rt. ' W THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH. MONDA'"?-' DECEIBER ' "lk 1891 H46. o , Xo. UO. Entered at Pittsburg Tostofflce ovtiiDT. 1W7, as tccont-1.iE8 matter." Business Office Corner Smithfield and Diamond Streets. 2ews Rooms and Publishing House 7S and So Diamond Street, in New Dispatch Building. rsTn:v ADVMtTistvfi office, room a, wunrNS Bt'rr.mxi. xrnrvoKK. when-com- tle'e files of THE DbrAI I'll cu alwavs be found. yire'gn rdvirtir. appreciate the convenience. Iloirr advertl-cn, and Iriiiid or THE DISPATCH, wli'JclnNew York, art aUi made welcome. TJTF "7 S T.l TCH fx repiifarlv rm mlf nt Brrntrmn'r. X i&i'zr Sqtrttrt. June lor', wnd 17 Arr rtrcpTtT. leir, iritifT ir-lifrr okjw Kho hn been disap. 1iitd il a tttt-i nne xtmd enn obtain it. Ti:il5IS OI" THK DISPATCH. r.-5TAOr VEET IX THE CSIIED STATES. IU!X.Yli;r-A7rn. One Yew $ O ' DrtW Dispatch. IVr Quarter I CO Daili IrsrATii. One Month 70 D-MIT Dicr TCfU Inelrdlng iMinrtay. 1 -rear.. 10 00 I D.MLY !i v TCit, Including Mimlay. S m'ths. 2 SO ' Tii.T.-r IKcr-wr-tr. lnln JincSundar. lm'th.. tx I Fri.Ai PispATrii, ore Yrar 2 -"i" yfpm.y iinr-ATc?. wne icar i - mi)MLTlwrAic.i s n wamm. at cms iellverea nv earners at .- 1t.MiiMnt.4.in.1- VMIHnn tit 20 emits per - cek. r rrT-nivRo. Monday, dec. 11. isn. riGIlTIXG THK KOXG WAY. Ireland furnished another factional affray vesterdav. The opposing crowds met at Waterford and the cobblestone ami ' Hie blackthorn played a more com hieing part in the political arguments of the McCarthyites and the Parnellites than Hie impassioned oratory of the leaders. But even- blow struck hurt instead of helped the cause of Erin in America. The spectacle of Davitt in a cell as a political prisoner and Davitt bleeding on a Xact'onal field of dishonor are two widely different events in the campaign for the betterment of the struggling Isle. One created that sentiment which touchedfree doin's heart and unclasped pocketbooks; ihe other will, as similar events already J'ave, call forth censure and further check the flow of gold as well as the expressions of sympathy for the cause the factions Jed by the warring leaders represent. The Wnterford affray, like others of lite, was not brought about by Tory pro test or constabulary interference. It was solely factional leader against leader. In mipIi intense pergonal politics the cause of Ireland is bound to be forced to the background, at least temporarily. Erin needs fighters brave, tme, gallant fighters, too. But they should stand shoulder to shoulder instead of face to face now. c.ould-s alleged shortness. The story that Gould and his hopeful projeny have been caught short of the Stock market and are in a position to be :ee7l by the general improvement pro fits a prospect of the biter being bit and Mie fowler caucht in his own net, which cannot be regarded as unpieasing by the lovers of poetic justice ! But natural justice cannot be relied on 1 to always work in the poetic fashion. Peo ple Thy rely on the stock market working out its own revenge on its greatest manip ulator should not forget one important factor, and that is Mr Gould himself. That astute individual has been short of the market before, and the means by, wbwli he extricated himself from former tight places, though ancient, are as effec tive as ever If he is short of his own stocks, the printing pres is as prompt as ever, and if that wav is not open the pos sibility of leaving his brokers in the lurch prists just as it did in 18C9. Xow that Mr. Gould is a pattern for TVall street, he proiably would not like to repeat those strokes of financial strategy on which' he built his greatness; but it is not likely that he will give up very many of his millions when such means are open to evade that catastrophe. The Wall street operators should not be too prompt in advertising that they will have the skin of the lion on sale at an parly date. 'When there is anyskinningto be done Jay Gould is liable to do some of It himself. A GOOD WORK. Chicago is engaged with its customary encrcy in an effort to rid itself of a notori ous public evil which it shares with two or three other leading cities. Our telegrams show that the press and public are push ing the work of abolishing the scarcely concealed gambling center known as Garfield Park. It has long been apparent to the careful Jwiver. een from a distance, that such racc-otmn-es as Gloucester, Guttenberg and Garfield Park were blots on nine teenth century civilization. The betting at weil-conducted race-courses is promi Bent enough in all conscience; but these fctralled race-courses are operated simpl for the garni ling practice of skinning the oi"ary. The victim who bets on fneh races is of exactly the same class as tlie cue who thinks he can beat the IhimUe-rig game. The supply of such wm,i,-tons is unlimited, however, and the business they support grows to such dimensions that the so-called race-courses become open exchanges for the merchan dising of all classes of vice. It is a good sign that ourcitics arc taking up the workot abolishing such institutions of debauchery. Pittsburg has not been cuised bj anything of the sort, the nearest appioach being the pool-rooms, which were wiped out some years ago. If any attempt should b made to start such a resort of Rambling in this vicinity it is to be hoped that our people will promptly begin the work of wiping it out as energetically as the Chicagoans have done. A STRIKING CONTRAST. The Philadelphia Prcs asserts from what ma beiegarded as inside informa tion that the charge against Collector IVanncastle is the alleged failure to de posit Govrrnmeut money within the time specified by l.iw. As it was, according to the worst statement of the case, in the Collector's hands, and has been fully de posited, the xhargc could not be made mjeh of, unless there was a purpose to serve out a political revenge. But it suf fices to hang the remark of the Prett that "Holding back public money has been quite a common practice In Pennsylvania late'y" It has indeed ; and holding it back so efficaciously that several hundreds of thou-. sands have pntireiy disappeared, in the ch'ef characteristic of the latest exposure in that hue. The Pre?s remarks that "it lias not been looked upon as a serious mat ter," but it goes on to say that ?'tlre Fed eral Government has, however, a higher.,, standard." It might also have more per tinently asserted that sundry poli-' ticiens and organs m this btate liav.; a very different standard as regards State officials and JYuei al officia's who do no' suit them. We ca'inot recall atiVrdiSfciaUd 1 of the Republican leaders who are afttr j, L?T U'LISIIED FKRKUAllV Mr. Warmcasiie's scalp that the State offi cials whose negligence, to use the mildest term, left a million-and-a-half of the State funds to be swallowed up in the Bardsley crash should he removed from office. Nor, indeed, do we remember that the Press took occasion to frankly inform the Sen-, ate that it was covering up crookedness m its dodge of the investigation. Violation cf the law and some very suspicious cor respondence, all resulting in a loss of the State funds to an enormous sum, was I easily covered up without protest; but a technical omission made good the next day is an offense not to he condoned if the official is vour political enemy. In this attitude those who are seeking to displace Mr. "Warmcastle class themselves rather unfortunately. It looks as if the gigantic steals which have a surplus to be handed around, whether in the shape of rebates or otherwise, are the offenses they find themselves able to tolerate. NOT IN THE LAW. The President's Message presents the status of the silver certificates in a some what different way from that which Secre tary Foster's speeches have done. The Message