- i,TRtfPTRfc-'', ""HJSjmtSJUww-wJ "T S "- 12 TIIE SCI? ANTON TKIBTOp). SATURDAY HORNING, APRIL L4, 1807. BAY BY DAY CHAT OF LONDON TOWN Breezy Budget of Gossip from Miss Kaiser's Charming Pen. JOHN T. WATKINS ON TUB STAOE JIo Is Successfully Cnst Tor llio Stnr illnlu l'nit In mi Old Ilngtisli Comedy Xovcltles In u Jlusicnl Wuy--,ktlvniicc Kcliocs of tho (!rcnt Jubilee. Bprclal Correspondence of The Tribune. London, April ".The other evcnlnff I went to the performance of the lrn matlo clnsa of the Itoynl Academy of Music, and let mo say right here that 1 had a veritable treat. This class Is the youngest In years In the academy, having been founded only a year ago liy Its present teacher nnd coach, Mr. "William Farren God bless him and ever since Its debut upon the Btnge of academy life its achievements have been of the hlghest'order, distinct Im provement being a marked feature In every succeeding performance. You have all heard of Mr. Farren, nnd some of you have had the great delight of seeing him upon the stage. Sulllce it to say for the benellt of those who have not, that he Is one of the veteran act ors of London, great in everything he nctH, and indeed the greatest Sir Peter Teasle that has ever been seen upon any singe. Mr.Fatren has been the principal elo cution master In the Royal Academy for a number of years, and chief among my privileges when there, I shall al ways count the fact of having studied under him. And having done so, I can ppealt with authority when I say that as a teacher he Is no less great than as an actor, nnd that the brilliant suc cesses of his dramatic class are only to le taken as a matter of course, when one remembers who Its teacher Is. MR. WATKINS' SUCCESS. Hut I must "move on," as the police eny to the crowds and busses over here, and tell you about this particular per formance, In which .. will be par ticularly interested, for you don't know what I am ull this time keeping "up my sleeve" for you; namely, tho suc cess of your clever townsman, Mr. J. T. "Watklns, In this particular play of the other evening. It was Tobln's old comedy In four acts, "The Honey moon," acted by twelve or fourteen of the best pupils In this class, the prin cipal part In which was allotted to Mr. "Watklns. To say that he acquitted himself well would be putting It mildly. Ills portrayal of the varied emotions that boset the Duke of Aranza, whose part he took throughout the piece, the dramatic Intensity of his action, and the magnificent stage bearing of this young artist won the admiration nnd applause of all. It was an odd coin cidence that. In he course of the play, when a very pretty country dance was introduced, the two end men, and therefore principal ones, were Mr. Wat klns and another American, Mr. El klns, by name. I will Just whisper in your ear the little fact that I was proud when I thought of that. There were no American girls, however, In the cast, the principal success being made by one of the Welsh students, Miss Katie Thomas by name, who act d nnd declaimed much better than her English sisters In tha piece, I must say, ulthouL'li there are some English girls who rank as high In their work as Miss Thomas, but who did not appeal in this play, their ta'lcnts having been displayed In other works. I went to see "His Majesty" again last night. Much of the irrelevant matter has been cut out, thus curtail ing the pleco to the extent of at least three-quarters of a.i hour, and I did not experience a dull moment. What people can see in Sir Alexander Mac kenzie's music to call "heavy and scholarly" I do not see. It is as bright and sparkling as that of any light opera I ever heard, with the added charm that It Is what a great many of them decidedly are not good music. Hut It Is not paying, nevertheless. I am afraid it is a case of "give a dog a bad name," for the people, after seeing its fix st night production condemned in the papers, do not seem to take the trouble to go and see it for themselves, but remain away. Let us hope that the fate of the forthcoming Savoy opera will not be in nny way like it. Failures are saddening, and failures of good things particularly disheartening, even to contemplate. Tne greatest suc cess that has been made in London for ten years, they tell rac, :s that of tho piece "La Ppupee," at the Trince of Wales. Tickets are not to be had for months ahead, either for love or money, but "I guess," as we say at home, I can squeeze In somehow, soon. At least I shall have a try at It. PADEHEWSKI. . Paderewskl is Industriously "reclta ting" In the provincial towns of the Kingdom at present, coining money, of course. He gives un orchestral concert next week In London, at which he is to play two concertos, the Schumann A minor, and the E flat Liszt. So far there is no indication of a full iccltal, but perhaps we may hope for one late in the season. He may be waiting for Diamond Jubilee weather, with Dia mond Jubilee guests In England then, and the consequent Diamond Jubilee prices. I don't blame him. I'd do It myself If I could. After much heelng nnd hawing, our beloved Melba has at last decided not to sing In opera in Loiidon this season, but her aresenee here will be seen and heard by means of a concert at Queen's hall which she means to give. Musical London is very sad over the death of 'Brahms. I did not imagine that I could care, myself, so much as I did feel when I heard the news, but to be told all at once that no more work can ever come from that mighty pen again, is rather a shock.even to me. who know only his songs and some of his works for strings. Blanche Mar chesl, the vocalist, at yesterday after noon's popular concert, touched a ten der chord by her singing of the beauti ful "Von Eoiger Llebe" and "Wiegen lied" of his, and many of the audience, who had only Just heard of his death, were In tears, for he is indeed beloved in London. How magnificent a thing it must be to leave, like such men when dying, such "footpiinta on the sands of time!" " JUBILEE TALK. The nearer we get to June, tho more diamond Jubilee talk do we hear, It is simply Jubilee here, Jubilee there, and Jubilee, Jubilee everywhere! In dications of the approaching event multiply and increase with every day. Already the influx of visitors has be gun.as I said before it Is currently re ported that on all the P. & O. and other steamship lines running between hero and India, here and Australia, and hero and South Africa, It is Im possible now to book a passage that .would succeed In getting a colonist here before the end of the season, as even steerago. passages, .which used to cost fifteen pounds, have risen to forty pounds, and are unobtainable at that. First and second cabin passages are rising In proportion, the ever ubiquit ous ticket speculator, of course, hav ing his little thumb in the pie as usual, and contributing his little share to the general excitement. Society from the Stntes Is also mustering here nlready, and 1 jead only yesterday in the pa pers that Mr. nnd Mrs. Bradley Martin, of New York, arrived yesterday on the Majestic "with a numerous suite." It really read quite like the arrival of a royal couple. How fine and grand It must be to travel "with a numerous suite!" Never before was the condition of tho whole Saxe-Coburg and uotha Family Order watched with such keen Interest, such downilght solicitude, by mllllomt of ordinary folk who usually think but little about royalty. That the queen heaven bless her! ahem may keep well Is piously wished, yet this Is not the only wish, All her rela tions must also remain In good fettle, so as not to upset the venerably sov ereign's nerves, and spoil everything. Though the queen herself might be In very fair health, yet an Inopportune Illness In the family would possibly re- YYri What has been heralded as the longest and most umbitlous novel ot that Elngu- tinijy tusnppointing writer, llouetl lllchens, comes to us In a nightmare Uiess from H. S. Stone & Co., Chicago. It Is 1 called "Flnmos," and Is Indeed the longest of Its autlor's works; but when that is said, tho fulfilment of tho prophecies cease. "Flames" does -not compare with j "An Imaginative Man";. It sustains no such notes as were sounded fn "Tho . Follies of Eustace;" it is hardly to be pro- 1 nounced worthy of tho pen that gave us, In timely sarcasm, that satire on tho de cadent fad, "The Green, Carnation." In It Mr. Hlchens has attempted to deal with occultism and has failed;. has sought to build a wreath of sentiment about tho sodden vices of modern London after dark, and tho wreath has withered and shriveled in tho mcrblflc atmospheie. Only nt times la "Klnrrcs" interesting. There are bits of dercriptlen and touches of power that reveal genius, but, llko tho subject-of tho novel, they aro fitful, and flicker and fade ero their rays aro seen. In brief the scheme of the story Is this; Two young Londoners, of the wealthy, do-nothing class, tepresent opposlto types. One, Valentine, Is Intellectual, calm, slightly critical, by nature free from inclination to vice and called "the saint of Victoria street." The other, Julian, H Intensely human, strong In temptation and In passion, nnd capable, when started, of tho greatest excesses. Theso two young men become great friends, and Valentine's negatlvo purity acts, without his knowledge, as a check on Julian's pronencps to self-Indulgence, llut it be falls that each yearns for the other's nature, and so, after certain spiritualistic hocus pocus, they decide lo trade souls. This decision Is abetted by ono Inordin ate friend, Marr, who. Just as the trade Is about to be made, dies and plants his villainous soul In Valentine's fair body. From this forth tho book Is a plcturo of tho possibilities of London for seekers after Iniquity; and whilo Mr. Hlchens writes coolly, and as a matter of course, It Is not difficult to believe that ho has ro lled on stink and stench and fllthlness to sell his product. Thero Is an episode about a young wo man, Introduced to us at tho closo of a night's debauch, under the suggestivo name of "Feathers," which Is meant to bo very effective. This young woman of the street has sounded every depth of phy sical and moral degradation; but whl!o Valentine, with Marr's soul. Is dragging Julian down, she conceives what Is de scribed as a pure and holy lovo Tor him, sets In to lift him up, and at the closo manages to win In tho contest for Julian's soul at tho cost of her own life. Whilo such a touch is welcorse amidst so much reeking filth, It Is hardly a warrant for Its environment. We cannot help but re gard It as a sop which Mr. Hlchens throws to tho moralists to keep them from con demning his book as unlit to havo the privileges of the malls. An excursion Into the mystic with differ ent accessories and a decidedly different atmosphere is made In Mario CorclU's newest novel, "Zlska," which Is neatly 1 published by Stone & Kimball, or New York. Hero we have morality to burn. Somo thousands of jears before thU I strenuous romance opens, an Egyptian prince, Arax.cs, had a mistiess, Char , mazel (for In those days the moral codo .was broader than at present) and tho nils j tress loved the prince so emphatically that tho prince, to get rid of her tumultuous affection, cut her head off. Now noto trie ; sequel. Tho gieatest of French painters, who In tho year that tho story opens--lt , Isn't given, but It Is supposed to be any I modern year except 1SU7, for 1S37 would hardly glva tho slory elbow room is "ilo lng" Cairo, and while thero Is singularly urawn towaru a mysterious 1'rlncoss Zlsku. Tho process of his attraction to her Is spread over a considerable number of pages and maxes warm leading, but It Is Irrelevant heie. Sulllce It to say thi.t In tho end the painter and tho princess disappear. The latter entices the former Into one of tho lowest tombs of the great pyramid, and when they had reached tho tomb of Araxcs we are Informed that: She turned her face, now spectral and pallid as a waning moon, up to him; her form grew thin and skeleton-like, whlln still retaining tho transparent outline of Its beauty; und ho realized at last that no creature of flesh und blood was this that clung to him, but somo mysterious, bodi less horror of the supernatural, unguessed by tho outer worM of men! The dews of death stood thick on his forehead; thero was a stialnlng agony at his heart, and his breath e-amo In quick, convulslvo gasps; but worse than his physical tor turo was tho overwhelming and convinc ing truth of the actual existence of tho spiritual universe, now so suddenly and awfully revealed. What he had all his llfo denied was now declared a certainty; whore ho had been deaf and blind ho now heard and saw. Zlska! Zlska-Charmazel! 100 -W ild V V whlther tho duchess repaired most su duco tho magnificence of the proces sion in a, depressing degree, making a "two-hoss filmy" uffalr of It, when a chariot drawn by eight creum colored steeds had been eagerly anticipated for months. As for a death among her majesty's very numerous 6onnectlons well, tho gaiety of nations might not only bo eclipsed, but the pecuniary dls appointments would bo of a never-to-be-forgotten character. The Saxe-Coburg and Qotha Family Order Is earn estly Implored to take care of Itself at this critical Juncture to avoid chills as It would the plague, to dine wisely and not too well, to mind Its steps as It goes upstairs and downstairs, and to have a wary eye for democratic or ange peel nnd disloyal banana skins. THE DUCHESS OF TECK. While all the leading members of the royal clan are gadding abroad, one or two stay-at-home princesses nre de voted In their efforts to All the gap, and ngure at all sorts of philanthropic gatherings proper to this lenten sen son. Ono of these is tho Duchess of Teck, who accordingly presided at nn annual bazaar In connection with the French church near here. The function was held In Kensington Tower hall, l7V AND MAGAZINE In very truth he know ho remembered her; In very truth he knew he had loved her; In very truth he knew h had mur dered her! Hut another stl'.l greater truth was forcing Itself upon him now; and this was that all of tho old love of the old, old days was arising within him In all Its strength once more, and that ho loved her stllll Death 7 That was a name merely; theie was no death only a change Into somo other form of existence. What change, what form would bo nls now? Tho thought startled him roused him and ence nguln the low splrlt-voue of his long-ago Letrayed und murdered love thrilled In his ears: 'Soul of Araxes, cling to my soul! for this present llfo Is swiftly passing! No more scorn of the Dlvlno can stand whither wo are speeding, for the torriblo and eternal truth overshadows US' and our destinies! Closed aro the gates of heaven open wide aro the portals or hell! Lnter with me, my lover, Araxes! die as I died, unprepareu and alone! Die. and pass out Into a new llfo again such llfo as mine! ' A struggling cry escaped him, and ho stretched out his arms: Zlska! Forgive forgive!" Then came a solemn, surging sound of great wings beating on a tem pi stuous air, and nil the light of the tomb was suddenly extinguished. One in stant more ho stood upright in tho thick darkness; then a burning knife seemed plunged Into his breast, and he reeled forward and fell, his last hold on life be ing the consciousness that soft arms were clasping him and drawing him away away ho know not whither and that warm lips, sweet und tender, wero closely piessed on his. And presently out of tho heavy gloom came a voice, which said: 'Peace! Tho old gods are best and tho law Is made perfect. A llfo demands a life. Love'rt debt must bo paid by lovo! Tho woman's soul forgives, tho man re pents v horeforo they are both released from bondage and the memory of sin. Let them go hence; the curse Is lifted!' It Is to be assumed tho reader will un derstand that In tho foregoing exceipt tho French painter Is a reincarnation of tho homicidal Egyptian prince, and tho voluptuous Zlska a re-embodiment of tho murdeied mistress who has come down the long aislo of time for no other purpose than to square accounts. But lest this point should not bo clear wo append this diagram, and ask, In triumph, If it Isn't, Indeed, a run for one's money. fl it Is a pleasure to turn from rubbish like tho foregoing to a book of honest merit, which needs no bedaubing. In "The Im pudent Comedian" (Chicago: II. S. Stone & Co.) 'Mr. F. Frankfort Mooro nas Incorporated six tales that will Inspire tho discriminating reader with unqualified admiration. They aro stories set In tho tlmo and manners of tho Restoration; they concern mostly actor folk and favor ites of tho court Nell Gwynne-, Kitty Cllve, tho Incomparable Mrs. Slddons, Davy Garrlck and others of that choice circle that made merriment for their con temporariesand two or three ot them havo already seen print In tho Chap liook, notably tho title-piece, that won derfully clever and urtlstlc sketch of tho warm-hearted wanton, Mistress Gwynne. But whether old or new, ull six of them aro first-class, nnd tho person who has a proper cyo to the artistic In fiction w.ll possess them ere another day shall dawn. Two recent numbers In Appleton's Town and Country library comprise "Per fection City," b Mrs. Orpen, and "A Spotless Reputation." by Dorothea Glr ard. Tho former treats of a commun istic experiment In Kansas and reveals, m an Interesting but not especially original fashion, tho essential weakness of such attempts to revolutionize tho accepted so cial order of things The second has for Its themo the antics of a beautiful wile who plays tho courtesan with different men, Including her husband, up to a cer tain point, but always stops short of ac tual bodily defilement, out of regard for her ' spotless reputation." It Is a strik ing picture ot tho Immorality of virtue which rests, not on Innocence and lovo of llghteobsness, but on fear. Happily for tho husband of this unapproachabla coquette, she dies In time to enublo him to wed a weman of decent Instincts. o That the average American, democrat though he bo In theory, takes a lively in terest In the ways nnd doings of the "quality" Is shown by tho avidity wltn which ho reads tho society news in h. favorlto newspaper, devours tho tittle tattle that creeps Into pilnt about the for elgn nobility and sustnlns such publica tions as Voguo and Town Topics. We suspect, therefore, , that the average American will bo greatly Interested la a book newly Issued by the Continental Publishing company, of New York, and called "A Society Woman In Two Contin ents." Its author, Mrs. Sallle Urittor Spottlswood Mnckln, is tho daughter of a former mayor of St. Louis; and the widow of James Mackln, who was treas urer of New York under Tllden's admin - TT"TT"''"T'"'"'M,M ' '" wg""'wflacaBwwwgMww-i i i GREEK CRUISER HYDRIA. One of the modern steel boat that will cops with wooden reiieli of Turkey, perbly arrayed In a magnificent purple brocade govn, a 'sealskin cape, a bon net in shaded mauve and purple re lieved with green, and looking royal enough to cover a multitude of prince ly absentees. Her Royal Highness paid compliments in French, praised the French school children's singing, bought numerous articles at the stalls, and exchanged greetings with her friends among the titled stall keepers. Tho duchess Is, of course, the social power at Richmond, whore nho lives, and where I often have the honor of singing for the Philharmonic society there. I am engaged to sing the so prano role of Dvorak's dramatic work, "Spectre's Bride," there soon, and as Her Royal Highness is to be the prin cipal patroness again, It behooves poor Sadie to get herself a new dress, an I have nlready sung twice before her in my one und only remaining concert dress. This singing before royalties may bo a very good thing for one, pro fessionally, but It Is a trifle expensive, for one nan to look so nice, you know. I often wish I were a man, and could wear a black drees suit upon nil occa sions after 6, Instead of lnvltlnsr colds to call on my bare neck nnd arms, You men have by far the best of us, but then, we can't be all men. Sadie E. Kaiser. istration, and later a largo and success ful operator in railroad building. When ho died ho left u generous fortune, and his widow put it to good use In the so cial centres of Europe Her success in tho quest of distinction abroad may bo Judged by tho fuct that the Pope has mado her a countess, tho first Amerfcan woman thus honored. Moving In tho highest cir cle, sho has, of course, met the most not able peoplo of tho day, and has been re ceived at every court In Europe. Her book 13 full of anecdote and social Inci dents of a most Interesting nature. o The second volume In Appleton's scries of books for home reading, of which wo recently wrote at length. Is by Frank Vin cent and Is entitled "The Plant World," Us romances and realities. In slmplo lan guage It covers the essential facts in bot any and singles out for promlnenco such points as would bo most likely to leave an Impress upon the mind of a casual reader without technical prollclcncy in tha science of botany. Tho boy or girl before whom this book Is placed will bo quite certain to read it with as much in terest as if It wero wholly Imaginative and will afterward have In mind the basis facts for a good working knowledge of botany. We consider this series of books a distinct gain to tho cause ot popular education. o Two novels In paper covers are pub lished by tho J. B. Lipplncott Co., Phila delphia "Wilt Thou Have This Woman?'' by J. Maclaren Cobham, and "Into an Unknown World," by John Strongo Win ter. Of tho two tho latter Is the more Interesting according to our taste, but, to be sure, tastes vary. . o Numbers 1 nnd 2 of John Lane's new In ternational Studio, "an Illustrated monthly magazlno of fine and applied art," merit the remark that a distinct and valuable addition has been made to tho current literature on this subject. Tho Studio, unllko somo publications of Its class, is unfettered; it Is freo to print any thing of nny kind which In its editor's opinion betokens originally or merit 'n artistic conception or execution or both. It is an up-tc-duto art Journal without modernity being carried to the proportions of a criminal excess. Tho magazlno la printed beautifully; Its reproductions of different styles of art work leavo llttlo to bo desired, nnd there Is a quality In tho text that does not put the usually uncon sidered laymen to sleep. The Studio sells for 33 cents a copy nnd Is published at 140 Fifth avenue, New York. o As wo glanco through the Chap-Book for April 15 wo are newly charmed with tho excellence of Its book reviews. Of course It has other features of Interest notably tho Henry James serial, "What Maisie Knew," and tho Introductory "notes" that give In a genteel way the freshest gossip of the arUtocracy of let tersbut for our part we turn at once to tho book revlows, for wo know that thero wo can bo sure of being at once Instruct ed and entertained. Whoever they aro that produce this copy and being anony mous, ono has no clue they deservo rich recompense of cakes and wine, and, be times, a. lift In salary, for they do know how to review. o Tho thought suggested by tho Popular Science News for May Is ono of surprise that so wldo a field of scientific research and experiment can be so well and so clearly covered in ono nul iticn of 21 pages. There Is hardly anything of in terest to students of science that this ad mirable Journal misses. AM Mil C A AHEAD. From the Philadelphia Press. Thero aro eleven cities In Europo with a population of over 500,000, 110 cities with from 100,000 to f,0o',000 and 110 cities with from 50.0CO to 100,000. In all this Immense wealth of street railway territory thero aro today less than 1,000 miles of Hack operated by electricity. In tho Uned Hates there aro but four cities with a opulatlon of over K00.090. twenty-four Itles with from 100,000 to 500,000 and thlr- y cities with from 50,000 to 100.000. In ho fifty-eight American cities there aio o less than 7,500 miles ot electric railway .ack. MARKED miUlOVEMENTS. 'rorn tho Wilkes-Barre News-Dealer. Tho Scranton Tiibuno Is now equipped .vlth ono of Hoe's modern presses. It is npablo of printing C, 8, 10, 12 or 16 pages. Jur contemporary appears daily now In 0-pago form. Tho improvement is a narked one, but only In keeping with tho rogress that has always characterized 'ip management of tho paper. FOR A JUST LAW GOVERNING LIBEL Text of the Bill Which Has Unanimously Passed the Senate. ENTIRELY FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED Whilo tho Mcnsuro Prevents Purely Speculative or .Uiillclous Litigation It Also Doubles tho Tenuity for Wnnton Libel, and Gives tho Ag grieved l'nrty tho Choice of Jurisdiction. From tho Philadelphia Times. The Pennsylvania senate on. Thurs day passed finally In that body, by n vote of 30 to 0, a libel reform bill that wias so thoroughly considered and per fected by tho Judiciary committee by which It was) unanimously reported, that not a single senator had a criti cism to make