Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1892 — Page 5

PECK PUNCTURED.

HIB BOOMERANG REPORT ON WAGES. “Preconceived Theories.” Grave Mlseon-’ •options, Childish Credulity, Fallaolous Reasoning and IBoflesl Conclusions— Protected Manufacturers’ Statistics Used to Prove' What Democrats Neither AftLrm nor Deny. Absurdities ol Peck’s Report. What is this report of Labor Commissioner Charles F. Peck of New York which President Harrison Is quoting, and about which the Bepublicans are making as much fuss as if it were the only really valuable piece of campaign material that they have gotten hold of this year? 1. What did Mr. Peck attempt to show? 2. What did he think ■would show this? 3. How did he obtain the required information? 4. What figures or facts did he obtain? 5. What do and do not these figures prove? 1. Mr. Peek attempted to show “the effect of the tariff on labor and wages, in order that voters might know whether a “protective tariff" or a “tariff for revenue only” is to be preferred. 2. He evidently assumed and thought that increased production and earnings would show that the effects of the high protective tariff act of 1890 was beneficial to labor. This was a vioigct assumption op the part of Jfoolr, fthd is not creditable to him as a statistician, a logician or a Democrat. There might be a dozen different causes for either high or low production or earnings, the most important of which might h&ve no connection directly or indirectly with IgT'ffs. bountiful rains and favorable wealhef in 1891 produced good crops here when there was a scarcity g,broad. This caused, unusual returns for ciir crops an I a boom in business in no way due to any tariff act. The low price of cotton made cotton mills prosperous, and made more hours, days, and nights ’ work for spinners, weavers, etc. Such causes as these may, and probably do, account for most of the increased production and earnings—which are by no means tynonomous with increased wages and may mean more work for more pay, the rate of wages being the same or even lower, but Mr. Peek sees nothing except the tariff in all this. He had a “preconceived theory” which makes the tariff responsible for prosperity or depression in business; and though ho pretends (o be a Democrat, yet it is evident that he is neither a Democrat nor does he understand Democratic doctrine on the tariff question. Democrats do not claim (as his report assumes) that “protection” will entirely prevent increased production and earnings or that it will raise or lower nominal wages. They simply claim that it has little or nothing to do with high or low wages, but that it does have much to do with the amount of goods that can be purchased with wages. But on this most important phase of the subject Mr. Peck is silent—except that he mentions the omission in a manner that-would Indicate that it is comparatively unimportant. That his “preconceived theories” were in favor of “protection” is obvious from his statement in the New York Tribune of Sept. 3, in which he says: “I see that protection is a goed thing for the manufacturers, and I know also that the manufacturers would not pay higher prices for their labor if it were not for the unions. By means of protection labor is able to enlorce the demands that it makes upon the manufacturers. ” Of course there is but little connection—except in the minds of Mr. Peck and other protectionists—between a duty on manufactured goods and wages. This report that has “knocked the Chicago platform silly” and “raised tho hopes of the Republicans 10 per cent.” is then but the halffledged and illogical conception of a protectionist. In the name of Democracy it seeks to prove or disprove the Republican claim that prosperity is impossible without “protection,” whereas Democrats do not deny that in a country like this—the biggest free trade country in the world when territory is considered ■ —considerable prosperity may accompany even McKinley protection. 3. Notice, now, how Mr. Peck went to work to obtain the data which was to settle this tariff discussion. “Some 8,000 blanks,” he says, “were addressed and mailed to as many separate establishments throughout the State.” A circular letter informed the manufacturers that “the information received would be used only in a general way, so that the business of any individual firms would not be recognized. ” Thus guaranteed against detection, 6.000 of these protected manufacturers and zealous Republicans did, their duty to their country and themselves by fixing the figures which should leave no doubt as to the effects of McKinleyism, and sent them to Mr. Peck, the gentleman who possesses a medal for his ability to display figures, and who deserves one for nis methods of collecting them. But what of the 2,000 who did not reply to Peck’s circular, “How do you do, beneficiaries of McKinley?” Why did they not reply? Could they not make figures expressive of their gratitude to McKinley, or did they not have faith in Peck, and believe that he would keep his'promise to shield them from exposure by withholding all names from the public? It would b,e interesting to learn why they did not reply, and what their replies would have been. But perhaps they would havo spoiled the report lor Republican purposes, in which case this campaign would have been tame and uninteresting. Credulous Mr. Peck! He has the same implicit confidence in the unverified figures of these interested manufacturers that the American Economist had when it obtained, by the same methods, its list of twenty-eight McKinley wage advances. But unfortnnately for it, the Economist gave names and locations so that an investigation wa3 possible. The Reform Club ct once got the facts in each case and proved that there had been far more wage reductions in those mills than advances, and that instead of supplying reliable information the manufacturers Economist to a collection of faiseuOo<&. | Senator Aldrich is another oVer-cred-filcu* tPoioclionist statistician. When he wished to annihilate Hon. John DeWitt Warner’s list of “100 tariff trusts” he sent out blanks to protected manufacturers asking them to state whethei or not they Were member pf trusts. Of course, in the fa.. 6 of crlnuu&l statutes and publio opinion, tLe manufacturers strenuously denied that they were in a trust—in many cases where they Vcre dodging from one State to lEaother, under aliases, to escape prosecution, or Where the courts had declared that they had a trust. But Aldrich paraded their denials in the Congressional Record, and apparently believes these millionaire . monopolists incapable of coloring facts. As the New York World puts it, Mr. Peck’s report was made, like the McKinley tariff law, by the manufacturers —by the people who expect to reap the benefits. They first prepared the bill, and are now reporting on its effect in the State of New York. In aid of this pretty scheme Mr. Peck refusee to make public the letters on which he bases his assertion. 4. Mr, Peek’s figures show a net increase <o? production of $31,315,130, and of wages of $6,377,935 in 1891 -over 1890—523.11 to each of the 285,990 oat-

ployes, or $43.96 to each employe in the 51 trades showing increased wages, there being 89,717 instances of individual increases. 5. Supposing that these statistics are correct, they show that from some cause, or causes, perhaps good crops, or it may be, increased prices for manufactured goods, the value of manufactured products has increased $31,000,000, about one-lifth of which has gone to labor, probably work done, and four-fifths rests snugly in the pookets of protected manufacturers. That Mr. Peck should jump at the conclusion that this increase in earnings meant increased rates of wages, and that these were due to a tariff law, is unbecoming to him as a statistician and inconsistent with his past records. In 1838, 1889, and 1890 he attributed Wage increases to labor organizations, strikes, and national prosperity. These statistics also oontradict those of the Senate Committee—obtained with considerable care—whioh show that wages have advanced somewhat in fifteen, unprotected industries, but have fallen slightly in fifteen highly protected industries. In many industries the statistics appear to be entirely inconsistent with previous and with contemporaneous statistics and to depend largely upon the elasticity of the consciences of the makers. Thus the average yearly wages in the agricultural implements industry for 1890 is $654,80 Tn Jfew York gnd $419.10 in a difference greater than usually exists between wages in this and in European countries —and yet Ihcse two States have the 8a me tariff law. In the second industry mentioned (arms and ammunition) the average yearly wages in 1390 ~wef& $561.45 in MaoSaehCSettS And $492.42 in New York, ' The third (artificial teeth) wages of $554.48 in Massachusetts and $192 in New York, but notwithstanding this tremendous differepce the h'gh-priosd labor of Massachusetts competes with the pauper labor of New York. But by 1891 wages in this industry had increased to $254,45 — that is, from about 65 to 80 cents a day. Analysis of othei industries shows the same glaring inconsistencies and demonstrates the utter worthlessness of such statistics, except for Republican campaign purposes. But there are, as Mr. J. Schoenhof had shown, important and significant omissions in Peck’s list of protected industries. Three of these are the highly protected and exceedingly important industries of cotton goods, hats and caps, etc., and iron and steel products. In these, both the number of employes and their annual earnings had declined heavily from 1870 to 1880. Here are the census tables (in thousands): 1870. 1880. No. of No. of Wages. hands. Wages, hands. Cott on goods *2,626 6,144 $2,218 6,900 Hats, caps, etc... 2,630 6,870 - 2,155 6,213 Iron and steel products 9,900 18,684 4,991 13,567 Totals *15,160 33.689 9.364 28,680 The average per hand employed is as follows: 1870. 1880. Dee. Cotton goods $287 $224 *63 Hats, enpts, eto 446 419 33 Iron and steel products 523 870 155 Thehicrease in the value of the products is no greater, in fact less, than the United States statistics would indicate. If space would permit* many other surface inconsistencies and incongruities could be pointed out, but the one thing most desired by critics is the names and locations of firms where wage increases have occurred. Lot these bo given and the falsity of the whole list will soon be exposed, for the alleged advances are contrary to the experience and knowledge of the employes. Mr. Peck invites the closest scrutiny- of the figures in his office, but he deolares he will permit no one to see tho names attached. Hence it is probabiethat his tables will be quoted by Republicans until the November elections. They may give Republicans something to talk about and to buoy up their hopes, but, as individual experiences are that it is more difficult to earn a living now than before 1890, this crude and garbled report of Mr. Peck is likely to prove a failure as a vote getter for the Republicans.

The Pauper Labor Germ.

If the Republican party—that Is, the protected manufacturers—really want to legislate to protect American workmen against the pauper labor of Europe, it will ask its president to continue indefinitely the twenty days’ quarantine now placed on passengers from Europe. The immigrants have nothing to sell when they land here, but labor, and the continual stream of this commodity pouring into this country tends to keep wages down to the European level, just as certainly as several connected bodies of water will tend to a common level. Break the connection and it is possible for one body of water to become and remain higher than the others. Stop immigration and it is possible for wages—piece wages—to become and remain higher here than in Europe. There is some doubt, however, if this is the intention of the nanu'acturers. The last thing they would think of doing would be to put uo the barriers between their mills and th 9 cheap labor of Europe. If European labor is cheaper than American they want free access to it, and thoy have it and use it to displace American labor. “Don’t stop immigration,” says Andrew Carnegie, “there is room here and work for all immigrants.” And the laborers have been thirty years in getting their eye 3 open so that they could seo this farce!

Steel Raile

The thirty-six steel-rail makers in the United States produred In 1889 1,513,045 tons, on which they had protection to pay the “difference in wages” of sl7 to $20.16 per ton. This at sl7 was equal to $25,721,765 to pay the “difference in wages. ” But the actual total wages paid per ton in in 1890 was $5.30, and the total wage 3 for 1889 was less than $8,019,138, enabling the thirty-six rail-makers to -‘cal from the trust fund for wage's $17,702,627, and get their labor free of cost. The McKinley bill has reduced their protection to $13.44 per ton. reducing their stealings from their workmen, but the wages paid per ton has also been reduced. w hst is true of the protected steelrail maker is true ot every other really protected employer. He has absolute pauper labor, supported by public contributions, an l his profit come 3 mainly from what he steals from his woikmen. For them to resist the robbery of them is “against the law.”—T. E. Wilson.

Harrison’s Pettifogging Letter.

Mr. Harrison seems to think that it is at once cunning and fair for want of sufficient argument to make wry faces at the opposing counsel. A couple of instances will suffice to show his temper, and we refer our readers to the letter for the rest. He deliberately talks about “the alliance between the Welsh producers and the Democratic party for the destruction" of tin-plate industry. He knows that such an “alliance" does not exist, that it has never been thought of, and that it would be Impfadtioabie. That does not prevent h 4 it upon the majority of hie feilow-oitizens, who by every possible test are as patriotic and -as incapable

of plotting injury to their country, at least, as he is. In the second place he accuses the Democratic party of advocating the repeal of the tax on State bank notes, “with a view* of causing “a flood of local bank issues* of the kind that we had thirty-five years ago. Mr. Harrison knows very little about banking, as he has sometimes confessed, but he can hardly be so densely ignorant as to think that the bank issues of 1859 can ever be revived in this country, and he knows that tieir revival was never within the “view” of the Democratic party.—New York Times.

Sugar-Trust Profits.

The American Wool and Cotton Reporter of Sent. 1 says: “The American Sugar Refining Company is at present making a profit of $50,000 a day. It 1b working on raw sugar bought at considerably less than the present quotation, and until it gets on to its stock- recently acquired its profits will continue at the rate mentioned above. In addition to the low price of the raw whioh it is now refining, the company is getting the highest price for refined sugar in eighteen months, or since April, 189], At th&t time it was getting 4$ cents per pound, the quotation to-day. The course pursued by refined sugar since April, 1891, has been interesting. That was the time when the duty went off of raw sugar, and the wholesale grocers throughout the country made it a point to Bff out sis fcflned pucrar Maroa 31, The gemand aT£cr April J Jherefore was veiynea'vy, and. Jhe American Company, by holdihg the umbrella over its Cpmpetfoxpj as could yell afford to do, kept the jftice of refined atsliig£ figure. When, hoyevpr, the immediate demand Was Satisfied, competition began to get in its work, and the price went down to 4 cents, when the outside refineries could stand the strain no longer and sold out to tbe American Company. Freed from competition, tlu latter has worked the price up to the old figure. Until new competition springs up, the American Company is likely to have everything its own way. ” It then mentions the fact that “tho proposed McCahn refinery in Philadelphia has been given up,” and that the Mollenhauer refinery, soon to be started up, is the only new competitor. This will have a capaoity of 1,500 barrels a day; the Reverq refinery, with only 1,000 barrels capacity (less than 2 per cent, of our consumption), is the only refinery now even suspected ol being outside the trust. The sugar trust, by depressing the price of raw and elevating the price of refined sugar, is leaving itself a big margin for profit. The actual cost of refining is lees than g of a cent per pound, and this was about the difference in the prices of raw and refined sugars when the refiners were so foolish as to actually compete with each other before 1887. Now, however, they are selling refined sugar at 4J cents that cost them raw but 3 1-16 cents, leaving a margin of over 1 cent per pound as clear profit. This, instead of being $50,000 a clay, is over SIOO,OOO or at the rate of about $10,000,000 a year, fully 150 per cent, on the actual capital invested in plants not held idle. Without the duty of 4 cent on refined sugar, which curses all except the holders of sugar-trust stock, the profits could not for any length of time exceed 4 cent per pound. The removal of this inexcusable duty is one of the urgent necessities of the hour.

Wool.

Congress pushes the button; the trust does the rest. Whc n domestic production makes the market price, the duty does not protect and the trust must collect the plunder. The 2,000,000 farmers producing wool cannot form a trust and colloct their “protection boodle” of 11 cents per pound from their customers, the manufacturers, but the manufacturers can and do collect from their customers, the people, not only the 11 cents per pound on the wool in their cloth, but 11 cents on each pound of shoddy as well. This is their compensatory protection, and they have 45 per cent, additional to pay “difference in wages. ” They rob the farmer of every cent. He must sell to them at the foreign value of his wool to save himself tne cost of foreign freight. Some send their wool abroad to get a better price. Here are our exports of wool for six years past; 1886 2,138,030 1887 257,940 1888. 22,164 1889..: 141,576 1890 281.042 1801 291,922 Would our American farmers have sent this yool abroad for sale in foreign markets if the price here had not been under the price abroad? No American farmer ever received L cent more per ton for his wool because of a duty on foreign wool, because tho price here was made by his own competition, and he had no trust to fix prices and collect boodle; but the woolen-mill owner has collected and pocketed every penny of the farmer’s protection, because he had a trust to fix prices and collect the money.—T. E. Wilson.

Great Wreck—285,000 Men Lost!

Immediately upon the appearance of the Reportof Labor Commissioner Peck, announcing that 285,000 workingmen In New York State had hal their wages increased an average or $23 year by the McKinley bill, the Utica Observer began a search for a Utica man who bad fallen heir to $23 worth of McKinley stock. It left plenty of space in its columns and invited workingmen to come forward and announce their good luck. No one came. The Lockport UAlon followed the example und issued the same invitation. No answer. The Rochester Union and Advertiser searched Rochester and found no one of the 285,000 men in that city. The Oswego Palladium turned the search light on the workingmen in Oswego, and no man with $33 of McKinley tariff money is discovered. The Albany Argus invited every one o{ Peck’? army of happy workingmen residing in Albany to come forward and Jell of it. Nq one came. Then it sent reporters to the big projected manufactories in Albany and found no one. Other papers in New York are prosecuting the search with vigor, but with no better success. It Is now feared that Mr. Peck’s report is a total wreck and that all of the 285,000 men supposed to have been on board are lost —to the Republican party.

Shooting Both Ways.

Next to the report on production and wages in New \ork which is compiled from the replies of protected manufacturers in Peck’s implied question: “How are you and your employes getting on under McKinleyism?" President Harrison’s letter of acceptance is just now attracting more attention from Republicans than any other document. With such ammunition as this the double-bar-reled “protection and reciprocity” guns —loaded to shoot in opposite directions —will have no trouble in dispersing any free trade mob that can collect on protected American soil. — Of 297 Popes, 4 were strangled in prison, 18 were known to have been poisoned, and 42 met with other forms of violent death. » -■ The disposition to give a oup of cold water to a disciple is a far nobler property than the finest intellect.—Howells.

THE HATS THE THING.

you MUST respect the dictates OF FASHION. Bo Original In Any Other Article or Apparel, but Wear Headgear That Is Modlsh-Here You Find the Drop or Styles. 0 Now and Pretty. New York correspondence:

ICH and gaudy, for the apparel oft proclaims the man, said jPolonius. And he said well. But how about the woman? If kwe may paraphrase Pope and say, * Clothes make the man, the want of them the fellow,” may we also proclaim that the gown makes tha girl? I trow not. Victoria was in her night robe when she received

the deputation of noblemen who informed her that she was Queen of England. And yet it is affirmed that she looked every Inch a princess. Possibly; but I wouldn’t counsel any young lady tp make dangerous experiments in dress. Better conform in a general way, and have recourse to some certain article of your costume for the gratification of your vanity. But in making choioe of an affeotatlon be careful not to lay violent hands upon the style of headg'ear that may bo in vogue. Exercise your ingenuity in your gloves, your veil, your shoes, but wear the hat that happens to be modish. Prpbably no article of apparel is more subject to ridicule than tv hat, hence there’s a deep philosophy in Inat current Where did you get that hat? provided you put great emphasis on the “did. ’’ A mistake that many tall women are apt to make is to wear a very small hat, thinking thereby to disguise their great height, when in reality it has the very opposite effect—it accentuates it. The best way in the world to set off the lofty stature of a giant is to pat a dwarf beside him. No large woman should ever commit the error of wearing one of. those tiny theater bonnets. They are intended for the average-sized woman, and a tall, Stout figure is merely emphasized by setting three straws and a bit of ribbon on the top of such a towering aolumn of humanity. I have some very pretty hats to show you to-day, hatß that are suitable for the supplemental season—that indefinable space of time that lies so charm-

TRAVELING HAT.

ingly between the end of summer and the advent of cold weather. Take, for instance, the piquant bit of headgear represented in my initial illustration, a beige straw trimmed with chestnut-brown ribbon, forming a large bow, the strings startinglrom the crown. Under the flaring orown, which is lined with velvet, there is set a bunch of ostrich tips to the left of the center. Somewhat in the tourist’s shape is the charming traveling hat shown in the second picture. It Is said that you never -know a person until you have traveled with him or her. Pin inclined to think there is much of truth in this remark. Anyway, you learn many things which you never would learn under any other circumstances, and first and foremost you learn whether the lady in question knows how to dress for traveling. Satth the preacher: “To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven," but, strange to Say, in his enumeration he doesn’t mention a time for traveling. In those days, however, people didn’t go traveling so much as they do ita ours. Nowadays traveling is a necessity. If you stay at home you rust out, you lose touch with the world, you are little better than a hermit. But my advice to you is:' Don’t go traveling unless you are dressed for it, for if you do you’ll be sure to try your own and other people’s patience, too. To come back to this extremely natty and nobby traveling hat. It is of English straw garnitured with a veil of black tulle with embroidered edges, held In place by a jet agraffe. The tulle is so arranged as to fall a little over the brim, as indicated. At the back there is an aigrette of black feathers. Sunshiny days in October often bring out the fashionable girl in new fresh-

FOB INDIAN SUMMER.

ness and beauty, Just as you often see stray roses and there on the bushes long after the crop has fallen, a snowy white shower of petals upon the greensward like May snowflakes. But if you look closely you’ll see that this girl is a genuine rosebud, that it was too early for her to bloom in July or August, and that she takes this occasion to thrust hor pretty head ©ut into the October sunshine. For suoh I present a lovely hat in my third picture. It is a white rice straw, with a lace butterfly bow and an aigrette of pink plumes, but I warn the full-fledged.*glrl to be careful how she seeks to prolong her reign. She had better give up the role of Juliet and try saucy Kate in the “Taming of the Shrew," or Pauline in the "Lady of Lyons." We can’t be eternally young, except In our hearts. "My dear child," said a watchful

mother, “yon dress too young. You must remember that you ar» nearly thirty." “True, mamma," was the reply, “but I feel just as young as ever." “That may be, daughter, but your feelings don’t, wear the dresses." A very stylish round hat la pictured iu the fourth illustratiou. The brim is turned up on one side and Is trimmed with black lace. On the left there Is a wired lace butterfly and aigrette. The crown is of orchids.

This fall the English walking hat will be much affectod, and turbans of all styles will be in vogue, particularly those with low square crown and the brim turned up of nearly equal width. The walking hats will have creased or indented crowns. Toques will be oval, some cone-shaped, and some the truncated oone. The ultra-fashionable will not bo content with anything short of the small stove-pipe crown, a style, by the way, not becoming to all faces. Plain-cut velvet will enter largely in all hat garnituro, and glace or changeable effects will be popular. In the line of feather trimming one novelty will be the flat bow of the Alsatian peasantry. The bow is made of the breast feathers of small birds pasted on

FOR EARLY AUTUMN.

a foundation of cloth, or, you may carry out the Idea of the flaring effeot of the flat bow by mounting two wings on eaoh side of the bird's head. Bizarre enough will be the head of a small owl set between a pair of widely extended black flerce-looking wings. Mephlsto plumes In breast feathers and scales of jet and colored glass are certain to be greatly affected. Another unique conceit will be a mounting of breast feathers simulating a ram’s horn. Colors will he rich and elegant, and there will bo many vivid tints of green, magentas and red purples. Blaoks will be relieved by cherry and poppy reds, or in the reverse order. Very modish will be buckles and brooches in French gold set with mook Jewels, As ribbon garniture Is now made use of in dressing the hair, I show you such a coiffure in my last illustration, It Is very becoming to young people when the scheme Is artistically worked out. You divide the entire head of hair Into three strands, beginning at the forehead and extending to the nape. Then you take the middle strand and coil it a little to make a chignon, after which you take the strand on the right, twist it and bring it over obliquely, placing a bow of the ribbon on the side of It. You treat the left strand in the same way. The remainder of the center strand is then put up loosely, the ends being slightly orlmped. The position and effeot of the ribbon are Indicated in the picture. It Is more than likely that the muchbeloved short jacket will have a quietus put upon It this coming season. It has had a long reign of popularity, but with the coming In of cold weather there will be a strongly developed liking for the genuine long wrap. These garments will be long cloaks In good earnest, completely covering the gowns, and the material will be pure woolen richly lined with bright-colored ,silk. Velvet promises to be in high favor the coming season for dress garniture applied as bands, lapels, collars, cuffs,

MODISH COIFFURE.

yokes, and lower sleeves, the upper sleeves being in one or two puffs. The lower sleeve is usually left open a little a* the wrist, and then filled In with laee. Isa other cases It is widened so as to fall qjuite over the hand. Gauged ruches are tc» be worn both for corsages and the bottom of skirts. As usual, the new colors have fantastic names given to, tlVem, such as Paradise for bright yellojw, Eminence for deep red purple, B®.lamto for brilliant red, Argent, Nitckel, and Platina for three shades of gj-ay, and Floxlne for reddish lilac. iwz

Idealized Shoe Boxes.

1 ideal shoe boxes were seen recently if the dressing-room of a young belle. (Jnc side was fitted up with a set of sMelves divided into compartments, each one large enough to hold a pair ol£ slippers or shoes standing 6ide by side. Sliding glass doors protectedthe contents from dust and dampness, but permitted a view of their dantiness. Wadded and perfumed mats covered with oak-brown silk to match the shelves were fitted to the bottom oi each compartment, and on the njats stood a bewildering array of boots, shoes, and slippers. There was foot gear for all occasions and to go with all sorts of gowns. Hanging across litttle gilded hooks at the upper side of each compartment was its suitable pair of silken hose, the gem of the collection being a } center compartment where a pair ofigold slippers with heels of the real precious metal pointed their pretty toes at the observer, and stockings of toe same rich color hung at the side. Otiteide the glass doors was a rack wi th shoe-horn and buttonhooks of several lengths mounted in silver depending from it, and the nook was completed by a pretty shoe and stockwpiglstool with a linen cushion painted witb an appropriate device. IpL j - “ ' ““ Fqw people disparage a distinguished ant I’fetrv except those who have none of the r own.—J. Hawes.

AROUND THIS HOUSE.

Keep flowers fresh by pattix* a pinch 9f soda iu the water. Boil the clothesline and it will mat “kink” ns a ne w rope is apt to da. Keep a small box filled vtii time is your pnutry or cidlay, it will keep Aha air dry and pure. Soda is the best thing for efraaing tinware; apply with a damp cloth nail rub well, then wipe dry. Prick jiotatoes before taking «> that the air can escape. This will present their bursting in the oven. When baking cakes set a dish of water in the oven with them and they will not be iu any danger from s earthing. Grouse spots that have burnt and be como hard on the stove may be removed! by a few drops of kerosene oil on the cloth before rubbing them.

LIGHTING THE FIRE SPARK.

Curious Methods of Fire Making In Use Among Various Peoples. The most curious of all known metli • ods of making lire is practiced by the native tribes of Borneo ami Uurmab. Funnily enough, the instrument which they employ is utilized for the same purpose to-day by the scientific physicist in the laboratory. The primitive form of apparatus used Uy the barbarous peoples referred to is simply a cylinder of buffalo horn with a sort, of piston that fits into it. In the receptacle that, holds this “fire syringe,” as it is called, is also carried a small box tilled with tinder. When fire is wanted a pioce of tiuder is placed in the hollowed end of the piston, which is thereupon inserted into the mouth of the cylinder of buffalo horn. Holding the cylinder in the left hand the operator strikes the knob of the piston a smart blow with the open right band, the force used being sumciont to drive it home. Owing to the natural law by which compressed air gives up heat under reduction of volume, the tinder in the end of tins piston catches fire and is seen to be alight, when the piston is instantly and quickly withdrawn after the blow has beeu struck. Gentle breathing cn the spark fans its commencing glow ; fresh tinder is applied, which catches fire immediately; more blowing increases the flame, and scraped wood and then small sticks arc added to make the beginning of a blaze. Easy as this process for obtaining fire looks, it requires no little skill and practice.

A very interesting monograph on the fire-making methods of the world, among which this on i is referred to, is on the point of being published by the Smithsouiun Institution. The we’ll know* process of obtaining the spark of ignition by drilling with a revolving stick into another piece of wood is first described. It varies in manner so much that some savages can get fire iu this wny in a fraction of a minute, while the Aiuos, of Japan, require two boors or more for the purpose. Next is mentioned, the plan of making fire by sawing, whieh is in common use among the Malays ami throughout the East Indies. A native will cut a V-shaped slit in a brunch of the oil tree, put a knife edge on u piece of iron wood, saw quickly back and forth with tlio latter in the V, and iu less than three minutes he will have set fire with the incandescent sawdust produced by the friction to tinder hold underneath. Than he will put the ignited tinder in a bunch of dry leaves, wrap them in dried grass, whirl tho bundle around his bead and have n flame in a jiffy. However, the usual method of fire muking by rawing practiced by these peoples is to take two pieces of bamboo —one a hollowed convex strip and the other prepared with an edge like a knife. The former is placed with the convex side up and the knife edge is drawn rapidly buck and forth across it. Presently the hollowed convex pioce is pierced through tho top by the saw, and the incandescent dust fulls qpon tinder bencuth, igniting the latter. Sometime* the process is reversed, and the convex pieec holding the tinder is sawed tipon the bamboo knife,* which is fixed with the edge up. Bamboo is an excellent friction material; the siliceous coating is favorable for tho development of great heat, while the soft marrowy substanco inside is very iuflummable. Quite as odd is the only method of fire making known to the Polynesians, to whom it exclusively belongs, namely, that of the “plowing stick.” The operator runs a groove in a piece of soft wood with the end of a stick of hard wood, the rubbing stick wearing off particles of the soft wood and pushing them along in a heap ot the end of a groove. By acceleration of the motion they are brought up to the point of ignition. Much expertness is required to perform the process successfully, but flame is said to be procured directly, without the use of tinder. The modern lucifer match is superior to all other dcvicos for producing fire, says the author of the monograph quoted, Mr. Walter Hough, since it combines in one instrument arrangements for the creation of the spark, fdr catching it on tinder, and for starting a blaze—steps requiring separate operations in tne primitive machines. Of the devices which preceded the friction match, the nearest likeness to it was the splint of inflammable wood tipped with sulphur, wfiich accompanied tne tinder box, the invention of the flint and steel strike-a-light, necessitating some device to convert the spark into a flame. For this purpose the Eskimo applies a wick soaked in oil to the spark and blows it alight. Brimstone matches arc found in Japan in the shape of broad, thin shavings, tipped along one end with sulphur. In Mexico cotton wicks dipped in sulphur are similarly employed. “Spunks” the common name for splints tipped with sulphur—-were in general use in this country prior to 1825, and lingered in out of the way places long after the introduction of matches. In certain districts of France to-day they are still in use, being much more economical than matches from the point of view of people of simple habits. Hunting parties and exploring expeditions bound for distant countries usuallj carry, besides matches, strike-a-lights for use in case matches are sf.hausted or meet with some of the many accidents to which they are liable. Patents are still sought, from time to time, for pipe lighting contrivances involving the use of flint and steel struck together by some more or less simple and mechanical device. A variation of the “spunks” was curled shavings tipped with sulphur. At the beginning a very general prejudice was felt against friction matches, because they were poorly made, hong fire, readily absorbed moisture, emitted noxious odors and were costly. The worst ones, however, were more expeditious than the tinder box, and improvements were soon made. Nevertheless, it is seriously suggested by Mr. Hough as worthy of inquiry whether the alarming deterioration of the teeth of the present generation may net be doe to the phosphorous matches mom than to soft food. Attempts to supersede the wretched “epaaks* produced the tiuder

piston, the tinder wheel, and, later, the find chemical match.

OLLA PODRIDA.

Is thu Land Where a Hundred Dollars is a Fortune. —William E. iL Pales writes to the “Sociological News” as follows in reference to labor in Japan: “The houses are small and also cheap. They rent from fifty cents a month upward and average a dollar a month each. The garden around them yields two and three crops a year and supplies enough flowers to pay a goodly fraction of tie rent. The vegetables grown are chiefly those which are marked by size and quality, cabbages, cauliflowers, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, turnips, oarrots, yams, beans and peas. An acre cultivated under the painstaking system of the Japanese horticulturist will support a family in comfort. When to the vegetables are added the chickens and eggs raised on the premises, and tho fish, shell-fish and seaweed taken from the sea, a regimen is hod which for healthfulness and nutriment caunot be surpassed. “The ocean helps humanity amazingly in this land. Its warm waters teem with animal and vegetable life, and it fecundates every beach and seacliff with immeasurable life. A meal can be made from cabbage, onion, sea-weed gluten, and bean sauce which weighs two pounds and costs but two cents, These figures presuppose that all the materials are purchased. As a matter of fact at least half arc grown in the family garden. Clothing is a minimum. As worn by the people inland, it is light, graceful, and very cheap. A man’s suit costs but fifty cents and a woman's one dollar. Under such conditions, the laborer saves money and » happy, healthy, and prosperous. He has of course no ambition ana no desire for social or political change. ”

Propagation op Leeches. — The business of raising leeches for medicinal purposes has long been carried on iu Europe, and, it said, with profit to those engaged in the business. Up to forty years ago, it is stated, the olu world obtained its supplies of the worms mostly from Sweden, Russia, Poland and Hungary, but the swamp rogions wheie they grew and were gathered underwent extensive draining operations from time to time, until at length vast areas once rendered remunerative by their swarms were dried up; this occasioned such a famine of thu article that active efforts were made to find a remedy, several governments offering premiums for successful results in leach culture. At the present time nearly all the leeches used abroad conns from artificial ponds and meadows in the south of Franco, where the bottom is firm and solid, this areas chosen being divided into rectangular plots by dishes. The breeding season arrives in Juuc and July, and at this time water is admitted into the ditches, the meadow flats remaining dry. The eggs are laid by the leeches in loose soil at the margins of the ditches. When the young ones are hatched the meadows are overflowed artificially some six or eight inches. The young leeches arc fed upon the blood of living horses and cattle drivon into tho shallow water twice a week for a time. ZUYDEB Zeß TO RE TERRA FIUM A. — The proposal for the drainage of the Znyder Zee, which was spoken of for tho first time in 1848 in Hollaud, and strain in 1860. 1875 and 1882, lias once more been revived with the support of several political associations and Chambers of Commerce, whose members hove forwarded petitions to the Government in support of the scheme, and asking for its thorough examination. The IndeEmdance Beige publishes some intcrestg details on the subject, und states that the total cost of currying out the work would bo 190,000,000 florins. This is exclusive of the expense which would be entailed on the War Department, as the undertaking, if carried out, would, if is said, bring about a complete change In the present system of defense in Holland. It would also have the effect of adding a new province to the Pays Bas. The Largest Elevator. —The largest Sain elevator in the world was built at inneapolis Junction in 1886. The main building is 886 feet long, 02 feet wide and 175 feet high. Its storing capacity is 2,000,000 bushels of grain. During its construction the carpenters and joiners used 12,500,000 feet of lumber of all kinds, besides 82 carloads of nails. These nails filled 10,000 common nail kegs, and the best calculators say that there were but little short of 50,000,000 of them driven into the immense structure. Tho engines used at this giant of all elevators are capable of handling 250 carloads of grain every 10 hours. A Canadian bos invented a simple and ingenious device to be attached to all bottles containing poisons. It consists of a mechanism fastened to the bottom of the bottle, and so arranged that every time the bottle is lifted or moved it rings a little bell. With a death’s head for the eye, and a kind of death rattle for the car, it seems as if accidents ought to be entirely avoided. TnERE ore some 150 distinct religious denominations in the United States—'The Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, Baptists and Episcopalians form the great body of church adherents. The other religious associations represent less than fifteen per cent of the church edifices. Great il the originality of Chicago. They are now talking of catching a whale somewhere in the Arctic regions, and towing it alive to the World’s Fair city, by way of tho St. Lawrence and the great lakes.

An Arab Stallion.

We bear behind us a mad galloping end plunging, accompanied by frantic panting*. Before we have time to turn round in our saddles there sweeps past us one of our spahis, a big black Vandal, fighting for the mastery with the great Arab stallion he is ri'ding. He sits his horse like a centaur, but he has all his work cut out for him. The animal is one moment rearing up in a perfect fury of rage and the mext starting away with a series of buckjjumps frightful to watch. The Vandal, however, sticks to his saddle like a leech, and horse and man are borne like the wind many hundred yards in front of us. There is a fair field in front, and the Vandal lets the animal bolt away as far os he chooses and suddenly he releases his right foot from the stirrup bag, and. leaning over on his left side, he slaps the beast on his left cheek. Ho thus manages to bring him round to the right in a circle, and at last the horse returns and joins the cavalcade, subdued for half an hour, when the same tight begins again and continues at intervals till we arrive at our “etape.” Truly these sons of the desert are noble horsemen. Bitting upright in their high-* peaked saddles they appear as they move to be part of the mettled horse upon which they have spent their lives since their cradles, and in their white burnouses and turbans they are veritably like flying clouds as they are borne along at headlong speed over the sand.—[Good Word*.