Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1901 — Page 3

the weekly Panorama.

Handles LegislatfVe Mails. When the Illinois house of representatives was organized recently, Miss Birdie Doherty of Marshall, Clark county, was chosen assistant postmistress. She had the distinction of defeating a candidate backed by one of the most powerful corporations In the state. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad had a candidate In the person of Miss Mamie Cowan of Pana, who was a relative of one of the of-

BIRDIE DOHERTY.

ficials, She was confident of success. The Chicago. Burlington and Quincy had put her. in as assistant postmlstress two years ago. But this time what was a whole corporation compared to a beautiful girl? Miss Doherty is said to be one of the most beautiful young women in southern Illinois. She certainly is one of the prettiest who has ever visited at the capital. Of the seventy-seven votes she received fifty-two, winning on the first ballot.

Advance of Socialism.

The Citizens’’ Educational commission of the Civic federation of Chicago, has decided to recommend that text books be supplied free to all the public school, children of Chicago. Tt reached that conclusion after listening to arguments to the effect that the schools are “in danger of the killing influence of being known as the schools of the poor,'Rowing to the present system of iUrnishing free books to children who are tho poor to pay fpr them; and that apme of these children are much humiliated because they use books the which show they were given, not bought. It was said also that “parents of children are willfully pauperizing themselves to secure books for which they might pay.” This is advanced as a reason why the taxpayers should supply books to the children ,of parents who are able and willing to pay for them, and hence ought to be allowed to continue buying books.

A Woman of Ability.

The first lady of the state of Minnesota by virtue of her husband’s office is Mrs. S. R. Van Sant, wife of the recently installed governor. She is Jhjgr said to be of a fffijg' (F modest, unassum- D" ing disposition; yet none the less a \' x leader, as has been many times dem- » onstrated in char- ' ' \ itable and other Mrs Van Sant good works accomplished in Winona, where she has long resided. The Van Sant home is a charming place, and though she finds plenty of time for work outside it is there that Mrs. Van Sant is at her best. Outside claims are never allowed to interfere with home duties. During the recent campaign, when Captain Van Sant was so much from home, and when he was unable to reach Winona for Sunday, she several times joined him where he was for the rest day of the week.

Ridicules Vaccination.

Dr. M. J. Rodermund, an Appleton, Wis:, physician, attempted to prove his theory that smallpox is not contagious by smearing his face and body with Virus from a smallpox patient, and was promptly placed in quarantine. He

DR. M. J. RODERMUND.

later made his escapd'and could not be located. Dispatches from Appleton say the town Is in a frenzy. A strong guard Is watching the pesthouse to prevent any more escapes. Demands are being made that the four officers who were watching the Rodermund house be discharged. The doctor’s wife refusee to talk of her husband’s escape. She and her children are still quarantined

The Ram

k sheep breeder that has had yean of experience selecting and mating sheep says. One of the very worst mistakes one can make in selecting the head of the flock, is to get one lacking vigor and constitution. If this is lacking nothing can make up for it, and it need not be lacking if the buyer is at all acquainted with his business. Never mind his record, or' who his grandfather was or wasn’t, till you have seen the animal himself, and then don’t let the record change your opinion of him. No matter how long a sheep’s pedigree is, if his neck and legs are long, too, you don’t want him. A ram should have two good ends on him if possible, but the front end is by -far the most important. If there is lots of heart room, the front legs wide apart, the wider the better, and the neck short and strong, then the rest of the animal is pretty apt to be right, or at least not far out of the way. Frequently a- fine ram will be so wide and full in the shoulders that he will appear narrow and peaked behintJ, where if his shoulders were as sloping and thin as some sheep, his hips would seem anything but deficient. After the deep, wide chest and short, thick neck are secured see to it that the legs are short, stout and bony. Lots of bone, large, strong joints, and a flat, rather than a round, pipe-stem leg, are tne things to insist upon. The belly and back line should both be straight, the back broad and the skin bright, red, though dark and even lighter skinned rams are sometimes very vigorous. This is not the rule, however. We like a strong, thick, well covered ear, but good authorities are not unfriendly to a thin ear. A bold, proud carriage means much, and an active, quick-moving animal, muscular and bony rather than fat and slow, is much to be preferred, and last but not least, the head of a flock of mutton sheep should weigh something. In these days nothing can make up for an undersized body; 175 is light enough for any mutton ram to weigh in ordinary flesh, and 200 to 275 is far better. With ordinary western treatment the lambs will not be too large then.

Poultry Briefs.

In some of the suburbs of Chicago during the month of January this year eggs have been selling as high as 35 cents per dozen. This price is, of course, for strictly fresh eggs delivered by the producer to private customers. Store eggs always sell at a less price. In some cases they are also strictly fresh, but they are nevertheless under suspicion and that lowers the price. All of which goes to show the value of a reputation, even to an egg. Where eggs can be delivered to private customers without going through "the hands of the middleman, there is a good deal more profit in them as well as satisfaction than in throwing them into the general channels of trade. In the latter case the entire loss due to doubtful reputation falls on the producer, for the middleman must anticipate the low price at which they are to sell. • « ■ Fancy prices are > sometimes even now paid for fancy birds and fowls in England, as is evidenced by a recent report from a.cross the water. The National Poultry and Pigeon Show was recently held in the Crystal Palace, London.' After the close of the show 180 birds >were disposed of at an average of over sls per bird. In the pigeon section one bird sold for $968, being the winner of the first prize. Another one sold for over $375. A Malay bantam cockerel sold for $550, and a Malay bantam cock for SSO. The winner of first prize among the Light Brahma pullets brought about $l2O. Several white Dorking pullets sold for S3O each. »

Scarcity of Cavalry Horses.

The Salt Lake Tribune says:“' There is a great scarcity of the cavalry type of horses,” says Veterinary Surgeon John Tempany, of the Ninth cavalry, at the Cullen yesterday, “because of the great draft by the United States and other governments, made in the last two years. In Wyoming, for instance, our government gathered in ail the desirable, high standard e horses, and then the English army . officers came along and picked up 600 others, for the Englishmen are content to put up with a lower grade of animal than the American army authorities. There are no more cavalry horses in Nevada, and the market generally is bare and will be for some time. Prices are stiff, and our government was paying SIOO to $125 for the grade of animal required; but the demand for the Philippines is falling off with the return of quieter times there, and the war In South Africa is over, so there is not much call now for' horses for army purposes, and general prices are going down.”

A Sand Table.

Up-to-date nurseries are not complete without a sand table, placed in the largest, sunniest window and low enough to accommodate the small fry who will play with it The table as ordinarily made is fastened to the wall by a hinge with strong supporting legs that fold back against the bottom of the table when it is not in use and turned up against the wall. It is built like a butler’s tray, with one side that can be let down when the sand is to be emptied out. For amusing boys and girls it is unequaled. They can have nearly as much fun as a load of sand out of doors would afford, but they do not get the fresh air which is one of the chief benefits of such play in the open air. The Board of Health of Hartford, Conn., has come to the conclusion that cats are the means of carrying diphtheria.

EXPOSITION FIGURES.

SOM£ ASTONISHING FACTS ABOUT THE PAN-AMERICAN.' Nia.ga.ra Falls Will Supply Power, and Over 300,000 Electric Lights Will Be Used in the Illvmina.tion of the Tower and Courts.

Forty million people live within a night’s ride of Buffalo. It is expected that a large proportion of these will visit the Pan-American Exposition at some time during its progress. Many will visit it five, ten, or twenty or more times. Niagara Falls will prove a great magnet in drawing visitors to the Exposition. Altogether it is fair to expect that the attendance at this first Exposition of all the Americas will be the largest in the history of Expositions in either the New World or the Old. Ten million dollars represents approximately the cost of the Exposition, exclusive of exhibits. The authorized capital stock of the Exposition is $2,500>800. The authorized bond issue is $2,500,000. The government appropriation is $500,000. The cost of the Midway Is $3,000,000. The New York state appropriation is $300,000, and in connection with the Nerw York building about SIOO,OOO will be expended by the City of Buffalo and the Buffalo Historical Society. The appropriation from states and foreign countries together with the cost of buildings- to be erected on the Exposition grounds by the City of Buffalo and by private citizens will

bring the total cost of the Exposition up to fully $10,000,000. The area of the Exposition site is 350 acres. This includes 133 acres of park lands and lakes in Delaware Park, one of the most beautiful parks in the world. The plot is a mile and a quarter from north to south and half a mile from east to west. Three hundred thousand incandescent lamps will be used in achieving the grand illumination about the Court of Fountains, Electric Tower, Esplanade and Plaza. Four hundred miles of wire will be used in the installation of the lamps for this illumination. Two hundred and fifty tons will be about the weight of this quantity of wire. Ninety-four. large-sized searchlights will be placed under the water of the basin of the Court of Fountains to cast colored! lights on the fountains and cascades and heighten the beauty of the electric and hydraulic effects. One ml’.lion, three hundred and ninety thousand square feet is the approximate area cf the courts to be illuminated. This is two and one-half times the area oi the courts’ at the World’s Fair, twice the area of those at the Paris Exposition, and three times those of the Trans Mississippi Exposition at Omaha.

LASSOING DOGS.

The dog catcher of a town in the Indian Territory can give a city dog catcher cards and spades and then beat him as a capturer of canine animals. An expert cowboy hunts dogs as he does cattle. He ropes them the same way. Clad in a pair of buckskin trousers, and wearing a big sombrero, with hand or on the saddle horn, and a six-shooter in his belt, he starts down the street on his broncho looking for dogs. As he spies one which has no legal right to roam at large he sticks the spurs to his pony, grabs his rope and begins operations. He usually ropes the dog around the neck, draws him to ■ the pony’s side and shoots him. He then stuffs the carcass into a sack attached to the saddle and gallops off after more “game.” If a stranger is watching the performance the dog catcher does some fancy roping. He will rope the dog around the front foot or hind foot, or around the body between the feet. He hardly ever misses his mark. Dog catching in the Indian country

Oklahoma, and Statehood

The Territory of Oklahoma seeks Statehood and makes a good claim to It It contains 400,000 people, 90 per cent of whom are native Americans and 100,000 of whom are school children; they have 2,000 schoolhouses, no penitentiary, not a poorhouse, and only six per oent of Illiteracy—less

Two thousand Incandescent lamps will be used in the illumination of one feature of the Midway alone—the Thompson Aerio-Cycle. As many and perhaps more will be used in illuminating the Streets of Mexico. Other Midway structures will also be profusely illuminated and the lights thus used are all additional to the 300,000 required for the Illumination about the courts of the Exposition. Thirty-five thousand gallons of water per minute will be required for the fountain display of the Exposition, which will be the most elaborate of any ever undertaken for a similar purpose. Fifty feet will be the height of some of the jets in the Court of Fountains. The jets will be electrically illuminated at night. Seventy feet is the height of the cascade falling from the front of the Electric Tower into the basin below. Five hundred and sixty-five by two hundred and twenty-five are the dimensions of the basin of the Court of Fountains, which equals 98,872 square feet. . Five thousand horse power of electricity will be delivered in Buffalo from

Service Building

the plant of the Niagara Falls Power Company at Niagara Falls, for use in illuminating the buildings and grounds of the Pan-American Exposition and turning the wheels for operating machinery. 5,000 horse power will also be generated on the grounds. The service arranged for contemplates the utilization of the water power of Niagara, the use of gasoline for motive power, of gas both under 'boilers, producing steam, and in gas engines, producing energy; thus giving the Pan-Ameri-can the greatest variety of sources of power ever enjoyed by any Exposition. Twenty-six million, five hundred and seventy thousand feet of lumber has thus far been used in the construction of the Exposition. ® Seventeen million, seven hundred and sixty-five thousand square feet is the amount of surface covered with staff. One hundred and fifty thousand cubic yards represents the approximate amounj/of eweewation done. Six million, two, hundred and fortytwo thousand is the weight of the steel and iron used, including bolts and washers. One hundred and twenty-five original sculptured groups will be used in the adornment of the courts, fountains, buildings and grounds generally. This is the work of the most famous sculp-

Systematic Raids Upon Canines Instituted in the Territory.

is more ticklish business than it is in the cities in the states. The catcher not only has to dodge flatirons, mop sticks, and brooms thrown by irate women (for a wild-looking cowboy with a six-shooter has no terror to an Indian Territory woman), but he has Indians to deal with. An Indian thinks almost as much of his dog as he does of his kids, and if the dog catcher by mistake kills it there is trouble. Dogs belonging to Indians are exempt from taxation. But the Indians must brand them. The dogs of non-citizens are the ones discriminated against. If their masters fail to pay tax on them then they must pay the penalty of death. In order to evade the tax occasionally a non-citi-zen forges a brand and marks his dog as if it belonged to an Indian. In order to prevent frauds of this character the dog catcher must be an expert on dog brands.

Done to Death,

It is a modern notion that fancy work is an Invention of the evil one

The Territory Makes Exceptionally Good Claims for Admission

than any one of forty-five of the States. They own $75,000,000 of property. And 12,000,000 acres are settled, and homesteaders are taking a million acres a year; 1,000 miles of railroad brought last year 6,000 carloads of manufactures and carried away 40,000 carloads of produce. Ten years ago the popu-

tors of Pan-America, and will cost about half a million dollars, being the grandest collection of decorative Exposition sculpture ever assembled. Two hundred thousand hardy perennials have been planted for the purpose of beautifying the grounds next summer, and the great floral display will include over 500 beds of popular flowers, with rare tropical plants and aquatic plants in the Courts, Mirror Lakes, Grand Canal and Lagoons. Fifteen thousand dollars is the cost of the great organ for the Temple of Music being built by Emmons Howard. ; Six thousand animals are to be accommodated in buildings for live stock displays. Twelve thousand is the seating capacity in the Stadium, the great arena for athletic sports. Twenty large buildings will house the exhibits from all the Americas, and besides these there will be many smaller ones in the Court of State and Foreign Buildings, on the Midway and in other parts of the grounds. Six hundred feet is the length of the main United States Government building. Connected with the main build-

ing by colonnades are two other buildings each 150 feet square. Five hundred by three hundred and fifty feet are the dimensions of the Machinery and Transportation building. The Manufactures and Liberal Arts building is of corresponding size. Five hundred by one hundred and fifty feet are the measurements of the Electricity building, and the Agriculbuilding corresponds to it in size. Three hundred and ninety-one feet is the distance from the base of the Electric Tower to the top of the figure surmounting it, representing the Goddess of Light. Two hundred and thirty-six feet is the height of the Horticulture building, which is 220 feet square. EDWARD HALE BRUSH. An Unexampled Treat. The Niagara Frontier will be the most interesting place in the world next summer, and the whole world should journey there. The unexampled treat awaiting visitors includes the most beautiful spectacle in the history of Expositions-, at Buffalo; the grandest natural scenery and the greatest power development in the world, at Niagara. The Pan-American Exposition and the wonders of Niagara are less than twenty miles apart, and the fast trains cover the distance in about half an hour.

for keeping the foolish from applying their hearts to golf, yet the young ladies of long ago, who held to samplers and mourning pieces of an afternoon with a fervor better imagined than experienced, sometimes had their belief in its utility rudely disturbed. An anecdote in some reminiscences of Mrs. Anne Jean Lyman, a prominent New England woman and a Contemporary of Mrs. Lydia Maria Child, records what may be considered a standing epitaph for fancy work. When Mrs. Lyman was Miss Robbins, and a very charming young lady, she went to visit some friends of his in Hingham. A young man, calling on the ladies one day, found them busy embroidering mourning pieces in which tall women in short waists and long skirts stood weeping by a monument. They begged for a motto for their pieces, and instantly got this bit of wit: In useless labors all their hours are spent. They murder Time, then work his monument. “I have nothing but my heart to give you,” said a spinster to a lawyer who had succeessfully concluded a case for her. “Well,” said the lawyer, gruffly, "go to my clerk; he takes the fees.”

lation was about 60,000. Such progress has been made by no other area of equal size in the United States. If Indian territory should within a few years be added to Oklahoma, the two would have a population of at least a, million, who would cast 100,000 votes and pay taxes on $150,000,000 of property. Mrs. Chatters—Why do you have Mrs. Gabb to sew for you?-She is not a good dressmaker. Mrs. Wordsworth —I know that, but she knows all the gossip of the town.

BALLADE OF STRAWBERRY BLONDE.

“Carrots" they wiled it when we were young, In deep diadem for the copper hue: "Red-heaa!"—But now that it’s praised and sung, Erstwhile scoffers know their eue: “Titian loved it!" and Titian knew How the yellow and brown and the red respond To the sun’s rich ray; and they say ’tis true Cleopatra, too, was a strawberry blonde! Catherine of Russia had hair of flame Aspasia, Maintenon, Helen of Troy, Diana of Poitiers owned the same. (None with loud laughter dared them annoy!) Madame Recamier, France’s joy, Anne of Austria, fair and fond, (To bronze their locks did they art employ?) Cleopatra, too, was a strawberry blonde. Eyes that were jewels of blue or green, Or gray or brown, these dames possessed ; Rose-tinted flesh with a satin sheen. In a thousand changing colors dressed. Long lines of ladies, all russet-tressed, Appear at the wave of Tradition’s wan<L And fairer and stranger than all the rest, Cleopatra, too, was a strawberry blonde! ENVOI. Flavia, Queen, with the auburn locks, Take this for answer, duly conned. Thy flaming hair when the rude world mocks: "Cleopatra, too, was a strawberry blonde!” * —May Waring, in Life.

PITH AND POINT.

Policeman—“ Where did you get all those fish?” Erastus—“ Hooked ’em.’’ —What to Eat. The Herring—“ You have difficulty In speaking?” The Trout—“ Yes; there is a frog in my throat.”—Chicago News. Mrs. Newlywed—“MV husband is very easily pleased.” Miss Caustique —“Yes; I though that when he married you.” “Ah. music is the food of live!” She sighed. Said he: “A question: Is the sort you’re guilty of That gives me indigestion?” —Catholic Standard and Times. “Listen!” he whispered. Marjorie pressed his hand softly. “Not now!” she said. “It is bad form to listen while the piano is playing.”—Detroit Journal. “Who is the greatest master of the brush in landscape work?” queried the teacher. The small boy’s hand went up. “The street cleaner!” he cried, triumphantly. “Will you be satisfied with love in a cottage?” he asked. “Yes,” she replies confidently, for she had heard that the cottage was located at Newport.— Philadelphia Record. She said she meant to speak her mind, And wouldn’t take much time to do it; The other said, with sneer unkind, It wouldn’t take long if she knew it. —Chicago Record. “Adele,” said the fond mother, “is reaching the age where a girl naturally thinks of marriage.” “True.” replied the father regretfully, “but do you think we can afford a son-in-law ?” —Chicago Post Suitor—“ Yes, sir, I assure you, I would be glad to marry your daughter, even If she were poor as a church mouse.” Mr. Moneybags—“ That settles you! I don’t want a fool in the family.”—Philadelphia Press. Freshlelgh—“Pray, how did you become ossified?” Ossified Man—“ln my youth I was nice and soft like you; when I grew up and realized what a cruel world this is, I became hardened.” —Ohio State Journal. Mr. Cripps—“Can’t you induce the cook to have one of her friends come and take dinner with her to-night?” Mrs. Cripps—“The idea! What for?” Mr. Cripps—“l expect to bring Jones and Smith home with me, and I’d liko to have a nice dinner for them.” An enthusiastic young lady once visited a certain bishop at Torquay. She looked at the view for a moment, then burst out with: “How beautiful! Why, It’s just like Switzerland.” “Yes,” said the bishop, wearily, “except there are no mountains here and no sea there.”

The Exhibition Craze.

Has anyone ever figured out the real benefits accruing to a city through an exhibition? Could such a calculation be possible? How much did Philadelphia gain by the Centennial? What material aid did the World’s Fair give Chicago. Somebody must profit handsomely, for the exposition craze goes on unabated. The recent Paris exposition ruined hundreds who had paid extortionate prices for privileges, and I have not heard of any great goof done to the city or State. France it the “Mother of Exhibitions,” having given birth to the first one in 1798» Loudon’s Crystal Palace was open 144 days, in which period it was visited by over 6,000,000 people. After all ex* penses were paid there remained a balance of s7so,ooo.—Victor Smith, in New York Press.

Wellington Not a Man of Baldness.

The great Duke of Wellington was noted for his rigid integrity. Here is an instance which occurred in reference to his large estate. Some farm adjoining his lands was for sale, and his agent negotiated for him for the purchase. Having concluded the bush ness, he went to the Duke and told him he had made a capital bargain. “What do you mean?” asked the Duke. “Why your grace, I have got the farm for so much, and I know it to be worth so much more.” “Are you quite sure of that?” “Quite sure, your grace, for 1 have carefully surveyed It.” Very well, then, pay the gentleman from me the balance between what you have already given and the real value of the estate.”—Argonaut. A line of motor boats is about to be established on the Dead Sea. This will result in shortening the JerusalemKerak route, which will greatly benefit tourists and others.

SCIENCE AND PROGRESS

Gejcas Has Oil “boom. Since oil was struck at Beaumont, Texas, on Jan. 10, the town has been crowded with investors and speculators. This well is one of the most remarkable In the United States. A stream of oil eight Inches in diameter gushes to a height of 150 feet in the air, and it is estimated that the output is 18.000 barrels a day. For a number of years accumulations of oil have been noticed on the Gulf of Mexico between Galveston and Sabine Pass in sufficient quantities to cause an appreciable subsidence of the waves in stormy weather. For nealy a decade prospectors have tried to locate the reservoir which they knew existed on the coast, but owing to defective or inadequate machinery they failed to go deep enough. The new well is 1,300 feet below the surface of the earth. All the prospectors who have visited Beaumont declare that a supply of oil can be obtained from other points, and the pricFtrt TahdTms--gt>rz' wjOuj tha reach of all except millionaires. J.

GIANT OIL WELL AT BEAUMONT. Cullinan, manager of one of the Standard Oil company’s refineries, was one of the first persons to visit the big well. He declared the flow phenomenal.

Submarine Torpedo Boats.

The official tests of the submarine torpedo boats made at Cherbourg, France, the other day, appear to indicate that the French government will shortly have boats of this type that that will add greatly to the efficiency of its navy. The performance of the Morse, which is run by a petroleum motor, seems to have been quite as satisfactory in every way as those of the Holland in American waters. When submerged, a process which is speedily accomplished, no part of the vessel is visible except the “periscope,” or seeing station, which can be turned to every point of the horizon, and itself can be seen only by a powerful glass. It steers accurately and quickly and can remain submerged over eight hours without the slightest inconvenience to officers or crew, owing to the perfect working of the air pumps. It discharges torpedoes by means of compressed air with astonishing force.

Illuminates the Mark.

Firing a gun in the dark is considerable of ; an uncertainty, even when the

holder of the weapon is quite positive as to the direction of the sound, and it is quite possible that the inventionof R. B. a Benj a m i n *

will have its Attachment for Firearms, own work to perform in casting a light in the direction of the bullet’s flight. The inventor provides an electric lamp of small size, together with a reflector which aids in throwing the beams toward the object to be fired at. In addition there is a lenp, which concentrates a portion of the light rays into a slender beam, which culminates in a bright spot exactly where the bullet will lodge. When a burglar enters the room at dead of night, for instance, the occupant of the room closes a switch as he points his gun, instantly illuminating the victor. A slight movement of the light enables the eye to catch the reflection of the central beam and when once adjusted woe to the burglar if he disobeys a command.

The Education of Women.

President Thwing of Western Reserve University discusses in the February Forum the venerable problem of whether a woman’s education should differ from a man’s. He thinks there should be a difference, but his view has nothing in common with the old theory that a woman was best kept in ignorance of book learning. His ideas form a striking contrast with those of Prior, whose advice to husbands concerning wives was: Be to her virtues very kind, Be to her faults a little blind, And clap your padlock on her mind.

SAYINGS AND DOINGS

Was Once Very Dorothy Dulin Studebaker McKeown, granddaughter of the originator of the Studebaker Wagon and Carriage company of South Bend, Ind., and the daughter of W. T. Studebaker, the present treasurer of the company, who married Scott McKeown in San Francisco, June 6. 1900. has entered vaudeville and under an agreement with Manager Meyerfleld of the Orpheum circuit, will play the principal cities of the country, including. Chicago. The appearance of the young woman who married the reckless Pennsylvania millionaire and who exclaimed on her wedding day the prophetic words, “My wedding means my freedom.” will be awaited with impatience. The only reason given by Mrs. McKeown for entering vaudeville is that she must help her husband “keep the

DOROTHY M’KEOWN.

wolf from the hearth.” This statement, coming from the wife of a young man who in the last two years has spent a fortune of a million and a quarter dollars, is brave as it is pitiful. It is not recorded, however, that "Dorothy Studebaker” has ever restrained her husband. Two hours after her marriage with young McKeown she announced her intention of going on the operatic stage, declaring that matrimony alone- freed her from social restrictions and allowed her to follow her own fancies.

Verdi Born in Poverty.

Giuseppe Verdi, who died in Milan a few days ago, was the child of poor parents who conducted a little grocery

store at Le Roncole, near Busetto, in Italy. There the musician was born Oct. 10, 1813. Music was a passion with him from his childhood. His extraordinary talent was first discovered by a poor traveling violinist named Bagarset.

Giuseppe Verdi.

who advised his father to encourage his son in the study of music. Thirty years later, when Verdi had became famous, the old musician was still alive and received many benefits from the man whom he had befriended. “Falstaff,” wjiich was written by Verdi in 1893 in his 80th year, is regarded by many critics as equal to any opera he ever produced. Its delightful humor is admirably suited to the Shakespearean comedy to which it is wed. After 1893, a “Stabat Mater” and an “Ave Maria,” were composed by Verdi, but he devoted the remaining years of his life mainly to the building of a home for aged musicians.

Tarvin of Kentucky.

Judge Tarvin of Kentucky, has again taken the war path politically, and is at the head of a movement that has for

JUDGE TARVIN.

its purpose the extermination from national politics that class of statesmen of which Richard Croker is said to be the personification. Judge Tarvin is a Democrat in politics, but does not affiliate with the eastern wing of the party.

Competition as a Force.

According to Black and White, competition has forced the District railway of 'London to adopt electric power, where years of protest on the part of the public and press was ineffectual. The electric traction of the London Central railway has been instrumental in detracting traffic from some of the District lines to such an extent that the management could no longer remain heedless, although* the directors had stigmatized electric traction as “a ><w-fangled fad not worth notisicg.”