1HE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH. TUESDAY. MAT -3. 1892. m f yf " ije MM$m$. ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY S, 1S46 Vol. 7, io. M.-Entcred at riltsborg Postofflce November, las!, as second-class matter. Business Office Corner Smithfield and Diamond Streets, "News Rooms and Publishing House 78 and 80 Diamond Street, in Nevr Dispatch Building. rATrn.". atvfktisin office. Root t. TRIBUNE mni.niNO. NFWYOKK. where com plete nle of THE PlM'ATCHcan always lie fonnd. Forrijtn advertisers appreciate Hie convenience. Home advertisers ard trlendsof THE DbPAlUI. wlillc In N cw York, art; aba made welcome. IUF DISPA TCI1 1 g no'ilarlv on sole at RrrntmoS, Orion Satan. nc I or Jr. and r Are rfrrOjxro. Ton. Rvncr. vhm anyone icho tins been disap pointed at a hotel nactt stand can obtain lU TEIfttS OF TIIE IJlSPATCn. ro;TAr!E ttitt. iv the united states. JUTLT DlsrATCn. One Year t S CO Daily lIrATCn. Ter Quarter IfO Daii1 Dispatch, One Month V Oailt Dispatch. Including Snndav, 1 rear.. 10 00 Dailt Dispatch. IncludlngSundav.Jm'ths. S50 Daily DirATCii. Including Sunday. Ira'th. P0 6rMAi Dispatch, One Year IV) Mmn liisrvrcii. One Year 1 TlIF 1)ail Dispatch Is delivered by carriers at 3.' cent per week. or. including Sunday Edition, at 10 cents per week. TUESDAY. MAY 3. 1S9A TWELVE PAGES AGAINST OVERHEAD WIRES. The announcement that an ordinance has been prepared under the direction of the Mai or and the Chief of the Depart ment of Public Safetv for the removal of all overhead wires below Grant street, Is 11 eieome news. The felicitations 01 er the promised reform may be somewhat damp ened by the recollection that an equally positive promise was made about two ears ago, that the same work should be done within a year. But one failure to make the performance equal to the pledge is no reason why the effort should not be repeated. The time given by the proposed ordi nance for the removal of telegraph, tele phone and electric light wires is two years. This shows a willingness to gie the com panies plenty of lime for doing their work, a course which is all right in theory. But in practice it will be found to result in the corporations doing little or nothing in the waj of absolute removal during the two years' grace, and trusting either to the non-enforcement of the ordinance, when the time is up, or to their ability to gain fuither delay by fighting. "When this has been the experience of every other city that has tried to rid itself of the overhead wire incubus, it appears as it fixing the date for actual removal ja year hence would begin work a year sooner than is proposed. But aside from these criticisms the fact that the city government is committing itself even to a gradual process of remov ing the wires is very gratifying. The safety of our buildings in cases of fire is threatened by the wire nuisance; the ap pearance of the streets is marred by the rows of masts and the network of wires. The danger from the crossing of electric li::ht wires with others cannot be ignored. The removal of the disfigurement and hazard is a work in which the city offi cials can rely on the support of the pub lic. The reports concerning the forthcoming ordinance do not tell what Is to be dene with the problem of the trolley wires; but it is permitted to hope that by the time the other electric wires are disposed of a solution will be found by which the trol ley disfigurement can go under ground with them. THE FIRE JsND ITS ISSUES. The Chief of the Department of Public Safety makes a statement that the delay in getting to work at the Liberty streei fire was caused by people in the building, where the fire started, first trying to put it out thcmselies, and then sending in an alarm by telephone. This statement, if substantiated, will relieve the department from the charge of tardiness in answering the alarms; but it does not afford any guarantee that such vital delays may not be repeated in future. The fact that there was a sudden and threatening fire was well known in the vicinity for some time before the alleged sending in of the alarm. Officers subject to the direction of the De partment of Public Safety were within a few hundred feet of the fire. Should not the facts suggest the importance of regu lations to insure that alarms are sent in promptly? It is also stated that an agent of the company supplying hose is in the city for the purpose of investigating the facts with regard to the bursting of lice during the fire. The need of an investigation is un doubted; but it is self-evident that the findings will be much more satisfactory, if conducted under some other authority than that of the contractor who furnished the hose. THE OHSTACEE Or CONSERVATISM. A recent article in the Country Gentle man points out that the greatest obstacle to the improvement of country roads is the intense conservatism of the farming population itself. This was illustrated by a recent case in Dutchess county, New York, in one of the towns of which county the question of changing the sjstem in vogue was voted down by more that four to one. A road reform bill in Connecticut is meeting with the solid opposition of the farmiijg inter est, and in Pennsylvania the same obsta cle has made itself manifest in more ways than one. This rather thick-headed determination of the farmers to adhere to the old system, or rather lack of system, is one of the peculiarities of the situation. It is mani fest, moreover, that the actual work of the reform cannot be commenced in earn est until the farming interests are con verted to its support. Wo cannot drive the agricultural districts into accepting good roads, both because that sturdy class is likely to refuse to be driven, and be cause benefits forced on any person or community against their wills lose half their beneficial character. The only road to success hes in convincing the farmers that their interests will be greatly en hanced by the introduction of solid, last ing and smooth roads. Fortunately the Dutchess county ex ample illustrates how this can be done. In that case the village people, by the help of the labor vote, passed an appropriation to purchase a stone-crusher. Since then, for three years, about $2,000 a year has been expended in putting broken stone on the most traveled road. The consequense is that, finding a road smooth and solid at all seasons of the year, the farmers' opposition to the improvement is being converted into support. This indicates the way to convert the farmers. Let them see and drive over a road of the best kind and learn by cx- perience how much the saving over balances the cost. The proposed road exhibit at the World's Fair will be a great object lesson; but the most completo con viction will be secured by providing in each agricultural section a mile or two of good road at a cost which will permit its extension all over the country. TTIIAT TO WORK FOR. The Chamber of Commerce had an in teresting communication before it yester day advocating increased railroad facili ties with the Upper Monongahela valley and stating that such would secure the city 51,000,000 worth of new trade annu ally. This is a matter deserving the Chamber's efforts to influence the officials of the two rail roads concerned. The same letter asserts that there is no constitutional authority for the payment of river tolls on Inter State transportation, and the money and interests involved should lead to a decision of the question on a test case. Then the Chamber endorsed the Mississippi Biver improvements, as requested by the Com mission having them in charge, and this was a wise action as showing a sympathy with the improvement of internal water ways. As for the request to the Chamber by the California State Nicaragua Canal Commission that it should send a delegate to the Nicaragua Canal Convention to be held at St Louis, the best thing our com mercial representatives can do is to show their extreme disapproval of this scheme to mulct the national treasury' for the benefit of private speculators in the strongest manner possible. The Dispatch has time and again explained the fraudu- lence of this attack on national credit,. and the Chamber of Commerce has plenty of home work to attend to without enter ing into the Nicaragua scheme except to signify an unmistakable opinion against the audacious claims of the promoters of the work. There are important directions in which the Chamber of Commerce will find ample field for all its energies, and the nearer home it keeps them the better it will do its work. No effort should be spared to rouse Pittsburg's merchants and manu facturers to extend their commercial horizon and make far larger attempts to compete with outsiders and seek trade instead of waiting for orders to come to them as they now do. Then, too, the Ohio River and Lake Erie Canal should receive every particle of pushing that it can get, and it pre-eimently demands the help and assistance of our Chamber of Commerce. CORROBORATING CRITICISM. An evening cotemporary takes decided exception to the comparison made by The Dispatch of the relative growth of ex penditures and exports. Yet its criticism melts into corroboration when it declares: "As a matter of fact the comparison insti tuted by The Dispatch is absurd. Ex ports are not income and they sustain no relation to government expenditures, which can be made the basis of compari son." Just so. Our esteemed cotemporary fails to perceive the fact that The Dis patch held that the comparison was not founded in reason. The Dispatch did not institute the comparison. The person who did institute the comparison was that eminent gentleman, Major William McKin- ley, in his speech to the Ohio Republican Convention. It was for lugging in such a comparison that The Dispatch deemed him guilty of sophistry. After that Republican leader had insti tuted this comparison it was pertinent to point out, that while appropriations are nearly three times what they were twenty years ago, exports have only doubled; and, as compared with 18S1, the exports have increased about seven per cent, while ap propriations have doubled. THE BILLOT LVTF CONSTITUTIONAL. The Supreme Court sustains the consti tutionality of the ballot reform law, taking the ground that the failure to provide a place on the official ballot for parties hav ing less than three per cent of the total vote is not a disfranchisement This is supported by the obvious assertion that the voters of that party can write inthenames. Of the allegation that the time allowed is not sufficient for the average voter to per form that task, the Court says that this can be tested by actual experience, and that by this light many particulars may be found in which the act should be amended, but which do not make it necessary to de clare it unconstitutional. On such a point as this it appears that common sense might, perhaps, make the waiting for actual experiment unneces sary. At the next election in Pennsyl vania the voter will have to vote for 32 Presidental electors, besides State and local officers, making a possible ticket of forty to fifty names; and while this is a maximum, it recurs in equal magnitude for every four years. The law allows the voter whose chosen candidates are not on the printed list three minutes in which to write out these forty or fifty names. It seems possible for the Court to have expressed an opinion whether the average voter can perform that task in the stated time with the necessary care for the correctness of each name. It is that the Legislature can, if it chooses, amend this particular. But will that remedy the practical disfranchisement of those who are prevented from voting as they chose in the interim? As to the point raised by lion. C. F. Black, that the whole law is in conflict with the right guaranteed by the Constitu tion of every voter who chooses to have his ballot attested by a citizen of the district, that does not appear to have been passed upon. It may not have been raised In the case under review, but is so very cogent a point that some attention to it ought to have been paid by the Court NOT A RESULT OF FREEDOM. A remark of M. Loubet, the French Premier, has been widely quoted in this country to the effect that the present An archist crimes in France are due to the mistaken liberty which has been extended by past administrations to the teaching of such doctrines, on the plea of liberty of speech and the press. Such a view shows that M. Loubethasnotintelligentlystudied the conditions under which anarchy flourishes. Anarchy cannot he attributed either to the liberty of speech or liberty of the press. Where there is free discussion its spread is impossible. The secret nature marks it as the natural means of fighting the repres sive policy of absolutism. The most con clusive evidence on this point is that it does not originate in lands where the lib erty of the press and of speech is the great est but where they are the least Ittakes no root in England or the United States, but attains its most universal development in autocratic Russia. It may seem a contradiction of this rule that the Anarch ists arc active in the French Republic; but we must remember that not even the Re public has refrained from repressive measures toward the radical element of democracy, while the real seeds of the small anarchist growth in Franco, were sown by the repressive tendency of the Second Empire. Now that France is cursed by Anarch ist crimes it must stamp them out by severe measures. But her statesmen will do wisely to remember that the surest way to prevent its new growth will be to maintain such a freedom of discussion that simplest minds will recognize the aba surdity of resort to secret crimes for the furtherance of political ideas. HOT THE RIGHT WAT. The House Committee on appropria tions proposes to make a general reduc tion of the salaries of government em ployes. This is a pettyfogging false econ omy which does not economize. National servants should be well paid in order to attract and secure the services of able men. But while officials are appointed by partisan considerations it matters little whether they be paid liberally or with stint A little reform to make offlceholding dependent on efficiency and Integrity would go much further toward economy than any amount of salary pruning. Far greater savings can be secured for the na tion by chanzing the requirements for an officeholder from narrow political associa tions to broad business abilities than by any amount of reduction in appropria tions. The amount of money paid is of infinitely less importance than the nature of services secured in return. Kennedy- is now Mayor of Allegheny. His Inauguration m ij- or lnuy not mark the beginning of a continuous efficient admin istration. The matter depends simply on the attentive support of the citizens. However Dr. Parkhurst's methods may bo found fault with, the alleged nction of the Taminany manipulators in straining all their lesources in an effort to catch him tripping and secure his arrest is a far moio discreditable proceeding. Tlint the vice is there, and that it is connived nt by officials paid to suppiess it, cannot be denied by any sane and honest porson. And the bitter op position aroused among the politicians who make public appointments for partisan and corrupt purposes goes a long way in the ex cuse of those who arc endeavoring to secure decency by means that are of doubtful mo rality and ceitain unconventionality. For it shows that in this way dishonest perqui sites and privileges have reoeivod a severer blow than would otherwise havo been possi ble. Stories from Washington exhibit a spirit of belligerence among Congressmen in private life which should render them eminently fitted for m omotlon as our diplo matic representatives abroad. Pittsburg's streets will look Btrangely forlorn when stripped of their wire festoons. But the blow will be borne with equanimity, as the process' of denudation is to extend over a period o. two years, and citizens will thus become gradually accustomed to the absence of their sky-lines with all their grace and beauty. Bros are bursting on the trees, and the city's Are hose bursting in the streets is en tirely in harmony with nature's Spiing fashions. SnooxD Congressmen be deprived of pay during absences f : om sessions of the House, except when occasioned by personal or iam ily sickness, the medical (acuity would have a remunerative opening in the manufacture of suitablo certificates to order. It is becoming platitudinarian to say that Piatt is a deal more interested in him self than in making a deal with Harrison. On the assumption that the presence of Congiessmcn at the Capitol is necessary for the transaction of the country's business, the nation should bo duly thankful that race meetings at Bennings are by no means so pemetual as at Guttcnbnrg. Flags caused trouble in Chicago streets on Sunday, but it is their absence that has been raising the dust in Pittsburg. Wale street, Creede, is flooded and the new mining town is in danger of liqui dation. Rut Wall street, Now York, is so much accustomed to the presence of" water that a veritablo delugo would hardly be noticeable. There was no ball game here yesterday, but, -n either permitting, one niue will have a chance to lose to day. Cleveland has a something solid to fall back on in the New York Life Insurance Company, which doon much to demonstrate his sincetity in stating that he would have no disappointment if November decided against him. The most striking feature of Presidental lightning is that it kills the aspirants, whom it does not sti ike. The season is now beginning when It behooves young men to be gallant in offers of soda water and ice cream, and when maidens should exercise sufficient self-control to avoid hinting that they like such things. With the approach of summer the sweat ing system is again urgently demanding at tention. In spite of his counsel's efforts to prove thai Ins mind was diseased, and that ho was therefore iiicspo'nsiblo for his crimes, Deem ing will in all probability be entirely de ceased at tile hands of the law beforo long. Sleeplessness is common just now, as the icgetatiou makes so much noise in shooting. Wilkinsburg will show its wisdom to day by noting lor an increase of its indebt edness to piovide a sew erage system. This is the kind ot cxpeudituie which is ilio best soitof economy when propeily managed. Economy calls for an audit whether Pittsburg or elsewheie don 11 the Ohio. in Colonel Elliott P. SnnPARD's sud den pioniincnce, as an aspirant for second place on the Republican national ticket, ap peal's to be more indicative ot tho necessity for campaign funds than anything elso. An Ice Trust is a nice cousumeis. freeze-out for the A BLACK DAVID IN CHICAGO. Arrayed as a Priest, lie Takes Possession of a Church Daring Services. Chicago, May 2. The rjooplo who worship in M. Anne's Catholic Chuiih, at Garfield boulevard and Wentwoith avenue, wore treated to something out of tho oidinary yesterday. After the seivicos and whilo thccongiegation was dispel sing, a coluied man, wearing tho garb of upuest, a long black gown and crucifix, with a peculiarly shaped bat surmounted by a cioss, appealed liiliontof the-church, and in a loud voice said that he was David, and consequently a son oi God. Tho negioat once commenced a sermon, samgthat he had been &eiit theie to save the people of tho church from tho toimeuts of hell; that they must listen and do as ho bid them, for his word was law. The harangue was cut shoit when u police offl cei pushed his way thiough the ciowdand beized the man. Piotesting vigorously against such treatment, he was sent to the Lnlewood police station. There lie gave his name as Peidiuand Schultee. He In sisted that he had been created for the pur pose of bringing man and woman toapioper lealizathm of things. Prophecies Go by Contraries. Toleao Commercial. The prophets predict much foul weather for the first halt of this month. This may prove cause ior rejoicing in good weather. THE BAKER LAWALL RIGHT. Pennsylvania's Snpremo Court Sara It's Constitutional It Does Not DIsf ranchlss Voters Belonging to the. Smaller Par tiesIt Merely Regulates tho Official Ticker. Philadelphia, May 2. A decision was rendered to-day by the Supreme Court, sus taining the constitutionality of the Baker ballot leformluw, passed by the last Legls latuie. The cases upon which tho decision was based weie those of Do Walt, appealed from tbo Philadelphia courts; Meredith, fiom tho Lebanon County Court, and Rip ples, fiom the Laokawanna County Court. The opinion, delivered by Chief Justice Paxson, is, Jn biief, as follows: "Each of tho above cases is an appeal from the refusal of the learned Judge beldvv to grant a preliminary injunction. The object of the respective bills was to test the con stitutionality of the act of Assembly ap proved on the 19th day of June, 1891, enti tled: 'An act to leguiate the nomination and election ofpublic officers, requiring cer tain expenses incident thereto to be paid by the several counties and certain other ex penses to be paid by the Commonwealth, and punishing, certain offenses in regard to such elections.' "It is proper to bo observed at this point that the bill in each case asks us to declare the entiie act unconstitutional. While certain sections of it have been especially criticised, the litigation is directed against tho net as a whole. Were we to declare tho sections thus criticised unconstitutional, the act, thus emnsculated, would be of little use, oven if theremainderof it could bo enfoiced. The Motive for tho Various Tests. "There is no doubt of the power of the Legtslatm o to i emulate elections. Abundance of authority might te cited weie It neces sary. Tiie test is. whether such legislation denies the franchise or renders Us exercise so difficult anil Inconvenient as to amount to a denial. The act provides for a seciet ballot. That is manifestly its main purpose, and it is in entire harmony with Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution, which declared that, 'elections shall be free and equal.' "The framersor the act in question havo evidently leached the conclusion that the only adequate guarantee of fiee and equal elections, within the letter and spirit of the Constitution, is absolute secrecy. They have, theiefoie, provided for a secret ballot. 'Tho ground ot complaint, as set forth in Do Walt's appeal, is not that the act denies tha.right ot suffrage, but that It abildges the fieedom of voting in its practical oper ation and destroys the constitutionality and uniformity by discrimination against some votois in lavorol others notwithstanding that all of them are equal under tho Consti tution; that instead of dealing with the electors in tho relntion which each stands to tho State nnd collectively as members of one body, and that body the State, the act treats of the voters as they aro divided into political parties by their voluntary choice, and it then confers upon the voteis of somo nolltlcal parties favors and immunities based exclusively on numbers in party asso ciations or ioup, which It absolutely de nies, under the prohibition and penal tios of the act, to the voters of other political p ti tles in which voteis are less numeious, thus making numbeis in political association the basis for conferring on some voters the free dom, the quality and the uniformity assured iu every quauneu elector 01 tne state oy me Constitution and for denying them to otheis. 'Minority Voters Not Disfranchised. This contention is plausible but unsound. The act does not deny to any voter the ex ercise of the elective franchise because he hnppons to be a member of a pnrty which at the last general election polled less than three per cent of the entire vote cast. The provision l eferred to is but a lobulation, and we think a leasonable one, in regard to the printing of tickets. The use of official bal lots renders it absolutely necessary to make somo lobulations in regard to nominations, in order to asceitain what names shall be printed on the ballots. "The right to vote can only be exercised by tho individual elector. The light to nom inate, flowing necessarily iroin tne light to vote, can only be exeicised by a number of voters acting together. It follows, if an of ficial ballot is to bo used, noinin itious must be tegular in some way, otherwise the bemevonlilbc impracticable, and the of ficial ballot become the size of a blanket. "While so leguluting it, the net carefully preserves the right of every citizen to vote lor any candidate n hose namo is not on tho official bailor, and this Is done in a manner which does pot impose any unnecessary in convenience mi'thrf voter. Thenctual en loiceruent of the act will test this, as well as many other matters connected with its oper ation. It is, nt least, pi obable that when tested by experience it will be found to con tain many features that will need ic vision and amendment. This can be safely lett to tiie Legislature, and is no icason why we should declare tho act unconstitutional. Tho Dal lot Law Is General. "The only specification of error in the Ripples appeal, is that tho court below erred in lefusing to grant the preliminary in junction asked for. Tho principal giound of contention in this, as in Meieditu's appeal, is that tho act in question is a local and special law, and, therefore, in contradiction of the Constitution. It was alleged to be special and local legislation because it does not apply to any one of the cities of the Com monwealth whose boundaries are not co cxtensie with the county. If tho met weie as alleged, we would bo compelled to de clare tne act unconstitutional. An examina tion of it, however, does not satisly us that it does not apply to oveiy poition of the State. Its language is general and applies to all public oftkus whether in counties, cities, boroughs or townships. "Tho law itself may be legnided in the light of an attempt on the part of the people to secure a pure, fieo ana unlntimidated ballot. Every presumption is In favor of the constitutionality of the law, and it would requiie a very clear case to justify us in striking it down on the ground or its un constitutionality. Asweiiew tho act, theie isnotbmg in which is so clearly a violation of the Constitution as to justify the'Court in striking it down. It would be out oi place at this timo to discuss its wisdom. Ifitsball move beneficial, the people will probablv retain it with such amendments as the lutuie may show wise. It it does not meet with the expectation of the people, thoy will sweep it aw ay." Perhaps lie Shot a Scareprpw. Chicago Times. Theie seems icason to suspect that Mr. Milbank has shot some humble faimei's haid-woiking scaieciow. FAVORITES OP FORTUNE. Henry Irving is at work again after a shoit indisposition, cansod by cold and loss of voice. Dr. E. TJ. Emerson, the son of Kalph Waldo Emcisou, is lecturing in Massachu setts on Thoreau. Young Italph Ingalls is his father over again in atte. illation of fitruio, as well as iu eloquence and in readiness of letort. Sir Arthur Sullivan, whose condi tion since his return fiom Monte Carlo has greatly alaimed his friends, is better. The announcement is made that Captain Albert Cai stairs, of tho Royal Irish Rifle", ill mairy Fanny, daughter of Mr. Bos t wick, of New York. Justice SI. V. Montgomery, of Michi gan, who was appointed by Piesident Cleve land to the bench of tho bupieme Couitof the District ot Columbia,' has lesigned his position. Senator Blackhurn is credited with being the readiest of Congressional speaker". He carries at his tongue's end a vocabulary which is leniaikablo for. its range and copiousness. In less than a year General Schofield will have leached the age of letiioment ironi active military service, for he is,nowC3; and a few months later General O. O. Howard will be eligible for tho letired list. Mr. Payne, the Chicago Jair Commis sioner.has left tho City of Mexico for Chicago, where, as manager of a Western manu facturers' syndicate, he will devoto his energies toward promoting trade with Mexico. Mrs. Dandridge and Mrs. Harriet Lane Johnson, widow of Henry Johnson, of Baltimore are tho only survivors of tho long line of distinguished women who pre sided over tho White" Houso previous to General Grant's term. Maruits "Wagon Vavoobt, Dutch Journalist and novelist, whoso pen name is "Vosmeer do Spic," staitod from Holland .last Satm day to make a tour of the United States. Ho will bo accompanied by Mr. (J. Uadgren, a Swedish litterateur and well known canoeist. O'DONOVAN E03SA'S LATEST. He Says Ho Knows Personally That Eng land Sends Convlcls to America. New York, May 2. The sub-committeo of tho Joint Senate and House Committee on Immigration continued its Ellis Island in vestigation to-day. Colonel Weber, the Stipenntendent of Immigration at Ellis Island, produced tho lecords with regard to the reports ho had of the landing of the pas sengers of the steamship Massllla. Colonel Weber admitted that somo immigrants es caped from the steamship docks before thev were landed at Ellis Island. Ho said it is Impossible, with tho ptosont force of em ployes and the present arrangements with the steamship companies, to entirely prevent this. During Colonel Weber's examination, O'Donovau Hossa sent up a note to Senator Chandler, in which ho said: "England associated me with her convict ed thieves and burglars. I talked daily with them. Their destination aftor their rime in prison was served was Ameiica. England sent them under escort of prison guards from the prison to the ships sailing for America." Ex-Health Officer Smith, who had been health officer lor tho past 12 years, until a few months ago. was next called. Ho was in charge of the office when the .Mus-ilia's pas sengers arrived, but did not make the exam ination himself. Dr. Skinner, one of his deputios, made the examination. After Dr. Skinner's report to him ho was satisfied that no phjslclan could determine at that time, when no cases of sickness were lenort- cd to him, whether theie was any typhus on board, and tho fact that the disease did not develop for a long time afterward confirmed him in that opinion. THE OLDEST MMf 05 EARTH. A Spaniard Living Near Mexico "Who Says He Has Live I 134 Years. Crrr of Mexico, May 2. Piobably the old est person on eaith Is to be found in the outskirts of this city. Jesus Campeche lives In a hut witii his great great-grandson, who is a full giown man. Campeche came originally from Spain where he says he was born in 173S, which would make him now 154 years old. He has the appearance of being nbout 9-3 year old and is lairly active for an old man. He shows papers to bear out his assertion as to his age and biith and the man with whom he is living savs theie is no doubt as to the relationship he bears to the old man. Campeche says that he has never known a day's sickness in his life. He says he remembers icoming to this country wnen he was 25 years old as a sol dier and that was long liefoie the War of the Revolution in the United States. The old m in's memory is good nnd lie tells of tilings which took place the last century as ir thev had occurred last year instead of over 100 years ago. In faot he remem bers things 75 and 100 years iuo bettor than he does those of recent occuirence. The papers which he carries to piovo his asser tions are the copies of a chinch register in Validolid, Sriain, showing his date of birth and that of his baptism. Tho papers are un doubtedly genuine, as far as the dates aie concerned and the only thing to bo de termined is whether they are rightfully his or not. A CORRESPONDENT DEFENDED. Wakeman'i Pen Picture of th Polish Nobility Trnn and Beat. To the Editor of The Dlspatcbi In yesterday's Leader I found a contribu tion of Mr. Charles Bozenta Chlapowski, the husband of the famous actress, Modjeska. This gentleman, a Polish nobleman himself, denies in his article, "the authenticity of the facts quoted" by your correspondent, Mr. Wakenian, in his letter from Cracow, Galicia. (Dispatch, April 24.) Born in Cracow and having beon an editor of a Polish paper in that city, I know its peo ple and am as familiar with the way things are going on there as an editor of a Pitts burg paper is familiar w Ith what concerns Pittsburg. From all I have learned, seen and experienced since my childhood, I can assure you that the picture presented by your correspondent, especially as much as it concerns the character of the Polish nobility and the way the Hebrews aro treated is cor rect, true and real, while the "defense" of Mr. Charles Bozonta Chlapowski is far from being based on leality. Pittsburg, May 2. Airrnun Ameisex. MORRISON COMPLIMENTS BOTES. Ths New State Treasurer Well Pleased Vrith the Slate ot Affair. HAMtiSBmta, Mays. State Treasurer John W. Morrison took possession of tho Treas ury this morning. No appointments wore announced, other than that of George Mor rison Taylor, of Philadelphia, to be Cashier. Captain Morrison said this afternoon that tho transfer was made in a very short time, owing to the excellent shnpein which every thing was found. With Mr. Boyerhewent cai efully over the books and found that the balances corresDonded exactly with the sworn statement of the State depositors. The sinking fund securities were also gone over item by item nnd found intact. Cap tain Moriison complimented the retiring Treasuror very highly. PEACE PREVAILED EVERYWHERE. Mat Pat in the perturbed Old World hap pily passed without any of the serious dis turbances that weienpprehended. New York World. Mat Dat passed without bloodshed in the European capitals yesterday. Tho police wero too much for tho bomb-throwers. Baltimore Herald. Mat Dat has passed without any Tory seiious disturbances. Europe may woll con gratulate herself on the outcome. Younga toum Telegram. Tun pcoplo of Europe who dreaded tho possible contingencies of May Day and its threatened violenco breathe a good deal nioro fieely this morning. Kew York Herald. TiiEnn was no trouble to speak of in Euiopo yestciday. With the exception of a small outbreak hero and there, it was almost as quiot as a Parkhuist Sunday in Now York. JSew Yoi k Advertiser. Mat Dat passed off without any serious disturbances in tho places where troublo was most expected. Anarchy is pretty suio not to break out w hen the authorities aro fully pi epared for it. Buffalo Express. Mat Dat passed without tho serious dem onstrations which weie exnected in tho Euiopcan capitals. Tho Socialist agitators have run against the cold steel in the hands of trained soldiers too often to daro it un necessarily. Wheeling Evening News. Lo:do:s's May Day demonstration yester day was essentially a labor outing, appeal ing to tho eye by imposing numbers, and at the same timo appealing to tho minds of the participants through tho medium of speeches fiom platforms in Hyde Park Philadelphia Itecoid. The demonstration seems to havo almost partaken of tho natnio of an old-lashioned May Day celebration in which, however, tho laboring people weie the only celebrants. The absence of lepreasne measures was doubtless largely responslblo lor this, as well as for the temper of the crowd, w hich was decidedly uu-Anarchistic Philadelphia Press. DEATIIS HERE A.VI) ELSEWHERE. Sir. Daniel Deo y, of Frankstown. The largest funeral ever seen in Franks town was that of Mr. U.uilcl Deeljr yesterday morn ing, there being 9j carriages In Hoe. Mass was said In it. Stephen's Church. Hazilwood. followed by an address truthfully eulog stic of the deteised. Scleral itrlCsU accompanied the remains to bt. Mrv'sO-mtttry to perform the list sail rites. 'I he tears of relatives antf lricnds mingled with the May shower or heai en over the casket lowering into the grave blutllng along larewul to a good father, urotlier and citizen. Obitaary Notss. Yates CAKih.oton; the well known animal painter. Is dead In London. GEMUtAL Geokgh D. Utasst died yesterday afternoon lu limtngton, Dei. SquiiieS. J. fariui.CEr. died at California, Ta., yesterday of pafaljsls, lie has tilled the office of Justice orthe)cni.e In East Pike Run township for a quarter ofa century. John r. Bowjiav, a wealthy citizen of Altoona, died yesterday, aged CS. He cstablls led the nr.t hotel iu Altoona, and was for 20 J ears a director of ti.e First National Hank. William KicitTSTiJtE died a row days ago at Slieperdstown, W. Va., aged 85 years. He was foreman of the Jury that convicted John Brown of treason In 1S)9. Wltnlll the last three rears Tour or the Jurors living In the same connty haedled. Rlglitstlne's death leaves only one survivor or the li SINGING FOR CHARITY. The Cantata of Belahazzar at tbs Alvln for the Benefit of the Allegncny General Hospital German Protestant Evangeli cal Fnir Gossip ofSodety. The Alvin Theater was comfortably filled last night when the curtain rolled upon the first act or the dramatic cantata, "Bel sbazzar." The fact that the entertainment was given for tho benefit of the Allegheny Geneial Hospital, as well as the expectation that tho performance would be very good, was nnoogh to draw a. large audience, made up of tho representative people of tho two citiex, and theie is no reason to supposo hat they were disap pointed last night. Tho performance went with remarkable smoothness foraflrst night, the effect of careful rehearsals being seen throughout. The cantata follows pretty closely tho Biblical story of tho wicked Bel shazztr, who laid his sacrilegious hands upon the holy vessels from Jerusalem, and n ho was warned of the approaching down fall of Babylon by a h ind that wrote mys terious words upon the wall. The story is one of the nost striking nnd dramatic in the Old Testament, and lends itselt very easily to stage representation and beautiful music. Butterfleld's cantata is considered to be tho best version of the story or "Eelshazzai" to be found outside of the Bible, and the music that has been wedded to the fairly good poetry is ncaily all of a notable character. As given at the Alvin, "Belshazzar" is nn ambitious stage production, as well as a tuneful exposition of the story of the Baby lonian king. The co-tnme. no doubt histori cally correct, are fanciful and bright, and aro worn generally with grace by tho largo num ber taking part. Mr. W. S. Weeden, ns the ICing, is a noble figure, trom whom might be expected tho heroic sentiments that are given In his deep baritone. He was in good voice last nijht, and carried his rather try ing pai t appti cntly wlthoutdltnculty. Mrs. J. Sharp McD maid, ns lnroma, looked queenly nnd sang with her old sweetness and expiession. E ie Warren, as Kitocrit, Queen Regent, wa- good, and Mr. John A. Strouss, sang and acted well as Daniel, the pronhot. Mr. Morris Stevens and Miss Edith Harris, as Zeiiibbabel, and Sheloimilh respectively, are deserv ing ot special mention, ns is Miss L Mlttie Weeden at the Angel. Clever little Alice Kobcr as Myra is different from the averago child actress in that she acts intel ligently instead of like a pnriot. She Is a pleastng feature of the entertainment. The chorus is very strong nnd well trained, and its work last night was distinguished by its precision and certainty of attack. There was nothing suggestive of amateurs in its work. The cantnta is well mounted, the scenery and ostumes being looked to as carefully as the music itself. Jndzing by the nppiause thatgieetcd tho performance last ni.'ht. It was enlii rly satisfactory to tho andience.and there is little doubt that tiie attendance will be largo all the i eek, to the meat pecuniary benefit or the Allegheny General Hospital. The annual May fair and festival for the benefit of the Aged Colored Women's Homa will be held to-day and to-morrow at La fayette Hall. No pains have been spared to maUo tho affair a success and two pleasant davsaie assured. Asubstintial dinner, in cluding all the delicacies or the season, will bo served each day from 11:30 a. m. to 3 p. M. There will also bo Ice cream and refresh ment tables, one in charge or the Pitssburg ladies and the other in charge of Allegheny Indies. There will bo fancy, domestic, nnd china and glasswaio tables, ol-ocolate stand", ornngo tree, and floral booth, and a May-pole drill. The music will be lurnisbed by the Iron City Bind. The Committee or arrangements is composed of Mrs. D. S. Rich.uds, Mis. Y. Hawkins. Mrs. E. Johnson, Miss S. Maloney, Mrs. S. Dorsov, Mrs. E. Cam, Mrs. Kate Strothers, Miss S. Delaney, Mrs. M. Allen and Mrs. C. Stinson. The fair under the auspices of the con gregations of the German Protestant Evan gelical Churches, in Old City Hall, opened yesterday under the most flattering condi tions. The ladies who have been working hard for the last thiee months have reason to say that their work lias borne good fruit, for certainly the big hall, around which so many patriotic memories cling, never looked brighter or piettier than it did last night, when the fair was in full swing. Bunting of various colors, but generally embodying those to bo found in the flag of the Fatherland, was liberally used in deco lating the hall and one booth ana stand, that of Mrs. M. Stnckey showed the black, red ana yellow of Germany entwined with tho red, white and blue of the United States. There are a largo number of booths in the spacious hall, each booth being in charge ofa dilfeient congregation, and there has beon plenty of friendly rivalry as to whoso booth shall bo most attractive. Wiieic all are "o artisticallv arranged it wonld be ungracious to pick out any partic ular one for comment. Suffice it to say th it the hall is a veritable bower of beauty, both as to tho booths and stands and. those who pieside at the u. All sort3 or fancy articles aro on sale, man" of them made by the deft fingers of the ladies or the various congrega tions and still others donated by thoo who are in sympathy with the object or the fair, to raise money for tho new ornhan asylum nt West Liberty borough. Ice cream and cake aro offered for those who want sweets. while for otheis whose gasti onomical demands are of a heavier nature there is a well-served supper and uinner every day this week. In the preparation ot theso meals tho ladies are keeping up tho imputation of tho German housewife for good cookery. Tho f,".od is wholesome, and it is prepaicd in a way that would tempt an anchorite. It is con fidently expected that the receipts from the. meals will be a vciy large portion of the fund that is sure to be raised from the fair. The icecream stands, flower booths and sunpernrranrrcments aro in charge of the Indies of tho Smithfield street church. Tho .Manchester congregation, under the super intendence of Mrs. Elizabeth Schwartz, is in charge or fancy and prize booths. The Temperanccville congregation, with Mrs. W. C. Gi indclflngerat the head, has also fancy booths. Mre. T.Linhe is in charge of the Smith field sticet coup relation fancy table. Mrs. C. Necp lias the 31t. Washington congrega tion. Rev. II. Bachor, of St. Paul's, Alle gheny, is looking after a fancy booth, with Indies' assistance. Tho Bloomfield and Etna congregations aru unuer the supervision of Mr-. M. Hoffman and Mis. E. Ochsc. Mrs. M. Stuckv leads the Biiminglmm congregation. Mrs. A. Hoffman, of Millvale borough, has on exhibition a colossal and beautiful cake, baked by her husband, tnat is to be disposed ofbvlot. Other things that will go to the lucky persons holding the winning numbers are furniture of all kinds, including every thing that is required in a house, from the kitchen to the ganot. To-day a booth containing presents from the Empress of Germany, Mrs. Garfield, Mrs. McKInloynnd Mrs. Pattison, wile of the Governor, will be thiown open to the vis itors to the fair. Ax a meeting of the Women's Industrial Exchange yesterday afterncon the follow ing ofikeis weie elected for tho ensuing vear: President, Mrs, Ross Johnston; Vice Presidents, Mis. II. S. McKee, Mrs. Alex. Laughlin, Mrs. Homy Darlington, Mrs. Albert Child", Mrs. Joseph Albrce.Mrs. J. II. McFadden; Treasuier, Mrs. Thomas-S. Dick son: Itecoiuinj secretary, .iii-s lowing; cor lcsponding Secietarv, Mrs. J. O. Home. Social Chatter. Mb. Ja-mes Iewix. of Bellevue, loft yester day for a tup thiough California. 3IE.ASD Mit3. Habvet L. Childs and their son Clinton w ill take up their residence this w cek at the Kenuiayvr. Miss Nellie DcjiCan nnd Mra. Pago enter tained the I.luden Euchro Club last evening in a charming manner. Tnis evening Madame Constance Howard will give the second of the scries or her Iec-tuie-iecitals at the Pennsylvania College for Women in the East End. TnE commencement exercises of tho Monongihela High School will tako place tuis evening in nif ujioro uuuse. anegrnu uates include 12 girls and 1 young man. DEAYT0N HOT A SICH MAW. A Son-ln-Law of thj Astors Swears He Owns No Personal Property. New York, May 2. Tlieto was a rush of rich and prominent men in the Tax Assess ois' office this morning to swear off their pergonal taxes. Theio was a line of swearers extending from tho strpct to the second story of the building in yvhich the Tax Dcpittment is located. J. Coleman Drayton sw ore that he had no poisonal pioueity, and Jenkins VanSchaick took oath to tlio same elTect; even his house hold furniture was owned by nls wife. Immediately alter Colonel Cruger, man ascr of tho Tilnity church pioperty, had sworn off his taxes a workingman stepped in. He said ho had $1XX) in bank and no debts, ne yvas assessed on his little fortune that he had a cumulated dollar by dollar, and he took occasion to remark how tho law operated against a poor man with a con science President Barker said lie found that law yers and pawnbiokers, as a rule, swore tney had no personcl property. CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS. There will be 53 Sundays In 1892. - Of the foreign merchants in China, 6nly 17 aro Americans. Nearly 40,000 men desert from the German army every 12 months. The choir of the Mormon Temple at Salt Lake City is S0O strong. China, with all her 400,000,000 people, has only 40 miles of railroad. The pendulum was first attached to the clock in 1638 by Hnygner. It is said thai more money is spent ior eggs than for flour in tho United States. The average amount of each life injur- ance policy in tho United Kingdom Is $2,300. One ponnd of cork is amply, sufficient to support a man of ordinary size la the water. The pressure of the atmosphere on the man of average stature is about 15 tons, yet it is not felt. Nine English joverei?ns began and ended their reigns on the same day of the week. The tallest and shortest people In Europe, tho Norwegians and the Laps, live side by side. It takes eight times the strength to go upstairs that Is required for the same dis tance on a level. The Columbia, with its vast schools of salmon, hasj-ieldcd more wealth than any river in the world. A town in Florida has abolished an ancient ordinance forbidding the hallooing of snakes in the streets. China has 419,000 square miles of coal fields, or more than SO times tho aggregate of tho carboniferous strata in Enrope. There exists in Chicago an'org3nization called tbo Manaseh Society, In which mem bership is restricted to colored men witb. white yvlves. The baya bird of India ingeniously illuminates its nest. It catches flre-fllos, and, without killing them, with moist cloy sticks them to its nest. On a dark night the baya's nest is like a bright beacon. The new Parisian fashion in stockings is made with separato compartments for each toe. Tnis is said to be a sure cure for corn, which are caused by the rubbing of the skin against that of the neighboring toe. It is said that in Kussia children aro not allowed to go from home to school un less annulled with passports for that pur pose. Even servants going from one em ployer to another are obliged to have pass ports. The Guadaloupe bees lay their honey in bladders of wax about as large as a pigeon's egg, and not in enmbs. The bees havo no stings, are small, nnd of a black color. The honey is of tho oily consistency, and nover hardens. A skeleton in the Mnseum of Trinity College, Dnblin, is 8 feet 6 inches In height, nnd that of Charles Byrne in the Museum of the College of Surgeons, London, is 8 feet i inches. The tallest living man is Chang-tu-Sing, the Chinese giant. His height is 8 feet 3 inches. Helgoland is to be made a harbor of refuge for Ashing Tessels, and Is being forti fied heavily. The island is to be a scientific station, tho German Government having erected laboratories there for the study of marine zoology, and especially of the econ omic history of food fishes. An English manufacturer, while exam ining the texture and quality of some ban dages found on a mummy, was astonished to find that the arrangement of the threads was exactly like that which lie had patented a few months before, and which he had sup posed to be an independent invention of bis own. In Hmdostan the marriage ceremony is short and simple, and no courting precedes it. The arrangements are all made by the friends or relatives of tho principals. When the bride and groom aro brought together, in many cases they see each other for the flrst time. The bride playfully skips toward him nnd erats herself beside him. The priest ties a corner of the bride's veil to the groom's shawl, and they are man and wife. "Seven years without a birthday," was the record ofa Scottish clorgyman who died nearly 30 years ago. A similar line of miss ing datos is soon to return; and indeed there aro no doubt somo readers of this page who will have only one birthday to celeprato for nearly 12 year3 to come. The sola fTn of the puzzle is to be found in the fact? which docs not appear to be widely known, that the year 1800 was not a leap year and 1900 will not be. Apropos of the phenomenal whist-hand stories current, an old number of the New fork Eun records an instance in which 13 trumps turned up in a hand at whist. It was in January, 1833, andajude and three physicians were the Diayers. The pack was perfectly shuffled and cut, and the dealer hold the hand, turning up the knave of clubs. Pole has calculated that the chance of this event occurring is once in 158, 750,010,000. Turner, the naturalist, declared that he once saw, upon the coast of Brazil, a race of gigantic savages, ono of whom was 12 feet in height. M. Thevet, of France.in his descrip tion ot America, published at Paris in 1573, assertod that he saw and measured the skeleton or a Soath American which -w.i 11 feet 5 inch03 in length. The Chinese are said to claim that in the last century there were men in their country who measured 15 feet in height. Seventy-five years ago Thomas It Walker, then a mere boy, planted four wal nuts by the roadside opposite his father's house in tho Eleventh civil district, near Cedar lIluflT. and some ten miles west of Knoxville. ne diod ten years ago, yet he lived to ee four walnut trees grow to a measure of four feet in diameter, worth, if cut and properly seasoned, at least UM en eh. Had ho planted tn acres thoy wonld be yvorth at feast $2,0j0,000. In the windows of fashionable sta tioners in Paris, rows of sealing-wax of all hues and shades are ranged in order like the the colors of the spectrum. A meaning at taches to each of these colors. Thus, white sealing-wax means a proposal of marriage'; black, a death; violet, condolences. Invi- -tations to dinner are sealed with chocolate color; vermilion is used for business letters; ruby color by fortunate lovers. Green means hope: brown melancholy, derived possibly lrom "brown study." blue, con stancy; yellow, Jealousy. Pale green con veys a reproof: pink is used by young ladles; anil gray between friends. unMKLED iuiraiixETS. "I like you, Mr. Smith, because of yoni Invariable courtesy to women." Thank you, Mrs. Jones. I always try to be that way. I don't know whether you ever heard It or not, but my mother was a woman," ifor per's Bazar. Though garden truck is very high And all the folks, who can. Pay cash for everything they buy, Ine gard'ner's still a seedy roan. Detroit Free Prut. "I don't like him. He's too fond of air ing nls knowledge." "But consider how moldy most of his knowledg UW-Puc. Their conversation was very low, So very low that I coold not catch It. But I heard this much as I turned to go: "What llnd of trimming d'ye think wlU match ltr Aeio l'ort Prut. Jake (sadly) Yon are not as yon used to be, darling. Cora (Impatiently) No: I used to be a baby, Aeio lark Jleruld. The men who ask the blessing "With the pnbllc may grow weaker If we do not check the progress Of the after-dinner speaker. Watliington Star. Teacher (of history class) What is said to have been the orizln or the great Chicago flrcr Urlght pupil It was started by aTaaywho was' out In a barn milking a cow with a kerosene Umg. Uhteaso Tribune. Though her name was Lucy Little, She was very tall and stong; And Tom Long, who was her lover. And who round her used to hover. Said "Oh, Lucy, love me Little, Love me Longr Brooklyn Eagle. A dissipated old man applied at the Quar termaster's office In San Antonio, Tex., for a posi tion as clerk. "Oo you know anything about central manaf e ment or the office?" asked the officer. "Do I know anything about General Manure-, ment? I should smile, 1 knew nun when ha was Lieutenant." Texat Slftlnge. -iLjEn ' -!3k&keMoL. v 's&Jk - it-v hit fl.hiWffPfrJrykWAiij Mil' t r-?S.ij Nifttfflrtfer JfcfrVli)ntfniMfr?';i?'t''lf' iljiiii iTVi - laaHmiNHlM HVMIJpHHJBMHHHBHH I Jl
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers