Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1892 — Page 5

"WE EAT MORE SUGAR.

REMOVAL Or THE DOTY LOWERS PRICES. A Re*»cthm 1b Price Causes an Increase la Sugar Consumption—Polling Off In the Pig Iron Production—High Tariff Methods. How ftee Sugar Works. Free sugar 4s continuing to teach the people the truth about the tariff. Messrs. Willett A Gray, of New York, the greatest authority in the country dn sugar statistics, have recently published their azuau«l statement showing the sugar consumption of the United States, and their figures show how the cheapness of sugar has increased the consumption of that article. Raw sugar became free on April 1, 1891, and during the remaining nifie months of the year the consumption of sugar was enormously increased. The total consumption for three years was as follows: Tons 3888 1,408,701 5090., 1,622,781 18ai„ ... 1,885,994 The of .1891 over the previous year was 363,263 tons, while the in-crease-of 1890 over 1889 was oniy 83,030 tons. . Expressed in percentages the matter stands thus: Last year we consumed 23.86 per cent, more sugar than in 1890, but in 189!) we consumed only 6.76 per cent, mor-j than in 1889. In 1890 we consumed 5»L56 pounds of sugar for each individual; year, with free sugar three-fourths of the year, each ■one of >us made away with 67.46 pounds. This increase of consumption was directly oaused by lover prices. On the very day that the duc-y was lowered 24 cents, granulated sugar fell 2 cents per pound, and prices have since been from 2 to 2J cents lower fit wholesale, and still more at retail. The people now plainly see that they h ive for years been paying a big tariff tax bn sugar. If they will study the following table of prices, remembering that sugar can be refined as cheaply here as anywhere, they may confirm their suspicions. The prices 'in London are taken from the quotations in the .first iitsue .of the London Economist for etch month. The prices in New York are from the American Grocer, and are enraged for each month:

PRICER GRANULATED BUGA*. (CXS PER LB.). 1889. Eng. .U. 8. Ditt. Duty. January... 9.63 7.0) 3.52 S.UC March....... .8.41 .7Ai 3.84 3.00 June..... 4.93 9.U0 4.13 3.00 September 3.65 8..9 4.47 3.00 November 3.85 6.92 4.07 3.00 December.. .2.85 6.81 3.98 3.00 1890. January........... 3.97 6.48 8.51 0.00 March ~...3.09 6.31 3.v2 3.00 June 3.09 6.50 3.41 8.00 5eptember.......3.53 6.62 3.09 8.00 November 3.2 J 6.21 2.92 8.00 December 3.22 6.04 2.82 8.00 1891. January 3.09 6.20 8.11 8.00 March ... 3 22 6.50 8.28 8100 June. 3.29 -416 .84 .50 September 3.29 4.35 1.06 . 50 Add about 4 cent per pound to the duty for the cost of importing sugar from England, and see how nearly the home price corresponds to the foreign price, with the duty added. From 1887 to 189 G, Inclusive, over $220,000,000 duty was oolleeted on sugar. Add to this the increased price on the sugar produced in this country (about one-eighth of all consumed here), and it is seen that the consumers of sugar have been paying $65,000,000 a year of tariff tax, besides the wholesalers’, jobbers’, and retailers’ profits on this amount, a total of between $5 and $6 per family tax on this one article. But this is not the only salutary lesson to be learned from the duty on sugar. This duty well illustrates the power granted by tariffs to home manufacturers to levy-still further tribute upon consumers. Previous to April, 1891, the average duty on raw sugar was about 1J cents. As our refiners get their raw sugar in the same markets as English refiners, and as the cost of refining is nowhere less than here, the price of sugar here, even under the -old tariff, ought not to have exceeded the foreign price by more than 2 cents per pound. The refiners, however, were protected by a duty of three cents and by cost of transportation from Europe about 4 cent per pound. As is well known, the leading refiners formed a trust in 1887 which prevented internal competition by closing up many of their refineries, by limiting the production of others, and by coming to “understandings” with .the most of those not in the trust. In this way, as Is shown by the abov-e table, they kept the price on an average of about 34 cents above the foreign price and obtained a clear profit of about 14 cent per pound or between $26,000,000 and $30,000,000 per year. That the profits were exorbitant was demonstrated by the Senate Committee, of New York., which investigated this trust in 1888. Now, with raw sugar free, the prices here and in England should agree. But the refiners are still protected by a duty of 4 cent and the cost of -transportation. Hence the priee is kept about 1 cent above the -price abroad, while it is estimated that the refineries in the trust made about $5,000,000 in 1891. But this profit is unsatisfactory to men accustomed to a far greater one, and on Jan. 13 the stockholders of the American Sugar Refining Company approved the recommendation of the directors to increase the -capital stock from $50,000,000 to $75,000,000. It is well understood that the $25,000,000 increase is for the purpose of buying up the independent plants. The President of the trust said, In an interview: “We want the $25,000,000 to enlarge our plants. Whether our system shall be increased by purchase or by construction remains to be seen. At ttie present time there are four large concerns outside of the .American company. They are the Revere of Boston, and the Spreckles, Harris: n, and Knight of Philadelphia. ” There is really, however, but little competition from any except the Spreckles company. The trust will feel more secure when it has no rival, and when it is able to buy up and close up new refineries. as it is supposed to have done with the one recently built in Baltimore. Some unknown persons are said to have gotten control of the stock of this company and to have mysteriously cloßed it. The remaining duty of 4 cent on refined sugar is yielding no revenue to the Government and serves no purpose except to enable the sugar trust to continue to exact large profits from the consumers of sugar.

High ariff Methods.

Ever since the war 1 ariffs were ehacted it has been characteristic of the high protected trusts and combinations to use all means possible and to report to the most unscrupulous methods to retain the advantages already secured, or to obtain still more favorable ones La the form of high taiiffs on competing foreign products. During the war, when the Government found it necessary to tax manufactured products to increase its revenues, these interests were able to have the tariff raised 1o offset such tax. Said Mr. Morrill, who had charge of the tax bills in the House during the war: “If we bleed manufacturers we must see that the proper tonic is administered in return,” i. e., give them power to bleed the people. This policy of bleeding the people was justified during the war by the necessities of the revenue. When, however, the war was over and the internal taxes were taken off, thus stopping “the bleeding of the manufacturers,” these very manufacturers were powerful enough to

secure? the retention of the war tariffs as they were, and in many oases to have them increased. In this way their power “to bleed” the people has been increased and perpetuated. Now that the people are awakening and are gathering their forces preparatory to a campaign to reduce the "bleeding" power given by high tariffs, these high tariff beneficiaries are perfecting their organization, known as the American Protective Tariff League, so as to be able to resist any reduction whatever in their tariff privileges. Knowing that the present administration is favorable to their cause, they do not hesitate to use the officers of the National Government to assist them in accomplishing their ends. The following extracts from a circular letter to new postmasters sent by Mr. Wilbur F. Wakeman, Secretary of the League, will show how unscrupulous are the methods resorted to. New York, Dec. 29. 1891. Dear Sir —Accept our congratulations upon your recent appointment. Situated as you are you can accomplish the best rewilts for the cause of protection of any one in your locality. It Is our plan to have at hand one official correspondent of the .league at every postoffice, and through him secure Information, obtain the distribution of our documents, and exert every legitimate Influence In favor of protection and reciprocity. It Is impossible for us to. bear all the expense of this work, tor this is a big country. Every intelligent voter should receive complete Information showing the benefits of protection. We wish to have you act as our confidential agent and correspondent to assist in this work. We expect that each correspondent will either personally, or with the aid of friends, furnish at least $5 before the next election for circulation of our literature' at his home. If you do not feel like personally contributing the amount suggested ask friends to help. They will do It If you accept we will outline a plan to secure the co-operation of others. Will you aid as our correspondent? It is imperative that every friend like you put his shoulder to the wheel and work .in season and out of season until the election of 1892. Yours verv truly, Wilbur F. Wakeman, See This is ©©thing but blackmail, pure and simple. Shall it be allowed to succeed?

McKinley Prices.

The Association of American Manufacturers of Cutlery asked permission of the Ways and Means Committee to propose a schedule on cutlery for the McKinley bilL Their request was granted, and the duties which they wanted were ■enacted into law. These duties, compared witlf those of the tariff of 1883, are as fallows; Pocket Tariff et cutlery. 1883. "Value 32 doz— j) 0. McKinley bill. 50cor less... 50 .^per'<£ “ 74 F ln «- 60c to 91 50.. 5J = 88 plus. $1.50 to S 3 ... 50 - 83 P lue " $3 50 f.^ e per o ct. = minus. How this trust or association, as they ipolitely call themselve#, has taken advantage of the new duties is shown by the following letter of a cutlery dealer: To the Editor of the Evenini Post: Sir—l notice in your issue of the Bth Inst, a letter from X and Y, relative to a state■ment which appeared in the Press that “no one has heard of any advance in prices of outlery in consequence of the McKinley bill” It is a woll-known fact that about the time this bill went Into effect the Association of American Manufacturers of Cutlery was holding frequent sessions in New York with the view of “regulating” prices, and as a result of their conferences I submit some figures giving the details of a few patterns of American knives as follows, the prices I paid for them prior to Oct. 8, 1890, and that which was fixed by the association at various times afterward: Price prior to Oct. 8. 90. Oct. 10, '9O. Oct. 18,90. Jan. 25,91. 81:6 i per d0z........ $1.75 $ !.00 $ 2.25 2 91 per doz 3.10 8.47 3.60 8.76 per doz 3.95 4.05 4.60 4.25 per doz 4.50 5.13 6.70 7.65 per doz. 8.43 9.00 10.0 J These are no special cases, but a similar advance took place over the whole line of several hundred patterns, and as the McKinley bill became operative Oct 6, 1890, it Is significant that within four days a marked increase in American goods was announced. When they reached the January prices I had but little interest in them, as I was convinced tbat the burden-bearing consumer would rebel and either make the old knife whittle a little longer, or go without, if asked to purchase at the retail prices which would pay the dealer a profit on the above costa - As an indication of the “we-are-cra-top” position which the Association of American Cutlery Makers assumed, I will add that I was solicited to purchase goods at the advanced prices, with the guarantee that, if within a reasonable time I could buy from any member of the association at loss price, I should be reimbursed any excess I ■had paid. Cutler. New York, Jan. 9.

The Steel Rail Trade.

In reviewing the steel rail trade for 1891 a prominent high-tariff trade journal says: “The past year has been a quiet period In the steel rail trade, but the year has been marked by at least one event of great importance, namely, the removal of the most formidable antagonist of the rail combination. As the result of longcontinued negotiations, which several times threatened to miscarry, the Scranton Steel Company was consolidated with the Lackawanna Coal and Iron Company last spring, and the actuating spirits of the Scranton Company were placed beyond power of opposing the combination fora period of ten years. It eost a nice snug sum to do this, but it was evidently considered as worth what it cost. “One year ago the rail trade was in a disorganized and demoralized condition. The combination was in a state bordering on collapse, and rails were selling at S2B per ton at Eastern mills, with a slow market. It took two or three months to dispose of the Scranton Steel Company and straighten matters out, and then all was plane sailing, with S3O as the fixed and unalterable price. Until within the past three months, irade has been very quiet, but the last quarter brought liberal purchases by the leading railroads, and the trade may now be regarded as in a very satisfactory condition, considering the low price of pig iron and the very fair price of rails.” When the duty on rails was reduced in 1890, from sl7 to $13.44 per ton, some of the manufacturers pretended to be alarmed at the prospect of English competition coming in to cut down the large profits they were making. A representative of Andrew Carnegie’s steel rail mill told a newspaper reporter that if the domestic rail makers were to hold distant ports of the home market, like Texas and the Pacific States, no reduction in the duty could be made. The protective duty of sl7 a ton, he claimed, was none too much. But the duty was cut down to $13.44, and what was the result? Was the rail trust hurt? On the contrary, it went on with its old game of putting up prices, just as if nothing had happened. This they could well do, as the duty is still out of all proportion to the actual difference between the cost of making rails here and in England.

A Failure of McKinleyism.

The American Manufacturer, a prominent protectionist trade paper, of Pittsburg, has been making an estimate of the amount of pig' iron produced in the United States in toe year 1891. It places toe production at 8,196,127 gross tons, against 9,202,703 gross tons in 1890. Here we have a falling off of 1,006,576 gross tons in toe first year of MoKlnleylsm. True, the McKinley law did not change toe duty on pig iron, but the consumption of lmn is everywhere ac-

cepted. as the best gauge of the prosperity of a country. All other great industries are dependent upon the iron industry; when they flourish they make a demand for iron, and the iron industry must also flourish. If the MoKinley law has brought to our Industries the prosperity which was promised by the McKinloyites, why does not the iron industry show the effeote of the prosperity? Why has not the great tin-plate industry come to the rescue of iron? Tin-plate is composed almost entirely of iron, and if McKinley’s tinplqte tax had built up the promised industry the consumption of iron would not have shown such a marked falling off. The falling off in the production of iron last year was entirely in the first six months of the year., When the idle furnaces began to go into blast again in May and June a well-known protection organ had the effrontery to point to this as one of the achievements of the McKinley law. But a wise man prefers to wait to see the end before he jubilates, lest it should turn out that there was really nothing to jubilate over. The end in this case is enough to cause a touch of dismay in the heart of the most stalwart McKinleyite. The average weekly capacity of the iron furnaces in blast last year was only 167,750 tons, against a like weekly capacity in 1890 of 176,784 tons. The same journal already referred to has an account of the failures last year in the iron trade, where it finds “sjjme interesting but gloomy facts.” It says: “In Pittsburg the pressure has been particularly powerful, and several large firms have been compelled to yield. One old and honored Iron firm liquidated its liabilities, aggregating about $1,000,000, and retired from business. Two companies, with liabilities aggregating about $2,500,000, wette forced to ask extensions, and two other companies went into the hands of receivers. A dozen other concerns engaged in various branches of the iron trade throughout the State, came to grief during 1891. There was one heavy failure in New England, half a dozen in toe West, and a few small ones in the South.” Whep is McKinleyism going to make the country prosperous?

Yield of Wheat.

Our Agricultural Department at Washington places the yield of wheat for 1891 at 611,730,000 bushels. The largest previous yield was 512,765,000 bushels in 1884, or 98,965,000 bushels less. The value Is placed at $513,472,711. The nearest approach to this was $497,030,142 in 1879, or $16,442,569 less. In 1887 the value was only $310,612,000, or $202,859,751 less than the value of last year’s crop. The amount of corn harvested is placed at 2,060,154,000 bushels. This was never exceeded excepting in 1889, when the total was 2,112,892,000 bushels, or 52,738,000 bushels more. But the value this year is placed at $836,439,228. The highest value of this crop ever before recorded was $783,867,175 in 1882, or $52,572,083 less than the value of last year’s crop. The yield of oats is stated at 738,394,000 bushels, and the value at $232,312,267. In 1889 the yield was 751,515,000 bushels, or 13,121,000 bushels more, but the value was only $171,781,008, or $60,531,259 less. The highest value of the oat crop in any year before the last was $200,699,790 in 1887, or $31,612,477 less than that of last year’s crop. Adding the highest values of these three crops for previous years, that of the com crop in 1882, the wheat crop in 1879 and the oats crop in 1887, we have a total of $1,481,597,107, against a total value of sl,582,224,206 for these three crops last year—a difference in favor of last year of more than $100,000,000. Comparing with any one previous year the difference, of course, would be much greater. In fact, the value of these three crops last year was greater than the total value of all cereal crops together in any previous year, the nearest approach to it having been $1,470,957,200, or $111,267,006 less. When we deduct the amount of the annual expenditures of the General Government from the value of the annual grain crop we find nearly a third of it gone.

Disappearance of Copper Coins.

The one-eent pieoes coined by the Government seem to vanish and no one knows where. During the year 1891 Government coined nearly one hundred millions of pennies, and the cost of them is about a tenth of a cent each, and the coinage of these pieces continues. A penny changes hands in trade ten times as often as a dime, and they are of so little value that little care is taken of them. The country onee coined 800,000 halfcente, and they have all disappeared. Of our larger old copper pennies, nearly the size of the silver half-dol-lar, 120,000,000 remain unaccounted for, and we rarely see one of them now. Three million of the four and a half million bronze two-cent pieces remain unaccounted for, and 2,000,000 of the nickel three-cent pieces are still outstanding, and we now rarely see one of them. From these facts the small copper and nickel coins seem to be nearly all profit to the Government, as a majority never come back to be redeemed. A large amount of the fractional currency issued during war time has never come back to the treasury for redemption.

Peculiar to Vassar.

Yassar is probably the only college that has a fund to be used in giving its students “good times.” For several years past a sum has been given the college by a New York gentleman to be used for such a purpose. It is known as the “free money,” and when parties of students start for a day at Lake Mohonk or some of the other beautiful places along the Hudson it is the “free money” that turns the wheels. The Chinese Government has not yet made a reply to of European governments anathe United States in relation to the persecution and killing of white men there. Sooner or later the Aryan may find it best for himself and the world to take possession of China, as has been done with India. It would be the easiest thing in the world to do this. The Aryan is in no mood to tolerate much nonsense from the Chinaman, and will not tolerate mflch more. Before resolving to buy nothing that you can possibly do without, but to save your money instead, just pause and consider the effect that such a resolution universally kept would have. Night brings out ttars as sorrow shows us truth.

WELL-DRESSED WOMEN

TO BE FOUND IN NEW YORK AS WELL AS PARIS. Gowns Gamltured and Set Off In the Most Simple Style—Very Handsome Ball Dress for Young Person—Elegant Dinner Costume. Etc. Fresh from New York.

may be the recognized center of the world of fashion, but it is no longer true, as Mrs. Trollope no e remarked, that it is necessary to go there ; to see the perfectly dressed woman. There is quite as muoh wealth and luxury, quite as much refinement of manners and physical B race ln the cap- “* ital of tho now f**- world, writes our * New York corres-

pondent, as in that gay and frivolous city, which constitutes the Mecca of those who pursue pleasure. Tho fashionable American lady is rarely willing to accept the latest French styles without considerable change and modification. This fact proves New York to be a genuine capital with modes and manners of its own. Now that the season is at its height, the woman of fashion is to be seen at her very best, and I can’t help noting that ball, dinner and reception dresses have steadily maintained their simplicity of make-up, relying upon the elegance of material to attain fine effects. In my initial illustration, for instance, you will possibly be struck by the simple style in which the gown is garnitured and set off, and yet the effect is altogether charming, for it would be difficult to find a more lovely gown than this very one —a pale-blue satin with a collar in pleated ’cream silk gauze, and ruches of the same on the sleeves and bottom,of skirt, the ceinture being of cream satin. Besides satins, Louis XV. brocades and the heavy Louis XVI. failles are extremely modish for evening wear. These elegant fabrics are often set off with fronts of white tulle embroidered with floss silk, or with multicolored pearls In Byzantine style. The overskirts worn with evening costumes are either of silk muslin in two colors, black or white tulle sparkling with spangles or stars, or of gauze dotted with metal butterflies. For young persons, crepons and silk muslins trimmed with lace and

BALL TOILET FOR YOUNG PERSON.

set off with satin ceintures In delicate tones are in great vogue. In one instance I saw an exquisite toilet for a young person, which, contrary to the usual dictum that flowers belong to the twenties, feathers to the thirties and lace to the forties, was beautifully trimmed with a light fluffy feather ruche encircling the bottom of toe gown and running up toe side to toe waist. You will see this ball toilet partially pictured in my second illustration. At the shoulder there was a bunch of the feather trimming which was in cream-white, while toe gown itself was in a delicious pale-green. The floral ornaments of gowns are usually geraniums, Persian lilac, heather, eglantine and hydrangea. When I hear the men railing against the elegance of our toilets I am reminded of the Abbe Gobelin’s protest against the beautiful gowns of Madame de Maintenon, who,however, was not yet toe famous woman she was destined to become, but plain Widow Scarron. Said the Abbe: “ You should dress more simply and in this way overcome your inordinate desire to please.” To which the lady replied that she was really dressed as plainly as a little country girl. “I couldn't make my costume any plainer; there is not a ribbon or a piece of lace that I could do without.” But the confessor refused to be convinced. “I don’t know what it all is,’’ said toe priest, “but when you come to confession

CREPE DE CHINE BALL DRESS.

I see a mass of material sink down in front of me, and it is altogether too graceful and becomes you too well.” To return to that fascinating subject, ball dresses and their concomitants, I shouldn’t fail to remind you that pearls have been all the rage this season. If you can afford the real gems, so much the better for you, but toe imitation are good enough for some of us. Anyway, you can’t very well use too many of them. They should be worked into toe berthas and twists of thin material which are applied to toe edges of corsages, and they may also be sown over the dress itself. A pearl necklace made up of three or four strands is very good in its way, but the modish thing is toe dog collar, and it brings out the beauty o' a fine skin in a most delightful manner. I don’t suppose I need warn the brunettes against the use of pearls. They are the exclusive privilege of the children of the North, With whose blue

eyes and golden hair they accord deliciously. My third illustration pictures another charming ball gown, made up in crepe de chine and gamitured with ribbons. There must be a foundation skirt of taffeta or silk of the same color out very bias and lined half way up with muslin or a thin woolen stuff. The crepe de chine is caught up on both sides, as shown, with small bouquets. The skirt is gathered at the waist, with most of the gathers thrown to the back. The puffed rucking of the bottom of the skirt is made of straight bands of the crepe de chine gathered on both sides and sewed on with reversed seam. The ribbons which spring from the ceinture are tied with bows, as indicated.- The corsage consists of an adjusted lining covered with the puffed material, the decollete being edged with a small ruche made of the head of the upper puffing. The gores are only made In the lining. The ceinture, composed of interlacing ribbons, doses invisibly on the right with hooks. The puffed sleeves are ornamented with ribbons. The right shoulder has a bow, the left a small bouquet. Lace continues to hold its place as a favorite garniture, and the modes of using it are many; the only restriction being, don’t get too little of it on the costume. It takes the shape of Louis XIII. collars, berthas, flounces, panels, jabot effects, torsades, and draperies. With a white gown you need a white nainsook or surah underskirt trimmed with Valenciennes. For full dress the

BALL COSTUME AND DINNER DRESS.

silk stocking in harmonious tone with the costume is rigorously insisted upon, the black stocking being üßod only with the street toilet. For evening dress the white glace glove, with fourteen or sixteen buttons, leaves a portion of the upper arm visible. Gloves which are worn under the sleeves havo this in their favor; they conceal absolutely all the defects of plumpness. In my fourth illustration you will find represented two charming toilets, the one i n the left a dinner dress and the one on the right a ball toilet. The dinner dress is made up in black tulle with pompadour figures over a silk foundation. There is a deml-train which is trimmed with a ruche gathered in tho middle and fastened at the top and bottom. The skirt is caught up in such a way as to produce a wavy effect. The corsage is polntod, lined with silk, laced at the back, cut square in front and partially covered with a velvet ilgaro ornamented with pink feather trimming; short velvet sleeves over those of tulle. The fronts of tho flguro are hooked to the corsage, and may either constitute part ol it or be put on separately. Tho ball costume is mode up in Persian lilac satin, a shade of pink mauve. The high, flaring collar is in silver embroidery, stiffened and fastened to the neck with reversed stitching. The tabller is in silk muslin, embroidered with silver, and is sewed on one side and hooked on the other. The tablier also forms tho plastron. It is lined with white silk, and the scollops at tho bottom are orna-

FOR DINNER PARTY.

mented with a silver fringe. The long train has a thickness of flannel or thin woolen stuff between the material and the silk foundation. Tho girdle is of silver filagree, and has two long pendant ends at the front. It has long been a mooted question whether a lady of fashion went to a grand dinner party to please the host or herself. Certainly thero is no particular pleasure In attending such an entertainment; rather Is it from start to finish a stiff, ceremonious and unsociable proceeding, interrupted by awkward pauses, long waits, and the arrival of thoroughly Indigestible food. Therefore, would it seem more logical to claim that tiie lady of fashion goes there to show her dinner dress, a gown which, barring the low neck and short sieves, often surpasses the ball toilet in magnificence. Even If you never have an opportunity to wear one of these elegant gowns known as dinner dresses, yet you will not be disinclined to examine the beautiful creation pictured in my last illustration. It is the genuine thing, rich, harmonious and intricate, and is made up as follows: A straight skirt, a corsage with paniers, both richly embroidered, and a train trimmed with swan’s-down, tho corsage also being trimmed with tho swan’s-down, which frames the Vshaped cut-out at the back after it leaves the front. The embroidery consists of an applique and gold stitching. The folds of the train are supported on the underskirt by a ribbon band. The train itself is made up of the back pieces, with the round sides turned toward them, they furnishing the requisite fullness. The Watteau fold springs from the middle of the back. The pointed corsage hooks in the middle, one side crossing over the other. The leg-o’-inutton sleeves are embroidered et the wrists and are tight from the elbow down and puffed at the shoulder, but not much raised. The band of swan’s-down which ornaments the side that crosses Is not sewed to it, otherwise the corsage could not be put on, but it Is fastened at the lower part of the waist. In putting on the dress pass the band of swan’s-down over the head. The population of America increases by 7,000 persons a day.

SOMEWHAT STRANGE.

ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS OF EVERY-DAY LIFE. Queer Episodes and Thrilling Adventures Which Show that Truth Is Stranger than Fiction. A gentleman in Trimble County, Ky., was un eye-witness to a most singular encouuter botween a buzzard and a huge rattlesnake, the particulars of which are ns follows: Me was in the act of driving his team up to a watering trough, formed from a natural spring at the foot of a huge rock on his place, when lie was attracted by the pooulinr shriek of a buzzard when ongaged in a contest with one of its kind or any other animal over carrion which it has discovered,uud on which this species of bird feeds wholly. On alighting from his wagon and drawing nearer to the spot, lie discovered one of these well-known birds of prey, which abound there in countless numbers, engaged in a fierce fight with a rattlesnake nearly five foet in length and measuring, as for ns he was able to judge, fully six and one-half inohos in circumference at tho thickest part. Tho gentleman describes the scene as a terribly fascinating one, and he was in such close proximity to it, though partially hidden from view behind a largo gum tree, that ho plainly saw every motion of the combatants. Tho carcass of a dead lamb lay near the scene of tho battle, and tiie buzzard had evideutlv been feeding upon it whon discovering his snakoship, winch had, no doubt, been basking in the sun on tho rock from which the above-men-tioned spring flowed. The buzzard, with • its large, piercing, and blood-red eyos almost dilating from their sockets, and wings half extended, as they always are when upon the ground, would wait for the snake to spring, and, eluding its stroke with wonderful dexterity, would dart at its antagonist and batter it with both wings and talons before it could roooil again, and retreating, would wait for another opportunity of attuck, keeping fur enough away from its foe to bo safely out of harm's way. Tho tight waged in this manner for fully five minutes, when the rattler,torn and lacerated by the beak and tallpns of the savage bird, gave up the ghost, and, catching it up with its cluws, tho buzzard, with a shriek of victory, flew away with its serpent victim in tho direction of tho Indiana shore.

Tiib power of simulating death possessed by the fakirs of India and Persia is suit! to bo perfectly incredible. Apparent death is a part of tho religious ceremony of some of the sects of those countries, and in many cases verified by British ofliciul reports in India, fakirs have allowed themselves to bo buried for as long a time us six months. The way the fukirs go to work to produce this condition is to have tho little ligature under the tongue cut, whereby they arc enabled to stretch this organ out to a grout length. Then they turu it back, inserting the end in tho threat, uud closing up ut the same time tho inner nasal apertures, The external apertures of tho nose and lurs are dosed with wax, and tho eyes covered to exclude the light. Long preliminary practice is, however, needed in holding the breath, mid u long course of fasting before burial. The fukir then sinks into a condition resembling (loath, uud tho body is wrapped in linon, placed in a box und buried. When the box is taken up, at the expiration of the long-continued duatli-liko sleep, and opened, the fukir is found cold und stiff, no pulsations can be felt, tho heart, the wrist, tho temples arc still. Tho body is not odd as n corpse would he, but is oolder than that of other living men, except over the seat of tho bruin. All the socrotions are fully stopped; the hair, nails and beard have, ceased growth. After being resuscitated, the fakir feels great dizziness, and for a few hours cannot stund up without support, but gradually he recovers strength, and enjoys amazingly the wonder lie has excited. It was recently stated that tho Mormons were finding a new country for tho practice of their creed in Mexico, and that the emigration from Utah was already large. 'The report now comes from Halt Lake City that Mr. 8. F. Spenoer, u local real estate dealer, has sold to a Mormon company the Hacienda de la Presu ranch, containing 100,000 acres of land und situated in Chihuahua, about nliioty-fivo miles southwest of the city of that name. The cupitul of tbe.ooinpiiny is said to bo 1d,000,000. Somo 3,500 uoros of the lund are under cultivation, uud tho timber tract is oxtcnsivc. Sawmill and factory moohinery i#to bo transported there in tho spring, when it is understood that there will bo a liegiru from the old Zion to the now. The lands uro described as bMng situated in the foothills of the Sierra Mudro Mountains, at an elevation of 5,000 feet above sea level. The elevation of the region and the presence of timbered hills givos u climate free from the extremes of heat and cold, and the region is noted for its liealthfuluess. Such fruits and vegetables as are raised in Utah und the Middle Statos can bo produced by irrigation, while corn and other usual crops of tho country aro raised without irrigation.

The great fifty-ton linmmer in the Krupp Gun Works at Essen, Germany, gained its name and tho inscription it bears, ‘‘Fritz, lot tty!” iu the following manner: In 1877, whon old Emperor William visited the gun works this great steam ‘trip-hammer was tiie first thing to attract his attraction. Krupp then introduced the veteran Emperor to tho machinist Fritz, who, ho suid, huudled tho giant hammer with wonderful precision; that ho was so expert with it as to drop tho hammer without injuring an object placod in the centre of tho block. Tho Emperor at once put his diamond-studded watch on the spot indicated and beckoned to tho machinist to set tiie hammer in motion. Fritz hesitated out of consideration for tho precious object, but Krupp and the Emperor botli urged him on ny saying: “Fritz, lot fly!" Instantly tho hammer was dropped, coming so closely to the watch that a sheet of writing paper could not bo insertod between, but the jewel wus uuinjurod. The Emperor gave it to Fritz os a souvenir. Krupp added $250 to tho present. William Leary, owner of the Gem Theatre, Suspension Bridge,N. Y.,has entered into a wager by which ho stands to lose his theatre, or win $2,000. Leary wagers that he can organize a "tramps variety show” consisting of five men and five women who will walk from New York to Chicugo in 100 days (Sundays excepted), und give shows on the way. Tho company must start from Now York on Junel, 1892, without a cent of money in their pockets, and they are to use no money except what is earned by the show. They will also have the privilege of showing one night iu New York city. In case any of tho actors get sick, a stretcher will be provided ana the rest will have to cogry him or her, as the case may be, The wager grew out of a discussion on the going to pieces erf shows on the road \nd their being left In towns. One of

the parties wagering against Mr. Leary is Mr. Whnlon, proprietor of tho White Elephant Hotel, or Suspension Bridge* A forfiet has been posted and the balance is to be deposited by Mardh 1. Mrs. Edward D. Jones, wife of a former well-known business man of Pittsburg, who died recently near Baltimore, was quite a character, though a very retired and refined lady. She had a mortal fear of railroads and of the ocean, and never would accompany her husband on any of his pleasure or business trips, only taking two lengthy railroad journeys in her life. One was shortly after her marringo, when she was badly hurt in on accident. It was ten years before Mr. Jones could persuade her to take another, and her fears were fully vindicut.-d by a gouerul smash-up, in whi.'h, fortunately, though her head was caught between a seat und the side of n car, she was not hurt. That settled the cars for her. Mr. Jones has been a prominent insurance man in London for years, but Mrs. Jones has always stoutly refused to visit his present abode. When Mr. Jones wanted a chat with Mrs. Jones, ho just took tho first boat anil u little trip of 3,000 miles. “I skk a report of the peculiar conduct of u child after being bitten by a cat," said l)r. J. W. Thudheld at the Laclede Hotel, in St. Louis. "The ohild is said to movo stealthily about the house, to mew and to do other tilings like a common Tabby. For my part I believe the statement is purely imaginative. It comes from the idea that one affeoted with hydrophobia imitates a dog. That is n common delusion with ns little foundation ns other delusions. It is true that u person sometimes seems to bark, but wliut is called a bark is due to an intense pain of the throat and the difficulty of speaking. Tho same oausc produces the disliko of nil kinds of liquid —a disliko which the public in genoinl imagine is confined to water. This is tho true theory about hydrophobia upon which so much ignoruuco ut present prevails.'' Parisian burglurs have just covered themselves with glory, from n professional standpoint, uud accomplished what it is safe to say is tho greatest achievement over reached in their line. They sueceeded in steuling an entiro house with all its contents. A. M. Collin, a building contractor, mooted on a lot of ground near Bluo Jassiut, a two-story woodon liouso covered with zinc, in which lie placed a considerable quantity of valuable building materials, tools, etc; One night a gang drove up with horses and wagons, stopped before the building, took it entirely to pieces and oarrlod off tho whole establishment without being interfered with. Tiikuk is a bearskin on exhibition in HuUsou’s gun store that tukos the cake, says tiie Portland Orogouinn. It is nine and ono-hulf foot in length and eight and one-half feet across in the widost pliioe. Tho boar that wore this skin was a grizzly, and lie lived in far-off Alaska. Judging from tho size of the skin ho must have been ns large as two ordinary cows, and could not have weighed less that 2,500 pounds. It is by far tho largest benrs'in that has ever been soon in Portland, and oven old bear hunters who uro told of its dimensions sbako tlioir heads in an incredulous manner until they boo it with their own eyos.

There recently diod in England the man to whom tiie English language is indebted for tho verb "to burko.” In the your 1827 this man, whoso name was Burko, discovered a way to make a lazy anil congenial livelihood by killing people and selling their bodies to physicians for dissection. The pruotice was kept up until stopped by the hand of law. Thereupon the word ‘‘burking” cumo into use to denote killing for mercenary motives and, metaphorically, all political assaults upon ohuraoter. Tho word has hud sufficient life to get into the dictionaries, and Burke will be liandod down to an unlovely but eternal fafno. A tiNiqK murriago ceremony has just been performed lu Baltimore. Tho service was tho Episcopal. The grooin was a deaf mute, but tiie bride was able to talk. The officiating clergyman was deaf. Tho groom's answers woro spelt out in the deaf mute alphabet. He is a painter uud lias done vory creditable work. The minister, by tho way, was the Bov. J. M. Koehler, of Philadelphia, who presides over a church of deaf mutes in that city, though his pastorate extends over Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. Though deaf, he speaks well. Mrs. Garcia, of New Yo k, the other duy, suw a man dash out of the hallway of her house, Sho ran out after him and suw him running up the street. In the uroa was a big Newfoundland dog, the property of u neighbor- "Catch him Charlie,’’ sho cried, and Charlie was after him like a shot, and presently hud him by tho coat-tail, and there he staid until a police officer onmc along, when Charlie released iiis hold und quietly accompanied the prisoner to the station house. When ho saw tiie man properly locked up he returned home. In Berlin there appears to be little reverence for the dead. The old cholera churchyard of 1831, which afterward became a cemotary for the poor, has long boon neglected, though there have been funerals there during the last ten years. The place is now to be changed. In the lower part of the churchyard, where a new church is to be built, the graves have been opened, and the skeletons and remains of coffins taken out, to be buried in a general grave higher up. where it is intondod to make a public garden. The German Kaiser is said to be extravagantly fond of white, especially of white trousers. The lute Governor Hover, of Indiana, had a similar liking for white —a liking that extended even to the use of white rose extract as his favorite perfume. His linen was always iramuccuiate in its glossiness, and he used to buy his white neckties in lots of twen-ty-fivo, so that the instant one became soiled he could replace it with a fresh one Proebssor Notiixagkl, "the Austrian court physician, traces tho grip back to the ninth century, and says it recurs with varying intensity for. three or four years and then dies out for twenty or more years. He knows no remedy. , *" *" g||g|§||g!§ In an address delivered at the Chicago Auditorium under the auspices of the Chicago Press Club, Dr. Leslie E. Kneley, discoverer of the remedy for the alcohol habit, made clear why he so steadfastly refused to give up the secret of cure to the publio. In explaining why he did not make his secret public property, be said he was afraid that it would soon be a sobering-up process instead of a cure; that it would be used by liquor dealers themselves to brace their patrons up after a protracted spree, onlv to get into condition for another debauch. Under suoh circumstances, the doctor said, to give lyi cure to the public would be to destroy its efficacy.