Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1892 — Page 5

A DISTANT CAROL. Marie. Leaning from the casement dark, How the keen-kindled light Of the pulseless winter night Glints upon the bosom wlfite Of the fro* n earth. Drear, ev’n for that wondrous birth, Lofty, lowly, Human, holy, Whereat now all earth rej ices. Hark! a distant choir of voices In a Christmas carol blending. To the sparkling sky esceuding. Hear the far chimes’ measured ringing. Faintly blended with the singing: Sinking, soaring Soft, adoring; Midnight now hath found a to igae, As though the choired stars that sung High circling over them That watched in Bethlehem, Were echoing, echoing still, Peact and good wttU Good-toili. P9a~,e and good-mill to men, The voices wake again. Soft chimes th ir tones repeat. Oh, far-heard message sweet, 80 faintly beard as yet That men forget. Forget. Oorae nearer; louder swell! Soar, voices! Peal, clear bell? Wake echoes that last Till all the yea • bs past! When yuletide eo nes again, Still may Good-will to mei Be echoing, echoing still Peaoe <tn<l good wib, Go'td-wiTl. —[Katherine Van Harlingen, in Harper’s Weekly.

A CHRISTMAS CARD.

It is at once painful and perplexing to be answered with a heavy sigh where one expects an exclamation of pleasure and admiration; so it was not wonderful that Mrs. Austin, under the exact conditions, looked into her husband's face. She was holding up for his inspection a large wax doll, one of the treasures for Madge, tho blue-eyed darling of four years, who was counting the days until Santa Claus should come. Every stitch of Miss Dollie’s elaborate costume was the work of Mrs. Austin's busy fingers in hours when Madge was dreaming of full stockings and Christmas trees, and tho last stitch set, t :o result was displayed for “papa’s” approval. Now papa was quite as devoted a parent to Madge and two-year-old Harold as mamma, and took deep interest in all nursery matters. It may be that tho memory of two other curly heads and baby faces that had brightened the nursery for n few brief months and then been hidden by ooffin-lids deepened the love for the children who came later to comfort the aching hearts. But it is very certain that the little Austins were as much loved and petted as children could be, and did not dream more hopefully of Christmas treasures than their parents did lovingly of supplying them. So it was with some alarm, too, that Mrs. Austin put aside her last triumph of needle-work and threw her arm around her husband’s neck. “What is it, Charlie?” she asked. He drew her into a Iqving embrace before he said, sadly: “I mot my father again to-day. Margaret, it will kill me to have things go on so. He was downright shabby,feeble and broken; looking so old and so sick that I could not keep the tears out of my eyes. But he would not speak tome. I said all I could say in the street, and tried to follow him home; but he stopped short and said: ‘I do not know you, sir! You will cease to annoy me!’ And I could not make a scene in the street.” There was a choking sound in Charles Austin’s voice as ho ceased speaking, but, being a man, he kept back the sob that would have followed. Mrs. Austin’s tears were falling fast. “At Christmas time, too,” she said. “It is useless to send presents, Charlie; he has sent them back every year.” Tho story this conversation referred to was an old one, a true love marriage made in the face of disinheritance and paternal displeasure. Mrs. Austin had been a poor girl, employed in the factory of Simon Austin, then a man of great wealth and good social position; a man purse-proud, arrogant and full of his own importance. When his only child, his idolized, indulged son and heir, told him of his love for pretty Margaret Hay, a factory-girl, living ‘in the factory boarding-house, wearing calico dresses, and earning a mere living, the old man was a maniac in his fury. He would not see. that the girl was pleasing in manner, refined in taste, well educated and sweet-tempered, one to brighten any homo and make any good man thoroughly happy. He gave a fierce command that the matter should end then and there. Charles Austin, utterly unaccustomed to be crossed in any fancy, refused obedience, never before exacted, and the conversation ended in a stormy quarrel and the young man’s expulsion from home. But with a good fortnne that does not often follow disobedient sons, Charles was at once taken into the employ and favor of his mother's brother, an eccentric old bachelor, who gave the young couple a home in his own luxurious house. It was a new life to the old gentleman, and be took the keenest interest- in all the household affairs as Margaret managed them, loved and mourned tho older children, and dying, when Madge was but a year old, left his entire large estate to his “ beloved nephew, Charles Austin.” And whiio the sunshine of prosperity had no clouds for this wayward sou, the father's fortunes had gone all awry. Some commercial panic was the first blow to Simon Austin, and an effort to repair the loss by speculation only added to the disaster. Ho missed the cool, clear head of the son who had of late years been his active partner, the judgment be had first trained and then trustod to guide his large business. He was angry, and his angry impulses led him into dire blunders, until he grew so involved, that there was no escape, and he failed for more than his entire fortune. At once Charles hastened to him, offering his entire wealth to save him, only to be met by a proud, fierce refusal to bo under any obligation' to a disobedient child or his beggar-wife. Over and over again, as poverty became more and more bitter to the man broken and aged, did his son implore him to allow hi in to help him, offer him a home, love, care, obedience even, only to be thrown back with angry scorn. A proud man always, ,Simon Austin cherished his wrath as the last remnant of the old arrogance, and would not bend one inch. He found letters telling him anonymous sums of money were in the bank in his name, and wrote.back refusing to claim them. He mistrusted every offer of service, as dictated by his son, and returned te Charles every scrap of

aid sent to him, often perplexing his son by sending what had not come from him, though he always refused to believe this. And being old and broken in health, he sank lower and lower, unable to fill lucrative positions, and taking the work that gave him barely food and the poorest clothing. Very sadly the son and his wife talked of the impossibility of helping one who would not let any appeal touch him, until suddenly Margaret cried: “Charles! I have an idea! Let mo try to win your father over. I will send him a Christmas card.” “My dear, he would not open the envelope.” “But it will not go in an envelope. Don’t ask any questions. Let me try, and see if your father does not dine with us to-morrow.” “Dine with us! Margaret, you must be crazy!” “Not a bit of it. Just let me have my own way, dear.” “Do you ever fail to get that?” was the laughing query, for something in his wife’s face gave a fresh hope to Charles Austin’s heart.

It was a very mean room in a very poor house where the sun of a bright Christmas morning wakened Simon Austin Every tiling in tho shabby place told of the lack of woman’s care and love. Dust hung upon everything, disorder reigned. There were no dainty trifles of needlework; the curtains were dingy and crooked; the carpet torn and dirty. Very wearily and slowly tho old man dressed himself, lit a fire in the grate and rang for the poor breakfast his landlady provided. Dinner and tea he was supposed to buy outside, but very often this muddy coffee, stale bread and tough chop or steak were the sole repast of the twenty four hours. It was Christmas Day, and no business took the old man abroad; so, after the untempting tray was removed, he took a newspaper and drew shiveringly to the fire. But before he had read one column there came a knock upon the door, and then it opened wide and closed again behind a child—a little girl in a quaint Mother Hubbard cloak and hat, with large blue eyes and clustering golden curls, and holding a large flat basket full of fresh, beautiful flowers. While the old man gazed at her in silent amazement she said, in a sweet, childish voice: “If you please, dear grandpapa, I am your Christmas card!” “You—you ar o wfiat?” he said, utterly bewildered. “If you please, dear grandpapa, I am your Christmas card!” “Who sent you horo? What is your name?” “Mamma brought me here! I am Madge Austin, doar grandpapa—” and then, half frightenod at tho strange face and the poor room, the child’s eyes filled and her lips trembled. “I want to go home!” she whispered. “Don’t cry!” Mr. Austin'said, finding his senses and taking her into his arms, very tenderly. “Don’t cry, dear, I will take you home.” “Oh, if you please, because mv big doll is thero and all the toys Santa Claus brought, and brother Harry. What did Santa Claus bring you?” “Nothing!” “Oh!” with a very deep drawn sigh, “was it becauso you are up so many stairs? But he always comes to our house.and mammasaid,perhaps,to-day,he would bring us our grandpapa! “We haven’t got any now, you know, and mamma said if he did come, wo would love him just the same as papa, and ho would love us. And please, grandpapa, so we will.” And here the child put her little arms around the head bent low before her, and lifted the face quivering and tear-stained. “Oh, don’t cry! Oh, please, men don’t cry; only naughty girls and boys! Oh!” and again the terror found voice in the plea: “I want to go home!” “Yes, yes! I will take you home. Bring your flowers, child. This is no place for flowers or—or—Christmas cards!” Down the crazy old stairs the old man led the child, tenderly watchful that the little feet did not slip nor stumble. Through the sunny streets, unheeding the cold, she walkod beside him, prattling of her home and of the dear grandpapa that she had been taught to love. I hat was tho crowning amazement. No child in a few short hours could have been taught to talk of the estranged parent as this child talked. She told the old man of the praj'er she said night and morning, “Please, dear Lord, send my grandpapa home!” of the talks of her mother about this unknown relative whom she was to reverence and love, should he ever come home, opening to tho hardened but, oh, such a lonely heart a hope of rest and affection, that he felt it would be bitter as death to thrust aside now. . There was no need to pull the door-boll of the stately mansion to which Simon Austin led his grandchild. Eager hands wore waiting to open its portals wide; eager eyes wore watching for tho coming of the pair. Tender arms and strong hands led Simon Austin into the parlor] Margaret s kisses fell warm and caressing upon his wrinkled cheeks; Charlie’s hands removed the shabby overcoat; baby Harold clung to his knees, shouting: “Dandpa s turn! Santa Tinas bringod dandpa!” There was no pride could stand against this loving, sincere welcome, so pride coilapsed. “Do you really want me, Charlie?” the old man faltered. “It is not mere charity!” “Hush!” whispered Margaret. “Do not grieve him by such a word. Ho will never bo happy until you come home, dear father.” And so Christmas once again gathered up the tangled threads of estrangement and kuit them into strong bands of homelove.

