Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1891 — Page 4

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

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The man who gera his deserts in this world usually has no “pudding.” “It has been discovered,” says the Washington Star, “that the music comes out of a barrel-organ in staves.” Why not in whoops? It is said Patti has learned and likes “Annie Rooney.” If she ever sings it in this country it will certainly be her farewell. Sabah Bernhardt is said to express a profound conttxnpt for money'. This high-bred scorn, however, does not find expression in her prices. Italy will not be represented at the World’s Fair, having been down on exhibitions since she made one of herself at the time of the Mafia affair. It may be true that only one American has a right to a coat* of arms, but every American girl has an inalienable right to the arms of coats, properly tenanted. It would be an unspeakable advantage, both to the public and private, if men would consider that great truth, that no man is wise or safe but he that is honest These girls’ colleges seed like gold-en-rod. Here's the Harvard Annex—an annex, a tender to the boys, as indeed your nice girl always is—reporting the beginning of work with 200 students. Oscar Wilde mourns the loss of his clothing, which has been stolen by vandal burglars. It should be said in their defense that they worked in the dark and could not see what they were taking. If you want knowledge you must toil for it; if food, you must toil for it; and if pleasure, you must toil for it. Toil is the law. Pleasure comes through toil, and not by self-indulg-ence and indolence. There is a man in Connecticut who ought to be tendered some sort of a substantial testimonial by Chicagoans. He owns a house in which Benedict Arnold once lived, and has refused to sell it to a company for exhibition at the Fair. The electric headlight for locomotives throws a brilliant glare a long distance ahead, but is said to be extremely trying to the eyes of engineers. Merely as an interesting experiment let railway managers try the effect of a brilliant light on the eyes of passengers inside their cars. Every time a man shoots himself because a girl refuses to marry him, the number of worthless husbands there would have been in the world is reduced. The men who neglect their wives and their wood piles to become mashing or political bums, are the kind who, when they were young and in love, vowed to blow their brains out if they were refused. One of the odd things in American literature is that the bright young man who writes in the newspapers of “Brown,” “Gallagher,” and other persons of familiar, every-day names should switch off on “Treyvelyans,” “Arbuthnots,” and the like highfalutin’ Briticisms as soon as he gets into the magazines, and withal pose as the author of that coming “American novel.”

The experience of Miss Elsie de Wolf, of New York, the past week is evidence that theatrical stars cannot be made in a day. She was flattered and praised by her friends into overconfidence in her ability, but the cold, hard criticism of audiences which pay their money atjd expect returns for it proved quite a different thing. Talent and training are both required as the foundation of a successful career. Instead of blundering along with «o many different unwieldly names for the women in charge of a department at the Chicago World's Fair, ■why not definitely designate them collectively as the Women’s Board of Managers. That sounds a greal deal more business-like than the various applications of the words “lady managers,” because there are really no ladies there to be managed. It is woman’s work that they are to manage. The two erstwhile globe-trotters of the feminine persuasion, Miss Elizabeth Bisland and Miss Cochrane (“Nellie Bly”) are reported as thriving in their several walks. Miss Bisland, just from Europe, is married to Mr. Charles W. Wet more, a New York lawyer. Miss Cochrane is said to be wearing Parisian gowns and writing well-paid stories of the ephemeral and ineffectual sort. But both girls are getting on by self-help, and that's what American girls are born for. If the English were only as droll when they try to be funny as they are when they are gravely administering justice they would be the most amusing race in the world, instead of the dullest. At Bromsgrove Petty Sessions the other day, for instance, in trying the case of a poor old granny charged with stealing some apples, it was offered as evidence that the «tems of the fruit found in the old woman’s possession fitted the trees of the prosecutor, from which it was alleged that they had been stolen! Tbm irony of fate is not often bet(MT illustrated than in the case of

that gallant fireman in Hew York who was summoned to a fire, and found that it was in his own house. Hix passionate appeals to know what had become of his wife and children were soon answered, for he stundbled .over his wife’s dead body, and found lying artfund her others of his loved ones. All must have perished, during the few minutes when the fireman was rushing in response to the clangorous signal to save them. It must be a hard heart, indeed, which cannot appreciate the pathos of this situation. Relics of Shakspeare are extremely rare and of inestimable value, and Mr. Winter has certainly made a precious find. Of the genuineness of the claim that the cane and jug which he has discovered near Strat-ford-on-Avon belonged so Shakspeare there is no doubt. Mr. Winter is making efforts to bring these priceless relics to America, and they should by all means be secured for the fair. A jug from which the Bard of Avon had taken a draught of sack and a cane with which he had sauntered through the streets of old London would possess a rare interest to the countless lovers of his immortal works. If men were judged .by their thoughts, the best men in the world would be considered the greatest rascals. Of what do you think when you lie awake at nights, or when you sit and stare into the fire in the evening? You haven’t a friend on earth you would not be ashamed to tell. Their foolishness would disgust you if you were compelled to speak them out loud, and often their wickedness would frighten you. A fool would gain a reputation for wisdom if he could tell of what he thinks, and very often a wise man would gain the reputation of being a fool. It is one of the best gifts given to man, that all he thinks does not show itself in his face.

Kate Field is reported as saying that she fears a newspaper woman, and stands in horror as well as in terror of the profession as carried on by her sex. A woman who is obliged to keep up the reputation of saying “smart” things frequently does so at the expense of others’ feelings and her own sense of justice and delicacy. There are some newspaper women of very disagreeable manners and habits. The same is true of a great many newspaper men, but it is not characteristic of the profession in either. There are numbers of women in newspaper work who have as much tact, dignity, arid ability as Miss Field herself. In this, as in other kinds of labor, competition is strong, and the struggle is hard. No one knows this better than Miss Field. It is now in order to open a baker shop or soap factory in the old room in Independence Hall, where the immortal Declaration was adopted. The other day the venerable and historical old building below Chestnut street on Independence Square was decorated by an elaborate and obtrusive sign informing the public that an insurance agent had taken up his quarters in the old structure sacred to the memory of Franklin and the Junto club. This is the building donated by the State to the American Philosophical Society in 1787. The society still survives, in name at least, but the renting of a sacred pile like this out to trade is regarded by those who reverence the memory of the great men who helped Franklin make a great name in the scientific world as a desecration.

Horseflesh as an article of food is having a boom just now in Germany. In Berlin it has recently trebled in price and costs almost as much now as beef. In what its advantages would consist if it should become as expensive as beef it is hard to see. Hitherto horseflesh has been popular on account of its cheapness, through which many people have been able to purchase meat who otherwise could not have afforded it. Its cheapness has also allowed many conscienceless dealers to double their money on sausages and other minced viands of unknown composition. It is noticeable that a certain amount of sentiment still attaches to the horse in Germany, to the detriment of his value as an edible animal. A cavalry officer is being strongly censured for having sold to the butchers his war charger, on which he had ridden at Sedan. Perhaps when America begins to pour her droves of swine into Germany the noble horse, whom it is little less than cannibalism to eat, will again assume his right position in the Teutonic mind. It would be a great thing for the American hog if he could die to save the honor of the German horse.

A Good Disinfectant.

Great need is often felt of a good, reliable disinfectant in such quantities that the amount of the purchase money precludes its use. An ounce of permanganate of potash, which may be obtained of any druggist, will make a bucketful of as good a deodorizer and disinfectant as can be obtained. It only needs to be dissolved in water, and can be kept in crystals until needed. This solution is sold in bottles at a large price in England, under a registered name, and has an enviable and well-merited reputation.—New York Recorder.

Feminine Thrift In Philadelphia.

A woman bought fifteen buttons in a Girard avenue dry-goods store at 1 cent apiece the other day. Next day she stopped in for some skirt braid costing 4 cents and for payment presented three of the buttons bought on the previous day and a cent. The storekeeper says that he has had thirty years’ experience in the business, but this kind of legal tender is absolutely new to hint. —Philadelphia Record.

WHO PAYS THE TARIFF?

IT IS NOT PAID BY THE FOREIGNERS. The Lessons Taught by the Duties on VVlndoxr Glass—Complete Refutation of McKinley’s Assertion that the Foreigner Fays the Tariff Tax. In a recent speech, in which he attempted to justify his tariff, Major McKinley said: “Don’t you believe those wicked Democrats when they tell you that the tariff is a tax. The foreigner pq.ys it; you don’t ” The times have passed when mere assertions like the above carry conviction, i especially since they are contrary to experience. (Such claims as this must be accompanied by facts and figure: to provh their validity, or they will fall flat Last week we showed who pays the tariff on pottery, which Mc-Kimey ’claims as hi 3 special hobby. McKinley ought also to be familiar with window g ass, since the windowglass combination has many factories in the district which McKinley represented in Congress. The working of this window-glass combination is a good illustration of the way in which trusts protected by the tariff take full advantage of the tariff to restrict production and keep up prices. No article is more highly protected by the McKinley tariff than window-glass, as the following figures show. The ad va'orem equivalents of specific duties are based upon the importations of 1890. . Duty Ad valorem Specific, equivalent, Sizes. per lb. pas cent. Not above l’xlo *q. inches.. .15sC 68 10x15 to 16x24 square inches. .l? B o 115 16x24 to 24x30 square inches. .2%c 129 24x30 to 24i36 square inches. .2%c 132 Above 24x36 square inches.. .3)oC .... In spite of these duties, averaging over 100 per cent, we still import about 30 per cent of the window glass wo use each year. Tho reason why we continue to do so is because the glass trust finds that it can make more money by producing a small amount of glass and selling it at high prices, equal to the foreign price of glass plus the duty, than it could were it to make all tho glass used for home consumption. But Major McKinley says that the foreign manufacturer pays tho duty, and not the homo consumer. How absurd this is, is shown by the figures of tho cost of the foreign glass imported in 1890 and the amount of duties levied. In 1890 wo imported 81,402,79(1 of winlow glass, on which 81,538,228 were paid in duties. Does McKin’ey mean when he says that tho foreigner pays tlje tariff tax that the Belgians presented us with $1,402,796 worth of window glass and gave us $135,432 besides for taking it as a gift? How tho window glass trust takes advantage of the tariff to charge consumers all tho bonus that the tariff allows is shown in tho following table, which gives the present wholesale prices in Belgium, from which all our imports come, and tho United States for second quality single-thick glass. Those prices are absolutely correct: U. 8. price Belgian U. 8. Duties Sizes in per price higher per Inches box per box per box box Bxß t010x15..$ 1.84 so.B9'y 80.94 b, $9,716, 11x14 to 16x24 2.18 I.ol'j, I.lob, 97b, 18x22 to 20x30. 2.82 1.38 1.44 " 1.24 15X38 to 24x30. 2.99)4 l.fS 1.41)4 1.24 20x28 to 24x3«. 3.33 3-5 1.58 1.75 3-5 1.50 26x36 to ,6x44. 3 50V, 1.79 1.71 b, 1.62 26x46 to 30x50. 393 22) 1.73 1.02 80x52 to 30x54 . 4.10 2-5 2.34 1.76 2-5 1.62 30x58 to 34x66, 4.36 2.53 1.83 1.62 Total ft boxes various sizes 829.0654 $15.31 $13.7554 812.15 Thi« shows clearly that tho glass trust charges all that the tariff will allow. AVhat, in view of this, becomes of McKinley’s mere assertion that the “foreigner pays the tax, you don’t? England formerly levied an internal tax upon house windows, but every part of the receipts wont into the national exchequer. To-day, under the McKinley tariff, we, in effect do the same, but how differently do we dispose of the receipts under our system—not the treasury but the window-glass trust pockets tho money. This is the system which McKinley says is for the best Interests of the country; the system which tho late Justice Miller, of the United States Supreme Court, in tho Topeka case, characterized as robbery as follows: “To lay with one hand the power of tho Government on the property of the citizen, and with the other to bestow it upon favored individuals to aid private enterprises and build up privato fortunes, is none the loss robbery because it is done under the forms of law and is called taxation.”

A Story of Tin in Two Chapters.

C HAPTER I.—THE ASSERTION. [From Iho speech of William McKinley, Jr., at Xenia, 0., on Monday, Oct. 8.) They talk about the tin plate tax. [Laughter. | Suppose w.i don't make a pound of tin plate. The duty on It has been increased from 1 cent to 2.2 cents, but you’re not paying a cent more for your tin than you did before. The old tariff on tin brought seven millions into the Treasury. The new one will bring In sixteen millions. Supposing we continue to import it all. We’ve a clear gain of nine millions, and ytur tin isn’t costing you a cent more. CHAPTER lI.—THE FACT. [From actual price lists furnished by Charles 8. French 4C)., tin-plate and metal brokers, of No. 54 cliff street, New York.J ie 14x20 coke i is. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889.1891. 1891. Highest price*!.CO *4.40 $1.85 $4.70 54.75 $3.26 53.80 Lowest prioe 4.25 4.15 4.20 4.20 4.20 4.30 515 Average prioe 4 42 4.27 4.35 4.42 4.34 4.71 5.40 Sample N iedringhaus tin, 6 cents per pound. But not for sale, $0.48 per box. IC CHARCOAL TIS. Highest price 5.00 4.80 5 05 5.05 5.20 5.30 5.95 Lowest price 4.65 4.5 ) 4.52 4.50 4.55 4.70 5f J Average price 4.79 4.65 4.65 4.75 4.74 5.12 5.85 Present Import price, 8).93. IC 20x22 B OFINO RAPE—PEAS ORADE. Highest price 9.20 893 8.91 87) 9..*0 10.10 10 40 Lowest price 8.70 8.40 835 8.53 8.40 9.00 99d Average price 8.85 8.10 8.55 8.60 B.CO 9.4010.213 Laufmans American roofing tin, $26.50. New York World. Carnegie Bros.' I-atest Move. The last number of the Iron Age. the high tariff organ of the iron t,nd steel monopolies, says: “On Thursday, the 15tli, a conference was held between Chas. M. Schwab, general manager of the Edgar Thomson Steel Works, of Carnegie Bros. & Co. (limited), Be-sc-mer. l’a , and a committee of workmen of the converting department of the plant The conference was for the purporse of arranging the scale of wages to be paid the men in that department, to go into effect on Jan. 1 of the coming year. The scale now in force oxpire9 On the last day of this year “The conference lasted all day, and a scale of wages was agreed upon, but was not made public. From some of the workmen, however, information was obtained that some very heavy reductions have been made. Under the old scale the steel melters were paid 51.06 per 100 tons: the new scale, as’ first submitted by the firm, asked them to accept 62% cents per 100 tons, or nearly 50 per cent, of a reduction. The men compromised by accepting 65 cents per 100 tons. The vessel repairers were reduced from 37 cents to 26 cents per 100 tons. It Is stated that the vessel men will suffer the greatest reduction, the new scale reducing their wages about 50 per cent

“On Saturday, the 7th inst. the scale for the blooming mill was arranged. It is stated that the lad emeu have been reduced from 8L 19 to 89 cents per 100 tons. Other departments have been reduced in proportion. 'lt is probable that

during this week the scale for the rail department will bo taken up, and will probably be adjusted to the satisfaction of both sides. ” Only a short time ago the members of the steel-rail trust met in Philadelphia to consult. Everything went smoothly, says the Philade'phia Press. This is one result of that consultation: The trust is preparing, as it did in 1880 and 1887, to foreclose its tariff mortgage on the coming boom in railway construction predicted by the Iron Age. How many more lessons like the above will be necessary to convince the workmen whose wages are reduced that not they but the men who are in the trnst hold this tariff mortgage?

WHAT FLANNEL SHIRTS COST.

How the Tariff Puts All-Wool Clothe* Oat of the Reach of the Poor, Under the McKinley bill a plain ordinary flannel shirt sells at the cheapest retail storos in St. Louis for $2.50. This shirt is all wool, well made and warm, such a garment as every working man exposed to the weather in this climate ought to wear. The full suit of this flannel, shirt and drawers costs $5. A shirt; shoddy and cotton mixed, with the wool predominating, and having the appearance of an all-wool garment, can be had for $2, or $4 the suit. For $1.25 for the shirt or $2.50 for the suit, wool and shoddy mixturo or cotton warp is offered, and this, no doubt, will be taken by most people of limited income. It is not so bad but that It might be a great deal worse as maybe seen,by comparing it with cheaper imitations of flannel. It takes the, place of the wool and camel’s-hair mixtures sold in 1888 and 18a9 at S 2 and $2.50 the suit, the suit lasting two years, with wear from .September to June lof each year. The imitation flannel, which must now be taken as a substitute, loses most of its wool by washing, only enough remaining with tho, cotton to make it hard and stiff. After a.few washings there is little warmth left in such goods But, leaving tho imitations of all grades from very bad to very good out of consideration, take the real flannel, the plain, substantial, all-wool shirt at $2.50, or suit at $5. The lowest possible cost here for flannels for the winter for one man is $lO for two suits, or sls for an extra suit, such as every workingman should have against emergencies when dry flannels are needed and his change suit is “in the wash. ” It is clear that under McKinley prices real flannel is out of tho reach of people who have small incomes. The average wage-earner cannot afford it at all. He must put up with the imitations, for at the average wages of $1 a day he would have to work five days to get a single suit of flannels. When tt comes to buying for himself, his wife, for the avorage family of five persons, two or three changes apiece, including underskirts for the females, he can no more afford real flannels than he can diamonds and ruble-. Under the McKinley bill real flannel is a luxury for those only whose incomes are much above the average. It wiil often happen that men of family with an income of SSO or over a week will be compelled to lay aside reluctantly the real flannels when buying for themselves and tako tho cotton and shoddy mixtures, vhich, however skillfully made as imitations, are very far from being flannels. Any head of the family who goes to lay in the winter supply of clothing wiil see at once how greatly the total expense for all-wool and imitation woolen goods has been increased by this vicious and demoralizing taxation. The best grade of all wool flannel shirts, readymade, would not s -II for more than $1.25 were there no tax on tho ma'orial or tho finished gpods. Tho real value of the imitation woolen shirts is much less, and without the tax they would sell by thoir grade or their merit. As it is, the buyer is compelled to tako what ho can get. The retail seller doos tho best he can for him, but with double and triple taxation on every article of woolen goods in his trade, the dealer's power to please his customers Is minimized, and his trade is minimized with It For it is not every one who, after paying a real flannel price for an imitation flannel shirt, understands the political economy of It. He finds that ho has been swindled, and he thinks he has been swindled by a dealer who has done his best under a law which does its worst —St. Louis Republic.

McKinley Prices.

In a recent speech at Lawrence, Masa, Governor Russell read a list of 122 articles of common use. the duties on which were increased by the McKinley tariff and the prices raised accordingly. On the whole, there is an advance of about 20 per cent, above the prices prevailing in September. 1890, before the McKinley tariff went Into effect. These lists were prepared for the Governor by one of the largest retail firms in Boston, and are thoroughly reliable. The following table shows how prices were advanced In consequence of Increased dutioson glassware and crockery: Retail Duty price advanced, advanced, Glassware. per cent, per cent. Common tumblers 15 12 Common goblets 15 6 Jelly tumblers, pint 15 ]0 Jelly tumblers, 34 pint 15 15 Whitehanging-lamp Bhades..l2 15 Fiokle dishes 12 10 Bowls 12 16 Water sets 12 8 Two-quart pitchers 12 14 Four-inch footed 1 reserve dishes 12 7 Four-inch unfooted preserve dishes 15 20 Crockery. Cops and Baucers 10 6 to 12 Plates 10 5 to 12 Platters ]0 5 to 12 Veget ible dishes 10 5 1o 12 Pitchers in 5 to 12 Bowls 10 6 to 12 Mugs 10 5 to 12 Pickle dishes 10 5 to 12 Gravy dishes io 5 to 12 Soup tureens 10 5 to 12 Balad bowls 10 5 to 12 Podding dishes 19 5 to 12 6ngar bowls 10 5 to 12 t otfee cups and saucers 10 5 to 12 The glassware manufacturers formed a trust, soon after the enactment of the McKinley tariff to take advantage of the increased duties. At the same time the cro kory combinations, after reducing wage-. also rai ed prices. It is strange that so many people express surprise that these things have happened. On the contrary, this is just what those who made the McKinley tariff wanted to bring about.

Germany and American Pork.

In his recent letter to the editor of the Bucyrus (Ohio; Journal, Mr. Bla.ne said: “Germany, without negotiating a formal treaty, has removed the prohibition on pork, and our government in consideration thereof, has left her sugar on the free list This opens to us an entirely new market, and 815,000,000 to 820,000,010 of American pork will be consumed per annum, where not a pound has been taken for ten years." Before Germany prohibited the importation of our pork our exports to that country were as follows: 1883. 1881. Bacon and hams $1,786,494 $1,670,326 Pork 79,354 108,218 Total ....$1,865,856 $1,778,544 Had the prohibition not existed we would have exported to Germany In ten years about as much pork as Mr. Blaine claims we shall hereafter export her each ye'af. It will be noticed that Mr. Blaine forgot to say anything about the German tariff on our pork. The reason why he did not Is because Germany stlll lmposes

a htgh duty which will keep out our pork about as well as the prohibition of it has done. In effect there is no difference whether the prohibition Is effected directly or indirectly by high duties. But what becomes of Mr. Blaine’s assertion that the removal by Germany of its prohibition law, was a triumph of reciprocity, when President Harrison declares through his private secretary, “The removal of the pork restriction has nothing to d 6 with any question of reciprocity, but is based upon the acceptance by the German government of the inspection of meats by this government under the law of the last Congress. "

The Farmer Pays the Freight.

We will send abroad 250,000,000 bushels of wheat. For it we will receive say $250,000,000. This will be invested in clothing, in carpets, in linens, in furniture, in chinaware, in tinware, In hardware, etc, When these cargoes reach New York they are seized by Federal officers. Thoy aro weighed and measured and valued, and the owners are compelled to pay in duties 50 per cent of the value of the cargoes. This will be a tax of $125,000,000. In other words, the farmers must send abroad three bushels of wheat in order to get in return the exchange value of two. Last year the exports of cotton amounted to 5,800,000 bales. One-third of the return cargoes were coniiscated under the plea of protection. Of last year’s cotton crop two-thirds were exported, one-third was consumed at home. It required all the cotton sold to American mills to pay the duties on the return cargoes taken in exchange for the 5,800,000 bal s sold abroad. Here we have an object lesson illustrating the injustice and the oppression of our whole system, so-called. The farmer, he pays the freight; ho pays the tax; he pays the pensions. To do this he has to cultivate three acres in order to have for his own use the product of two. It is the most stupendous system of iniquity and oppression to which any free people ever submitted, and yet the farmer who works three days for two days’ wages is expected to walk up to the polls in Pennsylvania, in Ohio, and in the great Northwest and vote for McKinley and protection. Down with the war tariff!—Louisville Courier-Journal.

Tariff Shot.

The tariff on steel rails Is kept there solely in the interest of the steel rail trust. How this trust makes use of it is shown below. Whenever an era of railroad building sets in the trust raises the price of rails, and thus forecloses its tariff mortgage. The last foreclosure was in 188(5 and 1887. The. trust expects to repeat the process next year. Average of new mileage of railroad built in the United States in 1884 and 1885, 3,766% miles. Average or new mileage in 1886 and 1887, 11,035 miles. Average price of steel rails at mills in 1884 and 1885, $29.62 per ton. Average price of steel rails at mills in 1886 Tariff Prices for Farmers to Consider. A bushel of wheat in 1855 would buy twenty-one and one-half yards of heavy brown sheeting and shirting. To-day it will buy twelve and one,-half yards of the same quality of cloth. Has the farmer profited by “protection”? * * # In 1855 a bushel of wheat would buy eighteen and three-quarters yards of good calico. To-day it will buy fifteen and one-half yards of calico of the same grade. How much has the farmer profited by “protection? * # ■» Thirty-one years ago the farmer exchanged his wool for cloth, and had a home factory. To-day ho exchanges more wool for the same quantity of cloth—but how about the cloth? * * * Thirty-five years ago a bushel of wheat would pay taxes on S2OO. In 1891 it takes three bushels and a half of wheat to pay taxes on S2OO. Then one bushel paid taxes on ten acres of average land; now one bushel pays on but little over two acres. What does the farmer think of this method of “progressing?” —Rockville (Ind ) Tribune.

Mr. Gigadab.

“Fate tried to conceal him by naming him Smith,” said Doctor Holmes of one of his well-known classmates. Fate made one man too conspicuous, it seems, by such a name, and the owner had to invent a Worse one to protect himself. There is a quaint old man in Manchester, England, who goes by the name of Gagadig Gigadab. His original name, so the story goes, was John Smith, but many years ago he began to brood over the possibilities of mistaken identity involved in such a common name. The name figured frequently in the criminal records, and he became abnormally apprehensive lest he might be confused with some of these bad John Smiths. At last what ho feared so much actually happened. One morning the papers recorded the capture of an accountant in a bank for embezzlement, and through some blunder of the reporter the identity of the e nbezzier was confused with the subject of this paragraph, who was also a bank accountant. Then and there he determined to assume a name like unto no other ever borne by mortal man. And in Gagadig Gigadab most people will agree that he has done so.

In Water and Yet Dry.

Into a basin of water throw a piece of mo.iey, a ring, or any other object, and propose to take it out without wetting your hands. All that you have to do is to sprinkle the surface of the liquid with a powder that has no cohesion with the water, and consequently that the water does not wet. Lycopodium powder, which may be found in any drug store, has this property. After having thrown a little of this powder on the water, plunge your hand bravely to the bottom and take out the ring, and show to the audience that your hand is perfectly dry. The reason of this is that the lycopodium has formed a perfect glove on your hand, thus preventing any contact with the liquid, the same as, for instance, ducks plunge their bodies into the water aud come out perfectly ary on account of the oil which is secreted in their feathers. The Ohio Deccn lial State Board of Equalization find that the value of Ohio farms has decreased in ten years from 8684,826,516 to 8576.183,975, a loss of 8108,642,541 in a period during which the Federal taxes on all farm supplies have been increased from 15 to 20 per cent This is another point on which the McKinley stumpers appreciate the beauties of Quay’s maxim, “Don’t talk.” A tonic which is said to be very efficacious in arresting the falling out of the hair is as follow.-: Bay rum, 1 quart; table salt, half teacupful; castor oil, 1 drachm; tincture of cantharides, 1 drachm. A new mode of furnishing power to motor engines by mixing steam with hot gases is creating a great deal of interest in English circles

THEY FLED TO CAVES.

HOW DESERTERS PROM THE CONFEDERATE ARMY LIVED. Hiding Prom the Confederate Troops After the Manner of Runaway Slaves How They Built the Caves. In a paper on “The Cave-Dwellers of the Confederacy,” by David Dodge, which appears in the Atlantic, an interesting account is given of the caves in which the deserters from the Confederate army lived: After the Confederate ranks were thinned by the desperate fighting of 1863, the lines of the deserter fell in hard places. The Richmond government set energetically to work to bring every available man to the front. President Davis by proclamation urged every man to hasten to his country’s defense, and promised pardon for all past delinquency, provided the offender now hastened to do his duty. Stringent orders and threats of punishment infused energy into the officers of the home guard. Detachments of Confederate troops visited the neighborhood at short and irregular intervals, while the homes of the deserters were watched and repeatedly searched. Then it was that the deserters, as we called all who shirked military duty, whether they had ever actually been in the army or not, had recourse to a mode of hiding which they had learned from runaway slaves. The fugitive in this region having neither the swamps of the east nor the mountains of the west for refuge, like all hard-run creatures naturally took to earth. Ho either enlarged and concealed some natural cavity, or dug a cave in which he hid by day, to sally out under cover of darkness in quest of poultry, pigs, sheep, fruit,roast-ing-ears, watermelons and other good things in season. If ho feared pursuit by dogs he rubbed the soles of his feet with onions or odorous herbs in order to confuse the scent. If moderately wary or skillful, he found little difficulty in remaining “out” till the crops were “laid by” and all the heavy work was over, or till cold weather drove him back to a snugger berth in the quarters. The deserter made a vast improvement on the burrmv of the runaway negro. His cave was larger, better constructed and better appointed than its prototype, but not better concealed. Banding together in squads of two or three, some unfrequented place would be chosen,. generally oil a hillside to avoid moisture, and as near a stroam us practicable, for the easiest and safest way of disposing of the earth thrown up iu digging the pit was to dump it in running water. The site being carefully selected aud reoonnoitered from every possible way of approach, a watch was set, and work was begun and pressed with the utmost dispatch.

First the leaves or pine-needles were raked back and a space “ lined off,” usually six by eight feet, but often considerably larger. Then tire übiquitous bodquilt was spread to catch every particle of the toll tale clay, and grubbing hoes, spades, and all available implements were put in rapid motion. As any prolongation of the work increased the danger of discovery, the object was to get it dug out and concealed at the oar- ■ best possiblo moment. Every hand that could be trusted, —old men, women, aud children, —was called in to assist. To these auxiliaries foil the hardest part of tho task, that of disposing of the dirt, which of course could not be left near tho cave. This was generally “ toted ” away in buckets and piggins, and dumped in the adjacent stream, and as tho direction from which the cave was approached had to bo constantly changed lest the faintest vestige of a path should betray tho spot, tho labor of transporting eight or ten cubic yards of earth in this primitive fashion was no light undertaking. The proper depth, commonly about six feet, being attuined, a fireplace was cut in the earthern sides of the cave and connected with a Hue cut through the adjacent earth. Across tho pit, and slightly below the surface, were then placed Btout poles, and on those the roof of pine boards, while over all the earth and leaves were carefully replaced so as to conceal all signs of having been disturbed. Pine-needles made a very good carpet. A bed was constructed by driving forked stakes into the ground, and upon those were laid small poles topped with pine boughs. Sometimes a “ cupboard ” was cut in the earthen walls. What gave the cave-dweller most concern was tho disposal of the smoke from his chimney. Even under the best of circumstances, in the fuirest, warmest weather, and in the driest soil, a cave was a dismal abode. There was a darkness, ft chilliness, u strange aud gravelike silence down there which made fire, the ouly light obtainable in those hard times, an indispensable companion. When rainy weather came and the walls oozed water, only heat made it habituble. Care was taken to use the driest and most smokeless fuel, but us oven that, though burnt over so sparingly in the daytime, would cause some smoke, various plans were hit upon to minimize the danger of betrayal from this source. When practicable the cave would be dug near a dead tree, whidi was first bluckeuod by fire, uuless one could be found already partially burned by the chance fire of some coon or opossum hunter. Failing this, an old tree stump, after being charred, was ingeniously planted over tho chimney mouth so that the smoke might rise through or around it. The object of these devices was, of course, that should any unfriendly eye discover the smoke it would be attributed to one of the accidental fires which sometimes smouldered in a dead timber for weeks at a time. But, as a rule, the occupants, putting their dependence on good eyesight and logs, would, when no especial danger was apprehended, betake themselves to the woods during the day and use tho caves only as sleeping places, indeed, few of the deserters took refuge underground except in cases of pressing need, which, toward the last, were very frequent. Entrance to the cave was usually had by means of a small trap-door iu the roof, in the concealment of which much care and ingenuity were also expended. In addition to the leaves always kept on it, a tree would often be felled over the spot, the boughs serving not only to screen the entrance from view, but likewise to lessen the danger of any one walking directly over the cave. As it was ail-important that no trace of a path should be seen thereabout,'the trunk of the trot afforded a safe walk-away, care being taken always to approach it from different directions. The presence of a newly-felled tree, like a burning one. attracted little suspicion, being charged to the negro-opossum hunter.

The Wealth of Queen Victoria.

Henry Labouchere, editor of London Truth, says in the Forum; An act was

recently passed enabling the Queen to make a will, as she was not before this supposed to be the possessor of any property, and the impression prevails that she has effected large savings. This is not the case. Although she has for muny years lived in retirement, her expenditure has not materially decreased, for tho mise en scene of royal pageantry is still kept up. She has expended considerable sums upon the purchase of the estates of Osborne and Balmoral, and their maintenance falls on her. She has, too, made considerable monetary presents to her daughters on their marriages, so that, although she inherited £250,000 from a silly person who left her this amount, her private fortune is comparatively small. Two years ago Lord Salisbury’s government submitted to Parliament a proposal to endow her grandchildren. A committee of the House of Commons way appointed to consider thisdemand, when it was decided that provision ought only to be mqdo forth® children of the Prince of Wales. The committee was informed, under a pledge of secrecy, of the total value of her Majesty’s investments. As I wus a member of the committee, I cannot, of course, violate this pledge; but I do not think that I am breaking confidence in saying that the amount was surprisingly small.

THE HIGHBINDERS.

They Date From an Association of Buddhist Monks. Tho name highbinder is said to have been used by a policeman in court and had no significance whatever, but the term tickled the public and is now a part of the English language. The true name of these ruffians in Chinese menus “Hatchet Boj-s,” the peculiar appropriateness of which title is at once apparent. The highbinders trace their organization back several centuries. They claim to be a part of the association known in China as the “Triad Society.” The founders of this society were some Buddhist monks. They put down the rebellion in Quong Si province, and were offered rewards in titles and estates by the Government. They refused the rewards. Afterward the Manchu soldiers became jealous of the monks; the Government also becamo suspicious and accused the powerful monks of treason. A monastery was blown up and only five out of one hundred and twenty monks escaped alive. Those five became the founders of the Triad Society. The vow of the members is that they shall never rest until tho present reigning dynasty is overthrown and the Ming native dynasty is restored to the dragon throne. It has numbered at times more than 100,000, and still includes many who have no sympathy with the diabolical practices which made the name a terror. It has an elaborate initiatory ceremony —signs, grips, words and tokens, by which its members may recognize each other and hold communication. Within the society is a military organization of salaried soldiers, who are bound by the most solemn oaths to execute orders, even to killing those who fall under its ban. The Tie Ping rebellion was instigated by the Triads, and after ten years’ duration was suppressed by the late General Gordon. The rebols fled abroad to save their necks and started the Choe Tung Kong. The headquarters of the society on this coast were in Spofford Alley, where they were raided by the police February 2. At that time one of the rituals fell into the hands of Police (Sergeant Prince, and has been translated by Mr. Masters. From it and from two converted Chinese who had passed to the honor of grand officers in the society he derived his knowledge. Some of tho initiation ceremonies of this society are-interesting. A candidate pricks his fingers until the blood flows into a cup of wine. Tho cup is passed around the assembly to be sipped so that a blood fellowship may be established. Tho candidate swears eternal loyalty to the society in thirty-five different oaths, during which ceremony a rooster’s head is cut off, and while the blood flows the candidate imprecates death upon himself should he prove a traitor. A certain twist of the queue marks a member of the highbinder societies.—[San FranciscoCall.

Timing Big Steamships.

The British government has a lnttn stationed at Roche's Point, who is paid to record in a book the exact time these steamers puss his signal station, both inward and outward bound. Since the acute rivalry between the fleet ships of the White Star and Inman lines liassprung up, this man has been even more than ordinarily careful in carrying out his instructions, says the Pittsburg Dispatch. In passing Roche's Point the vessels go through a channel hardly three miles wide, and as a general thing they pass within an easy mile of the government signal station. Sinco the fast ships began to reckon their speed so carefully, this signal officer has timed them from the moment they were exactly abeam of his station. The outward bound vessels usually gopast him at full speed. What becomes of them after that is of no concern to the signal man. He immediately telegraphs his record to the steamship agents nt Queenstown, whence it is forwarded to the main office.at Liverpool. Both the Inman and the White Star lines have a man of their own on Roche’s Point to take observations and figures. Sometimes they differ. But if by any possible chance the question of a vessel's actual time came up in a British court of law the government signal man's figures would stand. In a similar wav the official time on the other side is takcu the moment the vessel is aboain of Sandy Hook. The line is set by the compass, and the telescope does the rest. The moment of crossing is almost ns clearly dofined as in the case of the running horse on the track. Passengers bn the transatlantic steamers date the time of their passugc either from Land’s End or from the time the vessel starts until she comes to anchor. The steamship companies do not take this into account at all in their official records. They know the time, of course, that a vessel leaves Liverpool and of her arrival at Queenstown. But this is not considered in the record of her passage. The subsidized mail boats —the White Star and Cunard— usually anchor at Queenstown, a mile or two further inside of Roche’s Point than do the Inm a boats and other Atlantic liners whic are not obliged to await the arrival of tl s Irish mail at Queenstown, except for t stray passenger or two. The mail boat are usually the last to get away from the harbor. M: i. William Northcott, of Bowmanville, Canada, was scratched on the hand by a pet cat a short time ago. The hand immediately begantoswell, mortification set in, and her arm had to be amputated belori the elbow. At last reports her recovery was considered doubtful.