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ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY. 8, 186
Vol. 47. No a Entered at Pittsburg Postofflce
November, 18S7, as second-class matter.
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rrrrsBURG. Monday, march 21.
DEblBAHLD ir ATTAINABLE.
Jir. Andrew's bill for the removal of
political influence in the selection of
laborers for the service of the United
States proposes an exceedingly simple
and inexpensive plan. It avoids the in
congruity of competitive examinations
and simply requires, after certain physical
and mental standards are met, that the
selections shall be made in the order of
application.
The weak point of the system, if it has
one, would be in the ease with which its
intent might be evaded. Mr. Andrew ap
pears to rely upon the ease with which
any "conscientious and intelligent officer"
can establish and apply the necessary
rules. But if all appointing officers were
conscientious and intelligent there would
be no need for rules. The difficulty is to
provide against the absence of those quali
ties being used to turn the service of the
United States into a political machine.
Against this is the fact cited by Sir.
Andrew that such rules have been estab
lished and are working successfully in the
navy yard and at certain cities of Massa
chusetts. This creates a presumption in
its favor which certainly warrants a trial,
but even with that presumption the like
lihood remains that the successful opera
tion of the reform will depend on the good
faith of the appointing power rather than
anyinherentstrengthinthe plan of ap
pointments. This is of course true to a greater or less
degree of all political reforms. The
grotesqueness of employment to be paid
out of the funds of the whole people, with
a view to working them for political
returns, is enough to warrant a favorable
consideration to Mr. Andrew's measure.
HAEKITT'S KEFKESHING FAITH.
Secretary of the Commonwealth Har
rity, in an Interview published in this
issue, declares the support of Cleveland by
the great mass of the Democracy of Penn
sylvania, and predicts that in all proba
bility the ex-President will have the great
majority of the Pennsylvania delegates in
the Democratic convention.
In this Mr. Harrity undoubtedly voices
the sentiments of the greater number of
his party in the State. So far his predic
tions are likely to be correct. But he ex
hibits a more lively faith that can be
expected from average minds when
he declares his belief that, if Cleveland is
nominated, Hill and his supporters in New
York will give the ticket "their lively and
cordial support." Of this opinion it is
necessary to say that if Harrity really
thinks so, he has a refreshing belief in the
disinterestedness of Hill and Tammany
that is a curiosity in this age.
INEXPENSIVE FAIRNESS.
It is gratifying in a double sense that
the decision of the New York contested
seat by the House committee rose above
the ordinary partisan rules of action. The
custom has prevailed with Democratic as
well as Republican majorities of unseat
ing political opponents on such slight
grounds as to justify the assertion of
Speaker Reed that contested seats are
awarded not by the evidence, but by the
dictates of party.
We can hardly take the action in the
New York case to indicate that the Demo
crats who voted to seat a Republican are
so very much better than their predeces
sors. They had precedents in the action
of the last Congress for deciding in favor
of their own party on a very weak case;
but the circumstances permit them to
decide such cases by the evidence. The
Democratic majority is so overwhelming
that it can afford to be fair in its decisions.
Nevertheless, the fact that the Democrats
for once indulge in the unwonted virtue is
emphasized by the influence which Sena
tor Hill exerted to have the Democrat
seated who was not elected. When the
House Democrats decide a contest fairly
and give Hill a snub at one and the same
time they make a gratifying record.
It is to be hoped that the precedent of
settling election contests by giving them
to the men who were honestly elected may
bear fruit even to the extreme degree of
prevailing when the decision is of im
portant political value.
EXECUTIVE DISCRETION.
The difficulty of pleasing the New York
Post in most matters, political or other
wise, is proverbial. The Dispatch has
generally regarded the fastidiousness of its
cotemporary on political practices a very
commendable quality. But it is necessary
to say that the criticisms of the Post on
the President's proclamation imposing
duties on the imports of tea, coffee, sugar,
molasses and hides from Colombia, Haiti
and Venezuela, indicate the impossibility
of so shaping any act under the Repub
lican policy as to satisfy the proud spirit
of that very independent journal.
The Post quotes the language of the
proclamation to the effect that as "it has
been established to my satisfaction" that
these governments impose duties on the
products of the United States which "I
deem to be reciprocally unequal and un
reasonable," therefore the duties provided
in the act of Congress for such a case are
imposed. "This," exclaims the.Pf, "is
the language and attitude of a sovereign
not of an official executing a law of, the
jislature!"
" happens to be the case that the lan
of the proclamation is the adapta
ble language of the statute to the
'he act is the act of the Execu
g out with the slight discretion
Congress the imposition of
ed by statute. The sole
left the President In this
e whether the duties on
imposed by other Gov-
ally equal) or reason
able in view of the free admission of their
products in this country. All the acts de
pendent on this decision are marked! out
with a rigid prescription by the statute.
.To assert that a President.In executing an
act of Congress cannot be safely left at
liberty to exercise that degree of discre
tion is simply to reduce the Presidental
office to the rank of a figure-head like the
monarchy of England. The fact is that
"much greater breadth of action has been
entrusted to the Executive in various mat
ters without a word of dissent by the
Post.
It is true that the Pott insists that in ex
ercising this discretion the President
is using the .prerogative of the taxing
power;in which view it has the misfortune
to undertake the job of overruling the
Supreme Court.
RULINGS ON THE CURATIVE ACT.
The courts have recently given decisions
on the method of procedure under the
curative acts which dispose of the appeals
and exceptions in a number of cases. With
the general effect of these decislons,namely,
that the report of the viewers cannot be
overset merely by a general and unsup
ported allegation that assessments are In
equitable or in excess of benefits, impar
tial opinion will be in perfect accord. The
finding of the viewers constitutes a prima
facie case, and it is no more than just that
any person seeking to combat it shall
make a tender of evidence to overset the
presumption of its correctness.
But in ruling, as the courts have done,
that they cannot hear exceptions unless
those exceptions have been first presented
to the Viewers, the tendency which has
been displayed by higher courts in much
more important matters is slightly appa
rent The point is not an especially vital
one. It is no great hardship to require ex
ceptions to be first filed with the viewers,
and the property owner will, as a rule, take
that course by preference. But there may
be cases in which absence from the
city, or other causes, prevent the prop
erty owner from seeing the report of
the viewers during the ten days or more
when it is open for inspection. The
language of the act seems to carefully
guard such cases by enacting 'that when
the report of the viewers is filed with the
court, "the Court shall approve the same
nisi, and within twenty days thereafter
any person in interest may file exceptions
to any part or the whole of said report."
Of course this may impose on the courts
the extra work of hearing and dismissing
exceptions made without duo foundation.
But we think if the learned judges give
their attention to the evident significance
of this clause they will conclude that they
cannot Ignore that provision of the act on
their own conviction that it is unnecessary.
NO NEED TO WASTE TIME.