Take Care of Your Feet.

Some folks treat their feet as they might their shoos; tako no care of them, and even abuse them, as though when they had beeogie shapeless and almost useless they could be thrown aside and a new pair obtained. Mistake. Ono pair is all any man will have in this world. The circumstances under which they serve us are, at best, very trying and not altogether calculated to keep them shapely and comfortable. Abuse them and they will retaliate ten-fold. Pinch them and they will make every nerve in one’s body twinge in sympathy with their torment. Wear high-heeled boots, thus pitching the weight mptm the toes, and the spine will curve, the gait will become constrained and mincing and the erect form, the forceful stride, the manly carriage of a free and well balanced figure will have been lost forever. Begin early to care for the feet. Wear wholesome, soft and well-made hosiery, and shoes which conform to the shape of your own feet, whether they resemble other people’s shoes or not. Have plenty of changes of foot clothing, keep

the extremities dry and warm, and yo* will have done much to conserve the health and comfort of the whole body.

JACK KIRKUP.

Graphic Description of n Typical Border Sheriff. There was only one policeman to enforce the law in a territoiy the size of lihode Island. Ho was quite as remurk* able in* his way as any other development of that embryotic civilization. His name was Jack Kirkup, aud all who know him spoke of him as being physically the most superb example of manhood in the Dominion. Six feet and three inches in height, witk the chest neck and limbs of u giunt, his three hundred pounds of weight were so exactly his complement as to give him the symmetry of an Apollo. He was good-look-ing, with the beauty of a rouud-faoed, good-natured boy, aud his thick hair foil in a cluster of ringlets over his forehead and upon his neck. No knight of Arthur’s circle can have been more picturesque a figure in tho forest than this “Jack.” He was as neat as a dandy. He wore high lYiots and corduroy knickerbockers, a sh 'mol shirt aud a sackcoat, and rode his big bay horse with tho ease aud grace of a Skobeleff. He smoked like a fire of green brush, but had never tasted liquor in his life. In a dozen years he had slept more frequently in the open air, upon pebble beds or in trencheg of snow, thun upon ordinary bedding, uud he exhibited, in his graceful movements, his sparkling eyes aud ruddy cheeks, his massive frame and his impertuobable good nature, a dogree of health and vigor that would seem insolent to the average New-Yorker. Now that the railroad was building, he kept ever on the trail, along what was called “tho rigght of way”—going from camp to camp to “jump” -whiskey peddlers and gamblers and to quell disorder —except on pay-day, once a month, when ho staid at Sproat's Landing. The echoes of his fearless behavior and lively adventures rang in every gathering. The general tenor of the stories was to the effect thut he usually gave one warning to evil-doers, and if they did not heed that he cleaned them out.” He cara revolver, but never had used it. Even when the notorious gambler on our border had crossed over into “Jack’s” bailiwick tho policeman depended upon his fists. He had met the gambler and had 1 ‘advised” him to take the cars next day. The gambler, in reply, had suggested that both would get along more quietly if each minded his own affairs, whereupon Kirkup had said, “You hear me: take the cars out of hero to-morrow.” The little community (it was Donald, B. C., a very rough place at the time) held its breathing for twenty-four hours, and at the approach of train-time was on tiptoe with strained anxiety. At twenty minutes before the hour the policeman, amiable and easy-going as ever in appearance, began a tour of tho houses. It was in a tavern that lie found tho gambler. -“You must take tho train,” said ho. “You can’t make me,” replied the gambler. There were no more words. In two minutes the giant was carrying the limp body of the ruffian to a wagon, in which he drove him to jail. There he washed the blood off the.gambler’s face and tidied his collar and scarf. From there the couple walked to tho cars, where they parted amicably. “I had to bo a little rough,” said Kirkup to tho loungers at the station, “because he was armed like a pin-cushion, and TOidn’t want to have to kill him.” —[Harper’s Magazine.

Animal Stories.