argues "that for every dollar of these notes issued a full dollar's worth of I silver bullion is at the time deposited in the Treasury as a security for its rcdernp- statement that the sUver .. ,, 1 UOI1. uuuiuu is regaruuu as auuuiiij jui nc v demption of certificates, or notes, conveys a decided impression that the bullion is to be used for the redemption of the notej. But a different view from that has been presented by the Secretary of the Treas ury. He has stated that the certificates aro rp be redeemed in goldand has even gone so far as to point out the means by which it is to be secured for that purpose in the power of the Secretary to sell bonds. On that statement the certificates are not silver certificates, but promises of the Treasury to pay gold; and the immense stock of silver in the Treasury is reduced to the position of a commodity for which the Government has no use whatever. It is true in fact that the new silver certificates, like the old ones, are sustained at par be cause the Government makes them ex changeable, for gold. But the manner in which the Secretary has dwelt on this feature only increases the anomaly of issuing certificates professedly on the basis of silver deposits, but with the avowal that the silver is not to be used in redeeming them. The President takes the other horn of the dilemma by intimating that a dollar's worth of silver meaning a good dollar's worth is to be used for he redemption. If this were unquestionably the case, it would come very near the proper solution of the silver problem. But, even on the high authority of the President's Message, the statement can hardly be accepted. Suppose that a large amount of these cer tificates were presented for redemption and the Treasury .had not the gold to pay them. What warrant would he have in law for redeeming a dollar note with any greater amount of silver than that which the statutes already prescribe as making a dollar? And, if there were such a war rant, what an anomaly it would be for a government to first say that so much silver shali make a silver dollar, and then to pay out ten, fifteen or twenty per cent more sliver to redeem its promise to pay a silver dollar! The question is further complicated on the supposition that such a warrant exists in the law of 1890, by the absence of any rule governing the redemption of silver bullion. If a man deposits a thousand ounces of silver, when it is worth 95c, gets certificates for 5930, and brings the certifi cates back for redemption when silver is j worth 90c, how much silver will he get? Will he get back as much as the certificate calls for at its new market value, or as much as he deposited?- On the one hand, will the holders of these certificates run the chances of the varying value of the bullion, or will the Government take that risk on the other? The fact is that the law does not pro vide for the redemption suggested, and leaves these questions entirely unan swered. If Congress had summoned up courage to settle the question on that line, it would have perceived that there is no stopping place short of issuing a new silver dollar containing as much bullion as is equal in value to a gold dollar. THK TREDICTOR OF EARTHQUAKES Of course it had to come. The informa tion is imparted that three weeks before the great earthquake in Japan the Cabinet 'of the Mikado received an anonymous let ter foretelling the earthquake and predict ing the exact date. The. fatality which accompanies such warnings, that they are always made known after the event, should not dispose the mind to dull and infidel incredulity. It is in the assertion that the warning wasvanonymous that the mind discovers reason to doubt Such warnings, especially the ones the public hears of after the earthquake, always bear the name of Wiggins. If Wiggins has adopted the modest practice of omitting his signature it is something to encour age. But such a departure is foreign to the nature of Wiggins. That genius has partially retired from the public gaze in consequence of the obstinacy of the seis mic convulsions in refusing come when he does call for them. But in the line of verification-claimant for unsuspected prophe cies there is but one Wiggins; and let us hope there never will be hut one. EXMITY TO RAIL DEVELOPMENT. C. P. Huntington is being quoted by cotemporaries as administering a crusher to the people of Texas. It takes the shape of a letter to a man who has a franchise to sell, declaring that owing to the hostility of the people of Texas to the existing rail roads "the consideration of future invest ments will have to be deferred until capitalists can be assured that their in vestments, instead of being threatened with virtual confiscation, shall receive the same fair treatment that is accorded to other forms of property." If Texas legislation has threatened nuntington's property with virtual con fiscation it has don every wrong. Wedoubt, however, whether any confiscation has been threatened or accomplished so effective as that which Huntington and his associates practiced on the property which was supposed to secure the Govern ment loan to the Central Pacific Railway. It is also pertinent to state, when such talk is heard, that nothing is said of such enmity to railroads as a decree that no one should be permitted to build railroads in Texas or any other State except one or two specified and fa vored interests. Yet exactly that decree was issued by an agreement between the trunk 'line Presidents and the railway bankers of New York when the South Peiin deal was carried through in defiance alike of th.i courn and Constitution of Pennsylvania. The further fact being stated that, this extra-legislative ordinance excluding all railway building from Penn sylvania, and Xcu York except by favor of the Vand&rbilts and the Pennsylvania Railroad people has been maintained, it is plain that the. Legislature of Texas is not so Inimical to new railway investments as the corporate and financial powers of Wall street Mr. Huntington may rejoin to this that he does not propose to build any railways in Pennsylvania or New York, either. This would be true: But it leaves the fact thatihe regards the legislation of the Wall street powers that no new roads shall be built in a certain section as a law to goindlsputed; while the Texas legisla tion, enacted by the representatives of the 1 1 people, is a thing not to be endured. rjirKOYKMENT AMONG CRANKS. The gentleman who makes himself known to the country as "America's spiritual adviser" cannot be too highly commended.for the improvement he has introduced in the crankish industry of collecting large sums from the multi millionaires. Instead of going at Jay Gould with a dynamite cartridge or a dag ger, he stepped into one of the New York courts and requested that the necessary legal process be issued to make the Wall street king give up ?500,000,000, which he claimed to be doe him. This is not only a commendable example for the cranks in general, but it exemplifies the happy influence which ourinstitutionshave upon that prominent but rather uncertain class. It has heretofore been doubted and feared that the prosecution of their claims on the money kings could not be reconciled with the system of government bylaw; but the gentleman referred to illustrates a convic tion on the part of one of them that the best way is to act strictly in accordance with it It istobe wished that a similar reformation mightibe effected on the gen tlemen who are theobjects of these press ing attentions. Theee is an idea that the defeated candi dates for the Speakership must resign their Congressional seats. Such talk has been heard about JIUls, and now the Atlanta r Constitution conies at Tom Watson, the Al liance candidate for Speaker, with a demand that he