Pittsburg dispatch. [volume], September 16, 1891, Page 4, Image 4

About Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923

Image provided by: Penn State University Libraries; University Park, PA

                
152-HH
TT,
P
$ B$$r;
aite
ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8. 1846.
Vol. RSft C21. "TptM-cd at rittsbnrg Pc-stofflcc,
November li 1S&7. as- second-class matter.
Business Office Corner Smithfield
and Diamond Streets.
News Rooms and Publishing House
7S and So Diamond Street, in
New Dispatch Building.
r.rr.RN advertising di-fice, koomsu
T'UJUIVETSniLI'IN'i;. NEWYOHK. wherecom-ti'.-ti-
filet orxnc DISl'ATC'H can always be round,
ForciEn a-lri.--ti-.e--- annreclr.tu Hie roiHrnlcncy.
iloniJVd, ertiM-R and trim ofTHII DISPATCH.
while In New York, arc al-o made welcome
Tin: DTSFA TCH rr-rilarfy on salf at Erentann's,
I Cnlot Tiar. Mtr l'rk, and 17 Ave lt V Opera,
Pirn?. Frcnrr, trherr ovyenz is'to has bttn disap
jmntedata hotel nnos htand canobtainit.
TERMS or ME DISPATCH.
rOPTAGE TREE IN" THE CXTTED STATES.
CAii.t DisrATrn. One Year 8C0
IHIi.yPisfvtch, Per Quarter. 2 00
Daily PiKPATcn, One Month 10
Daily DlPrATCII. Including Sunday, lyear.. 10 00
Daily Dispatch, lncludlnj-Sundar, s m'ths. 2 50
iAILY Dispatch, Including Sunday. 1 m'th.. 90
Pcxruv Dispatch One Year S 5C
Wi fkly Di-rATCIi. One Year 1 13
Kr. Dait y Di-PATrn Is delivered by carriers at
15 ents per wccV, or, including Sunday Edition, at
20 cents per w cefc.
PITTSBURG, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1G, 1S9L
TWELVE PAGES
HOW TO S.V" K SLArGHTEK.
In connection with the renewed po--si-Ulity
of ? European outbreak, it is inter
esting to learn the Austrian and German
Governments are experimenting with
shields for soldiers and with screens for
large bodies of soldiers, to counteract the
destructivenoss of modern firearms. This
i-? a remarkable indication of the tendency
of the age of military invention in Europe
to get back to the days of armored sold
iery, which were abolished three or four
centuries ago by the invention of gun
powder. Having in its primary stages
wiped out armor, it would be a strange
srquel if gunpowder restored it.
But the rapid succession of offensive
and ilefrivp military invention permits
suggestion which is very desirable for
the benefit of humanity. It is clearly an
accepted principle that the next war be
tween the military empires will be decided
by the practical perfection of the respec
tive milium- machinery. If the victory
teii'ii fall to the Power, that has the
iao--t deadly mjll arms, the most power
till arti"er and the mo--,t impregnable
armor, both for ships and men, the hundred-,
o! millions that have been spent in
jiroviding these things have all been
wasted.
Tlite point buig established the blood
less decision of wars becomes easy. When
two l'ov.er-. can no longer agree, let them
submit their war material to a competitive
test. The number and excellence of their
munitions can be decided by actual in
fcprction. while the respective value of
each can be decided by letting each Power
lire at th armor of the other, the results
to be recorded by a jury of impartial ex
perts. It is plain that the records of such
a te:.t would furnish an indisputable meas
ure of ihe victory of one Power over
another. If 100 represented the standard
of excellence, it is plain that the empire
vliese war material in ihe various military
rnd naval departments only reached an
average of 80 must lose a province: if it
fell to ,r0 it must suffer the fate of the
plucked collegian and be relegated to
tuter rum: while the Power that gained
the supererogatory perfection of 100 plus,
onuld take what ever it wanted from its
neighbors.
It is to be hoped that this rational and
humane method of settling tuture con
:Iict will commend itself to the European
militarists. When it is clearly demon
s', rattd that one Power can whip the otlier
what is the use of lulling 00,000 or 100,000
of the common ieople to emphasize the
decision? The sovereigns and statesmen
of Europe may be able to stand the
slaughter of their subjects philosophically
enough, but the chance that some of them
may be hit should make this way of pre
venting all danger very acceptable to
them.
riTzsraiaioNs as a philosopher.
That Mr. Fitzsimmons, clearly divining
ihe kind intention of the community
toward him was to put a rope around his
neck and compel him to dance a pat sevl
upon nothing, should, opportunity offer
ing, take a walk, is, after all, not so sur
prising. The bar-filing, rope-climbing and
acrobatic incidents are of course eminently
theatrical, and suggestive not merely of
the daring of Jack Sheppard, DickTurpin
r:id Claude Duval, but are quite up to the
Htest stage sen--.ition dramas which hith-
rto have been accepted as wholly imagin
ative. But probably the most interesting phsse
of the Fitzsimmons affair is exhibited in
the light which his letter yesterday to Trrc
Dispatch and his previous epistle to his
counsel, Mr. Marshall, turns upon the
mental processes. That he had not merely
thought over his situation in a very gen
eral and philosophic way, but that he had
the nerve, after getting liberty, and while
the minions of the law were hot upon his
trail, to post his letter to this paper so that
it reached its destination within a couple
of hours after bis delivery, is an evidence
of cool and refreshing self-possession. The
light and airy tone in which he contrasts
the limitations of the "Hotel de Bastille,
Pittsburg," with the more luxuriant and
fe-.-nsaotLs attractions of the Anderson and
the Monongahela House is worthy of the
airiest flights of Duval, whether celebrated
in prose fiction or in the melodious opera
of the comic stage.
Mr. Fitzsimmons' capacity to project
his spirit away from his own immediate
disagreeable personal environment is also
exhibited handsomely in his letter to Mr.
Marshall- Alike in that letter and in the
later one to The Dispatch, this interest
ing individual exhibits himself as a person
o! thought and broad reflection, who, in
tie intervals between burglary, homicide
and jail breaking, was disposed to view
and to moralize in an elevated and.cven
graeetul and cheery way upon the pano
rama of human life as it passed before
him.
Interest in Mr. Fitzsimmons will un
doubtedly be much intensified by his liter
ary efforts. In all seriousness the utter vari
ance between their tone and the wretched
situation in which the man was placed
would go far to indicate such a sad want
of mental balance as almost to amount to
insanity, if every presumption of tills sort
were not efficiently and conclusively re
butted by the undeniable and eminently
successful coherence of the mental pro
cesses by which he eliminated himself
from the hands of his keepers. His case
is a strange one. It will be studied in de
tail by the public with a greater sense of
security when the subject is again under
confinement
CARELESSNESS ok worse?
The escape of the robber and murderer,
Fitzsimmons, from the county jail affords
prima facie evidence of the need of a sharp
investigation into the discipline and man
agement of that institution. Intimations
of such a necessity have been heard before,
but this remarkable event leaves no room
for doubt on the subject
There can hardly be a more complete
demonstration of the length to which
official inefficiency can go than that, after
the county has spent two and a half mil
lion dollars in building, In impregnable
granite a court house and a jail fitted up
with apnroved safeguards, the most defiant
and notorious criminal for years evades
trial in one building because he is permit
ted to get out of the other, almost as
easily, as from a canvas tent The theory
of official carelessness is the most charita
ble one, while the alternative supposition,
advanced in various quarters that the
money at his command rendered his won
derful escape more easy, only emphasizes
the need of strict investiition.
Of course, the escaping criminal was
aided from the outside; but the question
which the public will want decided is
whether his ability, with that assistance,
to overcome the difficulties of bars, granite
walls, and the watch of the prisoners for
which the public money is expended, is
due to official larelessness or official cor
ruption. On either hypothesis the ques
tion becomes pertinent, if notorious crimi
nals can escape in this way, what return
are the people getting for their expendi
tures on the jail?
Of course, no expense should be spared
to effect the capture of this desperado in
order to convince the criminal class that
the laws are not as futile as they now ap
pear. If the authorities have the good
fortune to secure Fitzsimmons' recapture
it will be hoped that he may be brought
back to a jail with discipline enough to in
sure his staying there.
WORK FOR THE CANADIAN PACIFIC.
The New York Herald in a recent edito
rial article copies and endorses the sug
gestion of its Paris namesake, that the
Canadian Pacific Railroad should lay an
ocean cable from Vancouver to Yokohama
for the accommodation of the world's
traffic. The Paris Herald being, perhaps,
an expatriated offshoot of American jour
nalism, like those citizens of the United
States who reside permanently abroad,
its desire that a Canadian corporation shall
control the avenues of watercourse around
the world, is not, perhaps to be wondered
at; but the anxiety of the New York news
paper that the entire control shall be left
iu the hands of the Canadian Pacific is a
little singular.
Does the esteemed Herald recognize that
our transcontinental lines are so fully occu
pied in charging the intermediate shippers
"all the traffic will bear" that they cannot
be expected to do anything to bring
the telegraphic connection with Japan to
our own country? Or is this a practical
avowal that the complaints of American
railways of the competition of the Cana
dian roads is really based on the superior
enterprise of the Canadian Pacific, But
even if both suppositions be true, there
are other organizations of United States
capital which might be called upon to take
charge of that enterprise. For instance,
the Mackay-Bennett cable, which the
Herald exploits in its every issue, might
very fitly extend its connections and give
us aefcve telegraphic competition through
this country by undertaking the project
thus commended to it.
But perhaps the Herald has information
that the laying of such a cable would be
the reverse of remunerative. In that case
its willingness that the Canadian Pacific
corporation shall put up the money is
equally patriotic and futile.
A comparison on campaign funds.
The fact is brought out in the newspaper
discussion of the day that the State cam
paign of 18G0, by which Pennsylvania was
put permanently into the column of Re
publican States and the election of Lin
coln secured, was waged on a fund of
512,000. This is in sharp contrast with the
politics of to-day, in which a big barrel is
regarded by the politicians as the most
essential provision for campaign work.
There is no legitimate reason why elec
tion expenses should be greater now than
in 18G0. Printing costs less; the means of
reaching the people with political argu
ments through the columns of the news
papers have been vastly multiplied. Yet
here we have the fact that what was prob
ably the most important Republican vic
tory ever won in this State was secured
with a campaign fund of ?12,000, of which
5,000 went for rent and printing, leaving
S7.000 for expenditures throughout the
Stato. The whole sum is less than is
now thought necessary to carry a single
county.
In certifying to the correctness of this
statement, Colonel McClure, who was the
Republican chairman in 1860. sav that it
would be utterly impossible to carry on j
a campaign at the present time on such a
fund. But the impossibility only exists
because the politicians insist on the pres
ence of the barrel. There have been in
stances within th" past twelve months of
the most startling and almost re volution
ary political victory carried on with funds
which would not be deemed adequate for
a city campaign. Kansas was swept by
the People's party last fall with a cam
paign fund of 1,100. When a party repre
sents convictions, faith and earnestness
whether the convietions and faith are "well
founded or not it can get its views be
fore the people without the aid of an im
mense corruption fund.
Unless tl;e big campaign funds are used
for the direct or indirect purposes of
bribery, their necessity is entirely a po
litical superstition, inculcated for the ben
efit of tho political workers. As with the
kindred theory that patronage is neces
sary for politics, it is to the interest of
the managing politicians to keep it up.
Your enterprising politician may live
through a hard winter on the pickings of
a campaign in.which the barrels are tapped
freely. But if a party appeals to the
reason and interest of the masses it does
not need either to bleed the officeholders
or to fry the fat out of capital.
THE STATESMANSHIP OF MEANNESS.
The accounts which come from Rou
mania of the crisis which has arisen there
between the ministry and the monarchy
are calculated to impress the democratic
mind with two features. First, the com
pulsion that seems to rest upon these un
fortunates who are embarked in the king
business to be something that it were base
flattery to call a man; and, second, the
unspeakable meanness which acts as tho
mainspring of politics in the Danubian
provinces.
The Roumanian imbroglio begins with
the love of the Crown Prince for Mile.
Vacaresco. There is no assertion that the
lady was not virtuous or worthy; but the
idea that a present or future king can as
sert the manliness of marrying the woman
he loves, was repudiated by the Rouman
ian ministry. Mile. Vacaresco was sent
packing. But this is only the beginning
of the meanness. The Queen of Bou
mania, the gifted and romantic "Carmen
Sylva," is charged with having sympa
thized with lovers and, therefore, the
Roumanian ministry demanded of the
king that he follow tho example of
the unspeakable Milan, of Servia.jand
obtain a divorce from his irreproachable
Queen. It Is pleasant to hear that the
King, although he had been weak enough
to 'yield in the matter of the Crown
Prince's love, plucked up enough of the
spirit. of a man when it was proposed to
divorce the almost dying Queen, to refuse
to do anything so mean. Consequently
King Charles is accused ofjsecret sympathy
with-the Queen, the Crown Prince and the
maid of honor, and the ministry give out
hints of his coming dethronement
Of course Russian intrigue is at the
bottom of all this; but even with that ex
planation it is difficult to conceive of
statesmanship founded on such baseness.
In this ma'tter the sympathies of democ
racy must be with the royal personages.
A King is entitled at least, to be a man.
It is to be hoped that King Charles will
make up his mind to assume that charac
ter, and assert the right of both himself
and his heir to be loyal to the women they
love.
LIFE IN THE METROPOLIS.
The recent gossip of New York on an
event in gambling circles furnishesa whole
chapter of philosophical reflections on the
condition of society at the close of the
nineteenth century. In the first place we
have set before us the business of the "boss
gambler" of New York. This is a busi
ness forbidden and donounce'd by the law;
but it nevertheless rises to such unques
tioned magnitude that the confidential
manager of the establishment, who holds
unsupervised control while the "boss
gambler" is pursuing other enterprises of
the profession at the seaside resorts, car
ries in the safe the very respectable cash
balance of 100,000. To refer to such a
sum in the parlance of the ordinary mem
bers of the profession as "the wad"
would be little short of sacrilege.
Of course the manager of a business
which keeps 100,000 of ready cash on
hand is eminently respectable. He lives
in a rich mansion in upper New York, oc
cupies a pew in one of the fashionable
churches he has recently requested a cor
rection of the loose and inaccurate state
ment that he is a member of the church
and. has his occupation described in the
city directory as " brushes."
These are the antecedent features of
the case. This highly respected confiden
tial manager concludes to reform, and as
a means of placing his respectability after
reformation beyond all question, after dis
solving partnership walks off with the
wad we beg pardon, the cash balance
of 100,000. The excellence of the busi
nest judgment of this eminently respect
able gentleman, is more than vindicated
in the sequel. He remains in New York
with an intimation that his recent em
ployer or partner can prosecute if he
wants to; and the "boss gambler" accepts
his inability to permit the secrets of his
business to be opened up with the same
sang froid as if his late highly prized
cashier had called the turn for 25,000.
To attempt to enlarge upon the strik
ing features of this case would be like
trying to gild refined gold. We can only
pathetically suggest an investigation of
social scientists as to whether sucli things
are due to the' fact that the world has not
yet got beyond tin stage when a class of
men is found who order, their affairs with
out regard to the law, or whether after an
era of law, we are getting past it and re
turning to the age when eminent gamblers
and other capitalists arc a law unto them
selves. It is the statement of Ben Bntterworth
that the returning 'World's Fair Commis
sioners are very tirod. That their digestive
organs are fatigued is natural, under the
necessary workings of causo and effect; but
that tbeir heroic spirit is worn out wo must
decline to believe. We venture tho asser
tion that tho indomitable Handy and Butter
worth would tackle another public dinner
to-morrow, if the call of duty should spread
the festive board before them.
Baudsley refuses to say a word about
McCamant and Livsey. The threat of im
prisonment for contempt is one which has
slight terrors for a man who lias just begun
a term of flf teon years in the penitentiary.
There has been a delay in the ratification
of that Cuban Treaty by the Spanish Cortes;
but as the impressive E. Burd Grubb is going
back to Spain, tho prospect is that the
recalcitrant deputies will be promptly
charmed into seeing their duty. General
Grubb is Irresistible except when lie is
trying to persuade the stubborn Jerseymon
into electing hipi Governor.
The situation in New York politics adds
force to the apprehension that the town of
Elmirn is likely to set up exclusive claims
to the business of being the nursery of Gov
ernors for that State.
The latest "thing in industrial science is
the establishment of an academy at Chicago,
under license from tho Internal Revenue
Bureau, at which the process of brewing
beer is to be 'studied in all its scientific
phases. Wlied) the manufacture of beer be
comes a learned profession, tho froth on tho
top of it jnayte expected to be something
immense.
The cyclonic storms which were predicted
for September, by the weather prophets, have
materialized, hi such a negative way as to
make "us 'wish for a prediction of perpetual
cyclones.
The industry with yjhich one report from
Texas that Dyrenfnrth's explosions have
produced abundant rains Is chased by
another that they have done nothing of the
.sort. Is calculated to produce desperation in
tho impartial mind. Can it be that Dyren
furth and his rain-waking have become a.
political issue?
Perhaps, if the burglars and murderers
were to capture the honest men and put
them in jail, tho way to make prisons secure
would be demonstrated in actual practice.
Exgland against Ilussia, France against
Germany, all Europe against China, n short
crop and the cholera in Asiatic Turkey, are
calculated to make people on this side of
.the ocean thankful that they have to endure
'nothing worse than monopolistic combina
tions, the political machines and Russell
Harrison.
Pxshafs Mr. IJussell Harrison indorses
the Xcw York ticket on the distinct under
standing thatit.will put a more complaisant
collector in charge of tho revenue tugs.
That jail on Boss street forms a part of
-a very imposing architectural whole; hut if
defiant criminals can walk out of It at will,
the public may conclude that it would bo
better to invest less in architecture and
more in an efficient guardianship of the
criminals.
The island of Jlitylene is elevated to the
rank of a very large-sized and entirely visi
ble chip on tho British shoulder.
For the United States Admiral.to give
.Balmaceda 'a refuge was undoubtedly cor
rect; but care should 'be taken that the ex
ample of England is not followed in gerting(
.away with a round'lot of the Chilean public
treasure. .
THE PITTSBTIRG DISPATCH. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER
FOSSIL FOOTPRINTS.
.
Characteristics of Some of the Discoveries
Recently Made In the Red Sandstone
Near HolyoUe, Mass. What the Animal
was Like.
Several footprints of reptiles of.varlous
dimensions have lately been discovered
about three miles from Holyoke, says the
Springfield Republican, upon the rock in G.
L. Bosworth's quarry, near the shore of the
Connecticut river, which have caused con
siderable excitement and elicited many in
quiries. iThese discoveries occur not infrequently,
more than 12.C00 such footmarks having al
ready been brought to light, and, In fact.it
is well known throughout the scientific
world that the now red sandstone of the
Connecticut Valley, which extends about
110 miles from north to south and averages
about 20 miles in width from east to west, is
one of the most prolific depositories of fossil
prints. Slabs of this stono, having upon
them the wonderful indentations, can bo
found in almost all the museums of this
country and Europe.
A few days ago, acoompanied by my
friend. Prof. Woodman, who is, as the world
knows, one of the most profound scholars
in the natural sciences, I visited Mr. Bos
worth's quarry. The soil over tho rocks,
which is not very thick at that locality, had
been removed and left exposed an extensive
area, upon which a large number of tracks
are apparent. Prof. Woodman said that in
all his rumblings through tho world he had
not seen such a large number clustered to
gether in m circumscribed a place. Several
of the tracks can be traced irom one end of
tho quarry to the other.
There is not only a largo number of them,
but they are of various sizes, and were made
by animals of different species, though the
contornmtion of the foot indicates that they
belong to tho same genus. Some of the
tricks measure 18 incites in length and 10 in
width; others are 10 inches long, and there
are others that do not measure more than
three or four inches, and are of proportional
width. A slab taken out near tho edge of
the public road which forms the northern
boundary of the quarry has two large, well
delineated tracks upon its 'surface 4 feet 6
inches npart, which indicate the stride in
the step of the animal.
Tracks nave tho Same Conformation.
All the tracks bear the same conforma
tion of the loot that is, all have only three
toes, and the steps bear tho same charac
teristics they are single; that is, made by
bipeds. There is no doubt they are much
smaller now than when first made. The
mud, in drying up, must have contracted
considerably to become as the rock is to
day, of a crystalline nature. Many of these
fossil prints bear a close resemblance to the
tracks of birds, bo much so that for years
many of them were believed to have been
made by some of the feathered tribes, but
since the discovery of the dinosaurs in the
triassic strata the question has been defi
nitely settled. Thoie is no doubt now that
tnese tracKS were imiuc uy severaiupcwcs ui
reptiles which have already been found
in tho triassic beds of Nevada and Cali
fornia, and on the western slope of tho
Rocky Mountains. Tho numerous tracks
found show that these animals formed a
large genus, with very many species. One
species had three toes, another had four,
and another five. The three-toed was tho
most numerous, and produced species of
enormous sizos. The Brontozoum Gigan
tcum, the Otozoum Moodli, belong to the
three-toed variety and were from U to 15
leet in height. Tne four-toed and flve-toed
species weie not quite so numerous, but
they produced individuals of still greater
dimensions. Specimens have been lound
that measured IS feet in height and their
tracks 24 inches iu length.
Thelossilsof all these animals show that
nil the species had large heads, sauriau-like,
with enormous teeth. They all had four
legs, but made little use or their forelegs,
which were very smnll and atrophied lor
want of use. These characteristics Indicate
that they were In form as well as in habits
closely allied to the bird family.
They Walked on Their Hind tegs.
The fact that they walked on their hind
legs, that their bones wero hollow like those
of birds, that they had the same conforma
tion of tho foot and were biped in their
habits, points to the conclusion that they
were the primitive sketches of a new design
which was just in tho stage of its evolution,
an intermediate form or a connecting link
emerging from the reptilian genus into the
genus bird. They are surely nearer tho typo
bird than that of ans- other, and If Itweie
not for their forelegs they might be classed
at once as the primitive genus of the feath
ered tribe.
The fact that they had teeth does not pre
clude the possibility of their being interme
diate between reptiles and birds, because
teeth w ere a very common appendage to the
primitive birds, and are still found with
somo of our living birds. The parrot and
the penguin have rudiments of teeth and
alveolar- processes. That conformation in
fossil birds was the law, and its absence was
the exception. Several species had Jaws like
saurian s, and were saurian-like in their dis
position and appearance. Tho archaspteryx,
the gastoi-nis, the hesperornis, the lchthr
ornis and many others were of that sort.
Some of these birds had teeth three Inches
In length, sharp and pointed.
But the dinosaurs were not the only ani
mals which had the privilege to rove over
the muddy plain of this valley. A large
number ot'other footprints have been found
which must have been made by other ani
innle belonging to different orders. Tho
tracks of tho labyiinthodonts, the enalio
saurs, the belodonus lepturus, the droma
therium and many others are ofton met
with. In 1842 the late Prof. Hitchcock had
already examined 2,000 which had been made
by 32 species of bipeds and 14 species of
quadrupeds.
Questions as to tho World's Age.
In regard to footprints, the question upon
which centers the greatest interest is not
about their number or nature, nor of the
character or disposition of the animals that
innrle them, but in their immense antiouitv.
If they dated only a few years buck they
would not bo noticed. But their age is so
immense that we can never form aa ade
quate conception of its duration, and it is so
with all the geological periods. The num
ber of centuries required to bring the state
of the earth from a vaporous mass into its
concrete form, and then through the series
of transformations which have marked the
evolutions of the radiates into the articu
lates, and these into the mollusks, and tho
mollnsks into the fishes, and the fishes into
the reptiles, and the reptiles into tho birds,
and the birds into the mammalians, and the
mammalians into the genus homo, bafilo our
imagination. The only means we have to
unravel tho past is the division of time
adopted for geology that Is, the azoic, or
time previous to the appearance of the or
ganic life; the eozoic, or tlB time when life
lirst appcareu; me puieuzoic, ur age ox
llshcs; the mesozoic, or age of reptiles: the
cenozoic, or tho age of the mammalians.
The evolution of a class of animals Into
other classes and species is called an age;
the group of rocks faid during an age is an
era, and each rock of an era is called a
period; thns-we say, the paleozoio is the age
of fishes, and comprises tho Devonian era,
-which is ooraposed of the "Portage," Hamil
ton, oorniferous: and the Oriskanv periods.
The chronology of a rock is determined by?
Its lossus 11 it is fcteuiuieiiiary, unu uy 113
chemical or physical composition and ar
rangement It it is plutonlo. These minor
points are indispensable for the intelligent
study of the science and to enable one to
grasp its intricate problems.
A QUESTION 07 A2FBAISEHENT.
Tho Treasury Department Disagrees With
the District Attorney.
Washington, Sept. IS. In a recent com
munication to the General Appraiser at New
York the District Attorney at St. Louis con
tended that under the law on the subject
applications for a review of the decisions of;
the Board of General Appraisers must in all
cases be made to the Circuit of Now York in
the district where the decision of tho board
was rendered.
The matter was referred to the Treasury
Department, and in a "letter to the General
Appraiser at Now York Aoting Secretary
Spauldlng says the position of the attorney
appears untenable, and was so determined
by the Circuit Court for the Eastern district
of Missouri, which held that the
terms of the law "within the dis
trict in which the matter arises" refers
to tho district in which the port Is situated
where the merchandise was entered and the
.controversy between the importer and col
lnntnr originated. He sees no reason for
-submitting the question to the Supreme
Court lor aeiermiiuivjuu.uB auggesteu uy xne
District Attorney.
Necessity of Restocking Ontario.
Philadelphia Tress.J m
The necessity of restoring the "Hah supply
of Lake Ontario Is "shown by Forest and
Stream by a quotation from a Bochester
,riewspaner, which calls attention to Lake
Ontario whltoflsh as to a curiosity. Yet iu
1SS0 the catch of whlteflsh in the lake was
1,064,C00 pounds. In 1S35 the amount was 90,
711 pounds, and in 18U1 tho fish is a curiosity
in Rochester. Lake trout have disappeared
in like proportion. But Congress has made
an appropriation for a hatchery from which
to stock the Jake, provided laws for the pro
tection of the flsh shall first be passed by
New York and the Dominion of Canada.
MICH0SC0PIC INSPECTION.
Germany Has Conceded Too Little in Lieu
of Troo Sugar Admission.
Chicago Tribune.
Tho law about the microscopic inspection
of pork products served simply as th e brblgo
for a retreat with honor, as it enabled the
German Government to withdraw so far as
pork was concerned, though not wheat
from a position that became untenable the
moment the reciprocity-retaliatory policy
was adopted by the United States. And if
the members of the last Congress had been
less wooden-skulled that withdrawal would
have been more prompt and would have
covered more ground. With a contingent
retaliatory duty on sugar equal to tho re
mitted tax viz.: $40 a ton tho Germans
would have conceded much more and done
it sooner. They would have lowered their
high duties on both pork and Hour.
Nor is there any question that even with
the small power of reciprocal retaliation left
to Mr. Blame by booby Congressmen he will
constrain tho German Government to do
more thau It has yet done. Cuba and Puerto
HIco furnish a little over three-fifths of the
raw sugar imported by this country. After
July 1 next they will admit American pork
products free. Germany furnishes nearly
one-fifth of the raw sugar imported. While
the prohibition on American pork is taken
off there remains a high duty of $2 1G par 100
pounds. Germany has, therefore, conceded
too little in lieu of free sugar ndmission. She
must conoede much more or it will not be
Jong before a protest is heard Irom Spain to
tho effect that she ha given the United
States more than Germany has done, and
that the sugar of her colonies is being in
directly discriminated against to the ad
vantage of German competitors.
PREPARING TO CELEBRATE.
Kentucky Will Soon Complete Her First
Century of Existence.
Sew York Tribune.
Kentucky is already preparing to cele
brate the completion of lier first century as
a State of the Union, although the time for
the celebration is nearly nine months dis
tant. Kentucky was tho second State to be
mitted, following Vermont by more than a
year; for tho recent celebration at Benning
ton coincided neither with the date of the
battle fought there nor with the dato of
Vermont's acquisition of Statehood, the
latter being Marcli 4, 1791.
Kentucky came in as the fifteenth State on
June 1, 1792, and the celebration of the ocn
tennial of that event in her history will
take place next summer. An elaborate cele
bration 1 already planned. The next State
in the historic lino is Tennessee, which is
Kentucky's Junior by four years to a day.
No other State's centennial occurs in the
present century, but Ohio will have her turn
early in the next.
NAMES OFTEN SEEN IN PBINT.
"William Waldorf Astor has been
selling off his New York property, and in
tends to make London his permanent resi
dence. Jay Cooke says his father built the first
railroad in the United States. President
Harrison, the first, was present at the open
ing of the line.
Reports that the Czar and Czarina will
visit Emperor William soon, and that the
latter will visit St. Petersburg next month,
arc current here, but generally discredited,
Miss Ejiilt Huntington Miller, who
has been elected Principal of tho Women's
College of the Northwestern University, is
President of the Woman's Club at Chautau
qua, and was for many years editor of the
Little Corporal.
It now appears, according to a Vienna
dispatch, that the condition of the Queen of
Boumania, whose life is despaired of, is
largely due to theknowledge of the attempts
made to induce her husband to obtain a di
vorce from her.
Captain Doubassoff, of the Russian
navy, who is the guest of Minister Snowdon
in Philadelphia, will sail for home Septem
ber 10. Ho has been placed in command of
tho harbor of Cronstadt, and will shortly be
made an Admiral.
John D. Rockefeller, who has been
confined to his homo at Forest Hill for some
weeks past, Is a very siok man. Several phy
sicians examined him and declared him to
be free from organic diseases, but decided
that his nervous system needed absolute
rest.
During his coming visit to Dresden, Eu
bonstein, the great Russian, will not lead u
life of leisure. He intends not only to finish
his oratorio, "Moses," and anew opera whioh
has not yet received a name, but also to
complete his book, "Essay Upon Music and,
Musicians."
The physicians of John Fitzgerald, presi
dent of the Irish Land League of America,
say that he will survive his attack of con
gestion of the brain, but admit reluctantly
that mentally he will never be himself
again. The sad nows has greatly affected'
liis many friends.
Rev. H. O. Shuttle worth, rector of St.
Nicholas Church, London, has been ap
proached with regard to his possible accept
ance of tho rectorship of Holy Trinity, Bos
ton, made vacant by Dr. Brooks' election to
the bishopric; but it is doubtful if he could
be Induced to come to this conntry.
"While in Australia. Bernhardt and her
company went out sixty miles into the bush,
and slept in tent, for tho fun of the thing.
One night the gentle Sarah roused every one
by punching them with a bamboo fishing
rod, in order to secure a large following for
a projected bear-hunt. The actress claims
to have killed the animal they wore in
search of, but some of her attendants de
clare on the sly that it was insignificant in
size.
DEATHS HEBE AND ELSEWHERE.
Attorney W. H. Young.
W. H. Young, a member of the Greens
burg bar, died yesterday morning at Kirkbrlde
Asylum, Philadelphia, where he was taken about
six months ago, EiuTerluir wKu paresis, which
caused bis death. He was well known throughout
Westmoreland and adjoining counties. He was
one of tbe most briUlan t and eloquent of Westmore
land's barristers, and had great power over a Jury.
He read law with ex-Judge Hunter, and was ad
mitted to the bar In 1877. He Hfih Ahnnt. JO v.&n
old and leaves a wife, but no children,
William H. Perrln, Historian. x
William Henry.Perriu, the author of sev
eral historical works, died Monday morning In J
ijooisTiue 01 maiarim lever, in 1H73 no .went to Il
linois, where he prepared a history of tho Western
and Northwestern States and Territories. Return
ing, he published a history of Kentucky. He con
triuutearoany articles n historical subjects to the
magazines. He was 60 years old and leaves a famUy.
Isaac Morton.
Isaac Morton, who has been janitor of the
Freehold Bank for 20 years, died yesterday morn
ing at the age of 52 years. He was a great church
worker and a member of the U. A.- It. He was one
of the prime movers to have Emancipation Day
made a legal holiday.
Obituary Notes.
The AiicnBisnor of Valadolid, In Spain, Is
dead.
Mrs. Geace D. Levering, Denver's most
noted vocalist, died Monday night after a brief IU
ness. Henbt Fettinqee, one of the foremost busi
ness men of Altcona, died yesterday evening,
aged 80 jears. He wai one of the first merchants
to locate In that city. He was a prominent Demo
crat all bis life.
WILLIAM Waksock. Postmaster at Warnock
Station, Belmont county.-O., for 81 years, died
tlicre yesterday, aged 70. He was bom In Ohio
county, W. Va.. and ever since his majority held
the position of Postmoter. he being probably the
longest termer la ihe country.
Th5uas S. Mott, a leading banker and prom
inent Republican politician, died In Oawego.N.Y,,
Monday, aged 65 years. He enjoyed an extensive
acquaintance with the prominent men of the coun
try. He was President of the First National
Bank and the owner of the Oswego Water Works
system.
Veet Rev. DxanJLiester; D. D., of the On
tario Diocese, and rector of St.George's Cathedral.
Kingston, Ont., died at Ruthin, North Wales, aged
72. Hewas educated In Dublin and ordained a
priest of the Anglican Church lu 1830. la U863 he
became the rector 6t St. George's, retiring I1USS0.
Hinfficc was for Ufe.
joooe B. M. MUBitAY, one of the oldest settlers
of Dupane county, 11L, died at Naperville Sunday.
Mr. Murray settled In Dupage county In 1831,
served In the BUck Hawk war, and was one of the
early Sheriffs of Cook county. He was an Inti
mate friend of Slepnen A. 'Douglass, and was
prominent In politics In the early days of Illinois.
HENBT COLKUAX, colored, who for 28 years,
since the time of Attorney General Speed, has been
the messenger of the door of the Assistant Attor
ney General in the Department of Justice, died In
"Washington Monday, about SO years of age, Cole
man was a slave In his younger days, but managed
to save up enough money to purchase freedom lor
himself aad wife.
16. 3891;
OltE MAIL POUCH.
Retaliation a Poor Policy.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
In your issue of Sunday, September 6,
there is nn article copied from the Toronto
Globe, giving a report of an interview with a
Member of Parliament of England, C J.
Valentine, a- Conservative, alias "free
trader." "Fair trade," as defined by fair
traders, means that England should place a
heavy tax on foreign goods sent into the
country, in order to retaliate on the foreign
er, and to force him to adopt "free trade,"
or at least largely to diminish the duties
which are now levied on British goods.
"Ho states during the last 10 or 15 years that
prices of English goods have been reduced
from time to time to enable the manufact
urer to sell at lower prices, und consequent
ly wages hart been reduced, but still again
end again desptto of this reduction foreign
t trills have been Increasing until the arti
san class aro asking each other of what use
is the present system of free imports of
bread and cheese so long as they do not get
wages sufficient to pay the price for them.
lie adds that the people think it would bo
better to impose a moderate duty on Amer
ican wheat. All material progress is effected
liii-uuu me acstruction 01 capital uy uivuu
tion and discover-, and there have been
great disturbances in the work of production
and exchange of most countries in" recent
years, most notably since 1S73, and these dis
turbances still continue. The explanation
of these phenomena Is to be mainly found in
the wonderful changes which, through in
vention and discovery, have recently taken
place in the world's method of doing its
work of production and distribution.
It would not be difficult to show that this
plan would disastrously affect English trade
and commerce, and Injure them verv much
more than it would injure the foreigner.
When' fair traders say that her goods aro
excluded from the world's markets by pro
tectionist tariffs they state that which is
absurdly untrue. Tho fact is tnnt those
tariffs protect and foster British trade and
will continue to 00 so until they are abol
ished. Fair trade means a lood tax; their
success in competition, as manufacturers,
rests entirely upon cheap untaxed food. I
quote from Nobles Fiscal Legislation, "It is
impossible to give an adoquate picture of
'the condition of the nation when Sir R. Feel
took office in 1811. I ery interest in the
country was depressed: in the manufactur
ing districts mills and factories were closed
and property depreciated in value; in the
seaports shipping was laid up useless in the
harbor; agricultural laborers were eking out
a miserable existence upon starvation
wages and parochial relief: the revenue was
insufficient to meet the national expendi
ture; the country was brought to the verge
of national and universal bankruptcy."
W. H. Peak.
Pittsbotiq, September 15.
How Dynamite Is Made.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
Please inform me how dynamite Is manu
factured. P. O. W. -
Pittsburg, September 15.
Dynamite is prodnced by the admixture of
nitro-glycerine with a slllcious infusorial
earth, known under the German name as
kieseiguhr, and In appearance looks like
brown sugar. The principal dynamite works
In Great Britain are at Ardeer, nearStevens
ton, Ayrshire. The manufacture Is carried
on under the supervision of Her Majesty's
inspectors of explosives, who pay periodical
visits and test the raw materials, a system
which, if adding to the cost of production,
forms an authoritative guarantee of tbe arti
cle produced. The various processes are car
ried on in isolated wooden buildings, about
20 yards from each other, and surrounded by
massive banks of earth. Nltrlo and sulphuric
acids having been mixed, the temperature
being maintained as low as possible
by cold' water and compressed air,
the acids aro run into a large
leaden tankand further cooled, when glycer
ine is injected by means of compressed air.
This process, being one of considerable dan
ger, has to be closely watched. On May 8,
1884, an explosion cost 10 women their lives.
The nltro-glycerlne now formed is drawn on
and washed in an alkaline solution to re
move any acidity, and is then incorporated
with the kieseiguhr in tho proportion of 1 to
S. Cartridges, about 1 inch to inch diame
ter by 3 inches long, are then made up by
female labor, wrapped" in "vegetable parch
ment and packed in boxes covered with wa
terproof oil paper, with instructions and
cautions printed on them in different lan
guages. Go vernmen t regulations, both as to
the storage and transport of dynamite, are
stringent and restrictive.
Effects or the Tariffs.
To the Editor of The DiSDatch:
Will you give a short description of each
tariff act since the adoption of the Constitu
tion and their results on the finances of the
country. N. B. S.
McKeesport, September 15.
A record of this sort would take up far
moro space than could be spared here.
There has been more legislating done on the
tariff question in the past 100 years than on
any other four or Ave subjects put together.
The best known tariffs are those of 1789, 1821,
1828, 1833, 1842, 1848. 1861, 1883 and 1890. That of
1789 established the system of protection.
From that time onward to the beginning of
the War of 1812 the tendency was.on a whole,
toward higher duties. During that conflict
rates were doubled, and at its close they
were reduced. Advances were made in 1824
and 182S, but a reduction was made in the
sliding scale tariff of 1833. In 1?42 rates again
went up, but in 1846 the turn was once more
downward, and this was the drift of things
until tho eve of the Civil War, when, under
the celebrated Morrill tariff, the general
level of duties was materially advanced.
Shortly after the end of the war rates again
started downward, and the changes siuce
then have, generally speaking, been In this
direction, but rates have been kept fully up
to the protective point. Undoubtedly the
protective policy has largely benefited the
country. The greatest financial and busi
ness disasters which the country ever ex
periencedthose of 1837 and 1857 occurred
in periods when the tariff was down to or
near the "revenue only" basis.
Farmers Mast Be Keasonable.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:'
I notlco that the various papers announce
that this is a prosperous year, and no doubt
Tt is; but it is not alone because there are
largo crops. Large crops alone w'ill not
make a good year. The prices must rule
high if the farmer Is to have a benefit. Th e
value of a crop does not depend upon its
size so much as the price obtained. For in
stance, the crop of 1884 was over five hun
dred million bushels, and it brought but
three hundred and thirty million dollars,
while the crop of 1881 was but three hundred
and eighty-three million bushels and it
brought nearly five hundred million dollars.
This is an exceptional year. The crop is
larger than ever, and prices bid fair to be
larger than for years past. In the face of
the demand from Europe, the main trouble
will be that the farmers are likely to have
their expectations raised too high; so high
that tbe poor people of Europe connot afford
to-purchase. In that case the big crop will
nnt. hi nt-ofltable. It is said that the short.
age of Enropa is four times as large as the"
American surplus, out jarmers muse not ex
pect to obtain more than $1 50. The talk
that $1 00 Is high for wheat is foolish, under
the present .circumstances, but to expect
more than $1 80 is unreasonable, and above
all farmers should be reasonable.
Liverpool, September 15. Alta.
Silver and Gold.
To the Editor of The Dispatch :
Was sliver over more valuable than gold?
What was the ratio between the metals
about the beginning of the Christian Era?
W.J.C.
Wheeling, September 15.
Tbe exchangeable or commercial value of
gold, weight for weight, was always greater'
in civilized nations than that of silver. In
olden times the market differences in value
between these. metals varied within wider
limits than in the past 200 or 300 years.
Around the beginning of the Roman Em
pire, or near the commencement of the
Christian Era, a piece of gold could buy a
piece of silver of ten times its weight. Gold
was seldom below this price in proportion
to silver, but was generally much above it,
oven as far back as 15 or 16 centuries ago. At
the time of Constantino the Great, in the
fourth century A. D., the ratio was 1 of gold
to 15 of silver. In England for 300 years past
the tio hovered around that- point and 15
nntll about 1873, when silver began to go
down, and many times since then that metal
was so low that tho ratio was rto 22 or
over.
Men Engaged In Battle.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
What were tho numbers of men engaged In
the Dattles of Lelpsic, Waterloo, the Wilder
ness, Gettysburg, Sadowa, Gravelotte and
SedanT " H.B.S.
Sewickxet, September 15.
At Lelpsic the French and their allies had
lCO.OOOmen, and their opponents, the Austri
ans, Prussians and, Russians, 240,000. The
French forces at Wnterloocousisted of 72,000, '
and the British and their allies of 68.000.
Late in the afternoon 16,000 Prussians re-enforced
the British, and shortly afteward
Blucher, with the main body of the Prus-
sians, 50,000, also arrived on the field. In the
Wilderness campaign Grant's army in tho
beginning was about 130,000 strong, and Lee's
about 110.000. At Gettysburg there were
about 76,000 Union soldiers and 74,000 rebels.
The Prussians were about 195,000 at Sadown,
and the Austrians 210,000. At"Gravelotte the
Germans numbered 211,000, and tho French
140.0C0,ahd at Sedan the Germans were 135,
000 and the French 85,000.
SOCIAL -WORLD GOSSIP.
The Women's Club Has. a Very Interesting
Meeting News in Society.
The regular meeting of the "Women's Club
was held yesterday afternoon in the Teach
ers' Library. A goodly number were present
and matters of a very interesting character
to literary people were discussed in a bright
and clear manner. The first part of tho
meeting was spent In the routine business
of the club. After this was disposed of Mrs.
J. W. Prentice read a clever paper on "The
Jews in Russia." Russia in its various as
pects will be the topic of discussions in the
club for the rest of the winter.
At an unusually pretty home wedding
last evening Adam Lunfie, son of Justus and
Annie E. Lar.go, of 47 Vickroy street, and
Miss Ida Fennilrock, daughter of Mrs. Ellen
Fennlfrock, were united in marriage at the
residence of the bride's mother. 209 Third
avenne. The ceremony was performed by
Rev.F. Rouff. of the Smithfield E. P. Church.
The bride was the recipient of many costly
and beautiful presents.
An organ opening recital and entertain
ment will bo given at Westminster Presby
terian Church, Euena Vista street, Alle
gheny, on Friday evening. Among the par
ticipants will be Miss Bertha M. Kaderly,
Miss Mary. E. Bankerd. Mr. John A. Strou's,
Mr. Harry'B. Brocket and Prof. Carl Meador.
Prof. Theo.'M. Solomon will preside at tho
organ.
The lady managers of the Protestant
Orphans' Home on Ridge avenue have de
cided to let the children remain at Bsllevno
nntil the end of October, so thnt they will
receive all the benefits of the beautiful fall
weather before coming back to town and
winter lessons.
The fourth open-air concert of the Shady
side Literary and Musical Association was
hold last evening on the lawn of the T wen
tieth ward school, Ellsworth avenue. This
is the last of the series for the present year.
Social Chatter.
Miss Lillie C. Imhoff and Mr. W.H.Graff,
are to be married next month, so it is an
nounced. The Ladies Aid Society of Trinity Reform
ed Church, at Wilkinsburg, are preparing
for an ico cream supper v'hlch will be given
Thursday evening.
This evening tho marriage of Miss Jennie
DeWolf and Mr. David L. Stern will be con
summated at the Monongahela House. Dr.
Mayer will penorm the ceremony. Only the
immediate relatives will be present.
The Pittsburg Medical Association will
hold a banquet this evening at the Monon
gahela House. Covers will be laid for 125.
The floral decorations, under the direction
of A. M. Murdock. will be confined to table
pieces consisting of roses, lilies and euchar
ists. PERTURBED GUATEMALA.
Revolution, Bankruptcy and Famine
Threaten to Visit the Country.
New York World.
That Guatemala is rine for revolt seems to
be confirmed by newspapers and other ad
vices received. President Barillas is up for
re-election, notwithstanding the clause in
the Constitution which prohibits a second
term in the office. He lately issued a mani
festo declaring "in the most solemn and
formal manner" that he is "firmly resolved"
to hand over the authority with which the
people invested him "to whomsoever they
may see fit to elect." In spite of this the
Impartial and other Government organs con
tinue to insist that General Barillas is the
only person worthy of the Presidency, and
that the election of another would bring rum
to the conntry.
General Jose Ma Reina Barrios is hi3 op
ponent. He counts on the adherents of his
late uncle. Dictator Barrios, and all the dis
appointed cliques. One large contingent in
Ins snjlport is the Barrundia faction, which
holds Barillas accountable for the murder of
Barrundia and is bitter against the Presi
dent. Barillas has assumed all the powers
of the Legislature, and the Government has
developed into a practical dictatorship,
which Is responsible for many dark: deeds.
A plot to kill Barillas was discovered
through the threats of one of the conspira
tors, a soldier, while in his cups. He was
shot and well-known persons implicated in
his confession will doubtless be served in
like manner. The country is on tne verge of
bankruptcy, and persons arriving from that
republic report that appalling hunger and
misery prevail, particularly in the Western
districts.
Tho Powers Bulldoze China.
New York World. J
Lord Salisbury has notified the Govern
ment of China that if it cannot protect the
lives and property of foreign residents the
powers will take the matter in hand. If
China were strong enough to make and to
back up a similar notice to this conntry rela
tive to the protection of Chinese resident
here, we might have to change our policy.
As it is, the Powers bulldoze the Celestials
for not giving what other nations do not
accord them. -
A Hard Winter in Europe.
New York Press.
Denmark has removed the prohibitory
duty on American pork. All Europeon
countries are seeking cheaper food, for
theie is a gloomy prospect of a hard winter.
The effect of the prohibition of France and
Germany has been to lessen our exports and
put a tremenaons tax on tne consumers 01
our pork. Now other countries are likely to
follow France and Germany in removing the
ban. Their own people and ours will be
benefited.
PEOPLE WHO COME ANS GO.
Clifford Stanley Simms, of Mt. Holly, N.
Y., President of the Delaware Land Com
pany, and'B. Haywood Shreve, connected
with tho same corporation, are late arrivals
at tbe Duquesne.
Dr. C. Jaegle, of the BedbacUer, has ac
cepted an invitation to read a paper on the
"Catholic Press" at the Congress 01 tho Ger
man Catholics to "be held in Buffalo next
week.
Miss Minnie Buckley, a niece of Kev.
Father O'Connell, of Connelsville,. arrived
from Queenstown yesterday and. is a guest
at the Central.
J. B. McElwain, President of the Mc
Elwain Hard ware Company, at Indianapolis,
is in this city, registered at the Duquesne.
"W. H. Andrews, of Titusville, ex-Chairman
of the Republican State Committee, was
a guest at the Seventh Avenne yesterday.
Vice President Stubbs, of the Central
Pacific Railroad, passed through the city for
New York yesterday in his private car.
Charles H. Ingham, of Manchester, Eng
land, and L. D. Bourgeois, of Paris, Franco,
aro foreign arrivals at the Anderson.
"W. E. Taylor, of Youngstown, came to
the city to see the flyers at Homewood yes
terday, and Is at the Monongahela.
Dr. E. K. Snoder, of Philadelphia, and
Dr. A. J. Evans, of Altoona, were late arri
vals at the Monongahela last night.
John Ord, a carpet manufacturer of Phil
adelphia, accompanied by Mrs. Ord, is a
guest at tne Duquesne.
B. E. McCartr, of the Panhandle dis
patcher's force.leaves with his family.foran
outing in Ohio to-day.
Miss M. Aarons, of McKinney, Texas,
ho has been visiting 'Pittsburg relatives,
started home yesterday.
H. F. Clark, Pittsburg agent for the Mis
souri Pacific Railroad, returned from an
Eastern trip yesterday.
Wharton McKnight was among the west
bound Pittsburg passengers on tbe limited
last night.
Mr. and Mrs. John Dick, of Meadville,
were among the arrivals at the Duquesne
yesterday.
H. M. Bernett, who has been enjoying a
vacation At Long Island, returned home Just
evening.
Harrv Martin, special agent for a South
ern railroad, Is a guest at tne Duquesne.
H. J. Lindsay, a TJniontown attorney, is
among the guests at the Monongahela.
Hon. T. M. Patterson, of Bergettstown,
Washington county, is in the city.
Postmaster Duff, of East Liberty, has re
turned from his summer outing.
Horace G. Miller, of New Castle, was at
the Monongahela yesterday.
A. Leo "Weil, the attorney, left List night
for Chicago.
Detective Robinson left yesterday for
Philadelphia.
CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS.
On an average 500 bears a year are an
nually killed in Movie.
There are no knoo owners for 78,000
acres of land In St. Clairpnnty, Alabama.
There is a puffball grdvjjjg jn a Jack
son (Mich.) man's yard that reinsures threo
feet four inches in. circumferencv
Two remarkably big men wen. buried
the other week. One, aged 20, weighwj 1M
pounds, tho other, only 18 years old, weight.
417 pounds.
There are 413 species of trees found
within the limits of the United States, six
teen of which, when perfectly seasoned, will
sink in water.
Several hundred eagles swooped down
on Bjelgord, Russia, and devoured ten
horses, several sheep and a vast number of
smaller animals.
There are 40,000 women studying in the
various colleges in America, and still it is
not more than 25 years since tbe first college
In the land was opened to women.
Apple tree contests figure among the
latest fads in Kansas. Everybody has a
shake at the tree, and the man who brlng3
down the mo3t apples! carries off the prize.
It is estimated that the total tonnage
which will pass through the Nicaragua,
canal, when completed, will bo 10,000,000 tons
per annum. This is equal to five large ships,
and 15 ships of ordinary size a day.
A newly married conple in Springfield,
O., were given an "old-fashioned serenade"
by their friends one evening last week, and
tho veUimr and flrins of guns so frightened
an aged neighbor that she dropped dead.
A Jumbo mnskmelon is on exhibition
at Fresno, Cal. It measures 39 inches in cir
cumference one way and 61 the other, and
weighs 72 pounds. It is believed to be the
largest muskmelon ever raised in America.
A church in lower Austria has jnst re
ceived a legacy of 300 florins. It was be
queathed by a merchant of Vienna to atono
lor bis having broken a window during a
lesson in catechism when a boy 11 years old.
The McLean House, near Appomattox
Court House, in which tho articles of tho
surrender of General Lee's army to General
Grant were written, will "be removed to Chi
cago, but will be returned after the exhibi
tion. The imperial yacht of Xapoleon, 1'Ai
gle, in which Eugenie made her voyage to
Egypt, was lately up for sale at Cherbourg
as the Rupide, but as the highest bid was
only 90.0C0 francs, she was withdrawn and
will be broken up.
In Germany the potato is often nscd as
material for buttons, which look very much
like horn or ivory buttons, but are much
cheaper. The potato is first treated with
certain acids, and then compressed until is
gets as hard as stone.
There is a deeply rooted superstition in
Scotland that May marriages are unlucky
and are bound to turn out badly- Last
April there were 2,055 marriages in Scotland,
In May there v, ere but 1,003, while in Juno
the number jumped to 4,143.
Miss May "White, the Munith sleeping
school teacher, has now slumbered 85 days.
Her home is at Meadville, Ingham county,
but she is at Dr. Brown's house in Stock
bridge, for treatment. He thinks she doe
not sleep as soundly as formerly, he havintr
less difficulty in arousing her to tako medi
cine. There must be myriads of fish living in
the depths of the sea whose form and char
acteristics we can never even guess at, for,
should specimens be successfully hooked,
they would burst into pieces before they
could be brought to the surface, being re
lieved of the extraordinary pressure under
which tbey exist.
A retired sea captain died at Hannibal
the other day having in his possession
watch over a hundred years old. It was once
dropped in the waters of Chesapeake Bay,
but the-owner dived and recovered it. Not
withstanding it has ticked off the seconds
for more than a century it is now more re
liable than many modern timepieces.
A new method of obtaining a light has"
just been patented in England. Instead of
the old-fashioned safety match, the stick i
tipped at both ends, one end with the usual
composition and the other with that found
on the scratcber outside the box. Light u
obtained by breaking the match in the mid
dle and rubbing the two ends together.
Vampire bats are so destructive to cattle
in the Brazilian provinces of Matti Gross!
and Entre Rios that stock raising has be
come unprofitable. The Government offers
X 1,000 reward for the suggestion of any plan
which will tend to abate the pest. In a sin
gle night as many as 20 of the wyriged blood
suckers attack a single cow, leaving it help
less on tbe field.
St. Joseph and Independence men have
organized an expedition Co go to Arizona
and search for the "Lost Vegas," a mine of
fabulous richness which was worked a cen
tury or two ago but tho location of which
has been for a long time unknown. Before
investing any money in the scheme these
gentlemen might learn something to their
advantage by corresponding with Mr. David
F. Weir, of Kansas City. Mr. Weir has lately
been searching for lost and hidden treasure,
and has succeeded in accumulating a rich
store ot valuable experience and faded
hopes.
St. Helen's Wishing "Well, at Sefton,;
has just been cleaned out and covered in by
Lord Sefton. Tbe weU is supplied by a fine
spring of very pure w ater, and it is a great
boon to the inhabitants of the place. Con
siderable interest is also taken in it by tho
sightseers, who throw a pin into tho well in
order to secure the realization of their
wishes, and the water Is so clear that, hun
dreds of pins can be seen on tho bottom.
Lord Sefton had tbe well thoroughly cleaned
out, built up with stonework and covered
over with a very handsome roof. "It is said
mat, wnue tne cleaning wn. in progress,
pins were thrown out by the spadeiuL"
ICilian Van Eensselaer's house in Rens
selaer county, opposite Albany, is said to be
the oldest inhabited dwelling house in tho
United "States. It stands near the Hudson
river at the south end of Grecnbusn, is of
brick, and hasagambrel roof. Two port
holes out of which tho early Van flenssc
lacrs shot at Indians pierce tho front walls,
and a little plate in tho rear, set up by the
Albany Commemorative Society, shows the
edifice to have been erected In 1642. Behind
this venerable mansion is a w ell, on tho
coping of which "Yankee Doodle" i3 said to
have been composed during the French War
preceding the Revolution. In the old ball
the Dutch Reformed settlers had religious
services.
KHYNKXES AND BHYMES.
Bond Why are you so fond of progres
sive euchre?
Via. Q.vam 411, T 4ik on 4nll tn ow,fmv tT-IA
Jack of diamonds trnmp the queen of hearts.
rii-ip-at. fnt.TprPTit.inn in Wf-sh.iruTtnn.TXC.
Excuse my limping. Mrs. Kaystreet, bat that
long wnisKereu statesman over mere u .. -.-dow
stepped on three of my toes at once a moment
azo.
Hostess An-that wild eyed lady near the piano
rtaa.t-iIiixTi nn twpntr-flve mlnutej of mT time with
the story or her grievances. Eet ecge is sweet,Mr.
Hobbs. We will introduce them to each other.
(Next moment) illss Couzins. allow me to present
Senator YtfleT.ghicago Tribune.
A maiden fair I chance to know
Has Just reached twentr-four;
A fact this maiden Is Inclined
Quite deeply to deplore.
'NaT nav,"qiothI "be not distressed;
'Twill "doubtless be jour last;
Few girls a birthday eTerhave
When twenty-four Is passea."
Boston Courier.
"Da you know, Miss, yon dance so won
derfully lixht that I wish you'd talk to me while
we're waltzing?"
"AVhat for, pray?" .,-,
So I might know that I was holding you In my
arms." Phihuttlphia Timer.
Their faces will never in harmony be,
4-.TT-F dav not far distant they'll come to a clinch;
Then the long walling puouc -jio-si.uj-.eiy wiusee
Whether David or G rover possesses the cinch.
Sao York Advertiser.
t
"I want a It tickle on the oyster, "said the
managing editor to the funny man.
Here.'' responded the office boy. handing him
the shell. Washington Star.
"George," said Mrs. Stickelton, "Jim-
mie Is behaving Tery badly. I wish you would whip
him."
"I can't, my dear. I don't feel equal to It. Send
him down to the beach and let the sun tan him."
Harper's Bazar.
Mamma Johnny, see that yon give Ethel
the lion's share of that orange.
Johnny Yes'm.
Ethel Mamma, he hasn't given me any.
Johnny Well, that's all right. Llonsdon'teat
oranges. Denver Sttn. ,