as to any of Its provis ions, and not a vote was, recorded against It. Tho following Is the bill as It finally passed tho senate: An act defining libel and Its punish ment. Section 1. Do it enacted, etc., that no tions for libel, civil or criminal, may be Instituted in any one county In which tho publication of tho alleged libel has leen made. Section 2. Criminal actions for libel shall bo mnlntalned for nny malicious ly false publication, or for any malic ious publication not proper for public Information, against the writer, tho editor who directs the publication, nnd nny editor or publisher who knowing ly permitted such publication1, or who refused to dlvulgo the name of the writer. Any person thus committing criminal libel shall be guilty of a mis demeanor, and on conviction shall bo sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, or undergo Im prisonment not exceeding twelve months, or both at the discretion of the court. Section 3. In any civil action for libel, when the publication Is proper for pub lic information, the plea of Justifica tion shall be accepted as adequate when It Is pleaded by the defendant that the publication 1 substantially truo in every material respect, and If such a plea bhall be established to the satisfaction of thecourt and Jury, there chall be no recovery. The plea of Jus tification if made in uood faith shall not enhance damases, and In no civil action for libel shall damages be awarded beyond Just restitution for Injury actually sustained. Section 4. All laws or parts of laws Inconsistent with, this act aro hereby repealed. THE BILL ANALYZED. If any reasonable objection can be mado to the foregoing bill we would be glad to havo It presented. TOio first section provides tfliat any person who doalrea to brinjr a civil or criminal ac tion for libel, may do so In any county of the state where tho publication lias been, made, and as tho circulation, of a single copy of a newspaper In a county Is a publication, and as nearly every newspaper of the state goea Into every county to subscribers or ex changes, this law practically glvea any plaintiff or prosecutor in an action for libel tho choice of any jurisdiction in Pennsylvania In which to try the case. Thus every advantage on this point would be with the plaintiff or prosecu tor and against the publisher. The second section makes an import ant, and certainly most desirable change. In requiring prosecutors in criminal actions for libel to prosecute the actually guilty parties. These could be prosecuted under existing laws, but the guiltless may bo prose cuted with them, and very many of our criminal prosecutions are directed against entirely Innocent parties, while no attempt Is made to punish the guilty. This provision Is clearly In the Interest of reputable journalism and in restraint of licentiousness and Irre sponsible writers. The person who either carelesily or maliciously furnishes a libelous publi cation to a newspaper, as may be done by any ono of the hundreds of corre spondents who dally furnish news to each of the leading Journals, has lit tle or no responsibility under exist ing laws. Indeed, they are an open in vitation to recklessness on the part of the Inconsiderate, and to malicious publication" on the part of others. Under the mate bill the guilty party must answer and suffer the actual punishment for his crime, for malic ious libel is Justly denominated a crime; and in order to -prevent the escape of the guilty, the law as passed by the senate makes the editor and publisher liable if they have knowing ly assented to the publication of tho libel, or if they refuse to divulge the name of the guilty party. This is en tirely Just. If the editor or publisher shields a libeler ho should stand in tho libelees place in the criminal dock and take the punishment. PENALTY DOUBLED. Another feature of this section should be well considered by those who have hastily assumed that libel reform means enlarged licentiousness In the newspaper press of Pennsylvania. On the contrary, nine-tenths of the Journ als of the state desire to Impose great er restraint upon licentiousness In Journalism, and the new law doubles tho penalty for criminal libel by In creasing the maximum of fine from $1,000 to $2,000, with imprisonment not exceeding twelve months as is provid ed by the existing law. This section has been carefully prepared by the Judiciary committee of the Senate to give the highest possible protection to public and private character against the malicious defamation of newspa pers, and there Is not a feature of the section that does not give Increased protection to society, and Increased re straints by punishment upon those who either recklessly or maliciously assail the character of citizens. Tho third section first simplifies the pleading in civil actions to correspond with the pleading in all other civil ac tions In Pensylvanin. It puts the de fendants in libel suits in precisely the position of defendants in all other suits for the recovery of damages. Un der the present libel laws tho pleading in civil actions has not been changed from tho old common law of centuries ago, and the plea of Justification la Impossible, however true and proper every material accusation may be, If there Is a single error In date or cir cumstance. It provides also that thero can be no plea of Justification In libel where tho publication Is not proper for public Information, and tho present luws clearly define what Is and what Is not a privileged publication. Tho most atrocious of libels may be entirely true, and yet may be without a single feature that would excuse Jus tification in the court. It Is true todayi as It has been in all times, that In certain cases "the greater tho truth, the greater the libel." A newspaper has no right to Interfere with tha past prlvato lives of citizens who aro not before the public for public trust or I posing as public leaders. Blemishes of reputation In the past Uvea of pri vate citizens have no placo In tho columns of a newspaper with the sanc tion of law, and the more damaging such publication may be, tho grenter must bo tho libel and the wrong to tly public, regardless of lbs truth. Such libels should bo punished with the utmost severity. JUSTIFICATION. Tho same section also provides that tho plea for justification, If mado In good faith, shall not aggravate dam ages, nnd that lu nil civil actions plnln tlffs shall be uwnrded "Just restitution for Injury actually sustained." Thus the new law gives the fullest vindica tion to persons woh arc libeled In the criminal courts, with Increased punish ment for tho person or persons who are guilty of the libel, In nddltlon to thus publishing the- guilty parties for libel, any citizen who may be wronged by a publication In a newspaper, however Innocent the editor or publisher may have been In the matter of the publi cation, can recover "Just restitution for Iniury nctually sustained," It does not require tho plaintiff to flic a bill of par ticulars as to tho Injuries he has suf fered. He Is put precisely on a foot ing with all other claimants for dam ages In civil actions, by requiring him to tresent to the satisfaction of the couit and Jury what aainnges have ben Inflicted, whether special or gen eral, whether tangible or Intangible, and he is entitled to recover the full measure of compensation for the wrongs done him. Such Is the libel reform law as unani mously passeil by the senate. It does not open the door for licentiousness In Journalism. On the contrary, It spe cially alms to restrain such abuse on the part of newspapers by making the guilty parties suffer Increased penal ties In tho crlmlnnl courts, and by giv ing the fullest measure of Justice to every citizen who may be Injured by a false or Improper publication. It Is so obviously Just to society, to tho protec tion of public and private character, nnd to Journalism, whether rcautr.ble or disreputable, that we cannot con ceive why It should not pass the popu lar branch In the legislature by tho same unanimous vote It received in the fpn.ito. THE VAUGIIAN RESOLUTION. It Aims to Correct n Vicious Feature OT tho Constitution. From tho Hazleton Sentinel. Senator Vaughan, of Lackawanna county, has submitted, und the senate at Harrlsburg has passed, a Joint reso lution which provides for an amend ment to Section VII., Article III., of tho Constitution, which, If adopted, will go a long way toward relieving the dis tress which the present stringent laws bearing upon general and special legis lation Impose. In fact It Is nn Improve ment, the necessity for which has long been felt, but until the present time seems to have been overlooked or ne glected by legislators. The proposed amendment alms to make possible spe cial legislation for communities, and which under the present status of things even when endorsed by the leg islature Is Invariably found to bo an Insurmountable barrier when the mat ter resolves Itself into a judicial de cision. The resolution reads: "Unless such proposed special or local law shall have been first submitted to a popular vote at a general or special election In the locality to be affected by its opera tion under an order of the court of common pleas of the respective county after a hearing and application grant ed and been approved by a majority of voters at such election." These words are to be added to Section VII., Article III., of the Constitution, and will obvi ate the difficulty that Is at present en countered when communities deslrlns bpecial legislation appeal to the legis lature for relief. It Is obvious that tho Constitution did not originally Intend to have nil laws apply to all places regardless of conditions. Such, however, has been the provision. The presumption Is that the precaution was thrown out as n safeguard originally, but the amend ment does not overlook this point In Its construction. The provisions as de scribed requires first the decision of the common pleas court, and then a vote of the people, and would preclude the possibility of fraud being perpetrated. The majority vote will decide and un less such majority shall have been se cured after the county judges approve, there Is no chance of tho application for special legislation being enacted. This certainly Is throwing out the lines of safety with as much zeal ns is pos sible, and would operate as a check to attempts at forcing through desirable bills which even If passed under the present circumstances would bo de clared Illegal by the courts should the question arise. Section VII., Article III., of the Con stitution absolutely prohibits the legis lature, under any device or form, from passing any local or special law, among other purposes, for erecting, incornor atlng, or, in numerous iterations, regu lating tho nffalrs of counties, cities, boroughs, villages, townships, wards or school districts. Under stress of this hardship tho Supreme court has rati fied the device of classifying cities and counties and upheld laws enacted for tho separate classes, for certain our poses. But the law reports are still be ing crowded with decisions refusing this classification. A notable Instance of the hazard In relying upon the eiil clency of class leglslatlonoccurredwhen tho court declared Invalid tho act In corporating street railways In cities. Million? of capital Invested under the provisions of that law suddenly found themselves bereft of corporate control or protection. Every session adds to tho number of nets whose Impotence remains dormant while operations un der them are voluntary, but which Is Inopportunely disclosed when the aid of the court Is invoked to enforce their provisions. The practice of the legis lature ever since the adoption of the new constitution demonstrates that special and local legislation Is not de sirable. It was tho abuse of the privi lege which led to the clamor for re dress. Twenty-five years of unsuccess ful attempts have proven that general legislating In all Instances and for all localities Is an Impracticability, nnd that It is high time to substitute a safe ly guarded method for granting special laws In needed public cases, RHEUM ATISri Cured F'r DR. J. S. BEHH, U joins 0 ami 1 Williams Building, Opp, Postolllce, Scranton, Pa. Dr. Behm will tieat every patient tufrerlne with rl euiratlun who upplles before June I abboluiely I R 1! of charge. All other (Us eaves treated ut n vluirgo hurely covering coat of njet-H ury remedies which mill rarely be more than cue. Consultation In Cnzllih and CJermin Tree, V 41,1 Lackawanna Avenue THE MOST STYLISH HAT AND ARE HERE. They cost less than you think, ana nro handsomer than you think. They're tho very pink or fnshlsn. All wo want Is to get you to see them. We're inerr neauty is Ir- AVn Imuiit leslstlble and tho We (Jt't (Mir charm. Kcniilalton pulSSnTvlVRa F0 iJlftf B& " LonlKn ' a llllll laSlC our own workrooms, Til Tllill Wiv Knough' "New' 111 lllill 1U) styJre, ln trimmed Hnts and Bonnets to glvo you ha'.f -a day's slght-seclna and entertainment. UNTItlMMBD MILAN LACES nnd FAN CY STRAW TOQUKS, Turbans and Hound Hats, 33c, 40c, G2c. nnd 75e. rach. TUSCANY and Fancy STRAW HAT9, Open Work Laeo Hrlms Hand-Mnda UltAID HATS. They're perfect Ideals ot graceful style. Me., $1.23 and J1.48. FLOWKHS and FOLIAGE of every land and clltno. NEWHST HIHHONS fresh from th makers at homo anJ abroad. CHIFFONS. Every color. Every kind. Pleated ana plain. 'S. -113 Lacka. Ave. Proprietor. THE FIGHT IS OVER, . THE VICTORY IS OURS. We have lots of followers, but our strides aro too long, our pace too fast and they fall farther and farther behind. Ours Is the only first-class mer chant tailoring establishment Iri Scranton making garments at pop ular prices. Our Specialties Are Suits at $15, $18 and $20 "We have secured a pleco of tha Identical goods from which PRESI DENT M'KINLEY'S inauguration suit was made. We aro now ready to make suits from these goods. It is a beautiful fabric, the most per fect production of an American loom. J. DAVIS, Merchant Tailor, 213 Wyoming Ave., fiJSjJ II OF SCRANTON. Specinl Attention Given to Dusl ncss nnd Personal Accounts. Liberal Accommodations Ex. tended According to Balances and Responsibility. 3 Per Cent. Interest Allowed oa Interest Deposits. Capital, -Surplus, - Undivided Profits, $200,000 1)10,000 70,000 WM. COMKLIj, President. HENRY HELIX, Jr., Vice Tres. WILLIAM H. PECK, Cashier. Beimuda and Southern Proves, FKESH EVERY DAY. 1 1 Pitt M ML MBBET Safes for Securities, at $5.00 Per Annum Upwards, and Storage for Valuables, in the FIRE AND BURQLAR PROOF VAULTS op Tim Lackawanna Trust 'and Safe Deposit Co., .,04 Lackawanna Avenue, Oppoitse Wjomlng House, WOLF & WENZEL, 531 Linden., Opp. Court lious:. PRACTICAL TINNERS and PLUIUBERS Solo Acents for lilclisrdsou Doyntoa'a Furnaces anil lUngiio. Book Binding Neat, Durable Hook Uindlng Is whityoq receive II you leave your order with the SCRANTON TRIUU.NQ BINDERY, Trlb line Building, North Whlnt:la Ave. BONNETS FANCY RIPE STRAWBERRIES
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers