Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 10, 1876, Page 7

~THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: .SUNDAY, DECEMBER . 10, 1876—SIXTEEN PAGES. 7 PASTIMES. Man- (onvention of Base-Ball agers at" Cleveland. o Centennial Champion_ Flag Awarded to Chicago. . | ™" fgxpulsion of the Athletic and Mutual Clubs. . - Listof the Constitutional Amend- A ments Enacted. Revised Code of Playing Rules for 1877. LUnflorm and Lively Ball Agreed 5 Upon. fim Effect of the Changes iamn the ¥ Umpire's Duties. - g Improved System of Scoring as It Was Adopted. ¢ BASE-BALL. iy . gmx FATIONAL LEAGUE COXVENTION. ' ' The most important event in base-ball since {he formation of the Natfonal League was the ‘meeting of that body at Cleveland during last getk. Thelegislation to be passed on by the governing body was of the greatest interest, be- cause npon the result depended the existencs of {he League itself, and if that body should o out of existence there wonld be no head to the ¢ next 5cason. The constitution of the League provided that {h¢ Board should meet Monday evening; but, just Yefore the meeting, and when the amount of business on hand had become well known; it- was seen that only & short time would be neces- sary to dispose of it,and thereforc.the Board 3id pot meet until Wednesday afternoon. By ihst time the whole representation of the League had arrived, and on counting up the fol- Iowing gentlemen were found present from the clgbs named: TOE ATTENDANCE. . Athlctic—G. W. Thompson. 5 i Boston—N. T. Apollonioand Harry Wright. Chicago—W. A. Hulbert and A. G- Mills. Cincinnati—J. L. Keck. ‘Hartford—Robert Ferguson. Loulsville—Charles EF Chase and C. W. Johnstone. 3 ok il * §t. Louis—Charles A. Fowle. The Mutual Club was not represented. - Be- ddes the two delegates from the Chicago, A, G. Spalding, Secretary, was present, though 4aking very little ebare inthedeliberations until {he playing rules were discussed. N. E. Young, Secretary of the League, was, of course, on hand with figures and documents enoush to givea headache to the whole State of Ohio: The lobby was about the sameas at previous base-ball conventions, and was 23 large and in- fnential as usual. - g The mecting of the Board was of {aming point in the matter of k THE BXPULSION OF THE ATHLETIC and Mutual Cluos, and that was abotit the first {hing considered, with Messrs. Apollonio, Chase; Fowle, and Ferguson—the latter as proxy for . Bulkeley—sitting as the Board. The first considered was 8 formal demand from the four Western clubs, reciting provisions of the’ League Constitution, by the terms of which the clubs in question, under penalty of forfeiture of membership, were required to play, on the grounds of the Western clubs, certain games which they had utterly fafled’ and refused to 55, without any excusc for such default that recornized by ~ the League congtitution 28 legal “or allowable; also dctailing at some lengsa considerations of principle, self-preser- vation, and expediency, which should require the League, {ndependently of the provisious of its constitution, to expel such clubs in” justice witself and to the public. : On the ssme side of the question i5ia, letter tom_Philadelphia signed by George W, Brad- Jey, Adrian C. Anson, and Joseph V. Battin, siting forth that they had, early last season, contracted to th ball next year with the Ath- Ietic Club, believing it to be a solvent organiza- tion; that before the expiration of last scason it became 8 matter of public notoriety that the sald < * CLUD HAD BECOME BANERUPT; that’ it Dad failed to pay its own players, and that it had failed to play games due by it to . Western clubs; that at a recent meeting of the Athletic Club’ its Treasurer had reported its treasury bankrupt and its liabilities in excess of $6.000.° That under such circumstances the peti- tioners claimed that the League should protect them, as members of good standing in the League, from becoming the victims of a haz- ardous speculation, by making them eligible 1o play in clubs capabie of fultilling the cluo’s part of the player’s contract. THE REPLY OF THE ATHLETIC CLUB ? was the following document,signed by several of its members: z Gesriexrs: The undersigned, old_and promi- neat members of the Athletic Base Dall Club, of the City of Philadelphia, respectfully beg to lay Lefore you the “following appeal, asking therefor Jour careful coneideration, before taking any action on questions thas may arise at your annual meeting ing the Athletic Clab. = £ 'bis Club nas heretofore boasted 8 record for re- eponsibility and honorable dealing, in all its rela- tuns, gecond to no club in the League. Its organi- aation dates back berond that of any other club in the Leazue, and its influence has always ‘been given for honesty and honor.. The nast eeason has been for onr Club a terribly. us . dnancially, as is well known. Sev- .. etances, wholly beyond our control, ired to cuuse this result, congpicuous among were: First, the much greater attraction of the. Centeznial Exposiuws., —-ich sbsorbed the whole attention of the public 1n Philadelphia dar- the past snmmers and, second, the unfortunato and unavoidable disabling by disease and injuries of several of our wost 1@wortant players, €0 that 1tir 2 matter of pubiic record that the Athletic nine did not play a single game during the season with every man in_his position. In spite of these unt svoidable calamities, however, the Athletic Clab ‘ould have straggied on and played every game, itnotin the spring_aseumed znd paid an old gebt of gome $5,6u0. This itdid from the rense of bonor that had always marked ics transactions, lieviug that the debt should be paid, and not for 3 momen thinking that sach action would. at a date, pus she Club in a position of great em- larrassment. m}\.ulum to ask your lenient consideration of Wisandof the cther points we may sug est, as, ould you see the maiter s we hope, we think the :Pmenupm- ‘of the Athletic Club to your annual Deeling will show you that omr future course is tar, and that the Athletics will start once. mora the mpered, the exponent in Philadelphia of 21l ‘Pprincipica of the Leazue. h&"fllbfid\snumus he general.interests of - Je-ball should there be no League _club, in s isdciphin. and, perhaps, more disnstrous shonld {nelement. that is rampant in Philadelphia: get . 2o the League in place of the Awlctic Club. werer, 370 other, club from this city had ap- flled to ‘your Sccretary on or befure Nov. 6, 1or tdmission to your League, 28 is provided in yonr mmlnuon. a two-thirds vote of your lwfl{ in {hvarof forfelling the membership of the Athletic Jub would leuve Philadelpiua witbout any League lub the enening reason. This would, ‘perhaps, unfortunate for the League, as well as for the People of Philadelphia, as this city bos always Syl until the past scison. a YOIy sLrong supporter olthe pame, and has paid other clubs o jarge nummv. of money. the loss of which, perhaps, ,fl!:noz be desirable to you. t the Atbletic Clab failed to keep sll its en- wsements the past_zeason is “unfortunately truey faLwe sincercly assure you it was nOL “tof its own L™ (to quote from Art. 13 of your constitu- oy e know that our Club, bas thercby ren- i i itsclf *‘liable "' to a forfeiture of its mem- cembip, provided you shall by & Lvo-thirds votc £0 delermine (a8 provided in Arts. 7 and 8 of your Dttitution); Lot we appeal to you DOt tovole tional 2, ur constitution, wholly op- pres with yon. Sliould it be proven to your sat- kn':"l?"-‘h" the Athletic Club, *‘of ftsown fl® willfully or frandulently refused to flnish Jus ufibnu of games, perhsps you would be They ed in severing jts membership; but even hm‘m’mlghn simply inglict the penalty provided fai e 1% {or clubs that do, **of their own faulh, " Tnllto finleh eeries, viz,: Debar us from counting *Bumes next gesson fo our own benett, ot {rom shonys the championship awarded to us even if we o jiann & majority of 5 X Taiap B O%D fuult™ that the Athletic Club Tailed to serics, this rale does not apply toit. Wo tgg qore venture to believe that e wnote gnes- will pot be decided - by your vote. and that there 0t be two-thirds of your number—if, indeed, t7¢ are any~who will think that the interests of ‘course the e ] games; bug as it was not | T = = KI:EA?!‘:&R:I&:{ best u:nfi@byvlha.expulslon of ‘The Board considered the thred co: tlons on the subject, and “ally, hy"nu:\‘:;::\‘})c:; :co:g;n r::‘:nndmtl'flwt‘l;m:ut; 0 Alhl! League, with a ation that e b e Athletic and Mutual The matter of b AWARDING THE CHAMPIONSHIP being one of the duties of the Board, the Secre- tln‘ry presented the results of all the games as %1 n\\'nb)" the scores scat to him. The St. Louis d‘ lt‘ah asked that the games left unplayed by the 1& ult of the Athletic and Mutual’ Clubs be ‘x;t;;t:d,ac l:’ut :gzu— ts‘;aml: discussion the award n the returns e made by the Scere- Cluts. Pl 3 Chicago . ayéd. "_,‘,’,Z" Lax]t; Tartford. . 68 47 b St. L 45 i“ Boston . e = Louisvilie o =g o - 3 Athletic 5 Cinoinnati u & Ammmunimélum AND BOND. ication was received frorh Devlin, of the Louisville Club, asking that his contract with that Club be declared annulled on account of alleged unfair treatment in the matter of ealary. Aletter was also received from the officers of the Louisvillé Club, in the nature of a reply to Devlin’s . claiming the right to discipline tlieir men as they chose. The Board scttled the matter by voting to allow the Dfi;'l{_\;:omplmnf. totbg withilrawn, son presented his complaint against g{m:gh;s‘filn tihe ltuu:r’s upulsl?m on aé‘;mnt 3 efamatory charges made, but not sustnined, by hirn. Tflc Board dcdfl:fi. aftera careful consideration _of the documents, jn- cluding alctter from Bond in which he makes ao unqualified retraction of the charges, as be- ing “all the reparation in his power to make,” that it could not take jurisdiction of the matter. - THE LEAGUE' FROTER met Thursday noon, and, in thc absence of Preeident Bulkeley, - elected Mr. Apollonio Chairman. No better sclection could have been made, and the League showed their appreciation of that fact when the eclection of oilicers was had, The first business taken up wasthe report. of the Board on the Athletic and Mutual mat- ter. The Mutual Club did not put iu an ap- poarance, but ‘Cammeyer, its manager, had Written, some time since,:thathe ¢ acknowl- edred the corn,” and that “ it was no use’ for the Le#gue to bave rulesif it’ did not enforce cm. The Athletic Club was represented by Man- ager Thompson, who had presented its written petition and argument, and who argued its cause before the League. . MR A G MILLS, of the Chicago Club, rcplied at considerable length for the Western clubs, revicwing all the documents and facts ‘in the case. and com- pletely annihilated the Athletic’s defense, which, inviewof the extrzordinary perversion of facts that characterize its petition, was no difficult matter to do. but ‘his scathing review of its managerial carcer was a fitting obituary of that swindling orgunization. Tue League aggnt%d the resolution wPDrwdal‘l));l t.h: Board, and, by upanimous vote, cxpelled both the Hihicti and Matual Olubs, After disposing of the other matters from the Board, the League proceeded to the considera- tion of * AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION, the more important of which were the fullow- jng: In tho membership artide provision was made for the. admission of new clubsat any time before the commencement of the chani- pionship season, . To gain admittance, the club must apply to the Secretary, who must take a vote of thie League by correspondence. Under this sectlon, thera is littie doubt that both New York and Philadelphiawill be admitted to repre- sentation before the season opensin March. The article concerning clubs wasmade muchstronger and cleafer by providing that a club shall at onee lose its membership by playing or attempt- irg to play an expelled player, or by failiug to play any game on the day agreed upon except under certain contingencies, The article con- cerning disputes and complaints is amended s0 as to permit a manager to call up for immediate trial before the Board any player in any club against whom he shall “prescat cvidence. If anything will permit (CASES OF . ALLEGED CROOKEDSESS to be determined at once, and if sny provision can fford opportunity for jmmediate trial, this method will do it. The article regulating contracts provides that in a1l contracts to be hercafter made, a stipula- tion chall beinserted to the effect that the contract sball end at the same time that- the. club loses its membership in the League. . The championship artide provides that the number of games in the serics betweeu clubs shall vary according to the number of mem- Dbers in the League at the commencement of the gcaaun, viz.; Six or scven clubs skall play twelve game ecries; eight or nine clubs, ten games; and ten clubs eight games. The whole question of forieited games is done, away with, except, of courze, such as_are for- feited on the ficld and so declared by the umpire. T'nc only wholly new article is the very proper one which recoznizes the existence and merit of ‘NON-LEAGUE OR SEMI-PROFESSIONAL CLUBS. It provides, in _effcet, that one club may be admitted to the League each year without vote, but upon proper application to the. Becretary, aud that such club shall be the one which has during the season won the most games in serics s0 arranged as to aford a fair test of merit, and i]n. 1n_accordance with the rules of the eagie. It nlso provides that the League Board may, upon application, determine dis- putes between such clubs on the basis provided in the constitution. * : After the consideration had been concluded THE PLAYING RULES were taken up, section by scction. The matter of the ball was casily scttled by empowering the Secretary to contract with Mr. Mahn, of Boston, for all iic balls to be used by the League, they to be of the'same size and weight as last year, of the constitution | made with double cover and one ounce of har rubber. This will insure 2 lively, hard, and uni- form ball. ‘The kind adopted is about the same ‘s was used by the Chicago Club last year, and the -result of the —move will* be an jocrease in _tuns and in the excite- ment attending the game, and it Wil certainly render the championsiip games of 1877 much more interesting thaa tuosc of any previous year. The understanaing entered into {¥ith Mr. Mabn was that be should submit_all balls for League use to the Secretary’s inspec- tion, and that after being approved” each one should be packed in paper and in foil to exclude the atmosphere, and then sealed in a box 50 as 16t to be upened until delivered to the umpire just before the game. To sccure the desired ‘uniformity it was provided in Sec. 8 of Rule 1 that 1o ball should be used in any championship game unless it Was furnished by the Secretary of the League. B OTHER CHANGES. Sec. 6 of the same rule was changed 80 a5 to make the first, second, and third bases fifteen inches on each side, or one-fourth larger than last season. Thc home base was also moved up into the dlamond to prevent. fair-fouls. At the cnd of Sec. 7 of the same rule it was provided that Jines be drawn back of and par- allel with the foul lines, fiftpen and fifty fect distant, to mark the positions of players on the batting side. . © - . e et A somewhat radical change was made-in Sec. 2 of Rule 2 by doing away with the toss of the penny for first _innings, and providiog . tift thie home ninc should aiways go first-to bat, The curious provision which alfowed a chanyzein the pine up to the beginuing of the fourth mnmfi was amended so that no change couls ter the begiming of the sccond inning, except in - case of illness or injury. . In the sume rule a consid- erable part of the umpire’s discretion is done away with in deciding that a game must stop siter thirty minntes’ rain. RULE 3 WAS ENTIRELY REMODELED by taking out some extraneous matter and add- ing the following: % Ay player who shall conspire with-any petcon agsunst lned interest of his bcl‘nb. fl hby “H, :?md::: Mfest a disporition to obstract the munags mamHeat 8 00 e exvelled. The club s entitled to the best scrvices of the player, and ifany player becomes indifferent or carcless in his play, or Dy canse becomes unable to render service, IO afactory to his club, it inay, at its option, re- fite to pay salary for such time, or may cancel the contract of said player. a Tn Rule 5 provision was made for changing the batsman’s position by br(nglni his square one foot nearer the pitcher—that is, three feet in front of and three fcet behind home base. ‘The guestion of “DEFINING HIGH AND LOW BALLS was considered at some length, and settled by makiog 2 Jow ball one from the knce to the belt of the striker, and 2 high ball one from the Dbelt to the shoulder. The exact walst ball was defined as a low ball. To render clearer the question of preventing a striker from balkiag a catcher on a throw, the last paragraph of Rule 5 was changed so as to be made read: the batsman] plainly aitempts to hinder m};{cgzcl[:g from mtc’lflil:;,' Tha ball, evidently with- e ifort to make a fuir strike, or if he makes 3 foul strike, then he shall be declared out- . In Rule 6, in reference to f RUNNING .THE BASES, e +was inscrted a section commanding the runner 0 do all his_traveling. in returning after foul hits and the like on the_ run, and in. the same rule was incorporatcd the section "allowing the runper to go_behind a fielder and out of the T avoid hitting seid ficlder when in the ack of fielding the ball- . THE ABOLITION OF FAIR-FOULS was next brought up; and, whilc there was Do " for uniforms, doubt as to the wisdom of the change, yel strangely enough only one section to cosex’- {hg lmlnt was presented. That was the one pub- ished in these columns some weeks ago, and it ‘was approved as follows: Sec. 1. If the ball from a fair stroke firat touches the gronnd, the person of n%’lnt]hefi.b:: any other object, either in front of or on the foul- bail Nnes, it shail be considered fair. If the bali from a falr gtroke of the bat firat touches the grolmd. the person of a player, or any other object. chind the foul-ball lines, 1t shall be declared foul, and the ball so hit shall be_ called foul by the am- pire even before touching the ground, if it be seen n}xl‘gng ;ofil. he following are exceptions to the section: All balls batted llalinscfly to lhgogrreoz:!?g that bound, or roll within the foul-lines between home and firat, or home and third bagee. withont first touching the person of a player. shall be con- sidered fair; ail balls botted tle:utlly to the ground that bound or roll outside the foul-lines between home and first, or home and third bases, wichont firat totiching the person of & player, shall be con- ;lndl(‘!‘rted‘ m“t:lc(lg :ithcr “): 'i)"“dwu the first of con! etween the battes ground shall not be rezarded. Pl as e OBSTRUCTIONS. The practice, so common and offensive last car, of allowing the batsman, in running to rat buse, to circle ont into the dismond so a5 to fiet in the way of the ball thrown to the fitst aseman was stopped by the adoption of the following section: 1t a bose-runner, in running from home to firat Dbase, shall run inside the foul line, or thr el o8t he Shorl b Totarod ot e 1% In the same rule it was provided that the fleld- er in fouching o runncr with the ball should hold, and inferentially if ho drops the ball in the act, the runuer is not out. The effect of this will be to make things lively as be- tween a big runner aud a little baseman. In the same eection an effectual quietus is put on the runuer’s kicking a b:ul—n%n. McGeary—by Erovldlng that if enyrunner be bit by a batted all he shall at once be declared out. THE QUESTION OF SELECTING UMPIRES, which has been a source of no little trouble during the past scason, was a hard nut to crack, and’ the League pegged away at it for some time, until, in the midst of a whirlwind of sug- gestions, the hurd-headed delegate {rom Cincin- nati roard out his plan, which was immediately adopted. It is, in effect, that three men com- petent to act shall be named as um- Eres in or near cach city where there is a carue clab, and onc of thosc three ehall um- pire every game played in that city. The ques- tion of which one of the three it shall bo must be decided by lot not less than three hours be- forc cach gome. After adopting the plan, the Leaue attempted to select the men, but were unsuccesstul, and that part of the plan was made,the work of a committee consisting of Hulbert, of Chicago, and Harry Wrieht, of Boston, They will recefve names from all the clubs before the begioning of the sea- som, aud will announce the names of those who have _received the - most votes.:. Curiously enough, when trying to Bick out names, only ono city could succecd in ringing forward thic names of three men ac- ceptable to the rest of the League. That city was Louisville, and no_fault was found with Walsh, J. Morris, or DeVinney. The section which provides that no one shall interiere with the umpire during a game Was provided with the penalty of a formal repri~ mand. = TIE LAST THING CONSIDERED in the playing-rules was a system of scoring in- ‘tcnded to systematize the method in use, and to resolve any doubts that may have existed be- fore. Tbe rule as passed was as follows: TULE VIII, —~SCONING, 1In order to promote uniformity in scoring cham- plonship games,ithe_following instructions, enz. Lettions,and detinitions are mado for the benefit of Ecorors of League clubs, and they are required to make the scores mentloned in Sec. 5 of Art, XIL of tho League Constitution in accordance there- with. 5. ATTING. SEcriox 1. The frst item In_the tabulated score, after the player's ame and position, £ball be the number of tumes he bas been at bat during the me. Any time or times where the player has eon sent to bage on called balla saall noi be in- cluded in this column. SEc. 2. In the second colnmn should be set down the runs made by each plnyer. SEc. 8. In the third column should be placed the first-base hits made by each player. A bage-hit should be scored in the following cases: When the ball from the batstrikes the ground be- twoen the foul-lines snd out of the reach of the flelders. ‘When a hit is partially or wholly stopped by & fielder in motion, but such player cannot recover Limeelf in time to handle the ball before the striker reuches first base. When the ball is hit so sharply to an infielder that he cannot handle it in time to put out a man. In¢asc of doubtover this class of hits give the field- er the benetit, and score a baso-hit. ‘Wien & ball s hitso slowly toward a fielder that he cannot reach it before the batsman is safe. Sec. 4, In tho fourth colnmn shonld be piaced to the credit of cach ;player the total bages made off Tis hils.. The unit, or base, consists in getting from any one base to any other base arithout being ‘put out, and thestriker is to ‘be credited, not only $ith the number of bases which be himself makes After & hitj but, in addition, with those “safely made by every other player’ who is on base nt the fimo he runs toward first. 1t should be underatood: thint a base or bazes made off an exror of & fielder count toward the score of the player who ran from fiome base toward first base when the error was made. Al the bases made off such error, whether Dy the striker or by some othierplayerthen on basc, £hall g0 to the credit of the siriker. The striker - ehail oe credited veitha base when he Is sent to base on called balls, and, in addition, with all the hases made by otlicr players who may be advanced on the play und er the rules. '3 busc or bases shall be given to the runner for » snceessfal steal, whether made on an error of his opponents o without error. "Sases shall not - be given to a striker when any player, othér than himself, shall be put ot on his strike. FIELDING. SEc. 5. The number of opponents put out by cach player;shall be set down in the fifth column. Where a striker s given out by the umpire for a foul strike or because he struck out of his tarn, the put out shall be scored to the catcher. Sec. 6. The number of times a player assists shall be set down in the sixth columi. An_assist should be given to each player who ‘handles the ball fn & run-out or other play of the kind. 'An aesist should be given the pitcher when abats- man fails to hit-the ball on the third strike. An assist should be given the pitcher in eachcase where o batsman is declared oat for ‘making a foul strike or striking out of turn. “An nesist should be given to a player whomakesa play in time to put & runner out, even f the ployer who should couplete the play fails throughno fault of the player assisting. '\ assitt should 1ot be given toa player who mufs the ball, or allows it to bound off his body t?wnrd a player who then assists or puts out a ayer. e And, generally, an assist shonld be given to each player who bandles the ball from the time It leavos The bat until it reaches the player who makes the put-out, of in caec of a thrown ball, o each player who throws or handles it cleanly and in such way that a put-out results, or ‘would result if no error swere made by the recelver. A o 7. A% error should be given for each mis- pluy avhich allows the striker or base-runncr to P vcone or more bases when perfect play would hove insared his being put out. 1n scoring errors oIf batted balls sce Scc. 3 of this article. B ONE OF THE MOST AMUSING FEATURES of the session was the utter and blank amaze- ment and despair with which the most practical of the Mnnngim listened to the above, without the dimmest ideg what it was all about; andit a5 simply refreshing to hear him at the close propose thut the system of scoring be limited to a sharp knife and “pine stick, on alternate sides of which the umpire should cut notches to cor- respond with the runs made. This eminently Simple idea wns, however, rejected. The only change made by the League in the system as proposed was the striking out of the entirc jtem of earned rums. This will simplify the official scorers’ work very much next year. OFFICERS. After closing the consideratian of the rules, the League proceeded to sclect a Board by drawing trom @ hat fn which were cards with the ‘The names caine out names of all the clubs. [ in thé following order: Bostom, Louisville, Tic members of Hartiord, Chicago, St. Louls. tho Board will probably be Messrs. Porter, Chase, Bulkeles, Hulbert, and Fowle. The first-named will, it is cxpeclcd, succeed Mr. Apotlonio in the Boston Club. After the DI~ rectors bad been sclected, Alr. Apollonio was pominated by Mr. Hulbert, of Chicago, Boconded, and_heartily approved for Pres- ident, sut declined’ the honor, sayin: that ' it was doubtful whether he woul be counccted With the Boston Club .for another year. ‘Mr. Hulbert, of the Chicago Ciub, was then unanimously elected President. Mr. Young was re-clected Secretary, with an in- creased salary, and a highly complimentary res- olution passcd to his credit. . A resolution leaving the publication of the Association code of rules in the hands of the Secretary was then adopted. . ] GATE-MONEY. Among the most fnportant actsof the session was the adoption of a formal agreement, simed by all _the clubs, the - main e e Deiny that each - club ghould use a sel-rezistering apparatus con- nected with a turnstile to indicate_exactly how mauy persons go into cach -ground for cach game. For every person who eaters the ground, except players, poticemen in uniform, and tea other persons, the visiting club shall reccive 15 cents. In toe same agreement is 3 clause noti- feine players that they will be charzed 330 each 0 and that 50 cents will be deducted from their salaries for each day where they are absent on tours. . CONTRACTS. A most important resolution, and one which will go far to produce hannony hetween the ama- teur and semi-professionalclubs and the League, was to the effect that the League would not, after March 15, 1877, enter into contract with any player to whose services any cub of good repate, either in or out of the League, ehould be entitlgd by legal contract. This was adopted unanimously, and was really avery just and proper thing to do. During the scason of 1876 there were very many occasions where League clubs went fornging about amonglthe amatcurs in anything but a proper way. ~Notable cases ‘were those of Clinton, Morrill, Whitney, Bradley of Boston, Foler. Brown, Williams, Som- erville, and Collins. Hurry Wright was cs- ecially a kind of pirate on the high seas. 'his résolution stops all that sort of thine. After expressing its satisfaction with the treatment received from Cleveland, the League adjourned to the same city, to meet in Decem- ber, 1877. The close of the year and the meeting of the League should not be passed over without more than 2 mere mention of the services of NICK YOUNG, BECRETART. He has been the most efficient officer ever con- nected with the game in his position, and the amount of work which he has donein tabulating his fizures and in keeping them with correct- ness is something fhat must be scen to be ap- preciated. The re-election and vote of thanks werc duc. b THE MAHN BALL. Oneof the wisest -measures adopted by the League was the sclection of the Mahn ball for use in all duwlonshlp games. Mr. Mahn is the leading ball-maker of the country, and his goods ' have mever. been equaled b any other factory. He uses the best material pos- sible to be purchased, and has, as a consequence of the perfection of his ‘goods, been selested as official maker for the League, which selection will no doubt be ratified by nearly all the clubs in the country. A. G.Spalding & Bro., at No. 118 Randolpli street, represent the Mahn ball in the West. y MINOR MATTERS. Good-by, mush ball. The timid men of the League—Hulbert and Keck. The Boston “father of the game” was scooped on the foul-bound. Out of the 122 players who took part in League games last scason only fifty have been re-engaged. Why is this? - Al Wright notes in his mg)er that “Nowis the winter of our.discontent.” He should add, «)Made glorious summer by Harry of York.” A curious idea is manifested in the Clipper by an advertisement of the Louisville Club for players. ' Generally a club has only to pick out from applications. Mr. Keck, of Cincinnati, is said to have en- fiugcd Bob Add{\, of last season’s Chicagos. If e Las done 80, be has . sceured one of the hard- est-working players and best run-getters in the country. <t v ¢ _ It seems that Cathbert, last of the St. Louis, is likely to play in Indianaopolis next year. Dickey Pearce is suyfimsed to be still open to contract, though hels quite likely to show up in the St. Louis Reds. : A Philadolphia paper, speaking of the ball- maker, says, “ Requiescat iu pace, thou poor dead Mahin.'” Inview of the fact that the gentleman refarred to was chosen official maker fo the League, he secms & pretty lively “dead Mabn.” 5 The Philadelphia Jtem saye of the Athletics: «Tt is a satisfaction to know that the spirit of the Club, of members and dircctors, is for an onest fulfiliment of all oblizations. Every debt will be paid, and nothing will be left ud- done to restore the prestige of thc organiza- tion. The representative of the Athletic Club stated at Cleveland that they had no idea of paying theirdebts unless they could comfortably do so trom the profits of next year’s zames, 1t the reputable citizens of Philadelphia who were persuaded to sign the documet presented to the League by the Athletic Club had ‘been 28 well acquainted with the {nner workings of that organization as are nearly all the ball clubs of the country Wwho haye Bad the misfortune to lave dealings with it, not one of them could have been prevailed upon to affix his signature tosuch an egrezious mass of bosh and misrepre- sentation. The fact of the disagreement between the management of the Hartford Club and tbe les- sce of the Union Grounds is thatthe elub would like to play there, and offered Mr. Cammeyer, the lessee, all the club profits if he would agree to stand balf the loss if therc were ome. A more liberal offer could not_well have been made, but it was refused, and Mr. Cammeyer made, os a counter; the proposition that the Club pay him 25 per cent of its zross reccipts a8 rent. This was of course refused as utterly preposterous, and there the matter stands. Cammeyer can get up some sort of 3 nine he will try to enter the League under the name of + The Brooklyn Club, of Brookiyn.” CURLING. BRAVING THE ELEMENTS. There must be some attraction in the game of ¢ cyrling * beyond that immediately manifested to the casual observer. The man who stands around on very cold ice and watches the game +rith a view tp itemizing thereupon, does not at first notice tije transparency of the object there- of. - To him tlm sliding of 40-pound stones at & mark appear to completely absorb the fun, leaving not 5 sigm to gladden the bystanders. It map Dbe goodl exercise for those engaged, but it conduces to stagnation of blood and numb ex- tremities among those who look on. Curling is a Scotch game. The conditions precedent are a sheet of ice, several oval smooth stones, with a handle on each, 8. very cold day, and a nuwmber of -Scotchmen. The bull’s-eyes are situated 33 yards irom cach other, and sur- rounded by two rings, the smaller 7 feet in di- ameter, and the larger 14 feet. ‘The stones weigh trom 40 to 42 pounds, and the skill lies in gliding a stoue, from one. bull’s-cye with just foree enough to lodge it ia another. If it lodges, the skill of the next man lies fn knock- ing it out, or, if he fails, the next man_who i3 on the same side as the man who lodged, sends his stone close up, s0 38 to form a gum‘d. The side having o stone nearest the bull’s-cye at the end of a cast scores. g Yesterday was fixed for the match between the Thistle and Chicago Clubs of this city. Eight gentlemen from the two clubs appearcd, ot enough for 8 mateh, and so a friendly game was decided upon without refcrence tosthe clubs. - The lake in Lincoln Park was the theatre, and the sides were divided as follows: James Hutton, Skip; Joseph Roe, Thomas S b, and ltabert Dincan, against H. Ritchie, Skips; David Howie, William Cooper, and L.T. Martin. (Skip weans Captain.) 'he sides di- vided, and the game went on. Each man was armed with a broom to sweep the snow .and ice dust from in_front of s sluw stone, or to pro- tect a swift one from the wind. Whenthe game becomes escitin, , the broomns fly in a most picturesque fashi on,.and now and again the broom-holder starts upa gymnastic side- ghow in_getting out the way of a wild stone. At 2 o'dock the gmuc opened. The wind blew swilt and steady from the west, cold as Iceland and keen as a zazor. -Half a hundred boys and a dozen girls wero skating around the piayers. The lake was fringed ‘ with = snow- drifts, and_ the trees looked barren and dull. Straight across the ice Dblew. the wind, leaving a luminous trait of red noses and ears. But the game went on. One side would send a well-played stone right_futo the iddle of the bulls-cy¢. Then came the tug of war. Méusuring it carefully, and waiting a mio- ute to caleulate the exact awount of force nec- essary, un_opponent of the marksman would end Liis missile moaning alung the ice. ~As it Started, & novice would lnugh outright, won- flcrinzk any fellow could imagine that such a weak ¢ast would be productive of gatisfactory results. . Skipping along, straight for the mark, the stone ‘does well, till a great swoop of wind comes down. Slight deviation, and the bowlder flies past the puil’s-cye, and is dead. A capital shot pro- vokes applause from the fellow-players of the proud marksman, while a bad cast s accepted in cheerful silence. Seven * heads,” or innings, were plaved yes- terday, lasting until nearly dark, and then it was_atnounced that Skip Hutton’s side had made fiftcen points, while its competitor had scored but fourteen,—a well-contested game, & Jot,” one gentleman expressed it, winning the hatred of Tug TaiBUNE man who had stood around part of ‘the time and sat down the rest, the latter purely involuntarily. — .-THE TURF. RACES AT SAN FRANCISCO. Special Dispatch to The Tridune. Sax FRANCISCO, Dec. 9.—The First California Oaks was runat Bay District Park this afternoon, four miles and repeat, for a purseof $10,000. The weather was fine, the trackin good condition, and the attendance jarge. Mollic McCarthy, Mattic A. . Billinctte, Emma Skaggs, and Lol Lodi 1. Josic Card and Gentle Anpic were withdrawn, Mollie, in the pools, suld at, $110, Mattie 360, the ficld $20. “Te horses ot off well together at 2:45 p. m. Mollic drow slightly abead, and at the half-mile had a Tead of half u length of Skaggs Lodi and Mattic together ' ebout two lengths Dehind, Ballinctte trailing., This position was maintained with scarcely any change to the end of the third mile, when Ballinette closed up and Skagys fell behind. At the half on the Tourth mile Mollie was still in the lead, Mattie close behind, Ballinette and Lodi_together a co::g;e of lengths in the rear, and Skaggs fifty yards behind. In this order they camc down ihe home-stretch, Mollie runnin: casily, with Mattie half 4 length behind under the whip, the former winning in 7:33%. Ballinette, Lodi, Mollfe stood $200 in the In the second heat the horses got a good start Mollic a neck ahead, This was a beau- the horses almost keeping neck and neck throughout until they swung into the and Skaggs distanced. Between the heats pools to Mattie's $50. at 8:87, tiful heat, he. remarked as the door closed on Mr. Wix's re- treating form; **he’s got alarge family too. I hope hé wo't be drove to drinking What should drive him tp drinking?’ I ranted to}iuy golden eggs, only Brummazen gilt. ointment, sir. Buying a goose war- which turn out tobe t, in a mannerof home-stretch on the fourth mile, when Mollle.| speaking, is his case, sir.” forged_slightly ahead, and came under the | “Butihat’s the matter with him? string barely a length in advanc winning the #Nothing the matter with him;it's the dog e, heat, race, and first money in 7152%. took the eccond money, tl fifth reverting to the Soclety. The race was apparently squarely contested, and the result was received with satisfaction by the crowd. TURF NOTES. The Iiinofs Horse-Breeders’ Association will mect in this city, at the Pacific Hotel, on the 20th of the present month. . J. Neeley, of Ottawa, DL, has sold the Mattie e third, fourth, and that’s the cause—the inuocent cause, I may say Zof Mr. Wix's trouble. You see it 13 thi sir. Mr. Wix—which he’s a heasy-chair maker, and used to keep his dozen hands—is what we call a toy fancler:a fancler of toy dogs that is. There’s lots of ‘em about here, and their meet- ing-house of reg’ler 5how-n1.g_htsh on Sunds) evenings, is the Three Pigeons up the street. 1t is reckoned a kind of honor to be chairman of the room, because, you must know, that a man can only occupy that post by virtue of his own- ing thesmallestand most clegant animal present. yearling bay stallion Ao: Clay, by Neeley's | x; ¢ -fifi;fl Now it has been the one object of Mr. Wix's ieury Clay, o [ EL Falrchild, of Metamors, | ife o ges fnto that chair, Ther do bay ‘that he > broke up s good home to raise enough to buy A pumber of the admirers of the trotting stallion Ethan Allen have decided to erect a sultable monument to_his memory, over his ive, at the course at Kansas Stud Farm, near wrence, Kan. A project is on foot to induce the American Club to institute an annual internation- 1tke the Grand Prixof Paris, of a- suffi- clent value to tempt French and English owners of racc-horses to cross the Atlantic and compete Jockey al race, for it. OTHER SPORTS. ' BILLIARDS. Sexton s understood to have challenged J. Dion for the cue lately won from Garnler. A handicap tournament for the championship of Ohio is contemplated. There are six entries, including Gallagher, Carter, and Honing—all well known in this city. i Sexton, in & practice-game in New Orleans, ran 341 at three-ball billiards—the longest stretch on record but_one, which does not, of course, count as a record. THE TRIGGER. E. T. Martin is contemplating giving a tourna- ment in St. Louis Dec. 25, to last three days. There will be a shoot at Dexter ‘mas for the Miles Johnson badge, John Kleinman. A mew source of supply has been opened to mect the demand for pigeons.. A large num- to Chicago from ber have been lately shipped the Indian Territory. Last Thursday Dexter Park, snowbirds. Martin won one at pigeons. Ira A. Palne, Park_Christ- now held by there was a small shoot at D in wnich Tom Stagg and Henry Kleinman won the most of the sweepstakes at the well-known pigeon-shot, has that handsome little Maltese you saw me titty- wating just_now, and he madé sure of the seat this time. But he's 'Eot a rival. Mr. Mossul, the tripe-dresser up the street, he’s a toy fancier t00, and he has heid the chair at the Pigeons for *a year and more. He's a warm man, and not easy to turn when once he sets his mind on any- thing. Well, sir, at the last moment, when Mr. Wix thonght that victory was sure—when he nnd acksholly made ready a bit of supper for the members in honor of the oceasion, buying the tripe of Mossul himself and inviting him to peck abit—at the ver{ last_moment, when everybody was congratulating Wix on his pluck and spirit, “Why,’ says Mossul, with that aggrawating grin of his, *if it was only & quarter of a pound or so lizhter, it would be about the same weight as this new little thing of mine.’ It was true too. Nobody kuows what he gave for it—forty sover- cigns I bave heard—but he sent to Brussels for it on purpose, and there it was; and there Mos- sul wus as firm fixed to the chair as ever. It was a severe blow for Mr. Wix; he hasn't been the same man since.” Further conversation put the little barber and myself ou quite friendly terms. He confided to me that he too was a bit of a fancier, and owned 2 toy “8kye,” for which he had refused its weight in_half-crowns. *If you take annter- ‘est in such things, sir,”? sud he “why not look in at the Three Pigeons some Sunday evening? To-morrow there will be a good muster, and Mossul is almost sure to be there. Youwlll find us select, and in company with dogs that no wbnflemm need be ashamed of being scen with. e ain’t in general free to straugers, but you n;n tn,!,enflnn my name and yow'll find it all Tight. “And so it came about, the following Sunday evening, just after the was Ht, 1 whispered the name of my friendly barber to the young iady who officiated behind the bar of the Three Pigeons, and she affably directed me to the par- Jor—a low, long, ill-ventilated room, with a sailed for Europe under engagement in Liver- | stronger flavor of dogs in the air than was quite pool and London to produce his shooting-act | agreeable to any one unaddicted to canine wor- Fith glass globes on thic stage, Ho will visit | ship. Therc was already a fair sprinkling of Monaco at the pigeon-shootiug tournament to and will endeavor' to the crack shots. e held there in January, arrange matches with svme of PURP3 AND CHICKS. The sécond annual exhibition of the National will be held in the Ex- Dosition building from the 12th to the 17th ,0f February next. Besides the poultry show, there and there is will be as great a success a matter of expedi- those of last year should be put forward as_heads .of the show. People have a too lively rcmcx&hm.\me of how Association of Fanciers il be, as last year, a dog shows but little doubt that it a3 the one last year. As ency some other names than last years prizes were ¢igealed. T —— DOG-WORSHIP. There was nothing to distinguish it from an ordinary barber’s shop, into which a man ‘might, if he felt so disposed, step in for the purpose of or of having his hair brushed. It will be casily understood, then, that Iwasnots Jittle astonished, on pushing open the door and taking two downwara steps, to discover the pro- in his shirt slccves and with a white busy with the tools of his craft on & four-footed customer—a shagzy-cogted dog being shaved, prietor, bibbed apron on, of the smallest size. It was evident that the favored animal had just been luxuriating in a warm bath. With was tubblng him dry, and tne atmosphcre of the shop was laden with the fragrance of brown ‘Windsor soap. The dog and the barber didnot have it all to them- sclves, however. The operation in progress was interest, by an individusl of not particalarly prepossessing appearance—a, tender solicitude the barber watched, With moody company present, mostly of the Mr. Wix t¥pe, Shabby and threadbare, Sunday though it was; nevertheless screne content beamed in every countenance. It was announced in the indepen- dent cock of eyery man’s hat or cap, in the way in which he smacked his lips after nis beer, and more especially in the manner of his smoking his pipe. The man whose mindis ill at case was never yet able to get out of a pipe-bowl all the cnjoyment it is capable of yiclding. Tobacco: should be coaxed and humor:.d, not worried. The man of care snatches at his smoke in jerky ufls, and bites the sealing-wax; whereas the {ndividual whose prescnt happiness'is complete sncks tranquilly at his pipe-stem, and leisurely emits the cloudy result in_one full volume. The company in the Three Pigeons' parlor did thistoa man. They could afford to do it. What are broadcloth and clean linen to o man +who has his *fancyi” Each man had the latter —not ignobly chained to the leg of & chair, or made to crouch under the tablc; but accommo- dated with some sort of fancy little rugor cushion to lie on, and space beside the pot or rlassat Its master’s elbow. The bipeds were the masters, of course; but, undoubtedly, the dogs Dhad the best of it in point of genteel and well- bred sppearance. There was onc man with the .| seams of his old black coat showing white, and his uumentionables patched with pieces of different material and complexion from the original; a man, moreover, whose great hacked- about hands showed him to be a tremendously hard_drudge at some kind of work; and his object of worship was a hairless littie mon- strosity in terriershape, with a mere skeleton of & tuil, and ribs that might be counted. its col- Jar was of red morocto, With silver ornamenta- tion; and a slender silver chain was attached to it, terminating with a silver ring, which encir- oled the fourth finger of the man’s horny band like a wedding-ring. The terrier, I was told, was worth £10- I don’t belicve that for s single article of its master’s apparel seedy and threadbare man fn, shabby black, "h'} 401 clothes man would bave given tenpence. Jooked like an out-of-work tailor or weaver. thought, guilty start, that, by chance, man who went dowa to Jericho. & case as possible. threadbare coat and thehungry visage, although & weaver by trade, had es- sayed to improve his fortunc by dog-stealing. I a watch was stolen the thiel's first business wastocarry ittoan obliginziriend, and nwinbers a3 There would the barber was a confeder- a skillful use air-dye also— was able to so alter an animal’s appearance that possibly a tailor or Jnew that when who would erase such marks might lead to its identification. be no question that ateof tne dog-stealer, and that b{ of the scissors—and, perhaps, of at the moment, that the pair gave a as 1 appearcd before them, and I straightway came to the sagacious conclusion 1 had stumbled on a discovery gimilfar to that which was revealed toa certain 1t was as clear The lanky man With the | n ‘Another fancier’s * toy ”? wasrectining on a cosy cloth of quilted satin, trimmed with fur. Beinz atflicted with 2 cold in his head, this poor man was compelled to the frequeat use of his pocket- handkerchlef, which was. unmistakably’ part of 3 duster of blue cotton check, and ‘which he car- ried in his battered old hat. ‘here was not much conversation. ‘When a bv-comer arrived he briefiy’'bade the corupany “Gaod evening,” and sested himself on his ac- customed chair. Then, having given his order to the waitér, he produced from one Pockcz something tasty an comfortable for his “toy to repos¢ on, and from snother pocket the toy itsclf; and having arrapged the one on the other in a convenient 'position for cou- templation, be lit his pipe, accommodated bis clbows, and fell to smoking and blissful cogita- tion. The only_man in the room who did not appear perfectly happy was Mr. Wix. He must have kept his magnificent Tittle Maltese with even its fond mistress would find it dificult to | great care siucc last beheld it, for it was_as swear to it. . silky and spick-and-spag, 28 When it left “If you will only take & scat, sit, and amuse | the hands of the barber. But the old cloud was yoursel? with the newspuper for five ‘minutes,” | on Mr. Wix's brow; the soul of the fancier was Jemarked the barber, civilly, ‘1 shallbe at | crushed bencath the weight of that inexorable your service.” It was'a tieklish situation. There | three ounces. ** How are you, Mr. Wix?"” some- Fas once a barber, rightly remember, street, ostensibly for beards, but whose of humen throats. Sweency Todd by name, i Who kapt o shop in F Mr. Todd, would say, little farther back, sir, withdrawn, a splash 1y flowing Fleetivood clean and tidy for the next customer. need not be shaved at all 1y have my hair brushed the first snickwould domy business, £ I ( bod; lect catting hair and mowing real busincss was the cutting There was a trap-door in the floor of Sweeney’s shop on which the vietim's chair was placed, and, after he had been lathered, 4 sat, “Just_tilt your heada 5o as 1 may get atthe underncath part!” And then—slishand inajifiy the body was Tobbed, the bolt that held the trap ‘as heard in the turbulent- ditch below, and a mop and o handful of clean sawdust made the shop Might pot this be the fate in store for me, the villain- ous haireutter’s suavity being merely a blind! T events; I would mere- and my whiskers trim- med. An assault with s pair of scissors Mmight be painful; but it was haraly likely that andin a tus- sleIfeltprettycontident whowouldget thebestof it. Solsat downand opened out thenews- Dbefore carelessly observing that Iwasin asked in tones of friendly condolence. “What's theuse of aggravatingacove?”’ snapped Mr. Wix, fiercely. “Put yourself in my place, 2nd ask yourself how you would bei” Taere was a cheerful though subdued buzz of greeting, as Mr. Mossui came in. He wasa mild-looking little man, smartly dressed,in & pluni-colored velyeteen coat anda black velvet waistcoat, plentifully festooned with siiver watchi-chain ; and he wore his ‘Tighly-polished curly-rimmed hat at an angle, denoting easy cir- cumstances. But the most remarkable points about Mr, Mossul were his forehead and his hair. The former was protuberaat, the latter of & rich tan-color, ond_sleek and sflkaa It was parted down the middle, and looped under all round, 50 as to conceal his ears, and hide the Qivision . between his head and bis coatcollar. It was imiw&filnle to gaze. on MMr. Mossul without bei ng immediately reminded of 2 King Charles’ spaniel. assing down the Toom, Mr. Mossul took his scat at the head of the centre table, and at once all eyes were turned on him in expectation. It was_evident that he was il at ease. He sat with his hand aper, Eophun'y; at the same time resolved to dill-g screening his eyes for a few ‘moments, and gently watch and listen. "| presently, in a faint voice, requested Williams Remarked the moody man tothebarber: * Are | the waiter, to bring. him the least drop of neat you stire that you wrenched all the soap out of Tis hair? 'cos it you haven’t it will tell up in his welght, you know.” “Ho's as clean as a new pin,” replied the bar- little ammal’s silky “You ought to be as proud of him asa He'sa beauty, ber, brushing away at the fleece. mother is of her new-born baby. there's no mistake about that.” @An! it’s all very well for you that haven't brandy. Mr. Wix furtively glanced at him, bis eyes Kindling with malicious hope. “Nothing_ wrong, Mr. Mossul, I hope?” a friend inquirea. e Mr. Mossul raised his nead, with his face as white almost as a dinner-napkin. “Jess has had a Ht!” he said, in a hushed voice. There was o murmur of consternation, and, fi"fi him on your miud,” sald the moody man, | to conceal bis malignant emotion, Mr. Wix c}ectefll?; he’s too much of a beauty for me.” | seized his pint pot and held it to bis lips antil it + How | too much?? was empty. “Three ounces too much. off of him# 4 Couldn’t possibly be done,” returned the “couldn’t be done, Mr. Wix. Of the two hie has been brought down too fine asitis. If you o tampering with him, as sure vou'll undermiue his coustitootion.” * retty state of things!'” broke out the other, after & few seconds’ silent pon- dering on the barber’s last words; *’pon my pretty thing that a man is to Taveall the ’appiness haunted out of him just mind yer—can’t barber, decidedlys as ¢ wivell, it's a soul it I8 a very because a2 dawg—a dumb daw be rot to waste three ounces of his weight.” "And he laughed a laugh which would have been hollow, but for the bitterness in it. “ Nature arber, soothingly. dumb dawg, ménd yer!” Mr. ittle WA ed, had been endowned with the t by houk nor by crook vith that confounded extra wh this time finished animal in au old st et-handierchiet, of his waistcoat, statked, muttering, shop. B)p' this time it was evident to me that T had = From some’ mysterious cause #d the valu- affliction rather thanasa ¢ certainly would not have done that 1came to ob- more attentively, he was not in the least like the cross-cyed, goblin-visaged per- son Sweeney Todd was represented as Leing; on the contrary, he was rather @ pleasant-logking Been too hasty. or other, the man ap) able little dog as an prize; which had he stolen it. serve the barber pearcd to And now little man. “There goes & poor fellow to be piticd. sir,” 1 should be a hap- py man if it wasn’t for that blessed tnree ounces. Tiain’t theres no how that you could get it is patare, Mr. Wix,? remarked the Wix repeat- as though it would have been & considerable mitigation of the injury if the offending animal gift of speech; zan he be got to three ounces, 1 would make such a diffcrence to me, and which he no more waats, sir, thau the sca wants d throwing down sixpence, he wr.\ricd the and, thrustingit fnatthe bosom out of the ty. '\~ She bud a fit as nigh 2 o'clock this morning as a toucher,” continued the aflicted tripe- dresser; “and I don't believe that the missus and me had forty winks of sleep atween us arterwards. Foamed at the mout! she did, and ber hind legs twitched paralytic like. And, do vou know, geatlemen; my missus, singular enmg:h, had a dream—" . “On, blow_about_the dream; now sbout the dog? T jt dead? That's the point.” It was Mr. Wix #ho spoke. ‘The tripe-dresser regarded him with a_pecu- Itar expression of countenance ere he replied. “ Goodness gracious forbid, sir. 8he is alive, sud, I am happy to say, heart: again, an well as ever. If the sttack had_any effect 2t all on ber, it has made her half an ounce or so lighter; but that's nothing 4o fret about, as you'll agree, Mr. Wix.” And, in'the nick of time, t0 corroborate his statement, Mr. Mossul’s shop-boy at that mo- ment entered the parlor with Jess, the silken mite of & spaniel, in a choice little satin-lined basket, barking and frisky. Tt was almost painful to watch the wicked hope fading out of Mr. Wix’s ejes, to give place to the expression of sullen despair that had so loug resided in them. He epdeavored to rally and affect ood bumor, but it was a dismal Tailire, and after & while hie pretended suddenly 1o recollect an appointment with a friend, and, taking up his “toy,” which was to him as the 01d Man of the Sca was to Sinbad, he gloomily took his departure.—Al the Year Jeound. JOLIET ROLLING-MILLS. Speclal Dispatch to Tue Tribune. % Jovrem, 1L, Dee. 8.—Work at the Rolling- Mills is partially suspended. The converting- mills cease operations to-morrow for an fndel- inite period, and the steel-mills will follow suit next week. This is extremely unfortumate, especially at this season of the year when it Is difficult to obtain employment, and, a5 many men will be thrown out of work, some provision will have to be made to assist, if necessary, those who will be deprived of their only means of support. HOLIDAY GOODS. SIVE HOREY! And visit the Exposttion Bazaan, Clristmas IsComing. Buy Prescnts at the Exposition Bazaar, Avoid: Rus Of the Lest Week. Takes Piek Of the Largest and Cheapest Stockin (hicago, Dolls, Toys, Albnms, Desk Workhoxet. Come fne z All For Toflet Sets, Vases, Brackets, Smokers' Sets, &< This Bazaar Contatns Everything 50u wanle Al Tanguages, ‘English, French, and German, spoken at ths Brnosition 2 Bazar 109 STATE-ST., | 205 . MADISON-ST. Near Madison. S el i THR OLLAR DIATIONDS. IUNSISSSEUIUVVIS FIN DIAMONDS. We have just motbted and will place on sale to-morrow (Monday) & few more pairs of Gem Stones of wonderful brilliancy, to which we call the attention of sll lovers of fine Diamonds. Our fine stones are selling very rap- idly, and they cannot be duplicated immediately. N, Matson & Co,, State & Monroe-sts. FURS. FURS. BISHOP & BARNES, PUR MANUFACTURERS, Cor. State, and Monroe-sts. We m'ofl’efini“:‘he-lsggm and choicest stock of Furs, Fur Trimmings, and Fur Goods west of New York. - SEAL SACQUES, Cut to our New Pattern, and made to order extra length. ‘CHILDREN'S FURS . In great variety, AT LOW PRICES, ROBES. “Wolf, Fox, Raccoon. Bear, Badger, Lynx, Angoln, and Buffalo Robes. ~Also, 2 large assortment of Buggy and Carriage Robes, Lap Blankets, etc. FUR TRIMMINGS. “We have on hand and cut to order every kind of Trimming worn by the Ladies. BISHOP & BARNES, Corner State and Monroe-sis. FURS! SPECIAL NOTICE. wing to the continued dullness in_the Wholesale Trade, and my stock of LA- DIES’ and GENTLEMEN’S FUES b very large, I will sell at RETAIL AIl kinds of mannfactured Furs, incleding Seal & Mink Sacques; Fur Trimmings, Etc., AT MY BEGULAR WHOLESALE PRICES. CHARLES GLANZ, INPORTER AND MANUFACTURER, 110 & 112 Madison-st. BRONZLES, &c. Real French Brouze FIoumes, Parian Marhle Staltary, Bronze and Maril Tnkstans, Fing Dressing Gasts, firiting Desks, &c. &. _ These Beautiful Goods are just xmgorted, and will be offered as Holiday Presents. less than Wholesale Retail at Prices, at JOHN S. STOTTS, STATIONER, No. 158 STATE-ST.