: r& 10 .HE PITTSBURG DISPATCH. MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 3892. 'V HEW POSTAL FMJDS. Qneer Facts and Figures About Mr. Wanamaker's Department. " LATEST TBICKS OF SHARPERS. The Green Goods Easiness Groin Thieving Increasei. and BUIIf FBOM THE FOUR-POUND PACKAGE "Washington, Dec. 25. If the "mis ting word" puzzle, which has be come such a craze in England, strikes this country, the Postoffice Department will promptly shut it out of the mails. Such guessing contests would be excluded on the same ground as any other speculation in chances, so that this new form of gambling is not likely to be success fully introduced on this side df the water. The Xouisiana Lottery is still active, but its tickets and literature are transmitted exclusively by express, being sold and dis tributed by local agents in various towns and cities. This the Government does not care to interfere with, so long as the swindlers do not attempt to employ Uncle Sam's post for their purposes. The Postmaster General has finally for bidden the certification of money orders and registered letters from this country to William Lord Moore, of London. This Han has lor many years pursued very profitably the business of a "claim agent" for supposed American heirs to properties in England. The postoffice authonties feel no little anxiety on account of the rapid Increase in the number of robberies of post- offices. During the last fiscal year more than eleven hundred postoffices were pil ' laged by burglars. Slall Robbing Is Growing. When it is considered that during the previous twelve mouths only 863 postoffices were entered by thieves, it will be seen how fait this form of crime is growing. Notwithstanding the long terms of im prisonment prescribed by law for highway rooDery, ia stages carrying toe roans were held up aud robbed last year. Only the most reckless and dangerous desperadoes attempt this kind of exploit, and for the capture of such criminals a standing re ward is offered. During the same twelve month 315 mail-pouches were cut and their contents stolen. Of course, more or less of the pilfering of the post is done by postal employes, 231 of whom were arrested lor such offenses. During the last fiscal year 33,000 letters were dropped for mailing without any ad dress whatever on the envelopes. Inas--xnuch as this represents an increase of 17 per cent over the previous twelve-month, it would appear that the public is becoming rapidly more careless in the conduct ol its correspondence. At Christmas-time money is sent through the mails in all sorts of queer ways. Bills are concealed in fingers of gloves and mit tens knitted by elderly female relatives. Sums in cash are inclosed in boxes of candy and Wrapped up with merchandize of all kinds. Coins are inserted in pieces of pasteboard. In Europe they are usually sent that way, because over there it is against the law to transport anything made ol gold or silver by post Bank notes are sometimes rolled up like lamplighters and laid in the fold of a letter. Thieving Employes Become Expert. This is an excellent wav to manage where bills must be sent in an envelope, because their presence cannot easily be distin guished by leeling or smelling. Thieving employes in postoffices sometimes attain such expertness that they can readily detect either an old or a new bank-note in a sealed letter by smelL One clerk who was caught in such depredations a while ago satisfied the curiosity of the detectives who cap tured him by selecting without a mistake, though blindfolded, seven missives con taining bill.- out of 400. The Fourth Assistant Postmaster General in bis report issued a few days ago states that the Department is making no headway against the most important of all frauds which are conducted through the mail namely, the; "greengoods" business. In tact, this nefarious industry, seems to be growing rapidly. It is positively known that the whole of this fraudulent enter prise, which extends its operations all over the United States, is conducted by a single gang in New York, the head of which is a eomewnat notorious sporting man, and no evidence can be obtained against him. Hard on Country Merchants. The provision of law which allows four pound packages to go by mail is a cause of much complaint. The system causes wail ing and gnashing of teeth among shop keepers in small towns. They arc being ruined by it Suppose, for example, that a "woman living in a community of a few hundred or a few thousand inhabitants wants to buy a dress for Christmas. Instead of purchasing it at the local shop, she writes to a great drygoods firm in the nearest large city and procures samples. Having selected the stuff she wauts, she sends on a money order lor the price and gets in return the material at a cheap rate by maiL Thus the huge metropolitan emporium lattens at the expense of the provincial merchants. In retlirn for the taking away ot a great part of their business by Uncle Sam, the ex press companies have withiu recent years become important rivals of the 'Government in "the transmitting of jnoney. Their rates are much less than those charged by the Postoffice Department for sums exceeding 515, and it is partly lor this reason that the Department contem plates a reduction of about one-third in its prices for money orders above 15. At this season of the year the outflow of cash from the United States to foreign countries by postal money orders is enormous. Irish Americans particularly send great sums lust belore Christmas to their relatives in the Green Isle. About ?3,000,000 goes to Ireland annually from the United States in the shape of money orders. Millions for Europe's Paupers. Striking a balance between the 3,000,000 received in foreign money orders by this country yearly and the 513,000,000 sent across the water, it appears that we con tribute nearly $1,000,000 a month to the support of pauper Europe. Money orders 20 years old and more are sometimes offered to the Postoffice Department for payment. Of course, they are not valid after the lapse of one year, but duplicates are always issued in such cases. The people ot this country used during the last fiscal year more than 12,000,000,000 postage stamps and paid nearly $30,000,000 lor them. Tney are all manufactured by the American Bank Note Company, in New York, which supplies them by contract at a cost to the Government of 7 