fBEF E" 4 THE ' PITTSBURG' DISPATCH, ' THUHSDAT, DECEMBER ' " j, 1891' THTJRSDAT, m .,.. ... - - -, - . - . .,.. Mje B$pf 4 ESTABLISHED FEBRUAKT 8, 1S16 Vol. -K. No. 27. Entered at nttsburg Postoffice November. 1SS7, as second-class matter. Business Office Corner Smithfield and Diamond Streets. News Rooms and Publishing -House 7S and 80 Diamond Street, in .New Dispatch Building. F.ATTRV AnVFimSIXO OFFIPK. BOOM 76. THIBrVE BrTMHNG. NKVVTORK.wherecom Tlctr tiles of THE DISPATCH can nlwavsbe round. Foreign adversers anpi-cclalo the 'm""" JInnic adertlscrs and friends of THE DISrATCH, lule in New York, arc alo made welcome. THE DISPA TC1IU 13 !r)y m rlf it Brent"nn '. .' Vvirnt Sjvnrf. Xetr lurl.anri 17 Ave dfCCpem. rarity Fmnce fA" artyon trim hns tieen aisap jininted nt a hotel netrs stand ran obtain it. term or THE DirATcn. rOTGr TREF IX TH CXITED STATES. TiAILY Dispatch. One Tear ?8 01 IUily DisrATCH. Per Quarter SCO PULYlM'PATrii. One Month 70 Daily" DisrATcn. includlnc Snrriav. 1 rear.. 10 OT Daily Di'PtTCit, Includlnc Sunday. 3 m'thi. SSI Daily 1)ip itch. including Sunda v. lm'tb... to fniiAl Dispatch. One Year 5 50 Weekly Disr-ATCH. One Year 13 THE Daily" Distatch is delivered hv carriers at 35 cent per v eek, or. including Sunday Edition, at 10 cents per eek. riTTtniBO. THUnSDAY. DECEMBER 31. THE OLD AND Till: NEW. The retrospective, reflective, reckoninc, lraf-tuming and leaf-tearing time has come. The Xew Tear is only one more wintry sunset distant. To-morrow Father Time will dance on the grave of a dead and buried year while placing a higher fisure on the calendar of the century a sure sign that our old friend the World and all therein is another chapter nearer the end of life's long story. To-day, on the vcrce of the parting, retrospection and reflection will be in order. Some, but we hope not very many, will be hard on the old year will blame it for crossing their careers, blighting their prospects, bittering their sweets. Some, and we hope very, very many, will sigh to see it go, it was so good to them. And out of these sad aud joyous memories will come the reflection & longer look into the magic mirror of the mind. This will soften the thoughts of those who Ions to bury the past, and they, along with the more fortunate, will finally decide that the good overbalances the evil. Then bygones will be bygones a tear for the dead and a health for the living. To-morrow will come the resolves and the leaf-turning. With the burial of the Old will be born the hope that the Xew will so live as to die as full of honors. If the good resolutions recorded then remain unbroken, 1802 is sure to have more wreaths placed upon its bier than memor able '91. But the sunerstitious will enter upon the coming year with fears and forebod ings. It w ill be born on a direful day the unlucky Friday. If the good old world which has Time in its keeping now perseveres in its procrcsMvc march, 1892 will lift the fateful shadow and remove the bar sinister from the sixth day of the week for all time. trXDEBORADCATE rOTATIONS. A remarkable example of the defense which secures condemnation is afforded bv the New York Sun's response to 3Ir. Garrison's charge that the Delta Kappa Eyilon Society at Harvard maintains a club barroom. The Sun's comment on this is that "it is better for them (the students) to drink r.mong their equals than to drink in a Boston barroom." The necessity that Hanaid students must drink somewhere is taken for granted here with such good faith as to create the be lief that one of the Kentucky Colonels must have' rushed to the defense of the Ilr.rvard undergraduates. As a represen tative of their view it is not calculated to impress the minds of patrons of collegiate institutions at all favorably. On this representation it is a fair deduc tion that if parents send their sons to col lege to drink whisky, Ilarvard and the D. K. E. afford eligible facilities in that line of instruction. But if a parent has a preferencethathisson shall not drink he had better seek out some fresh water col lege for the youth's education. ONK-SIDKl AMPLICATION. The decision rendered in Philadelphia Monday against the Belt Line Railroad thows how things work sometimes. By this project all railroads are to be given access to the city wharves and thus in crease shipping facilities. The question was whether the company bad the right to lay its tracks along a street by permis ''Sien of Councils; and the Court held in an exhaustive opinion that it had not, except by specific grant of the Legislature. The lesal foundation of this opinion seems good, but its one-sided operation appears in another fact The only inter est opposed to the Belt Line was "a rail road corporation already controlling the exclusive approach to the wharves, and it has a track extending alongthe very street to which the Belt Line is denied access. The result of the decision is that one rail road company which maintains the mon opoly of the shipping business may run its tracks along the street, and another or ganized for public benefit cannot do so. Since the Court maintained that it is in cumbent on the railroad to show its spe cific authority for occupying a street, on 1 he principle that those who seek equity must do equity, it should have lequired the complainants to produce their author ity for doing the same thing. The decision, however, contains one declaration which opens a practical road for the Belt Line to the wharves, and is of public value generally. It is in this asser tion of Judge Gordon: The Constitution ot 1S71 makes all railroads public highways and gives to any road the light to connect with any other, and to have its cars transported freely thereover with out discrimination. In the preoent case the defendants have the right to connect with the tracks now on Delaware avenue. There is, therefore, no necessity tofuitherobstruct the highway by a new line of tracks. If an agreement as to the terms of a joint use ot the existing tracks cannot he reached, the law points out a way by which the Courts can fix the terms. There is no necessity, therefore, to further impede the free ue of tl.e avenue by additional tracks. While the main effect of the decision is to denv to new railroads the right which is exerted, legally or otherwise, by other corporations in nearly every city in the State, we believe this assertion to be right. It is correct in point of law, as stating the legal obligations of the existing railways. It is correct in point of policy, as it does away with the necessity of multiplying tracks. On that s tatement any railroad desiring to reach a given point canbring its cars to the existing roads, and appeal to the courts to fix equitable terms for the joint use of the tracks. This is what The DisrATcn has always regarded as the proper solution of the problem of railway tracks within cities. If maintained, it will at once do away with the difficulty of se- curing access for new railways and ob viate the burdeninc of cities with super fluous tracks and crossings. It is true that corporations that secure the advantage of excluding a competitor t ill resist the application of this princi ple of the decision hi their favor. But now that a Judge has avowed this funda mental principle of law, it will be well worth while to urge its practical adoption in this city as well as Philadelphia. JCDGE WOODS' DEFENSE. It is one of the singular features of the day that an appointee for the next to the highest judicial tribunal in the country should find it necessary to publish a de fense of himself against the charge of having in a lower court altered or modified his judicial action to suit the political exi gencies of a President-elect This is what has been done in the revival of a pamphlet by Judge Woods, in answer to attacks on him with reference to his two charces to the United States grand jury at Indianapolis shortly after the election of issa Judge Woods denies the assertion that heflrst charged the jury that the advice to commit or attempt a bribery was an offense whether there was any such attempt or not, and then in his second charge declared that there must be a proof of at tempted bribery in order to make the advice criminal. lie purposely omitted any ref erence to the necessity of an overt act to complete the offense, he says, and left the grand jury uninstructed on this point His reason for doing so was that while he believed that the advice must be followed by the attempt in order to complete the offense, he regarded it as a doubtful point, and asked the opinion of Senator McDon ald. The Senator held that under the plain reading of the statute the advice to commit or attempt a bribery was a com plete offense of itself, and Judge Woods, though not convinced, yielded to the doubt so far as to omit any reference to this point Subsequently, after a correspond ence with Judge Harlan, who at first took McDonald's view, and then on further ex amination agreed with Judge Woods, the latter made up his mind that an attempt to bribe was necessary to complete the crime of advising, and the grand jury, having asked further instructions, he in the sec ond charge told them so plainly. To the other parts of the story that the change in his charge was made after Dud ley had threatened that if he was prose cuted his pockets would be found "full of dynamite," and after Quay and Wana maker had visited Indianapolis to shut off the prosecution Judge Woods makes some inapposite replies to the effect that he never saw Quay or Wanamaker, and that Dudley had no dynamite that he feared. But he asserts that he never re ceived an intimation from anyone that a change in his instructions was desired, and makes a good defense against the tale of a sudden alteration in his position by the correspondence, which shows that he had the question under advisement before he made his first charge, andSvas considering during the interval between that and his second charge. With this summary of Judge Woods' de fense, it is necessary' to point out its weak points. The first is as to the assertion that he did not in his first charge assert that advice to commit a bribery was a complete offens?, whether the advice was followed or not. The Judge repels certain reports of his charge as incorrect, but one he ac cepts as correct, and in that report the fol lowing language is found: So read this clause makes It an offense for any one to advise another to attempt to commit any of the offenses named in this section; so that while it is not a crime to attempt, it is a crime to adviso another to make the at tempt. If A attempts to bribe B, that is no offense under this statute; but if A advises IS to attempt to bribe C, then the one who commends or gives this advice i an offender under this law; and I will say there is some wisdom in this provision. Judge Woods asserts that this language will be recognized by lawyers as not con taining the significance attributed to it Some lawyers may; but the charge was not addressed to lawyers. To laymen it was said: "The attempt to bribe is not a crime; the act must be completed by the commission of the bribery. But the ad vice to attempt is a crime," without fur ther qualification. Even upon a close analysis of the language it does not appear that the Judge makes out his case. Upon his own showing in his first charge he stated a distinction in the legal status of bribery and that of advice to bribe. The attempt to bribe must be followed by actual commission to make it an offense, the advice to bribe is an offense in itself. On this vital point of the Judge's defense the most charitable comment that can be made is that it is far from convincing. Beyond this the Judge's statement of his own course does not strike us as exactly the one which a great and far-seeing jurist would take. He regarded the point as doubtful; so doubtful that he suppressed it in his first charge. He took the views of other jurists on it Both at first held the opinion generally attributed to his first charge; but the Judge succeeded in converting one of them to his view, which by no means cleared away the doubtful ness of the situation. But finally, after two months interval, he gives the second instruction in a way that prevented the prosecution and cut off all hope of appeal. It w ould seem when a Judge has ranked a law point as so doubtful that he is justi fied in suppressing it in one charge, he would be justified in continuing the sup pression until his decision of it could be reviewed by a higher court Xo review of the legal questions in volved in the charges, is necessary, beyond the citation of his first charge and the language of the statute. The whole case, as presented by the Judge himself, does not put him in the light of a Marshall or Tane-, or even of a Strong or Bradley. THE KULE OF CRIME. The activity of. footpads in the resi dence wards gives new force to the in quiry whether we are going backward in the public science of protecting life and property. It is regarded as an illustration of police inefficiency in the cities of the old world in the last century, that just such highway robberies were committed then as are reported almost daily now. There is pertinence in the plea of the authorities that the field to be patroled cannot be, fully covered by the police. But the inference that people cannot be protected by the present force has been too lrequent of iate years, and is likely to cut one way as well as another. Remem bering that the force has been 'twice in creased in response to this demand, when the public finds that protection is not afforded they may think that the logic of the situation points as strongly to the abolition of a force that does not protect, as to its increase. Whatever is necessary to make our streets secure must be done. The public has (he right to hold the municipal authori ties to strict account for the efficiency of the. force supported by public funds; "but no expenditure necessary to protect the people is great r than the public can afford. 'iTho protection of the community against crimes of the sort nowrife is the first duty of government As to the other phase of the matter the growth of daring and violent crime in both city and country It is a develop ment that requires popular action. If the michinery of the Govern ment is not sufficient to suppress law lessness wherever it shows itself, or effi cient enough to keep professional criminals in its hands when once captured, the or ganized action of the people must at once undertake the task, as it Is a publio duty. DANGER ON ELEVATED KOADS. On-a single day this week two derailments-occurred on the New Tork ele vated railroad. In one the trucks went beyond-the guard rail; and the significance of the accidents is sufficiently stated by the Herald in the assertion that if such a thing were to happen when the train is going fast the locomotive and a part of the train would be precipitated into the street ' The periodical outcrop of talk about elevated railroads in this city is an excuse for pointing out that this danger is con stant on an elevated road and Is sure to increase as the structure and equipment feels the advance of age. It may be les sened by strict watchfulness, but, as the Herald says in connection with the New York warning, "No management however skillful can provide against the sudden snapping of a bolt or bar that is apparent ly doing its full duty." Besides the ob struction and disfigurement of city streets by the elevated plan, the presence of this continuing danger should exclude it as a permanent solution of the transit problem. When our present transit facilities be come inadequate Pittsburg should make up its mind to put the streets above the railroads and not the railroads above the streets. Jakndyce vs. Jarndyce was regarded as an overdrawn satire, but if we take the trouble to look out for parallel cases, it will not seem so much out of' the way. In New York the other day the case of Bailey vs. Drew was decided after twelve j-ears weary progress, the court ruling that the famous Daniel Drew was solven t -when he Rave his son, the defendant, half a million dollars, and therefore the latter is en titled to the prop erty. If it takes twelve years to decidoa simple question like this how long will it take to settle a really complicated case t The pardon of Commander McCalla, con victed of cruelty to his sailors, coupled with the rigid dismissal of a collector who was one day late with his deposits.indicates that in this administration thero is a radical dis tinction between fish, flesh and fowl. It is reported that Mrs. Johnson, the prophetess of Kansas City who predicted that the world would come to an end on Christmas at 5 o'clock r. si., is nnhappy over the stupid obstinacy of the old globe in re volving along at the usual humdrum twenty four hour rate. This unvarying result is calculated to discourase Hitlerite soothsay ers and their adherents; but ordinary.people will come to the conclusion that it is a pretty fair sort of world in good weather, and might as well last a while longer. Singular that no one has observed and resented the practical sarcasm of at once concluding that the man is insane who in timated his conviction that Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt's brain must be something out of the ordinary. One of the peculiarities of the European situation is that Russia together with France is now asserting that Bulgaria belongs to the Sultan, while Kussia was the power princi pally concerned thirteen years ago, in tak ing Bulgaria away from Turkey. The exi gencies of European politics causes tho Great Powers to reverse themselves as ab solutely as Speaker Reed's somersaults on auestlons of parliamentary law which affect partisan interests. If the Democratic House of Representa tives Is able to cut down Government ex penditures $30,000,000 annually it will be a better plank for them than any free silver or free trade measures can be Cnnf A has beheaded four of the rioters who Jed tho recent assaults on foreigners, punished a number of others less severely and paid $300,000 indemnity. Carry the news to Chile, remarks the Philadelphia Inquirer. Also the intelligence might have some per tinence if transmitted to New Orleans and the localities whore Chinamen are mobbed. Gen; Horace Porter'? anxiety for a war with Chile and sorrow that we did not have a fight with Italy is more notable for professional Jingoism than for good sense and discretion. ' . Prof. Northitaoei,, of Vienna, gives to grip victims the comforting assurance that their affliction is miasmatic, infectious and probably contagious, and that no spe cific agency for its cure is known. Under these circumstances the way seems to be open to the conclusion that tho man who gets the grip is in hard luck. The weather nowadays seems deter mined to emulate the little girl of familiar rhyme. When it is good, it is very, very good; and when it is bad, it is horrid. MESTSTER Egax seems to be strictly ad hering to his precedents in omitting to let the administration have early information of the inauguration of President Montt. The only event on which Mr. Egan's news has been prompt was the mobbing of the United States legation, which never came off. UEiR THE TOP EDXG. Mrs. Ceisp has hastened to Washington o attend her grip-stricken husband. GkkeralJAlger gave several hundred suits of clothes to newsboys on Christmas Day. Senator Carlisle is called the hard est worker in Washington. He labors all day long without relaxation. The King of Sweden shows little if any improvement. The attack of influenza from which ho is suffering is a severe one and his lungs are affected. Colonel Charles H. Taylor, the own er of the Boston Glebe, is about to honor his mother's memory with a window in the church where she used to worship. Representative M. S. Keaghan, of Nebraska, is said to bo the homeliest Con gressman, bnt the deficiency in personal beauty is said to be made up by the good sense be displays. The President shook hands with nearly 1,500 people yesterday arternoon, including representatives of all the scientific societies now in session thero and a large exemsiou party from Boston. The President "will receive" on Uew Year's Day, beginning at 11 a. m. with tho Vice President, members of the Cabinet and Diplomatic Corps, and ending at 2 r. . with a reception of citizens. A great friendship has sprung up be tween Representative Cnrtls. of New York, the tallest Congressman, and Mr. Cable, of Illinois, who is the smallest man in the House. They are generally to be found to gether. The Maiquis of Lansdowne, Vicery of India, and Lady Lansdowne have recently been making a tour of the Indian provinces und they were everywhere received with tho wannest expressions of loyalty and devotion to British interests. M. Patesotre, the- newly-appointed French Minister to the United States, paid hisiespects to bocretary Blaine and assist imt secretaries of tho Department of Stato todjy. He will probably present his cie dentlals to the President to-day. A POLITICAL STRIKE. New York's Republican Senator! Still Insist on .Going Oat Impracticability or the Proposition More Contests An nounced Inaugural Preparations Governor Hill's Dinner To-Nlght. rSrKCIAL TELSORAM TO THE DI8PATCH.1 Albany, N. Y., Dec. 30 It will be a most amusing, spectacle if the members of theRepuDlican minority of the Senate of tho State of New York carry out the threats they are making to-day, and go on strike. A canvass is now making of Republican Sena tors, to find out if they will go into the Sen ate Chamber to take their oaths of offlce.and then, as soon as the Senate is organized by the Democratic majority, to go on strike, with Senator Zorubabel Ei-witi as Master Workman and Wnlking Delegate." This lii almost too ridiculous to mention, even as a rumor, but "it is seriously consid ered by the Republican leaders, and if they can got everybody to assent they will try to carry out the programme.- A Difficult Plan to Carry Ont. Threats that the Republicans would with draw from any part in the legislation of the session were made some time since, but no one took them seriously. In the first place, it is next to impossible to get all tho Re- ?ublican Senators to assent to this course, arty discipline has relaxed within the past year, and the financial interests of some of the Senators are toostrong to permit them to absent themselves and live on the$10a day Senatorial salary, but apart from this, their absence would be nn advantage, nnd would not materially interfere with tho business of the Senate. Theirnbsenco would compel the constant presence 'of all the Democratic Senators, but that would be a good thing. It will also insure a short ses sion, because there would bo fewer bills, much less debating, and no measure could Sass which did not receive the unanimous lemocratic vote. That would kill off a great many Jobs. The Duty of the Senate Is Plain'. J The opinion of the Court of Appeals makes the duty of the Senate in the othor con tested election cases clear. In the Steuben county case the Court of Appeals held that tho Republican, Sherwood, was clearly dis qualified, that his presence in the Senate would bo an intrusion on that body and a violation of the State Constitution. Tho Court also said that tho consideration of who was elected in that district was, under the circumstances, a question solely for tho Senate, and not for tho Court or the Boatd of State Canvassers to decide The Court has not sufficient lacts, aud the Board of State Canvassers had not the power to go inrtncr man to declare the lneiiziciiity 01 Franklin D. Sherwood, the Republican can didate. This leaves tho way" clear to the seating of a Democrat who is clearly eli gible. The Court also declined to go into tho question of fraud in the Troy district, and said that the Board of Stato Canvassers boing a purels ministerial body, it had no business going into tho question of fraud as presented, but thnt this was also a question lor the Senate to decide. Several Contests Yet to Com. There is another contest in the Saratoga district, the testimony In which can bo taken by the Senate. With tho 16 Senators Which theDemocrats now havo they can read ily organize the Senate, as there is one va cancvnnd thevhave a maloritv of one. even counting the Independent, Dr. Edwards, of Cattaraugus county, as a straight Republi can, which he is not. Two more contests for Senatorial seats were announced to-dav. Edward H. Iloyt, Democrat, of Milton, will contest the seat of Harvey .1. Donaldson, Republican, of Balls ton, and Lamont, Democrat, will try to oust Richardson, Republican, on the ground of fraud. It is ilkelv that Senator Jacob A. Cantor, of New York, will he elected President pro tempore. No efforts are to he made to push Senator Cantor's candidacy by the Tam many leaders, who have decided to-present no candidates to tne Legislature tin year for any office. Senator Cantor had the com plimentary nomination in the last Senate, and ho is one of the oldest Democratic mem bers of the present Senate in continuous legislative experience. If Senator Cantor is elected President tho Clerk will naturally be selectod from Brooklyn or from one- of tho country dis tricts. Other Offices to Be Filled. Unless his health, prevents Dr. Robert P. Bush, of Chflmung county, will bo elected Speaker of tho Assembly, and Charles It. Deficc3, for several years the efficient clerk ot tho Democratic State Committee, will be re-elected cleik of the Assembly. There is at present no contest for either of these offices. Dr. Bush's health has not been good recontjy, and it is possible he may conclude that the strain of the session would be too much. George H. Bush, of Ulster county, will bo the leader on the floor unless the Speakership situation changes. Governor Hill Is clearing up the Executive move his papers and personal effects before inauguration day. He will store his papers and effects in Albany for some time, and he expects to be In' Albany occasionally during the session. When tho inauguration is over he willxo to Washington, stopping at Elmirn for a few days, if he finds time. To-NJght's Dinner to Governor Bill. To-morrow night a dinner will be given to Governor Hill by the Stato officials and tho Democratic Stato Committeo at the Ken Hi ore. The dinner will be elaborate, and there will be several speeches. General in vitations to this dinner have not been sent out, as it is in the nature of the last supper of a college graduating class, where othei3 than tho regular mombers are not invited. The inauguration ceremonies on New Year's Day will ho few. The Tenth Battalion will escort Governor-elect Flower from tho Executl vo Mansion to the Capitol.where Gov ernor Hill will receive him. The exercies will take place on the stage in the Assembly chamber. The inaugural address will be short and non-political, the details of the State policy being reserved for the message to tho Legislature. The services will be sim ple throughout.and there will bo no display. After thev are over tho Governor and Mrs. Flower will hold an Informal reception at the Executive Mansion. The opinions of the Court of Appeals wero signed by Justice Mayhara in the Supreme Couit, special term, to-day. A further stay was granted in the Dutchess County Clerk case, pending argument. Tho Republican counsel held a consultation and decided to have the State Board or Canvassers com mitted for contempt of court. Their object is to furnish campaign material to the Re publican members of the Legislature. The application will be made toa friendly Judge, it they can find one, as soou as the papers are prepared. A $25,000,000 F0ETUNE IS SIGHT. Claimants to a Colossal English Estate Living in and Around Shamokln. Shamokiit, Dec. 30. Another family has been found who claims to be the rightful heirs to a colossal fortune In England. The alleged wealth is thought to reach $25,000,000., The claimants to this lioarn reside in Shamokin and several nearby places. Daniel Tillett wns tho name of the rich Iiondoner who loft this fabulous wealth. He was a marDle cutter and designed classi cal work. George Tillett, his brother, came to this country when a very young man and settled at Shamokin. He died many years ago nnd is survived by his wife Dinah and several children, among them being David and Jonas Tillett, of Shamokin. The Tilletts aro waiting a letter from .London, a lawyer having opened a correspondence, with them. TURKEY TAKES A BIG C0NTBACT. A Rather High Sounding Promise Made to Quiet France and Unlgarla. Paws, Dec. 30. The Turkish Grand Vizier has asked M. Ribot, Minister of Foreign Affairs', to renew the lelatlons of France with Bulgaria, which were ruptured because of the xpulsion by the Bulgarian Govern ment of Chadouine. The Grand Vizier says the Tin klsh Govern ment will pledgo itself, should the relations between the two countries be resumed, that henceforth all measures affecting foreigners in Bulgaria will bo communicated to the Porto, and to the lepresentatlve of the country concerned before further action is taken. Tho Pope Receives the Diplomats. Rome, Dec. 30. The Porfc to-day received the various diplomats in this city, who called upon him to express the customaiy Now Year greetings. His Holiness inquired of the French Ambassador to the Vatican concerning the he.iltn of President Carnot. All the dlplomatx remarked the healthy np pearancu ut.the Pope. Russia Invited Into the Zollvereln. Pauis, Dee. 30. Conferences looking to tho admission of Russia into the Zollvqjelu be gaii iu St. Petersburg Saturday last. I CORRECT VALVES OF FOEEIQN COINS. A New-Table Jlade Oat and Proclaimed by J ' fJnvernmi-nt Officials. WaSHiKOTOif, D. C, Dec. 30. The Director of the Mint has estimated and the Secretary of the Treasury has proclaimed the values of all foreign coins to be followed in estimat ing tho values-of all foreign merchandUe exported to the United States after January 1, lt92. In determining the valuo of foreign coin, the value of the monetary unit of countries having a gold or double standard was ascertained by comparing tho umount of pure gold In such unit with the pure gold in tho United States dollar, and tho silver coins of such countries wero given the same valuation as the corresponding gold coins with which they are interchangeable by law. In countries having a silver, andard tho values ot the silver coins were reckoned at the commercial valuo of tho pure silver contained in such coins, based upon the average price paid for silver by the Treas ury Department during tho month of Dc- cemDer, jkm. xne loiiowing coins naye uucu changed in value to the flguie indicated: Florin of Austria-Hungary, .311; boliviano of Bolivia, .091: peso ot Central American States, .691; Shanirhai tael of China, L021; Hnikwuu met of China, 1.13": peo of Colum bia, .691; suere or Ecuador, .691; rupee of India, .328; yen of Japan, .745; dollar of Mexico, .75; bol or Poru, .691; rouble of Russia, .553; louble or Russia (gold), .772; mahbub of Tripoli, .623; bolivar of Vene zuela, .138. Foj the first time the Director of the Mint has estimated tlie value of the gold roublo or Russia, and our Consuls in Russia havo been instructed to certify hereafter the depicciatiou of the paper money, which is the practical currency ot Russia, from the gold standard, instead of fiom the value of the silver 10 u Die, as heretofore. WEDDING AT 8ENAT0B SHEBM&N'S. A Daughter or the Late General Sherman Become Mrs. Thorndlke. Wjsiiixotox, Dec. SO. Tho marriage of Miss Rachel Sherman, daughter of the late General William T. Sherman, and Dr. Paul Thorndike, of Boston, was solemnized at high noon to-day, at the residence of Senator Sherman, in the presence of a distinguished audienoe of relatives and officials. It was a gathering composed chiefly of intimate friends of the late General Sherman, many of whom came from afar to witness the nuptials of the .favorite daughter of the deceased chieftain. The house was gay with music and fragrant with flowers. The ceremony took place in the front parlor of the residence. The ushers were Alan Johnstone, of tho British Legation, Ward Thorou, William Thorndike, Dt. Augnstln Thorndike and lecamsen ouennnu, iuu unue urutuer. Preceding the bride caine her little niece. Miss Elizabeth ThackeTa, in a gown of white muslin and carrying a basket of white lilies. Senator Sherman escorted the bride, who was mt by the groom and his best man, Mr. Albert Thorndike. The party grouped about Father Sherman, brother of the bride, who, with much impressiveness, performed the marriage rites of the Catholic Church. After the ceremony the bride and groom held a reception. A wedding breakfast was next served to the invited guests. Tho biideworean elegant gown of white Pean do Seine and a heavy white veil, and carried a bunch of roses. HOW TO IMPROVE HIGHWAYS. Treasury Notes for 8500,000,000 to Be Dis tributed Among the States. Massiliojt, Dec. 30. Special Senator Jacob S. Coxey, owner of qnarries near this city and a stock farm in Kentucky, and who Is a free coinage man of national reputation, is the originator of n unique idea for the betterment of highways. He has had blank petitions to Congress printed containing the recommendation "That you enact a law to issue $500,000,000 of treasury notes, to be a full legal tender in payment of all debts, both public and private, such money to he set apart exclusively for puhlio roads and to go to each State pro rata with the number of miles of road in theStato, and to be appro priated and issued at the rate of $20,000,000 a month." Tho projector of this scheme says that as the Supreme Court has decided that Con gress has the power to issue bills of credit in times of peace or war, one of the flrst functions of that body is to establish and maintain roads. It would give to the 9.000.- '0D0 laboring people of the country 18 days work each vear at $1 25 a day, or to the 2,225, 000 or idle peoplo it would furnish 72 days work each year. INDIA ASKS FOB HOME HULK. The National Congress Says tho Want of It Is Responsible for Famine. BOMDAT, Dec. 30. The Indian National Congress, which is in session at Naepnr. the capital of the Central provinces of India, has adopted a resolution declaring it neces sary that tliere shall be established a Legis lature in India to which the Indian people shall elect representatives. The resolution says that aside from cli matic conditions, the starvation among the masses of the inhabitants of India is largely due to tho fact that they have no Parlia mentary representation. The resolution also says it is imperative that reductions be made in tho expenditures for the Indian army. GOSSIP OP THE STAGE. Frederic Bbytos in "Forgiven" will reap pear nt the Grand Opera House next week, and with a good company it is said. Buna McIxtosh as Colonel Moberley in "Alabama," which will be played hero next week, has undoubtedly captured Eastern and Southern critics. GboiigeH. Lensox, the manager or Gor ton's Minstrels, was the guest of Colonel Dawon, ot tho Bijou, the fore part of the week. They are at Braddock to-night. !Tiie Lrrrix Rechuit," with special scenery and effcts, and 100 people in the cast, will be given at the Auditorium, (late Grand Central Rink), this evening, and to-morrow afternoon and evening. The lions and their tamers, Daniel Bpone and Mile. Carlotta, are attracting crowds, to Harry Davis' Museum-Theater, and as a genuine curiosity and a money maker the lions take the palm for the season. "Sihbad" will be given on Saturday even ing, notwithstanding the previous reports to the contrary Little IdaMullo has recovered entirely from the effects of the unfortunate accident on Monday night and is in tho cast as usual. Gilmore's big fpcctaclo, "Tho Twelve Temptations." will be seen at tho Bijou for next week. Mr. Charles H. Yale, the man ager, says he has rewritten the entire plnv and procured entirely now scenery and a great number of specialties have been intro duced into it. The ballets are enlarged and If all promises aro kept we are to havo'the spectacle in a complete new dress. Cabroll JonwsoN, who is satd to be nt present the best Irish comedian on tho stage of tho Scanlan school, will present his new Irish plav "The Gassoon" at the Du quesno Theater next week. The perform ance is said to be utterly. at vaiiance with conventional Irish play. "The Gassoon" is said to be the,best yet from the pen of Ed win E, Kidder. It will be given overy even ing, with Wednesday and Saturday mati nees. "Alabama," Augustus Thomas' ploy, has made a wonderfully deep impression wher ever played, and Pittsburg is to have its flrst chance to sec it next week at tho Alvin Theater. Tho play itself is a Southern idyl, unusually true to nature, and Its pathos and humor are alike unforced and buovaut. It ought to bo done well here, for it is in the hands of one of A. M. Palmer's companies, and several of the actors in the cast aro ot large abilities. This evening Richard Mansfield will pre sent for the flrst time in this city his comedy of "Don Juan." It is announced as u w hini sical tale in lour scenes, an Innocent fantasia or romance and adventure for young and old, a Christmas entertainment of music and dancing, of sunshine and moonshine, of pietty faces and quaint fancies. It is said that the plavcan bo witnessed by the young est withot dnnger. During Its run in Now York it owed the greater part of its patron age to ladles and children. rittsbnrgrrs at New York Hotels. New York, Dec. 30. Special. The follow ing Pittsburgers registered at New York hotels to-day: J. Arbuckie, St. Nicholas; G. B. B.itim, Hoffman House; J. B. Bhber, Bar rett House: R. C. Carter, Holland 'House; C. L. Cit, Giand Union; H. Hannnd, Metro politan: II. W. Harhan, Holland House; W. R. Kuim. Hoffman House; E. A. Mason,Astor House; W, E. TiisSn, U'. W. Tustin, West minster; A. Wnllneo, J. Wallace, Stuitevant House: C. Yeajer, Holland House: T.J. Hel ler, Astor Hoiie; J. C. Kay, W. G. Limb-ay, Albemarle Hotel; C. M. Pcttit, St. Stephen's Hotel. MUSIC TEACHERS' MEETING. Good Music and the Fine Weather Com bine to 'Draw a Larse Audience Sec ond Day of State Convention How the World Wags In Society. TrtE second, day's session of the State 1 Music Teachers' Association, in convention, realized more than the promise indicated by tho previous day. The attendance was much betterdurlng the day.nnd in the even ing was positively good. The literary part of the exercises was reserved for the morn ing session and contained two important features: An essay on "Music for the Masses" by Mr. J. H. Kunzenknabe, of Har risburg, and an essay on music technique and music, history, particularly ot Wagner, by Mr, Homer Moore, of Pittsburg. The flrst essay related to the practical applica tion or music among the peoplo, and was of the legislative nature that might be ex pected of a Harrisburger. Mr. Moore's essay was as thoughtful and always novel as his addresses ever havo been, und was listoued to with marked at tention. It deserved a much wider hearing. In tho a'fternoon a varied programme, much after the style of the previous day, was presented, but as on the flrst occasion was as little like the original' programme as was possible. Half the performers whose names wore mentioned were ill, and at tho last moment their- places had to be taken by others, or their performances omitted alto gether. The flrsfr,was an essay on "Mozart Wagner," written by Massah M. Warner, of Philadelphia, and read by Mr. Thomas a'Beckett. Pltrsbnrg's Young Pianist. Following . this, Miss Ethel Jones, the young girl pianist, daughter of the .Rev. David Jones, ot Pittsburg, played two se lections: (a) Chopin's Etude, in C minor, and Moszkowski's "Tarantelle." Miss Jones, ns usual, displayed the rare command or tho instrument that is especially hern if t. After this came n song recital from Schumann's "Poet's Love," by Mr. Austin, or New Wil mington, in which the qualities of that lyric writer were aispiayea witn advantage, ana the singer accorded a meed of praise by a well-pleased audience. Mr. Wood's organ recital, including selections from Bach, Smart, Guilmant and Haydn, gave his listen ers an opportunity to hear this most delight ful player at his very best. An Italian aria, "Lascia Chio Pianga," from Handel's "RInaldo," introduced a new Pittsburg singer, ono of Mr. Carl "Retter's pupils, to the Pittsburg public. Miss Nor ton possesses a raro self possession, the more remarkable in that she has never yet sung even in a cnurcu cnoir, tiiat well known birthplace of many a diva. There is promise of a bright sky in Miss Norton's mu sical future. Mr. Sohoedler.lwho came last on the programme, labored drearily for three-quarters or an hour at the classics to an audience that was hardly appreciative. The player and his music somehow didn't fit, though he is said to be a young man of much promise. With this the afternoon ses sion olosed. At the business meeting it was decided that Reading should bo the next place or meeting. Harrisburg, which bad also brought its recommendations forward, gracefully standing aside for its more fa vored sister. Officers for Next Year. This ticket was placid in the field for next yean President, E. A. Berg, Reading; Secretary and Treasurer, William Wolfsief fer; Executive Committee, Carl Maber, Reading, Arthur B. Wittig, Reading, Thomas n'Beckett, Philadelphia; Auditing Com mittee, J. A. Kurzenknabe, Harrisburg, W. H. Keller, Reading, and Clement Marks, Allentown; Programme Committee, Joseph A. Gittings, Pittsburg, A. W. Boest, Phila delphia, Roscoe Huff, Williamsport. The evening performance drew to it an audienccsuch as might have gathered to an opera night, and was notable as marking the triumph of a local singer, Mr. Homer juooro, wno was given tne only encore ycc accorded to any performer in the conven tion. Aftersinging "It Is Enough" rrom Mendols. sohn's "Elijah" he responded with "Lord "God of Abraham," a selection from the same oratorio. Miss Irene Sample, who oc cupied the place made vacant bv Miss Crouch, who is ill, also reflected credit upon local musical circles. Tho visitors, who had been heard before, wero at their very best, and the programme also introduced as one of the most artistic of the visiting pianists, Mr. Anthony Stank owitch, of Philadelphia. To-day's sessions conclude the convention. Mrs. W. If. IiinOFF, of Penn avenue, East End, gives a fancy work party this afternoon, nt which she will be assisted in leceiving bv Mrs. W. n. Koll, Mrs. B. S. Ambler, of Salem, O., und Mrs. S. J. Carr, of Baltimore. If hostesses, when the unexpected hap pens, as it sometimes does, and a function is declared off, would make announcement of the fact through the medium of tho papers, such a contretemps as happened on Tuesday would bo avoided. A young lady whose cards were issued for a party on" that evening fell soriously ill. Notification, as far as possible, was given to her invited iriends, but, in spite of this, a number of people arrived in party dress, only to be sent offa?ain by the servant, with the in formation that tho young mistress was ill. All this had been unnecessary, had the aid of the newspapers been called in. It is one of those friends that Is always ready in time or need, and a lot of people would bo saved pecks of trouble if they only realized that this was the case. The Health Protective Association.which appears to be now of Dlessed memory, should take some of the city coachmen into their keeping a'nd "coach" them a bit. As lackeys they fall as far short of the dignified thing as they say the flavor of the shad eaten in Pittsburg is bnt a ghost of that belonging to the shad caught east of the Susquehanna. An avistocratic looking, middle-aged gentle woman alighted from her carriage the other day on Fifth avenue, tho footman standing by unconcernedly with his hands in his pockets, and tho coachman up on his seat smoking a toby. No sooner was his mistress' back turned than the footman borrowed a light from the coachman, and helped him self to a toby also, and marching up and down, paid no attention whatever to tho carriage door, which stood open, Juntas it had been left when Its occupant got out. It remained so until the lady returned, when she pullod it after her, and the coachman having finished his smoke they drove away. A sight like this is rather a sad comment on the manners of the employer as well us those of the employed. Social Chatter. Mrs. Wynn R. Sewexl gives a dinner next Monday evening. Masters James and Harry McCrea gave a dance last night for their, small friends. Mrs. Fbahk Srr.oct has issued invitations for a small dinner on Saturday evening. The small MoLalns entertained their friends last night at their house on Wine biddlc avenue. Miss Alice WiLLARDhas Issued invitations foralunchoonon Monday for Miss Dewey, of Stamford, Conn. Mr. and Mrs. Simeot Bisseix left last ni-rht for New York, to spend a few days of the Christmas vacation. Mrs. Jons Lemmas and Miss Bertha Meyer, of Cincinnati, are the guests of Mr. nnd Mrs. Lavender, of Washington street, Allegheny. Several luncheons were planned and suc cessruUy carried out in honor of some of the visiting musical people to the State Music Teachers' Convention, by some of the music loving people in town. Evex into the ballroom has penetrated tho w omanly inarch of progress, and now the wallflower is entirely of tho male persua sion. They say that tliere are actually somo men so uninteresting tnat no woman can ue lonud who is willing to dance with them. Isvitatioks have been issued b3- Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Allen for the marriage of their daughter. Miss Louise, to Mr. Wesley Lin ford Smith, on Tuesday evening, January 12, IStf-2, at 8 o'clock, in Corry. Pa- The at-hoiiw cards read: ""21 Marion avenue, Allegheny City, niter February." Bessemer Text No, 92, Knights or the Mac cabees, gnvo a musical entertainment in Oil eon Hall.Braddoek.lastevcnlng. Notwith standing tbe rain poured down all day and evening the hall was well filled with friends of the order and an interesting programme rendered. Past Commander Jones was mas ter of ceremonies and Rev. Dr. Boyle, of Braddock, and Colonel E. H. Brady, ot Pitts burg, delivered addresses explaining the ol jects or the order. Colonel Bradv, in behalf or Bessemer Tent, presented Commander L. S. Boyd with a Past Commander's goldbadgo us a mark or appreciation of ervices to the tent during the year 89aandlS9L several applications 1 or membership were received. Tarentnm to light and Water Herself. Tarestum, Dec, 30. Special. Although there were only 31!) votes cast out of a possi ble 1,000 in the' borough nt tho electlou yes terday, tho proportion that the borough supply her own water and lighting was car ried by a majority of over three to one. BOMAHCE OF A CLAW. Mbrrison Foster Interested Ina Youngstown Case That Rivals Fiction. Youkgstow. O., Dec. 30. Special J Hon. Morrion Foster, of Allegheny, has com menced a number of suits here involving the title to a large amount of property in the Sixth w ard. The present residents have erected theron some of tbe handsomest resi dences in that portion of the city. Quite a number of these have already settled with Mr. Foster, securing onit claims. Beneath this litigation is a romance. In 1S61 Eliza Wick, danghter of Thomas L. Wick, a pioneer hPre, formed the acquain tance of Abncr II. Tyler, of Warren. At that time she was a handsome maiden and he a dashing bean. Thev were married'and removed to Wheeling.'W. Va., where Mrs. Tnlor died, leaving, as was supposed, only one child, Thomas Tyler. Prior to her death. Mrs. Tvler deeded a lanre tract of land in this city, now tho Sixth ward, to her mother. After the death of his wire. Abner Tvler, as next friend for his son Thomas Tyler, commenced suit to have the convey ance made bv 31rs. Tyler to her mother de clared a trust for their children. The Court held that the deed was held in trust for Thomas Tyler, then the only known son of Mrs. Tuyldr. At the intance of the grand mother the case was taken to the District Court, which decided that the property was held in trust for the children and not for any particular child. Shortly after the litigation Thomas Tyler, then supposed to be the only child, died. Mrs. Wick, tho grandmother, revived the litigation, when a sister to Mrs. Tyler re nounced all claim to the property, and it was given to Mrs. Wick, who sold large por tions of it and willed tho balance to her seo 011 d husband. Now it seems the grandmother knew all the time that other than one child was in existence. A son had been bom to Mrs. Tyler previous to the birth of Thomas, and this nnknown son has turned up with all proors in his possession. It was shown to the son's lawyers that while Mrs. Eliza Wick Tyler was temporarily living on Lex ington avenue, New York, n son was born. This child was Immediately taken away by its grandmother, its own mother having never een it. This child was adopted by a wealthy family, educated, raised and sent to Europe, and fully identified by his grandmother on ins return. j.ne latter aieu witnout reveal ing to the young man much of his family history. 31rs. Wick had, however, fre quently talked with her eldest daughter, Mrs. Major Crosman, mother of Henrietta Crosman, the actress, and when the real heir started to look ud his paternity he had little trouble in. proving his right to tne property in Youngstown. Just what prompted the grandmother to keep the boy's birth a secret will never be known. He is certainly the son of her daughter. The young man, wno Is known as Robert II. Tyler, is now a contractor in New York City, and Morrison roster, the uncle or Eliza Wick Tyler, is making a winning fight for the lad who has had such an event ful career. The property involved is val ued at many hundreds of thousands of dol lars, and it seems the present owners can do little but compromise. BEDSKINS DANCING AGAIN. They Say the Messiah Is Coming This Time Snre and White Are Uneasy. Fort Reso, I. T., Dec. 30. The Messiah craze has broken out afresh among the Choyennes and Araphahoes and not a little anxiety i3 felt. Dancing has been going on among the hills for several days, and tho craze is apparently spreading. Tho leaders aro Whirlwind and Old Crow, or the Chey ennes, and Left Hand, the bead chief of the Araphahoes. They declare that the Messiah, who is to expel the whites, bring back the buffalo and restore theirhuntlng grounds to the Indians, is soon coming and that tbe "ghost dance" will be kept up day and night until he ar rives. Runners have come in from Walker's Lake in Nevada, inciting tho Indians to activity. The ghost dance goes on day and night, the Indians being divided into re lays. All are provided with ghost shirts. As yet the excitement has not reached the Coraanches, but it is feared that they, too, may become involved. This is regarded as a serious danger, as the Comanches have an ample supply of ponies, in which the Chey ennes and Araphahoes are deficient. All are well armed with Winchesters and re volvers. Tho officers of most experience in Indian warfare are not inclined to believe that any serious outbreak will occur at present; as the Indians have a horror of winter campaigns. MIXED BLOODS' BLOOD UP. Half-Ureed and qunw Men Organize an Association for Defense. Pierre. S. D., Dec. 30. The mixed-blood Indians and squaw men aro so absorbed with the "Government outrage" upon them of depriving them of lands and rations that they have organized "The 3Iixed Blood In dian Rights Association of tho United States" at Fort Pierre. Thev claim that by the Sioux bill, by the Constitution and by every act of the Gov ernment since the flrst treaty with any In dian nation the Government has recognized the mixed bloods as Indians until this pres ent hour. They intend to see if what has been done with them is the result of misrep resentation and fraud or not. The associa tion is mailing bags or Its circular letters to the numerous Indian nations or the United States. They claim that there will be a prompt response. Organization of Ornithologists. There was a meeting of ornithologists from various parts of the State held yester day in Allegheny City. They effected an organization to be known as "The Western Pennsvlvapla Ornithological Association." Dr. A. D. Johnston, of Sedgwick street, was chosen President; Vice President, Thomas Harper, of Vermont treet; Secretary, Prof. 11. H. Wickham, or Beaver, Pa. Tho next meeting was appointed for December, IKi-i, to be held in Allegheny. Cuba Pleased With Reciprocity. , Havasa, Dec. 30. Tho retail grocors of Havana have a bonanza in reciprocity with the United States. While the former heavy duties on necessaries of life have been re moved with few exceptions, the prices to consnmors nro the same. Onthe 1st of Janu ary the duty on American flour will bo Jl per sack oflOO pounds, in place of tbo exist ing duty of nearly ?J. Blaine Secures More Reciprocity. Washington, D. C, Dec. 30. Reciprocity arrangements were signed to-day by Secre tary Blaine with the Ministers or Guatemala and Salvador for their lespective countries. The arrangements with Guatemala require the approval 01 tue congress 01 mat conn- t try, bnt it is expected that the arrangement w: with Salvador will go into operation .reD- ruary 1, next, Two Wealthy Misers Starve to Death. Dublis, Dec. 30. James Murphy and his sister Mary were found dead In their house in Newry to-day. They were misers and bad died of starvation. The bodies lay upon heaps or straw. They left money and prop erty to the amount of jE40,000. DEATHS I!KE AND EIaEWHEBE. Amos Cole, Centenarian. Amos Cole, whose age is said to be 115 years, died Monday at his home In SprlngdaleJ Ky., from the effects of the griii. Colo was per sonally acniialnted with Simon Kenton. Ken tucky's noted pioneer, and dlsilnctlr remembered the Inauguration ofPreslden: Wa-liliifrtou In 17W. Cole's mother died w hen she wa? 113 years old. Mrs. Elizabeth Gamble Taylor. Mrs. Elizabeth Gamble Taylor, wife of the Istc'c A. Taylor, died Tuesdayat the home of her mother at Beaier. Mi-wai M years of age. The children are Selva Taylor, or McOnlly & Taylor- Mrs A. C ilnuliall and Laura, au unmarried ,.,,. iir Taviur iv.ua sister ot II. D. Gam ble. Clerk orthe United Males Court. Edwin W. Neff. Edwin "W. Xeff died in Chicago Sunday afternoon, lie -was the founder of the. extensive saf-manufactory now under construction at Eliza beth. lli death was caused by pnetimoula. Obltnary Notes. Mas. Af.BtuT Husk, niece of Secretary Kutk, died at Vleroqua. Wis., of consumption. Tuesday. Dr.. Charles fjus Wilso.v, a proresor In the Tcnneps'ie Medical College, and a contributor to medical literature. Is deao. at Knoxvllle. Joux F. TATCM, a negro comedian aud stage manager widely known In the South, is dead In Norfolk, Va., where he hail resided siuce 1SSS- ARCIIDEACOX. J. PlLKtSOTO.V NOKBIS, B. D.. who was only appoluted on Monday as Deau of C'nichester. England. Is dead, lie had held the Archdeaconry 01 rjrlstol since. MSI. ,IOA- IIlXKLET, Inventor, died yeslerday rooming at Norwark, O., from lung fever caused bv the grip. Mr llinkler Invented a well-known knitting machine! a sewing machine and a carpet sweeper. JOSEPH 3IcCORJt CK. aged 77 years, a prominent llolidajslutrghotelktcper. died at his homeirear that city lestcd iv. The drceiscd wa .nt-rcted in many nujdif's MiierprUps and was w Idely known as a lumber merchant and stock dealer lie was also tlie founder of. the town of ijast Freedom. CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS Opium smoking is'absolutely forbidden in Japan. I ? A century ago there were only 14 news papers in London. - A half dollar of 1858 with an "O" above the date is worth $12. , London horsecars and omnibuses repre sent a capital of $25,000,000. I India has a priest who is drawing a. pension and is in his 1S2 year. fc The standard gold coin of England con sists of 22 parts pure gold and 2 parts of cop per. The household maintained by the" Queen of England consists of nearly 1,000 " persons. Contributions amounting to SG.500,000 for missionary purnoses were mado in Great Britain last year. Ancient monuments show that the cul tivation of wheat had been established in Egypt bofore the invasion of the shep herds. The "Imperial diamond" which was r cently purchased by the Nizam or Hydera bad from a London dealer is valued at $1,300,000. Abduction was by no means uncommon in the early ages. The daughter of the King of Argus was abducted by a Phoeneclan.and the Greeks carried off Europa from Tyre and Medea from Colchis. The grandest tomb in the world is,, without doubt, the Taj Mahal, or Crown of Empires, at Agra. It is an octagonal build ing of the purest white marble, the interior being decorated with inlaid work of precious stones. To protect itself from the rain the orang outang crooks its arms over its head. Tho hair on tho orang's upper arm points down ward, whilo on the lower arm it points up ward, tho apparent purpose being to shed the rain like a thatch. Strawberries and mosquitoes are said to be plentiful in tho neighborhood of Mt. St. Elias, the region of perpetual Ice and snow. Alonsr the edire or the crlacier is a. atrin of luxuriant vegetation, wheTO strawberry vines cover the ground for miles. More than 25 per cent of the freight of the country is coal. In 1SS9 the average price per ton of coal at the mines was 99 cents for bituminous and $1 U for anthracite. The demand for coal in all parts of the country is improving, and ic is taking the place of wood as fuel in remote sections. There were blooded dogs in early Egypt, and highly prized. Their names were carved on monnments which still remain. One of them, his name showing his foreign origin, was called Abalkaron, a faithful transcrip tion: of tho word abaikour, by which the hunting dog is designated in many of tho Berber dialects. In a district of Sumatra, to break a drought, all the women of the village, scantily clad, go to tho river, wade into it and splash each other with the water. A black cat is thrown into the water and mada to swim about for a while, then allowed to escape to the bank, pursued by the splash ing of the women. The Japanese believe in the existence ora crane which, after it has reached the ageof 600 years, has no need of any susten ance except water. Their mythical dragon ha3 the head of a camel, tbe horns or a deer, the eyes of a demon, the ears of an ox, the body or a serpent, the scales of a fish and the claws and wings of an eagle. A large quantity of amber, particularly the coarser kind, is exported to China, where it is used in the form of powder in in cense. It is nsed also in the manufacture of varnishes for carriages, builders and photo graphers. -The kind used for carriages is ex fiensive, and it takes a long time to dry, bt c is harder and more impenetrable than any varnish known. In Hay, June and July the weather on the Neva is as hot as it is in summer time in Queensland: and tho chief delight of the people whose official duties detain them in the capital Is to be rowed about the Neva in the soft and mellow gloaming, and to ex perience the pleasurable sensation of being able to read the newspaper without the aid of artificial light at 11 r. 31. Beards were at various times taxed in -England, and tho Sheriff of Canterbury paid 3shillingsand4pence for wearing a beard. In the first year of Elizabeth's reign every beard ofabovo a fortnight's growth was! tared 3 shillings and 6 pence, but tbe law was too absurd to be enforced. Peter the Great imposed a tax or a rouble upon beards, hut it was soon cancelled. In its old use as ribs for umbrellas whalebone has been superseded by the lighter and more durable steel. Although tbe demand on tbe importers each year has been growing steadily less it value has In creased. In 1873 there were 3,511 hundred , weight of a value or $333,0,y): whllo in 1377, though the quantity was only 1.9SJ hundred weight, the value was $4H,93j. Of the 328,716 divorces granted in tha United States for 20 years, 216,176, or 65. 8 per cent of the whole, were granted to wives on their petitions for divorce from their hus bands, and 112,546 were granted husbands for the allegpd fault of the wives, being 34.2 per cent of the whole numbcT; that is to say, in the proportion of nearly two to ono it is the wife who seeks a divorce rather than the husband. The island of Madagascar has two dis tinct climates, .two classes of natives and two classes of fauna and flora. The island is about the size of France. Along the coast it is tropical and malarious, and the natives are darker and larger than In tho interior. Tho interior is a high tabic land and moun tainous. There tho climate is cooler and tha natives smallerand lighter in color than on the coast. Butin the interior they are mora intelligent and they rule the island. In Constantinople, the Mohammedan moque of Sofia is pervaded always by a strong smell of musk. In order to snpply this perfume, which was freely mixed with the mortar and cement which bound to gether the stones, thousands npon thou windsortho musk antelope wore slaught ered. Thus, while one stone is left npon another or this ancient and interesting buildin", the odor or muik must remain" to rerreshor annoy its visitors, according as the sense Is affected. IJGHT LITTLE LAUGHS. Af- "Wall "We'll have to economize this year. Annie. Mrs. "Wall "Very weD. detr; yon can bay my bonnets, and I'll select your ties and cigars. .Veio lurk Herald. ' She thought she'd get a sealskin To grace her pretty back At Chrirtmas. irom the friendly boss; Instead,shegotthe "sack." Brooklyn EaoU. Xew York Cabman (to English tourist Just landed froir. ocean steamer) "Where will I take tou to, sir? English Tourist-Hoffman House: but-ah you might drive me past the ah World's Fair build ings on the way. Pact. Mrs. Hicks Do you and your husband holnnr to one of the mutual societies? Jlrs.DIx No: what gave yon thatldea? Mrs. Hicks Hnaband sala he thought you were charter members of a mutual admiration society. Cvloradi Sun. They took him to the hospital, And there he died unknown: But the doctors learned the life he'd led . After his soul had flown. They learned It in a Christian way. And not llkp heathen Turks; For they calmly opened his useless case And Judged hlin by Ills worits. Sew York Herald. Mrs. Boston I don't know whether to let Annetta have that talking doll her uncle sent her or not. Mr. Boston "Why. what's the matter with It? Mrs. Boston-Its accent Is so distressingly New York. JkirjKr't Bazar. "Pat," said a AVashinston man to his Janitor. "I'm Inclined to think that yon kissed the blarney stone lcfore you cams to this coun try." Och. sure." said Patwithanair of modestr. "me friends nlver thought that tho Iolkes av mo needed it." Wothington Star. It came and it went, the season pleasant; All earthly pleasures also fade fast! This morning I looked on a Christmas present. To-night 1 tlgh for a Christmas pat. Sew Ibrt Press. Hownow How's this? you're looking verygloony. Kaylor A very terrible thing has happened to me. Ilowuow I am very sorry to hear It. It? TVhat.Is - Ilaylor I forgot to make any ew 1 ear's reo-. itMn ftrtjfn,i iTnttrier. '; 4 -. lutions. Boston Courier. - 4 Jhi 1)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers