V",:f fr VJ .JJWii' ' S&S " T,?the 'PnTSBURG- DISEA.TCH, K ERIDAT, APRIL IB, SXT 'TWmT 'r'-TT-Fiww". e ItigpaKft. ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY S,' 184 Vol. 47. No. 68. Entered at Pittsburg Postofflee November, 1S7. as second-class matter. Business Office Corner Smithfield and Diamond Streets, News Rooms and Publishing House 7S and So Diamond Street) in New Dispatch Building. rATrr.i at)vtj:ttsin(i office, room tr. TRIIU'N'E nriT.llIN'G. NEW YORK, where com plete files orTHi: nibl'ATCH can nlws be found. Fo-clen advertisers appreciate tlie convenience, acme advertisers and triends of THE DISPATCH, while In New York, are also made welcome. THE DISPATCH is rsoutorf y on tale at Brentano's. I Union Sew". .Veto Ibrt. and 37 Ave diTOpera. rati. Prater, ffcere anyone wVi lm been disap pointed at a Uriel neics stant crin obtain iU TEItMS OF THE DISPATCH. rOSTARE TREE IX THE UNITED STATES. rUTLT msrATCir. tyieTear. S CO Daily Dispatch. Per Quarter 100 IUn.T DisrATCir, One Month JO Daily DisrATCH. including bundav. 1 yeir. JO 00 PtiLrmsrvrciI. Including Sundsy.Sm'th. SSO p n.T Disr crcn. including Sunday, lm'th. SO Scmat IlisrvrcK. One Yew SW WlEST.TlMrvrcir, Orc Year. " TlIF PAlLr Dr6rATCH Is delivered by cirrlers at 3 cents per week, or. Including Sunday Edition, at ;0nt per "week. Friday. Ai'HiiTianatt. TWELVE PAGES Parties who lia changed their residence will pleaao leave new address at the busi ness officr, in ordee to Insure the uninter rupted dell err of. The, Dispatch to their homes. good friends again. Cordial diplomatic relations have been re-established between the United States and Italy. The correspondence between Secretary Blaine and the Marquis Impe rial is maiked on both sides by that tact fnlness which best maintains diplomatic dignity. The non-committai concession made by our Government is a fitting ter mination to an incident which has done much to establish Mr. Blaine's reputation as a statesman of uncommon ability. The lensrtb of time which lias elapsed since the lamentable Xew Orleans inci dent, together with the comparativesmall nessof thefree-wih offering made by this country, should be borne in mind as a precedent when the claims acainst Chile come up for settlement There are, of course, sraie differences in the circum sfances of the two affairs, but national honor and the value of life are the same under all circumstance. We are vealthv enough and so suf ficiently strong to defy any two nations in the world in the Ions run- 'We could, however, be made to suffer severely dur ing the beginning of a war But it is even" more 'our duty than our interest to be at j peace with all men. A Republic such as ours should throw all its influenc: and us its example to make war impossible and to further the era of universal peace. riTTSBcrsn's growth. Pittsburg, as wilHe seen by figures from official sources, is crowing in no dilatory manner, and there is no reason to doubt that it t ill continue to do so with an in creasing rate of prosress. The opening up of new areas is beneficial in relieving the business center while providing healthier sites for habitation than can be found in the heart of the city. The tendency to increase what may be called the commercial district shows how great would be the folly of relinquishing such a choice site as the old Fifth Avenue Market House for purposes which can be as well suited in the more outlying dis tricts. It shows the necessity for in creased bridge facilities, and the advisa bility of the proposition to connec the Sixth ward with the Southside by means of a bridge from -the Bluff. Then, too, the healthy growth of the city can be incal culably increased by the building of the Ohio and Erie Canal. Over and above these direct efforts to enlarge our city, every citizen interested in the advancement of Pittsburg should allow nothing to stand in the way of an energetic exercise of the franchise to secure the most efficient and economic of city governments. A SOLUTION UEMANDFD. The increasing circumstantial evidence, backed up by expert opinion, which is strongly sucgestive of foul play in the death of a piominent official calls for a searching investigation. 2?o petty pique should be allowed to interfere with the ; performance of a public duty The un doubted facts are such as to call for a so lution of the mvstery in one direction or the other. Public safety and justice de mand that no criminal should be left at large and unpunished. Individual right.: necessitate an arrival at a decision which 6ball either establish guilt or remove sus picion. While the mystery remains un sohed the efficiency of our detective serv ice will he in doubt, or, worse still, it will be assumed that wounded personal pride has caused willful anglectf ulncss. No ex ertion should be spared and no stone left unturned to complete the case and estab lish innocence or guilt beyond a doubt. they need relief. AUerlin periodical advances some views on the condition of affairs in Russia which areas Interesting as they arc new to peo ple in this country who have been con tributing relief. The statement is made that 'he peasant is fo demoralized that he refuses to work when opportunity is offered so long as he can keep body and soul together by the gifts of others. This indisposition to labor, this demand that "The Czar must provide," is spoken of as an unquestionable fact It is said to be due to the receipt of alms and the agita tions of enemies of the Russian Govern jr.crt who have suddenly disappeared from Switzerland, where they were to be found in great numbers up to "last autumn. This view of the matter leads the writer of the German article to tegard the pres ent condition ot aff.-.irs iu Russia as "a cleverly designed, provoked and guided Universal Strike Movement" At this dis tance, and without direct observation or evidence, it is difficult to disprove'this theory. But there are several undoubted certainties which show the need of fur ther liberality. People arc starving by thousands, and crop failures cannot have been produced by any strike movement since last autumn. The disappearance of the Government's enemies from Switzer land can be accounted for on the theory that they sought that country to help their compatriots by positive means. If they have indeed returned to Russia to as sist the peasantry by the negative means of sacrificing their lives and all their little possessions to ruin the Government they have made a great advance from their 1 ormer explosive tactics. But, if the peas antry do refuse to work as assert ed, the desperate conditions in which they find themselves are enough to cause I - a broken-spirited despondency which needs no agitator to persuade its posses sors to refrain from any offered labor for which they are unfitted by physical want, and which brings them no more than the barest necessities of life. All accounts received in this country have to pass a press censorship, and yet agree in describing a lack of opportunity to work only equaled by the sufferings co-existent with it. But granted that some of the suffering is due to organiza tion, tho sacrifices involved onlv indicate the need for 'the reforms In government which would be their object Russian peasants are starving and need relief, and the possibility that their agonies may be the darkness which precedes the dawn is no reason for reducing our generosity. BREVITY ITS ONE MERIT. There is one commendable feature in the DemocrabcState platform its brevity. Apparently realizing the hoplessness of the contest in Pennsylvania this year, very few words are wasted in presenting the party principles to tho people. More space Is given to the unit rule and Cleve land's candidacy for President, the per functory indorsement of Pattison's ad ministration and the very unusual policy ot