Mrs. E. W. Hill. Mrs. D. D. Bruce. Mrs. D. K. Bryce, Miss Sallle Armstrong. Miss Mary Armstrong. J!!s ?f "81' Mitchell. JllssSIirgaret Lockhart, Miss Belle JlcCrea and Miss Bessie Ritchie. scales Commlttce-MIss Bessie MrMlllan. Chair man; Miss Annie Robinson. Mr. William Jamison and .Mr. Walter Wltherspoon. Common Sense-Mrs. R. s. Smith. Chairman: ?Ir'-.GKorF.e Sands. Mrs. M. F. Reed, Mrs. Joseph Mitchell. Mrs. J. A. Bosncll, Mrs. S. E. Long, of Beaver Falls; 3Irs. W.C. Haunch. Mrs. Eshelman. Mrs. D. M. B. McClaln. Mrs. J. O. Atchcson, Mrs. Edward Thompson, Mrs. Snmuel Long. Mrs. D. W. Drape. Mrs. A. 31. Campbell. Sirs. 31. J. Stevenson. Mrs. E. 8. McKlttrlck. 3Irs. J. A. Evaus. Mrs. W. C. Hodge. Miss Marr Lockhart. Miss 3Iargaret Hodge. I)r. C. Jane Vincent. MIm Lily I.onf, Mies Jennie Brown. Miss Lizzie B-Ter. Miss Clara llennlng. JIlsi Isabel Cummlngs, Jllss Slay Munroe and Miss Jennie Darlington. Ice Cream Committee Mrs. A. K. Duff, Chair man; Sirs. William Campbell, Mrs. Albert Koe nlk. Sirs. D. A. DnfT. Sirs. Andrew Miller. Sirs. J. F. Neely, Mrs. Samuel Mdlinod. SIlss Slargaret McMlllen. Miss Bnrclifleld. Jlks Mary Dickey, 3Ilss Anna Dver and 51 bs Mary SIcCance. Doll Committee SIlss Jennie Leltcli. Chairman; SIlss nirdle II. Brown. Sliv. Agnes Young. Miss Jessie Hurdle. SIlss hmma Wilson. SIlss Aifalllll, Miss Emma Boston, Miss Ida K. Beatty, SIlss Clara Eckert, Miss Agnes J. Slltchell and Miss Nannie W.itson. ' Lemonade Co-nrolttec SIlss Slary Echols. Chair man; Miss Nannie Clark, MUs Nona Hill and Miss JosieSIcIIenry. Candy Committee SlrsGeorge B. Hill. Chair man; Sirs. Albert stcvensou. Sirs. W. G. Stewart, SIlss Clara Wilson, Miss Anna Murdoch. SIlss JielllcSchore, SIlss SlinnleSIcClaln. Miss McNeill. Slits Bessie Lamble, SIlss Hallle SIcKcown, SIlss Anna Trimble. SIlss Anna Vincent. SIlss Enla Stewart, Miss Enima Fettcrman. SIlssBlanchc Cal houn, SIlss Cora Thompson and SIlss Florence Davis. Literature Committee Sirs. W. A. Greer. Chair man; Sirs. J. J. Porter. SIlss Slargaret Doty and SIlss Slargaret Swartwood. House Committee Mrs. M. Patterson.Chalrman; Mrs. J. F. Neelr.' Check Committee Slaster "Kl" Duff, Master Ralph Hill, Master Willie Keed and Slaster Samuel Stewart. ' Supply Committee Mrs. D. B. Stoner, Sirs. Lot tie Brown, Sirs. George Shaw, Sirs. Shaw, Sirs. Robinson, Sirs. Joseph StcN'augher, Sirs. Emma Hamilton, Sirs, Oliver Anderson .and Sirs. Robert Stewart, Fancy Table Sirs. Edwin Hill, Mrs. Robert Blc Cague. Sirs. 31. W. Stevenson, Mrs. J. B. Herron. Miss Emma Mahon, SIlss Etta Clark, Miss Zo SIcClure. of Wheeling. W. Va.: Sirs. John E. Shaw. Mrs. Joseph Reeil Vincent. Sirs. E. E. Heck, Mrs. W. R. Ford, Sirs. Young. SIlss Agnes Slltchell ana Sirs. J. It. J. Slllllgan. Glass Table-Sirs. SI. Patterson. Chairman: Sin. Percy F. bmith. Sirs. 3Iary W. Porter. Sirs. 3Iary Aldred. Sirs. R. It. Wallace, Sirs. Bidet-haw. Miss Jeanuette Lockhart and Sirs. Andrew Easton. The presence in the city of a former Pitts burger, now of Cincinnati, for whom an afternoon tea was given this week, recalls a story told about her wedding tour. If there could be any distinction, this lady was 'the most popular and charming of several sis tersall belles in Pittsburg some years ago. 'After the wedding, and when the rice bad been thrown and all the addios spoken, the newly made bride found herself, with her husband, among a host of strangers on the train, beginning her married life via the orthodox honeymoon. She had heard that young married people never could pre serve tho incognito of their new found happiness, and the the publio in general nailed a bride and bridegroom quicker than a wink. In her way she had prided herself in the possession of this same intuition, which she now so dreaded in oth ers. She caukht sight of a small boy sitting near her and at the same moment a thought was caught in her brain. She leaned over to him and expatiated at bis beauty, which, she said, audibly, reminded her of her own small son. . To her chagrin she observed symptoms of hilarity among her fellow pas sengers. The rhapsody over the counter part of her supposed darling continued In a louder tone until interrupted bvan explo sion of guffaws. The people had measured her, and besides, some chattering friend had toldtlie-story Just before the car left Pitts burg and it had quickly spread. Tbe young lady found there was something still more embarrassing than being a bride. She never looked In-the direction of the small boy again, nor said a word regarding a son and heir to the end of the Journey. Soelai Chatter. A small girl, Miss Maldie Schildecker, of Federal street, Allegheny, Issues invitations to-day for a party on Saturday afternoon, December 12. The invitations in every in stance includes the doll family of the In vited youna lady. Littlo Miss Maldie is'a most agreeable hostess, to whose parties her friends alwaysenjoy being invited. Mrs. Albert H. Childs, of Bidwell street, gave an afternoon tea yesterday lor Mrs. Beecher, wife of the Rev. Sir. Beecher, of Cincinnati. There was a fashionable turn out of East Enders. A teligram last night annodnces that the Harvard Musical Club will give a concert in the Pittsburg Club Theater on Thursday evening, December 24. , Miss Jane Parker, of Parker City, is stay ing with her sister, Mrs. v. Reynolds Kerr, at the Park Place Hotel, Sewlckley. Mrs. Thomas J. Graff and her daughter. Miss Agnes, of Highland avenue, are in New York for a brief visit. The first of the poverty germans will be given at jnrs. uenry jjavis- noase this even ing. OUR MAIL POUCH. Farther on the Bond Issue Question. To the Editor of The Dispatch: Some phases of the bond, issue question are: Does tbe taxpayer desire to foolishly and unnecessarily precede the action of the courts, which everyone believes will pass favorably upon.the curative act of the Leg islature within three months from now? By such hasty action he will saddle tbe city with an additional $2,000,000 debt which properly belongs to local properties, tho owners of which are with scarcely an excep tion willing and ready to pay these assess ments as soon as the Court decides the curative act Constitutional. The courts will do this undoubtedly. No other valid reason can be given for this bond Issue than that the street con tractors want money that is not now due, nor will any part of it be due until next year, and then only about one-fourth of it. Tho remainder will not be due for two years. The case is like this: An obligation is hejd by contractors against local parties who are ready and willing to pay, but the laws under which payment was to be made prove to bo framed chiefly In the interest of contractors and minorities of property holders. These take alarm and hasten to get curative legis lation that will prove to be found Con stitutional. They do so, but in order to bo snre. tney suDmit test cases to tho courts, that a precedent may be made that all is right, based upon a proper regard for a majority of property in a given local ity. No ono for a moment doubts that this curative act will be tho future fixed law of Pittsburg, and no one for a moment wants anything better or more just. But here those interested see an opportunity to sad dle tho taxpayer with bills that they ought and must pay themselves if they wait until tho courts pass upon the justice of the cura tive act. But if they wait, what then? They must pnt their hands Into their own pockets and fiay for their own streets that they have so Iberally opened and -paved, and upon which we will venture to suspect there has not been any assessment paid yet. It will be very convenient for them, in deed rorall of us, to pav for these, yon know, by voting for this bond issue, hence the "Harry up, boys,"'or we'll get left. Does the taxpayer see tho sltnation? If not. he had better sit down and make him self a diagram before he goe3 to the polls on December 7 to cast his vote. There was a time, Just before the decay of the Roman Empire, when private interest was so monstrous and indifferent to publio woal and safety that the unscrupulous and powerlul suburban aristocrats secretly at tached nnd emptied their sewage pipes into tho public aqueduct which supplied thoir fellow citizens with drinking water. They, the citizens, wero poisoned in their physical constitution?. Onr political and financial constitutions nre poisoned by those who are loading us with debt that they may reap mora personal gain and convenience, nnd for our comfort wo are told our children will also suffer after us. Let us vote against the bond Issue. Wentworth. Pittsburg, December 3. CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS. There are spoken in Europe 587 langu ages. There are 300,000 .blind people in Europe. The temperature of man is 98$, that of fish 77. The Teutonic steamship consumes 300 tons of coal per day. ' Thirty-fonr pounds of raw shgaxmtke 21 pounds of refined. As a rule clouds are about a mile above the surface of the earth. A Birmingham, England, man collected 540,000 pennies during his lifetime. The cost of making a 1,000 Bank of England note is less than a penny. There are about four yards of very close sewing in a lady's ten-button glove. An average acre of grass newly mown weighs nearly two and one-half tons. Silver articles are called "plate" from the Spanish wordplata, which means silver. The pin factories of the United States manufacture about 18,000,000,000 pins a year. More than half a million dollars' worth of gold ir used every year"for the purpose of filling teeth. There are 5,000 vegetarians in Boston and 2,000 in Chicago, besides others in New York and elsewhere. Aluminum' ore is reported to have been discovered in large quantities and unusual richness in New Mexico. The Grand Falls of Labrador are said to be more than twice as high as Niagara Falls, being SCO feet in height. A farmer in Delaware clains to be able to preserve watermelons for winter use by coating the rind thickly with varnish. The interesting fact ha3 been developed in the case case of table glass that the much admired Iridescent film is slightly soluble in water. The first thing a Japanese does in the morning Is to take down the entire front of his building, leaving tbe whole of the in terior open to view. Itussia has been visited by eight na tional famines during the present century, in 1801, 1308. 1811, 1812, 1833, 1SJ0, 1860 and 1301. In addition to these, there have been sev eral provincial famines, as severe, if notns extensive, as those which affect the whole population. The famous Eutherford photographs of the mcon, now in possession of Columbia College, were the earliest made, and they nre esteemed as remarkable examples of lunar photography, even by those who have seen the photographs of the moon taken at the Lick Observatory in 1SS3. The light of tbe sun and the moon exer cises a deleterious effect on edge tools. Knives, drills, scythes and sickles assume a blue color if they are exposed for some time to the light and heat or the sun; the sharp edge disappears and the tool is rendered absolutely useless unless it is retempered. Steam pipes have been made in England from the ramie fibre. The material is sub jected to tremendous hydraulic pressure, and, having the property of being unaffected by molstnre, will neither shrink nor swell, beside being a non-conductor of heat. The pipes have twice the tensile strength of steel pipes. The first iron mined in this country is generally supposed to have been in Sangus, Mass., aDoUt 1613. Iron ore and smelted iron have just been found in North Beverly. This pnzzles the "oldest inhabitant,"' as no person living ever knew that iron existed there. The smelting must have been done at an early date, very possibly before 1643, as there were settlements there as early as 1640. Bhode Island is the only State having two capitals. The State had two large towns, each claiming to be the political center, but neither agreeing to surrender its alleged prestige. The result wns the selection of each as a capital city, with sessions alter nating, opening at Newport with an ad journed session held at Providence. Con necticut had two. New Haven being the sec oud, but Hartford became the State capital in 1873. Rio de Janeiro, situated in the bay of tbe same name, has probably the finest harbor in the world. It is entered from the south through a passage not more than 1,700 yards wide, between steep hills rislngjnore than 1,000 feet and extending Inland about IS miles, thus forming one of the most spacious and most beautiful harbors in tho world. The entrance, girded on both sides with lines of -impregnable fortifications, can be made without pilots, and the largest ves sels can anchor immediately at the quays of the city, and enter its magnificent docks. In Thomas county, Ga., was Iamonia Lake, of large extent, which has, within a few months, almost entirely disappeared. As faras the vision can reach lie waste and bare the bottom of the lake, with nothing to mar its barrenness but the countless num bers of turtles, terrapins, fish and eels, which wriggle, squirm and crawl about in the mud in a vain search for water. There is supposed to be the mouth of a subter ranean passage, through which tho waters of tbe lake have escaped. Once before in 1830, it is said, the lake ran dry. "Washington was called by many sobri quets. He was first of all "Father of his country." "Providence left him childless that his country might call him father." SIgourney call3him "Pater Patriae." Chief Justice Siarshall, the "American Fabius." Lord Byron, in his "Ode to Napoleon," calls him "The CIncinnatus of the West." For having a new world on his shoulders he was called the "Atlas of America." The English soldiery called him by the sarcastic nick name of "Lovely Georglus." Red Jacket, the Seneca Indian chief, called him the "Flower of the forest." The Italian poet' Vittorio Alfleri, called him "Deliverer of America." In the "Gazette of the United States" he was called the "Savior of his country." nis bitter opponents sarcastically called him the "Step-father of his country," during his Presidency. SUSPECTED OF BEING FUNNY. ntAJTSWEKABLE. "Remember, James." said the sorrowing parent to the family scapegrace. "If you spend your money In ilrlnk yon will ne-rer get ahead." "But. father," responded the unrepentant prod igal. "I was out with the boys last night, and gee whiz! but I've got a head to-dar!" Chicago Times. Bearded Stranger Madam, you may not recognize me. but years ago. when bnt a child, I lived next door, and one day In my childish romps. Host a button from my coat; I had no mother, as you know, and shall I eter forget, madam, that you took me In and sewed anotner button on for me. Ah, madam, (brushing away a tear) through all these years I have treasured that little button as a sacred relic, and here it is. Kind Lady Well, my good man, what can I do for tou now? Esirded Stranger AU I need is another coat. Clothurand Furnisher. "Did yon hear that Channcey "Winthrop had broken off his engagement with Forkentlna Bacon!" 'Yes, bnt he couldn't help It. He was from Bos ton and she from Cincinnati, but lie didn't mind that until she asked him one day whether It was John Grcenlcaf Emerson or Ralph Waldo Whit tier thatwrote the "Scailct Letter." Brooklyn Eagle. 'Sue got on her high horse again this afternoon' said SIlss Bleeckcr to her Boston friend. "What was the present occasion or her mounting her altltudlnons equine?" asked Miss Emerson. Judge. "What caused the real estate agent to commit suicide?" "Well, you see. It was this way: A couple ap plied to him to rent a house which he had to let. Having satisfied himself that they had no children for he wouldn't have any children In his houses he gave them a five years' lease of It." Well?" ' "Well, the couple had hardly moved in and got settled before the lady had triplets.!' Sew lor Press. BOCK Or AGES. Rock of ages, time may roll Lethe waters o'er onr way. But each world worn, weary soul. Dreaming still, will backward stray To that early coign of rest Where ten thousand ages slept. Doubly sheltered, doubly blest. t While safe guard a mother kept. Cradle of onr Infant race, Blother Earth was there beside. Never yielding watch or place. Weal be shown or woe betide: . Taugbt each mortal mother then or an an than none forget; Happy are the sons of men. For the cradle's rocking yet. m. Sexo Tori Herald. BVw hhpiii iiin-nnnriTr tii-iair"'-i'-'-6a-wy-a-,i'
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers