Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1892 — Page 5

STEEL RAIL TRUST.

IT KEEPS PRICES UP AND WAGES DOWN. Haw This Grasping Monopoly Molds Its Tariff Mortgages Ready for Foreclosure —Reciprocity Helps the Foreign Connimer. Not the American Farmer. A Gigantic Combine. 1 The combination which controls the production and fixes the price of steel rails is one of the strongest in the coun,try. Unlike other combines, it has not? ibeen formed by the merging of all the interests under a central authority by a trust agreement. Under the circume stances, such a proceeding would have been quite impossible, chiefly for the reason that steel rails are not the solproduct of any of the mills concerned. Then, too, the makers of steel rails are also very largely interested in the manufacture of other products, such us wire rods, armor and other plates, etc. The rolling of rails is but one of several lines of product. In short, each member of the combine has such a large number of Interests more or less closely bound up in that of rail production that any attempt to consolidate under a single management all these widespread interests is out of the question. The steel rail combine accomplishes all the ends for .which trusts have been formed in other industries: the suppression of competition and the control of production and prices. The combine, as at present constituted, is composed of the following concerns. Opposite each is given its annual capacity in net tons, as stated by James M. Swank, General Manager of the American Iron and Steel Association: Net tons. The Illinois Steel Co .*.. .1,035,000 Carnegie Bros. A Co 060,000 The Cambria Iron Co 225,00 > The Bethlehem Iron < o 2z5,000 The Lackawanna i oal and Iron Co 500,010 The Pennsylvania Steel Co . 50 J,OOO Total 3,145,10) It will be sufficient to go back to 1880 to trace the history of this combine. In that year there were eleven producing jsteel rails, as follows: The North Chi<cago, the South Chicago, and the Union and Joliet Iron Works in Illinois; the Edgar Thomson Steel Works, the Cambria Iron Co., the Pennsylvania Steel Co., the Lackawanna Coal and Iron Co., the Scranton Steel CqJ in Pennsylvania; the Troy Steel and Iron Co., in Ntw York; the Cleveland Rolling Mill Co., in Ohio; and the St. Louis Steel Co., in Missouri. During the five years following 1880, four other iron companies added steel rail mills to their plants —the Worcester Steel Works, Massachusetts; the Homestead Steel Works, Pennsylvania; the Southern Iron Co., Tennessee; the Springfield I Iron Co., Illinois; and the Colorado Cflal• and Iron Co. To these must be added the Duquesne Works, built in 1886-1888, and the Maryland Plant of the Pennsylvania Steel Co., recently This makes a total of seventeen separ - ate works which were in operation cr have been since 1880. Of the fifteen works in operation In 1886 and 1887 the following have ceased producing rails: The St. Louis S&jel Company, the Tjroy Steel and Ijon Company, the Cleveland Rolling Mills Company, the WorsesSer Steel Works and the Springfield Iro-1 Company, During the same period the other wotks have been consolidated as follows: The Illinois Steel Company absorbed the three Illinois works first mentioned; Carnegie Bros. & Company secured control by purchase of the Duquesne Steel Works and the Homestead Steel Works, and the Lackawanna Coal and Iron Company added to its original plant the Scranton Steel Works. This, consolidation of interests was completed early in 1891, with the result that the steel rail combine now controls ft.ll the works making rail# in the United States except the Colorado Coal and Irpn Company, whose annual capacity is' only 100,000 net tons. Several more Or less strong combinations have been formed since 1880 to control production and fix prices, but with varying success. Previous to the present combine, that of 1886 and 1887 was the most Successful of all. In the fall of 1885 an era of active railroad construction waff begun and continued throughout 1886 and 1887. As a result of the large demand for rails the combine was able to force the price up to the importing point in spite of the fact that the duty was then $lB per ton. The effect of these combinations on prices is sYown in the following tables giving ths yearly prices of steel rails at the mills in Pennsylvania and of Bessemer pig iron at Pittsburg since 1885: 4885. 1886. 1887. 1838. 1889. 1890. 1891. S S S S S « • Fig Iron. .J 7.61 18.96 21.37 17.88 48.00 18.85 15.95 Steel rai15.48.50 34.50 87.08 29.83 29.25 31.75 29.92 Dlff’encJfJu.B9 15,54 15.71 12.45 11.25 12 90 13.97 The extent to which the prices of steel rails have been manipulated by the combine is well shown in the above tables. If it be the object of trusts which suppress competition to secure the economies which are gained by unifying interests and lowering the cost ..of production, and to divide the advantages thus gained between producers and consumers, this division has not yet been made by the steel rail trust. ■On the contrary, the combine has not only appropriated all the benefits to itself but it has added to its profits by increasing prices above the level prevailing Under competition. Since the consolidation of interests early in 1891 not a ton of rails has been sold by the Eastern members of the oombine at less than S3O at the works, or by the Western member, the Illinois Steel Company, at 1-BSS than $31.50. These were the prices agreed upon at the meeting in Philadelphia a year ago. The investigations into the cost of producing the various products of iron and eteel by the Commissioner of Labor show the enorgpous profits of the combination. On page 168 of his report, the Commissioner says: “The department has been positively informed relative to the cost of making rails in several of the very largest establishments in the United States, and there is no shadow of a donbt in the mind of the writer that in thesis establishments the. actual cost of Standard rails is, and has been for some time, within a (ew cfents of $22 per ton at the works.* The facts on which Mr. Wright based this statement were collected by him in 1889 and 1890. Since then an important change has taken place. Not ojriy have the prices of jnaterials fallen considerably, but wagqs have been reduced from 10 to over 15 per cent, in the mills of all the members of the combinctiion. These reductions have had the effect of reducing materially the cost of producing rails. In fact, well-informed persons are of the opinion that the total cost of production of steel rails is now below S2O per ton. On this basis the combine is making a profit of not less than $lO per ton for every ton of rails sold at the combination price. . Under ordinary conditions this high rate of profit would cause new plants to be put in operation, but such outside works as now have the machinery needed are either under agreements*With the combine not to engage in producing rails, or realize that, if they should attempt it, the combine would at once cut prices and thus prevent them from competing. . The steel rati combine therefore is a * monopoly of the worst character. By keeping up the price of rails it prevents

the railroads from making needed repairs and extending their lines. Thia is clearly shown by the experience of the past year. And when, in spite ot the combine, an era of railroad building begins, the price of rails is at once raised to the importing point with the result that the cost of-such extension is greatly increased. The high prices ruling in 1886 and 1887 are a sufficient proof of this, and the competition'of foreign rails, even at the high prices now ruling here, is prevented by the duty of $13.44 per ton. In short, in its absolute control over production and price, tlfe steel rail combine has a mortgage on future railroad extension, with full power to foreclose it any time it sees fit.

Sugar Trust Profits.

The sugar trust has at last secured full control of the three large refineries, formerly independent, owned by Harrison, Frazier & Co., Claus Spreckles, and T. C. Knight <t Co., for which it paid enormous prices. It is now, therefore, in absolute control of the sugarreflning business of the country, and is prepared to make full use of the tariff protection of pne-half cent per pound afforded by the McKinley tariff. When it was proposed to put all kinds of sugar on the free list, so as to prevent the trust from manipulating the market, the high protectionists in Congress insisted on a duty of one-half cent per pound on refined sugar to protect the trust. All the sugar, therefore, which enters into consumption, must pass through the hands of the trust. As soon as the trust secured control o! the outside refineries, it at once advanced prices, in spite of the fact that the raw sugar was lower. Few people realize the enormous profit which it is now able to make from consumers. The sugar trust, previous to its recent increase of capital, was capitalized at $50,000,000, on which it has been paying 10 per cent, dividends and earning more. It has repeatedly been asserted by experts, and never disputed by any one, that these same refineries could be duplicated for $15,000,000; so thait the trust has really earned somewhere between 30 and 50 per cant, on its actual value. It is also said by experts that raw sugars can be refined for five-eighths of a cent per pound, some of the best equipped refineries being able to turn „ out their product profitably at one-half’ cent. In the difference between centrifugal and granulated all excess above this cost is refiners’ profit. To-day centrifugal sugar is selling at 3| cents and granulated /it 4f cents, a difference ot lj cents, or the highest margin ever forced by the trust. Now, taking the cost of refining at the highest figures claimed, f cents per pound, it requires only the simplest process of arithmetic to show that ths trust is making to-day not less than S of a cent per pound profit. As a matter of . fact it is probably making more. This means that, since a barrel of sugar averages 325 pounds in weight, the profit per barrel is about $2.03. But to show theenormous profits on capital actually Invested—Something overlooked—the following may be cited. One of the largest refineries of the trust is located in Brooklyn. It cost ndt over $4,000,000. Its capacity fs 8,000 barrels per day. Taking the profits indicated above, and assuming that the refinery is in operation 300 days a year, though it runs with greater continuity, Its dally profits are $16,240. This is $4,872,000 per* year; which, allowing $4,000,000 as the cost of the refirfery, is equal to a profit es over 121 per cent. For the sake of clearness these items are repeated: < o»t of refinery #4,06),000.03 Daily capacity (barrels) 8,000 Cost of centrifugal (raw) sugar Price granulated sugar 4 % Difference 1% Cost of refining.. % Profit, per pound . % Profit, per barrel 2.03 Profit, perSOO days 4,872.000.00 This shows why the trust was so anxious to have the duty on refined sugar left at half a cent per pound. Is it not about time that refined sugar be put on the free HsK so that the consumer may get the real benefit of the decreased taxation, instead of being forced to pay exorbitant profits to the trust?

“Reciprocity.”

Reciprocity is Republican free trade; and, like Republican “protection,” a “fake,” so far as it concerns the mass of voters whom it Is fondly expected to hoodwink. There is, however, this difference between Republican “protection” and Republican “free trade:” “Protection”' benefits only the hoinp manufacturer; reciprocity will benefit foreign consumers as well as home manufacturers. Both agree in they can hurt, but cannot help, our own consumers and producers (outside of a few manufacturers), and for these reasons: 1. By the reciprocity clause the President is authorized to frighten foreign governments until they lower their import duties and lighten the burden on consumers. This he has done and Is doifig. The foreign consumer, who is being untaxed by reciprocity, may be thankful to his Republican friends in this country. 2. The clause does not authorize the President to lower any duties on our Imports (the only way in which our tariff burdens can be lightened), but it does give him power to raise them and thus to increase the burden on our own consumers. This he has already done to scare foreigners who, imitating the United States, insist upon maintaining the same kind of “protection" that we have enjoyed for the last thirty years. Who shall be most scared at this threat? Foreigners, who are glad to sell in our markets, or our consumers, who are compelled to buy in them? If, McKinley says, the foreigner pays the tax. then our. consumers need have no fear, but the foreigner should tremble. If« the duties to be placed on sugar, coffee, tea and hides are not paid by the foreigner they will come out of the pockets of our consumers; in which case the latter should turn pale at the President's threat, for they are already attempting to carry unbearable burdens of this kind. 3. “Protection” has given manufacturers the monopoly of our markets. Reciprocity attempts to give them special advantages in foreign markets. This will be a boon to them, because, in order to prevent cheap goods (so detestable to many good Republicans), they have been maintaining trust prices at home. Now, if foreign Governments lower their duties so that foreigners can afford to buy of us, our manufacturers will be able to dispose of more of their surplus products at remunerative prices, and not be compelled, in order to prevent lowering home prices, to dump them on foreign markets at any price, as they often do now. 4. Reciprocity cannot help the farmer, for whose benefit it was ostensibly, interlopated in the McKinley tariff bill, for the very good reason that the great bulk of the staple agricultural products, oottoq, com, wheat, meats, etc., are sold in markets that cannot possibly be changed by any reciprocity treaty. In 1890 our total exports of agricultural proucte were about $600,000,000. Of, this amount, $380,000,000 went to Great Britain. This is the market that for years has determined the prices of our foreign products, and, so long as we must sell any considerable amount of our surplus in this market, it will continue to determine prices. For the lowest market In which products must be sold fixes prices In all other markets. Reciprocity treaties, which would make

our product* free In -all the market* ei the world, could not materially help the farmer; for two-thirds of his surplus products are now sold to free-trade nations, which have no “tariffs to swap.” Even Blaine will not pretend that his reciprocity scheme will find markets, outside of Great Britain, for all of our farm products. The farmer now sells in a free-trade market, hence reciprocity cannot raise his selling price. He must buy in protected markets, or, what is the same, if he buys in foreign markets he must pay two-thirds the cost price of his goods to get them lifted over the tariff wall between the market and his home. Reciprocity cannot lower this wall, and hence cannot lower the cost of his goods laid down at his door. So far as the farmer is concerned the benefits of reciprocity are not reciprocal, and there is no more hope for him in Section 3 than in any other section of the McKinley bill.

AS OTHERS SEE US.

The Ways of the American Juryman as Known in England. 'the strange custom in America of appointing men to office without aitiy regard to their previous career or occupation frequently leads to the most extraordinary Incidents, which to English readers unacquainted with transatlantic life would appear extravagant, even if they witnessed them on the stage of some theater devoted to opera bouffe. Thus, what can be more comical than the conduct of the Dakota judge, a veterinary surgeon by trade, who was asked by a citizen to be excused from serving as a jurvman on the plea that he had a sick horse. “Is it your sorrel mare?” inquired the Judge, his professional instinct getting for the moment the better of his judicial dignity. “Yes, your honor,” replied the marj. “The court will adjourn for one hour!” exclaimed the Judge* “I know something that will cure that sorrel mare inside of twenty minutes;” and thereupon the court linked arms with the juryman and, accompanied by the prosecuting attorney, the Sheriff and the prisoner, whom the Sheriff did not like to leave behind, sought the indisposed sorrel. Nor was it so very long ago, says the Pall Mall Gazette, that a big rawboned man at Julesburg, Col., declined to go on a jury because, as he expressed it, “he couldn’t bear to serve under no man that he could lick,” meaning the Judge. Now, the latter, when not dispensing justice from the bench, was dispensing drinks at the bar of the liquor saloon which he owned, and in his younger days he had acquired considerable fame as a bruiser. The dormant instincts of the latter ajvoke and arose to the surface on hearing the objection put forward by the refractory juryman. Laying aside the judicial ermine, the court got down from the bench into the body of the court, requested the spectators to foi m a ring, and, with the clerk as timekeeper and the prisoner as referee, fought the large man for fifteen minutes, thoroughly removing the latter’s hesitation to serving on that particular jury. As soon as Ills honor- had accomplished this he resumed his seat on the bench and went on with the trial.

Cleaning Laces.

From woolens to laces is a wide step, but while on the laundry subject a word upon the cleaning of the latter. Never rub laces. If mussed roll upon a bottle or round stick, dampen slightly; when quite dry unroll and tack the lace with large stitches in folds of about six inches. Be sure that the edges are even. .You will now have a sort of compress of lace. Drop this cold water, in which put a little borax or ammonia, or both. Soak until the dirt is out, changing water if needful. Never rub the lace, but it may be gently squeezed now and then, lengthwise. When it is quite clean place it just as it is in the sun to dry, after which lay it upon the palm of the left hand and slap it vigorously with the right several times. Now remove the stitches by cutting; do not pull them; refold the lace, but in different creases, and repeat the process, but pat rather than slap the folds this time. The result will be excellent; the lace soft and betraying no signs of its bath. It should never be ironed unless upon clothing where it cannot be removed. It is well, therefore, to use other than lace trimmings for cotton garments, unless one chooses torchon, a notable exception. If other lacq is chosen, however, it should not be much starched, if at all, and the iron should be used not along the length, but up and down. In this way the full effect of the width is kept, while by the other a wide edge appears narrower and the pattern distorted. After ironing the laundress should soften the lace by the gentle use of her thumb and forefinger, then gather it into little >plalts, pinching them slightly, and, after shaking it out lightly, the lace edge will wear its best aspect.

A Short Chapter on Shoes.

Evening shoes almost invariably match the gown, and are often made of the same material. For black and white gowns, black shoes are worn, with paste ornaments. * The newest ornament is in the form of a small diamond-shaped buckle, add has. a scarf of satin passed through it to give a touch of color. In pale-blue, it suggests an opal surrounded by brilliants. The fine gold network may be seen as toecap and heel of' many a shoe, sometimes over one color, such as blue or pink, while the rest is of plain black or white satin. These‘are the very smartest shoes. Some are of guipure, displaying the dainty stocking, and others are of Suede. Black patent leather shoes have often crimson bows, or two loops and a paste stud. Many of the cosy bed-room slippers are of paleblue of bright red leather, with plush linings. Boots are warmer wear for than shoes, and some of the newest aave the galosh as deep as the ordinary walking .shoe, so that they can be easier cleaned, with less friction to the kid above. Bayonets were invented at Bayonne in-1670. First used in England in 1693. At first these had wooden handles fitting into the gun, but in 1699 the socket bayonet was introduced. *Why are the Van Pelts in mourning?” “Their rich old uncle in San Francisco died.” “I know that; but he didn’t leave them a cent ” “That’s why they are in mourning.”

RECENT EVENTS ILLUSTRATED.

SURE SIGNS OF SPRING.

FACTS ABOUT TOPS KNOWN JO BOYS. Toptime Is as Welcome to the Youngsters as the Flowers That Bloom In the Spring —Peculiar Traits of Popular Toys. Tops and Tops. . Tops are signs of springtime. In every home where there is a boy there are from one to a dozen tops. Some have pegs and some have not, and some are badly battered and others in the collection .show signs of newness. I'here is a reason for every symptom observable in tops, and a boy can explain everything. All boys can spin tops. No one knows where or when or how they learned, or who taught thqm, but they know how just the same. There Is a popular impression to the effect that a boy is born knowing about it. He knows how to spin a top the same as a girl knows how to put her doll baby to sleep, or the same as a boy knows how to whistle. No one says anything about it, or thinks anything about it, when 10, one day he winds a top up and throws it, and it spins. He doesn’t even know how it happened, and if you are ambitious and inquire into it yourself, he will smile a quiet smile while he winds it up, and then he will throw it as a sort of

STRING AND-WHIP TOP.

an object lesson and tell you it is “easy enough.” It does seem to be easy enough, but if you are not a boy you can try till the erack ot doom and never once succeed. You may throw it with all your might, and away it will go, reeling and scurrying off into some snug, Inaccessible corner and bid you pursue it. The boy who spins a top well has a curious- little trick of wedging the end of his tongue between his teeth and holding his head a bit on the side while he winds the top. But this really has nothing to do with the success of spinning a top, because you may hold the end of your tongue between your teeth till you bite it off and it will not help you at all. The top business is booming just at present. The most popular top is a small one painted green and suggests the color of the glass and the leaves which will soon appear. This top only costs a penny and the string also penny. The string should have a wooden button ofi one end of it to facilitate matters. This little green top has a wooden knob on the

TWO HUMMING TOPS.

top of it. This knob, as an adjunct to the spinning powers of a top is a mooted question. Some boys take the knob out and fill the hole with lead. They claim it makes it spin better. The next boy you meet will deny this assertion and spin the top as well with the knob on as the other boy did with the lead filling. Another very popular top is the whip top. This one spins by being vigorously, persistently and skillfully lashed with a whip so full of lashes that it looks like a cat o’ nine tails. The whip top is. wholly unlike the usual string top. Its upper surface is flat and the peg is very blunt In some shops a stick and small leather string attached is presented to each customer who purchases a penny top, but as a usual thing the whip is home made. Whip tops make great inroads upon the household linen by the demand they create for lashes. A particularly fascinating top is the Chinese top. It spins wlti) a

string from a fork, and from time to time it disgorges other lesser tops and the entire family spin together. The gyroscope is the most wonderful top. It is a phenomenon and one of the few things which even science has failed to explain. It consists of two wheels at right angles with each

A CHINESE TOP.

other. As one wheel spins horizontally from a pivot in which it rests the other wheel spins in a perpendicular position. The humming-top sings a solo as it spins, and the music is as mysterious as the sound of the ocean which every boy and girl has heard in a sea shell. But the hole in the side of the top, which is sometimes of tin and sometimes of wood, has all to do with the music. A top which is often used for indoor games is hexagon in shape. Any boy will tell you that every opposite pair of figures sums up to make seven. Thus, if you observe 5 on one side of the top, you may know its opposite number is 2. The careful, thrifty boy has a pet top which he cherishes from one year to the next. This top is well trained. It will walk a tight rope or it will spin on his hand, and, under any and all circumstances, it may be relied on for good behavior, and always reflect credit upon the skill of the owner. The top is a standard toy. It is as necessary to a boy’s happiness as a knife, and the tulips and crocuses are

THE GYROSCOPE AND HEXAGON.

not more surely to be expected or are rfiore reliable harbingers of the approaching spring.

STATUE OF JOHN PLANKINTON.

Soon to Be Placed in the Rotunda of the Plankinton House. The Plankinton House at Milwaukee Is soon to receive a valuable memorial in the way of a bronze statue of the late John Plankinton. The figure is to be placed in the rotunda of the hotel, where it will stand as a true likeness of Mr. Plankinton to greet the guests of the house. The statue was ordered by the family of Mr. Plankinton and has been executed with truthfulness and

THE PLANKINTON STATUE.

strength; Herewith is an illustration made from a photograph, whifh shows the natural and easy pose. The likeness is said to be perfect. The statue is over six feet in height*

A TEXAN EXPERIENCE.

The Men Who Carry Revolvers—J (i Tenderfoot’s ’* Surprise. The ideas the stay-at-home Easter man obtains of the extreme borderland of Texas are gathered from various sources, says Richard Harding Davis, ip Harper’s Weekly. From others who, as will all travellers, make as much of what they have seen as is possible, this much being generally to show the differences which exist between the places they have visited and their own home. Of the similarities they say nothing. Or he hive read of the bandits and outlaws of the Garza revolution, and he has seen the Wild West show of the Hon. William F. Cody. The latter, no doubt, surprised and delighted him very much. A mild West show, which would be equally accurate, would surprise him even more; at least, if it was organized in the wildest part of Texas between Ban Antonio and Corpus Christi. When he leaves this first city and touches at the border of Mexico, at Laredo, and starts forth again across the prairie of cactus and chaparrol towards " Corpus," he feels assured that at last he is done with parlor cars and civilization; that he is about to see the picturesque and lawless side of the Texan existence, and that he has taken his life in his hands. He will be the more readily convinced of this when the young man with the broad shoulders and sun-browned face and wide sombrero in the seat in front raises the cur window, and begins shooting splinters out of the passing telegraph poles with the melancholy and listless air of one who is performing a casual divertisement. But he will be better informed when the Chicago drummer has rised hurriedly, with a pale face, and has reported what is going on to the conductor, and hears that dignitary say, complacently: “ Shoo 1 that’s only 1 Will ’ Scheeley practisin’! He’s a dop'ty sheriff." .He will learn in'lime that the only men on tfie borders of Texas who are allowed to wear revolvers are sheriffs, State agents in charge of prisoners, an" the Texas Rangers,' and that whenever he sees a man so armed he may us surely depend that he is one of these as he may know that in New York thpse in gray uniform, with leather bags over their shoulders, are letter-carriers. The revolver is the Texan officer's budge of office; it corresponds to the Now York policeman’s shield; aud he toys with it just as the Broadway policeman juggles his club. Itis quite as harmless us a toy, and almost as terrible as a weapon. This will grieve the ‘'tenderfoot" who goes through the West “heeled,” and ready to show that though he is from the effete East, he is able to take care of himself.

It was first brought home to mo as I was returning from the border, where I had been with the troops who were hunting for Garza, and was waiting at a little station on the prairie to take the train for Corpus Christi. 1 wus then told politely by a gentleman who seemed of authority that If I did not takeoff that pistol, I would bo fined 126, or put in jail for twenty days. I explained to him where 1 had been, and that my baggage was at “Corpus,” and that I had no other place to carry it. At which he apologized, and directed a deputy sheriff, who was also going to Corpus Christi, to see that 1 wus not arrested for currying u deadly weapon. This, I think, illustrates u condition of things in darkest Texas which may give a new point of view to the Eastern mind. It is possibly something of a revolution to find that instead of every man protecting himself, and the selection of the fittest depending on who is “quickest on the trigger,” ho has to have an officer of the law to protect him if he tries to be a law unto himself.

Canaries.

A correspondent of the London Spectator writes chattily of ilia pet canaries, and seems to show -that they are very human in • their reason and unreason. During some intensely hot weather, when the hen was sitting, she drooped, and it seemed as if she would not be able to hatch her eggs. The cock, however, showed himself an excellent nurse. After bathing in fresh, cold water, lie went every morning to the edge of the nest and allowed the hen to refresh herself by buryine her head in his breast. A green and yellow canary hung side by side, and were treated exactly alike. One day three dandelion blossoms were given to she green bird and two to the yellow one. The latter showed his anger at the proceeding by “Hying about his cage, singing in a shrill voice.” But when one of the three Howers was taken away, both birds seemed quietly to enjoy their feast.

Grease Spots in Carpets.

There are several ways to remove grease spots. Perhaps the easiest and most effectual would be to take up the carpet, lay the spot over a large tub and pour over the place a quantity of naphtha. After it has passed through take it up and pour it over the spot again and again, it will not in any way injure the carpet, and is quite certain to remove all of the grease. If howevei, there is any gummy feeling remaining, rub the spot with chloroform. L’se it freely or it will do no good. Indeed, both tlje naphtha and chloroform must be fairly poured on or very little good will be done. In using either the utmost cure must be used to keep the vapor away from the fire, as it is highly inflammable and makes a dangerous blaze in jin instant. —[New York Ledger.

To Dress Ordinary Hides.

To dress ordinary hides, such as coon, muskrat, and even sheep skins, ft is only necessary to stretch them on a board, with the hair or jyool side down, and then smear the upper surface with a paste made of equal parts of alum and salt dissolved in a weak solution of sulphuric acid and water, adding sufficient wheat bran to thicken the paste. The proportions should be about two ounces of alum, two of salt, and one drachm of the acid to each pint of water used 1 in Making the paste. Spread this paste over the flesh side of the skin and leave it in two or three days, then tforape off, and work the skin until it is soft As for dressing skins with the haiAremoved, it depends somewhat upon the use you are to make of the dressed bides, and their kind, whether thick or thiir. If you want the skins to cut up for strings, they would be dressed differently than if to be made into gloves or other similar articles. —[New York Sun.

One recommendation to buy white ostrich feather fans is they can be dyed when soiled. ,

A QUEER RELIGIOUS SECT.

Peculiar Belief* of the Latter House es IsraeL The Latter House of Israel is the name of a peculiar religious sect of which Michael Mills—Prince Michael —is head, with headquarters in Detroit, Mich., or, more properly speak-, Ing, at present in the Detroit JallJ The foundation of. the sect is due to Jas. J. Jezrael. an Englishman, who in 1837 compiled the Flying Roll, the Bible of Latter House of Israel. Some as the followers came to this country, settling in Elgin, Ontario, and there Michael Mills joined them, in time becoming their leader under the title Prince Michael. After a time Detroit was pointed out as the Mecca of the sect and thither they, migrated. The members of the Lattet House of Israel, like the early Jews, place the most of their ceremonial tn the purification of the body. They let their hair grow like the ancient patriarchs. Salvation is restricted to 144,000 elect, whose names are inscribed on the Flying Roll, and who comprises twelve tribes, ten of which are in this country and two in Ed- <

PRINCE MICHAEL.

gland. Prince Michael claims to have been freed of the ,uncleanliness of Adam, during which purification he says that balls of fire flew from his body. Each order given to his folis specially received from heaven. Property is In common among the sectaries, and Prince Michael himself is continually attended by nine angels women who are known only by the abstract names of joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, spirit, and temperance. The sect believes thata terrible calamity will soon overtake the unfaithful, that they shall be swept away, and that the world will become the home of the 144,000 elect. In cells adjoining that of Prince Michael are several “angels" who are held as witnesses against him. The evidence at the preliminary examination was of the most revolting character, and showed up the prince and his chief helper, Eliza Courts, in anything but an enviable light. Had the people of Detroit known the full extqnt of the practices in the "heaven,” popular justice would have bedn meted out to Prince Michael long ago.

CARRIED OFF BY A GIRL.

Mtai Nelson Takes First Prise In an Intercollegiate Oratorical Contest. The Intercollegiate Oratorical Association of Indiana held its annual contest at Indianapolis recently.

MISS E. G. NELSON.

testants, and she took the first prize. Her name Is E. Jean Nelson, and she discussed “Industrial Freedom.” She said the highest law in the world of spirits Is freedom; In the world of matter gravitation. The highest law of nature was the amelioration of the race. Freedom was the power behind every reform. Legislatures and judicial councils can not create it; it comesas a ruling principle into the life of man with the first budding of the intellect. Human nature forms the basis of society. Were all men true, honest and unselfish there would be no need*bf government. The spirit of individual liberty forces itself forward until the power of state bows before it. “The true freedom is of the mind,” said Miss Nelson. “He is the free man whom the truth makes free.”

Their Flrat Quarrel.

“We had been married nearly two years,” said a citizen in “before my wife and I quarreled. Then It was over the most trivial matter in the world, the upsetting of a salt-cellar.” “But isn’t there a superstition about that?” asked his friend. “That was what we quarreled about—the superstition, not the salt. She remarked as I tipped it over, quite by accident, that it foretold a quarrel. I dare say that I was a little nettled at my awkwardness, and retorted rather sharply that I supposed that she had too much good sense to believe In superstition. She said the superstition, as I called It, had been accepted by greater minds than hers, and called me to account for sneering at established beliefs. Well, we had it hot and heavy, hammer and tongs style, and I slammed out of the house without a kiss or a good-by word.” “But you made up again?” “Yes. When I came home that evening I saw she had been crying. 1 looked at htfr a moment and then, well, we kissed and made up after the most approved fashion. And now,” be continued reflectively, “I have come to believe in old superstitions myself. I have made a study of them and find that these old saws were the result—not of ignorance, but' of observation.” “To be taken, however,” laughed his friend, “cum grano salis.” Edison is said to be perfecting a telephonic device by which the roaring and blustering of the sun spots can be heard by people on the earth. Talking contests of’universal interest can then be arranged to see which has the greatest endurance, the sun nr the telephone girl.

There were entries from Franklin, Wabash, Hanover, Indiana University and DePauw. The r e presentative ..of De Pauw was the only lady among the con-