Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1887 — Page 6

®lje 3 vino cratic Sentinel RENSSELAER, INDIANA. 1. W. McEWEN, - Publisher

VICTORY FOR PROHIBITION.

The Kansas Statutes Sustained by the United States Supreme Court The United States Supreme Court has rendered a decision sustaining the State in the Kansas prohibition cases. The effect of this opinion is to declare valid the prohibition laws of the State of Kansas, and is of course a decided victory for the Prohibitionists. The decision is very important, and likely to be far-reaching in its consequences. The judgment of the court was pronounced in a long and elaborate opinion by Mr. Justice Har.au: The Justice said it had been held repeatedly that the right of a State to regulate the sale of liquor did not invade the constitutional rights of the citizen. It was contended, however, he said, that no State Legislature had a right to prohibit any person from manufacturing liquor for his own use or for export, for the reason that it was an invasion of the personal liberty inherent in citizens. It must be observed, however, he said, that the right to manufacture drink for one's own use was subject to the restriction that it should not injuriously affect the public. The right to determine what was injurious had to exist somewhere, and the right of determining what measures were necessary for the preservation of the public morals, health and safety had heretofore been vested in the States by the constitutional right given them under the police power to regulate their own internal concerns. ‘While this uolice power could not be Housed and must only be exercised for objects of real merit, this court would certainly not say that the liquor traffic was not one which the State could lawfully prohibit, because it was well known that the abuse of intoxicants was productive of pauperism and crime. The next ground of contention, the Justice said, was, that as the breweries had been erected prior to the passage of the prohibition law, and, as they were of Little use except for breweries, their property was taken without due process of law in violation of the Constitution. But all property under our form of government, he held, was subject to thd obligation that it should not be used so as to injuriously affect the rights of the community, and thereby become a nuisance. The State of Kansas had a right to prohibit the liquor traffic. It did not thereby take away the the property of brewers. It simply abated a nuisance. The property was not taken away from its owners; they were only prohibited from using it for a specific purpose, which the Legislature declared to be injurious to the community. Justice Feld concurred in the opinion so far as it related to the two cases in which the State of Kansas was defendant He agreed, he said, to so much of the opinion as sustains the validity of the act of Kansas prohibiting the sale of intoxicants which are manufactured in the State after the passage of the act. He was not prepared, however, to say that the prohibition of the manufacture of such liquors, if intended for exportation, can be sustained, nor that the State can forbid the sale under proper regulations for the protection of the health and morals of the people of any article which Congress may authorize to be imported. He was not ready to admit that New York or any other coast State can thus defeat an act of Congress. Neither could he concur in the validity Of .the thirteenth section of the prohibition act of Kansas, because he believed it authorized the destruction of property without due process of law. He could not see upon what principle the Legislature, after closing the brewery, can order the destruction of liquor, which it admits may be valuable for medical or mechanical purposes ; nor could he see why the protection of the morals of the State required the destruction of bottles and other utensils after the liquor had been emptied from them.

Another Important Supreme Court Decision. The case of the imprisoned officials of Virginia has been decided by the United States Supreme Court in their favor, .the State being sustained at all points. The court declares, in substance, that a State cannot be sued or coerced in the Fedetal courts, whether the action be brought against it by name or against its officials in their official capacity. Judge Harlan’s was the only dissenting opinion. Sparks from the Wires. The failure is announced at Indianapolis of Theodore Pfafflin <fc Co., dealers in muscial instruments. Their liabilities are placed at >75,000. Peter Bennett, a wealthy farmer at Newport, Mass., was shot and severely beaten by burglars, who robbed him of $32,000 in bills and gold. The Fiftieth Congress assembled on Monday, Dec. 5, and such formalities were observed as are usual at the opening of a session. In the Senate Mr. Ingalls occupied the chair. Contrary to expectation, no objection was made to the admission of Mr. Turpie, but Mr. Faulkner, of West Virginia, it was determined, could not take his seat until certain questions which might affect the validity of his election were settled. The Democratic caucus nominees for officers of the House were all chosen. When the election of a Speaker came before the House John G. Carlisle was nut in nomination by Mr. Cox, of New York' and Thomas B. B ad by Mr. Cannon, of Hlinois. The vote resulted as follows: Total number of votes cast, 313. For Carlisle, 163; for Reed, 118; for Brumm, of Pennsylvanii* 2. Of the four Independents Anderson, of lowa, voted for Carlisle; Nicholls, of North Carolina, and Smith, of Wisconsin, for Brumm, ■while Hopkins, of Virginia, did not vote. The Clerk thereupon declared Mr. Carlisle to be the duly elected Sneaker, and that gentleman was escorted to the Speaker’s desk by Messrs. Cox and Reed, amid loud applause. The oath of office having been administered by Mr. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, the Speaker rapped the House to order and Mr. Carlisle made a speech of thanks, in which he said: “It must be evident to every one who hp,s taken even a partial survey of public affairs that the time has now come Xvhen a revision of our revenue laws and a reduction of taxation are absolutely necessary in order to prevent a large and dangerous accumulation of money in tne Treasury. Whether this ought or ought not to have been done heretofore is a question ■which it would be useless now to discuss. It is sufficient for us to know that the financial condition of - the Government and the private business of the people alike demand the prompt consideration of these subjects and the speedy enactment of some substantial measure of relief. Unfortunately, we are menaced -by dangers from opposite directions. While a policy of non-action must inevitably result, sooner or later, in serious injury to the country, we cannot be unmindful of the fact that hasty and inconsiderate legislation on subjects more or less affecting large financial and industrial interests might produce, temporarily at least, disturbances and embarrassments which a more prudent course ‘.would entirely avoid. Investments made and labor employed in the numerous and valuable industries which have grown up under our present system of taxation ought not to be rudely disturbed by sudden and radical changes in the ,policy to which they have adjusted themselves ; but the just demands of an overtaxed people and the obvious requirements of the financial situatiorf' cannot be entirely ignored without seriously imperiling much greater and more widely extended interests than any that could possibly be injuriously affected by a moderate and reasonable reduction of duties, *

WEEKLY BUDGET.

THE WESTERN STATES. A Bbookville (Kansas) dispatch says the Lawrence Hotel, six business houses, and three dwellings were burned in that town. Four men were burned to death, as follows: Fireman Brimer, of Wamego; Brakeman Harngan, of Wamego; Mr. Farnsworth, of Lincoln; an unknown man. Charles Moss, of Tower Springs, Kan., was badly burned, and will probably die. The guests of the hotel were obliged to jump from the second story windows. The total loss is *22,000, and the insurance *5,000. The cause of the fire is unknown. The new stock yards at St Joseph, Mo., comprising 440 acres, were opened Thursday. They cost *1,000.000, and are said to be complete in every detail A hillside site in Greenwood Cemetery, sixteen miles south of the city, on the Chicago and Grand Trunk Road, has been selected as the burial place of the dead anarchists, says a Chicago special The lot, which is on a high hill overlooking the surrounding country, was offered at very, reasonable figures, and entire control of the property given to the Central Labor Union, to arrange matters without interference on the part of the cemetery Trustees. The funeral services will be held next Sunday. A coal famine exists for 400 miles along the Santa Fe Road in Kansas. A train was stopped by farmers at Syracuse and six cars of coal unloaded.

THE FOREIGN BUDGET.

The Congress of the Senators and Deputies at Versailles, France, elected M. Sadi-Carnot to succeed President Grevy. The successful candidate is a Republican who has been prominent in politics ever since the downfall of Louis Napoleon, but his influence in his party uas been far inferior to that of his principal -ivals for Republican support in the contest for the Presidency. A Paris cablegram says: The ministry have formally tendered their resignations, and President Sadi-Carnot has requested them to remain in office for the present (or the dispatch of public business. The President stated that it was his intention, after the new ministry was formed, to at once close the present session of parliament until after the coming senatorial elections. Probably the result of the election is the best thing that could have happened for France. M. Sadi - Carnot is the second best known economical writer in France, and has hud practical public experience far superior to M. Leroy Beaulieu, the most famous economical writer. He is under 50; a Republican without being radical or visionary. He is a distinguished engineer, having headed his class at the Kcole Polytechnique, instead of being a lawyer, which in itself is a great thing; he is rich, and lives like a gentleman. He is not religious, but his wife is a Catholic. He has a 23-year-old son in the army. He is a free-trader. The newspapers of Paris generally approve the election of M. Sadi-Carnot and consider it an augury of peace. The telegrams from the provinces, without exception, testify to the satisfaction felt at the result of the election. The news created an excellent impression at the principal European capitals.

CONGRESS.

At the caucus of Democratic Congressmen in Washington Saturday night, the 3d inst., Mr. Carlisle was renominated for Speaker, General Clark for Clerk, and John K. Leedom for Sergeant-at-arms. There was a contest over the nomination of Doorkeeper, in which Breckinridge of Arkansas and Blount of Georgia came to blows. Donelson of Tennessee, the present incumbent, and A, B. Hurt of Mississippi were the candidates. Breckinridge opened the fight in caucus by a vigorous attack upon Donelson’s personal and official record, and was replied to by Blount and others. In the course of Breckinridge's reply he expressed surprise that any gentleman should continue to support Donelson, knowing his record. Blount, who was standing near, planted a square blow upon the nose of the little Arkansas member, and brought the blood. Breckinridge promptly resented this by a blow that skinned Blount’s cheek-bone. The combatants strove to continue the fight, but only succeeded in battering pretty badly Mr. Rusk, of Maryland, who had stepped between them. Tarsney, of Michigan, and Randall came to his rescue, and after the pugilists were separated and the excitement had subsided the affair was amicably arranged and the discussion proceeded. Hurt was finally chosen. Mr. Milburn, the blind preacher, was renominated for Chaplain. The Republican Congressional caucus nominated Mr. Reed, of Maine, as their candidate for the Speakership. The other nominations for House officers were Edward McPherson, of Pennsylvania, for Clerk; Daniel Shepard, of Illinois, for Sergeant-at-Arms ; W. F. Fitch, of Ohio, for Doorkeeper; and Gray, of Dakota, for Postmaster. Mr. Cannon, of Illinois, was re-elected Chairman of the caucus for the present Congress.

THE MARKETS.

NEW YORK. Catt1e....54.75 @5.25 Hogs 5.25 @ 6.4)0 Wheat —No. 1 White,.9ll4 .9214 No. 2 Bed9o .91" Corn—No. 2 02 @ .63 Oats—White 39 @ .42 Pork—New Messls.2s @l6 00 CHICAGO. Cattle—Choice to Prime Steers 5.25 @ 600 Good 4.00 @175 „ Fair Shipping 3.50 @ 4.25 Hogs—Shipping Grades 4.75 5.50 Flour—Winter Wheat 3,75 @ 4.25 Wheat—No. 2 Red Winter.,.. . .78?4@ '.791£ Corn—No. 249 .50 Oats -No 2 .... Butter—Choice Creamery 28 @ .30 Fine Dairylß @ .24 Cheese—Full Cream, new . . .1114 <« 1214 Eggs—Fresh2o @ Potatoes—Choice, per bußo @ *BS Pork—Messl4.2s @15.00' MILWAUKEE. Wheat—-Cash Corn—No. 3. 48>X<* 40 u Oats—No. 2, White " ’.32 J '33 Pork—Mess 14.75 @15.25 ST. LOUIS. Wheat—No. 2 Red7Bl4@ .79 Corn—Mixed ; Oats-Cash 3l @ PoBK-Mess 14,50 @15.00 TOLEDO. Wheat—Cash .84 @ 85 coRN-cash ;;; .5314 Oats—May 35 .35J DETROIT. Beef Cattle 3.75 @ 4 50 Hjgs 4 00 @4.50 Sheep 3.50 4.50 Wheat—No. 1 White 34’4 <4 85)4 Corn—No. 2 52)6.<4 .'53’4 Oats —No. 2 White 34 35 CINCINNATI. Wheat—No. 2 Red .85 @ 86 Corn—No. 2 ” ,54'4 ;s s u Oats—No. 2 33 Pork—Mess 14.75 @15.25 Live Hogs 5.00 @575 BUFFALO. Wheat—No. 1 Hardß9’6@ ,90’4 Corn—No 2 Yellow 59 60 “ Cattle 4'50 @ 5.00 Hogs 4.75 @* 5,25 INDIANAPOLIS. Beef Cattlx 4,00 @ 500 Hogs 5.00 5 50 Sheep s.oo @4.00 Wheat —No. 2 Redßo)6 (8 8116 Corn l(0 .51 J Oats—Mixed 32 33 EAST LIBBERTY. Cattle—Prime 4.50 @5 00 Fair.... 4.00 @4.50 Common 3.00 @ 3 50 Hogs 5.50 ® Sheep .... 4,25 @5.00

VILAS’ ANNUAL REPORT.

Work of th© Pastoffice Department Reviewed by the Postmaster General The Deficiency Arising from the Reduction of Letter Postage Steadily Growing Less. Postmaster General Vilas, in his annual report of the operations of his department, expresses the “belief that the time is not far distant when the postage upon letters can be lowered to 1 cent an ounce, with a further possibility of a diminution of the existing rates upon merchandise and other matter. The taxation for the maintenance of the postal service by the imposition of postage is regarded as the justeet form of assessment Low rates conceded to newspapers and periodicals are amply justified by the return in increased intelligence to the people. The profit arising from firstclass matter makes good the losses sustained in the lower classes. On June 30 there were 1,864 third-class postoffices in the country. Of presidential offices there were 2,381, the highest number in the history of the department. The compensation of presidential postmasters for the year was $3,880,300, or an average of over 5 per cent, upon the previous year. There were 52,821 fourthclass offices on July 1, an increase for the year of 1,543. The increase was made up by the establishment of 3,043 new offices and the discontinuance of 1,500. The new offices established were 439 less than the previous year. On July 1 the total number of postoffices of all classes was 55,157, besides which there were 613 branch offices or stations. The total number of appointments amounted to 13,079, of which 6,863 were to fill vacancies by expiration of commissions or by resignations, 2,584 were to fill vacancies by removal or suspension, 589 by death, and 3,043 to establish new offices. There were 145 fourth-class offices raised to the presidential class.

The free delivery service was, during the last fiscal year, extended to eight additional cities which had reached the limits then required by law of $21,000 gross receipts or 20,00 j population, and were thus within the discretionary consideration of the department, Their addition left the total number of places within the privileges of this system to be 189 at the end of the year. The average cost per carrier fell still below that of last year, from $889.15 to 1867.67, or $21.48 to each, 2.41 per cent. This was due to the larger proportion of offices in towns which have but two grades of carriers, and to the considerable number of carriers in the lowest grade by new appointments The money-order service continued to increase in volume during the past year, the amount in the aggregate of domestic orders issued reaching $113,462,660.89, and of international order $9,035,530.31; 3.2 per centum of increase over the preceding year in domestic orders, and 25.86 per cent, in foreign. The aggregate of postal notes issued was $11,768,824.81, an increase of but $51,814.76. The special-delivery service does not appear to have commanded much increase of patronage during the year. The revenue of the past year enjoyed its chief increase from the sale of stamps and stamped paper, in which the gain was $4,2'3,887.96 — more than 10 per cent. There was a gain of nearly 15 per cent, in the sale of newspaper and periodical stamps—over 4 per cent, better than the general rate of increase. The expenditures show an apparently rising percentage of 3.4, which, although but one-half the average of the six years ended June 30,1885, which was 6.8 per cent., yet exceeds the ratio of increase in 1886, which was but 2.6 per cent.

THE SON OF HIS FATHER.

Charles Dickens, Jr., Interviewed by a Pittsburg Reporter. [Pittsburg special.] Charles Dickens, Jr., was interviewed here, and talked freely on literature and literary men. Referring to Haggard and Stevenson, he said their success was due to the fact that the people were tired of the small-beer style of writers of the Howells and James school. He added: “I say this with all respect to the gentlemen named, but it is on obvious truth. The reading public has grown weary of that sort of work, and they seize upon the originality of Haggard and Stevenson with avidity. Mr. Stevenson has, of course, much of Defoe in his wording Mr. Haggard has also a predecessor.

‘Kaloolah,’ which was written years ago and never made much of a stir, has very much of a family resemblance to ‘She’ and the present romantic school. These gentlemen have been fortunate in their opportunities. They have hit upon the tide which leads to fortune. ” “Do the editors of English periodicals have many offers of matter from American story and essay writers?” he was asked. “So far as I know, American writers do not endeavor to write for the English market. They find their best market at home. In fact, I may say that what woula do admirably for the American public would hardly suit English readers, although to a very considerable extent English writers please Americans.” “Is there much demand for poetry outside of current publications in magazines ?” “Very little. Volumes of verse are almost without sale. There is, however, much good work in the periodicals—work which is much above the average of half a century ago—and for this there is great demand.” He thought the greatest weakness of the writers of to-day was lack of originality. They work for money instead of fame, and hence are careless in manner and matter. Some of the greatest writers of all departments of literature were Americans. Newspaper literature in the United States, he said, was very fine considering the haste with ■which everything had to be prepared. Considerable excitement was caused at the New York Metal Exchange by an unfavorable report from the Calumet and Hecla copper mines. The copper transactions on the exchange for the last two days amounted to between 5,000,000 and 6,000,000 pounds. 1 The commission appointed by Congress to procure a site for a new postottlce at San Francisco report that the $350,000 appropriation for the purpose is ihsufficient, owing to the high value of leal estate in the city, and recommend that it be increased to $850,000.

REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

Commissioner Colman’■ Account of the W«k in the Agricultural Department The Comptroller of the Currency Recommends a Revision of the Banking Laws. AGRICULTURE. Mr. Colman's Report—Progress of the Work of Exterminating Pleuro-Pneumonia. The annual report of the Commissioner of Agriculture says that the Governors of thirtyone States and Territories have accepted the rules and regulations of the Bureau of Animal Industry in regard to pleuro-pneumonia, and premised the assistance of local police officers to secure their enforcement. In addition the Legislatures of Rhode Island, Virginia, New York and Illinois have enacted laws providing for co-operation. The worst-infected counties, the report says, and those from which there was most danger of the spread of the disease—viz., those in the neighborhood of New York, Chicago and Baltimore—have been placed in quarantine and no cattle allowed to leave them without a permit issued after a special examination. By this means new outbreaks have been almost entirely prevented. From the beginning of the work for the eradicatiou of this disease, in August, 1886, to Oct. 31, 1887, the inspectors of the bureau have inspected 1 >,337 herds, containing 117,480 animals, in districts where the plague was supposed to exist Among these there were found 798 infected herds, containing 10,766 animals, of which 2,235 were affected with pleuro-pneumo-nia. These figures do not include 2,873 head of cattle in the distillery stables of Chicago, nearly halt of which were diseased. The number of animals found affected by this disease and the number of infected herds were much greater than had been anticipated, and the work for its control has subsequently required a correspondingly larger force and greater expenditure of money. The progress made, however, has been very satisfactory, and the appropriation has been found sufficient to meet the demands made upon it. The Commissioner expresses regret at the unavoidable loss inflicted on the farmers of Illinois by the cattle quarantine, and adds : “There has not been a time in years when this malady has been confined to such restricted areas as at present, and, consequently, the conditions are very favorable for its complete eradication. If the State authorities continue their co-operation as at present, which there is every reason to expect, and if an appropriation is made by Congress equal to that of the present fiscal year, and with authority fcr its similar use, it is believed that this dangerous plague can be exterminated by the end of the next fiscal year." The Commissioner says it is yet too early to make an official statement of the results in detail of the present year’s experiments in the development of sorghum-sugar manufacture, but that enough is known already to enable this country to anticipate an early success of the enterprise. The experiments in silk-reeling have not yet reached the point of paying their own expenses, but that was hardly to be hoped for with a plant so limited. Another year’s experience, it is expected, will show what can be done under favorable conditions. The commissioner recommends that the public printer be authorized to furnish to the agricultural press of the country, at the mere cost of labor and material, electrotypes of such illustrations of the department as the editors may desire, and that the duties of the seed division be transferred to State and Territorial experiment stations. The commissioner disapproves of the efforts to make his department an' executive department with a cabinet minister at its head. He says that the building of reservoirs among the Rocky Mountains for the storage of an immense volume of water now wasted should command the early attention of Congress.

THE NATIONAL BANKS. ♦ Annual Report to Congress of the Comptroller of the Currency. The annual report of the Comptroller of the Currency shows that the total number of national banks organized up to Oct. 31 was 3,805, of which 625 have gone into voluntary liquidation, 119 have failed, leaving in operation at that date 3,061. The total number of new banks formed during the last year was 225; total number closed during the year, 33, of which 25 went into voluntary liquidation and 8 failed. The gross increase in national bank capital during the year amounted to 836,894,77 a, of which $3,868,005 represents an increase of capital by banks existing Nov. 1, 1886. There was, however, a decrease of capital of $6,322,45 , of which $4,087,450 was the aggregate capital of the thirty-three banks which went into voluntary liquidation and failed, and the remainder represents a decrease of capital by banks still in operation. The net increase of capital for the year is therefore $30,572,325. On the other hand, there is a net decrease of $50,495,590 in the circulation represented by bonds. The decrease resulting from the surrender of circulation by banks st[ll in operation is $57,770,475, and the decrease caused by banks going into voluntary liquidation and failing is $1,274,380, making a gross decrease of $59,044,833, offset by a total increase of $8,549,265, which consists of an increase by the formation of new banks of $4,592,090 and an increase of circulation by previously existing banks to the amount of $3,957,175. In the cases of four of the five banks which failed the creditors have received principal and interest in full, and in case of tne fi th the total of dividends amounts to 81 per cent. The total amount of money paid in dividends during the last year is $2,106,203; whole amount paid to creditors of insolvent banks since the system has been in operation is $29,434,936, upon proved claims amounting to $46,938,388; total assessments on stockholders, $9,945,250, of which gross collections have amounted to $4,682,563. The Comntroller submits a codification of the banking laws. He recommends that the minimum amount of bonds to be deposited by a bank as security for circulation shall be 10 per cent, of the capital of banks not over $2 >O,OOO, and $25,000 for banks of which the capital exceeds $250.000; also that the semi-annual duty on circulation be hereafter charged only on the amount issued upon bonds deposited in excess of the minimum amount as above; also that the national-bank notes be counted as a part of the lawful .eserve of banks. The existing laws as to the responsibility of officers of banks are modified by this code so as to avoid existing eustacies to their prompt enforcement. The restriction on banks as to making loans in excess of ten per cent, of capital to any one party is modified in respect to loans upon collateral security, and the total limit is raised to twentyper cent, of capital and surplus. The provisions as to reserve upon deposits are modified so as not to include Government deposits, and the provision as to State taxation of national banks is also modified,

LET US HAVE PEACE.

A Peace Society that Wants a Hundred , Millions of Dollars. The Pennsylvania Peace Society, says a Philadelphia dispatch, has just celebrated its twenty-first anniversary. Besolutions were adopted requesting Congress to enact a law appropriating $100,000,060 for the purpose of organizing and maintaining, in localities where they are needed, industrial manual training schools and kindergarten schools free to both sexes; requesting the President to recommend to Congress such an appropriation in lieu of the large appropriations already suggested for the support and increase of the army and navy; deprecating the publication of reports of pugilistic encounters; favoring the exercise of suffrage without regard to sex, and the prohibition of the liquor traffic. A committee was appointed to look after Congressional legislation on the establishment of an arbitration council.

WINTER PASTURES.

Ice Skater* and Tobogganists Pre--paring for the Current Season. How to Build a Toboggan Slide— The Cost of Construction, Etc. File Game of Racquets The Latest". Popular Indoor Pastime. [SPECIAL CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE.] Winter is now fairly upon us, and around the shipping and receiving doors of the big-sporting-goods establishments of Chicago are piled great stacks—not of base-ball bats, masks, balls, gloves, and other paraphernalia of the diamond, but of toboggans, bob-sleds, gymnasium apparatus, cases of ice and roller skates, cases of warm and brilliantly hued Canadian wool blankets, for manufacture into toboggan costumSs, piles of snowshoes and crates of racquet bats, and all other appliances necessary to in and out door winter sports. If the weather is favorable throughout' the Northwest this winter, the indicationsaro that winter sports will be more generally indulged in this year than ever before. Among outdoor sports, tobogganing and ice skating will of course take the preference.

The manager of the Chicago house of Spalding & Bros., who probably handle the largest number of toboggans and ice skates of any sporting goods house in the country, remarked to an inquirer the other day that where their house alone sold over 8,500 toboggans last year and material for nearly 3,000 costumes, they expected that the demand this year would be almost double these figures. Inquiries are being received daily as to the cost of toboggans and tobogganoutfits, and the cast of erecting slides From present indications it is safe to say that the coming holidays will find one or more slides in operation in every populous town in the Northwest. It is an easy matter for thirty or forty young people to get together, form a club, and contribute $lO or sl-5 apiece toward the construction of a slide and the purchase of a score of star toboggans. Judging from the manner in which the young people of Chicago have gone into the sport already, they expect to receivetheir full share of fun for the expense incurred. And why not? An excellent artificial slide can be erected for from $250 to $350, and the lumber can always be converted to other uses after the season closes, or can be stored away for construction when another begins. Where natural slides exist, this expense of course need not be incurred. Twenty toboggans will cost SIOO more, and costumes can be purchased, or made at home with such expense as the owner can afford. When this has been done the sport to be enjoyed upon the torch-lighted and ice-sheeted run ways, or by the rays of a full moon when a score or more of rosy-cheeked and brilliantly costumed couples are out for a slide in the crisp, cold air, can only be fully understood when participated in. Of course a . regulation toboggan costume is not really necessary to the enjoyment of this pastime of the Canadians, but when a tobogganist of either sex is properly costumed they can enjoy the sport with, much more zest and satisfaction. As to the work of putting up a slide, the method of construction is very cheap, simple and strong, but care should be taken, that the braces and floor beams and postsare thoroughly well spiked together. Byboarding up around the posts of the lower part of the level part of the platform, a large room will be afforded, at a slight additional cost, which may be kept warm, if desired, and afford a means of shelter or a place for refreshments, as well as to afford! a place for the club to store their articles under lock and key. In ordinarily favorable localities the cost ought not to exceed $250, which is a liberal estimate. Another form of winter sport which Chicagoans have taken hold of in earnest this season is that of racquets, and when ono has participated in a single game they become, as a rule, enthusiastic admirers of it. A month ago Capt. Anson, the big captain of the Chicago ball club, assumed themanagement of the only racquet court there was in the city at that time. It on Michigan avenue, and is easily accessible by club men, Board of Trade men,, and the wealthy young bloods of the city who have become regular frequenters of the court since it opened. Many readers will ask, “What is racquet?”’ for the game has never been very extensively played in this country. It is similar to the old game of hand-ball, only that the ball is smaller and harder than a handball, and is struck with a bat something like a tennis racquet, but longer handledThe game is played in an inclosed court, the regulation court being about thirty-five feet long, twenty feet wide, and twenty-two-feet high; the walls and floors of solid cement, and the whole lighted by a skylight in the ceiling. The rules of handball apply to the game of racquet, and noexercise that a young man or woman can indulge in is more beneficial in every way. Of course it is not necessary to construct a regulation court to enjoy the game. A spacious loft of any kind, with the wallssolidly boarded or plastered and lighted from above, would answer admirably, the only expense necessary jbeing the purchase of the racquets ’and a box of balls, with, perhaps, a flannel or worsted gymnasium shirt and a pair of rubber-soled exercising shoes. These can be found at any sporting goods house. In Chicago the game is rapidly taking the place of many other athletic pastimes. It is great work to get into Anson’s court and throw one’s self into a profuse perspiration through the activework necessitated by the character of the play. Then to strip off, stand under a shower, and afterward have a strong-armed attendant rub one down until your muscles feel firm and vigorous, and your skin is red with the chfiang gives an exilarating and healthful effect net allowed by any other means. Racquet is a great sport— least so say all who have indulged in it.