"F TAFT'S CANDIDACY senators Aldrich ancl Cranc Will Support AVar Secretary for President. PRESIDENT FOR HIM, ALSO Report Rcgardc.cl as Narrowing Presidcntial Contest to Taft i and Huglies. ' Tlme. -ni.pntcb I3ur.--.i_. Munsey liulUlliii'. ?.V.-shlnirtuu, li. C, Dec, 3". That Sciifitor Aldrich wlll suppprt.tho ITcsiiicntlal cancliilucy of Sccretai-y Taft Is stated upon iihlmpeachablc authorlty to-day. ln tho same conrioo tion it mny be stated that 'there fd (i'ppafcnlly c-quall;. good authorlty fov the statcmcnt thnt Sonutor Murray Crane. of Masauchuaettu, hns glven tlie aft people nssurnnce that he wlll sup port tho candidacy of the Seereiary ai tor lhe nomlnatlou to succeod Mr. evelt. .Ignlflcartco of thesc* two stnte can ocarcely bc ovorcstlninlCd. Assurnlng that thoy are correct, nf which there la llttle room for doub't, they are- belleved to moan the nomi jiaiion of Mr. Taft or Oovernor Hughes-. It I? stated that ..ecrel.-uy Taft has assuro.j Senator Aldrich that thc lat tor's friends, compoeing what hns come to oe termed -'the System." shall not ).e harmed during the Ohloan's occu pancy of the executive chalr. Wlthout some such assurance lt is rccarded by many as ridleulous to sup? pose that elther the Senator from Rhoda lsland or the Senator from Mas taohusetts would stipport any man. Spellsr lioom for Doonilets. If tlio pftwa told i:i thc foi-golng paragraphs be correct, and there ls i.'ood reason to bellfvc huch ls the case, lt m.infs an early death to thc Cannon and Knox und Foraker anc! Falrbanks booms. Tho four candidates named havo from the tlrst been re grarded as candldates of "the System," as agalnst Mr. Roosevelt aml his poll ?-les. Mr. Roosevelt is supportlngSec retary Taft, so that the Secretary of War would havo the support of "tho System" and of the admlni.stra.lon at the same tlme. Thc hopes of any of the four candldates wlthout such a combinatlon behlnd hlm would dle In a day. Rut thls docs not apply to Gover? nor Hughes, who Is looked upon as standlng for preclsely the same poli cies Presldent Roosevelt has so vocif erously advocated. The Presldent, however, does not admlt as much. Many storles havo been clrculuted. bearlng a faint White House marl;, to tho effect thr.t Oovernor Hughes was piuying to the "other side." as evl denced by hls veto of the 2-cent rato law, passed by thc New York Leglsla? ture. There is not thc sllghtest doubt that thc President would prefer to see clinost any man secure the nomlnatlon tu havlns lt-go to tfce Governor of New Tork. But should it be found that "thc. System," as represcnted by Senator Aldrich and Senator Cranc, ls backlnjc Secretary Taft, it would meau tho ni lena tlon of a large section of tho j masses of tho Republlcnn voters, even though tho acimlnlstratlon wgro wlth "tho Systcrn."-It I.s just possltlo that | In such a conlingency tho rank a\id llie 9" the party would break away vfrom thc* leadorr. and nomlnate a man Xiki. Hughes or La Follette. elther of whVtn has tlie entire confkk-neo of tho radltyl blemcnt of tho Reimblican party. "' Kiioekers Are After Taft, > lleanwhlle, tho Taft oppositlon, as ropn-soiited by Measra, Cannon, Knox, Falrbanlts and Foraker, Ih not so idl<_* EJS mlght he thouplit. Thero nre sev? eral storles bcins clrrulated moro or l<*-., InduBtrlously, whlch are not to tlio eredit of the Secretary of War. They have to do chlefly witli Jiidtc . Taft's admlnistratloii as Governor of the Phllipplncs, aml whlle they do nj>< charge anything nffectinir hls pers-nal character, they do attack his inKhod.. of iidnilnlstrailon. For Instance, it is alleged tljit whlle hc wns GovCVi'ior-Cfyiieial of, (i'lO Phllip pincs Seci'ctaTy- Taft Issu^ci nn order to thc effect that any Amrican school teacher who should se.._ homo lotters descrlblng condlUop'r. as they actually exlsted lu tho S.'unds wouhl bo sitni marlly dlsmls/ed. II la also clinrgeil that ho actuilly brdered" tlie dopbrta lion of one or inoro ?Aincricn.ns who were freo In thelr crlticlsm of affalr.. under A-'.'criean ndmlnlstratlon. It tv*ould app.car that. though these ?to-._:3 bo truc, a coinplet'. niiswcr to c rltleisins of Judge Taft's admlllistra tiJn of affaira in the Phlllpplhes would ro nn appeal to tho Flliplnos thom eelves. The nativs worahip hlin. re Cardlng hlm as their best friend. Cortelyou as Tnft lluiingcr. Xothihg more is heard of thc re? port that Flrst Assista.it Postinaster General Hltchcock has buen lnvited to at-sume control of tho Taft boom. But lt i.s reported to-dny, and. the report is glven credence in fonic ijuariers, that Secretary Cortelyou hlmself hus been asked to lake eharso of Mr. Taft's candidacy. lt ls rUmorcd that the propositlon has bcon acccptod, and that Jilr. Cortelyou'.wlll rcalgn as Seereiary of tlie Treasury in grtlei* to dovoto him iself entlrely to oompii.slng tho noml? natlon of the Secretary of War. A iurther detall of tho report ls that ^Ir. Cortelyou, in return for tlio ser vlck* rendored, Is to bo mado Scei-ptary of stato. The slory ahould not bc eredltod, however, in tlie ahabnc,i_ of"' nny sort ?f conllriiialiciii. "I suppose l was as closo Lo Mr. Cor? telyou an was almost any Republlcan ln the South,'' sald Iiepnesontatlve itas coin Slemp to-day, "and I never henrcl hlin say one word whlch would indl cnto that he was an active or even a rcceptlve candldate for tho presiden lial nomlnatlon. We havo (renuently Biscusscd tho thlrd term." And tlierc-in llc-s tlio secret of candidacy of the Secretary of Treasury. FiBbt Over a Pont-Ofllce, Eevc-ial Virginia post-ofllcea of fourth olabci are about to be ralscd lo the thlrd class, includlng Burkovllle. Norton and Coeburn. Thero is a flght on over tho postmas t-iship at Korton. L. C. AVells, a well known Republlcan/ is trylng to get the appointment, as agalnst AV. M, Adams, the Incumbent, who doesn't went to let lt go. Tho fight over the po-.-o.flco at Bcrryvlll. ls about to be ?si-Uled by thc appointment of E. A. Lindsay, Republlcan county ehalrman of Clarke. When the postmaster diod a. fow months ugo n number of can? dldates for the poslilon announcod themselves, but tho refc-ree.. Helected Llndsay. tho the tno Alurm, Ilut Xo .1", A (tlll alann ?u_ turned ln early laai nlght from 'Nurth .ocond Sti'eet. Comi.au:, No. 9 I'o.poniiitig, (ound no .Igli of llra lhe house reported w?m *t 70S North Sic ond Stit-et. and ll wag ?uld tliat tho roo ?m,a_ oihe._ Verdlct fur l'lulitlllt. ln the La," fend Bnuity Couit yeeierda; thc Jury itndoiod a verdlot foi* ?l?i\S7 J: No matter where you live within the circulation of thla newspaper we can supply you wlth everything for Men and Boys' wear ata price that will satisfy you. If you cannot call we can servo you by mail or express. . Let us know your wants and we'll glve you the right styles? will exert ourselves to please you. IS Distiriguislied Gatheririg Bid thc Oriental Diplomatist FarewelU MINISTER TALKS OF CRISIS WASMINGTON, D. C, Decomber 30. "Wc shall take back home wlth us to Japan only thc klndliest fecling for America and for her pcuiile, and tho highest regard for her Instltutions," said Vlscount Aoki, the Japanese am? bassador. to-dny to an Assoclated Press repr.scntative, Just prlor to hls depar ture for San Franclsco wlth Vlscountess Aoki, from which place they wlll sall on January 7th for home. Tlie ambas? sador returns to Japan at thc lnatancej of hls government, whlch deslr-13 to consult wlth him freely regaroing con-1 dltions affectlng Japanese Interests ln, America, notabiy those relatmg to tho | questlon of Japanese Immlgration to j the Unlted States. Vlscount Aoki has represented Japan ns ambassador to tho United States for about a year and a half, and durlng that tlme lias uianlfcstcd tho titniost activity and interest in all matters affectlng hls countrymen. I-I'e wa: the flrst ambassador n credlted to thc United States from Japan. Ho sald to-day that hls rela tlons with thc Amerlcan government always had been most agreeable and pleasant. An.bnmindor ln Optliulatlf. "t am confldent that an amlablc un der.tanulng will be reached 011 this immlgration qucstion?the only one of any consc.quence that is now agltnt Ing the people of tho two countriea," .nid Ambassador Aoki. "i um certaln that Japan wlll irtaka every honor abie concession within bounds, and I feel cqually .onfident that tho Amer? lcan governniont will not inslst upon anythlng- unrcasonable or thut In an> way wlll comp.omis. the dignlty or the honor of the Jrtpanoso govornmei.t. 1.0th governmonts aro atrlvlng to reach an honorable sulutlon of tho Irhrhlgratibh questlon, and tho latest ,advlces thnt wo havo received fror.i "mtr government Indicate that tho wa> ls. gradually icing paved wlth th_.t ci^d hi vlew A's I havo said agaln nnd nynln, Wv'.o is overj1 reason ln tho world-.fiiy both cduntrie's should havo tJieJ ..lopt complete understanding and '?'ii(inuo ln most amlcable relatlons. "Japan is anxlous to bo 111 peucc wltli the wprlcl, and to 110 country does ihls ftpply with greater force than to tho Unlted States, to whom, lu a larj measure, is duo .Tapan's jrrcnt t;lse und progress among tbo nntions of tht world. It wlll be rriy onrneat effort to ndvanco and strehgthen tho cxlst in>r friendly rolnllo'n.. in every wny thnt lli'rt in my power." From Ciiiiinierclni Stniulpoiut. Ambassador Aoki imprbss.d upon hls Int.cr.vlowers tho utmost Importanco of tho Unltod States nnd Japan keeplhg on thc most friendly tertrts, und that thelr relatlons should instire confldonci. wltli oach othor. In no aensn, ho sald, was this more iniportnnt than from the commercial standpolnt. Japan ueeiled Amerlcan capltal in tho devol opmont of the numerous enterprlses whlvh havo come to the front slnco tlie Chtneae-'Jnpaneso War of (hc last century, und more particularly because f tho dovolopinonta slnco the war wlth Kusiiia. Amorlcan capital could Und splendid opportunlties In Japan, nnd tho offorts pf all persons ot* both bountrles, tho ambassador declared, should be eon contrated towards.-. the ceinontlng of the greatest frlendship, without whlch jiuieh that could otherwiso lie aceoin pllshcd would bo lost. The nmbnssndnr nnd his wlfo left Waslijngton over tho Pennsylvanla Rallroad at G.IE P, M. They wore ae companled hy Mr. Iwakoshl, tho clmti collor of the eiiVbassy, who wlll go to Japan wlth them, nnd by sevoral aor vnnts. Tho party oxpoets to arrlvo ln San Franclsco Janunry 3d or ?1th. fir.iil GntlierliiK nt Di'pitt. Ofllclal nnd dlplomntlc ..'nslilngton was well roprcsonted at tho slnilnii to bld VlHfoiint Aoki nnd lils wlfo good by. I'.vory lnelllbCJ? of tlio Cnhinet ln "S.'nsliinMton uhle to be there wns preH. nnt, includlng Secretary nnd Mrs. Uoot, Seeretaries Strnun. Wilson nnd Metcall' and Powtmaster-Cieneral Jleyer. Among the members of the iliplo mat.le. corps nt tho station wero Baron Itosen, tho liusslnn ambassador; Mr. JuKsernnd, tbe Freneh ambaaaador; Sp'-ck Von Stornhurg, tho Oermnn nm nassador and Baroness Speck Von ..tcrnburg; Senor Cort.s, tho lnlntater from Columbia; Dr. VogOl, tiie Swlss mlnlster; Baron .Ambros, of the Auh trlan embassy, and Mrs. Brlco, wlfo of the ambassador from Great Brltaln, who was out of tho clty. Vlscount Aoki and hla wlfe wore vislbly affected over tho cvidencos of frlondship dl_ playi-d. Maduin Aoki had been pre? sented wlth ovor a dozen handsome lloral plecea and carrled a blg bunch of roses and llllee of tho valley. XalltMl HN Flnai-r. L. M. Chennult, an oinploye of the Co luniblu Shoo Company, allpp.d hls Imnd ln thn wruntr placo yeaterday ovoning, and ihe no.dlo us-rt to t.w on aolos went throu.n (iu ind.x fini.r. Dr, Hlnchman, of tho am btilbiice corpt, nnt the null out, nnd tbo mnn tlll to hls lioin., ut Fourth und Cary Streeta. 1.11 Under .V.Riii'. .pencc-r Brlgs.-, colored, f.ll off hls wafeon Itm nlght at 8-venth und ciuy Btiectn and dioppeu und.r the wlieoln, A front wluioi lolled down lils les from kneo 10 anlile, taklne otf ull tlio ekln aud inaltiiig u. wound fi.urioL-ii Incbee lontr. Or. Hlnchman. of th. umbulan.o coips. 1 tc-v.(d tbe mnn'- wound, and then l_?k hlm ? --e,88 BrvwB Street, 1 _ei ii FLORIDA'S NEW SENATOR IIOX. WILLIAM JAMES BRVAX. Heard and Seen in Public Places FORMER State Senator W'llliam P. Barksdale was at thc Capitol yesterday, and hls health belng much Improved, he was In n very cheerful mood. Meeting Lieutenant-Governor J. Taylor Ellyson ln. Colonel Button's oflico, the two srow remlniscent concernlng cam? palgn.. ln whleh the State chairman sent the Hallfax man out among the byways and hedges to speak for the Democratlc ticket. Mr. Barksdale relatcd a most In? teresting and thrilling experience he had In Scott county In 1901, when Hon. Joseph C. Wysor. of Pulaskl. was lead lng a forlorn hope on the Democratlc ticket for Congre.i... It waa a short tlme after some Democrntic election offlcers had heen shot to death at a mountain pi'OClnCt in Scott. Mr. Barks? dale was slated to make a spoech at a nlslit rally near the polnt whero the kllling- had taken place. He and At torney-General Ancl^ison had oddress ed a rousing meeting at Gate City. and tho latter was to go on to Wise Court? house by rall, and the county chairman was to drlve the former across tho country to hls appointment. Tho chairman told the gruesome story '.of thu kllling a year before; of wlplng blood from the ballots and of votlng ovor the bodles of dead men, and Barksdale grew nervous and wns about to back down. H_ says that Major Anderson earnestly protested agalnst hroaklng the enguKeraent, and de? clared wlth hls usual vigor that there was no danger. "Why. Barksdale." ho exclalmed iu a loud volco, "thoso Republlcans won't dare to ossassinato you, ancl if Ihov do tho effect of lt will be to elect Wy? sor and redcein the distrlct to tho Democratlc party,'* "Wlu-n Major Anderson mado that declaratlon." sald the former Senator, "1 felt chills crceplng all ovor mo, ann I said: 'Great heavens, mon! whero do 1 come ln. I am not so devoted to Cnmpalgnlng as to sai-rlilcc my llfo for thc vedeuipiion of a congrosslonal dlt_ trlct, and I think I'll lake tho noxt train for Houston.' I went to the mountalns, however. but I tell you I Was glad when I got huck to thc rail? road and started for home.'' rcmarkod Mr. Barksdale in concltlslon. Hon. It. J. Tuck. of Hallfax; Cap? taln J. w. Wllliam.'-, of Southdmpton; Treasurer Georgo B. Russell. or ciuir lotte, aml Hon. H. Gordon Cunmtlng, of lliimpton, woro among tln* pi'omlnont visitors ln tho clty yesterday. lt is nn open socret that the many friends of .ludgo Frederlck Wllmer Sims, of Louisa, would like to soo tln: genlal Sonator from tho Thlrteonth Distrlct solectccl by Iho U emoctatic lauciis as lhe presldent pro tem. of tho next Senate. A well-known cltlzen of Louisa said lasl nlght that thc friends ot' 'Judge .Sims had comnienced to work activoly ln behalf of IiIh candidacy. und they clalm already to have aeouretl more