eulogizing the State Committeeman, Mr. Harrity, than to the customary ex positions of party doctrine. The platform deals more with discipline and disputes within the organization than with reasons why the voters should support that organi zation at the polls. But In the few words devoted to the tariff a subject of such vital importance to Pennsylvania the free trade ideas which paved the way to defeat in 1888 are reaffirmed, and the repeal of the Mc tanley law demanded. To be Sure there is a hedging clause about "a due regard for the rights of American labor and the preservation of our manufactures." Keystone toilers and employers will hardly care to trust their interests to such an indefinite assurance. The declaration "for honest money, the gold and silver coinage of the Constitution, and a cur rency convertible into such coinage without loss," might be inter preted to mean a stand for the present sjstem, a concession to free silver, or even the advocacy of unlimited greenbacks on the plan ot Jerry Simpson and his Alli ance colleagues. If the Democracy intends to persist In its free trade fallacy, the indorsement of ex-President Cleveland is eminently proper, as he is the representative of that issue, ani his nomination will have the merit of courage and honesty. But there is not the slichtest indication that, so far as Pennsylvania, is concerned, the em phatic verdict of four years ago will be changed; and tho candidate of the party which stands firmly for the protective policy, with the intelligent application of reciprocity, may confidently anticipate another majority in the neighborhood of 80,000. THIS TRUST'S EAST TWIST. The report that the Sugar Trust is mak ing arrangements with the wholesale grocery merchants by which the latter are to secure a rebate from thft Trust is re ferred to as an evidence that the Trust is getting alarmed by the call for the repeal of the sugar duty. That Influence may have a part in this course; but the attempt to fortify the Trust's position by this agreement is much more prominent The arrangement proposed is that the wholesale dealers shall obtain a rebate on the agreement that they will not buy sugars elsewhere than from the trust Of course, it includes an arrangement for a fixed price forsugar, all of which rebates, Trust profits and arbitrary rate for jobbing or retail prices comes out of the con sumer in the end. Under all Trust ar rangements, of this sort one person may be sure of getting no rebates, and that is the one who pays the last and biggest price. It is quite possible that the Trust hope3 by this arrangement not only to absorb the fuU half cent of protection, but to. shut off foreign competition even when the pro tective limit is transgressed. That is, the Trust may hope to get more for sugars than foreign sugars can be imported for by an arrangement which shall keep the wholesalers from touching the latter. But uch a hope is futile. It is worth while to remember that practically the same ar rangement was partially effected by the Trust some years ago; but it fell to pieces at the first touch of new competition. The wider the margin between actual cost and final price is expanded by these devices to choke off competition, the more stimulating is the incentive to new competition, either by new domestic concerns or by bringing in the foreign supply. Of course, this arrangement for making the consumer pay for his year of cheap sugar will suggest to the public some in structive thoughts on the assertion that Trusts cheapen prices; and to both parties in Congress some serious reflections as to the proper course when a protective duty is perverted to the uses of a monopoly in this fashion. MAKE MERCANTILE SEAMEN. Some interesting facts on the decrease in the number of American sailors are given in the current issue of Belford't Monthly. It is an incontestable fact.that aboard seagoing vessels of all classes there is a far smaller proportion of Ameri cau seamen than was to be found forty years ago. The change can simply he accounted for by the fact that openings for am bition, pluck and adventure which at one time were the attractions to a seafaring life are now found more largely in the country itself. This is the explanation, hut it does not lessen the evil. It is bad enough to have the carrying of our commerce largely in the hands of foreigners in times of peace. Should the improbable happen, and war arise, our dependence on imported men would be still more disastrous. There are only two ships which train men for the mercantile marine in the whole country. The St Mary's, at New" York, and the Saratoga, at, Philadelphia, are supported by their respective States, and together turn out an annual total of some forty boys. This is a matter of national interest and one that demands caretul considera tion. The establishment of mercantile train ing ships should be undertaken by the Government They could be recruited by the refractory boys now sent to State Reformatories, the cost being borne by the States according to the number sent The discipline of ship life would be an excellent corrective to waywardness of character. The boys wojild be taught a trade which would always secure them honest employment, while the nation would be strengthened at the same time. Some of the Allegheny County Demo crats say they are dUgusted by tho Conven tion proceedings. Their opponents say that the malcontents are simply disgruntled. The diamond has led to more crime than any other material object. It Is therefore consoling that tho latest scientific theorists, who of course hail from Germany, are strongly inclined to believe that the earth did 1 .j not produce this source of evil, tint vat an Involuntary recipient of It by foroe of grav ity. There ts much 'gravity In the theory, and in tho meantime humanity will continue to struggle and make sacrifices for the pos session of a bauble less pretty tSan others more easily obtained. , It' is quite a curious coincidence that a large number of the men whose mysterious disappearance causes comment leave mone tary liabilities behind them. It is no douDt true that if Messrs. Roose velt ana Wanamaker meet under stress of passion before the House Committee on He form in the Civil Service something will happen. Bnt it Is too much to hope that the said something will do much to forward the practical civil service reform which is continually postponed to that to-morrow which never comes. Truly there is little in a name protectionist Jefferson Is coupled tariff-reduction Cleveland. when with A STRONG committee has .been ap pointed to visit Chicago to insist upon Penn sylvania's demand for space to exhibit coal and oil industries at the World's Fair. There should bo no doubt of their success in ob taining the required facilities, for no reason able objection can be offered to them. Judges who inflict capital sentences in Allegheny County should be described as paper-hangers. A sill is proposed in Ohio to severely punish married men "winning the affections of mat riageable ladies by posing as bach elors. If the benedicts can escape detec tion or their dnplUity by Ohio damsels it Is little use to legislate against them. Posts of duty should he festooned with barbed wire to prevent policemen from sleeping thereon. Our President is forbidden to travelout side Union territory during his term of office. Bat there is no hardship in the restriction when it is remembered that facilities for a great variety of sport are obtainable within tho limits of our country. Pabdrtdge is evidently a game and enjoys the sport of bull-baiting. bird The determination of Spanish Anarchists to attract attention, without any considera tion for life and conventional ideas, is clearly indicated by their last and most ex treme outrage in throwing bombs into a re ligions procession. This