Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1892 — Page 3

HEARTS OF GOLD OR THE HEIRESS OF MAPLE LEAF FARM

CHAFTER V. DRIVEN FROM EDEN. An ex-convict! As if he had been dealt a sudden and 'terrible blow, as the vindictive Balph Prescott spoke those words, Paul Dalton staggered under a fearful shook. His face became the color of ashes, his eyes expressed the wretchedness and •despair of a man lost utterly, and, clutching at a ohair for support, he gasped, in ■a quivering, agonized tone: "It has come at last. The blow has fallen!” Parmer John stared at him With wondering, half-believing face. Ruth, with a little cry of terror, more at his bearing than at the accusation, seemed unable to rally from the shock it gave her. Only the revengeful, excited Prescott was alive to the real issue of the moment. “Do you see?” he cried in jeering, exultant tones. “He dare 3 pot deny it. Xet him dare say it ain’t 'time! I’ll ■prove what I say—l’ll prove it now and mere. ” “I neither affirm nor deny it. Let me pass.” The words were a sob. With dazed •eyes, his face a void of misery, Paul Dalton groped blindly for the door. Through it he passed. Upon him it •closed. The crafty Prescott himself was amazed. He had counted on triumph, but the victory had come too easy to him. The victim had submitted without a struggle. He had not even afforded ihim an opportunity to gloat over his •downfall. Farmer John had sunk to a chair, fairly overcome. He had housed not only a thief, a trifler with the affections of his only child, b.ut a man reeking with the prison-rot—branded as a wretch, with his hand against every man, and •every man’s hand against his own! Choking down her dread, her uncertainty, her anguish, Ruth managed to totter to her feet. “Father," she wailed, “I love him.” An awful frown darkened the brow of John Elliott. “Silence!” he ordered sternly. “Speak that man’s name in my presence again •and I disown you. Meet him, even address a single word to him, and I curse you.. And i trusted him—a thief, a convict." “It is false. Father! father!" oried Ruth, “can you think it true when you remember his goodness? His face is upt the face of a criminal, and his words -to me —oh! my heart is breaking, breaking.” “Why, he did not even deny it,” muttered Elliott.

“He dared not,” burst out Prescott. “Let him try it. I have a man at the village who knows him—was in the same cell with him. He was caged for forgery, and pleaded guilty to get a light sentence. Well rid of him, Mr. Elliott. Lucky to get him away without your throat cut or your house burned •over your head.” Buth was sobbing piteously. A realization that her tears were shed for the man he so hated nettled the spiteful Prescott like an ox-gcad. “And worse than all, he tried to steal her away from me. He ” “Enough of this, ordered Farmer -John, sternly. “It’s an experience I shall profit by. I’ve heard of such villains —robbing their benefactors, deluding silly girls. He’s not the man to leave us in peace, even after all the trouble he lias made. He’ll hang around and try to meet Buth again, and work on her sympathies, but there shall be no such risk. Buth, you know my iron will. There will be no further delay. Balph, your marrying her was settled long ago. ” “Father ” “Silence! My. blessing or my curse—a convict or an honest man—take your •choice. You marry Balph Prescott within a week, or you leave my roof forever.” He lifted the crushed girl to her feet, and led her from the room as he spoke. Her sobs died away in the distanoe. Grim-faced, the Boman father in mien and heart, he stood looking from the uncurtained window. The crafty Balph, gloating with triumph, approached him, but he waved him gloomily aside. Paul Dalton crossed the broad stream of lamplight cast across the gravel path a minute later. His head was bowed, his fa,ce colorless. • 'V . • ..■•■..* j‘J >' Never a word did he speak, never a backward glance did he take, until he had reached the stile. His face was one great void of despair as he halted, and,-turning slowly, looked across the fair field and the bright haven that was home to him no more. “It has come," he murmured, brokenly. “I might have known it. What right had I to love, what right to drag an innocent life to shame and sorrow? And I dared not deny—l dared not speak my promise, my oath! Well, it is only one more fetter to the heavy chain; but she —it was no crime to love her—but heaven forgive me for the grief I have brought to the woman whose love was the one bright star of a cheerless existence.” He turned to take the highway that bounded the Eden . of his dreams, but paused suddenly. From the hedge a woman’s form had fluttered. Her hands grasped his own spasmodically a minute later. “Buth!” She swayed where she stood, her eyes burning up into his own. “One word before you go,” she wailed, piteously. “Innocent or guilty—tell me quiok, tell me truthfully, or my heart will break!” , CHAPTER VI. v nisowuih. “I cannot, I dare not tell you!” The words seemed to sound doom, disaster to all Buth Elliott’s hopes—the despairing misery in Paul Dalton’s eyes crushed her. She had pleaded for an answer to that wild appeal, to know if he was innocent or guilty, for the sake of the love that was breaking her poor, anxious heart, and he had replied to her thus!

BYGENEVIEVE ULMER.

The clinging hands relaxed with a shudder. Terror in her eyes, she surveyed him in dubious dread. “Oh, iny love, ” she wailed brokenly, “you cannot mean that the cruel words Balph Prescott spoke are true!” He said you were ” “An ex-conviot!” cried Paul, the jaTing dissonance of tortured accents in his tones. “Did he not also say that he could prove it, and I”—he laughed harshly, bitterly—"l am powerless to refute him. ” Ruth’s eyes distended with shivering anxiety. “Then it is true?" she gasped. He grasped her hands suddenly. He looked down into her shrinking eyes with that earnest impressiveness that told that falsehood could never actuate it. “They said I was a thief,” he began. “ Oh, that I know is false! ” “They make another charge, Ruth. What I have feared has come. Better for your sake, better for the sake of those you love, better for myself, that we part here and now. Let the past engulf all this mystery, a mystery I dare not explain. Forget me, forget it all. Good-by.” “You are innocent. Oh! I see it in your face. I read it in your patient, suffering eyes. Leave you—forget you? Do you value a true woman’s love so lightly as that? Speak, Paul! I conjure you. Give me the one assurance my torn heart craves. Only say that you are innocent, and though they pile proof mountain-high, I will see your brave face shining, serene, defiant, above it all.” Paul Dalton’s pale, undecided features showed that he was suffering intensely. “Ruth," he said calmly, at last, “suppose this man Prescott, who hates me so, should prove that one Paul Dalton was imprisoned for forgery, filled a hideous convict’s cell; suppose the records evidence it, the testimony of others apparently verifies it, and I, unable to disprove it, unwilling to lift the veil of a mystery that would wreck lives I \hold precious, should deny it, simply deny it, and say to you, face to face, heart to heart, ‘it is a cruel lie,’ what would you say?" With a wild cry of joy, of perfect confidence, the fair young girl burled her face on his shoulder. “Only say that,” she breathed fervently, “only tell me that you are innocent!” “It is true—but there all explanation must cease. Even to you, the woman I love, I dare not explain a mystery that links my life to gloom and-doubt. My lips are sealed!” “But, surely ” “The veil will lift?—yes,” spoke Paul, bitterly. “When a heart of iron wills ,it —when he—no, I have said too much. To the censor of my fate, to the keeper of my destiny, I will make a last appeal for justice. If I fail—good-by! In a a month I will return, if the galling chains can be unlinked. ’’ “A month!” cried Ruth, shudderingly. “Do you know what that will mean—do you realize that my father, iron-willed, resolute, will by that time make me the the wife of the man whom you and I know to have caused all this trouble?” “He would not press the sacrifice—oh, surely, never!” panted Dalton, his eyes flashing indignantly. “He would not doom you, his darling child, to a loveless existence. It shall not be —I cannot lose you—l will not see you bound to wretchedness unutterable. Ruth, I will clear up this mystery—l will stand innocent before the world; but if I lose you There was the interruption of passing pedestrians, and they crossed the grove. Toward the distant town their feet strayed, he talking earnestly, she clinging to his words and suggestions, trembling, fearful, as she Realized that, once parted, once her father’s resolute will was carried out, their future happiness was doomed.

She sped home an hour later, a frightened, anxious look in her young face. She gained the house unobserved. “For his sake!” she murmured. “Heis innocent; he loves me. He has gone to clear his name—to remove the stain of shame and mystery. When they know, I must endure the blow. It was right—it was the only way; and I love him so —I love him so!” % Affairs seemed to come back to their usual routine within the course of the next few days. There was a settled cloud on Farmer John’s brow, but it was one of suspicion and watchfulness alone, and it became less dense as he seemed to be convinced at last that Paul Dalton had left the vioinity for good, and that Buth was getting over her foolish fancy for him. Balph Prescott did not worry Buth with either taunts or attentions. There was a new light in the girl’s eyes that he did not like—a definite consciousness of seourity, a mute defiance that made him restless. He was content to await the developments of the case, and they came quickly. Fanner John was obdurate, once an Idea got Into his stubborn head. He made a long call on Geoffrey Forsythe; he was thoughful, preoccupied all one day. At eventide, as Buth Prescott and himself were seated in the oozy dining-room, he said, abruptly: “Buth, come here.” She had been watching the first feathery snow flakes of the year, she had been thinking of him! Guiltily, tremblingly, she walked to her father’s side. “You have always been a good girl,” said Elliott, with a rude attempt at affection. “I am getting old —circumstances have hurried matters. I want to have things settled. I had a talk with your grandfather to-day. It is his wish, as well as mine, that we see you comfortably settled in life. ” Buth turned white about the lips, but was silent. “You know how we have planned and talked about it,” pursued Elliott gently. “Balph needs a wife to make him realize the responsibilities of .life. We have arranged for a quiet wedding—why, girl, don’t stand as if I was pronouncing sentenoe on you. Speak, can’t you!” cried Elliott, angry at the right of the pale face and downcast eyelids. Buth rallied with an effort. “You wish me to speak, father,” she said, in a strangely constrained voice, that somehow chilled the eager Prescott. “I want to see some return of affeotifcn and obedience for all my years of care and kindness,” replied her father in a nettled tone. “Not many girls can get a husband that pleases all hands around, and jump into a fortune from a fond, Indulgent grandfather. ” “I have always obeyed you, father,” replied Buth, “but in this—it can never be.” “How’s that?*

Fanner John's brow* grew? heavy and dark. “It can never be." "You won’t marry Ralph?" "I cannot.” "Cannot? Will not, you mean. Bee here, girl! If you have any lurking thought that I will ever consider that hypocrite jail-bird, Paul Dalton " “Stop!” Incisive as a clarion note the word sounded forth. “Stop!” repeated Ruth, drawing herself ereot like some affronted queen, “he Is no thief, no convict, and he la—my husband!" It was out at last! Ralph Prescott sank back crushed. Farmer John stared at the girl as if he adjudged her suddenly bereft of her senses. “Your husband!” he gasped, incredulously. “Yes, you drove him away—you and that wretch yonder. He told me it was all false, and I believed him. He has gone to seek the proofs of his innocence. The night he left I met him. We were hurriedly married at the next town. I knew that this would come. Not he, but I, placed this barrier against your cruel will, that would Otherwise have made of marriage a mockery, a crime, in linking my llfo to that of a man I loathe and despise!" She had never believed herself possessed of the oourage to tell It all; but, 10l the truth had been revealed dauntlesely. Farmer John regarded her in silenoe for a moment; then, a guttural, choking cry in his throat, he flashed out: “And this is true?" * “Yes; I am his wife.” The burly form trembled, the great knotted hands went up in the air in furious gesture, the lurid eyes glowed with the pent-up rage of an unmastered spirit. “Then go!" he almost yelled. “Go!" and he flung open the door with a crash. “You are no child of mine; you have chosen the jail-bird, the scoundrel; go find him. I pray heaven that my eyes shall never again rest on the child who has defied my authority, wrecked my life, and broken my heart. Girl, I curse you, I disown you out of my heart and out of my home. Go! You are no ohild of mine!" [to be CONTINUED.]

An Unpopular Trip.

Col. McCrory was once traveling on a railroad train as a plutocratic occupant of a Pullman. In this car were two people with whom he was acquainted. One was Miss Rachel Sherman, daughter of “Tecumseh," and the other Gen. M. C. Butler, now Senator from South Carolina. The Colonel, naturally, with his wellknown gallantry, djd all in his power to. relieve the tedium of the young lady’s journey, until certain acute cravings drove him *to the smokingroom, where he found his old friend, Senator Butler, too willing to join him with a cigar. During their conversation the Senator asked: “Colonel, who is that nice-appearing girl with whom you were talking when I first saw you?” "Why, that young lady,” said the Colonel, “is Miss Rachel Sherman.” “Any relation to the Senator?” asked Butler. “No; daughter of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, ” answered McCrory. “Well, I’ll be dinged,” said Butler, who had known of Sherman during the war in a way that was not always agreeable to him, “I’d like to meet her. Will you kindly introduce me?” “Certainly, with pleasure,” answered the Colonel, and he threw away his cigar and took the Senator into the car and introduced him to the young lady. They-began to chat on different subjects and were very much interested in each other’s observations. Finally Miss Sherman said: “Senator, I am much interested In the South and want to know more about it than I do. What is the general condition of affairs now and how are things getting along?” “Well,” said the Senator, with a comical side glance at McCrory, “we are doing very well now (with an accent on the ‘ now’), but some years ago, when your father went through the country, he created a good deal of dissatisfaction. ” —Minneapolis Journal.

Pathetic Farewell.

Jacques Jasmin, a barber and poet of France, began life In extreme poverty. That the pathetlo events of such a childhood must have suhk into his soul may be guessed from one incident which, in after years, he set down in his “Becollectlons.” His grandfather, when too old and infirm to solicit alms, quietly made arrangements to be carried to an almshouse in order that he might no longer burden the family. Jasmin says: I was then ten years old. I was playing in the square with my companions, girded With a wooden sword, and I was king; but suddenly a dreadful spectacle disturbed my royalty. I saw an old man In an arm-chair borne along by several fersons. The bearers approaohed, and recognized fny own grandfather. In my grief I saw only him. I ran up to him in tears, threw myself on his neck, and kissed him. He returned my embrace and wept. “O grandfather," said I, “where are you going? Why are you leaving our horqp?” “My child,” said he, “I am going to the almshouse, where all the Jasmins die.” He again embraced me, closed his eyes, and was carried away. We followed him for some time under the trees, and then I abandoned my play and returned home, full of sorrow. In five days the dear old man quietly breathed his last. His wallet was hung up on its usual nail in the home, but it was never used again. One of the bread-winners had departed, and the family was poorer than ever. On that Monday I knew and felt for the first time that we were very poor. Fortune came to me years after, but for some of those I loved she came too late.

Poisoned by Thimbles.

Say* a teacher of a sewing school: “Girls Whj sew for a living often suffer soreness in what is sometimes called the thimble finger, aDd serious inflammation and swelling is often the result. No sewing girl or woman should let herself be tempted by the low price of thimbles which are composed of lead or something equally injurious. Silver or plated thimbles are very much the best and safest, and when these are too expensive a good substitute can be found in a highly burnished steel thimble. For practical every-day use this latter kind is the most convenient, but pewter or lead should never be used, especially by people whose flesh is slow to heal after a scratch or cut. ”

Clams with Typhoid Fever.

A New Haven young lady is dying of typhoid fever, which her physician attributes to the eating of raw clams, in* fected, as he believes, with germs of the malady.

BRAZIL IS BENEFITED,

BUT THE AMERICAN FARMER IS NOT. the New York Tribune Forgets fti Own Country While lauding the Reciprocity llunco Game—Four Years of Education— Continuation of McKinley’s Account. Brasil and Reciprocity. The New York Tribune of April 28 says: “That Brazil has no reason to oomplain of the operation of the reciprocity treaty is shown by the official statistics of its trade with the United States. The convention went into effect on April 1, 1891. During the five months ending Sept. 1,1891, the exports from Brazil to the United States amounted to $39,703,752. This was 4 gain of $14,861,315 over the exports for the corresponding period of the previous year. In view of this enormous increaso In the Importation of coffee, sugar, hides and other Brazilian products, the advantages derived from the reciprocity convention are incontestable. When disgruntled politicians In ltio de Janeiro and Blaine-hatlng journalists in the United States assert that Brazil was oheated in that treaty they do not venture to face the statistics of international trade under reciprocity conditions. “This is not all. Brazil in negotiating the reciprocity treaty secured a free market for three of its staple products. A year after the convention went info effeot, duties were reimposed upon the coffee, sugar and hides of Venezuela, Colombia and Hayti. This Involves a discrimination of enormous value in favor of Brazil. In 1890 the importation of coffee from the three countries into the United States amounted to 70,096,700 pounds, or about 15 per cent, of the supply. With a duty of 3 cents this Involves a discrimination of $2,282,901 against those countries on coffee alone. Brazil is profiting so heavily from the reciprocity policy that no sane statesman in that country will seriously propose the abrogation of the treaty." This is unusually good loglo to be found in this paper, but it brings up the question as to whether the Tribune belongs to North or South America. The two parties to the reciprocity treaty of April 1, 1891, were Brazil and the United States. Brazil has undoubtedly the bulge on Venezuela, Colombia and Hayti and is to be congratulated on having thus obtained a free market for its coffee and hides, while its South American competitors, because it does not suit their convenience to bow to reciprocity, are deprived of such a market. But why should the Tribune extend congratulation? Is it oontrolled by some Cobden Club in Brazil? What about the other party to that treaty? The idea has been promulgated in the United States, where the present reciprocity boom originated, that reciprocity was not so much to benefit Brazil or some other foreign country as to provide good markets for our products—especially for farm products. Is it doing this?

Senator Vest, in his speech of Feb.i 25, 1892, shows that of the $1,169,592 increase, from April 1 to Sept. 1, 1891, In our exports to Brazil, $800,148 came: from steam engines, machinery, etc., whioh are admitted free of duty into Brazil, not only from the United States but from any part of the world. The total increase is, however, only normal for the last two or three years, and, as it is made up mainly of artloles already on the free list, is in no way due to reciprocity. As to farm products, Senator Vest shows that there has been a falling oft during this period in our exports of flour, bacon, lard, and naval stores to Brazil. The total decrease in our exports of farm products for the first nine months of this trealy was $525,455, according to Congressman Herbert. This same authority finds that the increase of the exports of other products, as compared with agricultural products to reciprocating countries, is over 5 to‘l against the farmer. This is what might have been expected. It was a “wild goose chase" to go hunting for markets for farmers in these highly agricultural countries, whose markets for agricultural products have always been comparatively Insignificant. Our total exports of foreign products to South America in 1891 amounted to $12,085,598; to the West Indies, $16,966,856; to Central America, $6,450,775; to Mexico, $4,085,819; to British Honduras, $240,817. Total to countries south of us, $35,506,226. Our exports of agricultural products to Great Britain in 1891 were $375,629,926; and to all of Europe, $580,154,914. It is overcrowded, manufacturing Western Europe that wants our farm products and not the backwoods, half-civiiized, South American countries. It is strange that this fact did not ocour to the early advocates of reciprocity, so that we would not now be wasting our time trying to play reciprocity with the wrong countries.

Another Important fact Is often lost Bight of, namely, that the only effect upon the farmer of this jug-handled reciprocity is to Increase his already unjustly heavy tax burden, by placing a duty of lg cents on sugar, 3 cents on coffee, 10 cents on tea, and 1J cents per pound on hides. The total of all these duties, if enforced, would amount to about $10,000,000. The Tribune finds that the duty of 3 cents on coffee would discriminate against Venezuela, Colombia and Hayti to the extent of $2,282,901. This means that so far as these countries are concerned, Biazil would have a monopoly of our coffee market and that her coffee growers could, as they undoubtedly would, charge the American consumer about 5 cents more for ooffee.

Beciprocity is only a bunco game that is being worked on the American farmer since the old one of “protection” has begun to lose its attractiveness. What next will the manufacturers try to hold their monopoly of our markets, when the farmer gets his eyes open to the real meaning of reciprocity?

Four; Yearn of Education.

Four years ago, when President Cleveland sent his message to Congress recommending a reduction of duties to a strict tariff for revenue basis as the best means of checking the then large and constantly growing surplus, and of relieving the burdensome taxes on the farmer and laborer, only the most vague ideas prevailed among the masses of the people in regard to the tariff. Not one voter in ten knew how the General Government got its revenues, and not one in fifty could distinguish between a “revenue" and a “protective” tariff. The ordinary newspaper printed but little on the subject of taxation, because most readers were unwilling to pay for such “dry” matter. The books on this subject were mainly by professors, who were largely theoietical and philosophical, and were read by but few except economic students. The discussions, begun in 1888, started thought on economic questions among thinking people. Discussions extended into all the large papers, to the lodge, to the school-house, and even to the church and home; the demand for economic literature grew; the people wanted to read and hear both sides; protectionists and tariff reformers were called upon to give facts; press bureaus were established to supply tariff matter weekly to country papers in all parte of the United States; speakers were sent out by both parties, not merely during campaigns to assist the fire works and brass bands in entertaining the voters,

but during the whole year at sohoolhousss, town halls and county fairs. What a wonderful change was wrought! Most Intelligent men now know that our governments supported mainly by duties on imports; they have gotten many ideas and have collected a few hard faots; nearly every farmers’ and every laborers’ organization contains men able and ready to debate the tariff question; and politicians have had to post themselves or moke room for those who have studied the needs of the people in this direction. It is safe to 6ay that the tariff discussion could not now bo stopped by any political trick or turned aside by any other issue. It has come to stay. The people demand a settlement, and one that shall be final, on this most vital of questions.

The Cordage Trust Again.

Since Nov. 2, 1891, the National Cordage Company, otherwise known as the Cordage Trust, has been paying John Good, the millionaire twine manufacturer, at the rate of $200,000 a year to keep his mills dosed down. Previous to that he had received $150,000 to keep his cordage mills idle. In connection with the ooutraot to shut down his mills the trust had an option for a purchase. Mr. Good, on the fourth day of April, returned the trust’s cheok, with the notice that if the trust did not avail itself of the option to purchase before April 26 he would resume business. The .National Cordage Company was organized under the laws of New Jersey in 1887. Its oapltal is $15,000,000. It contains a majority of the large eordage companies of the United States and nearly every one in Canada. Notwithstanding the express desire of the company to furnish cheap rope to the publio,

A BACK-BREAKING BURDEN-Puck.

the prloe of that artiole has advanoed from five and a quarter cents to nine cents per pound since an agreement was reached with John Good. Mr. Good, says: "My chief reason for terminating the contract is that I find a very large number of customers are anxious for me to resume operations on my own aocount, and as 1 am in a position to make a profit at prioes whloh would not pay the cost of production to the National Cordage Company. I oan make as much money as they wore paying me, if not more. ”

The works of John Good embrace tho big plant at Bavenswood, Long Island, where the rope output amounts to 10,000 pounds daily, and the works in Brooklyn,. where Mr. Good manufactures all kinds of machinery for making rope and twine. He employs 300 men. As left by the McKinley bill, the duties on cordage and twine are from 6 to 36 per cent. With Good’s patent machinery for twisting rope and twine, cordage is made more oheaply in the United States than anywhere else. In foot we exported over ,$1,000,000 worth of cordage last year to almost every country and island on the globe. The oordage trust is an old offender, and its depredations were well known to the makers of the MoKinley bill, and yet these duties were left on cordage that this trust might raise prices until It could afford to pay one manufacturer $200,000 a year to remain Idle. Of course the cost of keeping Good's and other mills Idle has come out of the pockets of consumers.

MoKinley’s Account Continued.

Our expert accountant, who is charged with crediting thp McKinley bill with all of the wage increases and defunct trusts reported each week, and of debiting It with all of the wage reductions and new trusts reported, as uoual has great trouble this week in balancing his accounts. This “trust-killing," wage-advancing tariff may be getting in its work straight enough, but for some reason—perhaps the modesty of the Republican press—the credit side of the account is not much mentioned, except In a theoretical and general way. From the long list of the debit ■ side we extract the follow lng:

April 24—To the report that nearly all of the big Iron companies in the South are forming a combination with a capital of about $50,000,000 and that the companies that are not joining the combine will be tributary to It ana sell their produots through the new organization. April 25—To a locomotive tire trust formed by the five manufacturers In this country—the Nashua Iron Company; the Standard and Steel Company of Lewiston, Pennsylvania; the Latrobe Steel Company of Latrobe, Pennsylvania; the Midvale Steel Company of Philadelphia; and the Chicago Tire and Steel Spring Works of Chicago. Prices have been advanced and stockholders are jubilant over the prospects. April 25—To the report that 600 men have been thrown out of work in thp Lehigh Valley coal region by the combine of the Reading with several othgr railroads. The price of coal to western consumers has been advanced, and the production of coal has been diminished so that the colliers are working only half time, and the miners for half-pay. Wages in railroad shops, and of train men have also been reduced. April 26—To report that the Sligo Rolling-Mills of Pittsburg is dosed down and 300 men are thrown out of work. April .27—To the report In a journal of the Knights of Labor that the rubber industry Is to be cornered. A company with a capital of $50,000,000 has been chartered In New Jersey, which is really a combine of all the existing ooncerns. They propose to manufacture, not only rubber goods, but litharge, whiting, buckles, and everything used- in the manufacture of rubber goods. April 27—To the report that the officers of the Reading Railroad propose to establish a uniform rate of wages of the three railroads now In this combine. The men understapd what such a “readjustment” means, and are preparing for a strike. April 30—To a report that the manufacturers of gas fixtures haVe formed a trust. While this Is denied by some of those said to be in it, yet it l§ certain

that prioes of gas fixtures have been materially advanoed of late. April 80—To report that the great safe manufacturing houses of Herring, Hall and Marvin have formed a trust, with a capital of $3,800,000, and that the combined earnings of the three In 1891 were $816,790.

A burden of annual taxation of $460,000,000 on a population of 65,000,000 is a little over $7 per capita, or $35.37 on every family; but the ultimate burden of a system of indirect taxation on imported commodities on the final eonsumer of such commodities is oertainly considerably greater. Beoent investigations in this matter, instituted in the English oolony of New Zealand, where the revenue of the state, received mainly from customs taxes on imports collected from a sparse population, afford unusual facilities for Investigation, lndioate that tho burden of such taxation is inoreased to the final consumers of the taxod artiole to the extent of at least 33 per cent, In the United States the increment is probably tauoh greater. The average burden of Federal taxation for tho next fiscal year will, therefore, oertainly be at leaßt S4O on overy family, and promises In the immediate future to be greater rather than less. To the man with au inoomo of S2O per day, or $6,000 per annum, this is not much, but the farmer who is raising and selling oorn for 15 oents a bushel, and to the operatives in the great leading meohanlcal industries of the country, whose annual inoomes average less than S4OO, It means privation.—From David A. Wells' “Taxes Are Extra Pays’ Work.” I want to say to you that every time you take protection off frpm any f&VQred

industry you place the man interested in that industry in tho ranks of those who are fighting against protection. I want to say to you that this is the way protection was built up. As one man got protection on his article, the man that had to oonsume his artiole saw that tho only way to balanoo himsolf and to even himself up with the other fellow was to have protection put on the product of his labor; and thus we went to logrolling, and put a tariff on different things, until we got them all into the ring.—Jerry Simpson.

A Smoker’s Delight.

N. 0. Barney, a retired Now York banker, has an interetlng Collection of pipes. One of them represents the trunk of an old tree, around which are grouped a party of sporting gentlemen with their guns and dogs, enjoying a hunter’s meal. One of the members of the party Is cleverly shown to be cutting with his Jackknife the name N. O. Barney on the trunk of the tree—to commemorate, no doubt, the occasion. Each figure is a correct likeness of an Individual member of the party. The owner’s name is also carved on each of the game-bags, and the delicate network around the game-bags Is true to nature. In this collection are also a few pipes that came from Alaska. They were made of walrus tusks by the Esquimaux. Another remarkable piece is a cigarholdcr on which is carved a Gordon setter, a favorite dog belonging to the owner. It is a perfect image of the dog, and from smoking the meershaum has acquired a brownish-red color, which is exactly the color of the dog.

Telephone on the Battle Field.

Particulars of the’behavior of the field telephone syßtem In the French autumn manuevers have now been published. Magneto telephones were used, as no delicate microphone or battery is required with them. The transmitter was held In the hand and the receiver was affixed to the “kepi.” Combined receivers and transmitters were also employed. A bare bimetallic wire 0.6 millimeters in diameter was unrolled from a drum and laid out of harm’s way on hedges, branches, walls, and in trenches. A line twenty-three kilometers long was thus laid, with the addition of ten posts, in five hours; speech was good, and the whole was taken up again in an hour. During a sham fight a cavalry division passed over a long line without interrupting the communication. A bayonet stuck in the ground made a good earth; so did the body of a cavalry horse if the wire was attached to the bridle.

The census returns Just published show that in 1889, with the exception of the 7,000 fishing craft, the business men of the country owned 25,540 steamers, sailing vessels and unrigged craft, whose gross tonnage was 7,633,676 and whose estimated commercial value was $215,000,000. During the year these vessels carried 172,110,423 tons of freight of all kinds. The total amount paid in wages on these vessels was $37,000,000. Steam vessels are rapidly displacing sailing craft; 6,067 of all these vessels are run by steam, and their value is three-fourths of the value of all the craft enumerated. The theosophists, who know no more about the matter than the dreamers who have fixed three or four dates for the end of the world during the next ten years, tell us that “the present age,” whatever that may be, will continue 427,000 years. British oculists have decided that electric light is not injurious to the eyesight Wixd puffs up empty bladders; opinion, fools.

Odd Bits of Life.

John Glendenniug, the actor, left Lambs’ Club yesterday afternoon about 5 o’clock, says the New York World. He crossed the street to speak to a friend,, and thence proceeded on the north side of Twentysixth street toward Broadway, where he picked up a disabled Sparrow. Holding the wounded bird in his hand, he saw that its leg was broken. In front of him, at 9 West Twentysixth street, he saw the sign of Dr. Chichester. He entered. The physician, a kind-hearted man, suggested chloroform. “I’d like to tame they bird,” remarked Mr. Glendenning, “but if it’s leg is broken I fear that settles it.” Still holding the injured sparrow, Mr. Glendenning and the Doctor walked into the Hoffmann House. Here were Col. Ingersoll, Maurice Barrymore, Nat Goodwin, Marshall P. Wilder, and several other people. They looked at the injured bird critically. The 'closer examination showed that its wing was fract? ured and that some third-story marksman had cruelly torn the bird with shot. It lay panting. “Follow the Doctor’s advice,” said Mr. Ingersoll, and tho party adjourned to Caswell & Hazard’s drug Store, at the corner of Twenty-fifth street and Broadway, whore Clerk McDowell brought out a big blue bottle of chloroform and a sponge with a circular aperttire, ThS head of the suffering sparrow was laid ther9jn, chloroform was poured on tho sponge,' and Glendenhing announced the results. “Feebler,” he said—“ Hardly at all”—“The heart has ceased to beat." Still holding the little corpse the octet left the' drug store. “Give us an obituary,” remarked Bai’rymorc; “Just a line, Colonel.”; Iqgersoll thought a mor meat and thon wrote: it’s little he'll reck If they'll let him sleep In tho grave where an aetqr haa laid him. “We can’t put him in an ash-bar-rel,” remarked Mr. Goodwin. “Why not tho churchyard of Trinity Chanel?” Inquired Mr. Glendenning. Each man looked at his neighbor and said nothing, but the unanimity of that look spoko louder than words. As they turned tho comer of Twentysixth street Glendonning and his Sexton, who shall be nameless, left the others a little behind, The colored man who attends tho ladies’ entrance to tho St. James, which overlooks the churchyard, seemed to have an idea that all was not right. Ho was approached and willingly loaned a little tiro shovel. The > “sexton” dug the grave, the sparrow was interred, the earth smoothed over him, atid lb ground worth thousands of dollars a foot tho little bird was laid at rest.

Dalzao's Pineapp es.

The Journal of the late Alfonse Karr, a famous gardener as well as a novelist, relates an amusing' episode id Balzac’s career. Talking with Karr once about gardening, Balzac suddenly romarked: “I have bought, as you know, a lit: tie estato at Villo d’Avray. I am convinced that the people need notlv ing so much as pineapples, and plenty of them. But in order that they may be able to eat them they ipustbe able to buy them at a franc apiece, and I am going to ralHo pineapples for the people on my estate at Villo d’Avray. ’’ “But you can’t raise them for a franc apiece, Balzac.” “Hal” he exclaimed. “Ican’ti Sir, nothing is impossible to genius. Don’t you think that if a man of the highest intelligence put his whole mind to the task of raising pineapples at a franc apiece, he could do it?” That very day Balzac took steps toward hiring a small shop in Paris. . “Well, what are you going to do with that?” Karr asked. . “I am going to sell my pineapple! to the people In It.” “But,” said Karr, “it takes three years to get your first pineapples after you begin to raise them; and what are you going to do with your shoj all those three years?” “Bah!” exclaimed Balzac, contemptuously. “Three years! Why, don’t you know, man, that nothing is impossible to genius? Don’t you suppose that If a man of the highest intelligence gave his mind to producing pineapples in one year he could do it?” '/ Balzuc departed, full of his project, but he had forgotten all about it in about three days. Forgetting its own impracticable schemes is fortunately one of the things that are not Impossible to genius.

Funny tittle Mice.

At a meeting of the Zoological Society, Mr. Sclater exhibited some curious black and white mice reeentlj added to the society’s collection oi living animals, says the Pall Mall Gar zette. These creatures are the product of Japanese ingenuity, and show several curious characteristics. Thelt black and white color is remarkable, since they appear to be merely a variety of the common domestic mouse. They have a habit, too, of pursuing their own tails. This habit is paralleled in a remarkable way by the “tumbler” pigeons. In the two cases it may possibly be due to a defect in brain structure. In any case, the peculiarities are handed down from parent to offspring in both animals. The mice are usually called “spinning mice.”

Brightest Spot In the World.

Persons intending to take a journey in search of sunshine without going beyond the British Islands must direct their steps to Jersey. It appears from the observations of the sunshine recorder for ten years that that little isle is the brightest spot within the limits of the fonr seas, Falmouth is the next and there are several stations on .the south coast almost equally well off. It is hardly necessary to name the place which Carries off the palm for sunlessness. In the city of London there was no registered sunshine at all in December, in January, 1885, or December, 1890. Seven years ago, therefore, London was without sunshine for two consecutive months.

Both Ingenious.

The man who lifted himself over a fence by his boot straps was rivals?, by an old German bachelor in who put a loop around his neck, threw the rope over a knob, put his foot in the loop in the other end, hoisted himself up and hanged himself. , ; ,