pledges of votes from the Senators than have beon promlsed any olhor candidatc for the poslllon, Judgo Slms was for a. long tlme judge of tho Louisa County Court and ls at present prncticiug law ln Loulsn. Ho hns rbpl'baehtetl hls dls? trict in the Senate for a number oi years, nnd is well . nnd favorably known throughout tho State. Mr. I. E. Spatlg. suporvlsor ot thc Courthouse Distrlct of Uruuswick, anc one of the coniniissl.ners to tho James? town Exposltlon on the part of that county, was a callor on Govornoi Swanson yestcnluy. Mr. Spatlg wus much pleased ovo*. tho fact that hls county recelved thc llrst prlze for Ita exhlblt at tho expo? sltlon. and he declared that lt was t doserved trlh.uto to the onterprlse ant Industry of hls people. Asked about lhe eoitgrosstonal situa? tion ln hls distrlct. Alr. Spatlg satt lhat, so far ns ho klicw, Major l.assi tbr would havo no oppositlon for an other term. Tho Fetursburg man, ln declarcs, ls popular ln hls section, am Brunswle.k Democrals wlll uguln glvi hlm their support wlth much pleasure Slr John Roclgers, of Englnnd, is Ii the clty, nnd ls stopplng at tho Jef ferson. Congre.?_nmn Francls Rlves Lassi ter, of Poteraburg, was ln the cllj yesterday. Tndlcatlons nro that Murphy's Hote agaln Wlll be tho Mocca oi* the law makers and publlc mon during tln comlng sesslon of tho Leglslature, nm somo lively tlmes are expeeteil arouni the lobblos, beginning about tho em of the present weok. Nearly all tln Secret! No secret about Ayer's Halr Vigor. Shoto this formula to your doctor, Ayer's Hair Vigor, New Improved formula Bulphnr. D(>_tro)? gi*rtn. that cnum ilinilmR aad falllng h?ir. Uureara&M _uil eix ytiuut ot tcalp. Olyotrln. BoOtMng.heallnij. Food totbs halr* Qnlntn. A ilmnj tunl.. untlioptle. ttlmnlent. Sodlum Chlerld. Cleaaalng. u?UU Irrluulou c?nt_u?rii_?? lncreaw*?vt|vltjrof glan u tU. best < wmedr.ordlarrh-.-_, i XW-tNTT-rIVB CEMTB A MOTTMS. Baitimore & Ohio R. R. NOW HAS DIRECT CONNECTION IN ' New Union Statjon, Washington, D. C. WITH ALL LINES TO AND FROM THE SOUTH. Through Veatlbuled Trnlna Splendldly Equlpped Pullman Drawlng-Room, Parlor ancl Sleeplng Cars, Excellent Dlnlng Car Hervlce from "Washlngton to PITTSBURG, CLEVELAND, CHICAGO, THE WEST .AND NORTHWEST. FAMOUS ROYAL BLUE LINE TO BALTIMORE, PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK "Every Hour on the Hour" Washlngton to Baitimore. "Every Other Hour on tho Odd Hour" Washlngton to Phlladelphla and New York. D, B. MARTIN, C. W. BASSETT, Manager Passenger Traffic. General Pasaiager Agent. AMUSEMENTS Acnilcmy?"Tlie Prloce Clinp.'* Hljou?"lu New York Town." Idlewood?-Skntlng Itlnl. and Wlld Anlmal Show. Good Show nt Illjou. "In New York Town." a muslcal farce ln two acts, more than pleased thc BIJou audlence last nlght. The company was rjulte generous, und re Bponded to cncores agaln und ngaln, untll lt senmed that the performance would be stretched out Indctinifely. Charles Howard, a small comedlan, with much of thu cleverness of Goorge Sldney, and a good deal more aglllty, scored a blg hlt ns Ikey Sklnalskl. The company is larger than the aver? age so_n at the BIJou In muslcal pro ductlons, and the chorus does excep tlonally clever work ln aome of thc numbers. The muslcal hlt of th? pleco was the quartet number "Aren't Vou the Glrl I Met at Sherry's?" The au? dlence almost went thc Umlt in dc mandlng encore8 when thls waa ren dercd. "I Can't Flnd Another Glrl Llke You." was recelved very nearly aa well, easlly taklr'g second place. Mlsa Austln, though not possessing a good voice. scored ln thls on account of the buslness lntroduced, and succeeded ln makincr a success of what at flrst gave Indications of be.lng a fallurc. The work of Walter Paschal, James Llch U-r and John Wllson, was entlrely sat? isfactory. Mlss Von Wegern made the most of a part that mlght weil have been elaborated, a3 lt was thc only femal. comedy role In the piece. I-.itei-iuiiinif-ntM ut Y. M. C. A. Members and friends of iho Con tral Young Men's Christian Association will have the prlvllcgc of attending llve splendld entertainmenta thla_ wln? ter. The llrst number wlll ba glven New Year's n'ght, by Joseph Lorrnln, of New York, the mlinlc and Impeiso nator, with hls ban.lo and zylophone, nssisted hy Polk Mlller'a Old South Negro Quartet. The lnttor part oC January Ross Crane, the famous car toonist and trlck pianist, wlll ontor taln. It Is sald that Mr. Crane Is the bost "one-man entertalnment" on thc lycetim platform. Katharlne Rldgcway wlll ontertaln ln February. ancl thoso who have heard Mlaa nidgeway wlll want to hcar lier agaln. In March Hon. George R. Wendllng wlll glvo hls lectut'o on "Robert H. Lee, tho Idol of tho South." and the Parland-Nowhall Coneert Company will Closo the entertalnment*. ln Aprll wlth thelr male e*iiartot aelcctlona and brass iiunrtet work. Season tlckets for the flve entortain ments ure now on sale at tho Associa? tion Ituildlng. as 'are nlso .rcscrved -?fcuts for New Year's nlglit. "Tlie Prlnce Cliap." ?'The Prlnce Chap," Edward Peple'a successful play of stiulio llfo, wlth Cyril Scott and the best of the origl nal east that played on Broadway, New York, will como to tho Academy of Muslc tornlght and Wednesday maii ucc and nlght. Tho productlon of (hls season ls icleiitlcal with the one that enjoyed a run of 200 performanccs at llve dif? ferent Now York thentres. It's Lon? don success Ki-ow so consldcrably that two now provlncial companles wore organlzed and extra matineca wero ln? troduced to keep pace wlth the do niHlid. Llke "Trllby," thc play tleuls witli artlst life. oxcopl. that its earller scenes are lald ln Dohciiilau London Instead of Parls. Knjoy Buruo'M Mj?l,erle?. A largo and enthusiastie audlence greclcd the maglclan, Dtirno, at the .lefferson audllorlum last nlght, many young peoplo belng- present and ahpW lng Intcnse intorest In tho sleight-ol' hand performance. Dtirno porformed sovoral of tho larger stage trlcks whlch havo beon sltown ln Richmond by Herman and Othor well known fol lowers of this art, witli a number that wero now ? to the audlenco. Several tlmea ho allowcd a commlttee of Rich? mond men to remain ou tho platform tlurlng nn espocially olnborate slunl. Imt lhe wltnessea wero unable to ac count for .somo of tho wonders por? formed. Durno, who appeared horo undor tho nuspices ol' the Radeliffe Lycouili Bu reau, wlll cntei'l.-iln at the Acndemy in Petersburg lo-nlght. Wlld Anl'nml SIkmv. Thls wcok'a hill at tho Ferarl junglo nnd tralneil niiinial arenct al Idlewood Park ls ono of tho most onjoyable yet olferod. Not only nre the acls whloh were seon and enjoyed by thousands ferent New York theutroa. Its Lon bnt there is Iho uddltlon of "Funny 'Arthur" and hla dog and monkoy clr CU8. As thls weok eloses tho ongnge ment of the soa-lton- act, lt ia ex pectod that large crowds wlll attend tho two dally performances. January Weather Data covorlng a perlod ot ten years haa been complled from the Weather Bur.au records In thls clty and ls l&aued to i.h_ tho condltlon* that have prevailed. dtirlnt. th. month in nut-stlon. for thnt perlod, bu. must not bc construed aa a for-C-.it ot tho weather condltlons for th. comlng month. Tt-mpcraturi?Mean or normal limptn turc, 33 dogrees. Tho n-armeit month was that of 1300. wlth .1.1 average ot 43 deprees; the col,li?i monib waa that of 1901. wlth an average of 33 d_ (,'ic.ci; tho hlghcut tomp.raturo was 7S d_ giccs on Janunry 7, 1307; tho lowest tcm p.rature waa 9 dccr.es on January 19. 1901: tbe earllest date on whlch flrst "kllllng'' fiost occurred ln nutumn, October 13th; average dato on whlch llrst "_;ll!lnK" froi". occurred In autumn, Novcmber 3d; averagu date on whlch last "?kllllng" frost occurred ln sprlng, April 3d; tho latest dato on whlch last "kllllng" frost occurred ln sprlng. Aprti 3-th. Precipltatlon C.aln or meltcd snowj?Aver? age for the month. 3.91 Inches. Average number of days wlth .01 of nn lf.cli or more, 10; the greatest monthly pre? cipltatlon was 3.61 Inches In 1903; the least monthly, precipltatlon wa_ 1.03 Inches tn 1.9S: tho greatest amount of precipltatlon r.tcrded In pny -J l con.ecutlv. hours ms 1.73 Inches on January 21, 1.0_; the grcai esl amount of snotvfall recorded In any 3-i consecutlv. hours (record extendlng to wlnter of lSSI-'e- unly) Mas 3.3 Inehei on Junuury 39. 1901. nclfctiv_ Humldlty?Average. _ A. M., S0. C'louds and Weather?Av.rag. number of ci.ar d.iys, 11; partly cioudy days, S; cloudv day_. 13. W:nd?The provallln'g wlnds are from th. nortb: the average liourly velocity of th-j wind ls 6.7-10 mlles; tho hlghe.st velocity of tho wind v.-as SI mlles from the south on January i, 1906. EACH HAS 23 CHILDREN _Ii_?t_atppl Mn- Tiro Cnntlldutca for I.nrge Famlly Ilouor. NEW ORLEANS, Deccmbt-r 30.? Cicero Fitts and VV. II. Wllllams, of \. osson, Miss., c-ach is the father ot twtnty-three chlldren, and in each famlly thc dlvlBlou ls the same?tlilr ItCCn fiflrls and ten boys. Both husbands, countlng the grand Childrcn, have u total of 102 members. The populatlon uf VVesson is only ;!,000. Cicero Pitts has a record of one [baby every thlrtden months alnco 1857. No. 23 for Mr. Pitts (a boy) arrlved on thc duy Its father turned the three - ciuarter-century mark?.September lst laat. Ho hns thlrty-thr.ee grandchil drt-n. Mr. Pltls'ii second wlfo is thlrty fotir years younger thnn her husband. ;Mr. Fitts hlmself has the aplrlts oC a j mnn twcnty-llvu years hls Junlor. XV. lt. Wllliams. aixty-seven years (old, hns ayorag'od one chlld every twehty-flvd months. William.. , haa nineteen grandclilldren. Hla thlrd wifa wna Misa Nettle Kimmons, and she ia jnow forty-slx years old. In every Instance both Pitts and )Wllliams marrlcil old uialda. THANKS EMPLOYES roatniUNtnr Pleiii-cd Wllh Way Chrlat iiiiih Mall Wna Hundled. Postmaster Etoyal E. Cobcll has di rocted that thc followlng order b* poateil ln the main ollleo and alatlons to-day: Unlted States Post-Oflicc, Ofllco oi' the Postmaster, Rlclnnoiul, Vu? Dec. 31, 1007. . To All Employes of tho Post-OlHcc. Rlchmond, Va.: The postmaster wishes to express lils hearty appreclatlon of tho excel lent work done by tho employes of the post-ofllco in handllng the Chrlstmaa mall, which wns conslderahly heavier than over before. The otllec wna In normal condltlon hy tho afternoon ol tho 28th inatnnt, whlch la tlvo daye better tlmu prevloua records. lie ua pecially appreoiulea tho cordlal and uiiselllah splrlt ln wlilch all have co bperated to-prevont congestlon und niliiinil/.n delny, and ho congrntuliitoa nll on Iho reinarkable siuoeaa whlcb ' liiia roaiilted from such brcorts. He dirther Uoslrea to wlah ench nnd evory one u happy nnd prosperous New Yenr. By order o? the postmaster. I.jAN-3 BACY. Prlvato Secretary. l.I.euao to VVi'd. Marrlage' llcenso.. wero Issued to Ihe foi lowinir coupies yostorday! Georgo A. Stayko nni'i Boulab K. JlcDonouRb; Vt'llllain Jloi-ton Poi-d und Lllllnii Uuth Ford; -James S>. Ba vls and Vlrginla B. Ilodd. The Artistic ttflnp lfGoldMedal MIL IJ ij at the nvA M rt ^ Jamestown P.IAN il>? Exposition Sold Direct from the Factory to the Homa Chas. M. Stieff, Eslablislied 1842 205 E. Broad L. B. SUDGHTER, Mgr.