Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1894 — Page 5

STILL FOR REFORM.

* WORKINGMEN FAVOR PROPOSED TARIFF REDUCTION. Idle Mill-Workers Coerced bj Manufacturer* Into Sicatng Petitions Against the Wilson Bill—The People Want aa Income Tax—Congressional Idiots. Workingmen Still for Tariff Reform. That the elections of 1890 and 1892, and not the anti-Wilson bill petitions and postal cards, "suggested” and paid for by unselfish and disinterested manufacturers, expressed the real sentiments of our working population, is evident to all who are intimate with the facts in each case. Here are a few instances: Coerced by the manufacturers, many of the idle mill workers in Kensington (Philadelphia), the largest textile district in this country, signed a petition against the Wilson bill. That these petitions misrepresent the sentiments of the workers is seen from the fact that the manufacturers of Kensington cannot get more than 100 or 200 workers to attend tneir widely advertised meetings, while the Kensington Reform Club (tariff reform) can get more than 1,000 out to its meetings Those who are on the ground and know the conditions in the textile district in and around Providence, R. 1., report a similar reluctance on the part of the workers there to accept the ready-made conclusions of the manufacturers—except when their jobs are at stake. Similar reports come from Troy and Amsterdam, N. Y., in spite of the fact that more than two-thirds of the . population of these cities is alleged to have signed anti-Wilson bill petitions. The truth is that rebellion is rife in the ranks of the workers, and the combined power of all the capital of all the captains of industry is not sufficient to prevent serious outbreaks.

More evidence comes from Paterson, N. J. By deft manipulation of the silk and other workers there, the opinions of those who favored the Wilson bill were held in abeyance while reports were sent broadcast that the sentiment of the workers had turned and was dead against tariff reform. The ten-der-skinned representative from this Congressional district, like several others in New Jersey—Democrats, so called —got scared and climbed over on the other side of the fence from the Wilson bill, and began to swear back at it, thinking hjs constituents were applauding. It really looked bad for tariff reform in the vicinity of Paterson. A few Democrats, more bold than the others, concluded that they would try to hold a meeting if they could get an outsider to agree to sacrifice himself to the mob that would probably attempt to lynch any Cobden Club emissary who should present himself. Thomas G. Shearman, of Brooklyn, was willing to take his chances. He describes the meeting as one of the most successful he ever addressed. Between 2,000 and 3,000 people—mostly mill operatives—packed the theater and many stood for three hours listening and applauding the good points of Mr. Shearman's radical speech, and of his replies to the many questions asked. Their pent up tariff reform sentiments found vent in loud cheers, and the meeting was literally a “howling success.” Leading local “Democrats” who had remained “behind the scenes" during the meeting stepped out at its close to congratulate the speaker and express their surprise at the success of the meeting. All of which goes to show that the tariff reform back-sliders are amongst the machine politicians who fear the opposition of their wealthy constituents, or who are incapable of holding opinions, or of estimating opinions of their hard-working constituents, and not amongst the workers themselves. —B. W. H.

Tom Johnson’s Great Speech. Congressman Tom L. Johnson, of Ohio, is perhaps, the most radical free trader in Congress, and yet no speech of the session has been listened to by more members and more liberally applauded by all. Republicans applauded him for his logic, courage and frank non-partisan criticisms; Democrats for his clear presentation of sound economic and Democratic doctrine. Asa manufacturer of steel rails, Mr. Johnson produced indisputable evidence of a new steel rail trust or pool, which will have, in the Wilson bill, all of the protection it will care to use. We quote a part of Mr. Johnson’s speech referring to steel rails: Take steel rails, of which I happen to know something, as I am a manufacturer of steel rails. I appeal to the Democrats of the House to join me In putting steel rails on the free list. The present duty on steel rails Is $18.44 per ton. which Is estimated to he equivalent to 60.44 per cent, ad valorem. The committee have reduced this to 25 per cent. This seems like a great reduction.- But it Is only nominal, for 25 per cent, is all the steel rail trust want. It Is as good to them as 1,000 per cent., for It is practically a prohibitory duty. Steel can be made here as cheaply as anywhere else in the world, and would not now be imported, Bave In exceptional cases, even If there were no duty; while the tendency of Invention and Improvement is in favor of the United States as against Europe. The steel made into rails in this country is from native ore. What pig metal, billets, and blooms are Im-ported-are used entirely in other iron and steel manufactures. Now it costs less thpn $2 a ton to make steel rails from blooms, including straightening and punohing. On to-day’s market steel blooms are selling at less than sl7; steel rails should therefore not bring over sl9. Thev did fall to that price a few weeks ago, during a temporary break In the steel rail pool. But that pool was quickly reorganized, and the price of steel rails was put up and is now maintained at $24 a ton; so that by virtue of the duty which keeps out foreign rails, the pool is compelling the users of steel rails to pay them 25 per cent, more than a fair price. Mr. Dalzell.—Does the gentleman speak now from the attitude of a steel-rail manufacturer? Mr. Johnson of Ohio.—ldo. My mill makes about one-thirtieth of all that are produced in the United States. This new steel-rail pool is composed of seven manufacturers, headed by Carnegie, who absolutely control the product of more than onehalf of the rolled steel produced in the United States, and who have combined together to pay other large manufacturers heavy annual sums to close their workß, discha'ge their men, and make no steek Now, observe, the 25 per cent, duty of the committee's bill is just as good to the steel rail pool as the greater nominal duty of the existing law, and will enable the pool to keep the prioe up to the highest point that they deem safe. For, with a duty of 25 per cent. *d valorem, steel rails can not be Imported from Europe and sold In competition with the pool at $24 a ton. the highest price It now chooses to ask. So that the nominal reduction made by the committee is actually no reduction at aIL It will not add 1 cent to the income of the Government. It will not reduce 1 cent the price of steel to American users of steel rails and It will not diminish by 1 cent the profits of the Carnegie pool. Hence Carnegie's satisfaction, expressed the other day, when about to sail. It is true that if the proposed reduction had come earlier it would have been of some benefit to the American consumer, for the present duty of $18.44 a ton enabled the steel-rail pool up to a recent time to keep the price of steel rails higher still. But a greater internal competition, caused by reductions in the cost of production, has of itself compelled them to come down to $24 a ton, and a duty of 25 per cent, will enable them to maintain that price as snugly as does the McKinley law. Mr. Dalzell—ls the gentleman a party to the steel-rail trust? Mr. Johnson of Ohio—l am not: but whether lam or not would make no difference. Outside of this hall, as a steel manufacturer, I might be perfectly willing to enter a trust, but I will not defend trusts here. Congressional Idiots. Reports of Duns afad Bradstreets indicate et slight improvement in business and a gradual better tone indicating that the business scare is giving away to confidence. The actions of a lot of congressional idiots for some mere partisan advantage in delaying action

upon the tariff bill is only adding to the business confusion and uncertainty. The people of this country are fast becoming educated on political economy, and demagogues may rant and rave In their efforts to fool them, bus it is a waste of wind. The average laboring man knows that under the McKinley bill wages have been steadily decreasing, with strikes, lock out 6 and starvation following in its train. They have been compelled to take the manufacturers’ cut in wages or accept alms. They are not bound to accept either where they have organizations to sustain them. One good well managed labor organization is of more benefit to the laboring classes than all the tariff bills tney could pass for the next thirty years. In times like these organization is required and tolling classes cannot be cemented too closely. Organize by all means. Unite and protect yourselves. National Glass Budget. The Cry ot the Starrh Trust. The Oswego Times publishes the following under the head “Oswego Starch Factory”: Thoms* Kingston! said that the Wilson bill will be very detrimental to the starch business of this country, as It cuts the duty from 2 cents a pound to l cent a pound, and Y cent will not be enouirh to proteot the AmerU can Industry against European cheap labor. ' The official reports, which show the quantity and value of the products ex 4 ported from this country, are not pasted on every sign post, and the number of citizens who know what these reports say are small Consequently we presume that many worthy persons can be induced to believe that a reduction of the duty on starch from 2 cents to 1 a pound (or from 84.38 to 42.19 per cent.) will expose manufacturers in this county to the “ruinous" competition of “European cheap labor.” It is shown by the treasury reports that the exports and imports of starch in the last two years were as follows: Imports. Exports. Year. Pounds. Value. Pounds. Value. 1892.. .1,990,975 $51,806 20,081,027 $612,631 1898.. .3,766,606 89,249 21,938,466 707,093 It appears, then, that the Manufacture rs of starch in this country export more than 20,000,000 pounds a year. This starch they sell in all quarters of the globe, in open competition with the starch of other lands, and without the assistance of the duty of 84 per cent., which they need, they say, for defense against the foreign starch here at home. One-half of tne present duty, or 42 per cent., “will not be enough,” they assert, to protect the industry here “against European cheap labor.” How are they able to overcome the same “European cheap labor” when they sell starch in Europe, at the very doors of the European manufacturers, with the protection of no duty whatever? The official reports show that the greater part of the 20,000,000 pounds exported was sold in Europe—in the Netherlands, Ehgland, Belgium, Germany and other countries. The American manufacturers who are protected here by a duty of 84 per cent, undersold the products of “European cheap labor” in the very places where that labor is employed, and they did this not only without the help of a tariff tax designed to increase the price of the foreign starch, but also under the handicap of ocean freight charges. Do not these reports indicate that they need here at home no tariff duty whatever? And now let us see what the Treasury statements say about prices. There was a small quantity of starch imported last year—about $90,000 worth. Our table shows that the value of this starch was 2.37 cents a pound before the duty was paid, and the addition of the duty would make the cost 4.37 cents. On the other hand, it is shown that the value of the American starch whoff exported was 3.22 cents a pound. If the American manufacturers can lay down starch at our seaports for shipment to Europe at 3.22 cents, why was this foreign starch sold here, the cost of it at the domestic seaport being 4.37 cents? We presume that those who have had dealings with the starch trust could answer this question. It is well known that immediately after that trust was made the price of American starch to American consumers was largely increased. The sale of foreign starch here at an average cost of 4.37 cents, while the domestic manufacturers were shipping millions of pounds to Europe at a declared value of only 3.22 cents, suggests the explanation that the Trust was telling to the foreigner at prices much lower than those which it exacted from the people here who had given it “protection.” The complaint of the starch manufacturers that a duty of 42 per cent, is not sufficient to protect them here at home “against European cheap labor” is absurd enough, when the export record is considered, to provoke a broad smile on the face of our almost boundless cornfields. —New York Times.

The Income Tax. If Congress carries out the wishes of the country it will adopt an income tax. Some persons with big incomes are bitterly oppose to it, but the masses of the people believe it to be right and want it put on. Great Britain has an income tax, and it works well. It was first established in 1793. This tax wa9 repealed in 1816, but Sir Robert Peel, the greatest of political reformers, revived it in 1842 to meet a deficiency in the government’s revenues, and under conditions very similar to those which are now upon us. For more than fifty years» this tax has been levied. In 1874 Mr. Gladstone talked about repealing it, but though he was then Prime Minister he could not carry it through. The tax is now considered part of the fixed policy of Great Britain. In 1898 it yielded a revenue of more than $69,000,000 and hurt nobody. Give us a Federal income tax!—Atlanta Journal.

Uncle Sam’s Postoffice Pussies.

Some 300 and odd cats are maintained by the United States Government, the cost of their support being carried as a regular item on the accounts of the postoffice department. These cats are distributed among about fifty poßtoffices, and their duty is to,keep rats and mice from eating and destroying postal matter and canvas mail sacks. Their work is of the utmost importance wherever large quantities of mail are collected, as, for example, at the New York postoffice, where from 2,000 to 3,000 bags of mail matter are commonly stored away in the basement.

For the Queen’s Birthday.

In honor of the celebration of the 69th birthday of the Queen Regent of China 1,200,000 pieces of red silk, each „ forty feet long and three feet wide, •were ordered to be made in the imperial mills of Nanking, Soo-Chow-Foo, and Hang-Chow-Foo. With these the streets of Pekin are to be decorated for a distance of forty miles. i The Montgomery Advertiser (Dem.) says: “Business will open up as soon as the President signs a new tariff bill. Men who stand in the way of this great i result will be remembered by those with whose interests they trifle.” England expects every man to do his duty.—Nelson. This was the famous signal made from the flag-ship Just before the battle of Trafalgar.

FANCIES OF FASHION.

GREAT VARIETY IN THE STYLES FOR THIS SEASON. Fashions Change So Rapidly that an Admirable Style Does Not Keep I ppermost Long Enough to Folly Show Its Advantages. Gotham Fashion Gossip. New York correspondence:

ARELY does an admirable style keep uppermost long enough t o show fully its advantages, so rapidly do fashions change. Accentuation of its characteristic point develops so quickly after a mode becomes adopted, that grotesqueness folvlows close upon the Vheels of the more /tasteful initiative. The happy medium is thus promptly reI duced to the ex--1 travagant, or the fashion is thrown

aside entirely for something new. It is notably thus in coats. Not long ago it looked as if the multiplicity of skirts and capes was becoming a serious menace to the comfort and beauty of all outer garments, but the new models show that this tendency has been promptly arrested. Coats are now shown with full skirts attached to the round bodice, and the skirts are invariably single and not extraordinarily full. One shoulder cape, hardly more than a collar, is worn, usually of the pattern which has a high collar made in one piece with the cape. Such coats are of cloth in all dark shades and usually in smooth goods, the cape and collar edged with a dark fur. This, and the same design braided, constitutes the coat which will be the popular one for the late winter and spring. It is just this element of popularity, however, that constitutes an objection

SOUR DRAPES TO MOST OF US.

to the minds of many, therefore, new designs are appearing constantly. The model in the first illustration is one that has gained general favor. It is made of magenta melton and furtrimmed. Its large spreading collar is composed of Russian fur and the skin extends to edge the fronts. A narrow band of it, too, finishes the sleeves. This coat is tight-fitting in back and loose in front. In many of the new models which have not yet been generally worn, skirts are done away with altogether and military effects are revived. Double-breasted jackets fit in trim military fashion to the hips, and are made of heavy dull cloth in rough finish. A feature of the double-breasted effect is that the two rows of buttons run close together at the collar and waist and spread over the bust, thus adding to the effect of rcundness of figure. Jackets are also shown in cloth fitting closely to the waist. A round skirt fitting without fullness is added, reaching ]ust over the hips and extending all around to the front, where the corners are cut away sharply almost to the hips. A pointed vest that extends at the top from shoulder to shoulder and that narrows t'o a point at the joining of the edges of the skirt is on the bodice part. Such a coat is carried out in brown, the vest being deep red velvet closely braided with narrow gilt braid. Collars and cuffs match. The sleeves are a much modified gigot, with epaulettes of velvet treated to match the vest. Gold buttons are sometimes added, and the coat fastens under the vest. The skirts may be lined with red velvet, and the corners, instead of being cut away, may turnback to show the velvet as in the continental coat. It will be observed

SWEETER FRUIT.

that these designs lack entirely the revers and multiple frill effects that have been characteristic of outer garments long enough now to have become almost vulgar to the sensitively fashionable. Coats, jackets and capes are not grand enough for some, and for these the word wrap suggests at once something by which the world, may be made to i ealize the paucity of expression of which the former garments are capable. It sometimes seems as if the fashionable wtman strove to stun observers by the richness and elegance of her theater or ball wrap, so magnificent are these affairs. To the less fortunate woman, whose modest coat or cape does double, yes, triple duty, these costly things sometimes seem to overshoot the mark and stamp the wearer as one who courts that prominence which so many seek to avoid. But often these creations compel admiration by a combination of great expense and good taste. Such an example is

shown, and the original of the second picture was composed of shot Louis XV. brocade, bordered with sable and lined with shot silk, with a ruche of lace as edging to the turned back fronts and high collar. Beneath it was a dress in sprigged gauze 'trimmed with ecru Duchess lace, and carried with it a fan bag in mirror plush, enriched with a bullion cypher and chenille tassels tipped with beads. It is a strong-hearted woman, who, possessed at once of a love for handsome dress and a slender purse, can view such things without feeling some slinking envy at their happy owners. But splendor of cl6ak doesn’t denote clearness of conscience, nor glorious apparel contentment of mind, so there’s some i eason to be satisfied. Yet how surely

FROM ANOTHER LOW HANGING VINE

the memory reverts to the story of Sir Reynard and the grapes which roosted high. Capes hang lower on fortune’s tree, and, happily, within the reach of many; happily, because with the big sleeves still lingering, a cape is the handiest kind of an outer garment; lower, because there are many, many sorts, and in all degrees of expensiveness. The first one shown is made of fine woolen cloth, hangs in double boxpleats and is a very stylish model. The upright full shoulder capes are likewise trimmed. The second example is a double cape at the shoulders and is made of mode-colored cloth trimmed with Alaska sable. Its hem, fronts and the edges of both short capes as well as the collar are edged with fur. A third cape model is shown, and as sketched was made of bottle-green cheviot trimmed with mink. The cut of the collarette is unusual, for it forms collar and epaulettes and extends down the fronts. Its edges are fur-trimmed throughout. Fur is used as trimming for all kinds of cloth. As a rule in capos, jackets, and coats it appears as edge finish and in some cases tnis finish suggests a fur lining. Of late the craze for effects in braiding has induced the use of fur in very narrow bands. This seems a wicked waste, but, on the other hand, odds and ends of fur are made into this fur braiding and once accepted it is very effective. Gigot sleeves of seal are sold for wear over cloth sleeves. The cost of such is slight, and an immediate effect of elegance is secured. Collarettes and cuffs of fur make a very simple cloth coat handsome for an occasion, and this has led to the sale of these accessories separately. It is perhaps wiser to get them in this way. The designs for cloth in coats are often carried out exactly in fur, and this serves to .show tliatthe wearer is so rich she can use fur just as freely aa

YET EASIER TO REACH.

other people can cloth, which may be an advantage. The really new things in fur are the little “Bo’sun” jackets. These are made of seal, fit as trimly as a riding habit, and close down the front with a double row of buttons set close together, and the same distance apart all the way down. They are cut short all around, with the least little dip to the front, making a slight point below the waist there. They are turned away at the throat in a couple of coat revers, but these may be doubled over close to allow the Bo’sun to ba buttoned snugly to the throat. The sleeves are baggy all the way from the shoulder, and are cut in a long rounded point that comes well over the hand. This point is not over the back of the hand, but leaves the hand free at the little finger and covered to almost the tip of the thumb. This cut secures the showing of the handsome lining of the coat. The mode is so very dressy that it is likely to be copied in the coming summer outing gown and take the place of the much-wearied Eton. At present it is quite exclusive. Copyright, 1894.

The Crank Cured Her.

“I used to be very fond of perfumery,” said a £oung lady the other day, "but I don’t use it now. I was cured in a strange way. I was stopping with my family at a summer resort for a few weeks. I had a passion for cojpgnes and floral essences and used to pour a quantity on my handkerchief just before leaving my room. All went well until a crusty old lady who sat at the same table with myself accused mo one morning of indulging in the liquor habit. You could have knocked me down with a feather, but the more I thought of it the more natural seemed the mistake, as I remembered that the basis of all perfumery is alcohol. I tried to make the old lady understand, but she told me 1 couldn’t fool her and advised me to reform before it was too late. She was just horrid, but as I didn't care I to be misjudged again I gave up using perfumes.”

Titles Dying Out in France.

Twenty-two vears ago there were 222 bearers of titles in the French Chamber bf Deputies, where now there are but sixty-five. Only three marquises are left out of thirty, while the counts have declined from fiftytwo to fifteen. At this rapid rate of disappearance a few decades more will see almost the entire extinction of titles in the republic.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

A list of serious accidents occurring in English football games in the course of the present season shows that there were twenty-eight deaths and 10ff players badly injured. Thebe are 25,580 negro schools now in the South, where 2,250,000 negroes have learned to read and most of them to write. In the colored schools are 288,000 pupils and 20,000 negro teachers. There are 150 schools for advanced education and seven colleges administered by negro presidents and faculties.

Minister Lepixe, of the Paris police, has requested the newspapers to refrain from publishing pictures of Anarchists. His theory is that vanity is a very powerful motive in the Anarchist mind, and he hopes that their activity may be quieted to some extent when they find that their portraits are not published. A colony to be operated on strictly Communistic principles has been organized in Vienna. It is to include Americans, Englishmen and Germans, and will settle on lands in the Kenia district of British East Africa, about 250 miles above the mouth of the Tena River. The colony will include some well-known Anarchists and Socialists of Austria. The reclamation of the arid wastes of Southwestern desert lands proceeds marvellously apace. Another reclamation company was incorporated at San Bernardino, Cal., a few days ago, with a capital stock of $2,500,000. A dam is to be erected at Victor Narrows, on the Mojave River, in San Bernardino County, 150 feet in height, which will make a lake nine miles long and about three wide, whose waters will be used to Irrigate about 200,000 acres of land on the Mojave desert, which will then be especially adapted for growing raisin grapes and alfalfa.

The Sultan of Turkey has lost none of the attributes traditionally associated with the position he occupies. There is a general idea that every Sultan is a sac-simile of his predecessor, and each in his turn spends his life on a cushion smoking, or arranging the affairs of his harem. Abdul Hamid does not live up to these ideals. He is addicted to carpentering and makes some of his own furniture. He is reported ns taking no interest in his many better halves, and as devoting much attention to such sanitary arrangements as may prevent an epidemic of cholera. Tiie Fall River cotton mill corporations do not appear to have been suffering greatly from the hard times of 1898. The annual statement of thirtyfour corporations, owning fifty-six mills, shows that they have paid in dividends during the year $1,622,000, which is an average of 7 9-10 per cent, on a capitalized stock of $20,878,000. One mill paid a dividend oi»20 per cent., and several made from 10 to 12. The workpeople in these mills felt the pinch, however, for there was a reduction of wages during the year of from 9 to 16 2-8 per cent., and there were shutdowns of from two to nine weeks.

England has a national union for the technical" education of women In domestic science, whose purpose is the training of teachers in the three most needed domestic branches—cookery, laundry work and household sewing, with home dress cutting. The association embraces many schools, both in England and Scotland, where teachers are trained In the economical methods of work especially suited to the circumstances of the working classes, as well as in the cooking required by those of more abundant means. Examinations of a high standard, both in theory and practice, are rewarded with diplomas, giving assurances of thorough training" of the pupils. This training includes daily lessons of several hours in length, lectures, with demonstrations and actual practice in the subjects taught, and special courses are provided in first aid to the injured and nursing, in domestic economy and sanitary science. I Outside the larger towns, public road making in Arizona, where prairie and mountain trails are the only wagon routes, has not advanced beyond the wheel tracks 5 of primitive times. For the most part a little shovelling is the only work that has been done, ami that only at the crossings of gullies and where the trail lies through canons. In the outskirts of towns irrigating ditches frequently cross the road, and their overflows and washouts, which occur more or less frequently, may cut dangerous gullies in the highway or conceal it in a wide shallow lake. Wooden bridges and culverts have been tried on much-travelled t rails, but they are apt to disappear, as the native Mexican population regard them as providential gifts to remove for their own private purposes. Where the road skirts the edge of gullies, rains and floods often undermine the sides, which, falling off in sections, leave a sheer wall, it may be, fifteen or twenty feet high. By successive slouchings the trail is encroached on in places and a detour must be made. Thus a stage ride in a broken country is likely to be exciting to the point of apprehension, even with an experienced driver who knows the route and the probabilities of its shiftings. One of the worst tramp-ridden States in these hard times is lowa, which, being a rich farming country, presents a tempting field for their depredations. The scenes of 1887 are being repeated. During the summer of that year the vagabonds poured into every town of the State, and in such numbers that the authorities, in order to avoid riot and pillage, gathered them in public parks and fed them, finally calling on the militia to conduct them out of The tramps of 1898 do not seem to threaten the peace, but nevertheless they are a great nuisance. They keep, clear of the larger towns, finding the country full of resources to which they can help themselves without much risk. In bands of ten and twenty they break open the school-ho.useß, and levy on the wood arid coal-bins to build fires in the stoves. Some of their number go out to forage for provisions, which they get by theft and intimidation. The evenings are snent in eating, carousing, and card

and dioe-playing. Sometimes the neighbors band together to dislodge their unwelcome visitors, but it is not always an agreeable undertaking. In the cities of lowa charity associations have been organized to feed strangers as well as the local destitute, but the professional tramp prefers the free-and-easy time which he has in the country. The New Orleans Picayune prints a table of the land barons of Louisiana and their holdings of unimproved timber and swamp tracts, from which it appears that alien syndicates, companies, and individuals own more than 2,200,000 acres. One syndicate claims 400,000 acres, several possess 100,000 and more, and holdings of from 20,000 to 90,000 acres are not uncommon. Most of this land is owned in the Western Btates, but to capitalists of New York and Philadelphia several, hundred thousand acres belong. The Picayune explains that originally the United States owned all of the lands in Louisiana other than those which at the time of the cession by France were held by private persons or corporations. Subsequently what were known as swamp lands, that is to say, lands that were subject to tidal overflow from the sea or were annually flooded by the Mississippi, became the property of the State, with the provision that it should sell them for the purpose of raising a fund to build levees. A considerable territory, consisting of prairie and forest, land, was retained by the United States to be sold ns homesteads. Such a disposition was made of this land, but it is now’ largely in the possession of syndicates. The Picayune's table includes the swamp, homestead, and Boa-marsh lands. The last named, a lion’s share of which has been acquired by the Watkins syndicate, must be drained and diked like the Holland coast, and some progress in this work has already been made.

Animals and Musie.

“The Influence of Music on Man, Animals and Plants” was discussed by Director Asger llainerik in his lecture at the Peabody Conservatory. Of the second part of his subject he said: “There is no doubt of music’s power in animals. All singing birds uro subject to the influence. The spider, the mouse and the snake can be charmed with tunes. 1 saw on Bt. Paul street one day a runaway horse stop suddenly where a street organ was being played and tumble all over. I had once a Gordon setter that would play with his paw on the keyboard of my piano, and, with a kind of murmur, try to imitate the human voice, making an effect that, if not musical, showed at least that the dog’s mind attempted something in that direction. “ I have had personal experience with the musical qualities of mice, for I once used to play in a room where there were many mice. When I played for a little while out would come trooping a critical audience of mice, w hich seemed perfectly tame as long as the music lasted. I experimented with them aguin and again, and arrived at the conclusion that they undoubtedly were in some way influenced by and very susceptible to music. I grew tired of my faithful auditors after a while, and closed the .doors of the concert hall to them by having a tinner cover the holes and Cracks in the floor. “ I believe that everything created like ourselves with ears is susceptible to musical tones, and it. is probable that if we could only find it out there is •musical material in all such animals that could be developed and cultivated in some way.”

Animal Wonders of Madagascar.

An extraordinary natural history has Madagascar, delares Canon Tristram. One would suppose that this would be that of Africa, but it is so unlike as to prove that the Island has been separated from Africa for an immense period of time. Its animals and plants, as well as its people, have a far greater resmblance to those of India than to those of the near mainland. The monkeys and the lemurs of Madagascar are not to be found' in Africa, while all the great African animals of prey are absent. Among the lemurs is one known as the ayeaye, the formation of whose digits is unique. f The egg of an extinct bird of Madagascar is fifteen times the bulk of that of an ostrich, and yet the bird itself does not appear to have been larger than the New England moa, an extinct bird to which it had an affinity. This same peculiarity runs through all the birds of Madagascar. The water birds and sea fowl are, of course, those of Africa, but there are one or two extraordinary exceptions. The beautiful snake bird, allied to the cormorant, is an Indian species. There is also a water hen which is peculiar to Madagascar, and which has the remarkable features of a long tail and long foot. It is a great puzzle to naturalists. A groiip of cuckoos »is peculiar to the island, with no relations in Africa or India; while a bird allied to the thrushes is not African, but is allied to a species in the Mauritius and all the Mascarene islands.—[Trenton American.

Life of a Locomotive.

The life of a locomotive is from twenty to thirty years. Some have lasted much longer, the Baltimore and Ohio’s old “grass hoppers” for instance, which were shown at the World’s Fair. They were built in 1881) and were used as switchers at Mount Claire as late as last spring. Of course, certain parts of an engine wear out. quickly and have to be renewed from time to time, but the frame," the boiler and the wheels are good for many years of service. Perhaps the high rates of speed at which trains now run njay shorten the careers of engines, but as the new machines are built heavier and stronger than their predecessors it is probable that they will “live” as long as those before them.—[Baltimore News. The world’s sugar plantations produce every year 6,000,000 tons of sugar.

THE LIMEKILN CLUB.

Brother Gardner Enlightens the Club on the Essentials of Sacred History. “If Brudder Comealong Jackson an’ Brudder Standup Johnson am in de hall to-night I wish ’em to step dis way,” said Brother Gardner when the routine business of the last meeting of the Limekiln Club had been disposed of. The brothers named were present and after considerable hesitation they arose and advanced to the platform. It was seen that Comealong had lately lost three front teeth and that Standup had one eye closed and a battered nose. “Gem’len,” observed the president as ho looked down on them with a very serious countenance, “by-law No. 742 of article 821 plainly reads dat membera of dis club shall not ingage in religus or political argyments or discushuns. About ebery three months for de last five y’ars I have called speshual attenshun to dat bylaw. On three different occashuns members hav bin expelled fur breakin' dat rule. In spite of all dat has bin said an’ dun, howeber.de two members befo’ me hev bin guilty not only of breakin’ de rule, but of tryin’ to break each other’s heads. Brudder Jackson, what yo’ got to say fur yo’self?” “I said dat Eve had redha’r, sah.” “Brudder Johnson, what yo’ got to say?” “I said she didn’t hev.” “An dat precipitated a mortal combat?” “Yes, sah.” “Befo’ de mortal combat was precipitated, howeber, boas of yo’ called each other liars, and hoss thieves, an’ robbers?” The guilty pair bowed their heads In acknowledgment. “Brudder Jackson, did yo’ eber see Eve?” “No, sah.” “Did yo’, Brudder Johnson?” “No, sah.” “Kin either one o’ yo’ pint me to any description given to color o’- her ha’r?”

They mnmblingly acknowledged their inability to do so. “Now, yo’ h’arken to me!” exclaimed the president, us he drew himself up and emphasized his words with extended arm. “Do verdict am dat boas of yo’ be bounced out o’ dis club fo’with—right off—widin a rnlnlt—an’ dat under no sarcumstances will yo’ be restored to membership! l’ze gwine to put a stop to dis sort of bizness if I hev to bounce ebory member o’ de Limekiln Club an’ run Paradise Hull all ulone! De idea of two ole gray-headed niggers wastin’ delr breaf ober de color of de ha’r of a woman who libed thousands of y'ars ago! Who knows whether her ha’r was red, black, white or pea green? Whokoers? How you gwine to find out if yo’ do keer?” “Please, sah”—began Brothor Jackion as ho looked up. “Siionce!” thundered the president. “Nuffln yo’ kin say will change my declshun ! I want all members of dis club to thoroughly understand de posishun of affairs befo’ we drop dis subjlck. Dar was an Adam an an Eve. Dey resided In de Ga’den of Eden. Eve tempted Adam, an dey had to move. Dat’s plenty; dat’s all we want to know. We doan’ keer 2 cents how tall dey war, how much dey weighed, or what was de size of deir feet. “Dar was a flood. Noah built an ark an floated Broun’ an was saved. We choke off right dar. We doan’ keer whether he was married or single —white or black—tall or short. We doan’ keer whether it rained fo’ty days or only thirty-nine an’ a half. “Cain killed his brudder Abel wida club. It’s hone o’ our bizness to ax whether dot club was of oak or hickory—whether de killin’ took place Sunday mornin’ or Wednesday evenin’. We doan’ keer whether it was outdoahs or in de house. “Dan’l was cast into a den of lions—mebbe six. Mebbe dem lions was hungry—rmebbe not. Dey didn’t wan't no fuss wid Dan’l. Why dey didn't am none o’ our business. All we keer for am dat Dan’l got out all right. , “Jonah wus swallered by a whale an’ cust up ngin. Was it a small whale or a big one? Was he black or white? Was he waitin’ dar to swaller Jonah, or did he just happen Tong at de right minit? None o’ our bizinessi All we keer fur is dat he wus cast out agin. “Dis am whar I stand, gem’len, an’ whar I shall continer to stand, an' such as can’t stand wid me kin take a walk! Brudders .Jackson and Johnson, yo’ kin make yo’selves skass! Git out an’ stay out! Yo’ can’t come yere no mo’! If, .in gwine down de alley together, one of you declares dat Job had chilblains ’stead of biles, an’ de odder calls him a liar an’ gits up a fight, it won’t be nullin’ to dis club and nobody will interfere. We will now blow out de lamps and prognosticate homewards.” [Chicago Times.

" The Well of Serpente."

There is a horseshoe-shaped mountain up in Manitoba which literally swarms with snakes twice every year. In the early fall these slippery customers gather here from all directions, mostly from the prairie country to the south. In one side df the mountain there is a circular hole, about fifteen feet deep, and as smooth as if it had been fashioned with a well augur, where tens of* thousands of reptiles gather to spend the cojd winter months. Persons who have tried to explore this immense snake den during the summer, when the regular tenants were absent, say that dozens of subterranean passages lead out under the mountains in all directions from the bottom of the well. Captain Silvers, Royal Engineers, estimates .that he has seen as many as 800,000 snakes of all sizes knotted together and piled up in a semi-torpid state in this “Well of Serpents,” as it is called in the Northwest.—[St. Louis Republic. ‘ The pelisse is the novelty of tbe season. It is a dress in itself, and a very graceful and becoming one, too. It is close fitting, fairly full at the qick, and reaches to the feet. The only dress one could wear under it wouUnbe a silk skirt and blouse.