1HE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH. TUESDAY. MAT -3. 1892.
m f yf "
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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.
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