The House will this week grapple with
the silver question, and a good deal of
preliminary discussion is indulged in as to
the course the debate will take. Some
talk is heard of filibustering, while there
is a greater probability that the desire of
Congressmen to air their monetary views
will stretch the proceeding out indefi
nitely. The fact that the debate is entered .upon
with the conclusion practically settled
makes the prolongation of the fight un
necessary. The issue is clearly defined
by the nature ot the bill. It is a proposi
tion to place the country on the single sil
ver basis, and by that method to take
away a large percentage of debts from the
creditor and give it to the debtor. If the
debate were prolonged to next summer it
would not change the issue materially.
The best method of meeting it is for the
opponents of free silver coinage to put in
a clear statement of the grounds of oppo
sition to the bill, and then to let the Demo
cratic, majority in the House break its
neck as soon as it desires.
This course is all the plainer because the
real decision as to free coinage will not be
madcin this Congress. It will be made at
the popular elections next November. If
the Bland bill passes the Senate and House,
as seems likely, it will meet with a veto;
and the election of next fall will determine
the fate of the measure under the next ad
ministration. This makes it unnecessary
to call for a large waste of time in oppos
ing the bill now. The character of the
proposed debasement of the coinage can
be exposed in afew well-selected speeches.
After they are made the duty of the op
position does not include a prolonged-expenditure
of time and money.
Of course it devolves on every man in
Congress having a proper comprehension
of the question to put himself on record
against the measure. But the opponents
of the Bland bill need not make extra
ordinary efforts to prevent its supporters
from hopelessly committing themselves to
their scheme of inflation.
MAKING THEIR. OWN ROADS.
While State legislation on the improve
ment of country roads has been at a stand
still for the past year, it is satisfactory to
learn that some' of the rural districts in
the State are sufficiently aroused to move
in the matter for themselves. A meeting
of citizens in Upper Providence township,
Montgomery county, last week took action
in favor of borrowing 510,000 per year for
five years, the money to be expended in
the construction of five or six miles each
year of permanent roads. The township
trustees were asked to order an election
on the issue of a bonded indebtedness of
$50,000 for the construction of solid high
ways. There is no doubt that if, as expected,
this action results in supplying that town
ship at the end of fiv6 years with solid and
permanent roadways, the enhancement in
the value of farms will be far beyond the
cost to the public. The . same policy in
Chester, Delaware and other parts of
Montgomery counties, although re
cently taken, has already shown
gratifying results. The facility of
egress and ingress at all seasons
not only adds to the productiveness of the
farms but it has a direct influence in
increasing rural population. The example
should not be lost on the rural districts of
other sections of the State. ,
It would add a decided stimulant to the
progress of such work if the State at large
should pay a portion of the cost of the
work done by townships or counties. But
there is an element of justice in the fact
that such townships as take the lead in
such improvements will enjoy the greatest
gain. If the improvement of roads went
on simultaneously all over the State the
gain would be diffused; when it is carried
on by a few districts it is concentrated.
The supply of farms and rural homes that
are accessible at all seasons of the year is
limited to those places that have the
enterprise to make good highways at their
own expense, and the gain will thereby be
commensurately enhanced.
The demonstration in the eastern part
of the State that it is possible for local
districts to obtain goo'd roads should be full
of suggestion to the rural population of
Western Pennsylvania.
It is satisfactory to learn from Boston
that the spirit of liberty "manifested by the
hotel waiters, who were getting ready to
THE
strike in defense, of their beards, has had its
moral effect. The hotel keepers have aban
doned the sumptuary dictation that 1 the
waiters shall go sinus-faced, and the latter
can serve entrees and pnrsne tips in such
hirsute fashion as salts them.
This proceedings in the matter of that
fast driving tract in Central Park, New
York, indicate that the owners of trotting
horses have more ot a pull with Tammany
than all the rest of the people and press put
together.
If outsiders are not allowed too much
license In the License Court this time the
agony -will not be as long drawn out as usual.
Thz Insh extraction of one of the seconds
in that unmaterialized Drayton-Borrowe
duel got in its perfect work. We can credit
to it that pleasing statement in the report
to Borrowe that his seconds "decided to
stop all farther correspondence with Mr.
Drayton," and consequently wrote to him
"the annexed letter marked 'D.' "
It begins to look as if the enthusiastic
ana sometimes too loquacious William of
Germany is beginning to learn that the will
of the King is not always the supreme law.
The rumor that Governor Russell, of
Massachusetts, smokes cigarettes has burned
a large-sized hole in his boom.
Objector Homian, who poses as the
watchdog of the Treasury, has never thrown
a straw in the onward march of Fatti and
Bernhardt through the country. The great
objector will have to be more watchful of
the interests of his fellow-countrymen be
fore he can win an indestructible place in
their memory.
The story of the intended formation of a
ribbon trust is alleged to have been started
by an exasperated husband who couldn't
find tho exact shade his wifo wanted.
Attorney General Miller is finding
the Chicago Beef Trust a tougher, morsel
than he anticipated.
Bland and Harter have agreed to post
pone their joint debate on silver. Mr.
Bland doesn't feel equal to the task owing to a
slight touch of influenza caused by the
weather. For once the people can afford to
hope the weather will continue bad for
sometime to come.
In the Reading deal, the New Jersey
Legislature appears to have secured a full
hand of winning cards. Some say they
drew to a flush and filled.
Texas takes great pride in its great
plains, but it objects to being called a little
hilly.
The wrath of the gas consumer has been
flaring up during the recent cold snap.
Pretty soon it will grow dim and finally die
out. The only opaque object oonnected with
the subject is the bill which will be pre
sented later on.
That miners' strike to decrease the sup
ply of coal in England thundered so loudly
in the index that it has hardly lasted to the
end of the first chapter.
Cleveland is willing and Hill will if
he can, is about the way the situation stands
now.
David B. Hill may be enlarging his
Presidental boom to Imposing proportions:
but he is not yet able to make the House
Committee on Elections refuse lustice to a
Eepublican Congressman-elect because Tam
many methods order the seating of the
Democrat.
Great Britain's foreign trade fell off
$22,000,000 last year. This explains why the
free traders object so strenuously to theMc
Kinley protection bllL
Some of the Presidental dark horses are
blanched just at present.
Scotch home rule may naturally come
before Irish home rule, as Scotch union pre
ceded Irish union. Bat as Ireland has done
the fighting for home rule these many years,
it is possible to take the view that she Is en
titled to the first fruits of victory.
NOTES OP NOTABLE PEOPLE.
Colonel Dan Lamonx has succeeded
in demonstrating the possibility of inakinz
a Southern trip without the aid of a brass
band.
Mrs. Harrison is becoming quite skill
ful as a water-color artist, and the White
House is already adorned by some of her
work.
Mr. Cleveland's breakfast, while he
was shooting at Spesutia Island, was made
up of beefsteak, lamb chops, sausage, buck
wheat calces and coffee.
Havemeyer, the rich sugar refiner, has
siren to the city of Springfield a large tract
of land for the enlargement and improve
ment of its park system.
A FEW days ago in the course of an ad
dress which he delivered in Denver, Presi
dent Eliot said that there was every reason
to believe that within ten years there would
be 4,000 students at Harvard.
Governor McKinley, wife and Execu
tive Clerk Bowsell are in Canton, O., guests
at tho residence of the Governor's father.
The trip is purely one of pleasure and de
void of political significance.
G. La Farge, the young architect whose
plans for the new American Cathedral have
beep accepted, is in London. To-day he
starts on a tonr through the cathedral
towns of England, and will afterward visit
the cathedrals of the continent.
In a talk with a Chicago reporter Dr.
Robert Laird Collier, with his usual keen
ness, cuts the Gordian knot of the dispute
about opening the World's Fair on Snnday
by suggesting that people should attend
church in the morning and the Fair in the
afternoon.
A BICTEIBTEDDFOa
Welsh Singers Preparing to Add
Good
Feature to the World's Fair.
Scranton, March 20. Special. Prominent
Welsh singers held a well-attended meeting
in this city last night and took preliminary
steps toward perfecting arrangements for a
great Eisteddfod, whioh it is proposed to
make a prominent feature of the World's
Fair. Mr. John Edwards, of Chicago, a
member of the Executive Committee, Was
present to promote the movement.
Mr. Edwards said it is the intention to
make the Chicago Eisteddfod an inter
national one, and assurances have already
been received that a Welsh choir from
Great Britain will be present and contest.
Scranton has one of the grandest Welsh
choirs in the United States, hence the
anxiety lelt by the committee that this city
should enter the lists. Mr. "Edwards said
that present indications are that there will
be 100,000 peode .at the Eisteddfod, and it
will be opened on Sunday with an old-fashioned
Welsh cymanfa and continue until
Saturday.
The Railroad Y. M. C. A.
Hahiusburq, March 20. Special The
semi-annual conference of tho. Railroad
Men's Christian Associations along' the line
of the Pennsylvania Railroad was held here
to-day and tuis evening at Marysvlile. Dele
gates were present from Columbia, Philadel
phia, Harrisburg, Blatrsvllle,Altoona,Derry,
Pittsburg and Roanoke.
Wheeling" Bishop May B Promoted.
Wheeliho. March 20. Specie. A well
founded report is in olrculatlor ) here that
Rt. Rev. John J. Kain, Bishop of this Catho
lic diocese.ls to be promoted to be Coadjutor
of Bishop Ryan, of the Buffalo diocese.
Developing Wild and Woolly Statistics.
Washington Post,
The present tariff debate is developing
some wild and woolly statistics. - .
Great Cry and Little Wool.
Toledo Blade.
The debate on free wool In the House re
minds one of the process of sbeWring a pig
"ureal cry, nine wool."
-PITTSBURG- DISPATOH,
RUM AND THE BLUE LAWS;
rWBITTEN JJ0R BB EISrATCH.l
There was nothing, I believe, in the
Blue Laws about drinking. Oar Puritan
forefathers were as Ignorant of license courts
as they were or Sunday papers. '
It is worth while, just now, while this mat
ter of strong liquor is uppermost in the in
terests of the community, to record the dlf
lerentVay they 'had of doing things in the
days when the Blue Laws reigned supreme.
Most of the Puritan meeting-houses were
erected by drunken men. At least, there
was regularly provided on tbe day of the
"raising" such a profusion of Invitations to
inebriety that a man with a perfectly clear
head mast have been in a very small mi
nority. It Is written in history that "when the
Medford people built their second meeting
house, they provided for the workmen and
bystanders live barrels of rum, one barrel of
good brown sugar, a box of fins lemons and
two loaves of sugar." In Northampton, in
1733, ten gallons of rum were on hand to
assist in raising the meeting-house.
Tbe ordination or Installation of a new
pastor was celebrated in the Puritan
parishes by an enormous supper, and ono of
the most conspicnous items on the bill of
fare was grog. Sometimes they mixed tho
grog in punch-bowls on the meeting-house
green; sometimes this ceremony was per
formed on the very, steps of the sanctuary.
Often there was a special brewing of malt
liquor to honor the great day. Rev. Mr.
Thatcher, of Boston, wrote in his diary on
the 20th or May, 1681, "This daye the Ordina
tion Beare was brewed,"
Liquor Sold ut Church Doors.
ii is the author of "The Sabbath in
Puritan New England." to whom I am in
debted for these interesting facts. Portable
bars, she says, were sometimes established
at the church door and strong drinks were
distributed free of charge to the entire as
semblage. As late as 1823, at the installation
of Dr. Leonard Bacon over the First Con
gregational Churoh in New Haven, free
drinks were furnished at an adjacent bar to
all who chose to order them, and wore "set
tled for" by the generous and hospitable
society.
A bill for the entertainment of some par
sons at an ordination in Hartford in 1781
reads as follows:
s. P.
2 4
5 10
3 0
0 9
9 0
0 9
3 6
10 0
16 0
3 S
6 10
6 0
3 6
from
To Leeplng ministers 0
2 mugs tody 0
Ssegars 0
1 pint wine 0
Slodglngs 0
3 bitters 0
3 breakfasts 0
15 boles punch 1
24 dinners 1
11 bottles wine 0
Smugs flip , 0
3 boles punch 0
3 boles tody 0
To which onr author fitly apponds
Falstaff "O monstrous! but one-half penny
worth of bread to this Intolerable deal of
sack I"
"A Jolly ordination," says the Rev. Mr.
Smith, of Portland, writing in the early part
of the eighteenth century. "We lost all
sight of decorum."
Barrels of rum and cider and metheslin,
howls of flip and punch and toddy, boxes
of lemons and oaves or sugar, figure as reg
ularly in the records of these religious serv
ices as do the sermons and the prayers.
Better Than the Bine Law Framers.
After all, bad as we are, with our
Sunday papers and our Sunday cars, we can
not look for our golden age back in the era
of the Blue Laws. We are distinctly better
than those old fellows in matters of more
importance than are at present disputed
about. When the First Presbyterian Church
installs a successor to Dr. Purves which
day he distant! there will be no brewing
of ordination grog on tbe green grass with
in the iron fence, nor will the attendant par
sons so behave themselves at table as to
need rebuke even from the Sunday papers.
We realize more seriously to-day than has
ever been realized before the great evils of
drink. We know that it not only hurts the
drinker and his family, but the city and tbe
whole country. And not only are there
formers interested in reformation, and the
blue-ribbon people, and all the pious folk;
but tbe labor unions are concerned in it.
There was a day when men were paid for
overtime in drink, and when it was gener
ally taken for granted in the mills that not
ronch work would be done on Monday; the
men net yet being sufficiently sobered up
after payday and Sunday. But all that has
gone by.
The foreman to-day wants men who can do
his work, and who can do it every day. And
he knows that tbe drinking man cannot
stand the strain of honest labor. And ac
cordingly the drinking man is getting out of
his job in all enterprising establishments.
The most energetic temperance people in
the community are the foremen in the large
mills, and the labor lenders who have their
hearts in the cause of labor.
Germany and tho Drink Habit.
I see that this fact of physical and
mental deterioration through drink is just
now attracting wide notice in Germany.
The people of Germany, in these days, are
thinking about more great measures than
tbe people of any other country. And the
drink question is one of them. There was a
letter on the subject a few days ago in the
Natfdn.
The discussion began, it seems, in the Ger
man Army Journal in connection with the
failure of certain militia called out sud
denly to take part in maneuvers in the field.
The men conld not stand the work. Their
muscles were not equal to the strain. They
were enfeebled by the drinking habit.
Now, they feel the need over there in Ger
many of men. It was Diogenes, I think, who
called across the street to a crowd of idlers,
"Ho, men, come ovorhere!" And when they
came he turned his back upon them, saying:
"What did you como fort I called for men!"
Tbe wiso leaders of the German nation want
men; not animals with beads and bands and
feet, attired in bifurcated garments, and
wearing beards, but men, real men with
strong muscles, and stoat hearts, and
clear eyes, who can work and accomplish
something. And they have come to the con
clusion that a man who drinks is only half a
man, or only one-tenth of a man, or perhaps
only a miserable Imitation and caricature of
a man.
There is every probability that th9 conti
nent of Europe will be the scene of a great
and speedy struggle. It may be a struggle
of armed jnen. It is certain to be a struggle
for at least industrial supremacy. It is
equally sure that the nation will win in that
contest which is best prepared; that is,
whioh has the most real men .in it. And in
looking over the nation to see what most
hinders its strength and its manhood, these
wise men have decided that it is drink. In
any industrial competition the most sober,
the most thrifty people will come out ahead.
More for Liquids Than Solids.
The question is accordingly being asked,
Are we not spending upon that which we
pour down our threats money that might
be used to make us, not a weaker but a
stronger peoplet It Is shown that the drink
habit limits the food production of the coun
try. One-flf teonth or the arable land of GeV-'
many Is given over to the production of ma
terial to be made into drink. This land nsed
for the growth of food, would yield every
year 3,272,000,000 pounds of bread, and add
Just so much to tbe plenty of the country.
One-twentieth of tho working population
of Germany are-engaged in the liquor traf
fioinsome capacity, and so are kept from
employment that might add to the real com
fort and strength of the nation.
"Among our working people," says Prof.
Sohmoller, of Berlin, "the conditions of do
mestto life, of education, of prosperity, of
progress or degradation, are all dependent
on the proportion of Income whioh flows
down the father's throat. The whole con
dition of onr lower and middle classes de
pends on this question. If it is true that
half our paupers become so through drink,
It gives us some estimate of the costly bar
den which, we tolerate. No other of oar
vices bear comparison with this."
No saloon in Germany, according to this
estimate of national weakness by drink,
ought to have the right to fly. the German
flag above Its door. It ought to put up tho
black flag of the pirate. It Is an enemy to
patriotism. It is a fortress in the midst of
the country from which to attack the best
tatM4of8!llhbp'eoplk t -.V
MONDAY. MARCH 21.
ATHLETICS AND M0EAI1IY.
With the Diffusion of tbe First Goes an Im
provement of the Litter. '
Omaha Bee.'
The fact that for years athletics and ath
letes have not been of the highest repute
does not militate against the value of phys
ical training when 'pursued in a proper
spirit and with a proper aim. Many Kinds
of sports and many forms of exorcise havo
been brought under the ban of the critic
and tbe church because Of tho evil associa
tions which have been made to surround
them, but this does not prove that they are
essentially evil. Much harm has been clone
bylnjndlclems opposition to "the ordinary
forms of harmless sport and exercise by
pooplo who ought to have known better.
Forty .years ago students of divinity were
praotically excluded by public opinion
from participation in any form of athletic
sports. Ther were! forced to conform their
lives, their dress and their diet almost to
the ascetic standard of the Jllddlo Ages.
This idea is still rife, but is not so general as
it wns n generation ago and is steadily losing
ground.
The fundamental maxim of the new physi-.
cal training is not to produce a few great
athletes, but rather to raise every individual
to tho highest symmetrical development,
and the maximum of health and physical
beauty or which nature has made him per
sonally capable. Not quantity, but quality,
efficiency of form and musole, are the de
sideratum. Dr. White declared his confident
belief that if to every schoolhouse In every
land there were added an extension, or a
story, giving n single large, sunny room, into
which n judicious variety of the appliances
or a well equipped gymnasium could be put,
and if every child, from the youngest to the
oldest, could receive 40 minutes of drill by n
competent instructor each day, and havo
that training supplemented by Instruction
in the important la trs of health, the total of
crime and the numbers or the criminal
olasses would, In the following generation,
be diminished fully one-bait. To develop
'strong arms and chest and legs is the surest
way also to produce a clear and powerful
bruin. In other words, the best form of
physical training must needs bring a power
ful contribution to the moral and intel
lectual well-being of the subjeot. Tbe testi
mony of professors and physicians in tho
universities all over the world establishes
the fact that hand In hand with the diffusion
of the athletic spirit goes an Improvement
in the morals of the students, and that in a
large majority of instances the men who are
most successful in athletio sports excel also
in mental attainments.
GENIUS AND INSANITY.
Chosen Instruments of Progress Seem to
Have Been Largely Madmen,
Boston Globe.
Tho learned Prof. Cesare Lombroso, of tho
Uniyersity of Turin, perhaps the most cele
brated expert on insanity in Europe, is out
with his English version of a widely-noticed
book: "The Man of Genius."
Backed by almost endless historical and
medical research Prof. Lombroso attempts
to prove that genius and insanity are essen
tially one and the same thing. In other
words genius is a well-defined brain disease,
resulting from "the degenerative psychosis
of tho epileptoid gioup." After quoting
many of the world's sages, ancient and
modern, in support of his assertion, many of
which authorities were themselves rather
shaky In the epileptoids, the professor goes
on to cite a long list of great men posing be
fore the world as geniuses, when they were
leally madmen afflicted with psychosis.
Among these he names Newton, Pascal,
Byron, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Bobby Burns,
Goethe, Danto, Victor Hugo, Michael An
gelo and a long list of otheis.
In looking over Prof. Lombroso's extended
list, statesmen are found to be wonderfully
exempt from psychosis, and in no case does
it appear that a practical politician has ever
been seriously troubled in the epileptoids.
The species of insanity known us genius
seems to be peculiar to men of largo spirit
uality and intense reflective tendencies. In
other words, insanity must have a fine qual
ity of brains to operate npon. If Goethe
was a victim of psychosis, then Germany
had to fall back upon a madman to find her
Shakespeare. If Michel Angelo was Insane,
religion owes to psychosis her immortal
sculptures and frescoes of tbe saints. If
Burns was shaky in bis epileptoids, insanity
has been singularly immortalized in song.
In short, the world owes to madmen its grand
est inspirations and its greatest Inventions.
After carefully examining the long array
of testimonies in Prof. Lombroso's book. It
looks as though the sorest passport to undy
ing fame was to be born with hereditary dis
turbance of the epileptoids. The chosen in
struments of progress seem to have been
largely! madmen, and sane men have ap
parently played a minor part in shaping the
world's destiny.
IHEEE BBAND NEW STABS.
Two of Them Are Com9t and One an As
teroid, All Discovered in Europe.
Boston, Mass., March 20. A cable message
from the European Union of Astronomers
to John Ritcbie, Jr., announces tbe discov
ery on Friday evening of two new comets
and one asteroid. One comet Is a return of
Winnecke's periodical comet, and was dis
covered at Vienna in the following posi
tion: March 1840, Greenwich mean time
R. A. 13 hours 43 minutes, 27 seconds, declin
ation north 30 35 minutes 33 seconds.
The second comet was discovered by W.
F. Dennington, an amateur astronomer of
Bristol, England. It is described ns faint
with a northwestern motion of nearly a de
gree a day. Its position on March 18 at
Greenwich, midnight was R. A. 22 hours 4
minutes: declination north 69. The aste
roid is of tbe 12th magnitude and was dis
covered by Dr. Wolf, of Heidelberg. It is
No. 323.
LEPERS IN LOUISIANA
A White Girl Dies in a Hospital or tbe
Dread, Incurable Disease.
New Orleans, March 19. New Orleans has
a novelty in the shape of a hospital for
lepers, which, until yesterday, contained
four inmates.
About a month ago a white girl.Miss Naomi
Rtbbi, oamo to the hospital from Iberville
parish. She belonged to one of the Creole
lamilies in that section, and was ouly 20
years old. Iberville is the home of a number
of lepers,and from some one there the young
woman contracted the terriblo disease.
When received at the leper hospital, it was
found she was beyond even the alleviation
of her pain. Beth her eves had been eaten
away. She lived a month, passing through
terrible tortures and dying in great agony
yesterday.
DEATHS HERE AND ELSEWHERE.
William. A. Hoyt, Newspaper Man.
William A. Hoyt, for many years a well
known newspaper man of Philadelphia, died Sat
urday afternoon, aged 50 years. His death was due
to a compllcaUou or diseases. During the war he
enlisted In tbe Nineteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania
Volunteers, for the three months' service, and he
re-enlisted In the Second Pennsylvania Reserves.
He was made Assistant Adjutant General on the
staffofGeneralsBnckandMcCandless. Mr. Hoyt
was employed on the staff of the Prat as a political
editor for a long time and became military editor
of tbe same paper.
Judge George Driggs.
Judge George Driggs, of the Circuit Court
In Chicago, died suddenly Saturday while sitting in
a chair at his residence. The cause was quinsy
sore throat, which bad been troubling him for
sometime, but had only interfered during the past
few days with bis labors on the bench. Judge
Driggs was born In 1846, at Mt. Morris, N. Y. He
practiced extensively at Washington, D. C, and
Columbus, O.. and for a long time was the assist
ant counsel for tho Pennsylvania lines west of
Pittsburg. I
Matthew Connor Borland.
Matthew Connor Borland, an old and re
spected citizen of Bulger, Washington county. Pa.,
died Saturday morning, 19th Inst., after a short
period of suffering. In the 72nd sear of his age. He
was bom on the wlngfleld mill Tarm, near uridge
vlllc, Allegheny county. He moved to Washington
county about 1870. He Is one of tbe descendants of
tbe Connor family so well known in the annals of
early Indian warfare. He leaves a wife and
daughter to mourn his loss.
Rev. John Kerr.
Rev. John Kerr died yesterday at Fair
field station, on the Allegheny Valley Railway. He
was the father of Allen O. Kerr, the well-known
business man. and was very highly esteemed by a
large circle or friends. He had nearly reached the
scriptural limit of fourscore, being over 79 years of
age. The details of the funeral bate not yet been
arranged,
Obituary Notes.
Hbnbt M. LUTHEB, resident "engineer for the
Reading company, at Ashland. Pa., died at At
lantic City. Friday.
T. A. CHAPMAsr, Milwaukee's leading drygoods
merchant, died Saturday night of pneumonia,
after an Illness of three days.
Joss Ekriquez, one of the most prominent
politicians In Southern Mexico, and Governor of
the Sute of Vera Cruz, Is dead.
Elizabeth Gibson Poweks. widow of Hiram
Powers, the distinguished American sculptor, died
at Florence, March 2. He remains were Interred
In the Protestant cemetery there.
P. A. Knox died at hit home in "Vaynesburg
yesterday morning. He was a prominent member
oftbe Wavnesburg barand a leading citizen. He
had tilled ihe office of United States Commissioner
for over IS years.
!Sg2v
HILL, GORMAN, BRICE.
The Senator's Southern Speeches Mot
Startling the Statesmen No Tripartite,
Agreement The Maryland Leader Well
Regarded by Tammany.
1 rECIAt. TZLKOnAM TO TttB OMPATCTf.t
New Tohk, March 20. Senator David B.
Hill's speeches In the Southern State; have
attracted no serious attention or discussion
whatever In this city, though the Democratic
papers trumpeted his start Southward with
a satchelful of type-written oratory a woek
ago, and most of them have had special cor
respondents traveling with him. Neverthe
less, even Hill's friends here ooncedo that
his Journey has been a failure oratorically as
well as politically at least, in so far as its
reflex effect on the pooplo here is concerned.
What direct resnlts he has obtained In the
matter of capturing delegates to the Chi
cago Convention must be left for the ballot
ing to determine: but a former United States
Senator who for years has been in close
political and business association with Sena
tor Gorman declarod to me a fewjionrs ago
that tho Maryland Senator, while not par
ticularly averse to having Hill roam about
making speeches on Southern territory, had
served notice on Hill that he must not at
tempt to tap the Gorman strength down
there.
Hill Not Worrying Gorman.
Continuing, my Senatorial Informant said:
"Some of Gorman's friends were at first In
clined to resent what they regarded as
poaching on his domains, but Gorman hlm
eeirwas shrewd enough to see that if Hill
went on a stumping tour he would either
have to declare hiinselr on the silver ques
tion (thus making enemies, no matter which
way he went) or, by remaining silent, con
fess himielf afraid 10 meet the Issne. Thnt's
what he has done. Gorman is not bothering
about tho talkof Hill's strength In the South.
Everybody who knows the South knows
that when the Maryland Senator asks for its
support In the convention he can iret it
solidlv against any man from north of Mason
and Dixon's Hue. The knowledge of that is
the secret of Gorman's acquiescence in mil's
trip, for he knows that tho latter can get
nothing there wl'ich he is not willing he
should have, while at the ame time he
realizes that speech making at this time is a
hazardous matter for a Piesldental candi
date and likely to cost Hill delegates in tbe
North."
"But how about that triple ngreement be
tween Hill, Gorman and Brice, to boom the
New York Senator?" 1 asked.
"It's all moonshine," was the reply. "Or
course, their .relations are friendly and in
some respects close, for thouuh Gorman
mentally is a deeper and broader roan than
Hill, they are cast in much the same mold
as politicians. Hence their inclinations and
methods or political management natnrally
bring them together. Brice dislikes Cleve
land, and that fact, I presume, forces him
into association with the other two. Then
remember that the three men are Senators,
which is another tie between them. Brice,
or course, is not in the Presidental race. He
may be for Hill, but I know he regards Gor
man as far the abler man of tho two. It
would be hopeless, for obvious reasons, to
rouse Ohio Democrats into supporting Gor
man, so 1 have no doubt, in order to keep
the delegation from Cleveland, that Brice
will pick up some Ohio votos for Hill. That
may not mean, however, that Hill is to have
a loyal support."
David Not Getting on Well.
"Now, Senator, you bave been in Wash
ington all winter. How has Hill impressed
your Democratic friends there?"
"Well, he has been absent so much that
all the people have not yet had a chance to
make np their minds about him. Those who
have formed conclusions have made no flat
tering estimate or his abilities. His whole
stock in trade Is the ory that he has made
New York Democratic in aU its branches of
government. That boast was effective until
the"snap' convention bolt and the spring
elections here, both of which make It evi
dent that" Hill's candidacy for President
would unquestionably make the State Re
publican. A well-known Democratlo bank
president, to whom I talked to-day, told me
that Hill would lose 50,000 Democratic votes
were he to run In this State to-day."
"How about Gorman's chances?" I asked.
"I am not prepared to estimate anyone's
chances yet,'' was the reply. "On onr side
matters are still in a formative condition,
and I look for a convention so evenly di
vided between a dozen candidates that no
one oan foresee the ontcome with any exact
ness. Gorman, though, thev tell me here. Is
regarded with favor by your Tammany Hall
people, and there is no doubt that the Cleve
land men would prefer him to Hill. Cleve
land himself has a high opinion of Gorman's
ability. In my opinion the only question
nbout Gorman's candidacy is whether the
North is ready to accept a President from
any Southern State. If that doubt could be
cleared away, I believe you would find
Gorman the nominee. It is a very serious
question, as yon can see, and may in tbe end
rule the Maryland Senator out of the race."
Stoddard.
WENT WITH THE TIDE,
A Bottle Cast Overboard by Mrs. Morton
Follows Her Party.
Norfolk, Va., March 20. Special. About
a weec or ten days ago Mrs. Vice President
Levi P. Morton lert Washington in company
with a party for Virginia Beaoh Hotel, and
while coming down the Potomac river she
wrote a note, put it in a bottle, corked it up
and thiew it overboard. The note read as
follows:
"If any person finds this bottle and will
return the note to the Washington -Pai'
they will be paid $3."
She signed nername in full. It was picked
up Friday on Western Branch by a gentle
man named Creecy and was brought to this
city. Mr. W. S. Langhorne forwarded it for
him as directed. It looks rather strange
that the bottle should follow the party.
CIVILIZATION EADICALLY B0TTEN.
Dr. Dixon's Opinion of the Causes Which
Produced the European Famines.
New York, March 20. Rev. Dr. Thomas
Dixon, of this city, preached to-day on the
hunger riots of Berlin and elsewhere. Said
he:
"The secret of the trouble must be deeper
than In politics and there Is somethlug
radically rotton at the heart of civilization
itself. Should not the men of wealth read
in these signs anew the deep obligations
laid upon them to lescue and save society?
Can we feast and danco and banquet while
our brethren starve? No man has the right
to do what he pleases with what he pos
sesses. He only has the right to do what he
ought to do."
KHTNKLES AND EHIMELETS.
"We are going to have a late spring this
year." said Mr. Hicks, anxious to stare off tbe
spring clothes question.
"Then I sbaU have to have another winter bon
net." "said Mrs. Hicks. And then Mr. Hicks
wished ne had staid In the frying-pan. Barper's
Bazar.
Ah, yes! and not to he outdone in this,
Tbe annual bursting carnival, you'll see
The old waste basket gorge Its deep abyss
And burst with lyric, ode and epopee.
Boston Courier.
Angelina (of Boston) "Now, Augustus,
since we"rengaged to be marrrled, I wish to In
quire If you believe In the practice of osculation."
Augustus VWell-not a"
Angelina "Ohl I'm very much pleased that you
do not-It's so very.plebeIan."-Juctoe.
"What is 'the dollar of oar daddies?'-"
asls a college piper.
It Is what the average, undergraduate pays his
wagers and anti-temperance subscriptions with.
Ttxat SVtingt.
He purchased a suit that was English,
A cane that was quite up to date.
A hat that was natty ahd stylish
To cover his vacuous pate;
Then this dude did a thing quite surprising,
A thing that will surely appall.
He took a thick purse from his pocket
And honestly paid for them all.
iew Tork Herald.
Inquiring Constituent They say there's
some talk of Issuing fractional currency again.
How do you stand on that question"
Congressman from the 'Steenlh District (slowly
and lmpresslvely)-When It comes to currency,
Mr. Kadger, my Idea Is to take all you can get, sir
take all you can get. Chicago Tribune.
Hiawatha Pride of the setting sun, will
you be mine?
Mlnnehaha-Ob. go and da as tbe pale-faces do.
Go and buy me or my father. Puck.
'Tis oft a worthy gem of art
In an unsightly frame we find.
And pictures, of our Uvea a part.
An ruined by onr flames of mind.
WatMngtaH Star.
She What are you going to do in regard
to visiting the theattr'durlng Lent?
He (useertaln-ai-r U up. .
fM (approvingtn-Tba-'s Wfo-Dtimr Am.
CAST IN PLEASANT PLACES
Were the Lots or the Indiana's Officers, in
Receiving Russia's Gratitude.
Libau, March 20. The following dispatch
has been sent to the Mayor or Philadelphia
by tbe Russian Relief Society:
"Tho Russian Relief Society warmly wel
comes the dear American brethren who ar
rived in tho Indiana, and prays you to trans
mit to tho inhabitants of Philadelphia the
society's gratitude. God save America."
At a dinner to-day nn Illuminated address
was presented to the Americans bearlns the
Russian unci American nrms and two
clasped hands. M. Balmakoff, President of
the Judges of Peace. In welcoming, the
American, remarked that Russians esteem
ed the Indiana gift, not so much on aoeonnt
of its value, but on account of its 'being nn
cxpresion of tho brotherly love which
America cherished.
At the banqnet last night there were pres
ent the American Consuls, the members of
the Philadelphia committee, the officers or
the Indiana, Count Bobrinsky, the President
or tho Keller Society and all the city au
thorities. Municipal, Chief Adolphl pre
sented to Cnpcnln Sargent a silver cap In
scribed "In Remembrance or Liban." with
underneath. "But tho Greatest or These Is
Charity." 3". Adolphi said:
An net or true humanltr and Christian
lovo brings you here. The Russian Empire
is making extraordinary efforts to stay the
famine, but that does not in the least detract
from the value or this girt. Nothing can
give more satisfaction to afflicted people
than the noble sympathies of other nations.
Our satisfaction must find a special echo
because this noble deed emanates from the
United States, with which Russia has always
stood on terms of the highest friendship.'
Consul Crawford replied:
"While the cargo of the Indiana, and es
pecially when oomoined with that or the
Missouri and that or a third vessel, will
probably be considered by you as no trifling
girt, I wish to assure you that the givers re
gard this as an absolutely insignificant act,
which pales Into nothingness in comparison
with tbe service rendered 30 years ago by
Russia to the Union In sending a powerful
fleet to our shores as a standing menace
against all efforts or other powers to snlly
the American flair and tear from the beauti
ful banner some of Its most brilliant stars."
Mr. Cmwrord concluded by officially pre
senting the Indiana's cargo to Count Bobrin
sky as the head or the special committee,
and expressing wishes for a speedy relief to
the distress in Rnsia.
Count Bobrinsky, speaking in English, said
that the Czarewltch was deeply touched by
tho humane motives and sentiment of
friendship that prompted this noble act, and
had charged him to convey to the donors
cordial thanks for tbe token of international
brotherly love extended to the Russian peo
ple. He concluded by drinking to the pros
Seritv of Philadelphia and the United States,
essi-s. Drexel and Driddle, for the Philadel
phia committee, acknowledged the proofs of
friendship received from Russia.
The Indiana will sail this afternoon on ber
return voyage.
EEQ-JIEZMENTS FOE SAFE FLYESS.
What Must Be Done to Make a Speed of IOO
BIHea an Hour Possible.
Llpplncott's.
The prevailing ideas regarding railway
speeds are very erroneous at any rate. The
majority of people, even the most intelli
gent among these who habitually travel, ob
tain their conceptions of speed from the fig
ures of tbe time table, forgetting that iii
nearly every instance considerable portions
of the route must be traversed at much less
than tbe average rate required to cover the
total dlstanoe m tbe schedule time. There
are few, if any, or tho fast express trains
which do not on some part of each "run"
reach or exceed a speed of a mile a minute.
Yet, by reason of superior railway and well
constructed cars, the accelerated velocity Is
unnoticed; while running at from 60 to 70
miles an hour the passenger calmly perases
bis newspaper or book, children play In the
aisle, and a glass brimful of water may be
carried from one end to the other of tbe
smoothly-rolling coach without spilling a
drop.
Would faster trains be dangerous? No.
In the history of railroads no Instance can
he found where a train has been derailed by
reason of running at a high rate of speed.
There is no more danger, intrinsically, at
100 miles an hour than at 49. The dangers
to be guarded against bear little or no rela
tion to tbe question of speed. The strict
supervision or the tracks and bridges, the
abolishmentof crossings at grade, tbe fenc
ing in of all lines of railway and the preven
tion of trespassing thereon safeguards for
the guidance and protection of trains these
requirements met, the lOO-miles-an-hour,
"flyer" will be a safer conveyance thanlt
city horse car.
DON'T SLEEP IN TBEET0FS.
New Tork Republicans Object to the Ac
commodations In Minneapolis.
New Yobk, March 20. SoeeiaL Tom
Lowry, the great man of Minneapolis, is
East again, full of assurances that Republi
cans wbo attend tbe National Convention In
the Flour City will have beds to sleep iu.
"I am so determined that everybody shall
be accommodated," said Mr. Lowry, to a re
porter to-day, "that, if necessary, I'll turn
every ono or my street cars Into dormitor
ies. There are nice cushions on the seats,
and they'd make famous bunks."
Durgal Lawrence, it will be remembered,
went out to Minneapolis to secure quarters
for New York Republicans. "Brother Law
rence," sain Mr. xxjwry, -gave tue commit
tee the impression that the New York dele
gates and their friends would have valets
with them, and nothing bat palatial suites of
apartments for everv one could be thought
of. I told Brother Lawrence how onr fel
lows from the Northwest had In times past
bunked in together at Chicago and other
convention cities, and mighty glad, too, were
ther to get a resting spot."
"That's all right," said Mr. Lawrence, when
be heard Mr. Lowry's comments. "If those
fellows are used to It, we Republicans bf
New York State are not. We are not accus
tomed to bunking in treetops and in horse
cars."
MEDICS IN BEBELLI0N.
An Examination Sprung Upon Them for
Which They Are Unprepared.
Chicago, March 20. The freshman class of
the College of Physicians and Surgeons has
broken out in rebellion. In all previous
classes examinations in anatomy were not
held until the close of the second year's
work. The subject Is studied, however,
during the entire first year. Thursday Prof.
Rutherford announced that on the following
Monday (to-morrow) -final examinations
would be held In ostology, anthology and
mlology. The announcement took the stu
dents by surprise.
Saturday evening a committee from tbe
class waited on Prof. Rutherford and in
formed him that the class had decided not to
stand the threatened examinations, giving
their reasons for such action. Tbe commit
tee was told to call later for an answer.
They did, and the answer proved to be brief:
"Every one who refuses to stand the ex
aminations will be 'plucked. " However,
the committee was Informed that the ex
aminations wonld not be held uutil Friday,
in order to give more time for preparation.
Tho "freshies" will have nothing of tho
kind, and a secession is feared.
EEFPER'S LOADED BILL.
Senator Pester makes It a point not to
permit any Senator or Representative to
surpass him in extreme and absurd schemes
for the legislative suppression of bloated
capitalists. Chicago Herald.
The spectacle af Senator Pcffer voting 23(
COO.OOO out of the pockets of tbe people to
build postofflces in small towns must ediry
the farmers who chose him to defend their
interests nnd to practice economy. Chicago
Timet.
In this bill Peffer shines forth in the glory
orrefulgent aslnlnlty. Loaded to the -muzzle
with the courage of his crankery, he dis
charges himself in a nrojeot of law which
might well be entitled "An act to prevent
anybody from buying or selling anything or
making any contract to buy or sell or lend
or borrow within the limit of the United
States. Buffalo Enquirer.
Sknator Prm-a's bill to provide every
body with work and to abolish crime is suf
ficiently beneflcient to salt ths most fastid
ious taste. Tho only titrable about It is
that there is some doubt ns to whether it
it could be rigidly enforced, H It were en
acted. There arc a great many people who
are too lazy to work In this world when work
Is given them. Boston Herald.
Senator Vxsrm Is not incapable of learn
ing. He draws tbe line by introducing "by
request" in the Senate a bill which is en
titled "An act creating a fnndforthe pay
ment or pensions and for setting our army
of Idle laborers at work on extensive publlo
improvements. The hill, which has been
referred to the Finance Committee, It Is safe
to say, wfll not be reported to the Senates
,r-tc-i'rh-r.
CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS.
The annual crop of English walnuts in
Southern California reaches a noilllon and a
half pounds.
' A fih dealer in Bath, Me., on cutting
open a yellow perch, found cignt 20 penny
nails In hc stomach.
- More than 514,000,000 of farm mort
gages, it i alleged, have been released or
record In Kansas in the last 13 months.
The hunters who visit Parmachenee
live high, and some of them have a sweet
tooth, for 60J pounds of candy disappeared
there last year.
Boa-Oxns, a city on the Ganges, is said
to have been so named becnns a gigantic
serpent, 120 cubits long and having a double
head, wns killed at the present site of the
town about the year 381 A. D.
A common superstition is that if a col
ored person will kiss a baby twico in the
moutb the process will assist it in teething
and make this otherw!o troublesome
period for children more easy to bear.
One-fourth of the hnman race dies be
fore attaining the seventh year, one-half be
fore attaining tho sixteenth year, or in ths
course of this- vear. Bnt one person among
10,000 attnin the an" of 100 years, while one
among 300 attains SO; one among 100 attains
60.
Bullets made of precions stones ara
rarities in warfare. But dnrlng the recent!
flehttng on the Kashmir frontier, when the
British troops defeated the rebellious Hun
xs. the native used bnllet-s of garnets en
cased in lead. The British preserved many
as curiosities.
An Au-tralian atrriculturalpapermakes
note of an Immense increase in the number
of sheep in Australia in the last two or
three years, and of the enormous develop
ment of tho orrazinc capabilities of the eonn
try. The estimated nnmber of sheen in Aus
tralia in 1892 is 60,000,000, against 31,000,000 in
1SS4.
An old hunter and frontiersman, named
George Darling, reports the discovery of a
long-abandoned village In Mexico. Several
brick hnildlnzs still remain, and the sur
ronrdings show it must at one time have
been a large town. Tho rnlns are situated
west of the ancient city of Temoseche.in tbe
midst of the Sierra Madre Mountains.
Tn 1844 Froment constructed a motor
termed a "crank motor." The action was
caused by the suction or magnetic attaction
or the magnets on an iron armature which
operated a pair or levers working on a con
necting rod "and crank shart, thereby turn
ing a flywheel somewhat as a grindstone
would be revolved.
A curious and profitable business has
grown up in the Maine woods about the
sawmills. In the utilizing of the immense
quantities of sawdnst by compression.
Thousands of tons of sawdust are pressed
into compact blocks and balc, and in this
form is flndinsr a ready market for kindling
and fuel In the Eastern cities.
"The turtledove," says Aristotle, "hid
eth herself most of all. At the commence
ment of hibernation it is very fat, and dur
ing that season it loses its feathers, though
thev remain thick for a long while." It
ought to be possible to confirm this observa
tion npon the Pacific coasts of this contl
nent, where tbe turtle dove abounds.
It is said that many of the German
colonists on the Volga river who are suffer
ers from the Russian famine, in order to
save fuel, have dug holes in the ground,
subterranean shelters In which they burrow
like foxes. They form, nndoubtedlv, the)
only Instance of civilized people who to
day are living tbe lives of troglodytes.
The inhabitants of Newfoundland live
on the water and have no interest what
ever In farming. What they eat and wear
is all imported. Hard biscuits, tea and fish
constitute their diet from one year to an
other, and on the poor man's table meat is
seldom seen. They are skilled sailors, but
thev wonld stumble over a plow and break
their necks.
England's principal source of supply
for the tomato out of season lies In the
channel islands, Guernsey, Jersey, etc The
climate there suits tbe plant, where it can
be grown In the open air. In the year 1800
these Islands supplied the London market
with over 1.000 tons valued nt $250,000. The
Azores and tbe Canartr islands also sent
their qnota: and so did France and Spain.
Probably the longest single span of
wire rope in the world is that now in use in
the construction or the great Austin dam at
Austin, Tex. The main cable is 1,330 feet
long and 2K inches in diameter, and the
hoisting is done with a three-fourth inch
steel rope. The hoisting apparatus will lift
a weight or seven tons and carry it the
entire length or the span in about a minute
and a hair.
A contributor to a New York paper
says: "I met a hotel chambermaid tbe
other day whose lower teeth were nearly all
missing, and from a singular cause. Sho
had been, for a great many years, in tho
habit of holding tho pillows in ber teeth
while she drew on the slips with both hand",
and it rosulted in the loosenlnsr and gradual
loss of those tenth npon which the strain
was the greatest."
In the backwoods villages of Oxford
connty. Me., one sees scarcely any other in
dustry but spool-making, and everyone Is
in some way interested In the business. The
factories have been eating into the Maine
hlreh -foresta for vears. but there seems to
he enough left yet to feed them well lor
vears to come. Hundreds of thousands of
feet of logs are cut and sawed into spool
timber annually.
A new "letter card" has jnst been issued
by the British Postofflce. It is a copy or our
letter sheet idea, and is spoken or as filling
"a much-felt want." The idea Is to make it
possible to send short notes without the pub
licity of a post card and at less cost than a
letter. Tbe letter card simply folds once,
across the middle, and the edges can be
gummed down. The space available for
writing is 6K hy 44 inches.
A. beach may resist the sea for years,
yet in a few hours it maybe stripped bare
to the solid rock. Shells may be covering
the bottom a mile off shore, undisturbed by
on-sliore gales: a storm, with winds and
waves apparently much the same as usual,
may sweep them all on shore. In other
words, the will of old ocean in modifying
shore lines is practically Irresistible and his
occasional devastation remediless.
A bureau of press clippings in London
bos received tho royal "command" to
furnish 20 distinct sets of newspapel-cnt
t!n"S from every periodical in the world, so
foras obtainable, referring to the death of
Prince Albert Victor. Tbe sets are to be
pasted each in a separate album. The sec
tion devoted to American clippings should
make a very edifying collection, if tbe
bureau is faithful in obeying the command.
Swedish papers describe a novel kind of
construction, termed a looomotive steam
boat, built at Kristanstud, for the naviga
tion of a chain of sAall lakes, separated by
falls, the boat being fitted for this purpose
with wheels fitting a track, and power may
be applied to either tho propeller or the
driving wheels of the locomotive part or the
track; the latter is 3 feet G Inches gauge, with
grades or 1 in 33, and having carves of a
radios of 1C0 meters.
No chemist has ever produced brighter
colors than are secured by the Maine Indian
basket makers. For the greater part of the
material ash logs are taken, tnough maple
is cut for rims and handles. In tbe salt
marshes sweet grass is found, which when
dry gives out a fragrant order. Alder Is
steeped for pale red, white birch bark for
bright red, cedar boughs for green, sumach
for yellow; black comes from white maple
bark. A light solntion of maple, however,
shows purple Instead or black. Lazy Indians
bnv logwood for black, redwood for red,
and fustic for yellow.
The bodies of the spiders of Ceylon are
very handsomely decorated, being bright
gold or scarlet underneath, while the upper
part is covered. with the most delicate slate
colored fur. So strong are the webs that
birds the size of larks are frequently caught
therein, and even the small but powerful
scaly lizard falls its victim. A writer says
that he has often sat and watched the yel
low monster measuring, when waiting for
his prey, with his legs stretched put, fully
six Inches striding across the middle of the
net, and noted the rapid mannerln which
he winds his stout threads round the un
fortunate captive. t
On a Thursday morning recently the
Inhabitants of- Grand Manan, a large, well
populated island off the Maine coast, ob
served a single flre-thesick signal burn
ing on Three Isles, six ratle3 seaward, bat as
a gale was blowing and the sea running
high nobody conld land there. On Sunday
evening a physician, accompanied by three
sturdy oarsmen in a dory, reached the Isles
In a blinding snow storm. Fifteen of the 18
inhabitants were sickabed,leavlng one man
barely able to crawl to tbe headland and
keen the signal burning. It was three days
before weather moderated sufficiently to
allow the relief party to return home, and
in that timo the sick were relieved,
k