is a legal holiday, but there will be about as much work done as usual. As an encouragement to citizens to take the law into their own hands, it is noticeable that the Government waited to drive out the rustlers of Wyoming and Montana until the ranchers bad put a private army in the field. Only the good die young, does not refer to spring chickens. But that HolmAK's tactics in seeking to make campaign capital outof unreasonable stingi ness conveys a direct insult to the intelli gence of the men whose votes he expects to catch by such false economy. Investiture by a firman has" nothing to do with sealskin sacques. Charges made against Hebrer rifle manufacturers in Berlin should be dis counted by the fact that antl-Semitlo feeling is as bitter in the German capital as any where in the world. ' , It never rains but it pours. Perhaps the pause will come to-day. The fraudulent employment agent who secures money from the needy by promises made only to bo broken, is -a social para site to be stamped out with, the ntmost rigor. PAT0EITES OP PAKE Ex-President Rutherford B. Hayes is flow the most distinguished 'transient vis itor in New York. Colonel Robert G. Inoersoll stepped on the Astor House scales the other day and tipped the Deam at exactly 231 pounds. Ex-Secretary "William C. Whitney started on a six-weeks' trip to Europe yester day afternoon. He goes -to visit a daughter who has been away two years. Cardinal Bampoixo, Papal Secretary of State, is sick and confined to his bed. The physicians who are attending him do hot consider that his condition Is serious. The wite of Representative Cox, of the Twenty-seventh Sew York district, has just discovered that tho wife of ex-Governor Campbell, of Ohio, was a classmate of hers at Yassar. Emperor William has signified his approval of Princess Frederick, Charles oesumiug the patronage of tho German female department of the Chicago Col umbian Exhibition. It has been decided to have Dr. Pierson ' remain at the 'Metropolitan Tabernacle, in London, 6purzeon's Church, for five years, at an annual salary of $0,000. Dr. Piarson expects to visit America this summer. The statement that Henry George had mado preparations to provide a comfort able home in Philadelphia for Mrs. George Hudschms. widow of the Spiritualist who left his fortune for the distribution of George's boon, appears to be without foun dation. ATHLETICS 'AND LIBEETY. Bodily Vigor Thrives Best in Conntrles Where the'FeopIe Are Free. Boston Globe. A writer in Harper' Weekly contributes some very sensible observations on athletics in various countries, as reflecting the social and political condition of the people. The more elastic tho institutions of a country the more elastic are the muscles of its people. The freer the laws, the freer the mind; and, consequently, the freer and more active the body. Benco athletics especially flourish in republics and reach their minimum in the most despotic conntrles. Where inertia is stamped upon the institutions of a country it'is 1 effected upon the general physique.' In years past 'England led in athletics. She baldly leads now. The athletic boom lias grown wonderfully in France since she be came a republic. If wo hi u the most physi cally active nation in the world it is because wo are politically and mentally so. Tho one country in Europe where sports are almost unknown, and athletics despised, 13 Russia. The aveinjje subject of the Czar .lins almost a horror of physical exercise, and physical inertia is stamped upon the people everywhere. Germany has ei own but slowly in athletic enthusiasm. The great surplus of army athletics seems to have spoiled the appetite of the people for spoits ot all kinds "so popular in England and in this country. The best soil lor athletics is in countries wheio everybody takes a hand in govern ment, where heavy standing armiesuie ab sent, and where peisonal dignity is not crushed under the weight of traditional social cast. A free mind in a free body in a fi co nation Is the best promise and potency of athletic life. SHE, WAS KOI PABTICOLAE, The Queer Manner In V hi eh a Silver Wed ding Was Celebrated. Augusta Evening News. East Thursday was the twenty-fifth anni versary of an Augusta couple's marriage. On that morning the husband, upon awaken ing, asked his wife how they should cele brate their silver wedding. The wife did not suggest any pal ticular observance of the day. The husband then said: "Shall we re marry or separate?" Tho wife said it was immaterial to her either nay, and what suited him would sat isfy her. II o then said ho would Just as leave part as not The wife acquiesced and she packodup her trappings and left the house, and they have remained. apart ever since, and 'neither has sought tho other or pro posed reunion or any other sort of celebra .RENANAND SHEOL I FOUND the master walled in with books, sittlmr at awriting table on which an oil lamp sheo'lts subdued light on the proofs of a history-of the fourteenth century, says a correspondent of the .Pall Mall Budget -who vIsItd-M.Ernest Benan. From the mantel piece, on Jils left a terra-cottabust.il felike in resemblance, of Victor Le Clero beamed encouragingly on this clerk of clerks. Here and there in Interstices of the book-de-voured-.walls the .primates, of painting, gloomy in p time-tarnished frames! At the back a library ladder, tne very steps of which books 'and pamphlets have invadod. But one'chalr which such invasion has spared. .He, turning on his seat, his hair in admired contusion, shows a monastic pallor. It is a white presence in a room of shadows. But. notrrionastto asceticism, for there is a plump and comfortable presence, the cour tier abbe who dines well and lies in warm beddings." I like Benan's voice. It Is low and has that, purring caress which is an equipment of J the servants of the Church gained by long practice of whispered confi dences in boudoir and confessional. "Master,"' I raid, "I have come to talk to you about hell." . Then added about the outcry which had been raised by his last book, where he de nied such "punishment; told him of the odium theologicum, nowhere so bitter as in our fair land of England, which had been poured forth anent his views, and asked for further exposition. He smiles and raises his shoulders, and smiles again, deprecatinsrly extending the plump, beautiful.white hands, and says: "We must blame nobody for absurdity in religious beliefs. There are things in re llglor. which are infantine in their ab surdity. But tradition.atavism, education, aye, and patriotism, will make oven the most enlightenod of men swallow where religious belief is concerned what in every day life they would be the first to smile at. That explains tho faith in certain matters Ofmenjnstly.reputed master-mind It is not hypocrisy on their parts. They are sincere. Family traditions, atavism and patriotism create their faiths." "Since when have people held this fear ful creed of future punishment this belief in helit" "Slnoe about 150 years before the blrtn of Christ. The Hebron s of the Old Testament had no belief in a future state, at least you will find no allusion whatever to either the future punishment of the evil or the future beatitude of the good in the Old Testament. The reason of this was, no doubt, that up to the period I mention the Hebrews were fairly happy. But in 175 A. C. Epiphanes An tiochus came and persecuted the Hebrews terribly, Then they suffered horrors of gib bet and sword, torture arid fire, and there weie amon: them many martyrdoms. It was then that tho belief arose that those who had suffered martyrdom should in nn nfter-life be compensated for their terrible sufferings, while to tho executioners and torturers, the valets of Epiphanes. future punishment should be dealt out. The han kering after a quid pro quo is a primary factor in tho Judaic psychology. Each, they thought, must get his'fairshaie of good and evil. Those that suffered on earth should have compensation in a future state, while those who were happy here and made others suffer should In their turn have to undergo pain hereafter. It may thus be said that it n as between the years ITS and 163 that is to say, some time during the reign of Epiphanes Antiochns, otherwise Antiochus IV. that the world saw the genesis of that terrible idea of future punishment which nas terrorized tne woria ever since." "Heaven, the idea of heaven, had its gene sis simultaneously that grand idea of future happiness which has made the woild so con fident, so patient, ever since?" I asked. And he: "Yes simultaneously. Fntnre suffering for tne torturers Antiochus and his crew; and for the tortured the perse cuted and the martyred Hebrews future happiness. A squaring of accounts." ' "Eternal beatitude for these: for those eternal pain." "Nevera whit. Tho Hebrews could not conceive eternal life in any form for a finite betmc. Eternity, in their belief, was alone the prerogative of Almighty God, the Eter nal Being.. Ooinions varied as to the dura tion of the beatitude which should be en joyed by those who had suffered on earth. Some thought it would last 400 vears; others maintained it would be tor 1,000 years. None hoped for eternal beatitude." "Then in this respect also humanity, granted an inch, has taken an infinity of ells?" "As humanity will do under all circum stances. How far are the hopes of the be ileverof to-day from the hopes of the He brew of 150 years'.before Christ who only looked forseven lifetimes of happiness? Ap petite has come to us in eating. Nono to-day would be content with a thousand years of beatitude. All must be happy forever and ever. In the 999th year all would revolt, raise barricades in Paradise, insist on a re newal a perpetuite of the awaided felici ties." 'And the promises and menaces of the Lord Jesus?" Kenan bowed his head. Then he said: "It was a continuation a development of the ideas current among tho Maccabasans, the genesis of which I have exposed to you. The formulae given in the Gospels are an ex tension of similar formula; to he found in such works as 'The Book of Enoch' and 'The Assumption of Moses.' His menaces wore a considerable development." Irfsofarns?" "In so far as the original idea of punishment was less a state ofsuffcr ins as one of complete annihilation. The wicked was to be crushed out while the good was to enjoy from 400 to 1,000 Years or felicity. At the same time, tnis idea'1 or annihilation wasnor general. Many liked the idea of a state of suffering for others, so that their own state of felicity might be, as It were, in creased bv comparison. It was for the sake of a contrast" "Was it held that this state of suffering should be eternal?" "I have said that the Hebrews, from whom the Christians hnve inherited their .beliefs, could not conceive an eternity for men.'bo lieving that state to be alone the prerogative of the Almighty." "And whence came the idea of fire in hell?" "It was thought that the pain of burn ing was the most atrocious that could bo endured by the body, and so it was applied' to tho soul. I bave said in matters of re ligion none should be astonished at the ut most childishness of belle. But the germ idea of this form of punishment may be found in the sacred book of Isaiah, which is not contained in the Bible, written during the time of the captivity. And the Are and tlje worm of tho later belief were doubt less inspired by lecollections or the worship of Moloch, Defore whom children weie : sac rificed in Durnlng braziers. Tho valley of Uenennn, near Jerusalem, a sort or Aiont laucon, where corpses were left to rot a pourrlssoir and where fires burned to clear the pestileious air, did also suggest the idea ofa teriiblo place of punishment a place where "Vermis eorum non moritnr et Ignis non extineuitur." "ffli v do people place hell below? The re gion of fire to tho Ignorant is surely where the lightning Is?" , "It hnd to be placed somewhere. Above in the bright nzure of the beautiful skies was naturally the plnce of beatitude. Nor was the presence of subterranean fire tin knpwn, for tho volcanoes were proof of-Its existence. For contrast also, heaven above, and hell, rmrtant. below." "But did jiot the Romans entertain any idea ofa place of punishment?" "Not the cultuied, not the intelligent Tho ignorant possibly. To tho cultured, the stories of Ixion, Tantalus, and tho otheis who suffered, appeared, as thev do to us, creations of poetical minds. Among tho cultured, at the most, existed an indifferent doubtfulness. What does Tacitus say? -SI, ut sapientibus placet, non enm corpoteex tingu.mtur magna) animal.' 'If, as It pleases the wise to say.' Is not that an lmmenso shrug of tho shoulders? Such was the gen eral attitude of th6se among the Romans whothouzht The vulgar very possibly be lieved In Styx and Tartarus and the tortures that the poets gpoke about" "But among other peoples?" "Yes, tho Buddhists." "Ah, Nirvana." "No, those were the. cultured Buddhists. But the ignorant, the vulgar, the general, had an Idea of a place of future punishment, of which we know many pictorial representa tions." "Where did Dante get his ideas of In ferno?" " "They were the current icteas of his time, the ideas of hell which existed in the thir teenth century, as is shown by numerous paintings which existed, contemporane ously with Dante, in the churches in Italy. And now let me say that almost as long as humanity has existed there has been enter tained the hope that the wicked that is, the man wbo.raade one suffer would eventually be paid out Man has always considered himself a beast or burden, on whose back the wicked rains down blows with a cucf-el. Tie has always hoped that if he never should bo able to serve the cudgel-beater out that somehow or somewhere; the latter should suffer in his turn. 'Un Jour viondra qui tout patera' is the expression of a hope which is almost coeval wltti'mankind.; "And as to purgatory, which you so pleas antly described in 'your latest work?" "Traces of the idea of-a middle place can be fonnd iu the writings -of early Christian ity. But it was in the Middle Ages that the belief In purgatory became general. An 'espece de inoyen terme' was wanted. It was found nseful to have- a place for tfose who had sinned moderately, a place of expiation tor peccadi'loes, a place for those who could not be damned outright It was a specula tionan excellent speculation, I. may add." SOME AFFAIRS OF STATE. The Senate Keeping Good Friday Waste of Time in the House Contradictory Testi mony ofa Witness In the BanmZnvesti gatlon Capital Notes, Washington, April 14. At the close of the routine morning business In the Senate to-day, in the course of which resolutions of 'Boston merchants favoring the repeal of the silver law or 1890 were presented, the calen dar was taken up and a number of bills of no general importance were disposed of. At 2 o'clock business on .the calendar was laid aside and the "unfinished business" taken up, being the bill to amend. the act "To establish Circuit Courts of Appeals and regulate in certain cases the jurisdiction of the Courts of the United States." It was passed. The bill to facilitate the disposition of causes in the Court of Claims was then taken up and discussed at length, but with out action. Tho Senatf wont Into executive sessioa and soon adjourned till Monday. In the ,Houso the time was taken up in a debate overprinting political matter in the Record and. tho consideration of the naval appropriation bill,' Mr. Boutelle, of Maine, making a strong speech in advocacy of an amendment providing for two additional battle ships and ton torpedo boats. Ho action was taken. James P. Morgan, the Bloomington, Ind., attorney, testified to-day before the Baum Committee that the whole corre spondence with Cooper 'was a decoy to en trap him. There were a great many dis crepancies in witness' statements. Yester day afternoon he asked to be excused, tes tifying that he had received a telegram from his wife saying her sickness had become more serious; but he was compelled to admit that he had rome to the committee room direct from the train; and that lie had not received any telegram. J. P. Greenwalt, a special examiner in the Pension Office, denied that the Commissioner had directed him to connect Mr. Cooper with the slips matter; said he had left out of the deposi tions he took nothing that lie thought mate rial, and "denied that he had excluded from the depositions of Mr. Peet or any other per son statements "because they tended to ex onerate Mr. Cooper. Thocommittee adopted a resolution calling the attention of the Secretary of tho Interior to the extraordi nary character of the testimony of Mr. Mor gan, but making no recommendation. General St. Claib continued to-day his argument before tho House World's Fair Committee on the bill making an appropria tion of $7,000,000 for the Fair. He argued that the Government should be responsible for the cost of dedicating the awards or medals and premiums. He said the Govern ment would be fully protected in making the appropriation. The net Income to the Exposition would certainly be 17,503,000, and the Government would be the first preferred creditor and get back Its loan before any oiuer uispusiiiuu 01 tue receipts was maae. The people of Chicago did not want the ap propriation for the administration of the Fair, but to complete its buildings and grounds by the time the Exposition was opened, ne referred to the loan of $1,500,000 to the Philadelphia Centennial, and the de cision of the Supreme-Court on the consti tutionality of the loan when the Centennial diiectors refused at its close to reimburse the Government. The Government, alter loaning tho Philadelphia Centennial that amount, could hardly decline to grant the amount now needed in view of the great scope and magnitude of the undertaking. Francis W. Breed, World's Fair Commis sioner front Massachusetts, urged on the committee the necessity of the appropria tion to make the Fair a success, and said If it was not the most snecessful ever held Congress would be held responsible for it Judge Harris, of the National Legislative Committee, nlso" advocated briefly that the appropriation be made. , The Convention i)f SfaterRuilroad Com missioners to-day referred tho subject of railway accounting to a committee, with in structions to report at the "next convention. The.reportof the Committee on Reasonable Kates was adopted. The Committee on Safety Appliances was directed to urge upon Congress the immediate passage of a bill to effectively seeuro thaiequipment of freight cars throughout the-country with uniform automatic couplers and With train brakes, and the equipment of locomotives- with driving wheel brakes. These bills were reported to the House to-day: Authorizing the Secretary of 'the Treasury to obtain plans and specifications and local supervision for public buildings by the system of competition among private architects; to indemnify settlers on the Des Moines river lands. It was developed to-day, in the examina tion of witnesses before the Dockery World's Fair Investigating sub-committee, that it was not intended to send the Grant and Washington relics, now deposited in tho National Museum and Smithsonian Institu tion, to the Columbian Exposition at Chi cago, but an effort will he made to have them there, nevertheless. The United States has requested the ex tradition of John O. Davis, recently ar rested in London. Davis was convicted and sentenced In Michigan for burglary, but es caped from the penitentiary and fled to England. The Senate to-day confirmed Prank Lillebridge, of South Dakota, Indian Agent at the Cheyenne Agency, South Dakota. DEATHS HERE AND ELSEWHERE. William. Edgar, Railroad Man. William Edgar, General Passenger Agent of the Grand Trunk Hallway, died at his residence in Montreal Wednesday morning, aged 52 years. He was well known to the railroad men of New York, navlng been" stationed there for eight years as General Eastern Passenger Agent of the Great Western. He afterward became the General Pass enger AgenWor that line, and continued In the same capacity with the Grand Trunk when tho Great Western consolidated with It Captain Robert SleCarren. Captain Robert McCarren died yesterday at hU residence. 47 Rcsaca street. Allegheny, aged 83 years. Ho was the oldest Odd Fellow in this section of the State, haying been a member of the order for H years. Mr. McCarren was born In Ire land and came to this country when child. He became a river captain In I832. and followed that profession until a few years since, when he retired. The deceased leaves a wife and family. The funeral will take place on Sunday aiternoon. A. Gibson. The late A. Gibson, whose remains were burled yesterday from the Presbyterian Church on bcvcu-JIile Island, was one of the oldest residents of Neville Island. He had resided there 45 vears, and was In the G9th year of his age when he" died. He was universally loved and eslemed by all the residents for miles around. He was a kind husband, an affectionate father, ail honored citizen and a good neighbor. ' Obituary Notes. JonND. Bbandt, a lawyer and prominent poli tician, (lied near Nc'wville yesterday, aged 44 years. Heinrich Natteb, the famous Austrian sculptor, who designed the Zwlngll monument, at Zurich, and the ilayden monument, at Vienna, is dead. Dennis BnnoooN, of BrookvIIIe, Pa,, died Thursday at the age of 81 years. He was the father of Dr. Burgoon, of Allegheny, the well-known physician. Mas. Edwaud Fkisbee dropped dead in the garden of her home at East Moravia, near New Castle, yesterday. Heart disease was the cause of her death. The deceased was the daughter of Basil Pitzer, f6r years postmaster of East Moravia, the was 42 years of age. Captain H. B. Edwards. Commander of the "Union Blues," the first military company to leave Delaware county fortbe field during the civil war. died Wednesday morning In Chester, at the age OT 67 years. At one time he was associated with Uen cral Edward F. Bcale In the survey of the overland routes between the Mississippi and the Pacific coast. GENERAL George Staiuc, formerly manager of the Bostdn and Lowell Railroad, and at one time vice president and general manager of the North ern racioc Railroad, died Wednesday in Nashua, N. H. He was 69 year old. He war decended from Major General John start tne Hero or Ben- nlngton, his father being the third ion of General stark. RECEIVING DIPLOMAS. Commencement Excrelsef of the Pittsburg Training School for KnriM-Wilklns- burg Council Gives an Entertainment High Collars Aro Still in It Contest for ' -a Gold Medal. " The sixth annual commencement of the Pittsburg Training School for Nurses took place yesterday in the pretty chapel of tho Homeopathic Hospital. The ohapel -was brightened with numerous flowers and palms; and there was a good attendance of those Interested In the hospital and Its work, particularly in connection with the training school. There were 12 graduatesof the class of '02, as follows: Mary B. McCarty, Caroline B. Hall, Sara Emma Kcr.Mary Ellzallull.Sara Sailer, Margaret a Miller, Jennie E. Miller, Sidney Parker, nettle M. Davidson, MaryE. Tener, Rebecca A. Blosser and Martha E. Black. The graduates were all bright, intel-Iteent-appearlnp voung women, and Miss Marguerite P. Wright, theSmwrtntendent, mav well be proud of them. Tho exercUes onened with an overture bv the Gernert Or chestra, followed by an Invocation by Rev.tj j. it. autneriana, v. v. xne orenpstrn. men played a selection, and Dr. L. II. Willard, Dean of the Facnltv, delivered a very Inter esting introductory address, in the course of which he spoke of the good work that had been done in the training school, and of the importance of tho dntles that the graduates were so soon to nndertake as professional nurses. Another selection by the orchestra, and Dr. George T. Pnrves, of the Firt Pres byterian Chnrch. made a tew ffmarks In a pleasant vein, that showed he was thor oughly acquainted with the work of pro fessional nurses and the responsibilities that attach to their calling. The orchestra played again, and then came the interesting ceremony of handing diplomas to the grad uates, which was done by Colonel William A. Herron, who addressed a few kindly words to each young woman as he handed her tho neat narehment that should be her .warranty for" acting as a professional nurso nereatter. Mr. ueorge L. mcuov, secretary of the Execntive Committee, then gave to each graduate a handsome badge. In the tform of a gold medal that can be worn as a breastpin. The valedictory was delivered by Dr. Charles A. Wilson, of the faculty, and the pronouncing of the Benediction brought the proceedings to a close. There was a large attendance at the musical and dramatic entertainment of Wllklnsburg Council No. 760, Boyal. Area, num. in the Wllklnsburg Opera House last night J. A. Langfltr, Eq., Past Grand Regent, opened tho proceedings with an address, and the rest of the evening was givenjin to an excellent programme. Prof. Byron W. King and Mrs. King gave recita tions, and Miss Sadie E. Kttts, Mr. Critchlow and Miss Beach sang. Selections were nlo rendered bv the Mandolin and Guitar Club. The crowning feature of the entertainment was the giving of the famous comedy. "Lend Mo Flvo Shillings." Prof. King was the Mr. GcHigJdXy. Mrs. King the Mrs. Major PTiobbi, and the other characters were taken by members or Mr. King's school or oratory. The comedy went with a great deal of snap, and the evening was a delightful one In every way. Gentlemen who have struggled along with high collars for years are to suffer a little extra torture. Fashion decrees that collars shall be higher than ever this year, and the stylish young man will bo such at' the expense of a sore chin unless he cultl vntna n. verv loftv way of holding his head. Not only men, but women, are to suffer the infliction or ultra nign conars. maiueusare Imitating the dress of their brothers and fathers to such an extent that they will be in the same plight with regard to tho un comfortable, stilt and starched bands of linen that are supposed to be ornamental, butareonen to Question, in the. minds of those who have to wear them- So we may look for two-story collars on the fashionable men and o4rbaps next winter, too. I Curet TJNrvERsrrT Hall was filled last evening on the occasion of the annual con test for the President's gold medal. Presi dent Rowe Introduced the performers. The judges were Dr. M. J. Langfitt and Dr. H. K. Beatty, of Allegheny, and J. D. Jack. Esq., who awarded the medal to Miss Effle RlsheL The programme was as follows: Bass solo. "It Was Not to Be." "Nessler," Mr. Edward Mnrphv. Essav, "The Philosophy of Life," Miss Margie Hiland. Essav, "A Storm at Sea," Miss Minnie Bell. Vocal solo, "Only Once Moir." Miss Tillie McKlntosh. Essay, "Thrones That Never Crumble," Miss Lulu Fronk. Essav, "Literature," Mre. L. A. Al exander. Vocal solo, "The New Kingdom." Miss 'Bae MoCreight Essay, "Mountain Life," Miss Erne RlsheL Essay, "Objects," Miss Llda Vensel. i-The annual meeting jof the Allegheny Presbyterlal Missionary Society was held yesterday in the Sixth United Presbyterian Church, Allegheny. The meeting opened in the afternoon with a good attendance. The devotional exercises were conducted by Mrs. A. F. MacDonald. After the routine business was concluded officers were elected for the ensuing year. Those elected were: President, Mrs. N. Wylle Stevenson; Vice President. Mrs. T. D. MellomTreasurer, Mrs. George W. Paden: Recording Secretary, Miss Jennie B. Wallaco; Corresponding Sec retary, Mrs. B. F. Leitch: Presbyterial Mana ger of Women's Associato Work, Sliss Kath leen Anderson: Presbyterial Agent of Women's Magazine. Mrs. T. D. Mellon. At the conclusion of tho election a short ad diesson foreign missionary work was mado by Mrs. W. J. Reed. When she had finished a question box, with the usual questions and answers, wits conducted by Mrs. B. F. Leitch. I.nncheon was served in the chnrch, after which another well attended meeting was held. The devotional exercises were, conducted bv Mrs. E. S. McKitrick. A thank offering service was next conducted by Mrs. J. J. Porter, she was followed by an ad dress by Dr. C. J. Vincent on "Freedmen's Work." He spoke nt length on the mission ary work among the colored people In the South, and made comparisons, showing what advances have been made among thorn in religious work in recent years. Mrs. H. C Campbell" followed with an ad dress on "Home Mission Work." An address by Miss II. 31. Conner on "Missionary Lifo and Work In Egypt,"conciuded tbe meeting. The commencement exercises of the Pittsburg College of Pharmacy occurred last night In Carnegie Hall, Allegheny. Dr. Phillips was Master of Ceremonies and H. P. Ecker presided at the organ. Rev. J. W. Wltherspoon, D. D., offered prayer, and Prof. F. C. Phillips delivered the address of welcome. Thesalutatory ad diess was made by Prof. Adolnh Koenlg. Miss Paulino Lemmer sang an aria from Flotow's opera "Stradella." after which W. D. Moore, Esq., spoke on the necessity of educated druggists and the Imperative need of a higher standard, that more confidence may be felt in the filling of prescriptions. Joseph C. Breil sang the "Prize Song" lrom "Die Molstersinger" with splendid effect and won warm applause. Miss Blanche Ncwcomb contributed two violin solos. The class prophet, E. Neal Gillespie, made an en tertaining address and was followed by S. C. Jamison, who delivered the valedictory speech. Prof. Phillips then conferred Vie degrees. Those who received them were: A. Herman Poth, first honor, E.Neal Gillespie, second honor; Edward V. Weller, Kobert M. Hamer, Samuel C. Jami son, Charles S. Hull. George W. Richards, Oscar T. McDonough, Thomas M. Petty, Harry P. Weishaar, James F. Walker, Ulysses G. Meyers, Cyrenlns J. Newcomb. LAsp: night the daughter of Mayor Voegtly, of Allegheny, was married to a a son of Fred Egglers, one of the well-known Northside druggists. The ceremony was performed at the homo of the Mayor and a large nnmber of friends were present The young couple started on an Eastern trip. THE POSTOFFICE PEV. New York Sun. There's an oft-met-wlth invention -v That occasions much dissension While playing IU important part in the bnsy haunts of men: And you surely must have tried It, Grumbled at and vilified It. 'Tis the really quite exasperating postoflice pen. It is sadly ink-corroded. And with dust ana dirt is loaded. But at times will write quite smoothly for a hair a minute; then It will take a sudden notion To Indulge In an explosion. And scatter ink about It, will the postofflee pes. Scores of men have wildly Jabbed It In the bottle, then have stabbed It Through the blotter and have let it fall point down, time and again: Ladles angry worda have spoken Just because they fouud It broken. When they wished to do some writing with the postofflee pen. ' 'Twould be nice could this great nation Build at every postal station Such mighty structures as are asked by all the Con gressmen; BiH 'twould better satisfy ns If the C overnment would buy as. Bay every hundred years or to. a new postofflee pen. TH3-8BBM01C 0? THE DAT. A Reaction From the Modern Ways Might . t Snit the 1'ubllc Better. Philadelphia Bulletin. 1 Itwiil be pretty generally acknowledged that the sermon, like many things, has changed Its character In the last 20 or 30 years. 'Except In the "low church" places of 'worship vo rarely hear to-day a plain homily or simple and lucid explanation of Biblepassages. The few wo do, have of this kind are tinged with doctrinal ideas and have largely lost their original character. Education generally has advanced, and spiritual education, therefore.is supposed to have passed beyond the primary stage. The mind of the church-goer of to-day is taken to be'more receptive to discourses upon philo sophical ancTinvolyed questions of religious teaching and more ready to listen to them than-to' the fundamental and, perhaps, more apparent truths of the Christian Church. In tho"Blble the pulpit orator of to-day finds material for 'lengthy addresses upon what are often almost suppositious Ideas. He has been taugbt.tbat the-peoole expect from the sermon notjsomucH a review or explanation of the truths there expounded orany history of the movements of its principal actors, but rather a learned and well-thought-out anr-i-montnpon some doctrinal point In not a few churches the pulpit Is the place for in struction In chnrch .canons and doctrines, rather than for the teaching of the Bible. The study and explanation or the creed is an approach to the latter, but it is not the same. It is questionable whothorthis new kind of sermon more truly fulfills the mission bt the pulpit than did and still does in some places the simpler form. It may be said that the new sermon exhibits more educa tion, the workings of a more acute and moro powerful mind, and that the sermon Itself Is a grander effort. It is doubtful, however, whether this is what is most wanted in a ser mon.' Tho question arises: Is it strength and perfection in the sermon itself that is most desirable? It must be conceded that the worth of the sermon Is measured by its effect upon those that hear It, and that, therefore, if the socond class of sermons are judged to have tho greater effectiveness, that class may be considered as more truly fulfilling the mission of the pulpit In this matter our only reliable way of forming an estimate is through figures, and bereft Is apparent that those who fully ap preciate a learned and doctrinal discourse are far outnumbered by those whose in clination or men til compass makes the more simple and rudimentary truths.though noue the less great ones, understood, and the more involved questions almost incom prehensible. While the advancement of the spiritual higher education of thee may be a great mission, it is not the greatest The truest effort of the minister is to expound the truths of Christianity and toinstil In his hearers perfect faith. If thl3 is accom plished nn a broader and more extensive scale by adhering to simple methods and to tho primer, as it Were, of spiritual educa tion, it is certainly wiser that It should be done. An elevation in Christian learning Is most desirable and proper; but that eleva tion should not be attempted at the risk of being Incomprehensible to many, and of so losing perhaps the most active Interest of these. There Is, of course, a vast amount of mistaken bewailing for the gradual disap- Eoarance of "old-fashioned" church ways; ut at the same time a reaction in the mat ter or the modern sermon would be wel comed by a great many. Irrespective of creed. JOTTINGS ON THE 8LATB. Tax Pennsylvania Convention was not afraid to mention the name of G rover Cleve land. Buffalo Courier (Dem.). There is no mistake, however, in the in dorsement of Grover Cleveland. That is a platform in itself. Philadelphia Record (Jem.). The Pennsylvania Democratic friends of Governor Pattison have done a wise thing. They have gone with the tide. They have thrown the influence of a great State to Cleveland. Philadelphia Inquirer (Sep.). The platform Is made up of the soundest timDerandis honest wise and patriotic to the core. It has the unmistakable flavor of Intelligent conviction most manfully and concisely expressed. Philadelphia Times Dem.). The most notable thing about the proceed ings yesterday of the State Democracy at Harrlsburgin convention assembled was the demonstration made of the continued effici ency of the party machine. Philadelphia North American Rep.). The administration forces, as the support ers of Cleveland and Pattison are desig nated, were in complete control of the con vention, as might have been expected. They had a good cause, and, apart from every other consideration, were entitled to win on that ground alone. Philadelphia Ledger (Rep.). The wheels and shafts of Mr. Harrtty's machine proved to be firmly secured and abundantly oiled yesterday, and worked with entire success. The slate went through without an important break, the platform was Harrity's own, and even the speeches were revised and pruned by him before their delivery. Philadelphia Press Rep.). The Pennsylvania Democrats yesterday followed the excellent example of Massa chusetts in omitting to bind their delegates to Chicago with instructions. They ex pressed their preference for Mr. Cleveland's nomination and adopted a unit rule, but left the delegates free to act in June as the con ditions that shall then confront them may suggest. New York World Dem.). A PZRHB7LVAKIA PRODUCT. How a Native of This State Has Contributed to Ohio's Growth. New York Evening Sun. The population of Ohio from the census of 1890 was about 3,618,000. In 1870 it was 2,633, 200: in 1840, 1,519,487; in 1800,45,365. At that time it ranked the eighteenth State in the Union. In 1840 it was the third in population. Various causes have beon cited to account for the growth and rank that Ohio so easily achieved amon the States. None of theso has taken into consideration Mrs. Annie Bonsh. Mrs. Rousb, who lived on the banks of the Ohio river at a little town called Letart, has Just died at the age of 105 years. At her death she left 133 grandchildren, 500 great-grandchildren and 2,000 descendants, one of whom is a great-great-grcat grand child named Nannie, and now 5 years old. Mrs. Rnush was born at Morgantown, Pa., in 1737. He father was David Say re. Ho em igrated to Virginia in 1801, and finally re moved to Ohio where the town of Letart now stands. There in 1SK Annie married Henry Bousb. She herself had 13 children, and each of these had children never over a dozen and a half in nnmber and never un der a dozen. Their children each bore strictiv by the dozen, and the children of these children, that is to say tho third gen eration, restricted the number to a half dozen each. The fourth generation has ad hered to this as a suitable nnmber. Little 5-y car-old Nannie is the daughter of one of these, David Hazlitt by name. No recognition of Mrs. Roush's services to the State were ever mado. She remained a humble, respected citizen during her long, unbroken career as" wife and mother and in her various degrees of grandmother to a not insignificant portion of the State. The Latest Thing in Poetry. Detroit Free Press.l Oh To 'Tls A What Write Done Largo A A To Sized Funny Simple Give Rich Way Stanza; Our Bonanza. Is Modern This Bards Look Ont for Increased Mortality. Chicago Times. The baseball season Is now open and em ployers will soon observe an alarming in crease of mortality among thonged relatives of their clerks. 1 Expected Return of the Wanderers. Chicago News. Tho largo numbors of people who nre about to return from Oklahoma In a few weeks' will come forth with a largely in creased respect for the rest of tho United States. A Juke With Many Points. Philadelphia Call. The PrrrsBCRO DisrATCH calls the present Congress a capital Joke. It is a Joke with more than one point One Thing in Bill's Favor. St Louis Globe-Democrat. It must be said in Hill's favor that he knows how to stand a good deal of thump ing without squealing. CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS. Iowa will be the thirty-fourth State to 'adopt the Australian ballot system. In Chicago there is an admirable legal bureau which gives legal advice free to the poor. It is said that 12,000 rosebuds were sold by one New York florist the other day in two hours. It is believed that the world's popula tion is increasing at the rate of nearly 6,000, 000 a year. A prisoner escaped from Sing Sing last week in order that he might take bis best girl to a picnic. It is stated that the Thomson-Houston Electric Company has 1,030 patents on its electrical apparatus. The Josephine (Oregor) caves have) been explored for about ten miles, and they seem to run away into California. An English physician has traced the grip in many cases to infected postage stamps on letters from persons suffering from the disease. The Swiss have done the least fighting; this century, and their only Important out breaks have been more of a civil than a military character. Four railway companies, the Great -Testern, the Great Eastern, the Southwest ern and the Northwestnm, bring into Lon don about 20,000,000 gallons of milk every year. It is now generally held by electricians that the principle of the aurora borealis is tho same as that shown by the Geissler tube, in which electricity is discharged through, rarefied air. A calf with six distinct feet, all of which are used in walking, Is reported from Mooresville, Ind. It Is alleged that thin freak: has a brother endowed with an equal number of feet. Fluids which do not adhere, or are not attracted upward by the sides of a vessel, sink round tho brim and rise in the center. Thus mercury in a glass forms a convex sur face, while water forms a concave. In the summer of 1889 4,039,000 lobster eggs were hatched and the young lobsters planted around the head of Trinity bar, the eggs having been obtained from lobster packing establishments in the vicinity. In a discussion lately carried on as to tho distance at which larg'o objects on tho earth's surface are vlsible.it was stated that tho Himalaya Mountains have appeared to view from the great distance of 224 miles. One of the finest opals in the world is worn on his cap by the Chinese Minister at Washington. It is as large as a plgeon'3 e"-, and Is snrronnded by diamonds. ThevaTne of the cap, with its ornament, is placed ac $5,000. Though the falls of Minnehaha have gone dry, Minneapolis will supply an artifi cial cataract there while the National Re publican Convention is in session by laying pipes to connect tne falls with the city water works. Electric welding is now applied to the work of manufacturing iron wheels. The processor wolding tho hub, spokes and tire ofa wheel is accomplished in 30 seconds which is very much less time than it took by tho old process. A new form of saddle is being served out to the Garda du Corps experimentally by order of the German Emperor. There has been some talk in military circles lately of a new saddle, all the metal parts of which are made of aluminium. A school teacher reports that every two years be had to buy a Bible, to replace ona roughly handled by his scholars; 777 times la 51 years he made his pnpils kneel on peas, and 5,001 scholars had to do penance with a ruler held over their heads. A few years ago the Baroness Buraett Contts came Into possession of an abbrevi ated edition of a pony which was onlv It inches in height, and was but IS inches in length, counting from the end of the nose straight across to the root of the tail. The smallest inhabited island in the world is that on which the Eddystone Light house stands. At low water it is SO feet la diameter; at high water the lighthouse, whose diameter at the base Is 2SJJ feet com pletely covers it It is inhabited by three persons. "Galigani" reports that a rather curious ceremony has taken place near Poitiers. The electric light has J ust been laid on in tho parish of St Philomen.and the Bishop of tho diocese solemnly blessed the dynamos, a special ritual had been composed for the ceremony. It is impossible to fill a glass completely with any liquid, from rim to center. Tho most common fluids such as water, milk, or spirit are'attracted from the sides of tho vessel into which they are placed, so that they rise around the brim, leaving a hollow in the middle. The sisal grass of Yucatan is one of the most remarkable vegetable products known. It grows in long blades, sometimes to the length of four or five feet, and when dry tho blade curls up from side to side, making a cord which is stronger than any cotton string of equal size that has ever been manu factured. An insect of South America has its fangs so like the flower of tho orchid that smaller insects are tempted into its Jaws, while certain spiders double themselves up in the angle between the leafstalk and tho stem, and so closely resemble flower buds that their unsuspecting prey approach to their destruction. The electric current on the 30th of March, turned its first furrow in American soil at the Kansas sorghum experimental station. The motor developed ample power to plow deep and fast, but it became evident that a rheostat or resistance coil, such as is. used in starting electrin cars, is also neces sary with the electric plow. Electricity has now been applied to stone carving the blow being struck by means of Carstarphen's electrical recipro cating tool. With this machine, the stone "cutter or tho sculptor can devoto his entire attention to the lines his instrument is to follow, while doing tho work more rapidly than by his own muscular power. The first female knights are said to have been women who stoutly defended Tortosa against the Moors in 1149, and were reward, ed with largo Immunities for themselve3antt their descendants. When Edward 1IL founded the Garter he bestowed the robes and badges on his Queen and on the wives and daughters of the other knights. In- California it is found that peach stones burn as well as the best coal, and give out more heat in proportion to weight. The stones taken out of tho fruit that U tinned or dried Is collected, and sold at the rate of $15 nton. Apricot stones also burn, but not so well as peach,.and do not com mand so good a price. JOKELETS FROM JUDOE. 3rrs. Kingley Your husband seems to be very anxious to go over to Ireland. i Jlrs. Bingo Yes. and I don't understand why. Mr. Kingley Perhaps It Is because there are no snakes there. Of Easter joys I cannot sing; I've missed the best. I find. She makes up almost everything Except her little mind. Judge Mosby Say, Colonel, what d'ys ask for the mill? Colonel Jaezers Five hundred dollars. Jedze. Judge Mosby Great gosh! whit would a man want with a mill with all thet money? She I am so afraid of you newspaper men, r He Why; are we so bad? She No; but there is no telling when yon are going to press. An Easter lily by the chapcel stair, Fair, golden-throated, bent with fragrance sweet: Like to an unstained soul the petals pale. Purest of blossoms for the altar meet. A little child that knelt beside my knee Whispering a baby prayer at Eastr time A year ago no longer here by me Tnough Ulles bloom and Easter church-beUS chime. Old lady Well, wonders will never cease. Dime-museum manager I should hope not Although you maybe short of pelf It's safe to bet upon It E'en though yoa hive no suit yourself Your wife will have that bonnet Mr. Standardoil Is it my daughter yoa want or Is It her money? Tobias Howens (amateur champion, hundred yarusj-Mr. btandardoll, yon surprise mo. Yoa kndw very well that I'm an amateur athlete. Mr. Standardoll-What's that got to do with it? Tobias Howens-A great deal. sir. It debars ma from taking part In any event for money. ' - " --.7- . . ' ' X ( ' ' m Mt -fibS.-
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers