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MINNEAPOLIS KIDNAPS HER FIVE CHILDREN MRS. CHRISTINA HOFAR ABDUCTS THEM FROM HOME OF HER DIVORCED HUSBAND HE OVERTAKES HER AND SHE IS ARRESTED Mother and Little Ones Are Assigned Quarters in the County Jail Over Night, Pending a Settlement—She Brings Children Five Miles Through the Snow. After succeeding in kidnaping her five children from the home of her di vorced husband, at Crystal Lake, near Robbinsdale, Hennepin county, Mrs. Christian Hofar, a woman of thirty five years, had almost reached the Milwaukee depot with her little family when she was overtaken by the father of the children, accompanied by Officer Dahl. The moment that Hofar caught up with his former wife he exclaimed, "I want my children." The mother turned upon him, with her eyes flashing fire, and shaking her fist in his face, cried: "They are my children. You've got a second wife. They like me," and as Bhe spoke the youngsters clung to their mother's skirts, as if seeking her pro tection. At intervals Mrs. Hofar would clasp her children, one by one, in her arms and kiss them fervently. Then the mother started for the de pot with her little family trotting be hind. Hofar was determined to retain the custody of the children, and pur sued her. When he again caught up with her another scene similar to their first meeting was enacted. Hofar explained to the officer that the mother was determined to take the children home with her, and inasmuch as the court had given them to him, he insisted upon demanding his rights. Under the circumstances the only thing that the officer could do was to lbck up Mrs. Hofar and her children Until today, when the mother's claims can be settled in court. Mother Tt /s Her Story. • When a Globe reporter was shown into the woman's ward at the- station last night the room had the appear ance of a nursery. There were two beds in the room, Mrs. Hofar and her five children occupied. In one of the beds three children were asleep, while OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES ON SOUL'S IMMORTALITY Expresses His Views in Hitherto Un published Letter. RICHMOND, Ind., Dec. 18. — About 12 years ago a prominent Richmond man, at that time a member of the city school board, wrote to Dr. Oliver Wen dell Holmes asking him concerning the meaning between the lines of certain passages in his "Elsie Venner." The following reply was received: "Boston, April 22, 1890.—My Dear Sir i —There is no answer to the argument against immortality, so far as I can see, on physiological or materialistic grounds. The eye is the organ of sight; when that perishes the sight perishes with it, even though the rest of the body remains living. So when the brain perishes, its function, conscious ness, in all its modifications, perishes. Such is the natural conclusion. We cannot reach the doctrine^ of immor tality of the individual from below up ward. It must be from the heights of spiritual being that we attain to it. The conviction of personal immortality thus reached differs with the individ ual. Some feel so sure, so they say and so it seems, as they are of the present existence. Others are wanting in faith and imagination. - Read Thomas a Kempis and see how absolutely real to him is the life of the spirit, independ ent of the body. This is all that I can write between the lines of my proposi tion in 'Elsie Venner:' If conscious be ing is separated from its bodily organ ism, then immortality of the soul is conceivable. To some this belief is natural and easy; to others difficult, perhaps impossible. Daniel Webster had inscribed on his tombstone, 'Lord, I believe, help Thou mine unbelief.' That is undoubtedly the mental atti tude of many Christians today. Tours sincerely, —"Oliver Wendell Holmes." The above letter was never made public until yesterday. SUES FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY NIGHTMARE Carpenter Dreams of a Thrilling Acci dent and -Suffers Injury. CHICAGO, .Dec. 18.—John Erforth, a carpenter, who a year ago experienced a thrilling escape when a scaffold broke, went to sleep. He dreamed that once more he was on the scaffold on the partly finished St. Anne's sani tarium building. There was the sharp snap of breaking wood, the framework which held him aloft with four other men trembled and then dashed down ward. As in life he had made a leap to a window six feet below and saved himself by clutching with one hand to the sill, while two of his companions were badly hurt, so the carpenter in his dream leaped to save ■ himself. There was no window ledge and he fell to the floor. Now Erforth has raised the ques tion: "When an accident leads to a dream, does the* dream give a case for damages ?" Erforth wants recompense from the St. Anne's sanitarium for injuries re ceived in his nightmare, which he at tributes directly to the original acci dent, which, in turn, he says, was due to faulty construction of the scaffold. To determine this question, involving interesting psychological points, it may be necessary to carry the problem into the courts. The facts are that when Erforth, in the midst of a hideous nightmare, leaped for his life in that dream enactment of his previous ex perience, he fell out of bed and dislo cated his knee joint. WIFE CANNOT STEAL FROM HER HUSBAND Decision of a Maine Court Leads to Some Queer Results. PORTLAND, Me., Dee. 18.—County Attorney Whitehouse, having decided that under the common law a man and his wife are one and that a person cannot steal from himself, the entry "continued by agreement" has been made In the case of the state against Raymduth S. Bunting, and at the Jan uary term of the sperior court, before Judge Bonney, he will be discharged. Several months ago Thomas Harri- Bon caused the arrest of his wife, alleg ing that she took a pocketbook con taining $1,050 from under his pillow, in the other the other two youngsters were cuddled up in slumber. She told the story of how she suc ceeded in kidnapifig the children from her divorced husband-s home at Crys tal Lake substantially as follows: Mr. and Mrs. Hofar were divorced last September and the court gave the custody of the children to the father, as he agreed to support and educate them. The mother returned to Turtle Lake, Wis., her former home, but the desire to see her children was irresist ible. On Wednesday last she arrived in Minneapolis, and thatiright went to Robbinsdale, where she completed her plans to kidnap the children after her former husband had left for his work in Minneapolis. Mrs. Hofar reached the house unobserved, and getting her five children together started for the city. She was compelled to walk her children five miles through the snow before she caught a street car. Mr. Hofar said that it would be sui cide to turn the children over to their mother. The court realized that she was unable to provide for them and re fused to entertain her plea for their possession when he .and his wife were divorced. Hofar is thirty-seven years old. NO SPECIAL FAVORS FOR AMES. If He Returns to Minneapolis He Will Be Arraigned and Bonds Fixed. "William Baxter has made a proposition to the county authorities of Hennepin to bring Mayor Ames to Minneapolis within six days if given a guaranty that the county attorney will not place him under bonds after he arrives. Baxter is known as a warm personal friend of the ex mayor. Yesterday afternoon Baxter displayed a long typewritten letter from Dr. Ames, in which Ames asserts his willingness to return to Minneapolis if assured that he will not "be subjected to any indig nities." Ames' well known signature was at the end of the letter, but Baxter had torn off the letter head, showing where the document had been mailed from. Ames says he is living in a five-room frame house and that the weather is very wet, which suggests that he is in the precise locality indicated by The G1 obe a few days ago, to wit. within easy driving distance of Louisville. Bax ter declares that if no reward is offered and a promise is given that Ames will not be placed under arerst, the doctor will be in Minneapolis within a week. County Attorney Boardman said last night: "Dr, Ames will be treated just 'is toiy other person accused- of crime, should he return to the city, either vol untarily or under arrest. "He will be arraigned and given an opportunity to plead, and if he can fur nish bonds, he will be entitled to his freedom; but if he cannot, that -will be his misfortune. The state cannot make flesh of one and fowl of the other." NAMES AIDS-DE-CAMP. G. A. R. Commander-ln-Chlef Appoints Twin City Men on His Staff. The national headquarters of the G. A. R. has issued general orders No. 2, which gives the names of aids-de-camp on the staff of Thomas J. Stewart, commander - in-chief. The following have been ap pointed from Minnesota: George W. More'y, Levi Longfellow, Minneapolis; J. P. Larkin. St. Paul; C. W. McKay, Fergus Falls; D. A. Morrison, Rochester; E. H. Holbert, Luverne, and C. T. Clement, Duluth. abstracted $1,000, and put the $50 back. Mrs. Harrison said she gave the money to her sister, Mrs. Bunting, and her husband. Mrs. Bunting was arrested, but Bunting left the city.. In Chicago he was arrested and brought here. He was held for the grand jury and was indicted. He admitted that he receiv ed the $1,000 from Mrs. Harrison, but asserted that there was no larceny in the case and that he did not receive stolen goods. He asserted that a wife cannot steal from her husband, or a husband from his wife, and, therefore, while Mr. Harrison did not consent to the taking of the money by Mrs. Har rison, there was no crime committed. County Attorney' Whitehouse now admits that ..thia-Adew- o£* the case Is correct. JOHN W. GATES WADES THROUGH TEXAS MUD To Recompense Owner of Horse Hurt by His Train. HOUSTON, Tex., Dec. 18.—As the result of an accident to a horse Mil lionaire John W. Gates this morning took a long walk through the mud of South Texas to reimburse the owner. When the magnate and his secretary returned to their special train, after a jaunt of several miles, they were cov ered with mud. The owner of the ani mal received a check for $250. As the special train, bearing Mr. Gates and his party back to Port Ar thur was between Beaumont and the winter headquarters of the millionaire it ran down a horse. The animal suf fered the loss of three legs. When Mr. Gates saw the animal he ordered it shot immediately, and holding the train he set off oh a search of the owner. With difficulty that man was found in a little cabin some miles away. With out controversy the magnate handed over his personal check for the amount named, twice the value of the horse, and set out on his trainward tramp. Almost exhausted, he returned to his luxurious quarters, looking as if he had taken a mud bath. The main line of the road had been blocked by the delay of the special, and three trains were on the track. Mr. Gates has recently expended an immense amount of money to improve the roads about Port Arthur on his own account. He has appropriated $100,000 for pavements about and lead ing to his winter home. Had the Blues. William Drudy is a lineman living on Gardner avenue, Jersey City. A short time ago his wife presented him with a half dozen blue cotton handkerchiefs. It waa last Saturday that Drudy appeared for the first time resplendent in his new neck wear. He labored cheerfully until late in the afternoon, when a fellow workman shocked him with the remark: "Drudy, you're ill." "I'm feeling all right; a little tirea, that's all." Work on the Hudson boulevard ceased. "You're blue in the face, Drudy," they said to him. "Didn't you say that you worked last week near that contagious disease hospital- near Snake Hill?" "Come to think of it, I did. I don't feel just right." Drudy sat on the embankment and wiped the cold perspiration from his face. Then he went home. His wife looked upon the ghastly countenance and gave a sliriek of horror. Drudy was trembling then, and they put him to bed. The physician called felt Drudy's pulse and nodded his head gravely. "Strange disorder; I don't understand the symptoms," he said, by way of con solation to the now miserable Mrs. Dru dy. Drudy moaned in deep agony. They gave him a prescription, but it had no quieting effect upon Drudy. The doctor came again and renewed the prescription, more puzzled than ever. Drudy fet that he was dying. Then they sent for a priest Drudy waited with feverish anxiety. His brow was hot and his wife bathed his face with a wet towel. Then the lineman's wife jumped back with a cry of horror. "It's all coming out of you, William," she said. "What's coming out of me?" said Dru £■<' becoming interested. ~~ "Why the blue; you're turning to red." Drudy jumped out of bed. Then he went to the wash basin, and a good old Saturday night scrub followed. Drudy was a changed man. When the priest arrived Drudy was as well as ever. Drudy looked at tils wife after the cler gyman had gone. "We had better not say anything to the boys ahout those blue cotton handker chiefs," said Drudy. But his wife told the secret to a- neighbor.—New York World. _ Grass Cloth Etching. Etching on Japanese grass cloth, that comes in all shades of olive, dull yellow and old rose is supplanting to some ex tent burnt wood decorations. Smoker sets, towel racks and tabourettes are dis played to this style of decoration. I THE ST. PAUL GLOBE, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1902. MISSING IOWA POSTMASTER FOUND NELS C. MATSON, OF MIDDLE- TOWN, ARRESTED AT PEKIN, ILL. HAD BEEN WANTED SINCE THE STH OF MAY Accused of Embezzlement of Money Order Funds to the Amount of Sev eral Hundred Dollars—He Acknowl edges His Guilt and Is Remanded to Jail. PEKIN, 111., Dec. 18.—Nels C. Mat son, postmaster at Middletown, Dcs Moines county, lowa, who has been wanted by the government authorities since May 5 last for the embezzlement of money order funds to the extent of $300, was arrested here today. He acknowledged his gtftlt and was taken before United States commis sioner Howe, who fixed his bail at $2,000, and ordered him remanded to jail. DID HE KILL HIS FATHER? Nels Erickson Arrested a Second Time at rron Mountain. IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich., Dec. 18.— Nels Erickson was again arrested today, charged with the murder of hia father, John Erickson, who disappeared from his home at Norway last May. The body was found in November covered with brush and with three holes in the head. Nels Erickson was arrested at the time, but was discharged. A shotgun, found near the body, supposed at the time to belong to the dead man's son, has been identified and led to the arrest today. • Erickson had $1,600 when he disappeared, but no money was found. CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFER. lowa Prelates Want See of Omaha Made an Archbishopric. DUBUQUE, lowa, Dec. IS.