THE-PITTSBnEq-1 DISPATCH, MONDAY, JANTTAItY .4,. 1892. " ' Ije Bippaitf ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 1?4G Vol. 48. So. 31. entered at Pitlshnrg Fostofllce November. 13S7, as second-class matter. jBusiness Office Corner Smithfield t and Diamond Streets. News Rooms and Publishing House 51 78 and So Diamond Street, in New Dispatch Building. nATm MWEmrsixn omrn roomtg. TRIBUNE nrll.DlXG. KWT0RK. wlierocom Tilete file- orTHH DISPATCH can always be found. Foreign adrrllsrrs appreciate the convenience. Home advertisers and friend or THK DISPATCH, lille in New York, are also made welcome. 7TJK DISrATCH it rrpyilarlv on tnltnt Brfntnnf t. t Cnton .N7are. .VVio lorl.mut IT -Ire deF Opera. Tan. Franr. vftere anym rtm hn been rttwj ftntntedatn hotel nerpsxtan'l can Atmn it. TERMS OF THE DISPATCH. rOPTAGT FIIEF IX TITE UX1TED STATED. Taily Dispatch. One Year ? S 0.1 Daily Dispatch, Ter Quarter. Daily Dii"atch. One Month Daily Dim tcii. tii"lmllng Sunday, lye-ir.. Daily Disvatcil, Including Mtnday. 3 m'ths Daily Disi-ATrll. Including Sundaj, lmtli. ErvPAY Dispatch. One Vear :eo TO 10 m :5o an ISO Weekly Dispatch. One Vear 1 SS The Daily Dispatch Is riemered nv carriers at J5centspcrweik, or. Including Sunday Edition, at 20 ceuts per week. rrrrsmjiiG. Monday. January 4. THE FREE TASS DELIVERANCE. The free pass question is galvanized into life oncf more by the opinion of the Inter State Commission partially deciding the complaint of Senator Chandler against 'the Boston and ilaine Railroad. The de cision is clear and accurate enough on the points it decides positively, but it is rather weak in its unwillingness to give a decisive ruling on others it holds in reserve. There is no specific prohibition of free passes in the inter-State commerce law as there is in the Pennsylvania Constitu tion and the legality of their is-iiie de pends on the question whether it does not violate (1) 'the provision that no railroad must charge more to one person for like and contemporaneous service than it does to another; and (2) the provision that railroads must publish their rates. The Commission rules that giving free passes to shippers of milk, cattle and similar articles who accompany and care for their shipments does not subject other passen gers to an unjust discrimination, although it does not make it clear how the law am be complied with without including on their rate sheets the statement that such shippers are entitled to passage free. The Commission is equally clear in ruling that passes issued to politicians and others, "whose good will is valuable to the company," are against the law, as it is clear from the statement of the case that this valuable good will is secured by the grant to them of the favor and preference of free transportation. 'Where the Com mission was weak was in withholding for further investigation the question whether passes issued to newspapers in exchange for fiee advertising, and others m the same category, are illegal or not. While the newspapers render full value received for their passes, it is quite plain that the practice of giving an indefinite amount of transportation for an unappraised service of any sort cannot be harmonized with the object of the law to make all railway charges specific and uniform, and to enact that the whole traveling public shall know exactly what has to be paid for a certain amount of transportation with the assur ance that no favored individual gets trans portation for less. What is really the grotesque feature of the business is that public attention is taken up by this painstaking investigation with regard to a minor violation of the law, while the great and vital provisions of the act are being openly nullified all over the country and no one thinks it worth while to take much notice of theH fact ' THE LEAP YEAH QUESTION. The recent discussion of the question: "Should Women Propose?" has received a new fillip from the recollection that the year 1892 is one of those quadrennial periods during which a medieval tradition assigns to the modester sex the privilege of taking the initiative. More tersely it is leap year: and while the privileges of that season have been heretofore confined to leap year parties snd sleigh rides, the re formers seem to think that the tradition would afford a good starting for the radical change of permitting the love stricken maiden to declare her passion to the man of her heart and ask him the tender question if he will be hers. The arguments so far have a rather monotonous sameness. One side holds up the unreasonable discrimination that Jeems if he thinks well of Belinda may tell her so; while Belinda, however much ihe may think of Jeems, must keep her is sealed until he has made the avowal. The oilier sidfecxclaims that Belinda, be ing a woman, neither her lips nor her eyes are sealed, and if she cannot make Jeems understand the condition of her heart without striking him with the sledge hammer of a formal offer of marriage she had better take her sentimental wares to another market; Jeems is too stupid to be married." This is the argument of an opponent of the re form; and as its real significance is that Belinda may avow herself by looks and hints, though not in plain language, its logio is rather more strongly in favor of women's proposing than against it There are still other considerations which should not be overlooked in the dis cussion of this vital topic The paper from which the above sentence is quoted says that "the attitude of a woman to ward a man is that of a queen toward a subject," evidently with an idea that this is an argument against the proposed re iution. But the prerogative ot queens is indisputed to make the proposition to the vorcd consort; and tlnis it appears that tr sovereign ladies have the privilege al ready when thej choo.se to exercise it. Be yond this they have support for the adop tion of that extreme resort in the example of heroines who have used it when other and more conventional courses were in adequate. The case of Priscilla Alden is a good precedent; while in more modern romance the heroine of Walter Besant's "Children of Gibeon," who makes up her mind to marry a lover of poor fortune and low family, and is told by her sympathiz ing mother "My poor girl, you will have to ask him yourself," loses nothing of the reader's esteem and admiration by the brave way in which she performs that un usual task. On the whole, we do not think there is any necessity of a new social edict on this question. The great majority of young women can rely on their charms and the usual methods of intimating their prefer ences to bring their swains to the point of wooing. But if any young woman finds lutrself in the perplexing strait of having iQover too modest or too much con strained by his circumstances to come to ffTtg point, let her do the business and afterward devote herself to the task of making him bless 'the day when she did it 'OME IMPORTANT FACTS. The war boomers of General Horace Porter's s'rjpe have been aptly character ized as the '-war-for-the-fun-of-it" party. It is nor necessary to waste much logic for the gentry who desire to set ont for the conquest "of Chile under the impression that they arc going en a picnic. A more important fact s that in the'background somewhere there is an interest which with equal pertinence can be called the "war-for-the-contracts" party, and that the latest performance of the organs of this party is to begin an attack on Secretary Blaine for recognizing the possibility of a pacific termination of the dispute. Yet in no respect has Secretary Blaine shown a more clear and accurate judg ment, nor more completely refuted the charge of his enemies that he was given up to Jingoism. lie appeals to the sound sense of the American people by the posi tion that the extensionof our commerco with South America is more to our advan tage than winning by a senseless war. He has planted himself on the'basis of sound principle by the practical avowal that we cannot lay down one theory of international duty for our own benefit and deny it for the sake of attacking Chile. Finally, ho has the sense and discretion to perceive that by a comparison of the Chilean course with reference to the Valparaiso riot, and our own course with regard to the Jfew Orleans mob, Chile is shown to have ful filled and even surpassed the rules of international obligation laid down by the United States in the Xevv Orleans matter. The comparison in the light of recently published documents carefully sup pressed by some one for over two months shows the following facts: First At the very inception of the dis pute the Chilean authorities officially in formed our representatives that the guilty parties, whoever they might be, should be punished. Second The Chilean Government held that the investigation of the crime must be conducted according 'to the regular methods of Chilean jurisprudence, and in vited the co-operation of the diplomatic and naval representatives of the United States in that investigation. Third The investigation thus promised was instituted, the testimory of witnesses on both sides heard, and arrests were made, due information of these steps being communicated at the time to the Minister of the United States. Comparing this with the position of the State Department in the New Orleans af fair, wc perceive that a practical dis avowal of sympathy with the rioters was made; that Chile, like the United States, held that the trial of the rioters must pro ceed under the regular judicial system; but that the criminal system of Chile en abled that Government- to give an assur ance of punishment, while the State De partment of our Government was obliged to explain that, our judicial system per mitted no such assurance; and that the Chilean courts have made such a judicial investigation, to which the United States representatives have furnished testimony, with the result of arrests of the rioters, while the utmost that the United States has been able to do in the New Orleans matter is President Harrisons recom mendation to Congress of an alteration in our laws. Much of this is due to the dif ference in our Constitution and judicial system from the Latin system, which pre vails in Chile. But when it is known that Chile has gone further in the direction of punishing the rioters in two months than we have been able to do in ten, sensible people will see that to declare that we have cause of war with Chile is to utterly condemn our own attitude with Italy. Of course, such considerations have no weight with the organs of the war-at-any-price party that are suppressing these facts even after they have been published in other papers. But, as the Buffalo Ex press removes itself from that class by publishing a fair abstract of the Chilean version of the riot, it is pertinent to reply to its comment as follows: "But, even if it is true, it does not excuse the Chilean Government for neglect ing to express regret for the occur rence and to promise courteously that it should be investigated, instead of surlily telling us, in effect, that it was none of our business. On this view of the case, our cotemporary may fairly be called upon to state whether it is not cogent that in the very documents from which it obtained the Chilean version there are no less than three references in the Chilean communication to the riot as "lamentable" and "regrettable;" that there are half a dozen official assur ances, not that an investigation would be made, but that it was already in progress; that there were at least two official state ments that the guilty parties should be punished; and, finally, as already pointed out, that the investigation has been made in accordance with those promises. Finally, wc will ask our cotemporary" to say whether it finds no significance in the fact that, while everything in these very documents of two months ago that would create an unfavorable impression in this country was promptly sent here by cabl these indications of a willingness to do justice were carefully suppressed, and would not be known to-day, if their trans mission had depended on the United States Minister at Santiago. AN ABANDONED FUNCTION. One of the positive features of January 1, 1HI2, was the definite and final aban donment in American society of the prac tice of New Year's calling. The custom had been dying a slow and rather painful death for some years; but its' complete de m'se was to be reported as of last Fri day's date. Except in official and diplo matic circles, where archaic customs sur vive sometimes a century after they have been left behind the progress of the world, society everywhere relegated the New Year's call to the customs of effete ages. No regrets will be wasted by the social philosopher on this abandonment of a once universal custom. The original Dutch idea of making the rounds of ac quaintances to wish them a happy new year was a pretty sentiment in its natural environment of Dutch slowness and formality. But when transplanted to the conditions of modern society it. became a travesty on all ideas of real society. In its mildest and least offensive form it was 'a burden of monotonous rapidity; in its worst manifestations it was a wild orgic. The practice of rushing in upon a lady, wishing her a happy new year, saying two sentences about the weather and one about the number of calls you have made, and then leaving in the earnest attempt to inflict the same ex perience on a possible hundred and fifty hostesses was a burden to the caller, only to be surpassed by the penance to the en tertainer. The thought of taking in the proper observance of the day one huu dred and fifty nibbles of one hundred and fifty different slices Of cake and one hun dred and fifty ewigs from one hundred and fifty cups ot coffee was something the retrospect of which almost excuses the too frequent practice of drowning the whole sorrow in the mad oblivion ot'one hundred and fifty swigs from one hun dred and fifty different varieties, brands and degrees of intoxicating fluids. Society has lost nothing calculated to contribute to its intelligent enjoyment from the demise of the New Year's call. But we can hardly flatter ourselves that its abolition is due to any of the reasons indicated. The New Year's call is unknown to English society, and the disappearance'Of that function is simply a secondary but consolatory effect of the prevailing anglomania. THE CORONER'S IDEAS. Elsewhere will be found Coroner Mc Dowell's annual report and recommenda tions for the increase of public safety, the lessening of accidental, suicidal and felon ious mortality, and the better dealing with such cases when-they occur. The Coroner's statistics show that a large proportion of the year's murders were due to the criminal immigrants the fugitive, ignorant class imbued with their national inclination to settle all disputes by blood-letting. The question of re stricting immigration is one which must be answered bv the nation and cannot be solved by one "State. The influx is due not only to a fight from criminal prose-. cution and oppression, but also to the economic supply of the demand in certain quarters for cheap and unskilled labor. Other advice from the Coroner has a more direct local bearing. All should take to heart his verdict that many of the acci dental deaths and suicides result from carelessness on the part of the associates and guardians of the victim. Mental alienation .and decreptitude should always receive close attention, and, where this is impossible from the household, the af flicted should be sentto institutions pro vided for the purpose. Children mast playand have fresh air, but if ncglccttul guardians allow them to use the streets they do it at an appalling risk. The pointing out of the dangers in this direction should lead to some reform that will remedy the evil without robbing the little ones of healthy recreation. During the session of the- Legislature the Coroner made praiseworthy but futile attempts to pass his morgue bill. The result is that the fa cilities for the identification of remains are still dependent on private en terprisethat identification which, in most cases, means the bringing of crim inals to justice or the solution of the mysteries of the missing. The renewal of efforts to secure a public morgue and the recommendation to have a permanent Coroner's physician are certainly worthy of public indorsement That fire escapes are more frequent and elevators safer is evidence of the wisdom of former recom mendations, and give weight to those now submitted. Tun new Senator from Kansas seems to be fully qualified for political preferment. Ex-Governor St. John sums' up his fitness with the remark that.during twenty-threo years' acquaintance between himself and Perkins the latter has been only thirty days out of office. Touching the reported reappointment of Morrison as Inter-State Commerce Commis sioner, the Chicago Herald asserts that "the inter-State commerce act provides for the appointment of a certain number each of Democrats and Republicans," and says Mor rison belongs to neither party. It would be interesting for the esteemed Herald to point out the section of the act in "which this re markable provision is made. A law -which says that there must be so many Democrats and so many Republicans in a governmental body would be ono of the curiosities of legis lation. The Baltimore Sun claims the honor of being the first to suggest tlie World's Fair in commemoration of the discovery of America, but would it not be wiser to wait till the Fair is over before arrogating to it self the glory of the proposition? The renewal of the attack on Governor Flower by the Wine and Spirit Gazette, which arraigns hira for a sin of commission in going to church and a Bin of omission in fail ing to be sufficiently devoted to the rosy god, creates harrowing suspicions as to its inspiration. The attack was first made during the Gubernatorial campaign with the result of giving Flower a crushing majority. The resurrection of the same fearful arraign ment suggests the deep doubt whether the accusing Journal is not under pay to help along the Governor's mild Presidental boom. It is rather difficult to comprehend the political or domestic necessity by which each administration signalizes itself in the purchase of a costly set of china from for eign factories; but wo suppose the social ne cessity covers the whole job. A New Yoisk paper excuses the omission of any public bequests from the will of lion. W. I. Scott on the ground that such bequests aro so frequently broken down by the courts. This may be a good way of whipping the will smashers over Hon. W. L. Scott's shoulders, but in view of the fact that most of these cases of bequest-breaking occurred since Mr. Scott's death, we aro impelled to the conclusion that the millionaire left all his property to his heirs lor the good reason that he preferred to. Br the way, that preannounced proclama tion of the President, restoring duties against certain countries which do not take advantage of reciprocity.seems to have been forgotten in making up the list of political New Year's resolutions. The modest demand is made by the New York World that If the New York Central does not at once adopt tho Dlock system Mr. Depew shall resign the Presidency of that corporation. Mr. Depew will be likely to think twice before adopting that policy. The position pays a comfortable salary, and Mr. Depew probably will be" able to recall instances in New York of men who resigned ilesirable positions and found considerable difficulty in getting them back again. A late assertion that Senator Hill does not indulge in intoxicating beverages renders it more difficult than ever to explain his speech on the coinage question, except on the basis f plain unadulterated ignor ance. The big November exports beat the record again, reaching the total $110,000,000. They contain also the gratifying exhibit that nearly half these "xports, or 31,000,000, was shipped from southern ports. No better evidence is needed that the South has fully recovered from tho losses of the Civil War and is now contributing her full share to the nation's prosperity. The annual promise of a sweeping ad vancoln fire insuranco rates is heardas usual; but the insurance combine is not yet suffi ciently centralized to prevent the issuing of policies at about the old figures. It is interesting to consider the hunger of tho naval ensigns and lieutenants for war with Chile, on account of the opportunities it will give for promotion. The sentiments of the higher officers who are to be killed off in order to provide vacancies for their ambitious sub-ordinates might be worth a passing inquiry. A significant Omission. SU Louis Globe-Democrat. 2 The most significant thing about the din ner given to Governor Hill was tho cireTnl oniis-iou ol the name of Grover Cleveland from all of the speeches, , A POPULAR POISON. , ( WRITTEN TOR TUB DISPATCH. I I had occasion the other day io make some remarks upon the subject or Intem perance, in the course of hioh I ventnred the assertion that drinking is not essentially a sin. Drunkenness, I said, is sin, but not drinking. And I instanced the marriage feast at Can a. The quantity that is drunk, tho quality of that which is- arunk, and tho circumstances under which the drinking is done, seemed to me the avenues by which sin may entor. The conclusion, however, of tho whole matter upon that occasion wns that it v as a good deal better not to drink at all. Tho purpose of such a statement of the cao was to set the drink question upon a basis of actual fact. If drinking, even a very little, could bo shown to be an actual sin, like lying or stealing, then tho temper ance advocates would certainly have a most powerful argument. But if their desire for Mich an argument lends thera to treat drink ing as essentially sinlul, when really it is only drunkenness that is sinful, then their effort are hindered by tho fallacy In the premise. Intelligent people cannot bo per suaded by anything but the truth. Since that time, in addition to many ex pressions of dissent which I hope Ivaluo properly, I have received a communication from a friend of mine, one of the known and best Informed chemists of this city, in which bo attacks my position upon theground that all liquors that aic drunk to-day contain alcohol, mid that alcohol is a poison. So that drinking even a very little is drinking just a littlo poison. And not only that, but a poison whose peculiarity it is to stimulato tho appetite for more poison of tho samo kind. That is, alcohol is a most seductive' and deceptive, as well as fatal poison. The Authorities on Foison. Now, nil wc want in this matter is the simple truth. The desire to be consistent is only another form of self-conceit. For mv part, I would bo delighted to take back everything that was said, and to maintain that even the smallest taste or the lightest wine is a deadly sin if I could be convinced that that is true. To take poison cannot readily be conceived of as a virtue except in the case of homeopathic medicine. If a man voluntarily, in search of a sensation of pleasure, takes into his system that which ho knows will do him physical harm, he commits a sin, not only against his body, but against his soul. Accordingly, I sot down here, out or my friend's careful citation of authorities, as many witnesses to his position ns-therois space for, leaving the decision to every man's Judgment. Vr'hat is a poison? "Poison," says DungH son's Medical Dictionary, "is a generio name for all substances which when introduced into the animal economy, either by cutnn eous absorption, respiration or tho diges tive canal, net in a noxious manner on tho vital properties, or the texture of organs." "A poison," aocording to Taylor's Treatise on Poisons, "is a substance which when ab sorbed into the blood is capable of seriously affecting the health or destroying life." Dr. Tracy, or the Now York Board or Health, says thaWany substance whoso nature it is when absorbed into the blood to injure health or destroy life is called a poison." That these characteristics of poison aro prosent even in tho lighter liquors, beer, wine, cider, etc., is affirmed Dy Dr. W. S. Davis, of Chicago, founder of tho American Medical Association, and Presidont of the lato International Medical Congress. Dr. Davis certainly ought to know what ho is talking about. He says: "There is not a greater or moro destructive error existing in human society than tho belief that beer and wine nndjlistilled spirits do no harm if usedln moderation, and may even supply sotno want to the system. The oft-repeated maxim, that 'it is not the temperate use but the abuse of alcoholic drinks that does harm,' embodies error that is still inducing tens of thousands or honest citizens to rob tnemsclvcs of an averago of 10 or 15 years or life, through tho agency of chronic disease produced by the moderate use of alcohol." 1 hat would mako a good transparency for a torchlight procession of Prohibitionists. Alcohol Is a Poison. Heke now are eminent authorities5 who class alcohol as a poison. Dr. Mussey, Pro fessorof Anatomy and Surgery in Dartmouth College: "Alcohol is classed among poisons by medical writers on poisons. I do not know of an exception among physicians. It is ranked among poisons from its effect on the body nnalogons to thoso of other poisons. What Is said of the effect of alcohol must be true of all doses large or small, although the effect of very minute doses may be imper ceptible." Dr. Palmer, Professor of Path ologs and Practico of Medicino In the Col lego of Medicine and Surgery in the Uni versity of Michigan: "All scientific men in writing upon poisons class alcohol among them, and no one denies to this article poisonous qualities." The late Dr. Willard Parker, of Philadel phia: "Is alcohol a polsonj I reply, yes. It answers to tho description of a poison. It possesses an inherent, deleterious property which, when introduced-into the system, fs capatile of destroying life, and has its place with arsenic, belladonna, prussio acid, and opium. Toxicologists divide poisons into threo classes: Irritants, narcotics, and narcotico-irritants. Alcohol belongs to the latter class in its effect upon the living sys tem. It is first an irritant, and afterward, when it has entered the circulation, it be comes a narcotic Were alcohol an Irritant only, a man would as soon poison himself witli arsenic or aqua fortls. The narcotic element is the siren that leads him to ruin and to death." Prof. E. L. Youmans, founder of the Popu lar Science Monthly: "Alcohol is universally ranked among poisons by physiologists, chemists, physicians, toxicologists, and all who have experimented or written upon this subject, and who, therefore, best under stand it." Dr. William A. Hammond, Dr. lAlfrcd Carpenter, late President of the Council of the British Medical Association; Prof. Pereira, tho English Pharmacologist; Sir Robert Chrlstson, late Proressor of Ma teria Medica in tho University of Dublin; Dr. King, author or tho "American Dispensa tory;" Dr. Payne, physician to St. Thomas' Hospital, New York, all vote the samo pro hibition ballot. Dr. Harlcy, physician to the Dublin prisons, says: "I cannot hesitate to recommend tho entire disuse of such a poison rather than incur the risks neces sarily connected with Its moderate use." Spirituous Liquors Poisonous, Too. Alcohol, then, on the authority of theso eminent specialists, is certainly ,1 poison. But what about alcoholic liquors? In Dunglison's Medical Dictionary, brandy, wines and all spirituous liquors" are rlassdd as poisons. Dr. Martin, Professor of Biology in Johns Hopkins Universitj-, says: "The character of a substance docs not depend upon its quan tity but its quality. All beers, ales, porters, ciders and wines contain alcohol in varying quantity. But tho character of the alcohol Is in every case the same. Ono of the worst features of the poisonous characteristics of alcohol is its power, even in small quanti-. tics, to create a craving for itself that often becomes irresistible. It is therefore tho nuturo of beers, cider and wine that lead to an increasing uo of alcohol. A continued useof alcohol results in drunkenness." lik Tracy, of tho New Yoik Board of Health, says: "It must be remembered that in whatever quantitj, or whcieveralcohol is found, its nature is tho same. It Is not onlya poison, but a. narcotic poison. It be longs to the samo class with opium, chloro form, ether, hydrato of chloral, etc., one grcnt peculiarity or which Is that they nover leave the body through which they have passed in quite tho same condition In w hlch they found it. Tho person who has once taken them is npt to feel the desire to take them again, and this desire is not like the ordinary appetite for food. It is not that their smell or taste is agreeable, for tho rcverso is often the case. It is tho after effect that is sought. Tho oftoner this desire is gratified the moro imperious it becomes, until the man is no longer master of himself". He neglects bis daifv nffalriN and takes no" interest in any. body or anything, but plans for a fresh sup ply of tho poison. The alcohol found in beer and other light liquors, though present only in rm'illiuantitws, possesses this pe culiar attraction lor itelf which tends sooner or Inter to lead to excess." And Doctors ICellgh the 1'olsnn. Dr. EiCHAinJSON, ot Lnnilon, who can write after Ids name almost all the letters of the alnhabet of learning and distinction, says: "I have observed as a phsiologlcal, or perhaps a psychological fact, that the at traction of aloohol for Itself Is cumulative, that so long as it i present in the human body, even in the smallest quantity, tho sense of requirement for it is present, and that as the amount Insidiously increases, so does the desire." He also says; ."Alcohol, when partaken of for a short time, even in moderation, creates a craving or desire for itself which is apt to pass intoanaotual insanitv." . Finally, here Is the voice or Dr. Felix Oswald, or New York: "After opening the flood-gates not one mnn in n thousand can stav the progress or a besetting vice, and of nil besetting vices, the alcohol habit is the most inevitably progressive. Wo cannot tolerate tho use of 'ntoxicants, nndbope to prevent intoxication. The power of moral resistance is weakened with every repeti tion of the poison dose.nndwe might as well besiege a bed-ridden consumptive with ap peals to resume his place at the head of an afflicted family. All poison habits are pro gressive. The beer vice is always apt to eventuate in a brandy vice, or else to equal ize the difference by a progressive ehlargc mentof the dose. Common brandy contains 50 per cent of alcohol, laser beer, about 10: so if A drinks one glass of brandy, and B five glasses of beer, they have outraged their systems by the same amount of poison, and will incur tho same penalty. Total abstin onco is n safe plan, nay, tho only safe plan: for poison cannot be reduced to n harmless dose." And yet, tho other night, I dined with 50 Pittsburg doctors, and there were several varieties of alcoholic poison upon the bill or fare, and a majority of the physicians took these dangeious doses with apparent cheer fulness and relish! FEET1LE EASTEEN ALASKA. Green Valleys and Great Mineral Wealth Discovered. New York, Jan. 3 E. J. Glave, who had some rough experiences in Alaska 18 months ago, hasjust returned from another trip to that country and ho brings back with him considerable valuable geographical nnd other information. His time was spent in tho Mount St. Elias region in Eastern Alaska, which was never before visited by a white man: That part of tho country It nlways has been supposed containednothing but snow-covered mountains, frozen rivers and glaciers. From the maps of the Govern ment to-day the information to be had is that tho region is supposed to be cold the year round and that it is barren. But Mr. Glave has discovered that the country, in stead of being anything llko what it was supposed to be, is as fertile as any part -ot the West, and that during five months of the year it is warm and pleasant. Further more the temperature is never below zero in the winter. There aro vast qnantitics or minerals there, rich deposits of copper being abundant. He started for the interior from tho coast near the Chilkat river early in June with four pack horses. Before his departure ho was told by old explorers thnt ho would never be able to reach the country north or tho Mount St. Ellas range, as there was" no provisions to be had In that arctic region, as it was called. But when he reached that part of tho country ho found fertile valleya and immense fovests insteatl of ico and snow. The finest kind of grasses wero grow ing in abundance, and some day the region will be a great stock-raising couhtrv. While ho was there ho found all the goosoberrics, huckloberrios and raspberrios ho could cat. During tho whole of July it was light enough out of doors to read a book at any time aur ing the day or night. TO EIVALTHE PITISBUEB EXHIBIT. Upper JDliio Mannfacturers Arrange for a Show at Wheeling. Wiieelio, Jan. 3 tyeWaJL A number of the leading manufacturers of tho Upper Ohio Valley mot hero last night, and agreed to establish an exchange for tho display of sample nnd sale or goods at the times of year when the buyer is in the market. Tho main Idea is to counteract tho display semi annually mndo at the Monongahelu House, Pittsburg. A combination of the factories for any other purpose is not intended. The following wero present at tho meet ing: Lncius Martin, Piestdcnt or the Fos toria Glass Company, of Moundsvillo; F. M. Strong, Secretary or tho Nail City Stamping Company: Harry Northwood, President or the Northwood Glass Company, Martin's Fen v: A. D. Seamou, Piesident or the Buck eye Glass Company, of Martin's Ferry; A. G. Slollenwie, manager ortho sales dopait; mont or tho Wheeling and Labelle potteries; Charles W. Frnnzhelm, Secretary of the Warwick Pottery Company: Captain Muhl man. President of tho Crystal Glass Woiks, of Bridgeport; John Dornan. President of the Riverside Glass Work". Wellsburg, and Mr. Meder, of the North Wheeling Pottery. SIR. PERKINS OP KANSAS. rujsiB, Peffor, Perkins. As Kansas would say, senatorially speaking: Let us have P's. Philadelphia Times. Perkixs instead of Ingalls! It might have been worse; but most certainly it might have been vustly better. Aeto 3'or7; Me corder. Perkins will vote as Senator the same old way he did as Congressman. But as he lives in Washington voting for Eastern monopo lists will seem more consistent than when he lived in Oswego. Kansas City Times. Governor Humphrey's declaration that he considered ex-Congressman Perkins tho best-equipped man in Kansas to serve the State In tho Senate is a severe reflection on a Republican named Ingalls who was once considered well enough equipped to preside over the Senate. iVp York World. Mr. Furkins, of Kansas, who succeeds the late Preston B. Plumb as United States Sen ator, is an able man and a thorough-going Republican who believes in a protective taiiff and is opposed to the free silver coin ago proposition. In this respect he is a de cided, improvement over Mr. Plumb. Al bany Evening Journal. DEATHS HERE AND ELSEWHERE? Jncfge William C. Haznldine. Judge "William C. Hazeldine, Solicitor General or the Atlnutic aril Pacific Railroad Com panv, died at Albnqncrnni , N. 31., yesterday, of pneumonia. Judge Hazcl(h"3.was a distinguished lawjer, twice a member of the Territorial facnatcof 2ew Mexico. Chairman of the Republican Central Committee, Member of tbc Constitutional Conven tion, President of the Xew Mexican Bar Associa tion, and a prominent Mason. Tie went to New Mexico from Battle Creek, Mich., 12 5 cars ago. Colonel John C. Haines. Colonel John C. Haines died at his home in Seattle, Wash., yesterday afternoon, of pneumonia. Colonel Haines was Chairman of tho State Republican Committee, -but resigned upon being arrested for complicity In the famous Gardener opium-siniiggling case. He was taken to Auburn, N. Y.. lor trial and acquitted. When Washington was admitted into the Union lie was a prominent candidate for United Mates benator. John C. Schorr. JohnC. Schorr died yesterday at hishome, 161 Juniata street, Allegheny. He n as 40 years old. and wab w ell know n hi secret society circles. He' was a member of Mozart Lodge I. 0. O. F., Teu tonla Lodge Xo. S7, A. I. A. A number of other lodges will attend His fuucral to-morrow; Obituary Notes. Sir James Kediiouse, the Oriental scholar, la dead. Joseph Bowman", who died in Lebanon last week, was reputed to be the Wealthiest man la the tonyi. I le was .1 bachelor. Colonel Frederick Mears. Fourth Infantry, United State Arm v. died at r'ort Sherman, Idaho, Saturday night of gastritis. Esulk Louis Victor, pe Lavelave, the distin guished Belgian wilter on political iconomv, died at Liege v estcrday of the grip. Ueokoe Walker, one of the best-known cltl- 7cns of Northern Penuslranla. died la) week at his home near .Vtoutroe, aged 91 years. Colonel Ceoiioe Peabody, father of Mrs. ox- Secretarv j-.nnlcott anil grandfather orMrs. Jo-cjih Cliambeflalu, XI. P.. ilfid at Boston jestcrday. Mlts. Rebecca sciiissler, the oldest resident or Ninliiiry. died laet week in her 02d Tear, she leaves the children. All of whom are hi tliutij's. lot.i. Lester, the famous South Mountain. Pa., rariner, died at Lebanon Monday. He nwnnl i(0J acres of laud, and hundreds of horses and cattle. JAMES Alfred 3IITCHELL. Hie younger son of Donald G. Mitchell (Ik Marvel) died Saturday morning at bt. Luke's Hospital, hi New Turk, at the age or M. He tailed to rally Ironi'ar. j) inlou for peritonitis, WILLIAM H. Hahdman, a prominent citizen of Columbia, Pa., believed to have been the last sur vivor of General suniuel Houston's aimy in the war for the Independence ot Texas, died v esterday morning, aged 77 years. Rkv. Dr. A. II. LocipiAN. a wdl.kno.vn I.u theaau clergyman, died at York, Pa., last week. In his 90th vear. He graduated Trom the Univer sity or Pennsylvania lu 133. He was pastor of Christ Church, York, fur44.jeir. t David HanxUM died at Hanoi er. X. Y.. Satur day morning. He was well known in Cortland count v. and at one time was reputed to be worth IIOlOOcOW. He mil noted for his reckless expendi tures 011 sports and spotting events. CONGRESS AND THE CENSUS. Washington, Jan. 3. "When the Fifty socond Congress reassembles Tuesday, after the holiday recess, it will find Itself far less capable of entering upon actual legislative business than any or its predecessors during reqent years. The committees or the Sen ate, owing to the late date or their organiza tion, have been unable to place upon the calendars any or the reports thnt properly engross the attention or the Senate at this stage or the first session. Consequently there will probably be little Tor that body to do next week beyond listening to speeches and acting upon some resolutions or minor importance that may be brought before it forimtnedinte'eonsideration as well as nom inations sent in by the President. The illness of Speaker Crisp has pre vented the House Committee on Rules from availing of the holiday recess for tho prepa ration of a code or rules for tho direction of the business of the House. That branch of the National Legislature is now embarked on tho trackless sea of general parliament ary law.. Mr. Crisp's present condition warrants'the presumption that he will not bo able to preside when the House renssem bles next Tuesday, and, in conformity with tho requirements of general parliamentary rule, Clerk Kerr will call the body toorder. A Speaker pro tempore will be elected prob ably McMillin, as Mr. Mills, who has also been mentioned in that connection, will not ho in Washington and an effort will probably be made to secure tho adop tion of tle Springer resolution, now pending before tho Committee on Rules, providing for the adoption of tho rules of tho Fiftieth Congress until further order is taken. If this is done, the various committees having general appropriation bills in charge will be able to enter upon the preparation or theso measures, and tho wheels of legislation will begin to revolve. There is some talk or holding a Democratic Houso cancus to morrow night to rullv define this pro gramme.but in view of the number ol absent Representatives it has notyet been definitely decided. In a report to the Secretary of the In terior, dated Decembers, 1891, Superintend ent Porter, of the Census Bureau, says he thinks it safe to estimate that tho cost of printing tho Eleventh Census, as at present mapped out, will be, relatively speaking, less, certainly no more, than tho Tenth Census. This estimate is based on tho law as it stands to-day. Should Congress order larger editions or the several volumes the co-t, ho says, will be accordingly increased. Allowing for the amount or money unex pended the per capita cost or the eleventh census up to this date has Deen 9.78 cents, while for the Tenth Census it was 9.9J cents. Including the' amount paid enumerators and supervisors, the total cost of tho collection or the data for the .Eleventh Census has been $3,600,383. Superintendent Porter says that not only was tho cost of collecting ytatistlcs or manu facturers, mines and mining, vital statistics, etc., increased under the present act, au thorizing the Superintendent of Census to withdraw schedules from enumerators and uso other and more efficient methods, but the pay for collecting the agricultural schedules was likewise increased by Con gress. Should the Eleventh Census there fore show, when completed, a slightly in creased per capita cost.it will, the Super intendent says, bo due to the ever-growing popular demand for local and minute infor mation and to the better work, better methods and better pay allowed for collect ing manufacturing and agricultural schedules. Superintendent Poetee expresses the belief that the census work proper can all be finished and ready for the printer by the closo of 1892, nnd that the total cost, exclu sive of printing, nnd farms, homes nnd mortgages, will not exceed $7,000,000, or a trifle over 11 cents per capita, as against a total cost of about $5,000,000, or about 10 cents per capita, for the Tenth Census, an increase of 1 cent. This, he eavs, will finish up tho work within the next 12 or, at most, 18 months, in accordance with tho original plan, without a single outright or even par tial failure. In brief, the cost or the Eleven th Census, when completed, exclusive or print ing, and farms, homes and mortgages, will be about lcent per capita more than the Tenth, an increase less than tho increase between the cost of the Ninth and Tenth Censuses. The work of the office is vvell advanced, and H of the 25 divisions or the Census Office will soon have ceased to exist, tho work having been completed. Three other divi sions will exist onlv in name and In tho ag gregate emplobut 15 or 20 clerks. The office lorce for the coming year will be concentra ted on population, agriculture and manufac ture. HEB DOT "WAS SHALL, Bat After Waiting Six Years Miss Mitchell Satisfies the Prince Londojt, Jan. 3. The marriage of Miss Mitchell, daughter or Senator Mitcholl, or Oregon, to the Due de la Rochefoucault, occurs in tho early part of February. It is learned that tho couple have ten secretly engaged six years, but havo deferred the wedding because of the opposition of the Due's family. The opposition grew out of tho fflct that the Senator was not rich enough to provide a dowry satisfactory to the family of the bride. The Due himself is far from rich, but he has a good reputation, and Is a much more desirable "catch" thnn many of the titled gentlemen who have ob tained American wives during recent years. The latest betrothal in which Americans are especially interested is that of Lawrence Lawrence, brother of Charles Lawrence, or Boston, to Miss Violet Mills, daughter or Loid llillingdon, who is a partner in tho famous banking house of which Glyn Mills is the head. APPLES FE0M A FAMOUS IEEE. The Original Was That Beneath Which General Lee Surrendered. Richmond, Jan. 3. A quart or apples havo Just reached this city which were taken rrom a tree at Appomattox which has a his tory. Tho old tree stood in the yard of Mr. Wells Inge, and a shell from 0110 of tho Inst guns flred at ppomatox in April, 1S65, struck tho tree and split it nearly to tho roots. The next morning General Lee sur rendered about a mile from Mr. Inge's house, in 'Squire McLean's house. Many mistook the luge tree for that imag inary apple tree under which it is said Gen eral" Lee surrendered, nnd the shattered tiee was soon sawed up by the relic hunters nnd converted into canes, only a stump being left on the Inge place. From that stump a sprout grew, nnd now the sprout Is an apple tree nearly as largo as was the original. On the new tree the fruit Mr. Inge lias scut to this city grow. Mr. Ham merslev. tho World's Fair Commissioner L for Appomattox, intends to have some of next year s appies iruui liiis ireu presenieu for exhibition at the Columbian Exposition. Spiked With Silver Dollars. Kallespel, Misif., Jan. 3. The Pacific ox tension or the Great Northern Railway was completed into Kallespel Friday, the last lail being laid across Mnin street at noon in the presence or 3,500 people. A silver spike, made hero of silver dollars contributed by ladies, was driven at the end of the track by an old pioneer. This was the signal for an outburst of pent-up enthusiasm. rEOPIiE K.VOWN EVERYWHERE. James Whitcomb Riley was a clever amateur actor in hi3 younger days. Dr. "W. H. Kussell, the famous war correspondent, is going to Egypt to recover his health. Dr. Pridtz, of Nansen, the eminent Arctic explorer, will visit the United States during the coming spring. Chief Justice Fuller daughter is quite ill in Berlin and the Justice may go over by tho next steamer. Salvationist BooTn 13 holding revival services fit India, where his audiences aro not very large or enthusiastic. Ex-minister to-Great Britain Vaux, of Philadelphia, who has not been ill for 10 years, has succumbed to the grip. Henky Clews, the Xew York banker, is in favor or making Saturdays in summer time wholo instead or hair holidays. ."William A. Slater, the millionaire cotton manufacturer of Connecticut, has gone to tho Bermudas for the winter. yilVi. Springer, the wire of the Con gressman, Is said to bo his "best achieve ment, brightest accomplishment and most admirable quality." Opie Reed, the well-known writer of Southern stories, has retired from tho cdi totship of tho Arkantaw Traveler. Tho suc ces of Mr. Reed's latest books has been ouch that ho has decided to gtvo up editorial duties nnd devoto liis-wholo time to regular literary, work. IHDEPEKDEHCE HALL 15 CHICAGO. A Description of the Fine Building Penn sylvania Will Construct. nARBisBUBO, Jan. 3 Special. The tower or old Independence Hall will be re produced at the World' Columbian Exposi tion in the Pennsylvania Building, as finally approved. Dr. H. Bnrnara, Chlcr of Con struction, and Architect Atwood, to whom all plans or State Buildings are submitted for a final decision, both agree that this tower la the finest piece of architecture in America, and have nsked that it bo given more prominence than was shown in the original design of the State Building, execu tive Commissioner Whitman returned from Chicago to-day and said: "The tower or Independence Hall will be reproduced as it actually is in the original building, subject to such changes In the entrance way as will adapt it to the style of the building to be constructed a connec tion with It. It will bo surrounded and connected with n. building or colonial style, which again will be surrounded by a. portico 20 feet wide. An effort will bo made to secure from tho City Councils of Philadel phia the loan or tho old Liberty bell, to be hung in the tower in the position it occupies at present. "The inside hallway will bo fitted nn as nearly like Independence Hall as possible. On the left will be the ladles' reception and toilet rooms. On the other side or the hall way will be gentlemen's reception, toilet and smoking rooms. At the end or the hall way will be an exhibition room for a display of historical and other matter. In addition to these apartments, on the first floor there will bo lmt and cloak rooms, a postofllce and bureau of information. "The second floor will bo fitted up in fine style.. On the right of the main hallwny will be a large room for the exclusive use of newspaper correspondents. In the rear will be a fllo room, in which it Is contemplated to file the leading newspapers of the State. On the opposite side or the hallway will be a large apartment known as the Governor's room and a room for the Executive Commis sioner. Connected with these will be a wait ing room and a private room. Besides theso there will bo two largo committee rooms. "The building will be lighted by electricitv, and all the large rooms will be fitted up with fireplaces. The Pennsylvania and New York buildings have the finest locations, and will bo side by side, with a space of about 100 feet between them. The Pennsylvania building will be at the intersection of two of the principal avenues." COLONEL GARZA OF TEXAS. Garza's bandits have changed the Mexi can border to a ragged edge. Philadelphia Jlecord. Perhaps Garza has mado the mistake or not believing the Mexican war or '43 is over yet. Philadelphia Times. Ip Garza was onco a sewingmachino agent the fact accounts for tho way he is ripping up tho border. St. Louis Republic. If Garza wins he will bo called a patriot and elected President; if ha loses he Is a rebel and ought to be hanged. Chicago Globe. We can't help feeling that Colonel Garza would be happier if he would swear off now nnd hire out as a Pullman car porter. Chi cago Mail. From the rapidity with which Garza skips rrom one side to the other or the Rio Grando it is a little difficult to tell Just whoso bandit he is. Detroit free Preis. Garza, the outlaw, will soon be Garza, tho rebel, ir he continues to gain additions to his forces. A man with 9H0 men behind him is hai dly an outlaw. Boston 2ews. A EECEIVER SAID TO BE SH0ET. The Keferee Investijatlng an Alliance Failure Makes a Damaging Report. Alliance, Jan. 3. Special. Referee Frank L. Baldwin, who was appointed by Judge pease to investigate the doings of G. Q. Freer as receiver of A. W. Coates & Co., manufacturers of rakes or this city, has filed his report. It criticises the extravagance of the receiver, and finds him short in his report $8,705. Mr. Freer, at the time of his appointment, gave; bond .for $10,000 with the late John Atwell and Peter Kimhorly as his sureties. An action will be commenced at once against Freer and his bondsmen to recover the amount said to be short. Mr. Freer is now a resident of Cleveland. A MAETYE AT BEST. Sonth America's Father Damlen Succumbs to the Leprosy. Panama, Jan. 3. A Surinam dispatch an nounces the death, at Batavia, recently of Padre Balkes, the Father Damien of South America. He had been in charge of the Dutch Guiana leper station since ISflG, when ho came out from Amsterdam, a volunteer to the service. Ten years ago he developed the terriblo disense. His flngprs went one by one, then his reet becamo affected, and lastly his nose and an eye were attacked and eaten away, and yet up to the very last ho managed to attend to bis priestly duties and consoled and cheered his fellow-sufferers. 100 P00E TO CLOTHE SOLDIERS. Guatemala's Government Accused of Cheating Its Seamstresses. Guatemala Citv. Jan. 3. La Cronista oharges the head military officials hero with defrauding poor seamstresses employed to make clothing for the soldiers. The local commander, however, says there have been no funds nt the disposal of the War Office for months to meet such bills, and claims this to be the only reason why tho women have not been paid. A committee of 300 of these sewing women waited upon President Barraillas lately to protest asainst their wages being kept back. THE LOUISIANA SQUABBLE. The Congressional Committee in Kellogg's District Denounces Bolters. New Orleaxs, Jan. 3. The Third Congres sional District Committoe met at Morgan City Saturday. This Is Kellogg's old dis trict. The committee indorsed the call of the State Commutes for the State Conven tion January 18; condemned the action of Federal officials in bolting from the Stato Committee; urged all Republicans to sup port, the regular State Committee, and in dorsed President Harrison's administra tion. SHERMAX WON THE EACH "All Is well that ends well," and the Sen atorial contest has "ended well. Ohio State Journal. Sexatob Shermax Is not an icicle, by any means, but it is a very cold day when hegcts left. Cleveland Leader. Statesmen like John Sherman aro needed with such blatherskites as D. B. Hill in the Senate. Chicago Inter-Ocean. Foraker is "on the ground." The anes tion Is whether Sherman will be able to keep him there. Philadelphia Record. " It would be strange, considering all hoi has dono for it nnd the country, if the State or Ohio didn't give Senator Sherman a re seat in rull. Philadelphia Times. Govermor Foraker says that even Baby McKe: is in the light in behalf of Senator Sherman. This is merely an attempt to ex plain why a squall has struck the Forakor ship. Cleveland Plain Dealer. Governor Foraker's adherents did not succeed in nominating the man of their first choice for Speaker, but for that reason they do not propose to "disrupt tho party." Cincinnati Commercial Gazette. Sherman has never before been oblfged to lake a personal part in a Senatorial contest at Columbus, and it is a reproach to Ohio thnt ho found it necessary" to do so in the present instance. 67. Lnult Globe-Democrat. An Old Silver Co'pi Demonetized. Berlin-, Jan. 5 Arrangements havo been completed with Austria-Hungary to demon etize tho silver coin known lis vereins thalcrs, a. vestige of tho old Gorman-Austrian monetary union. The operation will extend over three years. The agreement is certain to revive the silver discussion in the Reichstag. Blaine's Moat Mcmentous Year. New York Recorder.! This year will ptobably bo the most mo mentous in all Mr. Blaine's official life. Which Is Slaking Mills II.? Chicago lnter-Ocnn.1 It is n querj' which' is making Mills the sickest, the grip ho has lost or the grippe he has found. CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS. .; But one thunderstorm has been wit nessed in Arizona during 11 years. A Maine boy of 8 years is said to ba able to repeat 40 chapters of the Bible. In New York last year 2,748 buildings were commenced and 3,629 were finished. In Jerusalem the finest and, In fact, the only hotel, is kept and owned by a Philadel phian. A mineral resemblim? iron ore has been found in Montana that takes fire on exposure to the air. Quill toothpicks came first of all from France., THe largest factory in the world is near Paris, where there is an annual product of 20,000,000 quills. Fathom is from the old Aryan root fat, to extend, and denotes the distance from tip to tip when the arms of an average-sized man are fully extended. Hitherto the British bushel has been reckoned as 61 pounds of grain, bnt a change having been made In the standard weight the bushel in future is to be defined by 60 pounds. The most northerly railroad in the world now building runs from Lulea, a small town on tho Gulf of Bothnia, to Eldegaar, within the Arctio circle. It will bo ready for use next summer. A muscular colored .man in Arundel county, Maryland, killed an infuriated bull which attacked him by seizing the animal by the hornsand throwing him with violence sufficient to break his neck. A lot of wild dogs infest Sherman county, Kan., and make life a burden to the inhabitants. They are supposed to ba hounds returned to a wild state. They run together and attack both man and beast. "With the desire of giving he,r husband a true picture of herself, a woman in Atchi son, Kas., had herphotograph taken. as she appeared at daily housework in her kitchen dress, with a baby on one arm and broom, and dust-pan on the other. A thornless raspberry has been examined by Prof. Britton, or New York Cltv. It was sent to him by Pror.Millspaugh, of the West Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station. It grows luxuriantly in Randolph countv, W. Va., and bears fruit, but no briars. The Ifew England States use Formosan teas, the Middle States all kinds of Oolong teas, green teas and a fewCongos; theSouth, principally green teas, and the Northwest and Canada, Japan teas, which latter Consti tute over one-half of the entire consump tion. Various stories have been told of the tails of the Niam Niams of Central Africa, who have also been asserted to be canni bals. Their tails have been described as smooth and as hairy, as peculiar to the men, and as possessed by the men and women both. Among the many curious things in the plant world there is none more curious than the solanum gatatrum,a recent-addition to a CalirornLi conservatory. The plant bears hard-boiled eggs for fruit. At least the fruit resembles a hurd-boiled egg with the shell taken off, as nearly as a truly egg can. A favorite food fish in Japan is the tai. It contains two bones, which the Japanese call, from their shape, the hoe and sickle. When eating the fish a mother will tell her children, "Now wait until I get you tho hoe and sickle," and the cnildren use them as playthings. Poisoning by mussels is a well-known fact. Such poisoning appears in chronic form in Terra del Fnego, mussels being abundant on the shores, and other kinds of food rare, so that the natives eat large quan tities of the former daily, both of bad and of good quality. Spaniels, of which there are many breeds, are supposed to have first comefrom Spain, from which circumstance is derived their distinctive name. Charles I. was an ardent admirer of a small variety of this animal, and from that aroso the designation of bU pets known the world over as the King Charles. Chester Hall, ex-postmaster of Dan ville, Ind., beasts or an educated cat. One cold night recently the door bell rang and when Mr. Hall answered the bell what should walk in but the lamily cat. Since thenwheneverthoc.it wants to enter the house it rings the bell and continues the ringing until admitted.. Fireflies are utilized in Cuba and else where for ornaments, wherewith the gowns and coiffures of ladiesaro adorned on festive occasions. One can read by the light which a few of these insects give. One point that may be urged in behair or these fireflies is that they kill mosquitoes, finding in the lat ter their favorite prey. Amber is found in irregularly shaped pieces, usually of small size, but in 1J78 a mass weighing 11 pounds was found In Prus sia, nnd a few years ago the-largest lump on record, weighing 22 pounds,-was discovered on the shores of the Baltic. A mass weigh ing 18 ponnds was found in Lithuania, and is now preserved in the royal cabinet at Berlin. Along the Arctic coast men cut ofTthe hair on top of their headi, so that they look like monks, the object being to avoid scar ing tho caribou by the flutter or their locks. The Esquimaux are fond or eggs not yet hatched, but about to be. They are much addicted to liquor and tobacco, and it is a common thing to see a nnrdng infant with a qnid or tobacco in its mouth. Three small-grained varieties of com mon wheat were cultivated try the first lake dwellers of Switzerland. It was also culti vated by the people or Italy and Hungary in tho time or the Stone Age, and by the Egyptians as long ago as 3359 years B. C, this latter fact being proved by a grain of wheat found imbedded in one ot the bricks of tho pyramids to which tho above date has been assigned. An interesting incident, showing at how great a distance a conversation can be carried on, is iIated by Lieutenant Foster, or the third Parry Arctio expedition, in which he says he convorsed with a man across the harbor or Port Bowers, a mile and a quarter away, and it has nlso been asserted on good authority that at Gibraltar the human voice has been distinctly heard at a distance or ten miles. In Singapore the bridegroom must se cure his bride in a race, and this custom of bride-chasing is quite common throughout Southern and Eastern Asia. In Singapore a circnlar course is marked out, half of which is traversed by the maiden incumbered only with a waistband ere tho word is given for the wonid-be po-sessor to go in pursuit, in the hope of overtaking her before she has thrice compassed tho circle: that achieved, she has no choice but to take the victor for her lord. nCMORESQUK ODDITIES. Kickshaw Did you make any XewTear' calls? t Dhnmlck One. Kickihaw What did the other man hold. Judgt. 'Xinety-ono sat on a wall; ' N inety-one had a great'fall. All the king's horses and all the kin men Can't put 'ninety-one back again. Harper's Bazar. Dick Hicks (to dentist) My jaw ached when I came here, bat now It has stopped. MoLir (grasping forceps) We can oon remedy that. -V'lo York H-raUl. MY. Neer "What ought we to do, doc tor, as a commnaity. In order to r meet the grip? Dr. Blunt-Don't meet It, my dear sir. Avoid it. Vhictis" Tnbun'. Those household bills, thosethousehold bills, Their presentation woo Instills ! I listen for the postman's ring And know full well the grist he'll bring. For yesterday my darling wife With shopping schemes was more than rtfe; T.-day she tops my other His With Lousehojd bills, with household bills I Xea Xork Herald. Irate Purchaser (to house furnisher's as sistant) This stove won't burnl Assistant Ave coorse not, sorr. Iron usually won't. Ilurp-r's Bazar. Husband I don't see why yon women always begin lining yonr skirts before you get within ten feet of a mud puddle. Wlf. I don't see why you men nsverroUup your trousers until you get half way through a mud p'iddls. Puck. She declined a proposal not quite to her taste. And the youth sent away In displeasure. For she said that she neverwould marry in haste, A nd now bhe's repenting at leisure. .V. r. Press. Mr. Halfcentury The newspapers must t lie hard up for news. Mrs. Halfcentury-Why so? Jlr. Haircentury-Here's an Item that the oldest man In New York State died last week, and the oldest mn In New York Stale died when I wssa'ti more than IS. Judge. - 1, . ' j i"iA.-.. m