Pittsburg dispatch. (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, January 09, 1892, Page 4, Image 4

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'. ' THE, 'PITTSBURG- DISPATPH; SATURDAY-, , 'JANUARY 9, ,1892.
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A JIIIWVIXTElt LITEKAUY TREAT IS"
TO-MORROW'S DISPATCH.
One of tlie features will be a vivid descrip
tion of a stormy sea voyage '
BY UDBJtrjALSTEAD.
Another will be Col. A. K. McClure's insido
story of the relations of
LINCOLN AND GRANT.
Still another is "The American Claimant,"
the best story of the day,
BI MARK TUN.
Here Are a Few Other Features.
Lies in Business.
By ItEV. GEORGE HODGE.
A Column oi Humor.
15y HOB BURDETTE.
Xorthwehtcrn Slnle.Miien,
By FRAN K G. CARPENTER.
Hunting Grizzly Bears.
By TnEODOUE ROOSEVELT.
Printing Bank A'otcs.
By HOMER LEE.
tncle Davy, a storv.
By MARY E. WILKINS.
Star-routes of Allegheny County,
ByL. K.STOFiEL.
XewTork Gossip.
By BRISBANE and MURRAY.
The issue will be chock full of the best
newspaper literature to be had. Both con
tinents under tribute. Fnll news reports by
cable. Leased wires to every great Ameri
can city. A paper that always leads.
DON'T FAIL TO BUT
TO-MORROW'S BIG ISSUE.
It will interest and instruct you.
attfj.
ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8,
1S46
Vol. 4. So. S. Entered at nttsburg Postofflce
J ovember. ltsST, as second-class matter.
Business Office Corner Smithfield
and Diamond Streets.
News Rooms and Publishing House
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New Dispatch Building.
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v. lule in New York, are also made welcome.
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t rrtirm Square. Xm York, and n Are del'Opera.
Pari. Prance, trliere anyone ichn haft been disap
pointed at a hotel nn stand can obtain it.
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The Daily Disp tTCH is delivered by carriers at
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10 cents per week.
PITTSBURG. SATURDAY. JANUARY 9.
TWELVE PAGES
THE OLK CRITERION."
There is a striking contrast between
profession and practice in a deliverance of
Secretary Foster, the other day. concern
ing that much-discussed bit of patronage,
the collectorship of internal revenue for
tliis district. Secretary Foster is jirom
ineitas the finance minister of this ad
ministration, and also as the dispenser of
its most remunerative patronage. He lias
made deliverances in both capacities; but
a comparison of his speeches on silver
with his utterances on the patronage ques
tion will show that his principles of action
are much more direct and easy to be un
derstood on the latter point than on the
former. It might also be said that Secre
tary Foster knows what he wants much
more clearly with reference to the offices
than with reference to silver.
The Secretary declared to Congressman
Stone, according to a Philadelphia Times
, special, that "the administration was look-'i-ng
after its friends, not its enemies, and
tliW Quay was counted amongthe latter."
Moravian that, among other very decided
assertions the Secretary is reported to
have made the inclusive pledge that
"no one known to be for Quay would re
ceive any consideration in the shape of
patronage." This was for the very cogent
reason, in Secretary Foster's opinion, that
"Quay w as engaged in the pastime of de
claring himself every other day against
Mr. Harrison and in favor of Mr. Blaine
for the Presidency."
All this is clear enough, and no one need
find any difficulty in understanding it;
but it sounds queer when we lay it side by
s.ue with a somewhat prominent and defi
nite pledge by no less a person than the
head of the administration, which is
now, according to Secretary Foster, en
gaged in "looking after Us friends." It
was the declaration of Benjamin Harrison
when he became a candidate for the Pres
idency, that "the fitness of the candidate
should be the sole criterion in making ap
pointments." In view of the appearance of another
and more controlling "sole criterion," it is
pertinent to state that it does not make
much difference to the people whether the
Federal appointments are made for the pur
pose of building a Quay machine or a Har
rison machine. But some idealists may
consider it of importance to the public
that a man elected to the Presidency shall
keep his public pledges.
A LIBERTY STREET PROPOSITION.
There is a novel and interesting phase
in the proposition of the Pennsylvania
Railroad to the produce commission trade
that the latter shall remove iii a body to
its transfer depot at Twenty-sixth street.
Experiments in moving any line of trade
en masse from cne quarter to another
have heretofore been attended -with little
success. Such changes usually take place
as gradually as the changes in conditions
which affect the trade. Whether a great
corporation can succeed where lesser pow
ers have failed remains to be tested by
experience.
In some respects the proposal presents
favorable features: and in others there are
objections of such a nature as to make the':
project a doubtful one. Prominent in the
latter class is the fact that it would take
the commission houses a mile further away
from 60 to 75 per cent of their customers.
When this fact is -so prominent as tocom
pel a universal recognition that, unless the
commission merchants moved altogether,
those who remained behind would have a
decided advantage over those who moved,
WJieB
it is clear that there are commercial con
veniences in the present location of the
trade.
"While'the adoption of this movement is
doubtful its suggestion warrants the addi
tion of a further feature. If the Pennsyl
vania Railroad would add to the removal
of tho commission houses the removal of
its tracks on Liberty street, it would pain
an enthusiastic public support That
change will be a step toward making Lib
erty street what it should be, the great
business avenue and backbone of Pitts
burg. THE FUEL, WASTED.
The duration of the cold wave developed
its full proportion of evidences of gas
shortage. One traction company which
in the public-spirited endeavor to avoid
the smoke nuisance had placed too implicit
a reliance on the gas supply had to suspend J
operations for a couple of hours until coal
could be secured. A decrease of pressure
was also reported from various parts of
the city. Domestic consumers using ap
pliances which require only a small por
tion of the normal pressure escaped with
little inconvenience; but those whose
needs called for the averajre volume of
supply were warned by experience that
their previous exemption from trouble
this winter had been due to mildness
rather than adequacy of supply.
This fact will strengthen the already
existing impression that the natural gas
resources of this vicinity cannot be ac
cepted as the sole reliance even for the
domestic fuel supply. It will be a partial
resource for many years to come, and
perhaps permanently. But the inability
for two seasons to meet the demands of
both the manufacturing and domestic
consumers gives new force to the thought
that this is the time when vigorous effort
should be directed toward reinforcing the
natural gas supply with manufactured
fuel gas. The importance of developing
all the possibilities of gas-making from
cither coal or petroleum have' been urged
in these columns for the past year, butthe
present juncture makes it pertinent to
offer one more.
Mr. Carnegie, in his recent letter with
regard to the smoke, referred to the use
of coal gas or coke as the sure method of
completely abolishins the smoke. It is
worthy pf note that firms who would go
into the business of manufacturing gas
from coal so near the city as to make it
available for pipe distribution would have
two smokeless fuels for sale, the gas and the
coke, and could rely on a sure market for
both products. There Ls little room for
doubt that a large amount of capital
would embark in that business if the pres
ent system of pipes occupying the public
highways were made available for the dis
tribution of the gas, and that an abundant
supply of cheap and smokeless fuel could
thus be guaranteed for the entire city.
PATITS SPECIAL STEAMER.
There is information for the traveling
public in the statement that the magnifi
cent ocean steamer City of Paris was laid
up for the winter, but when Adelina Patti
found it necessary to cross that ship was
ordered into service, which enabled the
queen of opera to make the stormy voyage
in comfort and safety.
Perhaps there is no public right to chal
lenge the action of the company in ap
praising the comfort and safety of the
worid-Tenowneddiva at a higher valuation
than the ordinary traveling public. Natur
ally if anything went wrong the news that
Patti was amongthe lost would draw more
attention to the catastrophe than the
drowning of a shipload of ordinary pas
sengers, which may have made it good
policy for the steamship company to do
for Patti what it would not do for the
regular traveling public
Still, the information that one of the
leading transatlantic companies does not
subject its best and finest vessels to the
penis of a winter voyacc seems to convey
a very strong hint as to the seasons of the
year when it is wisest to patronize that
company.
NO ENTANGLEMENT NECESSARY.
The XewTork Sun opposes the ratifi
cation by the United States of the Brus
sels treaty for the repression of the
Atriean slave trade and the sale of gun
powder and rum, because it would engage
this Government in an entangling alliance
which would ratify the .European grab
game to various parts of the Alrican con
tinent. The United States certainly cannot
properly take any action which looks like
n guarantee of the seizures of African
countries by European powers; neither
can our Government refuse to recognize
England, Germany, France and Portugal
as the de facto possessors of certain terri
tories affected by this agreement Con
sidering that the present era lias seen
propositions for an alliance with Peru to
restore her certain territories taken away
by Chile as a result of the war in the
early partof the last decade; an alliance
with Nicaragua for tho purpose of spend
ing $100,000,000 in building her a 60,000,
000 canal, with other propositions of the
same sort, the warning against entangling
alliances is pertinent though applied to
the WTong proposition.
The proposed treaty or international
agreement need not pledge the United
States to a single objectionable point. If
it contains any line or hint looking like
a ratification of the European grabs in
Africa, the United States can interpose a
ratification to its proviso that nothing in
the agreement shall commit it to a support
or guarantee of the seizures by European
powers, but that it simply gives its in
dorsement and support to the effort for
the mitigation of the barbarities of the
African slave and rum traffic.
This is the action that should be taken
by the Senate. It is not the duty of
the United States to attack or indorse
the means by which European govern
ments have obtained possessions in Africa.
But we cannot afford to stand aloof from
the rest of the world in the work of re
moving that blot upon civilization, the
African slave trade.
IN A "WHISPER TO WIVES.
The petticoated philosophers of Sorosis
have been discussing a beautiful but some
what profound problem, to wit: The
management of husbands. Singular to
say, the sisters seem to be optimists to a
girl, or rather woman, for all the dozen
who debated the question with one excep
tion are married. They think that man in
spite of all his savage traits and
tendencies may be harnessed safely
and driven comfortably in matrimony.
This is a heaping spoonful of hope
for man. When Sorosis admits so much,
the less strong-miuded majority'of the fair
sex may be fairly expected to melt far
more positively. But, lest the -heart of
man should be too much rejoiced at these
blessed tidings, it may be well to add that
Sorosis, while admitting the amenability
of husbands to management by their
wives, is careful to define the only method
that can be regarded as infallible. This
means to a glorious end is described in
sugared terms, but brought down to pith
it consists in the delusion of man, the
making him believe that he is having his
own-way, while in fact his better half is
having hers.
This sounds both sweet and simple.
Only one of the sisters doubts the ability
of the wife to put this policy into prac
tice.' Mrs. Kavenhill remarks with a sigh
that wives can hardly hope to break in
their husbands all alone. "Husbands
need to be trained from the time they are
born," she says. ' Though she does not say
It we presume Mrs. Bavenhill's ideal mar
riage would take place at the cradle of the
husband, insuring for the lucky man
proper uxorial management from his in
fancy up. It would enable a man to do
without any female relations but his wife
and manager. She would be his wife and
his nurse, foster mother, sisters, cousins
and aunts, and in course of time -his
grandmother, roiled into one. A grand
economy, but not likely to prove popular
for the present. Luckily it is not essen
tial to the management of man, and
wives have a tolerably clear chart to steer
by in the matrimonial voyage, thanks to
the sweet solicitude of Sorosis.
TALK OF TWO CENSUSES.
R. P. Porter takes rather undue credit
to himself in a communication to the Sec
retary of the Interior, in which he asserts
that the cost of taking the Eleventh Census
will not exceed 57,000,000, or a little over
11 cents per capita, while the cost of the
Tenth Census was 15,000,000, or a little
under 10 cents perVapita. Mr. Porter
seems to think that the increase "of only
one cent per capita" is a triumphant vin
dication.
By what logic is it that Porter creates
the expectation that it will cost more per
capita to enumerate sixty odd millions of
people than fifty millions? The presump
tion is the other way; while the details of
the comparison he suppresses make it all
the more unfavorable to his work. The
Tenth Census was planned on a scope
never rivaled before or since. The com
pletion of its special' reports took the
greater part of the succeeding decade; and
it was recognized before the -next census
that so varied and expansive a census was
unnecessary. The Eleventh Census was
planned on a much less expansive scope.
On the scale of work ordered, Porter's
census, done with the same thoroughness
and accuracy as General Walker's, ought
to have cost about 6 cents per capita
against the General's 10.
Besides which there should be some ap
praisement of the value of the goods de
livered at the price. The Tenth Census
gave so reliable an exhibit of the popula
tion and industrial condition of the United
States in 1880 as to be fairly worth 10 cents
per capita. Mr. Porter's work will be
most accurately appraised by the state
ment that it might have been worth while
to pay him and his subordinates 10 cents
per capita to leave it alone.
Amono the phenomena of this winter is
tho abundance and size of snakes, which de
velop very large proportions in New York
bridge bills introduced into Congress.
"Mr. Bulkeley remains in the Gover-
j nor's chair by tho decision of the courts,
but it is none the less a shame to Connecti
cut that her hvns make it possible for the
hold-over representative of minority to
keep Ills grip upon the Executive office," re
marks the Democratic New York JEvcnlng Sun.
This is much more coriect than previous
denunciations of Bulkeley as a usuiper.
But could not the bricht Democratic!
luminary have something impartial to say
about the same kind of "shame" in the
holdinc-oyer of a Democratic Governor of
West Virginia under exactly similar circum
stances u few years ago? Is it a shame only
when the Republican Governor stays in?
Indian troubles will cease when the
Indian Bureau shows an ability to honestly
cope with the question or more properly,
when the Indians aro exterminated.
There is" satisfaction in the information
that those rigid moralists of New Jersey
who, beoause a yonng woman's conduct wai
not quite up to their standard, tarred and
feathered her, have been convicted and sen
tenced. The punishment of fine and im
prisonment is wholly inadequate to tho
cowardly crime of maltreating a defenseless
girl. But the demonstration that the prac
tice of mobbing defenseless women in the
interest of morals cannot be carried on with
out some interference by the law will proba
bly have a restraining influence on the en
thusiasm of this cla.'-s ot reformers, whom it
would be cross flattery to dignify by the
name of men.
Those who should know, assert that the
present famine in Russia is only a slight
indication of worse sufferings of thu kind to
follow in tho near future.
Reports from that trial of the Mian
tonom.ih so far include in the list of hor
achievements tho breaking down of her
steam steering gear, the jamming of her for
ward turret, and a narrow escape from sink
ing a schooner by one of her experimental
shots. The latter shows a disposition to
revenge the navy on some of its old antago
nists: but, on tho whole, the record does not
indicate that it is j-et time to start this ves
sel out on its mission of wiping up the ocean
with the navies of other nations.
Tolstoi is proving, by vigorous action
for the lellef of the Russian peasants, that
he is no lonser visionary, but a thoroughly
practical philanthropist.
The story about the Grand Duke Sergius,
Governor of Moscow, while in disguise hav
ing been hustled by the Russian policemen,
and telling how three of the functionaries
committed suicide when their mistake was
discovered, illustrates tbe radical difference
between Russian and American policemen.
Tbe free and independent guardians of the
peace in this country would have made it
all right with any Grand Duke, by telling
him how efficiently they woull cany their
precinct at tbe next election.
The 'raid on a club of bomb-manufacturing
anarchists near Birmingham, England,
is a more important event than most of the
recent scares.
Commenters on the building of that tor
pedo boat" at Dubuque have abandoned the
projectof having tosleam across the prairies
to the Chicago World's Fair, but content
themselves with charging that this is the
first instance of building the hull and en
gines of a naval vessel on the Western
rivers. Tet Pittsburg built some very live
ly, though nondescript, vessels during the
war, aud they did some real fighting, as
well.
Perhaps the turbulent men of Kansas
are only patriotically seeking to prove the
inefficiency 'of their country's military or
ganization. In the discussion occupying the columns
of the New York papers on, which of two
balls on Wednesday night was the most glit
tering buccess or the most complete failure
according to the partisanship of the re
spective papers let us hope that, as In the
Chilean affair, a practical settlement of tho
issue can be reached without "blood-letting.
The .New York police force seems just
now to be suffering from a very discreditable
epidemic of alcoholism.
The law prohibiting Chinese immigra
tion expires in less than four months. The
danger for American workmen In the event
ofno re-enaet'ment of the measure is ad
mittedly due as much to grasping employers
a to the competition .of a class who can lire
comfortably on what are less than starva
tion wages for citizens of the Rep Jblic.
The , death of Egypt's Khedive will not
tend to relieve the strain in Anglo-French
relations.
A man who forsakes his wife and child
should be eminently fitted for tho propaga
tion of a sect believing in the final unity of
persons, or the formation of a neuter being
from the blending of the male and female in
one eternal structure.
It was a highly respectable cold wave,
but Jthe hard winter docs not yet seem to
arrive.
Let the Law and Order people devote
themselves to the reform of their own
agents: and If the accomplishment of that
end leaves them with any superfluous energy
they had Detter confine it to attacks on
office-grabbers.'
Inclement weather and natural gas
shortage continue inseparable companions.
Dr. DepeW seems to take time in the
keeping of his word. No step has yet been
taken toward the realization of reforms in
railroad crossings he promised to Buffalo
nearly four months ago.
OCR MAIL POUCH.
As to Auditing City Finances.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
Now that there is some probability of a
Councilmanic audit of the fiscal affairs of
the city of Pittsburg, it may be observed
that the hist formal audit of that kind was
some 30 years ago, nnd ias as follows:
To the Select and Common Councils of the City or
Pittstnirg:
' Gextlemo" Your committee appointed to
'audit and adjust tlie accounts of the city officers,
from February 1, 1881, to January 31, 1802, in
clusive, respectfully report: That they have
examined the books, accounts and vouchers of tbe
Mayor and City Treasurer, and have found the
same to be correct, excepting some small dis
crepancies as must unavoidably occur where the
accounts arc complicated bv passing through so
many hands. Tlie.only correction ol any note is
where the Treasurer failed to charge himself with
error In addition. ; chicle license. 6, andS1870t
received from Mayor Wilson, lor tines anil for
feitures, during the month oi October last past.
Alter correcting the error .ind one of &9 cents in
lavor of the Treasurer, the balance remaining In
me treasury amounts lo f.-tto yi.
We will also call attention to the fact that a por
tion of the slnkiug fund Is disbursed on warrants
drawn by the Ma or without intervention of the
Controller, while the residue Is certified for before
the Mayor issues his warrant, 'nhich ba a ten
dency to complicate the accounts. This can be
remedied by Instructing the Controller that In all
cases where lunds are transferred to the credit of
tlie sinking rund to debit appiopriatlou Jw. 19, and
permit no disbursements without issuing a certln
cate therefor, subject to the regulations in respect
to said lund.
Your committee, before closing their report, de
sire to bear testimony to the courteous and gentle
manly deportment of eT-Controller Steele, Con
troller McCargo and Mr. Alllnder, of the Treas
urer's office, ani thank them for the kind and
valuable assistance rendered the committee
throughout the entire auditing of tlie accounts.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
1 . 11. McMillan. )
D. M. Lose, J Committee.
D. OEtLL. )
Pittsbueg, March 31, 1852.
This document shows that tho audit of
1S62 was an "audit" in fact not a mere per
functory work, and the minor discrepancies
alluded to serve to show how impartially
and discriminatingly the auditors did their
work. Objection is now made in some quar
ters to an audit, on the alleged ground
that it is unnecessary or would reflect on
somebody. This is quite absurd, as "audit
ing" is in official act provided for bv law,
but nnfoitunately fallen into "desuetude"
theso later days.
It occurs to me that any objection to an
impartial audit by the pioper committees
at once raises the presumption that the
fiscal affairs of the city cannot stand an
audit, and as a plain matter of fact, that
presumption is founded on fact.
The fiscal affnirs ot at least one depart
ment of the city government as formerlv
constitutcdhavenever balanced within Jlifl"
000, aud I am led to believe that-ihe "nn-
. explained balance" is considerably in ex
cess ot that, rmny add that tui3 is not a
mere opinion of mine, or a vague insinua
tion. The discrepancy has been of long
standing, ha been quite notorious in certain
circles. Explanations have been
asked for at times by the press and
by "snarling critics." like rmself, with
but one result delay after delay,
with, perhaps, the well-founded expectation
that no formal or responsible audit would
be attempted until tho central figures in
this scarred history had passed away nnd
"dead men would tell no tales."
No city officer, or employe, or Councilman,
who has done his duty, need fear an im
pnitinl audit, andlf any pnblio srvnuf Uas
been criminally or negligently derelict in
their sworn duties, surely it is the business
of the public to know all about it.
James W. Eiu:en.
Pittsburg, January 8.
FAVORITES OF FORTUNE.
The Czarina is ill and is unable to leave
her apartments. S ne receives no visitors.
The managers of the asylum in which M.
Guy de Maupassant is confined says that the
insanity with which the author is suffering
dates back two yeais.
Lord Randolph Churchill, who has
been for some months traveling in Africa,
arrived at Southampton yesterday. He is
enjoying excellent health.
Jules Verne's wonderful tales, in
which science-and fancy go shares with him,
are written in a little observatory on the top
of his house at Amiens.
Gen. L. V. Stephens. Missouri's State
Treasurer, and famous as "the man who had
that silver talk" with Mr. Cleveland, is said
remarkably to resemblo Starter James Bow e
in featnres.
Secretary Elkins, Postmaster General
Wanamiiker, Judge Nathan II. Goff, Senator
John G. Cailiile and Senator Arthur P. Gor
man are among the most conspicuous
smooth-shaven men in public life.
Melancthon Smith, rear admiral of
the United States navy (retired). Is danger
ously ill with an attack of the grip at his
home in this city. His physician considers
his recover- very doubtful on account of
his advanced age.
Dr. Lyman Abbott, whose address in
Boston tho other day created such a dis
turbance in the religious atmosphere, is
quite unlike his predecessorin the Plymouth
Church pulpit, Mr. Beecher, In physique at
least. He Is tall and slender, and he looks as
if his health were fragile.
Prof. F. Kicholls Crouch, who com
posed the music for many famous songs, but
for none more famous than "Kathleen
Mavourneen," is a veteran of 83 years. He is
a man of medium stature and stoutly built
with coal-black eyes and few indications,
even in his slowly whitening hair, of bis
great age.
LATINO UP 'HEAVENLY ST0BE&
An Aged Wealthy Man Disposes of His
Property Before He Dies.
Uhios Citt, Mich,, Jan. 8. Ezra Bostwick,
of this place, is the most eccentric person
in Southern Michigan. Ho owns land in
neatly every State of the Union, and Is very
wealthy. But he works hard every day, in
spite of the fact that he is 70 years old, and
be never wears anything VeLter than a $10
suit of clothes, wh'ch he says ls good enough
even for Vandeibilt.
Determining, however, to lay np heavenly
treasures, he he has recently given $100,000
to Albion College and $50,CO0 to Olivet Col
lege, both of this State. Last month -he
gave $10,000 toward the support or superan
nuated Methodist ministers, and $12 000 to
the Union City Methodist Episcopal Chutch.
On New Year's Day ho presented the Con
gregational Church of this place with $5,000.
The City Dead Without Sunday Papers.
Philadelphia Record.
There will be some fun in Tittsburg for
the Sunday newspapers and for the Mon
day papers, too if tho Law and Order So
ciety shall carry out its declared intention
of pressing against the newspaper employes
the serious charge of violating the Sunday
law of 1791. Unless tho newspaper men shall
be able to show that Sunday papers are
necessary, and that" Monday's issue must
necessarily bo got out by Sunday work, the
agitators will have them on the hip. We
should like to see the experiment tried in
Pittsburg, of course. A city of over 250,000
population deprived of its Sunday reading
by the operation of an obsolescent statute
1C0 years old would present an interesting
fin de siee'e spectacle.
They May Punch the Nickel.
Chicago Inter-Ocean. ' ;
Colonel Watterson predicts that ''this will
be a 5-cc'nt Congress." If they don't punch
a hole lii the nickel they will do well.
LIVE WASHINGTON WAIFS.
Washington, D. G, -Jan. 8. The con
tested election cases before the House of
Representatives will be taken up in the fol
lowing order by the House Committee on
Elections: Craig versus Stewart, from Penn-'
sylvania; Noyes versus Rockwell, from New
York; Reynolds versus Shonk, from Penn
sylvania; McDuff versus Turpin, from Ala
bama: Greevy versus Scull, from Pennsyl
vania, and Miller versus Elliott, from South
Carolina. This order wis agreed upon by
thp Elections Committee at a meeting this
morning. The contestant and contcsteeand
other interested parties in the Craig versus
Stewart case, which is first in the list, will
bo notified to be present at the meeting of
tho committee next Tuesday, as the date
for hearing the contest will then be fixed.
Representative Durburrow, Chair
man of the World's Columbian Complssion
Committee In the House, has returned to
Washington from Chicago, wheie he has
been spending tho holidays, nnd where he
has been in conference with the Ealr offi
cials. In speaking of the position which the
Fair would assume before Congress he said:
"Tho people nnd the city or Chicago each
contributed $5,000,000, or a total of $10,0:0,000,
which was sufficient for the plans of the Ex
position ns originally drafted. These plans,
however, have been broadened, and the
scope of the Exposition has been widened at
the instance of the National Commission-
appointed by the President under the au
thority of an act of Congres. The result is
that tho local committee finds that tho sum
or $10 000.000 is totally inadequate for the
purpose of tho Exposition as now planned
by the National Commission. As the latter
is responsible for this increased expense,
the local hoard takes the ground that as a
matter of jdstice the National Government
ought to make provision for carrying out
the jvork of Government asents. The board
therefore proposes to come to Congress ami
ask an appropriation of $5,000,000, this appro
priation to ho made upon the b jme basis as
the stock subscriptions ot the citizens and
the municipality of Chicago that is, tho
Government is to share proportionately in
the" profits of the Exposition. Tbe bill ior
this purpose is being drawn In Chicago."
The first formal meeting of the Senate
Committee on Privileges and Elections was
held this morning. Tho only businoss trans
acted was tho appointment for Tuesday
next for the hearing of arguments in the
contested election case of Dubois and Clag
gett. It is not expected that any testimony
will be given or witnesses examined, and
the hearing will probably be devoted entire
ly to legal arguments by attorneys on the
questions of law Involved In the case. Itls
thought that the arguments can be con
cluded In two or three days, and the case
soon disposed of. On Thursday the Call
Davidson contested case will consist mainly
of argument by Davidson's attorney in sup
port of the legality of tho Governor's action
in giving tho certificate of election to
Davidson, the contestant. Another subject
before the committee Is the right of Mr.
Chilton, of Texas, who succeeded Senator
Reagan, to hold his seat, the only question
Involved being the legality of the appoint
ment of Mr. Chilton by Governor Hogg one
day before Senator Reagan's resignation was
accepted. When Mr. Chilton was sworn in
Senator Hoar requested that his credentials
be referred to thn committee to inquire Into
the legality of tbe Governor's action, and it
is expected that the matter will be disposed
of in a week or two. It is thought by some
Senators that the appointment of a Senator
to fill a vacancy before the resignation of
the sitting mqmher had been accepted was a
bad precedent to establish, as In some in
stances tbe resigning Senator might recon
sidor his determination to leave tho Senate
and request that his resignation be with
drawn. It is not probable, however, that
Senator Chilton will be ousted, and even if
ho should be it Is regarded as cortaln that
he would be immediately reappointed by
the Governor ot his State.
The Senate Committe on Public Build
ings and Grounds held its first meeting of
this session this morning. It was determ
ined to report favorably all bills for the
erection of pnblio buildings which passed
the Senate last session but failed of action
by theHous", and this will probably be done
wben the Senate meets Monday. The total
amount represented, in those bills Is over
$3,000,000, made un of appropriations ranging
from $50,0C0 to $100 000. Among them'are bills
for the erection of public buildings at Allen
town and Bradford.
Senator Teller intends to push during
this Congress a bill he has introduced pro
Tiding for the introduction of reindeer into
the possessions of the United States in
Alaska and the islands adjacent thereto. An
excellent object lesson on thesubjeetadorns
his committee room on Privileges and Elec
tions. It is a fine, large robe made of the
skin and fur of four reindeer. The fur is a
beautiful dark brown color. It Is,
the Senator says, perhaps the warm
est lur known, and the skin makes
excellent gloves. Tho fur is used
by whale vessel men, who And they cannot
put on other clothes enough to keep warm
while two suits of reindeer yfur afford pro
tection from tho most Inclement weather.
Mr. Teller thinks it would be an excellent
aitlcle of clothing for drivers and others In
the cold regions or the West. The animals
cost$10ach,and their flesh and the milk
tho live animals yield are tho principal food
of the Laplanders. A considerable number
of the natives on the Aleutian Islands, be
longing to t ne United States, have heretofore
subsisted on the sea otter, but this source of
supply will soon cease and Senator Teller
thinks that not only commercial reasons
(and he believes commercially it would be a
piylng Investment) but human considera
tions should induce the United States to ap
propriate 15 000 for the purchase of a tuffi
cient number of reindeer to stock our Alas
kan possessions.
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs
has notified Congressman Morse to appear
before it next Thursday, when the resolu
tion offered by him upon the subject of the
persecuted Hebrews in Russia will be con
sidered. The unexpired sentence of suspension in
the case of Lieutenant Commander George
A. Bieknell. formerly attached to the
Galena, has been remitted from January 7,
1892.
J. B. SnelIi, of Missouri, has been ap
pointed clerk to the House Committee on
Coinages, Weights and Measures. The House
Committee on Invalid Pensions held its
first meeting to-day and completed an or
ganization. William II. Wilson, of Watash,
Ind., has been appointed clerk to the com
mittee. The President has commuted to imprison
ment for life at hard labor the sentence of
death imposed in the case of Samuel Moore,
kthe colored man convicted of killing Jahn-
oon, a jeiiow prisoner in tne jau oi tne Dis
trict of Columbia. He was sentenced to be
hanged January 15.
Dr. Irving A. Watson, Secretary of
the American Public Health Association, is
now traveling through Central and South
America, arranging for the next meeting of
the association at the City of Mexico in'No
vember, 1S92. Dr1. Wats'"!, has lndnccd the
authorities of the Mexican Republic to enter
into a pian oi international ana mter-stato
notification of tho outbreak -of contagions
diseases such as already exists betw een the
United States and Canada.
Major KcKlnley'4 New Title.
Omaha World-Herald.
Next week he will be known as Governor
McKinley.
0DR ENYI0US NEIGHBORS.
Whkt Pennsylvania has anything so live
ly and exciting as a feeling, it is quite likely
to be a good, stroug one. Oticaqo News.
Is the sudden and unexpected reappear
ance of ful-bearing animals in Pennsylvania
the ie-ult of "flee hide.?" Louisville Courier
Journal. Tuk Pennsylvania Supremo Court decides
that bank directors need not always direct.
A great many of them are thus vindicated.
Boston Herald. '
Penssylvakia stands proudly pre-eminent
overall the States In respect to the amount
of embezzlement for 1S91. Peuuylvaula is
welcome to her pre-eminence Detroit -Free
Press.
There Is a man in Pittsburg who dreams
of oil w ells while asleep, and describes them
next day. JL'he people of the city take every
pains to make him ros't long and peacefully.
Boston News.
The result of pouring oil on the water is ,
not very soothing in the case of the All'e-
u . -.i.. r:i, i. ..
gheny river at Pittsburg, where the bouse- '
wife can fill her lamp at the hydrant.
Springfield Womankind. '
S0MEQ.TJEBIES ANSWERED.
Effect of the Swiss Town Hall System on
Public Affairs.
A reader, who is in search of information
propounds the following:
To the Editor of The Disoatch:
The published statements of the reformed poli
tician, Buckeley, regarding the indifference of
voters in public affairs, has suggested considera
tion of the "town hall system" for cities. By
answering the following questions many readers
would feel obliged:
1. What ls the modus operandi of the Swiss town
hall system?
2. WhafMs its effect on public affairs?
3. Can a munlclpaUty recall franchises granted to
street railway companies?
can municipal ownership of street railways be
inaugurated in cities of
Pennsylvania without
special legislation?
X,
PITTSBURG, January".
The questions open a tolerably wide field
for discnsMon, but one capable of being nar
rowed by the supposition that our hetero
geneous population might not respond to
the same influences that make bleak
Switzerland prosperous and happy. That
our people would not is not an argument
against the system, however. The differ
ences in population, resources.cllmate, area,
etc., should be kept n view. The Swiss have
always been celebrated lor their jealous
love of liberty, and have given morefoice
to the motto of West Virginia, Montani
semper liberi, than any other modern
people. When one considers that a fctate
one-third the size or Pennsylvania has an
export trade of about $I0O,COO,00Oand imports
very nearly as large; that agriculture and
manufactures are both remunerative; that
schools are good, education of children com
pulsory; that religious toleration is as freely
granted, by all sects as in our own country,
and, In fact, more freely, and that though
ine people speaK tour or uvo umcrent lan
guages yet aro almost homogeneous; that
thev have no standing urmv; that the largest
city in the country is'not one-fifth the size
of Pittsburg, counting all the immediate
neighbors, Allegheny, McKeesport and
the boroughs contiguous, aud finally, that
the debt of the whole country is not more
than half that of Pittsburg and all the Swiss
are usefully employed, it will be seen that
the Government which renders them pros
perous and happy might not fit Pittsburg
at all.
The canton corresponds to our city, but
ranges in size Irom 11 to 2,744 square miles.
The cantonal constitutions are pure and
representative democracies. In the first
the rights of sovereignty are exercised by
a general assembly of all citizens, which
meets once a year, votes on lawsflxes the
tax rate and elects cantonal officers. The
executive is called the Landroth and consists
of the cantonal officers and councillors
elected by the several political communities.
In the repreentative democracies the people
elect a legislative assembly called the
Grand Council, which chooses from its own
members the executive, which is called the
Little Council. In many of these cantons
where romesentative democracy Drevails,
the people have the right of vetoing every
bill passed by the Grand Council.
It will be seen that in the Swiss canton
the people have much moreseirgovernment
than they have In Pittsburg and they use it
wisely. Would they do so here?
As to the third question it is tolerably safe
tosuythata municipality cannot lccnlln
franchise from a street railway company so
long as the company does nothing to forfeit
the right granted. If it refuse to comply
with the conditions annexed to its privi
leges it may be proceeded against and char
tors may be forfeited, but the proceedincs
must be legal and formal.
Regarding tho fourth question, it may be
stated briefly that powers conferred on cities
and towns by their charters aie metely
those necessary to empower them to govern.
The right to collect taxes, enforce necessary
laws, keep strets and fidewalks, etc., in
order in brief, to do what is necessary to
accomplish those objects and others not
specified in the charter of corporations
are ultra vires, and the power of corpora
tions, such as common carriors, is sufficient
to prevent cities from getting charge or
anything of this kind worih having, though
why a city might not get power
by securing a control'ing interest in a street
railway company's stock is not apparent.
If it had control it might dictate terms.
Cities have subscribed to the stock of rail
ways, and there seems to be no reason why
they should not get enough to control, pro
vided they could go about it In a manner
that woul'd prevent suspicion. It is needless
to say that the latter would be next to an
impossibility.
THE SKELETON OF A SOLDIER.
It Was Found in a Tennessee Cave and Wore
n Blue Unirorm.
Hilas, Tesit., Jan. 8. Saturday the little
town or Henderson was excited over the dis
covery of a skeleton. Some workmen were
engaged in constructing a residence on a
large hill near tho town. The house was up
and the chimney wasbeing built.when, with
out a moment's .warning, the ground under
neath gave way, precipitating the chimney
and part or the house into what appeared a
cave.
The debris was removed, and among the
rubbish was found the skeleton of a man.
There still remained clinging to the bones
pieces of blue cloth. The visor of the cap
was also found, indicating the body was that
of a Union soldier. Within a little leather
case, badly decayed, was found a note to
Miss Wena Lanty, Connersvllle, Ind. The
signature was rotted, and could not be de
ciphered. Tortions of three other bodies
were found. The skeleton is on exhibition.
The? Conditions Are Not Cheering.
Boston Herald.
Congress doesn't reassemble under the
most cheering conditions. The grip appears
to have assumed the proportions of a na
tional calamity.
DEATHS HERE A.D ELSEWHERE.
Dr. Walker, or Dunbar.
Dr. Walker was found dead in his office
In Dunbar yesterday morning. The doctor was
one of the beat known physicians of this part of the
country. lie was addicted to the morphine habit,
and It ls believed that his death was the result of
an overdose of the drug. When last seen alive he
was in fewearingeu's store, ordering oysteis to be
sent home. This was at 10 o'clock. Tne position
lu which the body was found Indicates that he
died Instantly. He fell In a corner, breaking a
pane of glass In the door. Morphine wasfouudon
the stand In front of which he fell.
John Dean, .4ctor.
John Dean, who personates Cy Prime in
Demnan Thompson's Cld Homestead Company,
died suddenly yesterday at his hotel In Cincinnati
from heart disease, following a slight Illness
contracted while attending the funeral of Mary
Bird, the actress. This makes the fourth death In
Cincinnati within a week among members of
theatrical companies. Mr. Deau was 49 vears old.
aud Was born In Haverhill, 31ass. His body wlU
be taken East for burial.
Ernest W. Brneke, rbyslolojist.
Ernest Wilhelm Brucke, the well-known
German physiologist, died Wednesday at Berlin.
He' was born in Berlin. June 6. 181S. Pror. Btucke
was the author of The Physiology of Colors"
and other works on that subject. Among the
books written by him was one on "The New
Method of Phonetic Transcription, ""explaining
his system of teaching tbe pronunciation of lan
guages without oral instruction.
Obituary Notes.
Rev. N. M. Jounsox. pastor ot the Mahoniug
ton Presbyterian Church, died yesterday.
Jonx Ajiblkr Smith, a member or the Forty
third Congress from Virginia, died in Wasbinnton
..Thursday.
Timothy Mullin; the well-known oil man. dlea
at his home lu Parkersburg, after a short Illness,
yesterday.
LetticeLeeBowex, aged 10) years and three
months, living at the village of Gayjville, Vt.,
ls dead. She never inarritd.
REAii Admiral C. R. P. Rodgebs. retired, died
in Washington yesterday evening of heart'trouble.
He had been 111 for some time.
William Firkins, boss roller at Conln's Iron
works, Masslliou, and well known throughout the
country in his trade, died Thursday evening alter a
long illness, lie was agon o years.
Hox. Urbax D. Meaciiam Is dead, at Free
port, III., at the ae of 75 3 ears. He was at one
time one of the prominent leaders of tbe National
Greenback party, ai.d was an ex-Mayor of his
city.
Michael Skilly, wholesale groser of Wheel
ing, died yesterday, aged 54 j ears. He was In the
grocery business since la3. aud was lor several
years Chairman of tbe Democratic Mate Commit
tee. GCSTAVBS Uoktox, ex-Mayor of Mobile, died
suddenly Thursday moi-nlng, agil 81 years He
was born at Boston, and went to Mobile at Z) years
of age. His maternal igrandrather was Captain
WlUlaui Warren, of Bunker llhl iauic.
SIRS. Claba Baluick, widow orDr. J. P. Bar
rlck.anilinotherof Attorney FraukL. Baldwin. was
found dead tu bed )esterday morning, at the
homeot her son in Masslllou. The cause of her
death is given as apoplexy, bhe was aged 78
years.
MBS. Claba Bakeick, of Masslllou. widow of
Dr. J. T., Barrick ar..l mother or Attorney Frank
li. -Baldwin,, was found dead in bed yesterday
morning at I'ltcrtaidence j
nee of
tici own. iiicmusevi
her death .;was apoplexy? Mrs". Barrlck was the
oldest resident of jfassllton,
having been "jorn
mere u years ago.
Lewis Pugii, founder of the Scranton, Board of
Trade, and a nromluent and hlzhlv resnected real-
dent of that city, died Thursday afternoon, in bis
J?rC!'lfc u? """. LJ member of.'tbe Constitutional'
C'ODventJon-In 1873, and distinguished himself as
the cliampiau of the new-county section. He waai
chosen Presldental Elector ror,Hayes aud again for
Uarrlion.
LIFE-SIZE PORTRAITS.
Complete List of Tableaux to Be Presented
by tho School, or Dcslsn What tho So
ciety Paragrapher Finds in a Day's
Peregrinations.
The entertainment by the Amateur Art
Association of the Pittsburg School of De
sign will be given on Tuesday, January 19,
at the Club Theater. The following is a cor
rect list of the tableaux which are taken
from celebrated pictures: "Finding n Poso,"
"Lady of the Xake," "Honner's Heads,"
"W"nen a Man's Single and When .n Man's
3iarrie J," "Toilet of Death," "Rope Dance,"
"Gleaners," "Past. Prpsent unci Future,"
"On the Terrace." "One Ton Many," "Grecian
Game oi Roses," "Fancy Dance."
"Jennie Wren's Dream" follows the
tableaux which will be Interspersed by
music and singing. There will also be fancy
dancing by Miss Hamilton's pupils. The
programmes are finished nnd are said to bp
ver3' beautiful. The School of Design has o
many friends that any or its projects cannot
fall to succeed, so that the xpected enter
tainment is being looked forward to with
great interest.
Madame Del Sakte.wIio will be in
Pittsburg next week, is a woman of remark
ably fascinating appearance. She is not
beautiful, but she is charming. Somebody
has said she looks like Sarah Bernhardt.
The resemblance is not readily detected.
For one thing she is very dark with plenty
of dark brown hair. She is very French in
appearance- Of course, the chief living ex
ponent of Delsartism has a finely modu
lated voice. Of course her walk is a poem
of motion. Of conrve, being French, she
complacently does not sneak Englib, and
yon have lb chat with her in the best French
you have, and being American, your French
is probabl v veiy bad, al most as bad as if you
were English.
Max O'Relis lecture to-morrow night
is exciting interest in polite society which
will be niore largely represented on the
occasion of his present nppearnnce than at
any audience ever this entertaining gentle
man has succeeded before In obtaining.
The young mpn of the Dramatic Club of the
Western University aro to act as ushers,
their names being. "Messrs. Walter Riddle,
C. W. Davis.C. De Moss Emmons, J. D. Scott,
E. B. Goehring, Dudley S. Liggett. H. M.
King. E. C. Shaler, D. Favccetr, P.' B. Elkins,
L. L. Bobbins. U. F. Close, W. MacD. Dor-
Ington, Joseph Griggs, Jr., W. T. Kensitt.
Mr. Blnuet will arrive in town at noon to
day and be driven at once to the Kenmawr
Hotel, where he will be the guest orPro
fessor Henri Kollin Parker, Secretary of the
French mission. He wiJI bo Introduced on
the stage at Carnegie Hall to-night by tho
Chancellor of the Western University, Dr.
W. J. Holland.
Social Chatter.
Another of the season' announced debut
antes is Mi"-s Alice Chalfnt, the young
daughter of George A. Chalfant. of Etna.
She is a pretty and popular girl, and there
is no danger as far as she is concerned of
wallflowerdom receiving another floral con
tribution. Thu French Mission meets on Sunday af
ternoon at 4 o'clock in the chapel of the
First Presbyterian Church, when the usnal
exercises will be followed. The Glee Club
will be In attendance, and Mr. Carl Better,
as heretofore, to preside at the organ.
Dr. Williabd's daughter, Miss Alice, will
defer her coming out until next season.
PENNSYLVANIA POINTERS.
Protection, in a fair, square stand-up
fight, always wins as witness Ohio, In tho
late election. Bearer Times.
The Senatorial contest out In Ohio fur
nishes another strong argument for the se
lection of United States Senators bv popular
vote. Reading World.
A tew more derisions by the Snpreme
Court and the general impression that bank
directors are Intended to direct will be en
tirely removed. ConnellsviUe Courier.
The election in Pennsylvania this year
will be an important one in several respects,
and that apart from the choice of PresU
dental Electors. Armstrong Republican.
As bad weather and roads approach, the
question of the improvement of the latter
becomes a burning question among the
more public spirlie d citizens of the country
districts. .Bearer Falls Tribune.
Each nation, Just as each individual, must
light the battle of life itself- and tbe very
fact that the McKinley act operates to the
contraction of the field of Ial n European
countries demonstrates that i proportion
ately expands in ours. Reading Times.
Ex-Senator Wallace says that the chief
aim of the Democratic party in Pennsyl
vania should be harmony. Tbe ex-Senator,
as well as all other good Democrats, view
with regret the efforts of a few men of the
party to gain notoriety at the expense of
the party. Willlamsport Snn.
. WORTH $344,000 TO THE TON.
Rich Mineral Specimens of Silver Ore From
a New Mexican 31. n p.
Portland, Ore., Jan. 8. Donald Ferguson
of Seattle, a well-known mining man, was in
town yesterday. Ie had a specimen of
chloride of silver which assiys S24,9?3
a ton. Sir. Fereuson paid the speci
men came from the Lake Valley sliver
minp in New Mexico, which i situated
about 160 miles south or Sante Fe and 110
miles north of El Paso. "The mine is situ
ated in the foothills of the Black range,"
said he, 'and was discovcied in 1881 by a
ranchman living in the neighborhood, who
was searching for some of his horses which
had strayed away. The mine can be reached
in a buggy, so easy is it of arj-ess. This
mine was one ot the richest ever discovered
on this continent.
For a long time it paid a dividend of $75 to
$100 a month on each share or stock. The
ore graded generally as rather a low class
one, but pockets were frequently found of
exceeding-richness. One or these pockets,
w liicli was called the Bridal Chamber, was
discovered only 19 feet below the sur
face. It covered a space about 40
feet squire, and from that pocket
alone $190u000in silver was taken out. At
no time did the excavations reach a depth
below 80 feet. The mine is still being worked
and is paying, bnt Is showing signs of ex
haustion. Mr. Ferguson also had a piece o'
quartz from the Homestake mine, near
White Oak, N. M., which, he said, assayed
$314,000 a ton.
CUBED BY BEING BLESSED.
Catholics Who Claim to Have Been Re
stored io Health by a Priest.
Beloit, Wis., Jan. 8. An examination of
the records of the burials in the Catholic
cemetery In this city, discloses the fact that
very few of the deaths are from throat
diseases and this led a reporter to talk with
the Rev. Father Ward on the subject of the
throat blessing of the Catholic Church.
Father Ward said that for the last three
years ho had bestowed the throat blessing of
the church oft all who applied for the act,
Catholic or Protestant. So far as he knew
there had not been n death from throat
troublo of one who had received the bless
ing. Some Catholics have not seen fit to re
ceive the rite, but nearly all the members ot
Beloit and Janesvillo churches have done
so, and there have been no fatal diphtheria
cases among those so blesed.
"Yon know or the Beloit people," said
Father Ward. "Now think or this matter
and you will observe that it is a striking
fact that the Catholics or Beloit have been
spared rrom the dreaded diphtheria."
Father Ward said further that he would
willingly bestow the ble-siing 'on any who
may desire to receive It, Catholic or other
wise. SECRETARY BUINE'S ILLNESS.
. Mr. Blaine has great recuperative power.
and we trust that he will be hlmselfagaln in
a few days. New York Advertiser.
The eutiro nation unites In the hope that
the Illness of Secretary B ainemay not prove
lasting or serious. Oiieago Mail.
The country will wait hopefnlly but anx
iously for Mr. B'ainc's complete recovery
.from the illness that seized'him yesterday.
New York World.
It is painfully plain that the Secretary of
State is not in good physical condition, and
,that it will be necessary foriim to spare
himself as much as possible from work nnd
worry. Regretable as this ls, it Is useless to
try to conceal the truth. Phitade'phia Times.
Under the pressure of work and worry
a permanent recovery from his last sum
mer's trouble sceins somewhat uncertain.
But partisans and opponents of Mr. Blaine's
policy will alike join in wishing him a
prompt return to health. New York Horning
Journal.
Every step of tho arduous labors to which
the great Secretary has been subjected has
brought higher credit to his country, and It
"would be a grievous disappointment If these
exertions Impaired his health or ended serv
ices highly prized by every patriotic citizen.
iVtiatfe(pftia Press.
CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS.
In Buffalo one line of street railwaY
crosses 51 railroad tracks In its course.
A letter recently went from Atchison,
Kan., to Brussels in Belgium in ten days.
Forty-eight stage coaches carrying tho
United States mails were held up last year.
A hole one-one thousandth of an inch
in diaHietcr can now be bored through a dia
mond, a sapphire or a ruby.
It is the Roumanian practice to plant a
flower on tte wall of every cottage in which,
a maiden lives. When she marrie3 tho
flower is effaced.
The new census of thePenobscotlndian
tribe shows tho tribe to number 336, a gain
of nine during the year. They raised 3,509
bushels of potatoes in 1891.
The noted Australian lyre bird is threat
ened with total extinction. In a single foit
night one agent alone imported 1,000 of their
tails into the United States.
Several kinds of rhinoceros in Africa
have two horns, one behind the other, but
tbe extinct rhinoceros, known as the dycer
atherium. had a pair of horns on his nose
side by side.
The severity of the recent drought in
Maine may be realized when It is stated that
for several days a Machlas farmer was
obliged to give bis cattle elder to drink, no
water being obtainable.
A late census of the city of Lima, Pern,
shows it to have a population of 103,356, of
which 49,350 are males and 54,103 are female':
70,951 of tho inhabitants can read, and 32,903
can neither read nor write.
A petrified ''green" pine limb was
found recently by a Georgia man near Bnena,
Vista. "The limb is perfect, showing where
the straws made indentations and the grain,
of the wood. It is somewhat white, and re
sembles coral wreath."
London is rather slow in adopting im
provements. It is only recently that exten
sive use has been made of the telephone.
The City Conncil is now considering the in
troduction of the police- patrol wagon so
well known in great American cities.
Boise City, Idaho, is developing and
building up a strong opposition boom to
Sioux Falls. South Dakota, in the divorea
business. When the courts opened in the
former city last week there were overtwenty
divorce cases on the calendar of the District
Court.
Last month rain fell on 23 days in Ore
gon. The heaviest rainfall heretofore re
corded in Portland was 20.14 inches, in De
cember. 18S2, but last month's dampness
broke the record. On an average rain falls
18 days in the month of December in
Oregon.
A writer in a German paper gives the
following as the proper temperatures for
different sorts of beverages: Water, 54;
cltzer water and beer. 57 to 60; red wine,
62 to 663: white wine, 60; champagne, 4S3 to
50: coffee, 73' to TS3; beef tea. ICO5 to US0;
milk, 60 to 61; hot milk, 93 to 0i.
The conductors of all the street cars,
omnibuses and other vehicles for public ac
commodation in Warsaw, in that part or the
city between Novaya Praga and the suburb
of Brudno, are women, and fulfill their
duties more accurately and to tho better
satisfaction of the public than men.
The first people known to have domes
ticated cats were the ancient Egyptians, on.
whoso monuments representations aro
found as early us 1GC0 B. C- It is on a tomb
erected about 1300 B: C. that puss first ap
pears unmistakably as a domesticated
creature, being shown seated beneath a
chair. A short time ago a boy baby wa3 born
in Salt Lake City who had a birthmark of a
blood-red blotch Immediately over its heart.
The mark was exactly like a bullet wound,
which killed a brotherofthe child'smother.
Charless Wanless by name, over a year be
fore the child was born, which the mother
had seen.
Tbe labor statistics of Colorado show
that 19,624 persons are employed in the
industries of that State who last year earned
$12,951,703 55, or an average of about $3 per
day. The majority of the female wage work
ers earn less than $11 per week. The aggre
gate value of the manufactured productwas
$70,027,854 50.
Cyclones and tornadoes are both wind
storms with more or les3 rain, and they
both whirl; otherwise they are very unlike.
The cyclone is from 200 to.L500 miles across.
Is generally born at sen. does mo3t of its work
tnere.and lasts several days.sometimes even
weeks, before dying out. The tornado Is a
land storm, measuring bnly a few hundred
feet in diameter. Tho whole thing can bo
discerned at a glance.
The "Passion Play" is to be performed
by redskins at a great gathering of Chris
tian Canadian Indians in Kamloops, B. C.,
next Jnne. The Rev. Father Lacombe is
organizing the meeting, and it is expected
that some 7,000 Christian Indians from vari
ous parts of British Columbia and many
pagan reds will be in attendance. The
"Passion Play" is to be bat an incident of
the gathering and not its main reature.
It is very easy to secure a divorce in
Idaho, and, as a local paper remarks,
"people in adjoining States are beginning
to appreciate the fact." Six months consti
tutes a legal residence, and some county
seats in theStatearesoremoteand secluded
that actions are never heard of until after
they aro decided. It is as easy to tie as to
untie the matrimonial knot m Idaho. No
license is required and few questions are
asked.
A missionary who has arrived on the
coast from the inferior of Africa says that
one of the Enropeans who took part in tho
disastrous battle between the Zarewsky
expedition and the Wnhebe natives, is now
a nrisoner in the hands of the Wahehe.
Scattered through Africa are white men who
ato in bondage or have voluntarily taken up
their residence there. Dr. Nachtigal's
servant is an example. He deserted his
iristerin the Sondan, and at la-t accounts
he was living near Lako Tchad, tho only
white man in that part of Africa.
On the land of David Gowan, in "Tonto
Basin," in the northern part of Gila county,
Ariz., is a natural bridge that should bo
placed on the list of champion wonders. Be
tween the rock walls more than 700 feet high
it spans a cavern 200 feet wide in a single
arch. The width is 600 feet, and the average
thickness or the arch I 40 reet, though in
one place near the too it is scarcely six feet
thick. Here, throngh a circular hole, may
be seen the waters dashing along so far
below. From the numerous caves and cav
erns in the vicinity, in which abound beau
tiful stalactites and stalagmites, it has been,
suggested that the now open canon was onco
a subterranean passage, and that the natural
bridge is the last remains or the roof that
once covered the entire passage. The roct
is a limestone.
dOKLLETS FROM JUDGE;
Hilow Miss Plypp learns every catch
phrase as soon as It ls out."
Glim Yes; she's a master of the EngUsh slan
guage. She saw him off upon the train,
And showed that parting was but pain.
"At every stopping place, " she said.
Be sure you write, then go ahead."
"What is your name?" said St. Peter to
the arrival at the gate.
"Viola Flimsyfluff, sir."
How did you occupy your time on earth?"
Soubrette. sir."
Soubrette?" mused St. Peter. "Suppose. Viola,
you go baclc and get a doctor's certificate that
you're dead."
MissBlcecker (of New York) Did von
hear that Mr. Gurley was short In his accounts?
Miss Emerson (of Boston) Yes: I learn that his
computations are somewhat abbreviated.
'Tis better we should part, I think, don't
you?
iqwlll not break your heart .so go, now do.
And at some future time let'd hope to meet
As we have done to-day. In this same seat.
But we must part, my love, so please away.
Tlie snn now sinks to rest; 'tis clo? of day.
And papa's coming soon; so wc must part
Till to-morrow afternoon. Goouby, sweetheart.
She I find, sir, that you are eugaqed to
three other girls besides me. As a man of honor
can"you explain that?
He Yes; I forgot to tell yon that lam a Mormon
convert.
Mrs. Meddergrass Oh, Nathan, I've run
a big nail Into my foot!
Fanner Meddcrgrass There you go again! And
nails A)i centra pound, too!"
, Do not despair, oh loving heart,
If a maiden now says no.
Herthoughtsmay undergo a change
In twenty years or so. - '
Snooper If you saw- the gentleman drop
the bank note why did yon not restore It to'hlm?
Jaysmith We had never been Introduced to each
other, and I felt a delicacy about addressing hist.
,