—The bish ops of the Catholic province of Dubuque met at the archepiscopal residence this afternoon for the purpose, it is said, of making the see of Omaha an archbish opric. It is also said that the bishops will send a memorial to Rome recom mending the appointment of Bishop Spalding to the see of Chicago, notwith standing the fact that a statement was issued that the propaganda has deter mined to recommend Bishop Quigley to the place made, vacant by the death of Archbishop Feehan. It seems probable that the question of elevating Bishop Scannell to the dignity of archbishop will be discussed. On his recent visit to the Nebraska -city Arch bishop Keane declared that he hoped it would not be long until Omaha was the see city of an archdiocese. Archbishop Keane also declared he was in favor of having four Catholic dioceses in lowa. This is construed to mean that the arch bishop is in favor of creating a see at Dcs Moines. The bishops in conference are Scannell, Omaha; Cosgrove, Davenport; Garrigan, Sioux City; Bonacum, Lincoln; and Keane, Cheyenne. HELD FOR HITTING RATZA. Result of the Inquest on the Death of the Wlnona Man. Special to The Globe. WINONA, Minn., Dec. IS.—Frank Ratza came to his death by means of injuries caused in an unknown manner. That is the substance-of the verdict rendered to day In the coroner's inquest into the death of Frank Ratza, who expired at the home of his father after being badly slugged on the head. Joseph Apka has confessed to having hit Ratza on the head with his fists on the night of his death, because Ratza tried to steal some tools from his shed. He did not believe he had hurt Ratza badly, and as Ratza's wounds were evi dently inflicted by some weapon, it is pos sible some other party may be involved. However, Apka is being held for the pres ent. • HOW DID BITTLE DIE? lowa Man's Body Found, Death Having Occurred Months Ago. BIOSE, Idaho, Dec. 18.—The body of a man believed to be Edward Bittle. of Cedar Rapids, lowa,, was found near Mountain Home, Idaho. The man is sup posed to have been dead several months. In his pocket was a railway ticket from Cedar Rapids to Portland, Or., and a purse containing $190. , CEDAR RAPIDS, lowa, Dec. 18.—Ed ward Bittle left Cedar Rapids for Oregon May 27 to buy land. He was known to have left the train at Granger, Wyo., which was the last heard of him. He was a wealthy young farmer aged twen ty-seven, living at Lisbon, fifteen miles east of Cedar Rapids. Telephone Company Insolvent. DETROIT, Mich., Dec. 18.—The Cen- OFF ON SECOND HONEYMOON. Widow of Matricide and Suicide Seeks Happiness in New Union. - ' - * - '-. ■ " -*^r \".' - The widow of Malcolm Ford, who slew his brother, Paul Leicester Ford, and then killed himself, is now seeking forgetfulness of her sorrows as the wife of Joseph Britton Leavy, a wealth y brewer, of Brooklyn, N. Y. tral Trust company, of New York, which holds a trust mortgage^on. the property of the Detroit Telephone- company, to secure an issue of $6Q0,0Q0 worth of bonds issued by the telephone company on June 23_ 1896, today' ftled a bill in chancery in the United tSates circuit court seeking to foreclosecthe mortgage. The Detroit company j^.. ["alleged to be insolvent. Released From ( 'trfe Ice. DETROIT, Mich., Dec'.'lß..—The steamer S. K. Martin and schooner Charles Spade man, of Marine City, whtch have been fast in the ice in Lake Etla.^off Bar Point, were released and brought -Into the river during the night by tugs |ome Rule and Columbia. They are now lying at Am herstburg waiting for th§ third vessel of the fleet, the schooner Hanscomb, which is still.fast. • 'j ■■ New Minnesota Banks. From Globe Washington' Bureau. ' WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 18.—The comptroller of the currency announces certificates issued authorizing the fol lowing banks to commence business: The First National Bank of Lakefield, Minn., capital, $26,000; N. J. Scott, president; J. W. Daubney, cashier. Citizens' State Bank of Lakefield, chartered Dec. 17, 1902. May Does Not Testify. Special to The Globe. BISMARCK, N. D., Dec. 18.—The de fense in the May case closed this after noon. The defendants did not take the stand, as was expected. The arguments will begin tomorrow, and the case will probably go to the jury tomorrow even ing. Pierce Goes to Crookston. Special to The Globe. WINONA, Minn., -Dec. 18.—Orrin M. Fierce, teller of the Second National bank of this city, has resigned to become dis count clerk at the First National bank at Crookston. Mlnnesotan for College President. RICHMOND, Ind., Dec. 18.—Rev. H. Pfolenhauer, of Hamburg, Carver county, Minn., has been chosen president of Con cordia college. Spanish War Veterans at Detroit. DETROIT, Mich., Dec. 18.—The execu tive committee of the Army of Santiago has selected Detroit for the encampment of July 16 and 17, 1903, to commemorate the surrender of Santiago, July 17, IS9B. It is expected that, the attendance will reach 10,000. lowa Philanthropist Dies. LEWIS, lowa, Dec. .18.-—Thomas Mere dith, a wealthy philanthropist, died at his home near here today.' One of his last acts was a gift of $5,000 and a site for a Y. M. C. A. building in Atlantic. Wanted Postage Stamps. "Speaking of lawyers, reminds me of a little story on one of i the old-timers I once knew," said a member of the sheepskin profession, "and incidentally it will show with what unconscious tenacity men of earlier time will cling to the old idea and old ways of doing things. The old man I have in mind had been talked into buying an iron safe for use in the' office. He said he never had any use for the safe, and had really bought it very much against his will; ,The man had harrassed him, he said, until he simply had to buy the safe in order to get rid of him. The safe was finally sent around to his office, and with it a man who was to show the combination, teach him to what various uses it might be put and all that sort of thing. When the safe arrived this little routine was gone through with. The safe man left. The lawyer put a few things in the safe, closed the door and locked it Several weeks passed. One day he concluded that he wanted to get into the safe. He tried to remember the combination, but he had forgotten just how to do it. He worked at the thing for several minutes, and, despairing, finally he sent around the safe man. 'I want you to open my safe,' he said when the man had arrived. The safe expert went to.work in compliance with the request. The lawyer had fooled with the combination so much that the expert experienced some difficulty in get ting on to the thing himself. The fact is it took him about two hours to open the safe. Finally the door flew open. A broad, victorious smile lit up the lawyer's face. He walked over and pulled one of the little drawers out. He had six 2-cent stamps in the drawer. He took one of the stamps and put the others back. 'I just wanted to mail a letter,' he said to the safe expert who was still mopping the perspiration from his face. That was all the lawyer wanted, and real ly he had nothing in the safe but the stamps. He never locked the safe again, and if he had, he never could have per suaded the same expert to come around and open it for him."—New Orleans Times Democrat. Agreec o Disagree. Dandy and Laddie, collie dogs, were brothers and much attached to each other. They were owned by brothers, too, farm ers in New Hampshire. Laddie's master lived at the old homestead, says a con tributor to the Unique Monthly, Dandy's master conducted the next farm, and the two men pastured their stock in common. Bach dog visited tjje other frequently, till one day while Laddie, Dandy's guest, was gnawing a bone, a ppt kitten belong ing to Dandy's family caihe too near, and Laddie snapned at her. Jn an instant Dandy flew at his throat] Land they were only separated after a severe fight. Neither dog ever crossed the boundary line between the two farms after that. Laddio drove his flock of sheep daily down the lane till he reacfted -the dividing wall, where Dandy solemnly took charge, and drove them to pasture. At night Dan dy brought back the sfceep, and Laddie would be waiiting for his share of the flock every time. Never once did they take, the slightest notice of each other or cross the line after the fight. THE GOONS WERE FAR TOO FAT Grease Poured Out in Steams When They Ean and Trip ped Up Hunting Dogs. They were talWng about the great ness of Jim Meyers' new coon dog, and particularly of his smartness in tear ing away all undergrowth beneath a tree as soon as he trees a coon, so that when the hunters come up and shake the coon out of the tree it won't have any bushes to get away into be fore the dog can pounce upon it and get it by the neck; and Terry, the Scotch-Irish terrier, stood by with a sneer on his face, for he despises coon dogs, when in came the man who in sists that he has a vote in the Po chuck district by right of residence therein. He looked sharply at Terry a moment, and then said: "He's yaller, and he's got a stumpy tail. If he only had a sneakin' sort of sheepish look, now, I'd swear he was Uncle David Beckendarter's coon dog that's missin'." Baldy, the landlord, grabbed Terry in time to keep him from mounting the man from Pochuck and running him out of the house, and not until they had shut Terry out on the back stoop did the Pochuck citizen sit down. "He needn't be so dum tetchy!" said he, a little huffy. "How does he know what kind of a critter Uncle David Beckendarter's missin* coon dog was? He better wait till he hears about. Un cle David's missin' coon dog before he gits up and protests like he was goin' to shake the daylights out of a ground hog." "As I was saying," said Baldy, the landlord, of which he had been saying nothing of "the sort, "it beat all how fat the coons are over back of Hopewell Junction. Fat? I should say they were! When they bag coons over there they hang 'gm up by the heels and let the fat drip out of 'em into a tub. If a coon .isn't more than ordinarily fat for a Hopewell Junction coon, one tub is enough to hold its grease. Some times there'll be an overflow of a tin pailful or so, but not often. "Huh!" said "Farmer Bill Leonard, who lives down .opposite Goosepond mountain, and the man from Pochuck cracked the fingers on his right hand and two on his left. "I want to know! There must be some reason for coons being so stocked up with grease over there." "Yes. there is," said Baldy, the land lord. "Great country for croup back of Hopewell Junction. That's why the coons are so fat, folks think. Nothing in the world is so good for croup as coon's grease. Nothing. A pint of •coon's grease will knock the worst case of croup higher than a kite. I've known one Hopewell Junction coon to cure a family of ten children of the croup and then have grease enough left to grease a double set of har ness and the old man's cowhide boots." "My, my," said Farmer Leonard, and the Pochuck citizen took out his ban dana handkerchief and mopped his face. "Oh, yes," said Baldy, the landlord, "why the nicest lot of girls that ever was grow up around Hopewell Junction and it beats all how their folks do hate to have 'em go away to any oth er part of the country to teach school or visif, for fear they might get mar ried there an' their children would have the croup and the coons would be too thin to furnish grease to doc tor it with." "Well, I do declare!" said Farmer Leonard. The man from Pochuck looked out with a-critical eye at the clouds, as with the idea that perhaps he had better start home before it rain ed. "Indeed, yes!" said Baldy, the land lord. "Tremendous fat those Hope well Junction coons are. I remember one frosty night I was chasm' one of 'em and he must have been a little fatter than common, judgin' from what happened. The chase was getting hot and by and by I heard my dog yelping as if he were chuck full of pain. I hurried on and found him standing stock still. He couldn't move. I thought he was paralyzed. I investi gated his case and what do you think was the matter with him?" "Why, that coon was so loaded with fat, and he got so overheated in trying to get out of the way of the dog, that the fat melted as he dashed along and ran out of him in streams. The dog had waded in it up to his knees, and the grease stiffened up and got so hard so sudden that the poor fellow couldn't have been held any tighter if it was a vise that was squeezing him. I wish I could have got that coon. Seems to me he must have been a wonder. Did you say your Uncle Da vid Beckendarter's coon dog was miss ing?" "Yes," said the Pochuck man, and he spoke up sharp. "And I hope and pray he hain't wandered over this way, for if he has he —" "Oh, yes!" interrupted Baldy, the landlord, remembering something else. "And how those Hopewell Junction coons do like turnips! And what a re markable trait in their character that liking for turnips does bring out! Neatness? Those coons carry neatness to such a degree that, no matter how hungry they may be, they will carry freshly pulled turnips to running wa ter a,nd wash the soil all off 'em before they'll eat 'em. I suppose Pochuck coons might be just as neat in that re spect as Hopewell Junction coons if there was any reason for them to be, but there isn't. Pockhuck coons don't have to wash the soil off the turnips. There isn't any soil to wash off." "There's soil enough on any six foot o' Pochuck, by jumps, to bury any Ananias and Sapphira of a feller that ever kept tavern, and to bury him so d«ep, by jumps, that he won't never hear Gabriel when he toots," exclaim ed the ostensible citizen of Pochuck, rising, and talking with both hands up. "Arid I know one that I'd jest like to fix for buryin' there, this very minute, by jump's!" Saying which the indignant visitor started up the road toward his alleged domfdile^btft seeing Terry, the Scotch- Irish terrier, sitting irithe road as if in wait, he went cross-lots bjr the back way, and probably did not hear the mocking jingle of the Howland. house cash register.—Chester, N. V., Corre spondence of the New York Sun. A UNIVERSAL COMPLAINT. (Director of the Mint Roberts reports that the coinage for the fiscal year amounts to $94,526,678. This amount, it is stated, is insufficient for the annual volume of business). The mints are running night and day— They melt and mold the precious ore; They coin it quickly as they may, And rush it through the open door. They stamp and mill, and puff and grind, Because they must supply the stuff. And. yet 'tis found they are behind — They don'f make money fast enough. i The greenback printers hustle on; They toil to meet the great demand. We see them in the gray of dawn And dusk of evening, tireless stand _ Beside the presses, huge and swift; From weariness they're growing gruff. In endless streams the greenbacks drift— But they can't print them fast enough. Carnegie needs a billion, and Pierp. Morgan needs the same amount; The Rockefellers —they have planned To use far more than they can count; The Goulds, and HilL and Gates and Schwab, All view the prospect in a huff. Each wants the wages ef his job— They can't make money fast enough. —Chicago Tribune. l|§iF Shorter Hours As it is our wish to encourage the "Sales People" of St. Paul in their efforts tor "Shorter Hour*," our Store will not be open evenings, excepting Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before Christmas. C. E. Hasson, Manager. SEVENTH AND ROBERT. DECLARING A WAR BLOCKADE Continued From First Page. assurances will not include a guaran tee by the United States of Venezuela's liabilities. ITINERARY OF DEWEY'S FLEET. No Undue Concentration of Ships Along the Venezuelan Coast. WASHINGTON, D. C, Dec. 18.—The navy department contributed the most important developments In the Vene zuelan situation over night, in the form of a. cablegram from Admiral Dewey announcing- the proposed itinerary of the vessels of his fleet during the Christmas holidays. It is clearly seen that the plan provides for no undue concentration of ships along 1 the Vene zuelan coast, and so prudently and ad visedly have its details been drawn up that Secretary Moody today cabled the admiral the department's approval of his orders. This -will set at rest the rumors that the United States con templates cornplicatiag the Venezue lan situation by dispatching the large naval force to EraGuatra as an offset to the allied fleet. Admiral. Dewey's ca blegram, dated San Juan, Dec. 14, is to this effect: "Proposed itinerary of vessels for Christmas holidays: Kearsarge, Ala bama, Massachusetts, lowa, Scorpion, to Trinidad; Illinois, Indiana, Hist, to St. Thomas; the Texas to Point-a- Petrie; Chicago, Newark, Eagle, to Curacoa; San Francisco, Albany, Wasp, to Mayaguez; Cincinnati,- At lanta, Prairie, tugs and torpedo boats, to San Juan; Culgoa to Mayaguez and San Juan; Olympia, Nashville and Machias to St. Kitts; Detroit to An tigua; Mayflower and Vixen to Porto Rican waters and vicinity, and Dolphin to Antigua and vicinity." In reply Secretary Moody sent the following cablegram: "Carry out proposed itinerary. . Mer ry Christmas." According to the approved plans, the powerful fighting ships of Admiral Dewey's fleet will rendezvous at the island of Trinidad, right off the coast of Venezuela, and at gt. Thomas, near Porto Rico. Rear"'Admiral Higginson, commanding the North Atlantic squad ron, will have command of the battle ship fleet at Trinidad on his flagship Kearsarge, with Rear Admiral Sumner commanding the South Atlantic squad-, ron on his flagship lowa, as second in command. The fleet at St. Thomas, which includes two battleships, will be under the command of Rear Admiral Crowninshield," commanding the Euro pean squadron, on his flagship Illinois. The fleet of cruisers and smaller ves sels, which will anchor at Kitts, will be in command of Rear Admiral Cogh lan, commanding the Caribbean- divi sion on his flagship Olympia.,. It is stated that Admiral Dewey will retain the converted cruiser Mayflower as his flagship, and will .spend, most of the ten days' holiday at San Juan. He is now at Culebra, with the bulk of his immense fleet. MINISTER BOWEN AS MEDIATOR. United States Will Not Guarantee Payment by Venezuela. WASHINGTON, D. C, Dec. 18.— President Castro has clothed Minister Bowen with full powers to effect a settlement with Great Britain, Ger many and Italy. Mr. Bowen simply awaits the consent of the state de partment to assume this task, assum ing that the nations named are willing that he shall undertake this work. It is believed that the critical phase of the Venezuelan government is passed. Whether the consent of these gov ernments can be obtained will, it is believed here, depend entirely upon the sufficiency of any guarantee that can be given for the faithful discharge by President Castro of any obligations he may assume as the result of Mr. Bow ens' efforts. The allies feel that they must be assured against the conse quences of another revolution and the repudiation by the president who may follow Castro of his undertakings. The effort to induce the United States government to act as a guar antor, it is safe to say, will not suc ceed, and it is beginning to appear that there is likely to be a mixed com mission appointed to receive all Vene zuelan customs and setting apart a certain portion for the maintenance of the Venezuelan government and dis burse the remainder among the powers until their obligations are met. The government of France Has now entered the field as an active party in the trouble. The French government has served notice upon the govern ments of Great Britain, Germany and Italy, and by way of information has also told Secretary Hay that any pro vision made for the settlement of the claims against Venezuela must rec ognize the pre-eminence of the French claims. France received assurances from the other governments named that any arrangements made would provide for the security of the Frendh interests in the Venezuelan customs. This morning it was understood that the other powers had concerned France's right of priority in the col lection of debts due her by Venezuela, but it now appears that they are dis posed to look more closely into the proposition and the government at least is disposed to make a strong pro test against any differentiation among the creditors. The Italian position is that if there is to be any preference in the settlement of claims against Venezuela, this should be based upon the date of the claim, and from this point of view the Italian claims, be ing older, would take precedence. The French claim is that France should be privileged to come into the combina tion and divide Venezuelan customs receipts or whatever other means of revenue 'might be selected on even terms with other nations. Touching the question of a guaran tee of any obligation assumed by Cas tro as result of Mr. Bowen's good of fices, it is suggested that, the United States being without power to assume directly any responsibility for the ex ecution of Castro's pledges, it is still possible for the state department to give assurances to any parties who might be induced to produce the mon ey to pay the judgments against Cas tro that, when the times comes for re payment, the United States would ex ercise its good offices to sac that the obligations were kept. It is distinctly stated, however, that no pledge will be made on the part of the United 3 States to forcibly collect any indebt edness of this kind. It was learned tonight that France has addressed a note to her charge d'affaires at Caracas for submission to the Venezuelan government stating the position she will maintain with refer-. ence to claims of her citizens against Venezuela^ France makes a distinc tion between claims arising before Castro's assumption and those arising since. The claims of France prior to Castro's administration, it is agreed, are ready to be settled by arbitration. The claims of France since Castro be came president are to be adjusted by. the French minister at Caracas and the proper ministerial officials of Venezu ela. This was arranged some time ago. .In the note sent to Caracas, France takes the position that claims arising since 1899, when Castro became presi dent, should have as favorable treat ment as is given to claims of Germany, Great Britain and other countries. Of the claims prior to 1899, France says they shall be met according to the most-favored-nation treaty and be met out of the customs receipts. The note is courteous but firm. France, it is an nounced, will make no demonstration against Venezuela. Careful of the United States. BERLIN, Dec. 18.—Indications are not wanting that the German government is seeking an expedient to arrive at a solu tion of the difficulty' without anything further happening to vex the people of the United States, whose, good will is considered to be more important than the humiliation of Venezuela. Still, Germany must have her claims satisfied, and it is thought president Castro will yield vol untarily in a few days if not pushed any further, that the commercial classes in Venezuela will compel a settlement, or that the United States will offer to guar antee that Venezuela pay up if she loses by arbitration. Aside from the financial claims mentioned in her ultimatum, Ger many expects some form of apology from Venezuela for the diplomatic insults which the foreign office says are more serious and more gross than those of which Great Britain claims. Presidential Face Red. CARACAS, Dec. 18.—President Castro was questioned today in regard to the report that the Anglo-German ultimatum' had been accepted by Venezuela. The president became furious with rage and said there was no truth in the report. He added: "The acceptance of an ulti matum cannot be coupled with arbitra tion. < Besides, the Anglo-German ulti matum is riot, properly speaking, an ul timatum." Germany Supports Belgium. ; LONDON, Dec.\ 19.— Brussels cor-, respondent of the Daily Telegraph says in : a dispatch that Germany is supporting the claim of Belgium against 7:Ven2Zuela, which amounts to $1,250,000. -m Laboring With the United States. ■ ;"- LONDON, Dec. 3 —Great i Britain ia . making strenuous, efforts to . induce "the United States ■to guarantee Venezuela' 3 compliance 3 with '• the I findings : of arbitra- j ■ tion. . V - ■•■.-■-■:-.'"-.r.y.w. •-.-/Y.' -- ■••,— : : "•»■ ■ r— — ■ ■ ■ '; :'-::^-'--r^ His Gift.; ; ; T :s Mr. Bunker—What shall you give your wife - for - Christmas? -■■', -: ■■ .' ■ - . Mr. Tee—A new : golf set. r~? '. ■ J. Mr. Bunker —But . she ■ never• plays' golf. ;' Mr. Tee—l:know; she doesn't —but I do. —New -York Times. ,■:•.; t',..■.-.': ;/ Providential/^; X i "De jedge give him ten days for steal-' in' a 'possum, but Providence wuz on his side."/:;;--:.-' ■'- .'- - - ■•:"";■;■■;: .••. ' "Providence?" ■ ' . -,v;: - - "Dats what I ! said." Ef. he'd stole !a . turkey he'd got .ten years!"— Atlanta Constitution. ' - r; / - ■ - v-v .••.... •.:.»;•;;• .— :. '■_. The : Most ' Unfavored Nation. :■ There was an old Kansas antique. Whose life was a smash and a shrique. . i- i"- And - they : say Carrie -N.-- -: ''.: • Is a fussy old hen i; Who : ought to Ibe ducqued :In the crique. ' : .': —Chicago Tribune. :■ - HAND SAPOLIO FOR TOILET AND BATH Delicate enough for the softest kin, and yet efficacious in removing my stain. Keeps the skin in perfect -onditien. In the bath gives all the iesirable after-effects of a Turkish oath. It should be on every wash- ; itand. ALL GROCERS AND DRUGGISTS "Lest you Forget" The "Limited" Now Leaves Saint Paul no 2\ (9 pJm 3 ] Arrives CHICAGO 8:55 Next Morning Drearviasi (a la carte* TICKET OFFICES: 400 Robert Street, St. Paul 414 Nlcollet At«., Minneapolis