shall resign because he opposed Crisp. Xb one has ventured to suggest that Tom Eeed resign, however, obviously in view of the futility of snob an Idea. But the suggestion is equally futile as to the other statesmen. The utmost in the light of resig nation that can be expected from them is that with which they accept the situation. Senator Stewakt is early in the field with a bill to make the Chinese exclusion act more effective. He proposes that here after all Chinese who have left the country tforany reason whatever shall be totally prohibited from coming back. His bill strangely omits to provide in addition that all the Chinese in the country shall bo sent home on a visit; but that can be added later on. The Governor's announcement last week that the State debt has been reduced over two and a half millions during the past year did not mention the fact that if the Auditor General and State Treasurer had done tholr dutya least another million would have been available for the same pnrpose. No hones'; person conld have disputed tho statement of tho fact; but the represcnta' tlves of the peonle having decided that a little mattor like that is not worth consider ing, tho Governor leaves tho pooplo to make their own deductions and reflections. Joaquin Miller's son says that the im pulse to rob a stage coach came upon hiin "like an inspiration." Another case of heredity gone wrong. The inspiration could not have been worse if it had been more exactly transmitted and he had been in spired to write poetry. TrrE confusion between the sound of the words "bomb" and "bond," which gave rise to another dynamite scare in New York, produces a suggestion that the pronuncia tion shall be revised. This might be done by pronouncing "bomb" in the rural style as if spelt with a "u." Of course, this would render the word liable to be mistaken for tho other descriptive "bum," but that is a matter of minor Importance, in view of the liability of both to be bursted, and the fact that both shall bo abolished anyhow. The New York Press fears that the Plumb resolution for tho removal of General Grant's remains will put a stop to the sub scriptions for the New Tork monument. It fails to explain how a thing can be stopped which is already making no progress. IT is well to honor a retiring official, but the moans adopted by inadvertence oonvey an unconscious sarcasm. A presentation by Republican Congressmen to the Hon. Ed ward MoPherson, the other day, on the oc casion of his retirement from the House Clerkship, is to be regarded as an expression of esteem. But the fact that the gift be stowed was a soup-tureen is an effort which might bo suspected of humor if tho sugges tion were not equally applicable to the donors and recipient. IT appears that M. Clemenceau has per suaded Floquet and Cassagnao to arrange their differences without a duel. Why does Clemenceau thus interfere with the amuse ment of tho worldt The innocence with which the Roman and English authorities announco ttut the President is going to have the Constitution amended in view of tho Now Orleans trouble is a refreshing oasis in the dreary wasto of international events. The basis of the idea Is clearly the President's suggestion that the United Statos Courts shall have jurisdiction over offenses against treaty obligations a power already provided in the first clause of Article III., Sec. II., of the Constitution. If any person has a real good patent for disinfecting by machinery on a large scale ho should hasten to demonstrate its value by trying it on tho British aristocracy. The New York TForfd publishes an inter view with Mrs. Grant, in which she ex pressed a wish to havo her famous hus band's remains left at Riverside. This wish, if authentic will have great weight with the American people. But should not a similar sense of delicacy cause Now Yorkers to bring the scandalous display of themselves in connection with the Grant monument to a complete stop by building the monu ment? The Iceman Looking for His Crop. Boston News. The iccipan is wondering where on earth his crop is to come from. They Still Exist Boston Herald. The now party still lives. Its sponsors say so themselves. ADTICE TO CONGRESS. If the Democratic majority in the House try to do too much they will do too llttlo Colusa Star (Rep.). Tnepiesent Congress will please remem ber that cleanliness ia next to godliness and keep tho bathing beach in view accordingly. Washington Star (ihtt). It is to bo hoped that Congress will do something to improve the postal facilities of small towns and rural communities. The rural population Is compelled to put up with very poor postal service. Denver Republican (.Rep.). . The Democratic National Honsc of Kepre sentatlves ought to make a searching inves tigation into itaum's mismanagement of the Pension Bureau. Tho connection or Itaum with tho pension sharks Is too notorious to be passed over. Cleveland Plain Dealer .Dem.). The duty of Congress is to pass a free coln age bill and let the President. assume tho re sponsibility of vetoing it. The lines on this issue will he nitne clearly defined in the next Presidentnl election, when an appeal, will be tauon to the people. it Louis Post Dtspatctt (Dem.). FERDINAND AND COLUMBUS. tWBCTBN TOR TOE DISPATCH: 1 I had the privilege the other day of riding in a cable car next to the King of Spain. His Majesty, like Haronn al Baschid, was traveling, "disguised as a gentleman." He did not appear greatly different from other mortals. He put on no Imperial airs. He paid 5 cents for his fare like the rest of us, and grumbled within himseir like the rest of us, at tho two extra pennies. The' King was dressed like a business man and a Pittsbnrger. In fact his roval vestments, with his crown and lite sceptro, were packed away, so he whiipored to me in confidence, in a brown paper parcel, which he carefully carried under his arm. After all, it is tho clothes that make tho king. Nobody stands in any awe of a king in a derby hat. The mime of my friend, the King of Spain, was Ferdinand. He was that Fordlnand who has come down in a somewhat undigni fied attitude along tho staircase of history as the husband of Isabella. Ferdinanft was here in Pittsburg in attendance upon tho "National Pageant." Ho was 'present with all his good clothes on, in that opening scene where Christopher Columbns asks leave (and money) of the sovereigns of Spain to go and discover America. He had no respect for Christopher Columbus, and was quite disgusted when Isabella declared that he should bo helped in his scheme for tho discovery of America, even if she had to pawn her Jewels. Where Kings and Qaoens Are Good. Tarleattx and pictures have a great advantage over real life. Thoy represent thine .as they ought to be. Christopher Columbus ought to have been a hero. Isabella ought to have pawned her Jowols. The fact is, however, that Isabella not only did not send her rings and bracelets to the shop of the three balls, but she never prom ised to do so. More than that, even had she made any such impulsive and unthinking promise she wonld not havo hesitated to break it. no, not for a single- minute. Queen Isabella, or Castile, told lies. Sir Arthur Helps, always eager to find some good side to everything, says of Isabella: "Perhaps there is hardly any great personage whose name and authority are found in connection with so much that is strikingly evil, all of it done, or rather assented to, upon the high est and purest motives!" Mr. Justin Win sor agrees with this opinion up to tho word "evil." He thinks that tho less said about Isabella's motives the better. King Ferdinand, p Mr. Winsor's pages, was rather a decent sort of king as kings went in the fifteenth century. Kings, it ap pears, were rather disreputablo characters about that time. "Ho did not extort money; he only extorted agonized confessions. He said mosses, and prayed equally woll for God's benediction on evil as on good things. Ho made promises and then got the papal dispensation to break them. He juggled in state policy as his mind changed, and he worked his craft very readily. Machlavelll would havo liked this in him, and indeed he was a good scholar of an existing school, which counted the act of outwitting better than the arts of honesty: and perhaps the world is not loftier in tho purposes of state craft to-day." Mr. Winsor does not live in Pennsylvania. A Debt That Should Be Honored. BUT Christopher Columbus this un fortunate adventurer fares worst of alt "We are all interested just now in Christopher Columbus. It is true thathe will not appear in tho National Pageant which the United States of America is preparing nt Chicago with anything like the prominence that he had hero in Pittsburg on Friday and Satur day of last week. The Columbian Exposi tion is in danger of leaving Columbus out. The nation will obscure tho man. Tho hero who set a red mark in the history books under the date of HM will not come in for any enthuslastio laudation. Nevertheless. we are in debt to Christopher Columbus. And it is proper that at this time of day we should Interest ourselves in him and learn what ever can be learned about him. I have been reading Mr. Justin AVlnsor's book, "Christopher Columbns, and How Ho Deceived and Imparted the Spirit of Dis covery." It is timely, exhaustive, interest ing. It is crammed full of pictures. All the old portraits of the Admiral, all the old maps and globes, the old geographical guesses at tho world, are set down here in generous profusion. The book Is a library and a picture gallery at the same time. One of the most interesting features of modern study is the way in which old treasures come to light. Forgotten manuscripts, hid don relics, buried buildings, are every now and then appearing out of the long past like communicative ghosts. Nobody can tell what will be found next. The mummy of the Pharaoh of the Exodus, the account that Aristotlo wrote of the Constitution of Athens, tho Teaching, of the TwoIvb Apostles, and a hundred other cnrioslties and precious things longaccounted lost have been looked up. History Constantly Revised. Very little in history can he called final. Tho histories even of ancient Greece and Bomo need to bo rewritten overy year or two to keep them up to date. When Irving and Preseott wrote about Columbus, 60 or 70 years ago, needs utmost as much re vision as the ideas that Columbus had about the land he found on this side of tho ocean. Mr. Winsor shows again and again where these two most picturesque and charming writers err. Mr. Winsor is not himself either a picturesque or a charming writer. Ho makes no effort aftor felicitlos of style. Preseott and Irving are much more delight ful to read. Mr. Winsor's strength lies in his straight forward, clear, well arranged and thoroughly considered presentation of all tho facts. Columbus discovered America. Winsor, for English readors, has discovered Columbus. , One of tho queer things about Columbus is the small amount of really accurate and unquestioned information there is about him. A man who lived in the end of the fifteenth century, who wrote innumerable letters, and whoso biography was composed by his own son, ought to be pretty fairly known. Unfortunately, Columbns and his son were the vaguest aud roost unsatisfac tory of writers. The consequence is that the number of things we know not concern ing Christopher Columbns Is large. Nobody knows when the Admiral was born, nor whore he was born, nor what he looked like, nor what his name was. As many cities fight over the honor of his nativity as dis puted over blind Homer. Mr. Winsor givos seven portraits, as unlike one from another as the portraits of Mary, Queen of Scots. As for his name, the Admiral, like Shakespeare, followed the privilege of uenlus, and spelled hisnamo according to his changing frame of mind. When ho was sick he spelled it one way; when ho got better ho spelled it an other; when ho was successful he changed It; when ho was unlucky, depressed or mo mentarily humble he made another varia tion in his name; after ho had been at church, or had said his prayers, he had still another sort of signature. Columbus of the Earth Earthy. Indeed, there almost seem tohaye been two or three different Christophors. Bnselly de Lorgncs and some other enthusiastic Frenchmen -are trying to mako out that Columbus was a saint. They want the Pope to pronounce his beatification. Columbus, they say, was a great missionary. Like the Jioly man from whom he got his name, he went at his peril through tho deep waters. carrying tho Christ upon his shoulders. Columbus certainly sot up crosses over on thee shores: built altars and had mass said upon them in a service whose stateliness Impressed tho natives; and caused the first gold found upon this continent to be mado into a chalico for the holy sacrament. On tho other hand, here is this unbiased story of Mr. Winsorjs. Christopher comes down from his pedestal to be rudely beaten about tho ears with his own halo. Christo pher Columbus wanted money. He was very fur from being one of the "noblemen of truth," serving her for love. Ho wanted to bo paid for his service in position, in title, and in good solid maravedls. He was re fused help ngaln nnd again at royal courts on account of the magnitude of his de mands. He loved adventure, but he loved money more. Tho one thing that he and his royal patrons wanted was gold. Thus he staited out trying to get into the golden East by sailing West, carrying a letter to the Great Khan of Tartary, and a metallurgist to "pronounce upon preoious ores." When the little fleet was nearly orrlved upon theee shores, and floating branohes in the water showed the nearness of land, the Admiral saw a light one dark night mov ing light carried in somebody's hand, away rvfP ariAarl nvai ltA woraK Art ! Hwhf: ma.-t ., fl,ro rpH . ., . K. i u .... ... ... im.i ..w ...wn owu. v ,.... been blind to this strangnJlght, and oon jeoturo about it has never oome to a satis factory conclusion. Only this is snvfi, that the Admiral said he saw a light and when the real land appeared the next day, he claimed, in virtue of that glimmer in the dark, tbabhe had been tho first to sight the shores of India, and that accordingly, to him, and not to the common sailor on the lookout bolongcd the income of 10,000 mara vedls that tho King and Qucon had offered to the sharp-eyed man who should first see shore. A Better Sailor Than, Saint. Then, among the natives, Columbus was in search of gold. The spirit of dis covery waned; he was an adventurer, after money. Presently, when monoy seemed scarce, he sent back shiploads of staves, planting in the hearts of tho inoffensive people a deep and Justifiable hatred of the whites. He did that for monoy, and many other equally bad things with an equally un worthy motive. Columbus had his eye on gain. He wanted to mako all he could, and cared little how much lying or stealing bad to be done In the making. He was a misera ble failure as the leader of a colony. He lost almost all tho friends ho ever had. He thought ho had discovered paradise; but there Is only one place where that celestial country can really bo discovered, and that is in a man's own good, contented heart. Nevertheless, in the year 1192 Christopher Columbus discovered America. He did push out over the dark ocean day after day with alravery and a persistency that no sailor of his time had shown. And he did demon strate to the worla in which he lived that there was land beyond the sea. And that began the emigration which, good and bad together, has made up tho United Stdtes of America. Christop'ber Columbns may not havo been a saint, but ho was certainly a good sailor. Even Mr. Winsor credits him with that. AHCIENT CLIFF DWEXLKES. Mammies Found in a Hitherto Unexplored Canyon of the Bockles. Florida, Col., Dec 13. James Donahne and Henry Merritt havo Just returned lrom Mancos canyon and report the finding in that neighborhood of what is evidently a prehistoric cemetery in the Mancos canyon. While they woro climbing about tho moun tains in the vicinity of the dwellings they were struck by what appeared to bo a nar row trail leading up the sides of an abrupt oliff. This trail had become almost obliter ated by the wear of centuries of storms, Dut it was plain enough to be traced by a prac ticed eye, and they set about following it to its termination. They succeeded in tracing the path in and out among the rooky clefts until it took them to a small plateau, which was hidden in the mountains in such a manner that ac cess was impossible except through tho trail traveled over the cliffs and rocks. Tho tombs of the cliff dwellers were out out of solid rock all around tho walls of the pla teau, and were walled up and cemented in such a inanniv that at first there was noth ing to show that thograves were there. By accident a piece of stone became de tached from one of the walls, and showed that it had been comented. An investiga tion also showed that the whole cliff was honeycombed wlth.the tombs and caoh one contained two or more bodies. An opening was made into several of them nnd the bodies found in the shape of woll preserved mummies. It was impossible to carry one of the mummies down the trail, so the" men contented themselves with carrying away pieces of tho oloth which was around tho bodies and other evidences of tho truth of their story. DUNGAN DIDN'T GET A CENT. The Friends of the Bank of America's Con vict Cashier Ask a Pardon. HAEBiaBuno, Dec. 13. SbecfaZ. Counsel for James S. Duncan, Cashier of the Bank of America, Philadelphia, who was recently convicted with George F. Work and Louis E. Pfelffer, havo given notice to the Board of Pardons that an application for a pardon will be made at tho next meeting. The peti tion has been signed by A J. Drexel and G?orgo O. Thomas, of Drexel & Co., and 11 of tho 12 jurors. Friends of tho imprisoned man have not yet been able to find tho twelfth Juror. The petition is still in circulation in Phila delphia for signatures. . The request is made on the ground that Dnngan got into the dif ficulty merely as an employe subject to the direction of others, and that he did not profit to tho extent of a dollar. A CREEPING BOULDER, It Has Traveled Forty Feet Without tho Aid of Any Human Agency. Wiksted, Coifn., Dec. 13. Savants-are in vited to solve the problem of how a boulder, weighing over ton tons, can travel a distance of 40 feet In 20 years without human agency. The stone is in West Hill Pond, in the town of Winchester, about four miles from here, and for years it has been a sort of boundary mark. Becent surveys show that it is not where it was ten years ago by several feet. Tho water in the pond is ten feet below its natural lovel and the rock is partly out of water. In front of it a heap of stones and gravel has been forced up as it has moved onward, and in lis rear is a deep channel through which the rock plowed its way. Manylevel-headcd and truthful people say they have known of this phenomenon for 20 years. Baron Hirsch the Largest Land Owner. Wasuisgtos, Dec 13. The Buenos Ayres papers report that the recent purchase by Baron Hirsoh of 3 000 square leagues of land in the northern part of the Argentine Re public for 260,000 sovereigns makes him tho possessor of a territory larger than is owned bv any other man. It exceeds in area the Kingdom of Montenegro. The Sun Shines Here. Boston Globe. Tremendous storms follow one another in England in swift succession, while America is enjoying an autumn pleasantly pro longed and marked by the brightest, sun niest of days. MEN OF MENTION. Captain J. W. "Wilson, a survivor of the Kane Arctic expedition, is still alive nnd hearty. DP Matjeieb, the famous artist of Punch, has lost the use of ono eye, and it is feared that he may become blind. KEV. CHAKI.B3 H. PARKHTJRST, of New York, has been delivering addresses in Chi cago to very large audiences. Mr. J. King, of New York, London and Paris, Is soon to wed Miss Lippincott, one of tho Quaker City's fairest belles. Eev. Charles F. Thwing, who is President of a college, has written an arti cle to prove that football is a gamo of brains. HARRY Mason is only 20 years of age and yet he has patented an Invention for which $500,000 capital is now being invested in Chicago. Assistant Secretary Nettxeton will represent the Treasury Department at the dinner of the Massachusetts Board of Trade at Boston to-morrow. Archbishop Kenrick is reported to be. suffering from the grip, which is said to have been aggravated by tho excitement attend ant upon the Golden Jubilee oeleoration. Oliver "Wendell Holmes has decided to undertake no more literary work for the present. He is reported to havo said ho was willing to give the younger brains a chance. M. JAQUES MOROAN, the explorer, has returned from his exploration of Northern Persia, Larestan and Arablstan. He was ac companied by his wife, and together they traveled over 12,K) miles. John Stbanoe "Winter has been made President of the Woman Writers.ot Londom When It is considered 'that her real name Is" Mrs. Stannard, the election does not seem so strange an affair after all. The Marquis of Hartington, formerly a follower of Gladstone, has a faculty of sleeping through the sessions of the House of Commons. He slumbers through the stormiest scenes, but wakes up occasionally to make a speech. OUR WAYS AND WALKS. rwnrmt roams dispatch.'. Ybs, he said, things are managed dlffer- " UOIT5 111 IIIBUV WBVS lrom HIO WHY VI1DJT , n j. . . . , . .to uvua ui (ua om iiuuvry. noscaaivuoa tonlshed at the lack of evidence of any ener getic and reliable system of city govern ment; he mourned the absenee of a good, puro water supply; he was surprised to find nowhere the municipal swimming bath, art gallery, museum, free library, and tho like all of which he was accustomed to In cities of Pittsburg's size in England. With egard to the ffea library, he owned that Pittsburg will be well supplied when tlm new one is built; but he said ho thought it was rather degrading for u city of Pittsburg's size to be dependent on individual generosity for any thing so necessary. Ho admired our methods of street locomotion, but said this, as well as mostelsoin the city, seemed duo rather to us as Individuals than as a body corporate. Ho was very inuon astonished at the number of loafers, to be fonrtU about tho streots in tho evenings, and remarked that he found It very difficult to reconcile this habit with the estimnto he had formed of us as industrious and ener getic almost to a fault. He vowed that per sonally ho found loafing far more tiring than working, and he thonght that would be tho opinion of Englishmen nt large. He conld'nt "make out" why tho young men did not find lectures, ctassos, gymnastics, concerts, books, walks and so an to fill up their snare time more Instructively nnd with more recreation than they could possi bly get from hanging around a street cornor or a vacant doorway, to the inconvenience of passe rsby. Apropos of tho walks he had spoken of, when questioned ho said that for exercise and flno views he couldn't wish for better country there was around this city. He told a very funny story to illustrate tho "free dom" of this country, and it will gain by be ing repeated in his own words as nearly as possible. ."This wasn't in Pittsburg; I was staying down in Louisville then. It was a wet Sunday afternoon, and as I hadn't been long in this country I didn't know tbat I should be in danger of confinement as a lunatic if I ventured to walk five miles into the country for the sake of exercise, when I could havo reached my destination in less time and without trouble cither by the steam cars or behind a pair of mules. Not knowing then what danger I was about to ran, I donnod tho oostnme I should have worn at home under like circumstances. The same costume, except thai had I been at home I should probably have worn knickerbockers: fortunatelv 1 had none with me I say fortunately, because if I had gone out in those added to my other curiosi ties I vorllv believe I should never have re turned to freedom. I wore a pair of high boots, a mackintosh with a. cape, a cloth cap and a walking stick. "As I passed through the city the politer people looked at me with an expression of minded pitv and scorn, and the less polite roado remarks to one anotbor in a tone of voico that mado me think, that they must imagine me deaf. The llttlo boys followed me, asked me if I were a soldier, whether I came fi om I'lccakoo county, seemed anxious to know what was the amount of the wager, or whether I had escaped from a side show. Dogs barked and snarled at me, and one went so far as to try tho taste of my boot. Tbeunkindestcnt of all, though, was when I readied the house I was bound for aud found the friends I wanted to call on. I had to undergo a regular catechism to prove that there were nosignsofinsanity in any branch of my family. When I had managed to es tablish my sanity on its usual basis, I could get them to talk of nothing but the walking capacity qf Englishmen and women, and I fear I only removed the suspicion of lunacy by a conviction that I was lvlng when, in answer to frequent questions, I emphatical ly stated that SO miles over hill and dale was nothing extraordinary for a day's walk." Asked what his favorito walk was here, he said he would tell mo about the one he had taken oftonest, and ho launched forth ngaln: "I havo to live down in the Eighteenth ward because of my work, and as I have friends in the East End, I often walk three miles ncross Stanton avenue, becauso I need muscular effort, and besides it's a lovely walk and it's a bother to go around bv tho Forks of the Road atThlrtv-fourth streo't.tis I have to do If I want to ride. So I start up Stanton nvenuo by the sido of the Allegheny Cometery that's a beautiful piece of ground and keep on till I get somewhere about the top of Fifty-third street. There I bear off to the left, Dy the old coal road which rejoins the avenue at Davis' brickyards. I like best to start about sunset time, and then, lust before the old road breaks awav. I turn round and look out over the valley toward Allegheny City. The sky Is one gorgeous red panoply, shading off to orange or a jirimrose gold, whero It seems to rest on the hills abovo the sister city. Then the lights on tho eloctrio towers flash out like so many clusters of evening stars; nearer at hand furnaces belch forth angry flames, while between them lies Pitts burg outlined in dotted lines of light, and tho river now and then looks as though transmuted into silver; the whole pano rama forming a picture the more delightful for its contrasts. I sometimes think those light towers must have been placed there as ornaments, because I can't see how they were ever expected to cast anything but shadows on the streets." "Gontoonwlth my walk I look down for a whllo at tho glare and listen to tho noise of the Lucy and Isabella furnaces, which seem intensified by the evening quiet up there on the hill. Passing a quaint old-world-looking little schoolhouse I soon regain tho ave nueand there I walk along for about three quarters of a mile without much of special interest. This part of the walk generally makes me feel a littlesad.notwith thoughts stirred up bv the cemetery I had passed, nor vet with that sadness which seems Insepar able from scenes of beauty, but with wrath at the evidences of labor allowed to go to wasto on the earth-covered side walks and the rotted wooden blocks of the roadwav. But my three-quarters of a mile bring me to a sharp cotner of the road where I always stay for a few minutes to survey the surrounding country. Diroctlv opposite me, and very little higher than I nm, is Highland reservoir, to the left whito cottaged Morningside nestles among its truck gardens, to the Tight spreads out East Liberty, botwoen mo and the reservoir is a green valley, and beyond and slightly to the left of Highland He the foothills of the Alle ghenles. Another ten minutes brings me to Negley avenue and there lam. Yon should take that walk some time" Overcome by his enthusiasm the writer promised he would do it when he had time. COMPETITION AGAINST PITISBUEG. The Opening of an Ohio Blver Bridge Will Effect Oar Coal Trade. Keijova, W. Va., Deo. IS. Tho Kenova bridge of the Norfolk add Western Railroad, which is the first one orossing the Ohio river above Cincinnati, was opened for traffic at noon to-day. This road will open a new direct grain route from the Northwest to the Atlantic seaboard at Norfolk nnd Kenova, aud will immediately compete with Pittsburg for a share of the Southern coal trade. Extensive coal tipples have been erected on tne Ohio river, and SO miles of railroad -penetrating tho newly, opened West Virginia coal fields will be operated after to-day. It is expected that tho entire extension to Pocahontas, Va., will bo in operation by next summer. DEATHS HERE AND ELSEWHERE. Mrs. Jane Corbett. Mrs. Jane Corbett died early yester day morning from apoplexy at the age of 71 years. She was the wire of William Corbett, who has been foreman at Allegheny Cemetery for the last 40 years. Throughout that flection of the city she Is well known to every person. Sfie was a great church worker and formany years hiu been a de vout member of. the Sixth United Presbyterian. Church, East End. For some time she has been suffering from paralysis. Friday night she had a severe strode, from which she never recovered. Mrs. Corbett leaves a son and a daughter. 3Iiss Jennie Corhett and William 11. Corwtt. Funeral services win he held at the cemetery residence to morrow at 3 o'clock. Michael II. Collins, Inventor. Michael H. Collins, a well-known in ventor, died at Minis, Mass., Saturday, aged 89. He came to this country from England In-early manhood. He Invented the quarlr-crushlng ma chine; was the author for the drawing of the Chase lozenge machine: Invented the echohn musical In strument and a widely ued system of ventilating buildings: and. with another man. devised the process of manufacturing granulated sugar. William J. Cappo. After a long illness, William J. Cappe breathed his last on Saturday afternoon, at the age of 5S years. He served in ColonelBayne'sOneHun dred and Thirty-sixth Regiment, and was highly esteemed by a large circle of friends. Obituary Notes. , State SinAtob David H. White, or Indiana, died in Mladlebury Saturday, aged X. Alfked McMeaxs, Treasurer of Wayne county, Ind., dropped dead Saturday In Richmond, aged 63, Zkxas W. Rcixsey, one of the pioneers of negro minstrelsy, dledatEllcnvlllc, N. Y., of paralysis, Thursdiy, aged 73. BE0THES DAHA PLEASE) Witl Crisp and His Progressive Attitude on the Tariff Question. New York San. Tho Speaker of tho-House of Representa tives, the Hon. Charles Frederic Crisp, is nn' experienced Democratic statesman, wise, able and energetic. No candidate before the caucus could have entertained ajnoro sin cere and profound appreciation of the great political responsibilities accompanying tho honor of being chosen Speaker. No fellow legislator possessed a more fundamental un derstanding of the possibilities and methods of party progress or more abiding faithful ness to the Democratic aim and organiza tion. It is not to be supposed, therefore, that the Speaker, in taking his new seat with the declaration that there was to be "no step backward" in the effort to apply tho Demo cratic policy to the tariff, merely uttered :v perfunctory formula of the late campaign of education or indulged himself for th com fort and applause of the Mngwumpgallerv. His words must havo had the serious mean ing of a leader fn'ly appreciating the situa tion to bo dealt with. Within tlifl last 12 years, since the begin ning of agltat'on to reiorm the tariff, tho cause has received one tremendous and irre sistible sockdolager in the candidacy of Grover Cleveland. Tho offensivo absurdity of a party binding itself to the fat person of a revolutionary egotist doomed the enter prise to the merer of Its enemies nnd to tho arbitration or McKinlo v. Indirectly tho Mc Kiniey bill is a Mugwump product. The Cleveland movement was a step backward with n venge.tnce. It is a realization of this fact that lies at the beginning of Democratic restoration. The first stop forward toward the attain ment of any purpose within the view of the Democratic porty, tariff changing or reform of any nature or extsnt,leads in the opposite direction from the Mugwump rond to the disaster of 88; and like all solid and earnest Democrats, the Hon. Charles Frederic Crisp, of Georgia, surely knows it. WHEW CASH WEDS TITLE, The Union Is Not Always Mercenary, and Often Tares Oat Happily. PAnis, Deo. 13 Miss Mitchell, daughter of 8 tnator Mitchell, of Oregon, says that her marriage to tho Duke de la Kochefoucald will probably take place in February. Several prominent English and American lawyers have recently been Interviewed here on the snbject of international mar riages. Henry Cachard, representing Coud ert Brotheis, ol New York, said: "The general opinion that such marriages are merely exchanges of money for social posi tion is quite a mistake. Although unions do sometimes originate in selfish motives, they are mostly dno to affection. Tho fact that the ladles keep control of their money, and that often tho men have more property than their wives, goes far to prove this. Such marriages have generally turned out happily." Ono of the legal ndvlsers of tho United States consulate said: "In the minority of cases the fortnnes of American ladles are-in trust and so tied up that tho incomes alone can be touched. Marriage with such women, therefore, will scarcely be a bait to men who-esole object is money. Ladies are, to a certain degree, attractod by the glitter of a coronet." Another said: "I think If tho American cirl, whose notions of matrimony have been formed at home.expects a French husband to act np to her ideal, she Is likely to bo disappointed: but If she understands foreign views of marriage, and accepts a husband, knowing these opinion?, she is generally happy In her married life. The fact that most American ladles before con tracting nnions with forolzners, have trav eled in Europe and-irot divested of the na tional prejudices In these matters, accounts for the greater nnmber of these marriages resulting happily." FL0WEES OUT OF SEASON. They Lift Up Thelf Heads in the Field In Balmy Winter Weather. Tho day before Thanksgiving Mrs. nenry Bnshnell, of Waitslleld, Vt picked a bunch of pansies from a bed in the open air. Tuesday of last week a farmer in Augnsta, Me., was at work ploughing his ground, which he found free from frost. Farmers in some portions of Farmington, 31o have been bnsily engaged the past week breaking up land for next season's crops. Dandelions arc in blossom near Northfield. A Burlington (Vt.1 woman nicked from her garden the first of last week two pansy blossoms. The field in the rear of the Gloucester net and twine factory is literally covered with dandelions. Dandelions in full bloom in the fields around the suburbs of Pittsburg was one characteristic of yesterday. Numbers of them wero picked between Chartiers and Sheridan. A SMALL BLACK ATOM. A Wee Bit of Humanity That Is Attracting Considerable Attention. CiifCisKATi, Dec. 13. The weelst bit of hu manity known to be al ivo is J nst no w excit ing the denizens of West Loveland. It is a colored baby girl, thoroughly developed, but so small that it would be lost in a half gallon measure. It was born on December 1. It is less than a foot long, about 11 Inches, and weighs, without Its clothing, a fraction less than three-quarters of a pound. A finger ring can bo slipped over its hand and on its wrist, and its head is about tho size of a small rubber ball, and is covered with a crop of light black hair. Its com plexion is that of a mulatto with a faint red tinge. The lower limbs are perfectly shaped, and are about tho size of a stick of candy. The toe nails are about the size of a pin head, nnd are pink. Tho mother and lathor or tho child aro medium sized people. GERRYMAXDEKINGS. The gerrymander is indeed a bird of evil omen, but tho President's party has done its fnll share in rearing it to threatening pro portions. Buffalo Courier (Dsm.). As Republicans are not in a position to do as mnch gerrymandering as nsual, the ad ministration Is inclir.od to become conscience-stricken over it. St. Louis Reprblio (Dem.). TnE President's sole sonnd objection to the Michigan net providing for the choice of electors by Congressional districts Is that tho districts may be gerrymandered. It Is true that they may be, but it is not certain that they will be. iV. Y.'Ttmet (Dem.). It Is a littlo hard on Harrison to criticise the "gerrymander" part of his message. It was in bail tasto ccrtAinly, but it wns about all there was in the message to attract at tention. Ho probably thought it was better to be regardod as obnoxious than to pass unnoticed. Detroit Free Press (Dem.). Tni: Michigan plan may not be quite tho ideal of'airnessjn polltics,butthe President is a good deal off in referring to It as a gerry mander. It worries the Republicans be causo it may affect the electoral result and they have no State in which to retaliate St. Paul Globe (Dem.). The Cambria Company Sells Its Stores. HoLLiDAYSBDRO.Dec. 13. Special.' A deed of transfer of 10 properties and stores, located at Johnstown, Dunbar, Henrietta, Hollidaysburg and Birmingham, from tho Cambria Iron Company to the Pcn,n Traffic Company, has been entered here for record. The consideration is 570,000. Tho.personnel of the traffic company is nnknown, but it Is thought to be a corporation formed for tho purpose of running the company store sys tem and taking the stores out. of the Cam Dria Iron Company's hands. Britishers Dislike the Virginia Plan. Losdo, Dec. 13. Tho London advisory board of Virginia State debt bondholders have declined to recommend that holders accept tho American committee's scheme for the settlement of claims against Vir ginia. The London committeu have con voked a meeting to decide ortv a courso of action." Meanwhile a section of the bond holders, representing bonds amounting to 3,000,000, will accept tho American com mittee's scheme in principle, hoping to get modifications. Republics Are Not Ungrateful. Washiitotox, Dec. IS. One of the last acts passed by the Brazilian Congress before its dissolution, grants a pension of $00,000 a year to Dom Pedro de Alcantara, ex-Emperor of Brazil, with arrears from November 15, 18S0. The money will be paid in monthly Instal ments. Playgrounds for Deo-mber. New York World. 