Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1896 — Page 6

CLEVELAND'S BELIEF.

Moaetary Mlx-V&. It ia given out on the authority of & cabinet officer that President Cleveland thinks the democratic party can win this year by declaring- unequivocally far sound money and nominating a candidate to match. He believes, in other words, that the currency question is going to be the controlling one in the campaign, and that the democrats have only to put themselves on the, jAfht side of it in order to sweep the country. The proposition is well im-! sgined, but there is not so much to ■he said of Its practicability. There ere ' certain obstacles in the case which j cannot be removed by simply wishing ' that they were out of the way. Mr. Cleveland himself has helped to create them, and he ought to know that they represent a condition and not a theory. His devotion to sound money has mode him many enemies for whom he engirt to be loved, which is to he has generated a kind of antagonism In his party that forbids the idea of such a surrender as hia plan of success contemplates. He has acted courageously, but in so doing he has consolidated and intensified thefreesilversentiment that he expected to suppress. .It is a potent and implacable force, and the suggestion that it ought to discredit and humiliate itself by a betrayal of ‘the cause for which it stands wilt only aerve to render it more aggressive and vindictive, instead of tending to make it amiable. . ' .1 * Mr. Cleveland knows, of course, that over two-thirdm of the democrats in the present congress have voted for ’free silver, notwithstanding oil that Me has said and done in ,the opposite direction. These men do not speak for themselves merely, but for large constituencies that are very much in earnest about the matter. He has surely, not failed to observe that in every democratic state hia party is divided upon, thie question in nn uncompromising sad -acrimonious way. The two factions are more bitter toward each other than they are towards the republican

THE OLD DEMOCRATIC DAMSEL AWAITING AN ANSWER TO HER LEAP-YEAR WOOING.-N. Y. Advertiser.

party. It la all very well to aay that tbey Ibught to get together, but by what miraculous process is such a result to be effected? The contest grows fiercer every day, and to talk of harmony 1 on the basis of a surrender by either aide is foolish. That is what Mr. Cleveland has done for the democratic party by thrusting the currency issue upon it, and trying to bulldoze it into an acceptance of his views. The free silverites have burned their bridges behind them, and it is useless to think pt reconciling them to a sound money platform or candidate. They are well organized, and firmly resolved to fight the thing out. There is not the remotest probability that they will consent, after all the abuse they have endured, to fling away their convictions and make an abject capitulation. Mr. Cleveland may cry peace at the top of his voice, but it will not come. The time ■ has gone by for that sort of thing, and he might as well keep still about it.— St. Louis Globe-Democrat..

SOME TARIFF TRUTHS.

D«<«r the Democrat* aa Infamous Bill —af Bala . ■ •' v The human mind does not always aee around corners with readiness. Hence a question which is part of the national life on all its sides, and on every side a vital part, does not get fully seen at one glance, nor by some minds ever. A shrewd writer begs to have it explained how the democratic party cap be hostile to protection while the onty tariff it has enacted for nearly 40 years is denounced by most democrats, and admitted by opponents, to be packed with protective duties, and wants to know if the democracy has not in fact been whipped out of its hostility to protection, so that the only issue has come to be one of details and expediency, and not of principle. Apparently there are many observers and 1 writers whose minds are mixed np in the same fashion—but not the minds of ; wage-earners. The democratic party is not an indilidual, with one mind to decide on point. It is a body composed of millions, whose shades of opinion and prejudice and purpose are also millions. But the overwhelming purpose recorded in the platform of the last national convention was to get rid of pro - teetive duties as far and as fast as possible, and this on the highest ground of principle—namely, pretended constitutional obligation and m theory of justice as between classes and sections. Nobody can honestly deny that this was the deliberate intention of the great majority of democratic, Voters, as of democratic workers and leaders at that time, and expressed their rooted convictions. however erroneous. There is

no evidence that the purpose of the great majority has changed in the least, though a minority large enough to beat the party in evety northern state refuses to break down its industries. The tariff thus framed is i,in some features nothing but an infamous bill of sale to various interests without regard to these or other industries, and this shameful favoritism waeptoof hot Of protective intentions, but of disbjouesty. In other features the tariff hi distinctly and effectively protective, because votes from certain manufacturing states could not otherwise be secured. In many others it is intentionally made to represent a weakened levee, some feet too low to keep out a flood, and therefore sure to be swept away when the flood cornea. In many other details It Is nakedly designed to Invite and encourage foreign Importations and to deprive home industies of protection. The two latter classes o? changes express the intention badly avowed by the party in its platform. "The otberduties express Its diKionesty, or its fright at the crushing defeats administered by the people. But the fact remains unaltered, that the democratic party'intends to go as far as it can and dfcre in the overthrow of protective duties, which the republican party in tends to perfect and maintain.—N. T. Trihune.

A VICIOUS POLICY.’

tVM Trade Produces a Perpetual Deficiency, "The old conddije between populists and democrats has at last reached the highest level la politics. It is now In force between the president and the populistiuembers of the United States senate, united for the moment In an unprecedented scheme to prevent the federal government from raising revenue sufficient to meet its expenses. "The populists are against the proposed change In the tariff because it won’t give them free silver. Mr. Cleveland Is against It for the reason that he Is determined to preserve the tariff laws passed In tho democratic name, cost what it may. The country has already Increased Its debt by 1262.000,000 to preserve this monument of financial Insanity. Why shouldn’t It pay more. If necessary? "From the income tax the Cleveland. posuUst combine has skipped the policy of

abolishing: revenue and letting the government live by borrowing. Fortunately the principles of the democracy are immortal, however vulnerable the national credit. "t-N. Y. Sun (Dem.). It is gratifying to see that there is one democratic paper which has the intelligence and courage to lift its voice against the suicidal policy of that party in congress and the white house —a policy which is injurious to the country and disastrous to the party which adheres to it. That the government needs more revenue is apparent from every treasury statement. The house passed a bill which would have furnished revenue enough to put the government on its legs. But in the senate populists, free sil'oer democrats and honest money democrats united to defeat it. For once the two wings of the democracy were able to flop together. The two factions struck bands with one another and with the pops for the purpose of defeating a measure which would have made the tariff a little more protective than it is. S? They prefer a deficiency and the present law to no deficiency and a slight, advance in duties and protection. They would rather continue to borrow than lose the smallest fraction of the advance made in the direction of free trade They would rather issue bonds to all eternity, and, strange to say, the Sun is the only paper which censures its party leaders for their vicious policy. It tells the truth, but neither senators nor president will heed it.— Chicago Tribune.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

crit is understood that the democratic presidential nomination is actively engaged at presefit in providing itself with a large and tenacious grappling iron.—Chicago Tribune. EFThe Cleveland administration apparently bas two definite ends in view—i to borrow money enough to keep the | government running, and to kill plenty of ducks.- Kansas City Journal, i EFlt is a rather dull day that docs not see a republican candidate for the presidency trotted out in some part of the country. Has anyone heard of democrats 1 tumbling over one another in their eagerness to head their party’s ticket this year?—St. Louis Globe-Dem-ocrat. a • : '■ ■ CFThe people of the nation have exhibited their dislike for the issuing of bonds to foreigners by a generous and patriotic response to the call for a bond loan. They are just as much opposed to the surrendering of our markets to foreigners, and they also will manifest their disapproval of this un-American policy next November.—Albany Jour TUfl.

FROM WASHINGTON.

Summary of the Dally Proceedings In Congress. —- Important Measure* Under Consider a cion In the Senate and House —Bills ainj it (-solutions l’asspd. * •#:; Washington, March 3.— Bills were paused in the senate yesterday nutliori/. log the addition of l ,O<K) enlisted men to the navy; to prevent the carrying of obscene literature and articles designed for indecent and immoral use from outstate or territory to nnother. and to establish a retired list for the revenuetnaiine service. Senator Allison’s (la.: credentials for the term begin nine March 4. J 897. were presented. —^— Washington, March 4. —The senate gave most of the time yesterday to the agricultural appropriation bill “and passed that measure, carrying $3,20:;,-* OOU.-wjthout maternrl amendment. - tVicother bill passed changes the limitations of fourth-class,mail matter so us to free the postal, service from bulky ■-articles heretofore sent free by the governnuiil departments. A biU was introduced granting a pension Of SSO per month to the daughter of Maj. (leu, I’liil Kearney. » Washington, March s.—ln the senate yesterday Senator Sherman reported back the Cuban resolutions and moved that the house amendment to the senate resolutions be non-concurred in and that a conference commit tee ’ Tie appointed. The motion was adopted. A bill was- passed pensioning the widow of the late United States Senator Spencer as brigadier general at $75 a month. Washington. March *6.—ln the senate yesterday J the conference report on the Cuban resolutions^was presented an<] was mads a special order for Monday next. A bill was introduced for a discriminating duty of ten per cent, ad valorem, in addition to other duties on all merchandise imported in vessels not belonging to citizens of the United States. Adjourned to next Monday.

THE HOUSE.

Bill* Introduced and Petitions and Resolutlons Presented. ‘ ' Washington, March 3. -The hou.w yesterday, after two hours’ spirited debate, by a vote of 263 to 17, agreed to (in lieu of the resolutions adopted Friday by the senate) the concurrent resolutions reported last week by its committee on foreign affairs declaring that, in the opinion of congress, n state of public war exists in Cuba, the parties to which are entitled to belligerent rights, and between which the United States should observe a strict neutrality. They further declare that' congress believes the only permanent sola tion of the contest is in the estata J lishment cf a government by the people of Cuba, and that it is the sense of congress thnt the government of the United States should use its good offices and influence to that end. Washington, March 4. —The house spent the entire session yesterday in debating the amendment to the legislative appropriation bill to abolish the fee system in the cases of United States district attorneys and marshals. The salaries fixed by the amendment, which was adopted, range from $2,000 to $5,000. Washington, March s.—The house spent nearly the entire time yesterday fixing the salaries of United States district attorneys. The request of the senate for a conference on the Cuban resolutions was received but not acted upon. The conference report on the army appropriation bill was adopted. Washington, March 6.—The legislative appropriation bill was further considered in the house yesterday and during the debate Mr. Hartman (Mont.) attacked President Cleveland’s utterances in the Carnegie Music hall missionary meeting in New York, in which he spoke of “corrupt and unsafe states and undesirable territories,” and denied the right of the president to thus insult the citizens of any part of the country, and said that the greatest need of the schoolmaster and missionary was to be found in the white house. Washington, March 7.—ln the house yesterday the legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill was passed, as was also a bill making seven years’ continued and unexplained absence sufficient proof of a soldier’s death in cases of application for pensions. The post office appropriation bill was discussed. Washington, March 9. —In the house on Saturday the joint resolution authorizing the secretary of the treasury to distribute the world’s fair 1 medals and diplomas was passed. The postoffice appropriation bill ($91,000,000) was discussed, and a series of attempts were made to increase the compensation of fourth-class postmasters, but they went before points of order.

An Outlaw's Fate.

Bellefonte, Pa., March 7.—William Etlinger, an outlaw living at Woodward, a small town near by, while resisting arrest killed two constables, and then, after attempting to murder his wife and children, who were barricaded with him, he committed suicide Friday morning in full view of his captors, Btanding on the threshold of his blazing house.

Fardon Refused.

Columbus, 0., March 6. —W. J. Elliott, the editor of the Columbus Sunday Capital, who shot and killed his city editor, A. C. Osborn, in 1891, and is now serving a life sentence for it, will have to remain in prison. The state board of pardons has rejected his application for a pardon.

Death at the Age of 116 Years.

Dubuque, la., March 6. —The patriarch of lowa, Christian Coonrad, who lived in Delaware county, has passed away at the age of 116 years. He was a soldier of the war of 1812.

Death of a Faster.

Dansville, N. Y., March 6. —Mrs. Valentine Kurtz, the woinan who believed in faith cure and recently fasted 40 days, died Thursday. #

JIM FAIR’S PRESENCE OF MIND.

I*—riiuMi ttwy T»td lip the Sen of the California Billionaire. Charles Fair, the only male heir to the late James G. Fair, sat in the billiard room of the Palace hotel talking to some pioneer friends of his father. “Do yon know, Charley, that a book of reminiscences of your father would sell like hot cakes? You ought to put the data in the bands of some publisher and let him issue the volume. What do yon Think about it?” The son smiled and looked np at the talker, as he replied: “Why don’t you do it?” "Me do it!” exclaimed the man with the publishing ideas. “I didn’t know him.” “Neither did I.” answered Charles. “Nobody knew him. I don’t think a man ever lived who enjoyed his Confidence. I can assure yon that he was the same strange- man to me that he was to others, and his iron rule to keep hia own counsel was never broken. ■ “Whenever he did fall into a confidential and chatty mood it was to jest about something or to theorize. I recall a story he once told Alfred E. Davis, his old partner. The story I have in mind was woven into a serious conversation, and he never cracked a smile over it. Before proceeding, however, I must tell you that in the Cornstock mines a ladder goes down the side of each shaft, and every twelfth rung is iron, so as to give the whole additional strength. Well, father said -temnu —v -■ “ ‘Davis, do yon know I was almost killed onoe in the Crow Point mine ?’ “ ‘How was that, Jim?* , “ ‘This way. I was looking down the shaft to see if everything was all right and lost my balance. Being unable to recover myself, I toppled over and fell —yes, Davis, fell. I must have gone about & hundred feet when it suddenly struck me that if I didn’t bepin doing something pretty quick I would go clear through to hades. So I reached out and grabbed a rung of the ladder. It broke and I grabbed the next. That broke, too, but 1 reached for the third, which also gave way, and the next, and the next, and so on, but it broke my fall, and in about five minutes I reached the bottom, a little jarred up, but perfectly sound.’ “Davis looked at him out of the corners of his eyes a few seconds and said: “ ‘What Aid you do, Jim, when you came to the twelfth rung? Did you grasp at that, too?’ “ ’Why, I missed it. Do you think I wanted to smash everything that was in the mine?’ ” \\ hen Charles finished his story he was laughing more heartily than anyone else in the crowd, and could not be prevained. upon to recall anything more that had come from the lips of his famous financial father.—San Franeiseo (tali. —— —--

NO FRIEND TO THE RACE.

Some of the Colonel’s Characteristics Considered Objectionable. I was riding out from Memphis to Col. Jnckson’s plantation when I met an old darky on the highway, who was hobbling along with painful effort. As 1 quite sure, about my road I asked him if he knew the colonel’«place. “Kuruel Jackson’s plantashun?” he repeated. “Yes, sah, I knows dat place right well. Yo’ keep right on to dc next co’ner an’ den turn to de right an’ go a mile.” ■“Do you know the colonel ?” I asked. “Kurnel Jackson? Yes, sah. I knows the kurnel like a book.” “He is said to be a great friend of the colored man.’*. *. “Hu! Who says dat?” “Why, I’ve heard quite a number of people say so.” “Yo’ has, eh? Jist said he was a great friend of de cull’d race, did dey ? Well, sah, if Kurnel Jackson am a great friend of de cull’d race den I doan’ know it!” . “Perhaps you never wanted anything of him?” I suggested. “White man! ” exclaimed the old man as he lifted up his bands, “do yo’ obsarve dis lameness?” “Yes, you are very lame.” “An’ how did I git dis lameness?” “I don’ know.” i “Let me tell yo’, sah. Two weeks ago I went down to Kurnel Jackson’s plantashun to see my darter, who works for him. I started to cum home ’bout 11 o’clock at night,an’ while! was walkin’ ’long I war suddenly cotched in a b’ar-trap. I was held in dat trap two hours, an’ dat ’counts for my lameness. Dat’s de sort of man de kurnel am—puttin’ out b’ar-traps to cotch cull’d folks by de legs.” “Was that bear-trap in front of the colonel’s meat-house?” I asked. “Yes, sah—right by de doah,” replied the old man. “Then it was set to protect his meat against thieves, wasn’t it?” “Yes, sah, reckon it was, but was I arter his bacon? No, sah! I war jist gwine to open de doah an’ look in an’ see how much meat de kurnel had on han’ fur de winter?” “And you explained matters to the colonel when he qpme out to let you out of the trap?” “I did, sah. Arter I’d hollered an’ hollered in’ was mos’ dead de kurnel cum down an’ sot me free, an’ what hurt my feelin’s de mos’ was what he said to pie. Arter Pd ’splained to him all ’bout it he bit me seben times wid his cane an’ said dat if he eber cotched me toyin' to abominate his meat-house agin tye’d distinguish me with such" impetuosity dat I’d nebber see anoder well day. Datsde sort o’a manKurnel Jackson am, sah —dat’s de sort of a fren’ he am to de cull’d people ’round yere.”—Detroit Free Press. —The first alcoholio perfume was Hungary water, made from rosemary by Elizabeth o£ llungary, 1370, she having procured the recipe from a Hungarian hermit. This perfume became popular throughout all Europe in that and the succeeding century.

TRADE REVIEW.

Bistaes* Sltutlon According to Du m*§ New York. March 7.— R. G, Dun & Co.’s weekly review of trade says: **/ “It must yet be broadly stated that bast ness appears to Improve only In prospect, and la the Confidence on which future transaction* may be based, but not aa yet Id attN|<msles accomplished. The tndustrlesSKreport a slightly lower range of prlcesJMcept for iron and steel products. The demand for no dam of Iren product* Is at this time brisk, but large structural business Is expected In the spring, and there Is stilt much hopefulness about . railroad orders, as earnings continue to improve. The reports of the boot and shoe interest are not on the whole more encouraging this week, shipments from the east being still nearly 20 per cent. Idas than last year, but there was no further decline in prices. No important changeappeara in the leather market, and hides are somewhat weaker. "Failures for the week have been *5 hi the United States..against 284 last year, and 68 in Canada, against (8 last year. "The volume of business reflected by clearing house exchanges la not materially improving, the week’s returns showing a gain of only 6.6 per cent, over last year, and a decrease of 17.6 per cent. In comparison with -the some week of 1866.’ 1 Bradstreet’s says: “General trade began the week relatively less favorably; with the change from high winds end extreme cold which checked trading to milder weather. Increased purchases and brighter prospects for business have appeared. Makers of woolen goods report spring trade over, fall trade not yet begun and much men’s-wear woolen machinery idle. Jroaand steel have had an unsatisfactory demand and prices of billets and southern/plg are shaded. There ar,e also reductions in quotations for cotton, print cloths, petroleum, hides, and for wheat, Indian corn and. oats. Mercantile collections are generally unsatisfactory, notably to Chicago, where there are more complaints than for a year past.”

VENEZUELA’S TIME UP.

Ninety Days Allowed to Answer Demand for Indemnity Have Expired. Caracas, March 7.—The U 0 days allowed Venezuela to answer the demand for indemnity for the arrest of English Officials Barnes and Baker on the Urtian river in December, 1894, have expired. The government will not speak officially but the highest authority is given for the statement that Venezuela refused to pay the ihdeffinity, declaring the question of the arrest and the boundary dispute cannot be separated. To pay the Indemnity would be to recognize British sovereignty over Venezuelan territory. It is believed her? that unless Bir Julian Pauncefotri' rind Minister Andreade can arrange matters satisfactorily in Washington England will use force to collect the money, treating the arrests as distinct from the boundary.

FOUND GUILTY.

Jury Returns Verdict Against Detectives on Trial for Murder. Chicago, March v.—ln the case of the murder of Frank White in mistake for his criminal brother, Clarence. White, by operatives of the Berry detective agency, who went out after Clarence with revolvers and a warrant, the jury returned a verdict of guilty as to aIL the six defendants, the McDonald brothers, one of them superintendent of the agency, having been acquitted several days ago. William J. Dix, who fired the fatal styols, was convicted of murder and 1 his' punishment fixed at life imprisonment. The other five, Jacob Fischel, Charles A. Thompson, William F. Mayo, John Frow and Charles J. Poole, were convicted of manslaughter and their punishment left to the judge.

WOMAN SUFFRAGE DEFEATED.

lowa Senate Puts Itself on Record Against tlie Amendment. Des Moines. la.. March 7. —The senate on Friday effectually ended the movement for female suffrage in this state.. Senator Killbourn called up the senate joint resolution to amend the constitution, and tried to have it made a special order for next Tuesday. Senator Carpenter moved to table the resolution, and it was carried by a vote of 25 to 24. Senator Kilbourne then moved to reconsider, and the motion was also tabled on motion of Senator Curpenter.

DISOBEYED ORDERS.

Train Officials to Blame for a Serious Collision—Man J Burt. St. Louis, March 9. —Disobedience of orders by the conductor and motorman of an east-bound car on the Clayton Electric road Sunday evening resulted in a collision about one mile west of Kirkwood, St. Louis county. Four persons were fatally injured, 29 badly injured and about 30 received slight bruises.

Republican Campaign Committee.

Washington, March 0. —J. W.Babcock, of Wisconsin, has been elected president, and W. B. Thompson, of Michigan, treasurer, of the republican congressional campaign committee. Tbe executive committee is as follows: .J. H. Hull, Iowa; Joseph Cannon, Illinois; J. H. Sherman, New York; Jesse Overstreet, Indiana; David Moyer, Nebraska, and Senators Pritchard, North Carolina; Pettigrew, South Dakota, and Mitchell, Oregon.

Shovel Factory Burned.

Pittsburgh, Pa., March 9*—The shovel ‘ factory of Hubbard & Co. was destroyed by fire at an early hour Monday morning. Loss, about $100,000; insurance, $50,000. The origin of the fire is a complete mystery. The factory was one of the largest in the country.

Death of Archbishop Kenrick.

St. Louis, March 5. —Most Rev. Peter Richard Kenrick, who was archbishop of the diocese of St. Louis for 55 years, died suddenly at the archieopiscopal residence in this' city, aged 90 years. He was the oldest member of the American Catholic hierarchy.

A Chicago Girl Wins.

Chicago, March 9.—ln the ladies’ bicycle race Tillie Anderson was the winner, going 359 miles and 6 laps in 18 hours. Helen Baldwin and Lizzie Glaw tied for second place, the score being 353 miles and 8 laps.

Death of, James H. McVicker.

Chicago, March 9. James H.. McVicker, for , v nearly 40 years proprietor of McVicker’s theater, died at bin home in this eity, aged 74 years. A stroke of paralysis was the cause.

SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

—Perfumes are now extensively manufactured in the United States,-and the native articles are said by experts to (compare favorably with foreign manufactures. , —England manufactures perfumes on a very large scale,importing many oi the materials from other countries, but also making large use of homegrown herbs and flowers." —Many woods have sugar and gum In their composition, and tho presence of these elements is generally shown by the attraction the wood seems to have for many kinds of insects. —The wheat yield in the Genesee valley, Idaho, this season is immense. W. N. Gibb threshed 9,000 bushels off of 200 acres, averaging about 45 bushels to the acre. Dan Healy cut and thrashed 44 acres of wheat that went 52 bushels to the acre. —A Missouri rattlesnake at the museum of comparative zoology at Cambridge has brien observed to lose his skin twice a year and to odd a rattle for every skin. Instead of losing the rattles os he does the skin, they are retained by the closing of the inner end of the old rattle over the knob of the new one, and accidents accepted, tho snake bears with him this record of hia n**» -■’*--* ■*: -• ■ - £7 -t : v;- * i • —The trade in California sweet wihes is showing a gratifying increase. Tho total estimated product for this year ia 3,000,000 gallons, which ia 86 per cent, more than was marketed lhst prior. Heretofore there has been .little profitin tberintagesbecauseof the fierce competition of growers; but the producers have now made arrangements with & Sweet-win? .syndicate which will control the entire product of the state and give all concerned some share in the profit. —ln America it has been observed that bees often bore tubular corollas In order to get at the nectar of flowers, instead of entering by the mouth, ris humblebees do in Europe. In essayson the croesfertillzation of flowers, this supposed anomaly has been tho subject of much eommeat It now appears that the humblebees of Europe and America have identical habits in regard to the manner in which visits to flowers are mode, and that it is the class of insects known as the carpenter bee, or the borer, which works In the outside manner indicated. —The question of the influence of the size of seed* upon germination and upon the size of the plants that spring therefrom has recently been* studied anew by Mr. B. B. Galloway, a summary of whose conclusions is given by the Gardeners’ Chronicle. The weight and Size of the seed are of great importance, A large seed germinates better and more quickly', and with it one can count upon having at the same moment from 85 to--00 per cent, of the total crop,while with small seeds the crop reaches maturity only in successive periods of time, so that at no moment in gathering the crop in toto could we have the same proportion of the whole. Besides, . where with small seeds four Buccessivecrops are obtained, we have six with large seeds, their evolution occurring with greater rapidity.

THE SIN-EATER.

A Curious Funeral Rite Which Obtained In Wales. . The principality of Wales has within living memory possessed an official known as the “sin-eater.” It was the practice for a relative—usually a worm an —to put on the breast of a deceased person a quantity of bread and cheese and beer, and the sin-eater was sent for to consume them and to pronounce the everlasting rest of the departed. It was believed that in doing this he absolutely ate and appropriated to himself the sins symbolized by the viands, and thereby prevented their disturbing the repose of the sinner who had committed them. Such an arrangement jvould obviously leave nothing to be desired on the one side, but how it worked on the other we are not told. What was supposed to be the condition of this spiritual undertaker after the ceremony was concluded ? Did his “appropriation” of the dead man’s sins imply a sort of moral assimilation of them, answering to his physical assimilation of the bread and cheese ? The question would obviously be one of some importance to a sin-eater in large practice. IMfce responsibilities of his profusion were as great aa ties of his profession were as great as hypothesis, he would need to retire from it early, and to devote a considerable portion of his closing years to repentance and good works. Again, it is natural to ask what happened at the decease of a popular or “fashionable” sin-eater. Would anyone among his professional brethren; undertake to eat his sins, even in the first flush of satisfaction produced by. stepping into his shoes? If so, then,' indeed, has the epithet of “gallant” been rightly bestowed upon little Wales. It is as though one doctor succeeding to another’s practice should consent to assume the moral responsibility for his late colleague’s treatment of all his deceased patients, in addition to his own similar burdens. We yield to none in admiration of the quiet and homely heroism of the medical profession, but we doubt whethefcit would enable them to face such an ordeal as thy. As to the Welsh practitioners to whom we have compared them, we shrink from pursuing the analysis further. It is evident that, as in the schoolboy game of “conquerors,” where a stone which can smash the smasher, of, say, 43 other stones takes over all its conquests, and itBelf a “forty-fourer,” so the responsibilities of these unhappy men might accumulate at an alarming rate. One hardly dares to contemplate the internal condition of the sin-eater who had in life attended a long series of other sineaters. The cheese would be almost converted Into Welsh'rabbit before ho had got it down.—London Times.