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.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'-? YiYf3,'al-' '
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