1 If we had some playgrounds how the chil dren of the poor would throng them this fine December weather. CUBIOUS CONDENSATIONS. China has 27 American merchants. The human heart heats 300,COO,000 times in 80 years. There is not a native born white grand mother in all Colorado. Berlin street car conductors only re ceive 62Xc for a dav's work of 13 hours', hut they can live there for about 20s per day. The interesting fact has been developed In the case of lablo glass that the much-admired iridescent film in slightly solublo In water. Hank notes in Anstria-Hnnary are printed on ono sido in German and on tho other in Magyar for the benefit of the Hnniarians. --Uerlin, too, has its chrysanthemum ex hibition. The flowers wero arranged by a Japanese firm in exact imitation ofa Japan ese flower show. Dakota has nn artesian well from which tho water shoots IntT the air 100 feet. It is otimitn'l tint from 8 003 to 19,000 gallons per minnte are discharged. It would keep a man bnsv for 11 year?, counting eight honrs per day and 200 dollar niece i minute, to connt the silver money In thp United States Treasury. It took G0.00O cars to transport ths grapes of tho United Statos to market last year. The vineyards In this county repre sent nn investment of $155,000,000 and over. Piled upon each other, the 5400,000,000 in tho Treisury would reach a height of 675 mile, and plnred side by side they would carpet a room SO feet wide and 24 miles long Lake Ontario is now lower that ever be fore since it was Known to white men. It Is estimated that it would require 2.511,000 000 tons of water to bring it up to its normal level. The immense iW-jam" in SbyhomUh river, abovo Monroe, Wash.. U said to be 400 yards long, nnd tho logs are piled up 20 to 40 feet high. Unless a steam windlass is put to work on it soon navigation to Snltan will bo closed for the winter and possibly for years. Rnssin has been visited by eight na tional famines dnrinethepresent centnry, In 1S01. 1F09, 1311. 1812. 1833. IM0, 1RT0 nnd 1S9I. In addition to these thre have been several provincial famines as severe, If not as ex tensive, as thoic which affect the whole population. Along the Columbia river a kind of bread is mado from a moss that grows on tho spruce-fir tree. This moss Is prepared bv placing it in heaps, sprinkling it with water and permitting it to ferment. Then it is rolled into halls a'-blg as a man's head and these are baked in pits. "Workmen digijint; the Harlem ship cnnnl, at the upper end of Manhattan Island, whilo at work 16 feet below the river bed level, in an Incipient peat formation, have fonnd the tusk ofa mastodon. It la 4 feet 8 inches in diameter at the butt. It mnst have lain where found through many centuries. Lieutenant Maxwell, of the United States army, says the Dakota climate adds to one's stature. When ordered to -that country he was over21 years old and had reached the ftee when growth is supposed to stop, hut during a residence there of over a year ho grew three and one-hair Inches. Da kotans tay tho climate often has that effect. Indians of the Uorthwest coast subsist largely upon cakes of seaweed prepared by pressing and drying In the sun. Theynl'o cnt this seaweed very fine and mix it with the grease or the candle fish, thns compos ing a repulsive oily mass, which they relish, greatly. Seaweed cakes of the sort de scribed are also made by tho Chinee and shipped In considerable quantities to China. The first iron rained in this country is generally supposed to havo been In Saugus, Mass., about 1613. Iron ore and smelted iron havo Just been found in North Beverly. Tills puzzles 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 10. A volume recently published on the industries of women in Paris states thai tho imitation of autographs is a remunera tive employment albeit somewhat danger ous Women clerks aro to bo seen more fre quently in France than In any other conti nental country, and nnother important face to be noted Is thev receive, as a rule, quite as good salaries as a man in the samo posi tion would have. Marriasc among the Ocloes of Sumatra is celebrated by a curious ceremony. In front of tho bride's house is an immense pair of scales,'ono of which Is filled with fruit, rice, fnel and a little kid by the bride's parents and the other by tho bridegroom, when the bridegroom's scale overbalances the ptherthe bride leaves tho house and the ccremonv is performed by the eating of a meal In common and a danca together. A ISakersfield Chinaman recently traded potatoes for a cow and the cow was brought to him before tho potatoes were delivered. That night tho cow broke in upon the pota toes and a gang of animals helped her, so that by morning the potatoes were all gone. The mysterions part of It Is that the cow is cone too and John cannot find trace of it. He is praying to his biggest Joss, for he is afraid that the potatoes have eaten up the cow. According to Mr. Hunt, in his "Ro mances of the West of England," fishermen dread to walk at night near those parts of the shore where wrecks have taken place. It is affirmed that the spirits of the drowned sailors haunt such localities, and many a fisherman has declared that he has heard the voices of dead sailors "hailing their own names." This idea is" not confined to this country, but Is found in various parts of the world. One of the biggest rock3 ever moved in the course of railroad construction in this country was recently excavated on the line of the Mexican Southorn by Colonel Lamar. The Lower Californian says the giant boulder was 120 feot in height and measured 1,000 cubic meters. Six dynamito cartridges were placed under the rock after tho men had excavatod as much earth as possible, and were fired one after another. At the sixth explosion the big fellow rolled over out of the way. An ancient legend says that the virtues of tea were learned by accident by a Chi nese monarch, King Shen Knng, "the Divine Husbandman," who flourished centuries ago, and who, in boiling water over a flro mado from the branches on which tho leaves still hung, allowed some of the latter to fall into the pot. During the reign of King Shen Nuns She (2737 to 209G B. C.) ho not only dis covered tho curative virtuos of plants, but also first fashioned timber Into plows and taught the people tho art of husbandry and instituted tho practice of holding markets for the exchange of commodities. BAZAAR ntZZINGS. "Well, Jiramie," said TJncle George, as he watched the boy at work oa his sled, "are you polishing up the rnnnersj" "No," said Jlmmie. "I'm shinln' np the sliders. Sleds don1 1 run. In summer, when he held the bat, He asked the pitcher for a low ban; He took the football after that. And now he plays at snowball. "I suppose you are getting np a surprise for Maud's Christmas. Chappie?" "Taas. JIaud will be awfully surprised. I'm not going to send her a thing." Primus That's an uncommonly hand some house Lavrson rents. What do yoa suppose he pa ys for It. becundus Eight per cent on tne rent. If I should beat her at the game, She'd sar the sport was mnch too tamo. And then decline again to roU. If I should let her win the game. Her verdict would be Just the same. Because I knew not how to bowl. "How are you, Fenwick? Still out of employment?" No; I'm getting 810 a week for reciting 'Old Mother Hubbard' Into phonographs for talking dolls." "There was a man in front of my house yesterday with an Infernal machine." said Barker. "How teniblel" said Miss Mellow. "What did ltlookUke?" 'Like any other hand organ." These are happy days when furnaces Burn briskly when the honss Is hot; And when the ley Waits begin to whizz. Do not. "I'll tell von what you ought to do, Harry," said his father. "Jtst call np the chim ney to Santa Claus aud tell him Jus t what you want. He'll fcnd.it to you on Christmas." Harry thought n moment, and then he ran to the fireplace, poked his bead In. and called oat. "danty, send me down two wholesale toy stores, a candy shop, and a pocketbook full of gold pieces, and we'll call It square."
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers