sSa2I ?VMr fW iirsa5- S -tr.--- '3ff.Srt 4 i ?&&? $8L2& '.rfcii t .rnaPHKT sr . JB&B&B&r&P cr : THEY HTTSBTraG1!?! jfe'l&S HnHHaMBSHifeil fje B$paMj. ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY F. IMS Vol. fi. No. "63. rntrn-.! at Pittshnrg Pottofflce 2 o ember. XiS7. s second-class matter. Business Office Comer Smithfield and Diamond Streets. News Rooms and Publishing House 78 and So Diamond Street, in New Dispatch Building. rTri?s nF.smsio "FFirE. nnovs, TRTT-KK UriT.niXO. NKIT YOT5K. hm!n. rii files orTJTF DISPATCH ran nlwavshe fonnrt. Foreign advertisers appreciate tli convenience. Home advertisers and friends of THK DISPATCH. 1 hllc In New York. arc alto made welcome. 7 FT. D1FTA TCH 1 resul"rly mmUnt Brntnnn' ., 1 Vnl&n .Vouarc, Vew lork.ana 17 Are neropem, fton. mnct. icftere nnyon tcho has freen tzisap- jVWwft-rf fir si hotel nmf ttfmrt enw fibtntn ft. llili31& OF THK UbPATCa T-OC-AGr TKT.T IX THE tCITT.D STATU. All Y ritPATcn. one Year on Daily DiPATCn, Ter Quarter - 100 Daily PisrATCH. One Month 0 Daily Disftch. including t-unday. lyear.. 10 on IUILT Dispatch, Including Sunday. Sm'ths. 160 Daily Dispatch, including Sunday, 1 jn'tb.. 00 :? rsDAY DispATcn. One Year t. '50 Weekly Dispatcil. One Year 13 The Daily Dispatch is delivered by carriers at :f cents per week, or. iucludhigSunday Edition, at V cents Tier week. PITTSBTJltG. FRttlAY. FEBRUAHY 5. THE FHZnIMSIOSS CLIJI'X. The attempt at suicide with which that extraordinary criminal Fitzsimmons yes terday sousbt to finish his melodramatic career, taken in connection with the letter he left for the authorities, shows that the composure" with which he affected to re gard the operations of the law, which he had defied, was largely feicned; and that, whether it was inspired by inordinate van ity or bravado, it decelerated into arrant cowardice at the crucial test It would have been in every way much more desir able if adequate precautions had been taken at 2Cew Orleans to prevent Fitz wmmons' escape from the regular and formulated processes of justice. In fact, the want of vicilance which enabled Fitz simmons to conceal and use an implement of destruction, in the face of the full ex pectation that he might resort to that de vice, is if possible even more to be cen sured than the s-oss negligence through which he was enabled to take his leave of the Allegheny county jaiL It would have been a terrible reflection on the inefficiency of legal safeguards for life and property if Fitzsimmons had not been captured. Complete vindication of official methods should have called for his return and trial and punishment in due legal form. The Claude Duval, Dick Tur pin and Jack Shepard type of robber and outlaw may be highly thrilling in the narratives of Newgate, or picturesque in the comic opera, but it is decidedly un comfortable to think of an outlaw of that tvpe making his record in these da-s in civilized places, defiantly of jail or consta ble. As by evident carelessness of the Xew Orleans authorities Fitzsimmons has Iteen enabled to carry out to the last his" defiance of ultimate legal process, the only compensating feature of the busi ness is that his attempted suicide and his letter show that he felt at last the disgrace and utter failure which was the inevitable result of his lawlessness. IDs career fur nishes a lesson to criminals. It also gives some sharp instrucaon to jail-keepers. JOHNSTOWN'S GRATITUDE. It is nearly three years since one of the greatest disasters on record overwhelmed the City of Johnstown. While the suffer ings were well nigh unparalleled, the re lief was equally unprecedented. Personal aid was" prompt from all within reach, and monetary help flowed in from every part of the globe. The reconstruction of Johnstown and its present prosperous con dition are due no less to the timely assist ance received than to the energy of the in habitants themselves. And it is right and proper that gratitude should have been so eloquently expressed as it was by the reso lutions adopted at the mass meeting last night Terrible as was the catastrophe, it afforded valuable proof of the progress of mankind in the readiness with which self was sacrificed for the benefit of others: and the ungrudgingly grateful acknowl edgement of such geneious action is a fitting climax to the tragedy. TUAT LOTTERY DECISION. The decision by the Supreme Court that the Postal Department was within its con stitutional rights in forbidding the trans mission of papers -advertising the Louis iana lottery is of course beyond dispute, and has in this particular instance led to very desirable results the lottery throw ing up the sponge. But a postal censor ship of any kind is none the less contrary to the spirit of the age and the feelings of the majority of our people. It behooves the Government, theretore, to guard aga nst a reactionary tendency which will carry us back to the dark ages. The object of national effort should be an education fitting indi i duals to judge for themselves what is good for them selves, and raising the standard of their desire in literary directions. The home and its influence must learn its duties, and accept the responsibilities of judging what is fit reading for the young and inexperi enced. A public censorship cf the mails dees far more harm than good by adver tising and calling attention to that which should be buried in oblivion. When parents and guardians exercise their authority for the safeguard of their wards, as it is their duty and should be ( their pleasure to do, harmful literature , will have no market except among those whoe depravity is already such that their morals cannot bt f urtlier debased. THE C KW IN Gi:K3lANY. The German Emperor is for the first time confronted bv the united' opposition of the many parlianient-ry parties in cluded bv the term Liberals. The strong front opposed to the bill for the introduc tion of sect-irian teaching into thc-schools is evidence that the Liberal party is learn ing its strength, and finds that it can cope even with favorite schemes of the Em peror. This incident points to a near fu-ure when the people will assert their power, and, that once learnt, it w.ll not be long before the degrading military des K)tism of Germany becomes a part of the past The Empyror William lus in many ways sihown himself a man of no mean abilities, and that he is cjpable to an unusual de cree of realizing and coping with the ques tions ot the tim But his opinions on the diviii" right ol sovereigns and .1,1 that tangs therebj are medieval. 'Cope, with it as the Government may, whether by seWriug )o loresUll some of its demands I by legislation, or by the endeavor to sup' press it in other directions, socialism J$ a rapidly increasing power in the German Empire The tn t institution to be seriously at-. Urked will be the military system. Re cent exposureo of the cruel practices of the subordinate army officers are small compared with the grievances felt at the severity of the autocratic regulations for the preservation of the dignity of the higher officers. Xot content wf th robbing men of some of the best years of their life, the military system demands such abject deportment from the privates as better be fits slaves than the citizens of a civilized and enlightened country. The feeling, against the enforced military service is such a growing one that the smoke may burst into flame at almost any moment, and where tho conflagration will cease it is impossible to foretell RENTS LVALUES A TRUE STAND AKD. The stir over the tax and assessment question must already have satisfied thfe public of the correctness of the frequent contention of The Dispatch that the sys tem of assessing by alleged cash values should itself be changed by the Legisla ture for more certain methods. The wide diversity of views on cash values is shown by the difference between the assessors' figures and those of appellants. The former go on the theory that sales in a neighborhood determine cash values for that neighborhood, and that big holdings should be estimated pro rata writh small lots. Theoretically this has a passable sound. But in the real estate market it won't work out; because one or two. or ten sales do not guarantee buyers at the same price for a whole district; and so in regard to large and small places, there are ten times more buyers for the small than for the large holding. One swallow does not make a summer; and sales of real estate, like chickens, cannot always be counted before they are hatched. Kental values for business and dwelling property are the only true values, and they should be established by law as the standard. Thus there would be the same just, uniform and easily ascertained stand ard for all sections of the built-up part of the city. Assessments would in such case no longer depend upon individuals, but upon the actual earning capacity of the property. The only objection ever raised to this suggestion has been the very weak one that it would not cover cases where parties resided in their own houses, or vacant grounds. But it would be a simple and easy task to estimate a fair rental for houses occupied by the owners while as to vacant tracts valuations could be made as now, with reference to their probable selling price. The effect of assessing by rental values would be to at once remove the great bulk of assessments out of . the range of dis pute and guesswork to a solid, sure and uniform basis. But all this is for the future. What con cerns the present is to see that, defective though the present system is, it be admin istered so as to distribute the burden of taxes fairly, and equitably as maybe, the inherent defects of the system considered. But again, it is well to call attention to the fact that all the assessors may or can do will not limit nor lessen the aggregate of taxation. That must be settled by .Coun cils alone. It will be settled by Councils in favor of retrenchment and economy and moderate appropriations if the voters ics'st before the elections of Councilmen that the; ro pledge themselves. Counc.ls decide what the taxes shall be; and the voters all taxpayers decide who shall sit in Councils. As it is easy to in terview candidates on their position, no ballot need be cast in ignorance of its effect 1 t IT IS LTIAP YEAR In Jack the Ripper and Dowd the Slasher we have Had Ishmaels of a most undesirable type, but in Kate the Kisser we have a less harmful individual and a more interesting study. This name has been bestowed on a German girl, Katinka Steen, who has evinced a strange and in explicable desire to kiss as many male tel egraph operators as possible during her journey from West to East on her way to the Fatherland. No doubt Katinka feels that she is justified in indulging her oscu latory caprice's because this year there are twenty-nine days in February. But the puzzle is as to why she should favor telegraph operators to the extent of climbing through windows, or approaching them by stealth in order to exercise her lips when she would have been able to sat isfy herself more easily from numerous willing bystanders. She refuses to offer any explanation for her invidious distinc tions, and those of us who are not tele graph operators find it difficult to solve the riddle of her conduct The only theory that we can evolve is that Kate finds stolen pleasures sweeter in proportion to the dif ficulties it is necessary to overcome in order to obtain them. Then we see that she realized that telegraph operators were the busiest men encountered on her travels, and that therefore she achieved more by kissing them than the rest of an otherwise equally inviting mankind. AS 1JHU1NAI1T FLIGHT. The possibility of aerial navigation is an interesting topic It is especially pleas ant to be assured by an expert that we are on the eve of seeing that dream of invent ors and cranks become a visible and demonstrated faet. Talk of that sort from Maxim and Langley has heretofore enchanted society; but it was reserved for Mr. Pennington to usher in the new era by announcements of its actual presence with visions of the achievements of the sky-flyers that stun the imagination and beggar the commentary of enthusiasm. Pennington will be remembered as the individual who last year scheduled him self to launch his airy navies and a $20, 000,000 company from the banks of the Mississippi, to wind up with a grand exhi bition of aeronautical tactics at Chicago next year. But owing to the chili mate rialism of the age and the stupid resistance of gravitation Pennington has not been heard of in the West lately. He now re appears in the East We presume he reached that section by the prosaic and antiquated agency of a railway train the season being an extremely unfavorable one for walking but after reaching there he casts aside all such tame surroundings. The airships are in actual process of con struction. One hundred miles an hour will be a mere commonplace; the New Yorker can get into a Pullman flyer sup posing that Pullman is in it at night and wake up for breakfast in London the next morning. The railroads will not be wiped out, but re:e?ated to the low function of carrying the- degraded, slow and heavy freights; and the greatest share of this is to be effected by the Pennington Airship Company with a capitai of $30,000,000. In this last touch we recognize the hand of the mastpr. Pennington, whatever his shortcomings in the way of making air ships float, finds no difficulty in inflating the cap'.tal of his . company as it soars through empyrean. Railway promoters have made a record by adding millions to capitalization on the score of a slight suc cess; but Pennington casts their most am bitious efforts in the shade by adding ten millions to his corporate capital on the score of a failure. A man who is able, to make capital spread its wings In that way may be jordoned if he considers it easy to make so light and trivial a thing ai a ship do a little flying. Or perhaps he adopts the more logical system of thinking that, as there is good authority for theSellef that money has wines, the 30,000,000 pair of wings on 530,000,000 which we pre- sume to be gold, as it is well known that : the standard silver dollars refuse to be floated ought to be able to furnish the J sustaining and motive bower for an air ship. We repeat that the public is anxious to he assured of the existence of successful airships. But with regard to Pennington it would be an earnest of more progress, as well as a relief to that fatigued feeling on the part of the public, if he should do less talking and more flying. In a blind desire to serve his party, Judge 1. Maynard, In his action with regard to the Duchess county returns, seoms to have put himself within reach or the law's punUhraent. The spectacle of a member of Now Yoik's.Supreme Bench as defendant In & criminal trial is by no means an Improba bility, and should it come to piss it will De an edifying spectacle for the world at large, and It may teach a lesson to those whose watchword is party at any price. The collapse of the Iron Beam Trust means the cessation of an artificial scale or prices which cannot fall to benefit the con sumers and is likely to stir up the iron trade in general. PrTTSBtrEC detectives must not allow their disappointment at failing to bring Fitzsimmons to trial, or any other matter, to hinder them .in the work they have before them in discovering the perpetrators of the dynamite outrage, and unraveling the de velopments that have followed from the un earthing of a body in the rains of the Lib erty street fire. Tbey have plenty of work before them and work of an important order, too. There is much bitterness and a consider-' able amount ot truth in ex-Senator Ingalls' statement that the recent war cry was man ufactured by interested parties. Now that the bill authorizing the pres ence of press representatives at electrocu tions in New York has passed the Legisla ture, and requires only the confirmation of the Governor, who has expressed himself in favor of it, we may hope tor less sensation alism and more reliability in the accounts of executions in that State. The most remarkable feature of the anti Hill movement, just started in New York, is the support it has already received from men of high commercial standing. We must guard ourselves from an in clination to crow over the expected further revelations of Canadian crookedness and mal-admlnistration. There i&r only one standard of right and wrong, and it is a matter of no consequence whether we be bet ter or worse ou than our neighbors. Anyone carrying a satchel to a million aire's office creates more sensation than a visit from the grip in a country village. Any measure that can pass the House and Senate for rendering the laws of the coun try uniform with regard to marriage and divorce will go far to abolish a ridiculous and evil anomaly. But such a measure must have very careful consideration or the last state will be even worse than the first. Mayor Gourley should be encouraged in his literary efforts. They are entirely In the right direction so tar as they go. Xew Mexico isto be congratulated on its possession of a National Bank Examiner who does his dutv. It is a sad sign of the times that an official who does that for which he was appointed is a rarity that calls for laudatory comment. Cardinal Manning's will revealing his lack of wealth Is an eloquent sequel to the generosity or his life. Waste of the nation's time in Congress by idle and useless speech is only less of an evil thau the printed record of the same which encourages it at a further expense to the country. WELL KNOWN EVEKTWHERE. Ex-President Cleveland has returned to Now' York from his pleasure trip to the South. . George J. Longfellow, a brother of the famous poet, is a farmer, and lives near Bexton, N. Date Ex-Senator Edmunds is said to accept no smaller retainer than $2,000 "In cases of importance," and to refuse all other kinds of cases. Prince Henry of Battenberg left Os borne House yesterday oia trip to the Med iterranean. He eoes to Algiers, where the yacht Sheila awaits him. The parents of ex-Senator Ingalls are still living at Haverhill, Mass. The father, now over 80 years of age, was the lnventorof several useful machines employed In manu facturing shoes. Douglass Tilden, the American deaf mute sculptor, is winning valuable laurels in Paris. His "Baseball Plover" in plaster, which was sent to the Salon or 18S9, was most favorably criticised. The famous "pre-Kaphaelite mansion" in London was owned by F. R. Leyland, who ilks just died. Ills collection of Rossetti's and Tiurne-Jones' pictures is declared to be the finest In existence. Prince Victor Emanuel, heir to the Italian Crown, Is one of the handsomest and most accomplished men of his station in life. Although near 30 j-ears of ago and widely, traveled, he is yet unmarried. Mrs. Lew Wallace says that Flor ence Nightingale was a slender woman of graceful flirure and great dignity of man ner. She exhibited remarkable fortitude at all times and especially when present at surgical operations. THE EAST TO L0 ITS SHAKE.' New York to Take lip the Matter or Belief for thn Stitrvlne Rnsslnns. New Yoke, Feb. 4. The regular monthly meeting of tho Chamber of Com merce wa to-day devoted to the discussion of means to ameliorate the condition of Rus sian famine victims. Ex-Governor Hoy t, of Wyoming, said the Western peoplo wero ready to give thousands of bushels of grain, and wre only waitlnirthc action of the New York people to aid in setting it there. The following le-olution was adopted: Resolved, That the President r Hie Clumber of Commerce is hereby antliorlzeil to appoint a tom miltee of 50. ltli pancrtondd Ii Its number, to appeal to ihe citizens of New York and to tiie ik-odIu of the United tntes InKencral. lor cuntrl butlont to a rellet Tund to be distributed lu Russia through such channels as may. atcr proper exam ination, seem most efficacious and reliable. The President of the Chamber was made Chairman of the committee, and among its members are: William 31. Evarts, AUram S. Hewitt, J. Plerpont Morgan, C. r. Hunting ton. Austin Corbin, Cornelius Yanderbllt, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller and William Stelnway. Subscriptions lists will be opened at once. The Mormons Demand Home Rale. Salt Lark, Feb. The Utah Legislature has passeu a memorial to Congress urging the passage of the home rule bill Introduced by Senator Faulkner and Delegate Cain last month. The memorial recites oppression through the Utah Commission; repression of the popular volet, in the make-up of courts by appointments from Washington. It also says the conditions in the Territory nave changed and that polygamy has been abol ished. Deacon White Formally Reinstated. New Yobk, Feb. 4. The Stock Exchange to-day reinstated S. V. White and F. W. Hop kins, representing S. V, White iCo., as members in good standing. The announce ment of reinstatement, when read from the ostrum, was received with cheers, and when S V. White appeared on the floor li was congratulated Uy,all the members pres ent. " ' ' A DAY In CONGRESS. The Bouse at Last Adopts Rules" Under Which to Work A High Trjbnte to Ex Speaker Carlisle Irreverence for De parted Representatives The Senate's Short Session. "Washington, d. C, Feb. 4. The House or Representatives was called before the bar of public, opinion to-day to answer tho charges of Irreverence to the memory of departed representatives. Mr. Stout, of Michigan, was the public prosecutor, and in the absence of counsel for the defense, the Houso pleaded guilty to the charge It was in the historio days of Adams and Clay and Webster and Calhoun that the practice of settingapart a day for the eulogy of' do ceased, statesmen 'was Inaugurated. The panegyrics of those men are still live In the nation's history as the Ideal of American oratory, and now adorn the'pages of nearly every school reader in the land. Bat as time passed tho custom of eulogizing tho illus trious was gradually extended, until to-day every momber of the House has as his posthumous heritage the right to have a day set apart for the special eulogy of his. eminent abilities and qualities' of statesman ship. The eloquent and spontaneous orations of Webster and Calhoun and Clay have gener ally given place to studiously prepared re marks on the mental and moral character istics of the deceased. As eulogy became a duty Instead of spontaneous tribute, the in terest of the House and of the country in these events decreased, until Momorial Day, as it is no known. Is regarded as a day of rest and recreation: as a period when no one feels it incumbent to attend the session- ex cept the orators of the occasion generally the colleagues from the State which the de ceased represented in life. Sunday as a Day for Eulogy. The first declaration of the insincerity of such proceedings came from Mr. Enloe, of Tennessee, who desired to amend the rules by providing that eulogies to deceased mem bers shall be delivered on Sundays, and Sun days only, on which day the ceremonies shall be opened with prayer by the Chap lain. These services, he said, were in the nature of religious services, and no more appropriate day could be selected for giving tribute to deceased members than Sunday. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Morse, of Massachusetts. He believed that the memorial services were educational and proper, and the Lord's day was the most suitable one that conld be chosen. Mr. Stout, of Michigan, said: "lam in favor of this amendment. I happened once, Mr. Speaker, to be in St. Louis when a tuneral cortege bearing the body of a member of Congress passed through the city. Tho news- gapers on the next morning said that the ody was left in the depot while the Sen ators were talking about the Presldental election in the rotundas of the hotels laughter, and the younger members were gone to the theater I suppose to assuage their profound grief. Great laughter. The country should know 'whether or not we are sincere in our proiessions of respect to the dead. Let us meet on Sunday, and those who are not sincere In their professions of regret and reverence of the dead can stay at home." Applause. Mr. Ray, of New York, opposed the amend ment. It was evidently offered in the inter est of those persons who never attended church, but who could come here on the aaooatn aay ana listen to oratory. A Vi hole Month for memorials. Mr. Beed, of Maine, gave the information that tho consumption of time in the first session of the last Congress for memorial services was 2t days. This announcement created great surprise, but was not dlputed. Mr. Bergen, of New Jersey, said he saw no necessity for putting another day into the week. Although a standing vote showed a major ity ot 96 to 68 in lavor of the amendment, this matorltv vanished before the dreaded roll call, and the ameudment was defeated yeas 91, nays 155. Mr. O'Neill, of Missouri, offered an amend ment making it obllzatorv on the House to consider the private calendar on Friday. Lost yeas 57, nays III. Various propositions were made having lor their object the abolition or the restric tion of the custom of setting apart days for the delivery of eulogies upon deceased members, but they were all rejected. Mr. Reed, of Maine, offered a suostitute for rule 24, relating to the order of business. The only change proposed is that the morn ing hour, (which, under the code, is limited to 60 minutes) may be extended indefinitely, at the pleftsuieofthe House. The substitute was lost yeas SO, nays 104. Mr. Cliipman, or Michigan, offered an amendment providing for Friday night ses sions for the consideration or private pen sion bills. Agreed to. In speaking to an informal amendment J. D. Taylor, sent to tho Clerk'? desk, and had lead, the letter sent Dy Messrs. Wise, ot Vir ginia: Henderson, of North Carolina, and Randall, of Pennsylvania, to Speaker Car lisle, asking for recognition to move a sus pension of tho rules and the passage of a.bill lor the i epeal of the Internal revenue taxes upon tobacco. Carlisle More Than Defended. Mr. Caruth, of Kentucky, said he did not rise to enter into any defense of Speaker Carlisle. His name and fame were well known. No man had ever retired from the Speaker's chair who had the confidence of this country without egard to party In a greater degree than had Hon. J. G. Carlisle, (Democratic applause.) Mr. Taylor said that he meant to make no attack upon Speaker Carlisle. He pointed to these letters only us an illustration ot the great power which the rules conferred upon the Speaker. Mr. O'Neill, of Jlissouri, offered an amend ment requiring the Committee on Rules to report back, within ten days, all amend ments to the rules referred to. He did not believe that hen the code of rules was agreed to, the House should bind itself hand and foot, and have no power to amend it. He did not propose without notice to put bis head in the halter. The amendment as lost. The consideration of the rules reported by the Committee on Rules having been con cluded, Mr. Reed, of Maine, on belialt of the Republicans, offered as a substitute there for the rules of the Firty -first Congress. Lost, without division. The codo of rules was then agreed to. At Work With the New Rnles. Mr. Savers, of Texas, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported a bill to supply a deficiency in ,tlie appropriations for tho eleventh census, and it was referred to the committee of the whole. Also, a resolution directing an inquiry into the affairs of tho World's Columbian Exposition, stating that he would call it up lor action to-morrow. Mr. Durborow, of Illinois, presented a sub stitute, which was ordered printed and which will bo considered at tho amo time. Mr. Dickeison, of Kentucky, offered a reso lution directing the Committee on Judiciary to make an investigation and report whether Congress has the constitutional authority to appropriate money ror tho World's Colum bian Exposition. Adopted. On motion of Mr. Goodnight, of Kentucky, n. Spnafcft hill W:is misled tn nrnvldn fnr !. 'creation of :i fourth judicial district in tho territory ot utan. Tiie House adjourned un til to-morrow. The Senate Does a Little Work. In the absence of Vice President Morton, who has gone to New York for a low davs, the Senate was presided over by Mr. Man dcrson, President pro tern, to-day. Mr. Brice introduced a bill for tho erection of a monument at "ut-in-Bay, O., to com memorate the battle of Lake Erie in 1S13. Referred. Mr. I'effer offered a resolution, which was agreed to, changing the day tor holding tho special service in honor of the memory of Senator Plumb. At 12 o'clock the Senate proceeded to ex ecutive business. When the doors were opened, ten minutes afterward, Mr. Frye, who had made an adverse report in the caso of the bill lor a bridge between New York and New Jerxev, said tnat the friends or the measure desired to have the bill and adverse report placed on the calendar. He had no objection, and the bill was therefore so placed. The report of the Committee on Privileges and Elections in the. case of the Florida Senatorshlp, declaring Mr. Call enti tled to the seat, was taken up for action, and the report -was read, closing with the sen tence: "The appointment of Mr. Davidson was an act ot mere irrelevancy which it is not necessary further to notice." After a long dehate the resolution was agreed to without a division. Mr. Manderson, from the Committee on Militaiy Affairs, reported a bill granting to the State of Wyoming certain lands In the Fort Russell military reservation as grounds tor agricultural exhibitions, and one for the improvement of the-intlltarv reservation at Walla Wallr., Washington. Both were placed on the calendar, after which the Senate ad journed till Monday. Still is Chance to Be Named. Chicago Mall. 3 Any prominent attorney that has not been mentioned as the. probable successor of Justice Bradley will please arise and be counted. IHE TAXATION QUESIIOil. A Representative Body Creates a Commis sion tp Look Into ths Subject. Habrisburq, Feb. 4, Special Probably the most representative body that ever met in the Senate chambers assembled to-day to discuss the revision and equalization of State taxation. Colonel J. A. Price, of Scranton, Vice President of the National Board of Trade, presided. After a long dis cussion of the subject from many differing points of view, a committee was appointed torepoit d plan of operation. They pre sented the folio-wing, which was adopted: Resolved. That It Is the sense of jr6ur committee' urn, owing io me inequality or valuation aim wa atlon tnronRhnut the State, somecninge H needed In our present system of valuation and taxation. Resolved, That a commission, composed of mem bers or this conference, be appointed ror the pur pose of ascertaining from tne most reliable data to be had the value or the various classes of the tax able property of the Commonwealth, and also to further ascertain the amount of property at pres ent exempted from taxation, not covered by tho exemptions specified In the Constitution of 1374. Resolved, That the same, commission also ascer tain the amount or taxes paid by each class of property, both local and State. Resolved. That a finance committee be appointed by this conference to solicit contributions tor the purpose of defraying the expenses of this commis sion. Resolved, That this commission be authorised to pav all the expenses necessary to procure and tab ulate this Information, not exceeding In amount the money that may be raised by the Financial Committee heretofore appointed, and that this commission report to this conference not later than June I, next. Tho Chairman was authorized to appoint a Committee on Finances and the commission created by the resolution, this commission to consist or six members and the Chairman, as an ex-offlclo member. , A resolution was offered by Mr. Price, that a committee of three be appointed to exam ine the tax laws of other States, and furnish a printed or somo report to the conference at the next meeting. .. r. Wright opposed the resolution on the ground that the committee was too small, and that the resolution does not cover the whole field of States. Ho said it ought to be a simple and eav matter to irame a tax law for thi3 State. "First ascertain what prop ertv you have." said Mr. Wright, "then make your language In your bill plain enough to cover it all. I bellovc that such community, whether it be State or local, should collect Its own resources. Neither State or county shall levy tax to be uted by the other. These corporations, whose func tions reach out from one county to the other, should be set aside as a general class. Representative Taggart and Mr. Niles favored the adoption ot the resolution. The resolution was amended Increasing the num ber to six. and to include all the states In the United States, and then adopted without a dissenting vote. INDIANS HOLS TO THEIE MESSIAH. No Excitement Among Either Them or the Whites, bat a Firm, Quiet Belier. Chicago, Feb. 4. Captain Ell L. Hugging, aide de camp to General Miles, returned this morning from a trip in the Indian Terri tory. He was sent there to investigate the rumors of ghost dancing among the Indians there. "The Aarapahoe, Cheyenne and Osage Indians still cling to the belief that the Messiah will some day appear to save them," said Captain Huggins, "and they are not at all disappointed in the failure of the Messiah to come among them last year. They do not pretend to know the date of his coming. The former frenzy among them and their ex cited dances have given way to a quiet be lief, which has almost become a religion with them, that the whites are tp bo de stroyed and the Messiah will come. There is no excitement among tho whites because no outbreak is feared." Captain Huggins witnessed the distribu tion of cattle for food tor the Indians at the Chevenne and Aarapahoe agencies. The cattle were supplied by a contractor, and were so po-r and thin that Little Chief ob jected to them. The officer who Inspected the cattle rejected them. An investigation showed that all the poor and worthless cat tle were given to the Indians, the fatter ones being shipped to the markets. LATJBA BEIDOMAN'S BBAIN 'When Examined Proves to Have Grown Very Unevenly. Wokcesteh, Mass., Feb. 4. Special.' The brain of Laura Bridgman, the famous woman who lived her allotted years devoid of sight, bearing, speech, smell and taste, bi ought some time ago to Clark University for examination, has just told Its story. The result of the Investigation, proves that the peculiarities were due solely to arrested de velopment In the portion relating to the disused sense3. Up to the time of the girl's illness, when she was 2 years old, the brain developed normally. After that it grew un evenly. The weight was but slightly less han that of the entirely normal brain. Both hemispheres were developed alike. The extent of the gray matter of the cortex (which receives and imparts sensa tions) was, If in any way unusual, somewhat les than in the average brain. In general the entire cortex was thinner than In the normal brains with which it was compared. The most striking and conclusive feature, however, n as the condition of the parts connected wUh the nerves of sight. The right eye of Miss Brldirman remained useful to a slttrht extent some tim longer than the left. This resulted in developing that por tion of the brain connected with the right eye to a greater extent than the left. STJB-TEEASUEY MEN "WTN. A Complete Back-Down on the Part of the Kansas Alliance Commltee. Topeka. Feb. 4. The Executive Committee of the Farmers' Alliance, which seems to have created dissension in the ranks by ap pointing five delegates to St. Louis who were opposed to tho sub-treaury scheme, is holding a meeting this morning to find a way outof tho difficulty. A compromise scheme Is being considered which the com mittee thinks satisfactory to the suo-treas-urv demand". The committee proposes to allow the men named by the boltlns Congressional delega tions to accompany the men named by the Executive Committee ns delegates. It Is a complete back-down for the committee, but the bolters havo won so far that they may in'ist on a solid sub-treasury delega tion. Van B. Prather stated this morning ho thought this compromise would- bring the opposing factions into harmony. He May Not Know He Has Withdrawn. Washington Post. 1 There are reasons for belielng that Mr. Cleveland has not yet been apprised of his withdrawal from the Presldental race. DEATHS HEKE'AXD ELSEWHERE. Prof. Theodor Mommson. Prof. Theodor Mommson, the German historian. Is dead at Kiel. Prof. Mommson was oncoftheUstof a dwindling group of scholars who made a golden age for Germanv's universi ties, He was a participant In the Revolution of 1843. In lS321ie wasjcqulttcd on a charge of libel ing Prince Rlsmarelrln autumn speech by calling the "Iron Chancellor's" tarln policy "pure swin dle." Ou an appeal the professor was again vic torious. Pior. Mommson was a Radical, very bet ter in controversy, and was Unawu as "tbo Old Roman of Germany." Colonel Geor? G. Minor. Colonel George G. Minor died suddenly at the Laclede Hotel lu St. Louis Wednesday, whither lie had cone from Chicago Monday on a business trip. Colonel Minor serted tn both the Mexican aud the CH il war.. It was he who drew up the articles of agreement between the United States and Mexico at the end of the .Mexican war the treatv or Guadeloupe. Colouel Minor, who was tlicn 'an aide on General frcott's staff, spoke French and Spanish fluently and acted as Inter preter for General t"Cott during the entire war aud while the pcai negotiation were In progress. Russell age, Jr. Russell Sage, Jr., the favorite nephew of Russell Sage, died at 11:15 o'clock yesterday morn ing, at the Windsor Hotel. New York, from men ingitis. He had been seriously ill since the dyna mite explosion In his uncle's ulHce. He was S3 years old and married. Ohltnary Notes. MCLain SlfEilY, theoldest white person born in Youngsiown township, died yesterday from, the grip, aged 79. GENERAL ISADORE PIERRE SCUMtTZ, who Saw service in 14 French campaigns, died In Paris Tuesday, aged 75 years. General Schmltz was chief of the staff under General Trochu during the siege of Paris. ANSON C. Owex, a pioneer of Iowa, died at Ma son City, la., Tuesday. He moved there iu 1353, and lived for a long time in a tent, and had many thrilling adventures with the Sioux and other tribes of Indians. He has been prominently Iden tified with the development of the northern part uf the 8Utc. Euwaiid Stevenson, an actor, known on the stace as Ned Forrest, Is dead at his home In Seat- lie, aged 35. He was the son of an old-tlmc maua- ger and made his aeDut at the age ot r in a com pany which also contained Denuan Thompson. In 1374 ne went Into the variety business. In which he remained until bis death. LIVE WASHINGTON WA1JS. Opponents of the Anti-Option Bill Have an Inning Their Arguments Before thn House Committee Excellent Effects of Iteciprocltj Keed on the New House Kulrfl Notes From the Capital. Washington, D. C, Feb. 4. The op ponents of the anti-option bill bad the floof to-day in the hearing before the House, Com mittee on Agriculture, and Chicago ad Minneapolis told why the hill would not benefit the farmers and would hurt the men. who were engaged in the business of supplying the demand lor grain. Mr. Alrtrlch, of the Chicago Board of Trade, Said the board was heartily in favgr of the bill so far as it related to options as designed in the first section of the bill relat ing to fictitious sales. That Kind of trading had always been illegal and unrecognized, and the board had spent a great deal of money trying to procure enforcement of the State law on contracts. He admitted that there was In such a large board as at Chicago considerable trading of a kind that could not be upheld. If the best members of tho board could out find a way by which such things as "Partridge has the market tfnd is a great short seller" could be made things of the past they would be glad to do so. The system in operation was tho result of a great many yeafs of experience: it was not something desicned specially to give an opportunity for dealing in'lutures. The Boards-of Trade, like the bank Clearing Houses, were commercial conveniences for exchanges. At times prices were tempora rily advanced by speculative buying, and, in fact, the fluctuations were ereater on that side than on the other, the short side. Mr. Hatch asked what were the average daily sales, including fictitious sales. Mr. Aldrich replied that ha had never made an estimate, Dut that the sales were very much larger than the quantity of grain received. Mr. Hatch Are all your sales on the Board of Trade recorded? Mr. Aldrich No, 'sir. Mr. Hatch Is it not a fact that the Board of Trade declined to record the sales simply because they did not want the country to know how many fictitious sales were made? Mr. Aldrich No, sir. Mr. Hatch Has not that matter been dis cussed in the board for years? Mr. Aldrich I never heard it discussed, and never knew of it. The board could not make such reports without nutting an im mense amonnt of work on the brokers.' Mr. Hatch If this committee was to re port a bill simply doing away with fictitious sales, would it meet the approbation of the representatives of the Board of Trade at Chicago? Mr. Aldrich I have not a doubt of it. A. J. Sawyer, one of the largest elevator men in Minneapolis, then explained the system of marketing grain. Ho said he would make no attack on the bill, bnt .before the present method of handling grain was de-. scroyeu, ne wouiaasKtne committee to ae vise som substitute by which it could be better handled. Ex-Speaker Heed on tho'New Enlos. After the House this afternoon agreed to a new code of rnles, ex-Speaker Eeed was sought and asked to talk upon the subject. After a' moment's consideration, he said: "The withdrawal by 'the Louisiana lottery of Its demand for a new charter is one of the triumphs of the Fifty-flist Congress. The acts of the Fifth-first Congress are all stand ing well tho test of time." With regard to the rnles just adopted, Mr. Reed said that "the principle of responsible government in tho HoUse has been more ruthlessly rec ognized in that part of the new regulations relating to the power of the Committee on Rules than was ever dreamed of in the Fifty-first Congress. Power to enforce the will of the House was lodged in important measnres in that committee, so that party legislation could have full swing, whllo the will of the indi vidual members, even if approved by the House, was leit to the mercy of the flllbust erer. The right of a present quorum had been denied, and the farce of the member present for the purpose absent hid been re vived. All this, however, time and the Su preme Court will take care of. The debate, however, has shown that the good example of the last two years bo3 not been entirely lost. What useel to be called 'tyranny,' and is now on the road to be called 'good sense,' has been established in the great and unex ampled power conferred on the Committee on Rules. The folly of wastlmr the time of the House In the reference of bills has been foreyer done away with." The People's Party Out In an Address. The People's party of the House of Eep resentatives is intadt as a political organiza tion, and united as fto the party measures which it is to press upon the two Houses of the Fifty-second Congress. In the caucus, which met before the organization of the House and nominated Representative Wat son, of Georgia, ns the candidate of the Peo ple's party for Speaker of the House, the nine independent Representatives then as sembled decided to preserve their political autonomy on all questions to the end of the session. Within the past few day9 varions reports of allesed dissension In the ranks of tho nine People's Representatives have been current, and the third party men to-night complain that these rumors have been in spired by politicians of the other parties, and telegraphed throughout the country purely for political en"ect. To silence these Insidious rumors In their inception the nine regularRepresentatlves of thePeople's party to-day issued a long address to the country. Frenchmen on an Inspecting Tour. A-party of gentlemen representing the French Government ave now on their way to Chicago and other Western points for the purpose of investigatingour pork inspection regulations and the efficiency of their prac tical application. The party includes Mr. Rtche, Member of the Academy of Medicine and Professor of Chemistry at the Paris Col lege of Pharmacy In the employ of the Min istry of Agriculture; Mr. E. Roume, an offi cial of the foreign departmentof the Min istry of Commerce, and Mr. Maurice Dnclos, a produce commission merchant of Paris, not a permanent employe of the Govern ment, but specially commissioned by the Minister of Agriculture for this investiga tion, and who has been frequently employed under special contract with the Govern ment as an expert examiner and appraiser ot food products. Mr. Dnclos called upon Secretary Rusk while In Washington, and was furnished by him with a letter of introduc tion to tho Chief Inspector of the department at Chicago, Instructing the latter to give these sentlemen every opportunity to thor oughly investigate our system of pork in spection. The Fan Francisco Site Scandal. The commission having in charge the matter of the selection and purchase of a site for the public bulldingat San Francisco, consisting of the Postmaster General, the Secretary of the Treasury and Attorney General, met to-day at the Treasury Depart ment and decided that the purchae of the Seventh and Mission streets property should not he consummated until every effort had been made to discover the truth as to the charges of brlDery which had been made against the local commission. A special agent ot the Treasury Department, It is stated, has been a long time in investigating the matter, but thus far has not discovered anything tangible upon which any adverse action can be taken. The commission to day ordered tho publication through the public press of a request that any porson or persons having any knowledgo of a bribe having been received bv the local commis sion to communicate the same to the gen eral commission at Washington. Some of the New Postmasters. Among the appointments sent by the President to the Senate to-dav were tho fol lowing postmasters: Edwin J. Vinton, Jean nette, Pa ; Joseph M. Broth, Knox, Pa.; Edward A. Hamilton, New Bethlehem, Pa.; Hiram J. Haldeinnn, Salem. O.; Walter W. Pnttoii, Kent. O., and John M. D.itChler, Franklin, O. Tho Semite in executive ses sion confirmed the following nominations: James H. Beatty, United States District Judge for the District or Idaho; D. P. Rob erts, of Indiana, Recorder of the General Land Office W. C. Haskell, United States Marshal, Northern district of Ohio, andL. S. Howlett. Register of tho Land Office at North Yakima, Wash, The Silver Brick Case Again. The Supreme Court of the District of Columbia to-day sitting in banc heard argu ment of counsel inwhat i3 known as tho sil ver brick case. The contention in this case is, in brier, that the actori87!J restored sil ver to iree coinage. Tho petitioners aik for a writ df mandamus to compel respondent to Instruct the proper officers to receivo'und coin silver bullion, tendered to the Superin tendent of the United States Mint on Marsh 14 last. The coinage was refused on the ground that it would be in violation or law. To the petition the respondent demurred and it is on this the case is heard. Jere Wilson appeared for petitioners, and As sistant Attornw5j6eWa:);Maurv- for the United States OWtfMrlwBltJMr. Wilson as serted that the act bt "1S73, which demone tized silver, is unconstitutional if that part of the act still remains; he insisted, however, that it does not remain.but that this feature was repealed by the act of 1878. Assistant Attorney General Maury reaa an abstract from the decision ot the United States Su preme Court in the case of the United states ox rel Dunlap versus Black, In which it was stated that: "The court wonld not interfere by mandamus with the executive officers of the Government in the exercise of their or dinary official duties, even where thqse du ties require an interpretation of the law, the court having no appellate power for that the case, Mr Maury declined to enter upon an argument in support oi morrewsui mo statutes in question taken by the Secretary or the Treasury unless requested to do so by the court. Good Effects or Reciprocity. The reduced duty 'on American flour im ported to Cuba under the reciprocity treaty went Into effect January 1 last. Consul Gen eral Williams telegraphs tho State Depart ment tlfjtt tho receipts of flour at the port of Havana for the month of 'January last wero as follows: From the United States, 62.S71 sacks; from Spain, none. The receipts for month of January. 1S9L were: From tho United Stales, 2,720 sacks; from Spain, 33,1'X) bags. The exports of flour to Cub.i from the ports of New York. New Orleans, Mobile and Key stin January, 1S92 amounted to 67, 473 barrels or sacks. The exports from the same ports in January, 1S91, were 9,231 bar rels. Don Antonia Batres, the Guatemalan Minister, has informed the Secretary of State that he will return to Guatemala by the Pacific Mall steamer which leaves New York on the 10th inst., and that he will use his best offices to secure the early approval by Congress of the reciprocity arrangements recently signed by himself and Secretary Blaine, on behalf of Guatemala ana the United States. Uncle Sam Not Bearing Resentment. These is no feeling.of resentment on the part of the United States on account of the action of the Mexican authorities who searched the residence at Matamoras, of Don Enrico Vizzuya, the United States Con sular Agent at Mier, Mexico, for arms and ammunition supposed to be concealed there. The agent in question is a citizen of Mexico and has not been at his post at Micr for sev eral months. He has been living at Mata moras, and it was the house there and not the Consulate that was searched. The De partment of State will await full reports by mall before taking action. No Faith In, the Honoris From Borne. The reports from Home that the Italian Government contemplates the immediate re establlshmeut of full diplomatic relations with the United States and that Sfgnor Cati llni.now Minister to, Denmark, will be ac credited to thisGovernment, are discredited In official circles in Washington. NOSEGAY OF EVENTS. Society as Thursday Found It In Piltsburg Parlors A Few Things Treated at Length and Others Briefly Coming s Goings and Doings. The disappearance told in yesterday's Dispatch of several unfortunate bachelors' evening toilets, due to cultivated, impecu nious gentlemen with light fingers, brought about a "that-reminds-me anecdote" at a dinner table last night in Pittsburg. A club of New York book men wero jentertaln ing a number of bright fellows of the craft from Boston, Philadelphia, Pitts burg ana Chicago. Everyone was de rigeur evening dress, excepting one of the New Yorkers an Irishman by birth. After cham pagne had loosened every man's reserve, it was demanded of Jack why, since he was known to possess a dress sulte bad not appeared in it. "A fellow," said Jack, "has played me a nasty trick. I had a friend, you know, whose purse, jointly with mine, didn't make a millionaire banking firm of us. He owned a dress suit and I borrowed it, as you saw, but didn't realize on several occasions. But, what do you think! the other day the fellow died, and like the ungrateful corpse that be is, ho was buried in his dress suit; and that's Tvhy I am as you see me." Jack's explana tion was accepted, and the absent dress suit, doing dutv as a shroud, was toasted Dy a standing majority. The Rev. Dr. Hodges entertained the Art Society last night by a lecture on "Life In a Mediaeval Monastery," which was de livered before a large representative gather ing. The subject, fascinating even to the least curious, was treated in Dr. Hodges' own terse fashion, the interest by no means suffering at his hands. It nas in part a philosophical treat ment of the subject, as well as narra tive. In addition to oeingacapltal raconteur Dr. Hodges is always a thoughtful speaker, so that be not only entertained but Instruct ed his listeners. All present were delighted, and expressed n desire to hear Dr. Hodges in a short time again. Mbs. Marie Cosgrave, who is clever in almost everything and cleverer than everas an artist, is painting the daintiest imagina ble card counters that are now the fad in all circles where cards are a "card" to a decora tive artist. She is rapidly climbing to a height where she will command the admira tion of people appreciative of art in Pitts burg. Whitcomb Riley's "Old-Fashioned Roses," one of tbo holiday books, was made1 additionally interesting bv the aid or her creative brush, to say nothing of the many little novelties which she is" unceasingly turning out from her "workshop" in the East End. Social Chatter. Preparations are proceeding enereeticnllv for tho leap-year party which the Alhambra, Cotillon intend giving on Monday evening week In the Monongahela House. The young ladies on that occasion will usurp all the privileges of tho superior sex, escorting the unblushing sex pro tempore to and from their homes, and supplying them with these floral tributes and bonbons in which young ladies are supposed to revel. The dance will be uiaue as novel as possiDie, anu, undoubt edly, will bo n snecess. Mrs. E. T. Normc cutt will net us chaperon. Miss Mart McClellanp, of Fifth avenue, left on Wednesday night for New York where she sails on the steamship La Bour goyne for Europe, with the intention of joining her brother and.his family. The in tervening time until thilr return, somo timo in April, will bo spent cruising on the Medit erranean. Miss -McClelland will De much missed iu home social circles, where she is considered a necessary attraction of any function worthy the name. Mrs. W. Newton Lincu. a member of the Women's Auxiliary Boaidof the World's Fair, in which august body she acts as repre sentative for West Virginia, is in the city. Besides being a clever woman, Mrs. Lincu pos-esses these social charms which make their fortnnate owner eacerly sought by hostessesVho desire to be known as success ful entertainers. The Art Society Invitations havo Dcen issued for Mr. Frederick Keppel's lecture on "Personal Sketches ot Some Famous Etch ers," with stereoptienn illustrations. Mr. Keppel Is a man of unbounded information iu his particular line, and the society is to be congratulated upon bringing the distin guished gcntlemau to Pittsburg. The event in polite circles this evening will be the opening reception at the Pitts burg Club, which will be thrown open to Pittsburg's 400; the feminine part of which is expected to pass judgment upon the im provements. Six hundred invitations have been issued and about a thousand people, probably, will be present. Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Wood, of the East End. will leave in a few days for Florida. Mrs, Wood returned home last week fiom a visit or some duration in New York, sons to be in attendance at the dinner dnncu given on Tucsd.lv evening by her sister-in-law, Mrs. J. M.Schooumaker, of Ellsworth avenue. A vert cMiarmlng evening at cards find after them a dance pas-ed the nlirht at Mr. George WainhntTs honsp on Rlppey street, Mr. and Mr?. Wamhoffare a popularyoung married pair, of tho Allegheny Cotillion, which organization was entertained by them last night. Thz Allegheny Cotillion set remembered Miss Fawcett nnon the eve of her wed ding to Mi McElroy bv nvery hanasomo onyx cabinet. Mis. McElroy comes of an artistlo family, and her present indicated the influence of a good deal of carefully cul tivated taste, AT the last meeting of the Art Society Board of Directors the following activo members wi-re elected: Henry Darlington, Theodore Salmon, J. L. Konthor, Jr., Dr. Millie J. Chapman, Mrs, R. E. Tingley and Miss Lillie U. schlcltcr. Mr. and Mrs. D. Herbert Hotsttir leave for the. West on Tuesday next. Mr. anu Mrs. Theodore Hostetter have Journeyed as far as Tbomasville. Ga.. being heard last of at Plncy Woods Hotel iu that city. Miss MoBridz, of Philadelphia, Is visiting Mrs. Florenco Mitchell, of Stockton avenue. CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS.: There are a dozen woasn piano tuners! in Philadelphia. The net indebtedness of thewortdia ISM was 28 917,096,000. A 515,000,000 railroad tunnel is to be bored through the Alps. Thirteen tons of postage stamps aret ' said to have been sold In New York City last year. Flaying upon the typewriter is said to "produce" an ailment known as the "type writer's stub finger." A Connecticut judge fined a man SlOfor disturbing the slumbers of a police officer by practicing on the cornet. Out of a total of 36,503 dogs in 2few York City, only 3,337 were licensed accord ing to the last dog census. - The Washington office of the 'Wesjernj Union Telegraph Company has sent out oyer . . 400,000 words in a single evening. An Englishman who recently visited ji Boston was most struck with the fact tnaifJT tho men there use ice water in shaving. '"Oit One bullet in its passage from a pistPla bored through the knee ot one man, the caljA of the leg of another and cut off the toetbjH' atIlIra- 5irf4 With some C.000 homicides irftH&if' . United States there were but 123 legal exsfoft? e. tions. Judrre Lynch, thomrh, contrivers ifc( ' W attend to 195 more. " "SLltJ;' There are 800 pnblic baths in the' tjP4 i of Tbklo, Japan, wliere natives are"p--' -boiled at a temperature of HO3, for a sum?? equivalent to 1 cent. nzifi The eggs of the sturgeon, under thevfj name of "caviare,"are shipped as a food deli- " caey from Russia to tho extent of over 3,000 -tons, valued at $292,000. A hotel keeper on the upper shore of , Lake Michigan proposes to transportTiis big hotel over the lake on a raft tn Chicago in. time to open in the spring of 1S93. Philip Stehler, of Marine City, Mich., who died the other day, aged 93 years, was buried In his wedding shirt, a garment which ho had kept 63 years for that purpose, Suppose that each baby born this year weighed eight pounds, it would take half a , dozen cradles of the size, capacitv and strength of our new steel war cruisers to hold the iu fants. According to a law enforced among some American aoorigines a wido is always -compelled to carry about with her for four years the bones of her dead husband, in closed in a casket. "Horned shoes" were first introduced in the reign of William Eufus, 1093, by "Rob ert tho Dandy." Robert's shoes were long and pointed, the toes being turned up and twisted like a ram's horn. On this account history frequently refers to him as "Robert the Horned." Paris is celebrated for dolls and mechan ical toys: Jumeau's is one of the great doll ' factories. Switzerland is another storehouse of toys. Pewter toys are mostly made in London and Birmingham. Ohrdruff exports porcelaintoys, and many plaster toys eoma from Prussia. When the effects o.f a man who died re cently In Leadville were examined it was discovered that he was under engagements to many 12 different girls in various parts of the country. He bad a photograph of each, and on the backs bad written the date fixed, for the marriage. In the South Atlantic it rained on one occasion for over an hour when the sky was entirely free from clouds. In the Mauritius and other parts of the Southern Hemisphere this is not a rare occurrence; but in Europ it is, and the greatest known length or its duration was ten minutes at Constanti nople, A steam atomizing apparatus fell on a child in an English town and killed him.and the verdict or the Coroner's jury was that "He died from shock "following bronchitis and whooping cough, cau-ed through the shaking or the house by the firing of a gun. at the Government proof butts on the Plum stead Marshes." A gang of strikers in Queensland in sisted on a hotel keeper discharging his Chinese cook, who was excellent. When be was turned out the local police engaged him. The leading striker was soon arrested for sedition, and the first thing he was set to work at in the prison was chopping wood for the Chinese cook. One of the most successful ranchers in the West is a young widow, slight ia stature, Tefinedin manner and fair of face. She is also a clever conversationalist, intellectual In her tastes and very fond of painting, to which she devotes the leisure she can se cure after attending to the large estate she manages entirely herself. A few days ago afarmer who lives near Woodland, Gal., procured a wagon" load of grape pomace from one or the wineries with which to reed bis hogs. Upon placing it be fore the swine theyateof It so heartily as to acquire a loud In more ways than one, for they became intoxicated and remained in a drunken stupor for several days. The bread tree has a solid fruit, a little larger than a cocoanut, which, when cut In, slices and cooked, can scarcely be dlstin gnlshed from excellent bread. The weep ing tree of the Canary Islands is wet, even in a drought constantly distilling water from Its leaves, and the wine tree of Mauri tius Islands furnisnes good wine instead of water. A peculiar and extraordinary phenom enon! was worked on the snow-coverea cam pus of a New York theological seminary re cently. One morning passers-by were as tonished to see the Immaculate field of over five acres covered with white eruptions varying in size from a-marble to a pumpkin. Investigation showed that the snowballs had been formed by the high wind or tho previous night. Ihe Hindoo nose ring is said to be doonied. At a meeting or the members of the Cntchce Veesa Oswal aste, held at Mandvie Bender, it was resolved that In stead or a ring women should wear a flower in tho nose. Inasmuch as the nose ring had led to "much unfavorable comment," hence forth wearing nose rings would lead to a flno or 10 rupees and four unnas, in addition to forfeiture of the ornaments. A mintr Ti n,nn tf anf.inllltv f h titap- I tlce was not uncommon of disposing oT tho dead by throwing them into the sea, by sink ing them in watercourses and by setting them afloat in boats. The Ichthyophagi, or fish eaters, who lived In a region bordering on tho Persian gulf, are mentioned by Ptol emy as having th e ens torn of invariably com mlttiiig"thelr corpses to the ocean, thus re paying the obligations they had incurred to its inhabitants. PICKINGS FBOil PUCE. He Will you expect me to-morrow even ing lr It snows? You know the walking will be so bart. blic (brightly) If worst comes to worst, you can come In a stelgli. She kept him indoors just an hour Engaged In idle talK; But did not think to don her gloves Until they went to walk. Mr. Trotter Well, I suppose yon will marry some peer before you return? Miss Budil-Dcar me, nol Slost peers belong to old famUles and are dreadfully In debt, wnlle nearly all tho baronets are quite new and kaiglitci on account of their sooner. I'm going for a bar onet. Flora Wall Oh, dear! there's a spot on the back of my gown. How can 1 Ter go to ths dance to-night? Minnie Ball-It won't be noticed, my dear, if Too go early. Although ray darling is priding Herself ou her formal tone. I know that the zlrl Is hiding A love which she will not own. Though 1 have recelred no token. Yet my eager hope Is Jed, Not bv toe words she has spoken. But by things which she hasn't hill. Brown What baggy, sloppy-looking trousers Hcuppeck wears! Brown. Jr. I heard mother say that his wire wore tae trousers at hit house, and I guess that it , the reason. Mrs. Musicmad Doctor, why is it that" all the great pianists have such lonp; bushy hair? Prof. Savage (reflectively) I presume It Is to keen off the flics while tlicy are performing. Cold wind, for, spring zephyrs, snow, - . Ice. heat ami lialUtones all in a raw By what name shall war belt be Known? Intemperate or Horrid Zone? J '-" ' Tom Collins The singing'of the Lonely Tllle choir reminds me of an experience I had the other.nlghl returning from the club. -'" " 'What was It?" v' . - "It took me about half an hour to strike the. rlgbiw Xey.V . ' . . -i.-Sati f iSEIlBffilyi
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers