Indianapolis Journal, Volume 48, Number 27, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 January 1898 — Page 7

THE TRAFFIC THAT PAYS - FRKHiHTS SUPPORT WESTERN' AND PASSENGERS EASTERN ROADS. ♦ The Jcmy Central Will le Electric* ity for Its Fast Service— Miscellaneou* Ratlna) News. “But few people stop to consider the fact,” said a man who has been identified with railroads for over a quarter of a century, “that in the Western States the profits come to the railroad through its freight department and but little of the passenger business Is carried at a profit, while directly the opposite is the case in the Eastern States, freight traffic being secondary. This is illustrated in the case of the Wabash In the West and the New York, New Haven & Hartford in the East. The latter runs ten trains a day between Boston and New York, averaging six cars to the train and carrying on an average the year through thirty passengers to the car. The Wabash runs the same number of trains between St. Louie and Kansas City, the distance in both cases being: the same, and the cost of running the train no greater in the one case than the other, but, taking the year 1897, the Wabash carried an average of but twelve passengers to a car. The difference in favor of the New York, New Haven & Hartford at a minimum rate of $.7 per passenger is $.7,400 per day; the Wabash w*ould obtain $3,600 gross returns daily and could make some money at that, as the cost of running would be the same, but the additional sum obtained by the Eastern line would be clear profit. The time will doubtless come when the difference will not be so marked. As the Western country becomes more densely populated Western lines will show au increase in passenger revenue, and it will be obtained practically at no increase in cost, as the present trains would readily accommodate double tno number of passengers without increasing the number of trains. J am sure that tne roads crossing Illinois and Indiana, both east and west, and north and south, at no distant day will derive as much revenue proportionately from passenger as from freight service, as prior to the easiness ,n each jear ~as owing an increased volume oi travel, ana already with the coming of better times the improvement In passenger business is very perceptible.”

The C. & E. I,'n Report. The following shows the results of the operation of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois for the first half of its fiscal year, ending with Dec*. 31, 1897, and for December, in comparison with 1896: December. 1897. Inc. Freight $374,439 $55,374 Passenger 59,610 1,602 Express 4,0t>3 332 2k* ail 5,658 246 Miscellaneous 1.098 *1,193 Total earnings $445,368 $56,362 Expenses 231,875 31,846 Net $213,493 $24,516 Other income 24,637 1,165 Total net $238,130 $25,681 Charges, rent and taxes 127,221 11,476 Surplus $110,909 $14,205 Since July 1— Freight ....*. $1,794,740 $206,310 Passenger 359,876 11,361 Express 27.185 2,313 Mail 33,683 1,543 M.iscellaneo(ijt 6,832 *6,928 Total earnings $2,222,315 $214,598 Expenses 1,209,689 111,566 Net $1,012,626 $103,032 Other income.. 77,597 *7,611 Total net $1,090,223 $95 421 Charges, rent and taxes 760,062 63,680 Surplus $330,161 $31,741 •Decrease. For the month the surplus applicable to the preferred stock dividend is $110,900, bringing the surplus for six months up to $330,1W: Three per cent, for six months on the $4,830,700 preferred stock calls for $144,921, leaving a balance of $185,240 for the $7,746,000 common stock, or 2.4 pur cent, for six months, or at the rate of between 4 and 5 per cent, per annum. Alaskan Rate Agreement. General passenger agents of the roads of the Western Passenger Association and representatives of five lilies of the Central Passenger Association met in Chicago yesterday to consider the question of through rates to Alaska. The five roads of the latter organization agreed with those of the Western Passenger Association in adopting a resolution to the effect that ali the Eastern connections of the lines represented in the meeting immediately adopt through rates to points In Alaska and in the Northwest Territory which will accord with the same through rates as are usfed by the Canadian Pacific through Port Arthur, the rates to be made by using the lowest thruugli rate to the Pacific coast basing point, plus the steamer rates to Alaska. These rates are to be applied through San Francisco and points north of that city. The five roads of the Central Passenger Association could, of course, not bind their organization as to the acceptance of the resolution, but they agreed to recommend it very strongly, and it is probable thut it will be adopted by the roads of the association which were not represented at the meeting. A meeting is to he held between the roads of the Western Passenger Association and representatives of the Canadian Pacific to-day, which may result in the settlement of the troubles over the differential*; claimed by the Canadian Pacific on the Alaska business. It has been intimated to the Western roads that the Canadian Pacific will make some concessions, and in this event there will not be much trouble in reaching an agreement. Ninety Miles an Hour. The. latest project is the construction by the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey of a fast trolley line between Jersey City and Philadelphia. The controlling stockholders of the Jersey Central will furnish the bulk of the capital for the new venture and the Jersey Central tracks will be used for the greater portion of the way. An old elevated railroad franchise, which permits the building of a railroad from the Jersey Central terminal at Ctunmunipa w to Jersey City Heights, has been secured by parties representing the Jersey Central Company. The road will be extended over tlje. meadows to Newark, and by use of the Jersey Central tracks part of the way and new tracks where a shorter route can be built the line will be extended through Trenton to Philadelphia. The tlnni-rail Watkins alternating system will be used, whereby a speed of inert than eighty miles an hour can be attained. The principal difficulty with the electric tlqrd-raU system along surface roads lies in the danger to life from the highly charged electric rail, but this has been overcome by a late improvement vhicli leaves the rail charged with i-ltetri- ity only when the car Is passing over It. This invention also permits power to be utilized for three hundred miles instead of tit teen miles as heretofore. Ikterstute-Comraerce Decision. The Interstate-commerce Commission in au op jion by Chairman Knapp, yesterday announced its decision in the ease of the Milwa ikee Chamber of Commerce against tfce C.deago. Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway h id others. The commission rules that dDtan :es by shortest available routes are th proper instances on which to base com-pariso-i of differentials in grain rates from the sme points of shipment to such nmrk< ts i. s Milwaukee anu Minneapolis Allot nr point decided is that although carriers .-crying but one of two competing cities may. by reducing rates to the city fcrve< by them, prevent the correction of at. ur ,'iist relation of rates to the two pUu from common points of supply, it is no* r ndess the duty of the commission to condemn such a'relation of charges und to la lit lie the basis upon which the rate would be readjusted. It/iditf of Pertnlioble Freight. The appended resolutions referring to the reielnis of perishable freight in transit have been iilopted by the managers of the Joint Trfifth Association: ‘Th;>< railway companies west of junction "ith, lines members of the Central iTrti.iu Association and those In its territory hf *• be required by each of the first

note on their expense bills or transfer slips thereat specific instructions as to the points east of such connecting points, at which it is desired, that shipments of dressed meats, provisions or other perishable property taking third-class rates shall be reiced in transit at the expense of shippers, and unless such reicing shall contemplate a complete refilling of the iceboxes of such cars, the quantity of ice to be used shall be specified In each instance Such information shall be shown on the waybills east of said junctions. “That as to the shipments of like perishable property originating on lines in the territory of the Central Traffic Association, shippers shall be required to furnish similar instructions regarding the points at which such property is to be reiced at their expense and the quantity of ice to be used; such information to be shown on waybills.” The new* rule will become effective Feb. 15 next. pPerMonul, Local anl General Notes. The Big Four is putting in six miles of new steel between Lawrenceburg and Guilford. P. C. Liggett, of Fort Wayne, on Feb. 1 will go to Chicago as ticket agent of the Lake Shore road. The Pennsylvania Company’s tourist car for California yeste.rday left this city with every berth occupied. The directors of the Ontario & Western Rallw'ay Company have elected Chauncey M. Depew a director of the road. Charles A. Langdon, chief clerk of G. L Park, division sujierintendent on the Panhandle, was buried at Sheridan on Tuesday. Albert Ingalls, assistant superintendent of the Indianapolis and Cleveland divisions of the Big Four, is in the city for a couple of days. General Passenger Agent Heafford has decided to name his new train. “The Golden Limited,” and it will be painted a golden color. A. A. Zion, superintendent of the Belt road, will to-day ask for bids on two switching engines, the engine proper to weigh 110.000 pounds. William Brewster, secretary-treasurer of the FLrie & Pittsburg (a Pennsylvania line), is dead. He begun his railroad career many years ago on the Lake Shore. At the fast freight-line meeting yesterday in Buffalo Lafayette Briggs, commercial agent of the Nickle-plate at Chicago, was elected general manager of the Traders’ Despatch. Engine 226, on tlie Panhandle, has just come out of the shops rebuilt. It is of the largest Class P type and yesterday brought in Train 5, making up several minutes of lost time. All new rails henceforth purchased for the Peoria & Eastern will be thirty-three feet in length. General Manager Barnard says there is a saving in joint splices because of the ’.ength. M. Adami, traveling passenger agent of the Cotton-belt route, was in the city yesterday. Fie states that the Southern roads are doing an excellent passenger business, largely in excess of that of last year. Robert Quayle. superintendent of motive power of the Chicago & Northwestern, yesterday delivered a lecture before the students at Purdue University on “Business Problems of the Motive Power Department.” Thomas Morris, assistant chief engineer on the Big Four lines, this month commenced his twenty-eightli year of service with that company. His first work was on the part of the system known as the St. Louis division. A. J. Smith, secretary of the American Association of General Ticket and Passenger Agents, will call a meeting of the association at Washington Feb. 14, to perfect arrangements for the use of anew safety ticket paper. One of the new twelve-wheel engines on the Chicago & Northwestern on Monday hauled in one train eighty-nine cars, thirty-nine of the Cars being loaded and fifty empty. The train was nearly threefourths of a mile long. W. F. Goltra, secretary of Viee President and General Manager Bradbury, of the Brice lines, is one of the busiest men to be found in railroad service. All detail work which comes to the general manager’s office must be looked after by him. Large numbers of the delegates to the monetary commission left for their respective homes last night. The Big Four sent out four extra Wagner sleeping cars, the Pennsylvania four extra Pullman cars and the Yandalia two extra Pullman ears westbound. It is stated that the Lake Shore is so free from curves and steep grades that on no road in the country can the freight tonnage be moved at so small an expense per mile, und on no road would it be safer to run trains at the highest speed than on the Lake Shore.

William Garstang. superintendent of motive power of the Big Four, has gone to Pittsburg to attend a meeting of the execu-r tive committee of the master car builders and auditors to fix upon a plan to have accounts of this department kept in a more uniform manner. General Passenger Agent Daniels.* of the New York Central, is determined that the patrons of the road shall be amply accommodated, as is shown in the fact that every twenty-four hours sixteen trains of the highest standard of equipment leave New York for the West. M. A. Zodk. engineer of maintenance of way of the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis, who has been in the city for a day or two, returned yesterday to Louisville. The proposition to change his headquarters from Louisville to Princeton has been shelved for the present at least. No one has vet denied that General Manager Dickson, of the Union Pacific, is to return to the Baltimore fr Ohio. As Receiver Murray has denied that Wm, Green is to retire as general manager of the Baltimore <fe Ohio, what position is to be given Mr. Dickinson is a matter of speculation. The lease by which the Pittsburg, Cincinnati. Chicago & St. Louis operates the Little Miami is said to be the best for the owners of the property of any railroad contract of that character now existing, pleasing the Little Miami owners much better than it does the Pennsylvania Cdmpany, the lessors. The Oregon Central & Eastern road, fourteen miles in length, extending from Yaquina bay to the Cascade mountains, has been transferred to the new corporation. the Corvallis & Eastern. J. K. Wetherford. of Albany, is president of the new company. It is stated that a mortgage has been executed bonding the road for the sum of $15,000 per mile, and that this money w*ill be used in extending the road eastward. The new motor car of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton, which was sent back to tiie Baldwin locomotive works a few weeks ago to be overhauled and some new features introduced, is ready for shipment West. On its arrival it will be tested, and if it performs as expected it will be placed in regular service by the middle of next month. The improvements to the ear w*ere made on suggestions of Passenger Traffic Manager Edwards, who is also the president of the C., H. & D. Traction Company. A singular accident happened on the Monon Tuesday night. One of the express trains was running side by side with one of the road’s freight trains where the track is double, near Englewood, when a freight ear jumped off (lie track just ahead of the passenger locomotive, striking it in such a man--as to take off one side of the cab. and the engine came in w*ith one side of the cab boarded up roughly to protect the engineer. What might have been a serious accident resulted in no injury to the train crews, and the property damage was slight. Beginning Sunday, Feb. 6. anew train will be placet! in service between Chicago and Denver, which will make the fastest schedule ever maintained between Chicago and Colorado's capital city. This train will be known as “The Colorado Special,” and w ill leave Chicago via the Chicago & Northwestern Railway at 10 o'clock a. m. every day. and reach Denver at 1:30 the follow ing afternoon. East-bound, tiffs train will leave Denver daily at 3:30 p. m. and reach Chicago at 8:45 the next evening, and connection will be made in the Union Depot at Denver to and from trains of all the Colorado lines. Trains wifi be vestlbuled throughout. lighted with Pintseh gas and will consist or coaches, free reclining chair cars, buffet smoking and library ears, and dining cars, serving all meals en route. A large number of men are employed m making excavations and tills for the new tracks the Pennsylvania will construct in addition to its present double track between Altoona and Gallitzin. Four steam shovels are at work tearing up the loose material, and steam and compressed air drills arc* boring thousands of holes into the’mountain side rock, into which dynamite is placed and exploded. On the mountain side, supported by huge cranes, are platforms on which large gangs of men are employed, and when loaded they are swung round and the contents dumped into the ravine below and the heavier rock is hauled away over a bridge constructed over the present tracks und then rolled down the mountain. Although it is but ten days sine* the work begun remarkable progress has been made. Still Another Problem. Chicago Post. "They have now invented an electric keyhole,” she said pointedly. •‘An electric keyhole! ’ he repeated in a puzzled tone. "Yes,” she answered, “an electric keyhole. When a man comes home late at night all he has to do is to touch a button and a light shines out, showing him exactly where the keyhole is.” , "I will admit,” he said thoughtfully, “that that solves one problem, but how Is the man who comes home late at night to find the button?”

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 1898.

IN THE CITY OF PRAGUE . THE TOWN SHOWS DESTRUCTIVE RESULTS OF THE RECENT RIOTS. Everyone Seems Suspicious of Everybody Else nml the Public Pluces Are Full of Soldiers? * Correspondence London Telegraph. Prague, with its magnificent thoroughfares, stately palaces, crooked mediaeval lane.:, statues of saints and sinners, artistically decorated shops and picturesquely attired maidens was always an interesting citj to native and foreign “Bohemians.” Tc?day it is doubly so, owing to the historic struggle which is now being waged there. The stranger’s first impression when he leaves the railway station ar.d drives to his hotel along the spacious, silent streets is that he is traversing the scene of some terrible calamity of recent date—an earthquake, a bombardment, or a colossal free fight indulged in by modern Titans. Here you pass a magnificent palace, all the window sashes of which are filled in with brow*n paper; there a hotel, half hidden with boards; a little further down a big grammar school, in which windows, doors, desks, forms, maps, and all the other traditional attributes of such establishments have been ground ipto one nondescript mass; further on the four bare walls of what w*as once a flourishing case; and a minute later the half-charred remains of a milliner's shop and a sausage factory. If you call on a friend in a hurry the chances are that, on opening the door of the house, you may run up against the fixed bayonets of a score or so of resolute soldiers, who stand there from morn to eve and all through the weary hours of the night, waiting, like Micawber, for something to turn up. If you drive up to the theater the door of your hansom is opened by a military man in feathers, who seizes your right arm as gently as he knows how, and ushers you into what seems an elegant and welllighted barracks, but is only the vestibule. It is occupied by soldiers, however, with fixed bayonets and Mannlicher guns, ready to deal death and destruction at a moment's notice. On the staircase, in the corridors, foyer, etc.—everywhere, in a word—you pick your way slowly and reverently through groups of soldiers, who look as if they felt ashamed at their inactivity, und longed to be up and doing. In tlfe theater itself, attention to the villain of the play is divided by nervous fear lest some of the real villains should throw a bomb at your feet, or set fire to the building, or otherwise devote themselves to practical politics. Nor is the apprehension groundless. A bomb w*as found in the German theater a few days ago, and if the burning fuse had not been extinguished in the nick of time by a wideawake policeman a human life or two might have been snuffed out to further the cause of Bohemia and make things “hum.”

BABEL OF TONGUES. In the streets everybody you meet seems to be afraid or suspicious of everybody else. Conversation, when indulged in, is carried on in whispers. If you stop a passer-by and ask him the way to some street the chances are that he will shrug his shoulders and hasten his pace, as if you had reminded him of something he had forgotten and must hurry up to get. And you never know what language to use. 1 mean, of course, which of the two local idioms, Bohemian or German, the rivalry between w’hich has given rise to the recent outbreaks of fanatic brutality. Bohemian —also called Czech (pronounce Check)—is a Slavonic tongue, a sort of degenerate Russian, w r ith a few* weird and woeful sounds thrown in. The other idiom is German. Formerly German was the one language of educated persons here and of all who wished to appear with the varnish of civilization laid on thick, the Bohemian being left to the tykes and boors from the country districts. Then the Czechs arose in their thousands, and clamored for schools and culture and poetry, and all the other attributes of a race with a mission. And, having got all they asked for, they now cry for more. They want to suppress German and the Germans in the capital city and revive the old kingdom of Bohemia, which is to be free from Austrian intermeddling, and then to make history on th£ir own account. But there are difficulties in the path, and, by way of removing them and clearing the ground generally, they lately demolished German houses, annihilated German schools, plundered German shops, attacked a German hospital, and ran amuck in a wholesale manner. The military were then dispatched in order to establish a truce, and if they were withdrawn to-morrow the “ructions” would recommence anew. The grammatical and philological result is curious. A month ago almost everybody in Prague could converse indifferently in both tongues. To-day each person who is not a state official is acquainted with one language only, and, as he does not carry a label w’ith its name hung from his neck, you never can tell which idiom you ought to use. I stopped one man in the street and asked him whether he could direct me to such a place. I was morally convinced that he was a German by race, and I am of that conviction still, but he soon made it clear that he was a. Czech by sentiment and education, for he rolled his eyes in a frenzy which was anything but fine, and, addressing me loudly, said: “How* dare you talk to me like that, you A B C,” etc., drawing freely upon those forcible epithets w*hich. I regret to say, are generally picked up with shocking rapidity by the stranger during his first practical lessons In Bohemian. It was nighttime, and knowing that in Bohemia one must suffer for one’s political convictions, I lboked around to see w’hether the street was' absolutely empty, so that the brawny “broth of a, bhoy” there could punish me for my audacity, but the sight of seme military hats with feathers reassured me. LIKE THE IRISH. The Czechs, or Slavonic element of the population of Bohemia, possess many characteristics in common w*ith the Irish people. They are highly musical, intelligent, polite, and as pliable and backboneless as ir.dia rubber. They are as changeable as an English April day, and are <*6aid to make equally free with persons, property, and facts. In bygone times the other races of the Hab-burg monarchy w*ere wont to cr dit them with highly developed inborn gifts for music and thieving. During the dark days of Hungary’s history, some forty years ago, a Bohemian judge in Hungary was invited to dinner, and as soon as the gentlenfan had joined the ladies in the. drawing room the hostess—not knowing whether the judge was musical or the reverse—asked him to sing or play. He smiled, bowed and did both for over an hour, to the intense enjoyment of the guests. The hostess, highly Relighted but unduly impulsive, thanked him warmly, and said: “When 1 asked you to sing I had no idee that you could do so; but now* I know Gw the proverb is true, every Bohemian is a bora musician or a thief.” These Bohemians are a majority in the country; roughly speaking, they amount to about two-thirds of the population, the Germans to one-third. The latter, however, are the moneyed class, who possess capital, own factories and mines, monopolize science and reside mainly in the cities. The former element are poor, struggling, shifty, unburdened by worldly goods or ethical principles, eager to reach the goal of their ambitions. and careless about the nature of the paths they traverse. When the Bohemians first resolved upon a national “resurrection,” they felt the need of an ancient literature, to serve as a pendant to the old German literature, about which people were writing and raving. So they sat down an l made one. Now* it is a difficult thing to compose an epic poem in an ancient tongue, and to show* such an intimate knowledge of long-forgotten persons, things and conditions as to take in scholarly experts—for a time. Yet this was done in Bohemia, with a degree of ingenuity which is not found every day in every country; and there are still some people who believe that that “ancient” poetry is genuine. The Bohemians, whose whole lives are taken up with politics, are not much hampered in (heir activity by political principles. And herein lies their force. When Austria found it necessary* to ride rough shod over the elementary rights of the Hungarians, the ; Czechs were her political grooms. They played the part of janissaries everywhere in j the empire, and frequently molded even their religious views in accordance with I their political aims. Five years ago the ! present political leaders of the Czechs, and, indeed, al! the rank and file, were red Radicals who quoted Camille Desmoulins, swore by the “rights of man,” and scathingly dt r.ounced the cynicism of the majority of the Austrian Parliament, which listened to but ignored the just demands of the minority. To-day they are hand in glove with the Feudal-Clerical party, which aims at repealing the constitution and returning to a regime of absolutism. Th< y form a part of a nondescript majority which lately rtfusi and even to listen to the minority ! and violated the precincts of the Parliament 1 by introducing- the police and applying a *

sort of pride’s purge to tho legislative assembly of the empire. After the defeat of the Austrians a generation ago they invited the enemy to invade Bohemia, promising aid and assistance. Ever since then they have been threatening Austria, now* witli Russia, now with France, and occasionally With both. During all this time the Gerhians of Bohemia constituted the only national Austrian party in the empire: and to-day the Bohemians have man. ged so gain the ear of the government ant to proceed to denationalize the Germans. - WERE PREMEDITATED. The disorders here, in the capital, suddenly though they breke out, seem to hi ve been carefully prepared beforehand. As Germans and Czechs live in the same streets and the same houses—the system of flats prevailing in Prague—an infuriated mob could never show the discernment which was uniformly displayed throughout the excesses unless an intelligent plan existed. Thus, the houses occupied by Germans were marked in chalk and attacked accordingly. Once the mob, or rather the ringleader, was in doubt whether one of the obnoxious houses was No. 15 or 17. The former was chosen at hazard, but the doorkeeper, a Czech, came out and exclaimed: “What are you going to do here? There are only Czechs in this house.” Whereupon the politicians w*ent to the next house and “gutted” it. In another case it was the question of a ham and a sausage shop which had belonged to a Czech some time previously, but had been purchased by a Jew a short time before the disorders. The present owner had invested all his eaoital — the savings of many years—in the business, and even so had ju3t barely been able to purchase it. The angry throng gathered in front of the doomed house, and first smashed the window's then broke the doors, ami appropriated or destroyed everything they found in the shop. Nothing but the furniture remained, and just as they were about to make "ducks and drakes” of that, a voice w*as heard crying out: “The furniture is not his. He has not paid for it yet. It belongs to a Czech.” And the surging crowd retired. Suddenly, however, another voice arose above the din—some say it was that of the late ow*ner—shouting: “The furniture is his, too. Destroy it. boys! He paid for everything except the table.” And, with yells of delight, the populace broke, stole, or burned every article of furniture except the table, which remained intact. Numerous families lost their all in this way. And they have no hope of receiving compensation. The city—governed by a Czech Tow*n Council—refuses to pay up, on the ground that as the police belongs not to the city but to the state, the latter alone is responsible. And the state declines to compensate any but foreign subjects. The consequence is that many German capitalists are about to remove their works and shops from Prague to Vienna. Dresden or elsewhere. One of the most extraordinary traits about these street disorders, which lasted for four days, is the all-absorbing thirst fpr ill-gotten gain which was manifested by all classes of the Czech population. One can well understand that the riffraff of a wealthy city should indulge in p.undering shops which they had broken into and gutted. They naturally feel disposed to keep such movable property as falls into their hands rather than consign it to the flames, that being the alternative; but that well-to-do citizens should soil their hands and their good names by taking part in ransacking and stealing their neighbors' goods—this is a trait which, happily, is unknown outside of Bohemia. 1 have been assured by various officials and others that prosperous Czech merchants to whom fifty or a hundred pounds are but as dust in the balance were found in possession of the plundered property of their German fellowcitizens. and some of them were arrested in consequence. In one case the stolen goods were of no more than three or four pounds’ value. The manner in which a small part of the lost articles was recovered and a few of the thieves were brought to light and justice is interesting. Here is an instance: Two charming children were taking a stroll about the streets a day or two after order had been restored. One of them w*as about fifteen years old, the other about ten. The latter was very gay and talkative, ar.d both w*ere dressed a little too well. Their jackets were especially overdone. They were evidently made by a most fashionable dressmaker, and were of a much more costly stuff than parents are apt to give to their children. A sympathetic, elderly gentleman spoke to the children with a fatherly familiarity, which is not uncommon in Austria. He admired their jackets. The elder of the two girls nudged the younger, and urged her to hold her tongue,. But the childish delight of the little mite needed an outlet, and she boasted to the venerable stranger that they had plenty of other splendid dresses and gorgeous finery at home now. The conversation ran on in this strain until the wide-awake maiden of fifteen finally succeeded in closing her sister’s lips, and then the pair bade good-bye to the inquisitive stranger and turned down a narrow Tape. But he arrested them then and there, Explained that he was a detective and took them home. In the house of the parents a considerable quantity of fine clothing was found, the presence of which could not be accounted for. At last it was identified and the family elders taken into custody. 111-gotten goods of this kind are now known in Prague as “the first fruits of the indignation policy of the Czechs.”

THE CZARINA. Her Personal Attendants Must Be Clever with the Needle. Detroit Free Press. Those who think that the life of a lady about a court is necessarily that of a. butterfly may be surprised to learn that cleverness with the needle is an adjunct demanded of the maids of honor at the court of Russia, to be of use in cases of emergency when in attendance on the Czarina. That they Jiave also to learn to read well aloud and to stand for any length of time goes without saying, but it would hardlv be believed that in order to pass into the‘imperial presence Russian maids of honor have to obtain a diploma for cooking. Such is, howe\er, the case. In some imperial menages, too, the maid of honor has to compose the everyday dinner menu. And in all this training there underlies the teaching that an Empress or grand duchess of Russia is a personage of divine vocation. Having passed through all this ordeal, the wouldbe maid of honor, at the age of sixteen or seventeen, is presented to the Empress and, if finding favor in the imperial eyes! is appointed a demoiselle d’honneur, passing subsequently through various grades. From this body of maidens, too, the various grand duchesses with the Czarina’s approval, also make their selections. The maids of honor of the Czarina wear a costume of truly Oriental magnificence, unequaled at any other court in Europe! It consists of a splendid white satin robe, falling from the shoulders to the feet, fastened up in front by buttons studded with sparkling gems. Over this a cloak of red velvet is worn, heavily embroidered with gold, with wide, open sleeves falling to the wrists, displaying the bare arms beneath No other jewelry of any kind must be worn On tiie head rests the “kakochnik.” or national Russian cap of crimson velvet, thickly' studded with jewels, from the crown of which descends a veil of white tulle, spreading below the waist over, the voluminous train. This gorgeous costume is worn oil all state occasions until the lady attains the degree of dame d’honneur a portrait, when she becomes entitled to wear a portrait of the Empress (hence the designation), set in brilliants, on her left shoulder, instead of the imperial monogram, worked in pale blue silk, which is, up to then, her "badge o' office.” Tlie crimson and gold "kakochnik” is also then exchanged for a less gorgeous one of green velvet and embroidered silver While at college the "probationers ’ wear plain woolen frocks, with silk aprons. It will, therefore, he seen that to become a maid of honor a portrait of the Russian imperial court requires an ordeal and training never dreamed of by’ aspirants at any other court in Europe. THE CAUSE OF DRUNKENNESS. \\ Ity It la that Men Indulge in Intoxicating’ Drink. London Spectator. The usual explanation of overdrinking is that it is a passion, a kind of lust which seizes upon people for no particular reason, and when indulged gradually masters them until they arc unable, even when anxious, to resist tlie craving. We are convinced that this theory is unfounded. A desire or lust of that kind implanted in human nature would be universal, and it is certain that the craving for liquor in excess is not only not universal, but is in some races—the Aral), for example-—easily repressed, and in all is exhibited only by a minority of the population. We believe that as there is among Asiatics, who are al! more or less weary of life, a desire to be rid of consciousness—a desire marked in their creeds -and therefore a hankering after the stronger sedatives like opium, so there is among Western men. who revel in life and wish to enjoy it, a desire for artificial means of exhilaration, of which the one easiest to obtain and pleasantest to consume is alcohol. The man who drinks begins drinking from a wish to be happier, to be fuller of life, to be freer from care, and to be able to take a more sanguine view of things around him. He does not drink to become stupid, but to become gay. The teetotaler often denies it, declaring that drink does not inspirit him — which is true, no doubt, of individuals, was true, lor instance, of the great artist, Charles Keene, who, though not a teetotaler. had a physical distaste for liquor in any shape—but ail Western literature in all ages has alHrmed it, and it gives meaning and motive to every drinktng song that has ev r caught the general ear. If that is true, the races and classes which feel least the necessity for exhilaration should be those in which drinking shows thtyleust tendency

to Increase, and this is precisely the result of Mr. Bateman’s figures. In America, where the climate is of itself a cause of exhilaration, where the conditions of life are fairly easy, and where the temperament of the people conduces to a nearly universal self-satisfaction, there is a positive decrease in the tendency to overdrinking -a tendency at no time very marked. In England and Germany, where the people are solid, where despair is uncommon, and nervous depression the portion of only a few in every hundred, the habit remains, among the bulk of the people, almost stationary. It is in Prance that drinking is now most prevalent, and is assuming the form least connected with the actual enjoyment of fermented liquor. Many men, probably most men among those who take it, enjoy the flavor of wine or beer, but very few enjoy spirits except for the sake of the results which they produce. They swallow them down rather than drink them, “toss them off”—that has become a colloquial form—rather than attempt to enjoy their flavor. Yet the French, though wine is more plentiful in France than in any other country, and though they are all trained from childhood to drink it, are taking to strong spirits of peculiarly nasty flavors—taking to them with such vehemence and abandon that in some departments the artisans, especially in towns, are swallowing little glasses from morning till night, and expend upon etu-de-vie half their entire wages. What is the cause of that alteration of habit, which is admitted on all hands, and causes serious alarm to the government? There has been no climatic change in France, no decrease in her prosperity, no demand on her people for more severe forms of labor. We believe that the change is mental, thdt in France, more than in any other country, the people are becoming depressed and pessimistic, partly through the general loss of their faith, partly through a consciousness that they are not as great in the world as they think they ought to be, partly through the rise of the savage pecuniary discontents which produce what we are accustomed to call socialism. LIFE AT DAWSON CITY. What a Woman Finds in that Far-Off Town, Esther Lyon, in Leslie’s Weekly. A journey of forty-five miles from Sixtymile Post brought us to Dawson City, the wonderful city of the new mining district, populated almost in a night. Although really sixty-stive miles distant from the Klondike, it is a typical mining camp, minus the guns. The laws of the British government are enforced at Dawson City, and those law's prohibit the use of firearms; consequently few men carry guns. In and around Dawson at the present time there are about four thousand men and one hundred and fifty women. Dawson, of course, is very primitive and very dirty, although from a recent conversation with Mr. I*udue I understand that every effort is being made to clean it. There are large stocks of provisions in all the storehouses, and it looks as though there could be no hunger in the Klondike, There will be little or no lawlessness, and there is a probability ot very little sickness. The Alaskan winters are healthful. In Septembei can be seen quantities of black ducks wending their way southward, and even on the streets of Daw r son you can see the sparrow and hear its chirping. Here, as everywhere in Alaska, nature has stored her treasures in a safe of ice; in fact, one yrriter has called Alaska the nation’s ice box, but to me it represents the future paradise of poet and painter. Nature has done much for Dawson, but the energetic American has done more. He has built warehouses In which he has stored acres of food, built comfortable log cabins, erected a theater, established many saloons, billiard rooms and dance halls. The sums of money spent in these billiard saloons and dance halls are simply fabulous; fortunes change hands every night at the different gambling devices. At poker in a single night SIOO,OOO frequently changes hands, it being nothing unusual to see SIO,OOO bet on a single hand. Yet do not infer from this that all the miners are gamblers. Many of them never even enter a saloon or dance hall. I have a little friend out there, an old schoolmate, who is teaching school. She hugely enjoys her winter there. She is at Circle City. She takes a daily ride behind a splendid dog team, and I tell you it’s great fun. You ride a while, and then you get out and run; then you get in and ride again. No one really knows what a sleighride is until they ride behind a fine dog team. The inhabitants manage to get considerable amusement. They have private dances, parties, and in the summertime they even have picnics. The arctic winters are most keenly felt by those miners who are obliged all through the long, dark winter to live in tents and dug-outs. Dawson City is rectangular in shape. It is laid out in town lots. Its streets are sixtysix feet wide. It is situated on a stretch of low ground on the northwest bank of the Y’ukon, just below the mouth of the Klondike. Town lots in Dawson City are selling now at $5,000 each. Up to the present time 50 cents at Dawson is the smallest piece of money used; it is called four bits. Both Protestants and Roman Catholics have already established mission churches in Dawson. Those who visit Dawson next spring will see a live metropolis.

FLORIDA’S POCAHONTAS. The Romantic Story of the Hanghte* of an Indian Chief. New York Times. Governor W. B. Bloxham incidentally related the following legend in his address welcoming the delegates of the National Fishery Society to Tampa, Fla., on Thursday, Jan. 20: “You meet here upon this historic ground, where the footprints oi 4 some of Spain’s greatest cavaliers and America’s noblest captains can be traced. While it is not my intention to recur to their heroic deeds or to offer you a cup filled with the ambrosia of ancient story, yet there is one romance, based upon historic fact, associated with this veo' spot that I feel you will kindly indulge should brief reference be made thereto. . “Wherever the history of America is read there the story of Pocahontas Is known. The romance is most captivating, and some of Virginia’s most honored sons trace back a lineage tu this daughter of the forest. But the historic fact that a similar scene was enacted on this very spot three-quar-ters of a century before the name of Pocahontas was ever lisped by English lips is unknown to even many Floridans. It was here in 1528, twelve years before De Soto landed on Tampa bay, that Juan Ortez, a Spanish youth of eighteen, having been captured at Clear W r ater, was brought before Hirrihugua, the stern Indian chief, in whose breast was rankling a vengeance born of the ill treatment of his mother by the followers of the ill-fated Narvarez. Ortez was young and fair, but the cruel chief had given the orders, and here was erected a gridiron of poles, and young Ortez was bound and stretched to meet the demands of a human sacrifice. The torch was being applied, the crackling flames began to gather strength for a human holocaust, when the stem chief’s daughter threw herself at her father’s feet and interposed in Ortez’s behalf. Her beauty rivaled that of the historic dame ‘whose heavenly charms kept Troy arid Greece ten years in arms.’ The soft language of her soul flowed from her never silent eyes as she looked up through her tears of sympathy, imploring the' life of the young Spaniard. “Those tears, the ever-ready weapon of woman’s weakness, touched the heart of even the savage chief, and Ortez was for the time spared. “But the demon of evil in a few months again took possession of Hirrihugua, and his daughter saw that even her entreaties would be unavailing She was betrothed to Mucoso, the young chief of a neighboring tribe. Their love hud been plighted, that God-given love that rules the savage breast. “Her loving heart told her that Ortez would be safe in Mucoso's keeping. At the dead hour of night she accompanied him beyond danger and placed in his hands such token as Mucoso would recognize. “She acted none too soon. As the sun rose over this spot its rays fell upon the maddened chief calling in vain for the intended victim of his vengeance. His rage was such that it dried up the well springs of parental affection, and he refused the marriage of his daughter unless Ortez was surrendered. But that Indian girl, although it broke the heartstrings of hope, sacrificed her love to humanity, and Mucoso sacrificed his bride upon the altar of honor. “Ortez lived to welcome De Soto. Tell me—aye. tell the world—where a brighter example of nobler virtue was ever recorded. Where in history do you find more genuine and more touching illustration of Move, charity and forgiveness’—the very trinity of earthly virtues and the brightest jewels of the Christian heaven? “What a captivating theme this Florida Pocahontas should present to the pen of imagination, picturing this spot then and to-day associated with romance rich in historic lore.” Tlie Next Total Eclipse. New York Times. While the eclipse which just occurred in India is fresh in the public mind, it should not be forgotten t lut May 29. 1900, promises a notable spectacle in the United States. The sun will be totally eclipsed for about two minutes, along a line running very nearly from Galveston, Tex., to Norfolk, Va. This should afford American astronomers a great opportunity, as the probabilities favor clear weather at that time of the year in those latitudes, and the eclipse as a public spectacle should prove a very popular event. Two years is not a long time, and as astronomers often prepare for them years in advance, it is not too early for the laity to secure their positions now. so as to be sure of being on hand at the right time. This home eclipse should put American astronomy and American photography to a test which will doubtless be met with success.

( Gail Borden Eagle brand I condensed Milk. OUR IItUSTRATED PAMPHLET ENTITLED “BABIES , 'SHOULO Be IN Every HOUSEHOLD. Sent on application. New Yook Condensed Milk CO- new Yoon.

COPY OF'STATEMENT OF THE CONDITION OF THE UNITED STATES BRANCH OF THE Prussian National Insurance Cos. Op the 31st day of December, 1897. It is located at No. 315 Dearborn Street. Chicago. 111. HOME OFFICE, Stettin, Germany. TIIEO. W. LETTON, General Manager. , The amount of its capital is The amount of its capital paid up is 062,d(W THE ASSETS OF THE COMPANY IN THE U. S, ARE AS FOLLOWS* Cash on hand and in the hands of agents or other persons $16,31b\32 Real estate unincumbered 800.00 Bonds owned by the company, bearing interest at the rate of— per cent., secured as follows: I’nited States government 4 per cent., market value 258,1.5.00 Railroad bonds, first mortgage, market value 402,507.50 Debts for premiums ; 94,672.30 All other securities! 9,9.0.28 Total assets $782*443.38 LIABILITIES. Losses adjusted and not due $,>,977.00 Losses unadjusted 41,829.94 Losses in suspense, waiting for further proof 8.486.00 All other claims against the company 34,297.15 Amount necessary to reinsure outstanding risks 328,247.48 Total liabilities $418,817.57 State of Indiana. Office of Auditor of State. I, the undersigned,’Auditor of State of the State of Indiana, hereby certify that the above is a correct copy of the statement of the condition of the above mentioned company on the 31st day of December, 1897, as shown by the original statement, and that the said original statement is now on file in this office. In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name and affix my official [SEAL] seal, this 25th day of January, 1898. A. C. DAILY", Auditor of State. COPY OF STATEMENT OF THE CONDITION OF THE Firemans Fund Insurance Company On the 31st day of December, 1897. It is located at No. 401 California Street. San Francisco. Cal. DAY’ID J. STAPLES, President. B. FAYMONY’JLLE, Secretary. The amount of its capital is $1,010,C00 The amount of its capital paid up is 1,000,000 THE ASSETS OF THE COMPANY ARE AS FOLLOWS* Real estate unincumbered $379,200.00 Cash on hand and in banks 359,836.*! Bonds and stocks owned by the company, bearing interest at the rate of—per cent., as per schedule tiled, market value 1,913,480.00 Loans on bonds and mortgages of real estate, worth double the amount for wnich the same is mortgaged, and free from any prior incumbrance 463,484.85 Loans secured by collaterals.. 160,689.34 Premiums in course of collection 430,227.72 All other property 31.382.96 Total assets $3,738,300.88 LIABILITIES. Losses adjusted and not due, and losses unadjusted aaul in suspense, waiting for further proof $135,344.71 All other claims against the company 113,149.93 Amount necessary to reinsure outstanding risks 1,232,756.31 Total liabilities $1,181,251.15 The greatest amount in any one risk, $25,050. State of Indiana, Office of Auditor of State. TANARUS, the undersigned. Auditor of State of the State of Indiana, hereby certify that the above is a correct copy of the statement of the condition of the above mentioned company on the 31st day of December, 1897, as shown by the original statement, and that the said original statement is now on file in this office. In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name and affix my official [SEAL] seal, this 26th day of January, 1898. A. C. DAILY. Auditor of State.

COPY OF STATEMENT OF THE CONDITION OF THE Hanover Fire Insurance Cos On the 31st day of December, 1897. It is located at No. 34 Pine Street, New York. I. REM SEN LANE, President. C. L. ROE. Secretary. The amount of its capital is $1,000,000 The amount of its capital paid up is 1,000,000 * THE ASSETS OF THE COMPANY ARE AS FOLLOWS* Cash on hand and in the hands of agents or other persons $345,346.32 Real estate unincumbered 450,000.00 Bonds owned by the company, bearing interest at the rate of— per cent., secured as follows: United States bonds, market value 80.J30.00 State, county and municipal bonds, market value 419,000.00 Railroad stocks and bonds, market value 1,474,906.75 Other stocks and bonds, market value 194,011.25 Loans on bonds and mortgages of real estate, worth double the amount for which the same, is mortgaged, and free from any prior incumbrance 7,000.00 Debts otherwise secured 5,500.00 All other securities 21,662.18 Total assets $2,997,556.00 LIABILITIES. Losses adjusted and due, losses adjusted and not due, losses unadjusted/ and losses in suspense, waiting for further proof $213,661.73 All other claims against the company 42,005.23 Amount necessary to reinsure outstanding risks 1,157,019.28 Total liabilities $1,412,686.22 • State of Indiana, Office of Auditor of State. I, the undersigned, Auditor of State of the State of Indiana, hereby certify that the above is a correct copy of the statement of the conditioniof the above mentioned company on the 31st day of December, 1897, as shown by the original statement, and that the said original statement is now on file in this office. In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name and affix my official [SEAL] seal, this 26th day of January, 1896. A. C. DAILY. Auditor of State. COPY OF STATEMENT OF THE CONDITION OF THE UNITED STATES BRANCH OF THE Phoenix Assurance Comp’y OF LONDON, On the 31st day of December, 1897. It is located at Nos. 37 and 39 Liberty Street, New York City. A. D. IRVING, Manager. HOME OFFICE, London, England. * THE ASSETS OF THE COMPANY IN THE L. S. ARE AS FOLLOWS. Cash on hand and in the hands of agents or other persons $642,734.61 Bonds owned by the company, bearing interest at the rate of— per cent., as per schedule filed, market value 2,224,952.50 Debts otherwise secured, reinsurance due on losses already paid 2,330.58 Debts for premiums 225,510.02 Total assets $3,095,528.05 LIABILITIES. lapses adjusted and due ?4,7<9.00 Losses adjusted and m t due 5,2X9.0n Losses unadjusted 201.164.00 Losses in suspense, waiting for further proof .. 29,565.00 All other claims against the company 172.174.54 Amount necessary to reinsure outstanding risks 1,423,445.50 Total liabilities $1,836,317.04 State of Indiana, Office of Auditor of State. I. the undersigned. Auditor of State of the State of Indiana, hereby certify that the above is a correct copy of the statement of the condition of the above mentioned company on the 31st day of December, 1897. as shown by the originul statement, and that the said original statement is now' on file in this office. hi testimony whereof, 1 hereunto subscribe my name and affix niv official [SEAL] seal, this 26th day of January, 1898. A. C. DAILY, Auditor of State-. COPY OF STATEMENT OF THE CONDITION OF THE UNITED STATES BRANCH OF THE Frankfort Marine, Accident and Plate Glass Ins. Cos. On the 31st day of December, 1897. It is located at No. 155 La Salle Street, Chicago, 111. f. G. VOSS, United States Manager. HOME OFFICE. Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany. The amount of its capital paid up is $260,0W THE ASSETS OF THE COMPANY IN THE U. S. ARE AS FOLLOWS: Cash on hand and in the hands of trustees.. , $23,673.21 Bonds owned by the company, bearing interest at the rate of 4 per cent., secured as follows: United States bonds. 1925, market value 256,043 75 Illinois Central bonds, 1952, market value.. 74,476.25 Debts for premiums 84,471.40 All other securities, interest 1,333.36 Total assets $439,997.96 LIABILITIES. Losses adjusted and not. due $38,043.44 Amount necessary to reinsure outstanding risks 174,962.97 Total liabilities $213,006.41 The greatest amount in any one risk, $2?,009. State of Indiana. Office of Auditor of State. 1, the undersigned. Auditor of State of the State of Indiana, hereby certify that the above is a correct copy of the statement of the condition of the above mentioned company on the 31st day f December, 1897, as shown by the original statement, aiul that the said original statement is now on tile in this office. in testimony whereof, l hereunto subscribe my numt/and affix my official [SEAL] seal, this 26th day of January, 1898. A. Auditor ot State.

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