There are said to bo about fifty buffaloes left in Wyoming. The London Zoological Society has recently acquired a white frog. The meiluser is a fish so fragile ‘ ‘that when washed on the beach it melts and disappears,” says a noted scientist. A Lawrence, Mass., man has a petrified turtle a foot in diameter and five indies high, which was found on the shores of JLinke Champlain. A large snake was discovered milking a cow at Hagerstown, Md. The cow’s owner had been at a loss for a long time to account for the diminution in his milk supply. A Clintou, Me., man owns a bird dog that has distinguished himself the past summer by bringing home twenty-five chickens from the yards of his owner’s neighbors. A stork had a ring on his leg for identification. After two years’ absence he returned to Germany last spring with a second ring, bearing tho inscription, “India sends greetings to Germany.” The butterflies of Australia bathe. One will alight close to the water, into which it backs until tho whole of the body is submerged, the forelegs alone retaining their hold on dry land. In a moment it will fly away, apparently refreshed. A Belfast, Me., man who went trouting relates that he caught a trout tea inches long, and was looking nt it admiringly when there came a great rush of wings and something took the fish from his hands, The despoiled fisherman looked up in time to soe a big crow flying away with the prize.

“The Blue Hen’s Chickens.”

Everybody knows that natives of Delaware aro called the "Blue Hen’s Chickens,” but not ono in a hundred can tell you why they are so called. The epithet is said to have had its origin in the following. One of Delaware s most gallant fighters in the VVur of the Revolution was a Captain Caldwell, who was notorious for his fondness for cock-fighting. He drilled his men admirably, tiiey being known throughout ,the nrmy as “ Caldwell’s gaftie-cocks.” This same Caldwell held to the peculiar theory that no cock was really game unless its mother was a blue hen. As the months wore away Caldwell’s men became known us the “Blue Hen’s Chickens,” a title which only incresed their respect for the old game-cock Captain. The nickname became famous, and after the close of the war was applied indiscriminately to all natives of the “Diamond State.” St. Louis Republic.

Tunnel Diggers Strike Gold.

Workmen, while boring for the Kansas City (Mo.) Water Works tunnel under the Missouri River the other day, observed some brightly tinted particles in the dirt which they were handling, and showed them to an engineer who h:.d formerly been connected with a mining company. Putting the samples submitted to him under a powerful microscope, he declared that the stratum contained free gold in quantities to make the mining of it profitable. Kansas City people are now talking about paying for the tunnel with the profits to be made by mining the stratum discovered. At any rate, an assay of the gravel has been ordered. —[Boston Transcript.

DRESSES FOR THE DANCE

THEY ARE EXTREMELY RICH AND ELEGANT. Now that the Holidays Are l’ast, the Fashionable World Has Taken lo the BallRoom, and There’ll Be No Let-llp Until the Lenten Season. Why Do We Danre?

ingenious l wiiter has been at- % tempting to explain 1 why we dance, that is, we grown people. —He is willing to adthat in nature r\everything y o u n g dances—tho lambkin pr-T gambols on tho / green, the colt leaps / aud prances in the X field, the calf romps IB in tho i asture, and /]/ the children, too, without waiting for Jf\\ the coming of the fl dancing-master, exe/l\ cute nature's rhythlif mic movements in If their play and froiLi icking. “But,” ex|tf claims this writer. “could there be any--4v thing more ridicuJ] lons than the spec* nl tacle of grown folks til? capering about a socalled ball room in

gauzy attire, and keeping time to music with faces serious enough for a funeral?” Possibly not: but it's tiio fashion to do so, and, therefore, we do it Then, again, it's an excuse to wear evening dross, and young or old, without exception, aro aiways glad to have an opportunity to don one of those gauzy, 11 my gowns, as delicate in color as in texture, _ with its garniture of flowers or lace or' embroidery. Tho moment the holidays have passed, the fashionable world sets to work dancing. says our New York lady correspondent, and there is no rest until Lenten days come to check the gayety. Ball dres-es aro extremely rich and elogant this season. For instance, it is a common thing to seo a skirt in sat'n with an embroidered silk muslin tablier and corsage in brocaded stuff, with long basques trimmed with galloon and Louis XV. revers.straight flaring collar and turnedup sleeves. Another lovely ball dress was in pink satin, cut very low and framed with a siik tulle bertha tied with pearls in front and on tho shouldors. The embroidery was likewise in pearls In my initial illustration you will find pictured a very pretty evening gown in pink silk trimmed in a very original manner with white satin ribbons. 1 may say. in a general way, that pink, corn-yellow and Nile-green are the most modish colors for ball drosses, and that tho round cut-out is to bo much affected, although you must not neglect to garnish it with a tulle or game ruche a little more than an inch in width. For young persons, nothing could be more appropriate and more dressy than

VELVET AND BENGALINE COSTUME.

the so called sultan-crepes, delightfully lilmy stuffs in silk and woo'. They display the figure to its best advantage and are extremely reasonable in price—quite a consideration when ono has three daughters to dress for the dance. You will find an exquisite evening gown represented in my second illustration, made up In velvet and bengaline on a corn-colored taffeta foundation. The corsage is lined with silk and closes at the back, under the velvet, which hooks Invisibly at tho shoulder seam You may either make the foundation in princess form or with skirt and waist, only you must finish it < ompletely before beginning with the dress itself. You border the foundation with a small ruffle, and after you have fitted this part of the dress you cut the velvet; jacket, bone it and lino it with silk. The bones only reach an inch or so below the waist. You slash the jacket at the second dart, first Indicating the slashing with basting threads The jacket Is edged on the wrong side with a silk band. The embroidery is done on the material. The jacket is made with basques, but it is split at the back and reaches only to the seams of the back piecos. The collar, which must be stiffened, runs down to a point at the back. You rnu-t be careful not to turn up the edges of the basques too much, or you will make them flare out. The moussellne plastron must be made after.a pattern, and It is fastened on one side and hooks on the other. The Valois collar must be lined with linen and finished with velvet on both sides The decolletage is framed with pleated crepe de chine, and the dress is made in three panels in front. The back breadth makes the train. The sleeves are in

WHITE SILK PARTY DRESS.

crepe de chine, with large bracelets of velvet embroidered. For materials, choose a corn-colore.l bengaline, and either a black or a peacock-blue velvet. In my third illustration you see pictured a very charming ball toilet, made up in white silk daintily embroidered with pearls and trimmed with black satin and white English point Tb« high

corselet bodice Is of shrimp pink velvet There is a fan to match, of course. A fan has been called a woman’s weapon, but it were more fittingly termed her ally offensive and defensive. At the sale of the famous Judic’s effects there wero found fans enough to stock a fancy bazar; fans of all colors, sizes and materials; fans for high spirits and low spirits; fans to condole with and to cajole with. Wo American women are—so our Epiop an sisters affirm—too nervous to use lans gracefully. A French writer lately mounted how he had seen a New York girl on ono occasion hammer her partner with a valuable feather fan because he had trodden on her train, and. on another, prod an inattentive dancer w til 4t To use a fan violently is cons'dered the depth of bad form, its very shape and mate)ial should tel one that it i< only intend d for beating slow and stately measures. Said a famous designer of feminine costumes: ‘‘Tho ball dress is the most difficult of all dresses to wear with easy grace and elegant composite, for in it a woman needs two rare things to make her appear wo 1, to wit: native and acquired grace. ” 1 agree with him, and if 1 may have my say about ball dresses I would add that a ball dress is like the elegant frame of a picture—it strengthens and emphasizes bad joints quite as much as it does the good ones As our countrywomen are the best dancers in the world, it might bo inferred that thov look tho best in ba 1 costume, but such is not tho case. Tho English woman s > long as she stands still is undoubtedly tho queen of tho ball-room, as our woman are tho oueens of the drawingroom —an excellence duo to their vivacity, intelligence, and spiritual beauty, although it must be confessed

STRIPED GAUZEB ALL DRESS.

that the American vo'ee has not the depth and softness of the Engl sh voice. In my fourth Illustration I have still another bull dress to present for your consideration. It Is a thoroughly charming costume, being made up In striped gauze. The gauze skirt Is mado over a white faille skirt which Is finishod with a ruching of,tho gauze cut on the cross. These two skirts are made with trains and cut very bias in the middle of tho back, but, In addition, tho side breadths of tho faille are also cut bias The gauze skirt is only bias as stotod. There must bo gores sewed In at the top, and these aro covered by the boullloned gauzo basques cut straight, which surround the entlro corsage and are laced at tho back. Tho waist darts must bp made In tho lining and the gauze Is pleated over It. The gauze for the corsage Is in one piece, cut on the bias, and has only one seam, lliat of tho front, A dress form will be needed to arrange tho p eats. Tho cut out is framed with bands of illusion and a bertha set off with velvet ribbon and fringe; small bouffant sleeves

I must not forget to add that the corselet Is extremely modish for evening wear, and Is often made up In volvot quite distinct from the gown itself, and may be worn with bodices of gnu e, chiffon or crepe. These high corselets aro usually laced at the back. A very pretty way to trim such a corselet for a dancing dross is to have a ribbon sash first around the waist or hips, commencing at the back and then brought up and crossed above the bust, the ends being carried around again to the back and finishing between the shoulder blades and falling to the edge of the skirt. The woman who has hor ball dress in readiness Is about in the same position

WHITE PLUSH WRAP.

as. the little boy at the breakfast table who provided hiinselt with saltdn hopes that somebody might be prevailed upon to give him an egg. A ball dress calls for a hundred and one things to make it a complete costume—lace trimmed underskirts. silk ho-e of harmonious tcnc, silk or kid slippers also in harmony, gloves, flowers, fan, jewe s. and elegant wraps or mant'o for use after dancing or upon leaving the scene of enchantment w hen the last wa tz has expf ed with a sigh in the music gallery. Such a garment must be of ultra elegance and bear the stamp of unaffected refinement. The wrap which is pictured in my last illustration will, 1 think, call forth your praises. It is in white plush, and may be lined either with Nile-green or cornyellow satin morVeilleux. The sawtoothed edge of "this garment Is trimmed with deep ch‘ nlile fringe. The wrap itself is made up of the fronts composing the sleeves, and the (wo sides of the back running to a point toward the waist In order that the pelerine may fit snugly to the figure, you add an inside vest extending round to the ba k. This vest Is quite as long as the garment itself, and hooks in front It is garnitured In front with a border of white feathers forming a co lar and extending down a little below the first point. You can easily make sucb a ball wrap as this yourself and not lighten your purse materially. It will serve you for an occasional night at the opera. Fur may take the place of the feather trimming. Napoleon at 25 commanded the army of Italy. At 30 he was not only one of the most Illustrious Generals of too time but one of the great law-givers of the world. At <6 he saw Waterloo.

GERMAN RECIPROCITY.

ITS SHAM CHARACTER FULLY EXPOSED. Sheep ami the Tariff on Wool-Compara-tive Labor Cost of Producing Carpets In England anil the United States—Another Cut on Tin Elato—Tariff Shot, In Its True Light. So far as tho reciprocity policy of the present administration tends toward tho improvement of our foreign commorco, it may bo deserving of favor, and wore it not for othor reasons such favor would bo freely accorded to It, even by those not In sympathy with the present fiscal policy. Tho first of these reasons is that “reciprocity” is evidently intended to obstruct the progress of true‘tariff reform principles, and another, a natural sequence, is that there exists a manifest disposition on the part of Its supporters to exaggerate tho benefits likely to accrue from the several treaties effected. Tills is tho secret of tho enthusiasm of the high protoctlonists over what ts in reality some concession to low tariff principles, and is full justification of the critical attitude of tariff reformers. Tho latest treaty with Germany Is a good example of the truihof this. It has been hold up as a wonderful combination of business acumen and diplomatic sagacity on our part, and a tremendous strldo forward in opening up foreign markets to the farm products of this country. An imposing show lias boon made by placing side by siilo the old rates of duty in Germany on the products affected, and the new, and calling attention to tho “substantial confessions" secured to tills country. It must be admitted that on paper those look well, and had tho concession boon mado to tiie United Statos alono might even have been invested with some Importance. As it Is, the following shows that they affect a small part only of our exports to Germany; and, further, that one Important eompetltur with us for the German market in agricultural products lias been accorded like concessions and is In a natural position to take much fuller advantage of them than we aro.

During tho fiscal yoarondlng June 30, 1890, the last for which full details aro availabio, our total exports to Germany amounted In value to #84,315,315, a very considerable trado; but of this total tho articles upon which tho dutios have been revised furnished only #0,887,107. It mav or course bo argued that the latter total was small on account of tho duties; but, as will bo shown later on, these duties did not prevent heavy Importations from other European countries of slrnbar products. Nor when we consider how much the saving of duty on the above year’s Importations, at the revised rates, would have boon to Germany does there appear to bo much in tho argument, itself. Tho following table sliows the amount of duty actually paid, what It would have been on tho reduced scale, and tho amount tliut would have boon saved by Gorman importers: Duty Under old tariff, new tariff. Dltf oe. heat #I,OOO #2,100 *UOI Eye 181,1 U 120,772 64,Mil Pulse Nog Out* 16,34(1 10,154 0,1112 Maize 1,46 t,305 1,1112,008 29u,0.7 Hops IS! i h 47 Mutter 87,115 71,048 I\IM7 Oxen 20,827 25,85:1 4,474 Horses 285 142 148 Flour, eto 27,476 10,525 7,050 #1,798,550 #1,420,870 #877,074 In addition to the above, there Is a reduction of duty on imports of lumber and timber which wo cunuot exactly calculate; but, making an extravagant allowance for It, tho entire reduction In dutios on our exports to Germany tor the year 188IMK) would coino under half a million dollars. This result appears still more trivia! when contrasted with tho saving which the same concessions to Austro-Hungary will offoct on Imports from that country. Tho German Imports from Austria are returned at #105,250,000 yoarly, on which old duties amounted to #30,250,000. Under tho new treaty these duties are roducod to #27,500, 000, a saving of #8,750,000. YVliy Germany, bent upon effecting a commercial union with Austria, Italy, etc , should have been willing to extend consideration to the United States also, to secure He American trade 111 beet sugar, needs no explanation with tho above figures before us. The discrimination against Russia by the now treaties will without doubt havo the effect of changing tho souri os of Germany's grain supplies to some extent, but the assumption that any material benefit will accrue to us therefrom is not well supported. Tho following shows Germany’s imports of the four loading cereals in 1889, with .chief sources of supply, in thousands of bushels:

Total. Austria, llussla. U. 8. Wheat IS. ilia CM H.iMO m ltye 41,032 0)1 82,4 K) 18/ <>at« 17,150 025 10,875 4 Maine 14,421 1,(57 2,017 0,418 In only ono instance, maize, doe* the United States really figure as a competitor with European sources of supply, and it must bo apparent that Austria, and not this country, will derive tho benoflt of lower dutios on grain. The reduction in her ca«o will not bo offset by extra freights, which must still operate to our disadvantage in competing even with Russ'a. There is still a further consideration. Were we securing the Gorman market for such imports as have in ordinary years been drawn from Russ a, wo do not dispose of that competition in more Important markets, but, on the contrary, intensify it. if Russia is discriminated against, even to tho point of exclusion, by Germany, it simply means that her surplus supplies will find their way in still greater volume to other countries, Great Britain, for instance, and what we might gain on the one hand would certainly be more than lost on the other. Owing to the extraordinary state of things now prevailing throughout Europe, present or immediate experience is of no value In testing the soundness of the above analysis; but with a return to normal conditions it will be seen that the treaty of which so much has been made is a small matter indeed.—New York Commercial Bulletin.

Here and In England.

In his letters to the New York Times, Mr. Selevenhof, ex-Consul of the United States at Tunstall, England, writes as follows of the comparative cost of producing carpets hero and In England. Carpets are made at a lower cost here than even in England, at least In the lower grades, sijch as ingrain carpets, and as cheaply as there in the lower grades of brussels, etc. A comparison of the cost and manufacturing methods of two-ply ingrains shows the following: .—Philadelphia— Leeds , La- Ex- La- Exbor pense Total bor pense Total Belling cost.. Yam 38.75 28 75 Weaving 5.25 I 70n4 50 I Gen'l labor. .2.07 ] 8,76 { a2 ° General 00st. 24 I ~. 5.0 1 „ „ Belling cost.. 2.0 ( 4-4 J 2.5 ( 7-50 Total 7.92 1.4 51.07 8.23 7.05 44.61 In England much of this class of goods is still made on hand looms. The rates quoted above are from a power mill near Leeds. The band-loom weaver gets 10 cents a yard (5 pence). He obtains the yarn and roturns the finished carpet The labor cost is calculated at the same rate in the two methods of work. What the band weaver guts more (10 cent* against 8L 26 cents for the

power loom work) ia taken from the S< cents i harged in the above comparison! under "General expense,” which, of; course, is considerably higher In powerloom weaving than in hand-loom weav-t tug. The comparison between English andj American cost shows that the labor cost,, from the yarn ud, is somewnat higher! in England. The higher English cost ofl “general labor” on the yard price is ini this instance due to the fact that it isj distributed in America over a much! larger output. The same refers to thei general expense item. Tho higher cost! of yarn is due entirely to the higher cost of wool in consequence of the wool tariff. Without this tax we can easily export carpets, as can bo scon from the foregoing comparison, and from the selling of carp ts. This at the time barely covered the cost of production, and certainly would hardly do so now, under the McKinley blessings (so assiduously invoked by certain carp't manufacturers)* culminating in the re: ont forced sale# and prosent stagnation.

Another Cent on Tin Plate.

The Tin Plate Consumers’ Association! published on the 10th ult a circular in wli cli tho following assertions were made; “It is a matter of business, and not of politics, that up to the present moment not one sheet of ioko tins, which eon-i stltute over half our entire requirements. lias yet bzen pnt on the market! by the American manufacturers, and! that the present output of all kinds does not constitute 1 per cent of tho entlret consumption of tin plate in America.! Again, it Is a matter of business that tho small lots produced havo only been! obtainable at prices considerably abovei what tho same quality can be ImDorted at, even under the increased duty.”A meeting of the American manufacturers or which this circular speaks ia to be hold In St Louis this month, and| It Is reported that one of the subjects to be discussed is a proposition that Congress shall be asked to increase tho duty) on tin plate from 2 1-3 cents to 3 1-5! cents a pound. Our hlgh-tarlff neighbor,! the Tribune, published a dispatch fromj St. Louis containing the following: 1 “It has beoti rumorod that ono of thei leading questions to be discussed is thei advisability of having a bill Introduced) In tho present Congress providing for> the increase of 1 cent a pound in the! duty on tinned plate, and ono of tho reasons given for the postponement of thei meeting from December 0 to January was to await tho result of tho Speakership contest to decide what kind of* proposition they would submit to Con-j gross." lu our own dispatches of yesterday* we published the admission of Thomas 1 K. Niedriughaus, of St. Louis, that a. movement to obtain an additional duty of ono cent a pound hud “been talked! about,” and also the lollowing remarks! made by Chares Knight, who buys tin; plate for a p omlnent company engaged! in manufacturing tinware: “There Is not enough tariff at prusent to k«ep tiie outside product fiom being! laid down In Now York choupor than Iti can be mu lo here at a fair profit l say 1 this as a bujor, and 1 know what wot get. and wo do not get American tin! plate, not because we will not use it, bub because It Is not on the market. 1 think! if tiie mutter was thoroughly sifted you* would find the shoot Iron manufacturers at tho bottom of It "

Neither tiie prleos nor the grades of! American tin plate are quoted in the, leading Journal of the iron, and steel 1 trade, tho Iron Age, but In Hardware! certain grades of “American bright tin, plato” are mentioned, without prices, and tho prlcesof “American roofing tin” 1 aro published. The figures permit thei following comparison to bo made: IVllNll Cl, TK. American, IC. 14x20 #3.25' M. K. grade (Kug lsh), lU, 14x20 7.75 Dean grade (English), 10, 14x2 5.75' Abiiroarne grade (English), JO, 14x2u 5.50 If Mr. Cronomeyer, Mr Medrlnghaus,| and tiieir associates shall decide at the! coming meeting that they cannot got along without an additional duty of 11 cent a pound (which would amount to about #7,000,000 a year upon Importa- 1 lions equal to those of 1890), it wilt bei necessary for oar hlgh-tarlff contempo-, rarles to revise an onorinous qua itity of urgument and assertion to which they l have Invited tho attention of the Amer-I lean people In tho last year and a half, and neither Mr. Allison nor Mr. McKln-l ley will care to bo reminded of the promisos they male for themselves and fori the manufa Jurors during the tariff debates.—New York Times. 1

Tariff Shot.

Trusts keep up prices In the United j Ktatos by exporting their surplus at low' prices. This can be well shown by the operation of the “White Lead Trust n The June, 1801, number of the Hard-’ ware and Meta lie Review, published in Toronto, Canada, says of the practices of this trust: “Tho United States White Lead Trust has a price for the Canadian market that is as firmly hold down below tho cost of profitable production asi tho homo market pr.co of tho same •trust’ is firmly held above It. Unitedl States white lead is laid down here today in car-load lots in bond at #3.70 per hundred pounds. The Canadian Government justly requires' that tho duty of fi percent.be calculated 1 not on tho price quoted here, but uDon, prices quoted to tho United States trade, —that is, upon #(l.so—which makes thel total cost laid down here #4.o2>i per IOOt pounds ” Tho present price at which American! while lead Is sold at wholesale in Canada, with tho duty and all charges paid,, Is #5. 75 per 100 pounds, or In the United States, however, the white lead trust charges consumers #7.50' per 100 pounds, or Why shoti d try, by favoring a high tariff on white lead, give the whtte lead trust power to rob them at tho same time that It grants, favors to foreigners?

Sheep and the Tariff on Wool.

The number of sheep In the United States in 1809, as shown by the census of 1870, was 40,853,000. The census of 1890 shows that in 1889 there were only 44,330,000 sheep In the United States. According to the doctrinos of high protectionism, therefore, the tariff on wool hai increased the number of sheep in the United States BH' per cent, in twenty years, against an Increase In our population during the same period of 50 per cent. The effect of the tariff on the number of sheep kept in the leading States is shown In the following table; In thousands. . „ , 1869. 1889. 2. New Hampshire 466 193 3. Vermont 976 s#a 4. New York 4,350 1,548 5. Pennsylvania. 2,850 945 B. Virginia...... 457 444 7. North Carolina 325 415 a Georgia. 373 41s 9. Tennessee 366 fill 10. West Virginia.... 827 608 11. Kentucky 942 goe 12. Missouri. 1,579 1,198 13. Illinois 1 995 688 14. Indiana 2,160 1,278' 15- Ohio 6.250 3,943; 16. Michigan. s,S4O 2,240. 17. Wisconsin 1,670 SCO ia 10wa.... 2,0 a 47fr Totals 31,582 17,317! In the leading States the number of! sheep kept by thß farmers has fallen off| over 45 per cent. Does this show that a high tariff on; wool has been advantageous to tho ; farmers? • J