cents and a traction jer 1,000. During the last year 60 mail clerks were jeriously injured on the rail and 112 were llightly'hurr. Five were killed two in collisions, one by the fall of a train from a trestle, aud two by putting their Jitads in cautiously out of the door.; of their cars. But this was a smalldeath rate, as maybe seen by the fact that during the first three months of the present fiscal year 13 postal clerks met with fatal accidents. Yet the Government make? no provision ior the support of their families when they die in harness. Frightened Her Sister. Annie Edmundson,. about 20 yean old, whose home is on Duquesne Heights, fell in an epileptic fit last night at the corner of Fifth avenue and Smithfield street The occurrence, with the hysterical cries of her sister who accompanied her, created quite a sensation. Both girls were taken to the Duauesnc Pharmacy, where the sister cried at an alarming rate, saying Annie would surely die. In half aa hour the efforts of several gentlemen restored the girl to her normal condition and she went home. A DETECTIVE 1H TH0UBLE. Ills Sweetheart Snes Illin for Assault and Battery and rotating Firearms. G. D. Hammond, a detective- employed by the Merchants Detective Agency, of Pittsburg, who was arrested in Allegheny ou Saturday night for raising a disturbance at Xa 20 Montgomery avenue, was given a partial hearing before Police Magistrate Brinker yesterday morning. John An drews, in whose bouse the disturbance took place, has in his employ Miss Carrie Thompson as a domestic, and Hammond has been paying her considerable at tention of late. On Saturday night he called upon her shortly after 7 o'clock, while she was at work in the kitchen. He was considerably under ine innuence ot liquor, ana iouowiug girl into the scullery insisted that -she should quit work and go down street with him. She declined to accompany him, and he, becoming angry, caught her around the neck, and pointing a revolver in her face said he would shoot her it she did not do as he desired. The girl was badly frightened ami screamed for help. Miss Laura Andrews ran into the kitchen, when Hammond pointed the re volver at her, threatening to shoot Miss Thompson knocked the revolver out of Hammond's hand, and picking up the weapon hid it Hammond was arrested. He says he called upon the girl to take her down street and buy her a pair ot shoes lor a Christmas gift, and while waiting for her to get through with her evening's" work showed her his revolver; that as he was do ing so Miss Andrews came into the room, and catching sight of the weapon got seared. Miss Thompson says Hammond always treated her respectfully until Saturday evening, and that he frequently called on her and took her out walking. Detective John Glenn said lait night that M. Dean, of the Merchants' Detective Agency, told him that Hammond is a married man with several small children, but Miss Thompson says she believes that such is not true. She will make an information against- him be fore Alderman Brinker this morning for assault and battery and pointing firearms. OBIGIK OF THE CYCLONES. Recent Developments Show That They Originate In the Upper Regions. There has been of late a tendency toward a change of view in regard to the origin of those widespread storms known as cyclones. M. Pave, the French astronomer, has long argued that they originate jn the upper re gions of the atmosphere, iustead of at the surface of the earth. Recently Mr. W.L. Dallas has announced, as the result ol his studies of the cyclones of the Indian Ocean, that the probability seems to him to be that those whirling storms ''descend from and retreat to the superior layers of the atmosphere." Much more study will be required, how ever, to settle the question, but it is surely most interesting to think that storms should come to us in the way suggested. The at mosphere is a sort ot ocean, at whose bot tom we dwell, and if M. Paye's view is cor rect, the storms that whirl over us must first lash the air far above our heads, jnst as a whirl started in water may bore its way down toward the bottom, and disturb the little fishes there. The Island of St Paul. Nobody will grudge France her latest ac quisitons in the Indian Ocean. St 'Paul, one of the two islands on which the French flag now floats, . is volcanic, is about two miles long, and "comparatively bare." New Amsterdam lies 50 miles further to the north. It is densely vegetated, and conse quently more valuable, but is also small in size. It was at New Amsterdam that HI M. S. Megcera went ashore in June, 1871. and the crew had to remain there for 11 Robert ISIsmere In London. A "powerful appeal" on behalf of the settlement in Gordon square, "University Hall," which is an attempt to realize the dream of BoberfEIsmere, has been written by Mrs. Humphrey Ward, and is to be is sued as a supplement to the leading Uni tarian weekly newspaper of London. The "Robert Elsmere" idea does not appear to be thriving in London. A MERCANTILE SEKSATION. Retail Grocers Taking a Hand In the Combine Business. Columbus, O.. JoumaLj There has for some time been a breach between the wholesale and retail grocers in this city, which has, by what the retailers call arbitrary action upon the part of the wholesalers, become so widened that a reconciliation now seems impossible. As claimed by the retail men the wholesale grocers have been selling goods to restau ranters, hotel and boarding house keepers in job lots at little over wholesale prices, thereby shutting the retail merchants out of this class or trade to which they claim they are entitled. Tlje retailers allege also that the wholesalers are combining to con trol prices in their own favor, and that they are declining to sell, or boycotting, popu lar brands of goods which, owing to their having become standard articles, are' ordi narily sold at small profits, iu order to lorce the retailers to make a market for other brands, upon which the wholesalers and jobbers can make larger profits or are themselves interested as manufacturers. This action, the retailers claim, compels them to go to the manufacturers direct for many articles, and they have found that by comuimng auu uuying in large quantities they can save the middlemen's profits and besides procure at all times the brands of goods which they want and which are the most salable. Several meetings of the retail grocers have been held for the purpose ot devising some means of protection against this al leged unfair action of the wholesalers. The result is that the retailers have decided to organize a joint stock company, each grocer who goes into the organization to contrib ute 1,000 to the capital stock, the capital to be double the ndmber ot subscribing members. They propose to buy their own goods of all kinds direct from the jobbers and manufacturers from whom the whole salers get them. They argue that the per cent charged them by the local wholesale men will more than sustain the gigantic enterprise into which they propose to em bark. Sixty of the leading grocers have subscribed 51,000 each to the capital stock, which gives 500,000 to start on. The capital siock oi tne organization will be 51GU,UIX), and the remainder, it is expected, will be taken by other grocers who will want the protection which the combination will af lord. Subscribers will not be limited to this city, bnt will embrace retailers in every section which can economically draw its supplies Irom Columbus. It is stated that combinations of this kind have been effected in other States aud have been immensely successful. It is not un usual for a wholesale house, with no larger trade than is required to supply a combina tion of 40 retail grocers, to make a profit ol $30,000 to $75,000 a year. To this the re tailers made no objection so lobg as the wholesalers supplied them with such goods as their trade demanded, and did not at tempt to interfere with their legitimate cus tomers. If, however, they argue, they are compelled to send to the manufacturers lor some brands of goods which the wholesalers are trying to boycott, and also compete with them ior trade with the consumer, they might as well enter into competition all along the line. Those most enthusiastic iu the movement favor it as a money-making scheme, as well as one ot protection against ll sorts of pools and combinations. Property has been procured at the south west corner of Third and Main streets' for the erection of a large jobbing house for the reception and distribution of goods. The reporter was intoruicd that the organi zation would be complete in a few days and that the company would be in full opera tion shortly thereafter, with temnorarv I quarters somewhere until they could erect I their own building. THE CHRISTMAS TIDE. Dr. Talmage Draws Some Lessons . From the Holiday Season. AIT ILLUSTRIOUS BIRTHDAY. Each Day a Good or Great Han Is Born to the World, but Rose Like Christ. REFLECTION AND JOT SH0DLD EEIGN Bbookltn, Dec. 25. The sermon preached by Bev. -Dr. Talmage this morn ing was pf a character especially appropri ate to the holiday season, and was listened to with rapt attention by an audience that crowded the Tabernacle. Before beginning his discourse the preacher gave out the I opening hrmnr tioy to me woriu, tne Aiora nas corns, Let earth receive her Kin?. The text selected was Colossians iu, 16: "In respect of a holy-day." What the .Bible here and elsewhere calls a holy:day, we, by change of one letter and change of pronunciation, call holiday. I am glad that this season we have the holidays completely bounded. For years, Christmas Day, starting in the midst of one week, and New Year's Day, starting in the midst of another week, we have been perplexed to know when the holidays began and when they ended, and perhaps we may have begun them too soon or continued I them too long. But this vear they are bounded bv two beaches of gold: Sabbath, December'25, 1892, and Sabbath, January 1, 1S93. The one Sabbath this year com memorates the birth of the greatest being that ever walked the earth; the other cele brates the birth of that which is to be one of the greatest years of allUime. I propose that we divide this holiday season, the two Sabbaths of the holiday and the six days between into three chap ters. The first part a chapter of illustrious birthday; the second part a chapter of annual decadence; the third part a chapter of chronological introduction. Christ's Birth the Greatest First, then, a chapter of illustrious birth day. Not a day of any year but has beeu marked by the nativity of some good or great souk'But what are all those birthdays compared with December 25, ior on or about that day was born one who eclipsed all the great names of all the centuries Jesus of Bethlehem, Jesus oi Nazareth, Jesus of Golgotha, Jesus oi Ulivet, Jesus ot the Heavenly Throne? The greatest pictures have been made about scenes in His lifetime. The greatest sacrifices on fieltfof battle or in hospital, or in long march, or in martyrdom have been inspired by His self-abnegation. The finest words of eloquence ever spoken -have been uttered in the proclamation of His Gospel. The greatest oratorios that have ever rolled from orchestras were descriptive of His life aud death. There have been other orators, but none like Him who "spake as never man spake." There have been other reformers, but none likeHim who will not have completed His mission until the last prison is venti lated and the last blind eye opened and the last deaf ear unstopped and the last lame foot bounds like a roe and the last case of dementia shall come to its right mind. There .have been other discoveries, but none like Him, able to find how man may be just with Goi There have been other deliver ers, but none like Him, the rescuer of na tions. There have been other painters, but none likeHim who put the image of God on a lost souk ,No wonder we celebrate His birth. Protestant Church, Catholic Church, Greek Church, St. Isaac's of St Petersburg, St Peter's at Rome, the Madeline at Paris. St Paul's in London, joining all our Amer ican cathedrals and churches and log-cabin meeting-houses and homes in keeping this pre-eminent birth iestival. The Star of Bethlehem. Elaborate and prolonged efforts bave been made to show that the star that pointed to the manger in which Christ was .born, was not what it appeared to be, but a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. Our wise men of the West say-that the wise men of the East were mistaken. In order to take everything supernatural out of 'the story, we have to blind the eyes of the Magi and introduce a second star to help out the idea of the one star. But I prefer the simple story of the Bible, that a light 'of some kind stellar or meteoric pointed from the sky to the straw cradle. When it is so easy for God to make a world that He puts eighteen .millions .of them withiu one sweep of the telescope, he could certainly .afford one silvery or fiery signal of some kind to point the world to the place where the Sovereign of the Universe lay incar nated and infantile. If God could afford to make "an especial earthquake at the cruci fixion the aslant rocks on Mt Calvary still showing that there was a convulsion of nature at that particular point which was felt in none of the surroundings then be could afford something unusual, something brilliant, something positive, something tremendous at the nativity. As the finger of light that December 25th pointed to 'the straw cradle, now all the fingers of Christendom this moment, fingers of childhood and old age, fingers of sermon and song , and decoration and festivity point to the great straw cradle. Jollity Should Reign Supreme. Am I not right in saying that the first of the three chapters of the holidays should be devoted to the illustrious' birthday? By song and prayer and solemn reflection and charities to-duy, and by gilts and trees that bear frnit in au hour after they are planted, and family gathering and hilari ties sounding from celUr to garret to-mor-ro'w, keep Christmas. As far as possible, gather the children and the grandchildren, but put no estoppel on ractet, whether ot laughter or swilt feet or toys in shape of rail trains or trumpets or infant effigy. Let the old folks ior one day at least say nothing about rheumatism, or prospect of early demise, or the degeneracy ot modern times, or the poison in confectionery. If you cannot stand the noise, retire from it lor a little while into some other room and stop your ears. Christmas for children without plenty of noise is no Christmas at The second chapter of the holidays must speak of annual decadence. This is the last Sabbath of the year. The steps of the year are getting sbort, for it is old now. When it waved the springtime blossoms, the year was young, and when it swung the scythe aud cradle through the summer-harvest-fields, the year was strong; but it is getting out ot breath now, and after six more throbs of the pulse will be dead. We cannot stop this annual decadence. Set all the clocks back, set all the watches back, set- all the chronometers back, but you cannot'set Time back. Great Evils to Be Bljlitod. . But there is a great city clock, high up in the tower. There are so many wrongs in all our cities to be righted, so many evils to be extirpated, so many prisons to be sani taried; stop tbe city clock until all these things are done. Let Common Council and all the people of the great town decree that the City Ball clock shall stop. We do not want the sins of 1892 to be handed over to 1803. We do not want the young year to inherit tho misfortunes ot the old year. By ladders lifted to the toner and by strong hands take hold and halt the city clock. "No, no," says the city clock, "I cannot wait until you correct all evils or soothe all sorrow or drive out all sin. I have been counting the steps of your progress as a city. I" have seen your opportunities. I have, deplored your neglects; but time wasted is wasted forever. I must go on. I must go on. Tick-tockl Tick-took!" Bnt in the tower of the capitois at Wash ton and London and Berlin and Vienna aud all the great national capitals there are clocks. Suppose .that by Presidental S reclamation and resolution "of Senate and louse of Representatives our national clock: in the capitol turret be ordered to stop. "Stop, oh, clock! until sectional an imosities are cooled off, until our Sabbaths are better kept and drunkenness turns to sobriety, and bribery, fraud and dissipation quit the land. The Clock Won't Stop. "Stop, oh, clock! in the tower of the great United States capitol." "No, no," says the clock, "I have been going on so long I cannot afford to stop. I sounded the birth day ot American independence. I Tang out the return of peace in 1865. I have seen many Presidents inaugurated. I struck the hour of Lincoln's assassination. I have beat time for Emancipation, Proclamation and Chicago fire and Charleston earthquake and epidemics of fever acd cholera. Na tions never stop. They march on towards salvation or demolition. And why should I stop? I chime for the national holidays. I toll for the mighty dead. I must go on. I must go on. Tick-tock! Tick-took!" There may be a differsnes of a few sec onds or a lew minutes, in the timepieces, but it will be a serious occasion when next Saturday night about the same hour the family clocks and the city clocks and the national clocks strike One! Tito! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Nine! Ten! Eleven! Twelve! Sorry am I to have 1892 depart this life. It has been a good rear. What bright days! What starry nights! What harvests! What religious convocations! What triumphs of art and scienoe and invention and enter prise and religion! But, alas, how sacred it has been with sorrows. What pillows hot with fever that could not be cooled! What graves opening wide enough to take down beauty and strength and usefulness! What octogenarians putting down the staff of earthly pilgrimage and taking the crown of heavenly reward! A Mingling of Emotions. What mingling of emotions in this clos ing yearl What orange blossoms for the marriage altar and what myrtle for the tombs of the dead! Hosannas and lamenta tions in collision. Anthem and dead march mounting from the same ivory keys. Before this year quite leaves the earth, let it hear our repentance for opportunities that ecu never return. Kind words spoken too late or not spoken at all. Means of getting good or doing good so completely gone by that the archangel's voice could not recall them. Can it be that this year is closing and our sins are unforgiven and we have uo certainty that when our last De cember the 31st has sped away we shall en ter a blissful eternity? The most overwhelm ingly solemn week of all the year is the last week of December. But on opening this snbjeot, "In respect of a .holy-day," is my text puts in, or a holiday as we moderns write and pronounce it, I advised that you divide this season into three chapters: The first a chapter of illustrious birthday, the second a chapter of annual decadence, aud the third a chap ter ot chronological introduction, and this last chapter we have reached. Brought In the New Year. In olden times there was a style of clos ing an old year and opening a new one that was verv suggestive. The family would sit up until 12 o'clock at night, and when the clock struck 12 the family would all go to the front door of the house, tako down the bar and turn back the lock and swing the dnor wide open to to let the Old Year out and the New Year in. And that is what we are going to do. With the same measured step that, time has kept since it started it will come to our door in the closing night of this week. With what spirit shall we let the New Year in? I have already indicated that it is to be one of the greatest years of all chronology. "Why?" you ask. "Have you auy loreboatngs or premonitions "No." "Are vou expecting the millen nium thisyear?" "No." "Whv, then, say this abost the coming year?" For the sim ple reason that I find as the years go by they become more and more eventful. Compare the nineteenth century with the eighteenth century. Compare the first half of this century with the last haft. The surges of this ocean of time are rolling higher and higher. The forces of right and wrong are rapidly multiplying and their struggles must be intensified. It is a chro nological fact that we are all the rime com ing nearer to the world's Edenization first aud then to its incineration, to its'redemp tion and its demolition: Expects a Greater Tear. And bo I expect that 1893 will be a greater year than 1892. Its wedding bells will be merrier. Its obsequies will be sad der. Its scientific discoveries more bril liant Its prosperities more significant Its onaniue more grand. Its termination stupendous. Look out for 1893! Let printers have in their cases of type plenty of exclamation points to set up a sudden paragraph. Let the conservatories have profusion of flowers that can be twisted into garlands. Let churches have plenty of room for increased assemblages. Let men and women bave morereligion to meet the vacillations and the exigencies and the de mands and the raptures und the woes of this coming 1893. In what mood shall we open the door of the New Year? With faith, strong faith, buoyant faith, triumphant laith. God will 'see you through. His grace will be sufficient if you trust Him. You can go to Him at any time and find sympathy. ' Thus in three chapters I have counseled that the holidays be grouped. May noth ing interfere with their felicities. May they be so spent that they will be food for pleasant reminiscence further on. Oh, that these delightful holidavs ot earth may fit us ior those more delightful holidays ot heaven! The Chtltern Hundreds. The forced resignations of several mem bers of Parliament recalls a curious method of procedure in such cases. A member of Parliament is not permitted to resign in the ordinary way. To do so he must hold an office or position of honor under tbe crown. To overcome this difficulty an odd scheme was fixed upon about 150 years ago. In early times the Chiltern Hills, in Buck inghamshire, were infested by robbers. To protect the inhabitants an officer was ap pointed, who was known as the Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds. The necessity for such an office has long ago ceased to exist, but retiring members oi Parliament have found a use for it Forbidden to resign without holding a crown office, they apply for the Chiltern Hundreds, which is no sooner obtained when it is in turn resigned, leaving a vacancy always existing for those who desire to follow. If it should happen, however, that the Hundreds are not vacant, the stewardship ot the manors of East Heuj dred, Nothshead and Hempholme arc at the disposal of the Commoners. The legality of this method of resigning has been questioned, but never in such a manner as to prevent a member from tak ing advantage of this privilege if he de sired. There is one instance of its having been refused. The Chancellor of the Ex chequer has tbe granting of the gift. As the result of several bribery cases in 1812, certain members applied for the Chiltern Hundreds, but were refused on the ground that bv so doing the Chancellor would make himself a party to tbe corrupt proceedings. Itolay Kaces In the Future. Saxony's Heme Minister, replying to complaint from the Dresden Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals that the receut Berlin-Vienna military ride was the occasion of gross cruelty to the horses, says the complaint is in many respects well founded, but he is not able to exercise any direct influence in the matter. He com municated with the War Office, and from that "source the society has the meager satis faction of learning that it may be expected shonld any similar rides take place in the future the experience gained in the one in question will not be lost Tied Up for. an Hour. Two accidents on the Citizens' Traction line last night delayed travel overn hour. About 7 o'clock in the evening a car on the Butler street branch ran off the track at Eleventh street After 45 minutes' hard work it was put on. The blocked cars ex tended to Seventh street Shortly alter car 114 of the same branch broke an axle at Fifteenth street, and another delay of a half hour occurred until the track'could be patched up. CHRISTMAS SERVICES. Floral Decorations and Sweet Har monies Draw Crowds to Hear THE STOET OP CHRIST'S -BIRTH. Special Arrangements Made toAttract the lounger Members. t CHURCH -CHOIRS LARGELT-AUGHENTED The church bells rang out merrily on the wintry air yesterday morning and welcomed the people to the Christmas services. Their pealing was a little louder and their chim ing a little livelier, than was their wont It was a day for special thanksgiving and most fittingly did the various churches of the two cities observe the most sacred day in the Christian calendar. Most of the congregations had made ample preparations for the morning serv ices, both in the way of artistic decorations and enticing exercises. The pastors had chosen fitting themes for their Yule-tide sermons, and were to again narrate the in cidents of Bethlehem and tell the old story of the birth of tbe Savior. The people never seem to tire of the narrative, and the attendance at all the churches was un usually large. A Great Bay for Children. The children were in their glory, and with their brightest smiles turned ont in large numbers. The Christmas season, is the harvest time for the Sunday schools, as it is a rare thing that they are not crowded at this time of the year. The annual treat is a great temptation to a youngster's heart, and the usual bag of candy is too great a temptation to be resisted. Special programmes had been provided and all the schools were crowded yesterday. Christmas falling on Sunday made it all the more appropriate and induced many more extra preparations in the interests of the children than would have been otherwise possible. As a rule the annual treats were held on Saturday evening, but this added none tbe less to the interest taken. The feature in the various churches was the special choral service. Elaborate pro grammes had been prepared and were ren dered in a masterly way, as tbe choirs were fully able to render anything that was brought before them. The attendance was for the most part very large, and there were few empty pews. The decorations were profuse in all the places of worship and were in harmony with the occasion. A Strom; Double Quartet. At the First Presbyterian Church tbe musical programme was rendered by a double quartet, consisting of Mrs. William B. Wolte and Mrs. Cowan, sopranos; Miss M. E. Bankerd and Miss Ella Semple, altos; Daniel E. Nuttall and Ramsey, tenors, and John, A. Strouss and Wagner, bassos; John A. Bell, choirmaster and organist James N. Bebout was the choirmaster at the Second Presbyterian Church. The quartet consisted of C C Binehart, Jr., tenor; J. N. Bebout, basso; Miss Edith Harris, contralto, and Miss Irene Sample, soprano. Miss Adele Beahard was the organist Kev. A. W. Arundel, pastor of the Trinity Protestatft Episcopal Churcb, took special pains to make the observance of Christmas a notable one. A vested choir of 40 men and boys rendered the music Mrs. Julia M. B. Huntington was the director and James Dodsworth, organist The Fourth Avenue Baptist Church choir, under the direction of Simeon Bissell, as sisted by Madame Schiemedeke, harpist, and Edward Bothleder, violinist, rendered an excellent programme Christmas morn ing. The soloists were Miss Mackintosh, soprano; Wallace Moody, tenor; Charles F. Kahn, basso. Mr. Moody's solo in the anthem, "Manger of Bethlehem," was ad mirably rendered, as was also Mr, Kahn's solo. Miss Mackintosh has a very sweet and sympathetic voice. The usual Christmas services in the Cath olic churches were uniformly observed throughout the city. This is one of the most earnestly observed days of the year by the Catholics and is always a time for special services. Mass was said at 6:30 and was followed by services at 10:30 o'clock. Special Services in Catholic Churches. Some of the Catholic churches held spe cial exercises commemorative of the biblical story of Bethlehem. At St Paul's Cathedral Thomas K. Kirk was director of the quartet, with Miss Alice Carter, or ganist The quartet consisted of Miss Grace Miller, soprano; Mrs. William Loef fler, contralto; Joseph C. Briel, tenor, and Lawrence A. Bickett, baritone. These were assisted by a large choir, and the ser vices were on an elaborate scale. Perhaps one of the most interesting exer cises in the entire city was that given at the St Malachv's Church under the direc tion of jj'ather James J. McTighe yesterday afternoon. He had arranged the exercises, of the school and were very interesting. The parts were taken entirely by children Some of the leading characters were only 7 years old, but filled their parts most acceptably. It was intended to represent by dialogues, speeches and tab leaux the events as they occurred. The principals were in costume and the exer cises passed o 2' most successfully. It is in tended to repeat the exercises during each afternoon ot this week. The reciting of a poem composed by Father McTighe. called '"Bethlehem," was executed bv Miss Katie Discon, aged 11 years, most effectively, while a sermon by Matter Harry Colfery, aged 7 years, wai'excellently done. THE BEEAD fV LIFE. The Significance or the Lord's Birth and tho Regeneration of Man. Eev. John Whitehead preached yester day morning at the New Jerusalem Church, Allegheny, on the signification of the Lord's birth in Bethlehem in its relation to the re generation of man. He said Bethlehem in the Hebrew language means the house of bread, and natural bread which nourishes the body is named in the Word to represent that which sustains the soul. The Lord is called the bread of life, the living bread which comes down from heaven, and He feeds man's soul by instruction in the divine' truth ol the wcru. The truth teaches how l one should live, and as he lives according to the truth he receives genuine good of life. Spiritual good or spiritual life is ob tained only by a lite in obedience to tbe di vine teachings. This is what receives the Lord in the mind. This is the spiritual Bethlehem in which the acknowledgement and love of the Lordand the love of the neighbor is received, for no man really loves tbe Lord and the neighbor unless he lives a life of obedience to the Divine Pre cepts. The Lord says, "If ye lovo Me keep My commandments." So this living bread comes down from heaven into man's life wheu ho in thought and life lives strict ly according to the teaching of tho Lord, shunning evils as sins. THE BLESSING OF CHEIST. Something Substantial and Not a Passing Breeze of Emotion. At the Butler Street M EL Church yes terday a Christmas service of song was held in the morning. Tbe sermon was preached by Bev. S. A. Keene, D. D., of Boston, who is to conduct a series of evangel istic services t in the church .dur ing the present week. Dr. Keene said: "A desire tor the blessing of Christ may spring irom a variety of causes. It may owe its origin to the' destitute condi tion of the persou desiring to be blessed as in the case of the Prodigal Son. .It may also spring from an appetite a sense of relish for the good things of the spiritual king dom. One receiving a taste ot love longs ior a panquei oi love. "It is the nature ol spiritual blessing that I want to speac, for we are wont to look upon it as some evanescent thing, some whifl of emotion, or breeze of tran quility tbat now and again will pass over the soul, leaving it refreshed. While these manifestations are often felt by one posses sing the spiritual blessing, they are merely incidental features and concomitants and should not be conflicted with the real bless ing which manifests itself in the upbuilding of pure characters which enables us to wage a life-time warfare if necessary with the powers of darkness. The real blessing is a substantial thing. Why is it that people complain? Why is it people grow weary of life and sometimes take their own lives? It is not because their troubles are unbearable, but because with them they have the consciousness of sin unforgiven, a feeling of helplessness, and a burden of guilt which they cannot rid tbemselvesof and which ever accumulates. Let these sins be,forgiven and this burden be removed and they can endnre anything, because they have a hope of something per manent in the future. Is not the Chris tians' blessing a substantial thing?" A Festival Service. A Sunday school Christmas iestival ser vice was held at the St James Episcopal Church, Penn avenue, last evening. No regular sermon was preached, but some some special musical numbers were render ed bv the choir. The interior of the church was beautifully decorated, the choir box and rostrum being festooned with garlands. Services at the Jail. Mr. J. W. McFarland talked to the pris oners at the county jail yesterdav. Good singers assisted in the religious ceremonies. KEWS FOE WHEZLMEIT. An Important Convention to Co Held at Philadelphia Xext February. The League of American Wheelmen will hold a'constitutional convention at Phila delphia on February 20, when some ma terial change will be made in the constitu tion and rules of the league. Outside of the election of new officers, the amateur question will be taken up, and admission of colored members to the league also dis cussed. The Racing Board, it is under stood, will propose the adoption of two classes of riders, an amateur and semi-professional class. They anticipate by this move .to keep men against whom they have any proof of semi-professionalism from competing in the amateur class. The National Cyclist Union of England are contemplating adopting like measures in regard to their amateurdefinition. Both theLl A. W. and the National Cyclist Union realize that to approve of cash prizes will injure cycling, and in consequence are practically compelled to recognize semi professional classes. The wheelmen ot the South intend mak ing a determined fight at tbe coming con vention of the L. A. W. against the admis sion of colored riders. The Northern divi sions are less conservative. They contend that in an organization like the L. A. W. no restrictions should be placed upon tbe membership. The attempt to keep colored men out of tbe League is likely to occasion considerable trouble. The L. A. W. officials have already be gun work upon the international race 'meet to be held at Chicago next August Tbe selection of H. E. Baymond, the chairman of tbe L. A. W. Bacing Board, as Presi dent of the International Cyclists' Union places almost the entire management of the races in the bands of the L. A. W. The American racing men will have their first opportunity in many years to encounter bona-fide champions from all countries. The L. A. W. will likely have official timers next season. The N. C. U., of Eng land, have had official timers for some years, and no question has ever been raised about the legality of their records. They are now discussing tbe advisability of 'hav ing official judges to officiate at their meet ing next year. THS FIY-BBOWS HTJ3HB00M. Peculiar Intoxlcatlnc Effect of a Species In Northeastern Asl i. Pearson's TTceklT.3 The inhabitants of northeastern parts of Asia use a mushroom to promote intoxica tion. It is known as the fly-brown mushroom, and also is very abundant in Scotland. The fungus is gathered in the hottest part of the year, and is then hnng up bv a string in the air to dry. Some are dry before being gathered, and these are stated to be far more narcotic than those ar tificially preserved. One large or two small fungi produce what is looked upon as a pleasant state of intoxication for one day. The effect is the same as that produced on taking u quantity of spirits or wine, except that it is delayed from one to two hours after the bolus has been swallowed. At first it produces very cheerful emotions ot the mind; it renders some persons exceedingly active, and is a stimulant to muscular exertions. Thus, if a person affected by it wishes to step over a straw or small stick, it impels him to take a jump sufficient to clear a low hedge or a trunk of a tree; it keeps those fond of music perpetually singing; and, under its influence, a talkative person can neither keep secrets nor silence. Hence it is an especial source of danger to ladies and politicians. Uses of Expanded Metal. Architects and builders in New York, Chicago and other large cities are now using in important buildings the expanded metal lathing which was first announced from Pittsburg a few years ago. They find that besides being fireproof it is much more substantial. In tbe palaces of Pitts burg recently erected this expanded metal has been used as the base upon which orna mental ceilings are built Great quanti ties of expanded metal of the quality used for fencing have been used in the World's Fair buildings for guard railings, eta The formidable looking model ot one of the great naval vessels which lies in the lake jnst off the Exposition grounds is made of Portland cement trowelled on to tbe metal, which was bent to the proper form. -Indeed the inventor of this simple material could scarcely have dreamed of the variety of uses to which it is being put Was Shipwrecked Eight Times. Captain Bobert A. Anuett, an American master mariner now in Liverpool, has been shipwrecked eight times in ten years. He lived like Bobinson Crusoe on MorantCaes, an island in midocenn, for several months; was a member of the crew on the yacht, Maria, which sailed in November, 1887, to search for Pirate Morgan's treas ures, and which was wrecked after a roman tic cruise; and during the Buenos Ayres in surrection was taken prisoner by the insurg ents and cond enined to death. The Ked-Balred Clnb In Dublin. The Bed-haired Club, of Dublin, was a society which barred out all whose hirsute covering was not of the most pronounced auburn. In order that no man could gain admission by false pretenses it was required at the initiation of each membsr tbat the applicant wash his hair and whiskers in hot soda and water. This effectually took out any "dye" that might have been used. It is "said that this extraordinary club is about to be re-established in the Irish capi tal Qnlte a Natural Selection. There are so many true stories of heroism on the battle-field that an occasional inci dent not quite heroic may be forgiven human natnre. It is said that when a famous French general was obliged to re treat, as he and his aide-de-camp were flee ing before the enemy, he breathlessly in quired, "Who are the rear guard?" "Men who have the poorest horses, general," re plied the aid, who was making good use of his spurs. A WAR OF WHEELMEN The National Hilitarjr Cycling Com pany Has a Falling Out. A NEW ORGANIZATION TO FOLLOW, The Crusade for Good Country Roads to Ed Kept Up With a Will NATIONAL HIGHWAIS ARE IN DEMAND SPECIAL TILEGKAJI TO THE DISPATCn.1 Washington Dec. 25. Everything has not been smooth sailing in the Mili tary Cycle Company, and a number of resignations have followed the trouble between the captain and the first lieutenant Angry words passed between some of the parties to the trouble, and more than a dozen members resigned. Arrangements are now on foot for the or ganization ot a new separate company, which will not come under the orders of the District National Guard. Lieutenant Libby and Sergeant Crook are interested in the new organization, and they hope to form a company with social features which will put them on a basis with other inde pendent companies. One of the most interesting volumes that has been published for some time, and one that is likely to have a wide circulation among wheelmen, is General Ordway'a "Cycle Infantry Drill Eegulations." It is the first volume of its kind ever published, notwithstanding the fact that the bicycle has been in nse in the armies of Europe and Great Britain for several years past Fills One of Those Long Felt Wants. The book is the result of research and study, and fully justifies the amount of time aud labor expended in its preparation. It will be introduced among tbe bicycle corps of the National Gnard, where the need of such a work has long been felt Chief Consnl Stfnemetz presided at the meeting of the local division, League of American Wheelmen, called for the pur pose of selecting representatives of this division at the annual meeting in Phila delphia, February 20. The delegates elected were Messrs. Overman, Perry, At water and VanDoren. This division is en titled to so many delegates because of the large membership, there being about 1,000 members on the roll at present This increase is due to the exertion of local wheelmen who endeavored to secure ths prizes offered for new members. Many of the members are not wheelmen, and, as the constitution provides the candidates for membership mutt be amateur wheelmen, it is likely that the right of this division to have so" many representatives will be ques tioned. fontherners Will Turn Out Well. The fact that the national convention will be held at Philadelphia will insure a good attendance from tbe southern contingent of wheelmen. The color line is certain to be one of the important problems that will be broached at the meeting. A warm fight over it is expected, but the general opinion is that it will result in the exclusion of the negro from the league. This will be de plored in a good many sections, but it is ap parently the only alternative of a north and south split in the whole body, and there is no question in the minds of the great body of riders as to which is ths preferrable course. The subject of good roads will also re ceive attention, and good missionary work will be done among the rural communities in awakening interest in the improvement of the country roads. It i3 possible that the question of a series of national high ways will also be broached, and interest awakened in the proposition, if nothing more. HOW AN AT3TEALIAN CLIMBS TBEES, The Usual Way Is to Cut Notches Into the Bark or the Tree ItselC " ' Sin Tranclsco Chronicle. A black never uses his knees when climb ing. If the tree is small in girth they some times use a vine, passing it around the tree and holding on to it as they ascend. Ths most common way however, is to ascend by means of notches cut into the tree or bark aoout one and a half inches deep and about three feet apart Having fixed upon ths side he intends ascending, the climber cuts a notch with his stone tomahawk about the height of his waist and another on a level with his head, but a little to ths right or left of tbe lower notch, as the case may be. These notches are made by a lew taps of the hatchet, first horizontally and then down at an angle of 45 degrees; having made the two lower ones the ascent is maJo by standing on the ball of the foot with the great toe iu the notch, while the climber cuts afresh notch level with his head, and so on until the lower branches are gained. Often the gum trees run 80 feet from tha ground up to the lowest limb, the trunk of the tree being perfectly smooth. These notches are cut with great regularity, for, measured on a fallen tree, the distance be tween! them seldom varies half an inch. In reascending a tree fresh cuts are made for every fresh ascent S STOP THIEF. 2 Dyspepsia is stealing the roses from many j 0 zaces pianrn. H.W.. w., ... III..IM5 J m.... . BEECHAM'S jf will rrit the rajeml,! jft ana reitora Dcaita,, mw -BiratnBlenlotf IheTi i will euro Sick Headache, acting like c a cnarm on tne stomaek, J-irer ana Kidneys. Tie w cnu dox. ; i Covered with a Tasteless and Solable Coatinr. i d ncwi one uepoc, 305 unai M. -WWWWOTWW PJLg CURB A care for Piles. External. Internal. Blind. Bleed Injr and Itehlnjr, Chronic. Recent or Beredltsrr. Tlils remedy has poltlTelT never been known I fall. SI a box. s ror So. oy BialL A (rnarantee sin wltn six dotcs. wiien pure Haifa at one time, to re- fund the SS If not cared. itased by EMIL fj. bTUUtt., urnzKir ;l. v noiesale and Kpt Wholesale and Retail A jent. Noi. M01 and 1701 Fenn aye., corner "Write are. and yclton it.. Plttsbnrr, UknbH ft Cramn Cnre. 25 a ., corner wrue are. Pa. Die Stnekr't andSOcts. Jsl-42-o4 It Caret Colas, Coughs, Sore Throat Crony, Infla. eaza, Whooping- Congo, Bronchitis and Asthma, A certain core for Conimnption ia first stages, and a txn relief la adraaceS itarea. kuoatoaee. You win see the excellent effect aftar tiling the Srst dote. Sold bv dealers ererrwhtrt. arf 1 sonic bu cents aaa i.uv. "WOETH A GVmH. A BO"" Trails'-? 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers